Naruto: Fourth Hokage

"That's when I met Kurenai, she was didn't treat me like the others. We hung out and talked about trivial subjects and went out to drink. By that time my mask was already up and fooling everyone, no one had any idea what I went through behind closed doors. Later she introduced me to Kakashi, Asuma, Gai, and Genma. I had what I could call friends, though I never allowed anyone in to know of my true sufferings or true feelings other than the smiles and flirting but it was better than nothing. I didn't want to scare away the few friends I had by showing them what I was really going through ands so I kept the mask up.

"Deep down however I knew that it wasn't enough, I was lonely and I felt like there was no one to understand my pain and if there was I was too afraid to open up for fear of being betrayed again. Plus most guys just avoided me entirely out of fear. It continued like that for years until you approached me at the dango shop. In spite of how harsh I was to you, you saw through it. You really wanted to try and get to know the real me and become my friend. So that's my story in a nutshell," she tried to laugh as she continually wiped her eyes of the tears that continued to flow.

It amazed Naruto that he kept finding ninjas who lived harsh, cruel and very lonely lives; there were Haku, Gaara and now Anko. What they all had in common was that their pain was caused by those they once considered family. It saddened Naruto that those who people looked at as family could be so vicious to those that at one time loved them and desired their attention and affection.

"I'm not going to lie or bullshit you and say look at the brighter side, because I know for a fact that's not something you want to hear. However I will say that as long as you're willing you don't have to carry that burden alone. I know I can never say I understand your pain, but I know that it hurts so much. Back then when we first met I really wanted you to believe me when I say that I wanted to be your friend. I've seen first hand how the saw the villagers have treated you in contrast with how I'm treated and I always felt bad about it."

"It's not your fault so you don't have anything to apologize to me for," Anko reassured while trying to regain her composer. The older woman knew that her being with Naruto since she was assigned as his Jounin instructor helped to improve her image among the villagers. The thought that Tsunade placed her son into Anko's hands was considered madness by the villagers at first. However that was proven false when Naruto would stand up for Anko in her defense much to the surprise of many of the villagers. These were among the reasons why Anko grew fond of the boy though her way to showing it was most unorthodox.

"Still," Naruto relied, "Thank you for sharing this with me though it wasn't easy for you to do."

"Don't think for a minute that this means I'm going soft," Anko replied after regaining her composer, "But thanks for hearing me out."

"My pleasure," Naruto said in return, "That's what friends for each other. And to tell you know the truth, I think if the villagers knew the truth about what really happened to Kyuubi, I'd be the most despised person in all of Konoha with few if any friends."

Anko looked at the blonde questionably on hearing that.

"What do you mean," Anko asked, "Kyuubi was defeated and killed by Yondaime thirteen years ago and his wife and unborn child died that same night."

There was a brief moment of silence before Naruto spoke again.

"Anko-chan," Naruto started, "Kyuubi was indeed defeated but far from killed and the same goes likewise for Yondaime's surviving child."

"What are you talking about," Anko questioned, "We all know that-"

"Anko-chan," Naruto asked seriously, "Haven't you ever wondered why Yondaime and I look alike?"

Anko stopped to take a really good look at the young shinobi and when she thought about it, she couldn't deny what she was seeing. She's seen many pictures and portraits of the Yondaime in Konoha's historical archives and the picture of his wife, and when Anko mentally compared Naruto's features to theirs…

"I-I…It can't be…," Anko said in absolute shock with widened eyes, "You can't be-"

"I am," Naruto replied, "I'm Yondaime's surviving son and legacy; my birth name is Namikaze Naruto and my birth mother was Namikaze Kushina whose maiden name was Uzumaki Kushina."

The older woman gasped in utter disbelief. Standing in front of her was the child of the greatest Hokage who ever lived.

"Ho…How can this be," Anko asked with a lowered and shocked voice. Naruto told her to sit down as he was going to explain to her everything in details.

"This is a double S-class secret and can never be told to anyone without my say under the law of Sandaime and Godaime Hokage with death being the penalty for disobedience," Naruto said, "I trust I can share this story with you, yes?"

Anko simply nodded as she allowed Naruto to speak. She listened to every word Naruto was telling her about Yondaime before Kyuubi's attack on the village. He explained to her everything that happened days before Kyuubi's attack and what happened during the bijuu's attack. Naruto explained how his birth mother died giving birth to him and though he was premature, he survived. He then told her how Yondaime, with a heavy and broken heart, had to use an ancient kinjutsu ougi he found to seal away the Kyuubi since no living mortal could actually kill a bijuu.

Anko didn't interrupt Naruto as he told her everything in details; he explained it in the same way Sandaime explained it to Hinata and Ino after they were rescued by Naruto from Itachi and Kisame. Naruto was careful not to reveal that Yondaime himself was sealed into him but only his chakra, along with the Kyuubi.

Naruto explained the entire adoption matter with Tsunade and how he's been her only prized son ever since, blood-related or not. He also explained why very few know who his real father is and what would have happened if his father's enemies were to have found out years earlier whose son he was. He later explained the whole matter regarding Gaara and his life in Suna, and what happened between him and Gaara the night before he repaired Gaara's seal that contained Shukaku the one-tailed Tanuki.

"And that's everything in a nutshell," Naruto said, "Quite an interesting life I live, yes?"

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