Broken Bonds sequel: Two years prior
Naruto hated the academy. Even if he attended there for four years now, he couldn´t help but hated it. He didn´t know why, but he´d always difficulties within the lessons. No matter how much he´d study or train, he always ended as the deadlast of the class. It frustrated him so much that he didn´t want to try anymore. His classmates laughed about him, whenever he couldn´t manage to even answer the most simple questions.
It didn´t help that he almost failed every year and that it was just thanks towards Iruka- sensei´s kindness that didn´t need to repeat the year.
He tried to overplay his uncertainties with pranks and fun. He played the role of the class clown. Apparently, the only role he could play quite well. Sometimes it seemed as if playing pranks was the only thing he was really good in. He so creative that even his classmates were often impressed with his careful concocted pranks. Everyone found it funny, expect for the teachers. Of course this always let him end in trouble.
Like today.
If there was anything he hated more than the boring school days, than was it definitely to get on his mother´s bad side. And she was pissed right now. Her eyes were narrowed when she read the letter, Iruka-sensei gave him for his parents.
Today was even worse, because it was one of the rare days his father was at home. Naruto could already see the disappointment in his face, when he looked over his wife´s shoulder to get a look on the letter.
Kushina´s mouth was pressed into a thin line, when she fold up the paper again and sat down on the sofa. Minato did likewise and signaled to Naruto with his hand to sit beside them. Reluctantly, he obeyed.
"We´ve talked about it, remeber?" Kushina said, still calm but he knew if he´d gave one wrong answer she´d freak out. "So, would you care to explain why your sensei informed us that you caused trouble in school again?"
"I haven´t caused trouble..." The ten years old muttered and looked down at his knees.
"Really? So you haven´t hide bang frogs on your teacher´s chair and when he sat down he burnt his ... behind?" His father asked with raised eyebrows.
Naruto couldn´t help, but remembering the event let him burst out in laughter. He had purposely hid the bang frogs under Mizuki-sensei´s chair cushion and when he sat down the frogs blowed up. It was the funniest view ever, when the sensei jumped to his feet and run through the room, while rubbing his burnt behind. The whole class freaked out from joy. Mizuki-sensei wasn´t very popular by his students. He was strict and unfair and that was the main reason why Naruto had picked him as the victim.
"Shall I give you reason to laugh young man?!" Kushina snapped angrily. Of course his parents weren´t delighted about his action.
The blond boy bit his lower lip, well knowing that he shouldn´t provoke his mother further.
"Why did you do that Naruto." His father said, his tone more firm than before. "You´ve to respect your teachers and not to embarrass them in front of the whole class."
"Mizuki-sensei is a jerk. Everyone thinks so..."
"He´s your teacher and that alone is reason enough for him to demand your respect." Kushina said sternly. "And we´ve talked about that, remember?"
"Yeah, but..."
"No buts!" She ranted. "After your latest report card, I was so proud of you, because I thought you finally began to take the academy more serious. But now you really disappoint me. Instead of continuing to study hard, you waste all your time and potential with pulling ridiculous pranks."
He hated it when his mother scolded him. She was always quick to anger, while his father seemed to be always disappointed. Naruto knew very well that his parents, but especial Minato, expected a lot from him. They did assure him that it´s alright that he wasn´t the best student at the academy and that they´d always be proud as long as he worked hard. But sometimes he got the impression that his father wished he´d have more talent. Both Minato and Kushina were very talented shinobi and it bothered him that obviously, he hadn´t inherited any of their skills.
"How do you expect anyone to respect you when you constantly cause trouble? And how can you expect your teachers to accept you, when you disrespect them all the time?"
"I already told you, Mizuki sensei is a dumbass! He always criticize me and yells about every little mistake." Naruto protested angrily.
If he´d inherited anything from his parents, than definitely his mother´s temper. He never liked getting lectured or punished and he always tried to get his way out of trouble. It wasn´t his fault, that adults were such spoilsports. A prank is supposed to be funny and shouldn´t get him into trouble.
"Naruto." The Hokage said sternly. "If you want to continue to strive to become a shinobi, you´ve to change your attitude towards your superiors or you won´t bring it far within the shinobi ranks. Should you success in becoming a genin, you´d get a sensei you don´t like but you´ll have to obey him otherwise you ´d lose your ranks. And even Jonin have to work under commaders they might dislike. Do you think they can just reject them only because they don´t like them?"
The boy bit his lip and shook his head. He knew what his father tried to tell him but honestly Naruto had an other opinion about the matter. Even if he´d become a jonin someday, he swore he´d never listen to anyone, he considered stupid. Of course this was just a childish stance but he was just ten years old and not even a genin yet. So it was being within his rights to act childish! He rolled his eyes when his father continued with his lecture.
"The shinobi life isn´t something you can take lightly, neither is the academy. We expect you to understand it and to take our advise to heart. And I really mean it this time Naruto."
"Yeah, I understand." He muttered.
"Anyway." Said his mother, whom watched him with narrowed eyes. Obviously, she knew that he wasn´t showing any real remorse. "Whether you´re willing to understand or not, you´ll be punished."
Naruto´s head shot up at once. "What? That´t not fair!"
"Of course it is and you know it. You´ll apologize by your teacher, plus you´ll be grounded and getting no ramen for the next two weeks." Kushina said and glared at her son, daring him to argue with her.
"No ramen?! Are you serious? What I´m supposed to eat then? Dad say something!"
"Actually, I agree with your mother."
"And I don´t want to hear any more protests." The red haired woman said. "Now I´ve to run some errands. Minato, I leave it to you to talk some sense into our boy."
With that said, she left the living room in order to get ready to leave the house. Naruto leanded back and crossed his arms.
"We just want you to learn from your mistakes." His father said.
"Great." He pouted. "Now I´m not allowed to have ramen and I´ve to apologize by that stupid Mizuki..."
The blond Kage smacked his son´s head lightly. "What did we talk about just few minutes ago?"
"That I´m supposed to show my teachers respect..."
"Exactly. So watch your language."
"Why are you even at home so long? Haven´t you anthing else to do? Some stupid Hokage business?"
"I planned to take the day off and take you out for ramen, but since you´re grounded now it has to wait until another time."
Naruto´s eyes widened with disbelieve. It had been so long since his dad had even bothered to spend time with him. He was always too busy with his job as the Hokage and always broke all his promises towards him. And now when his father was at home and had finally time for him, he was in trouble and not allowed to go out. How was that fair?
"Please make an expection for today! You broke your promises to me countless times and you never get punished for it! I always forgave you, because I hope there will come another time where you´ll actually spend time with me for real. And now when you´re here, I´m punished and not allowed to spend time with my dad."
Minato´s features automatically softened. It was obvious that he felt guilty neglecting his child so much. But being the Hokage was an fulltime job and he rarely found time for his family.
"Well you got yourself into trouble, remember? But since it´s my day off, we can spend time together at home if you want."
"That isn´t the same..." Naruto muttered with lowered eyes. "Going out for ramen is something we used to do often before you became Hokage..."
Indeed. The Hokage remembered the many times he´d take his son out for his favourite lunch. Despite Kushina´s own weakness for ramen, she wasn´t very fond by the idea, that Naruto would stuff himself with it on a regular basic. So she rarely allowed him to eat ramen. Minato would always bring Naruto to Ichirakus to spend some time with him and to make him happy. And they always kept it a secret from Kushina, although Minato suspected that she knew about it anyway. But this was something they shared as father and son together and he remembered with sadness, that his relationship with Naruto had been closer before he became Hokage.
He knew very well how many times he´d disappointed his boy in the past. And although it wasn´t purposely, he couldn´t help but felt guilty.
Looking at Naruto´s sad expression, let him feel even more guilty. His son was right, he was never at home and always broke his promises and when there was finally the opportunity for them to spend time together, he couldn´t make his son happy with his favourite meal because he was grounded.
It was counterproductive and Kushina would never agree with it, but suddenly Minato hadn´t the heart to stay consequent any longer. Maybe Naruto´s bad behaviour in school was a reason for his continuing absence in his life. It was probably about time to act as his father again.
"You know what, we´ll go to Ichirakus now..."
Naruto´s head shot up at once. His eyes wide with excitement. "Really?"
"Yes, but that´s just an exception, because I´m aware that I really neglected you too much lately. You´re still grounded and the most important, don´t tell your mom about this."
Both males gulped by the thought of fuming Kushina and it was surely better to keep their little excursion a secret. If the blond Kage had some doubts about his decision, but it faded quickly when his son wrapped his arms around his neck and hugged him fiercely.
"Thank you dad! You´re the best!"
And hearing these words were definitely worth it.
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Hi,
I finally managed to update after a long time. Naruto and Minato bonding time, because their relationship hadn´t been always so bad.
Thanks for everyone who left a review, it really made me happy :)
Please let me know what you think and review ;)