Chapter 30 - The Next Hokage

"We are here to help son," Hiruzen said calmly.

"Heh, I am here to help you get your head out of your a.s.s. He is here to help." Danzo said pointing at Hiruzen. "Your father would be so disappointed in you right now."

Danzo raised his hands as his fingers blurred.

"Hah," a multi-barrier formed around the area for 15 feet. Outside sound and living creatures could not get inside.

"Enough Danzo. We agreed I would take the lead on this." Hiruzen walked over to Kakashi.

Stopping at the mural he read over all the names. The list with on and on. With each line, he read he felt the burden of being Hokage. Coming across a certain name he paused.

Minato Namikaze. One of his greatest failures. He could still remember the boy's bright eyes every time during training. Always thinking of new ways to use techniques. Never stopping his pursuit. If Hiruzen would be able to see that the boy was not like Orchimura sooner, he could have created a stronger bond with him. Taught him more alongside Jiraiya.

But then again Jiraiya was adamant about the boys training. Another failure of his. 'I should have spent more time with them all. Not as just the Hokage but as a teacher. So much is my fault.' Shaking his head Hiruzen realized his thoughts were headed to a bad place. Reaffirming himself he took pride in all the people he saved and the number of villagers still alive. All the treaties in place. 'I did what I could. Hindsight is only good when things are over to analyze and blame is needed.'

Reading the next line he came across Kushina Uzumaki.

'With more training, you could have been able to prevent the nine-tails incident. There should have been studies done on the seal ways to reduce the strain on the body. Damn it we had the Yamanaka's and their technique. Combined with the resources we had we could have done something to convince it from doing anything crazy. Hanzo has such great control with his tailed beast why didn't you? Another mistake on my part.'

"Sigh, " taking a small breath he looked back towards Kakashi. "It has been brought to our attention that you spend more time grieving than actually living. I thought it best to give you some time off. For you to heal. The saying goes "everyone mourns differently" but it is time for a different approach."

"Lord Hokage, what do you mean?" Kakashi started to wonder if he couldn't really see what was happening.

"You are to be pulled from Anbu missions. More or less you're going on desk duty. Mandatory counseling as well." Danzo said authoritatively. "The occasional root mission every now and to keep you sharp. Nothing too drastic."

"You were once the most talked about ninja through countries. An ace ninja. Now an upcoming Uchiha has taken that mantle. You have stopped progressing. That cannot be allowed. If you want to have a civilian life that can be arranged. The eye will be removed and sent to the Uchihas that way they will shut up. Or you can take the training. We have the means to cover our bases. And we will put you down as a retired ninja due to medical reasons. This is all if you can't cut it."

"I am fine. Thanks for the offer though," Kakashi said dismissively. "I can carry out my task perfectly fine. No need for medical leave."

"This is no request Kakashi Hatake. This is a none negotiable mission. You can never stop the training neither can you falter in your determination. Your life will change once started. One that we expect you to carry out to the letter. You have been chosen to be the fifth Hokage. As such, you cannot become mentally unstable. You have to be healthy in all aspects."

"You will come to Root on alternate days for training and studying for tactics. The opposite days you will attend council meetings and the like." Danzo said with a smile. "You will turn into a Hokage the likes of which the village has never seen."

"Lord Danzo I thought you wish to be Hokage?" Kakashi couldn't help but ask.

"Heh, I did. But I have been informed of a bigger world out there. No reason to just limit my self to a single village. If my home is strengthened and in good hands, I can rest easy that I did my teacher proud." Danzo said as he looked to the sky. "Once this place is secured I will travel and experience the world and all it has to offer."

"You are not leaving anytime soon, Danzo. First, we have to whip Kakashi into shape. I think this white wolf lost his fangs."

"Where do we start?" Kakashi asked suddenly enthused.

"First we take you to meet someone."

"Who might that be?"

"Your father," Hiruzen said. "It is time you learn the whole truth about that mission."

Shocked Kakashi took a few steps back. "But my father is dead. We buried him."

"You buried a substitute. A corpse designed to look like your father."

"Where did you get the body?"

"It was grown in a lab." Don't give me that look. "From the labs, we raided from Orochimaru some research was beneficial. We grow blank bodies for funerals for families as well as ninja who we send undercover for long periods of time."

"Why?!"

"For closure. For peace of mind. If a ninja is recovered so completely mangled that the body is unrecognizable or can't be repaired a replacement is used. Or in your father's case." Hiruzen stopped and took out his pipe and lit it.

"If they become unresponsive we place them in a sealed room while we try to cure them. Don't get your hopes up though. So far there has been no success."

"But hasn't lady Tsunade returned can't she help?"

"My student is good... however her personal problems as well as her nature won't be helpful. She has not been informed."

"That and the methods involved. Like some of the others, your father's condition is unstable. With her bleeding heart, she might recommend to put them out of there misery. We can't risk that." Danzo said with a small smile. "We do have them as comfortable as possible."

"Do I even want to see what he looks like?" Kakashi asked as he clenched his fist.

"It will do you good too. Also, your father like the rest signed a clause for family members to not be informed unless something drastic happened."

'Don't tell me." Kakashi heart was going crazy after everything he heard today.

"Easy Kakashi, the only thing that has changed is us informing you as well as Kai-La." Hiruzen paused seeing Kakashi's face. Well, his eyebrows anyway jump. "We believe he can help heal your father and the others."

"But everything comes at a cost with Kai-La. You have to offer him something in return." Danzo said.

"What would that be?"