Izumi Uchiha walked down the dusty street leading to the Hokage's Office. She, and her older brother Baisho, had been summoned by Lord Third first thing this morning. The Uchiha siblings didn't believe this to be mission related, but they weren't sure.
All around Izumi were the signs that the Civilians were just starting to prepare for the day. Shops were opening and breakfast stands had been serving food for the last hour. She would have liked to stop and get something to eat but duty always came first.
The young girl noticed several kids from her academy class and waved. They would smile back until their eyes met her brother's. Izumo sighed sadly at this because she wanted Baisho to let her have friends that had other last names besides Uchiha. Their mother died soon after having her and their father had been executed when Izumi was five, so her then twelve-year-old brother became her primary caretaker.
The slightly annoyed girl gave her brother a pouting look. At fifteen her brother was a typical Uchiha, very stock and antisocial. He has been a Jounin of the Leaf Village ever sense the age of thirteen. He was very thin with the charcoal black eyes of the clan and a short but wild hairstyle of pure white locks. He was wearing his uniform with black paints and Chunin vest. The Leaf Village forehead protector was on his left arm and armored forearm guards were on his wrists.
They arrived at the building and walked up to the guards. Her brother spoke for them both in his usual monotone voice. "Uchiha Baisho and Uchiha Izumi here to see Lord Hokage. He is expecting us."
The blonde haired Hyuga on the right looked them both over before alloying the siblings to pass. Izumi smiled politely at him even though her brother gave no real acknowledgement. They made their way to the secretary's office where they noticed a small redheaded boy, with whisker marks on his cheek, sitting by her desk. The small boy was wearing a white shirt with a spiral on the front and black shorts. The four-year-old was sitting quietly hunched over and was trying not to be noticed.
Izumi felt bad for the little guy. He was Naruto Uzumaki, son of Kushina Uzumaki, and four years ago the Fourth Hokage used him to stop the rampage of the Nine Tailed Fox, a giant fox that tried to destroy the village. Unfortunately, the Hokage couldn't kill it so he sealed the monster into Naruto, dying in the process. Many people saw the boy as the demon despite the fact he had never committed one violent act during his entire life. As a result of the constant negative attitude towards him, Naruto had developed into an incredibly quiet and shy child.
The secretary glanced up at both visitors. "Lord Hokage explained to send you both in the moment you arrived. He has important matters to discuss."
Baisho walked to the office door and knocked. He then opened the door after hearing "enter" and walked inside with Izumi fallowing him.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the third fire shadow of Hidden Leaf, sat behind his desk deep in thought. He was about to do something that could very well blow up in his face. After a new technique was developed by the medical staff at the hospital, several orphaned children had been tested by Chakra to see if they had any family within the village. So far not many had been shown to have any close relatives, but Naruto had. How the old man wished he could restore that bastard Uchiha to life just so he could execute him again, just more slowly, for what he did to Kushina.
The wise old man watched as the two young Uchiha he had been waiting for walked into his office. One, at least on paper, was a promising Jounin and his sister was top Kunoichi of her academy class. The main problem with the Uchiha was there loyalty, except for two, was in questioned at the moment. The attack of the Nine Tails four years ago had made many people who knew the full truth about the Uchiha's visual powers, wonder if the clan had been behind it. The attack achieved the death of Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, who the Uchiha hated because, they believed, he stole the Hokage set from Fugaku Uchiha, there current clan leader.
The Elders and Danzo were not convinced that Hiruzen was making the right choice, despite the benefits to Naruto. Danzo had even claimed this could very well be The Third's greatest failure, but the old man was determined to see this threw for Naruto's sake. Minato had loved Kushina with all his heart despite politics forcing him to take another as his wife, and had made Hiruzen swear to do all in his power to see the boy had a happy life. After the events of that dark day four years ago, many had speculated that the Fourth was Naruto's father. However, a simple blood seal provided by Juriya had disproved that theory.
The Hokage sighed to himself as the two Uchiha sat down in front of his desk, mentally preparing himself for the unpleasant talk he would soon be having. Izumi combed her long brown hair behind her shoulders and gave him a cute smile. It broke the old man's heart that this little girl's family could very well lead her straight to her own grave. If what Itachi Uchiha and Shisui Uchiha reported was true, then the Uchiha had begun to seriously plot to overthrow the Leaf Village and seize control by force. There was still time to stop it and Hiruzen hoped that this act today could help lead to peace and prevent war.
"Thank you both for coming." Sarutobi said as he pulled two files from his desk drawer. He passed each visitor one and sat back. "Before you are case files regarding a Jounin that died four years ago. She was a powerful Kunoichi and Fuinjutsu Mistress that died during childbirth the day Kyuubi attacked. When Kushina Uzumaki turned up pregnant an investigation was launched to uncover the name of the father. She admitted that it was possible that she had drunk to much one night and blacked out. We never uncovered the man, and no one ever stepped forward."
Izumi sat confused by the conversation as she wasn't entirely sure were the Hokage was headed. Baisho, however, knew exactly what Hiruzen was going to say and began to get angry, not that his stone face showed any signs of anger though. There were things he never told his sister regarding why there father had been executed, and this old fool was about to explain it better than he had ever done.
"After the hospital invented a new technique to find family relations threw Chakra, I ordered the technique to be used on Naruto." The old man lit his pipe and took a pull. "As you well both see this closed the case on the father of Naruto Uzumaki."
Taking the unspoken order both siblings opened their copies in front of them. They read the investigation report from over four years ago and the resent conclusion to the case. Baisho knew it was coming but still felt a spark of rage when he read his own father's name in the indicating margin.
"No way! … Naruto Uzumaki is our little brother!... This is… are you sure sir?" Izumi stated shocked.
Hiruzen Sarutobi studied the girl closely. She was staring at the paper in complete shock, but also wonder and excitement. He was expecting many reactions to this revelation, but not happiness. It did make him feel better about his decision seeing the girl was excited about getting a little brother, but anyone who knew their father's back story and the reason for his execution would be able to connect the dots. He looked to Baisho for answers and received them in his angry eyes, his sister didn't know the reason for their father's execution.
"This is big, this is huge, I mean Naruto is our half-brother! Maybe Dad and Kushina met up one night and one thing lead to another. Dad probably didn't want to admit to having an affair with someone so much younger than him…."
"Izumi!" Hiruzen interrupted. "In the back of the report you will find an official medical valuation that Lady Uzumaki was never shown. We decided to keep it from her as it would only have upset Lady Kushina, and she had enough emotional problems with being a single mother." 'That and she was also a Jinchuriki' Sarutobi thought to himself.
Curiously, the young girl flipped to the back of the report while Baisho closed his and set it down on the desk, he didn't need to read what he already knew. Sarutobi watched sadly as the girl's curiosity turned to shock than horror as the truth was made clear to her.
"There were signs that someone used a memory altering Genjutsu on Lady Kushina. Dad erased her mind afterwards. Why?" Izumi asked the Hokage even though she knew the answer. She just wanted someone to tell her she guessed wrong.
"Do you know why your father was executed Izumi?" Sarutobi asked. "He was found guilty of sexual assault on a Chunin. Kurenai Yuhi came to me and explained how she had been walking home after drinks with friends, when your father Ikari Uchiha placed her under a Paralysis Genjutsu. He then took her back to her place where he proceeded the assault. Afterwards, he tried to erase her mind but he was never able to advance his Sharingan to its most powerful state. The best he ever achieved was one tomoe in each eye. Kurenai is a highly skilled in Genjutsu user and was able to fool your father into believing his jutsu worked."
"So, the village sentenced him to death?" Izumi asked still in shock.
"No, we gave him a choice. He could live his life in prison after his eyes were removed, or he could die with his eyes. He chose to keep his eyes."
Sarutobi watched the girl closely, trying to gage her thoughts. She was saddened by the truth apparently but was she sadder for her father or his victims. She hid her emotions behind a mask of stone, regaining her composure. "This is horrible, but it is not the main concern. What do we do about Naruto, Lord Hokage?"
Hiruzen took another long pull on his pipe taking note of the nine-year old's Uchiha game face. "I leave that decision to you and your brother. You can do nothing, simply walk away, and Naruto never needs to know anything. You can also except him and take your little brother home to live with you as a family. However, if you do this there will be stipulations."
Izumi turned to stare impassively at her brother and see how he would answer, but Baisho wasn't fooled by the blank emotionless face at all. His sister wanted to take Naruto home today and would throw a fit if they left without him. The older boy stared at the Hokage cursing him silently. On one hand the small child was the village's weapon, a Jinchuriki, and on the other hand he was hated by most of the village. If the Uchiha took guardianship over the weapon than it could put them in a negative light. The clan could also try to forcibly make Baisho and Izumi give up custody after they had already excepted it, which would place the siblings in a very negative light with the Hokage and anyone else who would be sympathetic to Naruto. The older boy would have liked to discuss this with the clan first, but he could tell Hiruzen wanted an answer now.
To buy time to think he asked. "What is the stipulation sir?"
"Naruto is heir to the Uzumaki Clan and as such shall remain Uzumaki. The Uchiha cannot attempt to gain insight or ownership of Uzumaki based techniques or abilities threw Naruto. I will still act as Naruto's Regent until he comes of age and will make decisions for the Uzumaki Clan's best interest."
Once again Baisho felt irritated, control over the Uzumaki fortune would have done wonders for the Uchiha and helped them to except custody of Naruto. Something the Hokage said was also mainly directed at him as the old fool didn't know Izumi was aware of the Nine Tails sealed within Naruto. With Hiruzen in control of all matters pertaining to Naruto's wellbeing, than the Uchiha Clan couldn't train him to control the fox's chakra, not without the Hokage's permission. They couldn't even tell him about it.
Realizing there was only one thing to do, especially with his sister sitting right next to him, which was probably why the Hokage invited her to attend in the first place, Baisho said. "We will adopt Naruto sir."
For the first time sense the meeting started Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled. He reached into one of his desk drawers and pulled out two sheets of paper. One would give him control over the Uzumaki Clan and the other would make Baisho Naruto's legal guardian. After the Jounin signed both sheets the Hokage pressed a button on his desk and spoke to his secretary. "Please send in Naruto."
Izumi turned towards the door when she heard it open. Standing in the threshold was the little redhead she saw earlier nervously tapping his fingers together. Sense he wasn't quietly staring at the floor Izumi could see his chocolate colored eyes. The young girl wanted to hug him but knew he would probably be scared if she did. Naruto closed the door and made his way to the Hokage's desk where he stood of to the side away from everyone.
Baisho was also studying his little brother. He could tell by the color of his eyes he was definitely an Uzumaki. If an Uchiha had any other eye color besides black, than their chances of awakening the Sharingan were almost none existent. As far as Baisho was concerned Naruto would never be a Ninja, not with his lack of spine or skill.
The Third Hokage looked at the small boy kindly. "Naruto, I would like you to meet Baisho and Izumi Uchiha. You and they share the same father Ikari Uchiha. They are your siblings and from today onward you shall live with them."
Naruto just looked at the Hokage slack jawed. The one thing he had always wanted was family and now his surrogate Grandfather just told him he had one. The Jinchuriki looked both siblings over taking note of his sister's long brown hair and nice smile. He glanced at his brother and saw a face of stone with judgmental eyes. The girl stood up and put her face directly in front of Naruto's giving him a much bigger smile. "High"
The redhead gulped, only Lord Hokage really ever talked to him. Most people ether ignored his existence or treated him angrily. "H…h…. hello." He managed to stutter out.
Izumi felt sad by his shyness, so she gave him a hug. The little boy didn't know what to do so he awkwardly hugged her back. When they broke apart, she sat back down and placed Naruto in her lap. Sarutobi watched the seen smiling, no matter what this had been the right decision. Baisho said nothing nor did he make any motion to hold his brother.
"If that is all Lord Hokage, I will take my siblings and go. I need to inform the clan about this development and I'm sure there both hungry." Baisho said in his monotone manner.
At Sarutobi's nod all three siblings left, Naruto holding Izumi's hand and waving goodbye at his Grandfather. The Hokage was reaching for his pipe when he heard from outside. "Well that was unexpected."
"Jiraiya, why are you skulking outside my window on a private conversation?" Sarutobi asked lighting up his pipe once again. He looked up to see the Legendary Toad Sage step into the room. His old student was dressed in his standard garb with his white hair was long as always. He passed Sarutobi a little orange book as he picked up one of the case files that were left on the desk. The Third quickly hid the book in a secret drawer blushing slightly.
"I came to check on my Goddaughter and to give you important information on Orochimaru." The Sage said as he studied the old picture of Kushina. "So it was that bastard Ikari that fathered Naruto. Do you think it wise giving the Uchiha control of the Nine Tails?"
The Third let out a cloud of smoke looking up at Jiraiya. "I did not give the Uchiha control of Kyuubi, I gave Naruto to his only family."
"You have really lost it if you think the Uchiha won't use this opportunity to their advantage. If memory serves me right Kaiya Uchiha, Baisho and Izumi's mother, was an amateur Fuinjutsu user. They probably still have her scrolls."
Sarutobi could only agree with Jiraiya as the man made a good point. Though in honesty, Naruto getting his hands on a bunch of Fuinjutsu scrolls wasn't real a bad thing. Also, Naruto will have to go through the Clan Restoration Act, so having an Uchiha wife wouldn't really give the Uchiha any real control over future generations of Uzumaki. If they tried playing matchmaker, it would be wasted effort. Only time would truly tell if Sarutobi has made the right choice today.
Outside on the street Baisho was saying his goodbyes to his younger siblings. "I need to go and inform the clan on what's happened." He then handed Izumi his wallet. "Take Naruto and get something to eat but try not to be too long. I'm going to request a larger apartment sense there's three of us and we may have to move today."
"Ok big brother, we'll be home soon." Izumi said smiling. She looked down at Naruto when Baisho used the Shunshin Jutsu to leave. She was greeted by the funny face Naruto was making at the sight of seeing the technique for the first time. She laughed a little, which gained his attention, and asked. "So, what do you want to eat Naru-Chan?"
The boy blushed a little at his sister's teasing and said in a quiet voice. "Can we get Ramen?"
"Ramen?" Izumi asked disappointed, she wasn't a very big fan of salty noodles, however this would be the first meal she shared with her little brother, and she had asked him what he wanted. She also didn't want to disappoint the shy little cutie. "Fine, Ramen it is. Do you want to go somewhere specific?"
Naruto nodded his head happily and grabbed Izumi's hand. He then began pulling her towards the greatest place on earth, in his mind anyway, Ichiraku Ramen. Izumi smiled at seeing her brother come out of his shell a little. Her smile faded though as they made their way down the street. Everywhere she looked Izumi saw angry faces and cold eyes staring at Naruto. The boy knew of their presence as well, he stopped pulling his sister and instead walked quietly by her leg looking down at the ground. He was still guiding her in a more subdued manner. The older girl got tired of this and began to glare back but at the Civilians, but it wasn't so effective coming from a nine-year-old Uchiha that had yet to awaken there Sharingan.
Not much longer the brother and sister arrived at the ramen stand. An older man was busy helping other customers so a girl around Izumi's age walked up to them. She smiled at the redhead. "High Naruto-kun. Who's your new friend."
Izumi was happy to see someone being nice to her little brother. She also noticed the ramen girl studying her closely to determine what she was doing with Naruto. Deciding to put the girl with light brown hair at ease, the Uchiha explained. "Name's Izumi Uchiha. I just learned Naruto-kun here is my half-brother sense we share the same father. He'll be living with me and are older brother from now on."
Ayame's face broke out in a wide happy smile. This was some of the best news she had heard in a while. She loved Naruto like a little brother ever sense Lord Hokage brought him here a year ago and had wished her own father could adopt him. He had apparently tried but because of clan politics the Civilian Council denied the application. Apparently, they couldn't turn down a blood connection.
Teuchi approached hearing Izumi's statement. "Well isn't that something. So, who's the lucky guy that caught Kushina's heart?"
Izumi cringed before saying. "Uchiha Ikari."
The old Ramen chef froze at the name giving Izumi a hard look the young girl knew wasn't really directed at her. Not even thirty minutes ago the man's face would have confused her but now she knew the truth. She took a sad look at her little brother who was smiling shyly at his friend Ayame and wondered what she would say to him when he inevitably asked about their father. How did you tell someone so innocent and sweet that there father was a monster and you were living proof of his crimes?
Teuchi looked at Ayame and said. "Can you see to Mr. Takiji. He wants a large Miso Ramen with three orders of pork."
Ayame left reluctantly, Mr. Takiji was a mean fat man that had once made a rude comment about rats and vermin being aloud in restaurant when he came in and saw Naruto eating at the counter. Luckily, Naruto didn't know the man was talking about him and ignored the comment. Teuchi heard and told the man if he didn't like the way he ran his business than he could go somewhere else. The fat man sat down as he liked Ramen as much as Naruto himself and nothing more had been said, but Ayame still remembered that day and had not forgiven the bastard. She fixed his ramen with the older Pork and Noodles from the night before and added a large helping of spit when no one was looking.
She walked up to fat Civilian and said smiling. "Here you go Mr. Takiji, enjoy!"
Meanwhile, Teuchi had brought Izumi and Naruto a Shrimp and Miso Ramen. He was distracting the little Uzumaki from inquiring about his father by telling him a funny story about a nine-year-old Kushina eating herself sick the first time she visited the stand. Apparently, she challenged one of the Akimichi Clan to and eating contest. She managed to win, but when she jumped up to crow about her victory, she made herself sick and threw up. The Hokage made her spend the night at the hospital for observation and to take some horrible tasting medicine to 'fix' her stomach. Naruto was smiling and laughing quietly while Izumi was silently thanking the older man for the distraction.
Ayame returned when all the customers were taken care of to talk more with Izumi. Her father had approached her in the back and explained not to ask questions about Uchiha Ikari and that he would explain why later, after all it was only a matter of time before the whole village found out. While Izumi was talking with Ayame, Naruto ordered a Beef Ramen and a Pork Ramen. When Izumi finished talking with Ayame she turned to check on her little brother and froze, she had never seen a stack of bowls that high before.
She had figured on this being a relatively inexpensive meal sense Ramen didn't cost much. She also didn't figure a small boy could eat that much but Naruto had actually eaten more already than the two Akimichi students in her class, and he was reaching for the menu again. Baisho was going to kill her.
"Naruto, we need to get going soon. Big brother will want us home. Ha ha." Izumi said while scratching the back of her head and laughing nervously.
Naruto looked at the menu disappointedly. He sighed sadly and reached for his wallet that the Hokage gave him. Izumi reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder stopping him. "What are you doing Naruto, Baisho gave me money to buy breakfast so you don't need to pay."
"Oh, t-that's ok. I a-ate more than you, so I don't mind p-paying." Naruto explained quietly blushing.
Izumi could help but agree with him glancing at the stack of bowls. "It's fine Naruto, you probably won't get the stipend from the village anymore sense your living with us now. So, you should save your money."
Naruto placed his wallet back in his pocket and Izumi counted out the money from Baisho's. Ayame was giving her a real smile as she took the money from the Uchiha. Izumi was a little annoyed when she realized that this was probably a common occurrence and the Ramen girl had distracted her on purpose. She picked her brother up and gave him a fast sprint piggyback ride all the way home. She was glad to hear him give out a loud laugh finally.
Meanwhile, Baisho was leaving an emergency meeting that had been held at Fugaku Uchiha's house. After explaining the circumstances behind Naruto's conception, the clan leader had immediately sent for every senior Uchiha Clan member to explain the issue and discuss a possible course of action. Most were not pleased by what they heard. Even dismissing the fact his brother was the village's Jinchuriki the story would remind the civilians of a great shame committed by an Uchiha. His father's trial and execution were what lead to him and Izumi being ostracized from the clan and forced to live on the outskirts of the clan's compound.
The Uchiha Jounin seethed with anger at the memory. He had known of his father's crimes before anyone. He knew how many young women and girls he had seduced threw Genjutsu because his father would get drunk and brag. Ikari Uchiha could never get his Sharingan to fully mature, but it was still a Sharingan and had power. The Hidden Leaf Village was one of the most powerful villages in the world solely because the Uchiha called it home, even though they weren't shown the proper respect by the village. If his father took liberties of the less worthy Kunoichi who were too weak to defend themselves, and who should be grateful the Uchiha Clan was here in the first place, than it was there fault for being weak. As far as Baisho was concerned, they killed his father because he was proof that even a weaker than average Uchiha was still stronger than the Leaf's strongest ninja. Those Damned Elders and the Shinobi Council.
The white-haired boy forcibly calmed himself down thinking back to the meeting. One good thing was he and his siblings would be given a small house in the compound's main area were the head family lived. They would also be given a much larger allowance by the clan than what one would expect for a family of three, Lady Mikoto had insisted upon it. When those present argued how unfair the stipend would be too high for a family of three, Fugaku's wife had laughed.
She then explained. "Baisho isn't feeding a family of three Uchiha, he is feeding two Uchiha and one Uzumaki."
Though Baisho didn't fully get the explanation, it had made every older man and women present shut up about the stipend. This made the boy fear for his wallet that he had left with his sister.
Fugaku had then inquired about any stipulations the Hokage may have made upon Naruto's adoption. This caused some sour faces after Baisho had explained the old man would have greater control over the redhead than the Uchiha would. The fact they couldn't train Naruto to use the fox's chakra to better help the clan's interests had made several sore. They also talked about an eye transplant, but this to was also shot down as the Hokage would never agree to it. Once again, Lady Mikoto came to the rescue and said they should send a formal request to Sarutobi in having Naruto trained by Uchiha Ojo, the clan's current Fuinjutsu expert. Lord Fugaku himself had wrote it up and sent it along with a Chunin to be delivered immediately.
One brave Jounin had voiced the most troubling question. "What do we do about public relations regarding the scandal this well cause. It won't take many to connect the dots after hearing Ikari is Naruto's father."
The mood within the room had grown truly dark then as the clan was reminded of its public shame. Fugaku spoke up harshly. "We will not draw attention to what is obvious. When inquires come we will tell the truth as lying is pointless. Baisho and Izumi will refrain from making any statement to fellow Leaf Citizens and Shinobi, they are to simply say it is private. If any damage control is needed, Mikoto and I will handle it."
Baisho remembered the look on Mikoto's face at the question. The look of pure rage on her pretty face had confused him for a second, until he remembered overhearing once that she and Kushina had been close friends. It was even possible that their friendship had led to the assault sense it is possible the Uzumaki had first caught his father's eyes when she had visited Mikoto. They could have even been drinking the night it happened. Baisho didn't care one way or another, Naruto was proof his mother had been weak and nothing more.
Coming up on his apartment front door, he saw both Itachi and Shisui waiting for him. "Can I help you?" He asked studying both visitors.
Itachi looked up at the older boy and said. "My mother asked us to help you move." Shisui gave no response.
Baisho led both boys inside looking around for his younger siblings. Nether were present at the moment. He turned to his guests. "Izumi took Naruto to get something to eat. Will wait for them if nether of you mind."
Shisui lend against the wall by the door studying Baisho. He knew without a doubt that this man was a traitor to Konoha. This fool placed the blame for his father's death purely on the village and not on Ikari himself. He was probably the only Uchiha that thought that way sense many had wanted to kill the bastard themselves. Unfortunately, only half wanted to kill him because of what he did to fellow Leaf Kunoichi, the rest wanted to kill him primarily because he was caught and embarrassed the clan.
"How do you plan on teaching Naruto?" Shisui asked in hopes of gaining insight he could later give Lord Hokage. Hiruzen had been reluctant to kill of the more powerful Uchiha with suicide missions despite Danzo, the Elders, and both loyal Uchiha saying to do so. Danzo and the Elders wanted the powerful threats removed, while Itachi and Shisui hoped the clan would call the rebellion off if they lost enough fighters.
"I'm not sure if there is anything I can really teach him. Judging by his eye color he will never awaken the Sharingan. I'll probably just let Izumi teach him until he goes to the academy. He may one day be a competent Genin." The stupid fool commented offhandedly.
Shisui watched Itachi's eyes narrow at Baisho's words, no doubt thinking of his own little brother Sasuke. Fugaku often favored Itachi over Sasuke which left the younger brother attention starved. As a result, Sasuke would often chase after his older brother because there father was rather unapproachable. Shisui knew just how much Itachi loved his younger brother and to see Baisho talking bad about Naruto was hitting a nerve in the young protégé.
One of both Itachi and Shisui's worries was that the Third Hokage would want to spare Baisho for Naruto's sake. If anything, the radical Uchiha's reaction regarding his little brother suggested getting him out of the picture would help Naruto's emotional development. The Genjutsu Master wouldn't underestimate the older Uchiha though, Baisho was highly skilled in Elemental Ninjutsu and was said to have one of the more powerful Sharingan eyes present in the clan. A discrepancy in a mission report that involved the death of a fellow Leaf Ninja, one Baisho had been good friends with, made Shisui question just how powerful those eyes really were.
Glancing at Itachi, Shisui was actually worried the nine-year-old boy would attack the fifteen-year-old, when Izumi and Naruto walked in threw the front door. The little boy realized there were strangers present and hid behind his sister's leg. Izumi wasn't fazed, unlike her obviously annoyed older brother, and grabbed Naruto under his armpits, holding him up like a cat. "This little cutie is my little brother Naruto. Naruto, this is Itachi-kun and Shisui. There both Uchiha and friends of mine."
The obviously uncomfortable boy tapped his hands in front of himself protectively. "Um… h-hello."
Itachi smiled politely, trying to be nice. "Hello Naruto, we've come to help your older siblings move."
Naruto looked down shyly as his sister sat him down. She then turned to ask Baisho. "We're moving already?"
"Yes. The clan didn't have any large enough apartments close, so they are relocating us to a small house in the middle of the compound. We won't be far from the main family home actually."
Shisui stood up and produced several scrolls from a pouch on his belt. He passed them out to the everyone except Naruto and explained. "We can seal everything into these storage scrolls to make packing easier."
Izumi grabbed one and walked to her room with Naruto fallowing close behind her. The little boy stood in the threshold curiously looking around. For the most part the room was very empty, only a few plants by the window on the right side and a futon for sleeping. His sister walked to the closet on the left and began talking her clothes and neatly folding them on her futon. She looked to the small boy smiling and said. "Come her Naruto-kun, I'll show you how to use the storage scroll."
The little boy happily stood by his sister as she sealed her belongings. She placed the scroll on the ground and unrolled it. She began making hand signs slowly so Naruto could fallow, then slammed her hands on top of the funny drawings inside the scroll. Naruto watched fascinated as ink spread out from the paper like spiderweb until it covered his sister's stuff. Finally, everything disappeared in a puff of smoke.
Naruto smiled at the sight. Izumi placed the scroll in her side pocket of her black pants and then placed Naruto on her hip and walked out of her old room. The little Uzumaki snuggled sleepily into the nine-year-old's side, felling happy and safe for the first time in his almost five years. Nether sibling knew that a dark cloud would soon fall over the Uchiha in only one month's time. How Naruto would be forced to rise to the occasion to safe another child, and how it would change him forever.