35Summary: What if The Fourth Hokage, survived on the night the Nine-Tailed Fox was sealed? What if Naruto was really a girl? What if Orochimaru was good and Sasuke never left the village? What if it wasn't Itachi that massacred the Uchiha clan? And what if Naruko knew how to the control the Nine-Tailed Fox, Sage Jutsu and had completed the Rasengan when she returned from her training with Jiraiya? This story takes place in the Shippuden storyline and will follow from the moment Naruko returns to The Hidden Leaf Village, up until how I imagined the war turning out before Kishimoto started releasing that part of the manga, ã I don't own any of the characters or the Shippuden storyline, the only part of this story that belongs to me is my idea. (Author's Note: Naruko will have Tsunade's strength in this fic and Sakura will be specialised in Medical Ninjutsu and Genjutsu, and Naruko will no longer wear orange as much, and she won't be using Sage Mode, the Rasen Shuriken or the Nine-Tails Cloak Mode until the battles against Kakuzu, Pain and the war)
Chapter 1: Naruko Namikaze returns
Minato's P.O.V:
It was a quiet day in The Leaf Village, and no wind was blowing, in fact no wind had blown in the village since Naruko left with Jiraiya-Sensei. It's like all the life of the village left along with her, her team-mates, and Konohamaru Sarutobi and his team-mates had often come to see me asking if I had heard anything about how she was doing, but the last time I'd heard anything about how she was doing, was when I got a messenger toad from Jiraiya-Sensei, with a letter from Naruko, telling me that she was learning Sage Jutsu at Mount Myoboku and that she had done what I couldn't, complete the Rasengan. Now that was a blow to my ego a little, knowing that my Daughter had accomplished something that I couldn't, but still I was proud that she had. Now that I think about it, they should be coming back soon.
Naruko's P.O.V:
There they were, the gates to The Hidden Leaf Village. Pervy-Sage was walking behind me, I couldn't wait to see everyone again, I wanted to see my Dad most of all. I wonder how Sasuke and Sakura are doing, I know before I left Sasuke was going to train under Orochimaru and Sakura was going to train under Tsunade, ironic isn't it, all three members of Squad 7 being trained by the three Legendary Sannin of the Leaf. As we passed through the gates I noticed the Shinobi on gate duty were Izumo and Kotetsu, and I heard them talking as I set foot into the village for the first time in 2 and a half years "Hey now, is that who I think it is?" "Sure looked like it. Things are going to get pretty interesting around here again, aren't they" "No doubt about that" I noticed then that no wind had been blowing in the village, but as soon as I walked through the gates, a gentle breeze began to blow.
Sasuke's P.O.V:
Sakura and I were on our way to the main gate, to get the daily report for the Hokage, on the way we bumped into Konohamaru, Udon and Moegi and they decided to tag along with us. When we reached the gate I noticed Izumo and Kotetsu were smiling like idiots. "Hey there you guys, what can we do for you?" "Sakura and I are here for the daily report for the Hokage" as Kotetsu was handing it over, Izumo said to us all "So you don't know yet?" "Know what?" the five of us asked together, it was Kotetsu that answered us "There's a surprise waiting for you guys in the village" then Izumo added "We were pretty shocked when they walked through the gates" it was then I realised they could only be talking about two people, Sakura must have too because she said "Sasuke, do you think?" "It's possible Sakura, lets go see if it's who we think it is. Come on!" as we ran into the village I couldn't help but hope it was Naruko, I looked at the others and noticed they had the same hope in their eyes.
Naruko's P.O.V:
We were in the centre of the village now and I wanted to see it all, "Hey Pervy-Sage, watch my bag for a few minutes please" with that I put my bag on the ground and ran up a lamp-post we were near without waiting for his reply, but I did hear him say "Always rambunctious" once I reached the top I looked around, "Oh man the village hasn't changed one bit. I'M HOME EVERYONE! NARUKO NAMIKAZE, HAS RETURNED TO THE HIDDEN LEAF VILLAGE!" I yelled out pumping my fist towards the Hokage Monument. "Man I'm feeling so nostalgic right now" then I noticed something strange about my Dads stone face "Whoa they added a Leaf Headband to my Dads face on the stone monument. Wonder how he convinced them to do it?"
Minato's P.O.V:
"ACHOO! Someone's talking about me"
Naruko's P.O.V:
I was looking out over the village when I heard someone calling my name I looked down and saw…
Sasuke's P.O.V:
As we were nearing the centre of the village I noticed someone extremely familiar, standing at the bottom of a lamp-post looking up "Sakura, look it's Lord Jiraiya" and I pointed to where he was standing when she looked at me "Yeah I see him. If Lord Jiraiya's there it can only mean he's looking up at… " and we both said together "NARUKO!" we ran up to him, looked up and there she was looking out over the village so I yelled up to her "Naruko! Naruko is that you?!" she looked down at us and Sakura yelled "When did you get back to the village Naruko?!" "Oh! Just now!" and she jumped down to meet us.
Naruko's P.O.V:
Sakura and Sasuke along with Konohamaru, Udon and Moegi. After Sakura asked her question and I answered her, I jumped down to meet them "Long time no see, huh guys?" it was great to see them again, by the looks of things Sakura had finally gotten over her obsession with Sasuke, as she wasn't blushing and fawning over him anymore, and Sasuke had gotten taller as well and probably stronger too. Then Sakura did something that shocked me she hugged me, she had definitely changed she'd never hugged me before "Welcome home, Naruko. It's good to have you back, the village hasn't been the same without you." I couldn't help but hug her back "Thanks Sakura, it's good to be back. I've missed all of you and the village so much." Sasuke spoke up then "Well, it's certainly been too quiet without you around pulling your pranks." I couldn't help but laugh at this "Sasuke, I stopped pulling pranks the moment I left the village, I've matured a lot since then" to which Pervy-Sage spoke up "She's telling the truth, she hasn't pulled any pranks or eaten any Ramen since we left the village 2 and a half years ago." the last bit definitely shocked everyone, Ramen was the one thing I couldn't live without. Then Sakura spoke up "Hey wait a sec, Naruko you're the same height as me now!" I used my hand to measure our heights "Yeah, I am. I guess I finally hit a growth spurt whilst I was gone" Sasuke started laughing at that, and Sakura and I couldn't help but join in, calming down I said "I'm not the only one whose changed. You guys have as well". All of a sudden Konohamaru yelled out "Hey! Naruko!" I turned to him and he performed the Sexy Jutsu which made Pervy-Sage go crazy and Sakura go white with horror "So what do you think, I'm no longer lacking in the chest department, or the curves huh?" he said after he cancelled the jutsu, I couldn't help but laugh again and he looked shocked that I had, so to clarify, I told him, "Konohamaru, I'm not that silly little kid anymore, and you shouldn't use that Jutsu anymore either, it's beneath a Shinobi with your potential." He looked down with a blush on his face, I could tell everyone was shocked by my statement, even Pervy-Sage.
Sakura's P.O.V:
After hearing her say that, I couldn't help but think, "Wow Naruko, you really have matured haven't you, it's not just the outside that's changed? You've grown up as well. I know it's strange but I'm going to miss the old Naruko a little bit. Knowing you, you've probably learnt some amazing new Jutsu's"
Sasuke's P.O.V:
Was this really the same Naruko Namikaze? She really has matured, now that I get a good look at her, she looks a lot stronger, and personally I think she looks more beautiful than ever. 'DID I REALLY JUST THINK THAT?!'
Naruko's P.O.V:
"So did anything interesting happen while I was gone?" this question was directed at everyone but it was Sasuke that answered first "Well we found out something interesting about the night of the Uchiha Massacre" I was shocked by this normally Sasuke wouldn't talk about that "What's that?" he had my attention now, "Well, it turned out it wasn't Itachi that massacred the Uchiha Clan, it was one of the Elder Council members, Danzo. Whilst you were gone your Dad ordered an investigation into the massacre, he thought something wasn't right about it, and the Anbu found documents in the offices of all the Elder Council, detailing the plan to massacre the Uchiha." I was shocked speechless by this but asked anyway "So, all that stuff about your father and the rest of the Uchiha Clan planning a coup de¢tat was…fabricated?" "Yeah, Danzo used a Transformation Jutsu to turn into Itachi, and killed them all, he and the other Elders were put to death, for betraying the Leaf Village last week. My brother has been innocent all along, so the Hokage is planning to have his name removed from the Bingo Book, and has sent Anbu out to search for him and bring him back to the village so he can be reinstated as a loyal Shinobi to the Leaf, when the villagers and Shinobi found out the truth about the massacre, many of them tried to get to the Elders themselves, but the Hokage made it clear that they were going to be put to death for their crimes against the Leaf." that was a lot to take in after just getting back to the village, especially with what Pervy-Sage and I had found out about Itachi on our journey "But it was also the plans they had for you and your Father, that got them killed as well Naruko." it was Sakura that said this, "What do you mean Sakura?" I had a feeling it had something to do with the Nine-Tailed Fox, everyone in the village both young and old knew that it was sealed inside me, and of course when I was a child everyone in the village was cautious around me because of it, but there had never been any hatred for me or towards me as the Foxes Chakra had never shown itself, due to the Chakra Chains I inherited from my Mother's clan, The Uzumaki Clan "Well, I did some research after we all found out about this, when a Jinchuriki sees someone they hold dear killed, they lose control of the Tailed-Beast sealed within them, once you returned, the Elders planned to have your Father murdered in front of you, so that you would lose control of the Nine-Tails and go on a rampage, then they would reseal the Fox into another child and turn he or she into a weapon to be used in times of war." everyone was silent at this revelation, Konohamaru then asked Sakura "Is that true? I knew they'd also been charged with a plot against the Hokage and his family, but they never told us what it was" she and Sasuke just nodded I spoke up after that "I think I'm going to be sick. But even if they hadn't of been found to be the ones responsible for the Uchiha Massacre, that plan wouldn't of worked anyway." every one looked curious at this, just as Sakura was about to ask what I meant I said "But I'll explain after I see my Dad, he and both the Civilian and Shinobi Councils should hear it first, then I can tell you guys ok?" everyone nodded at this. Pervy-Sage spoke up then "Well come on kid, we better go see the Hokage, so he knows you're back, and can arrange for the Councils to meet immediately" "Ok, I'll see you guys later" they all nodded and with a wave Pervy-Sage and I were off to see my Dad, Minato Namikaze, The Fourth Hokage
Minato's P.O.V:
I had just finished writing the last of the S-Ranked missions, for my Anbu, when there was a knock on the door "Come in!", the door opened and in walked Jiraiya-Sensei, "Hey Minato, long time no see, how are things in The Leaf Village?" no one else entered after him, I stood from my chair and asked "Um, Jiraiya-Sensei, if you're here Naruko must be too right?" he nodded "Well where is she?" all of a sudden a smile appeared on his face and from behind me a voice said "Right behind you Dad!" I spun around in shock and there, crouched on the sill of the window behind the Hokage's chair, was my Daughter Naruko. Jiraiya-Sensei chuckled "She wanted to make an entrance and surprise you at the same time, judging by your silence I guess she managed it huh Minato?" I could only nod as I was too preoccupied with staring at my Daughter. She had grown, and looked a lot stronger now, and she looked like her Mother a lot more now "Hey Dad, you ok? You've been staring at me for a while now" that snapped me out of it, I walked towards her and pulled her off of the sill so she was standing up in my office and pulled her into the biggest hug I could give her "Naruko, welcome home sweetheart. I've missed you so much." "I've missed you too Dad" it was the perfect reunion until Jiraiya-Sensei cleared his throat I was about to say something to him but Naruko beat me to it "What the hell Pervy-Sage! Can't you see we're having a Father-Daughter moment here!" "Well sorry Naruko, but I thought you had something important to ask your Father?" what was he talking about, whatever it was made Naruko pull away and walk to the front of my desk then she did something she'd never done before, she addressed me as the Hokage and not her Father, "Lord Hokage, I need to request an immediate meeting of yourself, your advisors, the Legendary Sannin, and both the Shinobi and Civilian Councils" I was shocked by this so I took my seat and asked her "For what purpose Naruko?" and her reply shocked me "It has to do with the Tailed-Beast that is sealed within me", she didn't sound worried, but any news concerning one of the Tailed-Beasts was news that had to be heard, and if she wanted me to call both Councils, my advisors and the Sannin she obviously wanted everyone to be aware of this information, "Very well Naruko, I'll send for them immediately. In the meantime why don't you go and wait with Jiraiya in the meeting room I'll be there shortly." she bowed and said "Ok Dad, we'll see you there" before leaving with Jiraiya, after they left I called in Shizune "You summoned me Lord Hokage?" I told her immediately what I required and she went off to summon everyone Naruko had requested be in the meeting, and with that I headed off to the meeting room.
Naruko's P.O.V:
Not long after Dad arrived, the Sannin, his advisors and the Shinobi Council turned up, a few minutes after that the Civilian Council arrived, now I was nervous, as everyone was taking their seats I walked so I was standing in the middle of the room this was it. Once everyone was seated my Dad spoke up, "I'm sure you're all wondering why you have been summoned here, the reason why is this, my Daughter Naruko Namikaze has some information for all of us regarding the Nine-Tailed Fox. I ask all of you to please hear what she has to say before asking any questions, Naruko the floor is yours please share with us the information you have for which you asked me to call this meeting." and he sat down "Thank you Lord Hokage" I turned to look at everyone in the room
Meeting Member's P.O.V:
"As all of you here know, on the day I was born, The Third Hokage, sacrificed himself to seal the Nine-Tailed Fox within me, by pushing my Father out of the way so I wouldn't grow up an orphan, as he originally should have been the one to die during the sealing" they all nodded at this "During my training with Jiraiya of the Sannin, we were attacked by a criminal organization of S-Class Missing Nin that call themselves The Akatsuki, their goal, was to capture me." Lord Orochimaru spoke out at this "For what purpose?" "That we don't know but somehow they knew that I was the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tailed Fox, please don't interrupt until I have finished" and everyone went silent "They engaged us in battle when Lord Jiraiya refused to hand me over to them, during the battle I was pushed to my limits, so much that the hold I had on the Chakra of the Nine-Tails weakened, and some of it's Chakra leaked from my seal. Once that happened they fled and Jiraiya was able to seal the Chakra of the Fox that had leaked from my seal back into me, Jiraiya has since then used his spy network to uncover as much information about the Akatsuki as possible. We know the names of three of their current members and the three we confirmed are Kisame Hoshigaki, Sasori of the Red Sand and although I, don't want to say this name after what I learned from Sasuke upon my return I have to, Itachi Uchiha" the last name sent whispers throughout the room "I would like to request that only my Father share the information about Itachi with Sasuke, since it was him that uncovered the truth about the Uchiha Massacre" the people gathered all nodded their heads in agreement at this
Naruko's P.O.V:
"Anyway back to the story, after we learned those three names one of his spies also revealed that they had found a couple of Jinchuriki that were able to control the power of the Tailed-Beasts sealed within them" Dad asked at this point "Who were they?" and I was reluctant to answer but did so anyway "Yugito Nii a Hidden Cloud Shinobi and Bee, the brother of Ay the current Raikage of The Hidden Cloud Village" Dad spoke up then and it was clear he was restraining his anger "Are you telling me that Lord Jiraiya took you into the Land of Lightning and The Hidden Cloud Village?" Pervy-Sage answered at this point "Yes I did after I sent a letter to the Raikage asking him for his brothers help and also for the help of the Shinobi Yugito, and explaining the situation with The Akatsuki, as with their attempt to get Naruko, it's obvious that they're hunting the Jinchuriki of the Tailed-Beasts" Dad went silent at this point and gestured for me to continue "Well what Pervy-Sage failed to mention was that we didn't tell the Raikage my real name, the name we used for me whilst we were in the Land of Lightning and in The Hidden Cloud Village was Naruko Uzumaki. After we explained the reason for us seeking both his brothers and Yugito's help, he agreed to let them help us in exchange for a peace treaty with The Leaf Village and Jiraiya has those documents for you Dad, we stayed in The Cloud Village for 3 weeks before I was finally able to control the power of the Nine-Tails, the result is this…" and with that I showed them what happened when I used the power of the Fox, the result was the entire room gasping in surprise. Lady Tsunade spoke up at this point "Naruko, are you really telling us what I think you are? You're really able to control the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox?" I just nodded and said "Yes, this golden Chakra that surrounds me is both of our Chakra's merged together, Yugito and Bee said that it means that our Chakra's are working together instead of the Foxes Chakra trying to take over, we decided to call it the Nine-Tails Cloak Mode and with this I can move faster than my Dad when he uses his Flying Raishin technique, well according to Lord Jiraiya anyway" Dad stood up in shock at this statement and Lord Orochimaru joked to him "Well Minato, it looks like your Daughter has surpassed you already, be careful she has her eyes and heart set on gaining the title of Hokage" to which my Dad just glared at him and everyone else in the room laughed. After that questions were asked and answers given, and the meeting was adjourned, but Dad asked for the presence of the three Sannin and Sasuke and Sakura in his office. Once Sasuke and Sakura arrived dad gave me permission to tell them what I had revealed in the meeting, so I did and both looked shocked at first but then they said they were both proud that I could now control the Fox, after that Dad told Sasuke what we had found out about Itachi, he was pretty shocked to hear that his brother was a member of the criminal organization that had tried to capture me, he turned to me and asked "Naruko, is this true?" I could only nod at his question, with that everyone was dismissed for the evening but before they left I arranged with Sasuke and Sakura to meet up with them and all our friends for breakfast tomorrow. Later that evening, as Dad and I made our way to the Namikaze Estate, I told him all about my journey with Pervy-Sage. Once we arrived home, Dad told me to go get unpacked and washed up before dinner while he made it for us both. I went up to my bedroom, and opened the door then switched on the light "Finally, home sweet home! This place hasn't changed a bit" I walked into my room and noticed my footprints showed clear floor under the dust "Whoa, well it's bound to be a little dusty being closed up for almost 3 years, and I doubt Dad would ever set foot in here without me being home" but it was becoming hard to breathe in here so I rushed to open the window and doors that led onto my balcony. I went and sat on my bed whilst picking up the picture of my Mom, "You see, I'm finally home Mom I'll come see you soon" and I began unpacking my bag. Just as I was finishing putting my clothes in the laundry, Dad called me down for dinner, he was just setting it on the table as I came down the stairs, we sat down and gave our thanks for the food, and began eating and even though I knew from Sasuke, Dad explained the whole situation with the Elder Council, after we'd finished I washed the dishes and Dad dried them, and I headed off to bed as I was pretty tired and it had been a long day. I decided that I would go visit Mom's grave, and the grave of the past Hokage's to pay my respects now that I was home, I couldn't wait to see what tomorrow would bring now that I was back where I belonged, home with my Dad, in The Hidden Leaf Village.