Disclaimer: We do not own Naruto

Co-author & Beta: Etheral-23

Chapter 18: Family ties

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The beams of the moonlit shined from the heavens above over Konoha. Idly Kushina gazed out her window taking the sight of the forest of death. Her eyes soon returned to the sleeping form of her son lying on her bed with his head on her lap. She took in every detail of Naruto as she watched his chest rise and fall.

It was a bit hard to be, this was her son, her son, hers and Minato's.

Her hand rested in her son's spiky golden locks, her heart ached. Twelve years... Years she could never get back, but now was not the time for moping, she shook it off turning her sights to Hiruzen; "How was it everyone learned about my son's Jinchuuriki status while mine was so well hidden?"

"I have no answers for you my dear; I found no leads on how Naruto's status was learned by the masses."

Kushina looked over to her former student; "The ANBU looked into everything, Commander Fox himself headed the investigation but we couldn't find any evidence," Yugao lightly huffed. "Whoever leaked it made certain they were never found."

"Which means whoever did it is really good in this line of work to have been able to get away with it" Kushina reasoned, and let out a sigh. She had been spared of her status as Jinchuuriki becoming public knowledge so she would not have to go through the ordeal of the civilians treating her any differently because of it, and so the rival villages would not target her.

Barring the episode of Kumo kidnapping her, whom she deduced only had guesses and leads to her being the Jinchuuriki based on her lineage rather than any solid evidence, her secret had been revealed to only a few officials of the village and people she could trust with this kind of information.

For Naruto to have been exposed like that since birth... She had no idea how it must have been like, part of her didn't even want to know. But this growing side of her that was becoming alarmingly stronger by the minute, her motherly side, needed to know.

"How bad was it?" She softly asked, never taking her eyes away from her son. Her son... the thought felt so strange yet wonderful.

Kakashi's gaze avoided her, as though ashamed. Yugao closed her eyes somberly while the wizened Kage sighed. It was the village leader that answered her. "He was... alone. For a long time"

It felt like a kunai was lodged in her heart as Kushina bit her lip, "I ensured nothing extreme like abuse ever happened like some Jinchuuriki save yourself was treated. At best his treatment by the village was with a mild neglect."

Outcast, pariah, and a few the kinder words used for a Jinchuuriki in most villages. The Uzu matriarch shook her head, "But Mikoto, Hisahi, Inoichi, and Tsume-"

"You know clan politics Kushina-sama," Kakashi responded back quietly, "Involving a Jinchurriki into the household? That made things extremely complicated"

The redhead growled before huffing in annoyance. Of course she knew; taking in a Jinchuuriki was essentially being given an edge over the other clans. This upsets the balance of power between them. As much as she did not want to admit it, her friend's hands were tied. So they couldn't do anything for Naruto, "Did they know at least?"

"They knew Naruto was your son," Hiruzen nodded. "But knowing only made it more frustrating for them. I can't count how many times Tsume was swearing and shouting in my office."

A snort came from Kushina; "Hasn't lost her temper has she?" Glancing to her side she noticed how quiet Kakashi was being; "You okay?"

"...I wasn't there for him" He finally said with guilt.

"Sempai" Yugao tried to intervene.

But the Hatake continued on; "I actually went out of my way to avoid him" His voice was filled with shame and self-loathing. "He was all alone and I could have..."

Spent time with him. Invite him to eat ramen. Teach him from an early age how to be a ninja, how to deal with this unforgiving life. But he didn't, he just watched the boy from a distance, even when he could clearly see the loneliness in his downcast expression.

He had been so afraid, afraid of becoming close to Naruto and have him share the same fate all his loved ones did...

Even now as he sensei he still hadn't make things right, as watched the boy grow up with the best aspects of his parents, Minato's sheer dedication and drive, Kushina's overwhelming kindness and cheerfulness, he did not have the guts to tell the boy the truth. To apologize for having failed him.

He closed his eye. "Forgive me, Kushina-sama. I dishonored Minato-sensei's memory as well as yours"

For a moment the room fell into silence, which was only broken by Kushina's sigh. "Carrying all that guilt on you, there's something I'm not happy to see it hasn't changed..." She looked at him even as he refused to meet her eyes. "When Obito and Rin died, I saw as you nearly lost yourself to despair. I don't even want to imagine the kind of mess you were with me and Minato gone..."

Hiruzen grunted but held his tongue. The word 'mess' did not even began to cover it.

"You actually think I'd accuse you or berate you when you obviously must have been on a terrible, terrible place at the time?"

The Jounin still would not look at her; "Kakashi Hatake look at me." Obeying Kakashi's one eye turned and gazed into Kushina's warm understanding Violet orbs; "I will never berate you for a damn thing. Except holding onto that damn guilt."

Kakashi felt lighter... If only just a little as Kushina motioned for him to get closer. Doing so he was brought into a hug by the redhead. "Still a stubborn brat," She whispered.

A few stray tears fell from the Jounin's eye as both Yugao and Hiruzen smiled; "Get some rest, all of you. We will talk in the morning," the Sandaime ordered.

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Naruto grumbled as the sunlight hit his eyes; 'Why does that damn sun always come on me in the mornings,' yeah the blond was never much of a morning person. Groggy the blond sat up as he stretched and then rubbed his eyes. Blinking a few times his vision adjusted seeing Kakashi-sensei and an ANBU woman sleeping in two chairs?

He noticed his surroundings, why was he in a medical room? Then his brain finally jump started as he turned seeing the resting form of his mother. 'It...It wasn't a dream...' He felt a few tears come from his eyes before rubbing them away. 'My mom's alive...'

Kushina soon groaned as the morning sun landed onto her face; "Can someone blow up the damn sun dattebane..." she muttered as she pulled the blanket over her face.

"Mom" He tried softly tapping her shoulder. "Come on, wake up"

The figure under the blankets suddenly grew very still. Slowly, like a frightened animal, her eyes peaked above the end of the blanket. Two violet orbs looked as his blue ones with apprehension.

She stared at him like that for a moment that was becoming increasingly awkward.

"Oh, right... I have a twelve year old son" She said, her voice slightly breathy. Most of her face remained hidden behind the blanket while her eyes bore into him, wide and unblinking.

"Um, you okay?"

"Me? Yeaaah, yeah. Just... freaking out a little bit. It'll pass"

Naruto sweatdrops as the door opens stirring both Kakashi and Yugao as the Hokage walks in smoking his pipe. "Kuma is bringing some breakfast for everyone," he sweatdrops seeing only half of Kushina's face peeking out from under her blanket.

Soon blinking, Kushina sat up lowering her blanket; "Kuma's still around huh"

"He was the poor bastard you sent to dream land with the sedatives yesterday," Kakashi dryly spoke up.

The redhead winced; "Oh... I'll apologize when he gets here."

The silver haired Jounin waved it off before looking over to a stretching Yugao sweat-dropping; "You slept with your mask on?" The female ANBU weakly chuckled.

Kushina rolled eyes as Hiruzen sighed; "You have permission to remove your mask Neko. Naruto I know won't say anything."

The said blonde lightly blushed seeing the cute round face of Neko with her warm brown eyes looking at him with a smile from her ruby red lips. "My name is Yugao Uzuki. Your mother's only student." The purple haired woman stood walking over to her sensei and sensei's son.

Naruto slowly blinked at her in confusion. "Okay. Couple of questions here; you have a student and not a genin team?"

"Eh sometimes happens" His mother shrugged. "Odd number of graduates. Jonin putting their name and reputation on the line and taking on a single apprentice. Or a student is handpicked to be trained for a specific role. They're various reasons as to why they don't get teams"

The Hokage supplied. "For example, Lee was under Gai's mentor-ship until he was assigned a team"

"Oh Gai got a student?" Kushina's smile broke into a wide grin. "I so want to see what kind of tough kid can put up with that attitude"

Kakashi, Naruto, Yugao and Hiruzen paled considerably. "Um, yeah" The ANBU in the room started nervously. "That is... T-The point is, I was considered a bit more advanced during my evaluations and so Kushina-sensei decided to take me under her wing"

Kushina snorts; "A little advanced? Yu-chan here was my little prodigy!"

Yugao 'eeped' being hugged by her teacher who rubbed her cheek against hers; "I never saw anyone take to kenjutsu so well that wasn't an Uzumaki!"

"Sensei," the purple haired woman groaned blushing while glaring over at a chuckling Kakashi "Keep laughing sempai, I will get back at you."

"Ma. Ma, like the several dozen other times you and the others tried before?" The Jounin eye-smiled. "Besides, you're used to Kushina-Sama's antics as much as I am."

It just dawn on Naruto how familiar Kakashi was with his mother; "Uh how do you know my mom Kakashi-sensei?"

The room became quiet and still. There was no ignoring the question, no brushing it off as he would usually do; at this point it was either the truth or the truth. There was no backing away from it.

"Your father was my sensei"

Either Naruto took the news in stride, or the recent events had dulled him greatly, for his face remained impassive and nearly expressionless, if not for the slight twitch of his cheek that Kakashi could see.

"Ah" Was his reply.

Kakashi saw the fist coming from a mile away, he could have dodged easily or held his fist back, but he chose to receive it, he deserved it after all. It didn't hurt that much slamming into his jaw, only a slight annoyance compared to the things he had endured in his long career, but as long as Naruto had some vindication and quelled his anger then that was what mattered.

The blonde grunted as he pulled his fist back, quietly shaking it. That had hurt more to him than it surely did to Kakashi. "Thanks for telling me..." He said in sarcasm laced with anger.

"Naruto Uzumaki!" Kushina yelled before Kakashi rose up his hand.

The Jounin rubbed his jaw; "No I deserved that. Naruto asked me months ago in Nami about Minato-Sensei, but I chickened out in telling him the truth. I offer no excuses to you Naruto, I should have been in your life since you were little, but I wasn't. After losing my father, my teammates, Sensei, and Kushina-Sama I was just too afraid to get close to you. For that I am sorry."

For a long minute after the blond had calmed down with a deep breathe. He looks blankly to the ground; "You're here now. That's what counts."

"Hai."

Hiruzen breathed out some smoke; "Naruto," the blond lifted his head; "Why don't you show your mother your 'gift?'" He said, attempting to lift the mood in the room.

Kushina blinked as her son's face brightened turning to his mother, "I nearly forgot. I have a Kekkai Genkai!" The redhead gawked as a crystal kunai formed in his hand. "It's called Shoton, isn't it cool dattebayo!"

"Achkupsf!" His mother made a hilarious choking sound as she shook her head and rubbed her eyes. "Where in Amaterasu's shining ass did you get that?! I sure as hell don't have that Kekkei Genkai, nor any close relatives of mine! Minato didn't say anything about his line having it either..."

"I dunno" Naruto shrugged. "I just... awoke it one day when I was in danger" He hadn't pondered much on how he came to develop this element to be honest.

"A recessive bloodline that skips generations perhaps?" Hiruzen suggest with a gesture of his hand. "It is not uncommon for that to happen sometimes, there are instances in which bloodline traits may manifest at random in people. Your adamantine chains are one such example Kushina"

"Wait what?" The blonde had to do a double take at that, he look at his mother with a wide grin. "You have a Kekkei Genkai too mom? That's so cool!"

Scratching the back of her head, Kushina lightly grunted; "Well, Tsukiko-Baachan said our chains were mostly found in the main house, but there were exceptions. And mostly woke in the females, with a few males in between."

Lifting her right hand, a chain phased through her palm, going down part way. "This chain can hold down even a Biju. I can use it in both offensive and defensive. But Baachan never said anything about Shoton." Retracing her chain, she takes the crystal kunai inspecting it. The detailing was beyond remarkable.

The Hokage rubbed his chin; "At any rate I had Jiraiya training the lad when not on one of his missions."

"The old perv is still breathing," Kushina smirked; "and still our spy master." Not that she was surprised; he was back when Minato was Hokage. And it was what he was best at. "Speaking of the perv, where is he?"

"On assignment, he should be back by today."

Kushina absently nodded as her gaze shifted in thought, she bit her lower lip and then asked. "And mom?"

The occupants in the room save the genin stiffened at the question, exchanging nervous looks as they tried to come up with the most suitable way to tell her that would not result in the redhead bursting in rage.

"She um" The Hokage began slowly. "Hasn't returned"

Kushina's violet eyes close shut, her grip on the sheets tightening until her knuckles were white. Her chest rose as she took a long intake of air, indicating she was trying to reign in the anger that was coursing through her.

After a few seconds, Kushina let all that air out, as though her anger was slowly seeping through as well. "Yeah... Yeah of course she hasn't. Why would she?"

"Um," everyone looked to Naruto who looked at his mother with, understandably, a perplexed gaze; "your mom?"

"Adoptive mother" The Hokage supplied. "Tsunade Senju"

…Ok, what the fuck?

Ugh, too much emotions and too many revelations lately, he couldn't deal with this right now. So he'd put it in the back of his head for later, because oh boy, he knew this was going to come up later…

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Sakura stretched after a long shower and changed of clothes. She was grateful their room had one. She walked towards the beds while Sasuke looked out the window. The rosette sighed as she sat down; "Hope Naruto is alright." He didn't come to their room last night, but he was with the Hokage, so he had to be okay. That's what she told herself.

"Hm," Sasuke grunted as he kept his gaze out to the forest.

It was odd in a way, being alone with Sasuke after everything that happened; she liked to think she was no longer the same fangirl that would chase him around during their academy days. Looking back at it, it all had been so... childish. The academy did not prepare her for what a true shinobi life would be like. Oh that was their sensei's job, but even then Sakura felt she had been ill-prepared to deal with the world out there.

Bandits. Mercenaries. Enemy ninja. Honest to the gods' psychopaths. By all intents and purposes she should have died, after all, civilian born ninjas rarely meet a fate that goes beyond 'cannon fodder'. But here she was, taking on the next trial to ascend through the village's ranks, and serve as a more effective soldier.

Huh... Soldier. Yes, that's what she was. That's what they all were. She had joined the academy with no clear goal in mind; just juvenile thoughts driving her, the excitement and adventure that a ninja's life promised that inspired their young fantasies.

But the truth was much darker than she ever thought. On that day when she first left the village walls and came home with a new outlook on the world, seeing it for what it truly was.

What did that mean to Sakura? She still wasn't sure, but for now she'd move forward, respecting and honoring the path many have trailed long before her, as a shinobi of Konoha.

And the person she owed it all that got her acting like a serious kunoichi was Naruto… Perhaps she needed to express it, not just to him, but to the other teammate in front of her, having put up with her all this time. "Sorry for being so annoying back during the academy and after."

The Uchiha turned fully wide eyed before regaining his normal composure; "It's fine." Well that came out of nowhere, but he had to admit she had improved quite a lot since Nami no Kuni. She definitely looked a lot healthier, and by the tone he could see in her arms he could tell she had been training seriously.

Granted she annoyingly still asked for dates, but that has lessened to a bearable degree... Now if Ino could take notes that be a blessing. "You've been training with Naruto?"

Blinking her emerald eyes in shock, Sakura slowly nodded. Sasuke was actually talking back? "Y-Yeah. Ever since Nami. We've been doing whatever we can to improve. We even been learning the same Taijutsu Naruto found in the library."

The sparring sessions were fun. Though Naruto started paling when the rosette started working on her strength. "I really need to step up so I can help you guys. And Naruto wants to show everyone he not the dead-last anymore."

And he really wasn't, if Sasuke was honest to himself.

Then again, Naruto wasn't the only one he had to reevaluate his opinion of.

He thought back on how Sakura protected him by herself, risking her life for him, as was proper of a comrade. He couldn't remember last time she had tried to ask him out. Perhaps she was finally growing as shinobi, a valuable comrade in arms he could rely on. She and Naruto.

Sasuke wasn't used to relying on people. He thought that perhaps he'd never do, not since...

Hmm... Perhaps he too was growing a bit.

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Jiraiya hadn't been much aware of his surroundings, a mistake that could cost any ninja his life. But right now his mind was concerned with other matters. He had been recalled quickly, what he had been informed about at the village gate by Iguru... He could scarcely believe it. It had to be true but he just didn't dare hope...

The forest became a fast blur, he barely even realized he had entered the building and the ANBUs escorted him through the warded off area of the medical section. His heart pounded inside his chest as he approached the doors leading to the room, he could hear faint voices behind it, barely strong enough for him to recognize.

Facing Hanzo, or any of the most dangerous opponents he had fought in his life, didn't even make his hands sweat as much as this moment could.

He controlled his shaking as he grasped the door knob and opened it walking through the threshold.

His breath got caught in his throat as he saw what lay inside the room.

The same red hair, those same violet eyes turned to him with the same brightness he remembered.

The same smile. "Hey"

Jiraiya stood frozen at the door.

"I know this must be a lot to take in for you, it's still a bit of a haze to me to be honest"

...

"Feels like I just saw you the other day but... It wasn't the same for you, for any of you as I understand"

...

"Well..." Kushina's gaze shifted awkwardly. "Are you going to stand there or are you going to say some-"

Her words died off as he crossed the room in an instant and tightly embraced her, eyes shut tight as his voice managed to brokenly strain out; "Don't ever scare me like that again, girl..."

Both Hiruzen and Kushina blinked, Jiraiya seldom if ever acted with such emotion behind his actions in such a manner. The fact he was actually embracing the redhead spoke how emotional the man was at present. Soon a small smile came from the Uzu woman who hugged the man back; "I promise, you old pervert."

Letting go, albeit slowly, Jiraiya turned to his old sensei; "How?"

"Luck along with a seal made by the goddess of Fūinjutsu herself." The elder Kage blew out some smoke from his pipe.

That was all the Gama Sannin needed to hear as he smiled; "How do you feel?" he looked back to the redhead.

Kushina deadpanned at her late husband's sensei; "Oh let me think here for a minute. The last thing I recall was giving birth, some lunatic in a mask appearing out of thin air and threaten my baby with a kunai a minute after he was just born, get the Kyuubi ripped out of my soul and go on a rampage in the village. Then waking up to find TWELVE YEARS have gone by while I was inside Tsukiko-Baachan's seal!" the redhead huffed as she glared; "How was your day?" Kakashi and Yugao sweatdrop at the thick level of sarcasm that came from the redhead.

"Okay stupid question," Jiraiya drawls before looking around the room; "Where's Naruto?"

"I had him go back to his team to bring them here," Hiruzen spoke up. "Along with getting a shower and some new clothes to wear."

Kakashi weakly chuckled; "I don't think Naruto, in his current frame of mind, will even remember to do the last two Hokage-Sama."

If you just saw your dead mother come back to life would you be acting rationally? "...Fair point," Hiruzen sweatdrops.

The Toad Sage thought on his teacher's word. "You okay with letting the two brats in on this?" He doubted they, the Hokage and those in the know, had a proper way to deal with this situation. How to properly let it become know that Kushina was back.

"Naruto insisted, besides I'm sure they can keep this a secret for a time"

"Besides" Kushina smiled brightly. "I wanna see them myself, hehe, Mi-Chan's littlest boy in the same team as my own boy. Knew they'd become friends one day"

Kakashi softly stiffened upon the mention of her friend, Yugao couldn't even muster a proper response. Hiruzen and Jiraiya exchanged worried gazes, the meaning was clear, Kushina had to be informed. Especially if she was to meet Sasuke.

The Sannin leaned closer to whisper to the Kage. "Should we tell her?"

"We must, she was her friend and-" He whispered back, pausing momentarily. "I know she's been through a lot already, but better now than her finding out from Sasuke"

"What about 'you know what?'"

"...That too I'm afraid. She deserves to know about Itachi"

"And these two?" Jiraiya's eyes darted to the other two occupants in the room.

The Hokage deliberated for a moment. "We can trust them to keep this secret"

"Heeey" Kushina looked at them with a raised eyebrow. "What are you two whispering about?"

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Sakura and Sasuke lightly jump as Naruto bursted into the room. "Naruto are you okay?" the rosette sat up from her bed.

Waving it off the blond smiled, and spoke so quickly his words were barely understandable; "I'm fine!Hellbetterthanfine!Youguyshavetocomewithme,thereissomeoneyouneedtomeet!" His teammates just blinked at him, "What?"

The Uchiha gave a proper dry retort; "How about not speaking at a speed only squirrels can understand."

Naruto glared before shaking his head; "I want you guys to meet someone."

"Who?" Sakura tilted her head.

"It's a surprise!"

Seeing they did not have anything else to do Sasuke shrugged; "Alright, lead the way dobe."

"Before that though," the boys looked to their female teammate who cutely crinkled her nose; "could you guys least get a shower and fresh clothes on? You both reek."

Naruto and Sasuke deadpan; "Seriously?" both drone. However both boys froze as they swore Sakura's eyes glowed as her hair moved on its own as she somehow now towered over both of them. Naruto absently thought he saw Kurama's chakra coming off her.

"WE WERE STUCK IN A FOREST FOR TWO DAYS! IT'S CALLED BASIC HYGIENE! USE IT SHENNARO!"

"YES MA'AM!"

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And that's a wrap, honestly this chapter feels like a stepping stone for the next chapter, we know. Hope you people can at least enjoy it a bit. And if you expecting some bashing on Jiraiya and Kakashi... To damn bad.