How does Fugaku know Namiko has a scroll?
That is the question that Iruka wants to know that answer to. Either Fugaku noticed something Iruka did not, or Lord Fugaku is making assumptions and hoping he is right.
But then Namiko pulls on the silver cord around her neck, lifting up the little scroll pendant she is wearing. She slips it over her head and hands the pendant to Fugaku.
"Thank you," says Fugaku. "Now, how do you remove this seal?" he swings the pendant and looks pointedly at Nagato.
"I will do it, eh," says Pantsu, stepping forward. "I know you Uchihas are no good at fuuinjutsu. Except for Madara, but he was the best at everything, eh." Pantsu takes the pendant, does something to it that Iruka's does not quite catch, but vows to get Pantsu to teach him later. The tiny silver scroll pops into a much bigger scroll, and turns orange, then darkens to red. With a hiss, a cylinder of steel emerges from one end of the scroll. With much clicking, the cylinder expands, slides over the scroll and then contracts, encashing the scroll completely. The case is decorated with the Uzumaki Clan Crest and and Umino Clan crest. This scroll is the Sacred Scroll from the Temple of Joe. Pantsu places it beside the scroll from the Temple of Dave. Side by side, it is easy to tell which scroll is which. The Sacred Scroll from the Temple of Dave is rick dark green, and has no protective case, not even a seal. It looks like an ordinary scroll, but for one thing: it has the Senju Clan symbol on one end of the dowel, and the Uchiha crest on the other end of the dowel.
"Thank you," says Lord Fugaku. Picking up Joe's Scroll. He pushes the button to release the case and unrolls the scroll. He skims through it, rolls it back up and closes the case again. "That is incredibly half baked. It is hard to believe Lord Second wrote this scroll. Now, let's open up the other one, shall we?" He picks up Dave's Scroll and unrolls it. Then he lays it on his desk for all to see. "It is blank."
"Why is it blank?" asks Naruto, walking up to the desk to take a closer look at the scroll. "Maybe the stuff on it is hidden, 'tebayo."
Nagato and Lord Fugaku both examine the scroll with their rinnegan.
"I can't see anything," says Fugaku.
"Neither can I," says Nagato. "It's not a decoy, is it?"
"No," says Patsu, sternly. "If Gurunku says that is the right scroll, then it is the right scroll. You will just have ta figure out how ta unlock its secrets, eh."
"I will consult the Second Hokage," says Lord Fugaku, rolling the scroll back up. "In the meantime, you will all need somewhere to stay while you are in the Leaf."
"Grandpa, can they stay at our house, 'tebayo?" asks Naruto, instantly.
"Well…ah...we don't really have room…" Arashi tries to explain.
"PLEASE?!" Naruto begs, his eyes all wet and shiny.
"Um...where are we going to put 15 extra people, Naruto?" asks Arashi.
"15?" says Nagato. "Don't you mean 12? I mean, three of us are prisoners."
Naruto gives Nagato the most withering expression that Iruka has ever seen. There is so much disappointment in Naruto's voice as he says, "Do you still believe that? We told you so many times that we only pretended to take you prisoner to get you in the village, 'tebayo."
"Then why haven't you let Namiko go?" demands Mei, angrily.
Iruka feels a bit annoyed. "You've had her for the past five years!" he snaps. "Why can't I hold her for a few days? Besides, I would've given her back if you asked…"
"What's this about?" asks Fugaku, sounding amused.
"Iruka carried Namiko the whole way here from the Land of Eddies," explains Arashi. "The only time he wasn't holding onto her was when me or Naruto pinched her off him."
"Naruto or I," corrects Naruto smugly.
"Iruka, I think maybe you should put the kid down," sighs Fugaku, rubbing his temples. "Kids don't like to be coddled too much, you know."
Iruka pulls a face and very, very, very reluctantly puts Namiko down. Namiko runs straight to Mei and grabs onto her leg. Mei pats Namiko's head and glares at Iruka.
"Good," says Lord Fugaku, still rubbing his temples. "Now that that is sorted out, I will schedule a full council meeting to discuss what to do in this situation while you lot rest from your journey at Arashi's house."
"But I don't have room!" protests Arashi.
"Shisui!" snaps Lord Fugaku, glaring directly at Shisui.
"Yes sir!" Shisui stands to attention.
"Go find Lord First and send him to Arashi's house to erect temporary accommodation for all these extra people," orders Lord Fugaku. "And the find Lord Second and ask him to come here because I want to ask him about the Sacred Scrolls."
"Yes Sir!" says Shisui, trying to hide how scared he is of Fugaku. "How long will this mustache last, sir?"
"One year," says Lord Fugaku. "And in case you haven't noticed yet, it also glows in the dark."
"I had noticed, sir," says Shisui, shuddering. "It's going to be much more difficult to complete stealth missions now, sir. I will be off, sir." Shisui turns smartly on his heels and shunshins out of the window.
"What did he do?" asks Mei.
"He got my teenage daughter pregnant," says Lord Fugaku.
"Castrate him," says one of Kurama's Guards.
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT I HAD TO SAY TO GET HIM TO STOP TRYING TO CASTRATE SHISUI?!" yells Naruto, hitting that Guard with his fists. "DON'T PUT THE IDEA BACK IN HIS HEAD, DATTEBAYO!"
"Chasing Shisui all over the village screaming bloody murder every so often is just fine," says Fugaku, smiling. "And that mustache is sweet revenge for all the times he helped you and Hinata draw mustaches on my policemen."
Kazama is sitting at the dining table with Kimiko helping her put together a jigsaw puzzle. It is times like this when Kazama is sad that she missed Minato's childhood. Quiet moments doing normal things, when the crazy is somewhat dormant. The crazy always comes back, though.
Crash! The door bangs open.
"KAZAMA!" Arashi's voice rings through the house. "GUESS WHO FINALLY BROUGHT A GIRL HOME?!"
Kazama sighs and calls back, "It better be Iruka, because if it's Naruto, Hinata is gonna be pissed!"
Arashi bursts into the room with Naruto just behind him. "It's Iruka!" Arashi confirms. "Iruka brought a girl home!"
"And a kid!" adds Naruto, bouncing up and down. "Grandma, Iruka-nii has a kid, 'tebayo!"
Kazama freezes in shock. She blinks a few times and stares at Naruto, trying to process what he just said.
A pretty laugh catches Kazama's attention. She sees a young-ish woman standing behind Naruto. The woman has long, flowing auburn hair, and a little top knot on top of her head. She is wearing a blue, off the shoulder dress with a split down one side, and mesh armour underneath. "You two are not doing a very good job of explaining the situation, are you?" The woman gently pushes Arashi and Naruto out of the way and walks up to Kazama. "I am Mei Terumi, Fifth Mizukage of the Village Hidden in the Mist."
"She's Iruka-nii's girl friend!" pipes up Naruto cheerfully.
"No I am not," says Mei, rolling her eyes. Then her entire demeanor changes as she puts her hands to her cheeks, and blushes, blissfully. Closing her eyes and tipping her head to one side, Mei sighs, "But I want to marry him!"
A chubby little girl emerges from behind Mei and tugs on her dress. "Mummy, stop acting weird!" the little girl says, an exasperated expression on her round little face.
Mei stops whatever it is she is doing (Kazama is not quite sure what it is, but it looks silly) as if she just remembered something important. "I am sorry," says Mei, all grace and elegance again. "I did not give you a chance to introduce yourself."
"I am Kazama Namikaze," says Kazama, wondering exactly what is going on with this woman. "I am that idiot's wife."
Mei smiles and puts her hand on top of the little girl's head. "This is my daughter Namiko. She's also your granddaughter."
Namiko puffs up her cheeks and retreats behind Mei, clinging tightly to her mother.
It takes roughly a second for Kazama to figure out that the poor child probably barely touched the ground from the moment Naruto, Iruka and Arashi found out whose child she is. Kazama gets up from her chair, walks over to Mei and Namiko and crouches down so that she is closer to Namiko's level. Kazama is glad she is still mobile enough to do this. "Hello, there," Kazama says, smiling warmly.
Namiko pokes her head out shyly. "Hi," she says, blushing.
Kazama waits.
Namiko creeps out from behind Mei and walks up to Kazama.
"My, aren't you a pretty little girl?" says Kazama, who privately thinks Namiko is actually a very plain, if cute, child.
Namiko blushes in delight.
"Now, would you like some hot chocolate?" asks Kazama. This poor child has probably been subjected to much cuddling, and, if so, definitely needs some hot chocolate.
Namiko's face lights up and she nods. "Yes please!"
"Come on, then," says Kazama, standing up. She can almost hear her joints creaking. Kazama holds out her hand, and Namiko takes it. Then Kazama leads her granddaughter to the table, helps her onto a chair and gets to making the hot chocolate. Kazama makes some for Kimiko as well while she is at it. (Oh dear, their names sound similar. If Kazama had met them at the same time, she would probably confuse the two names.)