This is set directly after Second Year and Harry has just got back to the Dursleys for summer break. In the Elemental Nations, the Fourth Great Shinobi War finished three months ago. Shikamaru and Temari are dating seriously, as are Naruto and Hinata. Naruto is not yet Hokage. Suna is newly rebuilt, but trade is slow, and Gaara is working his way through the paperwork build up.

For the sake of this story, sperm/egg donation was a viable, if expensive and exclusive, method during the 70's.

"Speaking a different language to the current regional location."

'Inner thoughts.'

'Written word'

-Story Start-

Harry was bored. And more than a little annoyed. The Dursleys had confiscated all of his school things as soon as he stepped through the door and sent him up to his room. How was he supposed to do his homework now? Hedwig hooted mournfully from inside her cage as she ruffled her wings. She could empathise with her chick on what it was like to have your wings metaphorically clipped.

A sudden screech from right outside the window made Harry run and fling it open in excitement and hope. Maybe it was an owl from Ron or Hermione?

He was sort of right.

It was a bird of prey, and judging from the metal tube clipped to one of it's legs, evidently a messenger bird. But Harry didn't now that the Wizarding World used large desert hawks as well as owls. This one had a black bandanna around it's neck, with a small metal plate on. It was engraved with an hourglass shape, painted in with turquoise; Harry didn't recognise the symbol.

The bird fixed him with a glare from a golden eye as it landed on the windowsill. It offered it's leg to him. Carefully watching the talons, Harry unclipped the tube from it's leg. It made no indication of leaving, so he assumed it had been ordered to wait for a reply. Fishing around in his pocket, he brought out some bacon scraps he had been meaning to give to Hedwig as treats. He also unlocked Hedwig's cage and brought out her water bowl. Refilling it, he put it on the floor next to the bacon scraps.

"It's not much, but it's all I could spare and I'm sure you're hungry," he said aloud to the hawk. It eyed the meager meal disdainfully for a second, before descending to the floor in a quick flurry of wings, devouring the bacon.

Harry sat down on his bed, unscrewing on end of the tube to reveal a tightly wound scroll. sliding it out, he unfurled it and began to read.

'To

Harry James Potter, Heir of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter.'

Harry blinked. His parents - no, scratch that - he was nobility? Like Malfoy?

'Initially, this letter was to be addressed to your parents, Lord James Potter and Lady Lily Potter nee Evans. Upon being informed of their untimely demise, this letter rightfully goes to you, as their next of kin. My late condolences on your bereavement.

This letter is to inform you that I have recently been made aware that you and I are related by blood.'

The breath went out of Harry in one quick gasp. Family! He had family that nobody knew about!

'I do not know if you are aware, but for those rendered infertile or otherwise incapable of bearing children, there is the option of using donated sex cells as a replacement, but the resulting child still being delivered by the birth mother. As you may or may not know, anyone can donate, but for the client couple, the option is expensive and exclusive.

After bearing my older sister and brother, my mother was rendered infertile due to an accident. Still wishing for another child, she and my father opted for the aforementioned method. Thus I came about.

Once a child created by such a method reaches the age of 18, or is otherwise granted the status of a legal adult, they are made aware of the identities of the donor parents.

The woman who donated the egg that came to be me, was Lily Potter. In simpler terms, I am your half-brother; sharing a mother but with different fathers.'

A quiet tear welled in Harry's eye that he blinked away. He had a brother. A brother that he already knew meant more to him than the Dursley's, even though they had not yet met.

'I should have been made aware of this earlier as I technically became an adult when I reached the military rank of genin (similar to an apprentice) at the age of eleven, but a strained relationship with my father, his death, my own personal problems and a war delayed things slightly.

Now I am 16, I know.

I am writing this letter because I would like to extend the hand of family and friendship. I also think that my older sister, Temari, will enjoy having another little brother to spoil, as will my brother Kankuro.

Sincerely,

Gaara of the Sand Waterfall, Fifth Wind-shadow of the Village Hidden in the Sand.

P.S. I have sent this via one of my personal messenger hawks, who has been instructed to wait for a reply. It will take a few days to get back to me.'

Harry quietly hid the the letter beneath a loose floorboard, even though all he wanted to do was hold it to his chest and savor the knowledge that he had family. He would not let the Dursleys take away the hope he now had of having a true family.