Again, I'm getting ideas from a fic called Kakashi's Apprentice by Jiraiya's Lost Student. Hopefully I can write as well he did but that is where my inspiration is from. I am not stealing his work and I hope to do something with my own twist. Also, I do not own Naruto or anything that came from it.
Hokage's Office
Hiruzen chuckled at the antics of his surrogate grandson. "Yes, Naruto. Come in." the old man said while forming a hand seal.
"Hokage-sama, is now the best time for this?" Kakashi asked as the security seals activated around the office.
"Yes Kakashi. It's time." stated Hiruzen as he filled his pipe with tobacco and lit it.
"Is this about my parents?" asked Naruto plainly. Kakashi looked at Naruto mouth agape and eyes wide, although one couldn't really tell because of the mask and his hitai-ate covering his left eye. The Hokage wasn't much better as his pipe fell from his mouth as he slowly stood up to look at Naruto.
"What do you know about your parents, Naruto?" Hiruzen asked numbly . The old man could feel guilt and regret welling up within him as he looked at the young boy in front him. Kakashi was speechless, not daring to speak for fear of missing something important.
"To answer your question," Naruto started talking as he walked to look out one of the windows. "As to my parents, I only know of one. My father was the Yondiame Hokage. To be fair, it was kind of obvious once I really thought about it." As Naruto finished, Kakashi and Hiruzen could only look down in shame.
"Naruto, how long have you known?" asked Kakashi. Hiruzen, not trusting his voice at the moment, silently thanked the man.
"Long enough. Like I said, I figured it out once I thought about it." Naruto chuckled slightly. "I was angry at first. I wanted to to lash out anyone and everyone once it dawned on me." Hiruzen winced at the fact the boy went through so much pain and at the fact that the same boy knew at least some of past. For Kakashi, he felt like he had failed his sensei once more. Both failed to look Naruto in the eye when they heard him continue.
"However, after a bit of thinking I understood why I wasn't told about either and I understood why my dad did what he did. That doesn't mean I won't punch him in the face if I get the chance but I understand the sacrifice he made. All I ask is that you tell me more about him and my mother. Please." Naruto asked pleadingly with eyes that have seen far too much pain for a boy his age.
Kakashi and Hiruzen looked at each other and they understood what needed to be done. Hiruzen said, "We can do more than that, Naruto. I have several things that belong to your parents that are your birthright." Hiruzen then stood up and walked over to the portrait of the Yondiame and channeled some chakra into the frame. The portrait then revealed a small alcove containing several scrolls. The old hokage took them from their resting place and placed them upon his desk. He then beckoned Naruto to come over. Naruto complied without saying a word.
"These scrolls contain various things that your parents left you before they died. One scroll contains a letter from your father which I'm sure he also contained instructions on how to enter his study at his and your mother's estate. Another contains a letter from mother, Kushina Uzumaki also known as the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero. Lastly, the final scroll contains the keys and documents to your parent's estate." Hiruzen told the young boy who could only stare at the scrolls laying on the table.
"If you want, I could tell you some stories about your parents some time. I was your father's student." Kakashi said. Naruto just nodded his head and told him he would like that.
"Now Naruto, How about we go and see your new home. We'll even help you move your things in." Hiruzen said as he stood and walked over to the boy. The old hokage simply wrapped his arms around the boy, wordlessly telling him that things would get better for the young lad.
Namikaze Estate
After getting his things from his old apartment, Naruto, Kakashi, and Hiruzen stood in front of the gated compound of the Namikaze clan. Naruto let a low whistle in appreciation for the decent sized estate. It was not the size of the Uchiha or Hyuga compounds but still it covered a decent sized area.
"Ok, Naruto. All you have to do is channel some of your chakra into the seal on the gate and it should open." said Kakashi as he knew from his times visiting the compound to see his sensei.
"Alright." said Naruto nervously as proceeded to channel chakra into the seal. He noticed that the seal started to hum and glow red before turning a light blue to signify the seal was deactivated. He then pushed the gate open to reveal a 10 acre piece of land with an estate that could house 4 full families.
"Wow. It's incredible." Naruto said dumbly as it finally set in that he had a true home instead of a run down apartment.
"Yes. It is." Hiruzen and Kakashi said lowly while glancing over the compound. Hiruzen continued by saying, "Now Naruto, let's go and see your new home."
As they walked into the main house, they were greeted with the smell of dust and grime. Despite the place being uninhabited for 12 years, it was surprisingly good. The living room and kitchen were both spacious. There was also a guest room and an occupying bathroom that made up the first floor. There were four bedrooms, three guest rooms with bathrooms, and the main bedroom on the second floor. However, the true gem of the house lay in the basement. The library was filled with various scrolls from both Minato and Kushina's time as shinobi, Minato's private study, and a small training ground built for use in conjunction with small jutsus and the testing of various scrolls.
"This place is incredible. Is it really all mine?" Naruto asked, wide-eyed and in disbelief.
"Yes, it is Naruto," Hiruzen stated to the young boy.
While standing in the house's living room, Naruto looked at the photo hanging placed on the mantle above the fireplace. It showed a young man in his twenties with a soft smile and spiky blonde hair with his arm around a young woman with a giant grin and flowing red hair giving a peace sign with her eyes closed. If one were to look closer, one could see that the woman had one of her hands holding onto one of the man's hands atop her belly. That was when Naruto realized that this was a family portrait. His family's portrait. Staring at the image, Naruto smiled and said softly, "She's beautiful."
"That she was, my boy," Hiruzen said with a sad smile while Kakashi only nodded while remembering all the pain from his past and his new resolve to help the young boy in front of him to become a shinobi as great as his parents were.
"It's ok, Jiji. I forgave you long ago. Thank you for at least acknowledging me," Naruto told the Hokage while wrapping the man in a tight bear hug, which Hiruzen graciously returned. Afterward, Kakashi and the Hokage left the young boy on his own to give some time for everything that he learned about to truly sink in. Naruto let out a deep breath, 'I guess I better read my parent's letters and clean up.' He then summoned 10 shadow clones, without a word, to get the house and grounds to a form deserving of his parents' stature. He then sat down on one of the couches in the living room that just so happened to look at the portrait of his family, the family that was taken from him before he ever had a conscious thought. He sighed and then pulled at the scroll containing his father's last words to him. He opened the scroll, and various seals were lining the scroll, most likely including the letter and other items his father wanted to pass along to him. Naruto found the letter first and decided to read it.
'Dear Naruto,
As cliche as this sounds, if you're reading this, then I'm dead. I know that's not exactly the first thing you want to read in a letter from your father. I really want to tell you that I'm so sorry for not being there for you. I don't know when you'll be reading this, but I hope you understand why I did the things I did. I still remember when your mother told me that she was pregnant with you. I was the happiest man alive, and it took everything that she and Kakashi had to keep me from screaming out from the top of Hokage mountain to the village that I was going to be a father. At that moment, I loved you more than anything that I could fathom, and your mother was the same way. Now on to more pressing matters, I chose you for your burden because I believe that you can not only contain the Kyuubi but also use it in ways not previously done by the past jinchuriki. After all, you are my and your mother's son. In the scroll that this letter was in, you'll find some scrolls in my taijutsu style, my personal notes in fuinjutsu as well as the way to enter my study, and some of my personalized kunai so that you can form your own Hiraishin seals when you get proficient in seals. The last thing I want you to know is that being your father is the best thing I have ever accomplished in life, and nothing will ever change that. I love you, son, and I'll be watching over you.
Love,
Your father, Minato Namikaze.'
Naruto had reread the letter four times. He still couldn't believe it. It just helps to further his resolve to make his parents proud and to live to their stature. He gently placed the letter back to where he retrieved it. The next thing he looked at was the taijutsu scroll. 'Hmm, hummingbird style. It looks like it mainly focuses on speed, getting inside an opponent's guard, and striking with extreme precision, not unlike the Gentle Fist Style. Interesting,' Naruto mused to himself. He started to look over his father's notes on fuinjutsu. He could only make out the basics, but he did see how to enter his father's study. 'I guess I'll have to start studying seals if I want to learn from his notes.' The last thing he found was his father's specialized kunai. 'The kunai that turned the tide of the Great Shinobi War. I have quite the legacy to live up to, don't I?' Naruto chuckled to himself slightly. 'Time to read my mother's letter.' As he thought this, he glanced up to the portrait in front of him. 'I definitely got her smile. I hope I can make you proud, mom.' He opened his mother's scroll and found the letter his mother had written for him.
'Dear Naruto,
My beautiful baby boy. I wish I could be there for you, but life isn't always fair. I'm writing this because I won't be in your life, no matter how much I wish and hope that I could be. There are no words expressing how sorry your father and I can't be there for you to guide you throughout your life. On a happier note, there are no words describing how much love and pride I have in being your mother. I love you more than I can ever honestly tell in this letter. We'll just have to wait until we meet in the afterlife, which I shouldn't see you there until you are at least 115 years old. Considering our family, if you decide to become a shinobi, I want you to carefully consider the three shinobi vices. The first is alcohol. There is nothing wrong with drinking, but be responsible and don't become a drunk like your aunt. The second is money; save it and use it responsibly. Don't waste it on frivolities. Better yet, it should be used to spoil a woman you love. This leads me to the third vice; women. You should treat a woman with respect and never as an object for your own gain or pleasure. I'll be watching over you, so I'll know if you become a pervert like your uncle. You'll meet him at some point, and hopefully, you can help your aunt return to the village. Hiruzen can tell you more about them. Lastly, I just want you to know that no matter what, you are the best thing I have ever done in my life and that my love for you and your father transcends even death. I love you, Naruto. Never forget that.
With love,
Kushina Uzumaki-Namikaze
P.S: I left you a few things inside the scroll, including the ring that your father proposed to me with along with my two swords and a scroll detailing my kenjutsu style.'
Naruto couldn't hold the tears back anymore. After reading his parents' letters, his tears flowed like a stream to the point he succumbed to exhaustion. He awoke a few hours letter still clutching his mother's letter. He noticed that the house looked cleaner and figured that the clones had finished cleaning. That's when I recalled that he needed to pick up more cleaning supplies, a memory that he didn't have before falling asleep. He made a mental note to add the questions to ask either Kakashi or the Hokage. He proceeded to find the things that his mother had left him. Naruto then started to read the scroll on his mother's kenjutsu style. 'Twin Typhoon style? It seems interesting. I guess that means I have to find a teacher for swords.' Then he took out the two swords. The two swords were kodachi; however, one had a red sheath with a black handle, and the other had a black sheath with a white handle. He pulled both from their sheaths. He noticed that the blades looked to chakra conductive metal, and it seemed to suck in all light to cold black metal of the blade. 'Absolutely incredible. Now I have to learn my mother's style. It would be a disservice to her and these two beautiful blades.' Lastly, Naruto pulled out the ring that belonged to his mother given to her by his father. 'I promise, mom. I'll find someone that I genuinely care about.' He carefully placed the ring back into its box.
Afterward, Naruto made his way into his father's study. He noticed that it was lined with books and scrolls ranging from the history of the great nations to chakra theory and various jutsus from the different disciplines. A small room attached to the study contained the other tools shinobi employed throughout their missions. He realized that he won't have to worry about ninja tools and weapons for a while. He then decided to go to his new bedroom on the second floor. He walked into the primary bedroom and noticed the king-sized bed, ample space, walk-in closet, and add-on bathroom. 'It's spacious, just like the rest of the house.' Naruto mused to himself. He placed his toiletries in the bathroom and moved his clothes into the closet when he decided that he really needed to update his wardrobe. 'Something to do for tomorrow, I guess.' Naruto thought finished things and went to bed after such a taxing day.
Hokage Tower
(Earlier)
Hiruzen Sarutobi was not someone to be trifled with despite being 70 years old. There were several good reasons that he was known as The Professor and the God of Shinobi throughout the great nations. Yet, the civilian council of Konoha seems to have forgotten that fact when they had demanded a meeting between them, the shinobi council, and the Hokage. Hiruzen could hear the conversations between various parties when he opened the door and walked into the council chambers. The old Hokage was not happy about being summoned by many people who had no idea how the world truly works. "I understand that some here feel that I don't know how to run the village," Hiruzen stated in a tone that showed he was in a state where he was barely containing his rage.
"Hokage-sama, we summoned the council so that we know the reason why the Uchiha not only failed to be placed on a genin team but also why he was detained earlier today," said a rather portly man belonging to the civilian council. The room was flooded with killing intent provided by the old Hokage. The civilian council could barely stay conscious because of the introduction of killing intent, and the shinobi wasn't much better.
"Who are you and the civilian council to demand answers from me!?" Hiruzen roared as he nearly gave the order to his ANBU to remove the man's head. "It seems that you forget who runs this village. I will gladly provide a lesson on why this council is only advisory in nature if you would like." All knew that the question was rhetorical, and all just nodded to the old man. Hiruzen then went on to explain the events of the day. To say that the civilians were outraged was an understatement. Not only had their so-called savior failed to pass the genin test, but the demon had been taken on as an apprentice to the strongest jonin the village.
"Hokage-sama, indeed, this is a mistake. Sasuke could never do the things that have been reported. He is part of the great Uchiha clan," said a pink-haired woman, trying to earn favor for her daughter. "The boy obviously tricked Hatake into failing Sasuke and my daughter."
"That's where you're wrong, Haruno-sama," said Kakashi in his normal bored tone, but if one were to listen closely, they could hear the venom lacing his voice. He did not appreciate that someone was showing such a bias to a boy that had no choice in the burden that he carried. "Simply put, Sasuke and Sakura failed my test and then decided to try and take out their frustrations on the boy that did pass. Now, if I hear you talking bad about my student again, well, let's just say that it wouldn't be pleasant for anyone involved."
The civilians in the chambers were shocked at the veiled threat while the shinobi was silently congratulating the former ANBU captain for standing up to the fools that believed that they held any actual power. "Enough. The discussion is not up for debate. The failure of Team 7 is a shinobi matter, and as such, the civilians have no bearing in this matter. In fact, the civilians and my advisors are dismissed. I have several issues to attend to with the shinobi of this council. Leave now, and if anyone feels like causing an outburst, then I'll be more than accommodating with removing their head from their body." Hiruzen stated with ice in his voice. The civilians wisely shuffled out of the chambers while the advisors had to be prodded with killing intent to get them to leave. "Now then, are there questions or concerns about the placement of the new genin?" The clan heads that made up the shinobi council declined. "Good, who wants some sake?" He then pulled out a storage scroll that held a large bottle of sake and several cups.
It's a longer chapter this time. Once I got really rolling, I just couldn't stop and then I couldn't really find a good place to stop. Thank you for everyone that followed and favorited the story so far. I couldn't imagine that people liked my crappy style of writing. I have several ideas I want to implement and so I hope to at least entertain people. That's all I'm really doing. I hope everyone enjoys the new chapter and stays safe out there in our crazy world.
