Evidence of Naruto's bicosm emerged early in his life, but it was mistakenly diagnosed as paracosm, in which a person possessed a vivid imagination of a detailed fictional world. Before Naruto Uzumaki, there was no such precedence in the medical science that an individual can experience two lives at once. There have been no recorded cases ever found in the Alteran, Asgardian, or the Nox database. As such, Naruto Uzumaki remains the only case of biocosm in scientific history. - Wikipedia entry excerpt on Naruto Uzumaki
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Konoha Ninja Academy
Konoha, PX-615
The playground of the Konoha Ninja Academy was completely silent, and not for the lack of children either. Rather, the children stood deadly still around an invisible circle, casting their sights on the four in the middle. One blonde-haired boy with whisker marks glared across at three bigger boys. The blonde scrunched up his face, while the trio smugly smiled.
"Your father must not care a lot about you," a bully taunted. "After all, nobody likes you."
Naruto Uzumaki's hands coiled into fists. His muscles tensed, ready to strike.
"Hell, your mom must be a whore!"
"My mom is NOT A whore!" the blond boy exploded. "And my father is always on missions. His name is Minato Namikaze and he's going to be the best soldier in the galaxy, just like General Jack O'Neill. BELIEVE IT!"
The bully and friends simply stared at him. They had no understanding of what the latter half meant, but it sounded good nonetheless.
Finally, one of them spoke up, "What's a galaxy? Who's Minato Namikaze?" Suddenly, all the tension in the world broke. Instead of the fight they were looking for, the children were overcame with intense curiosity.
"Wait a minute, you don't know what a galaxy is?" Naruto asked in confusion, scratching his head. The children shook their head. Didn't everyone know what a galaxy is? But at least they aren't dissing his mother anymore. "A galaxy is a..."
Nearby in a tree, an ANBU took note of the unusual conversation. The ninja silently scribbled down every single word. Naruto defused the fight on his own, which preempted the "teacher appearance by coincidence" method of conflict resolution. That was notable in itself. What he didn't get is the content of the impromtous question and answer section. It sounded like cosmology, yet it isn't. But that isn't his job to evacuate. The Hokage will do that.
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Hokage Tower
Konoha, PX-615
Paperwork. It's the bane of rulers, generals, and CEOs alike. Even the Kages of the elemental nations are not immune to the scourge. Thus, In the hokage's office, the professor, the "God of Shinobi", the Sandaime Hokage, or simply Hiruzen Sarutobi, leafed through the ANBU paperwork, sorting them by importance or interests.
Suddenly, a report, entitled [i]Naruto Unusual Activity Report[/i], grabbed his attention. Naruto's mental stability, or lack thereof is of paramount importance to village and Fire country security. He stopped his sorting task and picked up the report for reading.
A few minutes later after reading the transcript, the leader began pacing around the office. What Naruto said in that playground was very interesting, novel and strange. For example, galaxies are a collection of stars, and stars are literally other suns, and that people live on worlds called planets! What kind of nonsense is that, the kage didn't know. Honestly, it sounded like something suitable for a fantasy novel.
But where the boy obtained these strange set of ideas? The name "Jack O'Neill" certainly sounds like a foreigner, and this general title is equivalent to a Kage. Maybe the boy got the name from a traveling merchant who traded in far-away lands. That would explain it, but the ANBU never reported him anywhere near a merchant, much less a store. However, it was very much possible Naruto met one when the ANBU weren't looking or when his mother took him out of town.
Nevertheless, the ideas Naruto presented intrigued the Hokage, for sheer novelty alone. Sarutobi will pay personally for genin teams to ask merchants for stories about other lands and the strange ideas and tales they carried. It'll be E-rank.
But one thing above all, occupied his mind, that is the name "Minato Namikaze". It wasn't about Naruto's claim that the fourth was the boy's father, though Naruto talked as if he wasn't the fourth. It's more to do with the fact that the Uzumaki boy looked like Namikaze. Kushina had never told him who the father is. For all he knew, the father was an anonymous deadbeat. But if Kushina's son is the fourth's progency, he wanted to know why she kept it a secret, even from him.
"Cat, summon Kushina Uzumaki to my office at her convenience before the work day is out," Hiruzen commanded. A rush of air filled the office, signaling to the Hokage that the ANBU operative had left the tower.
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Uzumaki Household
Konoha, PX-615
"Shadow clone techniques!" a red haired woman yelled. Several clones of the woman popped into existence. It is not strictly necessary to say the name of the technique, but she loves doing it anyway.
"Boss lady, ready for orders!" the clones shouted in unison. The original handed out loose papers with TODO items to each of the clones. After reading their list, they set out to work on household chores. Satisfied that the household chores are going to be completed in no time at all, she smiled.
"Alright, time to go to Konoha Academy!" But before she can set out on her journey to pick up her son, Cat made an entrance using a window. A loud thud venerated through the room she entered. That set Kushina off.
"Uzumaki-san?" she greeted the resident.
"Oh, for Kami's sake, use the damn door," Kushina bellowed. Weirdly, the redhead's hair started floating upward. Sweat flown down Cat's spine. The ANBU recognized the danger signs. Angry voice with floating hair from Kushina is always a bad thing.
"But a window is a nin-"
"Do you know how much money and time it costs to hire a carpenter to fix my window?" Oops. Best not to argue. Instead, Cat ignored the argument and skipped to her task.
"Anyway, the Hokage wishes for you to see him at a convenient time before the end of this workday," Cat finally delivered. Then the ANBU body flickered away from the ninja mother as fast as possible. That woman is absolutely terrifying.
"How rude! Dattebane!"
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Konoha Academy
Konoha, PX-615
Sitting in the back of the classroom, Naruto attempted to listen to the chunnin-sensei in from of him, just like everyone else is doing. Alas, things are not going so well for him. The words of his instructor blurred into nonsense. His eyes started drooping as the instructor drone on about military tactics. Finally, his head began to nod as well, until his face hit the desk with a loud thud.
"NARUTO!" the chunin scolded.
Naruto sat straight up at attention. In an outburst of anger, Naruto screamed, "BORED BORED BORED BORED BORED!"
"What is it with you today? Do I have to tell your mother about this?" the teacher threaten. Naruto shuddered in response, remembering the various punishment tasks his mother dealt out.
"No, anything but that, Akiko-sensei!" The woman smiled. Detention never work on Naruto, and truthfully, it never work on anyone else either. But for Naruto, she can use his mother, who is more effective than a hundred detention.
"Well, then, behave and you'll get off scoff-free."
Internally, Naruto groaned. He looked at the clock, seeing that he is to wait 10 minutes before dismissal. It's going to be a long ten minutes.
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Konoha Academy
10 minutes later
The bell rang for the last time today, signaling the end of school. Mom was going to be out in the school yard, so Naruto rushed out the door as quickly as he could, streaking through the hallway and out into the entrance of the school. Once there, he scanned the horizon for his mother.
"Mom!" he shouted happily. The boy ran off to his mother, and then slamming into and hugging his mother.
"Ugh!" Kushina replied in surprise. Her son tighten his hug.
"What is with you today? I never seen you so enthusiastic about getting out of school today."
"School's boring! Lecture boring! Sensei too slow!"
"Huh? Usually, you want to tell me what you have learnt today." Now that his mother has mentioned it, the boy scratched his head in confusion. Never before has he felt so bored. There are no recent change in what the teacher taught. Yesterday, he was deeply absorbed in the lecture. Today, he just couldn't stand it at all.
"I don't know," he replied.
"Maybe this is just an off-day to you," Kushina suggested. "Anyway, I have to meet with Lord Hokage. So you're going to have to go home by yourself. My shadow clones should still be there if you need anything."
"But mom, you promised me!" Naruto then tried his best puppy-eyed look. Kushina simply sighed at her son's clumsy social manipulation.
"Don't be like that. I'll treat you to an extra ramen this week."
"Ok! But I don't forget any promise, dattebayo!" Naruto ran off in the direction of home.
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En-route to Uzumaki Residence
As the blonde made his beeline toward home, everybody quieten around him. Some gave him the cold glare, while others covered their mouth, and some went out of their way to step beside him. The shopkeepers kept their fingers on the open/close sign. Naruto simply ignored them all.
If they wish to avoid him, he will avoid them as well.
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En-route to Hokage Tower
Kushina elected to walk. There was no need, really. since she was a ninja. The rooftops are much faster and more convenient to navigate. But as long she was Naruto's mother, she need to show that she's here.
The atmosphere around her chilled, causing people to take notice of her presence.
"Who is that?" someone blurted out.
"You don't know?" another whispered. "Best be on your best behavior right now, don't provoke her, and don't ask questions. Just remember her perchant for violence and even more-so, her love for family. Remember that blonde kid everyone hate? That's the boy's mother."
"Um..."
"You're about to say something stupid."
"Good."
Everyone tried their best to be "normal", whatever normal means in the presence of the container's mother. Reactions are unavoidable. A few civilians shook in their sandals, and a few literally sweated. Shinobis nearby can feel radiance of protective intent, causing them to unconsciously shift their bodies away from the woman.
The message is simple and obvious. Don't mess with her baby.
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Attention: All Konoha-nins, maybe all fire-nins too.
Memo: If you visit the Uzumaki residence, be sure to use the door, not the window. The last thing you want is for Kushina to chase you all over town for breaking her window again.
Signed,
Anonymous ANBU officier
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The Hokage's Office
Konoha, PX-615
There was a lull in the paperwork. Kushina will make a visit this afternoon. That gave the hokage the time to reflect and to regret what he had done.
/-FLASHBACK-BEGIN-/
The Sandamine scanned the crowd. He can hear the wailing of babies and the muttering of confused parents. ANBUs on the side boxed in the parents. It was composed exclusively of parents and their newborn.
"The security of fire country is in danger!" he announces to the crowd. "And this threat is the Kyuubi. The demon is currently rampaging the countryside. We cannot stop it. It will come for Konoha within the hour and destroy the ninja forces that is keeping this country safe. Even now, ninjas are dying in drove."
The muttering increased, along with new panicking voices. The facial expression changed to shock and horror.
"But with our Will of Fire, there is a way. I will seal the demon within a newborn. A newborn is the best container for the Kyuubi."
"No! Don't take my son!" a woman pleaded.
"Surely you're not asking for all our newborn?!" he asked in a panicking voice.
"If you take my baby, just kill me!" another replied.
"I am asking for one newborn," the Sandamine replied. "Only one. Which one of you is willing to volunteer? Volunteer quickly! Or I shall grab one of the baby at random."
Many parents stepped back. While others hold on to their newborn tightly. None of them wished for this, and the ANBU will have to pry one of the baby from their dead hands. Several moments passed.
"Very well. You have made your choice. Cat, gra-"
"I volunteer," Kushina said very quietly. Her teeth clenched hard and streams of tears flown down her face. She repeats herself louder, "I volunteer."
"I see. Let it be known that Kushina Uzumaki had sacrificed her son, so that Fire country can thrive and that your sons and daughters are able to live. Long live Kushina Uzumaki and her son! Good night!"
No thanks were given to the redhead. The crowd simply dispersed into the tunnels.
/-FLASHBACK-END-/
But the only thing that the Hokage regretted that night was that he wasn't able to perform the death seal himself. Instead, the fourth took his place. Yes, it was very unfortunate that a newborn baby was used, but at the time, there was no other option. Today, it is still the same. He had tasked his seal researchers to find new ways, but so far it amounted to no-.
"Lord Hokage, Kushina-san has just arrived," the chunin secretary outside announced. "Should I let her enter right now?"
"Let her in," the Hokage commanded.
The door creaked open, and the redhead let herself in.
"Lord Hokage," she greeted formally. "What is the reason you summon me here?"
"Relax. I only want to ask a few questions about Naruto-kun. More specifically, have your son been in contact with any strange persons. Perhaps a traveling merchant?"
"What is th-. I mean. No, Lord Hokage. Nothing of that sort. He isn't in any danger is he?"
"No. But on the playground today, my ANBU has observed that Naruto was weaving some strange tales. He mentioned Minato Namikaze as his father. But he was not called the fourth, nor was anything of his abilities are mentioned. He is simply referred to as a soldier to an army that stretches between worlds."
Kushina blinked several time. She absolutely had no idea what he's talking about.
"I see. You don't know where he obtained those strange tales as well. It's very much possible that he simply mixed the Yondaime with tales he heard of."
"But I never told him his father," she protested. How did Naruto acquired this information? Kushina haven't told Naruto anything about his father!
"His father?"
"You don't know?"
"It was only today that I suspected the connection. I did not know why you and Minato kept it as a secret."
"He received words that someone is going to attack him. He told me to keep our marriage and my pregnancy a secret from everyone, just in case. I thought it was going to be simply an S-rank secret. Isn't there some paperwork or filing cabinet where S-rank secrets are stored?"
"I cannot confirm or deny that, Kushina-san. But I can confirm that I was not privy to that particular secret. Did he told you who was going to attack him?"
"No, he did not."
"So the secret died with him. It's worse than useless. You and Minato have a lot of enemies. It could be any number of them. I don't know where to start." The Hokage sighed.
"So what about the strange tales?"
"It's not anything I am particularly concerned about. But it's not anything that I nor anyone I know ever heard of. For example, stars are simply other suns, and a collection of suns are called galaxies. The suns are giant fireballs in the sky, like what we create with our fire justus."
"What?"
"I know. It's a very strange cosmology. Usually, every stories I heard of involved some kind of deity, who represent the sun. There were no mention of gods and goddess in the tales he weaved."
"I don't know what to think."
"Me neither. But I am very curious. I want to hear more. If you could, ask your son to tell you more. This is not an order from your Hokage. It's just a personal interest of mine. I won't mind if you simply said no."
"This is not a burden for me, Lord Hokage. I'll ask my son tonight."
"Very well. Oh, one more item before you go. You are to return to the roster concerning A-ranked and S-ranked mission next year. It had been five years since you last took any mission. Use this time to prepare yourself."
Kushina grimaced at the news. She wished she can stay home and continue to care for her Naru-chan. But a ninja of Kushina's caliber is not going to be sitting around doing nothing forever.
"Hai, Lord Hokage."
"You are dismissed."
Kushina bowed and then she left the office.