dun dun duuuuuuuun another chapter. oh wait why the scary music? *hucks flip flop at Jessie's head* anyway, another chapter! :) carry on!- Jackie
The door was closed when they arrived, but they could hear Naruto and Anko's voices. Silently they pressed their ears to the door and listened.
Naruto was speaking, something about the Kyuubi no Kitsune, and about a sewer. They looked at each other then resumed listening. Anko was speaking now, saying that she didn't know enough to tell Naruto, that she believed the hokage should inform him. The hokage began to speak and began to talk about the battle twelve and a half years ago. "Hey, both of you get out of here!" an Ambu member took them by their wrists and led them from the door. "You're lucky the hokage was busy or else you two would be in a lot of trouble." They bowed their heads apologizing. "We were just looking for our sensei, we had questions about a jutsu and we saw her enter the hokages office." Sasuke began to lie, looking at Hinata for her input to his tale. "Yes, and we were just going to wait just outside but we heard them talking and got carried away…" the ambu member grunted and began to walk away. "Smooth lie Sasuke that was quick thinking." Sasuke only made a soft grunt.
They sat in the lobby area at the base of the tower, groaning at how long it was taking. Maybe they should just wait at the estate, but they had questions, and they wanted answers. They both stood when they heard Naruto's laugh in the hallway. He looked surprised to see them there, and the look on Sasuke's face made him pale. "Oh…h-hey guys." Anko looked between the kids and silently back off a bit, this was Naruto's secret, he could tell them if he so wished.
"Naruto what has been going on all day? We're worried." Hinata quickly spoke before Sasuke could voice his anger at the blonde. "Yes Naruto we want some answers." Naruto sighed and nodded. "We will talk back at the house." Sasuke seemed pleased enough to smirk, but Hinata still had a frown on her face. She didn't want Naruto to forcibly tell them what it was that was bothering him, but tell them on his own.
They walked in silence, which was a nice break for Anko. Not having the kids bickering at each other was nice, but it was too quiet. Maybe Naruto learned of his tenant a little too early. Anko shook her head and grunted; at least Naruto didn't seem so depressed now. He had a light step again, so it had to be somewhat good right? But learning the fourth chose you and he died doing it in the process is a downer.
They arrived at the estate and Naruto instantly went back to where the bath was. Sasuke and Hinata followed leaving Anko to walk into the house alone. Kakashi sat in the living area and glanced up with his one good eye when Anko walked in. "You're late, I beat you here." He said with slight humor in his voice, Anko sat next to him and sighed. "Naruto knows."
Kakashi gave a knowing nod, and placed his hand on hers. "He will be ok."
"it's not that. I'm afraid that Sasuke and Hinata may turn him away, after they learn. He is telling them right now."
Naruto placed his legs in the warm water, contemplating how to tell his two best friends. They sat beside him and said nothing, just allowed their feet to roam the water. "I don't want you guys to think less of me. That is why I am a-afraid to tell you." Hinata touched his hand making him blush. "Why on earth would you think we would think any less of you?" Sasuke grunted in agreement. Naruto still hesitated. "What is so bad Naruto? You are my brother you can tell me anything." Naruto let his shoulders fall. "Remember in class the story of the Kyuubi no Kitsune? The one that attacked our village?" they both nodded. "It was October tenth right? Almost twelve years ago." They still only nodded unsure where he was going with this. "The fourth didn't kill the Kitsune, he sealed it. Locking it away inside an infant who was only a few hours old. A child with large chakra reserves, one that could keep the Kitsune at bay within himself." Sasuke was the first to realize it. "You're the keeper aren't you?" Naruto only nodded. "The fourth picked me because of my mother, the Uzumaki are famous for the art of sealing and their long life spans and chakra reserves. And I was born only a few hours before the attack. My father didn't want to burden anyone with this destiny; he couldn't do that to any family but his own." They both sat stunned at the news, Hinata not able to say anything of comfort or anything in general. She sat in silence and tried to absorb this news. Naruto was the keeper of the Kyuubi. He was a jinchuriki. "Wait… father? Your dad was the forth hokage!?" Hinata stood suddenly but misjudged her footing and fell right into the water, causing the boys to laugh and lighten the mood. "Yes, my father was the forth hokage."
*
When Anko heard the laughter she relaxed. Kakashi smiled under his mask, and pulled her into him. "See? Best friends don't turn so easily. He picked a good pair to be friends with. Like his father was a friend with Sasuke's father and Hinata's father. It was just meant to be that way."
Later that night when the five sat around for dinner, there was a comforting silence. Naruto tried not to smile and eat his food; Sasuke was doing it successfully but had an unnatural cough that sounded like laughs. Anko looked at the two boys and cocked her head. "You boys have something to say?" they both looked away. "Well I'm no boy but I have something to say." Kakashi cleared his throat while Anko gave him a confused look. Just when Kakashi began to speak a knock was heard on the door. Anko got up and answered the door, leaving a ticked off Kakashi glaring at said door. Naruto and Sasuke laughed at his premature fail. Hinata looked at the boys and rolled her eyes. "Come on guys you said you would help me." Kakashi sighed. "We did, we caused a distraction of sorts just like you asked." "Yea, it's not our fault someone knocked on the door." Kakashi sighed again.
Anko walked back to the table a scroll on her hand and a pale look on her face. "He…he's coming." Kakashi tilted his head, mimicking the children. "Naruto's godfather, Jiraiya the toad sage. He said he has someone who needs assistance, and that I was the only one who could possibly help." Kakashi paled a little and sweat dropped, and then got a gleam in his eye. "That means I can get the new book!" The rest of the table sweat dropped. Of course the porn he reads would be the one thing he would suddenly care so much about.
"My god father? Who is he?" Anko sighed and sat beside Naruto. "He is one of the legendary senin. Taught by the third hokage himself. Your father trained under him from what stories I've heard. As well as Sasuke and Hinata's father. The three looked at each other and smiled. "But Naruto, your father gave him the right to raise you if anything were to happen to them. Meaning, if he wished it… as long as you wanted too that is. He could raise you." Naruto looked down at his plate and grew sad. Would this man take him away from his home? "Well then he would get a package deal. The three of us." Hinata boldly stated. "Oh yeah, like your father would let you leave." Sasuke retorted when he began to chuckle. "He won't be here for a few days. But who is this person he is bringing with him I wonder." They all shrugged it off and decided a good soak will relax them before Ko arrived. After all graduation was so soon they could feel those headbands on their foreheads now.
Naruto was nervous, so nervous he couldn't eat. He sat at the table with the rest of his family in silence, pushing the eggs around his plate. "Naruto I know you must be at least a little excited?" Anko tried to cheer the boy, but Naruto only sighed. "If he tries to take me away I don't know what to do! I don't want to go with him." Anko smiled sadly, after all these years of raising Naruto she felt as if she had done what Kushina would have. She loved every moment of it, every sick day, every morning he refused to get out of bed so she sent a snake on him… but it was true, this man could take Naruto away and there was nothing she could do about it.
Naruto pushed his still full plate away from him and stood. "I guess I'll get ready then." Sasuke gave a sad smile and took his plate to the sink as well as Naruto's. Kakashi stood in the doorway and glanced at the small melancholy table. They didn't even know if Jiraiya was going to want to take Naruto, he was a busy man and had no time for a child. He turned slightly and saw Naruto standing beside him. "Kakashi… is he; I mean will h-he take me away? I just got a family I c-can't lose them now." Kakashi crouched down and placed a hand on Naruto's shoulder. "No, I don't think he will." Naruto looked him in his eye and let a single tear escape. "Thank you Kakashi."
The group left for town, meeting Hinata along the way. They all decided that they would go to the hokage tower and meet him there, that way Naruto would be more comfortable. People were busy as usual, the pinkette stops and flirted with Sasuke, while he just brushed it off and the pinkette joined Ino who winked Naruto's way. Hinata sped up and took Naruto's hand making him go bright red.
The tower stood above them with an aura of power. Naruto smiled at the building telling himself that one day he would take his father's place as Hokage. Kakashi was the one who knocked on the door and opened it when he gave permission to enter. Naruto as if he were the five year old all over again hid behind his mom. A man with long spiky hair tied into a pony tail stood by the Hokage's desk. "Naruto." The third spoke gently. "This is Jiraiya the toad sage." The man turned and saw the boy hidden behind Anko. He puffed air out and crouched. "Naruto, come on out and let me take a look at you." With a gentile push from Hinata, Naruto walked over to the toad sage. "I see, his father's hair, his mother's looks but a shyness that neither had." He reached out and turned Naruto's cheek. "Ah but I see courage, bravery and his mother's rage all locked away in those eyes of yours. He will grow out of the shyness." Naruto turned with his eyes pleading to his mother to make him stop.
"But alas I see sadness, what is bothering you Naruto?" Naruto pulled out from his grasp and walked back to his mom. "I won't let you take me away from my family." Jiraiya smirked, and glanced at Anko who shot daggers for making her son upset. "How about a wager Naruto? If you can complete the toad summon contract you can stay, but if you fail you leave with me for training like you've never seen." Naruto mumbled about guy's workouts that made Kakashi snicker. Naruto stood straight and held out his hand. "Your bet, but I have one condition. If I lose my best friends are to come with me. They will never let me get stronger without them." Jiraiya shook his head. "No, just you." Naruto looked at his friends who smiled and nodded. "Fine, your bet it is. How long do I have?" Jiraiya smirked. "Two days." Naruto paled but nodded.
Anko looked at Kakashi who only winked at her and took her hand. "We have quite the show coming up I suggest we all find a nice place to sit and watch." Anko began to clench her knuckles and release them with waves of KI rolling out like fog. "He better not hurt my son I swear to the gods, I don't care if he is a senin I will kick his ass." Kakashi smiled under his mask, "that was very Kushina like." Anko gave a proud smirk. They all walked out into a clearing just outside the village; there was a waterfall and a pebbled shore to it. Naruto gave a sad smile then walked over to where the old man sat waiting. Sasuke looked at Kakashi and gave a determined smirk; he knew his best friend could do it. He had the will of fire deep within him. But he also wondered if he could learn a summoning jutsu, the same thought passing through Hinata's head. Like Naruto said, he will never have a one up on either of them.
Naruto gave a sigh then sat on his knees before his temporary sensei. "Okay Naruto, first you need to sign the contract with your blood. Prick your finger sign it, then tap the top of each finger and place it got it?" Naruto gave an unsure smile, but bit his thumb, signing his name on the large scroll Jiraiya had laid out. Looking at it he saw his father's name before his own and he smiled knowing this would be easier than Jiraiya gave him credit for. Once he was finished Jiraiya showed him the signs and summoned a small frog.
Naruto looked at his friends who gave him thumbs up and a smile or smirk. With a few relaxing breaths Naruto copied the signs and placed his hand on the ground. A small tad pole was summoned. Naruto smiled thankful he could summon something and tried again.
A few hours had passed and Naruto was panting, he was only able to summon a small toad now. The other's all sat around a tree in its shade and waited. "It looks like I may win this bet kid." Naruto ground his teeth and once more did the jutsu. A larger toad was summoned; he was roughly the size of a house cat. Anko smiled at her boy trying and getting more and more frustrated like his mother no doubt would. "Gah! There has to be a trick to this. Something I am not thinking of." Jiraiya laughed. "There is no trick either you get it done, or you don't. You have to summon the boss toad Gamabunta and pass his test. Then you will win the bet, if you get it done by tomorrow." Naruto gulped there was more to this than he thought. His father did it, this old fart did it, and how hard could it really be to pass this test? With another deep breath, Naruto summoned again.
Naruto was only able to summon one of Gamabunta's sons by the time the sun set. Naruto didn't remember the name of the toad, but he was too tired to care. Jiraiya said by noon tomorrow, he had little time to do this and he let his frustration and sadness out in punches on the dummy outside. Sasuke watched Naruto from the porch and sighed. If Naruto left he would have Hinata yes, but he would be lonely at home. He didn't want to lose another brother. Anko touched Sasuke's shoulder and he nodded, not needing words to understand that Anko wanted to talk to Naruto alone.
She stood behind him as he laid hit after hit on the dummy, tears running down his face as he did so. "Gaki." He stopped and turned into his mother's arms. "w-what if I can't do this? I don't w-want to leave!" she only ran her fingers through his hair to calm him, like she did when he was younger. "I know you can do this. I raised to you be strong and fearless. You can show that old pervert that you are not just some kid. You're my kid." Naruto laughed softly into her chest and took calming breaths. Anko just held him loving every minute of it for it did not happen anymore.
Once inside after Naruto dried his face they ate their usual Sunday dinner and relaxed before Hinata had to go. That night Naruto meditated on what he needed to do, and smiled.