Disclaimer: Of course I don't own Naruto or any of its original characters, Kishimoto does duh!.
Blah….normal narration/ character talking
Blah….normal narration/ character thinking
Blah…. Kyubi/summon talking
Blah…. Kyubi/summon thinking and Jutsus
Chapter 4
At Sarutobi's office
Sarutobi sat in his office pondering over the meeting he recently concluded with the blond stranger. He wasn't a person who was easily confused. His vast experience and his power both accumulated over the years had turned him into a person who made impossible look easy. He rarely faced the emotion he was feeling right now, dilemma. The man he had just met in the hospital didn't seem to give a vibe of animosity but still seemed to be hiding many things and he had to find out what and why. To top it off he strongly resembled one of his own so much that he could have passed off as his twin with subtle changed in hairstyle and clothing. He thought for a moment before he ordered his ANBU to summon one of the greatest minds of Konoha.
'Yes he would be able to judge him perfectly' Sarutobi mused.
At the hospital
Naruto contemplated on his next course of action as he lay on his bed. He slowly got up and flexed his hands and legs testing them. His body felt stiff and cramped.
'Well can't be helped, I would have to train rigorously to be my best.' he thought as he recalled Srutobi's words.
Naruto was thankful for the hour between Hiruzen Sarutobi's departure and the arrival of the chunin that were to give him a tour. He could use that time to plan a strategy and mentally prepare himself for the surprises that he would be shortly facing. Naruto's eyes widened considerably as he recognized the shinobi who had walked in.
He was Shikaku Nara, and he looked just like Shikamaru had the last time Naruto saw him, even down to the attire. Unlike Shikamaru, Shikaku had a single scar on his face already though. As soon as Naruto saw Shikaku he mentally cursed his luck. Shikaku was the smartest person he knew except for Shikamaru and he was well capable of figuring out his secrets from the slightest slip ups.
"You must be Uzumaki Naruto." he said offering his hand which Naruto shook firmly. "Wow, Hokage-sama wasn't exaggerating when he said you looked exactly like him."
"Umm what do you mean?" Naruto asked though he had a fairly good idea what Shikaku was talking about. He looked just like his dad except for having shorter hair and a more angular face and yes the whisker marks.
"Don't worry its nothing important. You will know soon enough when you meet him. Now get your clothes, we gotta a village to tour." Nara said jovially.
After 15 minutes Naruto had checked out from the hospital and was walking along with Nara on the streets of Konoha. He was actually relieved that he had gotten the tour because village had changed a lot in the future with a major rearrangement of clans' living quarters especially after the kyuubi attack.
"Nara-san" Naruto began.
"Just Shikaku is fine Naruto-san." Shikaku replied.
"Okay then Shikaku-san, I want to ask you a few things." Naruto said.
"If you are wondering about your living arrangements, then don't because you will be living in my clan quarters." Shikaku replied surprising Naruto. "It's a part of the reason that I am giving you the tour. This way we will get to know each other. For other things like money and jobs hokage-sama will brief you shortly after we finish the tour."
"Ah I see." Naruto nodded politely.
Soon after they found themselves standing before the Hokage.
"So you have finished the tour Naruto?" Sarutobi asked.
"Hai hokage-sama. The village is indeed very beautiful and peaceful." Naruto replied.
"Did you explain him the arrangements Shikaku?" Hokage addressed the Nara.
"It was troublesome, but I did. However it would be better that you explain to him the more troublesome parts." Shukaku replied with a yawn.
"I thought I made it clear it was your job." Sarutobi replied irritated at Shikaku's laziness. "Very well, I will explain. Uzumaki Naruto, you will be undergoing a 1 month probation period in which you will be allowed only D-rank missions to earn your living. After a month if you are found clean and capable you will be tested against a candidate and given a rank in Konoha's shinobi forces. Is it understood?"
"Hai hokage-sama, it is understood." Naruto calmly replied.
"I am giving you a loan of sorts to get you started. Once you start earning your pay checks the amount loaned will be deducted from them." Sarutobi explained giving a small money bag to Naruto.
Naruto simply nodded in understanding.
"And you." Sarutobi turned to Shikaku. "You will be personally underseeing all the D-rank missions he undertakes."
"Troublesome…" Shikaku muttered before acknowledging his orders with a bow.
Suddenly the door of the office was flung open and a woman who was about the same age as Naruto came barging in with an annoyed expression on her face. She wore a regular chunin vest with the Uchiha fan symbol on her back, and was indeed quite beautiful.
"Hokage sama sorry for the sudden intrusion." she spoke "but what is this I am listening about a new Uzumaki. Is he really an Uzumaki?"
"Mikoto calm down." Sarutobi spoke in an angry tone. "Yes what you heard was partly correct. Indeed we found an Uzumaki and I have verified his origins. His blood is a match for the Uzumakis and if he fulfils certain conditions he will become a shinobi of this village. Infact he is standing right there and I have assigned Shikaku here to get him used to the village."
Mikoto turned to look at the other occupants of the room and moved towards Naruto who calmly stood in his place without showing any emotions.
"Are you really an Uzumaki?" she questioned. "You don't even have red hair. I am guessing you don't even know any fuinjutsu you faker." she haughtily glared at Naruto.
Naruto gave Sarutobi a quick glance who nodded before turning to Mikoto. "Uchiha san as Hokage sama had already told you that my blood matches the characteristics of an Uzumaki which proves my heritage. I have already gave a few details of my life to hokage sama. Right now I don't claim to an expert in fuinjutsu but I know the basics and I can surely learn. What I don't understand is why your anger is directed at me?" Naruto calmly asked
"Listen to me a dear friend of mine is an Uzumaki and she went through a bad experience recently. And now you pop up out of a sudden with rumours of you being a spy. I don't want my friend hurt so steer clear from her, do you understand?" Mikoto almost shouted.
"Mikoto I would like you to tone down. Naruto here didn't even know about the Uzumaki clan before I gave him the info. I am sure as much as you would like to protect Kushina, this young man and her both would like to know about the existing members of their clans."
"But Hokage sama.." Mikoto began.
"Enough." Hiruzen flared some KI. "It will be my decision when they both meet." he said with a tone of finality. "If you don't have anything else to say then you are dismissed."
Mikoto gave Naruto one last glare before leaving the office.
"Sorry about that but she is very protective about her friend." Hiruzen said to Naruto.
"I understand if I were in her place I probably would have reacted in the same way." Naruto replied.
"Well when you have gained your shinobi rank you will be able to meet Kushina Uzumaki. She indeed went through a terrible experience recently and is currently recuperating."
"I am guessing she was the chunin that was kidnapped." Naruto said surprising both Nara and Sarutobi.
"Yes you are right. I guess you understand the situation perfectly then?" Sarutobi was now calm. "Okay then you both are dismissed."
As soon as they had left the Hokage office Naruto's stomach made his presence known causing Naruto to sheepishly rub the back of his head.
"Ne Shikaku san is there a good place where we can get some ramen?" Naruto asked grinning a little.
"Troublesome blondes.." Shikaku muttered "Yeah there is. I guess there is no helping it since the hospital food sucks."
As they both made their way to the ramen stand they heard someone call out Shikaku.
Turning to the voices Naruto was greeted to another set of familiar faces.
The first one was Inoichi Yamanaka, and he looked like a slightly older, male version of Ino. He wore a black forehead protector, a solid black outfit, light gray arm guards that covered his forearms and the backs of his hands, and an open red vest.
The second one was undoubtedly Akimich Choza, Chozi's father who was clad in traditional Akimichi garb.
Both the new arrivals first greeted Shikaku and then turned to Naruto.
"And this might be?" Inoichi looked to Shikaku for an explanation. "From the looks of him if I had to guess he would be Minato's brother or relative." while Choza nodded in agreement.
"My name is Uzumaki Naruto and I have recently come to Konoha." Naruto replied to the two shinobis.
"Uzumaki you say." Choza said surprised. "But aren't Uzumaki supposed to have red hair." he pointed to Naruto's blond locks.
"Yeah they have except I get my hair from my dad. My mother was an Uzumaki." he explained
"Ah well I am Akimichi Choza and this is Yamanaka Inoichi." Choza and Inoichi introduced themselves and shook hands with Naruto.
"Umm if you don't mind who is this Minato person and why do you keep saying I am his twin/brother?" Naruto feigned his curiosity.
"Because you are a spitting image of him. Anyone who isn't familiar with either of yo is sure to confuse you two. You will see when you meet him." Choza explained.
"So where were you too headed?" Inoichi asked changing the topic.
"Well I was taking Naruto san to the Ichiraku ramen stand as he was hungry and wanted to grab a bite." Shikauku replied.
"Oh that's good we too were looking to grab a bite. I hope you won't mind if we join you Naruto san?" Inoichi asked.
"No no not at all. It will be pleasure and this way we will get to know each other better." Naruto replied politely.
"Naruto san if I may ask how much do you like ramen?" Choza asked suddenly surprising all.
"Me, I love ramen. It is the food of gods and I would be the number one believer." Naruto grinned smugly.
"If that's the case how would you like a bet." Choza asked as Shikaku and Inoichi shook their heads at their teammate's antics.
"A word of advice before you answer that challenge Naruto san. All Akimichi are gluttons." Inoichi replied smiling a little as Choza eagerly waited for his prey to fall into his trap.
"I will accept whatever challenge you throw at me Choza san. When it comes to ramen no one can beat me." Naruto was now excited.
"Very well Naruto san whoever eats more ramen bowls will win the contest and the loser will have to pay for the meal." Choza grinned with a gleam in his eyes. 'Oh I would like to see the look on his face when he loses' he thought.
Choza had pulled this prank on quite some people and the results had always been in his favour except for one incident when a similar blonde had soundly defeated him.
"Troublesome.., Naruto san there is only one person that have beaten Choza in ramen eating contest. Though you strongly resemble that person I highly doubt you can match his fetish for ramen." Shikaku told Naruto.
"Don't worry you will soon find out that when it comes to ramen I am unbeatable." Naruto grinned at the Nara.
"Well I did my part, the next is on your head." Shikaku sighed in acceptance.
They arrived at Ichiraku's ramen in a little while and explained to a much younger Teuchi the challenge.
An hour later Shikauku, Inoichi and Teuchi all had their jaws on the floor as the big-boned Akimichi was slumped across the table unable to eat anymore while Naruto happily lapped up his noodles.
"I swear to God those two are definitely related." Inoichi whispered to Shikaku.
"If it weren't for the Yamanaka clan I for sure would have declared it a fetish related to blondes." Shikaku replied.
"I seriously thought he was the only one. I wouldn't have believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes." Teuchi said his eyes as wide as dinner plates though he was happy with the income he had generated.
"Ah that hit the spot." Naruto sighed happily breaking them from their daze. "What?" he said looking at their faces. "I did tell you I was unbeatable when it comes to ramen."
They all laughed heartedly as Choza slowly awoke from his slumber. "Why does this happen to me and is it always a blonde?" he grumbled as they all burst into laughter once again.
Shortly after Choza and Inoichi took their leave leaving Naruto and Shikaku alone.
"Do you have any questions?" Shikaku asked.
"Not really," Naruto answered. "Is there any advice you'd like to offer?"
"Well, I will warn you about the noble clans," Shikaku said, lazily looking at the clouds.
"The Hidden Leaf Village has noble clans?" Naruto asked, honestly surprised. He had never heard of noble clans in the village.
"I guess they aren't common knowledge after all," Shikaku said, shaking his head. "The Hidden Leaf Village has four noble clans. These are Aburame, Akimichi, Hyuga, and Uchiha. Aburame and Akimichi are pretty easy to deal with. The former treats you fine unless you do something to give them a negative opinion of you. The latter treats you even better, provided that you don't call them fat. As you have already met Choza you would know that they are heavy eaters and very friendly. It's Hyuga and Uchiha that you really have to worry about."
'I guess I never heard of the noble clans because Itachi massacred his clan when I was seven. I doubt most people would want to talk about the noble clans too soon after one of them was killed to the child,' Naruto thought.
"The best advice you can take in regards to Hyuga is to avoid them when you can, never try to use stealth around one, never fight one using taijutsu, and be respectful," Shikaku said, thinking about the few Hyuga he actually knew on a personal level. "There's even less advice for Uchiha. Avoid them if you can, don't look them in the eyes, and don't let them see you use ninjutsu."
Naruto nodded in understanding at most of the things Shikaku said. He had fought Neji using taijutsu, and he knew the power of the Sharingan. He had no intention of reliving his past mistakes.
"Here we are." Shikaku said as they arrived at a large gate that was the entrance to the clan compound. "This is the clan compound. You will be living with me. I have an apartment with 3 bedrooms, I am sure you would fit in their very nicely. Don't go into the forest of the compounds as they are restricted to clansmen only. If you feel like training I would suggest to take one of the unoccupied training fields. If you have any jutsus you want to practice in secret, well there are not many places but training area 44 will be a good place though it is highly recommended that you stay away from that place."
"Why do you say that?" Naruto asked knowing the answer full well.
"Well its other name is forest of death. You have got to be suicidal to go in their very deep all alone." Shikaku replied dryly.
"Thanks for the advice Shikaku san but it seems the ideal place for practice especially when after a month I will be tested against one of your comrades." Naruto said casually to Shikaku.
"Very well, but try not to die for it will be too troublesome for me." Nara mumbled out. "Now rest for a bit before we go out for your clothes and ninja equipment."
"Hai Shikaku san. I wouldn't want to take your entire day especially when the next month we will be having enough conversations to last us a lifetime." Naruto smirked slightly as he remembered Hokage's orders.
"Troublesome blonde." Shikaku muttered before taking his leave.