DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything from the Naruto universe.

Thinking (+ flashbacks, etc.)

Emphasis

Bijuu, etc. speaking

Bijuu, etc. thinking

"Ru-chan! It's so good to see you, my dear girl. Tell me, how have you been?"

Ru found it really hard to keep the happy smile on her face that she'd been practicing since last night with Shisui. The Hokage's pipe smoke didn't seem nearly as charming as it had when she was younger. Actually, it was a little sickening, but she fought down the strange feeling in her gut. She could handle this; she'd practiced what to do and say for hours last night until she'd become completely exhausted.

"The Hokage wants to see you in the morning. Now I know you're a little... wary of him, but he's our leader, Naru-chan."

"Dictator," the little blonde replied dryly. "We live in an autocracy, ne?" Shisui groaned and flopped halfway over cartoonishly. "What? I can put on the charm, and I've been perfectly polite to him whenever we get missions."

Shisui popped back up and put his hands on his hips; his expression betrayed how frustrated he was. "You've barely graced him with a look from your pretty blue eyes, Naru! Don't roll them at me you brat! Gah! Seriously, Naru-chan, this is important!"

That made the little blonde feel guilty. Shisui was always looking out for her, answering any questions that he was able to, and training her into the ground just like she wanted. Supposedly, some other dude wanted to apprentice her that was way up in the food chain, but Shisui had raised a stink about it - and from what she'd heard - he had even offered to fight the guy for the "honor." It was hard to believe that anyone could really defeat Shisui-shishou, but Itachi said that if whoever this guy was agreed to fight him, that Shisui would "get his rear handed to him easily. Don't tell Kaa-chan that I used such language, Naruto."

Naru had burst out laughing at the Mamma's boy.

"Let's practice how you'll greet the Hokage. Itachi: be the Hokage," Shisui ordered. To Naru, it looked like Itachi was rather happy to be the Hokage, which she planned to discuss with him after this whole Meet-and-Play-Nice-with-Our-Lord-and-Master thing was over.

"Hello, Naruto-chan. It is... nice to see you today?" Itachi asked after a beat, making Shisui look at him in disbelief. Naruto had to look away to keep from laughing at them: they were so silly together. "How are you enjoying being a kunoichi?"

"This is serious, Naru-chan," Shisui quickly reminded her from behind his younger cousin. Naru took a deep breath and looked up to assure him that she was being serious - although it seemed ridiculous.

She smiled at Itachi-Hokage sincerely. "I am enjoying it very much, sir, and I am looking forward to going on more challenging missions." Itachi and Shisui were looking at her oddly. "Umm... I enjoy working for you? What?!"

"Your face," Itachi began but Shisui interrupted him in a deadpan voice: "You look like a serial killer."

"Hey!" Ru crossed her arms and looked away, blushing. Maybe she did need to practice with her senpais. "So not cool."

"I'm doing well, Hokage-sama," Naru began, reminding herself of their repeated practicing. She decided to go with the truth first, even though him having anything to do with it sucked. "I am indebted to you for allowing me to work with such an excellent shishou. Shisui-shishou believes that we'll soon begin to do C-ranked missions, and I am looking forward to it." She began to smile broadly at the man but thought better of it after having her smile crapped on so much last night. She looked down in what she hoped would be seen as shyness before accidentally choking on the pipe smoke that she could've sworn was blown her way. "Gomennasai, Hokage-sama," she said after her little coughing fit.

"You're fine, Ru-chan. Or is it Naru now?"

"I believe I prefer Naru, sir." But you can call me by my full name, Uzumaki-Namikaze Naruto; or my actual title of "Princess," just like you always call your student "Princess Tsunade." - Oh Christ: please don't call me that. Images of princesses in absolutely ridiculous hats flashed in her mind at what must have been some royal wedding Rachel had seen on television. Naru/Ru/Naruto/Rachel had no idea of how to be a princess and was just fine with that.

She became alarmed when the Hokage sent his ANBU out. The Genin wondered if he was going to kill her. That might be paranoia, but on the other hand, he could totally get away with it.

"Naru-chan, you have come across information that is dangerous."

Yep, she was going to die again today. That's a shame... Maybe she'd pop up in Harry Potter next time, though. She didn't remember all of the series of course, but she/Rachel had loved Harry Potter.

If the Hokage was expecting her to reply to his statement, he was out of luck. Naru unintentionally rocked back and forth on her feet, but steadied herself, and looked him in the eye. This time he definitely blew smoke at her. Asshole. She held back a cough.

"Your parentage is an S-class secret."

"Even from me."

"Yes," the Sandaime said as he sat back in his chair and laced his fingers together. Naruto prepared for him to cast a jutsu, and didn't appreciate the knowing smirk he cast at her when he recognized her reaction. "Now that you know, however, that changes things."

"Were you ever going to tell me?" Naru asked softly then wished she hadn't. She despised how sometimes either her ADHD, naivety, or childishness, (she was in a child's body, after all,) made her spew questions and ideas that she'd rather keep to herself. She prayed it wouldn't get her killed again one day, especially today. Today was now, so... yeah.

Hiruzen sighed then packed more tobacco into his pipe. He lit it with the snap of his fingers which caused a spark. "Yes. I intended to tell you upon your promotion to Chunin." The little girl in front of him nodded her head and seemed to accept his words, although her shoulders had slumped. "Of course, it won't be long now until you reach that rank, ne?" The blonde quickly looked up, her eyes wide and gleaming in a way that he recognized as at least interest.

He had always been good with children. He kept his voice mild but spoke the next words with more authority.

"I hereby grant you the use of your parent's compound and ownership of their home. After successfully competing in the Chunin exams the Leaf is hosting this year, you will receive your inheritance. An announcement will be made to all shinobi that confirms your parentage, and upon promotion to Jonin, you may begin to use your father's name. 'Uzumaki-Namikaze' is your legal surname after all." He was amused by her relieved reaction. What did the little blonde expect?! "Have a seat, Naru-chan." The little kunoichi sat down, so he continued. "Finally, I'd like to give you a few items that I've saved for you. Some of their things will have to wait until you rank up, but I think you might appreciate a few items now?" He stood up and moved to a panel behind his desk.

Naru couldn't see the jutsu he used to open the panel, but the space behind it was filled with unlabeled boxes. He walked around the desk and put one on her lap before returning to the panel to close it.

Naruto had tears in her eyes but wasn't sure why. Had her birth parents really left something for her? Was there more than just all those seals and weird notes that were back at the house?

"Naruto," Hiruzen said and put down his pipe. "Your parents' worst enemies are incredibly strong and… Your parents were known, respected for their skills, but hated throughout most of the Elemental Nations. To our population, however, they are heroes." He saw the little girl gulp and was glad that she seemed to have some understanding of the danger that she was in. "Do not go flaunting what I have told you, my dear. Most children would use information like this for fame but would end up getting themselves quickly killed."

"I understand, Hokage-sama," Naruto said in a small voice. "I don't want that, and… they weren't bad people, were they?"

"Hmm. I suppose I have a little time. Let me tell you some stories I remember about them."

As much as Naru tried to tell herself that the only reason the old man had told her about her parents and allowed her to live in their haunted house was propaganda and an attempt at "keeping the jinchuuriki loyal," she couldn't help but smile as she walked away from his office and back toward the Uchiha district. She had planned on going back to the Uzumaki compound so that she could open their box of belongings that was supposedly meant for her, but knowing that her parents were fuuinjutsu masters... Naru shivered and sighed to herself, telling herself that she was just being silly. It was best to be safe, though, and having realized after her conversation with the Sandaime that almost anything was possible with fuuinjutsu, there was a little part of her that feared that Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina would appear right in front of her, jumping out of a seal that might be inside that box.

"Demon," a woman hissed in a whisper as she pulled her small child closer to her.

"Shit," Naru sighed to herself. She had been so lost in the stories the Sandaime told her about her parents, she had once again forgotten to put on a henge since she wasn't with Shisui. Ichirakus was close by, so she jogged over to the ramen bar and climbed up and into a barstool. There were a few other shinobi present, but Naru only got looks of idle curiosity from them before they looked away. As always, Teuchi welcomed her with a big smile.

She soon learned that Ayame-chan was out on a date, and better yet, from Teuchi's complaints she was almost 100% sure that she was out with Gai! How exciting!

She ate a quick bowl of ramen, then ordered another as it and Teuchi's company was so good... She then ordered and ate two more. What a glutton she was. As soon as the other patrons were out of the restaurant, she henged and eventually made her way back to Shisui.

"You're alive!" Shisui yelled dramatically as he opened the door to his flat. He tousled her hair and avoided the unmotivated swipes she sent his way in retaliation. "Told ya you'd be alive. So what happened?"

"Well, I get to live in what I guess is my house now - in the compound - and I'd like your help in moving my throne over," Naru said as she plopped down in the chair Shisui considered too fluffy. "I've got everything else sealed." She pulled a small new scroll out and frowned at it before unsealing the box the Hokage had given her.

"Eh?! You don't want that old throne in your new place, Naru-chan," he replied as he turned to make them some tea. He had been practicing making something Naruto liked to drink called "Almost Diet Coke" but it always exploded on him. Tea was safer and easier. "That thing is too heavy," and undoubtedly well used as a sex seat: it's a seat of sin, "to haul over. Your new place is fully furnished, anyway. What did the Hokage say?"

...And do you remember? The Hokage had pulled a fast one on her before, after all, but that didn't work out too well for him. He internally snickered, imagining the Jonin Commander walking in on his kid and Naru high as kites in his house.

"He gave me the house and admitted my parents' identities. I'll be given more of their stuff after I'm a Chunin. And did you know I'm competing in the Chunin exams this year?" Considering that Shisui tripped, spilled their tea, and burned himself, she guessed he didn't. He was pretty clumsy when he was off-duty, considering that he was a ninja. "Anyway, I've got a box of their stuff that I wanted to open with you if that's okay. Oh! And I guess my 'future training' will need to be split with two other guys? I think they're both old, but he didn't tell me their names. He told me to 'be on the lookout for white and gray hair...' I don't know that I've ever seen an old ninja, 'ttebayo," she said to herself as much as him.

God, she hated her verbal tic! From what the Hokage said, she inherited it from her mother, though. So maybe it wasn't so bad? She needed to digest all the new information about them more...

"Great," Shisui nearly groaned. Hatake-taicho was already on his ass about whether or not ' you're perving on my little sister:' says the guy who walks around with porn in front of him 24/7, mission or not! He was also positive that white hair meant the toad sage, and Shisui didn't want that pervert, who was rumored to be on a whole other level, anywhere near his little student. It already sucked that Jiraiya's summons was tied to her somehow. "I hate to say it, Naru-chan, but I've gotta be back on duty in 10."

Naru gave him a long pointed look. Shisui kept confidential information confidential, of course. But she had a sinking feeling that he was involved in something even darker than ANBU. "Shishou, are you alright? Is there anything I can do or need to know?"

"Of course I'm fine, Shorty. And you know I can't discuss ANBU missions with you."

And I literally can't say anything about ROOT.

"I know that," she tsked. "Wish you had more time, though," Naru said openly, rubbing her cheek. "I wanted you to be there when I opened my parents' box. Your magic eyeballs might have come in handy."

"Sharingan, Naru."

"Exactly," she sighed. The more she looked at that box the more she worried, so she decided to pack it up again. Scenes or images from old movies like Poltergeist, the Stay Puft marshmallow giant guy from Ghostbusters, The Amityville Horror, and some black and white flick that had a human head some scientist had saved from a car crash and hooked up with tubes filtered through her memories. Rachel's mother really shouldn't have let her young daughter repeatedly watch that crap, no matter how much she loved being scared. She remembered the woman howling in laughter at the worst parts of them while Rachel hid under a blanket, peeking out and wishing she hadn't.

Memories of her past life, she was learning, came easier when she didn't try to remember or focus on them. It was weird, but weird was her life... She resealed the box of potential horrors and hoped that her imagination was running too wild once again. "I think I'm going to go see Mikoto-oba," she said as she turned around to say goodbye to him. Her smile faltered as she took more notice that he was wearing his ANBU armor and ready to go, but didn't have on his mask. Shisui usually liked wearing his creepy bird mask.

"Raven," she reminded herself. "Anything else, shishou?"

"Nope! Sounds like a plan, shorty. Tell Aunty Mikoto and my horrible cousins 'hi' for me."

Naru snorted - another thing that she'd inherited from her mother, she knew now - and waved as she jumped out his window... which was so dumb. It was a ninja thing to do, though, and she was a ninja, so when in Rome and all that...

Shisui made sure she'd gone before putting on his other mask: the uncool one without color that was supposedly shaped like an animal's head. He reset his traps before sunshinning to Danzo.

There was shouting coming from the Uchiha head's house.

"...ridiculous and you know it Fu!" It was Mikoto's voice that she was hearing. Naru crept closer, silently, wondering why the woman sounded so upset. She heard Mikoto-oba's husband muttering something lower than she could understand and applied chakra to her ears.

"...do to remember your place! You are to support me and..."

"If you think I'll ever let you use her like that you're out of your mind! And if Itachi-kun's..."

"Stop. And I'm trying to stop that from happening. For Gods' sake, Miko! What do you want me to do? I'm trying to..."

A hand covered Naru's mouth and she was being sunshinned somewhere else. She smelled ash and peppermint under blood, dirt, and sweat.

"Naruto-chan."

"Oh! It- Crow-san! You nearly scared the life outta me, 'ttebayo." Itachi supposedly wasn't Itachi when he was in his ANBU mask, and this time it was obvious that he had just come from a mission.

"Hn. You were spying on my parents."

"No, I really wasn't," Naru replied while crossing her arms over her chest. "Are - should we check on your Mom? It sounded like..." Itachi's coal-black stare whether from within his ANBU mask or from under his long black hair was always piercing. "She sounded worried or scared," she fretted. "I don't have the language skills to express the word to describe what was going on: the feeling it gave me."

Itachi paused to consider how he should proceed. When he came home to shower and change, he did not expect to find a frozen Naruto outside his home. "You were listening to my parents' discussion. Whether that was due to concern or curiosity - it could be dangerous for you, Naruto-chan. My parents are both Jonin of Konohagakure. You could learn something that is classified, and..."

"They'd have to kill me," Naru said simply.

Itachi stared at her for a few moments longer, wondering if she was serious. "That was not what I was going to say, but it seems you understand." He observed the girl's nervousness for a minute or more and was certain that he was more concerned for his mother than interested in what his parents were saying, whether it involved their relationship, family, clan, or village duties. Her reaction to whatever she heard, however, was interesting. Another clan meeting was being held tonight; he and Shisui had not been invited, but he was certain that the Hokage or Danzo would order them to monitor the meeting regardless.

Naru scratched her head and wasn't sure what to do when he continued staring at her. She really liked Itachi, but sometimes he was a little weird and quiet for her to be comfortable around. Sasuke was the same, only a little more emotionally available and responsive. Shisui and Mikoto were more... normal - according to her, anyway, while Fugaku was incredibly stern but caring. If only he spent a little more time with Sasuke - and maybe gave poor Itachi a break - (the kid was so busy, he rarely had time to be a normal teenager,) she would call him a really good father.

A father who was weighing two sets of plans that involved the little blonde: neither or which she'd be happy about, once she found out.