Ayaka mumbled her thanks through the spinning of her head and stomach, took the first thing her hand touched, and passed the bag on to Tsutomegi. Part of her wanted to just curl up on the roof and stay there, but maybe getting something in her stomach would help. Things were already starting to get a little better, after all.
And so she forced herself to look at the world around her, and as she carefully ate her makeshift breakfast, settled in to wait.
Morning dawned crisp and clear over a war-torn Konoha. It was a good omen for what was to happen today, and the future in store for everyone involved, but one person in particular just couldn't find it in herself to rise off her futon.
Though many residences in Konoha had long since adopted the more modern style of bedroom furniture – even the emergency cots looked more like metal beds than what many people thought of when they heard the word – the Hokage's quarters were far from modern in any sense of the word. From the layout of the rooms to the furnishings inside, everything was as traditional as traditional could be. And much of it was quite old.
It was the morning of the Hokage's inauguration, and the woman of the hour, the Tenth Hokage, Tensei Kaori, somehow could not find it within herself to get out of bed.
She was lying on her futon, long hair the color of pale gold splayed out in all directions over her pillows, looking up at the framed picture she held in her hands. She herself was in the picture, but the photo's other occupant was the sole recipient of her attention at the moment. His features were strikingly similar to hers, from the same color of pale-gold hair to the silver tinge in both of their light blue eyes. He was broad-shouldered, an increasingly common trait among normally slender Tensei males, and often wore the same warm, brotherly smile he did in the picture.
“You shouldn't have gone, Kanaye,” she told her older brother's picture sadly. “You're the one for this job, not me.”
He didn't answer, of course, but she knew very well the answer she would get in response, were Kanaye still alive and in the room with her:
“They picked you, didn't they? You're obviously the one for the job, so quit worrying about water under the bridge and show everyone why you were chosen. Now go knock 'em dead, kiddo!” He had called her that his entire life. Even now, as she could practically hear his voice speaking to her, thinking of him brought a smile and a tear to her eye. And as she thought of the others – her parents, Kyuudaime-sama, and so many others – it threatened to overwhelm her, and she was forced to set the picture aside and sit up. Besides, if she didn't get moving soon, the elders would send someone to forcibly drag her out, and it would hardly do for the new Hokage to be hauled out of her rooms like a child who had overslept.
It took an effort, but Kaori finally pulled herself all the way out of bed and began readying herself for the coming ordeal. It was decidedly surreal trying to observe her normal routine in a place like the Hokage's quarters. It wasn't the décor that bothered her – Tensei homes also tended to be quite traditional in style – but rather what these rooms meant. They were the Hokage's rooms.
Her rooms. She still couldn't quite grasp the fact that she had been chosen; half of her expected to be kicked out of here any second.
But she had been, and she wouldn't be. This was her reality now, and her burden to bear. The red silk robes of her office seemed to weigh more than lead as they settled onto her shoulders. She had, as many of her recent predecessors preferred, modified the traditional design to suit her own tastes. There were more layers of the red and white fabric now – though red, of course, was by far dominant – and the sleeves had been extended until they were as long as any furisode kimono, both of which were influences of the Tensei style. She had also added a few subtle gold accents to the ensemble. The effect, when combined with the ornamental hairsticks she slipped into place – hopefully she wouldn't have to use them for their other purpose anytime soon – was quite dramatic. And despite being rather elaborate in structure, to a Tensei who was used to far more fabric than this, the ensemble was quite comfortable and easy to move around in. The silk draped and rustled quite pleasingly as she moved.
She didn't have much time to enjoy the effect, though. A quick look at the clock told her it was time to snatch the ever-required Hokage's hat from its resting place and get herself out of there before someone came to retrieve her.
She opened the door and came face-to-face with Akina, dressed in her finest and looking quite nervous.
“Are you ready for this, Sensei?” she asked with a hesitant grin. Odd; Akina was never hesitant.
“We're about to find out,” Kaori replied matter-of-factly. “Let's go.”
* * * * *
The midmorning sun was nearly blinding as Kaori stepped out onto the wide, open area that was the roof of the ninja administration building. The elders stood to one side of the makeshift stage; to the other, her teammates, younger brother Katsuro, and Akina, who had slipped off to the side as soon as they opened the door to the roof. As soon as she stepped up to the edge of the roof and was visible to the massive crowd below, she felt the sound of their cheers wash over her like a gust of wind. Oh, she was sure not everyone was pleased at her selection – a few names in particular jumped to mind – but either they were playing nice by clapping along, or everyone else drowned out silent disapproval with their overwhelming enthusiasm. Kaori just let them cheer, marveling that she was the cause of it – at least, she was by merit of being the new Hokage – and, as she had expected, they calmed down after a reasonable amount of time. At least, it was to the point where she could begin to speak.
“People of Konoha,” she began, her voice amplified with chakra, and the remaining noise immediately dropped down to dead silence.
“We stand here today on the morning after a period of great tragedy. Even now, our beloved village teeters on the brink of destruction.” She detected uncertainty in the crowd; that wasn't what they had expected to hear.
“Everyone here has lost someone or something precious to them,” she continued. “Parents. Siblings. Sons. Daughters. Spouses. Friends. For some, even their very homes are gone. We have also lost a great and leader.” There was a sad mumur of agreement.
“Everyone here has endured much so that we can stand here, alive, today. Many gave everything they had. But their sacrifice has not been in vain, and neither have those of anyone gathered here today. Look around you, and remember you see: your village. Your home. Your comrades. Our enemies sought to destroy us. They have failed!” A louder murmur this time. “We are a village of broken buildings, but in our hearts we carry the Spirit of Fire, just as our ancestors before us. Our enemies can tear down our buildings, but they will never break the bond of family that is Konoha!” Instead of a murmur, the crowd gave a subdued cheer.
“The Ninth Hokage laid down his life so that we, and our children, and our children's children can live to see Konoha thrive once more. As the Tenth Hokage, I, Tensei Kaori, swear on my life that I will guide and protect Hidden Leaf Village, and everyone in it, until my dying breath. I will stop at nothing to see that what has been broken will be rebuilt, stronger than ever before. We will rise from the ashes of this nightmare and thrive once again. We are Konoha, and as of today, we are reborn!”
The crowd exploded. Kaori stood there for a moment, looking out at all the smiling faces, noting all too sadly how many people
weren't there to see this. She turned, meaning to look up at the Hokage monument behind her, and caught Katsuro's gaze. He nodded proudly, and Kaori was surprised to notice that her eyes were rather damp. She offered her brother a smile, acknowledging his unspoken message, and looked at last to the colossal figures of those who had come before her.
Please, she asked them,
give me the strength to not let you down.