Naruto Uzumaki: Heir of the Mage

Written By: Rave Rose of Twilight

Warning: I don't own anything.

Chapter Six: To Be or Not To Be A Mage: A Choice Must Be Made!

If there was one thing to be said about Vale Magical Academy, it was that their sensitivity to Mana was arguably a powerful defensive and offensive tool. So when a sudden spike of Mana and the instantaneous arrival of two people was suddenly felt by the teachers, older students, and Headmistress Albert, people were quickly on guard.

Which is why Kushina Uzumaki-Namikaze and Kurenai Yuhi found themselves suddenly surrounded and confronted by the Headmistress and three professors.

"Welcome to Vale Magical Academy," the Headmistress said before turning her gaze to Kurenai. "It's good to see you again, Kurenai. What brings you two to our wonderful academy?"

Kurenai bowed politely, though Kushina opted not to. "I'm here to bring my son home,: Kushina said firmly.

"We have many students attending the Academy, ma'am," she replied. "You'll have to be more specific."

"His name is Naruto Uzumaki."

"I...see," the Headmistress muttered to herself, nodding to herself. "I suppose you should follow me to my office then." Headmistress Albert turned to two of her comrades. "Master Geralt. Professor Loki. Can you gather Naruto Uzumaki and bring him to my office?"

"Of course, Headmistress Albert," Geralt said politely before taking their leave toward the dormatories while the Headmistress and Professor Thor led Kushina and Kurenai to the Headmistress' Office.

'A long time ago, I had a dream. A dream to become a powerful shinobi and Hokage like my father. Years later, I discover that that dream was impossible to achieve because my father betrayed the Esper of Death, which resulted in my chakra being devoured until I barely had more than even the most average villager. I felt like a prisoner in my own house, watching on as my sisters trained to become what I could have only dreamt of becoming. Now? Now...my dream has changed. Now...I dream of a village like Konoha, but it isn't the same. A village where anyone is welcome, regardless of their appearance, race, gender, disabilities, or Blood Gifts and Curses. A place where the misfits of society and the unappreciated can come without fear of reprisal. A village free of judgement.'

"That sounds like a beautiful dream, Naruto-kun," came the sensual voice of Yasaka through their shared mental link. "A land where even Jinchuriki can live free of judgment and stigma."

'Not just Jinchuriki,' Naruto mentally responded as he and Yukari were finishing up their homework. 'But people whose Blood Curses affect their daily life. People with Kekkei Genkai that cause others to look at them as freaks or sub-human. People who suffer from maladies that would otherwise prevent them from doing what they want to do.'

"People like you," Yasaka questioned, though she knew the answer already.

Naruto paused in his reading as his eyes turned downcast. 'Yeah,' he answered solemnly. 'People like me.'

"Naruto?"

"Hmm," he hummed, turning his attention to his study partner.

"Are you alright," Yukari asked, having noticed his emotions play across his face for a few seconds before they had returned to a semi-state of what she recognized as his normal expression of joy. "You seemed kinda distant."

Naruto smiled softly at her. "I'm fine," he returned. "Just thinking about my 450 word essay for Professor Juniper's class. I was thinking about squeezing a few more sentences into it in case a few parts of it came off as vague."

Yukari giggled, shaking her head. "We both looked over each others essays for Professor Atterby, Naruto," she said. "You're worrying about nothing." She closed the book sitting on her lap before setting it on the coffee table, Naruto deciding to follow suit. "And since we're two chapters ahead of the rest of the class, I think we can finally call this study session a success."

Naruto set his book beside Yukari's on the coffee table. As he was about to help her up from their seated position, a knock on the door caught their attention. He took her hand and helped her back up before going to the door and opening it. His eyes widened marginally in surprise when he was greeted by Professor Loki and Master Geralt. "Professor. Master Geralt. What's up," he addressed the duo with a casual tone.

The two teachers looked hesitant before looking to one another. Loki sighed, hanging his head, before returning his attention to one of his favorite students. "Headmistress Albert needs to see you in her office," he answered in a serious tone that even Yukari believed he was incapable of. "You aren't in trouble, but the matter at hand is somewhat...serious."

Naruto nodded weakly before turning toward the dorm room. "Albedo-chan! Erza-chan," he called out, getting the pair of Pokegirls to his side within moments. "We'll be going to the Headmistress' Office." He looked at the Imp sitting calmly on his shoulder. "Jade-chan, do you think you can finish up lunch for Yukari-chan and me while we're out?"

The Imp hopped off his shoulder, returning to her normal height. "Of course, Master," she said with a polite bow and a smile. "When should Yukari-sama and I expect you back?"

"If we're lucky, maybe half an hour to an hour tops," he answered as Yukari came to stand beside Jade. "If we're not as lucky, it could be a few hours."

"I'd go with the latter over the former, Naruto," Loki replied with a mental wince. Naruto frowned slightly, wondering just what the issue could be that it would make Professor Loki get serious and could take him a few hours to deal with. After all, he was only an Alpha Student. "Let's go and get this over with."

Naruto nodded and was about to head out the door. "Do you really think you'll need both of your Pokegirls for this, Naruto," Yukari called from her position.

Naruto chuckled warmly. "Maybe not, but it doesn't hurt to be prepared for anything," he replied. "Besides, I'm sure they could use the chance to leave the dorm. They hardly have the chance to get out and stretch their legs since I'm in class or busy with homework all day. It's not fair to them."

Yukari gave him a warm smile in return. "Just don't do anything stupid to get yourself in trouble," she warned in a mocking tone, causing Naruto to roll his eyes.

"Yeah, yeah," he said as he waved off her taunt. "I swear you're starting to sound like my girlfriend or something."

Yukari blushed at the accusation Naruto so casually tossed her way. While she knew Naruto fairly well, she wasn't about to start calling him her boyfriend. He was just one of the few people that she could tolerate being around. He was just as smart as she was, though sometimes he had a tendency to downplay it. He was an amazing Tamer...or had the potential to be a great one, if Erza and Albedo were accurate in their assessment of the eleven-year-old boy who was about to turn twelve in a month or so. And considering just how much Mana he had, he would likely be an incredible Mage. He was also kind-hearted, playful, and energetic when the subject was something he was passionate about. He practically absorbed anything he was taught like a sponge. Alongside Albedo, Naruto would often bring Yukari into some of their pranks against people who tried to bully them because they were so much younger than their fellow Alphas.

When she thought of the kind of person she wanted to date, a part of her couldn't help but think about Naruto as her ideal boyfriend, though if asked about it, she would refute it outright day and night.

"Shut up, Naruto," she shouted in offense, causing Erza to giggle and Albedo's eyes to narrow at her Master's 'study partner' with suspicion.

Naruto chuckled as he and his two teachers left followed closely by Albedo and Erza. The trip to the Headmistress' Office seemed to go by a lot faster than he last remembered, though he partially attributed that to the sense of urgency that Professor Loki and Master Geralt had approached him with.

"Please wait out here," Geralt asked, though Naruto understood that it was a command. "I'll inform the Headmistress that you're here."

Naruto and his Pokegirls nodded while Geralt entered the office. As Geralt closed the door behind him, he mentally groaned as he was practically forced to watch as Mrs. Namikaze and Headmistress Albert were being restrained by their respective guardians in order to keep them from jumping over the large oak desk and assaulting one another. Meanwhile, off to the side Headmistress Albert's Archmage, Hecate, sighed beside him as she rubbed the bridge of her nose in embarrassment.

"Mistress," Hecate chimed in firmly. "Master Geralt has arrived."

The two combative women paused and turned to see Master Geralt's annoyed expression. 'I should have known better than to allow two temperamental women to speak to one another in the same room,' he thought to himself. "Naruto is waiting outside, Headmistress Albert."

Jessica and Kushina both returned to their seats, taking a moment to recompose themselves, though the tension between the two was still quite palpable. "Bring him in, Master Geralt," she said politely, getting the man to nod. He turned around and opened the door, allowing Naruto, Albedo, and Erza into the room before closing the doors again.

"You wanted to see me, Headmistress Albert," he said, cautious of just how casually he spoke considering the fact that there were two people in the room he didn't know.

However, before Jessica could reply, Kushina stood up from her seat and faced him with a warm smile on her face. Naruto's countenance turned hard and cold at the sight of his mother.

Erza bowed politely to the woman, though it was not a bow of subservience that she used to perform when she was hired by the Namikaze family. Rather, it was simply one of brief recognition and, much like Naruto, held within it a cold sense of resentment within. "Hello, Lady Namikaze," she said, though much like her body language, her tone was anything but friendly.

"Soichi," Kushina said, ignoring the two Pokegirls standing beside Naruto. "It's time for you to come home."

"What," Naruto asked with a slight rumble in his throat that sounded like a growl to Albedo.

"Headmistress Albert showed me your files," she said. "Your Blood Gifts and Curses. Your grades. With all of this proof, you can easily become a Ninja Tamer! Aren't you excited?"

Naruto had to hold back the groan that threatened to come out. "I'm not going," he said firmly, bringing a look of shock to his mother's face.

"But you can finally become a Ninja Tamer, just like you always wanted," she said, her tone growing firmer as she continued. "Aren't you happy?"

"You think I care anymore," he said harshly, but Kushina didn't flinch. "I've made friends here. I've been studying my ass off to get the grades I've gotten. After all of my hard work, do you think I'll be willing to just let it all go so easily?"

"You are my son and I can and will be bringing you home to Konoha," Kushina said. "Can't you see that your disappearance has had an effect on your sisters? Your father? Me? We've had ANBU searching throughout the Land of Fire because you'd been kidnapped!"

"But I wasn't kidnapped," Naruto shouted. "I left on my own volition. My own free will. Do you even think that if I was still in Konoha, you'd be so willing to let me become a Ninja Tamer right now?! NO! I'd still be locked away in that damned house like some kind of invalid because DAD, in all of his WISDOM, decided that it was better to go back on a deal with the FUCKING ESPER OF DEATH! AND WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?! I CAN'T USE CHAKRA! BECAUSE OF HIM!"

Kushina's face went from stoic to shock...to depressed. "I asked you both several times to teach me to become a Ninja. To train me. But you just blew me off with some pitiful excuse only to be completely willing when the twins asked for training like I did just a few minutes prior," he said coldly. "To be forced to watch from my room as you trained them how to access their chakra. Teach them basic jutsu and even a few advanced ones while I was treated like a porcelain doll until you finally hired Erza-chan. Then, just as we're getting close and beginning a relationship, you fire her and tell her she can never see me again. Everything that has happened to me...has been your fault. You want me to come back to Konoha. Why? I'll be just as miserable as I was before I left and you can go back to pretending to be the happy little family you've always been. Here? I have everything I could ask for. Friends who only know I'm from the Elemental Nations rather than the son of someone important. Teachers who are more than willing to teach me because I want to learn instead of because I'm the Hokage's son. Every relationship I've forged since I left has been mutual. Not someone kissing my ass because I'm the son of an important figure in the Elemental Nations or because I'm some kind of royalty from a dying clan. This is my home now and I'm not about to give that up without a fight."

Erza and Albedo both settled into a fighting stance, but Headmistress Albert raised her hand in a placating manner before turning her attention to Kushina. "As you can see, Mrs. Namikaze, Naruto is far more than mature enough to make decisions concerning his well-being," she said as she stepped in front of Naruto and looked Kushina in the eye. "When he accepted the scholarship, he was recognized as an adult. So if he decides to stay, regardless of your desire to remove him from the Academy as his mother, he is allowed to stay."

"He's 11," Kushina growled. "He doesn't understand what he wants."

"I understand a lot better than you," Naruto growled. "I forget. Who was the one who lied to my face about why I can't be a ninja for the last several years? You. Who was forced to spend the last eight Kyubi Festivals at the house...alone? Me. I couldn't become a Ninja. You refused to let me become a Tamer until you finally saw my Blood Gifts and Curses report. You set up a camera in my room, for crying out loud! Am I some kind of prisoner that you have to keep an eye on 24/7?!"

"You don't understand," she insisted. "A month ago, your sister had been kidnapped and nearly raped!"

"And where were you during that event," Naruto questioned. "Rubbing elbows with clan heads? Having a good old time until someone else noticed someone else had gone missing?" Kushina looked to be somewhere between furious at the accusation and depressed that it was her own son that was making them. "The only reason you spent your time with them and not me was because they were Jinchuriki, wasn't it?"

Kushina moved to slap him, but her hand was stopped by Albedo, who had gripped it tightly in her clawed hand. Tears were falling from her eyes and Naruto flinched at the sight. "What else could we have done," she quietly sobbed. "We didn't know how much Chakra she left you with and if the girls didn't learn how to control their chakra, the Kyubi's chakra might have influenced them to attack anyone they were teamed up with. Did we feel bad about it? You damn sure bet we did. But what would you have done in our place?"

"I wouldn't have let one of my children suffer in favor of the other two," he said softly. "I would have treated them all equally, regardless of their supposed disability because that's what a parent should do. Not wallow around in self-pity, hoping that the child I abandoned doesn't resent or loathe me because I thought they weren't old enough to understand. Instead of making excuses, I would be looking for answers and ideas and ways on how to help my child feel normal instead of isolated from society because they were disabled while my other two children were forced to bear a burden most couldn't conceive." Naruto looked over to Albedo and nodded, getting her to release her grip on Kushina's hand, causing it to fall to her side limply. He turned around, causing his Pokegirls to do the same and proceeded to leave the room. "For what it's worth, I didn't want to make you cry, but after everything I've been through, I don't think it's possible for me to call you my parents. You were never really parents to me. But that doesn't mean I hate you. I don't care about either you or Minato, but I don't hate you either. I just don't need you anymore."

Naruto left the room with Albedo and Erza following close behind, the door closing behind them with a loud boom. The silence between the trio was deafening. Nobody wanted to say anything after what they had just witnessed...and with good reason. Even Erza, who had no loyalty or love for the Namikaze matriarch, felt a twinge of guilt about the conversation that took place and how she should have stopped it sooner. Even Naruto seemed to have been affected by his own tone toward her. Though he sounded cold, through their bond, she knew that he resented what he has said shortly after they left his lips.

"Naruto-kun," she said softly once they were outside of the Administrative Building, taking him by the hand and pulling him into a small, hidden alcove where the shadows covered them from the view of any who might pass by. She pulled him into her breasts and hugged him tightly. Slowly, as she anticipated, he began to silently sob into her bust.

"Why," he asked through the tears he tried to reign in. "I didn't want to say those things. Why did I say those things?"

Erza smiled softly as she stroked his blond hair, comforting him as best as she could. "Sometimes, when you've bottled up as much anger, sadness, and resentment as you have, when confronted with the cause of all of that, you can't help but release all of that built up frustration. Sometimes it can slowly come out, but sometimes it can come out all at once. Rarely does anyone have control over how and when those kinds of things come out," she said softly into his ear.

"But she was crying," he said. "I never wanted her to cry. I just..."

"...wanted her to see that you could take care of yourself," Erza asked, though it sounded more like a statement. "Wanted her to see how far you've come since you left Konoha?" He nodded into her breasts. "Even if you don't see her as your mother, she still sees you as her son and her maternal instincts give her a desire to protect you. Sadly, she didn't act as well on those instincts as she probably should have as you were growing up and she knows it. She does regret not being there for you. Could she have handled it better? Yes. Could you have handled it better? Of course. What matters is how you feel about what happened. I know you wish things had gone differently. That you could have said things differently than you did. But what's done is done. You can't take it back now and you'll have to live with the consequences of your actions. But you stood up for yourself...and you still have Albedo-chan, Jade-chan, Yukari-chan, Jessica-sama, your teachers, and me to go to if you ever find yourself when you need our help and support."

The young boy continued to sniffle into her breasts, burying himself as deep as he could between the fleshy mounds. After a few minutes, he withdrew himself from her and wiped his eyes on his sleeve. Thankfully, the only fluids that came from him as he cried were tears. He smiled weakly up to Erza and pecked her lips. "Thank you, Erza-chan," he said as he finished wiping the remaining tears from his eyes, though they were still bloodshot and slightly puffy. He walked over and did the same for Albedo, thanking her, though admitting only to himself that he probably should have taken that slap instead of simply watching Albedo stop it cold.

Meanwhile...

In the Headmistress' Office, Kushina was barely holding back the tears while Kurenai tried to console her. Behind her, Jessica and the three professors stood there silently, replaying the whole conversation back in their minds. None of them had ever asked Naruto why he wanted to join the Vale Magical Academy or why he wanted to leave Konoha. They valued his privacy and figured he'd tell them when he was ready. Now, Jessica was curious about her youngest charge and had a feeling that maybe things weren't as they appeared to be with the young Alpha Mage.

"I'm deeply sorry about that," Jessica started, breaking the silence. "I had no idea that he would say those things or else I wouldn't have brought him here. But I must ask...what did he mean by those things he said?"

Kushina stood straight before turning to the seat she had occupied a moment ago while Jessica had done the same. "It's personal and I'd rather not say," she said firmly, having wiped away the tears and her visage returning to a stoic stone countenance.

"I...see," Jessica responded weakly. "I'll respect your privacy, but I'm afraid I must ask you two to leave the premises immediately. Your presence is having a negative effect on my students."

Kushina nodded before leaving the room followed by Kurenai. Once the two were gone and their presence couldn't be felt, the teachers, elder students, and Jessica all relaxed. Still, there were undoubtedly questions that the trio of professors and Headmistress all shared concerning Naruto, his family, and Konoha.

The following days had been...difficult for Naruto. Understandably so. After such a harsh confrontation with his mother, the teachers had understandably been a little easy going on him. Something Naruto had noticed and appreciated. Even after a week had passed, the young mage-in-training still felt guilty about how he spoke to Kushina, though those feelings had slowly waned as he kept up on his studies. He never told Yukari what had happened and she seemed to understand. Of course, she did say that when he felt comfortable enough to tell her, she'd be more than willing to listen. Even Yasaka had been supportive of him. He'd heard her growling angrily when they first entered the room and only realized why when he finally laid eyes on Kushina. Since then, she had been unusually quiet outside of their time in his Mindscape. Even when he was awake, she would usually be more vocal and advise him in his daily life and in his studies what she believed was important, what was not, and what she thought he should practice when he was still practicing his Tamer Techniques.

Eventually, after two weeks, Naruto had moved on and things had returned to a relative sense of normality for him and his Pokegirls. Erza had been completely supportive and Albedo had been a comforting whisper in his ear. Tamings had come more often during the past two weeks. Mostly as a way for the two Pokegirls to comfort him in his brief bout of depression. Now, Tamings had resumed their usual schedule between once or twice a week based on the workload he had coming from the Professors.

He'd also increased the degree of their training since then, making them work harder on their physical skills, mental skills, and strategies when fighting together or one-on-one. If something dangerous happened when he was away from the safety of the Academy, he wanted to be able to fight back. Both Erza and Albedo seemed to take on the challenge with great effort, going far beyond what he'd ask them to do.

However, at their current rate of growth, Naruto always asked himself if he may be pushing them too hard based on his internal conflicts and paranoia. He had a feeling that their strength and bonds would be tested to their breaking point in the days to come.

Konoha...

Kushina and her team had returned to Konoha within two weeks time. This allowed Kushina the chance to replay the events that happened at the Vale Magical Academy through her mind to see how she could have reacted differently. Naturally, she reported everything to her husband, though choosing to carefully edit the story slightly. She would tell him the whole story in private when she was confident that there were no strange ears listening in.

Naturally, Minato had been upset, but also somewhat happy. His son hadn't been kidnapped by enemy shinobi and been forced to write the letter they had found. He'd simply run away to a place that could and would train him. He was also glad that Zalera hadn't taken away his Blood Gifts, which Kushina had gotten a copy of since she was his mother. It surprised him when he looked upon the list of Gifts and Curses his only son had. They were very different than his sisters. The fact that his Gifts mostly pointed to a Magic Pokegirl Heritage made him question their own known heritages. His blood pointed toward a mixed Dragon and Electric Heritage while Kushina was a Ghost and Fighting Heritage. Mito seemed to inherit his Dragon and Kushina's Fighting Blood while Naruko seemed to have primarily Ghost Blood with a bit of Fighting mixed in.

The fact that he was, as far as he knew, safe in a place that would train him to better use his Gifts than Konoha could seemed to put his mind at ease. However, when Kushina told him the rest of the story at home, he felt incredibly depressed. But who could he blame? He and Kushina had both, whether intentionally or accidentally, pushed their son away. They forced his hand and made him make such a drastic choice. Millions of 'what ifs' made their way to the forefront of his mind about what could have been and what should have been. Regardless, it wouldn't stop him from trying to bring his son home.

Naruto had expressed his desire to continue learning at the Academy to Kushina, albeit in a colder tone than he'd hoped would come from his son. Who was he to deny his request? Naruto hadn't been a child for some time now, forced to grow up far too fast because of the isolation he suffered prior to Erza's arrival. He deserved to learn how to use his Gifts and, hopefully one day, he would come back home and they could mend the bridge between them. Until then, he'd have to focus his attention on Konoha's safety. According to his mole within Danzo's ROOT group, the Uchiha Clan was planning a revolt against Konoha. While many of the Clan were innocent and wanted no part in the plan, Danzo had ordered the mole to eliminate every last Uchiha.

Minato clenched his fists and barely held back on grinding his teeth together. Danzo was about to go too far. The Uchiha Clan, at least, those who hadn't allied themselves with Fugaku, were loyal to Konoha and to him. "Weasel," Minato said in a cool tone, denoting his seriousness. "I want you to rally all of the loyal members of the Uchiha Clan and tell them to seek shelter in the tunnels behind the Hokage Monument. Once that is done, I'll have a detachment of ANBU on orders to protect them while the rest follow my lead. We'll crush the Rebel Uchiha members followed by a strike against Danzo and his ROOT operation."

The man in a Weazel ANBU mask bowed. "Of course, Hokage-sama," he said in a neutral tone, though Minato knew that he was relieved that many who wanted no part in Fugaku's insane plan would be spared.

"As of this minute, Fugaku Uchiha, Danzo Shimura, and all ROOT operatives are A-Rank Threats with a Kill-On-Sight Order," Minato continued. "And for your actions in aiding Konoha against two internal threats, I am officially granting you the title of Head of the Uchiha Clan, Commander of the Police Forces, and S-Rank Ninja Tamer. Please. Remove your mask."

The man did as he was ordered, revealing the pale face of Itachi Uchiha, the eldest son of Fugaku and Mikoto Uchiha. His Sharingan glowed with pride and a soft smile sat upon his face. "Thank you for this great honor, Hokage-sama," he replied. "I won't let you down."

Minato smiled. "I know you won't Itachi. Now gather your most trusted comrades and their Pokegirls. Tell them the mission and be ready. Tonight, we strike."