489 jeanericuser

489: Difficult decisions

Naruto is eating at Ichiruku Ramen while the cook watches with pride. Naruto notices and stops to look at him. The cook sees next to Naruto the image of Naruto as a small boy sitting on the stool having ramen. The cook then smiles as the image vanishes.
Cook: "I was just thinking back to when you were a small boy first coming here to have ramen for the first time."
Naruto: "Yeah those were good times."
Shikimaru then walks over and pulls up a seat next to Naruto.
Shikimaru: "The others are still shocked by what you said about Sasuke. Do you really think that he is that unbeatable."
The cook smiles and brings over some food for Shikimaru. Naruto looks down but then puts his food asside and turns to face Shikimaru.
Naruto: "Have you ever truly had to kill a friend or partner Shikimaru?"
Shikimaru: "Sasuke is no longer your friend or partner Naruto."
Naruto: "You dodged the question. Have you ever truly had to kill a friend or partner?"
Shikimaru thinking: "Where is he going with this?"
Naruto: "You haven't because like it or not you never have had to make that decision. Sakura was put to that same test as was Kakashi but in both cases they could not do it."
Shikimaru: "So you are saying that if it came down to killing Sasuke I would not be able to do it?"
Naruto: "You would hesitate like everyone else because like it or not you still are not able to put asside your respect for everyone else. Thus if you had to kill anyone else here you would hesitate just like Sakura did."
Shikimaru: "And when I hesitate Sasuke would kill me. I get what you are saying now. If any of us try to fight him we will only stop ourselves and try to take him alive. That is why Sasuke would have an advantage over us."
Naruto nods his head, takes a drink, and then looks at Shikimaru.
Shikimaru: "But what makes you so sure that you can do what we can not?"
Naruto: "Sasuke and I have always been rivals. Always on a competeing level to see who is better. I get strong and Sasuke gets stronger. When we fight we fight until there is almost nothing left to hold us back. We are both equal and in many ways the same so odds are that if and when we do fight again we will fight until neither of us is able to fight back which means either one of has killed the other or probably both of us are dead."
Shikimaru's eyes widen as he realizes what Naruto is implying.
Shikimaru: "I understand now. I wish I did not understand now but now I see the burden you carry. I will try to stop the others. If what you suggest is true than we would only be a burden to you when that time comes."
Naruto starts to eat Ramen again while Shikimaru looks at Naruto.
Shikimaru thinking: "Damn now I feel stupid. This is such a drag."

Kakashi is visiting Tsunade as she lays on her bed in her room. Tsunade looks up at Kakashi as he enters. Tsunade sits up while kakashi leans against the wall.
Tsunade: "Hokage?"
Kakashi: "I wouldn't have expected it to happen myself but it seems that is what everyone is leaning towards. The others villages agree on it. The other jonin think it is for the best. Even the elders are convinced. Whether I like it or not I am the next hokage."
Tsunade: "But do you think you can handle it?"
Kakashi: "There are larger problems for me to be concerned about than mere titles."
Tsunade: "Its Naruto isn't it? What happened?"
Kakashi sits down next to Tsunade and looks her straight in the face.
Kakashi: "It seems that history is repeating iself with the Sanin."
Tsunade: "So Sasuke has sunk that low huh?"
Kakashi: "There is no bringing him back any more. The only solution I can see as an end to this conflict is for Sasuke to die."
Tsunade: "And with Naruto being similar to Jiraiya, he is determined to face Sasuke to the end just as Jiraiya was willing to only that final conflict never happened."
Kakashi: "I just don't know if I can think of any way to stop it."
Tsunade flashes back to Jiraiya as a young boy as they were getting a picture taken altogether.
Tsunade: "Im sure you will think of something Hokage-sama. Now if you do not mind I need to get some rest. Im still recovering from the fight with pain."
Kakashi slowly leaves while Tsunade lays back down in her bed. As Tsunade falls assleep one last thought goes through her head as she flashes back to Jiraiya as she last saw him.
Tsunade thinking: "Oh if only you were here Jiraiya. You would know what to do."

Naruto is wandering through Konoha at night when he suddenly sees a distant looming shadow seem to reach out at him from a distance away. Suddenly snakes move all around him and restraining him as he sees Kabuto moving towards him from the distance. Naruto struggles to reach for his kunai. Kabuto waves his finger at him.
Kabuto: "Relax Naruto. I am not here to kill you. I come to you now as an ally seeking to offer you a deal in exchange for a favor."
Naruto: "What will this favor cost me exactly?"
Kabuto: "Removal of the bounty placed on my head by Konoha.
Naruto: "And in return what do I get?"
Kabuto: "The one weapon Orochimaru was gonna use if the power of the Uchiha was too great to eliminate by physical means."
Kabuto reveals a vial containing a purple fluid. Kabuto stands face to face with Naruto only an inch or two away from his face.
Kabuto: "A specificly designed genetic virus to do one thing and one thing only, rob the uchiha of the greatest weapon, their eyes."
Naruto reaches his kunai but suddenly he finds himself all alone on the street with no one in sight.
Kabuto: "That is my offer. I will await your decision."
490: Changing of the Guard