Tip of The Spear
Chapter 17
"Call it, time of death?" the Hokage regent asked in an emotionless voice.
Now:
"Time of death 1738 hours ma'am," came the cold and clinical reply from one of the nurses.
Tsunade nodded and turned to Sakura who was still compressing Naruto's heart with her hands, "Sakura? Sakura, honey, let him go. He's had such a hard life already, don't you think he deserves his rest?"
"No, I refuse to believe he's gone, I can feel him Tsunade, I can feel him through our mark. Kurama told me that as long as this mark is on me Naruto lives, well, it's still on me so my husband is still here!"
"Sakura, don't be childish, we zapped him three times, you're doing manual compression's and have been for the last nearly twenty minutes. Face it, as much as you'd like it not to be so, your husband is gone."
/
In the gallery two sets of pale eyes flared with the dojutsu the Hyuga clan was known for. Although Neji still held his cousin in contempt his training as a medic allowed him to push those feelings aside, "Hinata-sama, could they have missed something? Missed a step in their haste?"
Hinata replied as she added chakra to her eyes in order to zoom in on Naruto's limp form, "Possibly, I'm looking at each chakra node as close as I can, can you do a slow over all scan of Naruto-kun?"
"Yes, they missed something, I can feel it, if I see something out of order I'll direct you to it, please Hinata, we have to do this quickly if our leader has a chance."
Meanwhile Sasuke's sharingan was flaring wildly as he spoke to Kakashi. He was angry, dangerously so, those damned villagers and shinobi alike had done this to his friend. Had they not injured him as bad as they did Naruto would not be on that table with Sakura vainly trying to pump his heart by hand as one of the assisting nurses continued to pump air into his lungs with a resuscitation bag. Tuning to Kakashi his voice was low and ominous,
"Kakashi, as the head of the Uchiha clan I'm giving notice, should Naruto die the streets of Konoha will run red with the blood of those that abused my friend and his wife. I've gone over the log books of the Military Police and have the name of every villager and shinobi that harmed Naruto."
"Sasuke, that's not what he would want and you know that, doing so will weaken the village and lead to a civil war. You can't seriously be thinking of murdering so many people, what would Naruto think? How would Sakura feel if the villagers were murdered in Naruto's name?" the adopted father of the Godaime Hokage asked.
"That's besides the point Kakashi, look at him! That's your son down there slowly growing cold on that table! Once the Uchiha purge the rot in this village I'm placing Sakura and their kids and clan under my clans protection. If you don't like it I don't care but Naruto suffered while they treated me like I was the future Hokage, what more would they have done to them if they had stayed in this place?"
Before Kakashi could reply Shikamaru spoke up, "The Nara clan will also place Sakura and her family under it's protection as well as the Akimichi and Yamanaka clans. The order has been sent out to our clan heads, any clan member whose name is in Sasuke's books are to be executed once Naruto's death is confirmed."
"Same with the Inuzuka," Kiba added, "My mother has already killed those that hurt Naruto once Sasuke showed her the names of the guilty parties."
Kakashi looked aghast, "Kiba, how many shinobi did the village lose because of those reports? Don't you understand? If all of the shinobi mentioned are killed this village becomes in danger of being so weakened that other villages will notice."
"Only two ninja were killed, the rest were civilians," Kiba replied, "And as far as my ninja clansmen are concerned, being 25 year old genins is a sign of being weak."
"Don't worry Kakashi, there are only twenty or so shinobi listed, all repeat offenders and all but one genin and chunin that should have advanced years ago. The sole jonin is one that has somehow had every genin team assigned to him killed while he made it back in one piece and only slightly injured," Sasuke explained, "That tells me he's a coward at the very least, but he's cost the village twelve genin, so no matter if Naruto lives of dies that man is going to die and soon."
"And how many civilians Sasuke? How many of them have you condemned?" the one eyed jonin asked in defeat.
"About two hundred including four that are sitting on the council, all of them are repeat offenders of three or more incidents. These are the ones that Ibiki and T&I couldn't scare straight, these are the ones that if given a chance they'd attack Naruto again and endanger Sakura and the kids. Kakashi, live or die, like that jonin, the bastards on the council need to be liquidated."
In the seal Naruto and Kurama are recovering from Tsunade's words, "What do we have to do Kurama?" the blond asked.
"We need to weaken the seal, since it's in the form of a collar I noticed that it's cinched down to the last hole. You need to loosen it by two or three notches so I can flood your chakra network," the fox explained.
"Why?" Naruto asked slightly confused.
"Because the nodes to your heart and lungs are closed off for some reason now, while you're doing that I have to talk to Sakura since you're knocked out in the real world."
Naruto nodded as he started to work on the seal. Kurama meanwhile was concentrating on linking with Sakura's mate mark, "Vixen! Vixen, listen to me. Remove that tube from Naruto's throat as well as all the instruments that are left in his body."
"Uncle?! What's going on," Sakura asked mentally as she continued to pump her husbands heart.
"His chakra nodes to his heart and lungs are blocked, it might have happened when the ice user placed those senbon in him. You have to hurry, get every foreign object out of him and have everyone stand clear, I'm going to try and use a mix of our chakra to blow his chakra system open," Kurama explained to his daughter figure.
Sakura nodded and stopped squeezing Naruto's heart. Tsunade saw her actions and thought that the girl had finally saw reason. That was until the pink haired teen spoke up, "Help me get all the instruments out of his body obaa-san. Shizune, pull the airway out of him we have to hurry!"
At the same time Neji called to his cousin, "Hinata! There his chest, do you see it?"
"Yes, it looks like the senbon blocked his chakra nodes, that's why his heart won't start up and he can't breathe on his own."
Leaning forward Neji hit the intercom button, "Lady Sakura! Hinata and I have found the problem! Naruto-san's heart and lung chakra points are somehow closed off, we're on our way down to help get them open!"
Before Sakura could respond the cousins hurried out of the gallery and to the operating room. Just as they entered they saw Sakura and Shizune throwing instruments taken from Naruto on the ground as fast as possible.
Sakura answered Tsunade's unspoken question, "Kurama is getting ready to flood Naruto's chakra system, his nodes in his chest are blocked. Neji and Hinata independently confirmed it. I'm going to have them act as back up to open them up in case Kurama fails."
In the village an Abrume clansman sat in the parlor of the main houses of the Uchiha, Akimichi, Yamanaka, Nara and Kinzoku clans. Each awaiting one of Shino's bugs that will tell them to either stand down or execute DRACO's orders. Once Sasuke had heard of the surgery planned for Naruto and the cause of it he called all members of the highly trained genin except for Sakura and informed them of his findings as a result of reading his father's police log books.
As one they all decided that should their friend and leader not survive his operations that they would order their clans to strike those on the target list starting with their own clansmen should they be guilty of inflicting injury on either Naruto or Sakura. Once the internal rot was removed the assassins of the Kinzoku clan would begin the purge while the clans connected to DRACO supported them. The guilty council members were to dealt with by the clan heirs themselves. Once the purge was ended they would surrender to ANBU and accept their punishment.
/
Back in the seal Kurama felt Naruto's hands begin to undo the collar shaped seal around his neck. As Naruto began to undo it a hand came from nowhere and stopped him. Turning to the newcomer Naruto gave a small cry, "Dad! What are you doing?"
"Trying to keep you from making a mistake son, how did you know who I am?" Minato Namikaze answered.
"Long story but I need to loosen the seal by three notches and I have to do it now so let...GO!" Naruto answered back as he pulled his hand loose.
"Minato, let the kit be, he's on the verge of death and I need the seal loosened so I can force his chakra system open," Kurama explained.
Minato nodded as he stepped up next to his son, "Here let me help you son. You still haven't explained how you know who I am though.
"I'll tell you in a moment, just let me get this thing fastened...and...KURAMA! NOW!"
"Vixen, get everyone away from Naruto! Do it NOW!" the fox ordered.
Sakura pushed everyone away from her husband and yelled a warning to the Hyugas as a mix of Naruto and Kurama's chakra began to surge through her husband. The chakra was visible as a faint violet glow to all but Neji who didn't turn away in time. To him it was like looking into the center of the sun itself the chakra was so intense and bright to his byukugan. All those that were watching Naruto were stunned to see his incisions begin to heal themselves at a rapid pace as the cut edges began to steam as they rejoined.
As everyone stood motionless the steady tone that had heralded Naruto's impending death began to beep in an increasingly steady rhythm. Tsunade just stood rooted to the spot as she stared at her grandson who had just defeated death. Before anyone could move Hinata and Neji stepped up and grabbed the four senbon needles for a forensic examination. As they looked at Sakura they both surged forward as she collapsed in exhaustion.
As she was placed in a bed in the recovery room next to the one reserved for Naruto her conscious mind was waking in Naruto's mindscape. Sitting up she saw her husband smiling at her. As she stood she launched herself at him capturing his lips with hers. Breaking the kiss she looked around and saw the stream, clearing, woodlands and house created for Kurama. Speaking of which she noticed the fox talking to a dead ringer for Naruto when he was an adult on Earth.
Seeing where and at who she was looking at Naruto answered her unasked question with a smile, "My father, your father in law, Minato Namikaze. Don't ask I don't know how he got here."
Hearing his son speak Minato walked back to him, "Naruto, you owe me an expla..."
"I know dad, I know. Well first off, when I was about eight or nine Uncle, I mean Kurama told me of my heritage, titles and clans. Oh and our marriage contract as well."
Minato quirked his eyebrow, "Uncle? You call Kurama Uncle? And why did he tell you everything before you became a genin? Well Kurama?"
The mighty fox sighed, "Minato, I had to use that jutsu on them when they were six. It was as you and Kushina feared, in fact the hate was so bad Sakura's parents first kept her away from the boy and refused to not only shelter him as per the contract but when Sakura did make friends with him they disowned her and tossed her out of her home at age four. They've been together ever since."
"You mean it was that bad you used the jutsu the three of us made for an emergency? What about now? Where are we?" Minato asked.
"Yes, it was that bad, the two of them were mistreated daily and Naruto took the worst of it, especially the murder attempts, don't ask how many, we both lost count. As for where we are, we're back in Konoha, it's hospital to be exact. Sakura and your mother Tsunade were transplanting replacement organs into the kit from a blood clone to repair all the damage that was done to him when he was younger. When they were finished they tried to restart his heart and something went wrong. That's why we had to weaken the seal, we were doing that when you showed up."
About this time Naruto spoke up, "Umm, not that I'm glad to see you and all but how are you even here dad?"
"I'm a chakra construct, when I sealed Kurama in you, your mother added some of her chakra into it. She was to appear when a certain set of circumstances happened. Hiruzen was to do the sealing having lost his wife earlier that evening, however, when I found out your mother had passed away I added my chakra to the seal as well. I was to appear when you tried to either loosen or remove the seal. Your mother will appear when you are able to merge with Kurama and use his chakra as your own," the fourth Hokage explained.
"So, mom will show when I'm ready to merge and form the chakra cloak then? Cool, I know it's a couple of years in the future but still. One question, how much longer do you have with me?"
"As long as you want," Minato answered with a smile as he turned to the fox, "Kurama, if you will."
The fox nodded and made a series of hand signs before slamming his tails onto a previously unseen seal on the ground. Naruto and Sakura noticed that a bit of red chakra began to flow into the new seal as Minato took on a healthier glow.
"Ahhhh, much better," he chuckled, "As long as Kurama charges that seal I'll be around. It powers a storage cell that filters his chakra so it can mix with mine at 99.5% his chakra to .5% of mine. That's all I need to be me from the chakra I placed in you to show up, same with your mother. So, baby Sakura-chan is finally here and all grown up, are you still just dating or what?"
Sakura blushed and shook her head holding up the engagement and wedding rings that were fused together. She and Naruto had found the set in an antique mall, the rings were made of gold filigree that was braided with the engagement ring looking like a basket as the gold strands seemed to capture the main diamond and emerald accent jewels. As Minato looked the diamond took on a pink hue that matched the girls hair while the emeralds reminded him of her eyes.
Seeing the simple gold band on his son's finger he whispered, "Married? Already? So you're both out of the academy and genin I take it?"
Both Naruto and Sakura laughed at his reaction, it was to be expected as they were considered to young by the civilian villagers. However it seemed different coming from Minato, it was as if he was expecting them to fail the academy in some way and somehow it hurt. They both shook their heads as they henged into their older selves shocking Minato. Naruto was the one that finally spoke up to explain a few things,
"More like nearly ten years dad. When Kurama took us from this world the time on our new home world passed at a higher rate so we aged faster than our peers her in the village. We married at seventeen, and once we finished our education we enlisted in our adopted home country's naval arm."
Naruto and Sakura then told Minato about all that had happened to them from the time Naruto was thrown out of the orphanage and Sakura being disowned by her parents all the way to the liberation of Wave and Naruto's training to take the Hokage's seat and his position as Genin Commander. Sakura told him about her medical and combat training in her first life and now studying under Tsunade as well as being not only Naruto's wife but his right hand in leading and training the genin of their academy class.
Hearing this Minato's eyes narrowed, "Why are you two training the academy grads? The village only passes three or four teams a year so their sensei's should be doing that."
Naruto looked at his father, "Yeah...about that. With Tsunade's blessing as well as as other circumstances our class all graduated. Look, dad, the old way was very wasteful of village resources and funds, we found that over the academic life of a academy student the village spends 11,000,000 ryo per student. Tell me how it's cost effective to pass only 33% of a class when potentially all of the class are able to be excellent shinobi?"
Minato looked shocked, even as Hokage he had been in the dark about how much it cost to educate a student from start to finish but his son had took it upon himself to find out and improve things, "That much has been wasted? Why am I not surprised? When your mother and I wanted to make changes we were fought tooth and nail by the council. How did you manage to succeed?"
"Well, the council has been changed drastically. Hiruzen-jijii cleaned house after we were gone, his teammates were executed along with most of the old civilian council for treason. As much as he disliked it he declared martial law for a while as he set things right. The new council are forbidden to involve themselves in the running of the village and shinobi affairs like the old one had done. Hiruzen made sure that the only things they can do is advise, as intended, and act as liaisons between the civilian community and the Hokakge's office," Naruto explained.
Minato was aghast at that, while it was true the village was a dictatorship at it's core the council was in place to balance that power but hearing of the corruption he figured his predecessor had no choice. He turned his attention to his son as the boy continued to update him about the village he gave his life for.
"Once things were settled down he turned the regency over to Tsunade. Baa-chan has been training me and Sakura along with Ero-jijii and Hiruzen-jijii. Now as for me, the reason the changes were made so easily was that Hiruzen placed me in charge of the academy as part of my leadership training. One of the things I discovered was that a traitor had been tampering with student's education in our class. Sakura and I decided to take him down and with the regent's approval we activated our class and it was they that gathered the intelligence and planned the operation. Everyone graduated and became shinobi. We've only had three drop from training and that was only a few weeks ago after a very grueling exercise," Naruto said proudly before taking on a thoughtful look, "Say dad, if you're a chakra construct would you be able to inhabit a shadow clone like Kurama?"
"Sadly no son," Minato replied gravely, "While Kurama's chakra will power my existence, hopefully for your entire life, I'm confined to your mindscape because of the seal your mother and I made. Now, I have a question, how come Sakura is able to be here with us?"
"Umm, well, she and I share a special seal called a 'mate mark'. It's something that Kurama gifted us so we can stay in touch with each other. It also contains a tail's worth of his chakra to aid Sakura-chan so she can heal as fast as I can and as a defense against chakra exhaustion," Naruto explained as Kurama walked up to the small group.
"Minato, Naruto, Sakura, as much as I hate to do this the kit and his mate need to wake up, their friends and family are getting worried and Konohamaru and Moegi are getting very scared. This can continue later, don't worry vixen, you'll be brought here to join in as well."
Both teens nodded and walked up to Minato, "Bye dad, I'll see you later. I'll tell Baa-chan that you said hi."
Sakura hugged the man next, "I'll see you later papa-san. Don't worry about Naruto, I make sure he's safe and sound, nothing will ever harm my husband as long as I'm by his side," with that Sakura kissed her father in law's chakra ghost on the cheek and faded from view.
Before she vanished Minato called out, "Wait! Who is Konohamaru and Moegi?"
Sakura flashed a smile and waved as she faded from view and called back, "Our children! Take care!"
Looking at his son he asked, "Children?"
"Yeah, Kurama will explain. I have to go dad but I'll see you later okay?"
Minato nodded his head as his son also faded from view. Kurama just shook his head and smiled at his former host's husband, "Minato, we have a lot to talk about and how this village you died for hurt your son and daughter in law."
/
As Naruto and Sakura were talking to his father it seemed like they'd spent a few hours doing so, in reality it was a few minutes as both found themselves lying in separate beds in the recovery room. Both just lay still as the medical staff under Tsunade's watchful eye made sure they were both alright. Tsunade herself performed the chakra scan on her grandson and found he was completely healed from his surgery. Smiling she told him the surgery was a success and that he and Sakura would stay the night in a room designed for families. Three extra beds would be brought in for Moegi, Konohamaru and Udon.
Naruto just grinned and motioned for her to come closer, "Baa-chan," he whispered, "Sakura and I met my father today. He sealed some of his chakra into Kurama's seal as a fail safe of sorts, just in case I tried to do something stupid with the seal. He says hi and he made it so Kurama's chakra powers the matrix allowing him to last as long as I live. He did the same for my mother as well but she won't appear until I get strong enough to merge with Kurama and learn to control his chakra beyond three tails."
Tsunade was wide eyed, her son was alive in some form and Kushina would be present at some point as well. Looking at her grandson she smiled, "That's wonderful news, but how did Sakura get into your mindscape?"
"The mate mark, it's full of surprises or at least Kurama neglected to tell us everything. Oh, and before you ask, no, he can't inhabit a shadow clone. Something about the way the seals are set up."
"I see, for now just rest, I need to inform your friends on your condition. Sasuke is livid and ready to go on the warpath. I need to get up there and sort things out. Just rest Naruto, you've more than earned it," Tsunade told him as she kissed his forehead, the first time she had ever done that.
In the gallery tension was high as Sasuke and Kakashi were in a standoff concerning his plans to end the lives of so many villagers. Shino was off to the side waiting for Sasuke's word to send his insect messengers. Everyone jumped as the doors opened and Tsunade walked in with a smile on her face. Looking at the staring match she cleared her throat. She knew what was happening, the Hyuga cousins had informed her as soon as the danger to Naruto had passed, so now she had to show who was boss it seemed.
"Kakashi, Sasuke! Both of you stand down," now turning to the bug user she addressed him as well, "Shino, send your messengers, inform your clansmen that the Hokage is safe and out of danger. He's resting comfortably and will go home in the morning. There will be no purge today."
"I understand and thank you my lady," was Shino's reply as he sighed in relief. Taking lives was his job as a ninja, however the thought of killing his fellow villagers made him uneasy.
Looking at Sasuke and Kakashi Tsunade smiled at them, "Lord Uchiha, I understand that you and the other heirs have placed Sakura and the children under your clans protection while Naruto recovers and would continue to do so had he passed away, I thank you and am grateful to you and the other clans as well," Tsunade told the young clan head before her face took a serious and stern look, "However, Neji informed me of your plan to avenge Naruto and as the Hokage Regent I forbid you from carrying it out, do you understand?"
"Yes Lady Regent, but, having said that I will not stop the righting of the injustice in allowing the continued existence of the jonin and council members that injured my friend and Hokage either directly or indirectly. This village will learn to respect Naruto even if the combined clans have to make the streets run red with the blood of the guilty," Sasuke said to her with conviction. While he had been steered away from the path of seeking revenge for his clan, he was still an avenger at heart.
Tsunade nodded in understanding, she too was upset that traitors still lived in the village and the four of them had hid their crimes and wormed their way onto the reformed council. She listened as Sasuke told her of the planned mission. The four squads of DRACO would take care of the council members, each squad would be led by one of the Nami No Kuni Veterans, while the assassins of the Kinzoku clan would end the jonin's life. There were others that he considered candidates for termination as they all were guilty of repeat crimes against Naruto and Sakura but Tsunade refused to sanction them, just the five it would send a message to all in the village that justice awaits them and can strike at any time.
Sasuke hated what he had planned, he feared that he was turning Naruto's pet project into a kind of secret police and he feared his friend's reaction. His friend would horrified when he finds out but Sasuke had prepared himself for the consequences of his actions. He knew that Naruto refused to seek vengeance for what was done to him but Sakura had no such misgivings. She swore at the time she married her husband that she would not only support him but protect him as well. This is why she released DRACO's weapons and equipment to Sasuke and while she wouldn't be going on any raids she gave her blessing and would be with them in spirit.
Sasuke scowled for a second before accepting defeat. At least the ones in a position of authority will be dealt with, no telling what the four on the council had planned. Looking at Tsunade he gave a small sigh before answering her, "Tch, fine my Lady. On my honor as the head of my clan I swear not to kill anyone other than the ones you've okay'd. What about witnesses? What do we do with them?"
"Nothing unless they try to fight you and the others or interfere they are to be untouched. Take the guilty parties to the Forest of Death and carry out the executions there. Anko will clean up after you're all done," Tsunade clarified before turning her attention to the others, "Now, I have good news for you all. Naruto is awake and alert and has been transferred to his hospital room and can have visitors. While it's one of the largest rooms in the building the Hokage's suite is still not large enough to hold everyone. I suggest you take shifts visiting him. Now if you'll excuse me I'll be off."
"Lady Tsunade," Ino called after the woman who stopped and turned to face her, "do you know what went wrong? Why did Naruto's heart refuse to restart? Neji and Hinata said something about his chakra points being blocked."
Tsunade frowned at the questions but decided to answer them anyway, "His chakra nodes in his chest weren't blocked, they were completely shut down. Hinata had the foresight to take possession of the senbon needles that Haku placed."
Before anyone could speak up or do something they'd regret, especially the Uchiha head, Tsunade pressed on, "Now I know what you're all thinking but Haku is innocent. The senbon she placed were in a sealed and transparent sterilization package that was issued by the hospital's central sterile supply room. We are looking into who had a chance to tamper with the needles. We do know one thing, the senbon had been treated by an anti-chakra agent that requires high heat such as an autoclave to activate so everyone in that department are under suspicion."
Ino looked thoughtful, "So they used the autoclave's heat to activate the toxin. That's all fine and such but how did Naruto overcome it? What was that purple chakra he released? And how come Sakura went from a sobbing mess to giving orders and tossing the instruments that were in Naruto's chest to the floor as fast as she could?"
Tsunade looked closer at the girl and saw a girl that wanted to know how things worked out, not to gossip but to be ready in case there should be a next time, "As you all know, Naruto is the host of the Nine Tailed Fox. He and Sakura are very close to him and the fox is extremely attached to those two as well. Over time Naruto and the Fox have become willing partners to the point that the Fox can inhabit a shadow clone if it has something important to convey to more than Naruto and Sakura. That purple chakra was the result of the mixing of the Fox's red chakra with Naruto's blue. The Fox released his chakra into Naruto's chakra network to overpower and counter the toxin that had shut down those nodes that were blocked and to heal any damage done to that network. Now the real good news is that since Naruto survived this ordeal he is now immune to that toxin. Whoever used it is going to be hard pressed to get another one that he's not immune to. Just remember, in his time before his exile Naruto was poisoned or abused on a daily basis, so, there is a chance that there are no toxins, poisons or other agents that can kill him anywhere on the continent."
Tsunade looked at the assembled ninja's checking to see that they understood what she had said, satisfied she continued, "Now as to Sakura's actions, she has a mental link to both Naruto and the Fox because of a seal that was placed on her shoulder. Through this the Fox has gifted her with things that has the potential to be passed to any children she and Naruto have and will eventually become a blood line limit by the time their children have children themselves. The Fox gave Sakura a warning as to what he was going to do and instructed Sakura to remove any and all foreign objects in her husband's body. I hope that I've answered all your questions, now, I must be going. Good day to you all."
Later that evening Naruto sat in bed surrounded by his family and close friends, specifically his DRACO teams. Deciding to tell them about his father he began to relate all that had happened. Udon and Moegi asked if the fourth Hokage would have been their grandfather had he lived. Naruto said the he would have and would've viewed Konohamaru as his grandson as well. He then told the group about the seal that held his father's chakra and that Kurama, or the Fox as he was referred to when outsiders were present, had willingly agreed to provide his chakra to power it. His father would remain with him hopefully all Naruto's life.
Some, Ino especially, were skeptical about what Naruto said. Ino asked if Naruto was sure it wasn't a wishful dream. Before he could reply Sakura spoke up, "No piggy it wasn't a dream, I was in Naruto's mindscape at the same time. Minato-sama's chakra is present and confined to a seal that we believe is incorporated into the seal the holds the Fox. Mother Kushina had also sealed her chakra into Naruto-kun as well. She's supposed to show when a set of circumstances are met but we don't know what those are."
Hearing that the visitors were satisfied and the conversation turned to more pleasant things. As the hour grew late the members of DRACO all slowly excused themselves and left. Sasuke and Ami were the last to leave. As they neared the door Naruto called out, "Sasuke, I know what you and the teams are setting out to do tonight. I will allow this to happen only because of not only the corrupt council members but the jonin the Kinzoku clan is assigned to was the one that would slash my throat and shove a kunai into my chest. He was only caught a few times but the damage to my throat, heart and lungs is all his handiwork, no one else. Good hunting and I pray that this is the last and only time my DRACO will be used in such a manner."
Sasuke wasn't sure what to think, somehow Naruto had found out but gave the go ahead anyway so he just nodded and left the room in silence. He quickly made his way to the Kinzoku compound, there was now a change of plans. He arrived and asked to talk to the kill squad that would take out the jonin. Once he met them he informed them of what Naruto had informed him concerning the man. He then told the team not to kill but incapacitate and bring the man to the Forest of Death, he would meet them there.
When asked why he didn't want the man killed Sasuke's eyes grew dark and his sharingan briefly flared, "Oh, he's still going to die, I just want to be the one to kill him," came the answer. With that taken care of the Uchiha head left.
At exactly four thirty in the morning the stillness of the village was shattered by the simultaneous yelling of "SEARCH WARRANT! OPEN THE DOORS! SEARCH WARRANT! OPEN NOW!" followed by the explosions of four breaching charges blowing in the doors of the targeted council members.
Each team rushed in quickly subduing any household members or staff as they looked for their target. Out of the four locations only one, the residence of a wealthy merchant turned politician, gave any resistance. It was here that the man's personal bodyguard decided to fight back. While listed as civilians the guards turned out to be missing nins from Kumo who had been 'sheep dipped' in Kiri. Essentially the men were given new identities stating that they were civilians trained as bodyguards that were then hired by the councilman.
One of the guards produced a brace of flintlock pistols that he'd picked up in Snow. Snap firing one he took aim with the second at the team leader, Rock Lee. Lee turned and raised his M1911 firing three rounds as taught, two into the man's chest and one to the head, his visage taking on a death's head grin as the man sank to his knees. Shikamaru's
eyes grew wide at the sudden noise and light of first the flintlocks and then Lee's own shots.
Sensing danger Shikamaru pushed Ino out of the way as he fired his MP5 at the second guard as the man lunged out of the shadows intent on running Ino through with a matte black tanto. Ino recovered and added her own 9mm rounds to the fight hitting her assailant with a five round burst. Rushing to the target Choji used his family's technique partially enlarging his right hand and arm before striking the man with enough force to knock him out. Working quickly the team placed a hood over the man's head and bound his hands behind his back before dragging him out of the house and into the darkness of the night.
Meanwhile the Kinzoku sisters, Yui, Moa, and Suzuka, were dealing with the rouge jonin. It seemed that the man was extremely paranoid and before he retired for the night set very elaborate traps and alarms. That didn't matter as Yui summoned a few foxes and had them make short work of the man's handiwork. When they entered his bedroom they found him up and waiting for them. Seeing this the sisters braced for a fight but the man's next words surprised them.
"I suppose you're here because of my attacks on our Hokage," seeing the three nod their heads he continued, "Very well, I'm tired of waiting and looking over my shoulder. Let's get this over with."
As he said that he knelt and bared his neck for the blade that was sure to come. When it failed to appear he opened his eyes and looked at the two sisters in front of him as the chakra supressive handcuffs were placed on him by the youngest of the trio. Looking at the girls the oldest decided to answer his unasked question.
"Our orders are not to kill you, we are to take you to the acting commander of the DRACO teams," Suzuka explained.
The man suppressed a shiver as he heard of who ordered his capture. While nothing was known about the new genin and their training outside the village everyone inside knew about the newest special combat teams. It was two DRACO teams that liberated the Land of Waves and they had done a job that would normally be given to ANBU or a large team of jonin like himself.
Now it was on the acting commander's order that he be captured and taken to the man. As he was being led out of his house Kazama Shin was very subdued, he knew that there was a file on all the attacks he committed on the daemon child, it was only the fact that the village was short of experienced jonin that had stayed the hand of the Third Hokage and by the time the Regent had taken her seat the KMPD was a memory along with their arrest reports. Someone, most likely the new Uchiha clan head had found them and decided to call in his debt. He laughed inwardly, he had heard about the close call the brat had had in surgery, it seems that this was a contingency of one of the DRACO members, again, most likely the Uchiha brat. Still for some reason he felt as if a giant weight was lifted from his shoulders.
Kazama was the last to arrive at the clearing in the Forest of Death. Looking at the gathered ninja he noted that they all wore the unusual patterned clothing the deamon brat and his whore wore with one difference, all wore black balaclavas to hide their faces along with goggles to hide their eyes, all but one, the Uchiha. As the jonin was tied to a post next to the scared and silent councilmen Sasuke walked up to the man, one of the strange weapons his group used hanging from a strap. Looking that the others he noticed that all but the assassins were armed the same way.
Glaring at the five Sasuke read from a scroll, "You five who now will forever be nameless and forgotten by this village are guilty of repeated attacks on the Godaime Koho Hokage prior to his exile with the members of our esteemed council attempting to resume the abuse in order to prevent the rightful leader of this village from assuming his right and lawful position. You five are also guilty of repeated attacks on the Lord of Uzugakure, one Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze. Due to the incompetence of the Lord Third in dealing out your punishment we, the members of DRACO have petitioned and have received the sanction. The punishment for your crimes are either imprisonment for the rest of your lives or death. How fortunate you are in that you don't have make that decision. As head of the KMPD and acting commander of DRACO I have sent your cases and all the facts of your crimes to a council of shinobi. Their verdict is guilty on all counts and the sentence is death for all counts."
As Sasuke finished reading the sentence the rest of the teams were removing their eye protection and balaclavas. The condemned were shocked to see that of the twelve special forces members seven were heirs or clan heads and the rest were highly praised genin. They began to protest that they had no right to pass judgment on them as they were too young to understand the threat the daemon brat posed to the village. The 12 noticed that the five never mentioned Naruto or Sakura's name only daemon brat and that daemon's whore. To the genin and assassins that proved the guilt of the five accused.
At that point they began to yell that they'd become martyrs and proved right when all was said and done. Hinata scowled, while she had pledged her love to Kiba months ago she still had feelings for Naruto and her reaction let those emotions out. Stepping up to the loudest civilian Hinata systematically began to strike the man shutting down his already pathetically weak chakra system. She left his heart and lungs alone as she wanted him to beg for death. Looking at the others she she scolded them for their actions,
"All of you disgust me, Naruto and Sakura were the ones that saved me the night I was kidnapped by Cloud but that fact had to be kept a secret since you ignorant trash would accuse them of trying to start a war. And you," she pointed at the jonin, "you of all people should know how a seal works but no, you saw Naruto as the Fox itself. Who did you lose that drove you so blind and ignore your training and make no less that fifteen attempts at killing Naruto?"
Looking at the man with her byukugan activated Kazama knew he had to answer, "My girlfriend and our children, they were killed in the Fox's first attack. I swore vengeance and while I do know how a seal works that meant nothing to me," the man explained, "I had heard from Hatake that the seal was set up so that should the boy die the fox dies. That was why I tried to kill the brat all those times, to kill that damned fox!"
Hinata glared at the man, she wanted him in pain and she would get her pound of flesh for Naruto and Sakura. Channeling chakra to her hands she began to form the signature green chakra scalpels of a medic nin. Waking slowly towards the man she hissed out her contempt of the bastard before her, "You made Naruto and Sakura suffer because of your blind hatred of something you do not understand. Well I'm going to fill you in on a few facts. Number one, it's not as simple as killing the fox by killing Naruto. The Fourth Hokage put an insurance policy of a sort in that seal, should Naruto die due to foul play in the village the fox would not be killed, no, instead it would be released from his body to wipe this village off the map. He knew that the chance of his son being harmed by people like you was high so he inserted this trap. While he loved this village Minato-sama loved his son even more. Now, feel how helpless your six year old victim felt," as she uttered these words Hinata used the chakra blades on the man.
She then moved to his abdomen, using her byukugan she targeted his diaphragm disabling it to hinder his breathing, he was getting just enough air to survive his last moments but it was extremely painful on top of the pain that was already inflicted on him. Kazama just accepted that he had been so very wrong and put the village in danger multiple times. He was the only one that understood why he was being treated the way he was and accepted his fate.
Walking to the only female that was taken prisoner Hinata was joined by Ino. Ino glared at the woman and whispered, "I know, and if I know he knows," looking at the other prisoners she continued, "We found out that it was you that contacted one of the workers in the hospital that sterilizes and prepares items for surgeries. The question is why?"
"Because he's an abomination and should have been killed the night he was born," the woman spat.
"I see," Ino said as she brought her hands in the shape that activated and amplified her clans signature jutsu, "mind transfer jutsu..."
"Complete," the accused woman exclaimed. Ino looked around the woman's mind and found what she was looking for, the memories of ordering the attacks on a very young and scared Naruto, in fact it was her that paid a handsome amount to the head of the orphanage to mistreat, isolate and starve Naruto before finally throwing him out on the boy's birthday knowing what the drunken masses would do to him.
Taking those memories along with the latest one, ordering the senbon needed for the operation be coated with a strong toxin. Sealing that memory away Ino then began her revenge, destroying the woman's mind by first slowly and deliberately targeting her memories. As she went about her task she was reminded of a movie she and the others had seen at the Uzumaki residence. In it a machine named Hal committed murder on a space ship, in retaliation the lone survivor made his way to the machine's memory bank and began to remove cartridge after cartridge obliterating Hal's memory. At the end it began to sing a song in a very slow and sluggish voice. The difference between the movie and this reality was the woman was not able plead for Ino to stop like Hal did in the movie.
Once Ino was certain that the woman's mind was completely wiped she returned to her own body as Hinata began her assault. The remaining council members began to worry about what they would have to suffer as Ino walked up to the next member and repeated her actions. Leaving the man's mind to work on the next condemned man Ino patted herself on the back as she realized that her plan had worked. These people will be left with no memories and a broken mind, to an average citizen that was scary enough, to a Yamanaka, it was a fate worse than death."
The same treatment befell the last man as the assembled ninja waited an hour for Ino to run her course. Shikamaru looked at Sasuke and asked him a question, "So, how do we kill this lot? And what do we do with the bodies?"
"Have one squad per councilman, use the bastards for kunai practice. Let them bleed out slow so they know that they're going to die. Afterwards cut the bodies loose and leave them for the scavengers. They don't deserve the privilege of a quick death and burial in the village cemetery," Sasuke ordered.
Shikamaru nodded his head in agreement but then asked one last question, "I see, and what of the jonin?"
"We've all seen his record and has acted as if he understood what his crimes could have lead to. Because of that and he otherwise served the village and the Land Of Fire honorably I'll ensure a quick death. He's suffered enough under Hinata's treatment don't you agree?"
"I do, it'll be light soon we may as well get this over with," was all the Nara had to say.
With that all four teams faced the councilman of their choice before they all sent kunai into area's of their bodies that would bleed out slowly to prolong their suffering, the blades having been treated with an anti-coagulation agent to prevent their bodies from closing the wounds and stopping the blood flow.
With the four councilmen taken care of Sasuke once again walked to the fallen jonin one last time, "I want to see if I could talk to you and ask if you have any last words."
"I see, what did you want to talk about?" the man asked.
It seems that you've accepted your fate and you seem to be sorry for your actions. What I want to know is are you? Sorry for what you inflicted on the Godaime?"
"Yes, I am. Having heard that should the boy be murdered in the village the fox would not die but be freed I regret my actions. It was selfish of me to presume that I could eliminate the beast by killing it's host. Please tell him that I'm sorry for all I did against him. Tell him that if I could do things over I would have done all I could to protect him, not because he's the Godaime but because he was just an innocent child and it was my duty as a shinobi of the leaf to protect the village's most helpless citizens a duty that I forgot when it came to him. Uchiha-san, I'm ready, please make in quick," was all the man had to say.
Sasuke nodded in understanding, "I'd convey your apology but Naruto doesn't need to know that this is actually happening and must never know. Understand that we will never be a secret police or death squads for the office of the Hokage like ROOT was for the traitor Danzo but because of your crimes you will not be remembered and your existence erased. I hope and Naruto prays that this will never have to be done ever again. Anything else? I will deliver a message for you if you'd like. But before you tell I wish to know one thing and I'm sure Naruto-sama would like to know too, what happened to all your genin teams? Why are you the only survivor of the missions that took their lives?"
"I'm not a coward if that's what you think but my colleagues have always thought that. No, that's one thing I'm not, now, my first team...my first team was the worst. My best friend's little brother was one of my students and I did my best to make sure he and the others always came home. That team's demise was during an ambush, a very clever and well planned one, one that was made to ensure our client did not survive.
"As to why I'm alive, Karoru-kun jumped in front of me and took the kunai barrage meant for me. The others, well, one team drowned themselves trying to water walk on a stormy sea after learning that damn technique two days before. The other was just dumb luck. That was a very smart and clever team, but the kunoichi, she was a little hellion. She developed a fondness for blowing things up, always tinkering with explosive tags. One day during a border patrol mission I had to make a check on a check point that had missed their daily check in. I figured that I'd go alone a let them rest.
"Shori must have gotten bored and messed with a tag, adding more chakra than it could safely hold. My best guess is that she turned a level five charge, that was the maximum genin were allowed back then, it's because of Shori-chan that you new kids are only issued charge threes. Anyway, the seal catastrophically releasing the equivalent of a charge fifty demolition tag. We saw the flash from the check point and while I rushed back I knew in my heart that I had lost not only my Shori-chan but the rest of the team and even more than you could know."
Hearing the jonin call one of his students as his Shiori-chan made Sasuke wonder so he took a guess, "I'm assuming that you and your student were close, as in a relationship?" as if to answer the man nodded, "By your how you worded things I take it that she was with child then. Now I'm beginning to understand why you would treat Naruto as you did, considering that you lost another lover and family. For what it's worth you have my sympathies, now, any messages or last words?"
"No, I have no one, I'm...I'm ready Uchiha-san."
Nodding Sasuke stepped back and to the side. As he did so he drew his pistol and aimed at the man's head sending two rounds into the right side of the man's skull. Pulling out a kunai he cut the man free from the post he was tied to. As he cut the ropes he told the others to do the same. The other DRACO members made short work of the ropes and soon there were five bodies cooling on the forest floor. As they stood there Anko walked into the clearing.
She nodded to Sasuke before speaking, "Go ahead and leave, there's a tunnel leading into the village. Don't worry about these five once you're gone I'll let the scavengers and other animals into this area. ANBU has already erased these from the village records and they'll soon be forgotten by everyone."
Sasuke turned to Anko and gave her one last instruction before he left, wording more as a request, "Miterashi-san, the former jonin Kazama repented at the end. He...he understood the consequences of his actions and the danger he had placed the village in should he had been successful. He did apologize for all he had done to Naruto and explained why he thought he was doing the village his duty and why he let blind hatred take over.
"He accepted his fate as a shinobi should and as we consider his otherwise good record he should be given at least a proper resting place. I'm sure that Naruto would insist that he get that at least, once I tell him the man's story," Sasuke told the snake mistress.
Anko nodded, even though Kazama had repeatedly attacked Naruto he wasn't like the others. Anko knew the man personally as he was one of the few that saw Anko for Anko and not as the Snake Sanin's whore. She had already prepared a place for the man, a promise that she kept. One night the man was really in his cups and told Anko that he was guilty of crimes too terrible to speak of, he knew that one day ANBU would come for him. At that moment he asked Anko to find a place in the forest for him to rest in peace. Anko knew just a spot the man would like so when the sanction was placed on Kazama, Anko had asked for a D rank from one of the reserve genin teams that had been recalled to not only take up the slack that occurred when the last year's class was not released but went into advanced training, but to ensure they were given the training needed to keep them in shape. Yes, Kazama would enjoy his resting place and he'd most likely enjoy watching the chunin exams that took place every couple of years in the forest of death. Maybe he would watch over and protect Konoha's hopefuls as a way of penance. As she picked the man up Anko gave a sigh, Kazama was a good man with a very bad flaw. Had he been able to move on a accept Naruto for what he was Anko would have liked to have become more than a friend to the man.
Placing the deceased jonin in a fireman's carry she spoke just above a whisper, "Come on Shin-koi, let's leave this place and get some sleep. I found the perfect place for you," as she spoke Anko blinked unshed tears from her eyes, "I'm sorry that I was never enough to be more than a friend, but, for all your flaws and faults I did love you. I just wish that you could have seen that, maybe if you did I could have shown you that Naruto-kun and Sakura-chan were just scared children that needed love maybe you'd still be alive. For what it's worth, I hope you find your peace but I'll miss you everyday." With that the special jonin bounded off into the trees and the breaking of the dawn.
The twelve genin and three Kinzoku assassins nodded and silently left the training ground. Once inside the village Sasuke dismissed the other genin and told them to take the day off as it had been a very stressful twenty-four hours and they all needed their rest. For Sasuke however the day had to last a little longer as he and Ami, who by now was his fiance`, headed towards the Hoakge's tower. He was under strict orders to report to Tsunade on the mission's success or failure.
/
Meanwhile Minato was being caught up by the deamon fox he had reluctantly sealed into his son. At the moment he was dumbfounded by what he'd been told and shown. Naruto has so much trust in Kurama that the fox has unrestricted access to the boy's memories and Kurama was taking Minato on a literal trip down memory lane. At first the fourth Hokage was frowning at the way his son was treated and his wishes ignored. When Kurama showed him the incident that triggered Kurama's release he was ready to free himself from the seal. He had lied to his son, he could inhabit a shadow clone like Kurama did but that would raise more questions than anyone would be comfortable with.
Minato now found himself looking at one of Naruto's most painful memories that was not related to Konoha, "So, this was my granddaughter? She' so tiny, what happened? Why is Sakura crying and why does it feel like Naruto is ready to break down?" he asked the fox.
"You may not like this but you asked, remember that. In that memory Sakura is about sixteen, nearly seventeen. She and Naruto had been intimate for close to three years by that time and they got careless and the little vixen got pregnant. The baby was born three months too early and had troubles with her lungs. Long story short, Minato, that was them saying goodbye. Haruhi had just passed away in Naruto's arms and it devastated him. To make it worse and this is something that Sakura hid from him, the pregnancy and it's after effects rendered her barren. She was unable to conceive after that."
"She never told Naruto?" Minato asked.
"No, but you have to understand, they were on Earth, that's the world we went to, until they had been blooded and could be declared proper warriors. The stay there was temporary and they existed there only as blood clones but since I was able to split myself to inhabit both bodies, don't ask how, it was some kind of flaw in the seal that I could exploit in that situation."
"Okay, but, they started at that young an age? I thought we asked you to watch over Naruto and by extension Sakura-chan. What happened Kurama? Why could you let that happen?" Minato began to yell now.
At that Kurama stared at the man and growled out an answer, "Look you, those children lived a very hard life because you decided to act all noble and be the hero! For the life of me why did you do the sealing yourself? The old man Sarutobi offered to do it in your place, his wife was killed by one of Danzo's men when he and his followers stormed the birthing room, so why didn't you let him do it?"
Looking down Minato stumbled for an answer, "I...I didn't...think about what I was doing at the time Kurama, everything was so hectic that I couldn't think and then when I heard that Kushina had passed from you being taken out of her I lost my will to live. That's why I think I did the ceremony, because of Kushina, I wanted to be with her."
"That's the reason!? You wanted to be with your wife when your son was still alive and was damned to a living hell for holding me at bay? What the fuck kind of father are you?" the fox yelled out in shocked anger, "Minato, look at me. You asked after they had gone why they call me uncle, well I'll tell you, it's because I insisted on Naruto calling you daddy and I didn't want to have you pissed off when that seal activated. I also didn't feel that I had the right since because of me Naruto lost both you and Kushina-chan. But now? After hearing your reason for doing the sealing yourself I think that maybe I should have let them call me that."
Minato narrowed his at that last remark, "You bastard, I'm his father, me! Minato Namekazi, not you, you're just an annoying ball of fur and chakra that exists only to destroy things not not nurture raise them and certainly not raise my son!"
"Oh? And how did you plan on raising him after you ended up in the shinigami's belly? You left him Minato! You left and I did all I could to protect your son from the villagers that you sacrificed his future and your life for. You're not his father Minato, I'm his father! I'm the one that would heal him, I'm the one that would comfort him in his sleep when all he could dream of was being lonely and wonder why people wanted him dead. And yes, it was me that had to not only explain who he really was and how important to Konoha he actually is but it wasn't you that had to give him 'the talk', it wasn't you who had to hold him and comfort him and Sakura-chan when Haruhi left us, IT...WAS...ME! Kurama, the daemon fox, the beast with nine tails, I was the one that raised your son because you were only thinking of joining your already dead wife and not protecting your still living son!" came Kurama's reply to his former host's husband.
For his part Minato had hung his head and had begun to regret what he had said to the fox. Kurama was right, instead of letting Hiruzen do the sealing since his children were all grown and his wife murdered as well as being an old man with nothing left to live for, Minato had done the sealing himself to join his wife and abandoned his son to the mercies of the ignorant masses of Konoha's villagers and shinobi. He had been so blinded by grief and duty that he forgot that he could have raised his son in a loving home and not as an unwanted orphan. Looking into the fox's eyes Minato saw not hate but sadness and disappointment, all aimed at him.
Bowing his head the ghost of the Fourth Hokage spoke up, "Forgive me Kurama, it was wrong of me to say and insinuate such things of you. How do I make it up to him? To both of them? I can't believe that Sakura's parents just threw her out into the streets and 'forgot' about their part of the contract to raise Naruto if something happened to Kushina and I."
Kurama heaved a heavy sigh as he looked at Minato, "Be glad they didn't keep that agreement, her parents would have drained Naruto and his clan's coffers dry and then arrange for an 'accident' to befall your son. As to how to make it up to them? Just be there and maybe actually inhabit a clone or two when it's just you and them. Really, what were you thinking? The kit is smart, smart enough to know that you're lying about not being able to inhabit a clone. Just...just be there for them, that's all they've ever asked for."
"I suppose I can do at least that much now, what did Sakura-chan mean by 'our kids' when I asked who Moegi was?"
"She and two boys, Udon and Konohamaru, are orphans that your son and daughter in law took in as foster children a few months after their return. A few weeks ago they adopted the kids as their own but I need to tell you something you may not like. Udon and Moegi are the grandchildren of the Third's former teammates, the ones that did all they could behind his back to make Naruto and Sakura's lives miserable. To them though that doesn't matter, in fact I think Naruto relishes in the idea that he's doing what his detractors refused to do, show love and compassion to someone that by all rights he should hate. Konohamaru is also the old Monkey's grandson but no one in the Sarutobi clan had any time for the boy so..."
"So Naruto took him in as well, I can actually see that happening. From what you've said he's a person with compassion to spare," Minato said as he interrupted Kurama.
"Yes he is, but in Konohamaru's case he's very close to the other two, so close that they in most cases act as one and if you're looking for one child the other two are close by. They're more or less a package deal if you like and that's what your son accepted."
"What about children of their own? Did Sakura's medical problems transfer to her original body?"
"No, she's fully capable of bearing children for Naruto, it's that she and him are very scared of what could happen again so they're waiting for the right time. Don't worry, you and Kushina will get your grandchildren but as far as those two are concerned, those three are your grandchildren too."
Minato nodded as he began to fade from view, he needed to think and it would be easier while in his seal, "I see, then you have taught them well. Kurama, thank you for looking over them."
At this a deep rumbling laugh was felt more than heard, "You're welcome but you're forgetting something Minato, the Sage, my father, gave me the job of watching over the children that couldn't defend themselves. I was doing that before I was sealed into my first host, I've no problem looking after Naruto and Sakura-chan."
At that Minato faded from view and the fox found himself alone with his thoughts. Sighing the great fox wandered off to the house Naruto had dreamed up for him and as he entered he changed into his human form. Laying on the bed for a nap he could only wonder what changes Minato would influence in the only humans that he ever accepted as his own kin.
A/N:
Okay, first I want to say sorry to those that I left hanging in the last chapter. Was is necessary to advance the story? No, but at times a little drama and unknown can enhance a tale. Am I sorry I did it? No, to tell you the truth the end of the last chapter was unplanned and as I was writing the surgery scene a one shot of Naruto and Sakura popped into my mind. In it he asks how long did she pump his heart when he was nearly killed in battle. Her answer was "Eighteen minutes and twenty-three seconds.." At that point I knew what I was going to do to show how much Naruto means to Sakura, when everyone was telling her to give up, when Tsunade, the greatest of ninja healers pronounces her husband dead, Sakura knew not to give up on her love.
Now, while most will think that I revealed Minato too early I want to point out that it was going to happen eventually so might as well do it now and Naruto being at death's door and ready to modify the seal was the best time for him to show. As you've seen, He and Kushina had feared their son would be mistreated and while hoping for the village to carry out Minato's wishes and treat their son as a hero they planned for the worst and gave Kurama a seal to take Naruto and anyone else in his sphere of influence, remember the ball of chakra seen enveloping the kids before it vanished with them and the fox? That was the seal the three made. It was also Minato that engineered the seal keeping Kurama inside of Naruto with an 'escape hatch' as it were. Should Kurama determine that his host's life was in danger he could slip out of the seal so as to take physical form and defend Naruto and himself and as Sakura got emotionally closer to Naruto her as well. Minato also placed a 'poison pill in the seal as well, should Naruto die at the hands of a citizen of Konoha or one acting on a citizen's orders Kurama would be released with the orders to destroy Konoha. Why he didn't allow Naruto to die was two reasons, one, he had no guarantee that he wouldn't die if Naruto died in the village since it was only Minato that told him of that provision, and two, for all he's been through Naruto is still Naruto and actually loves and cares for the village, even proclaiming that he's going to Hokage one day not knowing that he already is. So forgive me for my 'creative interpretation' of the seal on our hero's belly.
Okay for the Konoha genin under Naruto's instruction, I wanted to show that while not a brooding emo Sasuke is still an avenger. His clan was also charged with restarting the Konoha Military Police Department. As the clan head Sasuke also has access to his father's journals and police log books and what the Uchiha finds chills his blood. While he knew and understood that the villagers hated his friend at one time, Sasuke was unprepared for the amount of abuse the villagers, shinobi and civilian alike, had inflicted on Naruto. Now, while Sasuke was planning on going to Naruto with his findings when he and the others heard the damage done to their leader a new plan was formed, that was the plan he was ready to enact until Tsunade talked him down. I want to show Sasuke in a different light, just as he was in "A Lifetime Of Chances", "Team Tensai" and other AU and time travel fics that featured a Sasuke that had changed for the better. Now while all those versions were good I wanted to make my version of Sasuke better. We already know that thanks to Sakura he received the mental help he needed, with Naruto he found the answers as to why Itachi did what he had done and no longer seeks to kill his brother out of revenge but after he see's his clan reborn and the sins of the older generations, especially his mother, purged he'll seek out his brother and give him a merciful death.
As for the other clan heirs and their clans reaction to Sasuke's information. I feel that of all the shinobi clans in the village Shino's clan would be the one that would never mistreat Naruto in any way shape or form since they know the sting of hatred born of ignorance. The Aburame would be possibly Naruto's hidden benefactors that would try to lessen the crowds stalking the boy when he was younger but doing it from the shadows to avoid repercussions from Danzo, the elders and council. The Nara would just stay out of the whole mess since it would be troublesome, however the females would get protective of Naruto and Sakura should they seek sanctuary in their lands.
The rest of the clans and their heirs would be willing to put members that did their Hokage and his wife wrong to the knife. If nothing else it would be to show that they are willing to right the wrongs their clansmen, therefore their clan, done to Naruto. This is why when Sasuke was having his argument with Kakashi the other clan heirs announced that they would take Sakura and her children into their protection should Naruto die. That Tsume ordered the death of her two clansmen for their attacks on Naruto should come to no surprise. Tsume and her children were taught from a young age that the health of the pack comes first and anything that threatens the pack is to be swiftly and fatally dealt with, hence the deaths of two overage genin.
Now, concerning the Kinzoku clan. I'm still waiting for someone to tell me and the rest of the class who the sisters actually are. I've given lots of clues over the past few chapters and anyone that has been paying attention to the J-Pop or heavy metal scene should know. If not you should be ashamed since even my 10 year old granddaughter knows who I'm writing about. And yes, she and her older brother can read my stories since she's smarter and more mature than she looks.
Back to the story and the executions, that there would be council members that hid their criminal activity from detection should not be a surprise considering that they are all living in a ninja village. Even a civilian would have learned a thing or two from their day to day dealings with shinobi. I wanted Sasuke to have a good reason to take control of DRACO and conduct the raids. These were all he was going to get so he was going to make the most of it. I know that there wasn't much action with the raids and the forest of death but I figured that Ino and perhaps Hinata get a chance to do their things. Writing Ino's destruction of the council members minds was another sudden inspiration since one of my favorite Stanley Kubrick movies had just aired on one of the cable stations. I could imagine Ino drifting in a persons mind and systematically begin removing that persons memories and personality, all the things that make them them. Except in this reality none of them would be singing "Daisy" before their mind is completely gone.
The jonin was intended to be a throwaway but as I wrote him I wanted him to be an honorable shinobi in all ways but his treatment of Naruto. Not because he's ignorant of how the seal works, but he finds out that if the host dies the Kyuubi dies. He's doing this as a misguided form of revenge and when he finds out that had he succeeded he would have doomed his village and the people he's sworn to protect. I added Anko's one sided relationship with the man to make him a little more human. Same as when he has his last few words with Sasuke as he explains his actions. He knew what he was doing was wrong but the grief he felt at losing his partner and children was too much. Had Naruto known what the man had gone through I doubt that he would have given his sanction for Sasuke's operation, I think that he would have actually called the man in for a meeting and forgiven him as Naruto would be the one that understood the pain of loss.
As I write these notes I want to thank all that have favored, followed or commented on this story. Tip of the spear has just over 200 follows, just under 200 favorites, 89 comments, still waiting for that one person to call me a loser virgin, and to my surprise included in five C2s. Thank you all so much for supporting my little story. I tell you this because I sent a pm to another writer offering to share ideas for our stories. Now, I love this persons story and the story it was based on and I noticed some of the things he wrote tended to follow the lines of thought I have with Spear. Unfortunately I received a pm back telling me that everything I put in my story is wrong and more or less hated it, even the one thing he liked was still severely criticized for how I reasoned the character's actions. Out of respect I'll not say who it is or the story they wrote, but, it actually hurt me that someone would read a few chapters and then pick apart everything that was written and find nothing that they liked. It's not as if I'm using these plot points or ideas first, I've made it clear from the beginning that this story has been inspired by other stories too numerous to list, so I have to ask what the big deal is?
The big deal is that even as an AU there are still people that only see CANON and only canon and therefore make your changes there. While the person that I exchanged pm's with is writing his version of Naruto, he seems to me unwilling to accept a version that is not canon and only follows it as a basic framework. That's why you good folks that read and enjoy my story are so important to me. Not because you comment but because you can believe that a SEAL trained, dimension and world hopping Naruto and Sakura can exist. If you've noticed, neither Uzumaki is god like or over powered, in fact Naruto and Sakura tend to mix their training from both worlds with them leaning towards their Navy training more than their shinobi side. I think that that will never actually change, even though they will learn more and more of the shinobi ways, that first form of fighting, the one they used for so long will always be their go to, they just can't help it.
Now, I have ideas for the upcoming chapters that are connected to their past lives on Earth and Fox clan members that were left behind as their supply connection, remember, Kurama and his Kits are addicted to coffee and god help you if Sakura runs out of French Vanilla coffee creamer. Now, should Naruto have built in Wave say some of the water craft he used on his SEAL missions? Something like some of the boats that are used to deliver and support a Team from the water and have Sailors from Wave's rebounding merchant fleet crew them? Should that happen I may wait until Naruto gets involved with the princess from Snow to get them built so he can use their engine technology. Don't worry, I'm not going to drag the elemental nations into the 20th century anymore than they already are.
So, that's my rant, I'm out until the next chapter.