`It was the day after the Kyuubi attack and the village was in complete shambles. Buildings were broken and charred, roofs were either detached or broken and if one were to look closely, you could still see fresh blood among the ruins. Ninjas of every rank from genin to ANBU were seen among the remaining villagers trying to rebuild what was left of their homes and lives.
Fugaku Uchiha sighed as he made his way from the Hokage Towers… atleast what's left of it anyway, recalling the conversation he just had with the Third. He just couldn't believe that Minato and Kushina were gone. The Fourth Hokage was dead, no…his best friend was dead. How could he tell his wife Mikoto after all that's happened that her best friend was no longer of this world and what of their baby?
Fugaku let out another sigh as he landed from the roof of a nearby house and finally entered the gates of the Uchiha Compound. " I feel like I've aged 10 years in within 24hrs" he mumbled to himself as he made his way towards the home he shared with his wife and two sons Itachi and Sasuke trying to figure out how to tell the news to his family. He knew his wife would be truly devastated over the loss of her best friend Kushina and her child and 7 year old Itachi, being a genius and ANBU in training, would be sad over the loss of his Hokage and mother-like figure.
"Oh dear you're home" greeted Mikoto as Fugaku made his way into the kitchen. "How are Minato and Shina? I was planning on heading over with the boys later to see how they were doing. Poor Minato should be under a lot of stress right now with all that's happening…" Mikoto said not noticing the way how Fugaku suddenly stiffened at the mention of the Hokage and his wife. "I'm afraid I have some bad news, you should get Itachi and Sasuke and meet me in the family room so I can tell everyone at once'' said Fugaku making his way out the room.
Mikoto's stomach suddenly shifted as she watched her husband leave the room, she knew what her husband had to say wouldn't be good news, hell he said so himself, but she truly hoped that it wasn't as bad as it seemed and if it was she'd leave right after to go comfort her friends, and with that thought Mikoto left the kitchen to collect her sons for the family meeting.
Fugaku Uchiha, a stern man by nature, stood in front of his family and watched as they looked at him expectedly waiting for the news he had to share. He knew Mikoto would take the news hard and his sons would mourn in their own way but they were ninjas and this is just something that they would have to accept no matter how hard it may be.
"The Yondaime and his wife…have passed" Fugaku said with his head bowed.
"W...What? H…h…how?" said Mikoto as she tried to process the words that escaped her husband's mouth. "It seems they sacrificed themselves to kill the nine tails yesterday. Their bodies were found at the last place the fox was last seen." Fugaku said as he tried to relay the news to his family.
"So Yondaime is really gone?" Itachi asked quietly with as much sadness as an Uchiha could show from his place next to his younger brother who didn't seem to understand much of what was going on.
"I'm afraid so" Fugaku replied.
"What of the baby?" Mikoto asked with silent tears as she mourned for the loss of her best friend and husband. "She was 8 months along wasn't she?"
"I... I'm not sure." Fugaku replied "Kushina's body wasn't found with a baby so I'm assuming it's also passed."
A new wave of sadness hit Mikoto as she tried to imagine Kushina and Minato unable to see their son and the poor baby whose life ended before it even began.
"Being the chief of police and close friends of the Yondaime and his wife, the Hokage said he would come by later to give us more details surrounding the incident" Fugaku said as he sat down quietly beside his wife silently mourning the loss of his friends.
Later that evening the Uchiha family, who were formally dressed, stood waiting in the family room for the Hokage to arrive. However, the wait was not long because 10 minutes later a knock was heard at the front door with the Hokage standing at the other side.
Fugaku, dressed in his chief of police uniform, welcomed the Hokage into his home and directed him along with 2 ANBU into the room where his family stood waiting.
"Hokage-sama, thank you for visiting us" Mikoto said with as much grace as a lady Uchiha. "Thank you for welcoming me," the Third replied, "I just wish it was under better circumstances."
Every individual in the room, apart from a nearly oblivious 1yr old Sasuke who was too busy staring at the ANBUs masks, bowed their head in remembrance at the sudden change in mood in the room.
"I suppose I should just cut to the chase" the Hokage began, "I'm aware that Fugaku has told you what I said earlier about the Yondaime and his wife killing the fox but I'm afraid I wasn't entirely truthful about what really happened."
"What do you mean Hokage-sama" Fugaku asked.
"I'm afraid the fox wasn't killed, he was sealed" the Hokage replied grimly.
The three Uchihas, who were of naturally pale skin, all seemed to drop 2 shades lighter and suddenly stiffened at the Hokage's news.
"S…s..sealed into what?" Mikoto asked, suddenly afraid of the answer she'll receive.
"Before the attack Kushina had given birth, the fox was released and Minato left her to try and fight it but it was just too strong. He was about to sacrifice himself but then Kushina arrived and they both…" the Hokage trailed off.
"Both what?" Itachi asked, seemly the only one whom could find their voice at the moment.
"They realized the fox couldn't be killed, so they sealed the demon… into their child… their son" said the Third sadly.
No one knew what to say. Mikoto, forgetting her natural Uchiha farce cried openly at her friends' sacrifice, Fugaku stood stunned and Itachi stood stiff.
Silence reigned in the household for what seemed like hours until someone, whether Mikoto or Fugaku asked about the whereabouts of the child.
The Third Hokage sighed as he considered the questioned aimed at him, 'It's now or never' he thought. "At the sealing Minato stated that he wanted his son to be seen as a hero for his sacrifice but you and I both know that the villagers won't as accepting and forgiving after what the fox as done. Their ignorance shall cloud their sense of judgment for who knows how long so I decided that for his safety to hide his existence and put him up for adoption" the Hokage replied.
"Adoption? You can't put the Yondaime's son up for adoption" Mikoto stated as he started to glare at the somber Hokage.
"I'm afraid I don't have much of a choice. Minato and Kushina don't have any close relatives and Minato's sensei Jiraiya is always out of the village on missions. There's no one else I can trust with such an important task" The Hokage replied.
Silence reigned in the Uchiha household once more before it was broken by the elder Uchiha who seemed to stiffen at his sudden epiphany.
"We'll take him" Fugaku stated with pure determination. He decided he was not going to take no for an answer even if the Hokage denied him. He refuses to let his friend's child suffer in silence at some old home.
"Dear, are you sure about this?" a startled Mikoto asked her husband. Even though she was quite shocked at her husband's demand, she was also very pleased. She would've even made the request herself but she knew dealing with the other Uchiha's in the compound will probably be an issue in the near future if they did actually adopt the baby.
Fugaku, knowing exactly what his wife was thinking nodded with increased determination. He knew bringing a baby that's not an Uchiha into the compound will bring conflict among the others but he was their chief and that damn well counts for something. He will not be cowered down by anyone.
The Third Hokage let a near invisible smile grace his face as he watched the Uchiha's discuss what could possibly be the future of the young child. This exactly what he was hoping for when he planned to visit Fugaku earlier. He really did not want the poor child to suffer anymore and the child needed as much protection as he could get and what better way to have him protected than by placing him into the chief of police's hands?
The Hokage quickly snapped out of his musings after he realized the Uchihas were trying to gain his attention. "I apologize, I'm afraid the pass couple of days have been quite stressful. "
"Understandable Hokage-sama, we were just wondering when would we be able to see the child." Fugaku replied.
"Oh! Well you can see him right now actually. He's right outside with another one of my ANBU. I was actually hoping that you would've agreed to take him in." the Hokage laughed.
The entire room sweat dropped at the Hokage's confession. Why didn't he just say that before?
''Lion, would you please go outside and tell Wolf to bring in the child?" The Hokage said to the ANBU standing beside him.
"Hai Hokage-sama" the ANBU replied and disappeared.
A few moments later the front door could be heard opening and an ANBU with a wolf mask and gravity defying silver hair entered the Uchiha's family room with a small orange bundle in his arms.
The Hokage then stood from his seat and walked over to take the small bundle from the reluctant arms. "I don't think I've told you his name yet have I?" said the Hokage to the Uchihas who were now staring at the bundle trying to see the baby's hidden face.
The Hokage then walked over to Fugaku and placed the slightly wiggling orange wrapped baby in his open arms while removing the blanket from his face.
"His name… is Naruto" The Hokage said while collective gasps were heard throughout the room.
The baby had bright, golden hair, smooth tan skin except for the six marks adorning his cheeks which made him look like a little kitsune and eyes which could rival the sky on a cloudless day. He was absolutely beautiful.
Naruto's curious blue eyes blinked slowly as they tried to adjust to their surroundings, they've been covered for so long that he wondered if the darkness was gonna stay. It was then he noticed the new faces that were looking down at him. He started to wonder if they were nice and warm like the pretty, bright haired people that were crying above him earlier or bad like the people he saw with the wrinkly man but he was just too tired to stay awake so he yawned and snuggled back down into his blanket and went to sleep.
Itachi watched as the little sunshine baby, which he decided to call him, stared at them as if he was analyzing them and then fell asleep in his father's arms. He knows that this baby is gonna bring a great change in his family's lives and he's just fine with it. Why? Because he began to love him as soon as he saw those blue eyes stare up at him. He was now a big brother to two precious little boys and he is going to get stronger so he can protect them with his life. He also knows that Naruto will be targeted a lot because of what's sealed inside him and because he's the Yondaime's heir but no one will dare to touch HIS Naruto or they will face his wrath no questions asked.
The Hokage cleared his throat to gain the attention of the family in the room whose attention was still on the sleeping baby. "I'm afraid I have to get going now" he said "I've been away from the office for too long now and there is still so much left to be done."
"We understand Hokage-sama" Mikoto replied, "Thank you for everything" she added with a slight bow of her head.
"The pleasure was all mine" the Hokage replied as he made his way towards the exit with his ANBU trailing behind. "I'll send an ANBU over later with the rest of Naruto's things. Please let me know if there's anything else you need." He added as they close the door behind him.
"Are you sure he'll be okay here Hokage-sama?" the wolf ANBU asked worriedly as he landed beside the Hokage who was slowly making his way out of the Uchiha district.
"Don't worry Kakashi, the Uchihas may not be as emotional as others but they take care of what's theirs and as of right now, Naruto is a part of their family." The Hokage replied.
"Hai Hokage-sama" the wolf ANBU known as Kakashi replied with a sigh as he jumped back onto the roof tops to trail behind the Hokage. It was too bad he was too young or he would've adopted his sensei's son himself instead of letting him be taken by the Uchihas. But it doesn't matter he thought… He will continue to watch over the son of the man that has been like a father to him. He will protect and care for Naruto as long as he could.
Let me know what you guys think. Should I continue?