A/N: I'll explain a few things now, ehem. Some people said that oh my gosh, Rimuru after all would have no problem escaping the seal and could create a copy of herself, that example too what I gave with that hand and all.

Omnipotente Vargas wrote: But why can't Rimuru "create a protesic" like she said? She can create REAL OTHER SELVES OF HERSELF with Parallel existence... so why can't she create one, leave it in the seal and go out? Aaaaah... her head is still messed up so she probably didn't realised she can do it... she probably wouldn't until Ciel remembers her.

Last part - exactly. If Rimuru can't do something (and probably a lot) I myself honestly don't remember many of Rimuru's skills from the light novel, which I read somewhere up to vol 5, as well as the anime. If Rimuru according to you should have done/could have used a particular skill she had at some point and I didn't use it, then explain it either by my incomplete knowledge or by the fact that Rimuru doesn't have Ciel at this point and her memory is lalala.

I didn't want to write much in this chapter, and I had to do it to give some plot for now. No Rimuru in this chapter unfortunately.

Oh, I would have forgotten! Regarding that Naruto/FemRimuru/Kurama in the description at the top. Sorry, that doesn't mean pairing. If I'm going to do a pairing it would be FemRimuru x Kurama. After all, I'm not pairing Rimuru with a baby.

Naruto/FemRimuru/Kurama - it means the protagonists more, the main characters in this series. If I finish it at some point.

A year has passed.

The day dawned in Konohagakure Village, sunbeams of light fell and brightened the room as morning came, from outside the window of the Hokage's office you could hear children playing with their families, enjoying their youth. Meanwhile, behind the old desk, we can see an aging man, currently having bags under his eyes.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was worn out, he hadn't slept in three days, and the fact that old age was finally showing signs of his prowess as Hokage was only getting him down. Hiruzen exhaled another strong gush of steam from his pipe while he stared at the papers on his desk.

It had been exactly a year since Kyuubi's attack on his village and the rebuilding of the apartments and apartments had not yet been fully completed, so the paperwork just kept coming and coming. Hiruzen even thought for a while about giving Danzō the Hokage sit, but after a moment when he became aware of what he was thinking, he could definitely see that lack of sleep was doing him a disservice. At the Hokage Summit attended by all the clans after the incident, Hiruzen could clearly see the anxiety and distrust that was in the air at the time.

Not to mention that the turmoil caused by the attack had sparked even more distrust in the Uchiha Clan than before. There was a strong suspicion that the Uchiha were responsible for the attack of the nine-tailed demon beast. Admittedly there was no confirmation or evidence that the Uchiha Clan was behind these offenses, Hiruzen, the Hokage's three advisors, and the clan leaders knew that in the history of Konohagure, only one clan had been able to take control of Kyuubi.

Yes, that was the Uchiha Clan, in fact only Uchiha Madara was able to fully control Kyuubi, but it didn't mean that there will be no next Uchiha able to do so. As much as Hiruzen disbelieved in the disloyalty of Fugaku and the rest of the Uchiha, he feared that something bad would happen soon, something irreparable in the years to come.

Third Hokate took the papers and started to look through with his eyes half closed, but not so later on, his eyes widened up a bit when he looked over the report from the orphanage, he was reminded of the situation from a month ago...

...

Hiruzen walked through the village streets, people waving to him in greeting their Hokage, he responded with the same. Ah, it was nice to see things returning to normal traffic in the civilian suburbs of Konoha as well. Looks like his village was getting right back on its feet, he looked at the rebuilding of some of the buildings with a satisfied eye.

Finally, he stood in front of the entrance to the orphanage. Stroking his beard on his lower back, he approached the door knocking lightly on the oak door but just enough for the person inside to easily hear. The door opened literally as soon as he detached his hand from the door, oho, looks like they suspected his visit today. The matron of the orphanage stood in the doorway, an incredibly welcoming smile on her face. As if she was greeting a god, Hiruzen does not consider himself to receive so much as one.

"Welcome Hokage-sama, our orphanage has prepared a small treat for your visit. It is an honor to receive your visit." The woman bowed respectfully.

Hiruzen sweatdropped, he wrote a letter to the orphanage that he would be visiting this month, but didn't expect that they would be ready for any of his visits on days, plus they even prepared some food.

But she held in her hands a plate that had muffins on it.

Hiruzen really liked the muffins.

"Yes hello, I came in for an agreed upon inspection."

He restrained himself from grabbing the mobiles too quickly and nodded a little to her, indicating that he acknowledged the treat.

Now the way he looked at it, the treat was fresh, it was made today. Does that mean they prepared the same meal every day because they didn't know the exact date when he would come? Hiruzen shook his head, it was impossible for that to be true.

"How well are you doing running the orphanage after the attack?" The Third Hokage asked, observing her reaction warily. Mixed emotions showed in the matron's eyes, sadness, mourning as if after losing something. Apparently she had lost a family member after the attack, many people met such a fate. Nothing he didn't expect.

"Everything is returning to normal, Hokage-sama. Parents started sending their children to daycare again after a short period of time, and the orphanage itself got back on its feet not long after that."

The elderly matron began giving the Hokage a tour of the orphanage, showing how the children played with each other, a setting like a fairy tale.

"We also started getting new reports of homeless children, so we started taking them in and treating them. Apparently, after the one-who-attacked, many children were left without families because they were killed."

The Hokage nodded, he expected many children to be orphaned after the demon attack, "That is very noble of you." Hiruzen couldn't help but smile, seeing how warm the villagers' demeanor was.

"Yes, Hokage-sama. We also received an offer from Danzō-sama that he will build a new orphanage on the edge of the village. Where many children can be taken in as well! Danzō-sama is a very warm person."

Hiruzen mechanically stopped, a cold drop of sweat running down his back. He couldn't get his voice out for some time until he swallowed his saliva hard, "...Uhm, Danzō, you say?"

Paying no attention to the Hokage's disgruntled voice, the matron woman continued, "Hai, Danzō-sama is one of the most helpful elders when it comes to taking care of children."

"I see..."

This is a very, very bad sign. Hiruzen has been suspecting Danzō of some sort of child disappearance thing for a long time, but he couldn't put much stock in it. And now he finds out that Danzō is helping orphanages? Let alone fund an orphanage! Hiruzen doesn't want to believe it and he definitely has a bad feeling about it. His old friend is definitely building up popularity and positive attention from the villagers.

But now Hiruzen reminded himself of something, since Danzō funds new next orphanages now, it could mean that...

"Was there any kind of transfer of newborns or children to the Danzō orphanage?" The Hokage asked worriedly, or rather it sounded more like a demand for an answer immediately.

The matron brought her hand to her chin, thoughtfully, "Not Hokage-sama. Danzo-sama's orphanage is still at the finishing touches, so I suppose there rather have been no transfers yet."

The matron, without even getting an explanation for the Hokage's sudden question about the new orphanage being built, was questioned immediately next thing, "Could you take me to where you take care of newborns?"

"Oh, hai."

They walked down the hallway for a while until they came to a fresh room. Hiruzen saw the newborns in their cradles sleeping peacefully in the fresh room, the window open and fresh air pouring in. A pleasant atmosphere.

But he didn't see the reason he came here in the room. His eyes had been scanning the entire room in search of the familiar newborn for a while now. During the meantime, the matron wondered why Hokage-sama had been standing still for a minute, unmoving. After a moment, however, she saw his eyebrows form a frown.

She realized, something was wrong. Had she made a mistake somewhere? Not after all, she had checked everything. Cleaned, arranged, the children are fed well, she even opened the windows before he came so he could see everything in a beautiful light.

A crude gaze fell on her, "A few months ago, my anbu gave you a newborn, Uzumaki Naruto. Where is he?"

The older woman swallowed, "I don't know who are you talking about, Hokage-sama." Trying to cover the nervousness with a warm smile.

The Hokage immediately saw straight through her lies, "Don't mess with me. Show me Uzumaki Naruto's current stay immediately. Unless you want to meet my information extraction specialists." Hiruzen didn't say it directly, but the woman should understand it like: "Unless you want to end up in Ibiki's interview."

Biting her lip, the woman came out of stiffened state, "Hai Hokage-sama, please follow me, I will lead you to de-Uzumaki's place of stay."

The Hokage didn't even give her a look and just followed. The matron opened a door to another room. Hiruzen was greeted by a completely different reality, he arrived in a whole different room than the previous one where the newborns were housed. In this one there was barely any light, curtains on the windows, and the windows themselves closed, allowing as little light as possible. Additionally, judging by the fact that the matron had unlocked the door with a key, the newborn was not allowed any fresh air. Dust on the shelves and floor, as if the place hadn't been cleaned in years. A single cradle in the middle of the room where the Fourth Hokage's child slept. It looked like they purposely separated one child from the rest, like some kind of disease.

Naruto already had quite a bit of golden hair, his cheeks had three whiskers on each of them.

'He looks like you, Minato.'

As if the rumor of Kyuubi and Naruto having a connection hadn't leaked out, young Naruto would be adored right now. Sarutobi clenched his fist.

It was hilarious that the baby slept so peacefully despite the air in the room.

Old Sarutobi could feel behind him as the woman near the door had a completely different expression than when they visited the orphanage. Instead of warm, her face was stony, not caring about the state of the room.

"...oh"

Hiruzen had to breathe in and out a few times to get his brain oxygenated enough for him to approach the cradle. A few steps forward to see the newborn's face caused him to pause, feeling as much as if he had been petrified. His chakra was barely holding on to keep from exploding.

"Could you kindly tell me why this baby has such thin cheeks, from what I remember a newborn should be more chubby."

The matron could not see the Hokage's face now, as she could only see his back, but there was an invisible pressure that was slowly pressing down on her. Despite this, she gave her answer, "Well, there is not always enough food for everyone when we feed them."

She felt a shiver run through her body when the corner of the Hokage's eye glanced at her, the Hokage looked quite pissed off.

"Oh, is that so? From what I remember I always ask this orphanage to send reports if something is needed, am I wrong?"

"W-We didn't want to bother you, Hokage-sama. After all, who cares about the state of demon brat!"

This is Minato's son...

Demon brat?

Demon incarnation?

Monster?

"I see."

Ah, this was the exact moment when Hiruzen couldn't stand it anymore. His chakra exploded, taking up the entire room instantly. The old matron woman could find herself on the floor, breathing heavily from the pressure.

"Hi-His eyes even glowed at night when I wanted to feed him! He's a monster in human skin, Hokage-sama!"

She raised her head with difficulty, meeting the Hokage's stern eyes, harsh and brutal, "You ignored the Hokage's order to take good care of Uzumaki Naruto! Glowing eyes? You think I'm a fool!? You thought I wouldn't see your lies through the mirror of pathetic and worthless excuses!?" The Hokage's eyes glared at her like burning.

"I-I was only doing what the Fourth Hokage couldn't finish! This monster killed my son! My only son! " Immediately after these words, the woman lost consciousness.

"Hound." At the signal of the Hokage's words, the anbu appeared before him with a dog mask, kneeling while waiting for orders.

"Take her to Ibiki, may she receive appropriate punishment." Anbu nodded without a word and took the woman, disappearing.

Hiruzen took out his pipe as he approached the child, he sighed in relief seeing that it was sleeping despite the fact that really loud things were happening here.

"I'm sorry, Naruto..."

...

That was a month ago, he is now reading the report from the orphanage and from what the anbu he sent there said shortly after his inspection, Naruto's newborn is doing much better. He is already being fed properly.

It would be bad if Naruto matured hating the village like it hates him, so Hiruzen has to take actions carefully. Then comes the situation with Danzo and his supposedly built orphanage. According to the anbu's report, his old friend is not conducting any harmful or inhumane activities there for now. Hiruzen, however, suspects that the disappearance of the children has something to do with the ROOT that Danzo has set up. The older Sarutobi doesn't even want to think what would happen if Naruto ended up in his hands. This also needs to be handled well.

"Croc." A single anbu appeared in front of him with a crocodile-like mask, "From now on, your mission is to monitor Uzumaki Naruto. Report on his state of being and take action if any harm is taken in his direction." Then he vanished.

Hiruzen positioned himself in a chair, he really should get some sleep. He will visit Naruto once a month, now that the trained anbu is watching over him there is nothing to worry about.

...Or is there?

Hound, also known Hatake Kakashi had a rough day for himself today like any other. Joining the anbu because he thought he would forget, he thought that time and getting busy with missions would give him forgetfulness, forgetfulness of his life, his past. However, that was not the case. Ever since he saw his sensei's child, everything had changed, everything had returned with redoubled power. Our Scarecrow was currently on an assassination mission, a perfectly aimed katana separated his target's head from its body.

He saw red, red as he pierced Rin with the chidori, lots of blood. His hopelessness. All these flashbacks started since he saw Naruto. He wanted to put he blame on the child, however he couldn't. He couldn't hate a child, especially not Minato sensei's.

He shunshined to the waiting companions. All wearing masks on their faces, in an anbu where everyone is someone else and no one at the same time. Merely following orders.

"Captain." One of them, Tenzō, most likely sensed his chakra twitch. Kakashi's eyes darkened under his mask.

"Mission completed. We're returning." He replied in an impassive voice.

"Captain, your arm." Kakashi couldn't even remember her code name, but under the mask of the third member was Yūgao, a young girl. Her tone was hidden, but Scarecrow could see the worry. Anbu shouldn't have worries, just get the mission done.

Kakashi looked up as he got a cut from his shoulder, blood pouring lightly. Probably from fighting 20 chunin; conclusion: getting out of shape, which worries him.

"No worries." Always says that.

...

Hound finished finally anbu duties and changed clothes. Now, he was Hatake Kakashi. Pulling out his favorite and cultural literature to read, the orange book itself even lay in his hands like an angel from heaven. Now that he is free, Kakashi can finally go home and-.

"Kakashi-senpai!"

'Yamato...'

"Yo, Yamato! What are you doing here?" Kakashi asked in an all-too-not-cheerful tone, seeing the wood shinobi.

Yamato deadpanned, "I'm in your squad, senpai. It is obvious that I will finish my duties when you do."

Kakashi hadn't even offered him a glance since the beginning of the conversation, his eyes melting into the reading masterpiece.

"Oh, is that so?"

"Why do you look dissapointed?!"

"Maa, no need to get so angry, I completely understand you Yamato. So...? You need something from me, because I'd like to get going."

"You should go to medic-nin to heal your wound, Kakashi-senpai."

"There is no need for this Yamato. You know perfectly well I'll be fine. Besides, if medic-nin treats my wounds for my body after every mission, it''ll end up being too lazy to regenerate itself."

Yamato sighed, "Please don't joke about such things Kakashi-senpai. I only advise you to go before infection sets in, a bandage alone is not enough."

"You sound like Yūgao now, Yamato."

"Because she asked me to tell you about it, so promise to go check it for us." Yamato replied.

Kakashi could feel the warmth, deeply inside but still building up inside him as he tried to avoid it, his subs worried about him. He preferred not to get too emotionally close to his squad as captain, but it seemed even that was beyond his strength.

"Ah, yes! Would you like to maybe come with me to the hot springs tomorrow, I heard a lot of people are going so I thought you would come with us, senpa-ah?!"

"Don't get so excited, fart. Hahaha!" A new voice entered the scene, Kakashi knew exactly who it was and he didn't like that he tripped Yamato up when wood guy just wanted to invite him somewhere.

Urigiri entered the scene, otherwise known as Croc in the code anbu name. Kakashi furrowed his brow. If there's one person he dislikes most in the anbu, it's definitely Urigiri. Unlike Gai, who is just an annoyance to our Scarecrow, Croc has qualities that an anbu should never have.

Urigiri is pushy, arrogant, and has a spoiled air surrounding him. Kakashi has always wondered how someone like that could be accepted into the anbu, but then again, they live in a world where nothing is fair.

"I see you're done too, Kakashi. Oh, and what do I see here, is that a bandage on your arm? The great Kakashi no Sharingan not so great anymore, eh?"

Kakashi narrowed and decided it was time to leave and passed Croc, "You're not even looking at me, huh? I wonder what you'll do without that book of yours."

His body felt the hostility from his right side and Kakashi not even a second after that grabbed the other anbu by the wrist. Preventing his beloved book from being taken away and protecting it.

Yamato, meanwhile, was hesitant to speak up because of the pressure in the room.

"What, you were able to protect the book that much but not your teammates? Ahahaha-"

"I'm leaving." Kakashi said simply, his one eye glaring at Urugiri, who nochalantly took his hand off.

While walking away, the sharingan holder still heard the remnants of the shouted words, "I don't know if you know, but from now on my mission is to watch the Uzumaki brat, Kakashi! Oh, looks like you already ran off..."

Scarecrow feels guilty, if the Council hadn't forbidden him to take Naruto in, then maybe he would have been more relieved.

Kakashi had a very bad feeling, he didn't know why the Hokage chose Croc as the one to watch over his sensei's son, but he certainly has a very bad feeling that something very bad will happen soon. The Hokage couldn't choose him because Kakashi is the captain of the anbu squad, so that's a rather obvious reason. However, why does Kakashi feel disappointed...? What is that strange feeling in his heart that tells him he should be there watching him, protecting, to be with Naruto...

Croc was pleased, getting a mission to monitor a demon was something he definitely enjoyed. His sister was killed in Kyuubi's attack, Croc still can't forgive how the Hokage can let something like that live? Croc knows full well that Uzumaki Naruto and Kyuubi are not the same, but that doesn't change the fact that Kyuubi is sealed inside the brat.

He smirked menacingly beneath the mask, his smile perfectly aligned with the crocodile cruel grin painted on the mask. He may be under orders and can't kill Uzumaki, but that doesn't mean he can't watch him suffer. Urigiri thinks that if Uzumaki Naruto dies then the demon fox will also disappear forever, unbeknownst to him Uzumaki's death will only free the demon. The demon will materialize again after some time, and it will do so in the middle of the village.

Croc won't even bother watching Uzumaki go without being fed, not being taught new things, he doesn't care. The sooner the kid dies of starvation the better. Now that he has him in his sights and he's the one reporting to the Hokage, he has everything in his hands and nothing will stop him.

"Ahhh."

Urigiri can't wait to see how the kid will suffer, the matron will scold him, and the other kids won't even come close to him. Croc made himself comfortable in the shade of a tree and began his observations.

A week has passed

It had been a damn week already and it didn't make sense to Croc how it was possible that Uzumaki was still alive after all this time. He saw and observed everything, little blonde child didn't get any food and drink, babies shouldn't survive without milk too, right? So how!

At first Croc was glad, because two days after his mission started, Uzumaki already had skinny cheeks, didn't move, did nothing but stare at the ceiling most of time when he was in its cradle. Sometimes Croc wondered what the child was thinking, staring perpetually at the same ceiling.

After three days his cheeks were back to plump, as if he had suddenly been given a horn of plenty; never did the child look thirsty or hungry, sleeping politely and not crying, as if he had no need. How is this possible!

Croc didn't sleep, didn't take any breaks just to check to make sure the little brat wasn't getting food but none. The room was not entered or opened for three days! Where's the oxygen exchange? Croc was monitoring him through a closed window after all. The door was closed, no one even bothered to check on Uzumaki. It was all too suspicious, but it was true.

A year has passed.

It was night, and Croc was sitting in a single tree in the dark, tired as always. Uzumaki brat had somehow survived this period of time, normally growing up as if he fed healthily. Croc found this inhuman, impossible, incomprehensible.

He could report about it to the Hokage, however, what would he say? "I've been watching Uzumaki for more than a year now, and I noticed that even though Uzumaki Naruto didn't eat or drink anything during that time, he managed to survive without both, while I did nothing to prevent it." No, he definitely couldn't say something like that.

Croc turned his head to see if the kid was asleep, but nearly fell out of the tree at the sight.

Uzumaki.

Looked.

Straight.

At.

Him.

With.

Freaking.

Glowing.

Blue.

Eyes.

You heard it well. Uzumaki stared straight at him with glowing eyes, brighter than azurite itself. It's not at that level where you just can ignore it. Eyes don't glow, that's not normal. Only the sharingan from the Uchiha Clan or Kakashi's glows, but that's... Just no.

It was scary, a two year old kid looking at him like he could see him clearly. Urigiri found himself gulping. No one should see an anbu, especially at night, and Uzumaki Naruto stared at him without blinking.

Everything else was covered in darkness After a moment, Croco stood up awakened from his shock to be sure, and Uzumaki tilted his head to the side, as if surprised for some reason.

Maybe Croc should report this after all.

Next Chapter: Uzumaki Naruto