Naruto's eyes had widened with what the Hokage said. Had he heard right? Was this a trick? No. It had to be. But it wasn't.. Naruto was the son of the fourth Hokage... The son of the hero of the hidden leaf village..
"N-Naruto I-Is the Fourth H-Hokages S-Son?" Hinata asked, with wide eyes
"Wha..." Naruto gasped. He was the fourth Hokages son... The fourth Hokage was his dad... What?...
"Allow me to explain." The third Hokage said. He took a puff from his pipe, then began.
"Your mother, Kushina was originally from the land of Whirlpools, a nation that has been extinct now. She was a member of the Uzumaki clan, specialising in sealing Jutsu. She came to the leaf village to be the Nine tailed Jinjuriki."
"Jinjuriki?" Naruto asked, unaware he was himself a Jinjuriki
"Naruto, a Jinjuriki is a person who has a tailed beast inside them, such demons known as the tailed beasts...You're one of them." The third confessed
Naruto nearly fell of the desk " what?!"
"Let me continue. I can't explain how you are a Jinjuriki without mentioning your father, Minato. " the third said
" He was a member of the Namikaze clan, one of the most skilled clans in all of the village, unfortunately, all scattered across the world, as is the Uzumaki. you are entitled to both clans .Minato , however, was a great ninja, a standout of the Namikaze. He lead us to victory in many wars. He never gave up. He always put his life on the line before he let his comrades do the same.
Once he met your mother, and they fell in love, they decided to have you. This was kept in utmost secrecy, as to not allow the cloud nation to use Kushina as a weapon against Minato."
"The cloud Nation?" Naruto asked " what do they have to do with my dad?"
"It was the third great Ninja war. It was between us and the Cloud Nation. Minato was home on leave when he learnt that Kushina was pregnant. I volunteered to lead our forces until you were born. Now, Cloud country has a reputation for using any means necessary to achieve victory. There is no doubt in my mind they would have kidnapped Kushina and hold her hostage until the leaf surrendered, and execute her if we didn't . As a result, only me, Minato, Kushina, and a few members of the ANBU and Uchiha clan knew. The Uchiha clan were a prestigious clan, though much of their prestige had gone, they were still trustworthy at the time. Many of them were in the ANBU, so I felt inclined to allow the whole clan to know.
Then, came your birth. 11th October. That day... The Nine tailed fox somehow escaped from Kushina after you had been born, and attacked the village. Your parents did everything they could to defend the village...but when the fox attacked you, they both shielded you with their Bodies. Minato sealed the fox inside you, Naruto. Your father did it."
Naruto just stared at the pictures. He couldn't believe it. "Why?..."
"He believed it would save you. That you would gain control of the demon, and become great ninja with it inside you. He wanted you to be known as a hero, greater than he was known as. But because the demon is still technically alive inside you, people consider you the demon." The third said
Naruto's whole world had just been shaken. All at once, every thing made perfect sense. Why they called him a demon, why they hated him, tried to Kill him...
"That is, until tomorrow."
"Huh?" Naruto looked at the Hokage.
"Naruto, I have lied to the whole village for 12 years. You have suffered because of my mistake. For that, I apologise. I jut hope that now, with this speech, I can make your life more pleasant for you."
Naruto looked on the ground. A single tear hit the fourth Hokages face in the picture " Mom... Dad..."
"B-but why does E-Everyone treat him L-Like that... W-When he is the fourth Hokages son?" Hinata asked
"Because they were never told. Only me and the council know the whole truth. We thought that it would be too great a risk, and that another country may try to kidnap you if they knew who you were. That was always a risk, so we decided it would be better if you adopted your mothers Name instead of Your fathers." The Hokage said
"And the council still had votes to kill me?" Naruto asked
The Hokage was surprised that Naruto knew that, until he realised that the council had votes of such things when it was this time of year. Naruto would have heard through an open door. The Hokage sighed " they were judging on the basis that if you were to loose control, and go into a of them don't hate you. They are just looking out for the villagers."
"...I see..." Naruto said quietly.
The Hokage knew this was a lot to take In at one time. He felt a massive burden being relieved from his chest. He took another puff of his pipe
"Is there anything you want to ask?" The Hokage asked, concerned
"Yeah." Naruto said "what's the speech about tomorrow? Over me, I know that, but... What are you going to tell them?"
"I'm letting the whole village know. You have suffered alone for long enough. Im going to tell them who you are, who sealed the fox in you, and why they did it. I will make it illegal for anyone to assault, or attempt to kill you, as it would be for anyone else. You are a citizen of the hidden leaf village, not a demon. " the Hokage said
"But I still have the demon inside of me..." Naruto said
"Y-Your not A-A demon! Y-Your more like A-A C-container, keeping us all safe F-From the N-Nine tails!" Hinata protested"A-And your S-Still H-Human! "
"Exactly correct Hinata." The Hokage said. He then remembered what Iruka said about Naruto, and what Naruto had done to protect Hinata" Naruto, you have the skills of a great ninja."
"Why's that?" Naruto asked
"Well, I saw you take out three students that were attacking you." The Hokage said " you teacher says that was the best TaiJutsu he had seen all year. Assessed as a ninja playing a defensive role, you would have completed your mission the second you blocked the first punch, leading your enemies to attack out of anger instead of them thinking it through, and you used that to your advantage. And, as a Jinjuriki, you should have less self control than the average man. You have MORE control than even I have. If I had done such a technique I would have killed them. But all three are alive and well. That kind of control is vital for a mission where you have to take a target alive.
Then, like a true ninja, you were prepared to give your own life to defend your shielded Hinata with your body, instead of letting her take the fall .That's what being a ninja is all about. The willingness to fight and die for the people next to you. i think that you could become a great Ninja. just like Minato did" the Hokage said
Naruto felt... Good. He felt like he well and truly could become the Hokage now...
Naruto understood now. His father did what he did to protect the village. And him. Naruto swelled with Pride. The truth had been made clear. The truth of who he was, the truth of what he was. And he was fine with it. He could now live being him. He had nothing to be ashamed of.
The truth... Was glorious.
" thanks old man... I understand now."
"Do you?" The Hokage asked
"Yeah... I'm the son of the Fourth Hokage, Jinjuriki, and a citizen of the leaf village, soon to be Hokage!" Naruto said proudly.
The Hokage smiled "Naruto tomorrow I want you to be on stage with me. They deserve to know the real you. To see the real you."
"Gladly, old man." Naruto grinned.
Naruto looked out of the window at the village. For the first time in his life: he knew he could be proud of who he was.
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October 11th- Naruto's Birthday and the celebration of the defeat of the Nine tails.
Hinata had gone to get the present she had given Naruto back from his house, as Naruto would be staying at the Hokages palace for the rest of the day. She saw lots if decorations and leaf flags everywhere. Except Naruto's house. Instead of flags and banners, there was red paint and graffiti reading' DIE DEMON' everywhere. Hinata felt upset when she saw this. Naruto didn't even have a choice... Why should he be treated like this? She quickly ran into the house, and back out again, grabbing the present and running back to the Hokages palace.
The third Hokage had been practicing his speech all day, and Naruto had been going through the pictures of his family. He still couldn't believe he was the son of the legendary fourth Hokage. So many emotions clouded his mind at the time.
And today, everyone would know he was the son of the fourth Hokage.
Naruto wondered how everyone would react. He hoped that they would finally stop trying to kill him, maybe even acknowledge him as a person, but in the end, only time would tell.
Something else had been bothering Naruto, and it had nothing to do with his mom and dad. He couldn't stop thinking about Hinata. He wasn't even trying to think about her. It just came to him. Even when he thought he had stopped she seemed to be at the corner of his mind. Naruto was unsure what this meant... But when he thought of Hinata... He felt... Funny... Not funny as in laughing... Like... An unusual feeling. He wasnt sure what it meant...
Unaware to Naruto, The Hokage came to check up on Naruto " how are you doing?"
"Yeah, good...I'm still coming to grips with it." He said, unsure of how he felt.
"I know it is a lot to take in. Still, you must feel proud." The Hokage said, referring to Naruto's parents.
"Of course! I mean... My dad was the Hokage! The fourth Hokage! I'm just.." Naruto couldn't find words to express how he felt
"I do know the feeling. How about tonight? The speech? Are you ready for that?" The Hokage asked
"Yeah, of course." Naruto said
"Now Naruto, I have to explain that even though you are the fourths son, that won't change your duties in terms of being a ninja. You will still have to work your way up from Genin. " the Hokage said
"I know that. I need to gain my experience to become a good Ninja." Naruto said, nodding. He had been thinking about his future duties as a ninja, and had come to accept that there were no shortcuts.
"You seem to have matured since you learnt of your family." The Hokage enquired
"Yeah... Guess I just... Decided to stop messing about... Can't put my dad to shame, can I?" Naruto smiled
The Hokage smiled back at Naruto. He really had some great qualities, regardless if he was the fourths son or not.
"Come with me , Naruto. It's almost time for us to go to the stage." The Hokage said.
"Right." Naruto nodded.
"N-Naruto!"
Naruto turned to see Hinata running up to Naruto with the present she had given him " Y-You need to O-Open this..."
"Oh yeah! Thanks Hinata!" Naruto said, taking hold of the present. He took off the ribbon that was on, and opened the box. Inside was a small wooden cup, with some sort of ointment in it.
"What's this?" Naruto asked, confused
"I-It's a S-Special ointment made by my C-Clan...I-It's for cuts and W-Wounds..." Hinata said " I-I made it myself..."
Naruto was quite unsure if what to do. Hinata said it was Wound ointment, and he still had quite a big cut on his left cheek, so he decided to try it. He dabbed his finger into the ointment and spread it across his cut. It stung for a few seconds, but then, it was COMPLETELY gone. Part of it was that the Ointment had a special type of medicine inside it, and part of it was due to Naruto being a Jinjuriki.
"Thanks Hinata." Naruto said, smiling "thanks a lot! That stuff really works!"
"Y-Your Welcome... N-Naruto... G-Good luck with the speech." Hinata said.
The Hokage smiled as he watched Naruto and Hinata. He knew that his choice to have Naruto train with the Hyuga clan was the right choice.
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The celebrations were well underway in the hidden leaf village. Street performers and musicians filled the streets, stalls were selling candy, flowers and other things, and the people were enjoying themselves. a whole manner of activities were being performed, and momento's . no one expected what Was to of them were about to have their mind blown, completely unaware of what was about to happen.
The time came for the speech, and everyone went to the stage to hear the Hokage.
"This is unusual. The Hokage doesn't usually make a speech at this sort of thing."
"Hopefully he's gunna order the death of The demon"
"Ha, yeah!"
The Hokage then walked up onto the stage. Everyone cheered when they saw the Hokage. Claps and cheers came as the Hokage took his possision on the stage.
The Naruto came out.
When people saw Naruto, the cheering stopped, and turned into a secession of whispers and murmurs. Why was Naruto on the stage? This was a celebration! Not a reminder of what happened 12 years ago!
" Everyone, 12 years ago today, our village was attacked, by the Demon known as the Nine tailed fox. Many buildings were destroyed, and many fine Shinobi were killed, including our beloved Fourth Hokage. The village was life itself to Lord Minato, who gave up everything to defend everyone in this village. Minato gave his life to seal away the fox, by he needed a body for the demon the be transferred into. He gave his life to seal away the fox, in this child" the Hokage said, gesturing to Naruto. Naruto didn't react.
People began to talk amongst themselves. They thought they were not allowed to tell Naruto he was the nine tailed fox. But here, it seemed Naruto KNEW what he was. What was going on?...
"However, I'm afraid I haven't been honest with you, everyone." The Hokage said " for 12 years, I have kept a secret from you, a secret, that the fourth Hokage wanted known to everyone in the village."
More whispers came from the crowd. A secret? What was it?
"Before Minato died, he had a son. This was not made public knowledge due to the fact we were in the third great ninja war. We could not risk him being used as a weapon against day, his son was born. He sealed the demon in his son." The Hokage out his hand on Naruto shoulder "Naruto Uzumaki, is the Son of the fourth Hokage."
Gaspes and shock erupted from the crowd. Naruto was the fourth Hokages son?! That wasn't possible!... Or was it? Looking back. They did look similar...
"The fourth wished for Naruto to be seen as the container of the fox, defending us all from the bloodthirsty demon, and for him to be seen as a greater hero than himself. For 12 years, that wish has been denied. And I do not intend to have Naruto treated as a second class citizen any longer. He is to be treated as any regular person in this village - no more no less. Naruto has said personally that he wants to earn the respect of the village, not have it handed to him. He is the hero of the hidden leaf village, and the son of our beloved fourth Hokage. Remember that."
With that last comment, the Hokage took Naruto off the stage. People were talking amongst themselves, with both fear, and Anger.
"Naruto is the fourth Hokages son?!"
"Well duh! They look just like one another!"
"Oh my god... We've been treating Minato's son like this?..."
"Oh my..."
Naruto couldn't help but smile when he heard the comments. 'Karma's a bitch.' He thought to himself.
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