It was the early hours of the morning when Naruto Uzumaki was born, brightening his parents lives with merely his presence. Despite the dire situation both adults were in, the loud wails of their son warmed their hearts, causing smiles to gently grace their faces.
The mother, Kushina Uzumaki, held her son close to her chest, was still in temporary disbelief at the life she had brought about. Tears of joy streamed down her face, as she produced a mixture of cries and laughter, as she comforted her still comforting child.
The father, Minato Namikaze, stood a few feet away from the scene, watching his wife and newest family member cuddle and cry together. A sad smile graced his lips, as he pondered the possibility of losing this, of losing everything. Though knowing his duties as the Hokage, and longing for a family of his own, he was left with a difficult, and possibly dangerous situation, to consider. With the nine-tailed fox currently rampaging above them, and the shouts and screams of fellow shinobi, desperately trying to hold off the rabid beast, Minato was at a momentary loss. The blonde haired Hokage longed to rise from the ruins he was currently standing within. To ascend to the sky, and take down the gigantic monster, thus saving the village he was sworn to protect. However, whilst longing to save his village and people, he was wished to remain with his wife and child, and spend what could possibly be their last moments together.
As the troubled man pondered his options, a particularly loud crash sounded from above, and with merely a glance back up to his family, he left to face the inevitable.
When hearing her husband rush away, Kushina slowly, painstakingly turned her head in the direction he had been in moments ago. Acknowledging Minato had left to assist the village, and their fellow shinobi, she turned back to look at her son. He'd quietened somewhat with the disappearance of his father, which brought a solemn expression to her face. Knowing her usually vast supply of chakra was now near non-existent, and realising the consequences of the nine-tails being released over her, she pulled her new-born to her, holding him tightly as she cried silently.
The sight before Minato couldn't have woken him up more than anything. Lying before him was a stream of destruction, craters littering the densely forested area, and aside from that, the constant stream of med-nin's rushing back and forth, seeing to the severely wounded, or those still alive despite their injuries. A guilty expression held on the Hokage's face, until his eyes burned with anger, and his mouth changed from a frown to a snarl. He'd seen enough, and secretly, he was glad he'd left his family so that he could see the destruction laying before him.
Despite not knowing the masked man who had caused all this destruction, and not knowing said villain's true agenda, the Hokage did know one key, intriguing fact. The masked man had known Kushina, and himself. He'd known of Naruto's birth, and he had known where they had been hiding during Kushina's labour. However, the most concerning fact to the blonde man, was that this elusive individual had not only know all of the previously mentioned facts, but he also knew Minato more specifically. He'd known how to combat him. He'd been able to predict his actions. Nobody was able to predict such habits so specifically. The only way to predict such actions with such accuracy could only lead to two possibilities. One: the man had been an Uchiha, and had used the Sharingan to copy his movements, and predict his actions. However, this seemed unlikely, as Minato only knew of Kakashi being so skilled with the copying abilities of the Sharingan, and he was definitely not an option. Two: the man knew Minato, and he knew him very well; well enough to predict his actions.
Though this situation was worrying beyond belief, Minato shoved the information aside to the back of his mind, and focused on the task at hand. First, he'd worry about sealing the nine-tails, though into whom he was still unsure, and he'd worry about the mysterious masked man later. For now, he'd assist his people, and save the village he'd sworn to protect.
With those decisions made, Minato took one finale slow, deep breath to calm himself, before he flashed away from his observation point, and moved to face the beast he'd hoped he'd never see again.
After a long, one-sided battle against the nine-tailed fox, the fourth Hokage was forced to retreat further back. Moving away from imminent danger, he watched the monster and tried to analyse the situation, trying to find some way to bring the beast down from its madness driven rampage.
Whilst trying to think, he felt the presence of another join him in the few remaining treetops. Pulling him from the situation at hand, he realised the presence belonged to his student, Kakashi Hatake. The silver-haired teen, still a child in his eyes, crouched a few meters away watching his teacher with a mixed expression. Whilst his mask covered mouth hid the sad, worried form gracing his lips, his eyes were another story as they spoke multiple levels of concern, worry, and pity. Responding with his own solemn look, the Hokage returned his gaze to the destruction before him. He'd realised truthfully before he'd entered his battle with the beast, that there was no way he'd be able to defeat the beast properly. Instead, he would have the seal the monster again, into another person. However, he'd entered the battle anyway, hoping that maybe a miracle would allow him to kill the creature that threatened his village, family, and very way of life. Sadly, the gods had not graced him with such an opportunity, and as of such, he'd now have to find someone, anyone, willing to become the new vessel for the monster.
Kakashi Hatake was a bright young shinobi, one of the brightest in many generations of nin. There was rarely a time or place where he was unsure how to proceed, or suffered mixed feelings on his duties. He understood the pressure his sensei was feeling, and he understood the need the villagers felt for everything happening to end. However, that did not make the options any easier.
Watching his sensei suffering, and noting the regret he held in his eyes, despite not even acting yet, Kakashi knew the decision his teacher had chosen. Someone, whoever was unfortunate enough to be chosen, would become the host for the beast, and would most likely suffer whatever pain and torment the demon could come up with. Whilst realising this, Minato had turned to face his student again, but this time with a different expression. Moments ago, the expression had been concerned, yet aware of the situation. Now, the blue pair of eyes held emotions of deep sadness and pain, as well as a questioning, and pleading look directed at the youngest of the pair.
Kakashi, noting the pleading, near begging look in his sensei's eyes, he'd realised the decision he had made. Acknowledging the request, Kakashi rushed off to the location Kushina, and her son were hiding in, to collect the young, unnamed child. As Kakashi abandoned his teacher to reach the soon-to-be suffering new-born, he thought the situation over. The babe, barely a few hours old, would soon be confined to the fate of eternal torment, until he eventually died. He'd become a target of abuse and hate for the unaware, intolerant parents, worried for their own sakes. Despite knowing this, the Hokage had made this decision, though clearly it pained him to do so. His son would suffer, quite possibly alone, for most likely his entire life. Knowing the results; the pain and suffering that would occur from this decision, Kakashi resigned himself to follow his sensei's orders.
Sprinting as fast as he can to his sensei's red-headed wife, Kakashi could only hope the child wouldn't be too pained by the sealing itself, as he realised how bad a first day of life that would be for the baby.
Author's Note:
This is my first fanfiction focusing on the Naruto Uzumaki universe. Please be kind, and review's and comments would be much appreciated.