Hello everyone. I am really sorry that I abandoned all of you who liked, reviewed and favorited this story. I lost all my interest in writing back then but I have never truly forgotten my stories and they have been in the back of my mind for so long that I decided to try and give it a shot. That is why I am trying to rewrite and continue some of my stories, including this one as it was one of my first and so poorly written… though I have a few things to say before I will truly start.

Even if my English is better than it used to be back then, I am sure that there will probably be some mistakes in grammar but right now that is not actually my biggest concern. You see, I haven't watched Naruto in a long time and I know that Naruto's father Minato has appeared in the manga and anime and now I am slowly trying to catch up and learn things that will help me write this story. That is why I am sorry if some important things are not accurate enough :/

This is what I am currently thinking now: the story is now set ahead of the current Naruto but I will probably make imaginary changes in the "history" of Naruto in order for this story to hopefully make more sense. I don't own Naruto or the characters or anything related to it! I write this fanfic purely for my own entertainment and am not going to make any money out of it!

Well that is all I have to say for now and I would also love to hear some of your ideas for the story as it has indeed been long time as I wrote this so I may change my plans.

Summary: Minato is alive but just barely, hoping to find his son after all these years. Difficult times are ahead as he now must deal with his past while trying to gain his strength back and also learn to live his new life. His homecoming will now change the lives of those who used to know him and he will change the fate of his old village that has now been rebuilt.

Naruto is now turning 18 and is finally respected around the city for what he has done for them. Kakashi is not dead and Sasuke is missing as no one knows what has happened to him. Will Minato be able to help his son now that he is back?

This is a Family/Hurt&Comfort fanfic that also involves drama, angst, friendship and maybe adventure. I also warn you that there will be violence, swearing and cursing as well as sweet stuff.

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I am the Hokage

Chapter 1:

Darkness and Hope

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"I am tired again even if I must have just woken up but I can't be sure anymore. It's hard to say when I am asleep and when I am awake but I guess that it makes sense as nothing ever changes. I don't know what to even think anymore. Should I be afraid…? Is that what you want now? When can I go home? My son is waiting…"

Silence, darkness, and endless questions that only hung in the air as they came out from a pair of dry lips; those where the only things one forsaken soul knew in his questionable existence. His own raspy voice had been his only company for God knows how long now and it sometimes made him doubt if it truly even was his voice.

"You think too much… Accept it already that you are with us now. There is no other place for you in this world anymore." A voice whispered back and this time it wasn't his own as it sounded hollow, like an echo from somewhere far away.

"I want to go home…" He whispered with a louder voice this time, struggling to form the sentence now that there was something else other than just him and the darkness.

"This is your home."

"No. No... My home is there where my loved ones are and not here with you." He said, listening to how a quiet and questioning laugh disturbed the calm and never ending silence.

'At last... So I am still alive… Keep laughing... I don't think that in heaven or in hell someone would laugh for me like that.' He thought and took a deeper and shaky breath, making what he thought was his chest to tighten as he decided to talk again. It had been such a long time ago when he had gotten a chance like this.

"Kyuubi will stay there where I cursed it…"

"What did you say…?"

"Kyuubi… It will stay there where I cursed it… It can't escape… It can't kill your families anymore. It can't make the land beneath your feet shake…" He said again but this time tried to sound as convincing as he could in his current state.

"No it can't because we have you here... Only your chakra can keep it sealed in."

"I would do it myself if you would just let me…"

"Hokage-sama... We know it… We just..."

"You don't trust me... You are afraid that you can't make me do what you want me to do. Even if it seems that we both want the same but in different ways." The words felt like they burned his mouth as they came out, they were something that he had wanted to say for a very long time now, making his tired voice rise but only slightly.

"You are really strong… Too strong…"

"Then why do you keep me here? Why you don't let me go?" The former Hokage asked with his mouth now completely dry from talking so much and looked down even if his eyes saw nothing other than darkness.

"Hokage-sama..."

"I am not your Hokage… That title has been already given to another person who is stronger than me. Someone who has done great things and who knows that true strength is hidden in every person's heart. Believe me when I say this. I can't be the strongest anymore."

Silence was immediately taking over once again but it was different this time, he could feel it. The air was still as if the world would have stopped for the time being, leaving only one man to listen to his own breathing that had become almost painful.

'Did they listen to me at last? Are they thinking of what they really are doing to me?'

"You don't believe that you are the strongest anymore…?" The voice asked, with a hint of curiosity as well as something else.

"Yes..."

"Why?"

"Because this world is changing constantly… I don't know how long I have been here but I have a feeling that it has been a very long time. There could even be new generations now, strong and capable new souls and the ones who you forced me to leave behind have without a doubt become stronger while I have grown weak in this never ending darkness." The former Hokage whispered, his voice completely calm despite his pain, hiding the feelings that he had been forced to suppress for God knows how long now. He knew that if he wouldn't have done it his mind would have gone mad with sorrow, regret and fear. He had had no other choice than to numb himself but now those buried feelings were rising towards the surface, a hint of hope with them.

He had never truly hated his own fate; he had done what he did in order to save his village and those with their future still ahead of them. The only hate and anger that he had felt was because of his only son's destiny.

'I am sorry my son... But I have not given up hope on seeing you. I am still living for your sake and I will not give up. I want to see you so much that my heart can't take it.'

" Yondaime... Minato, it is now time for us all to say goodbye."

Before the meaning of those words could truly sink in, before he could understand that his deepest wish was now about to come true, the world of darkness he knew grew silent once again.

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A new day was starting in the Hidden Leaf village and that meant a new day of hard work.

It had been nearly two years now since the village had been destroyed but they started slowly building it back and now it finally started to look a little like their old beloved village and yet it was different.

They couldn't find it in their hearts to abandon the place where they had all grown so they decided to use the lands once more even if some were against it, saying that this was the second time the village had experienced destruction and that they now should start their new life somewhere else from these cursed lands.

Naruto had been one of those who were strongly against leaving these lands, even if they now had to build their houses in the monstrous pit in the ground.

It wasn't so bad though, once they got used to it, but it was hard work from day one. They had to build proper paths for the chopped woods and other equipment so it was natural that soon the main roads had been subconsciously made like mostly rest of the town. Tsunade thought that it would be the best and didn't want to participate in the planning of the city until her judgment was needed, that way the village would find its true new form she said.

She had been incredibly happy when she had realized how many had survived after their fight with Madara was over, but the losses they had experienced were great nevertheless. It would take time until Konoha would reclaim its power and the sorrow in people's hearts would become easier to deal with and that concerned her also.

Thinking about her old friend's death still brought tears in the corners of her eyes if she let her emotions take the best of her and she had come to accept that time was the only way to heal the wounds they were all carrying.

Even so it was now part of the past, a past that had led them to this day.

The day when the last house was finished and she smiled proudly when she looked at the owner of the two floor house made from wood and painted yellow like the sun.

"This is it Naruto, your own house as a thank you from all of the villagers." Her voice was kind and calm as she spoke and raised her left hand to rest on the shaking shoulders of the young man beside her.

She knew that this was more than he could have wished for but it was less than he deserved in her eyes, but she figured that it would do for now. All this time Naruto had worked probably harder than many others and helped with everything he could, yet he refused to act toward building a place for himself. When someone would point it out for him he would just laugh and say that he had no problem living in the temporary barracks and tents so he was in no hurry.

She figured that it was partly because he seemed to enjoy living with the rest of the villagers, who had also not yet managed to get a roof over their heads. He probably found comfort for his own losses that way and everyone let him. She still remembered how Kakashi had smiled one night over the evening fire where they cooked their meals during the first weeks and when she asked her what he was thinking he just pointed at Naruto who was talking with his friends.

"After everything that has happened, it's good that he at least doesn't have to be alone for now."

Those words from Kakashi had played over and over again in her head during this time and now when they stood here in front of Naruto's very own first house she found herself thinking if this was what the boy really wanted.

It was clearly overwhelming for him as she could see tears rolling down his cheeks and she couldn't blame him. All his life all he had wanted was to have people acknowledge his existence and his worth as human and ninja. This was, in a way, a proof of that happening.

"T-thank you…" It came in sobs but the gratitude was clear in his voice and as he raised his hands to try to wipe the endless tears from his face, Tsunade couldn't hold back her emotions anymore and she wrapped her arms around the young boy who had now turned into a fine young man and let her own tears fall.

"No, thank you, Naruto. For everything."

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I hope you liked it and that you would be kind enough to leave a review. I also hope that I didn't mess things up too badly this time and if you find some major problems then tell me so that I know what I need to work on in the future.

I guess this first chapter is more like an epilogue and really different than the previous one, now it's up to you guys and girls to decide if it's a good thing or not.

I hope you all have a wonderful day!