Umm, new story. What can I say, I was inspired. I also suspect this story has more potential than my others. But just to let you all know I'm not dead and I'm not abandoning any of my stories, I'm just stuck. So this story will help. I hope. Umm, there may be some incidental humor in this story, so I labeled it Adventure/Humor. Well, I at least think Fugaku is funny, but that's just me. This is mostly a talk chapter and it's sappy. More action to come.
Declaimed.
"Jiji?" Naruto said with a hint of hesitation in his voice.
The Sandaime looked up from his report curiously, wondering at the boy's tone of voice. Not too long ago Naruto had moved into an apartment of his own in preparation for joining the academy. Now that he was no longer under the harsh discipline of the orphanage it seemed that he'd started to open up a bit, having been unusually quiet before. Unfortunately for the village, that freedom was manifesting itself in the form of pranks on anyone who treated him badly. After only two weeks, this was the third time Naruto had landed himself in the Hokage's office for disturbing the village with his mischief. For a five year old, Naruto had a wicked sense of humor. This last prank for example; the boy had crept into the orphanage and diluted the shampoo of his least favorite caretakers with hydrogen peroxide. The matron in particular seemed to have gotten a strong dose as some of her hair had fallen out as a result. Hiruzen wondered if enrolling Naruto in the academy with the children who didn't have anyone to give them a basic education was really a good idea, but without the home training that most children from ninja clans received, he'd be woefully unprepared. With a small sigh, Hiruzen refocused on the boy that he'd already dismissed.
"What is it, Naruto?" Hiruzen asked, making sure to speak patiently. The boy wouldn't directly meet his eyes and the Sandaime sat up a bit straighter, honed instincts making him rethinking the importance of this conversation.
"You know you can ask me anything, Naruto." the old man spoke kindly, trying to put the boy as ease. Naruto looked up to meet his eyes a bit more confidently this time and smiled a little.
"I know, Jiji. But whenever I asked about my parents before I was told someone like me doesn't have any. Is that true?" The boy bit his lip and looked more uncertain than ever. Maybe he shouldn't have lectured Naruto so much for pranking the orphanage caretakers. He had half a mind to give them a piece of his, as well.
Hiruzen looked at the boy standing on the other side of his desk sadly. He knew this day would come eventually. What he wasn't sure of was how much he could tell the boy. He didn't want to burden him, but looking at him now he was beginning to realize that the boy was suffering even more from not knowing.
With an even heavier sigh, Hiruzen got up from his desk and stepped over to one of the windows that overlooked the village. He turned slightly to motion Naruto to join him before focusing his attention on the stone head of Yondaime.
Hiruzen sighed before speaking, "The greatest comfort to many ninja is their family. No matter how horrible a ninja's career, if they have a loving family they can bear it. That's why losing our family is the greatest fear of many ninja, and the most painful thing a ninja could be asked to do is sacrifice their family for their village. And yet, for a parent to sacrifice themselves for their child is natural."
Hiruzen knelt, grasping Naruto by the shoulders and looking into his eyes before continuing, "Your parents sacrificed their lives so that you could live. They loved you very much."
By this point Naruto was opening crying, a first for the child that had learned to hide his feelings from those who had no sympathy for them.
Naruto spoke around the lump in his throat, "But who were they, Jiji!"
Hiruzen sighed again, knowing the next part would be harder, "Your parents sacrificed themselves to save you but in doing so they also saved this village. They were the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato and his lover Uzumaki Kushina. They died in order to defeat the Kyuubi.""
The boy stopped crying abruptly to stare. The Sandaime could almost see the gears turning in his head.
Naruto's eyes were wide as saucers as he gaped, but he soon recovered and spoke, "The Kyuubi attacked the day I was born, but you're saying my mom helped defeat it? How?"
The boy was reeling from the information, but finding out who his parents were left him with even more questions and thinking over his life, he was starting to wonder what it was that the Hokage wasn't telling him.
Hiruzen cursed internally, he'd been hoping that the boy might not ask for more information, but Naruto's experiences had made him far less naive than the average child his age. Knowing this conversation just got a lot more complicated, the Hokage ease himself into a cross-legged sitting position to take the weight off his knees, motioning for the boy to do the same. Hiruzen knew he had to phrase things delicately now while still being honest. If Naruto were to discover later that his Jiji had been dishonest with him it would be worse than if he'd never said anything at all. Hmm, maybe a story was in order.
Hiruzen produced his pipe from somewhere in his robes along with a tin of tobacco and filled it before lighting the pipe with a small, seal-less katon jutsu. He took a puff before answering the boy,
"Before we get to that, Naruto, you need to understand your mother's heritage, which is closely tied to the founding of this village. It's well known that the Senju and the Uchiha were the main founding clans of Konoha. What isn't as well known is that one of the main reasons the Senju were able to get the Uchiha to join them was because of their alliance through marriage with the Uzumaki clan. The Uzumaki clan had their own village called Uzioshiogakure in Uzu no Kuni, so they didn't join Konoha when it was founded, but even during the warring clans period, the first Great Shinobi war, The Uzumaki maintained close ties with the Senju since both clans had a common ancestor.
As the violence of the first Great Shinobi war grew the Uzumaki and Senju looked to each other for support and that lead to the marriage of Senju Hashirama, the Shodai Hokage, and Uzumaki Mito, the daughter of the Uzumaki clan head. With a formal alliance between them, the Uchiha had to worry about the possibility of facing the Uzumaki on the battlefield as well as the Senju. But instead of attacking, the Shodai suggested an alliance with the Uchiha and after a great deal of arguing which involved both the fire Daimyo and the Uzumaki clan head, the Uchiha and the Senju swore their loyalty to the Daimyo in exchange for land and started approaching other clans to join the alliance and found Konoha."
Through all this Naruto was listening raptly. He may have usually had a short attention span, but this was his clan's history and he desperately wanted to know about them. He wanted to interrupt and find out what all this had to do with his mother's death, but the serious look on the Hokage's face stopped him.
Hiruzen paused to take a puff from his pipe before continuing, "Eventually Senju Hashirama was chosen to become the Shodai, but there was one man who was deeply dissatisfied with the decision. Uchiha Madara, the Uchiha clan head, had wanted the position himself and nearly broke the alliance trying to get it. His clan, though, had had enough of war and refused to follow him, causing Madara to abandon Konoha. Now, the reason why the Shodai was considered so powerful was because of his unique Kekkei Genkai, Mokuton, which allowed him to use natural energy to control chakra monsters called the Bijuu. There are nine Bijuu and their creation is a story for another time, but by controlling the Bijuu, Hashirama was able to trade them to the other four ninja villages that were also forming during this time and end the first Great Shinobi war. This is the reason he was elected Shodai. But there was one Bijuu that even the Shodai hadn't confronted and that was the Kyuubi, the greatest of the nine.
Madara, however possessed an advanced form of the Sharingan, the Mangekyo Sharingan, which also allowed him to control the Bijuu, if not to the same extent as Hashirama. After he left Konoha, Madara found the Kyuubi and bent it to his will, bringing it with him to destroy Konoha. Hashirama and his wife Mito were the ones to confront him at the Valley of the End. Hashirama gained control over the Kyuubi and Mito sealed it within herself, becoming the first Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi. The word Jinchuuriki means The power of human sacrifice because often it costs a human life to seal a bijuu into another. But because of her strong chakra and sealing abilities, which the Uzumaki were known for along with their longevity, Mito managed to perform the sealing herself. Hashirama then defeated Madara, and the two of them returned as the saviors of Konoha. But time passed and Mito grew old. She survived her husband, but there was concern over what would happen when she died. The Kyuubi would be released and in order to prevent that, a new Jinchuuriki was sought. However, not just anyone would be able to hold back the most powerful of the Bijuu. The Uzumaki clan once again responded, sending a girl that even for the Uzumaki clan, was born with exceptionally strong chakra, chakra powerful enough to restrain the nine-tails. That girl became the second Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi, Uzumaki Kushina." Hiruzen stopped and waited for Naruto's reaction.
Naruto had been following along with the story well enough despite its complexity, but froze when he heard the last part. He was beyond shocked at this point. His mother had had to experience something like that? It made him even more worried to discover what had gone so wrong to end in the Kyuubi attack. In addition, he was starting to get a sick feeling of dread in his stomach thinking of his role in all this.
"My mother was the second Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi?" Naruto almost shouted, near his wits end, "What happened, then. How did the Kyuubi escape?"
Hiruzen set his pipe aside, not having the heart to continue smoking at this point. He sighed, sending Naruto a sad look. "Sadly, that is something that only your mother and father know the answer to, but I have always suspected that their was some sort of foul play involved. But before I tell you about the Kyuubi attack, I would like to tell you more about your parents' lives. During the Second Great Shinobi war, after your mother came to Konoha, Uzioshiogakure was destroyed by Kumo, who coveted their sealing techniques to help them gain control of their own Bijuu. Their were no survivors of the Uzumaki clan in Uzu no Kuni and your mother became the last. During this time also, your mother was kidnapped by Kumo because of her Jinchuuriki status. We searched frantically for her, but it was your father who found her and rescued her. Apparently she left a trail with her red hair and your father was the only one to notice it. After the rescue, they fell in love and your mother taught your father the Uzumaki's sealing style, which led to your father inventing two of the arguably most powerful sealing techniques to ever exist. In addition to the Rasengan, which he also invented, these sealing jutsu led to your father being the main force behind our victory in the third Great Shinobi war and his election as Yondaime Hokage.
The council had voted to restrict your mother to Konoha after her kidnapping to prevent it from happening again, but despite the restrictions on her, she seemed very happy. She was the main force behind your father becoming Hokage and she was well-loved in the village for her charming (if a touch extreme) personality. She had wanted to become the first female Hokage as a child, but she loved Minato and was so proud of him that she swore to be his right-hand man instead. Hiruzen chuckled a little at this. As for him, he did it all for her sake and they were very happy when she got pregnant with you. Your father had gained a lot of enemies from the war with Iwa and so their relationship and your conception was kept secret from all but a few of their most trusted friends. That is also why the fact that your Minato's child has been kept secret and you've been given your mother's name. If Iwa were to find out that you are the Yondaime's son, they would send assassins after you and it could possibly lead to another war. So you need to keep all of this a secret, do you understand?"
Hiruzen sent Naruto a stern look which softened when Naruto nodded. The boy had started crying again while learning about his parents and the Sandaime gently pulled the boy into his lap and hugged him. Naruto clung to his robes and sobbed and Hiruzen rubbed his back while he reconsidered telling the child the rest of the story. Naruto, we don't need to talk about the Kyuubi attack today if you don't want to. What happened that day was a true tragedy and I don't want you to be burdened with that knowledge until you're ready for it. I was very fond of Kushina and Minato and me and my wife Biwako thought of them as our own children, so you're like a grandson to me. I want you to be happy and enjoy your childhood as much as possible." The old Hokage's eyes had gotten curiously misty as he held the child and he knew he was not looking forward to finishing this talk. Naruto had stilled at his last words and stopped crying once again. The boy hugged him tighter for a moment before pulling back and looking at him with a solemn and determined expression. In that moment, the Hokage was struck by how much Naruto looked like his parents and he couldn't help smiling a little.
When Naruto spoke it was with the conviction of a child that had yet to discover that there are things one is better off not knowing. "I need to know the truth, Jiji, I need to know what happened to them."
Hiruzen sighed and nodded once, knowing that Naruto was too stubborn to back down now. When he spoke, it was with a voice full of regret and sadness, "For a female Jinchuuriki, the most dangerous moment is childbirth. Kushina's chakra was weakened by labor and her seal became unstable because of the fluctuations. It was the same for Mito. My wife Biwako saw your mother through labor while your father stabilized the seal. But someone attacked them. Later I discovered that the ANBU guards that I had posted were all killed where they stood unable to sound an alert to those within. If they'd been able to, your father would have gotten your mother and you to safety with his Hiraishin. It must have happened right after your birth while your father was stabilizing the seal. The attackers, whoever they were, managed to kill my wife and the ANBU within the cabin before your father could respond and somehow got your mother away from him. They didn't manage to hurt you, but whoever attacked your parents must have been very powerful and knowledgeable, because they extracted the Kyuubi from your mother before your father could take her back and released the Kyuubi upon Konoha. Your father got you and your mother to safety, it seems that she managed to survive the extraction, usually extracting a Bijuu would kill the host, but your mother was very strong. Still, she was very weak by that point.
Minato arrived in Konoha in time to draw the Kyuubi's attention to him on top of the monument and neutralize an attack that would have destroyed the village, but something happened. He was probably forced to fight whoever released the Kyuubi because he left and didn't return for awhile. He must have won his fight because he returned and summoned the toad boss on top of the Kyuubi. It was quite a sight, but we were suffering heavy casualties by that point. Minato then teleported the Kyuubi out of the village to deal with it himself. I had been leading the attack on the Kyuubi in your father's absence and went after him to help him deal with the Kyuubi. But I arrived too late. I was just in time to see your father use the Shiki Fuin to seal half the Kyuubi's chakra. It was the second of the two powerful sealing jutsu that your father had invented. The jutsu is designed to summon the Shinigami and strike a deal, in exchange for sealing an opponent, the Shinigami receives the user's soul.
The other half, your parents sealed into you. The Kyuubi tried to kill you, but they protected you with their own bodies. They'd argued, your mom didn't want you to become a Jinchuuriki like her cause she knew you would suffer, but your dad said that you would need it and he couldn't seal anymore of the Kyuubi's chakra. He was worried for the future, it seems he knew of some threat that we didn't and believed that you would be able to master the Kyuubi and use it to protect yourself and the village. Minato was never the type to act without good reason, so the threat he spoke of must have been grave indeed. He wouldn't have gone so far as to seal the Kyuubi into his own son otherwise. He believed you would be able to do what he couldn't and he wanted to seal some of his and your mother's chakra inside you as well, so you would be able to meet them someday. I wrote down their last words to you before they sealed the Kyuubi and died, I'll give it to you now."
Hiruzen gently placed the boy on the floor and opened a small safe behind the Yondaime's picture, pulling out a scroll and a picture and giving them to Naruto. The boy hadn't looked up since finding out he was the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki. He hadn't even seemed that surprised, just sat quietly and held out his hand to accept the scroll and the picture. He read it and stared at the words and then at the picture of his parents together, him mom's hand on her big belly, while his dad stood behind her smiling. He clutched the two items and broke down crying. The Sandaime knelt again and held him while he wept. He had parents and they loved him! Him mom was beautiful and strong and his dad was smart and brave. He couldn't believe he had such amazing parents and even though it might take years, he would even get to meet them someday! It hurt, but he was happy.
He had the Kyuubi inside him, but he also had his parents chakra inside him. He wanted to make them proud, so they'd smile when he met them. He was scared of the Kyuubi, but his parents had faced it, his mom had been a Jinchuuriki too, but Jiji said she had been happy, so he'd manage too. He didn't feel as lonely anymore. Knowing they loved him, that his dad believed in him and his mom worried about what kind of life he was living made it hurt less. He felt like he finally had something to live for. He'd take his mom's words to heart, he'd be himself and have big dreams and try to make a few good friends. He'd even eat his vegetables. He'd study hard and practice his ninjutsu and become a strong shinobi like his dad. His mom didn't give up and neither would he!
He stopped crying finally and smiled a bit at the Sandaime's worried expression. "It's alright, Jiji. It's sad, like you said, but they seem like really great people, I bet they would've been the best parents ever. I'm not gonna let them down! I'm gonna grow up to be as awesome as they were!" Naruto grinned bravely through his tears.
Hiruzen smiled, "They're already proud of you, my boy. Besides, if I recall correctly, your mother was quite the prankster, too. She was very loud like you and constantly ended her sentences with -ttebane! But she was loved in this village for her vibrant personality and positive attitude and feared for her temper. Your father on the other hand was quiet but had a work ethic unlike anything I've ever seen, he was a kind man who protected his comrades no matter what. Anyway, if you want to talk about any of this, you're always welcome in my office, Naruto."
Naruto looked spaced out for a moment before asking somberly, "Jiji, the reason people hate me is because of the Kyuubi, isn't it?"
Hiruzen sighed and thought quickly, "Yes, a lot of lives were lost that night and people are still grieving. They're looking for someone to blame and since we still don't know who was behind the attack, they blame you and to a lesser extent the Uchiha clan. When they see you they're reminded of their pain and fear and how helpless they were that night. When people are hurt, they often lash out at others seeking to cause others the same pain they feel. And those people do the same thing to other people, until everyone is suffering. The hatred in a person's eyes is eventually reflected by everyone they look at until they are surrounded by hatred and pain. But love is more powerful than hate and a person with love in their heart can change the hearts of others to reflect their own as long as they don't give up. That's why I believe that if you don't give up then one day the villagers will see you for the hero you are instead of the demon inside of you."
Naruto hung on every word the old man said. He didn't understand it well, but his Jiji was the wisest and nicest person he knew, so he must be right. He knew what it was like to be scared and lonely too. He looked at the picture of his parents. If he found the person who hurt them, he'd hate them too. Just like the villagers hate him. He could understand that. But Jiji said that love was stronger than hate and he wanted to make his parents proud more than find the person who killed them. His dad wanted him to protect the village and his mom wanted him to live a good life and follow his dreams. Hmm, he'd never thought about dreams before...unless they were the things he had when he fell asleep
Naruto thought over what the old man said and wondered, "Uchiha clan? Why would the villagers blame the Uchiha? Hiruzen sighed wearily, something he'd done far too many times today, and spoke quietly, I mentioned before that the only one to control the Kyuubi besides the Shodai was Uchiha Madara. Because that fact is well-known, many people believe that the one responsible for the Kyuubi attack is a member of the Uchiha clan. There are even those that believe the entire clan planned the attack to get control of Konoha, even though the Uchiha suffered heavy casualties during the attack. I myself don't believe for a second that Fugaku, the Uchiha clan head, would betray your father. He respected him greatly and believed that he was the only suitable choice for the position of Yondaime. Besides that, Fugaku's wife Mikoto was your mother's best friend. They were devastated when they found out your parents had both died. Naruto tilted his head to the side a bit before asking, Why didn't they ever talk to me, then?"
Hiruzen nodded before answering, "You're right, they would have, but I never confirmed your identity to the council. I claimed you were an orphan of unknown parentage; the fewer people that know a secret, the safer it is. Only a few people knew that Kushina and Minato were together and the only one with both the right to know who you are and the clearance for that information was Jiraiya, your father's sensei. Mikoto never had S-rank clearance, even when she was in ANBU. Since then the only other people I've told are you and Kakashi, Minato's last remaining student. He recently gained high enough clearance and since he was like a son to Minato, I felt he deserved to know. Although, even though I say those are the only people I've told, I'm sure there are some others who have guessed, but that's a separate issue."
Naruto's eyes were wide, "Then can I talk to this Kakashi guy? And you said others had probably guessed, so that means Fugaku and Mikoto probably know too, right? I mean, the police force never gave me as much trouble as the civilians unless I was pranking, so maybe they were ordered not to?"
Hiruzen eyed the boy's eager expression and cursed inwardly. He hated to have to disappoint the boy when he had such a hopeful and slightly desperate look on his face. Naruto had had an awful experience at the orphanage and he deserved a couple people that he could trust to help look out for him. Hell, Sarutobi had had to teach the boy to read and write himself even with his duties as Hokage, but he wouldn't have as much time in the future. His eldest son had died on a mission a year and a half ago and his son's wife had died in childbirth. He'd hired a retired kunoichi to look after his grandson Konohamaru, but the boy had just turned one and would soon need more of his attention. The Hokage looked at Naruto speculatively.
Hiruzen smiled at the boy before answering, "I know you want to get to know the people your parents were close to Naruto, but the situation is delicate. Too much open interaction between you and them would be dangerous for you because of those who know of the relationship they had with your father. In addition to that, the Uchiha clan is in a politically difficult position right now. A lot of people and even some of the other clans suspect them of being involved with the Kyuubi attack and the civilian populace is against them despite them having my support. There have even been some claims that they have used you to blackmail me into supporting them. The situation is already a tense one and if you're seen with them, it'll become even worse."
Hiruzen winced internally at the look of dejection on Naruto's face and hurried to add, "However, we are ninja and a ninja's primary tool is deception, after all. Naruto grinned in anticipation as the Hokage continued, I will call Kakashi in to meet you later, he asked to be assigned to your ANBU detail every once in awhile and I'll give him permission to speak to you when you're alone. As for the Uchiha, I've got an idea that might allow you to help their relations with the village as well as meet with Fugaku and Mikoto every once in awhile.
If you start pranking the Uchiha, it will perhaps buy them some sympathy with the general population as well as disabuse people of the notion that you might somehow by working with them. As punishment, I can have you do chores for the people you prank and if they refuse to oversee your punishment themselves, it will be the Uchiha clan head's job to do so. Well, it might take some time, but I'm sure you can make punishing you enough of a pain to make no one else want to do it. And then you'll have an excuse to help out around the Uchiha main house every once in awhile, especially if you start pranking the man who punishes you most often. I will, of course, send a discreet message to Fugaku telling him about you and asking what he and Mikoto think of this plan. Once I get a response I'll let you know that you can start. Do you think you'll be able to pull this off without raising suspicions, Naruto?"
By the time he finished speaking, Naruto was grinning with delight and practically bouncing where he sat. Immediately the boy answered, "You bet, Jiji! They wont know what hit them. I'm not good enough at being sneaky to get into the compound yet, but if I target the patrols and raise hell when they take me in, everyone will know and no one will want to deal with me. But I'm gonna need ninja supplies and information on trap making."
Hiruzen thought for a second before walking to his desk and scribbling quick notes on two pieces of paper. After giving them to Naruto, he explained, "Give the first to Higurashi Aoi, the owner of Higurashi Ninja Supplies. There you can purchase any of the basic ninja supplies and training equipment. The more advanced equipment you'll need permission from me to purchase. Your purchases will be paid through my account, as this is a mission of sorts. Also, a word of caution; even though you're a civilian, due to your status as a Jinchuuriki you must be very careful to not injure anyone seriously, if you did the council might try to have you locked up. Specifically, you must not injure any civilians and you are to use explosive tags only as a distraction in an area where there are no civilians.
Although, I imagine it'll take you awhile to learn to channel chakra and set them off. Also, read the instructions on how to use each item carefully, I don't want you to blow yourself up or injure yourself. I am putting a considerable amount of trust in you to be responsible with these privileges, don't make me regret it, Naruto. As for the second note, it's for the head librarian, Yura-san. Give it to her and she will give you access to the section of the library reserved for academy students. It should have everything you need to get started. Now, have you noticed that you heal faster than other kids? And that you have more energy?"
Naruto looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding, "Now that you mention it, yah. Is that because of the Kyuubi?"
Hiruzen nodded, "It is. A little bit of it's chakra is constantly mixed with yours by the seal on your stomach."
Naruto quickly pulled his shirt up to look at his stomach, and then looked at the Hokage quizzically, "I can't see it, Jiji! Why?"
Hiruzen nodded, "It will only appear when you mold chakra. Don't worry, though, that just means it's working. Your seal is strong, most likely stronger than any other used to seal a bijuu, and while it may weaken with age, it can be strengthened again when the time comes, so you don't have to worry about the fox."
Naruto nodded at this, looking relieved. "Since you heal quickly I suggest you use training weights once you work out an exercise routine. Usually I wouldn't allow a child your age to use such a method because of the risk of injury, but since you heal quickly it should be ok as long you don't go overboard.
I also suggest you study stealth methods and learn stealth techniques once you can use your chakra. A lot of them are e-rank and just require a lot of concentration to work. Concealing your chakra will be difficult since you have a lot of it, but if you want to catch members of the police force by surprise, you'll have to learn to do that too. You might want to keep in mind that it's easier to control and conserve your chakra when you've used a lot of it already. My final piece of advice to you is to remember that the key components of an ambush are planning, stealth and speed. If you have any questions that Yura-san can't answer, feel free to ask me. Did you understand all that?"
Naruto looked unsure, but nodded anyway.
Hiruzen chuckled, "Good, but if you need a reminder you can always ask me next time we're alone. Now, I'm going to keep you out of the academy until you're seven so you can enroll with the other children and have time to complete this...mission." Naruto opened his mouth to object but stopped when he heard the word mission. The Sandaime smiled, "I'll give you the curriculum and I expect you to use the references at the library to follow along with the academy students in your free time. It'll be a lot of work, but you'll need that knowledge for when you join the academy." Naruto nodded, even though he had a sour expression on his face at the idea of so much studying. He'd spent the last year learning to read and write so he could join the academy and didn't look forward to doing more work like that. But he wanted to make his parents proud so he'd do his best anyway.
The Sandaime shook his head in amusement at the boy's expression, "Do your best, Naruto. If you can manage to pull this off and keep it up at least until you become an academy student, then I'll put it on your record as a completed b-rank mission when you become a genin." Naruto whooped and jumped forward to hug the Hokage again. As he hugged the boy back, chuckling, Sarutobi looked out the window and noticed how late it was. Sighing, he said, "It's been a long day and I haven't gotten much paperwork done. Oh well, what do you say we go get some ramen and then I'll take you back to your apartment?"
Naruto whooped again and ran out of the office before Hiruzen could even get up. Chuckling at the boy's enthusiasm, the old Hokage got up and followed him as a leisurely pace.
/Ichiraku/
Sometime during the next hour Naruto had fallen asleep in his seat, lulled by the comfort of a full stomach and the warm breeze of a summer evening. He's been regaling the Hokage with a story of one of his more spontaneous pranks, where a tomato vender had refused to sell to the boy, saying he didn't sell to inhuman brats like him. Naruto had responded by giving the man a taste of his own product when a particularly ripe tomato splattered on his face. Of course, the cheerful boy left out the fact that he'd nearly been mobbed afterward save for his ANBU guard, instead speaking of the man's stunned expression with tomato bits dribbling down his chin.
Sarutobi had smiled though the story and chuckled at Naruto's description, but inwardly he thought that in his less tolerant youth, he would have punched the man himself. As it was, technically no crime had been committed, and punishing civilian crime was the job of the police force anyway so his hands were tied. After paying for the four bowls of ramen the boy had devoured, he scooped the child up and proceeded to carry him home.
As he put the boy to bed, he couldn't help but notice the drool on his robes and smothered a chuckle. Usually he might have been annoyed, but Naruto had had a very hard day and taken it much better than he had expected. The least he could do was tolerate some drool. He tucked the child in and watched him sleep for a moment before turning off the light and silently leaving the apartment. Naruto's life was much too complicated for a child his age, but Hiruzen couldn't shake the feeling that the boy would one day surpass even his expectations.
/Hokage's Office/
After spending a half an hour or so writing on a scroll, Sarutobi sealed it with a seal keyed to Fugaku's chakra signature. As Hokage he needed to be able to send secure missives to any of the key members of his ninja force in case of emergency. So he kept a couple of keyed seals for every council member, ANBU squad leader, elite jounin as well as for the head of each specialized department in the ninja corps, including the Academy. It seemed like an excessive system, but it had proved its weight in gold more than once and was now coming in handy yet again.
After sealing the scroll, he summoned the stealthiest of the monkeys, a small brown monkey called Taro. Taro was good enough to sneak by even a lot of elite jounin, so he'd have no problem delivering the scroll to Fugaku. After giving Taro instructions and watching him slip past the ANBU outside his office, the Hokage set himself to complete paperwork and await a response.
/Uchiha main house/
Fugaku awoke immediately, like most experienced ninja do, not fluttering his eyelids and keeping his breathing relaxed and steady. After a moment he heard scratching on the window and quickly opened his eyes to see what caused it. A small monkey was lightly scraping its nail on the window, quiet enough not to wake anyone outside the room. Fugaku slipped soundlessly from his bed without disturbing his wife, proving just how tired she'd become lately. Between raising their children, staying in fighting trim and managing the clan's affairs while he was at the police headquarters each day, she'd had her hands full. Especially with the recent unrest within the clan.
His problems, on the other hand, stemmed more from the villagers and their increasing lack of respect for Konoha's police force. But Fugaku shoved his problems from his mind as he quickly pulled on his dark brown robe over his boxers. He knew if the Hokage was sending a message via his summons then the matter had to be sensitive, something even the rest of the council shouldn't be privy to. He slid the window open as the monkey turned around to have the scroll taken from its back. To his surprise the summons didn't dispel after being relieved of its burden. So the Hokage required a prompt response. Very well. He motioned for the monkey to follow him as he closed the door behind it and quietly went to his office. He sat at his desk and pushed some of his chakra into the scroll's seal, unlocking it. He ignored the curious monkey as it investigated the room, knowing it would find nothing of concern, and began to read.
The first thing Sarutobi did in his letter was confirm Uzumaki Naruto as Minato and Kushina's child. Well, that was no surprise, the old goat had written off the boy's name as a tribute to the Jinchuuriki that came before him, when anyone who had eyes and knew of Minato and Kushina's relationship would know immediately that he was their child. Regardless, the letter gave him permission to tell his wife that Kushina's child had survived, a matter he had had to lie to her about previously. Interesting. But why now? He kept reading...ah. What! Hiruzen had told the boy both about his parents and then about the Kyuubi earlier tonight! Was the man slipping in his old age? Telling a five year old child that he has a demon sealed inside him is something that is just not done. Even among the Uchiha, who start training their children as soon as they can walk.
Hmm...oh, so that was why. Someone told the boy he had no parents? The stupidity of civilians would never cease to amaze him. But still...well, it made sense not to leave the boy thinking that or alienate him by lying, but telling him everything was clearly reckless and unnecessary. Ah, for some reason he believed the boy would not only be able to handle the knowledge of who his parents were, but thrive because of it. And apparently the boy was smart enough to figure out that his treatment was related to the Kyuubi after finding out his mother was the Jinchuuriki. Well, even a five year old would guess that after being told that and called monster all the time. Ah, well, it would be impossible to lie by that point without risking alienating the child. It seems it couldn't be helped, even if it could, the senile old bastard.
Moving on. The boy had been told about them and wanted to meet people who were close to his parents? Understandable, but impossible. Hmm, what's this nonsense about pranks?...oh god no. God. No. As if he didn't have enough to deal with already. And the last thing he needed was the clan to become the village laughing stock right now. Would help convince people that they weren't responsible for the attack since they couldn't even control the Jinchuuriki? Maybe. Would win them sympathy and respect as those who took the brunt of the brat's mischief? Unlikely. Would provide a conversation piece between the villagers and the police force, easing the tension through common annoyance? Perhaps a little. Help the boy be seen as more of a troublemaker with ninja potential than a threat? Possible. Do it for Minato and his legacy. Well, fuck. That clever old monkey. Hmph, he would like to meet the brat. He sounded a mix between Minato and Kushina, which was bound to be amusing if extremely obnoxious. Perhaps a distraction would ease the tension a bit. It wouldn't get rid of it, but it would buy some time, maybe. Besides, it couldn't get any worse, right?
Right. It could always get worse. The man in his late thirties sighed, rubbing his forehead. Well, he'd give this plan of the Hokage's a try. It wasn't likely to do more than delay the inevitable, but having a little more time wouldn't hurt things. Besides, he really did owe it to Minato, after all the man had saved his life on more than one occasion. Maybe he could see if the boy had any of his father's brilliance and give him a few pointers. Itachi was too old to need his advice and Sasuke lacked the drive and talent... and if the boy did take after his father in more than looks his trust and gratitude might come in handy one day. Fugaku scoffed, dismissing the unlikelihood for what it was, just another of the Sandaime's pipe-dreams. Minato was the only one who had had the strength of will to truly unite Konoha and maintain the peace, and no matter how much his son took after him that wasn't going to change. It was too late. It was only a matter of time until war came and he would protect his clan with everything he had. Even if it meant becoming a traitor.
In true terse Uchiha fashion, he penned a short response to the Sandaime's long letter, saying that he agreed to the plan and would be waiting for the complaints to pile up. Rolling it up, he sealed it for the Hokage's eyes only and gave it to the monkey who quickly scampered through the window he held open for it. And with that he took the original scroll and prepared himself to deal with his wife. She had loved Uzumaki Kushina as a sister and was going to be furious with him for keeping Naruto's survival a secret. Couple that with the fact that Naruto had been told about his parents and his burden at a young age and she'd be lecturing him in that quiet, tightly controlled way of hers all night.
He wasn't looking forward to her reaction when she learned he had agreed to use Naruto's unpopularity (to put it mildly) to help the clan's image, either. And putting it off until the morning would only make things worse. His wife was a gentle woman usually, but when she was angry she became unnaturally calm in the 'I'm not exactly sure why I haven't killed you in your sleep yet' way, and it was terrifying.
The last time was when Itachi was sent into the battlefield not long after the Kyuubi attack. Kumo had taken advantage of the tragedy to once again invade Konoha and though the fighting had been short in comparison to the other wars, it was utterly brutal. And Itachi had been sent into that hell. Mikoto didn't sleep with him again until the war was over and kept making him eat the burnt food she made him. Not to mention she was in a foul mood from giving birth recently. He'd hardly slept for a month, cause she kept leaking killer intent in her sleep. He sighed as he opened the door to their bedroom; maybe at least this time she wouldn't stop sleeping with him.