Shakespeare Challenge Response: Titus Andronicus

Kakashi came up to the podium flanked by the village elders to address the gathered shinobi of Konoha.

“The death of the Fifth was unfortunate and untimely, but we must choose a new Hokage to ensure the safety of the village.”

Naruto sprang up to shove Kakashi away from the podium. “My friends! You all know it has been my dream to become Hokage since I was very young! My father was the greatest of the Hokage! The Fifth gave me this,” Naruto held up the blue crystal necklace, “the necklace of the First! I am destined to become Hokage! Choose me!”

Neji leaped up to replace him. “Naruto has the heart to be Hokage and does possess great skill and comes from a noble bloodline. But it is too soon for him. He is still a Genin! I am also from a noble bloodline with skill nearly as great as the Uchiha! And I have proven myself as a Jounin! My peers, I am a better candidate for Hokage!”

Kakashi moved between them and reclaimed the podium. “You both have great merit and may both be future candidates for Hokage, but the elders and the senior Jounin have decided that Uchiha Sasuke shall be named the Sixth Hokage! Sakura has already been dispatched to inform him of our decision. He sent us the message that he not only defeated Orochimaru and destroyed the Sound village, but he has also brought down the Akatsuki and is gloriously returning to Konoha!”

At that moment Sasuke with his teammates Suigetsu, Jugo, and Karin flanking him and a number of Konoha shinobi, namely Kiba, Shikamaru, Choji, TenTen, and Lee, dragging four prisoners in Akatsuki robes followed close behind. Sakura started to lead the group to the gathering, but Sasuke did not follow her. He led his group to the Uchiha shrine.

“Bring forth the leader of Akatsuki and the most powerful of their ranks, Uchiha Madara.” Kiba and Shikamaru pulled the demasked old man to kneel in front of his great-great-grandson. “Uchiha Madara, you have dishonored your family, conspired to destroy your clan and the village, led my brother astray, and formed and secretly manipulated the Akatsuki organization. For these crimes I, your kin, offer your blood as a sacrifice to our clan.”

“No!” Itachi cried out. “Spare him Sasuke! Victorious Sasuke! Victorious brother! Please! If you ever did loved me, let him live! There is no reason to practically slaughter him in the streets!”

“I am sparing your life, Itachi. If our family is to ever rest in peace, they must be appeased with the blood of the one who slaughtered them.”

“But it was both of us! Extend your mercy to Madara as well! Show your nobility by sparing your own kin!”

“I will not continue to argue with you. Prepare yourself Uchiha Madara.” Sasuke drew his long sword.

“If my life will buy yours Itachi, it is worth the loss.”

“No, Madara!”

Sasuke electrified his sword with Chidori then cut off Madara’s head. Itachi screamed while his fellows, Kabuto and Deidara tried to hold him back.

“If you argue your brother may kill you as well,” Deidara whispered to him. “In a way Madara is lucky, we must live and tremble before Sasuke’s eye and the scorn of your village.”

Kabuto leaned in. “Resolve yourself; you need Sasuke’s favor if we’re to escape torture and demeaning servitude.”

Hidan stood back and did not try to comfort the older Uchiha.

Suigetsu made sure a basin of blood was recovered from the neck of Madara. Jugo took up the head. The two of them and Karin followed Sasuke into the shrine were they lit a fire and placed the head in the fire. As it burned Sasuke raised the basin in offering then drank a mouthful of the blood before pouring the remainder slowly on to the head to be burned up by the intense flame.

“Rest in peace my clan. Let not this traitor enter your company. Rest in peace my family.”

Jugo, Suigetsu, and Karin bowed their heads. Then the four of them came back out as Sasuke wiped blood from his face.

“Now, Sakura,” Sasuke said. “Take us to the gathering.”

Sakura escorted the group to where the village shinobi were gathered. Sakura ran up and kissed Neji on the cheek. Naruto glared at Neji with jealousy.

Sasuke followed less enthusiastically to Kakashi and the podium.

“Long live Uchiha Sasuke! My dear student! We humbly ask you to take up the mantle of Hokage, use your power and skill to serve and protect Konoha, and set a head to headless Konoha!”

The assembled shinobi cheered.

Sasuke stood before the podium and waited for silence. “You do me too much honor. Though I have eliminated all the threats to the village, I did so impulsively, disobeying all orders and counsel. No such man can be accepted as Hokage. You have my thanks, but I cannot take up this honor.”

Sasuke looked to his former teammates. First to Sakura who was attached to Neji’s arm. As her teammate and adopted brother, he had given her and Neji his blessing when she came to tell him of village’s decision. He considered Neji. He would be a strong Hokage and was level headed. But he could be as cold in his analysis as Sasuke himself; they were both likely to make sacrifices that Naruto was known for wanting to avoid. No, Neji was more valuable in the field, the same reason Kakashi was not being made Hokage.

Then Sasuke turned to Naruto. Naruto had heart. And he wasn’t such a great asset in the field. As Hokage he would be shut up in his office most of the time and couldn’t get into trouble. It would also be the fulfillment of his lifelong dream. Who was he to deny him that?

“Fellow shinobi! I ask that you make Uzumaki Naruto the Sixth Hokage! He has the heart and zeal to defend his village! I do not doubt his love for Konoha and its people! If you wish to show me honor, take my words into consideration of your choice!”

Kakashi turned to the elders and the senior Jounin and spoke with them for a minute. As they did Sasuke and Naruto exchanged smiles. Then Sasuke walked over to Sakura and Neji. He apologized to Neji and wished him all the happiness in the world for him and Sakura. Naruto’s eyes hardened.

Kakashi returned to the podium. “My friends! In thanks and to honor Uchiha Sasuke we the elders and Jounin have decided to install Uzumaki Naruto as the Sixth Hokage! May his leadership be wise and may he bring Konoha into another age of prosperity and safety!”

The gathered shinobi cheered. Naruto stepped up to the podium. “Thank you Kakashi, elders, fellow warriors, and my dear friend Sasuke! I promise to be the greatest Hokage to rival my father, the Third!” The shinobi cheered again.

“Now that I’ve become Hokage, the realization of my greatest dream, I think it’s time to realize the other. Sakura, I choose you to be my bride. Be my wife and my aide in ruling the village.”

Sakura stood shocked silent. Neji took an involuntary step forward. Sasuke looked at Sakura who looked to him for help. But they all knew they were all powerless: the Hokage could not demand a woman to marry him, but he could make life intolerable for all those who opposed him.

Sakura looked at Neji and then turned back to Naruto. “It would be an honor, lord Hokage.” She did not sound honored. She took her place at his side.

-----

Later, Naruto, Kakashi, Sakura, Neji, the elders, and Sasuke’s entire entourage crammed into the Hokage’s office. Sasuke knelt before Naruto. “Honorable Sixth Hokage. I ask forgiveness for my desertion of the village.”

“You are forgiven and welcome back to Konoha.”

“Thank you, lord Hokage. I offer you my prisoners. Use them as their deserts dictate to you.”

Kiba, Shikamaru, Choji, and TenTen pushed the four prisoners to kneel just before Naruto’s desk.

Naruto’s eyes were drawn to the elder Uchiha. If I had seen this man before I asked for Sakura’s hand . . .

“I thank you, Sasuke, my dearest friend. Seeing as one is your brother, dear Sasuke, I release these four to make Konoha their home.”

Sasuke stood in shock, but held his tongue. Every person in the room stiffened, but likewise remained silent.

Naruto nodded to them and waved them away.

Once they were all outside, the never impetuous Neji grabbed Sakura by the wrist and pulled her to him. “Sakura is my fiancé and I will not lose her though I give up the seat of Hokage. Even if we are banished from Konoha, I will not allow Naruto to take what he will without regard to what Sakura wants.”

“Neji, don’t. The life of a missing-nin is not something I want for you or Sakura. You will be hunted. And Naruto is sure to send ANBU after you.”

“I care not! I will find refuge in another village.”

“That’s treason, Neji,” Kakashi warned.

“To protect Sakura’s honor, I will dare much more.”

“Sasuke,” Lee said, “you cannot let Sakura be taken against her will by Naruto. How can you not want her to follow her heart?”

“I wish I could, but Naruto is Lord Hokage.”

“We side with Neji,” Karin said.

“Traitors! I cannot let you do this. Forgive me, Neji, Sakura. Naruto! Lord Hokage! Sakura is being taken from you.”

In a flash Naruto burst from the door. “Taken? By who?” he asked as if he didn’t know.

“By her rightful fiancé. You cannot force her to love you!” Neji and Sakura ran away followed by all of Sasuke’s men only Lee lingering.

“Go, I will bar the way.”

“Out of the way, Lee, you dishonor us all by barring the Hokage from his desire.”

“You must forgive me, Sasuke, but I will always come to Sakura’s aide.”

“Out of the way!” Sasuke pulled his sword. Lee was able to block Sasuke’s blows with his arms and legs, but without any further skill in ninjutsu, he could not defend himself from Chidori. Lee fell dead at his feet.

“I will recover her, Lord Hokage.”

“No, I don’t need her. If she doesn’t want me even now, then Neji can have her. I don’t need her or you and your follows. You’re all banished from Konoha from now on. Go away.”

“Naruto?”

“Go!” Naruto turned to Itachi who stood by confused by the sudden strange events. “Itachi, you are more beautiful than Sakura and have proven more loyal to Madara than your brother to me or to the village. If being married to a man, a Hokage, is not disgusting to you, would you be my . . . wife?”

“I’m not sure about wife, but I will serve you honorably and with all my heart. Thank you my Lord Hokage.”

Sasuke stood dumb as he watched the brother he so despised and hunted was elevated to mate and advisor to the Hokage. His friend. And to be banished.

Sasuke wondered out as Kakashi consulted with the elders. Not finding anything he could do to rectify the situation, Kakashi ran after Sasuke, but could not find him. He heard a commotion coming from the village gates. He hoped the renegades and Sasuke were there.

Sasuke’s followers along with Neji, Sakura, and their followers were protesting at the gate. Kakashi tried to calm them and find Sasuke among them, but he wasn’t there. And then he saw him. Sasuke was alone with his few possessions in a bag thrown over his shoulder, solemnly walking toward the village gate to begin his new exile.

“Sasuke.” Suigetsu came up to him. “Come with us. If we cannot sway the people of Konoha to our cause, we’ll establish a new village.”

“Away, all of you; you have dishonored me. Because of your foolishness, my brother is now married to the Hokage. All my pains, all my deeds, all my training mean nothing now. You have all dishonored me.”

“Sasuke,” Kakashi said, “the Hokage doesn’t have the right to take any bride he may demand; your followers are in the right. I and the elders will try to persuade Naruto to change his mind. I know he loves you as a friend and values you. He just needs to calm down and it’d all be alright.”

Sasuke shook his head and resumed his way to the gates, the crowd parting in respect for him.

“What is this?!” Naruto yelled at the assembly with Itachi at his elbow, Kabuto, Hidan, and Deidara behind him. “Do I have to suffer your rebellion, Sasuke?!”

Sasuke stopped and turned to address Naruto. “Not mine, Lord Hokage. I go to my exile, these others are not mine.”

“Lord Hokage,” Sakura came up. “Naruto. Sasuke had nothing to do with this. He killed Lee, a faithful follower in protecting your honor. If you ever loved me, be friends again.”

Itachi pulled Naruto back so he could whisper to him. “Sasuke gave you the mantle of Hokage. If you show so much ingratitude, his and Neji’s followers will win over the village and they will cast you out. If you want to remain as Hokage, you must show mercy and forgiveness. Forgive him and Sakura and Neji. If you still want revenge for this insult, forgive them now and I’ll make your vengeance our sport.”

Naruto leaned back and considered.

Banishment is too good for my brother, Itachi thought. If he stays in Konoha I can devise a worse punishment for him and with the Hokage’s ear, I can execute it.

“Sasuke,” Naruto called out with his hand extended. “Forgive me. You know I’m a short tempered idiot. And Sakura, forgive me. I shouldn’t try to force you to love me. And Neji, as my dear Sakura’s husband, how can I not love you. Sasuke, come here.” Sasuke came up and Naruto embraced him. “How can I say mad? You brought me the guy I’m going to marry. You won’t be dishonored in my village.”

“Thank you, Lord Hokage.”

“Naruto. Naruto to you, always.” Naruto turned to Itachi. “Come, let’s get hitched!” Itachi spared a mocking glance for his brother before following his lord.