flypaw

Word Count: 2138
Summary: He appointed himself Chief, but Naruto had ulterior motives.
Pairing: Itachi x Naruto

Panjandrum.

(An Important or Self-Important Official)

27/01/10

Fukasaku had the urge to smash his head against a brick wall and all Ma was doing was chuckling. Gamakichi was off to the side yet even he had a smile on his lips, and Fukasaku was willing to bet that the Elder Toad was watching through his crystal ball and laughing as well.

"Well?" Naruto crouched down so he could see Fukasaku at a better level, a curious look on his face. He was still in Sage mode, yet Fukasaku hadn't had time to marvel at the amount of time Naruto had taken to perfect it. When he had left Myobokuzan last time (technically the first time, back when Pein had attacked Konoha), everyone had held their doubts about whether Naruto could pull it off in full battle, but he had managed to combine using the Kyuubi's chakra to support him while he gathered chakra to enter Sage mode.

Even without the chakra from the Kyuubi to act as a mediary, all the toads here agreed that Naruto would have found a way to do this. He was Naruto, after all, accomplished in the arts of impossible.

"It's... an interesting proposal," was the least Fukasaku could say before he was hit round the cheek with a dishcloth.

"I think it's a brilliant idea, Naruto!"

Naruto grinned, "Thanks Ma!"

Fukasaku watched as his wife blushed, waving a webbed hand towards the newfound bane of his existence. Ever since Naruto had arrived he had politely thanked Ma for the cooking and won her heart. He didn't even like half of the things, Fukasaku knew.

"Ma, we don't need him to be a Chief or whatever he wants to be. We're toads, what do we need with a Chief to act between us and, well, everyone?"

Naruto shook his head, looking at Ma with a troubled face. "He just doesn't get it, does he Ma?"

Naruto smiled as Ma turned to her husband with a frown. "Be more supportive! Naruto has been so kind to our household and all you do is criticise him! I should have married Naruto!"

Naruto looked startled for a moment and shifted in his seat. "Ma, you know-"

Ma turned to look at him with sadness in her eyes. "Of course I know." She rounded on Fukasaku, "Why are all the good ones gay?" Fukasaku sighed in frustration; how was that his fault!

"Now, Naruto, why don't we go see the Elder Toad and get you an official title."

Fukasaku was outnumbered as Gamakichi delivered them to the Elder Toad's home and Naruto was made an offical Chief amongst toads. Somehow this was going to be the beginning of trouble, only, Fukasaku seemed to be the only one who knew.

Instead of hanging out at his home, Naruto found enough time to visit Myobokuzan every single day. Everyone found it sweet how Naruto was taking to his new position, helping all the toads from collecting grubs to babysitting the tadpoles. It was ridiculous; the man who was tipped to become the next Hokage discussing timings of growing up with mothers who are watching in at the creche.

"Well he has been respondant to the change in water temperature and his legs have split from his tail now. It's just a matter of time," said one mother to a concerned Naruto.

"Of course it won't be too long, but we have to wait for nature to take its course."

Fukasaku watched in fascination as Naruto responded to the needs of all the mothers, gently reassuring any worries and tending to the slight needs of the tadpoles, making sure that they weren't left out of the conversations simply because they couldn't speak yet.

Even though he had given himself a title, Naruto seemed dedicated to prove that he was a vital member of the community, something everyone loved. Maybe it was just Naruto who hadn't realised it yet, but from the moment Jiraiya had taught him how to summon, Naruto had been part of the family. They didn't need a Chief to make them all realise this.

"I was thinking about holding an open summoning course. You know, introduce people who can summon dogs to people who can summon toads. You can get some amphibian-mammal interaction and get other species to not eat you."

While it was a smart idea on paper, Fukasaku predicted the amount of planning and things that could go wrong to outweigh all things that could go well.

So, what did Naruto do? He arranged the thing. Because he was the Chief, a human liason for the toads, and so it was important to form bonds. Especially as any conflict had died down for the moment and the Ninja nations had decided to form alliances after the abolishment of the Akatsuki.

Of course the members were still around after the death of their leader, but without Tobi, the group were respondant to normal life. Well, the ones left, and it was normal to them alone.

At least they would be until the Hunter Nin caught up with them, but for now, Pein, Konan, Kisame and Itachi seemed to have escaped all contact with the outside world.

Which was perhaps why Naruto invited them as his guests of honour, and the only guests. Apparently no one else had wanted to join in once they knew that four extremely talented and feared post-Akatsuki members were involved.

Fukasaku had volunteered to be there as Naruto's toad counterpart and they waited at the designated place that Naruto had set, alone.

"They should be here in five to ten minutes," Naruto repeated, eyes trained around them to look for any approaching post-Akatsuki members.

"Why did you choose them?" Fukasaku whispered, eyes scanning for them.

"Because they're misunderstood. Sure they were mean and bad when back in the Akatsuki, but they're nice people deep down."

Fukasaku scoffed; maybe Naruto had lost more of his brain since becoming Chief. "So two former war orphans who just happen to rule over the waring nation of Ame, one former member of the bloody mist who owns a sword that literally has a mind of its own and one man who has the most powerful Dojutsu to ever come from Konoha and killed his family, are all misunderstood?"

Naruto smiled. "Exactly."

Something just didn't add up here and Fukasaku wondered what exactly Naruto had been doing the times he returned to Konoha. Perhaps there was something in the water.

"I'll let you in on a little secret. Being Chief is nice and all, but it's my cover for my friends. You see, I'm on a top secret mission." Naruto winked and stood up, facing nothing.

A few moments later, four people emerged from the foliage and the post-Akatsuki met Naruto's smile with blank faces.

"Welcome. I am Uzumaki Naruto and my toad summon counterpart here is Fukasaku-sama." While the newfound respect was nice, Fukasaku wondered now exactly what Naruto's agenda was. Did he think he could take on all four of these people win? No matter how brilliant he was, to stand up alone against them all was suicide.

"And you are Konan, no summons to speak of, Pein, while technically Nagato can summon a lot he's not here, Hoshigaki Kisame, again no summons to speak of and Uchiha Itachi, summoner of birds."

"Impressive," Pein said, an eyebrow raised. "Someone has evidently done their homework, but if you know all this, why exactly are we here?"

Fukasaku watched as Naruto stood up and followed uncertainly. From his point of view, everything looked rather tall and even more threatening. Until Naruto scooped him up, of course.

"Simply extending an invitation. You're not after me anymore, your group has proven that you're peaceful and there have been more than a few rumours that you've stopped the fighting in Ame."

Fukasaku wondered where exactly Naruto had gotten his information. During a monthly gathering, the Elder Toad had mentioned something big that would include resolution of the war in Ame, but they knew the Toad's predictions usually waited a while before actually happening. If anyone was the first to know, it would be the Elder Toad... and now Naruto.

"So, if you wish to accept, I offer Konoha's alliance."

Naruto's statement was met with silence as no one was quite sure what to say. It was obviously not what anyone was expecting and Pein took a moment to glance at the woman by his side.

"Naruto," Fukasaku began, shifting in the blond's arms. It wasn't so much that Naruto was determined to make friends (because now he knew that Naruto was crazy and expected such insane ideas), but it was the fact he had extended Konoha's alliance.

He had spoken on behalf of a whole nation, one that had extended its own hand into a peace with all other nations. If Naruto had the power of the post-Akatsuki group behind him, it would include Ame, the only Rinnegan user in the world, a Sharingan master, a woman who's talents seemed endless and a man who had the ability to control any body of water in amazing strength.

"I shall give you a while to decide. I'll meet you back here in about an hour?"

Without waiting for a solid answer, Naruto carried Fukasaku away. They landed by a large tree and Naruto place the toad down carefully.

"Naruto?"

It was odd having Naruto be so silent and yet Fukasaku was unsure what to do. He was terrible at offering any form of comfort and Naruto looked as if he was in a world of his own.

"The terms of candidacy for the seat of Hokage. Can you remember what one of the terms is?"

Fukasaku wracked his brain, trying to think of what Naruto could possibly be referring to. It didn't come as a surprise that he was considering submitting his name, or at least had been recommended, but he couldn't remember anything specific about terms.

"Well, you have to prove your intent to the village. The Shodai Hokage founded the village and was voted, the Nidaime was elected by the people following his brother, remaining in the Hashirama clan. He then chose Sarutobi in a war and Sarutobi chose Minato. Minato died and Sarutobi took over to his death and then Tsunade took over."

Fukasaky looked blankly, failing to see why the history of the five Hokages was important at this moment in time. Naruto huffed in frustration.

"Don't you see? They each hold something pivotal. Shodai and Nidaime were the founders and builders of Konoha, Sarutobi coasted the village and smoothed the progression to a full nation, Minato was elected because he was insanely strong and Tsunade because she is one of the Sannin and a tremendous healer."

He paused for a moment before continuing. "I was walking in the Kage tower the other day when I heard the members of the Council talking about what was needed. They want Ame in on the pact. If we get Ame, then people can rest a little easier knowing that the Rinnegan is in an alliance and that we are willing to help them. Understand?"

Fukasaku nodded, amazed at the planning that had obviously been going on in Naruto's head. He had managed to single out the one thing everyone would die to do, arrange a coverup so that he could execute said plan in silence and had already struck, unaware to everyone else.

He was a genius in the non-defined, non-conventional sense.

"I get them to agree, I have leverage against anyone who wants to talk about the Kyuubi." Naruto's eyes glittered. "And I have an excuse to see a very fine specimen of a human."

Fukasaku looked back to where they had come, the words only just filtering through. He threw a wide-eyed look back at Naruto, who was grinning.

"I don't want to know," the toad admitted and began hopping back, knowing that the hour had flown by.

Neither were disappointed when they saw the Akatsuki there, and Naruto straightened up, nodding to each of the post-Akatsuki politely.

"We'll agree upon terms we set. Perhaps we should meet with your Hokage with a proposed list of terms?"

Naruto smiled and nodded, "Thank you. Shall I contact you with a date and we'll visit you?"

Nagato, who had spoken, nodded and turned. It was a short encounter, seemingly pointless to the outside, but everyone involved knew that it wouldn't just be a proposal. The next time they met, Naruto would be signing off a deal.

Fukasaku watched as one of the members lingered, dark eyes searching Naruto. Naruto stepped up to Itachi and smiled.

"Thank you," he said. It was ambiguous, hinting to a thousand things and covering up a hundred more.

"You know," Naruto said, glancing over to Fukasaku. The toad took that as his cue to leave and moved off, fighting the urge to laugh as Naruto completed his sentence.

"I'm in a position of authority, the Chief of toads."

A chuckle and then silence after that. Fukasaku could only guess as to what he had left behind and knew Ma would have a field trip.

He'd give the boys a chance first, though, before he let out the crazy woman.