Chapter 01

(A Week Later)

Sarutobi Hiruzen, the reinstated Sandaime Hokage, was sitting in his office with reports from all of the ANBU, Jounin, and Chunnin who gave their detailed reports about the event of Kyuubi's attack. The casualties of the attack were catastrophic and the body count and searches for missing people were still in progress. Many lost their lives that night from men, women and children and many of Konoha's best shinobis. Many were left as orphans, widows or widowers.

The physical, mental and emotional damages done to Konoha left countless traumatized, some homeless because their homes were destroyed, others without families, and everyone grief-stricken for the horrific event that befell them for reasons unknown. Still, they had to move on with their lives, or what was left of it, and look to a hopefully better future.

As Hiruzen continued with his paper work, he turned his attention to the now sleeping Naruto, who was resting peacefully in his crib. He sighed in wonder about how Yondaime Hokage ended up being sealed into his own son with a jutsu that was meant to seal and imprison the Kyuubi No Yoko into Naruto. He had no idea what could have transpired seconds before the kinjutsu went into effect. But if anything was certain, Kyuubi was gone and there have been no reports about the great fox's presence anywhere much to everyone's relief.

Getting off his chair, Sandaime went over to the sleeping baby. Looking down at the blonde haired child in wonder as he wonder to himself, Yondaime, exactly what happened during your fight with Kyuubi? How did it end up that you were sealed away? And what became of that nine-tailed monstrosity?

Sarutobi continued to look down at the child in wonder as he recalled what happened a few hours after Kyuubi's defeat…

(Flashback: A Week Ago)

It's been two hours since Kyuubi's defeat and the aftermath was taking its effect on the people. Meanwhile, Sandaime was in the meeting chamber with all of the advisors and clan leaders. The Anbu who were in the undisclosed chamber earlier with Hiruzen were also present and standing guard. Naruto was currently sleeping quietly in Sandaime's arms. They were discussing the issues concerning Yondaime's only living son and heir and what they must do with him. Sarutobi had just finished explaining in detailed what happened to Yondaime and how he was sealed into his newborn son's body; needless to say they were left speechless. After a long moment of silence, Hiashi broke the silence, "Are you truly serious Sandaime-sama?"

"I'm very serious," Hiruzen replied, "The kinjutsu Yondaime performed was meant to seal Kyuubi into Naruto and ultimately claim Yondaime's life for performing the kinjutsu. However for reasons yet to be known, Yondaime himself ironically fell victim to his own jutsu and was sealed away into his own son. There are numerous possibilities of the effects the sealing of Yondaime into Naruto will have on the young boy as he grows up. For what it's worth, Naruto is practically a born Hokage."

Sarutobi looked around as the advisors and clan leaders murmured with each other about what they were just told. The thought of a newborn infant being infused with everything that made Yondaime Hokage a most powerful and feared shinobi in the shinobi world was unreal. But it was said clear by the Sandaime Hokage himself.

"The possibilities and potentials for this child of Yondaime-sama are almost limitless," Hiashi acknowledged, "In some respects Namikaze Naruto is Yondaime-sama's reincarnation."

"You might see it that way," Sandaime said, "However Naruto is Minato's son, not Minato reborn in spite of the situation the child is in."

"The child possesses great powers passed down from father to son in a strange twist," spoke Koharu. Nodding, Hiruzen stated, "Which is also why he's in grave danger should enemy nations and villages learn of Minato being sealed within his own son. One of two extremes could happen: enemy nations and villages would seek to either kill the child or most likely kidnap him in order to raise and train him to be part of their nation and turn him against us. The results would prove disastrous to Konohagakure should they corrupt Minato's legacy. Naruto will need protection of the highest level."

Hiruzen looked at all of the clan leaders and advisors conversing with each other about what could be done for Naruto. A couple of minutes later, Hiashi spoke, "Sandaime-sama, with all due respects, I request permission to adopt and raise Minato's heir, establishing him as part of the Main House of the Hyuuga family."

On hearing those words, Sarutobi contemplated what could happen should he entrust the tutelage and upbringing of Naruto to one of the clan leaders. Seeing their faces, he noted that each of them, even Homura and Koharu were more than willing to adopt and raise Yondaime's only son without question. From what he was visualizing about Naruto's possible upbringing under their wings however, the results looked anything but appealing.

When he visualized what could happen if Naruto was raised by Hiashi, as part of the main branch, he saw Naruto learning a lot from the Hyuuga clan as a whole. It was true that Naruto would have been trained in the best arts. However, Hiashi's harsh and cold demeanor was no secret to Sarutobi and he also saw Naruto adopting and mirroring such a demeanor. Combining that with being trained in the arts of the Hyuugas and Minato's arts of combat, Naruto would turn out ruthless and look at everyone else being inferior to him. Not good qualities for a Hokage.

Looking at the clan leader of the Uchihas, Sarutobi also saw Naruto learning a great deal from them. Like the Hyuuga clan however, the Uchiha clan was a proud clan because of the power behind their bloodline limit, and because of their arrogance, he saw Naruto having fierce rivalries with Uchiha prodigies and seeking to prove who'd come out as the dominate figure, especially since Naruto didn't possess their bloodline limit or anyone else's for that matter.

With the Nara clan, he saw Naruto becoming a more strategic and deadlier killer since the Nara clan was known for being very skilled in efficient tactics and battle strategies. Especially with their ability to manipulate their shadows.