"I wish you well Sora." Kagami muttered, pouring a little bit of ash into the sea. He was standing in the middle, with Team Gai behind him in case he bolted. "I hope this makes you feel a modicum of the peace denied you in life." Turning, he nodded to Team Gai. "I wouldn't run, I am aware of how powerful and fast Gai is, hell just Lee alone would catch me... I know when I am beat. Let's go."
And so they were off, running at Ninja speed to the Leaf. As they ran, Gai asked. "Who were you dispersing?"
"A friend, Sora. He was forced to become a vessel of the Ninetails, or at least some of it's chakra. I accidentally took it, it cost him his life. He was my first and only friend. I was burying him or rather dispersing his ashes everywhere to give him some way to visit the world...I miss him."
And they were quiet the rest of the way over... not saying a damn word until they were back in the hellish village, walking up the Hokage's tower to see a stunned Tsunade looking at the maskless Kagami. "Naruto?" One explanation later, his full life story, and the woman had a stern look on her face. "We will be running a full set of panels on you, to ensure Orochimaru's curse mark has left no marks on your soul or body. Being cloned is a dangerous thing when Chakra is involved, there is a reason it so rarely happens... that being said, it is nice to meet you Kagami. Welcome home."
"This is not my home, it is barely Naruto's with the abuse this shithole allowed." he growled, and that seemed to put them all on edge. "Naruto was hit, hurt and hated for nothing, no damn good reason. Fear I get, hate I get, but the abuse. Bullied and isolated by damn near everyone, even by the ninja who knew sealing enough to know better! No this is not my home. It never will be."
Huffing and puffing, Kagami was stunned by his own words. 'When did Naruto's trauma effect me so much, it usually is so detached... but I guess simple empathy is enough to change that, I mean no one deserved what he went through...'
To her credit, Tsunade only sighed at his tantrum. "You are not wrong, I learned later what Naruto went through and you are right, it's appalling but I swore an oath and I will stick to it. As for you, well you are here for safety if nothing else... I am sorry, but it's true."
"Fine but I want a good mentor, access to the library, sealing techniques and I want it to be publically known to the Ninja that I am not Naruto. I want to be my own person. Also, I want Kakashi to be fined for being a shit mentor. Lastly, I want to be a medic and continue my training. I am a gifted sealer, healer, wind user nad taijutsu user. I will allow you to test my skills, but I will not be suppressed. I am capable, more than I ever realized as Naruto! I want my full potential to be realized."
"Easily done. I will look into Kakashi myself, and I already had an apartment ready for you in case you agreed to stay. I had no idea that you were Naruto's clone, but still... after your panels, I will have you tested by Gai, Shizune, Asuma and myself to see where you would best fit as a ninja and to get you a good mentor. " She said, holding out her hand. "Welcome to the Leaf?"
He sighed and shook her hand. "Thank you... and sorry for yelling, you didn't do the bad things, but it is hard to be calm when Naruto's trauma is so deeply imbedded in my memories."
"I can imagine... now, I will take you to the hospital to be tested... and once you are evaluated, we will have you fully integrated as a Leaf Ninja. You are a clone are already in the Barrier's matrix and you have the academy secrets, there is no point in not accepting you."
"""
"You seem normal enough." Tsunade replied, checking his tests over after three hours of being poked and prodded. She could not help but smile at him, she was reminded of Naruto so much that it was hard to not like the kid. "You have a chakra stain, your eyes, from being exposed to so much of Kyuubi's chakra while being formed. I think your hypothesis on your creation is accurate."
He smiled at her. "So all that is left is being tested for my skills?" His raw excitement was all Naruto.
"More or less,... come on kid, let's go see what you can do."
And to be honest, despite loathing being in the village that hurt Naruto, he was excited to see where his skills truly lie...
As they walked out, she watched him. 'He even walks different that Naruto, with poise and grace. It will be interesting to see his growth and progression... I hope the village is ready for him, if anyone is...'
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.