AU: Don't own Naruto ;_;

CHAPTER 5

"What are you doing?" asked Naruto as she stared at Inoichi who was bowing down to Naruto, with bloodshot eyes that still had tears running down them.

"I can't apologize to you enough for the village, for my daughter, for everything. If you destroy this godforsaken village just tell me and I will join you. And don't you worry after this session I am going to disown my spoilt brat of a daughter and tell the council to give you your children back. Again I am so sorry please forgive me and my clan for their ignorance," exclaimed Inoichi as he bowed down on his hands and knees.

What happened next stayed in Inoichi's memory forever. All Naruto did was help Inoichi of the floor and hug him, while he laughed.

"I will never destroy this village; I hope to make a clan here. I can see your confused so let me explain. This village isn't evil or bad just ignorant and misguided. You see in a painful way they made me who I am today and they gave me the most precious gift anyone could give me. They were the reason I got pregnant sure in a painful violent way but still it's thanks to them that I have Ichigo and Orihime. This village may have given me nothing but grief and pain but they also taught me how much people need love and they also taught me to be kind and compassionate. They also gave me a goal and my notorious stubbornness. It was through the pain that I found people who deeply care about me and who I love very much. I know of their circumstances and I can understand their pain and grief, it understanding that makes me unable of hating them. I may never truly forgive this village but I will never hate it or cause it pain. When you can sympathize with someone then it is hard to come to hate them, at best I can say I dislike this village a bit but not hate, never hate. And about your daughter don't do anything rash talk to her and tell her what she is doing wrong. And I think I've caused enough pain for once," explained Naruto with a sad smile on her face.

Inoichi was gobsmack. He then scoped Naruto into a bear hug and started to cry again. After a moment Inoichi released and stared at her with determination and awe in his eyes. He would help her in any way that he is able.

"I have to go now. And thank you when you were there with me I was able to deal with it a little bit better. So thank you again I'll see you in two weeks," she then got her things and left Inoichi alone to think.

Once Naruto was gone Ino went in to see her father bracing herself for a massive grounding only to find her dad crying.

As soon as Inoichi saw his daughter he was anger and then sad. This caused his daughter to become confused.

"Come here princess I need a hug," said Inoichi once Ino was on his lap he hugged her and continued to speak.

This caused Ino to curse Naruto for making her dad cry, but she kept quiet and listened.

"You took everything I taught you and threw it out the window. How could do those things? What happened to the sweet girl I once called my princess? From now until further notice you are grounded. You will get no more pocket money and will no longer be able to just take money from the cash register. You now have a 7 o'clock curfew. You will also be taking your position as heir seriously, no more slacking off. You are no longer allowed to skip training and you can forget about your diet. You will eat what I give and do as you are told if you don't you will be punished further. Be happy that this is the only punishment you are getting. Now get out of my site."

Ino was shocked and saddened and beyond angry. She ran out of the house crying and slammed the door behind her. She then thought about all she had done to Naruto sure it was mean but everyone else did it too and were told that he deserved it. Damn that Naruto. She vowed to increase her effort just to get revenge on Naruto for humiliating her and making her daddy mad at her. She swore Naruto would pay.

"It's for your own good Ino. You need to learn how cruel this world can be sooner rather than later. I don't want to see you broken like I did your mother before she died," whispered Inoichi after Ino had left.

Xxxx with Naruto xxxx

Naruto walked through the villager feeling lighter, as if a weight was lifted from her shoulders. She made her way to her normal training ground but instead of training she came to a hill and lay down. She stared at the clouds watching as they floated by and change shapes.

"Wonder what it's like to have no troubles, no burdens, just plain freedom and safety?" questioned Naruto out loud her voice soft and her face peaceful. She loved to watch the sky no matter if it was day or night; it just gave her a peaceful feeling and a little bit of freedom from her hell of a life. It was here in this isolated spot that she let her forever placed guard down. Her face softened and her eyes darkened making her look older than her age. Her eyes showed a hidden pain that could cut its way into the most hardest of hearts. And it was only here did she let tears fall. The tears began and didn't seem to stop. She sat up and tried to wipe her eyes but it didn't help. She put her hands in front of her face. She cried with her whole body, shaking, shivering.

It was then that another person showed themselves. They touched Naruto's shoulder only for her to flinch. The person tried one more time and this time Naruto fell sideways into the person's lap, the person held Naruto as she wept, as she cried in huge racking spasms.

When Naruto cried anyone could see that there was something wrong just because of the way she cried. When she cried she wasn't loud she was quiet, even when her body was being torn by grief she didn't shout or scream with it. She cried like she had thought herself to, so that she wouldn't attract attention as it would just cause her more pain.

The tears began to slow until Naruto just lay in the person's lap, very still, as if the tears had emptied her of everything. The person stroked her hair, and there was silence as if the person new that there were no words that could help soothe the pain in Naruto that was so vast and so hard to fix.

"Thanks gramps, though you don't have to come every time I cry you know," whispered Naruto as she enjoyed the strokes through her hair.

"Of course I would come. I know there is not much I can do for you but support and care for you. And for that I am sorry, I wish I had been able to protect you even now as you suffer I can't do anything and I hate it," replied the Hokage in a pained voice. Naruto had only cried this way twice before, once at the death of her family the other as her children were taken away.

"Gramps, I'm tired of hiding," stated Naruto as she remained still waiting for the Hokage's reply.

"I would be too. You know your father and mother would be so proud of you, as I am. Always remember Naruto there are people that love and care for you. And now matter what you decide to do I will not judge you but support you. You deserve better. And sadly I have to go now, I swear that the paperwork multiplies faster than rabbits in heat!" said the Hokage as he waited for Naruto to sit up so that he could get up. "I hope that you won't have to hide forever Naruto, just remember you can always reveal yourself when you graduate. That way you will be safe from harm as you will be in my command. Sounds nice don't it?"

"I'll think about it old man. Thanks again for everything," replied Naruto as the Hokage teleported to his office. She then turned and stared at the trees scanning the forest. She new someone had been there listening to her conversation. She just didn't know who it was or why they had been there. After another half an hour of relaxing and searching she gave up in favour of going to bed, all the while thinking of who the ears dropper might be.

AU: I have set up a poll for who should be paired with Naruto please tell me who to pair her with.