(Time skip- a few days latter)
It was a sunny day and team ten had just gotten done with their training. Asuma decided to let them have a break while he went to pick up a D-rank mission for them to do. Shikamaru was laying in the soft grass staring at the few clouds that were in the blue sky with Choji sitting next to him eating chips. Ino was resting against a tree that was close by.
"It's still a little shocking to know that Naruto is a dad," Ino said.
"What's so shocking about it?" Shikamaru asked. "I'm not saying that it isn't a surprise but is it really that hard to imagine Naruto picking a kid up off an alley floor and taking care of it?"
"Yeah, but he knows the Hokage doesn't he, why not bring the baby to him?" Choji asked.
"I'm not sure, maybe he didn't know him back then," Shikamaru answered.
Choji nodded and said, "If he had a kid that entire time, why didn't he ask anyone for help? My family, along with both of yours, would have helped him."
"There's a lot about Naruto that we don't know. We can't base anything off of the Naruto we thought we knew because that was just him putting on an act," Ino said with her hand on her chin.
Shikamaru closed his eyes for and thought about all that he knew about Naruto. While Choji and Ino talked. He figured out that Naruto was acting about three years ago, but he didn't know why he would put on that act. He could've started as a way to get attention but then why would he continue it for so long? His real self is vastly different from his acting self and there really wasn't a reason to keep up the act after a period of time because his daughter would have given him the attention he craved. Unless it wasn't for the attention at all and he was hiding who he really was, but from who? While there was a lot that Shikamaru knew about Naruto there was even more that he never even considered. Why did he wait until after becoming an official Genin to go out with Akara in the public? It was obvious he never did before then because he would have at least heard about him being with a child. So what did he get from becoming a Genin that would make, no, allow him to do so? He didn't have time to get any pay and being a Genin wasn't so great a rank to bring his daughter out with him after never doing it. That meant that it had to be the protection it gave him. If anyone attacks him or his family then the attackers can be charged with treason and can be immediately executed after interrogation. Why would he need that kind of protection? Shikamaru opened his eyes and sat up.
Ino stopped talking to Choji and asked, "What did you think of?"
He sighed, "There's more to Naruto then first meets the eye. He acted for so long to make it so that anyone that knew him or heard of him thought that he was an open book and they allowed their assumption to fill in blanks that were there. I can't say anything yet but I do know one thing, Naruto has a secret and it's not his daughter."
-The Choice-
"I still can't get over Naruto being a dad, I wouldn't have believed it if it wasn't for Team Seven's sensei telling us about it," Kiba said as he and the rest of his team walked down the road. They were on their D-rank mission for the day and were heading to the house that they had to paint the fence of.
"It explains his new character well," Shino said.
"But he never said anything, someone could have helped him," Hinata said in her usual stutter.
Kurenai looked down at that comment. Being older then them she knew about Naruto containing the Kyuubi, she knew that that was the reason he couldn't and wouldn't ask for help. It was very clever of him to wait until he was an official Genin before he went into the public with her since no villager will dare attack him now that he has the law on his side. The rumors were already going around and Kurenai was sure that the entire village knew about Naruto's daughter, Akara.
"Kurenai-sensei," Kiba said, "did you know about Naruto having a kid?"
"No, I didn't. It seems the Kakashi and Hokage-sama kept the knowledge a secret." That was an understatement. Not even the council knew about it and, from what Asuma told her, they talked about Naruto every meeting.
"Then why didn't they help him?" Hinata asked.
Kurenai smiled, "I know that both of them did. I don't know how but know that Hokage-sama would never let a child raise a baby alone and Kakashi isn't the kind of guy to just sit around, even though he's lazy."
"He could have told us," Kiba said with a huff.
"Would you have believed him?" Kurenai asked.
"No, no one in the class would have," Shino answered before Kiba could. "He had us all thinking that he was an idiot but that wasn't the case. How do I know this you ask? I know because of the over night change that Naruto went under from his old self to his real self. People can change their personalities over time but it is imposable to do so over night, that means that he was acting at least some of the time. He want us to think him a fool."
"But why?" HInata asked.
Shino looked at her and said, "There's not enough information to answer that."
"So all we do know is that he kept his daughter a secret for a reason," Kiba said.
Kurenai looked back at them as she walked up to the front door of the house that their mission was at. They truly had no idea how much of a mystery Naruto truly was. She knew as much as the rest of the people in the village and the little bit she was told by Kakashi, even then it was like looking at a picture that was only half painted. She wondered as she knocked on the door, How much are you truly hiding, Naruto.
-The Choice-
Sakura followed Naruto as he helped her through a kata of a taijutsu that she was learning. She had decided to become the best Kunoichi that she could be and not let both Kakashi and Naruto down. They said that she had potently and she as going to push that to it's limit. It was during the first day of training that Kakashi-sensei had pointed out that she needed work on her taijutsu. Just because she could do the katas perfectly didn't mean that she could fight, Naruto had been the one that demonstrated her inability to fight in a spar. They had both used the academy taijutsu and she had lasted about five seconds before he had her taken down.
Naruto had volunteered to help her with her taijutsu and now he would go over a kata of a new taijutsu with her and spar with her every day. He said that she should have the new taijutsu mastered in about two months if she practised at home every day for a hour. He was patient with her and answered every question that she asked. He was kind but he was also very strict and corrected every mistake she made quickly.
It was clear to every one that Sasuke didn't like Naruto. Maybe it was the fact that Naruto was stronger then him or something of that nature but for some reason he just didn't like Naruto. Naruto would always try to talk to the Uchiha but it would always end with Sasuke saying that he didn't need Naruto's help. It clearly frustrated Kakashi-sensei when ever this happened but he could do very little about besides keep teaching his students.
"Very good Sakura, we'll rest until Kakashi gets back," Naruto said as he sat down. Kakashi had left to go the the Hokage Tower after being told the Hokage wanted him by a messenger.
"Thank Kami, it hurts to move," Sakura said and she laid down on the ground. Her relationship with Naruto was complicated but if she had to settle it down to something she would say that he was like a big brother to her now. It was easy to see that he was far more mature that anyone else his age, even some people twice his age, and Sakura knew that it came from the fact that he had raised Akara by himself. She had asked him, the day after he had told her and the rest of the Genin found about Akara, why he didn't tell anyone and he simple smiled and said, 'We humans are materialistic creatures and it was only with proof that we truly believe anything. Tell me, would you have believed me if Akara hadn't been with me last night?'
She knew the answer to that, no, she wouldn't have. It didn't feel strange to say that she thought of him as a big brother since he only ever helped her and gave her advice in her training. She had asked him if he still liked her and he had said that his old self was only ever an act and that, while he did want to be her friend, he wasn't interested in her that way.
Kakashi appeared by shunshin and said, "Naruto, come with me. You're needed at the Hokage Tower."
-The Choice-
The Third looked over the people in his office. There was a middle aged couple that looked to be in their late forties early fifties, and a younger couple that looked to be in their early-twenties. The thing that bugged him greatly was the fact that the women each had white hair and grey eyes. These people were the current and future heads of the Shiro clan. Shiro, meaning white, referred to the color of the pure-blooded clans-men's hair. They were here for a meeting about their clan joining Konoha. Hiruzen remember the last time that they were here because he had been at a meeting with the Fire Daimyo at the time and his advisers, Homura and Koharu, had been the ones that meet with them. The thing that unsettled him was that the last time they were here matches perfectly to when Naruto found Akara. He had mad the mistake of commenting on their hair color and the women's eye color that he had only ever seen the combination on one person in the village. They informed him that it was impossible because the eye color on a female was only passed through their clan and only pure blooded females had the grey eye color and they had demanded to meet the person that he had mentioned.
Now here he sat waiting for his messenger to bring Kakashi to him. He didn't have to wait long before Kakashi walked in from the door. Kakashi took one look at the others in the room and his eyes widened somewhat. "Good," Hiruzen said, "Kakashi I need you to bring Naruto here." Kakashi looked at him for a moment before he nodded and shunshined away.
"Is this Naruto the one that you were talking about? Strange name for a girl," Yuki, the female head, said.
Hiruzen smiled, "Naruto is a boy, but it is still a strange name."
"Why have you called for him?" Akiyo, the male head, asked.
"That will become apparent when he gets here," the Third said. His attention turned to the door as it opened and in walked both Naruto and Kakashi.
Naruto took one look at the people in the office and he immediately shot a look at Hiruzen. It hurt the Third to imagine how Naruto must be feeling right at this moment. He had no doubt that Naruto suspected/knew that these people were related to Akara and that he now had a fight on his hands.
"Naruto allow me to introduce my guests." He waved his hand toward the older couple and said, "Akiyo and Yuki, they are the current heads of the Shiro clan." He waved toward the younger couple, "Takashi and Kiu, they are the next in line to lead their clan."
Naruto bowed to them and introduced himself, "My name is Naruto Uzumaki. It is a pleasure to meet you."
Akiyo bowed back slightly, "The same to you young man. It is hard to find young these days that mind their manners."
"I thank you for the complement," Naruto said as he straightened from his bow and turned to Hiruzen. "You needed me?"
The Third sighed, "Naruto, can you tell me the exact date you found Akara."
Naruto's eyes hardened but his voice was still polite an calm as he said, "I found her the third of April, Hokage-sama."
"And how closely does she resemble my guests?" Hiruzen said and then swallowed a lump. It killed him to put Naruto through this.
Naruto paused for a second and after he mastered his eyes and dropped the glare he turned to the others in the room. He looked at them for only a second before he said, "She could easily be their daughter, Hokage-sama."
"It can't be," Kinu said.
Naruto looked at her as asked, "What do you mean?"
"Naruto," the old Sarutobi said, "Can you tell me the exact location of where you found Akara."
"I found her in the alley between Mikoto's Market and Do It Yourself Laundry, Hokage-sama."
"Imposable," Takashi said.
Naruto turned fully to the Shiro in the room and said, "Mind telling me what this is about?"
"Do you know where that girl is right now?" Yuki asked.
"Yes, I do. Why do you want to know?"
Hiruzen's preparation for his heart failed and he was filled with grief. Naruto was doing a great job at acting like he hadn't a clue about what they were talking about but Hiruzen knew that he knew.
"She's my daughter," Kinu said with a cry.
"You're daughter?" Naruto asked in fake bewilderment.
"Yes, her daughter," Akiyo said. "We were here eight years ago discussing a contract about Konoha sending some of its missions to our clan. During that time Kinu, our daughter, was pregnant and gave birth. She and her husband, Takashi, were young then and believed themselves unready for the responsibility of a family. They wanted to do more things before they settled down. Me and my wife were told years latter by our daughter, who was at the time breaking under the guilt. It turns out that she and Takashi agreed to kill their baby so that they would have to give up their wild lifestyle. They were young and it sounded like a good idea to them at the time. So, Takashi took the newborn and instead of killing it out right because he couldn't bring himself to do so. He chose to hide the baby in an alley way and leaving it there to die.
"But you have just informed us that the baby in fact didn't die but was saved. She has probably wondering just who she really is and where her real family is at all her life. If you could, young man, could you please bring her here so that she can meet her real family?"
Naruto nodded slowly and shunshined out of the room. Kakashi was watching the whole thing with a feeling of dread. These people would see Akara and want her back and since they are technically her bio-logical family there was nothing Naruto could do but bring it to the Civilian Council and they hated him. If you fight, I'll stand by you until the end, Naruto.
It was only a few minute before Naruto walked back into the office. Behind him walk in Akara, who immediately started to stare at the Shiro.
"By Kami, she really is a Shiro," Yuki said.
Kinu rushed over to Akara saying, "My baby," over and over again. When it seemed that she was about to latch onto the small girl, Akara stepped behind Naruto and kept him between her and Kinu.
"No, it's alright you don't have to be scared. I'm your mother," Kinu said as she dropped to her knees and held her arms out.
Akara stared at her and then looked at the rest of the Shiro. When she finally moved her sight back to Kinu, she saw that Takashi had moved over next to his wife and was holding his hand out. He said, "I'm your dad, your real dad."
Akara's eyes hardened and she stepped out from behind Naruto. She walked toward them but stopped just before she was in their reach and said, "Why?"
"What do you mean why, honey. We're your parents, aren't you happy to see us?" Kinu asked. She reached her hands out to grab Akara, but Akara took a step back to stay out of her grasp. It was at this moment that Yuki and Akiyo noticed that something was wrong.
"Why did you leave me to die?" Akara asked, her quiet voice filled the room.
Takashi started to cry and said, "We were foolish teenagers back then and didn't know how to take care of a baby. We-"
Akara cut him off, "You wanted to continue you lifestyle unchanged and I got in the way of that."
"No," Kinu yelled. "It was our selfishness that caused us to do it. Please, we just want to be a family again."
Akara looked at her and said calmly, "We never were a family. You abandoned me to die, you were simply my executioners."
Takashi looked to the floor and Kinu cried even harder. She looked to her parents and said, "Please, I just want my baby."
"Hokage-sama," Yuki said, "we request that this girl-"
"Akara," Akara said.
Yuki looked at the girl for a second and then said, "-that Akara be moved into our custody. She is obviously my daughters child and you should be obligated to allow her real family to take her."
"I'm afraid I can't get involved," Sarutobi said. "This isn't a shinobi matter and must be first taken up with Akara's current family."
"Then bring them here," Akiyo said.
"I am here."
All eyes turned to Naruto. Yuki said, "Then get your parents to that we may speak with them about this matter."
"I'm an orphan."
"Then get your guardian," Akiyo said.
"I don't have a guardian."
"Then how are you related to Akara?" Yuki asked, her voice a little louder then she might have wanted.
"Otou-san," Akara said.
"Wh-what?" Takashi asked.
"He's my Otou-san," Akara repeated.
Akiyo turned to Hiruzen, "The is nonsense, please have Akara's guardians brought here."
"Akara's guardian is here, Akiyo-san," the Third said. He pointed to Naruto, "That's him."
Yuki looked at Naruto and said, "You're only a child yourself you couldn't have raised her long."
"I'm the one that found her in that alley and I'm also the one that raised her. Akara has been my daughter since the day I found her," Naruto said.
"You're lieing," Takashi yelled. "You're way to young to have taken care of our baby!"
"I was seven at the time and I'm fifteen now. If you don't believe me then ask Hokage-sama."
All eyes turned to Hiruzen and all he could do was nod.
Akiyo looked at Naruto and said, "You are a strong young man to have taken care of a baby at such a young age but we are her family. You have to see that."
Naruto nodded and looked down to Akara, "Your choice."
"Then," Akara said, "I will be staying with you, Otou-san."
Naruto looked back up and said, "You heard her."
Yuki sighed, "I didn't want to do this but you leave me no choice. Hokage-sama, I would like to take this to your Civilian Council."
Naruto let out a short dry chuckle. "How would you present your case I wonder? Just by the fact that these two abandoned Akara when she was just born shows that they cared more about themselves then their own daughter. What happens if they decide that it's too hard to take care for her? Will they just leave her on the side of the road and wave as they walk away or get the courage to kill her outright? I'm afraid you don't have a case, Shiro-san."
"I'm afraid Naruto is right. Since he is a Shinobi of this village this would have to go through me first and you don't have anything going for your case. I'm afraid that I'll have to reject your petition, which you can only make if your a Konoha Shinobi, mind you," Hiruzen said. He could barely keep his smile off his face. "Thank you for coming Naruto, Akara, and Kakashi. You can leave now." As the door shut Naruto heard Hiruzen say, "Now, about joining the village..."
-The Choice-
Akara hugged Naruto tightly as he cooked dinner. He patted her head and she said, "I was scared, Otou-san."
"I was too, Akara, but I would have never given you up," Naruto said. "I love you, Akara."
"I love you, Otou-san."