"It's been years," Kushina says, her voice deceptively calm and quiet.

"It has." Hari doesn't spare her a glance until she's sure that Naruto is sleeping soundly in his bed.

It's only the late afternoon, but Naruto quickly grew sleepy after he polished off two large bowls of ramen. He hadn't protested much when Hari suggested a nap, only told her that he wasn't a baby as his eyes drifted shut and he curled in the comfortable bed she'd bought him.

"What took so long?" Kushina demands, glaring at Hari.

Hari cocks an eyebrow at her. "I am in charge of every soul that crosses over," she says slowly, pointedly. "I got here as fast as I could."

Kushina flinches at the gentle rebuke, clenches her fist and bows her head. "…I'm sorry." She collapses into a nearby chair, almost phasing through it. "I… I don't want you to think that I don't appreciate what you're doing. I do, more than you could imagine. It's just…"

"He suffered in the time it took me to get here." It's not a question.

After all, Hari had suffered during her lifetime. When she retrieved Naruto from the orphanage, it was like she was looking at her past self. Small, malnourished, touch-starved and desperate for some kind of affection or acknowledgement of her existence. Her heart broke when his stomach growled, when he was scared to accept a candy bar from her.

He was so light in her arms, and he'd clung to her like a monkey, unwilling to lose her gentle touch.

Kushina nods, finally looking up. Her eyes are anguished but furious. "I hate them so much," she whispers, her words barely more than a hiss. "Damn this village for what they've done to my son. Damn them!"

Hari regards her with serious eyes. There's not much that she can say in the face of Kushina's anger. Hari knows that if anybody had dared to treat Teddy poorly, she would have leveled the world in retaliation. It's a miracle Kushina hasn't become a vengeful spirit at this point.

"I can't change the past," Hari says carefully, "but I swear to you, I am going to do my best to give Naruto the life he deserves."

Kushina wipes away the few tears that slid down her face. "He wants to be a shinobi, you know. After everything this village has done to my son, he still wants to protect them." She sniffles, closing her eyes. "Konoha doesn't deserve him."

Hari moves closer to Kushina, grabs her hands. Kushina startles, not expecting the touch, but then she grasps tightly to Hari's hands as if Hari is her lifeline. "They don't, not now, but they will," Hari promises.

"How?"

Hari licks her lips. "I have a plan," she admits. "And I'll definitely need your help to pull it off."

Kushina sits up straighter. "What do you need?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen is too old for this shit.

He stares down at the paperwork in his hands, and he wonders just when the fuck the inner workings of his own village got so out of hand. The adoption papers were signed recently, only two weeks ago, but the paperwork is all in order, completely legal, and there's nothing that can be done about it.

Well, that's not strictly true. Technically speaking, as the supreme authority in the village, despite what his former teammates believe, he can nullify the paperwork. It would set a nasty precedence, but it could be done.

Ultimately, the adoption is only part of the problem. A large part, but still only a part. Hiruzen looks over the other papers on his desk. Naruto's new guardian, a foreigner named Potta Hari, only became a citizen a mere month ago. The file on her is woefully slim, and that makes everything all the more suspicious. She arrived completely under the radar, integrated herself into the village without arousing so much as a whisper, and not only did she manage to successfully purchase property near the Uchiha complex, but she also just so happened to adopt the one child with the power to once again bring Konoha to its knees.

Like any self-respecting shinobi, Hiruzen does not believe in coincidences.

So, yes, Naruto's adoption by a complete stranger is alarming. If this stranger has any ill intentions towards the village, to say that there will be problems is a gross understatement.

But an equally big part of this problem is that none of his subordinates saw fit to inform him of these proceedings until after they've already happened.

Perhaps Danzo is right, Hiruzen thinks mildly. To an extent, at least. Perhaps he is too soft. Why else would people think they can pull one over on him?

Hiruzen shuffles through the papers calmly, aware that he's exuding copious amounts of killing intent. His secretary is practically hyperventilating, her eyes wide and frightened. Good. She should be scared.

"And why, Asuna-san, am I only being informed of this now?" he questions. His tone is still soft, almost pleasant, but the tension in the air disrupts that illusion. He reigns back some of his killing intent, but only because she can hardly stutter out a response.

Asuna immediately falls to her knees, bowing her head in deference. For a civilian, she recovers quickly. "F-Forgive me, Hokage-sama," she stammers. "I only just received the paperwork this m-morning."

Hiruzen makes a small noise in acknowledgment. He sets the papers down in a neat pile, interlacing his fingers on his desk and offering Asuna a genial smile. She winces, and he knows that she can tell he is most displeased.

It's not that Hiruzen wants Naruto to be miserable. If he were able to, he'd take the boy in himself. After all, Minato and Kushina were like family, and it is a mighty disservice to their memory that their beloved son languishes away in an orphanage. But Hiruzen has to think of every single person in Konoha, not just Naruto. And the fact is that Konoha is still not quite back on its feet after the Kyuubi incident. The villagers that Hiruzen loves with all his heart do not accept the young Uzumaki.

Danzo keeps pushing to have the boy trained with Ne, but Hiruzen knows that Minato and Kushina would both somehow come back from the dead and eviscerate him for even entertaining the idea. More than that, although Hiruzen can accept that Ne is a necessary evil to some extent, he does not approve of that sect of ANBU. He fully embraces his sensei's teachings of the Will of Fire, and Ne actively squashes that belief. That is not something that Hiruzen will ever subject Naruto to.

It was with a heavy heart that Naruto was placed in the orphanage at the tender age of two. After the incident with his last caretaker, Hiruzen had comforted himself with the fact that at the very least the orphanage is better than Ne. Hiruzen knows the matron harbors a deep-seated loathing, if not outright hatred, for Naruto, for the burden the young Uzumaki has to carry. Still, Hiruzen thought she'd feared and respected him enough to ensure that Naruto lives a somewhat adequate life.

Her signature taunts him from its place on the paperwork.

Hotaru-san allowed Naruto to be taken in by an unknown element in a breathtakingly dangerous breech of security.

Unacceptable.

Perhaps it's time for the village to remember that Hiruzen is hailed as the God of Shinobi for a reason.

"Get me Shikaku," he demands. He settles back in his chair as one of the hidden ANBU in his office leaves to do as he bid, their chakra signature getting further away.

"H-Hokage-sama, there's something else," Asuna says hesitantly. She swallows audibly when she has his undivided attention. "Potta-san has requested an audience with you." The words are said in a rush, strung together in such a way that they're almost indecipherable.

Hiruzen stares at her with cold, hard eyes, his lips nothing more than a severe, displeased line. She shrinks back from his stare, shivers as the killing intent in the room soars once more. "For when?" he asks, his tone clipped and barely suppressing his fury.

"S-S-She's right o-outside, H-Hokage-sama."

Before he can say anything else, Shikaku arrives, stepping out gracefully from the shadows with little fanfare. He takes in the scene with sharp eyes and bows his head respectfully. "Hokage-sama," he greets, not a trace of his usual lazy drawl.

"Inform Potta-san that I will see her shortly, Asuna-san," Hiruzen says. His secretary nods her head gratefully, bowing once more before heading towards the door. "Make no mistake, Asuna-san, I am very displeased with the way you've handled this situation. We will be discussing this further at a later date."

With that final rebuke, Asuna hastily flees, nearly slamming the door shut in her haste.

Shikaku takes it all in with a curious lift of his brow. "How can I be of assistance, Hokage-sama?"

Hiruzen hands him the paperwork. "Read." He's more than gratified when Shikaku grows alarmed as he takes in the paperwork Hiruzen received not a full hour ago. "Have you heard of this Potta Hari?"

Shikaku shakes his head. "Nothing," he says. He looks up at Hiruzen. "This doesn't make sense, Hokage-sama. Our security measures have tightened over the past few years, especially since the Kumo incident. It should not have been so easy for this woman to gain citizenship or adopt any child here, let alone the Uzumaki child."

Hiruzen leans forward. "Then how did she manage to do just that?"

And that's the question, isn't it?

Shikaku lifts the paperwork. "It's been a while since Inoichi made some house calls," he murmurs.

"Indeed," Hiruzen agrees. He motions for Shikaku to stand beside him, and then he presses the button on the intercom and says, "You may send her in, Asuna-san."

Hiruzen doesn't have to wait long before Potta Hari walks into his office. She bows respectfully, a large envelope in her hand. Her picture doesn't quite do her justice. With her long black hair swept up in a ponytail, Hiruzen can see a thin, nearly indistinguishable scar in the shape of a lightning bolt on her forehead, faded over time. Her eyes are green, not slanted like most people's in Konoha, but the shape of them is almost familiar. Pale skin, high cheekbones, her facial structure is similar to that of a Hyuuga's.

"Hokage-sama," she greets when she stands.

She doesn't hold herself the way a civilian does. Hiruzen knows he's not the only one to notice how her eyes scan the room for exits, how her stance is relaxed but ready should she need to fight.

This woman has seen combat, and something in Hiruzen tells him that she's dangerous. Shikaku shifts his weight slightly, just enough that Hiruzen knows Shikaku sees it too.

"Have a seat, Potta-san," Hiruzen says, gesturing towards one of the chairs on the other side of his desk.

She flops into the chair gracelessly. "Please, call me Hari," she insists.

Hiruzen nods his head but does not extend the same courtesy. "Hari-san," he corrects amicably, "what can I do for you today?"

"I apologize for meeting you so early in the morning, but this was the only opening your secretary could find," she says.

Yet another strike against Asuna.

"What is this about, Hari-san?" Shikaku interjects.

Hari smiles pleasantly at them before handing over the envelope. Hiruzen doesn't think anybody would be stupid enough to attempt to kill him in his own office, but considering how this woman managed to bypass necessary security measures, it wouldn't hurt to exercise some caution. Shikaku accepts the envelope, subtly checking it for anything out of the ordinary.

"I've come to petition for the right to establish my clan in Konoha," she elaborates.

Hiruzen cocks an eyebrow. Konoha has always welcomed clans with open arms, but being an established clan in this village can give clan heads certain rights and privileges that he's not certain an unknown woman should have. Still, perhaps it's something he can consider. Inoichi will have to give her a thorough mental exam to ensure that she's not a threat to the village or to Naruto, which he was planning to order anyway, but having the Potta clan established in Konoha could help cement loyalties.

His conditional answer is on the tip of his tongue when he opens the envelop and sees the name of the clan actually listed on the paperwork. He stills, his gaze traveling from the paper to Hari, who maintains her pleasant smile.

"Uzumaki?" he questions.

Hari nods her head firmly. "Naruto and I are very similar, in that we both look like our fathers, but the blood of our mothers still runs strong through our veins," she says calmly, seemingly unconcerned with the way that Hiruzen jerks back at that statement. "With Uzushio destroyed and the rest of the clan scattered across the Elemental Nations, I thought the best course of action would be to establish the Uzumaki clan in Konoha, our once sister-village."

It's Shikaku that speaks up since Hiruzen is at a loss for words. "And how do you know that Naruto's Uzumaki parent is his mother?"

Hari's eyes bore into Hiruzen's as she answers. "Kushina was my mother's cousin," she explains. "They kept in touch after Kushina left Uzushio to join Konoha, even after Uzushio's destruction. I was too young to remember her, but my mother spoke of her often."

Silence settles between them for a moment. Hiruzen eyes her cautiously, but he's unable to detect any bit of deceit from her. Either she's really good, or she's telling the truth. "We'll need to verify your claims," Hiruzen says.

"I expected nothing less." Hari reaches into the pocket of her shorts and pulls out an old, folded picture. She hands it to Shikaku. "There's a letter from Kushina to my mother in that envelope, and I am ready to go to the hospital and take a blood test."

The picture, deeply creased and slightly faded, shows a young couple carrying a small infant. It doesn't take a genius to guess that this is Hari's family. She could almost be a clone of the man in the photo; they have the same wild, black hair, the same cheekbones, the same chin. But the woman… With the exception of her eye color, she could have been a dead ringer for Kushina. Bright red hair, oddly shaped eyes only slightly duller than Hari's.

Hiruzen reaches into the envelope and pulls out the letter. It's crumpled and dirty in several places, some of the characters smudged with what looks like water damage, but what makes him pause is the familiar handwriting. It could be a forgery, but that would be incredibly difficult to do. After all, it's not like there are samples of Kushina's handwriting to copy from inside Konoha, let alone outside.

July 31, XXXX

Yuri-chan,

Wish Hari-chan a happy birthday! I can't believe she's so grown now! I still remember when she was toddling into trouble, giving you premature grey hairs. Make sure you give her a big hug from me!

And I bet you're wondering what the results of my appointment were. Without further ado, let me tell you that we're having…

A BOY!

I can't believe I'll be having a little boy just like Mikoto-chan. Little Sasuke was born just last week, and he looks just like his mother. I hope our sons will end up on the same genin team! Minato hasn't stopped crying, the big sap. We haven't decided on a name quite yet, but I think we're leaning towards calling him Naruto after the main character in Jiraiya's book. Strong, brave, smart, I couldn't ask for better qualities for my son to have.

I know it's hard, being in different villages, but I swear, Naruto will grow up knowing about Uzushio. Our legacy doesn't have to die just because our homeland was destroyed. It's taken me a long time to see this, but Minato's really opened my eyes. Uzushio will live on in the hearts of those left behind. I want Naruto to know about everything. I want him to learn fuuinjutsu, to be able to speak to the waves, all of it.

I really wish you would consider moving to Konoha. Family has to stick together, and I really think you'd come to love living here as much as Uzushio.

At the very least, consider visiting when the baby is born!

Give Jēmusu and Hari my love,

Kushina

Without another word, Hiruzen puts the letter back in the envelope and hands it to Shikaku. They'll need to send the documentation to the Intelligence Division to thoroughly investigate it, to determine if these are forgeries are not.

If she really is descended from the Uzumaki clan, Naruto's adoption makes sense. That's… that wasn't something Hiruzen had considered. His immediate thought was that she was an enemy, perhaps even a sleeper agent, but not once did long-lost relative cross his mind. Despite this new knowledge, if verified, that doesn't excuse the gross mishandling of paperwork, the severe breech of protocol and security measures.

But maybe with an established Uzumaki clan in Konoha, maybe he could finally honor Minato and Kushina's dying wish.

"Why now?" Hiruzen asks. "Why not immediately after Kushina died?"

"My parents died, and I had to settle matters with my father's clan." Hari's face is a little closed off, but not enough that he can't see the raw grief still lingering in her eyes.

Hiruzen nods his head, accepting the answer for now. "It's been a long time since there's been more than one Uzumaki in Konoha," Hiruzen remarks, passing the beloved picture back.

"I would like for there to be more," Hari says. "Although, I must admit, I do have some concerns about settling down here."

"Concerns?"

It's the first time that her pleasant demeanor falters, shifts into something that has the hairs on the back of Hiruzen's neck stand up in alert attention.

"I do not take kindly to people mistreating my family." Her voice is quiet but steely, hard in a way that gives Hiruzen a sense of foreboding. "When I found Naruto at that orphanage, he was not being treated in a manner even close to adequate."

Hiruzen stiffens, his back ramrod straight. "Please explain what you mean, Hari-san," he murmurs.

Hari's upper lip twitches, as if she wants to snarl. "He hadn't been fed in days," she says coldly. "Naruto told me he was accused of stealing food and had his hand beaten until the ruler snapped in half. I personally witnessed Hotaru-san and the other workers at the orphanage treat Naruto as if he were diseased, as if he were a rabid dog. Hokage-sama, I don't know what a four-year-old can possibly do to deserve such treatment, but rest assured, it is not something I find acceptable in the slightest."

"I can assure you, Hari-san, Hotaru-san will be thoroughly investigated and dealt with accordingly," Hiruzen says tightly.

Hari cocks an eyebrow in disbelief. "With all due respect, Hokage-sama, it sounds like this has been going on for quite some time. I understand that you are a busy man, but if this is the kind of behavior we can expect from the villagers, perhaps it would be best if we live elsewhere."

It's more of a promise than a threat, something not many people would dare do to his face, and it's something that Hiruzen absolutely cannot let happen.

"Kushina would not have wanted—"

"Her son to be treated as a pariah," Hari cuts in viciously. Her eyes are glacial, unforgiving. "She would not have wanted her son to know that he is, for some unfathomable reason, universally hated in the village that should be his home. Frankly, Hokage-sama, Kushina would be disgusted with Konoha." Hari lets out a deep sigh. "Please understand that I take my duties to Naruto very seriously. His mistreatment is not just upsetting; it's appalling, deplorable. And it's something that has been allowed to happen in the place he was supposed to be safe."

"Assuming the validity of your claims check out and you can legally remove him from the village, you would be within your rights to do so." Shikaku says lightly. "But if you have these concerns with the village, why are you petitioning to establish the Uzumaki clan here?"

Some of the frost in Hari's demeanor melts, and she crosses her legs and leans back. "Because Naruto loves this village," she admits. "He wants to be a proud shinobi of Konoha. I am willing to keep him here and help him realize this dream, but only if certain conditions are met."

Hiruzen makes a small, thoughtful noise. "What conditions would those be?"

Hari lifts her fingers and starts listing them off. "One, the Uzumaki clan is to be established with me as the clan head. Naruto will be my heir. Two, Hotaru-san and the orphanage workers will be appropriately punished for their mistreatment of Naruto. I want to be kept in the loop as to what happens to them, to ensure that this matter is not simply swept under the rug. And three, the village will treat Naruto in a way befitting his new station. No more glares, no more whispers, and no more threats. It all stops or we're gone."

"Those aren't… terrible conditions," Hiruzen admits. "But you can't expect public opinion to sway so quickly."

"It will when there are actual consequences for bad behavior," Hari points out, eyeing Hiruzen as if he were being purposefully obtuse. "Right now, Naruto's mistreatment goes without being punished. Like bullies that go unchecked, they will continue to treat Naruto poorly until either it escalates to the point of no return or their behavior is corrected. Which would Kushina hate more: her son thriving in a different village, or Konoha murdering him?"

The words are harsh, caustic, and Hiruzen tightens his fist. He wants to defend the village, wants to defend these people that he's all too willing to lay down his life for, but her words make him pause, and he realizes that he can't. There's nothing he can say to prove her words false because they aren't.

Naruto's mistreatment is a stain upon Konoha. Minato's dying wish was for his son to be viewed as a hero, and that is something the village has failed at.

Hiruzen's inability to keep his own village in line, something blatantly shoved in his face with this entire fiasco, has directly contributed to the desecration of Minato's final wishes.

The village's failure is his failure.

"We would have our own conditions," he says calmly. "The first thing we need to do is verify your claim as an Uzumaki. You will need to meet with our mind specialist and submit to a thorough mental examination. Once we are sure that you pose no threat to the village or Naruto, only then will you be established as the head of the Uzumaki clan. I will personally check on you at random intervals to ensure that Naruto is being treated well, and you will be assigned a shinobi guard for the first year of your tenure as clan head. Are these terms agreeable?"

"Consider this a done-deal." Hari stands up and smooths invisible wrinkles from her clothes, extending her hand. "When do we get the testing done? Naruto gets out of school in a few hours."

Hiruzen stands as well and shakes her hand. She has a strong grip, calloused fingers that suggest hard work. "Shikaku here will take both you and Naruto to the hospital when the academy lets out," he says in a voice that brooks no argument.

Hari nods in agreement and then bows. "Thank you for your time Hokage-sama, Shikaku-san."

Her exit is quiet, but it leaves behind echoes that have the potential to disrupt the very foundations of Konoha.

"What are your thoughts, Shikaku?" Hiruzen reaches for his pipe and lights it.

"If she's lying, she got her information from an inside source," the lazy man says bluntly. "I can have the Intelligence Division analyze the letter, but… I honestly don't think it was a forgery. It sounds as if Kushina herself actually wrote it."

Hiruzen nods his head slowly. "And do you think establishing the Uzumaki clan here is a wise move?"

"At this point, it sounds like it'll be the only way to keep Naruto in Konoha." Shikaku is careful in the way he says it, but the truth still stings.

Because he could nullify the adoption and kick Hari out of the village, but considering that she is one of a few handfuls of Uzumaki left in the Elemental Nations, it would be a stain upon the village. Uzushio and Konoha were sister-villages once upon a time, and to turn away from a daughter of Uzushio would be the highest dishonor.

"Troublesome," he says mildly.

Shikaku lets out a bark of laughter. "Very troublesome," he agrees. He sobers up after a moment. "Will that be all, Hokage-sama?"

Hiruzen nods his head firmly. "I believe you mentioned something about T&I making house calls."

"It will be done immediately." With a respectful bow, Shikaku melts into the shadows.

It's time to clean house.

A/N: Still not abandoned, just slow! This story took a turn I wasn't expecting. Hope you like it!