Chapter 3: Prologue, Part Two

One week later...

The two Pekara cargo ships, each bearing the flag of the Unified Western Empire – the black Four Symbols Seal on a red background – sailed past Kurata Port and headed inland. Only this time, the ships did not carry goods from the East. These cargo ships carried refugees.

It had been a week since what would be known throughout the Elemental Countries as the Konoha Exodus, in which four major clans and more than one hundred shinobi had turned in their hitai-ates and walked out of Konoha. Tsunade and the Fire Lord could not charge them with desertion, as they had willingly resigned from the shinobi forces.

Standing on the deck of the first ship, was Hiashi Hyuuga.

It had been six years since he had last seen Hinata, having sent her away with Naruto in order to spare her being branded with the Caged Bird Seal. Despite his outward appearance of putting down his eldest daughter, Hiashi did care for her, and sending her away was the hardest thing he had ever did. But Hinata was smitten with Minato's kid and sending her with him was the best idea at the time.

In that time, Hiashi's personal view in regards to Tsunade and Jiraiya had taken a severe nose dive. The two Sannin had been close to Minato and Kushina – Tsunade was Mito's granddaughter and Kushina was her niece, thus making her Naruto her great-nephew, while Minato was a former pupil of Jiraiya. Both blamed Naruto for the deaths of Minato and Kushina, when it was clearly the fault of the Uchiha, given the reports he had read on that fateful night. Both had went along with Sarutobi's scheme to make Naruto into Konoha's weapon, and when that failed, opted to banish him from the village when it became clear that despite Hiruzen's machinations in stunting Naruto's growth had failed, even going as far as to place him in the Bingo Book with a 'kill-on-sight' order. It was clear that the two Sannin had no love for the Uchiha, but they chose a virtual traitor over a hero.

In the five years since Hinata's disappearance alongside Naruto, Hiashi had not heard a single word in regards to his eldest child. Then, word began to leak out about events happening in the West. A place so war-torn that not even the Sannin nor the Akatsuki would be in their right mind to venture there, was finally united under the rule of a warlord and his medic-ninja wife, having been named Emperor and Empress Consort.

When the Pekara Merchant Houses began to emerge in several key locations, caravans began to appear in Konoha, selling their wares. One such branch was in over the border in Wind Country. That was how Hiashi had found out through one of the merchants – who worked with the Empire's information network – that his daughter was still alive, having fled West and fighting in what was to be known as the Unification Wars alongside Naruto. When the 'merchant' told Hiashi that Naruto was now his son-in-law, he was not surprised in the least bit.

What surprised him was that the Empire had been keeping tabs on Konoha and several other villages in the East. The Empire also knew about the tensions threatening to boil over in Konohagakure, which is why the Emperor and Empress Consort had reached out to Hiashi. Should things in Konoha get worse to the point that the Hyuuga and the Ino-Shika-Cho could not stay, then the Emperor and Empress Consort will allow them to migrate to the Western Empire.

But there were two obstacles that were in the Hyuuga clan head's way. The council of Hyuuga Elders, who had supported the council, and the Godaime herself. The same council who had forced his twin brother to either take his place in the Kumo Incident or else his son would be killed. The same council who had voted to brand Hinata with the Caged Bird Seal and personally take over Hanabi's training, to make her an emotionless doll.

The council and their supporters would be in the way should he decide to take the clan and leave Konoha, to return to the West, the land of his ancestors. Hiashi knew this, as did his twin brother, Hizashi. The Hyuuga Elders knew this as well, as the Hyuuga's origins were in the Northern Region, but the clan relocated to the east once West became unstable, and settled in Konohagakure no Sato as it was founded.

Which is why the Hyuuga Elders had been removed from the equation, along with their supporters in the Main Branch. Hiashi's late wife not only loved flowers, but was also a skilled kunoichi who specialized in poisons. So poisoning the tea of their elders and their supporters was no hard task for him. With those in the main branch backing him and the full support of the Cadet Branch, Hiashi had wiped out the elders and their allies. When Tsunade demanded an explanation as to what had happened, all he replied was that it was clan business, that he and his supporters had averted a civil war by eliminating the traitors to his clan.

The final straw came with he Godaime and the Konoha Council had attempted to force his youngest daughter, as well as Inoichi's daughter, the Snake Lady, and his nephew's romantic interest into the Clan Restoration Act.

The reason being? As it turned out, Sasuke Uchiha had taken a recently-graduated genin under his wing, teaching him the ropes. The boy was an orphan, and was looking to make a name for himself as a shinobi. What better way to make a name for yourself when you have Sasuke Uchiha training you?

Then, three weeks ago, when the kid made Chuunin, Sasuke showed his appreciation by shoving a Chidori into the kid's chest, killing him instantly, but more importantly, gaining the eyes of the betrayer – the Magenkyou Sharingan. Only problem was that his daughter, Hanabi, Cell Nine, Anko Mitarashi, and the younger Ino-Shika-Cho trio had witnessed the murder. Of course Sasuke was under the protection of Danzou and the Konoha Council, so the murder was swept under the rug, and written off as 'justifiable homicide.'

Only the elder Ino-Shika-Cho and Hiashi had backed their children and Cell Nine, while Sasuke had the backing of both the Godaime and the Council.

Then, it all came to a head a week ago...

[Flashback]

Konoha Council Chambers.

The tension was thick inside the council chambers. On one side was the civilian members of the council, the merchants and the wealthy elite of Konohagakure no Sato. On the other side, was the shinobi clan heads of the council – Inoichi Yamanaka, Hiashi Hyuuga, Shikaku Nara, Chouza Akamichi, Tsume Inuzuka, Asuma Sarutobi, Shibi Aburame and Kakashi Hatake. Their children sat alongside their parents. Anko Mitarashi was even present at the council's request.

Seated at the head of the chambers, flanked by her advisers – Koharu Utatane and Honmura Mitokado – was Tsunade Senju, the Godaime Hokage of Konoha. Standing in front and to the side of the Godaime, was the warhawk and commander of the ROOT ANBU, Danzou Shimura. Standing next to him, looking smug over the fact that he had gotten away with murder, was Sasuke Uchiha, now Danzou's protege and the number two guy in the ROOT ANBU.

"What is this meeting about?" Inoichi demanded.

Koharu cleared her throat. "It is clear to us that there is quite a bit of tension in Konoha after that dreadful business with that Chuunin that the Uchiha had studied under."

"Dreadful?" Tenten parroted. "He shoved a Chidori into the guy's chest in front of my cell, Anko, Hanabi and the Ino-Shika-Cho!"

"We see it as justifiable homicide," Honmura frowned.

Shikaku Nara grunted. "Justified only because you sacrificed a Chuunin just so that the Uchiha runt could get the Magenkyou."

"You should watch your mouth, Nara," Sasuke threatened. "I am the prince of this village."

"No, you are a blight," the lazy Nara head retorted. "You are too troublesome for your own good, even as Danzou's lapdog."

Sasuke glared at the Nara clan head/Jounin Commander, Sharingan ablaze. "I'm nobody's lapdog, Nara. I am an elite among elite. You should remember that well. Because I have no problem in showing you what the Magenkyou Sharingan can do."

Sasuke then jerked slightly. He then found himself pulling out a kunai from his pouch and holding it against his own throat. Looking down, he saw that his shadow was connected to Shikamaru's own, the slacker of a Jounin having used his Kagemane to ensnare the Uchiha.

"Threaten my father again, Uchiha, and Itachi will be the true 'last Uchiha,'" Shikamaru threatened.

Before things could get out of control, Tsunade had called for order. "That's enough. Shikamaru...Sasuke...the both of you stand down."

Sasuke did not plan on doing just that, but a look from Danzou said otherwise. He deactivated the Sharingan, while Shikamaru released the Kagemane.

"This fighting is pointless," Tsunade said, once both sides calmed down. "We need to show the other villages that despite our trials and tribulations, that Konoha is still strong, that the Will of Fire still burns bright in all of us."

Hiashi and the Ino-Shika-Cho did not like where this is going.

"Which is why we have decided to reactivate the Clan Restoration Act in order to rebuild the Uchiha clan," Honmura said. "Sakura Haruno has already been chosen by Sasuke to be his wife. And he has chosen Anko Mitarashi, Tenten, Ino Yamanaka and Hanabi Hyuuga to be his secondary wives."

The fathers looked like they've been gut-punched. Sasuke remained smug.

"You should be honored to have your daughters bear the great responsibility of restoring the Uchiha Clan back to greatness," Koharu continued, "that Sasuke has chosen them to help rebuild his clan."

Hiashi quickly recovered. "Honored? Even without my eyes, I can see where this is going. You activated the C.R.A. in order to keep myself and Inoichi in line through our daughters after they had witnessed the Uchiha murder an innocent shinobi."

"Justifiable homicide," Danzou corrected. "It was self-defense."

"Justified in the fact that Sasuke now has the Magenkyou," Inoichi shot back. "I refuse to accept this so-called decision of this council. My daughter is not a prize, nor is she breeding stock. Haruno wants to pimp out her daughter, fine, but I will not let Ino marry Sasuke."

"The same with mine," Hiashi seconded.

"I would rather marry Orochimaru than spend one day as that bastard's wife," Anko snapped.

"Silence!" Tsunade barked. "The council has decided, and I have agreed! Your daughters and Tenten will be married off to Sasuke Uchiha by the end of the month! If you fail to comply, then I will strip you of clan status, and your children will become wards of the village. Either way, the C.R.A. still stands, and the girls will be married off to Sasuke Uchiha. Do not test me on this matter."

"Lord Yamanaka...Lord Hyuuga...please be reasonable," Honmura said smoothly, trying to act as the voice of reason. "Both of your clans have been here in Konoha ever since this village was founded by Tsunade's grandfather, which means that your clans are only clans because of your skills. Konoha has been good to your clans ever since you joined the village, and it would be a shame if that relationship ended so abruptly. Instead of thinking about your own personal, selfish desires, maybe you should do what's right."

Inoichi had caught the underlying meaning, as did Hiashi. Both men looked at their daughters, as if they were playing with their lives.

Then Hiashi slowly rose to his feet, and within seconds, stood before the Godaime, her advisers, Danzou and Sasuke. "Adviser Mitokado...you are absolutely right," he said.

The advisers smiled, as did Sasuke...

...that is, until Hiashi reached inside his robes and pulled out his hitai-ate.

"I believe the time to do what is right is now," Hiashi said, dropping his hitai-ate, where it made a loud CLINK upon impacting the ground before walking out of the council chambers.

Meanwhile, both generations of the Ino-Shika-Cho looked at one another, and nodded in understanding. It was time to go.

At the same time, Hanabi pulled off her own hitai-ate and dropped it alongside her father's own. CLINK.

CLINK. Neji Hyuuga's forehead protector landed on top of the hitai-ates left by his uncle and cousin. CLINK. CLINK. Tenten and Rock Lee's hitai-ates landed on top of their teammate's.

"Wait!" Koharu shouted. "You can't do this!"

CLINK. Inoichi's hitai-ate landed on the growing pile.

CLINK. Chouza. CLINK. Chouji.

The sound of metal striking the floor was making Tsunade even more angry.

"You are shinobi of Konohagakure no Sato! Remember that!" Koharu shouted.

CLINK. Both Ino and Anko gave Sasuke the finger as they walked out, dropping their hitai-ates as they walked out.

"This is sedition! Treason!" Danzou shouted.

CLINK. Shikaku and Shikamaru's hitai-ates lands on the pile at the same time.

"No. Consider this our resignation," Shikaku drawled as he and Shikamaru walked out of the chambers.

With that act of defiance, what would be known as the Konoha Exodus has begun.

[End Flashback]

"A ryo for your thoughts?"

The voice of Shikaku Nara brought Hiashi back to reality. Turning around, Hiashi faced the now-former Jounin Commander and his two teammates.

"You've been on edge ever since we've arrived," Shikaku said. "Anything we should know that we don't already?"

Hiashi looked at the three men. It was time to come clean. "The West was the ancestral home of my clan," he began. "The Hyuuga originally came from Kimon, now the Imperial Capital. When the wars intensified, my clan moved across the sea to the East and settled in Konoha."

"So in effect, you are coming back home," Chouza said.

Hiashi nodded. "There's more. Once the wars here were done with, and the Pekara Merchants began to arrive, I was visited by a member of the merchant house, who gave me a message. Both Naruto and my daughter had fled to the West when Uzumaki was banished and had fought in the Unification Wars."

"So the kid's still alive," Shikaku said, nodding. "Given who his parents were, it's really not surprising."

"Through the merchant, Hinata and Naruto had both promised myself and whoever came with the clan political asylum in the West should things get out of hand back in Konoha."

"Sounds like those two are pretty well-connected with the Emperor to pull that off," Inoichi said.

Hiashi nodded. "It seems that way."

"Attention! We will be docking at the Imperial Capital in thirty minutes," the first mate shouted as he moved along the deck. "Upon docking, you will be asked to produce identification, so have your ID cards out and ready. Anyone who does not comply will be taken to jail for the night, and you will be sent back East the following morning. Let's not get arrested tonight people, it looks very bad on my record."

Hiashi sighed, the anticipation evident on his face. "Can't believe it's been so long since I've seen Hinata."

"Come on, Hyuuga," Inoichi said. "We have to prepare."

Kimon Harbor.

The boat containing the four clans and a sizable number of Jounin docked at Kimon Harbor. Once the boat was secured, the refugees began to disembark. At the end of the docks was the gates which led to the Imperial Capital. Two guards, one shinobi, the other a samurai, were posted at the gates on guard duty.

The samurai was older than his shinobi counterpart, and were studying the Konoha refugees as they approached. "Caravan, citizen, pilgrim, tourist, or...?"

Hiashi stepped forward, brandishing the scroll. "We are refugees from the East. My daughter sent this scroll through the Pekara Merchant House."

The two guards scanned the scroll for a brief moment before the shinobi disappeared via shunshin. Moments later, the shinobi reappeared, with Yugito and A in tow, the former appearing via flame shunshin, while the latter used a lightning shunshin.

"We'll take it from here," Yugito ordered.

"As you command, General Nii," the shinobi guard said, returning to his post.

Hiashi's eyes narrowed. "You're Yugito Nii, from Kumo," he said, addressing Yugito.

'Isn't he the smart one, Kitten,' Matatabi noted in a sarcastic tone. Yugito told her tenant to quiet down.

Hiashi turned to A. "And what is the Raikage of Kumo doing in the employ of the Emperor?"

"Former Raikage," A corrected. He pointed to the hitai-ate which was wrapped around one bicep. "I'm with the Unified West now." He pointed to Yugito. "She's been here longer than I have. Even fought in the Unification Wars, hence her rank."

"The Emperor and his wife...well, they weren't that just yet...rescued me from the Akatsuki years ago," Yugito explained. "I fought alongside them, and now, I lead my own unit."

"I thought that Hinata and Naruto would come and greet us here," Hiashi said.

"Change in plans," Yugito said. "I am to escort the clan heads and their successors to the Imperial Palace for a sit-down with The Chief and The Lady. Everyone else will follow A and head for North Kimon. Everything has been prepared for your arrival, so there is nothing to worry about."

"What about Naruto and Hinata?" Hiashi asked.

"They are waiting for you inside the Complex. Follow me, please."

Streets of Kimon City.

"So what's your story?" Ino asked as Yugito led the clan heads and their heirs through the streets of the Imperial Capital.

"I fought alongside the Emperor and his wife in the Unification Wars after they rescued me from the Akatsuki," Yugito explained. "That was five years ago. Hard to believe that the Emperor was just a snot-nosed brat back then."

"So the rumors are true. He's about our age then, right?" Shikamaru asked.

"Yup."

Shikamaru noticed that they passed the Suna Consulate, which was identified by the Suna jounin standing guard at the gates and the Suna flag – a black background with the white hourglass – hanging out in the front. "The Empire's friends with Suna?" he asked.

Yugito nodded. "Yes. Suna is pretty friendly with the Unified West. Temari is Suna's representative here. We also have representatives from Spring Country and from Mist, each with their own consulates and representatives."

"Growing up, I heard stories about the West," Chouza said. "That this place was so dangerous, not even Orochimaru would dare set foot here. Now, I see that things aren't as different here as it was back in Konoha. There's shinobi and even more samurai here than in the East."

Yugito chuckled. "Those in Iron Country originally came from here."

"I'm surprised that Konoha doesn't have a trading agreement with the Empire," Inoichi noted.

"The Emperor and Empress has eyes and ears back East," the blond jinchuuriki noted. "He nor his wife are big fans of Konohagakure. Even he knows that an alliance with a village known for its backstabbing and rewarding potential traitors solely because of their bloodlines is a bad political move."

Shikamaru snapped his fingers. "The Pekara merchants. Those are part of the Empire's spy network, right?"

"How perspective of you, Nara," Yugito nodded. "For a slacker, your intelligence is well-earned. But you are partially correct. The Pekara Merchant House seen in various locations in the East are in fact a legitimate mercantile guild. But some of its branches also house undercover informants and agents from our Intelligence Division. For all intents and purposes, Pekara Merchant House is just a humble merchants' guild."

"Clever," Hanabi said.

Minutes later, Yugito and her escort arrived at the Imperial Complex. The guards saluted Yugito, who responded with a nod as she led the group inside. "Here we are. The Imperial Complex. The nerve center of the Unified West. Home to the Emperor and the Empress Consort."

Chouza looked around and let out a low whistle. "Nice setup the Emperor has. Not to showy, but not too extravagant, either," he said as Yugito led them to the House of Sovereigns.

"And it is heavily guarded," Shikaku noted, sensing the chakra signatures around them. The Shinobi were well-hidden, while the samurai patrolled the grounds.

"Follow me. The Emperor and Empress Consort are both waiting," Yugito said.

Imperial Gardens – minutes later.

Watching from the shadows, Naruto and Hinata Namikaze watched as the clan heads and their children took in the sights of the gardens. Hiashi looked pensive, as if they reminded him of something, Hanabi, Ino and Inochi marveled at the exotic flowers and orchids, rare in the East, but common in the West. Shikamaru, Shikaku, Chouza and Chouji were looking around, taking in the surroundings.

Deciding that they had kept their guests waiting long enough, Naruto and Hinata emerged from behind the group, standing at double-arms' length.

Naruto cleared his throat. "Ahem."

Upon turning around, the last thing that the clan heads and their children were expecting to see was the former dead-last of the Konoha 11, only now, he was a spitting image of Minato Namikaze with Kushina Uzumaki's hair color, styled in the same manner as how Minato had worn it when he was alive. The whisker marks were gone, his face now shaven. Gone was the orange, as he was dressed in black, vest, pants and boots. The shirt was white, sleeves rolled up. But Hinata had shocked even Hiashi. She was dressed in not in her shinobi uniform, but rather in a stunning black cheongsam with a white lotus imprint, looked incredibly regal in her appearance.

Naruto tossed a glance at the sakura trees. "The samurai believe that the perfect blossom is a rare thing. They could spend their entire lives looking for that one perfect blossom and for them, it would not be a wasted life."

"No...way..." Ino whispered. "Naruto?"

"Here, in the West, they call me Emperor," Naruto replied.

"Wait...you're the guy who united the lands?" Chouji asked. "The Emperor of the West that everyone back East is talking about?"

Naruto nodded. He then gestured to Hinata. "Hinata also helped, as she fought by my side. She also is the founder of the Imperial Medic Corps."

To say that the clan heads, their kids and Cell Nine were shocked were an understatement. The son of the Yellow Flash and the Red Death, once known as the unpredictable knucklehead shinobi had once again lived up to his reputation of making the impossible possible.

"NARUTO!" Rock Lee dashed forward and engulfed Naruto in a bear hug, much to the amusement of his wife and the hidden shinobi guards inside the gardens. "You are the Emperor of the West?! Truly the flames of youth shine brightly in you!"

"GACK! Lee...air!" Naruto gasped. Bushy-brows had gotten pretty strong in the years since he had left Konoha.

"Oh...Sorry," Lee apologized, releasing Naruto.

Hinata's reunion with her family was less dramatic. A hug to her father, to which he had whispered, "I'm so proud of you, and your mother would be too," followed by a second hug to Hanabi and a nod to Neji, who responded in kind.

Shikamaru shook his head and chuckled. "Unbelievable. Naruto, you truly live up to your title of being unpredictable."

"Just like his parents," Shikaku seconded.

"Glad you see so much of Mom and Dad in me," Naruto said. "Take a walk with us." He and Hinata led the group down the garden's pathway; the clan heads flanking them - Hiashi and Chouza on Hinata's left and Inochi and Shikaku on Naruto's right. Cell Nine, Hanabi and the Ino-Shika-Cho tailed behind.

"So how was the way in?" Hinata asked.

"Scenic," Hiashi replied. He looked down at Hinata's hand and noticed the diamond ring on Hinata's finger and the gold wedding band on Naruto's own finger. "So...married?"

Hinata beamed. "Two years. We got married during the final battle at South Ichiyama."

Ino, having overhead, asked, "You two got married during a war? That's insane!"

Naruto shrugged his shoulders. "It was a spur-of-the-moment type of thing. The Alliance that opposed me was consisted of three warlords in the Southern Continent. The first one was smart enough to defect to my side. The last two decided to attack at my base in South Ichiyama. Lucky me, as the Hellcats and the Demon Brigade arrived earlier to support the troops I had here."

"He proposed to me in the midst of the fighting," Hinata continued. "Yugito conducted the ceremony right after. After the war and once Naruto and I were recognized as Emperor and Empress Consort, we did the wedding proper."

"I hate to ask you this, but..." Shikamaru began, but was cut off by Naruto.

"...You want to know about the Jinchuuriki who had disappeared, right?" When Shikamaru nodded, Naruto confirmed it for him. "The Akatsuki does not have them. I intercepted them and granted them political asylum here."

"All of the Jinchuuriki are here?" Inochi asked.

"With the exception of Gaara who is running Suna and the bijuu who was sealed inside Yagura, the jinchuuriki are safe," Naruto confirmed. "You know first hand of the bigotry and discrimination that I had faced back in Konoha at the behest of Sarutobi and the two Sannin. It was the same in Mist and Iwa. Sure Yugito and Bee were not treated as bad, but the animosity was still there. Here, the people see them not as containers, but as people. Han has made his home in the Lajha Mountains, acting as guardian to one of the mountain villages there. Roshi, the last I heard, was somewhere near Tears' Point in the Southern Region. Utakata resides in Shinokou, also in the Southern Region. Fu lives here in the Imperial Capital, as she is a member of my Intelligence Division. Bee lives at one of the trading outposts, while A acts as one of my senior advisers. You already met Yugito, as she is the commander of her own elite unit, the Hellcats."

"Your actions in Konoha and elsewhere did no go unnoticed," Shikaku noted.

"I know," Naruto replied. "I rescued Utakata from Itachi and Hoshigaki. Hell, Hinata and I rescued Yugito from the Zombie Brothers when we fled Konoha. "

"So Orochimaru plans on invading Konoha again?" Hiashi asked.

"Not at the moment. The civil war in Kumo left the village weak. It will take some time before the snake can build up his forces." He and Hinata stopped and faced the clan heads. "You four were close friends of my parents. You and the jounin with you stuck up for me when no one else did. I never got the chance to properly thank you all for that."

"No one should ever go through life the way you did," Inochi said. "Not even a jinchuuriki."

Naruto nodded. "As you know, I promised that day to make up your kindness, and I today I will honor my word. Your families will be granted both citizenship and clan status, effective immediately. The Jounin that came along with you will also be granted citizenship in the United West and will retain it provide that they serve the Unified West as they once served the Leaf." He turned to Hiashi. "Lord Hyuuga, there is one small matter that must be dealt with."

Hiashi could only guess. "The Caged Bird Seal."

The Emperor nodded. "Thanks to Hinata, I found out how to destroy the seal. This is my only condition. If you have any problems with the clan council..."

"The council and their supporters are dead, Lord Emperor," Hanabi interrupted.

Naruto and Hinata exchanged glances before turning back to the heiress. "Explain," Hinata ordered.

"There was a civil war between those who supported a marriage between myself and the Uchiha under the C.R.A., which consisted of about half of the main branch, and my father and myself, along with the more moderate members of the main branch, and all of the cadet branch," Hanabi continued. "We lost half our numbers. Tsunade tried to interfere, but Father said that it was a clan matter, and outside of her jurisdiction."

"Bet the old hag did not take that very well, did she?" Naruto asked.

"Knowing her, she would have tried to force Hanabi to marry Sasuke in order to spare Father's life," Hinata added. "Probably wound have done the same with Ino."

Inochi blanched. "You sure that was what Tsunade would have done?"

"More than likely," Naruto replied. "Your families and the others have been sent to North Kimon. Hinata and I will hold a quick meeting with the others there once you're settled in. "

"Wait, Lord Emperor," Ino cut in. "There's something else."

"No need for formalities, Ino," Naruto replied smiling broadly. "We are still friends. You and the others can address me by my name while in private. Out in public, just call me Chief. It's an old nickname that's stuck with me since my days as a warlord."

Ino nodded. "Sasuke has the Magenkyou Sharingan."

Naruto slowly nodded. "I know. I saw it when I fought him, Hatake and Yamato. I'm willing to bet that Danzou and those two old freaks that were Sarutobi's teammates had a hand in it, right?"

Shikamaru nodded. "Troublesome indeed, Naruto. Danzou and those two advisers on the council had set up one of the genin to be a student to the Uchiha. The boy, a fresh-faced academy graduate, looked up to the Uchiha in the same way that the Konohamaru Corps once looked up to you."

Naruto nodded. It was a shame that Sarutobi had tried to use his own grandson and his two friends as a connection for Naruto to remain loyal to Konoha. When the banishment orders came down, Konohamaru, Moegi and Udon had showed their true colors, denouncing him as a murderer, claiming that he was the one who had killed Biwako Sarutobi, his grandmother and Hiruzen's wife.

In the first year of Naruto's reign, the Konohamaru Corps – having recently made Chuunin – had been killed, slaughtered at the hands of Akatsuki members Hidan and Kakuzu, Konohamaru being on the receiving end of the Jashin Ritual and Curse Jutsu.

"Sasuke befriended the boy," Chouji continued, "and took him under his wing. They became fast friends. When the boy made Chuunin, Sasuke betrayed him by shoving a Chidori into his chest. We know because, aside from Hanabi and the three of us, about seven jounin and Anko saw Sasuke commit murder."

"Let me guess," Naruto surmised. "You four, the Snake Lady and the Jounin notified the council, but Danzou and those two bastards swept it under the rug somehow. Sasuke got off scot-free, and with the Magenkyou. You even appealed to Tsunade herself, and she did nothing. Am I right so far?"

The trio and Hanabi nodded.

"You told your parents, and they believe you," Naruto continued. "The jounin who had accompanied you here are not as ga-ga over the Uchiha, correct?"

Again, the trio and Hanabi nodded.

"And when Hiashi and the first-generation Ino-Shika-Cho tried to complain to Tsunade, she told them to basically fuck off. The C.R.A. was the last straw, as it is through marriage does the Uchiha can reign in control over the Yamanaka and the Hyuuga clans. Am I right so far?"

This time, the fathers of the girls nodded.

"Even after all this time, that idiot of a former teammate is still weak," Naruto surmised. "Itachi's mercy was wasted on him. No matter. I have a buffer against the Sharingan, should the need arise."

"Which is...?" Chouza prodded.

"You are aware of the history of the Six Paths Sage, right? Of that the Uchiha and Senju are descended from him?" Naruto asked. When the gathered team nodded, Naruto continued. "That's a lie. The Six Paths had only one child – a daughter, who is the founder of the Uzumaki clan line. The founders of the Uchiha and Senju lines only trained under him. It was through Madara that he had unleashed the vixen upon Konoha when he fought Hashirama for control oft he Leaf."

"Vixen?" Hiashi repeated. "You mean..."

"Yes. The Nine-Tails is female," Naruto confirmed. "Don't worry. Kurama's not here," he added, as he caught the clan heads looking around nervously. They breathed a sigh of relief. "You'll meet her soon enough. Since you're all here, there's something else you should know regarding the Akatsuki. Something that not even Jiraiya and his information network does not know about."

"And that is...?" Inoichi asked.

"Itachi is not the only Uchiha who is a member," Naruto confirmed. "There is another. He is the true leader of the Akatsuki." Looking at the clan heads, he revealed what he know. "Kurama confirmed it for me. One thing about the bijuu is that they cannot lie. The leader of the Akatsuki is a former teammate of my idiot sensei, and the one most directly responsible as to how my life in Konoha had turned out. His name is Obito Uchiha."

It was obvious that the clan heads recognized the name. "Obito?" Chouza parroted. "He was on your father's team with Hatake. It was said that he had died in the last shinobi war."

"Apparently, the reports of his death were false. He goes by the name Tobi. And it was Obito who had unleashed Kurama onto Konoha and cased me to lose my parents," Naruto finished. "So now, this is personal. Obito will die and the Akatsuki will fall."

"And what about Sasuke?" Hiashi asked.

"He shoved a Chidori into my chest," Naruto deadpanned. "There is no hope or redemption for him. If he decides to become a threat...then I will have no problem in eliminating him as well. First things first, though. Neji Hyuuga, come forward and remove your headband."

Curious, Neji maneuvered his way around the others and stood before Naruto, the headband removed to reveal the Caged Bird Seal in all its hideous glory.

"There are no slaves here," Naruto said as he began to go through a series of handseals. "And no slave calls the other master. Dispel: Seal Destruction." he intoned, pressing two fingers against Neji's seal.

Neji felt not a searing pain, but what it felt like to him, a mild discomfort as he felt that cursed seal purged itself from his body. Hiashi and Hanabi watched in amazement as the Caged Bird Seal, once thought to be permanent once it had been placed onto a Hyuuga, burned away.

"The Caged Bird Seal, while archaic in nature, is not so permanent as most people would think," Hinata explained. "This was one of the things I had planned on doing when I became the head of the clan – to abolish that damned seal altogether."

"The seal...is it gone?" Neji whispered.

Tenten, having moved up so she could witness this, nodded, smiling happily. "Yes...it's gone."

To prove that the seal was gone, Hinata made the hand seal which would activate the Caged Bird Seal. Since Neji did not see it as he was weeping tears of joy, Hiashi and Hanabi did see Hinata's attempt to activate the seal, only to find that the seal did not activate, as it was gone for good.

"Being a fuuinjutsu expert does has its perks," Naruto explained, pulling out a scroll and handing it to Hiashi. "This is the scroll detailing how to remove the seal from the branch members." Addressing the others, he said, "As of this moment, all of you are under my protection. But this does not mean that you are given clan status right off the bat. All of you are on probation for six months. Prove your worth to myself and the council, and we will welcome you as one of the great Imperial Clans of the Unified West."

"Sounds reasonable," Hiashi said, while the Ino-Shika-Cho trio nodded in agreement.

"Good. In the meantime, go and get settled in. Tomorrow, there will be a meeting with the council at noon, as they want to meet you and your children. And tell Ibiki to come as well, as Zabuza wants to meet him. Hinata and I will have your assignments ready by then. We'll see you guys out."

"Oh, and we will be speaking with you in private about what has happened in Konoha," Hinata added.

Again, the clan heads and their children nodded. So far, the terms given to them by the former genin-turned-rulers were very generous. The last thing they wanted was to earn the ire of the Emperor and his wife.