Just Reward

The morning sun peaked over the horizon, bathing the village with a warming glow underneath a cloudless sky despite the time of year, bursting through every crevice it touched like water. One would have to be up incredibly early in order to experience such a marvellous sight. One man had done just that...but not to see the sunrise.

The 5'11'', muscular body that sat by the kitchen table was like a statue, even as the rays shining outside the window on his left illuminated and warmed his mildly damp skin and only added to the density of his hair's bright blonde colour. His upper half remained as bare as it had during the night, a night in which he had spent the whole time drowning in sexual ecstasy with two young women he loved, and who equally reciprocated that love; his lower half was covered by a pair of black pyjama pants that ended halfway down his calves.

Naruto's arms were resting on his table, between which sat two opened scrolls. The first scroll, sitting crinkled by his flattened right hand, was a Konoha council decree that gave Naruto the legal right to defend himself against any violent Konoha citizens, be they shinobi or civilian, between the 9th and 11th of every October from then on using only less-than-lethal techniques. The reason for why any shinobi or civilian would attack him was not mentioned, but Naruto and many others already knew. Naruto had put up with so much for the past seventeen October months, and he knew that he had grown and trained enough to gain the ability to stop any more malicious actions against him. For his first generally peaceful birthday, it couldn't have been better.

The blonde turned his head in the direction of his bedroom as he thought of the two young medics silently slumbering next to a second Naruto, who had his eyes open and was dully staring at the ceiling. Originally, they had both been laying either side of the actual blonde, but Naruto's dilemma had woken him up early, and he knew sleeping it off wouldn't be an option. Acting with the best of his knowledge of stealth, he had created a shadow clone and substituted himself with it, meaning that neither girl huddled up beside him woke up from the sudden movement of losing their prop.

Naruto's mind was working on all cylinders as he ran different scenarios through his head. What he should do, what he should say…it was all starting to annoy and confuse him. He loved both of them, and if their kisses, confessions and screams during the night were anything to go by, they both loved him as well.

Therein lay the problem.

He had told himself that to choose one person would devastate the other, and he knew he'd never have the guts to allow a heart to break. But he couldn't have both of them either; village law prohibited it. What if he wanted to get married? Have children? Bigamy was effectively forbidden in Konoha. And Naruto knew he couldn't possibly look at marrying one woman and see a mistress at the same time; that was adultery in the eyes of the law. He may have only been eighteen, but Naruto figured that looking into what he would want in the years to come was a good thing to do as he felt the sun's heat creep up his skin.

It was four-thirty when he walked into the kitchen and remembered the second scroll that the Hokage had given him. She told him it was a 'suggestion' from the council elders. Naruto hadn't yet opened it because he knew those two old fools never 'suggested' anything, they only ordered, determined with having their way.

Naruto's left hand was balled up and held against his tightened lips as he stared at the table. Below the first scroll sat the second, the one he had not opened until thirty minutes before, rolled out and with every letter displayed to the brightening room. Ever since his eyes had finished moving from reading the scroll for no less than the fifth time, they remained pasted upon the paper. His body was still completely motionless, all of his energy diverted to his brain as he started thinking once more. He still couldn't believe it, and so decided to read once more.

"Jounin Shinobi Uzumaki Naruto-san,

Mitokado Homura and myself, Utatane Koharu, have conversed on numerous occasions with Godaime Tsunade-hime regarding yourself and the matter of your soon-to-be-revealed heritage. Neither of us can deny with any amount of intelligence that the blood your veins carry hold the essence of that of one of our prestigious former leaders, Namikaze Minato. The Yondaime, your father, was a shinobi of the highest degree: powerful, intellectual, courageous and unwaveringly loyal amongst others.

In light of recent events regarding your skill, determination, and service to our prosperous village, it is now clear to see that shinobi such as you are necessary in order to guarantee the protection and continued existence of Konohagakure no Sato and its citizens, not only in the modern day, but also for generations to come.

With this in mind, my peer and I put forward a proposal to the Hokage and, after much deliberation, were permitted to forward this proposal to you.

Uzumaki Naruto, we are extending to you the option of implementing the Clan Restoration Act (henceforth referred to as 'CRA') as means of bringing forth a new generation of Namikaze/Uzumaki shinobi that could very well rival that of the now defunct Uchiha.

This offer, however, is being provided with conditions:

1. You will be required to legally revert your surname to that of your proper heritage, and become known henceforth as Namikaze Naruto.

2. In order to ensure as many possible clan heirs as possible, multiple partnerships are necessary. Criteria dictates a minimum of two partners, maximum of five; of which you must be wed to your first within three years of initially executing the CRA.

3. The first legitimate heir (gender irrelevant) must be birthed within two years of your first marriage; this however, does not mean the first wedded partner has to be the first one to provide a child. A legitimate heir is one who is born to parents who both hold the Namikaze name.

Uzumaki-san, it would be wise to consider this offer, as it will bring the name Namikaze back to life, and potentially bring this village even greater prosperity. Consider this an honour, as your father was never part of a clan. The Namikaze of the past were much like the Haruno or Hatake names seen to this day.

We anticipate a hasty response.

Regards,

Utatane Koharu

Elder of the Konohagakure no Sato Council"

Naruto had a lot more thinking to do. Would he sacrifice his current name and some of his freedom in order to be with the ones he loved, or would he go it alone and find the answer himself?

All that was left was to discuss it with Ino and Sakura…