Author's Note: Welcome back, everyone! As this is my first story I welcome constructive criticisms, flaming and trolling will be ignored. Now to address some reviews:

Serpensreality: I'm glad you think so, hopefully I won't disappoint!

sparky002: Thank you for reading, glad you're enjoying it!

Disclaimer: Naruto and Inuyasha belong to their respective owners.

Chapter 3 – The Namikaze Estate

'It's getting late,' Naruto mused as he walked towards with his new home. 'around 9:00 if the position of the moon is anything to go by.'

"Worried about the time?" Kakashi asked after noticing the newly-minted Clan Head's skyward glance. "I can't blame you. Tomorrow you'll be officially assigned to a Shinobi Team; you must be drooling to get into your clan vault to learn as much as you can about your heritage, but I must advise against pulling an all-nighter in there. You never know what your Team Leader will have you do on your first day."

"Hilarious," Naruto snorted. "You really think, after everything we just listened to, that Hiruzen won't make you my Team Leader?"

"Guilty as charged," the Sandaime replied, "but, as a Shinobi, you must be prepared for any eventuality. Minato-sama did not attain his power and status by being complacent. Your distant ancestor Sesshomaru-sama may well have been powerful enough that such caution was unnecessary, but you are still mostly human."

At this point there was a small commotion as the trio met with the ten Kage Bushin Naruto created earlier.

"Storage scrolls?" Kakashi pondered after noticing that none of the clones seemed to be carrying anything.

"One of the first things I taught myself. It worked wonders when pranking my shitty landlord. Bastard was always charging extra rent; pity he could never prove who was always raiding his safe." Naruto smirked.

"Taijutsu capable of felling a Chuunin, an affinity for Yang release potent enough to create 1,000 Kage Bushin with ease, and the beginning steps of Fuinjutsu." Hiruzen counted off his fingers. "Even if our investigation finds that your repeated failure of the Academy Graduation Exam was nothing more than cruel coincidence, there is no doubt that you didn't belong there anymore and likely had not for some time. If you had disclosed even a sliver of your true talents during your Academy years, your Graduation Exam results would have merited the same scrutiny long ago that they will be getting now."

"And paint an even bigger target on my back when I still didn't know why I was hated by everyone except Iruka-sensei?" Naruto shot back.

Hiruzen and Kakashi grimaced; by doing their best to honor Minato and Kushina's dying wish, they had locked Naruto into a cage of isolation. The best workaround Hiruzen could conceive – his law forbidding anyone in Konoha from revealing Naruto was a Jinchuriki – was nowhere near enough, and now Konoha may well pay the price for Hiruzen's half-measure. They dared not ask exactly how long Naruto was willing to wait before claiming the council seats he inherited by force.

Eventually the three arrived at a building more worthy of being called a castle than a mansion. Its exterior was made of marble and retained the near-pure white color for which the material was known despite years of minimal maintenance, causing Naruto to suspect that a self-repairing Jutsu must have been applied to the entire structure. He didn't know whether to be awestruck by his ancestor's commitment to the longevity of their home or cringe at the time and resources that constructing such a Jutsu array must have consumed. Intricate red honeycomb designs decorated the walls of the mansion, with other insignias colored blue, purple, green, and black interwoven among them.

"Are those barrier seals?" Kakashi marveled after analyzing the "artwork" before them.

"Some of them are, but the function of many of these seals is a mystery, even to me." Hiruzen answered. "The Namikaze estate is likely the most fortified building in all of Konoha by a substantial margin; why do you think none of Minato-sama's enemies dared to raid this place even during times when Konoha's security was gravely compromised?"

"Such as right after Kurama attacked the village? Can't imagine that there were a ton of Ninja to spare around then." Naruto speculated.

"Indeed; the Iwa, and even the Kumo, took advantage of the chaos and tried to destroy us. We lost more lives to them than to Kurama. Luckily, Suna came to our aid, if only because The Kazekage feared his village would be next if Iwa or Kumo succeeded." Hiruzen confirmed.

"What of Kiri?" Naruto inquired.

"Officially, they remained neutral, but once Iwa and Kumo were repulsed, we received 'charitable donations' of seafood and construction materials for several years afterwards. Curiously, Kumo did not protest despite the strain such 'charity' must have placed on the trade agreements they have in place with Kiri." Kakashi supplied.

"Economic sanctions? Kumo mountainous terrain is a nightmare to invade, but there can't be much farmable land. The Raikage must have been shitting bricks after realizing he couldn't get his claws on Konoha's forests." Naruto cackled.

"Quite right – Kumo had to choose between limited trade with Kiri or none at all. A pity those sanctions no longer exist but as Konoha recovered, Kiri became hard pressed to justify maintaining them. Aside from us, no country involved in the conflict committed quite enough resources to the effort to warrant calling it a war, though it very nearly became one." Hiruzen said sullenly.

"As riveting as this history lesson is, Lord Hokage, I for one would very much like to see the inside of my Sensei's manor." Kakashi said as the trio arrived at the mansion's outer gate.

"Ask, and you shall receive!" Naruto didn't even need to raise his hand to gain entry into his castle. The main gate, secondary gate, and front door all opened as if welcoming a long-lost friend. Once the trio entered the house, the door and gates locked themselves behind them.

"Exquisite security – good thing you have a key, and I have permission to come and go at will. Hopefully, we'll never need to see just how thoroughly protected Naruto's home is." Kakashi critiqued.

"Please follow me, Naruto-dono. I've accompanied my maids here enough times to give you a tour of your ancestral home." Hiruzen led the way into the mansion.

Naruto and Kakashi gasped as they looked around the Namikaze mansion. The interior floors and walls were also made of marble, but rubies and garnets appeared to have been crushed and blended into the white stone, giving it a checkered appearance reminiscent of blood splattered upon a snowy battlefield. Closer to the ceiling the reds were less prominent, and the white was dyed to gradually fade into the silver-gray of the ceiling. At no point was this color scheme offensive to the eyes; instead, the display evoked a flawless synergy of elegance and might.

"Your mansion has three stories, Naruto-dono. The first floor contains the entry hall – our current position – the dining room and kitchen, an onsen, and the master bedroom." Hiruzen stated, beginning the tour with the kitchen.

Once again Naruto was shocked at the combination of wealth and practicality portrayed by his clan. The cutlery in the kitchen was all fashioned from ivory while tools meant for cooking were made of ebony. While many would consider these precious materials wasted on kitchen utensils, Naruto knew better; ivory and ebony are both incredibly durable, water resistant and polished easily. Ebony is also an especially dense variety of wood, making it ideal to use in cooking or baking.

The kitchen's pantry, refrigerator, and freezer were fully stocked with perishables that were in pristine condition due to the time-suspension seals contained within all compartments and appliances. Naruto felt somewhat sheepish as he contemplated making meals from top-quality meat and produce with his meager cooking skills. The survival skills that begged perfecting for his life before receiving his inheritance left him little time to devote to the culinary arts. His eyes widened as he viewed the large liquor cabinet – naturally also fully stocked – with not only several types of sake but also different beers, wines and other spirits Naruto could not discern.

"Is that rum?" Kakashi hissed in shock. "I thought the making of that spirit was a lost art in the Elemental Nations; the only times I've partaken of it was during escort missions involving particularly foreign dignitaries."

Hiruzen pulled out a bottle of the accused beverage and nearly dropped it after reading the year it was made. The Namikaze either once had a talented brewer in their ranks, or were in exceptional standing with merchant clans that had not existed for hundreds of years.

"Naruto-dono, I'll not lecture you about a Shinobi's three fatal vices but unless your clan vault has instructions on how to create these spirits, consider anything in this cabinet that isn't beer, wine or sake as irreplaceable. No doubt they were crafted and aged to perfection before being bottled; indulge if you must but, for the sake of liquor connoisseurs the world over, please exercise restraint!"

Naruto chuckled, "Your desire to partake of my liquor cabinet at a more opportune time is noted, Old Man. If Kakashi-sensei is available at said time, he is welcome as well."

"I'm not your Sensei yet!" Kakashi snapped.

"You will be in less than twelve hours; why not address you as such now?" Naruto retaliated.

"There's a principle to these things, young man." Kakashi glared at his future student.

"I'm the youngest Clan Head in the history of Konoha – if not the world – and I lead two clans at that. Your embarrassment is none of my concern." Naruto shrugged.

Kakashi grumbled as they continued into the dining room. Here the red-white color scheme of the mansion was subdued, mixed with light brown to give it a more earthy tone and lessen the potential distraction the more vibrant version seen previously could have while eating. The dining table was long enough to fit at least a dozen on each side and was made of mahogany, carved so beautifully that Naruto was convinced the table was made from one gigantic tree instead of being the product of several trees. There were also a set of smaller tables with accompanying chairs and sofas farther back in the room to allow for more casual dining. On the ceiling hung three chandeliers covered in silver globes. Kakashi noticed a seal array on the wall closest to the kitchen and channeled some Chakra into it. Instantly the orbs blazed to life, bathing the room in pale light.

"Like dawn's first rays," Naruto whispered.

"Indeed, it never fails to take my breath away." Hiruzen replied.

"How long do they stay lit once Chakra is applied to the seal?" Naruto asked.

"If you channel enough Chakra to create one Kage Bushin, they will remain active for three hours; if you don't need the room lit for that long, the seal can also be utilized to deactivate the chandeliers and return the unused Chakra to you. You can also keep the light seals charged with Chakra without activating them." Hiruzen responded.

"And the entire mansion is illuminated this way?" Kakashi asked.

"Yes, apparently the Namikaze clan believed that the lord of this estate would always have enough Chakra to keep the lights on. The only rooms that have electrical lighting in addition to the Chakra lights are the kitchen, the sparring room on the second floor, and the guest rooms on the third floor. Speaking of which, Naruto-dono, the second floor also contains a chemistry laboratory and an armory which doubles as a trophy room." Hiruzen turned towards one of the mansion's two main staircases.

Naruto all but ran up the stairs to the second floor, giving the sparring room a passing glance before opening the armory. Numerous racks containing nearly every conceivable weapon type of melee weapon adorned the walls. Some showed no signs of previous use while others were clearly the spoils of war, and all were of exceptional quality. However, Naruto couldn't help but feel let down by what he didn't see.

"I'm sure any weapons or armor with unique traits are in the clan vault" Kakashi addressed Naruto's unspoken criticism as he and Hiruzen entered the armory.

Naruto beamed with delight as he left the armory and headed towards the chemistry lab. Here, he was out of his element. Aside from what was taught in the Academy – a class he failed horribly due to the instructor's interference – he knew nothing of chemistry. Fortunately, it seemed his parents had prepared for this eventuality; as he noticed several books on the subject on one of the shelves, the titles of some clearly indicated that they were intended for a novice.

"The third floor consists of eight bedrooms; as you will be sleeping in the master bedroom I dare say this tour is concluded. However, there is one more thing I must show you before we move on to the basement." Hiruzen led Naruto and Kakashi to the mansion's rear entrance.

At first glance, it seemed only to be a small corridor near the kitchen, presumably designed to bring in food or other supplies. Naruto unlocked the door and stepped through the threshold, and he immediately vanished from sight.

Before Kakashi could react, Hiruzen gripped his shoulder and hummed contentedly. The ex-Anbu commander relaxed, realizing that Naruto was in no danger. In a few minutes, Naruto returned looking like he had just rediscovered a long-lost favorite toy. "That was awesome! I was transported to a seal array really deep in the forest and there were buildings with the Uzumaki Clan symbol there! Does this door lead to multiple locations?"

"The door leads to several patches of forest claimed by the Uzumaki and the Namikaze, Naruto-dono. Their locations relative to the village proper, purpose, and how to reach them using the seal array placed on this door are entailed here." Hiruzen answered as he handed over a small notepad. "With this, all that remains is the basement. I have never been down there; the entrance is protected by several lairs of seals and barriers that allow only those bearing the blood and soul of a Namikaze to pass. All others are utterly destroyed. It is currently 11:30 PM, and I would echo Kakashi-san's warning: Exercise discretion tonight regarding the final aspect of your inheritance."

"As you command, Hiruzen." Naruto gave a formal bow, rather stiffly as he had never done so before and was performing, from memory, the movements he had read about in the Academy's library.

"Well, now, perhaps it was for the best that Naruto-kun cultivated a reputation for being a terrible student. We should give the Head Librarian a raise, clearly Naruto learned far more while skipping classes than he ever would have inside of them." Kakashi proposed.

"Things got harder when I was old enough to start attending Iruka-sensei's classes." Naruto grimaced. "He was the only instructor who cared, and skipping my other classes made things rough on him. I never wanted that, so I started attending my other classes more often to keep the peace. Hiruzen, many of my teachers beat me when I failed their tests; when your investigation finds them guilty, I want all of their right hands. They wronged me out of petty spite against a monster beyond their reach; they should count themselves lucky I don't take their heads."

"If my investigation yields conclusive evidence that you were neglected and abused during your Academy years, you shall have the retribution you have requested and more." Hiruzen promised. "I have been far too lenient these past several years, but this village shall remember why I am feared as the God of Shinobi!"

"Well said, Lord Hokage, but with that we should take our leave. Naruto-kun, here's one last Graduation present from me." Kakashi tossed Naruto a wrist watch before leaving the Namikaze Mansion with Hiruzen.

Rooftop of the Namikaze Mansion

The Root Nin – code named Taka – watched Kakashi and Hiruzen depart and summoned a messenger hawk, the tenth such summon this evening, and attached yet another note to its leg to conclude his report to Danzo-sama. The agent had carefully attached a surveillance seal to one of Naruto's Kage Bushin as it left his apartment for – at the time – an unknown destination. That Kage Bushin had long since been dispelled, but the surveillance seal was meant to be used against Kage Bushin users and imprinted itself on the original's body once their clone was dispelled.

The agent of Danzo had heard every word spoken since Naruto's Kage Bushin met the original and his two travelling companions. The news that the Kyuubi brat stood to inherit two of the most vaunted clan council seats in Konoha, seats that Danzo-sama himself had repeatedly moved to be either removed from the council or transferred into his name, demanded immediate action. Taka's final missive included a request for a suppression and retrieval operation to be approved and executed immediately. Danzo-sama's plan to let the village's hatred of Naruto slowly bring him to despair before approaching with promises of support and gratification was no longer possible, given the evening's earlier conversations.

Taka moved to leap off the roof of the Namikaze mansion onto one of the surrounding buildings to better assess the mansion's structure for viable entry points, but his feet betrayed his brain and he fell instead! Before the traitorous ex-Anbu ninja could even think to get up, the sound of shattering glass echoed all around him, and he realized his doom. One of the numerous seal arrays adorning the mansion's exterior had ensnared him long ago without him noticing and had been slowly draining the life from him, as if a sadistic Venus flytrap had chosen to steadily clamp down on it prey rather than do so instantly. He noticed all ten of his summoned hawks similarly pinned to the roof – not desummoned, dead – with their attached messages burned to ashes.

Too drained move, or even speak, Taka died lamenting only that he had no way of warning Danzo-sama of the monstrous defense Naruto had inherited.

Namikaze Clan Vault

With great effort, Naruto resisted his impulse to explore the Namikaze vault in detail and only took a cursory look around. Even in this surface-level inspection, his clan's archives did not disappoint. Scrolls pertaining to Jutsu of every nature transformation were arranged by type and rank, and a large bookshelf was filled with tomes pertaining only to Chakra manipulation. Fuinjutsu and Barrier Jutsu were also spoken for. As Naruto ventured further into the vault, he discovered his clan's historical records and several shelves devoted to the manipulation of Youki and the nature of the Youkai transformation. Eventually, he came across a door with ten-fold the security as the vault's entrance. His clan's ultimate treasures were surely behind this door!

As the new Lord of the Namikaze reached to open this final door, the alarm he set on his new wristwatch rang. It was now 1:00 AM, time for bed. There would be ample time to fully explore his vault later. Naruto's Kage Bushin had deposited everything he took from his old apartment in the master bedroom earlier. Naruto only unsealed from his storage scrolls what he felt he would need for tomorrow and quickly fell asleep.

Chaper End

Well that Root-Nin sure fucked around and found out, didn't he?! I hope you all liked my description of Naruto's ancestral home. Since the Namikaze mansion is going to be Team 7's base of operations for most of the story, I felt it fitting that it should have a "character" of its own similar to how some of the EU Star Wars novels characterized the Millennium Falcon.

The mansion's defenses are sentient and react with appropriate force to any given threat. Since "Taka" was alone and wasn't actively trying to kill Naruto or damage the mansion the seal he triggered chose to kill him slowly (yes, the mansion is a sadist), but the hawks he summoned were killed instantly to ensure that they couldn't deliver their messages.

Chapter 4 will have both the formation of Naruto/his classmate's teams and the results of Hiruzen's investigation of the Academy.

Thank you for reading!