Shoton of Konoha

by Arch-Daishou

Tribute: Stormy Rebel. By the actions of a traitor, a unique bloodline awakens within the Kyuubi Jinchuuriki. How far will fate be changed for Naruto Uzumaki now with the gift of Shoton (Crystal Release). How will the balance shift when powers beyond even the Akatsuki begin to stir. First fourteen chapters remain as they are in tribute to my late friend Stormy. Miss you amigo.

22. Home is where the heart is

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

Things once lost are found once again

Chapters 15 through 18 have been rewritten and beta'ed by Etheral-23

Chapter 22: Home is where the heart is

XxX ~ last time ~ XxX

Running through Konoha's streets, Naruto huffs as his beelines to the training ground. His mother was going to smack him for being late. Not really paying attention he slams into something red and he hits the ground.

"Well aren't you in a hurry" Says a warm husky feminine voice with mirth.

He groans as he rubs his head; "Sorry, sorry. I wasn't looking"

The woman chuckles; "It's alright kid"

He finally lifts his gaze to take a good look at the stranger. A tall very beautiful woman with a slender figure. Wearing a crimson sleeveless kimono with a black corset. Raven black hair nearly as long as his mother's with coal eyes looking at him playfully; "So what has you in a rush?"

The blond scratches his cheek sheepishly; "Running late for training. My mom will be pissed if I don't show on time"

The woman chuckles; "Well best not be late then" She looks at the boy closer. "Are you in the finals coming up? Oh, where are my manners. Kuroreimei." The raven haired woman smiles.

"Naruto Uzumaki, Yep I will in the third stage of the exam. I am really sorry about hitting ya. Can I make it up to you later?"

A coy smile forms on her lips; "Are you asking me out on a date?" The reaction only made her giggle seeing him blush a bright red. "A bit too young for me hun, but if you insist. I guess I can make time to eat with you"

"Awesome!" The blond soon pales realizing he was going to be late! "Ah crap! Nice talking to you. Have been to Ichiraku's" Kuro nods; "I should be there by six. Hope to see you." Naruto runs off waving as she waves back.

Her smile never fades as she turns walking away; "Interesting boy..." Both he and his unique tenant were interesting indeed. She chuckled, eagerly waiting for the days to come.

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Her eyes are solemn as is her heart as Kushina walks through empty area that was once the bustle of the Uchiha grounds. This place used to be filled with smiles (mostly) and the laughter of children. She shuddered to think Itachi, sweet little Itachi, had done something so horrible to his own clan.

Idly the Uzu redhead lets her fingers glide on one of the walls as she walks quietly. "Mi-Chan..."

She recalled when they were kids at the Academy, Mikoto was a broody thing who didn't talk much to anyone, everyone else was very annoying to her back then, and she didn't like how that girl sulked all by herself. So she had decided to be her friend, even if it killed her.

More than one time had Mikoto told her to go away, which Kushina knew in Uzumaki tongue truly meant; Yes, I'd love to hang out, please keep pestering me more. And so she did. What a good friend she was.

She had seen that shy little girl burst out of her shell to become a cheerful young woman, who always had a smile reserved for everyone important to her. She never let anything bring her down, not their harsh life as ninjas, not the horrible battles they've partaken in... Nor her arranged marriage to Fugaku…

She had been down for a time; Fugaku really wouldn't have been what Kushina would have chosen for Mikoto. Always so serious with no time for fun. He had been... decent enough (that was the most she's ever complimented him, not because he was a bad guy, she just disliked him on a senseless personal level), strong and treated her friend well, but still to Kushina, Mikoto had always deserved more. The future leader of the Uchiha clan needed heirs, and Mikoto was the strongest kunoichi while Fugaku was the strongest shinobi of the clan at the time. It was only logical.

How she hated that word sometimes.

Nearing the main house of the Uchiha clan she stops as she sees Mikoto's youngest getting ready to walk inside till he spots her. The two don't say anything as they just stare at each other.

"You really do have your mother's eyes," Kushina says softly.

Sasuke keeps his gaze on her, not even flickering for a moment. "...I've been told" He finally says.

The two of them keep a momentary silence between them, neither knowing what to say.

Kushina decided to break the ice with the following. "You know, when you were baby, I actually thought you were a girl. 'It's a baby yes, but no way can a baby boy look so feminine'. Heh, you've grown a lot since I've last saw you but you still kinda look..." Her words die in her mouth at seeing Sasuke's dry look. "...Right. I'll stop now"

Motor mouth, her friends had always said, and they were never wrong about that.

"Is there something you want? Besides enlightening me on why Naruto talks so much?" Seriously how much of that blond maniac's personality came from his mother and not his father, whoever that was.

"I just..." She sighs. "Felt I needed to see this for myself. Being away for so long..." She runs a hand over the wall, giving it wistful look like it had been an important place and held a very dear memory to her. It was just a wall, but it wasn't really the wall what she was looking. She was thinking back to what this place was when there was still a clan. "I just couldn't believe it when Jiji told me, that your mother was gone..." Her eye fall to the ground, and sees the boy wincing, it was subtle, very subtle. But it didn't escape the Uzumaki. "She was a very dear friend to me... to me it was like she was here just one moment, and then..." She sighs.

"Were..." As Kushina looks up, she could see how hard it was for Sasuke to even ask. "W- Were… You and my mother really close?"

"Would you like to know?" the redhead gives a soft sad smile.

His eyes, so much like Mikoto's, were slightly swimming in thought. Taking his hand out of his pocket almost hesitantly he motions for her to follow him. They were then sitting on the porch that lead to the garden, there was dust everywhere, vegetation grew without control, and no one had truly lived here for a long time.

She pushed away those thoughts. "Where to begin?" Kushina mused before snapping her fingers and flashing a smile. "First and foremost; your mom was a badass, never let anyone tell you otherwise"

He stares at her quizzically. "I know she was a jounin" That alone said she was a highly talented ninja.

"Pfft, as if rank is anything to really go. I'm not dissing her skills" She quickly says seeing the look on his face. "On the contraire, I'm just saying 'jounin' doesn't even come close to describe how much ass Mikoto could kick"

Sasuke ignored the Narutoesque way of talking. "Truly?" He asked, honestly curious.

"Damn right!" She exclaimed. "Your mom was an S-Rank kiddo. I can say without a doubt she was one of the strongest your clan's ever had. She could have joined Anbu like I did, but chose not to. She liked where she was, Unless Tsunade was around, me and your mother were the two deadliest kunoichi of the village." Sasuke sees the redheaded Uzu tilting her head and smiling fondly at a memory most likely. "But more than anything, your mother was a kind woman. She put up with my brand of crazy so it says a lot about her patience dattebane."

If she was anything like her son, then Sasuke acknowledged that was a mighty deed worthy of respect. As luck would have it, nowadays he found himself in similar situation, so he sympathized with his late mother.

"How was my mother before you met?"

Kushina chuckles; "Very different to whom she was that you know of. She was this awkward and broody little thing. Kinda like you really"

The redhead notices the young Uchiha looking at nothing with a lost look in his eyes. She sighs. "You were different before this whole mess happened." She really did not like the hateful tint in his eyes as he glares ahead.

"Your brother" Sasuke bristles at the word, his gaze darkening. "I remember a sweet little boy, smart, too smart for his age I always said" Kushina sets a sad gaze at the boy. "I remember him loving you very much"

She could tell he was fighting the urge to shout at her, but looks at her angrily; "That sweet boy you remember slaughtered every man, woman, and child of the Uchiha clan. His own flesh and blood, including his parents. His used a special genjutsu called Tsukiyomi and forced me to see him killing both mother and father..." He seethed with so much rage it made Kushina's heart ache all the more.

He clinches his fists so tight his knuckles whitened; "He said I was too pathetic to kill, that I need to let my hate grow to become stronger"

Kushina stares at him silently. It was difficult to tell what she was thinking, or even feeling. She just couldn't comprehend what had driven Itachi to do something like that. Mikoto's own beloved child, the boy who swore to always protect his cherished little brother from all harm.

It was like this Itachi was another completely different person, someone else who just shared his name. That's what she wanted to believe...

But right now it wasn't about what she felt; it was about the broken boy before her how had been forced to suffer so much. "So what do you plan to do?" His eyes adopt a surprised look as he stares at her. "Are you really going to follow his words? Are you really going to play the puppet for the man who betrayed you and all you loved?"

Her strong words actually put him on pause. She couldn't be right... could she? He wasn't Itachi's puppet… "What else am I supposed to do? Just forget it all happened? Let go of this hate and pain?" Before he knew it the redhead was kneeling right in front of him looking Sasuke in the eyes.

"That kind of pain never goes away. When I learned my family was killed and Uzu itself was destroyed you can guess how I was. And it took me a talking with your mother to make me realize something. My past, the pains I've suffered... They don't have to control me"

Sasuke remains silent.

"I'm sure nothing I say will stop you from wanting revenge on Itachi, but at least make sure it doesn't doom you and the people around you. You can still have honor, even in this crazy world with the sordid lives we lead as ninjas"

She gently grabs his shoulders; "Never let the hate rule you, no matter what. If you need just to talk you know where I am Sasuke. I loved your mother with all my heart; I would have done anything for her. So that falls to you now, I will be here for you, no matter what."

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

The smell of ramen was always delicious at Ichiraku for anyone who wanted to feast on food Naruto often quoted as the 'food of the gods'. Currently the said blond Uzumaki sits with new acquaintance Kuroreimei; the kimono-corset wearing woman was currently going over the menu again, as Ayame walks over.

"So Naruto" The young woman starts with a smile on her face. "The usual?"

The blond Uzumaki smirks; "The usual and keep them coming."

Writing down on her notepad Ayame looks to the raven haired woman; "And your order?"

Kuroreimei just gives the waitress a sultry look with her onyx eyes. "That depends" She says softly, her tone a bit mesmerizing. "Are you on the menu?"

Teuchi nearly cut off his hand with his knife while both Ayame and Naruto blush brightly. The young brunette nearly stutters as Kuro only rests her chin on her palm with her elbow on the table, smiling not so innocently.

"I, you, well-that-I mean... blugh?" Ayame said intelligently as her brain fried.

Kuro giggles; "You are so adorable I could just eat you right now."

"...Blugh?" Naruto said as HIS brain fried.

Deciding she had teased the poor girl enough, she ordered. "Tofu ramen for me" Still blushing slightly, Ayame nodded and turned to help her father. Kuroreimei smirked and whispered loud enough for the waitress to her. "For dessert, hmm, we'll see then"

Steam literally comes from the brunette's ears as she robotically tries to help her dad, but her face was flushing furiously and her heart was racing like crazy. Snickering Kuro looks to her new friend who only gawks at her while blushing. "You're... different."

"So I've been told" She replies with a smile. "You get to live, to survive, the same as I did and you learn to find fun, and beauty, in everything and everyone"

"Huh" Naruto says while tilting his head. "So what did you do that was so dangerous?" He asks.

Kuroreimei blows out a laugh while running a hand through her hair. "Boy, where do I begin? I've been all over the world for starters, not just the Elemental Nations"

The blonde arches an eyebrow. "You've been beyond the continent?"

She smiles. "Oh indeed, I've traveled all over the other continents, especially the western and southern"

"What's in those?"

"Well if by chance your journeys ever take you there, you'll find that culturally-wise they are as similar as they are different from the Elemental Nations. With warriors who use chakra and jutsu as well"

Before he could ask anything else, their bowls are placed before them, Kuro gives a wink to Ayame before settling her gaze on Naruto. "If I may ask, how goes your training?"

Naruto forces a smile into his face as the memories of the torturous ordeal assault his mind. "J-Just great"

"Your opponent is a pure taijutsu expert trained by the green beast Might Guy. Even I have heard of that jounin from here."

"Bushy brow will be tough, but he and I are quite alike. We both trained till we collapsed to get where we are"

"Good" She nods in approval. "Hard work bears results. I wouldn't recommend you overestimating him for a second. The progress or skill one shows when they're young means nothing. You're still a kid; your abilities have yet to bloom"

Naruto stares at her quizzically. "You sound like you know about this stuff. Are you a ninja or something?"

Kuro shakes her head; "A shinobi I am not. But I have trained very hard to get where I am."

"So you're a mercenary?" Naruto tilts his head curiously.

"Ohhh no need to be using such titles. I consider myself an 'adventurer in the pursuit of fortune and dreams'" The raven haired beauty grins cheerfully.

The blond blinks; "Yeah your way different than the few I've met."

"That is because the majority is only in it for the money. And those types are more of thugs than anything else." The raven haired woman gives the boy a look over. "You know" She muses. "You remind me a lot of myself"

"How so?"

"Your eyes most than not" She replies. "It's all in them. You're someone who went through a lot; you try to act all strong and brave to cover up your insecurities. I've heard about you too, your 'reputation' across some in the village"

Naruto said nothing.

"You're happy now, I can tell. But that only makes you feel more afraid, you fear to lose what you have now"

Slowly the blond Uzumaki looks down. "It... It honestly feels amazing. My mom being back after being alone for twelve years, and just not too long ago finding I have a cousin. But..."

"But it feels like if you blink you just might wake up and it was all a dream?" Kuro rest her hand on his shoulder as he meekly nods; "Naruto, not many people can ever get the chance like you were given. Like you I lost my entire family about your age. Every day I wish I could see them again. You can now, never let that go. But don't let that fear control you."

"Thanks..." He smiled sincerely. "You're really creepy you know that?" Knowing all that stuff about him just by looking into his eyes.

She laughed. "Oh I know. It's always fun to make people cringe."

XxX ~ next day ~ XxX

The small red dragon Hien floats around Naruto as he is doing push-up, a single leaf on his back as weight, ordinarily that wouldn't be considered weight at all, if not thanks to his mother and Jiraiya who had placed a particularly strong seal array on the leaf, making it as heavy as a bunch of bricks.

"So, ninja of exceptionally high skill are given the classification of 'S-Rank?'" looks at the blond quizzically.

Naruto grunts as he struggles to push himself of the ground. "Y-yeah"

"That makes little sense; S is very far down the line from A"

Sitting not too far away, Karin is going through several books of Fūinjutsu. She looks up and sweatdrops at the little ruby dragon; "Hein, the ranks don't follow the alphabet." At her side Sakura, who was reading other books on trap making, rolls her eyes.

"Yes they do. You go from E, the lowest, to A, what's supposed to be the highest. But then you jump to S for 'extra highest'. I just can't see how that works" Hein crosses his arms while floating beside Karin.

Rising from a push up Naruto squints his eyes while Karin and Sakura just blink; "That's a good question." They say together. Prompting an eye roll from Jiraiya as he watches both of them.

"You know..." Kushina starts. Sitting under a tree while eating an apple. "Could have been made simpler and start from F to A. Why IS 'S' the highest?"

Jiraiya shakes his head. "Oh you dumb brats. It's because it's always been this way"

"Wonderful reasoning" Karin grumbles sarcastically as she goes flips to the next page of her book.

Kushina just shrugs and takes the apple to her mouth for another bite... only for this one to be embedded unto a tree from a blindingly fast thrown kunai.

The redhead blinks as she looks at her skewered snack before looking back ahead annoyed; "Whoever threw that I am going to beat your ass dattebane!"

Jiraiya only looks behind him with narrowing eyes. Karin jumps away from her books and pulls out a kunai, while Naruto, forgetting the leaf on his back, tries to stand but hits the ground head first with a thud.

His voice is muffled on the ground. "Somebody get this damn thing off me!" Hien tries to lift the leaf, but despite his best efforts, all he can do is make a funny face with his eyes looking like they'll pop out from the strain.

Kushina stands up and cracks her neck and knuckles before stretching her muscles, she gaze wonders around for the attacker. Suddenly, out of the woods comes a shrouded figure covered mostly by a cloak. It's male, the body is lean but muscular, the face is hidden under the shadows of the hood, the cloak goes over his shoulders but they don't cover his arms. She sees a pair of bracers on each forearm, dark loose brown pants, and a cloak around them, ninja sandals, and a sleeveless jacket.

The stranger is spinning a pair of kunai in each of his hands.

Walking pass her son as she takes off the leaf with zero effort, letting it fall on the ground like dead weight, Kushina stands beside Jiraiya.

Spitting out some grass and dirt, Naruto stands and growls while Hein sits on his shoulder trying to catch his breath.

The former Anbu captain lifts a brow; "So mystery man, who you picking a fight with?" The cloaked man points a kunai at her. "Oh~ so you want to be hospitalized for a year dattebane."

The cloaked man shifts into a stance, extending one arm and keeping other close to his body, both hands hold the kunai at the ready, though not in a reverse grip as they are normally used, while his legs stand neither too close nor too apart.

Kushina's eyes narrow, her mind races. That stance... why does it feel so familiar?

Picking up her sensei's katana, Sakura throws it over as Kushina catches it with one hand, her eyes never leaving the man. "Jiraiya. I got this." She walks ahead a few feet before stopping.

Unsheathing her sword she drops the sheath on the ground. In a blink both she and the cloaked man move at blinding speeds. Kunai and katana clash in a shower of sparks, both man and woman strike with great precision and speed. He twirls the kunai in his hands as he skillfully blocks a slash from her sword. He leaps back and throws them; Kushina easily dodges them, hitting the ground behind her instead.

Seals shine on them, and they explode.

"Kaasan/Kushina-Sensei/Aunt Kushina!"

Jiraiya's eyes widen as he realizes the stranger had not thrown kunai with seals already placed on them, they had been made on the spot. That was a clear sign of the man's talent with fūinjutsu. The cloaked man looks around as Kushina had disappeared amidst the explosion. He smirks feeling the redheaded woman standing behind him, the metal blade at his throat

"Who are you?" She asks with a deadly tone.

The man just chuckles. He vanishes in a poof of smoke, leaving only a log. Kushina immediately senses him behind her; she instinctively rises her sword and deflects a kunai... a kunai that had been charged with a sealing array of lightning.

She hisses as her body shivers, fighting off the electric current that had flowed from her blade. She quickly composes herself and dashes forward, wind surging around her sword. The man takes two more kunai and strikes. Like a knife through paper, they are promptly cut in half, the blade continues its course, and he manages to dodge but the wind shrouded blade still cuts through his hood, splitting it in half.

Everyone gasps at the sight of a wild mane of long red hair.

But upon seeing the face of the man, Kushina's sword slips from her hand as it hits the ground. Her shoulders shake as she feels mist forming on her eyes.

"Samenosuke..." Her voice was almost a whisper laced with hope.

Green eyes stare at her with nostalgia and joy. He closes them and flashes a toothy grin. "Yo, Kushi-hime"

Jiraiya feels his jaw drop as the now identified man laugh, Kushina hugs him tightly which he returns equally. "He was alive this whole time?" The kids are still in the dark as another voice speaks.

"Not just him Jiraiya-Sama."

They quickly turn around to see a man dressed in a kimono with a katana at his side. His face wore sharp features, though his hazel eyes showed joy he probably hadn't felt in long time. His red hair was pulled back in a ponytail, though a few strands were loose on his forehead.

At his side was a young boy around the Genin's age. He looked like a much younger version of the man, with the same hazel eyes, which wore looking at them all with curiosity and eagerness, and the red hair even done in a similar style. He wore loose blue pants with sandals, and a short sleeved shirt under a jacket, attached to his back was a katana made for his height.

Samenosuke only smirks as he sees Kushina freeze upon hearing that voice she has not heard in a long time. Full tears run down her eyes as she turns with both hope and fear. As her eyes met Saito her bottom lip quivers.

Before people could blink Kushina nearly leaps into the man's arms hugging him lovingly; "Saito-Nii~!"

How long had it been for both of them, even after all these years Kushina was the same. Saito did not care if a few stray tears fall from his eyes holding his cousin. For the female Uzu redhead she could not stop the tears even if she tried.

Jiraiya only stares at them in shock, he couldn't believe these were the brats that used to cling to Tsukiko's skirt, he recalled the times when he visited Uzu, they and Kushina followed the woman around everywhere like lost puppies. He had thought them lost along with Uzushio, and now here they were safe and all grown up.

The only ones not really understanding anything were Naruto, Sakura, and Karin as finally the blond speaks up. "Can someone tell us what's going on?"

Kushina turns to them with a large smile, eyes so filled with joy despite the tears. She sniffs and babbles incoherently, before letting a happy cry and embracing both men so tightly the others feared their bones would break.

Sakura can only stare. "...Right"

Jiraiya only sighs, a sincere smile forming on his lips; "The tall one is Saito Uzumaki, Kushina's closest and older cousin. Mister flashy here is Samenosuke Uzumaki." The Gama Sennin looks to the boy that resembles Saito; "What's your name kid?"

"I-I'm Soujiro" He says nervously before bowing. "Nice to meet you all"

Saito smiles and pats his shoulder. "He's my son"

Naruto and Karin look too overwhelmed to even react. "We... we have relatives?"

The roguish Uzumaki nods; "That you do." Walking over, Samenosuke looks at both Naruto and Karin he kneels in front of the blond. "You have our Hime's face, but look like that Minato fellow alright."

"You knew my dad?" Naruto asks with curiosity.

"Knew of him. It was no secret really that the Yellow Flash was with a certain Uzumaki of Konoha"

Saito looks to a blushing Kushina; "You always did have an odd taste in men."

She crosses her arms and grumbles. "He wasn't so bad..."

"He was a Namikaze" Samenosuke said incredulously. "They were the nanciests men out there, even for my tastes"

Pointing a finger at the rogue Uzumaki with an equally incredulous look; "The fact you say that given your ambitions. HA!"

"Hey I didn't say they weren't pretty to look at. Just saying a woman like you settling down with a guy like that can be em" He moves his hand in a circular motion while his eye wonder, searching for the right word. "Odd"

Her mature response was sticking out her tongue. Again she displays why she has always been unique even by Uzu standards.

XxX ~ Hokage Tower ~ XxX

Sitting in his office, Hiruzen smokes his pipe absently as he looks into the eyes of the man he wished to speak with. Standing with his arms crossed, Zabuza is both curious and cautious by what the old Sandaime had brought up. Yet at the same time it was something that holds great benefits for many.

"So you wish to offer an alliance between Kiri and Konoha?" The swordsman lifts a brow.

"If that may be possible"

"Little be out of the blue, Hokage-dono" He nearly said 'old man', good thing Mei had been drilling into him the proper etiquette. He got in enough trouble as it was already. "Our village doesn't exactly have good history"

"Ah, the same could be said about Konoha or Suna, heh" The old Kage chuckles. "It can be said about all the villages even"

While he had a point, Zabuza could not help but be suspicious. Sure, the tree-huggers here always wanted peace, but you didn't live long enough as a shinobi to if you never suspected from anyone. "I'm not sure about this" Zabuza says. "But Kiri is not exactly very trusting of others. Not without good reason. What have you to gain of this and more importantly, what's in it for us?"

"Kiri is still rebuilding from the civil war correct?" Hiruzen's question gets a small hesitant nod. "At this time your country would need materials, supplies, even extra manpower in restoring your nation. I wish to provide such aid and in doing Konoha gains a new ally."

"So that's your only aim? Why?"

Hiruzen eyes do not waver; "You saw as I did during the prelims. Your students acted in unison with Team 7 when Kouhei was in dire straits. Kids from different villages with no allegiance to each other, only respect and trust. When have we ever seen such a thing in our lifetimes Zabuza?"

The wielder of the giant sword says nothing.

Sarutobi smiles; "Call me an old fool, an optimist, a sentimentalist, I don't care. But I truly believe we can put the past behind" His smile wanes slightly. "I don't want more wars, Zabuza. And I'm sure your Mizukage feels the same"

There is silence for a minute before Zabuza sighs; "I am really not the guy for this. But I can send a scroll to the Mizukage if you have one for her. But you know full well this will be looked over thoroughly by her and the council."

His smile grows once more; he nods in gratitude to the foreign shinobi before him. "That is all I ask"

A knock on the door gain both their attention as Sarutobi speaks a firm 'enter'. As the door opens he feels his pipe slip from his mouth as he sees two people he had thought were long dead. However the one with the loudest reaction is Zabuza as he points an accusing finger right at a snickering Samenosuke.

"Been a while Zabuza," the roguish Uzu smirks.

"Y-Y-You..!" He snarls.

"Come now" Samenosuke chuckles. "You aren't still mad about the time I killed one of your targets that eh?" The Kiri-nin can only growl in rage. "By the way, how is your dear apprentice? I bet she's all grown up and lovely now" He says with a leering smile.

It takes every ounce of will Zabuza has not to grab the hilt of his sword and chop that redheaded buffoon into pieces. "Get near Haku I will chop off your balls and feed them to you..."

"Ohhh, now you're just being mean. She is her own woman; imagine any man would be honored to even kiss such a divine creature." Samenosuke grins, crossing his arms.

Only Kushina sees her son blush as he turns his head the other way.

They can almost see the steam coming off Zabuza's ears. Samenosuke only lifts his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I know when I'm dealing with an overprotective father figure" He doesn't know just how embarrassed those words make Zabuza. "If I can't get to woo such a lovely creature" He leans in front of the Kiri bandaged visage. "Perhaps I can get a kiss from you instead?" He closes his eyes and pushes his lips.

And receives a solid right hook to the face. "I DO NOT SWING THAT WAY YOU FUCKING IDIOT!"

XxX ~ thirty minutes later ~ XxX

Though his smile never fades despite now having a black eye courtesy of a now gone Kiri swordsman. Hiruzen along with the others only look at the man.

"To think you actually gotten worse than I remember," the Hokage mutters.

"He was already like this...?" Naruto mutters with incredulity.

"Oh, even when young" Kushina sighs, half fondly half annoyed. "He was always going out of his way to get into trouble by trying to get kisses from pretty boys and girls"

The roguish Uzumaki only beams with pride; "I stole your first kiss Kushi-hime." Quickly earning a smack to the head by said princess. Prompting the others in the room, hidden Anbu included, to sweatdrop.

"'Stole' is an apt term" She grumbles.

"Where have you been this entire time?" Hiruzen asks, absently realizing how used he was to the antics of the Uzumaki, even though it had been so long. It felt nice though, to see them all like this.

Saito speaks up; "When Uzushio was attacked me, Samenosuke, Lyn, and Maya all fled together. Since then we kept ourselves hidden so no one could find us."

Kushina's eyes widen; "Lyn and Maya are alive!" She notices Saito and young Soujiro looking down mournfully.

"Maya-Kaachan... She died giving birth to me." Both Naruto and Karin put a comforting hand on their cousin's shoulder. Kushina offers his condolences to Saito, who thanks her in turn.

Jiraiya shakes his head; "They hid well if none of my spy network could find them."

"We had to" Samenosuke said. "Revealing ourselves was too risky. And after Uzu was destroyed we didn't trust anyone, not even Konoha. No offense" He apologizes to the Sandaime and Sannin.

Hiruzen waves it off; "No you did well and were smart at keeping hidden like you did. I applaud you. But why risk now appearing in Konoha?"

Saito turns his gaze to Kushina; "We had to see if what we heard was a rumor or truth. We had to take that chance."

"When we thought our hime was dead, we did not take it well, Saito the most. But when I heard the rumors at a tavern, we took a leap of faith." Samenosuke gives a sincere smile; "to see our hime again plus her son and Kirika-chan's girl. I say we won the gamble."

The Hokage smiles joyfully. "I am glad you did. It warms this old man's heart to see the Uzumaki clan still alive"

"Remember those times we visited Uzu sensei?" Jiraiya says with a smirk. "Those four always got into so much trouble"

"Oh yes" His teacher laughs. "Tsukiko-dono, May she rests in peace, sure did have a lot of patience for you four"

"Four?" Naruto repeats in confusion.

Samenosuke looks at him. "Lyn, she was always with us. She's busy right now, but we had sent her a message, she'll come when she's able"

Kushina's gaze became very blank, save for a small twitch in her eye. "Yaaay" Her tone was dry like sandpaper.

"Oh don't be like that" Saito smiles. "You know you want to see her again"

"I am happy that woman is alive. But can she stay in whatever land she is at please?" Kushina's dry comment makes both Saito and Samenosuke roll their eyes.

"No can do hime, besides." The rogue Uzumaki points to Naruto. "Her partner has something in common with Naru-Chan here."

Said boy only blinks in confusion. "What do you mean by that?"

"Oh, I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise. You'll know when you meet her" The roguish Uzumaki says with a smirk. "Just a bit of advice; be patient with Kya-chan, getting to know her ain't exactly... easy"

"She endured a lot bad things in her life, about the only person she even remotely trust is Lyn. She is still guarded with me and Samenosuke even," Saito sighs.

Watching the group talk amongst them Hiruzen can't stop smiling at it all. It was almost like a prayer was answered by the gods after Kushina came back. Jiraiya chuckles beside him; "This really takes me back."

XxX ~ Uzushiogakure: Decades prior ~ XxX

Uzushio was a village whose beauty rivaled Konoha in Hiruzen's eyes. An island filled with lush forests, the village itself located near the sea, with a bountiful river running right in the middle. A prosperous land that had existed long before the Hidden Villages had been founded, all this time protected by the mighty Uzumaki Clan.

A younger Hiruzen, wearing his distinctive battle armor, was accompanied by his apprentice Jiraiya as the two walked near the Uzumaki's flower gardens. Next to them was the current clan head, Daisuke Uzumaki. An imposing man of broad muscular build hidden by a red kimono, his eyes were violet and the distinctive red hair of his clan was long, flowing gently behind his back and around his lips and chin was a shaggy goatee.

Hiruzen had known Daisuke for years, he was a man of honor and duty, a strong leader of both his clan and his village and the Hokage considered him a personal friend. After a lifelong friendship between their villages, it was necessary for Hiruzen to deliver bad news, even if they saddened him.

"You fear war may be coming?" Daisuke asked in that baritone voice of his.

The Hokage nods grimly. "The First War left the villages' economy and manpower wounded, now factions are forming and expanding their territories into smaller countries. Some like this new nation, this 'Land of the Sky' are particularly worrisome, their technology and techniques are simply frightening"

Daisuke hums in thought. "Troubling"

Jiraiya clears his throat. "There is another reason we came here today"

"Indeed" Hiruzen nods. "Mito-sama says she doesn't have many years left. We had thought the Uzumaki lifespan would allow her to live longer, but it appears she won't be as fortunate as most of her clan"

Daisuke stops walking, Jiraiya and Hiruzen following suit. The Uzukage stares at them with an indiscernible expression. "You need a new jinchuuriki" It was more of a statement than a question.

"We were told by your elders that a young one in your clan was born with a strong chakra, even for your clan's standards" The Hokage said. "Might even be able to develop the legendary chakra chains. There is nothing that could hold the Kyuubi better"

The Uzumaki's gaze lowers to the ground. "Yes... that's true..." They could feel the sadness in his voice. Before they could say another thing, they were interrupted by the laughter of children.

"Come on baa-chan! You said you were gonna show us how to speak with the flowers!" A young girl's voice said with childish joy.

"I'm coming, I'm coming" An older accented feminine husky voice said with amusement.

Turning the three men see the living legend of Uzushiogakure itself. Tsukiko Uzumaki, the retired Shodaime Uzukage, who despite looking no more than thirty years old, her appearance hid the real power that could match both Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha combined.

Her skin was fair and her hair red, very standard by Uzumaki account. But she was a beautiful woman, full of knowledge and wisdom. Her hair was done in a bun with a long bang over hair passing just over the corner of her left eye, with a few loose strands here and there. This was a woman who was respected immensely by all who knew her, was she was one Madara and Hashirama had come to for advice when founding Konoha, a woman whose experience dwarfed even the most veteran ninja.

Of course, few got to live at the age of 250, even among the Uzumaki. Her looks were due to a rare genetic condition among the clan which halted her aging by the time she was thirty. She had been around for a very long time, legends told of her exploits but few ever come close to the nature of her true strength.

Tsukiko was a brave and strong person who had endured the loss of her husband, countless family members, and many other loved ones. The most recent being a kind hearted Senju girl who had taken a place with the Uzumaki for her love of fūinjutsu, and at Tsukiko's side due to their love for each other. Sadly, fate can very cruel many times, and the Senju had died from an incurable disease.

The years had finally begun taking their toll on her as Hiruzen and Jiraiya had heard. Tsukiko's health had been steadily deteriorating, nowadays most of her time she spent it in bed, resting and taking medicine. Her green eyes showed a very tired woman, but her smile held true joy at spending time with the children at her side.

One they recognized as Daisuke's daughter, Kushina. A bright smiling girl with long red hair and her father's eyes. The other three were two lads and another girl, the first boy had a shaggy mess of red hair and green eyes, and he smirked playfully as he followed Kushina. While the other's hair was straight, pulled on a ponytail with a few strands loose on his forehead and his eyes were hazel and unlike the others he had a more calmed expression on his face. Meanwhile the other girl's complexion was less fair and more tawny, her hair was truly a mane of wild red strands, reaching down her back, its width even went beyond her shoulders, her blue eyes shined with mirth just like her smile.

They were nearly dragging Tsukiko to the garden, who despite that she kept smiling happily, the girls taking her hands while the boys cling to the skirt of her kimono.

The ancient Uzu woman giggles; "Honestly you four. I've shown you this a thousand times." yet despite saying that she loved playing with the children immensely. So it never really bothered her to repeat things for them.

"But it's awesome how the flowers just sing whenever you kneel beside and whisper," a young Samenosuke smiles brightly.

The wild haired girl, Lyn, pouts cutely. "When are you gonna shows how to do that?"

"I told you already, it requires long years of meditation and sage training" Tsukiko pats Lyn's head gently.

"One day Imma be a sage!" Kushina declared proudly, placing both fists at her hips. "Just like you baa-chan! And Imma make them sing too!"

Lyn snorts. "Yeah right. Your ugly voice is probably just gonna depress them and make them with... with... uh, die"

However before Kushina and Lyn could fight Daisuke speaks up startling the kids; "You four know Tsukiko-sama is not well. She needs her rest," his voice stern but gentle.

Four pairs of eyes downcast till Tsukiko waves off the Uzukage's words; "They are fine Daisuke, and I feel well enough to least walk in the garden."

"Tsukiko-sama..."

She narrows her eyes. "If I want to walk through the garden with the children, I WILL walk through the garden with the children damn it"

Kushina, Lyn and Samenosuke all smile brightly. "Yeah damn it!"

A moment of silence passes before Tsukiko face palms. "Ok, that was my fault. Sorry"

"It is good to see you up and about Tsukiko-dono." Hearing a very familiar voice, she leans right seeing Hiruzen and Jiraiya bowing respectfully to her.

"Saru, you look well. Hello Jiraiya," Tsukiko nods briefly. "Please excuse me, I have an appointment with these four." the children cheer as they walk away with the ancient Uzu matriarch.

Hiruzen held a sad tint to his eyes; "Some strands of her hair have turned white." That was a clear sign of how bad her condition was.

Daisuke nods as he looks to the Hokage; "Yes, the signs show themselves each day. Her passing will be painful to the clan, more so especially for Kushina."

They see Tsukiko laughing as the children skip around her, it wasn't long before Kushina and Lyn got into a fight and began wrestling all over the ground, crushing some plants along the way. The elder Uzumaki sighed but a hint of a smile remained on her face.

"At least she'll remember her last days fondly"

Daisuke smiles sadly at Hiruzen's words before turning serious once more; "I know the child you speak of. Give me some time and I will send my daughter to Konoha."

XxX ~ present day ~ XxX

Hearing Daisuke say that so long ago put a shock in both Jiraiya and Hiruzen. Daisuke knew they it was a duty only his daughter could fulfill, he had parted from her side, entrusting her to Konoha. Such was the friendship of the Uzumaki.

Hiruzen wondered if they'd feel the same nowadays. He honestly doubted it.

Shaking out of his thoughts the age Kage looks to the group; "So what shall you do now Saito, Samenosuke?"

"I think that would be obvious Hokage-dono," Samenosuke smirks. "We stay with family. Lyn-chan we'll get here soon, so the more the merrier." The man chuckles once again seeing the Kushina's dry look at the mention of Lyn.

"Get your bearings around here, Kushina and I got to train those two brats over there for the finals." Jiraiya points to Naruto and Sakura.

Soujiro raises a hand; "Can we help some?"

"You want to help?" Sakura asks with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah" He responds with a smile. "I always wanted to train with someone my age"

Slowly Kushina smiles; "Before we do that we need to do two things. One, get you three to the house so you can put your things. Two; we're going to the Higarashi weapons shop and get my Sochi a sword Dattebane!"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Tenten blinks as the door of her father's shop opens and she sees her best friend coming in. She smiles and waves to Naruto who waves back as his mother, and Sakura come in as well. She also sees that Karin girl she met a few weeks ago, as well as three other redheads she had no idea who they were.

Saito nods approvingly, not at the amount of weapons, but their high quality. He could see every blade was hand crafted by a very experienced smith. Samenosuke only smirks as he walks over to admire the kunai and shruiken in the far right.

Karin and Sakura walk around together out of curiosity with Soujiro beside them. Naruto and Kushina walk up to the counter while the weapon mistress points behind them; "So what's with the 'Ginger' convention?"

Naruto smiles is nearly blinding (she's seen brighter from her teammates) and full of utter happiness smile that she's rarely seen in the boy. "These are my relatives!"

Her jaw drops as the weapon mistress looks to Kushina who nods with a smirk; "Is your old bear of a dad in?"

Recovering Tenten shakes her head; "He went out to get some supplies at the gate. Do you guys need anything?"

"A sword for Naruto," Kushina pats her son's head.

"Really?" The bun haired girl said uncertainly.

"What's wrong with that?" Naruto asks.

"You don't... really strike me as someone to wield a sword" She said delicately. "Or any kind weapon really"

Kushina huffs and crosses her arms. "He's Uzumaki, we're natural sword wielders"

"I don't doubt you" Tenten raises her arms. "It's just, he's Naruto"

The said blond rolls his eyes. "Oh please. How hard can it be? The pointy edge goes inside someone. There, simple"

Naruto soon notices the dead silence of the shop as Kushina, Tenten, Saito, Soujiro, and Samenosuke just look at him. "What, what I say?"

Slowly his mother runs both her hands down her face in exasperation, while Saito rubs the bridge of his nose; "This will take a lot of work." They both mutter.

Sakura raises a hand; "Um since Naruto has Shoton he can just make a sword." Since coming to the shop the rosette has had that comment in her head.

The hazel eyed Uzumaki shakes his head; "There is a difference Haruno-san."

"A sword is... it must you, no, that comes later, it must channel yourself, oh hmm" Soujiro starts hesitantly. "How to explain this?" He mused to himself.

"A sword is an extension of one's self." Saito speaks. "To a swordsman, the blade is more than a weapon; it is a part of your body and soul."

"It can't be any sword of course" Kushina adds. "Eventually, there might come a time for you to get one that's truly your own. But for now, we need a blade"

Walking into the back room Tenten walks back with a beautiful red cloth covering a long object. Slowly taking off the covering, everyone's eyes are locked on the elegant sword in the weapon mistress's hand.

"Hmm" Kushina nods appreciatory at the weapon. "A jian blade, lovely design too"

The scabbard and handle was black with of all things jade lining. The guard is a carved dragon face. Picking up the weapon in awe, Naruto slowly grabs the hilt and drags out the blade with a metallic ring. A low hum is audible as they begin to see the blade.

"Tousan did not make that one. He said he got it off a weapon's merchant who comes from time to time."

It seems the Uzumaki as a whole don't share much the concept of personal space, as all of them peer over Naruto's shoulder to better observe the blade. "Hmm" Saito hums in thought. "The markings on the blade look similar to Uzu ones, but I don't believe this blade came from our country"

"Dad said the craftsmanship on this sword is old" Tenten explained. "Very old. Predating the villages, perhaps even older than some of the oldest clans"

Saito and Kushina glance at each other while Samenosuke taps his chin and Karin rests her head on Naruto's shoulder; "There is some inscription on the blade but I can't read it."

"It says 'Cut the chains of tyranny and oppression, for this edge carries the dreams of freedom and the hope for a better future'" Surprising everyone, it has Hien, perched on Naruto's other shoulder, who said that. He quickly realized he was the center of attention. "What? That's what it says"

"Um…" Tenten starts as she took a good look at the creature on Naruto's shoulder "Is that a dragon?" She was ignored.

Sakura looks at the little ruby dragon; "Do you know what language that is?"

"Of course" He nods. "That's the ancient tongue, humans don't know it, and it was the tongue of the animal clans long ago. There are even older variations of which we ourselves don't really comprehend anymore" The dragon explains "As to what it is referring to, that is a very long story." Hein looks to Naruto. "The fact that it has survived this long through thousands of years speaks of the craftsmanship of those times."

It looks brand new, was the shared thought of Sakura, Karin, and Soujiro.

"So this is a very awesome sword right?" He asks.

Hien nods. "It certainly inspire awe"

The blond Uzumaki looks to Tenten to about to ask for the price but waves it off; "This one is on the house Naruto. Friends do give friends presents once in a while." But she then points to Hein; "But seriously is that a dragon?"

XxX ~ two days later ~ XxX

A sigh comes from Ino as she sits at the counter of her clan's flower shop. Resting her elbows on the counter as her chin rests in her palms, she looks around lazily. She hasn't seen Sakura in some time. Not since the second stage of the exam where the pinkette had beaten her. She winced at the memory that fight had hurt more than just physically.

The young heiress remembers waking up in the hospital bandaged up and too sore to even move. When did her former friend change so much? Even though she never said it during their academy days she knew Sakura's main talent would have been Genjutsu, but clearly that was not the case.

And was that really all brought on by Dead last of their class?

Sakura had made tremendous progress, while she herself relied too much on her team. Their skills were made to work together more than anything, but the exams showed her individual prowess left much to be desired. What was she doing wrong?

The Yamanaka let's out another sigh, she knew what the problem was, and had no one to blame but her.

Upon hearing the bell to the door chimes gaining her attention as she stands straight; "Welcome to Yamanaka flower shop how can... I..." Her voice trails off as her eyes widen. "Sakura..."

With an awkward chuckle, the rosette waves, standing beside her was Karin who absently looks around; "Hey Ino..."

"I haven't seen you in a while" Ino smiles cheerfully. "How have you been?"

Her jade eyes blink a few times before Sakura speaks; "You're not mad at me?"

The blond heiress snorts; "Why would I be mad at you? If anything I need to thank you for kicking my ass so I could wake up from being an idiot. Hell daddy wants to thanks you." She smirks before noticing the girl with glasses waving beside the rosette; "Who's the redhead?"

Karin lightly slumps while Sakura looks dryly; "The gossip queen of Konoha has not heard that Naruto has more relatives that showed up in Konoha, wow~." She smirks seeing her friend with a tick mark on her head.

"Oh why you little-" Her words are cut short as the blonde registers what was said. "Wait, Naruto's relatives?"

Walking over to the counter Karin bows slightly smiling as Sakura walks up; "My name is Karin Uzumaki. Please to meet you Yamanaka-San."

"Uzumaki..?" The blonde replies with furrowed brow. "I didn't know Naruto had relatives"

"We are..." Karin stuttered "Were a clan"

The platinum blond almost falls off her chair in shock before catching herself. She looks to Sakura who nods grinning; "It turns out Naruto has had a clan all along. And just two days ago three more Uzumakis showed up."

"WHAT~..!"

Soon after a brief explanation, the Yamanaka heiress let's out a surprised breath; "Wow... I mean, I-I-I had no idea there was an Uzumaki clan"

"It was better no one did, due to our clan's abilities, a lot of people would be after us. Many villages would either want us dead or something worse, breeding us like livestock to make shinobi for their village." Karin shivers at that thought.

"It is as she says" The voice of Ino's father startles them as they didn't even hear him enter the room. He stares at the redheaded girl with a mix of surprise and nostalgia. "The Uzumaki were as famed as the Senju and the Uchiha in their time"

"Inoichi-Sama," Sakura bows her head respectfully along with Karin. The man laughs. The two look up in confusion seeing even Ino covering her mouth giggling.

"Sakura-chan, you are practically family to us. You never needed to so formal," Inoichi says with a smile. "But I wish to thank you for straightening out my baby girl. Least now she takes things seriously." He pats Ino's head as she blushes and growls.

"The harsh reality of a ninja's life is not something which can be just talked into one" The Yamanaka clan leader said. "One needs to see it with their own eyes" Sakura knew that all too well by now, Nami, the Forest of Death. Those had not been easy lessons to learn, being so close to death had been terrifying eye openers. "Just be thankful so far you haven't seen the worst yet"

Both Sakura and Ino did a double take. "There's even worse?!"

"Yeah..." To their surprise, it was Karin who answered. Her eyes downcast and her expression troubled. "You have no idea" Orochimaru spared no details and made sure you took part in some of the most morbid and horrible of missions.

Shaking his head Inoichi looks at the kids; "So what brought you two here?"

Mentally glad in the subject change Sakura smiles; "Well I wanted to bury the hatchet and be friends with Ino again. Plus wondered if she wanted to go out with me and Karin-chan and meet the other Uzumakis that came to town."

"More showed up," Inoichi lifts a brow. With a brief telling the elder Yamanaka sighs in relief. "That is the best news I have heard in a long time."

"Speaking of daddy" Ino speaks up, looking at her father with questioning eyes. "Why did you never tell me about the Uzumaki?"

His gaze becomes distant. "Shame mostly"

They tilt their head in confusion. "Shame..?"

"The Uzumaki had been Konoha's greatest allies and friends since the village was founded. Always so rowdy, always making a mess" He lets out a melancholic chuckle. "But they made things interesting, and you could always count on them when you needed them... Then their village and nation was sacked. And where was Konoha when they needed us? What did we do to help them like they've helped us? ...Nothing. We did not do a damned thing, in the end, we couldn't save them"

The girls remain silent.

"That's why you won't find many shinobi from the village willing to speak about them. We are ashamed because we failed them"

Karin speaks up; "The small blessing is least some made it out alive. Mom told me she ran with several others and they separated so no one could figure out who they really were. The point is the clan is still alive, no matter how small our numbers the Whirlpool..."

"Flows ever onwards;" Inoichi smiles fondly. "Kushina told me that saying once."

XxX ~ Naruto ~ XxX

Walking through the glass door, the blond Uzumaki holds a groan entering the hospital. He always hated this place. He asks the receptionist for the room number of the person he's come to see. He quickly finds the room and after softly knocking, he hears a soft voice say 'Come in'. Stepping through the door, he sees a pair of pearly eyes staring at him in surprise.

"N... Nar... Naruto-Kun," Hinata's cheeks turn a faint crimson.

The blond gives her kind smile as he walks over to her bed; "How you feeling? I heard from Kiba you would be in here for another week so I wanted to check up on you."

"T-Thank you" She replies with a shy smile. "H-How have you been?"

He wasn't really surprised, here he came to see how she was doing but the first thing that comes out of her lips was to ask how HE was doing. Hinata was always that kind of person that thought most about others than about herself.

"I am fine, more worried about you though. Neji did try to kill you."

Quickly shaking her head the Hyuga heiress speaks; "Ne... Neji-Niisan is... Is not a bad person."

"Maybe not" He conceded. "But still, he went over the line there"

"He's angry" Naruto can her the defense in her voice, he can't really believe she's so willing to overlook such a thing. "He has reasons to be. And I-I don't blame him"

Bringing a chair beside her bed and sitting down he looks the girl in the eyes; "This is more than what happened with Kumo isn't it?" Seeing Hinata's eyes widen Naruto snorts; "You know who I spent most of my time with when we were really little. Jiji told me some Kumo guy tried to kidnap you but your old man saved you and killed the guy."

"Th... There is indeed more to it than that Naruto-Kun. Kumogakure said they knew nothing of the attempted kidnapping and demanded my father to be surrendered for execution... Bu... But his twin brother, my uncle, Hizashi took his place... He was Neji-Nii's father."

The blonde's eyes widened in shock. "Wait, so he blames you and, pretty much everyone for what happened to his dad?" Hinata nods in sorrow. "I get that he's pissed at Kumo and the rest of the clan, but why you? You were just a kid"

He notices she lightly bites her lip as if she was internally debating to say more, but before he says anything she talks again. "What do you know about the main and branch family of the Hyuga clan Naruto-Kun?"

He scratches the back of his head. "Um, not much really. I'm still not sure I understand much of clan politics" He would have to change that if he wanted to become Hokage one day, the Hokage has to deal with that political crap, clan business, dealings with the capital and the daimyo... why did he want that job again? "I guess one leads and the other serves right?"

Upon seeing the deep sorrow in her pupil-less eyes his face turns solemn as he listens. "I... It's more than that... Those born into the members of the branch family when t-they reach certain age are branded with a seal upon their foreheads." Naruto's eyes widen as she continues; "This seal... It's more like a leash... If a branch member is out of turn or tries to attack a main branch member, the seal activates and causes severe pain and even death to a branch member. This... This was decreed by our elders so if a branch member also dies out in the field they can use the 'Caged Bird Seal' to destroy their doujutsu before an enemy village could take it for themselves..."

"Wait" He says with outrage. "They just do this to all the branch family? Not only to protect the Byakugan but to also keep them in line like they're slaves?"

The anger in him fades upon seeing Hinata gripping her hospital bed sheet tightly as her bottom lip quivers. "Not everyone in the main branch cares for what the elders allow. But we have many against us who favor that horrible tradition..."

"How can turning members of your family into slaves be a tradition?" the blond nearly growls.

"That is something I have been asking myself for a very long time..."

Both teens are startled as they look to the door seeing Hiashi, looking at both of them with his ever present stoic face. "I see my daughter has been telling you family secrets Uzumaki-san..." The young girl seems to shrink on her bed. "But" Hiashi speaks. "I suppose they haven't been secrets in a very long time"

"You're the clan head right? Can't you do anything about it? What the hell kind of family does that to their own?!" He watches as Hinata's father as he closes the door. The man walks over and takes a seat to beside them.

"You don't think I haven't?" Hiashi's voice was calm as always.

"Huh?" Naruto replies.

Hiashi sighs; the calm facade Hinata's always see him wear momentarily crumbles, for moment revealing a very tired and remorseful man. "Our elders prefer things to remain that way, and many in the main family fear what the branch will do if they no longer were in our control"

Looking to Hinata the blond asks; "It's that bad?" She nods quietly. "But... You guys are all family." He just could not understand such concept like that.

Hiashi faintly chuckles much to his daughter's surprise; "And therein lays the difference between the Uzu and the Hyuga, Naruto. Your clan has had a deeply strong belief in family. It is the pillars of foundation of the Uzumaki. For the Hyuga our foundation is different."

Neither male notices Hinata's confusion upon hearing Naruto being of a clan.

"You will find that many, many clans hold their foundation to be that of honor, loyalty and duty to the clan itself..." His gaze softens. "But that's it; it is the clan they hold dear, not the people in it, but an idea of what the clan is supposed to be"

The Hyuga patriarch points to the blond; "For the Uzumaki, your clan ideals are based out of the love and care of every individual within it. That is where your honor, loyalty, and duties lie. This is why many clans always thought Uzu were strange to them."

Silence took to the room as both young teens mentally digest what they had just heard. Hinata all the while just looks between her father and the boy that means so much to her, even if he does not know it. How was it she had never heard of an actual Uzumaki clan? Was it that the Sandaime has been protecting Naruto for some reason?

Taking a deep breath, Naruto looks back to the elder Hyuga. "I want to ask you something since you're here. When Neji and Hinata were fighting I heard that you were harsh to Hinata-chan." the said girl blushes hearing a 'chan' at the end of her name. "Are you?"

"Yes..." Hiashi does nothing as Naruto blurred out of his chair grabbing his kimono, snarling at him.

"What the hell is wrong with you?!" The older Hyuga does not react as the blonde shouts to his face. "She's your daughter!" He didn't know why he was feeling so enraged, he knew what he was doing wasn't very smart. But honestly couldn't care less at the moment. "Doesn't matter if she meets your standards or not! It doesn't matter if you think she's weak, which she isn't, she really isn't! She's still your daughter!"

He definitely has Kushina's temper, Hiashi mentally muses. "In the Hyuga clan an heir or heiress is always watched and tested by the Elders. If that person shows any weakness that they find unworthy to lead the clan they will place the bird's cage seal on that person and place them in the branch family."

Both teens gasp as their eyes widen in shock. Not even Hinata was aware of this. She knew the Elders held sway on the clan head selection but she didn't know they were in their right to do that!

"I push both my daughters harshly, yes" He admits. "But only because I can hold the elders in line so much before they take a decision. I want them to become strong so they can be spared from that fate..." His brow furrows, his gaze becoming steely. "I refuse to let my family continue hurting for that accursed seal"

Letting go of the older man's kimono Naruto just looks into Hiashi's eyes; "Why are telling me all of this? I get a feeling not everyone is 'supposed' to know all this stuff."

"Because I am a friend of your mother's. Despite our opposites in personalities." The man still wondered just how he and Kushina became friends at times, though he never regretted it.

Chewing the inner gum of his mouth, Naruto sighs. "Hinata-chan is plenty strong. Even if she doesn't believe it. She's a hell of a good person too. You don't need to treat her like trash to get those blowhard douchebags from hurting her."

Hinata stares at the boy with a smile, feeling so much gratitude at him saying those words it swells her heart so much it made her tear up a little. Naruto-kun thinks I'm strong...

Hiashi remains silent for a moment. No a single emotion is discernible in his face. "I understand your words Uzumaki-san, and I... appreciate them. But this is not something I wish to discuss with you" He turns his gaze to Hinata. "But with my daughter. So I'd ask that you leave us in private please"

XxX ~ xx ~ XxX

Walking through the hallway of the hospital, the blond Uzumaki lets himself try to focus on all the things he had just learned from Hiashi Hyuga. It was just messed up no matter what angle he looked at it. Hurting your own family like that.

Still talking to Hinata proved to be cool. When he got a chance and when she finally out of this place he planned on speaking to her more. Making a new friend was always fun. And maybe hanging around him, Sakura, Tenten, Karin, and Soujiro will help her be more outspoken.

He kept walking with the intent of leaving the hospital. But it was a thinly veiled trace of killing intent coming from a nearby room that drove his attention. Quickly and stealthily, he approached the door and opened it slowly.

Just in time to see Gaara reaching eagerly with his sand towards Kouhei's sleeping form. Naruto tries to sneak up on him with a kunai at the throat, but a wave of sand sudden comes in between, making him jump away.

Shifting his sea foam green eyes, the Suna Jinchurriki only blankly looks at the blond; "You still defend these humans?"

"Hate to break it to you pal" He grunts. "But you and I are humans too"

"Are we? They turn us into weapons to defend their nation, but treat less than animals because of it. If they wish to see us as monsters, why not give them a show," A dark murderous grin forms on Gaara's face

A surge of sand comes at him, throwing him against the wall. He pushes himself up and brings his hands together to make a handsign, but stops at the side of two sand spears, one aiming at him, the other at Kouhei.

A snarl rips through Naruto's throat; "They don't understand and that makes people scared. But it doesn't mean just to give up on them. You have your brother and sister, and even your dad. Isn't he the Kazekage?" The moment he said that those words, Gaara's eyes grew darker.

"I do not acknowledge those two as family. As for my father, it was he who gave the order to place Shukaku inside of me while I was still within my mother's womb. As a result I killed my own mother when she gave birth to me..." His eyes are empty, bereft of any emotion. "She died delivering me"

The blonde shakes his head. "That couldn't have possibly been your fault"

"What does it matter?" There was something in the toneless voice that disturbed Naruto in so many levels. Something that struck a chord inside him. "In the end, she did not love me. This world holds no love for our kind, so why show concern for it and its people in the first place..." His green eyes seem to stare directly into his soul. "We are just weapons, you and I"

Now Naruto understand what was it that unnerved him so. Before him was someone had gone what he went through, worse even, and as a result had become something that could only live for the pain he inflicted on others... Gaara was a possibility of what he could have become. It frightened him so. If he hadn't had his precious people, those wonderful things he'd treasure all his life, he would have become just like him.

And yet... he couldn't help but feel sympathize with Gaara. He was alone, so alone and hurting...

Tilting his head, Gaara looks at his Jinchurriki kin; "That look in your eyes is meaningless for monsters like us. We exist only to kill" The spear near Kouhei creeps towards his throat. "I will open your eyes and make you see that truth."

Naruto was about to scream but suddenly ice covers the sand the spears pointed at him and Kouhei; they fall to the ground and shatter. At the door was Haku, standing with her arm stretched forward as her eyes showing nothing but frigid anger directed at Gaara.

"I suggest you leave my teammate and my friend alone before I turn every last part of your body into ice cubes" Her tone was as cold as her technique. Senbon spring forth from her upstretched hand, an icy mist emanating from them. "And I use these on you like icepicks"

Naruto wondered when Haku has become so scary. Don't get him wrong, she was scary when she wanted to be in combat, but this whole 'calm rage' was new to him... and it was really giving him the creeps.

Absently he wondered why it slightly turned him on, but shakes it off before creating two crystal kunai. Gaara only looks at the Hyoton user with a perplexed expression. "You would defend a monster?"

"I do not care that Naruto-kun has a Bijuu sealed within him. He is my friend and I will protect him even if it costs me my life."

The Suna-Nin says nothing as he looks to the blond Uzumaki who stares back at him. "We are far from finished" In a blink Gaara vanishes via sand shunshin.

Haku sighs as she relaxes from her stance. She looks over Kouhei who just continued sleeping like nothing had happened. "He sleeps like the dead. Thankfully he didn't join them" She turns her gaze to Naruto. "Are you okay?"

"Fine, just... I could have been just like him," Naruto almost whispers looking at his hands as his crystal kunai vanish. Feeling a hand on his cheek he sees Haku beside him looking at him with warmth.

"But you didn't..." She pauses looking into his eyes; anyone could always tell what he was thinking just by looking into those cerulean pools. "You want to save him?"

"Least would like to try. Is that wrong?"

"I'm not saying you shouldn't" She says softly. "It just... his mind seems too far gone"

The blond smirks as he gently grabs her hand from his cheek giving it a soft squeeze; "Never know till you try. He's alone, like I was, but everything changed with me. Maybe I can help me."

He soon blushes as the Hyoton user kisses his cheek; "Then I believe in you. You saved me; you can save him Naruto-Kun."

"The hell...?" They hear a sleepy voice suddenly speak, and they see Kouhei groggily waking up. "You guys making out in my room?" He says with a raspy voice.

Oh course he wakes up to that, Both Naruto and Haku thought dryly.

"If you want to bang his brains out Haku, take your Uzumaki fun time somewhere else, specifically somewhere where I am not recovering," the young Kiri Genin grumbles.

Naruto sputters uncontrollably and Haku blushes a fierce shade of red. "We-we weren't- I mean-"

Kouhei grins evilly. "I'm telling Zabuza"

"NO!" Naruto shouts, prompting a passing by nurse to shush him. He grumbled. Where were they a few minutes ago?

XxX ~ Next day: Training ground 43 ~ XxX

Naruto, Karin and Sakura all look over an explosive tag Samenosuke just made. "See this? Any fūinjutsu user worth his salt can make a sufficiently strong paper bomb" He then lit the damn thing. Prompting the kids to panic and slowly back away. "It's the fire aspects in the array which activate the explosion so be carefully it's not lit before you activate the seal. And of course, be sure not to stand to close to it" Like they were doing right now.

And he still had the freaking flaming tag on his hand!

"Just throw the damn thing!" the three teens yell.

The roguish Uzumaki smirks as he throws the tag onto a tree just as the flames touch the seal at the center. The kids cover their ears as the poor tree is annihilated by a blast that shakes the ground.

"It is all about the timing," Samenosuke smiles.

Sakura muttered something under her breath about 'crazy redheads'. A sentiment shared now singed haired Jiraiya who had been sitting close to the tree, working on his next book.

"But who wants lame explosions?!" The wild haired Uzu paused after that. "Forget I said that, explosions are awesome"

"Amen" Naruto and Karin reply instantly. Karin looked confused with herself, wondering why she had instinctively said that.

"What I mean, why make regular explosions when you make explosions out of everything!" Samenosuke flashed a toothy grin which the pinkette was beginning to suspect was an Uzumaki trait. "Make the right parameters in the array and you can make nearly everything. Add cold parameters? Boom! Ice explosion. Add electricity parameters? Boom! Shock explosion. Wanna cause make your opponents sick? Hmm, well you actually need some poison sample for that to work"

Saito sighs while he trains his son nearby. Leave it to Samenosuke to go overboard on the tags. However seeing Kushina just as animated about it he almost forgot how much damage those two can do together.

"Tsukiko-sama had to be a good role model" Kushina says. "But I think she enjoyed them just as any Uzumaki does"

Getting the ringing out of her ears Sakura sighs; "So how does this help me beat Neji? Beside the insane speed training Samenosuke-san taught us."

Naruto and Karin shuddered. He had placed weighting seals on their ankles and kept them running laps around the field, steadily increasing the weight with each lap. Never again. By the time the sun went down all three were lying on the ground and breathing in as much oxygen their lungs could handle.

Kushina clasps her hands together; "With his doujutsu, tricks will be your key if you want to beat him." She notices the rosette biting her lip. "Sakura-chan?"

"Neji's a genius" She states. "His Byakugan will provide him a 360º degree vision range" She slowly shakes her head. "Just how are those things gonna allow me to beat him? The moment he gets close to me I'm done for"

Kushina lightly frown while her son pats the rosette gently; "Hey, being a genius doesn't mean a thing Sakura-Chan. I mean look at me, I know I am not the sharpest kunai in the bunch but if you train hard you can do anything."

The rosette does not look convinced; "Naruto if I try to hit him he will see me."

"Then make sure he does not see you." The blond smirks; "You're the smartest Kunoichi of our class, if there was anyone who could pull the wool over his eyes and knock his teeth out it's you Sakura-Chan."

She wanted to say his words didn't make any sense. His Byakugan would allow him to see from every direction. That she really wasn't fit for this, her opponent was in a level beyond her. There was just no logical way she could ever hope to win.

And yet... hearing those words come out from Naruto's mouth, no matter how silly or how nonsensical they were too her... they gave her hope.

Her smile is almost like the sun as Sakura rests her head on the blond's shoulder; "Thank you Naruto-Kun..."

He smirks; "I'm here for ya no matter what."

Both not noticing the large mischievous smiles of two redheads in front of them.

"You two are preeety close huh~?" Samenosuke says with a jiggle of his eyebrows.

Both blush while Kushina idly taps her chin playfully in thought; "Whiskers mixed with pink hair... My grandkids will be awesome Dattebane!"

If their faces could get any redder, they would have entered the infra-red. "Kushina, Samenosuke" Saito said with an authoritive tone. "Stop teasing them"

"Aww" They pouted. "But it's so much fun"

A loud laugh comes from Jiraiya; "Why, I am getting some gold material here!"

"For a sappy teen book perhaps" Karin grumbles under breath.

The Gama Sannin waves a chiding finger; "Young lady, it is the mind of the author to know how to spin something to make it magnificent. Now, I still need to finish this one up"

"I'm still waiting for the new issue of Icha-Icha by the way" Karin says without thinking, she quickly covers her mouth as a dead silence takes the area.

"...Seriously?" Soujiro says incredulously.

"Ohoho what's this?" Jiraiya sounded so sweetly enthusiastic it was nearly sickening. "I have a little fan it seems"

"They're really good books," Karin weakly mutters while blushing.

Both Naruto and Sakura just gawk at her while Kushina can only stare. An 'eep' comes from Karin being hugged from by Samenosuke; "I knew I like this girl for a reason!"

A sheathed katana suddenly hitting him right over the head makes his eyes turn into spirals and his body fall limp, only to be pulled away by the hair, courtesy of Saito. "Alright that's enough out of you. She doesn't need more questionable influence"

XxX ~ xx ~XxX

"Alright kid" Jiraiya says, serious for a moment. "What are you planning for when you face Lee?"

"Well I was thinking of defensive techniques with my Shōton" He replies. "He's a taijutsu fighter; he won't be able to get to me if I keep my guard up"

"Hate to break it to ya, but Lee is not only capable of breaking your crystal, he WILL do it" The sannin says. "Just working on your shoton is not enough"

Naruto frowns. "What am I supposed to do then? I could try to overwhelm him with my clones but Lee is fast and strong. Other than that I don't really have anything else" As soon as those words left his mouth, a fist met his head harshly, courtesy of his mother. "What was that for?!"

"'Don't have anything else'" Kushina grumbles. "You mean to tell you haven't been practicing with your other elements?"

He rubs the sore spot on his head. "Why? I already got them making up my kekkei genkai"

Jiraiya sighs and shakes his head. "You think that already makes the shoton superior?" He says. "Sure, bloodlines are powerful, but they are not invincible, in fact, standard elements can overpower them even if used properly"

Kushina puts her hands on her hips; "You should have least be doing your elemental chakra training. Both me and Minato had wind element so I knew would have that naturally. And earth comes with creating Shoton right? You should be learning to harness those elements."

"Actually the gaki has been working on his wind, but not much. We have not gotten to earth much yet, "Jiraiya mumbles.

"Wouldn't using shoton be enough instead of earth?" He asks.

"Manipulating the earth directly can do things your crystals can't. Sinking a large hole on the ground for example, molding the battlefield to be a bit more to your advantage"

Kushina taps her son's head; "think about it Sochi. If you mess up the terrain against someone who uses speed attacks..." She trails off seeing her son slowly getting in as his eyes widen.

"Hmm, think I have something" He says with a smirk.

Kushina nods approvingly. "Good, Jiraiya will be teaching you some earth techniques." She turns to Sakura. "Did you buy the tools I told you to get?"

The pinkette nods, unsealing the contents in a scroll, showing different kinds of bombs. "Yeah"

"Good, the best way to keep him off balance is keeping him blinded while he has his doujutsu active. But him being as good as he is, we will have step up the game, so here's what you gonna do..."

XxX ~ that night ~ XxX

At the Uzumaki household they were all preparing supper, an invited Sakura helps Soujiro set the table. In the kitchen Samenosuke and Karin make dinner for tonight. The rosette soon noticing a certain long haired redhead absent among them.

"Soujiro-san, where is Kushina-sensei?"

The young Uzumaki looks thoughtful for a second while setting down a few dishes. "I think she said something about looking for couple of more guests for dinner"

They soon hear people from behind the door; "One night with people for dinner won't kill you." They hear the voice of Kushina. And why did they hear the rustle of chains behind her.

"I said I was fine; let me out of these chains damn it! And stop laughing at me dobe!" Sakura, Soujiro, and Saito lean over hearing an angry Sasuke and the gleeful laughter of Naruto.

The door slams open, revealing a smiling Kushina. "We're back~!" Golden chains of chakra sprouted from her back, tying up a scowling Sasuke. They enter the house, dragging him all the way. Naruto soon follows, his laughing not stopping for a second.

A gravity defying silver haired ninja peered over the door with a bored look as much as his masked visage allowed. "Yo" He greeted them with a raised palm.

Rising off the ground, the golden chain extend till Sasuke is hanging in the air, glaring daggers at a smirking Kushina in font of him. "Now will you be a good boy and join us for dinner Sasuke-kun?"

The Uchiha only growls which makes Naruto only laugh even more; "I am so~ glad I took pictures dattebayo!"

"I'm going to kill you" Sasuke said with an inhuman tone to the blonde. "I'm going to kill you slowly. I'll find a way to revive you only so I can kill you again" His answer was the flash of a camera.

"Ma, ma, you should have listened instead of brushing off Kushina-Sama Sasuke." Kakashi waves a dismissive hand. "You'll learn she always gets what she wants."

Seeing how was not going to get out of this cause he guessed Naruto's mom could summon that chain at will Sasuke sighs; "Alright... One time."

Once Sasuke got over his initial shock at seeing more Uzumaki survivors (as well as the pang of jealousy and pain that came along with it) he finally settled down in front of the table, sitting next to his teammates. He observed the food that was being served. "We're having ramen" He sighed. "Of course we are"

"While I'd like to educate you on the virtues of this food" Said the spiky haired Uzumaki with a smirk. "I'd also like to point out there's other food if you want ramen" As to prove his prove, he and Kushina began placing other plates full of salads and other pieces of roasted meat. "But seriously, ramen is the best. Deal with it"

The Uchiha points dryly at his blond teammate; "He was always trying to sneak it during classes at the academy, Naruto has always eats ramen."

"Cause ramen is awesome," Naruto says with such a serious tone it makes Sakura who giggles. "Oh don't give me that look. I practically can repeat every line you have when it comes to ramen."

"I like ramen" Karin mumbles.

"Me too, I love it" Soujiro adds to a smile.

Kushina rubs their heads affectively. "It's an Uzumaki trait" They realize only one certain redhead had not expressed the so called 'trait' regarding their affection for the food.

Saito says nothing as all eyes descend on him. Finally he sighs. "It is... a delicious plate"

Sasuke looks over to the tall Uzumaki; "And I had you pegged for the sane one here."

The Uchiha let out a growl as a grinning Samenosuke rubs the top of his head; "Afraid sanity has never been our strong suit, in fact it ran away screaming hehe."

As they sit on the table, they pay their thanks and proceed to eat. "Hmm the ramen's really good" Kushina says in delight. "When did you get to be such a good cook?" She asks to Samenosuke. "I remember when you and Lyn burnt everything to the ground the time Tsukiko-sama tried to teach us how to cook"

"Well, once I got less 'enthusiastic' with the fire it was actually pretty simple"

"After the sixty tries and fifteen burned down houses;" Saito says dryly which earns a childish pout from the roguish Uzumaki.

Both Naruto and Karin chuckle as they watch everyone. It... Was a strange thing what they were feeling? Strange, but it made them feel just so... happy. The way the others jested among themselves, the way the bickered good naturedly. The nostalgia in their voice when they recalled times of their youth, of their lost home.

Home... that must be what they were feeling. A sense of truly belonging. It was this feeling they both promised never to lose it even if it cost them their lives. They would never lose their family again, not while they had a say in it.