Dueling Hokages

Disclaimer: As much as I enjoy Naruto, I don't own it. I'd like to also thank Stalker of Stories. She's a very good Beta Reader.

Prologue: I Will Become Hokage!

(Konoha Ninja Academy, 7 years after the Kyuubi Attack)

Sasuke stared forward at Iruka, who stood in front of the grand Hokage mountain. He was thinking about home, how his father had been so proud of him in mastering the Goukakyuu no Jutsu. His big brother, Itachi, didn't seem such a far away goal now that he had surpassed him in how long it took him to master it. He frowned, remembering what happened over the last couple days.

The relationship between Itachi and the rest of the clan had been deteriorating. It had been exacerbated by Shisui's death and the accusation that it was Itachi's fault.

There was a cool breeze that blew overhead. His hair ruffled in the wind, and the lecture began, "Alright class, who can tell me about the Hokages?"

A blond haired student shouted loudly, "Iruka-sensei, the Hokages are the best of the best ninja who lived in Konoha."

The chuunin smiled, "That's right, Naruto. Now, who can tell me about the Yondaime Hokage?"

Another student raised her hand, "S-sensei… U-uh… The Y-Y-yondaime was the o-one who fought and k-killed the Kyuubi during its rampage."

"That's also right, Hinata. He and the ninja of Konoha fought back against the beast. The Yondaime sacrificed his life to end the demon's rampage."

Iruka looked around, seeing Sasuke not paying attention and shouted, "SASUKE! PAY ATTENTION!"

Sasuke looked up, startled, and spoke, "R-Right Iruka-sensei!"

Iruka looked at the boy, "OK, Sasuke, tell me what the Hokage's duties are."

Sasuke thought for a second, "The Hokage assigns missions to the jounin, chuunin and genin. Furthermore, he is in charge of the ANBU black ops. Their mission is to protect Konoha from all threats, both within and without."

Naruto looked at Sasuke with irritation. He raised his hand and shouted, "Iruka-sensei, he's also in charge of protecting all the citizens in the village! He has to be willing to put his life on the line!"

The blond academy student looked pleased with himself, take that, Sasuke!

The Uchiha looked his way for a second, and then returned to his quiet contemplative pose. Iruka looked impressed, "Well done Sasuke, Naruto. I take it that you're interested in the position?"

Sasuke looked up in surprise while Naruto just beamed at Iruka. Naruto was first, "That's my goal, to become the greatest Hokage! You'll all see; I'll surpass them all! Then everyone will have to acknowledge me."

The rest of the children laughed at Naruto, who had been held back in his first year twice. (1) Sasuke thought about it for a second. The blond academy student's words ran through his head, Acknowledge me, acknowledge me. If I become Hokage, father and big brother will have to acknowledge me. After I retire, then I'll take over the Police department!

Sasuke spoke up in a soft but powerful voice, "Yes I would, Iruka-sensei. That is an admirable goal." He looked at Naruto, and smiled. Naruto looked back, shocked, and returned it.

Little did they know how important this lecture would become to them in the years to come.

Sasuke walked back to the compound, wanting to tell his mother his new goal. Father would probably not be very pleased that I'm not following after him in the Police department.

It was late, and the lights were off everywhere. He was running down a side alleyway when a sudden burst of killer intent stopped him in his tracks. In the corner of his eye, someone was standing on top of the power transmission tower. His eyes turned to where sensed the figure crouching, but he wasn't there.

It was then he realized something was strange. It wasn't late enough that the clan would be in bed, so why were the lights all off? He raced down another alleyway into another street, where kunai and shuriken were left, still stuck in the buildings. Another alley held the bodies of his aunt and uncle who always greeted him as he entered the compound.

Another thought came to mind which caused his body to grow cold in terror. He didn't remember going to his house, but his mind finally caught up just in time to see his father and mother sprawled on the ground with gashed sword marks on their backs. Out of the shadows, Itachi materialized.

Sasuke shouted, "Brother! Father and Mother… they're… who could have done this?!"

A throwing star was his response. The weapon hit against the wall, grazing his skin in the process. Sweat began trickling down his forehead in fear, "W-w-what… what is this… Big brother?! I don't understand!"

The truth revealed itself to him in seconds as Itachi calmly explained it to him, "Foolish little brother."

The words were foreign to Sasuke. They stood apart on the blood-soaked wooden floor. For the first time, Sasuke saw Itachi's blade, dripping blood. His father and mother must have just recently died. Sasuke's eyes met Itachi's. The blood red sharingan transformed into a triple bladed shuriken.

In less than an instant, Sasuke saw his family's death over, and over, and over again. It was too much for Sasuke's eyes.

When he awoke moments later, Sasuke lay in a pool of puke, drool and tears. "Why, big brother? Why did you betray our family… why did you betray our village, or Hokage, everyone!!"

There was a sudden burst of killer intent, and then it relaxed. Itachi looked at his pathetic younger with pity, "To test my limits."

At his next statement, he closed his eyes with some sadness, "It was necessary."

"Test… your limits…? You betrayed us all… for that reason? You killed… everyone… to test your limits?!"

He picked himself up and ran at Itachi screaming, "You're insane! Don't screw with me!"

Itachi opened his eyes and slammed his fist deep into Sasuke's gut. Sasuke collapsed again, throwing up in the process. He muttered, "Today… was supposed to be a good day. I was going to announce to mother that… I was going to become Hokage…"

Itachi's eyes widened in surprise. Sasuke never mentioned that he wanted to become Hokage! But now… if only he had thought of it also. He might have avoided having to kill the clan… but it was already too late.

Sasuke whimpered, "I don't… I don't want… to die!"

He pulled himself up and ran out the door shouting, "I don't want to die!!"

Itachi appeared in front of the academy student. The two stared at each other. Then, Sasuke collapsed in a genjutsu slumber.

(Six hours later)

Naruto was walking through the village, on his way to his next big prank. Several of the passing villagers gave him a cold look of hatred and then turned back to their conversation, "Did you see that the Uchiha compound is all taped up? What do you think happened?"

The unknowing Kyuubi container stopped as he listened in on the conversation.

"I heard that the clan was wiped out last night by one of their own."

"Who could have killed off the entire police force?"

Naruto heard enough and began running. He made it to the compound in under 10 minutes. Unfortunately, the ANBU were scouring the place. Old man Hokage looked to the remains with a sobering glance. Then, his face lit up a bit as he sensed Naruto's approach, "Naruto, I must insist that you stay back."

"Old man, what's going on here?"

Sarutobi looked at the compound once again with disappointment, "The Uchiha clan was massacred here last night."

Naruto looked at the compound with wide eyes, "Everyone… including Sasuke…?"

Sarutobi brightened up a bit at Naruto's mention of Sasuke, "No, Sasuke was the only survivor."

Naruto breathed a sigh of relief, and looked at the clan gates again.

Sarutobi thought about the clan and his failed attempts at diplomacy. The council was unmoving in their orders to have the Uchiha clan wiped out. It was only at Itachi's request that Sasuke would be spared. In exchange, Itachi was ordered to kill the clan and flee as a missing Nin.

The Hokage's musings ended as Naruto tugged on his coat, "Old man. Where is Sasuke right now?"

"Sasuke is resting at a nearby hospital. He's still unconscious. I'll tell you when he wakes up. You can talk to him then. It won't help if you go see him now."

Naruto, however, was already on his way to see Sasuke at the hospital. Sarutobi could only smile. This is the future Hokage of Konoha. I have a feeling that he might just be able to do it. I'm rooting for you, Naruto.

(2 Days later, Uchiha compound)

Sasuke walked through the deserted compound, unsure what he was looking for. Some sign, a glimmer of hope that what had happened didn't happen perhaps. There were chalk outlines where his entire family had been killed.

Itachi spared no one; the old, young, men, women children, they all died. It was too much for the young Uchiha. One thing did grate on the boy's mind, how had Itachi managed to wipe out the greatest clan that ever existed.

It was then that he came across another shuriken, different from the one his brother used. He pocketed it for later examination.

Flashback

Itachi looked at his brother and said, "Sasuke, you also have the potential to unlock the Mangekyou Sharingan. If you do, you would be the third living person to have obtained it."

End flashback

Sasuke suddenly realized what he was looking for, the third surviving Uchiha. Someone else was living, somewhere. Perhaps Itachi was looking for him as well? Maybe he had already found him and asked for assistance in destroying the clan. So many questions, and he had no way of finding the truth.

Then, Iruka's lecture came back to him as he made his way to the lake, where he had mastered the grand fireball jutsu. He looked at the reflection of himself and began thinking, I need more information on what happened here. Only the Hokage would be able to give him the information.

Earlier that day, however, the Hokage had refused to give him the file about the clan massacre. It was classified, and Sarutobi told him that he needed to be an ANBU to be able to view the file.

Sasuke argued that he needed the file now, or Itachi might get further away that much faster. Little did he know that that was Sarutobi's plan. The old man needed him to infiltrate a new criminal organization which had been rising in the world.

Sasuke pouted as he looked at his own reflection. Itachi's face appeared over his own. Sasuke glared at it and kicked the water, Fine. Then I'll hate you, despise you. I'll go into the depths of evil itself if necessary to kill you. I won't stop at anything.

He stood up and shouted across the waters, "I'm going to become the Godaime Hokage! With the village at my command, I'll kill you Itachi!!"

Meanwhile, Naruto was across town, waiting outside the Hokage's office, contemplating what it means to lose a family member, or even a friend. He realized that it would be terrible. He contemplated losing someone like Iruka or Mizuki, who were both fairly kind to him. (2)

Naruto decided right then and there to change why he wanted to become Hokage. He vowed once again to become Hokage, the strongest ninja in the village, and protect everyone in it. That way, no one would ever have to feel the same loneliness and pain Sasuke was feeling.

(Read and Review)

And thus began what would come to be known as the tale of the Dueling Hokage. A tale where two ninjas fight for the title of the greatest Ninja in Konoha. Will they tear Konoha in two in the process… or is this the beginnings of two new legends?

I thought of this story a couple nights ago when I was looking for a good Sasuke Uchiha story. Sadly, ones I like are few and far between. Inspiration struck, what if Sasuke also wanted to become Hokage? And here it is, the first chapter of Dueling Hokages.

Important notes:

(1) In this story instead of Naruto failing the graduation exam twice, he was held back in the first year twice for his antics as a prankster.

(2) Yes, Mizuki. Mizuki is still acting nice to Naruto.