Towards the end of the Second Great Shinobi War, a young chunin of the Yamanaka clan had gifted the Sandaime Hokage with a rather plain clock. The clock was shaped in the image of a black cat. It appeared to be sitting up straight, one paw up near it's head. The actual clock was centered as the belly of the feline and besides the hands that showed the time and the constantly moving seconds-hand, the eyes of the cat moved as well with each second. Those black slitted-eyes constantly moved back and forth as if the clock was paranoid and needed to search every square inch of the room.

Initially, the Sandaime had thought the device was some sort of spying device. He quickly broke it apart searching for all the listening devices that would no doubt be hidden inside. He found none. Afterwards he had his secretary quickly go out and buy a new clock that looked exactly the same which he hung up in the office. It was actually quite the coincidence that, just as the secretary hung the clock -Hiruzen was not watching how her backside was shown more clearly because of her actions- the Yamanaka chunin had walked into the room with her team ready for a mission.

As the eyes moved, the steady tick, tock echoed throughout the office. Hiruzen calmly waited for his night-time guest to arrive. He had no desire, however, to have the conversation that was sure to come up in only a few moments. Hokage he may be, but the amount of power he actually had that could've prevented the events that had passed in the last few hours weren't enough. The amount of limited power that lead to the lonely life that a child had grown up knowing for the last twelve years were something that plagued his conscience. The aged Kage looked up as the door opened, his eyes fell on the solemn child that was being lead in by a certain gray-haired ANBU.

Uzumaki Naruto.

"Please have a seat, Naruto-kun." Hiruzen spoke softly, gesturing towards the chair before his desk.

The boy hadn't stopped moving upon entering the office and quietly made his way to the chair which he sat on the edge of. Naruto and quietly were just two nouns that shouldn't ever be placed in the same sentence. It was eery.

"I watched tonight's events Naruto-kun. I did not know what the situation was when I encountered you earlier but I know everything that happened afterwards. Know that you are not in trouble. Umino-san's decision to grant you genin-status will be honored. Is there anything you would like to say? Any questions you would like answered?"

The boy looked up from beneath the blonde fringe that shadowed his eyes. It seemed strange, that the boy could normally look so sunny. As if the light was capable of emanating off the child's mere cheerful emotions. From glittering blue-eyes, to the bright blonde hair. The boy didn't have to say a word to tell you how he felt, he was that easy to read. Now, however. The blonde locks seemed darker, lifeless, and seemed to lay flat on his head. The eyes were dull, emotionless. Not even a trace of anger or confusion, which by all right should be there, were present.

"Before...' The boy's voice was just above a whisper. Scratchy, most likely because of the yelling and crying he had done earlier. 'I would ask a question and if you 'thought' it wasn't something I should know, you'd change the subject. Or you'd tell me you didn't know. Or that I was too young to know."

Hiruzen cringed. The boy might not be the smartest or the first to catch onto subtlety, but he had a memory that was very selective and very vindictive when it came to anything that directly involved Naruto. He couldn't remember a person's name he met only a week ago, but if that person he met a week ago said even one negative thing to Naruto, the boy would not forget nor would he forgive.

Naruto wasn't lying when he would say that he forgave Konoha for the way they would treat him. He, however, said nothing about forgiving the people of Konoha for the way they would treat him. The boy wasn't a prankster for nothing. Hiruzen had a two-page list of the names of people Naruto had accidentally put into the hospital. None truly life-threatening, the longest stay being two days. The point remains.

"I promise you Naruto. I will answer any question you ask me this night. As long as it pertains to you."

"Am I the Kyuubi?" Was the first, and quick, response.

"No. You are merely it's jailor. The Yondaime could not defeat the Kyuubi. No one can kill a bijuu. They are masses of chakra. The most that can be done is to drive them back and away or to seal them. The Kyuubi is a being of unfathomable destructive abilities, we could not even entertain the thought of driving it back. The Yondaime chose you as it's vessel; later that night we lost a Hokage and gained a jinchuuriki. That is the term used for one such as you. You are human still, you simply have something extra within you."

The boy was silent for a moment as he thought over the words. Hiruzen sighed internally, why had he spoken so foolishly? No doubt the boy would ask why the Yondaime chose him. Hiruzen wasn't sure if he would be able to omit the true reason without this completely-aware Naruto sitting before him. Platitudes wouldn't work either, he said he would give Naruto any answer he wanted. Hopefully, Kami-willing, Naruto wouldn't ask about his parents.

"Why?"

Kami must hate him, Hiruzen gathered.

"Tell me Naruto,' Best to speak to him as an equal. 'if you were Hokage, which of the countless parents of Konoha would you ask to give up one of their children...knowing you had a child of your own?"

The boy's head shot up so fast that the Hokage feared for the young boy's neck. That train of thought was interrupted by those blue orbs staring back at him. The emotions passing through them were moving to fast for Hiruzen to pick out a single one. All at once, the boy's face slowly lowered. Those orbs once again returning to their dulled state.

"I see. My...father...decided that to sacrifice his only' The boy peeked up at the Hokage who nodded at the obvious question 'son. Because of him I hold the Kyuubi inside me.' Naruto was silent for a moment before looking up again through his fringe 'What of my mother?"

Hiruzen sighed. "She was holding back the Kyuubi for your father. At some point, I guess her weakened form gave out because the Kyuubi was able to launch one final attack before it's sealing. I can only guess that it's target was you because your mother and father both had deep and fatal wounds through their bodies. Your mother's name was Uzumaki Kushina."

Naruto nodded, a slight and small smile on his lips. It was gone in a blink.

"Since my name is Uzumaki, I guess no one knows about my father? Since no one has ever figured it out, that means he was either with my mom in secret or did no one care to try to think of that?" The boy was sharp when he wanted to be, at any other time Hiruzen would've congratulated Naruto on his observation. So caught up on that, Hiruzen didn't realize he was about to reveal the worst thing he could've towards the child before him.

"Your father's last wish was for you to be seen as a hero. In all honesty, I should've kept your situation a secret and did whatever I could to keep you hidden from the village until you were at least five years of age. Your parents did keep their relationship a secret, though it was mostly from the civilians. Any of their close friends should've recognized it straight away, especially when Kushina became pregnant with you. She never once showed intimate affection to any other male in the village besides your father. 'Intimate' in this case, meaning something as mundane as a hug. Your mother wasn't really liked by a large portion of the village, though she did nothing to change that.

As Hiruzen lost himself for a moment to his memories, Naruto stared at his clenched fists. A hero? The village as a whole spat on his father's last wish. His dying wish. He had just gave his life to save their collective asses, and they deny him his dying wish. Civilian, or shinobi. Outright disgust and those looks or impassive willing-ignorance. They either hated him or just didn't care about him. The one who was sacrificed at birth so that they could live...

"Thank you Hokage-sama. I believe I have all the answers I want. I will report to the academy tomorrow morning for team assignments." Naruto had stood and when he spoke, it wasn't in anger or false cheerfulness. No, it was with nothing. There was no emotion to his voice whatsoever.

Hiruzen blinked, before giving a sad nod. "For your part in stopping a traitor to the village, you will be awarded with B-rank pay and a B-rank mission mark in your shinobi file. I will have Iruka speak of Mizuki's situation tomorrow before the team assignments. As for you being a jinchuuriki, you may tell..."

"Whoever I want." Naruto interrupted. Hiruzen's eyes widened.

"Naruto-kun, I realize your anger and disappointment in the village, to go this far however. There are many people in the village who do not know, you can use that ignorance to gain yourself allies, friends." Naruto shook his head.

"So I should have to use trickery to gain friends? Is that the only way I'll stop being alone? What happens when they find out? This wont remain a secret forever, one day it'll be revealed. Then what? From now until that day, my so-called friends will believe I have lied to them all that time and then they'll reveal their true selves. No. I will tell my teammates once they are selected."

Hiruzen could do nothing but look upon the genin before him. There was nothing that he could say or do that would change Naruto's mind. Sure, he could order Naruto to keep the secret but where would that get him? It would certainly only gain the ire of the boy and if Naruto's thoughts should ever stray, if they hadn't already, it would give more credence to going rogue. No, he'd let Naruto make his own decisions, however...

"Very well, Naruto. You may tell anyone you wish about being a jinchuuriki. You may also tell anyone you wish about your mother. However, I cannot permit you to reveal your father. This is not just about you, but about village security. If Iwa or Stone, or even Kusa were to hear that Namikaze Minato had a child -a son- then Konoha would be at war. I must ask you to give me your word that you will keep that a secret at least until you reach jounin rank or have gained an A-rank status in the shinobi world."

Naruto stared back at him for a moment then nodded his assent "I give you my word Hokage-sama. I will not reveal who my father is to anyone , even if they already know, until I either become a jounin or gain A-rank status in the shinobi world." With that the boy gave a polite bow then quickly turned and left the office.

Hiruzen sighed for what seemed like the hundredth time that evening. He had expected an unpleasant evening but he had not expected this. What was he to do? He knew it wasn't uncommon for other villages to announce to the world who their jinchuuriki were, Kumo was more than happy to do so in fact. So he couldn't really give that argument, if Naruto already knew or if he suddenly found out the results could be disastrous. He needed as many reasons to have Naruto trust him. It would be a while but hopefully the boy would regain his faith in the village, if there was ever any faith to begin with.

A glass mug smashed against the wall and shattered which prompted two ANBU to materialize. "Out." He didn't shout, but his voice carried with it all of the Sandaime's anger. The two black-op members were more than quick to vanish. Hiruzen seethed in his anger. How could Konohagakure, the village he loved and had fought for since the First Great Shinobi War, become what it had? To persecute a child for the sins of the father? Even if they didn't know that last part, they still took out all their anger and grief on a helpless and ignorant child! Now, that child was seemed more than willing to return the favor.

Hiruzen looked down at his desk and saw the stack of folders that held the team placements. He searched through them till he came to the one he wanted. He searched for another folder and then placed it above the first. Opening both folders he removed a profile from each and then exchanged them. Closing the folders and re-stacking them, Hiruzen flared a bit of chakra. From the shadows a black-ops member appeared on one knee

"Hokage-sama." Was the simple greeting. Hiruzen handed the ANBU the stack of folders.

"Get these to Umino Iruka and tell him that these are not to be touched. The changes I have made in regards to Team's Seven and Eight are permanent by my order. If anyone has a problem with it then they can take it up with me. After this is done, you may dismiss yourself for the night."

The ANBU took the folders and, with a bow, vanished. Hiruzen grit his teeth as he made his way out of the office. His sudden interference in the team assignments set in motion a flurry of other changes he found himself wanting to make. For better or worse, this village and the council will once again remember who it is that is in charge.

Naruto walked into the classroom that he had spent his last academy year in. Iruka was standing at the front of the class, obviously waiting for him if the somewhat annoyed look on his face was any indication. Despite the look, Iruka gave Naruto a smile and gestured for him to take a seat.

"Hey Dobe! What are you doing here? Don't you know only graduates are allowed in this class?" Inuzuka Kiba shouted. The sudden outburst was met by laughter and jeering from nearly the rest of the class.

"Kiba! Shut up and sit down! Graduate or not I can still give you detention!' The Inuzuka sat back in his seat sullenly for being yelled at. Iruka sighed before speaking again. 'To get the record straight, Naruto failed yesterday on purpose. He did so on my and Hokage-sama's orders so that he could complete a B-rank mission that he was uniquely suited for."

At this the class were all now staring at Naruto bug-eyed. For his part, the blonde stared back impassively, though inwardly he was amused and surprised at Iruka's version of last night's events.

"As you may have noticed, Mizuki is not here. That is because he was really a traitor to Konoha!' The class gasped at Iruka's declaration. 'We were able to figure this out and also figured out what it was that he wanted. Mizuki planned on stealing a very important document from the Hokage tower and Hokage-sama had Naruto approach Mizuki and 'beg' for a way to become a genin. Mizuki, in his arrogance and fear of being caught, took the bait. He told Naruto what he wanted and once Naruto 'stole' it and handed it to Mizuki, the traitor was arrested by several ANBU who had been lying in wait."

The class was now staring at Naruto in awe. The "dobe?" the dead-last of the class for the last three years had tricked a chunin? Not only that but before even becoming a genin he had completed a B-rank mission? There were hearts in the eyes of a few of the girls in the class.

"Is there anything you would like to say Naruto?" Iruka asked. The boy nodded and moved to the front of the class.

"Please do not interrupt Iruka-sensei. I have already received approval and nothing is going to stop this." Naruto spoke without turning towards the chunin behind him. Iruka frowned in confusion but vocally acknowledged his agreement.

"Twelve years ago' Naruto started, and Iruka's eyes widened 'it is said that the Yondaime Hokage killed the Kyuubi who was attacking the village. This is a lie!"

Naruto's words were met by disbelief and a bit of outrage. Iruka could only watch in trepidation.

"The bijuu cannot be killed, fore pure chakra cannot be so simply destroyed. That is what the bijuu are. Chakra given thought. Instead, the Yondaime did the only thing he could. He sealed the fox away."

Naruto unzipped the orange jacket he always wore and let it fall to the ground revealing the white t-shirt underneath. Casually he lifted the t-shirt so his stomach and abdomen could be seen. Some of the class shouted at him for being so inappropriate while a few of the girls cheered. Naruto may be twelve years old but with the amount of exercise he gets on a daily basis along with the Kyuubi inside him destroying any traces of unneeded fat or other undesirables in his body, the young boy's body was like a rock. A flat, undefined rock, but a rock nonetheless.

Naruto then made a one-handed simple hand-sign that was mostly used for channeling chakra and the graduates gasped when the black ink suddenly appeared on Naruto.

"This is what the Yondaime used to seal the fox inside me. Right now it's within my body somewhere behind my chakra system. I've never heard from it, much less spoken to it. There was never a moment when I was aware of something other than my own consciousness being inside me. It is there though, I can feel it now that I know what to look for."

The newly minted genin could only look on in shock as Naruto spoke to them about having the Kyuubi being sealed inside him. The life he had as an orphan, how it was made so much worse because the village decided that Naruto was the perfect punching bag for their anger and grief. How the first friend he had ever made in the village was a girl his age. He had then had to watch as the girl's mother came and pulled her away telling her to never get near "that beast" again. At this point, Naruto waved at Sakura who flinched back as the memories from that day long ago returned. How could she have forgotten. As Naruto talked, the class could do nothing more than listen. They had no idea that one of their own classmates had lived such a life, they also had no clue how Naruto could talk about it without a single ounce of inflection in his voice. Then he was done.

"I don't care if any or all of you decide that you don't want anything to do with me. It's nothing new anyhow.' Many flinched at that 'I don't care if the two who end up teamed with me go to Hokage-sama and beg to be put on a different team. I don't care if you hate me, again, nothing new.' More flinches 'I don't care if you start calling me cruel names or acting like I'll suddenly decide to eat you or kill you."

Naruto turned away from the class and quietly told Iruka he was going to Ichiraku's for something to eat. Iruka just as quietly told him that he'd inform Naruto's Jounin-sensei. The boy shrugged then walked towards the door, as he opened it, he turned to look at the class over his shoulder

"I just don't care anymore."

I never really see something like this. Though I probably took it a little far. Naruto, in fics where he actually questions why the Yondaime chose him, always end up doing one of a few things:

-is sad and angry at first then understands and then forgives then is happy again, all within ten minutes.

-is understanding but hates the Yondaime

-is angry and doesn't want to understand

-is sad for a few days and then turns into one of those "I don't deserve love and the village is right to punish me. I understand their grief"

-hates the villagers.

There's never really any middle ground that doesn't sound completely implausible. I can see a Naruto acting the way I depicted him for a few months, or longer or shorter, and then coming around back to himself. I can't just see Naruto brushing off the fact that he has a demon sealed inside him like in canon or most fics. I DEFINITELY cannot see him brushing off the fact that his father was the Yondaime like he does in canon or most fics. In canon, it doesn't show any conversation at all between Naruto and Hiruzen about the Kyuubi being sealed inside him.

If there was, it would be hard to explain why Naruto wouldn't ask why the Yondaime chose him. I suppose it would be hard, because there's no real way for Hiruzen to answer that without allowing the reader to come to their own conclusions. He can't just lie to Naruto either because Kishi would have to explain later on when Naruto learns the truth why he doesn't get angry that he was lied to (because you know canon Naruto wouldn't even think about that) And no one really emphasizes Iwa's disposition towards Konoha around Naruto. He doesn't even question why he wasn't told in canon. He just accepts it like Minato told him the next day was going to be cloudy.

Can't think of anything else.

C.D. the XPG~