A/N: I do not own the characters used, (unless they are OC), rights to their respective Authors.
"Character Speaking"
"Character Thinking"
Jutsu.
[Summoning or Tailed Beast Speaking]
[Summoning or Tailed Beast Speaking]
Grayfia was utterly bewildered by the bird's declaration. She couldn't fathom what was happening, let alone understand Artic's connection to Naruto's mother.
Naruto's eyes widened in shock. Before he could utter a word, Artic continued, "You know, now that I look closer, your eyes are identical to Kushina's, only hers were a deep shade of lilac."
The bird's words only deepened the mystery. Naruto's surprise intensified until, finally, he managed to stammer out a question. "H-how do you know so much about my mother?" His voice trembled with a mix of awe and apprehension. He still couldn't grasp how this creature possessed knowledge that was supposed to be top secret.
"Well, that's because this is the ancestral land of the Uzumaki clan, the place where your mother was born," Artic replied matter-of-factly, though she was puzzled by the boy's reaction.
Silence descended upon the scene. Naruto was at a loss for words. He tried to speak, but nothing came out. The revelation that he belonged to a clan, and was standing on his mother's homeland, was too overwhelming to process.
Grayfia, sensing Naruto's shock, stepped in. "Artic-san," she began, her voice gentle but firm, "could you tell us about this Uzumaki clan?" She had never heard of such a clan, but the state of the island and Artic's words hinted at a tragic history.
Artic looked at them both, her confusion growing. She could understand Grayfia's ignorance, but Naruto's lack of knowledge about his own heritage was deeply troubling.
"Naruto," she said, her tone serious, drawing him out of his stupor. "Tell me, do you know anything about the Uzumaki clan?"
Naruto shook his head slowly. "No, this is the first time I've heard of them. The only thing I knew was my mother's name, Kushina Uzumaki. I only learned that a little over a week ago. Before that, I thought it was just a name the Third Hokage had given me."
Artic was taken aback by this revelation but masked her surprise. Her brow furrowed with concern, realizing the extent of Naruto's isolation from his own lineage.
The clearing fell silent once more. Artic let out a sigh, then spoke, her voice echoing through the stillness. "Naruto," she addressed the boy directly, "the Uzumaki clan is one of the oldest in this world. It's said they are close cousins of both the Senju and the Uchiha clans."
Both Grayfia and Naruto were taken aback by this revelation. They remained silent, their curiosity piqued.
"The Uzumaki, as far as I know, were a peaceful clan, unlike their cousins who were constantly at each other's throats. That's why the clan lived on these isolated islands, far from the mainland." Artic paused, her gaze distant. "The most distinctive trait of the Uzumaki was their hair color—a vibrant, blood red. All Uzumaki shared this characteristic..."
She was interrupted by Naruto's incredulous voice. "But then why don't I have red hair if I'm an Uzumaki?" he asked, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.
"Naruto," Grayfia interjected, "remember that perhaps only your mother was an Uzumaki. You also have your father's blood. Maybe his genes are more dominant than your mother's."
Naruto nodded thoughtfully, but Artic shook her head. "Grayfia is mistaken," she said, her tone firm.
Grayfia raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean? I'm not saying Naruto isn't an Uzumaki."
"You're right about that," Artic clarified. "But Naruto's case is unique. He's a Jinchuriki, and not just any Jinchuriki, but the Jinchuriki of the Kyuubi. The main requirement to be the Kyuubi's Jinchuriki is that the container must be a pure-blooded Uzumaki. Only they possess the physical strength and chakra network capable of withstanding the immense strain and pressure the bijuu exerts on its host."
Both Naruto and Grayfia listened intently, absorbing this new information.
"But the Third Hokage told me that the Kyuubi could be sealed into a newborn, even though they don't have a fully developed chakra network," Naruto countered, recalling his conversation with the old man.
Artic shook her head. "While the Third Hokage isn't entirely wrong, that rule applies to the other tailed beasts. It's the safest option to prevent complications for the Jinchuriki later in life when they try to access their bijuu's chakra. But it's not enough for the Kyuubi's Jinchuriki." She paused, allowing her words to sink in. "In Naruto's case, if he wasn't a pure-blooded Uzumaki, as Grayfia suggested, he would have most likely died the moment he unleashed the Kyuubi's chakra during our battle."
Naruto and Grayfia were stunned into silence. Naruto felt a surge of gratitude towards his mother for passing on her Uzumaki genes. But one question still lingered.
"Even so," he persisted, "if I'm a pure-blooded Uzumaki, why don't I have red hair?"
"I can't say for certain why that is," Artic admitted. "Perhaps, in this aspect, your father's genes were indeed stronger than those of an Uzumaki."
Naruto sighed, a hint of disappointment in his voice. While he liked his blonde hair, he couldn't help but wish he had inherited his mother's fiery red locks.
"Don't tell me orange is no longer your favorite color," Grayfia teased, a playful smile gracing her lips.
As expected, Naruto quickly responded, "No, no, no! Orange is still my favorite. It's just that... ever since I saw a picture of my mother, I've found the color of her hair so beautiful." He channeled chakra into his wrist, where a sealing matrix appeared and glowed briefly. With a puff of smoke, a small photograph materialized in his hand.
"See for yourself," he said, showing the picture to Grayfia and Artic. "Isn't she beautiful?"
Grayfia nodded, her eyes widening in appreciation. Now she understood Naruto's newfound fondness for red hair. The woman in the photo was indeed stunning, her vibrant locks framing a gentle face.
Naruto turned to Artic, but the bird spoke first. "She truly blossomed into a beautiful woman," Artic said, a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
Both Naruto and Grayfia noticed the sadness in Artic's eyes. "Are you alright?" Naruto asked, his concern evident.
Artic seemed to snap out of her reverie, shaking her head slightly. "Yes, yes, I'm fine. It's just... seeing her grow from a little girl into a woman..." Her voice trailed off, tears welling up in her eyes. She looked away, trying to regain her composure.
Naruto and Grayfia exchanged a glance, unsure how to respond. They remained silent, giving Artic the space she needed.
The silence stretched for a few minutes until Artic finally spoke again. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice thick with emotion. "I don't usually get emotional, but..."
Naruto interrupted her gently. "It's okay, Artic. I understand your sadness. It hurts me too, even though I never got to know her." He offered a small, sad smile.
Artic nodded, a flicker of gratitude in her eyes. She looked back at the photo, a faint smile touching her lips. The atmosphere remained heavy with unspoken thoughts until Naruto broke the silence once more.
"Artic," he began, capturing the bird's attention. "I wanted to ask you... what happened to them?"
Both Grayfia and Artic understood his unspoken question. Artic sighed, the weight of the past settling on her shoulders. Though she dreaded reliving those painful memories, she knew Naruto deserved to know the truth.
"Naruto, I think we all know what happened to them, don't we?" she asked gently.
Naruto nodded, his expression somber. He wasn't a fool. He had connected the dots the moment Artic mentioned this was the birthplace of the Uzumaki clan. "I understand what happened," he said, his voice firm. "But I want to know why."
Artic looked at him for a long moment, then returned the photo, which Naruto carefully placed back in his seal. "Make yourselves comfortable," she said. "This is going to be a long story."
Both Grayfia and Naruto nodded, their full attention on the bird.
"As I was saying before," Artic began, "the Uzumaki clan was a peaceful clan, not warlike like the Senju, the Uchiha, or other powerful clans of that era. However, their military strength rivaled any of their contemporaries. Even without a Kekkei Genkai, the Uzumaki possessed vast chakra reserves, superhuman stamina, natural regeneration, and remarkably long lifespans. Some clan members even lived to be two hundred years old."
Both Grayfia and Naruto were impressed. Naruto's eyes sparkled with pride for his clan's extraordinary abilities. Grayfia, though she maintained her usual stoic expression, was equally astounded. She realized that these traits were inherent to all Uzumaki, simply by virtue of their birth.
"However, their abilities didn't end there," Artic continued, her voice echoing through the cavern. "Some were born with a sensory power far superior to the rest, called Kagura's Mind's Eye. It allowed them to sense chakra with incredible precision, detect dishonesty, and even see through illusions." She paused, allowing her words to sink in.
"There were those born with exceptionally potent healing chakra, capable of mending even the most grievous wounds," she went on. "And finally, one of the most formidable abilities was the Adamantine Chains. These chains were a manifestation of the user's chakra, taking on any form or function they desired. However, this ability was exceedingly rare within the clan, only manifesting in those Uzumaki with exceptionally dense and powerful chakra. Even then, only those who mastered Fuinjutsu could truly harness their full potential."
Artic paused again, giving Naruto and Grayfia time to process this wealth of information. When they both nodded, she continued. "But all of these abilities paled in comparison to the Uzumaki's innate affinity for Fuinjutsu, a shinobi art considered too complex for most other clans..."
"What is Fuinjutsu?" Naruto interrupted, his curiosity piqued. He wracked his brain, trying to recall if it had been mentioned at the academy, but nothing came to mind.
Artic's eyes widened in shock. How could the boy not even know what Fuinjutsu was? "What's going on in Konoha?" she wondered. It seemed they had completely erased the Uzumaki's history. She was about to question Naruto further when Grayfia subtly signaled for her to stop. Artic, understanding the unspoken message, held her tongue.
Taking a breath, Artic turned back to Naruto. "Naruto, who placed that seal on your wrist?" she asked.
"Ahh, this?" Naruto replied, pointing to the intricate marking. "The Hokage-jiji put it on me years ago. He said it would help me keep things safe and not lose them."
Artic nodded. "That's a storage seal, a form of Fuinjutsu," she explained. "The clan leader once told me that Fuinjutsu has two essential components: the matrix, or seals, and chakra. The matrix contains the instructions for what the Fuinjutsu will do, while chakra provides the energy to activate it. He also said the only limit to Fuinjutsu is the user's imagination."
Naruto was once again awestruck by the power and ingenuity of his clan. Grayfia, though equally impressed, still couldn't connect the dots.
"Artic-san," she interjected, "what does all of this have to do with the destruction of the Uzumaki clan?"
Naruto, pulled from his reverie, looked at Artic, the same question burning in his eyes.
Instead of answering directly, Artic posed a question of her own. "Grayfia, how do you think the other villages would react to a clan that was not only physically superior from birth, but also possessed the unique skills I mentioned, and was filled with masters of Fuinjutsu, the most difficult and powerful shinobi art?"
Grayfia's eyes widened as she realized where Artic was leading. "They would be...threatened," she murmured.
"But it doesn't end there," Artic pressed on. "This small village, with all its power concentrated in a single clan, was considered one of the major forces in the Elemental Nations. And on top of that, they were close allies with Konoha, a village already renowned for its military might." She paused, letting the gravity of her words settle. "Now, what do you think was the reason for their destruction?" Artic asked, her gaze fixed on both of them.
For a few moments, the place was silent until Grayfia finally spoke, her gaze fixed on Artic. "Fear and ego," she said, her voice heavy with understanding.
Artic nodded sadly, her feathers drooping slightly. But before she could elaborate, Naruto interjected, his voice filled with confusion.
"But that doesn't make sense," he protested. "If you said my clan was peaceful, they wouldn't have done anything to provoke anyone. And what does ego have to do with it?"
Both Grayfia and Artic exchanged a knowing glance. They knew what they were about to reveal wouldn't be easy for Naruto to hear, but he deserved to know the truth.
"Naruto, the world isn't always fair," Artic began gently. Naruto looked at her, still not understanding. "Your clan was destroyed simply because they became too powerful. As I said before, the Uzumaki clan alone was considered one of the major powers in the Elemental Nations. The other hidden villages didn't like that."
She paused, gathering her thoughts. "Fearing that the Uzumaki clan would grow even stronger, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure, along with some smaller villages, formed an alliance with the sole purpose of eradicating your clan."
Naruto's head dropped, his hands clenched into fists. If he had noticed the blood welling up from his palms, he might have understood the depth of his fury. He could have accepted his clan being destroyed in war, but the fact that they were wiped out simply because other villages feared their potential power, especially when the Uzumaki had never sought conflict, fueled his rage.
Grayfia, sensing his turmoil, approached him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "Naruto," she said softly.
He looked up, meeting her concerned gaze.
"I'm sorry... It's just... that... I—" He couldn't finish his sentence.
Grayfia gently interrupted, "Naruto, calm down. I understand your anger, but hurting yourself won't help." She carefully wiped the blood from his hands.
Silence fell over them for a few moments, allowing Naruto's anger to subside. Grayfia then turned back to Artic. "Artic-san, there's something I still don't understand."
The bird raised an eyebrow, prompting her to continue.
"What did Konoha do?" Grayfia asked, her voice firm. Naruto looked at Artic, awaiting her answer as well.
Artic hesitated, her gaze darkening. "Nothing," she finally replied, her voice cold.
Both Naruto and Grayfia's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?" Naruto exclaimed. "You said my clan was allied with Konoha. Why didn't they do anything?" His voice rose in anger, but he calmed down when Grayfia squeezed his hand reassuringly.
"I don't know..." Artic began, her voice heavy with sorrow. Naruto started to speak again, but she cut him off. "Although I have my suspicions."
Naruto and Grayfia exchanged a puzzled look.
"I believe someone from Konoha, most likely someone in a high position, wanted the Uzumaki clan eradicated," Artic revealed, her words hanging heavy in the air.
"But Hokage-Jiji would never do something like that!" Naruto protested, his voice filled with conviction. He couldn't fathom his grandfather allowing such a thing.
Artic sighed. "Naruto, I never said it was the Third Hokage. It could have been someone within his circle of advisors or influential figures."
"But Jiji would never have allowed it," Naruto insisted again.
This time, it was Grayfia who responded. "Naruto, while I agree with you, there's a possibility that even the Third Hokage himself might not have been aware of this plot."
Naruto fell silent, considering her words. It was a disturbing thought, but it made a certain kind of sense. Finally, he nodded slowly.
"But..." Grayfia turned back to Artic. "Why do you believe that?" she asked. They couldn't simply accept Artic's words without understanding her reasoning. She needed to hear the full story before drawing any conclusions.
"Before I explain," Artic began, her voice resonating with a newfound gravity, "it's important to understand the complex relationship between Konoha and the Uzumaki clan. Their alliance was initially forged due to close ties with the Senju and Uchiha clan, something I don't think anybody knows about nowadays. Even in the Warring States period, the Uzumaki remained neutral whenever those two clans clashed."
"The bond between Konoha and the Uzumaki strengthened after Hashirama Senju married Mito Uzumaki. The Uzumaki not only provided Konoha with a powerful barrier jutsu but also granted them permission to use their symbol, the red spiral, on their clothing. But this relationship began to deteriorate after Tobirama Senju's death. The deep ties that once existed frayed, and for Konoha's leadership, the Uzumaki became little more than a source of sealing techniques—and, crucially, the Kyuubi. Mito Uzumaki, as the first jinchuriki, had sealed the beast within herself after the battle between Hashirama and Madara in the Valley of the End."
Both boys were stunned by this revelation. It suddenly made sense why the Sandaime had said the Kyuubi had been in the village since its founding.
Artic continued, "As the years passed, the relationship further devolved into a mere alliance between two villages. However, this information was kept secret from the general public. To the rest of the world, Konoha and the Uzumaki remained 'sister villages,' evidenced by the continued use of the red spiral on Konoha's uniforms." She paused, allowing her words to sink in. When both boys nodded, signaling their understanding, she resumed.
"Given this history, my hypothesis is that someone within Konoha's leadership, fearing the Uzumaki clan's growing power, decided to eliminate them. Or perhaps they exploited an opportunity when they learned of other nations' plans to attack Uzu. After all, Konoha already possessed the most valuable assets: the Kyuubi and advanced sealing jutsu, thanks to the Uzumaki."
Naruto's fists clenched, his rage simmering beneath the surface. The implications of Artic's words were devastating. Grayfia, sensing his turmoil, reached out and squeezed his hand in silent support. She knew this revelation was a heavy burden for him to bear, but now was not the time for him to lose control.
Artic observed their interaction, noting the deep bond between them. The calming effect Grayfia had on Naruto spoke volumes.
"There's one more piece of evidence that strengthens my theory," Artic declared, drawing their attention back to her.
"Two years before the village's destruction, Mito Uzumaki, nearing the end of her life, requested that the clan send another Uzumaki to become the new jinchuriki of the Kyuubi. That's when your mother, Kushina Uzumaki, was chosen."
The bombshell dropped, and Naruto's composure shattered. "What?!" he exclaimed, his voice a mixture of shock and disbelief. He had never imagined his mother had also been a jinchuriki. But now, it made sense. Only an Uzumaki could contain the Nine-Tails. Yet, the question remained: why her?
Grayfia, though she didn't show it outwardly, was equally surprised. Like Naruto, she couldn't help but wonder why Kushina had been chosen for such a fate.
"But why her?" Naruto echoed, his voice filled with a mix of confusion and sadness.
"Kushina was chosen for two reasons," Artic explained, her tone somber. "Firstly, she was born with exceptionally powerful and dense chakra, which awakened the Adamantine Chains at an early age. This made her an ideal candidate for containing the Nine-Tails. Secondly, the Uzumaki clan leader couldn't ask another family to sacrifice their child for such a burden if he wasn't willing to do the same."
Naruto and Grayfia were both taken aback by this new information. Naruto couldn't help but see the parallels between his mother's situation and his own. Grayfia, on the other hand, began to piece together the grim picture Artic was painting.
Artic, sensing their dawning realization, continued, her voice laced with bitterness. "Considering the Uzumaki clan was destroyed a year after Kushina left for Konoha, and Mito Uzumaki died when the Nine-Tails was extracted from her, Konoha had already gotten what they wanted most from Uzu: a young jinchuriki, easily moldable to their will. Which seems to be enough for them. And seeing an opportunity to eliminate the clan, they simply abandoned Uzu to its fate."
A heavy silence descended upon them. The three figures stood in the dimly lit cavern, each lost in their own thoughts, grappling with the weight of these revelations. The silence stretched on for what felt like an eternity, until Artic finally broke it.
"Naruto, Grayfia," she said softly, drawing their attention. "I think it's best we leave this here for now. Let's rest. With all that's been revealed today, I believe I speak for all three of us when I say we're exhausted."
Naruto and Grayfia exchanged a weary glance, then nodded in silent agreement. The weight of the day's discoveries pressed heavily upon them, and the prospect of rest was a welcome one.