Yo i recently made some changes to this chapter and while re-reading some of the earlier ones i realised they're a bit tough to get through! However, give the story a chance it improves and i got big things in mind.

Hope you enjoy.

The sky was painted a sullen grey, and the rain poured down upon the earth. The wind howled and the trees swayed fiercely. A figure lay on the bank by the water, clothes torn, body battered and bruised, a large wound on its torso seeping blood. Tired eyes stared up at the dull sky, uncaring of the feel of the rain against them. In the background, across from the water, a shadow stumbled its way into the forestry, clutching its side. The figure by the bank finally began losing its battle with unconsciousness.

"I can't die here" It thought, "I'm an Uzumaki…", before sleep made its claim. The last thing the figure heard, was the soft sound of approaching footsteps.

Naruto awoke with a start and blinked at his surroundings.

"White. Everything's white." He thought to himself, before mentally groaning. White only meant one thing. The hospital. God how he hated the hospital. It reminded him of too many forcefully forgotten memories of darker times. Looking down at himself he saw most of his body was covered in bandages. His brow scrunched in thought, seemingly trying to remember just what could have caused him such injuries. "Ah… Sasuke" And suddenly it all came flooding back to him. Hearing the news that Sasuke had run away, Tsunade baa-chan giving him the mission, his promise to Sakura and the fight with Sasuke.

His face etched itself into a frown upon the realisation that he hadn't been able to fulfil his promise. Some ninja he was. Couldn't even follow his own nindo that he assigned himself. It was all quite ironic he concluded, chuckling humourlessly to himself, as soon as he had finally started to make progress in earning his friendship with both Sasuke and Sakura, everything fucked up. Sasuke had tried to kill him in search for power, and Sakura would most likely hate him not being able to bring the latter back. He was back to square one. His thoughts were interrupted however as the door to his room opened.

"Ah brat! Was wondering when you were gonna wake up!" Naruto looked up to see one of the most recent people who happen to make their way onto his list of precious people, Tsunade of the Sannin.

"Yeah nice to see you too Granny." Naruto mumbled, not particularly in the mood for banter. Tsunade frowned, wondering why the normally load and hyper Naruto was being so quiet and withdrawn.

"What's eating you?" Tsunade questioned, concern riddling her face. Naruto opened his mouth to speak before closing it and looking down at his hands, mumbling something.

"What's that? I didn't hear you speak up!" The slug sannin remarked, irritation quickly bubbling within her.

"I said, why's it always so hard?!" Naruto near shouted. Surprise overcame the sannin as she comprehended his words.

"What do mean brat, what's hard?" She asked in a soft tone, adopting a grandmotherly voice.

"Life. Everything. Why is it always me that seems to come out of these things the loser? All I do is try to earn people's respect and show them that I'm not some demon, some brain dead prankster or the deadlast. I give everything I have for those around me! And what do I get… nothing." At this point tears began making their way down Naruto's face, as Tsunade's surprise morphed to sadness and sympathy, "I mean, even when I protected the village against Gaara when Sasuke couldn't and Sakura was injured, no one even thanked me. I didn't even get the credit! Sakura thanked Sasuke immediately after she woke up and refused to believe I could have done such a thing. Shit, the whole village didn't believe I did it, except the ones that saw me."

Tsunade inwardly frowned, rubbing Naruto's shoulder for support, thinking what she could say to make her adoptive grandson act himself again. A soft smile crept its way across her face.

"You know," She began, drawing Naruto's attention from his hands on his lap to look into his eyes, "Your Kaa-san would be crazy proud of you." Naruto's gasped at the mention of his mother, all previous thoughts forgotten, "She always was always headstrong. Believed in action over words. Much like you in that respect. In fact you two are so alike personality wise it's almost scary. She had the same fiendish love ramen that you have too." Tsunade joked, earning a soft laugh from Naruto. She smiled at finally having rid him of some the pain.

"Y-you knew my kaa-chan?" Naruto questioned in a shaky voice, the word felt foreign rolling of his tongue, yet nice at the same time. The sannin simply nodded in response.

"Yes," she replied, "Her name was Kushina Uzumaki. She was beautiful. She had long fiery red hair, fair skin and a mean temper so great she was nicknamed for it, the 'red hot-blooded habanero' if I recall correctly." Tsunade said, giggling to herself. Naruto sat back in his bed, a small smile on his face. Thinking about his newly discovered kaa-chan, "She loved you lots too," Naruto's attention was once again snapped back to the medic, "I remember when she was pregnant. All she would do was talk about the things she would teach you, how she would dress you, and what a great ninja you'd be. I'd never seen her that happy before. She loved you so much that she gave her life to protect you during the kyuubi attack." Tears resurfaced as Naruto again began crying, but he didn't mind showing this weakness. Very rarely in Naruto's lifetime had he shed tears of joy.

"Actually," Tsunade pondered, adopting a thinking pose, "Now that I think about it, it's not so unruly that you call me your Baa-chan." Naruto gazed at her quizzically with slightly red and puffy eyes prompting her to continue, "Well, my grandmother was called Mito Uzumaki, and I'm pretty sure Mito baa-sama was Kushina's great Aunt, so I guess that makes me your great Auntie or something like that." She concluded nonchalantly.

"What? So does that mean… "Naruto began before trailing off.

"Yeah, I guess I've got some family left in this world after all, and you've got some you never knew you had." Before she could blink a blond blur crashed into her. Soft sounds were heard as she looked down at the bandaged jinchuriki. She wrapped her arms gently around his injured body and rested her chin against his head. A single tear rolling down her cheek.

"Now now Naruto-kun, there's no need for that," She whispered gently. Naruto withdrew slightly before meeting her gaze, "That's no way a future Hokage should act. After all, you are going to be the one who takes the hat from me, and I can't be waiting forever." The sannin joked earning a wide grin from Naruto.

"You bet baa-chan! I'll be sat in that chair before you know it!" He exclaimed, through a wet and snotty smile. The slug sannin laughed kindly, earning Naruto's smile to widen, stretching his whiskered cheeks.

"I'm sure you will gaki," She smiled, drawing the blond back into her embrace, "I'm sure you will."

Unknown to the two blonds, a figure stood by the window in the door smiled to themselves, before walking away. Not wanting to interrupt the tender moment between two reunited family members.

Naruto couldn't remember the last time he'd been so happy. Maybe when he became genin? Nah that still didn't compare to this. He just found out who his kaa-chan was! After Tsunade and his moment together, she had gone on to inform him that Naruto's kaa-chan had come to Konoha from Uzushiogakure and was a member of the Uzumaki clan. That last bit of information had made Naruto's happiness double. Not only had he had a kaa-chan who loved him, but also belonged to a powerful clan. The only downer on the whole thing was that his clan had all but died out, the few members that may be alive spread across the five great nations. Also, the sannin refused to tell Naruto who his otou-chan was, said something like 'he was very strong and made many enemies during the war, it wouldn't be safe if word got out'. Yeah, like he hadn't heard that before.

Naruto was currently on his way to the Hokage tower thinking of his time in the hospital. He had been surprised to find that many people came to visit. Kakashi was the first to visit, however all he really did after his icha icha book. Next, the whole of team 8 came along, Kiba having just got out of hospital himself. Shikamaru and Ino had also visited along with their sensei Asuma, Chouji still being bedridden didn't come. More surprisingly however, was Sakura who came to visit. Naruto smiled at the memory

Flashback

A knock on the door drew Naruto's attention away from the window he had been gazing through.

"Come in" He said. The door opened slowly and Naruto's eyes widened at the sight of pink hair, "Sakura… chan?" He questioned amiably. Sakura however, didn't respond. Instead she walked right up next to the bed, head lowered hiding her eyes.

"Sakura I'm sorry," Naruto began, his head lowered, "I failed to bring Sasuke back… You must hate me now." He said in a solemn tone. Sakura didn't respond adding to Naruto's worry. He opened his mouth to speak again however was interrupted when a fist met his head followed by a loud shout of 'BAKA'.

"OW, Sakura what the hell I'm injured here!" Naruto protested angrily, but the only response he received was a bone-crushing hug from his childhood crush, causing his cheeks to redden slightly.

"You baka" Sakura retorted quietly, "I know I asked you to bring back Sasuke but I didn't want you to nearly get yourself killed doing so!" Naruto's eyes widened dramatically upon hearing those words. "I don't care that you weren't able to bring him back. It's okay Naruto… kun" She withdrew from their embrace and gazed at that the starry eyed Naruto, unshed tears forming in her eyes, "I heard from Tsunade-sama what Sasuke and the sound 4 did to you and the others. How you were all so nearly killed… A-and I just want to say I'm sorry." Tears now began rolling down her cheeks, "At first when I heard that you hadn't been able to bring him back I was so angry, angry that you'd lost Sasuke. But after hearing about how he acted, and how far you went only to get so badly injured I couldn't stay angry. I'm sorry Naruto-kun." She finished before drawing him into another hug, "I'm so sorry"

"Sakura-chan" Naruto said, earning no response from the weeping kunoichi, "Sakura-chan." He repeated, a little more assertively, still earning no response, "SAKURA" He near shouted, holding her out by the shoulders at arm's length. He looked her over and smiled sadly, seeing the obvious pain this was causing her. "I said I would bring Sasuke back, no I promised I'd bring him back. So I will. I don't know how long it'll take. But I'll get strong to drag that duck-butt haired emo back to Konoha screaming if I have to, whether he likes it or not… Whether he's our friend or foe. And that's a promise of a lifetime." He finished with a determined stare. Sakura laughed slightly.

"Hai Naruto-kun, I suppose it is," she smiled kindly, before hitting him over the head again.

"Ow Sakura-chan why're you hitting me now!" Naruto whined, clutching his head.

"You really must be a dobe if you think I'm gonna let you go after Sasuke alone after all that's happened. Naruto, I swear to you that I'll share the burden of bringing Sasuke back. And that's my promise of a lifetime" She concluded, fire burning in her eyes causing Naruto to smile. A small, true smile.

"Hai Sakura-chan, I suppose it is."

Flashback End

Sakura had gone on to inform Naruto that Tsunade baa-chan was going to take her in as an apprentice to learn medical ninjutsu along with Shizune.

Naruto, blinked at the realisation that he'd already reached the Hokage's office.

'Jeez I didn't even realise I'd entered the tower…' He thought, before shrugging and pushing open the grand doors to the room.

"Mornin', baa-chan!" Naruto greeted, a large grin plastered on his face. The sannin, who was sat at her desk looked up smiling fondly.

"Ah, Naruto-kun just the person I wanted to see" She said in a grandmotherly tone. Ever since their 'encounter' at the hospital, the medic didn't mind Naruto calling her 'baa-chan' as much, in fact she liked it. It reminded her that she wasn't alone anymore. Not that she'd tell anyone that though.

"So baa-chan, watcha got for me?" Tsunade made an 'Ah' noise before shuffling the through the draws in her desk in search for something.

"Ah-ha! Here they are!" She exclaimed, before slamming three scrolls onto the table, one with the kanji for ken, the other for fuin and the last for chakra, all with the Uzumaki swirl on them.

"What are these baa-chan?" Naruto questioned, gazing at the scrolls, brows furrowed.

"These gaki are scrolls containing Uzumaki techniques. In fact these three styles of techniques are pretty much what made the Uzumaki so feared during their time." She informed the young blond, smiling at his intrigue.

"What techniques are they!?" Naruto interrogated further, his excitement akin to a child in a candy shop. Tsunade laughed at his enthusiasm.

"The first contains instructions for Uzumaki style kenjustu, there are three different styles that you can choose from I believe. Only one however will suit you. The Uzumaki's were always one to embrace diversity, such is demonstrated in their variety of techniques." Naruto stared on wide eyed earning another giggle from the great medic, "This next scroll contains Uzumaki fuinjustu or sealing techniques. Sealing is the main reason that made the Uzumaki so powerful as they had an uncanny way of integrating seals into offensive and defensive combat techniques," Tsunade paused to glance up in Naruto's direction to gaze his reaction only to sweatdrop at the sight of his blatant confusion. Choosing to ignore it and let a certain perverted hermit explain later she continues, "And this final scroll contains information regarding a form of chakra manipulation, specific to the Uzumaki." Now this immediately peaked Naruto's interest.

"What, like a bloodline baa-chan?" Naruto excitedly questioned.

"Hmm sort of," the sannin answered, "Don't get your hopes up though. Even amongst the Uzumaki this form of manipulation was very rare. Although, your Kaa-san was able to do it, so who knows. Maybe you'll get lucky?" She finished, smiling cheerily at Naruto's frown, which was soon disregarded and replaced with a wide grin.

"That doesn't matter baa-chan I've still got all the other stuff to learn" Naruto consoled loudly.

"Haha I suppose that's true Naruto-kun, but remember you still have a lot of other tricks and techniques to learn outside of these Uzumaki ones, try not to get tunnel-vision eh?" Tsunade reprimanded gently.

"Hai baa-chan, but I'm still gonna learn every technique in these scrolls and become the strongest Uzumaki there ever was and rebuild my clan!" Naruto declared with gusto, earning a raised eyebrow and a smirk from his grandmother figure.

"Is that so Naruto-kun, and whatever happened to becoming the greatest Hokage of all time?" She questioned jokingly.

"That'll come right after I've become strong enough using these techniques to protect everyone in the village!" He quipped not missing a beat, "Yosh, I better get to it!" Naruto exclaimed before rushing forward and sweeping up the scrolls and rushing to the door. Turning around he grinned at the blond Hokage.

"Don't get too comfy in that chair baa-chan, cause I'll be kicking you out of it before you can say great-grandkids" He joked causing Tsunade to blush and splutter at her fantasies of little great-grandkids to spoil being caught out. "See ya later baa-chan!" Naruto said as he exited the office, bringing the sannin out of her thoughts. As she stared at the door a soft smile graced her face and she spun in her chair to gaze out over the village.

"That kid…" She laughed to herself, "He's going places, and I'll be there every step of the way."

Yo thanks for reading, hope you enjoyed.

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Ciao.