A/N: For those of you who are wonder why Iruka is currently not part of the list of people Naruto knows who care about him, read the Sand version of my Runaways stories.

Chapter 7: Growing the Seeds of Doubt

Outside, the rain poured endlessly, drenching everything. Within the tallest tower in the village, a man and woman waited for the arrival of an important guest. The woman had light blue hair with a blue paper flower in it and amber eyes. Under her bottom lip had a small piercing. The man had spiky orange hair, piercings all over his face and ears, and purple ripple pattern eyes. Both wore black cloaks with red clouds on them. "I do not see why we still need him," the woman said.

"Our interests align Konan," the man responded. "So as long as we share the same goals, it would be better to keep him as an ally, rather than make him an enemy."

"Well said, Pain." The air in from of them became warped and a man appear, wearing a spiral orange mask with one eyehole on the right, and a black bodysuit and flak jacket.

"Madara," Pain greeted.

"Let's get down to business. Zetsu informs me that Sasori has learn of Orochimaru's plans to revive the wood style bloodline."

"Yes. If he succeeds, it could be a problem," Pain said. "Orochimaru's motives are a mystery. He seems uninterested in our goals, yet he stays. I do not trust him. The only reason I've allowed him to stay is so we can keep an eye on him."

"I agree," Madara said with a nod. "That snake is not trustworthy at all. But he does provide an opportunity. Hashirama was able to subdue the tailed beast with his bloodline."

"What are you saying?" Konan asked.

"I'm saying if Sasori's spy reports a success, you are to inform Zetsu of where he intends to perform the procedure and I will take care of it, personally." Madara told them.

"Why?" Konan asked, curious. It was rare that Madara would deal with such things himself.

"Hashirama was my rival, remember? I battled with him many times, so I know his jutsu, making me the only one who can properly teach whoever this person to utilized their new bloodline. And once I'm done, this person will be our secret weapon in our quest for peace." Before more could be said, Madara swirled away.
-

A month had passed since the incident with Jugo. Naruto's arm was fully healed. In fact, it had healed in a week thanks to his healing factor. Orochimaru had finally removed the Five Pronged Seal from him and had him working on the three basic jutsu taught at the academy, the transformation, substitution, and clone jutsu. As usual, Naruto complained about wanting to learn cool jutsu, but again, Orochimaru refused. However, did state that he had a special surprise in store for him, one that would grant him great power. However, preparations needed to be made first, so Naruto was left with the three basic jutsus to practice.

Naruto was in the training room. "Clone Jutsu!" There was a puff of smoke and a once again, the clone did not turn out right. "Gah! Why won't this jutsu work?" he shouted. Even after a month, he still could not make a proper clone. He could substitute with a log and his transformations were good most of the time, but clones were impossible for him. They always turned out pale and sickly.

One of Orochimaru's shinobi appeared in the room. "Lord Orochimaru summons you," he said, crossing his arms as he looked at the imperfect clone. He like the other subordinates didn't understand what interest Orochimaru would have in the boy, but none of them would dare question their master. To do so was a death sentence. "He is in his study. Do not keep him waiting."

"Alright, I'm going, I'm going." Naruto walked past him toward Orochimaru's study. Moving through the labyrinth of hallways, he arrived at his destination and knocked. "Sensei?"

"Enter," came the commanding voice of the sannin.

Naruto did so. Orochimaru had his back to him, currently reading something on his desk. The room was filled with scrolls. "You called?"

"Yes." The snake sannin turned around to face him. "As I'm sure you remember, I told you I had something special planned, something that would grant you great power."

"Is it ready?" Naruto asked, excited to find out what it is.

"Almost, but first I need to reaffirm our agreement."

Naruto rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, do what you say... Be loyal to you… blah blah blah… I know. I said I would and I never go back on my word. That's my ninja way!"

"Even if I ordered you to attack the Leaf?" Orochimaru asked.

Naruto went bug eyed. "Attack the Leaf? But… But why would you do that?"

"I have my reasons, but that's irrelevant. The fact is, the shinobi of the Hidden Leaf are my enemy. Which means they are now your enemy. I don't see how you can have that much of a problem with that though. I told you before, you can never return, lest you become an emotionless puppet or a caged animal, and besides, given how you were treated there, you have reason to hate the village too."

"Well, it's just…" Naruto trailed off. It's true, he had little reason to care about the Leaf. The villagers treated him like with great distain he contained the fox demon, verbally and physically assaulting him. Yet there were 5 good reasons he couldn't turn against the Leaf. "There are people there that were kind to me. People who are precious to me, ya know. Like Old Man Hokage. He never looked at me with contempt."

"No, but he did keep you from your godmother," Orochimaru responded.

Naruto looked at the sannin in shock. "G-godmother?"

The snake sannin inwardly smirked as he nodded. "Yes, your parents named two people as your godparents, so that in the event that anything happened to them, you would be taken care of by one of them."

"So who was my godmother?" the boy asked, wondering why the Hokage never told him about her. 'I can't believe it. I have a godmother! But why didn't she take care of me.'

"She was your mother's best friend, Mikoto Uchiha," Orochimaru answered.

"Wait, that's Sasuke's last name," Naruto pointed out.

"Indeed, she was his mother. At some point in their lives, Mikoto and Kushina became close friends, so close in fact that your mother intrusted her with your well being incase you were orphaned."

"But then why didn't she?" Naruto asked.

"You have your 'beloved' Hokage to thank for that. He blocked her efforts to adopt you. Too bad too. If she had adopted you, not only would you be associated with one of the most powerful clans there is, but you would have had a mom and dad and two brothers."

Naruto got lost in thought, think of what his life would have been like if that happened. He and Sasuke never got along, but he didn't hate the guy. And honestly, being brothers with him wouldn't be the worst thing to ever happen to him. 'I can't believe the old man prevent that from happening to me! Why would he do that? I always wanted a family and now I find out I could have but the old man kept it from happening. First my parents, now my godparents… What more is there I don't know?'

"Of course, perhaps it's for the best, considering Itachi, or should I say Weasel, killed all the Uchiha besides Sasuke."

"What? Weasel was Itachi?" Naruto exclaimed.

Orochimaru nodded. "And he's now a part of the Akatsuki, the guys hunting you, remember?" He looked at Naruto's face as the information sank in. 'Good. Telling him about his parents earlier put doubt in his head, but now I'm starting to actually turn him against the Leaf. And the best part, I don't even need to lie or make up anything. You truly were a fool, Sarutobi-sensei.'

'I… I thought Weasel cared about me, but if he really is Itachi, then maybe it was all an act. He did kill his own family after all.' Then realization set in. 'And that means my godmother is dead.' "Wait, you said godparents! Which means I have a godfather! Or is he…"

"Dead, no. He's very much alive and I know him all too well. He's my former teammate and your father's sensei, Jiraiya. A strong shinobi, though not at my level despite what he thinks. But he has an unhealthy obsession with the female body."

"So he's a pervert?" Naruto asked.

"That word doesn't even begin to do him justice," Orochimaru said as he nearly groaned at all the memories of seeing Jiraiya's antics. 'He was such a clown. Still is actually.'

"So the old man stopped him from adopting me too?" Naruto asked, anticipating his sensei's answer.

To his surprise, the sannin shook his head. "No, for some reason he chose his vice over you."

"Vice?"

"The obsession I mentioned mentioned early. And he's not the only one who could have taken you in. Why, your 'friend' Dog was your father's only surviving student, and yet he had to be ordered by the Hokage to bother with you."

A wave of sadness hit the boy hard. 'I… I didn't have to be alone. I could have had a family. But the people who could have taken me in, the people who could have give me that, even if it was just one… They didn't want to or weren't allowed to in my godmother's case. And now she's dead.' He lowered his head.

"So, what do you want to say now? If I ordered you to attack the Leaf, to assist me in destroying your former home, would you do so, without question or hesitation?" Orochimaru asked again.

Naruto didn't look up. The memories of the good times he had in the Leaf played in his mind, but somehow, most of them didn't seem as sweet, specifically the ones with the Hokage and the ANBU he believed cared for him. "I… I don't know," he finally answered.

"Hmm, I suppose that's good enough for now. No more training, you'll need all your strength tomorrow for the procedure." He waved his dismissively. "Now go." Naruto turned, his head still down and walked out. Once the door shut behind him, he ran off to his room. In his study, Orochimaru smirked. 'The seeds of doubt take time to grow, but when they do, I will have obtained a powerful tool. And the Leaf will fall at my hands.'

Hinata's training for the past month consisted of sorting files, fetching tools, and assisting in setting up equipment, as well as studying every aspect of the human body, which Kabuto would quiz her on. After the first week, a few Orochimaru's men returned from a mission, injured. One even required surgery, which Kabuto made Hinata present for, not to assist, but to watch. When Kabuto started cutting the patient open, she fainted. When she woke up later, Kabuto motioned her toward the table where he was working. However, the sight made her rush to the nearest trash bin and throw up, while Kabuto shook his head and continued with the operation.

She was now returning to her room when she saw Naruto rush into his and slam the door. Hinata caught a glimpse of his face. It was full of despair. 'What happened to make Naruto so sad?' Hinata wondered. After a brief internal debate, she approached his door and knocked. "N-Naruto? It's me, Hinata."

For a moment, there was no response. Then after about half a minute, the door opened a bit and Naruto popped his head through the opening. His eyes were closed and he had a smile that Hinata could instantly tell was fake. "Oh, Hinata, is there something you want?"

"Um…" She started fidgeting. Was this any of her business? Should she just leave him alone? 'No. Naruto spent his life alone. I want to be there for him, to cheer him up when he's down.' "I-I saw you r-rushing to y-you're room and w-wanted to k-know w-what's wrong."

"Oh, nothing," Naruto lied. "I'm fine, see?"

Hinata was almost tempted to leave it at that and just leave, but she remember the look on Naruto's face before he entered his room. "N-Naruto, I c-can tell you're faking," she told him.

The smile dropped from his face. "Guess I can't fool you, huh?" Hinata shook her head. He sighed. "Don't worry about it, I'll be alright."

Hinata did believe Naruto could get through whatever he was going on with him alone, but she didn't want him too. He had already done so for years back in the Leaf. This was suppose to be a chance for a new life, not just for him, but for her too. She didn't want to just watch him, too nervous to help him, not anymore. "Naruto, I-I want to help you. I w-want to bear your burdens w-with you." Her cheeks grew red as she said those words. "Please let me?"

Naruto looked at her dumbstruck. No one's ever as that of him before and he couldn't bring himself to refuse. "Fine, come in." He opened the door more to let her in.

She walked in the door and both sat down on Naruto's bed as he told her everything Orochimaru told him earlier. She was surprised to hear that his godparents were the Uchiha matriarch and one of the sannin, but what shocked and even angered was when he explained that the Hokage didn't let Mikoto adopt him and that Jiraiya and Kakashi chose not to take care of him. While she was sure the sannin had important shinobi business, that didn't excuse him for not visiting or even writing to Naruto, instead leaving him alone all these years.

"I just… can't believe it, ya know," Naruto said after he finished explaining. "One of the people I considered precious to me turns out to be a killer who is now hunting me and others like me down, the two people closest to my father wanted nothing to do with me, with one only hanging out with me because he was ordered to, and the Hokage… He hid my parents' identity from me… He kept my godmother from me… I don't want to be mad at him. He was always nice to me, making sure I was alright and he seemed to support my dream of being Hokage one day. But… I don't know if I can forgive him for this. I mean, why not tell me who my father was? Who my mother was? Why not let my godmother adopt me?"

Hinata didn't say anything. She wished she had the answers to his questions, but she could only wonder the same herself. She looked at Naruto, his head hung lower, and, with bravery she didn't think she had, wrapped her arms around him, surprising the blond. Even as her face turned bright red, she spoke so softly that were it not for their close proximity, he wouldn't have heard her. "I-I wish I c-could tell you, Naruto. I w-wish I could've d-done something s-sooner, so y-you didn't have to b-be alone f-for so long. B-but I p-promise now, that I'll a-always be there for you." She couldn't believe what she was saying. She meant every word of it, but she never imagined she'd ever have the courage to say such things.

Naruto himself couldn't believe his ears, but he was overcome with joy as he hugged her back. "Thank you, Hinata! Thank you so much!" Tears of joy came from his eyes.

Unfortunately, the girl didn't hear him. The moment Naruto hugged her back, she was finally overwhelmed by everything she had done and said and fainted, her face completely red with a small smile adorning it.
-

Two days later, Hinata woke up to the sounds of someone knocking on her door. Throwing off the covers, showing her lavender pajamas, she went toward the door and opened it, surprised to see Kabuto. "Oh, s-sensei."

"Get dressed and come with me," he ordered. "Lord Orochimaru has an important project for me today and as my disciple, you are going to assist."

"A-are you s-sure I s-should help? I-I mean, I don't w-wanna screw up and make L-lord Orochimaru mad."

Kabuto sighed. This was not the first time she said something like this. "If you continue with this constant doubt, then yes, you will fail Lord Orochimaru. And if you're gonna keep second guessing everything you do, then clearly I'm wasting my time teaching you."

Hinata hung her head in shame as Kabuto turned around. 'Maybe he's right. Maybe everyone was right. All I am is a burden.'

"You're learning medical ninjutsu with Kabuto?" Naruto had said when Hinata told him a month ago. "Awesome! I bet you'll do great, believe it!"

'But Naruto doesn't think I'm a burden. He believes in me and I can't let him down. I need to be strong like he is, and prove I can be useful.' "W-wait," Hinata spoke, just loud enough for Kabuto to hear. "I-I'll get dressed and go with you." She closed the door and got changed. Kabuto waited and a few minutes later she came out in her usual attire.

As Kabuto led the way, he explained what would be happening. "Ever since the death of the First Hokage, Leaf scientist, Lord Orochimaru included, have tried replicating his abilities using his DNA. Unfortunately, all attempts have been unsuccessful so far. Or so we thought. Shortly after your recruitment, the Leaf's ANBU team that was after you and Naruto infiltrated Lord Orochimaru's hideout, resulting in your hasty transfer to a new location. I'm sure you know what I'm talking about." Hinata nodded. Getting thrown into the mouths of a two-headed serpent was not exactly something you forget easily. "One of the ANBU possessed the Wood Style kekkei genkai. Lord Orochimaru was able to recover a DNA sample before he made his exit."

"S-so you p-plan to try again?" Hinata asked.

"Correct. Thanks to the sample, we were able to adjust the procedure to increase the chances of success. Plus, the test subject possesses strong vitality and endurance for someone his age." A pit formed in the center of Hinata's stomach, though she didn't know why. Perhaps it was simply the fact that she was assisting in experimenting on someone. Kabuto could see the look of unease on her face. "I may interest you to know that the subject is fully aware of the procedure and the risks involved." That seemed settle her a little, but she may need more assurance. 'Plus she'll freak out when she sees who our test subject is. Perhaps…' They stopped the double doors leading to the Orochimaru's laboratory where the procedure would take place. "Wait here," Kabuto ordered her as he walked through the doors.

Hinata did as she was told and waited. She did not like the idea of experimenting on people, not at all. But she couldn't go against Orochimaru or Kabuto, so she only hoped her part in it was minimal. The door opened and Hinata expected either Kabuto or Orochimaru to exit, but instead to her surprise, it was Naruto. "N-Naruto?"

He gave a little wave. "Hey Hinata," he greet, though he seemed nervous for some reason.

Hinata was about to asked what he was doing in there when it clicked. Her eyes widened as she looked at him in horror. "No… No no no! Naruto, please tell me you aren't doing what I think you're doing."

"Uh, kinda?" Naruto scratched the back of his head. "Look Hinata…"

"You can't do this!" Hinata shouted, surprising the blond since she rarely raised her voice. "It's too dangerous!"

"Hinata…"

"I said no! You can't do this! You could… You could…" She clung to him and started sobbing into his chest, which was a bit difficult considering she was slightly taller than him. "I don't want you to die," she said, her voice muffled. He was her source of strength and the first person besides her mother to ever believe in her. She couldn't loss him, not so soon and definitely not like this. "Please don't do this."

Initially, Naruto was in a state of shock, but it wore off and he wrapped his arms around her. "I'm sorry, Hinata. But I gotta do this."

"Why?" she asked as she looked up at him, her tear-ridden eye tearing Naruto apart. "What's so important to you that you'd risk your life like this?"

"You," he answered, shocking the girl. "You and Kimimaro and Jugo, and even Kabuto and Orochimaru-sensei," he added, disappointing the girl a bit since he didn't mean what she thought he meant. "Your all important to me. Because of all of you, I have friends who accept me even with the fox in me. I know who my parents are, and even if my godmother wasn't able to adopt me, I know that she at least wanted me. That why I want to be able to protect all of you, but I need to be a lot stronger to do so."

"Naruto…" She wiped her eyes with one hand, unsure of what to say.

"Because of what I am, people will be after me. Remember how Orochimaru-sensei told me there was a group of people after people like me, the Akatsuki?" Hinata nodded. "When they do come after me, you'll all be in danger. Sensei even said there were people stronger than him. And I just know all of you will be caught in the crossfire."

"But still," Hinata argued. "The risks… You could…"

"I won't," he interrupted. "I won't die yet. I will survive and become even stronger. I swear it and I never go back on my word! That's my ninja way!"

Hinata looked up into those blue eyes so full of determination. She released him and pulled away a bit. "I still don't like this," she admitted, "b-but fine. A-and I'll g-get stronger too." Naruto looked at her and determination filled her eyes too. "I'll b-become a great medic to heal you when you're hurt, and I'll get stronger so I can fight alongside you."

Naruto stood amazed at the determination of her's mirroring his own before smiling. "Yeah! We'll be the strongest there is, believe it!" He rushed back into the laboratory, Hinata following slowly behind.

The room was full of equipment, some of which Hinata recognised. There was a large metal table with straps on it below a device with many needles on it, some short and some long. They were a number of large tubes, each big enough to hold a full grown adult. Orochimaru and Kabuto waited by the metal table. "If you're finally ready, let's begin," Orochimaru stated, clearly eager to get started.

"Alright! Let's get this show on the road," Naruto exclaimed. He was excited at the idea of gaining the power of the First Hokage, the strongest of all of them. Then he could better protect his friends.

Orochimaru smirked at the young boy's enthusiasm. "Good, then let's begin."
-

Alpha: Next chapter will explain what Jugo and Kimimaro have been up to.

Hiruzen: This is not good.

Jiraiya: In my defense, I was doing more than my research for my amazing books. I am the Leaf's spymaster after all.

Alpha: Hey, I get it. Although, when you think about it, ya could have visited him at least once when he was a kid. Or written him a letter from time to time.

Naruto: Oh well, what's past is past. I still can't believe the me of this fic is following Orochimaru.

Alpha: You're seven years old in this fic. You're more susceptible to outside influence.

Jiraiya: Still, he'll never be as great as he was under me, the great toad sage of Mt. Myoboku!

Orochimaru: We'll see.