A Visit and Revelations

It was only a few moments later that I awoke to the smiling face of the Old Man Hokage. For some odd reason it seemed like he was chuckling on the inside, behind that smile, and in the amusement of his eyes. Like I had passed out upon finding out I was more than just any other orphan. Like there was more to me than my shoulder length golden-blonde hair. Though, other than my slightly pale skin and some extremely fine and soft fuzzy stuff on my face, that was the only thing I know about my appearance.

But his assumption might be a good thing for me, I could play on it. I'd rather that, than him thinking something dangerous. There are many dangerous things that could come out of the possibility of me knowing things I shouldn't. Many reasons for him to have my head scanned by a Yamanaka for traitors, and finding out I am reincarnated, with possible knowledge of the future. Something I dearly wish to avoid. In essence, I figure I should play along with it.

"So, I had a real family? I had parents? And I'm more than just Naruna...? Are there other Uzumaki out there? Do I really have family still out there?!"

Going from slightly sad, yet happy at the same time, onto a bit giddy-like, though it wasn't completely an act an act - I knew there was at least a few other Uzumaki out there. I had a slight hope that one may have wandered into Konoha at some point.

I hoped my childlike responses would help out. But what, I AM a child, and my young body does make me act childish whether I want to or not... And it looks like my responses are keeping him from making connections. Sadness in his eyes and thoughts is probably slightly blinding him from figuring out I'm more than I let on.

Hiruzen just let out a tired sigh, "I'm sorry, Naruna. There are no longer any other Uzumaki in Konoha. The last one before you died the day you were born. She would have taken care of you had she lived. But that's just a dream now. And as far as I know, there are no others. They scattered across the nations a few decades ago."

I showed a bit of a disappointed face, but I figured I could brighten his day a little after that. So I jumped at him from my place on the bed, knocking him prone with me hugging him tightly.

"It's okay Jiji! At least you told me my name! That I don't have parents anymore isn't something I can do anything about." I gave a sad smile, as he hugged me with a slight chuckle as I said 'jiji'.

But the odd part was I was crying. All I did was get a hug, and I started crying. It's been so long since I've had tender physical contact with another human I had nearly forgotten what it was like. As such I had snuggles up into his embrace as much as I could. After a few minutes like that I finally backed off.

"Now, what is this I hear about it being your birthday?" asked the Old Hokage.

At that, my eyes widened again. I hadn't actually known it was my birthday. Maybe that was why the matron was after me!

"I didn't know..." I replied truthfully. There wasn't much I can do about my situation yet, but I think I found an Idea - at the very least to get away from the hurtful caretakers.

He just smiled kindly at that. Damn old man is too nice about this... Maybe he was just trying not to show it in front of me though?

"Well, is there anything you would like? A birthday present perhaps?"

He's actually here for my birthday! Not just a visit with the orphanage as a random checkup! I Just leaned back on the bed, carefully thinking.

'He's actually here for my birthday! Not just a visit with the orphanage as a random checkup!' I Just leaned back on the bed, carefully thinking. 'What do I want? What do I NEED? I need to get the hell out of this orphanage, but I'm too young physically. He most likely wouldn't allow it. At the very least, I could ask to be able to wander about Konoha so I could get to the library? Deciding to just ask about it all was her reply.'

"Jiji, is there any way I could get out of the orphanage?" Apparently this caught him off-guard, since his eyebrows shot straight up, with slightly widened eyes.

"You can already play in the courtyard outside, why do you want to leave?"

He's definitely a curious old man -might help me in the long run though. Frowning, my saddened reply "They don't let me play outside, or with others, just forcing books on me. They didn't even teach me to read! I had to teach myself... I bet they still think I can't read hehe." He displayed a range of emotions on his old figure from grief and sadness to absolutely floored. Hehe, he never would have thought, huh?

"You... you taught yourself to read?" which got a small 'un!' from me.

After muttering to himself a bit, something about 'too damn smart', and obviously thinking hard, he continued "Maybe, it might be nice to get you a bit more reading material. Make some small library trips? It would give you some time outside, and a bit more reading materials."

With widened childishly sparkling eyes - I can't help it, three years of absolute boredom can do that - I couldn't help my joyous shout of 'YES!' that came out.

Hiruzen chuckled to himself again. "I'll have one of my off-duty ninja come every few days to take you to the library. Maybe see what you can find to interest you."

'Well, better to have someone watching over me than getting injured by angry villagers' Only then did I realize his nickname 'The Professor'. 'Uh oh, he's definitely planning something, or just wanting to know the possibilities I may possess, or something... I may have just given myself more trouble than I thought.' So I just smiled and hugged him with small muffled 'thank you's. With that, he stood up off the bed, leaving me there with joyous, yet slightly teary eyes.

"Well, Naruna, I'm going to finish my inspection of the orphanage."

'so it was an inspection, but he was definitely here for my birthday, so it's most definitely a cover. Sneaky old man...' I couldn't help my thoughts

"I will see you again" and with that the Hokage was gone, leaving me to my thoughts.

'Okay, first off, I'm in the Naruto universe. Second, I'm an Uzumaki. Third, I'm the ONLY Uzumaki in Konoha. Fourth, WHERE THE HELL IS NARUTO?!' That got me thinking for a bit, but it was all too soon that I realized what was happening. The dull pain running through my body constantly, my birthday on October 10th, my surname, and my name itself, along with what I remember of my first chaotic night here - the facts added up. In my head thinking 'shit', brain on automatic shut-down with my final thought - 'There is no Naruto - I AM Naruto'.