I don't own Naruto
Chapter Six
When they arrive at the meeting hall, they find all the council members already assembled, having been secretly following them.
"Well since you are all here already, that could only mean you already know what has happened. I will also mention that you should not be eavesdropping on the business of the Kage." Hiruzen says
They all take on sheepish looks before they become serious again. The Kage sit down at their places, as does Lord Hiashi.
"Now as you all know we are here to discuss what should happen to young Naruto here. We must work out whether he will stay here or leave for the Land of Whirlpools with the Kadōkage." Hiruzen says
"We will not debate whether or not he will come, he will come. We are here to decide if he should ever come back" Zaten says coldly
"He has lived his whole life in the leaf village, he will come back and serve as a leaf shinobi." Danzo, one of the older members of the council, says.
"You will hold your tongue when you speak to me. He is a member of the Uzumaki clan, and so is a member of our village and nation and not yours." the Kadōkage replies, his voice ever colder.
"Zaten I believe that we should allow Naruto to decide whether or not he wants to return to this village or not. I say that Naruto should go with you for the remainder of the academy years and then decide what he wants to do." Hiruzen supplies
"I say that he will stay until at least one year after academy graduation, and he can decide whether or not he wishes to return after the Chunin exams. If he decides to we will allow him to come as a ninja of Whirlpool, with his own existing teammates." Zaten says
"That is unacceptable, it is well known that he wishes to become the Hokage, and he can't do that if he's not a leaf ninja."Fugaku Uchiha points out. He didn't exactly like Naruto, but was impressed with his power, and thought that it would be a good idea to be on his good side.
"Naruto also has emotional ties in this village." says Choza Akimichi, knowing that he and Hinata were a couple because of his son Choji who was one of Naruto's friends.
"It will be his own choice when the time comes, and we will support his decision, and as for his being Hokage, he may be able to be that, but he is still able to become the Kadōkage, as we have succession through the bloodline, and his mother would have been next in line, so now he is the next in line." Zaten says.
This was all happening as if Naruto wasn't there, and he was rightly annoyed.
"Don't I get a say in this at all?" Naruto says
The council is a bit surprised by him speaking, but recovers quickly.
"Yes Naruto, what do you have to say on this topic?" one of the elders asks insincerely.
"I don't want to leave the leaf village, I may not have the best life here, but it's still a happy one." Naruto says
"You may be happy here, but you would have been much happier in Whirlpool. Our clan, the Uzumaki clan is the ruling clan in the country. We aren't ruled by a Daimyo, the Kage rules the whole country, small as it may be. You would be a prince, and you can still live your dream of being a ninja, and you can also be a samurai." Zaten says convincingly.
"Well, when you put it that way...No, I still don't want to leave." Naruto says stagnantly.
"Why not, what do you have here that you couldn't just as easily have in whirlpool?" Zaten asks
"I wouldn't have the few friends I've made, and I wouldn't have Hinata." Naruto tells him, still showing no sign of progressing past this point.
Zaten, ever the leader realized this and came up with a solution.
"I will make a deal with you, if you come to Whirlpool and train until the Chunin exams in three years, you may come back to the leaf village as a shinobi of the leaf." Zaten begins
"Yatta!" Naruto exclaims
"I'm not finished. You may return as a leaf shinobi so long as you pass the Chunin exams with a team from whirlpool. Should you fail, you may still return, but as a whirlpool shinobi, until such time as you must take my place as the Kadōkage."Zaten ends
Naruto thinks on this for a moment, the risks of this would be immense, but if he succeeded he would be able to live his dream, and then some.
"I accept the terms of your challenge, I will go with you, and I will succeed." Naruto says confidently.
The council just looks on helplessly as the boy who held the Nine tails demon, the Kyuubi, joined another village, leaving them weaker because of it.
"Well if that is all I think Naruto should get ready to leave." Zaten says rising
"When will you be leaving?" Hiruzen says
"I will finish my inspection tomorrow and then the next day we will set out at dawn." Zaten says, his expression hardening and his tone becoming cold as ice again.
"As you wish, but may I have a few final words with Naruto?" Hiruzen asks
"If he wishes to speak to you." Zaten says, then turning to Naruto "One of my Ninja will come by your residence tomorrow morning, as a guard for your last day here."
Naruto just nods, not wanting to speak much at the moment.
The Kadōkage then walked out, and the Hokage motioned for Naruto to come with him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi led Naruto to the top of the Hokage monument, to the fourth Hokage's head.
"Naruto I'm sorry that we kept all these things secret from you for so long, but I want you to know that we never meant to harm you." Hiruzen began
"Then why?! Why did you do it?!"Naruto cried, tears forming in his eyes, and spilling out.
"We wanted to protect you, and to make your mother's last wish come true, to have you be a leaf shinobi, but I never meant to harm you." the Hokage says kneeling in front of Naruto to look him in the eyes.
"Why couldn't you just tell me before?" Naruto said tears still falling from his eyes.
"I wanted to protect you from the danger the truth would bring to you, but now I can't. You must know the whole truth." Hiruzen says
Naruto just stands there crying, back holding back his sobs.
"I know you trusted me, and now you feel like I betrayed you, but you must listen to me now." Hiruzen starts.
Naruto nods, wiping the tears from his eyes momentarily.
"Your parents, were two of the strongest, bravest, and wisest people I have ever known. They lived their lives with integrity and honor, fighting for what they believed in, and eventually died for this cause. Kushina Uzumaki, your mother, never let anyone change her opinions, and she was fiercely loyal to her friends and loved ones. She would do anything to protect them. She was also incredibly strong and intelligent, which is why she got along so well with a former student of mine, Tsunade, one of the Sannin. She never gave up, that was her nindo, her ninja way." The Hokage says reminiscing.
Naruto feels fresh tears run down his face trying to picture her, but can't.
"What did she look like?" Naruto asks quietly
"She had beautiful red hair, and you have her facial features, aside from the whiskers." Hiruzen says.
Naruto can now picture her perfectly, and sobs happily, knowing that he would always have her with him, in his heart.
"Now your father is more difficult to explain. He was a great man, very strong and wise. He was also faster than anyone who has ever lived. He was sometimes known as the Yellow-Flash of the leaf, or more commonly as the fourth Hokage of the Village hidden in the Leaves. The one who defeated the Kyuubi all those years ago was your father, but he didn't kill the beast as you should know by now, he sealed it inside you. He did that so that you would get strong, work with the beast, and become an amazing shinobi. He bestowed the future to you, all his hopes and dreams, the great things that need doing, he left them to you. He sealed half of the Kyuubi's chakra into you and half into a scroll, but doing so cost him his life. I will give this scroll to you, but do not combine the two chakras until you are ready to handle them, not until you can handle at least the half inside you. Promise me this, as a last request from a friend?" Hiruzen asked pleadingly, looking into Naruto's tear filled eyes.
"I.. 'sniff' I'll try, for my friend." Naruto say giving the first person to ever be kind to him a hug, forgiving him.
When they broke apart the Hokage walked Naruto home and wished him well in whirlpool.