Hiruzen was stunned to find Naruto all but clinging onto Kanade. The girl, while not mean, had never made a point of developing friendships. She was solidily focused on her training, to the point of exclusion. It was honestly good to see that some of her father existed in the girl, beyond her powerful chakra and knack for the ninja arts.
"Kanade, what you have discovered on Naruto cannot be revealed to others. You must, always, keep it secret. Can you do that, gaurd this knowledge with your life?"
She nodded, grasping Naruto's hand. "I can do my duty, to the village and my friend. He deserves so much more respect than he has ever had. I always thought that, but now I can do something about it. I will protect his secret, and him."
The man smiled. "Then you need a good, a great mentor... and you shall get just that." He leaned forward, smiling at her. "I owe your father a great deal, the entire village does."
She froze, leaning in. "Who is he, my Father?"
"Jiriaya of the Sanin."
"What?"
"Yes, you are the Daughter of my student."
Naruto frowned. "Who's Jiraiya?"
"A Sanin." Kanade muttered, getting his attention. "One of the three Sanin, a powerful ninja trained by the Hokage. Tsunade was the granddaughter of the First Hokage and is the greatest medic. Orochimaru was a traitor and massive scientists... and my father is the head of our spynetwork, and the Sensei of the Fourth Hokage."
Wide eyed, Naruto barked out. "Your Dad trained the Fourth Hokage?"
Hiruzen smiled. "Yes, Jiriaya did."
"Where is he?" Kanade asked, wringing her hands. "Did he... know of me?"
"No." Hiruzen started. "Your father was never aware of you, I wasn't even aware of your heritage until about a month ago." He laughed at her expression. "I can sense chakra, and yours feels so much like Jiraiya's, it's not even funny. Mix in your frame and white hair, and well... it's a flawless fit. Chakra doesn't lie. Yours, as you have aged and matured, has become so much like your father's. Both in potency and volume, he has incredible reserves as you have inherited."
She nodded slowly. "Can you arrange a meeting?"
"I will try, but he is evasive your father... and it is a good fit that you two are now friends." He sighed, readying himself for this bombshell he was about to reveal. "Naruto, Jiriaya was, is, your godfather."
Killer intent exploded not from Naruto but Kanade. "Naruto was abandoned by my father?"
"No, and yes... there is much more at play, things I cannot reveal yet happened." He sighed again, feeling his age. "It warms my heart to see Jiraiya's line being friends with Naruto. To keep this up, I will be placing you on the same team. Kanade, Naruto needs a powerful friends, something of a body guard."
Naruto huffed. "I can protect myself... but it would be nice if Kanade was on my team..." He whispered.
The girl smiled at him, warm and soft, reminding him so much of her father. "Naruto, you need a friend, that is what I will be... and I will kick anyone's ass that touches you. I protect my own."
Hiruzen pulled from his drawer a scroll. "This has a set of things your father trained in. Consider it a white flag. It is his Taijutsu style."
She smiled at him this time, warming him to his toes. "That would be... amazing."
"Master it, and find your peace. One day, very soon, he will be here, and it would be something to connect with... both of you. Now, It is late. Why don't we all go to bed. Monday is when you are appointed a team." HE froze. "Oh and Naruto, since you mastered the Shadow clones, I was watching from my orb, you too are a graduate." He threw him a headband, and the boy beamed.
:::
Kanade grabbed Naruto's hand as they left the Hokage's office. "Naruto... how do you feel about training and studying with me?"
Her new friend beamed. "I'd love to! I can show you the Shadow Clones too, their physical clones."
"That sounds perfect! Um, Naruto, listen... I really am sorry we weren't freinds before, you really deserved better. And I am really sorry my dad never helped you, but I won't be him. I will help you, kay?"
They hugged and Naruto muttered. "I am just happy to have a friend."
"Meet me at the academy in the morning, we'll get you up to snuff and kicking ass by Monday." And so they seperated, with Kanade making her way to her apartment. It was a small place, less that five hundred square feet, but she loved it. On one wall was a painting, one she made.
It was of her mother, or rather how she imagined her. With she wasn't sure what they shared, but she knew it had to be their skin if nothing else. She painted it three years ago, when she realized she could not remember her own Mother's face. The paintign was of a tall woman, with dark skin dressed in a red geisha's garb. She loved it.
"Mom... I found out who my Dad is. Did you know? Did you have any idea who I was, by blood and birth? I... I am afraid, of meeting him. But I will be strong and one day, when it's my time to go, we will have so much to talk about."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was a joy to write.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.