The Jonin Council Meeting

When Kakashi Hatake got serious, he was extremely reliable. Whether as a comrade or a friend, he could be trusted.

The problem was that he was often anything but serious.

Every so often, he would also sink into a depressed mood.

There was no helping it. What had happened to him really was tragic enough.

"Oh, right..." Kakashi suddenly draped an arm over Naraku's shoulders and asked quietly, "Everyone else in the Anbu got better benefits. What about me? Why am I still getting the same as before?"

"You're the Anbu Commander!"

"If you want a raise, go ask the Third Hokage yourself!"

Naraku acted as though he had heard nothing and simply waved Kakashi off to the Hokage, telling him not to bring it to him.

"Ugh, I'm an Anbu member too."

Giving up, Kakashi Hatake took out Icha Icha Paradise again and began reading it intently.

"I forgot to congratulate you, Kakashi. You're about to become the Deputy Jonin Commander..."

Aside from the usual routine business, the meeting Naraku and Kakashi were heading to would also include the announcement of Kakashi's appointment as Deputy Jonin Commander.

The jonin council mainly helped the Hokage manage the village's jonin. After all, jonin were the village's strongest forces, and decisions concerning their various affairs were all important.

Just as Hiruzen Sarutobi had served as Hokage for years, Shikaku Nara had also served as Jonin Commander for a long time, and Konoha's jonin approved of his work and were satisfied with it.

"Shikaku has been doing a great job. My position will just be in name."

Kakashi himself did not particularly care, but Naraku gave it more thought.

Shihōin Naraku was the Anbu's deputy commander, yet he managed two organizations within the Medical Department and enjoyed considerable prestige there.

Kakashi Hatake was the Anbu Commander, yet now he was also taking on the role of Deputy Jonin Commander.

What was the Third Hokage thinking?

Naraku had not figured it out either, but he vaguely felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi seemed to be choosing between him and Kakashi for some task.

At this point, Naraku had yet to realize that this was a choice concerning Hokage candidates.

He could hardly be blamed, though, because Shihōin Naraku knew the plot: his teacher, Tsunade, would succeed as Konohagakure's Fifth Hokage.

With that premise in mind, he had overlooked Konoha's current circumstances.

With the Third Hokage still alive and Jiraiya and Tsunade yet to return to the village, Naraku and Kakashi, as members of the Hokage's faction, really did appear to be very suitable Hokage candidates.

Chatting as they went, Shihōin Naraku and Kakashi Hatake soon arrived at the jonin council's meeting venue.

"Yo..."

The moment the two stepped into the meeting room, a green figure bounded over, nearly knocking Naraku and Kakashi down.

"Let's burn together! With today's youth!"

Might Guy sprang out, as spirited and excited as ever.

Naraku hurriedly left him to Kakashi and went to greet his other friends.

Kakashi wanted to leave with him, but Might Guy latched onto him, leaving him no choice but to stare at Guy with dead-fish eyes.

"My eternal rival, Kakashi Hatake! How about a battle? It's been so long!"

"No!"

Kakashi Hatake waved him off with a flat refusal. He had absolutely no intention of fighting Might Guy.

One intense battle would leave his whole body aching for days. Kakashi had no desire to make himself suffer.

"Naraku-"

Having just finished greeting his comrades and friends, Naraku was about to sit down, but before he could settle into his chair, a figure crashed into him, nearly making him stumble and fall.

"What is it now, Anko?"

Naraku turned his head and found Mitaraishi Anko already pressed right up against him.

Don't do this. Uzuki Yugao isn't here yet, but she could show up at any moment.

"Don't get so close. Behave and sit down. The meeting will start soon."

"Tch!"

Mitaraishi Anko sat up properly and bit off the last dumpling, chewing away. "Those guys are so slow. The meeting won't start for ages."

"Want to go get dumplings after the meeting? Your treat."

Naraku turned and looked Mitaraishi Anko up and down. She was young and pretty, with a nice figure.

"I'm telling you, if you keep eating like this, you'll turn into a fat girl sooner or later!"

Mitaraishi Anko absolutely loved sweets. Most of the time when he saw her, she would have a bamboo skewer from some glutinous rice dumplings between her teeth.

It was only because she got so much exercise as a ninja that Anko had not already become terribly overweight.

"You've got to be kidding..."

Anko paid no attention whatsoever to Naraku's warning.

Still, their exchange made it clear that the two were on good terms.

The main reason was that both had received instruction from Orochimaru. Ever since Orochimaru defected, Anko had faced plenty of trouble because of her status as his student.

Naraku was different. He was indeed Tsunade's student and had merely studied under Orochimaru. He had not been implicated and had even helped Anko several times, which had brought the two quite close.

Many people around them were chatting just like Naraku and Anko, each seeking out familiar friends they were close to.

As time passed, the members of the jonin council gradually gathered. Apart from a few who could not attend because of critical missions, all of Konoha's other jonin were present.

Shikaku Nara arrived shortly afterward and began presiding over the meeting.

Kakashi Hatake, who was making an effort to perk up, was also called to the front. After his appointment as Deputy Jonin Commander was announced, the meeting continued.

They quickly discussed and settled several important matters.

By the latter half of the meeting, all that remained were exceedingly trivial nuisances.

The jonin began letting their attention wander, busying themselves with their own affairs in their seats.

Shikaku Nara was helpless too. Some of the jonin seated below him had more seniority than he did. What could he say?

Naraku was just as bored. Going over his plans in his mind, he had long since let his thoughts drift far away.

Only after a long while did the jonin council meeting finally end.

Because of their missions, many of the jonin had not seen one another in quite some time, so they agreed to go out for a meal.

Shihōin Naraku, Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Asuma Sarutobi, and several others went to a restaurant together.

Uzuki Yugao and Mitaraishi Anko followed behind Naraku. Uzuki Yugao was his girlfriend, while Anko was his supporter.

Tenzo (Yamato) followed Kakashi Hatake, still looking somewhat reserved.

Asuma Sarutobi, meanwhile, was talking quietly with Kurenai Yuhi. From Kurenai Yuhi's bright red face, it was clear that Asuma was talking dirty.

Might Guy bounced along merrily on his own.

Not long after everyone sat down at the restaurant, Ibiki Morino, Aoba Yamashiro, Genma Shiranui, and others arrived, and they began their meal together.

The jonin gathered here occupied Konohagakure's middle and upper ranks. Even the Third Hokage sometimes could not ignore their opinions.

Of course, some of those present did not actually qualify to participate, whether because of their strength or their seniority.

Anko and Uzuki Yugao, for example, had sufficient seniority but lacked the strength.

Tenzo had enough strength, but very little seniority.

As for Kurenai Yuhi, she had only recently become a jonin. Her strength could barely be considered adequate, while her seniority was practically nonexistent.

Without Naraku, Kakashi, and Asuma bringing them in, these people would not have entered Konoha's decision-making circle anytime soon.

After the gathering ended, Naraku promptly chased off Mitaraishi Anko, who could not take a hint and still wanted to tag along, and took Uzuki Yugao for a stroll through the streets in the moonlight.

Watching a group of youngsters run past them, laughing and playing, Naraku looked at Uzuki Yugao and said:

"Yugao, would you like to become an instructor and lead a genin team?"

"Huh? Why so sudden?"

Surprise appeared on Uzuki Yugao's lovely face. She was doing perfectly well in the Anbu.

Because the Konoha Konoha 12 are about to graduate.

No, that's not right. The genin team Might Guy leads graduated last year. They just didn't take the chunin ninja exams, to be safe.