Chapter 2: Family Affairs
Hiruzen sighed as he awaited the arrival of Naruto, Iruka and Aurora from within the Hokage Office overlooking the village of Konoha. He had just witnessed the bizarre transformation of the traitorous chunin Mizuki and his total destruction at the hands of the sorceress who had appeared before him not but an hour ago. She was someone who, while aware existed, completely confounded the old Kage with her powers and abilities that seemed to go beyond that of even the strongest of shinobi. Hiruzen had been known by many names throughout his time as Hokage, 'The God of Shinobi', 'The Professor', and even his less popular but still accurate title, 'Monkey', due to his proficiency with bojutsu and his contract with the monkey summoning clan. Still, despite the man having mastered every non-bloodline related jutsu in Konoha, and leading his village to victory in three shinobi world wars, witnessing a person with the ability to control the elements as well as the ability to teleport people and objects over long distances with just a thought, had really thrown the old man for a loop. Hiruzen had always believed that only chakra had the power to achieve such things, and only through special requirements and circumstances. To see these people, these sorceresses, do this without the use of hand signs and chakra, well, frankly scared him. It made him wonder just what else was out there that he had no idea existed but had the power to harm his people. Fortunately, it seemed that the sorceresses were a friendly group and could be reasoned with, which was something the old Kage was thankful for; otherwise, things could have ended very badly for him and the village twelve years ago.
Ah well, enough worrying about the past and what could have been. There were present matters to deal with.
The talk he had with the sorceress before her sudden departure had Hiruzen a bit worried, especially with what Aurora had told him exactly what her intentions are.
- Flashback – Half an hour ago –
"You're going to WHAT!?" Hiruzen shouted after Aurora made her intentions known.
"I do believe you heard me the first time, Hiruzen. I do not feel the need to repeat myself." Aurora responded, completely straight-faced and absolutely serious.
Hiruzen stared slack jawed at the woman for a moment before fixing her with a serious look. "You do realize why we have kept everything a secret from him for so long, Lady Aurora."
Aurora nodded. "I am aware, Hiruzen, and I feel that he has matured enough to where he can handle it."
Hiruzen stared at the woman for a few seconds before he let out a sigh of defeat. "Very well, as it is your legal right, I cannot stop you. However, you do realize that he will be very upset, with the both of us. Not to mention how the council could react if word gets out."
"Yes, that is the most likely reaction, but Naruto is a strong boy, both mentally and physically. He will understand given time. As for your council, the civilians are all bigots, so they will not change their opinion of him, even if it was announced that he was of royal decent. The shinobi are only concerned with their own interests and affairs, and the elders are just a bunch of old windbags." Aurora finished with a smirk.
"And just what exactly does that make me, my lady?" Hiruzen challenged with a stare.
"You, Lord Hokage, would be an honorable old windbag." Aurora answered without missing a beat, the smirk still present on her face.
The two silently stared at each other for a brief moment before they laughed at the banter. When the laughter died down, Aurora pointed her staff towards the nearby crystal ball that the Hokage used to watch things around the village from within the Hokage Tower.
"Now, shall we see what young Naruto is up too?" Aurora asked as the ball levitated into the air and floated towards the table they were sitting at.
"It still amazes me that you are able to do these things." Hiruzen commented as the ball floated down gently onto a red pillow in the center of the table.
Aurora waved the staff and the ball lit up as the image of the village appeared before it started zooming in on the forest outside the walls. "It does come in handy quite often. Now then, shall we watch?" The sorceress asked as the image settled on Naruto just as Iruka arrived on the scene to confront the boy.
- Flashback End –
'I just hope you know what you are doing, Lady Aurora. If things go badly then we could lose the boy's trust completely.' Hiruzen thought as he slowly drew on his smoking pipe, allowing the taste of the tobacco to calm his nerves. Just as he let out a large puff of smoke, the office lit up in a white light as a circle appeared on the floor and in a flash, the room suddenly had three more occupants inside it.
Naruto and Iruka blinked a couple of times as they tried to get rid of the spots in their vision before looking around while Aurora simply kept the pleasant smile on her face as she approached the village leader.
"I have returned, Lord Hokage. Naruto and your shinobi instructor are safe and the scroll is retrieved. All is well."
The Hokage nodded his head. "Thank you, Lady Aurora, for your assistance. Your timely intervention has ensured the safety of not only my men but also the village itself. You have my gratitude."
Aurora nodded just as Naruto and Iruka came to their senses and realized where exactly where they were.
"We…we're back in the Hokage Tower? How?" Iruka asked in bewilderment as he looked at the woman who had saved his and Naruto's life not but a few minutes ago.
Aurora's smile turned a bit mischievous as she turned to the instructor. "Magic, of course. Didn't I already tell you that I was a sorceress? Something as simple as a Spell of Teleportation is mere child's play for someone like me."
Iruka stood their flabbergasted as his mind tried to comprehend what had witnessed. Naruto, however, was not focusing so much on how the woman did what she did, but just how impressive it was to him.
"Wow! That was so cool! You just got us from the forest outside the village all the way to the Hokage Tower in an instant! You're awesome!"
Aurora giggled into her hand at the boy's praise before she turned back to the Hokage. "Now then, Lord Hokage, I believe you have some business with these two?"
"You are quite right, Lady Aurora." Hiruzen answered as he looked upon the two males in the room with a serious expression. "Chunin Iruka Umino, I commend you for your actions this evening in helping to prevent a terrible tragedy from befalling on our village. Your quick thinking and keen tracking skills allowed you to locate Naruto before Mizuki could reach him and complete his plan to kill him and steal the forbidden scroll. Not only that, but you were able to look past Naruto's burden and see him for what he really is, and by openly accepting him you saved him from despair when Mizuki tried to use his emotions to influence him. Your actions last night will be noted in your record and you will be given recommendation accordingly. Well done."
"Thank you, Lord Hokage." Iruka said as he bowed deeply at the hips. Hiruzen nodded before he turned to the boy. "Naruto Uzumaki, while I am rather disappointed that you would use poor judgement when you stole the Forbidden Scroll from its storage, I do not fault you since you were following the orders of someone who, as an educator, is trusted by his students. Therefore, you shall not be punished for your part in the scrolls theft. I also commend you for your actions in taking down a traitor and preventing the scroll from falling into the wrong hands. You were also able to learn a very powerful and difficult jutsu that even many jonin rank shinobi would be unable to perform, and you were able to do so in a very short amount of time. You have shown that you have great potential as a shinobi and the determination to succeed. Therefore, I will honor Iruka's decision to allow you to graduate under special circumstance and proudly welcome you to the force under my command as a shinobi of Konoha. Congratulations."
Naruto stood there wide-eyed as he took it all in before a huge grin lit up his face and the boy started jumping around shouting to the heavens.
"Yeah! I Did It! Woohoo! Alright!"
The adults watched the boy jump around with proud smiles on their faces and silently waited until he got it all out of his system. When Naruto finally calmed down, though you couldn't wipe the million-watt smile on his face away, Hiruzen continued to address his now two shinobi.
"Now then, since you two have succeeded in stopping a traitor and retrieved the scroll, I will count it as a completed 'A' ranked mission, which will go on your records and you two will receive payment for said rank. Once more, congratulations."
Iruka and Naruto nodded in acceptance. Hiruzen then turned his attention to the scroll in question that had been left on the floor after the teleportation spell brought everyone there.
"Now then, Iruka, I would like to ask that you take the scroll back to its proper storage and then get checked in with the medics to make sure that your injuries were all fully healed. I do not doubt Lady Aurora's healing abilities but it never hurts to be sure. After you are cleared, you may return home. I'm sure that you are quite tired after last night's endeavor."
"Yes sir, Lord Hokage." Iruka answered as he retrieved the scroll from the floor and then walked out of the office. With Iruka gone, Hiruzen made a few hand signs before tapping a spot on the desk, making a hidden seal light up just as the walls shimmered with light before returning to normal. He then turned to Naruto with a serious but somewhat nervous look on his face.
"Naruto, I need you to remain here. There is something that the three of us need to talk about."
Naruto looked at the two adults in confusion. "Um, what do you want to talk about?"
Aurora was about to start speaking but Hiruzen spoke up. "Lady Aurora, if you would, I would like to begin the explanation."
Aurora turned to give Hiruzen a surprised look. "That is rather generous of you, Hiruzen. I was under the assumption that you did not wish to divulge such knowledge."
Hiruzen nodded. "It was never my intention to keep such information from him indefinitely; however, I was waiting until he reached the point where he could protect himself when the knowledge became public. But since you are going to reveal it to him now, the point has become moot. Although, since you are here, he will have a better chance of surviving. And as both his leader and caretaker, it is my duty to at least explain to him everything in which I am obligated. Once I have done so, you may pick up where I leave off and explain to him your part in this."
Aurora thought about it for a moment and saw that his argument was valid. With a nod of her head, the sorceress stepped aside and allowed the aged leader to begin his explanation.
Hiruzen then turned back to the confused boy standing before him, cleared his throat, and took a deep breathe before starting.
"Now then, Naruto, you have once asked me if I knew the identity of your parents, correct?"
Naruto nodded, remembering when he had asked that particular question.
"At the time, I had told you that I had very limited knowledge of your parents and as far as I knew, they were both members of the village, and that they had both died during the nine-tails attack. The truth is, Naruto, I knew your parents quite well, but was forced to keep it a secret from everyone, including yourself, for your protection. Your parents had many enemies and the knowledge that they had an offspring would have had them pounding in our doorstep just for a chance to kill you."
Naruto stood there wide-eyed as he took the information in. After a few seconds he spoke. "You…knew my parents?" He asked tentatively. Hiruzen nodded and Naruto quickly ran up to the desk and leaned over it with a desperate look on his face. "Tell me…please, tell me who they are."
Hiruzen took another breathe to calm himself and spoke. "Allow me to begin with your father, Naruto. He was one of the most powerful shinobi produced by this village and was one, if not the, deciding factor in the Third Shinobi World War. His battle prowess and knowledge of fuinjutsu made him legendary in all of the Elemental Nations. He had gone by many names; his most well-known was his moniker 'The Yellow Flash.'"
Naruto went ramrod straight. He knew that name very well since it was the name his hero was most known by.
"You…you mean…"
"Yes, Naruto. Your father was Minato Namikaze, the Forth Hokage himself."
An image of a man with spiky blonde hair and blue eyes wearing a jonin flak jacket under a sleeveless white coat with the kanji for fourth written on the back appeared in the mind of the stunned boy. The Forth Hokage, the man he admired more than anyone, the man he hoped to one day surpass, was his own father. A part of him was surprised that he wasn't in more shock than he was at this revelation. But another part of him wasn't surprised by this. It was as if, deep down inside of himself, he already knew. It just never spoke up until now. Then he thought about what Mizuki said about the forth not able to destroy the Nine-Tails but sealed it up inside him. So he asked.
"Old Man Hokage, if my father was the one who sealed the fox inside me, then did that mean he knew who I was?"
Hiruzen nodded his head. "Your father knew that he could not defeat the fox by any conventional means, and he also knew the price he had to pay in order to achieve victory. Your father made the difficult choice to save the people of the village by sealing the fox in a newborn, and could you honestly say that he would willingly choose a random child and take him away from his parents to carry such a burden? Minato could only place that trust in his own child, because he believed in your strength, Naruto, just as I believe in it."
Naruto stood silent as he reflected on the Hokage's words and after a minute, he looked up at the picture of the fourth hanging on the wall above the Hokage's desk. It hurt to know that his own father had made the choice that condemned him to a lifetime of suffering, but he felt proud that his father had placed so much trust in him. Letting out a large sigh, he turned back to the village leader.
"What about my mother?"
Hiruzen straightened himself up as he prepared himself for this part of the explanation. His father had been the easy part, now came the more complicated part.
"Your mother was someone who was also a very strong member of the shinobi corp. Her skill in kenjutsu and bojutsu had earned her fear and notoriety amongst our enemies in the third war and she gained well-known monikers just as your father did. She was known as 'The Red Death' and 'Blade of the Whirlpool'. She was even known locally as 'The Hot-Blooded Habanero' due to her temperament. If you wanted to know where you got most of your personality, then look no further than your mother, Naruto." Hiruzen finished with a smile while Aurora giggled into her hand. Seeing Naruto with a small smile of his own, he prepared himself for the most important part as he opened a drawer in his desk and pulled out a photograph. "Her name was Kushina Uzumaki, the woman whom you have gained your surname." As he said this, he reached over the desk with the photo and handed it to the boy.
Naruto looked at the photo to see a woman with vibrant red hair tied up in a ponytail and blue eyes wearing a jonin flak jacket over black combat fatigue with the Konoha headband on her head. The boy stared at the picture feeling sadness and longing welling up inside him as a few tears rolled down his cheek while he gently stroked the image of his mother with his fingers.
'Mother…' Naruto thought as he took a shuddering breathe from the emotions he was feeling, not only for his deceased mother, but for his father as well. Hiruzen clearing his throat brought his attention back to the matter at hand.
"Naruto, I understand that you are a little emotional right now but I need you to listen because this is the most important part of what we have to tell you. The whole reason why you are being informed of all this now rather than later is because there is much more to your mother than being a notorious kunoichi of the leaf."
With that, the old Hokage turned and nodded to the sorceress who had remained silent throughout the entire time. She returned the nod and moved over to take Naruto's hand.
"Come over here or a moment, Naruto." She told him as she pulled him over to the couch that sat to the side of the office. After she had Naruto sit down, she walked in front of him and knelt down so that she was eye level with him.
"Naruto, what the Hokage said is true, there is much more to your mother then what most people know; in fact, only a handful of people still alive really knew who your mother was. She was indeed a kunoichi of the leaf, but she was also one of us. She was a sorceress, one of the 'Sisters of Alorra' whom I am a part of."
Naruto's eyes widened with surprise. This was something he was not expecting at all. Granted, he had never met a sorceress before today, even if he didn't fully understand what they were.
"To the people of this village, she was known as Kushina Uzumaki. Her real name, though, was Karoline, and she was my sister, Naruto. My sister in blood."
It took a moment for the gravity of what she said to sink it, but when it did, Naruto could only stare at the woman before him. After about three minutes of torturous silence, he finally spoke.
"You…you mean that…you and I are…"
"Yes, Naruto. We are family. You are my nephew."
If it weren't for the fact that he was already sitting down, Aurora was sure that Naruto would have fallen to the floor from the shock. As it was, all he was doing was staring at her with his mouth hanging open and his eyes as wide as saucers. Another torturous period of silence past before Naruto started speaking again.
"How…how long have you known that I was your nephew?"
Aurora closed her eyes. "Since the day you were born, Naruto."
"WHY HAVEN'T YOU COME TO SEE ME SOONER?!" Naruto yelled out, the years of hurt, sadness and frustration coming out in one big surge of emotion. "Why Did You Wait So Long To Tell Me That I Had Family?!" Tears were falling from his eyes as he sobbed. "Why did you leave me here like this? Did you not want me?"
Aurora immediately reached out and enveloped the boy in a bone-crushing hug, trying desperately to convey her feelings for her nephew. "Naruto, I wanted nothing more than to take you away from this place. To give you a home and show you the love you deserved. I wanted you to be a part of my family so badly." Tears fell from the sorceresses cheeks as she held the trembling boy in her arms. "But please understand; I had to leave you here. Your life would have been in grave danger if I had taken you with me." The woman tightened her grip on her nephew. "I am so sorry that I left you alone, Naruto. I may not have been there for you the first twelve years of your life, but I want to make it up to you by being here now. I want to help you grow into a strong young man, just like your parents would have done."
"I…I….I need some time to think. This…is all just too much."
Aurora pulled back and gave the boy a loving smile. "Of course, Naruto. Take all the time you need."
"…Thank you." Naruto said as he stood up and asked to be excused. Hiruzen gave his consent but not before he stresses the importance of keeping his parents identity a closely guarded secret. Nodding in understanding, the boy left the office. When the door closed, Aurora let out a shuddering sigh as she sunk down on the couch, her strength leaving her after the emotional strain.
"He actually took that better than I expected." Hiruzen said as he took a calming drag from his lit pipe.
Aurora said nothing as she stared at the door, grief written clearly on her face. Leaving him alone in this village had been the best option at the time, but that didn't mean she didn't feel saddened for doing it. Naruto had been forced to suffer so much in his youth, and she wanted so desperately to make it up to him. Looking down at the crystal hanging from her neck, the sorceress took hold of it with both of her hands and focused her thoughts through it.
The others needed to know about what happened here.
- Streets of Konoha – Minutes later –
Naruto walked slowly through the streets of the thriving ninja village as he thought about everything he had just learned. Finding out who your parents were was something that any orphaned child wanted to know, even more to know that they were loved. To find out that your father was one of the leaders of the village was something he wouldn't have imagined. Although, every time he looked up at the Hokage Monument and gazed at the bust of the forth, he always seemed to have this feeling of familiarity grow inside him. Before today, had had just passed it off as admiration of the man, but now, it felt like he was looking at someone who was supposed to be close to him. It was the same feeling he got when he gazed at the picture of his mother…
…And it was the feeling he got when he first meet Aurora.
Perhaps it was the despondence he had felt yesterday that kept him from first noticing it, but now he could tell just by seeing her that they were connected someway, which was why he so readily believed her when she claimed to be his Aunt. Of course, this was the whole reason he was now feeling a little depressed as he walked down the street, ignoring the glares and sneers he was receiving from many of the civilians he passed by as he continued on, not really having any destination in mind.
'Why now?' Naruto thought as he lowered his gaze to the ground. 'Why did she choose now of all times to see me? Why couldn't she have been there for me when I really needed it?' So lost in his thoughts that he didn't notice someone who was walking into his path until the two bumped into each other.
"Gah!"
"Kya!"
Staggering back from the sudden bump, Naruto looked up to see one of his very own classmates standing before him. The person in question was a young girl with long pink hair that flowed down her back with emerald green eyes. She wore a red one-piece dress that covered her from her shoulders down to her knees. The dress had two slits along the sides up to her hips to allow freedom of movement, but she didn't reveal anything daring since she also wore a pair of dark shorts under the dress. The girl was Sakura Haruno, Naruto's long time crush.
Sakura had been in Naruto's class since he first started the academy, and the boy developed a crush on her during the first year. However, Sakura hardly wanted anything to do with the boy, and would often criticize him and call him names, just like everyone else in class. When Naruto finally got up the nerve to ask him for a date, the girl responded by slamming her fist into the top of his head and telling him not to waste her time while she fawned over someone else. This didn't detour the boy and he had been asking her out every chance he could get, which always ended the same way all the way up to Sakura's graduation.
"Hey, who just bumped-" Sakura started to ask when she looked up and saw the person in question. As soon as she did, a frown marred her face. "Naruto, you idiot! Why don't you watch where you're going?"
Naruto blinked a couple of times before realization dawned on him. "Oh. Sorry, Sakura-chan, I wasn't paying much attention…"
Sakura was glaring at the boy for his carelessness when she noticed something. "Hey, what are you doing with a ninja headband, Naruto? Only those who graduated can have one and you failed the test." Sakura asked in a harsher than necessary voice.
Naruto blinked again before he reached up with his hand to his forehead and felt the cold metal of the headband. "…huh…I forgot that I was still wearing it…" Naruto said as he pulled the item off his head and gazed at in thought. "I, uh, managed to graduate after something went down last night and they let me pass. So, I'm a ninja now…yeah…" Naruto said, his tone completely lacking its usual exuberance.
Sakura found this really surprising, not only for Naruto to be allowed to graduate, but also for the fact that he is not jumping up and down shouting to the world about it like an idiot. In fact, seeing him like this was really unnatural for the blonde. For all his eccentrics, seeing him look so subdued, she found herself actually worrying over him.
"Naruto? Is everything alright with you?" Sakura asked feeling some actual concern for him.
"Huh?...Oh, uh, yeah. I'm fine…I just…have a lot on my mind right now." As he spoke, he turned his head and looked up towards the Hokage Monument, more specifically, the bust of the forth. After staring at the face of his father for a few moments, Naruto turned back and reaffixed the headband to his forehead. "Anyways, sorry for bumping into you like that. I'll see you around, Sakura-chan." With that, Naruto resumed his walk with his hands in his pockets and his eyes back towards the ground, but not as much as before so he could see what's ahead of him.
Sakura stood there and watched him walk past her and down the street. She had never seen the blonde like this, even when he had failed the graduation exams in the past. Sure, the boy was saddened by his failures, something that anyone would feel after working so hard, but he still had the air of determination and drive that kept him going. This Naruto, though, looked so…unsure, and she surprisingly found herself staring at the blondes back as he vanished into the mid-morning crowd.
- Ichiraku Ramen – Midday –
Naruto had spent the morning simply wandering around the village proper without any real destination in mind. He had once thought about just heading home, but the boy was just too restless to settle down, and it wasn't like there was anything waiting for him, so he just kept wandering. Eventually, his stomach decided to inform him that he hadn't eaten anything since yesterday so he went straight for Ichiraku's to fill up. When he got there, he pushed away the curtains that hung at the entrance of his favorite ramen stand and entered. The place was currently vacant and the only sounds he could here was the light clattering of utensils on steel and the soft humming of a young woman, both things that Naruto was used to hearing in this humble establishment. As he sat himself down on one of the stools, a familiar face appeared from through a doorway from the kitchen.
"Ah, hey there, Naruto. Here for the usual?" The young boy looked up to see one of his favorite people greeting him with a smile.
Naruto smiled at the man, but his smile lacked his usual cheerfulness, something that Teuchi noticed but did not comment on.
"Hey there, old man. Yeah, I could go for a bowl or two. I haven't really eaten anything since yesterday."
"Coming right up."
As the chef returned to the kitchen, he passed by his daughter who came out when she heard the boy's name called out. Ayame spotted the blonde as he sat on the stool seemingly deep in thought. A ghost of a frown appeared on the girl's face, but just as quickly as it came, it disappeared. Smiling cheerfully, the young lady walked up to the bar and leaned over it.
"Hey there handsome, feeling pretty hungry?"
Naruto chuckled as he scratched the back of his head. "Yeah, I haven't had anything since lunch yesterday so I could really go for some ramen right now. So, how have you been this morning?"
"Been pretty slow. Not very many people eat ramen in the morning, but since its midday people should be coming in for lunch pretty soon."
"Well, hope you have another successful day." Naruto said as Teuchi walked up with a bowl in his hand and placed it down from the boy. Naruto broke his chopsticks, said grace, and dug right into his favorite dish. As Ayame watched him eat, she suddenly noticed what was tied to his head.
"Oh my god, Naruto, you got your headband! You finally became a ninja!"
Naruto paused in his eating, reached up, and once more rub the metal plate with the leaf village symbol engraved on its surface. "Yeah, I finally did it, after all this time finally became a ninja."
Ayame bounced on her feet as she gleefully cheered for the young man's success. "That's great, Naruto. Now you're one-step closer to obtaining your dream." But Ayame's smile quickly faded when she noticed that Naruto, the usual boisterous young boy who always proclaimed that he would one day become the Hokage, was not joining in the celebration for something he had worked so hard for. In fact, it appeared as though he was saddened by something. Being around the boy for so long, the girl could tell and something was bothering him just by looking at him, even when he tried to hide it behind a cheerful face. Now, though, that cheerful face was replaced with a subdued expression.
"Naruto..." Ayame started as she walked around the bar to sit beside the boy. Said blonde stopped his eating for a moment to look up at a pair of eyes that shined with genuine concern. "Is everything all right?"
Naruto remained still for a moment before he let out a heavy sigh. Ayame always seem to have this ability to tell if he was sad about something. It was as if she had some kind of sixth sense that let her know whenever he was upset when she was around, because she never failed to try to cheer him up. His 'mask' was able to fool a lot of people, but against his Ayame-neechan, it completely and utterly failed. Deciding that talking about his problem was better than keeping it to himself; the young boy pushed his bowl away from him and turned to the girl.
"I'm alright, Ayame-neechan. It's just that...this morning...I found out about my family."
Ayame gasped. "You found out about your family? How? Who told you?"
"…My aunt."
"You have a living aunt? Naruto, that's great. You're not alone anymore."
Naruto sighed. "Yeah, I guess, but…why would she wait all this time to see me? She said she knew about me since the day I was born, so why did it take twelve years for her to see me?"
Ayame stayed silent for a moment before she placed a reassuring hand on the boy's shoulder. "Naruto, I'm sure she had her reasons."
"WHAT reasons!? What reason could she of possibly had leave me alone for the first twelve years of my life? If she cared so much as she said she did, then why was I alone?"
Naruto looked down as fresh tears threatened to burst from his eyes. All the years of pain and loneliness seem to well up inside him as he thought about what he endured. Being forced to live on his own without the comfort of a family member being there for him. It just wasn't fair to him that there was someone out there who he was related to that wouldn't be there for him when he needed it the most. It just wasn't fair.
"But Naruto, you are never alone."
Naruto blinked before he looked up at his sister figure and saw something different about the girl. She seemed to have changed instantly from a young lady into a more mature woman even though she looked the same as before. Her eyes held this aura of wisdom and power that wasn't there before and her smile held much more adoration in it than before. He also noticed that her voice had changed as it gained a much smoother and alluring tone that someone her age shouldn't possess. It was a real shock to him.
"Ayame-neechan?"
The 'woman' sitting before him reached out and gently took both of his hands into her own and held them up between them.
"You are never alone, Naruto. 'We' have always been here for you. 'We' have always been watching over you, helping you, and caring for you even if you didn't see us."
"What... What you talking about? What do you mean you've been watching over me?" Naruto was really confused at this point.
"We had been here since the beginning, since the day of your birth. We were tasked with protecting you since your family could not. Even if you never noticed us, we've always cared and loved you with all our hearts. You are very precious to us."
Naruto stared at the person who was his sister figure in silence, trying hard to understand the sudden change in the girl before him. After a long moment finally asked.
"What are you?"
Ayame giggled, and enchanting laugh that sounded as smooth as silk and as sweet as honey. "I am Ayame, the girl who is your sister and all but blood, but I'm also much more."
Ayame let go of Naruto's hand and pointed hers towards the bowl that sat in front of him on the bar. The bowl shook slightly from an unseen force before it suddenly levitated off the bar and floated into the girl's outstretched hand. With a mischievous smile, she turned back to the boy who was staring at her in wide-eyed shock.
"You...You're a sorceress!?"
Ayame laughed as she placed the ball back down on the bar. "That's right Naruto. I am indeed a sorceress, just like your aunt. Although, I may not be as skilled as she is, but I do know quite a few spells."
"…But…How?...I don't under- wait a minute, you know my aunt?"
Ayame smiled gently. "Of course I do, she was one of my teachers. She is also the one who asked me to keep an eye on you and take care of you as best as I could."
"But, if you were supposed to take care me, then why is it that you never told me for before now? Why did you hide something like this for me?"
Ayame let out a sigh. "Because, Naruto, it was for the sake of being able to stay here with you. If I had told you who I was before, it would've put you and myself at great risk. Tell me, Naruto, if I told you that I was able to do magic when you were younger, what would you have done?"
Naruto thought about it for a moment before realization struck him. "I would've told everyone about my neechan's awesome power."
"And what would the people think if they heard that?"
"...They would think that you're some kind demon and either chase you out or kill you."
Ayame nodded. "That's right. It would have been disastrous if anybody knew about my secret. The sorceresses have gone through something similar to this in the past, Naruto, and we have learned the importance of keeping our identities concealed. Not to mention what the villagers would think if they knew you were talking to people with strange powers."
Naruto figured out pretty quickly what they would think. They would think he had somehow make contact with other demons and was raising an army to destroy the village. As ridiculous as it sounded, to these people, it would make perfect sense, and it would've been bad news for him. The village would've called for his blood and wouldn't stop until they had it. He shivered at the thought. Now that he had some clarity of thought, he didn't feel nearly as hurt as before about the fact that his sister figure kept such a secret from him.
"You said you were taking care of me even though you were hiding who you are. How did you do that without exposing yourself?"
Ayame giggled. "That's the beauty of magic, Naruto. It lets you do all kinds of things that are considered impossible, even by Shinobi standards. For instance, do you remember how you would suddenly find fresh food in your pantry? Or brand-new clothing in your closet?"
Naruto suddenly remembered the times where he would come home and find fresh fruits, bread, meat and other foods appearing in his pantry and refrigerator from out of nowhere. He also remembered he would open his closet and find brand-new clothing that seem to have magically appeared there. He always assumed that that it was the old man who was given it to him.
"That was you?"
"Myself and the others, yes."
"You and… Wait, there are others? There are other sorceresses here?" Naruto asked in bewilderment as he looked around.
"Yes, Naruto. There are many of us here, watching over you. And all of us have tried to make you as happy as possible, even if you never knew about it. Sadly, we couldn't do much without revealing ourselves. But hopefully, all that will change very soon now that Aurora is here."
Naruto remembered what Aurora had told him back in the Hokage's office about being there for him now. He still wasn't quite sure how he felt about it.
"But why now? What stopped her from being here before? Why couldn't she have stayed here, or have taking me away."
Ayame shook her head. "I'm afraid it is not my place to tell you that. You must ask her that yourself. "But, Naruto..." Ayame started has she gently cupped his cheek. "…I want you to do something for me. I want you to give her a chance. I know that you're upset with her for not being here for you, but I will tell you that it was for a good reason. Please don't hold it against her. You mean much more to her than you know. Please, Naruto, for me."
Naruto remained silent for several minutes, milling over everything before he finally gave a nod. "I… I'll try."
Ayame smiled before she reached up and pulled the headband away from his forehead as she leaned over and kissed it. "That's all I want, Naruto. Thank you for understanding."
Naruto blushed a little bit at the affectionate gesture and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. But just before anything else could be said, the two heard that Teuchi call from the kitchen.
"Ayame…Ayame, where are you? I could use some help back here."
"Coming, dad." Ayame said as she instantly reverted to the ramen girl that Naruto knew. "Now then, want you go ahead and finish up the bowl you started on while I get you another. I'm sure you must be starving."
Naruto nodded for he turned back to his bowl of ramen, which somehow remained hot and steamy throughout the entire conversation. He got the sinking suspicion that magic was involved in keeping it warm for him.
- Hokage Monument – Later –
Naruto sat on top of the bust of his father as he stared down at the vast village that was his home. He had come up here after he finished eating and bid Teuchi and Ayame goodbye. His talk with Ayame had been…enlightening, and it made him think about many things. He had been convinced that no one truly cared about him. Sure, he had the old man Hokage and Teuchi and Ayame that treated him kindly, but never did he believe to have someone who genuinely cared about his happiness and wellbeing. But to find out that there were people in the village who secretly cared for him…he honestly didn't know how to feel about that. He was just so used to having nothing but negativity directed at him for so long.
And then there was Aurora, his only known living relative. Now that his mood had improved, he could think more clearly about the woman. He still didn't know just how to feel about her. He was happy to know that someone truly loved him as family, just as he had always dreamed of, but he also angry that she hadn't been there for him in his life. He had endured so much and only now did she choose to appear? A small part of him really wanted to tell her off.
But he thought back to what Ayame had told him. The truth that his sister figure was a magical sorceress who had been asked by his aunt to watch over him in her stead, among other woman, made him feel better about her. For now, he would reserve judgement.
"Naruto."
Hearing his name being called, the boy turned to find the very woman he was just thinking about walking up to him.
"Aurora." Naruto said as the sorceress walked up beside before she sat down beside him.
"How are you feeling?" She asked him, her eyes filled with warmth.
"Better." Naruto responded before he looked back over the village.
"I see." The two feel into silence for a few minutes.
"How did you know I was up here?" Naruto finally asked, curious on how his aunt was able to find him.
Aurora smiled. "With this." Aurora pointed to the small crystal hanging from her neck.
"A...crystal?"
"That's right, Naruto. This crystal is very special. All sorceresses carry one, and it allows us to stay connected with one another no matter how far away we are." She said as she gently cupped the crystal in her hands. "We are able to communicate with one another by focusing our thoughts through it, but we can also feel the emotions of those who wear them as well, just like when we sensed your sadness and tried to comfort you."
"Feel my…but how did…? Wait!" Naruto reached into his clothing and pulled out his own crystal necklace. He stared at it for a moment as he remembered all the times he felt comfort from the item.
"I see you figured it out." Aurora said as she saw Naruto come to the realization of what the item did. "That crystal is just like the ones that we possess. It was given to you on the day of your birth; your first birthday present."
"So…you guys gave it to me." Naruto said as he looked at the one piece of property that had always been his own.
"That's right. The crystal was imprinted on you when you received it and has always stayed with you for all these years. It kept you connected to us at all times and we have been able to keep an eye on you no matter where you were. Even when it was taken from you, the crystal still found its way back to you, with a little help from the 'Sisters', of course."
The crystal in Aurora's hands started to glow a pale white. Naruto marveled at the glow when he suddenly noticed that his own crystal started to glow too. As he stared at the glowing object, he suddenly felt a familiar sensation envelop him. It was the soothing and comforting feeling he always felt when he was depressed or sad, only this time, it felt like he was being wrapped up in a cocoon of warmth and love.
"Do you feel it, Naruto?" The woman asked as she smiled at the boy. "Can you sense our feelings flowing through the gift in your hands? This is the love that we all have for you. It is the proof that you are not unwanted or unloved, Naruto. We, all of us, care for you."
He could feel it! It wasn't just Aurora he was feeling though the crystal, there were so many others. It felt like…an entire village worth of people were pouring there love through the crystal in his hands…and it was all for him! Naruto started to cry, it was just too much for him.
'Naruto…'
"A-Ayame!" Naruto suddenly said, as he suddenly both heard and felt the young woman through the crystal.
Aurora giggled. "I see that you found one of the 'Sisters', Naruto." She said as the glow from the crystals disappeared and the warm feeling with it. "Young Ayame had been one of the most vigilant in her watch over you. She never failed to respond to your feelings when you needed it."
Naruto got his crying under control as he wiped away the tears on his face. "She…she said that you were one of her teachers. If you were away until now, then how did you have the ability to teach her?"
"We have our ways, Naruto. After all, magic is potentially limitless in its abilities."
Naruto was suddenly finding magic to be more and more amazing by the second. It seemed even more powerful than even chakra and jutsus. Maybe if he had learned magic, he could have been much more than the 'dead-last' of his class…and a failure.
"I wish I could learn magic." He commented, not really expecting anything from it.
Aurora, though, seemed to have been waiting for him to say that.
"Would you like to learn?"
His head whipped around so quickly it was a wonder the boy didn't get whiplash. "I-I can learn it?!"
Aurora's smile grew as she responded. "Of course you can, Naruto. I'll be more than happy to teach you, if you would let me." The woman reached out and took both of Naruto hands in hers, just as Ayame had done earlier. "Naruto, I know that it was very lonely for you for all these long years, and I am so sorry that I could not be there for you. But, I want so badly to make it up to you. If you could let me, I will happily be the family that you have wanted for so long. I beg of you, Naruto. Please give me the chance."
Naruto stared into the eyes of the woman before him and he could see that she whole-heartedly meant what she said. It was honestly shocking to see such conviction from her, to know that she absolutely wanted to be there for him without expecting anything in return. In that moment, Naruto knew that Aurora loved him unconditionally. There was absolutely no doubt in his mind about it now. He knew it. He felt it. He could feel her love and resolve through whatever sense or bond he had with her. This was it. The one thing he wanted more than anything in the world was right there in front of him, and all he had to do was accept it.
Blinking to keep the tears at bay, he gave his answer.
"A...alright. I...I would be happy…if you would be a part of my family…Oba-san."
Aurora remained still as she listened to Naruto's reply before she smiled in joy as tears formed in the corner of her eyes. She suddenly lunged forward and enveloped the boy in the biggest hug he had ever experienced.
"Thank you…Thank you, Naruto…Thank you. I promise you'll never regret this."
Naruto smiled a genuine happy smile as he wrapped his own arms around the woman and hugged her back. They stayed like that for the longest time until they finally broke away and Aurora wiped away the tears in her eyes before she fixed the boy with another beautiful smile.
"Well, It certainly getting late in the day and I'm sure that you must be getting hungry, so why don't we go home and I'll fix us up something so we can eat while we get to know each other a little better, hmm?"
Naruto cringed a little when she mentioned the word 'home'. For him the place happened to be an old, rundown apartment that was almost constantly vandalized to the point where even a rat would look for a better place to live. It was most certainly not a place that he wanted to take his aunt.
"Uh, Auntie Aurora…" Naruto nervously spoke.
"Hmm? What is it, Naruto?" She asked while keeping her elation suppressed that her nephew was calling her 'Auntie'.
Naruto sheepishly scratched the back of his head. "Well…you see…I really don't think going to my home is a very good idea." He really didn't want to show his aunt the broken down dump that he had been forced to live in. Not only that, but if anyone spotted her walking around with the village pariah, then they may label her a 'demon-lover' and treat her as an outcast as well.
Aurora sighed before patted the boys cheek. "Naruto, I know what you are thinking and I want you to stop right now. I could care less about how the village views me. They could speak the harshest insults to me, ban me from their shops, even throw their stones at me, but nothing in this world will stop me from loving you as my nephew. Besides, I am hardly defenseless. You've seen me take care of that monster that Mizuki became, right?"
Naruto thought about it and she did have a point. She was powerful in her own right and there wouldn't be a villager stupid enough to try anything if they knew what she could do.
…Okay, maybe they would. They were stupid after all.
"I also know about your living conditions, Naruto. The 'Sisters' here told me all about it. Do you honestly believe I was referring to your old and decrepit apartment when I was talked about heading home?"
"What? Are you saying you have your own place here?" Naruto asked in surprised by what Aurora was implying.
"Why yes, Naruto. Your mother created a place when she first arrived her in the village using her magic."
"No way! That's awesome! I bet it's the coolest place ever if my mom made it. Can we go there now? Where exactly is it?" Naruto asked excitedly as he bounced around on the balls of his feet.
Aurora smiled mischievously as she gestured towards the woods behind the Hokage Monument. It took Naruto a second to realize what she was implying.
"Eh? It's back there? But that doesn't make any sense. I've been running around in the woods back there for years and all that's there is empty woods and a few training fields."
Aurora giggled at the boy's response. "Are you forgetting who we are already? The home she made is protected by a magic barrier that prevents anyone except one of us or one who is trusted by us from finding it. It has remained hidden and protected for all these years and now it will be your new home, Naruto. No more rundown vandalized apartment for you."
Naruto's eyes were wide as a grin began formed on his face before it turned into a full-blown smile. "Alright! I get a new home! Hey, what kind of place is it? Can we go see it now? Huh? Can we?"
"Of course, Naruto. We'll go there right now, and tomorrow, we can go and get all of your things out of your old apartment. Then we can start on your magic training if you would like. As for what kind of home it is, let's just say that it's something I think you'll really enjoy."
Naruto smiled happily as he followed his aunt into the forest behind the Hokage Monument. The day had started out with him neck deep in trouble and ended with one of his most deepest wishes coming true. He finally had someone who he could call his family and a special group of people that cared for him. The boy wasn't sure what the coming days held for him, but now that he finally had those who would whole-heartedly support him, he could face it head on without hesitation.
- To Be Continued –
{Author's Notes}
A tad short but I'm satisfied with it.
Second chapter out and quite a few surprises for our blonde hero, huh? The idea that Aurora was related to Naruto was something I had intended since I first planned this story, and is one of the key parts in it. It is one of the things that makes my story unique since so many people often stick to canon when writing their stories. Speaking of canon, I will let you know right now that you can take the history of the world of Naruto and roll it right up in a ball and chunk it straight into the trash. This world will have different origins that are unique to this story, like Kushina being a sorceress. Also, there will be a point where I diverge from the storyline so I don't want to hear anyone complain about this story not sticking to canon events.
Canon is completely optional in fanfiction, just so you know.
For those who think that revealing Naruto's parents already was a bit too soon, I wanted to get it out of the way now because there will be things that Naruto learns in the next few chapters that are closely related to his mother as a sorceress, so without that knowledge it would have been harder to make the story flow properly and it would seem like Aurora was trying to manipulate the boy, something that I want to avoid.
Who was surprised that Ayame was also a sorceress? Another thing I made sure to do was get her more involved than being a simple girl at a ramen stand that is only appears when the characters are around the place or mentioned in a thought. She will have a bigger part to play in this story, as will a few others of my choosing.
Now, it was mentioned that there were numerous sorceresses hiding in Konoha. That is another point of this story and I will be revealing them as the story progresses, as well as those who live outside the village. A few of them might just surprise you.
Why are they all so caring for Naruto? That is something you'll have to find out as you read.
In the next chapter, Naruto gets settled into his new home and Aurora starts his training. Hope you all are looking forward to it.
Peace.
