A/N: Hi everyone. I'm back. For those of you coming back from the first incarnation on Two Hearts, this is the revised first chapter (originally chapters one and two), with some wording changes and otherwise cleaned up after almost 3 years of collecting dust. After thinking about it for a while, I'm not actually going to try and fill the chapter gap I'm creating by condensing the shorter chapters. Between all the reading/reviewing I do already, my work/family, and this semi-persistent case of writers block, trying to fill 3 chapters of material to keep chapters 6-9 where they are would likely take me a year plus just to fill. If you don't believe me, go look at the publish dates on the original chapter 3-5 on DeviantArt (same username as here). The revised chapter 2 will likely be chapters 3-5.

I have to credit MattWilson83 from DA (from quite a while ago) and Peridot0814 here at FF (a bit more recent) for giving me the kick in the shins needed to convince me to do the revision.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters created by Kishimoto-san. Titokhan is mine of course. The owners of any OC's/jutsu I use that aren't mine will get credit if/when I use them

Two Hearts, One Soul, pt 1
(The Confession revisited)

Naruto, with Inochi and Shikaku (as well as a random ANBU) in tow, arrived back in the outskirts of Kohona to the entire village waiting for his return. "Naruto, you did it. You beat Pain and saved us all" his friends, almost in unison (with one notable exception, who hung back in the front row of the clearing), shouted as he entered the clearing. He embraced as many of his friends as he could reach at once until..

"NARUTO! You baka for brains." Sakura had her fist cocked as if to slug him one, causing Kiba and Choji, the two closest to Naruto, to recoil away from the blonde ninja to make sure they don't get launched when he does. She then unclenched her fist and gathered him onto a bear hug "Don't you EVER scare me like that..AGAIN."

"Sakura-san, you're crushing my ribs" Naruto is able to weakly squeak out before she lets him go. "Sakura-san? What's up with that? You've been after me to go on a date with you since well forever. Now all of a sudden, you've gone all friendly on me? What gives?"

"Sakura," Naruto starts "No one knows that better than I do, but something happened to change that." Naruto closes his eyes as if searching his memory for something, but the assembled teen ninjas collectively known as the kohona 11 can almost feel his chakra swirl about them. "And based on what I am sensing from you, I suspect you know what I am talking about." The pink haired healer nods and they both turn toward the Hyuuga heiress, who was the one who hung back.

"Hinata-chan, you risked your life to help me." Naruto says as he starts walking to her, his friends and other villagers creating a clear, straight path to her. Hinata herself gasped a little and blushed at the honorific he added for the first time to her name "And when it looked like Pain had killed you, I just snapped. And subconsciously let the fox take over completely." He is almost to her as he continues (noticing that her father and sister have also arrived and are now directly behind her. Hiashi's hand on one shoulder, Hanabi's on the other) "When I finally snapped out of it with a little help from my dad (which is another story entirely. I can't wait to tell you about it), I saw the damage I had done."

Naruto is directly in front of Hinata now. His piercing blue eyes are searching her pale lavender ones for something, and a hint if a smile creeps across his features when it seems he found what he was looking for. "The first thought that popped into my head was, quite literally, 'Is Hinata ok? Did I hurt her even more than Pain did?', and I searched for you in sage mode. The same time that I found you, Lady Katsuyu informed me that luckily no one had died in my rampage. I was so relieved that I cried. That's when I really noticed it for the first time."

"N-Naruto-kun?" Hinata started to get out. She was blushing a little, she was nowhere near the bright red she always seemed to get right before she would faint every time she was this close to the young man she loved so dearly. Before she could get another work out though, Naruto gently put his index finger to her lips. "Please Hinata-chan, let me finish"

Naruto then reached out and took Hinata's hands in his. "You told me, right as you went to fight Pain in an attempt to save me (knowing you might very well die), that you loved me. When I snapped out of it and thought I might have hurt you, I thought back to all the things you had done for me over the years. I finally put everything together and realized that.."

As he speaks the next words, Naruto gathers her into his arms tenderly and looks into her eyes again.

"I love you too, Hinata-chan". Naruto leans down, closes his eyes (noticing that her eyes are already closed in anticipation), and gently brushes his lips against hers in a tender first kiss. They open their eyes together and look around. The villagers, now past the initial shock of the moment break out on cheers.

"So troublesome, it's about time that finally happened" Shikamaru mockingly grumbled, his smile all but impossible to hide.

"It takes him almost getting killed to get her to finally confess? What if Pain had dragged him away?" Ino started before Chouji stopped her. "Ino, we all knew she would tell him eventually, it was only a matter of time"

Tenten glides over to Neji. "That is so sweet Neji-kun. I don't think I have ever seen you cousin look so happy."

Later that day

A short while later, at one of the restaurants that survived the onslaught. Naruto (as the guest of honor), accompanied by his friends are enjoying a meal jointly paid for by Hiashi Hyuuga and from donations collected hastily among the villages wealthier families.

"Hinata-chan, your father and the villagers really didn't have to do this." Naruto mused to his newfound love between bites "I would have preferred a few bowls of ramen. Ok, maybe more than a few heh. But seriously though, this is almost enough food to feed a small army. And there's only what, 14 of us once you add Sai, Konohamaru and your sister?"

"You might be right Naruto." Hinata replied after taking a sip of some spiced cider "Father and some of the better off villagers' heart was in the right place honoring you like this, but they might have gone a little overboard. Even when you consider your and Choji's accumen when it comes to, well devouring food, we could all take bags with plenty of food to feed ourselves for at least a week." The Hyuuga heiress put down her glass and thought to herself for a moment.

"I have an idea." Hinata's whole face seemed to light up at that point. And even this early in their relationship, Naruto could tell his new girlfriend had something extremely generous in mind. "Waiter? When we are done, would you inform your boss that it is our wish that whatever is left over here is brought to one of the shelters, so that some of the people displaced in the attack have a decent meal?" The waiter looked at the group, who all nodded (indicating that Hinata spoke for them all), and bowed. "A noble gesture Lady Hinata, your father would be proud. It will be as you wish" and he retreated back to the kitchen.

"Now what was it you were saying earlier about your having met your father Naruto?" Turning his head, Naruto noticed that the question had come from Shino of all people. "Ya, I was really out of it. I was in the place in my head where I have my talks with the fox, and like I had mentioned earlier, I had basically given him complete control. I had reached up to rip the seal off the cage that keeps him in place, and the spirit of the Fourth shows up to stop me and then he called me by my name."

Thirteen heads turn in unison to look at their friend, and again in unison. "The Fourth Hokage's spirit? In your head?"

"I asked him how he got here, and how the hell did he know my name. Believe me, I was shocked too." Naruto shrugged and continued "He told me that he had worked it into the seal he put on me that should I ever lose control to the point that the eighth tail appeared, he would appear in my head. And as to how he knew my name, he said he gave me my name." The same ghost of a grin that appeared earlier that day on Naruto's face re-emerged. "Fathers tend to give their children their names after all." He then looked out the large window that had a majestic view of Hokage Mountain at sunset. "My father was Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage of the Leaf."

If jaws could drop out of peoples' mouths and hit the floor, there would be several dozen of him doing just that as Naruto finished those words. Not only those of his friends, but of the other patrons in the establishment. Everyone starting doing double takes; looking at Naruto, then the Fourths image on the mountain. There were a few pictures of him in the restaurant as well, as this happened to be one of his favorite places to eat before he became Hokage.

"The resemblance is well, uncanny now that you compare them" Shikamaru, first as usual at connecting the dots.

Then Neji adds "The only real differences are Naruto's whisker marks and the Fourth's hair is a bit longer, but otherwise it's remarkable".

As the reality and truth of his words start to sink in and spread through the establishment, everyone suddenly realizes that even though they really did consider that Naruto may have very well become Hokage before his parentage had been revealed, it seemed to become all but a certainty now.. Naruto could almost read everyone's mind.

"My father was the Fourth, but the title of Hokage is earned by a person's actions, not given by accident of parentage. He looked over to Neji as he said that, remembering the conversation about fate during their match in the finals of that years Chuunin Exams. I do not want, or will allow, the title be handed to me simply because of who my father (and whispering 'or grandfather' playfully into Konohamaru's ear for him alone to hear) was."

"I am sure Minato-sama would not have been able to say that any better himself Naruto" Tsunade said as Shizune pushed her wheelchair toward the table where Naruto's group was seated. She still looked rather frail from having channeled almost all of her chakra through Katsuyu to protect the villagers from harm (and only Sakura and Shizune really knew how close she had come to perishing), but she was recovering nicely. "May we join you?"

The group stood, turned to face her and bowed as one to Tsunade and Shizune
"Gran.." Naruto stopped as he was going to launch into his typical greeting for Tsunade, but the part of him that had matured so much recently made him reconsider the somewhat rude way he always talked to his elders. "Er, Hokage-sama, there's plenty here to share. Please join us."

Seats were re-arranged to accommodate the new arrivals and soon they were all chatting among themselves.

"Master, how are you feeling? Sakura asked, noting to herself that while Tsunade's chakra had replenished enough to start using the jutsu that hid her true age, the genesis seal on her forehead had not returned yet.

"I just need to get as much rest as I can over the next few days when time allows Sakura." Where Sakura was sitting on her left, with Shizune on her right, she leaned forward and pitched her tone so only Sakura could hear her "And before you start worrying too, the genesis seal should re-appear as soon as my chakra replenishes itself enough to allow me to store the excess. We should begin your training on its use someday soon as well."

Tusnade straightened up and looked over at Naruto, who had frosted rice cakes in both hands now, and asked "You know Naruto, I really didn't mind you calling my 'Granny'. You are kind of like a grandson to me anyway. Why stop now?"

"Like I said earlier about not wanting to have the Hokage title handed to me because of my parentage," Naruto replied after swallowing his oversized bite of cinnamon frosted rice cake "I think it's time I started treating my elders with the respect they duly deserve. You said my dad couldn't have said that better himself earlier. Did you know him? And what about my mother, you had to have known her as well?"

"Minato was Jirayia's prize student, that once in a generation genius who earned every accolade given to him. Though he was an expert in, well nearly everything, he was truly a master at sealing jutsu. Something you are living proof of. As was the jutsu that earned him his other nickname. The 'Yellow Flash of Kohona', Hiraishin no jutsu.

Even though he had only just learned about his father while fighting Pain, Naruto was beaming with pride. Deep down (where even he wasn't quite aware of it) he always wanted to make the Fourth, someone who he never got the chance to meet but seemed to know somehow, proud of him. "My dad had to have been a great ninja to be named Hokage, but hearing it from you makes it that much cooler."

The expression on Naruto's face changed, with a little bit of real anger showing as he asked his next question "How many people knew who my dad was, and why would they let me be treated the way I was? I know the Third knew, who else?"

"It's a shorter list than you might think. There was lord Third. Jirayia, who as you figured out on your own, indirectly named you. Kakashi, as he was your father's favorite student. Then there are the sitting members of the council, myself, and a very elite group on ANBU who watched over you when you were growing up. Your father wanted you to be seen as a hero protecting the village by being the fox's host, but the Third was swayed by the council not to publically reveal who your parents were, mainly to protect you. "

"Protect me? From who? I was a baby!"

"Exactly. You were a baby. You would be the target of many revenge attacks, even though your parents were dead. During the last great war, every nation had flee on sight orders regarding your father for good reason. By hiding your parentage, and giving you your mother's maiden name, we all felt we were protecting you from your father's enemies. I am sorry we couldn't tell you, or anyone for that matter when you were little, the risk was too great. The adults resented you for living when so many dies protecting the village, and that resentment carried over to their children."

"OK, I can live with that. Thank you for being honest." The old Naruto, from before he became a ninja (possibly up until the sound village's invasion and a little after), would have secretly held a grudge and would use it as motivation to show everyone how wrong they were. After the fight with Pain, Naruto can see that they did have his best interest at heart, even if it was a little misguided. "Did my father leave anything for me when I grew up? There is so much I want to learn about him now I almost can't wait to get started."

"Actually, I think there is" Tsunade remembered a letter she found amongst the standing orders her sensei. "Lord Third left standing orders that should your true parentage be revealed and you were of age, you were to be granted access to your father's archives in the hokage mansion. Seeing that you (and everyone else in the village) know the truth now and you are definitely of age, I see no reason why I should not honor my sensei's wishes. But seeing that many of Minato's jutsu are A-rank or higher, I recommend you not attempt any of them without Kakashi and Yamato's supervision. But you will have access to the archives effective tomorrow morning. There is more, but that can wait for another time"

"I can't wait Hokage-sama, can Hinata come with me as well?" Naruto asked. With a nod from Tsunade, everyone could see the newfound gleam in Naruto's eyes

A memory struck Tsunade, and she grinned as long forgotten memories continue to flood back "And yes, I did also know your mother. Her name was Kushina Uzumaki. Though she came here from the whirlpool country when she was very young, she loved the leaf as much as your father. I was her sensei for a while. While dedicated to the village, she was quite the prankster. Caused more than her fair share of trouble, I believe she pulled a prank similar you one you pulled when you were at the academy, only she made up the faces on Hokage Mountain up as girls."

"Really, she did that? I would have loved to see those pictures. Do you have any?" Naruto started laughing.

I might, I'll have to look. One other way you definitely take after you mother is her love of ramen. If it can be possible, it was even greater than yours is. I never would have been able to get her to eat here, or anywhere else. Even when she was pregnant with you. Minato managed to get her out to different places occasionally, but she was as much a fixture at Ichiraku's as you are."

As Naruto ponders that thought, everyone is starting to prepare to call it a night and go home or to makeshift shelters to start to prepare to start rebuilding in the morning. Hinata, who has been quietly finishing her dessert, sensed something different about the room and activated her byakugan. Neji, sensing his cousin's sudden distress, activates his as well. "Whomever you are, come out now. This is a time of celebration, not skullduggery" he called out to no area in particular. Tsunade, sensing the newcomer as well, raises her hand to quell the disturbance before it can start. "Very good Hinata, Neji. No need for concern though. I know this person well, but he should know better than to try and sneak around the village this close after an attack.

"You are so correct Hokage-sama, I should know better. But I felt it prudent to try at least. One reason I have managed to live as long as I have" a deep voice calls out from a darkened corner and a middle aged man seems to melt out of the shadows. "One thing Tsunade hasn't told you Naruto is that Minato was also a master at jutsu improvisation and non-traditional battlefield tactics. Something you and your father have in common, other than how much you really do look like him. And I see a bit of little bit of Kushina in his face as well Hokage-sama, though it isn't near as obvious."

Tsunade pauses for a second to remember Kushina's facial expressions, especially the way she would smile and laugh. "You are right as usual Master Drumheller, now that I know what to look for. Everyone, this is a very old friend of mine and Jirayia's, Titokhan Drumheller. I have known him for what is it now, almost twenty years? One of his more peculiar talents is that, even though he is not bound to any of the hidden villages, he has this uncanny tendency to show up at the times when he would be needed. I'm sure he will get to know many of you quite well in the near future. One of these days sir, I will find out how you manage it."

"One day, maybe you will. But that day isn't today. May I escort you and Shizune back home? Perhaps grab a bottle or three of sake on the way? We have a lot to catch up on, and there is a lot of rebuilding to do."

"So we do old friend, so we do. Everyone, thank you for allowing me to join you. But Master Drumheller is indeed correct. It is starting to get late, and we all have a lot of work to do in the morning. Rebuilding assignments will be posted shortly after dawn. Good night and sleep well, you have all done the leaf proud with your service. Good night everyone."

The group stands and bows as Tsunade and the newcomer leave. And in groups of two and 3, they soon follow, leaving only Hinata, Hanabi, Kohonamaru and Naruto (the restaurants staff has been busy as well. Gathering and sorting the leftovers from the meal to bring to the assorted shelters as requested by Hinata)

"Hey Boss, you can crash at my place. We have an extra room if you want it and I'm sure my parents won't mind" Konohamaru asks Naruto.

"Nah, it's OK. I'll make due in one of the shelters. I'm sure a small family would be grateful if they could use that space. I'm sure there will be some room at the shelter by the Hokage's tower. I want to get a head start in my dad's archives when I have breaks helping rebuild"

Hinata smiled to herself. "He's so generous, always thinking about the village before himself, and he's mine. I'm the luckiest girl in the world".

Naruto's inspiration gives her another idea. "Hanabi, there are a few guest houses in the compound that are not being used at the moment. Could you go ask father if he would allow some of the people displaced to use them while the village rebuilds?"

"That is a wonderful idea Sister. I'll ask Father, and mention that you thought of it after Naruto refused Kono-kun's invitiation" Hanabi glanced over at the young genin and smiled, causing him to blush slightly "With Naruto-kun's seal of approval on it so to speak, I can't see him saying no. Konohamaru-kun, would you walk me home?"

"H-Hei…" Konohamaru managed to stammer out and they start to walk back to the Hyuuga estate.

"Hinata-chan, you don't think?" Naruto asked as the youngsters turned the corner out of sight

"Hanabi? And Konohamaru? I don't know."

"He blushed the way you used to around me all the time only he didn't faint." Naruto gathers Hinata into his arms. "You know, I feel so silly not noticing how you felt about me for so long. It was staring me right in the face and I acted like nothing was going on. Can you ever forgive me?"

"I'm in your arms right now, aren't I Naruto-kun?"

They look into each other's eyes, smile, and gently kiss before starting to walk to the shelter nearest the Hokage's tower.

To be continued..

A/N: Ok, first chapter of the revision is done. I'm hoping to keep all the chapters between 3-5k words from now on. With some of the changes I'm planning, I will have to revise a few other things along the way (Many of you should spot the changes).