AN: Well guys I am overwhelmed by the support this story has received we are at 87 Followers and 45 favorites. That is simply amazing for the first chapter. Thank you all… and I am honestly surprised that only 3 people correctly guessed the pairing for this story. So to those people, I say congratulations. For those who didn't guess the pairing, it is Shizuka from episode #235 of Shippuden. She is the current leader of Nadeshiko Village. Yes in the anime she is in a relationship with a merchant named Sagiri despite the law of her village she marries a student of Jiraiya. I will go into the details either this chapter or the next. Depending on when I decide to have Jiraiya meet up with Naruto, yes Naruto will continue his training with the Pervy Sage because he still hunted by the Akatsuki.

Onwards to the story

"Talking"

'thinking/mental communication'

"Kurama talking"

Jutsu/Bloodline

No More Lies

Chapter 2 – Hiding and Repercussions

We find Naruto in a cave camping out the night after he left the village. "They should figure out that I'm gone by tomorrow if they don't think I died during the invasion." He said looking up at the sky from within the cave.

"I wouldn't count on them just writing you off as a dead kid, that Kakashi knows about the healing ability I give you on top of your Uzumaki genetics. We should get moving. But where are we going?" Kurama asked curiously. There weren't a lot of places he could go that The Leaf wouldn't go looking right away.

"Well, I know that I shouldn't, but I'd really like to old man Tazuna, Inari, and Tsunami again… not to mention pay my respects to Haku and Zabuza. I just hope I can trust them to keep quiet for a while. I need to get supplies since I did leave in a hurry." The blonde responded, knowing that the Wave would probably be the first place they'd look for him, seeing how that is the only place he's been before and that treated him well.

"You're right, you shouldn't, but they are the only people that will likely help you once you reveal yourself to them and have the biggest chance of keeping quiet."

Naruto nods, gets up and stretches. "Alright, let's go." And jumps through the trees towards to wave.

[Back at the Leaf]

As the sun was setting news of the death of Third Hokage was spreading like wildfire and everyone was making preparations for the funeral of all those that had fallen during the invasion. However, there were a few looking for the people that were unaccounted for among the bodies. Among the search party were the remainder of Team Seven: Kakashi Hatake, Sakura Haruno, and Sasuke Uchiha, and Jiraiya, the self-proclaimed Super Pervert.

"Where is that idiot Naruto!?" Sakura asked in her unnaturally loud voice.

"Who knows… he's probably hiding in a corner like the loser he is." Sasuke said in his arrogant tone.

"That's enough Sasuke, you know Naruto wouldn't hide while people were in need." Kakashi reprimanded "and as to where he is I don't know. I suppose we should check his usual spots. So spread out, if you find anything use your radios."

Sakura and Sasuke went off in separate directions, even though anyone could tell that Sakura wanted to follow Sasuke but knew she'd get a scolding later, and she was secretly worried about her blonde teammate. However, when Kakashi was about to go off, Jiraiya stopped him. "Hold on a moment Kakashi, the ANBU that were guarding Sensei said that Naruto came to see him after his victory against that Neji kid in a really bad mood, saying something about needing to talk to him about village secrets. You don't think Naruto learned some of the secrets that he shouldn't yet…?"

"Which secrets are you talking about? The only ones he doesn't know is…his…parents. Oh god." Kakashi shudders to realize the implications, "If he found out about them after all this time, especially after him asking monthly… he'd lose it…"

The Toad Sage nodded. "Question is… what would he do once Sensei told him everything in an attempt to calm him down?"

"I have no idea… we should pick up the pace!" Kakashi said hastily.

"Agreed. I'll go search his place. Hand me a radio to contact you." Jiraiya said, catching the radio. "Channel 3 for the two of us… we don't need Emo and Banshee to learn about this."

"Right… but do you have to call my students those names…?" The Copy Ninja sighed.

"They haven't shown me that they can be anything else…" The Sannin said with a shrug then headed towards Naruto's apartment. Not realizing that Naruto was gone and had almost full days head start and was very angry.

[30 minutes later]

Jiraiya arrives at Naruto's apartment, immediately getting a sense of dread seeing his door open and lights off, he runs in and sees the place tossed. "Naruto! Are you here?!"

He then radios Kakashi "Get over here now! Naruto's not here!"

And with that Kakashi appears via the Body Flicker Technique. "This is bad…" He said looking around only to immediately notices Naruto's headband over an envelope. "Jiraiya… it's worse than we thought."

Seeing what Kakashi was looking at, he picks up the headband and open the envelope, and starts reading the leader.

To whoever finds this,

I have left this village of lies and hypocrites. How could you praise and revere the Fourth Hokage and curse, shun and beat his son? Or be the student of my father, be a teacher and not even drop any tips or at the very least teach me something more than how to walk up a damn tree! Or even my own godfather, who had a legitimate reason for being away and took care of me indirectly. While I am grateful for that, to act like I'm just another brat and immediately refuse to train me until I appeal to his perverted nature that he agreed to teach me. That said he has taught me more than anyone else for that I say thank you, and that if he were to wish to talk, he is welcome to contact me via messenger toad.

Now to the Village, Don't try to find me. You have disgraced my father, The Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze, and my mother, The Red Death, Kushina Uzumaki. You are not worthy of my loyalty.

To the people whom I cherish above all others, Iruka Sensei, I'm sorry, I want you to have your headband back, Ayame and Teuchi Ichiraku, thank you for feeding me, even when I didn't have the money to pay. You even treated me like family… hell you were the closest thing I had to family. I will miss you the most… Should Jiraiya find me and wish me to continue to train me, I will ask to send messenger toads to the 3 of you.

To Kakashi Hayate, have fun with 'the Last Uchiha' and the pink-haired banshee… I can imagine your shocked face right now… Yes, I am over Haruno. Not once has been even remotely nice to me. All she has done is beat me, yell at me, when all I was to her was kind. Yes, I may have been annoying asking her out so often, but I did so to try to cheer up when she gets rejected from the gay duckbutt.

To Hiruzen Sarutobi. You may have been a grandfather to me, but that ended when I found you LIED to me about not knowing who my parents were and ordering everyone to not tell me regardless if it was to protect me. You do not have the right to contact me. And if you think ANBU can find me, think again. You know full well that I can outrun them and anyone else you send after me.

To the Council.. you do not own me… I may be the Jinchuriki of the Nine-tailed Fox, but I am a human being, not some property, none of my kind are.

Your Newest Enemy,

Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze

Both Jiraiya and Kakashi paled. Not only did he know who his parents were but they hid that they knew. Jiraiya, however, was relieved that Naruto would still be willing to talk to him. Kakashi knew that he had at least half a days head start and could be anywhere by now with his speed, plus with his stealth skills from his pranks he could hide his scent very well from ninja hounds. Even if they did try, the only thing he left untouched in the apartment was his headband and the letter. However, he could smell that he sanitized the headband to erase his scent somehow, leaving the letter. Even traces of his orange jumpsuit could be found in a smoldering pile in the corner.

"What do we do now…? If it gets out that he has left the village he'll be hunted relentlessly." Kakashi asked sullenly, regretting that he didn't teach his sensei's son more.

"We tell the council he killed by the enemy during the invasion. We show this letter to only the 3 he mentioned and make them swear to secrecy. However, I will go look for him and see if I can't talk some sense into him. However I won't hold my breath, He's made it clear in this letter that he hates the village minus the people he spoke fondly of… people I have to thank for taking care of him while I was fulfilling my role as spymaster to the village." He says seriously and looks at Kakashi. "Does he have any allies outside of the village?"

Kakashi thought for a second. "I can only think of one place. The Land of Waves, it was our first mission outside of the village, a C Rank turned A… a tyrant by the name of Gato, from Gato Industries-"

Jiraiya cut him off "Yes, I remember hearing about that but that doesn't explain why they would be his allies."

"As I was gonna say, he gave the people hope, something they lost after their previous hero, Kaiza, was publicly executed. Inari, the bridge builder's grandson, was the most affected. It is because of Naruto that Inari was able to gather the villagers to build to push back Gato's thugs, with our help obviously, or rather Naruto's help... I merely added support... but it was Naruto was the spark of hope… he even got through to Zabuza, an employee of Gato's, who ended up getting betrayed by his employer… I…ended up killing Zabuza's apprentice that same day, which allowed Naruto to get through to the 'Demon of Mist' in a fit of angst rage… It appears Naruto made friends with Haku before the fight as well…" Kakashi said with both sadness and pride. "That young man seems to have the power to befriend just about anyone…"

"I see now, so the people of Wave would see him as a hero and ally…" said the now understanding Sannin. "Very well I send a toad there before I go in person. In the meantime, I must go talk to this Iruka, and the Ichiraku's. They need to know."

Kakashi nods and changes frequencies "Team 7, come to Naruto's house. I have something to tell you." He said in a solemn tone, making sure that it wasn't good news. "What is it Kakashi Sensei? Why do you sound so sad?" Sakura said.

Kakashi sweatdropped 'Seriously? And she was the smartest in her class?' "Just get here.. I'll tell you both when you get here."

Jiraiya nodded and Body Flickered Away with the letter and the headband a few minutes before Sasuke and Sakura showed up. Sakura gasped and put her hands over her mouth. Sasuke looked impassive as always be internally was shocked seeing the state of the place.

"…Sensei…where…?" Sakura started, only to see traces of Naruto's orange jumpsuit burned in the corner.

"Sakura, Sasuke, Naruto was killed by the enemy." The Copy Ninja said picking up the orange remnants.

Sakura broke down crying. She may not have liked the blonde knucklehead but he was her teammate and saved her life twice, even if she wouldn't admit it at the time. Sasuke on the other hand was seething. Naruto was a lot like him and knew loneliness, and saw the blonde as a worthy rival, not that he'd admit it aloud to anyone else. He was so angry that the Curse Mark Orochimaru gave him was slowly activating.

Kakashi says this "Sasuke calm down! I get that we just lost Naruto, but don't let give in to your rage and the Curse Mark."

Sasuke nodded and the Mark receded. "What do we do now…?" Said the last Uchiha asked still angry. "We let the council know so we can include Naruto into the funeral tomorrow. You let your other classmates know. I will go to the council." Kakashi ordered and received a "Yes Sensei" with his remaining students running to tell their friends.

'Naruto, please forgive me if we ever meet again.' He thought to himself as he made his way to the council's chambers knowing this wasn't going to end well.

[Meanwhile with Jiraiya]

Jiraiya walked into Ichiraku Ramen, where he found Iruka conveniently having supper. "Well, this makes my job easier…"

Iruka looked up from his bowl. "Lord Jiraiya! What are you doing here? What do you mean your job?" Said the confused Chunin.

"Welcome Lord Jiraiya, What can we get you today?" Teuchi asked, curious as well but remained professional. Ayame on the other hand looked nervous. 'Why is Jiraiya here… where is Naruto…?' she thought, fearing for the boy she thought of as a brother.

"I will have a Miso Ramen with Pork. I will inform you as to why I am here over a bowl. However, what is said stays within these walls." Jiraiya said in a very serious tone, letting them know he meant business.

A moment later Teuchi handed the Toad Sage his order. "Here you go, now can you tell us what is going on and where Naruto is?" Asked the ramen chef, having figured it must have something to do with Naruto.

"Very well. But as I said… what is said doesn't leave these walls… nor will be repeated to anyone else. Am I clear?" Once he got nods from the 3 in the room he sighed and continued. "Very well, Naruto has left the village. He found out about his heritage and didn't take it well after being lied to by the Hokage half his life. He wished for you to have this back Iruka, and that loves the 3 of you very much." He said and pulled out the letter. "This will explain it all. Please read it quickly, by now Sakura and Sasuke will be spreading the 'official word' that Kakashi and I will be reporting to the council, which is he was killed in the attack."

Now this shocked Iruka and the Ichiraku's to hear this but quickly read the letter with varying responses. Iruka was shocked that he didn't realize it, the resemblance to the Fourth and Naruto was uncanny minus the whisker marks… Ayame was crying, she vaguely remembered Kushina, but her father did, and he looked furious, He never agreed with Hiruzen not telling the boy he saw as a son about his parents, especially since his mother was his best customer and any idiot should have been able to see the resemblance to Minato… He didn't need to be told to figure who his parents were… not with the boys insatiable hungry for Ramen, his verbal tick, the blonde hair, blue eyes. All were signs of Naruto being Kushina and Minato's child.

Teuchi, being the last to read it, handed the letter back to Jiraiya who pocketed it. "Do we know how he found out?" Teuchi said trying to reign in his anger only to get a negative headshake. "Any idea where he is headed at least? I don't feel like remaining here any longer."

Ayame looked shocked to hear this, even though she agreed not wanting to be here. Only for Jiraiya to shoot down that idea. "I'm afraid I cannot tell you, it would be suspicious if you were close shop and move to where Naruto went…" only the get an angry glare from the Ichiraku, making him think. 'these two obviously considered Naruto family just as he considered them to be the same' "Very well… but if the civilian council askes, you are leaving out of grief for losing someone you considered family… We believe he's left for The Land of Waves." He said only to see recognition at the mention of his first mission out of the village. "If you move there… I will guard you, free of charge. Just inform me tomorrow AFTER the funeral. It will suspicious if leave beforehand, not mention looked at being disrespectful." He finished and getting nods from the Ichiraku's.

"I know I cannot just up and leave myself, being a Chunin, however, please inform Naruto that he has my full support in whatever he decides to do." Iruka said sadly, knowing he can't go with the Ichiraku's, knowing that they were leaving.

Jiraiya nodded, got up from his seat, and paid for his meal and enough to set up an establishment in Wave getting a shocked but grateful look from the Father/Daughter duo. "Remember, as far as the village knows, Naruto is dead, burned to nothing but ash by the enemy." He said getting nods from everyone there. Before he leaves he turns his head looking back at the three there "And thank you… for taking care of my godson while I was away." And walks away to send the messenger toad.

"Ayame, start preparing our supplies and necessities. We're moving to the Land of Waves." Teuchi said in a stern voice, clearly hiding his anger at the village getting an agreeable nod from his daughter as they begin closing up after Iruka had paid and left to prepare for the 'funeral'.

Needless to say that reactions to Naruto's 'death' were varied. A majority of the Council were afraid that the Nine-tailed fox would return, while others were saddened by the blonde's death. Among the Rookies, most were shocked and saddened to hear Naruto died… but the news hit Hinata hardest, the boy she loved, had died before she could build up the courage to confess to him. It hit her so hard her father, sensei, and teammates feared for her health. She was still recovering from her near-death experience at the hands of Neji in the prelims of the Chunin Exams and now had lost her inspiration and reason for living. Speaking of Neji, he was indecisive as to what to feel, but was the most worried about Hinata, if she died due to this news and her injuries he gave her, he'd never forgiven himself. The only ones that weren't sad were Sasuke and Kiba, both angry at the enemy. However, they all prepared for the funeral of all those who had died during the invasion tomorrow.

[With Naruto]

As the morning sun was starting to stretch across the sky, Naruto arrived at the bridge only to be flabbergasted reading the name of the bridge. "The…Great Naruto Bridge…? They…named it after me…?" He said aloud only earn a hearty laugh from his friend and tenant.

"You really are an idiot… Of course, they named it after you .. it was you who lit the fire under that brat Inari's ass, saved that MILF Tsunami from being taken hostage, which lead the kid to round up the villagers to help drive back those thugs. However, you're going to have thought up an alias if you are going to stay here for any length of time."Kurama said, not knowing that Jiraiya and Kakashi falsified his death to keep the council off his trial.

'Well yeah, but I didn't expect to have a bridge named after me! But yeah you're right, I do need to think of an alias.' He responded to his partner only to get distracted by a poof of smoke revealing a messenger toad. 'well that was faster than expected… let's see what Pervy Sage has to say.' He said retrieving the scroll and toad before jumping into a nearby tree for cover.

Naruto,

If this message finds you, then Kakashi's assumption was correct and you did take refuge in The Land of Waves. Now, before anything else, I want to apologize for not training you right away, however, it would have seemed suspicious if I agreed to train you right away as you know I was not allowed to tell you about your parents and that I am your godfather, so I had to put on the act of being uninterested when I wanted nothing more than to train you, even after I agreed to train you I had to seem uninterested when I wanted to train you so much harder than I did. Should you agree to allow me to continue to train you, I'll make you into a ninja that your mother and father would be very proud of.

Now as far as the village is concerned, you were killed in the attack so you don't have to worry about Tracker Ninja or anything like that. I'm assuming you have a new look that people wouldn't recognize and have realized by now that you will need an alias to go by. Now don't worry about Iruka and the Ichiraku's I told them everything and showed them your letter as well as returned your headband as you requested. You will be pleased to hear that the Ichiraku's will be leaving the village and making their way to your location and I have offered to guard them on their journey.

So, with this information in mind please respond as soon as possible with a meeting location. Should all go well, I will be there in 2 days time with your surrogate family.

Sincerely,

Your Godfather, Jiraiya.

'Huh, so it was Kakashi and Pervy Sage that found the letter, I'm impressed they went the route of faking my death, not that anyone back in the village would miss me anyhow.' The blonde thought.

"I don't know, that Hyuga girl seemed to like you, and Iruka is gonna miss you and I am pleased that you will have support out here… even if it is the Ramen people. And here I thought I could get you to eat something more than that every day."Kurama semi joked at the end.

'Hey! Ramen is the food of the gods, ya know!' Naruto mentally shouted.

"Like Mother like Son…." Kurama sighed. "Kushina was just as bad when it came to Ramen, hell I think you might be worse…"

That got Naruto's attention 'Mom loved ramen too…?' he asked eagerly.

Kurama facepalmed realizing the buckle of worms he just opened. "Yes, she did, probably the only thing ate, even more so while she was pregnant with you. I'll tell you more about her later. But right now you should get to Tazuna's place and make sure you can shack up and then reply to Jiraiya before they leave."

'Yeah, you're right. I just hope they are up at this hour.' Naruto said as he jumped down and made his way to Tazuna's place.

Thirty minutes later Naruto arrived at the old drunk bridge builder's place pleased to hear likely Tsunami rattling around in the kitchen. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door, lowering his mask not wanting to spook whoever answer the door.

Inside the house, Tsunami was about to prepare breakfast so she would wake up her father and son only to hear a knock at the door. "Who could that be at this hour…?" She says as she makes her way to the door. When she opened the door she was pleasantly surprised to see the Village Hero at her doorstep. "Naruto! What are you doing here?!" She said with a beaming smile.

"Hey Tsunami, Can I come in? I'll explain everything to everyone all at once if that's ok." Naruto said with this trademark smile.

"Yes, of course, come in! I'll go wake Father and Inari!" She responded.

"Thank you very much." He said as he walked in and took a seat at the familiar table, waiting for Tazuna and Inari.

A few minutes later and what sounded like a stampede coming down the stairs "NARUTO!" Inari came barrelling downstairs and tackled Naruto out of his chair into a bone-crushing hug. Behind him were Tazuna and Tsunami. "Easy there, kid… I haven't been gone that long… it's only been a few months." Naruto said chuckling.

Tazuna chuckled as well. "Good to see you kid… but you seem different. Where's your headband." However, when he finished that statement, the family felt the mood shift and not for the better.

"That's why I'm here…" Naruto said with his bangs covering his eyes. So he explained the situation leading to his departure from The Leaf. To say that they were shocked would be an understatement. However, Naruto finished with "I know this is a lot to ask out of the blue, but could you allow me and possibly my new sensei to stay here when he will be here a couple of days with some people I care about. I know I am already asking you for a lot… but the people he is traveling are Ramen chefs… is there a shop they could purchase?"

Now they were floored. Naruto made it seem like he was ready to move to Wave permanently or at least long term. "Well yes, we still have the spare rooms upstairs… as for an available shop/home for your Ramen friends… I think I can build them a place when they get here… Ya know so I can get specifics on what they are looking for and whatnot." Tazuna said, still getting over his shock.

Naruto was beaming now and bowed. "Thank you so much!" Tazuna just waved him off. "Don't worry about it... I don't know if you noticed… but you're a hero here… doing something like putting you up for a while and bringing in a new business is nothing kid."

"Yes, I noticed… hard not to notice the bridge named after me." Naruto said deadpanned. "Oh… and I'd appreciate if you kept quiet that I'm here… The village may not be after me, but that could change if they find out that I am indeed alive."

"Oh, of course, We'll just say you're a long lost relative or something…" Tsunami spoke up understanding the trouble he'd be in and by extension them for hiding him.

"Thank you so much. I'll go unpack in the guest room and come back down." The blonde said quite happily.

In the room, Naruto wrote his response to Jiraiya and gave it back to the toad who instantly disappear in a plume of smoke. "Now to relax for a couple of days and work on an alias… maybe I'll ask Tsunami and Tazuna about it after breakfast."

AN: And that's it for this chapter! Sorry for the cliffhanger but I figured it was a good spot to stop so I can ask you the fans about a few things.

1: Do you want Hinata to live or should she succumb to her depression and injuries?

2: What should Naruto's Alias be?

Aside from that Jiraiya will be telling Naruto everything about his parents, the promise to Nadeshiko Village, and the Akatsuki. Please remember to leave a review and hit that follow button if you like this story! See you next time!