Genre: Drama, Tragedy
Series: Naruto
Rating: T
Word Count: 578
Length: One-Shot
Note: Revised.
Namikaze Minato absolutely could not shake the formidable pit of guilt that pooled in his stomach at the thought of his beloved wife, Kushina. She was his lifeline, his tourniquet, his everything. He knew deep down underneath that she'd, at best, have an hour longer to live than him. This situation had the worst possible outcome the blond-haired shinobi could possibly imagine.
Uchiha Madara was ruining so many people's lives, all for some petty idea of complete power. Total domination of the world is a goal never to be reached; any rational human being could recognize this fact. Therefore, it was not surprising that the Uchiha did not realize this major fault. Uchiha Madara was insane; he was far from being able to grasp rationality, and summoned Kyuubi, the nine-tailed demon fox, an act that only served to backfire upon him and twist the lives for so many innocent individuals.
Naruto…
The thought of his son drug tears to his eyes as he made the hand seals for Shiki Fujin. He would be able to seal a part of the Kyuubi's chakra inside himself. He could not believe that he had to do this to his son, his newborn, his own blood! He was essentially dooming him to a life of torment, and he knew that clearly. What else was there for him to do, though? Steal away some other civilian or shinobi's child and force them to undergo this fate? No; he knew he was making the right decision. It had been Minato's own fault. He had not foreseen anything even slightly resembling this, and for that he was to pay. Him, and his family that had gone from beginning to ending in a mere few hours.
Right before Minato was about to finish the hand seals, his son opened his eyes for the first time. Thinking about it now, it was unfortunate that Naruto's first sight wasn't the faces of his mother and father in a hospital room after his birth, or perhaps at home, being rocked asleep. Instead, it was of his father furiously attempting to save their village from a demon running rampant. His eyes might have been the same shade as Minato's, but to him, they seemed a million stars brighter. It was the sight of them that caused the tears brimming Minato's eyes to fall at last, streaking down his face quickly before he finished the seal. He refused to squeeze his eyes shut, despite the excruciating pain. His son made no sound despite the seal burning itself into his stomach, most of the Kyuubi being pulled in as well.
It was then that Minato knew, despite not having a father, nor a mother, his little boy was going to grow up to succeed even him. He'd be a strong man, and shinobi of Konohagakure. Even as the pain reached its climax, and Minato cried out, he did not look away from his son. That was the last thing he wished to see before he died.
Naruto.
With a flash, Minato was gone, no trace of his body left behind. The light took over his vision and that was the last thing he remembered before he disappeared, taking a piece of the Kyuubi no Kitsune and Uzumaki Naruto with him as he blended in with the darkness.