I do not own Naruto.


Kono Yo no Kyūseishu

Book III: Discovery

"The truth. It is a beautiful and terrible thing, should therefore be treated with great caution." – 'Albus Dumbledore'


Stone.

That is all he has known his entire life. He wasn't complaining though, the cobalt stone that stretched for miles on end – was the same stone that had moulded him into the man he was today. Despite being surrounded by sharp cliffs, high mountains and dangerous valleys, he has always loved his village.

There was a subtle knock on the door and he acknowledged the person to enter. He didn't turn around to face the person, rather, he continued floating in front of his window as he gazed down at his beloved village. His grandfather and master had taught him the ways of this village in his youth. Taught him that only the strong survived and their survival depended on their will.

The Will of Stone.

Such a ludicrous concept equivalent to the Will of Fire those damned tree-huggers solely believed in – but it had done its duty. Numerous people, boys and girls, men and women, had laid down their lives for the sake of the Village. He himself had led those people through two wars – a great feat in and of itself.

Although, his grandfather hadn't lived through the first, and his master had lost his life during the second.

He was shaken out of his thoughts when he heard the person who had entered his office clearing his throat. Despite the standard decorum, he thought irritably to himself. Damn youngsters!

"Tsuchikage-sama." The man watched as the old Kage floated back to his seat.

The years hadn't been kind on his leader. Despite the man's advanced age, it could not be denied that he was still the most powerful shinobi in Iwagakure no Sato. He watched as the old leader floated down to his chair, an audible creak coming from the chair – probably the his back as well, if the slight grimace was any indication.

"Kitsuchi, you know very well not to interrupt me when I am reminiscing." Ōnoki said irritably, while extending an arm to his hip, gently massaging it. "What is it now?" The Sandaime Tsuchikage said while glaring at his son. Despite Kitsuchi's serious expression, Ōnoki didn't miss the glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Intel just came in from our spies." Kitsuchi began. "It seems that our business partner, Gatō, was executed by the villagers of Nami no Kuni under the allegations of manslaughter, abduction, sexual assaults, terrorism and tyranny. It was found that that he murdered the Daimyō of Nami no Kuni and took over the country." Kitsuchi informed.

Ōnoki's expression became grim. Gatō had been their partner for years and had served as a naval fleet that supplied Iwa with various types of supplies which Tsuchi no Kuni lacked due to their rocky and mountainous territory. This would cause a blow to their economy if other means of transportation weren't made quickly.

"That is some grave news indeed." Ōnoki stated grimly. He wasn't fazed by the allegations towards the man – he knew whom he was working with. Although this piqued his curiosity. "The villagers couldn't have done this by themselves if Gatō and his mercenary force had managed to kill the Daimyō. Who assisted them?" Ōnoki questioned curiously. He would have to deal with the village or organisation that had done this. His village was now going to suffer for their actions.

"Our spies found that the resistant part of the village had supplied a bridge builder by the name of Tazuna with funds to have shinobi protect him from Gatō as he completed his bridge. The man went to Konoha for help and was given Hatake Kakashi and his team of Genin to protect him." Kitsuchi stated informatively. He hesitated slightly but continued with his report. "But Gatō was captured by a boy named Uzumaki Naruto." He stood unflinchingly as he watched the Sandaime Tsuchikage slammed his fist into his desk.

"That damned brat has foiled another of my plans yet again!" Ōnoki shouted in anger. It wasn't even two months ago when he had foiled their attempted kidnapping of Uchiha Sasuke. His mind flashed back to one particular failure of a mission.


Ōnoki heard a knock on his office door as he was signing thjrough the budget reports concerning the new training regime being implemented for Chūnin level shinobi and kunoichi.

"Enter." He said as he placed the report into a light brown manila folder. He watched as his assistant nervously stood by the door. Kitsuchi, who had been seated by the opposite chair, immediately shifted and stood by his father's side.

"Tsuchikage-sama, Han is-" The assistant was interrupted when Han shoved past he and stood in the middle of the room. His imposing figure scared the assistant and she fled when she got the signal to leave from the Tsuchikage.

"Report." Ōnoki commanded not wishing to waste anymore time with Han in his presence. The Gōbi's jinchuriki wasn't particularly welcome within the Village except for missions that required one of his caliber.

"The mission was a failure due to the interruption of Konoha shinobi, particularly Sarutobi Asuma and a blonde haired brat by the name of Naruto." Han stated and turned to leave the room.

Ōnoki watched grimly as Han walked out of the office. He had neither the control nor power to force the man to respect him anymore. He turned to Kitsuchi, who was both his Jōnin Commander and leader of Iwagakure's Spy Network. Although it wasn't comparable to Jiraiya's network, it did get the job done.

"Kitsuchi, find out who this Naruto is and if he might pose a threat in the future." Ōnoki ordered sternly. Kitsuchi nodded and walked out of the room to fulfil his orders. Ōnoki appreciated how his son was his most loyal shinobi and was always the one to stand by his side.

Heaving out a tired sigh, he returned to the paperwork that awaited him.


"Our spies within Hi no Kuni and Nami no Kuni managed to find information about him." Kitsuchi said while placing a folder onto the table. Attached to it was the image of one blonde boy, a dark haired boy and a white haired boy. "He, and these two boys, killed Gatō's entire mercenary force before capturing him." Kitsuchi informed. "Uzumaki seems to be skilled in Kenjutsu, and Katon Ninjutsu as well. Our spies overheard from a group of mercenaries that this boy attacked Gatō's base the night before his capture and decimated over fifty mercenaries before escaping with three civilians which had been kidnapped earlier that day – one of them being the bridge builder's daughter." Ōnoki regarded the information carefully before opening the folder and finding more information on the boy.

"He seems quite skilled for a Genin." Ōnoki stated in slight surprise. "Graduated at the bottom of his class, how accurate is this information?" Ōnoki asked curiously.

"Quite, Tsuchikage-sama. But with all his skills considered, he should at the least be a Chūnin by now." Kitsuchi stated his opinion. His father nodded before turning to the image attached to the folder.

Ōnoki stared at the picture for about a minute before turning to his son, his face set in stone. Kitsuchi noticed the look and nodded to his father.

"His parentage is unknown but I believe he is the Yondaime Hokage's son." Kitsuchi informed grimly. A shiver ran up his spine as he watched a dark smile form on his father's face.

"That bastard Namikaze's brat, eh?" Ōnoki chuckled darkly. It surprised him how the boy's heritage was unknown in Konoha, but it mattered not to him. "What of the two boys?" Ōnoki questioned.

"Their names are Kimimaro and Haku. They are former accomplices of Momochi Zabuza, the former member of the Kiri no Shinobigatana Shichinin Shū." Kitsuchi said while shifting uncomfortably in his spot. The Tsuchikage's killing intent was leaking in the room. "They were hired along with Zabuza to kill the bridge builder but they turned on and killed Zabuza during the final confrontation. It is unknown which one of the two bears the Hyōton bloodline that ended Zabuza." Ōnoki mulled on the information quietly and picked up the picture before turning to his son.

"Place all three of them in the Bingo Book as low to mid B-rank shinobi." Ōnoki commanded his son. Kitsuchi nodded back at the man.

"Understood." And took the silence as his cue to leave the office. As soon as he had left, Ōnoki began chuckling to himself.

"You will finally pay, Namikaze." He muttered darkly as he stared at the crystal blue eyes of the spawn of Iwagakure's most hated enemy.


Deep within the forests of Hi no Kuni, Team Seven and company were tree-hopping – the fastest way of travel in their forested territory. Academy students were taught how to hop from tree to tree as a means of traveling faster – although unknowingly, it prepared them for when they would have completed their chakra control exercises.

Sakura was currently lagging behind the group due to her small reserves. Despite her having arguably the best chakra control amongst her peers, she lacked the stamina and endurance necessary for long travel. At best, she could manage a few hours before tiring.

Kakashi noticed this and leapt down to the forest floor, the rest quickly following in an organised manner. He turned to the rest of his company and gave them an eye smile.

"Well, Sakura-chan, now you know what you must train harder on." He watched as the girl barely looked up as she waved him off before falling on to her back. The rest of the group merely shrugged and turned away. "Helpful." Kakashi retorted sarcastically before moving to pick up the girl and tossing her over his shoulder.

The rest of the group chatted amicably amongst themselves while Sasuke stood off to the side. Sai had joined the trio of Naruto, Haku and Kimimaro as they discussed various topics – it had been like that for the past two days of travel. Sasuke, being the loner he was, hadn't bothered joining the group, often standing by himself or being bothered by Sakura.

Kakashi raised a hand to block his eye from the sharp rays of the setting sun. They had been travelling at average shinobi speeds since they left Nami no Kuni the other day. They would be within the southern forests of Konoha in a few minutes. Kakashi signalled to the rest of the group and they started moving.

It amused him how Naruto had quickly become friends with Kimimaro and Haku. From their dynamics over the past few days, it seemed as though they'd known each other for years rather than a week. Naruto seemed to be smiling more – something he had done rarely over the past years. Kimimaro and Haku were still experiencing their first days of freedom after being enslaved by Zabuza for nearly a decade.

Just as they were walking, the group tensed as several people appeared before them. They were garbed in black attire with vests, grey chest armour, and arm guards. Sword hilts peeked from their backs and they wore painted porcelain masks – depicting various creatures while hiding their identities from the world. The group watched as the cat masked ANBU walked towards Kakashi.

"Kakashi-senpai." The cat masked ANBU said as she acknowledged him. Kakashi merely gave her an eye smile before chuckling with apparent embarrassment.

"Come now, Neko-chan, I'm no longer your superior." Kakashi said while scratching the back of his head. Neko shook her head slightly before standing at attention.

"Kakashi-senpai, I apologise but this isn't a reunion." Neko said, her voice carrying a serious tone. "Hokage-sama requires the presence of Naruto-kun and the two boys immediately." The two boys glanced at their friend in warily and watched him nod in acceptance.

"Well, you heard the captain." Kakashi said freely. He moved over to Naruto and prodded him forward much to the boy's ire and the ANBU's amusement. "Shoo shoo, you've already caused me too much paperwork already." He watched in amusement when Naruto turned and glared at him. The rest stared amusedly when Naruto turned merely pointed a finger towards Kakashi.

"I know where you live." Naruto said before the ANBU moved and placed their hands on him, Kimimaro and Haku, and they proceeded to disappear in a blur.

Sasuke glanced at Kakashi who's single eye had widened marginally. He blinked for a few moments before shrugging and following Sai who had already left them behind.


They reappeared before the great gates of Konohagakure no Sato. Kimimaro and Haku looked up in wonder, mesmerised by the size and magnitude of the gates and walls surrounding the village.

"So this is what a hidden village looks like." Haku said, giving off the impression of an excited child. Kimimaro, having been to one before, chuckled.

"Follow me." Neko said while leaping to the rooftops. The three boys followed her while two of her ANBU trailed behind them. "I hear you've been doing quite splendidly with your Kenjutsu, Naruto-kun." Neko said while glancing at the boy trailing behind her.

"It's to be expected as I was taught by the best, Neko-sensei." Naruto replied with a small smile on his face. Neko was the ANBU he had seen battling that particular Jōnin, Gekkō Hayate, his other tutor in the art.

"Of course. Hayate would love to see you, again." Neko responded cheerfully. If that was out of conduct, her subordinates didn't say anything about it. Naruto chuckled as they leapt down to the base of the Hokage Tower.

"I'm sure he would." Naruto finally responded. They continued to walk into the Tower in silence until they reached the Hokage's office. Neko informed them that the Hokage was waiting inside before she and the two other ANBU disappeared.

"Are you two ready?" Naruto asked his two friends. They seemed slightly hesitant and apprehensive before both of them nodded.

"We're ready." Kimimaro stated firmly and Naruto turned and knocked twice on the office door. He stood for a few moments before his sensitive hearing caught the response and he pushed open the door.


As they walked into the office, Haku was further surprised by the detail within, while it had seemed so simple outside. Glancing at the opposing walls, he could see shelves stacked with books and scrolls brimming with ancient and modern knowledge, begging to find a willing mind to impart itself on.

As he was still looking at the extensive shelf on the left, he noticed a blonde haired man with sharp turquoise eyes garbed in a black uniform and black coat. He could feel the man's impassive gaze on them but paid it no mind.

He then looked towards the desk. Seated by the table was an old man garbed in a red and white robe. The man wore a conical hat with the kanji for fire. Haku immediately assumed that this was the Sandaime Hokage. He had heard fables about this man's reign during the Second and Third Shinobi War – he was an powerful and legendary figure in history, having moulded a part of it himself.

Standing beside the Hokage was a large man garbed in a green short shirt kimono and matching pants, with a red haori over his attire. He had long white spiky hair held back by a horned hitai-ate with the kanji for oil.

Haku watched as his friend went forward and knelt before the three men. Haku, not intending to give a disrespectful impression, knelt beside his friend – he noticed that Kimimaro had followed suit.

"Hokage-sama, Jiraiya-sensei, Inoichi-san." Naruto said before he stood up, his friends doing the same. He noticed that Inoichi had raised eyebrow amusedly at the action but he kept quiet.

"Naruto-kun, I see that your mission was successful." The Hokage said with a smile on his face. The boy had been gone for nearly two weeks – the longest he had ever been away from Konoha if he remembered correctly.

Hiruzen glanced at the two boys who stood beside Naruto. He could already tell their lineage by just glancing at them – he had come across several members of both the Kaguya and Yuki clan during the three wars he had led himself.

"It was, Hokage-sama. With the assistance of both Haku and Kimimaro, we managed to bring a stop to Gatō's tyranny." Naruto informed dutifully. That had been his mission besides assisting Team Seven during their mission.

"I'm impressed." Jiraiya said with a small grin. He noticed the small smirk on Naruto's lips. "You used it, didn't you? How was it?" Jiraiya said almost excitedly.

"Explosive." Naruto said with a chuckle. That is, until the Hokage cleared up his throat expectantly, bringing both master and apprentice back to reality.

"These must be the two you informed us about?" The Hokage said in a serious tone. Naruto immediately nodded. He glanced at both his friends and indicated at both of them to speak.

"Kaguya Kimimaro, Hokage-sama." Kimimaro said with a short bow.

"I am Yuki Haku, it is a pleasure to meet you, Hokage-sama." Haku said in a polite manner and a bow.

"Momochi Zabuza controlled them with a seal called the Tentai no Norōi." Naruto began. "I am not sure of its ramifications, but it bound them to his will and command as it was affected by the darkness within him and his chakra." Naruto said in a bitter tone. "Although Haku had that seal, Kimimaro's seal was a slightly altered version that bound his life to Zabuza's own and that if he were to die, so would Kimimaro."

The remaining occupants were visibly surprised by the magnitude of such a seal while Naruto and his friends wore grim expressions. Naruto watched as Inoichi was the first to be broken out of his stupor.

"But judging by the fact that Haku here has Zabuza's blade, we can assume that he is dead, am I correct?" Inoichi inquired curiously. Even up close, Kubikiribōchō didn't do justice to the tales that followed after its destructive usage.

"Kimimaro and I fought Zabuza after Kakashi-sensei had expended his chakra while saving Haku after he had been forced to take a Raikiri to his left lung." Naruto said bitterly. He hoped that Zabuza suffered wherever he was for what he did. "Haku then landed the killing blow." Naruto concluded.

"That still doesn't explain how Kimimaro is still alive if he was bound to Zabuza." Inoichi said. Naruto turned to Jiraiya, who noticed the expression and nodded to him.

"It happened again." Naruto said while stressing the word 'it'. He watched as realisation dawned on the Hokage and Jiraiya's faces.

"I see." The Hokage responded quietly. Inoichi seemed to want to question yet again but a discrete glance from the Sandaime Hokage told him he was not yet privy of that information. "As per our agreement, Naruto-kun, we will accept them into the village after they're checked clear of the mandatory tests." Naruto nodded at that – it was important for the Village's security after all. "Inoichi will perform the mandatory mind scan for an ill-intent or ulterior motives."

Inoichi moved forward and pulled the chair that was by the Hokage's desk to him. He set it in the middle of the room and turned to the boys.

"Haku-san, if you may?" He inquired and the boy nodded. He removed Kubikiribōchō from his back and handed it to Naruto. He then dubiously proceeded to move to the chair and sat down. Inoichi stood in front of him.

"Take in a deep breath and clear your mind as though you're meditating, this will allow me to enter your mind easily." Inoichi informed and Haku nodded. He then took a deep breath and made peculiar hand seal.

"Saiko Denshin!" Inoichi muttered before placing a hand on Haku's head.


The mindscape is formed and often modelled after a place the owner loved or felt very strongly about. So it came to a surprise to him when he found himself in a snowy plateau standing before a cottage door.

The cottage looked simple in exterior design but Inoichi knew how different the inside of traditional looking houses seemed to be as of late. He began walking over the crunchy snow before reaching the door and pushing it open. Once he walked in, there was a small cold gust that went past him which made him shiver slightly.

He stepped into the house. It was as simple as it seemed from the outside. There was a wooden dining table in the small kitchen and three doors beyond the living room which seemed to lead to other rooms. All over the room were small icicles; some where on the furniture and some on the floor. Inoichi figured that these were fragments of Haku's memories.

Inoichi kept on walking until he reached the slightly open bathroom door. Pushing it open, he walked in but heard a small crunch and noticed he had stepped on one icicle. Suddenly two figures appeared in the room. One small figure was in a bathtub filled with water while the other was helping the child bath.

"Kaa-chan, when is Tou-chan coming back?" Asked the three year old Haku. The woman, whom he had referred to as his mother, smiled slightly.

"Your Tou-chan will be back very soon. He just visited Kirigakure to gather more supplies for us." The woman said softly. She then picked up a towel and placed it on her lap before picking up the small giggling Haku.

"Kaa-chan, I also want to visit the village." Haku said in a childish manner. The thought of seeing a hidden village always excited him especially since he had never been to one.

"You know we can't do that right now, Haku-chan." His mother responded chidingly. It seemed they had spoken of this before. "But maybe one day you will." His mother said with a small smile before she started tickling the small child.

Their laughter resounded in the entire house.

Right before Inoichi's eyes, the two figures vanished and he walked out of the door. He went further into the house, seeing more memories of Haku and his parents, as well as those of him and Kimimaro, until he returned to the living room.

He hadn't noticed it before, but there was a icicle on the table – one larger than the others he had seen. He knew that this one could be of a particular memory which had affected the owner greatly – whether positively or negatively, it was unknown. He went over to it and crushed it in his palm – they always returned to their previous form after the vision had ended.

The room changed yet again and as it was changing, Inoichi could hear several loud voices of grown men and women. As his sharp eyes glanced around, he could see that the tables and chairs had been overturned and doors broken down. In front of him he saw several men and women holding various types of weapons. He recognised one man – Haku's father – standing amongst the group of civilians. They were shouting various insults at someone but the only one he caught was:

"Let's kill the other monster!"

He turned – ever so slowly – and saw Haku crouching and weeping over a body that laid on the floor. Inoichi noticed the dark hair and pale face. The figure had placed a hand on the weeping boy's cheek.

"H-Haku-chan…run!" The woman said in a hoarse and weak tone. Before her hand slumped to the floor with a quiet thump, causing silence to reign in the room.

"Finally she's dead, let's kill the brat and get this over with." Said one of the more aggressive civilians at the lead. Inoichi watched painfully as Haku wept over his mother's body, begging her to wake up.

"Kaa-chan, please! I'm sorry for showing them, I won't do it again but just please, please wake up!" Haku continued to beg his mother to wake up. But it all fell on deaf and dead ears.

"Haku…" Said Haku's father as he moved forward with a brandished knife in his hand – the one he had used to stab his beloved wife. He had tears streaming down his face but his cold expression was firm. "Come with us…"

Haku froze when he heard his father's voice. He then looked up, his eyes showing so much hatred – too much hatred for a child barely six years old. He then stood up and faced his father and the rest of the mob.

"You killed her!" Haku shouted in both anger and sorrow. "You killed my mother…" He whispered the last part to himself.

"I had to! People like you and your mother don't deserve to live in this world, only in hell!" Haku's father said as he ran forward. He suddenly stopped when a large ice spike pierced through his stomach.

"I will never forgive you for what you did." Haku said in a cold voice. "Any of you!" He shouted out in anger and several large ice spikes rose out of the ground and slaughtered the entire mob.

Inoichi watched in horrific fascination as all the people were mercilessly killed by a child. He watched as Haku fell to his knees and a loud scream of anguish escaped his throat as he wept at the loss of both his parents. The memory faded like the others had, leaving behind a large icicle on the living room table.

Inoichi, having found all he needed and more, walked out of the cottage with a grim look on his face.


Inoichi gasped slightly as he regained his breathing. His clan's justu – such as the Shintenshin and Shindenshin – which required the user's mind to leave their body, couldn't be used for extended time, because the body needed the mind to function properly.

As Inoichi was regaining his breath, he noticed that Haku had turned pale and a few tears were streaming down his face. Kimimaro and Naruto were immediately by his side. Haku seemed to calm down because of their presence – the most probable case being that his mind was returning to their current time. Haku noticed the questioning gleam in Kimimaro's eyes and he nodded.

It was no secret amongst the two as it had been a recurring nightmare during their childhood. Naruto had recently been told about it, so he assumed the cause of Haku's breakdown was because of that memory. He himself knew how powerful Inoichi's jutsu was from experience.

"I apologise for that, Haku-san." Inoichi said with a small bow. From what he had seen, this boy's loyalty was tied to Kimimaro – and most recently, Naruto. "He's clear, Hokage-sama." He said as he turned to the Hokage.

Hiruzen and Jiraiya had watched on quietly as Inoichi scanned Haku's memories. They trusted him and his skill above many shinobi within the Village. The Hokage nodded in acceptance and watched as Haku swapped places with Kimimaro. The boy seemed to have recovered well from the memory that had broken him down.

"Saiko Denshin."


Inoichi entered Kimimaro's mind but was surprised when he came across a white barrier. Putting his hand up to the wall, his surprise increased when it didn't budge.

'Is this bone?' He mused to himself. It seemed to him that Kimimaro carried the fabled Shikotsumyaku bloodline of the Kaguya clan. He sensed a presence appearing by his side and saw Kimimaro's mental manifestation of himself.

"I can't allow you to see more than is enough, even I am entitled to my own secrets." Kimimaro stated firmly. Inoichi nodded at that logic.

"Very well." He agreed and the grassy plateau changed to a small house. He stood outside of it, so he glanced around the area. He seemed to be within a clan compound – of the Kaguya perhaps.

"Come on, Karura! Stay with me!" The voice of a man spoke with urgency, bordering on desperation, within the small house. Decided to find out more, Inoichi walked into the house.

There were several people inside. Two of them stood by the side watching quietly as a man, who had fear etched onto his face, grasped the hand of a woman lying on a bed. Inoichi noticed that there was blood on the floor – childbirth if the coping of a child was anything to go by.

Glancing at the two people standing by the side, Inoichi saw the definite features of the Kaguya clan members – dark hair and two red dots on their foreheads. The man who was kneeling next to the bed had pale white hair – similar to Kimimaro's. Although, Inoichi couldn't see more features as the man's body was turned towards the silver haired woman lying on the bed with a small bundle in her arms.

"U-Urashima…" The woman said in a tired and hoarse voice. "L-look at our little prince…o-our Kimimaro." The woman coughed harshly causing the child to scream in terror.

"Karura, don't speak!" Urashima said sternly in a fear laced voice. "A medic is on the way to help you." Urashima said in a soft, broken voice.

"It's already too late, my love." Karura spoke before her eyes started closing slowly. "I love the both of you, Urashi-kun…Kimimaro-kun." She said before her eyes closed entirely and her breathing stopped.

"Karura…" Urashima spoke in a saddened voice before picking up the small bundle from his lover's cold arms. He held up the child to his face and watched as the child curiously opened his vivid green eyes that reminded him so much of Karura.

The man stood up and turned towards the ghastly figure of Inoichi and he was shocked when he saw the man's features. Urashima was pale in complexion and had hairless brow ridges. His most distinctive feature was the pale, featureless eyes.

"I apologise for this, Kimimaro." Urashima said before his veins appeared on his face and his eyes gained a light lavender hue. He placed a glowing hand on Kimimaro's stomach before moving to his forehead, until the glow disappeared.

"Haruna." He said, turning to one of the midwives. She was surprised when Urashima handed her Kimimaro. "Please, keep him safe from Kazami." Urashima begged the woman.

"Where are you going, Urashima-san?" Haruna asked in wonder. She wouldn't mind taking care of the child – he was his nephew after all. She watched as a grimace flashed across Urashima's face.

"Home." He said while looking outside the moving flaps, before walking out of the house.

The memory cracked then shattered into nothingness, and once again, they were standing in the open grass field.


"That is how I came to be." Kimimaro said simply.

"I never expected your father to be a Hyūga." Inoichi said after his shock had subsided. That man bore a striking resemblance to members of the Hyūga clan – even his eyes were the Byakugan.

"A Hyūga?" Kimimaro asked with a raised eyebrow. "Not at all. No one knew where he came from. He just appeared and became one of the most powerful user's of the Shikotsumyaku to ever grace the clan." Kimimaro said in a proud tone.

"Where is he now?" Inoichi felt compelled to ask. His curiosity was constantly being piqued tonight.

"Gone." Kimimaro said as the plateau disappeared and another memory began.


"Urgh!" Came the loud grunt of pain. As the vision cleared, a white haired man laid on the ground unmoving.

"Tou-san!" A young boy screamed as he watched his father fall to the ground. With speed unexpected of him, he dashed towards the man and knelt beside him. With all his strength, he rolled the man over but was shocked when a scream tore through his father's throat. "Tou-san! Who attacked you?! We must get help!" Kimimaro spoke in fear as he watched his father bleed profusely from the chest wound.

"It's already too late, Kimimaro." Urashima said as he painfully raised his hand and placed it on top of the boy's head. "Kimimaro, listen to me."

He watched as the boy was frantically blabbering in horror. Urashima smiled before ruffling Kimimaro's short hair.

"My clan was wrong, you are so much like him." Urashima said with a small smile on his face. He coughed harshly for a few moments while waving off the panicking boy. "Kimimaro, please do me a few things." He watched as the boy calmed down slightly. "They will come someday. So find him and grow powerful together. The two of you are brothers, always have been, and always will be." Urashima coughed weakly his hand falling to his side.

"Tou-san, don't fall asleep!" Kimimaro shouted with tears streaming down his face. He felt weak as he attempted to pull his father towards their compound.

"The gods will come…" Urashima's weak voice trailed off as he drew in his last breath. It became eerily quiet but that silence was broken by a thumping sound.

Kimimaro fell to his knees and began weeping silently. He gazed up at the moon for a moment before falling over his father's body, succumbing to unconsciousness.

The memory cracked and shattered once again, returning them to the grassy plains. Inoichi glanced at the boy beside him and noticed the sorrowful gleam in his eyes.


"I am curious." Inoichi began. Kimimaro tilted his head to the side. "If your father was neither a Kaguya nor a Hyūga, which clan did he come from? Where did he come from?" He asked. Inoichi felt a small wind pick up where they stood and noticed the slightly narrowed vivid green eyes.

"I don't know." Kimimaro said simply.

'…even I am entitled to my own secrets.' Inoichi remembered the warning Kimimaro had given him before showing the first memory.

Inoichi merely nodded as the greenery faded only to be replaced by three stone walls and a barred steel caged door. He glanced around the small cell until he spotted a figure seating in the dark corner. Before he could approach the figure, a man appeared by the caged door.


"I see you're still hiding in the dark, Kimimaro-kun!" Said the man in a mocking voice. "Sadly for you, your dear Tou-san and Baa-san won't be able to save you this time." The man's voice had gained a dark undertone.

"I'd rather rot in the dark than join you and the clan on your suicidal ventures, Kazami." Kimimaro said dejectedly from the dark corner of the cell. A menacing chuckle caused the boy to flinch slightly.

"It doesn't matter now. After I return from taking over Kirigakure with the rest of my clan, I will deal with you!" Kazami said with a dark grin on his lips. Kimimaro's eyes widened but Kazami disappeared quickly before he could speak.

Kimimaro vaguely heard war cries coming from the members of his clan as they ran off to the Village. He wasn't sure how long it took, but he vaguely heard feint cries and sounds of explosions coming from the direction of the Village. From his cell, the vantage point gave him clear view of Kirigakure no Sato, but he didn't bother himself with watching his clan's decimation.

Kimimaro then heard some shuffling and rustling coming from outside his cell. He wasn't sure if he had fallen asleep or not, but the sky seemed to be darkening slightly, when a shadow peaked through the steel bars. He was surprised when the boy sat in front of the cell, squinting his eyes as though to attempt to see through the darkness.

"I know you're there." The boy said in a soft voice. "Why are you sitting alone in the dark?" The boy asked curiously.

"Leave me alone." Kimimaro groaned irritably and turned away from the boy. Just his luck, instead of being bothered by his clan members, this time it was some strange boy.

"Hey, that's rude! For all you know I was going to help you get out of this cell!" The boy snapped in anger. This kid had the audacity to turn his back on him when he was trying to help.

Kimimaro ignored the boy. There was no way he could help him – even he had failed to do it himself and he was gifted with a rare bloodline, even amongst his clan. He was surprised when he heard a clanging noise coming from the bars. He turned and watched in fascination as the black haired boy had placed his hand on the cell's lock. He watched as the silver metal was covered by a frozen layer of light blue before the boy grabbed it and pulled it off, breaking the entire lock.

"Yes, it worked!" The boy said excitedly while Kimimaro watched amusedly as the boy threw his hands into the air a few times. "Come on, let's go before they come back."

Kimimaro stood up and walked to the broken cell door and pushed it open. He stepped outside – possibly for the first time in weeks – and breathed in some fresh air. He turned to the boy that had helped him out of the cell.

"My name is Kimimaro." He said offering a hand to the boy. He was surprised when the boy crossed his arms and pouted his lips.

"Is this what you get for saving people? No 'Thank You'? Being a hero is not what I imagined it to be." The boy said in a defeated tone. His shoulders slumped, sulking.

"Thank you." Kimimaro said with an amused smile. The boy before him certainly was strange.

"Yes! That's how it's done." The boy said before grabbing at Kimimaro's outstretched hand. The moment he was pulled, he dusted off his ragged clothes before turning to Kimimaro. "My name is Haku, nice to meet you." The boy said with a bright smile. Kimimaro smiled slightly before losing it as he gazed at the smoking part of the Village.

"My clan isn't coming back." Kimimaro said in a saddened voice. Despite their mistreatment, they were still his kin. He was surprised when Haku spoke in an equally sad tone.

"My clan and my family are gone too." Haku said sadly. It had been only a few weeks since that incident. "I have an idea! Why don't we stick together?" Haku said brightly. With this opportunity, he wouldn't be alone anymore. He watched apprehensively as Kimimaro quietly mulled on the idea – until he smiled.

"I wouldn't mind." Kimimaro said softly. He let out a groan of surprise when Haku tackled him to the ground, giggling the entire time.

The memory cracked then shattered like glass, just like the rest of them.


The rest of the occupants in the room watched silently as Inoichi scanned Kimimaro's mind, until eventually, the man gasped, his mind returning to his body. Kimimaro remained seemingly unfazed as he gathered his bearings quietly.

"Kimimaro-san is also clear, Hokage-sama." Inoichi informed the Hokage after he had recovered from the mind transfer. "Both were initially loyal to Momochi Zabuza until he placed those seals on them during their first years. Now…the only loyalty that remains is to each other." Inoichi said with a small smile. "And Naruto." Inoichi said, surprising the Hokage, Jiraiya and Naruto respectively. Haku nudged an elbow at Naruto's side amusedly.

"It is to be expected, after all. You helped save us from Zabuza's control." Haku said with an amused smile.

Kimimaro joined the two boys and stood by their side wordlessly – Haku was the one more fitted to the emotional aspects when speaking to Naruto. That wasn't to say that he had no emotions, rather, it was that he was less expressive of them – a trait he gained from his father.

Jiraiya watched the three boys interact as though they'd known each other for years, when it had merely been a number of days. It made him happy that Naruto was finally making friends – the first of them being those two boys in Asuma's team. He had always seemed to get along well with those two especially before the incident. He listened attentively when his sensei cleared his throat.

"Well, if that is the case, welcome to Konohagakure no Sato." The Hokage said with a warm smile. It warmed his heart to see that Naruto had made friends. "However, there is the issue belying your skill and which rank you must be given if you wish to join the Shinobi System." The Hokage said which piqued the blonde haired interrogator's attention.

"Hokage-sama, considering that they never joined any Shinobi Academy, or any military force, I believe it would suffice if they became Genin until they showcase their skill at the Chūnin Exams that are coming here in a few months." Inoichi suggested in an informative tone. The Chūnin Exams were a bi-annual event, and this time around, they were being hosted by Konoha.

"You do raise a valid point, Inoichi." The Hokage said as he mulled on the idea. The blonde haired man merely nodded his appreciation.

"Let them join my team." Jiraiya said while leaning back on the wall. The three boys were visibly surprised which caused Jiraiya to chuckle. "You three did take down an A-ranked shinobi together, and as far as I can tell, both Haku and Kimimaro trust you, Naruto – and maybe Kakashi on a smaller scale." He said as stated the already known facts. "Besides, you need a four-men team to participate in the Chūnin Exams otherwise you would slave away for years trying to get a field promotion…"

Jiraiya smirked when he noticed Naruto's eyebrow twitch. His sensei chuckled knowing that, despite not having a team, special cases such as Naruto could join the exams on their own – the wandering shinobi, those with no village affiliations, were a prime example of this rule.

"Is that fine with you three boys?" Naruto shrugged while the two boys nodded at the Hokage.

"Welcome to Team Jiraiya…I guess." Naruto said dejectedly. "The big guy over there is your new sensei, the fabled Gama Sennin, Jiraiya." Naruto continued with an ever growing smirk which the two boys noticed. "I wouldn't expect much from him, he's just an old pervert." Jiraiya's eyebrows twitched as he raised a fist menacingly towards Naruto

"You brat, I'm not just a pervert…" Jiraiya said and strangely enough, the man began doing some dance before pulling out an oddly familiar orange book. "I'm a super pervert!" He proclaimed loudly while waving around the orange book.

The three boys watched blankly while Inoichi and Hiruzen palmed their faces muttering how embarrassing Jiraiya was.

"See what I mean?" Naruto said while shaking his head which caused his friends to chuckle in amusement. "He's even going senile thinking that being a 'super pervert' is a right thing."

The chuckles in the room grew louder as they were joined by the two other men. Jiraiya was miffed by Naruto's audacity until he turned to the chuckling men.

"Old Man, don't act as if you don't have a hidden stash of these books in your third drawer and a few more at your house." Hiruzen paled as his not-so-secret stash compartments had been found. The laughter grew at the old Hokage's expense.

"And you, Inoichi!" The blonde haired man immediately raised his hands defensively.

"What did I do!?" The man asked quickly.

"Don't act like I didn't seen you eyeing those books at the civilian bookstore during my meet-and-sign." Jiraiya said in an accusing tone. "I know your daughter wouldn't be so happy if she found out." He said as he finally crossed his arms and watched the blonde man turn pale.


Inoichi and Hiruzen stayed pale and silent for some minutes and they were brought of their reverie when the three boys disappeared. The Hokage was the first to regain his bearings.

"Where did you send them off to?" The Hokage asked as he watched Jiraiya move to the open window. It still irked him how Jiraiya – and most recently Naruto – used his favourite window as a door. "And where are you going?"

"Home." Jiraiya said as he was about to leap off the edge. "And me? I'm going to do some research." Jiraiya proclaimed excitedly, proceeding to leap of the Tower's ledge.

Hiruzen turned to Inoichi with a serious expression on his face. The man understood the unasked question and began reporting what he saw.

"They are both victims of the Civil War in Kirigakure." Hiruzen nodded having assumed as much. It disgusts him what the Yondaime Mizukage has done to his once powerful village all in the name of fear. "Haku's father killed his mother, and the boy in turn killed his father and the mob organised to hunt him. On the other hand, Kimimaro's mother, Kaguya Karura, died during childbirth while his father, Urashima, was killed by an unknown force." Inoichi finished the report. He was surprised when he found the Sandaime staring at him wide-eyed.

"Urashima?" The Hokage asked in wonder – and if possible, fear. Inoichi nodded slowly at the Hokage's questioning gaze.

"Do you know him, Hokage-sama?" Inoichi asked curiously. This man seemed to have more stories surrounding him other than his death and fathering Kimimaro.

"Yes. I once met him in battle during the Second Shinobi World War." The Hokage informed. That man was powerful. With his skilful usage of the Shikotsumyaku and the Byakugan, they had fought to a standstill. "What did you find out about him? Did he say anything strange?"

Inoichi sensed the urgency in his superior's voice before he thought back to the memory that had shaken him more than it should have.

"The gods will come." Inoichi whispered the words that had – still – caused a shiver to run up his spine.


Tentai no Norōi – Curse of the Heavenly Body: A fuinjutsu that caused the one the seal is applied on to follow the user's will as long as it is stronger than theirs. It is also affected by the type of chakra the user has, meaning, the darker the chakra, the stronger the control.

Raikiri – Lightning Cutter: S-rank, Offensive; Kakashi's Chidori gained the name "Lightning Cutter" when he used it to split a bolt of this indicates greater finesse with Kakashi's Lightning Cutter than exists with the standard Chidori, it isn't clear how they differ because they are performed in fundamentally the same way: both concentrate lightning chakra in the hand; both are used to rapidly pierce targets; both cannot be safely used without the Sharingan.

Saiko Denshin – Psycho Mind Transmission: Supplementary; The user enters the target's subconscious by placing a hand on the target's head and extracts any information needed, even if the target has forgotten it or has had it blocked. A special device can be used to decrease the time it takes to read the target's mind and allows other ninja to assist. Memories that have mental blocks on them will require longer periods of time to probe through and obtain on the skill of the user and their level of experience, they will be able to go through days worth of the target's memories in a matter of moments and sift through until they find what they want while others may have to go through each memory in its entirety.

Shintenshin no Jutsu – Mind Body Switch Technique: C-rank, Supplementary; Originally, this ninjutsu was suited for intelligence-gathering missions rather than battle. With it, a ninja sends his mind as spiritual energy into a target's body supplanting the target's mind with their own. The user transfers their consciousness to the target, giving them complete control of the body for a short period of time. While in control of the body, the user is able to communicate with the target. Since the user is in another body, they are also able to use that body's chakra. It is also possible for the user to switch bodies with the target. This has great strategic value when used on a team-mate as neither body is left incapacitated and they may also make use of the user's abilities as well as their own while doing this. To remain inconspicuous when spying, the user can perform this technique on an animal, such as a hawk, which they can use to do aerial reconnaissance. It is generally used on immobilised targets.