The Revenge

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~3 Returns...and Plans


"Tsunade-sama! Kakashi and his team have returned, but there's something going on with them!" Shizune burst through the office door, panting but pale.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow at her assistant. Placing her elbows on the desk and lacing her fingers together, she gave the younger woman an appraising stare. "Explain."

Shizune opened her mouth to speak, but got no further as the door burst open.

"Ohayo, Baachan! Did you miss me?" A smiling Naruto enter the room, followed by about 20 more orange-clad blond copies. Two poofed into Kakashi and Yamato, and one changed his hair color to pink to let the Hokage know they weren't all clones. All were smiling brightly.

Frowning, Tsunade growled, "What's the meaning of this, gaki?"

Naruto, or at least the first to have entered, leaned across her desk and whispered, "We need to talk to you in private; get rid of Shizune. And can you make this place soundproof?"

Tsunade sat up straight in surprise. What was so important that Shizune couldn't hear? The woman was her assistant, and as such, was privy to quite a lot of A- and S-ranked secrets. Intrigued, the Hokage dismissed Shizune, asking her to see to it that they weren't disturbed until Tsunade herself opened the door.

"But...Hokage-sama! You may need my input. Should I alert the council that Naruto-kun has returned? They have been asking."

Seeing Naruto give a tiny shake of his head, Tsunade gave a firm, "NO!", and sent the woman out.

"Now," she said, when the door clicked shut, "What the hell is going on!?"

Naruto asked her to put up a sound barrier and he'd tell her everything. The older blonde "Hmph"-ed, but did as he asked.

Once the barrier was up, Naruto dispelled his clones, and all the rest dropped their henge. Tsunade gasped. The Uchiha had stepped up to stand next to the blue-eyed blond. He told the story as Madara had told it to him. The Hokage was shocked by what was revealed, though knowing the council as she did, she shouldn't be. She asked them all to replace the henge, then went and opened the office door. "Shizune! Get me all the files on Uchiha Itachi NOW! I want every bit of information, from his pre-Academy days to the day of the massacre! GO!!"

"Hai, Hokage-sama!" When she ran off, the Godaime re-entered the room. Sitting in her chair, she began to massage her forehead, feeling a headache coming on. No one moved or spoke until Shizune returned with a thick folder. "That's all of it, Tsunade-sama. Is there anything else I can do for you?" Clearly, Shizune wanted to remain and see what was going on.

Tsunade dismissed her, and re-erected the sound barrier. She carefully went over every page of the files. The henge was dropped, and the group of ninja in the room sat down to wait.

Several hours went by before finally the last page was replaced in the folder. Tsunade turned and stared out the window, deep in thought. When she turned to face her guests, she had an evil glint in her eyes. "There's going to be some major changes in Konoha in the near future. I'm sure I can count on all of you to do your parts to ensure the transition is smooth with minimal bloodshed." She stared each person in the eyes, and they nodded, slow smiles lighting their faces. "Alright. Here's what we are going to do......"

Shizune looked up when the Hokage's office door opened and out trooped 20 Narutos. She walked into the room to see Tsunade gazing out the window, sake bottle in hand. "Hokage-sama! You need to put that away now! You have paperwork that needs to be done! You haven't worked all day!"

Tsunade glanced over her shoulder at the younger woman before turning back to her view of the village. "Shizune..........Shut up and get out. I'm taking the rest of the day off." So saying, she stood and marched past the gaping woman, taking Itachi's files with her and slamming the door on her way out.


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The first part of the plan was set in motion. All the Narutos headed for the Uchiha district. There, those who were in henge changed back. The clones Naruto set to cleaning the place to make it habitable. The two groups agreed that it would be best if Sasuke and his team lay low, while the rest of them went to talk to their friends and aquaintances. First, they would sound them out about their thoughts on the council members. Then, they would reveal why they asked. They would describe Itachi's treatment and dilemma prior to the massacre; see what people's responses were. If favorable, they would ask if they wanted to join them for a small coup on the council. They also planned to take out Root. Sai was the one designated for that part.

Naruto had another agenda planned. He was going to recruit some people *coughKonohamaruCorpscough*, and set them up to help him perform some major pranks on all the villagers who had abused and mistreated him over the years. This would ensure they never forgot the blond kyuubi-vessel, and would for evermore think twice before mistreating a fellow human-being. Particularly those unable to defend themselves. Especially a prankster such as Naruto, who became a strong shinobi. He rubbed his hands in glee. This had been a long time coming.

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The Rookie Nine plus Team Gai surreptitiously made their way to the old Team 7 training ground, after a word from one of the four that had been on the mission to find Naruto. Now, they stood around waiting for those four to show up. They talked among themselves, speculating on what could be so important that they had to meet way out here. Their questions were soon answered once Sakura, Kiba, Hinata and Shino arrived. They were told everything; about the kyuubi (with Naruto's consent), Itachi and the massacre, the council, Root, Sasuke's return, and the Hokage's plan. All agreed to take part. Kiba and Sakura high-fived, grinning madly. This was going to work!

In the next stage, all were to approach their relatives and casually ask what they knew about the massacre, and about the kyuubi. The teens were to ask about the treatment of Naruto when he was younger, and why most villagers still treated the boy so poorly. If their parents/relatives denied knowledge, they were to inform them that THEY knew the truth, about EVERYTHING. Let's see how the older generation reacted to THAT! Depending on their responses, they would either be recruited to join in on taking down the council and Root, or left in the dark as to what the young people of the village were up to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Tsunade had bought half a dozen bottles of sake, and gone looking for Naruto. It was past time he learned the truth of his heritage, council be damned! She couldn't wait to see the shock on their wrinkled old faces when they learned the truth. She found the younger blond just as he finished his conversation with Konohamaru. She asked him to follow her, and they climbed to the top of the Hokage Monument. The Godaime settled herself on the head of the Yondaime and stared out over the village. It all looked to peaceful and pleasant, but looks could be deceiving. This place was rotten at the core, and only a thorough cleansing would make it better.

She patted the spot beside her and asked Naruto to sit. He gave her a quizzical look, but did as she requested. Once he was seated, Tsunade began to speak.

"It's been sixteen years now since the night of the kyuubi's attack, the night you were born. You may not know this, but I was there when you were born." A sad smile graced her countenance, and she gave Naruto a side glance before continuing. "Your mother was so brave; she truly wanted you, loved you. She had been injured in the attack and went into labor. She lived just long enough to hold you and give you a kiss. Your father was devastated. I think, if there was any other way to stop the demon, he would have done it. But there you were, and he had the jutsu. If you hadn't been born when you were, or had died with your mother, the kyuubi would have continued his rampage until the entire village was razed."

Tsunade drank from one of the bottles she had brought with her. Tears coursed silently down her cheeks. This was difficult, reliving that night; as hard as it was for her to relate, it must be doubly hard for Naruto to hear. She couldn't bear to look at his face; silent accusation must surely be there. She had known who his parents were all along, after all, and never told him. Finishing the first bottle, Tsunade resumed her story.

"Minato-kun took you out to that battlefield knowing he would die, leaving you an orphan. His last wish was that you were to be seen as a hero; the one who saved us all. But he didn't realize the amount of pain and anger the villagers held for the kyuubi due to lost loved ones. Sarutobi, however, did see. He made a proclamation stating that anyone who told you or any of the younger generation about the fox being sealed inside you would be put to death. He wanted you to grow up as normally as possible. However, the villagers managed to get around that. Their hatred for you, who they saw as a reincarnation of the kyuubi in human form, was passed on to their children. That's why you were shunned by everyone growing up."

She pause to open another bottle and take a drink. "Then you found out about the fox. Sarutobi should have told you then about your parentage; I still don't understand why he didn't. Anyway, now you know. I wouldn't blame you for hating me; I hate myself at the moment."

Silence filled the air. Naruto sat on top of the Yondaime's head and thought of all the Hokage had told him. His mother died that night; that makes sense. As for his father...Did she mean that he was the one to seal the demon inside him? But...the Yondaime was said to have....That means his father was the Yondaime!? "The YONDAIME IS MY FATHER?!" He couldn't believe it! When he was little he used to fantasize that it was so, but to find out it was true!? "How many?" he whispered.

Tsunade turned to see the downcast head. Tears dripped from his cheeks. She was puzzled; 'how many what?' How many died?

Naruto lifted his head to gaze steadily at the woman he had seen as a sort of grandmother figure. As if he had read her thoughts, he elaborated. "How many people knew he was my father?"

"Only three: Sarutobi-sensei, Jiraiya and myself. You were given your mother's maiden name to protect you from your father's enemies. You were born Namikaze Naruto, son of the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato and his wife, Uzumaki Kushina. You look so much like your father; I'm surprised no one ever figured it out." She gave him a half-hearted smile.

Naruto didn't know what he should feel, but he just felt numb. All these years. All these years and nobody knew. Even Kakashi-sensei didn't know. How could he NOT know? The Fourth was his sensei, for Kami's sake! Taking a deep breath to get his emotions under control, he asked, "So my real name is Namikaze, not Uzumaki? Would it be alright if I were to start going by that now? I'm a ninja and can take care of myself, after all. I have enemies of my own; what's a few more?" He turned to Tsunade and smiled wryly.

She smiled back, and offered him a drink from the bottle she held. He refused with a quick shake of his head. Shrugging, she tilted the bottle and drained it. "Namikaze Naruto it is then. Is there anything else you want to know?"

Naruto contemplated for a minute, then asked if she could tell him what his parents looked like. Maybe when he was more comfortable talking about it, he would ask more about them. Right now, it was a bit overwhelming to find out your idol was your own father.

Tsunade smiled hugely. "I can do better than that; I've got pictures!" She went to stand up, and almost lost her balance. She might have fallen if Naruto hadn't reached out and grabbed her arm. He kept a tight grip on her as they walk back down the mountain. Tsunade led him to her rooms. She had him sit on the couch while she began to dig through some boxes in the corner. She emerged triumphantly waving a stack of photos in her hand. "They are all yours. By the way, did you know that Jiraiya named you before you were born? Haha. He was also named your godfather; that's primarily why he took you on as a student."

Naruto gaped at her; all the truth about his unknown past was coming out. He didn't know how much more he could handle; he needed time to process it. He took the photos and bid her goodbye. He turned at the door and ran back to her, gave her a hug, whispered "Thank you," and ran out the door like the hounds of hell were on his heels.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Naruto wandered down the street, staring at the top photo. It showed a smiling young couple: A blond man with his arms wrapped around a heavily pregnant red headed woman. She was very beautiful, and he recognized the man as the Fourth Hokage. His parents. Briefly, he wondered who took the picture, but decided it really didn't matter. He wanted to share his new-found knowledge with someone, but who? When he glanced up to get his bearings, he realized he was in front of Iruka's apartment. With a smile, he knocked on the door. He was surprised when it was opened by Hatake Kakashi, who ushered him inside quickly and shut the door. Iruka was sitting on his couch, a stunned look on his face. He didn't even acknowledge Naruto's entry.

"I just told him. It's taking him awhile to assimilate it all. I think we'll be able to count on his cooperation, though." Kakashi said, giving the blond one of his eye-smiles. "What's that in your hand? Pictures? Ooh, let me see!" The somewhat immature jounin snatched the photos out of his former student's hands, and sitting beside Iruka, started to look through them. After the third one, he stopped as it finally clicked what he was looking at. "Whe.....Where did you.... find these?" He stared from the pictures in his hands to Naruto and back to the pictures.

Naruto sat on the other side of Iruka and said with a soft smile, "They're my parents. Tsunade-baachan gave them to me. Did you know...that your sensei was my father?" Naruto wasn't angry, just curious as he glanced over at the stunned copy-nin.

"No. Not at first, anyway. I only realized it when we were looking for you. I'm so sorry, Naruto, for not seeing it sooner. You're the spitting image of your father. We had been told both you and Kushina-san had died. I should have known that your father wasn't one to choose a baby at random to use for sealing the fox demon. He wasn't one to ask of another what he himself wasn't willing to do. In a lot of ways, you're just like him. But your personality is more like your mother's. Would you like to know more about them?"

Grateful for the offer, Naruto had to decline. "I'm still trying to make sense of it right now, but thank you. It's a lot to take in all at once, you know?" He scratched the back of his neck in a nervous gesture. "Maybe some other time, ne?"

Iruka came out of his stupor to find Kakashi and Naruto literally talking over him as they passed pictures back and forth. Catching a glimpse of one as it went by, he grabbed it. "Is that the Yondaime?" He looked left and right, waiting for an answer.

Naruto was the one to reply. "Iruka-sensei, these are my parents. I'm also changing my name. I found out my birth-name is really Namikaze Naruto. Isn't this great?! Yondaime was my father! I'm not some nobody!" For the first time since Sasuke left for Sound, Naruto smiled one of his big, cheesy grins. The only difference being this one was real; it even lit up his eyes. Iruka thought his heart would burst, seeing that smile; it had been missing for much too long. He was happy for the boy, but he still saw Naruto as a son, even if they all knew who his parents now were. Iruka gave the teen a crushing hug.

" 'Ru..ka-sen..sei! Can't...breathe!"

Iruka let go, apologizing profusely. Smiling himself, he offered to treat Naruto to all the ramen he could eat to celebrate. Kakashi was invited to join them; he accepted.


~~~~~~~~~~~~


The house was clean; Naruto's clones had even gone to the market to buy food for the place. Sasuke was somewhat surprised to discover that it wasn't all instant ramen. He recalled the few times in their genin days when he had to go wake the dobe up. Back then, all that was in the blond's cabinets had been boxes and boxes of cup ramen. He smirked; maybe the dobe had finally grown out of his obsession with the horrible stuff. Naaah! He wouldn't be Naruto without his ramen. By the way, what was keeping the dobe? And where were the others? They had all agreed to meet back here once everything had been set in motion.

At that moment, said ramen-obsessed blond was currently working on his 15th bowl of Ichiraku ramen. He had informed the owner, Teuchi, of his name change, and the man had stated that Naruto's meal was on the house. Up to 20 bowls, though; he had to set a limit somewhere.

Teuchi had guessed long ago who the boy's parents were; this just confirmed it. He was happy for the teen; he remembered how sad the boy would get when someone would call him a no-name orphan that nobody wanted. It had made him furious, knowing how much the Yondaime and his wife were looking forward to the birth of their child. He hadn't said anything about it, because for some reason, the Hokage wanted it kept a secret. While Naruto and his two companions ate, they chatted with the kind ramen chef.

Finally full, Naruto looked up at the man. "Oi, oji-san! Can I ask you something?" When he received a nod, he continued. "You didn't seem too surprised when I told you my new name; did you know my parents?"

"They were some of my best customers, before you came along. It wasn't hard to figure it out; you look alot like your old man." Teuchi ended his statement with a large smile. "You seem to have something else on your mind; want to talk about it?"

"Can you close up the stand for a while? We'd like to discuss some business with you, in private," Kakashi requested.

Ichiraku Teuchi was intrigued; what could be so important as to ask such a thing? "How about going to my place? It's just behind the stand. Ayame! I'm going out for a bit! Watch the place, will you?" he yelled to his daughter. He led the way around to his home and ushered the three ninja inside. Closing the door, he asked, "What's with all the secrecy?"

The ninja looked at each other, and with a silent signal, Naruto began. "You know I have the Kyuubi sealed in me, right?" An affirmative nod. "You never let that stop you from treating me like a normal person, so I want to let you know what's going on. We are going to take out the council, and the Root ANBU. We'll also be creating mayhem among the civilian population. What I'm about to tell you is an S-ranked secret, but I think you can be trusted not to spread it around."

Teuchi was shocked! Take out the elders!? Just what was going on?! He listened quietly to Naruto's tale, relayed with the help of Kakashi. By the end, he was silently fuming. How DARE the council betray the trust of the village! Of course he would help in any way possible. He wouldn't mind paying back some of his fellow vendors for their past, and present, treatment of Naruto. He listened to the plans as laid out by the Hokage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Naruto and the two older ninja parted ways, Iruka stating that he had classes to teach in the morning, and still needed to grade papers tonight. He hugged Naruto once more before departing, with a promise to start a new teaching regimen in the morning. Kakashi headed for the Hokage tower to inform Tsunade of their progress thus far. Naruto slowly walked in the direction of the Uchiha district.

"Tadaima!" he called upon entering the large house. He was met by a scowling Sasuke.

"What took you so long, Dobe? We've been waiting hours to hear how it's going!" The raven pushed Naruto into the main room where the other four fugitives were sitting.

Naruto took a seat and smiled at the group. "Well, first of all, I'm not a dobe. I found out who my parents were, Sasuke! You'll never guess!" His smile lit up the room, putting the lamps to shame. "The Yondaime was my father! Can you believe it, Sasuke?"

O.o "..."

Naruto continued to tell Sasuke and the others about his parents and why up until now, no one had known of their relationship with him. The boy's happiness was contagious, and soon all were smiling and joining in on the conversation.

Karin even put in her opinion of the secret. "So, the old Hokage hid your parentage, not only from you, but the rest of the village? Man, that's cold! He could have told someone, and let you be adopted or something. I can understand him not wanting Iwa or anyone from outside the village finding out, but to leave you to grow up all alone!? What kind of asshole was he?!" Thus began a heated argument between her and the blond about what kind of man Sarutobi had been.

Madara chuckled. Who knew old Sarutobi could be so devious as to hide such a fact? If what he was hearing was correct, the council, and most of the villagers, would be on their knees licking the kyuubi-vessel's feet, begging for forgiveness when the truth was made public. He was still thinking of how to use the kyuubi-vessel to destroy Konoha, but he was thinking of first seeing how the current plan worked out. Then he would begin working on his own plan. The masked man decided he didn't need to listen to any more, and took himself off to bed.