Chapter reposted and Beta by EvIlDemon 4/10/2024

Konoha's Retrieval Team

Chapter 6

Secrets Revealed Part 1

I don't own Naruto

Masashi Kishimoto does!

Konoha's Hospital

Uzumaki Karin quickly sat up and gasped for air as she finally regained consciousness after experiencing a burdensome journey with her mother. She hoped that everything that happened was just a horrible nightmare, seeing her kaa-san die in her arms. Karin began to cry uncontrollably, seeing her mother pass away as the Anbu tried to speak to her when the captain uncovered his eye and put the little Uzumaki girl to sleep in a genjutsu. Karin was unsure where she was, but she had a blurry vision since she didn't have her glasses on. Karin looked over to her right side, where she saw an outline of glasses sitting on top of a dresser. Karin grabbed them and put them on before she began to look sound, recognizing she was in a hospital and a large one from what she could tell.

Karin remembered the masked ninjas keeping her kaa-san alive long enough for her to say her final goodbyes. She didn't know what village the ninjas were from but was sure she would get the information sooner than later. She only hoped she wouldn't be used for breeding since her mother explained that most ninja villages did to clans they wanted to exploit. While Karin was deep in her thoughts, a pair of Medic-nins held a clipboard as they checked on their new patient. The Konoha medical staff could see that she was looking well since they managed to heal her wounds.

"Hello there, little girl. I'm Head Medic Yamamoto. How are you feeling?" he asked the little redhead as the nurse handed over the clipboard and began to look it over.

"Huh, I'm Karin, s-so where am I? W-where is my kaa-san at?" The little redhead asked a question she wanted to know instead of answering the Head Medic's question.

"Karin, our ninjas brought you to Konoha for your kaa-san request. I'm sorry to say, but she has long died while you have been unconscious." Yamamoto told her when finally his word sunk into her little mind when she began to shed some tears before she went into a full-blown sob. After a few minutes of sobbing, she was able to answer.

"I-I-I'm f-feeling well now, t-t-thanks for the asking," Karin said as she wiped tears from her eyes. The medics gave her a moment to settle herself.

"So Karin, how old are you? When is your birthday?" The Head Medic asked the little redhead as his assistant wrote down her information.

"I-I'm eight years old, and I-I was born on June twentieth," Karin replied to the Head Medic as she waited patiently for the next question.

"Do you have problems with your eyesight? Are you able to see clearly with your current glasses?" Yamamoto asked as he came closer with a small flashlight to examine her eyes to see if, by chance, she would need new glasses.

"Y-yes, sir, ever since I could remember. As of late, I haven't been able to see quite clearly. I think I might need a new prescription for my glasses," Karin said as she fidgeted uncomfortably as the Head Medic checked her.

"I see. Do you have any health problems? Are you allergic to anything?" Yamamoto asked after she had taken a moment to think things through.

"I don't know if I have any medical conditions, and I'm not sure if I'm allergic to anything just yet," Karin replied. Then, all of a sudden, her stomach began to growl, making her blush in embarrassment. She slowly began to rub the back of her head sheepishly.

"I'm guessing that you are hungry, would you like something to eat," Yamamoto-san asked as he smiled at her, while she nodded shyly.

"Okay, I'll have my assistant bring you something to eat right away, and also, I'm to inform you the village leader will be visiting you. You have piqued his interest since he wants to speak with you since this is the first time we had more than one Uzumaki living here in Konoha in twenty-four years. The Hokage will talk to you about your fellow clan members. And any other questions you could direct towards him, Okay Karin, if you need anything else just let the female Medics know you have a good day and welcome to Konoha." Head Medic said as both adults left the room, leaving her alone once again with new thoughts.

"Another Uzumaki is living here?" Karin's only thoughts as she made herself comfortable while waiting for her food.

Ten minutes later, when Karin finished eating her food, she felt a little better but was still saddened at the fact that her mother had died on their way to a village that her father had mentioned before. She began to cry silently at the fact that she was an orphan now and that she didn't have anywhere to live and whatever money her mother had in her possession for herself. The most surprising part was that another Uzumaki was living in this village; now, the question is how her life will be in the future. Karin began to have a lot of thoughts going through her mind about the Uzumaki living in the village if they were an adult, teenager, or another kid like her. While Karin was deep in thought, the Hokage silently entered her room, observed her, and was genuinely amazed that the little girl looked like a mini Kushina, only with ruby-red eyes. After standing by the door for a few minutes, since he did not notice, he cleared his throat before he spoke.

"Hello there, child. How are you feeling right now?" The Sandaime asked in a grandfatherly way, giving her a gentle smile.

"Oh, hello there, Oji-san. I am feeling a little better. I'm still trying to come to grips with the fact that I don't have my parents anymore, and now I'm an orphan in a huge ninja village. I'm curious about my relative who lives here in the village and what type of person they are." Karin asked as she spoke her mind absent-mindedly, making the elderly Kage smile at the response.

"Oh, is that so? If you like, I could answer some of your mind's questions. By the way, sorry for not introducing myself. I am Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Sandaime Hokage, the village leader of the Village Hidden in the Leaves." He said shocking the little girl that she was talking to the village leader with disrespect.

"Ah! I'm sorry for being rude, Hokage-sama. I didn't mean to talk to you disrespectfully. I had no idea that you were the Hokage. Please don't kick me out of the village to fend for myself." Karin cried out in alarm, desperate to explain to the Hokage.

"Sh-sh-sh, child, calm yourself down. I am not angry or upset with you, Karin-chan. I'm not that heartless to throw a child out to the streets for them to become homeless. So you don't have to worry, Karin-chan. Your arrival in the village forces me to reveal certain secrets I was not planning to tell until the person was old enough to defend themselves." The Sandaime said to reassure her that everything was fine.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama, for understanding me in my time of need. So, how old is the Uzumaki that lives in the village?" Karin asked as one of the main questions she was most curious about.

"Well, he is seven years old, and just so you won't think it a lie, he is half Uzumaki from his mother's side. Unfortunately, she died the day of the Kyubbi attack on the village. And that is all I'm willing to say since it is a matter of village secrets, please don't get offended. He has blond hair, cerulean blue eyes, and three whisker marks on each cheek. He is bold and outspoken and has been an orphan from the day that he was born. Once you two finally meet I will explain more about his history and the village's bond with the Uzumaki clan. The sad history of their destruction and the reason behind it for one of the reasons for the great wars." The Sandaime explained to soothe her from asking more questions about her clan member.

"Alright, Hokage-sama. I will wait until then, but where will I live?" Karin asked the Hokage a crucial question and smiled at her as if the answer was obvious.

"You will be living with your clan member until you decide to move out or to share a place. But that is all trivial now since you are both children, so there is no harm for now. As for your living expenses, you won't have to worry about that. Let's say you fall under the Uzumaki clan protection, so it's already taken care of now I have to leave for now, but I will come with your cousin to have a proper discussion." The Sandaime told Karin, who nodded in agreement as she became curious that the Uzumaki clan must have many secrets, and this elderly man knew some that might be related to them, she thought to herself.

"Thank you, Hokage-sama. I appreciate the help your village is giving an outsider," Karin replied. She gave a slight bow of respect, only for him to wave it off with a smile as he excused himself and left the room.

Karin was left wondering about her situation and the latest information given to her. Karin's mother always told Karin from a very young age that she was brilliant and that when she grew up, Karin could become anything she put her mind to as long she reached for the stars to the many possibilities of becoming a successful person. Karin was curious about what type of boy her new family member was, hoping he was not a pervert. She also hoped to get along with him since they were the only Uzumaki that they knew of for now. Karin then began reading a book that a female Medic brought her earlier to entertain herself in the hospital. It is how she spent the rest of her time.

Uchiha Sasuke grew up a happy child. He admired his older brother for being able to put his mind to a task and complete it without trouble. He wanted to become like his brother Itachi, so their father would try to spend more time with him. Everyone in the Uchiha clan saw him as the clan's hope to excel where so many other Uchihas have failed. Many people said that he was the second coming of Uchiha Madara.

Being just like Uchiha Madara was never his desire to become a warmonger and a traitor to the village. But life is never fair and unexpected circumstances lead the young and naive on the wrong path. And in the end, Uchiha Itachi became the most despised ninja in Konoha and, by extension, Land of Fire. So, Sasuke began to feel a deep hatred that bubbled up in his heart since the massacre, being the last surviving Uchiha. A tear ran down his cheek because he never got to see his mother, the one person in his life who always cared for him and showed genuine love and affection.

Whenever Sasuke closed his eyes, he was still able to see all the bodies lying around and all the carnage left all over the Uchiha compound. He wished this was a sick nightmare so he could wake up and promise to stop eating snacks in the middle of the night. Sasuke still couldn't understand why all this happened and what the reason for it was. Sasuke opened his eyes and took a shaky breath as he tried to gather himself after experiencing such a traumatic event. But the words that his older brother told him will haunt him forever till he kills him.

(Flashback)

"If you awaken the [Mangekyo Sharingan], you would be the third person to obtain it, including me. To ensure that happens, you would need enough reason to hate me that is why I'll let you live." Itachi took a step and turned his back on Sasuke, making him gasp from his older brother's sudden movements; when Itachi saw this, he only shook his head in disappointment before speaking again.

"Oh, don't worry. There is no value in killing you now, Sasuke. My foolish little brother, if you wish to kill me one day, resent me, hate me, and survive in obscurity. Run and keep running. Surviving in such an unsightly manner as this, by all means, and cling to your wretched life. Then, one day, when you possess these eyes, come before me.

(Flashback End)

He closed his eyes again when he heard a knock on the door; he didn't want to be bothered to answer. When the door opened slowly Mikoto entered the room and took a few steps in the room. She stood at the door entrance and watched Sasuke, ignoring everything, just looking out the window. It broke Mikoto's heart to see her youngest child look broken from such a traumatic event. Mikoto was holding some flowers when she finally spoke to get his attention as she waited long enough.

"Sasuke-kun, you are finally awake. How are you feeling, my son?" Sasuke's mother asked him, as he almost snapped his head off to see his mother for the first time standing by the door.

Sasuke jumped out of bed and ran towards his mother, giving her a tight hug. He began to sob as he held her tightly; she put the flowers down before he dragged her to the floor or, worse, made her drop them. Then she put her arm around him and began to pat his head, as she started to cry as well. They stayed that way until a female Medic came in and checked Sasuke's condition. The female Medic could only smile, seeing the boy finally showing some emotion ever since the Anbu found him that night of the massacre.

"Hi there, I'm Sachi. I'm Sasuke-kun, a Medic overseeing his well-being. Whom might you be, if I may ask?" Sachi asked Mikoto since it was the first time she had seen anyone visit him.

"I'm Uchiha Mikoto Sasuke's mother. I came here the other day, but he was still unconscious, so I left since I had to take care of other matters. So, how is his condition? Will he be able to leave the hospital any time soon?" The Uchiha Matriarch asked as she waited patiently to hear if the medic had anything important to tell her about her son.

"Yes, he has been diagnosed with mental trauma from the genjutsu attack; it was extremely severe, and he is lucky that he survived. Sasuke-kun has been having extreme nightmares, and he is very detached from the world at times. Physically, he is fine, but I recommend he see a therapist. But if that doesn't work, you could always have a Yamanaka look over him to tell you what would best treat him." Sachi explained things to Sasuke's mother, who understood her suggestions.

"Thank you, Sachi-san, for caring for my son; I appreciate it." The Uchiha Matriarch said, giving Sasuke's female Medic a slight bow as she did it in return.

"You welcome Uchiha-sama." Sachi said with a smile, then she walked out to give them some privacy.

"Sasuke-kun are you feeling better to go back home? I need my little protector to escort me home." Sasuke's mother said, giving her son a happy smile.

"I-I feel much better now knowing you are still alive, kaa-san. So, don't worry about me. I will become more vital to protect you since you are all I have left from the Uchiha clan." Sasuke told his mother, feeling overprotective of her.

There are many things that you still don't know. That I still have to explain to you Sasuke-kun. But I will inform you back at home." Sasuke's mother told her son, getting a nod from him as he began to put on his clean clothes, and once he was done both mother and son left the hospital holding hands.

Naruto's Apartment

When Naruto woke up in the morning he got up to shower before making breakfast and eating. Naruto dressed to get ready to go to the Sarutobi compound to begin his punishment the old man asked for. He cleaned up his apartment since he was not planning to return for the next few days until the ninja academy would start. He made sure to barricade his place again and lay down all his traps just in case someone also decided to snoop around. Naruto then went out his window and climbed up to the roof, where he pulled himself up by his rope to the roof, and when he reached the top, he ran towards the exit, running down the stairs and leaving his apartment building.

Naruto didn't take long to reach the old man's compound; as he walked through it, he saw a sizeable old-fashioned home from the Warring State era and knew immediately that this was the Hokage's home. He then walked up to the shoji sliding door and knocked on it, Naruto looked around and saw that the place seemed pretty clean and hoped he wouldn't be there that long. Everything he laid his eyes on looked peaceful as he wondered how his life would have been if the village people hadn't mistreated him. Naruto also remembered that the old man had a grandson that just turned four years old. He was curious about what chores he would do since this was the first time the old man had punished him for one of his pranks. Naruto guessed it was because of some of the traps that caused property damage.

Naruto figured it was the old man's way of being a guardian and taking responsibility for his actions. He was lost in his thoughts when he knocked again on the shoji door. When it slid open, out came a woman with long brown hair and light brown eyes; she gasped in surprise, scaring Naruto in the process as he fell on his behind. Naruto quickly got up and rubbed his bruised bottom when she stared at him unashamedly as if searching for something. Naruto started to feel uncomfortable as he felt no hate from the person but curiosity about why he was there.

"Hello, ah, Oba-san Hokage-jiji sent me here to do some chores as a punishment for my prank a few days ago. By any chance, did jiji tell you what he wanted me to do?" Naruto asked somewhat awkwardly, and he rubbed his head in embarrassment.

"Ah yes, he did mention that someone was to come to do chores. I just didn't expect him to punish you finally. I suppose it was a long time coming. He should have done that when you began to pull pranks on the villagers. Oh, how rude of me. My name is Sarutobi Ikumi, the daughter-in-law of the Sandaime Hokage, so what is your name?" She asked, knowing already who it was since the blond hair and whisker mark had already given him away.

"Well, I never thought I would get in trouble either since I've been doing this for years," Naruto said as he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment while forcing a smile.

"Follow me, Naruto-kun, so you can begin to do your chores for the day as my father-in-law asked," Ikumi said as she walked towards the back of the home while Naruto looked around at the lovely house.

"Ikumi-san, w-what am I going to be doing today?" Naruto asked so he could get a better idea of whether it would be difficult or easy.

"You'll be raking up all the fallen leaves and putting them in bags. Make sure to line up all the trash bags in a neat area so someone else will pick them up and get rid of them." Ikumi replied, getting a nod from the little Uzumaki as they reached a small shed with tools.

"Ikumi-san, am I supposed to do the entire home for the rest of the day?" Naruto asked, nervous about spending the whole day there raking up leaves.

"No, you will start with the backyard today, and the next time you come, you will work on the other side of the house. Father-in-law is not a slave driver." Ikumi laughed at the thought of the Hokage treating Naruto like a slave while shedding tears of agony.

"Thank you, Ikumi-san. I'll get right to work then," Naruto said as he grabbed a rack and walked to the far corner of the fence to start his chores.

Naruto racked up all the leaves falling from the trees around the backyard for the next two hours. At first, he was unsure where to start, but with the suggestion of Ikumi-san and a little advice from time to time, he could get the hang of what to do. Ikumi, on the other hand, checked on Naruto and was pleased that at least he would listen to her suggestions. Naruto was surprised that he stayed focused while doing his chores. By the time she last checked on him, she had brought out her son Konohamaru as they watched the little whisker-blond place another whole bag of leaves into the pile he had on the side. Naruto was happy that the old man's daughter cared for him as she gave him water when he needed it and asked him to take a break to eat something to give him more energy. Naruto then heard the voice of Ikumi-san calling for him to come over to her; when he turned around to see, Naruto saw that she had a little boy standing right next to her when she spoke.

"Naruto-kun, I will let Father know that you came and finished the first part of your chores. You did a great job for your first time, and the next time you come you will be able to do it even faster since you learn how. Also, let me introduce you to my son Konohamaru, who is only four years old; I hope you two will become friends someday." Ikumi said as she gently pushed her son forward to introduce himself.

"H-hello, I'm S-Sarutobi K-Konohamaru. Nice to meet you, onii-san," Konohamaru answered in a meek voice since this was the first time he was friends with an older boy.

"Hey there, Konohamaru-chan. Nice to meet you. I'm Uzumaki Naruto, seven years old and about to turn eight next month. I'm happy to become your new friend, so let's get along and become stronger in the foreseeable future." Naruto replied, giving the little boy a wide grin, making his eyes squint as he ruffled his hair.

"Ah! I finally got myself an older brother. We will have so much fun in the future, Naruto-onii-san!" Konohamaru exclaimed, excited at the chance to have an older brother figure.

"Naruto-kun, I think it is time for you to go. Since you worked so hard, you should shower to be clean for the rest of the day. And remember, if you get dirty once again, then be sure to take another shower as well." Ikumi advised him, and he nodded in understanding. The last thing he wanted was to be a smelly kid.

"Thank you, Ikumi-san, for caring for me with water and food. I'll be sure to listen to your advice. And it was nice to meet you, too, Konohamaru-chan. Maybe the next time, we will be able to play for a little bit." Naruto said as Konohamaru was excited to play with someone for a change.

Then Naruto waved goodbye and left the Sarutobi compound back to his apartment to clean up and maybe get something to eat. Since the Hokage prohibits him from eating his favorite food in the world as part of his punishment, now he knew that if his pranks ever went too far, he would get punished severely, and to him, it was torture to his stomach. It took him fifteen minutes to get back to his place and another fifteen minutes to disarm his traps in his home before he could take another shower for the day. Once he finished, he began reading the fuinjutsu book before suddenly falling asleep, not realizing he was tired.

Naruto woke up a few hours later from his nap and realized he still needed to check in with his sensei. When he returned to the hidden hideout, Naruto knew he would be in trouble if he didn't have a proper excuse to tell him. As of late, he has noticed that his ninja skills have improved since he met his sensei as he was getting ahead of his future classmates. Naruto just hoped everything would be fine when the teams were assigned while wondering what type of sensei he would have in the future. Only time would tell as he got up and set up all his traps again when he went to his bedroom to do the same thing. When he finished, he rushed out the door and then turned the corner he ran into someone.

Naruto smashes his face into the body armor as he bounces off, falling on the floor and making him see stars. He becomes confused by the sudden appearance of a person in his home without him knowing. When Naruto finally looked up, he saw a Neko mask Anbu with purple hair and arms crossed under her ample chest. While shakes her head at the comedic situation she finds herself in as she looks whisker-blond on the floor.

"Owwwie! Anbu-san, did you have to appear so suddenly when I was running? My face hurts running into your armor." Naruto exclaimed while rubbing his face to lessen the pain.

"Hokage-sama has summoned you to come right away, Naruto-kun." The Neko-masked Anbu told him as she helped him off the floor and ruffled his golden locks. Naruto looked confused before recognizing the person who had come to get him.

"Okay, Neko-nee-chan, is there a reason he needs to see me right away?" Naruto asked her since the old man's office summoned him not every day but only when he got into trouble while pulling his pranks and picking himself off the floor.

"Very well, come to Naruto-kun; I'll take us there quickly with my jutsu." The Neko-masked Anbu told the little Uzumaki. He was about to say something when she touched his shoulder as they vanished in smoke.

Hokage office

They appeared before the Hokage tower as the female Anbu signaled for him to follow her. While walking inside, Naruto began to ponder why the Hokage summoned him. He was lost in his thoughts until they reached the Hokage's office. Neko knocked on the door when she heard the Hokage say, "Enter." She opened the door and let the little Uzumaki in as he made his way to a seat, making Naruto sense something was off. He couldn't grasp it, but he knew something would happen today. He didn't know if it was a good thing or bad. Then Naruto put his fake mask on to disarm the people in the room and smiled at the Hokage, hoping to get a better feel of what was happening.

"Hey there, Hokage-jiji. You caught me on a good time. I was about to leave my home when Neko-nee-chan appeared in front of me, running into her as I smashed my face into her armor. Is there something important you want to talk to me about? It is not every day you send one of your guards to come and get me when I haven't done anything wrong." Naruto said as he tilted his head curiously and waited for the old man to explain the situation.

"Hello, my boy. I heard from my daughter-in-law that you did an outstanding job doing the chores I set for you to do. But that is not the reason I had you brought to me. Because of certain circumstances, I must reveal one of many secrets surrounding you. And many of them you cannot learn about till you turn into an elite Jonin." The Sandaime explained as he singled for his Anbu to leave his office as he channeled some chakra onto a privacy seal.

"So, Hokage-jiji, is it okay for me to learn these important secrets now?" Naruto asked, unsure if this was a good idea for the old man to tell him.

"The reason for telling you these secrets is that a couple of days ago, as my Anbu were heading back to the village, they found another Uzumaki. It was a mother and daughter, but on their journey, they ended up in a battle zone and tried to make it to the Land of Fire. But in the process, the mother protected her daughter from a kunai that had a paper bomb. The mother got mortally wounded and was kept alive by the Anbu to say her last words. The mother told us some valuable information before she passed away; she was glad knowing she was able to secure a place for her daughter to live." The Sandaime paused to let the story sink in so that he could have a better understanding before the Sandaime continued to speak.

"And because of that incident, I was forced to reveal this to you, my boy. Also, I didn't want you to find out from someone else that there is a Uzumaki clan. I couldn't have you lose trust in me, and I need to be honest and upfront with you. I'm sure people in the shadows would try to make you hate me and the village, and I can't afford that to happen. Naruto-kun, your clan member's name is Karin, and she has red hair. Just so you know, all pure-blooded Uzumakis have red hair; you are half Uzumaki from your mother's side, but all that will be explained to the both of you when we get to the hospital. Then I will introduce you to one another so you can get to know each other." The Sandaime explained to him in a way to keep him calm and to not release whatever dark feelings he holds inside his heart.

"Hokage-jiji, am I going to meet my clan member today? And where is she staying at this moment?" Naruto asked, far too curious to see another Uzumaki and a pure-blooded one for that.

"Yes, you are going to meet Karin today. She has been staying at the hospital since she was unconscious. She has barely woken up today, and I have already spoken to her a little. I promised her I would be bringing you so you two can meet. But first, I have a few things to reveal to you because of her appearance, so please don't get upset with me. I did this for your protection. Do you understand Naruto-kun?" The Sandaime replied as he had a solemn face, knowing that all the child wanted to know was who his parents were.

"Yeah, jiji, I understand," Naruto said as he had a feeling that the Sandaime was going to finally reveal one of his parents, something that he had been dreaming of this moment for so many years.

"Naruto-kun, this might be the best time for you to learn part of your heritage is what you need in your life. Also, your mother left you her "will" and a letter for you to read. Feel free to read now or later, whatever time suits you best," Sandaime said as he handed over Naruto's mother's "will" to him, a series of emotions going through his mind.

"Is there more you will tell me right now, or can we see her right away"? Naruto asked, excited at the chance to meet another Uzumaki. The Sandaime called for his attention to the next business topic he had to explain to Naruto. He didn't know if Naruto could understand the next topic, but they were about to find out.

"Naruto-kun, I have more to tell you; this could be troublesome for you. A council member brought up something I hoped would have never been considered. A law that the Nidaime Hokage made to help clans repopulate by the males having a legal right to marry multiple wives. It is called the C.R.A. and stands for Clan Restoration Act; the elders hope to choose brides on your behalf to gain more power or leverage." The Sandaime paused to see if Naruto could understand the seriousness of the situation as he could speak.

"But I'm sure you'd rather pick your future wives you might like for the future without having bothersome people not related to you try to control your life. There is an elder who is trying to push you to this and try to have you marry people from his faction who only see you as a tool, not a human being. He would want you to repopulate your clan as soon as possible as long as the village gains more Uzumaki's with the potential to be seal masters in the future. There will be another council meeting to discuss getting the most from you while you are still a little boy. I have sent a letter to the Daimyo so he could protect you from the civilian council trying to use you like a stud." The Sandaime explained it to Naruto, but then the Sandaime noticed that Naruto lost interest in the conversation when the C.R.A. came up.

The Hokage only sighed, knowing that he might have to explain this when Naruto becomes slightly older when he notices girls. He was still too young to understand the significance of his situation and the outcome of his choices from now on. But then again, when he gets older, he will find out the hard way, but hopefully, by then, he will have someone to back him up, like the Uchiha clan and the Senju through Tsunade. The Hokage could only chuckle to himself, knowing the privilege Naruto would have in the distant future. Since he was speaking on an adult topic, the little Uzumaki didn't understand; he just wanted this long meeting to be over.

"Naruto-kun, I'm sorry if you find this to be a topic you are not interested in, but I had to try to tell you at least so you wouldn't be surprised. When you return in a few days, I'll make it up for you and add an appointment to spend extra time. And I apologize that this is taking longer than expected, but it all has to do with you somehow." The Sandaime tried to explain it to Naruto, giving him a warm smile and seeing his shoulder sag in defeat.

"Hokage-jiji, are we done with all these complicated talks, or is there more you need to tell me?" Naruto asked, hoping to see his clan member as soon as possible.

"Naruto-kun, the last matter I will speak to you about is your guardianship. In your mother's "will," she mentions three people who could be your guardians. The first is about your godfather, Jiraiya. He is a mighty ninja of the village, but he has been out on a mission for many years. Oh, by the way, your godfather is here in town. I recalled him back to be present in the council meeting. One of your godmothers was also present, and I just learned that your mother picked Uchiha Mikoto as your guardian. Your mother and godmother were best friends and teammates, so don't be upset with her. I can assure you she will look after you for sure. The other one, well, she is more problematic, but I sent word to send her a message your mother left her; maybe she will come back to the village." The Sandaime paused for a moment before he took a sip of his tea before he continued to speak.

"But your godmother will take you in and become your guardian. She will oversee your finances because you may now be the wealthiest child in Konoha. Your mother is giving you a stipend of one million ryo a year until you are seventeen years old." Naruto was so shocked to hear the amount of ryo he was getting every year that the only thing he could do was faint.

The Hokage only chuckles at Naruto's reaction to how much he will receive a year. There was a gasp by the couch and a thunk from the corner in the shadow of the office. A yell of "What the hell!" came from the window. The Hokage looked out the window and saw Jiraiya fall over with anime tears. He looked in disbelief at what he had just heard from the old man's mouth about his godson's stipend.

"Sensei, why didn't you tell me he would receive that much? I would take him in without hesitation I could use the extra ryo he would have been getting." Jiraiya said as he tried to make himself look more presentable.

"I don't know, Jiraiya; you would have taken all his money and maybe wasted it away on the brothels you are so fond of. You would have been a bad influence and might turn him into a pervert. And if Tsunade decided to come back, and would see what you had done to her godson as well. I can guarantee she would kill you without saying a word; she would cut off little Jiraiya, chop it up into little pieces, and burn whatever left of it into ashes." The Hokage told his student, who looked in pure terror and the visual his sensei placed in his mind, what Tsunade would do to him. Then he asked if he heard everything that they were saying. Jiraiya nodded answering his sensei question, then looked over at a passout Naruto. The Hokage looked over at Naruto when he began to speak.

"We should speak later, Jiraiya, but everything you heard in the council meeting is the latest news here. You had enough opportunity to introduce yourself to Naruto now that he has been giving guardianship to Uchiha Mikoto; good luck getting in say in the matter. And hopefully, no one would connect you to Minato just because you were selected to be his godfather; everyone would know that he is Minato's son, and to keep him safe, you would have to watch him from a distance until the right time for you two to meet. When Tsunade gets the letter left behind by Kushina, I don't even want to imagine how angry she will be. Be sure to be here when that happens, Jiraiya." The Sandaime said while his old student silently listened to his sensei request.

"Isn't giving Mikoto guardianship of Naruto somewhat dangerous after everything that happened after the massacre? I feel like there is more to what happened to the Uchiha clan, and I will look into it when I get some free time." Jiraiya said, while the Hokage stoically listened as he heard that his student might look into it in the future. Alright, Jiraiya, this meeting took long enough. I still have to take Naruto to meet Karin and tell him about his mother. Who knows how long that will take, depending on the questions he might ask. If you want to join from the shadows, that will also be fine since I have many other appointments I need to keep on schedule.

"Alright, sensei. I'll think about it since I have important research to catch up on. It' 's time for me to go, but if you need to get a hold of me, sensei s, send me a message," Jiraiya said as he gave a perverted giggle before jumping out the window. He was hit by a kunai from the only female Anbu in the room, who clicked her tongue in disappointment.

"Neko, please pick up Naruto-kun and follow me back to the hospital; we have a long-awaited family reunion to host here." The Sandaime said as he stood from his chair and exited the door. Neko threw him over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes and followed the Sandaime to the hospital as the rest of the guards left in a shunshin.

A/N: Hello, my fellow readers and writers. I hope everyone enjoyed this chapter. I am doing my best to make this story unique. The funny thing about it is that I had this story posted under a different title, but I noticed then that it did not match the current flow, so I decided to change it. Then, I began to edit every chapter, and I re-wrote every chapter I posted. I want to give a special shout-out to NinjaFang1331 for reviewing two of my other stories. I really appreciate it.