Prologue - The Last of His Clan

What is it that you desire? Is it to be acknowledged? For everyone around you to praise your name and sing of your accomplishments for decades after your life comes to pass? Or is it to be powerful? To strike down any and all who stand in your way and oppose you? Maybe, your desires are beyond mortality. Do you desire to be immortal not just in your ideas but to truly stand the ages?

I just don't want to be forgotten. I don't want to be alone in this agonizing life where I have to fight for the right to breathe and live. If to hold any of that means I have to be powerful, and to be feared so much that none would dare cross me or my loved ones, then so be it.

Interesting desire. I have not many who wish to be strong for others. My previous containers never needed me to protect them, they were always cocky and confident in their abilities that it was sickening to me how they would look down on others - or down on me, for that matter. I guess with your childhood it would be of no surprise that you would not be like them.

What will you do with me now, then?

I don't know. To tell you the truth, kit, I've not been faced with a mortal that I have respect for since my father. I guess what I will do is help you, train you what I know of chakra and advise you when I can.

I would appreciate that, furball. I just have one question.

What is that?

Can you tell me what you knew of my parents?

...sure, kit. Your parents, not the best of the mortals that I've ever met but surely not the worst, were very famous within your village. Your father alone was Hokage, your idol to be exact.

Five Years Later

"...and to this day the village that was destroyed by Iwa, Kumo and Kiri have never been explored or seen again."

Iruka sighed as he closed that particular chapter of the Second Shinobi World War. While he was very knowledgeable of all Shinobi wars and skirmishes that Konoha and the Land of Fire was a part of, he didn't like the idea that a whole civilisation was wiped out from the face of the earth and they didn't even know the clan or village that was destroyed. It was like it was erased from history purposefully, and it was something that he would rather not think about or else he will fall down the same hole so many other historians have done before him.

Half the class he was teaching was merged with another class that had a lot of their civilian-born students drop out and now their teacher, Konoko Juno, was a co-teacher. They took turns in lectures, but he would have to be blind if he didn't acknowledge that her ability to keep the student's attention was greatly better than his and while he knew more about Konoha's historical events, she specialized on cultures and clans and recalled and explained much more about foreign customs than he ever could.

He was silently grateful to have her with him as she was able to clarify much of what they learned to very acute details such as important names and dates of any lecture that even he would have a hard time remembering and because of that they were possibly the best academic duo at the present. It was only fitting that their class held the next generation of Konoha's clan heirs.

He looked up when he saw one of his students, Haruno Sakura, raise her hand. "Yes, Haruno-san?"

"Why did it take three of the five ninja villages to destroy a single archipelago if the clan was outnumbered, Iruka-sensei? What made them so dangerous that they were completely destroyed?"

Iruka nodded his head in silent thought as he tried to work out an answer to her question. "Sadly, all of our curricular textbooks do not specify the destruction of the village or who they were. Even during the time when I attended the academy, nothing beyond the destruction of the clan was given despite being told they were an ally of ours. No one has decided to question the lack of details because it is just a minor inconvenience compared to the rest that is required of you to learn. I am sorry, Haruno-san."

"Actually," everyone looked at Juno as she gave a playful smirk to Iruka as she leaned forward in her chair. "I have access to a book that detailed the history of the village prior to these textbooks provided by the Academic Board of Directors, but sadly I was not prepared for today's lesson and did not bring it. However, I can answer the questions of anyone who is curious about this event, even you, Umino-san."

"Would you be able to answer my question, Konoko-sensei?"

"Of course," Juno grinned at the child and stood to her feet. "The village that was destroyed was called Uzushiogakure, the Village Hidden in the Whirling Tides, which they named after the unnatural whirlpools that protected their archipelago like a natural barrier. The reason that Iwa, Kumo and Kiri had attacked the village is quite simple when you think very little of it, as Umino-San said it is but a minor inconvenience, but the more you learn of it the more understandable the destruction makes in hindsight. The simple aspect of it is that the village housed people that were trained in Fuinjutsu, the art of seals, the most dangerous and least understood aspect of shinobi techniques, and they had made it to such a degree that they could devastate armies with a single seal without having to risk a single person. The long reason would take a whole day so we will be unable to go into it today."

Quiet words were exchanged among the excitable students but another rose their hand, this time it was from Hyuuga Hinata. "Konoko-sensei, what were the people? Did any of them possibly escape the destruction?"

Konoko grinned at her favored student and nodded her head. "Good question, Hyuuga-chan. Yes, it has been documented by a small group of… hmm, radical Konoha shinobi and Hi no Kuni historians, I guess you can say, that the clan that lived in the archipelago have indeed survived in small groups and individuals across the elemental nations. Many have chosen to live in small villages away from shinobi and have hid since. Can anyone tell me the founding clans of our village? Nara-kun, can you answer for me?"

The sleepy Nara heir, Shikamaru, glanced from behind his folded arms before sighing and sat up. "The founding clans of Konoha are the Senju and Uchiha clans, with other clans agreeing to support its formation. The supporting clans were the Aburame, Akimichi, Hyuuga, Inuzuka, Nara, Sarutobi, and Yamanaka clans. Those like Hatake, Kurama, Shimura and others had formed from individuals and their families migrating after the initial formation."

"You are almost completely correct," Juno giggled at the baffled and shaken look of Shikamaru and the class. "There was one who had helped the Senju and Uchiha form the basis and the idea of a cooperative Hidden Village, even acting as the mediator between the two hostile clans. The name of the village is actually derived from their clan name. Can anyone guess?"

It was silent as everyone looked at each other, but Juno watched as Shikamaru slowly came to his realization and his head snapped to the sleeping blonde boy next to him. With a grin, she clapped for the young child and everyone looked at her. "Congratulations, Nara-kun, you found it out. Yes, one of the individuals who had inherently survived is attending our class, albeit very tiredly. The Uzumaki clan, the Masters of Seals and the Summoners of Ancients."

"What!"

Everyone's shout had woken the boy up, making him startle and look around in fright, preparing to run at the slightest of hints of danger, but he instead was met with the stares of his fellow students. "What's everyone looking at me for?"

"We were just talking about you, Naruto-kun," was Iruka's response as he was staring in shock, glancing at Juno. "Are you sure of this, Konoko-senpai?"

Juno chuckled and nodded her head. "The Uzumaki clan are one of the eldest clans ever recorded, even suggested to have been formed before even the Senju, Uchiha and Hyuuga clans, but that has been very hard to prove with the lack of written evidence due to Uzumaki records being destroyed or stolen in the extermination."

Naruto's eyes brightened when he realized what they were talking about. "I didn't know we were talking about Uzushio! Why didn't anyone wake me up?"

This time even Juno was surprised at the shout of the child, as no one older than late-thirties had even known of this clan anymore. The fact that the last Uzumaki within the village even knew of their heritage was a surprise to her as Hiruzen had made sure that the village let alone the boy had no knowledge of his parentage. "How do you know of your clan, Uzumaki-san?"

Naruto gave a sour look, crossing his arms and leaning back in frustration. "Well, I did not know for certain that I was part of a clan at first. But some weird things had developed and I got curious, but even when I asked Oji-chan he would not tell me. I would have never found out if it were not for a group of travelling merchants that come through here every month. They knew of my clan, and they shared what they knew, and by what they knew I mean they had a whole set of books on the history of the clan that they kindly sold to me for a generous five ryo."

While the explanation Naruto gave was no lie, it was also not the entire truth. He knew that he had a clan because Kyuubi told him when telling him about his parents. The traveling merchants are actually former retainers of the Uzumaki clan that come through to make sure that he is taken care of because he is the sole survivor of the main Uzumaki line. Others are either too far off or are not true Uzumaki. The retainers also swore their loyalty to him as the new Clan Head and are set to repair Uzushio.

Juno tilted her head in confusion but did not push on that line of topic. "Would you like to share what you know then, Uzumaki-san?"

Naruto took a moment to think on the request, looking around the room to see everyone looking at him in surprise - even Sasuke and Shikamaru were giving him their full attention. "I'm going to assume you briefly explained why they were destroyed in the first place. The Uzumaki were not only Fuinjutsu experts, despite that being the main thing they were destroyed for. They also had very long lives, the average age of death for them being about 170 years old and because of that they are also very durable and have been noted to withstand much more severe injuries and recover easily.

"On top of that, they also had a unique ability to heal themselves and others through the consumption of their chakra. This unique ability is also what made the teams of Uzushiogakure even scarier than normal villagers. Back in their prime, Uzushiogakure would have teams of five, which is where we got the idea for Genin cells. Uzushio teams included a Jounin leader, three ninjutsu and genjutsu specialists, and the final member would be trained to use just kenjutsu and support fuinjutsu that would consume as little chakra as possible. This would conserve their chakra for the times needed to heal their teammates, and Uzumaki are noted for having highly potent chakra that grants extra abilities. They were also designated as the sensory agents of the team, but nearly all Uzumaki had the ability to sense chakra for a minimum of two and a half miles."

Naruto grinned as he looked up at Iruka, asking him, "I'm sure you're going to be proud of me when I say this, Iruka-sensei. Everyone knows how the Kyuubi is the strongest of the Biju, and that specific Biju has always been part of Konoha's long history, correct?" Getting nods from everyone he laughed as he tried to contain his amusement of what he was going to tell them. "Well, a Biju cannot be killed as it is an entity of pure and very powerful chakra. Even our beloved Shodai Hokage could not defeat him. However, many villages realized you could contain and even control the power granted by these Tailed Beasts, and Konoha was no different."

"Uzumaki-san, are you sure you want to share what you are about to share," Juno warned the twelve year old boy. "It may be common knowledge for the adults, but your class is forbidden to have learned it from their parents."

Naruto looked at the woman and shook his head. "If I'm going to be hated, then I want there to be a reason rather than be outcast just because some dumbasses say so. As I was saying, the Biju can only be contained into children with undeveloped chakra because the power of a Biju will almost always kill an adult. The Kyuubi, especially, required a host with a strong body and will. Very few individuals can do so. However, it was my clan, because of their longevity, were the most ideal containers for the most powerful Biju like the Nanabi, the Hachibi and the Kyuubi. I am the third container of the Kyuubi within the history of Konoha."

Looking at the class, he settled on a stare with Shikamaru, his best friend, who was silently and vigorously thinking about what he was hearing. "My great-great-aunt was also a holder of the Kyuubi, she is also the grandmother of Tsunade Senju of the Sannin; Mito Uzumaki. She married the Shodai, and in her late twenties had to become the container after the Shodai and Madara's infamous battle. Then my mother, just a few years prior to the start of the Second Shinobi World War that would lead to the destruction of Uzushiogakure, was chosen. Hilariously enough, my mother also married one of our Hokage."

"Uzumaki-san, I don't think-"

"My father," Naruto interrupted harshly as he looked at Juno with a glare to stop her from speaking, "is none other than the man who gave me the burden. My father, the husband of my mother, is no one else other than the Yondaime, Minato Namikaze. Someone who used to be my idol, is the very person who condemned me to be ostracized by my village."

Naruto sighed as he rubbed his neck in exasperation. "I have been condemned to this life, to protect the village against a being of incredible power, and I am feared and hated for it. Many civilians do not understand seals so when they hear that Kyuubi was sealed into me it sounded that I am the Biju given mortal form - which, mind you, could not be farther from the truth. Telling any of you this is basically breaking many laws that are supposed to protect me and nearly all of them are punishable by death or life imprisonment."

This time, he gained a fire in his eyes and he gave a look to all of his classmates before standing on his feat. "I am Naruto Uzumaki, heir to the Uzumaki clan, the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi, and the greatest prankster this village has ever had! My goal is to bring back my clan and my home to prosperity, so be prepared to hear my name in the future because I will make myself greater than even Oji-chan! You better believe it!"

A few people began laughing at his ability to make the seriousness of the situation into a light-hearted promise of a lifetime, and Iruka and Juno watched with proud smiles on their faces.

Good speech, kit, but you may have just given Hiruzen a headache with you blowing the lid on your knowledge of your heritage.

It doesn't matter to me, furball, because I will bring back my clan and I will make them powerful once more.

I can't wait for the harem.

Wait! Harem?!