Aftermath

"No." The Hokage answered with a smile. "The reason I called you here is that Jiraiya wants you to accompany him to find my successor, Tsunade Senju." After saying that, the Hokage wore a foolish grin.

"Really?" Naruto happily thought about finding his last remaining relative.

"Yes, though she may not be willing to return to the village." The Hokage sighed. She could not face everything she had lost, so she had drowned herself in drinking and gambling.

"Don't worry. I'll bring her back to the village. I promise," Naruto said.

"I will convene a council meeting to grant promotions. You will be promoted to Chunin and given a council seat," the Hokage said.

## Council Chamber ##

About half an hour later, all the clan heads had arrived.

"The council is now in session," the Hokage said, then looked at the Genin before him. "We are gathered here today to reward these extraordinary Genin for their work during the invasion by granting them promotions."

"Nara Shikamaru, step forward," the Hokage called. Shikamaru did so.

"Because of your outstanding performance in your match and your work during the invasion, we are promoting you to Chunin. Congratulations. Keep up the good work," the Hokage said, tossing him a flak jacket.

"Hinata Hyuga," the Hokage called, and Hinata stepped forward.

"Because of your outstanding performance in taijutsu and ninjutsu, as well as your composure when facing a powerful opponent, we are promoting you to Chunin. Congratulations," the Hokage said with a smile.

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Hinata replied.

"Sasuke Uchiha," the Hokage called. Sasuke stepped forward with an arrogant smile.

"You are an exception. After much discussion, and considering the work you did during the invasion, you are being promoted to Chunin. However, if there is any disobedience or sabotage, your rank will be stripped. Do you understand?" the Hokage said sternly.

"Of course, Lord Hokage," Sasuke replied, still smiling.

"Finally," the Hokage said, shifting his attention to Naruto. "For not only defeating Shukaku, but also providing immense help during the invasion, defeating the Kazekage, and assisting me against Orochimaru, I grant Naruto the rank of Elite Chunin."

At the same time, the Hokage revealed Naruto's parentage.

Everyone's jaws dropped, while Sasuke gritted his teeth.

## Interrogation Department ##

Naruto headed to the Interrogation Department.

He entered the building when a kunai suddenly dropped from above and sliced past his face.

"What kind of greeting is that?" Naruto asked, shaking his head.

"What are you doing here?" an ANBU asked. Naruto sighed.

"I'm here to see Gaara. Here," Naruto said, handing her the Hokage's authorization.

"Go ahead," the ANBU said.

Naruto walked down the stairs and arrived before a heavy metal door, guarded by an ANBU.

Naruto reached the last cell and looked inside. Maki, Temari, and Kankuro were there, all wearing Chakra Seals. Gaara, however, was chained in the center of the room, surrounded by a circle of Chinese characters.

"How's the seal?" Naruto asked.

"How are you so strong?" Gaara asked.

"I don't know why, but I understand how you feel very well. It hurts me," Naruto said, and everyone fell silent. "But now I have precious people... I will never allow anyone to hurt them."

"Why would you do this for strangers?" Gaara asked in a trembling voice.

"Because they took away my loneliness," Naruto said. "They saved me from hell. Because of that, they are precious to me, and I would do anything for them," Naruto explained.

"Love... is that why you're strong?" Gaara fell into thought.

"Hinata, Grandpa Hokage, Teacher Iruka, Teacher Kakashi, and so on..." Naruto said with a smile.

"I don't have anyone who cares about me like that," Gaara said sadly.

"You just need to look around..." Naruto said, pointing at his brother and mentor.

"Really?" Gaara asked shakily.

"Of course, Gaara. We're brothers. We'll do anything for you," Kankuro said, patting him on the back.

"Thank you," Gaara said, revealing a long-lost smile.

"I need to tell you..." Naruto bit his lip, but continued, "I killed your father."

"Okay."

"Okay?" Naruto asked in surprise.

"Yes. He turned me into a weapon, then tried to kill me many times. Besides, he was never a father to any of us," Gaara explained. Naruto let out a breath of relief.

"Our demand of Sand Village is financial compensation and... the One-Tail," Naruto said. Everyone's eyes widened. "That means you, Gaara, will not be allowed to leave the village." Gaara remained silent.

"But you can join us," Naruto explained. Gaara nodded. He had never truly enjoyed his time in Sand Village. Perhaps things would be different in Konoha.

"What about us?" Temari asked.

"You can stay or go back."

"We'll stay with our little brother," Temari and Kankuro said. Naruto smiled and turned to Maki, who had remained silent the entire time.

"I-I... can't stay here... I have people I know over there," Maki said shakily. Naruto nodded.

"I understand," Naruto said, getting to his feet. "I'm going to find the Fifth Hokage now, since the old man is retiring. When I get back, I'll take you all out for ramen. My treat," Naruto said.

"Ramen?" Gaara asked. They clearly did not have such food where they came from.

"It's delicious. See you in a few days," Naruto said, leaving the Interrogation Department.

Naruto... you're a strange person, Gaara thought.

## Sand Village Council Chamber ##

Of the thousand ninja they had sent out, only a few dozen had survived.

The Sand Village Council had twelve members, but only ten remained. The Kazekage was dead, and Maki, the commander of the Special Jonin, was missing.

"What a mess," Dai said. He was one of the youngest members of the council, recently promoted to Chunin and in charge of Sand Village's intelligence.

"What do we do now?" Qiu asked. Qiu was a middle-aged man who had once been a Special Jonin, before choosing to live as a civilian with his wife and children.

"I say we fight," Chimi said. She was one of the few civilians on the council and the leader of the civilian council that managed all the shops in the village.

"We can't fight. We lost one-fifth of our ninja in that invasion. That attack was a desperate gamble. If Konoha declares war on us, we may not be able to resist," Qiu explained.

"According to the reports, their Jinchuriki was able to defeat Gaara, kill the Kazekage, and take out two hundred of our men with just one technique," Yura said.

Everyone was shocked by such overwhelming power.

"We have no choice but to submit to their terms," Yura sighed.

"We cannot submit to them," Chimi said.

"We violated the peace treaty, invaded them, and lost. We have no choice but to hand over money and the One-Tail," Yura said.

"They want our tailed beast. That is unacceptable," Qiu said.

"Would you prefer war?" Yura asked.

"We can win. We have the home-field advantage," Dai said.

"Konoha is considered the strongest of the Five Great Ninja Villages for a reason. They won all three World Wars, and this invasion proved that their strength has not weakened," Yura explained.

"I told you many times that alliances have made you dependent and weak. I never thought I would see this village fall so far," Chiyo said.

Chiyo was one of Sand Village's elders and the one who had carried out Gaara's sealing.

"How much do they want?" Chimi asked.

"For property damage and loss of life, they demand fifty billion," Yura said.

"That will destroy our economy. We must renegotiate with them," Chimi said.

"These terms are non-negotiable. We should never have trusted Orochimaru," Yura said, shaking his head.

"Then what will be left of this village? Without help, we may no longer be one of the Five Great Ninja Villages," Dai said.

"We must form a new alliance," Qiu explained. Some people nodded. A new alliance would consolidate their growth and allow them to rise again.

"Yes... Send word to the Tsuchikage," Yura said.