Author's Note:
So, I accidentally created a plot hole with Jiraiya if anyone caught it. I hope the fix for it makes sense. The timeline might be a bit wonky. But what story doesn't have a messy timeline?
Explaining the entirety of recent events and all his thoughts wasn't as bad as Naruto believed it was going to be. Jiraiya had remained silent and listened intently to every detail.
"So, you're convinced that your student is the real jinchūriki. And that the boy was a fake of some kind?"
"The short version, yes. I felt the Nine-Tails inside Kai when my chains grabbed her. I was able to nullify and absorb the Nine-Tail's chakra like I did before. I couldn't with Sora. Whatever he had...it was completely resistant to my ability."
Jiraiya thoughtfully rubbed his aged chin. "Well, I can't argue with your ability. There's a reason why the Hokage trusted to place the girl on your team."
"Trusted?" Naruto scoffed. "He lied to us both, master! He sent you on a wild goose chase and kept Kai hidden from us. I questioned him about it for years and never said anything about it. Hell, you had to find out about mom and dad through the grape vine and then he sent you out to search for a kid that wasn't missing. He just kept the lie going with more lies. How can you say he trusted me?"
Jiraiya understood Naruto's distrust with this, he was feeling similar. Though, Jiraiya knew his teacher did everything for a reason. "I get it, kid. Out of the two of us, I have the most to be angry with. But the Hokage had his reasons. Remember the stories of how your mother was treated because her status was known to everyone?"
"Mom was restricted, not hated. The old man had mom under constant watch and kept in inside a barrier."
"Exactly. Kushina was miserable because she couldn't do anything. It wasn't until Minato started coming around more often that she was allowed to move more freely."
"Well, he loved her. Of course he would safeguard her like he did." Naruto would have done the same if he and Ino were in the same situation. He was thankful that they were not.
"That's true. I've never seen someone so in love as Minato was. But did you know that the Hokage requested Minato to be Kushina's...keeper, if you will."
Perplexed, Naruto looked at his master. "What do you mean? The Hokage ordered my dad to be with my mom?"
"Oh, heavens no." Jiraiya quickly back tracked. "Minato and Kushina were already together at this point. Senesi wanted Kushina to have some resemblance to a normal life so he asked Minato if he could pull back the roaming ANBU guard on her and he became her full-time guard. It was a mutual thing. Kushina and Minato agreed to it."
Jiraiya reached for his student's shoulder, trying to convey how understanding he was. "Give the old man a chance. Let's give him the opportunity to explain himself. Some of the things he's done may look cruel, even actually be cruel, but he always has the people's best interests in mind."
The idea was bitter, and Naruto did not want to give the Hokage the chance. He wanted to scream at the Hokage for keeping this a secret. The fake search and rescue mission kept Jiraiya away from him for years. Naruto was having a hard time trying to see the good in this.
Not to mention, he's been pushing me hard to accept his offer. I just can't shake the idea that something is going on.
Rubbing his head, Naruto reluctantly agreed with Jiraiya. "Yeah, okay."
"Head still giving you some pain?"
"Oh yeah. It feels like was turned to mush then trampled by a horse over a thousand times." The throbbing was unbearable. "I can't complain though. My students are in worse shape than I am."
"What's their conditions?"
"Sakura says they'll pull through. Katsuro's injury wasn't as bad as we thought. There's no spinal damage. He should be fine in a few days. Konohamaru is just sore with a concussion. Kai...she's still unconscious, but Sakura doesn't think there will be aftereffects from the Kyubi."
"Her body wasn't used to the surge of power that the Kyubi can produce. I'm sure she'll be out for a few days. This happened to Kushina when she was about this age. The older she gets, and more exposure she receives, the better her body will handle it."
Naruto nodded but said nothing. The condition of his student weighed heavily on his throbbing mind.
"Do you think she knew? Did you have any suspicions?"
"No." Naruto answered immediately. "Kai would have told me if she did."
As much as Jiraiya believed Naruto's trust in his students, there was always a linger of doubt. Children were confused and distrustful. They hardly know themselves, let alone trust someone else with a secret like this.
"And if I couldn't sense the beast inside, that seal was something else. Even as I kid, I could feel the Nine-Tails in mom."
"Senesi was never good in fuinjutsu like your dad was. No one really was." Jiraiya taught Minato everything he knew. It did not take long for the Yellow Flash to surpass him in the sealing arts. "He was in a class of his own."
"As he was in a class of his own in everything he did." Naruto had worked hard to be where he was today, but living in his father's shadow was getting old.
"Still bitter after all these years? Kid, your father-"
"I know, I get it. Minato Namikaze was one of the greatest shinobi to ever live. Stronger than stronger, faster than fast, blah blah blah. Trust me, Pervy Sage, we both know I'll never escape his shadow. I'm his freaking legacy." A deep sigh escaped Naruto's bitter rant. "You know I loved my mom and dad. But knowing just strong and talented he was...it just doesn't..."
"Make sense that he died so easily?" Jiraiya's stern look told Naruto he was acting like a child. "I've exhausted every lead, Naruto. The trail is cold. It pains me to say it but there's nothing to find. There never was."
"Then what the hell happened to my parents?!"
The wound that would never heal. It made him feel like a child again. Anger flowed and emotions ran wild, an uncontrolled desire to find out the truth. His parents meant everything to him. A part of Naruto died that day.
Jiraiya did what he could for his godson, helping in ways that could help him cope. Years after spending so much time together, Jiraiya finally realized this was something Naruto could not simply cope with the loss of his parents. He needed closure, answers to the impossible question.
As angry and confused Jiraiya used to be, he had learned to accept what had happened. With his own search for the truth, he found nothing. Jiraiya was a realist. After years of nothing he came to believe that if there was nothing to find then there were no answers to be had. It was a painful truth, and he had accepted that.
The lack of response infuriated Naruto more. "...Whatever. I'm going to check on my students."
The door quietly closed behind Naruto, leaving Jiraiya alone.
-Medical Wing-
Hanabi and Katara sat by Kai's bedside, worry filling their minds for their friend. Katara was much closer to Kai than Hanabi was, but Kai and her had always a mutual level of respect. Hanabi would go as far as saying Kai was her good friend.
"Have you been told anything about what happened to her?"
Katara shook her head. "No. Master Sakura said that she was knocked unconscious, but Konohamaru and Katsuro have already woken up. I feel like we aren't being told something."
"It does seem odd." Hanabi agreed with Katara. There was something suspicious about Kai's condition. "Even Master Naruto looked hesitant to say something about Kai's condition."
"What do you think going on?" Kai was annoyed with her hair, so she tied it into a messy bun. "I'm just worried about her.
Hanabi wasn't the most comforting person. The Hyūga clan wasn't known for their consoling nature. Hanabi's elder sister, Hinata, was more of the comforting type. And according to their father that's why Hinata failed as a shinobi and would fail as the clan leader. Upon Hanabi's birth, it became her destiny to lead the clan.
How to comfort a friend was not a part of that training.
"...Me too."
Even that was hard to admit.
The door to the medical room slowly opened. Sakura was returning for another checkup.
"Any changes, girls?"
The two kunoichi shook their heads dejectedly. The worry evident on their faces.
"I figured as much. I have a feeling she might stay like this for a few days."
"Master...what happened to her?" Katara questioned. She had to know. "Konohamaru and Katsuro are already awake, and they were worse off than she is."
"Well, just because they're awake doesn't mean anything. Their injuries are different, meaning different treatments." The medic adjusted a few things on the bed, making sure her patient did not get a bed sore. "To answer your question, I'm...not sure what happened. Her chakra network coils were extremely exhausted, almost to the point of being permanently damaged. Her network needs time to properly heal."
Sakura pulled her hands over Kai's midsection and began to funnel healing chakra into Kai. She wasn't intending to do any repairs or help along the healing process – Naruto and Jiraiya were adamant about not healing Kai or saying anything to the other genin until Kai was awake – but to simply check on the progress. From what Naruto has told her, the Kyubi's healing element would repair any damage to near perfect condition.
Naruto wasn't kidding. This is...unreal.
With the damage done by the Kyubi's chakra surge, Sakura predicted that Kai would be in a coma for weeks. A normal person more likely would never be able to regulate chakra properly again. Her shinobi career would be over if her coils were left without treatment.
But Kai's chakra network is completely built now, larger than it probably was before.
"Amazing..."
"Sensei?"
Sakura ceased her chakra flow. "Kai is going to be fine. In fact, she's probably going to be waking up soon." The relieving smile from her master was all Katara needed, worry washed away with ease. "Come get me when she does, I'll help finishing up with Katsuro down the hall."
Katara breathed a massive sigh of relief as Sakura closed the door behind her. It was as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders. "I'm so relieved that Kai's gonna be okay. Aren't you, Hanabi?"
"...Yeah." Hanabi had watched her sensei like a hawk the entire time she examined Kai. And she didn't like what she saw. Something wasn't sitting right with the young Hyūga. "Excuse me, Katara. I'll be right back."
Hanabi quickly followed her master, leaving the door wide open. She wanted to catch up to Sakura before she entered the other room. And she did.
"Master Sakura, a word please."
The medic ninja paused before entering the medical room for Katsuro and Konohamaru, she could hear them arguing over something trivial with Riku. "Hanabi, can it wait? I need to finish Katsuro's medical examination."
"What's going on with Kai?"
"I just told you and Katara. Weren't you listening?"
"No. What's really going on? What aren't you telling us, sensei?"
Sakura seemed perplexed. "What makes you think I'm keeping something from you?"
"I'm a Hyūga. My eyes tell me."
Perception was reality. If someone perceived there to be something, then that's what they believed. In Hanabi's case, she had a second perspective that gave her insight. It would be harder to lie to her.
"Look Hanabi...it's not my place to say anything."
Suspicions confirmed. "So, there is something going on."
"That's all I can tell you, Hanabi. If I catch wind of you saying anything, I'll demote you to the Reserve Unit. Understand?"
This was no empty threat either. Hanabi knew this.
The Hyūga nodded. That was the last thing she needed. Her father would disown her faster he did Hinata.
But regardless of punishment, the answer Hanabi was given hardly quelled her curiosity. She considered Kai her friend. Hanabi felt the urge to try and help her, if she needed it.
Sakura entered the Konohamaru and Katsuro's room, immediately shouting at them to stop their boyish antics. They were obviously feeling better.
Hanabi turned back to return to Kai's room, only to be face to face with Naruto. She nearly bumped into him. He left no room to move around him.
"Sorry, master. I didn't see you there."
"Asking questions about Kai?" His voice was monotone and serious.
"Y-Yes, master. I'm just curious..."
"Why so curious?"
Naruto's tone was unnerving. Hanabi felt small, like an ant to a boot. Only her father could make her feel so trivial.
"She's my friend, sir. I'm...worried about her."
The stern and unnerving demeanor dropped and a small proud smile graced Naruto's face. "Good. Keep it up. Kai will need all the support she can get."
Befuddled, Hanabi was at a loss for words. Was the unnerving tone just a ploy to reveal her true feelings?
"It's like what Master Sakura said, it's not our place to say what's going on. Once Kai is ready, I'm sure she'll tell you."
A door from down the hall opened rapidly. "Kai's awake!" Katara shouted in haste.
Hanabi pushed passed the jonin instructor and ran into the room. Kai was sitting up right, seemingly trying to regain some bearing on her current situation. The two girls doted over their friend, doing what they could to make her comfortable.
Naruto watched from the doorway, letting the girls comfort their friend before getting down to business.
"Katara...Hanabi...I need to speak with Kai. Alone." Naruto approached the bed, standing at the foot. "Please go tell Master Sakura to come here when she's down with the others."
With reluctance, Katara and Hanabi exited the room and closed the door behind them. The man waited until he was sure the two were not eavesdropping.
"How are you feeling, Kai?"
The girl was quiet. She had not spoken since waking up.
"What do you remember?"
The girl, again, said nothing.
"...Do you have any questions?"
Kai looked up to her master, confusion filling her eyes.
"Did...did that really happen?" Kai thought she had a bad dream. It sure felt like it.
Naruto nodded once. "Yes." The jōnin moved to sit on the end of the bed. "Can you tell me what you remember?"
The girl struggled with her words. Naruto could tell how terrified she was. And he could sympathize. He wondered how his mom handled learning that she would be the next jinchuriki. Probably a bit more overdramatic than how Kai was.
"I...remember Katsuro getting hurt. That guy...Sora...he was going to attack me. Katsuro jumped in the last second. His eyes were different."
"Sora was..."
"No. Katsuro. His eyes were different. They were red and had a tome pattern."
That was a welcome surprise. "Katsuro awaked his Sharingan?"
"...Yeah. I think so."
The Sharingan was awakened through a powerful emotional connection with regards to someone or something precious to the wielder. The brain releases a special chakra that affects the optic nerves, thus creating the extremely powerful dojutsu.
Seeing Kai in danger like that must've been the catalyst. That's some insane reaction time if what she says is true.
"After that...the only thing I remember is this surge of energy. It made me feel numb. But I knew my body was moving, it felt like I was a passenger in my own body. I had no idea what was going on. Then, it was over."
Kai looked away in shame, embarrassment soaking her mind. "I felt so out of control. It was...horrible."
Naruto nodded. He sympathized with her. He could only imagine what being controlled by another entity felt like.
"Sensei...what happened to me?"
"Well...to get everything straight, I suppose I must start at the very beginning. Twelve years ago, as you know, the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit attacked the village and was sealed in a child. I told you guys that Sora was that child. There are so many layers to this lie that it's hard to understand. Basically, what I thought I knew was wrong. Sora isn't the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails. You are."
"...The Nine-Tails was sealed in me?"
The jōnin nodded.
"...I'm so fucking confused."
"Like I said, there's a lot of layers to this." The jōnin sighed heavily. "Kai, I'm sorry to burden you with this so quickly. I'm just as lost in this whole ordeal. When you're ready, feel free to come and talk to me. I'll answer all questions you have to the best of my ability."
Absentmindedly, Kai nodded. She was unable to process this information. Her whole life was just thrown into chaos. Questions without answers. Confusion with no ability to solve.
"Would you like me to stay?"
"...No..."
As her sensei placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, he stood to leave. It pained him to leave her in such an unbalanced state. Naruto wanted to help her understand, even though he didn't. He believed he was the only person that could help her. He was the son of the previous jinchūriki, after all.
But the girl needed time. And Naruto was willing to give it.
The door closed. Kai was left alone with her thoughts.
Out of all the confusion and misguided thoughts, one question stood above all else.
Why wasn't I ever told?
-Days later-
The teams settled themselves on the ship, waiting for their jōnin instructors to join them. Unlike the journey before, where they had quarters to sleep in, the genin were going to have remain on the main deck of the ship to sleep.
"Does it get cold at night at sea?" Riku asked.
"What do you think?" Konohamaru rhetorically questioned back. The boy was legitimately confused. "Yes, numb nuts." The Sarutobi boy sighed. "You already sailed here. How do you not know?"
"We slept in cabins on our trip here. And they were heated."
"As we get closer to the shore of the Land of Fire, it'll get warmer." Katara reassured. "It should only be cold tonight."
Katsuro simply unrolled his sleep sack, mentally preparing himself for a cold nights sleep. He noticed Kai was setting herself away from the rest of them, continuing her distance.
Kai had been uncharacteristically distant from everyone since she regained consciousness. She would hardly speak to anyone, not even their sensei could get her to say more than a few words. Naruto said that Kai was dealing with some things mentally and needed some time to sort through it all.
Katsuro respected her privacy and gave her that space. Katara tried to comfort and reassure Kai, but even she was met with the cold shoulder. It was odd. Kai and Katara were as close as sisters.
Enough is enough. I have to know what's going on.
It pained Katsuro to see Kai so downtrodden and distant. He had to help.
"Kai?"
The girl barely turned her head. "Yeah, Katsuro?"
No need to beat around the bush. "Are you okay? Do you need to talk?"
"No." Short answer. The typical response.
"You've just been so distant with everyone..."
"Because I don't want to talk." Kai was being uncharacteristically blunt and rude.
Katsuro let his worry fault and frustration crept in. "Kai...we've been worried about you. I've been worried about you!" The young Uchiha wasn't used to flaunting his emotions so gallantly. It turned his cheeks red. "We just want to help."
Kai turned and glared at her teammate. "You think you can help me? You have no idea what I'm dealing with right now!"
Katsuro froze. He had never heard Kai talk like that. To him or to anyone else. She was always kind and had a calmness to her voice. Hearing that kind of venom and anger sounded so wrong.
Konohamaru quickly interjected. He pulled Katsuro's shoulder, trying to get him away. "C'mon Katsuro. Let her be. It's like what Naruto sensei said. We just gotta let her be for now."
"But..."
"Dude, it's not worth it right now."
Kai ignored her teammates as they walked away. Regret instantly set in; she shouldn't have yelled like that. Her emotions were all over the place and she had no idea what to think.
How was she the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails? She lived a normal life, had great friends, and was an all-around good person. Why was she given such a burden?
Does dad know? Is that why he's so protective?
Many questions circled the young girl's mind as the ship left the dock. The genin avoided her like she was an outcast. In fairness, Kai made herself an outcast. She didn't want to deal with everyone's questions about what happened or why everything is different now. How could she answer their questions if she couldn't answer her own?
As night fell over the sailing ship, Naruto and Sakura watched over their shivering sleeping students. It seemed the newly reinvented sleep system was not as reinforced as advertised.
"I don't think she's handling it well."
"What give it away?"
Naruto rolled his eyes. "She's distancing herself from everyone. Mom didn't do that."
Sakura tossed the apple core overboard. "I'm no expert on jinchūriki's or Tailed Beasts. But you can't compare Kai's situation to your mom's. They're two completely different people who handle things in different ways. Your mom knew she was the jinchūriki from the beginning. She wasn't kept in the dark. Kai might be questioning her entire life."
"But my mom..."
"Naruto, I get it." Sakura interjected. He had been saying the same thing for three days. "But she's not your mom. Comparing the two will destroy everything for you both."
It was a hard reality for Naruto to face. He had spent years searching for the child from that fateful night. He had spent years hunting for answers about what happened to his parents. He forced himself to keep the two goals separate.
But, in the harsh reality of it all, Naruto believed, in the deepest parts of his mind, that whenever he found the jinchūriki that he'd somehow get a piece of his mom back. Or maybe, somehow, there would be an answer to their deaths. It was just another fever dream for the young boy who lost his parents.
Naruto couldn't say anything to defend himself. There wasn't a justification. At the root of it all, like most things, was the death of his parents.
"...I know."
Sakura's gut wrenched and her heart ached. She had been Naruto's friend for years, even before the loss of his parents. Ever since that day, Naruto has been different. He doesn't laugh as much, smile as much. He's a shell of his childhood self.
"I haven't been a kid since I was eight years old."
That moment would forever be burned into her heart and soul. Sakura would never forget those words. It was because of these words, that exact moment, Sakura decided to support Naruto no matter what. Seeing him hurt so much only made her hurt. She just wanted to stand beside him and support him.
To this day, Sakura told herself it was because Naruto was her friend and that she would do the same for anyone else she considered a friend. It what's she had to tell herself.
Maybe Sasuke was on to something with what he said.
"...It's just hard. I miss them."
A comforting hug. "I know."
As the moonlight danced across the water, the two jōnin instructors hoped for a better tomorrow for themselves and their students. A mission completed.
Little did they know what was coming for them down the line.
-Konoha-
"Ah!" Konohamaru was gifted with the sight of the Hokage Stone Faces behind those massive green doors. "It's so good to be home!"
The rest of the genin felt similar. Being away from home was a feeling they all were excited to have, yet far more excited to return. The mission had been accomplished in smooth, unproblematic fashion.
This was a great first notch under the genin's belts.
"Alright teams..." Naruto called the attention of the genin. "...Master Sakura and I will handle the debriefing to the Hokage. Don't forget you all have your own statements to write for the mission that needs to be included in the report. For Team 13, you until the end of day tomorrow. If you need help, ask a teammate. Dismissed."
"Same for Team One. End the of the day tomorrow."
As the two teams dispersed, Kai remained behind. Katsuro and Katara stopped for a moment, wondering, before continuing on. It wasn't their business, as Kai so sternly said.
"Are you sure you want to do this, Kai? If you need more time..."
"I've had enough time thinking about this. I need to talk to the Hokage about...this." The genin motioned at her stomach. "I just want some answers."
Understanding the girl's frustration, Naruto nodded. They both have questions that need to be answered. Naruto led through the village with Sakura and Kai in tow.
The usual hustle of the Hokage's Tower was something Naruto had gotten used to years ago. He remembered when he was a fresh genin it was intimidating to go see the Hokage because of all the people there. According to Jiraiya, that's why he would always enter through the window when he visited the Hokage.
Both Sakura and Naruto were surprised to see that the waiting room for the Hokage was empty. And that meant only one thing.
Ah shit. He's pissed.
"There's nobody here?" Kai pointed out. "Is something wrong?"
"Man, I really hope not."
Naruto barely got the first knock off.
"One moment."
A gruff and harsh tone. This was not going to end well. Naruto was suddenly dreading this. Kai did not need this kind of harsh tone from the Hokage for the answers she wanted.
"Enter." The tone had changed. Slightly.
Entering first, Naruto opened the door. Sakura and Kai followed suit.
"Fugaku?"
The Uchiha clan leader turned and smiled. It had been a very long time since he's seen the boy he took in. "Ah! The prodigal son!" A fiercely excited handshake. "How have you been, son?"
"Not too bad, all things considered." Naruto returned the intensity of grip. He couldn't' remember the last time he had seen the man smile. He wasn't sure he ever had. "It's good to see you."
"Yes. You as well." The Uchiha leader turned back to their village leader. "We'll continue this conversation at a later time, Lord Third. It seems you have more pressing matters."
Odd.
"Naruto...would like to join us for dinner tonight? It's been so long since you've been home. Mikoto certainly has missed seeing you around. Even bring Ino along. Mikoto always did like her."
A shot at Sakura if I've ever seen one.
"Yeah, of course. Say six o'clock?"
"I'll let her know. She'll make ramen." The Uchiha chuckled. "See you then."
Without sparing a glance at either kunoichi, Fugaku Uchiha closed the door behind him. Completely unaware of the fleeting tension, Kai marched right up to the Hokage's desk. She was hardly intimidated by the man's presence, at least not today.
"Lord Hokage, with all due respect, I need you to tell me why..."
The elderly man raised his hand, telling the girl to stop talking. "Kai...I know what you're going to ask me. And you have the right to ask me all the questions you want. Allow me to talk to your instructors here before you and I speak. Come by tomorrow morning, first thing."
The girl cocked her head, perplexed. "How'd you know?"
The Hokage silently chuckled. "I've been watching you for a very long time, Kai. This was bound to happen. Please, allow me to speak to them first. Our chat is going to take a while."
The genin turned back over to her jōnin instructor, seeing if he approved. The Namikaze man nodded, opening the door for her. He understood the Hokage's orders in this situation. He wanted to learn the aspects of the mission first thus giving him insight on how to handle their conversation. It was a smart call.
He was given the name The Professor for a reason.
"Mind telling me how she found out." The Hokage lit up his pipe, eyeing two of his top jōnin. "That seal was airtight, recalibrated every few years to prevent this very thing from happening."
"Sir, it doesn't matter..."
"Just tell me, Naruto." The man inhaled a deep puff his pipe. "I am in no mood for this today."
His glare was harsh, but he would follow the order. "During the mission, we came across a boy named Sora. He was...a strong kid. Katsuro was struck down in front of Kai. He was the catalyst."
Sakura's eyes jolted. She was surprised that he said nothing about Sora's power. She wondered why he didn't. She trusted him enough to blindly follow, even in the face of the Hokage.
Taking in another inhale of smoke, the Hokage seemed to contemplate things. "Emotions are tricky with jinchūriki. Your mother would often have manic episodes that would lead to energy surges from the Nine-Tails. At first, we thought she was having mental issues. As it turned out, the Kyūbi was manipulating her emotions and making her act out. I can imagine seeing a teammate taken down like that certainly be an opportunity for that beast to come out."
"...It certainly did. If I wasn't her sensei, I'm sure there would have been more destruction."
"You would be correct in your assumption."
"Then why did you lie to me? Lie to Jiraiya?!" The jōnin did not hold back the anger in his voice, inching closer to his superior's desk. "He was gone for years searching for a kid that wasn't even missing! Tell me the truth!"
Calmly, Hiruzen fiddled with the pipe in his mouth. There was no telling what he was thinking. The man was as stone cold as his massive bust above them.
"...Sakura...leave us for a moment."
Perplexed, the jōnin kunoichi wanted to protest. She was a part of this now, it would be hard for her to simply walk away. Though, against her personal feelings, Sakura followed her orders. Besides, she knew Naruto would give her details if she asked him.
The door softly closed, leaving the two men alone.
"The truth, you say?" The Hokage began. "What makes you think you earned that?"
"I'm the one who gave you the chance to stop the Nine-Tails that day." Naruto stated, mildly appalled the man was question him like that. "If it wasn't for me then we might not have survived."
"That, I'll agree to. But just because of your abilities to suppress that beast does not give you the right to question my orders. I am your Hokage."
"You're dodging the question." Naruto was getting more agitated. "My mom was the previous host. I have the right to know."
"No. You believe you have the right." Sarutobi rose to meet his subordinate's eye level. His own frustration finally showed light. "Though, you have no right! Until you accept my offer and take the hat from me, you'll never have the right to know the things I do, boy!"
And there it was. The root of all it. Hiruzen Sarutobi has been trying for years for Naruto to take the title of Hokage from him. He offered it to him nearly every chance he could. But with great defiance, Naruto gallantly refused every time.
"You want the knowledge! You want the right! But you won't take the responsibility!" These feelings had been building up in the Hokage for a while now. "You've been acting like a child! This is an opportunity that most shinobi dream of! And I have been serving to you on a silver platter! If you want what you seek, be the Hokage!"
"Why me?!" A question that he finally asked. He never wanted to know, yet the words fired out of his mouth. "Why do you want me?! Do you think it'll somehow bring my father back?! Somehow be what he was supposed to be?! News flash: I'm not my father!"
"No! I believe you'll be a greater Hokage than what your father could have ever been!"
Sarutobi wished things could have been different. He believed so adamantly that Minato was that Child of Prophecy that Jiraiya told him about. He believed that Minato would usher in a new era for the shinobi world. And he believed that Minato would be the one shinobi to surpass the legendary strength of the First Hokage.
But his hopes and dreams crashed down. That fateful day was remembered in infamy. The rain did not let up for days. Even the heaves and skies above were heartbroken to receive these two precious souls.
A day that lived in even more infamy for Konoha. The Nine-Tails resurgence. In switch of fate, that day restored Sarutobi's faith that someone like Minato still existed. And, by a stroke of luck mixed with irony, it was Minato's own child. Naruto held back the Nine-Tails with the same technique his mother was known for and bought Sarutobi enough time to seal the Nine-Tails into Kai.
From then on, Sarutobi heavily favored Naruto as his successor. The boy was an absolute natural, even more so than his father. Paired with Kushina's Uzumaki genes, Naruto Namikaze was a force of nature at a much younger age. Then adding in the Biju nullification abilities that absorbed the Biju's chakra into his own system, thus increasing his own chakra levels.
Theoretically, Naruto's chakra levels were potentially infinite.
Naruto was Sarutobi's out: his retiring element. The man was old, tired, and wanted to enjoy what little life he had left. He loathed the meetings, he dreaded the decisions, and he hated the weight of the responsibilities.
And so, he pushed Naruto again and again to take the weight off his shoulders. To finally take control of the destiny that was left for him. The ultimate birthright. To be that prophetical savior that ushered the new era in this shinobi world riddled with death and hate.
"...I can't take it."
"That's not answer you can give."
"That's the answer I'm giving."
"Boy, you are testing my patience."
"Get used to it."
"Then tell me why you can't take what's rightfully yours!"
"Because how can I find out what happened to my parents if I'm stuck behind a desk!"
It was as if a cloudy haze disappeared from around the Hokage's eyes. Everything aligned. It was so obvious.
Even now, Minato still had his hands in things.
"I need to find out what happened! I need to find the one who did it! I don't care what I have to do or who I have to go through! And I can't do anything sitting in that chair!"
Shadows appeared in the windows. His ANBU Black Ops Guard Squad inched closer in preparation for a battle in case things escalated too far.
"Really? The guards?"
"They're just doing their job." Sarutobi waved off the ANBU. The shadows vanished instantly. It did not matter who the threat was, the ANBU would attack without hesitation to protect their leader.
The elderly man sighed heavily. "If the truth is what you seek for you to accept being the Hokage, then I suppose I need to help in that."
"What the hell are you talking about?"
Inside a secret compartment that was only unlocked by clicking into place a single paper clip, Sarutobi pulled out a file. It was heavy and thick, filled to the brim with details. "Here."
Snatching the folder, Naruto read the title aloud. "Operation Seeker?"
"This has been a top-secret search for the last twenty years. That...is everything I know about the death of your parents."
It took everything in Naruto not to attack the Hokage right then and there. "You've been doing this for twenty years and now you tell me?! Because you want me to become Hokage?! What the fuck is wrong with you?!"
"I am your Hokage!" Sarutobi shouted back. "You will respect me in that regard! You were merely a child when they died! How could I tell a child about these findings when they are mostly inconclusive!"
The Namikaze's eyes narrowed. "Almost?"
"There was one lead that I assigned Orochimaru to follow. After he conducted the autopsy..."
"The what?!" Naruto fiercely grabbed the Hokage and hoisted him up. "You let that sick and twisted bastard cut open my parents!"
The ANBU came crashing through the windows, swords drawn to attack. Despite their orders to attack all threats to the Hokage, the team of guards hesitated against the man they stood against.
"Orochimaru has..."
"Don't you dare say he's changed!" Naruto shouted in extreme anger. "What he did to Sasuke is unforgivable!"
"Stand down, Namikaze!" The ANBU Commander ordered. "You are a direct threat to the Hokage! I will not hesitate to end this!"
Even with all his strength and confidence, Naruto knew it was not wise to stand against the Hokage Guard Squad. These shinobi were the best of the best from the ANBU Black Ops with specialty talents countered many unique abilities, each operative being trained by the Hokage day in and day out.
The jōnin lowered his leader back into his seat, keeping his attention drawn to the guard team. As Naruto backed away from Sarutobi, the Guard Squad backed away from him.
"If you pull a stunt like that again, Namikaze...it will be end of your lineage."
"Same for you...Shisui."
The Uchiha prodigy sheathed his sword and motioned for his team to exit the office. The two highly skilled shinobi glared at one another with a long-forged respect between them. And with the great speed of the Shunshin, Shisui disappeared without a trace.
Naruto grabbed the folder and turned towards the exit.
"You'll be reprimanded for your actions, Naruto. No matter how much you think you're justified, I am your Hokage and you must follow my orders."
The man froze, he hated when rank was pulled. Rank and village hierarchy meant nothing compared to right and wrong.
"I made decisions with the hearts and minds of every villager and shinobi in mind. Being Hokage is putting the needs of the many over yourself. Though, you'll learn that eventually."
He slammed the door, his frustration and anger mounting to a near all-time high. Naruto just couldn't believe this was true. How could it be true? The Hokage let Orochimaru conduct the autopsy on his parents. What the hell was he thinking?
Despite Orochimaru's outstanding reputation in the eyes of the villagers and most shinobi, Naruto was one of the few that knew of the dark secrets the Sannin held. But with all the dark deeds done and brought to light, the Hokage didn't imprison him or excommunicate the Snake Sannin for his atrocities.
Instead, Sarutobi exonerated his former student on the condition that Orochimaru never conduct experiments again. But knowing Orochimaru, he was back to his ways before the ink could dry.
"What the hell happened in there?!" Sakura wasn't the only one that heard the commotion. Employees of the Hokage, civilian and shinobi alike, gathered at the door of the office. "Is everything alright?!"
"Nothin'." Naruto tucked the folder away. As frustrated as he was, he respected confidentiality. "Everything's fine. Get back to work."
As the crowd dispersed with mumbles, Sakura remained behind. She knew that there had to be something.
"You know this is gonna be a huge mess, right?" Sakura could still hear the mumurs. "There are going to be so many rumors."
"When have I ever cared about rumors."
-Uchiha Compound-
"How long has it been since you've been to the compound?"
Ino wasn't as excited as she probably should be. She was gauging herself off Naruto's demeanor and he wasn't very jovial. Usually when he returned from a mission, Naruto was more upbeat and excited for a few days' rest. But after learning about all the details through her quick mind probe, which he approved because it was much easier than explaining everything, she understood why he was so distraught.
"...Been a few years. Definitely before we moved in together."
She looked up at him. "Are you sure you're up to this? I don't think they'll be upset if you cancelled."
"Very much can't give 'em the reason why. You're not even supposed to know about this." The file weighed heavily on his mind. This is what he was waiting for, a step forward towards. If that path went through Orochimaru, so be it. "Besides, I think I should be more grateful. They did take me in after my parents died. All the Uchiha clan did."
"Then let's make the most of this." Locking hands, the couple entered the ever-growing Uchiha compound.
It was like a hero's return. Naruto was welcomed by nearly all the clan members. Members waved and shouted their greetings as they strolled, clearly remembering the young boy that used to dredge through the streets after a hard day's training with Itachi and Sasuke. It seemed it wasn't only Fugaku and Mikoto that missed him but the whole clan as well.
It was odd.
"Naruto! Ino! Welcome home!"
Fugaku stood at the door with Mikoto, waiting to greet their guests. He fiercely shook Naruto's hand while more gently shook Ino's.
"I'm so happy that you two could make it." Mikoto was always a soft-spoken woman. And it made for an interesting friendship with Kushina, who was not soft-spoken in the slightest. "Look how much you've grown, Naruto."
"Okaasan." Naruto said with a smile, making the woman smile. He started calling Mikoto as a motherly figure after Kiba's death. She was there for him in nearly every way. He truly did see her as a second mom. "I'm sorry it's been so long since I've been around. Life is...busy."
"No need to explain, son. We understand." The Uchiha leader patted the man on his shoulder. "Trust me, we're just happy to see you again."
"Come inside. The noodles should just be about done."
"Let me help with that, Mikoto."
Ino followed the woman into the kitchen while Naruto and Fugaku sat at the table, conversing in small talk until the food was ready.
"Katsuro faring well so far?"
"He's an Uchiha through and through." The instructor chuckled. "He's got some good talent, needs some tweaking. He actually awakened his Sharingan during our last mission."
"Outstanding." Fugaku didn't need to know the details. Awaking the Sharingan was a rite of passage for Uchiha clansmen. It was earned. "I'll be sure to let his father know to begin the Sharingan training."
Naruto nodded. Sharingan training was strictly handled by the Uchiha, no exceptions. It was the same for the Hyūga clan.
"What of your other student? The Honorable Grandson?"
"Konohamaru is...Konohamaru." There was no other way to describe the young genin. "He's got some skill; I see why his test scores for taijutsu and ninjutsu at the Academy were so high. I just wish he wasn't so..."
"Arrogant?" Fugaku chuckled. "I suppose it comes with the territory being the lone grandson and heir to the prestigious Sarutobi clan. I'm sure that boy has been groomed to take over since he could talk."
"...The Third isn't going to be around forever I suppose."
"No, he will not. I will say I am surprised he hasn't begun the process of choosing his replacement."
Fugaku was the runner-up to Minato back in the day. While it was a landslide on Minato's part in the Jōnin Vote and near unanimous civilian council decision, Fugaku would be a fine choice to be the next Hokage. Many thought after Minato's untimely death, Sarutobi would crown Fugaku as his successor. And no one would have opposed.
But, in a strange turn, Sarutobi rescinded his retirement and continued with his duties as Hokage.
Rumors and speculation ran wild through the village about Fugaku was never meant to be Hokage, or even considered. And that the Uchiha clan weren't fully trusted by the higher officials and that's why the Konoha Police Force was made up of only Uchiha members. It was all lies and slander that hurt Fugaku's reputation for some time. Truthfully, his, and the Uchiha's, status still haven't fully recovered.
"How you ever considered trying to become Hokage again, Fugaku?" Naruto questioned. In light of his current offer, he hoped there was someone else to take over.
"It has crossed my mind a few times over the years...but I don't think that's the place for me."
Damn it.
"My place is here. The Uchiha need me. And governing the police force has been a bit of a blessing in disguise. Both Sasuke and Itachi have taken strong leadership roles in the force, alongside their extremely active roles in the grand army."
Throwing his disappointment away, Naruto understood the man's point. "Speaking of those two, have they returned from their mission?" Mikoto and Ino entered with the steaming bowls of ramen and gave their respective spouses their food. "It seemed like an emergency for how quickly they were dispatched."
"No. They haven't." Mikoto chimed in.
"And you are correct. It was an emergency."
"Fugaku. I thought the nature of the mission was top secret." Mikoto wasn't one to reprimand her husband in front of others, or at all, unless it came to her sons.
"This is Naruto. He is one of our sons. I'm sure he won't say anything."
"My lips are sealed."
The night was calming and refreshing. Great conversation with great people who Naruto admired fully and cherished completely. He was forever grateful for the Uchiha family and what they did for him in his time of need. No matter what, this would be his home. And they were his family.
-With Jiraiya-
Hopefully Naruto was on to something by asking me to come out this far. If this turns out to be a wild goose chase, I'll ring his damn neck.
Deep in the mountainous area of the Land of Fire, where most would never travel, there was a large monastery that housed the shinobi monks. Jiraiya had only been out this far once, back during the Twelve Guardian Shinobi incident. He remembered that temple was surrounded by an impenetrable Fūin Teppeki. (Iron Wall Seal)
As the Sannin approached the massive protective wall, he noted that there was a lack of monks guarding it. During the insurgency, there was an abundance of monks that guarded the entrance. Coming in now, he felt there should be a standing guard at the entrance.
"Anybody in there?!"
A fruitless attempt. He would have to find another way in. Leaping high into the trees, Jiraiya could see into the main area.
"Oh no..."
Lifeless bodies were slaughtered throughout. A massacre.
Jiraiya wrapped a cloth around his face to help with the smell. He leapt over the wall and landed inside. He examined a few of the bodies, trying to learn. At top of the main staircase that led into the large temple there was a lone body. It was the monastery's leader, Chiriku.
Jiraiya identified the man by the Twelve Gurdian Ninja sash on his body.
"How long have you been left here?"
Sorrow left as adrenaline took over. His battle sense kicked in. Jiraiya rolled out of the way of an incoming fireball.
"You must be the magistrates of this massacre." Jiraiya quickly regained his footing. "Well, isn't this an interesting development."
There were six masked killers, all adorned in dark armor that resembled Konoha's own ANBU Black Ops. The main identifying feature between them all was their nearly identical jet-black hair.
"Leave now, Sannin."
A distorted voice technique to keep the identify a true mystery, giving Jiraiya the idea that he would know the voice. This was the start of an uneasy feeling.
"No. I don't think I can."
Jiraiya scanned over the area, quickly learning the terrain. The first objective would be to learn their abilities. Heavy on defense and evasion. Then figuring out the weaknesses to those abilities. Defense mixed with offensive counterattacks.
Then, suddenly, everything changed. An unfathomable amount of energy began to surge from the masked killers. Four of them were cloaked in a red aura that loosely resembled a feral beast.
Jiraiya recognized the energy immediately.
And knew exactly how fucked he was.
"...This is...?!"