DISCLAIMER: MASASHI KISHIMOTO OWNS NARUTO NOT ME.
WARNING: NARU/MINA. INCEST. HINT OF UNDERAGE. DUB-CON.
Prologue (Reason of Minato's heat)
There was a loud bam, and Minato realized too late that he was slamming hard on the round table, his palm flat against wood, his spine bent as he stood and glared at Danzo. Never had he been this furious, boiling hot in his vein, searing his senses with blinding rage. That he almost saw red.
Shit.
Across him, Danzo was smirking, and Minato slightly shook to contain the sudden violent urge that wanted to punch that irritating smile so badly. He was losing this battle too. Not softening his angry glare toward the bandaged face, Minato mustered everything he could to even his voice.
"If you still continue this inhumane operation, Danzo, I pray for Kami to spare your soul. And if you ever involve Naruto in your sick project, I will not hesitate to end your life."
A tense silence followed. His heartbeat seemed the loudest at this moment. There's something more to say, but Minato held his tongue. He had to regain his composure, but Danzo spoke.
"You're losing yourself, Minato. The Yang Kyuubi is affecting you. Obito, why don't you activate your sharingan and confirm it?"
"Don't be fooled by Kyuubi," Minato stared evenly at all Council members, knowing probably this would be his last meeting. "Kitsune is a master in all forms of deceit. It's not the amount of Kyuubi's chakra exposed that determines whether the Jinchuuriki is going to be fully possessed but the state of that person's heart. Kyuubi takes advantage of human heart, striking at its weakest point, waiting till that person succumbs to his own inner demons. Yet when that person doesn't yield, the Kyuubi evil chakra presence is at its strongest, why do you think that happens?"
"To mislead and deceive others into thinking and believing that the Jinchuuriki is going to be possessed by the Tailed Demon Beast." One member muttered, and the Council shared wide-eyed revelation.
"And that's what happened to Naruto. You did a great job on pushing him further to his own greatest weakness. Manipulating him to think that Konoha betrays him, that I betray him, that he is all alone," His heart had never pounded faster, and his blood had never boiled hotter, but Minato knew the Kyuubi had finally found his weakness, and damn he must control himself. "This is my last warning, Danzo. Don't. Ever. Lay. Your. Filthy. Hand. On. Naruto."
"And just you know," Minato paused before he made an exit, his back facing the Konoha Council. "Kushina experienced the same thing."
He knew he had to say it, to show the Council the truth, and also to vent out this hot anger. He couldn't contain this intense emotion for so long, or else he would explode.
"But the reason why she got possessed is because my faith wavers in the last minute. That is her greatest weakness."
Oh God. This anger at himself. Anger at Danzo. Anger. Anger. Anger.
Minato clenched his fist tightly, so tight that his blunt nail even breaks skin and spills blood. Muscles taut and tense, jaw locked and mouth pursed as if they could contain the overwhelming rage that would spill out, his eyes sting, hot tears starting to form. He took a careful deep breath.
"Please excuse me."
"Hokage-sama!" Obito called out, once they were outside the Hokage Tower.
"Please leave me alone for a while, Obito." It came out as a growl. Feeling bad that he almost snapped, Minato added, "And could you please inform the ANBU guards to –"
"Yes, I will Hokage-sama, I will convince them to leave you alone when the Kyuubi chakra in you is showing at its strongest peak. I know you won't give in."
The tears fell, and it felt like a sip of fresh water in a scorching desert. He thanked Kami for his students, for their unwavering support and faith.
"Thank you so much, Obito."
Last night's sleep didn't help at all. What remained of yesterday's emotional outburst was now residue that felt like hot needles, prickling and irritating his skin. He needed to relax, so Minato opted for a large bath in the quarantine compound.
Naruto was inside, sitting on a stool, staring at the mirror wall. When he saw Minato coming inside, he remembered his dad's promise – I will never leave you – but he didn't know what to do, what to say, because he felt nothing, as if his emotions had gone away, leaving a gaping hole in his heart.
He felt empty. And lost. In the dark. Alone. Far away from everyone, from his dad.
"Hey, Naruto," Minato didn't like how his son lit up for a moment then his eyes dimmed, cast down. He was met with silence, no greeting, except a distant sound of hot water flowing.
"What's wrong?" Minato hoped that Naruto would open up to him.
I don't know. Naruto wanted to say, but he somehow felt it's not the right choice, felt there's a better answer, but there's nothing.
I will never leave you. It kept resounding in his mind, like an echo in silent dark cave, a droplet that disturb a still water, or a light at the far end of long tunnel.
That's what his dad said, he was sure of it, he knew his voice.
"Do you mean it?"
His boy had never looked so lost. Minato crouched down to his boy's eye level and smiled. "Mean what?"
"That you're not gonna leave me?"
Something broke inside him to hear how scared and weak and quiet his son's voice was.
"Of course, I mean it, Naruto. A shinobi must not go back on his words, right?"
Somehow Naruto could see the light was getting brighter and brighter, and when he saw his dad's wide grin, he wondered if he would see it again at the end of his dark tunnel. He would like that pretty much.
A/N: This chapter should be in the first one, but I split it up due to some changes made.
