Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Summary: Born from streetwoman's womb, and Kyuubi's power sealed into him, Naruto's entrusted to ROOT under secrecy while everyone's thinking Minami, Minato and Kushina's daughter, as a hero. As time pass by, things go bad for Namikaze family as Minato only wants a 'son', and Naruto trying to bite his master's hand.
Warning: M for language/ mild adulteries and scences.
Yondaime is bit of a sexist here.( I'm a girl and no sexist, but if you hate story with sexist languages then don't read.)
Dark, cold Naruto.
NarutoXmany but NOT a harem. Eventual NarutoXAmaru.
"Speech"
"shout"
'Thinking'
Emphasized
"Demon speech"
Chapter 1.
Konohagakure, six years later.
After almost six years after the Kyubi's attack, Konoha's morale had recovered and its productivity increased very well. More buildings and areas that were devasted during the Kyuubi's violent attack were reconstructed or reformed. Markets were now booming, as it seemed as though war and disaster were slowly becoming a distant memory.
Yes, overall Konoha improved greatly...
"...So where were we? Oh yeah, So point my is, that those disdainful, filthy rascals are ruining entire marketplace! You know well, Hokage-sama, that to merchants like us marketplace is a temple, where we receive our sacred customers! But those vagabonds are keeping on threatening and stealing and molesting..."
Hatake Kakashi wondered how long had it been since the merchantess started to complain about few muggers in marketplace. He glanced at the clock upon the wall. Ahhh, exactly 43 mins and 56 seconds. The silver-haired ANBU pressed an impulse to send applause at Yondaime's patience.
At last, the blond Hokage cut the constantly gossiping woman short and nodded, hardly keeping his usual gentle smile. "Alright, alright, Aiko-san. My guards will put them under arrest soon."
"Ahhh, then I'm soooo relieved, Hokage-sama. As I said whileago, I'm a woman living alone with my growing son and my shop is the only way to..."
Kakashi closed his both eyes, waiting until the woman's last blabs ends. Minutes later, finally, glad sound of her leaving the office echoed.
"...Man, Enough of women and their gossips for a day. Aaaaaaarrrrrrrgh!" As soon as the door closed, Minato put his pen down and let out an agonized scream before collapsing onto his desk exhaustedly.
Kakashi nodded sympathetically. "You've earned my respect even more now, sensei."
"Don't get cute with me, Kakashi. Why the hell can't they just go to police station for such trifle matters? I mean my title looks so silly now."
"Eh, not really." Grinning behind his mask, Kakashi counted how many women with 'trifle matters' had visited Yondaime's office today. Five or six? Women in their twenties or thirties, all of them wearing their best clothes.
The fact that Hokage's a married man and his wife is alive didn't seem to matter to those fangirls. Ahh, fangirls. You can't either kill them or appreciate them.
Half was formers' fault, one could say.
Rumor of Namikaze marriage straining was secretly spreading among citizens_ especially among women. Minato and Kushina never showed a hint of it in public, but rumor has it always based on a true rumor.
These days Minato rarely went back to his mansion to spend his time with his wife and children. He mostly stayed in his office, whether there're plenty of paperworks or not.. ever since his third daughter's born.
Three daughters all in all. The parents' relationship was growing cold nowadays. And Kakashi couldn't blame either of them. He knew well how eagerly his sensei had been desiring for a son.
Yeah, a son. A son that resembles his proud father. A son who can protect his mother and sisters when in absence of father.
"By the way, sensei."
"Yes? What?" The soaked-out Hokage answered in fatigue voice.
"Academy will start by next week." The young ANBU paused for a moment. "Minami-chan is to enter as well, and Kushina-sama is expressing worry..."
Minato slowly straightened up at this. "What worry?" His deep ocean eyes were starting to gleam with a sickness.
"Eh, about Minami-chan's training."
"Training?"
"Yes, sensei. Kushina-sama seem to can't find a right reason why Minami-chan is having.. slow progress." This wasn't just Kushina alone's dilemma. Everyone acquainted with Namikaze family was being rather stunned at the girl's poor improvement in ninja training even with Kyuubi's vast power. The girl almost looked like a plain child with poor chakra. And no one could detect out a right reason for that.
Maybe Jiraiya the super pervert toad-sage could help... But for six years he hadn't once come to visit and no one knew of his whereabouts.
"Hn, I can't make a prodigy out of a natural failure." Snorted the Yondaime.
Kakashi frowned at his sensei's rather Uchiha-ish manner of speaking. And he was speaking of his own daughter. Natural failure? Is Jinchuuriki a natural failure? Namikaze Minato was a last person to be stereotyped with jinchuurikis, since his own wife's once a jinchuuriki, as well as their first's now.
So what's this sarcasm all about?
"Sensei." Heaving a sigh Kakashi disengaged his crossed arms. Minato looked up at him with a bored expression upon his handsome face.
"Don't, Kakashi. I know what you're gonna say."
"...Alright, but your children-."
"Damn, I don't care about girls, ok?..!"
Kakashi closed his mouth at this sudden outburst. Coal eye registered with a shock at the outrageous glitters in sapphire eyes.
Silence resumed then Minato heaved a sigh. "Sorry, Kakashi."
"It's ok." The silver-haired ANBU sighed, too. "I understand your feeling." Indeed he did.
How long had this man been waiting for a son? How impatiently had he waited to hear nurse speaking, 'Congratulation, it's a boy.'? All in vain, eh?
"All in vain..."
Minato moved his gaze to outside the vast window, his eyes dreamy with melancholy thoughts as a certain image wandered inside his head.
Image of a little boy popping around the yard of his very mansion, pulling pranks upon his siblings, training with trees, and running with healthy little legs, to be hugged by his dad...
Image of a boy who's just a clone of his father...
Suddenly blue eyes widened, as if an abrupt shock from sudden realization periled through his boiling head.
"Sensei? Are you okay?"
"..I'm fine." Hardly managing a reply Minato shook his head to remove the useless contemplation.
Six years. It had been six years...
Uchiha district
Then look for a man...
Look out for a most powerful man among your group...
Once you found him, cling onto him, earn his favor, seduce him...
Only then you'll be spared, you wretched woman...
"Itachi, where are you going?"
Stopping his scarred hands from cleansing his sandal, Uchiha Itachi cocked his head backward.
"I have a mission."
"Oh," Mikoto smiled clumsily. "So.. You won't be back tonight?"
"I'm not sure. Maybe not."
"Ah.. Okay."
"And you." Letting one of his rare smile to hang upon his lips he questioned. "Where are you going, with such preppy outfit?"
"Ah," The Uchiha female blushed little. "I'm going to visit Namikaze mansion, to see Kushina-chan. How do I look..?"
"That's nice. But I think your skirt is too short."
Her flush deepened. "You think so?"
"Yeah, a bit." Then putting his shoes onto his feet Itachi stood up. "Bye, okaa-san. See you later."
"Itachi."
'Heck', Itachi stopped his paces at this, squeezing his eyes shut. He knew that voice. He knew that tone.
Without looking back he responded. "Yes?"
"Are you sure... You have nothing to tell me?" Her voice was meek yet sounded courageous.
...
"No, Okaa-san." His voice was dark and blunt.
"..Alright." Smiling again she cheerfully waved her hand. "Bye, see you later."
Mikoto watched her eldest son going away with her hands held together. Soon his slim figure faded away. She slowly sank on the floorboard, covering her face with hands to hide sobs.
Itachi's relationship with his family and clan was rapidly turning cold these days. And aside from callous, brusque remarks he sometimes spits out, no one knew what the hell's going on in the young ANBU captain's head.
But..
Uchiha Mikoto was his mother.
She was a mother.
Though she also was incapable of grabbing what's going on with her son, she was his mother.
A mother can feel it when something's happening with her children, no matter how much they try to hide it.
Every time she looked into his dark-grey eyes... Every moment he declined to join clan conference... Her doubt grew larger and larger by each day. Eventhough she wasn't sure of it...
The boy loved his village, even more than his own family and clan. No one in their clan would agree with her, but she knew it. She just knew it. She could feel his love, the great love of the Uchiha prodigy toward his homeland.
She knew it.
Uchiha clan's plan of revolt was drastic. Mikoto knew well that if they attack Konoha, the resulting civil war will weaken the village in all aspects, despite the result of coup d'état. This sign of weakness will entice other countries to take advantage and invade Konoha, with the conflict eventually escalating into another Shinobi World War. A hopeless, blinded scheme which will eventually condemn them forever..
Especially since Yondaime lived. There's only faint chance of success.
Sniffling she wiped her tears with a hand. 'Don't cry', she told herself. She needed to be strong. Though she didn't exactly know what's going on around her son, she had few doubts, and she had to prepare for any future disaster.
A disaster like... A failure of their revolt which will lead entire clan to be executed.
Or.. Betrayal of Itachi which also will lead entire clan to be executed.
Whatever, she had to be strong, so that she'd be able to protect her children.
And to protect her children, she needed a man.
And the man wasn't her husband. Fugaku was a head of Uchiha clan, but he's a head of Uchihas only.
She needed more powerful man... Most powerful man in whole Konoha.
There's only one man who could help her. The strongest man of Konohagakure. The most powerful, respected man among all, who could condemn whole Uchihas just by saying one word.
But will he take a pity at the begging of one Uchiha female, the very wife of traitors' leader?
He's known to be kind and generous, yet behind the gentle mask he hid most deadly nature... He will never spare anyone who rises against him...
But...
Kushina was too proud to talk about her straining marriage relationship even to her best friend, but many were aware of it. And girls knew girls. Upon every visit Mikoto could see an obvious anguish in her friend's beautiful violet eyes.
Standing up Mikoto arranged her short skirt. 'If only I can earn a bit of favor from him...'
A mother's love often surpasses her love for others, even for her husband.
And she'd do anything to save her children, even if it means a cruel betrayal to her own husband and childhood friend.
She'll visit Kushina and Namikaze children... Then on her way back, she'll drop by Hokage's office.
Mikoto swallowed her guilt when a red-haired beauty hugged her and kissed onto her cheek.
"Mikoto! Actually I wasn't expecting you today."
"Am I interrupting you?" Returning the kiss the Uchiha woman asked rather timidly.
Kushina blushed. "No, not really. But..." She then smiled. "My husband got of work early today, and we're going to..."
The raven-haired woman felt her heart starting thumping wildly when she saw a handsome blond approaching them. 'What the heck, why is he joining his family today, leaving so many other days?'
"Hokage-sama." She bowed politely, scolding herself for damn clumsiness.
"Good evening, Mikoto-san." The man smiled at her. "How are you? And your family?"
"They're doing fine, thanks. Um, Maybe I should just leave then?"
Kushina was about to say something but was cut short by her husband.
"I think not. We're just about have a dinner, Why don't you join us?"
Mikoto blushed at this, though she was well aware that it's just from his kindness.
"Thank you for your kindness, but..." She glanced at Kushina. Kushina smiled again.
"Oh yeah. Come," Puling her friend's hand Kushina cheerfully exclaimed. "I'll let you know what Uzumaki-style ramen is!"
XX
Sitting on her offered chair Mikoto quickly scrutinized this family.
Kushina was sitting opposite to her, and beside her was 4-year old Kasumi, whose blue eyes twinkled as she brushed her red hair off to eat ramen more comfortably. Aika_ the youngest, who was the only one with her father's golden hair might be inside her room sleeping since she's still a toddler.
Minami_ the eldest, the container of Kyuubi no kitsune, the hero of Konohagakure_ Where is she?
"Gaaaaarrrrrrgh!"
"Aaaaah!" Almost springing up Mikoto screamed when another red-haired girl with violet eyes suddenly emerged between tablecloth, putting her head onto Uchiha's laps. The girl giggled happily when she saw an obvious effect of her prank. "Yehehehe!"
"Minami-chan!" Kushina chided. "You shouldn't frighten our visitor like that!"
"Sorry, kaa-san!" Still giggling Minami rushed back to her seat.
Just then Minato entered the kitchen.
"Geez, what's the scream while ago?"
"Oh it's nothing. Minami-chan just pulled one of her pranks upon my friend."
Mikoto felt bit stunned when she noticed how Minami's behavior changed after the very moment her father appeared. The girl stopped her playful-evil laughter immediately and began to study her father's face... rather pitifully. The raven threw a quick glance upon Kasumi. Well the younger girl was too absorbed with her ramen.
"Well," With a slight frown Yondaime took his seat(which was middle of the table), then looked at the Uchiha with a smile. "Are you okay, Mikoto-san?"
"I'm fine." She quickly smiled back, putting a humor. "My, she's just like her mother!"
The dinner started, with Kushina's special Uzumaki-style ramen. Minami and Kasumi gobbled down the ramen faster than one could blink, while Minato and Kushina, while eating more civilized, were only slightly slower in their decimation of the meal. Only Mikoto ate slower, savoring each bite before swallowing it.
'They look peaceful.', thought the brooding Uchiha. They looked like a perfect family, with the parents exchanging normal conversations while eating, and their daughters emptying third bowls of ramen each.
Had she took it wrong? Or...
"By the way," Mikoto immediately broke from her reverie when Yondaime turned to her. Trying hard to press her blush she swallowed a chunk of noodles inside her mouth. "Yes, Hokage-sama?"
"Your younger son is also entering Academy this year isn't he?"
"Yeah, he is. He's very excited." Without a second thought she added hastily. "He's always saying he'll be a great guardian of Konoha one day..." Then she immediately regretted saying it.
"Cute boy. I'm sure of it!" Commented Kushina, totally ignorant of anything.
Mikoto pressed an urge to squirm, and bit her own tongue, her face heating up as she felt sapphire gaze piercing her. Hell no, She gulped. 'He can't notice anything... No he shouldn't!'
"Good that you got such brilliant sons." Fortunately his voice sounded affable enough to wash away her anxiety. "Your eldest is a current ANBU captain right? At such a young age."
Kasumi perked up at this and clung to her mother. "Okaa-san, What is ANBU captain? Is it cool? Can I do it?"
"Of course you can, my dear, one day, if you try hard."
"You can't because I'll be a captain." Minami grinned evilly at her sister. Kasumi scowled.
"No way I'll be a captain! And you'll be my subordinate!"
"What? Do you think it's really possible?"
"Girls." The girls immediately fell silent when their father spoke up in calm tone. "Adults are talking."
"Most children are so noisy." Mikoto wondered why the redhead's comment was sounding like a plead, rather than an excuse.
Minato looked at the raven woman again. "Yeah, some. How about your children?"
"Um, actually, Itachi is always quiet_" She noticed a flush emerging upon Kushina's face, and again, wondered what has pissed her off. "He doesn't talk about himself that much. Sasuke's just like a child in his age, but his brother sometimes make me.. Anxious." Smiling sadly she picked up her chopstick and poked at the noodles.
He nodded. "You shouldn't worry much. Males often go into their shells without a hint. Once you leave them alone and they'll naturally come out soon."
This time both Mikoto and Kushina tilted their heads. "Oh..." And it was a funny scene, to Yondaime's eyes.
After the dinner's done, and after helping Kushina washing dishes, Mikoto put out a plastic bag she'd brought along with her.
"Here, Minami-sama." With an affable smile she handed a small box to the girl. "It's my gift for your Academy."
Minami's eyes widened, and they became wider as she tore the wrapped paper and opened the box. "Wow!"
Kushina thankfully looked at her friend. "Wow, special-made silver shurikens. But aren't they too expensive_"
"It's okay. I bought some for Sasuke too. Rather a cheap gift for Konoha's hero."
"Thank you, Mikoto-chan. You're so sweet." The two young women exchanged kisses.
The Hokage nodded at the Uchiha."That's very nice of you, Mikoto-san. As much as your company's been pleasant."
Mikoto blushed again, hesitating for a while before taking out another box from her bag. This time it wasn't wrapped, it was a long wooden box with some brand mark upon it.
Kushina tilted her head at this. "Hm? What's that?"
"I.. Actually..." Gulping Mikoto stared at her friend, then at Hokage, then at friend again. "...This is a herb tea. I... Just thought you'd like to serve this to your husband, I mean since he works so much, this tea will help him ease his fatigue..." She blushed again.
"Oh," Sapphire eyes sparkled gently. "I'm sure it will."
"My my, soon I'll have to visit your house with presents!" Laughing Kushina took the wooden box.
"Thank you for your gifts and company, Mikoto-chan."
"Take care, Mikoto-san."
"Thanks for the superb dinner. Good-bye, Kushina-chan. Good-bye, Hokage-sama." Then she waved at the girls. "Good-bye, girls."
"Bye, Obaa-chan!" The red-haired girls chorused together.
Soon Mikoto left, biding goodbyes. A strange silence fell into the mansion then, except the sound of Minami boasting her gift to her sister who was boiling with jealousy.
"A kind friend, isn't she?" Kushina accosted her silent husband, eager to have some talk.
"Good woman." Replied the man dryly. "With her two sons."
Kushina's red eyebrows furrowed at this but she quickly passed it away. "Minato-kun, we need to talk about Minami's training. Do you know when Jiraiya-sama will be coming?"
"Ero-sensei?" His voice turned sarcastic. "What can he do for her?"
"What do you mean? We need him to see what's wrong with Minami-chan. She can't take..."
He took the herb tea from her hand. "There's nothing to see. When there's no defect in trainer, all we can do is to blame the trainee."
Kushina began to feel her ire rising, but again, passed it away. "Don't speak like that. She's still young and what if there's any problem upon sealing..."
"I told you before, and I tell you again. Sealing was perfect."
"But-."
"Enough of your worries." Minato turned away. "Now put the girls to beds and sleep yourself. I still have so much to do."
"Minato_"
"I said, go sleep."
...
Kushina glared at her husband's back, her violet eyes flashing with an anger.
"I'm not a piece of meat you can command upon." Her tone rose as she continued. "I'm not one of your subordinates! I'm your wife!"
The girls now stopped chattering and helplessly watched their parents. Mom and dad were about to start a quarrel again.
Minato slowly turned back and stared down at his wife. Tensed silence flew for seconds before he...
"..Yes, my wife. My wife!" All of sudden he slammed his fist into the wall, causing the redhead to flinch with a shock, her eyeballs nearly popping out from their sockets.
"Mi..Mina-kun..." She whimpered when he roughly clutched her one shoulder and looked into her eyes with his own blazing ones.
"And as a wife, I want you to follow your husband's words without whining. Is that clear?"
"Ye.. Yes..." Voice shaking with a terror she quickly nodded.
"Good," He let go of her. "Excuse me." Then he stormed away heading to his study.
...
Her body still shaking, Kushina plunked down on the floor, her eyes still wide with a previous shock. She blankly stared at the cracked wall before bursting into tears.
"Kaa-san.. Okaa-san.." It took a quite while for her to realize that Minami and Kasumi were sobbing too, clinging onto her.
Secret base chamber of ROOT
A little boy with short black hair and ink eyes sat leaning against the wall. In his one hand was a bundle of papers, while other hand was holding a pencil. His usually emotionless eyes were beaming for the first time of a day as he pressed his pencil onto white sheet and began to...
"You're making a stupid drawing again."
Dropping his pencil the black-haired boy looked up, soon to heave a sigh of relief calling his code name.
"Naruto."
Spiky golden-haired boy glared down at the drawings, his cold sapphire eyes gleaming with disdain. "Strange hobby you got, nothing to help."
"Shin said I have a talent."
"You take his word seriously? He's just an idiot."
"And you're a blunt idiot!" Loud, rather unfitting voice for atmosphere of future ROOT members echoed right behind them.
Sai perked up and nodded at the grey-haired boy, allowing a small smile to appear upon his pale lips."Hey."
"I left you for a while and now you're talking behind my back, calling me an idiot!"
"Which is true."
"Naruto! You're a badass!"
Blond boy looked away, listening Shin's hurted complains with apathy and calmly waiting until the complains completely died away.
"Our regulation will be held soon." The blond spat with fed-up tone. "We need to train, instead of going into stupid hobby. You'll get into trouble for that."
"You don't have to work your ass off, brother." Crossing his arms Shin snorted.
Naruto frowned at him."And to be beaten to a pulp again? And I'm not your brother."
"Don't remind of me that horrible night! And we all are brothers!"
"So you know how it's going to be?" Asked the black-haired one.
The blond frowned again. "How'd I know?"
"You, Shin?"
"Nope." Answered the grey-haired ANBU, trying to headlock the golden-haired brooder. "All I know is that we're to combat each other-."
"Fuck, Let go of me right now you total moron_"
"Don't call me_"
"He's a pistol." Shin muttered watching the blond going away.
Sai picked up his pencil again.
"Shin."
"Huh? What?"
"Where did he get such face?"
"Who? That jackass?"
"Yeah."
Shin dropped his jaw, before bursting into laughter."Hoh! So you're jealous or something?"
Black eyes glared up at him. "I don't understand what you mean. Anyway I just occasionally heard our leader talking about his look with somebody."
"Eh.." Rolling his eyes Shin scratched his chin. "So what? Are you saying Leader-sama is a pedo or something?"
"What's pedo?"
"Nothing. Anyway I'm sure that.."
"I just got this feeling..." Fixing his gaze onto paper sheet again Sai mumbled. "..That our leader doesn't like his face."
Grey eyebrows twitched at this. "And the reason?"
"I don't know. I just feel that."
So how was it? good? bad?
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