A single red headed man slid into the horizon with a honey blond at his side. He sent her a small smile, before taking her hand and leading her forward through the forest path. They both moved with an air of confidence before stopping.
"We can sense you, why not just come on out?" The man gently suggested into air, before several masked men in coats appeared around them.
"Well, ANBU? We managed to stumble on some ANBU." The man murmured quietly, seeming genuinely concerned before he smiled brightly.
"I guess you don't know who I am then?" When he received no answer, he smiled more brightly.
"My name is Hikaru... Uzumaki Hikaru. And this is my wife Uzumaki Hitomi."
"You are known among us. Why are you here." the head ANBU replied, causing the red head to continue to smile.
"Well, you see, I and my wife, have taken up visiting, and have decided to come visit a cousin of mine here in the Village of leaves." He gestured his hand at his honey blond wife, who smiled and bowed slightly.
"Hello, Anbu!" She murmured bubbly. The head Anbu officer stared at them, and then with some unseen communication, he began to speak.
"You are both shinobi correct?" The smile on the red head's face wilted slightly before he answered.
"Had been shinobi. Anbu-san. We are no longer active shinobi, it has been many years, since we have been active." The ANBU stood silently for a moment. Then slowly, he reached up and pulled off his mask, the silver haired man stood there with a slight eye smile.
"Ne, Hikaru-san. Long time no see." The red head's mouth dropped and his eyes widened.
"Kakashi-kun?" The silver haired man simply eye smiled and scratched his head nervously.
"Hai... Well, I am supposed to escort you to the Hokage. There are some things that need to be discussed, before anything happens." He sent a sideways glance at the other ANBU. HIkaru's eyes immediately narrowed.
"Well, Kakashi-san. Let us see what you have to share with us."
In the Hokage's office
"Well, Hikaru-san, Hitomi-san, it is a pleasure to see you both. What brings you both here?"
"Hokage-sama no disrespect, but why am I here?" HIs eyes had turned to ice chips. THe old man sighed.
"I had you brought here because, I wanted to explain somethings that have transpired here. As you know, Minato died four years ago protecting the village from the rampage of the Kyuubi. He was also, as you know, married to one Uzumaki Kushina. Their union created a small child-"
"Namikaze Naruto." THe hokage's eyes softened slightly.
"Unfortunately, the night the Fourth Hokage died, Namikaze Kushina also perished. Leaving behind an orphaned newborn son. Due to the dire danger that was incurred by his parents, the boy was given his Mother's surname." Hikaru's face got stony.
"What are you saying? Kushina, she's-"
"She has passed away, and her child is the new Jinchuuriki of the Village." The Hokage's face was suddenly lined with age and sadness. Hikaru sat stock still, gripping the armrests.
"So you're telling me, my nephew, the blood of my blood has been alone without family to raise him, for four years? Why were we not contacted?!" He hissed, green eyes seeming like icy viridian chips.
"We couldn't find you. And even if we could, Naruto will not be allowed to leave the village. He is to remain here, something that I am sure, neither of you particularly desire." He sighed and pulled out a pipe and lit it.
"So, you must also realize that as family, as blood you have every right to visit Naruto, but I would caution you, do not do anything rashly. The life of a young boy is easily swayed." After a moment, of frigid silence, HIkaru huffed and stood up, mumbling about needing a drink, and slid out of the room. Hitomi breathed out a loud sigh.
"Well, you sure know how to welcome guests, Sarutobi-sama." She murmured, and the old man sent her a sympathetic glance.
"Why didn't you try to contact us? No doubt that you would've been able to." The Hokage took a deep drag of his pipe before answering.
"I was hoping that a certain man, would return home. Jiraiya, my pupil, was named the boy's Godfather. And while he hasn't done nothing. He set up a lucrative fund for the boy, bought him an apartment floor. Buys whatever he needs, he simply is not ready to face the boy. There is too much inside of him, too much pain, too much guilt. He's not ready to take the boy. And just as I arrived at this notion, you both had disappeared and I couldn't find you with my resources." He tipped his hat in respect. A sigh slipped from the blond's lips.
"So what exactly are we dealing with here?" THe hokage chuckled gently.
"Oh, you will meet my little troublemaker's charge, your nephew. His name is Naruto."
Hikaru's hand froze, hovering over the door. A rush of emotions flooded his being, uncertainty, fear, pity, anger, all bounding up from within. He was on the edge of turning back when a soft hand took his and sharply rapped on the door. He sent a sideways glance at his wife who was standing there giving him an annoyed glance right back.
"I was going to-"
"I wasn't going to wait any longer." She cut him off, right as the door swung open. A young blond boy stood in the doorway rubbing at his eyes. For a moment, it was silent as the young blond boy stared at them. Slowly he hid behind the door slightly, and with huge blue eyes asked quietly.
"Umm... Can I help you?" Hikaru was shaking with a mixture of anger and affection, there in front of him was the spitting image of the man who had taken his cousin out on a date the last time he was here. His throat was tight and he was not sure how to react, until Hitomi dropped down onto her knees and gave the boy the biggest brightest smile he'd seen in a long time.
"Hey there! You're name is Naruto right?" Her voice was sweet and warm, and the boy almost melted at her tone. His bright blue eyes widened and his face was split in half by a huge happy grin as he nodded his head vigorously. Her hand slowly reached out and caressed the youngster's face, hesitating slightly on the whisker-like marks on his cheeks. And the boy with his large doe-like eyes leaned into the touch a small sigh slipping from his lips.
"Well, Naruto. My name is Hitomi, Uzumaki Hitomi." She spoke very softly. HIs eyes brightened a little.
"That's my last name!" Her answering smile was almost as dazzling as the boy's.
"Yes, and this is my husband, Uzumaki Hikaru. He was your mother's cousin." As she spoke, HIkaru felt himself drop to his knees and gave the boy a careful smile. The boy's eyes fixed completely on him.
"You knew my mother?" His voice was quiet and subdued. His blue eyes radiated a small melancholy hope. A quick momentary stab of pain jolted Hikaru's heart. And his hand gently caressed the boy's cheek.
"Yes. I knew your mother. I loved her deeply, and I know that she would have loved you oh so dearly. She would never have wanted you to be left alone. Naruto, I'm so sorry. I am so sorry that you have been alone all this time. Naruto, do you think that we could come inside?" He finished with a small eye crinkling smile. Naruto looked the red headed man in the eyes, his cerulean orbs glowing with happiness connecting with the penitent viridian ones, and an ear to ear grin blossomed over the boy's face.
"Please come in." He spoke and pushed the door wider.