Naruto : Tobirama's Heir

Next Morning

Uzumaki Namikaze Households...

Naruto woke up with a splitting headache and groaned in annoyance. This was not how he liked to start mornings he mused, sitting up. Then the events of the previous day came rushing back to his now focused mind.

"What the hell happened to me yesterday?" he asked himself remembering the pain that arose in his stomach and rubbed it in thoughts. His thoughts were broken off when the door to his room opened and he smiled at the two people who walked in.

" Ohayo Kaa-chan! " he chirped happily making the redheaded mother smile. She sat down by his side and kissed his head softly while he hugged her. Tobirama sat down on the chair to the side with a little smile at seeing the happy child. Then Naruto remembered the question that was now bugging him repeatedly.

"Kaa-chan? " he whispered softly getting a hum from the mother who was brushing his silky locks softly.

" What happened to me yesterday? " he asked nervously making her glance at Tobirama while biting her lip. He gave her a curt nod making her pull him closer in a tight hug. She had tried to persuade Tobirama to stall it a bit but the man had been firm in his stance, saying if she didn't do it then he would. That was one thing she wanted to tell him herself.

"Naru-chan I have to tell you something, so please listen to me alright? "she asked in a warm voice making him look at her innocently and nod. He was getting nervous at seeing the nervous expression on his mother's face while his master was too serious than usual. Whatever it was would be something important he mused.

" Kaa-chan I'm not dying am I? " he asked in a scared voice making her eyes widen at his assumption and pull his face in her neck.

" Baka, why would you think that? I won't let anything happen to my baby boy. " she whispered making him smile and kiss her neck happily. His fears now completely washed away. He was thinking he might have had some disease which was killing him but this made him settle down.

" Then what is wrong with me Kaa-chan? " he asked innocently making her heart clench at his words and cradle him gently. She kissed his head with a deep breath to let it all out.

" Nothing is wrong with you baby. " she whispered not having the heart to tell him. Her eyes turned to Tobirama pleadingly who had been silent up to now and knew she won't be able to tell him. He shook his head, silently telling her he had to know it today. It was better he found out from them rather than any outsider, who might even try and take advantage of his lack of knowledge to manipulate him.

"Naruto... " his stoic voice rang through the room, cutting the thick silence like hot knife through butter. He was met with those curious baby blue eyes as Kushina was holding him like a lifeline.

" You have the soul of the Kyuubi sealed within you. " he stated bluntly making those blue eyes widen in shock.

" W-What? " he stuttered in a small frightened voice making Tobirama sigh tiredly and just nod to tell him he had heard him right.

" Yes, your father didn't kill the beast eight years ago he merely sealed it. Bijuu are immortal constructs of chakra that merely disperse and reform even if one does kill them in a few years. So he did the only thing he could. He split the Kyuubi into three parts, four tails worth of Yin chakra got sealed within your sister, four tails worth of Yang chakra in you brother and one tail worth of concentrated demonic and natural energy in you along with it's soul. You are the container of the Kyuubi no Kitsune's essence and consciousness. " he said and watched Naruto's face turn blank as his mind started processing everything.

" So the special chakra that Mito and Menma have... " he whispered getting a nod from Tobirama making him fall silent completely.

Demon spawn...

Fox brat...

Monster...

All the whispers now made sense that he had heard around the village. Why he was treated like the plague and everyone just outright hated his existence. And they were right...

"They were right, I am a demon... " he whispered making Tobirama and Kushina widen their eyes in horror as he tried to hide within himself. Kushina was the first to break out of her stupor and cupped his cheeks to make his shimmering orbs to look in her eyes. He looked so lost and vulnerable, her heart tore away at his completely helpless state and she choked back a sob. Now was the time to make his doubts clear and give him the right direction.

"Naru-chan you know about sealing right?" she asked getting a small nod from the frightened boy.

"So when I seal a kunai in a scroll does it become a kunai?" she asked as realization dawned on him as to what she was trying to portray.

"But the soul..." he was cut off by the stoic Senju this time.

"Is sealed within you. You and the Kyuubi are completely separate entities, the seal that appears on your stomach when you mold chakra is proof enough for this. The correct term to use for you would be a jinchuriki..." he stated when he heard Naruto whisper.

"The power of human sacrifice..." he whispered the meaning of the word. He then started calculating on his earlier description about the sealing.

"Then what happened to me yesterday?" he asked in a small voice making Kushina's heart clench at his frightened voice.

"When your brother unleashed the Kyuubi's chakra sealed within him, the bijuu's consciousness within you became agitated no doubt in anger when it felt it's own chakra. It tried to weaken the seal by pushing it's potent demonic chakra to loosen the seal but I placed a tightening seal over it, so no need to worry about that anymore." he stated getting a nod from the boy. But now he had one question that he needed answered right now.

"Why me?" he asked simply but those two words made Tobirama avert his eyes and Kushina to stiffen. Both knew what he was asking with those two simple words.

"Your siblings had taken after your mother and since that chakra needs to be melded with your own to make it useful and under control, your father chose them due to their strong Uzumaki heritage. He knew you would take after him and awaken your own kekkei genkai which would one day help you to tame and suppress the Kyuubi if it is ever needed. The Sharingan is the most effective of kekkei genkais when it comes to controlling bijuus." he explained and Naruto said nothing. Now he knew why his siblings were regarded as heroes, they held the pure chakras while the curse and taint was thrust upon him. And to top it off his own father had put it over him and him alone.

"So I was just a scapegoat who had been given a job to suppress the bijuu if it ever tried to take over me?" he asked making Tobirama turn silent. It was true, no matter how cruel and blunt his words might be that was the perfect explanation for it. Kushina though was dreading as to where he was going with this and a pit of dread formed in her stomach.

"Naru-chan he did it for the good of the village..." she whispered half heartedly in a choked voice at seeing his sad smile and broken eyes. He shook his head and got off her arms and walked towards the door.

"Yes, I understand Kaa-chan he did it for the good of the village." he said making relief wash over her but her eyes widened when she saw his teary eyes look back at her with a small sad smile.

"The village was saved, everyone lives happily. Mito and Menma are regarded as heroes for holding the huge power they were given. Everything went fine at a very small cost..." he said softly in a sob.

"No it wasn't..." she tried but he cut her off before she could go any further.

"Me..." he whispered in a broken tone as the dam to his tears broke and everything became completely clear to him.

"The cost was very little, everyone got their share of happiness. But what about me?" he asked making her tear up herself while Tobirama sat silently knowing what he was saying was true in every word even if it was dripping with anguish and agony.

"Everyone hates me, I don't have any friends of my own except Hinata. And I'm sure she too would leave me to myself when she realizes what I really am. I have watched children play with Mito and Menma and treat them like royalty but when their parents see me they take them away. I saw everything, it hurt but I let it go not knowing the reasons. I tried to stay happy with what I had everyday, I tried to smile when they smiled. But it hurt, it always did. I wanted a friend too, someone who cared about me and just talked to me." he spoke in tears making her hands cover her mouth. She saw what he was bottling up all those years and how much it was hurting him.

"Then I found you old man..." he said with a little smile while Tobirama smiled sadly remembering the say he had first seen the lonely boy on that wooden swing.

"You became my friend, my teacher. To be honest after knowing everything today, you are the father I never really had. I was born without one but I got one in you." he said in a sob and Tobirama couldn't help but feel the warmth that enveloped his chest and let lose a tear himself.

"But now I see what I am, I am just a sacrifice. And to top it all off, the person who did sacrifice me was my own father..." he whispered walking out of the room while closing shut and Kushina buried her face in her hands and sobbed. She got up to follow him and bring him back when a hand clasped her shoulder. She looked back to see the stoic face of Tobirama shaking his head.

"But Ojii-san he needs me..." she was cut off by his ever firm voice.

"He needs to sort this out on his own. You and I couldn't even begin to comprehend the turmoil he is in right now, let him have some time alone to cool off." he said warmly making her tears renew.

"He hates Minato doesn't he?" she asked making him fall silent for a few moments.

"I don't think so..." he said making her look at him in disbelief.

"You saw him didn't you, his eyes held betrayal, anguish, pain but not hate. He can try but I know him he doesn't hate the heart to hate him or anyone for that matter." he said making her fall on the bed tiredly.

"You know what scares me the most Ojii-san?" she asked in a sniffle making him look at her curiously.

"Everything he said, I didn't have a word to make any of his words be any less true. To this day I hate the moment when Minato thrust everything upon his shoulders. Why only him?" she asked in a sniffle and he didn't say anything. Whatever he said would be more cruel and blunt to make it worse.

Naruto walked down the stairs when Mito saw the tear stained cheeks of her brother and instantly rushed to him.

"What's wrong Naru?" she asked worriedly making the blonde smile at his baby sister. He said nothing, just cupped her cheek and rubbed it softly, merely walking past her a moment later.

"Nothing's wrong Mito, I just want to be alone for now." he spoke in his usual soft voice, walking out the door. Mito saw his retreating back and couldn't help but worry about him. She was about to go out and follow him when she heard a voice from behind her.

"Let him go Mito, he said he needs to be alone. Let's get back to our training and not waste any more time alright?" asked Menma making her look at the door longingly one last time before nodding and following him out in the grounds.

Meanwhile Naruto walked aimlessly through the streets of the village. His mind too jumbled up with thoughts from the new things that were unraveled to him to even notice the cold glares and whispers going about around him. Before he knew it he was on top of the Hokage Monument. He went up to his usual spot and sat down on the Fourth's stone face while gazing at the village with a sad look, not at all like the usual shining eyes he always held.

"Why did you condemn me to all this Tou-san? Was I nothing but a scapegoat to you too?" he asked to nobody while keeping his gaze on the vast expanse of the village. He closed his eyes with a tired sigh when he felt a small presence behind him making him stiffen before relaxing and let a small smile grace his lips.

"You know Hina-chan you are really something to try and sneak up on me. You do know I have sensory abilities right?" he asked and smiled wider in amusement when he heard a soft 'Eep' from behind him. The soft sounds of footsteps came from behind him until she was by his side. She sat down beside him and he couldn't help but smile as she was poking her fingers nervously while staring intensely at her lap.

"So why were you following me Hina-chan?" he asked curiously making her cheeks turn pink as she realized she was sitting so close to him with no other person near them. And she just had to get caught she thought sadly wondering if he was angry at her.

"I s-saw you walking through the shopping district, and you looked very troubled and s-sad. So I followed you..." she whispered softly. He smiled at the concerned girl who was the only real friend he had. But for how long? She had told him the truth, except for the part that she had given her bodyguard Ko a slip. Again.

"So you were worried about me?" he asked making her cheeks turn a rosy pink and nod shyly.

"H-Hai you're my friend..." she said meekly. He looked straight ahead and closed his eyes when he felt the soft cool breeze pass his face. His silky golden locks rustled with it making Hinata look at him adoringly. He looked so cute in her opinion with his calm expression she thought with a soft smile. She instantly averted her gaze with a blush when he looked back at her so as to not make him creeped out by her staring.

"Friend huh?" he said calmly, confusing her with his words. He saw her confused eyes stare at him curiously and smiled.

"Would you still be my friend if I told you something that would make you hate me Hinata?" he asked seriously making her surprised when he used her full name. His voice held a new found seriousness that made her understand it was quite important to her.

"Yes, I'll always be your friend Naruto-kun..." she said shyly making him smile sadly.

"Even if I told you that I had the soul of the Kyuubi sealed in me Hinata?" he asked in a sad voice making her lavender orbs widen in shock. He averted his gaze while clenching his eyes shut. He just couldn't see her look at him with those hateful eyes...

"D-Does it hurt?" he heard her mumble softly making him look at her in shock. He saw her looking at him worriedly instead of a hate filled gaze as he had expected.

"W-What?" he asked stuttering himself from her weird question.

"D-Does it hurt? You know the fox was quite big, s-so it must..." she trailed off while looking at him in pure concern. He looked at her in disbelief.

"Don't you understand Hinata? I have the Kyuubi sealed in me. That's why everyone hates me..." he said making two fox like ears over his head to emphasize his point and stared at her incredulously when she giggled softly in her hand.

"I can never hate you..." she said in her soft voice but had lost her stutter in a rare occurrence. "…you are not the Kyuubi. The Kyuubi was evil and dangerous but you are kind, you always help someone if anyone needs it. You are not the big evil fox that everyone fears. You will always be Naruto-kun, my Naruto-kun..." she said in her shy voice. He looked at her honest and soft voice while she looked at her lap wondering how she had said so much, to him no less. She 'Eeped' softly when a pair of arms slid around her and wrapped her up in a hug.

"Hina-chan you don't know how much it means to me what you said just now. Arigato..." he whispered while burying his face in her neck. Hinata turned crimson when she felt herself pressed against him tightly while his soft breath tickled her neck. She hesitantly wrapped her arms around his chest and pressed her cheek to his chest. She could hear his heartbeat. She smiled when she felt his warmth envelop her and snuggled happily in his arms. She felt so happy and safe. Naruto held his only friend like a lifeline and couldn't help but admire how soft and small she felt in his arms. She smelt so nice too, just like a vanilla flower.

"If this is a dream please don't make it end..." thought the shy Hyuga heiress when much to her disappointment he broke the hug off. Naruto saw her gazing down at her lap in embarrassment when she realized her had involuntarily pulled her up on his lap in the hug. His arms were still around her and she wasn't going to complain. Naruto brushed the bang by her face behind her ear making her ticklish and try to shy away from his touch. He saw her looking at him with her pink cheeks and he couldn't help but think how adorable she looked. He leaned down and pressed his lips on her cheek for a small innocent kiss to thank her like he always did for Mito and his mother.

Hinata's heart hammered when she felt him kiss her cheek and instantly her face resembled a tomato when she saw him giving her one of his sincere warm smiles. She stared at him with wide eyes while her hand traced the spot where he had kissed her.

"Naruto-kun kissed my cheek. Naruto-kun kissed me! Oh Kami..." she squealed inwardly when she realized what had really happened and all the blood in her body rushed to her cheeks. As the final words came to her mind she did the only thing she could...

She fainted...

Naruto felt worried when he felt her head on his shoulder and realized she had fallen unconscious. He chuckled happily as he tucked her head under his chin and kept her in a warm hug until she was awake.

"You're too shy and cute for your own good sometimes Hina-chan..." he whispered with a smile. He felt so content and happy right now. All his negative thoughts and the feeling of being isolated in his own village now lay forgotten. He could still be accepted by people if they got to know him and find a few people at least. As he had found his first and best friend in the form of the peacefully snoring girl in his arms. He brushed her short indigo hair for ten minutes in silence when he felt her move. He looked down to see her eyes stare into his and blink innocently.

Her cheeks turned red when she realized what had happened and looked down at her lap in embarrassment. She had fainted, it was so embarrassing. Her musings were cut short when a hand cupped her cheek and made her look directly into the worried baby blue eyes of her crush. She felt him grab her wrist and raise her sleeve to show her bruised and blue skin.

"What happened Hina-chan?" he asked softly making her look down in shame. Her eyes teared up when she remembered why she had left her house in the first place. Naruto pulled her in a warm hug when he heard her sniffle and rubbed her back while she cried her heart out in his neck. Her arms clutched his chest tightly like a lifeline. His heart tore away when he saw the state his friend was in.

"Shh Hina-chan, it's alright..." he cooed softly to calm her down. She cried for five minutes before her sobs turned to sniffles and she just laid her face on his shoulder. He brushed her soft hair while placing a kiss on her head to calm her down. Her heart warmed at how he always cared for her no matter what just like she did for him.

"What happened?" he asked warmly after a few moments of comfortable silence.

"Tou-sama had Neji Nii-san spar with me today to show my progress to the clan elders. I lost pretty badly and he slapped me before telling me I was a disgrace to the Hyuga name..." she said in between soft sniffles making a growl die down in his throat. He cradled the cute girl in his arms gently while his cheek rested over head. All his own problems now lay forgotten and the only thing on his mind was how a kind girl like her was suffering so much. She snuggled in his embrace, feeling as if he was absorbing all her pain in his own chest and listened to his heartbeat with a soft smile.

"Hina-chan?" he asked running his fingers through her hair.

"Hai!" she squeaked out shyly and he couldn't help the smile that graced his lips.

"I cannot believe you lost so badly to your brother." he stated in a firm and confident voice making her lavender orbs stare at him in surprise. She blushed a little at the confidence he held in her strength but looked down in shame when she realized it was all for naught.

"N-Neji is a genius of our clan..." she tried to make him understand but he cut her off in between.

"Don't lie to me Hinata, I know how strong you are. I have seen your spars in our Academy. You are stronger than any other girl our age." he said in a warm and confident voice. Her eyes widened in surprise at his words. She looked into those fiery blue orbs that held the utmost faith in her. She tried to avert her eyes but he caught her chin and made her look at his eyes.

"Fight me Hina-chan..." he said softly, shocking her to the core.

"W-What?!" she stuttered out in shock but it did nothing to deter him.

"Fight me." he said firmly yet again making her gulp nervously. She couldn't fight him, anyone but him. He was the strongest in the Academy but that wasn't the reason she didn't want to fight him.

"Please not you!" she squeaked out in embarrassment making him smile. He cupped her cheek and rubbed it for reassurance like he always did for Mito making her eyes stare at him innocently.

"You will fight me Hina-chan, now come on let's go!" he said making her confused with his words. A moment later she squealed in surprise when he stood up, his arms under her knees and neck, carrying her bridal style. She blushed and wrapped her arms around his neck to keep from falling and tried to look anywhere but his grinning face. Her blush turned crimson when she felt his nose nuzzle against her cheek.

"Aww you're too cute Hime-chan..." he cooed in a teasing manner. She puffed her cheeks cutely, he always called her 'Hime-chan' whenever he teased her and glared a little when he outright laughed at her intimidating...well as intimidating as it could be with hr ever present blush. She snuggled in his chest happily while he walked into the clearing behind the monument and put her down, much to her disappointment and stepped back. She looked at him pleadingly when he flexed his muscles and dropped into his stance.

"C'mon Hina-chan take your stance. I have wanted to fight the strongest taijutsu style in our village for a long time!" he chirped happily making her nod meekly and drop into the revered Gentle Fist stance. Her eyes shot open in surprise when he was off in a burst of speed with a roundhouse kick heading for her head. She brought her arm up on instincts alone and blocked it, elegantly parrying it away. Her eyes followed his flowing hair and the small smile showing how much he was enjoying it. She had watched that look several times. He always seemed to be so confident, even on the edge of losing he would just smile like that and do something completely unpredictable.

She loved that look no matter how many times she had seen it. She just wished she could have half the determination he had. She pushed her arm forward towards his stomach. Naruto saw her hand coming towards his waist and slapped it with the back of his hands towards his side efficiently. His eyes met hers for a moment before he launched a punch at her face. His own eyes widened when he saw her crouch down instantly and swipe her leg horizontally to take his legs out. He back-flipped to avoid her attack and was surprised when his sharp eyes caught her coming for another palm strike when he landed and flipped yet again. Hinata was shocked but didn't let up her charge and charged forward, involuntarily activating her Byakugan in the spur of a moment. She was stunned beyond belief as she forced palm after palm and he flipped again and again eight times before landing on his feet with that same confident smirk plastered on his face.

"Such agility and speed! Not even Neji-nii is so quick at dodging each of my attacks, he has to resort to blocking to!" she thought and looked at he crush in admiration. Naruto smiled as he saw her sweat glistened face and how she dropped into her Gentle Fist stance again. Her attacks were quite relentless and to the mark. Any lesser opponent would have been down since he remembered Tobirama telling him a single brutal palm strike was all it needed before you were down.

"And her father calls her a failure. If I didn't know any better that brother of hers just won on luck alone!" he thought in admiration for her himself as he watched her waiting for his charge. He had noted her eyes changing into her kekkei genkai and couldn't help but see the difference as those eyes seemed to be looking right through him instead of at him.

"I feel so...so...naked..." he sweat dropped and shook away those thoughts. He charged ahead to end it with this one. He cocked his fist back and launched it in front of her with a feint. Her Byakugan though rendered his deception useless and she blocked his hand with a palm and cocked back her other hand to finish it with a strike to his chest. Naruto readied his hand for a block but knew he was done for as she had his fist in her grip and would end it now. He had underestimated her eyes and now he would pay for it. He launched his free hand towards her face in a punch and saw her eyes widen. Hinata watched his fist come and stop mere inches before her nose and sighed in relief. She smiled as their spar came to an end.

"You win Naruto-kun..." she said softly, her eyes reverting back to their normal as the veins around them disappeared. She watched his face turn blank and look at her strangely.

"Do I look weak to you Hinata?" he asked neutrally making her eyes widen in shock and shake her head immediately.

"W-What?! Not at all Naruto-kun!" she stammered out instantly though his eyes narrowed in on her. her eyes teared up at his mild glare.

"Then why did you pull your attack back at the last moment?" he asked making her look down. She had done that. She mumbled something softly which he didn't hear and repeated it again a bit louder.

"I didn't...couldn't hurt you Naruto-kun." she whispered softly making his eyes soften at his friend. Now he knew what the problem was.

"You do know that pulling back an attack at your opponent in a spar is a disrespect to his strength?" he asked her making her look at him in shock.

"What you just did is the worst form of disrespect you can give me Hina-chan. Losing would have been great but what you just did is far worse than that." he said firmly making her eyes turn misty from tears.

"I-I didn't mean t-to... Please d-don't hate m-me." she stammered as tears streamed down her eyes in fright. She was instantly wrapped up in a warm hug and she cried in his chest softly. She couldn't lose him, he was her only friend too. She held her tightly and put his chin on her head.

"Shh I can never hate you Hime-chan, you're my best friend." he whispered making her sobs turn soft and look at him with her puffy eyes and red cheeks that were a bit swollen and made her look all the more adorable in his eyes.

"But never pull back anything in a spar. We spar so that when we fight for real we would know what we would be up against. What if Neji died because he thought that his opponent would pull back a little too?" he asked softly, wiping her cheeks. She gasped as she realized the truth in his words. She hadn't ever thought of it like that. She looked at him innocently and sniffed when she saw his warm smile.

"So the next time you spar with Neji, fight him like you did with me until the very end. You're strong hime, really strong. I see it and your father will see it too when he sees you go all out in your next spar." he said softly making her look at him with a soft smile and a little blush.

"Y-You think I'm strong?" she asked shyly making him smile and tuck her lock of free hair behind her ear and like always she tried to shy away from his soft touch in embarrassment but didn't pull back.

"Of course you're strong. With those back to back strikes I was back flipping for my life there you know!" he said playfully making her giggle and hit his chest softly. This was her friend, serious and calm one moment and happy, lazy and playful the next.

"Arigato!" she said shyly and he nodded when she felt him turn around and crouch down making her quite confused.

"Hop on hime, you won and now you get a free ride home!" he said playfully making her giggle and wrap her arms around his neck from the back. He put his arms around her knees and picked her up piggyback style. She put her chin on his shoulder as he started jumping down the trees and through various rooftops quickly. She glanced at his eyes that were looking ahead and how his hair flowed in the wind. She nuzzled her cheek against his happily making him do the same as he hopped towards the Hyuga clan compounds.

Hyuga clan compounds...

Naruto jumped down and crouched down as she stepped down when they reached the gates.

"Alright Hina-chan I'll see you at the Academy tomorrow alright?" he asked getting a meek nod from her. He rose and eyebrow when she fiddled with her feet and her cheeks were red in embarrassment from something.

"What's the matter Hina-chan?" he asked in a concerned voice. She looked up and quickly pecked his cheek muttering 'Arigato' before hopping back into her house leaving a stunned Naruto behind. He scratched his cheek which had turned pink and grinned foxily, tucking his hands in his pockets to walk back home while shaking his head.

She really is something else alright...

Were his last thoughts as he made his way home.

Author's notes : Next chapter will be the last to feature the days in the Academy and a little training for Naruto with Tobirama before the time for graduation. Hope you all liked the chapter, and just so you know Naruto and Hinata have been close friends in the Academy ever since they joined it as was evident in a previous few moments and chapters. Well let's see where our blonde hero's adventures take him and how he changes things in a new way for everyone around him. So until next time keep reading and reviewing Ja Ne ;)

Eto here, just reiterating chapter 1-18 are all NXSE's work, please support the original author!