3. His Parents

Hinata and Naruto arrived in a village that held remnants of what remained. It was as similar as the Konoha they had left in that there were few similar things but many things were very different. Even from the one they had as a child, this one was different. This is the pre-war Konoha.

"What now?"

"We find your parents."

"Hinata, did you like the future? Do you want to change it?"

"I did but still there are things that I wish did not happen. It's not just me anymore I have to think of. It's everyone else. As wonderful as that life became, there were many deaths and evil people who killed who we can stop and we have a responsibility as shinobi with this jutsu." Naruto agreed.

"Do you think it will turn out the same? Will Sasuke really love Sakura? Ino and Shikamaru? Neji and Tenten? What if we screw up everything?" Naruto yelled.

"Then somehow we changed who they were, and that changed who they lived, what they loved. I don't believe you can change someone's life like that. If they truly love and will be together, then that's how it will be now. Are we really completely changing who we are?"

Naruto thought about his friends and thought that they would end up together but he thought about himself and Hinata. In this world, where Hinata was happy and he wasn't alone would they find that love. The other question was did he love her now? He married her down the road in that life, the people they were now. Would they get married in this life or would he loose those chances?

Hinata asked villagers directions to the house of the Minato and Kushina. That they were friends who were taking refuge there during the battle. They walked to the house and stood afar. "So I lived here… I don't remember it."

"I don't remember my childhood in the Hyuuga complex even though I know the place. I can't remember walking the paths or the garden." Naruto sighed.

"I'm ready now. To face them." Hinata was unsure how he would react so she walked ahead and knocked on the door.

Naruto was a few steps beyond the door. Kushina answered the door. She smiled. "Minato, they're here."

"Who?" As he approached the door he saw Hinata but more than that he saw Naruto.

"Naruto?" He asked quietly. Naruto just looked at his father. Hinata stepped aside to allow better vision and movement.

"Oh my son, I didn't believe Minato but you're here." She hugged Naruto so tight. "I love you. I'm sorry you had to do this that you were alone. I wished so deeply that when you were born that I wouldn't see you. It's not that I'm not happy but I know what this means. I love you. I'm sorry."

"Kushina, you're going to kill him and then where will we be?" Minato told her. Kushina loosened up and looked at Hinata with a smile.

"Who are you?" There was a bright knowing smile on her face that reminded Hinata of Naruto's. The smile and personality was that of his mother's while he was his father's twin.

"Mom…" Naruto began but she held up her hand to stop him.

"My name is Hinata Hyuuga, Uzumaki-sama and it is a great honor to meet you." Hinata bowed respectfully but quickly after she was enveloped in a hug. She squeaked as she was hugged.

"Mom, you're going to hurt her. She'll pass out!" Naruto begged. Realizing he was for the first time and maybe the last, embarrassed of his parents. Kushina sighed, shook her head and released Hinata.

"You're very beautiful and I'm sure smart and talented. More than being a hyuuga, you are a friend of Naruto and that means more that you would come." Hinata blushed but nodded. "Call me Kushina or mom,"

"Kushina," Hinata repeated with a gentle smile. Naruto's father shook hands with Hinata and everyone watched as his father approached him.

"So you used the jutsu, eh? You turn out alright anyway?"

"Yeah. I get married, become hokage, have two kids. They're awesome."

"Fifth Hokage?"

"Sixth, old lady Tsunade beat me to it."

"Tsunade? Jiraiya's Tsunade?" Minato laughed.

"Jiraiya's?" Naruto asked. "Pervy-sage was with her? No way!"

"Those two, of course. Never saw to people as close. Weird that you don't know."

"All they do is argue and fight. The only thing they agree on is when it comes to me or the village. Pervy-sage and his books and old lady with her gambling and drinking they're a mess." Minato laughed.

"So that's what happened…" Minato laughed. "Well don't be strangers come on in."

"So you had kids and got married? You became hokage. Guess we didn't mess up to much huh Kushina?"

"We did, or else he wouldn't be here and we'd be the ones to see that ourselves." She responded sadly but smiled through it. "Are you guys hungry? Want Ramen?"

"Oh yeah, Ramen!" Naruto said jumping. HInata and Minato sighed.

"You love Ramen?" She asked.

"More than you!" They raced to finish the ramen. Hinata and Minato couldn't even finish theirs before it was eaten for them.

"So now that we've all eaten…" Minato said shaking his head at his wife and son who were collapsed on the couch from eating to much. "… I want to hear about that life of yours." Naruto was whining in the corner about his stomache while Kushina was sitting happily, having won.

"I can tell you anything you want to know… for the most part." Hinata volunteered since Naruto was pre-occupied. Minato nodded, grateful that she would help.

"So Jiraiya never took care of Naruto as a child? He was alone?"

"Jiraiya took me on as an apprentice later… " Naruto mumbled. "But as a kid I was hated, mistreated, beaten, neglected, forgotten and pushed on anyone who would take me and they were worst than the people that the third made take me." Kushina and Minato frowned. They looked at Hinato who couldn't say anything to help. It was true and to make light of it, even to make them feel better, would be an injustice to Naruto. Besides, his parents did seek the truth.

"So they didn't respect my wishes, and they treated you..."

"Like I was the nine-tales, yeah." Naruto said angrily, crossing his arms and staring out the window.

Hinata put her hand on Naruto's. "It got better for him. He got close to his rookie team. Kakashi was his jounin leader. Sasuke Uchiha and Sakura Haruno."

"Good old Kakashi, eh. He was one of my best students. He's a good kid."

"Kid? Kakashi?" Naruto said jumping up.

"He's around 12 is he not?" Hinata asked.

"14 now but close, yeah he really moved up the ranks. He's going to be a great ANBU. I didn't think he'd ever take a team."

"He was a stupid teacher. He loved Sasuke more. He was always so hard on me. It isn't my fault I have poor chakra control and don't have the sharingan!" Naruto yelled.

"Naruto…" Hinata whispered, trying to keep him calm. Minato and Kushina seemed to be unhappier and Hinata decided that she would help.

"The Uchihas were all killed except Sasuke by Itachi. Itachi told him to seek revenge and that was all Sasuke cared about. He started the next war bringing in Orochimaru. Then the taled beasts were brought back together again by Madara Uchiha. It was a disaster but we all came through. Even Danzo's attempt to overthrow everything failed and everything returned to peace. I intend to prevent as much of this as I can." Hinata put in. "And a large part of that is to help everyone who played major roles on our side to be stronger, and on theirs to be weaker, or eliminated before they can cause problems."

"Sounds like a good plan. So how was your childhood, Hinata?" Minato asked.

"My mother died throwing my father into chaos. My sister and I were educated by the elders but I wouldn't submit to them, for they wanted to destroy the branch and I had been taught better. My sister followed and they never taught me while raising my sister strong to beat me to rule for them. No one would help me and I was weak for a long time. Naruto encouraged me to be strong, to fight and believe in myself. Eventually I beat my father and sister and brought the Hyuugas to peace."

"You seem to be a pretty amazing woman, Hinata. So are you going to try to…"

"I can't save my mother. I can't stop my father now but I can make sure that I am trained and strong enough. I can make sure the elders don't control my sister and I can bring peace earlier. The biggest thing is to stop the death of my cousin Neji's father which brought on his vengeance upon the main family and pushed us all toward chaos."

"That seems like it will be difficult."

"There are countless things that Naruto and I will do together for our village, and ourselves. It all starts here and today. With Naruto."

"Have you thought about new names or lives?" They shook their heads.

"Well I have." Kushina said smiling. "I like Hina and Naru. They are close enough to your names in case you answer to your own because that can be expected but also they are unique and interesting. Naru is going to be Minato's nephew. I have been thinking for you that you're from another area of the Hyuugas who is to be part of the counsel so you can use your kekkei genkai to benefit the village and you won't be sealed." Hinata agreed that these were good covered. Keeping last names and families while altering circumstances.

"Will you guys be raising Naruto?" Minato asked. "Together?"

"Yes," they both answered.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Yes," the both answered more firmly than before. Minato looked at Hinata and Naruto. Naruto while still upset about his childhood was almost pouting but Hinata was strong and solid. She had a determination that he knew well.

"Is your mind made up?" He asked them.

"Yes," they answered again. He looked to Kushina.

Kushina went into a bedroom and brought out Naruto. Naruto looked as bizarrely at himself as he had at the older form of himself. Hinata smiled at the baby Naruto with such love and kindness Kushina could only smile at her.

"You want to hold him first Naruto?" She asked her son.

"Uh… I don't know how. Hinata…" she nodded and walked to Kushina as Kushina placed the baby gently into her arms. He opened his eyes and smiled at her. Hinata smiled at the baby. She would never be Hinata. She was Hina, Naruto's adopted mother and would forever be.

Hinata looked at Naruto who nodded. He sat very still and rigidly on the couch as Hinata placed Naruto in his arms. "Relax she told him. You can't hurt him." Naruto looked into his own eyes and he saw something he had never seen in his own. It was pure joy with no pain or suffering. There was no Kyuubi, no hate of the villagers, there were just his parents and Hinata, and now him. He promised himself that he would do whatever he could to keep that pure happiness and joy there. He couldn't see that lost.

Minato held Kushina who was crying silently. "You two look adorable. Like real parents. I wish it didn't have to be like this. I wish that I could be there." She cried. Naruto looked at Hinata who took the baby out of his arms. He walked to his mom and hugged him.

"It's okay now, mom, dad. It's okay. I turned out alright and me and Hinata. We'll take care of him for you. We'll be great parents. We promise, don't we Hinata." She nodded. "We'll make you proud. We'll take care of the village too. We'll do it all. Thank you for this chance. I love you guys." He hugged them and Hinata could only smile as they had that moment. It meant the world to his parents and it meant the world to Naruto.