A/n: Thank you for sticking around till chapter 4 :)

When I wrote this chapter the first time around, it had been 3 years since the last. If you guys are new and are wondering how this happened, it was a few things that lead to it. Originally this was intended to be a Harem fic featuring my favourite girls form different anime's. As my hormones calmed down I didn't want to write that anymore and wanted to write a genuine story. But with this change my idea for the story also changed and I was stuck with figuring out what I wanted to say since then. I'm still not exactly sure but I have a much better idea of what I'm going to do.

But enough excuses

I hope you enjoy this chapter :) It's one of my favourite. If you did be sure to let me know why in the reviews, if you didn't lemme know as well :P

Chapter 4: Papercuts and Bloodlines

"STORY TIME NO JUTSU" (Still in effect.)

Yahiko awoke to the sound of light snoring. He creaked open his eyes to white ceiling he recognised as the ceiling of Konoha's hospital, as it was not the first time he was here. He tried to bring up his left arm to rub the sleep from his eyes but found himself unable as it was held down by something latching on to his arm.

He tilted his head down slightly to peer at the object constricting his movement and could not stop the smile from breaking out on his face. His wife Konan was sleeping with her head on his arm as she sat in a chair by his bedside a blanket draped over her shoulders. The reason he was smiling was because she was the source of the light snoring, she was also drooling a little, on his arm.

He always liked watching her sleep, it was the only time she was ever truly calm. She always worried that Nagato's bloodline would be discovered so she hid her concern with a mask of aggressiveness that luckily was never really directed at him, except if he did something to have it directed at him. He remembered the, 'Hey does this make me look fat?' question clear as day and now knew the answer was not, "Well that is a very poofy dress".

With a slight shake of his arm and a soft call of her name he woke her. She awoke taking in her surroundings while wiping the drool from the corner of her mouth. When her eyes made contact with Yahiko's, hers lit up.

"You're awake!" she exclaimed, then proceeded to hug him tightly.

"How long was I out for?" he asked as he returned the hug, planting n light kiss on the crown of her head and smiled once again as the feint scent of lavender filled his nostrils.

"Just shy of four weeks, the doctor expected you to be out for a full four weeks because of the amount of poison found in your body coupled with chakra exhaustion and your body adjusting to the Rinnegan". At the mention of the dojutsu both of them got eerily quiet. The loss of their friend still fresh on their minds.

Konan has had three weeks to at least lessen the pain but for Yahiko it felt like only a few hours had passed since his best friends' sudden death. As tears built up in Yahiko's eyes and Konan started crying freely they sat and held each other as they both broke the Shinobi code of conduct rule #25, 'A Shinobi must never show their Tears.' At this moment they didn't care as the emotions were just too much for even their immense control.

They held each other close as they cried silently for close to an hour. Yahiko finally done proceeded to wipe the tears from Konan's cheeks before saying with utter conviction, "Nagato was a great friend and gave so much for us. The only thing left to do is lead full lives to compensate for his short lived one. He gave me a greatest gift he could, so much more than just the Rinnegan, He gave me the power to protect my family and I will do his memory proud!"

Konan was hypnotized by the sheer determination in Yahiko's eyes, the Rinnegan only seemed to multiply the effect by a thousand. "Y-Yahiko," she said struggling to find the words. Instead they edged closer to one another just as their lips were about to touch, they were interrupted by a quick. "Ah! Em!"

They both turned to see their leader, ex-teammate and long-time friend Minato standing in the doorway of Yahiko's hospital room. "Am I interrupting something?" He asked with a slight smirk on his face.

Yahiko started Screaming, 'YES!' But was interrupted as Konan pinched his leg so what started out as a simple 'yes' became a, "YeAAAHHHHHHH! OW! OW! OW! What the hell Ko-chan?!" She just gave him a stern look and said, "Remember your manners in the presence of the Hokage Iko-kun." Yahiko looked like he was about to retort when she gave him another stern look so he turned away pouting and folding his arms across his chest. "Yes dear…" he mumbled.

Minato seemed rather amused at the whole scenario. His smile faded slightly as he made eye contact with Yahiko, reminded of the loss of a dear friend, but the life of a ninja was not without its hardships. 'We all live to die at some point, but those who die with a sacrifice get to change the world,' Shaking the thoughts from his head he smiled again as he was here to bring happy news.

"It's good to see you awake Yahiko I came here to share some wonderful news with you two, my beautiful wife Kushina told me this morning that she is 3 weeks late!" he said with excitement evident in his voice as he chuckled mirthfully before he continued. "It seems we will both become fathers this October!" he cheered happily.

The couple congratulated their Hokage and they started talking about how their children would, probably, be great friends.

"STORY TIME NO JUTSU, KAI!"

"You see, Minato's wife, Kushina, was the previous Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi before you, Naruto," Hizuren said as he blew out a puff of smoke, "They later found out that you and their child would be born on the same day! Ha-ha! I still remember Kushina and your mother arguing over whose child would be the cutest. Ha-ha!" Hizuren chuckled.

"Why have I never met him before?" Naruto asked. Hizuren's smile faded as he took another long drag from his pipe, before exhaling in a long sigh. "Fate seemed to be a cruel mistress as Kushina was diagnosed with a miscarriage two months before she was due" Hizuren became truly sad at these words tears threatening to gather in the corners of his eyes. Luckily Hizuren was an aged Ninja capable of keeping his composure.

"Her pregnancy greatly weakened the seal holding back the Kyuubi, but not enough for the beast to break free, you were born early in the morning on October the 10th. When Minato and Kushina came to visit your parents they were shocked to find your family's home under Attack by numerous plain white masked Shinobi…" Hizuren stated. This was a Shocking turn of events Naruto didn't quite expect.

"Who were they?" Naruto asked as he found himself already getting angry at his family getting attacked.

"They were subordinates of a previous teammate of mine that I had exiled for having an independent military force when I was Hokage the first time around," he said sadly as he felt a great deal guilt, "When I discovered his organisation, I couldn't bring myself to have the traitor executed, he was a man I had known my entire life so against my better judgement… I exiled him to be a missing-nin. A decision I regret more and more with every passing day," Hizuren's voice at this time was conveying his age as the Old Hokage took another drag from his pipe, the last of his tobacco gone with this one.

An ever impatient Naruto asked, "Well… what happened next?!" while Kakashi started to piece together what he remembered from the day and what the Hokage was saying but chose to remain silent since he felt like it was not his place to intrude now, he never knew Kushina-sama was pregnant, so he believed Jiraiya when he told him Naruto was Minato's legacy but he was truly shocked to learn that she had a miscarriage. He decided to remain quiet and listen to what the Hokage had to say.

"Well even though these were high ranking ANBU who stood a chance against Yahiko and Konan… they had zero chance against four kage level shinobi and were utterly defeated," Hizuren said as he exhaled his final drag for that stack.

"STORY TIME NO JUTSU" (last time for the near future I promise)

Yahiko and Minato huffed as they observed the destruction their battle had caused they smiled, knowing that even though everything around it seemed completely destroyed, Yahiko's Home was still completely unharmed. Minato had made sure to deflect every attack that was directed at the little house anywhere else.

Kushina and Konan both materialized in their respective Shunshins of paper and water. "This Nightmare is finally over," Yahiko muttered as he had struck down the last enemy with a rasengan a few seconds prior. "I seriously got to thank you for teaching me that jutsu Minato-kun," Yahiko said as Minato just started chuckling

Everybody present had to admit they did enjoy the sound as they have not heard him do that at all in the last few months. Kushina's miscarriage had been a crushing blow for the Namikaze couple and even smiles from them had been very rare ever since.

"Yahiko… You know what this attack means, right?" Konan choked out, her throat already getting raspy from the conversation about to happen. They had talked about the possibility of someone coming after the Rinnegan again. "Yes… dear…" Yahiko said as his fists clenched.

Minato and Kushina looked confused as Konan Shunshined away only to return with Naruto cradled in her arms tears falling from her face as she held the sleeping boy. "Minato…" Yahiko began. Minato looked at his long-time friend in concern, the way he had said his name was very unsettling, "Konan and I discussed the possibility of being attacked for the Rinnegan. We were very lucky that you and Kushina showed up, I fear for what would have happened if you did not... that is why Konan and I have decided that it is too dangerous for us to remain here… we don't want to be missing-nin but we cannot stay here in Konoha". He waited for his words to settle in.

Minato looked like he was about to protest when Yahiko stopped him, "We have no choice but to go into hiding to find those who wish to harm our family and eradicate them!" Rage was burning in Yahiko's Rinnegan, "Until then though we would put our child in danger!" Minato and Kushina recoiled in shock as Yahiko bowed to them with his head on the floor as he was bawling his eyes out. (so to speak) and begged of them, "PLEASE TAKE CARE OF NARUTO TILL SUCH A TIME WE CAN RETURN!" Konan broke down here as well and started crying hysterically, miraculously, Naruto slept through the entire ordeal.

Minato and Kushina started crying as well for the obvious pain (A/n he-he get it?) their friends were in. They looked at each other before nodding. Yahiko still had his head planted firmly to the ground. "We would be honoured to be Naruto-kun's guardians until you return, will you return even if your quest is not complete?" Kushina asked as she was handed Naruto by Konan the mother really not wanting to let go.

This time Konan answered, "Yes. If Naruto becomes a Chunin we will return to him". Yahiko lifted himself from the ground as he lifted his face to Minato, "Train him well so he can become a Chunin as fast as possible". Minato nodded before he bid his friends a few last words. "Yahiko and Konan Oruwashi I hereby assign you to a SS-rank Mission under the guise of Missing-nin to seek and destroy all enemies of the Oruwashi family … Only allowed to return until either you succeed or Naruto becomes a Chunin! NOW GO!" he shouted as his friends saluted him and disappeared casting one last sorrowful glance at Naruto…

"STORY TIME NO JUTSU, KAI!"

Naruto was shell-shocked If Hizuren's story was going where he thought it was, then it meant that his parents were still alive, just waiting for him to become a Chunin already. Then it hit him. If the baby in the picture was really him why was his hair blonde now? Hizuren saw his confusion and said, "I'm sure you still have many questions Naruto but the story is not quite finished". By now Hizuren had stacked his pipe again, his ANBU, currently not present to do so for him, and proceeded to light it and take a small puff before continuing.

"That evening a masked man not associated with the ANBU attacked Kushina and Minato and succeeded in extracting the Kyuubi from Kushina, Minato defeated the masked man but could not defeat the Kyuubi so he had no other choice but to seal it into a new-born infant. Had he had a child of his own I'm sure he would have used him or her instead. Minato was a Hokage and was surely faced with a lot of difficult decisions but I guarantee you Naruto, this is the hardest choice the man has ever had to make," After saying this Hizuren to another huge drag.

Naruto's eyes were teary, from the aged Hokage's constant smoking, and the knowledge of all the sacrifices made for him. One thing still bothered him though, being the obvious difference in hair colour.

Hizuren decided to finally answer this unasked question, "After Minato sealed the Kyuubi into you he applied a seal to you to make you look like an almost exact copy of him so that the people would be more likely to accept you as a here because they subconsciously thought u were his son because of your appearance, although it also served as his dying from of protecting you from Yahiko's enemies by making you look different so you can't be used as a Hostage against your father". The God of shinobi sighed as he looked at Naruto's confused stare.

Deciding Actions speak louder than words. Hizuren walked over to Naruto and placed a hand on his forehead. With his other hand he went through a series of hand signs before shouting "FUIN KAI!"A bright light emanated from Naruto as the seal was released. Kakashi and Hizuren covered their eyes.

When the light finally dissipated Kakashi and Hizuren stared at Naruto's, slightly different, appearance. Kakashi's Eyes almost popped out of their sockets though when Naruto fell apart into a pile of papers.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnndddddddddddddddddddddddd~~~~ CUT!

Nice! I'm happy with the changes I made in this chapter, I do try to get all the mistakes but I'm only human. If I do miss anything and it grinds your gears be sure to let me know :)

As always, please review and feel free to PM me

Sneaky23bacon signing off.