Chapter 4: Cleansings and Meetings

Naruto and Anko had just finished their morning exercises together after having a wonderful date last night. Now they are walking up to the Kurama Clan's compound with a note from the Third Hokage giving them permission to enter and try to help their heiress. But Naruto could sense the negative intent from most of the Kurama Clan members as they neared the Kurama manor.

"Halt! We've specific orders to prevent anyone from meeting our heiress, Yakumo Kurama." The guard stated to the two.

Anko handed them the Hokage's note to them. "The Hokage outranks your orders and has asked us to see if we can help your princess with her…condition. So let us pass!"

The guards looked over the orders of the Hokage to see if they were legit. They then see the Hiruzen Sarutobi's seal on the bottom of the paper. Nodding in acceptance they allow Anko and her student to enter. One of guards then heads to speak with the elder of the Kurama Clan, Unkai Kurama.

Naruto and his sensei enter the compound as they walk into the heiress' room. They find the room filled with paintings. All drawn and painted by one talented artist, Yakumo Kurama. Most of the artwork depicted Konoha landscapes and Yakumo's ex-sensei, Kurenai. All of them bleak and showing how morbid and resentful the artist was feeling inside herself.

Her current work was showing a Naruto and Anko's looks and expressions in detail when they just entered. However, it also depicts Anko having a white wispy snake with Orochimaru's eye coiled around her in restraint, while Naruto had a wispy green serpent that looked similar to Kendra the Basilisk with her crown of horns and glowing gold eyes. The snake was coiled in a protective and comforting embrace around the Uzumaki, while also having a red tinge surrounding Naruto with nine fox like tails behind him.

"whistle, Wow princess, you sure know how to paint. You even got my former sensei's eyes right." Anko complimented.

The brown-haired princess puts down her brushes and paints as she stares blankly at the duo with her light brown eyes. "Why are you here? Have you come to check on my seal that Kurenai-sensei made or is the Third Hokage getting worried about how potential a threat I may be?" she asks.

"Honestly, we were hoping you would help us try an experiment of sorts." Naruto spoke up.

"…What's wrong with your voice, and why are both your eyes covered? Are you blind?" asked Yakumo. Causing Naruto to go to the corner with a depressed cloud drizzling over his head.

"Oh, don't mind my cute student. He suffered some casualties that scarred his voice box and his eyes. Thankfully, he got a new pair of eyes, but they are quite special that the Hokage made it a clan secret. Naruto is a prodigy when it comes to Fuinjutsu that he created a voice box for himself until the right healer can fix it. He also used sealing on his blindfold so he can still see, while protecting others from looking directly into his eyes." Anko explained to Yakumo while dragging Naruto out of his corner.

"Oh, I'm sorry for being so insensitive. So does this mean you are going to strengthen my seal Kurenai-sensei put on me?" Yakumo spat the name of her former sensei to show how much she loathed her.

"No. As Naruto-kun was about to explain, he has developed a technique that can purify someone with demonic or cursed taints. If our plan works, it can help in removing the black mark that's ostracized you. Just as this curse mark has branded a bad reputation for me and my summons." Anko lifts her collar and shows Yakumo the tattooed seal on the back of her shoulder.

Yakumo gasps at this and is curious at how this kunoichi still pressed forward to become a sensei. However, Yakumo's body was still too weak to keep up with the training that she tried to do in the past. But it also made her wonder if Naruto was also feared by others for his eyes or something.

"Why would you do this? Why me?" she asks looking at Naruto.

"Because I too know what it's like to be feared for something you personally had no control over. I am hated by most of the village because I have sealed within me a demon with nine-tails that is the source of the Konoha's grief. Unfortunately, few people see me as a misunderstood human, when everyone else sees the Kyuubi I hold. So that in turn labels me a monster in human skin. But if this jutsu works both you and my sensei can be free, and you can join Team 9 to become the next Genjutsu specialist that we've heard you wished to master and become a kunoichi. I am making strides by having accepted Kyuubi within me and am helping Anko-chan get out of Orochimaru's shadow. Will you allow us to help you in getting out of the shadows of your clan and your former sensei that let their fears get the better of them?" Naruto offers his hand to Yakumo as she stares and contemplates on what he said.

Could she accept these strangers? Could she have a real friend and not just an angry Ido nagging at her thoughts? Is this worth the risk?

Yakumo decides to take a leap of faith as she takes Naruto's hand as he engulfs her in a warm heartfelt hug. Yakumo began crying tears of sadness, confusion, and joy at feeling like how her mom and dad took care of her before they died. She accepted Naruto's brotherly affection as she too hugs back with Anko hugging them both before they all split apart.

"Alright! Enough cuddling! We can do that later after you get my hickey off and get this dainty princess up to shape without breaking her bones." Anko's phrasing caused the two youngsters to blush before they all got ready to perform the jutsu.

"Yakumo-hime, if you would please sit in your chair while Anko keeps a hold of you when your inner demon begins fighting the purifying venom. I will first loosen the seal that was placed on you before I administer the cure, we don't want the seal to interfere with the procedure." Naruto explains as he looks at Yakumo's seal which was hidden beneath her hair on the backside of her neck.

After loosening the seal, Yakumo holds tight to Anko's arms as Anko is facing the little princess. Naruto goes through several handsigns before his teeth turn into snake fangs as he bites Yakumo lightly on her neck. Pumping the nonkilling venom that Kendra had given him as he states the jutsu, "Secret Technique: Sacred Royal Venom Jutsu!"

Yakumo squirms as the venom creates white veins to form on her body before it reaches her head as Anko holds her tight with Naruto pulling out his kunai. Yakumo cries in agony before feeling the seal disintegrates. After the seal is destroyed and no trace was left of it, a shadowy substance surrounds Yakumo before leaping out of her body as it takes the form of a demonic looking Yakumo with sharp teeth, brown skin, and long horizontal horns as it gazed at Naruto angrily for removing itself from its host.

"How DARE YOU!? I was the only one keeping her alive while her uncle and clan plotted to assassinate her for killing her parents when her powers overreacted from her bottled up emotions that exploded on that day the Clan compound burst into flames. I will kill you, brat!" Ido then charges at Naruto.

Naruto decides to let Kurama put this demon in its place. Naruto allows the Biju's red chakra to swirl around him and the face of the Kyuubi takes shape above Naruto as his nine wispy tails flapped behind him. Ido was shaking in fear at now understanding that this boy was the jinchuriki to the most powerful of the nine Biju.

"You think yourself a powerful demon? Pathetic!" Kurama roars at Ido who is now groveling to the floor. At the mercy of the Kyuubi and Naruto before her.

However, Yakumo stops the Kyuubi and Naruto from eradicating Ido on the spot as she has Ido look her in the eyes. They stare at one another for a moment until Yakumo decides to say a few words.

"You may have protected me from my uncle and clan, but you refused to let others help me like Naruto-ani and Anko-onesan have done. Sorry, but I don't need you anymore." Yajumo then jabs Naruto's kunai she swiped from him and jabbed it into Ido's temple.

"I was…useful to you…!" Ido's final words before her face cracked to show a malevolent black and purple chakra face with red eyes before it wailed and vanished from the mortal realm. No longer able to haunt Yakumo ever again.

The Kurama princess' strength finally gave away as her weak body collapsed to the ground, but thankfully Anko and Naruto were there to catch her as they smiled at her while carrying her out of the compound. Naruto summoned a Shadow Clone to seal away Yakumo's art supplies and her stored kunoichi gear she kept so that they could move her stuff to Naruto's place. But Unkai and the Kurama Clan had a surprise waiting for them outside.

Naruto had Anko piggyback Yakumo when he sensed the increase of negative intent outside as he gave a hidden signal to let him prepare for an ambush. When they exited the compound, Anko quirked an eyebrow as Naruto-kun was right with Unkai surrounding them. Things were about to get interesting.

"Unkai Kurama, what is this? The Third Hokage gave permission for us to—"

"This is no longer Konoha's affair. This is a private clan affair that the Hokage has no jurisdiction over. We shall eliminate our clan's stain that has been among us for far too long!" Yakumo's uncle proclaimed with Yakumo shrinking behind Anko's back.

"That wasn't her fault! Her Ido demon is gone! My student's experiment jutsu worked. Also, she is your heiress to your clan, Unkai! Would you dishonor the memory of your brother and sister by killing your niece? The one niece that can bring the Kurama Clan back to glory?!" Anko retorted back to the clan head.

"I do this for the good of my clan! If I must sacrifice the last remnant of my family in order for my clan to survive, then I shall! I can make a new clan heir or heiress by arranging a marriage with myself and that failure of a teacher, but an excellent Genjutsu Mistress." Making Anko grit her teeth that Yakumo had to die in her uncle's eyes while Kurenai would be made into the Kurama Clan's breeding mare.

Yakumo had mixed feelings about Kurenai, but she didn't want her to be made into the clan's breeding stock. Naruto was not amused, so he decided now was the time to put take the cover off.

"Anko-chan, Yakumo-imouto, don't interfere. I'll handle this. Whatever happens, don't look."

"Naru-kun, are you sure?" asked Anko.

Naruto simply nodded his head as he stepped forward as Unkai and his loyal followers prepared to blast the jinchuriki with a fire jutsu before trapping him in a powerful genjutsu so they could target Anko who was protecting Yakumo back inside the Kurama compound. Naruto simply dodged the Fireball Jutsus aimed all around him, but one of them destroyed his voice box seal. And just when Unkai prepped his strongest genjutsu with the clan charging forward to immobilize the demon brat before going after their former heiress, Naruto removed his mother's headband and opened his yellow basilisk eyes.

Scene Change… Hokage Tower

"What happened?" Sarutobi asked again. Feeling another headache from paperwork and the council meeting that will be making a fuss of this.

Naruto hisses his answers with Ichiki being his interpreter again. Yakumo is standing with a walking stick with Anko there to support her in the Hokage's office.

"The cleansing jutsu was a success, with Yakumo Kurama now making a slow recovery that her bones and muscles are now getting stronger day by day. Perhaps with a more expert healer she could be fit to join Team 9 once she is ready. However, The Kurama Clan head led the rest of the clan to kill us and later arrange a meeting with the council to have Kurenai breed the next line of the Kurama Clan. I had to reveal my dojutsu to put an end the present and future threats. Unkai and all the Kurama Clan are dead, except Yakumo whom I wish to take under the protection of the Uzumaki Clan until Yakumo finds a worthy man to bring back the Kurama Clan. But during the massacre under my deathly gaze that made me immune to their genjutsu, I found a masked shinobi petrified by my eyes. His blank mask protected him from taking the full brunt of my powerful dojutsu."

Naruto summons a giant snake that had imprisoned the petrified Root agent in its coils. The blank mask from Danzo's supposedly terminated organization the Third Hokage clearly recognized. He'd hoped his old friend would not go behind his back, but he knew that the old warhawk was stuck in his ways. Still trying to get Naruto to become an emotionless weapon for Konoha.

"I see. That shinobi is from a disbanded group created by Danzo to protect Konoha from the shadows. However, the more death counts for the success of their missions made me decide that the Root program could not protect Konoha or the Will of Fire but put more gas on the Flames of Hatred by creating more enemies and decreasing our numbers." Hiruzen explained to them.

"Why can't that old buzzard just leave things well enough alone?" Anko sighed at this.

"Don't worry, since you only petrified the Root agent, we now have a living witness that can be unpetrified with the help of our returned healer and her apprentice." The Third Hokage has them turn to the door as two women enter the office.

Anko is shocked to see the famed Slug Sage returned with Shizune and Tonton there as well.

Naruto and Yakumo did not understand. Which is why the last member of the Kurama Clan spoke up. "Excuse me, but who are you two?"

"I am Tsunade Senju. This is my apprentice Shizune and our pig friend is Tonton. We are the best medical-nin in Konoha and the entire Elemental Nations. I can have Shizune work with you, Yakumo-chan. And as the last member of the Senju Clan and the head of it, I agree with Naruto Uzumaki in taking custody of heiress if the Kurama Clan until she is of age to pick her man she wishes to be with." Tsunade puts in her two cents for Yakumo to have Naruto and Anko take care of her. After having Sarutobi-sensei explain to her when she arrived on what has happened to her godson, she was lied about being dead by her perverted team member who still hadn't returned from his spy network.

Ichiki hisses when Tsunade gets too close to Naruto.

"Be at ease, snake summon. I merely want to get to know my godson who Jiraiya lied to me by saying he had died when he was a baby. I mean to make it up to him by healing his vocal cords so he can speak normally as well as keep using his snake language that makes him special for your summons. I also want to get to know him better and maybe even be accepted as part of his precious people, with Shizune and Tonton also joining. Will you give me the chance, Naruto?" she asks solemnly.

Naruto is still as a statue when she asks that question. Having to swallow all that she said to know that she truly cares for him but was tricked by the stupid toads and his so called 'godfather'. The answer came when he surprisingly hugs Tsunade. His head underneath her big healthy bosom as he nods fervently while letting his tears stain his headband/blindfold and Tsunade's kimono.

Tsunade hugs back. Letting her love envelop the godson she was forced to abandon unknowingly. But now things would be different, for the son of her cousin Kushina.

"Hey now, where's my hug, fiancé? You still have to get this hickey off me to mark me properly as part of your family, Naruto-kun." Anko jealously staring at Naruto hugging Lady Tsunade.

"Hold on. What do you mean fiancé?! Sensei, did you neglect to tell me my godson is engaged?" Tsunade stares grimly at Sarutobi who hid his face under his hat.

Naruto hisses to ease the situation with Ichiki giggling at the drama present. "Naruto-kun will explain it to you, Granny. But first he wishes to have a successful operation to speak clearly about the Uzumaki and Namikaze Clans' restoration. After that he plans to use the Sacred Royal Venom Jutsu to remove Orochimaru's curse mark on Anko-chan."

Tsunade is irked by her godson's nickname of her, but she wants to hear him speak again. While also finish looking after her patient she picked up while passing in Sea Country after dealing with a mad scientist that Orochimaru abandoned. Ichiki however wishes to say something before they all leave the Hokage's office.

Ichiki slithers to the floor as she uses her tail to summon a gift Kendra-sama and the Snake Summons helped create for their prodigy. "Naruto-kun, Kendra-sama and the Snake Summons have one more thing to give you. This was fashioned from the queen's outgrown fangs and chakra metal, with the sheathe made from the wood of a Kodama(A:N spirit tree snake) tree. This will now serve as your sign as the heir to the Snake Summons. Soon you'll become the King of Snakes, but after you pass the sage trials and have completed your training. His name is the Orochi-Kodama. The Great Snake hidden in the Trees. He will be your tool and protector while Anko shall earn the Kusanagi after she surpasses Orochimaru."

Naruto fingers his new katana from Kendra and the snake summons. It looks like a regular katana with a green wrapped handle, but the round guard is a coiled silver snake with topaz eyes and its head touching the base of the sword on both sides. The sheathe having been polished green by basilisk venom.

"Thank you for the gift, Ichiki-chan. Tell Kendra-chan I love the gift you and the summons made for me. But how is she doing? Is Manda still trying to show he is a worthy mate for her, or is he still competing with Garaga to show who is the best great snake to slither by the Queen of all Serpent kind?" Naruto hisses privately to Ichiki.

Ichiki giggles before answering. "Unfortunately, Manda is still trying to prove that he is top snake next to the White Snake Sage and Kendra-sama. It's quite entertaining to watch Kendra-sama egging Garaga to try to accept you Naruto-kun and Anko-chan, to show not all humans are bad and betray us like his previous summon did. While also brushing Manda off by having Garaga fight Manda in a stalemate as she referees the two."

Naruto laughed at this before dismissing his prankster snake friend while having Tsunade lead him to the hospital wing. Where Shizune already had taken Yakumo there to take care of her along with Shizune's and Tsunade's other patient, Isaribi.

Isaribi talked with Yakumo as Shizune got her settled in and the two became friends. Yakumo discussed her lover for genjutsu and art while Isaribi, with her black eyes and violet hair showing more life after having been taken in by the Slug Sage and her apprentice, shared her love for swimming and Water jutsus. Anko was eyeing the new girl and smiled as an idea popped in her head.

When Naruto walked by, Isaribi stopped talking with Yakumo to stare at Naruto's mysterious hidden face. Anko surprised Naruto by taking his blindfold off to show the girls his eyes. Naruto quickly puts on his protective lenses so now his eyes appear to be green while being safe for everyone to look at him.

Tsunade was startled at seeing eyes like her slithering ex-teamate, but these held more warmth and power that Orochimaru never held in his. Yakumo was surprised to see what Naruto's eyes looked like, although wondering why they are not gold like the ones she painted. Isaribi was in awe at the beautiful green eyes that seemed to sparkle to her that she couldn't help but whisper in admiration.

"Pretty."

Naruto was surprised that another girl liked his eyes and blushed. He hid his face while having his right hand try to grab his blindfold from Anko's high reach.

"Why are his eyes like that? Aren't they a different color?" asked Yakumo.

"Oh, my cute student has been gifted with special eyes from a Queen Snake that the Snake Summons revere. They are so powerful that they can kill a man on sight if they look directly into them. However, Naruto was given special snake eye lenses that help him when he doesn't want to use his powers. The lenses are the color of his former blue eyes which combined with the shining yellow makes the pretty green that you did just see." Anko explains.

"Then why does he wear a blindfold?" asked Isaribi.

"He's very shy and doesn't want to be labeled a bigger freak more than he already is."

Isaribi understands and decides to show Naruto her other form. She taps on his shoulder before she shyly shows the results of her experiments which gives her green fish like scales around her body, and her hair replaced by a webbed frill crest adorned her head. Naruto is speechless at seeing this girl being different like he, Anko, and Yakumo.

"I understand what it's like to be different, but I am coming to terms that now it is a part of me. With Tsunade-sama's help and Shizune-senpai, I will soon be able to change at will without feeling so much pain. What do you think?" she asks Naruto who is quiet before answering with a hiss.

Isaribi is confused until Anko buts in. "It means he thinks you look great Fish-sticks. Hey, since you're looking to practice and master your Water style and your created bloodline, do you wish to join Team 9 with me, Oni-pastel, and Mr. Snake King? It will make us a full team and you get to spend more time with your new friends, your awesome strong sexy sensei, and my hubby." Anko goaded while Naruto was rolling his snake eyes.

Yakumo blushed as she thought of getting closer to Naruto. Tsunade smiled at knowing what Anko was thinking of doing. Which would work, with her being able to keep an eye on her godson while also making sure Anko does not go crazy with her harem scheme. Shizune was happy for these misfits in finding each other and will work together to become stronger for one another.

Scene Change

Somewhere in Rice-Country, a mole faced man with a kabuki outfit and having a long white mane of hair was peeking into a bathhouse for his Icha-Icha research. Taking a short break from his spy network after learning that Orochimaru and the Akatsuki were soon making their move once the Chunin Exams start in Konoha in the future. Yep, this was the infamous Toad Sage Jiraiya.

He was interrupted from his snooping when a puff of smoke blocked his view and Fugasaku, the Elder Toad of Mt. Myoboku, stood atop his head. The short toad with hair slapped Jiraiya down to the ground, startling the men and women in the bathhouse. Jiraiya quickly hid himself in a makeshift bush before speaking to his contracted summon.

"Fuga-sensei? What are you doing here? I was almost at the best part of my research." Jiraiya spoke with a hint of anger at not seeing the goodies.

"Save your smut writing for later, Jiraiya-boy. Somethings happened at Mt. Myoboku. Gerotora hasn't been seen on years and we still haven't found a trace of him. Also the Prophecy has changed." Fugasaku explained to their disciple and summoner.

Jiraiya was now on high alert at hearing this. "How could it have changed? Naruto is still in Konoha with Hiruzen-sensei. He should be ready to learn from the Gallant Jiraiya when I return to give sensei my reports on Orochimaru and the Akatsuki."

"Have you checked your mail, Jiraiya boy?" Fugasaku slaps his webbed hand as a huge pile of scrolls the size of Jiraiya fumbles into the world with the most recent letter in the Toad Elder's hands.

"Eh, I kinda lost track. But I'm pretty sure Naruto is fine under Konoha's protection. Being a part of Kakashi's Team." Jiraiya waves off.

"According to this, Jiraiya-boy, young Naruto has been hurt and scarred by the villagers. And this appears to not be the only time it seems the people Minato loved to show their love by trying to kill the secret son of the Hokage. And this was more than six years ago! What if the Child of Prophecy is too weak to fulfill his destiny that he takes another route?"

Jiraiya becomes stiff when hearing this that he reads how the godson he neglected might not be able to see or speak to learn from him. How can he teach a boy that has become blind and mute because Konoha wanted their fresh pounds of meat on the Kyuubi. Jiraiya now is in panic as he rushes to Konoha's direction and hopes that it is not too late. That the Toad's Prophecy can still happen. Not realizing that he is about to open a large can of worms that he worked really hard to hide and keep shut for so long.

Sorry for the delay. I had Thanksgiving with my family in another state that took 18-20 hours to drive there and back. Only stopping for gas and food. I am right now focused on completing my Fall Semester with a good grade before Christmas Break begins. Then I can continue working on my other Fanfictions. I hope you liked this long awaited update for King of Snakes. I know many of you wanted to see Naruto, Anko and Yakumo head to Sea Country, but I got lazy and had Tsunade bring Isaribi to Konoha instead. Since I never specified where she was saying when she got the scroll about Naruto.

Stay Healthy and Stay Safe!