Breaking the Curse of Genin Team 7
Chapter 2 – Prologue 1
Hokage's Office – 10 mins after kyuubi attack
Under normal circumstances, this would be a matter for the entire village council. But these were NOT normal circumstances. And Hiruzen Sarutobi, recently re-inststated Third Hokage of the Leaf village, was not going to suffer the whims of many of the fools who comprised the civilian portion of the council. His former teammates (currently still serving as advisors to the kage) and Danzo Shimura (retired shinobi plus founder and leader of what is 'supposed to be disbanded' ROOT ANBU) would try to get the baby nestled in his arms quietly secreted away to a 'school' (more than likely a front for ROOT) to be instructed as a shinobi. Or knowing the rest of the civilian council, killed outright.
This baby's 'crime' is having the Kyuubi no Kitsune, the one that just attacked the village, sealed inside him by his father. His father was Minato Namikaze, Fourth Hokage of the Leaf. Sealing the beast in his son cost him his life, and the boy's mother, Kushina Uzumaki-Namikaze, died shortly after having the tailed beast forcibly extracted from her. But not before she assisted her husband in re-sealing the Fox into their son. Sitting (and occasionally standing) in the Hokage's office are every one of the current clan heads of the village, plus a former shinobi recently elected to the civilian council who would understand.
"Thank you all for coming on such short notice, especially in light of the events that just transpired. But this is a matter that requires all of your attention." Hiruzen started.
"And who is this adoreable little one Hokage-sama?" Tsume Izunaka cooes at the whiskered blonde baby.
"This baby is the one who saved us all from further casualties. His name is Naruto. Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze." A collective gasp rose from the assembled clan heads. "Minato-sama knew he could not 'kill the demon, and could not bear to attempt to seal it into another newborn. Where his son, who has Uzumaki blood flowing through his veins, and be the most likely candidate for having anything that resembled a 'normal' life, would be the only suitable choice." A round of nods from the assembled clan heads
"If we were to bring this child before the full council, you know as well as I that one of 3 things would happen. One would be my advisors and Danzo would attempt to ask he be placed in a special school that one of Danzo's operatives would like be running. And they would turn him into a weapon of war. Two would be the civilian could would just wish the child killed for what he contains, forgetting the fact that as long as this child lives they are safe. And finally we could pass a law forbidding any of the adult generation from mentioning anything about his heritage and what he holds at bay and watch him be shunned by everyone." Again, another round of nods.
"I propose a fourth option. All of you as clan heads either have newborns about Naruto's age, or are due to have them soon. This is a historic time, never have so many heirs to clans been born at about the same time. What I am requesting is that on a rotating basis for the first few years of his life, Naruto be welcomed into your homes as a surrogate member of your families." Before he continues, he places baby Naruto in a bassinette placed next to his desk that he had used when his children were babies.
"I know I am asking a great deal." Pulling a scroll from his robes and opening it "Before you say anything, Minato-sama managed to give this to a messenger toad before his passing.
Assembled clan heads of Kohona,
If Hiruzen is reading this letter to you, it means that I had no other choice but to seal the Kyuubi into my son Naruto. And he must have just explained what I would refer to as 'option D'. I sense a time of great strife in the future, and my son will play a pivotal role in whether the leaf stands proudly, or falls into ruin. Before I explain why I suggested the rotating surrogate families, I need to mention something very important.
Fugaku, I think the Uchiha will see a lot of hostility coming out of this. Many survivors are going to remember seeing the Fox having a three tomoed Sharingan in its eyes instead of slits, like it was being controlled. I regret to inform you all that the fox was in fact being controlled, by someone posing as Madara Uchiha. Hiruzen has a contingency plan we had come up with in case something like this did happen, and I hope it works. Because otherwise, I see the Uchiha falling into a downward spiral that would lead to something very bad for the village, but moreso for the Uchiuha. Tell Mikoto she's still his godmother.
Anyway, the reason I propose this fourth option is again, almost every member of the shinobi council will have an heir/heiress in the same graduating class as my son. Councilman Hanuro, you were summoned to be part of this as your daughter will be in this graduating class as well if I'm not mistaken. Though even though you and your wife were both shinobi, you are technically civilians. I cannot ask you to participate, but would ask that your daughter be allowed to mingle with the other heirs. By rotating clans on a 6 month basis, by the time he reached the next portion of my plan, he will have gotten aquainted with all the major shinobi clans and your children. The year between five and six, if any of you choose to do so, will spend that year in custody of Naruto, as by this time, most of your children will be starting basic training in your clan techniques.
Once Naruto turns six, Hiruzen will provide him an apartment within easy reach of the Namikaze estate, and an allowance to be drawn from my bank accounts. Due to the long list of enemies I've made in my career, it is our wish that until Naruto graduates the academy, he be given the last name Uzumaki.
With this many future clan heads in one graduating class, I was going to propose a different method of team selection and training should I still have been alive. But Hiruzen has a second letter for you all to discuss when that time comes. I wish I had the chance to watch my son grow up and become the shinobi I know he can (and will be), but I truest in all of you to help him make the right choices. And he very well may surprise you himself.
Farewell,
Minato Namikaze
Fourth Hokage of the Leaf
Hiruzen,
The last part of this is for Hiashi's eyes only please.
"I know you all have families to return to, and a decision to make. I'll watch Naruto for a few days. And we'll get back together here to discuss it."
The clan heads all start filing out of the office. "Hiashi, could you stay for a moment longer?"
"It's about them being Hinata's godparents, isn't it Hiruzen?" Hiruzen hands Hiashi the scroll
Kushina and I want to apologize to you Hiashi.
It looks like we won't be able to be Hinata's godparents like we had talked about after all. Kushina seems convinced of this, and I can't quite explain why, but I agree with her. We both feel that Naruto and Hinata will end up drawn to each other. Don't discourage it, but don't encourage it either. Let whatever happens happen and support them in their decisions.
Rolling up the scroll, Hiashi hands the scroll back over to Hiruzen. "Thank you Hokage-sama, I can tell you that we will participate. Destiny guides this child's hand. Of that I am 100% certain"
Cut!
A/N – there you have it, prologue 1 in the books. Prologue 2 will be centered around the 6 years Naruto spends among the shinobi clans. The bonds they forge, and how they'll affect our favorite unpredictable blonde.