Hidden Genes

Summary: There is a type of jutsu only one shinobi could use,the Shodaime became famous for it being impossible for anyone who doesn't have his DNA, and even then it was rare. Sharingan is an Uchiha doujutsu,so no one can have it unless an eye is given, so why does the Kyuubi vessel have both?Why does he move like the Yondaime?

They were lucky that Naruto's clones didn't meet any resistance either behind them or up ahead of them and they made it to half an hour to the village before some of the villagers met up with them with a cart dragged by a donkey. They placed Kakashi on it and the villagers insisted on the children resting beside their sensei, as there was plenty of space for them to sit and rest in. Sasuke and Naruto didn't want to at first, but Sasuke's aching ribs were tiring him out and the stubborn raven haired boy refused to rest if Naruto wasn't resting as well. Naruto sent him a glare - Sasuke wasn't listening to his explanation that it's best to have one fully alert ninja after what they've been through or the fact that the Uchiha knew Naruto had the Kyuubi to replenish his energy and heal his wounds - but gave in and sat as well, despite not feeling tired himself. Perks of being the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki.

They arrived at Tazuna's house by sundown and his daughter - a pretty dark haired, middle aged woman by the name Tsunami - greeted them with relief and gratitude. She immediately set up rooms for them and started treating Kakashi-sensei, fusing over the unconscious man and thanking the genin for returning her father safe and sound to their home. After they made sure Kakashi was settled, she proceeded to make dinner for the kids and then prepared rooms for them. Sakura will be sharing a room with Tsunami-san, since they didn't have that much free space in their little house and Sasuke and Naruto will be sharing theirs with Kakashi. Sasuke, who apparently had no shame, quickly dragged Naruto's futon over to his own and proceeded to snuggle the embarrassed blond in his arms. Needless to say, Kurama was getting a kick out of Naruto's plight with his crush's arms around him.

Of course, as soon as the blond fell asleep, the world completely left his focus as he entered his mind space, where Kurama was waiting for him with a teasing smirk. ''Well, kit, it would seem the Uchiha is a lot more cuddly than we'd have given him credit for.''

Naruto blushed like a ripe tomato at the teasing and pouted when his inhabitant just laughed at his reaction. He crossed his arms with a huff and looked away. ''Shut up, fuzz butt.'' That got him a warning glare that the boy knew meant nothing else but that the Kyuubi wasn't happy with the 'nickname' the blond used whenever the fox irritated him. Well, Naruto didn't like being called blondie or brat, either, but he let Kurama do it when he annoyed him so Kurama should return the favor. Obviously, the giant fox didn't see it that way. ''I'm probably the first person he has been in intimate contact with for four years.''

''That actually says a lot about how important you are to him and how much he trusts you.'' The biju mused as he settled down and allowed Naruto to climb onto his shoulder beside his head. Naruto always did love to snuggle up against Kurama's warmth. The fox was like a giant heat blanket and often provided Naruto the additional warmth in the winter or comfort when the boy finally allowed himself to feel and act his own age. Despite him being a ninja already, even if only a genin, Naruto was still only twelve, a child. Most kids his age still slept with stuffed animals and clung to their parents when walking down the streets. Naruto never even had that opportunity. The closest he had ever had to a parent or family member at all have been the Sandiame Hokage, recently Iruka and, of course, Kurama. ''Uchihas don't cuddle with just anyone.''

Naruto's blush returned with backup at those words but he was at least happy he was now in a position where Kurama can't see his face. Not that he'd need to, thanks to their connection, but still. ''I guess...''

''But as much fun as it is to discuss your and the Uchiha's love life-''

''Kurama!''

''We need to discuss that boy.'' Naruto shut up his protests immediately and gave a serious nod. ''He must be in cahoots with Zabuza, as we both know Zabuza was still very much alive when the boy took him away.''

''I thought so, too, but we couldn't do anything. He felt strong and Kakashi-sensei was already tired from using his Sharingan eye as much as he had been using it.'' The blond mused, rubbing his chin as he sat with his legs crossed Indian style. ''Why use senbon at all, though? Even if he were precise, he would still cause a lot of damage with the way he hit Zabuza's neck.''

''Everyone has their own preferences, I guess.'' The biju told his Jinchuuriki as he thought of the boy's possible motives for betraying his own country or pretending to still be aliened to it. "I'm thinking that guy was raised by our would be assassin."

"What gave you that impression?" The boy blinked at Kurama's big left eye, not seeing the connection. If he could do it without unsettling the blond, the giant fox would have shrugged.

"Just a thought. A hunch." The biju explained. "But either way, those two will come back and none of you three are ready to fight them head on. Maybe Sasuke, if it was just taijutsu and maybe one or two jutsus, but that boy is older and was trained my a Kiri missing ninja. Chances are, he's a lot stronger and more experienced than you."

"And why do you think I wouldn't be able to fight him?" The blond pouted and Kurama rolled his eyes.

"Because you'd have to show everyone the gifts you were born with. I'm not sure they'd be ready for that."

"I don't think I'm ready for that, either." Naruto sighed as he admitted. "It sucks pretending to be just an idiot. I can't even get in any real training done without having to look over my shoulder every few minutes."

"Suck it up. There's a better way to learn new things and you know it."

"Hey, I already used Sharingan to learn a few Suiton and Katon jutsus! I don't want to rely on it to learn new things!" The blond protested vehemently. "My Kaa-chan was an Uzumaki and learned everything the hard way. My Tou-chan became Yondaime even without the Sharingan! Just because I was somehow born with it doesn't mean I have to or should use it! I already use it enough for Mokuton-"

"Naruto!" The Kyuubi growled out loudly and the boy shut up. "You need to learn how to use the Sharingan just as much as you want to learn the Flying Thunder God! We may not know how, but it's a damn part of you now! And it's a great toll to learn new techniques, not master them immediately! You'll still need to train! You're not an Uchiha who can learn a jutsu after seeing it done once, nor are you a genius like Kakashi. Because of those stupid villagers, you are behind in the basics and that is hindering your further development. Using the Sharingan to even the odds isn't cheating or taking the easy way out. A ninja must know how to utilize all your assets. It's the same as how you use the sharpened senses my presence gives you or the healing factor from both me and your own Uzumaki blood."

"I just ... I just don't want people to one day think I became strong because of some freaky genetic self-modification my genes did. I don't want my accomplishments to be attributed to Mokuton or the Sharingan." The Jinchuuriki said warily as he snuggled into his inhabitant's soft fur, letting out a purr at the warmth that spread throughout his body, both in the real world and in his mind. "I want people to see me, not the Kekkei Genkai."

"Ah, Kit." Kurama rumbled affectionately. "You're still such a kid." Naruto went to protest but a tail wrapped around him and placed him gently on the giant snout so red eyes could look at his host. "The Uchiha have been long feared and recognized only for their Sharingan, but no one could deny their skills and genius because in order for Sharingan to be used-"

"One must understand what he is seeing. So even Sharingan users need to train and study." Naruto recited the lecture Kurama had given him when he started the Academy.

"That's right." The Kitsune approved, resisting to nod. "Look, Naruto. You were gifted with a power not meant to be in your - Asura's - bloodline. No Uzumaki or Senju ever had the Sharingan." Naruto nodded, understanding what was being said as this isn't the first time they talked about the two brothers who have fought over the Ninshu. "But it's a fact that you do. It's yours to use. And if you don't learn to use it for things besides for sharper vision, immunity for genjutsu and to control Mokuton, you might just get in trouble one day."

"But what else is there? I mean, besides copying jutsus." The Uzumaki questioned. Kurama never told him much about any special powers that come with his eyes except that they can control biju and he only knew that because it was a part of the story behind the reason as to why the biju was inside him in the first place.

"You do realize that there's a pretty good damned reason why those eyes are feared so much, right?" The Kyuubi asked sarcastically with an eye roll. Naruto glared but it looked more like a pout than a scowl on his face. Or in Kurama's eyes, anyway. "Besides reading and copying jutsus, chakras and movements, the genjutsu resistance and the betterment in chakra control, the Sharingan also gives their users many new powers. Your perception is better, you can see abnormal speeds, you learn faster, you remember better and then there are the jutsus. Sharingan is a useful tool in hand to hand combat. It allows the user a higher form of genjutsu. Ninjutsu is a piece of cake to learn or counter. Then there are the doujutsu only Sharingan can produce: Amaterasu, Tsukuyomi, Susanoo, Kamui, Kotoamatsukami, Izanagi, Izanami and many more. Not all can be used by every Sharingan user because they require to have two Mangekyo Sharingan eyes. And that's not even mentioning coercion or the ability to manipulate chakra in a person's system. That's how they control us biju, as we are bodies of very condensed chakra."

Naruto was gawking by the end of the speech and Kurama chuckled at his vessel's reaction. "Can I really do all that?"

The Kyuubi carefully shrugged. "Probably. And you won't have the nasty side effect of losing your eyesight if you continually and frequently use your Sharingan since you have somehow been born with the Eternal Mangekyo. So there's really no worries in using it. Except maybe headaches."

"I guess I see your point." The Uzumaki conceded with a sigh, plopping down to sit Indian style on the Kyuubi's snout. "But could you actually teach me all that? I mean, no offense, but you're not exactly an expert in practice as you might be in theory."

Kurama glared at him but couldn't argue, as it was true. "I'll be here to help you figure it out as best as I can, but before you can even get to that, you need to train in your own chakra control." The fox fixed a serious look onto his Jinchuuriki. Naruto stared back just as seriously. "We'll need to sneak off to train if Kakashi doesn't get his hands out of his ass and do it."

"He's injured and wiped out and you know it." The blond replied with a huff, defending his sensei. Although it was true that the silver haired man hadn't exactly been the teacher of the year, they were also his first genin team. He probably didn't even know what to do with a bunch of kids. For a second, he wondered if Kakashi even knew how to teach them things other than about shinobi who abandon their comrades being worse than scum. "Besides, after we were almost killed, maybe he'll actually teach us something?"

"If you say so, Kit. If you say so." The Kitsune said in a not so convinced voice but continued before the boy could protest. "But enough talk. You need your rest, too. Proper rest."

"Hai, hai." As if on cue, a yawn escaped the orange loving blond and Naruto allowed Kurama's tail to return him to his previous place on his shoulder. Naruto was already half asleep as he snuggled closer into the heated fur, even as Kurama curled up more into himself to protect his host from view. The blond sighed in contentment as the warmth surrounded him, both in the real world and in his mind space as the two people he trusted the most wrapped themselves around him protectively.

Naruto fell asleep with his forehead pressed against Sasuke's chest with the raven's arms around him while Kurama kept him warm with his fiery fur and warm breath.