Chapter V: Preparation for War

Part IV: The Clan Heir Meeting

Uzumaki Compound

Two days later

Kushina heard a knock at the door. "I'll get it dear!"

She then opened the door to the lock only see one of the guards waiting at the door. Raising an eyebrow in confusion, she opened the door "Yes?"

The guard, a man in his early thirties with a beard and long goatee just bowed in respect. He had a katana at his side. "Lady Kushina! I have a visitor for you!"

Kushina smiled at him. "Of course Keito! Who is it?"

Keito wasn't a Konoha nin. He was one of Minato's allies during the Third Shinobi World War. He was a nin of the long forgotten Hakagakure village. They were a minor village nation which was attacked by Kirigakure in the first stages of the war. His family was killed by Kiri nin but he managed to survive the attack. Once he had been contacted by his old friend, he had rushed to be of service. "Lady Tsunade. The Fifth Hokage. She wants to see you all."

Kushina just smiled at him. "Bring her in."

Keito then stepped to the side and bowed to Tsunade and Shizune who were approaching the door. "You may enter."

Tsunade gave him a bow. "Thank you sir. I never asked your name."

The man stood at attention. "Keito Kazamura. I'm one of the many foreign nin Minato asked to help guard the family home. I grew acquainted with him during the last world war when Kirigakure attacked my home village. He saved my life then. When he needed trusted allies to help guard his family…I eagerly took the opportunity."

Tsunade smiled at him and bowed her head gently in respect to him. "I see. Welcome to the Hidden Leaf Village."

Keito gave her a nod. "Thank you ma'am. It's an honor to be here."

Tsunade then turned to Kushina with a warm smile. "I hope I'm not intruding on family time."

Kushina shook her head at the blonde woman smiling, "Not at all Tsunade. Please come in. Naruto will be happy to see you."

She turned to Keito. "Keito…be a dear and close the door behind you please."

Keito nodded. "At once Lady Uzumaki."

The door closed with a hard thud.

Tsunade then walked in and grinned at her. "Wonderful. I have to say I have missed the brat."

The two women then heard Naruto's voice. "Mom? Who's there?" It was then that he and Minato then met Tsunade's gaze.

Naruto's eyes widened. "Lady Tsunade?"

Tsunade blinked at the young shinobi and felt her jaw drop. So did Shizune. Tsunade spoke with shock in her tone. "Did you just call me Lady instead of Grandma?"

Naruto nodded albeit a bit nervously. "I..uh..realized that calling you Grandma after all these years…was a bit inappropriate. I'm working on correcting that." He then felt himself shiver a bit. He didn't know how she was going to react to that. He knew of her temper.

Tsunade then turned to Kushina in shock.

The redhead smiled at her. "I overheard you saying it bothered you. I made sure to teach my boy some manners." She then walked over to Naruto and ruffled his hair. "Isn't that right my boy?"

Naruto just nodded. "Y-Yes Mom."

Tsunade smiled and ruffled the blonde's hair affectionately. "Well well. Kurenai was really telling the truth. Having your parents around really has changed you for the better."

Naruto just nodded, afraid to meet her eyes. "I hope you don't hold any of it against me. I meant no offense by how I acted."

Tsunade just smiled sweetly at the young shinobi and gently turned his face towards hers. She let out a chuckle. "Hey. Relax. You were just a kid then. I'm not going to hold a grudge against you."

She then shook her head. "In fact. My feelings for you are quite the opposite. I've never told you this but you have kind of grown on me Naruto. I still remember when you defended me from Kabuto shortly after we first met. You were courageous and brave. Just like my brother Nawaki and my late lover Dan."

She then caressed the teen's face in her hands. "I consider you to be my adopted grandson. Who do you think got you the new apartment when you finally came back home?"

She then laughed. "Well…It was more like I threatened the councils until they gave in but you get the idea right?"

Naruto just nodded lost for words. I never knew…all this time.

Tsunade smiled at him and took his hands in hers. " Come on now. You never noticed? I even gave Hinata that old book on your family's history to give to you. I figured it was about damn time you finally knew what family you belonged to. I don't do that for just anyone. You're very special to my heart."

Naruto just nodded, a bit stunned, "Thank..you."

Tsunade then burst out laughing. "Well would you look at that? I never imagined I would ever see Konoha's greatest prankster lost for words."

She then gave him a kiss on the forehead and hugged him with all her might. "Look. I'll allow you to call me Grandma in private. It actually warms my heart that you consider me family. Just don't do it in public okay? That would make my job as the Fifth Hokage rather difficult since both my enemies and the enemies of the Hidden Leaf would find out that one of my own dear relatives was serving under me. I want to make sure you are safe from harm. We have a deal?"

Naruto nodded. "Yes...Grandmother."

Tsunade let out a sigh of happiness. "Good. I love you...grandson."

She then turned to Kushina with a huge grin. "What say you Kushina? You okay with this? I know I'm not exactly blood related to you but I figure that our families are distant cousins."

Kushina just half-grinned at her longtime friend. "Well you are a Senju descendant. I say close enough. Plus you care about my boy. That is good enough for me."

Tsunade smiled. "Good. I'm pleased to hear that." She then turned to Naruto and smirked. "Now that your mother has given her blessing…I hope you know that I expect a nice present on my next birthday."

Naruto nodded. "Of course Grandmother."

Tsunade chirped and ruffled his hair one more time. "There's a good man. I'm very proud of you. You've turned into a fine young man."

Meeting Room

Shinobi Meeting Room, Hokage Tower

Naruto had been called to a meeting of sorts. He turned to his parents with a confused look. "Uh Mom? Dad? You guys still haven't told me what we are all doing here."

Kushina then kneeled down and caressed his face with a hand smiling. "All will be revealed in time my boy. Just trust us."

Minato then chuckled. "We've got your back."

Kushina smirked. "Go on. Open the doors."

Naruto then turned to glance at both of them. He then sighed. "Well here goes."

He then pushed the doors open and walked in. In the room was Ino Yamanka, Shino Aburame, Choji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara, Kiba Inuzuka, and Hinata Hyuga along with Sakura Haruno. They were all seated in a large, round table that had their individual clan insignias on the back of the chairs. In the center of the table was Lady Tsunade. To her right was Shizune who held Tonton in her arms.

The Fifth Hokage smirked. "Hello Naruto. I'm so glad you could make it. We've all been waiting for you."

All the elder members of their clans were there as well.

Shikamaru let out a wry smirk as his eyes fell upon Naruto. "Well well. You finally decided to show up. I guess I lost that bet eh Hinata?"

Hinata then turned to Kiba with a smirk present on her face. "I told you he would Kiba. My Naruto never disappoints." She then walked over to Naruto with a knowing look on her face. Time to stake my claim. Naruto glanced at her with an eyebrow raised. "Hinata..what is going on here?"

The bluenette then held his face in her hands and kissed him right in front of everyone present. A series of audible gasps filled the room.

Ino blinked. "S-She actually did it! She kissed him!"

Shikamaru, usually not the type for romantic moments, felt a sly smirk come across his face. Well well Naruto! You finally did it! It's about damn time!

Sakura put her hands to her heart looking at the two of them with the warmest smile on her face. Oh Naruto! I'm so happy for you two! She wiped a tear from her eye.

Naruto blinked. "I…"

Kushina giggled to herself and teasingly whispered over in Minato's ear. "Aww. Look at him getting all shy. Remind you of someone?"

Minato shook his head smiling. His cheeks flushed. "Ah. How could I forget?"

Hinata then took Naruto by the hand. "Come my love.. Sit with me. I made sure that our clan seats were next to one another."

Naruto blinked. "Uh sure."

The Uzumaki and Hyuga heads then took their seats.

Hinata then cuddled herself around his arm.

Kiba grinned foxily at Naruto. "Well well you bastard. I gotta say I'm surprised. I never thought you'd have the balls to actually ask Hinata out."

Naruto nervously chuckled. "Heh. Funny you mention that Kiba. It actually occurred the opposite way."

Kiba eyes widened and he turned to Hinata. "You initiated it?"

The bluenette had a wry smirk on her face. "I got tired of sitting on the sidelines."

Kiba then turned to Naruto blinking at him.

Tsunade smiled. "Alright you two. Let us discuss the matter at hand." She then put on her professional tone. "Naruto Namikaze Uzumaki.. As the Fifth Hokage of Konohagakure…I would like to make you and the Uzumaki family an offer."

Naruto raised an eyebrow at her. "What kind of offer Fifth Hokage?"

Tsunade smiled brightly at his recognition of her title. Naruto…my dearest grandson. I am so proud of you. You make my heart swell with pride. "Konohagakure has many enemies who seek to destroy her forests and harm her people. One of our greatest strengths as a people is the faith and love we put in one another as Konohanians. Each one of the clan heads here from the Aburames to the Yamanakas has pledged their loyalty to the defense of the Hidden Leaf Village. I believe it is beyond time that you and your family join them. As the clan head of the Uzumaki family, you have the choice whether or not to align your clan with Konoha."

She then took in a deep breath and gave him a rather intense look. "Doing so will earn you and your family legitimacy in the village. I give you my word on this. You won't have to deal with any more angry villagers or vendors who won't sell their goods to you. If any of them try…You have my personal guarantee that I will handle the matter personally."

Tsunade meant what she said. She not only cared for Naruto as any Hokage would care for the people in his or her care. He was her adopted grandson. He was family to her. She'd die for that if she had to.

Naruto turned to his mother and father who were standing beside him.

The two gave him a nod and smiled. Naruto didn't need much time to choose. He gave her a serious nod. "I accept that honor. I will fight Konoha's enemies wherever they stand!"

Tsunade pressed her hands together with a smirk. "I expected such an answer from you." She then pulled out a scroll and rolled it down to him. "This is a special scroll. Read it."

Naruto took the scroll and unrolled it. The kanji read "Konohanian Alliance Contract".

Tsunade spoke again. "Cut your palm with a kunai and press it on the scroll."

Naruto then pulled out a kunai from his left holster and quickly slit his left palm and placed it on the scroll. The scroll then activated with a circle forming around his hand with kanji protruding from it. The kanji then regressed back into the circle. It then disappeared.

Naruto removed his hand and stared at it in awe.

Tsunade then stood up and wrapped the young man in a hug while whispering in his ear. "Welcome home."

Sorry for the long wait! Work has been crazy!

Read and review!

There will be more of an action-based chapter on the next one!