Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and this is just a fanfic based on others ideas and hard work.
Italics means Someone's thoughts
Chapter 9
It had been a few days and Naruto could feel the stares. Whenever he passed by any lions they would stare at him. To be honest, he felt like he was back in Konoha when he was younger and the adults would glare at him. The only difference here is that he couldn't tell what emotions their eyes were revealing. All this time Nilu was there at his side. She felt odd because he wouldn't talk. His face was not happy.
On the fourth day Naruto decided not to leave his room. He couldn't take the staring anymore. "Nilu, may I ask a favor?"
"What is it young one?" replied Nilu.
"Would you mind bringing my food to the room today?" he asked.
"I've watched you for a couple of days now. What is bothering you young one?" Nilu inquired with worry in her voice.
"It's tough to explain, but the stares bring back some bad memories" he replied.
Nilu thought for a few moments and realized he couldn't read the other lion's emotions. "Relax young one, I will arrange for your food here if it will help you."
Naruto didn't look up at her from the bed, he just nodded and said "Thanks".
The next few days Naruto never left the room. To be honest it made him feel a little better than having to deal with the stares. The other lion's had asked Nilu about young Naruto, but she assured him that he is fine and to give him time due to him being left in the dark about what is going on. That seemed to pacify the lion's and the days went on.
Xxxxxxxxxx
On the seventh day the compound was buzzing with activity. The scouting teams had reported back that the other clan heads would be there by lunch. Arrangements were made in the great dining hall to accommodate the clan heads as they arrived along with their guards and advisors.
"Lord Sessho, what is the meaning of calling an emergency meeting during hunting season" demanded one of the clan heads.
"Please be patient Lady Tora and let me do this properly" replied Sessho in a calm and commanding manner.
He continued, "I have called an emergency meeting of the Panthera clan. Let me first take role. I Lord Sessho am present and am calling this meeting to order. I will take the 'chair' role in this meeting since I am the one who initiated this. I ask that Lady Yakihyo of the Snow Leopards be our record keeper since the Snow Leopards are historically our record keepers. Does Lady Yakihyo accept this role?"
"Lady Yakihyo shall accept her responsibility as the clan record keeper on our honor" replied Yakihyo.
Sessho continued, "The chair recognizes Lord Jaga as the representative for the Jaguar's. Do you accept the calling of this meeting and will represent the Jaguars here?"
"I shall on the Jaguars honor." Replied Jaga.
"The chair recognizes Lord Hyo of the Leopard's. Do you accept the calling of this meeting and will you represent the Leopard's here?"
"I shall represent all Leopards with our honor." Replied Hyo.
"Finally, the chair recognizes Lady Tora of the Tiger's. Do you lady Tora accept the calling of this meeting and will you represent all Tiger's here?"
"Yes I accept you old coot, let's get this meeting going already." Replied Tora.
Sessho rolled his eyes in amusement and continued, "I have called this meeting because I believe we have a human heir to the clan. A blood relation to the long forgotten Namikaze clan and the clan of which we serve."
The other divisions of the Panthera clan erupted in chaos and wonderment.
"QUIET" yelled Sessho.
"The chair recognizes Lady Tora" said Sessho.
"The Namikaze died out during the 2nd Great Ninja War. What makes you claim that the Namikaze still live?" asked Tora as the other clan heads brought their attention back to Sessho.
"Over a week ago we had a human save one of our young (he purposefully skipped the details, but not to be shady, but to keep the story short) from the Hyenas. As repayment for this service we allowed him to rest here for a couple of days. During this time he was in the great library of the Namikaze clan. He found the sealed door and was able to open it." Sessho recalled. (He continued to explain how they closed the door and opened the door again).
"So what are you proposing Sessho?" asked Hyo of the Leopards.
"The boy's name is Naruto Uzumaki, since the name does not match I am suggesting that we send spies to the boys home to determine if any more Namikaze survived the second great ninja war" replied Sessho.
Yakihyo decided to speak up being the scholar among them, "Excuse me" she got everyone attention. "Has the boy attempted to open the 'clan' scroll?" she asked with emphasis on the word clan.
They looked at Sessho. "I have not attempted that without you all here."
Jaga spoke for the first time since the opening. "I think it would be prudent to determine what level of the blood line he is before we go spying in a land that our clans ran from after that war ended."
"I agree with Jagy-kun" winked Tora purposefully messing up his name. At that time Jaga's eye twitched.
"Guards, inform Nilu to bring Naruto before us and also have someone retrieve the 'clan' scroll." Called Sessho.
Xxxxxxxxxx
After rearranging the room a bit to accommodate everyone we now find the room set up with a long rectangle Chabudai set up to one side of the room and the clan heads sitting with Sessho at the center, Tora and Jaga to the right, and Hyo and Yakihyo to the left. In the center of the room about 10 feet away facing them was a small Chabudai that Naruto will be sitting at very soon and behind him would be all of the various advisors and guards of the different divisions of the Panthera clan.
There was a knock on the door (I don't know how lions knock but just go with it for the story).
"Enter" called Sessho.
Nilu followed by Naruto entered the room. She led him to the center and instructed him to sit. Naruto was very nervous and in his mind he was thinking this was some kind of inquisition.
"Bring in the scroll" called Yakihyo.
A snow leopard walked in with a large and intricate scroll with gold inlays on the handle and a very complicated looking seal keeping it closed.
"Naruto," Yakihyo began speaking again "before you is a 'clan' scroll as we call it. It is the genetic history of the clan we serve. That particular scroll was sealed by the clan head back during the second great ninja war. Are you familiar with that war?" Naruto nodded "Good that saves some time. The seal holding that scroll closed is a blood seal. Just so you are aware, none of us expect you to be able to open that scroll, but we would like you to attempt please. Would you be willing to do that for us?" She asked.
"Why would you think I could open this scroll? I don't have a clan." Naruto asked.
Sessho decided to speak up this time, "Naruto, the fact that you opened that room in the back of the library is proof enough that you hold the clan blood within you. That room couldn't be opened any other way."
"What clan do you think I am a part of?" Naruto asked.
Hyo began speaking, "You see Naruto a long time ago we lived in the elemental nations with the…."
Yakihyo all of a sudden cleared her throat quite loudly, "Please forgive me Hyo" she looks at Naruto, "and Naruto, but I believe we should wait on these details."
"Why do you think we should wait?" asked Jaga.
"Because I believe the answer to Naruto's question may reveal more questions than answers than we can give him at this time. As suggested by Lord Sessho we should gather more information and once received we can tell Naruto all we know. If we reveal everything right now it may only confuse the boy". Spoke Yakihyo.
Nilu stepped forward, "please forgive me for speaking out of turn, but I believe Lady Yakihyo is correct in this instance." She turned to Naruto "Young one, would you allow us time to gather information before we tell you anything further?"
Naruto was looking at everyone who was staring back at him. He was honestly very uncomfortable. He just bowed his head in confirmation to Nilu's request. "What do you want me to do with this scroll?" he asked in a monotone voice.
"Nilu will use her claws to prick your finger and we want you to let a few drops fall on that seal holding the scroll closed. I will remind you, we don't expect anything to happen so please don't be discouraged if the scroll does not open." Replied Yakihyo.
Naruto allowed Nilu to prick his finger and he let a few drops of his blood on fall onto the seal before the small wound was healed by Kurama. A minute or two passed and nothing happened.
"Well, it looks like…." Tora began to speak but then everyone's eyes widened in shock.
The seal started to glow and right in front of everyone the scroll opened.
Tora whispered, "Impossible".
Tora stood up and walked around the table and toward Naruto. She was almost as big as Sessho. She lowered her head and sniffed Naruto. She walked around him as if appraising him. She finally went back to her place and sat down. All the clan heads were watching her. She finally spoke, "I want the rest of the Siberian Guards brought to this place, and I want this boy guarded at all times. Nothing is to happen to him is that clear." Two normal size tigers left the room in a hurry to send a message to the rest of the guards.
"Lady Tora, please forgive me but this is the Lion strong hold and clan compound. He is safe here." Commented Sessho.
"I do not care, it is the responsibility of the lower level of the Tiger clan to protect the "roy"…the boy from this point forward and I will not budge on this duty." Replied Tora hotly.
"Very well Lady Tora" replied Sessho camly.
"Naruto, all your belongings will be moved to different quarters and Nilu will be staying with you from this point forward, ok?" asked Sessho.
Even though it was a question Naruto recognized an order when he heard one.
"Uh….ok…sure" replied Naruto reluctantly with questions in his mind, but he stood up and follow Nilu out of the room.
Once gone the Leopard head turned to Sessho. "What are our orders?" asked Hyo.
"First things first, you all should know that he is the Jinchuriki of the Nine tailed fox and that is something we will have to deal with." Said Sessho.
There was a small gleam in Jaga's eye that no one missed.
"Jaga, our time will come, but be patient" said Sessho.
Jaga just nodded even though he had a feral smile.
"Second, we need all the information we can gather about Naruto. That is where your clan comes in at Hyo. Gather everything, anything, pertaining to Naruto Uzumaki. School records, medical records, shinobi career, friends, everything you can gather; we need it." Said Sessho.
"Lord Sessho, what about the summoning contract?" asked Yakihyo.
"We will wait until we can provide him with more information about who he is and what he wants to do. Until then, Jaga, I want you to start on his physical training and only his physical training for now." Jaga nodded "then once we have answered his questions we will offer him the summoning contract and make sure we set up a meeting with the boss and elders in the summoning realm. Are we agreed?"
They all nodded with the approval of the various councilors in the room.
"Hyo, send your spies by tonight to Konoha and let's gather our information as quickly as possible." Said Sessho and Hyo nodded to his council who left the room to send messages right away.
"Tonight we feast with Naruto and celebrate the revival of his clan" yelled Sessho.
Xxxxxxxxx
The rest of the day passed by and it was party time in the lion compound and everyone was laughing and having a good time. They were celebrating Naruto and revival of his clan.
Correction, everyone except Naruto. As he sat there eating and listening to the happy cheers he kept remembering all the times with his friends…with his ex-friends. He finally stood up and everyone quieted down. He turned to the various heads and bowed to them. "My apologies, but I think I will turn in for the evening. Thank you for the wonderful food." He then darted out of the room. Nilu watched for a moment and then bowed to the clan heads and darted after him.
"Sessho, did we do something wrong to insult Naruto?" Asked Tora.
Yakihyo spoke up, "No, no one did anything wrong. I saw the look in his eyes. He was reminiscing about something and he is hurt; emotionally. I think there is some emotional damage we are going to have to deal with, but until the spies report back we won't know."
"Well, he was banished from his home. Is that possibly what's bothering him?" asked Jaga.
"I'm sure that is part of it, but I think there is more. I believe for now we need to keep an eye on him and be there for him when he is ready." Replied Yakihyo.
"Do not worry, the Siberian Guards are already here and they have this place on lock down. We will not allow any harm to the boy externally or internally." Tora proclaimed.
Sessho stood up and started to leave. As he reached the door he turned around "Jaga, start the boy's physical training at dawn. Let's keep him active until the spies report back. I do not want him sulking. Also, Yakihyo, create a schedule of study for the boy. If we keep his mind and body active maybe he won't sulk."
Jaga and Yakihyo responded simultaneously, "It shall be done."
Before he left Sessho asked one question, "Does anyone have any objections to Nilu being the boy's familiar?"
Everyone shook their heads to confirm no issues.
"Very well, I will inform Nilu immediately. Good evening everyone."
Xxxxxxxxxx
The door to Naruto's new room opened and in walked Sessho. The room was very large. It had a large bed about the size of two king size beds. A personal onsen as well as a separate bathing area. It had a fireplace with a fire going to keep the room warm and a sitting area to relax in front of the fireplace.
Nilu raised her head from where she slept close by Naruto but far enough away to not disturb him.
"Father?" she whispered.
"Are you aware of what a familiar is and what their duties are?" he whispered in response
She nodded in confirmation
"Good, I just confirmed with the clan heads, you are Naruto's familiar from now on."
He turned and left the room
Nilu laid her head down so she could see Naruto. "I shall see to your future and make sure you are happy. I swear this on my honor" she thought with a smile.