I do not own 'Naruto'
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Naruto walked obliviously through the gates of his village.
He and his team had just returned from a C turned A-rank mission. One that they had completed successfully.
He looked at his said team. There was their teacher, Kakashi Hatake, who they found out was actually a powerful Shinobi. Then there was Sasuke Uchiha, Naruto's rival. Sakura Haruno, a smart girl and Naruto's love interest.
Sarutobi was watching the village with his crystal ball, keeping guard. He was making a sweep of the entire village when he saw an image that made him pale.
Two people at the front of his village.
"So this is Konaha?" A young male voice spoke. "Where you met dad?"
"Yes, this is our second home." A lady spoke. "This is where Minato sacrificed himself, and where his son will join." She turned her gaze towards him. "You know what to do."
It was a statement, not a question.
"Yes, kill the demon and free my brother's soul." He stated automatically.
The two made their way inside the village.
I have to keep them from Naruto! He thought.
"Come on boss, please!" Konahamaru pleaded.
"I can't, I've got my own training to do." He explained.
"You promised."
Naruto looked at the kids in front of him, the Konahamaru corps.
"Well I did make a promise." He mumbled.
For some reason, the idea of breaking a promise didn't sit too well with him.
"Alright, one game of ninja." Naruto stated. "Then I have to go train."
"Thanks..."
"A ninja playing ninja." A pink haired girl spoke. "How pathetic are you?"
Naruto and the K. Corps looked at the kunoichi, Sakura. She had just been turned down by Sasuke, so she needed her best stress reliever.
"Hey boss, who's this?" Konahamaru asked. "Is she your..." He held out his pinkie.
"Ha, like I'd ever date a loser like him!" She snarked.
Konahamaru didn't like this girl, putting his idol down for no reason.
"Well you can do much better boss." He stated. "A girl with a figure."
The comment had struck a nerve in the pink haired kunoichi.
"Run Konaharu!" Naruto shouted.
He was already running, the kids falling behind.
They ran until Konahamaru crashed into a figure.
"That hurt you little brat!" The voice spoke.
It was a Suna Shinobi. Behind him was a female Suna nin.
He grabbed the child in his grip and hefted him, smirking at the cry of pain.
"Hey, put him down!" Naruto shouted.
"What are you going to do about it?" The Suna nin asked. He began reaching for the bundle on his back.
"Kankuro, are you going to start a fight here?" The Suna kunoichi asked. "What if he finds out?"
"Don't worry Temari." He spoke. "I'll-Ah!"
He dropped the child with a cry of pain, grabbing onto his hand.
Up in the tree was Sasuke, holding a rock in his hand.
"Sasuke-Kun!" Sakura cheered.
"Kankuro, what are you doing?" A new voice asked.
In the tree next to Sasuke was a red-headed nin.
"Gaara, I was just..."
"Shut up, or I'll kill you." He stated, silencing the boy. (I never liked how people would skip the 'Or' part.)
The red-head disappeared in a swirl of sand and reappeared by the other two.
"I apologize for my brother." Gaara spoke.
"Hey, is this just a big get together?" A new voice spoke.
All eyes turned to see Sarutobi Hiruzen.
"Hokage-Sama!"
"Grampa!"
"Old man?"
The last came from Naruto, earning a blow to the head from a certain pink haired kunoichi.
"Idiot, show some respect!" She ordered.
"It's alright Sakura-San." The leader spoke. "It's refreshing that some sees me for more than just my title." He turned his eyes towards the foreigners. "I'll let this incident slide if you apologize and leave."
"Thank you Hokage-Sama." The Suna nin, minus Gaara, did as instructed and left.
The leader turned his gaze towards his ward.
"Naruto."
"I didn't do it!" The blond stated.
This earned a chuckle from the village leader. "Don't worry Naruto, you aren't in any trouble...this time."
"Then are you here to congratulate me for my mission with ramen?" He asked.
"No, Naruto I need to speak with you in private." The Hokage spoke. "It's important."
Team 7 could only look on in confusion as to why the village leader would want to speak with the village idiot.
"Hokage-Sama?" A voice in he distance called.
All eyes turned to see a red-headed woman and...Naruto?
They turned their attention towards their Naruto.
This Naruto was wearing a jacket similar to the Fourth Hokage's, but it was blue at the bottom with a spiral on the back. He had two swords on the right side of his hilt. Even his hair was different, a raven black
But the 'Naruto' was still there in him. He had the same facial structure and even the whiskers on his face. And the eyes, the blue eyes that only Naruto had ever had.
His eyes had glazed over, as if staring at a long forgotten memory.
"Menma." Naruto whispered.
"Naruto." Menma whispered.
"Demon." The woman hissed.
Naruto turned his attention to the red headed woman. His eyes then changed from wonder to rage. A level of rage few had ever seen and lived to tell the tale about.
"Kushina." He spat.
A single hand went to Naruto's stomach, right were the seal was located.
As Naruto griped his stomach, an aura of red chakra began to surround him. It seemed to spin around in a protective manner before exploding. If flailed around wildly and pushed those around him back with it's raw power.
"Naruto stop!" The village leader ordered.
"Kushina!"
Naruto's appearance began to transform from the fox's power. His eyes began to slant as the became red with fox-like retinas. His nails on hands and feet began to grow into claws. He hunched over as a tail and ears began forming in the chakra.
"Get ready Menma." Kushina ordered. "This is what you trained for."
Menma said nothing as he prepared to confront Naruto.
"Naruto!"
All eyes turned to the newcomer.
"H-Hinata?"
Hinata Hyuuga ran towards Naruto and, despite the red chakra, tackled him into a hug. As soon as she came in contact with him, the chakra began to fade, not wanting to harm Hinata.
'Calm down.' A voice spoke.
Normally, when you hear a voice in your head, you think the worst. For Naruto, this voice seemed familiar and comforting. He did as the voice told.
He began massaging his head. For some reason, he had a massive migraine, as well as feeling light headed.
What was I doing?
Naruto looked around, trying to find out what was going on. He was currently on the ground with a girl from his class on top of him. His team mates were looking at him with slight fear.
"Who are they?" Naruto asked out loud.
Is he for real? Many of them thought.
"Baka, how do you not know them?" Sakura asked in outrage. "You just said their names while going crazy!"
Before Naruto could speak, he felt Sarutobi place a hand on his shoulder.
"Naruto, we need to talk in private." The leader spoke.
Naruto began to pull himself up, along with Hinata.
"Hey, your that girl from class right?" He asked. "Hina...Hinata!"
The girl just looked down at the ground, trying to avoid his gaze.
Is he starting to remember? She asked herself.
"Hey, we aren't through here!" Kushina shouted.
They all turned their attention to the red headed woman. But no Menma.
"Hey let me go!" Naruto shouted.
They turned to see that Menma had Naruto in a painful looking grip. He had Naruto angled so that he could see the back of his neck.
After adding a little chakra, he could see the seal becoming visible.
"Pathetic." He mumbled as he examined it. "This is just sloppy work."
He released Naruto and began making his way towards Kushina.
"What are you doing?" She asked in outrage. "You had a perfect chance right there!"
Menma answered without looking at his mother.
"I came to kill a demon." He mumbled. "Not a dumb kid."
The one named Menma disappeared in a Swirling Water Body-flicker, the red-head followed.
Naruto stood in front of the Third Hokage in utter confusion.
He had just been told that he had a family! The news, for some strange reason, made his head hurt. He noticed the Hokage tense when he rubbed the spot where it ached most.
'Be calm' The voice advised.
He decided to listen.
"Naruto, have you been feeling strange lately?" Hiruzen asked. "Heard any voices or images you can barely remember?"
In fact, he had.
Ever since the wave mission, he's been having dreams about a funny eyed lady and daughter. When he was alone or his emotions were in a small loop, he would here a comforting voice.
'Thank you.' Like that!
But as soon as it came, it left. Any he just couldn't seem to bring his mind to focus on it.
"No." Naruto lied. "Can I go?"
The aged leader eyed the child for a second before nodding.
"I hope we can speak later." He spoke. "Maybe over a bow of ramen?"
"Sure." Naruto answered, but without his usual gusto.
The blond had just made it out of the office when he was confronted by his team.
"Hey, dead-last." Sasuke called. "Who where those people?" He asked. "And where did that power come from?"
'Tell nothing.'
Usually he would have gone through a whole tirade with the Uchiha, but something was pulling him back. He just walked by them without so much as sparring them a glance.
They didn't take too well to that.
"Hey, Sasuke-Kun is talking to you!" Sakura shouted, only for him to keep walking. "Don't you ignore me!"
She had made to punch the blond, only for him to catch it. He sent a slit-eyed glare towards the wannabe kunoichi, freezing her in place.
Sasuke moved in to intervene. Not to help Sakura, he was just using the opportunity to 'Put the dead last in his place.'
He stopped when he felt a point in the center of his back. Turning his head slightly, he saw that it was Naruto! He had created a clone.
But how?! The Uchiha asked. When?
It had been outside of his skill.
Naruto looked at the team, the ones he worked with. It just occurred that he didn't trust them, he didn't even like them! And he was supposed to put his life in their hands.
"What's going on here?" Kakashi asked.
"Nothing." Naruto answered. "Just a little sparring."
The Uchiha's pride wouldn't allow him to admit Naruto got the drop on him.
"Yeah, just a spar." Sasuke agreed, as predicted.
Kakashi knew that they were lying, but to call them on it would shame Sasuke.
"Well I have something for my cute little Genin to sign."
He looked to see that Naruto was already gone.
"I'll g-give it t-t-to him." A new voice offered.
Kyuubi was having mixed feelings.
On one paw, she was closer to being back with Naruto.
The seal that the Hokage had placed on him was weakening, thanks to wave. With Naruto using so much of her chakra, she could fight against the seal. Her influence over him was already growing. Soon the seal would break, then he would regain his memories and tail.
On the other paw, his family.
With their added presence, they would throw Naruto's emotion out of whack, probably enough to break the seal. While neither had a problem with Menma, there was the matter of Kushina! Obviously she wouldn't pass the chance to pass her hate onto Menma. It was just a matter of how strong her hold on him was.
"Soon." She promised. "Soon"
Why did I lie to Sensei?
He didn't know why, but something had told him that he couldn't trust his Sensei. His hair, it reminded him of a night he couldn't remember, and dogs.
"Why can't I remember that night?" He asked himself.
"Um, Naruto."
The blond turned to see a pair of funny eyes.
"Lady Hina." He whispered.
"W-what?" Hinata asked in shock.
"What?" Naruto asked in confusion.
"..."
"What's that?" He asked, motioning to the paper.
"Oh, it's from you team?" She answered. "For the Chunin exams."
He read over the paper once before turning his attention to Hinata.
"I'm about to go get some ramen." He stated. "Want to join?"
"L-like a date?" She asked.
"Hm, sure." He answered obliviously.
Are you starting to remember? She wanted to ask, but didn't.
Review.
Next chap will be longer.