Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. All that I own are the original characters I created.
"I've decided that I hate boats."
Haku turns to look at Naruko with an inquisitive look on his face.
"Why do you hate boats?"
"I feel like I'm going to throw up, and I have since we left the port."
Zabuza walks up behind Naruko and chuckles at her words.
"I never would have thought an Uzumaki would get seasick."
Naruko glares at Zabuza and turns away with a huff. Zabuza looks at Naruko for a moment, then turns his attention to Gaara.
"From now on, the two of you will pose as Uzumaki twins. We don't need Suna sending ninja after us and the two of you look enough alike to pass as twins."
Naruko and Gaara glance at each other, then nod.
"When we are around other people, Gaara will be Kaito and Naruko will be Nanami."
"Why do they need different names?"
"To prevent their former villages from finding them. Kaito and Nanami are traditional Uzumaki names, so they won't stand out the way Gaara and Naruko will."
"Momochi-san, we're almost to the remains of the port of Uzushiogakure."
"Good, we'll get off here. Haku and Kimimaro can water walk, and I'll carry Kaito and Nanami."
"Captain! The port's been rebuilt!"
"What? That's impossible! Uzushiogakure has been abandoned for decades!"
The captain rushes to the front of the ship and stares in shock at the rebuilt port. Zabuza and the four children follow the captain. Zabuza smirks, then picks Naruko and Gaara up before jumping over the side of the ship. Haku and Kimimaro quickly follow him and head for the village. Gaara looks at Naruko with wide eyes.
"Are we really going to go to a new village? Won't they treat us the same way that our old villages treated us?"
"If they do, we'll leave."
Gaara nods, then turns his attention to the village gates looming in front of them. Zabuza sets Naruko and Gaara down, then approaches the gates.
"Halt! State your names and reason for coming here, Kiri scum."
"Momochi Zabuza, missing nin of Kirigakure. I left Kiri after attempting to overthrow and kill Yagura. I've brought Yuki Haku, Kaguya Kimimaro, Suna no Gaara, and Uzumaki Naruko with me. I was planning on just bringing the Uzumaki girl here to see her clan's homeland, but then I saw the rebuilt port and realized other Uzumaki must be here."
"Yuriko, go and get the Uzukage. I'll remain here with our visitors."
Yuriko nods, then she spins and races away. Haku, Kimimaro, Naruko, and Gaara huddle together and glance around what they can see of the village warily. The remaining guard bows to Naruko, then smiles and introduces himself.
"My name is Hyōryū Naoki. The woman I sent away is my younger sister, Hyōryū Yuriko. It is an honor to meet you, Uzumaki-sama."
Naruko looks taken aback for a moment, then she narrows her eyes and turns away from Naoki.
"Don't make fun of me, baka."
Naoki stares at Naruko with a puzzled look on his face.
"Why would I make fun of a member of the Uzumaki clan?"
Yuriko returns a few minutes later with several redheaded ninjas behind her. All the redheaded ninja instantly focus their attention on Naruko and kneel in front of her. A woman in orange and white robes steps forward and smiles at Naruko.
"The daughter of Uzumaki Kushina has come to her mother's homeland. Child, are there any other Uzumaki in Konoha?"
"Not that I know of."
"They were likely kept away from her if there were. The elders in Konoha most likely didn't want her learning fuinjutsu for fear of what she could do if she did."
The woman stares at Zabuza for a moment before returning her attention to Naruko.
"That would be because she is the newest jinchuriki of the Kyūbi, correct?"
"Hai, Uzukage-sama."
"Then Konoha is full of fools and my cousin was right to leave. Jinchuriki exist only because of the Uzumaki clan and as such are held in the highest respect by the people of Uzushiogakure."
Naruko and Gaara glare at the Uzukage.
"I am sorry that the actions of my aunt, Uzumaki Mito, have made your lives miserable."
Naruko scoffs at the woman's words.
"Miserable is a severe understatement. Living hell would be more accurate. I was nearly beaten to death on my birthday every year and the rest of the year, people treated me like a monster, overcharged me for items that I needed, threw me out of their stores, or all three."
"My father frequently sent assassins to kill me. The last one was my own uncle, who told me that my mother hated me before attempting to blow both of us up. I have also been the recipient of glares and everyone in my village avoided me. My own siblings were even starting to do the same at the direction of our father."
Naruko turns toward the gate.
"Let's go, Gaara. This place is no better than Konoha or Suna."
Kimimaro turns to follow Naruko and nudges Haku.
"Or Kiri."
Haku nods and follows the other three children out the gates.
"Wait! Come back!"
Zabuza shrugs, then follows the children down the path toward the port. The Uzukage motions to her guards and they rush after the group of five. Naruko snarls when one of the ninja scoops her up and she sinks her teeth into his arm, which causes the man to yelp and drop her. Gaara lashes out at the other ninja with his sand and they back off, eying the redheaded boy warily.
"Shinra Tensei."
Naruko, Gaara, Kimimaro, and Haku are instantly flattened against the ground. Naruko glares balefully at the newcomer.
"Nagato-san, thank you for coming."
"Teme. You're just like the people in Konoha. You hate me, but you won't let me leave because that would mean losing a weapon!"
Nagato glances at Naruko, then returns his attention to the Uzukage.
"What do you plan to do with them, Ruka-sama?"
"I was hoping to have the girl join her clansmen in the Uzumaki clan compound, but I do not believe she will agree to that."
"May I offer a suggestion, Ruka-sama?"
"Of course, Nagato-san."
"Send her with me to live among the Akatsuki. We all travel, and she will not be restricted to a village. It is obvious to me that she is uncomfortable in a village setting. The others are welcome to come as well."
Ruka turns to look at Naruko and the others.
"Would you agree to do that? The Akatsuki live outside the village and are frequently out on missions. It is unlikely that you will ever be around all of them at once."
Nagato releases the children from his jutsu and they all stand up before huddling together to decide. A few minutes later, Haku steps away from the group and looks at Ruka.
"That is fine with us, Ruka-sama. We would like to add the condition that if we decide to leave, nobody will stop us."
"Of course. I only ask that you give Uzushiogakure a chance. Nagato-san, I leave them in your capable hands."
Nagato nods and watches as Ruka heads back into the village with her guards, then he turns to the children and Zabuza.
"Follow me to the base."
Naruko, Gaara, Haku, Kimimaro, and Zabuza follow Nagato silently. A white-haired woman steps out of the base as they approach and stretches. She smiles when she spots Nagato and Naruko pauses slightly at the sight of her teeth.
"Welcome back, Nagato-sama. New recruits?"
"Possibly and I thought Konan put you on bed rest until your child is born, Meigetsu-chan."
"I needed to stretch my legs. I was about to go crazy from doing nothing all day."
"I understand, but you need to stay off your feet as much as possible. Kisame-san was terrified when you collapsed a week ago. He thought he was going to lose you and the baby."
Meigetsu sighs, then turns and heads back into the base. Nagato motions for the others to follow him and follows Meigetsu inside. Meigetsu enters a room and heads straight for the couch, which she lays down on.
"What are you working on now, Deidara-chan?"
"Art, un. Sasori no danna is being a baka again and refuses to acknowledge my art."
"No explosives in the base, Deidara-san."
Naruko's eyes gleam and she is instantly at Deidara's side.
"What are you going to blow up? Can I help?"
"Sure, un. We'll have to go out to a training ground. They won't let me practice my art in the base. You blow up a room once and nobody trusts you anymore, un."
"Stay here until the others return. I want the children and Momochi-san to meet the rest of the members of the Akatsuki."
"Hai, Leader-sama."
Deidara turns to Naruko and grins.
"I'm Iwa no Deidara. What's your name?"
"Uzumaki Naruko."
"And the rest of the midget brigade?"
"You can't call us midgets when you are not much taller than we are, bakayarou."
Nagato turns a disapproving look on Naruko, then turns it on Deidara when he chuckles at Naruko's words.
"Fair enough, un. Who are the other kids?"
"Suna no Gaara, Yuki Haku, and Kaguya Kimimaro."
"Nice to meet all of you, un."
"Why did Leader-sama call us here? I was in the middle of my damn ritual. Now I have to make two sacrifices tomorrow!"
"Shut up, Hidan."
"I don't like to keep people waiting. Get out of my way."
"I have better things to do than stand here and wait for you to enter the room. I could be spending time with Meigetsu."
"Hn."
"Nagato always has a good reason for summoning us. Now go into the room, Hidan, or move aside and let us enter."
Hidan enters the room, muttering about heathens. Kakuzu and the others follow him closely. Kisame splits away from the group and heads straight to Meigetsu's side. Meigetsu lifts her legs up and he sits down, then she rests her feet in his lap. Nagato turns to look at the rest of the Akatsuki.
"From this point on, we will have five new people living here. They are Uzumaki Naruko, Suna no Gaara, Yuki Haku, Kaguya Kimimaro, and Momochi Zabuza. Introduce yourselves."
"I'm Kakuzu and this idiot is Hidan."
"Kakuzu, you bastard!"
"I'm Hoshigaki Kisame and this is my wife, Hozuki-Hoshigaki Meigetsu."
"I am Uchiha Itachi."
"I am Akasuna no Sasori. Don't waste my time."
"I'm Konan. Follow me and I'll show you which rooms you can have."
Konan turns and leads the group of five down the hall and up a flight of stairs.
"All of the rooms on this floor are empty. You can pick whichever one you want."
Naruko and Gaara each walk up to a door and open it, then enter the room they chose and shut the door behind themselves. Haku opens several doors and peers inside behind settling on a room with silver walls and blue furniture. Kimimaro copies Naruko and Gaara while Zabuza hangs back.
"What kind of missions does the Akatsuki usually do?"
"Assassination, infiltration, basically all the missions ANBU take in a normal village."
"What will the kids be expected to do?"
"Nothing until they are genin and then they will probably be placed under the supervision of one of the duos that make up the Akatsuki for their training. They'll be safe, Momochi-san."
Zabuza nods, then he walks down the hall and opens a door before entering the room and shutting his door behind him. Konan frowns, then she turns and leaves. Nagato meets her on the stairs.
"Do you think they'll do well here, Konan?"
"Hai, Nagato. I think they'll adjust quickly and fit in with the Akatsuki."