Chapter 5

It was early morning when the ANBU came for Konan and I. They gave us a few minutes to get ready, saying that they were to escort us to the Hokage. We took longer than planned to get ready due to Konan being pregnant but none of them complained.

Soon enough they led us across the village to the burial grounds where the Third was waiting for us. "Thank you for coming out to meet me so early in the morning." He said with a friendly grin.

"It's no trouble but I must ask why we are meeting here of all places?" Konan replied.

Lord Third's expression saddened somewhat "We're here because now that we've proven you truly are Kushina's family I can share certain facts about her life." He said almost with remorse. "Kushina arrived here with one of her Jonin protectors. She was healthy enough but the Jonin was crippled and spent five years confined to a wheelchair before passing away due to natural causes. Kushina became a Jonin and got married shortly after her 18th birthday. She and her husband...passed in the Kyuubi attack seven years ago."

"What!" I Snapped clenching my fist "You needed a blood test for that!" I could almost feel my blood boiling, we were so close.

"No." He said calmly looking out over the numerous graves "The reason I asked for the test was because just before the attack Kushina gave birth to a son. A son that is still very much alive."

"I-I have nephew?" I said stunned.

The Hokage turned with a sad smile "Yes and I would be more than happy to give you custody of him and his adoptive brother but there will be stipulations."

"How so?" I asked briefly checking those around us. This sounded far to similar to our early communications with Hanzo for my liking.

Even though I tried to hide it, I could tell the Hokage had noticed my hesitation and raised his hands in a placating gesture. "Nothing extreme I assure you. Fist off right now your nephew is the sole heir to all Uzumaki clan had in Konoha. Their lands, money, and Jutsu scrolls are all his to inherit once he comes of age. Should you chose to raise you will not have access to these until he comes of age. At that point if he chooses he can officially add you, your wife, and children to the clan register and grant you access that way."

I nodded slowly, I'm from outside the village so it made sense that I wouldn't be given access. And also his wording implied that my nephew both had to reach adulthood and grant us permission. We'd have to treat him like a real part of our family in order to be granted 'our' inheritance, not that it really mattered Uzumaki's did not turn their backs on family no matter what.

Seeing that I understood he continued "Second as he is the last surviving member of the Uzumaki clan born in Konoha you cannot take him out of the village. He must stay here until he is of age, at that point if he can make the decision himself." Again a sensible requirement.

"The third and final matter is that you and your wife must swear a blood oath not to betray the hidden leaf or its people." That one gave me pause. If I swore an oath such as that I would be forced to give up my search for my other sister.

But I could never live with myself if I abandoned Kushina's son. Pulling the collar of my shirt aside I bit my thumb to draw blood and drew the kanji for truth on my chest "Upon pain of death I swear never to betray the hidden leaf so long as the hidden leaf doesn't doesn't betray me or my family."

The Hokage gave me a measured look before smiling "That is all I asked. Now before we continue, I feel I should warn you that they might not be very receptive to you at first, after all their parents along with the rest of the Uchiha clan passed away only a few days ago." he added gesturing to the numerous fresh graves set out before him.

I looked the graves over myself, this wouldn't be easy but they were my family, we'd pull through. "If it's okay I'd like to see them now."

I hated today, yesterday our clan was buried and now we were going back to school. Technically only Naruto had to go back. We were collecting personal items from our old house when someone walked up to us and introduced herself as council member Rita Fuzuka. According to her I was given the whole month if I needed it then in the same breath she told Naruto he had to come back to class today.

"You you stay if you want." Naruto said sounding far more reserved than normal.

"No if you go so do I. We brothers no matter what." I said. Naruto smiled weakly and raised his hand for a fist bump. Sighing I gave in and the two of us lft for school. Now that we were at school, however I was regretting my decision.

All around us people were giving me looks of pity and it felt disgusting. My classmates seemed sincere enough and so did most of the civilians but nobody bothered to talk to Naruto. We walked home together everyday with either our mother or Itachi from school in plain site. Naruto openly referred to both as mom and brother. My classmates at least should know better but so far none of them had said a word.

Honestly Iruka sensei was the only person who was even acknowledging it in some way and even then all he was doing was skipping over Naruto and I when it was our turn to read in class.

The bell rang and we all started filing out of the classroom for lunch when Shikamaru and Choji walked up to Naruto. I hung back under the pretense that I was still collecting my things

"Hey Naruto." Shikamaru said "I don't really know how to say this but I'm sorry."

"Sorry about what?" Naruto replied flashing a big grin.

"Your mom, she was a Uchiha wasn't she?" Shikamaru asked.

Naruto wilted visibly the smile slipping from his face "Yeah she was."

Choji winced at seeing how uncomfortable Naruto had become. "We just want you and Sasuke to know we're here if you need someone." Choji added offering Naruto some chips.

I was still angry but at the very least we had two classmates that actually saw us.