Author's note – Kishimoto Masashi owns Naruto while Guyver is written by Yoshiki Takaya.
I make no claim to either, I am merely playing in their sandboxes.
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Chapter Eleven
Explanations
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"One cat." Naruto grumped as he placed the cat-carrier on Hiruzen's desk.
"Three hours and fifteen minutes." Hiruzen noted, glancing at the clock set above the door. "Not a bad time."
"That thing is a demon!" Naruto ranted. "And I know about demons!"
"How?" Idate asked and Naruto froze, his anger vanishing instantly, only to be replaced by panic.
"Ummmmm, I got called a demon loads when I was younger, so I did some research into them?"
"That makes sense." Yagura agreed while Aoi just gave his youngest genin a suspicious look.
"Anyway, that is mission: capture Tora complete." Hiruzen interjected. "Here is your payment and Naruto, please remain behind for a moment."
The other three members of Team 4 accepted the scrolls containing their pay and left while Naruto shifted uncomfortably. Once the door was closed, Hiruzen spoke.
"Have you told them?"
"About me being Hiro?" Naruto asked. "No, you wanted it kept secret, right?"
"Not that." Hiruzen sighed and Naruto's eyes widened in realization.
"Ohhhhhhhh, you mean about me being a Jinchuuriki!"
"Yes."
"Nope." Naruto stated. "Besides, I thought there was a law about it or something."
"The law is that no-one can speak about your status as the container for the Kyuubi no Kitsune to someone who doesn't already know." Hiruzen agreed. "However, there are two people to whom that law does not apply. Myself, as Hokage, and you."
"Sooooo, I can tell people if I need to?" Naruto asked and Hiruzen nodded.
"Your team-mates may need to know, Aoi already does. There are those out there who will target you for what you carry and you will need your team to guard your back. Surely they should know why."
"Hai, hai." Naruto sighed. "It's just… it's a big thing for me."
"Think about it." Hiruzen offered. "You don't have to tell them today, but the longer you wait, the harder it will become."
Naruto sighed. "Yeah. I guess…"
"At least Idate has learned from his brother how to keep secrets." Hiruzen noted and Naruto nodded.
"And Yagura's my room-mate… maybe I'll invite Idate to a sleepover at the weekend and tell them then."
Hiruzen cocked his head. "Does Yagura know about your base?"
"Nah, keeping it secret's been a bitch and a half." Naruto sighed, then he froze. "Maybe I should tell him, it would make things easier…"
"Just think about it for now." Hiruzen smiled, then he motioned to the door. "I believe that your team is waiting for you."
Naruto nodded, then paused. "Jiji, should I keep doing my patrols?"
"Patrols?"
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Naruto looked down as he floated above Konoha. His gaze passed across the familiar clan compounds, the Akamichi, the Abarume, the Uchiha, the Nara… Were those deer fighting…?
No! They weren't!
Naruto wrenched his vision away from the two deer, frantically looking for something else… anything else to try and take his mind away from what he had just witnessed and his gaze settled on the Hyuuga estate, especially the room where the girl he had rescued all those years ago…
…was sitting up, looking at him?
…what.
Naruto slowed down, then slowly side-slipped and the girl's head turned, obviously tracking him.
There was a celing and roof between them, yet she could see him. How the heck? He could only see her because of his armour, so…
Another figure caught his attention and he winced as he recognized it.
Hyuuga Hiashi, standing just outside the largest structure in the compound.
And also looking at him.
And motioning for him to come down.
Oh hell.
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Hiashi activated his byakugan and then blinked in confusion as he watched his daughter suddenly wake up, sitting up and tilting her head up. Following her gaze, he looked up through the ceiling of his study and saw a very familiar figure, even though it was one that he hadn't seen for several years.
Hiro.
As he watched, Hiro slowed, then changed course, moving sideways, the angle of his head indicating that he was looking at Hinata who in turn was looking back at him.
Hiashi frowned in thought. Hiro was obviously checking on Hinata, but why would Uzumaki Hiro…
Ah.
Uzumaki.
Hiashi felt his mind hiccup for a moment as he made a connection that he really should have made before. Hiro and Naruto were both Uzumaki, that meant that Hiro was the head of the Uzumaki clan as the older member and for him to keep watch over Hinata all this time…
He must be hoping for an alliance between the Hyuuga and Uzumaki clans.
But how did he know about the way that the Elders were trying to force him to choose between Hinata and Hanabi as his heir?
Making a decision, Hiashi rose from behind his desk and strode towards the front door of the mansion. Stepping outside into the cool air, he looked up at Hiro, who was now watching him, and waved his hand, indicating the path in front of him.
It was beyond time to talk.
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Naruto descended slowly, his mind racing in near-panic. He had sparred against Neji enough to have a very healthy respect for the damage that a Hyuuga could cause just through Jyuuken, and below him was the clan head himself!
If anyone could shatter his armour, Hiashi could.
Naruto swallowed nervously as he landed.
Oh well, it worked before.
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"Hiashi-sama. A pleasant night, is it not?"
Hiashi stared for a moment at the armoured figure, comparing him to the image engraved in his mind from when the Kumo Ambassa… the Kumo-teme had tried to kidnap Hinata, the event inadvertently exposing the rot starting to seep into the clan.
The figure hadn't changed. Every piece of armour plating was exactly the same.
"Indeed it is, Uzumaki Hiro." He said calmly. "My apologies for interrupting your patrol of the village, but there are certain… clan matters that we need to discuss."
Hiro stood motionless, then slowly moved to look behind Hiashi. A small eep informed the clan leader that his oldest daughter was out of her room and trying to sneak up for a closer look at Hiro.
"Hinata, you should be asleep." Hiashi stated without turning, although the sudden bulging of veins around his eyes showed that he was using his byakugan.
"…hai, tou-san." Hinata whispered before she vanished back through the door. Hiashi watched her make her way back to her room, then he turned his attention back to Hiro.
"We need to talk, Hiro-san. Please come with me."
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Naruto looked round, using both his eyes and his helmet-sensors as they walked through the surprisingly-spartan hallway. He had expected to see statues, paintings and tapestries lining the walls, but the hallway was completely clear, except for…
"Hiashi-sama… why is there a stone in the corridor?"
"Tradition and practice." Hiashi replied, causing Naruto to mentally shake his head.
What sort of answer was that?
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"Hiashi-sama, why is there a stone in the corridor?"
Hiashi was impressed despite himself. Most visitors to the Hyuuga Mansion were too impressed by the minimalistic perfection of the house (with the skill levels implied by the lack of flaws) to comment on the incongruity of one of the Training Stones being located in the corridor.
"Tradition and practice." Hiashi replied, waiting to see what the response would be.
He wasn't disappointed.
Hiro obviously understood as he made no further comment, or asked for details.
Smirking inwardly, Hiashi led Hiro to his office and reclaimed his position behind the desk. Hiro followed suit, dropping smoothly into a cross-legged pose and Hiashi quirked a mental brow at the indication that the armour that Hiro wore wasn't quite flexible enough at the knees for him to sit in the Seiza position.
And that Hiro preferred not to try and loom over a potential ally.
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Naruto dropped into his preferred sitting style before he noticed that Hiashi was sat more formally. Breathing a small curse under his breath, Naruto considered changing pose, then Hiashi spoke, distracting him from his quandary.
"It has been several years since you saved the Hyuuga clan from disaster, Hiro-sama. You prevented my daughter from being kidnapped and put a halt to a plan that would have seen my wfe poisoned in such a way as to weaken me through grief.
"I owe you a great debt."
Naruto tilted his head in confusion. Poison? Debt?
Hiashi's next words sent a jolt of terror through his veins.
"I have done a great deal of research into you, Hiro-sama, and I believe that I can repay you for your assistance. The Uzumaki clan were once great, standing equal to the Senju and the Uchiha, maybe even higher. That the clan is now down to just you and Uzumaki Naruto is a great shame.
"I propose to help you rebuild the Uzumaki Clan."
Naruto blinked. Rebuild? What?
"May I ask how?"
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"May I ask how?"
Hiashi hid a small smirk at the implication that unless his plan was completely against what Uzumaki Hiro believed in, it would at least be considered.
"First, some information." Hiashi said, watching his guest carefully. "You are only the second Shinobi to have a flee on sight order in the Bingo Books and as of the last publications, the first to have a retreat if his presence is suspected order in one of them. Your bounty is higher than the next three ninja combined and you have held your own against Uchiha Madara himself."
Hiro nodded slowly.
"If not for your age, you would be in great demand as a marriage prospect." Hiashi added.
"Indeed? I… had not considered that."
"Most ninja dislike politics." Hiashi said with a microscopic shrug. "However, most people think of you as Hiro, not Uzumaki Hiro. Which leads me to Uzumaki Naruto."
Hiro tilted his head in query.
"Rumor has it that you are training Naruto how to use the armour. As such, he will soon become the target of those who seek the armour and the power it represents. I wouldn't be surprised if the minor clans are making plans to ensnare him in a forced marriage, allowing them to claim the armour and all the Uzumaki techniques."
"That… would not be good."
"Which is why I have a counter-offer." Hiashi said, finally reaching the point. "The Elders of my clan have unearthed an ancient clan rule which dictates that should the Clan Head have more than one child without the Seal, the Council of Elders can dictate which child is Sealed so long as at least one is a ninja. My sources tell me that on the day that Hinata graduates, they will use the law to force me to place the Caged Bird Seal on her and pass the position of Heir to Hanabi, allowing them more time to try and mold her to their liking. With Hinata relegated to the Branch House, they can then force her to abandon her shinobi career and marry her off to someone of their choosing since the Council of Elders commands the Branch Family whilst I command the Main Family."
Hiro nodded in understanding.
"You wish to safeguard your daughters."
"All of the Council fear you, your armour means that our Gentle Fist is useless against you. Allying with you will allow me to force the Council to stop plotting against me, but as I said before, if not for your age, you would be ideal as a marriage prospect."
"You wish Hinata to marry Naruto?"
"An engagement, at the very least." Hiashi admitted.
Hiro sat motionless for a long moment, then slowly nodded.
"There is no other way?"
"None that I can find."
Hiro sagged slightly.
"In three days time I will take Hinata to see Naruto. Hinata will make the final decision."
"Agreed." Hiashi said.
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"Nice house."
"Thanks." Naruto grinned as Idate looked around curiously.
"Idate!" Yagura called from the balcony, then he vaulted over the railing and dropped down to land in front of them. "Great place this, isn't it? I have no idea how Naruto managed to get it."
"I may be an orphan, but I did have parents, however briefly." Naruto shrugged. "This was once my dad's house."
"Naruto has the main bedroom and as the lodger, I have the smaller one." Yagura said, indicating the upper doors.
"Where does that end door go?"
"The side balcony." Yagura shrugged. "Kitchen and dining room are through there while the door to the bathroom is there."
"It's a small house, but I like it." Naruto grinned and Idate gave him a look.
"It's as big as the house my brother and I share." Idate protested. "In fact, it might be even bigger!"
"Food's ready!" Another Naruto called from the kitchen and Idate blinked in surprise.
"You use your clones… for chores? Can I learn that technique?"
"It requires a lot of chakra." Naruto said as he led his team-mates through to the table. "Most Jonin can make maybe three or four. I'm a chakra monster."
"He is." Yagura nodded.
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"Oh, that was amazing." Idate sighed as he collapsed onto the end of the sectional couch. Naruto laughed, then dragged a chair over and sat in it, facing the other two.
"Teuchi gave me cooking lessons in exchange for me using my clones to help out at his stand." Naruto grinned, then he turned serious. "Since you're here, there's something that you need to know, S-class secrets that you are cleared for, but which you cannot tell anyone else. Yagura… tell me about the Kyuubi no Kitsune."
Yagura closed his eyes and frowned as he dredged up some of the lessons from the Academy. "Ummmm, one of the nine Tailed Beasts and the strongest, attacked Konoha without warning eleven years ago and was killed by the Yondaime at the cost of his life."
"Very good, and wrong." Naruto said, catching both of their undivided attention. "The Kyuubi was used against Konoha by Madara soon after the Founding, but Madara was confronted by Senju Hirashima and his wife, Uzumaki Mito, at the Valley of the End. During the battle, Hirashima used his mokouton to weaken the Kyuubi, then Mito used her knowledge of Uzumaki fuuinjutsu to seal the Kyuubi away inside herself, turning herself into the first of the three Konoha Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi. With the loss of his greatest weapon, Madara fled."
Idate and Yagura were barely breathing as Naruto told them the story.
"As Mito aged, she came to fear the consequences of unleashing the Kyuubi so, at her request, Uzushiogakure sent a Kunoichi named Uzumaki Kushina, since only an Uzumaki could survive holding the Kyuubi. Mito used her skills to transfer the Kyuubi into Kushina, making her the second carrier of the Kyuubi.
"Becoming a ninja, Kushina fell in love and got married. However, the seal of a female Jinchuuriki weakens when she gives birth so when the time came, she travelled to a secret cave outside Konoha."
Naruto paused, remembering the day he had found the file that explained the events of his birth.
"She was discovered and attacked by a rogue Uchiha calling himself Tobi. The Kyuubi was ripped from her, mortally wounding her. She used the last of her life-force to restrain the Kyuubi while the Yondaime Hokage used his knowledge of seals to once again bind the Kyuubi, sealing it into her newborn son.
"Me."
Idate froze while Yagura inhaled sharply.
"The reason that I am hated by so many is that they hold me responsible for the attack. If I had not been born, the seal would not have weakened and the Kyuubi would not have escaped. Others believe that I died when the Kyuubi was sealed into me, that the Kyuubi walks amongst them wearing the corpse of Kushina's son. They are wrong, but they cling to that hatred because as long as they do, as long as they deny I am human, they are justified in hating me. They warn their children to avoid me, to shun me and to push me away and so I grew up lonely, abandoned and not knowing why, until I discovered a file that told me who I truly was, who my parents were and why so many hated me."
For a long moment, no-one spoke, then Idate broke the silence.
"Then they're idiots. My brother said that he believed that you could become Hokage some day, he wouldn't have said that if you were the Kyuubi."
"What he said without the brother bit." Yagura said with a nod. "And Naruto, thanks."
Naruto blinked. "Thanks?"
"For trusting us." Yagura explained. "It can't have been easy."
"It wasn't." Naruto admitted. "But... it was worth it."