Chapter 5: Opening the Can of Worms

Naruto is happy. It's been six weeks since Tsunade fixed his vocal cords. Anko is now Curse Mark free, and she has been preparing the full shinobi squad of Team 9 to compete in the Chunin Exams in the coming days. He enjoyed spending time with his little adopted sister Yakumo and new girlfriend Isaribi. Although he made sure to go on dates with Anko so she wouldn't feel left out and so she could have her 'personal' Naruto time. But nothing too extreme until becoming a Chunin.

However, there were some problems with Team 9 being considered a legitimate squad by some of the other Konoha shinobi. Mainly Kurenai, who still thought Yakumo was not fit to be a shinobi from her past experiences with the Kurama heiress. That led Anko having to fight her old friend to defend her student that she came to think of as her little sister. Now the Snake Mistress was barely speaking to the Genjutsu Mistress until Kurenai apologizes to Yakumo and the rest of Team 9 for her disrespect. Still hasn't happened yet.

Anyway, Naruto has gotten better with his jutsus, one of his father's signature jutsus, sealing arts, experimenting with Kendra's familiar connection, team synchronizing, and wielding his katana that Kendra and the Snake Summons had gifted him with Anko's other good friend Yugao to help him in Kenjutsu. Creating over a hundred Shadow Clones can really boost your ninja training, which is why he also taught it to Isaribi and Yakumo. Although the two couldn't pull off as many as the Uzumaki can. Once his team completes the Chunin Exams, he will finally get his Uzumaki/Namikaze inheritance and live in his parent's compound that still is locked and sealed up. Don't get him wrong, living with Anko, Isaribi, and Yakumo in the Tower of the Forest of Death has its ups and downs, but Naruto is eager to have him and his loved ones live somewhere that is more safe than accidently wandering into a forest filled with giant animals and insects that can eat a Genin or some distracted Chunin.

Now Naruto, his team, and granny Tsunade are eating at Ichiraku Ramen with Naruto having his special Naruto Bowl. He had just finished his second bowl when Yugao-sensei appeared behind them with her Anbu cat mask on. Official Hokage or Council business.

"Naruto-san, The Council requests your presence in the council room." Said Anko.

"Is there something wrong?" asks Naruto.

"I cannot say. Only that they request your presence."

"Hold on, I may be the only living member of the Senju Clan, but I was not informed that the Council was meeting today. Who's leading this council? It certainly isn't Sarutobi-sensei." Tsunade pointed out.

"…I was told by the Council Elders to request Naruto-san." Yugao knew that Tsunade was not letting her godson go in unprepared.

"Those old buzzards… Fine, Naruto let's finish our meal and head up to Hokage Tower. Anko, take Yakumo and Isaribi to your place until we come back. I don't want Danzo to try anything funny while we're there." Tsunade then quickly finished her sake as Naruto handed his last bowl to Ayame and then put his eye cover back on.

He only shows his eyes to those who are precious to him and accept his new look, but also to scare those who really tick him off with his negative sensory. Just not to the point of letting his Basilisk stare petrify or kill them, unless necessary. He does not fully rely on his eyes to do the fighting for him like one certain Uchiha who got lucky in unlocking his Sharingan during Team 7's mission in Wave.

'Do you think I should have my eyes ready, safety off, during the meeting?' Naruto asks his Biju tenant and to Kendra through his familiar bond.

'Yes, I wouldn't put it past that Warhawk to try something. Especially since the last time you got close to him, I felt the strange presence of the Sharingan under his bandaged eye and covered arm.' Says Kurama.

'Agreed, he may think he has the higher ground, but that decrepit old fool is nothing like a phoenix. His talons will not ensnare us.' Kendra vehemently imputed.

Naruto silently nodded as he and Tsunade followed Yugao to the Hokage Tower while Tsunade quietly had Neko to inform the Third Hokage on what the council was doing behind his back.

Scene Change

"What is the meaning of this? I go to talk with my student whose returned from his spy network when in fact I was speaking to a Shadow-Clone. Jiraiya, you'd go behind your sensei's back along with the rest of council? What is this world coming to?" Hiruzen shakes his head in disappointment before going to take his seat in the council meeting room where they were about to address Naruto and the Kyuubi's seal with Jiraiya looking like he was caught peeking at the bathhouse.

"Hokage-sama, we have been informed that the jinchuriki may not have his seal properly on. For destroying most of the Kurama Clan we fear that the Kyuubi may have had a hand in influencing the boy in doing destroying a clan that was a part of Konoha as a whole. Thankfully, Jiraiya had returned from his spy network to see the current status of the Kyuubi's seal." Informed Homura with the Council agreeing with her.

"I have already excused Naruto for what had occurred with Unkai and his ilk, for the clan head was attacking Team 9 when they were on a mission which successfully removed the curse of the Kurama Clan. The boy did not use the Kyuubi's chakra while he defended himself and his team." The Third Hokage explained to them.

"Still sensei, I need to check the seal in case the Kyuubi made a crack in its cage. I'm sorry for not meeting you in person, but I had to make certain my godson was alright after reading the letters you sent me." Said Jiraiya.

"Hmph, some godfather you turned out to be. And speaking of which, why did you lie about 'my' godchild being dead for more than a decade, Jiraiya?" Tsunade cracked her knuckles which had Jiraiya get a safe distance form his teammates reach.

"You were drunk, Tsunade. You couldn't take care of a baby nor yourself without Shizune or me there. I needed to continue working my spy network to find Orochimaru and those who wished Konoha harm by using the Biju. He should have been safe in Konoha and made bonds with the people."

"Most of the citizens would rather see me dead then be their friend or duty-bound protector. Granny fixed my voice that these idiots were responsible for but were only given a slap to the wrist then be hanged for harming the Hokage's child." Said Naruto, which surprised Jiraiya and the Civilian Council that he could speak again.

"What do you mean, demon brat!? You are not related to the Third! You can't call yourself the son or grandson of the Hokage's!" A merchant councilmember shouted in protest.

Jiraiya grew pale that Naruto knew his lineage and looked at Tsunade and Sarutobi-sensei to see if they told. They merely shook their heads in silence to tell the Toad Sage that someone else shared the truth to Naruto. 'But who?!' Jiraiya thought in aggravation.

"Wrong. My full name is Naruto Uzumaki Namikaze. Son of Kushina Uzumaki and Minato Namikaze, your beloved Fourth. I hoped to announce this during the Chunin Exams, but letting the Council know first made it happen sooner. My father sealed the Kyuubi to keep your misbegotten lives, only to spit on his grave by scarring and hurting his living legacy." Naruto proves this by raising his hand and forming the signature Rasengan before letting it dissipate.

That shut them up and had Jiraiya flipping inside that he was not there to teach him this. But he still had the Toad Summons and other jutsus that he could bribe the boy. "It's true he is the son of my student. Which is why I also come to give him the chance to sign the Toad Contract like his father did and become as great a hero as his father was. As soon as you let me see the seal…"

Naruto barely gave the perverted Toad Sage an inch as his hidden familiar tattoo lights up and Kendra appears coiled around his arm the size of a python with her safety lenses on. The Council and the Pervy Sage jump back in terror at the strange snake that hissed so loudly at Jiraiya and glared her eyes among the Civilians and the Elders of the Council. Tsunade and Naruto were smirking inside to see them jump scared. Imagining if Naruto decided to let Kendra show her real size.

"What is this?! Are you in league with the traitor, Orochimaru? Or did that Snake Slut bend over to get you to sign the snake summons?" demanded Koharu.

"Your reports our outdated and false. The truth is the snake summons have not been in league with Orochimaru for several years now. Only a handful of snakes still follow that madman. Only Anko and I are the sole summoners of the snakes. Having given them a queen. This snake you see before you, is Kendra. She is a legendary serpent known as a basilisk. She is my familiar and bonded summon that allowed me to sign the Snake Contract and get Anko and the snakes back into the good light of the Shinobi world. Soon there will be new Snake Sages in Konoha. And they will be the King and Queen of Snakes!" Naruto proudly proclaimed with Kendra hissing in agreement.

Danzo felt the jinchuriki was growing too powerful as he tried to use his hidden Sharingan on the snake because the Sharingan could not work on Naruto's hidden eyes that were covered. Unfortunately, Kendra felt the Warhawk's actions and let some of her power slip a little. Causing the leader of Root to keel back in pain feeling that Shisui's Sharingan was strained and almost ready to die. Danzo was irked that this mysterious snake may be more powerful than the legendary eyes of the Uchiha. He would need to research before trying to usurp Naruto or the beast. Sadly, all notes on basilisk's were with the Snake Summons and kept under guard, lock, and key by the White Snake Sage at Ryuchi Cave.

Jiraiya was perplexed that Naruto would rather have the Snakes than his father's trusty toads. "But Naruto, your father would have wanted you to have the toad summons. You can't trust the snakes!"

"I trust snakes and 'foxes' more than I trust toads due to the fact that snakes are tight lipped when mentioning prophecies. The Toad summons have broken the laws passed down by the gods that summons may only reveal certain revelations when their summoners pass a series of trials and/or are granted permission by the gods to share such prophecies. My father may have been a good summoner for the Toads, but I am not him. Still, I will honor my parents by mastering and improving their techniques and bring back the Uzumaki and Namikaze Clans. The Kyuubi and I are aligned in our goals for the future and they do not pertain in destroying the Leaf Village unless provoked." Replied Naruto which scared Jiraiya and the Council that the Kyuubi has tainted the child already.

"Lock him up and throw away the key! We can't let the demon escape and try to kill us again!" shouted a council member. Other civilians and Shinobi of the council hollered their own suggestions on what should be done with Naruto until the Hokage released his killer intent to shut them up.

"Silence! the Yamanaka Clan Head and I have met the Biju within Naruto and have conversed with it. The Biju was released from Kushina by a masked shinobi that held a unique Sharingan reminiscent of Madara's. It was not in control of the suffering and destruction it wrought all those years ago." Hiruzen filled in. Silence settled the council room as they digested on this new bit of information.

"Are you certain of this, Hokage-sama?" asked Danzo.

"The mind cannot lie to a Yamanaka, Danzo. We saw what through the memories of the Biju and Naruto by their permission and it was the truth. Some rogue shinobi is out there with a Sharingan that is as strong as Madara Uchiha's that was not a part of the Uchiha Clan that was massacred." Spoke Inoichi.

"Then what do we do when this perpetrator comes to reclaim his weapon?" asked the advisor Homura.

"Train and prepare, my old teammate. Naruto and Team 9 will partake in the Chunin Exams to show their strength and resilience for future endeavors. Once Naruto proves that he is of Chunin rank material, he and Anko will complete the trials of the Snake Summons to become full-fledged Sages that will increase Konoha's power. Naruto will also claim his inheritance and family compound to bring back the Uzumaki and Namikaze Clans once he's proven to be Chunin. Our enemies will not be so insistent to go to war with us when the living legacy of the 'Red Death' and the 'Yellow Flash' will surpass them both. Do you not agree?" said the Third Hokage as the Councils whispered to one another.

After whispering for five minutes the Councils won by a major vote that Naruto and Team 9 would be allowed to compete in the Chunin Exams. The Hokage then dismissed Naruto, Kendra, and Tsunade with the rest of the members of the council exiting as well. Leaving Danzo, Jiraiya, and Hiruzen left in the room.

"You are playing a dangerous game, my rival. I hope that this jinchuriki will not bite us behind our backs like Orochimaru did." Danzo gave his words of warning before leaving to his hidden Root center to plan for his succession in claiming the Hokage seat.

"Sensei, I was supposed to train Naruto so he could fulfill the prophecy. Now he seems to be the second coming of my fallen teammate and may betray Konoha when we least expect it!" Jiraiya spoke with an anxious expression.

"What's done is done, Jiraiya. I myself have suffered the consequences of trying to control destiny and look where it has gotten us. We must let Naruto decide how he will fulfill his destiny and give him help when he needs or asks it. I'm just glad I could regain his trust in me and the Will of Fire. I've seen that he will change Konoha and the Elemental Nations for the better, even though I may not live to see it. My age is finally catching up with me." Hiruzen said solemnly.

"Sensei…" Jiraiya hated to see the Third Hokage like this. He reverse-summoned himself to Mt. Myoboku to discuss with the Toads what can be done to get Naruto back on their side while preparing for Orochimaru's attack on Konoha.

Scene Change

"Well, I'm glad that's over. Do you want to come to my place or rejoin your team at Anko's place?" asked Tsunade as they were out of Hokage Tower and walking along the road. Naruto had sent Kendra back to the Ryuchi Cave while he thought on his godmother's inquiry.

Before Naruto could give an answer, he suddenly heard Jiji's grandson cry for help. Naruto met Konohamaru during his training with Team 9 and decided to help the future Hokage by showing him the Shadow Clone Jutsu. The energetic boy was wowed by Naruto's sword, eyes, and techniques that he took a shine to Naruto and calling him Boss. Naruto felt that Konohamaru could fulfill the Hokage dream he gave up on and would be a great one.

Naruto found Konohamaru being held by a Suna shinobi that came early for the Chunin Exams. The male Sand ninja was wearing black attire and face makeup while carrying a mummified object strapped to his back. He looked pissed about something Konohamaru did hand was pulling on the young Sarutobi's hairs while his teammate/sister tried to calm him down.

"I don't care, Temari! This little punk needs to learn not to talk to me like that!" said the one called Kankuro.

But before the ninja could pummel the little squirt, Naruto appeared next to them with his katana out that was barely touching Kankuro's face. "I apologize if my young disciple had offended you, shinobi-san. You shouldn't have to use force on the Hokage's grandson who is still too young to compete in the Chunin Exams. Save your strength." Said Naruto.

Kankuro was sweating like crazy before he dropped Konohamaru who ran to Tsunade's and Naruto's side. "Uh, right. My bad." Kankuro quickly apologized as Naruto put his sword away.

"Wow, that was so cool, Boss! You know how to make a cool ninja entrance with your blade and wearing that blindfold over your eyes." Commented Konohamaru before getting a goose egg curtesy of Tsunade.

"It's all about manners and training your butt off, Konohamaru. But tell me, how did you get yourself tangled by that Suna ninja?" Naruto asked.

Konohamaru scratches his head before giving his sheepish reply. "Well, I was running away from the pink-haired banshee after I commented how big her forehead looked… And then I didn't look where I was running into when I bumped into that makeup wearing ninja."

Tsunade and Kakuro's sister, Temari, tried to hide their laughter at Kankuro who was irked at that.

"It's not makeup! It's warpaint!" he cried dramatically.

"Then wouldn't have been better to use red or black for your face? I mean if your skin was pale white, I even might have mistaken you for a mime or some sort of ninja clown that kills his opponents by screams or laughter." Said Naruto which causes the women to laugh out loud and put Kankuro under a depressing cloud.

"Where is he?!" shouted the familiar voice of Sakura as she ran into their area. Konohamaru quickly hid behind Naruto while Naruto kept his protégé out of sight from his former crush.

"Hello, Sakura. How have you been? I heard you and Team 7 were very lucky in saving Wave Country and standing up against the Demon of the Hidden Mists." Commented Naruto.

"Oh, not bad. Sasuke-kun saved me from Zabuza's apprentice while Kakashi-sensei killed Zabuza. Now Sasuke has awakened his Sharingan and will become a powerful ninja in no time. By the way, who are you ninja? And why are you here?" asked Sakura who was blindsided by them which allowed Konohamaru to escape without her noticing. Making Naruto smile at his protégé improving on his stealth skills.

"Don't you know? We are here to compete in the Chunin Exams that's starting next week. Didn't your sensei tell you about this?" said Temari.

"Don't be too harsh on her, kunoichi-san. Sakura and the last loyal Uchiha have the infamous Kakashi Hatake as their sensei who is know for being a big procrastinator in Konoha. I think he will inform them later today once he's done 'wandering the roads of life'. My Team will be competing in the Chunin Exams as well. Can we forget the past transgressions and reintroduce ourselves?" said Naruto.

"You first, blondie. You already know my brother Kankuro. And I want to know the name of my mysterious shinobi that wields a unique weapon just like my giant iron war fan before I share mine." Said Temari.

"Of course." Naruto then surprises them by showing his eyes that have their protective lenses on.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki. My teammates you'll meet later once the Chunin Exams start. And my blade's name is Orochi-Kodami. He was a gift from the Snake Summons that I am contracted with that do not consider Orochimaru as their summoner no more." Naruto introduces to them.

"And what about your eyes? Were you born that way or were they a gift from your summons?" asked Temari.

"Ah, ah, ah. You first need to tell me your name Kunoichi-san. And maybe the name of your fan if you have given it one." Teased Naruto. Sakura and Kankuro were blanching at Naruto's flirting while Temari blushed in embarrassment before she recomposed herself and introduced herself.

"My name is Temari. I am one of the Kazekage's children that will prove that my Tsuki-hoshi will blow away the competition."(A:N meaning 'Moon-star' because her fan forms three moons that she seems to call them 'stars')

"An adept name. My eyes were a gift from my summons since I lost my old eyes from a mob attack when I was little." Explained Naruto which caused Temari and Kankuro to flinch which perplexed Naruto.

His answer came when Suna's third teammate, revealed himself hanging upside down from the nearby tree which then landed near Naruto and stared with a frowning look on his face. "I am Gaara. Your eyes are quite interesting, just like your blood. I hope you can satisfy 'mother' when I'll fight you and your team." Remarked Gaara which caused his siblings to shudder while Naruto was told by Kurama on what Gaara was.

'He's the jinchuriki of my one tailed brother, Shukaku. A real nutcase that one. Watch yourself, Naruto.' Warned Kurama.

Naruto smiled at that. "Then I hope 'mama 1' can handle 'big bro 9' when we fight to see who is the strongest among us." His vague reply had Gaara surprised before calming down as he walked away with his group.

Unfortunately, Sasuke was also listening on this and landed in front of Gaara to show his Uchiha might. "And I'm Sasuke Uchiha. And I will be the strongest fighter in the Chunin Exams, so you'd be better fighting against me than the loser." Said Sasuke.

"We shall see." Was Gaara's only reply as he and his team walked past the elite who was irritated by being brushed off like that before turning his anger at Naruto.

"So that's what you look like under that blindfold of yours. It doesn't scare me, loser! For the Sharingan are the most powerful eyes in the Elemental Nations!" proclaimed Sasuke as he showed his one wheeled Sharingan to intimidate him.

Naruto simply remains quiet before taking his godmother by the hand and Body Flickers in a whirl of water to the Forest of Death Tower where the rest of his team were. He wanted to tell them the good news that they were given the green light to the Chunin Exams while having Tsunade stay for dinner as they relaxed for the rest of the day. Not knowing that Jiraiya was planning on doing something drastic to get Naruto to stick to his way of thinking using memory suppression seals and making shady deals with Danzo so Konoha can remain standing in their minds.

Soon they will realize that grabbing a tiger(snake) by the tail is gonna get you maimed or worse. Even when you are forced to let go.

After getting that war of words out from last posted fic, I felt I could finish this next amazing Chapter you've all been waiting for. I still plan to post a special Valentine's Day Fanfic that I hinted at with my Monster Girl ideas poll(which you all voted on mostly being the Half-Genie Hero Shantae). I may even get lucky and post an update on another of my stories this week. We'll See.

Stay Healthy and Stay Safe!