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?

"Is this really necessary?" Naruto asked as they arranged the two graves overlooking the small village with its now finished magnificent bridge. "I mean, I know you're both missing nins and all, but this seems a bit too much."

Zabuza looked down at the youngest in their group, looking calm and serene for the first time since they had met him almost three months ago. Even after he had gutted Gato and they, along with the villagers of the Land of the Waves, had chased away all of his mercenaries he had not fully relaxed. Now, standing in front of his own and Haku's supposed graves with said boy by his side and their once enemies at his back. "It's for the best if we are dead to the world." He said, hefting up his sword on his back. Only his hitai-ate and a stick marked his grave while Haku's was marked with his sash and his broken hunter nin's mask. "It will give us at least a few months peace before we take up missions again. I hope we never cross paths like this again."

"So the legend of the Demon of the Mist is ending here, huh?" Kakashi asked as he walked over, placing a flower on each grave in a startlingly easy manner. Naruto winced, remembering that his sensei had buried too many friends not to be familiar with such motions.

Zabuza let out an amused snort. "Not even by a long shot. I told one of those villagers to spread the rumors that I promised to come back from hell if anyone dares mess with the bridge."

Naruto had to grin at that. It was a great tactic, especially since there were already rumors going around that there had indeed been a real demon on the bridge that day due to his lash out at the thought of losing Sasuke. If that rumor is turned into the one that Zabuza wants spread, at least one of his secrets will remain hidden. The other two ...

He met Haku's eyes and the teen smiled at him. Haku and Zabuza had promised to keep his Sharingan a secret. They said it was the least they could do after everything that Naruto had done for them. Haku also promised never to tell anyone how he had healed Sasuke or the red chakra that he had witnessed pouring out of him. Naruto's secrets are his own and Inari had sworn on his mother's life that he won't tell anyone about the Mokuton he had seen Naruto using when he had saved the kid and his mom. It would seem that what had happened in the Land of the Waves will stay in the Land of the Waves. Naruto's secrets were safe from spreading, even though Kurama was exasperated with him for letting so many people know.

Speaking of Kurama, they had a few very long talks about Naruto's declaration of no more Sharingan and Mokuton in the future. That fox was scary and would make a terrifying politician or lawyer or debater or whatever. Naruto, in the end, had to concede that his decision was more than stupid. He was well aware that he needed the Sharingan to manage his massive chakra reserves and that he would die of starvation without his Mokuton. Not to mention that a ninja neglecting any of his skills was an idiot. The Kyuubi loved pointing that out, as well as the fact that those skills had helped him protect his dear people. After remembering how he had fought after Sasuke had been downed, the way he had wrestled control so easily from Kurama, Naruto knew he could not stop using his powers although he was reluctant to ever use the Sharingan again after how drained Kurama had been when he met him in his mind space later that night. But he knew his Mokuton was impossible without his Sharingan so he was stuck in an endless circle.

And speaking of the Sharingan, both Sasuke and Kakashi had been bedridden, because of their wounds and exhaustion both. Neither had been happy about it, but they knew they had to rest. Sakura had spent three days fluttering around them like a nurse while Naruto used his clones to help around the house and with guarding Tazuna down at the bridge. He had to cook and clean since Tsunami had taken quite a blow to the head that day and also was recommended bed rest for a few days, so Naruto was left as a housewife and bodyguard. Not to mention he still had to sneak in some time to check on the fields and their progress. He was quite busy but at least Haku helped from the shadows in looking after Tazuna.

"I think I approve." Kakashi told the missing nin with a grin hidden behind his mask. Zabuza returned it and wasn't that just strange. They had been enemies and yet they had lived in the same house for the past month or so. It was even stranger that Tazuna and his family were perfectly comfortable with them around, too, as though Zabuza wasn't supposed to be his assassin. They all acted like old friends. It would seem that the idea that shinobi just follow their orders and missions had become common to them but they had also come to learn that their ninja friends can act human, too. There was no hard feelings and if anything, Tazuna was thankful to Zabuza for sparing him and his family.

"Hm, well, this is it, Kakashi." The taller man said, extending his hand to the confused Copy Ninja. "It was an honor. Hopefully, the next time we meet, we will be on the same side."

The silver haired man nodded, taking the offered hand and firmly shaking it. "Hopefully, yes. You better look after him." He inclined his head to where Haku was once more apologizing to Sasuke for the injuries he had caused. "He's a keeper."

"So are your little genin." The bandage covered man replied with clear amusement in hid voice and eyes. "Keep them close. I see them already doing great things one day."

"If Sakura doesn't kill Naruto by then or Sasuke doesn't commit suicide from being forced to stay with them that long." That got a startled laugh from the Mist nin, earning himself one of Kakashi's own smirks.

From where Naruto was watching, he was startled when he felt a hand land on his shoulder and he looked over to see Haku standing there with a beaming smile. The blond arched a brow at him but the long haired boy surprised him once again by drawing him into a tight hug. "Wha-"

"Thank you." The other whispered fiercely, tightening his grip for just half a second before letting go. His eyes were suspiciously wet but no tears escaped, probably more a byproduct of his training than anything else. He didn't say anything else and Naruto didn't need him to. He understood perfectly what he was trying to convey and he beamed at the older boy. Haku's smile became wider and he surprised Naruto a third time by placing a small peck on his cheek, earning sputtering from the blond, a lot of laughter from Sakura, Kakashi and Zabuza and a rather scary glare from Sasuke before the two rogue ninjas disappeared together in two whirlwinds of water.

00000

"Are you really leaving tomorrow?" Inari asked with a pout that night at the dinner table as Naruto sat down after setting down the last dish, half of which was already gone with how hungry everyone was.

"'fraid so." Kakashi answered around a mouthful of rabbit stew before stuffing something else under his mask and into his mouth at lightning speed. He was currently competing with Sasuke and Tazuna on who will eat more of the last meal they are likely to get from the young Jinchuuriki anytime soon. Inari joined them as soon as he had asked his question and barely stopped long enough only to take a breath before pouncing on his food again. All four males ignored Sakura's and Tsunami's scoldings for such unsavory behavior. That still didn't stop the females from devouring their own portions of food with gusto. "We have to get back to Konoha eventually, lest we ourselves be declared MIA, KIA or deserters. None of which are particularly good options or case scenarios, for us and this place. Especially because of who we are."

"What do you mean, Kakashi-sensei?" Saura asked of the silver haired man, pausing just in time for Naruto to actually get some food for himself. Jeez, you spend over two hours preparing a feast, only to not be allowed even to taste it. It was a good thing they were going back to Konoha soon, where Naruto is being starved because the villagers blame him for the Kyuubi that's residing within him and not because his teammates and should-be-friends are eating all of his food.

"Well, just look at who is on our team, Sakura-chan." The blond replied instead of the jonin. "Sharingan no Kakashi, one of the youngest ever to enter ANBU and the last Uchiha. If either of them were to be lost to Konoha, it would be a great loss. Hokage-jii-chan would have a target painted on his back at all times. All sorts of problems would arise from such a change in the political power in Konoha as Hokage-jii-chan loses support for loosing such two assets to Konohagakure and that would leave the village vulnerable, which would in turn mean there would be enemies on our doorsteps while everyone in Konoha fought over who should be Hokage. We could rather do without Danzo in such a position of power."

"How do you know Danzo?" Sasuke immediately questioned, not at all surprised Naruto could give such a logical answer as to why their team was special while specifically not mentioning the Kyuubi sealed within himself. He knew by now just how good of an actor the blond was. But being at all involved with Danzo ... Sasuke did not like the implications behind such a meeting for someone like Naruto.

"How do you know Danzo?" Kakashi asked in turn of the Uchiha, getting a rather flat look from the raven haired boy.

"Besides him being obsessed with my bro- that man." The way Sasuke cut himself off to spat out those two words still made Naruto uncomfortable as he has yet to be convinced that Itachi had snapped like that. "He had approached me in the hospital after it happened. Wanted to know if there had ever been hints or something that it would happen at all. I told him to piss off and that I wasn't in the mood to talk. Hokage-sama chased him away a few minutes later."

I'm surprised that guy had the guts to go anywhere near a mass murderer's little brother. Kurama noted with some surprise and a lot of suspicion. Naruto and Kurama were well acquainted with Danzo and his opinions of them both since he had wanted to turn them into a weapon for the village. Especially as he always seemed to thread on egg shells around said mass murderer himself.

'Danzo is a crazy old cot we can't really worry about at this time.' Naruto replied with an internal frown. 'What do I say how I know the guy? I hadn't exactly had any encounters with him personally!'

Foot, meet mouth. The giant fox living inside the orange wearing boy said ironically and Naruto frowned for real.

'Not cool, fuzz butt. Not cool.'

"I'm surprised he sought you out at all. Danzo-sama tends to keep to the shadows, not leave them for a casual conversation with a victim of such a crime when one of his agents can easily report to him." Kakashi observed, suspicion still not leaving him. Not for a bit.

"Sounds like a very difficult man." Tazuna mused, munching on the bread Tsunami had made. It was one of the first things Naruto had allowed her to prepare on her own since the almost kidnapping.

"And a difficult and dark conversation to be having during our last meal together." Tsunami pointedly said, glaring at them from across the table. "Naruto had put so much effort in this meal and we will not spoil it with unpleasant topics."

"I agree! It's bad enough they're leaving in the morning! We don't even get to eat breakfast together!" Inari complained, stirring the conversation away from Danzo and all the darkness he was bound to drag along with himself. Naruto allowed himself to relax and fall back into his well practiced role of an overly loud idiot.

He was not, however, ignorant of the dark eyes that stayed on him for the rest of the meal.

00000

"Will the plants be okay once you leave?" Inari asked while he was helping Naruto wash the dishes half an hour later. "I mean, the crops and all that. Since you're the one who made them."

"Hmm, they'll be just fine." Naruto replied distractedly, thinking back to a conversation he had with Haku about a week ago. It had occurred to him when he had seen a flash of yellowish green from the corner of his eye during dinner that Haku had asked him something about his incredible speed. He had tried explaining that his muscles tended to get a lot stronger and his movements faster when he used the red chakra Haku had seen first hand during their fight but Haku had insisted he meant something else. Yet before he could explain what he had meant, Sasuke had walked out with a scowl, informing them both that Kakashi wanted a report from that day's guarding mission. They never did finish that conversation and Naruto kind of forgot about it. Well, until just now, that is. 'How did I get in between Haku and Kakashi-sensei before Kakashi-sensei could strike him with that lightning?'

I think you might have used the Flying Thunder God. Kurama guessed, he himself not quite sure. October 10th tended to be a crazy day every year but this year beat all the others so far out of the water that we are not even talking about the same lake anymore.

'But I couldn't do it anytime I tried during my trainings!' The blond complained inside his head, pouting at his inhabitant. 'How can I do it once and never again?'

Things like this can happen, you know. The kitsune replied casually although he, too, was perplexed. It had been the first time Naruto had managed it and yet the kid couldn't use it again. And while it could have just been a spur of the moment, when the circumstances were just right for Naruto to manage it because he was desperate, the Flying Thunder God was not a Kekkei Genkai for it to later be unavailable to Naruto. It was just a more advanced version of the Shunshin no Jutsu that all shinobu used. Naruto got the marking part down to an art but he could still not use the seals like he should be able to do.

"But you check on them so frequently! Will they be fine without you checking on them every day?" The little boy insisted, drawing Naruto back to the real world. He smiled reassuringly at the boy when his question registered.

"They're still plants like any other." The blond replied. "After they are planted and grown to a certain extent, they are no longer so dependent of humans. They'll still need the farmers to take care of them, but they will be perfectly fine without any interference from me."

"So you'll really leave tomorrow."

"I have to. I'm a proud Konoha ninja and I plan on becoming Hokage! I never go back on my word! And I already promised Zabuza I would change the destiny of all shinobi so we can be more than just tools and weapons." The whisker scarred preteen replied brightly with a small shrug. "Besides, Konoha is my home. Nothing will change that. Maybe we'll meet one day again, but I will leave tomorrow.''

''I still don't think that's all that fair, if you really can't even get any peace during your own birthday in that place.'' Inari insisted but left the topic alone. And for just a moment, Naruto imagined not living in Konoha, where he was hated for no reason but being the container of a so called demon fox and by no decision of his own. His father had done it and while Naruto didn't blame him for it, he still couldn't help but wonder what his life would have been like if someone else had been chosen to be the Jinchuuriki.

Well, while Naruto might have been a slightly happier orphan, without the villagers' hate and disdain and with maybe a few more friends than he had barely managed to make, Kurama would have probably been utterly hateful and lonely and miserable as Naruto really could not imagine many people making an effort to get to know their biju and become friends with them. And Naruto would rather live his life miserable together with Kurama than let the Kyuubi be miserable and hateful on his own.

As for living outside of Konoha now ... He just couldn't imagine himself anywhere else. Konoha was his home, no matter how unwelcome he was there most of the times. Just thinking of his village made him want to smile. He liked seeing the villagers peaceful and happy even if they would go out of their way to make sure that he himself was never as content. He didn't know who or what to blame for such feelings: Itachi and his views of the village or his own father who had loved Konoha so strongly that he had died for it? His mom, too. Maybe it was hidden somewhere in his genes to love that village? The Uzumaki had sacrificed a lot to help the Senju and the Senju built the place along with the Uchiha, so it must be somewhere in there.

It didn't matter. The reason didn't matter. Naruto's home was Konoha and it will always be in Konoha. Even if he wasn't exactly welcome there.

But when had something as trivial as that ever stopped him?

Naruto grinned, knowing his answer as he continued washing the dishes. He would miss his new friends and the acceptance he was met with here in the Land of the Waves, but Konoha was still home. He'll one day come here again, but it was time for him to go home now.

After all, he needed a rest before his adventures as a ninja truly begin.