Chapter Two

Breakfast at Hana's!

Minato leaned back against the walkway railing and admired his beautiful stone face. He rubbed the back of his head, chuckling softly at the half-asleep Naruto busy scrubbing Hiruzen's eye. Much like himself back during boyhood, the vulpine child hated mornings. As part of his son's punishment, Minato decided to clean the faces of the past (and current) Hokage at six in the morning. Hana promised to reduce his allowance for three weeks to prevent a follow-up performance. "Hey, Naruto! I look a little…stoned." He pointed at his face on the mountain.

"That's awful even by your own standards. Totally uncool." Naruto facepalmed at the pun and shook his head.

With a wide grin and a flashy little dance inspired by Jiraiya, Minato laughed. "I'll have you know, Naruto, that your papa is the coolest man in the world! You could learn a thing or two from my moves." The massive sigh from Naruto, followed by an eye-roll, pleased him beyond belief. It felt nice to play the fool when the entire village expected him to be always serious. Moments like these reminded him that he was a man first, Hokage second. Seeing his son totally embarrassed, he ended the show and smiled. "Since we're all done here, it's about time we head over to your sister's place. I heard Itachi is making breakfast!"

Naruto tilted his head. "You're eating with us?" Breakfast in the Namikaze House was the special meal of the day that Kushina worked extra hard to prepare for. His father never missed breakfast with his family, even on special occasions. "Why?"

"Oh, what? Your old man not cool enough to hang with?" Minato chuckled at Naruto's groan. "I figured that it would be nice to join you and Hana. She is part of my family as well!"

Naruto stared at his father with wide eyes before nodding slowly. Something must have happened after their dinner at Ichiraku. Kushina seemed far too nice to him in his panic over being labeled a pervert. A part of him hoped to hear that his father would leave the Tomato and move in with him. Hana told him it was rude to bring uninvited guests to social functions, but his father was critical. Whatever the outcome, he refused to allow this chance to slip away. "Sure! Itachi will make eggs and pancakes, hash browns, and sausage!"

"A feast worthy of a shinobi," Minato flashed a sparkling grin and summoned two shadow clones to take away the cleaning supplies. "Want to walk or flash?"

Walking meant having to deal with the villagers' starting at him. "Flash me!"

"Naruto…never say that again."

In a blur of yellow, father and son appeared in front of a small apartment across the entire village towards the eastern wall. Hana, upon reaching Chūnin, moved out of the Inuzuka Compound and into the apartment a few minutes away from the veterinarian office the clan ran. It saved time when she was working a shift and allowed Naruto to visit whenever he wanted. Unbeknownst to all but Minato, Hiashi Hyūga paid a large portion of the rent in honor of his late teammate. The man felt guilt for not doing more to help Tsume's children. Still, he maintained a steady vigil over both as a hidden guardian angel.

Naruto unlocked the front door with a spare key hidden under a dog statue. He stepped inside and removed his sandals, already smelling the sizzling bacon from the oven, along with the mumbling voices of Itachi and Hana. A mischievous smirk tore his face apart but disappeared under a warning glare from his father. He would prank his sister some other time when everything had settled down again.

"Morning, Hana!"

Moments later, a twenty-year-old woman stepped into the living room dressed in a pink bathrobe and carrying a cup of coffee. Chestnut hair curved around a sharp, strong, and beautiful jawline, representing the finest traits of the Inuzuka Clan. Two violet fang-like tattoos, symbols of her talents in leading nukenin into battle, ran down her cheeks. Brightest of all, her chocolate eyes glowed upon seeing Naruto.

"Happy birthday!" She placed her mug on a table and opened her arms wide. Naruto forgot about his plan to embarrass his father and embraced Hana in a tight hug. "I can't believe it's been ten years already. At least you aren't so chubby anymore!"

Minato smiled at the happy reunion. He hated sending Hana away on a mission close to Naruto's birthday. Still, her tracking skills surpassed all but the most senior Inuzuka hunters. She also wanted a hefty A-rank for the ANBU exams the following month. He had complete confidence in her abilities.

"He was pretty big those first two years," Minato mused, hanging his coat on a hook by the door. "If I didn't know better, I would have thought he was an Akimichi baby!" Naruto's inhuman appetite demanded at least three bottles per meal and six jars of baby food. The transition to solid foods allowed the toddler to devour three cups of ramen in one sitting while leaving room for an entire pack of hot dogs.

No boy liked to hear about their baby years, and Naruto was no different. "You guys bring that up every year."

Hana kissed his forehead. "Suck it up, foxy. We'll stop talking about you as a baby when you're taller than me." She looked up at Minato and bowed. "Thank you for delivering my brother, Lord Hokage. Again, apologies for the mess he made yesterday at your son's birthday party."

Minato sensed the hesitation she always spoke to him with. In many ways, he knew that she blamed him for her mother's death. He agreed with her; Tsume's death haunted him far more than anyone would know. They never shared romantic feelings and only interacted through Kushina until that fateful night. Her long months of suffering in isolation stained his soul. He should have stepped up and defended her instead of hiding behind his position as Hokage and hero. Instead, the fear of losing his status and power made him a coward who abandoned a woman carrying his child. Tears begged for release, but his son needed him to remain strong. He did not deserve to cry.

"No need to be so formal, Hana." Minato rubbed the back of his head, forcing a friendly tone to hide the depression swelling within. "I wanted to eat breakfast with you if that is okay."

"I said it was okay!" Naruto released Hana and grinned. "Come on! Papa barely eats anything, and Itachi makes the best breakfast."

Hana's smile diminished into a thin line. "It would be an honor, Lord Hokage. This is my brother's birthday celebration, and you have a duty to be here."

"Far from a duty. I am honored to be allowed to share at this moment." Minato bowed low for a few seconds. The gesture did little to improve the Inuzuka woman's displeasure with his continued presence. He felt thankful that Naruto seemed to be unaware of the tension. "I shall not take too much of your time today."

Itachi peered around the corner. His ANBU armor was covered in a pink apron. "Good morning, Lord Minato. You have chosen the most excellent day to join us. I am making pancakes." Hana's features softened at the arrival of her boyfriend. "Please. Take a seat and prepare for the famed Uchiha Scrambled Eggs!"

Breakfast passed without much incident. Once again, Itachi's cooking skills matched his skill in battle. Naruto and Hana chatted about her latest mission hunting down a criminal and the latest gossip floating around the Inuzuka Compound. Neither of them touched upon the important news of a new litter of nukenin due to Naruto's continued disappointment of being denied a companion. Minato needed to have one of his ANBU investigate why his son was denied such a critical component of his heritage. An Inuzuka without a canine companion was like an Uzumaki without red hair.

Like the perfect househusband, Itachi cleared the table singing a happy little tune that would have ruined (or enhanced) his reputation as one of the most ruthless shinobi of the Hidden Leaf. Hana's eyes followed his every step with a hidden blush. Experience told Minato that these two were in it for the long-haul fate willing. The thought of Fugaku's meltdown upon hearing his heir marrying a non-Uchiha brought a smile to his face. Luckily, many younger clan members viewed Itachi as a hero after saving the clan from Danzō's insidious plans.

"So, Naruto." Hana's focus returned to her younger brother, who was busy nibbling on a hot dog. "What did grandpa and grandma get you for your birthday?"

"Money."

"Okay…and what did you buy with it?" She rolled her eyes. Naruto's dedication to eating made mealtime conversation a choir unless he was interested in the topic.

"Nothing."

Minato sighed heavily and rubbed his forehead. "The wallet you gave Menma yesterday. Kushina mentioned that it had money in it."

"So?" Naruto yanked another wiener free of the package. "I know little bro wanted to eat today with Sasuke. That boy is boy-crazy!"

Itachi chuckled and placed another package of hotdogs in front of Naruto. "I pray for your brother's sake that the truth waits to come out. Sasuke's fangirls are known for their aggressiveness."

Hana rolled her eyes and poured another cup of coffee. "Back in my day, we never chased after boys like that."

"Sure thing, Granny." Naruto stuffed another hot dog in his mouth. "Did you have to walk uphill to and from school?"

"Of course! It snowed and rained every single day as well." Hana sipped from her mug to hide her smile. "Back to the important topic, you should have kept your birthday money. Grandpa gave it to you for you to spend, not Menma."

Naruto frowned and finished the next hotdog in a single bite. Finally, with a puffing of his cheeks, he glared at the table. "He only gave it to me to get me out." An awkward silence fell upon the room. "Menma could use it more than I could. Not like any of the shops allow me to buy stuff."

Minato shot a confused look at Hana. Her expression matched his. He remembered a few incidents of merchants denying Naruto service. However, a visit from Kakashi changed their minds quickly. "Who's not allowing you to shop at their stores?"

The boy did not respond, focusing on the rest of his hot dogs.

"Hana," Minato turned to her. "If you or he have any problems, please report them to me immediately. I do not care if I'm meeting with Amaterasu herself."

"We shall do that, Lord Minato," Itachi responded when Hana ignored the man. "I have been aware of increasing tension around young Naruto after his third tail appeared last month."

Naruto emitted a deep growl, pulling his lips back to display a pair of dagger-like fangs. "Can we please not talk about my mutations? It sucks that your dad brings it up every time I come to train with Sasuke."

A plate crashed onto the floor as Itachi spun around to stare at the vulpine child. Black pinwheels formed in a sea of red. "What did he say?"

"Itachi, calm down." Hana groaned at his overprotectiveness. "You know how your father is."

"What did he say, Naruto?" Itachi took a step forward with that emotionless mask plastered on strong. Minato stared at the young man, understanding why so many feared him. When Naruto did not respond, Itachi took a deep breath as his eyes returned to a normal color. "Very well. I shall remind my father to be polite to all guests within our home." He returned to the dishes without a song, and Hana readied herself for the storm that was to be unleashed once Naruto and Minato left.

Naruto finished his second pack of hotdogs and went to the fridge for a third pack. "Slow down," Hana commanded with a slight smirk, hoping to brighten the atmosphere. "You're about to eat me out of house and home! Save some for later. Run back to your apartment and take a shower. We're going to the opera today." Naruto sprinted out of the house in a squall of orange tails, yipping with uncontrolled glee.

Minato raised an eyebrow at the unexpected revelation. "Never pictured Naruto, of all people, to be so interested in theater. I'll arrange for the Hokage Booth to be open to you three."

Itachi dried his hands and sat at the table, knowing that Hana would prefer not to interact much with the Hokage. "He enjoys the music and costumes the most. I am sure he'll enjoy sitting close to the stage."

"He never mentioned it to me." Minato felt guilt once more about missing such a passion for his son. "I'll make sure to take him more often. Kushina has been harping for me to go with her more."

Hana shook her head, looking far more tired than any twenty-year-old should. "Please refrain from having my brother around that woman. She has caused him more than enough grief for one lifetime."

"I shall abide by your wishes. However, let it be known that I do my best to avoid having them interact." Minato rubbed his forehead, feeling another headache boiling. "I wish I could stay longer, but my paperwork is building in my office. Do you wish for me to take Naruto out to dinner tonight to allow you two some time alone?"

Itachi's ghostly smile appeared. "That would be wonderful, Lord Minato. But, before you leave, there is one more matter Hana needs to discuss with you."

"Naruto's eating habits," Minato concluded with a frown. He noticed their shocked expression and smiled. "I was not named Hokage just for my handsome face. How much is he eating?"

"Ever since his third tail appeared, I've noticed him wolfing down much more than normal. Eight eggs, nine pancakes, and three cups of hashbrowns are almost double what a normal adult human should consume, let alone a ten-year-old boy." Hana poured herself another cup of coffee. "I've been checking his weight daily. If anything, he seems to be not eating enough."

"Could it be the seal and the fox?" Itachi scratched his face. "I have heard stories of Kumo's Jinchūrikis having similar appetites. Lady Kushina still eats a lot even without the fox."

Hana shook her head and drummed her fingers. "I have studied the reports and reached out to a few colleagues. They are nowhere near this bad. Double helpings are one thing, but Naruto can eat a week's worth of calories in a single day if not restrained."

"I shall summon Lady Tsunade to come this week for a check-up and get her opinion. Kushina's last seal examination showed that it was fully intact with only slight signs of deterioration. Lord Third, while not an Uzumaki, understood sealing far better than anyone else in Konoha besides Kushina." Once Naruto had begun to show physical changes, Minato did much research into the history of the Nine-Tailed Fox for any records that could have given him insight into what was happening. Unfortunately, the Fox moved through history in ways too subtle for historians to trace. The other Bijū appeared like natural disasters, leveling cities and mountains in fits of rage. The Nine-Tails destroyed nations from the inside, planting seeds of corruption among an unsuspecting populace that would blossom into madness generations down the line.

"Please inform me when she arrives," Hana finished the rest of the coffee. "I have done bloodwork on him and found some concerning things."

"Such as?" Minato did not like where this was going.

Hana's tone betrayed her smile. "My brother has more DNA in common with a fox than he does with us."


The palace's halls echoed with the sound of merriment at the new peace treaty that promised an end to the war between the Land of Ancestors and the Land of That. Representatives from both countries gathered at the request of Tenji, emperor of the Land of Ancestors, to finalize a treaty that would guarantee decades of peace and prosperity for the entire realm. Civilians and samurai alike ate and drank without abandon, enjoying the new world created by their emperor.

Among the guests, Suzaku watched the celebrations with boredom. He had done as his king commanded and negotiated a favorable agreement with the young Emperor despite his own desires to seize control of the Land of Ancestors through war. He sipped a small cup of sake but found the rice wine far too bitter. His heart longed for something more exciting than peace and wine. The soft laughter of Kaguya, the prized concubine of Emperor Tenji, broke him out of his brooding. Her ethereal beauty filled him with lust and desire, but there was no way that the Emperor would part from his lover willingly.

"She is beyond words, is she not?" A small white fox with five tails climbed onto the bench beside him and stared at him with crimson eyes. It did not speak through the mouth but projected a feminine voice into his mind.

"Be gone, kitsune." Suzaku glared at the demon with disgust. "Your attempts to destroy this treaty have failed. So you can do nothing more than hide away in the mountains with the rest of your miserable ilk."

The fox giggled slightly, a horrible noise that no animal should have been able to make unless supernatural. "Perhaps. Perhaps not. However, I have a way for you to take what you most desire." Crimson eyes gestured to Kaguya. "The Emperor's concubine is leaving the capital night to visit her private estate this very night. She'll only have her nagging handmaiden with her."

Suzaku's glare cooled into a mild curiosity. "How do you know this, kitsune?"

"I know many things. These walls hold many secrets that you would find most interesting." The Kitsune purred and nuzzled into his side. "For example, Kaguya is not from this world and contains a power far greater than any mere human. With her by your side, you'll be able to rule both the Land of Ancestors and the Land of That. What a mighty king you would become!" She hopped to the floor to walk away but stopped at the last moment. "The one desire leaves the palace at midnight and will take the western road out of the city. Do what you will with that information."

Once more, Suzaku stared at Kaguya with eyes of lust. He would have her that night, fulfilling every desire burning in his heart. "What is your name, oh mighty kitsune, so that I may honor you upon my accession to the throne?"

The fox's burning eyes pulsed with amusement, its tails swaying slightly. "You may call me…Kurama."

Deep within Naruto, the kitsune dreamed...


And that is another chapter done and posted! Pretty basic chapter over all that was needed to introduce Hana along with presenting so more plot details that will become much more important in the following chapters. Plus, I wanted to show off more of Naruto through how other people see him rather than his POV. Next chapter will be a very Naruto-centric chapter featuring a time skip of a few years. Graduation ages have been pushed back to 15 with an explanation due to Minato not feeling comfortable sending children into battle.

So far, in the polls, Tsuande and Kushina are neck to neck. Both of them can take the story in a fun direction. Make sure to vote on the poll on my profile page. I'll leave it up all weekend.