Metalmancer

Visiting

It was a typical spring day in the Land of Fire. The sky was overcast with heavy clouds, it was threatening to rain, which was typical for this land at this time of year. The eternal gatekeepers, Kamizuki Izumo and Hagane Kotetsu, were at their usual post, the main gate of Konohagakure no Sato. Izumo was on his feet, bustling about the desk, cleaning and straightening and organizing, just on the off chance the new Hokage will make a surprise inspection. He wore the uniform of a Konoha ninja, as well as, his Chunin flak-jacket, since the new grooming standards were handed down from Senju Tsunade, his two dark-eyes were in full view, though he still kept his hitae-ate tied into a bandana, and on his feet were a pair of high-top sandals.

His partner, however, was not being as attentive to their workstation, and he had adopted a more relax position: sitting on his ass. Despite his complaints, he really did not mind the new rules for grooming and conduct, and they had not impositioned him as much as some of the more, iconic members of his ninja comrades. He, of course, was wearing the required Chunin uniform, his hair was spiky on top but still conformed to the length restrictions, with his forehead protector wrapped around the sides and back.

Kotetsu was leaning casually over the table, with his eyes lazily scanning their surroundings, because of this, he was the first person to see the pair of kids walk into the village. Actually, one of them was walking, the other one, a girl, was being carried on the boy's back, she appeared to be unconscious. She looked to be in her mid-teens, and wore a mesh shirt and stockings, a purple skirt, a light brown, short sleeved jacket, and black sandals. She wears brown, narrow glasses, blood-red hair, which she wears short and spiky on one side of her face, long and straight on the other.

At first glance, the boy looked just like your typical, young teenager, he could have easily been a graduate of the Academy. The kid had straight, blood-red hair, grown to be even with his shoulders but gathered into a ponytail, over which, he wore a scarlet-red ballcap, with the symbols for journeyman metalsmith over the brim. His attire, consisted of a dark-purple, single-piece jumpsuit with the sleeves rolled-up to the elbow, his belt, high-top combat boots, and fingerless gloves, the same shade of red as his hair. There was a pouch hanging on the right side of the belt, an odd looking sword on his left, and he carried a scroll, which because of the strap would have normally been worn on his back.

When the boy's steps crossed the threshold of the village gate, Kotetsu felt his soul turning a page, as if with the arrival of this child, an era of silence was about to come to an end.

As soon as he entered the village, he came to a halt, and surveyed his surroundings, it seemed as if he was at once, trying to compare everything to his memory and looking for danger. He cautiously surveyed the area, not letting anything go unnoticed, then he spotted Izumo and Kotetsu. He saw the latter sizing him up, before returning the favor. When the Leaf Chunin, finally got a good look at the kid's face, a memory was triggered, violet eyes stared up at him in fear, then hunger showed itself in the boys eyes, as young Kotetsu looked at him, and gave the boy the rest of his bento. He could not have been more than three or four years old, Kotetsu had just started at the Academy, he also saw the whisker marks and knew what they meant. He knew who this kid was, then and now, and a smile formed on his face, and warmth flooded into his voice as he spoke, "Welcome back, Naruto," he said softly.

Izumo finally noticed the newcomers, he had not heard his partner's words, but he did not need to hear them. His own smile swam to his lips, as his own memories came back to him, memories of when he had found the most hated person in the Hidden Leaf asleep in his attic. The child must have been exhausted, because he did not awaken when Izumo opened the attic door, while Izumo conducted his business in the attic, when Izumo covered him with an old blanket, or when Izumo closed the attic door and let him sleep. He went up the next morning to find the blanket, neatly folded, and the attic, organized and neat, it was his way of showing thanks, since he probably could not write a "Thank you," note.

They had not mentioned their random acts of kindness to anybody, not even each other, this boy, he was not a danger to anyone. He seemed to already have a sense of honor, even when he had very few examples to draw from, this was not some demon in disguise. Still, they had a job to do, and nobody except the Hokage was above suspicion, "Welcome, travelers," Izumo asked, "are you planning to enter the village, and what happened to your friend?"

Naruto drew near to these two, he had been gone a long time, and did not recognize them, but answered with, "Yes, Chunin-san." He was reserved, and guarded, Konoha had never been a safe place for him, "She's not my friend, I found her fainted on the side of the rode two days ago, I Delved her, and found her to be quite healthy, she was suffering from chakra exhaustion. I have come on an errand to see the survivor of the Uchiha clan, and perhaps the Hokage, if she has time for me."

"The survivor," Hagane asked in bewilderment, "which one?"

"What," Naruto wondered, "I have only heard of the one survivor of the Uchiha Clan Massacre?"

"That is not the case, traveler-san," Hagane told him, "it just so happened, that the only ones killed in the Massacre were the Uchiha males, Genin and above, as well as non-ninja, above the age of twelve. Murdered by Itachi Uchiha, but the Uchiha women, and all boys and girls not yet graduated from the Academy were spared. Mikoto Uchiha is leading the clan, now, and the rest of the Uchiha kunoichi have been drafted into the police force."

"Only the adult men were killed," Naruto's eyes widened in surprise, "why… how…, whoa?" Before he could form more questions, there was a moan from his back, as the girl shifted her position a little, which brought her cheek into contact with the back of Naruto's neck. When she did, something happened within Naruto's mind, it was as if he could see everything around him, yet, he knew he was not seeing these things with his eyes, but in his mind's eye. Delving is a non-contact jutsu, somehow even after two days, there has not been enough skin contact with the girl to warrant a gene awakening, until now. Well, that answers one of my questions about her, she's related to me, directly, it'll take a blood test and a genetic test to determine how close. I wonder how distant the connection has to be for there to be no genetic awakening, were his thoughts as he awakened yet another ability, given the red-hair, which I got from my mother, I'll wager she's an Uzumaki. "Uh, could you direct me to the Hokage's office, please," Uzumaki asked with only a small show of his inner-thoughts?

"Of course, traveler-san," Kamizuki nodded, "but there are some forms that need to be filled-out, and you will need to be escorted, at all times while in the village. Unless the Hokage rules such measures unnecessary," the gate keeper informed him, "may I please see some identification?"

After the formal details of gaining entry into a Hidden Village were taken care of (their eyes bulged a little when he wrote his formal name, Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto), they pressed a button on the table, and five minutes later, an ebonette woman, with her hair in a thick braid, shunshinned into the gate complex. "Uchiha Military Police Officer, Izumi Uchiha, age 18, reporting for escort duty," she stated in a crisp, efficient, professional tone of voice, while standing at ease. She was wearing the standard, Konoha ninja uniform, a vest with the Uchiha family crest emblazoned on the back, including a kunai pouch and shuriken holster. Naruto noticed a black, utility belt and shoulder holster, on both of her hips were a pair of tonfa, and on the shoulders were a pair of jutte.

"Thank you, for responding so quickly, Uchiha-shikan-san, as I am aware that you know this, the following explanation is mostly for the ears of our visitors," Izumo replied formally. He turned to the two travelers, "these two wish to enter the village, and as you can see, the young lady needs medical attention. Please, escort them both to the Hokage, as quickly as you can, only she has the authority to allow non-citizens of Konoha, to receive medical treatment. The young man, Naruto Namikaze-Uzumaki," Izumo pointed at Naruto, "has business with your clan leader," he explained, and her eyes widened only slightly at Naruto.

Whether she recognized him, his name, or was surprised that a foreign teenager, would have business with her clan, was unclear. "Hai, Kamizuki-chunin-san," she replied formally, then turned to Naruto and his passenger with a courteous smile, "if you will please, follow me, Namikaze-Uzumaki-san."

Naruto merely nodded and began to walk through the gate toward the Hokage Tower. The Uchiha Police Officer followed in his wake, the girl on his back seemed not to be a hindrance to his movement, and as he walked, he noticed a slight difference in the village since he left. While the people seemed to be largely the same, as they conducted their business they did so with a slight decorum, that was lacking when he lived here. They were especially civil to the ninja that entered their shops, in fact there seemed to be two separate lines for check-out, one for civilian customers, and one for ninja customers, which was much shorter. Naruto also noticed, how easy it now was to find the ninja, especially the Genin, with their camouflage uniforms, and to pick out Chunin from Jonin, anyone entering Konoha would surely be intimidated, or at least wary of confronting these individuals, let alone Konoha as a whole.

While Naruto was not actively looking for it, when they reached the place where Ichiraku Ramen once stood, in its place was an entire building, that could have held several businesses at once. On the sign above the entrance, were the words, {Leaf Ninja Exchange & Market}, and below that in smaller font were the words, [NINJA ONLY, OPEN 24], he could not help but exclaim, "What the hell is this?"

Izumi had come to a halt when he had, thus she saw his surprised expression, and therefore she looked at what he was staring at, then back at him, "this is where our ninja, can buy any gear they might need for missions, or get something to eat, between missions and other assigned duties. It has everything our ninja might need, including uniforms, weapons (only kunai and shuriken), grooming salons, and even a grocery store, if they don't wish to eat at the three restaurants provided inside. My favorite is the ramen stand, it's some of the best ramen I've ever had, its owned and operated by the original owners of this land space, Teuchi and Ayame Ichiraku," she added as she watched him calm down, at the last part of her explanation. She cast her eyes down and added in a subdued voice, "My older brother, used to take me to the ramen stand when I was little, he was my half-brother, but he never saw me as anything less than his baby sister. I still go to the ramen stand inside, whenever I want to remember him, Ayame-chan has become a very close friend of mine," Naruto had watched his escort and listened closely, at the mention of her brother, he thought he had seen her eyes begin to shine a little, but as soon as she turned to her friendship with Ayame, Izumi shook her head, before giving him that same courteous smile from the gate.

Naruto returned her smile with a grin, he understood, her brother must have died on the night of the massacre, he concluded. "Sorry," he apologized, "I did not intend to bring up painful memories with my outburst, I was simply surprised. The last time I was in the village, there was nothing here but Ichiraku Ramen," he informed her.

Izumi gave him a curious expression, "you used to live here?"

"Yes, I once lived here," Naruto answered, "but not for many years, now."

Izumi looked at Naruto for a few minutes, until she jerked to attention, and remembered what she was supposed to be doing, "come, Naruto-san, let's get to our destination, the sooner we do that, the sooner we get the young lady off your back." Naruto just smiled and indicated for the Uchiha to lead the way.


Hokage Tower

With Izumi as an escort, Naruto and his burden, reached the Hokage Tower only a short time after leaving the exchange. Izumi mentioned the pet name the ninja called it, LEX-mart. They entered the lobby and signed in with the Jonin-On-Duty, this was a kunoichi with ebonette hair, tamed with a single hair-clip, into a single stream of wavy satin, her Jonin uniform was crimson red, under her green flak-jacket, with her forehead protector over her brow. Her most intoxicating feature, however, were her crimson-red eyes, with an additional ring in them, with make-up consisting of red lipstick and purple eye shadow. Naruto knew who she was, even a Ronin such as him have Bingo Books, which he collected in the Capital after he left Bird, her name was Kurenai Yuhi, a genjutsu master of the highest order. He has never been very good at the illusionist art, but he had tremendous respect for those who did, they were one of the true embodiments of the ninja arts.

At this point, Naruto was asked to show his identification, and just so they would not think he was deceiving them, produced his official Ronin license, as well as his Metalsmith credentials. Kurenai took his ID cards, read them, and then turned an appraising eye upon him. They were copied onto a scroll using a special sealing jutsu, then he was asked to relinquish any and all weapons and place them within the same scroll. He wordlessly created two Shadow Clones, who were able to take the young lady off his back, while he removed, Tokichi and the pouch, before sealing them away. They saw the tattoo of a vajra on his forearm with the symbol of the Uzumaki and Namikaze clans in the common configuration of the Yin and Yang symbol.

Naruto held up the scroll in front of him, "this needs to come with me, it has something very important in it, that I will only show to the Uchiha Clan leader. The reason I came here in the first place," then he smiled, "I'm sure the squad of ANBU hiding in this lobby, and the other ninja in this building, are more than adequate to prevent me from causing harm to this village, or its Leader, not to mention, Tsunade, herself, and Jiraiya, the Toad Sage."

It was true, ever sense he had touched his kinsman at the gate, he has been getting tons of information about his surroundings, even more than what he would normally receive from his Fox or even his metal senses. He could sense the ANBU, hidden in various hiding places all over the lobby, and not just sense them, he could just about pinpoint their locations. He felt the presence of every ninja, and their relative strengths moving all over the building, he could sense the two most powerful concentrations of strength at a little over 18 meters, directly above him.

Kurenai looked at him with slightly more intensity, she could tell that he was not making his assessment at a guess. Moreover, there was indeed a squad of ANBU backing her up, if things got out of hand, though that was not common knowledge, so how could this boy know that… of course, he's a sensor-type. She decided to let him retain the scroll, there indeed were ninja of all ranges throughout the building, while it was possible for Naruto to be strong, he was only one person. "Very well, Namikaze-Uzumaki-san," yes, she knew, to whom she was speaking to, and while she never hated him when he lived in the village, she was not overly familiar with him either. She had been in Suna, with her team, competing in the Finals of the Chunin Exams, when he had been forced to kill those thirty people. Those metal spikes were still there, blocking an entire section of the Forest of Death's border wall. "Your escort was going to accompany you to the Hokage anyway," she retorted, then added with an approving grin, "she should be more than adequate to handle a single Ronin."

Naruto looked at Izumi, who smirked at him, which he returned, "I have no doubt about that, either," he appraised her. Kurenai tossed Izumi the scroll with Naruto's weapons in it, Naruto took the lady Uzumaki back onto his back, and the clone dispelled.

Naruto and Izumi completed their journey, up the stairs and into the outer-office of the Hokage. Naruto looked around and noted that not very much had changed, except now the furniture was a bit more comfortable. There was the secretary's desk and at said desk, was a woman with short, straight, black hair, a fair complexion, and onyx-eyes. She wore the standard, Konoha, shinobi uniform, without the flak jacket, and extra-long sleeves. The cutout of her desk showed that she was wearing a long skirt, which was perfect for an office setting. Naruto grinned, he had not met her before, but Tsu-chan had mentioned her so many times, and described her to him that he knew who she was, "Well, well, you must be, Kato Shizune," he guessed, "Tsunade-itoko-chan told me what you looked like, but she failed to tell me how cute you were."

At Naruto's voice, the woman at the desk jerked her head up to see who had spoken to her, and of her master like that. Her eyes bulged when she saw, the red-haired boy carrying another red-head on his back, she saw his violet-eyes, and whisker-marks and smiled at him herself. "Tsunade-sama, described you too, Naruto-san, and thank you for the compliment," then she stood up and walked around her desk. When she was in front of him, she promptly bowed to him in the most profound respect, "thank you, Naruto-san, oh, so much for being there to bring, Tsunade-sama out of her depression for what happened to her brother, and Dan-oji-san. I had despaired of ever being able to reach her, and had almost resigned myself to watching my master, and friend waste away in grief," she said all of this while keeping her head bowed, "again, thank you very much," and with that she rose from the bow and kissed Naruto on the cheek.

Naruto was cupping his cheek and blushing, redder than his hair, "it was nothing more than what anyone would have done for their family, Shizune-san. I didn't even know I had gotten through to her, until she told me she was headed back here to take over, and put Konoha back on the course, her grandpa plotted for it." There was a slight shifting on Naruto's back, reminding him of his charge, "but could you help me with this girl on my back, I found her on the side of the rode about two days ago, I Delved her and found that she was suffering from chakra exhaustion. I found no other injuries, though I have not removed any articles of clothing, for a more comprehensive evaluation. I was already on my way here, so I thought this would be the best place to bring her. I don't know much about her, but I do know, that she is an Uzumaki, and directly related to me."

Shizune had been listening to the young Ronin, nodding as if listening to a colleague medical ninja, which he is, and only asked one question. "If she was asleep the entire way here, how do you know she's an Uzumaki?"

"I have a way of knowing, Tsunade knows my methods," he answered, "she can vouch for me."

Shizune nodded in complete trust, "what was the reason you were coming here in the first place, Naruto," she asked, "Tsunade-sama lead me to believe you would only be coming once you established yourself as a Ronin, or a Metalsmith?"

Looking to the side at Izumi, he answered, "I have business with the Uchiha Clan leader, and if necessary, the Hokage."

Shizune nodded as she stepped away from Naruto, she walked toward one of the couches, "if you please, Naruto, lay the young lady on this sofa, then I'll announce you. You're in luck, Naruto," Shizune informed him, "Mikoto Uchiha, just happens to be in a meeting with the Hokage," she stepped over to the office door, before looking back at him with an innocent expression on her face, "you may want to brace yourself, Naruto. Izumi, I'd take a step back if I were you, she has missed him," she added before disappearing inside.

Shizune was in the office for a little more than five minutes, when the office doors came flying off their hinges, and he was enveloped in a pair of arms and a face full of cleavage. "Naruto-kun," Tsunade screamed like an exultant teenager! Izumi was blasted back a few paces in the wake of her Hokage's rush to hug Naruto. "What are you doing here, Naruto-kun," Tsunade asked, while swinging him around in excitement, he resembled a doll being held in the grasp of a smothering little girl, "are you here for long?"

Naruto returned the hug with one of his own, and replied, "It's good to see you, too, Nade-chan, and I wish I could say I had come to see you, but I'm here for a serious reason. Seeing you is obviously, an added benefit, though," he told her.

She pulled back and looked at him, her smile was as bright as the sun, "I'm so happy to see you, young man," then she kissed him on the cheek. I thought my feelings for him would dissipate with a little time, that they were nothing more than me clinging to him, after being together for a whole year. If anything, they're even stronger now, than just a few months ago, slightly disappointed that he had not thought to come visit her on his own, she none the less was happy to see him, and said as much with, "it doesn't matter why you came, the important thing is you're here, now."

There was a giggling sound, and a slight scratching taking place off to the side, they both turned to see the white-haired, toad sage, scribbling notes into a booklet. He would occasionally glance up at them, before diving back into his book with more story ideas. "Pervy-Sage, do I have to show you what I did to perverts, while I was on the run the first week after I left this village? Many of them never could raise the nookie flag again, after my retaliation," Naruto threatened, he and Jiraiya were quite well acquainted, in fact, Naruto even considered the Sanin to be his friend. Jiraiya used to drop by Ryozanpaku on occasion to trade information with Huan and Susumu, and also to visit with Hayato-jiji, though Naruto suspected that his visits were as much to check up on him, for Sarutobi, and now that he knew his family history, for Minato also, as for any other reason.

Jiraiya whimpered and looked at Naruto, surely, he's kidding, but the look he found in the Ronin's eyes told him the truth. He quietly put away his notes, and attempted to adopt an innocent look, nobody was buying it.

Standing in the doorway, was another ebonette, she was dressed in a plum-colored kimono top, and royal purple hakama, with a scarlet-red and sunny-yellow, striped obi. She was smiling happily at her sensei for finding someone she cherishes as much as this boy, her best-friend's child, her godson, there was nothing she regretted more than the decision to abandon this boy to the predations of this village, simply because her husband told her to. He had no power over her, whatsoever, so for her to willingly abandon Naruto like that must have been because of a genjutsu. Mikoto, only hoped that Naruto would find it in his heart to forgive her, he had apparently come to speak with her, if what Shizune said to them, when she announced his presence, was true.

The pleasantries over, Naruto decided to get down to business, "Tsunade-chan, I've come to make a request of you," he turned to the girl sleeping on the couch next to them, "I found this young lady, unconscious on the side of the rode about two days ago. I rendered what medical treatment I could, though she only suffers from chakra exhaustion," he repeated his diagnosis, "I am reluctant to attempt replenishing her because I don't know what would happen if I gave her my chakra. I formally request for her to be admitted into the hospital for treatment," he continued, then added with an emphatic look, "one thing I do know about her is that she is an Uzumaki, and directly related to me."

Tsunade's eyes widened at his admission, she knew her friend well, he would not make such a claim unless he knew that for a fact. She started to wonder how he knew of the girl's relationship to him, if she had been asleep for two days, when she suddenly understood. Of course, that weird side-effect of his Kekkei Tota, he not only draws the properties of metals into his being, but if he touches someone he's related to directly, he awakens whatever genes they have in common. I wonder how distant the connection has to be for there to be no awakening, we are only related through Tobirama-Ōoji, and when he hugged my true body it awakened his Senju-Uzumaki longevity. Is our connection distant enough for us to begin a relationship, my body is actually still fertile, despite my chronological age.

"Naruto-kun, because you are still, officially, a citizen of Konoha, and even own property here in the village, you do not need my permission to admit a member of your clan into the Konoha Hospital." She went through a series of hand signs, and summoned a plastic ID card, "I took the liberty of securing your Konoha identification card, this will allow you to enter and exit the village as much as you like. Though, because you are not a member of Konoha Ninja Corps, you are registered as a civilian, however since you are a Ronin from a recognized and respected school for ninja arts, you are allowed to shop at all, Leaf Ninja Exchange & Market locations. You may not enter any restricted areas prohibited to civilians, but you will not be required to adhere to the civilian curfew."

Naruto accepted his Konoha ID, before placing it in the same place he kept his other credentials, vanishing it in a puff of smoke. "Thank you, Hokage-sama," he replied in a bow, they may be friends and even family, but she was still the Hokage of Konoha, her office deserved it's due respect. He summoned two shadow clones, "become Shin Bunshin, and take the young lady to the hospital, show them my medic-nin license, so you can stay with her in case she wakes up."

"Hai, Boss," they confirmed, before going through the signs for Edo Tensei, but instead of summoning a dead person, particles of Yang chakra began gathering into the Shadow Clones' bodies! It looked like another form was growing up within the shape of the clone bodies, then with a brief flash of light, the solid clones now had substance to them. They could take as much punishment as the true Naruto, without dispelling and had all of his knowledge at the time of their creation.

They gathered the young lady, then looked at Izumi, "will you show us to the hospital, Uchiha-shikan-san, even with the new ID card, things should go a little more smoothly with a member of the UMPF to vouch for us?"

Izumi looked between the Hokage and her commanding officer, for permission, both of which nodded their agreement. Izumi walked over to Mikoto, and offered her the scroll with Naruto's weapons, with a bow, "these are Namikaze-Uzumaki-san's effects, Shochō-sama," then looking over at the original Naruto explained, "even a citizen of Konoha, is not allowed to carry weapons into the Hokage's office, not without her express permission."

Naruto acknowledged the law with a nod, as the police officer turned and left, followed by the True Clones of Naruto. He watched her go, then turned to the Uchiha-Keisatsu shochō (Chief of Police), "I haven't seen her in action, but if that kunoichi is an example of how the Uchiha conduct their police force, then Konoha may indeed become a decent place to live again. If her attitude had been the prevalent one seven years ago, I may not have ever had to leave here."

Mikoto accepted Naruto's praise for her subordinate, and his rebuke for the Uchiha Corps of the past, "Thank you, Naruto-san, and I will try my damnedest to prevent the Uchiha Police Force from falling back into the conventions of the past, this I promise you on my life."

Naruto nodded his head, then asked, "there is some business we have to conduct, Uchiha-sama, but it is up to you, if you choose to share it with the Hokage or the Sen'nin. Either way I do not wish for this to become common knowledge."

"Before I answer your question, Naruto-san," Mikoto retorted, "I need to know the gist of what you wish to tell me. Only then, will I be able to judge whether the Hokage and Jiraiya should know this information."

Naruto looked at her and felt the truth, not to mention the logic of the Uchiha Matriarch's reasoning. "Very well, Uchiha-sama," he agreed, "give me a second," he said while closing his eyes. "Sharingan," he whispered, as he channeled his chakra into his eyes, when he opened them, staring back at the group assembled in the Hokage's outer-office, were not his normal, violet eyes. In their place were two blood-red eyes, containing his normal pupil, but also found was a tiny crescent moon shape called a tomoe. It seemed to orbit around the central pupil, like a comet around the sun, "It seems, that I might know which clan, my grandfather came from," Naruto informed them.

Mikoto turned her head to look at the Hokage. "you seem to know this young man better than most of us, and he seems to trust you, will you please allow us to use your office? I need to try being impartial, I think you can help me through this, sensei."

"Of course, Miko-chan," Tsunade nodded in agreement, "you are as much my friend, as you are my student and subordinate, do you want the pervert to stay?"

Mikoto looked at the ivory-haired Sanin, looking on with the same expression her son gives her when he wants something, "not at this time, I may deign to tell him what was said here later, but only if he's a good boy." At her answer, Jiraiya's head fell forward like a little boy being told he cannot have his favorite toy, yet.

Tsunade, Naruto, and Mikoto walked into the Hokage office, "ANBU, leave us," and there were several blurs as the Hokage's guard detail left at their Hokage's orders. She moved over to her desk and sat down behind it, a new door seemed to materialize out of nothing, and was automatically closed and locked. "Now, Naruto-kun, why don't you tell us what happened to cause you to activate that kekkei genkai," Tsunade suggested?

Naruto looked around, matching this office with the one Hiruzen once occupied, his senses were peeled to be sure that the only people about to hear this were the people he wanted to hear it. "I will, Hokage-sama," he answered, "as soon as everybody has left this room that I do not wish to hear what I'm about to say." He pointedly looked at a section of the ceiling, in the far corner of the room.

"Naruto, there are no other people in this office, except you, me, and Mikoto-chan, here," she assured him, pointing to the people she mentioned.

"Oh really," Naruto said as his eyes narrowed? Without warning, he said, "Hiraishin," and he blurred into action, moving from a stand still to the speed of sound, in the blink of an eye, literally. He moved to that corner and struck several pressure points in quick succession, then thrust his palm into the chest of the person crouching on the ceiling. Naruto, jumped down to the floor, just as the body, lost its concealment and tumbled to the floor in a heap, "who is this then?"

The two women looked at the person on the floor, they were astonished. The body on the floor was dressed, just like their ANBU, but instead of wearing an animal mask, his face was covered by a blank, white, noh mask, with the symbol for, {NEH}on his mask. It was a symbol that meant nothingness, emptiness, no moral compass, a blank slate, it meant this person while as capable and formidable as any of their own ANBU, did not have a conscience, either he had intentionally suppressed it, or he had been forced to suppress it. He was just a weapon, a tool, he was not even a person, and that means he was here under someone else's orders. He is a member of Foundation, he is ROOT.

"Naruto, I assure you on our friendship, and my regard for you, that this man is not one of mine," Tsunade told him, almost pleading with him to believe her, "he is a member of a subversive group, called Foundation. They have been a thorn in the sides of many Hokage since the beginning," she informed him, "to them the entire world could burn, as long as Konoha remains strong. I would never deploy a ninja like this, I need free-thinking adults who know the difference between right and wrong, not emotionless tools, who would sacrifice their own mothers for a mission."

Naruto never thought for a moment that Tsunade was lying to him, "Nade-chan, your word is all you ever have to give with me, you're one of my best friends, and it'll take more than a small white lie to break our bond." Naruto walked over to his friend, who just happened to be the Hokage of the Hidden Leaf and brought her into a hug. "If you say he wasn't one of yours, then I believe you," he raised his head and smiled at her reassuringly, he cupped her cheek, and brought her head down, he pressed his lips to her other cheek, "you're as precious to me, as the members of Ryozanpaku, you're my family, Tsunade, as much as, Hayato and Miu Namikaze, and I trust you completely."

Tsunade's smile, was even brighter than when she first stormed out of her office to greet him, if he had tried to kiss me on the lips, I don't think I would have protested very much, if at all. She turned to the body on the floor and got back on the job, "did you kill him, Naruto-kun?"

"No, when I attacked him, I thought he might've been a Konoha-nin, and I didn't want to incur your wrath by killing one of your ninja," he informed her, "at the time, I thought he might just be fanatically loyal to you, and did not want to leave you alone with a stranger."

"You might as well have killed him, Naruto-san, for all the good it'll do for you, or us," Mikoto Uchiha told him, "every member of ROOT that we've managed to catch and interrogate, have advanced sealing that nobody has been able to break. They prevent him from divulging anything about the organization, there are even seals placed upon his mind, to prevent the likes of a Yamanaka from eavesdropping on his thoughts. It would require a level of sealing, that only Mito Uzumaki has achieved to break these seals," she told him, "or a way to talk to them after they're dead."

Naruto stepped away from his friend, and walked over to the body on this floor, "then let's make him good and dead, before we talk to him." He leaned down over the prone form, grasped the man's head and with 37 kilos of pressure, snapped the man's neck, his end was quick and painless. He looked up at the women, their expressions were those of curiosity, one of them were planning on killing the man any way, so Naruto's actions were far from excitable. "There, let's give him a chance to be dead for a little bit, then I'll wake him up and we can chat with him," he explained.

Only one of them had bewildered expressions, "so you're going to use Ōoji's jutsu, Naruto-kun, that's not one of my favorites, you need a sacrifice to make it work?"

"No, I don't, Tsunade-chan," Naruto corrected her, "all I need is a bit of his DNA and a Kage Bunshin, and he'll return to us. I'll share it with you, if you want, since it's a family jutsu, and you're family," he offered, once he saw her eyes of wonder.

Her eyes lit up at his offer, I could bring back, Nawaki, and Dan…, "NO," she shouted, then realizing her outburst, repeated, "no thank you, Naruto-kun, that's quite alright, I'm afraid if I knew that jutsu then I might be tempted to misuse it, and bring people back to life, that died a long time ago."

"Okay, Tsunade-chan," Naruto nodded, he understood to whom she may have been referring to, her brother and fiancé, "now let's get to why I came here in the first place."

He took the scroll he carried from off his back and laid it on the ground, opening it, to reveal, one of the most elaborate sealing scrolls they had ever seen. It was laid out like an index from a book, there were sections, and subsections, and in each subsection, there were folders, each section, subsection, and folder was labeled. Naruto ran a finger down the index to a section labeled: {Important Cargo}, a subsection labeled: (Dead Weight), a folder labeled: [Naka Bones]. Naruto coated his finger in chakra and placed it on the Naka Bones category, then with a plume of smoke, the same skeleton he found three days ago in one of the shoals of the Naka River, appeared fully intact and lay almost exactly in the same position, minus the water, as when he found them.

"Where did you get that, Naruto," Tsunade asked, "I've never seen a more sophisticated sealing scroll?"

"I took a detour to Uzushiogakure about a week ago, I own the ruins so I felt the need to explore them," he began, "I found this in what used to be the library, it was untouched, it had been placed behind a barrier that only Uzumaki could enter. It was pretty much the only thing left intact," he finished, then added, "any way, it seems to have an infinite storage capacity, the labeling is done automatically, but I seem to know on instinct where to find things."

While Naruto and Tsunade had talked about the sealing scroll, the Uchiha matriarch had been staring at the bones. There was something familiar about the configuration of clothes on the skeleton, something she should remember, she leaned down to turnover the collar and found a name, うちはシスイ (Uchiha Shisui), "Shisui Uchiha," Mikoto said in a gasp!

Even Naruto had heard that name, it was almost said, with the same level of respect, as the name Itachi Uchiha, who was said to be the deadliest shinobi since, Madara Uchiha, whom only Hashirama was said to be more powerful. "Whoa, Shunshin no Shisui, we must be directly related, which means we share the same common ancestor," Naruto stated absently.

Mikoto looked up at Naruto, "what do you mean, Naruto-san?"

"I have a kekkei tota, Mikoto-sama, I call it, Kinzokuton, or metal release, it is a combination of Earth, Wind, and Fire elements. I call it, metalmancy, what that means is anything made of metal, is mine to control, or create, from iron, gold, lead, to calcium, sodium, even mercury. I cannot be harmed by anything made of metal, if I am stabbed with a kunai made of metal, I absorb it into my body, and can henceforth produce that metal type from my body," he demonstrated what he meant, by changing his arms into configurations of metal, his hands turned into a pair of five steel knives and a gauntlet, and back again. "I have what I call a metal-sense, that allows me to detect any metals in my vicinity, down to the parts-per-million, this allows me to use more subtle means of harming a person, by turning their own bodies against them, be it the iron in their blood, the calcium in their bones, even the sodium in their sweat is mine to control if I choose. We live in a metallic universe, Uchiha-sama, there are very few things in it that don't have some metallic content within it, but that being said, I am also a medic-nin, and my metal-sense allows me to analyze somebody's health, and find a cure for them, if a cure is to be found, without drawing a single drop of blood. Couple that with medical chakra, and I can help heal nearly anybody I meet."

"That's awesome, Naruto-san," Mikoto retorted, "but what does it have to do with you believing you are related to Shisui?"

"You remember when I told you I can absorb metals into my body," he asked, and she nodded for him to go on, "that same ability has a side-effect, if I touch somebody who is directly related to me, by at least 16 degrees of separation, the genes we have in common will activate." He said that, while looking at Tsunade out of the corner of his eye, who nodded, "I first discovered it about 18-months ago, while I was on a mission with Tsunade-chan, before she came back here, as far as we know, she and I have at least one ancestor in common, the father of Hashirama and Tobirama Senju."

"Butsumu Senju," Mikoto named him, while looking between Naruto and her Hokage, both of which only nodded, "but he lived over one hundred and fifty years ago," she exclaimed?

"That's right," Tsunade confirmed, as she stepped into the conversation, "and it appears that Naruto's power works, whether the person he touches is alive or dead." She turned to Naruto, "when did you learn the Hiraishin, Naruto-kun, I didn't think you were versed enough in fuinjutsu to use it?"

"That happened after you left to return to the village, as you know I'd learned of my dad's true identity, and it took me a couple of days to come to terms with that," Naruto reminded her, "any way, I realized that I actually had a true life family. It took me a couple of days, but I actually hugged, Hayato-itoko-kun, it seems that this power doesn't just work for me, whomever I touch if we have any genes in common, will awaken theirs as well. It awakened certain genes that allow us to use an extra-dimensional form of energy, that first manifested in Tobirama, but none of his children activated it, he called it, Power of the Thunder God. It doesn't just make you move fast; it gives me enhanced stamina, reflexes, my agility is even better than normal, my metabolism has increased which speeds up my healing, so in addition to the giant fur ball, and my natural Uzumaki resiliency, now enhanced with Senju endurance, killing me is very difficult, if you can even touch me.

"Did it activate Hayato's Hiraishin," Tsunade asked, and when he nodded, "damn, now he's unstoppable."

"It activated Miu's Hiraishin, as well," Naruto told her, "luckily her babies were unharmed, and she still can't use chakra, until she gives birth but when the time comes if she wishes it, I'll hug her children, and see if they activate those genes."

During this entire conversation, Naruto had kept his Sharingan activated, now Mikoto was looking at him, "well, I know you won't return to Konoha, and be a part of the ninja corps, am I right, Naruto-san?" At Naruto's nod, Mikoto went on to explain some things, "when an Uchiha first manifests their Sharingan, they are given special training to make sure they can handle the slowed perceptions they witness, but with the way you handled this ROOT tool, that's not a worry for you. So, if you would be willing, I would like you to undergo an abridged training schedule, to educate you on what the Sharingan is, and how it develops."

"Develops," Naruto asked, "what do you mean, Uchiha-sama?"

This is where Mikoto cast a sidelong look at Tsunade, "There are many things about the Sharingan that is not commonly known, and we hope to keep it that way. Given that your grandfather was likely an Uchiha, but also given that you are proud of your other heritage, you won't allow yourself to be adopted into the Uchiha clan, is that correct?"

"Yes, Mikoto-sama, that is correct," Naruto confirmed her assertions, "while I have no animosity towards the Uchiha clan, my dealings with the previous Uchiha Police Force, have never been what one would call uplifting, and it has colored my views, somewhat, on the clan itself."

"I thought as much," Mikoto agreed with a pained smile, "so I have come up with a compromise, you become a Ward of the Uchiha. What it means is, you become a member of my clan in all but name, you may use the Uchiha family crest if you wish, and even Uchiha family holdings, in and outside of Konoha, but you may not be called Elite no matter your ancestry, nor will you have a voice in the Uchiha family meetings, and of course, you may not call yourself an Uchiha. How does that sound to you, Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto-san," Mikoto asked, in her most haughty voice, which to anyone with ears, was as genuine as a wooden nickel?

Naruto's eyes went back into his mind…

Mindscape

…he looked up at his roommate, the Kyūbi, who was wearing a continually awestruck expression, one of the most interesting things about Naruto's new eyes, was that when his physical eyes manifested the Sharingan, the Nine-tailed Fox's eyes held them, also. One thing he had not told the women in the physical world, when he activated them, his already enhanced, kitsune vision, was further enhanced by the Sharingan. He had not yet tried to activate them with his Mag-viz, since they also enhanced his perceptions, so he had no idea what would happen if he did that, he would wait until he had fully developed them before doing that.

"I can't be placed under, a Sharingan genjutsu again," Kyūbi stated in awe, "the debacle that took place on the night you were born, cannot happen again," the Fox concluded in a whisper, "I won't be driven to murder anymore innocent people."

Naruto, placed a comforting hand on the biju, "I think we should take her up on her offer, Kyūbi-kun, if this much is what could happen with a newly manifested Sharingan, think what a fully matured one could do for us."

Kyūbi just nodded, but still added, "if we stay here long enough, then maybe it will allow you to let go of your hatred, Naruto, once that happens you will be on your way to being ready to accept my power, and we could truly become one being."

Naruto sighed and nodded, "I hope you're correct, Kyūbi-Aibō."

Reality

In the split second it took to consult with his partner and conscience, Naruto decided, he smiled up at Mikoto and said, "I accept, Mikoto-sama, but I hope none of your clans people expect me to kiss their ass, or treat me with disrespect, because I will visit each kindness, in kind. My life philosophy is to give due respect when its due, I didn't kiss the new Daimyo of Tori no kuni's ass, and I'll damn sure not do the same to self-absorbed Uchiha clans people. Understood," he asked, with a take it or leave it look in his eyes?

He is truly, your son, Kushina-ne, Mikoto sent up a prayer to allow her sister to rest, until she is reborn. "As long as you don't go out of your way to snub our traditions, but try to accept them as they are, then yes, you are understood," Mikoto stated, as she spat upon the palm of her hand and extended it to the young Ronin, "and you must still follow a lawful order given to you by your superiors. Do we have a Deal," she asked?

Naruto was slightly startled by her gesture, then he remembered that she had been his mother's best friend, and Kushina, when he had met her a couple of months ago, via Edo Tensei, did this same thing when she ratified her Will. Naruto spit in his palm and clasped Mikoto's palm, "Deal!"

Leaf Ninja Exchange & Market

The automatic doors slid open and Naruto walked in, it had been a little over ten minutes since the meeting in the Hokage's office. Naruto was nervous, more nervous than if he was facing down a hundred, Jonin-level ninja, with fully matured Sharingan. It has been so long since we've seen each other, and even though we've written to each other, I've changed so much since I was six. Not just physically, but emotionally too, I've killed people, thirty-five, if I've been keeping a correct count. Thirty-five souls have left this world, because of ME, what will she think of me then?

The interior of LEX-Mart was an atrium with a skylight, the noonday sun, was shining directly into the building. It was a two story building, the ground floor housed the commissary, where ninja could pick up a few groceries before heading home, or out on a mission. The upper floor, was where ninja could pick out uniforms in their size, several different colors and sizes were available for the ninja's preference, it was divided into two sections, kunoichi and shinobi, it was also where weapons that all ninja needed could be bought, kunai, shuriken, and senbon only, other weapons like swords, bo: of various lengths and thicknesses, or other specialties could still be worn, but they had to be bought at specific stores dotting the village. Also, within LEX-mart, were the salons and barbers where Leaf ninja got their hair styled in the way Leaf-nin were now required, but in the same atrium built into kiosks, were three places ninja could eat at while shopping. The diners had to share eating space, but they could choose between Mariko Barbecue, Ryosuke Dango, or Ichiraku Ramen.

It was in roughly the same place it was when he lived in the village, it was almost as if the rest of the building had been built around it. Did the Ichirakus insist on that position so Naruto would be able to find it, no matter what, or was it just a coincidence? Naruto had arrived at his current position during the height of the lunch hour, but ironically things were quiet, except for the rumble of conversation in the dining area. The dining area consisted of ten pedestal-style tables, with fixed seats. All ten tables were occupied by couples, romantic or otherwise, the loudest table was occupied by two shinobi, but only one of them was doing any talking.

He had shiny, black hair, cut in a stiff flat-top, adhering strictly to the height restrictions laid down by the Hokage. He wore the standard, Konoha, shinobi uniform in lime-green, and the Jonin flak-jacket actually worked with it, the orange leg and arm warmers did not. Yet, the most distinguishing feature on his eyes were the bushy eyebrows, they looked like two caterpillars had taken to living on his face. His table companion, had silver-hair, cut into a flat-top fade, his uniform was your typical, Konoha navy-blue, with a Jonin flak-jacket, and a small tanto in the small of his back. He wore a mask which covered the bottom of his face, and his forehead protector was slanted, low, over one of his eyes. They were, of course, Maito Gai, and Kakashi Hatake, legendary Jonin of the Leaf.

Another table with only two men, held two of the most feared members of the Hidden Leaf, Morino Ibiki, and Inoichi Yamanaka, the Chief, and Director of Torture and Interrogation. A couple, a violette kunoichi in a trench coat, eating dango, her uniform was a dark-violet color, her kunoichi-cut skirt cut to the knee, black shorts for modesty, with her fishnet bodysuit seen moving down behind the shin-guards, and into the high-heeled ninja-sandals, her wristwatch, snake-fang, with her hitai-ate wrapped around her left arm, completing her look. Her shinobi lunch companion had dark hair in a faded, buzz-cut, dark eyes, and a scar that runs across the bridge of his nose. He was dressed as an ANBU, with his mask down over his chest, shaped like a dolphin.

Another ANBU, a kunoichi, with a cat mask down over her chest, sat with another shinobi in the standard Konoha uniform, with his forehead protector worn as a bandanna, dark eyes, and a healthy complexion, and he was smiling brightly. Both of them wore their swords strapped to their backs. Kurenai, who had been relieved for the day, was sitting with a Jonin that looked vaguely like Sarutobi, but younger, and he had a cigarette in his mouth. Two kunoichi occupied the final table, one was obviously an Inuzuka, her uniform was a rich brown, with a Chunin vest, has long brown hair which she wears in a ponytail, but cut short to be even with her shoulder blades, over her large, black eyes. She also wears a light shade of lipstick and had the traditional, fang-like tattoos of the Inuzuka clan on her cheeks. Her companions lounged around the area, in a relaxed, but alert for danger, demeanor. Also, at her table was Izumi Uchiha, Naruto's escort earlier this morning.

All of them, were eating and mostly minding their own business, they noticed Naruto standing at the door, staring at the ramen stand. While it was not, unusual for a teenager to walk around Konoha armed with a sword, or wearing a scroll on his back, with the new uniform requirements those that did were usually ninja of Konoha. This one was not a ninja, at least from Konoha, but he was in here, which with the restrictions overseen by a sealing technique, would only be possible if the Hokage had given him permission to be in this building. These were ninja and what's more they were veterans, they were alive today, because they knew how to observe, and to never allow themselves to miss even the smallest detail. Thus, every one of them noticed the whisker-marks, and knew him, they also knew that he could careless about them, he only had eyes for one person in the room.

Naruto stared at the ramen stand and noticed one difference it had from the other kiosks, there was seating at the ramen bar. One chair stood directly in front of the bar, it was standing in a very specific spot, it was his spot, the chair that he would always sit at when he would come here. Naruto began to move toward the first place he ever felt welcome, he passed through the Konoha ninja, not paying them any attention, other than to move around them, but he never took his eyes off the figure who's back was to the room.

Naruto reached Ichiraku's kiosk, and when he turned the chair to take a seat, it squeaked quite loudly. "I'm sorry, patron, but that seat is reserved, but I will be ready to take your order in a moment," the old man said. Naruto, did not say a word, as he continued to sit in his chair, and when Teuchi turned to kick him out of the chair, he just stopped and stared, a grin began forming on his old, weathered face, "I see the boy I knew, in the man, before me, tell me this is not a genjutsu?"

Naruto's smile matched Teuchi Ichiraku's expression, as he replied, "the first and only girl, I've ever, really kissed was your daughter, jiji, she promised to marry me, when I became a Chunin. That promise, will never be fulfilled, I only hope she can settle for a journeyman Metalmancer, and Ronin ninja," were Naruto's only replies.

Teuchi's grin remained in place, "we will let her decide that, whatever her decision, we will both abide by it," he added with a dark warning, and a look at the assembled ninja behind Naruto, who merely nodded. He turned toward the back, and shouted, "Ayame-chan, that extraordinary order of yours… is ready!"

There was a clatter of dishes and utensils in the back room, then after a short pause, the door to the back room was opened, and one of the most beautiful sights entered Naruto's vision. She slowly, hesitantly, as if afraid he would vanish any moment, made her way around the counter to stand in front of him. She raised her hand and slowly brought it up to caress his face, he closed his eyes and relished her touch. He felt her slap him on the side of the face, he opened his eyes in surprise and not a little bit of fear - that she no longer loved him - to see her eyes beginning to well up, before she launched herself into his arms. She held him so tight, but she said in a whisper, "you're here, you're actually here, Naruto-koi, by the Pillars, I've missed you. I have ached to hold you like this, my heart," she pulled back to look him in the eyes, before she lurched forward and kissed him, fully on the lips.