Summary- so Naruto's dad didnt die the day he sealed the fox inside of him, instead for some reason he was transported out of the village. this is basically what happens after that. the lyrics i thought fit the story, its from the song "Dead and gone" by T.I. and Justin Timberlake. its a pretty good song. i suggest you listen to the whole thing or even the whole cd of Paper Trail. :) a final note is that it will be mentioned that naruto died after the fox was put in him. that was a rumor since there was so much chaos in the aftermath.

I've been travellin' on this road too long (too long)
Just tryna find my way back home (back home)
The old me is dead and gone, dead and gone
And ohhhh (eyyy)
I've been travellin' on this road too long (too long)
Just tryna find my way back home (back home)
The old me is dead and gone, dead and gone, dead and gone

A blond haired man lay on his back in the middle of a forest, not quite sure how he had gotten there. He sat up and managed to crawl to the small stream next to him. He was dirty and had cuts in different places. He inspected the rest of his body. He didn't feel any serious injury. His clothes were torn. Coming to the decision that he was ok, he laid back down and feel asleep.

Three hours later the man had made his way to a small village. The sky had darkened and he was tired. Finding a bar, he went inside and sat at a table to himself. At the table next to him two guys were talking. It wasn't like he was trying to eavesdrop but since it was quiet where he was sitting he could easily hear what they were saying.

"I cant believe it" One was saying while drinking his sake "I'd heard rumors about the demon fox but never heard of anything like this"

"Me neither" His friend agreed

"How much of the village was destroyed?"

"Almost half, there were a few deaths too"

"Is it true about what their Hokage did?"

"Yeah, sealed the creature in his own newborn son"

"His wife let him?!"

"She had died giving birth to the baby"

"And their Hokage died too"

"Konoha's Yellow Flash, I heard he was the best anywhere"

"I hope the kid's regarded as a hero. I couldn't imagine putting something like that in one of my daughters. That man had guts. He really cared about his village"

"The kid died, what are you talking about?"

"What?! Are you sure?!"

"Yeah" He snorted "I would know. My brother and his wife live there. Their house got destroyed. They said the kid died shortly after the fox was put in him"

"But wouldn't that release it?"

"No, it died with the baby"

"Wow. A whole family gone just like that". The sound of a glass cracking brought them out of conversation. They turned to the blond man not sitting to far off. His hand was around a broken glass and was bleeding.

"Hey buddy, you ok?" One of the guys asked genuinely concerned. The man was silent. Tears ran down his face. The two men looked at each other then the one stood and shouted at the bartender/owner. "Hey Suzuki! We're takin off"

"Ok, see ya guys later". The men walked over to the blonde and helped him up

"What are you doing?" He asked

"There's no way we're leavin you here in this condition. Idiots usually come in here at night. They'll definitely mess with you"

"I can take of myself"

"That's why you look like this?" Each went on one side. They didn't want to leave him in the bar when some of the wilder crowd came in.

A week had passed since the men had found the blond stranger. They were staying in the small village for a few more days then they would be headed out of the Land of Fire. They had talked endlessly of what to do about their new friend. He was mostly silent and seemed to be depressed. Currently they were in the kitchen discussing him.

"Dai, I dont understand" One said while cutting vegetables for a soup "He's told us nothing except his wife left him and took their child"

"Well that would upset anyone with a caring heart" Dai answered. He was sitting on a counter eating an apple. "Keiji he's obviously depressed". Keiji ran a hand through unruly brown hair. He and his friend were shinobi from the Land of Earth though they didn't wear the country's symbol. The Earth country was more secretive than most.

"We cant leave him, not like this" Dai finished his apple and looked up at the ceiling

"But we cant take him with us to Iwagakure"

"You dont have to" A voice answered from the doorway. They turned to see the blond man standing there. "Just take me to the capital city"

"You've been there before?" Keiji asked.

"Family is originally from there"

"Good because they have people who patrol the border. They dont just let anyone in. It'll be better that you're from there. By the way we never got your name"

"Minato" He answered.

A couple of days later the trio was making their way through to the Earth country. Minato had kept silent for most of the trip. He was grateful that his companions hadn't pushed him for more information, they gave him space. In fact he was happy just by the fact they didn't know who he was, not that he expected them to. As shinobi for the Earth country they traveled through many areas. They didn't make it a point however to go to the hidden villages. Their country preferred secrecy. Though Dai's brother lived in Konoha, neither Dai nor Keiji had actually seen the fourth Hokage or even knew his name. Minato began to relax just a little bit. Dai and Keiji were talking about how they couldnt wait to get home. Minato didnt even want to think that far ahead.

"Hey whats your last name? You remind me of this guy I met" Keiji said

"Namikaze"

"Really?!" Both said in surprise

"Your Dad is that famous candy maker" Dai grinned. Minato nodded. His father had been a Earth shinobi for many years but eventually retired from that and pursued his dream of opening a candy shop. It became known throughout the country. Even a couple of members from the royal family went there.

"You think he'll give us some?" Dai asked hopefully. The blond man smiled for the first time since losing his son and wife.

"Yeah, probably"

"Great!"

"You're such a little kid" Keiji rolled his eyes. The two started bickering. Minato sighed. Facing his family was going to be the hardest thing, he'd have to re-live everything all over again. He stopped when he saw a baby fox in the middle of the road. It looked lost. Just as he was about to reach out to it, its mother appeared and gently picked it up in her mouth. She glanced at Minato before darting into the forest. He smiled a second time.