Author's Note: So I decided to update and edit this story while I'm on summer vacation. Enjoy!
The Third Hokage, brows furrowed in thought, sat in his office as he watched a blue eyed blond-haired boy happily playing with the Hokage's hat in his small little fingers. Releasing a sigh, he did not know he was holding, Hiruzen dearly wished he could claim the boy as his own and have him become a part of the prestigious Sarutobi Clan, but he wasn't going to lie to himself he knew was getting up in age and that he just couldn't keep up with another child and successfully govern Konoha at the same time, albeit how much he dearly wanted too.
Absent-mindedly searching for his wooden pipe that was hidden within in his desk, Hiruzen went to work on designing a plan to find the perfect family to accept Naruto as their own and wouldn't just use him for political gain, but would love him conditionally as one of their own. The dilemma of the situation wasn't Naruto himself, but what was hidden inside of Naruto that made it so hard to find this orphan a home. The adorable baby currently occupying his office was Konoha's resident jinchuriki and finding him a home inside of Konoha's walls would be no easy task. Since almost every prominent clan in Konoha would gain to stand from having Naruto in their clan, it was going to be difficult discerning who wouldn't have an underlying agenda. Wrapping his fingers around his pipe and bringing it to his lips, Hiruzen lit the tobacco firmly packed into it and took a long drag from his pipe as he knew what he had to do next.
Signaling to the Anbu hidden within the corners of his office, Hiruzen resigned himself to a meeting with the clan heads. Once four individuals covered in black garment and porcelain animal masks appeared in front of him, Hiruzen exhaled the smoke raging a war within his lungs and utter five words that would decide the fate of Konoha's Jinchuriki.
"Bring me the Clan Heads."
Hiruzen watched as each Clan Head began to pile into the room and watched as he saw them give a quick, but nonetheless curious glance at the sleeping baby in the corner of the room resting in a crib.
Clearing his throat, he decided to get this meeting over quickly as possible as he felt the tell tale signs of a headache quickly approaching. After making sure he had the undivided attention of the room, he donned a grim smile and said, "Now I'm sure you all are wondering why I pulled you away from this day of mourning, but this is of the upmost importance I ensure you." Pausing to let the gravity of the situation set in as he surveyed the room. "Today I have with me the son of late Minato Namikaze and late, Kushina Uzumaki. Unfortunately today our beloved fourth Hokage Minato, his wife Kushina, and even young Naruto have made the ultimate sacrifice today. In order to protect the village Minato and Kushina used the rest of their strengths to seal away the kyuubi inside of young Naruto-kun here. "Under any situation shall anyone release this information to the villagers under any circumstances, the penalty being a swift death." ." Letting a small amount of killing intent seep into the room he leveled an ice stare at every individual in the room, he continued his speech "Their final wish is for Naruto to grow up as a normal child with a family to take care of them, and as I am unable to take care of him I'm left to ask everyone here a simply question. Who here wants to adopt Naruto-kun?"
The room went deathly silent as the last syllables of his speech rolled off of his lips, but didn't last for long as murmurs soon replaced the deafening silence that inhabited the room. Rising from his sit with the grace fit for a jaguar looming over its prey, Hiashi Hyuga, stood at a tall 6'1 as he spoke with certainty "Hokage-sama I feel that young Naruto would be able to flourish to his full potential if he was brought into the Hyuga clan. I would see to it that my brother Hizashi would be able to take care of the boy and treat him as he would his own son, Neji"
Hiruzen, placing a small, but placative smile on his face, inwardly cursed as this was this was one of the people he didn't want to adopt Naruto, he would hate for Naruto to be branded as a Jinchuriki and pile on becoming essentially an enslaved branch member of the Hyuuga Clan Bringing his gaze up to meet Hiashi's, Hiruzen opened his mouth to speak ."I thank you for your thoughtfulness Hiashi, but I could not in good conscious allow Naruto to join the formidable Hyuuga clan, as I fear that if he were to be branded with your clan's seal that seal and the one holding the Kyuubi would conflict with each other. Regretfully I would have to reject your offer."
Watching Hiashi sit down, Danzo, his old time rival and friend, thought to himself that it was his opportunity to grab the Jinchuriki for Root...the unlimited potential it was practically glowing from the kid, He knew he would have to play his cards perfectly to fool the old monkey. A small smile gracing his face he threw his own hat into the ring. "Sarutobi I would lik-"
Hiruzen narrowing his eyes as he heard the first words leave his old time friend's mouth he quickly said "No."
"Sarutobi I suggest you to reconsider.."
"My final answer is No, I will not have Naruto-kun placed under your care and turned into a mindless drone." The Third Hokage said in a booming voice, afterwards he cleared his throat in order to ease some of the tension he created and continued. "Now is there anyone else who would be interested?"
Inoichi tentatively rose from his seat deciding to speak up. "Lord Hokage if I may. I would like to bring Naruto into the Yamanaka clan. He would be able to live a normal life as an Yamanaka and no one would be the wiser that he was the son of Minato because of his seemingly uncanny resemblance to us. Besides I feel that I need to do everything I can to make sure my friend, Kushina's son, has a happy life."
Looking Inoichi directly in the eyes, Hiruzen tried to find any ulterior motives, but couldn't find any. Regardless of how hard he looked, his actions were pure. Nodding his head "Very well, I will allow it, but don't make me regret this decision Inoichi." Waving his hands in a definitive notion, he dismissed the meeting but told Inoichi to stay back.
"Inoichi before you sign the adoption papers I want to express how important that you don't tell anyone except your wife about Naruto's "special" guest. Nodding his head as he signed the paper work, Inoichi gently picked up Naruto as he disappeared. Leaving a pile of leaves in his wake to deliver another bundle of joy to his wife.
* FIVE YEARS LATER*
Suzuki was chasing a, six-year-old Naruto who was grinning like a Cheshire cat as he carried a giggling Ino. Deciding she had enough she stopped in her tracks and bellowed.
"NARUTO YAMANAKA IM GOING TO COUNT DOWN FROM THREE AND IF YOU'RE NOT IN THAT BATHROOM WITH THE WATER RUNNING SO HELP ME" pausing to see the look of fear that crept onto his face as he realized his mother had enough, she put her gaze on the still giggling Ino. "AND YOU MISSY IF YOU'RE NOT IN YOUR PAJAMAS READY FOR BED TIME, I WILL TAKE AWAY YOUR PUDDING FOR A WEEK, AND THE SAME GOES FOR RAMEN WITH YOU NARUTO" taking a deep breath she crossed her arms and put her weight on her left leg as she began tapping her right foot. She began her countdown. "1" she said as she tapped her foot impatiently.
However, her two blonde-haired brats were frozen in their place. She smiled to herself and thought, did those brats think she was joking?
"2" with a smug look she watched as she saw Naruto run faster than Tsunade Senju could from debit collectors, placing Ino on the ground as he scurried away, cowering from his mother.
"3" she said as she narrowed her eyes, seeing that her daughter was still standing in front of her with a defiant look in her eyes. Gritting her teeth together she said "Ino, honey what do you think you're doing? Mommy told you to get ready for bed. Tomorrow is a big day afterall you get to start training" as she squatted to look her little princess in the eyes.
"Mommy I don't want to go to bed I'm not tired" Ino whined, as she crossed her hands and emulated the stance she saw her own mother take.
Peeking his head out of the bathroom Naruto stared at his sister in shock. Mouth agape he began to ask himself, was she crazy, standing up to Kaa-san like that? She could be super scary when angered. Decideding to be the kind (and brave don't forget brave) brother he was, he dashed into save his sister "Ino-chan what are you doing you're going to get in trouble" Naruto whispered angrily into his sister's ear.
whispering back Ino declared " I don't want to go to bed until Daddy gets back I don't wanna!"
Suzuki dusted off her pants, as she stood to her full height and smiled at her children and opened her mouth to answer, "Well your Dad-", but before she could finish she was cut off by another voice.
"Ah Suzuki dear don't be too hard of them they just wanted to see their old man before going to bed. a gruff, but firm voice said.
"DADDY!" Ino and Naruto yelled out as they ran to Inoichi as he held out his arms wrapping the two in a bear hug.
Scooping them both up he stood up and faster than their eyes could see, carried into the living room, with Suzuki trailing right behind him.
"Now I have something very important to tell you, tomorrow you guys are going to start your training in the clan techniques, so I want you two to get a good night's sleep and remember to listen to your kaa-san." receiving two tiny head nods he continued "Now you both need to get some sleep because training with daddy starts tomorrow."
Authors note:
So after many years, I decided to revamp this story. I want to see if I can continue this little project I started years ago and hopefully I can do it the justice I couldn't when I was younger. Let me know what you think of this updated Chapter 1. Sorry to anyone who was excited for a new updated chapter, but if things go as planned you'll get more, and better, content than the last time I wrote on fanfic! – Luv, Xab