Uzumaki Mito stared at her other form behind the walls of its cage. Having given herself a mortal form, Mito knew that her other half would never understand why.
Some mortals were worth it. Her clan had been worth it.
She vanished from beyond the gates and stared at the scroll in front of her.
The Uzumaki leader, Ashina, had asked for information.
What was she supposed to tell Ashina? That she'd sealed the Kyuubi within herself?
She set the brush down.
A knock met her ears, and she called out.
"Enter."
Tobirama opened the door.
"Mito-hime, Hashirama wishes to see you."
Mito rose, the epitome of grace.
Time to tell the truth to her husband.
~:~
He sat by himself in the dimming light as Mito entered the room, cutting off sound and vision for the Kyuubi inside her.
"Husband," she greeted.
"Mito-hime." Hashirama flicked his hand and Tobirama withdrew, leaving them with each other. "I am sorry, Mito-hime. Sealing the bijuu in you was necessary; if I did not believe you capable of holding him, I would not have asked you to do it."
Mito sighed. "My husband... You are foolish to think that I could not handle it." His face was stricken, and Mito knew she had hit the jackpot. "I must tell you the absolute truth, husband. I only ask you keep my secret and that you don't think ill of me."
"I would never think ill of you!" Hashirama hotly protested.
Mito looked to the ground. "I would not say such a thing, husband." She kept her head down and her hands in her lap, back straight. "About thirty years ago, I became Ashina's daughter. At the same time, I was a fox spirit who chose to live the life of a mortal female child." Mito did not peek up at Hashirama. "I am certain you know of which spirit I speak. I split myself from my other half. If I had been joined, I would not exist as Mito."
Hashirama was perfectly silent.
"Please, Hashirama-sama, believe me when I say I had no intent on harming you or your clan! Madara must have riled my other half up. I can tell you, truly, the other half is still separated from me." Mito looked at him. He stared into the flame of the candle. Mito bowed her head, ready for judgment.
"So you are a fox-woman." Hashirama's voice was curious.
"Indeed," Mito said, cautious.
"I'm okay with that," Hashirama admitted. "If you are okay with me knowing."
"Silly husband," Mito chastised. "I would not have told you if I was not." She bowed her head. "If I may leave? I have another to console."
"Oh?" Hashirama questioned as they stood. "Who?"
Mito paused. "Uchiha Izayoi," she admitted. "She is devastated, and with child." Like me, Mito wanted to add. She would not test her husband's leniency yet. "I will tend to her."
"You are very gracious, wife," Hashirama said, leaning to kiss her.
She accepted it, then moved away.
~:~
Naruto set dango on the stoop of the Uchiha home, then knocked on the door before running out of view.
With love from bakemono.
She peeked out to see Itachi-san opening the bag, his face morphing into surprise.
A presence behind her made her freeze.
"Well, well~ An outsider got my cousin to smile!"
She ducked and got out of view before turning to glance at the smiling Uchiha.
Whenever an Uchiha smiles so freely, they usually die, her mother said with a sadness to her blunt words.
"You're going to die because you smile," Naruto told him bluntly. "Most smiley Uchiha die."
He grinned at her. "One day we're all going to die, strange brat. Now beat it. The clan head probably won't be too happy if I attempt to kill an intruder -" he blinked. "Actually, never mind. Fugaku-san would probably be delighted if I attempted to kill the intruder who has been painting our Uchiwa fans blue."
"I think you need to get your eyes checked," Naruto said with a frown. "You do know I only paint half the Uchiha fans blue, right?"
His right eye ticked, and her left arm was grasped.
"You do know vandalizing Uchiha property is illegal, right?"
"EH?!" Naruto screamed as she was suddenly deposited behind bars, her ears springing up. "I DIDN'T KNOW THAT!"
...I didn't know either, Mama admitted. Probably because I had little contact with the Uchiha when my mortal self was alive. In none of my lives, as an Uzumaki or whoever, I never knew vandalizing stuff was illegal...
Naruto shrugged. Doesn't matter now, Mama.
She settled down, kind of surprised that she was being pretty much left alone in here.
"...policy to bring stuff like this to your attention, Fugaku-sama, Hokage-sama," a voice met her ears. Mama growled in Naruto's mind, and Naruto's tail swished as she stood and met the gaze of the Uchiha patriarch.
"Yo!" she greeted perkily, giving him a two finger salute, her ears in her hair and her tail swishing slowly behind her.
Fugaku's right eye twitched, and he opened his mouth.
"I can't get caught by the Hyuuga!" Naruto blurted, freezing when Fugaku shut his mouth. "And I know how much you guys hate each other, -ttebayo!" The Hokage sweatdropped.
"Fugaku-dono, I will take care of this -" the Hokage began, only for Fugaku to cough loudly.
"She has been vandalizing my clan's property," Fugaku said sternly. "I will punish her in the way I would punish my own clan's children. Now, if you would, Hokage-sama, step out so that I may do my duty, your ward or not."
The Hokage stepped out, and Mama ceased her long growl.
Fugaku turned to look at her.
"You said you could get past the Byakugan?" he rumbled.
"...yes?" Naruto squeaked. Naruto had (rather successfully, too) transformed into a branch Hyuuga member (Mama had told her the difference. Loads of Branch members, few Main members) and gone into their compound to steal a grocery list because of the old Elder that had asked her too. As long as he didn't ask her to commit murder, Naruto was golden.
(The Elder had smiled and thanked the girl before walking off in the complete opposite direction of the marketplace. He must have been senile.)
"...I will pay you to do a few things in the compound of the Hyuuga. Small things, of course, nothing that will harm themselves."
I am liking the sound of this...
"Just their pride," Fugaku went on. "If you're caught then I'll cut your pay. What do you say."
Not a good idea, but... Hey, I don't care. It would get us some money for new clothes.
What's wrong with my clothes?
Mama didn't answer.
"Sure," Naruto said nonchalantly.
~:~
She took to her new task with a vigor that startled Mama. Mama had to constantly tell her not to get distracted by her commissioned vandalizing and to go to the Academy on weekdays.
Ibiki-san and Anko-san dropped by whenever they didn't have any missions, not to chat with Naruto but to crash and hang out. Naruto never minded the company.
Things with the Uchiha clan started getting tense after her seventh birthday.