Disclaimer: Kishimoto owns Naruto and I don't, but the story… well… um… um… never mind… just try to enjoy the chapter and send me PM if you want to talk about my comments.
Chapter 2 – A new beginning…
Naruto woke to find himself in the hospital. Sitting next to him was Iruka and at the drape separation for another bed sat Kurenai. She and Iruka didn't look happy. "Hi Iruka-sensei, Kurenai sensei." Naruto called out.
Both adults turned to the blonde with concerned looks on their faces. "As if Mizuki wasn't bad enough, both of you are now in the hospital," Iruka mumbled loud enough for Naruto to hear, as he heard a groan from the other side of the drapes.
"Yes, the same night that they beat a traitor down, both are struck down by their own people," Kurenai stated angrily as she pulled the drapes back to reveal Hinata in the other bed with a green tattoo on her forehead and sleepy eyes.
Naruto immediately attempted to jump out of bed only to be rewarded by a sharp pain from his side. He looked down to see his right arm in a cast and felt the wrapping around his ribs. Naruto groaned in pain as he reached towards Hinata with his left arm. She also reached out with her arm towards Naruto.
Kurenai chuckled and walked over to Iruka and whispered in his ear. After a moment he nodded and they walked towards the beds. Iruka pushed Naruto's bed towards Hinata's bed, as Kurenai pushed Hinata's bed towards Naruto's. Both beds clanked as they butted up against each other. Naruto reached over and grabbed Hinata's hand as she scooted into Naruto's bed, both wincing in pain.
"Now that's a cute couple if I've ever seen one," Kurenai commented.
Iruka grabbed several scrolls that were on Naruto's nightstand and handed them to him. "These were with your things and we wanted to make sure you got them. What happened, Naruto?" Iruka asked.
"I had nearly gotten home when I was attacked by a bunch of chuunin that complained that I had made their night difficult," Naruto responded, dejected and angry. Hinata gently squeezed Naruto as he winced at the pain but appreciated the attention. Confused Naruto asked, "Why is Hinata-chan in the hospital?"
Hinata began to sob into Naruto's chest. "The Hyuuga practice a sealing technique they use on the branch members of their family. It is so that their eyes and all that can be learned from them are destroyed when they die. Hinata was branded with this 'caged bird seal', and is now considered part of the branch family of the Hyuuga. It is usually done when they are younger so the pain is not as intense. Hinata will not be able to speak for a day or so. Just comfort her as best as you can, as it seems that she likes you Naruto, so please do what you can for her," Kurenai explained.
Naruto nodded as he hugged her gently, and her sobs lessened somewhat. "How can a family put seals on their kids? Now we both have them. I have a demon and she has that green seal on her head!" Naruto shouted, angrily attacking the unfairness of the whole situation.
"So Naruto what's in the scrolls? They do have yours and Hinata's names on them, I'm just wondering," Iruka questioned.
Naruto shook his head as he began to open the first scroll, but found that it was sealed. "I don't know what it is, and the darn thing won't open!" Naruto complained.
Iruka put out his hand. "Let me take a look at that," Iruka said, then looked at it and saw a pin on the end and an area for a thumb to go on the scroll. "Naruto, this is a seal. You will need to prick your thumb and then touch the area in the middle with your thumb. You then need to push a little chakra through your thumb, and it should open then." 'I wonder who would put a seal on a scroll for Naruto… It must have been the Hokage.'
Naruto followed the directions given to him by Iruka and when he pushed some chakra into the seal, it opened and the scroll unraveled. Naruto and Hinata began to read the scroll.
Dear sweet Naruto-chan,
It must now be your tenth birthday and Sarutobi is giving you this as the first part of your inheritance. Naruto-chan, please believe me when I say that I'm sorry I am not there to share your birthday with you. Let me explain a few things to you before I continue. I am your mother Kushina Uzumaki of the Uzumaki clan from the Whirlpool village. You should be proud that you are someone so very important. I am sorry I was only able to share your fist few months or so with you. You are the most precious thing in my life. I hope Sarutobi and Hana have helped to take good care of you as Sarutobi did promise this for me, since I'm not going to make it much longer. Hana is your aunt and should be up to the job, since she has done it with me for the last couple of months. You should be living in the house with your aunt who is also a member of the clan. I hope they have treated you well, and tell Hana that she is an old bat for me. There is also the matter of your inheritance, you are the keeper of the Uzumaki clan holdings and it should be enough to let you skip being a shinobi if you choose until you are about thirty, though I would advise against it. I have also sealed my sword into this scroll for you. Please find someone to train you in the basics of how to use a sword, as you will receive the clan techniques in the scroll when you are fifteen and limited training from Hana just before you graduate, if you go to the academy that is. I'm so sorry that you have the burden that you carry, if Sarutobi has not told you yet, he now has permission to inform you about it. I hope you understand that you were loved. I wish so much that I could be there. Happy birthday, darling, I will always be there with you in spirit, always.
Your loving mother,
Kushina Uzumaki
Naruto wept uncontrollably, as he was now twelve almost thirteen and the Third Hokage had not given his this scroll. Hinata shifted closer and wept with him. Iruka took the scroll gently and read it. He handed to Kurenai as his anger rose. Kurenai read the scroll and then set it on the stand after rolling it up, as her eyes also showed her inner rage. Kurenai and Iruka stayed with the children for the rest of the day and into the night.
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Naruto and Hinata were discharged two days later. No one from the Hyuuga clan had come to escort Hinata back to her home. Naruto had finally looked at the other scrolls he has 'acquired' when they had gotten the scroll of sealing. Naruto handed the one that was labeled for Hinata to her. She opened it and read the contents, then immediately fainted. Naruto, being worried, read it too, and joined her on the ground. Iruka, who had just arrived to walk Naruto home picked up the scroll and began to laugh as Kurenai arrived. She looked at the children and then at Iruka, who handed her the scroll, she joined in the laughter.
Dear Hinata-chan,
As a tenth birthday present to you, your father and I are giving you a wonderful gift. We are also giving you safety from the caged bird seal. You are hereby betrothed to a one Naruto Uzumaki, you may want to get to know the boy or you can just accept the betrothal. You may also reject this betrothal when you turn fifteen and seek another suitor, but I must warn you that the council will have say over any other suitor you may end up with. Please be happy with Naruto-kun as he will have had a hard life and remember that we both love you.
Airi Hyuuga.
Iruka had placed the two children against the entryway of the hospital and waited for them to wake up, only he placed Hinata in Naruto's arms in an affectionate way. "Iruka-san, why do you tease them so?" Kurenai asked in mild laughter.
"He has had it so bad I just thought he should have something good to wake up too. It isn't every day you find out the girl who likes you turns is the girl to which you're betrothed. I do wonder why they did it? Naruto is an orphan without family, and I know he is part of a nearly dead clan now, but that still puts him at a lower station than Hinata. I would have figured that they would have put her in a marriage with a higher noble or a more notable clan. I know there is animosity between the Hyuuga and the Uchiha so they would be out of the question, but there are other clans out there, or even a noble within the Hyuuga clan," Iruka pondered the question he posed.
Kurenai laughed happily. "Haven't you heard the saying 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth', Iruka-san?" she asked, looking fondly over at Naruto and Hinata.
Naruto woke up, then realized there was a mop of hair in his face and felt a weight on his chest. He smiled but wondered how Hinata had ended up on his chest. The only thing he could remember was seeing Hinata faint, then reading the note and then fainting himself. There were things that bothered him. 'If what was put in the scroll is accurate then they should have never put the caged bird seal upon her as she was already betrothed. Now she would be considered damaged, but not to me, since we are now more alike than we were before. I am sorry Hinata-chan. You failed because the damn fox that is sealed inside of me,' Naruto thought to himself sadly.
"Naruto, what are you going to do with this information?" Iruka asked Naruto as Kurenai also wondered.
"I don't know. The old man kept this from us and I almost believe that he may never have wanted me to see these scrolls at all." Naruto said glumly as he fished the first scroll from his mother out of his pocket, then continued, "I think I am going to read the other scroll as it is supposed to be for my fifteenth birthday but until then I should be able to keep the information secret." Naruto fished the second scroll out and began to read his expression changed several times, from tears to out and out anger. "Why the hell didn't he tell me this? Damn it!" Naruto cursed.
Iruka and Kurenai wore confused looks as Hinata was woken by Naruto's angry outburst. "Tell you what?" Iruka and Kurenai asked in unison.
"We can't discuss this here. We'll go to Hinata's house and get her set, and then go to my house. She can come along to my place if she likes, so that she can also hear about it," Naruto explained as he continued to wear an angry look. Naruto knew this information would come to no good if it became common knowledge.
Hinata stood and helped Naruto up. The group moved through town to the Hyuuga estate only to find a small collection of scrolls waiting outside the estate with Hiashi sitting on the porch his eyes red and swollen. Hinata looked at her father with both anger and concern. "What is it, father?" Hinata asked angrily, Hiashi winced as 'father' was drawn out by Hinata.
Hiashi turned his saddened face towards Hinata and Naruto, but could not look them directly in the eyes. "You both must think ill of me. I am sorry for both of you. I am sorry I couldn't stop the council from branding you, and worse yet they have also banished you from the estate. They wanted to leave a branch member to explain to you what was going on, but I sent them away so that I could do that myself. Hinata-chan, you are now disowned by the clan, but not by me. I also have information for you," Hiashi said sadly, he then looked at Naruto, and continued. "You're betrothed to this very boy here and you may stay with him if you like. I will make sure you have money, but I can't help you otherwise as the council will remove me from my position as head and brand both myself and your sister. Here are the scrolls with your belongings in them. I also included a detailed scroll on the workings of the caged bird seal, Naruto if you could learn about seal and either alter or remove the seal I would be most gracious." Hiashi stated as he handed Hinata a handful of scrolls.
Naruto stepped forward and took the scrolls as Hinata was frozen with shock. "What happened to Hana?" Naruto asked out of the blue.
Hiashi took a deep breath and then sighed. "She died defending you when you were just two. She… she died in the fire at the Uzumaki mansion," he answered with a heavy feeling in his heart.
Naruto looked down as tears fell to the ground. "They would kill the woman that was there to protect me and burn my house down just to try to kill the fox?" Naruto growled as he clenched his right hand only to have blood begin to fall from it.
"How do you know of that?" Hiashi asked.
"Naruto-kun and I both learned that he is the container of the Kyuubi the other night, when we defeated Mizuki-sensei," Hinata responded as moved to rub Naruto's back.
"Why do they hate me and those who care about me so? I'm not the damn fox," Naruto stated in a low growling voice.
"I know that, Naruto, and that is why Airi and I betrothed you to Hinata-chan. It was sort of a reward, in a sense and a way to muzzle those who thought of you as a monster. We set it up so that she could marry you and thus calm those in the clan to not hate you, Naruto. I know the council went back on its word and branded her but that is why I am giving you the information so that you may be able to alter or fix the seal. I would just avoid main house members, Hinata-chan," Hiashi explained.
Naruto handed a scroll to Hiashi. "How much of this did you know?" Naruto asked angrily.
Hiashi read the scroll and then sighed as he closed the scroll. "I knew most if not all. You're not supposed to receive this until your fifteenth birthday. How did you come by it?" he asked.
"I acquired it when we took the forbidden scroll, along with the ones meant for Hinata-chan and I that we were supposed to get on our tenth birthdays," Naruto admitted with anger and sadness in his eyes.
"Well son, you are incredible that you have done so well given your circumstances. You may marry my daughter with my blessing, just be kind to her, as she has a gentle heart. Just know that I will support you in anything you do other than destroying the village that is." Hiashi stated with a smirk, and then added, "I must return to my paperwork. I wish you luck my daughter and future son-in-law." Hiashi hugged both of them, he then turned and entered the estate.
"Naruto what is on that scroll?" Kurenai inquired.
"We'll discuss it when we reach my apartment." Naruto stated as he pocketed the scrolls.
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A while later the group came upon Naruto's apartment. "Guess you're going to be living with me, Hinata-chan. Sorry about the mess but it's all I have," Naruto said as he opened the door and entered as the others quickly followed. The apartment was a one-bedroom apartment with a small kitchen, a bed in the bedroom, a folding table, and a couple of chairs. Kurenai looked around and saw that the place was quite tidy for a bachelor's home, but she noticed a lack of much to clutter the place with other than the empty food containers on the table.
"Naruto, why do you have so many empty ramen containers on your table?" Kurenai asked.
"And why do you have so much expired and spoiled food in your fridge?" Iruka asked as he perused the fridge.
"Well I didn't have time to clean and that is all the markets will sell me," Naruto responded as he began to clean the containers off the table. A cockroach ran out from under one of the containers. Naruto looked at it with a bit of annoyance, and grumbled, "Dang bugs, I wish I could get rid of them, but I just can't seem to bring myself to kill them."
"I know of someone who might be able to help you get rid of them." Kurenai responded, and then asked, "The markets refuse to sell you good food? Is it because of your tenant?"
"That's my guess. Yet again another way the fox is ruining my life without having to do anything," Naruto stated as he finished washing the table, he then apologized, "Sorry I don't have enough chairs but I don't get many guests and the old man didn't get me any other furniture."
Iruka sighed at the revelation that Naruto's life was harder than he had thought before. He looked into the bedroom and saw the sheets were threadbare and a stack of scrolls against the wall. He also saw a large pile of used weapons. "Naruto, what is with the collection of weapons?" he asked.
Naruto smiled at the question. "You know, shinobi really are wasteful, so I go around to all the training grounds and collect all the leftover weapons that are in good condition that they just seem to leave everywhere," he explained.
Kurenai and Iruka were impressed with Naruto's ingenuity. "Kurenai-sensei?" Hinata asked quietly as Kurenai nodded to her. "Is it bad that I have to live with Naruto-kun before we are married? And what can we do to eliminate the infestation? I know it isn't really Naruto-kun's fault," Hinata asked.
Kurenai knelt down to Hinata. "We will take care of it if we have to pay for the work. Don't you worry, as you are going to have a life with the boy you love. Just don't have any children anytime soon. Because you're both too young," Kurenai warned as Hinata blushed profusely, she then added, "We do need to talk to the Hokage about what happened though."
Naruto reentered the room with Iruka and noticed Hinata red color. "Is she alright? Is she sick?" Naruto asked worriedly.
Kurenai laughed as she stood up. "No Naruto, she is embarrassed. If she is that color around you, more often than not, she's just blushing, it's a natural reaction. It is a sign of her liking you, and she is just too embarrassed to show you. Don't worry. It will lessen as she spends more time with you. It may never go away though," Kurenai admitted.
Hinata nodded to the proclamation. "I will tell you when I don't feel good Naruto-kun. It's just a little much for me to take in, that the boy I have liked for so long is going to be my husband and that I am going to be living with him," she explained.
"I know. I'm sort of blown away by all of this too. Oh, you will want to know what is in the second scroll. I am so pissed at the old man now!" Naruto exclaimed, as he handed Hinata the scroll, which she read along with Iruka and Kurenai.
Dear Naruto-kun,
This is your mother again. Now that you are fifteen, there are few more things that I must tell you. First, you're a jinchuuriki, a human sacrifice, if they have not already explained it to you already. This means that a demon has been sealed within you. Don't worry, for you are not the demon just the container of it. I'm so sorry about this. You also may not be happy with the second bit of news I'm going to give you. It was your father who sealed the demon fox within you, the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze. Please don't be angry with him, as he thought it was the only way to protect the village. There is good news though! I have talked with the Hyuuga who just had a daughter and they have agreed to betroth their daughter to you as way of thanking you for protecting the village. They figure they will have another in a few years but I'm sorry, as I will not be able to see that happen. Hana has agreed to keep you safe and make sure that you notice her when you both grow old enough to meet each other. Know this Naruto-kun, your father and I both loved you and wanted the best for you. Sarutobi has assured me that when I am gone you will be taken care of. I am sorry that I will not be there for you when you have your fist and now your fifteenth birthday. My only regret is how the village feels about us and the sacrifice we have had to make for them. Do not seek revenge for what has happened as it will come to no good and only destroy you in the end. If you have not met Jiraiya yet seek him out to train you as he did your father. Also seek a woman known as Tsunade. Tell her, I sent you, and say, 'it is true'. She will know what you mean and should take you in to her home. Live a long and happy life, my son.
With love from your mother,
Kushina Uzumaki Namikaze.
Iruka and Kurenai looked at Naruto then back at the note. The boy was the son of the Yondaime Hokage, but no one had pieced the facts together. Naruto had the same hair as the Fourth, the same grin when he smiled, and he may not have been a genius but he was still quite bright. The biggest glaring point is that he was chosen by the Fourth to hold the Kyuubi. He would have chosen his son before he would have chosen anyone else. Now it all made sense. "Why didn't I see it all before?" Iruka asked quietly.
"Why didn't anyone see it before? I guess we all just wanted to see what we saw and nothing more. I understand some of why he wouldn't have been told, as it would protect him from Iwa wanting to kill him for what his father did during the war, but why allow him lead such a pathetic and downtrodden life?" Kurenai questioned.
"Maybe he was angry that my father left him to do all that paperwork. I don't know but I am currently so pissed that I want to leave this village. As far as I can see I will never be allowed to become Hokage. I am betting that even if we go to the academy for another year we will not be allowed to complete the exam and become genin!" Naruto growled in an angry voice.
Hinata finished reading the scroll, and found a note hidden further down the scroll. "I'm sorry Naruto-kun but, there is something more here for you." Hinata said, as she handed Naruto the note as he read it.
Dear little Naruto-kun,
It is with much sadness and grief that I have to tell you that your mother died from poisoning. The Hokage did not investigate it and I am very angry with him. I threatened to leave the village and take you with me. Also, the promised protection has yet to show up, as you have been attacked several times during your short life already by irate villagers. It was nothing serious other than bottles being thrown at you, but those could be dangerous! The Hokage did decree that you were to no longer be harmed, but I fear that the villagers will continue to attack you, as you grow older. Here are the directions to our house if you are taken from it. I have also included a detailed floor plan for both your mother's and your father's houses. Be safe my little Naruto-kun, as we are the last of our clan. Also, you will need some blood to open your father's lockers to get the scrolls and open the secret doors. I have given these scrolls to Sarutobi in the off chance the something might happen to them so he should give you them at the appropriate time.
Your aunt,
Hana Uzumaki
Naruto broke down at that point and wept, his mother was murdered and his aunt died for him in a fire. Hinata enfolded him in a hug as he continued to cry into her shoulder. Iruka and Kurenai unsealed the directions to the two residences and left the room. Both returned about an hour later and presented several scrolls to Naruto who now lay on the bed asleep on Hinata's lap, then left the two for a while so they could rest.
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Iruka and Kurenai returned about an hour later. Naruto slowly woke as Iruka gently shook him. "We got all we could from your family's homes. There may be more but the Hokage would have access to that," Iruka explained.
Naruto huffed as he looked at the scrolls. "Thank you for your help, I guess we will have to go see to the old man. What do you say Hinata-chan?" Naruto asked.
"Why are you asking me Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked, confused.
"Because, if you are going to be my wife then you and I will have to make decisions together, right?" Naruto proclaimed.
Hinata chuckled and then blushed. "Yes Naruto-kun, we need to make them together. I say we need to talk to the Hokage about this. He has denied both you and I, that which we were entitled to receive almost three years ago," she said, as a determined look came over her eyes.
Naruto sheepishly looked at Iruka and Kurenai. "Would you guys come with us as witnesses?" he asked.
Iruka looked confused. "Don't you trust the Hokage anymore Naruto?" he inquired.
Naruto shook his head vigorously as he got off the bed. "No, actually, I don't. He has come to see me once a month since I was five. The orphanage kicked me out when I turned four. I've lived on the streets for a whole year before he helped me. I know he was busy but would the village do the same thing to his grandson?" he asked with a hint of anger in his voice.
"No, Konohamaru has Asuma to take care of him if Sarutobi-sama passes away," Kurenai replied.
"And I had Hana, but she died. I was then left on the streets for a year and then, finally I was put in an orphanage, more than likely to be forgotten," Naruto said, as his comment cut deeply into both Kurenai and Iruka. They were beginning to believe that Naruto's faith in the Hokage was beginning to break, if it had not already been broken. Naruto then continued, "Then he glosses over things that we pointed out about a rigged academy exam. The precious Uchiha gets to coast by with cheating and having the instructors help him, while Hinata-chan and I are left to be taken away by the wind! Now we find out that he doesn't even give us scrolls that we were supposed to get years ago. What am I supposed to think?"
"Well… he may have forgotten about the scrolls." Iruka replied in an attempt to defend the Hokage.
Naruto put his hands on his hips. "I have an orange jumpsuit that screams 'here I am, kill me' as the gift he got me for my birthday, the goggles are a gift I found on doorstep on my birthday a couple years ago," he said as he adjusted the goggles. He smiled and said, "I have to admit, though, the goggles look good on me. I've gotta find out who gave 'em to me!"
Hinata blushed and raised her hand while she got off the bed. "I got you those, Naruto-kun. I was afraid to approach you, so I left them by your door," Hinata shyly admitted.
Naruto looked at her and walked over and kissed her on the cheek. Hinata fainted back on to the bed. Naruto looked confused as he began to worry. "Did I break her?" he asked, actually afraid that he might have hurt her.
Iruka and Kurenai both laughed at Naruto. "No, Naruto, you didn't break her. She's just not used to close contact, and she was overloaded by what you did too her." Kurenai answered.
"What did I do to her?" Naruto asked, as he still didn't understand.
Iruka smiled and rubbed his finger under his nose, and answered, "Naruto, she likes you a lot. She isn't used to close intimate contact, and you just kissed her. It's more like you made her dreams come true, and she can barely handle it."
"Oh no, Hiashi told us not to have children anytime soon! Now I've done it! I'm too young to be a father!" Naruto exclaimed in a panic.
Iruka grabbed Naruto by the shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "That's not how babies are made, Naruto. We will have that talk in a few days, so that when you and Hinata actually marry you will be prepared. Mizuki taught that class. You weren't in it were you?" Iruka asked as Naruto nodded his head and Kurenai rolled her eyes.
"Did anyone other than you do anything right for the boy, Iruka-san?" Kurenai asked.
"I'm not sure. Most of the other teachers kept Naruto on a short leash. The progress reports said he was behind but doing fine," Iruka replied.
"They would kick me out of class for asking questions, ignore me if I raised my hand to either answer a question or ask one, so I had lots of fun in class," Naruto stated sarcastically, then added, "Let's go see the old man now before I decide to pull a jutsu and give him a heart attack."
The three of them waited for Hinata to wake up, and then the four of them walked towards the Hokage tower as Naruto glared back at those who gave him dirty looks. This cause several civilians cringe in fear, but others began to chuckle along with Iruka and Kurenai as they made it to the tower. The group was let in after only a five-minute wait. They passed Sarutobi's old teammates as they entered the office. "Ah, Naruto to what do I owe the honor of this visit?" Sarutobi asked with a smile.
Naruto pulled the note from Hana out and put it on the Hokage's desk. "So when were you going to tell me?"
Sarutobi sighed, "Well, you see Naruto…"
Naruto slammed his hand on the desk. "Don't lie to me old man! I know my mother lived for around six months after I was born! You rescued me after I lived for a year on the streets! So why didn't you investigate the fire and how my aunt died? Or even my mother's death for that matter?" he demanded angrily.
"Naruto, to be Hokage, you must understand about politics. I was forced to close those investigations," Sarutobi explained.
Naruto wore a hurt look. "You didn't even come to see me after those chuunin beat me up after the scroll incident. That hurt old man, it really hurt and now I find out that you kept my things from me. What happened on my tenth birthday?" he asked.
"Nothing much, let's see… Other than the festival, oh and then taking you out for ramen, nothing really," Sarutobi answered.
"So you forgot about this?" Naruto asked, as he pulled out the scroll he was supposed to receive on his tenth birthday, but hadn't.
"You were not supposed to get that," Sarutobi explained.
"Why? Is it because I have clan status? Or is it because I am the son of a Hokage? Or is it just because I am the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi and the bastards on the council don't want me to receive my birthright? It was my mother's dying wish that I receive this on my tenth birthday. So I'll ask you again, why?" Naruto asked as he seethed from the anger that was welling up with in him. Hinata noticed this and placed her hand upon Naruto's arm, calming him considerably.
"And were you ever going to allow me to find out that I was betrothed to Naruto-kun?" Hinata asked with veiled contempt.
"You didn't only take the forbidden scroll of sealing, did you Naruto?" Sarutobi asked.
Naruto shook his head. "How can I trust anyone anymore? You lied to me, and you held out on me. I am sure now that my inheritance is nearly gone. My mother's house is burned to the ground, along with the life of my aunt. So, yes, I did take more than just that scroll. How long were you going to keep telling me that my parents died in the Kyuubi attack?" Naruto pleaded for an answer.
"You didn't seem ready to learn the truth," Sarutobi explained.
"The truth? The truth is that my mother lived through the attack, as did my aunt. They were both murdered and you didn't lift a finger to help them! In my book, that makes you an accomplice! Did you think that you were helping me by not allowing me to know I was loved?" Naruto asked.
"You are loved," Sarutobi claimed.
"Well not by you! You lied to me, covered up the murder of both my mother and aunt, denied me a place in the ranks of the shinobi, and kept the fact that I'm to be betrothed to Hinata-chan from both of us!" Naruto shouted, and began to cry as his resolve broke. He next said in a hurt voice, "You didn't even try to help me with the villagers. They always look at me with such hatred."
Hinata pulled Naruto into a hug as she glared at the Hokage. "As citizens we are free to come and go as we please, correct?" she asked.
Sarutobi sighed again. "Not really, you are trained and know forbidden secrets of this village making you prime targets for our enemies. If you were caught and revealed your secrets you might put lives in danger," he explained.
Hinata was not pleased. "You deny us our birthright, and you allow Naruto-kun to be persecuted for something his own father did to him! To save the village I might add! You hide the facts of two murders and think that your betrayal is nothing! To top it off, the academy tells us to trust those in authority. We do so and are punished for our loyalty. This village should have been leveled by the Kyuubi!" Hinata exclaimed.
Sarutobi rubbed the bridge of his nose. "You are talking treason, Hinata-chan," he replied.
"No, I am talking justice. Naruto had no ability to stop what happened to him, and now you force him to be a prisoner in his own village, a village that hates him, save a few," Hinata scolded Sarutobi as she looked kindly at Iruka and Kurenai. "How much of his inheritance is left?"
Sarutobi shook his head. 'This is going to be one big headache,' he thought to himself, and then answered, "Not that much."
"So, this village has not only killed his relatives, scorned him, and beat him, but it has also stolen from him!" Hinata accused.
"When you put it that way…" Sarutobi attempted to explain only to be cut off by the angry Hyuuga girl.
"My husband-to-be is distraught by what has happened in the last few days. You should be ashamed of yourself. How can you allow a village to take advantage of a hero like him?" Hinata inquired.
"Well, part of the problem is that Naruto's inheritance was deducted from the pranks he pulled and all items that he stole," Sarutobi answered.
"Have you seen his apartment? He has old and expired food. He has few, if any belongings. So what is it said that he has stolen?" Hinata defended.
"The list actually is quite large. It covers everything from food to weapons, and even furniture," Sarutobi answered.
"He has two chairs, a table, a bed, a dresser, and some very old appliances. Where is he hiding these so-call stolen items?" Hinata inquired.
Sarutobi glared at Iruka and Kurenai who both put their hands up in submission. "Hinata, you are saying that there is a conspiracy to steal from Naruto?" he asked.
"I say there is and you are part of it, if not an active part, then you are an unwitting participant. Naruto-kun does not steal. He has acquired things that others throw away, and pulls pranks on those that anger him, but he has not stolen," Hinata defended.
Naruto squeezed Hinata and whispered "Thanks" into her ear. Naruto turned embracing Hinata and looked at the Hokage. "I want what is mine. I didn't steal and I want to face my accusers. Hell, I don't even get to go into many stores! Most chase me out unless you are there with me! It has been more than a year since I got any new clothes! I love orange, but this jumpsuit is almost like a death sentence! Are you trying to kill me?" he asked. Sarutobi winced, as Naruto had just implied that the Hokage might actually have wanted him dead.
"No Naruto, I don't want you dead. As for your inheritance, I will look into it. Am I to assume that you want to leave the village?" Sarutobi asked with a sad voice.
"For a little while, maybe. I need to clear my head and get to know Hinata-chan more, as we're supposed to eventually get married. I'm just disappointed that you didn't trust me enough to give me what my mother wanted me to have," Naruto stated with a tremble in his voice.
"The academy is out for a few months. You can both take that time to figure out what you want to do. I will fix your inheritance issues for you. Come back safe. I was forced to not allow you to pass the academy exams by a law passed by the Nindaime Hokage. If we were at war, I could have made an exception, but we are not at war, so I cannot pass you unless you accomplish something in the field during your break," Sarutobi explained. "Is there anything else you want me to investigate while you are away?"
"Yes there is. Are there any messages from my father? I already have two from my mother," Naruto replied.
"I will look. So you got the one for your fifteenth birthday too, I see. The council is happy you didn't graduate. I am sure you know that," Sarutobi explained.
"I'm sure that they're happy that Sasuke passed with flying colors also. After all, they did all they could to make sure he passed by cheating!" Naruto accused.
"You cannot prove that, can you?" Sarutobi inquired.
"Check my test and check his. Also check the target dummy. As for him cheating at taijutsu, you will have to just take the word of Hinata-chan, Shikamaru, Choji, Kiba, and myself, otherwise you are as corrupt as the others in your so-called honorable council who have stolen from me," Naruto stated.
"You are not as dumb as you pretend to be, are you?" Sarutobi asked as Naruto shook his head. "I will look into all the matters we have discussed today. I wish you a happy journey on your vacation. I will also have Kurenai go with you to the bank and have them draw some funds for your vacation. I just hope you don't make it a honeymoon, for I wish to attend the wedding," Sarutobi said with a smile as both Naruto and Hinata scowled at the old man.
The group left the tower and headed to the bank. Naruto opened the door for everyone as they went to enter. The guard let everyone in but grabbed Naruto as he walked into the bank. "Hey, what are you doing?" Naruto yelled as the guard lifted him up off the ground.
"You demon, are not allowed in here." The guard explained as he felt his legs collapse from underneath him.
"You will not touch Naruto-san again. Under the orders of the Hokage you will now release him or face me," Kurenai stated. The man looked at the jounin and at Hinata who looked angrily at him. He guessed the Hyuuga girl had knocked his legs out from under him but he also faced a jounin so he let Naruto go.
The bank manager came over to the incident to see what was going on and saw the blonde in orange. "What is going on over here? Oh, him. He is not allowed in here," he said with a scowl.
"Are there any accounts left for the Uzumaki clan?" Iruka asked.
"Yes but they are being held by the council for reparations for what that monster did," The manager answered.
"You understand that I am a jounin, and he is a chuunin?" Kurenai asked in a dark voice as the manager nodded. She then added, "Then you will help out and accommodate us, or I will inform the Hokage that this bank is holding funds that rightfully belong to this boy. He will not be pleased. He will go over your books and if we find one, just one shu missing from his account, they will not find you, ever."
"There is no need to make threats, I am sure his account is in good order. Come to my office so that we do not scare off my other customers," the manager stammered. He led the group to a back office where he left them for about ten minutes, he then returned with a large set of ledgers with a 'U' on them. He brought them into his office. He opened them and paled immediately. Kurenai grinned at the man's discomfort.
"Is there anything wrong?" Kurenai asked as she smiled politely from her chair.
The man began to sweat profusely. "Well there do seem to be some errors and closed accounts, I will need some time to look into them," he replied nervously.
Iruka looked angrily at the man, and asked, "How many Uzumaki accounts are there?"
The man swallowed hard. "There were about forty, now there are only two left, a one Kushina and a Hana Uzumaki. All the other accounts were closed about six years ago. All at once, but I know that they all died before that. The last living Uzumaki, other than the boy there died about eight years ago, a one Hana Uzumaki. And both accounts have had recent withdrawals. I will look into this. So the boy is claiming to be an Uzumaki? What evidence does he present that he is one?" The manager asked.
Naruto showed the scroll and that it was a blood scroll. "This is a scroll left to me by my mother, Kushina Uzumaki," he explained.
The man swallowed deeply. "If your mother was Kushina then you are a well-to-do young man. How much would you like to take out today?" he asked.
Naruto smirked and looked at Hinata, he then asked, "How much would it take to make it so that you and the guard lose your jobs?"
The man paled. "Um… well… you see… I never hated you… the council just forbade us from dealing with you," he stammered out, obviously lying.
Hinata smirked. "You didn't answer his question," she stated.
The man seemed to regain his composure for a minute. "You are a branch member of the Hyuuga and therefore are not involved in this," he said smugly.
Naruto growled at the man. "You will not treat my fiancé that way. She is Hinata Hyuuga, former heiress to the Hyuuga clan. If you wish to live past today, you will treat her with respect," Naruto threatened, as his eyes became purple with slits for pupils.
The man jumped and ran behind Iruka who just began to laugh. "Don't let the demon get me!" the manger cried out in fear.
"You lied! I just want to take some money out for a vacation and to treat Hinata-chan to a nice dinner! If you can't do that for me then I will go talk to the Hokage! Do I need to talk to him?" Naruto inquired angrily.
Kurenai stood and smiled evilly. "No need Naruto-san, I think Iruka-san and I can take care of him," she said a little too happily.
The man moved behind his desk and started to cry. "No, please, I will fix it, I promise. Every shu will be accounted for and all the clan holdings will be transferred into his new account. Please don't kill me. How much do you and your lovely fiancé think you will need for a nice vacation?" the man pleaded as he cowered from behind his desk. Naruto, Hinata, Iruka and Kurenai all left the bank with a scroll and smirks. The bank Manager was found several hours later, hanging from the ceiling by wires.
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A/N: I am so surprised by the reactions of readers to my comments from last chapter. The funny part is I got more reviews for comments on "MY" opinion and how I was wrong about it. Well hate to burst some of your bubbles, but it is MY opinion and I'm right even if I'm wrong as it is my opinion. Now, on to other things. The first chapter and this chapter were somewhat angsty as that is what I planned for the chapters. Chapter 3 is more fun. Also things will have changed in this story compared to cannon.
For those who stick to cannon and feel stories should stick to that… well, too bad. That is why this is a FAN FICTION. The characters are based on the manga, and maybe even the beginning of the storyline, but after that it becomes AU, so deal with it. Like my stories, hate my stories, but one thing you can't deny is that you have read up to this point in my story. If that is the case then I have done what I set out to do, which is to make an interesting story.
I know there are a ton of fans that like the light happy Naruto. Well, great, there are quite a few stories like that. I'm not trying to make a Naruto that will burn down the village, but I will call into question how he is treated and, of course, tweak it to my advantage. I have read hundreds of other author's stories. Some have great storylines, but couldn't spell or their grammar just plain sucks. I try my best to put out a good story. And to those of you who are worried that I will abandon my stories, I will not, unless I either die or I get enough hate mail to do a quick ending. Not my first choice, as I have seen several readers who insult the writers personally, the writer, not the story, I had a few but pushed on and have a few stories that are well liked. 'Uzumaki of the Whirlpool' and 'The Avatar and the Demon' are examples of that. I also have stories that have limited readership, 'Priestess and Lavender love' and 'Naruto Happyness'. The reader love both of these types of stories. I also have some reader requested and challenge stories, 'The missing Hokage' and 'The sound of a fox howling at the moon' (soon to be out, reader requested) stories. Then there is this one, one I wrote because I want to have a fun angsty story and one that pokes fun at Sarutobi for his incompetence at dealing with Naruto, and, again, this is my opinion.
If you look at Team 7 it is the most dysfunctional family you could ever have. Please, do not argue this point, as I know a dysfunctional family, since I had one. Oh, and for those of you who argue that Naruto doesn't have ADHD, give me a break. I'm ADHD and, was like that as a kid. Added to that, the fact that he was not given attention, which he so desperately needs from the village. Go to all the flashbacks with the villagers either ignoring him or just turning their backs on him. I'm sure that Naruto has an IQ of more than 130. Sure he isn't Shikamaru, but he is bright. He just needed guidance, as a child which he sorely lacked. My guess is that both the geniuses Sasuke and Neji would rank at 110 (Sasuke) and 125 (Neji). I agree both were screwed in the head but they weren't smart enough in how to deal with the situation. Sasuke has yet to prove to me in cannon that he rates above a 105, heck some of the most boring and average people do well in school. Real geniuses have problems in school, as it is tailored to those that excel from book learning. Naruto is tactile-kinesthetic; this means he leans by doing, thus why the Kage Bunshin is perfect for him.