Confratations

After the announcement ceremony ended, Anko and Kakashi tracked down their team. Due to the chaos and buzz around the ceremony, it took around half an hour for them to find some privacy on a nearby roof.

"Now, we must discuss the next step for you three. There won't be time to celebrate. The final tournament will not only be the hardest part, but depending on what you three do, it will be the sole decider of whether you will get promoted." informed Kakashi

The three nodded, their readiness for the final stage evident in their determined expressions.

"By the end of tomorrow, we want the three of you to decide what areas you want to train in, whether you are enhancing your previous skills or picking up new ones. Also, you won't be limited to what we can teach you; if we have to, we have other talented instructors who can help you." said Anko

"Also, you should remember that you guys will not fight as a team. The three of you should take a long look at your weaknesses and strengths, and don't be afraid to ask us if you need a little guidance."

"Now, there's still daylight, let's celebrate, you guys earned it."

As the evening sun began to set, Kakashi and Anko led Team 7 through the city's bustling streets, celebrating their successful passing of the second stage of the Chunin Exams. The team was in high spirits, their faces still flushed with the excitement of their recent accomplishments.

As evening came, Kakashi looked up into the sky and said

"I think it's time we start heading back; you three will have to get up early tomorrow."

"You guys can go ahead. I spotted a bookstore a few blocks back and wanted to check it out." said Anko

"I'll go with you." said Naruto

"Really?" Anko said confused

"Yeah, I want to check out books and stuff."

Anko raised an eyebrow, but she turned and beckoned Naruto with her hand

"Okay, but try to be careful with the books,"

After they had gotten a fair distance away from the rest of the team, Anko spoke

"So what is that you wanted to talk about"

Naruto looked up at Anko, slightly surprised

"How did you know?"

"I knew as soon as you said you wanted to go to a bookstore."

Anko then led Naruto to the side and sat on a bench; Naruto followed, sat next to her, and began talking.

"Well, there is some stuff I need to talk to you about. It's about what happened during the exams with Karin."

"The girl you guys recused?"

"Yeah, it turns out she was an Uzumaki, and she told me about our clan,"

Naruto suddenly jumped up and put both arms on Anko's shoulders

"I have a clan, is. Can you believe it? Do you know who the Uzumaki are?"

Naruto's jumbled questions caught Anko off guard, but then she gave a confused look

"Wait, you're an Uzumaki, like by blood?"

"Yeah, duh, why would I have the Uzumaki name if I wasn't an Uzumkai?" questioned Naruto

"I just thought you were given the name by the village. The orphanage gives last names to kids who aren't adopted; that's how I got mine. I assumed they gave you the name to honor the clan." explained Anko

"Do you know a lot about the Uzumaki." asked Naruto

Anko nodded

"Of course, the subject of the Uzumaki is a hard one to study, despite them having a close relationship with our village literature from Uzushiogakure is extremely rare, they were ultra protective of all of their texts,"

Anko then paused

"Also, how do you know if you're even blood-related? Did you confirm it somehow?" Anko said, thinking out loud, her analytical mind fueling her words.

Naruto felt dread and doubt surged as he realized he didn't know. Karin had just heard their last name and assumed he was Uzumaki by blood. Before he could be consumed by the feeling, Naruto shook his head and looked up at Anko with determined eyes.

"I know I am an Uzumaki. There's no doubt that I'm a Uzumaki; I know it, and I feel it in my soul."

Anko gave a tooth-filled smile at Naruto's resolve

"Well, if you say so, I believe you; it's not like you wouldn't fit the bill with some of your traits, fast healing, large chakra pool, and ridiculous vitality, all hallmarks of an Uzumaki, but I just assumed that it was just because of your fuzzy little friend," Anko said as she poked Naruto's stomach

Naruto slapped Anko's hand away and asked a question

"Do you know anyone in the village that could be related to me?"

Anko thought momentarily as she reached into her memory until she remembered a conversation from years prior between her and Hiruzen over tea."

"The only Uzumaki I know of from recent memory is a Kushina Uzumaki, but I've never seen or met her; the only reason I even know the name is because Gramps brought up the name in passing."

Naruto looked down and tightened his fists as tears began to run down his face.

Anko panicked slightly and got up and squatted down in front of Naruto

"Whoa, did I say something wrong?"

Naruto looked up, his eyes full of tears.

"I asked him many times if he knew who my parents were, and he told me every time he didn't or to not worry about it. But he knew the whole time, and he lied to me repeatedly. I asked him every time I saw him."

Anko's expression of worry turned into a simmering anger. While she loved Hiruzen like family, everything surrounding how he dealt with Naruto frustrated her. While she disagreed, she could understand why he hid Naruto's status as a Jinchuriki. But to hide not only his heritage but also his family made all the hidden rage she had for the man come forth.

Anko stood and started walking in a different direction; she then turned around and said

"C'mon, I know where that bastard is staying. He's going to answer some questions tonight," Anko said through clenched teeth.

Anko led Naruto to the hotel where Hiruzen was staying; it was on the city's main street. Anko barged into the main lobby, getting strange glances from the guests and employees. She went up to the front desk and addressed the receptionist with a firm tone.

"I'm here to see the Hokage; both of us should be on the list for allowed visitors, Anko Mitarashi and Naruto Uzumaki," Anko declared, her voice carrying a sense of urgency.

The receptionist was caught off guard but quickly picked up a folder and scanned through the contents. She then looked up and said

"Okay, you may head down the hall, and an Anbu should be there to escort you to the penthouse."

On the way up, Naruto turned to Anko and asked

"Hey, could you just let me talk to him?"

"Why do I need to lay into the bastard."

"Please sit. I need him to tell me the truth; I don't want anyone else forcing him to do it." urged Naruto

Anko sighed

"Fine, but he's mine after."

As they got to the suite, two Anbu stood outside the door. They nodded and allowed Anko and Naruto to enter the room.

Hiruzen was sitting on a couch and sipping tea. Three other Anbu were in the room, one of whom Anko recognized as Yugao.

"We need to talk; it has to do with Naruto."

Hiruzen nodded and waved the Anbu away.

Yugao gave Anko a subtle nod as she exited.

Once they were alone, Hiruzen looked at Anko and asked

"So, was there another issue with Naruto losing control of the fox in the exam."

"Do you know who my parents are?" Naruto asked, his voice soft in tone

Hiruzen, not expecting the question, was taken aback

"Oh well, I already told you before."

"Stop lying, I already know, and I'm a Uzumaki,"

"Well, it's just a..

"Given my name, I would have believed that if I didn't meet my cousin."

"Cousin?!"

"I saved her, her name is Karin Uzumaki,"

Silence overtook the room.

Anko stewed in anger as she glared at Hiruzen, her respect for him fading every moment he held onto his lies.

"Please, gramps, just tell me," Naruto begged.

Hiruzen reasoned that his powerful voice was being replaced by that of an unsure old man.

"Naruto, I can't."

Anger flowed through Naruto as he raised his voice.

"Why can't you tell me"

"Because…."Hiruzen trailed off

"Because what?"

"For your safety." Hiruzen voice was shaky, showing his lack of confidence in his answer.

Anko scoffed but stifled her words as she kept her promise to Naruto.

"Please, I need to know," Naruto begged again.

Hiruzen let out a deep sigh as he leaned back into the couch, his lack of energy and the position making him look many years older; he then sat up and looked Naruto square in the eyes.

"Naruto, I've done nothing but make excuses and lie to you for a lot of your life; out of a post hoc justification of my cowardice, I'm going to tell you the truth, the whole truth, about your parents and the fox and its history with your clan and the village and after I tell you you choose to not speak with me again I will accept that,"

Naruto stood up straight and focused on Hirzuen's following words more than he had anything in his life.

"The truth is that you are not the first to carry your burden years ago. After the first Hokage detained the Nine-tailed fox after his battle with Madara, his wife sealed the fox within herself; this woman was Mito Uzumaki; she wasn't directly related to you, but her marriage to the first Hokage unified the alliance we had between Uzushiogakure and us."

Mito carried the fox for many years, but when she became elderly, there needed to be a new host. The fox is so powerful that only a Uzumaki can be its Jinchiruuiki. Uzushiogakure sent over a young girl who had unique chakra even for her clan. That girl was your mother, Kushina Uzumaki.

Naruto went slacked jawed, his mind trying to comprehend every word. He then asked the only question he could think of

"What was she like?"

A slight smile came over Hiruzen's lips as he flashed through bittersweet memories.

"She and you are the spitting image of one another. Because of her hair and her status as a foreigner, she was singled out a lot as a child. Her energy was limitless, loud, headstrong, and out to prove to the world that she was the best." Tears filled Hiruzen's eyes, but he kept himself from crying as he continued.

"She even said she wanted to become Hokage despite everyone who picked on her."

That proclamation made Naruto break down fully into tears. Despite not knowing her or what she looked like, he began to feel closer to his mother than anyone he had ever known, giving him a mixture of happiness and mourning for the mother he never knew.

Hiruzen continued

"She grew up to be a fine kunoichi but eventually got married and decided to start a family, and she became pregnant with you."

Hiruzen paused as the silent question from Naruto and Anko filled the air. Who was Naruto's father?

Hiruzen spoke

"I should have told you about your mother years ago, but the identity of your father is something that I must stress. No matter the reason, must not leave this room; I trust you two to keep this under wraps."

Anko's mind went into overdrive as she began to connect the dots. For the identity of Naruto's father to be such a serious secret, it left only a minuscule amount of options. Her mind then stalled, and she stopped as she envisioned spiky yellow hair and a beaming smile. Her eyes widened as she looked at Naruto, knowing Hiruzen's next words.

"Your father, Naruto, is the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze."

Naruto's mouth was agape at the revelation.

Hiruzen continued trying to force out the end of the story as the conversation had begun taking an emotional toll on him as well.

"When a Jinchruikki gives birth, it weakens their seal, but both Minato and Kushina were proficient in the art, and they took extra precautions to ensure that your birth would be successful. But somehow, the seal was broken, and the fox escaped. After your father defeated it, I found the two of them near death, and they entrusted you to me." Hiruzen choked on tears as he said the last sentence, but he continued.

"Originally, I was going to have your godfather Jiraiya, your father's sensei, raise you, but he refused, and what happened that I had no excuse for; in truth, Naruto I have never been a good parent, I failed to raise my own children, and after the death of Biwako and being forced to retake the position as Hokage, I was overwhelmed, the village, grief and guilt made me apathetic for many years. It was during this time I made the worst decisions in my life, from the Uchiha Massacre from letting my bastard student go to failing to raise and protect you, Naruto. I wasn't strong enough; I was a weak old man who wanted to retire. I failed, I failed the village, I failed your parents, and most importantly of all, I failed you, Naruto, and for that, I am truly sorry."

The room was quiet for several minutes.

Not knowing what to do as the emotional whiplash of the conversation overwhelmed him, Naruto slowly turned around and walked out of the room.

Anko didn't try to stop him. She couldn't imagine what he was going through, and she knew it was best for him to be alone right now. She then turned to Hiruzen and walked over.

"I thought I would have a few choice words for you, but I don't think there's anything I can say that will make you feel worse than you already do, but now I know there's another person who needs their ass kicked, where the hell is Jiraiya."

"Oh, so you know he's in town?"

"It isn't hard to guess; some of the world's most powerful and influential people are here, plus considering where we are, it's not a surprise if he would be here if the exams weren't going on."

"I recently received confirmation that he's in the city, although he hasn't reached out to me yet, and I don't have any idea where he is currently located."

"Well, it looks like I need some searching then?" Anko said as she made her way to the door

Before she exited, she turned around and said

"Just because I didn't say anything now doesn't mean I will later. Trust me, we will have a long discussion soon."

"I wouldn't expect anything less," said Hiruzen

Anko then opened the door and left to explore the streets of center spring to look for the toad sage.

Anko walked through the streets of Center Spring; she had just visited her seventh establishment and had come up with no hair or sign of Jiraiya, getting frustrated she was about to retire the search for tonight, but suddenly she heard a cacophony of feminine laughter from a building across the street caught her attention, She examined the building it was clearly some kind of Cabaret club. She entered the establishment rather sparsely, with a few customers and hostesses seating them, but the table near the back was overfilled with seven hostesses, the mass of them hiding the customers from the table.

She ignored the employees waning her way as she forced her way through and made her way toward the table; as she got to the far side, she saw him.

Jiraiya was a tall and well-built man with fair skin. He had waist-length, spiky white hair tied back into a ponytail, with two shoulder-length bangs framing his face. There were red lines under his eyes, which extended further down his face. He wore a short green shirt, kimono, and matching pants. Underneath, he wore mesh armor that was visible at his wrists and ankles. He also wore hand guards, a black belt, traditional Japanese wooden sandals, and a red haori with two yellow circles on each side. Additionally, he wore a horned forehead protector with the kanji for "oil." A large scroll leaned against the table.

Anko walked forward and cleared her throat loudly, gaining the attention of everyone at the table.

There was a brief flash of confusion when Jiraiya spotted her, but it quickly turned into a jovial smile.

"Oh, aren't you a sight for sore eyes? Ladies, this beautiful young woman here is Anko Mitarahi, one of the bright young ninjas of Konoha and an old acquaintance of mine."

The hostess said greetings and waved at Anko, but Anko barely acknowledged their presence as she continued to stare down Jiraiya.

Jiraiya, gaining a bad feeling from his well-trained intuition, kept his jovial attitude and asked Anko

"So, Anko, what brings you here? Would you like to join us for a drink"

"No, thank you, and I'm here to speak to you about an issue from your past, something of the blonde variety," Anko said, trying to be discreet.

"Jiraiya's mood instantly shifted, and he sighed.

"Sorry ladies, it looks like I'll have to leave early tonight; he then put down a big tip on the table; make sure you split that amongst yourselves and don't worry, this won't be the last time I'll be here."

After several moments, Jiraiya got up as the hostess said their goodbyes, and he followed Anko onto the street. They only walked a dozen feet or so before Anko stopped, turned, and began to stare intensely at Jiraiya.

The silence was overwhelming, and Jiraiya gulped as he began to speak.

"Now I can…"

Anko slapped Jiraiya, the noise of the hit echoing through the street, and Anko's hand left a red imprint across his face.

"Okay, I deserved that, but…."

Anko slapped him again.

"Do you know how much it would hurt for you to find out that someone who was supposed to take care of you refused to raise you, not just that, spend your entire life away from you knowing you had no one else to raise you, I've looked up to you for years, but what kinda man abandons a child when they need you the most."

Jiraiya rubbed the side of his face and sighed.

"A coward, Anko, that's the kind of man that does that. It doesn't matter why I did it, but I did, and I've regretted it every day. Sadly, despite my preaching for the next generation, it seems I picked up a few bad habits from my sensei when it comes to reliability in my personal life."

Jiraiya then looked up at the night sky.

"I kept up with him every time I messaged the old man; I have a book documenting everything he told me about the boy, I've tried almost a dozen times to meet him, but each time I chicken out, I was going to introduce myself as a stranger to the kid, but it looks like you not letting me weasel my way out of this one, I promise I'll talk to him tomorrow and tell him everything."

Anko squeezed her fists together, her anger fading slightly

"Why should I let you? You don't deserve to be in his life."

"You don't have to. It's clear to me you have Naruto's best interest in mind. If you want me to, I'll stay out of the kid's life, but if you let me, I'll do everything in my power to make sure that he's ready for whatever is thrown at him. I swear on my honor that I will do what I can to make this right."

Anko stated, but then she let out a breath. She was holding a spoke

"Fine, but if you hurt him, then you're going to have a hell of a lot more to worry about than guilt; you can see him tomorrow, and you will tell him everything you got.

"Got it."

"Good," Anko then looked at him and scoffed. "Legendary ninja, my ass, more like washed-up old drunk," she said as she began to walk away from him.

As she walked away, Jiraiya spoke.

"You know I'm glad that he has someone like you in his life; you truly care for him."

Anko ignored him as she left Jiraiya alone on the empty city street.

Hiruzen was awoken by some knocks on the door to his bedroom. He shambled up and got dressed, and when he opened the door, Anbu was standing there,

"Sir, a girl wishes to see you; she claims she is a Uzumaki."

Hiruzen's sleepiness left him as he realized this must've been the girl Naruto spoke of last night.

"Go ahead and send her up. I'll speak to her immediately."

Several minutes later, Karin was sitting in front of him, a ball of nerves.

Hiruzen spoke

Naruto briefly told me about you last night. It's a warming sight to see that the Uzumaki clan is still alive among its descendants."

"Actually, Hokage, sir, that's what I wanted to talk about; you see, I'm currently a hidden grass ninja, and I was looking to see if…" Karin trailed off

Hiruzen gave a grandfatherly smile and said

"Have no worries about your question. I will be open to hearing anything."

Karin inhaled a breath and let it out before she spoke her following words

"I wish for you to force the grass to give me to your village on the grounds of my heritage."