Naruto Retold

Chapter Ten: Secret's Figured Out

"Naruto-kun is the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi…"

Hinata was alone in her room. Scrolls were spread out on her bed as she poured over them and the color drained from her face as she made a startling realization.

"Naruto-kun is the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi…" she repeated softly to herself.

Since the mission to Wave and that day on the bridge her young mind had been running through the possibilities. Could it have been some type of blood line? What kind of power was that? Why did it feel so vile…so blood thirsty?

It was not a type of sense she ever imagined coming from Naruto-kun. The boy she idolized was a kind hearted and carefree; she never thought it would be something like this.

Upon the return home she wanted to research it in the Hyuuga Libraries. She was not deluding herself that there would be anything in her clans scrolls about Naruto-kun personally, but there might have been a clue as to his power.

Hinata barely even paid attention to Kakashi-sensei's praise of her to her father, he said something about her saving his life on the mission…about how much further along she was compared to her teammates and how helpful she was.

It barely even registered when her father offered her a rare smile and congratulations.

What did any of that matter at the moment? Really?

So when she was done she searched the Hyuuga scrolls for some hint that could explain her crush's power.

She came across the term of 'Jinchuriki', which she found to be the word for a human sacrifice in order to contain to power of a Bijuu…a demon. It was said that a Jinchuriki could sometimes harness the power of their prisoner.

It also said that a demon was to be sealed into its host at the day of the hosts' birth, as the chakra coils were not developed at that point and could handle the influx of power better than a person who had fully a developed system.

She remembered Naruto-kun's birthday…October tenth…almost thirteen years ago. The day that the Yondaime 'killed' the Kyuubi.

If this was true it certainly explained a lot…that power for one thing. The villager's treatment of him, however much it angered her to see, was also explained.

Which begged the question…who else knew? The older generation seemed to know, and they seemed to keep quiet of it.

Her father? If she asked would he say anything?

And what about Naruto-kun? Did he know…would it be safe to ask him? If he did know, then her admiration of him would only grow. It was one thing to hold a burden unknowingly and quite another to know of it and still be the way he was.

She thought about it further…perhaps there was someone she could ask.

OoOoO

It was nearing the end of his day, and Sarutobi Hiruzen was more than ready to head home.

There was a lot of paperwork that he had done today, his hand was cramped and his mind weary from the days work. The only solace he took from the recent days was that after a talk with Naruto a few months back his grandson had ceased in his attempts to defeat him.

He was looking forward to doing a bit of painting, if it wasn't for his damnable arthritis.

He gave a small groan when there was a knock at his door and his assistant poked her head into the office to announce that he had a visitor.

"Yes? Who is it?" he asked straining to keep his voice level.

"It is Hyuuga Hinata, Hokage-sama." the young woman replied nervously, sensing his frustration.

The old mans eyebrows rose in slight surprise. What was the young Hyuuga heiress doing here? If he remembered correctly the girl was crushingly timid and not the type to seek out an audience with a person such as him.

He gave a small smile, positive that a certain blond troublemaker had something to do with her recent changes. Based also on Kakashi's report on team sevens recent mission, he was happy that Naruto was affecting the shy young girl so positively.

He was not expecting when she came to talk about though.

He nodded to his assistant to allow the Konoichi in, he then settled himself comfortably into his seat as the girl entered the room and the door closed behind her.

He was surprised when she approached him and he could almost feel the determination rolling off of her in waves. She bowed low to him and he gestured her to sit before him.

"Hello Hinata-chan," he said pleasantly. "What is the purpose of your visit?"

Hinata looked up at the kindly face of the elderly man; she had barely ever spoken to the Hokage so despite her determination and his grandfatherly face she felt a chill of nervousness creeping up her spine.

She took a deep, steadying breath. "Hokage-sama, I am sorry to have b-bothered you so late…but I figured that you would be the best person to talk toy about something."

"Yes?" he encouraged gently.

"It's about…it's about N-Naruto-kun and the Kyuubi…" she trailed off.

Sarutobi's eyes widened almost comically, he then leveled a piercing gaze at the girl. "What do you mean?"

She flinched very slightly at his stern voice and gaze, but soon mastered herself. "I think…that he is the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi."

He considered her a moment, had someone told her? "Why do you think that? Has someone said anything?"

She shook her had slowly, "n-no Hokage-sama…" she then launched into a soft-spoken speech of what she had found and seen. She told the old man about seeing the power that Naruto displayed.

She recounted researching the Hyuuga library about such power and found that people known as Jinchuriki could display the prisoner's power.

She even told him about her suspicions being present about Naruto's birthday.

The old man remained silent for a moment; he had to admit the girl was intelligent. Unfortunately, with that intelligence, she did figure out a massive secret that Sarutobi was not sure she was capable of dealing with.

"So…" Hinata murmured, "Is it true?"

Sarutobi looked her over; she was not asking a question that she didn't already know the answer to. She looked positive that she was right. He so no way to deny it, and nodded. "Yes…it's true. And what do you plan to do?"

He wasn't sure why he phrased the question so sharply, and felt a pang of guilt at the way she flinched at his tone.

"W-what do you mean?"

Sarutobi pushed his guilt aside; he had to know what she really felt. "I assume that there is a reason you came to me to confirm this. Now that you know, did you wish to be transferred from the team…"

He was cut off but her uncharacteristically load and sudden out burst.

"Absolutly not!" she took a breath. "I only came to you because I assumed that had I asked anyone else they would be unable to tell me. I do not want to leave the team."

Sarutobi nodded, silently pleased that she obviously did not have hard feelings toward her blond teammate. "You were right, and I have to give you fair warning," he said sternly. "This is a highly ranked secret, only Naruto or I have the right to reveal this knowledge. To discus it with anyone who does not already know, that is to say genin and people of your generation, is punishable by death. Do you understand?"

Hinata nodded, she had figured it was something like that. "Does…does Naruto-kun know?"

"He does."

"I see," Hinata and slowly rose to her feet. She bowed again to the kindly-looking old man, "I have to go, thank you."

Sarutobi nodded, he seemed to understand.

OoOoO

Hinata didn't know why she went to their training grounds; there was just an urge to go there.

She left the Hokage's office, her mind buzzing with the information that she had learned. Her feet seemed to walk the path independently, and she soon found herself watching him from behind a tree, as she used to do while in the academy.

Naruto was alone, or as alone as a person could be when surrounded by a large group of their own clones. He had a group of about fifty of them attempting the water walking that she had shown him. The clones were in varying states of submersion in the dark water of the pond. Some had water around their ankles while others were up to their waists.

The original was at the bank doing one handed pushups. Naruto had explained his discovery to her and Kakashi-sensei about how he mastered the tree exercise by using the clone's memories to gain more experience than doing it by himself.

Kakashi had told him how dangerous that was, and he didn't want the young boy to practice such a thing without supervision.

Hinata was torn while she watched him, on the one hand she admired his perseverance again…on the other he was practicing a dangerous training method.

She watched as the clones were dispelled by a suddenly weary Naruto, she watched him sway and fall to the ground.

Hinata was at his side before she knew what she was doing, "Naruto-kun!"

She was soon kneeling at his side and peering down at his face, concerned. Naruto's eyes opened slightly before closing and allowing a tired smile to spread across his face. He managed to sit himself up, "hey Hinata-chan, I think I got that water walking thing down. Can't wait to rub it in the teme's face."

She gave a small smile and regretted having to ruin his good cheer. She could tell, she just knew that what she had to say would wipe the smile from his face.

But if he could be this strong, so could she. She would show him that he didn't have to carry his burden alone. Hinata mused that Naruto-kun was similar to Sasuke-kun in this way, different mannerisms, but both carried a burden alone.

She steeled herself for what she swore she would do, "Naruto-kun…I have something I want to tell you."

To be continued…

Authors note: I know bad place to end this chapter, especially after a long wait and a sort chapter, but there are a few things I need to say and give some excuses for.

Firstly I have seen plenty of 'Naruto and friend talk about the Kyuubi' conversations and they are all pretty much the same. I don't think it is needed, and reactions will be in the next chapter.

Secondly, I apologize for the wait I have been having some problems, the main one was a medical one, I had a pinched nerve in my right arm…hurt like a mother******… and so I couldn't type for a while. One handed typing sucks so I stayed off the keyboard, not to mention doctor's orders and all. And since I am right handed, I couldn't even write it in a notebook or something.

So I felt I should get this small offering done once I was better to appease the readers that I am lucky enough to have.

And there is one other thing, I am not sure how many people that read this story also read my final part of a trilogy called Circle of leaves, but that story is on Hiatus…not sure for how long but I will get back to it I promise. I just have no idea right now with that one.

Anyway I've said my bit, thanks for reading and please review.