A Hero's Come Back

Chapter 10: Arrival

AN: Hey, everyone. Short chapter, but I hope y'all enjoy it. Also, next chapter will be them actually entering the village 😁. I've been waiting for this. As for the picture, try to imagine Kakashi in Sai's place. Sorry, couldn't find one with Kakashi and the Konoha 11.

I do not own Naruto.

"Z," Koken said, running next to me. "I get it, really I do, but don't you think this is a bit CRAZY?!" I charged forward, ignoring him. I'd had enough! There was a limit to how much crap I could take and I just hit the ceiling! They wouldn't get away with this!

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"How dare they?!" My hand, which had been reaching for the handle of Grandpa's office door, stopped. And, unashamedly, I started to eavesdropped. I was a kunoichi, after all. "Z, what are you doing?!" Koken hissed. I looked calmly at him. We knew each other so well, he knew what I was thinking just by looking me in the eyes. He facepalmed and shook his head, but didn't say anything.

"They can't do this!" Grandpa exclaimed. "I am the Clan Head! I choose who my successor is, not them!" I started and looked at Koken, our eyes wide open. We both knew that Grandpa was dead set on Naruto succeeding him as Clan Head. What was going on? Naruto was a direct descendant of the Head Uzumaki family, just as much as me. Koken was our cousin and technically couldn't inherit unless both Naruto and I were dead, not that he wanted to. And I've never wanted to be the Head of the Clan. Ever.

"I understand, my lord," Fumio's voice placated. "But you must calm yourself." "I agree with Lord Ashina!" Eiji boomed furiously. "I say we go teach those pompous morons a lesson!" "Eiji," Fumio hissed. "Not. Helping!" "But to treat both Lord Ashina and Lord Naruto with such disrespect!" Eiji protested. "I understand," Fumio repeated. "But retaliating in that manner will only make the situation worse! Lord Ashina is the one who chooses his successor. It is his decision." "Then why don't we just ignore those old bastards?!" Eiji exclaimed. Grandpa sighed. "While I am the only one who can choose my successor, the Elders do have quite a bit of influence. Naruto could become Head without their approval, but his leadership wouldn't last long."

Eiji growled. "This isn't fair! He'd be a great leader for this Clan!" Fumio sighed. "Unfortunately, it's not his leadership that's in question." Grandpa groaned. "The Jinchūriki." "Yes," I imagined Fumio nodding as he said that. "After what happened with Lady Kushina and how our clan has suffered due to the discrimination of the Jinchūriki, the Elders are unlikely to appoint one as the Head of the Clan." Lady Kushina. That was Naruto's mother. I remembered she had been the previous Clan heir before me and Naruto. Apparently, she had the same special chakra Naruto had, with the ability to hold back the Nine Tail's own incredibly corrosive chakra.

Grandpa sighed again. "My grandson has already refused to take the position, but I hoped that the choice would still be open to him if he ever decided. Many of the younger generation would support him. They appreciate his kindness and loyalty, unlike my generation, most of whom see only the beast he holds." There was a few minutes of silence, then Grandpa continued. "Especially with the new information I just received from the Leaf." "What is that, my lord?" Fumio asked. "At the age of 16, Naruto will be required to join the Leaf's ANBU Black Ops, due to his Jinchūriki status. Unfortunately, he'd be placed under Danzo."

The other two immediately erupted into protests. I was startled to hear Fumio yell so loudly. "Why the HELL did ANYONE think that was a good idea?!?!" Fumio cursed, shocking me farther. Who was this Danzo guy, that he could bring out such a response in the most levelheaded person in the clan? "I don't know," Grandpa responded. "Apparently, Hiruzen signed off on the requirement. I'm not sure if it is fake or if he just had no choice at the time he signed the order." "I don't mean to speak ill of the dead," Fumio said, having calmed down, while his brother was still yelling, "but this was a bad thing to allow himself to be pushed into, if that is what happened." Grandpa hummed in agreement. "Yes." He sighed. "The only way to stop it is for him to become my heir, which I would gladly do if not for those idiots."