Warning : Monster Inside
Perhaps he should have taken it down the first time he saw it but Naruto has barred him from even touching the sign. According to him it's a reminder of what he meant to the village and he couldn't fault the boy because this is exactly what he meant to the village despite his hope that they would see the truth but some wishes never come true.
His companion doesn't give a reaction seeing the sign but his experienced eyes can see the discomfort in her body language. At least she also thinks that this is wrong on every level.
Hiruzen has come to Naruto's apartment to talk to Kurenai Yuhi about things far more important than the paperwork waiting for him in the office. When will the day come when he will finally be free of his duties and paperwork but seeing the current atmosphere around the village perhaps only his death will free him of his responsibility towards his village.
If only Minato were alive then the village could have avoided so many unfortunate things that occurred during his reign. Maybe if he was alive then Uchiha would still have been patrolling the village like they used to do , Orochimaru would have been captured or killed by now instead of letting him have the freedom to torment others while he just watched. If Minato was still alive maybe Naruto would have been treated as the hero he is and he would still be loyal to the village. Maybe.
Hiruzen's second reign as Hokage is surrounded by just maybe's. He can accept it truly inside his heart that he has failed as Hokage and the village suffered as a result. Why was he still hokage after so many failures ah because there is no one to take the mantle from him and this village still loves him enough to accept his leadership as bad as it might have been.
His companion coughed a little and he remembered where he was. He gathered his thoughts before opening the gate with his spare key and entered Naruto's apartment. It was neat and tidy as he remembered from his last visit. When was the last time he visited Naruto, maybe six months ago. Usually the boy visited him in his office to collect his monthly allowance and that was the end of their relationship, a necessary monthly visit.
Naruto has slowly built a distance between them and Hiruzen hasn't pushed it. He has truly and utterly failed Naruto and he couldn't even face the child always making excuses that the village needs him more but he knows the truth, it was a relief to meet Naruto once a month. Although Naruto never said anything to him he can see the hurt and accusations behind those blue eyes that reminded him of his successor and it brings back all the memories Hiruzen has suppressed every time he meets the boy. So he was ashamed to not have pushed for a more deep relationship between him and the boy.
The apartment was a single bedroom apartment. It was far more clean than what a 13 year old's apartment was supposed to look but also much more bare that that of a 13 year old. The apartment only has all the necessary things needed to survive and not an extra furniture or accessory, not even a single painting is hanging from the wall except the plants by the window which gives the impression that at least someone is living there.
He motioned for his companion to survey the apartment. The bed was tidy and the bed sheets were clean. The kitchen equipment was working flawlessly and the fridge was filled with fresh ingredients and milk. There was a sofa and a reading table in the living room with a tv set. All of the things that he bought for Naruto were there and not a single thing that he bought for himself.
How can a boy be able to live like that but again when the whole village refused to sell you anything and you have to use the henge to transform yourself into someone else just to buy some fresh vegetables and fruits to eat in your own village sums it up pretty well. And wasn't this just what explains everything. A boy of 9 years old has figured out that his very existence is not accepted by his home so he has to change himself into someone else just to buy something.
How did the situation around Naruto turn so grave and how did he allow such a thing. Sometimes he thinks he might be under the control of some enemy to have made such decisions but no matter how much regret he feels for what has happened in this village nothing will change the present and all he could hope for a better future and that is why he was here. For the future.
"This isn't what I imagined would be his apartment Lord Third" Kurenai spoke, her eyes wandering around the apartment as she inspected everything.
She has been very much surprised when the hokage has called her to discuss her new team. She has always wanted a team and has applied for the role of jonin sensei this year but if she had known that this would be her team maybe she would have considered her decision to become a sensei far more seriously than before.
The Hokage has informed her of his decision for who is going to be her team yesterday when he gave her their files and hasn't budged an inch despite the suggestions of many. Every year some jonin shinobi apply for the position of jonin sensei so that they can share their knowledge to the next generations like their sensei did to them. Some of them were given the opportunity to choose their teams while some were given already chosen individuals for a team by the village council which includes the hokage as its leader , the advisors of the hokage, the jonin commander, the anbu commander , the clan heads and the representative of the civilians.
Kurenai happens to fall in the second category and it was only because of her ( secret ) relationship with asuma that she was able to learn how much argument was gone into the team that she was given. Every single council member was against the match up of this year's teams. Some clan heads were not happy with who their children were put together or who their jonin sensei was going to be but even after all that the biggest topic for discussion was her team. Asuma as the proxy leader of clan sarutobi was a member of the council and had the first row experience to the proceedings of the council.
According to him every council member was against her team but the hokage was final in his decision and reminded everyone that this council was only to advise him not to make orders for him and his decision was final after which they all could do nothing but accept the decision of their leader although with bitter hearts and she wouldn't blame them even she would have refused to teach this team if asked by the hokage but she knew that she is been given an order to teach this team.
After visiting the rooms of two of her other future students she was here in the apartment of the final member of team kurenai, Naruto Uzumaki. It doesn't make any sense for a student like Naruto who at first was the dead last of his class suddenly showed such an growth spurt that now he is the top student of the academy along with Sasuke Uchiha and according to the file that the hokage has given her about Naruto both Sasuke and Naruto are training partners and if you could call them friends than Naruto only has Sasuke as a friend and vice versa.
According to the academy reports, during the initial years Naruto was a loud boy , always playing pranks, disturbing classes and not concentrating in his studies while once he turned 9 years old an 180 degree turn occurred in his academic life. While once a loud and social student turned into a silent and focused student who slowly and slowly improved all parts of his education and became the top student.
Naruto doesn't talk to anyone from the academy and has no friends or social life at all. His daily life is only going to the academy and training and other than that visiting the ramen shop named ichiraku ramen at least once a day without skipping and going to the grave site memorial were the only things he did apart from training. Naruto's file had much more information compared to the other two students she is going to have and maybe that is because of his special condition.
Why else would he demand such discussions over who his sensei is going to be or who his teammates will be. The council has suggested that he be put under Kakashi Hatake and Sasuke Uchiha being his teammate. They didn't care who the third member was and she could see the reasoning behind such a decision.
Kakashi was the only loyal sharingan user that Konoha has and Sasuke has the potential to awaken his own sharingan in the future if he's anything like how his brother was and with two sharingan users on the same team as Naruto would have given the village security that if any mishaps happen in the future this team will be able to handle it. After all, everyone knows that the sharingan can control the beast.
And so why was it that the third decided against it and now she has Naruto as her future student. What would she even teach him given that her specialties lie in genjutsu. He is stated to have more chakra than even the hokage. Shouldn't someone like Kakashi who is an ninjutsu expert much better candidate for the sensei of such a student. But decisions have already been made and she just has to abide by them and do her best as a Shinobi of the hidden leaf village.
"I agree, seeing this you wouldn't guess that a child is living here. This place doesn't have that presence here. It just gives the vibe of coldness and emptiness. I suppose that is to be expected after all who can live like the way Naruto has lived and still be able to be happy and smiling." The hokage replied to her previous thoughts.
He was right. The place is clean and tidy. But it doesn't give off the feeling that someone is living here. It feels so empty. Kurenai doesn't know exactly how Naruto's life has been but she has seen and heard enough to paint a clear picture. The academy file also had some reports which clearly showed the bias that some teachers had against him. And how the village viewed him was no secret to anyone.
Kurenai herself doesn't know how to treat him. On one hand he was just an academy student and on the other he was the jailer of the most hated beast in the hidden leaf. She just couldn't treat him like any other student.
The hokage must have sensed her discomfort because he asked her to take a seat. Naruto was still in the academy for his graduation test and the Hokage personally wanted to visit his apartment with her because he had something important to talk about with her. She took the seat on the dining table present in the kitchen and waited for the hokage to speak.
"I know you have many questions plaguing you regarding your team. It is natural to question things but I assure you completely that this decision was not taken in haste." The hokage started addressing her inner thoughts and she intently listened to his every word. "I have read about your mission reports and have observed you for quite some time now. Even Asuma gave some very helpful insights regarding you when I asked."
Here he gave her a small sly smile and she couldn't help the blush that took over her cheeks. Asuma has not given a slightest indication that he has talked to his father about her and she is going to hound him as soon as she found him after her meeting with Hokage.
With a laugh the hokage continued, "I have been hokage for a long time and during this time I have made decisions both good and bad for the village but when I gave my hat to Minato I never thought I would be back in this office ever again. Those who knew Minato knew that he was going to be the best hokage this village has ever seen but we were not fortunate enough to see his reign for long. Now before I continue I must warn you that whatever I tell you right here right now is an S class secret and must be treated as such."
Kurenai knew that this was really going to be a much more serious and important talk than she imagined. She corrected her posture and nodded her understanding of his words to her. The Hokage too took a seat opposite herself and she was reminded once again of how old their leader was. She looked closely to see the wrinkles surrounding his face. The tiredness under his eyes. How much has he given for this village? When will he finally be able to rest.
"The relationship between the nine tails and konoha is almost a century old," the aged leader continued. "When Madara Uchiha left the village he came back riding the fox and it was with great effort that the first hokage was able to defeat him and everyone in Konoha knows this but happened to the fox after the battle. As Shinobi we know that a Biju is made up completely of chakra and so you cannot kill them.
So seeing the power of the nine tails first hand the first hokage was afraid that such a power in the wrong hands could bring absolute destruction to the village he so loved and then his wife suggested the solution of sealing the beast. The nine tails chakra was so potent that nothing could contain it except someone who has also chakra much more potent than even the first hokage.
His wife sealed the nine tails inside herself and became the first jinchuriki of the fox. But as all things her end came too and as she grew old the burden of the fox must be passed onto someone else. None of her children inherited the potency and strength of her chakra and so it was decided that someone from her clan would be chosen to carry the burden for Konoha. A young girl with chakra even more potent than Lady Mito was called away from her parents and home to carry the burden of the fox for Konoha.
The girl that became the next jinchuriki was Kushina Uzumaki, Lady Mito's niece from Uzushio and she was Naruto's mother." Hiruzen took a long breath remembering the first time he saw Kushina, a little girl away from her home surrounded by strangers. He remembered how she overcame her loneliness and became a wonderful shinobi and a lovely woman.
He still remembers the day Biwako announced that Kushina is going to be a mother. The smile that both Minato and Kushina bore after hearing the news even outshined the sun. How happy they were for their child and how that turned out in the end. He couldn't control the sadness to take over his features. He controlled himself and continued speaking.
"The night Naruto was supposed to be born we calculated the dangers surrounding the pregnancy. When the first hokage's wife Mito who was also from the Uzumaki clan became the jinchuriki she had already given birth to her childrens and so there was no worry but Kushina inherited the burden when she was just a child.
When a jinchuriki gives birth the seal holding the beast becomes loose and there is a chance of the beast escaping the seal. We took all the precautions we could to prevent such an accident. Minato along with my wife and her trusted nurses were there for the birth of the child. They were guarded by the anbu and no one knew of the birthing place aside from our trusted few.
No one knows what happened that night but somehow the nine tails escaped the seal and attacked Konoha. We lost so much on that night including our hokage but before dying both Minato and Kushina using their last strength sealed the nine tails into a newborn. Into their own son Naruto.
The fourth and her wife wanted her son to be seen as a hero who saved their village by becoming the jailer of the nine tails but we all know how that turned out. Instead of living in a loving family like his parents imagined he has lived a life full of hatred and loneliness. All the jinchuriki of the nine tails have been from the Uzumaki clan. His mother was brought to konoha just so she can become the jinchuriki.
That is how much we owed it to the Uzumaki clan and to Naruto. A child whose both parents died protecting this village and he has been protecting it from the moment he opened his eyes and look how we repaid their sacrifice.
I am the one who is to blame for the life Naruto has lived. When I learned that Naruto's secret has been leaked I should have raised him as my own grandson or send him someplace else to be raised in a loving environment but I believed in this village too much. I tried to explain to them what Naruto was and placed him in an orphanage. I have been naive to think that they could change that one day they would see Naruto as their saviour but to this day it turned out to be impossible and Naruto has paid the price for my naivety."
Kurenai didn't know what to think. Every informed Shinobi knows that the nine tails has been in konoha since the time of the first hokage but she didn't know that it was sealed inside the first hokage's wife who was an Uzumaki same as Naruto and the most absurd news of all is that Naruto is the son of the fourth hokage.
How could this be possible? How could Konoha love a hokage so much for his sacrifice but hate the baby used for the same sacrifice and when the baby was his only son and what about Naruto. Does he know the truth about his parents, about his mother and his clan? And if he does know how come he is still able to function properly seeing that they all love his father and hate him.
She questioned her thoughts to hokage who again looked so ashamed it made her regret asking such questions.
"I am afraid this is another one of my mistakes. I created a decree that no one can talk about Naruto being the jinchuriki and those who did will be punished hoping that it will give Naruto a normal childhood but that turned into a failure from the start. Even if they can't talk about it they can surely act on it. Many times Naruto has been attacked physically by the villagers. He has been refused services from the villagers and shunned by them. The parents told their children to stay away from him. Even the clan heads were afraid to associate themselves with Naruto and as result Naruto has suffered gravely. He has no one to call a family or even a friend in this village and he doesn't even know why.
Once again in my naivety to think that he could have a normal childhood I didn't tell him what he was and what burden he carried. I didn't explain to him what it meant to be a jinchuriki or who his parents were. Although I suspect he found out about being a jinchuriki when he turned 9 years old, it is all speculation on my part. To this day no one has told Naruto about being a jinchuriki or about his parents and all because of me."
Hiruzen still didn't know what possessed him to make those decisions but nothing could be done about it. The damage has already been done and now the only thing he can do was damage control and that is precisely why he has choosen to put Naruto under kurenai. If all of this went how he hoped than atleast he would have done something good as an hokage.
Kurenai didn't wanted to say this but the third has truly done a blunder with Naruto. How can he not told the boy about the fox. Kurenai couldn't even imagine being hated by everyone around you and doesn't even know why they hate you. You are an orphan but no one knows your parents. How can Naruto still be sane or why hasn't he already left this village will always be a mystery to her.
The third looked like all life has left him. Kurenai pitied the old leader. No one can guess how much he is carrying on his shoulders everyday. Instead of voiceing her thoughts she decided to give the hokage a break. Even though all of his plans came back to bite him he still made them with good intentions. He doesn't deserve to take all the blame for everything bad that has happened to konoha.
If anyone is a true villain in this scenario they were the people of konoha. How can they be so stupid to not understand the basic truth of being an jinchuriki but wasn't she the same as everyone else just few moments ago. She has also avoided the child as best as she could and if she were to be honest with herself she didn't wanted him on her team only because he was the jinchuriki and now learning that he was the son of the fourth hokage changed her view. Hypocrite, that was what she was a hypocrite.
"Who else knows the truth about Naruto's parentage Lord Hokage." She aksed her leader. There was no way no one else didn't know about it. She has her suspicions but she wanted to confirm this.
"All of the noble clan heads know, my advisors know, Kakashi knows and Minato's personal anbu guards know. Other than that no one knows." He replied and Kurenai frowned listening to him. All of the clan heads knew yet no one came to help Naruto probably to afraid to get associated with the demon child.
How much does a child deserve to suffer before he finally breaks. How much is enough for such a young boy. How has he even managed up untill know. How has he found the will to keep going forward. Kurenai life has been difficult since she lost her parents but atleast she had support of her friends and relatives but Naruto has no one. Kurenai vowed that if he became her student she will help him as best as she can and if anyone tried to sabotage her efforts to help him she will show them why she is knows as the genjutsu mistress of konoha.
Hiruzen gave a laugh before speaking, " that is why I chose you as his sensei kurenai." He spoke like he was reading her mind and probably he was. "Naruto has had no help from anyone or no one ever tried to approach the boy and as a result he has grown distant from this village. Naruto is a well mannered boy, who is focused and understands things normal children wouldn't but his heart is full of misery. He has buried all of his emotions inside of him and I fear if ever a day comes when Naruto finally snaps there would be nothing we will be able to do. I tried to maintain a healthy relationship with him but my duties always got in the way and Naruto has also been distancing himself from everyone and now I only meet him once a month."
Kurenai understood the hokage's fear. Naruto has no one in this village. A child who is suffering on a daily basis has no one to console him, to hold him. He doesn't have anyone to rely on. From Naruto's point of view everyone is an enemy and he needs to protect himself all alone. What a sad thought to have while living inside the very village your father protected.
But where does she fit into all of this she still doesn't understand. How this team will benefit Naruto is a mystery to her but one thing is clear that the third has plans for Naruto's future and they involved her in a crucial manner. There is no going back now. She has applied to be a Jonin sensei and she will try to be the best sensei possible to her students no matter who they are.
"The file that you are holding is the file for hokage's eyes only. I am giving it to you because it contains everything you need to know about Naruto."Hiruzen addressed Kurenai in a voice of authority and she nodded her acceptance before he continued.
"I have explained to you everything you need to know. You must be thinking why I chose you to be his sensei instead of Kakashi and why this team is this way. While I will agree with you that Kakashi would have been an ideal teacher for Naruto, he still would have lacked in the most important area. Naruto is already a dedicated student and he will surely grow under your tutelage but I chose you so you can create a bond that he doesn't have with anyone in this village.
Naruto's loyalty to the village is non-existent and I assume he has only stayed in this village this long because he knows he cannot run with the power he wields now."Hiruzen's words shook her. How can he be so relaxed in saying that the jinchuriki is not loyal to the village. Naruto is just not any other student of the academy but maybe the most important in fact more important than even Sasuke.
Hiruzen chuckled a little, sensing Kurenai's distress, " will you really blame Naruto if he is not loyal to this village." Even before the hokage stopped speaking Kurenai knew her answer. She would not blame him. No sane person can blame Naruto if he left the village.
Kurenai looked at the file in her hand, one for Hokage's eyes only and only now felt the burden of it. He was putting her to the task of ensuring Naruto's loyalty to the village but she doesn't know how she will manage to do that.
"You want this team to be the reason he stays loyal to konoha" She asked the leader but Hiruzen shook his head. Before kurenai could say anything else he spoke once again.
"I am afraid we are a little late for that. As I have already said, the only reason he is still here is because he is weak. We have already lost his loyalty and there is no gaining it back. It will take a miracle for the villagers to accept Naruto as one of them, probably him saving the village from complete destruction can turn them around but Naruto is not interested in that.
He has another goal in mind. He never talks about what his dreams are but you can see it in his eyes that he is dreaming something big. Naruto is not as weak as he represents him to be, I can assure you that he will be the strongest genin in the village after he passes his graduation exams and even stronger than some chunin but that is still not enough for him to be free of this village's forces.
But that won't be the case always and a day will come when he will stand shoulder to shoulder with the most powerful shinobi this village has ever seen and when that day comes no one will be able to stop him and even if we tried it will only result in disaster.
I do not think we can do anything to earn his loyalty and the only other way to gain his loyalty is to brainwash him. Naruto is the most important asset this village has but even after that I still cannot do that to him. The boy has already suffered enough and taking this last bit of freedom that he has is something I cannot stomach. It will be the biggest slap to his parents' sacrifice.
What I want to do with this team is to give Naruto a place to belong here in Konoha. This team will be the family he will have in Konoha. A time will come when he will leave Konoha but atleast with this team he will have a connection to us. Because of this team we won't completely lose him.
Kakashi would have made a fantastic teacher for him but he wouldn't be able to create an environment where Naruto would feel he belonged. With Sasuke on the same team as Naruto, Kakashi would have been forced to divert his attention mainly on Sasuke to ensure that he awakens his Sharingan and remains a loyal asset to us.
And that is why I chose you and this placement for this team. You are already reacting much more positively to Naruto than I thought and with you spending time with him you will learn what a sweet boy he truly is.
I don't want you to do anything extra with him. Just treat him as you will treat any other student of yours. Make him believe that he can at least trust someone from this village and I am saying this with no ulterior motive. If you earn his trust do not break it even if it harms the village because if he learns that even you betrayed him then there is no going back from there. We will lose him completely."
Kurenai took a minute to process everything that the third had said. Basically he was saying that she is to act as natural as possible and if Naruto needs her she needs to be there for him. He was saying to put Naruto's welfare above that of the village.
In a normal situation this conversation would be considered treason but nothing is normal when it is related to Naruto. The hokage understands that Naruto is already lost to them and the least they could do is show him that not everyone in konoha is an enemy so maybe there will be a hope for their future to exist together. Maybe Naruto will have a little Konoha in his heart too.
Kurenai seriously needs a drink right now. All of this is too much for her. What has the third done to her? It might sound easy but it is far more complex than that. She would have to take every step carefully otherwise she would lose his trust even before she gains it. She needs to show him that she is different from others and it didn't matter to her that he was a jinchuriki but just her student.
"Do you put these two with him to ensure the same thing or is there something else I need to know?" All of this still doesn't explain the team formation that the third has done this year and she was sure it was all because he wanted to put these two on a team with Naruto.
Hiruzen got up from his seat and started walking towards the main gate slowly. He stopped by it and looked over her shoulder to see Kurenai still sitting. He turned back to face her and replied, " A human heart is a funny thing. It can love anyone or anything as long as it finds it loveable and once it gets attached to it there is no going back."
He still remembers the first time he saw Biwako. He was still a genin at that point training under Tobirama and there she was an angelic beauty snaring his heart with a single look.He brought his thoughts to the present and continued speaking, " I am just providing an environment where it might even be possible for Naruto to experience such emotions. It is very manipulative of me to do such things with hearts so young but at the end of the day I am the hokage and if this plan turns into success we will definitely secure a healthy relationship with Naruto."
He turned back and left Kurenai to her thoughts but before he could escape completely Kurenai saw the shame that took place in his eyes. At the end of the day no matter how much he loves Naruto he was still the leader of this village. It was no secret that children were used to secure alliance for the villages hell they were used to kill, loot and destroy each other.
What the third was doing is still far better than what the villagers do with the use of childrens. He was not forcing anything but just providing an environment for things to occur in a way favourable to all. But Kurenai understood one thing: everything surrounding this team is to ensure that Naruto can at least be able to be free here. So that this team can become the family he never had in this village and it is upto kurenai to achieve this. Yes she really needed a drink.
Nighttime Konoha :
Naruto hopped from branch to branch following his target who was running on the ground like a mad dog. He was just home after spending some time with Iruka sensei when he saw the perpetrator running away from Konoha. With the ability to sense emotions that he gained from housing Kurama he immediately knew something was wrong and started following the suspicious ninja.
One clone is sent to investigate the commotion near the hokage office and in just a few moments he knows what has happened. Apparently Naruto Uzumaki has stolen the scroll of sealing from the Hokage's library and has escaped the village. But as far as he remembers he was just having ramen at ichiraku with Iruka sensei in the celebration of his graduation.
And if his sensory skills are working as well as they used to he knows exactly who this transformed Naruto is. He is as far from the village as he wants and there is no one to disturb them. Not only can he catch the perpetrator but also use the time to look inside the scroll of sealing. Ever since the third taught him the shadow clone jutsu from the scroll he always wanted to read it.
Naruto increased his speech and ran past the thief. He positioned himself just on a large branch and sat down on it waiting for the perpetrator to catch up to him. His trap was already in place with a flick of his fingers. Soon the scroll will be in his hands and the transformed Naruto in the air begging for his life now all he needed to do was wait for the right moment to spring into action.
Mizuki was not having a great day. First of all the demon brat has graduated with flying colours and no one seems to mind it. Iruka was even happy that he passed and the hokage was already a fool for allowing the demon to even enter the academy. He was fed up with this shithole of a village and decided today was the day he will leave Konoha but before that he was going to do something that will not only bring happiness to his true master but will also bring trouble to the demon.
As soon as darkness took over the village he transformed into the demon and infiltrated the hokage's office and searched for the scroll of sealing. He had his eyes on the scroll for quite some time and with few drinks with his anbu friends knew exactly where it was and how to obtain it. And as soon as he got his hands on the scroll things have only gone downhill from there.
First of all the moment he took the scroll in his hands and before he can even enjoy his victory the third hokage has walked into the library and was surprised to see Naruto holding the scroll. Somehow he escaped the hokage using his momentary distraction and soon the entire village was on alert to catch the perpetrator who stole the scroll of sealing.
But somehow he was able to make it past the village walls and maybe he will be able to reach his destination before leaf shinobi caught upto him. As far as he knows no one is following him and he has made quite the good distance between him and the village. An evil smirk graced his lips thinking that maybe they have gone after the real Naruto and torturing him right now for the scroll.
The thought made his heart giddy. The demon brat deserve that but even before he can end that thought something caught his leg and soon he was dangling from a tree upside down. Mizuki doens't even have the time to think before his hands were ripped apart from each other by an invisible force and he dropped the scroll on the ground.
He looked around to see what has caught him but saw nothing. He knew something was there because he could feel the force on his legs and hands but couldn't see anything holding him. His anger flaired up, just when he was about claim his freedom this happened. He will kill the person behind this even if it is the last thing he did but first he needs to free himself of this trap.
He tried to move his hands but the grip on his hands were to powerful for him to escape. He heard someone chuckling and looked above to see a figure standing on the tree branch.
"Who are you? Show yourself right now coward." He was too angry to even think straight. The person on the tree jumped down and his anger reached new levels. It was the demon brat. How had he managed to reach him even before Konoha shinobi but that doesn't matter to him. It was the perfect opportunity now he will not only get the scroll but also the opportunity to kill the brat in front of him.
Mizuki adopted the expression of loving teacher before speaking to Naruto. "What are you doing here Naruto? Shouldn't you be inside the village preparing for tomorrow since it is such a big day." He tried to hide the venom in his voice as best as he can.
Naruto smiled his seeing his teacher hanging there helplessly. Serve the bastard right. No matter how much Mizuki tries to hide it Naruto can always smell the poison hidden behind his friendly smiles and encouraging words. That is the reason even after much effort by the teacher Naruto has kept distance between them.
"Nothing sensei just taking a stroll around the village but are you doing running so fast away from the village with a such an important looking scroll. For a second it looked like you were leaving the village after stealing an important scroll from the Hokage." Naruto replied with an equal cheerul voice.
Mizuki grew tensed. The bastard knew the truth and that's why he has decided to follow and catch him. He was sure that Naruto is behind the trap that has caught him. He couldn't hold it anymore in his heart. "That's right you demon. I stole the scroll of sealing from the Hokage and now I am going to kill you and present it as though you stole the scroll and I stopped you."
It was very hard to miss the anger swirling inside Mizuki's eyes. Naruto rolled his eyes thinking doesn't Mizuki know that a person who couldn't even move his hands freely shouldn't talk about killing someone especially if they can kill him in an instant.
Mizuki spoke before Naruto can reply to his outburst. "You would have always thought why the villagers hate you? Why know one wants to talk to you or hate you? I can tell it to you of yoy release me Naruto. Don't you wanna know the truth." Mizuki laughed like a maniac.
Naruto sighed, what did he think that Naruto is an idiot. "Are you stupid? I already know why they hate me. I found out about it when I was 9. When everyone around you calls you an demon it is very hard not to find the truth out."
Mizuki tried to say something else but Naruto flexed his fingers and soon Mizuki was caught in an cocoon completely made up of chakra. He couldn't move, talk or see anything. It gave Naruto the peace he needed to study the precious scroll in front of him. Now before the anbu caught upto him he better make good use of this opportunity.
2 hours later.
Yugao watched from afar as Mizuki was hanging from a tree unconsciously and the scroll was safely placed next to the very same tree. It was an odd picture. Next to the tree was one more presence present. It was the only Uzumaki living in Konoha. So an academy student has managed to capture and academy instructor.
Yugao knew that the Uzumaki brat was talented and strong for his age. She has been witness to some his training session with the Uchiha boy and sometimes when the Hokage explains things that Naruto was finding hard.
She dropped down from the brach and walked upto a meditating Naruto. Who would have thought that the brat who used to terrorize everyone with his pranks will become such an calming presence.
Yugao was an sensor and what he sensed from Naruto was completely unique. She has never seen chakra so calming in anyone. Not only did his chakra felt peaceful and warm it was also something else something far more natural than that of an average shinobi and she shouldn't even mention his chakra levels. How can a newly graduate academy student can dwarf everyone in an entire great village in chakra levels his beyond her.
Naruto opened one of his eyes when he sensed her and got up from his sitting position. With the help of shadow clones his has already copied the scroll of sealing to read more peacefully at a later time. The scroll contained some very useful justu like the shadow clone explosion technique which already gave Naruto some sinister ideas for its uses.
The anbu was someone he recognised not from her face which was hidden behind the mask but from her purple hair and chakra. He released Mizuki from his hold and watched as his body fell to the ground with an thud. He had released Mizuki from the cocoon he created after he felt him go unconscious.
"Did you catch him?" The anbu questioned him and he nodded. "You need to come to the hokage office with me not for anything bad but just to explain things to him from your side.
Naruto glanced at the traitor lying on the ground and looked at the anbu once again. "I can carry my sensei while you carry the scroll. I am sure you will appreciate the help."
Yugao nodded and soon both of them were in the Hokage's office along with Iruka Umino, another one of Naruto's academy instructors. Yugao gave her report to her leader and was dismissed to join her position as the hokage's guard.
Hiruzen looked at Naruto. The boy has grown well standing near five and half feet and still has time to grow. Considering both of his parents were physically gifted Shinobi it was no surprise to him that he has grown so well. The tight muscles clinging to his arms were visible through the half t-shirt that he was wearing.His body was the perfect example of sheer physical strength and hardwork. He truly looked like a Shinobi.
"Lord Hokage, I can testify on behalf of Naruto that he was with me during the time when the scroll was stolen and now with the anbu present we can easily assume that it was the work of a henged Mizuki."
Iruka interrupted his thoughts with his words. Hiruzen's eyes still hadn't stopped watching Naruto who was looking as though he should be anywhere else but here. The thought bought him some sadness. This is the legacy of an hokage and to see him so distant from this office is a failure on his part.
Hiruzen looked at Iruka and smiled. The teacher was a good person. He has changed his opinion about Naruto and has tried really hard to help the boy. He always takes Naruto out for ramen whenever he can afford the time from his duties and is only one of the three people with whom Naruto spends his time.
Hiruzen doesn't need Iruka's testimony to know that Naruto was innocent. The moment he entered the library he knew something was wrong because the Naruto in front of him didn't feel like the real Naruto but before he could react Mizuki had already escaped him. Perhaps this showed that he really needed to retire now.
"I know that Naruto is not the perpetrator behind this Iruka so no need to worry" he eased the teachers' worry. He looked at Naruto again and said, "First of all thank you for capturing a traitor for us Naruto and congratulations on passing your final exams."
Naruto smiled and accepted the third word with grace. He has distanced himself from the third not because he hated the man, no but because every time he looked at him it reminded him of all the lies surrounding his life. So Naruto has brought their relationship to as minimal as possible but he still respected the man. He was one of the few who was at least there to help him.
"How did you manage to capture Mizuki when none of my Shinobi weren't even able to find him?" Hiruzen asked Naruto who replied with a smile, "I just had ramen with Iruka sensei and I was returning to my apartment when I saw Mizuki running away from the village. You already know that I am a sensor so I knew immediately who he was. I followed him outside of the village and laid a trap for him. Soon he fell for my trap and I caught him without much hassle and then your anbu found me and you know the rest."
Naruto replied with a shrug and Hiruzen nodded. He did know the rest but there was still something missing. Iruka reached his office at least two hours ago meaning that Naruto has been following Mizuki for two hours and as much as he respected their academy instructors Mizuki was not a threat to Naruto. Hiruzen has seen enough from the boy to know this as a fact. The only thing that would make sense in this scenario would be that Naruto took his time to study the scroll of sealing instead of bringing it straight to him.
There were so many questions he wanted to ask the boy but there was something he needed to do first. He thought of doing this tomorrow but right now seems like the perfect timing. He looked at Iruka and said, "I think it's time you also retire for the day Iruka, tomorrow is a big day for your students and I think you also need to prepare for that. I need to discuss something with Naruto so he will be here for some more time."
Iruka nodded and left but not before giving Naruto a smile. Hiruzen looked at the photos of the previous leader of this village. All of them have contributed for the betterment of this village in their own way and Konoha still remembers them with affection and love. All of the hokage's had their vision for konoha's future. He didn't know if they would be happy to know how Konoha has turned out to be.
A child is hated for something he doesn't have any control over. A child left alone hating his own brother for the death of his entire clan while the brother has paid the price for the peace of this village instead of an adult. If Hashirama was alive today he would have been disappointed. If Minato were alive today none of this would have come to this.
His dream to maintain whatever peace they have has cost them severally. His students running away from their village doing whatever they want, children are suffering for the mistakes of adults under his watch. His only legacy as a hokage is that of a failure.
He saw the child waiting for him and saw another mistake. He has made a decision regarding Naruto and only the future will tell if it's a success or another failure but he hopes it at least ensures some happiness for Naruto.
"Do you mind if we walk?" Hiruzen asked to which Naruto nodded. He got up from his seat in the hokage's office and both him and Naruto walked slowly outside the hokage tower. He led Naruto towards the memorial stone. The village was silent with shops closing down one by one. Some villagers came to greet him and offered him prayers for his well being.
He took his time to return the greetings. For someone like Danzo this is all meaningless. The civilians will only get in the way of his dream to make Konoha the rulers of the elemental nations but Hiruzen understands the importance of each and every person living in Konoha. Maybe that is the reason he is still hokage and people still love and respect him.
He didn't miss the contempt in their eyes for his companion and neither did Naruto. This only confirmed that his decision was right. There is no hope for Naruto's future in this village. They reached the memorial stone and stood in front of it. How many have died to ensure that their home was safe. How many have sacrificed themselves to ensure their comrades are safe.
He remembers Lord Tobirama's sacrifice. This is the will of fire to love your Village like you love your family, to sacrifice yourself for the next generation. His companion hasn't said a word since they left the office just staring silently at the memorial stone.
He remembered when he brought a 7 years old Naruto here and explained to him what this represents and what the will of fire is. The child at that time has proudly stated that he had this will of fire and that he will become the hokage to protect everyone like his family and Hiruzen has believed him completely but does he still have this will of fire. The answer is absolutely but not for Konoha.
You don't need to be a leaf shinobi to have the will of fire. All those who love their village and their comrades have the will of fire. They stared at all the names that are carved into the stone. He saw the names of his fallen comrades, the names of Minato and Kushina. He saw sacrifice and the price this village has paid for this peaceful night.
He moved away from the memorial and walked towards two specific graves. Naruto followed him without questions. He stopped in front of the grave of their fourth hokage and his wife. Recently offered flowers were decorating the graves, maybe it was Kakashi. Naruto has also been visiting the memorial stone with flowers at least once a week. Hiruzen took a heavy breath and started speaking.
"13 years ago something happened that changed this village. A man who was supposed to lead this village to greatness had fallen to an immortal enemy. A woman who was supposed to create a happy family died protecting her village. People who were supposed to enjoy the peace that we try so hard to maintain died protecting their home.
13 years ago the nine tails came and took far too much from us. It would have been an even greater loss for us if the fourth hadn't stopped the beast but it came with a great cost. Minato Namikaze sacrificed himself to protect his village from the nine tails fox but this is what the general public knows.
The real truth is that the fourth was only able to stop the beast because of his wife. I was there when Kushina, his wife, unleashed her special chains to stop the beast in his tracks and it gave Minato the opportunity to defeat the fox.
The fox cannot be killed so the only way to stop its rampage was to seal it. The fourth's wife was the previous jailer of the fox before her; it was the first hokage's wife. Those who carry the biju inside them are called Jinchuriki. Every major village has their own Jinchurikies and so does Konoha. On October 10th 13 years ago the fourth wife gave birth to their only child. We knew the dangers surrounding the pregnancy of a jinchuriki and took measures to ensure their safety but somehow the fox still found its freedom from the seal.
When a Biju is removed from the Jinchuriki the host dies immediately but somehow Kushina survived the extraction and even helped her husband against the fox. Minato knew what he had to do to save the village and so instead of resealing the fox inside his wife again he sealed it inside their only child. A boy was born just hours ago.
I don't know why Minato did what he did that night. There were several methods to seal a Biju but he chose the one which required him to sacrifice himself. He could have resealed the fox into his wife but he chose to seal it inside his child but he must have had his reasons because he never did anything without a good reason.
When the fox saw that he was going to be sealed again it tried to kill the new host but the fourth and his wife used all of their strength to stop his huge claw from touching their child.
With the completion of the sealing Minato left this world and as I reached his wife she was also clinging to her last breaths. She requested me to look after their child, to make sure that he grows up happy and healthy.
I still remember the moment she handed me over her child. As a last act in this world she told me the name of their child and left this world. The child still carries the burden of protecting the village by keeping the fox at bay. To this very day their child is a hero who is protecting this village just like Kushina and Minato.
But this village could not see that. Instead as a Hero they only saw a demon who took their loved ones while looking at the child. Their rage and loss blinded them and the child suffered as a result of this anger. I was entrusted with the duty to protect the child and yet I have played the biggest role in the child's suffering.
And that child is still suffering. Naruto Uzumaki son of Minato Namikaze, the fourth hokage and Kushina Uzumaki of the Uzumaki Clan is still suffering and I am truly sorry for the way things turned out for their child."
It was as hard to do as Hiruzen imagined. Some tears formed in the corner of his eyes as he observed the grave site of his successor. He took some moments to compose himself and turn his head to watch Naruto. There was nothing on the child's face. It was completely blank of any emotion. Hiruzen can guess why that is. He had an inkling but he just wanted to be sure before continuing with his mission.
"How long have you known the truth?" Hiruzen didn't say which truth but he didn't need to because Naruto understood.
"Since I was nine years old." Naruto replied and didn't say a word after it. Even if he was hearing the things he already knew doesn't mean they don't hurt anymore.
Hiruzen recognised the pain in his voice immediately. He grabbed Naruto by his shoulder and soon they were outside a gate instead of the grave site. He motioned for Naruto to follow him. They entered a small compound consisting of one main house, 2 small guest houses, a garden consisting of a small pool and a large wall surrounding the compound and on office. The entrance had a huge Uzumaki symbol on the main gate and small torii gates were lined as they led to the main house.
Hiruzen spoke seeing the surprise on Naruto's face, " The first Hokage's wife was an Uzumaki just like your mother. Both of them have come to Konoha from Uzushio. When Your mother came to this village to carry the burden of the fox Lady Mito gifted her this compound in hopes that one day Kushina will build a family of her own and live here happily.
You have not seen this compound because it has been sealed since they died. Only someone who's chakra was in the lock can unseal the compound. There are two other people who have their chakra stored in the lock but one of them has not returned to the village since your parents died and the other one is still afraid to come here.
I had the privilege to be among the few who have the authority to enter the compound. I have kept this in good condition." Hiruzen took his time to open the main house. It consists of two floors and a basement.
On the ground floor there is an open kitchen attached to the living room. It also has a set of bathrooms and a small reading room. On the first floor there are two small bedrooms and one master bedroom, a library with a small office and one set of bathrooms.
The main house has a back door which opens up in the garden. The reading room on the ground floor also has the only way to reach the basement.
Hiruzen turns around to face Naruto. "It was your parents' dream to live here with you happily. I had never seen them as happy as when they heard they were going to be parents. No matter what you think of them, know that they really loved you. Everything that they owned is stored in the basement and all of their jutsu are safely sealed in the library vault. I know that you have the knowledge of sealing so store your chakra in the main lock since you are their son it will accept you immediately and you will be able to use this compound freely.
Now that you have graduated you are an adult in the eyes of the village. It is your right to live in the house which belonged to your parents. I know you have lots of questions and so do I but I know this is too much to take and tomorrow is a big day for you. It is already too late so now take your time and rest. Tomorrow after your team's selection, every academy student has to come to the academy to have their photos clicked for the shinobi registration. Meet me after that in my office but for now sleep well my boy."
With that Hiruzen left with a heavy heart but this was something that should have been done a long time ago. He just hopes to that what he has in mind would bear the fruit he desires and not backfire but atleast Naruto will be happy.
A\N
This took too long to write.
So Kurenai sensei is ready and Hiruzen is planning.
Who will be Naruto's teammates?
We saw in the Minato one shot manga that there was an Uzumaki Compound in Konoha so I decided to use this information to my benefit.
In the next chapter we will have the team introductions but until then take care.
Please leave your suggestions and reviews.