Sins of the Father
Disclaimer: Nope don't own, otherwise I'd be making a killing right now.
BIG TUKUS NOTE:
This story is for dracohalo117's Naruto Hates Yondaime Fic challenge.
And one other thing: this is a AU, so please disregard the canon while reading this.
Nagato sat on his bed, tired and frail looking. Konan had told him to rest for the night so that he didn't over exert himself and die.
Typical, loving and motherly Konan.
Oh well, he suppose she was right. For once his Rinnegan was off and he was just relaxing, sort of.
Spread out on the bed was old photo's, letters and a old journal that belonged to Yahiko.
Most of everything had belonged to Yahiko, making them precious to the Ame Leader.
In one hand he held out the journal, lazily flipping through it.
Nagato skimmed over the worn journal (which he probably read a thousand times already; he still found it funny that Yahiko got a journal simply because a certain whirlpool red-head pestered him till he did) till he got to the beginning.
1st entry;
I finally got a stupid journal. The reason? A crazy red head who wants to drive me nuts! And don't think I don't know that you're going to read this Kushina, because I do!
I swear you and Konan are out to get me!
Well I got nothing else to write so go bother Nagato into getting one of these! He's the sensitive type, I'm sure he can have half of a book done by the first entry!
Nagato chuckled before skimming again.
34th entry;
Your going to pester me till I write in this thing, aren't you? Your not going to stop nitpicking at my sanity till I tell you all my darkest secrets. Fine. Have it your way Kushina.
Wanna hear one of my secrets? Here you go; I think your breasts look fake.
98th entry;
I'm starting to think you planned this Kushina! I'm a third of the way through this stupid book (and I'm damn sure you and Konan are laughing your asses off) and now I'm so use to writing in it! You made me develop a stupid habit!
Go jump off a bridge! Preferably with boulders attached to your legs.
209(?) entry;
Dammit Kushina! Why the HELL are you dating that jerk? You can do better then him! You deserve better then him! Hell I'd hook you up with Nagato if I didn't think he had a crush on Konan!
--9 entry;
Its official; I'm never getting drunk again. From what I can remember I somehow mistook Nagato for Kushina and told 'her' I'm in love with her. The strangest part is I was being very truthful; I am in love with Kushina no Uzu.
…I've lost my damn mind, haven't I? It's probably with my heart, right in the palm of Kushina's hand.
268 (or was 368?) entry;
Kushina had finally dumped that Namikaze prick and is visiting. I know this is probably a bit too forward of me, but I'm going to ask her out tonight. Wish me luck.
268 (or was 368?) entry part 2;
SHE SAID YES!
Random number entry;
We've been dating for nearly two months but Kushina had been really sick lately. She said that if it continues for another week she was going back to Konoha to see Tsunade the Sannin.
(lost track of numbers) entry;
Kushina had left for Konoha this morning and I'm already missing her. Hope they find what ever is the problem. I'd would have rather she just get checked here but she told me she wanted to see her old friends again. I love her dearly, I just wish she wasn't so dang stubborn. I hope she comes back soon, I plan to pop the question when she does.
# entry;
Kushina letter just came in and I just got the shock of my life. Kushina's pregnant! She's roughly two months along but I'm still reeling from the news. After explaining to me how this happen she told me she would understand if I wanted to end our relationship but wants me to be the godfather.
I told her to meet me at the borders of Fire and to bringing the twins with so that I could tell her my reply in person.
As for my reply? Well, let's just say I hope she likes diamonds because that's what's on the ring I got her. Hmm, Mrs. Yahiko no Ame…sounds weird but I think Kushina is the only woman who could pull it off. And the only one I'd want too.
I'll leave tonight; hopefully Nagato and Konan won't freak out too badly at my sudden disappearance.
#$% entry;
She said yes. She said yes! I'm going to be a husband AND a father (though I'm also, strangely enough the godfather, seeing as she had me sign the papers before I could propose).
We spent the whole day at an inn (the twins kept look out for us as we planned out the wedding).
She said yes!
Kushina needs to get back to Konoha soon, the Slug hag had made it clear she would hunt Kushina down if she didn't return soon and threaten to eviscerate the twins.
She said yes!
Apparently Kushina shouldn't even be out right now; not only was she attacked twice on her way but got hurt so badly she nearly lost the baby and her life!
I'd probably become a little (very) unstable if she died.
After spending the day together we agreed to get married in November, after the baby was born. I hope it's a girl…
I wonder if Nagato and Konan would consider being the godparents?
SHE. SAID. YES!!!
∞ entry;
It's just two months away from our wedding and Kushina is still stuck in Konoha until the next month. I hope she won't get mad when I tell her I made, in addition to the Hyuuga twins, Nagato the godfather and Konan the godmother (the baby already has four godparents, what's two more?)
As it turns out, the baby is going to be a boy. He's got named after Jiraiya-sensei's main character from Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi book (strangely enough it was Kushina's idea; said it was Jiraiya-sensei's ONLY worthwhile book and was how she believed a shinobi should be like).
Kushina last letter though worries me. She says she's been getting nightmares of a demon attacking Konoha, and that she hears a baby crying and that she's surrounded by blood.
She says the dreams are getting more persistent and more realistic. How do you tell the one you love not to worry when your worried too?
Entry;
Kushina says to get to Konoha as fast as possible. Our son is in danger.
Nagato frowned sadly at the last entrance. He remembered that day. Yahiko had run off, leaving him and Konan in charge.
When he returned Yahiko was very quiet, only stopping long enough to tell them that a demon had attacked Konoha and Kushina and the baby had died during it's rampaging.
After that he destroyed the training area, looking for the world like a man who had just lost everything all over again.
By the end of the month Yahiko tried to return to his normal self. He fooled everyone but his two closest friends.
Then five years later Yahiko died by his own hands, asking him to continue their mission of finding peace.
Forcing the unwanted memories away, Nagato placed everything in a small neat pile before he closed his eyes. He had a meeting with Madara in the morning.
Naruto slowly opened his sore eyes as he took deep breathes to regulate his breathing, staring blankly at the walls of Iruka's bedroom. It had been three days since his little breakdown in the Hokage's library. Since then Iruka hadn't let him out of his sight, having practically made the boy a permanent resident of the apartment.
Looking slowly to the nearest clock Naruto saw it was 4 o'clock in the morning. He had just finished his training and was in desperate need of a shower.
Dragging himself out of the doorway Naruto made his way to the bathroom, bypassing Iruka who slept on the couch the moment they gotten back.
Turning the water on as hot as possible, Naruto winced as the simmering water pelted on him but didn't try to move away.
After a good five minutes like this he reach for a cloth and began to scrub himself as hard as humanly possible till his flesh felt raw.
After that he just stood there, letting the hot water pound against him, his mind lost in the recent discoveries he had previously tried to avoid for the last three days.
Power…he did this to me for power…that frickin' lunatic…Mama, what did you see in him? Granted you wanted him dead in the end too, but what would have possessed you to enter into a relationship with that guy in the first place? Did the No-tails impair its host's judgment or did it depress you that badly? Hell, I would have been happy for you if you had gone and married that Zetsu guy! At least he wouldn't have called you an idiot or sealed a monster in your baby! And he was a frickin' cannibal!
Naruto forced his train of thought on something else, least he start destroying Iruka-sensei's things again.
He refocused on the fact he had four godfathers, none of which he had ever met.
Where the fucks were they?! After finding out what his former hero was like, he had no faith in Jairiya and could easily imagine that the man had shirked away from his responsibilities or exploiting it to the fullest, but the others? Two were in Konoha and the other was in Ame.
Did they find out about him being the fox's container and not want that? No, that couldn't be it; two of them knew about his mother's demon and were fine with it so what had stopped them from taking custody of him?
Did the just not want to deal with Uzumaki Naruto, son of Kushina of Uzu no Kuni? Wait a minute…
Kushina of Uzu no Kuni.
Uzumaki Naruto.
If that guy's surname was Namikaze and Mama addressed herself as Kushina of Uzu no Kuni, where the hell had Uzumaki come from?
Thinking hard Naruto rushed out of the shower, stopping just long enough to put a towel on before running out to where Iruka slept. Shaking the man rapidly Naruto said,
"Iruka-sensei! Wake up!"
Jerking awake Iruka looked franticly around. "What is it Naruto?!"
"Mama's letter. Where's Mama's letter?"
Still disoriented Iruka waved to the counter. Naruto shot forward, grabbing the letter as he searched the contents. There!
Naruto of Uzu no Kuni
That was what his mother had written! Like his mother, he had no surname! It was very common for lots of people not to have surnames (many considered Konoha and Kiri to be strange because they had so many people with surnames) and to write the place of their birth or nationality in its place!
"Naruto? Are you okay?" Iruka asked, looking perturbed.
Turning slowly the blonde gave Iruka a detrimental look.
"Iruka-sensei? If you were looking for your godchild whose one parent had no last name, where would you look?"
Not sure where this was going (and starting to get very worried about Naruto's mental stability) Iruka answered. "I would be looking in the non-family name section of the orphanage or hospital segment."
"What if your godchild was under another name? One you never encountered and thus never bothered to look up but you were completely unaware of this?" Naruto asked, looking back at the paper.
"I'd…believe him to be dead, or at the least disappeared." Iruka said, looking over Naruto's shoulder to see what he was looking at.
Iruka stared at the name for a moment as what Naruto was asking dawned. He… he didn't have a last name!
Naruto continued to stare at the letter. Was that why his godfather's haven't come for him? Because they hadn't known he had a surname? If so where the hell had Uzumaki come from?
Naruto's eyes darkened.
"And who has the authority to change one's name?"
Iruka paled as he mentally bashed his head into a wall. Lord Hokage, your digging yourself into a grave!
Seeing Naruto looking ready to march to the Hokage Tower Iruka tried to reason with the fuming boy.
"Naruto, think for a moment; the Fourth had a lot of enemies! If anyone knew he had a son-"
"I'M NOT HIS SON!" Naruto screeched furiously, a very disturbed gleam in his eyes.
Iruka backpedaled at the sight. "If anyone had known he had a legacy, they would have hunted you down and killed you."
Calming down Naruto could at least understand the man's reasoning; Namikaze had a lot of enemies, an entire war full in fact. If word got out that he had a child (not that he would ever claim to be that creep's child!), vengeful people would come seeking his blood.
But in doing so the Third hide him from his godfathers! That had to be the reason they hadn't taken him, or he hoped that was it. If their reason for not getting him was on par with Namikaze's reason for sealing a demon in him he WOULD go and kill them.
Seeing him calm down Iruka smiled kindly. "Now why don't you dry off and get some clothes on?"
It was then that Naruto remembered he was in nothing more then a towel, dripping water on Iruka-sensei's carpet.
Turning beet red and smiling in apology Naruto quickly made his way back to the bathroom.
The boy was quick to dress, putting his beloved orange jump suit back on. As he reached for his goggles Naruto caught his reflection in the mirror.
Tanned skin with identical whisker marks on both cheeks with spiky sunflower blonde hair and cerulean eyes stared back at him.
Naruto didn't blink as he stared, remembering the one picture of Minato he had. Even before he found out about his heritage he had thought he and the Fourth looked very much alike. Looking now he could honestly say that in another ten years he'd probably be the split image of that guy.
It was that very thought that made Naruto feel sick, for once he hated his appearance. Glaring at the refection Naruto felt a growl rip out of his throat. For a split second he didn't see his own reflection but Minato's, cruelty reflecting in his eyes as he smiled in deride condolence as a fist unconsciously shot forward, shattering the image.
I'll never be anything like him! He thought viciously.
Iruka busted through the door, a kunai in one hand and a shuriken in the other. Iruka took in the surprised looking blonde, the broken glass and the bloody fist still extended where the mirror used to be.
"I ah- this- erm- I didn't…I'm sorry." Naruto stuttered through, looking shamed.
Iruka smiled warmly but inside he was very worried. Naruto just hadn't been the same since he found out about his parents.
Walking to the sink the chunin opened it, revealing a first aid kit. Taking out a bandage roll, tweezers and Neosporin the young man set about wrapping the small wound.
"Did my mirror offend you?" Iruka said, trying to break the tension.
"I…I just saw somebody else for a moment." Naruto said quietly looking to the floor.
Iruka stared at Naruto for a moment before attending the cut up hand.
"This somebody wouldn't happen to look similar to the Fourth would they?" Iruka asked casually.
The effect was instantaneous; Naruto froze up, looking like he he was just told he was a monster only worse.
"You know," Iruka continued as though he didn't notice Naruto reaction, "I heard that bright blonde hair is very hard to hide on a stealth mission. Maybe we could dye your hair? I think you'd look very nice as a red head."
Naruto gave a thankful smile. "I'd like that."
Sarutobi yawned tiredly but continued his work nevertheless. So far he had successfully converted most of Minato's bank accounts as well as his mansion over to Naruto.
It had been three days since Naruto read the letter and the reports he got back from Iruka was not good.
Naruto had taken to locking himself into Iruka's bedroom, only leaving long enough to eat, drink or go on nightly walks where he ended up training till dawn.
At Koharu and Homura's insistence Sarutobi had given Naruto the rank of Genin as a 'thank-you' (for saving the village) and 'I'm sorry' (for helping in ruining your life, and I will do everything in my power to make it up to you).
When he had asked Iruka what Naruto reaction was like the instructor had said that the boy took one look at it and left it on the counter and had yet to touch it again.
Iruka had also stated that Naruto had been showing extreme dislike for his appearance; Sarutobi wanted to believe this was just a faze some kids went through but he sincerely doubted it. Naruto had been told by a number of people (mostly his ANBU and himself) that he looked like the Fourth and Sarutobi even showed him the picture that hung in his office of Minato.
Back then Naruto had been awed and positively blissful at the fact he looked like his idol but now he could honestly understand why he would hate his looks.
Sarutobi briefly wondered if either of his sons had ever hated how they appearance because of how similar they looked to him.
He decided he didn't want to know that. What father would?
Sighing Sarutobi finished the letter he had made to send to the Ame Leader; after digging up Kushina's will he found that she had made in the event of her death that her fiancé, Yahiko of Ame (which was complete news to him; wasn't she and Minato together before her death?) was made the de facto father of Naruto (had she died before they got married), which meant that Naruto had a father (a adopted father, but a father nonetheless).
Now to call the other living godfather; Hyuuga Hiashi.
Hiashi watched as his youngest daughter stood in front of him, panting hard as she forced herself to stand correctly. Hanabi was showing to be a strong candidate for the title of Clan Head.
He honestly wished he could say the same for Hinata, but she just wasn't showing anywhere near the same amount of potential as her younger sister.
Speaking of Hinata, her Genin instructor Kurenai Yuhi was here.
The Jounin stood in the entrance, looking on in a stern fashion.
"I will be watching over Hinata from now on, but are you sure it's alright? Hinata is from the Main family and working as a genin may cause her to become surrounded by death or even die."
"Do as you wish. The Hyuuga clan doesn't need her. She is below in abilities to Hanabi who is five years her junior."
Heartless bastard, Kurenai thought angrily.
"If that is all please leave. You're in the way." Hiashi said coldly.
Before Kurenai could leave though a Jounin rushed forward, stopping in front of the Hyuuga leader.
"Sir! Lord Hokage wishes your presence immediately."
Hiashi raised a brow, staring articly at the messenger.
"I'll be there within the hour-"
"He said it was about your godson."
For a moment Hiashi just stood there, frozen to his spot as surprise and shock was evident on the usually stoic face. Then Kurenai and the messenger both nearly fell over as a blur shot past them, yelling out, "Hanabi! You're done for the day!"
The small group just stood there for a moment, wondering what had happened.
Then a branch member walked by, blinking rapidly. Stopping in front of Hinata he turned to her, still blinking.
"Was it just me or did Lord Hiashi just shot past us, broke down a wall and tore threw the gates like some vengeful spirit? In like fifteen seconds flat?"
"I-I th-think F-Father d-did, cousin Ko."
I'm sorry this is so late! I have no one to blame but my boss (I love my job; I can't stand the people I work for)!
.
If you confused about Yahiko's journal this is how it went; first off Nagato had skipped around, so most of the entries were months apart.
When Yahiko said four godparents he was talking about Jiraiya, Hizashi, Hiashi and himself.
Kushina wrote to Yahiko about the pregnancy telling him it was Minato's child and would understand if he didn't want to be with a woman who had another man's child.
When Yahiko wrote --'After explaining to me how this happen she told me she would understand if I wanted to end our relationship' – Nagato and Konan had thought Kushina didn't want to ruin Yahiko's reputation by having a bastard child and was willing to keep their child a secret, thus leading to Konan and Nagato thinking that Yahiko had a child with Kushina (Yahiko didn't see it relevant to tell his friend's that he wasn't the biological father since he was going to help raise the baby with Kushina, just like a real father).
Now that leaves the question; How is Nagato going to react to the idea that best friend's 'son' is alive and being raised by the very society that had caused Yahiko's demise?
Hope you like! I'll TRY to update before April!
E.o.S.