Never piss off the Uzumaki. They are quick to anger and damn slow to forgive.
- An old saying from Whirlpool.
A ninja can destroy someone with a lie. A clever ninja can destroy someone with the truth.
- Thirty fifth rule of shinobi conduct.
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The funeral services were held at sunset.
The entire family as well as Tsunade and Kakashi came dressed in their black mourning clothes. They each placed a single flower down before the small casket. The Kazekage and his children came as well. He was dressed in his robes with a veil across his face. He offered Kushina few words of commiseration for her loss and the loss of her clan.
Temari went over to Naruto and hugged him fiercely, all the while telling him how very sorry she was. Each of the other eight clan heads came to the service bearing a white flower and offering words of sympathy and condolence.
That had been expected. What took everyone by surprise was the vast mob of ordinary citizens who came wanting to honor the young boy none of them had really known. When the Uzumaki had first come to Suna and been made a clan most of the people felt a general resentment towards them. They were foreigners who had been given privileges they did not deserve. When they found out they had been given charge of Gaara, and saw he was more stable than he had been they came to grudgingly accept them. They were performing the important and dangerous task of leashing the Shukaku.
When Kushina opened a school on her estate and began giving the poor an opportunity to become ninja people began to look more positively on the Uzumaki and thinking that, perhaps, their presence might be a good thing.
But it was the death of Minori that convinced most of the population that the Uzumaki were truly of Suna. The attack had happened right outside the village. The natural tendency was to see it as an attack on Suna itself, one that had been defeated, but at a cost. To the common people of Suna Uzumaki Minori had died defending their village. His sacrifice convinced nearly everyone that the Uzumaki were truly part of them.
As Kushina saw a line of a few thousand snake past, leaving flowers and speaking quick words of sorrow or offering respectful nods or even bows, she took some very slight satisfaction in it. Nothing could keep this from being a black day, but she was at least glad that the people of Suna honored her nephew's sacrifice.
When the last mourner had gone it was time. Slowly, gently, the coffin was lowered into the earth. Gaara had sand fill in the plot. Aoi wailed and had to be helped back to the house by Shinzou. Miwa began crying. Kushina picked the little girl up and carried her home.
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Once they were home Kushina went up to her bedroom. In front of her mirror she took out a kunai and sliced off her shoulder length hair. She, Aoi, and Miwa would all wear their hair short for a year as a sign of mourning.
Naruto was lying on his bed and Gaara was looking out the window of their room. It was already night. There was a sudden knock at the door before it pushed open. Naruto and Gaara both looked to see Michio standing there. He was already out of his mourning clothes and had the red and black battle suit back on.
"Hey Naruto, I want to practice the sword, come work with me."
Naruto sat up in his bed. "Since when do you want to do extra training?"
"Since we swore that oath," Michio answered quietly. "Now come on."
Wearily Naruto nodded and got up. "Give me a couple minutes to change."
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When Kushina heard the rapid series of, 'clacks' from wooden practice swords striking each other she went to her window to look outside. In the dim light she was able to make out Naruto and Michio going hard at one another. Naruto was already a First Level Master while Michio was only competent with the sword. Naruto was giving him some rough lessons on how to try and counter Camellia style relying on Sunflower. Kushina looked about wondering why her brother would want them training now of all times.
When she didn't see any sign of Shinzou or any other adult she understood the boys had decided to do this on their own. That pleased her and saddened her at the same time. It was one more sign that childhood was being lost and that they were slowly entering the world of adults. I'm going to have to work them even harder now. It was not as though they hadn't been getting a lot of training before. But after this assassination attempt they would have to expect more, the boys all had to be able to defend themselves from any possible attack.
She had already decided that the three of them would take the Genin test at the same time. They would be a team. And not just any team, she intended to make them the most lethal ninja Suna had ever seen.
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Dear Hinata-chan,
I wanted to write this to you before you heard any rumors. Me and my family were attacked while training. It was one ninja, we don't know who he was or why he attacked us. My uncle was stabbed in the chest but is o.k. But my cousin Minori died. Me, Gaara, and Michio are all o.k. I killed the ninja. I don't want to write any more about it.
I hope you're o.k. Hinata. Please stay safe.
Naruto
"Oh no," Hinata whispered. She looked at the slug who had delivered the message. "Is Naruto-kun really all right? He wasn't hurt was he?"
"He was unharmed and is well Lady Hinata," Katsuyu said.
"I hope this isn't a bother, but I wasn't expecting you today, could you please wait one hour before going back?"
"If that is your wish."
Hinata hurried out of her room and called a servant, a cadet branch member, and asked her to go out and get something for her. Hinata hurried down to the kitchen and checked the shelves. Oh good I have everything I need.
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An hour later Katsuyu reappeared in Naruto's room.
Dear Naruto-kun,
I am so terribly sorry for your loss. I only met your cousin for a moment and didn't really know him, but I am sure you were close. Please enjoy the cookies I have sent to you and please place the flower on his grave if it is not too much trouble. I remember how much it hurt when I lost kaasan, so I know you must be hurting. I wish I were there so I could comfort you, but if it helps at all please know that my heart hurts for you Naruto-kun.
Hinata
Naruto looked at the flower that had been in the mail pouch. He then looked at the cookies, they were still warm.
"You really are the best Hinata-chan," he said quietly.
He then got up to find Michio and share his cookies.
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The correspondence Hinata shared with Naruto was a carefully guarded secret known only to her and her father. So it was a couple days later that Fugaku finally learned of the misfired attempt.
"So someone tried to kill Naruto?" Fugaku said. He displayed only mild surprise. Naruto had many enemies, both because of parentage as well as what was hidden inside his belly. So long as no one knew who the assailant was there was no reason why he would be suspected.
"That's likely," Jiraiya said. "But not absolutely certain. The attack might have been against the Uzumaki clan in general or even aimed at Uzumaki Shinzou. Since the attacker blew himself up there's really no way to know." Konoha had only a couple spies in Suna, and they both sent their reports to Konha's spymaster, Jiraiya. Thanks to this certain rumors about Naruto being able to summon toads (idiot kid!) never made it to Konoha. Jiraiya had no reason to imagine that Fugaku was behind the attempt and so shared with him everything his agents knew, which was damn little. "I'd like to go pay the Uzumaki's a visit."
Fugaku looked at him instantly suspicious. "Why?"
"I'd like to build up some good will and maybe convince Kushina that she and her son would be safer in Konoha."
"Is that the real reason?" Fugaku asked. "Or are you growing fond on your sensei's bastard?"
Jiraiya did not like that last comment but refused to let it show. He merely smiled with his usual trademark good nature. "Don't you think it's worth a little effort to try and stay on Naruto's good side? Not to mention Kushina's and Tsunade's." Kakashi was a very sore point so Jiraiya didn't mention him.
Fugaku sent the Sannin a hooded look. He wondered how Jiraiya would react to a request to kill the Kyuubi. It was a tempting thought, but Fugaku rejected it immediately. Jiraiya never spoke of his feelings about Naruto. But Fugaku had noted that he never joined in when others disparaged him. Fugaku suspected the old ninja saw Naruto more as his late student's son than as a monster.
Still, Jiraiya did have a point; it would look good to have him pay a visit expressing Konoha's concern for, 'dear' Naruto's safety. He also wanted to keep Jiraiya somewhat happy, losing the allegiance of one Sannin was bad enough, losing two would badly damage his reputation.
"Fine, go to Suna and express our concern. Tell Kushina if she will… permit him to come here I'll provide him with a large home and guarantee his safety."
"The only way she would even consider that is if the, 'large home' is the Namikaze mansion."
"That is out of the question, and if she brings it up tell her that exactly." Fugaku thought for a moment. "Oh, and as long as you're going there's a little mission Sarutobi Asuma has requested. I suppose I'll kill two birds with one stone."
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The Next Day
"Rin! It's been years! You've turned into a beautiful woman!" He spread out his arms and approached her. "Give me a hug!"
She only just managed to duck aside and avoid him.
"Hey! What was that?" Jiraiya sounded very disappointed.
"Sorry Jiraiya, but I'd rather not have you feel me up." Rin said politely.
He gave the young woman a deeply hurt look. "Rin, how could you think that of me?"
"I read one of your books," she told him.
That instantly delighted him. "Oh, ho! So you're a fan!"
"Not exactly," she said. "I lost a bet with one of my girlfriends and the penalty was to read a section of it aloud. Needless to say I know what a pervert you are. Geez, you knew me when I was a child. How can you look at me that way?"
He sniffed and held his head proudly. "I am a man who appreciated the beauty of the feminine form where ever I find it without bias."
"Fine, but don't try anything with me or I will tell Tsunade about it."
The threat had its desired effect. Jiraiya paled a bit and quickly nodded. "I'm deeply disappointed Rin, it hurts me that you don't appreciate my skills as an author the way Kakashi does."
"Kakashi? What are you talking about? He's the most moral person I know! He would never read your disgusting pornography!"
Jiraiya doubled over and began laughing.
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They arrived in Suna three days later. When they came to the Uzumaki compound they were both surprised by the cold reception Kushina and the others gave them.
"Before I'll let you enter my home you'll both have to agree to a thorough search. I won't allow any weapons or explosive notes to be brought into my home."
Rin felt deeply hurt at the obvious mistrust. "Kushina, do you really think I would ever do anything to hurt you or Naruto?"
"I'm sorry Rin," Kushina told her. "But after what happened to my nephew I'm afraid I'm very low on trust right now. Especially for anyone from Konoha."
"There's no reason for you to think Konoha had anything to do with the attack," Jiraiya said.
She looked at him very closely. "I also have no reason to not suspect Konoha. They don't love my son."
"Please don't take it personally Rin," Kakashi said with a hidden smile. "After what happened you can't blame us for being cautious even with people we know are friends."
She frowned but slowly nodded. "I guess I can understand that."
Jiraiya took a step forwards and submissively held out his hands. "I will agree to a strip search, please be gentle with me Kushina."
Saishu came forward and took a hold of his arm. "I'll be the one to search you pervert."
"Nooooooooooo!" Jiraiya wailed as he was led away.
"Come with me Rin," Kushina led her in the opposite direction. "I am sorry about this and I really don't believe you're here to attack us again. But I'm not willing to take any chances."
"I understand, really, oh and by the way this is for you." She took out a small package and handed it over.
Kushina took it and opened it. (She was actually a shadow clone.) Inside were two pieces of paper. One was a document and the other a hand written letter.
A Marriage Certificate? Why would anyone send one of these to me? Then saw whose it was. She came to a halt and gasped.
"Kushina? Is there something wrong?"
Kushina quickly stuffed both papers back into the manila envelope. "No, nothing."
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Once both Jiraiya and Rin were searched they were invited into the house and asked to wait while Aoi entertained them. The other adults met in Kushina's room.
"Another secret meeting?" Naruto sounded annoyed.
"It would appear so," Gaara replied.
"You know given the secrets we both know now it makes you wonder why they bother keeping anything else secret from us."
Gaara considered that. "You have a point."
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Flashback
"So that's where the power came from Naruto. And Gaara that's where your ability with sand comes from," Kushina stated. She had just explained to both boys the truth about their seals and about what they really were. Both her sons were silent and looking up at her as they pondered what she'd told them.
"I'd started to suspect something like this," Gaara said carefully. "When the voice would talk to me it would scream about being a prisoner and about wanting to be let out. Sometimes I would get the mental picture of a huge raccoon made of sand."
"Are you all right with this Gaara-kun?" She asked.
"Do all the adults who live here know?"
"Yes we do," she said.
"In that case I am fine," Gaara answered calmly. "I finally know why so many others look at me with those cold unfeeling eyes. But so long as the people who are my family and precious friends understand it I can accept it."
"Good, I'm glad," she turned to look at her other son. "What about you Naruto?"
"Mom, let me see if I really get the situation. Inside me is the most powerful force known to all mankind and it was placed in me by my father the Fourth Hokage. A power that I'll be able to use and control. Is that right?"
She slowly nodded. "Yes, that is right."
Naruto began to tremble a bit. "That is… that is… so… AWESOME!!" He pumped a fist in the air and began to dance around a bit. "I am going to be the most awesome and powerful ninja EVER!!"
Kushina blinked. She hadn't been expecting this reaction. "So you're not upset?"
"Why would I be?" He asked her. "I just found out I'm going to have an amazing amount of power. Besides, if this were something bad you'd be upset. If you're o.k. with it then it must be all right."
So to her very great surprise both her children accepted they were jinchuuriki without any great complaint; because they both felt loved and accepted by the people around them.
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Inside Kushina's room they passed around the certificate along with the personal letter from Asuma. In the letter Asuma declared that he felt his father had wronged Kushina her son and the Yondaime. As the Sarutobi clan head Asuma acknowledged a responsibility to set things right. He had sent the certificate to her and was ready to support her in any way she desired, including bringing this evidence before the Council.
Kushina held the certificate in her hands and stared at Minato's signature. "A scrap of paper," she said. "That's all this is, just a scrap of paper with some ink on it, but it could change everything."
"What do you want to do?' Saishu asked.
She looked over at him. She knew exactly what she wanted to do.