Naruto Shippuden: Peace No More

Chapter 1: It Begins

Naruto stood on Hokage mountain looking over his village. Standing on the stone replica of his own head, he scanned over the village admiring the peace he brought. Everybody was happy within reason. Everybody felt safe without a doubt having him as their Hokage. Naruto Namikaze (having taken his dads name) was the greatest Hokage since Namikaze Minato, and maybe even better. Naruto's list of accomplishments included creating world peace, stopping Madara Uchiha, destroying the tailed beasts(with help), and bring Sasuke back to the village.

While Naruto had no wife of his own, Sakura was happily married to Sasuke, who was brought back to the village, with much anger at first. During their final battle 4 years ago, he had placed a seal on Sasuke's arms, making it so he couldn't use jutsu unless released by Naruto himself. Though Naruto and Sasuke were now best of friends in some aspects, Sasuke still had some of his hate for the leaf village. Something that helped sway his feeling toward the village was his meeting with the resurrected Itachi. Itachi explained to him his feelings on the village, now that it had no Uchiha. He insulted his brother severely over his sacrifices to give him a meaning in the village and throw it away. He then explained that if he was not weakened by his sickness and blindness at the time, Sasuke would still never have stood a chance against him. Before Itachi was forced to attack the shinobi opposed against Kabuto and Madara, Itachi proved his statement by beating Sasuke severely within a few moments. Through this fight, Sasuke learned many things through Itachi's fists. Not enough to turn his hatred of the world however. Enough to make it possible for Naruto to beat Sasuke though.

"well..."Naruto said as he closed his eyes. "I guess it's time to begin today..."

Naruto jumped down from the mountain and landed on a rooftop. He jumped down from there to the front of his favorite ramen stand. Turning quickly, he entered the stand.

"hey, it's the Hokage!" Teuchi exclaimed in excitement. Everyone in the ramen bar turned around excitedly. Ever since Naruto defeated pain, the ramen bar had been exploding in business.

"looks like you need to upgrade to a bigger place." Naruto smiled. Teuchi smiled and nodded. He had thought about doing so several years ago. Finding a place good enough for the increase in business was hard. With limited seating, he was able to up the prices. He had been making so much extra that he could retire and with projected inflation, several generations after him could never have to work. Ichiraku didn't believe in stopping while ahead. He didn't gamble so that philosophy worked most of the time.

"well you did expand the village 3 years ago so I guess I'll look around tomorrow." Teuchi decided, smiling. He had an idea of a space he could have his shop built in. Make it larger but still have limited space. He wasn't being greedy, he was playing it safe. He was always expecting another terror to happen to the village and he could help fund the repair of the village if he ever needed to help. He loved Naruto like a son and was prepared to pump the economy stupid fat if he wanted or needed to.

"U-um N-Naruto..."a voice murmured behind him. Naruto turned to see Hinata standing behind him.

"hey Hinata. What's up?" Naruto grinned.

"u-um... I... Wanted to ask you... Something..." she stammered.

"oh yeah?" he asked, a little surprised.

"well... Um... I wanted to ask you..." Hinata mumbled finding it hard to ask him the question she wanted to ask him for close to 10 years. Some people in the ramen bar decided to help her out.

"she's askin' you out!" one yelled.

"she likes you." another said.

"loves you." someone said from behind Naruto. Hinata's mouth hung wide open. Her face was pure red. She couldn't breath. Naruto turned to see Sakura standing a bit back with her arms crossed. "it's taken you years to deal with it. She told you when she defended you against pain, and you never said anything. I was so pissed for years and now that she is trying to say something on her own, I'm putting my foot into this."

"Sakura...Hinata..." Naruto said feeling like a fool. He lowered his head and whispered "is it true? Are you trying to ask me out..."

"y-y-y-yes..." Hinata mumbled. Naruto looked up in anguish. He had been so thoughtless and smashed this girls heart. He quickly grabbed her wrist and flashed to the Hokage monument. Being a master of his dad's jutsu, he decided a good place to go was his happy place with her. Hinata looked shocked and scanned the area to figure out where they were. When she realized her location, she calmed down.

"Hinata..." Naruto grumbled. He had his fists clenched and was shaking. Thinking he was mad at her she backed up slightly. "I'm so sorry... I was so stupid..."

Hinata's eyes widened in shock. He was mad. At himself. She took steps forward and began so calm him.

"Naruto. I could never be angry at you... You gave me so much to live for. You gave me someone to strive to impress. You were my strength. You still are. I know you are busy being Hokage and that it takes a lot of your energy to do. I am not mad at you for not being able to do anything about me. Don't be mad. Don't blame yourself. If I don't blame you, than you cannot blame yourself." Hinata pushed, saying everything without stuttering once. This being an important moment for them both gave her the strength. "Naruto.. I love you. I don't want you to tell me you love me unless you can or do. I can wait and I can surely be strong." Hinata smiled to Naruto.

"Hinata..." Naruto mumbled. "I need to think about this..."

"that's Ok."

And with that Naruto disappeared.

Naruto walked through the village holding his head low. Being the Hokage usually made him happy enough but this recent turn of events made him question his happiness.

"Naruto..." a voice called behind Naruto. Naruto perked his head up and turned to see Sasuke staring at him.

"oh... Hey Sasuke..." Naruto said quietly.

"what's wrong with you, dobe?" Sasuke said smiling at him now. Naruto smiled slightly. Long after the fight they had Sasuke started calling him that again, but made it clear that it was a joke now.

"I... It's Hinata..."

"huh... Finally figured it out?"

"yeah... I could really use a drink now..." Naruto sighed. Sasuke laughed slightly, and walked up to him.

"let's get you a drink then..." Sasuke said as he put his hands in his pockets and walked past Naruto.

"you want to get a drink with me?" Naruto said slightly amazed.

"sure. We never hung out before. I figure if I'm jailed here I may as well play nice." Sasuke smiled.

"jailed?" Naruto whispered slightly.

"I'm joking. God, I have a wife and 3 kids. I'm not going anywhere. Wouldn't if I could. You proved your power and what gives it to you. Now I have the same means... But no tools..." Sasuke sighed and looked at his arms that were sealed. On his forehead, hidden by his forehead protector, was a seal that healed his Sharingan in captivity. All he had was strong Taijutsu.

"Ok..." Naruto said looking away. Sasuke sighed and approached Naruto. Naruto looked at Sasuke with shock in his eyes. Sasuke smiled slightly and jabbed Naruto's forehead with his index and middle fingers like Itachi used to when Sasuke was a child.

"you're like a brother to me and I can't be mad at you. So let's get this drink." Sasuke said.

"we should get Sakura too! It would be team 7 all over again. We need to celebrate Kakashi-sensei still..."

"I agree. But not for drinks like we're getting. She has our 4th child on the way." Sasuke smiled. Naruto's face brightened.

"really? I'm so happy for you guys!"

"thank you."

Naruto and Sasuke walked into the bar and sat at a booth away from the main crowd. The waitress came over quickly after seeing the Hokage was around. The two ordered a beers and settled to talk.
"so... I guess now that you have 4 kids already, that means I don't have to instate the clan restoration act for you, do I?" Naruto smiled.

"wait a minute! I wouldn't say that!" Sasuke jumped up, and realized a few things. The first was Sakura would probably kill the other wife. He then realized she would kill him. As he realized these things, emotions passed over his face, causing Naruto to laugh loudly.

"Sasuke... I know deep down that if you wanted it, Sakura would be Ok with it. Just don't let the Uchiha clan get out of control." Naruto stated.

"huff... They won't. Because then there could never be a Uchiha Hokage." Sasuke smirked.

"if Itachi didn't die, it would have been him. He could have beat ero-sensei..." Naruto mumbled.

"yeah..." Sasuke gloated proudly. "so anyway. Why are you so upset about Hinata?"

"when I fought Pain years ago, she confessed her love to me and almost died trying to save me. I never talked to her about it again... I basically forgot about it..."

"Ha. Once an idiot always an idiot..." Sasuke sighed. "well, decide what you feel about her and tell her."

"she wanted to ask me out."

"Ok. Think really fast, tell her, then go out with her. Why not." Sasuke said as he leaned back, sipping his beer.

"b-but!"

"Naruto, what have you got to lose? If you don't completely like her now, you may after dating her." Sasuke started. "you owe her at least one date after no recognition all these years."

"I guess you're right..."

"it's not going to be torture."

"I know... I just wouldn't know what to talk about."

"you'll think of something."

Sasuke and Naruto finished their drinks and decided to leave the bar. They walked through the street talking away.

"so when are you going to remove my seals?" Sasuke questioned.

"your sentence is up in 2 years. Prove yourself a changed man and then get off you early." Naruto answered.

"Naruto!" a girl shouted up the way from them. Naruto and Sasuke looked, and saw it was Temari. She had a pack on her back that moved slightly.

"Temari! Suna didn't give word you were coming." Naruto said surprised.

"Gaara wanted this to be a surprise. Remember that day in Suna 4 years ago, after you saved Gaara? How much fun we had?" Temari asked seductively. Naruto thought for half a second before blushing furiously. Sasuke fought the urge to laugh at his friends face.

"yeah..." Naruto said shyly.

"well..." Temari said taking off her backpack revealing it to be a baby carrier for ninja. Temari unbuckled and lifted out a 3 3/4 year old girl. "this is your daughter Naruto."