u

by Phe Reh1

mee vittu pois täältä..tää on mulle ainoa

45. nro

Preface

Team Otsutsuki
Posted originally on the Archive of Our Own at /works/41384934.

Rating:
Not Rated
Archive Warning:
No Archive Warnings Apply
Category:
F/M, Gen
Fandom:
Naruto
Relationship:
Hyuuga Hinata/Uzumaki Naruto
Character:
Uzumaki Naruto, Namikaze Minato, Ōtsutsuki Indra, Ōtsutsuki Ashura, Otsutsuki Toneri, Hatake Kakashi, Hyuuga Hinata, Senju Hashirama
Additional Tags:
NaruHina - Freeform, Otsutsuki, Indra is Sasuke, Sasuke replaced by Indra, Good Toneri, Shinigami Minato, Big Brother Kakashi, Ghosts, Hashirama is a dancing tree, Naruto can see dead people, Bleach Elements, Mokuton!Naruto, Seal savvy Naruto
Language:
English
Stats:
Published: 2022-08-30 Updated: 2022-12-06 Chapters: 18/? Words: 38756
Team Otsutsuki

by Makuro767

Summary

Reincarnation is a strange phenomenon. Ashura raised his future self until Naruto was kicked out of the orphanage at the tender age of three. Through a twist of event with the Uzumaki mask of the Shinigami, Yondaime Hokage Minato break free of the Shinigami's stomach and now became Naruto's personal ghostly guardian. Because Ashura sacrificed himself for Naruto, Naruto gained the ability to use Mokuton.

Reincarnation can be very confusing. When Itachi slaughtered the Uchiha and used the Tsukuyomi on Sasuke, instead of breaking his brother's innocence with hatred Indra came to the surface instead. Saner than he had ever been since being manipulated by Zetsu, he sought out the only other person who refused to let him go even through death and rebirth. This cycle he refused to be a pawn in Kaguya's game and cling hard on Naruto's hand, afraid to be dragged back into the darkness of hatred and power.

Hamura is afraid for Toneri's sanity so instead sent him off to where he can feel Hagoromo's chakra still pulse strong on Earth.

Brothers through an ancient bond gathered in one team...how will the world move from this moments forward?

Chapter 1

Uzumaki Naruto has always known he's weird from the moment he can see. There's a tall man in black and white watching over him, scolding his neglectful and cold caretaker whenever the neglect left Naruto hungry for sustenance or cold for warmth.

They never look at the man or listen to him. It took a long time staring on Naruto's part to realise that they can't hear the man or even touch the man. Whenever Naruto's tummy hurt, the man will reach over and brush his hand on Naruto's tummy. He felt better then but the man grew sadder.

Naruto 'learned' how to walk when he was two years old and only because he's desperate to get clean. They 'liked' to forget to change his diapers. They avoided him more now that he no longer needed help with the toilet. The matron also locked him in his room and often 'forgets' to send food. Since he can't say anything, he can't tell on them to that nice Jiji with the hat who sometimes visited that he's always hungry and cold. Even if they locked him a 'nice' room, it was all just for show. They took away his toy and blanket when Jiji left for work.

When the man finally realised that Naruto can see and hear him that was when Naruto learned how to communicate. The first time he asked for a blanket he was three and the matron looked at him in horror before throwing him into the bitter cold of autumn with only the clothes on his back.

"Since you can talk, you can defend yourself!"

That really makes no sense but Naruto's scared out of his wits. He shivered and cried quietly as he walked and walked. At first the people around didn't look at him twice but someone shouted fox and the next thing he knew, he was running in pure terror for his own life. They called him mean names and threw things at him.

His friend, Ashura, lead him away from the town and into the forest.

Rain started falling and Naruto stumble through the dark. Ashura glowed like a lamp as he glided soundlessly through the forest, leading Naruto somewhere that only he knows. After what seemed like forever, after the shouting voice full of disgust and fear hidden under hatred fade away, Naruto found himself at a dilapidated temple.

Ashura looked inside, "I can feel familiar chakra coming from inside. It's only a residue though but it should welcome you,"

Naruto didn't speak, too traumatized by his first experience to say anything. Ashura sighed at the foolishness of it all. The boy had been so shy it took him months perfecting what he was going to ask the matron only to have all that effort thrown to his face because she couldn't look beyond her hatred. It was disheartening for anyone let alone a child of Naruto's age.

What has become of this world? All around him he only sees his Grandmother's legacy growing ever stronger; a legacy of power, hatred and greed.

They hid in the rundown building for the rain to pass. Meanwhile, his eyes adjusted and Naruto saw masks hanging from the wall. Ashura looked around with great interest. These things didn't exist when he's from. He knew he transmigrated several times but he was never conscious each time, except for this time. Perhaps because Naruto has Otsutsuki chakra revived inside him.

When Ashura came around, finally fully awake for this time's transmigrate, he immediately noticed three things about his new host. For one he carries the blood of two of his descendants, once separated by disagreement now united. For another, he's the latest vessel for his non-human sibling unwillingly chosen because of his inherited chakra. And finally, Ashura can feel his own chakra growing like a sapling within the boy. These three combined was the only reason that not only the will of his chakra attached itself to the boy but also awakened his spirit.

These three factors slowly evolved the boy's chakra into that of an Otsutsuki.

The boy will soon become his incarnation reborn.

Already, Naruto's slowly recalling forgotten memories of an ancient childhood. With each recollection, Ashura will slowly disappear from the world and become Naruto. But he's not afraid, perhaps with this he can pass down a different will and not just rescuing his brother Indra from their Grandmother's legacy.

It took his awhile to notice Naruto picking one mask that he felt off about, too immersed in his thoughts. Ashura shouted, "Naruto!"

The mask glowed from forcefully pulling chakra from the boy and Ashura dove after him. No matter the quality of the mask, no ordinary creation barring one by his father Otsutsuki Hagoromo can handle the dense chakra of an Otsutsuki, even one that call upon the Shinigami.

Ashura find himself suddenly wandering the vast expanse of a desert. He fretted, worrying about Naruto as he sought out for a way back to the child. That lonely child who had just been thrown out of the only shelter he knew, that lonely child who didn't understand why he's so hated and feared. As Ashura wandered and wandered, he felt a familiar energy.

Tears blooming from his eyes, he sought out that powerful energy that was trapped within his younger incarnation. It wasn't hard to find the slumbering other half of the Kyuubi and Ashura couldn't stop the call of longing and relief, "Kurama!!"

The fox's ears twitched, looked to the side when Ashura saw a man who looked like a grownup Naruto yet not. The two then looked at him as he shot forward and buried himself by the giant's side, "Kurama!"

Kurama blinked in confusion, " Ashura ? How ? Why are you here ?"

Ashura stilled, "I need to go back! Naruto-!"

A hand clamped on his shoulder and Ashura turned to see the older blond looking at him with frantic eyes full of hope and fear, "Did you just say Naruto?"

Kurama rolled his eyes, " Stop shaking my Nii-san , Yondaime ,"

Upon hearing the name, fury flashed within Ashura's dark eyes and he grabbed the other man's shirt, "YOU!!" He shook the man in turn, "Do you have any idea what you have condemned us to?!"

The fear grew stronger as well as disappointment and regret, "I have no choice. It was damned or be damned. A life of pain with a chance of happiness or no life at all, that was the choice I was left with!" The Yondaime then grabbed the wrist holding onto his front, "And who are you to my son?! Why are you here, within the belly of the Shinigami?!" He then frowned, "And what do you mean by 'us'?"

Kurama decided to pull them apart, " Yes , Aniki , what do you mean by 'us' ?"

Ashura sighed, "Naruto's to be my new transmigrate,"

Kurama frowned, " And the cycle of hatred continues. Nothing good ever come out of this world ever since the two of you fight for something as foolish as a title ,"

Ashura looked to side, shame peppering his cheeks red, "You know I tried to turn him from that path, Kurama,"

Kurama growled, " You're too soft ! He's not your brother the moment he became a vessel for that woman's legacy !"

Before thing gets any more heated, the Yondaime stepped forward, "Kurama-san, I need explanation. Actual explanation, not an argument. This is my son we are talking about. As much as I have failed him in so many ways, I do still worry for him,"

Ashura can hear the Fourth's painful longing. He looked at the blond, studying him and reached out with his chakra only to be flooded by love and pain in equal measure. He blinked back tears, "You love him,"

The blond growled, "I may be a bastard of a father for what I did to him, but never question my love for him,"

Ashura sighed, "Forgive me…it's just that…all his life that I've been aware, there's only hatred and neglect," The blond looked like he just punched the man with Susanoo with full strength, "Had it not been for the Kurama within, he won't have survived,"

The blond fell to his knees in horror at the revelation, muttering apologies and blubbering self-hate in equal amount as he cried for the child he had to abandon. He then began to question the faith he once had in his village before grabbing some sands and threw it, screaming wordlessly to the sky.

They let him let it out.

Once calmed he whispered, "Why? How did they know? I know I asked Hiruzen to have him seen as a Hero but a Jinchuuriki status should only be known to a select few," He hissed, "Something's amiss and I'm not there!"

Ashura shook his head, "I need to get back. The orphanage recently threw him out just for asking for a blanket-," He stuttered as an unknown energy blanketed the whole area. Kurama looked at the blond, " So … Namikaze Minato, you have decided ?"

Minato glared at the starless sky with a single sickle moon, "I thought I was doing him right. I thought I must honour my contract with the Shinigami but…he's not the only one now, is he?"

Ashura turned to see a ghastly figure with the face of the mask that Naruto touched appeared. The knife clenched between fangs slid out and Ashura watched as Minato pulled a katana that he had worn at his hip to face the apparition. At Ashura's questioning look, Kurama explained, " There was a world before Father … and before Her …"

A world divided in four layers; the Living, the Spirit, the Limbo and Hell. A world that reset itself because of a war between all three. A world that destroyed all that once was and reborn from the ashes of its predecessor into something new. Something that Otsutsuki Kaguya became familiar with and fell in love with. A world that once again evolved with a foreign energy known as chakra, an energy that shouldn't have existed in this world.

A world guided by Otsutsuki Hagoromo and Otsutsuki Hamura into a new age. An age that Ashura and Indra was born into…

The two Shinigami clashed, because in the nothingness and ruins of a civilization forgotten, the two 'prisoners' had investigated their surrounding after coming to an understanding. In his boredom, curiosity and innate desire to see his son again, Minato had experimented and studied the lost art of the Spirit world. He trained and trained and didn't demand a duel with the Shinigami only because of his sense of honour to their contract.

But Naruto need his father. Even dead, Minato loves his son…

Ashura observed the battle atop of Kurama's furry head, a position the fox once had with his brother. It was devastating, more devastating than ones battled between him and Indra. But soon, Minato came out the victor as he sliced the Shinigami's belly open.

He looked at the other two, "Time to go home. My son needs me…"

Chapter 2

Chapter Summary

"I protected the village in life. Now…I am protecting him in death. Prepare yourself,"

Ashura looked up to see two Kurama looking at each other. Beside him, Minato attached himself to the chakra he left behind inside Naruto. The man saw Ashura looking at him and the former Heir of Ninshu saw the tears dripping down his pale face, "Naruto's dying,"

Ashura stumbled to his feet, "What? Why?"

" Because of us ,"

Ashura looked at the two Kurama, "Why is that?"

Minato sobbed, "The seal…and Naruto's chakra is too immature. Kurama's Yin half being trapped inside him is slowly corroding his chakra," He gritted his jaw in despair; "I don't know what to do! I just want to be there for him and yet all I ever give him is misery!"

Ashura stared at his feet, the water lapping at the sole of his shoes and sighed. He looked at his brother, even separated they're one, "Kurama…I will disappear,"

The fox flinched, " What ?! I just saw you again and you're already leaving ?!"

Ashura smiled, "You're within me, brother. I didn't leave, merely evolve into something new,"

Understanding lightened his fox brother's face and yet his eyes shed tears, " This is really goodbye then ?"

Ashura grinned, "It seemed so…besides, it was always meant to happen," He turned to Minato who looked at him in confusion, "I understand…I had once been a leader. There's only so much we can do to protect our precious people. Sacrifice is a must in our position, be it our family or us. I can't hate you for only doing what's right,"

Ashura slowly glowed like the sun and began to fade, "Namikaze Minato, I am proud you're my father. Even if the decision hurt you, even when you're aware how the road to hell is paved with good intentions, you still did what is right and honourable," He looked at Kurama, "Brother, please do not carry our Grandmother's hate. I am here now, different yet not. Help me, as we once help each other,"

As his glow intensified and his body started breaking, he advised Minato, "Take off the seal," The man looked torn and Ashura reassured him, "He will be fine. I am here and I am he. We are one…"

" Trust in me… trust in him…"

Minato listened as the voice drifted away into an echo and Kurama rumbled, " I am slowly returning into one. The seal won't hold ,"

Biting his lip, Minato steeled himself and tore the seal he made, unlocking the great gates.

The once dreary place glowed at the same time the gates opened. Minato blinked and watched as his son once traditional blue chakra interspersed with Bijuu red transformed into nebula white and then gold. It was gentle but strong, full of life. More than his wife's vitality could ever hold a candle to and that was saying something because Minato has never met vitality like Kushina's, not even when another Uzumaki was around before the fall of Uzushio.

Kurama, now one, rumbled in amazement, " Otsutsuki's chakra ," He looked at Minato, " You should go out and see what's up with our little kit ,"

Minato did just that and saw Naruto being held by Dog, Kakashi, as the latter leapt for the nearest hospital. He followed like a ghost, undetected by the living. But he couldn't follow any further as ghosts of the dead began to follow his son. They can feel Kurama within him. Furious, he leapt ahead and stepped before them.

He glared, "What do you think you're doing?"

The largest ghost glared back, "Move! I must avenge my family! That thing did this to us! How can it lives while we are… this!" He gestured to himself in distaste.

Minato scowled, "The dead should not bother the living. Move on to the Pure Land,"

Another scoffed, "Easy for you to say, Demon Lover. I bet you just want to get at him for yourself! Well tough luck buddy!"

"Yeah, get in line!"

"I can feel that hateful fox!"

"He must die for killing us!

"Murderer!"

"Monster!"

"Abomination!"

"We should finish what the Yondaime started!"

Minato looked in numb horror as they lost control and surged like a wave towards him. Sighing in utter disappointment, he pulled out Zenitsu and began to move, cutting before they realized what just happened. As more and more ghost disappeared to the Pure Land, the others began to regain their sanity and backed away from him in fear, "What are you?"

Minato glared, "Namikaze Minato, former Yondaime of Konohagakure, Shinigami," At their pale face and before they could ask why he's protecting the one who killed him, he told them, "And the one you're going to kill in cold blood is my own child, sacrificed for the good of the village,"

Silence reigned the autumn night.

One voice meekly stammered, "We-we didn't k-know, sir,"

Minato scoffed, "Of course you didn't! You're not supposed to know! Why…why did I have to give everything that I am to the village when they tormented my only treasure?!" He pointed Zenitsu at their direction while the gathering ghosts staggered back, "I protected the village in life. Now…I am protecting him in death. Prepare yourself,"

He ignored their plea for forgiveness as he cut them down like reeds…

Zenitsu whispered in his hand, " That's cold… but I guess they deserved it…"

Minato said nothing as he followed his son's unique chakra to the hospital. He cut down more malevolent spirits that congregated near his son, trying to touch him, hurt him. Not on his watch and he swore he will always watch.

Once he cleared the air, his eyes set on Sarutobi Hiruzen. The man looked terrible, older than when he was last in office. Only three years have passed but he looked decade older. The village must be a proper mess. There's so much Minato wanted to ask him but he knew that his voice won't reach the man stooping over Naruto with eyes full of regret.

One thought whispered in his mind; where is Jiraiya?

From what he gathered, Kakashi was sent to investigate when there's no report about Naruto for two whole weeks. The orphanage was shut down and the staff changed after they heard what happened. Hiruzen refused to listen to the former matron's plea of innocence. How can he trust her around children when she threw one out for asking, speaking for the first time, for a warmer blanket?

When she had rambled about demons and such, he sent her to Morino Ibiki. To his horror, she has been trying to kill Naruto but kept on failing. His food was always laced with poison and so was his clothing and blankets. She changed it whenever he visited, under the guise of cleaning the room for his visit. They never noticed anything because Naruto was always kept in the building. The one time she was asked, she told them he's not much for social and never said a word to anyone.

They should have investigated further. Should have planted a mole to make sure she does her job properly.

Hiruzen chuckled bitterly, "Should have done this. Should have done that. I'll go mad thinking around and around like so," He blinked back tears, "Oh Naruto…what would your parents do should they see how I failed them? Something's amiss since your death Minato. I can feel my hold on the village slipping and I don't know how to take back control. So many powers at play and I can't do anything because if I'm thrown out, then I can't protect your legacy,"

He snorted, "Some protection I gave…" He looked at the ceiling, "If only you didn't die…if only the Kyuubi didn't weaken us so…if only, if only…Jiraiya can't even leave his post. Foreign powers have been sniffing around since the Kyuubi didn't manifest itself. Those who knows knew you didn't kill it,"

Minato sighed, that explained Jiraiya's absence.

Hiruzen rubbed his face, "I'm exhausted. Confessing to nothing," He sighed, "At least there's no one here to listen to me being senile…" He sent another flare of chakra, ever on guard. The tired elder have been doing so to make sure that he's truly alone. He grumbled, "Can't trust him with anyone…"

Hiruzen stayed until Kakashi returned. Dog stared at the legacy of his once teacher and father figure. Hiruzen patted his shoulder, "I know your fear, Kakashi. But he needs you. Without you, he will certainly die,"

Dog shivered as he pulled his mask aside, his cheeks and mask wet with tears, "They won't let me get any closer,"

Hiruzen grumbled, "Sometimes I feel like demolishing the Civilian Council. But they have the other three backing them up. I can't trust his wellbeing to anyone from the civilian side of things. It's unfortunate that orphanages fell under the civilian jurisdiction. Sometimes I curse Minato's civilian origin. They have been riding his wind for far too long,"

Minato's fist tightened that he could feel his skin breaking. How dare they? Using his name and fame to get what they want, praising him like a saint only to turn around and abuse his child as a demon?

Kakashi stayed, reading his book, one that horrified Minato as it seemed Jiraiya got to him, but his eyes didn't move. He didn't read a word or turn a page, just staring. Minato's three most trusted guards took shifts, so that Kakashi can rest. His Guard Platoon acted awkwardly around his son, as it seemed that they have been kept away from the boy for the past three years after guarding him with Kakashi that first week before the boy was sent to the orphanage.

Namiashi Raido, Shiranui Genma, and Iwashi Tatami had been separated after his death. Each had gone on their separate ways but all three were there just outside the barrier when Minato had to seal Kurama into Naruto. As it were, they couldn't see Naruto as anything more than a cute kid. But they kept their distance to keep him safe from possible spy that get past Jiraiya's strict screening at their borders.

It hurts to see how those that cared for his son the most have no choice but to avoid him to keep him safe.

It took a whole month for Naruto to finally wake up and Minato can see that he's looking directly at him…

Naruto have been dreaming for a long, long time. He dreamt that he was Ashura, that he has siblings with nine magnificent creatures. He dreamt sorrow, regret and betrayal as Indra, his beloved brother, turned his back on them and their father's will. He dreamt of family and love. He dreamt of death…

He dreamt of life in another form, watching himself being mistreated and being so helpless to do anything about it. He dreamt helping his blond self sought shelter from all the hate and fear and ignorance. He dreamt horror as Naruto did something stupid…

And he dreamt meeting his fox brother and…his father…his father who sealed his brother within him. His father that was the cause of all his misery…and he pitied the man, torn between leadership and fatherhood and regretting both…

He dreamt that he watched the man fought Death itself to claw his way out…back to him…back to Naruto…

And Naruto wakes up to see his father crying in relief and fear as their eyes met…

He let the medic do whatever medic does, waiting to be alone with the man who filled him with love and regret. He understands as Ashura told his father that he understood. That it was not easy for him to set his son on a journey full of hardship, alone at that. He recalled his other father doing the same, set him on a journey to spread their teaching as a final test.

But then he was taught first, given guidance and tutors. Naruto has none, didn't even reach the age to need any. Didn't even see the world beside the impression of colours; red and yellow filled him with so much love he loved the colour orange. But they won't let him have the colour once they saw how attached he was to the colour.

So he waited as he watched his father watch him, tears falling and falling and he just want to tell him…

"I love you,"

Chapter 3

Chapter Summary

The Shodaime was right to weep for the state of the village he had built in faith and trust of his enemy turned partner turned enemy.

Minato knew about Uzumaki, knew that with the abundance of chakra in their system that they need to learn at a very young age about chakra. So he helped Naruto. He didn't know much about Otsutsuki's chakra and Kurama was no help the few times he went to the fox for guidance. In Kurama's defence, a being made of chakra has no reason to learn what came to him as breathing. He can tell Minato and Naruto how but that was it.

So he winged it and taught Naruto a mix of chakra control and Reiatsu.

Naruto's now a proud owner of an apartment. All the furniture that came with the apartment was new and he was happy that someone knew how much he adored orange. Luckily, it's not neon or Kurama would threaten to blind the blond boy. Dark blue like his father's favourite shirt coloured their home as accents to soften all the orange like the curtains. Some dark red and deep green was mixed in like his carpet and his pillows.

Naruto love his apartment.

So Minato taught him how to protect his home. He taught his son, who didn't know how to read or write, Fuuinjutsu and calligraphy out of necessity. He had Naruto practice the patterns over and over, scrutinising each lines and squiggles for anything that could lead to their house exploding.

Something neither wanted…

Naruto succeeded and placed the patterns over the door and the window and the wall…

He fell in love with the art and asked Minato to teach him more. The father was more than willing to teach his son his mother's legacy. But that also meant calligraphy training. Lots and lots of ink and brush…

Hiruzen visited the home and found Naruto painting in black and white on sheets of papers, even toilet papers, which littered the house. It didn't take him long to notice the seals on the windows and the doors. Horrified, he pulled the protesting boy and asked, "Naruto, do you know what you're doing?"

Naruto, being an innocent cinnamon bun despite memories of an ancient being playing in his dreams, chirped, "Seals, dattebayo!"

Hiruzen quickly studied every little lines and squiggles that Naruto had painted on his doors and his windows, fearful for any mistakes made. When he realised that they're perfectly painted, he looked at Naruto, "Who taught you this?"

Clearly the boy was not supposed to tell as he guiltily looked to the side. Hiruzen sighed and was about to say something about trusting strangers when Naruto said, "Daddy taught me, 'ttebayo,"

Hiruzen couldn't be more horrified, "Daddy? Has someone been approaching you? Why didn't I know of this?"

Naruto looked to side again and grinned, "Daddy's name Namikaze Minato! He's Yondaime, dattebayo!"

Hiruzen sat down, "How…who?"

Naruto looked to the side again and Hiruzen decided to flare his chakra in a way that could dispel illusions. Nothing happened and he wondered why Naruto laughed at him. The blond mercifully answered, "Daddy's Shinigami, dattebayo! Chakra just tickles him!"

Hiruzen remembered the report saying that they found Naruto in the forgotten Uzumaki temple with the Shinigami mask shattered beside him. Wary, he asked, "Are you sure that's your father, Naruto? Can you describe him?"

Naruto nodded, "Dattebayo! Daddy's hair's not blond anymore; he said village made it turn white. He has blue eyes like me but he said my eyes shaped like Mama's more, 'ttebayo! He said I talk like her too and she hated that she talked like that but Daddy like it! He said it's cute!" He beamed, "He said he learned something shocking in Shinigami's belly but he can't tell so shush. But it helped him cut the Shinigami's belly from the inside and now Kurama's one, dattebayo!" Naruto placed a finger on his mouth about whatever happened in the Shinigami being a secret and shushed before chirping out the rest.

Hiruzen couldn't help the goose bumps on his arms and neck, "Kurama?"

Naruto grinned, "Kyuubi! Daddy makes friend with Kurama Yin and now he's one with Kurama Yang when Daddy came out! That's why I got hurt so bad but Ashura-nii makes it all better, dattebayo!" He looked to the side, eyes wide as he deflated, "Oh? I shouldn't have said that? But why, Ashura-nii makes me all better? Okay, I'll tell Jiji not to share,"

He looked seriously into Hiruzen's eyes, "Daddy said to tell you not to share,"

Hiruzen blinked, "Alright…"

A pinkie was held out, "Promise?"

Hiruzen smiled at the innocence, grabbing the boy's pinkie with his own, "Promise,"

Naruto grinned, "Ashura-nii was my old self. He took care of me…well, he can't touch me but he taught me a lot about walking and talking, 'ttebayo. He scolds the bad people at the old place for me when they're being mean to me even if they can't hear him. They're nice only when you visit and you didn't know because I don't know how to talk so it's not your fault. You're busy. I'm happy you came as much as you did, dattebayo," He patted the old Sandaime's shoulder.

Hiruzen blinked back tears as he accepted the boy's forgiveness, "That's kind of you, Naruto,"

Naruto shrugged, "I only know my name because you told me, 'ttebayo," He smiled shyly, "It tells me you care,"

Hiruzen heart break but before he could say anything, Naruto continue, "Ashura-nii told me that he's the grandson of the Mother of Chakra. She was nice once but then she's not because she didn't like that everyone has chakra. His father and his uncle had to seal her in the moon," He pointed at the sky where the moon has started to show itself, "That's a big prison. He said that she became a monster with ten tails, dattebayo! So when she became the moon, the ten tails was sealed inside Ashura-nii's dad. But his dad can't live forever so he makes the Bijuu. They are Ashura-nii's sibling and that mean Kurama's my brother too because now I'm Ashura-nii,"

Hiruzen took a moment to process everything before it clicked, "You're saying that you're this Ashura's reincarnation?"

"Uh-huh!"

Hiruzen sat back, reviewing everything Naruto told him. He had heard the legend before; it was the founding myth of Senju, Uzumaki and Uchiha. They didn't have the names but had enough passed down to tell that they're descendants of the Sage of Six Paths. But neither of the three thinks that they're related to the other, only that someone must have tried to steal their origin. It was one of the many reasons why the Senju and Uchiha fought so much. Uzumaki and Senju however have enough history between them that suggested similar point of origin before splitting.

Also, Minato had managed to find a way out of the belly of the Shinigami and was now one himself. How does that work? Naruto won't say anything and Hiruzen won't press. Whatever knowledge hidden in death should remain so. Hiruzen's not a fool like his fallen student Orochimaru. He didn't seek immortality. Not with how much he have lost and loved. He only wants to rest and death seemed like the ultimate vacation at this point in his life.

Naruto looked at him, "Jiji is your head hurt?"

Hiruzen chuckled and pulled the boy onto his lap, ignoring the pang of regret as he felt that he's too light for his age, "Naruto, you can't just tell anyone what you knew. You're lucky it's me and that I'm willing to make a promise and keep it ," He sternly stressed, "Not everyone keeps the promises made, Naruto. That's where the danger lies,"

Naruto paled, "Okay…"

Hiruzen sighed, "So…Minato's teaching you about seals?"

Naruto hopped on his lap excitedly, "Uh-huh! It's fun and it's Mama's!"

Hiruzen smiled, "Yes, it's Kushina's. An Uzumaki thing,"

Naruto grinned, "Daddy said Uzumaki's strong. We need to learn chakra as soon as possible or our brain goes…" He gestured wildly like he's going crazy. Hiruzen's eyes widened and Naruto added, "It gets worse when I get older so right now its fine. That's why I'm learning," He picked up a torn piece of paper and put on his forehead, "I can do this now, dattebayo,"

Hiruzen blinked at the sight, "I see. I didn't know that. I had thought that you have to learn at the Academy with the other kids,"

Naruto pouted, "But if I waited that long then…!" He did that gesture around his head again, "Daddy said I have too much chakra, dattebayo! I'll go crazy if I don't learn now, 'ttebayo!" He started to cry, panicking, "I don't wanna go crazy, 'ttebayo!"

Hiruzen calmed the boy, "Alright Naruto, I'm not stopping you. I just didn't know about this about Uzumaki," That would be a disaster in the making. He remembered that Uzumaki clan being calm only when dealing with seals but otherwise restless like a storm, always moving and picking fights and pranking…

Naruto sniffled, "Oh,"

Hiruzen grinned, "Anything else I should know that can help you, Naruto?"

Naruto stared and for a moment Hiruzen found himself staring into ancient eyes before the moment disappeared with a blink. Naruto grinned, "I want pots and seeds, lots and lots of pots and seeds. I need to grow trees, a lot of trees,"

Hiruzen blinked, "Trees, Naruto?"

Naruto nodded, "Ashura-nii grows trees to help chakra control. He grow trees from seeds and then from the ground. Like…" He gestured wildly, "I think someone like you do it too,"

Hiruzen didn't know what to think but he has to ask, "What makes you think you can grow them like the Shodaime?"

Naruto tilted his head, "Sho-dai-me? He grows trees too? Is he Senju?"

Hiruzen nodded, "Yes, Senju Hashirama the Shodaime Hokage of Konohagakure. He founded the village,"

Yet again ancient eyes stared back with a familiar twinkle, "Ah…he and Madara did! They make the village and Madara named it!" The eyes turned sad, "Why did Madara have to go and make Kurama a slave? That's not nice…"

Hiruzen blinked. There were things that even he didn't know, like Madara naming the village, "I see…how you knew this, Naruto?"

Naruto shrugged, "Ashura-nii was there. He's not awake but he was Hashirama too,"

Hiruzen breathed in and out to calm his nerves. It sounded like Naruto was the reincarnation of two people; both this Ashura and his old mentor Senju Hashirama.

Naruto added another bomb, "He promised that he would make Madara Nidaime but Madara said he lied. Madara left and died," He stared at Hiruzen, "He told Tobirama to take care of the Uchiha but Tobirama didn't keep his promise,"

Hiruzen flinched at the tears that fell as Naruto sobbed, "Please take care of the Uchiha, Saru," The boy started sobbing and sobbing, quietly crying as his shoulders shook. After a while, he stopped and calmed into slumber. He realised that it wasn't Naruto that had begged him to take care of the only founding clan left in Konoha; it was the plea of the Shodaime through Naruto.

After Hiruzen tucked the boy in bed, he left with a conflicted emotion. His mentor, somewhere within the child hated by the village he once built, had begged him to take care of the Uchiha. He remembered the story of how the man willingly sacrificed himself to break the endless and mindless fight between his clan and the clan of his enemy.

The Shodaime was right to weep for the state of the village he had built in faith and trust of his enemy turned partner turned enemy.

The clan is only as loyal as the village is to them…

Chapter 4

Chapter Summary

Who knew being the Shinigami can be therapeutic to someone who honestly thinks of themselves as the harbinger of death?

There was a lot of fight in the Hokage's office about Naruto but Naruto didn't know this. Instead, he was fully immersed with growing his plants. To him they made for the perfect medium for chakra control practice; too much and it will overgrow, too little and nothing happened. Unlike others, Naruto has to work from the hardest to easiest because it's backward for him like that. He didn't need to grow his reserve, only control it. The reserve will grow as he grows so that's that.

Dog, the only person that the Sandaime have left in charge of Naruto's security was perplexed when Hiruzen told him to keep quiet about whatever they saw Naruto did. When he did see, he understood the need for secrecy and why the Hokage only trust him with Naruto.

Naruto has Mokuton.

How did that even happen?

The boy's also extremely seal savvy, if the seals on his doors, windows, walls, floors and even ceilings was any indication. The only reason Dog can even enter the apartment was because Naruto somehow knew his chakra signature and keyed him in. Though it begged the question; who taught him? Does Naruto even know what he has been drawing?

He also talked to himself a lot; or rather he talked to his plants a lot as he water them. Amazingly, they reacted to his mood. When he's frustrated or mad, prickly cactus started growing. When he's in a good mood, the leaves visibly move as though dancing to an invisible tune. When he's happy, the flowering plants bloom and the fruits and vegetables mature faster. When he's feeling vindictive or in a pranking mood, sundews and other carnivorous plants popped up.

Kakashi was slowly healed just by watching the boy's colourful moods and his plants.

The boy was never short of food…but he still needed other source of protein. That's where his shadow stepped in. Dog buy his meat, fish, eggs and milk for him. Dog also added to his ever growing ramen collection in the pantry in memory of his parents. If they found basket of vegetable produce waiting for them, they quietly accepted the boy's thank.

One day he noticed the small shrine Naruto had made, spending hours on the memorial tablets for days. He walked in as the boy slept in his bed, curious. When he saw the names, his heart palpitated; Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina.

The other name was an unknown to Kakashi; Otsutsuki Hagoromo, written in ancient alphabets that were only known because he wrote the translation for it along with a strange symbol much like a clan; a strange multi-layered circle like a ripple and nine magatama neatly arranged in threes.

Why would Naruto have a shrine dedicated to parents he shouldn't know about and an unknown name? How did he know? Who told him?

As the man panicked quietly in front of the tablets, a small voice asked, "What are you doing, Kashi-nii?"

He should have gotten a whiplash with how fast he turned to see a bleary eyed Naruto, "How-?"

The blond yawned, "Daddy told me…oh, and Sakumo-jii is worried about you,"

Kakashi blinked when he saw the boy looking over his shoulder right behind him. The ANBU captain turned and had it not been for his training, he would have fallen from the imbalance. But there was no one behind him. He looked at Naruto as the boy blinked, "He's really sorry he did what he did. He can't move on because he's really sorry," The boy yawned again, "He's been following you around forever, you know. He wanted me to tell you to not be like him. He cling to his mistake so much he lost sight of what was right in front of him,"

The boy then plopped back on his bed, "And Daddy said to tell you that he didn't blame you…he's Shinigami now and he didn't want to send you to the Pure Land anytime soon,"

Kakashi waited for more world shattering fact to be revealed to him but instead Naruto snored away, breaking the mystic sense lingering in the air. He shivered, as his mind quickly pieced the puzzles together.

Naruto talk to himself a lot…or to his plants a lot. But it wasn't always the plants. He sometimes listened to a kind of directive, especially in things that need a guiding hand like cooking and chores. The food he made was often simple affair but at times he tilted his head to listen and behaved like one would when following instruction. He also somehow managed to learn how to read and write without a teacher…or did he?

Naruto has a teacher…

Kakashi have been keeping a close eye on him but he was in denial because the pain still felt too raw to scrutinise. But now that he threw all thoughts of trauma out of his head, he saw the sign. Things that he knew Minato-sensei always did like the way Naruto fold his clothes or held his calligraphy brush or his recipes whenever the boy left him something to eat at the window sill.

Imitation but Kakashi can still taste Minato-sensei…

" Daddy's Shinigami now…"

Forget Mokuton or seal savvy, his little could-be-would-be brother can see ghosts!

Kakashi's not a supernatural person, no matter how many excuses he gives that derived of the supernatural. But when Naruto started talking about his late disgraced father Hatake Sakumo, a name that's all but wiped out from both history and memory; he knew he has to listen. Naruto knew too much for someone who just read about a figure in an obscure history. Not to mention Kakashi has never shared about the man's death to anyone of recent time.

That meant Naruto shouldn't know, just like how he shouldn't know about his parent. Now that he thinks about it, was that why Naruto gravitated towards him with absolute trust? He can see in the boy's eyes that he trusted Kakashi like he trusted the Sandaime, something that even if he smiled at others was never present in blue gaze.

The next day, Kakashi took off his mask and break protocol to talk to Naruto. He had recognised that some of the seals were for silence. He worked on a simple breakfast, making his famous fish. Naruto wandered into his small kitchen to see him just finishing the touches to their breakfast. Kakashi smiled at the boy, "Here, have some breakfast,"

Naruto stared at the food, "No eggplant? I have some," He shot off towards one of his plants and Kakashi watched as the boy willed the plants to fruit and mature within minutes. Plucking all that has ripened, Naruto offered his favourite person after the Hokage, "Here,"

As they sat, Naruto looked to the side and smiled, "He missed your mole, 'ttebayo," He poked his spot on the chin, just under his lips on the left side. Kakashi knew that Naruto was poking at the exact place where Kakashi mole marked him since birth. Relenting, Kakashi took down his famous mask and revealed his face to the three years old who knew too much.

They ate breakfast, Naruto giving innocent comments about his father. It seemed that Sakumo was reminiscing, asking about Gai and talking about memories that he managed to make with Kakashi. Then suddenly Naruto changed his 'narration' and started talking about Minato-sensei and the memories that they shared. By the end of breakfast, Kakashi numbly did his dishes along with Naruto before sitting around the single table that Naruto has, surrounded by his plants.

Kakashi chest seized once, twice, and finally he breaks down. Naruto stared before forcing himself under Kakashi's arms and climbing the man's lap. He hugged his lonely could-have-been brother. It was at that moment that Kakashi felt something, not like chakra yet similar, entering his coils. He tried to regulate it but he couldn't. If anything, his chakra adsorbed it.

When he stopped his internal struggle, he saw them; Sakumo and Minato.

He feared that he was hallucinating and he started to shake but Naruto held fast. Sakumo looked at his broken son and sighed, "Kashi-chan…don't be like me. Don't hold onto blame that you pushed all reasons aside,"

Minato-sensei nodded, "Kashi-kun, you don't bring death to those who come close. I would think as the Shinigami I would be closer to that, now would I?" He then gestured at Naruto who clung to him like koala to trees, "If there's anything else you would like to speak to us, especially Sakumo, then this is your chance,"

Kakashi turned to his father, "I…have always wanted to ask you something…" At his father's focused look, he asked his burning question, "Why…did my Dad, Konoha's legendary White Fang, break its laws by choosing to abandon the mission to save his friends?"

Sakumo's look fell but before he can answer, Kakashi confessed, "I was so frustrated,"

Sakumo knew he hurt Kakashi with many of his actions. He knew that in the way that they're so alike, Kakashi couldn't easily let go. But Kakashi smiled through his tears, "But…no matter what happened you gave it your all. I…" He sobbed, "Today I'm proud of my Dad…who broke the law to save his friends…"

Sakumo's dark eyes widened as his son finally accepted him, the father he rejected in death. A look of peace came over him as he reached out to touch his grown up son's face, a face he missed every day. A face he had tried to spare the pain of being the son of a 'traitor' but failed. His tears flooded and fell down his eyes, "Thank you…Kakashi. I…want you to live…not just survive. Don't be like me. Don't run from life…"

Kakashi could barely feel the ghost of Sakumo's hand as he cupped his son's face. A tearful reunion and a tearful farewell…

When Kakashi blinked, Sakumo was gone.

He looked to Minato-sensei who looked relieved, "He moved on. He was so worried that his actions had ruined you he couldn't move on," He looked at his student, "I know that look, Kakashi,"

Kakashi sighed, rubbing his face and just knew that his eyes will be swollen by evening, "I…couldn't be there for Naruto the way you did for me,"

Minato sighed, "I know…I know now just how complicated this village has become. I never regret doing what I must for both Naruto and Konoha. My one regret is that I have to die to reach the conclusion that I did," He glared out the window, "Naruto…only ever felt the hate of the village and their fear of him. I don't know what I would do if everyone see him as the fox,"

Kakashi snorted, "Reap the soul of every unworthy mortals in this Sage forsaken place?"

At Minato's disturbed look, Kakashi sighed, "I'm too young to adopt Naruto, too emotionally unstable to take in Naruto…all the excuses and tapes held me back. I can only watch him whenever I'm not on a mission. A part of me wanted to add my name next to the rest of Team 7 on the KIA Monument but I can't, I won't because even if my fear of causing the death of everyone dear to me was what truly stopped me I can't die because what was left of you and Kushina will die with me,"

Kakashi looked at the now sleeping bundle of sun in his arms, "Naruto…from how little I could see him, he gave me a reason to live. Because of this, I'm afraid," He started to shake from his PTSD, "I'm afraid that he'll die just from me talking to him,"

Minato reached out and used Reishi to calm Kakashi's emotional turmoil. He ensured the boy, "Kakashi. I'm the Shinigami here, not you. And I sense nothing of the sort coming from you, so you don't have to be afraid of coming close to Naruto,"

Kakashi looked so fearful as he asked like a lost child, "Are you sure?"

Minato nodded. He took that time to truly study the only survivor of his trampled team. Life had been unkind and Minato suspected that Kakashi had been killing his emotions all these while to survive the lost he experienced. So to pull the boy, now man, away from depressing thoughts of killing people just by association like a curse, Minato started talking about Naruto and his shenanigans.

He watched as it worked like a charm, as colour returned to Kakashi's ghost-like appearance what with his white hair and white face being paler than a corpse. Kakashi start opening up, talking about Naruto from his perspective. Minato knew it wasn't much but it's a start.

Who knew being the Shinigami can be therapeutic to someone who honestly thinks of themselves as the harbinger of death?

Since then, Kakashi spent more time around Naruto even outside his shift. He even slept in the boy's apartment and all but live there while off duty. Hiruzen said nothing as he can see his ANBU Captain coming to life. Kakashi still served in the Black Ops but at the very least he's no longer suicidal or asked for lengthy missions. Only for high paying ones so he can rain it all on Naruto whose apartments has started to look like a miniature jungle.

If anyone came around, he could just say that he had Kakashi on an endless nanny duty for Naruto and he's the Hokage so he can do what he want with his Shinobi so they can just shut up and suck it…well maybe not in those words exactly but the message was of similar nature…

Chapter 5

Chapter Summary

"Uchiha need hugs, that's all, dattebayo! I'm not stealing him, promise!"

Naruto was almost four when he finally felt comfortable enough to leave his apartment. He spent the first few months outside the orphanage completely secluded in his new, beloved home and no one can blame him. He has his own trauma from his first contact with the outside world to overcome. Kakashi has never been more pissed off.

The first month, somehow news about Naruto's where about leaked to the public but Kakashi's and the three former members of the Yondaime's Guard Platoon surrounding Naruto's building was enough deterrent. The second month an idiot tried throwing Molotov Cocktails at Naruto's apartment in an attempt to burn it down with the boy's inside. But before they could throw the burning bottle, they were apprehended by the ANBU. While trying to escape, the cocktail exploded in his hand and he died on the way to the hospital.

Fortunately for both cases, Naruto has Minato distract him as well as his plants. One plant acted really weird. In fact, it's ridiculously active and social with Naruto. Minato took a while to sense that it's more than just a tree. There's a soul inside the tree that has recently become aware.

As a joke, Naruto called the sapling Hashirama-ki, or Hashirama-tree.

Minato didn't know how to break to his son that the Shodaime has indeed been reborn as a tree due to Naruto's otherworldly chakra and the fact that the seed came from one of the original Mokuton grown tree of the Shodaime. Not to mention Naruto being Ashura and thus carry the memories of Hashirama as Ashura's transmigrate, Hashirama's spirit dwelling within his trees scattered throughout the forest managed to get attracted to Naruto's sunshine chakra just like a tree would reach for the sun. Him being the most conscious in a sapling born of one of his own trees raised by Naruto really shouldn't be such a surprise.

Hiruzen on the other hand was shocked when a tree greeted him by opening the door. Even more when the tree grew 'arms' and hugged him. Hashirama-ki moving about the house almost made the old Hokage walk back out in fear of hallucination and senility affecting his mind. Strangely, his sanity was proven intact when the tree dragged the man back into the apartment.

Due to how active Hashirama-ki was, Naruto had placed numerous pots around his house after they discovered that Hashirama-ki can move anywhere. Minato suspected that the tree being haunted by someone that can grow a forest of sycamore out of nothing but soils and chakra allowed this to happen. But better that than the table that first time they noticed his talent. The tree 'looked' just as shocked that it could do that.

Minato rubbed the crease between his brows. His son has such a confusing life but at least he's happy for another company.

Kakashi has no comment on the matter, he's just happy with his Mr Ukki.

But back to the present time, Naruto walked beside Kakashi with Hashirama-ki attached to his head via chakra in the form of cute little sapling making it looked like Naruto's growing a plant on his head. It took the boy a lot of courage just to step out of his home even with all the encouragement given by his little family.

Now with security on his side, Naruto looked around with wide eyes. He stared at everything his eyes could see, even from his rather short perspective. Kakashi glared at anyone who even looked at Naruto wrong, dressed to the teeth in his ANBU armour and face hidden by his ANBU mask. In his left hand he held Naruto's trembling fist gently but firmly. He shifted his body as he tried his best to shield the boy from the worse of looks.

Naruto froze when he saw familiar features and grinned, dragging a surprised Kakashi straight for the Uchiha who was off duty. Surprisingly it was Fugaku, Head of the Uchiha Clan. Kakashi wondered why Naruto looked so happy approaching the intimidating Wicked Eye Fugaku, who in turn looked just as flustered as his trained stone face showed.

Looking at the toothy smile of the blond, who he knew was someone he had ordered his officers to guard but not approach, he wondered why the blond did the approaching instead when to his shock the boy threw his arms around his leg. He also tempted to use 'kai' because that sapling on the boy's head looked like it's dancing.

Trees don't dance, at least not without wind.

Fugaku looked at the boy's minder, "May I know why for this sudden show of…affection?"

Dog shrugged, behaving just as confused.

"Tou-san?"

The boy flinched at the sound of Sasuke's voice and Fugaku looked at his second born just as the boy exit the shop with Mikoto whose eyes watered upon seeing Naruto. Sasuke on the other hand froze when he saw Naruto clinging to his father. Obsidian meet sky blue and Naruto suddenly jumped away from Fugaku as though burned with a sudden fearful gasp, "Uchiha need hugs, that's all, dattebayo! I'm not stealing him, promise!"

Fugaku brain wondered why the boy thought Uchiha, not just him apparently, need hugs.

Sasuke approached the blond but Naruto grew paler as his eyes watered and his voice wavered in fearful desperation, "I'm not taking anything, promise dattebayo…"

At that moment all he saw was the red, red eyes of Indra staring at him with burning hatred. Eyes that once so full of adoration and love and security became eyes that haunted his every nightmare. Eyes that filled him with regret, betrayal and helplessness as he failed to save his brother.

There was a mental scar so deep that the wound stayed bleeding even in death. Ashura still remember Indra's accusations of theft. It hurt so much that his brother saw him as little more than a usurper who stole what belonged to him by right of birth. This translated to Naruto as him being accused of betraying his brother first.

He saw the Uchiha boy and all he saw was Indra, screaming at him and accusing him of stealing.

Naruto started sobbing, shaking and crying as an ancient trauma caught him in its thrall before shooting away from Sasuke like he just saw a ghost. Dog immediately gave chase. It was miles away when Naruto stopped in a wooded area. Kakashi bit back grumbles and concentrate getting past the barrier of branches trying to hide Naruto within the forest.

When he finally reached the boy, ancient eyes muddled by pain and betrayal turned to him and Kakashi flinched, "Naruto?"

The boy sniffled, "I saw Indra Ani-ue…"

Through the months they were together, Naruto shared with him a great many things. One of which was the story behind the third name of the third memorial tablet. Kakashi almost groaned at the migraine that particular story squeezed all the nerves in his brain with, trying to make sense in his now utterly upside down world. Minato-sensei had helped explaining details that Naruto being a toddler can't really explain.

Kakashi joined him on the forest floor, "So you mean…Fugaku's second son is your Nii-san?"

A forlorn nod and Kakashi sighed; gathering the tiny blond onto his lap. He's not a Yamanaka and he's certainly not one for long psychological talk. But even he knew the pain of betrayal, except he was the betrayer and not the betrayed. He betrayed Obito's will when he pushed his hands through Rin's chest. But the horror and the scar remained.

He asked, "You're afraid that he'll hurt you again?"

Naruto sobbed, "And, and I don't want to see those eyes anymore, dattebayo!"

"What eyes?"

Naruto whispered, "The eyes he looked at me with when he killed me,"

Kakashi supposed he can't fault the boy. No one wants to look in the eyes of their murderer if they can help it, especially when they're still so obviously in love with them. Because Ashura do indeed loved his brother Indra. He loved him so much that he kept hesitating to land the finishing blow. Ashura's wish was to 'rescue' Indra from the will of their shared Grandmother, the one trapped in the moon. It was a promise for more than a lifetime, a kind of promise stretches beyond time and affected the lives of generations that come after.

Luckily Naruto only moped at his apartment since the accidental meeting for a week. But a week was enough to show his unhealthy state of mind, regardless of Minato's numerous attempts to cheer him. But perhaps it was because of this relentless attempt on Minato's part that Naruto bounced back so quickly. The once wilting plants in his home began to grow hale and healthy along with his mental state.

Kakashi supposed as an adult, Ashura have better grasp on his emotion but Naruto's not even half a decade old. It was expected for him to react so strongly, despite ancient memories playing in his mind. They'll be more worried if Naruto had acted maturely about the whole matter.

Naruto finally stepped out of his self-imposed hermitage and walked around Konoha, wearing Hashirama-ki on his head as usual and keeping close to the forested areas for maximum security. Although there were more ghosts in those area, Daddy will keep him safe!

Since Naruto has such strong Reiatsu inside him, he attract ghosts like honey attract flies. The couple of time they came to him to ask for his help to solve trouble, he relied on Kakashi to deal with them. He's just a brat, after all. Even if he speak up, no one will listen let alone take him seriously so he leave all the 'ghostly favours' to Kakashi.

Daddy joked about Dog building up good karma with the spirits so he really shouldn't be so late whenever he came across bad omens…

But just to be safe, he came out at night. He didn't know why, Daddy already said that it's a bad idea but Naruto just have to go out tonight! But it wasn't so bad because Naruto enjoyed the night sight, there're glowing bugs too! Then a ghost came forward and Daddy step in front of Naruto.

It was the ghost of a Hyuuga, who looked frantic, "Please! Help! Our little lady, our little lady! They say you can help!"

Minato frowned, "You're new,"

The ghost nodded, "I…I think I died…Hinata-sama! The Kumo-nin, he took Hinata-sama!"

Naruto peered around Minato, "Where?"

Minato looked at his son, "Naruto, you're too young,"

Naruto turned to him, "But she's one of Konoha, right? We protect Konoha, dattebayo!"

Minato knew he lost the argument when the forest around him came alive. He sighed, turning to the newly deceased, "Who are you?"

The ghost answered, "Kou, Hyuuga Kou. I was…I was outside her room, patrolling. I tried…I tried to stop him…"

Minato nodded, "Lead the way,"

Minato picked up Naruto, since he can actually physically interact with his son due to how dense his Reiatsu was. Naruto let his father carry him into the night, Kou leading ahead as the forest aided their path. It didn't take long to hear someone running through the forest.

Naruto pointed, "There!"

Hashirama-ki flared and the Kumo-nin screamed when branches and vines snapped at his ankles. The way ahead closed as the trees came alive and caged him in. He tried to find a way out but the trees thwarted every effort. Cutting with the wind doesn't work, neither does water. He would have tried fire but then he'll be cooked along with the girl he held under his arm.

Another flare and the vines tugged at his limbs. A whip and his arms dropped the Hyuuga girl, her scream ended as abruptly as it started from the trees reaching out and breaking her fall with a giant rose that closed their multi-layered petals around her. She would have panicked but then she heard him, "Hello,"

The girl looked at him, "H-h-hell-o?"

He waved at her, "I'm Naruto, dattebayo! Uzumaki Naruto! You?"

She started to relax as the petals kept the inside quiet and calm from the chaos that was happening outside, not knowing the cage of briars that refused the Kumo-nin entry of the rose sanctuary, "H-hyuu-ga Hi-hi-hina-ta,"

Naruto beamed and Hinata felt like she would be blinded by the child-shaped sun before her. Naruto started to babble about everything and nothing, guided by ancient memories and Hinata started to further relax from her adrenaline induced terror. She barely squeaked out anything but Naruto didn't pressure her either, so she was relieved.

Outside, Hiashi finally found an almost dead Kou just outside Hinata's room. He left Hizashi to inform the Hokage as he gave chase along with some of the Hyuuga house members. The group then heard a commotion ahead and found a perplexing sight. Their guest seemed to be boxing with trees that have come alive.

A Hyuuga pointed to the lower forest ground, "Over there…something is there…"

Something was indeed there; a giant rose surrounded by a cage made of briars. Using Byakugan, he found her. Hiashi leapt down and warily approached the rose. The Kumo-nin leapt at him but the forest finally had enough and wrapped him up with their living vines like a human cocoon. The Hyuuga surrounded him, white eyes glaring.

Hiashi had thought that he will have to lose him limb to cut through to get to Hinata, but the briars unfurled and the rose bloomed to reveal his daughter, sleeping in the middle like a fairy in her children books. He had never felt more relieved.

Chapter 6

Chapter Summary

"How…? How could you not hate me? I…I betrayed you…your love and faith for me…Itachi…Itachi…he did what I did to you…is this what Chichi-ue call karma…?"

Naruto wanted to see Hinata, hoping that they can stay friend but he never did since that day two years ago. He also remembered Hamura-jii-sama after meeting the Hyuuga and had carved a memorial tablet for him too. Hiruzen had raised brow when he first saw it, "Who is this?"

Naruto introduced the ancient brother of his ancient father, "Hamura-jii-sama. He went to the moon. He's also father of the Hyuuga and the Kaguya…"

Hiruzen didn't know that, "I see…"

Naruto also informed him, "Hamura-jii-sama went crazy once because Obaa-sama mess with his head, 'ttebayo. I guess that the Kaguya got that from him," Apparently Minato has been teaching the boy about clans from around the continent as well as reading through historical text. He treated the text like an epic tales and Naruto soaked up the information with great interest.

Naruto's chakra control has improved in leaps and bounds as he kept going smaller and smaller. Hiruzen and Kakashi had both watched with great interest when Naruto had spouted a flowering shrub from a seed and then reversed it in quick succession. The two living elders enjoyed the vegetables he grew, feeling healthier even with the chakra infused greens. In fact, Hiruzen swore he looked a year or two younger since he started eating Naruto's vegetable produce.

Minato had the boy practice his tree-walking on the walls of their home and then water walking in the bathtub. Naruto's Fuuinjutsu also grew more and more complex that it can't even be recognised as a seal. It's so complex that some seals move in peculiar kaleidoscope-esque patterns!

Today, Naruto will be entering the Academy for formal lessons. He fidgeted in his orange hoodie, nervous. Naruto only ever ventured out of his home at night until a few weeks ago when he practiced going out in the morning. He's still nervous about running into Indra's incarnate that it took him years to regain the confidence to come see Konoha under the light of day.

Basically he was avoiding his most painful past and no one can blame him.

Hiruzen couldn't go anywhere near his home where he once lived with his late Biwako for years too, feeling that the house was haunted by her. It was only when he finally seek out Minato and asked about her that he found closure as she had moved on to the Pure Land. This avoidance was the reason why people swore he lived at the Hokage Tower as he only returned home when he really couldn't focus on his work anymore, just to black out on his bed after cleaning himself and fixing some food.

Kakashi moved out of his family's home as soon as he's able and before Naruto's supernatural revelation, spent hours just staring at the KIA Monument. Reading the names of his family comrades over and over, immersing himself on what-if or could-have-been. Now, he recently fixed his home, almost emptying his coffer to renovate the land and home.

Just earlier this year, Naruto moved out of his apartment to live with him. With the bigger land, he started growing plants and other greeneries in earnest. What started as chakra practice has become a hobby, the Hatake's home once barren and neglected ground now surrounded by a miniature forest and teeming with life.

Kakashi never knew he could feel so relaxed in his old home where so much memories; once painful memories but now filled with fondness and nostalgia, surrounded him in every corner. He gave Naruto the room with the door leading to the backyard as it's the one with the most sunlight due to how his plants overflowed from his room to the garden.

Now, Kakashi bid Naruto goodbye as the boy make his way into the world.

Unseen by anyone but Naruto, Minato shed a tear of happiness and pride. He didn't expect Naruto to ace everything, just not fail and give his best. But he also worry as the Uchiha's also here which meant the one trigger to Naruto's trauma would also be here. He never thought that Mikoto's little baby would cause his own son so much pain.

And Kushina have been gushing over how they will be the best of friends, brothers in all but blood…

They were blood brothers once and look where that ended…

They became brothers in chakra and looked how that changed the map…

Now, they're brothers in spirit and Minato couldn't help but fret about the future. Sighing, he entered Naruto to watch from within. It was something he's capable of, entering his son's soul scape. At least here he can talk with Kurama.

Kurama made for an excellent, if somewhat snarky, company.

He watched, beside the Fox, how parents pulled aside their kids and warned them not to get close to Naruto, skirting around the Sandaime's Law and told them that Naruto's dangerous but nothing more. He sighed, doubts clouding his mind. He knew that the decision made was the only one available. But at times, he wished that he never have to make such a decision.

Kurama grumbled, " You're brooding again ,"

Minato's laughter was bitter, "Can you blame me? What parents, good parents, would put their child in such a position? What good parents would deliberately put such a burden on such thin shoulders, burdens of being misunderstood and hated?"

Kurama huffed, " I thought you know that beating yourself up over what had happened won't do any good ?"

Minato shrugged, "I can't help these thoughts when I see what my decision cost Naruto,"

But there's nothing he can do, the damage was done and there's no going back. No insta-fix-it jutsu he can invoke. As the hours crawled on, he watched with bitter eyes and diminishing faith as the instructors looked at Naruto with thinly veiled disdain and ignored the boy's attempt to be part of the class and belittled his every effort to be a good student, going as far as to unjustly throw him out for 'disrupting' the class.

Days passed by and Minato can see even as he helped Naruto with his homework that the Academy slowly strangled his son of his desire to learn and apply himself. They ignored his perfect calligraphy, sneering at any handed in project. The reports was so painfully obviously doctored that Naruto was seen as a hopeless student. They treated him as a nuisance in class at best and neglected with cold shoulder, pretending he's not even there at worse.

Kids being kids took this as cue on how to treat Naruto…

Even though his precious son always smiled, always willing to lend a hand, always eager to please that it's painful to watch. They called him too dumb to even realised that he's unwanted, unneeded, hated. Naruto smiled through it all, his mask of naïve innocence and optimism firmly in place. It was only in the privacy of their home, hidden by the greeneries that Naruto let his mask shatter and tears of frustration flow.

Minato could only watch in silent cold fury. Hiruzen can't interfere, Hokage he may be but he has no other relation with Naruto that gave him legitimate access to interfere in his study. Even if he does, people are not hives with a singular brain. A change of order does not mean every single person with comply. Naruto has so little support and power that the Hokage alone won't be enough to protect him through acknowledgement. His son has truly been thrown off the mountain, to fight his way back to the top by no one's strength but his own.

For the three most involved men in Naruto's life, it was frustrating.

One cold winter evening, Naruto sat on the lone swing as he watched people go by. Minato stood vigil beside him, unable to communicate because Naruto does not need more rumours about his stability circulate. Hashirama-ki barely dance nowadays, he could feel the disappointment rolling off the forest spirit even as he tried his best to cheer his charge.

Suddenly, Naruto's ears caught odd sounds coming from the forest behind him. Curious, he stood up and head to the source.

"…too stuffy to apologize…!"

"Always looking down on us…!

Naruto didn't listen to their words; all he could see was that someone was being unjustly bullied. Not that bullying can be justified. But the girl, a Hyuuga from the moonlight eyes, wasn't even fighting back. They had pushed her to the ground and forced her head to bow.

Naruto scowled, "Hey!"

Hinata looked at the newcomer and the first thing she saw was the rigid sapling on his head. She knew him, just like everyone else knew him. The bully said something about him being "that kid" and sneered at him. He threw the first punch and pummelled her bully to the ground, declaring his ambition to be Hokage.

They laughed at him, but somehow Hinata truly believed that he can become one. He sat back up even when they outnumbered him and threw him to the ground, kicking and punching and even clawing. And yet despite his obvious lost, he wasn't disheartened.

"Dammit!"

She timidly called out, "A-a-ano…"

He looked at her, blue eyes guarded despite the smile on his face. She fidgeted, "Th-tha-!"

"Hinata-sama!"

She jumped at the sound of her caretaker. She looked at the direction of the voice and Naruto leapt to his feet, "You're alive!"

Kou, having no recollection of his death-like state, stared at the blond child before him. Though social logic dictated that he must pull Hinata-sama away from such a "bad influence", he simply couldn't. Hinata stared at the boy, who called himself Uzumaki Naruto with so much pride while standing before her bullies, looked at her guardian Kou with relief in his eyes but that relief was tempered with wariness.

Hinata continued, "Th-thank y-you,"

Kou studied her and noticed the roughened appearance of the usually immaculate girl, the dirt stuck to her cheek and her black training gi. He then studied the ground and noticed the marks of scuffle. But most importantly he saw the Jinchuuriki's state; marks of battle and loss covered him in dirt and bruises.

Something in him whispered, ' He did it again,'

Hinata picked his torn and shredded red scarf, "Th-this…"

Naruto looked at the thing and fidgeted before grinning, "It's alright!" He then waved, "Bye!"

Hinata stared after his back, disappearing between the winter trees and she suddenly felt the cold weather. Somehow, standing before him was like standing before the warm of hearth. She clutched his crimson scarf tightly to her chest; the yarn knitted to make the scarf was old and frayed. She ignored Kou who looked at her in confusion. In her mind, she decided to knit him a new scarf…even if she didn't know how to knit…

The seasons went by and Naruto forget the winter encounter. He did notice her but since she never approached him, he never approached her. He noticed that she looked familiar but couldn't recall from where. But she was never mean or cruel to him so he let his curiosity go.

On a warm summer night of his seventh year, Naruto woke up to pain. He could sense so much pain and death. He looked on as ghosts by the dozen rushed to the direction of said pain and death. Kakashi wasn't home and Minato refused to leave his side. He had stated his only concern in death was Naruto and none of the living who betrayed his faith.

No doubt he still loved the village, even if he no longer has as much faith in its people. Due to this difference, Minato refused to do as he would have done as Hokage. He had found that with his lost faith in the people of Konoha, all desire to fulfil his duty as Hokage disappeared. After all, it was his duty to Konoha that betrayed his son.

All ghosts carry regrets that chained them to the Living World and his regret chained him to Naruto.

The next morning, an ANBU operative informed them that Kakashi won't be returning and that Academy classes have been cancelled for the week. Something big had happened.

Big enough to bring Indra to his doorstep still in his hospital robe and pants, obsidian eyes wide and haunted even as he reached out. Fear from ancient paranoia seized Naruto as Indra croaked, "Ashura Otouto…"

Not sensing any murderous malice, only distress, Naruto listened as Sasuke asked, "How…? How could you not hate me? I…I betrayed you…your love and faith for me…Itachi…Itachi…he did what I did to you…is this what Chichi-ue call karma…?"

The boy, the only living Uchiha within Konoha, crumpled to the ground, confused and choking with grief as he asked how Ashura didn't hate him, didn't hunt him down for vengeance, only with the sworn oath to save him.

Ancient memories, ancient regrets and ancient guilt took over Sasuke's mind until he's almost broken by it. Naruto reached deep for the Ashura within him and reached out in compassion, "I knew something happened to you. I never could hate you, Ani-ue,"

Indra clung to him with an iron grip as his whole body shook with unseen terror, "S-s-save m-me…Otouto…save me…" He choked, "I-I d-don't wa-want to…to b-be-betray…Chichi-ue's Ninshu…no more…no more…"

Chapter 7

Chapter Summary

As Itachi told him to hate him, all Sasuke could think was…how did Ashura not hate Indra?

Uchiha Sasuke has always noticed Uzumaki Naruto, but not in the way other noticed the blond. After that sudden meeting in an almost forgotten memory at the market, his mind kept going back to the event. It was the only reason he remembered even when so many memories of that age disappeared with time.

He sometimes had nightmares, one filled with greed, power, betrayal and mind numbing regret. He kept dreaming of losing more and more of himself to power and the need to prove himself. It was horrifying, the drive for power as he betrayed all that he once held on.

Ninshu…

He betrayed the creed of Ninshu…

Sasuke feared the moon; he hated it and hid from ever looking at it if he could. There's horror hiding in the shadow of the moon. He's sure of this. He's suspicious of shadows and scowled whenever people use the body flicker technique, but he hate it more if they sink through the ground.

His family thought he was being cute…

But all his hidden fears disappeared whenever he saw Naruto running around causing trouble. His lips will attempt to quirk up in amusement and fondness, even if he didn't know why he's fond of the boy. Suspicious of his own reaction, he avoided any interaction with the boy. Although, he noticed the sapling on the blonde's head.

His father has been suspicious of the strange sapling and many Uchiha who came afoul of the boy's prank swore that it's a Genjutsu. After all, trees don't grow out of people's head when they're alive and they most certainly don't behave according to the boy's mood.

When Naruto's happy, the tree will dance. When Naruto's sad, the tree will droop. But there were times when it grew stiff and unmoving. Times that Sasuke noticed the open disdain and mistreatment that Naruto suffered from their Academy's instructors. Those moments filled him with cold anger that almost swallowed all his reasoning. It was only his confusion towards his feelings that kept him from doing anything.

Then…Itachi broke his mind…he remembered a lot of things. Things he had chosen to forget because they were so painful to remember, a pain on par with the betrayal Itachi had inflicted on him. Because in those memories, he wasn't betrayed. He only believed in his arrogance that he was betrayed. No, the betrayer was him.

As Itachi told him to hate him, all Sasuke could think was…how did Ashura not hate Indra?

How could he still love Indra after all that he had done to take him down?

Then as his fevered dreams dragged him kicking and screaming and begging through ancient memories, he recalled the emotions that showed up on Ashura's small face. He put it there. He choked with tears as he recalled all the memories of their innocent childhood, only ever caring about their father's expectation with their growth in Ninshu.

He was called the Prodigy but truly he was a fool…because Indra only saw the surface of Ninshu. Ashura…Ashura embodied it and Indra had long acknowledged it. Why else would he hate it when Ashura cried whenever those fools called him the failure? Why else would he strive for perfection? It wasn't power he sought, no. When the boar attacked Ashura, all Indra could think was that he mustn't let the boar touch his treasure…

Power…how could he forget that it was nothing more than tool for the true purpose of Ninshu?

He hated the moon; he hated the shadow of the moon for clouding his mind.

So when he woke up, all he could think was Ashura. He brought war to this world, destroyed both Chichi-ue's and Ashura's legacy for power. He didn't carry the Will of Ninshu within him. No, he had carried Her will.

He's afraid, afraid of that greedy claws digging into him once more…

Because if he falls, he will fail just as he once did…

Ashura…Ashura had reached out to him, over and over even as others finally saw the monster he had become. Even when Ashura should kill him, even when Ashura should execute him. His precious Otouto never did, he kept trying to save him.

" S-s-save m-me…Otouto…save me…I-I d-don't wa-want to…to b-be-betray…Chichi-ue's Ninshu…no more…no more…"

Ashura…his precious Ashura…even though he should just throw this worthless Ani-ue out of his home…only gathered him and told him that he's still loved. So Indra clung to his brother of another life, afraid that if he let go of his sunlight the darkness of the moon will drag him back into that abyss of hate and jealousy.

When Kakashi finally returned from his sudden mission to clean up and rest before returning to duty, he heard that the Uchiha Massacre survivor had escaped his hospital room upon awakening. He mentally groaned, too drained by the horrendous event that had happened to just rush back to work. So he didn't expect for Naruto to be nursing an unconscious Uchiha Sasuke in their shared home.

Remembering a tearful conversation so many years ago, he has to ask, "Why is he here?"

Naruto sighed, looking every bit as ancient as the soul he carries, "Indra…he's…he's afraid that he will relapse to the madness of power that took over him once before…I know…I know something happened…but we never had a chance to really talk about it…"

Kakashi nodded, "Alright…but why are you on the floor?"

Naruto blushed, "Ani-ue won't let go, dattebayo,"

Kakashi sighed, "I'll bring the blanket…"

Naruto thanked him, "Also, can you make those tomato recipes? Ani-ue loves tomatoes,"

Kakashi simply nodded, wondering what Minato-sensei thought about all this. In death, the man's overprotective of Naruto. Probably because there's little else he can do. Sighing, Kakashi did what he had promised Naruto; blanket and tomato food.

When Indra opened his eyes, he saw a tall blond man looking down on him with tundra cold eyes. A golden brow twitched, "So you can see me?"

Indra nodded, "Yes,"

The man grinned but it was far from friendly, "I don't care if you are Otsutsuki Hagoromo's eldest or Naruto's lost brother. Even in a new life, the trauma you left him echoed in the present," Indra flinched and the man's grin only grew more feral, "I am Namikaze Minato, the father of your brother's new incarnation. I am also the new Shinigami,"

Indra froze. He knew of the Shinigami, not even his father for all his godlike abilities could outrun the Shinigami's claim. Minato noticed the fear in the boy's eyes and relaxed, "I will be watching you, Otsutsuki Indra. If you ever return to the path that ruined my son's past incarnation, I will claim your soul and tear it apart so you will never make a return,"

Indra gulped fearfully, nodding his head, "I…I don't know…if you will ever believe me but…I swear…I swear to treasure my Otouto…"

Minato watched him for a little while more just as Kakashi appeared with tray of steaming food. He noticed Sasuke staring to empty space while Naruto was sprawling under the thin blanket beside him. He noticed the somewhat fearful and guarded look Sasuke sent him and bluntly break the tension, "So…Indra? Want some food? Naruto shared some of that recipe he remembered you liked and told me to make some for you. I'm not sure if it'll taste like he made it so…" He offered the plate, "Here…"

Indra stared at him. Kakashi stared back. The boy slowly reached out to plate of tomato onigiri and took a bite. He chewed for a while before swallowing. Tears welled and fell down his cheeks. He choked, "Ashura…"

A groan on the side took his attention and Indra sniffled as he scooted closer. He had done his brother wrong so many times…he recalled a great battle, the latest of many and yet the clearest…he stared at the sapling attached to the blonde's hair. He sobbed, "Hashi…rama…"

When Kakashi finally reported in, Hiruzen was shocked to hear it even under layers upon layers of privacy seals that Naruto had devised for his use. He sighed, "So…Indra's awake huh?"

Kakashi nodded, "And it seemed he carries some recollection as Madara,"

The Sandaime frowned, "How to go about this? The Council won't let Uchiha Sasuke stay with you,"

Kakashi shrugged, "Personally, Indra won't care. He's too focused on Naruto,"

Hiruzen frowned with worry, recalling some of the stories that the sometimes lucid Ashura within Naruto would tell, "Focused how?"

Kakashi shifted his weight, "He's…full of regrets. Naruto said that he's afraid of the madness for power that once consumed him. I also noticed that he's particularly jumpy with shadows but not the childish fear type. No, he looked ready to attack anything that comes out of the shadow,"

Hiruzen contemplated, "Paranoia,"

Kakashi nodded, "It's not Sasuke but Indra that's paranoid. He hovered over Naruto like they'll be attacked. Haven't left the boy's side at all, like he thought he would lose him and with Naruto his sanity,"

Hiruzen grumbled, "Things just kept getting more and more complicated," He sighed, "So…nothing?"

Kakashi nodded, "Do nothing. Indra won't stand being manipulated after experiencing one that last a whole lifetime and beyond,"

Hiruzen nodded before smirking, "Oh…the blasted Council won't know what hit them,"

Kakashi hesitated only for a second, "Can I stay?"

Hiruzen shrugged, "Do as you wish,"

True enough the Council demanded that Naruto be separated from the suddenly clingy Uchiha heir. But when Sasuke was brought forth to discuss his situation, they all shuddered from the pure hate the child levelled on them. With practiced dignity of a Clan Head, he told them to "leave my Otouto and I alone, you power hungry buzzards" and left with a sneer of utter disgust, disregarding both their seniority and authority over him.

Hiruzen sometimes wished there's a way to preserve memories so he could watch it over and over again. Maybe he could commission Naruto for such a seal? It was gold!

With how much Sasuke had showed his distaste of the Council and his favour of Naruto, their greedy hands were chopped off before it could latch onto him. Hiruzen shudder with the horror that would have visited Naruto had they known his true legacy. The Uchiha's an ancient and respected founding clan but Naruto's the heir of the late Yondaime.

One could see the kind of political sway one could have should they managed to get Naruto under their control. Even with her self-exile from Konoha and all but a disgrace as a Kunoichi with endless indulgence in alcohol and gambling, being the granddaughter of the Shodaime and grandniece of the Nidaime still give Senju Tsunade a powerful sway within Fire Country.

Hiruzen's glad that he kept Naruto's heritage hidden from the Village, even if some people suspected things.

Like Danzo…and Danzo…

Dammit, just how many big brain games that man kept dragging him into to try and trick him to give Naruto up to be trained as a mindless weapon without a will of his own? Now he tried to sway Hiruzen into doing the same with Sasuke.

Unfortunately for the oddly absent Danzo, even if Hiruzen die the cripple will never succeed.

Sasuke may seek power but now his focus was solely on Naruto's wellbeing. A lifetime of regrets and wrongs for him to redeem for himself, as Naruto or Ashura still loves him and forgives him despite the echoes of trauma, Sasuke and Indra was the only ones who has yet to forgive themselves. From what Kakashi had gleaned, Indra's afraid of falling back to insanity.

If Danzo or anyone else for that matter attempts to separate them, then even if Ashura will attempt a peaceful negotiation, Indra will raze the world into ashes for his Otouto.

Chapter 8

Chapter Summary

Kakashi blinked, "Oh? So they didn't invite you for lunch?"

Iruka shook his head, "No. They just creepily smile at me and told me to join them like some kind of cult invitation,"

Kakashi nodded, "Knowing them, it is a cult invitation,"

It was the usual with Naruto; he was doing his own things and a ghost showed up. Except this was no ordinary ghost. His eyes widened in awe and respect, "Hamura-jii-sama,"

Otsutsuki Hamura looked at his nephew's descendant and was surprised to see Ashura, reborn and aware, standing in front of him with eyes blue instead of black and hair gold like the sun instead of the brown of earth. The child bowed, "Hamura-jii-sama, welcome back,"

Hamura was amused when he saw a strange spirit coming closer to the boy. He raised a brow at their similarity. The man bowed, "I am Namikaze Minato, Naruto's father,"

Hamura looked back at the blond, "Naruto…you go by that name now, Ashura?"

Ashura, now Naruto, grinned, "Yeah!" His smile sobered, "How can I help you, Hamura-jii-sama?"

Before Hamura could say anything further, he froze. A familiar chill came closer and he turned to see Indra, as dark and sombre as he recalled, "Indra,"

The wayward son of his brother bowed, "Hamura-jii-sama. Welcome home,"

Hamura studied the boy, "Your madness has disappeared…for now," He looked around and sighed, "I would like to know more but my chakra aren't as strong as Ani-ue. I need your help," He gestured and a sleeping child appeared in the moonlight, "This is Otsutsuki Toneri. He is the only one left from my clan on the Moon," He looked at them, "I sensed a great upheaval in the future. Besides, no child should be as alone as he is at the Moon," He grimaced, "He has started to have dangerous thoughts. He needed guidance, not mindless agreements,"

Before the brothers could say more, Hamura started to dissipate, "That is all I can say. Good bye…and good luck. Treat him well,"

Indra blinked, staring at the child their age on the ground before coming close to pick him up. Naruto stared at where his former Uncle once floated. He looked at a bewildered Minato, "Well…can we adopt him into Konoha?"

Minato sighed, "Let me talk to Hiruzen,"

When Hiruzen was successfully fetched by a confused Kakashi, he was shocked by the sudden appearance of the strange pale child in the Hatake house. He looked at Kakashi who just shrugged, "I came home and saw him and they told me to get you to explain anything," He then narrowed his eyes at them in mocking suspicion, "You didn't kidnap him, did you?"

Indra shrugged with his usual passive expression while Naruto shrugged, "Hamura-jii-sama came and told us to take care of him. Apparently he's the only one left on the Moon. I think its right to worry. Anyone can go crazy with just yes-man,"

Hiruzen sighed, "So he's family?"

Naruto and Indra nodded before Naruto dropped a bomb, "He's also related to the Hyuuga, considering he's of Hamura-jii-sama's line,"

Hiruzen sighed, "Please don't tell me. Does he have the Byakugan?"

A quiet voice answered, "I don't have the Byakugan,"

They turned to see empty eye sockets looking in their general direction. Naruto screamed in shock and Hashirama-ki reacted like he would have screamed had he a voice. Indra looked horrified and Kakashi was gaping in utter horror. Minato frowned silently. Naruto scrambled to Toneri's side, "What happened?! How? Why?! HUH?!!"

Indra quickly grabbed his brother's shoulder, "Naruto, calm down!"

Naruto screeched, "How can I calm down?! He's…that's…!" He flailed voicelessly, unable to say the word everyone was thinking. In the end he squeaked at Toneri, "What happened?"

Toneri was confused, "It is a tradition to give up our eyes to the Energy Vessel to be sealed away,"

Naruto looked ready to cry, "And I'm still not strong enough to recreate it with Yang Chakra, 'ttebayo,"

Indra sighed, "Then get stronger,"

Toneri tilted his head around, "Where am I? Ojii-sama said that he will take me to family," There was the sound of longing in his voice, "Are you…my family?"

Naruto scowled and turn to Hiruzen, "Can't we just change our name to Otsutsuki?"

Indra frowned, "We are reborn in a human body. It won't be wise. If the others in Obaa-sama's clan heard that we are using this name, we might attract destructive attention,"

Naruto grumbled, "Our family sucks, dattebayo," He looked at Toneri, "I guess I'll just adopt you into the Uzumaki Clan. I don't look like an Uzumaki and everyone knows that there are Uzumaki survivor scattered all over. It won't be so strange and you can stay with me,"

Hiruzen sighed, "Sounded like you have decided without me,"

Naruto rubbed his neck sheepishly, "Sorry, Jiji,"

Hiruzen groaned, "More paperwork for me," He bid the boys goodnight, dragging a reluctant Kakashi with him. He has plans to make the man take the hat and Kakashi can't say no. Kakashi looked at the three boys with pleading eyes before he was bodily dragged to the Hokage's office.

Minato finally speak up, "Well, I guess I don't have to talk to Hiruzen after all. You have all grown well," He sniffed, "Am I of no use anymore? Am I even wanted here anymore?"

Naruto sweated, "No, Tou-san. You're still wanted,"

Toneri turned to Minato's direction, "You feel like Ojii-sama,"

Naruto beamed, "He's my Tou-san and he's a Shinigami, dattebayo!" Naruto then proceeded to share all that he had experienced to Toneri, stopping to ask Toneri about his life and listening carefully before comparing their experiences. He then dragged Indra into the conversation though Indra was reluctant to share anything.

A week later, the girls in their class swooned over Uzumaki Toneri. The fact that he kept his eyes closed, seemingly blind, and yet moved like he can see anyway only increased his value. Unfortunately he hangs around Naruto but it was understandable, they were cousin after all. What they don't get was Uchiha Sasuke, their dark tormented prince, hanging around Naruto. It was confusing for his fan girls.

The three spent a lot of time together. The teachers tried to separate them into different group but Indra already warned Toneri about the village's unjust treatment towards Naruto. So loyal to family and clan, Toneri stuck by Naruto with Indra. They didn't even flinch when the instructors threatened them with detentions and punishments for 'disrupting' class. Indra does whatever Indra wanted and what Indra wanted was to stick by Naruto. Toneri just wanted to stay with his family because ever since he was adopted by Naruto he had felt complete and belonged.

They kept doing whatever they wanted and being orphans of Konoha that does not belong to an orphanage or even officially adopted, they were directly under the Hokage so all complains will go to the Hokage. And since everyone in Konoha knew that Hiruzen favoured Naruto, it was futile. So in the end, they let the three be together and ignored Naruto. Toneri was smart and Indra even more so, so even though Toneri was new to the Academy he was quick to catch up.

One day he sensed someone following them and quietly mentioned this to his 'brothers'. Indra rolled his eyes, "Naruto, your admire is following you again,"

The blond blushed, "Is she hiding behind the light pole?"

Indra looked through a reflected surface, "No, she moved behind the food cart,"

A confused Toneri asked, "Should we run for it?" He had enough of his fan girls. He didn't like anything about them. Since he can't see them, all he could hear was their screech and scathing gossip about Naruto, which he doesn't like. So he's wary of any girls that were labelled as an admirer.

Indra shook his head, "No need. Unlike fan girls, Hinata's a true admirer. She took Naruto's unbending will as a source of motivation and she didn't bother us,"

Toneri compared the two, from what he had experienced so far and what Indra told him, "She sounds lonely,"

Naruto sighed, "Yeah…she's related to you through Hamura-jii-sama's line. Her clan's the Hyuuga and they are troublesome people. I really feel sorry that she's born in that clan, 'ttebayo. She's too…gentle…for a Hyuuga," He added, "The other day, the older kids bullied her but she didn't fight back. Maybe because they'll just say meaner things if she fights back,"

Toneri smiled, "She sounds strong,"

Naruto pondered over this, "I guess she is…" He scowled, "I wanted to be friends but she might get in trouble with her clan, 'ttebayo,"

Indra nodded, "The Hyuuga Clan is very…elitist in conduct. She already stood out in a bad way in their eyes. Who knew how they'll treat her if she gets too close to us,"

Toneri nodded, "I see…"

Nobody said anything about his lack of eyes and the irony of his words…

Toneri enjoyed living in Konoha. He enjoyed it more that he lived with his brothers. Naruto was always a riot, always out to make trouble that dragged the brothers along. Indra just followed and Toneri had fun proving that he didn't need eyes to be better than Shinobi with eyes. When he first appeared, everyone walked on eggshells around him and tried to make him drop out of the Academy's Shinobi Course. He hated that.

Then their instructor change to Umino Iruka.

Iruka was a confusing man. He's very…sincere…as an instructor. He took his job seriously, wanting all his students to succeed and well prepared for their chosen career. But then he acted in a very conflicting manner with Naruto. He looked carefully blank whenever he saw the blond but utterly flustered when Hashirama-ki started dancing or moved in a very strange manner for a plant.

It took Naruto a while, he could sense that the man was a good man, but he finally managed to break through to Iruka. Since then, the class was more welcoming to the brothers and Iruka noticed that they always attended his class as opposed to the other instructors. He realised that Naruto's important to the two boys and so always paired the three together for group project.

One day Iruka was walking through Konoha on a weekend when he came across the three, smiling identical smiles and making his paranoia-o-meter go haywire. Naruto approached him, making him unconsciously step back, "Iruka-sensei, join us,"

Iruka shook his head, "I'm sorry, I'm a firm follower of the Sage and loyal to the Will of Fire. I don't consort with cultist,"

Sasuke, who has been referring himself to Indra, snorted, "Good to know,"

Toneri shook his head and approached the man, making him step back, "Iruka-sensei, be one of us,"

Iruka was shaking in his Shinobi standard sandals. Somehow having the three smile in exactly the same manner felt threatening to the 17 years old Chuunin. He mumbled, "Please don't. I'm too young to die,"

Indra rolled his eyes, "Just come," He grabbed Iruka's right elbow and Toneri dutifully grabbed his right. Naruto looked all over the man before simply grabbing his Chuunin flax, "Come on,"

Iruka was all but crying at this point.

Luckily for him, they were just dragging him to the Hatake house. Iruka blinked at the lunch spread and the amused eye of Hatake Kakashi who chuckled, "You looked like you had been kidnapped,"

Iruka deadpanned, "I had been kidnapped,"

Kakashi blinked, "Oh? So they didn't invite you for lunch?"

Iruka shook his head, "No. They just creepily smile at me and told me to join them like some kind of cult invitation,"

Kakashi nodded, "Knowing them, it is a cult invitation,"

Iruka stood up, "I'm sorry. I have papers to grade," He felt the back of his flak being grabbed and Iruka sat back down. Kakashi laughed, "Don't mind them. The boys liked you,"

Iruka was confused, "Why?"

Kakashi shrugged, "What not to like about an unbiased teacher? You didn't treat Indra like a prince. You're fair with Toneri and treated him as an able student. But most importantly you treated Naruto as a person," He eyed the man, "That was what sealed the deal for them," He then laughed, "So, be ready to get dragged into their shenanigans from this day onward,"

Iruka didn't know but it was the Yondaime Hokage who had thanked him through Kakashi. And true to the Shinigami words, Iruka was always the one the other teachers turned to when dealing with the three. He chased them through Konoha on a daily basis, using his own experience as a prankster to catch Naruto and his brothers. Because he realized that they were brothers. And when he referred to them as such, the similar creepy happy smiles appeared and he sighed, consenting that he'll be kidnapped for another lunch at the Hatake house.

At least, Naruto apologized with really good veggies for the scare…

Chapter 9

Chapter Summary

Iruka came in and found himself blinking at the sight. He's fond of the three, yes, but their singularity will always be creepy to him. Especially like now, when the three smiled that similar creepy smile right at him. Iruka sighed; he'll miss these brats.

Naruto straightened up suddenly. Hashirama-ki was furious. Something must be happening in the forest. He watched as the forest spirit disappeared into the shrubberies. Toneri listened to the wind, "There's danger in the wind,"

Indra frowned, "Just let Hashirama-ki do what needs to be done," He then smirked, "We on the other hand should celebrate our graduation!" He raised his cherry flavoured sparkle drink, " Kanpai!"

Toneri raised his blueberry flavoured sparkle drink, " Kanpai!"

Naruto rolled his eyes and raised his orange flavoured sparkle drink, " Kanpai!"

They downed their drink in one go, gasping in pleasure at the end. Kakashi shook his head in amusement and Minato just laughed at the sight. The only one whose actually their age at the table was Toneri while clearly Indra and Ashura had drank in their past life and was just emulating the feeling. He looked at Kakashi, "So?"

Kakashi nodded, "Sandaime-sama agreed to make an exception to their case. Toneri worked best with them and it won't do to have secrets in a team. Trust is everything for a cohesive teamwork,"

Minato chuckled, "This is probably the first Team 7 to break tradition of match up,"

Kakashi rolled his eyes, "Sure it worked in making a strong team but at the same time all Team 7 ended up breaking apart. Just look at us and look at the Sannin," He sighed, "It was mess,"

Naruto suddenly groaned where he was sitting, "Dumb Mizuki. He stole the Forbidden Scroll, dattebayo. Right now Hashirama-ki had him unconscious," He looked at Kakashi, "Go get him, Puppy!"

Kakashi grumbled, "It's Dog, not Puppy!" He stood up either way and rushed out, trusting the forest to guide him. A few hours later he returned just as the sun broke over the horizon. He saw an amused Minato and shook his head. Ever since Naruto figured how to make a shikigami, he had been using it to let Minato be seen. Minato had been liberally using it around the Hatake house.

A few hours later, the three brothers woke up and prepared to go to the Academy for one last time. Indra and Naruto wore a recreation of what they had once worn, while Toneri wore something that he once worn back on the Moon which was similar to Naruto and Indra's but with an extra shroud tied over his right shoulder almost like a monk. Naruto however also stitched his Uzumaki symbol on his left shoulder and Indra followed, stitching his clan's red and white uchiwa fan on the same side. Toneri also stitched a golden sickle moon cradling a circle of similar colour, outlined with black stitching on the exact same spot.

Of course Kakashi had to be the one to order the whole thing. He just glared at the seamstress and told them to just do their job and ask nothing because he didn't know how to explain it either.

When they appeared, the whole class was confused. Naruto had always worn bright orange, bordering on neon so to see him in something else was jarring. When Indra showed up, everyone had taken to call him by his preferred name rather than his given at this point, he received just as much shock since the Uchiha had been famous for wearing dark colours like black or blue black or navy. They weren't as shocked with Toneri since they had never seen the boy in any other colour.

Iruka came in and found himself blinking at the sight. He's fond of the three, yes, but their singularity will always be creepy to him. Especially like now, when the three smiled that similar creepy smile right at him. Iruka sighed; he'll miss these brats.

He gave his usual graduation speech, congratulating them and some last minutes advice about being a Shinobi before finally moving on to what they all had been waiting for. He read out the names, listing them to the class as written and blinked at the sudden break in tradition, "…Team 7 will be Uzumaki Naruto, Uzumaki Toneri and Uchiha Sasuke, I mean Indra," He cleared his throat. It took a while but Indra had finally made it sink that he preferred Indra over Sasuke. He continued, "Your Jounin Sensei will be Hatake Kakashi,"

Hashirama-ki, who had suddenly appeared, started dancing and clapping its leaves happily. Iruka ignored the sight; it was amazing how easily human adapt into ignoring the bizarre. By the time he finished, some kids were complaining and others were cheering. The Otsutsuki brothers shared a grin with each other. They had expected this so they weren't as worried but they do worry that some idiot will convince the Hokage to follow a dumb tradition.

Preserving tradition was good and all but if it needed some sprucing then it needed some sprucing. Haruno Sakura moaned about not being with Indra and Naruto snickered at the way his brother rolled his eyes in exasperation, relief apparent on his expression. Toneri just laughed, sensing Indra's perturbed chakra. He ignored his own fans complaining, some even 'insulted' him by fretting over his lack of sight. Honestly, by this point they should have learned that he's not helpless.

The boys were a bit peeved that Naruto has a single admirer that never insulted him or bothered him, just silently supporting him from the shadow. For any other person it would have been creepy but for a career oriented guys like them, it was endearing. When Hinata leave with her Jounin Sensei and her teammates, Naruto sighed, "I hope she'll be fine, 'ttebayo,"

Toneri patted his shoulder, "You said it yourself, didn't you, that she's strong in her silent way?"

The trio waited…and waited…and Naruto decided to crack out his cards. Although the others never won, they learned quick that being a sore loser in games like poker with Naruto will just hurt them in the long run. So unlike tradition dictated, they never gamble. Naruto always win in games and his brothers blamed Kurama's foxy luck.

Kakashi finally showed up near sunset and he blinked at the sight of all the games surrounding the trio who had decided to meditate instead. He scratched his head. He could hear Minato-sensei's disapproval of his tardiness but he really needed that nap!

Kakashi didn't bother with the traditional bell test; they trained with every possible scenario anyway. Not to mention, Indra and Toneri would rather die than betray Naruto. He didn't know how or when but Kakashi knew that the moment Naruto declared him family was the moment he gained Toneri's eternal loyalty. So Toneri would rather sacrifice himself than betray Naruto.

Kakashi won't even go over that scenario with Indra. The boy had enough experience being a traitor and using such a scenario will just be insulting to him. Kakashi liked his sanity, thank you very much. Being the progenitor of the Uchiha meant that he knew well how to use his eyes. Sometimes Kakashi was the one being tutored on how to use his eye. In fact, nowadays Kakashi no longer tilt his hitai-ate. With Indra's help he finally learned how to deactivate Obito's gift.

They went straight for missions the next day. Hiruzen just smiled at the uniform look of the team, which Kakashi had decided to just call them Team Otsutsuki as it was obvious that they had all but taken up the name. Kakashi even wore a necklace with six black magatama stringed together to represent his affiliation to the team. Hiruzen was amused because it looked like Kakashi had been adopted into the Otsutsuki family.

Kakashi accepted their 'chores' and took them out. Naruto said nothing, as Ashura he had always helped so he relied on that experience to help Konoha even if the people don't like him much. At least they no longer chase him.

Toneri surprised many of their clients with how adept he was despite his closed eyes. Indra ignored the drooling girls that watched him from afar. They learned not to get in his way when he's busy after that one time where the girls had almost bowled him over with their bickering during a class project and he had simply threw them over his shoulder and left them winded on the ground. Naruto had frowned but said nothing.

With Indra's temper, she should be happy that she's still alive or that her arms still attached to her. Needless to say news spread and they figured that he doesn't like being bothered when working. If that was his taste, they will faithfully comply. Somehow it helped him when he's busy and needed to focus.

As the week passed, Naruto started to become restless. Even Indra and Toneri had grown bored with their 'chores'. They had just finished chasing Tora, who loved Naruto for some reason. In fact, many animals will just saunter up to Naruto and beg him for a pet. Once, while passing through the Nara and Inuzuka, a stampede of them will try to smother him. Toneri was probably the only one to enjoy such an experience.

As Tora purred in his arm, he looked pleadingly at Madam Shijimi, "Shijimi-sama, Tora kept running because your hugs are too tight. Cats are very sensitive, overstimulation is not good. I noticed that he's also obese from overeating. He must be stressed…." He started going on and on about how to raise a cat the correct way and the right way to show love without traumatizing the poor thing. The Daimyo wife stared as she listened intently.

Once the impromptu lesson ended, the woman added bonus pay for the team as when she gently hold instead of squeezing Tora, the cat didn't struggle. Naruto beamed, "See?! Tora loves you too, dattebayo! You just need to be gentler…"

After she left, his beaming face switched to begging like a flip of a page and Hiruzen bit back his laughter at the sight. Naruto whined, "Jiji! Give us a C-rank or something! Even Ani-ue is getting restless, 'ttebayo!"

Indra didn't mind being used by Naruto. But it wasn't a lie, he was getting restless.

Iruka, who was minding the mission desk as his mission that day, frowned, "Naruto! D-ranks are given to Genin for a reason-!" He quickly fell into a long lecture about the importance of D-ranks and missions ranking. Hiruzen just wanted to laugh at the whole thing but used his training to hold back. Instead he asked Kakashi, "Have you met the quota for mission raise?"

Kakashi shrugged, nose in book as he nodded, "We did more than the minimum requirement,"

Hiruzen nodded, dug into the scrolls for C-rank and smiled at one. He had been suspicious of this one but here's a team that can do what needed to be done. He handed the scroll to Kakashi and almost laughed at the look of dismay on Iruka's face. For someone so reluctant with Naruto, he had grown ridiculously attached to the boy. He was about to give his answer when a Shinobi falcon landed on his desk. Iruka quickly retrieve the message and looked at Hiruzen, "Sandaime-sama, it seemed that Team 8 had met a complication on their mission,"

Hiruzen accepted the message and frowned, "It seemed that Jounin Kurenai had bitten more than she can chew," He looked at them, "Since your team wished for an advanced assignment, I supposed you could help out Team 8. They are already on their first C-rank anyway," Naruto didn't care that Team 8 had gotten a C-rank approved mission before theirs because all he was thinking was what had gotten the track oriented team stuck. Hiruzen noticed the stern look sent his way and explained, "Team 8 had been given a mission escorting bridge builder Tazuna back to Wave Country and additional fees will be given if they protect him until the bridge's completion,"

Kakashi frowned, book hidden in his pouch as he asked, "So what had gone wrong?"

Hiruzen answered, "He was targeted by the shipping magnate Gato who didn't want his strangle hold on Wave diminished by the bridge. After all, with limited travel the island is all but isolated from outside help. Since Team 8 had decided to accept the mission and see to the completion even with wrong ranking, they decided to ask for aid from Konoha,"

Kakashi nodded, "So, what's the danger that made them ask for aid?"

Hiruzen looked grim, "Gato had sent the nuke-nin brothers Gozu and Meizu,"

Iruka jumped to his feet, "They're Chuunin level threat! The team should have dropped the mission as protocol dictated!"

Hiruzen sighed, "Tazuna's desperate and Team 8 has bleeding hearts for Shinobi. I supposed I should have stick them to closer C-ranks,"

Kakashi looked at his team and noted the steel gaze reflecting his own back to him. Ninshu, the brothers hold onto this belief. They still see themselves as guiders and providers, not simple Shinobi. Toneri too had taken up the same belief. Kakashi nodded to himself, he knew that a decision has been made. His team was not one who would only give help to Konoha. This is the true Will of Fire. And as he's all but part of their system, he knew that it has become his duty to help them. He looked at Hiruzen and their eyes exchanged understanding.

He accepted the mission scroll much to Iruka's horror. The Chuunin looked at the Hokage but noticed from his leader's expression that a decision had been firmly made. As a soldier, he has the duty to follow despite his own thoughts on the matter. So the only rule breaking he did was gathering his former students together and held them tight, "Come back safe,"

The brothers shared a smile. They knew that Iruka was simply aware that strength and power alone would not be enough to face the world. He knew that they can take care of themselves but he didn't know to what extent. So he react in the only way he knew how when it came to the limit of his knowledge; concern. The three returned his squeeze with their own. As usual Naruto speak for all of them, "Don't worry, Iruka-sensei. We'll bring ourselves and Team 8 back safe and sound, dattebayo!"

Chapter 10

Chapter Summary

She knew who her 'sun' was. She just…need the right 'soil'…

Team 7, informally known as Team Otsutsuki by its member, practically flew through the trees. Minato, not wanting to be left out, nestled beside Kurama within Naruto. The squad knew that the only one that they really need to watch out for would be Toneri. Not that the boy's weak but rather because this will be his first mission outside Konoha facing a possible hostile. Anything can happen and they refused to let their cousin fall.

Kakashi mumbled, "C-ranks are cursed rank,"

Naruto hummed, Hashirama-ki clinging for dear 'life' on his blond locks while Naruto's Mokuton ability unconsciously making the trees move out of their way, allowing them to all but fly in a straight line. Indra's eyes flashed crimson Sharingan as he took note one area that they passed by, "We already passed the area where they were ambushed. ANBU already cleared the space of the Nuke-nin brothers,"

Toneri asked, "Do you think they already take the boat?"

Kakashi hummed, "Possible,"

Naruto chuckled, "We'll just chase after them, dattebayo! Toneri, try not to fall!"

Toneri called back, "Alright, Nii-sama!"

They flew over the coast, taking the sighing boatman by surprise as they passed him by running over choppy water. Toneri grinned; glad that he's not falling under. His brothers have an easier time learning chakra manipulation and chakra control, blessed with experience and understanding of the concept itself from their past lives. This also meant that Kakashi focused on the Toneri the most, allowing Indra and Naruto to practice on their own. But when Kakashi went AWOL for whatever reason, either Indra or Naruto will help him.

They blitzed straight for Wave Country, looking like white phantoms cutting through the oceans. They didn't stop upon reaching shores but the moment Naruto's feet touched the soil of Wave, he frowned. He picked up his speed and his team followed. Indra looked at Toneri, "Whatever we came across, make sure you defend those that cannot defend themselves,"

Kakashi looked worriedly at Naruto's figure as he crashed into a foggy clearing, "That's chakra generated,"

Indra nodded, using Ninshu to blow the unnatural fogs off the ground and they saw that Jounin Kurenai had been badly injured, bleeding profusely on the ground while Kiba and Shino had crumpled on far ends with only Hinata left guarding who can only be Tazuna. Naruto was just in time to punch the giant cleaver of a sword from cleaving her and the client in two.

Kakashi went straight for Kurenai, "Kurenai!"

Kurenai looked up at him weakly, limbs shaking as she tried to keep her organs from falling out of her cut stomach. She asked, "Hi-Hinata…m-my…b-boys?"

Kakashi shushed her, "We are here, we'll help,"

She gurgled, "Z-Za-Zabu-za…"

Kakashi looked at his team, noticing that crying Hinata stood her ground in front of Tazuna who had soiled himself. Toneri and Indra had gathered around her while Naruto glared at the Nuke-nin from Kiri. Knowing that Kurenai needed help or else, he called out, "Naruto! I need medic here, stat!"

Naruto looked at him, trusting his brothers to keep him safe from the frowning Kiri swordsman and in a blink, Kawarimi exchanged with Kakashi who immediately went on the offence. Indra turned to Toneri, "I will look at the others. Keep the ones behind you safe,"

Understanding his orders, Toneri nodded; his usually serene face uncharacteristically stern and grim. He noticed that Jounin Kurenai's chakra had fluctuated dangerously while his distant cousin was traumatised behind him. Naruto had told him about Hinata being much more closely related to him than either Indra or Naruto, so he felt compelled to protect her above the others. Sure he never had the chance to get close to her because she didn't know who he was to her and her clan. Also, he's adopted as an Uzumaki which made getting close to her would land her in deep trouble with her clan. He didn't want that so he only keep track of her from a distant, which was easy because she made it a habit to watch Naruto. Her chakra was happiest when she watched his brother and it was the only reason the Otsutsuki brothers didn't confront her for her stalking habit.

He whispered, "It'll be fine, Hinata. Naruto-nii and Indra-nii and even Kashi-sensei will keep us all safe," He didn't say anything to the old man because he was a little mad that the man would drag his gentle cousin into such a dangerous situation. He sensed Hinata's disturbed chakra slowly settling the moment he pointed out Naruto being near. He hid his grin, deciding that she'll be a good match for his brother.

On Indra's side, he gingerly turn Shino to his back from where he had crumpled to his side after what seemed to be a vicious kick had crashed him against a tree. The boy's Kikaichu was frantic, buzzing outside him in hope that with less chakra consumption he will survive. Indra gently sent some Iryochakra to pulse through the boy's body. His Kikaichu allowed him to pass his chakra through, recognising him as ally to their Aburame host. Indra sighed in relief, "He's knocked out. Some bruised ribs and one cracked rib, nothing Naruto can't heal,"

He manipulated the earth and guided the unconscious boy to Toneri and his team Hinata. He then rushed to Kiba's side. He frowned at the slashed back. He wasn't worried because Naruto can heal him but the wound will mean Indra have to carry the boy on his back. He noticed the shuffling and growling under Kiba and realized that the boy had defended his Ninken, thus the wound.

Indra could respect that.

On Naruto's end, he focused on Kurenai's wound. He ignored the battle behind him, trusting his team and nature to protect him. He gently pushed her spilled gut back in, healing whatever injury that it may have suffered and controlled his chakra to be precise as he coaxed her chakra to regenerate her cells. Kurenai gasped, in pain for only a moment but soon Naruto's soothing chakra eased her pain into numbness. She looked bleary eyed at the blond Jinchuuriki.

Naruto noticed her look and sent her a gentle smile, "Hinata's fine. From how Ani-ue didn't call out for me, your other students are not in critical condition. I will get to them too but first I need to focus on you," He knew that Indra will give them first aid to hold them until Naruto can deal with them. He would have formed a clone but he need to fully focus on Kurenai. Splitting his chakra mid-treatment would be a horrendous idea.

Kakashi didn't take long to finish with Zabuza, having grown stronger but the sudden entrance of the masked Oinin stopped him. It was only after the boy just disappeared instead of destroying Zabuza that he realized that he had been duped. Deciding to leave the matter for later, he turned to his team. Naruto was still focused on Kurenai and Indra had given both Kiba and Shino first aid while Toneri had stood guard over the last of Team 8 and their client. Kakashi frowned at the shaking man, "I think you understand why you need to be forward with your mission request. You could have discussed these things with the Hokage instead of lying,"

He looked at Hinata, "Are you alright?"

The girl finally deactivated her Byakugan and tears started to fall. She couldn't speak, too frightened by the recent brush with death. This was nothing like that time with Kumo. She had seen her Sensei being cut open and her team crumple to the ground leaving her exposed and alone to be the final defence for their client. She didn't abandon him no matter how scared she was or how unfair she felt. Kakashi could respect that steel in her.

He looked at Indra who nodded, looking at Toneri who took Shino. Kakashi then turn to Naruto who had just finished with Kurenai who forced herself to remain conscious through the treatment; her fear that she would not wake up when she fall asleep kept her awake. She noticed her team, frowned at Kiba's bleeding back but didn't say anything as Naruto tended to the boy, his Ninken whining at Naruto as if asking the blond to help. Naruto simply patted his tiny white head, smeared a little with blood, and focused on Kiba. Green, almost golden, glow spilled from his hands as he worked his miracle.

She noticed Kakashi looking at her, eyes impassive but she knew that he was wondering about her sanity. She knew that he was wordlessly asking why she didn't turn back when she realized the severity of her situation. She didn't have any answer to give, only excuses. She's too soft for a Jounin Sensei. As their teacher and leader, she had failed her team.

She didn't have the heart to turn down Kiba's request to go forward with the mission or reject Shino's logic that it would be dishonourable of a Shinobi to turn their back on a mission accepted. She just smiled at Hinata who had turned pale with worry but too timid to speak up. She was too eager to prove herself a capable Jounin. It seemed that the only thing right she had done right for this mission was asking for aid.

Kakashi turned away and offered his back. She felt his Shadow Clone help arrange her body so that he can carry her to wherever they will be staying. She noticed her team being carried; Naruto's had his hands free for some reason as he walked beside Hinata while Tazuna walked in the middle of their formation. As she slowly falls unconscious from the sway of Kakashi's silent steps, she could only thank the Sage that they came as swiftly as they did to save her and her team from their foolish bravado.

Naruto's worried about Hinata, the girl's face too pale that it contrasted her usual blushing cheeks. Minato helpfully nudged him, " Talk to her," Minato's fond of the girl through the years watching her. Hiashi had proven to be a distant father and harsh taskmaster. He can see that by simply watching Naruto, she managed to go through her day. His boys knew this so they didn't bothered to stop her otherwise creepy obsession. People cope with things differently; Naruto with his plants, Indra with his tomato experiments, Toneri with music, Kakashi with his Icha-Icha series, Minato with strolling and finally Hinata with watching Naruto.

He asked, "Is there…anything you want to share?" He knew that he can't really do anything more than listen. Dad had advised the same thing and so Naruto offered, "I can't really do much for you but I'll listen, 'ttebayo,"

Hinata slowed but continue to move. No one pushed them, just letting Naruto do what he does best; helping others see the brighter side to life. He would have made a killing if he's allowed to work with the Yamanaka's psychiatry. She sniffled, "I'm useless,"

For the first time since knowing the girl, Naruto did not hear a single stutter. His eyes widened cold with realization that she believed herself so. Hinata continued, "Father's right. I'm useless and unworthy of my clan. I couldn't do anything. K-Kurenai-sensei a-almost d-died be-because I c-can't move f-fast enough. Ki-Kiba-k-kun…g-got hurt a-and I f-froze…I d-didn't remember t-to use m-my Juuken. S-Shi-Shino-k-kun had t-to block f-for me…"

She was staring ahead but her eyes shed tears like miniature waterfall, "I-I'm not b-brave o-or s-s-strong. Why…w-why am I…e-even..?"

Naruto didn't like where her mind was going, he simply moved and pulled her into his arms, silencing her rambling mind. Minato was speechless. He didn't think that Naruto had it in him. Their team and clients moved ahead but Naruto can sense where they were heading so it didn't matter to him. He's more worried about Hinata.

It took him a while but two years back he finally recalled her name and where he had met her. She was that Hyuuga girl he helped rescue when he was three. He left her in a giant rose he created. He had considered her his first friend. He can't believe he forgot about her for so long but then perhaps it was a good thing because he had once heard her and her cousin Neji interact once. The cold of his words and mocking deference to her was scarring, Indra didn't like Neji because he invoked in both of them ancient memories that they'd rather forget. That they saw Hinata going through something even worse was…horrible for them but there's little they can do for her other that misdirection.

Worse because all the cruel things Neji said came from his own heart, made of his own choice and his own belief; worse because there was nothing that should have excused such a thing; worse because Hinata so clearly needed someone from her own family to help her; worse because…Hinata was struggling but none of her family would extend a helping hand, only cruel dismissal. But the only thing the brothers could do was create trouble so that the teachers would end up coming across them before Neji could do more than just scathing remarks.

Hinata froze and Naruto sighed, "Hinata…you're not a failure, you're just a kid. You will find your own strength in time for as long as you don't give up and live. Take what happened today not as trauma to be crippled but as motivation to grow," He pulled back and smiled at her wide eyes, "Great trees take time to grow and so does a great Shinobi. You will be great, Hinata! You are just missing some things in your life like how a tree need the sun and the right soil to really grow. You will find them and when you do, you will be awesome, dattebayo!"

Hinata could only stare at Naruto after that. She knew who her 'sun' was. She just…need the right 'soil'…

Naruto was glad as he feels her calm behind him, his hand holding onto her firmly yet gently. He had long wanted to help her but so many things get in the way. Perhaps now that they're both Shinobi, there will be more leeway to interact with her. He was sure his brothers will accept her. She's Otsutsuki too after all!

Chapter 11

Chapter Summary

"With the way you act…then you're right. Because you killed your hero and that's why he's dead,"

Kakashi looked at the gathered Genin, "Zabuza's still alive and if what I know about Kiri Nin still apply, then he won't give up until Tazuna's dead. For this reason I am going to help you lot grow," He looked at Kiba, "You however will take it easier, not as easy as Kurenai but much easier than the rest of these brats," He looked at the remaining five, "Naruto and Indra will be in charge of watching over Tazuna because there's little I can teach them. But the rest of you will be learning more about chakra control and grow them from whatever reserve you have right now,"

He then demonstrated his first lesson, "You two, Shino and Hinata, will learn how to do this until you both master it and drop from exhaustion. Repeat this until I'm satisfied and then we are moving to water walking. Toneri will focus on elemental manipulation," He looked at their palest member, "You already mastered water walking but I need to bulk up on your Ninjutsu repertoire. I will have you master them while on water,"

He looked at Kiba, "You won't be doing much until Naruto give you the green light. Before you argue, if you think Tsume is scary then you haven't meet Bijuu Medic Naruto," He shuddered, "The Kyuubi pales in comparison when facing that monster. He'll tie you to bed and feed you himself if he must but he will do it. If you escape then he will hunt you down with great success and drag you back to bed rest. Then he will further traumatise you by helping you with bathroom needs even when you so obviously don't need it,"

Naruto blushed from Team 8's staring, "I only threatened him with the helping because he decided to go training and complained that he's injured, not crippled, 'ttebayo,"

He and Indra left soon after to guard Tazuna. While passing through the town, Naruto's sunny expression slowly dim like a cloudy day as they took note on the condition of the town. Impoverished, starved and dying; these are the words best describe the place. Wordlessly, he picked up a rotting apple on the ground and sealed it away. Indra knew then what Naruto was planning but it won't be a permanent solution. For Wave to be free and healthy once more, Gato need to die.

The rest of the following days followed the same pattern. Then one day Inari, their client's kid, exploded from watching them working hard. He did tell them that they will all die when they first arrived. He had avoided them the whole time since, only showing up during dinner because everyone ate at the same table and in the same room. Kurenai was flustered and after a talk with Tsunami learned that he had lost faith in hero when Kaiza died. Naruto looked at the distressed ghost standing in the corner.

He scowled, "A hero will only truly die when you deny they ever exist in the first place. A hero will only truly die when you forget why you made them your hero in the beginning. A hero…will only truly die…when you turn your back on the cause they died for," He glared at Inari, "With the way you act…then you're right. Because you killed your hero and that's why he's dead,"

Kurenai gasped, "Naruto!"

Naruto glared at the boy, "Kaiza fought Gato not because he wanted to be a hero because it's the right thing to do. He fought because there are people worth fighting for. It seemed to me you only remember his death but didn't remember the way he lived, what makes him a hero in the first place. Kaiza…" He looked at the bewildered ghost, "…is a really remarkable man who did everything he could to protect what is precious to him with his own two hands,"

Inari gasped, words of his own father figure echoed in his mind. Naruto sighed, "I'm not afraid of death. But I'm more afraid that I'll die regretting that I could have done something but instead chose to do nothing. There is nothing worse for me than that…"

He stood up and excused himself before he said anything more. Inari stood up and ran out soon after. Kakashi sighed and followed the boy. Before Kurenai could say anything more, Indra stopped her, "Naruto is right. The dead is only truly dead when you forget about them. The way Inari acted…in a way he's killing Kaiza in death. If this goes on, sooner or later he will only remember his hate for the man rather than his love for him,"

Kurenai scowled, "That is too harsh!"

Toneri nodded, "I agree but Naruto could have been harsher. He's worried about Inari after all,"

Kiba frowned, "Worried?"

Indra nodded, "He saw himself in Inari. He…also has a hero in his heart but that hero died leaving him alone. But Naruto never gives up hope. He wanted to stand side by side with the shadow of his hero. So when Inari said that hero doesn't exist, it hurt him deeply. To him, a hero will live even in death as long as he remember him. Inari is trying to erase Kaiza from his memory and Naruto couldn't accept that,"

Toneri stretched out, "Inari need to live. Isn't that what his hero wanted him to do? Moping about and accepting the oppression around him is not living, that's just existing. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to patrol," Indra wordlessly followed suit after the paler boy.

After the two brothers disappeared, Hinata stood up, "I-I'm…going to look for N-Naruto-kun,"

Hinata walked through the late night, guided by only her eyes as she saw Naruto sitting lotus style and meditating. She watched in quiet wonder as he made the greeneries around him bloom before letting them wilt only to germinate the seeds the left behind in a rapid pace, making it look as though he surrounded by a pulse of nature that bloom and wilt according to his heartbeat. It was beautiful. Her cheeks flushed as she watched him quietly, admiring his silent strength.

Minato noticed her. He had a talk with Naruto for his outburst. The boy accepted that he had gone too far by claiming that Inari's killing Kaiza in death but he was only telling the truth. He didn't want to be like Inari because in a way Minato died for him and not just Konoha. After a quick hug Naruto had decided to cool down by meditating.

Minato moved towards her, watching her watching his son. He had always been amused by Hinata's antic, drawing similarity between his and her habit of following their person of interest. She was never disruptive, only idolising Naruto politely from afar and taking his boisterous personality as a source of strength. He also knew that she always felt useless whenever Konoha behaved unkindly towards him and she was shackled by her family's status and expectation that she can't help him.

He also knew that she had tried to get closer but Naruto's surrounded by loud environment, him being the loudest, making her voice fade into the background. She just didn't know that he was loudest around her, as if challenging her to match his voice. He wanted her to come forward, be braver and break out of her timid shell. But like her, he's much too aware of their status differences. He cared too much to just ignore her family and get close. The last thing Naruto wanted to do was hurt her and cause her further trouble.

So the two had awkwardly danced around each other from a distance…

It was adorable…

Minato did his best to not chuckle, even though he can tell that Naruto knew that she's there. His son simply continue as he were. He had long practiced staying cool whenever Hinata found him and stayed awhile to watch. He supposed that this was the only way he could help her without getting her into trouble with her strict family. When Hinata finally dozed off, Naruto came out of his meditative state and looked at her with a soft look. He stood up and carried her back before returning to the clearing to practice some more as the day that Kakashi predicted almost arrive.

He dozed off near dawn, finally winded down enough to rest. Naruto was never afraid sleeping in the forest. To him, the forest is cradle. It was the people that frighten him the most when he was younger. After Indra came into his life and later on Toneri, Naruto's bluff of confidence grow to be true and his smile grew brighter. Sure, he used to be afraid of the ghosts too but Minato's always there to keep them away from him. Then when he learned how to manipulate his Reishi, something that's hard for him as he's still alive and more trained in Chakra, he learned to defend himself and send a signalling pulse to alert Minato.

He opened his eyes to see a strange boy who looked and even dressed like a girl kneeling right in front of him. Naruto calmed himself down, studied their energy before smiling, "Can I help you?"

The boy's name Haku, coming to the glade to forage some herbs. They had a strange conversation after Haku confirmed that Naruto's a ninja. He asked, "Why do you want to be strong?"

Naruto stared at his possible opponent, "Well…everyone has their own reason to be strong but for me…I want to correct the path that Ninshu had taken. This power we are born with, it is given so that people can connect with each other in a level so deep that it would be impossible to misunderstand them. But instead this world is full of greed and hate,"

He picked up a wilted herb, "Like the Bijuu…they are meant to protect, to oversee the balance of the world but the people made them into demons and monsters. Don't they get it? Monsters like the Bijuu are made, not born. Just like Ninjutsu. It can be used to heal, to protect and to help those in need. But instead we are taught to use them to hurt and to kill. Such a waste of potential," He let out a sliver of chakra, making Haku flinch only for the boy's eyes to widen as the dying herb started to rejuvenate and bloom.

Haku blinked as he stared at Naruto whose eyes looked distant and sad, "To me…a person is only truly strong when they have something to protect,"

Naruto smiled, "Yeah…especially when they want to protect everyone,"

Haku stared, confused, "Everyone?"

Naruto looked at him, "Can you tell Zabuza to play along but not go for the kill? Men like Gato…he will definitely do away with you because he's not one to pay. The dead he betrayed…the living he oppressed…all of them wanted a piece of him,"

Haku leapt away, eyes wide and between his fingers were senbon needles ready to be launched, "How did you-?!"

Naruto looked at Haku, "Your chakra isn't at the level of an untrained civilian; it is strong and familiar to me, possibly the Oinin that took Zabuza away. You dressed like a girl to throw people off but the chakra between male and female has different feels to them so you didn't fool me," He raised his hand in a placating manner as Haku looked ready to attack, "I'm not going to attack you. Like I said, I wanted to end this cycle of hatred that the world is trapped in so attacking you just because Zabuza attacked my fellow Shinobi is not the answer to that,"

Haku glared at him, "Forgive me if I say I don't trust you,"

Naruto shrugged, "Then don't. Personally to me the only person that needs to die here is Gato,"

Haku shuffled further away from Naruto, "Why just him?"

Naruto's face was cold, "Because he's a cancer to Wave. I have seen the people and I know who is truly at fault here. A soldier must never carry the sin of their commander or order will truly break down," He smiled at Haku, "You and Zabuza are just following orders. Hating you for that will be hypocritical of me,"

His amiable aura then turned cold, "But if you insisted on aiding Gato to the end then I'm afraid I will have to cut you down too. Just like you said, you are strong when you have someone to protect. But I have to be stronger because I have a whole nation to defend,"

He smiled wryly, "I hope you understand,"

When Haku rushed back to Zabuza's side, his whole back was covered in cold sweat. His mentor immediately took notice, "What happened? Did that creep Gato do something?"

Haku shook his head and as he placed the basket on the table, he noticed how his hands shook. He put them down, "The Konoha Shinobi…the blond one…I…I came across him while picking up medicines,"

Zabuza frowned, "Did you fight him?" He still remember the way the blond brat hit Kubikiribocho so hard his whole arm vibrated from the blow. Haku shook his head, "No…not exactly," He picked out a single whole herbal plant, complete with roots, "Zabuza-sama…is there a Kekkei Genkai out there that can regrow a whole plant?"

Zabuza hummed, "Mokuton. The Shodaime of Konoha was famous for this and people has been clamouring for his Kekkei Genkai even long after he died. He could turn a whole barren land into a thriving forest with a single seal. Some said the forest surrounding Konohagakure was made by his own chakra alone. The man doesn't need a catalyst like a seed, just pure chakra. Why are you asking me this?"

Haku showed him the single plant, "The blond call himself Uzumaki Naruto and he…he did this…in front of me,"

Zabuza's eyes widened as even he could feel the chakra coming from the single plant. He had been near Konoha once back during the war and the forest there was different, lending credibility to the story about the forest of Konoha being born of the Shodaime's chakra. He studied Haku and scowled and though his face may be fierce his heart was pounding, as he asked, "What did he want? He won't have let you go if he can do that much," There's a reason Shinobi all over feared and held the Mokuton Kekkei Genkai in awe; it used precise chakra control that would made Senju Tsunade's legendary skill look like Genin's as well as monstrous chakra reserve. Combine these two and you have someone that deserved the title of Shinobi no Kami.

Haku frowned before answering, "He told me that Gato will betray us,"

Zabuza sighed, "That's a given but we have a contract,"

Haku shook his head, "He said something about the dead that he betrayed and the living he oppressed. I think he meant that Gato won't honour our contract," He shuddered, "I know that it sounded ridiculous but there was just something in the way he said it. I don't…I don't know how to explain it but…he's not lying or being delusional…"

Zabuza groaned, "Fine! Just tell me in detail what happened!"

Chapter 12

Chapter Summary

"Kashi-sensei, you should know better than to jinx it by saying it out loud. Now we know that this will definitely be a trend where Naruto is involved,"

When Team 7 came back the evening after they left Team 8 to guard Tsunami and Inari, they didn't expect to see Zabuza and his apprentice coming along. Kurenai stiffened before Kakashi placated, "Stand down. Gato broke his contract by attempting to kill them so he doesn't have to pay them. So Zabuza kill him instead and get his money anyway,"

Kurenai frowned, stance more relaxed but still on guard, "So why is he here?"

Kakashi sighed, "Naruto…enough said,"

Kurenai blinked, "That…doesn't explain anything,"

Kakashi sighed, "So Naruto met Haku by chance one morning and after a few exchanges the two became friends. I know!" He raised his hand, "I know that it is impossible but the brat's a walking paragon of impossible. I stop questioning how he does things a long time ago. Got to keep my head on straight somehow, get it?"

Kurenai rubbed her face, "Kakashi…he sliced me open!"

Kakashi shrugged, "We are on the opposing sides. He does his job and we do ours. Basically you tried to kill him on the job and he tried to kill you on the clock as well. Now that we are off the clock, everybody should just chill," He eyed her, "I'm tired of grudges. Don't you?"

Kurenai stared at him before groaning, "Fine! Just keep him away from the Genin!"

Zabuza grumbled, "Hey, I got my own kid to take care too you know,"

Kurenai glared at him, "Your kid aren't the one about to get cut down last we met!"

Zabuza raised his hands, "Alright, touché!"

Akamaru growled at Zabuza where he stood guard in front of a wary Kiba. Granted, he did almost cut the Inuzuka into two so he supposed some bad blood was to be expected between them. His eyes however slid to the oddest team he had ever met. Kakashi has two Uzumaki and an Uchiha on his team, the paler Uzumaki blind to boot but no less powerful. His ability with Ninjutsu was something else as well as his sensory skills. It made his disability unimportant as he stood in front of their target, deflecting their long distance attack like nothing.

But the way the blond Uzumaki and the Uchiha tag teamed between him and Haku was something else. They moved as one unit, the Uzumaki attacking and the Uchiha defending as well as vice versa. Even when he and Haku managed to separate them it barely made a different. Kakashi showed up later and the three stepped away abruptly after the Uchiha did a seal and blew away his mist cover, revealing Gato and his men crossing the almost finished bridge.

He shared a look with Haku and decided to accept the olive branch the blond had offered a few days back. No reason to continue the pointless fight when it was obvious who his enemy was…

Kurenai looked at Haku who looked sad that he'll be separated from his Nuke-nin mentor Zabuza. She was there when Zabuza asked Kakashi to take Haku in, citing that he's now certain that Haku was never one to be an assassin. He has a greater calling for medicine but being with Zabuza stunted his natural talent in the medical field. His reasoning was that Haku was never an official Shinobi affiliated with any village, not even Kiri. What skills he learned he picked up when traveling with Zabuza. He shared with Kakashi about Haku's unfortunate past and Kurenai can't help softening her harsh treatment of the older boy.

It took some cajoling between master and apprentice but Haku finally relented. They bid all of Wave goodbye, the bridge somehow gaining the name Great Naruto Bridge for some reason. Kurenai chuckled at Naruto's red face. It was a unanimous vote among the people of Wave and she could understand why. In the remainder of their stay in Wave while Tazuna finished the bridge, Naruto had spent his day going about Wave and helping the people especially with their crops. She didn't know how but he managed to help their food problem.

Inari had also taken to follow him around, somehow admiring the blond even though the boy said such harsh words to him. What she didn't know was that Naruto had noticed Inari's lethargy after the fiasco with Gato ended and taken the boy aside…

Naruto whispered as he pulled Inari into the deeper part of the forest from where the team trained, "I can help you but you have to keep quiet about this. Promise?"

Inari was confused but when Naruto sat down with Inari in front of him, hands on his shoulders, his eyes widened and the boy sobbed, "I promise I won't tell anyone…"

In front of him sat a teary eyed Kaiza…

After a long talk with his late father figure, Inari finally found closure and he learned a lot about Naruto. He learned that Naruto lost his father because his father was a hero too but he didn't lose heart. Instead, he wanted to stand side by side with his father even if it was only the man's shadow. So he admired Naruto, trying to adsorb as much of the blonde's optimistic outlook as possible. Wave had never met someone so calm yet so chaotic at the same time but Naruto bring back life to the impoverished country, just like the plants that he quietly helped grow when no one's looking.

That's not to say his brothers did nothing. As according to the teaching of Ninshu, they too goes around and helped the people of Wave. Toneri helped with relations between people, frayed from the stress of Gato's oppression. His calm smiling face and cool approach to their petty problems soothed many ruffled feathers and mending bridges strained by Gato's tyranny.

Indra went hunting and bring back so many meat that the country held a small buffet festival to celebrate Gato's end. He didn't really step forward, simply content to provide in silence.

Team 8, not wanting to be outdone, had also taken up some odd jobs here and there. Kiba and Shino helped Tazuna with his bridge and Hinata helped the fishermen with their nets, somehow her fingers deft as she quickly learned how to mend their broken nettings making her a high demand. Her Dojutsu also help making it easier for her to notice the holes in their nets, thus making the mending faster.

Now that they're about to leave, the whole country was hard pressed on letting them go. Their Daimyo even came forward and asked them to hand a scroll to their Hokage, "For our future,"

Kurenai was bewildered as the whole island send them off. Zabuza had long left after helping Tazuna finish his bridge, picking up the bulge of the work as an apology for attacking the man. He already bid Haku goodbye and good luck the night before. Kakashi sighed, "Naruto…this better not be a trend,"

Toneri chuckled, "Kashi-sensei, you should know better than to jinx it by saying it out loud. Now we know that this will definitely be a trend where Naruto is involved,"

Kiba sighed as he stretched his back muscle, "That bridge better last forever! I thought I was going to break my back from all that work!"

Shino nodded, "I will never look down on builders ever again. Why? Because building things are hard work,"

Hinata nodded, "I-I don't l-like seafood s-s-still but…b-being a fisher-m-man is a-also ha-hard work. T-they wake up really e-early,"

Kurenai smiled, "It seemed like everyone learned something on this mission," Me as well, she silently added. She will have to trained Kiba to be less brash, Shino less cold and Hinata to speak up when she disagree. She will also have to be a harsher taskmaster for the sake of her Genin. Something like this mission must never be repeated. She sighed internally as she hoped that this won't impede on their future growth as well as her career considering that she's in charge of three heirs from three different clans.

She noticed that Kakashi's team worked seamlessly and recalled how they helped her own team to grow. She swallowed her pride, "Kakashi…"

The silver haired man shifted his speed so that he will be right beside her and waited for Kurenai to say her piece. After taking a few deep breath, she asked, "Can we hold joined training every evening? Or whenever it's convenient for you and your team, that is,"

Kakashi mulled over the suggestion and nodded. He knew that his team didn't need much help as a team and they studied differently from the rest of their class Genin batch. His biggest concern was their lack of camaraderie with the rest of Konoha. Naruto, despite his open friendliness tended to keep people at a distance. He has always been a strange contradiction like that.

Naruto's childhood trauma of being chased and almost died still hurting his interaction with the village. Indra didn't care for anyone who hurt Naruto and Toneri followed suit because of his secret origin meant getting close can be dangerous for him. That said, none among the brother expressly liked Konoha and should a chance ever be given, they will leave no question asked. Perhaps this was exactly the kind of opening they need.

Minato, who had listened in on Kurenai's request, thought the same thing. A village is somewhere his boys can belong but it won't mean anything if they only expect for the other party to reach out. He certainly didn't want his boys to be refugees from their own home. What happened to Itachi was a tragedy that really shouldn't be repeated. So he was happy that Kakashi accepted her suggestion.

Ahead, Naruto started asking Hinata about her likes and dislikes. Honestly he was bored by the silence and only started the conversation to alleviate some of his boredom. However it was really a good thing he did it because he learned several things about Hinata that coincides with him; she likes gardening and flower pressing. He grinned with a strange giddiness, "Why don't you come over some time? I have a whole garden of flowers all year round, dattebayo!"

She blushed, "O-oh?" She nibbled her lip before asking, "Do…do you ha-have mi-miniature sun-sun flowers?"

Naruto thought back on the numerous plants he grew on his leisure before beaming, "Sure do! What colour do you want?" He ticked his fingers as he started listing, "I have the usual yellow, the one with green centre, purple, chocolate, pink, cream, the giant one, and my personal favourite orange!"

Her eyes widened, "I-I only k-know about the p-pink and c-cream coloured ones!"

He chuckled at her expression, "Then come over and I'll show you my garden. I'm very proud of them. Oh, I have a vegetable plot too!"

Hinata shyly smiled at that, "I-I know…you…you a-always gift I-Iruka-sensei vegetables,"

He scratched his cheek, "Oh yeah…I did, didn't I?" He offered, "If you want fresh vegetables, just ask me! I'll give you some, free of charge 'ttebayo!"

Unknowingly behind them Shino blinked at the flowery atmosphere growing between the two and asked Shino, "Oi Shino…has Naruto and Hinata always been this… pink?"

Shino shook his head, "I think this is a recent development. Why? Because Hinata and Naruto never interact before this,"

Haku smiled at the sight. He like Hinata, she's very kind even though she's rightfully wary of him like the rest of her team because of Zabuza's action but she was never outright cold and dismissive like Kiba and Shino. If anything her team was hard pressed into keeping her away from Haku, which was understandable. Still the girl's warmer to him than the rest of her team.

Indra simply blink at the sight and mentally sigh, wondering if Naruto even realize just what was going on between him and Hinata. Honestly he's too young to be inviting girls over. He should chaperone them just in case those stuck up Hyuuga tried to cause trouble for them. Toneri on the other hand started composing musical piece to play for Hinata. To him Naruto's invitation was equal to a chance for him to get to know his cousin. Already he's taking note of the things they were talking about.

Kurenai finally noticed the exchanged, "Kakashi…Naruto is soliciting my student…"

Kakashi giggled but cleared his throat at her glare, "Don't worry. He's too clueless about those sort of things. On Naruto's part it is absolutely innocent when he invited her over. Not to mention Indra will probably chaperone them and so will Toneri. From the way his fingers move, I'd say he's composing a piece to share with Hinata," He pointed out at the palest member of his team. True enough, he's humming slightly as his fingers move as though playing a stringed instrument, "Toneri plays the koto in his spare time,"

She blinked at the sight, "Oh," She then added, "Hinata's trained to play the koto as part of her lessons too but she haven't played in a very long time,"

Kakashi nodded, "I see…then she definitely have to come over. Naruto likes to garden but Toneri has no talent in that area but likewise Naruto has no musical bone in him and Toneri's a genius at music. She'll make for a fine friend for the both of them,"

Kurenai raised a brow, "And Sasuke?"

Kakashi corrected her as a habit, "Indra. He doesn't like being called Sasuke. As for Indra…he preferred to train his Dojutsu but on the less volatile side, he shared an interest in gardening but only on tomatoes,"

Kurenai was confused, "Tomatoes?"

Kakashi nodded, "Just tomatoes. He experiment with them. Just last year he managed to cultivate two different types of tomatoes. The boy is obsessed with tomatoes," He has no idea why but at least Indra didn't experiment with either his Amaterasu flames or his Susanoo avatar around their home. Kakashi happened to like the Hatake house nowadays. It would be a grand shame should anything destroy it.

Kurenai hummed, wondering how the three boys that seemed so violent and chaotic shared such…peaceful hobbies in their downtime. She supposed having Hinata spend more time around them would benefit her confidence. As it were, Kurenai can hardly hear her stutter the longer she speaks with Naruto.

Chapter 13

Chapter Summary

"Some gardener would be horrified and call this deformed and weak or dwarfed and won't survive. But I think this is beautiful too. Best of all, it'll live longer than an ikebana arrangement, ne?"

Kakashi looked up to see a hawk flying overhead. After returning from Wave, they have been busy with missions. Kakashi decided to take the slower ones, wary of Naruto picking up more strays. If anything, Naruto's happy to work with the farmers. They do clean up bandits along the roads leading to Konoha but in so far there was nothing more like the mission to Wave. Escorting mission was the most exciting missions they took as of late.

Kakashi looked back down to where Naruto was trying to convince a man about Ninshu. He sighed, sure that if it wasn't because the man's a civilian he might have followed Naruto. As it were, Naruto already managed to make Team 8 followers of Ninshu but only because perhaps out of all clans in Konoha, the Inuzuka and the Aburame understood the concept of spiritual connection better than most. It wasn't hard to convince them to try it on people instead of just their respective partners.

Kurenai was baffled when her team started to become even more cohesive than before after that meet up with Naruto and his brothers. When she learned about Ninshu, she was shocked. Konoha has always promoted team play but this took it on a whole other level. She had wondered why Team 7 acted like one brain, many limbs before but if what she was told about Ninshu was true then reading the intention of their teammate was only a matter of simply thinking of it.

Nowadays Kiba and Shino no longer bicker and Hinata didn't really have to speak to let them know her mind. It was a little creepy because such cohesive interaction was usually between veterans Shinobi who had survived a war. When she brought this up to Kakashi, he simply shrugged and said to let it be as it will keep them alive at the end of the day. She didn't have anything to reply with.

Kakashi yawned, "He's starting a cult,"

But at least this cult won't demand human sacrifice like that Jashin Cult he heard about…

Indra huffed, "It's not a cult it is a religion,"

Kakashi shrugged, "All religion started as a cult if you ask me,"

Toneri balanced a beam of silk into the cart, using gravity manipulation to ease the weight, "Alright, that's the last of that,"

As they made their way back to Konoha, Kakashi dropped a bomb, "I'm going to sign you up for Chuunin,"

Toneri was confused, "I thought we have an exam for that?"

Kakashi nodded, "I am signing you guys up for the exam,"

Toneri moved his head around before asking, "Do you think I'm ready?"

Kakashi snorted, "If you're not ready with brothers like them, no one is,"

The pale boy thought about it before smiling, "You're right,"

Hinata came over that evening with Kiba and Shino. Shino had made a promise with Indra to look over the health of his tomatoes, keeping pests off the garden with his own kikaichu. Kiba was just bored and has been trying to make Toneri listen to more modern music, though it seem that he's slowly being converted to classical instead as Toneri can play the koto. Hinata was quick to bond with the boy over the instrument.

Hinata whispered to Toneri, "Toneri-san, can I…?"

Toneri chuckled, "You know that you can be more relaxed with me, right Hinata-chan?"

She blushed but said nothing. Toneri sighed, "Another day then," He took out his koto, "Here, I have a new score that I have been trying to string together into something other than sound," She giggled at the description. Un-composed music does sound like Toneri was just plucking one or two strings randomly.

Naruto came in with stalks of flowers that he had pruned, "Oh, you're helping Toneri with his music, Hinata?" He sat down, "Don't mind me then, I'm just going to arrange this whole mess first,"

Hinata watched as she listened to Toneri while Naruto started to arrange the flowers. He recently learned about ikebana and was quick to want to try even though it was a class for Kunoichi. When he heard that the girls have been studying the art behind the boys, he had pouted, "But it's so relaxing, dattebayo!"

So now instead of just flower pressing, he has been trying to make beautiful ikebana arrangement. Naruto will be the first to admit that he's not that creative with static arrangement. He can move his plants whichever way he wanted and they will still look picturesque. But when he brought them inside, he has no idea how to make the vision in his head true.

Kiba rolled around on the engawa, Akamaru chasing his tail happily, "Damn…I thought you guys train all the time to be so strong,"

Naruto hummed from where he sat, "True and false. Sometimes to be better, you need to step away and relax. Only then you can see what you have been missing," He grinned, "It's like Konoha. Up close every day, the people can be too much. But when you walk up the Hokage's head, you will see why this village is still worth protecting,"

Shino came in with a cage full of new bugs, "Indeed. You can barely see anything when you look too closely at the hive. Why? Because you will get overwhelmed by their sheer number. But step away from them and you will see the beauty of their teamwork,"

Toneri nodded, "Even I get confused if I only work on my music alone. I won't be able to tell if it's really good or it I only think that it's good,"

Kiba scrunched his nose, "So you're telling me that you decided to not practice because you won't be able to see how good you are?"

Indra sat down with a basket of fresh tomatoes, "Don't be too focused on the little and missed the whole picture. At the same time do not forget the little ones when you look over the whole picture. It is a matter of balance,"

Toneri and Naruto chorused, "As all things should be,"

Kiba flinched, "Sheesh you guys! Will you stop creeping me out with that?!"

Hinata giggled. Somehow sitting with the brothers always made them think about the world and their lives. It wasn't as if they were speaking false things. As it were, ever since she spent time with Naruto and his brothers, her nerves slowly settle and things that she would usually miss in a spar was easier to catch on. Yesterday her father Hiashi looked a bit surprised but still he said nothing. But that small reaction showed that she, at least in his eyes, has improved even though she still loses her spar. She smiled as Naruto almost skewered his hand on kenzan and Indra panicking about it.

Politely, she feels a sense of tranquil settle on her shoulders and mind as she pulled at his hesitating hand and guided him, "Asymmetry is a key component of ikebana, so arrange your materials in different heights and angles. I k-know you're used to natural arrangement of the f-forest, but ikebana is all about visual. You can m-manipulate the plants in any which way for as l-long as it can express the vision you have in m-mind,"

It didn't take long for a beautiful arrangement stood tall in the vase, stuck on kenzan like lilies from a pond. Naruto tilted his head and then looked at Hinata, "It's pretty…but sad…"

Kiba was confused, "Sad?"

Shino buzzed in equal confusion. Toneri stopped plucking his koto, the tranquil music falling silent as he tilted his head, "I think he meant that you're like an ikebana, Hinata-chan,"

Hinata blushed, "H-huh?

Indra sat right next to the two, looking at the flower arrangement and then at her. His dark eyes flickering between them and nodded, "You're someone that could have thrived in the wild but the Hyuuga cut you, prune you and bend you in every which way to suit their need and their ideal of what's beautiful. I think that's what Otouto meant anyway,"

A glance to Naruto and the blond nodded, "See this stem here? It's beautiful to onlooker, sure. But it's broken in several places, isn't it?" He then sighed, "It's pretty but…it's also dying…"

Hinata stared at the flower she just helped arranged. Suddenly she sees herself in those flowers. She could thrive but the Hyuuga didn't want a wild flower, but an ikebana that they arranged,

Naruto reached out, "Hey, it's not your fault," He looked at the others, "I'm going to do something but this must stay a secret, alright?"

Toneri frowned, "Are you sure?"

Naruto beamed, "I trust them, dattebayo!"

Indra studied the three before him before sighing, "Fine. I'll trust your judgement Otouto. Father knows I can't trust mine,"

Naruto took the ikebana in one hand and Hinata's pale hand in the other. Squeaking in surprise, she followed him to where it was obviously his room, the futon still unrolled with magazines and manga strewn over it as well as unrolled scrolls, papers and ink set uncaring to the side. But most telling of all was the plants, leaves dancing from unfelt wind as if greeting Team 8.

He sat down on the engawa out of his room. Kiba whistled at the sight of nature spilling from inside to out and beyond, "Wow…I would think this is the jungle but that felt like an insult,"

Shino buzzed, "That would have been an insult no matter which way you twist it,"

The six Genin gathered in Naruto's room, Shino noticing the rolled up cot with the small library in the driest corner of the room that apparently belonged to Indra. A hammock just floating by the open door suggested that it belonged to Toneri. It was obvious that the three sleep in this room but it seemed that the bulk of their things were elsewhere.

Naruto sat down and focused. Team 8 was confused at first before each other them can be sucking in through their teeth in shock and wonder as the ikebana started to grow roots. The wound from being cut slowly healed and earth started to form, the dust clinging to their surrounding pulled and clumping together. The kenzan was pushed off as the plant roots began to assimilate and fuse together. Kiba gawked as the flowering plants around them bloomed and closed in a kaleidoscope of colours, "Whoa…"

Shino listened to his kikaichu buzzing, "Mokuton…life?"

Hinata however was watching Naruto. Her Byakugan active, she caught the beautiful fluctuation of his chakra. After a moment, he grinned and put the now living plant inside a vase out of a piece of driftwood, "Here! A living ikebana, 'ttebayo!"

He handed her plant, "Some gardener would be horrified and call this deformed and weak or dwarfed and won't survive. But I think this is beautiful too. Best of all, it'll live longer than an ikebana arrangement, ne?"

Hinata accepted the potted plant, a mixture of the flowers and leaves that she had arranged before. Sure, it will never grow but at least it will live prouder than the ikebana.

Naruto grinned, "I can keep it alive for you if you want,"

Hinata smiled, her eyes glittering with unshed tears. She's breaking from the hands of her clansmen. Bent and twisted to suit their need and ideal. But Naruto had taken that and told her that she didn't need to change, just grow stronger. A new chance at life already lived. She set that pot aside and threw herself into his arms, bewildering the blond.

Naruto flushed a deep red.

He looked at his brothers and his friends and noticed that Kiba looked disgusted at him, Shino looking away, Toneri hiding a grin and Indra just watching with a knowing look. He blushed a deeper red as Minato was crying with that I'm-proud-Father look, thumbs up and happily grinning.

Naruto decided to just let things flow…

He had gone through this once…

Or was it twice?

First he was helping Kanna and then Mito. He never asked anything from them but they always ended up giving him their all. As he feels her heart beat against his, Naruto steeled his resolve and decided to take responsibility for her heart. He may goof around a lot but he's a responsible man by nature. He lowered his flustered hands and pats her back, letting her silently cry her eyes out on his shoulder.

Hinata has been hurt enough, he won't do that to her. It's just fortunate that he wasn't attracted to anyone at the moment. Besides, life had thrown her his way often enough. The least he could do was help her find her true potential…

On Hinata's part, only one thought circulate her soul; she's home…

Chapter 14

Chapter Summary

"If I have to suffer then so do you!"

Naruto looked at the scroll in his hand, "So…we are doing this?"

Indra looked at the scroll in his hand, "Seemed like it,"

Toneri looked at the scroll in his hand, "I hope I won't hold you back,"

Naruto smiled at him, "Don't worry. You are strong, Toneri, dattebayo,"

Indra nodded, "If someone says otherwise, just pummel them to the ground,"

Minato sighed unseen by others behind them, "No need to be so violent. I'm glad that all three of you have decided to register for the Chuunin Exam,"

Naruto eyed his Father, "Anything you can let slip, O' Hokage-sama?"

Minato grinned back, "I'm not a Hokage anymore but that does not mean I'm telling," He then cackled, "If I have to suffer then so do you!"

Indra sweat dropped at sight, "Why is he only ever sadistic when it comes to exams?"

Toneri added his piece, "I'm more shocked that a genius needs to feel suffering during exams,"

Minato pouted, "I might be called a prodigy but only because no one seen the effort I put to be on that pedestal. Honestly, the term prodigy and genius are thrown around too easily nowadays. Talent does not beat hard work. You can have talent but without effort that too will go to waste. Hard work never betrays,"

Toneri asked, "But what if you failed even when you have done all that work?"

Minato smiled, "Then that is how far your hard work had taken you. It only meant you have met a greater adversary than your current self can handle. Remember, there is always someone greater than you somewhere out there. Never slack off,"

Toneri nodded, "Alright,"

Naruto stopped, "Konohamaru and co. Can I help you guys?"

The decidedly square 'rock' burst open with copious amount of gunpowder. Konohamaru, grandson of Hiruzen, coughed as he hacked, "And that's why…you're…the Boss!"

Moegi choked, "I think…we put…too much…!"

Udon sniffled, "Me too!"

Indra scoffed, "Iruka's coming,"

Konohamaru jumped, "Run, kore!" His friends immediately took off after the Honourable Grandson. The three delinquents disappeared around the corner and Naruto snorted. Toneri chuckled, "He's not even anywhere near here,"

Just as they were about to walk away, they heard Konohamaru's scream. Frowning, they took off in the direction they heard the scream came from and found the three children being cowered by a taller Genin in a coverall complete with a hood that had two protrusions that looked like he's wearing a cat suit. The Genin snarled, "Damn brats! This is why I hate them!"

Moegi and Udon called out in worry, "Konohamaru!"

Suddenly a tanto found its way to the foreigner's throat as well as two kunai. Naruto scowled at the foreign visitor, voice cold as he threatened, "Put him down or have your throat slit,"

The blond girl with the unique hairstyle that has only been rolling her eyes on the side stiffened, "Kankuro!" She didn't even notice them arriving let alone move. Toneri added, "You don't want the wrath of the Hokage on your head for beating up his grandson, now would you?"

Kankuro cursed and froze when a cold voice reached them, "Don't be a disgrace, Kankuro, Temari. Or I'll kill you myself," He paled and his fingers slackened, dropping a pale Konohamaru to the ground. The young Sarutobi stood and Indra nodded his head, "Iruka should be two blocks to the right. Go,"

After the skipping Academy students ran off to find their much more adult instructor for better protection, the Otsutsuki brothers stepped away as a unit. Temari and Kankuro were decidedly disturbed by how smooth and united the movement was. It was like the three worked on a single mind. They have heard about teamwork but this was something else.

A sixth figure joined them with a flurry of sand. Naruto looked at him, "Hey Shukaku,"

The red head, with the kanji for 'love' tattooed on his head over his left brow bone, frowned, "Mother is confused,"

Naruto smirked, "Kurama can't wait for a family reunion. See you at the Chuunin Exam. In the meantime behave or I'll sic Indra-nii-san on you," He then asked, "I go by Naruto these days. You are; host of Shukaku?"

Still confused by the strange emotion coming from his tenant, the red head answered, "Gaara,"

Naruto looked up and they finally noticed the sapling dancing oddly on his head, "I'll borrow you Hashirama-ki for the duration of your stay here. Hopefully you'll get a good night rest, 'ttebayo. The energy of Mokuton will keep Shukaku's rampage on the tamer side. It is not good for your growth to live the way you do," The sapling jumped and landed on Gaara, ignoring the grabbing sands, surprising the Suna visitors.

Gaara was shocked but for once the haze of bloodlust dissipated the moment the strange sapling landed on him. He had never felt more clearheaded. He blinked and suddenly Mother whispered, " Ashura ?"

The three bid the siblings goodbye and turned, revealing the symbol of Ninshu on their back. Shukaku shuddered, " Ninshu … Gaara … made friend with them . They are our salvation . They can proof our existence ," He then added, " Be wary of Indra …"

Back with Naruto, Kurama said, " That was wise of you to send Hashirama to them . The Mokuton energy already started healing Shukaku's scrambled brain . He'll behave ,"

Minato asked, "We should inform Hiruzen about Shukaku being here in Konoha,"

Naruto nodded and the brothers headed for the Hokage's office. They had to wait awhile for the Hokage to be free and so took the time to practice reading each other's mind through Ninshu. It's not a passive thing, that'll be invasive, but something that they practiced. The heart of Ninshu is understanding others and they decided to weaponise this so that they can watch each other's back and cover their weaknesses.

When Hiruzen finally called them in, Naruto signalled that the Yondaime wanted to say something and Hiruzen send his ANBU out. Naruto frowned and looked to the side, sensing one chakra that refused to move. Hiruzen frowned as well, throwing a kunai immediately when Naruto's eyes glanced at the suspicious direction. With quick movement, the seal of privacy used in the era of Shodaime was erected and Indra dragged the dead ninja out of their hidden spot. Their mask revealed much of their master.

Minato used his special seal to manifest and clucked his tongue, "Danzo is acting more and more suspicious. I really don't understand why you insisted on keeping him. He tried to assassinate you and had spread his stupid ROOT everywhere. Surely there are others just as capable as him in keeping Konoha safe from the darkness of the Shinobi system?"

Hiruzen sighed, "That was exactly the problem. He's close to the Daimyo and keeping him close was the only way I could keep an eye on him,"

Toneri tilted his head, "Keeping friends close and enemies closer?"

Hiruzen nodded, "Precisely," He then asked, "Is there anything I can help you lot with? It isn't every day you decided to come here and ask me to send everyone out,"

Naruto stepped forward, "Shukaku's in the village,"

Hiruzen frowned, "Shukaku? Ah yes…Suna's Genin team this time has the Kazekage's three children applying. I believe one of his most desperate moves was turning one of his children in the Jinchuuriki while in the mother's womb,"

Naruto scowled, "Desperate?"

Hiruzen nodded, "Suna has very tight resource. The Yondaime Kazekage's specialty on pulling out gold sands was in fact to keep Suna floating economy wise. One of the first things the Shodaime Kazekage asked of Hashirama-sensei was part of the Fire Country; the area closes to the Wind Country, instead of accepting any of the Bijuu,"

Toneri nodded, "Suna is situated in the desert. It's understandable…but why put such a burden on his son? I mean, from Naruto's reaction, the seal is not a good one,"

Naruto scoffed, "It's a seal used for storage, not a proper seal like mind. There's not mental filter and Shukaku likes sleeping over anything else. He must have been driven mad from the seal itself added with the treatment most Jinchuuriki faced…not a good combo,"

Hiruzen nodded, "Indeed,"

Naruto looked at him, "Jiji…I have a proposition. Let me help Gaara," He raised his hand before the man could argue; "Shukaku is still my brother. I would not let him be abused by that sorry excuse of a seal any longer,"

Minato stepped forward, "Besides, I will be there and if anything happen, Indra will step in,"

Hiruzen sighed, "I would agree but this will step on the toes of the Suna ambassadors as us interfering with their village's structure,"

Toneri piped up, "What if it is Gaara's wish? Would they still think it as us interfering?"

Hiruzen hummed, "That would be up to him, now would it?"

Naruto smiled, "Hashirama-ki is with him. With Mokuton, Gaara would be able to truly rest and so do Shukaku. I am sure they won't want to lost that sensation,"

Hiruzen sighed, "Very well, I shall let you handle it. Had it not been because I know your ability with Fuuinjutsu and Minato being near you, I won't have agreed,"

That evening, Naruto reached out with Kurama to call Shukaku over to their home. It didn't take long for the Sand Siblings to arrive. Temari eyed the three brothers suspiciously, "Why Gaara wants to see you?"

Naruto introduced himself, "Because I am the host of the Kyuubi Otsutsuki Kurama and I have a proposal that will benefit Gaara and Ichibi Otsutsuki Shukaku greatly,"

Kankuro whispered, "Otsutsuki?"

Indra explained, "The Bijuu all came from the Sage of Six Paths, Otsutsuki Hagoromo,"

Gaara echoed Shukaku, "Chichi-ue,"

Naruto nodded, "I am the reincarnation of Otsutsuki Ashura and I am sure Shukaku-nii remembers Ani-ue,"

The sands flurried dangerously around Gaara's feet, "Betrayer,"

Indra shook his head, "Not anymore. I would not remain Her puppet anymore," He looked at Shukaku through Gaara's eyes, "If I ever fall once more, then…kill me. Make it so I will never resurface in this world ever again,"

Naruto frowned, "Indra…"

Gaara shook his head, "Mother…Shukaku…wants to accept your proposition,"

Temari looked at him on worry, "But we don't even know if we can trust them?!"

Gaara frowned, "Shukaku trust Ashura…not Indra…Ashura cares about the Bijuu…" He looked at his hands, "Ashura…cares about Jinchuuriki because…because Rikudou Sennin was also a Jinchuuriki,"

Kankuro gaped, "What?"

Gaara shook his, "That's what Shukaku said…" He looked at Naruto, "I will trust you…because Shukaku said you can proof to me my existence,"

Naruto smiled, "Press your knuckles with mine,"

Gaara looked at the offered fist, curled his fingers and does the same…only to gasp after a moment. He understood just as Naruto lunged forward and hugged him. They understood each other, as if they had lived the other's life. Their heart and mind had become one for that single glance of knuckles, chakra flaring and resonating unlike any before.

Temari fidgeted and Kankuro's fingers twitched, ready to defend Gaara when they heard their youngest sibling cry for the first time. Gaara broke, clinging to Naruto and asking for forgiveness. He realised his mistake, understood the wrongness of his ideal and sought comfort from the one existence in the worlds that can accept his sins without judgement.

After a moment, he pulled away and sniffled, "Please…help me…"

Chapter 15

Chapter Summary

"Uchiha Sasuke died the night of the Massacre. I go by Indra, not Sasuke,"

The brothers took a stroll as they headed for the Academy building where their first exam and registration will take place. Naruto sighed, "To think that they will be that desperate. Just what is wrong with their Daimyo?"

The other day, after helping Gaara, the boy decided to reveal the main reason he's away from Suna against his siblings' wish. Temari was ready to take them down but Toneri's gravity manipulation was enough to deter her from attacking as he made her tessen heavier for a moment. Kankuro was wary but Naruto had managed to calm them down. They won't do anything but they will inform Hiruzen.

Turned out Hiruzen's contact had sniffed the whole possibility but the shock that they will use the Chuunin's finale to execute an invasion was still there. There will be important people attending and Hiruzen decided to bolster their security. Naruto left Hashirama-ki with the Hokage just in case.

Indra sighed, "Greed. He didn't want to share his own resource with Suna, that's why he betrayed them and drove them to the edge,"

Toneri frowned, "Greed is always a reason for war to ignite,"

Indra nodded, "Alright, we are here. Let's go,"

The group ignored the people gathered in front of a door claiming to be '3-1'. They rely on their memory and the stairs climbed weren't enough. The group missed the look the one in green sent Indra, eyes burning with challenge. Instead they headed straight to where they can see and sense Minato waiting with Kakashi. Kakashi smiled at them under his mask and congratulated them, "Good luck,"

The door opened to myriad intensity of killing intent. Indra scoffed and let out his blood lust, shutting up most of the people in the room, before letting go and join a snickering Naruto who had found Team 8. Hinata shyly greeted them and Shino buzzed. The group just realized that Aburame Clan speaks 'bug' more than 'human' so their buzzing can mean a lot of things other than agitation. Kiba barked, "I bet I can beat the asses of the people in this room on my own,"

Toneri chuckled, "Remember the last time you bet against Naruto?"

Kiba's smirk fell, "Why'd you got to poop on it like that man?"

Toneri smirked, "Let's just say I save your life by lowering your overconfidence,"

Shino agreed with a buzz and Kiba pouted, "Traitor," Ever since they learned Ninshu, Kiba quickly learned the Aburame Clan was quite the chatterbox with their buzzing. He even slowly pick up of the nuances of Shino's buzzing.

Hinata giggled, "H-he's right. Your o-overconfi-dence can get you k-killed,"

Ever since spending time with the Otsutsuki brothers, Hinata's stuttering was more of her tongue's muscle memory than her own timid nature. She's still shy but not as timid as she once was. Spending time with Naruto, she has started to find her own confidence. So far the stuttering has gotten better. She has been speech training when she has the time on her own, reading the "Tale of a Gutsy Ninja" aloud in her free time. It quickly became her favourite partly because of how much the main character reminded her of Naruto.

It doesn't hurt that they even shared the same name!

As the group of friends gathered, someone approached them, "You really shouldn't act like this is a friendly gathering,"

Naruto looked at him, "Even so, such a gathering is also to promote teamwork and village unity,"

The bespectacled silver haired Genin, "I see…I supposed that is one way to see it. But still, Chuunin Exam is very stressful. Seeing you being so carefree could only bring out resentment,"

Indra looked around, "If that is how they feel then they aren't ready," Blast of killing intent filled the air and Indra scoffed at them, "Weak,"

Naruto laughed, "Ani-ue, stop antagonising them,"

Toneri chuckled, "Being able to stay calm in a tense situation is a sign of a ready mind. Indra-nii isn't wrong,"

The older Konoha Genin, "Well, don't mind me. I did take this exam 7 times,"

Kiba barked laughter at the admittance, "Wow you must suck!"

Minato frowned behind Naruto, "That doesn't sound suspicious at all,"

The teenager then pulled out a deck of cards, "But because of that I am able to gather as much intel about the exams as possible. As Konoha Genin, I do not mind landing a hand," He showed the cards, "My name is Yakushi Kabuto and this is my handy dandy info cards. Just ask me anything and it will show up,"

A Hyuuga Genin stepped forward, "Uzumaki Naruto,"

Hinata mumbled, "Neji-nii-san,"

Naruto pointed at his face, "Me? You could just ask me, dattebayo,"

Neji glared at him, "I know you have been keeping a lot of secrets, Uzumaki. Your influence on Hinata-sama is clearer than summer sky. I would like to know what is it about you that break her out of her stupidity," He then sneered, "Even if she's still worthless,"

Naruto frowned, "Aren't you family?"

Neji scoffed, "If you know anything about us Hyuuga, you won't be saying that,"

Before the fight could escalate, Kabuto brought up one card, "Uzumaki Naruto-!" Before he could further, the card burst into flames along with the rest of his decks. He flinched, dropping the cards and looked wide eyed at Indra who closed his mouth, "I would not have you leave my Otouto at a disadvantage. Secrecy is the armour of a Shinobi after all,"

The room flinched from the slight bloodlust he emitted until Naruto placed a calming hand on his shoulder. The bowl haircut boy in green jumpsuit grinned, "As expected of the Uchiha prodigy!"

Indra shook his head, "I am not a prodigy. My talents are my efforts. Talent can only take me so far. A wise man once told me that talent without hard work will betray me and so I make effort so I will not be betrayed by my own perceived talent,"

The loud boy's eyes sparkled, "So you aren't just a genius but also a true hard working genius?! You have opened my eyes, my friend!"

Indra's eyebrow twitched, "When did I become your friend?"

The boy exuberantly introduced himself, "My name is Rock Lee. I know you are Uchiha Sasuke-!"

The brothers corrected him, "Indra,"

He sputtered, "What?"

Indra introduced himself, "Uchiha Sasuke died the night of the Massacre. I go by Indra, not Sasuke,"

The group fell silent but before anything more can be said, their first proctor arrived yelling, "ALRIGHT SHUT UP YOU MAGGOTS! Take a number and take your seats in ten minutes or you are out!"

The Genin scrambled and grabbed whichever number from their boxes. Naruto was pleasantly surprised to find Hinata sitting right next beside him while the proctor, Morino Ibiki, start explain the rules of their written exam. As the clock ticked, he started the exam with a warning about being caught cheating. Naruto pondered and saw Indra signalling in ancient sign language that only the Otsutsuki brothers knew. It seemed that they must cheat but mustn't be caught.

Even though he's a Shinobi Naruto was too straight laced. He felt terrible at cheating and so watched Indra's hands. The proctors looked confused by his twitching, not knowing how to act since they can't recognise anything Indra signalled him.

Naruto looked at Toneri whose senses allowed him to perceived the world through chakra. In the end, Indra agreed to use their Ninshu connection. The brothers then moved as one, Toneri being the brightest and Indra using his Sharingan to spy on the other examinees' papers, Naruto simply let his hand be guided by his brothers. He's never the brightest when it comes to written works beside Fuuinjutsu. Some of the questions raised his brows as he couldn't recognise it from any syllabus he had ever read and finally understood the need to cheat.

Information gathering; that was the true purpose behind the written exam.

Feeling less guilty, he let the connection flow into him easier. Indra smirked and Toneri smiled serenely. More and more Genin was disqualified, caught cheating. Naruto noticed Hinata finished and smiled at her encouragingly, knowing that she could see him. She blushed. In the end, he finished his test and rest his head. Even though he loved using Ninshu with his brothers, he still feel slightly dizzy from sharing their mind.

Ibiki finally called time, "PUT DOWN THOSE DAMN PENS OR GET OUT!" He then started on the 10 th question…or rather he would if he didn't threaten to kick them out permanently if they answer him wrong. As the pressure rose, the suspicious Genin planted around the room that Toneri had pointed out 'bolted' and Naruto knew what the game was about. He would have stayed silent if it wasn't because the pressure get on Hinata's nerve. He noticed her hand twitching and impulsively raised his own first, shocking his brothers and his friends.

He slammed the hand down, "DON'T SCREW WITH ME! I DON'T GIVE UP AND I DON'T BACK DOWN! SO STOP WITH YOUR STUPID GAME! EVEN IF I FAIL TO BECOME CHUUNIN AND STAYED AN ETERNAL GENIN, I WILL BECOME HOKAGE!"

His roar of defiance silenced the room, Hinata watching with wide eyes. She smiled and settled her restless hand down to her lap. The room's nerves settled down along with her hand. Ibiki raised a brow at the kid, knowing how he will play around but rumour amongst the Jounin was that he held back so he can be on a team with the Uchiha. That means that the kid knew what he's doing and is a natural leader.

With that, he passed the whole room and explained to the discontented Genin the real 10 th question. His fellow proctor Mitarashi Anko burst through the window at that moment. She scoffed at the amount he let through, calling him soft. He ignored her and instead pointed out that she's early. As she dragged the rest of the Genin out, he started to pick at the papers and noticed three strange papers.

Strange because all three shared the same writing. Two sets of similar writings in the same answer boxes. Three papers in three different areas belonging to Uchiha Sasuke, Uzumaki Toneri and Uzumaki Naruto. The only writing that was different was Naruto's name. He blinked, "How…?"

It's like they shared one body and one mind…

Meanwhile back with the brothers, Naruto stretched and smiled at Hinata, "Hinata, you need to believe in yourself more,"

She fidgeted, "I'm sorry,"

Toneri shook his head, "What are you apologizing for? Others with more confidence have buckled. You are just starting to recovering,"

Indra nodded, "The fact that you held on as long as you did is already commendable," He smirked, "You just need Naruto to give you an extra boost,"

They chuckled at the two's blushing face. Kiba sighed, "Too bad that boost also include all these other losers," He growled at one cat themed girl who hissed back.

Naruto sighed, "As long as we pass the Second Part, everything is fine," He mummed as they reached Training Ground 44, Kiba whimpered along with the cat themed girl as a giant snake slithered too close to the fence keeping them out of the forest. Anko cheerfully invited them to her 'home' away from home; the Forest of Death.

Chapter 16

Chapter Summary

Naruto…hate killing and taking life…

Chapter Notes

See the end of the chapter for notes

Toneri shuddered, "It is official. I can't see, yes, but this place gives me the creep,"

Naruto nodded, "Same…and I can see dead people,"

Indra added, "We can see the Shinigami ,"

That was the main difference between Naruto and his brothers. Indra and Toneri can see Minato but they cannot see the typical dead. Maybe because Naruto once wore the Shinigami Mask and became the 'door' between the stomach of the Shinigami and their world. That aside, the Forest of Death lived up to its name. It was only because Minato walked with the brothers that some of the more violent ghosts didn't come forward.

Naruto shivered, "The energy in these trees…they are of Mokuton but…twisted. Dark and miserable, angry even,"

Toneri hummed, "Maybe because this was created after the final battle at the Valley of the End?"

Naruto sighed, "Maybe,"

Minato chuckled, "Alright, kids, focus,"

Just after he said that, Toneri was snatched into the air by a trap and Indra quickly found himself running for cover from water needles. Naruto parried an attack with his kunai, "Ame!"

The Genin from Ame….let's call them Ichi, Ni and San respectively since no one knows their name…attacked the team with a laugh. Ichi looked smug that Toneri was caught in his snare but Toneri just float upright and loosened the wire threads using a small knife from his shoe with his gravity manipulation. Ichi complained, "That's just cheating,"

Toneri smiled, "I'm just resourceful,"

Indra scowled and disappeared. Ni looked around, confused, "Where'd he go?" At that moment he felt cold steel against his throat, a chilling whisper in his ear, "Give up or die,"

Naruto rolled on the ground, San coming after him quick and nimble. In the end, Naruto manipulated the vines of the tree to grab hold of him. San yelped, "The hell is this?!"

After they tied the group up, Indra flashed his Sharingan and demanded, "Scroll,"

Ni whimpered, "Earth,"

Toneri grinned, "Give,"

San struggled, "As if!"

Indra scoffed, tanto out and ready, "I could always take it off your dead body,"

Ichi sighed, "Just give it,"

Naruto smiled, "I'll let you go once we are out of your sight…just pray to the Sage that the beasts in this forest didn't find you first," With that, they bid their competition goodbye and leapt away deeper into the forest.

After a while, Naruto let go of his control once Toneri couldn't sense them. Minato smiled over them, "Wonderfully done. No injury and no death. That's a good start,"

Naruto suddenly stopped and looked to the side just as he was swallowed. Indra and Toneri screamed, "NARUTO!!"

But before Indra could hack the stomach of the snake open, someone met his strike and sent a gust of powerful wind to blow Toneri away. Minato looked on in horror, "Boys!"

Toneri called out before he disappeared from sight, "Get Naruto-nii!!"

Knowing that Toneri can handle himself and so does Indra, Minato headed straight for the snake that's taking away his son to digest him. Zenitsu out, he cut off the head of the snake but though the soul has been beheaded the physical form remained intact. It was moment like this that Minato hated that he's dead.

Suddenly roots and branches grew from inside the snake and Minato breathed easier, "Naruto!"

Naruto coughed, a little blistered from the stomach acid, "The snake's a summon!"

Minato paled, "Orochimaru! He's aiming for Indra's Sharingan!"

Naruto blanched, "Ani-ue!" He leapt out and straight to where he can sense Indra's chakra. His brother was putting up a mighty fight but even though he has the memories and abilities of his ancient self, Ninjutsu change with time and has evolved so considering how obsessed Orochimaru was with Ninjutsu, the arsenal of jutsu he can use against Indra would put him on the defensive.

He found Toneri being held hostage by a giant snake and headed straight for the kill. He forgoes hiding his Mokuton the moment he became Genin but never really has a chance to use it. This time he didn't hold back and touched a tree, a glancing touch of his finger was enough for the cells to go crazy and deadly. It took hold of the giant snake and stabbed it right through the head, forcing it to let Toneri go.

Naruto looked up to see Indra almost bitten but he activated his Eternal Mangekyou Sharingan, using Kamui to escape. Orochimaru found his jaw snapping over nothing and quickly combust in black flame. Naruto took that chance to take his brother away, his much younger body unable to handle the drawback of using Amaterasu.

Orochimaru hissed as this prey escaped but looked around in great interest, "Eternal Mangekyou and Mokuton…my, my…what interesting subjects we have…never matter, you will fall under me, Sasuke,"

Toneri guided Naruto who was carrying an unconscious Indra through the forest, just in time to see a girl being assaulted by one of the forest bear. Naruto wordlessly handed Indra to him and headed down to help her. He still needs to carry out his duty to Ninshu.

He dropped onto the bear and guided the roots to grab hold of the beast. He looked at the terrified red head and asked, "Can you go up the trees?"

She nodded and did just that.

Naruto joined her and once far enough, he let the bear go. She looked at him, "Who are you?"

He smiled, "Uzumaki Naruto," He noticed her wide eyes and asked, "You are?"

She bit her lower lip nervously, "Uzumaki…Karin…"

He almost fell off his branch and grinned, "You're family,"

She blushed, "I…guess…" She spied his hitai-ate, "You're from Konoha?"

He nodded and noticed her own hitai-ate, "How did an Uzumaki ended up in Kusa?"

She grimaced, "Refugees,"

He landed in front of a tree hollow where he can sense Toneri, "Strange. Uzumaki refugees would have headed for Konoha. We are sister village. My mum has been here since before the fall of Uzu,"

Karin shrugged, "I don't know. My mum has been serving in Kusa since the Third War,"

Naruto nodded, "I see…anyway, what are you doing alone?"

Karin grimaced, "My team left me for bait is what happened!"

Naruto frowned, "Alright, you're staying with me until we get to the Tower. I know we are from opposing villages but we are also Uzumaki. Family should stick together,"

Minato nodded, "Well said,"

Toneri spied them, "Naruto-nii-san?"

Naruto introduced Karin, "Looks like we are having a little sister,"

Karin looked at Toneri with wide eyes, "Are you saying that-?"

Naruto nodded, "I adopted him,"

Toneri greeted her, "Hello," He then looked at Naruto, "Indra-ani-ue is running a fever,"

Naruto frowned, "Let me look at him,"

Karin fidgeted, "Is there anything I can help you with?"

Naruto smiled at her, "Its okay. I'm the team medic. You can keep an eye out for hostiles though,"

Karin looked oddly relieved at that and nodded, "Sure. I'm a sensor after all!"

Naruto looked at Toneri, "What happened?"

Toneri sighed, "I don't know exactly. When I managed to find my way back to them, they were locked in a Genjutsu battle. Then Indra broke away but he looked disturbed, saying that he's not Sasuke over and over. We all know that psychologically Sasuke's ego is sleeping. Whatever that snake tried to do, it seemed to awaken Sasuke from Indra's psyche,"

Minato pondered, "That is not good," He asked, "What did Orochimaru want?"

Toneri looked grim as he answered, "He offered Sasuke power….power to take down Itachi,"

Naruto sighed, breaking Indra's fever and checking his body over, "What do you think he tried to do when he went for Indra's neck?"

Minato paled, "Cursed Mark. It was a seal that he was working on when I became Hokage. Anko was the only survivor of his prototype," He added, "She confessed once that it corrodes her mental faculty whenever she used it and he can control it like the Caged Bird Seal,"

Naruto gripped Indra, "No! I won't let Indra or Sasuke fall for his lies. Indra lived the life of a puppet until his death! I won't let him go through that twice!"

Toneri put a soothing hand on his shoulder, "Don't worry, I won't let him either,"

Karin listened from the outside, wondering just who they were talking to. She could sense something but her senses told her to avoid looking at it. So she kept quiet. They may call themselves her family but she still have trouble trusting them. The only reason the follow Naruto was because of his chakra. She has never seen a golden chakra before and it felt warm, inviting like the morning sun. The one named Toneri felt cool, like moonlight. But the sleeping one felt dark, not evil just dark like the night.

Their chakra was welcoming and that was the only reason she followed them. Her team's chakra felt sickening to her and she was forced to endure the whole way from Kusa to Konoha. She decided to take this chance to get out from becoming a chakra battery like her mother was her whole life. Naruto said Uzumaki are welcomed in Konoha. Well, she will take this chance as his chakra didn't lie to make a new life for her.

The next morning, three Genin from Oto breaks into their impromptu camp and Karin slipped inside, "They are hostile,"

Naruto nodded, "Stay here with Indra. Toneri, with me," The moment he stepped out, his eardrum burst and Toneri flinched at his side. They couldn't hear them but from the way the three from Oto make it clear from their body language that they didn't think much about Konoha Genin.

Naruto raised his hand and green chakra spilled. He immediately hear one of them curse, "A fucking medic?! This sucks. Never mind, you will just die first!"

Naruto stomped his foot down, raising a wall of wood before him. The bark burst from the sound attack. He took that cover to heal Toneri's ears and his brother nodded. He cocked his fist back and used pure chakra push to level his opponent to the ground. Naruto stepped onto the wood chips and said, "We are out of your league. I suggest backing off or kiss your Shinobi career goodbye,"

The girl of the team sneered, "Oh shut it!"

Toneri stepped forward and pushed his hand, "Then we will have no choice but to kill you," With that he flew up and pressed his palm down, "Shinra Tensei!"

The three person team fell to their knees and Naruto quickly moulded the roots around them to strange them. It didn't take long for the Genin from Oto to die. Naruto sighed, "I really hate the Shinobi system. Konoha…and the Hidden Villages are supposed to be the beginning of true peace. Instead, it became a reason for people to fight even more,"

Karin stared at her supposed cousin in shock. She knew that he's strong but also didn't expect him to kill so easily. She then watched as he began to bury his dead opponents, muttering prayers for their departed soul. She sensed the strange energy moving over each grave, unable to see Minato as he send their souls back to the Cycle.

Naruto…hate killing and taking life…

Chapter End Notes

I'm bad at trash talking so I tended to skip all that. Hope you still enjoy it though..

Chapter 17

Chapter Summary

A promise by his brother transcends life and death…

Indra stared at the child before him. Within his mind, the child Uchiha Sasuke had slept dreaming of happier times with his family. Orochimaru's whispers of vengeance had woken him up and Indra struggled to lull the boy back to sleep. He sighed as Sasuke fought him tooth and nails, "Give me back my body!"

Indra shook his head, "No,"

Sasuke snarled, "Why not?! It's my body!"

Indra stood firm, "Because you will make the same mistake I did. The same mistake all Uchiha did. Because of me, we are cursed by hatred. I will not fall the same trap every again,"

Sasuke stared at him before sobbing, "Then why won't you go after him? If you are my ancestor, why won't you avenge them?"

Indra rubbed the boy's head, "Because I don't know the truth. Until then, I would not make a move. We know Itachi, he never do a thing without reason,"

Sasuke shook his head, "No! He told me-!"

Indra chuckled bitterly, "And you believe that? Itachi lies. He lies all the time,"

Sasuke cried, "Why? Why did you do it, Nii-san?"

Suddenly Ashura's image superimposed over Sasuke and Indra gasped. He shook his head and pulled Sasuke into a loose embrace, "Keep dreaming Sasuke. Keep dreaming and let me carry the burden of reality for you…"

As Sasuke's eyes lulled to sleep, Indra's eyes opened. He looked to see Naruto fussing over him and smiled, "Otouto,"

Naruto breathed, his precious face lighting up with relief, "Ani-ue!"

Toneri tilted his head over to their sound, "You're awake!"

Naruto fussed over him, "Did he get you?"

Indra shook his head, "No…I managed to use Mangekyou to get away," He then noticed a third member, "Who is she?"

The red headed girl greeted him, "Hi. I'm Uzumaki Karin,"

Indra looked at Naruto, "Did you adopt her, Otouto?" He rubbed the boy's blond locks, "You have always been fond of orphans,"

Naruto pulled his head away, "No! She's a real Uzumaki, dattebayo!"

Indra blinked, "Is that so? Interesting,"

Now that he's awake, they have another two days to get to the Tower and the three decided to head straight to their destination. Toneri filled Indra in on the happening of the last two days they were stuck waiting for him to wake up. Indra scowled, rubbing his neck. Minato explained what he knew of the Cursed Mark and Indra knew that he was lucky that he instinctual enough to avoid being bitten. But knowing Orochimaru, Minato told him that he's all the more prize worthy for the Hebi Sennin with his original Sharingan. Even though he didn't know it, a mature Sharingan was most wanted for the jutsu obsessed snake.

Indra sneered, "I will not let him turn me against my clan and family,"

Upon reaching the Tower, they let Naruto deal with the scrolls. One look and the boy told his brothers to throw them open on the floor. The seal glowed with a flash of chakra and Umino Iruka appeared with a burst of smoke, "Congratulation for passing the Second Phase of the Chuunin Exam!" He then noticed the fourth member, "Uhm…boys? Why is there a Kunoichi from Kusa with you?"

Naruto chirped, "She's an Uzumaki, dattebayo! I want to talk to Jiji because of her situation,"

Iruka replied, "Call him Hokage-sama, Naruto! Also…he's busy but I'll try and inform him,"

Toneri piped up, "Also…Orochimaru tried to mark Indra-nii,"

Iruka paled, "Who? Orochimaru, are you sure?"

Naruto nodded, "He tried to bite Ani-ue but failed,"

Iruka nodded, absentmindedly telling them to rest in their rooms while he inform the Hokage about Naruto discovered family member. Heading to their room, Naruto talked Karin, "Sorry about this. Your team must have been disqualified so you'll have to share our room,"

Karin sighed, "It's no difference then when camping out to me,"

Naruto nodded, "Alright. We'll give you as much privacy as you want. Just ask,"

This was completely from the left side to Karin who was used to have her concern brushed aside. She watched as they chose to give up one bed to her and shared the remaining two by pushing the bed closer together. They also went as far as to leave the room for her to freshen up. This really put her in an awkward situation. Everything they do just felt so…sincere…

Karin was used to being neglected and abuse by her team.

She was not used to sincerity and kindness…

Breakfast was an interesting affair. Naruto greeted Team 8 warmly, asking about their wellbeing. He also greeted the team from Suna like one would a visiting relative. Karin really don't get the three 'brothers' but it seemed other than foreign Shinobi, everyone their age group that came from Konoha was completely unfazed by their behaviours.

Kakashi then appeared and asked the four of them to come along. Karin stiffened. This was it. She'll either be used or be welcomed if Naruto and his brother's words were to be trusted. The old man with the Kage hat must be their Hokage and she was surprised that Naruto would call the man Jiji to his face. She was used to people being rude behind their superiors but it seemed that the term Jiji that Naruto referred to old Kage was really out of affection than rudeness.

Hiruzen studied her and Karin fought her need to fidget. He asked, "You said that you are a sensor?"

She nodded, "Yes,"

He puffed his pipe as he pondered, "Do you have the Adamantine Chain? I know enough that an Uzumaki female have an easier time calling on the chains than their male counterpart,"

This time she fidgeted, "I don't have it,"

Hiruzen nodded in acknowledgement, "Then…a sensor you say? Could it be that you can use the Eye of Kagura?"

She blinked, "Yes,"

He then started to test her sensor ability right there in the room. He asked her numerous question regarding the famous Uzumaki sensing ability before smiling, "I know Uzumaki chakra. After all, I was close to many of them when they are still numerous in Konoha so I knew the moment I felt your chakra that Naruto has not been lied to," He nodded, "A short period of probation, some psychological evaluation and we could bring you in to Konoha from Kusa. Obviously they don't care much for you so I doubted that they will be fussy about letting you go, as unfortunate as that may sound,"

Karin couldn't believe her ears even as Hiruzen turned his attention to the waiting brothers. He asked them about Orochimaru but she didn't hear any of it. He trusted her because of the feel of her chakra and because of Naruto? She looked at the blond who somehow have a dancing plant in his hand that he handed over to the Hokage. What was that? A pet?

Karin trust her sensing ability. Chakra doesn't lie.

And Naruto as well as his brothers all have very harmonious chakra that just seemed call her to join them. She felt safe with them, a feeling that she never have been able to associate with anyone besides her late mother.

Is this how a family should feel like?

Karin was sent to Konoha under the guide of Kakashi. She will be living at the Hatake house once she's been cleared by the Yamanaka Clan. It only take a day and after being referred to a Yamanaka psychiatry help for the abuse she suffered in Kusa, surprising her as they didn't ask anything about her healing ability, Karin found herself in a room in Hatake House. She was already informed the some ANBU will keep an eye on her for her safety but somehow the whole Hatake house was suffused with Naruto overwhelmingly calming chakra. She felt safe…

Safer than she had ever felt in her life…

Back at the Tower, the final day arrived and the gathered Genin stood in an arena as Konoha's Hokage give his speech about their alternative to war to evaluate the skills of their Shinobi and the ability if their Village. Then a coughing guy name Hayate started explaining about the Chuunin Exam's Third Phase, his coughing bad enough that Naruto had to be held back before he bring out his Medic Bijuu by his brothers. Hinata giggled while Kiba and Shino pitied the coughing man. It seemed that Naruto has found a new victim-ahem! I mean patient, yes, patient.

Indra's name was called out first and he faced someone from Oto who could adsorb chakra. It was unfortunate for the man as Indra simply put him to sleep with a glance of his eyes. Toneri faced someone from Kiri and smacked the Genin face down to the ground with Shinra Tensei rather lightly long enough that they almost suffocated from their broken nose, forcing them to submit. A few more of their friends faced their adversary and it didn't take long for Naruto's name to come out. He listen in silent amusement as Kakashi harassed his 'eternal rival' Maito Gai by being the complete opposite.

Minato always think that their 'rivalry' as endearing, much to the horror of the Hatake.

Kurenai sighed when she heard Kiba was to face Naruto. She looked at her student and Kiba grinned back. Naruto met Hiruzen's eyes and the Hokage knew that the time for Naruto to keep his abilities hidden has come to an end. He will be targeted like so many of Hashirama's kin after his death but he knew that Naruto's strong not to mention that neither Indra nor Toneri will leave his back open.

Kiba jumped to the arena and crowed, "Come on, Naruto. Let's see who the better Alpha is!"

Naruto snorted, "Sorry Kiba but I'm cutting this short," He stepped onto the arena, just a single stomp of his foot, and the arena bloomed with lush grass. He relished in the gasp of his spectators, heard someone dropped whatever it was they were holding, and breathed in. Kiba cursed and started to flatten all the grasses around him but they only grow taller and wrapped all around him as Naruto moved in Ninshu, turning Kiba into a mummy made of grass leaving one his eyes exposed. He grinned at the deadpanned Kiba, who growled, "I give…"

Naruto listened as the coughing man, whom he's so dragging to bed rest, called out, "The winner for this round, Uzumaki Naruto!"

He gently let Kiba and Akamaru out, the puppy whimpering and whining at the unfairness of it all. It wasn't easy to fight against nature. There's a reason why the Uchiha was the greatest adversary for the Senju. Especially for the founder of Konoha, only those with fire in their arsenal have a chance to fight him. It's also the reason why Uchiha Madara excel in fire based jutsu so much and in retaliation Hashirama's brother Tobirama became an expert in water based jutsu to put out not just Madara's flame but also to douse the forest fire resulting from their battle before everyone died from asphyxiation.

Ah….the duty of the younger brother…

When Hinata's name came up, Naruto frowned. He had seen how Neji treated Hinata. It was like he was angry that he's stuck being beneath her even though talent wise he's far above her. Hinata had confessed that he used to be so kind and generous toward her, willing to listen to her woe but now he's the worse of the Hyuuga that berated her for being unable to meet their standard.

His fear came true when Hinata stood up for herself for the first time and Neji retaliated by aiming for kill blow. Around the tower, the trees reacted to Naruto's violent temper when Hinata slumped on the arena's floor, heart stuttering. He ignored the medic, intent to see to her himself as he placed golden hands on her chest.

One medic gasped, "Mystic Palm?!"

An attending Jounin familiar with the technique frowned, "The colour's wrong but…"

Hinata lurched forward, coughing out blood as Naruto turn her to her side. Weak from her almost death she looked at him, "Am I…changing…for the better…Naruto-kun?"

Naruto stared at her as her consciousness slipped away. He bit his lower lip, "You're stronger…" He then turned his gaze to Neji, "I will teach you what it means to be a family,"

Neji snorted and turned away, much to the disappointment of his team and the furious disgust of Hinata's team. Kiba looked at Hinata as her prone figure was taken out to the hospital, "Naruto?"

Naruto replied, "Yeah?"

"Kick his ass for us,"

Fortune smiled on Naruto as when the names came out, his first battle was with Neji. He rubbed the blood clinging to his fingers, "I promised…and I don't go back on my promise. Just ask Indra…" His brother would know.

A promise by his brother transcends life and death…

Chapter 18

Chapter Summary

"No peeping. The trees in Konoha will castrate you if you do,"

Naruto have a month to prepare and so does his brothers. He's confident in his ability so he didn't worry too much. After all, he's always training with his brothers. But at the same time he thought that perhaps an outside perspective will help further their training. Minato and Kakashi have done all they could and he's thankful for that.

What he need was someone not part of the family.

Meaning someone that's not Karin and thinking of the girl in question bring about amusement to Naruto. The other day apparently someone was dying in the wood near Konoha and the ghost haunting said person was panicking for help. The ghosts of Konoha immediately brought them to Naruto who was taking a bath at that time. Naruto being Naruto had panicked and ran out with only a towel around his hip screaming for Kakashi about "she's dying, dattebayo" and scaring Karin with the antic that was really the norm at the Hatake house.

She swore up and down that her new found cousin is a crazy pervert.

It doesn't help that everyone beside her in that house has Y-chromosome.

The shenanigans of the Hatake house aside, the Otsutsuki brothers have been visiting Hinata daily. They totally let Indra lead them to her room as no one would bat an eyelash at that. He's their precious Uchiha-sama after all. They might not care but considering the exam they didn't want to cause trouble. Naruto would attempt to heal her but the medics there have been giving him the stink eye so he relented and curb his need to see to her health personally…

Back to the present, Naruto's currently following an angry ghost of a former hot spring owner. Ami complained on and on, "I thought that he'll change once he's my age but it's like he's stuck being a brat! Worse, he's good at hiding with that weird technique of his!"

Minato groaned, knowing just who it was that she was complaining about. Naruto had to personally go as he has nothing to do that day, what with Indra off experimenting with new jutsu and Toneri practicing his Otsutsuki inherent abilities. The only reason he knew about Banshou Ten'in and Shinra Tensei was because of Indra's intimate knowledge on the abilities of Rikudou Sennin. So now he wanted to see if there're more to it. Alas, Kakashi was busy helping with the upcoming invasion so he's out. Naruto can create clones to fight with but…he feel bored.

So after he beat his own self for the nth time that morning, he decided to go on a stroll instead. That's how the harried ghost granny found him. Naruto have had dealings with her a few times in the past and because of his dealings with the ghosts, part of Konoha had become more welcoming to him especially after he started his Shinobi career as Genin. Naruto may have accepted being a Shinobi but he will try and revive Ninshu through interacting with the people he met.

Granny Ami growled, "There he is!"

Minato groaned, "Sensei…"

Naruto blinked at the giggling man and sighed, "You know, even the female ghosts felt like kicking you in the balls right now and that's saying something since they usually didn't care,"

The man looked at him with confusion, "What?"

Naruto glared at him, "Come along," He signed and the wooden fence thicken, almost solidified into a single solid structure before grabbing the squawking man by the hair, "Let's go Ero-Sennin. You should really visit your godson when you came back first thing. But no! Talk about priorities,"

The man grumbled in confusion, "Wait?! What?! Who-?! Let go! Dammit! Ow!"

Naruto dragged the man with remarkable strength. Well, the sons of Hagoromo has always been stronger than the common man, what with being the grandsons of the Mother of Chakra. There's a reason the Uzumaki are famous for monstrous stamina. He finally let the man go once they reached an empty training ground. Finally released from the vines that had sprouted to negate any use of chakra in his white locks, the man jumped to his feet with a furious red face. Well, he was dragged through the streets of Konoha after all.

He pointed at Naruto, "Who the hell do you think you are, you brat?!"

Naruto deadpanned, "Your neglected godson…you know Tou-san is really looking forward to trashing you for taking so long to come back to Konoha, dattebayo,"

Minato invisibly cracked his knuckles.

The man, who can only be his errand godfather Jiraiya the Gama Sennin, paled. Hiruzen had been sending stranger and stranger story to him about Naruto. He would have gone straight to Konoha but the threat of Akatsuki has been taking up most of his time and years passed by. Before he knew it, Naruto had grown into quite the character. He sighed, "So you know?"

Naruto nodded, "Hard not to when Tou-san recognize you," He peered at the Sage, "Jiji did tell you about me, right?"

Jiraiya grumbled, "At first it sounded like he wrote it while drinking. In fact, the first letter I get from him reeked of sake. Then it kept coming and I asked the toads about Ashura and Indra. Pa and Ma didn't know them personally but Gamamaru-sama does,"

Naruto smiled, blue eyes glowed with ancient memories, "Chichi-ue's shishou,"

Jiraiya groaned when he saw the ancient light in Naruto's eyes, "Brat…why'd you have to be so complicated?"

Naruto shrugged, "No peeping. The trees in Konoha will castrate you if you do,"

Jiraiya squawked, "What?!"

Naruto grinned, "What can I say? With the mastery of Mokuton that I have, the whole village is one big living weapon to me, dattebayo!"

Jiraiya looked at the ominously creaking trees around him and then at the grasses at his feet. For the first time in his life, as a Konoha raised child, he didn't feel safe surrounded by the forest and nature. He shed tears, "My research…"

Minato and Naruto growled, "You mean your porn,"

"At least let me use the bathhouse for that,"

Naruto eyeballed him, "Are you seriously asking a kid like me to let you peep?"

"You're not a real kid,"

"I was born almost 13 years ago. My voice box hasn't broke. I have yet to have any pubic hair. I'm still a kid," Naruto quirked a brow, "Need I say more?"

Jiraiya glared at him, "Oh come on! You've done it! In another life, maybe, but you still have had sex before! You know how it's like making babies! You should understand the beauty of a woman physique!" He started rambling about his endless admiration of the fairer gender. Suddenly Jiraiya felt his ear being pulled and looked at the offender, "What are you-!" His eyes widened, "M-M-Minato?"

The new Shinigami smiled something frightening at him, looking just as ominous as his new position, "How…dare…you…" He twisted the poor ear and caused his former mentor to scream as he continued, " HOW DARE YOU TRY AND CORRUPT MY SON?!!!!"

The scream that came from the trashing delivered can be heard all the way to Nami. Tsunami looked up from the fish she was cleaning, "Hm. A pervert's scream is the best kind of music,"

Inari shuddered, his eyes wide as he looked around in fear and confusion, "What's that?"

Back in the forest of Konoha, Naruto watched Jiraiya begging Minato for forgiveness while doing push-ups while the former Hokage sat on his back with weight seals. Kurama was laughing and rolling in his mindscape, enjoying the horror the Yondaime unleashed on Naruto's errand godfather. Naruto sighed and shook his head, "You're hopeless,"

Minato nodded, "I should never have asked you,"

Jiraiya grumbled as he finally collapsed from the tons of weight on his back, "My spine…"

Naruto stared at him a while longer before offering, "I'll make dinner. Come eat with the family,"

Jiraiya dragged his body after Naruto to the Hatake house. He took note that the boy sometimes stopped for a moment, tilt his head to listen to someone before nodding and moving on. Sometimes he veered off path and managed to help a cat off a tree, helped a brat that had fallen down a well out, assist an elderly to carry her grocery bags and many more before finally managing to reach their destination. The elderly looked like she knew Naruto well and called him Saito, who Naruto later informed Jiraiya was her son who died back during the Third War. He couldn't move on and had worried over her so had sought out Naruto when he could to help her with her daily grocery run.

Jiraiya smiled. Naruto's busy but not for no reason for as he helped the people, he was spreading Ninshu through advices. The people he had helped naturally sought him out to ask for advice. He can tell that they're usually children or people who recently moved to Konoha. Those who had lived there long enough to recall the 10 th of October weren't as welcoming but slowly, their prejudice towards Naruto was being chipped away. Like river water, Naruto sanded away their hatred towards him because of Kurama.

The boy has patience, Jiraiya have to admit that.

Uchiha Sasuke, or Otsutsuki Indra, was as mysterious as he appeared when Jiraiya met him that evening. The boy was a cold as any Uchiha but underneath that closed off mien was a hint of warmth and fondness whenever he looked at Naruto. From what Hiruzen had sent him via his monkeys, as things with Naruto became the greatest of secrets between them and Kakashi, Indra has no loyalty to Konoha whatsoever but for as long as Naruto saw Konoha as home and precious to him, Indra will stay and protect it as well.

Otsutsuki Toneri, adopted Uzumaki, came from the obscure and mythical clan on the moon that Gamamaru confirmed to exist. Like Indra, he was the last of his family. Toneri showed greater innocence when compared to either Naruto or Indra. Both brothers did their best to guide him but Indra often left the teaching to Naruto. Clearly the eldest of the boys do not trust his own judgement. Having read the full history of Indra's former life, Jiraiya couldn't blame him. It wasn't that he lacked confidence but rather he did not trust his own judgement when it comes to things like right or wrong.

Naruto was his moral compass. As long as Naruto showed him the way, he will take it as a law unto himself.

Kakashi…remained Kakashi. Albeit a lot more laidback than he recalled, the steel in the man's eyes were back and the once simmered Will of Fire has once more bloomed into an inferno. Especially with Minato back on his life, Kakashi was more stable than the last time he set his eyes on the boy. Well, it doesn't hurt that he's a big fan of Jiraiya's work.

Minato on the other hand…Jiraiya couldn't find it in him to blame the man for turning his back on Konoha. His greatest sacrifice, belittled. His most heartfelt wish, ignored. Konoha had betrayed the Yondaime in the wake of his death.

Oh, he will still help protect Konoha as long as Naruto wished for it. But he will no longer sacrifice anything for the village. Jiraiya thought about the matter and found that he could accept the man's reasoning. Loyalty scorned was the cruellest thing one could do to others. It would a greater amount of sacrifice on the other parties' part to regain the lost loyalty but so, it might not ever be enough.

The most surprising person to meet at the Hatake house was Uzumaki Karin. Jiraiya was pleased to see her and her red hair reminded him of all the Uzumaki he had come across. He approached her, as he has nothing to teach Naruto, "How would you like to learn about Fuuinjutsu?"

Karin stared at him, surprised by the offer, "You're…going to teach me Fuuinjutsu?"

Jiraiya grinned, "Fuuinjutsu is the bread and butter of the Uzumaki Clan. It's only right I show you the starting line for it,"

Karin fidgeted, "I don't know…I'm not sure if the Hokage would let me,"

Jiraiya snorted, "Sensei? He won't mind, especially if you learn it from me!"

Naruto watched as the two interacted. He knew Minato will talk to Jiraiya about the invasion from Suna. He has been keeping an eye on the people involved. Turned out the boy Kabuto that Minato have been suspicious of was indeed a traitor.

And so the days continue with Naruto training his Taijutsu and Ninjutsu with further guidance from Jiraiya who had taken Karin up as his apprentice for the duration of his stay in Konoha. Some suspicious people have been visiting the Hatake house's perimeter but couldn't get closer because of the plants Naruto grew around ground. They worked as a form of barrier that not only detect but also capture and contain.

With Naruto's chakra within, Naruto would know the moment someone invaded their home.

Just like that, a whole month passed and soon the Final Phase of the Chuunin Exam arrived…

Afterword

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