What it Takes to be Hokage

Chapter 29

Madara looked up as the tent flap moved to the side, seeing one of the younger Uchiha members poking his head inside. "Madara-sama, may I have a moment of your time?"

Uchiha Sasuke was a boy that instantly took Madara's interest from the moment he'd met him. For one, the boy looked almost exactly like Izuna. Further than that, the boy had more potential than any of the other Uchiha. Strangely, potential he had yet to realise.

This was the Uchiha about whom Naruto had spoken the most fondly of. He knew that Sasuke had been on Naruto's genin team, had been the one who Naruto had most bonded with before his fall into the past. Had their lack of a bond been what stunted Sasuke's potential in this current version of events? From what Naruto had described, their rivalry had been rather intense.

It didn't matter right now. The boy was here for a reason, and Madara was actually intrigued as to what it may be. Sasuke rarely sought him out willingly.

"What is it, boy?"

Sasuke walked further into the tent and knelt on the ground near him. He bowed his head before speaking bluntly, "I don't see why this war is necessary." He glanced up to glare at Madara, "Or why you had to kill Naruto."

"Not beating around the bush are we, hmmm Sasuke." Madara tilted his head, with a small smile on his face. Sasuke's to-the-point attitude was refreshing at times. In small doses. "Keep in mind that we knew this day would come for some time now. We were simply waiting until we could wait no longer."

Madara watched silently as Sasuke's hands clench the material of his pants.

"Why did we have to kill Naruto!?"

"Did you care for him that much?" Madara sat up straighter, seeing the same anguish in Sasuke's eyes that he had once seen in his own when thinking of anyone hurting his precious brother. That was an interesting closeness to a boy he'd only known for a few short interactions.

At his question, Sasuke seemed to deflate. Did he realise how he felt? Did he understand it?

"I suppose I can answer your question. It'll come to be known eventually I'm sure. Just, keep it to yourself." Madara waved a hand dismissively. "The boy I killed, this Naruto, well, that was a clone. A very well constructed one."

"A clone? But how. . ." Sasuke's words trailed off as he tried to comprehend the truth in those words, eyes wide with wonder and disbelief.

"Uzumaki Naruto is quite proficient at seals." Madara smiled, "You may see him again, once this war sorts itself out. I feel as though it's close to the climax. Are you ready? Can you face your other teammates in battle?"

"So you mean, this whole time?" Sasuke seemed to be stuck on the fact that Naruto had been a clone. Or maybe . . . he'd realised that the person who'd been on his team had been Uzumaki Naruto the whole time.

"More or less. Definitely this last month or so." Madara confirmed. "But as for my earlier questions, not that you seem concerned, I have a feeling that we're not going to get around to fighting Konoha. Naruto's too soft hearted to actually go through with it. At least, taking on those whom he perceives as innocent."

"You seem awfully forthcoming. I've known you since I was very young, but for some reason you've always kept information to yourself." Sasuke commented, regaining his composure, almost at ease as though Madara's information cleared things up for him.

"Well, Naruto is getting aggravated by the fighting so I guess deescalating things might be in order. You know, not light fires where it's not needed. I also need you to remain loyal to the cause Sasuke." Madara stood, giving Sasuke a hard, threatening look. "Had you decided that the clone's death was worth deserting over, well, I would just hate to see you make such a mistake given how promising of a shinobi you are."

Madara sat back down, the tension disappearing just as quickly as it appeared. "If you want to aim your irritation somewhere, aim it at Naruto himself. It was his idea. I'm still not sure why he wanted the clone to be so convincing."

Sasuke stood, moving to the door more quickly than Madara thought he might. Perhaps he'd forgotten how much of a gap in power they really had between the two of them, and regretted being so forward.

"Oh, and do remember to keep this to yourself, Sasuke-kun. I'd hate for conflicting pieces of information to confuse the troops. You understand don't you." It wasn't a question and Sasuke knew that. He was grateful for the information, confused by it even more. Mostly though, he was highly unsure of what Madara really wanted.

Madara's only reply was a slight nod as Sasuke left the tent.

.0.0.0.

Naruto sensed the approach of Uzumaki Haruto long before the man himself became visible. He seemed to be taking great care not to be noticed.

Taking the moment to probe the man's chakra core told him that his son may just have more chakra than he himself did. It was to be expected given that his mother was an Uzumaki while Naruto was only half Uzumaki. Haruto was also older than him, older than Jiraiya even. That would also add to his chakra reserves.

Naruto left it at that. He didn't want to pry too much. He could hardly tell much more anyway. Was Haruto a sensor? Did he have a wind affinity? Did he have a summon contract? All technical details that paled when compared to questions such as, what was his favourite food, his favourite colour, what did he do in his free time, did he struggle with his training as Naruto had when he was younger . . . what made Uzumaki Haruto the man that he was today?

He stood and stretched, knowing that he had precious little time left before the war was to officially begin. Haruto appeared, seeing that he was expected, holding a small scroll in his hands.

"Mito-sama asked me to bring this to you."

He was formal, polite, yet Naruto felt the hitching motions of his chakra.

The Shodai took the scroll carefully, not opening it just yet. "Are you supposed to wait for a reply?"

Haruto shook his head, "She did not say, but given that in just a few moments you'll be my enemy, I'm not sure what I should do?" It was more of a question than a statement.

"Wait then. Perhaps this contains the information I have been waiting for. If that is true, then there won't be a war." Naruto gave a strained smile. "I don't want to fight Konoha. I'm trying to find the enemy."

"And it is not Madara?" Haruto looked towards the Uchiha camp, brows furrowed together in consideration.

"No. And it is not Konoha as a village either. Someone else." Naruto watched the man carefully, trying to see how he'd take the news. "My fa- the Godaime is of particular interest to me. And some others. But for now, let me see what is in this message."

Naruto quickly unrolled the scroll, looking for a distraction from his fumble. Haruto looked as though he wanted to say more, in the shifting of his eyes, the slight lifting of his foot, but ultimately he relaxed his body and stepped backwards, waiting.

Naruto's gaze travelled over the small paragraph next to the complex seal. A memory seal. Smart. It was meant to hold vital information that could be transferred or delivered in a moment. He'd see hours or minutes or even years' worth of information, while only a few moments passed. The idea had been developed after watching Naruto's ability to speed his learning by using kage bunshin.

"It's been far too long, Naruto-kun. First, allow me to apologise for what we put you though. Please believe that it was more necessary than you know. To save time I've put together a memory seal. Time is short, as you well know. I could not step away from the chain of command and I hope, after you see the truth, you'll understand why. – Mito"

Taking a deep breath, Naruto touched a chakra glowing hand to the seal. There was no time for hesitation.

.0.0.0.

"I need to talk to you. I need your help. But you can't tell anyone what I'm about to tell you. It's about Naruto, and where I found him." Hashirama's words were sudden, rushed. There was an urgency to his tone that had Mito's immediate attention. She placed the tea cup she'd been holding down and shifted her body to focus entirely on him. He'd just gotten back home. It was late already, the children in bed. He hadn't even greeted properly so whatever was bugging him must be of the highest importance.

"I thought he was a part of the Wandering Faction?"

Her husband's expression spoke volumes. He looked away, mouth pulling down into a tight frown. "Not exactly. But I'm going to need your help in getting him home. You see Naruto isn't from here."

"Hashirama, wait. Slow down. Start from the beginning." Mito walked closer to him, placing a hand on his shoulder. He was clearly stressed, more so than usual. "Come, sit. I'll make sure the house is secure." She led him to the couch and gently pushed him to sit down while she moved from window to window, closing and sealing each to ensure that they had complete privacy. The doors were locked and seals as well.

Once each had been meticulously checked, Mito moved back to the couch, seating herself next to her husband where she took his hand in hers, silently prompting him to continue.

"We found Naruto a little outside of the Senju compound." Hashirama began, "By we, I mean Madara and I. We've known each other from since we were kids, only we didn't know who the other was. Not in terms of clan anyway."

Mito listened as Hashirama explained finding Madara, finding an equal that shared his love for those precious to them. He explained Naruto's arrival and how they decided to care for him. She almost interrupted when he told her how they learned he was from a place he could not return to, a future they'd hardly dared to hope for, but she managed to keep quiet. She listened as he told her how they'd reached a snag in their training due to Izuna and Tobirama's arrival but thanks to Naruto's sensing they were able to avert what had originally been damaging beyond repair.

He detailed how they schemed to bring Naruto to the Uzumaki so he could receive training, her heart pounding in her chest when she learned the real reason Naruto had known nothing of being an Uzumaki had been due to the clan's extinction in his true time. Further still, Hashirama told her of how they planned to bring the clans together, how the village was to be created far earlier than originally and far bigger.

"And here we sit, reaping the benefits of Naruto's foreknowledge." Hashirama smiled sadly. "I'm told Konoha would have been amazing regardless, however it's much better now. For one it has the Uzumaki." He stopped to give Mito a small peck on the cheek.

"This had been fascinating my Love, but this doesn't explain why you need my help." Mito reminded him of his original request and his expression dimmed.

"Ah. I want to send Naruto back to his present." Hashirama announced, eyes darkening.

"But, why?" Mito placed a hand on his cheek. "It would hardly be his world anymore, assuming he went back to a world that is directly affected but the changes we've made here. He might go to a different world or his old world. It's hard to say for sure."

"To protect him." Hashirama leaned into the touch, closing his eyes. "I can't keep him safe anymore. They're too cunning. Someone's been trying to take him, kill him."

Mito's hand stilled, her heart beating frantically, painfully in her chest. She couldn't really say she was surprised. They were powerful Shinobi, those five, and she'd be lying if she said there wasn't some or other assassination attempt far too often. However, for the attempts to be bothering Hashirama, they had to have been more serious than she could ever imagine.

Suddenly Hashirama looked exhausted, his chakra rippling with anguish. "He's so oblivious it's ridiculous. But I chose not to tell him, to let him believe in all the good things of this world. How could I ruin that about him? And yet, I made this decision when I thought the problem would be dealt with many months ago. Since then, there have been more than 10 attempts on his life, that I know of, that I've managed to stop."

"Have you spoken to Madara about this?" Mito immediately thought of the Uchiha abilities being nothing but useful to the cause. Yet Hashirama was already shaking his head.

"I don't want to include Madara. He's got such a suspicious nature already. For all the good intentions he has, he'd be a little extreme in protecting Naruto. The elusive nature this enemy exudes would mean that Madara would resort to, unfavourable, means. He could cause a panic, harm innocents, and alert Naruto to the problem." Hashirama blushed with the implications of his words. Trusting Madara with this problem was essentially lighting a fuse to an explosion he wasn't sure he could control.

"Alright, what do you need me to do?" Mito decided that action was perhaps the thing Hashirama needed most right now. She didn't have the full story but it was late, they'd spoken plenty, and a goal needed to be set.

"I want to send him home, to where they can't get to him." Hashirama breathed out a weary sigh. "We need to create a seal that will send him home."

.0.0.0.

It was some days later when Hashirama finally had the time to tell her about the tailed beasts and how Naruto had sealed them away. It wasn't so hard to believe when she considered the chakra she felt emanating from Naruto's core. The chakra that was too other worldly for her to truly believe it was Naruto's.

"I speculate that this person, whoever it is, is after the tailed beasts." Hashirama was bent over the plans she'd managed to draft in the last few days. "What else could they possibly want?"

"Haven't you seen them?" Mito was surprised. If so many attempts had been made then surely?

"No. It's strange. It's like there's a mastermind behind the attempts more than the individuals themselves are behind them. Some don't even remember having tried to kill the Shodai, take him away, as though having been compelled in some way." Hashirama shifted one paper over the other, seeing the other designs.

"That sounds like genjutsu." Mito frowned. The implication did not bode well for relations.

Hashirama immediately stopped what he was doing, giving Mito an exhausted stare. "Please don't even start on Uchiha. I've got Tobirama every other day trying to tell me how suspicious this or that Uchiha is behaving and . . . it hurts that my own brother can't let things go."

Mito approached her husband and hugged him tightly. "I'm not. Uchiha are not the only people who can perform genjutsu. Besides, Tobirama seems to think they're worth watching, nothing more. Although it is bordering on obsessive if he keeps it up."

Hashirama hugged her tightly as he relaxed into the embrace. "Tobirama does have some interesting points with his Curse of Hate and Curse of Love arguments. Still . . . I just hope we manage to figure this out before it's too late."

.0.0.0.

Mito rubbed at her eyes, the strain she'd been putting them through lately making them throb painfully. The seal's foundations were in place but it was still far from being finished.

"Mama?"

Little Kizuna was standing in the doorway, her long dark hair a tousled mess from sleep. It was late. She should be sleeping.

"What's the matter dear?" Mito asked, standing and moving to her daughter.

"Can I have some water?" Kizuna asked around a yawn and Mito smiled. She offered her hand to her daughter and Kizuna took it.

Once she'd tended to Kizuna and put her back to bed, Mito went back to the seal plans intending on calling it a night. It was late and some sleep might help boost her brain.

As she reached the doorway to the room, a shadowy figure looked up. Mito's heart leapt to her throat, restricting her ability to draw a proper breath. "Who. . ." was all her suddenly dry mouth could manage.

"Sealing? Interesting." The figure grinned, a large, wide grin that stretched unnaturally on what Mito could only assume was its cheeks. "These calculations are indeed grand in scale."

Mito took a step into the room, a step towards IT, whatever it was. It didn't move, didn't even seem concerned.

"Doesn't it bother you?"

Mito blinked and the thing was no longer by the desk in the soft lighting of the candle, but standing right behind her, just out of sight but so impossibly close she'd almost say it was attached to her very soul.

"I mean I know all about your precious Naruto-sama. Who he is, where he came from . . ."

Mito shivered but otherwise did not move a muscle. She was frozen in place, unable to pull herself away from this creature.

"What, I wonder, do you think the world could have been without his interference. Who would be alive, who wouldn't. He's soft hearted that Hokage of yours. He may have left an enemy alive that may one day come to destroy all that which is precious to you. Not to mention the balance of the world has been completely destroyed. This little village of yours cannot have such good fortune forever. Your precious son and daughter would have to grow up, become Shinobi themselves. Who must face the brunt of Naruto's interference?"

At the mention of her children Mito spun on her heel to face the creature, heart pounding as she breathed harsh quick breaths.

Only there was nothing behind her.

A soft laughter filled the room, lingering for a moment before disappearing completely.

Mito was about to look for it when she heard the front door open. Hashirama's presence scared it?

She couldn't know for sure, but she knew that Hashirama meant nothing but safety for her.

She dashed down the hall towards her husband tears in her eyes. "I know what's trying to kill Naruto, and it's not an Uchiha." She managed to say before quietly sobbing into Hashirama's chest.

He didn't press her for more just yet, rubbing slow circles on her back, letting her take a moment to calm down.

"It's some sort of creature." Mito managed, the sound muffled by his clothes. "A terrifying thing made of malice and hate that seems to be born from the shadows themselves." She shivered as she thought about how the thing's mere presence had felt.

"I had noticed a pattern in those that attack. They're background, hardly noticed. If they'd been slightly more important, I think its afraid Naruto will sense its influence," Hashirama concluded. "I wonder why it showed itself so fully to you?"

"I don't ever want to see it again. We need to protect Naruto. We need to finish this seal, before that thing gets what it wants." Mito completely avoided mentioning how the thing had tried to sway her motivations towards its own agenda. Was that what it was doing? Manipulating those around Konoha to try and turn its citizens against the Shodai?

"Should we not tell Naruto? His sensing ability may be able to flush this thing out?" Mito asked suddenly, the idea hitting her hard.

Hashirama sighed. "I don't think so. It's smart. It's succeeded in hiding its presence well. I've barely managed to keep the attempts from Naruto. His automatic assumption that everyone wants peace and loves Konoha as much as he does is something of a double edged sword. It keeps him oblivious, both in a good and a bad way."

They stayed in the entryway of the house for a few minutes more, silently contemplating their situation before Hashirama hmmed and moved them towards the bedroom. "Let's get some sleep. No point in dwelling on that which we do not know the answer to."

Mito moved with him, but she didn't have the heart to tell him there was no way she was going to manage sleeping any time soon. That thing had been in their house, completely able to bypass all their seals. Not to mention he hadn't registered on the seal matrix as an intruder. Was it even considered alive?

.0.0.0.

Naruto watched as Mito succeeded in the seal, testing it out on different food items, then plants, and then living creatures. He was a little touched they tested the seal first before just slamming him with it.

He watched as they planned how they were going to apply it on him, how they crafted and rejected plan after plan. It was in watching these plans that he learned how completely spontaneous the end result had been.

Still, the memories did not stop. So much more was revealed . . .

Mito felt the pulse in the seal matrix, wondering what could have caused it. It could only mean trouble, that was a definite. Whether it was a hiccup on the matrix or an intruder, something had happened for such a large reaction to have rippled through the village.

"Kizuna! We need to go visit Uncle Tobirama." Mito called through the house, hearing Kizuna's hurried footsteps in response to her call.

Nawaki was already in school so he would be safe with the Academy instructors. They'd been carefully chosen for their ability to teach as well as protect. The two hurried down the streets, most of the Konoha citizens unaware there was even a problem.

When she made it to the Hokage tower, she was surprised to see Madara walking into the building as well. Had he also felt the wave? Probably. The man had worked on developing some sort of a sensing ability. He saw her coming and stopped, waiting for her to catch up.

"I take it I wasn't the only one who felt that?" He raised a brow and Mito shook her head.

They walked into the building together, moving towards the Hokage office. In times such as these Tobirama wouldn't be far from the office. He was one of the few Shinobi whom the general forces would listen to regardless of his position. Naruto, Madara, Hashirama, Tobirama, and Izuna. Everyone knew that those five ran the village and an order from one was as good as an order from the Hokage. At least until Naruto decided to change that, which he wouldn't.

Upon entering the room she felt a painful jolt in her chest at the sight that greeted her.

Tobirama immediately turned, saw Kizuna and dashed towards the girl with a barely visibly strained smile and swept her from the room. Mito could only hope she hadn't seen the bruised, and bloody orange clad form of the Shodai, lying limp on the hastily cleared Hokage desk.

Hashirama looked towards her, eyes dead, with just as much damage to his person. She moved towards him without hesitation.

"I couldn't stop it." Hashirama said slowly, gaze moving to Madara. "I wasn't able to stop them." He looked more broken than the time he'd found out the genin he'd assigned to a supposedly safe mission had been killed due to a lying client.

As Mito dressed Hashirama's wounds, Madara looked over Naruto's limp form.

"Who is 'them'?" Madara asked, pulling Naruto's shirt to the side, seeing a large circular burn on Naruto's torso. The burn immediately made Mito think of the seal that'd been working on.

She caught Hashirama's gaze before looking towards the burn, seeing the barely noticeable nod.

She understood that there hadn't been a 'them'. Just Hashirama and her seal. They could only hope the seal worked. They'd be hard pressed to really find out, unless Mito lived long enough to see the results of the jutsu. Uzumaki had long lives, it was entirely possible.

She continued to focus on Hashirama's wounds while the man gave a fictional account of an ambush in which Naruto had died protecting Hashirama from a jutsu aimed to kill the Senju.

Watching Madara, sensing his emotional responses, Mito could only conclude that Hashirama's earlier assessment on Madara responding to threats with excessive measures was more accurate than her husband could imagine.

Madara stayed long enough to bark out a short "Where!" before marching out of the office.

"Telling him the truth meant he would have stopped us from sending Naruto away." Hashirama said quietly. "I had to do it. I had stopped an attempt this morning. This one came so close. . . I went to Naruto immediately after, used the pretence of a village patrol and I just sent a prayer to the Gods before activating the jutsu." His eyes were glassy, tears barely kept at bay. "I just pray that I didn't send him to his death prematurely."

Mito was silent as she pulled her husband into a tight hug.

.0.0.0.

"Madara's grown suspicious." Hashirama informed her quietly. They had precious few minutes in the hallways of the Hokage Tower. Hashirama having taken over the Hokage position, was busier than ever. "His intuition is on a whole other level. I always forget just how good he is."

"Why? He's able to go toe to toe with you." Mito reminded with a teasing frown. "You could talk to him? Tell him the truth now?"

"Perhaps." Hashirama looked away, thoughtful. "It's too late for him to object the plan. I'll invite him to dinner."

Two days later saw the unusually stoic Uchiha knocking on their door.

An hour and half conversation later saw Madara throwing a chair across the room in pure, unfiltered rage.

"YOU HAD NO RIGHT TO MAKE THAT DECISION ON YOUR OWN!" Was the last thing he roared before storming from the house, slamming the door with a rattling bang.

Two days later, Madara left Konoha.

.0.0.0.

It was a whole year later when they learned of Haruto's existence. The five month old blond Uzumaki baby was hailed as the inheritor of the Shodai's legacy by the people of Konoha. Hashirama did his best to quell the excitement, knowing that Konoha's enemies, Naruto's enemies, would love nothing more than to kill the boy before he'd learned to talk.

Mito on the other hand, took it upon herself to invite Haruto and his mother to stay with them. After all it was the least they could do after cutting Naruto's time in this world short.

That was how Naruto got to see Haruto's first steps, hear his first word – which was Dattebayo thanks to all the stories of his father that his mother had showered the infant with – got to see Haruto innate genius show itself at such a young age, see his first day at the Academy and all his report scores.

Mito didn't have to include these things, but she did so for him, by means of an apology he was sure.

The memories were temporarily interrupted with Hashirama's death. After the news of the Senju's death, the memories were dimmer, less detailed, the sounds somewhat distorted for a while. Naruto didn't know if Hashirama's death was earlier in this time line because of his interference or if it had been the creature who'd been hunting him. Mito did not dwell on the details.

It was because of this that several years flew by with little being shown happening. The next definitive memory was Nawaki's marriage, and soon after that Tsunade's birth.

The next definitive moment was Tobirama's death on a mission gone wrong.

These definitive memories continued to be peppered with bits and pieces of Haruto's life and everyday life in Konoha. Madara didn't come back, and the entity didn't show itself again. There were changes, some clans joined, a few threatened to leave, those instances perhaps the most stressful times the village had experienced.

Then there was Mito's realisation of Kushina, of who she was and what it meant for the timeline. After that Kushina was a large feature in Mito's memories. She was a small toddler in the beginning, Mito more of a doting grandmother than a mentor.

As Kushina grew, Naruto was able to see just how talented his mother truly was. Her ability in sealing was on another level. Kushina was the daughter of the Blacksmith's daughter and Tanaka. It was strange seeing the boy all grown up and being a father. It was bittersweet.

Somewhere in Kushina's toddler days Haruto had gotten married and had a son. His name was Ashina, named after Mito's father before he'd taken the mantle of Clan Head.

Uzumaki Ashina was as blond as his father, and as boisterous as Naruto had been, so much of a handful that Mito probably went gray just because of the little gaki. Naruto enjoyed the memories of Ashina, his heart aching at the realisation that these memories were all he was going to get.

The focus shifted to Kushina as she entered her teen years. She was popular amongst the Uzumaki, loved by her classmates during her academy days, and admired by her fellow shinobi. Naruto noticed the problem immediately. Not once, in all the memories of Kushina, had there been a focus on her relationship with Minato.

She hadn't taken to the Namikaze at all.

Worst still, she had access to him all the time. Ashina was on the same genin team as Minato, trained by Jiraiya. Since Haruto had lived with Mito for most of his life, and Mito was mentoring Kushina, Minato was on the Uzumaki compound and close to Kushina fairly often. Yet Kushina was not interested in him.

.0.0.0.

"Have you considered dating?" Mito asked suddenly, making her young visitor blush deeply.

"Mito-sama!" Kushina protested, "I'm much too busy with my studies." She waved a hand in embarrassment.

Mito chuckled. "But Kushina dear, there is always time for love, family. You should know that." Without Kushina's love for Minato, there would be no Naruto. She'd long since concluded that for their time travel gamble to work, Naruto needed to exist. Perhaps as the vessel for the Shodai to return to.

"Hmmm, I suppose Ashina-kun does catch my eye. His lineage is impeccable and his ability is not without merit." Kushina mused, placing a hand to her chin in consideration while Mito tried not to choke on her tea.

"Ashina-kun is admirable yes, however I feel that perhaps someone less boisterous would make you happier. Someone who'll compliment your studious nature." Mito made her tone light and teasing. This was a delicate matter, however if push came to shove, she'd have to tell her some truths. "You don't have to look within the clan alone, Kushina-chan." Mito added, just in case. Kushina's duty to her clan was strong and she might feel that she needed to look within the compound walls for love.

Kushina could be just as boisterous as Ashina, and she knew it. This fact alone was what made the young Uzumaki laugh. "Oh Mito-sama, you jest. A studious man to match my studious ambitions. Minato-kun is the most studious boy my age I know. Head buried in the books a little too much if you ask me."

Mito merely smiled in reply. It was going to take some convincing.

.0.0.0.

"The invite for dinner was somewhat unexpected, Mito-sama." Jiraiya stood at the door of her home, waiting to be invited in. There was a large smile on his face, the usual for Jiraiya. He was friendly, well known throughout the village. An exceptional shinobi.

Yet . . . there was something in his chakra, something in his face that gave Mito the chills.

Behind him stood Ashina and Minato, looking absolutely impeccable. They were about to enter the house of the Uzumaki Clan Head after all.

"So glad you could make it," Mito smiled, moving to the side and waving a hand to invite them inside. "I took the liberty of inviting Uzumaki Kushina, my apprentice."

The three men crossed the threshold, the chill Jiraiya gave Mito not easing with time. She'd have to watch him.

After the formalities were over, and the starters of the evening served, somehow Mito had ended up alone with Jiraiya while the three youngsters were shown the sealing collection room. Somewhat dangerous, but somewhat unavoidable. Mito needed Kushina to see Minato as respectable, as loveable. It would be ideal if this happened naturally.

"Your young apprentice is quite lovely. She seems to get along well with my student Ashina-kun." Jiraiya began, Mito wondering if he was attempting small talk, or fishing.

"She is young, Jiraiya-san. Don't think I haven't heard about your trips to the bath houses." Mito's response was curt yet light, not meaning to offend yet still trying to make her point clear.

"Oh no. I would never dream of it. It would seem Minato-kun has his eye on her. She has a rather eye-catching personality, doesn't she. Bright, beautiful, and brilliant. Who wouldn't love her?" Jiraiya laughed, waving a hand in the air before taking a large gulp from his saki cup. "She's to be your heir, isn't she?"

Mito inclined her head, but otherwise did not respond.

"Minato-kun is in the running for Hokage position consideration. I know he's quiet, but not when it really counts. His abilities are beyond anything we've seen in Konoha for a long time, even when compared to Orochimaru." Jiraiya's demeanour grew sombre, contemplative, not meeting Mito's gaze. "They'd make a good pair, wouldn't you say?"

That chill was back in full force.

"After all, you and I want the same thing, don't we." Jiraiya looked up, but there was a different look in his eye, the same look that she'd seen on the face of the creature all those years ago.

"You again." Mito said stiffly.

"Yes, him again. He's not here. But I know him, I agree with him." Jiraiya smiled, a smile that stretched his lips too wide, "But no one will believe you. That's the problem with keeping assassination attempts quiet for so long. We're in too deep now. But we really only want one thing, Naruto."

"You can't have him." Mito hissed, hand moving towards a knife lying on the table.

"We shall see. After all, you have one parent, we have the other. They both know nothing. For now. And if you want to keep Minato-kun untainted, you'd do well to tell Kushina nothing. Let things happen naturally, nudge here and there if you will, so long as the end result is Uzumaki Naruto." Jiraiya's features darkened, a warning.

"And then? After he's born? You think I'll just hand him over?" Mito gripped the handle of the knife, but Jiraiya seemed unconcerned. She was surprised the creature was still alive. After all these years. Yet they knew nothing of was it really wasn't all that surprising.

"Oh he's useless to us untrained. Keep him for now. We'll come for him eventually, when he's ready to give us what we want."

Kushina interrupted whatever reply Mito would have given as she bounced into the room, "Mito-sama, you must come see. Minato-kun has made some impressive variations to Tobirama-sama's jutsu."

Mito allowed herself to be dragged away from Jiraiya, following Kushina's lead with a forced smile that she hoped the young Uzumaki did not notice.

.0.0.0.

"Kushina, I need you to listen to me," Mito said.

"Mito-sama?"

It was late, the middle of the night. She'd pulled the girl to her though a summoning seal. Mito had no idea who was on Jiraiya's side, but she had her ideas. If she was right, then it went far deeper than Hashirama had ever imagined.

"I am old. I am not going to be around forever. To be honest, I'm a little surprised I've lived this long." Mito paused to give a small smile. "Yet, there is something that you and I must do. The village has been infiltrated, corrupted, and it's up to us to cleanse it, do you understand?" Mito asked, pleaded.

Kushina nodded slowly but there were many questions in her eyes.

"You cannot tell anyone about this." Mito stressed. "Unless they will be able to aid our cause. Especially not Ashina nor Minato. You've grown close to both in recent times, but it's Minato who'll be your partner. He has expressed interest, his sensei and parents approve of his interest and it will become political given your position as Clan Heir. In the end it will be your choice, but I think I saw some of that interest returned during your latest visits with the two?"

"I don't understand? What do they have to do with this? What does my choice of a love interest have to do with this?" Kushina was beginning to look overwhelmed. Mito smiled sadly.

"Everything, my dear, absolutely everything. I can only tell you so much, for your own safety but, for now, you must know that the village is in danger and we need to fix it." Mito pulled the girl to a chair and sat her down. "We don't have time to take things slowly. I'm going to start with the Shodai and how there was a creature that was out to kill him. That creature is still in the village, and if I'm right, it's infected as high as the Hokage."

Kushina gasped, hand moving to her mouth. "You don't mean Sarutobi-sama? Jiraiya-sensei?"

"I do. I know that for a fact. Minato and Ashina are Jiraiya's students, he in turn is Hiruzen's, and therefore if you tell them anything, he'll know. Your life will be in danger. However, we can turn the tables. Through them, you can be the person on the inside. They'll let you in willingly." Mito's tone was hesitant. She hated this. She hated having to ask.

"You're saying I should date one of them in order to get closer to Jiraiya?" Kushina asked.

"No. Of course not. You already enjoy their company. Not to mention the boys are innocent."

"Just that I need to be closer to them?"

Mito nodded. "Yes, and if you happen to see anything suspicious, then you can report it to me. But for now, let's catch you up to speed."

.0.0.0.

Naruto didn't want to keep watching. He didn't want to know if Mito had had to force the relationship between his parents. He dearly hoped not.

Yet the memories did not pause, did not wait for him to catch his breath.

Kushina took Mito's words to heart and she was soon married to Minato. On some level Kushina did care deeply for Minato, their love one that was perhaps stunted, tainted, by the mission they were both inadvertently tasked with.

Mito grew less able to go out, her vitality quickly dwindling. They discussed the use of the Edo Tensei as a last resort. Something that would be used when things came to a climax. Haruto was recruited as a bodyguard and to be kept close. He was told nothing in order to keep the creature in the dark. There was one other that was trusted, merely because they needed someone, a sacrifice, to allow for Edo Tensei to work. That part angered Naruto, but he could not change what he was witnessing. He could not stop his frustration growing as the three women planned what was essentially a death sentence . . . Even if it was for the greater good. He'd have to find some way to move past his anger at the Edo Tensei. It was done. All it would do was eat away at him if he allowed it to warp his emotions.

Menma's birth was a surprise to all, the red haired Namikaze serving to confuse the enemy yet also bring his parents closer together, closer to a more natural relationship.

When Ashina married, Minato was his best man. Haruto couldn't have been more proud of his son, delighted when it was revealed that he was going to be a grandfather. Arashi sure had been spoilt in his younger years, happy even. Naruto found it rather tragic that the boy carried so much anger at his father's death.

Sasuke was born next, his existence merely something Kushina and Mito took note of rather than monitored.

Jiraiya kept his promise, keeping his distance. It made understanding who he worked with that much more difficult. As much as Kushina tried getting close to the man, he was careful. Too careful.

In between Ashina's wedding and Arashi's birth, Mito had encouraged Kushina to stay home more often, see Menma more. The young prodigy demanded a great deal of attention, Mito terrified that Jiraiya would snatch him away with the pretence of training him. Kushina was quick to stop all attempts.

Memna hadn't been exaggerating when he said that those days had been the happiest in the Namikaze household. It was almost as if Kushina had allowed herself to forget about the problems Mito had entrusted her with.

Then there was Naruto's own birth.

The moment his tiny lungs had taken their first breath of air the village had lit up, brighter than a summer day, more luminous than the moon. Merely an announcement at a Hokage's return. Naruto knew that, but the villagers had forgotten and therefore, for some time, the tiny child was treated with much awe and curiosity.

That died instantly the moment it became apparent that Namikaze Naruto was nothing like his prodigy brother, nothing like a normal child even.

Kushina stayed with Mito for days, weeping, and at a loss for what to do next. She didn't know who Naruto was, didn't know the truth of the Shodai. She didn't even know that Naruto was who the creature wanted.

Mito had only told her that the Sealing Wonders would be targeted.

Kushina returned to her family, having been comforted by her sensei, with a bright smile and a renewed determination.

It was here the memories ended. Mito had passed away, entrusting Kushina with their plan to cleanse Konoha of the creature tainting it's leaders. But it was enough. Naruto knew who he was fighting. He knew who the enemy was.

.0.0.0.

Naruto opened his eyes to see Haruto watching him curiously. He clipped the scroll into his pouch, making sure it was secure. The last thing he needed was someone else getting hold of it.

"I'm sure you must have questions."

"So you know then? I wasn't sure if you did." Haruto shuffled, looking away, towards the open fields around them. "I understand that you 'died' before you knew, before my mother knew. About me, I mean."

"Yes. But I know who you are. Not too many blond Uzumaki you see." Naruto offered a soft smile. "Tatsumaki-kun gives it away more though. His personality matches my younger days almost perfectly."

Haruto's gaze jumped to his. Naruto was fully aware that he should not know who Tatsumaki was given how long he wanted the world to believe he'd been there. Would the man ask?

He didn't get the chance.

"So sorry to interrupt your little reunion, Naruto-sama, it's just that you appear to be missing some members."

Naruto turned towards the Konoha forces, only to see Hiruzen. He frowned. With Mito's information, some things had become painfully clear.

"Haruto, I'm going to send you to Madara. Stay there. No matter what happens." Naruto turned to the older Uzumaki before striking out and slamming a palm to the man's diaphragm. It was harsh but it served two purposes. One, activating a shinshun that would do exactly as he'd said, and two, knock him out so he couldn't interfere. It wouldn't do for the man to die before he'd gotten a chance to properly talk to him. Besides, he was all the family Tatsumaki and Arashi had left.

Haruto's eyes were wide, as he fell to his knees, only landing in the middle of Madara's tent rather than on the grassy field. Hopefully, Madara had been watching and knew not to attack the man.

Naruto focused on the general area where Haruto appeared, moving his focus to the objects in the room, specifically his armour. A small flick of chakra and his armour liquefied into existence on his body. Perks of having the Uzumaki bloodline.

"You know Hiruzen, I kind of wondered why you were so quick to prosecute Madara." Naruto started walking towards the older man. "And now here you stand, without the Konoha army, minutes away from being declared my enemy. Surely, you're smarter than that."

Why had the old man been the only one interested in training him?

Why had Minato kept his training to a bare minimum?

Why had Mito insisted he remain in the village?

Why didn't Kushina let Naruto get placed on a team?

Why couldn't he sense anything from Hiruzen, the sanin, and his father, something he'd frustratingly only noticed now?

Control . . .

It was all about control.

A tug of war since before he was born.

Hiruzen didn't even blink, but he did snap his fingers. Jiraiya suddenly appeared, summoned to the Yondaime. With him, kunai at their throats, were his terrified great grandchildren.

.0.0.0.