Rumors

Hiroto's home

Hiroto is beaming with happiness and excitement as he is planning to introduce himself to Naruto or at the least give him a gift on the kid's second birthday. "What gift should I prepare maybe a kunai, no he might injure himself. Maybe a set to practice calligraphy, no he doesn't know how to read and write. I think a wooden kunai together with a toy might be good or should I introduce him to the divine food of ramen at Ichiraku's, can he eat ramen at this age? " Hiroto is monologuing internally.

Hiroto is broken out of his thoughts when Kakashi came. "Kakashi-nii Naruto's birthday is coming soon. What gift do you think is better a ninja toy or some normal toys ?" asked the Uzumaki prodigy in excitement.

Hiroto saw his brother is silent and carried a somber atmosphere around him. "What happened Kakashi-nii is everything alright ? " the younger one asked in worry. Hiroto saw the white-haired jonin struggle to answer opening and closing his mouth.

Hiroto's anxiousness continued increasing luckily for Kakashi the Uchiha clan family also arrived bar the youngest boy with Shisui following them with confusion. Hiroto saw his aunt and her family also have the same expressions as Kakashi on their faces.

"What happened Aunt Mikoto, Uncle Fugaku, Itachi at least can you tell me? Kakashi-nii is staying silent it's making me anxious." Hiroto said expecting answers. Mikoto and Itachi approached Hiroto. The Uzumaki was made to sit on the sofa by Mikoto who held him closer and Itachi stood by his side.

Hiroto felt a motherly feeling from Mikoto trying to soothe his worries. Hiroto relaxed a few minutes later, "Hiroto there is a rumor spreading in the village" he heard his mother Kushina's best friend say. The only woman in the room continued "The rumor is Naruto is being referred to as the kyuubi's reincarnation" Hiroto's mind had gone blank hearing that.

Kakashi saw Shisui also accompanying the Uchiha family, but he isn't in the state to ask about the young Anbu's secrecy so let it be as he trusts the kid. Kakashi saw how Mikoto is trying to calm his brother down so he didn't do something incredibly stupid after breaking the news.

Kakashi saw Hiroto with a blank face and prepared himself for the incoming disaster that might happen. "WHO? WHO? WHO did it? They took my brother away from me. They forcefully took him away from my arms and refused to let me even meet him, telling me all of it is to protect him. What did Hokage do? What did he do to counter those rumors ?" Hiroto growled and had tears imagining Naruto's predicament.

Everyone in that room Hiroto wants to kill the responsible for spreading those rumors and fight custody over Naruto even if it meant death. Fugaku and Kakashi moved to knockout the Uzumaki before he might do something drastic like spreading those rumors.

Kakashi had to dodge adamantine chains that are protruding from Hiroto's back, but suddenly the berserk kid stood still, Kakashi turned to see Shisui putting Hiroto in a genjutsu. Fugaku took advantage of the distraction and knocked out Hiroto, Mikoto quickly caught the kid and placed him on the bed.

"Can I ask what's going on here ?" Shisui asked for clarification about what is transpiring as he hadn't got a single clue about what Hiroto said. "Not now Shisui" yelled Kakashi and Fugaku. The body flicker expert can only wait in patience.

"Fugaku-san who do you think is responsible for the rumors," Kakashi asked. "Danzo no doubt," Fugaku said clenching his fists but he had to maintain a calm front at least to calm his wife.

"We need evidence and support to corner him," Kakashi said his thoughts. "But we need to calm down Hiroto first". All eyes turned in the room turned toward a knocked-out Hiroto.

"There is only one way to bring Naruto," Mikoto said placing Hiroto's head on her lap and easing Itachi's worries for his best friend. Only the sound of breathing could be heard in the room. Kakashi mulled over the idea and replied "Yes what Mikoto-san said is correct Itachi go with Shisui and bring Naruto, make sure Hiroto can't see anything wrong. Fugaku-san uses Konoha military police force to trace the source of these rumors and you know what to do from then on. I will visit sensei's friends and try for their support in gaining Naruto's custody".

Shisui raised his hand and said, "Ah, not to ruin anything but Fugaku-san the weather looks like it's going to rain do you think there will be citizens on the road ?". Kakashi and everyone only now looked at the sky to see pitch black clouds blanketing the sun which is odd as just a few moments before they noticed the scorched sun.

"God he did it again" Itachi muttered in a low voice. Kakashi observed the Uchiha clan head's look of concern at the sleeping boy and his pupils dilated connecting the dots as the same phenomenon the night of the Kyuubi attack. He also saw Shisui's look of confusion as he also heard Itachi but the crow summoner chose to ignore it for the time being.

Itachi and Shisui are making their way to the Konoha orphanage running on the rooftops. "I didn't see Hiroto this angry ever, Itachi. Can you tell me what this Naruto kid got to do with Hiroto ?" Shisui asked with concern for his friend.

"It's a long story Shisui. Hiroto's father died on a mission and his mother in childbirth. Hiroto's paternal aunt and maternal uncle are a couple who adopted him. But alas Naruto suffered the same fate as Hiroto losing both parents. Hiroto wanted to raise the baby even though he is a kid himself, even my mother did the same. But the Hokage denied both and placed the kid in an orphanage." Itachi recounted the events with a sad face but his eyes emitted fury at the last statement.

"Why did Hokage and the council interfere ?" Shisui asked in confusion. "Let me add the faces Hiroto's birth parents are Namikaze Mizuko and Uzumaki Hiroko" Shisui's steps faltered as his doubts are confirmed and Hiroto is the son of a student of his grandfather's lineage, "Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina are his adopted parents." Itachi continued shocking Shisui further.

Shisui is so shocked after digesting all the information, he didn't like that Yondaime-sama's son is facing this injustice and Lord Hokage is staying a spectator in this debacle, now he is unsure whether to trust Sandaime-sama with Uchiha's coup d'éta pushing these thoughts away he focused on the task at hand.