For the 100 Theme Challenge that I'm doing with MoiyaHatake.

Series: AU Timeline - When the Kyuubi was sealed inside of Naruto, Kushina convinced Minato to stay and raise their son. Other discrepancies: Obito survived Gaiden, Kakashi doesn't have the Sharingan, Kakashi has a hero-crush on Minato, which Minato is completely unaware of. "Family" who will make various appearances in this set of stories - Kakashi, Obito, Sasuke, Rin, Naruto, Minato, Kushina (in memories), Jiraiya, Tsunade.

This piece: Father-son diplomatic bonding time. Innocent SasuNaruSasu beginnings.


And Bless Sasuke, Too!
by vernajast

'Heaven' for the 100 Theme Challenge

Naruto sat crouched on his knees beside his father, tiny hands folded in prayer. The scent of incense made his nose tickle, and he was trying desperately not to sneeze.

"And b-bless 'Shina and Papa and Kaka and...and bless Sasuke, too!" When he was finished, he concentrated on keeping his eyes closed and sitting still, two very difficult things to do at the same time. He was already starting to wiggle after only a few minutes.

The weight of his papa's hand on his shoulder prompted Naruto to open his eyes, and he grinned up at the older man. "Did I do good, Papa?"

"Yes, Naruto, you did well." The subtle prompting to correct his son's questionable grammar was studiously ignored by the boy who had noticed a butterfly flittering about his papa's hair like it was a sunflower.

As the solemn caravan of officials started to move away from the shrine and back toward the carriages, Naruto danced ahead of his papa. He skipped and jumped, sang nonsense songs to himself, and spun around in his own set of official robes. They belled out around him, and the barely-there breeze was magnified by cool cloth sinking to settle against his legs once more.

"Naruto, don't get too far ahead of me." His papa's voice called him back, amused, but there was that hint of something else, too. It was the same as the other parents when they said things like, 'Son, come away from him and play over here.' or 'Sweetheart, I think we'd better go now...' Except unlike the others, Naruto's papa never looked angry when he said it. Or frightened. He only looked a little sad.

Naruto didn't look back at his papa because he knew that sad face would be there to greet him. Instead, he just stopped and waited for him to catch up, and then took his hand.

Thinking about his classmates and their parents, Naruto couldn't help but notice that his other hand was empty. He didn't have a mother to hold it so that he could feel secure and safe nestled between two loving adults. Sometimes there was his Kaka, but Kakashi didn't really like to hold Naruto's hand while his papa was. It was really kind of weird.

When they reached the carriage, his papa picked him up and put him on the top step, but instead of climbing inside, the little boy turned around, an unusually solemn frown twisting his little lips. "Papa, why did 'Shina go to Heaven?"

The Hokage looked around, but if anyone had heard the question, the surrounding sycophants and advisors were pretending they hadn't. He knelt close to Naruto and hugged him, the boy becoming pliant as soon as his papa's intentions were realized.

"Because she loved our village as much as you do, Naruto. Now get inside the carriage."

Naruto complied immediately, mostly because he was rolling the words around in his head. It wasn't until the carriage lurched as the horses took off that he was pulled from his thoughts. "Then...then, I'm gonna go to Heaven, too."

"One day," his papa replied quietly, eyes passing blindly over the scrolling scenery, "but not for a very long time."

That answer seemed to pacify the boy's curiosity for a while. He started chatting about the clouds and the hills and the open countryside that was so different from the forest that surrounded Konoha.

They were on an important diplomatic mission for the village, visiting some of the less prominent parts of Fire Country alongside the daimyo and his wife. It was a rare treat for Naruto to be allowed to accompany his papa on official business, and if it wasn't for the ugly looks some of the adults had given him along the way, he would have said he was being really, really, REALLY good! He wasn't sure what he'd done to upset them.

Not that it mattered. It seemed like someone was always upset with him for something. Or for no reason at all. Except Sasuke.

True, the other boy was sometimes angry at him or annoyed, but Naruto always knew why and his friend didn't give him those kinds of looks.

Besides, Sasuke was his best friend. He never ever stayed mad for long.

It was somewhere between thoughts of Sasuke and Heaven and keeping a running commentary on the rolling countryside that Naruto's eyes widened and he went silent. He took on a slightly panicked expression that his papa had come to dread over the short five years of his son's life, and then jumped out of his seat, wobbling when the carriage hit a bump, and flopped over onto his papa's lap - all the while frantically yanking on the Hokage's sleeve. His fears finally slid out in a single long spool of words: "Papa, Papa, what about you? Will you go to Heaven, too? And Kaka? And, and, and what about Sasuke? He'll go to Heaven, right? You don't think he'd go without me, do you?" The little boy looked almost on the verge of tears by the time he had gotten it all out, his voice fading to a near silent whisper.

With a gentle smile, the Fourth Hokage wrapped an arm around his son's shoulders and pulled him against his side. "Naruto, we'll all go when it's time, and that includes you and Sasuke." He kissed Naruto's golden head and hugged him tightly. "But I don't think Sasuke's going anywhere without you, so don't worry, all right?"

Naruto wished he could believe it-and maybe he did a little, since his papa was saying it-but deep down, he wondered if that was really true. Would Sasuke always be his best friend? Would he always stay by his side? He sincerely hoped so and quietly mumbled another prayer to the spirits just to make sure.

When Naruto had been disturbingly quiet for a while, Minato leaned down just enough to see that the little boy had been lulled into sleep by the rhythm of the carriage on the rough road. He kissed Naruto's head again and closed his own eyes, happy for a respite from hyperactive conversation.

It wasn't that he didn't like talking to Naruto, but the boy could wear the most understanding person's patience thin. As it was, Minato had a headache from the incense, from the constant barrage of admirers and advisors, and the need to keep an eye on Naruto at all times. He loved his son very much, and the looks that some of the townsfolk gave him when they realized who that 'cute little boy' was gave him chills.

Whatever happens, Naruto, this moment, right now, that's Heaven for me. Cracking his eyes open, he squeezed Naruto's shoulder and kissed his head again. He missed Kushina, but he was thankful she had left him this most precious gift.

[ .end ]