Protect her at all costs
This is my first story I'm actually publishing, I like the idea, but I'm not too sure of my execution, please review and provide feedback on the style. I'm really scared I do to much telling and not enough showing
Currently I'm looking at the first four or so chapters being pre-graduation, which will really be used to flesh out any changes I'm making to Naruto's life. There might be light bashing but I'd like to think that it won't come off in the same way most bashing does, mainly just pointing out flaws and doing some character development from them
What if Minato doesn't ask Hiruzen to have the villagers see Naruto as a hero, but instead tells him to entrust Naruto to Mikoto and Fugaku Uchiha as a sign of trust that the Uchiha's were in no way involved in the Kyuubi's attack.
Naruto/Fem!Sasuke, Naruto/Fem!Gaara friendship, Fem!Sasuke/Fem!Gaara rivalry
Chapter 1: A plea for family
Sarutobi "The Professor" Hiruzen, the retired third hokage, stood powerless at the edge of a barrier his successor, Namikaze Minato, had erected staring desperately into the distance at the shrinking form of the Kyuubi no Kitsune, the Nine-tailed Fox Demon, that had been attacking the shinobi village of Konoha. He of course recognised the jutsu that was being used, thanks to his intimacy with nearly every jutsu in the elemental nations, and feared greatly for the lives of the family he knew to be within the barrier. The Shiki Fujin was a sealing technique wherein the user sacrifices his own soul, and thereby their life, to trap the target's soul inside the stomach of a shinigami, to say it is a technique that should only be used as a seal master's last resort is an understatement of the highest order, and the fact that it had been used could only mean that the situation surrounding the already problematic birthing was infinitely worse than it already appeared. Just as more shinobi were beginning to catch up to him at the edge of the barrier a small toad popped into existence beside the battle ready hokage holding onto a scroll, which it insisted must be delivered to him.
Hiruzen-Sempai,
I'm sure you've seen what is happening inside the barrier, the Kyuubi that had been released is being resealed. I am taking half of the Kyuubi's chakra and sealing it inside the shinigami along with myself, the other half I am putting inside my son. Kushina is too weak to survive much longer let alone contain the fox. I could not ask any other make the same sacrifice that I make here today, alongside not really having any options to choose from I am forced to give my child this fate. His name is Naruto Uzumaki.
I have some knowledge that must be shared and a request. The birthing process was interrupted by a masked man, who has promised to return for the Kyuubi in the future, I have my own suspicions as to who it was but I have no evidence to support them. The seal I used is one of my own design which should begin to drain the Kyuubi's chakra into Naruto's as he grows, a precaution I fear he will need for the future. As for my request; please do not let Naruto grow up on his own. Order Mikoto and Fugaku Uchiha to take him in and look after him. It is a show of my faith that the Uchiha are the best suited to look after my son. The Uchiha's curse is one fanned by mistrust, a lack of faith and a lack of communication between friends. Please do not let the village or the clans succumb to this curse.
Yondaime Hokage
Minato Namikaze
Smalls dark stains began to litter the scroll as Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes filled with tears not only at the selfless sacrifice his successor was making but also at the treatment he knew the boy would be subject to, from all sides and the dangers that would await him at every turn in his life and the truth of mans words about the Uchiha clan, as he vowed to fulfill the man's last will and testament.
The barrier blocking their path remained only momentarily after Hiruzen had finished reading, almost as if it was waiting for him to ready himself, before the last vestiges of Minato's chakra left the earth forever. As quickly as he could Hiruzen forced himself to the centre of the barrier's encompassed land, where he found a small unmistakable bundle of swaddling that cried out for attention, clearly aware of the sacrifices that had been made bare metres from it. Grabbing the baby up into a tender cradle Hiruzen peeled back a layer to reveal the face of his successor child. His most obvious features were his golden blonde hair, which matched his father's almost perfectly, and the strange markings that adorned his face imitating whiskers. Again the Sandaime Hokage's eyes filled with tears at the thought of the hard life he boy was unjustly sentenced to that should truly be a cause for celebration. Softly he whispered to the boy;
"Happy Birthday Naruto Uzumaki. I am so terribly sorry for your loss."
He turned around and presented the boy to the amassing crowd, explaining that the Yondaime had saved the village from the Kyuubi's rampage by sealing it inside the boy he now held. He then proclaimed that any who revealed the nature of the boy to the younger generations or the boy himself would face harsh consequences.
Within the two days that followed Hiruzen was sworn back into office as an intermediary Hokage while the council tried to decide who could possibly replace Konoha's Yellow Flash as the next Hokage. While the tired old man who had lived through the last two great shinobi wars helped diligently as best he could from his regained position to address the problems caused by the Kyuubi's rampage including managing the death toll, assessing destruction and applying resources as best he could he managed to surreptitiously slip past the council one decree that turned his threat into law, making it an officially punishable crime to discuss the events with any who weren't there. On the third day the Hokage was finally able to see the Uchiha clan head and his wife in order to make the necessary arrangements.
The hokage's office was not a bright room, due mainly to being filled with paperwork, both completed and not, the lack of much artificial lighting and the security shadows set up by the ANBU shinobi who guarded the hokage at all times. For the past three days most of the guard had been deployed elsewhere in order to help the rebuilding process to the point that only two remained, neither of which were fully able to act fulfill their duties properly due to the circumstances. One was acting as the hokage's secretary essentially , sorting through paperwork, announcing visitors and generally being helpful, while the other, a certain dog masked man with silver hair that stood up at an angle that to most people would seem ridiculous, nursed and played with the baby that now housed the Nine-tailed fox, while he had been one of the many younger shinobi kept from the fray he had quickly deduced the identity of the boy and had taken on the boy's care single-handedly, eyes dulled with a remorse of one who had now failed to protect those he held dear completely. This was the situation the head of the Uchiha clan and his wife found when they entered the room.
Fugaku Uchiha was a tall pale skinned man whose face bore the grim determination of someone entrusted with a duty of high importance alongside the arrogant coolness that seemed to pervade most Uchiha clan members. While his wife and the mother of his children Mikoto held the similar traits present in all Uchiha, the pale skin and the midnight black hair that reached just below her shoulder blades, but instead spread an aura of joy and motherly kindness to many who saw her. Her arms supported the bottom of a sling containing her three month old daughter Sasuke. Hiruzen quickly offered them a seat before he began to tell them why they were needed here;
" Fugaku-sama, Mikoto-sama I trust all is as well as can be expected within your clans, I hope that there weren't many casualties to your clan?" Before either Uchiha could answer he can continued, "Obviously you are aware of the Yondaime's death, and that the story circulating that he killed the Kyuubi is nonsense, a being made of pure chakra cannot be killed… merely contained. I have the container here in fact in this very room, Kakashi has become very protective of the child." This elicited a gasp from Mikoto instantly understanding the insinuation, "Yes that bundle of cloth in his arms is the current jinchuuriki for the Kyuubi no Kitsune. Now I know why you are wondering I am telling you pair this and not simply announcing it to the clan heads together, it is very simple, at this point in time I am acting as the executor of Minato's will. It is his request that you take the boy in and raise the child."
At this Fugaku slammed his fist onto the desk before growling in a low voice;
"We will not have that disgusting creature in our house. We will not sully the Uchiha name by raising him as one of our own. We will not I say."
"Fugaku-san, please… the boy cannot be left to the village not right now, not with how the village will treat him, he will be cast out…" Was all Hiruzen could say before Fugaku interrupted;
"That's the least he deserves. Foul Demon."
"Now you listen here Uchiha, that newborn is no demon and you know it, he is the jailer to the worst possible prisoner and if you had even a shred of the dignity and humanity that Minato believed you had you would show that boy some compassion, and you would take him in. Do you want to know what could happen if that boy becomes upset enough, angry enough or even slightly tempted by the subtle offerings the demon inside him must be singing in his ear? I'll tell you. Death will reign upon this village like never before seen, not since the wild times before the coming of the great sage will catastrophe have struck this place so hard. Do not take me for some foolish old man you can make demands of. I am the hokage and if you will not respect this village's greatest hero's final wish I shall order you to take the child in or force recompense harder than even my predecessor tried to impose on you." The hokage shouted, his chakra flaring angrily around him, creating a dark shroud that seemed to cause him to seemingly grow in size while also darkening the room further, the glow of his chakra illuminating him in such a way that his visage seemed more demonic than even the tailed beasts could manage. The moment was broken by the harsh wails that both children erupted into seemingly breaking the hokage from his reverie and calming him substantially. "Look, I'm not asking you give the boy your name, nor am I asking you to teach him your arts, I merely ask that you give him a home, a place where he will not be constantly subjected to the village's prejudices, this is a request from me and a show of faith in you from Minato, he would trust you two over all others to care for his son, Naruto Uzumaki."
Mikoto's eyes darted up from Sasuke, who was beginning to calm from her outburst, "You mean he is hers?"
"Yes."
"We'll take him."
"But Mikoto, how…"
"This is not something I will argue on Fugaku, she was a good friend, her child deserves better than the streets."
"Thank you, I know you will raise him well." Hiruzen sighed happily, all traces of the former anger gone from his voice, "Kakashi…"
At this the ANBU member stood from his place on the wall and joined the people at the desk. The Sandaime quickly wrote up a small certificate indicating he had approved of the boy's adoption. Kakashi was incredibly reluctant to let the child go, which was only made worse by him being unsure of who to give the child to, Mikoto's arms were full already and her husband clearly wished to have no part in the child. Sighing slightly Mikoto removed her daughter from the sling she had been housed in and handed the infant to her husband who while seemingly awkward with the child none the less clearly doted on her affectionately, before wrestling the blonde babe away from Kakashi. Once the boy was settled in he snuggled closer to her obviously sensing the mother's warmth he'd sorely missed since his birth.