Life's greatest lessons are learnt through pain.

Her heart was beating rapdily as she saw the corpse of Hiruzen lay before her. The woman's gaze fell to her sobbing daughter as she held her closer. "Everything will be okay. We are all safe. Don't let his death be in vain. He died to save all of us from Konoha's destruction. We should honor his death to the fullest." She whispered softly and kissed her temple.

"You still tend to comfort me like I am a toddler..." Yukiko chuckled and wiped away her tears. "Well you will always be my child. That's why" (Y/N) explained and stood up. Anbu rushed over to the Hokage and took him to the hospital as quick as they could.

-

Hours of silence passed as Konoha's citizens gathered at the third Hokage's funeral. Soft sobs escaped and silent tears fell down many people's eyes. Yukiko's eyes went over the crowd to spot Asuma who held a sobbing Konohamaru's shoulder to comfort him. Her heart ached seeing that Asuma and him both lost a dear family member. Her gaze shifted around to spot Jiraiya but in vain. She did spot his blonde student but there was no trace of her friend.

Her mother was standing together with the council and tried to keep her posture straight. Her father trusted her to keep the council clean and in order but she sadly didn't have enough willpower to do so. The members were disgusting people and her mother often came home with tears in her eyes because she was ignored. (Y/N) was one of the first council members to get picked but the others looked down at her because she was just a stranger not a real citizen.

It didn't make sense at all. Her mother became a Konoha citizen after she married Tobirama but the old hags that gather to the meetings with her never acknowledged that. (Y/N) sighed and looked down at the ground trying to keep the tears inside. She wouldn't break down before the elders or they would just laugh and joke over her. They were truly toxic and the urge to retire from council service after the Hokage's death became greater and greater second.

As the days passed and the repairs on the city were almost finished the council gathered together for the decision of the new Hokage. (Y/N) wore a formal (f/c) colored kimono as she sat down next to another elder. "We called out this meeting since our dear Lord Hokage left the world of the living. The council adjourned to discuss the fifth Hokage. Possible shinobi to hold this title are the legendary sannin Jiraiya and Senju Tsunade, Senju Yukiko, Shimura Danzo, Sarutobi Asuma and Nara Shikaku. Please decide between these named shinobi." An elder explained and the council nodded.

"Danzo-Sama would be a great Hokage, he was always loyal and a rival to Lord Third." A female elder explained and Danzo nodded. "I would be honored to take over the role of the new Hokage. My dear friend, Lord Third, and I both were shinobis under Lord Second's watch and learned to appreciate the will of fire." (Y/N) sighed and shook her head. "The Second chose Lord Third over you because he had the vision you would not be suited. You lack the will of fire, that's what he told me. I think we should also don't choose Shikaku since he is a great right hand to the Hokage. We need his knowledge somewhere else"

Some elders scoffed and Danzo's mouth got even grimmer. "(Y/N)-san I can't really agree to that. The decision of the second was merely out of the blue. He chose Hiruzen because he volunteered first. I-" "Danzo, do you really think that my late husband's decisions are random? He was a wise man and was great at seeing the greatness of people. He was able to chose Hiruzen as the next Hokage because he was a strong and reliable shinobi. We often talked about you two when we had time. Nothing about your rejection is 'out of the blue'. This theme is done."

Danzo clenched his fists and whispered something beneath his breath before nodding. "Who would you think of as suitable then?" Another elder asked in a mocking tone. The woman easily shrugged that off and gazed down at the shinobis pictures. "I personally think that the legendary Sannin would be suitable shinobi to bear the Hokage name. Jiraiya and Tsunade both got trained under Lord Third and are powerful. Tsunade also bears the Senju blood like Lord First and Second"

"We don't know where this woman is! And Jiraiya is a perverted man, while Tsunade is a drunken gambler" An elder said hysterical and (Y/N) shook her head. "They still stood strong during the second great ninja war together with their third member, Orochimaru, and they are great and wise shinobi. They were taught the will of fire under Lord Third." As the conversation went on and on for five hours (Y/N) finally won with her argumentation. They would ask Jiraiya to take the Hokage title. And if he would decline they would let someone find Tsunade to became one.

"But what if both of the decline?" Danzo asked before the meeting ended. "Then we will call out another gathering." The female said before standing up and leaving the door. Her stomach grumbled heavily and her throat was dry. "Goodness... These old people really are the worst..." She grumbled and a small chuckle errupted from behind her. "Aren't you like one hundred yourself?" She spun around and looked down to meet eyes with a small blonde boy.

"Oh? Aren't you the boy from the chunin exam? Naruto, right? Like the fish cakes!" She smiled and leaned down to meet his eye level. "Yeah. I am! The one and only Uzumaki Naruto! So! Tell me! Will I be the next Hokage?" The woman chuckled and ruffled the boy's hair. "No you won't. But now that I see you I have an important mission for you." His blue eyes sparkled brightly and he nodded. "What is it! Fight an S-Rank ninja! Oh... Escort a prominent person?!"

"No... Could you bring Jiraiya to the Hokage's office please? We need to discuss important things. I think he will be somewhere with my daughter." She stood straight and smiled at his dissappointed face. "I just have to bring the Ero-Sennin? And that old hag is you daughter?" The woman grinned and nodded. "Yes, she is. And I can assure you we may be old but nobody looks as young as us with our age, hm? Now shoo! Go! It is important to bring him as quick as possible!"

"Yeah yeah old hag's mother!"