That you for all your kind reviews. It was interesting reading what you expected from the story and comparing it to my own ideas for it. I don't know if you'll expect what is to come but if you enjoyed my story or at the very least I've made you smile, I would be very happy.
The plot that developed until the beginning of the story is mostly cannon. I've just used a bit of poetic license for the vague parts. This means that Naruto was not abused or beaten or forced to pay ridiculously high rent or eat rotten food. The third Hokage took care of all his basic needs (not always personally) and ensured his wellbeing. Basically the Hokage gave him everything but kept it professional, so the only thing Naruto is suffering from is loneliness. Which is quite a harsh environment for a six year old to live in, in any case.
Disclaimer: I once owned a naruto. I ate it. Don't own it no more.
Uzumaki Mito was a seasoned warrior. Her fight against the most powerful bijuu in the world was often overshadowed by her husband's presence. Konoha's history books speak of Hashirama's fight with the mighty nine-tails, how his mokuton subdued the demon, how he broke Madara's control over the nine-tails. This was all well and true- but only a half truth. Very briefly is it mentioned that Uzumaki Mito, the foreign wife of the first Hokage was present at the battle and assisted him in subduing the Kyuubi.
Mito would never forget, she did not want to be immortalized in bed time stories and academy lessons, but in her mind the memory persisted. Her husbands anguished cries as he slayed a brother- a comrade. Her own fears and insecurities when she sealed the beast within her soul. How she had almost forced Hashirama to kill his lover too.
Mito was strong, though. When Hashirama released the Kyuubi from Madara's control she took on the beast by herself. Half-crazed and filled with an ancient and terrible anger, the Kyuubi had roared and released a bijuudama and Mito had been rooted to the spot. The bijuudama was a strange colour, so beautiful and dark and powerful. For a moment she wondered what she could do with all that power- only for a moment though because the explosion was blinding and she flew back from the force of it, crushing her knee.
She could not see or move and the Kyuubi was charging towards her at an unfathomable speed, but Mito had her formidable chakra chains. Those same chains that could chain chakra in its purist form, and what was the point of chaining chakra if she could not sense it?
Now, as she gazed down at the slight boy with blue eyes that reflected him heart, she sensed things that got her thinking of the many, many possibilities. And she sighed thinking of her husband's oft repeated words: Conflict, no matter the era.
"Kushina? Why don't you take your new-ah…friend out to play?" She asked.
Kushina's eyes lit up and she dragged Naruto out of the room blabbing about all her plans to an excited little boy.
Mito had much to discuss with Hiruzen.
##
"So," the third Hokage turned to face the old woman, "You are the seals mistress, Mito-sama. What is your verdict?"
Mito clicked her tongue, "As soon as you hear the word Uzumaki you assume seals. It is not a seal."
He waited for her to elaborate, when she didn't he rolled his eyes.
"I would still like your verdict."
"Who me? Why, thank you for asking," She feigned shock as Hiruzen rolled his eyes once more. "When Kushina drew up the contract she intended to summon her sister from Uzushio but her wording was 'I give permission to summon anyone from my clan'. It is totally genius of her- this would solve my problem of long distance travel." She rubbed at her once shattered knee.
"So why did it summon someone from the future and not anyone of her clan in the present?"
"Because, young Hiruzen, Kushina is not clan head- she has no authority over any of the Uzumaki's in the present."
"So what you're saying is," Hiruzen's eyebrows drew together, "She summoned someone from a time when she is clan head?"
Mito nodded, "Exactly!"
Shizuka gasped, "But my husband is the next clan head- and after that Kushina's brother!"
"Something must've happened. We must speak to the boy, this is a rare opportunity."
"But something doesn't make sense. This boy seems to be my charge, why didn't Kushina take him in? And he doesn't seem to have the most prominent Uzumaki feature." He eyed Mito's fading red hair.
Mito sighed, "I can sense his chakra. Not only is he Uzumaki- he is also the Kyuubi's Jinchuriki and totally unaware of it so it must've been sealed when he was still very small."
There was a stunned silence.
Shizuka's eyes where tearing as she whispered, "Kushina…"
Mito nodded sadly, "The boy is too young to be a jinchuriki. The normal sealing age would be the same as when Kushina had the Kyuubi sealed. Something must've happened to Kushina and either this was the only Uzumaki child they could get on short notice or there was no other."
"But if something happened to Kushina how could she still be clan head?"
"I did not say she died, she may very well be alive. Either way, there was something about young Naruto that seemed very familiar- something that I think made this all possible."
"Yes?" Hiruzen tilted his head in question, "What is that?"
"He has Kushina's chakra sealed within him."
##
"This is what you do the next time they bully you!" Kushina stalked over to the small drawing table in the corner of the park and flipped it- scattering all the papers across the ground. Her hair raising and floating like a thundercloud, swirling around her head as her eyes glinted dangerously, "WHAT DID YOU SAY!?"
Naruto watched with apt attention, running over with short chubby legs to the fallen table and setting it upright, when she had finished her demonstration, and rushing back to her side again.
He stalked to the table, just like how he saw Kush'na nee-chan do, and attempted to flip the table. It lifted on two legs before falling back to its original position.
"WHAT'CHYAA SAAAY?!" He shouted, raising his plump fists into the air.
He was surprised when an over excited Kushina tackled him to the ground, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing tight, "You're so cuuute, 'Ruto!"
"I know," Naruto gave her a toothy grin, "I'm so cute, right?"
"Yes you a-are," She sing-songed back to him.
"I a-am," Naruto giggled. "Wait, who is that, Kush'na-nee?"
Kushina turned around fast and glared towards the trees, "Who's there?! Show yourself! Bully!"
Slowly, uncertainly, a blond head peaked out from behind a tree.
"Hello," he gave a shy smile.
Before she could react Naruto was already running towards him as fast as he could with his small strides.
"WHAT'CHYA SAAAAAAAY?!" he flipped an imaginary table and glared at the boy.
The older boy looked uncertain, "K-Konichiwa."
"What do you want, Namikaze?" Kushina growled at him.
"Yeah! What'chya wan'?" Naruto echoed.
"I heard you were looking for a partner for the three-legged ninja race? Let's play together." He smiled at them.
"Play?" Naruto's eyes brightened.
"Don't let your guard down, Naruto. He's trying to trick us! I'm a prodigy so I know these things."
Naruto looked cautiously at him.
Minato blinked back.
Naruto narrowed his eyes, "You're trying to steal Kush'na-nee away from meeee?" Naruto raised his pitch towards the end, "I won' let you!"
The older boy looked from Naruto's raised fists and angry expression to Kushina's crossed arms and drawn brows and felt a strange sense of déjà vu.
"Prepare yourself, Bully!" Naruto charged.
Minato's eyes widened as he leaped away and raised both hands in the air as a sign of goodwill, "Woah! Wait, easy there. All three of us can play together."
"All three of us play together?" Kushina contemplated, then her face brightened, "I just thought of an excellent plan, why not all three of us play together?"
"Wow!" Naruto stared at her in awe, "My Kush'na-nee is so clever. I bet she's cleverer than you!" Naruto stuck his tongue out at Minato.
Kushina nodded solemnly.
