Synopsis: Naruto learns more about what happened to his parents. How does he handle hearing his mother was the nine-tails vessel like him?

"My mom had the nine-tails sealed inside of her?" Naruto couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Why?"

"Your mother was not born in the Leaf Village," Tsunade explained. "She was from the Uzumaki clan of Uzushiogakure village. My grandmother was also from there."

"Does that village still exist?" Naruto asked curiously.

"No," Tsunade said shaking her head. "The Uzushiogakure village was known for their sealing techniques. Unfortunately, that led to their destruction in war, since many villages felt they were too powerful and teamed up together eliminate them." Naruto gasped." It happened a little after Kushina moved to the Leaf Village. Those who survived are scattered all over the world as refugees."

"Why did mom leave the Uzushiogakure village?" Naruto asked.

"My grandmother was dying, so a new host needed to be found." Tsunade continues explaining. "You mother was chosen because she had a special kind of chakra."

Naruto squeezed his fist.

"She had no say?" Naruto asked angrily. "She was forced to leave her village so that the Leaf Village can use her?! That's wrong!"

Tsunade closed her eyes.

"Yes, you're right," Tsunade admitted. "My grandmother sealed the Nine-tails willing inside her to give power to my grandfather. When I learned about the nine-tails, I did ask her how she handled it."

"What did she say?" Naruto asked.

"She discovered to counter the nine-tails hatred; you need to fill yourself with love."

Naruto placed his hand on his stomach.

"Fill yourself with love?" Naruto repeated.

"That's what Kushina told me when I asked her," Naruto look at Kakashi. "Naruto, you are right. Kushina did feel like she was being used by both villages. She had no idea about the sealing until she enrolled in the academy. But she doesn't regret it. Otherwise, she would have never met or fallen in love with Minato. She said she could overcome and tame the nine-tails with Minato's love."

"If that's true, then how was the nine-tails able to attack the village?" Naruto asked. "How did it get out?"

Tsunade and Kakashi glanced at each other.

"Naruto, the Uzumaki seal is very secure and difficult to weaken. However, there is a way for the seal's strength to reduce naturally."

"Naturally?" Iruka questioned.

Naruto felt his world crash at Tsunade's reply.

"Childbirth."

Naruto starts trembling.

"That means …"

Kakashi, knowing what Naruto was going to say, stopped him.

"Naruto, please listen to what Lady Fifth has to say before you get any foolish ideas in your head, like that it's your fault."

"But!" Naruto protested.

"Naruto," Iruka said calmly placing his hand on his shoulder. "Let's listen before jumping to conclusions."

Naruto stared at Iruka, then nodded his head at Tsunade to continue.

"From the knowledge that my grandmother's seal weakened when she gave birth, your parents knew had to prepare for your birth. The plan was for you mother to give birth to you in a remote area, far from the village. The third Hokage's wife and a nurse were to help out, while Anbu was to guard the premises. According to the reports, the Third Hokage's wife and the nurse were killed, before the nine-tails was extracted from Kushina."

Naruto and Iruka gasped.

"Did you say extracted?" Iruka repeated.

Tsunade nodded her head.

"The Third Hokage wrote that he believes someone knew about the seal weakening and took advantage of it."

"Who?" Naruto asked.

Tsunade shook her head.

"No one knows." She replied. "Minato likely did confront the person, but no one witnessed it."

"So it wasn't because of me being born," Naruto murmured.

"No, it wasn't," Kakashi said sternly causing Naruto to look at him. "Naruto, Minato-sensei, and Kushina knew what they were doing. Your father knew how to help Kushina tame the nine-tails while she deals with the pains of childbirth. They wanted you and were excited about bringing you into the world. The person who interfered and the nine-tails is responsible for everything that happened that day, not you."

Naruto sheepishly rubs the back of his neck.

"Yeah, I guess it was kind of dumb of me to think that." He admitted. "Sorry, I guess the stuff the villagers have been saying to me…well hit me after hearing you say childbirth Granny."

Tsunade growled.

"Well brat, whenever you hear them say such stupid things, think they are insulting your father's and mother's sacrifice."

Naruto nodded his head.

"So you said the nine-tails was taken out of my mom. But that doesn't explain what happened to her…"

"Naruto, if a tail beast is taken forcibly out of the host, immediately the host dies," Tsunade explained.

Naruto and Iruka's eyes widen. Iruka glanced at the boy worriedly. He had no idea that Naruto could die just from having the demon taken out of him.

"I never knew that," Naruto said in disbelief. "So mom died right after the nine-tails was taken out of her?"

Tsunade shook her head, surprising both Naruto and Iruka.

"The Third Hokage did witness when your father was sealing the Nine-tails inside of you. It says your mother was still alive, doing her best to restrain the nine-tails with her chakra chains."

"Did she survive due to the special kind of chakra she possessed?" Iruka asked.

Tsunade nodded her head.

"That was the Third Hokage's explanation for it. From what he saw, the nine-tails was ready to kill you, but Minato and Kushina together blocked the attack with their bodies."

Naruto narrowed his eyes sadly.

"They did die to protect me," he murmured. "Gramps was telling the truth. They died fighting the nine-tails."

"I'm very sure you mother argued with your dad about sealing the Nine-tails inside you." Naruto looked at Kakashi. "Your mom did express her worry about you being affected by her being the nine-tails vessel. She wasn't treated horribly like you since not many knew about it. Somehow, your dad convinced her it was the right thing to do, which is why I believe your dad had another reason to seal the Nine-tails. It wasn't just about protecting the village or protecting you, it was something else, but we don't know what."

Naruto placed his hand on his stomach again.

"I don't know why sensei, but I think you are right," Naruto said with a smile. "So tell me, what were my parents like? Do I have anything in common with them?"

Author's Note: I like to thank nightwind83 for letting me know in the review that Chapter 6 was a good chapter. I seriously wasn't sure, but your review took away that doubt. Also, thank you for recommending Grammarly program! It's helping me.

I hope I did justice on Naruto's reaction about Kushina being the host for the nine-tails.

I had four days off in a row from work, which is why I was able to update quickly. Also, because I was excited to write about Naruto learning about heritage. Hopefully, I will be able to stick to a schedule, updating every Saturday or Sunday.

Next chapter:

Naruto learns about what he inherited from his parents.

Tsunade gives Jiraiya's birthday present to Naruto.

Kakashi tells Naruto about his teammates.