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 his body language. At least he also thought that this is wrong on every level.
Hiruzen has come to Naruto's apartment to talk to Kakashi Hatake 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. But this is just wishful thinking and he needed to focus on the present and make sure the future is better than the past.
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 sometimes to ask about things he needed help with but 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 so little.
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 his apartment would look like, Lord Third." Kakashi spoke, his one uncovered eye wandering around the apartment as he inspected everything.
He has been very much surprised when the hokage has called him to discuss his new team. He never wanted to be a Jonin sensei. He knows himself and his limits and and he has again and again assured the hokage that will only fail in this role like he has failed in all of the other roles in his life.
Kakashi was better when he was an anbu. Life was simple for him then do your Mission, receive your payment and do another mission. It was his much favourable lifestyle compared to being Jonin sensei.
When he was an anbu everyone knew him as agent hound and no one saw kakashi. No one got attached to him and so no one died. It was much better than having the responsibility to train and protect three new genins but the hokage has been adamant in his decision to make him a Jonin sensei but so far none of the teams has passed his test and he has no hope for this team either.
The Hokage has informed him of his decision for who is going to be his team yesterday when he gave him their files and hasn't budged an inch despite his various protests. Maybe he should have threatened to burn all of Hiruzen's secret Icha Icha collection but as a fellow fan he didn't have the heart to evn utter such words.
After visiting the rooms of two of his other future students he was here in the apartment of the final member of team Kakashi, Naruto Uzumaki. According to the file that the hokage has given him about Naruto, he was once a dead last student scoring poorly in every subject at the academy but suddenly he improved so much that now both Sasuke and Naruto are the top students of their class.
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.
Kakashi himself has seen the boy once or twice standing in front of the memorial stone holding fresh flowers in his hands but he never approached the boy. The ghost of the past still hounds Kakashi; he doesn't think he has a right to approach Naruto in hopes of having any kind of relationship with him.
Naruto's file had much more information compared to the other two students he is going to have and maybe that is because of his special condition.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 he 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.
Kakashi hated that he could see the logic behind such a decision. No one wants a repeat of what happened 13 years ago and wants to take measures to prevent any accident and right now the best possible team for Naruto is the one chosen for him.
According to the reports Naruto has more chakra than anyone in this village and as a Ninjustsu expert Kakashi is an ideal teacher for such a student and Sasuke Uchiha another Uchiha prodigy is said to only have a positive relationship with Naruto.
Sasuke and Naruto are training partners and friends if you can call them that. They didn't talk to each other while in the academy but they always sat together. As far as Iruka's report to be trusted they have created a relationship that benefits both of them and are happy to leave it at that. Kakashi halted his thoughts for a moment as he saw the hokage turning around to look at him.
"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 his previous thoughts.
He was right. The place is clean and tidy. But it doesn't give off the feeling that someone is living here. Ever since Kakashi quit anbu he has made sure to be as away as possible from Naruto and even as an anbu he was forced to watch over the boy as his anbu guard when he needed a light mission according to his medical reports.
It is not like Kakashi hates Naruto. It's just that seeing the boy reminds him of every person he lost and Kakashi is afraid that if he forms any connection with Naruto he will lose him too. Every person that has gotten close to Kakashi is dead and so he decided to stay as far away from Naruto as possible.
But Kakashi knows how the village views the boy and treats him. It doesn't even surprise Kakashi that Naruto has no friends after all who would want to befriend the demon. Who would even sell the demon so that he could own things a 13 years old should have.
The hokage must have sensed his discomfort because he asked him to take a seat. Naruto was still in the academy for his graduation test and the Hokage personally wanted to visit his apartment with him because he had something important to talk about with her. Kakashi 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 and why I insisted for you to visit Naruto's apartment with me. It is natural to question things but I assure you completely that this decision was not taken in haste." The hokage started addressing his inner thoughts and she intently listened to his every word.
"I have made a decision I should have made a long time ago but there was no one I could trust the future of this village with and there was so much to do but now this provides me the perfect opportunity to hit two targets with one arrow."
This conversation right now is taking a dangerous turn for Kakashi. He has enough experience under his belt to Know what the third wanted and what Kakashi couldn't give him. To be entrusted with the future of the village can only mean one thing and if he wants one of his students to have that responsibility than Kakashi has no problem with it but if his words have the same meaning as what he thought they have then he has to look for another candidate because kakashi is not going anywhere near that office.
With a laugh the hokage continued, "No need to be so alert Kakashi. 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."
Kakashi doesn't need anyone to tell him how great a leader Minato Sensei was. If he was alive today the village would have been in much better condition for sure. Kakashi has seen for himself how good a person he was. He had been there for Kakashi whether Kakashi needed him or not and look at how Kakashi repaid him by abandoning his only child.
Instead of a war-hardened shinobi, Hiruzen only saw a lonely child in front of him. Kakashi has suffered so much and yet he is still here offering his services for the village he loves. Knowing why his father killed himself, anyone would have resented Konoha but Kakashi has always been a loyal shinobi.
Hiruzen understands the troubles that Kakashi has to struggle with and that's why he has been adamant about him having a team of his own. Hiruzen knew from his own experience that it would only help Kakashi fight his own demons.
This team is going to be either the best decision Hiruzen has made or the worst. But Hiruzen will bet everything he has on team Kakashi. Konoha's future is going to be shaped by this team. Whether it be a good future or bad is yet to be seen.
"Naruto has been alone for all of his life and I am to blame for that. I believed in the people of Konoha too much and Naruto had to pay for my foolishness. Not only that to this day I have not told Naruto about his parents or about the nine tails but I suspect that he knows about the latter since he was nine." Hiruzen's eyes were filled with shame as he spoke.
"I don't know what possessed me to keep this a secret from the boy but I made those decisions and now I have to live with the consequences." Hiruzen continued. Kakashi doesn't want to say this out loud but the third has really made a blunder with Naruto. How can he expect that these villagers will accept Naruto so easily? Even Kushina has to face some difficulties because she was a jinchuriki. Doesn't he know how jinchurikis are treated in other villages?
Hiruzen took a deep breath and looked Kakashi straight in his one eye before speaking, "I hoped that by hiding the truth Naruto will be able to have a normal childhood. I hoped that by placing the gag order children will not inherit the hatred from their parents and befriend Naruto. But my hopes have been crushed and as such Naruto has to suffer through a lonely and hate filled childhood.
The life that Naruto has lived will leave anyone with lasting damage and the same can be said about Naruto. There is no mental damage or physical damage done to him as far as we know but a more major damage has already been done and we can do now is damage control."
Kakashi looked at Hiruzen and instead of seeing a village leader he saw an old man who had so much to bear on his shoulders. He looked at those tired eyes and wrinkled face. He looked at his small frame and the tiredness oozing from his body.
This is a man forced to bear the mantle much heavier than his head. Kakashi felt sorry for him. The situation with Naruto is weighing heavily on his heart and he is truly hurt with the way things have turned out. At the end of the day Kakashi could never truly hate Hiruzen despite his many blunders. The old man really loved the village and wanted everyone to be happy.
"Naruto has no family in this village. The only person you can call his friend is Sasuke. Everyone needs an anchor in their life kakashi. Something to love, something to fight for. Naruto has none in Konoha but still he trains like his life depends on it.
Instead of working to gain their acknowledgement like he did as a child, Naruto has accepted that he has no place in Konoha. We have not done anything to change his mind.
Tell me Kakashi, why would Naruto stay in Konoha when he doesn't love it? Why would Naruto stay in Konoha when he has no family or friends here? Why would Naruto stay in Konoha when everyone around him either hates him or ignores him?"
Why indeed. Kakashi thought but came up with no answers. Seeing his blank look the third continued to speak, " there are only two reasons: either the child is not strong enough to leave the village or he is waiting for something or someone. I believe in Naruto's case both the reasons are valid."
Hiruzen looked outside the window. The atmosphere around the village was warm and sunny but he could see the dark clouds in the future that threatened to drown Konoha in an endless darkness. Hiruzen needs to get things in order before they spiral out of control. He returned his gaze to Kakashi before continuing.
"Naruto has something in his mind. A goal that he wants to achieve and that's why he works so hard. There is something the boy wants to achieve and that is the reason behind his sudden change in behaviour but Naruto also knows he is strong enough to achieve that goal at his current condition.
This is the reason he has stayed in Konoha. Konoha provides him with the opportunity to train and gain power while also not have to worry about watching your back at every moment.
Naruto understands that he won't be able to run from Konoha forever at his current strength and running away will only put a target on his head so he has decided to stay here because he won't be weak forever. He is just waiting for the right time.
I assure you Kakashi. I have talked with the boy and have observed him enough to know a day will come when Naruto will be one of the most powerful shinobi the hidden leaf has produced and when that day comes no wall will be high enough to stop him."
Kakashi listened to every word the third had spoken with his full attention. The situation around Naruto is pretty complex. The third has full confidence that Naruto will leave the village one day but that shouldn't surprise anyone.
What he hoped to achieve through this team is still a mystery. Did he think Kakashi will be able to give Naruto the anchor he needs so that he remains a leaf ninja? If he did then he don't know Kakashi as well as he thought. The third spoke again like he was reading his mind.
"Times are changing Kakashi. I can feel the winds changing. Not long ago Cloud was breathing on our necks to start a war which we avoided but I don't think the next time we will be lucky. Reports have come that Orochimaru has founded a hidden village in rice country and for the past year he has been recruiting for his ranks.
Cloud and stone both are strengthening their armies since the last war ended while we were enjoying peace. I have been foolish enough to think that this will last but some recent thoughts have changed my mind.
Konoha needs to be ready to face the future because it will be a difficult one. If war were to break out the current Konoha will be crushed by its enemies. My tenure has been only filled with failure but before I go I atleast want to prepare Konoha for the future.
But that is the only thing I can do. Prepare the leaf but the village needs a new leader to lead them into the future. A war is coming Kakashi and we need someone strong enough to strengthen the village."
Kakashi knew this was coming. From the moment this conversation started he knew where this was heading. Why can't the third just leave him alone. "Why not choose one of your students?" he tried to save himself.
"Strong yes but they are not what this village deserves. Both of them are so lost in their grief that they can no longer see the truth. People suffer Kakashi. Everyone has their own demons to fight and it is not wrong to grieve but you also have to keep moving forward otherwise you'll be stuck. If the village has to move forward it needs a leader who can look forward.
You have suffered much more than many in this village and yet you have always been available for us. No one is better for this position than you. You are young and Power. Your name is known throughout the elemental nations. There is no better candidate than you.
You don't have to answer me now. Take your time but remember that I won't always be there and without a successor the hokage seat might go to someone we never want even near the Hokage office.
As to why I have chosen this team for you. Both Naruto and Sasuke have their own demons to fight and both are major flight risks. From my own experience I can tell you that the bonds created in your genin team always stays with you no matter the circumstances.
Hard times will come Kakashi and we will have to make hard decisions. I don't want the future to be burdened with things we can solve today. Naruto and Sasuke both have reasons not only to leave this village and declare Konoha as their enemy. But if you became their teacher and then Hokage then at least the damage would be minimised.
With Sasuke I am not sure but with Naruto I am confident that he will leave and we won't be able to stop him. This team gives us the chance to at least show him that not everyone is an enemy. That there are people in Konoha who care for him.
It won't all fall on you. I have made some plans to minimise the damage that we have caused. In six months Konoha will hold the chunin exams and I want team Kakashi to participate in the examinations. If they reach the final rounds of the exams I will announce Naruto's parentage to the world."
Just listening to all this makes Kakashi go on a trip to the elemental nations. Whose idea it was to wake up today. He understands everything the third is saying but one thing doesn't make sense.
"I understand the situation with Naruto but why would Sasuke turn on the leaf?" He knows the Uchiha wants to avenge his clan and if someone offered him power to do so there is no doubt in Kakashi's mind that he will abandon the leaf but the third seems assured that there is a reason that will make Sasuke turn on the leaf.
Hiruzen got up from his chair and reached into his robe to present a scroll to Kakashi. "This scroll contains everything you need to know. I don't want you to be ignorant of the things the leaf has done to preserve its peace. Once you read it make sure to destroy the scroll. The information here is an s rank secret so you know how to treat it."
Kakashi doesn't want the scroll but his curiosity to learn the secrets of the leaf won and he took the scroll from the Hokage's hand.
"Lord third, do you think by revealing his parentage might change the opinion of the villagers." Kakashi asked with skepticism. He doesn't think it will be this easy to change leafs behaviour towards Naruto.
"Only revealing his parentage won't do anything. Maybe some will change but the majority will remain the same. What matters is how we reveal the information and how we use it. Naruto has no desire to prove himself to the leaf but he will sure to do his best while on the missions. We just have to make sure that his achievements in the field are advertised in a way that people see a leaf shinobi in him instead of a demon host. Remember Kakashi knowledge is power."
Kakashi got up from his own chair and again looked at the scroll that the third had given him. Knowledge is power and the third is trusting him, probably one of Konoha's most guarded secrets. Times are going to change and Kakashi fears that the world will go back to the time of the third war.
This is Kakashi's chance to do something to make sure that the next generation doesn't have to love in those treacherous times. Minato Sensei always said that there is nothing kakashi can't achieve if he puts his mind into it.
Is he really going to do this? He has failed as a student, as a friend and teammate. Will he not fail the village too. He failed to protect anyone. Is he sure he will be able to protect the village? Once again like reading his inner thoughts and seeing his dilemma the third spoke.
"Don't blame yourself too much Kakashi. It is not your fault. Sometimes things just happen and we have no control over them and all we can do is make sure to be ready for the future. I have faith in you. As I said, you don't have to answer me right now. Take your time and ince you are completely sure, tell me of your decision.
Even if you won't accept my offer I won't blame you. But if you do I will forever be grateful to you. But Kakashi even if you accept you won't be hokage until the chunin exams. I will use that platform to hand over the hat to you so there is really no rush." Hiruzen finished with a smile as he opened the front door to exit the apartment. Kakashi took the files and scroll and left but not before saying.
"You seem sure that they will become my students but they have to pass my test first." Kakashi left Naruto's apartment but not before hearing the third laughing while saying with full confidence "they will kakashi they will."
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. He was the only Uzumaki living in Konoha. So an academy student has managed to capture an academy instructor.
Yugao knew that the Uzumaki brat was talented and strong for his age. She has been witness to some of his training sessions with the Uchiha boy and sometimes when the Hokage explains things that Naruto was finding hard.
She dropped down from the brach and walked up to a meditating Naruto. Who would have thought that the brat who used to terrorize everyone with his pranks would become such a calming presence.
Yugao was a sensor and what he sensed from Naruto was completely unique. She has never seen chakra so calming in anyone. Not only did his chakra feel 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 graduated academy student can dwarf everyone in an entire great village in chakra levels was 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 jutsu 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? I have been stuck here for too long" 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 that what he has in mind will bear the fruit he desires and not backfire but atleast Naruto will be happy.
A\N
This took too long to write.
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.