Naruto and all of its characters are owned by Masashi Kishimito. Elin, Rainy, Alsy, Jura, Sari, FayeVillage and about 90% of this story belongs to me so please ask before using. Mature contents in future chapters.

Prologue

"How long would you need?"

Kakashi's silver gaze rested on the scenic view beyond the window. A family of small tawny birds sang an ode to the morning star and the autumn breeze carried it towards the busy town.

"Would a year be too much?" He tightened the grip around the paper object inside his pocket.

Tsunade choked on her disbelief. "Damn right it would!"

The jonin nodded following the small group as they journeyed away from the frightening voice. How he envied them.

"I want to retire soon Hatake, look at me!" She pointed at the seemingly permanent dark bags under her brown eyes and the jonin nodded in solidarity. Even her golden hair had lost its sheen.

He too had been exhausted by the reconstruction work done after the war and he understood she had to deal with a completely different level. A level which she had been trying to pass off to him and which the cloudy haired younger man did not feel ready to take.

"I understand Tsunade-sama. But if possible, I would really like to take care of these personal issues first and then accept the position."

"But you would take it?"

He nodded.

"You promise you would take it?"

Again, a solid and trusting yes.

"I still can't do a year." She leaned against the back of her chair, her elbows propped on the leathered arms while her fingers laced in front of her bust.

"How about half?"

She closed her eyes. "Nope."

Kakashi figured.

"What exactly are you looking for?"

He scratched the back of his head nervously. Honesty may give him at least a few months. "My mother."

Tsunades eyes opened, the golden hues of her irises layered with a sympathetic sheen. "Are you sure?"

Kakashi lowered his eyes to the floor where towers of sunlight continued to lick at the shadows, painting the polished wood a golden hue. "I would like to find her grave and pay my respects. If possible, take some time to learn about her." Walk the same streets she did, and greet the people who may have greeted her.

That plea was much harder to say no to.

"And you have a lead?"

He nodded finally meeting her eyes confidently. "I recovered a single picture of my childhood from the wreckage. It was addressed to Risa Kido in Faye Village." The only object that had survived from the box of memories his father had left him and that Kakashi had never been brave enough to open.

The Hokage nodded. "I see." She filled her lung with a taste of autumn air. "I'll concede three months."

Kakashi smiled finally regaining enough comfort to let his shoulders ease down just a bit.

"That should be enough for you to learn about her and your entire family history. Find yourself, tighten any lose threads in your life and come back a whole man." He'd need it. To help the world heal and and move on, Hatake Kakashi would need to heal himself first.

"Thank you Tsunade-sama."

"But!" Her sharp words stiffened the jonin's back. He was still in the presence of the revered fifth Hokage. "Since you're going there anyway, might as well keep your shinobi sense sharpened."

"Hmm?"

"I just need you to look around, see what's going on in the village and report any suspicious activity."

"Anything specific I should look out for?"

She sighed throwing her head back over the edge of the seat. Just one month after fighting back the worst enemy the world had ever seen and she had to resume babysitting other countries while trying to rebuild her own. Tsunade felt the muscles of her neck loosen. "Two days ago a group of students were arrested. They were planning to kidnap outsiders and experiment on them, but their ultimate goal is unclear." Her pink lips parted as she breathed out a cluster of tension. "It seems there are some who would like to return to their old ways and where there is one roach, there are many."

"I'll stay vigilant."

"Also, just to be sure you're not going to run away I need you to sign the Transfer of Power agreement before you go." She buried herself under the large oak desk, opening and closing drawers while trying to remember where exactly Shizune had saved that paper.

"But I thought I'd do that the day of the ceremony."

"Nope." The mountain of papers trembled as she closed another drawer. "I'm having you sign it right now and you'll perform one executive order to make it official. We'll just keep this between us until you come back , but if you so much as try to hide from me I will find you and drag you back here with an entire ANBU squad."

And now he couldn't even entertain that thought.

"So think carefully about what you want your first decision as Hokage to be, because you're about to do it as soon as I find this paper."

"Hmm..." Well, it's not like he hadn't already thought about it.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! And thank you Sillykar18 for giving this the green light before posting!

The outline to this story is completely done and a few chapters have already been written. Updates will be done once a week, on the same day (Friday's) preferably in the morning but that will depend on how my day is looking.

The story takes place a month (more or less) after the 4th Great Shinobi War. Kakashi did not take the position of Hokage right away and instead chose to fulfill a certain duty first (which will be the basis of this story). Aside from this point I will do my best to stick to the canon plot as much as possible.

Reviews, questions, concerns and constructive criticism are more than welcomed (very much encouraged) so please take the time to drop a little something there. I would also appreciate the wise tutelage of a person versed in erotic writing. It's still an area where I feel I could use a second opinion so if anyone has the time and patience please content me.

See you in a week!

Xo

Rhiuss