Raja the War wizard here! Bringing you all n update! Yay updates.. I like updates.. they remind me of WAFFLES! and the smell of TEENAGE INNOCENTS! *Clears throat awkwardly* Alas.. this update is not about waffles.. my apologies.. But the update is about how there will be a new chapter TOMORROW! sooooooo there ya have it. Remember kids.. when in need of hero or a good ol spank on the ass just call out "RAJA!" really loud and I most likely wont come to your aid.

(Authors Note)

Hey all! First off I'd like to say sorry for the late update. If anyone has seen my profile page, they would of been aware of what has been going on. In short, my laptop that had this chapter complete and ready to be posted, as well as the next 2 chapters in rough draft form, and two chapters of my other story in rough draft form. As well as everything else on it! Died a miserable and horrible death.. *Looks outside on my back patio where a very big black scorch mark is, and remnants of a laptop can be seen* I mayyyy of smashed it with a hammer a few thousand times, and poured a crap load of lighter fluid on it, and blew it up. Hey it made me feel better dammit. Anyways! I got a new computer, and am resuming re-typing what i had lost from my other computer, so sit tight, and relax I will have more chapters coming soon!

Thank you to everyone who left reviews, you guys rock as always. To everyone else.. meh your alright too lol. Is this the part where we all get royally hammered, and go take over a country in one night? AW HELL YEAH!

Quote of the day:

"I acknowledge you as a complete utter backwards retard under Category A, subsection 32, article 51.6.. in the Uzumaki's book "How do judge yours and others stupidity." Never go full-retard like those Category A, subsection 33 guys.. NEVER!"

- Kensei Uzumaki -

Naruto And Hinata's House

Later that same night after dinner Naruto, Hinata, and Tomo were all sitting in the living room talking amongst each other waiting for Kensei, Hana, and little Hikaru to show up. In the middle of dinner Hinata asked why they didn't come along for dinner, and got a shrug from Naruto saying, 'You never asked me to invite them' as an answer.

"So Kaa-san. Where is it that your new office will be?" Naruto asked after going over with Hinata that he will be assuming his role as the Shodaime Uzukage in a matter of two days.

"It's actually only a few blocks away from the Uzukage tower Naruto-kun." Tomo smiled. "When we were reconstructing the village I had told Tazuna that I wanted the building not too far away from the tower, and the clan's compound." Tomo explained happily.

"It's pretty rare that we are having both a Kage, and a Damiyo inside of the village." Hinata commented with a smile.

"Yes it is." Tomo smiled widely. "But most Damiyo's don't fight when needed." Tomo chuckled. "Just because I will be handling political affairs, doesn't mean that I wont help physically protect our village if it comes under attack."

"And that is what separates Uzu from the rest of the elemental nations." Naruto smirked, just as someone started ringing the doorbell relentlessly making everyone sweatdrop.

'Kensei let Hikaru ring the doorbell again..' Everyone thought at the same time.

Getting up slowly from her spot on the couch, Hinata made her way over to the door and opened it for Hana, and Kensei who was holding their little boy smiling as he was rang the doorbell again even though the door was now open.

"Eh heh heh.. Howdy." Kensei chuckled after Hikaru was about to keep ringing the doorbell just because he thought it was fun.

"Come in you guys." Hinata smiled, "We are all in the living room talking." Hinata motioned with her arms to enter the house.

"Thank you for inviting us Hinata." Hana smiled as she gave her sister-in-law a hug, and whispering in her ear. "Any luck yet?"

"We don't know yet, I wanted to wait a few more days before checking." Hinata smiled as she looked over at the still ever hyper red haired four year old that tore through the living room, and latching himself onto Tomo in a big hug.

"I'm so excited for you two. I can't wait." Hana smiled as she released the hug, and started walking into the house with Kensei next to her, and Hinata shutting the front door to the house.

A little later after a couple hours of talking with each other, as night slowly approached. Hana brought up something that she had found in her, and Kensei's study room while cleaning up for the day.

"Say Kaa-san." Hana trailed off as she pet her now sleeping son's head who had passed out in her lap. "While I was cleaning the house today I found a small box of photos." Hana started retelling her events of the day getting Tomo, and the rest in the living room to look over at her in interest. "I asked Kensei-kun about them, and he told me that they are yours."

"Really?" Tomo asked curiously.

"They were in the study room with an empty scroll next to them." Hana explained.

"I looked through them.. I hope you don't mind.." Hana quietly added making Tomo look at her in confusion.

"Why wouldn't I? They are family photo's after all." Tomo smiled.

"I brought them with us seeing how we all were coming over here." Kensei announced as he pulled a sealing scroll out, and handing it to his mother.

"Thank you." Tomo smiled just as Hinata spoke up in interest of seeing the pictures.

"Do you mind if I look at them too?" Hinata asked with a happy smile.

"I don't see why not." Tomo laughed.

Going over the pictures and stopping to ask more about the pictures in question, Tomo was happily explaining in detail what was going on at the time, and little funny bits of information that made the two other women in the room giggle along with her. Most of the pictures were of people that nobody besides Tomo, and every once in a while Kensei knew of, but in the middle of the pile of pictures. Photos of Kensei, and Kushina were starting popping up.

"Oh god.. you took a picture of that?" Kensei groaned as everyone laughed at a picture of Kensei hanging upside down by a rope tied to his ankles in nothing but his underwear.

"What?" Tomo asked trying to sound as innocent as possible. "I couldn't help it."

It wasn't until the two younger women in the house turned back to the stack and picked out the next picture showing an Uzumaki male, with a beautiful black haired, brown eyed woman standing next to him, both about the same age. Explaining to Hinata, and Hana that the girl in the picture was her before she was as she put it "Uzumaki-ified" She laughed as she looked at the picture of an 18 year old grumpy looking Kenshin, and Tomo who was looking bashful as ever as the two were standing next to each other in front of a small house. The house was in fact their new house after Kenshin's parents told him that Tomo would be staying with him, and would remain in his care. The girls then quickly asked about how she had met Kenshin, and she started telling them that she was born away form the elemental nations and came over with Kenshin, and the other Uzumaki's obviously omitting numerous things. But did tell them about the war, her being taken hostage, and saved by Kenshin several times.

"And after Kenshin was all bandaged up I begged Ryuu to let me come back here with them, since I couldn't stand to be in that god forsaken place.. Once we got back to Uzu though, and I had a little time to adjust to my new life here, that's when I started to realize that a lot more was different here, than in the lands of my childhood." Tomo laughed.

(Flashback)

Arriving at a local in that was located near the middle of the village, Kenshin walked in not even giving the woman at the reception desk a moments glance as he walked through the lobby of the inn like he owned the place. Turning down a couple different hallways, Kenshin arrived at a door, and knocked on it twice quickly.

After a moment pasted by the door opened up with Tomo poking her head out of the cracked doorway, and seeing Kenshin standing out in the hallway.

"My father summoned us, we need get to his office quickly." Kenshin explained in a flat tone, getting a nod from the young woman who was glued to his side for the past three weeks after arriving back in Uzushio from the east.

Once the two had left the inn that Tomo was staying at, the two made their way through the middle of the village with Kenshin walking at the front, and Tomo quietly following behind him with her hands clasped in front of her holding onto her small purse. Most of the people they passed by in the shopping district were whispering about the young Uzumaki heir, and warlord, with the beautiful young woman that was seen constantly following him everywhere he went.

After hearing some of the villagers saying things either completely out of context about the two of them as they walked on, or just making flat out making rude remarks about how some wished to take Tomo for themselves, Kenshin gave everyone a freakishly demonic glare with his normal blue eyes now slightly glowing red due to his sudden mood change, followed up by either a low throaty growl or snarl. Which the people in question quickly took as their one, and only warning before the high strung, easily pissed off, powerful clan heir blew up in the middle of the street, and quickly restrained themselves from speaking anything further on the young pair of teens as they continued on towards Kenshin's father's office.

"I-is something troubling y-you Kenshin?" Tomo asked quietly after taking a few quicker steps to be withing hearing range of the man in front of her after watching him tense up, and storm onwards to their destination.

"I can't stand them.." Kenshin trailed off in a hard edgy voice, confusing Tomo.

"Can't stand whom Kenshin?" Tomo asked after a moment of silence.

"Everyone.." Kenshin answered in an oddly soft voice that Tomo almost didn't recognize, "I just can't stand how they-ah forget about it. It's nothing." Kenshin's tone quickly changed back after deciding to not answer Tomo's question, and tell her what actually was bothering him, which was in fact that everyone seemed to wanna snag Tomo for themselves, or just tease him about the lovely woman who seemed to shadow him everywhere now a days, but alas Kenshin was too prideful to really just say what was bothering him. "We better pick up the pace." Kenshin suggested as more of an order than anything, and Tomo just nodded in agreement even though she was now trailing behind him again, and couldn't see her doing so.

Getting inside of Kenshin's father's office, Kenshin was about to speak up after he, and Tomo noticed that Kenshin's father had yet to look up, and even greet them. But was quickly silenced by his father who just held his hand up, gesturing for them to give him a moment. After finishing with the latest document that seemed to consume an ungodly amount of his time, Kenshin's father looked up at the two finally.

"Father. You asked to see me?" Kenshin spoke in an even almost bored tone.

Growling at his son before speaking, "Not just you.. I wanted to speak with Tomo as well.. actually I wanted to more so than you, ya ungrateful brat." Which just made Kenshin narrow his eyes at his father.

"You.. wanted to speak with me Uzumaki-sama?" Tomo quietly asked not knowing why such a powerful person such as Kenshin's father would be wanting to speak with her of all people. She had only met Kenshin's father a couple of times of course, but only spoke with him briefly. More so because of her shyness, but she couldn't help but wonder why he'd ask her to come to his office along with Kenshin.

"Yes Tomo. How are you adjusting to life here in our village? I know Kenshin can be a bit off a pain in the ass most of the time, and is about as emotionally expressive as a rock, but he means well.. most of the time.." Kenshin's father sighed a little worried for his heir with how he has been acting for the past 5 years of his life. 'I hope to kami that he at least does...' Kenshin's father sweat dropped after thinking about it a little more.

"I am adjusting well, thank you Uzumaki-sama. The villagers are very friendly here. And I don't mind Kenshin's company at all, I quite enjoy it." Tomo smiled happily before bowing slightly.

"That's great to hear." The Uzumaki's clan head chuckled as he looked over at his heir who had a bored, and blank look on his face, and taking in the over all appearance of the couple currently in his office.

"Shesh you two are so old fashioned." Kenshin's father sighed as he took in the sight of his eldest son standing straight as a board with his chests outwards almost as if he was giving a mission report or something, and Tomo who was a few feet behind, and to the side of Kenshin clearly showing that she thought herself to beneath the two men in the room, as she awaited to be given permission to speak once again, or asked a question. "..And that's saying something coming from me seeing how old I am." He trailed off with a sigh.

"Uzumaki-sama.. how can you be old? You look to be like you are barely thirty to me?" Tomo asked curiously with her head tilted to the side cutely, which made the man behind his desk laugh heartily.

"You haven't told her much of anything about our clan have you Kenshin?" The old man scowled at his eldest son, grumbling "Figures" under his breath, as he watched Kenshin look away from his father's gaze. Looking back over at the black haired, brown eyed beauty in his office standing next to his son dressed in a very nice white kimono with baby blue flowers printed on it, and a baby blue obi sash tied around her waste, Kenshin's father spoke up again.

"Seeing how my son hasn't told you much of anything besides the obvious about our clan, I shall do so." Kenshin's father started explaining seeing how Tomo's expression changed into a very interested one. She was in fact very curious about Kenshin's clan, and family members. But couldn't bring herself to ask about either of them either out of her shyness or concern that she would be poking her nose in places she shouldn't be.

"First off, none of that Uzumaki-sama crap while we are out of the public's eye." Kenshin's father waved off with his hand flailing at the wrist. "My name is simply Saito, feel free to use it. As for how old I am.. I am 39. We of the Uzumaki clan have special traits that nobody outside of the clan can have. These traits are called Kekkei Genkai's, or bloodline limits. Other clans from around here have other rare traits, and such but I will explain that further at another time. But we of the Uzumaki clan have traits that let our bodies heal very quickly, and don't let our bodies age very fast. In past clan records some members of our clan have aged past one hundred, and fifty years old, and looked no older than as if they were in their mid sixties." Saito explained shocking Tomo.

"T-that's amazing!" Tomo said in astonishment.

"Yes it is. We of the Uzumaki clan are also revered as the most powerful clan in the elemental nations if not the world at the moment for our mastery in the art of sealing, and war. As I am sure you already know by seeing Kenshin, and the others fight in the east. We are also very well versed in the ways of the sword, but that is just the tip of the iceberg really young lady. When I had received word of the war going on over in your former homelands by an old friend of mine who ventured over there quite some years ago, I sent out a portion of our clan to help the rebel armies turn the tides against the very oppressive Shogunate. However.. I gave those who left.. one specific order." Saito trailed off hearing Kenshin grumble under his breath.

"Just one?" Tomo asked quietly suddenly finding herself shy after remember her excitedly awaiting a history lesson from the people who had given her a second chance at life among them.

"Yes, one. And that was to only use chakra in only of the most dire situations. Those who were sent over were not to reveal anything that might tip off anyone of our clan's actual abilities besides Kenjutsu, so that they could blend in, and come across as "run of the mill" samurai over there. But someone.." Saito glared at his son making Tomo a little nervous about how the temperature seemed to drop a few degrees. "Decided to disobey that one strict order, huh Kenshin?" Saito continued to glare at his son.

"It's not like I had a choice in the matter." Kenshin said with a straight face. "It was either I use it, and help us get out of the situation alive, or die with everyone else following after me." Kenshin disputed with a glare of his own.

"And yet you were taken down in the end regardless.. Ah!" Kenshin's father quickly cut him off before he could interrupt him. "Do not interrupt me Kenshin, and I know what you are going to say, but it matters little as you should of in fact retreated to begin with." Kenshin's father explained with a sharp tone in his voice as he scolded his eldest son, who at the moment seemed like he could care less to be in the same room as his father at the moment.

"It was all my fault Uzumaki-sama.. If I hadn't left my hiding spot Kenshin placed me in, he would of been alright to still fight." Tomo said quietly with a low bow, hoping to help ease the Uzumaki leaders wrath off of his son.

Smiling at what he was seeing Tomo doing, Kenshin's father just started laughing. Quickly confusing the two in his office. "Your too much Tomo.. ahh.." Kenshin's father then wiped a tear from his eye.

Ignoring his father for the moment, Kenshin just looked over at the young woman next to him. "You don't need to defend the actions that I have taken Tomo. I promised you that I would protect you, and the others. And that is why I was willing to do whatever it took to make sure you were protected. Getting myself injured just so happened to be a small price that I had to pay to ensure everyone's safety. You remember what I told you the night before correct?" Kenshin asked with a voice that actually sounded human.

Thinking about it for a moment, Tomo nodded. "Yes.. but I told you that you didn't need to fight for me.." Tomo trailed off sadly thinking back at the memory.

"I wouldn't take back what I did regardless Tomo." Kenshin stated as he looked towards his father who leaning back in his chair with a smirk that looked about ready to spread it's way across his face and split it in half. "What." Kenshin snapped out with a vein popping out on his forehead, not liking that his father was now in such a playful mood.

"Oh nothing... By the way your mother arrived back home while you met up with Tomo to bring her here." Kenshin's father laughed, as he watched Tomo looking at him curiously, and Kenshin paled ghost white.

"No.." Kenshin whispered out almost in fear.

"Ho ho ho yes!" Kenshin's father laughed without restraint.

"What are you? Santa Clause..? Freaking ass..." Kenshin grumbled under his breath.

"It's sooo happenin' muh boy!"

"W-what's happening..?" Tomo trailed of nervously after taking note of how the young warlord standing next to her that she was so fond of was turning more and more pale at the mentioning of his mothers return.

"You wouldn't.." Kenshin finally spoke up wile narrowing his eyes at his father beshind the desk once he had calmed his nevers a bit.

"Oh I can, but not only that... I. Will." Saito leaned forward with a serious expression on his face as he, Kenshin stared each other down.

"Your lying. Not only would you create a hell on earth inside of the compound after including mother into whatever half-assed idea that you randomly thought of for myself, and.. others.." Kenshin trailed off trying to gather whatever he could use against his father at the moment. "But even if you aren't lying, I won't go down without a fight father." Kenshin declared.

"You know what they say Kenshin, all's fair in love, and war Kenshin.. all is fair." Kenshin's father trailed off with a smirk while waving his son off with his hand.

"Well I say you've lost your damned mind old man." Kenshin shot back as he slammed both of his open palms onto his fathers desk, startling Tomo behind him.

"Calm.. down." Kenshin's father ordered sternly, and waited for Kenshin's agreement that he'd do so before continuing. "I'm just teasing you.. Your mother simply wants to meet Tomo. There is no need for you to get so riled up, your going to have a butt hole relapse if you keep it up, haha!" Kenshin merely stared back at his father with twitching eyebrows.

Hearing that Saito's wife, and Kenshin's mother wanted to meet her caught Tomo off guard a little bit.. with the way the two Uzumaki males were going at each other made her feel like Kenshin's mother was probably in fact.. a very.. scary woman. "She w-wants to s-see me?" Tomo stuttered, and immediately started berating herself over, and over about how she needed to stop stuttering all of the time.. she didn't want to appear weak, and too afraid to respond to anyone who looked like they could easily kill her.. even though here in Uzu.. pretty much everyone could with little effort.

"That's right." Saito smiled. "I promise you she isn't going to eat you or something, Kenshin's just over reacting." Saito chuckled not making Tomo know whether to believe him or not at the moment, and suddenly jumped and pressed her back to the wall next to the now very broken doorway, after the sound of Saito's closed office door being blown open caught her by surprise.

"There you are!" An obviously enraged female voice growled out before storming into the office, sending a shiver up Kenshin's spine as he tried to ignore the foot steps behind him making their way closer to him with an impassive expression hiding most of his fear at the moment.

"Ah welcome home my dear." Saito smiled nervously at the sight of a beautiful woman with red hair tied back into a pony tail, and wearing a white kimono that just so happened to be his wife, pissed off.. yet again.. as she marched up to Kenshin, and spun him around by the shoulder, and getting into his face.

"Where Is she?" The woman demanded, making Tomo nervously shiver as she stood off to the side after getting out of the way when the woman marched through the now broken office door.

"Akina-chan." Saito called out just loud enough to get his wife's attention away from their son, and gave a miniscule nod of his head in Tomo's direction.

Quickly turning her head and locking eyes with the black haired, brown eyed woman in the room. Kenshin's mother Akina moved away from Kenshin with a "Tch" and walked towards Tomo and started to walk around her as if inspecting livestock, making Tomo even more nervous. Just as Tomo was about to try and speak, Akina quickly grabbed her by the wrist somewhat gently, and started pulling her out of the office. "Come." Was all she said as the two made their way to leave the office.

"We'll see you two later." Akina called back to the two males in the room before her with a terrified looking Tomo in her clutches made their way to leave the office, who was looking over her should at Kenshin who himself was mouthing the words 'I'm sorry' as the two women disappeared from the office.

"And so it begins." Saito started cackling like a madman, making Kenshin simply sigh in defeat.

"This means war old man.." Kenshin announced as he slowly walked over to a chair nearby, and sat down in it.

Outside of the office, and still leading Tomo by the wrist. Akina lead Tomo through the streets making everyone they passed to look at the two with a number of mixed expressions; more confusion, and worry than anything.

"W-where are you taking m-me?" Tomo finally asked after managing to muster up enough courage to speak, as the two made their way through a small park close by the Uzumaki compound.

As soon as she heard Tomo speak. Akina stopped, and gently let go of Tomo and turned to her. "Oh! I apologize!" Akina quickly smiled slightly scaring Tomo at the quick switch in her mood, "We are going to my house to talk." Akina explained as if it was the most simple thing in the world.

"T-talk? W-what did you want to talk to me about?" Tomo asked quietly while looking down at the ground.

"Oh lots of stuff! Now come. We will have a girls lunch date together." Akina said as she started leading the way to the Uzumaki clans compound. "It will be so much fun."

'That sounds reassuring..' Tomo thought to herself with a sigh as she made her way with Akina to her house.

Arriving at the house of Kenshin's parents, and quickly making lunch for the two. Akina noticed that Tomo had hardly said much of anything while she was making their food, and was becoming even more curious to know more about the beautiful young woman that her son had saved apparently.. She wasn't filled in on much of the details while she was away for a few months visiting her distant cousin Mito in Konoha, but she was told by her husband via messenger hawk that Kenshin had brought a girl home from the east, and that the girl that had come back with him, and the rest of the clan, seemed to be very attached to her eldest son. For whatever reason.. she didn't know. And that was what she was determined to find out about.

Setting two plates of food down on the table, and sitting down at the other edge of the table next to Tomo. Akina spoke up with questions loaded ready to fire off in quick succession.

"So I understand that you were from a family of the Shogunate. Why is it that you left your homelands to come here?" Akina asked in an even tone.

"Yes.. it is true that I was born into a wealthy Shogunate family.. but I was always unhappy there." Tomo started speaking quietly, "There was always tension between our family members, mainly between myself, and my father.." Tomo trailed off in a whisper. "He was trying to force me to marry some Shogunate official's son who was much older than myself, and for lack of better words.. was a pig. I.. would of been his fourth wife.." After hearing that Akina's dark blue eyes softened in concern, but she remained silent waiting for the young woman to continue. "I started to despise my father's lack of concern for both my well being, and happiness. But I could do nothing.. Women from where I come from are merely possessions to men in power.. forced to pretty much produce as many heirs to those in power as possible." Tomo finished explaining.

"How did you meet my son?" Akina asked after absorbing everything she had just heard.

"Well.. after my father and I had gotten into a larger than usual argument, with my mother standing up for me. My father sent me, my mother, and little sister away to my aunts house a couple towns away. I had no experience in seeing what war, or death actually looked like. But one day while shopping everything came crashing down as Shogunate soldiers mercilessly attacked the villagers. I thought I could stop them if I had asked them too, but I was grabbed and pulled into an alley way by Kenshin. After a few minutes I argued with him despite being very afraid of him, and yelled out at him catching the soldiers attention. Kenshin protected me, and by doing so saved my life as I saw what could of happened to myself as a woman tried to do what I had thought of doing. He.. killed all of the soldiers, and left telling me to leave in the opposite direction." Tomo sighed as she looked down at the plate of food she hadn't even touched yet.

"About a year after I had first ran into Kenshin, I saw him in my hometown out of the corner of my eye. We locked eyes recognizing each other, but my mother quickly drew my attention away from him. It was when I looked back to where he was that I noticed that he was stalking some elite Shogunate soldiers that were marching through the streets." Tomo looked up into Akina's eyes with a soft and gentle look, "Later in town a few girls I knew, and I were out shopping and were kidnapped and taken hostage after the people in the streets started panicking while the town came under attack. When I awoke I realized that I was outside still and in what seemed like a campsite. Then after a few minutes I saw him again. He looked the same.. still bearing those sharp hard eyes of a killer that had frightened me so much the first I had seen him."

"But.. after talking with him.. actually talking with him, which struck me as a little odd that he would even be doing so.. I realized that he was just like anyone else." Tomo sighed after thinking about the night before she was supposed to be released back to her family.

"He actually opened up to you?" Akina questioned quietly in mild shock, almost as if she wasn't believing what she was hearing. Kenshin has rarely ever opened up to anyone that wasn't an immediate family member over the past five years.. let alone to a girl in a far off continent, who was associated to the opposite side that he was fighting for..

"I'd like to think so.." Tomo trailed off as she slowly started blushing, "But I haven't known Kenshin for very long so I can't be certain.. He told me that he promised that he'd protect me, and that he wouldn't allow any harm to become of me.. saying that when a man of the Uzumaki clan gives his word, he would rather die before breaking it. Or something along those lines.." Tomo trailed off once again still slightly embarrassed.

"Shesh.. men.." Akina laughed slightly, making Tomo giggle.

"It was really sweet of him really. I've never met a man like him before in my life, and for being raised in a place where men are seen as the superior dominate sex, who care little of what becomes of us women there. It was really nice seeing that there was someone like him in the world." Tomo smiled, before letting it fall making Akina tilt her head in confusion. "I told him that he didn't have to fight for me, and that I wasn't worth it.."

"Oh boy.. he got upset didn't he? I'm sorry he-" Akina stopped as she saw Tomo shake her head.

"After I pretty much started crying after telling him that I wasn't worth it, and that I couldn't bare the thought of him getting hurt, or worse.. dying for me of all people.." Tomo said as she looked up with a sad smile. "He told me that it didn't matter and that he already made his mind up, and nothing would change it for him. The next day we were ambushed at the exchange spot where I was supposed to be released, but it turned out the Shogunate was simply trying to lure Kenshin, and as many other of your clan members out into an open space to kill them. I was merely used as a pawn to get Kenshin, and the others to meet them.. Kenshin once again saved me as I tried to get him to retreat to safety with me after the shogunate's trap was sprung.. but as I was begging him to do so a cannon was shot straight towards us, and Kenshin pushed me down, and took the hit protecting me, and getting himself hurt.."

"I couldn't really fathom that he actually stood by his promise to do whatever it took to protect me, as I watched on in horror as Kenshin's body fell limply to the ground quickly after being hit.. even though I told him that I wasn't worth it he stood by on his promise.. I was just a girl that he only met on a few occasions in the midst of a war.. he had no obligation to protect me.. he could of easily taken a step to the side and let me die so that he could keep fighting.. but he didnt.." Tomo finished momentarily while slowly looking away from Akina who was remaining quiet for the time being.

"Saying you promise something is one thing.. but to see it happen right in front of you just how far one would go to stay true to his word was.. just too much for my heart to bare.. He didn't have to do it.." Tomo trailed off as she shyly looked away from Akina, and stared at a suddenly very interesting kitchen wall.

"He's about as stubborn as a mule.. just like his father." Akina giggled as she set her chin on her overlapped hands that were braced up by her elbows on the table. "You love him don't you?" Akina asked with a small smile getting straight to the point, and watched as Tomo froze with a blush once again spreading across her face. "Come now.. no need to be so shy about it dear. It's not a bad thing." Akina smiled trying to make the poor girl feel a little bit more comfortable, and watched as Tomo gave a slight nod saying that she in fact did.

"That's good to hear. I can tell your a really sweet girl, and care deeply for Kenshin already, Tomo." Akina smiled, making Tomo feel a little bit better. "Now.. I'm going to help you win my son's heart, and this is how we're going to do it." Akina smirked evilly at her proclamation watching as Tomo looked at her shocked, and confused all while still blushing.

"You.. what?" Tomo finally managed to ask.

"If you truly care for him the way you just said you did, and if he actually puts forth that much effort into your well being, it lets me know my son feels strongly towards you as well, but will be too stubborn, hard headed, and prideful to admit to what he feels. So I am going to help you coax it out of him. Thankfully my beloved husband is one of the very few that can handle Kenshin no matter how upset he gets, and 'Is' on our side." Akina explained with a chuckle.

"W-why.. why would you do this.. for me? I'm.. just a normal girl from a different land.. an outsider.. I know nothing-" Tomo was cut off as Akina held her hand up to stop her.

"Stop right there. Please. First of all.. I am doing this because it is what I feel is best for not only you, but my son, and the rest of my family as well. After hearing a little about how Kenshin was over there by you as well as my husband. I am actually surprised to hear that he wasn't his usual blank emotionless warlord self." Akina rolled her eyes after taking a moment to think about her son.

"I honestly don't know what is wrong with that boy.. he used to be such a care free, and loving child.." Akina trailed off with a sigh, "But I do suppose tragedy, and war changes people of all kinds.. especially children.." Akina trailed off sadly as Tomo gasped.

"No.." Tomo whispered softly.

"I wish it wasn't so but.. Kenshin has been exposed to death, and war since the age of 13, and aware of what it means to be apart of the strongest clan in the elemental nations at the age of 8." Akina sighed while her head dropped as she looked down upon her half eaten plate of food.

"He started acting differently after a missing nin, or simply known as a deadly psychopath from Kumo, a country to the north of here, had somehow managed to sneak into our village trying to gain a large ransom out of our clan. How he managed to infiltrate the village is still unknown to us... but he had managed to kidnap my 11 year old son Tenzin while he played with his friends in the forest.. Kenshin went out to bring Tenzin back home for dinner following my instructions like the well behaved, and loving child he used to be..."

"Once Kenshin had managed to find where his little brother, and friends played at, Kenshin froze as he saw and heard a dangerous looking man holding a katana at his younger brother's throat ordering him to not move.. Once the man noticed who Kenshin was.. a moment later the man cut my little boy's throat in front of Kenshin's eyes after deciding that capturing the clan head's heir would be a bigger payoff.." Akina sadly explained in almost a whisper willing herself not to cry right now over the loss of her son all those years ago, as Tomo looked down at the table nearly in tears.

"I'm.. so sorry.." Tomo whispered under her breath.

"Seeing his baby brother murdered in front of his very eyes, devastated Kenshin.. and in the midst of his despair.. his young mind went into overdrive, and activated a very rare Kekkei Genkai that tends to appear in those with thicker Uzumaki blood than others.. but we don't know for certain.. With power that can only be described as that of a demon.. not seen before in our clan in a very long time, especially in one so young. Kenshin quickly killed the man.. in a fit of rage, blood lust, and despair.. Kenshin.." Quickly shaking her head of the memories that she didn't want to relive once more Akina continued. "Once the intruder was killed... Kenshin carried the body of his younger brother, Tenzin.. back to this very house crying uncontrollably, drenched in blood, as he clutched his only siblings dead body closer to himself as he glowed bright red all while putting out an ungodly amount of pressure upon the clan's compound." Akina trailed off once more.

"A pressure?" Tomo asked quietly.

"Yes.. it was something that is very hard to come by in the world over here. There are many extremely powerful people, and many of them can release a suffocating pressure upon those around them. But what happened to Kenshin was completely different.. Trust me, I've fought along side my husband in the midst of war and felt many things.. but what Kenshin was doing on that day.. Oh how to put this..." Akina trailed off while putting a finger to her lips. "It was like the gravity around him was extremely higher.. making it almost impossible to move.."

"Ever since that day.. it's like a switch went off in Kenshin's brain telling him to shut everyone and everything out, and not to care about those around him too much, or to not get attached at all for they will simply cause him more emotional pain once they have died, and perhaps bring back the painful memories of his little brother's murder.. It's sad really.. I never wished my baby boy to shut the world out in such a way.." Akina whispered before she looked up at Tomo. "But I think there is still hope to bring my happy go lucky baby boy back, and I think you are the key to doing just that." Akina smiled happily at the thought.

"You.. really think so?" Tomo whispered, as she suddenly felt the need to bite her bottom lip in order to prevent herself from crying in front of the Uzumaki matriarch.

Instantly noticing the tall tale signs of a woman about to break down, Akina quickly abandoned her spot at the table, and gently wrapped her arms around the young girl next to her, and petting her hair to comfort her.

"Come on, lets get you to the living room." Akina suggested, as she slowly helped Tomo out of her seat, and lead her to the living room.

After a few hours had gone by Kenshin, and his father Saito arrive at the house, both refusing to acknowledge one another... more Kenshin than Saito. Once settled down in the living room with Akina still sitting next to Tomo on the couch, Akina asked a question to her son, already knowing the answer to her question after talking with Tomo for a while before the two men arrived at the house.

"So where has Tomo been staying at these past few weeks?" Akina asked her son with a smile.

"At an inn not far from the compound." Kenshin answered in a flat voice as he took his vest off to hand up next to the door.

Akina glared at her son seeing how he was trying to brush off her question, and got up off the couch marching towards her son.

"That is completely unacceptable Kenshin. Why would you let her stay out in the village by herself like that. She's new to the village.. didn't you ever think that she might be afraid of being in a completely different village let alone a completely different country than where she was born? Or the fact that you are the only one she somewhat knows and trusts, and yet you are away from her half of the time?" Akina argued as she shoved Kenshin in the chest with a pointed finger a few times. "I know your father put you in charge of helping her adjust here, but you aren't being considerate of her situation Kenshin!"

"She said it was fine." Kenshin said offhandedly with a straight face ignoring his mothers jabbing finger.

"Well it isn't! It's your duty to protect her, and make her feel safe here. So do a better job at it!" Akina yelled as she shoved something into his chest.

Looking at what his mother had slammed into his body, Kenshin noticed that it was a set of keys. "What are these?" Kenshin asked stupidly clearly confused as to why he was given them.

"Keys." Saito stated simply, making Tomo giggle.

"Obviously." Kenshin said while rolling his eyes.

"Go outside, take a right on the road leading further towards the middle of the compound, once you reach the cross road take a left. At the end of the road is a roundabout, third house on the left. You will be living there with Tomo now." Akina said in a tone that left no room for arguing, but that didn't mean Kenshin wouldn't try to.

"But-" Kenshin started but alas.. got no where.

"No! You know damned well I am serious right now Kenshin. Now go, and help her pack her things. Your father, and I will be over at the house in a little while." Akina said firmly while crossing her arms over her chest while seemingly radiating a white glow around her body with a vein on her forehead slightly pulsing, putting Kenshin on edge.

Sighing in defeat, Kenshin merely grabbed his vest he just had set on the rack, and put it back on, "Lets go get started Tomo." Kenshin half mumbled out as he threw his vest back on and headed towards the front door of the house.

"O-okay.." Tomo stuttered before looking up at Akina who now had her back turned towards her son, with a big smile on her face. "Thank you for your hospitality, and kindness. I really appreciate the help you two have given me." Tomo bowed to the two elder Uzumaki's in the room.

"Think nothing of it my dear." Saito chuckled as he watched his wife give the younger woman in the room a quick hug before shooing her towards the door where her son was waiting for her at.

Watching the two leave the house Akina flopped onto the couch in a fit of giggles. "Did you see his face?! That was priceless.." Akina trailed off as more giggles started coming out of her.

"I would of thought he'd put up more of a fight than that..." Saito chuckled. "Makes me think he's either no too put off at the idea of living with Tomo-chan, or just doesn't want to get his ass kicked by his mother in front of his girlfriend." Saito howled after saying that.

"Quick, get the camera. I wanna have a few pictures to remember this day." Akina said with a smile after controlling her giggling.

"Oh that will definitely piss him off. Good idea!" Saito laughed as he ventured further into the house to find their camera.

(Flashback End)

"And after we got everything moved in, they took this picture of us." Tomo finished explaining with a said sigh.

"What's wrong Kaa-san?" Hinata asked after noticing how sad Tomo looked now.

"I.. just miss him is all.." Tomo said as she ran a finger over Kenshin in the picture.

"I miss father too.. I'm sure where ever he is.. he and Kushina are smiling down on us now." Kensei gave his mother not a goofy grin, but a genuine smile.

"I'm sure they are." Tomo smiled back.

"Hey here's another picture of.. whoa.." Naruto trailed off as he held the picture closer to his face to get a better look at it.

"Yesh.. that was one look I would rather not see coming from him ever again.. eh heh.. heh.. heh.." Kensei weakly chuckled before suddenly bursting out in tears, and rocking himself back and forth on the couch while sucking his thumb next to his wife.

"What's the matter Kensei?" Hana asked seeing her husband suddenly break down.

"I SWEAR I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT!" Kensei screamed out, and quickly was slapped across the face hard by Naruto which was more a reflex that had developed over the years of being around his older brother to defuse Kensei's freaking out spasms quickly.

"Shut up, you wanna wake Hikaru up you Kensei?" Hana said while narrowing her red eyes at her overly loud husband, while Hinata just shook her head beside Naruto.

"I don't remember seeing this picture before.. who took it?" Tomo asked after taking the picture from Naruto to take a better look at it.

"Kushina did!" Kensei quickly replied before shrinking down beside Hana, who just gave him a weird look.

The picture in question was of Kenshin overly pissed off at something when the picture was taken while he marched forward towards.. apparently Kushina who took the picture, as her father approached with his katana in hand, and demon shroud activated.. but something caught the eye of Naruto after taking another look at it.

"Is that his demon shroud?" Naruto asked while looking at Tomo.

"Yes, that'd be Kenshin's demon shroud. Why?" Tomo asked curiously.

"It's.. a little different than mine, and Kensei's.. Ours.. apparently look like a red, and black mist hazing off of our bodies.. but his.. is an intense red glow like ours but with what looks like a white flame covering it? I can't tell.." Naruto trailed off looking back up at Tomo, and then Kensei for answers.

"T-that's pretty m-m-much it..." Kensei whimpered.

"Hmm.. I thought you two's would look the same as his, but since I haven't seen either of yours when activated I couldn't say anything earlier." Tomo mused aloud while putting a finger to her lips in thought, and then looked over at Kensei. "What did you, or Kushina do to upset your father like this?" Tomo asked while waving the picture around in front of her.

"Um.. uh.." Kensei trailed off. "I swear we didn't mean to!" Kensei quickly added, before telling everyone what happened that day.

(Flashback)

"Man how did I get stuck watching you all day?" A 15 year old Kensei groaned as he walked next to his sister with his hands behind his head.

"Kaa-san said you had to, that's why." A just turned 13 year old Kushina answered back with a small pointed glare at her older brother's attitude. "Besides, all you would of done is wander around the village being stupid. Blehhh." Kushina added while pulling down the lower part of her right eye lid, and sticking her tongue out at him.

"You better watch it brat." Kensei growled out as he looked down at his shorter sister with a glare while scratching his ass without a care in the world, making a few passerby's look at him awkwardly.

"Oooo so scarey.. Help! Someone please save me from this monster!" Kushina mockingly announced to anyone listening around them while waving her arms around as if she was panicking.

"Whatever. What are we even doing anyways.." Kensei trailed off. "Hey Kushi smell my finger!" Kensei laughed as he shoved his hand that he used to scratch his ass with.

"EWW GROSS!" Kushina yelled as she slapped away the offending hand of her older brother before it could reach it's target.

"Your such a pig.." Kushina trailed off before remembering Kensei asking something before trying to pull one over on her. "And we're going to see daddy!" Kushina happily replied while hopping up, and down a couple of times completely forgetting what Kensei tried to just a second ago.

"Why? You just saw him this morning.." Kensei mumbled while sniffing his finger, and quickly throwing it down to his side.

"Because I want to take some pictures with my new camera I got for my birthday!" Kushina smiled while playing with the camera that hung around her neck.

"Pff.. fine." Kensei grumbled. "Freaking camera.." Kensei grumbled again.. "Freaking pictures.." And... again... *Sweatdrop*

"It's not like I want any pictures of your ugly mug anyways, so I don't see why you are so unwilling to protect little ol me." Kushina smiled seeing that she was getting under her older brother's skin quite easily today.

"Your lucky I'm not in a vengeful mood right now, or I'd get you back for that Kushi.." Kensei said as the two arrived at their father's office.

"Say... how badly do you want a normal picture of the old man?" Kensei grinned evily towards his sister who, after a moment or two of registering in her brain that it was prank time, and quickly smirked wickedly.

"Not as bad as I want a hilarious one, eh he hehehe." Kushina giggled while rubbing her hands together.

"So here's what I was thinking." Kensei trailed off explaining his grand master plan of a good time to his eager little sister.

"Here's the stinky cheese bombs you wanted.." Kushina said as she set the items down in a small bucket in front of her brother who was looking through their father's window from a near by tree.

"Activating day vision goggles, buuuuurrrbb" Kensei announced while pulling up a pair of binoculars to his eyes making Kushina sweat drop.

"Those are just binoculars bro..."

"Shaddup I know this!" Kensei snapped back with a tick mark. "As soon as the old man leaves his office for a bit we will ninja our way in there and set it all up." Kensei laughed from his position in the tree. "Oh crap he's leaving now! Quick grab the stuff Kushi! We gotta move!"

"N-now?!" Kushina stumbled a bit.

"Yes now?! Did I trip over my tonge like you just did?" Kensei replied, only to get a small cute glare from his younger sister.

"Fine, ya jerk.." Kushina mumbled as she grabbed the small bucket, and hoped to a near by branch on the tree her brother was in.

"Operation "Who the whazzit smoozit doozit" isss... UNDERWAY!" Kensei yelled while pointing towards their fathers office in a pose with the binoculars still somehow on his face without his hands holding them in place..

"Did you have to yell..." Kushina groaned as she rolled her eyes.

After the preparations were made, and set up within Kenshin's office. The two children of the head of the Uzumaki Clan bolted behind the tree they were stationed in earlier to await their father's reaction to their little present.

After the longest twenty minute wait of their lives! Kensei, and Kushina saw the door to Kenshin's office finally... open...

Kenshin's Office

Currently walking towards his office's door with three guests behind him...

"As I was saying Hokage-sama, I believe it would be best to make sure that Kumo, as well as Iwa be under great surveillance."

"Yes.. both countries are bound to seek revenge on those of us who triumphed over them in batltle.." A bandaged, cane wielding mummy *Shakes head quickly* I mean Danzo replied after Kenshin.

"I didn't realize that you were the Hokage, that I was speaking to Danzo." Kenshin turned and faced with a look that said "Know your place, or else."

"My apologies Uzumaki-sama.." Danzo half growled as he watched Kenshin narrow his eyes towards him.

"Now, now. Danzo does bring up a fair point however.." Hiruzen said while cupping his bearded chin with a hand.

"Yes.. After the last great war, and other smaller conflicts afterwards.. both countries are bound to do something.. so we need to be prepared for whatever." Kenshin replied while spotting the doorway leading into his office.

"Excuse me Hokage-sama, Uzumaki-sama." A spikey white haired man name Sakumo Hatake spoke up, handing the two men a piece of paper.

"Thank you Hatake-san." Kenshin nodded as he looked at the paper. "It'd be best to finish this discussion of ours in my office.. right this way please." Kenshin gestured to the door to their right.

After opening the door and making his way into his office first, Kenshin immediately heard a definite "Click" sound but was too slow to move as he was nailed face first by a large boxing glove covered in honey, and small chunks of extremely rotten cheese all over it. Sending the Uzumaki Clan head flying backwards with significant force into the wall behind him nearly taking out the three Konoha guests he had with him. Just as Kenshin's body slid down the wall and to the floor and trying to get the mass amount of honey and stinky cheese shards off of his face. Kenshin looked up, and saw a poorly disguised trap door with a small hinge and rope attached to it, open up dispelling a large amount of feathers covering him.

"..." Hiruzen, Sakumo, and Danzo were too taken back to put together what had just happened to even speak at the moment.

Flexing his open palms that laid flat atop the floor so hard that he broke two fist sized holes in the hallway so that he could clench his fists full of now bloody wood shards, while veins started popping out all over Kenshin's body..

"KENSEI!" Kenshin roared as he stood up, with his chakra levels skyrocketing and his demon shroud flaring into existence, taking the three Konoha shinobi by surprise and making them all go wide eyed.

"Please excuse me for a moment." Kenshin quickly turned with a creepy smile on his face towards the others in the hallway with him, and quickly disappeared from the hallway.

Back outside

"OH FUCK WE'RE SO DEAD!" Kensei screamed as he tumbled out of the tree he and Kushina were hiding in.

"What do you mean "we're dead" Dad specifically screamed only your name, so that means its just you that is screwed here." Kushina grinned down at her brother who was in a heap at the bottom of the tree, and quickly hopped down beside Kensei with her camera swinging around her neck by its strap.

"Don't matter! Run!" Kensei yelled frantically, and turned to book ass, but quickly ran into something very hard and firm after taking two steps.

"Going... somewhere..?" A menecingly scary voice in front of him spoke, causing Kensei to squeak like a girl.

"D-daddy!?" Kushina stuttered as she tried to bring her hands to her camera.

Looking up shakily, Kensei saw his father in full blown battle mode ready for the kill, demon shroud activated and all.

"Kushina too?" Kenshin contemplated as he spotted his beloved little girl not too far away, and narrowed his glowing red eyes towards his quickly retreating eldest child to hide behind his youngest. Slowly drawing out his katana as more of a scare affect that anything, Kenshin started approaching the two.

"You two.. have.. embarrassed me.. in front of some very important.. people..." Kenshin growled out, as he approached his shivering children, with Kushina now at the forefront.

"WE'RE SORRY!" Both red heads screamed in unison, just as Kushina accidentally hit the button on her camera to take a picture of their clearly pissed off father.

"Not good enough." Kenshin replied flatly before lunging for the two.

Back in Kenshin's Office

After Kenshin had disappeared from the hallway. Hiruzen, Sakumo, and Danzo all walked to the large open view windows of Kenshin's office to see what the enraged clan head would do after vanishing on them.

"He seems to be handling that well.." Hiruzen chuckled weakly as he watched Kenshin throw Kensei onto the ground hard, and flash towards his son once again only to pick him up and throw him full force into the tree he was hiding in earlier. All while Kushina stood frozen in her spot as Kensei flew by her at supersonic speeds like a missile into the tree behind her.

"Is that what it looks like to you Hokage-sama?" Sakumo sweat dropped, as Danzo remained silent as he watched the extremely powerful clan head thrash his son.

"Indeed, he's grinning." Hiruzen commented making the other two take a closer look. Upon finally seeing Kenshin's face, they could clearly see Kenshin madly grinning as he attacked Kensei once again.

Twenty Minutes Later

Appearing back in his office, and taking his seat behind his desk with a plop. Kenshin recomposed himself as best as one could while still having honey, feathers, and cheese stuck to his face, all while smelling like dead beached whale at low tide.

"I apologize for my children's mischievous behavior. Now where were we?" Kenshin smiled widely as he leaned back in his chair, making Hiruzen, and Sakumo chuckle, while Danzo just scowled in thought.

"Uh.." Sakumo let out after not remembering what they were talking about earlier before their interruption.

"If you don't mind Uzumaki-sama.. where did your son go?" Hiruzen chuckled once again.

"Oh Kensei? He's in the ground." Kenshin grinned. "Kushina-chan is still frozen in place." Kenshin laughed hard.

"They should know that such immature act's are unfitting of being children of a clan head." Danzo commented rather off handedly, quickly silencing the laughter in the room.

Glaring towards the cripple in the room, all while raising his chakra levels once more Kenshin growled momentarily.

"And I think it would be common knowledge to an assistant of the Hokage's, that he should keep his damned mouth shut unless spoken too." Kenshin growled out menacingly. "As far as my children go. They know what they did was wrong, but they were just trying to have some fun, while brightening up my day and take my mind away from all off my god awful paperwork. Which they succeeded in doing by the way.. as I was saying.. Danzo-san.." Kenshin trailed off.

'Does that old man have a death wish or something?' Sakumo thought to himself.. after seeing Kenshin destroy his son and heir to the clan just minutes earlier.. you think he would kind of.. you know.. be smarter about not pissing Kenshin off? Maybe? Just sorta?

"Ehem.." Hiruzen cleared his throat to break the tension that had seemed to come up once again between Kenshin, and Danzo. "I believe it would be best if we resumed the matters in which we were speaking about earlier." Hiruzen attempted.

"Fine." Kenshin grumbled out, taking his glare away from the now second person he had frozen in place.

Back Outside

"Omphnopmfomoo! Gennanwannoo!" Kensei's muffled cry was barely audible while his whole upper body was smashed into the ground, and his legs supporting him somewhat.. looking strangely like an ostrich.

"Sc-" Was the only thing Kushina let out, slowly coming to her senses.

"Thwaggonsiang!" Kensei cried out once more, thinking he heard his sister nearby.

"Sca.."

"SCARY!" Kushina screamed and fell to her knees crying uncontrollably.

Kensei just sighed, and admitted to himself that his sister wont be helping him out of the ground any time soon..

(End Flashback)

"Oh yes I remember that day." Tomo smiled. "I couldn't tell if your father was more extremely upset with you two, or extremely happy that sidetracked him from work."

"Eh.. heh.. heh.. I'm wanting to say that he was more extremely pissed.." Kensei whimpered as everyone else quietly laughed at him.

"Haha that reminds me of something that I did to Sasuke while we were train-" Naruto suddenly stopped.

"DON'T YOU DARE GO HAVING A TRAINING FLASHBACK OF ME DOBE!" Sasuke's voice suddenly echoed throughout the compound, and Naruto's house making everyone go silent.

"Did I just.."

"Yup."

"How did he.."

"Don't know.."

"Ah who cares I wanna know what happened!"

"Um.. maybe it'd be best you didn't Naruto-kun."

"But..."

"Yeah why not?"

"It's starting to get a little late don't ya think?"

"I guess so.."

"Awww..."

"Quit whining Kensei."

"Fine. We all know Sasuke sucks anyways." Kensei laughed.

"I HEARD THAT! YOUR ASS IS GRASS IN THE MORNING KENSEI!"

"..."

"And on that note I think it'd be best if we all called it a night.." Hinata chuckled weakly.

"Yeah no kidding." Naruto laughed along with his wife.

"Jerks.." Kensei scoffed with a pout.

The Next Day

"You ready for your big day my love?" Hinata asked Naruto while in the kitchen making their food for the morning.

"I'm as ready as I'll ever be. Thankfully it's not like I don't know what to be expecting." Naruto smiled from at the table.

"That's good. After today.. our lives will be very different wont they?" Hinata asked softly.

"That they will. With me being officially announced as the Shodai-Uzukage, I can also officially announce Uzu's independence as its own nation again." Naruto responded getting a nod from his wife.

"It will probably be a little bit longer before we do that though. I want to make sure we are functioning as well as possible and can handle anything that is thrown at us."

"What do you mean Naruto-kun?"

"Well with me becoming the Uzukage today.. I won't be able to go off to find the last of the tailed beasts as easily as I started to."

"I'm sure Kaa-san will happily watch over everything as you are away when the time is right."

"Your right Hinata-chan." Naruto softly laughed at his red haired wife bringing him some breakfast. "As usual.."

"Just remember though that you have family, friends, and allies who you can lean on in times of need Naruto-kun." Hinata smiled as she sat down at the table to join her husband.

"With you by my side, how can I forget anything Hinata-chan?" Naruto smiled like a goof.

"Which is a good thing because only I know just how forgetful you really are Mr. Uzukage-sama." Hinata playfully smirked before taking a bite of her food.

"We better hurry the others are waiting at the tower, and will be expecting us soon." Naruto said in between bites, getting a silent nod in return from his wife.

At The Uzukage Tower

"Do you see how many people are out there?" Hana whispered over to Hinata as everyone who lived within the Uzumaki Compound was in Naruto's soon to be office in a matter of minutes, which was at the very top of the large building with an overlooking balcony.

"Yes, it seems everyone in the village is out there waiting for it to begin." Hinata smiled as she watched Naruto wearing black kage styled robes with dark blue inserts that had the whirlpool crest on them, fidgetin with his matching black kage styled hat that had the same blue insert in the front with the same whirlpool crest on the front of it.

"Do I look okay?" Naruto asked while looking towards Hinata after he finally stopped trying to find the "Perfect" way to wear the hat.

"You look very handsome Naruto-kun." Hinata smiled with a small blush adorning her cheeks.

"Yes you look very good Naruto. You will do just fine." Tomo smiled from Naruto's side, and turned towards the large windows overlooking the areas below where everyone is waiting.

"Can we get on with this already?" Kensei groaned out while Hikaru was sitting atop his father's shoulders and tugging on Kensei's hair, making him move around the room like a horse. With everyone seeming to ignore him for the time being.

"Kensei brings up a fair point I'm afraid." Tomo trailed off. "I best get this started." Tomo walked over towards the doors leading to the balcony to kick things off.

Watching Tomo open and shut the doors all while wearing her very formal kimono, everyone else in the room listened as cheering errupted, and Tomo's voice could be heard as she talked to everyone in the village below.

After a minute or two, Tomo looked back giving the signal to Sasuke and Karin who were at each side of the doors Tomo had walked through a few minutes before, telling them to send Naruto through.

"Better get out there." Sasuke smirked.

"Don't stutter." Karin followed up her fiance with towards her cousin.

"Gee thanks for the vote of confidence Karin.." Naruto grumbled as he was nearing the doors, but was stopped for a quick good luck kiss by Hinata, and proceeded to make his way towards the door.

Opening the doors to the balcony for him, Naruto could quickly hear the cheering, and could see Tomo looking towards him with a warm motherly smile on her face as he left his office.

"Would you stop it Kensei?" Naruto could barely hear Hana yelling at his brother back in the office as he made his way towards Tomo, with Hinata by his side.

"OWW THAT HURTS HIKARU!" Hinata heard and looked back slightly only to see Hikaru yanking on his fathers long hair hard throwing Kensei's head backwards. Looking over at her husband who wasn't paying attention, Hinata smiled as proceeded with getting to the railing of the balcony.

"HE WONT GET OFF HANA-CHAN HELP!"

'Nearly there.' Naruto thought happily.

Finally at the railing, and overlooking the massive amount of people Naruto waved to them all for a moment as they all cheered wildly.

Silencing the crowd after a few moments, Naruto spoke out to the crowd below.

"Thank you all for coming today! It's hard to believe that just a little over four years ago our very homes, and nation was nothing more than rubble, and a sad memory to us all.. but no more will we allow ourselves or others to only think about the sad times, and everything else that has happened in the past over here. Today! We take another great step into the future!"

"This day is not about me.. This day is about everyone one of you down there, who wants to make this country even better than it was before, its about all of you who believe that with hard work that peace can be achieved for us all. This day is for Uzushio! And will be remembered as the day that it's rebirth became a reality!"

"We may be a smaller country than any other of the elemental nations... but that doesn't matter! No amount of land within a countries borders mean squat when compared to Uzu! For we have more heart than any of the others! With just the connections, and bonds we share with each other, we will show the rest of the elemental nations that Uzu still has the strength it did in the past! We will show them that we.. are back!"

After talking to the crowds for a few more minutes, Naruto gestured with his hands for the others in his office to join them out on the balcony.

"As you already know, and can clearly see up here. The Uzumaki Clan is well and fine on its way back on its feet." Naruto started speaking once more.

"Hey Ha-...-na.." Kensei whispered to his wife at his side, who gave him a funny look.

"What is it?" Hana whispered back.

"I-I.. feel funny." Kensei stumbled out with an eye twitching, and right nostril flaring out.

"Huh?"

"Ah.." Kensei tilted his head back and grabbed onto the first thing he could near him, which just so happened to be Naruto's left shoulder.

Looking over at his brother, in the middle of his speech Naruto caught the awkward look his brother was giving out at the moment but continued speaking without stalling.

"AHH.." Kensei's grip on Naruto's shoulder got tighter, causing Naruto to stop and look at him expecting him to say something.

"AHHHCHOOO!" Kensei sneezed loudly, with his head flailing forwards and hitting the metal rail in front of him face first, and knocking him backwards just as a black ball seemingly appeared above him as he fell flat on his back.

As soon as Naruto stopped speaking, and clearly heard the out of place sneeze come from Kensei, every single person was dead silent as they watched a small black ball floating above the downed Uzumaki Clan head.

"The fuck is that?" Sasuke whispered not knowing if he could speak in a normal tone yet.

Looking back at his brother who was now bleeding from the nose, Naruto just shrugged about to turn back to the crowd and shake off what Kensei had just done, but was not expecting a tugging feeling of his robes.

"Okay.. you can quit with the prank... Ken-sei?" Naruto trailed off as he turned back to see Kensei getting sucked in by the black ball that is now swirling together rapidly.

"Kensei hold on!" Hana called out to grab her unconcious husband for whatever reason.. it's not like he could hear her haha.

"Oh no.." Hinata whispered as she grabbed onto Naruto's hand for safety.

"Kensei!" Tomo yelled out as she watched Kensei now being stretched around the swirling black hole like portal thingy.

"What is going on!?" Karin shouted out, but started to hear giggling coming from Kensei's unconscious form, which was also heard by the crowds down below, putting them on a slight edge that somethings going on up and out of their immediate sight.

"Karin please calm down, we can't afford to start freaking out right now. Especially with this large crowd below us." Sasuke tried to calm his fiance down the best he could at the moment.

"Sasuke's right, Naruto.. you best say something to them before things start getting out of hand." Tomo whispered over to her youngest son, all while trying to think of what just happened to Kensei.

"Um.. yeah.. right.. I'll.. uh.." Naruto trailed off incoherently in mumbles for a moment before shaking his head slightly.

"Sorry about that everyone! It seems Kensei has found a new hiding place, it also seems he didn't like being in the spot light today for once." Naruto laughed as best he could. "Now everyone, let us enjoy this momentous day with our loved ones, and celebrate the birth of a new era for Uzushio! I order you all as your Uzukage to do so!" Naruto laughed at his mock authority, with the mass amount of people that made up the crowd laughing along with him.

Stepping away from the railing, Naruto looked over at those that were behind him. "Gather the clan heads and tell them we are having a meeting in 15 minutes. We need to figure out what just happened to Kensei, as well as take the first step towards our independence as a nation." Naruto advised everyone near him, and with their orders the Uzumaki's that were present at the moment, plus Sasuke scattered quickly from atop the balcony to gather the clan heads.

"Come Hikaru-chan, why don't you help Uncle Naru in his office?" Naruto offered the small boy next to him as they walked towards his office.

"Where did daddy go?" Hikaru asked in a young voice filled with concern.

"I'm not sure right now Hikaru-chan, but I know your daddy will be back soon." Naruto smiled as he opened the door leading back to his office, letting the small boy go in first.

(Authors Note)

Well there is the latest chapter of this hum dinger, and huuu boy what is such a joy to try and retype EVERYTHING that I wrote out before, a second time by just memory alone. That was sarcasm if you all couldn't tell lol. Anyways I look forward to seeing ya all on the next chapter where.. stuff happens! Yeah STUFF!

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