Disclaimer: don't own Naruto
(this is an extremely sad chapter, it had to be for most of my plot, im sorry in advance, please know this is the worst it will be for a long time)
"Minato-sensei!" stated a dumbfounded Kakashi "You're alive!"
Minato just stared at him for almost a minute, trying to figure out what he would do next. Once he had decided "Kakashi, there's no time for explanations, where is the biggest threat to the village that you know of?"
Kakashi thought for a minute "With Orochimaru gone, i would have to say the biggest treat is Suna s Jinchuuriki, Sasuke Uchiha went after him and i sent Naruto Uzuma-"
"TAKE ME THERE!" yelled Minato, Kakashi just stared blankly at him. Sure the last Uchiha was important, but why would his Sensei have freaked out about it? "I said TAKE ME TO HIM, NOW!"
Kakashi was stunned, he had never seen his Sensei like this, especially over someone he couldn't have really Known. With slight hesitation, Kakashi summoned one of his dogs, only to be surprised when he found it was Pakkun, the dog he had sent with Naruto Earlier "Yo" said the Ninja Pug "What is that blond kid? he just beat a Jinchuuriki in its full form, kids incredible"
"Pakkun, Are you saying that Naruto and Sasuke beat Gaara?" Asked an astonished Kakashi
"No, just Naruto, when we got there the Uchiha kid was out like a light, Naruto beat him by himself, the fight was over, so i dispelled and was almost instantly summoned here" Stated Pakkun as he look at the man to Kakashi's right "Hey Minato, what's up? thought you died?"
"Ill explain later, get me to Naruto, he is my only priority" commanded Minato
'Why is he so concerned about Naruto?' Thought Kakashi
"Got it" said Pakkun lazily "Hey Minato, he wouldn't happen to be-"
"Yes, that's why i need to get to him now"
"Understood" said Pakkun
-5 minutes later, clearing-
"stay away from me!" yelled a frightened Gaara, unable to move
"Its almost unbearable, isn't it?" asked a stoic Naruto as he crawled towards Gaara "The feeling of being all alone" Gaara's eyes widened
Naruto, with tears in his eyes, continued "I know that feeling, I've been there, in that dark and lonely place. But now, there are others, other people that mean the world to me, i care more about them than i do myself and i won't let ANYONE hurt them. Thats why i refuse to give up, i will stop you, even if i have to kill you!"
"But why?" asked Gaara "Why would you do this for anyone but yourself!"
"Because, they were the ones that saved me from myself, they saved me from my loneliness, they were the only ones to accept me for who i am. They are my friends."
"Naruto, that's enough" came the voice of one of Naruto's friends, the voice of Sasuke "The sand crumbled, Sakura's free. and this guys chakra is all used up, its over"
Naruto smiled "Thats a relief" and Naruto passed out
"Naruto!" shouted a new voice, everyone looked up to one of the branches, there stood Kakashi, Pakkun and a Man who looked exactly like the fourth hokage. the man jumped down and took Naruto unmoving body it his arms "What happened? Is he..." he couldn't bring himself to say the last word
"Um sir?" asked the last Uchiha "hes just passed out, he was fighting that guy..." Sasuke pointed, but they were already gone.
"Thank god" said the older blonde as he turned and started to walk toward the village
"Kakashi-sensei, who is that guy?" asked a confused Sasuke "He looks exactly like Naruto, is that his dad?"
It all clicked for Kakashi, Naruto WAS the son of the Fourth Hokage "That man is Minato Namikaze"
Sasuke's eyes widened "But h-he was the fourth hokage! he died 12 years ago!"
"it will all be explained later, for now get Sakura and head back to the village" and with that, Kakashi also left
-next day, unknown location-
Naruto awoke to sight of a sealing, but it wasn't his and it wasn't the boring white sealing of the hospital. Naruto panicked and bolted out of the large bed he had been sleeping in. There was no one else in the room and he was thoroughly confused im not in the hospital, W"here am i?" deciding that the place he was in was most likely not a good place to be, he shot out the door. He came into a long hallway that had stairs at the end of it. He went down the stairs only to find that he was in a very nice living room. He looked around and was the house was huge, it was almost as big as the hokage mansion. He stumbled upon the kitchen, there was a man siting with his back to the door, eating... ramen? Naruto tried to get out before he was noticed, but he wasnt that lucky. or was he?
"Finally awake huh?" asked the stranger in a kind and Caring voice, Naruto was instantly on Guard, no stranger was ever nice to him, he was about to run away when the man started to speak again "Come and sit, i already made you some ramen. and i think its time i finally met you"
"W-Who are you? and where am i? the last thing i remember was Sasuke telling me the fight was over..." said a frighted Naruto, the last time he woke up in someone else house he was beaten within an inch of his life
"Are you alright?" Asked the Stranger "you're shaking, is something wrong?"
Naruto looked up, the man had turned around and was staring into his eyes, Naruto was lost in shock "Y-Your t-the fourth H-Hokage! oh god i'm dead...i bet the villagers are happy though, the demon is finally gone.." said Naruto, growing more and more depressed by each word coming out of his own mouth
"What are you talking about? why would the villagers be glad if you were dead?" asked a confused Minato, he had meant for him to be a hero, why would the village be glad if their hero died?
"They all hate me, they think im the nine tailed fox because you sealed it inside me..." said Naruto on the verge of tears "at least it's over now, no more beatings, getting thrown out of stores, it's finally over...I just wish I could have said goodbye to everyone..."
On Minato's face was a mixture of shock, depression and pure rage, how could this happen? Sarutobi promised him Naruto would be look at as a hero? What was going on? "Naruto...your not dead, you're in my home...our home, I choose you to hold the Kyuubi for one reason, you were the only one I knew could handle it. After all, you are my son"
Naruto froze with a look of shock on his face, after about a minute of being unable to move, or even think, he lost consciousness. Before he could hit the floor he was sweeped into a hug and brought back to the room he was in before, his room.
-2 hours later-
Naruto awoke to the sounds of shouting "HOW COULD YOU LET THAT HAPPEN TO HIM? WHAT KIND OF SENSEI ARE YOU! DON'T SAY ANYTHING KAKASHI! I'm going to go try and fix this fuck up you've all made and save my son from any further pain. Keep an eye on him and MAYBE I won't kill you when I get back." and then Naruto heard the door slam
Naruto was scared, heard someone coming to the room he was in, he freaked out, he was in the home of the Fourth Hokage, the most beloved man in the village and he was the most hated in the village, this was only going to end badly. Naruto bolted toward the window, a last ditch effort to get out alive.
"Naruto, what are you doing?" asked a confused Kakashi
"I need to get out now! It's the only way they won't kill me for trust passing!" cried the young blonde as Kakashi grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him back into the room "Why won't you let leave? You want me dead like all the others...don't you?"
Kakashi was floored by that question, was this sad little boy the real Naruto? Was this what he was like when he removed his emotional mask? Naruto just wiggled from his grip and fell to the floor, the look on his face was one of someone who had lost all hope. He sat on the floor with his knees in his chest. Then in the most emotionless and cold voice that Kakashi had ever heard, Naruto asked
"Can you just kill me Kakashi sensei? Im going to be killed for using kyuubis chakra when i fought Gaara and Neji anyways. It would be better if you did it, it probably won't hurt as much, and you'd probably get a medal or something" said Naruto, his usually vibrant blue eyes looked almost grey, truly lifeless, he was siting with his back in a corner and his knees in his chest, seemingly waiting for a killing blow to end his life
Kakashi just stared at his student in a horrified awe, was this really Naruto? What happened to the blonde bundle of energy that was always smiling and laughing? Was this the real Naruto? Kakashi couldn't take any more, fe ran from the doorway, into the bathroom, and vomited. He was literally sick from seeing some he was so close to like that, no human being deserved that, it reminded him of how his father was after his botched mission, this was exactly how he was acting before..."Oh god, no!" Kakashi sprinted to Naruto's room and tackled him, just seconds away from Naruto cutting his wrist.
"Don't you dare do that! You are Naruto Namikaze! You defeated Gaara and saved the village! You are not a monster! You are a hero!" Kakashi yelled as he held the weeping Naruto in his arms "Don't worry about the villagers, I'll protect you with my life! And so will your father! Your not alone any more Naruto, never again will you be alone"
Naruto was overwhelmed, he didn't know what to think, every memory of his beatings, the verbal abuse, getting kicked out of stores, everything was rushing through his head, but so were the good memories, Team 7, the Ichiraku family, Kakashi, his mission to Wave country. It was all bombarding his mind in a never ending torrent of both heaven and hell, Naruto couldn't take it, he started hyperventilation, his body couldn't take the stress, he started convulsing and he lost consciousnesses. Kakashi panicked, he picked the boy up and sprinted to the hospital.
-council chambers-
"Ok everyone" stated a pissed off Minato "I will answer your questions, then you WILL answer mine, understood?"
the first to speak was none other than the old war hawk himself "I have 2 questions, if you don't mind lord hokage?"
"Don't call me that yet, I still have to decide if this village is worth me leading" said a cold Namikaze
"Well now I have 3 questions, first, how are you alive? You died 12 years ago? And you don't look a day older than that fateful night?" asked Danzo
"When Orochimaru used Tobiramas resurrection jutsu, he somehow also got my sole removed from the death gods grasp, after Sarutobi sealed himself and the other 2 hokages, along with Orochimarus arms, the Shinigami told me that I was still active do to the fact the jutsu never truly ended. He said as long as I am noble and protect those that should be protected, he would let me live."
"ok, now my second question, what do you plan to do with the demon container? He used the foxes power in his fight with the hyuga and could be dangerous, I wish to take the boy and turn him into the weapon he was meant to be" as Danzo finished his statement, he felt over whelmed by an absolutely massive amount of killing intent
"If you, our anyone else touches a hair on that boys head, I will personally make sure that person begs for death" said Minato in a cold, lethal tone
"If I may Minato, why are you so defensive of that boy? Sure he's a great kid that even my daughter is friends with, but the way you defend him, it's like-" Inoichi didn't get a chance to finish
"I will defend him from you piles of shit because you all have caused enough trouble in his life! He's a hero and from everything I've heard, you would treat an enemy ninja better than you would the hero of this pathetic village!" shouted Minato, fuming with rage
"Pathetic? You dare call this village pathetic? Your the Yellow Flash! Why defend a demon over your own village" that was the last thing the short pudgy councilman ever said, Minato appeared behind him and put a Rasengan through his skull. Everyone was in shock.
"You just killed a councilmen!" yelled another Councilmen
"I'll kill anyone who calls Naruto a demon!" yelled Minato "This doesn't leave this room! Naruto was NOT an orphan, he IS mine and Kushinas son! And If I hear of anyone in this room EVER bad mouthing my son again, I will not only kill you, but everyone you love! My son IS a hero and will be treated as such!"
Everyone was speechless, the demon brat was there son of Minato Namikaze, how could they have been so stupid? He was like a mini clone with whisker marks! At this time, Kakashi busted through the door, 3 ANBU trying there best to subdue him "Minato Sensei! Naruto is in the hospital, come quick!" and then "Kakashi" puffed into a cloud of smoke. Everyone turned to Minato, but all the saw was a flash of yellow
-hospital-
Minato shot through the doors of the hospital and blurred to the receptionist "What room is Naruto Uzumaki in?"
"216"
Minato shot off to find his son. He reached the door and heard sobbing, expecting the worst, he burst into the room, only to find Naruto sleeping in his hospital bed and the sobs coming from Kakashi.
"what kind of man am I? I couldn't even tell how scarred my own student was..." said a sobbing Kakashi
"what happened? He look ok?"
"Close the door and take a seat" said Kakashi "this isn't going to be easy"
Kakashi recalled the whole event, Minato was in hell, but nothing was as bad as when Kakashi henged into what Naruto looked like when he asked Kakashi to kill him. Minato was horrified, what could have happened to his son to make him like that? He had single handedly one a war, he killed thousands of men, but what Kakashi had shown him was the single most horrifying thing that he had ever seen.
"Kakashi, we need to fix this... But how?" Asked Minato
"We could try and get his friends in here to talk to him, but I think you should talk to him first, he still doesn't believe that he's your son, and he seems to think that the village is going to kill him for using the Kyuubi chakra"
"I will when he wakes up, but what about the other stuff? He thinks that all the villagers hate him...and I think he's right" said a sad Minato
"maybe it's time the truth comes out sensei? Let everyone know he's your son" pondered Kakashi
a light bulb came on in Minatos head "what if we train him to be the next Hokage? Once he's ready I can name him my successor? That way his linage can be released and he won't be in trouble from Iwa?"
"That could work? But does Naruto still want to be Hokage?" asked Kakashi. Just at that time, Naruto started to stir awake.
He opened his eyes and to his relief, he was in the hospital "thank god, the nightmare is over" said Naruto
"bad dream, son?" asked a new voice
Naruto looked over at the voice and saw the Fourth hokage, he was at first surprised, but it quickly turned back to depression "here to kill me already, huh? Oh well, at least I get to be killed by my hero" Naruto went back to staring at the ceiling. Staring with the same dead eyes that Kakashi had shown Minato. Before Naruto new what was happening, he was enveloped in a hug, a hug from the fourth hokage
"Why would I want my own son dead, I just got to meet you"
Naruto said nothing, he just stared at the wall, he figured it was some kind of genjutsu or something. When he tried to dispel it nothing happened, he tryed again, and again the man was still hugging him, and it was still Minato Namikaze.
"your not my father" said Naruto, shredding Minatos and Kakashis hearts "there's no way you are, your the Yellow Flash of Konoha, im the demon that the people can take there anger out on, we can't be related"
"but we are, my son, and I promise that no one will hurt you again" said Minato
Naruto just sat there, he didn't know why, but he felt like it was the truth, he felt like he belonged in the fourth hokages arms, his fathers arms. He started to weep "D-Daddy, don't leave me again!"
"Never again, son, never again" said Minato, soothing Naruto "Now get some rest, tomorrow is the first day of our new life" said Minato as he laid Naruto back and watched him drift to sleep, tomorrow would be different indeed.
"Kakashi, I want you to track down all of Naruto's friends and tell them he will be available to have visitors tomorrow at 8am and through out the day, I want to meet all of them face to face" Said Minato "and bring anyone else that you see an ally of my son, I want to know all of them by the end day tomorrow, in 2 days will be Sarutobi s memorial."
Kakashi just nodded and left, leaving father and son alone
-next day-
the next day found both Naruto and Minato still in his hospital room, both asleep. It was 7:30 when Minato woke up. He had been awoken by an ANBU tapping on the glass of the window, he was being summoned to a council meeting. He told the ANBU that the council could "blow it out there ass" and the ANBU left. It was 7:55 when Minato woke Naruto up and they got to know each other better till Naruto's first guest arrived. Much to Naruto's surprise, it was Ino.
"Ino? asked a surprised Naruto "Are you looking for Shikamaru? hes 3 rooms over"
"No, i'm going to see Shika next" stated Ino before a brief pause "Is it true?"
Naruto tensed up, he saw no way for this to end well "I-Is what true?"
"Is it true..." Ino paused for a moment "That you beat that Gaara guy?"
Naruto was very relieved, he thought that everyone knew about the fox "Yea, i beat Gaara, but it was close, way to close..." Naruto trailed off "who told you? it couldn't have been Sakura, she's too infatuated with Sasuke to even begin to believe it wasn't Sasuke that beat Gaara" during his time talking with his father, he had figured out that Sakura had no interest in him, the fact that she didn't even check on him was proof of that.
"I heard Kakashi sensei talking to Asuma Sensei about it, then he said..." Ino didn't know if she should say it or not, she thought about it and said "Kakashi sensei said that you took of your mask and that it would forever haunt him"
Naruto got really sad, he didn't want his Sensei to to be haunted by him, Minato chimed in "Did Kakashi show Asuma?"
"No, he said that he didn't wish that on anyone" said a confused Ino Could you show me Naruto? if it was bad enough to freak out a war hero like Kakashi sensei, then it must be pretty bad
"You want to see it? asked Naruto, Ino nodded, Naruto looked to his father who nodded "I understand if it's too much to handle, but be warned, you will never see me the same way" Ino once again nodded. Naruto looked down and removed the mask , then he looked Ino in the eyes.
Ino thought it was going to be some horrible jutsu or that Naruto had a scar he kept hidden, but reality was much, much worse. Ino was expecting the bright vibrant blue eyes that Naruto had the entire time she had known him, eyes that she had started to like him for in the academy. What she saw horrified her. The smile he always carried was gone, all that was left was a thin line. his shoulders slumped and his head tilted down. But the worst part of all was his eyes. The once brilliant blue eyes of Naruto Uzumaki, where now dark grey, completely void of any emotion, of any happiness. Devoid of any life.
Ino felt like part of her was just ripped out, it was so horrible, how did anyone even know how to look like that? "N-Naruto? is that the mask that Kakashi sensei was talking about?"
Naruto just looked away from her "No. the other me is the mask, this is the real me..."
"B-But you've never looked like that before! has everything been a lie? What happened?"
thinking it no longer mattered anyway Naruto spoke up "I've always put my friends before myself, if anyone saw this than it would make them sad, i'd rather live a lie than let my friends get hurt. and i won't tell you what happened, i don't want to live through it again."
"Why didn't you ever tell anyone? i'm sure that the academy teachers-"
"They were part of it, everyone was..." said Naruto, "still staring at the wall I think you should go see Shikamaru... i'm sure he could use it" said Naruto, as he laid back down and turned away from the door. Ino took the hint and left.
"Naruto...What did happen?" asked a heartfelt Minato
"Ever been beaten within an inch of your life?" Minato just stared at his son, shocked by the coldness of his voice "I have, more times than i can count..."
- one hour later-
The next person to walk in was another wild card, Inoichi, and he was pissed off
"What did you do to my daughter! she came home crying her eyes out. she wouldn't tell me what it was, but she said she could never look at you again" half asked/half demanded the Yamanaka Clan head
Naruto didn't even roll over "She asked to see me without my mask, i told her she didn't want to see it, she didn't listen."
"I don't believe you, show me" said Inoichi. Naruto rolled over, without the mask and stared a hole right thru his face, Inoichi feel no his knees, unable to breath "W-What...H-How?"
"get out of my room"
-two hours later-
"Sasuke?" asked Naruto, it wasn't unthinkable his teammate would come see him, but it was extremely unlikely
"Hey Dobe it wasn't said in hate like usual, but more in a respectful way, more in a... brotherly way?"
"What's up Teme? you're the last person i expected"
"I just came to see if you were alive, and i have a couple questions for you"
"Ask away"
"How did you get so strong? you were the dead last in our class and now you're the strongest of all of us? How?"
"I wish i could tell you, i just push myself past my limits and fight for other people. i guess Thats what does it?"
"I would say you're full of crap, but after your fight with Gaara i can't bring myself to do it. my next question is... could you help me train?"
Naruto was shocked "You want me to help you train?"
Sasuke just nodded
"I guess i could? but it will be awhile before i can help... im kinda bed ridden"
"Don't take too long, i want to get stronger, and fast" Sasuke headed for the door but stopped just before leaving "thanks" and with that he left
"Sorry Naruto, but i have something to take care of, i'll be back as soon as possible" said Minato as he left in a flash of yellow
-Unknown Location-
"So it's true, you are back from the dead, i'm glad to see it, Lord hokage"
"As am i. It has been far too long. Lord hokage"
"What have i told you both about calling me that, Kisame? Itachi?"
-end of chapter-
(Dont worry, Naruto will be fine...sooner or later, now that he has his dad he can start to recover)
(Sasuke was pissed about being weaker than Naruto, But with Naruto being the Son of the Fourth hokage (yes he knows) he decides to use his friendship to get stronger)