บท 39: Chapter 3: Return
Flashback
The Konoha 11, Shizune and Tsunade were all headed to the academy, looking for a certain chuunin teacher.
For the past couple of months, things haven't been going all that well in the village. When news of what happened reached their allied countries, they were beyond pissed and pulled out their treaties and alliances and said that they would only renew it when Naruto would come back. They had lost face in the shinobi nations and ere frowned upon. Within the village, suicide rates started getting high as they all regretted the life they put the son of their precious Yondaime. The village had declined for a bit and their reputation down the gutter. Tourist that were there that day and heard everything spread the word and they don't have the best face right now. On top of that, Oto had declared war on them along with Iwa and a bunch of other little countries/villagers.
They were headed to the academy because they tried to get as much as information of the real Naruto as they could, but it seemed like no one knew except Anko, who told them to get lost as she lost the one person she considered family and understood her pain. They knew Iruka was close to him and wanted to asked if he knew.
"Hello Hokage-sama and everyone else. Is there something wrong?" Iruka asked as he just finished for the day.
"We need answers!" she exclaimed.
"What Tsunade-sama means is did you know the real Naruto?" Shizune asked trying to make him understand what her sensei meant. Iruka looked at them and smiled.
"I suppose its time for people to know." he said, making them look at him curiously.
"You know." Kakshi stated.
"Of course I did. He's like a son to me."
"Can you please tell us, we want to know." Sakura pleaded.
"Hmm, well I met Naruto a year before he entered the academy. I knew he had the Kyuubi sealed within him, but I was curious. I knew everyone hated him, but I knew the difference between a kunai and a scroll. I saw him one ay on the swing outside the academy with a sorrowful expression. Everyone was pointing at him and whispering, glaring but they couldn't break the law. At that time, I didn't see a demon, I saw a lonely boy who needed some one in their lives, so I approached him and we became friends. He was on guard at first, but gradually started opening up. Everything changed when he entered the academy." he said with an angry expression. He clenched his fist and they saw the hate in his face.
"What happened?" Chouji asked.
"Naruto's a smart child. He's genius, a prodigy. A couple months before he started the academy, he told me about his mask and how only the Sandaime knew about. He also became friends with the Kyuubi named Kurama. At first, I was worried, but the Hokage reassured me and Kurama himself apologized about my parents death. It honestly wasn't his fault, seeing that he was being control." he said, shocking them. "He also knew about his parentage, but the Sandaime made him hide it due tot he council."
"W-What happened when he started the academy?" Sasuke said.
"You all remember the enterance exams right?" he said and they nodded. "Well Naruto had perfect scores on everything, beating the previous highest record in the obstacle course. He wanted to do well in the academy, but then...the incident happened." he said, shaking with anger.
"'Incident'? What incident?" Chouji said as they all began to worry. Iruka didn't say anything as tears threatened to fall.
"I-Iruka, your scaring us. What happened?" Tsunade asked fearfully.
"They cornered him. If they were only civilians, then he could have avoided it, but jounin and chuunin joined. They tied him up, put a drug in his system." he said looking down
"A...drug." Kurenai said covering her mouth, her eyes wide.
"Yes, it was a drug that made sure he was conscious the entire time." he chocked
"The entire time for what?" Ino said exclaimed, not really wanting to know.
"The entire time they tortured him." he whispered and they gasped in shock. "For eight hours...for eight hours they tortured him and he lived throught the entire thing. If it wasn't for Kurama, he would have died." he finished. The Kunoichi were crying, the male shinobi had tears in their eyes. Kakashi and Sasuke clenched their fist so hard blood was drawn.
"Why didn't anyone find him!? How could people be so blind!? Why the hell did they even do that!?" Kiba exclaimed.
"Because they didn't want a 'smart' demon." Iruka spat with hatred.
"That's just stupid!" Ino exclaimed.
"So he became an idiot, so he wouldn't be targeted." Shikamaru muttered.
"Right. He would usually fail all these tests, but the Sandaime and I would give him another test which he would do at his office. After that incident, the Sandaime allowed him to train in his family compound, but he wasn't allowed to learn certain jutsus at certain times."
"Like the rasengan and Hiraishin." Neji said gaining their attention.
"Right. He learned the rasengan with Jiraiya since the Sandaime asked him to let him to, but he learned the Hiraishin when he graduated." he said, making them go wide eye.
"He knows the Hiraishin!?" Gai exclaimed.
"What's so great abut that jutsu?" Kiba wondered.
"You baka! Its what made his father famous and helped in the Third shinobi war! Its his signature technique and people would kill to know it!" Sakura scowled him.
"Naruto's flames of youth have been bright despite the unyouthfulness of the villagers!" Lee exclaimed.
"Did you know the relationship he had with my mother?" Sasuke suddenly asked.
"Mikoto Uchiha? Yes, she was his godmother. She was like a mother to him which was why he was so devastated when both she and another Uchiha he saw as an older brother died." Iruka said sadly.
"Another Uchiha? Do you know his name?" Sasuke asked curiously.
"Hmm? I think it was Shisui." he said. "Yes, he was Shushin no Shisui. One of his ANBU guards." he said and asked when he saw Sasuke's face, "Do you know him?"
"Yea, he was my cousin." he said.
"S-Sorry. You know, Naruto always wanted to befriends with you. Even before what happened. But you never really wanted anything to do with him, so he gave up." he said softly and then reached down into his draws, taking out a bunch of files from a secret cupboard.
"What are those?" Kakashi asked.
"These are his real tests and results. Its his real academy record." he said and it was snatched by Tsunade.
"Did...did he talk about any of us?" Sakura asked and everyone anticipated his answer.
"Sometimes. He didn't really like acting like an idiot. When he was on team 7 for a couple weeks, he was disappointed. Actually I think he was most disappointed in you Kakashi." he said turning the grey hair nin.
"Me? Why?" he asked.
"Well for starters you were one of those who use to guard him when he was much younger 's add to the fact that you were the only connection he had to his father. He wanted to trust you I suppose and tell you that the knew, maybe even tell him about his parents, but you were playing favorites. Sandaime-sama in general doesn't like playing favorites, but didn't say anything because Naruto told him to. He didn't want you to get in trouble I suppose. Then there was you Sakura. He didn't have a crush on you, but he wanted to help you train, but you'd rather be cheering for Sasuke than train yourself." he pointed out, making them fall into depressed states.
"Don't you think that was a bit harsh?" Shizune said.
"You all asked me for the truth and that exactly what I'm giving you. The rest of you, well he didn't have a problem with Team Gai and told me he respected Lee almost as much as he did the Sandaime and that's something big as well as you Gai-sensei." he said, making them both beam with tears flooding down their eyes. "He saw Tenten as a real kunoichi and wanted too spar wit you sometime in kenjutsu. Neji, well you guys were on the wrong foot at first, but like everyone else, he always gives second chances and he said that he easily saw a friends after the chuunin exams." he said, making them both smile.
"What about my team?" Kurenai asked.
"Hmm, Hinata and Shino he has no problem with seeing that he didn't really interact with them, but to be blunt, he doesn't like both you and Kiba. Kiba because you keep saying things that are consider taboo towards him and Kurenai because...well you glared at him after he won his match with Kiba. I don't know if you realized but no one congratulated him after his victory and that glare made him think that you were like the rest of the villagers." he said.
"No...way." Kiba whispered.
"And my team?" Asuma asked.
"Well, besides Ino he doesn't have anything against your team, that is last time I knew." as the information sunk in.
"Say, why didn't he leave before?" Tenten asked.
"Because it would have brought heart break to the Sandaime." he smiled fondly at the selfless heart his son had. "Sandaime-sama suffered the guilt of not stopping Oroochimaru and Naruto believed that if he left the village, the Hokage would feel even more guilty, believing he failed his parents. He wore the 'mask' just for the Sandaime actually." he said, making Asuma smiled sadly with tears in his eyes. He would sometimes see his father looking outside the village with tears in his eyes. Other times, he would see his father staring at the Yondaime picture with guilt and regret in his eyes, the same way he would look at Naruto. He also witnessed how his father's day would brighten after he saw the resident Jinchuriki leave his office.
"How long as he been wearing it?" Sasuke asked.
"Hmm? Well you're all thirteen so...ten years? Yes, he was three when he began wearing the mask from what he told me." he hummed.
"He wore it for that long?!" Chouji exclaimed as the others too wee shocked. Iruka just nodded.
"I know you all want to make it up to him, but even those that I said he has no problem with, he won't let you in. He's cold and distant to those he doesn't care about and he will not want anything to do with you. Any of you." he said.
"B-But we want to apologize!" Sakura exclaimed.
"And why should he except? Just because YOU want to apologize, doesn't mean he'll accept it." he said at their downcast looks. "Look, I'm just telling you the truth. Only after you hear what happened do you want to accept him and he'll see it as a form of pity, which he despises." he said.
"Oh my god, this boy is a genius!" Tsunade said, having went throught the majority of his papers.
"Tsunade-sama?" Shizune said, as they all leaned forward, crowding to see.
"Look. These answers aren't meant for an eight year old, these are answers of a scholar!" she exclaimed and sure enough, they were all shocked at his answers.
"He really isn't an idiotic dead last huh?" Kiba said.
"Far from it."
"What about the pranks he would play?" Ino asked.
"Oh that. It was apart of he's image, but also training." Iruka said proudly as he got puzzled looks. "He could out run any ANBU and jounin, heck all shinobi. He would sneak in and out of ANBU headquarters wearing that monstrous jumpsuit. If he really wanted to destroy the village, I would without doubt say that he could poison everyone in the village and escape without getting caught." he finished as they listened in awe, because all he said was true.
"He would paint the Hokage momentum in broad daily light and not get caught." Shino stated.
"Yes. Sandaime-sama let him do all those pranks, saying that the shinobi of the village needed to be more alert. He would actually give him specific money that Naruto would use for pranking only." Iruka laughed at their reaction.
"S-Sensei did that?" Tsunade said.
"Well, imagine if he were an enemy, Konoha would have been infiltrated long ago and even destroyed. Although he wasn't allowed to prank the Hokage. I don't know if you've ever realized that out of all the pranks he did, never once was he caught in the action. That's why no one could do anything. They had no proof."
"Its true." Kakashi said, with a hint of pride in his voice, "I was apart of the squads that were told to get him, but no one, including myself, could ever catch him. He way to tricky and fast." he said and started wondering how he couldn't see it then that Naruto might be hiding his skills. If you just looked at everything the blonde had ever done, and he's treatment, it was quite easy to see.
"I have to get going. I have some test papers to mark, but piece of advice, don't believe that it'll be easy to gain he's acceptance, after all none of you have." Iruka finished and left them all to their thoughts.
End of Flash Back
Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze felt a pull and suddenly found himself on the battlefield, where he saved Tsunade from her doom, by blocking the snake sanin's legendary sword, the Kusanagi. He looked around and saw the destruction around him and instantly noticed that he was in Konoha. He had also noticed the looks of relief and happiness that the Konoha shinobi had on their faces. He had heard the war that was going on, but he had two more years left and he hell wasn't going to come back to save those who did nothing but torture and abuse him. Heck, he didn't even want to come back at all, but here he suddenly was. He saw people looking at him and decided to speak,
"Yare yare. Last time I checked, I had at least two more years left of freedom before I came back to this hell hole. Now I'm welcomed by the sight of my mother figure being attacked by a damn snake? Hope you said your prayers hebi-teme."
"You! What are you doing here!? Your not suppose to be here!" Oroochimaru fumed. Naruto just gave him a bored look and then gentle placed Tsunade down.
"Kaa-san? Are you alright?" he asked softly and she hugged him closed, tears running down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry, so so sorry for being selfish." she kept repeating and he just hugged her back.
"Its alright. Are you alright though? You're not hurt are you?" he asked again and she shook her head.
"A-Are you going to help us in the war? We could really use your help." she said, wiping away her tears, "I'll understand if you say no." she added, shocking them.
"Hime, what are you saying?! We need-" Jiraiya was cut off by her glare.
"No. He has two more years and we shouldn't have even asked. We don't have any right to ask for his help." she said, "But, if you do help, then...you don't have to return here in two years."
"What!?" almost everyone said, including Naruto.
"I know I was selfish and I know you have every right to leave. If you help us win this war, then you don't have to keep your promise to me, okay?" she smiled at him and he just looked at her. He knew it must be hard for her but he wasn't going to pass up this deal.
"Deal!" he grinned and she sighed in relief as did others, "But its like I'm not going to visit the people I care about." he stated as he helped her up.
"NO! no no no no no! You weren't suppose to be here?! How did you even get here so fast!?" the snake sannin exclaimed.
"I'd like to know that too. I looked everywhere for you!" Jiraiya exclaimed.
"She called me." he simple stated, pointing at Tsunade.
"Huh!?"
"You called me." he said tapping his wrist and she looked at her own wrist and saw the bracelet he gave her as a present for becoming Hokage. "There's a Hiashrin seal inside. You must have unconsciously put chakra into it. I won't let those I care about die." he smiled.
"Enough talk! I though you wouldn't want to help the village that shunned you, but I suppose you'll go down with them!" the snake sannin hissed.
"Naruto! My boy! Its good to see you again!" he heard a voice and saw the dead Kages, more specifically, the Sandaime who spoke to him.
"Ji-chan?!" he whispered, "How the hell are you alive?"
"It seems that my former student seems to like others doing his dirty work." he said sadly.
"Naruto..." Minato said and after fifteen years, father and son were finally reunited. They both stared at one another, blues eyes clashing, one filled with sorrow and guilt and the other, unreadable
"You...do you know what you did to me?" Naruto said quietly, shocking the others, since they all though he didn't have anything against his father. "Because of you-"
"I'm sorry about sealing the Kyuubi in you, I-" Minato began quickly
"-I can't enter the best Hot Springs!" he wailed.
...
...
...
"NANI?!" they all yell.
"Yeah, because of what you did to Iwa and I look like you, I can't go! Its in the Earth country. Why couldn't you have at least wear a mask if you were going to go on a killing spree?!" he exclaimed and they all face faulted or sweat dropped.
"U-Umm...sorry?" Minato said awkwardly.
"Well your dead now, so you can't do anything old man." Naruto waved him off.
"OLD MAN!?" Minato exclaimed with a tick mark. "I happen to be twenty four when I died!"
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." and then he smiled, "But its nice to meet you dad." and Minato had tears gather in his eyes at the mention of him being called 'dad'.
"Enough of this! You four, I want you to kill him!" Oroochimaru commanded the resurrected Kages and soon enough, they began their assault on Naruto. It all happened in a blur as each of the Kages only used taijutsu against him.
"This is getting me no where." Naruto muttered, as he dodged a punch from the Shondaime and a kick from the Sandaime. "Shadow clone Jutsu." and instantly three other Narutos poofed into existence. He instructed three of the clones to fight the 2, 3 and 4th Kages, while he took care of the First, seeing that
"I'll admit, I've heard quite a lot about you, some good, some bad-well what the villagers did, and I can't help but be impressed by your actions." Hashirama said, as he traded blows with original Naruto.
"Oh? I didn't know." he answered, "Although its not how I wanted us to meet, but its an honour to meet you Shondaime-sama." he said, punching him square in the face.
"Well then, let's see what you can do." Hashirama said, getting his composure.
With Hiruzen
"I see you left the village after all. I hope your doing well?" he asked, as they fought.
"Hai. I went to so many different places, though I think I'll settle down in the Spring country. Its a great place dettebayo!" he grinned making the old man laugh.
"I suppose. As long as you're happy, then I'm fine." he said.
"Ne, ji-chan, how's the afterlife by the way?" Naruto asked curiously.
"Sorry I can't answer that question just yet Naruto. I was sealed within the Shinigami's belly remember?"
"Ah, sorry about that. But this time you'll make it. That's a promise!" he said with determination, making the Sandaime chuckle.
"I'll take your word for it."
With Minato
"So, you left the village huh?" Minato asked as they fought.
"Yea, why? You angry?" Naruto questioned.
"No, no, nothing like that. I-I just wanted to say I'm sorry. I real-"
"Can we please not talk about depressing things? What's done is done. Besides its not like you knew Konoha would betray you or anything." he shrugged, "So, how's the Shinigami's belly? Is it all sticky and slimy or what?" he grinned, making Minato laugh.
"BWAHAH you're just like your mother! No, it not like that." he said.
"Say, can you...maybe tell me about mom?" Naruto whispered, making Minato's face soften.
"Of course I can! We might be fighting, by the way I have to say I'm impressed for a shadow clone you can keep up." he said with a hint of pride.
"Yea well, I sorta modified it so that it wouldn't 'pop' away in a single punch." Naruto shrugged.
"Now about Kushina..."
With Tobirama
"I must say, I'm quite impressed at the feats you preformed in this village young boy. You would have made a fine Hokage." Tobirama said during their fight.
"Thank you Nidaime-sama, but I have a life outside of Konoha and I don't think I could bring myself to stay in this village." Naruto answered.
"Yes, you are indeed wise. Tell me, from what I heard you went through, normally one would want to get revenge. Why isn't it that you don't want to?" he asked curiously. Though he already heard from Hiruzen the boy's reasoning's, he wanted to hear it from him.
"Well that would make me in a power hungry spoiled brat and sorry if I don't want to become like the Uchiha." he scoffed, making the second Kage look at him, wanting explanation, "You see Tobirama-sama, the Uchiha clan was wiped out by one of their own, but he left his younger brother alive. Because of this, they treat him as if he's Kami-sama himself. The boy was actually on my squad team. In my time in the village, I had to act like an idiotic orange wearing dead last, who would always shout on wanting to be Hokage. However, I only did those because I knew if people were to find out about the real me, they'd have me executed. I wanted to be a shinobi so I'd be under Ji-chan's authority. The Uchiha would start bitching around if there was someone stronger than him and seeing that I was, I had to let him win." he said as the Nidaime nodded in understanding, "As for revenge, I honestly don't see what I could get from it except making children, who are completely oblivious to what their parents do, into orphans."
"That is indeed very righteous and smart of you. Your right, there won't be anything gained from revenge. Can you explain about this massacre that befall the Uchihas?" he asked
"You see they say that Itachi Uchiha went crazy from all the mental stress and killed everyone, then he left his brother mentally scared. That's something I don't understand. Itachi was one of the handful of ANBU that would actually DO their job in protecting me from mobs, instead of arriving last minute. That and from what I remember from the reports, he told Sasuke that he didn't kill him because he was too weak, but weren't there younger Uchiha children, because they were killed too? Something just doesn't add up."
"Your right. Its almost as if-"
"he was order to? Yes, I though the same thing."
"If that was the case, then they must have been planning something." Tobirama said, impressed at the boy's deduction skills. Normally one would just follow what everyone else was told, but he seemed to think it through. Suddenly, Tobirama disappeared, making Naruto swore as he kept his eyes of him that minute.
"Shit!" he exclaimed as he saw Tobirama executing a water jutsu,
"Water Style: Torrent Waves." and the huge waves of water were heading to the medical team on the front lines, where they were healing numerous shinobi.
"Protect the medical teams!" Tsunade yelled, but it was far too late for anyone to reach them, but Naruto had just made it. They all had hopefully looks, but what he did next, shocked them all to the core, even Oroochimaru. Hiruzen just gave a small sad smile.
Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze had many secrets. Secrets that no one knew and if they did, they were dead. For his own protection, is heritage was hidden, his Jinchuriki status kept away from the younger generation, but this secret was one that he never planned on revealing. Closing his eyes, he gathered enough chakra and yelled,
"Susanoo!"
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