NARUTO A DIFFERENT BEGINNING

EPISODE 2

(It is now 9 months since the Kyuubi was sealed. Little Naruto is now 9 months old and is quite the energetic child. Minato believes he gets it from Kushina along with his excitable nature. Minato didn't have much to do in the office today since tomorrow was a meeting with the elder's for a coming chuunin exam. Naruto was crawling around the living room and Minato was behind him since they were playing a game of chase.)

"I'm gonna get ya." Minato said as he heard Naruto laugh loudly when he said that and started crawling away from his fathers voice since he liked being chased by daddy. "Daddy's gonna get you Naruto." and again he hears his sons laughter as he continued to crawl away while laughing as loud as his little voice could get. Kushina was watching them play while trying film naruto being playful. Next thing she knew Naruto hid behind her legs. Kushina gave him face gestures to pretend he doesn't see him. "Uh oh, where did you go, Naruto?" Naruto peeked around Kushina's leg and he was face to face with his dad as he said "Boo." Naruto laughed in surprise as Minato picked him up and started tickling him on his stomach. Kushina set the camera down after turning it off.

"Okay, sweety come to mommy now. Time for you to get cleaned up." Kushina said as she extended her arms for him and Naruto eagerly jumped for her arms. Naruto grabbed some of Kushina's hair. Since he first learned to grab things, His mother's hair always seemed to fascinate him. Kushina and Naruto had their own special bond. No matter how much Naruto cried because he was upset, sick, or when his gums hurt due to him teething he'd always calm down with Kushina holding him. When it came to Naruto Kushina had the patience of a saint which surprised everyone but she'd still lose her temper if other people pressed her buttons. Naruto yammered on with baby words as she took him to the baby bath tub filled with warm water and ready for Naruto's bath. After removing his clothes she started to bathe him. In the mean while Minato took this opportunity to double check if he had everything he'll need for the meeting tomorrow. Kushina could be heard laughing with Naruto while she was bathing him. Minato smiled. He still wasn't happy with how the Third took his place with the sealing of the Kyuubi but he was glad to have these days with his family and he wouldn't wanna trade them for anything. In fifteen minutes Kushina was done bathing him and was drying him off. "Minato can you hold him for a minute while I get his pajamas?"

"Sure. Come here kiddo." Minato said as he grabbed Naruto. Naruto looked around and yammered more baby talk. "He has all my physical traits but his personality is deifinitely Kushina's." Minato said as Naruto started yammering baby talk again. "I know you and your mom have a special bond Kiddo and it maybe a selfish request from your dad but I hope I get to be your first word." Minato whispered to him. Minato smiled at him till he noticed breathing a little heavily and quivered then finally followed by sobbing. "Uh oh. Kushina looks like his gums are hurting again." Minato called out as Kushina ran back with a Diaper and Pajamas for Naruto. Naruto was starting to fully cry out with his gums hurting again with his little teeth growing in. Kushina with her ninja skills and patient motherly instincts quickly had him changed in his Diaper and full body Pajamas. She held him and focused some green chakra to her index finger and started rubbing his gums. This was something Tsunade taught her after Naruto started teething. This method numbs his gums so his teeth can grow without it bothering Naruto too much. Naruto calmed down but was still sobbing a bit with tears coming down.

"shh, shh it's ok. It's ok. What a good boy you are. That wasn't so bad, was it?" Kushina said calmly. After she finished Naruto was getting hungry and sleepy. "I know sweety. Mommy knows."

"You really gotta teach me how you got to be so patient with him." Minato said to her.

"I guess that means you still got a lot to learn. right, Daddy?" Kushina said jokingly as she got him his bottle and fed him. Naruto holding it with his little hands.

"You should get ready soon." Minato said.

"Oh~, can't we take him with us?" Kushina asked. Tonight would be the first night her and Minato go out alone without Naruto. Since the attack Kushina has yet to go anywhere without her baby. As another surprise to everyone she became one of those overbearing and over concerned mothers when it came to her baby.

"Kushina I know how you feel but Tsunade and Shizune promised to watch over him while were out. Beisdes we haven't had a night to ourselves for awhile. Naruto will be just fine." Minato said as he scruffed Naruto's hair while Naruto looked up at him while still drinking from his bottle.

"I know but he's my little baby. I can't help but worry about him when I'm not around him." Kushina said as Minato held her and kissed to help reassure her that everything will be fine while Naruto just stared at them as he kept on drinking from his bottle. Kushina sighed in defeat where about then Naruto made it known he was finished with his meal by dropping his bottle on the floor. Minato picked it up as Kushina shifted him up on her shoulder so she could burp him. Naruto just kept looking around as his mother was trying to burp him. He let out a his burp which was pretty loud for a child his age. Kushina smirked and said "Yep. He's an Uzumaki alright." She as she chuckled. Naruto was starting to fall asleep as Kushina continued to rock him and hum him a lullaby. With that Naruto fell asleep on his mother's shoulder. Kushina laid him down as Minato followed her in the bedroom that's next to their master bedroom. She laid him down and kissed his forehead. "Goodnight my little fishcake." Given Naruto's name it was natural she was going nickname her son as such. She then went to dress into one of out clothes which was a black shirt with the Uzumaki symbol on the back, tight black shorts. She may be a mother but her tomboyish tastes still haven't left her and Minato wouldn't have her any other way. Tsunade showed up with Shizune ready to babysit for the evening. Kushina made sure to go in very, very explicit detail about what to do should Naruto wake up, have a cranky moment after waking up, where his bottles were, where the baby formula was kept, and if they were gonna let him crawl around to tire himself out they had to make sure all "dangerous" objects which she made a list she felt were dangerous for her little boy to be playing with and gave it to her.

"Okay I got it. Now go on your date before I feel like i'm back at the academy." Tsunade said as Minato started pulling her to the door knowing this would take all night if left alone.

"Wait another thing..." Kushina said as the door was closed. "Wait I haven't told you about his allergies yet!"

"Honey, they've got this. They're both two of the best medics in the village and they'll be good to him. Naruto also loves Aunty and Shizune. There's no reason to be worried." Minato replied as he got her walkng to the streets as she puted at him still feeling like she hasn't gone over everything that was important as far her baby was concerned. "If she's this worried about him at this age can't wait to see her react when he says he goes on his first date." Minato thought to himself as he chuckled at the thought.

"What's so funny?" She asked him while Minato replied with his usual smile and said nothing. An hour had passed since they left. Tsunade and Shizune made themselves at home and were looking over some blood test results that came in that day. The baby monitor was next to Tsunade and was ready to react the moment Naruto woke up.

"Hmm, ok Shizune have this one set an appointment for next week." Tsunade said.

"Yes, Ma'am." She replied. As they she did that a faint crying was heard from the baby monitor. "Guess that's our cue."

"Godmother to the rescue." Tsunade replied with enthusiam. She went into the room and saw little Naruto sitting up and wanting someone to help him out. Soon as he saw Tsunade he moved his arms up saying he wants to be carried out. "Ok, ok. I'm coming." She said as she picked him up. She dried off his little eyes and cleaned out the snot coming out of his nose. "Aww, did you have a bad dream? It's okay. Aunty Tsunade will make it go away. Yes she will, yes she will." She said to him as she carried him to the living room. Shizune walked up to her and tickled his tummy.

"How's my tough little man doing?" Shizune said as she smiled. They sat down on the couch with Naruto in Tsunade's lap. Naruto looked around as if looking for something or someone and it donned on Tsunade who he is looking for since this is the first time he has ever had a babysitter.

"Hey it's alright. Mommy and Daddy just went out for some alone time. They'll be back. So for now how about some quality time with your Godmother and Aunt Shizune?" Tsunade said to him. Then Shizune covered her face and said.

"Where's the baby?" She asked Naruto as he looked at her then showed her face to him "There he is!" She slightly yelled and Naruto chuckled a bit since the surprise of it all was humorous to him. Shizune went a few rounds of that game with him till Naruto motioned he wanted to be put down and crawl. Shizune made sure to put all things dangerous for a child out of sight for Naruto. He crawled around the table in the living room. Tsunade watched with amusement as she was lost in her thoughts. In her thoughts a baby crying and her saying a few words to someone that sounded like she loved that person more than life itself. She snapped out of it when she noticed Naruto stared at her with his little blue eyes. She stared back neither blinking till Naruto giggled and continued crawling. She watched him crawl some more and witnessed him doing something for the first time. He put his hands on the couch near where she sat and attempted to actually stand on his legs.

"Shizune! Look! Naruto is about to stand!" Shizune came running from the kitchen and saw Naruto really was attempting to stand for the first time. His legs were wobbling a lot so as soon as he almost had it he fell on his bottom. Rather than cry Naruto tried it again.

"Hey, how bout letting us give a hand." Shizune said. Soon as she grabbed his arm Naruto made a little noise and pouted at her.

"Shizune, I think you better let him do it on his own." Tsunade said as she chuckled at how Naruto looked at Shizune.

"Ok Ok. But if you need help you know we're right here." Shizune said as she sat on the floor watching him try again. Tsunade wasn't too surprised. Being Kushina's son he would be stubborn about doing things himself. It looked hopeless for little Naruto to stand in one night but what amazed them was that Naruto, only being 9 months old showed no signs of giving up. No matter how man times he failed he still wanted to keep trying. After almost 25 tries Naruto finally got it. Sure he used the couch as a leverage but he was beginning to grasp standing. Tsunade and Shizune gave yays and applauded him. Naruto gave a loud giggle and put his free hand in his mouth with all the attention he was getting from them. Naruto was getting hungry at this point and finally gave a motion to be picked up. Shizune scooped him up as Tsunade got his bottle with formula ready. She gave him his bottle as he started to drink from it. After finishing and getting burped Naruto yawned.

"Guess your finally ready to sleep for the night." Naruto just rubbed his eyes in reply to that till they heard the door open and saw Kushina and Minato walk in. Kushina had flushed cheeks so she had quite a bit to drink but wasn't too drunk. Minato explained how their date went smoothly till they ran into Mikoto and they went on about the old days and it led into a bit of a competition who can handle the most alcohol. Kushina ignored everything and just put her attention on her little boy who took notice of his mother's return and she saw how tired he was.

"You're really tired now, aren't ya?" She asked as she gave him a peck on his cheek and Naruto grabbed some her red hair and motioned himself to her. Kushina took him off Shizune's arms. "Mommy missed you too." She said as she snuggled his face. Minato looked at them in awe. Tsunade and Shizune said their goodbyes and left. Kushina laid Naruto down in his crib to sleep. Just as she went to get him a new blanket to sleep in she turned around since she heard Naruto making his baby noises. She stopped in her tracks and yelled "Minato!" Minato came running thinking it was an emergency.

"What is it!? What happened!?"

"Look! Naruto...he's standing!" Kushina said as she over dramatically cried that her little boy learned to stand on his first try. Minato thought for a sec and realized Tsunade did say Naruto has a little surprise for them.

"I'll just let her think that for now." He said to himself. Naruto playfully marched on his feet while using the rails on his crib to support him standing.

"Do you wanna sleep with us?" Kushina asked him as Naruto lifted his arms again to be carried. Kushina carried him and got him his favorite frog plushie and gave it to him as she walked to their bedroom. She laid him down as Naruto slept between his parents. "He's really growing up so fast."

"Yeah. We don't just have to have one you know." He replied.

"Sounds nice." Kushina said as she then looked at Naruto getting ready to fall asleep. "But maybe later after he's older." With that she kissed Minato and they both kissed Naruto good night. We now go a week later where Kushina is prepping Naruto for a play date with her friends children while Minato is handling his Hokage duties. "Okay Naruto you ready to meet other little babies and make friends?" Kushina asked Naruto and all she got was baby noises. With Naruto dressed and ready to go they were off to the park. There they saw Mikoto, Saya, Tsume, Yoshino with their kids. A lot of the other mothers as usual shot their death glares at Kushina and ignored them and just went to her friends. They set the little ones down in the infants play box area. Itachi and Hana were playing their own games with kids their age in the play ground. 10 minutes after a lot of the mothers pulled their babies away from the play box to get them away from Naruto. Three families came by to let their babies play with others. Which were the Akamichis, Yamanakas, and Harunos. Yoshino was no stranger to them so she had everyone introduce themselves. The three familes that joined them had questions about Kushina since rumors about her and her son have been spread around the village like she used a demonic charm to seduce Minato or that he is only with her cause he has to be due to the baby. After answering them the laid back Mr. Haruno could tell by the look in her eyes that she was just as human as they were and the other mothers can see she was a good person especially if she was willing to put up with the villagers to defend her baby. Naruto was playing with the other kids just fine. He seemed to enjoy playing with Kiba and Hinata. He was doing good till a certain other baby with black hair wanted to play with his stuffed frog. When Kushina looked at who it was she saw it was Sasuke. Naruto and Sasuke were now fighting over the stuffed frog making angry baby noises. Their mothers stepped in to try and settle the fight. "Naruto. Come on fishcake, let's give Sasuke a little turn with the frog kay?" Kushina said as she pulled the frog from Naruto then passed it to Sasuke who was being held by Mikoto. Sasuke was happy till Naruto started crying from being separated from his favorite toy. "Or not." Then Sasuke started crying after taking from him and passing it back to Naruto.

"Oh dear. What to do? It's their first play date and they're already fighting." Mikoto said. For some reason hearing Sasuke cry got Naruto's attention. Kushina and Mikoto looked at Naruto who seemed to be contemplating about this situation. Then unexpectedly Naruto set his frog in front of him for Sasuke to play with. Seeing it there Sasuke stopped crying but still had tears coming out and grabbed the frog and laughed cause he was playing with what his infant mind considered cool and fun. "Now that is a surprise."

"Oh~, that's my little Fishcake." Kushina said as Naruto went back to Kiba and Hinata and Sasuke was following with the frog. Before long theses nine little babies were enjoying each other's company. A few small baby fights here and there but were easily resolved. Finally the little ones wore themselves out and were ready to sleep. The mothers grabbed their little ones and were beginning to head home. Saya, Kushina, and Mikoto go part way in the same direction before splitting. Hana waved bye to Itachi.

"Itachi! Let's go!" Mikoto once more.

"Coming!" Itachi replied. "Guess...I'll see you later." Itachi said as he ran to his mother. The three mothers with their children were walking together till they had to part ways. Naruto slept comfortably in his mothers arms. Kushina continued walking while putting up with the whispers and death glares. She was no slouch far as her skills as a shinobi were concerned. She had her guard up in case anyone tried anything to hurt her baby. Luckily today was one of the more easy days. She was able to get back with no issues. She laid Naruto down on his crib to finish his nap while she went to get dinner ready since Minato was due to come home in two hours. In the Hokage Tower things were progressing smoothly especially now since Shizune agreed to become his new assistant and Tsunade became his counselor as well as his back up and replacement for the seat of Hokage if something should happen to him. All was well till the door opened suddenly and a young Jonin barged in with some bad news.

"Lord Hokage!"

"Whoa, calm down there Izumo. What's wrong?" Minato asked.

"Sir, the body of the masked man who attacked the village...it's gone!" Izumo said.

"What!? What do you mean it's gone?" Minato asked

"I was doing an inventory check as you ordered then I noticed the scroll his body was sealed in was acting up. I was about to call in the sealing specialists till it suddenly openened and summoned the body. Only..."

"Only what?" Minato asked

"The body wasn't his and before I could get a good look from all that smoke the body deteriorated. The only thing left where the body deteriorated was this small tree." Izumo explained.

"But how?" Minato asked himself. How could he and Jiraiya mistake the masked man for a fake and when did he have time to pull off a switch when he clearly sealed his chakra. "Unless he wasn't alone that night. That's the only way a switch like that could be pulled off. If we had a fake this whole time then where is the real masked man?" Minato asked himself and began to worry as he remembered his words well. "The nine tails will be mine someday as well as the rest of this world. There are plenty of ways to go about it." those were the words he remembered from him before he killed him or so he thought. Elsewhere deep inside a cave hidden well with the wasteland graveyard we see the masked man laying on a bed waiting for his injuries to heal.

"It was lucky I was nearby. You would've bled to death and that would halt the plan." Said a cloaked figure who was half black and white.

"True. Luckily Izanagi is a special jutsu that isn't so easily sealed away. I'm sure that clone you left them must have dissolved by now and he must have caught on that I am still alive. For now I will rest and remain in the shadows and wait for him to prepare the organization. When that time comes be prepared to be counted among their top members. We must make him believe he is leading it while I hide in the lower ranks as their baffoon. I'm couning on you Zetsu." The masked man said.

"Understood." Zetsu replied as if there were two voices coming from him. (black out effect) and now we find ourselves back at Konoha and it is now night time and Minato was just making his way home not realizing he forgot to do something which was...

"Kushina I'm home." Bam! Punched on his head and Minato face planted the floor. He forgot to tell her he would be late and one thing Kushina can't stand is being stood up especially from her husband when he promised he'd tell her if was gonna be late for dinner.

"MI-NA-TO-!" Kushina said in an angry tone while her hair was moving about like wild fire. Minato realized that he forgot again with everything that's happened in one day and he sees his forgetful awoke his wife's red hanabero mode. "I made you a nice dinner and now...it's cold!" Needless to Minato had that calm sweat drop effect and nervously smiled trying to think of a way to tell her why he was late and forgot to send a shadow clone to let her know of his tardiness.

"Well..." Minato explained everything. Kushina calmed down a bit and understood and became worried for her baby's safety as she watched him play with his frog. "So do you forgive me." Minato played his only trump card which was the smile that would make her go weak in the knees.

"Oh Minato." She replied and looked like things were gonna be fine. Unfortunately when it comes to the Uzumakis especially the women of that clan it's not so simple. The master bedroom door was locked and Minato was left in the hallway with a blanket and pillow in both hands which meant he was sleeping on the couch tonight and was told to heat his own damn dinner. Yes like all powerful men before him the only one the fourth Hokage aka the yellow flash can't defeat is his own wife.

"(sigh) well it's not all bad."

"And don't even think of sneaking in here like last time!" She yelled through the door followed by a baby yell from Naruto with a baby laugh.

"Even my own son is against me tonight." with that Minato headed to his bed for the night and laid on the couch to sleep. "I think Shikaku would call this situation troublesome." He said to himself. In the master bedroom. Kushina got Naruto in his PJ's.

"Hmmph, stupid Minato." She said. Naruto looked at his mom and babbled baby words. "(sigh) what do you think fishcake? Should I forgive your daddy tomorrow?" She asked him and she got for a reply was a "Dah!" "Well I don't hate him but still that forgetfulness of his is so irritating even when we were dating. Did I ever tell you about the time he was late for our anniversary date cause he also promised to train with Kakashi the day before." She said to her son only to get another "Dah." she told the story to Naruto till he fell asleep. Kushina went to sleep as well. The next morning came Naruto woke up Kushina due to being hungry. "Okay fishcake. We'll get you some breakfast. She carried Naruto with her to get his baby food from the kitchen. She turned on the lights and saw her favorite flowers and snacks. Freshly baked Dumplings with Camelia blossoms circling them and in front was a note from Minato. She opened it and it said "Kushina I know you're still mad me but I want you to know I'm sorry. If you forgive me then turn around." she thought about it then looked at Naruto. "Well, Naruto should I?" Naruto looked behind her and laughed and naturally she caught on as to what he was laughing at. "Okay, I forgive you." She said as she turned around only to receive a passionate kiss from her husband. Naruto motioned himself to be held by his father and Minato grabbed him and kissed his cheek.

"Mmmmwwwaaahhh, You miss daddy last night, Naruto?" Minato said to Naruto as he laughed but then surprised his parents.

"Da...da...Dada!" Minato and Kushina had stunned looked on their faces and looked at Naruto.

"What did you say?" Minato asked

"Dada!" after Naruto saw how much of an impact that word had on them he repeated it again. "Dada!"

"He said his first word...He's talking!" Minato yelled in excitement.

"My little baby is talking! I can't believe he's talking, ya know!" Kushina yelled in excitement. The morning became an exciting one for them. Even though the future was unclear moments like these are what mattered to them as a family. Whatever danger was to come they would face it together and no doubt Naruto will have friends of his own to help him face those challenges that come.

End of episode 2