Fanfiction: A New Future*

Author? notes

Replying to comments

Thor94:Sorry I know I'm a chapter late but you had a great idea, it won't be used anytime soon but maybe in the future.

Raxtzle:I'm glad you are enjoying the story, I hope you enjoy some of the other small changes I plan to make.

Chapter 5: A Fated Mission*

The morning sunlight filtered through the paper doors of the Hyuuga estate as Naruto approached the dining room. His mind wandered, reflecting on his new life with the clan and the whirlwind of changes that had happened in the past few days. He'd gone from living in a run-down apartment to residing in the prestigious Hyuuga compound, with the news of his engagement to Hanabi still fresh in his mind. But today, he was more excited for what lay ahead—training with Jiraiya.

As he approached the dining hall, he heard voices: one calm and formal, undoubtedly Hiashi's, and the other loud, boisterous, and very familiar. It was Jiraiya.

Naruto burst into the room with his usual enthusiasm. "Ero-sennin! What are you doing here?"

Jiraiya turned his head, grinning. "Good to see you too, brat."

Hiashi, seated at the table, nodded toward Naruto. "Naruto, you're just in time. Jiraiya-sama has brought news of your upcoming training."

Naruto's eyes lit up. "Training? Seriously? What kind of training?"

Jiraiya stood, stretching his arms lazily. "We've got a mission, kid. We're going to find Tsunade, one of the Legendary Sannin, to bring her back as the new Hokage. The village needs her after what happened during the invasion."

Naruto's excitement grew. "A mission with you? That's awesome! When do we leave?"

Jiraiya grinned. "Tomorrow. But that's not all." His face grew a little more serious. "While we're out there, I'm also going to be training you hard. You'll need to be prepared, Naruto, because there's a dangerous group out there called the Akatsuki. They're after people like you."

Naruto's excitement faded slightly, replaced by confusion. "Akatsuki? Who are they?"

Jiraiya's expression hardened. "They're S-class criminals, and they're after the power you hold—the Nine-Tails. That's why it's important that we take your training up a notch. We're not just talking about normal ninja; these guys are on another level."

Naruto blinked, taking in the gravity of what Jiraiya had just said. "So they're after me because of the Kyuubi?"

Jiraiya nodded solemnly. "Exactly. Which is why I also talked with Hiashi here. Since you're now connected to the Hyuuga Clan, they're going to help with your training. They'll make sure you're prepared for whatever comes your way."

Hiashi added, "Neji and Hanabi will train alongside you. Your combined growth will benefit both the Hyuuga Clan and the village."

Naruto was trying to process everything when Jiraiya suddenly pulled something from his pouch. It was a scroll, tightly sealed. He held it out to Naruto.

"Here, take this."

Naruto blinked, confused. "What's this?"

Jiraiya's face softened, a rare look of seriousness crossing his features. "It's a message from your mother."

Naruto froze. His mind blanked for a second, and then confusion quickly turned to anger. "My… mom?" His voice was low at first, but his eyes burned with frustration. "Wait—what? You knew my mom? All this time?"

Jiraiya sighed, but before he could explain, Naruto's anger erupted. "You've known about my parents this whole time and never told me?! How could you keep something that important from me? Why would you do that?!"

The tension in the room spiked. Naruto's fists clenched tightly, shaking at his sides. He glared at Jiraiya, his heart racing as he thought about all the years he'd spent alone, wondering about his family.

Jiraiya, however, took Naruto's anger in stride. His eyes remained calm as he spoke. "Naruto, it's not that simple."

"Not that simple?!" Naruto nearly shouted. "It's my mom, Ero-sennin! I've spent my whole life not knowing anything about my parents, and now you're just giving me a scroll like it's no big deal?!"

Jiraiya sighed deeply. "Naruto, listen. Your parents' identities are S-class secrets, just like the fact that the Nine-Tails is sealed inside you. It's not something I could just tell you whenever I felt like it. Only a few people in the village know the truth, and it was kept that way for your safety."

Naruto's breath hitched, his frustration not entirely quelled. "S-class secrets? But… why? Why would something like that be kept from me?"

Jiraiya met his gaze, his voice steady. "Because if the wrong people found out who your parents were, you would've been in even more danger than you already are. Your parents were important figures in this village, Naruto. People would've come after you, just like the Akatsuki are now."

Naruto's anger began to waver, confusion and hurt washing over him. "But… you still could've told me. I had a right to know."

Jiraiya's expression softened. "I promised your mother I'd only tell you when the time was right—when you were ready to handle it. And now that you're getting older, starting to think about the future… this is the time."

Naruto stared at the scroll in his hands, his heart pounding in his chest. "A message… from my mom…" His voice was quieter now, but the weight of the moment still hung heavily on his shoulders. "Why now, though?"

Jiraiya smiled faintly. "Your mother wanted you to have this when you were ready to settle down, when you found someone important to you. I think that time has come, don't you?"

Naruto's mind flashed to Hanabi—the engagement that still felt so unreal. The idea of starting a family seemed so distant, but now, with his mother's message in hand, the reality of it all hit him like a ton of bricks.

"I… I don't know if I'm ready for this," Naruto admitted, his voice faltering. The thought of reading something his mother had written, something that had been waiting for him for years, made his stomach churn with nerves. "What if… I can't handle it? What if I'm not what she wanted me to be?"

Hiashi, who had remained silent throughout the exchange, finally spoke. "Naruto, your mother wrote that letter for you knowing full well the kind of person you would become. Do not doubt her belief in you."

Naruto bit his lip, his fingers tightening around the scroll. "I'm just… nervous," he confessed, his voice small. "I've never known anything about her or my dad. What if… what if reading this makes me realize I've been doing everything wrong?"

Jiraiya gave him a reassuring smile. "Naruto, you've been doing just fine. More than fine. Your parents would be proud of you, I guarantee it. This scroll isn't about telling you what you've done wrong; it's about giving you a piece of who they were, so you can carry them with you into the future."

Naruto nodded slowly, though the knot in his stomach didn't loosen. "I guess I'll read it… when I'm ready."

Jiraiya patted him on the shoulder. "Take your time, kid. There's no rush. You'll get there when you're ready."

Naruto exhaled, still feeling the weight of the moment, but a small part of him was comforted by Jiraiya's words. He slipped the scroll into his pouch, deciding to keep it close until he was ready to read it.

Hiashi gave a final nod of approval. "You have much to prepare for, Naruto. But know that you are not alone in this journey. The Hyuuga Clan stands with you, as does your teacher, and those who care for you."

Naruto, still a little shaken, nodded back. "Thanks, Hiashi. And… thanks, Ero-sennin. I'll figure it out."

Jiraiya grinned. "You always do, Naruto. Now, let's get you packed for the mission. We leave tomorrow."

As Jiraiya left, Naruto stayed in the quiet room for a moment longer, his mind swirling with thoughts of his parents, his future, and the letter that now rested in his pouch. The weight of his past and future seemed heavier than ever, but Naruto knew one thing for sure—he would face it head-on, just like he always had.

And no matter what his mother's words said, he would make her proud.