I DON'T OWN NARUTO

"Naruto-kun", he heard her say. He's never had a strong attachment to his name, people assuming it's referring to a ramen topping doesn't help, but more or less he's just ok with it. However, spoken by her? Poetry. And with that simple utterance his annoyance is immediately reduced as he welcomes the company of his best friend.

"Shino-kun told me you were back, said you had a run in with the fellow rookies and Kurenai-sensei". Hinata said while sitting beside him.

"Shino would be correct. Your sensei isn't likely to be a very big fan of me for the near future, hope that doesn't cause any problems for you."

She shrugs in a very un-Hyuuga like manner, "If it does, it does. No sense worrying about the rains of tomorrow today."

"Very sage like, Hinata-chan. If this kickass shinobi/clan heiress thing doesn't work out you may want to look into motivational speaking."

"I'd roll my eyes but seeing as how you aren't looking at me the effort would be wasted."

"If you had called it troublesome I'd have to check for a henge."

"Baka" she said through a giggle. "So, it's been a while."

"Too long."

"So, are you going to tell me what happened today and where you've been for the past month?"

"Ok but settle in, it's a long story." Naruto then proceeds to tell her all the new developments, including him getting confirmation about his parents, Sarutobi's plots, and his promotion.

Hearing all the things Naruto discovered during his time away makes Hinata immediately pull him into a hug. "How are you handling all of this?"

"If today's events are any indication, not well but Kurama gave me some good advice so I'll make peace with it eventually."

"And what of Tsunade-sama?" she asked, releasing the hug.

"I'm cautiously optimistic. She's been incredibly fair and supportive but she hasn't been Hokage long so who knows?"

"She might surprise you."

"She might. But on to other things; since I'm a chunin now how would you feel about not sneaking around anymore? Just being normal friends that do things in the public?"

"Well, I never wanted to do it in the first place." she said narrowing her eyes.

"I know, I know and we don't have the rehash the fight. Besides, I don't know how often I'll be able to see you, Tenten or Shino in the next few years so no need to further diminish it."

"I'd like that, I'm sure they would as well."

"Ok, so enough about the ever evolving drama that is my life, how have you been?"

"Well, Hiashi now see's me as a worthy heir. Who knew all I had to do is tie Neji in the prelims and beat on my younger sister. Idiot. Oh and Neji walks around like fate betrayed him except it's gotten worse since the invasion. I think he thought you losing to Sasuke would somehow right the cosmic wrong he endured, regardless of how contradictory that thinking is. Now he glares at me even more than he used to. He might stalk me just to have something to glare at. I used to love my cousin, I wanted to free him from his seal not only because it's wrong but so we could be a family for once but I realized something."

"What's that?"

"I'm related to jerks. The branch members, rightly, resent the seal but they revel in the Hyuuga arrogance when dealing with non-clan members and I hate it. Sometimes I just want to wash my hands of the whole damn thing. Leave it to Hanabi and live my life."

"What stops you?"

"I'd kill Hiashi and the elders before I let them seal me and murder is frowned upon amongst clan members."

"Surely you jest!"

"I do not and don't call me Shirley". Biting back a laugh she continues, "Outside of not wanting the seal, I doubt Hanabi's commitment to change and being a Hyuuga heir is mostly a thankless position. I wouldn't feel right giving her my responsibilities."

"Ah, I see. You should be a selfish bastard like me. I only think about what's good for me." Naruto replies.

"You rarely see people advocate hedonism, I think your willingness to do so deserves to be acknowledged."

"What can I say, Naruto Uzumaki is one of a kind. That's why I can get away wearing orange, I laugh in the face of convention."

"Some might call you a weirdo."

"You still haven't let that go, have you?"

"And I never will. Who calls an nine year old a weirdo!" Hinata says with a fake pout.

"Hate to pull the "poor lonely orphan card" but… poor lonely orphan. I had a better understanding of physics than I did shyness back then. I also recall saying I like people like you."

Ignoring the latter statement Hinata shoots back, "You still have no understanding of physics."

"Uh, things don't float, some stuff moves until stopped by other stuff. I have the basics down."

Laughing outright Hinata says, "If I didn't know you only pretended to be an idiot I'd be so concerned that my best friend was mentally… unrefined."

"That's heiress for dumb, isn't it?"

"So, you finally got that translation dictionary I sent you? I started to wonder."

The two continue to laugh until Naruto speaks up, "It's getting late, would you like me to walk you home?"

"I believe I would."

As Naruto was walking Hinata home there were some uncomfortable conversations happening at the Sarutobi and Yamanaka households.

At the Sarutobi compound Asuma was waiting patiently for his father to answer his question. It's felt like an eternity since he asked it and Asuma remembers that this caginess was one of the reasons he left in the first place. The only time he seemed to get a straight answer out of his father is when he's being given an order. Hiruzen takes notice of Asuma staring at him and frankly is too tired to give his son the usual run around.

"Asuma-kun, I won't tell you everything and you have no right to ask but I've made decisions regarding Naruto because I was concerned he may be a threat to the village."

"Naruto Uzumaki? The kid always running around saying he's going to be Hokage?"

Hiruzen sighs, his shinobi don't seem to pay attention very well. "Asuma, that was an act. He wants to be Hokage about as much as you do. He didn't show his true personality during the academy."

"Shinobi keep secrets, why does that make him a threat?"

"Because the secret he was hiding was how much he resents the villagers. He likely hates them outright and given what is in him, my not being sure of his loyalty was a problem."

Asuma now became worried, he knew that his dad had been haunted by Orochimaru's actions and also handled the unknown poorly. "What did you do?"

"I ordered Kakashi not to focus on Naruto's training when he was assigned to his team. I also ordered Jiraiya to just focus on him molding the bijuu chakra during the Chunin finals. I didn't believe he'd beat Sasuke but there was no point in laying a foundation and risking it."

"You could have gotten him killed. It's morally reprehensible to send someone out on missions while refusing to train him. What was your end goal?"

"Enough, Asuma! I will discuss this no more. I've already had this discussion with Tsunade and Jiraiya, I will not be admonished by my own son. I did what I thought best and for someone who never paid the boy the least bit of attention your outrage rings hollow."

Asuma bristled at this, "I'm not saying I was the kid's biggest fan but he is a fellow Leaf Nin and deserved better."

"He did deserve better. He deserved to be raised by Minato and Kushina." Asuma's eyes go wide when Hiruzen says this but Hiruzen continues on, "Or if that didn't happen he deserved to not have the fox sealed in him. After those two things weren't going to happen he deserved to be acknowledged as a hero, someone who has been in service to this village since he was born. He deserved to know who his parents were and to grow up safe and loved. Don't dare lecture me on what that boy deserved. As someone tasks with often not allowing it, I'm well aware. Do you think I did this for fun? There was no pleasure in it.

I lead a village of fools. Shinobi are those who endure and most of mine seemed to ignore that in regards to fox, the civilians were even worse. What was I to do? Make people be nice to Naruto? Make them not hate him, make them allow their children to be friends? Or should I have let Kakashi take the boy only to have him disappear anyone that looked at Naruto wrong? Couldn't let Tsume do it either. Sure she's trustworthy but what about every member of her clan? What about other clans causing a stir because of what Naruto contained?

And so I did what I could do, I tried to control one person instead of thousands of people. I tried to be an anchor for Naruto so he'd see that the entire village didn't hate him. But I could never give him the things he really wanted and apparently he knew I wasn't being honest with him so he resented me. If I had to guess, he likely saw it as me being on their side, the villagers and that's the heart of the problem. Naruto defines the villagers as antagonists to his wants and desires."

"You didn't exactly help in turning him away from that assessment, pop."

"No, I didn't and if I could do it over again I'm not sure I'd change a thing. Because as Hokage that's the job, the village must come first. Even when it hurts people you care about, even if it isn't remotely fair. That's what none of my critics seem to understand. I know what I'm asking of Naruto isn't fair but he doesn't have the luxury of fairness. Whether Minato knew it or not, he drafted his son into a lifetime of service to the village. Unlike when Kushina was around, we don't have a handful of S-rank shinobi on hand to offset never officially having a container."

"Would you have been this cold to Konohamaru?"

"No."

"And you see nothing wrong with that?"

"No, I see it and I know what it makes me…"

"Cruel is what it makes you. Also, a hypocrite. Naruto was vulnerable and you decided to keep him that way because that's what you wanted. I need to leave. We've had our disagreements in the past but this, this is not the Will of Fire."

As Asuma leaves, the former Hokage looks a decade older than he actually is as he thinks about all the decisions he's made regarding Naruto. As if trying to convince himself Hiruzen thinks, "Cruelty or not what I did was what is best for the village.' but even he is starting to lose faith in that.

At the Yamanaka residence Inoichi is having a much shorter but no less uncomfortable discussion with Ino, wondering how to sate the girl's curiosity without committing a capital offense.

"Look, Ino, I really can't go into specifics about this. Naruto experienced something possibly tragic and the Hokage felt it was safer to suppress the memory."

"But you always told me that kind of manipulation on an underdeveloped mind was dangerous."

"And it is but not acting was more so."

"What happened then?"

Sighing for the fifth time, "I can't tell you that. I'm guessing Naruto regained his memory I suppressed and the night I suppressed it. If he hates me or the clan for it, I can't blame him. For the time being, Ino, just avoid Naruto if you can. His feelings toward me is not without reason but I don't want him to take it out on you. This also means you can't provoke him because he may take any opening to act against you."

"This is Naruto, the class idiot. I doubt he'll remember by tomorrow. It'll be fine."

"If you really believe he's an idiot then I need to up your training, your observation skills are lacking."

Walking back to his apartment Naruto can't help but smile. Today was largely a good day, capped off by catching up with Hinata. 'Even the guards at the Hyuuga compound didn't try to stare holes into me.' As Naruto continues on he notes the slip crispness in the air which signals the upcoming change in seasons. He's always enjoyed nights like this, cool but not cold; something just approaching a slight chill in the air and a gentle breeze to accompany it. Taking the long way back to his apartment Naruto decides to train is sensory ability a bit, extending his senses to test his range. He has about a one mile range now and even then it's weaker near the limit. He continues to extend his senses until he is within range of his apartment where he notices a familiar chakra signature. 'Damnit, I don't think I'm in the mood for this tonight. Shit.' Naruto thinks as he tries to come up with a plan to avoid this particular argument but seeing no way out of it he increases his pace and soon arrives at the stairs of his apartment. Taking each step at a deliberate pace he attempts to mentally prepare himself to talk to her.

"Hey Sakura, have you been here long?" he asks as he opens his door.

"No, not long, I just wanted to talk to you, we haven't since before the invasion."

"Sure, come in" he says and she follows him into his small apartment. What Sakura notices is that the apartment is much cleaner than she expected from Naruto. While his furniture isn't new nor expensive, it is well maintained and accept for some scrolls and notes on his two person dining table there isn't any messiness to be found. Interrupting her thoughts, Naruto asks, "so what did you want to talk about?"

"Nothing in particular, it's just been awhile is all."

Naruto narrows his eyes. She never wanted to have a friendly chat before so why the act, "Sakura, please just tell me. It's getting late so let's not drag this out."

Sighing at his bluntness Sakura starts, "I don't know what to say. I've been recommended to the mednin program by Kakashi-sensei and been told that team 7 is finished. What happened? How did we end up like this, with Sasuke dead? We were all friends."

Before he can choke it back Naruto let's slip a laugh, which did not go unnoticed nor appreciated by Sakura. Before she can comment Naruto interjects, "We were never friends, Sakura. You never wanted to be my friend and I highly doubt you'd be this broken up if the teme had managed to kill me with Kakashi's jutsu."

"That's not true!" Sakura says at a near shout. "We were becoming closer."

"No, we weren't. You two mocking me over every little thing is not what friends would do. You trying to hit me isn't what friends would do. You never wanted me on your team and your only concern was Sasuke. Don't rewrite history now, Sakura."

"Fine, Naruto, we weren't friends but we were teammates. Don't you care that you killed your teammate."

"Not in the slightest."

Sakura goes wide eyed at Naruto's response. "You were always jealous of his skill and of his status. I bet you felt vindicated; which if you don't know vindicat…"

"You defining it for me makes you a bitch. Yes, I was jealous of Sasuke. I was an orphan that people enjoyed humiliating and no one wanted to help. Sasuke had everything and didn't value it, he didn't value you although I've long since come to the conclusion he wasn't wrong in that assessment. But that isn't why I don't feel bad for killing Sasuke. I don't feel bad because Sasuke was actively trying to kill me. We both know what the chidori can do, he meant to end my life because it was the better alternative than losing a match to me."

"He just lost his temper, you avoided it so clearly you didn't have to kill him."

"I didn't but if I can I'll kill anyone who attempts to kill me, regardless of the difficulty of my avoiding said attempt. When Sasuke activated the chidori he sealed his fate and I refuse to apologize for valuing my life more than his, even if you feel I should."

"It isn't like that, you're twisting things around. Why can't you understand? Sasuke wasn't perfect, he'd had a hard life but he needed understanding. You were always picking at him, trying to show you were better."

"Was I never suppose to attempt to improve myself? Where is this law that states I have to always be inferior to Sasuke?" Naruto said while rolling his eyes, completely ignoring her words about Sasuke's hard life.

"No but you didn't have to antagonize him like you did."

"And I was alone in that? He was just some saint that never had a bad word about me."

"What he did doesn't matter, Naruto, he's dead! He's dead and you don't even care." Sakura said with tears running down her cheeks.

"I refuse to apologize for protecting myself. What do you want from me? To be all broken up? To say I share your pain? I don't. Sasuke always thought he was above us and you always thought I was beneath the both of you. I'm glad we're no longer teammates."

"When did you become heartless?"

"Was your daily insults suppose to endear me to you? What reality do you live in? Neither of you made the slightest effort to get to know me, both of you treated my mere presence as a taint upon you."

"Because you were loud and annoying."

"You're loud and annoying but I still put forth the effort. Every time I invited you to lunch you swung on me and screeched about not wanting to date me, as if I'd want a relationship with you."

"Now who's rewriting history? You were always asking me out."

"No, I asked you out once and I wasn't fully aware of what I was asking. At that point I thought a date was simply an outing between male and female friends, no romantic context included. When it was explained to me what it actually meant, I tried inviting you to lunch platonically and you attacked me before I could ever finish."

"How cou.."

"How could I not know? I've been on my own for most of my life with no one to teach me the finer points of a lot of things other people assume comes naturally to them. Thankfully I had some really patient friends that helped me because they understood I wasn't dense, I wasn't an idiot I just simply had no way of knowing certain things. You'd know that true if you gave half a damn about me. This isn't getting us anywhere, good luck in your training Sakura but I think it's time for you to leave."

Without a word of protest, Sakura heads for the door and promptly exits.

"Well, if that isn't just the ideal ending to my day."

"Well, about that."

"You can't be serious. I can't do this tonight I'm too agitated as is."

"That sounds like you're confusing your problems with my problems. A shinobi endures so stop avoiding this and talk to your parents."

"How did you do this anyway?"

"The fuck does it matter how I did it? I did it and you're doing this tonight because I'm sick of the tomato asking me when she'll get to talk to you."

"You seem extra pissy today."

"Your mother knows how to annoy better than anyone outside of that one tails whelp."

Naruto laughs at Kurama's plight and prepares for bed. Lying down, Naruto clears his mind and feels the familiar tug on his consciousness. Once in his mindscape he is immediately unhappy at what he sees.

"Yondaime-sama, where's my mother?"

"We thought it best we meet you for the first time individually."

"Oh, no consideration for how I might feel about that? Seems about right. What can I do for you, Yondaime-sama?"

"Please Naruto, I know you're angry but please try to understand I had no choice."

"No, I had no choice. You had choices, you could have protected your family but you chose the village and damned me. That was a choice."

"Fine but it was the best of bad options."

"Why was it the best?"

"It saved the most number of lives?"

"Would you have sealed Kurama in me to save Iwa?"

"... I don't know."

"Bullshit you don't know. You wouldn't have. Guess it's good you're dead the village would have always been more important to you than I was. Oh, and thanks for leaving me to the whims of Sarutobi."

"I've seen your memories, Naruto I didn't know Sarutobi would behave this way. I'm so…"

"Would you have still sealed Kurama in me? Knowing everything they did to me would you still condemn me?"

"Yes. Naruto, I know they've wronged you but there is good in them and not all are guilty."

"You know, ever since I was told why they hated me I've wanted to hurt you. I used to think about how I could. I even considered releasing Kurama and letting this place burn to the ground. One of only things that stopped me is the fact that you wouldn't know. Sealed away in the stomach of a death god. I can't even get justice from you and you stand there and say you'd send me to hell knowing what would happen to me. I really wish I had a way to harm."

"Do you hate me that much?" asked Minato, wide eyed.

"I hate you more than anyone or anything. Are you surprised? Did you think I'd love and admire you? Wow, Dad, you're so brave abandoning me to people that hate and fear me with no enforceable protections! You freely admit you'd choose my tormentors over saving me, what else am I supposed to feel for you?"

"It was the only way, you have to realize that. Kurama would not have stopped his rampage until the village is gone. All those you cared about would have been dead or never existed. Could you have lived with that?"

"I have to take on the burden of an entire village's scorn and my reward is a handful of friends? Sounds even to me! Besides, your question is illogical. I couldn't have missed something I never had. Like parents, for instance"

Wincing at that Minato resigns himself to the fact that Naruto, at least for the time being, truly hates him. "Naruto, I don't have much time left so let me at least tell you about the events the night you were born."