Wow! I wasn't expecting such an immediate response. Thank you, everyone! I hope you continue to enjoy this story as much as I enjoy writing it. 3

This chapter contains dialogue directly taken from the anime episodes 168 and 17...3 I think.

Disclaimer: See first chapter

Chapter Two – Final Memory

They stood together in a white plane of existence, standing across from each other. Azure eyes met, each conveying grief, love, shock and resentment. For the first time in sixteen years, father and son stood face to face, each overwhelmed by emotion.

For Naruto, seeing his hero – the Fourth Hokage – was more than he could have ever dreamed of. The fight with Pein forgotten for a moment, he basked in the awe of meeting a legend. More importantly, he was awestruck by the revelation.

His hero was his father.

Seeing one of the parents he had never known brought to the surface emotions that he had suppressed years ago; pain, loneliness, guilt, a longing for something more. As he stared into the man's gentle, kind eyes, he felt tears spring to his own. Finally, after all these years, he would have answers. Answers that he had always needed; why had the Fourth chosen him, of all people, why didn't his parents stop him, or take their son back? Since he was the Fourth's own child, he suddenly realized that the man in front of him had sealed the demon fox into his own child. Fractionally, his eyes widened. He had only begun to understand why he had grown up without his parents, and the man in front of him now held the answers to the questions he had always wanted to ask.

For Minato, his emotions were almost as overwhelming as they were for Naruto. He had been pulled into sudden awareness when the eighth tail had sprung into existence. For several moments, the former Hokage had been immersed in the Kyuubi's malevolent chakra, wondering what was going on. As he sat dazed, his final memories flashed before his eyes; the fox, the sealing, his and Kushina's final gift to their son. In an instant, he had understood. He had recovered his bearings just in the nick of time to stop Naruto from releasing the seal he and his love had given their lives for and, standing there, he had gazed at his son. His grown-up son.

It took everything he had to not cry right there and then.

It was even harder when he saw the boy's expression when he revealed himself as his father. Meeting his son's gaze, he saw tears start to trickle down his cheeks and, again, he fought the moisture rising in his own eyes. He found the surge of pride and love that surged through his chest strange; after all, he had only met his son for a few scant minutes. Nevertheless, he realized that he loved the young man in front of him more than life itself. He couldn't help the warm smile that spread across his lips.

"Dad..." The title Naruto called him by filled him with both a deep sorrow and joy. He was ready to reach over and ruffle his son's hair when the wind was knocked out of him; Naruto had punched him in the stomach. Hard.

"Why did you seal the Kyuubi inside your own son?" Naruto demanded, taking the former Hokage aback with his outburst. The tears were flowing freely down his face and a look of utter desperation settled onto his features. "Do you know what I went through because of that? All the adults looked at me with contempt and I couldn't make any friends! I wanted people to accept me, so I trained really hard to become stronger. Then I met Iruka-sensee and Kakashi-sensee and Pervy Sage, and I was happy because they helped me get stronger!" Naruto burst out, the words pouring out of his mouth in a rush. His voice fluctuated from high to low, never loosing the desperate tone to his words. All Minato could do was listen to his son, a dumbfounded expression on his face.

"But, because of that, a group called Akatsuki came after me and I had to train even more. I got to be even stronger, but Akatsuki still killed my friends. But... huh...? What am I saying?" he groaned to himself, clutching at his own hair. The sight of his son so confused and in such turmoil almost broke Minato's heart a second time. "Damn it! Am I supposed to be happy or mad? I don't know anymore!" the youth asked himself out loud. Minato had no answer for him. At the sight of his tears – his pent up emotions – finally starting to subside, Minato smiled softly.

"Naruto..." he asked softly."How old are you now?"

Amidst sniffles, Naruto answered "Sixteen." with a mumble, still drying his eyes. The love and sorrow on Minato's face only grew.

"Wow... You're already sixteen, huh?" he asked his son quietly, his voice soft and tender. "It must have been hard for you. I'm sorry." After sixteen years, he had finally said it. With the apology, Minato felt a burden leaving his chest. "I suppose that after sealing the Kyuubi into my own son, I don't have the right to act like a father and apologize."

"It's alright..." Naruto answered, finally looking up at the man he now knew to be his father. "I... I'm the son of the Fourth Hokage, so I can handle it." The youth missed the mixed expression that graced the Fourth's face.

"I sealed half of the Kyuubi's chakra inside of you because I believed that you could control it. Because you are my son."

Azure eyes met again, one filled with surprise and the other gentle love. Understanding settled between the two shinobi and, for the first time since they had met, Naruto mirrored his father's smile.

"I wish I could see you more, Naruto." Minato said softly, causing his son's eyes to widen again. "But my chakra's starting to run low. I will rebuild the seal, but it'll be for the last time." His voice was soft as he reached for his son's stomach, repairing the seal with a quick burst of chakra. Already he could feel himself starting to fade. Naruto's shocked expression turned into a pleading one.

"Please... Don't go. Not yet!" he said desperately, cut off when Minato put a hand on his head and smiled sadly.

"My chakra is fading." Minato answered with a heart-wrenching smile. "I don't have much time now."

"But... I.. I don't have the answer to Pein's question! I don't know what to do to bring peace! I'm not smart, or a great ninja! Everyone's asking too much of me!" the youth exclaimed, gazing up at his father with a fearful expression on his face.

"I believe in you, Naruto." Minato answered gayly. "I believe that you will find the answer."

"The... The Fourth believes in me? Why?"

"Because to be a parent is to have unwavering faith in your child, isn't it?" Minato replied softly. He met Naruto's perplexed gaze, elated when he saw the determination return to his son's face.

"Stay with me?" he asked uncertainly as he released him. The Fourth Hokage smiled sadly again and nodded.

"As long as I can."

The hollow tree was dark. Then again, he had expected nothing less. Naruto swallowed with difficulty, torn by emotions. Anger flared in him. Hate flared in him. This man had killed so many; Hinata, Kakashi-sensee, Jiraiya and so many others. Whatever he did, he couldn't stem the flow of pure hatred he held for the one called Pein- Nagato. However, as he walked into the shadowy interior, he felt it; a warmth radiating from his very core.

His father's love and encouragement.

That was enough to make the young shinobi focus on what was at stake, and what he had to do. He concentrated not on his hate, as he had done earlier, but on the love he felt for those he held dear.

Now, he had an answer. It was still sketchy in his mind, but he was determined to defend it.

As the shadows envelop him, he remembers his words to Inoichi Yamanaka earlier; I want to go alone. A warm haze of amusement is almost enough to make him smile. He's not alone.

He could do this.

"Konan, get back." The voice was deep, throaty. The blue-haired kunoichi who had stood in front of him glanced back over her shoulder, doubt written clear in her eyes.

"But..."

"It's alright."

Now that he was closer, Naruto glared at the husk that was Pein. He appeared to be literally skin and bone, with long crimson hair hanging limp and matted down his back and across his shoulders. His eyes shone in the darkness, reflecting the metallic light that was the legendary Rinnengan. Despite his determination, Naruto felt a shiver run down his spine, a shiver of hatred he didn't attempt to suppress. His glare hardened.

"Are you the real Pein?" he demanded of the man, his voice tight and angry.

"So peace has stumbled upon me." Nagato answered back serenely, clearly mocking him. Unbeckoned, images came to him, of Jiraiya and Kakashi's bodies. Clenching his fist, Naruto felt tremors start to flow through his body. All he wanted was to release this anger and pain, to have his revenge. Pein seemed to sense that. "Do you hate me?" Obvious answer. "You're facing the object of your vendetta. Do you want to extract your revenge?" His words were a challenge- Naruto could sense as much. The tremors in his body intensified as he struggled to suppress his emotions, to think clearly.

Most importantly, to do the right thing.

As he thought, torn, the kunoichi from earlier seemed to want to break the tense silence. "Even if you kill Pein here and exact your revenge, nothing in the world will change. All that will come is self-satisfaction." He knew she was right. His mind told him to accept her logic, to calm himself, even though his heart was yearning for him to form an attack and take this man's life. As the thought passed through his mind, he felt his father's chakra flare weakly. Minato didn't have the luxury of communicating directly with his son, and his chakra was running on low. A single thought reached through to Naruto.

"This monster that we call hatred won't die while there still is a shinobi system. All it will do is give birth to more Peins. To be a shinobi is to confront hatred. Each and every one of us battles hatred. Jiraiya-sensee trusted you to find a way to end this hatred." His words made Naruto hesitate more, torn between what he wanted to do and what he knew was the right path. Nagato had his gaze fixed on him, emotions dancing in his eyes that the youth couldn't place.

"If you do not have the answer, then there is nothing you can do but to sacrifice yourself for the peace that I will create!" Without warning, a black stake launched itself from the contraption he was seated on. Watching through Naruto's eyes, Minato was horrified as the stake drove itself into Naruto's torso, blood trickling down onto the ground. The chakra imprint winced as the pain resonated through their consciousnesses, but he understood. "From this close distance, I can easily control your movements with my chakra." Pein stated. "Rest assured; I have avoided hitting your vital spots. Minato flared indignantly at his self-assured, smug tone.

That's a relief. He thought dryly to himself.

"That's because you are invaluable, Jinchuuriki." the man concluded. His eyes widened in surprise when Naruto met his gaze, irises altered to a crimson color as the Kyuubi's chakra flared in him. Minato called out as the red chakra flowed through Naruto's system while he was powerless to control it, but he quickly understood. Naruto was channeling the Kyuubi's chakra into the chakra receptor Pein had stabbed him with, neutralizing his chakra hold on him. The fox's noxious chakra flowed into his emaciated form, causing him to convulse.

Konan glanced at her long-time companion worriedly, resisting the urge to go help him sit up. "What's wrong, Nagato?" she demanded anxiously. The redhead didn't answer, staring at Naruto in wonder and shock. The Konoha shinobi didn't look at him, a hand clutching one knee in support.

"I came here to talk to you." he stated in a slightly trembling voice. "But, I also wanted to confirm something.

"Confirm... something?" Nagato seemed as if he couldn't believe his very ears.

"I wanted to test my feelings." Naruto answered flatly. Both Minato and Pein listened to him enraptured. "If I stood in front of my enemy," he continued, "What would I do? I wasn't sure of myself..." he murmured, almost to himself.

Pein's eyes narrowed. "And?"

Naruto clenched his jaw, the tremors wracking his body intensifying. "After all, I really can't forgive you!" he proclaimed, shaking hands clutching the chakra rod impaled in his stomach. Even now, I want to kill you so badly, I can't stop shaking!" he exclaimed even more loudly, crimson eyes glaring death at the Rain nin. The situation was bad, Minato thought but, despite everything that had happened and was still happening, he smiled; he trusted his son. With a grunt of pain, Naruto pulled the chakra rod out of his belly, astounding both Konan and Nagato. With a yell, the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki shot forwards, aiming a punch straight for Nagato. Konan reacted instinctively, moving to intercept him, while Minato sent another warm flutter of chakra – weaker this time – to stop his son.

Naruto... I want to stop you but... I'll believe in you... he thought to himself sadly. He wanted to step in so much, to tell his son that that wasn't the way he wanted to go. Something held him back, however. This was Naruto's choice and, no matter what, he had to make it. After all, he had no right to act like a father.

He needn't have worried, however.

On his own, Naruto skidded to a stop before he clashed with Konan. His face had lost the hatred it was displaying before; now only pain and grief adorned his features.

"Pervy Sage believed that the day would come when people can truly understand each other." he said in a voice laced with sorrow. "I wasn't paying much attention when he told me that, even though he told me he trusted me to find the answer..." As his tone calmed down, his body relented its hold on him and his shoulders sagged. Minato just stared, pride swelling in his chest. It was getting harder and harder for him to focus; things were starting to blur. "I got excited, taking it as a sign that he acknowledged me as his student. Thinking back, I finally understand what Pervy sage meant; it's really not so simple."

"Still, you said that you cannot forgive me." Pein commented flatly. "Words of forgiveness come easily; love does not."

"Yeah, you're right."

"Jiraiya-sensee's words reflect an idealism of an era long passed. It's impossible. Didn't you say that you were going to kill me and bring peace to the shinobi world?" he asked. Naruto finally looked up at him, the redness receding from his eyes. "Even if you kill me for personal satisfaction, if that's your idea of justice, so be it. You're not a god. After witnessing this harsh reality, do you still believe in Jiraiya's silly ramblings?" he demanded. To Minato, it almost seemed as if he was being defensive, protecting his own choices in life.

Naruto looked torn, but forever calm. "When I learnt that you were Jiraiya-sensee's student, I wanted to ask you something."

"What?"

Naruto's gaze was hard as diamonds. "How could the Pervy Sage's students turn out like you?" he demanded angrily. "I know that you're different from the other Akatsuki members who kill for the sheer enjoyment of it. But I don't know a thing about you guys. Tell me your stories, then I will give you my answer."

Deep down, Minato felt pride swell once more. His features clamped into that bittersweet, regretful smile he had given his son earlier. Perhaps his only regret in sacrificing himself was not seeing his son grow up into the remarkable young man he had in front of him now.

Pein fixed his son with a stern look. "Very well."

Both Minato and Naruto knew that the next few minutes would decide the outcome of this meeting.

"I will believe in Pervy Sage's words."

The answer had both Nagato and Minato stunned. The former tried to pick apart his answer while the latter only smiled contently.

"How... How can you still believe in him?" Nagato asked somewhat angrily. "How can you trust in him when the world is so filled with hate, when you yourself hate me? How can you stand in front of me and smile?"

"Because I want peace." Naruto said determinedly. "Because I have people that believe in me to find the answer to the cycle of hatred. Because I will do everything to end this vicious cycle. That include you, Pein. I carry Jiraiya-sensee's legacy- my name's a keepsake from his book. And, like the Naruto in the book, I will never give up. Because then, I wouldn't be Naruto anymore; the hero would change, and I would be in a different story altogether."

Nagato could only stare at the young Konoha shinobi, then relax back in his chair. "Big words." he commented dryly. "Big words for one who didn't dare to come alone. What of your companion?" he asked, eyes fixated on Naruto's. "What does your badly hidden companion think of your answer? Is he willing to let you talk to me, to not kill me as he must wish? What will your comrades make of your answer?"

Naruto blinked for a moment, taken aback; he hadn't expected his father's chakra to be noticed. For a moment, he worried about his father's reaction; did he agree? Did he approve of his choice? Before he could begin doubting himself, a gentle nudge reached him; I believe in you to find the answer.

"I didn't lie to you when I said I had come alone." Naruto said, doubt leaving his visage. "The chakra you are sensing belongs to my father, the Fourth Hokage, sealed into me the night of my birth. As for his answer, he believes in me to find it." Surprise flitted across Nagato's face. "I don't know what my comrades will think of my answer. But as long as there are people who believe in me, as long as I believe in myself, I will fulfill my dream. Believe it."

Pein watched him silently for a few tense seconds, taking note of the determination in his eyes, the set of his shoulders. "Very well then, Naruto Uzumaki." he said slowly. "I think I shall believe in you as well." he said finally, making a hand seal. Konan's eyes widened as he proclaimed "Gedo art of Rinne Rebirth!" The kunoichi made to stop him, but he interrupted him. "Konan- it's alright." A green aura began radiating from him, engulfing the three.

Naruto was overwhelmed by the feeling of chakra flowing around them, startled only by the uncomfortable feeling his father was emanating. "Dad?" he choked, trying to sense his father's weakening chakra. He could barely feel him and, once again face to face in his subconscious, he could almost see right though the man's body.

Minato smiled at his son gently, placing a hand on his son's hair. "It's time for me to go, Naruto." he said softly, voice barely a whisper. "I'm proud of you."

"Dad..." He had become so used to his father's chakra near him even if he had only known him for half an hour. Now that he could feel it fading, a sudden onset of feat washed over him. "Don't go!"

Minato's smile was bittersweet. "I must, Naruto." Despite the obvious sorrow in his eyes, his tone was still happy and gentle. "It's time for me to move on. I'm happy I got to meet you." Once again, tears started trickling down Naruto's face. " Naruto. I believe in you. I believe-"

The two were torn apart suddenly, Naruto stumbling as he was yanked out of his subconscious by a surge of green light that washed over the white plane like a tidal wave. It took him several seconds of rapid blinking to adjust to the outer world.

The paper tree they had been standing in was gone. Bright sunlight shimmered down to them, illuminating Konan's bright hair. The kunoichi wasn't looking at him, but at Nagato's body

Pein was dead.

His self-sacrifice filled the startled Naruto with hope.