(With Naruto in the Academy Staffroom)
Naruto froze as he heard that, he hadn't expected Kushina to ask such a blunt and to the point question, especially considering the fact she was basing her conclusions off of the words of a genin.
That being said though, he should have known she would ask something like this, his mother had always been a passionate person, ruled first and foremost by emotion, she did not bandy words around like some sleazy Politian, instead she said what she thought and did what she deemed right.
It was an admirable trait in Naruto's opinion, but right now it was quite annoying.
Kushina's blunt question had been put on the spot, already he could feel the gazes of Kushina and her Jounin friends locked on him.
Thinking quickly, Naruto came up with a number of possible responses he could go with. First off he could lie, make up something on the spot and hope the five experienced Jounin in front of him did not see through his ruse.
Or secondly he could just ignore the question and walk away, as if that would ever work out well. Or finally he could be partially truthful, those were his three options as he saw them, they weren't great options all things considered.
Thinking over the three options Naruto immediately dismissed the second one, if he ignored the question and walked away, it would immediately be seen as a cowardly and weak admission of guilt and would likely backfire on him, he could honestly see nothing positive coming from that option.
The first option, lying, was not a particularly enticing option, first off he would have to make up something on the spot, something that would have to hold up to the scrutiny of five older and more experienced Jounin.
Naruto might be more skilled when it comes to fighting, tracking and interrogation, his unique abilities giving him a distinct advantage that few could match, but in terms of a Shinobi's other skills such as lying and subterfuge he was quite average for a Jounin.
In all honesty he doubted that right now he could come up with a good enough lie that would withstand scrutiny, and if he did and Mei then decided to assist Konoha during the planned invasion then the truth would likely get out and things could backfire badly.
He could of course make the claim that he is a member of the same Rogue Clan Grimm as from or that he was a former student, but again he doubted it would withstand scrutiny, plus he would still be seen as guilty by association.
The final option the truth was not that much more desirable. If he admitted to being Grimm he would instantly have the eyes of Konoha locked on him more than they were already.
He would not have to worry about physical harm coming to him, at least not during the Chunin Exams as he was a guest and a member of Kiri, but outside of the Chunin Exams they could still kill him, though considering he was from another Shinobi Village that was always going to be the case.
That being said if he did come clean and explain his justification for killing Kakashi, although he was very unlikely to be making any friends but he could at least stand by what he did with his head held high. As he said none of the options were that good, but at least this way he could own it and decided what gets out.
This all went through Naruto's head in as he met Kushina's cold look calmly, his crimson eyes unflinching as he paused for a second creating his three options, analyzing them and coming to a decision in a moment. Cocking his head to the side Naruto replied. "Yes?"
Kushina's mouth tightened as she heard his admission having likely not expected it to be so straightforward, and around her he could see the Jounin he had sat with previously tense up.
Maito Guy, the man with the bowl cut, green jumpsuit and orange leg warmers, had the biggest reaction. A dangerous glint entered his gaze at Naruto's admission, and his hands tightened into fists.
Glancing over at him Naruto could easily see that the man was barely holding himself back from attacking him, it appears the man must have had a strong bond with the Copy Ninja, maybe sexual in nature or maybe not, Naruto was never one to judge.
"So you killed Kakashi?" Kushina said her expression and eyes still cold as she met Naruto's calm and tranquil gaze.
"Why?"
Naruto blinked as he heard that, she was asking him 'why' he killed Kakashi, he would have thought that his reason were obvious.
"Because he attacked me, getting in the way of my duties. He was a Shinobi with a mission, and I was a Shinobi from a different Village with another mission, our missions intercepted.
I gave him a number of warnings to back off and allow me to complete my mission, he did not take me up on them. This led to the Uchiha attacking and Kakashi assisting him, which led to the two of us fighting and me killing him before he could kill me."
It was a reasonable answer and all the assembled Jounin knew it. Kushina, Asuma, Guy, Anko and Kurenai they were all Jounin, elite Shinobi.
They had done countless missions for Konoha, and during those missions they had come up against Shinobi from other Villages.
They had killed Kumo Shinobi, Iwa Shinobi, Kiri Shinobi and many others from many other Villages, when enemy or neutral Shinobi met on the field of battle on opposing sides this more often than not would lead to death.
It was a fact of the world they live in and the careers they chose to pursue.
Yet when it is one of your comrades who is killed on the field by an enemy Shinobi it is different, the person who is dead is not just some faceless nobody. It's someone you grew up with, someone you knew, someone you had bonds and connections to.
When that happened it became a lot more personal. It was hypocrisy at its finest, people only care when it happens to them or someone they know.
In Naruto's mind it was almost like a never-ending cycle of pain, as the hurt will often go one to avenge themselves, hurting others along the way who will also go one to avenge themselves.
"What you don't have anything to say?" Naruto said as he looked around at the Shinobi facing him.
"Or have you realised that I am not some monster but am in fact a loyal Shinobi doing my duty to my Village just as your friend Kakashi was a loyal Shinobi doing his duty to his Village.
Yes I am Grimm and yes I killed Kakashi, just as I have killed hundreds of others from Kiri, Suna, Konoha, Iwa, Kuma, Taki, Ame…, just like you Konoha Shinobi have done exactly the same.
How many hundreds of Shinobi have you all killed over the course of your careers?"
"It's different…" Guy started to say, his anger forgotten temporarily as a conflicted expression crossed over his face.
"Different how? Because it was someone you knew who got killed this time, not some faceless nobody you can brush off and ignore?" Naruto replied sharply, his crimson gaze shifting over to Guy.
Yes he was happy he chose this option, he would not meekly hide who he was; he was Pain! He would not try and weasel out of his actions, no he would own up to them, and more than that he would take pride in the things he had done for his Village.
"You're right." Asuma said with a sigh, gaining looks of surprise from the others and one of hurt betrayal from Guy.
Seeing the reaction Asuma scowled, before he thrust his hand in his pocket and pulled out his half empty packet of cigarettes, pulling one out before lighting it with a weak fire jutsu.
"The kid's right and you know it. I know I killed dozens of enemy Shinobi when I was one of the Fire Damiyo's bodyguards, and I have killed even more since joining back up with the Konoha main forces.
The kid did his duty for his Village just as we have done ours for Konoha. We may not like it, we may not forget the fact he killed Kakashi, but I at least can accept his reasoning behind it."
"For once I agree with Asuma." Anko said getting the attention on her as she spoke up. "Kakashi was a Shinobi, he knew what he was getting into and he knew he would likely one day die doing his duty for Konoha."
"For what it's worth." Naruto said, getting the attention back on him. Noticing as he did so that the hostility had not faded much.
"Kakashi died well. He fought hard and almost killed me." It was a bit of a fabrication, but Kakashi had got a hit on Naruto that would have killed a lesser person.
"I still can't believe that my old friend Kakashi lost to some kid like you." Guy suddenly spoke up, his voice quiet.
Looking up Naruto was surprised to see that the man's eyes were steely as he met Naruto's gaze.
"Know this Pain. One day we will fight, and on that day I expect you to show me the same strength you used to defeat Kakashi."