Minato Namikaze sat in his office, the weight in his arms the only thing keeping him from braking down altogether. She was gone, his love was gone from this world she had left him two gifts, the first was time. Time to be able to save everyone, to find a new solution. The second however was the most important of them.

It was the weight in his arms that he could feel. He could hear his son sleeping, how long he had waited to be a father. The only person who was looking forward to his little boy's birth was that of his wife.

Silent tears streamed down his face as he thought of the woman that would never hold their son, who wouldn't be able to show him all the things she had planned to.

Looking at the bundle in his arms he tried to smile, this should have been one of the greatest days of his life. It should be Kushina holding little Naruto in her arms, as he would try and get her to hand him over.

His wife should be here holding their son, it shouldn't have been him, it was his job to give his life for the village, and it was his job to lay down his life for his son. But Kushina words echoed in his head "No there has to be another way! Find it Minato, Please. He can't grow up alone!" He had wanted to argue with her, that if they sealed it in Naruto she could be there for him, he wouldn't be alone.

She had been adamant about it, she wouldn't let him sacrifice his life. Looking at his son there was nearly nothing that would distinguish him as Kushina's child except the colour of his eyes. Which were a vibrant violet in colour.

There was still some blood on the child's forehead from where Kushina had kissed him. Fresh tears started to stream from the Hokage's eyes as he thought how it was the only time the child would have any part of his mother with him.

The village was in turmoil, they were afraid, they had just survived an attack by the Kyuubi, he knew he should do something he should say something to the village, but he didn't know what to do. He just wanted to stay in his office and hold onto his child.

He heard the door slowly creek open, but didn't bother to turn his head, it didn't matter who it was, even if it had been an assassin, a small part of him welcomed the idea of death, then he would be reunited with his wife.

A much louder part told him that he needed to protect his son, that he was the most important thing to him now. It was thanks to that part that made him lift his head to see who had come to disturb him.

There at the door was his predecessor, the Sandaime Hokage, still garbed in his battle outfit. "Minato you are needed." He said, though he was old his voice was still strong. His eyes however told a different tale, they were filled with nothing but grief and sorrow, not only at what had happened to the village but at the loss of his wife.

Still though he sat in silence, not knowing what he should do. Not knowing what he should say to the people, he gently pulled his son closer to him, hoping to draw strength from the bundle in his arms. The boy that was sleeping silently with no idea what had transpired this night.

He thought it would all suddenly become clear, he thought that with his child in his hands that he would know exactly what needed to be done.

But the more he thought the more uncertainty set in, they were safe, but not for long. The kyuubi would be back, and then the battle would begin anew. If he told the people it would cause problems, if he didn't it would leave them unprepared.

Then there was the problem of if he didn't tell them they would want to know what had happened to the Kyuubi, and there wasn't much of an excuse that he could give them. Under Nine years, that is how long it would take for the Kyuubi to resurface.

Then there was the problem of Madara Uchiha, if he struck once he would strike again, especially considering that the Kyuubi would be released. As well as any nation that hears that there is a biju out in the open. It would not be easy to try and capture it, it would be a race against fuinjutsu experts. Who could seal it first and get out of the area with it.

He was broken out of his thoughts at the sound of crying, looking down it seemed that Naruto had woken up. Minato tried to quiet the child to no avail. He was rocking him in his arms as he tried to sooth the child.

"He's probably hungry" he heard Hiruzen say from his side.

Minato could only nod before going to the lowest drawer and taking out baby formula. He noticed the look on the older man's face.

"We… prepared this beforehand… if he was with me and… Kushina… Kushina wasn't…" he couldn't finish what he was trying to say. It hurt too much, he couldn't bear the thought that she was no longer with him.

Maybe that was why he stayed in his office if he didn't leave he wouldn't have to see everything that happened, he wouldn't have to go home, he wouldn't be in his house that would not have Kushina. He set about making the formula for his son. He had been practicing it for months so that he could do it in his sleep. The thought of how much money he had spent on baby formula, and how much of a mess he had made in the first month caused a small twitch at his lips.

That twitch became more of a smile as he heard the boy stop his crying and started to drink. "If there are any free physicians bring one here. Naruto needs a check-up" he said, while he may have been smiling at his son his voice was hollow.

"Minato please you need to listen" the old man tried to tell him.

"I will talk to them in the morning, now find one." Once again his voice sounded hollow. Sarutobi nodded and set out.

While he may not like Minato's decision it was probably for the best, if the people of Konoha see there Hokage like this they will lose faith. They needed to see their Hokage strong, not broken and beaten. With that he set out to find someone to do a check-up on the boy.

Minato went back to sitting alone in his office, just him and his son.

-()-

It had been a week since the attack on Konoha, it had been a hard time for the village. People trying to rebuild their lives, families' mourning their loved ones, there had been so many dead that they had a mass funeral for them instead of having individual ones.

Minato set in his office again with Naruto in his crib near him. It had been a common site for anyone who had come into the office to see the Yondaime's son either in the crib, baby seat or in the Yondaime's hands.

To some it seemed like an over protective father, but for Minato it was the fear that his son may just disappear if he wasn't around. If he lost him he would have nothing to keep him going, he would probably give up altogether.

What had surprised people however was the boy's name, 'Naruto Uzumaki' when the Sandaime had questioned why he wouldn't use his own name he had told him, 'He is the last Uzumaki.' That was the reason he told the village, the truth of the matter was that he wanted his son to have something of his mothers. He couldn't determine what type of man he would grow up to be, if he wanted to be a Ninja or not, but he could carry his mother's name, and let her live on through him.

It was something that he was originally going to do, Minato and Kushina had the discussion of what last name to use a few times, and while it would always end in indecision he had no intention of giving Naruto the name Namikaze. He had only held out with the idea of it because he liked seeing how Kushina acted in the arguments.

A feeling of guilt washed over him at that thought, he should have told her, she would have been so happy to know her son would carry on her name.

He didn't know why he had done it, but he had told the council the Kyuubi was dealt with, when the elders asked who the Jinchūriki was he had told them it was of none of their concern where the Jinchūriki was.

It was a dumb choice, and he hadn't made many friends with that action, but the other option was to tell them that the Kyuubi would be coming back. The only thing that would stop people from learning about it was if no one knew until it happened.

Maybe it wasn't the best choice. But he could bet that if he had mentioned it to anyone then the whole village would know of it, which would lead to another village finding out, and finally the whole Elemental Nations would know that the Kyuubi was not sealed away. Which would bring every enemy to Konoha in nine years to get it.

He had to come up with an idea on how to deal with it, he would end up creating a Jinchūriki, and he hated the idea of it. But the part that he hated even more was that he knew who he would have to make into the Jinchūriki.

He had promised Kushina that he would find another way, he had years to figure one out, but there was the nagging in his head that that he knew that he would break his last promise to her.

He got up from his seat and walked over to the crib where Naruto was softly sleeping, gently he picked him up and held him in his arms. He did this every time he thought of the woman he loved. He kept his son close to him to always remember that he was what she gave her life for.

-()-

Two years had passed since the Kyuubi attack and Minato learnt something very important. A two year old child is a nightmare.

He was standing in the training area of his home looking for his son. The first time this had happened he had freaked out. People would still chuckle at remembering the blonde Hokage running through the streets frantically looking for his child. He wasn't sure how he had managed to do it, or how long he was away for, but he remembered finding the boy sitting in the park playing in the sandbox. He had ran forward picked him up and was about to take him home until Naruto burst into tears trying to squirm out his father's arms so he could play in the sandbox some more. It didn't take long for Minato to relent. The part that made the seen so odd was when people saw his secretary bringing him his paperwork.

Back to the problem at hand though was that Naruto was somewhere in the training yard and he didn't know where. He had a barrier seal around the area that would alert him if Naruto left it. Fool me once shame on you, fool me eight time shame on the Blonde Hokage.

It took longer than it should have for the proclaimed fastest man alive to find his son. He was searching through the shrubs when his eyes came upon his sleeping son, Naruto had grown a lot in these two years.

He had bright blonde hair like him, his face was slightly rounded that reminded him of Kushina his cheeks were chubby and still had six whisker marks adorning them. He was wearing an orange t shirt and green shorts. 'Why is he so hard to find when he wearing an orange t shirt?' Minato thought. Then his eyes came to rest at what was beside his son, nestled closely as if trying to keep itself warm from his son's body heat was a small orange kit.

Looking at the small kit it wasn't hard to figure out what had happened, foxes weren't liked in Konoha. The poor things skulk was probably dead, and if anyone found it they would probably try and kill it as well.

He wasn't blind to the people, he had heard a few mutter things about Naruto himself because of his whisker marks. No one would say anything to loud but the thoughts were there. He was only thankful that they noticed that he was a child.

He was about to lift the boy when he saw his little hands reach out and hug the small kit, it's head raised and he heard a small growl coming from it, he was about to intervene afraid that it would bite his son until he saw Naruto try and hug the small critter. After a moment the kit quieted down and went back to sleep.

He was surprised by what he saw, not that Naruto was hugging the fox, but that it had quieted down and went back to sleep. He quietly left the boy to go to his study, after picking up the batch of work he took home with him he went back to where his son was and started reading through it. Enjoying the time he sat with the boy.

He wasn't sure when it happened but from the warm air and peaceful atmosphere he had fallen asleep, he was woken by feeling of something licking at his face.

Startled awake he looked around to see his Naruto standing in front of him with the fox in his hands as it licked at his face.

"Can I keep him? I'll take care of him" Naruto asked looking at the man with wide eyes as if trying to willing him to say yes.

Minato for his part looked between his son and the small animal, a part of him wanted to say no. Not because he didn't like foxes, it was because he thought that it was going to be the case that he would be taking care of the animal. On top of that he was pretty sure foxes weren't pets.

"Only if it wants to stay." He finally said to his son.

Naruto's eyes brightened and he lifted the small kit to his face before rubbing his nose against the kit's nose. He then set it down on the ground "Come on I'll find you sumtin" he said as he ran towards the house.

Minato watched as the animal took careful steps and followed after his son, "it's something, not sumtin" he said to no one in particular he would have to tell him when he gets to the house. Picking up his paperwork he made his way back as well.

He entered the house to see Naruto standing on a chair leaning into the freezer trying to find food for the kit that was on the worktop beside him. Minato sighed at his son's antics and figured he would need to clean the worktop again.

He then realised a slight problem. He would need to take it to the vet to get it checked out. The only vets were at the Inuzaka's compound across the village. He was not looking forward to the idea of having to take it across the village.

He could bet that he would need Naruto to take it and if people seen the fox with Naruto those slight whispers would begin to get louder. Would he deny the boy based on a few whispers? He should, but one look at the smile on his face made that thought disappear.

-()-

It was night time in the household, the journey to the Inuzaka's had not been a good one he saw how people looked at the animal. How it hid under Naruto's t shirt, Naruto had taken his arms out of his sleeves in order to hold it. The smile that was on Naruto's face had changed to one of sadness as he felt the kit shaking in his arms.

The looks of confusion on peoples' faces as they saw him walking with his son who was holding a fox, he knew he would hear something about it tomorrow but he would just let it be.

They had to leave the kit at the Inuzaka's compound for the night, which Naruto didn't seem happy about.

After he had taken him to get some Ramen, they went home for the evening. He had just finished tucking him in and reading him a story when he went to his own room.

Nights were the hardest for him, during the day he had work or Naruto to distract himself with, but when he lay in bed at night it would all come rushing back. She was gone, so many happy memories were shared just lying in this bed. So many more that should have been. He drifted off to sleep feeling that same emptiness that he had felt on the day of Naruto's birth.

The day where she was taken from him, he had never slept well since then. He had tried sleeping in another room, away from the bed. But that didn't help, it made it worse in some ways. Being here he felt somewhat close to her. He drifted off to sleep with the thoughts of his wife, wishing that when he woke up she would be in his arms like they she was always meant to be.

He was woken from his sleep when he felt a slight burning on his arm. The mark for when Naruto left the barrier around there home. Panicking, he quickly got dressed and went to his son's room. He saw the window open but there was no sign of a mess, meaning he most likely got out on his own again.

Quickly going over to the window he saw his son running off into the darkness. He quickly began to give chase. He was never too sure how the boy had such reserves and stamina he would say it was because of him being an Uzumaki, but he wasn't quite sure. He finally caught up to the boy at the Inuzaka compound he was going to the veterinarian. He followed after his son in order to stop him doing something stupid. He watched as he climbed through an open window, unfortunately it was too small for him to get through. He moved around the building to try and see where his son was.

He caught sight of him through a window, he was in a room full of different cages. He watched as he opened the cage and climbed in. Deciding that enough was enough he went to Tsume in order to get help.

After a few minutes of talking and finding out the situation Tsume and himself went to the head vet to open the building to find out what was happening.

When they finally entered the room Minato's eyes landed on a sleeping Naruto with the kit curled up beside him. Sighing in relief he was about to pick up his son when he saw Tsume place a small blanket over the two.

"If he did it once he will probably try again, I've seen a few of the younger pups do the same when there partners are in here." She said. Though she was slightly surprised at what the Yondaime's kid had done, especially with the fact that it was a fox. But she chalked it up to a child wanting to be with his pet.

"Though I must ask why didn't you just use the Hiraishin to get to the boy yourself" Tsume asked, it was quite confusing, he shouldn't have had any trouble reaching the child with that technique

Minato for his part wanted to slap himself on the head, he hadn't even thought of using it, he didn't even have a mark on Naruto encase his son was ever in trouble. He would need to rectify that mistake.

"I… forgot" he said, he wanted to just hang his head in shame.

Tsume barked out a laugh at the man however and turned to leave. "You can sleep here, there's a cot in the other room." She said before leaving.

Minato didn't want to stay, he wanted to be back in his own home. But he wouldn't leave Naruto alone, and he wouldn't take him away. So that meant he would have a bad night's sleep so his son wouldn't. 'A fair trade' he thought before going to sleep.

A.N

This is a story idea that has been stuck in my head a while, I probably won't update it very often I just wanted to get the first chapter done. I am mainly focusing on The Shadow's Apprentice.

Well I hope you enjoyed it and some feedback would be appreciated.