Author Notes:

Dark and Alive Minato, Minato fans beware.

Alive Kushina.

Darker Naruto.

Original Characters x Established Characters

Not sure what everyone's big beef is with a background coupling but it's not going to change so you might as well stop reading now. The same goes for the OC's, they are not going anywhere so if that is really such an issue for you then just stop reading here, it doesn't bother me either way.

Chapter 20: A Rocky Return

It had been three years since they had left. Four people had left and at the moment there were five coming back into the Village of Konohagakure. The guards at the gate were looking at the five people and then noticed the blond hair of one of them. They looked at one another then stopped the five, "Passports please."

Everyone nodded then handed the passports. The first one who handed over their passport was the blond of the group. They looked at it and saw the name, "Naruto Uzumaki huh? Returned right on time."

The young man didn't say anything, instead he just took his passport back and put it back in his bag. He walked forward, stopping when he felt a tugging on the sleeve of his jacket. He looked down and gave a small smile then picked up a little girl, "Mito you have to check in with the guards."

The little girl looked at him then gave a small smile. He shook his head then took her back to the gate and handed her to the brown haired man. The older man smiled, "Thanks Naruto."

With a quick nod of his head he turned and started to head back into the Village, "I am going to find Kaa-san."

His response came from a feminine voice, "Naruto-kun, we have to go and check in with Tsunade-sama. If I know Tsunade-sama then Kushina-san will be there when we get there. She knows how important it is to both of you to see each other again."

The blue eyed man looked at her over his shoulder for a moment then nodded his head, standing there and waiting as everyone else checked in with the gate guards. When they were all done, the group headed directly to the Hokage's office. Upon arriving they saw that Tsunade, Kushina and Asuma were all standing there waiting for them. Kushina smiled then rushed her son, pulling him into a motherly hug that her son eagerly returned. Naruto smiled as he hugged her back, he missed her greatly while he had been gone. The same could be said for Kushina, she missed her son everyday while he was gone on his training trip and just hoped that it had given him the results he had been looking for.

As they broke from the hug, Kushina smiled at him and stepped back to look at him, "Look at you Naruto-kun, all grown up. I haven't seen you since Darious and Shizune's wedding." Naruto nodded his head as Kushina smiled at him some more while remembering seeing him a few months after they left.

Flashback...

They had only been gone for about three months when a toad showed up informing everyone of a big day that was coming. Kushina, Asuma, Tsunade and Jiraiya had all been invited to the wedding of Shizune Kato and Darious Kouhei. Everyone quickly packed and then were on their way to meet the group.

When they arrived they found out that the reason for the sudden wedding was that they were pregnant. Darious and Shizune didn't care that some people would say that it was rushed or too fast. They both loved one another, they had loved one another for a long time, and that was what they saw as most important.

Kushina was happy to see her son again. Even though he had only been gone for three months it was hard on her, harder then she had anticipated it being. Asuma always cheered her up when he was there but he was still an active shinobi. He often got deployed as one of their top shinobi, though there did seem to be longer lull periods, something she was sure that Tsunade had a hand in.

To help her with the excess time and keep her mind preoccupied, Kushina had been hired as one of Tsunade's secretaries in Shizune's absence. As soon as she saw her little boy she pulled him into a hug though. He hugged her back and when she released him he looked at her, "Kaa-san, I have only been gone for three months."

She glared at him a bit, "So? I still missed you."

The teen sighed, then let the smallest hint of a smile form as he admitted it as well,"I missed you too."

That got a large smile out of the red head before she took his arm and gave him a peck on the cheek, "How has the training been going?"
Naruto looked at her, "Rough... they were apparently holding back on me in Konohagakure. They didn't want Minato knowing their true strength."

That caused Kushina to raise an eyebrow with surprise, "Interesting, well seems like you made the right choice then eh?"

As he escorted her to their seats he nodded his head then they sat and watched the small but intimate ceremony. That day both Darious and Shizune were happier than they had ever been. Everyone congratulated them and caught up before the two groups went their separate ways. Though it wasn't until after Tsunade announced that they were going to be having twins that Kushina adopted them and their future kids into the Uzumaki clan.

Kushina went back to her proper place behind Tsunade as she looked at the group, "So... where is Kiro? I thought that the last letter said he was going to return?"

Darious looked at her, "He should be here in a few hours to a few days. He said he would come back, he just didn't know when. He promised Mito that he would be here within the week though so it shouldn't be too long of a wait."

With a nod the Godaime looked from Darius to the two little ones that were standing in front of their parents, "So… who do we have here?"

The man smiled as he picked up his little girl. She had black hair with blue eyes. He smiled at her then looked at everyone, "This is Mito Kouhei, her godparents are Naruto and Kushina."

Darious handed the two year old off to Naruto who smiled at her. The brown haired man picked up the black haired boy with brown eyes, "This is Dan Kouhei, his godparents are Tsunade and Jiraiya."

Handing Dan off to Shizune with a smile, he turned his attention back to Tsunade who nodded her head at the small family, "Well... since your family is a part of the Uzumaki Clan now, you will need to become an official Konohagakure shinobi Darious. We will sign you under the same pretense as Jiraiya, for your own personal comfort."

There was a bit of a pause before the brown haired man nodded his head and stepped forward to look over the paperwork. After a quick glance he signed his name before Naruto spoke up, "Things are about to get awkward."

That was when the door flew open and a brown haired woman was standing there panting a bit. They all knew who she was, her cheek tattoos were an obvious giveaway. No one in the room smiled at her though, in fact there was a cold atmosphere to her arrival until Tsunade spoke up, "What do you need Hana?"

The Inuzuka heiress looked around the room then here eyes locked onto Darious, "Where is he!?"

Darious shrugged his shoulders before going back to the paperwork and handing it over to Tsunade, "Why does it even matter to you Ms. Inuzuka?"

The tone didn't go unnoticed but she bit back her quippy response for a more measured one, "Because, I know that he is coming back. I didn't say no to him, no matter what he thinks."

There was a long sigh as Darius stood and straightened out his clothes before returning a cold icy gaze to Hana, "You might as well have just said no, would have been easier on everyone. You broke his heart that day, broke him in a way that I have never seen and mind you I raised him. He debated the whole trip about coming back and he finally decided that he would, but don't be mistaken, he is returning for his niece and nephew, not you."

Hana emitted a low growl as she glared at him, "When he shows up please tell him that I am looking for him."

Darious stared at her then she left, not giving her any sort of a response. Kushina stared at them, "What happened with them? I thought they were in a good place when he was leaving?"

A nicer demeanor returned to the man as he looked over at Kushina, "That is a long story and I really don't feel it is my place to tell it, when he comes back maybe he will tell you about it if you ask."

There was a nod in response from the red head before Tsunade cleared her throat to get everyone back on track as she looked at Naruto, "You will be tested tomorrow for your new rank. For today just go home and rest, unwind and enjoy time with your family. I know that everyone has missed one another, I will try to be by later to catch up as well in a more personal capacity."

Naruto agreed then turned, walking out of the Hokage's office. Though as he was leaving he bumped into some people he really didn't want to see again yet... or ever, he hadn't decided yet. Shikamaru and Naruko were walking into the Hokage's office after completing a C ranked mission. Naruto looked at them before moving on. Shikamaru looked at him then at Naruko who was still staring at his retreating form, "Was that Naruto?" All the blond kunoichi could do was nod her head then her mind went back to a conversation she had with her senseis.

Flashback...

Naruko stood outside the Uzumaki estate a year after Naruto had left. After everything they had been through, everything that she had felt, she had come to hate herself. Had she thought it through, she would have done what Naruto wanted. Just turned and smiled, telling him that it didn't matter because to her it didn't. They had never been raised as brother and sister so it didn't affect her after getting over the initial reaction.

She knocked on the door before it was opened by Kushina. The red head gave her a puzzled look, "Naruko, we don't train today? Is something wrong?"

Looking at her the blond teen girl nodded her head and rubbed her arm a bit, "I know... I wanted to talk to you privately if that is okay."

Nodding her head the Uzumaki matriarch moved out of the way for her to enter. As they went to the living room she saw that the sensei from her genin days was also there, "Hi Asuma-sensei."

Said man gave her a small smile, "Hello Naruko, how is chunin life treating you?"

She shrugged before sitting down, taking something out of her back pouch as she did. It was the note that Naruto had left for her before he had left. She stared at it then looked up at Kushina before announcing it, "I was in a relationship with Naruto before he left..."

Both of the jonin looked at one another before back at her. Kushina sighed, giving her a soft and caring smile as she responded, "We know sweetie. Everyone knows by now."

That caught the blond girl a bit off guard, "You have never said anything during our training though."

Kushina continued to smile at her, "What was it that you wanted me to say exactly? That I know you and my son were sleeping together? That would have been an awkward way to start this conversation."

Leaning back further into the couch Asuma muttered, "It will be awkward regardless."

The red head glared before elbowing him in the side. He looked at her then smiled as Kushina looked back at Naruko, "Look Naruko, we all knew at the end because he didn't want to hide it anymore I think. He knew the whole time what would happen and how you would react. He was willing to take that risk though."

She stared at Kushina with a confused expression, "You're not mad or going to say we were being disgusting?"

Kushina rose her eyebrow, "You can't help who you love, Naruko, there was a time that I loved your father after all. Plus, clans do tend to practice incest. The Uzumaki did so more, brothers and sisters grew up together and our clan genetics wipe out any chances of deformities or genetic issues. The only issue I had was when I thought he was using you as a way to get at Minato. He told me that it wasn't, that there were real feelings involved so I didn't try to interfere at all."

Naruko stared at her, "So you would have... approved?"

Nodding her head Kushina gave her another soft smile, "You were what my little boy wanted, I wouldn't have said no to it. I would have made sure that it was what you both wanted and knew that it would be looked down upon and that you would face some public scorn but I never would have forbid it."

The blond woman sighed as she looked at her, "I wish I wouldn't have reacted as poorly as I did."

Her smile faltered a bit, knowing how much it had hurt Naruto, "So does he but it is what it is, you can't go back and change it now. As I said, he expected this so he wasn't surprised by your reaction at all. He knew how it would end, he knew you would not be able to handle his secret."

Naruko sighed before slowly looking up at him, "Do you… do you think that he will he be able to forgive me?"

The red headed matriarch thought about it silently for a few minutes, "After what he said to me... probably, but it depends on how Naruto comes back."

The blond teen had a bit of a hopeful look in her eyes from this then she smiled and nodded. She thanked them both before leaving them to spend their time together once again.

As the blond girl snapped out of it she looked at Shikamaru, "Can you handle the report on your own?"

Not even waiting for him to nod his head, she ran off after Naruto. When she finally caught up to him she sped up and jumped in front of him to stop him in his path, "Naruto..."

The blond man stared at her, his ex lover and half sister. She stared right back at him and while there were no words spoken between them, it seemed as if they were having a conversation without the words. That was when the council approached from behind her with her mother, "Mrs. Hannah, please speak to your daughter about this. A marriage to Sasuke Uchiha would be very beneficial to the village and she refuses to listen to us about the subject."

Naruto's eyes went to them then to her as hers widened. She went to speak before he shook his head no before disappearing before anyone else could stop him. She bit her bottom lip as she looked at where he had been standing, throwing an angry glance back at the council while irritation took a prominent role in her stance. Her mother gave her an apologetic look about the whole situation. Hannah had seen Naruto standing there in front of her when they were approaching. When she got to Naruko she kissed her daughter's forehead and spoke softly, "I am sorry Naruko... I didn't want to scare him off." Naruko nodded, then her mind ran back to when her mother found out.

Flashback...

Naruko came into the house exhausted, her sensei Kushina had driven her into the ground especially hard today. When she closed the door she heard her mother call for her from the other room, "Naruko-chan... come here please."

The blond teen entered the living room where she found her mother staring at her letter. The one that she had received from Naruto two years ago. She looked at her mother before her gaze went back to his letter, "Give that back to me."

Hannah looked at her daughter then sighed as her eyes dropped back to the letter, "Sweetie, of all people did it have to be Naruto?"

Flashing with her incredibly high speed the teen girl snagged her letter back from her mother. Naruko looked at it then with a hurt but fond look before looking back at her mother, "Naruto-kun is a great guy and I didn't deserve him while I had him."

Her mother sighed, "He is your half brother."

Naruko had a defensive look and posture to her, "I know but I still feel the way I do about him regardless."

Hannah shook her head, "You know that the council wants you to marry a clan heir soon."

Smirking the teen girl already had that response lined up, "Naruto is a clan heir, the heir to the Uzumaki clan. A clan that does not frown on incest and their blood ensures the elimination of any abnormalities that could occur in the genes."

That detailed and elaborate response made it so the older blond stared at her thoughtfully, "Kushina knows about this doesn't she?"

Nodding her head her daughter held her gaze with a firm and determined look, "She even said she would support it if I can get him back."

Staring at her daughter for a moment she sighed as she brought up something that happened earlier that day, "The council approached me about you marrying Sasuke Uchiha today."

Giving an annoyed look Naruko grunted, "Yeah they asked me about it two weeks ago. I told them no, I don't want to marry Sasuke. He isn't as arrogant anymore but he is still a bit... annoying."

Hannah sighed, knowing her daughter enough to know the subliminal message tucked away in there, "Naruto Uzumaki, your half brother, that is who you want?"

She nodded her head again making yet another sigh escape her mother, "People, including your grandfather, will not like this."

Naruko rolled her eyes then shrugged, "I don't care, I worried so much about appearances with Dad that I am done with that now. I will get him back because that is what I want. I will marry him because that is what I want."

There was a small silence before Hannah mentioned something, "What if that is not what he wants?"

That made it so the blond girl adopted a thinking pose. After a moment she looked up, "Then I will be persistent, just like when we were starting out the first time. I will get him back, just mark my words."

With that Naruko went to her room to lie down. She was tired from training and she wanted to get some sleep. Tomorrow she was supposed to be getting a mission with Shikamaru and Kiba so she needed to get her rest when she could.

Naruko looked at her mother then at the council who were staring at her, "I have told you all no multiple times now. I do not want to marry Sasuke Uchiha!"

They looked at one another before they looked back to her, "How about another heir, Kiba Inuzuka, Choji Akimichi, Shikamaru Nara or Shino Aburame. If you name an heir we will arrange it no matter the cost to us."

She was grinding her teeth slowly, trying desperately to keep her temper in check, "I will choose who I marry, not you! Now LEAVE. ME. ALONE!"

They looked at her then at Hannah for some support, they were not going to find it there from someone who was forced to marry another as well. Hannah looked at her daughter before returning her gaze to them, "Now, I think that my daughter has given her final answer on the subject. Please do not approach us with this again."

With that both of the blond women left and the council looked at one another, "What now? We need to secure her blood in Konohagakure. Naruto Uzumaki is proof that there is a bloodline in her genetics. We need to make sure that the Storm Release stays in Konohagakure."

Homura looked at Koharu after he finished speaking, hoping that she may have some sort of insight into their situation. The woman sighed, nodding her head but nothing coming to mind about how to get the two women on board, "Perhaps we should broach the subject with the Daimyou instead. There is also the fact that we need to attempt to secure Naruto Uzumaki into a marriage. He has not only the Storm Release but Uzumaki blood. That is another vital thing that we need to put up at the top of our list."

The elderly man nodded at her, "We will talk to the Uzumaki clan about it after Naruto takes his test tomorrow. They will possibly be even more difficult than Hannah and Naruko are being after everything they went through with Minato."

The Front Gate…

The gate guards were sitting there bored when they noticed a figure out in the distance. After a few minutes they saw just who it was. The brown haired man handed them his passport and they stamped it for entry. They stared at the Ookami, "Welcome back Kiro, we were wondering if you were coming back since you weren't with the others earlier."

The man stared at them before just moving on towards the Uzumaki compound. As he was walking away they yelled out to him, "Oh yeah! We were approached earlier by Hana Inuzuka..."

The mention of her name made him stop in his tracks and look over his shoulder at them. They gave him friendly smiles, not knowing the history there between the two, "She told us to tell you to find her when you get back to the village." Kiro just stared at them before giving a nod and continuing on his way to the Uzumaki estate.