"Yugao, Sakura, Ino this is Kagami Uzumaki." Tsunade said, introducing the boy she had just tested mere hours prior. The boy looked uncomfortable as Sakura and Ino gaped at him.

"He's... that's Naruto, right?" Sakura said.

Kagami sighed. "I am an artificial clone of Naruto, created by an accident caused by an experiment of Orochimaru. I am not Naruto, but I bear his memories. I know you Sakura, and you Ino."

They gaped. "Naruto never spoke so... articulately." Ino said.

"Naruto never had good teachers or help reading. He was isolated, alone and that made life harder." he glared at him, with enough force that both girls recoiled. "Now, Miss Yugao, I am guessing she will be my teacher?"

The woman, a purple haired beauty with great skill, turned to Kagami and nodded. "It is my last assignment before I leave ANBU, moving into the normal forces for good."

"Great, I appreciate your service, ma'am."

"I saw your test, I was in the rafters. I am prepared to train you, I expect excellence with what you showed. Are you ready to deliver?"

The boy beamed. "I am."

"Good." Tsunade said. "She is your teacher, but Ino and Sakura are here because you will be seeing them often in the hospital. I thought to soften the blow this way."

"Fair point... so what now?"

"Now you rest, go to your new apartment and settle in. It has been fully furnished. Here is the address." She handed him the paper with the address on it. "You will spend every other day with Yugao, Monday to Saturday, training hard. From eight am until four you will at the hospital Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Like Yugao, I expect excellence. You showed extreme promise. Do not disappoint me."

"I won't."

"Girl's, why don't you escort him to his new place, get to know him. He needs friends and allies, you could be his first?"

They both nodded with a "Yes, Lady Tsunade," Before walking out with Kagami.

Tsunade turned to Yugao. "Keep an eye on the boy, we have no measure of his loyalty or mind in any way. If hold him down and prob his mind, he could flee... no, we need him here, for many reasons. Ensure his loyalty, do whatever you need to do."

"I understand, my Lady."

""

Kagami was not ignorant, he knew that Sakura and Ino were there to make them his allies and force his loyalty. He had no care for that, he hated them both and so turned t them. "I know you are here to make me loyal, I do no care really. I am not here for you, I am here for myself. I will be loyal as long as the village proves to me that it deserves my loyalty. Are we clear?" They both nodded, stunned. "I also know you are bullies and abusers, both of you treated Naruto like crap. Especially you Sakura, though I also know Naruto was annoying and rude and just as much a creep. I will give you a new chance, one that will open the path to many possibilities."

The girls nodded, with Ino looking contrite and kind of sad. "I ... you aren't wrong, I guess. I am sorry for that, that your memories are filled with only my worst side."

"It's fine, we cannot undo the past, only the future."

As they walked to his new apartment, actually once they reached it, Sakura squeaked out. " Was I really that bad?"

"Yes, you were... Naruto's memories are full of bad memories of you."

"I know I was mean, but...sigh, I should make amends."

"Yes you should but not to me, make amends to Naruto..." He pushed his door open and saw a pleasantly decorated apartment. The couch was grey, there was a small table and a bedroom he could see from the living space. It would do well, for now. "So... what now? How does one settle in?"

Ino laughed. "Why don't you tell us about your life, I am curious as to how you got to be. Cloning is forbidden for a whole host of reasons, you know?"

"I could do that... let's see if I have some tea, and we can get started." And so he wove the tale of his new life, and the path it took to get there... Ino cried at the loss of Sora, and Sakura patted both of them on their backs while he told that part of the tale.

It was wholesome, helpful and despite his thoughts, it did in fact make him feel closer to the girls...

Damn it.

Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a joyful chapter.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.