(Octobor 11, 7:27 am, the day after the kyuubi attack.)

All was quiet and still in the village…

It was early morning, the sun was shining not a cloud of the sky and unseasonable warm weather for October tempted the inhabitants of Konoha. A perfect day; Or it would have been if the streets were not filled with mourners wearing black clothing and many buildings toppled laying broken as if an earthquake had occurred. A massive jagged fissure about two meters deep ran through the middle of the street like the gates of hell themselves had tried to open up. People who dared to brave close could not observe the bottom and it looked like it went hundreds of feet down with the view of the bottom of the fissure swallowed by the darkness. Wooden Two by sixes lay covering the massive gash in the street, an unnecessary caution because people were giving the small chasm in the ground a wide berth.

People were running frantically back and forth looking for someone and hoping to all gods above that their beloved ones were not among the causalities. They looked for mother, father, son, daughter, sister, brother, uncle, aunt, grandfather, grandmother, friend, comrade, lover, wife, husband but most of all they looked for someone to tell them what to do. They were lost and confused.

Their leader was dead increasing their grief and now no one was giving them direction, something they desperately hoped would change.

An eerie silence was upon the street that was stifling and should have crushed someone by now ran unbroken except for the occasional calls of peoples names as their loved ones looked for them.. Grief and sorrow from the loss of loved ones and the devastation of their home was thick permeating the air like some sort of blanket. In he town square a line of bodies were being neatly lined up and covered with sheets to hide their ravaged and bloodied bodies and the blood.

The cries of anguish like something from the tale of the damned could be heard as grief and sorrow and shock emanated from the people and looking lost as they identified someone they knew among the dead. A heavily bandaged Chunin carrying a clip bored, a pen and a heavy heart went from body to body identifying and recording the dead to count up losses they suffered from the attack. Things were not looking good. From the numbers he was recording they had already lost over four hundred and fifty-six civilians and way over three hundred shinobi. It was sad that they had lost so many civilians but it was much worse that they had lost so many shinobi. To lose more than twenty shinobi was a horrible loss, to lose more than fifty was terrible but to loose three hundred…

Konohagakure had lost two thirds of their military forces leaving them weak and vulnerable to attack from rival villages and enemies who have vendettas. Konoha only had forty-three Genin, fifty-nine Chunin, sixty Jounin and special Jounin and thirty-two anbu. They had lost a majority of anbu and Jounin: the cream of the crop and the strength of the village.

Even most of the anbu and Jounin that survived were heavily injured and it questionable as to whether they could continue being a ninja. The only reason the Genin survived is because most of them were evacuating civilians to the shelters located below the stone faces. Such a devastating loss of military power would take a decade to completely rebuild and even then things wouldn't be the same. Things would never be the same. Loves lost and family torn apart cruelly to a place they could not follow yet, barred by a threshold they could not cross called death.

One man in particular was walking among his people surveying the scene in front of him giving consolation and making decisions about things that would need to be done. The skin around his eyes rimmed nearly charcoal black from a lack of sleep and his white and red Hokage robes that had not been worn for a while, normally immaculate, disheveled. Sarutobi had clearly not slept much or tried to sleep judging from the looks of his haggard and slow movements. Things were bad now but Sarutobi was certain they would get better.

Of course, this about the time something happens to cancel out such hopeful statements...

Sarutobi became alarmed when two anbu guards' ox and horse alone with Ibiki, the new anbu captain, landed behind him and judging from the body postures he could observe from behind the white cloaks they were tense and did not bring good news. It was a further testament to the fact that they were frantic when they did not even stop to consider that they were in a public place filled with villagers before the normally intelligent anbu guards delivered news that should have remained secret.

"Hokage-sama the jinchuriki Uzumaki Naruto is gone and we cannot locate him at the hospital. The anbu guards I had stationed to protect him are have been knocked out from some sort of drug I do not recognize. My men are searching the villager and villagers for him as we speak but it is unlikely we will find him. No one was witnessed carrying a baby last night or this morning so no description of the culprit can be made or any clues as to which direction Uzumaki was taken in." He said reported tersely looking wild eyed and without his normal take-anything-in-stride composure.

Sarutobi Hiruzen now felt he knew what they were talking about when they coined the phrase 'from one hell to another'. Who ever had done this was clearly skilled to have gotten in with out alarming the guards or alerting them to their presence so the civilians were out. They had some expertise with exotic drugs and then to have kidnapped Naruto without having been spotted by anyone in the village required severe stealth abilities.

Hiruzen swore inwardly as he realized what this meant and for good measure swore again. Only a prodigious stealth master could achieve that and someone who was that proficient with exotic toxins and concoctions that even a seasoned Jounin like Ibiki or other anbu could not recognize was rare. He could only think of one person who filled that profile.

"Ibiki! I want you and every single one of you anbu men to search the village for Murasaki Majo!" Sarutobi ordered in a commanding tone that would tolerate no objections.

Ibiki's eyes widened but turned and did as he was told. Messenger hawks were being sent out ever available Jounin was looking high and low for signs of the witch or Naruto. Eventually it was confirmed that majo was no longer in the village and that a wagon was seen leaving the eastern village gates last night around 8:45 that matched the description of the infamous kunochi's mobile house that Sarutobi gave.

Hiruzen was mashing his teeth in frustration and worry.

Her medical ninjutsu her superb and rivaled Tsunade's own skill, something his student is not willing to admit. It grated on Tsunade and her ego that some one else had skills to rival her and Chiyo of the red sands, a medic that was well known for her poisons during the shinobi wars. Once Tsunade had asked to examine a poison of Kohana's to see if she could neutralize it or find an antidote. Kohana already said she had an antidote but gave Tsunade a sample of the requested poison anyway.

Tsunade spent three weeks tearing at her hair trying to find a antidote. Then mysteriously 'lost' the sample before she could finish creating an antidote and had a dour disposition for a couple of weeks due to a severely bruised ego. She had vehemently denied being unable to find an antidote and said that she had been close and would have finished had she not lost it. It didn't help that Kohana had taken pity on his student and given her a sample of the antidote to the poison.

Kohana had the ability to disappear and leave no trails nearly instantaneously. She was a master stealth's-woman bringing it to nearly an art form and given a few minutes she could hide any thing or anyone. It was why she was a favored assassin because she could pull a cloak and dagger operation and always succeeded without leaving a trace. What's more is that she managed somehow to keep rumors of her prowess nearly non-existent from the civilian public further illustrating her abilities to stay hidden.

Hiruzen once asked for a demonstration of her abilities to disappear and hide while he was still Hokage in his office making the rule that she could not leave the room. She agreed and made him cover his eyes for only ten seconds. He had counted down and looked up, down, left, right. His office did not have any closets or things to hide under. There was only the simple desk, plush office chair and the two chairs reserved for visitors. He had cast his keen and advanced senses around searching for a chakra signature, a scent, an irregularity or a sound. Sarutobi even checked for gengetsu and found there was none.

He had found… nothing. Kohana had managed to fool even a Hokage's keen senses and could surprise attack him at her leisure. When Sarutobi had admitted defeat during this demonstration Kohana materialized in his cushy plush office chair that he had been certain was empty. When he asked if she was in his chair the whole time Kohana had said "yes I was, and had you sat on the chair and I had been hired to kill you, you would have not even have felt me or known I was in the chair until it was too late."

Kohana had had hours to complete her disappearing act. If he did not catch up to Kohana NOW she would take Naruto with her and vanish without a trace and could stay that way. Indefinitely. What was worse is that Hiruzen had no idea if she intended to ever return to Konoha. If she did decide to return when and would Naruto be with her?

Deciding that he would go after the wagon himself he marshaled all available anbu sending half with orders to guard the village and give out his instructions and the other half to come with him to track down "Murasaki majo".

"But Hokage-sama you cannot leave! You are the Hokage and we are under marshal law." Cat protested her feminine voice betraying her hidden gender. "We are certain we can recover the jinchuriki."

It bothered Sarutobi that they were referring Naruto as a jinchuriki and not because it was true but because it was as if the jinchuriki was being reduced to an object and not a person. He knew cat was right and that he should not leave but Kohana had told him the secret on how to track and find her wagon, something that he was sure she now regretted and would come in useful for Hiruzen

"We are going and I will hear no objections. We have to move fast and we will follow my and cats lead as I am the only one that can track that wagon." He said firmly and without further word raced to the east gate forcing the anbu to follow.

The secret to the wagon was simple. The wagon has several chakra conversion seals of Kohana's own design that taps into the natural energy of the area and it uses that energy to wipe the dirt free of any trails left there. This meant it did not require active participation from the driver or any chakra leaving the driver or anyone on the wagon completely energized. There was a slight drawback to this. It leaves a trail of chakra signature that only a Byakugan or Sharingan can see and eventually dissipates after twelve hours, a time limit they were fast approaching and would need to move quick before the trail disappears altogether.

Cat was a Hyuuga and Sarutobi himself has some chakra sensing abilities and between the two of them they could easily track the wagons chakra. They were already twenty-five miles from the village when Cats Byakugan said she spotted the wagon. It was traveling and according to her an adult woman was driving but she could not see within the wagon. Sarutobi told them to get thirty feet with in the wagon on all sides and surround it but not approach because he would be doing the talking. It would not do to upset Kohana and make her attack when the goal was to get Naruto to return to Konoha with or without her.

Sarutobi got in front of the wagon and looked into Kohana's beautiful blue eyes. She had already stopped the wagon and was now calmly surveying the barley concealed anbu before laying her eyes on Hiruzen. Her horses shifted uncomfortably and they nickered. The breeze slightly billowing up her purple cloak and her hood fell back to reveal a long length of lustrous wavy gold colored hair that cascaded down her back. Then she spoke.

"Hello Hiruzen. How may I help you today? If you have brought your friends to accompany you for tea I'm afraid I have none." She said completely in a calm and detached manner.

No one could break into that wagon. Kohana had the upper hand in this situation. She knew it, Sarutobi knew and even the anbu knew it though they could not hear what was being said which was she was not worried. It was however irritating that she was acting as if nothing was wrong and wasn't making the situation any easier.

"Kohana, Naruto Uzumaki went missing from the village hospital last night. Kidnapped in fact, his guards were knocked out by a rare form of non-lethal toxins. In fact they were strikingly similar to the ones you use." He began hoping she would speak up and confess already.

Kohana raised an eyebrow. He isn't going to openly accuse me?

"Lost him already have you? That is most unfortunate. You say he was kidnapped? Terrible thing to do, kidnapping a child. You should hurry up and find the culprit." she said completely unaffected by his words. Inwardly she found her taunting of the aged Hokage rather amusing. If he didn't have the guts to come out and accuse her of taking what's hers then she wasn't going to make this easy on him by admitting she knew anything.

"Kohana, I know you have Naruto and you must bring him back to Konoha." He said trying to keep an even tone.

Ah, there we are. "Do I now? And if I were to have en-acted my right as his legal guardian as I am his aunt, why do you seek me out and say he must be return to Konoha?

'I must bring him back to Konoha?' I was not aware that he belonged to you. Tell me Hiruzen, what family claim do you have over him that makes you more in charge of his well being than I?" She waited patiently for a minute and when Sarutobi remained silent she spoke again continuing in the same detached manner, "none. You have no right to say where he does and does not go."

"Kohana please be reasonable. Naruto belongs in the village Minato grew up in. he should learn to love the village and grow up happy like his father." He said pleading. It was a dirty tactic to bring Minato's wishes into this and everyone knew it. A tactic he was going to regret using.

Kohana's eyes narrowed and faced darkened with rage before spitting out in a voice far darker and terrible than he had ever heard from the woman "and what? Go back to that vile traitorous village filled with blood-thirsty newborn killers?"

Sarutobi's eyes grew wide and Kohana angrily continued her rant,

"Oh yes Sarutobi Hiruzen. I was there. I heard them howling for the death of my own flesh and blood. I heard the sick requests that he be tortured to death or be thrown into a pot of fire. I heard insults, hate, rage and killing intent all directed at my little boy." She continued hysterically growing in volume clearly loosing a grip on her emotions.

"Grow up happy? Are you fucking kidding me Hiruzen? Happy means he will have friends his own age that he can play with and hangout with. Happy means he can walk through the village every morning without some asshole attacking him with a broken bottle or baseball bat. They want to KILL him. Are you naïve enough to think that they will let him play with their children?

Belong to the village? Don't you pull that bullshit with me Hiruzen! Minato was a hero and a savior of that god-forsaken place and they don't deserve the sacrifice my brother made and now they want to kill his son. He shouldn't of have to save that murder house. Minato's slaved night after night doing his work to keep the village happy and he did it with a smile on his face. Now he is dead and my little nephew has a demon sealed within him.

My brothers wish? His wish was for his son to be viewed as a hero and they want to kill Minato's son, my nephew. They aren't fit to lick the mud of my sandals for that. You say he should learn to love people who would happily kill him while he slept in his crib only days old?"

She finished her rant slightly purple in her face nearing the color of her cloak, her face the most beautiful image of anger anyone had ever seen. She was slightly breathless and looked quite frightening. The reigns in her hand clenched tight and the anbu shied away from her nervously amazed that their Hokage was not afraid.

"Ill have anbu guards set up to make sure he is not harmed and you'll be there with him. I have a decree in place that no one of the younger generation will know of the kyuubi so that means he can live a normal life growing up. Please Kohana what were you intending to do by taking Naruto away from the village? Do you think I would let any harm befall Naruto, let alone Minato's child?"

That question forced all of the anger from Kohana's face like a popped balloon.

"I do not doubt that you are a kind man Hiruzen and that you would do all you can for Naruto even if his parents were simple bakers or delivery boys. I want Naruto to grow up happy and the village is simply to angry now. I must take Naruto away. I never said I didn't intend to come back. I wish to train him so that he can protect himself when we return to the village. Also leaving serves another purpose; no one will know what he looks like when we return so he will at least receive fair treatment from the civilians for a while. They fear him Hiruzen and 'first cometh the fear and then cometh the hate'. He will be ostracized if we stay." She said softly.

Sarutobi didn't know what to say. He had no illusions about how Naruto would be treated. He could try to convince Kohana to stop doing something wrong but how could he try and convince her to stop doing what is right? Sarutobi didn't want to admit it but Naruto leaving for a time until the village simmers was the best thing. Not only for his state of mind and well being but for the village as well. Except there were problems concerning the safety of Naruto outside the village…

"Kohana there are people would love to get their hands on a jinchuriki because they would view it as an opportunity to be the perfect weapon. The jinchuriki of the kyuubi no Kitsune, the most powerful of the nine Bijuu would be especially tempting. I do not think it would be safe for Naruto outside the village." He said trying to remain calm.

A wry smile appeared on Kohana's face that Hiruzen did not like. It suggested that she knew something he didn't. "Oh yes. I know all too well the draw a jinchuriki has on the power hungry which is why Naruto would not be safe in that village." She said flatly.

"What do you mean?" he asked apprehensively not liking what she was suggesting. Kohana's eyes narrowed a she stared at Hiruzen for a moment.

"You mean Danzo has not yet approached you saying he should take Naruto in and care for him so that he can be trained as a soldier out of the kindness of his cold blackened heart?" she said laughing mirthlessly at the idea of Danzo having a heart or a conscious. Her laugh, normally as bright and cheery as the sun or Minato's laugh was dead and a chilling, piercing, humorless sound filled with sarcasm and mocking amusement.

"He suggested that Naruto would be a good weapon but I rejected the idea and told him that it would not be allowed to be brought up anymore. Naruto will grow up like a normal child." He knew Naruto would be better off with his family but Sarutobi was being selfish. He loved Minato like Jiraiya did: like a son. Hiruzen wanted to get to know Minato's child, so further proof that Naruto should leave the village while they could was unwelcome.

An ugly look came over Kohana's face, one filled with distaste and disgust.

"Do not think I foolishly left Konoha and took Naruto with me for thoughtless reasons Hiruzen. During the council meeting," she spat the word 'council' as if it were a vile curse word sneering, "I observed Danzo staring at Naruto as he was a piece of meat. I decided to follow him when he left for his thrice accursed ROOT organization. Do you know what I observed him doing with my own eyes?" she asked the last sentence with a sickly sweet tone of voice reserved for babies and naïve toddlers.

"He wouldn't… I told him 'no'." Hiruzen breathed.

Hiruzen had known that Danzo was trying overthrow him but had no evidence. Everyone knew he was corrupt but there was no evidence. It was a politics game that everyone played where you danced from side-to-side dodging bullets and picking up dirt on the other. ROOT was supposed to be disbanded but it was technically still alive and in control of Danzo but no one had proof. He had thought the man would not attempt anything once his request to acquire Naruto was rejected.

Her face grew cold and her eyes red and puffy from crying hardened at the fact that Hiruzen would not believe her. A ugly look unsuited to her usually beautiful face with her perfect lips curled in distaste before she turned her head to the side and spat in the most decidedly un-lady like fashion over the side of the wagon as if a sour taste was in her mouth.

"Oh yes he would. I saw him making plans to have me killed and silenced and then to have my precious little Naruto kidnapped to be trained in ROOT so he can be raised as a cold emotionless tin can of a soul that is a ROOT anbu. He wanted emotional training that would kill the emotions of Naruto and then to raise him as a weapon and not a human being. He would be a robot with no purpose, no laughter, no happiness and no childhood. I will not let that happen. Naruto will never come near Danzo." He said a viscous harsh tone and edge entering her words that would have cut lesser men in half.

Now Sarutobi was certain that he should let Kohana go but he didn't want to let Naruto go so easily. He was going to suggest a trade, one that would solve a great deal of trouble. The trade however had some dire consequences if done wrong.

"Very well. I will let you go on two conditions. The first is that you have to return within five years today with Naruto."

"I can adhere to that particular condition but what would the second be?" she asked genuinely curious as to what she could offer the aged village leader.

Sarutobi walked up closer to Kohana until he was right next to her on the wagon. Kohana looked a little apprehensive but was reassured when Sarutobi did nothing threatening. Kohana leaned down towards Hiruzen to lend her ear.

The anbu were mystified about what was going on. They could barley hear the conversation being said. They had heard some yelling and were shocked that the usually stoic and kind Murasaki Majo lost her temper and screamed like that. Not only that but from they could hear she was screaming about her brother and the context clues from the conversation suggested that Majo- Sama was Yondaime-sama's sister and that Naruto Uzumaki is Yondaime-sama's son making Majo-sama Naruto's aunt! They were upset to realize that they had hated their favorite leader's son and even more upset that they never knew. Now Hokage-sama was whispering into her ear and they did not know what was being said but if the expression on Majo-sama's face was any indicator it was something shocking. Suddenly Hokage-sama pulls away from Majo-sama and Majo-sama stares at Hokage-sama with an impassive face before she gives a chilling smile and nods happily. What had passed between the elderly man and the young woman before them?

Hokage-sama raises his right fist to summon them and all sixteen anbu appear behind him like they should.

"Do we have a deal Kohana?" he asked searching her face for any deceits.

"Oh Hiruzen we most certainly have a deal. I will look forward to upholding that particular part very much; very much indeed." She said the cold happy and satisfied smile that made men run in fear and enemies fear for their very souls still on her face.

Hiruzen looked for a moment longer and was certain she would uphold her end of the deal. He was certain that she would and that she had every reason to but still… Hiruzen turns to his sixteen anbu subordinates and cleared his throat. What he was about to do and say was not unusual. In fact it was normal for the ninja world and secrets were kept as a day to day basis.

"Listen to me anbu. This is what happened: Murasaki Majo successfully escaped the village of Konohagakure with the jinchuriki Uzumaki Naruto. A recon and rescue mission was put into effect. The recon team searched for Murasaki Majo and her wagon until they found a trail. The recon team followed the trail for many miles before it went cold and no leads were found and we never found them or their trail. We never saw them and no one else saw them. I never talked with her and she never spoke with me. It was too late to catch up with her and regrettably we could not find and recover Uzumaki Naruto." He said seriously with a fierce look that dared any objections and would not tolerate any insubordination.

All anbu realized what was going on and the intent of the third Hokage's words so the chorused 'Hai Hokage-sama." They had heard enough of the conversation to be told that the jinchuriki was also the Yondaime's son and that Murasaki Majo Sama was Minato Arashi Namikaze's sister. They were severely loyal to Minato, the fourth, and Hiruzen the third. If they desired it, it would be so. Also they knew that the son of their dearly loved fourth would not be safe in the village and so they would do anything to protect him even lying about what happened.

"The fact that I talked with her is an S-class secret and you will tell no one. Am I clear?" he said completely serious.

"Hai-Hokage-sama." All spoke again.

The cat stepped forward but remained silent because she had no permission to speak yet.

"Yes cat? You may speak."

"Hokage-sama, is Uzumaki Naruto really Minato-sama's son? And Murasaki-sama is Minato's sister?" she said sounding happy and joyful an emotion that is unusual for a Hyuuga.

They had heard Kushina-sama was pregnant and some of them had been ordered to follow her to make she was safe by Minato-sama. Cat herself remembers being happy that Hokage-sama was going to have a child and looked forward to caring and guarding the newborn young master. Then the kyuubi attack and they received word that Kushina-sama died and soon after Hokage-sama died after. Cat and all the others had thought that young master had died along with Kushina-sama while still in the womb, having never been born in the attack of the Kyuubi.

(Authors note: in ancient Japan the children of leaders were called 'young master' (bocchan) or 'young mistress' (ojou-san). These mean something like 'the son/daughter of others' and are used to refer to the son or daughter of the owners house.)

So the idea that Minato-sama's son was alive was shocking and a happy one but what really blew their minds was that Minato-sama had a sister that they didn't know about and that it was Majo-sama of all people.

Now that they look closely they realize it must be true. She had the same hair color and her hair was as unruly as Minato-sama's was and nearly identical cerulean eyes. Her tanned skin the same tone and color of Minato-sama's. Her face was the same but shaped slightly rounder than Minato-sama's giving her a perfect heart shaped face. Her nose was shaped slightly smaller making her more feminine and her smile was the same as Minato-sama's. Just the way she tilted her head and set her shoulders screamed Minato Namikaze. They would have realized it before but Majo-sama always had on her purple cloaks hood. Now that they knew she was a Namikaze that desperately wanted to know her first name and to protect her.

"Yes it's true but that is also to be named an s-rank secret. Minato made many enemies during the war and Naruto would not live to see his first birthday if Iwa or Grass knew that his father was the famous Yellow flash. Murasaki Majo being a Namikaze and Minato's sister is also an s-rank secret you cannot tell anyone unless Kohana says you can. Is that clear?"

"Hai Hokage-sama." Kohana Namikaze. Why had they not heard of her? It was something on all their minds but for Minato-sama's sake and in honor of his memory they would carry this secret to the grave in order to protect his last living two relatives.

"May I go Hokage-sama?" Kohana asked sounding sarcastic as if she had to ask permission in the first place.

"Good bye Kohana. Remember you have five years." Hiruzen said quietly, wishing that she and Naruto would not go.

Kohana inclined her head in acknowledgment before turning her head eastward and clicked her teeth urging the horses forward leaving Hiruzen once again to wonder if this was the right thing to do.

(Present day)

Hiruzen still looking out at the village spots something and squints. Getting up out of his chair he peers through the glass fogging it up slightly with his breath. There in the middle of the road making its way to the tower was a massive… wagon. It had the appearance of the night sky being covered with paintings of stars and moons of all sized and it was so massive that it was parting the crowd. Hiruzen smiles and gives a sigh of relief. Finally she is here.

Composing himself and sitting down in his chair he calls Genma in and instructs him to cancel all appointments he had scheduled before lunchtime. Hiruzen put his tobacco in his pipe and lit it placing it in his mouth smiling slightly. His son Asuma had come back yesterday from the monastery he had run off to, he was about to meet Naruto, and a very big favor was going to be done for him by Kohana as her end of the deal they had made so many years ago. Today was a great day.

Knock Knock

Sarutobi just smiled even wider and said "enter". The door swung open to reveal…

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Dear readers:

Hello again! I promise after this chapter there won't be so many long flashbacks. This was mostly just to explain how this started out. From now on its mostly present day stuff and a lot of action. So here is a little of what to expect:

What deal did Kohana make with the Hokage to get him to agree to let her take Naruto with her?

How will Naruto be treated by the villagers?

Will Naruto have more respect for his elders?

What will he be like?

What trouble did he stir up during his travels as a terrible two?

What friends will he make and how will he meet Konoha's shyest kunochi?

Stay reading and reviewing and you will soon find out. Please review! I love reviews.

-He will knock four times.