"Leave... leave him alone!" shouted a feminine voice from behind Dix. He was still crouching over Gaara, when Temari, the closest to them to get knocked out, stumbled into the clearing with her hand on her head. She was in a bad shape, but she still managed to get herself to move and help his brother. As she was positioned directly behind Dix, she couldn't see what he was doing, so Dix just answered this as he stood up:
"Don't worry. I don't want to hurt him, just made sure he is still alive. I am done with him, you can take him home. I've already stopped the invasion, so you ought to be going."
"What...? The invasion... You?!" Temari asked, doubting every single word of her 'enemy'.
"Well, see for yourself. Baki will be escorted out of the village soon, after he is interrogated. You guys were set up by Orochimaru to attack us, so you won't be held responsible. Go and take care of your brother. Bye now." he said, then teleported back to Konoha, as the invasion was concluded successfully. If he sensed it right, not a single Konoha soldier or civilian was lost in the fights, unlike the aggressors' troops. Hidden Sand and Sound lost quite a bit of their fighting force with this.
He went back to where he left Hiruzen at. It's only been around 10 minutes since he left, so he was speedrunning quite well. He was sure the Third and his entourage will still be there, which he turned out to be right about. As he got back Hiruzen was doing everything in his power to get as much info out of one of the clones about Dix's exploits as possible. When he returned every clones dispersed at once, making the audience go silent and turn towards the new one arriving.
"I'm sorry, Uncle Hiruzen, I've never told you about my powers, but it would've been quite problematic to reveal them unless I am confident I can defend myself."
"I... Ah... I don't really understand what could be so threatening for you to go to such lengths. Why would you try to hide?" Hiruzen asked, seemingly sweating bullets and heavily confused. Its obvious he was nervous, he gave access of the FTGT to a little monster like Dix. He was quite sure he would not be dangerous for the village, but he couldn't help but wonder. If he was able to hide his powers, maybe he also hides his real personality or goals.
"Its the Akatsuki, obviously. I was already notified of their goals and strength. They want to take me, and the village won't be able to defend me. Actually it will be the other way around." Dix answered blankly. He had to be careful not to reveal things he isn't supposed to know yet.
"I-... I see. That is certainly a possibility. Then, as the Hokage of the village, Naruto, I'd like to formally ask for your help. I hope you will assist us." Hiruzen continued, still quite nervous. He was facing a huge independent and mostly unknown variable. And he hated having those on his board.
"Obviously. That's what my goals always were. By the way, if we are at this topic already, I have something to ask of you, Uncle Hiruzen."
"Most certainly. Let us hear it." Hiruzen said, a bit more relaxed now.
"I have to ask you to retire from being the Hokage." Dix answered, with not much color in his voice, like he was asking about the weather. For Hiruzen it came like a cold shower combined with a hammer hit on his head. Everyone around was silent, as the hero of the village was talking with the Hokage, but hearing this almost all the audience started making noise, mostly barely muted remonstrance.
"I... I won't stand in your way, Naruto, but you have to know that being a Hokage is way more than simply having power..." Hiruzen tried to collect his thoughts and made an attempt at deterring Dix, but was quickly interrupted.
"Oh, gods, no. Don't misunderstand me, Uncle Hiruzen." he said, then looked around, seeing the many faces that had mixed expressions, like fear and indignation. "I am not here to usurp the seat of the top dog of the village. I am more than strong enough to do so, but that's not what I want. I am willing to defend the village, but I won't deal with the administrative part for sure. Also I am quite young. The power I have didn't make me as delusional to think I could effectively run the place they way I am. But you, Uncle Hiruzen, you are old. I don't think this will come as a surprise to you, but if I were to let you fight Orochimaru on the rooftop alone, you would've died. You were a good Hokage, but you have to step aside and give way to the younger generation. I already know a really good candidate, you just have to give in your resignation." Dix explained.
He saw many different emotions forming on the faces of the many jonins around him, that all were respectable members of Konoha. They were mostly relieved, as if someone like Dix, a 12 year old kid were to take over the village, there were bound to be a mountain of problems appearing. Deterring him would've been impossible though, as he had the power to defend the whole village against two other at once, alone. He probably had the power to destroy Konoha if he wanted to.
Some had a hard time understanding whats going on. Nothing similar has ever happened before anywhere. This should've never happened if the world followed any common logic. Yet they saw a 12 year old with a prowess way surpassing the Hokage's tell that actual person to hand over their seat. It was outrageous, but they couldn't even think of resistance. Hiruzen didn't have to think much about his answer though.
"I see, that is certainly commendable that you don't try to take everything for yourself. I would agree right away, but I want to ask, who do you have in mind?"
"Your old disciple, Lady Tsunade. She will be a great Hokage, she just has to be brought back."
"She really has the capabilities, but we really don't have any idea where she could be. How could we find her?" asked Hiruzen, not knowing what to do. It has been quite a while since the last time he had to speak in such a tone and openly show he lacked at anything at all.
"Don't worry about, just ask Jiraiya. He will have a very good sense at where we could start looking for her. I'll also accompany him. I'll leave a few clones around here so you won't be left defenseless." Dix explained his intentions. Hearing this many jonins looked at each other. It was quite humiliating to hear a 12 year old talk about them like snotty brats that can't even defend themselves. But they knew he had a point. If he didn't stop the invasion alone, they would've lost quite a lot of good men on the battlefield that day.
"I see, that is certainly assuring. I think you will have a hard time convincing her. She has a bad history when it comes to the word 'Hokage'. I am willing to cooperate thought. As soon as Tsunade enters my office I'll officially resign and pass my position over."
"Great, that is what I had in mind. Now I'll look for Jiraiya and bring him over so we can discuss the details." he said, then teleported away. As soon as he disappeared Hiruzen just sighed.
"What a troublesome child..." he mumbled, then turned around to move back to the Hokage's Office.
Dix on the other hand went to the center of the village and sent out a few clones to search for Jiraiya. He knew he will be somewhere in Konoha, as he was supposed to help defend it at the latter part of the invasion. In a few minutes he was rounded up and taken to Hiruzen. They together discussed the details, Jiraiya expressed his concerns at this idea, knowing full well how much this title will repulse Tsunade, but he understood the circumstances and Dix's point, so he agreed to help look for her. He said he had her tracked once in a while, so he kinda knows what she usually does.
They decided to set out in the next few days to look for her. They will have to travel for a while, trying to find her tracks, but Jiraiya was quite confident at finding her. Dix couldn't really care about who will be the Hokage, or if Hiruzen stays in power or not. He had an important mission to do. Itachi and Kisame, two of the Akatsuki will try to ambush him in an inn somewhere on the road. He absolutely wanted to take that opportunity to fuck them over. Actually he thought of helping Itachi and getting him back to Konoha. That would be quite hard though with many complications. He will have to think this trough quite well.
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