Chapter 7: A Normal Walk to the Church
Many days have pass since the group have acquired a litter of Dire Wolf pups which already had been retrieved and brought to the Inuzuka clan's care by Kiba's sister Hana, who has stated the clan's great interest in the orphaned pups. After that the group resume with their strategy which to assist the common people with various quests and mission fulfilling Naruto's duty as a Hero, from simple missions such as escort and bandit clearing to challenging monster hunting, accepting quests even those from people who are desperate or poor, overall this actions and good nature will contradict the cult's teaching against the Shield Hero.
During one day in a town while talking with the folks for the mission a messenger came before the three and announced Mirellia's message, which contains the Queen's apology for her husband and daughter's actions, as well as giving them the freedom to ignore the commands, orders, and summons by King Aultcray and Princess Malty. The people who heard this was quite surprise but quickly accepted it when they consider that this is compensation for the embarrassing scandal that the father and daughter had caused. A second messenger announced the same thing at the Capital, in front of the king and numerous nobles, needless to say that Aultcray had a tantrum enrage that the three shinobis now have this kind of freedom but the advisor and a few nobles talk and calm him down, further stating that this is for the best.
The general public is still unaware of the existence of the others such as Jiraiya, the jonin senseis and the rest of the genins, though they may reveal themselves during the Waves, if what the friendly Shadows inform them this event spews enemies in a certain location ranging from multiple minions that'll wreak havoc and the powerful boss monster that must be killed in order for the Wave to be stop, stealth would most likely be redundant, using genjutsu on every non shinobi would be a waste, so the best option is to hit the Wave monsters hard and fast.
The Shadows then inform them of the Dragon Hourglass how it shows the countdown until the said Wave, a Hero needs to sync with it in order to be teleported to the place where the event will happen, and when the Heroes defeat the Wave the hourglass will reset showing the timer for the next, it'll go on until all the Hourglass stop indicating the Heroes victory over the Waves. Of course being a timer is not what it all does, it is use to for class-up as well as resetting an individual's levels back to level one which is primarily use on criminals. Another interesting and useful info is that they can gain the method of fast travel in of the Portal Shield, all Naruto have to do is simply have the Shield absorb sand from the Hourglass.
And that is the main focus for today, Jiraiya told them everything about the trap plotted by the king and princess thus a countermeasure is already in place, things got even more easy thanks to the Third Hokage who had received of the reports regarding the plan sending in another reinforcements that was summoned just yesterday, a team of four ANBU operatives handpicked by him to assist the group which Kushina know two of them Yugao Uzuki and Taji, another shinobi is also included a regular jonin but special nonetheless Hizashi Hyuga who will act as another Dojutsu specialist alongside Kakashi. (1)
A warm reunion for the uncle and niece as well as Naruto and his babysitter Taji, wanting to ensure Hinata's safety Hiashi sends his brother to assists the group but his main goal would be a bodyguard for the Hyuga Heiress, the countermeasure was modified to include the newcomers as they begin their walk to the Capital. The genins besides Naruto are to remain hidden away and act as an emergency backup in case things went very sour, understandably some of them are a little upset in being left out.
"I don't understand, why do we have to stay behind and act as a backup instead of participating along with countering the trap?" Raphtalia's been walking back and forth, worrying about Kushina and Naruto.
"Yeah, I'm with you on that and I would love to help, but orders are orders." Kiba said while petting Akamaru.
"From what Sir Jiraiya reported, the king has gathered the best soldiers and mages in order for the trap to work and capture Miss Kushina, along with Shadows that might possess the same capabilities as us this mission will require shinobis who are very skilled in stealth." Hinata explained.
Shino also adds more. "Considering that Lord Hokage has sent a team of Anbu to assist them you know it's serious."
"No kidding." Though Sasuke would want to face these Shadows along with the knights and mages but his mother taught him of the phrase "Don't bite off more that you can chew", there are better and safer ways to test and measure his strength which is simply challenging powerful shinobi like Kakashi and Jiraiya or his clan members such as Izumi or his mother Mikoto in a spar. (2)
"By the way, who are these Anbu?" This is actually the first time she saw and knows the name the time they arrive for the demi-human shinobi.
"Special Assassination and Tactical Squad, one of bests of the bests, handpicked by our leader the Hokage for their exceptional skills and talent to serve directly under him," Shino explained.
Sasuke also adds. "Since the king gathered his best men, powerful mages and top Shadows for this trap to capture Miss Kushina then this task to counter them will require elite shinobi, we might just be a hindrance."
Hearing these explanations Raphtalia calms down a bit but are still worried about the mother and son duo. The Hyuga Heiress pats her shoulder with assuring look in her eyes. "We shouldn't worry too much, just as they said they have elite shinobis including my uncle watching over them as well powerful one like Lord Jiraiya and Sir Kakashi." During the planning stages the plan involves Hinata using a Shadow Clone to accompany the two but later changed to Kurenai disguising as her instead.
"Yeah," Kiba said. "Their walk to the church will be just like that, a walk to the church."
Castle Town
The group watches the town from the tree lines, observing the guards and the people, "Let's begin." Kushina, Naruto, and Kurenai who's taken the form of Hinata has flicker and then appears just outside the entrance and began walking calmly, the guards didn't stop them but only observe them closely, no interaction. A few of the townsfolk took notice.
"Look, it's the Shield Hero."
"Strange, I thought they're avoiding this city."
"Probably here for some supplies, they're quite friendly with Erhard."
"Didn't you people heard. Queen Mirellia had sent a messenger before the royal court announcing that as an apology for the farce trial the three are given the freedom to ignore the commands, orders, and summons by King Aultcray and Princess Malty."
"I heard that too, she even went as far as to warn them that if they try to reverse or disobey her edict then they'll face severe consequences once she returns from her diplomatic mission."
"Yeah, and I heard that the King and the Princess threw a massive hissy fit over it."
The group laughs at the king for acting like a child and the princess for being the spoiled brat she is, no matter how hard Aultcray and Malty try to reverse the Queen's edict it is now obvious for everyone that the Shield Hero's party is free from their authority. Kushina smirks at this conversation, news do spread fast around these parts.
Naruto is surprisingly quite, smiling but inwardly a little nervous, hearing that this mission is now considered S Rank, like the situation at the Wave Country, but unlike that time they're not facing one notorious rogue shinobi and his trusted and dangerous companion but rather a nation which have the religion that hates him base on the fact that he's the Shield Hero. "So where's this Dragon Hourglass again?"
"Being housed by the church, I-I think." Not only does Kurenai perfectly copied Hinata's image also her voice as well, maintaining a meek appearance.
The walk through the street is pretty normal, with either people looking or going on with their day, of course the three shinobis knew better, they know they're walking into a trap, but they have strong and dependable comrades to make their visit to the church a safe one. Up on the roof, the people didn't notice the seven individuals standing there like predatory birds searching for its prey, Jiraiya, Kakashi, Hizashi and the Anbu team watch the three then observe the buildings up ahead, an Anbu operative with a tiger mask shows Hizashi a map containing details of their targets, the Hyuga activates his Byakugan and scans the area resulting in finding the conspirators in the trap.
"Looks like the intel from the Queen's Shadow is solid, they are all there in the right spot, where we want them to be." Hizashi deactivates his Byakugan as he readies himself for the order.
Jiraiya is the one given command of this unit for the moment with Kakashi being his second, he then gave the singal. "That's good to hear; you all know what to do, disperse!"
And with that they all vanish making it seems like they were never there to begin with.
Upon the appearance of the trio the men and women working for the King and the Church has begun their preparations, in the immediate vicinity of the Shield Hero there are four, three shadows and an knight with a crossbow, one is already gone heading tell then others. Two is watching from their room.
"So they did come, I didn't think that they would have the bravery to return."
"All that matters is that they're here, now let's prepare the weakening spell and the debuffing skill."
Being focus on the trio they didn't realize that someone is behind them, Taji in her Anbu uniform uses her skills in medical-nin to swiftly dispatch them, her main choice of jutsu is the Chakra Dissection Blade which can cut the insides of a body without damaging the skin, she simultaneously strikes them in their chest then follow up with a few more strikes severing the arteries, puncturing lungs, and damaging organs, and once she's done the two fell on the floor coughing and choking on their own blood.
The crossbowman is being confronted by a fox-masked man, he nervously point his crossbow at him as almost every fiber of his being is telling him to run away but his duties to the crown prevent him from doing so. "Who the hell are you?"
The man remains silent taking one step.
"I'm warning you, stay back!"
Another step forward, calm and unyielding while the other is now afraid despite pointing his weapon at him.
The man finally fires his weapon letting the bolt loose, to his shock the masked figure simply catches the bolt and make a sudden dash towards him, he hold his sword but his blade didn't show cause the next thing that happens is the masked man is already behind him the sword have perform a strike. The knight falls to the ground with his blood starting to make a pool and his killer vanishes.
The Shadow who is sent to tell the others speed walking through the alleyways not noticing that someone is following him from behind until he senses it and turns back, seeing that there is nothing he proceed forward although more cautious, a wire string that was formed into a noose is set up in front of the Shadow, and due to how thin it is he unknowingly walk into it causing the string to tighten around his neck, he tries to get it off but the next thing that happens is that he's being lift upwards chocking him to death in the process.
At another area two more operatives are standing by the window overlooking the street waiting for the appearance of the Shield Hero, they've been waiting for days now and they're starting to think that the demon have move out of the country, that until someone enters their room.
Their fellow Shadow steps in quietly and tells them of his report which is simply "They are here."
"Finally, and I thought they fled to those beast ridden cesspool."
The other Shadow went to the window anticipating their arrival "Prepare the Mana Siphon spell, that woman must not have the energy to fend off the others."
A sickening crack is heard, the Shadow turns around and saw his partner falling to the ground, and before he could react to this the now revealed imposter rushes towards him, covering his mouth and plunging a knife into his chest, the imposter force him on the floor and then stabs him in the throat, his last view before dying is the imposter disappearing from sight.
In another area five knights are guarding a wheeled cage where they'll going to place the Shield's mother in, all are alarmed as they facing and pointing their swords and spears at a masked woman. The leading knight not scared one bit believing that their numbers will be enough. "Identify yourself and what is your purpose here?"
The woman didn't answer and instead she points her sword to her right and began waving it. The knights would've said something about this odd behavior but suddenly they can't stuck in their place as the woman's hand and sword has multiply by a hundred, it appears as if those arms are about to envelop them. Unbeknownst to them they're now trap in an illusion, taking advantage of this the woman with frightening speed strikes slashing at every single one of them, and when she is done all five drop either dead or dying.
To the townsfolk the day is pretty normal, completely unaware to the conflict taking place in the shadows. Up on one of the roofs Hizashi scans ahead spotting more of those Shadows and knights, helping his comrades and pointing the enemies' location, in his hand is a bunch of throwing daggers of this world supplied by the friendly Shadows, this is so that when the authorities came to investigate they'll have no way to link their deaths to Kushina. He threw the dagger to his left straight into a window hitting an enemy Shadow right in the face.
Looking down on an alleyway the brother of the head of the Hyuga clan watches as Kakashi easily dispatches a handful of knights, once he's done he appears next to the Hyuga along with Jiraiya and the Anbu team.
"Any trouble so far?" Jiraiya asked
"None," Kakashi wipes the blood from his kunai. "Due to us having the element of surprise this mission is pretty easy."
They saw that the Sage have captured two of the Shadows, one is a man the other is a woman with a summoned toad sitting on her head.
"You're taking prisoners?" Hizashi questioned.
"The Queen's Shadows have hard time extracting information from that cult, they're pretty tight lip, but perhaps Inoichi can be of great help in getting what we wanted." The Toad Sage signals for the little toad to perform a reverse summoning thus making the amphibian and the two prisoners disappears so the shinobi will not have any hindrance.
"Then all of the hostile operatives in these parts are all been taken care off, they'll not bother Lady Kushina and Naruto." Taji looks over the trio strolling through the streets.
"That just leaves those around and in the church." Jiraiya turns to face the direction of the main headquarter of the cult. "Let's not wait any longer, move out."
In a blink of an eye they vanish, off to make the path clear and safe for the trio.
The trio "uneventful" walk came to an end when they're now at the front of the cathedral; it is an impressive structure with the triangular roofs and towers' strange multi pyramid design. "Wow, it's too bad that this nice looking building is being used by a bunch of hateful scumbags."
"When the time is right, this cult will be eradicated, Lord Jiraiya will see to it." Kurenai said.
"The faster we get Naruto to register the faster we leave; I don't like this place one bit." They enter the cathedral going further into hostile territory.
The interior as expected of a dominant religion is lavishly decorated from marble walls, silver chandelier, paintings of saints, stained glass, and statues of the past Legendary Heroes. They walk in not caring about a few stares and glares given to them by the attendees no doubt these are very fervent followers, they then come across one of the nuns.
Kushina approaches her with a simple question. "We are here for the Dragon Hourglass, can you us take there?"
This one has glasses that seemingly conceal her eyes and a noticeable beauty mark at the bottom left just under her lips. "As you wish, follow me." The nun said as she walks away.
Kushina's vibe for that nun is that she's also part of the plot, more likely an easy part as her role is just like a normal routine, guiding people to the Hourglass. Looking back at the pews she instantly spots Taji who is disguising herself as a nun, the Anbu operative began casting a genjutsu on the man next to her who turns out to be a mage disguising himself as a regular church attendee.
The redhead smirks, these people are so focus on them that they fail to notice anything amiss. As they follow the nun the two jonins are silent and Naruto is a little nervous but steels himself, Kushina and Kurenai is much more observant, Kushina make a quick glance up spotting Hizashi standing at a chandelier using his Byakugan to find any enemy, and Kurenai took notice of one of the confessional stalls just one inch of an open curtain and she saw Kakashi subduing a man putting him on a sleeper hold slowly choking him.
As they walk through the big hallways they come across four nuns talking to a priest, the three instantly see that the priest is Jiraiya who have taken a disguise and now using genjutsu on the hapless women, and when they walk pass them Jiraiya disappears with the nuns facing each other to make it appear that they're having a simple conversation.
The lead nun if she's in the plot have no clue that it's already being foil by her comrades, though she does seems rather suspicious, glancing around, having this feeling of being watch looking back at the trio from time to time. Kurenai can definitely see that she's being suspicious for the lack of activity from the conspirators, and so she casts a genjutsu on the nun, Soothing Voice, this particular low ranking genjutsu puts the target in a calm relaxed state making them less perceptive of the ongoing of the world around them, and the user simply inflict this by simply uttering any word, which in this case Kurenai whispers "Relax".
The nun faintly hears this but suddenly finds herself incredibly relax as if the stress and worries are all wash away, like as if she just awaken from a good night sleep or a really nice massage or a long hot bath, continuing on no longer caring for the plot or her countrymen being killed or subdued in the shadows. And it didn't take long what they get to their destination. "Here we are, the Dragon Hourglass."
Naruto marvels at this huge hourglass he didn't expect it to be this big. "Wow, so how does this work?" Naruto's question is answer when his Shield suddenly glows, beam of light connects it to the Hourglass, a new update emerges which shows a timer. "Well that was easy."
"Did it show you the time?" Kurenai asked.
"Yeah, the hourglass shows the time: about one day, twenty hours and twelve minutes."
"Looks like we have enough time to plan out our moves." Kurenai stated.
"It also states that the Hourglass will automatically teleports me and any of my companions to the location where the Waves will happen."
"That's pretty convenient, at least by that way we can immediately fight and put a stop to it as well as save as many civilians as possible if the event happens near any towns." Kushina suddenly felt a familiar presence and recognize a scent, and she is already annoyed knowing full well who it is.
"Hinata!" The Spear Hero excitedly jumps on the disguised woman who immediately dodges to the right causing the blond to tumble and land face first on the floor. "Ow, that's gonna leave a mark, is my face okay?" He asked his companions who are all female; to Kushina's irritation that bratty princess is here.
Malty is looking very confident with her usual smile, she is excited to see that bitch be brought to the ground and is forced to receive the Slave Seal, remaining silent waiting for the Shadows to strike.
"I'm sorry but do I know you?" Kurenai will definitely going to strike the next time he jump on her like that, until she suddenly got tense as she's supposed to act like Hinata.
"Don't know me? I'm so hurt that you didn't remember a good friend, my dear Hinata." Motoyasu would have grabbed the Hyuga's hands but Naruto stands in the way.
"Friends? That's weird, because when I think about it you two never even talk to one another much less become friends in just a very short time." Naruto's simple statement causes the spearman great annoyance.
Kushina find this rather humorous that Motoyasu is failing in making friends with the Hyuga, he didn't get to converse with Hinata during their first meeting; he's not even talking to the real Hinata right now. Looking at the bitchy princess she can see that she's looking rather impatient, no doubt wondering why the Shadows and Knights are taking too long to take action.
"W-Well, I could have talk to her and Kushina, dine in a restaurant, stroll in a park, and get to know them better, but all of you disappear without a trace and the King's men couldn't find you all." He turns back to Hinata wanting to hug her. "I'm just happy that you're both safe."
Kurenai really want to punch this idiot in the face since he's releasing such a predatory vibes, but she quickly restrain herself and instead act like Hinata and hid behind Naruto as Kushina steps in her hand gripping the hilt of her sword, they should not forget that the main purpose that they're here is for Naruto to sync with the Hourglass, now that was achieved they must immediately leave before the dead bodies can be discovered. "I appreciate your concern for our wellbeing, but we must be going."
As they turn to leave Malty looks around in mild panic, angry that trappers are not doing anything yet.
"G-Go, but you just got here; surely you have time for leisure?"
"Hey, in case you miss the memo the Wave is about to start in just forty-four hours, we have to be ready for them." Naruto's starting to be annoyed by this guy being so relentless in his flirtations.
Attempting to slow them down Malty finally breaks her silence going to taunt the boy. "Why looking so scared, did the Wave frightens you, do you hide behind your mommy shaking too much to put up a fight?"
"What the heck did you just say?" Naruto would've rush towards the conniving bitch until Kurenai grabs his arm ushering him away.
Motoyasu decides to join in for the taunting. "Yeah, I'm always worried for the safety of Kushina and Hinata, I haven't even seen you fight once, so I am very sure that you're just doing absolutely nothing but making your mom and friend do all the dirty work, especially since that you're just a weak Shiel-" He didn't get to finish when Kushina's unsheathed katana suddenly flashes and is just a hair away from his neck.
"Kindly please refrain from making stupid rants like that, acting all high and mighty because you have a Spear and him a Shield. The great Spear Hero taunting a twelve year old boy," Kushina laughs at how absurd this is. "Do you realize how pathetic you sound talking like that to Naruto?"
"Hey, don't you dare threaten Sir Motoyasu you bi-" Malty wanted to slap the Uzumaki but the redheaded mother pushes the idiot away and points her sword at her.
"What are you think you're doing?" Lesty barges in stopping Kushina from whatever she is doing but she and the other female companions of Motoyasu froze when they saw Kushina's hardened glare.
"Silent." Turning back to the princess Kushina gives her a fair warning. "You best stay away and not interact with my son, lest you want your reputation to plummet even further than it already is, in fact your little shenanigans during the trial just pop a nasty rumor on the streets did it not?" Kushina smirks seeing the annoyance forming on Malty's face; no doubt she hates being thought off as a predator.
"I will not breathe life to that obvious lie!"
Motoyasu not wanting his favorite women fighting among themselves steps in an attempt to defuse the situation. "Whoa there, let's calm down for a minute, okay, we shouldn't fight over some silly rumors, we're all friends here right?" He smiles at Kushina but only got a smoldering glare, in that instance he thought he can see an image of a beast with nine tails.
"You believed all those accusations against Naruto without a second thought, even threatened to spear him, and just now you outright antagonize him? What makes you think that I want to be friends with you after that, much less let you get close to Hinata."
"I-I, well, y-you see-" Motoyasu is trying to come up with an excuse but the redhead didn't give him a chance.
"For your sake you do well to keep your distance from us and stay out of our way." She points her sword at his groin. "Or else, if you really annoy me so much I'll slice your little manhood off and shove it down your throat, you understand me?"
Her dead serious tone and the tip of the katana is just an inch away from his armor he nods stupidly.
Kushina quickly sheathes her sword and looks at grabs Naruto by the shoulder. "I can't believe we wasted time dealing with these people, let's leave, now!" She looks at Kurenai who nods, without another word they disappear from sight.
"Wait!" Motoyasu tries to stop them but is too late, they're really gone. "Damn, just how did this go wrong so fast?" He was hoping to make amends to the two, use this opportunity to show that he deeply cares about them, and now it seems their relation is much worse than before.
His companion Rino just looks on with disbelief, the Spear just insulted the woman's son right in front of her then wonders why she became so hostile to him. Another of Motoyasu's companion Elena Haven also thought of the same thing but decides to be silent and not say anything, because saying her opinions out loud could result in gaining the ire of the Princess
Malty turns to the nun with glasses, angrily storming up to her and starts shouting. "You, where is everybody, they just let that bitch get away!"
"What?" The nun is too relaxed, but thinking about the trap is when her calmness quickly replaces with that of fear and stress, now she is suddenly confused. "I-I-I don't k-know, my role is to simply guide them like I normally would with the other patrons and visitors, I was as confuse as you are when they didn't do anything."
"Wait a minute, what are you two talking about?" Motoyasu didn't understand the nature of their conversation nor the is aware of the trap laid for Kushina. He didn't get his answer when a loud scream is heard from down the hall, being the gallant hero he is the spearman rushes towards the scream.
Throne room
Aultcray bangs his hand on the arm of his throne. "How is this possible, the plan should be simple enough and yet they fail to capture one woman?" The trap is perfect, if they pull it off they'll be able to capture the woman, brand a slave crest on her chest, and immediately convict her as a criminal, and then locking her away to deprive the Shield Demon of any assistance.
The Shadow who is loyal to him reports in a regretful manner. "I'm sorry to say but the plan failed, out of seventy consisting of Shadows, Knights, Mages, and Adventurers who took part fifty were killed, two are missing, the eighteen are the only ones alive, from our investigations the survivors had either fell victim to an illusion or simply knocked unconscious."
"It's that bitch!" Malty screamed. "I don't know how she single handedly killed our agents and trashed our plans but I am very certain she is responsible for all these!"
"That would make sense, but how could she have known?" Aultcray wonders, the only way for his plan to fail miserably is that she already knew it from the start, he refuse that his wife had a hand in this, but it does prove one thing, Kushina is now considered a very dangerous woman who possesses incredible skills in stealth and espionage, but still she would need help to deal with that many highly trained knights, talented mages, and skilled Shadows. "Did she receive help from any agents belonging from Siltvelt?"
"Doesn't matter, in addition to assaulting me and Sir Motoyasu, threatening you, Papa, she now have murdered fifty people."
"Yes, perhaps sending out a summons a warrant for her arrest, ordering her to present herself here for a trial, if she refuses then we'll label her as a criminal." He can see the smile forming on his daughter's face, but before he can order one of his knights his advisor suddenly speaks.
"Pardon me, my King, but I believe it is for the best that we do nothing."
"DO NOTTHING!" Shout both the father and daughter, not believing that this man would say such a thing.
"With all due respect, my King and Princess," The old man began, saying his word in a civil manner. "But let's not forget the Queen's decree where the Shield Hero, his mother and friend can ignore your authority with no repercussions, a decree as an apology for the farce trial."
The two really hated being reminded of that fateful day were they failed to brand the Shield Hero as a rapist and criminal.
"And even if you believe that she has a hand in those murders we virtually have no proof of her involvement, as far as the public is concern the Shield Hero and his companions had simply appeared at the gates, enter and walk through streets, enter the church have the boy sync with Hourglass, and then leave, all in broad day light."
"Do you think they're going to believe that woman over me, their King, the man who led this nation to victory over those barbaric animals?"
"I'm just saying, my King, this nation is a matriarchy, Lady Kushina have shown herself as a mother who is fiercely protective of her child which is an admirable trait greatly respected, the people will surely side with her over a man who cannot let go of his grudges and wishes harm upon a child who is simply the new Shield Hero." Seeing that they're about to blow and rages at him he continues on. "I meant no offense, but I must beseech you, we must leave them be, your actions had already embarrassed Queen Mirellia on the international stage, the consequences once she returns will be even more severe the further you pursue this revenge." And it is a very petty revenge that's for sure.
The King growl in frustration, clenching the wooden arms of his throne. "Fine, I will not bother them any further."
"B-But, Papa," Myne can't believe her father would agree.
"But I vow that I will not let tragedy struck my family again, so if that Shield Devil tries to threaten my family I will bring him down consequences be damned!"
"As you say, my King." The advisor bow, sad that the once wise man of Melromarc has let peace and fatherhood softens his intelligence away, grudge and hate grips his heart, and becoming a fool in the process.
Chapter End
AN: And done, I hope you all enjoy this chapter
(1). Just a reminder since the Hyuga Affair ended differently in this story Hizashi Hyuga is alive, this would mean Neji will be less of a jerk to Hinata. Another point of interest here is Taji, she is an Anbu operative chosen to assist Biwako Sarutobi in the delivery of Naruto, she knows Kushina's status as a jinchuriki and her pregnancy, so in this story she survive Obito's attack, becoming the Uzumaki's personal physician, guardian and babysitter for Naruto.
(2). For those who don't know Izumi Uchiha is Itachi's love interest in canon, in this story I'll jump it up were they're a couple, she knows the truth of the Uchiha Clan Downfall and Itachi's motives and kept them a secret, making a promise that along with Mikoto take care of Sasuke as well as training him to become strong.
Now regarding about the harem subplot I'm deciding to be against it, there are some reviews that sums up my concerns like Naruto being a kid and Kushina not agreeing to such things, as well as adding other things such as demi-human aging fast due to leveling up, among other points. A story doesn't need a harem plot to be good.
Omake
Father of the Heroine
Minato and his daughter Naruko stand in the middle of the room with knights pointing their weapons at them, nobles took to the balcony staring down at them, the Three Heroes look at him with disgust, and the king is seething on his throne. Just day before yesterday he and his daughter were summoned to this world Naruko as the new Shield Hero and him as her companion, and today they were summoned and made to appear before the royal court.
"I knew you are trouble the moment I laid my eyes you, I always wondered when you will reveal your true colors!" The king bellowed.
"Oh, and what did I do?" Minato quizzically asked.
The Spear Hero Motoyasu takes a step forward. "Bastard, don't you dare forget what you did!" He turns the blond girl. "Naruko, please step away from that man, your father is not who you think he is!"
Naruko instead just went closer to Minato holding his hand and glaring at Motoyasu. "I prefer to be close to Daddy, and what's going on anyway?"
"What's happening, little child, is that your father is on trial." The king turns to Myne Sophia and asks her a question. "I'm sorry to ask you this again, but can you recount what happened last night?"
"L-Last night as I was preparing to go to bed when Minato barged into my room smelling of wine and mead, h-he suddenly started ripping off m-my clothes saying "The night is still young we should have some fun", I-I was so scared but I was able to push him away escaped were I then bumps to Motoyasu."
"So you see, Naruko, your father is a-" Motoyasu didn't get to finish when Naruko disappears.
The next thing that happens is the blond girl appears before Myne, and with a mighty swing of her arm slaps the redhead square on the cheek making her fall to the floor. The onlookers were quite shock by her action. "LIAR! Daddy would never do something like that!" She would have stomp on the liar but Ren stops her.
"Whoa calm down there, you shouldn't be doing that to a victim."
"Y-Yeah," Itsuki started, hoping to convince the girl. "And how would you even know your dad's innocent? He could have easily done those deeds while you're sleeping."
"Because I can feel it, I can feel the outright lies coming out from her mouth, her accusations is disgusting!" Naruko have been learning to control the chakra of the Nine-Tailed Fox, during training she gain a unique ability to sense negative feelings, and she's feeling a massive amount negative energy from everyone in the room, the rage and hatred from the king and the deceitful aura from her now former companion Myne.
"Naruko." Everyone went silent as everyone looks at the man. "Let Daddy handle this, okay."
Naruko would want to object and keep on berating Myne but the looks her father gave her convince her otherwise. "Okay, Daddy." She makes her way to his side. But suddenly Motoyasu grabs her shoulder stopping her.
"Naruko, please, you shouldn't go near him, I know he's your father but he's a dangerous man."
Upon getting to sense of Motoyasu's aura Naruko can feel intense lust from him, it's almost on the same level as Pervy Sage, only difference is that Jiraiya's lust is always directed towards other adult women and never once look at her his goddaughter in a perverted way, this Spear Hero on the other hand isn't just looking at her with lustful eyes but also she can fell that he's having perverted thoughts of her. In her anger she slaps his hand away and gave Motoyasu a hard punch on the gut making him reel from the pain.
Holding his abdomen Motoyasu felt like vomiting, looking at his fellow blond and Hero he said. "W-Why did you do that?"
Naruko didn't bother answering. "Keep your hands to yourself you perv!" She stomps her way to her father's side with the Spear Hero looking at her shock by her accusation.
When Minato heard what Naruko said he is planning to have a private chat with Motoyasu when he have the time, in the meantime he'll deal with the king and the princess. "You're making a mistake for taking part in this kangaroo trial, king, or I should I call you Luge Lansarz Faubrey."
Everyone besides the three Heroes is shock that this man knew of the king's former name, the king is surprise as well wondering if he knows more. "That is my former name, you will address me as King Aultcray, you fiend!"
"Indeed, but it is your wife the one who gave you that name, and if you prove yourself an inept leader she can simply take it away." Again the audience is shock that he know this much. "Tell me what would you gain after you convicted the father of the Shield Heroine?"
"Hold on a second," Itsuki raised his voice, question forms in his head. "What do you mean by that, are you saying that the King is not the real authority?"
"Yes," Minato went on. "Melromarc is a matriarchy, meaning the Queen holds the true power, and he is just a mere proxy, in fact he doesn't even have the authority to summon all four Heroes in a single country."
"So the king went against his wife's wishes?"
"And also that of the other nations, as it is supposed to be just one Legendary Hero per nation to better counter the Waves, though I'm surprise you even summoned my daughter who is the Shield Hero, the Hero worshiped as a God in Siltvelt." Minato added.
"T-Tha y-you I. Why does it matter if I violated the international treaty? That should not change the fact that you're in trial!"
Recovering from the pain Motoyasu points at Minato. "Y-Yeah, don't try to change the subject!"
"It's pretty relevant; I'll ask this, what are you going to do to my daughter once you successfully convicted me?" Minato dared the king to dodge or avoid the question as he can tell that all eyes are on Aultcray.
"I have no ill intention towards the Shield Heroine." The king said, hoping that this would ease the court.
"He's lying," All eyes fell on young Hero. "Daddy, I can sense his anger and hatred, he really wants to see me in danger."
Before anyone can rebuke her Minato speaks up. "I know, in fact I actually overheard Myne's conversation with a hooded figure, this trial is to simply to get rid of me so Naruko will be alone, then without a guardian or protection Myne would send criminals to join her party, former adventurers with very serious crimes such molestation, abuse, and sexual exploitation all of which done on minors, they'll inflict pain and suffering, keeping her weak, hampering her growth all for your twisted revenge."
The nobles gasp as such bold accusation against his former companion and the king, Ren and Itsuki is starting to doubt about this trial as well considering the king does seems to have a bias.
"No." Motoyasu is in denial, refusing to believe that Myne would be capable of such cruelty. "You're making that up, are you trying to paint your victim as some kind of scum?"
"Such wild claims, do you think your words will be enough to convince us of your innocence?"
"I know for the fact that you'll try to dismiss this, so I'll demand a fair trial were the judge is Queen Mirellia or the very least a foreign one from Zeltoble or Faubrey."
That's a pretty fair demand, but unfortunately Aultcray isn't about to give him a fair trial fearing that his wife would be lenient. "Do you think I will let you postpone judgment and give you a chance to escape? No, you will be judged now; you shall receive your sentence today!"
The two fathers glare at one another, the king believe that he will have his way considering that he have him and his daughter surrounded by knights. Unfortunately for him he's about to learn that he made a terrible mistake.
"Is that how it is, doesn't matter, I will win this one. Let me reintroduce myself." He turns to face the court of nobles as well as a man carrying an orb that broadcast the proceedings to the general populace. "I am Minato Namikaze, Fourth Hokage of the Village Hidden in the Leaves, War Hero of the Third Shinobi War, and the famous Yellow Flash."
They let these informations sink in then Naruko adds some more with pride in her voice. "In case you pea brains don't get it, my Dad is the leader and also strongest shinobi of our village, he can beat all three of the Legendary Heroes in just ten seconds flat!"
Before anyone can respond to the girl Minato suddenly said. "If you think I'm lying or that it's just me and Naruko then you're all sorely mistaken, because I can summon my comrades and subordinates from my world."
On cue in a puff of smoke multiple people appear, to the three Heroes and the inhabitants of Melromarc they're complete strangers, to Minato and Naruko these reinforcements would be Jiraiya, Kakashi, Shikaku, Choza, Tsume, a team of jonins and Anbu operatives.
"This nation have Me and Naruko summoned here without our consent, conspire to falsely convict me of a crime I didn't commit to have me executed, and lastly your barbaric plans to torment my daughter, all of these is considered an act of war!"
The audience gasps at this, they already have the Waves to deal with and now they're possibly at war with another nation, something that they don't want now. Then the shinobis went into action easily defeating the knights in and outside of the throne, any of the king's Shadows were mercilessly killed their bodies falling to the floor like flies. Jiraiya summons toads the size of horse and trample the guards, Kakashi uses his Lightning Blade to finish off any enemy Shadows, Choza using Partial Expansion Jutsu to make his fist big swatting away any knights, Tsume rip and tearing through scores of armored men like they're butter.
Ren, Itsuki, and Motoyasu all try to stop them but found that their bodies unable to move, as if frozen stiff. Shikaku is much more faster than a bunch of civilians with powerful weapons "Hold it right there, it's best that you don't do anything stupid."
"Why did we suddenly can't move?" Ren tries to move his arm.
"Look, the shadows, he's controlling us by using shadows!" Itsuki wishes that he know of this ability sooner so he can somehow counter it.
"Damn it, we're at his mercy then." Motoyasu glares at the man, and then looks around at the short fight.
Aultcray find himself in a precarious situation, all his best knights unconscious on the floor, the three Heroes subdued, and now two of Minato's masked underlings are standing at his sides daring him to take action. The nobles try to leave but found the doors barred or blocked by shinobis. He saw his daughter being handled roughly by a wild looking woman.
"Now then, it's not too late for you to make things right, so I'm giving you a choice: you can dismiss this farce of a trial and give me and my daughter a massive compensation for the miscarriage of justice you done today,"
"Do you think you and your band can just bully me into submission?"
"Be careful what you say, consort, because if you wishes go on a warpath with the Village Hidden in the Leaves and the rest of the Land of Fire then I will kill you first to deprive Melromarc of a renowned strategist and tactician, take your daughter Malty and the many of the nobles here as hostage, send all three Heroes to different nations as intended by the international agreement, and inflict as much destruction and casualties within this nation to the point where it'll be too weak to defend herself from foreign invaders."
Everyone who is watching this, from the nobles up on the balconies to the commoners and soldiers outside on the street, held their breath awaiting for their king's decision. In fact while the fight is happening in the throne room tens of hundreds of shinobis have suddenly appear all around Castle Town, on roofs, occupying the walls and gates, In effect Minato have total control of the town.
Aultcray is now in a dilemma, accepting the peaceful route will be seen as a sign of weakness, but if he refuses he'll be killed on the spot and this damn man will surely do everything to devastate his kingdom, and tragedy will befall his family again. Swallowing his pride which is hard he concedes. "Fine, I'll dismiss this trial for having fraudulent evidence, there happy now?"
"You're forgetting compensation."
"And how would I know you're not going to swindle and take everything from the treasury?"
"I'm a fair man and very reasonable unlike you," Minato's jab just make the king growl. "I simply demand a sum of forty thousand silvers."
"Extortion, this is obviously extortion! Papa, you shouldn't-" Myne who now reveal herself as Aultcray's daughter felt a hand around her neck slightly chocking her.
"I'd be quiet if I were you, bitch." Tsume said to her, she then gets close and whisper to the princess's ear. "And by the way, I was there, I heard everything that you and the Shadow have planned regarding Naruko, and if the Hokage would allow it I will enjoy ripping you to shreds, peeling your skin, breaking your bones, and tearing out your guts and make you eat them, all while you're still alive."
The threat of the Inuzuka Head just made the princess wet herself.
"Either you willingly give us that amount or I we will take everything from the royal treasury, your choice." Minato threatened.
"Fine, take your silvers and get out from my sight!"
"Not yet, I have one more which should simple enough, Melromarc will have no authority over any shinobi of the Hidden Leaves." The famed Yellow Flash is enjoying the look on Aultcray's face; no doubt he is hating the fact that they are now untouchables. "Since that is all, we will take our leave and prepare for the upcoming Waves, do not mistake our plans being helpful to you we're doing this for the world not Melromarc, in fact we will not even be present in this country when that event happen, so good luck to you all."
And with that all of the shinobi disappear from the room off to visit Faubrey to meet up with the Queen.
Omake end