Chapter 3
-1 week after Hinata's failed kidnapping-
Raikage POV
"Where is he" I shouted storming into the Hokage's office. "I assume you're referring to your Ambassador" Sarutobi said taking a puff from his pipe. I clenched my fist preparing to shout at the old man but he spoke up before I could. "I've had his remains placed in our finest coffin and are yours to take should you chose to do so".
"If chose to do so" I spat "I demand the life of the one who killed him" I said knowing full well that it was most likely a Hyuga or Uchiha.
"Sadly I can not give that to you because I do not know who killed".
"How could you not know that" I asked in disbelief, the notion that he hadn't bothered to find out who had kill a foreign ambassador was absurd.
"I can explain that to you if you would please follow me" Sarutobi said. Several minutes later we arrived at what Sarutobi explained was the sight of the murder.
"What's the point of showing me all this" I said "it only incriminates you further".
"Take a look out the deep cut in the ground and walls" Sarutobi said.
"An extremely high level water jutsu either A or S Rank" I said after a minute, the Hokage nodded.
"Both my subordinates and myself have looked the results over and we concluded that a leaf ninja couldn't have done this we don't even know of a jutsu that could" Sarutobi said.
"There seemed to have been a third party present and your Ambassador managed to save the young Hyuga that had been kidnaped" he said.
"You expect me to believe that" I stated "one of my Jonin died and none of your people were harmed or even able to identify the killer".
"I never said that" Sarutobi said calmly turn toward the forest leading to the village wall. "If you had failed your mission and had to escape from an enemy Village what would you do" Sarutobi asked.
"I'd make a beeline for the village border, same as most ninja, from there I'd make plans on how best to get back without being caught" I said, again the Hokage nodded in agreement.
"And from here which way would you go" he asked facing me. I felt insult by his question, a Genin could answer this but I decided to humor the old man and pointed to the forest. "We followed that same path in an attempt to find this mysterious ninja only to run across the body of one on of our own a young but most promising boy by the name of Shisui Uchiha. His body was directly on the fastest route out of the village and his eyes had been removed and most importantly he died several minutes after your Jonin did". I nodded and decided I would leave later that day, I had no ground to demand any sort penitence for my fallen comrades death.
Hinata POV -4 months later-
"Go on" Mata said "go talk to them".
"But what if I mess up, what if they don't like me" I said.
Mata had been trying to get me to talk to other kids my age for almost two months now but I was too shy. "Come on Hinata you're not going to make any friends if you just sit back here, what about that pink haired girl over there" Mata said.
"Mata please I can't, I might…".
"Stop being so scared" Mata growled "you're not going to mess up they'll love you I promise just go talk to them. Remember I'm right here with you now let's go!".
I shuffled over to the group of 3 kids, still debating on whether or not this was a good idea. In my mind I felt one of Mata's tails wrap around me 'It's now or never' I thought, "um hello" I said.
The girl with pink hair turned around to look at me 'um hello, seriously she's going to think I'm a total idiot' I thought. 'Shut up' Mata said 'you're doing fine just calm down'. "Hi I'm Sakura" The girl said "what's your name".
"Hinata" I said quietly, oh how I wish I could hide right now. "You want to play hide and go seek with me and my friends" she asked, I nodded. "Great! This is Ino and that's Tenten" She said pointing to the blond and brown haired girls behind her. "Girls this is Hinata." I said hello and the did in return. When my uncle came to get me three hours later I couldn't stop smiling.
-One year later-
Naruto POV
"Come on idiot" Sasuke said next to me as we ran "mom will kill us if we're late for dinner again".
"Hey it's not my fault that dog started chasing us.".
"You hit it with a stick!".
"It was an accident" I protested. We hurriedly pushed the doors to the Uchiha compound open and I was immediately met with the smell of blood. The stenched block out everything for a few moments and when my mind cleared I finally noticed the bodies littering the ground, their blood staining it red.
"We need to get to mom and dad" Sasuke said already running down the street. Reaching the door before me Sasuke flung it open just in time to for us to see father fall lifelessly to the floor face first only to revel Itachi standing over him with a bloody sword.
"Run" mother said from where she lay bleeding on the floor.
"Why" I shouted, I felt tears welling up in my eye's but I didn't care this all just seemed like a nightmare.
Deep inside I felt something awaken "To test myself" Itachi said simply, as if killing his family weighed as much on his conscience as killing a bug.
Sasuke POV
Itachi leaped forward his sword raised when blood red fire erupted from Naruto, a single tail like tendril of flame batted him aside. For a second the left part of his face changed, shadows flaked off to reveal a boy with light brown hair paperwhite skin. "You're not Itachi" I screamed.
"To bad you won't live long enough to tell" the man said. He ducked and three shuriken buried themselves where his head was quickly followed by Itachi landing in front of us.
"ANBU will be here in a few moments" Itachi said.
"Then I'm afraid we'll have to cut this short" The boy said "can't have them thinking there's two of us".
The brown haired boy disappeared in a puff of smoke and Itachi turned to face us "your eyes" I said, his Sharingan had changed. Instead of three black dots there were three spirals coming off a red pupil. Itachi spared a look at Naruto, who was surrounded by a blood red fire staring off into space with red eyes, before looking back at me "Sasuke I'm sorry but I have to leave".
"But why?" I asked.
"There's a reason he chose to impersonate me, I over heard the chatter on the ANBU radio they think I'm on a rampage. I'll have to leave the village or be killed for treason." Itachi turned back to Naruto "I'm assuming you're Uncle Kurama".
Naruto nodded "can Naruto hear me" Itachi asked, he nodded again and his flames disappeared. "Good because I don't have much time, if the two of you only remember one thing from this moment make sure it's this. You both are Uchiha either by blood or bond and the highest law of the Uchiha is to protect your family. You are brothers and you will always be stronger together than you ever will be apart".
Itachi hugged both of us then started run for the village border "Sasuke, Naruto". I looked over to see mother still alive despite the stab wound in her gut "come here" she said.
"Mom" I cried "you're going to be fine, the ANBU are coming they can heal you".
Mother shook her head "The wound is fatal, I only have a few minutes left so I'll have to make this quick".
Mother looked at Naruto/Kurama "Kurama I need Naruto" she said. His red eyes faded to his usual piercing blue eyes "Both of you remember what Itachi said, Naruto your birth mothers name was Kushina Uzumaki lord Third wanted to keep her name from you for a little longer but I feel there isn't sufficient danger to do so. Lastly the council of elders is the reason why we were never able to actually adopt you and because of that when you and Sasuke come of age you will not be able to get any sort of inheritance from us. But as you mother if only your adoptive mother I give you this as my last gift to you" Mother placed her hand over Naruto's eyes and slumped gave her last breath in this life. Me and Naruto remained there crying till the ANBU finally arrived.
Naruto POV
"Why didn't you tell me" I yelled from behind the Hokage's desk, Sasuke was being his usual quiet self but was still glaring at the old man. "Every time I asked you about my parents you said you didn't know but you knew the whole time" I yelled.
The old man took a puff from his pipe "I didn't tell you because the knowledge would only put you in danger, both of your parents were great Ninja and many of their enemies would come after you without a second thought just to take revenge on them".
"Mikoto on the other hand believe you should be told about your mother, Kushina had fewer enemies and wasn't as well known, in the end it seems she got her wish". The old man told us to come back in a few hours and sent us back with the ANBU who were guarding us for the time being.
Sarutobi POV
As soon as the kids left I took of my ceremonial hat and pinched the bridge of my nose. I had enough to deal with without those two. Pushing that thought away for the moment I looked over the reports on the Uchiha massacre as it was being called. Everything seemed to point to Itachi being the one behind it, the evidence was overwhelming, yet it just seemed off to me. Add that to Naruto and Sasuke's story and things just don't add up, Danzo reasoned that they could have easily been tricked by genjutsu or maybe Henge and Shadow clone dual usage.
Either way with Itachi on the run there's no way prove their story and till we could prove or disprove it I'd have to put out a kill on sight order and add him to the bingo book. Now what to do about Naruto and Sasuke, Naruto had long since moved into the Uchiha compound and if possible both him and Sasuke should be moved out of there. Living alone in that place after such a tragedy couldn't be good "Lord Third" Kakashi said knocking me out of my thoughts.
"Hello Kakashi" I said "how can I help you".
"Just turning in my Mission reports" He said dropping the papers on my desk.
Kakashi turned to leave "Well since you're here I have a mission for you" I said, Kakashi hung his head probably cursing his luck.
"What do you need me to do." he said bluntly.
"Go to Minato and Kushina's house, remove all evidence that Minato lived there or had any sort of relationship with Kushina, pictures, scrolls, etc. Then I want you to do the same with the archives, leave anything that doesn't have a strong enough connection to Minato".