Sarutobi Training Grounds
Jiraiya was crying about how unfair life was. He had decided to teach the Rasengan to Naruko and, much to his displeasure, Hinata had tagged along.
"It's our right," they said.
"It's my father's jutsu, so I'm making it a clan technique," they argued.
Yep, there was no avoiding the ex-Hyūga princess learning it.
The first step was a complete disaster—for Jiraiya, that is. Not only was Hinata already proficient at chakra shaping, she was also skilled at rotating it. On top of that, she could literally see the trick with her Byakugan. What should've taken at least a week ended up being a single day for both girls.
The second step was all about power... Yep, no problem there either. Jiraiya kept ranting about how he had spent weeks learning the seal-less technique, while two Genin breezed through the first two steps in days. But today, he thought, today he would finally have his revenge. The third step was the hardest, and he was savoring the thought of watching both girls struggle in frustration.
"Well girls, here's the last step," he began, smirking. "By combining the first two steps, you get power and rotation. Now you need focus—to keep that power and rotation contained in the shape of a sphere. To help with that, you'll use these air balloons to visualize and maintain the proper shape. Any questions?"
Both girls started training, with surprisingly good results even on their first tries. They still had a long way to go, but Jiraiya, finally able to relax, flopped under a tree and nearly fell asleep.
Twenty minutes later, Naruko started laughing like a maniac.
"Wajajajajajajaja! Hey! Ero-sennin! I just figured out the funniest thing ever!" she shouted as both girls walked over to the old sage. "Kakashi-san isn't even the real Copycat Ninja! Jajajajajaja! My father is! Minato Namikaze was the biggest copycat ever! Both of his famous jutsu were copies, and his fūinjutsu was taught to him by my mom! The Hiraishin is just a militarized version of one of the Second Hokage's jutsu, and the Rasengan is a human-sized version of the Bijūdama!"
Naruko was rolling on the ground laughing, while Hinata giggled shyly. Jiraiya was mortified. He'd never thought about it that way.
"Naruko! Ask the old toad to teach you how to apply seals with your chakra. It's time you started using them in battle, instead of just preset ones in your traps! Also, it's the last step you need before I can teach you your mother's Adamantine Sealing Chains. From now on, we'll just call them Kongo Fūsa—way shorter.
And you know I can't teach you that ability myself. I'll supervise your Rasengan training from here on."
"Jiraiya-sama," said the ever-polite Hinata, "Mother says she'll help us with the last step. Could you teach N-chan how to apply seals with chakra? She'll need it for combat sealing—and to finally awaken her Kongo Fūsa."
Jiraiya grunted, panted, and kicked the ground like an angry ox.
"YOU!" he bellowed, pointing at the blonde. "Tell me you're going to learn this at a normal pace, like the rest of us mortals! I demand a normal student for once!"
"Well yeah, I've got no prior experience with that, you know? I know how to use seals, but only the old-fashioned way," Naruko replied, tilting her head. "Why are you so red, Ero-sennin?"
"FINE!" he groaned. "And call me sensei!"
"Not a chance!" Naruko grinned.
Later That Day
"Listen to me, Naruko. There are three ways of drawing a seal," Jiraiya began, speaking to a surprisingly attentive blonde. "The first one is easy and well-known, but the Uzumaki sealing masters designed two methods specifically for combat: chakra formula and seal mastery.
"Chakra formulas are written in, well… chakra. It's the fastest method and works similarly to ninjutsu. The drawback? These seals aren't very durable. You're basically chakra-burning the formula into a surface.
"Seal mastery, on the other hand, involves using ink while chakra-burning the formula. It's not the fastest for combat, but if you want a seal that lasts, this is it. Also, it's easier for water-natured shinobi to use—and since most Uzumaki had that nature…"
"Right, so it's going to be harder for me. Fucking-tastic," Naruko groaned, her head dropping in exaggerated despair.
"Oh, quit being a drama queen. What are your chakra natures?"
"Well, my base nature is wind, and H-chan's got water. Momma gave us lightning so we'd fit in better in Kumo. She's got fire, so I inherited that too."
Naruko stretched with a sigh. "Alright, let's get started!"
That Night – Inside the Seal
"Naruko, if we're going to do this, you need to understand why the Uzumaki were so feared," said the great fox, her eyes glowing in the dark. "And that includes your training to confront your own darkness."
"The Uzumaki are descendants of the Sage of Six Paths—just like the Senju and Uchiha. But the power we carry is different. It's richer. We possess the power to choose. That's why so many bloodline abilities are tied to us. Some Uzumaki have several. Others, none.
"You… I know you can awaken the Kongo Fūsa. Maybe even more. But let's start there."
The fox lowered her head until she was eye level with her daughter.
"The healing bite is triggered by the will to share.
The 'Third Eye'—the super sensor ability—is triggered by the will to know.
But your ability… your chains… are different. They're triggered by the will to dominate, and the choice to refuse.
"To wield them, you must first acknowledge your power over others—and then choose not to abuse it. That's what makes it sealing chakra. Kushina used them like chakra suppression seals, shaping them and forcing the effect forward.
"From now on, every night while you sleep, you'll train here to master your chains. Understood?"
Here is your text with corrected grammar and with "Naruto" replaced by "Naruko," along with a few stylistic and clarity improvements. Let me know if you want to keep a more informal tone or if you'd prefer it polished even further for publication.
Three Days Before the Finals – Yamanaka Flower Shop
Naruko and Hinata entered the shop and walked straight in.
"Excuse me, are you the wife of the clan head?"
"Yes. Who's asking?" replied the woman, picking up a flower pot from the floor.
"We're N and H Uzumaki from Kumogakure. We're here for the exams… Eh, N-chan here actually faced Ino-san during the preliminaries. Hokage-sama informed us that Ino-san has been suffering from nightmares because of what she encountered in her mind, and we'd like to help," said Hinata.
"Yep. We've got this scroll here—confidential, for your husband's eyes only. I'm really sorry about the nightmares, but I want to help, for real. Please ask Yamanaka-san to meet us. By the way, you have the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen—almost as beautiful as the one taking care of them," chirped Naruko, resting her hands behind her head.
"Oh, you flatterer! Give me a moment to fetch my husband," the flower lady said, blushing and wondering why she was reacting like that to a girl her daughter's age. The couple giggled.
Inoichi met them in the shop's back office. The girls handed him the scroll, explaining that its contents were known only to the Hokage and that he was not to share them with anyone.
After reading the scroll three times, Inoichi looked at the girls, tears in his eyes, one hand over his mouth.
"I-Is this true? Are… are you—?"
"Yes… we are," Naruko replied, dropping part of her Perfect Henge to reveal her whisker marks.
"Oh Kami… I never knew… I…"
"It's okay, Yamanaka-san. We know you were close to N-chan's parents. The past is the past. What matters now is the future. We can help your daughter—but only if she can keep our secrets until the Hokage reveals them publicly," said Hinata.
"Can… can I tell my wife, too?"
"If you trust her, then yes," Naruko said seriously, before smiling again.
A few minutes later, the flower shop closed, and the Yamanaka clan head's family gathered in the office.
"Daddy, why did you call me home? Why are they here?" asked Ino, suspicious of the Kumo kunoichi.
"Ino-san, we heard about the nightmares you've been having since entering N-chan's mind. We came to help," Hinata said gently.
"Yup! We're totally going to help fix things. But for that, you'll need to learn some very dark and ugly secrets about the village. We have Old Man Sarutobi's permission to tell you. Just know that if you reveal our secrets without permission, there will be consequences…" The Yamanakas flinched at the casual nickname the blonde kunoichi used for the Hokage.
"Please sit in a circle with us and hold hands. Try not to panic or use any jutsu," said Hinata, taking Naruko's and Lady Yamanaka's hands.
As soon as the circle was complete, all of them felt their consciousness drift away, waking in the forest-like mindscape of the young Jinchūriki.
"Welcome to my mind. Let's have a little chat and fix your daughter's problem, Yamanaka-san!" said the now foxier-looking girl. "Let's start with proper introductions, shall we?"
"We are Hinata Uzumaki, once Hyūga, and Naruko Uzumaki. This mindscape is so developed because Naruko-chan is a Jinchūriki."
"What's a Jinchūriki?" Ino interrupted.
"Let us finish the intro first, or this will take forever," Naruko said with a smirk.
"She is Hinata Hyūga, firstborn of Hiashi Hyūga. Her clan elders betrayed her and tried to sell her to a rich nobleman as a 'toy.' I am Naruko Uzumaki Namikaze," Naruko said, taking a deep breath. "Daughter of the late Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, and the previous Jinchūriki, Kushina Uzumaki. On the day I was born, someone extracted the Kyūbi from my mother and used it to attack the village. In the end, my father sacrificed himself to seal the beast inside me."
Hinata grasped her soulmate's hand and continued the story.
"Eight years ago, while escaping the schemes of my clan elders, I found Naruko being beaten—no, killed—by the very people who should have hailed her as a hero. We fled together and eventually met our sensei, the Raikage's brother—the Jinchūriki of the Eight-Tails."
"My body was so broken, the Kyūbi had to alter it to save me. That's why I'm female now and look like this. Don't worry about Kumo—they actually want an alliance with the Leaf."
They gave the female Yamanakas a moment to absorb the information. Inoichi already knew, thanks to the scroll.
"You… you're really the child of Kushina-sama?" asked Lady Yamanaka. Naruko nodded. "Daughter now, though…"
"Oh Kami above… The Uzumaki still live. What have we done… Please, Uzumaki-sama, forgive us. Let us help you rebuild your clan from the ashes. Let us renew our oath to the Uzumaki."
"Who are the Uzumaki? I've never heard of that clan," asked Ino, disturbed by her mother's reaction.
"They were the most loyal allies of the Senju and helped build the Hidden Villages. They were betrayed three times over," Inoichi said with shame. "We didn't help them when they needed us. We tried to kill their heir. And I suspect the Academy curriculum was changed to erase them from history."
"That's right! The Leaf owes my kit more than it can ever repay. Ah… if Hashirama knew how rotten his village became, how it disrespected his wife's sacrifice… Shame on you."
A female voice reverberated through the woods. The Yamanakas looked around in fear, suspecting its origin.
"Momma! Be civil!" Naruko yelled.
"Please, Mother, don't scare our guests," Hinata added, scolding the voice.
If the Yamanakas were scared before, they were utterly terrified when a massive figure emerged from the trees. The mighty vixen approached, causing them to back away to the edge of the clearing. Kurama chuckled.
"Momma, stop playing around!" pouted Naruko.
"All right, all right. You're no fun. Way to ruin my only entertainment," grumbled the bijū.
Hinata cleared her throat. "Aren't we forgetting something?"
"Okay, okay, I'm on it. Honestly, sometimes you act more like the ancient one. You make me feel like the teenager," Kurama sighed. "Look, I'm sorry, okay? I didn't mean to scare you or give you nightmares, Ino-san. But I was asleep when you barged into Naruko's last sanctuary—and you weren't the first of your clan to do so. I lashed out to protect my child."
"W-What do you mean?" Inoichi stammered.
"You remember two Yamanakas who ended up as vegetables about ten years ago?" Inoichi nodded grimly. "Those bastards tried to wreck my kit's mind. They tortured his body, and then aimed for his soul. Even if the seal limited my power outside, inside here… I could act." Kurama chuckled darkly. "So I mistook you for more of the same. Sorry."
Ino finally processed the truth: Naruko, daughter of the Fourth Hokage, was the jailor of the Kyūbi—the beast forced to attack the village. And instead of protecting their hero, the village had abused her. Worse, her own clan had committed the worst taboo: attacking the mind of an innocent child.
"There's nothing to forgive. I should be the one apologizing. Even if some of my clan members died… that's no excuse. We broke one of our sacred taboos. And you were forced to do what you did," Ino said through sobs.
"You're lucky, young one. Your heart is still pure, your soul untainted. A rare thing in the shinobi world. I'm glad my kit saved you from my wrath. You have my respect… and my apologies. Return to your world knowing I mean you no harm. Sleep peacefully."
As they woke in the real world, Ino realized something hilariously trivial.
"Wait, wait… the Kyūbi is a girl?!"
After the "shocking" realization, Ino decided her best way to make amends with the Uzumaki was—socializing.
"Eh… N‑san, H‑san… You said we're going to be allies, right? I can introduce you to tons of people our age! I know it's not the biggest gesture… but it's all I can think of right now. I want to make up for my clan's wrongdoings to you! I can show you around Konoha and help you make friends with other kunoichi our age."
"We appreciate your effort, Ino‑san," giggled Hinata. "And we'd love to, but you should get a proper night's sleep before dragging us into whatever fun your mind has planned." Ino mumbled.
"Okay, fine. But tomorrow, I'm taking you and some of the girls into town to buy clothes and have fun! I will not take no for an answer! Besides, you need to relax before the exam or you'll be too tired to compete!" declared the Yamanaka heir, her parents nodding proudly.
Sarutobi clan compound gate – next morning
"What are we doing here, Ino? You said you wanted to repay a clan debt—so why bring us along?" Sakura asked, annoyed.
"Oh Sakura‑san, don't be stingy! It doesn't matter what the debt is over—it is connected to the Hokage's clan! We have a perfect chance to get noticed by important people—helping Ino‑san!" nearly shouted an overexcited Tenten.
"Senpai's right," said Ren. "Gaining the Sarutobi clan's approval is a major step for our ninja careers."
"Well, here we are!" said Ino, knocking at the gate. Moments later, Konohamaru appeared.
"Konohamaru‑kun, we're here to take your guests for a tour of Konoha. Can you fetch them?"
"Sure!" Konohamaru replied, pausing before stepping back inside. "Thanks for using my name, Ino‑san!" His grin was as big as it gets.
"What was that about?" Ren whispered, keeping her distance.
"That just made the Hokage's grandson happy," smiled Sakura. "Everyone calls him 'Honourable Grandson,' and he can't stand it—so please call him 'Konohamaru,' okay?"
Moments later, the Kumo trio emerged.
"Hi Ino‑chan! Wow—you brought the Konoha girls!" chirped Naruko.
"Ino‑baka! You set us up with her and her cronies! ARE YOU INSANE?! SHIT! DOUBLE SHIT!" Sakura exploded.
"Relax, Forehead‑girl. It's a personal favor to the Hokage—but you're free to go if you want," the Kumo team teased. Hearing Sakura's nickname, they all laughed. "Well then… girl-time it is! To the shops!" shouted Ino with a Lee-like thumbs-up.
Later, in the shopping district
"So… who wants a trip to the hot springs? Konoha's are amazing and a good soak'll help everyone relax before the exams!" suggested the platinum blonde.
"I kinda want to hit a weapon shop instead… I'm not much into clothes." Tenten said.
"Well, my father's the best blacksmith in Konoha, you know…"
"I'm okay with a bath—but only in a lake or river. I can't do hot springs, sorry. Also, we could buy some swimwear for N‑sama…" Haku said quietly. "H‑sama is the only one who could get her to wear new clothes." Hinata giggled, and her wife pouted.
"We could hit a lake in the training grounds—good weather, lake swim, and everyone's more comfortable." Ren chimed in, thinking of her poison issues.
"Not a bad idea…" "YEEEESH. THEN WE'LL SEE IF MONSTER‑GIRL REALLY IS THE HERMAPHRODITE SHE CLAIMS! GIRLS-only skinny-dive!!" Ino shouted.
"I know the spot! Private girls-only party!" she added excitedly.
Suddenly, laughter echoed behind them. A dark-skinned, red-haired Kumo kunoichi appeared.
"Oh Kami, this is too funny! Haha—such a hot mistake!"
"Yo Karui! What are you doing here? Where's the rest of Team D?"
"Hahaha! Is that a bag full of clothes, N‑chan? Something hot in there?" Karui laughed, her belly shaking. "Everyone hail the Kunoichi‑hime—she who out‑hypes even the Uzumaki! Haha!"
Haku and Naruko joined in an exaggerated bow before Hinata.
"Well…" Hinata began to introduce Karui, "Tenten-san, Ren-san, Sakura-san, meet Karui from Team D. Mind if she joins us?"
"More the merrier!" said Tenten.
"Girl-power!" shouted Ino, and the Kumo team laughed.
Karui raised an eyebrow. "What's so funny? Why laugh when I say 'girl'?"
"Oh, as far as I know, Blonde‑freak isn't exactly a girl—or so she claims," said Sakura, hiding her disdain.
"But of course I am a girl," Naruko purred. "But I'm also more than a girl." She winked seductively.
"Behold—pole‑master! She who shames men and women! Bask in the glory of the Uzumaki clan head—neither male nor female, but both and better! Have I mentioned how hot she is?" Karui joked.
"What Karui-san means is that due to her status as the last main‑branch Uzumaki—and her bloodline—her body mutated to include male and female traits. The honest but vulgar term would be 'dick-girl.' So I guess nudity's off the table now." Haku said politely.
"Oh damn. I wanted to see Popsicle nude!" Karui groaned.
Later, on the lake shore
The group was getting ready when Ino noticed Haku's flat chest—no sign of typical curves, just a flat, boy-like torso.
"Wow! And I thought Sakura was flat-chested… You look like a boy!" Then she realized: Haku wasn't wearing a bikini top—he was in swim trunks! "Then he is a boy."
In that moment, the rest of the Kumo ninja emerged from behind a bush in their swim trunks/bikinis (Naruko included!). They were laughing uncontrollably.
"This is priceless. Thought Iceberg-kun was a girl? Haha! Wait till you hear the good news!" Karui turned to Haku. "Congrats, Snow Cone—three for three! You've got a sharp blade!"
"WAIT, WHAT?!" Tenten shouted. "What're you talking about? Haku is a boy? And what's with a blade?"
"Karui-san, please don't make a scene," Hinata scolded. "Yes, she mistook Haku for a girl at first. He's the last known Yuki clan member. It's common for them to look effeminate—so mistakes happen, and they're funny. Also, Karui's referring to his clan restoration… let's just say some willing women have been spending quality time with Haku-san."
Tenten snorted. "Same Kumo, different face. No wonder Neji-kun's itching to hit the reset button."
"I take offense, Konoha scum! I said willingly! Haku chose to join Kumo. No one forced him—and none of the girls forced anything. Konoha can be just as bad—maybe worse!" Karui turned red.
"How dare you! Don't you remember the Hyuga fiasco?"
"Oh, yes. The Hyuga fiasco bwahahah—that was our old Kage's council. A‑sama's been fixing that since day one. Do you think Konoha is any better? What about Orochimaru and Danzo? Their betraying the Uzumaki? The Uchiha massacre? Y'all just hide it better!" Karui was steaming.
"What… what are you even saying?" Ino tried to calm Tenten, but Hinata raised her hand—and Karui quieted.
"Tenten-san, I understand why your teammate is angry. But even if the Hyuga incident was a massive fiasco, every ninja village has skeletons in their closets. Orochimaru kidnapped and experimented on shinobi and civilians from across the Elemental Nations before vanishing from Konoha. Elder Danzo Shimura had his own ANBU division—full of kidnapped and brainwashed soldiers. Rumors say he's still active behind your Hokage's back," Hinata began.
"Ever wonder why so many girls chase after the Uchiha duck-butt? Simple. They've been encouraged by their parents because that arrogant fool will be forced to take at least three wives. If he had been a girl, they would've restrained him and made sure he had five children by the time he was sixteen! And don't even get me started on what your village did to my clan..." Naruko growled the last part.
"Whoa, are you for real?"
"We might still have a chance with Sasuke-kuuuun! We just have to make sure we're the main wife, and the rest are just side flings!"
"I don't know anything about an Uzumaki clan, so stop the pity party! Besides—" Sakura's rambling was cut off as Tenten clamped a hand over her mouth. Once the pinkette stopped mumbling, the weapons mistress bowed apologetically.
"I... I'm sorry. I let my teammate's hatred cloud my judgment. You're right—all villages have their demons. I apologize."
"Tenten-san, I'm glad you can acknowledge that every hidden village has its dark side," Hinata replied, bowing in return.
"Can... can I ask why the last Uzumaki is with Kumo? You don't have to answer if you don't want to," Tenten asked shyly.
"We could explain… but that would involve some of your village's deepest secrets. Only N-chan and the Hokage are permitted to share that information. If you talk about this to anyone who wasn't here..." Hinata trailed off as Naruko mimed a chopping motion at her own neck.
"Chop-chop," she said grimly.
"Please, I want to know... My father told me—ashamed—about the Uzumaki's last stand. Were you kidnapped by Kumo during the war?"
Naruko laughed dryly. It was a chilling sound, void of any humor.
"No. Every shinobi Kumo threw at my ancestors was erased from the battlefield. I'm not a refugee, nor a descendant of some survivor kidnapped years later. I am the daughter of the Uzumaki ambassador to the Leaf. And after Konoha betrayed my clan... after they betrayed my mother sixteen years ago... they betrayed us again. They stole my heritage. They killed me. But to the dismay of your rotten council, I survived.
"The Hokage now knows what happened to his adoptive granddaughter who just 'vanished.' Had Kumogakure not found me, there'd be no Uzumaki left. At least, not of the main branch."
"No… it can't be… You're Lady Kushina's daughter?" Ren asked, hands over her mouth in shock. Naruko nodded.
"I... I have to tell Kurenai-sensei about this!"
"And you'll lose your head, Ren-chan," Naruko said bluntly. "No. I'll tell her once the exams are over and the alliance between our villages is official. Then I'll make sure those bastards return what is rightfully mine!" she growled, eyes flashing with rage.
Sakura was confused. Who were the Uzumaki? Why had she never heard of them? If they were once part of Konoha but now allied with Kumo, they must be aiming for her precious Sasuke-kun!
"Yes! That makes sense! She's mad at Konoha, that's why she lashes out at Sasuke-kun instead of being polite! She doesn't care, because she knows she'll marry him!"
"I KNEW IT! YOU'RE AFTER SASUKE-KUN TOO! YOU JUST ACT TOUGH BECAUSE YOU KNOW THE CRA WILL FORCE HIM TO MARRY YOU!"
"WE GOT YOU NOW, BITCH!"
"Shut your TRAP, PINKY! Sasuke-kun this, Sasuke-kun that! You're seriously testing my patience!" Naruko pointed at Hinata.
"See this girl? This is H. Uzumaki—MY WIFE. I have no intention of marrying a man. I prefer women. Besides, it's easier to restore my clan that way. In the unlikely event I did marry a man, it sure as hell wouldn't be some pampered, arrogant bastard like your Sasuke-kun." She mimicked Sakura's voice mockingly.
"Not in my worst nightmare would I marry an UCHIHA traitor. Not after what they did to my mother... or to me. The only way that bastard and I would get 'intimate' is if he surrendered his ass to me. And I swear, I'd break him before tossing him aside like the garbage he is." Naruko hissed the last word, her anger so palpable that no one dared say a thing—not even Sakura.
Hinata stepped forward and hugged the blonde, helping her cool down.
The rest of the day passed quietly. They relaxed, and Tenten eventually shared that her father had been close friends with Naruko's mother—after peppering her with questions about her weapons and the seal-tattoos.