Hello and welcome to my first fic!

Inspired (sort of in reverse when it comes to Naruto's relationship with the Uzumaki) by Quill of Molliemon's 'Fox Moon' / 'Will of Foxfire' and given the final push to publication by Lord Rahl Master of D'Hara's 'Naruto: Heir of Whirlpool'.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Prologue: The Vessel of the Kyuubi

The four most powerful people in Konohagakure, the Village Hidden in the Leaves, were seated at the head of the long table dominating the Council Chamber, trying to decide the fate of the small bundle of blankets lying on the hard wooden surface in front of them.

The woman's voice broke the silence. "So, what are we going to do with him?"

They all turned their eyes towards the bundle or, rather, what was inside it: a small, fragile, utterly defenseless baby, born just a few hours ago. Despite all the terrible things that had happened in the first hours of its short life, it looked completely at peace as it slept, wrapped tightly inside a blue blanket.

The woman, Utatane Koharu, continued: "The Yondaime was a powerful man. His actions in the last War made Konoha's victory over the other Hidden Villages possible and earned him a multitude of enemies both outside and inside the Land of Fire. And while none of those enemies would dare to strike at the man directly, his son is another matter. Especially now that both the Yondaime and his wife are dead and there is no fear of retribution from them."

"Indeed," the bespectacled gray-haired man, Mitokado Homura, nodded in agreement. "Before the end of the year, shinobi from Iwa would be swarming Konoha's forests, looking for revenge against the 'Yellow Flash'."

"They wouldn't be the only ones," the dark-haired man said. Unlike the others, Shimura Danzou looked battle-worn: he had an x-shaped scar on his chin and his right eye was covered with bandages. A cane was resting against the left side of his chair. "Iwa, Kumo, Suna, even Kusa; they would all leap at the chance to get their hands on the son of the Fourth Hokage."

Silence fell for a few moments as they all pondered Danzou's words. The man was a war hawk who believed that other nations were always plotting against Konoha and preferred to deal with those threats, both real and exaggerated, by eliminating them as soon as possible using any means necessary. But, despite his skewed moral compass -if he even had one- and his borderline paranoia, his assessment of a situation was not wrong. At least, most of the time it wasn't.

And in this situation, caution was better than blind faith in the inherent goodness -supposedly- possessed by every human being. Plenty of wars had shown the four veterans just how highly most people valued the life of another. Needless to say, none of them believed even for a second that the Yondaime's enemies would hesitate to harm an infant in order to get some kind of revenge against a man who was well out of their grasp now.

The truth was that even if the Fourth was still alive, nothing would change. The assassins' job would just be a lot harder.

"Can we protect the boy?" Koharu finally asked the question on everyone's mind.

"No, we cannot." The third man spoke firmly, but his voice was quiet and held an undertone of defeat. He was wearing an old fashioned black armor, looking every bit like the veteran of two great wars and countless small skirmishes that he was, an unsettling image that belied his kind, grandfatherly personality. His eyes were dull and focused intently on the peacefully sleeping baby.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked exhausted, which was to be expected. He had gone toe-to-toe with the most powerful of the nine Bijuu, the Kyuubi. He had fought it with everything he had while trying to ignore the screams of the people dying around him, the questions he had about its escape from Kushina's seal, the fear that gnawed on his belly as all his efforts served only to slow the Demon Fox down and buy time until the Yondaime joined the battle, his worry about the fate of his beloved Biwako...

The Fourth had arrived just as the Kyuubi was charging another Bijuudama, a devastating sphere of concentrated chakra, and teleported it far away, saving the village and the shinobi still fighting. He managed to defeat the Fox by sealing it inside a newborn baby, his own son.

The baby currently sleeping on the Council Chamber table, tightly wrapped in the blue blankets.

Hours after the sealing, they were still counting the dead and wounded; the number was staggering. Among the dead were the Fourth Hokage, Namikaze Minato, and his wife, Uzumaki Kushina. And Sarutobi Biwako...

Hiruzen pushed the thought back. There would be time to grieve for the dead later. First, they had to tend to the living.

He looked around the table at the faces of his old comrades and trusted councilors during his tenure as the Sandaime Hokage.

"The Hidden Leaf has suffered heavy losses tonight. A large part of the village has been destroyed, the Hokage and hundreds of others were killed during the Kyuubi's rampage and at least twice as many were wounded. Moreover, we have no inkling as to how such a thing came to pass, since everyone present during Kushina's labor is now dead. Well, everyone but one, but he's not able to speak yet.

"In short, the Hidden Leaf is weaker than it has ever been."

Silence fell once again around the table, as none of the former Hokage's councilors could think of a way to dispute his grim assessment of the situation. As much as they, especially Danzou, hated to admit it, Konohagakure had never been this vulnerable before. The possibilities of what their enemies and even their 'allies' would do if they found out the extent of their powerlessness made them shiver in fear.

The small bundle stirred slightly, drawing the four people out of their contemplations of the bleak future ahead. One of the baby's hands poked outside the blanket and grabbed its edge. Then, the boy opened his eyes and looked around blearily; his gaze soon cleared and focused on the four people around him, examining them closely. The four elders were looking just as intensely at the child, noticing in particular that his eyes were a beautiful sky-blue color and his hair was golden blond; both were the exact same shade as his father's.

"Damn," Homura's soft whisper was barely audible in the quiet room.

"He looks just like Minato, doesn't he?" Hiruzen's voice cracked a little as he looked fondly at the child.

"Yes, the resemblance is striking. However, under the circumstances, that's not such a good thing." Homura let out a heavy sigh and rubbed one of his temples. "Why couldn't you look like your mother instead?"

The newborn's eyes were drawn to the bespectacled man, answering the elder's question by making a sort of cooing sound. Then, he squirmed again and extended his hand, letting go of the blanket. He made that cooing sound once more, this time in a more demanding way.

The elders -save Danzou- chuckled at the baby's antics and Homura reached out to tuck the errant hand back inside the warmth of the blankets. Before he could secure it, however, the boy managed to grab hold of one of his fingers, cooing happily. The elder felt his lips draw in a smile and, on an impulse, he reached out with his free hand and poked the boy's nose lightly before tracing a finger over his chubby, whisker marked cheeks. The baby made a squealing sound that sounded a lot like laughter, showing how much he was enjoying the little game.

"He's such a cute little thing." Koharu's smile was small but very warm as she looked at the two of them. Anyone who knew the normally harsh and unforgiving woman would be surprised to see such a tender expression on her face.

"Yes, he is," Hiruzen said with a smile of his own. He found that the three odd but strangely cute whisker-like marks the baby had on each cheek made him look somewhat like a kitten. With his round face, blue eyes and blond hair, he was an adorable baby, the kind women went 'aww!' over and begged to hold for a while. Just a normal baby, happy to have someone play with him, holding the greatest of the Tailed Beasts trapped inside his tiny little body.

'In a few years, he'll have an army of fangirls chasing him, just like they chased his father.' Few knew that Konoha's Yellow Flash, the fastest shinobi in the world, had first seen the value of speed as he was running for his innocence, trying to escape a mob of rabid fangirls intent on stealing a kiss from him. Oh, how Hiruzen had longed to be at the teen's place...

"This is no time for levity," Danzou said, well aware that his usual crisp tone could instantly extinguish any sign of mirth in his immediate area. "We're here to discuss the future of Konoha and how the survival of the village is directly tied to this child."

Homura raised an eyebrow at that. "'Survival'? Aren't you over-dramatizing the situation, Danzou?"

"Hardly," the one-eyed man said tersely. "If anything, I'm understating the danger." Seeing his fellow councilors giving him their undivided attention, he continued. "To put it bluntly: Uzumaki Kushina, the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi, is dead and the Nine-Tailed Fox is now imprisoned inside a baby."

Said baby was staring at Danzou with interest, cooing softly. Evidently, he found the scarred and bandaged man amusing.

"Iwa has two fully trained jinchuuriki: Roshi of the Lava Release is the vessel of the Yonbi and Han of the Steam is the vessel of the Gobi. Both of them are experienced warriors and very loyal to the Tsuchikage. Kumo also has two jinchuuriki: Killer Bee, widely known as the 'perfect jinchuuriki', is the vessel of the Hachibi and a young girl named Nii Yugito, is the vessel of the Nibi.

"Kushina's presence and the threat of the Kyuubi was the only thing that prevented Iwa and Kumo from attacking Konoha directly. As of a few hours ago, this deterrent no longer applies. If Konoha is to survive, Namikaze's child must be kept in the village in order to preserve the balance of power. Currently, he is our greatest asset."

Hiruzen gave the old war hawk a warning glare. "He's a child, not an asset. And you can't just keep him locked up in the Leaf; Uzumaki Kenjiro will demand that custody of his grandson be given to him."

Danzou returned his lifelong rival's glare with an even stare. "He's not a normal child; he's a jinchuuriki. He exists to protect this village. You'd be wise to remember this, Hiruzen."

"You are going too far, Danzou. What you need to remember is that-"

"Enough!" Koharu intervened before their argument could get out of hand. "This bickering gets us nowhere. The fact is that both of you are right. The boy, or rather the demon sealed inside him, is the only thing that will stop the other nations from taking advantage of our current weakness. However, as soon as news of tonight's events reach Uzushio, Kushina's family will lay claim on her son. Considering that the Whirlpool is the Leaf's oldest and most steadfast ally, this is not a request we can turn down."

"We won't have to deny their request because it is never going to be made," Danzou said cryptically, leaving the others dumbfounded.

Koharu narrowed her eyes at him. "Explain."

"We will start by telling everyone the truth. The Kyuubi's rampage claimed many lives. Among the dead were the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato, his wife, Uzumaki Kushina, and their newborn son."

Hiruzen didn't need to hear any more; he knew exactly what Danzou, the man known as 'the Darkness of the Shinobi', was going to say next and he could not -would not!- allow such a thing to happen. "So, this is your solution? Have you lost your mind?"

"Hardly. You may not like it, but even someone as soft as you, Hiruzen, can see that this is the best possible option for Konoha."

"I wouldn't be so confident about the success of this plan of yours, Danzou," Homura said before the retired Hokage had a chance to respond and escalate things. "The boy's parentage cannot be kept secret for long. Anyone who has seen the Yondaime even in passing will realize that this boy is his son. We may be able to keep him hidden for now, but I suspect that the resemblance to his father will only become stronger as he grows older."

"You are right. The resemblance between father and son will be impossible to ignore. However," one corner of Danzou's mouth turned upwards in a faint smirk, "this will not be a problem. Most of the time, if not always, people believe what they want to believe. They accept what they perceive as the truth and deny everything they think is a lie. In the end, 'reality' is just a collection of facts, preconceived notions and misconceptions.

"For instance: the Fourth Hokage was one of the greatest heroes of Konoha, so any child of his would be treated like nobility. Therefore, an orphan boy with no clan name could never be related to the Fourth, even if he looks like a younger copy of the man. In their eyes, he will not be the son of the Yondaime; he will simply be a boy with blond hair, blue eyes and whisker-marked cheeks.

"And as long as those associated with the Yondaime and his wife stay away from the child, that's all he will ever be: a nameless orphan."

Despite Danzou's cynical view of people, none of the others could find any fault with his argument. It was a cruel plan, condemning the child to a life away from his family and those who would view him like family. And at the same time it was perfect, ensuring that the vessel of the Nine-Tailed Fox would never leave Konohagakure, guaranteeing the safety of the village.

Hiruzen could not allow it.

"Kakashi will recognize him the moment he lays eyes on him; so will Jiraiya." He paused and shot his coldest glare at the man who was once his best friend. "And once they learn that the Kyuubi has been sealed inside a new container, the seal masters of the Uzumaki clan will ask to examine the seal themselves; assuming, of course, that Kenjiro-dono will not want to oversee this personally. How do you propose we deal with that?"

But Danzou seemed to have been expecting these questions. "Hatake Kakashi is an ANBU directly under the Hokage's command, so I am confident he will obey orders. And Jiraiya can be convinced to see that this is for the good of the child as well as the village." He ignored the former Hokage's dubious stare and pressed on, knowing his victory was near. "Jiraiya has made it no secret that he thought of the Yondaime as a son, so he would respect his 'son's' dying wish that the child be raised in Konoha."

"More lies," Hiruzen almost spat the words in disgust.

"Think of them as a few additions to the truth, if that makes you more comfortable.

"As for the Uzumaki, there is no need for them to examine the seal. Jiraiya is more that qualified to verify the seal's integrity, being one of the few outside their clan whose knowledge rivals that of their greatest seal masters. Kenjiro-sama will accept his conclusions and all he will know is that the Kyuubi was sealed inside an orphan boy born at the same day as his deceased grandson."

"A well-thought plan," Koharu admitted reluctantly. "However, every plan can be unraveled by unforeseen events. Should this happen, our alliance with Uzushiogakure, which goes back to the founding of both villages, will crumble. Are you really willing to take such a risk?"

"It is necessary. Uzushio is still recovering from the losses they sustained during Iwa's invasion fifteen years ago. They don't have the manpower to aid us if even one of our enemies attack us. And make no mistake, if we lose the Kyuubi as well as the Hokage, they will attack. We need to maintain the status quo at any cost."

The oppressive silence fell around the table once again; even the baby was observing everything quietly, seemingly understanding the gravity of the conversation that would determine his future.

'Damn the status quo,' Hiruzen thought bitterly as he frantically tried to find a way to dispute Danzou's words. But it was futile, and he knew it very well. There was no other way.

The balance of power between the Five Great Nations was maintained by the Tailed Beasts each nation controlled and the jinchuuriki that wielded their power. Taki, even though it was a minor village, had possession of the Nanabi, Suna had the Ichibi, Kiri had the Sanbi and the Rokubi; all of them without a human vessel. In fact, the Sanbi had been killed a few years ago and had not yet reformed, so Kiri's position was even worse. Kumo had the Nibi and the Hachibi. Iwa had the Yonbi and the Gobi. And Konoha had the Kyuubi, the most powerful of all the Tailed Beasts.

And even though the Kyuubi's current jinchuuriki couldn't use the power of his Bijuu at all, his very presence in Konoha would preserve the balance of power and the fragile peace that had followed the Third Shinobi World War.

However, if the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi was claimed by Uzushio, then the delicate balance would shift and the Konoha would be at an incredibly disadvantageous position. Combined with the heavy losses they had suffered just a few hours ago...

'Minato knew this. That's why he chose to seal the Fox instead of killing it.' But, no matter how Hiruzen looked at it, Namikaze Minato was not the kind of person who would treat anyone, even a jinchuuriki, as a tool, an asset to be used by the village.

'So, what kind of person am I?' Hiruzen sighed and put his hands over his face for a moment, as if to block out a world in which the best way to protect his home and the people living in it was to sacrifice an innocent child. Or maybe it was so he wouldn't have to look in the guileless eyes of the baby he was going to turn into a bargaining chip in the power struggle between nations.

"Very well," he said after a while, letting his hands fall on the table; he would deal with the consequences of his actions and not hide behind excuses. "The Council will be informed that the Fourth Hokage was killed during the Kyuubi's attack, along with his wife and their child. A letter will be sent to the Uzumaki, informing them of the tragedy that befell their family." His voice was dull, lifeless as he passed the boy's sentence.

"Before the Yondaime died, he sealed the Nine-Tailed Fox inside a newborn baby, whose parents were killed by the Demon. The boy, Naruto, clan name unknown, will be given to the orphanage. No-one outside the Council will be made aware of his burden. Not even Naruto will be told the truth about the Kyuubi until he is old and mature enough to control its power."

Danzou bowed his head, acknowledging both Hiruzen's words and the effort it took for the kind-hearted man to say them. Despite all their disagreements, he deeply respected his rival. "Why name him 'Naruto'?"

"It's the name his parents had chosen for him. I have just taken everything from him. I would like to at least let him keep his name."

Danzou thought this was nothing more than foolish sentimentality; the boy's name shouldn't matter. But even he couldn't bring himself to argue against this. Because deep down, he knew that the name did matter. Deep beneath the emotional control he valued so much and all the layers of indifference he had cultivated over the years, he knew that he -they- had just done a terrible thing. But no price was too high when it came to the safety of the Hidden Leaf. He had decided that decades ago and now, when Konoha was most vulnerable, was not the time to grow a conscience.

So, Danzou nodded imperceptibly, deciding to allow little Naruto to keep his name. "Will you take back the position of Hokage?"

Hiruzen gave a mirthless laugh at this. "I have to admit, I never thought I'd hear you say such a thing, Danzou."

"Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't; I would vehemently object your re-appointment. But we have already established that these are not normal circumstances. Right now, we need someone to immediately take charge of the situation. We cannot afford division and infighting."

"If that is what you all want, then I accept." At least, as Hokage, he would be able to watch over the boy, find some way to give him a normal life. He hoped he could.

Koharu looked at Homura, who nodded. "Then it is decided. Now, we have to wait for the Council meeting to start in order to make everything official."

Hiruzen said nothing and simply sunk in his chair, turning his attention to baby Naruto instead. He felt like he had just committed the greatest crime of his life.

Author's Notes:

1. I detest flat, black-and-white characters. There's no such thing as 'pure good' and 'pure evil', not in the 'Numenorians, Rohirrim and Elves are good, Haradrim, Easterlings and Orcs are evil' Tolkien-esque sense. People are complex, something I will try my best to show in this work.

That's why Homura and Koharu are delighted to play with a baby, forgetting for a moment they're veteran shinobi and elders of a Hidden Village. That's why Danzou feels a shred of guilt for keeping a baby away from its family (although that will disappear as he sinks in darkness more and more). Finally, that's why Hiruzen, a military leader, puts the safety of the many above the well-being of one person.

2. Blame G.R.R. Martin for what bits of cynicism I have.

3. Don't worry, I won't kill off every character. I'm an unrepentant optimist.

4. Things that will never happen: harem, yuri, yaoi, lemons.

Review and tell me what you think. Constructive criticism helps, flaming does not.

Edit: 06 January 2016 - Fixed the 'Acknowledgement' section.

Edit: 13 March 2016 - Fixed some spelling mistakes.