THE MUTE PRODIGY

Summary: What if Naruto inherited the genius of his father? What if another incident on the day of his birth turned him into a mute? What if he had more of the Kyuubi's chakra? What if he was adopted? What if he was born two years later? I don't own Naruto.

PROLOGUE

The third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen sat in his office thinking about all the events that had taken place in the last 24 hours. How in 24 hours, the situation in Konoha had changed remarkably. Twenty four hours ago, Hiruzen was a retired Hokage, living with his wife and his two sons. The Hokage was the hero of the Third Great Shinobi War, the Yellow Flash, Namikaze Minato. The Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi was a pregnant Uzumaki Kushina, who along with her husband Minato were excited about becoming parents. Konoha was easily the strongest village in the Shinobi world in every single aspect, be it in terms of Army count, quality of ninja, financially or politically. Young Uzumaki Naruto was meant to be the Prince of Konoha, loved and respected by the entire population.

In just 24 hours, how things have changed. Hiruzen who was retired had no other choice but to take up the title of Hokage again. His wife, Sarutobi Biwako was dead. Both the Yondaime, Minato and Kushina, were dead. Konoha had lost a great number of ninja to the Kyuubi. The incident had crippled Konoha financially and militarily. It would still survive. But now, the advantage Konoha had over the other great Shinobi villages was greatly reduced. Young Naruto had just become the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi. Initially, he thought he would tell the population of Konoha that the Yondaime had died sacrificing his life to seal the Kyuubi in young Naruto and this would lead to the people accepting Naruto as the hero who saved Konoha, but recent events that happened since had changed his mind.

Flashback

Hiruzen along with a Jounin, Yasutaro Takeshi had managed to make their way towards the location where Minato had teleported the Kyuubi. The rest of Konoha were still tending to their injuries and couldn't travel the distance.

Hiruzen and Takeshi found themselves unable to do anything as Minato and Kushina died sealing the Kyuubi within Naruto, their new born son. Minato had sealed the Yin half of the Kyuubi within Naruto, while sealing the Yang half within himself. However, a lot of the Kyuubi's chakra in the air also made its way into Naruto's seal.

Hiruzen made his way to the hospital and handed over Naruto to one of the nurses, telling her to take care of him, as he went back into the Hokage's office deciding to take up charge once again till an appropriate replacement appears again. He simply couldn't allow Danzo to be the Hokage at any cost. After writing down a letter to the Daimyo, explaining what happened and requesting him for some financial support, Hiruzen organized a council meeting. He decided to take Naruto with him to explain everything that happened to the council. He decided to keep Naruto's lineage a secret since Minato had a lot of enemies outside Konoha and a few inside Konoha who would try to kill Naruto.

As he entered the room where the nurse had placed Naruto, he sensed another presence. He opened the door to see Yasutaro Takeshi about to slam a kunai into Naruto's throat. Hiruzen jumped in as fast as he could but he was too late as the kunai slashed Naruto's throat. Hiruzen knocked Takeshi away from Naruto before handing him over to the nurses begging them to heal the kid. After the nurses left with Naruto, Hiruzen stared angrily at Takeshi, "Why?"

Takeshi who was now scared out of wits began crying out frantically, "Because he is the demon. He is responsible for the attack on Konoha. He is responsible for the death of my wife. Even you were there. The Yondaime put the Kyuubi in him."

Hiruzen couldn't believe his ears. Right in front of him was a Jounin, blinded by hatred, who didn't understand the concept of Fuinjutsu and tried to kill an infant, who wasn't even a day old. Hiruzen who was already frustrated couldn't control his anger as he slammed a kunai down Takeshi's throat instantly killing him.

Hiruzen couldn't help but think, 'If this is how the elite Jounin in Konoha react, I can't even imagine how the civilians would react. Like with Kushina, Naruto's status as a Jinchuuriki must remain a secret…OMG Naruto.'

Hiruzen quickly ran upto where the nurses were treating him. The nurses were looking at the boy in awe. Hiruzen asked the head nurse regarding Naruto's status. The head nurse replied,"'Its both good and bad news, Sir. For all I know, the boy should have been dead after receiving an injury like that within a few hours after his birth. But the boy managed to recover miraculously. The wound suddenly healed up. But I am afraid I also have bad news. The boy has lost his voice forever."

Flashback end

During the council meeting, Hiruzen told the council that the Yondaime had defeated the Kyuubi at the cost of his life and that he was now going to take over as Hokage of Konoha till a replacement comes by. The more intelligent members of the council asked him how did the Yondaime defeat the Kyuubi. Hiruzen replied that Minato had summoned the Shinigami to seal the Kyuubi within himself. But unfortunately the price of such an action is the life of the Jutsu user.

Hiruzen took baby Naruto from the hospital before telling his Anbu to summon Yamanaka Inoichi. Hiruzen then tried to observe the seal. Hiruzen noticed that there were two seals. The first seal was pretty much perfect. It would keep the Kyuubi at bay. When the boy is in extreme danger, the seal will send a little bit of the Kyuubi chakra into Naruto to protect him. The second seal also contained bits of the Kyuubi's chakra. It was probably this chakra that saved Naruto's life. However this seal was consume quite a bit of energy that instead of chakra would have to come from Naruto's nutrition.

Just then Inoichi entered the room. Inoichi noticed the baby and asked Hiruzen, "Hokage-sama, who is that baby?"

Hiruzen decided to be frank with Inoinchi. "This child's name is Uzumaki Naruto or rather Namikaze Uzumaki Naruto."

Inoichi's eyes widened as he muttered, "Yondaime…"

"Yes. He is the one and only son of the Yondaime Hokage, Namikaze Minato and his wife, Uzumaki Kushina." Hiruzen said, before adding, "He is also the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi."

"What!?" Inoichi yelled, "Minato sealed the Kyuubi in his own son!? But at the council meeting, you said…"

"What had to be said so that young Naruto wouldn't be targeted. There was another Jounin with me when Minato did the sealing, a certain Yasutora Takeshi. I assume you've heard of him."

Seeing Inoichi nod, Hiruzen continued, "Takeshi died today by my hands at the Konoha hospital. He died because he tried to kill young Naruto. He was blinded by hatred against the Kyuubi and tried to kill Naruto for what the Kyuubi did to him. Takeshi's kunai slashed Naruto's throat. It was the Kyuubi's chakra that healed Naruto. But the attack resulted in Naruto losing his voice forever. If a Jounin can't understand the concept of Fuinjutsu, imagine how the civilians would react. Konoha owes both Minato and Naruto far too much. I can't let anyone attack Naruto for such reasons. That's why I mentioned that Minato sealed the Kyuubi within himself. Technically I didn't lie, because Minato did seal half of the Kyuubi within himself. He sealed the other half in Naruto. However the left over chakra of the Kyuubi also managed to make its way into young Naruto in the form of a separate seal. I guess it probably sensed the presence of the Kyuubi within Naruto and formed a separate seal of its own. But this seal is maintained by Naruto's nutrition. So, I assume that Naruto growth would be slightly stunted by this seal."

Inoichi nodded as he took in everything that Naruto had already been through. Born to the greatest of Shinobi, born as a prince, he is now an orphan without his voice and with a beast of destruction inside his stomach all within 4 hours after his birth. Inoichi took all the facts into consideration before asking Hiruzen, "Why exactly did you call me and tell me all this, Hokage-sama?"

"Because I want you to adopt Naruto as your son."

"What?!Why?!"

"Minato had too many enemies who wouldn't hesitate to kill Naruto, if given a chance. I need something solid and concrete to protect Naruto. Naruto has blond hair and blue eyes, something your clan members share. He would fit in well. If he is called Yamanaka Naruto, no one would even suspect that he is the son of Minato. Also with your clan's mind and telepathy techniques, Naruto may be able to learn to communicate eventually through minds. I believe that you and your wife, nearly had a second child that died as a stillborn baby. Naruto can replace that baby and be the younger son to you and your wife and a little brother to your daughter, Ino as well." Hiruzen answered.

Inoichi thought for a while before saying, "Hokage-sama, while it'd be an honor for me to adopt and raise the son of the Yondaime, I don't know how to explain to the clan that the Kyuubi's jinchuuriki is living amongst us."

"No, don't tell anyone about Naruto's status as the Jinchuuriki, atleast not while the wounds are still fresh. Maybe someday, you can tell your wife regarding that, but no one else. Not even your daughter." Hiruzen said.

Hiruzen noticed the still confused expression on Inoichi's face. He knew why Inoichi was confused. Inoichi had fought against the Kyuubi afterall, he wasn't comfortable with the Kyuubi's jinchuuriki being his son. Hiruzen blew a puff from his pipe before saying, "Inoichi, did you know that the Kyuubi has been a part of Konoha ever since the very beginning?"

Seeing Inoichi's confused and shocked expression, Hiruzen continued, "Uchiha Madara controlled the Kyuubi when he fought the Shodai Hokage. After the Shodai Hokage won, his wife, Uzumaki Mito sealed the Kyuubi inside herself to ensure that it doesn't go on a rampage. After Uzumaki Mito, Uzumaki Kushina became the next Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi. Only the powerful life force of the Uzumaki clan can keep the Kyuubi at bay. Naruto is the third Uzumaki who became the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi. During childbirth the seal weakens. A fuinjutsu master therefore has to be present, when a Jinchuuriki gives birth. Minato was hence present when Kushina gave birth. My wife, Biwako was also there. The child-birth was being conducted in a cave outside Konoha with a lot of Anbu protection. Biwako and the Anbu were found dead. They were killed by a kunai. Despite all the secrecy, someone managed to find out about Kushina and the birth of Naruto, I believe. Besides, the Kyuubi didn't run into Konoha. It appeared in the middle of Konoha, like a Summoned animal would. Minato probably fought him and forced him to flee. That would explain his late arrival. Only Uchiha Madara had the ability to do all this. But he has been dead for ages. I remember Hashirama-sama confirming it as well. Either way, I believe someone was responsible for everything that happened regarding the Kyuubi incident. I just contacted Jiraiya who believes the same as well. Jiraiya was named as the kid's Godfather by Minato but right now, he is mourning the loss of Minato who was like a son to him. We also need Jiraiya's spy network now, more than ever, so Jiraiya can't take care of Naruto either. Besides Jiraiya or Kakashi raising Naruto would make it obvious that he is the son of Minato. Naruto afterall, does look a lot like Minato, though he has his mother's face."

After hearing the Sandaime's words, Inoichi became a bit more relaxed. Inoichi smiled before saying, "I'm sure Noriko would love him and Ino would also love having a baby brother. I'll adopt him, Hokage-sama. From now on, his name is Yamanaka Naruto, second child of Yamanaka Inoichi and Yamanaka Noriko and he'll grow as a Yamanaka. I'll help him become a fantastic ninja of Konoha."