Eighteen year old Naruto stood in front of the Christmas tree trying to decide where to hang the small ornament she was holding on the already overloaded branches. Garlands hung half in and half out of the boxes that were scattered around the brightly lit living room of the small apartment. Evergreen and red was everywhere.
"Will you just hang it up already?" Sasuke huffed trying to untangle a garland of greenery but was succeeding in only tangling it up further.
"Decorating a Christmas tree is an art form, teme. Shh!" Naruto took a step to the left and her generous lips twisted as she looked at the tree then at the ornament then at the tree again.
Sasuke rolled his eyes and went back to trying to solve the garland puzzle. He could hear Iruka and Kakashi in the kitchen talking in low voices and random laughter as they fixed dinner. The three grown cats lounged together on a pile of stockings and tree skirting, grooming each other in contentment.
"Ha!" Naruto yelled as she finally found the perfect place for the ornament. She turned to him with triumph written across her face and her hands settled on her hips having conquered the Undefeatable Christmas Tree of Doom. She looked so pleased with herself that Sasuke grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap so that he could taste her smirking lips.
"What was that for?" she asked as soon as he allowed her to break away from the kiss.
"For winning and for me," he said soothing some of the rumpled strands of golden hair while holding her squirming body against his aroused one. Naruto stilled feeling the hard bulge against her bottom and her wide eyes found his.
"Sa—Sasuke," she whispered as her own body responded to the proximity of that erection growing wet and needy. She bit her bottom lip as she wriggled for a completely different reason.
Sasuke huffed out a hard breath as Naruto's behind pressed against him and the heat seeped through the layers of clothing. He growled low in his throat as he felt Naruto shudder her breath beginning to pant out of her.
"Oi!" Kakashi called from the doorway. "Dinner is ready so get your butts in here and eat!"
Reluctantly, Sasuke helped Naruto up. Her face had flashed instantly to tomato red as Kakashi lifted a brow at their position. He didn't move until both were on their feet and moving to the dinning room where a festooned tabled was set with brightly colored red and green plates on a Christmas plaid table cloth. Mulberry scented candles were set into a festive centerpiece and were lit to give off a dim glow producing a romantic and seasonal tone to the room.
Iruka took up a spot at the head of the table with Kakashi and Naruto on either side, Sasuke took the spot next to Naruto. A quick prayer was said and dinner commences with everyone grabbing plate, or bowl to dish up turkey, mashed potatoes, rolls, and fruit salad. There was also gravy, candy yams, and cranberries arranged in the empty places to complete the meal.
Even though Christmas was still three days away the small family had chosen to have a family dinner early because of all the activities that were happening in the next two days. Tomorrow was a Snow festival complete with snowy fun during the day such as: sculptures from local artists, snowball fighting and fort building for the older kids and an ice skating rink for the littler ones. Hot chocolate, donuts, and various other warm treats as well as snow cones, ice cream, and frozen goodies would be served throughout the day. There would be sleigh rides plus shuttles that would take people to the nearby mountains for skiing. Other had volunteered snowmobiles and ATVs for extreme sportsmen to use. And in the evening when things were calmer, more relaxed, there would be a dance. Both couples were looking forward to it.
On Christmas Eve the town got together for the little kids. At six they would gather the littler kids together and sign Christmas Carols ending with 'Santa Claus is Coming to Town' in anticipation of Santa Claus coming. The little kids would line up with squeals of delight at the fur dressed man and sit on his lap to tell him their most precious dreams of the year. Once the secrets were told the brightly clothed man would give the child a small present and a bag of goodies after getting the promise that they had been good all year and would be sound asleep when he came to deliver their hoped for presents.
Then on Christmas Naruto would be joining the Uchihas for Christmas dinner.
"Seriously, Kakashi," Iruka said as Kakashi relaying a story.
"I am serious. Two cowboys were riding along on their horses, they said that they were looking for a young bull that had gone missing and when I saw them they had pulled the horses over to the side of the road and took out cell phones," Kakashi said with a smirk. Naruto giggled.
"I guess they were practicing safe driving!" she snickered.
Sasuke grinned at the family interaction. His family had gotten better at it since Naruto had become a part of them. She'd always talked about what the day or week was like whenever she was there during meals. A lot of the time bringing small laughs as something humorous that had happened sometimes outrage when the discussion ran into politics and Fugaku became agitated of the current state of the economy and Obama's plans to help the markets.
"So Sasuke, where are you planning on going to school?" Kakashi asked.
The smile left Naruto's lips as she looked down at her plate. Sasuke had explained that his dad wanted him to attend school over seas for a couple of years. It seemed that the school had an excellent business program and Fugaku had enrolled Sasuke in it. It was one of the few times that Naruto had seen Sasuke furious but he'd been unable to refuse after that. Even now Sasuke's brow furrowed with suppressed rage at the thought.
"I will be attending Aberdeen Business School," Sasuke muttered. "My father's thoughts are that I can get my degree quickly so that I can join in on more of the meetings at the company."
"Yeah, I'd heard that the programs offered over seas can get you a degree in half the time it takes here in the US." Kakashi's eyes slid to Naruto who was now picking at her food.
"Naruto--," Iruka interrupted the distressful topic, only to have the rest of what he was about to say cut off by the doorbell.
"Wonder who that is," he stated getting up to answer it, everybody else following.
Iruka opened the door to see Jiraiya standing there with a couple of police officers. Jiraiya's normally jovial appearance had changed to one of an older man. He was pale and seemed shaken the whole making him look ten years older and more worn. The red markings that ran down his face from his eyes to his jaw stood out even more from the lack of color in his face. His shoulders were hunched and his eyes were sad and pain ridden, lips were pulled down at the corner, and his brow was furrowed. Naruto could see tear tracks marking his face and knew that what was about to happen involved her parents.
"Jiraiya? Wha--?" Iruka began looking back and forth from the white haired man to the officers.
"Mr. Umino? I'm Detective Morino and this is Detective Yamato. Could we come in?" The man on the left spoke. He was tall with two scars cutting across his face diagonally; one short, slashing from just under is right eye and across his cheek while another started under the dew-rag that he wore to the center of his chin in almost a straight line down. His very presence was intimidating for the small family who stepped back to allow him, his partner, and Jiraiya through.
"We're sorry to come by at such an hour," the partner said looking gravely from one person to the next. He wasn't as tall Morino and had no distinguishing features that made him stand out in Naruto's mind other than the brown eyes that sent a chill down her spine.
"Would you like something to drink?" Iruka offered politely.
"No thank you," Morino said taking a deep breath. "We are her on official business. It seems that Minato Namikaze and his wife, Aniki, were killed this afternoon in a car accident."
Silence followed that statement then eyes went to Naruto who turned and left the room without a word.
Naruto made her way to her room and shut her door quietly. She couldn't think of anything to say or how she should react to the news. She heard the door close and knew that the detectives left. Numbness spread through her even as she heard a quiet knock on the door and Iruka peered around the room.
"Naruto, what are you thinking?" he asked quietly taking her hand and drawing her to the bed. They sat on the edge and Iruka waited for Naruto to speak.
"Iruka, why didn't my parents want me?" she asked the question that Iruka had been dreading for years now. Sighing he took a deep breath.
"Aniki isn't your biological mom," he started. "Minato met Kushina Uzumaki when he was fifteen and being the son of Jiraiya he fell in love with the girl. Well, I won't go into details but needless to say Kushina ended up pregnant and her parents refused the let the two get married. Her parents sent Kushina to another town to have you so that the stigma of your birth didn't reflect onto them. You see they were a very prominent family in this town and the fact that their daughter was having a bastard child…well, they thought that people would see them in a different light and they were embarrassed by it.
"When Kushina went into labor there were complications and in the end the doctors weren't able to save you both. Minato was left with raising you on his own which he tried desperately to do but then he met Aniki and she refused to marry him as long as he was raising a child because she didn't want to have an automatic family. I'd met him when you were about a year old and I was seventeen. I guess I loved you from the start and when Minato started looking for a family for you I told him that I'd take you.
"You were such a good natured child, always happy. When Minato told me that he couldn't handle it, I'd thought that you were one of those babies that was always crying or fussing. But you were so easy that I was surprised by Minato's claims. I didn't question him further when he handed you over because I was…ecstatic to finally be your dad."
"So he really didn't want me," she said evenly. "I'd hoped that it was just because they were young and wanted to give me a better home than what they could provide or some such. Not just because I was too hard to deal with."
"Minato was young when he had you. He was terrified to be sixteen and suddenly raising a baby. He was still just a child himself."
"But you weren't much older."
"In many ways I was. I'd lost my own parents when I was little and I desperately wanted a family to call my own and Minato practically handed you over and I belonged to someone again. I'd grown up at a young age and was mature enough to handle the responsibilities that come with having children."
Iruka drew Naruto into his arms and pulled her tightly against his chest in comfort. Naruto was now crying silently against him, her head buried in his warm shoulder. She'd known all along that Iruka loved her but hearing it was all the better.
"I—I don't know how to feel about him and the fact that he's dead," Naruto mumbled into the cloth of his shirt. Her hands clenched into little fists and she pulled away to look up at her dad. "I feel sad that he died, but I'm kind of relieved also and I'm wondering if that's wrong. I don't hate him because he gave me the best father anyone could have but at the same time I do. It's kind of all mixed up, it's like I'm mad and sad and…and I don't know.'
"It's alright to feel sad because he was you dad and he is Jiraiya's son and he's grieving. And I get that you hate him but you don't. I think that a lot of anger has been building up inside of you and now that he's gone you don't know were to direct it but I think that you should forgive him, and everyone else. It's going to take some time to sort everything out but you'll do it because you're Naruto and you can't hold onto a grudge." Iruka squeezed the girl tightly.
Naruto smiled and stood up pulling him up with her. "You're right. Besides I'm still hungry."
Iruka withheld the chuckle and tucked her against his side, under his arm and went back to the living room. Kakashi looked from one to the other and smiled at Naruto who nodded towards him to show that she was okay. She went to Jiraiya first and hugged him which he returned with force causing a small groan to push past her lips. He kissed the top of her head.
"You're a good kid, you know that, and no matter what Minato did I know that he loved you," Jiraiya stated. Naruto let it go because she didn't know what to say to that. She'd analyze it later, for its truthfulness and how she felt about it.
"Would you like to join us for dinner?" she asked pulling away from the man.
"That would be wonderful," Jiraiya said looking down at her with a soft smile.
She'd visited with Jiraiya off and on through out the years. He was a fun person to spend time with and often frustrating especially when they had hung out at the park and he'd leered at the twenty year olds that jogged past them if they were sitting on a bench. Or it was the time that he introduced her to every single eligible man that he knew when she was fourteen. Then there were the times that she'd gotten mad at him because she'd caught him peeking into the next door neighbors house when they were having sex and he'd claimed that it was 'research'. She loved him and hurt for him because he'd just lost his son. She wanted to make the hurt go away, hated to see the grief that was filtered in his eyes, but knew that the only thing she could do was lend her support to him.
They resumed their seat with Jiraiya sitting next to Kakashi. There wasn't much talking because of the news but they took comfort in each other. Naruto wasn't sure at what point that Sasuke's hand had taken hers under the table but he gave it a squeeze every other minute or so just to let Naruto know that he was there for her and she'd send him a sideways smile.
愛愛愛愛
Naruto stood next to Jiraiya at the graveside. She was supposed to be listening to the priest as he spoke about Minato's and Aniki's accomplishments in life but was trying her hardest to not roll her eyes at every good deed that was mentioned. Her eyes were fastened to the two coffins that were poised over tarps waiting for the mourners to leave so that they didn't have to see the black holes in the earth. Colorful flowers were stationed at the top of the grave and on the opposite side from where the funeral director had set up the seats for the service.
Jiraiya had refused to sit saying that he wasn't a helpless old man with a heart condition and he didn't need to sit. The chairs were occupied by a few of his female friends (yes, he had female friends, go figure). Naruto had been offered one but she was following his example and stood by his side.
Iruka, Sasuke, Mikoto, Kakashi, and Fugaku were stationed behind them, mostly for moral support but Fugaku who had been friends with Minato had taken it hard when he'd been told of his death. Naruto learned that they'd been best friends growing up. They'd played together, gotten in trouble together, and gotten out of trouble together. Minato had stolen Jiraiya's stash of Sake and had convinced Fugaku, who was a few years older than him and should have known better, to help him drink it while they hid in the tree house that they'd built. Jiraiya had found them puking behind in the bushes, drunk and sick from all the Sake they'd consumed. When Fugaku had gotten his first car he'd taken Minato out for a spin in it, and when they'd gotten into an argument over Kushina and Minato's relationship, he'd ran into the back of Jiraiya's own, newly purchased, red mustang. There were many other stories that Naruto had been told and she'd listened politely to every one holding back words that would hurt the elder Sannin.
Naruto felt someone step up to her side and looked sideways surprised to see Gaara standing there in a black suit. He bowed his head and looked appropriately mournful, which was somber and lips down turned. Naruto nearly broke out in laughter at the expression on his face but he quickly sent her a glare for almost blowing his cover.
"I wanted to be here for you as your friend," he said leaning in so that he could whisper in her ear without disturbing the other mourners at the graveside.
"Thank you," Naruto said, "but you didn't have to."
"I've been through a few of these, first with my mother, then my uncle and lastly with my father. I've kind of gotten the hang of the appropriates so I can help you through all the little things." He turned back to the service with a little nudge of his head in the direction of the priest.
She could feel Sasuke's glare drilling into the spot between Gaara's shoulders and she ducked her head around to see him just as she'd thought she would, trying to stare daggers into the red heads heart from behind. She felt Jiraiya nudge her and looked up at him with an apology.
Then the priest asked if anyone would like to come up and say a few words for the two victims that were taken early in their lives. Jiraiya stepped away from her and made his way over to the priest.
He looked around at everyone who was gathered but when he was finished his deep blue eyes came back to Naruto and stayed. He took a deep breath and fought down the tears that had been threatening to overflow for the past fifteen minutes.
"Minato wasn't the most brilliant person in the world, though he was extremely smart as he proved to me on several occasions when he was able to outwit me during arguments. And there were times when he'd be extremely careless and stupid like getting caught putting blue dye in the girl's locker room shower heads, maybe he was going through a Smurf complex at the time, I'm still not sure." The people chuckled at the comments but sobered quickly. "When my wife brought Minato home from the hospital he was the most precious person in the world to me from the get go. And I indulged him greatly in everything. I also taught him almost everything I know…" There were a few questioning looks. "…I said almost. I know that he wasn't the flawless in fact he had many flaws. One being that he could be very selfish along with very stupid. But he did care for the people in his life and made sure that they were taken care of even when he wasn't around. I didn't know Aniki very well but I'm sure that she was for the most part and good person. I'd only met her once and that was on their wedding day. Minato told me that she loved the outdoors and would drag him to every hiking trail that was nearby when they had the free time. When we spoke he sounded happy so I know that she was his life. And I'm very grateful to Minato for giving me someone who had become as precious to me as he was, my granddaughter Naruto and I will be eternally indebted to Minato for allowing me to be a part of her life." His voice broke several time during that last and Naruto felt a burning sensation in her eyes and blinked surprised to find tears slipping down her face. He finished his speech and came back to her side taking her hand and giving it a little
There were several other people who spoke about Minato and/or Aniki telling their personal experiences. When the service came to an end, Jiraiya followed by Naruto went to the coffins and laid a single white rose over each. They were followed by the rest of the mourners. But instead of leaving, Naruto hung back.
"Naruto?" Iruka inquired seeing her hesitate.
"I'll meet you at the car," she said and watched as he left with Kakashi and Jiraiya. Sasuke leaned against the trunk of a nearby tree and Gaara took up a space next to him with his arms folded across his chest.
Naruto walked back to stand by the coffin when everyone else had left. The funeral director seeing her motioned to the people who would finish up to give her some privacy.
She was silent staring at the brown surface of the shiny coffin that was adorned with white roses, daisies, and orchids. She reached out and felt the cool surface, brushing her finger tips across it.
"I…" she felt the burn of tears again and tried to blink then back. "I've heard more stories about you this past few days than I think I've heard in my whole entire life. Iruka's been a great dad and you chose well." Her voice grew husky with holding back the emotions that were trying to swamp her. Taking a deep breath she continued. "From everything I've heard it seems that we have a lot in common. Jiraiya says that you used to come home from school with bruises nearly every day. You were friends with an Uchiha. You would bring home stray cats and you weren't afraid of anything…except me it seems. I'm stronger than you though because I won't run away from my mistakes or let someone else deal with them. It might have been nice to get to know you but I guess you were afraid or felt guilty about me. I don't think that Kushina would have been embarrassed by me and I think that you disappointed her when you couldn't handle having a kid…sorry, I've been going back and forth between anger and…more anger. It seems like every time I think of you I get angry, for myself, for Jiraiya, and for Kushina who didn't even have a chance to 'handle me'. Iruka says that I need to forgive you and I guess in a way I do, but there is just so much that I wanted to tell you.
"Before learning why you abandoned me, I wanted to get to know you and show you that I was a good person. When I was younger I used to dream about telling you how I got an A on my math test, that I'd studied so hard to get it or to show you the picture that I drew of being a family, the one that Iruka taped to the refrigerator. Then as I grew and a milestone came up I used to wonder about what you thought of me or what you'd say to me. Like when I had my first period when I was twelve—I thought that Aniki was my mom—and she'd cry because I was growing up, like Sakura's mom did. Or when I first became interested in boys, back before I knew that Sasuke liked me—you'd sit me down and have that talk with me, the one about the birds and the bees and then tell me that you'd shoot any guy that looked twice at me—the way Hinata's dad did before sending a shot gun shell to Kiba with his name written on it, hand delivered by Neji, by the way. Or when I turned sixteen. I'd even began to wonder if you might show up at my graduation.
"But you know what? I'm glad that Iruka was my dad. I wouldn't have it any other way. He's given me so much and been there for me in every way. I don't think anyone, even you, could have been a better father. So I forgive you and I want to tell you thank you." Naruto dropped her hand from the coffin top and turned to see Iruka (tears streaming down his face), Kakashi (who nodded and smile at her), and Jiraiya (who's head inclined in pride). Iruka came up to her and hugged her tightly making her groan at the strength he put behind it. When he released her, Sasuke came up and took her hand to guide her to the car.
"The lawyer will meet us at my house," Jiraiya said before they could get in the car. Iruka and Kakashi agreed that they would be there while Naruto looked confused.
"Lawyer?" she asked.
"Minato left a will behind and you and Iruka are needed at the reading," Jiraiya explained but Naruto didn't understand.
"It will be explained more there," Sasuke said tugging her into the car.
Jiraiya's house wasn't large but it was beautiful all the same. The cottage style house was set in the middle of a wonderland of flowers, shrubs, and trees. As a little girl, shenever she visited, she would pretend that she was a fairy princess and this garden was her kingdom. The little lady bugs were her subjects as well as the dragonflies, butterflies, and the occasionally bumble bee that didn't get too close. Behind the house was a large pond and she wondered if Gamabunta, Gamakichi, and Gamatatsu were still croaking away from the banks. The house itself was straight out of a Thomas Kinkade painting with wooden shingles, stone walls, blue shudders and door. It even had a smoking chimney where wisps of smoke curled lazily into the air.
"Come on," Sasuke said pulling Naruto along by the hand.
"Its something that is appropriate," Gaara said. Naruto didn't know how Gaara had ended up getting to come along but she was grateful that her friend was there because now she could glare at him.
"Will you shut up about appropriates?" she demanded.
Gaara smirked at her and lifted a nonexistent brow. How was it that he could get away with not having any eyebrows and not look like a freak of nature? "Just trying to help."
"Well, you're not so if you don't have anything of real value to say, just keep quiet like you always do. I don't know why you have to pick now to become a jabber jaw," she muttered then looked up in surprise when she found herself in Jiraiya's living room.
The lawyer stood before the fireplace with a small table set up next to him. Jiraiya was shaking his hand and Naruto wondered if she should go over and shake it also, then decided that if it was appropriate then everyone was doomed to disappointment because she was staying right where she was.
"Okay, I'd first like to thank everyone for being here. Officially for my records I'm going to record this so I'd like everyone to briefly state their full name and relation to Minato Namikaze."
Jiraiya went first. " I'm Jiraiya Sannin and I am Minato's father."
"Iruka Umino, I am Naruto's adoptive father, no relation to Minato."
"Kakashi Hatake. No relation to Minato."
"Naruto Uzumaki, Minato's daughter, Iruka's adoptive daughter."
"Sasuke Uchiha, no relation to Minato."
"Subaku no Gaara, no relation to Minato."
"Good now that I have everyone recorded. To those of you who aren't mentioned in the will you will stand as witnesses, if that is alright?" There were nods all around and the lawyer continued. "I am Hiruzen Saritobi, Minato's lawyer. I've asked Jiraiya to have you all gather here because, Minato Namikaze left a will and you have been mentioned in it.
"I'm not going to go into all the details and 'whereases and wherefores' so I will just be giving you the bare minimum and say it straight.
"'To my father, Jiraiya I have left all my personal belonging including the 1967 Shelby Mustang that he always wanted. Also all account under my name that aren't mentioned here will be signed over to you in the event of my death.
"'To Iruka Umino, for caring for Naruto, I'm leaving you will the sum total of $500,000, to reimburse you for any expenses that I was unable to provide for." Iruka was shaking he head.
"What the hell?! There weren't any expenses that he needed to take care of," he said.
The lawyer ignored him and continued. "I'm deeply indebted to you and I hope that the funds that were given to you for the care of Naruto were sufficient though from what I hear from Jiraiya, I know that she is quite the handful. I get a kick out of some of the antics that she's pulled throughout the years."
Naruto was surprised at the look inside of Minato.
"'and to Naruto Uzumaki. I am giving you all the pictures that I have of Kushina, your mother. She was a wonderful, and caring girl. You've taken after her in so many ways. The pictures are in the box that the lawyer had along with a letter from her and one from me also, though I will understand if you take my letter and burn it in Jiraiya's fireplace. I have also provided you with a trust fund which will provide you will a generous allowance monthly and also will pay for your schooling when you finally decide which school you want to go to. The trust fund will give you a monthly allowance until you are twenty five and then the whole trust will be turned over to you. The sum of $500,000 has been deposited into the trust so if you manage it carefully you shouldn't have to want for anything. I know that money doesn't buy happiness and that I have done you a great disservice for the life that I've handed you but I'm hoping that you will forgive me one day." The lawyer quit reading and looked up from the will. He picked up a medium sized box and brought it to her. He smiled gently at Naruto from a wrinkled face as she took the box clearly puzzled by the event that had just unfolded.
"Ah, that is everything that was in the will. Jiraiya, I'm terribly sorry for your loss, as well as yours Naruto. If you don't mind I need to get back to my office. If you have any questions you can reach me there. I'll have my secretary mail you copies of the will along with my information." The door closed quietly behind him as he left.
The rest of the group gathered around Naruto who stared at the box she'd been handed like it was a ticking time bomb. She sat down on the closest couch but didn't make any move to open the box.
She wanted to do exactly what Minato had suggested in his will and pull out the letter that he'd written and throw it into the fireplace. But first she would read Kushina's letter and look at the pictures. She set the box on the floor and opened the box. First there were two letters and underneath them were some photo albums. She lifted the letters to study the writing of the outside. One letter was old, faded, and had neat flowing writing on it and Naruto assumed that it was Kushina's letter. The other was crisp, white, and the bold writing across the front was very masculine and blocky.
Naruto carefully opened the older envelop first then took a deep breath and started reading out loud.
"Dear Naruto…
My name is Kushina Uzumaki and I'm sixteen years old. I just found out from the doctors here that you are a girl and I've always like the name Naruto so that's what I'm going to name you, even if you complain that it's a boys name or a fishes name. I'm excited for you to come but I'm also really scared. Just the thought of what's going to happen when I have you makes me scared, the whole childbirth thing…
My parents are insisting that I give you up, but I'm refusing. You are my child, mine and Minato's and I just know that you are going to be beautiful. I'm not sure that I can explain my parents well enough because even I don't fully understand them. You see I'm not married to Minato, simply because they refuse to have the Uzumaki blood mix with a 'lowly' (their words not mine) Namikaze blood. My parents are from the upper class and are very weathly, whereas Minato is from the working class and they don't think that he's good enough for me. So there in lies the problem. I'm not married so your birth will make you a bastard. There are many people out there who will think that you aren't worth anything. They'll hate you and try to make your life miserable and I am truly sorry for that but I will try to make up for it and as soon as I'm eighteen and legally an adult, Minato and I will be married!
Oh, Naruto, you're father is wonderful. He's so handsome almost beautiful, he makes me think 'that's what angels look like'. I love him so much. Maybe you'll have his blond hair and blue eyes. I truly hope so because my carroty hair is just soo…ack! Minato had a smile that makes everything better. You'll see when you get here how wonderful he is. And you'll have a playmate too because his friend, Fugaku Uchiha, has a son and I just know that you'll be best friend just like Minato and Fugaku.
I guess that I should tell you about myself—other than the fact that I have horrible red hair. I don't know what to tell you…I like music of course, I mean what teenager in their right mind doesn't like music—though I am sure that when you become a teenager the music will have changed and bands like ABBA and KC and the Sunshine Band won't be around anymore. I love to cook—shh, don't tell my parents but whenever I get the chance I sneak down to the kitchen and help the cook with dinner. When I grow up I'm going to be a World Famous Chef and work in one of the most prestigious restaurants in the world. And I love RAMEN, it's like the food of the gods and one day it will cure hunger world wide. I also have a temper from hell and it's on a short fuse. The first time
I met Minato and he asked me my bra size, I punched him so hard I knocked him out. Of course, later I forgave him, especially after meeting his father, Jiraiya (who is a porn writer).
Like I said Naruto I'm really excited for you to get here. I want to show you the world, things that I love like the Emerald Pools at Zions National Park, the Canals of Venice, and the Louve in Paris where the Mona Lisa hangs. I've been to some of the most wonderful places, thanks to my parents wealth and I want to show them to you. I also want to let you do everything you want…well, almost everything…like ride a horse, learning to ice skate, or painting a landscape. If you want to learn Taijutsu, then I want you to or if you want to rappel off a tall cliff (hopefully not until you are at least sixteen, and with several safety lines attached) then I want you to do it. I want you to spread your wings and take flight, don't let anyone or anything tell you that you can't because you can.
It seemed like there was a time skip but the letter continued but there were stains and blurred words as if someone have been crying while writing the letter.
My dearest Naruto,
The doctor is telling me that there are complications with the pregnancy. He says that there is a chance that one or both of us won't make it. So this may be the last time I can talk with you.
I'm in the hospital waiting. You are just minute (or hours) from being born and I'm praying to God that you survive. Minato is pacing outside the door, he finally wore my parents down so that they told him where I was. I don't know if I told you but they sent me away to have you, again because of the stigma of your birth which I'm so sorry for but I don't think I would change a thing.
I love you and Minato so much and if I don't make it you will need each other. I know that I will be proud of you and that you will do your best and try everything, and never go back on your word. You have a father and a mother that love you dearly, never forget that. And you have the power to change people, just like Minato, I know that also.
My dearest Naruto, be strong, grow up knowing that I'm looking down from heaven, and since I probably won't be there, be good, don't give your father too hard a time, eat your vegetables (I know they don't always taste good but they are good for you), don't stay out too late, and be safe always!
Love from your mother,
Kushina
Naruto trembled, tears streaming down her face. She looked up to see blurry images of her family surrounding her. Jiraiya and Iruka were crying also.
"Well, I know one thing. Naruto didn't eat her vegetables unless she was threatened with no ramen for a week," Kakashi said. That started everyone laughing breaking up the somber mood.
Naruto slid the letter back into the envelop and looked at the other one. Quickly before she lost her nerve she tore open the envelop and pulled the letter out opening it.
"Naruto…
I guess that you didn't throw this in the fireplace, so here's your last chance. No? Well, then that's good.
I don't know where to begin but since those words are redundant and the answer is always the same, I guess I'll start at the beginning.
About 10 million years ago there was a huge explosion in space…Oh, that's to far, okay, fast forward…
I met your mother, Kushina at a party that a friend of mine was having. Well it was his father's party and I just happened to crash it. I'd been wandering around looking for Fugaku when I saw this fiery head of hair that seemed to burn through the crowd. Getting closer I saw the most gorgeous creature that I'd ever seen and since I didn't have much tact to begin with, having Jiraiya for a father, I said the first thing that popped into my head without waiting for my mind to catch up. I asked for her bra size. Needless to say that it didn't impress her much, at least not as much as she impressed me about two second later…and one concussion. She cleaned my clock and it was a while before I woke up to find her gone, much to my disappointment.
But I found her later because she was enrolled at our school that year. I'm not sure which of us fell in love with the other first but I'm thinking that it was me. I fell hard for the girl who could knock me out with just one punch, and I think it was that moment that I fell in love with her, irrevocably.
When I got her pregnant, we were both terrified. And then her parent found out. I went to them and asked that we be married but they refused saying that they wouldn't have their name attached to trash. It was hard to learn that even in the United States that there is a class system and I wasn't worthy of the Uzumaki's daughter. I went home but then I got a bee in my bonnet and I wasn't going to take no for an answer so I went back only to be told that they'd sent their daughter to live with a distant relation. I demanded to know where she was but they refused to tell me anything. For several months, I didn't know if she was alright, if she was being taken care of, and more importantly if you were still apart of our lives. Everyday I went to them and demanded that they let me know where you were but they always refused. I learned where you and Kushina were from Fugaku. He'd over heard a conversation between his father and the Uzumaki about Kushina and he told me what he'd heard.
When I got there Kushina was in labor and it wasn't going well. The doctor said that there was a seventy percent chance that both of you would die during the birth. There were a lot of big words used and needless to say I didn't understand Doctor's Speak, and I pleaded with them to save Kushina.
I don't want to beat about the bush and I don't want to lie to you so I won't. If there was a chance of saving her, then I wanted the doctors to put her life before yours. But in the end you were the one that lives though you were scared. Those six lines that grace your cheeks came from your birth, the forceps that the doctor used.
For the longest time, I was angry and mad at the world. Every time I looked at you, you reminded me of what I'd lost.
When Iruka came into my life, he looked at you differently. He looked at you in such a way that I couldn't. You smiled for him when you didn't smile for me…I think because you knew what I felt even when you were that small. I knew about Iruka's background and his longing for a family and I manipulated the situation well letting him watch you and take care of you.
I met Aniki during that time as well. She wasn't Kushina but she was a wonderful and fun person to be with and I finally began to live again but there was one catch. She was the type of girl who didn't want a ready made family and I wasn't willing to give up the only person who was able to pull me from the darkness.
Don't get me wrong. I gave my soul to Kushina and once given there wasn't anyone else who owned that part of me. I loved Aniki, yes, but Kushina was my one and only.
So, I gave Iruka guardianship of you, and allowed him to officially adopt you. Though I did keep track of you over the years through Jiraiya. I heard about the time you snuck the puppy into the school and tried to hid it away in the coat closet, at least until, your teacher grew suspicious of the scratching sound and opened it to find a frightened dog who promptly made a break for it which ended up with the whole school trying to catch it as it ran through the hallways. I also have been hearing about Sasuke Uchiha, the son of my friend Fugaku, and I couldn't be happier, though the Uchiha's are sometimes hard to get along with and like to have things their way.
I know that I could give excuse after excuse for everything that happened but in the end that's all that they are…excuses. In the end it doesn't change the fact that I hurt you in the simplest, most basic way even before you knew about hurt and pain. In the end, it comes down to one thing only. I was weak and a coward, running away from my responsibilities and the hurt that I was going through. You are the strong one of us, much stronger that I could have ever been. I blamed you for everything, but I was wrong and for that I missed out on the most beautiful and precious thing that could have happened to me.
I know that Kushina is disappointed in me and I have to live with that and I will. Even though I took the coward's way out, I want you to know that I gave you to the one person who would love you the most in this world besides Kushina. I love you, but I wasn't able to be a father to you. Iruka is your father in every sense, he was there to teach you to walk; he was there to bandage your skinned knees when you fell; he was there even when Sasuke was being an idiot to hold you.
I hope and pray for the day when you will be able to forgive me, Naruto. Until then…
Minato
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A/N: Holy Freaking Hell!!! That was the hardest chapter I have written! I think I cried through the whole thing, so I hope you return the favor. Um, I also hope that I didn't step on anyones toes, or confuse anyone with all of that. Adoption is a subject that is very close to me (from Kushina's perspective) so a lot of this is hard to write about, but I hope that you don't mind that personal issues came up.
At first it was going to be different and her parents were going to come back, but I in the end I opted for another scene. Also, the way the original scene was going to work I didn't think really fit this story. Perhaps in another one, some other time.
Well, I hope that you like this chapter as much as you like the other two...btw...you guys broke the record with sixteen (count them), SIXTEEN reviews! Thanks so much! And I know that there were several people that I didn't respond to and I'm sorry but to everyone who didn't get a response: THANKS BUNCHES AND BUNCHES FOR THE REVIEWS! YOU GUYS ROCK!
You know what to do, so let me hear from you!
ZEN
P.S. I didn't proofread but will do so and fix at a later date. I know that it can get irritating and I'm sorry (there are a lot of stories that I just can't read because of that) but i hope that it didn't irritate to bad.
