Author's Note: I have made up a few things. I'm going to change a few key things. Maple Village is part of the Land of Fire, relatively close The Hidden Leaf Village. I hope you enjoy the liberties I'm taking. I would love a beta reader.
...
Maple Village, Land of Fire
A family of twelve sat on the floor of their living room. They chatted happily as they eat breakfast from takeout containers. All members of the family have a few things in common: sharp features, dark blue hair, and fair skin. Some members of the family have a tuff of green hair as bangs. No one in the family is of average height, they are either tall or petite. The head of the family, Eito leads his family in cleaning up and loading the last of their things into one of the wagons he hired for the move.
"How far is it?" the youngest member of the family, Bashira asked not for the first time. "Will it really take all day, like Souta says?" her very sharp features make her seem older than her four years.
Eito is 27 years old and on the smaller side, and Souta age 16 and very tall. Souta herself smiled and scooped the child into her arms. "Why do you doubt me?" With her free hand, she first pushed a lock of dark hair from the child's face and then pushed the hair from her own face out of her eyes.
The small girl wrinkled her nose, her brow creased on its own "It seems both too long and too short. Sorry, if I hurt your feelings" she blinked sweetly at Souta.
The adults privately marveled at how mature the answer was for a child of four years old.
'Always full of surprises' Eito swell of pride for himself on raising his children well.
'So smart!' Souta thought.
"Well, we as a family have never taken this trip before, so we are only guessing, it is possible you are right; it might take more or less than a day," Eito said.
"Okay!" chirped the girl who beamed lovingly at her family.
The adults chuckled and Souta carried the little one outside with the others and their possessions. Eito stayed behind to do one final check. As he roamed the empty house he found himself pleased a proud. The home was clean, empty and in the good condition-his family had done well. He walked the perimeter of the house and found the same. The last of their trash was disposed of properly. He smiled at his family, they were all loaded in the wagons waiting for him and his verdict. "I'm so proud of everyone. The house is perfect and will certainly fetch a heavy price. I promise a big reward when the money comes in"
The family cheered and many thanks and suggestions came forth. Three large wagons, each had Ren's Moving Services on the sides of the wagons.
The three non-family members chuckled at the happy energy. These were men hired to drive the wagons. One strode over to Eito "Good morning sir," He gave a small bow.
"Good morning to you!" Eito said with a smile "Are we ready?"
The man nodded "Ready indeed sir, once you come aboard"
Eito chuckled "Yes, silly me" he laughed and his family laughed with him. Once he took his place in one of the wagons, the leader called out "Away we go!" he blew a whistle and the many oxen started their journey.
...
In Konoha
A massive mansion had been completed a week ago, and it still remained empty. It was a topic of gosspic for many. The closest neighbors were sharing breakfast and glanced at it often. Mrs. Tanaka and Mrs. Hano were best friends, like sisters and they had breakfast often. Today their husbands joined them.
"How many rooms does it have?" Mrs. Hano wondered out loud.
"I don't k-" started her best friend.
"I'm friends with the master carpenter, and he said it has 20 bedrooms," said Mr. Hano.
The woman gasped, their hands flew to mouths.
"How many people-" his wife started.
"They're a family of twelve," the man said pleased he had information not many did.
"Twelve!" the woman cried. As mothers, they could think how anyone woman would want twelve pregnancies, births and that many kids wandering the house.
"Ridiculous" grunted Mr. Tanaka with a shake of his head.
...
The family stopped only when necessary and thanks to that, they made excellent time, and the oxen were far more powerful and swift than Eito had anticipated.
The movers were grateful the family was so disciplined to only break as needed.
It was 4 pm when they arrived at their new home.
"It's the same as the old home; from the living room is a hall and down the hall are the bedrooms. The doors are labeled. Unpack your bedroom first" Eito said when the wagons came to a halt.
The children grabbed a box of their own stuff and rushed into the house. The three oldest family members Eito, Souta, and Tamashini took boxes loaded with things for the house and would do their rooms last. The vast majority of the home was already set up as Eito, and occasionally Souta would go back and forth for a month.
As part of the service, the men took boxes and put them in the rooms they were assigned. Once their wagons were empty, they bid the family good luck and took off.
As soon as the dust from the wagons leaving at top speed cleared, the neighbors appeared.
Mr. and Mrs. Tanaka went first, and the Hano family followed behind.
"Hello!" three children greeted as the adults approached. Two of the children walked off with their belongings, to their new rooms, but one little boy stayed behind to chat.
"Good morning!" the boy greeted.
"Good morning sweetheart! We are your new neighbors. Where are your parents?" asked Mrs. Tanaka.
For just a second a strange expression went across the boy's but he recovered quickly. He put the box down and sprinted into the house. "Eito!"
The neighbors looked at one another and rushed to keep up.
"Yes?" Eito said emerging from the house. He looked at the strangers approaching.
"This is big brother, he's in charge! Okay, bye!" the boy said once his duty to find his 'parent' was done he went back to unpacking his new room.
Eito chuckled "Hello, I'm Eito Mabuchi. What a lovely day we're having"
"Yes, indeed! But be careful dear, it will so very cold. Be sure to stay warm!" said Mrs. Hano.
"When will your parents be home?" asked Mr. Tanaka.
"We are orphaned. I am the guardian and parent of these children," his tone was a little hard. "I know I'm young and I get comments often," he said gently.
"I'm-" started Mr. Hano.
"You can't possibly-" Mrs. Tanaka started and nearly fell over when Eito interrupted.
Eito was in her face in a second "You'll be leaving now" his voice very low and cold. To his surprise, the four of them left without protest or even a glace. He was very used to stubborn, entitled people needing stronger words. Still, he knew this was not over.
...
Eito left his home and family to get dinner. He was absolutely excited about how well the relocation was going. His good mood put an extra spring in his step. He had a favorite restaurant over the months of overseeing the final touches on the house and the relocation efforts. To his joy, he found it, it was nearly empty. Eito pulled out the request list his family made as he waited to be acknowledged. He didn't have to wait long, soon he was giving his long order to a waiter whose eyes got ever wider.
"I'll get it started right away sir," said the waiter and took the list with him as he gave up writing it down midway.
Eito waited patiently outside. It began to snow. At first, it fell in small amounts, but it didn't take long for the snow to take over everything, like an invading army. To his shock and horror and quickly spotted a small child. The boy was blond, had a white and orange shirt, and ragged pants. His heart broke 'He must belong to a poor family and he's going home' he thought "Hey you! Are you okay kid?"
The boy whipped around, there was so much fear and a tad of anger in his eyes. "I'm not doing anything wrong! I'm just getting ramen!"
To Eito the boy looked thin "Get something more" he pulled out a wad of cash "and get a jacket as soon as possible" he held out the money. He knew it was entirely possible the kid would burn all the cash, but he had to try with the time and money he had to spare. He crouched down to seem less intimidating, after years of experience raising siblings he knew what to do.
The little urchin grabbed the money with a grin. "Thanks, mister! What's your name? My name is Naruto Uzumaki!"
For just a second Eito felt a terrible mixture of extreme fear, anger, anxiety, and a presence in the boy's soul not human. 'Could it be?' he wondered."I'm Eito and I wish I had more time but my food should be done soon" he gestured to the restaurant behind him.
For just a second, a strong emotions featured on Naruto's face but then the boy smiled broadly and waved the money around "Alright, see you around, thanks again!" he waved once again and ran off.
Eito watched him go. Naruto went from a sad trudge to a peepy trot. He watched the boy as long as he could. Trying to memorize the path he took so he could ask whoever served the boy ramen some questions. Naruto quickly left his sight, but Eito could sense him and that inhuman presence. 'Jinchūriki?' he wondered.
The door to the restaurant opened "Sir, was he bothering you?" a waiter asked sympathetically.
Eito could sense the hate for the boy the young man had in his heart. It brought a fit of anger to Eito's heart but he smothered it. "No," was his only answer. 'Naruto is Jinchūriki' he was certain of it.
"Your food is ready, but it's quite a lot," said the waiter and held the door for Eito.
Eito nodded and entered. He created shadow clones and they collected all the food.
"Thank you, stop by anytime!" the waiter and host said.
As he went home he could sense Naruto in the distance, and for just a second he wanted to find him. But all the food would probably feel cruel, and his own family was at home waiting. He vowed to do more the next day.
