Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, only this storyline.
I will have some information at the end of the chapter about the Uchiha and others. Enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 5 – Different lives…
Naruto woke up lying in a moving wagon under a blanket next to Hinata. His head hurt as did his stomach. He pulls up the blanket and notices his stomach is bandaged as is Hinata's chest. Embarrassed he quickly puts the blanket back over her and himself, but disturbing Hinata in the process. While she does not wake she turns onto her side and snuggles up to Naruto. Naruto turns beat red from the closeness as he has never been this close to another person let alone a girl.
He looks up and sees a smiling female face framed in black hair with ebony eyes. "So you're finally are awake? Looks like she found a nice pillow, you think?"
Naruto for once in his life was at a loss for words. Being so close to someone both excited him and scared him to death. All he could do was try to remember how he got here bandaged, nearly naked and sleeping in a wagon next to a nearly naked Hinata. He tried to speak but all he could muster was an 'EEP!' as Hinata shifted again wrapping her leg around his leg.
This woke Hinata up. All she saw as a sea of blond. She thought that the teddy bear she was snuggling up with was a little large, warm and that she was not in her regular bed. 'Wait blond teddy bear?' She moved her leg up and felt that her leg was bare as was the one hers was wrapped around.
"Ah. You're up too, good. I think you like your teddy bear. He is cute too isn't he?" Kikiyo said with a smile on her face.
Hinata sat up and slowly turned towards Naruto. She saw that he was bandaged around the stomach and face. He also was not wearing anything other than boxers. She then noticed that she was only wearing bandages around her chest and panties. She immediately passed out. Naruto immediately pulled up the blanket to cover them both up.
Naruto continued to just stare up at the sky and the passing trees.
"So what did you do last night to wake up next to a pretty girl like her?" Kikiyo asked Naruto with a laugh in her voice.
Naruto continued to look up into the sky but had a confused look on his face. "What do you mean? We were attacked by a Lightning nin and some Hyuuga chunin. The last thing I remember was…" Naruto's head started to hurt even worse. "I saw that Hinata was hurt and I went to try to help… I heard a voice say that I owed them… Then I woke up with no clothes on next to Hinata. You tell me what I did last night."
Kikiyo laughed as did the red headed driver. "Well nephew you saved the Hyuuga girl's life. As for owing someone I have no clue who said that. And Last night you were asleep, as was Hinata-hime."
"I am glad I was able to save her…" Naruto's face was showing utter shock. "What do you mean nephew?"
"Just what I said, you are my nephew. Happy to meet you Naruto, I am Ichiro Uzumaki of the village hidden in the whirlpool. You are going to live with me as is your friend. Also there are a few things that we need for you and Hinata to talk about. Also I would like to know about your schooling. As we are taking over it and we are going to make a great shinobi out of you." Ichiro said with a big grin.
Naruto's eyes began to water. "I… I… I have family…"
"Yes my boy you do. A whole clan young man and your grandfather Takashi Uzumaki will be so happy to see you." Ichiro said happily.
Naruto couldn't stop crying and smiling at the same time.
"So you think he likes the news?" Kikiyo asked already knowing the answer. "Wait till he hears all the other news." Causing both Ichiro and Kikiyo to both laugh hysterically.
Naruto felt a finger wipe the tears from his left cheek. "Naruto-kun…?" Hinata spoke quietly.
Naruto hesitant and almost at information overload looked over at Hinata lying next to him. He could not stop his eyes from tearing and his mouth was quivering not able to form words. Hinata shifted and hugged him as he lost all control and cried his heart out. "Oh Naruto-kun… It is ok…"
Kikiyo and Ichiro watched and smiled kindly as Naruto let his emotions go and Hinata comforted him. "They make a cute couple don't they?" Kikiyo said quietly causing Ichiro to nod and Hinata to blush but not release Naruto. Kikiyo put another blanket over the children to keep them warm and help sate their modesty.
About a half hour later Naruto was able to compose himself enough to release Hinata from their hug. She would occasionally wipe the tears on his face and smile at him. "Why didn't you come for me sooner?" Naruto asked looking at Ichiro.
"Sorry kid, we didn't know you were there. We knew your mother was there but we thought she was ok. If we had known we would have come sooner. I read the reports and heard the stories about what you have gone through. I am very sorry. I hope we can make it up to you Naruto. But I am sure you will not be alone any more. And you little lady will come to live with us. There are plans for you, and don't worry I think you will like them." Ichiro said while smiling at Hinata.
"I know the clan council was after you Hinata. Also your father changed, I can't elaborate on that but I think you know when it happened." Ichiro said apologetically to Hinata.
"You both will find some nice and nasty truths in the near and distant futures. We will let you know when and what you need to know. For now both of you rest we will be stopping soon and you both can take care of necessities and then eat some dinner. Also we have some clothes for you to wear unless you like your current attire." Kikiyo said teasingly, causing both children to blush.
"Oh and by the way my name is Kikiyo Uchiwa. We who fled the Uchiha will not be referred to as Uchiha anymore. Also only a few of us have active Sharingan anyways. But we did make off with a huge store of the clan library that should have burned down with our houses. That will show that fool Fugaku. He was so arrogant, as was the clan council. I hope your clans are not that way." Kikiyo says looking directly at Ichiro.
"Clan politics are for those who like to lose arguments. The clan council rarely meets and even more rarely goes against the head of the clan. When they do it is all out in the open so that there is no subterfuge. That is one reason Iwa gave us back our village status. We keep our politics in the open. Thus they do not fear us allying with Konoha, they actually hoped we would. We know they have some people in our village watching us, but we don't care. Most are open that they are spies for Iwa and that is not held against them. Also we have their promise which is backed by money and several council members in Iwa that they will not attack us or one of our citizens. They also will not accept any assassination missions on our people as we will not on theirs." Ichiro finished smiling.
An hour later the wagon stopped. "Okay kids, we are camping here tonight. Here are some clothes so you can change, I would do it quickly as it is cold and you will catch a chill if you don't change quickly."
Naruto looked at Hinata and turned away while grabbing his clothes. He stood and pulled on the pants wincing as he bent at the waist. He finished while putting on his shirt. Hinata started with the shirt and then put on her pants. She noticed that her chest hurt. They looked at each other seeing each other fully dressed smiled and slid out of the wagon. "Okay Naruto you are with me, and Hinata you're with Kikiyo as it is potty break time." Ichiro said as the camp broke into two groups, one male one female. Each group headed different direction on the sides of the camp to use the bath room in the woods.
Afterwards the group reassembled and made camp. Naruto did not stray far from Hinata all evening. Nor would Hinata stray far from Naruto. Ichiro asked Naruto to tell him how he was treated by Konoha. Naruto was slow to respond but eventually he started after Kikiyo told everyone about how he had been to the hospital more times than most shinobi for kunai and shuriken wounds. Hinata remembered back to when she first met Naruto and moved closer to him trying to comfort him as he talked. Ichiro had to hold his anger in check as to not scare Naruto so that he would finish his story.
Ichiro took a deep breath. "Well Naruto, I am impressed by your tenacity. You live up to being an Uzumaki. I am sure Takashi, your grandfather, will be impressed. I am also not very happy with Konoha, in too many ways to count. I will assure you that you will not be treated like that in Uzi. You like your friend Hinata are from a noble house. We are respected, but not feared by those of our village. You will be well treated. You might even find that you get too much attention. Just remember that you are loved and you will be fine." Ichiro pulled Naruto into a hug.
After dinner a medical nin looked at Naruto and Hinata. Not surprisingly Naruto other than being malnourished he was fine. He had several scars from his encounters with the villagers and the ninjas that hurt him over the last few years. Hinata was surprised that she had a small line of discolored skin, a scar, running from her right chest across to her collar bone on the left side. She was told that it was Naruto who had healed her. She thanked the medic and then went to Naruto.
"I would like to thank you for saving my life Naruto-kun. If there is any way I can repay you I will." Hinata bowed to Naruto causing him to blush.
Ichiro immediately pulled Hinata aside saying he had a few things to tell her. "What is it Uzumaki-san?"
"I have some good news and some bad news for you." Ichiro stated with no emotion. "Your father is under a genjutsu." Hinata gasped. "His treatment of you over the last few years has been because of this. He has not been himself since before your sister was born. Fugaku Uchiha did this to him." Tears were welling up in her eyes. "There is more, he tricked your father into signing a marriage contract for you and Sasuke Uchiha. "
She slowly shook her head as tears rolled out of her eyes. "No… no… please no…"
Ichiro kneeled down and hugged the despondent girl. He whispered in her ear "There is a way around having to marry Fugaku's son. I will tell you about it in a few years, but I advise getting to really know my nephew though. I know it is a lot to take in but we are taking you to the Whirlpool for your safety and Naruto's. I will give you a present when you make genin. It is okay Hinata you are considered family. I will make you a ward of Kikiyo if you like. You can also see Naruto any time you like. "
He held the crying girl for a little while until her sobs eased. "I know you care for Naruto, just keep doing that and I know he cares for you. You will become great friends and maybe even more. Just give it time, you are young. Now go back to the others and see if Naruto will offer you support like you did him." Ichiro said as he shooed Hinata back to the main group.
He watched as Hinata found Naruto and said something to him. He nodded and they sat by the fire and she cried into his shoulder as he hugged her. This caused Ichiro to smile as he sensed Kikiyo approach him from behind. "You are playing an adult game and not giving them much of a choice are you?" Kikiyo asked with a smile.
"Did they really have a choice to begin with? He is going to need her kindness and she needs his confidence. They both have a lot of pain, and it will do both of them good to help each other out." Ichiro said with a huge smile on his face.
"Yes, I agree with you on that case. But will she accept his curse?" Kikiyo asked almost in tears.
"Curse? What curse are you talking about?" Ichiro became very serious.
"Did you ever wonder why they called him demon? Did you want to know why they were hunting him on his birthday of all days?" Kikiyo asked with a single tear running down her face.
"I had no idea other than he was born to an outsider. You mean there is more?" Ichiro looked very concerned.
"Yes, I know more and you should too. He is the vessel of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. The nine-tailed demon fox. The fourth sealed the demon into him when it attacked Konoha seven years ago. Sarutobi-sama told me before we left so that I could at least let him know when he got older." Tears ran freely now. "He was to be regarded as a hero by the village. That was the fourth's wish. Instead they thought of him as the demon incarnate. They attempted to murder him at every corner. He was spurned and chased away from shops. You understand why he is malnourished now? If people couldn't kill him fast then other would try to kill him slowly, by selling him rotten food or no food at all."
"I never raised a hand to the boy. I even offered some help on occasion, and was punished for it each time I did. The Uchiha have too many secrets and one deals with the Kyuubi." Kikiyo was holding her hands to her eyes in an attempt to stem the tears. "Those of us with you now either favor Naruto and none of us hate him at all. We all think of him as a hero. He has kept the beast at bay for the last seven years. We thank Kami for each day. We are sorry for the burden he bears."
Ichiro takes Kikiyo into his arms and gently comforted hero many secrets a. "We will figure out how to deal with this."
Ichiro then looked over at Naruto he saw that Naruto and Hinata had fallen asleep in each other's arms. An Uchiha chunin walked by and put a blanket over the two make sure they stayed warm. Ichiro smiled at the kindness that was shown. He then knew these Uchiha, no Uchiwa were friends of Naruto and the Uzumaki.
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A/N: I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Here is some information for you.
Kikiyo Uchiha/Uchiwa :
Age: 17
Rank: Jonin
She is the only fighter in the fifty Uchiwa that came with Ichiro to the whirlpool. She has only two tomes in her Sharingan. She prefers not to use her Sharingan she feels like it is a crutch. She will use it against enemies that are stronger or using new jutsu so that she can copy it. She will later write down the jutsu and work on how and when to use the jutsu. Daughter of one of the families.
Ichiro Uzumaki
Age: 28
Rank: Jonin
He is Naruto's Uncle and Kushina's brother, son of Takashi Uzumaki. Water specialist and Kenjutsu specialist.
Naruto Uzumaki
Age: 7
Rank: None
Container of nine tailed fox demon. He and Hinata know about the betrothal information but not the details. They heard this from the Hyuuga that were attacking them. Naruto of course does not understand what betrothal means. Presumed dead by Konoha.
Hinata Hyuuga
Age: 6
Rank: None
Was heir to the Hyuuga, Wounded by Lightning ninja and healed by Naruto, betrothed to Naruto and Sasuke.