THREE MONTHS LATER

MINAKO'S POINT OF VIEW

Kakashi and I entered the Hokage's office per his request, only to be met with the entire board of elders and leaders of the different Konoha ninja units. Everyone looked at us as the aid walked us in, seating us next to Hiruzen.

"Thank you for coming. Fashionably late as always, Kakashi." Hiruzen cracked a smirk.

"Sir..." Kakashi spoke awkwardly at being called out.

"What's up Lord Third?" I asked Hiruzen. I heard Danzo tsk at the end of the table...just knowing he exists makes my blood boil.

"I have decided my time as being your Hokage has passed, the next generation must take over." Murmuring was heard throughout the group until the old lady coughed.

"As a group, we have voted on a particular individual to represent Konoha as the Fifth Hokage due to Hiruzen's retirement. We are here today to announce that individual." Announcing the Fifth Hokage? That sounds exciting! I wonder who it'll be?! Maybe it will be Jiraiya sensei but I don't see him wanting to be Hokage anytime soon. Hiruzen might pick Tsunade though too...

"This shinobi has proved time and time again that they have the First Hokage's will of fire running through their veins. They have the highest mission success rate in Konoha history and determination stronger than any foe they have faced. I believe in their capability and their heart with all I have. I am pleased to announce that I have selected Minako Uzumaki to be my successor." Kakashi and I froze...Did he say...me? Me?? Minako??

One day everyone will look up at me and acknowledge me! I'll become Hokage and then everyone will respect me and never call me Tomato Girl again ya know!

I am the successor to the Hokage...the Fifth Fire Shadow of the Hidden Leaf.

Irukei Sensei, Rin, Obito, Minato...

Kushina. 

I did it.

I achieved Obito's dream...I achieved my dream!!!!

I DID IT!!!!

"Do you wish to accept this position in the village?" Hiruzen asked me. I quickly responded with power and authority in my voice, as if I was born for this moment to happen. Despite the internal panic and celebration, I was cool and collected.

"With great honor, I accept the position of the Fifth Hokage." Kakashi held my hand tightly in excitement and pride before I grinned to him. I could see how happy he was for me with the way his eye lit up. I knew he was thinking of Obito.

"If there are any objections, say aye." Koharu, the old lady spoke. The room was silent before a fuming Danzo stood, slamming his fists on the long wooden table.

"AYE!" Every one turned to look at him with shock written on their faces. I have him a cold hearted glare that would freeze anyone in their steps. This was the man that stole Shisui's eye. This was the man that sent ninjas out to kill my students and me. This was the man that caused the eradication of my friends, the Uchiha. I felt the anger well up inside. Because of him, Itachi and Sasuke live with pain, anger, and vengeance pent up in their hearts. Because of him my students, friends, and family had to suffer. I've had enough.

"What are you on about this time Danzo?!" The elder lady lectured. He growled in his deep baritone voice.

"She is just an ignorant child! She does not know enough pain and wisdom to guide a village!!" I immediately stood up and grabbed the attention of the room.

"It seems you need a refresher of a little history lesson Danzo, I advise you to take a seat and learn something for once." Everyone softly gasped in surprise that I would embarrass Danzo in front of everyone like that.

"I grew up without parents and had to be raised my my older sister, Kushina Uzumaki. She was the jinchuriki before my son Naruto and me. I grew up being ridiculed and hated because of what my sister carried and what I looked like. When I was young, I fought as a jonin in the Third Great Ninja War...I lost my best friend in that war. I watched him get crushed alive by boulders bigger than your malicious ego." Snickers could be heard throughout the room, causing Danzo's face to get red.

"My love for him couldn't stop his fate and I lived an empty torturous life for the next few years. My other teammate died in the meantime. Speed up to age fourteen, the day of the Nine-Tail's Attack. I watched as children, mothers, and fathers were crushed alive by the demon and the destroyed rubble. I watched as my sensei died right in front of me in order to save my life. I took the nine-tails inside of me in an attempt to save my newborn nephew and my sister from being jinchurikis again but instead watched as my sister and her loving husband, the only people I ever had called family, were killed by the very beast my nephew and I bear today. Dozens of my friends have died between then and now. My friends within the Uchiha clan are dead and I watched my student become overcome in agony about the loss of his eye where he felt the need to end his life. Over the pressure you put him under." Danzo froze in shock that I announced that in front of everyone. That's right asshole, I see you, and now you are done. Everyone in the room turned to look at Danzo in surprise and disgust in their eyes. He was finally revealed to be the monster he is.

"You can tell me that I am young. You can tell me I am a child. But don't you ever dare tell me that I don't understand PAIN enough to guide this village with love."   Danzo didn't know how to respond, one of his biggest secrets about his under the table involvement with the Uchiha Clan Massacre was just revealed to every important person in the village. Hiruzen was exasperated with shock.

"Danzo...were you involved with the Uchiha Massacre? And the suicide of Shisui Uchiha?" Danzo and I matched each other's death glares with looks of pure, unadulterated hatred. Payback is a bitch you pathetic piece of trash.

"I will resign as a member of the council if Minako Uzumaki is elected as Hokage." He threatened. Hiruzen ignored him.

"Answer my question Danzo." He was infuriated before coming after me, Kakashi standing in front of me in an instant, protecting me.

"Step away from my wife."

"YOU RUINED EVERYTHING FOR ME!! JUST YOU WAIT!" Anbu forces were called in to escort Danzo out of the room and arrest him for his actions, something that oddly satisfied me. Knowing I was able to put Danzo in prison for his crimes made me feel so relieved. I feel like the Uchiha can finally rest easy.

"Minako...I think we all agree that you would be a valuable asset to the village. Please accept our humblest apologies for the actions of our former council member." Koharu spoke. Kakashi and I both sat down, his arm protectively wrapped around me. 

"I accept."

"Then it's settled then. On the anniversary of Konoha's founding, we will elect the Fifth Hokage, Minako Uzumaki."

~~

I was elated, just so overwhelmingly excited that I will be named the Fifth Hokage. Now it was just time to tell my children and my friends. I asked Tsume and Itachi to come over by using Kakashi's messenger dogs. I made Naruto take a shower and bring his teammate Sakura over. I liked Sakura, despite how her parents rejected Naruto's birthday invite. She needed to mature definitely but she was always sweet around Shinasui and often helped me in the kitchen. She was brilliant when she wasn't crushing on Sasuke and she honestly kind of reminded me of Rin a bit. When everyone arrived to our home, I had them all sit in the living room while Kakashi and I stood together. 

"Are you ready?" He whispered in my ear. I smiled back to him before giving him a light kiss on the lips.

"I was born ready ya know." I whispered back. I turned to look at my friends and family, knowing I could fully trust everyone in this room and that they would support me until the day I died.

"Everyone! I have an announcement to make." The room quieted down before all eyes were on me.

"You're pregnant!" Tsume shouted. I rolled my eyes at her.

"Shut the hell up Tsume." She gave me a wolfy grin and a hearty laugh. Kiba and Hana looked at each other, embarrassed.

"The Third Hokage has made a decision to retire and select another person to fill his place." The people in the room gasped before looking around and whispering things to each other.

"He has decided who that person was and announced it today...That person will be Minako." Kakashi followed up. His grip on my waist tightened before everyone jumped up to congratulate me. Shina and Naruto jumped onto me, hugging their Mommy tightly. Tsume punched me in the shoulder and Sakura had stars in her eyes. 

"You're gonna be Hokage!! Momma you're gonna be Hokage!! I can't believe it!!" Naruto cried out in excitement. I grinned brightly back at him before kissing him and Shinasui on the cheeks.

"That's right ya know!" I noticed Itachi hung back and gave me a soft smile. The hurt in his eyes still lingered after I rejected his love proposal a while back. I had Kakashi let go of me and told my kids to run along. I walked towards Itachi and smiled at him gently. His eyes widened and a faint hint of rose dusted his cheeks.

"Congratulations Minako." He spoke. I wrapped my arms around the tall Uchiha and hugged him tightly.

"Come with me to the mansion, work with me as my top advisor." Itachi took a deep intake of breath before leaning back.

"Seriously? You want me to be your top advisor? But isn't that left to the elder members of the council?" I smirked at him before whispering in his ear.

"Danzo will no longer be in that position. I want the person I trust most to be by my side." Itachi was surprised before smiling brightly at me. I could tell he was genuinely happy.

"When I am not on missions with my team, I will happily advise you...Lord Hokage." I hugged him tightly again, glad to see my Itachi being happy. 

"Itachi I want to speak to you privately tonight. Please stay after the rest leave. Sasuke can sleep over." He looked at me oddly before nodding and moving to talk to Sakura, Sasuke, and Naruto. I was really happy that he was Naruto's sensei...Naruto needs someone that I know will bust him into shape. I also trust Itachi to take control in case Kurama acts up inside Naruto.

~~

"So what is going on." Itachi asked. We sat together along with Kakashi, something that seemed to bother both of them. The kids were watching Shinasui and hopefully were not giving her a hard time. I looked back and forth between Kakashi and Itachi, the two locking eyes with each other.

"Are you guys...okay? You are looking at each other weird ya know?" They looked at me before shaking their heads and staring at each other again.

"Nothing." They both said. I sighed before getting down to business.

"Itachi." I immediately had his full attention.

"Yes Minako?" I thought about Shisui and how the truth behind his death was finally revealed...years after he died.

"I revealed Danzo in front of the Third and the heads of every subdivision. They know about Shisui's eye and his hand in forcing the death of the Uchiha. He has been arrested." Itachi's eyes were wide before I saw his fists clench and release. 

"Minako...do you realize how dangerous that was?" I looked at him in surprise...wouldn't he be happy? I told the truth! I revealed the evil man that Danzo truly was! I honored Mikoto and Fugaku, my friends!

"What-"

"He will be targeting you now! He wants to be the ruler of Konoha, not Hokage. He wants not only your job but now your head for revealing his underground plans! You placed a bullseye upon your head! Not just you...but your family as well! Naruto and Shinasui will now be at risk of kidnappings and hostage situations...you will be vulnerable. Danzo is so much more dangerous than what we know. He still has the ROOT organization together, in control of it without the Third's knowledge. It doesn't matter if he is in jail. He will have access to anything he wants." My mouth hung open and I internally screamed at myself. Itachi was right. I made a huge mistake.

"Oh shit." I whispered. Itachi and Kakashi looked at each other again before reaching towards me.

"I'll protect you." They said at the same time. They glared at each other again before turning towards me. I shook my head.

"Kakashi...protect the kids. Itachi will work with me. After all he will be my advisor and for good reason too." Kakashi grumbled a bit before wrapping an arm around me and looking at Itachi with furrowed eyebrows. 

"We're in a mess."

~~

THIRD PERSON POINT OF VIEW

"Welcome, citizens of Konoha, to the ceremony to inaugurate the next Hokage of the Leaf. Together we gather to celebrate Konoha's founding and a new member to our Hokage monument." Hiruzen's voice spoke to the gigantic crowd below the Hokage mansion. The mountain was covered in a tarp and several chunins were gathered around it to reveal the face when needed. The crowd was silent, waiting for the moment where their next leader was revealed to them.

"Mina, it's almost time." Kakashi called out to his wife who was wiping off leftover food from Naruto's face and fixing her daughter's hair.

"Just a second! Before I'm Hokage, I have to be a mom ya know!" Kakashi came over and kissed her cheek when she finished her motherly duties. Minako and Kakashi looked at the two kids that made up their beautiful family, along with their significant other. How did two little kids grow up with big aspiring dreams end up accomplishing them despite all the pain they had to go through? How did they make it this far? They both thought to themselves about what their late sensei and comrades would say if they found out Mina would be Hokage. Mina wished with every bone in her body that Minato and Kushina would be with her now...but they would only be with her in her heart.

"Obito would be so ecstatic if he found out about this. Then he would be mad that you were ahead of him once again." Kakashi whispered in Mina's ear as the family waited at the bottom of the stairs that led to the rooftop of the Hokage mansion. Mina felt a little guilty that Kakashi didn't know about Obito but at the same time was so happy that he was alive to see her achieve both of their dreams...at least the Obito she thought she knew. 

"Yeah you're right about that ya know. Rin would keep him in line though." Mina giggled back. She gently squeezed the hands of her children before Naruto tugged for her to look at him. 

"What Naruto?" Mina squatted down to meet his level so he could whisper in her ear.

"Mom and Dad would be so proud of you Mommy." Mina looked into the cerulean eyes Naruto shared with his late father and saw Minato looking back. He and Kushina were with them now, watching over them in the most important moment of Mina's life. Minako smiled at Naruto before kissing his forehead.

"Thank you Naruto." 

"Lady Minako, it is time for you to go up the stairs." An Anbu guard announced to them. Minako was slightly shaky when releasing her children's hands, feeling anxious without them. Kakashi kissed her one last time before she ascended the stairs leading up to her destiny, her dream. Minako greeted the afternoon sun with her bright violet eyes and scarlet hair. Each ruby strand glistened beautifully like a jewel. Jiraiya stood on the roof and grinned at her, surprising her with his arrival.

"Jiraiya sensei?"

"Long time no see kiddo. I wouldn't miss this for the world!" Mina smiled brightly before walking with him towards Hiruzen. Jiraiya draped the Hokage cape over her with the word Godaime written on the back, just like how Minato's cape was. 

"Minato legacy has now passed down to you. Cherish it." Jiraiya spoke in her ear.

"Always." Mina replied.

"With great respect and honor, I give you the new Hokage of the Leaf!" The drape fell as Hiruzen finished what he was saying.

"Minako Uzumaki, the Fifth Hokage!" Minako stepped forward and the Hokage hat was placed upon her head. The endless crowd of citizens cheered and celebrated the first woman to represent and protect Konoha with her life, the same way four Hokages before her have done.

Minako smiled so wide, so beautifully in her moment, that it nearly melted the cold heart watching her from a distance...waiting to strike.

If only the world knew at that moment, that the Hokage would die.