Author's note: A little bit shorter than my last few chapters but I was out on vacation last week and I felt bad for not having updated recently. Thanks for all of your reviews, favorites and alerts. They really make my day and get me pumped up to write! I also love hearing your feedback. I love it when you guys speculate because it helps show me if I'm dropping subtle enough hints or not. Thanks again! Let me know what you think! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the plot and made up characters! :D

Warnings: Nothing really, maybe just language.

Word Count: 5,008

The Third Hokage wasn't sure to make of Minato's buried mask. When opening the harmless looking ziplock baggy around it, a foul odor emanated from the mask. So revolting that all the gagging occupants in the cramped cellar library were outwardly grateful when the old man closed it back up. Naruto fans the air around his nose, face still scrunched up in repulsion.

"What the hell was that horrible smell?" Naruto ask, gagging slightly when he inhaled impure air. Sasuke, who's nose was firmly pinched between his forefinger and thumb on his right hand looks slightly mortified by the act.

Visually mildly discomforted by the smell, the Third shakes his head. "It appears that the Four drenched the mask in some kind of conspicuously nasty smell and buried it... where?" He looks back over at the ANBU female.

Behind her mask, her face is contorted into one of disgust. "Beneath the large oak outside, my lord. The Fourth left a code depicting it's location with the intent of it being found."

The Third lowers his gaze back to the ziplock baggy, wondering what the purpose of such an act could be. Minato was always very secretive and even a little weird, so weird Hiruzen's lovely wife Biwako, had to assist in ensuring that as little of Minato's weirdness was shown but that was just beyond even what Hiruzen thought the strange blond was capable of. If there was a specific reason for this action, it was lost on the Third.

Still, Hiruzen had to wonder, did the Fourth just randomly go about his house hiding things just for the sake of hiding them, or is there a real reason for it? In the theories left behind by the blond man, it is clear that he was worried about something. That he was preparing himself and the village for whatever it was. He has multiple different training techniques in this room. Some a lot more obviously useful then other and so many books to help lead him in the right direction. Minato was adamant about the growing strength of the younger generation.

A naïve man would believe it to be fear over bringing his first child into the world, but some of these theories date back to even before he was considered for the position of Fourth. Sasuke had pointed out, at the end of the Shadow Clone Technique theory, that it almost appeared to be like a diary entry. The scribbles are significantly more sporadic, like he wrote it in a hurry. But why?

Hiruzen sighs, lowering the baggy to his side. Trying to figure Minato out always gave the old man a headache. It's one of the reasons he was chose as Hokage. One couldn't simply look at the young man and tell what was on his mind. He wore his emotions like a shield. Only using them to defend himself or to disarm someone else. It made him a perfect candidate in the old war hawk's eyes. But that choice is now coming back to haunt him. So many questions with no answers. Perhaps Jiraiya will be able to better tell them what is happening.

"That's all for today," Hiruzen says. He holds up the baggy and the slip of paper detailing the Shadow Clone training method. "You don't mind if I take these, do you Naruto?"

The blond shakes his head. "No, Jiji, go ahead." What was he going to need them for? A piece of paper with a training method he already knows and a stinky mask his father left behind for some ungodly reason? No, he could live without.

His father. That thought tickled Naruto's brain a little. This entire thing is so crazy. He's a shinobi with a family today? When yesterday he was just an unlucky kid lucky enough to get a decent meal once a week? That sort of thing doesn't just happen to someone like Naruto. Learning that his father was the Fourth is like something out of Naruto's greatest, most outrageous fantasies. But there is one thing that shadows even his glee over knowing that his family didn't throw him in a dumpster because they didn't like him. Or want him.

He has the Nine Tails inside him. His belly, the Third said.

Naruto watches as the hokage and the team of ANBU walk out, Sasuke follows, looking back at Naruto once with a nod of farewell. Once they're gone, he reaches up and touches his belly, wondering if he concentrated hard enough that he would be able to feel the demon within him, but he couldn't feel anything, just the rumble of his stomach.

That explained why he ate so much. He is eating for two.

"Don't let it bother you."

Naruto jumps with a loud yelp, spinning around to see Kakashi standing there. Naruto forgot that the man was there. He must have been staring at the seal on the front door this entire time. He relaxes a little.

"What, sensei?"

Kakashi nods with a lazy look on his face towards Naruto's stomach. "Don't let news of the Nine Tails being inside you change who you are. You are still the son of the Fourth. You are still Naruto Uzumaki." Then, as if uncomfortable, Kakashi looks away and makes for the gate, hands stuffed into his pocket. "Training tomorrow. Don't be late." He says over his shoulder, opening the gate slowly.

"Do you promise you wont be late?" Naruto calls after.

"No." With that, the iron gate groans closed and Naruto is alone. Standing the yard that used to be the Fourth Hokage's.

That used to be his father's.

The next week of training is nothing other than what Naruto would have expected. Kakashi focused a lot on the two boys, leaving Sakura a little to flounder. Naruto felt bad for her. Even though it kind of is her fault for not focusing on her training, it doesn't mean that she should be neglected. And it doesn't appear as though their sensei does it maliciously. He just doesn't seem to know how to teach her really.

He keeps telling her that there isn't much he can teach her until she has enough chakra to do anything. Naruto can see that, but still, he wants them to be able to work together as a team. Every time Naruto considers inviting his pink haired teammate to join him and Sasuke and rest of their friends at the Fourth's estate, he can feel Sasuke's eyes on him, telling him that it's a really bad idea.

And the thought slips away because Sasuke is right. They don't know if they can trust Sakura. Yes, they were quick to get Hinata and Shino's help, but that was because they had no other choice. Sakura's mom is one of the many people that can't tolerate Naruto's existence and if she found out that Naruto was sneaking into the Fourth's estate she would blow a gasket. She would go storming, ranting and raving to the Third and Naruto didn't want to put the tired old man through that so he would lower his eyes sadly and look away.

Kakashi visits the Fourth's house. A lot. At first he would stay only for a few minutes, just give the place a once around, then leave quickly, like he was uncomfortable there, but then his visits lasted longer and longer until he was there almost as long as Naruto and the rest of the six amigos were. He wouldn't say anything. Wouldn't interrupt their training, just stare at the door in silence, lost to his own thoughts.

It's been weird for Naruto and Sasuke. Ever since they've gotten their teams, the six amegos and Naruto haven't been able to all train together. All of them have been busy with training with their sensei's. At this point, Naruto is a little grateful. He's not so sure he knows how to explain to his friends what all has happened. About his lineage. About the Nine Tails. All of it just feels so surreal.

Naruto spent many of nights staring at the ceiling in his ratty apartment. Thinking about his life. Thinking about his burdens. His mind is constantly fluctuating between being ecstatic about being the son of the Fourth Hokage and feeling the heavy weight of the Nine Tails in his gut. Jiji has told him over and over again that he isn't the Nine tails, but now that Naruto is aware of the looks, of the murmurs, he's not so sure everyone else knows that.

Naruto has been assured by the Third that the Nine Tails, because of his father's seal, is asleep, unable to hear what is going on or react to the outside world. But even without it's consciousness controlling it, the Nine Tails' advanced healing chakra is the only thing from the Nine Tails that is naturally released into Naruto's body. Which explains why bruises that Naruto gets don't last nearly as long as they do with Sasuke, nor does he get sick all that easily. And when he does, it's never for long.

It's strange to think about something huge, red and angry slumbering inside of him. "In the seal, Naruto, not you," The Third had said. But Naruto's not all that sure he understands the difference. The seal is burned onto his flesh, his stomach, the Third had said, but every time Naruto pulled up his shirt to stare into the mirror, he didn't see anything that could be considered a seal.

After as long as he can stand, just staring at his flat stomach, wondering if the seal will just suddenly appear, he'll turn around and head back to bed. It's getting harder to considering getting back up again. Luckily, the training with his team and the constant missions are keeping him from thinking about it too much. Which is just the way he likes it.

"My lord," an ANBU appears in front of the hokage's desk. "Master Jiraiya has just arrived at the village gate. He's on his way here, now."

The Third nods, breathing out a lungful of smoke. "Thank you."

A single, crisp nod and the ANBU disappears in a puff of smoke. The Third leans back in his seat silently, closing his eyes and wondering how he's going to broach the topic of his student's dead student. He stays like that up until he hears the sharp knock slice through the otherwise silent room. Hiruzen opens his eyes and leans forward, calling for the outsider to be let in. He shifts the paperwork on his desk to the side so it doesn't distract him.

Jiraiya walks in looking no different than he did years ago, since the last time the Third saw him. His white haired student couldn't even bring himself to come to the Fourth's funeral. His and Kushina's.

"Welcome back, Jiraiya," The third greets.

The toad sage makes his way over to stand before his sensei, crossing his arms over his chest and giving a toothy smile. "Nice to see you again, Lord Hokage." He leans onto one hip, staring down at the old man fondly. "Perks of the job are evident on your face."

Hiruzen blinks slowly, knowing that that was a jab on his not-so-youthful appearance, but decides not to make a spectical about it. He interlaces his fingers together and leans on his desk. He stares at his student with a calm look.

"Jiraiya, I'm glad that you decided to show up on such short notice," he says pleasantly. Jiraiya perks an eyebrow at that.

"Yeah, not much else I can do other than come. It's not like I can say no. So, what did you need from me, sensei?"

Hiruzen stares back with keen eyes. "I am truly sorry about Minato, Jiraiya." That toothy grin wanes a little. Jiraiya looks a little surprised at his sensei's words and tries hard not to let the sadness deep in his eyes to flood into his face. He blinks a few times, forcing the emotions back. His smile strengthens again, trying to hide the pain still there.

"Thanks, sensei, but I'm sure that's not what you brought me here for, so," Jiraiya shifts his weight from one hip to the other, "what do you want from me?" He makes a face at that. "In a totally not rude sounding manner."

Hiruzen waves the words away. "I want to talk to you about Naruto." He watches his student flinch at the sound of his godson's name. "And Minato."

"Minato?" Jiraiya echos. "What about Minato?"

"More specifically, Minato's house. It's come to my attention that you are capable of getting inside."

Jiraiya raises an eyebrow, looking slightly suspicious. He shifts his weight to the other hip again. His smile falls and he stares at the hokage with an unreadable expression. "Why would you want to get into Minato's house? I don't think there is anything there that you would want."

"First off, Minato did take home work from the office before going out to see Kushina, so there is documents there that I would actually like to get my hands on. But most of all, Naruto has been able to get into the yard and it's only fair that he be allowed to get into the house too." Hiruzen says, staring back at Jiraiya with a level gaze. "Is that reason enough for you?"

Jiraiya looks like he wants to protest but the words die on his lips and he just looks down at the floor with an annoyed look. Then realization hits. He looks up sharply at the Hokage. "Wait, did you say he's able to get into the yard?"

Hiruzen nods. "Yes, I was hoping that you would be able to shed some light on that as well. It appears that Minato's seal on the gate is still as powerful as when he placed it on the metal. But it seems that Naruto is able to open it."

Jiraiya tilts his head back to stare up at the ceiling, lost in thought. He purses his lips and looks back to the Hokage. "I think... well, the only thing that I think could be the case that, Minato put a secondary seal on the gate that allowed Naruto to enter since he has similar chakra to Minato or Kushina. I guess I'd have to look at the seal to know for sure."

"Are you free to go now?" Hiruzen asks, standing up. He already knows the answer.

"Now?" Jiraiya echos. "Now's not a good time. I mean, I just got to town and my feet are killing me! I really had to hustle to get down here by the time I promised you." Jiraiya looks around desperately, fishing for something that he knows will just prolong the inevitable.

"And I am so glad you did," Hiruzen says, walking past his student toward the door. "I assume you know how to get there?" Hiruzen glances over at Jiraiya from over his shoulder.

Jiraiya deflates. "Aren't you busy?"

"Not at all, let's go." The old man turns and opens the door, walking out. Confident that Jiraiya will follow, he doesn't bother looking back. The younger white haired man sighs, rubbing the back of his neck. He grumbles something about a mean old man and makes to follow. A hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach. Jiraiya drags his heels, hoping to buy as much time as he can before he gets to Minato's house.

By the time they get there, Naruto and Kakashi are already waiting for them in front of the gate. Jiraiya almost trips over his sandals, thinking he's seeing a mini-Minato. He blinks rapidly, rubbing his eyes roughly before confirming that -yes- Naruto is almost an exact carbon copy of his late father. Which doesn't stop the near crippling guilt twisting in Jiraiya's gut once more.

The Third must have sent shinobi ahead to get them while Jiraiya was lollygagging.

Kakashi bows respectfully to the two approaching men. "My Lord. Master Jiraiya."

The Third nods respectfully back and turns to short blond. "Naruto, I would like you to meet my student, Jiraiya, he's also your father's sensei and your godfather." He steps aside for the sage to step up in front of the boy.

Naruto looks up at Jiraiya curiously. He waves a hand nonchalantly. "Hiya. Naruto Uzumaki." He considers that. "I... uh, guess that you already know that, huh?"

Jiraiya, speechless, nods mutely. He did know that the Third had given Naruto Kushina's surname to protect him. Normally, he would have been mad at that, thinking that it was some sort of backhanded way of disrespecting his student but the more Jiraiya thought about it, the more it made sense. Minato didn't want anyone to know too much about himself so he kept a lot of his life a secret. Kushina being his girlfriend. Kushina being his fiancé. Kushina being his wife. Kushina being the mother of his children.

Minato is such a personal person, Jiraiya is willing to bet that even Kushina doesn't know everything about him. Jiraiya sure as hell didn't.

But Jiraiya doesn't doubt that Minato would have agreed to have Naruto take Kushina's name to protect the boy-at least until he was old enough to protect himself. From Minato's enemies, at the very least. And Minato had a lot of powerful enemies. An entire nation-Iwa- hates Minato's guts. Kumo has begrudging respect for the blond. Minato impressed Ay enough to not become public enemy number one. And Killer B, Jiraiya assumes.

"Nice, uh, nice to meet you, kid," Jiraiya says, feeling like he has to say something. This boy, looks so much like Minato, it would be hard to hide his connection to Jiraiya's fallen student.

"Shall we go in now, Naruto?" The Third asks.

Naruto nods, turning to the seal and touching it with his pointer finger. His chakra glows blue around the pad and the seal accepts it. The crease appears and the door opens. Sure, Jiraiya could open it too, but seeing someone other than Minato and Kushina opening it, is weird. It leaves a strange twist in his gut. But if there was any doubt that Naruto was Minato's son, it's squashed.

Jiraiya steps up to the seal and stares at it with a scrutinized expression. Analyzing the seal with a keen eye. He takes about a minute before he sees what it is. "He brought Naruto here before," Jiraiya concludes, turning to look at the old man, waiting saintly for him to do his thing.

"Oh?" Hiruzen says. A gust of wind flutters the cloth from his hat that is framing his face.

Jiraiya nods. "Some time after Naruto was born and before he... died, he brought Naruto here and the seal absorbed some of his chakra." A pause, and as if it wasn't clear, he adds, "That's how he can get in. He's part of the seal too."

"Just like you, Minato and Kushina are?" The Third asks, just to be sure. Jiraiya nods.

"Who's Kushina?" Naruto asks, looking around at the three older men. "Is that my mother?" He's surprised at himself. Never once had he thought about who his mother was. He was so wrapped up in who his father was. A bit of shame and guilt twist in his gut.

"Why would he do that?" Kakashi asks, not having really heard the blond. "Unless he suspected that he wasn't going to survive?"

Jiraiya cups his chin with his left hand, closing his eyes. He shakes his head slowly. "I'm not sure. Minato was paranoid to the point of obsession, even on a good day. Perhaps he was just covering all his bases."

Kakashi shivers at the words, remembering when his own sensei had said that same thing to him but pertaining to the seal on the door. Speaking of. "Should we go inside. Master Jiraiya, I'm assuming that you and I are the two that can activate the seal on the front door."

Jiraiya opens his eyes and drops his hand to his side. He looks morose. Eyebrows pulled together and head down a bit. The toad sage looks honestly unhappy but quickly steels himself. No more running. He's been doing that for twelve years. Time to face the music.

Jiraiya looks over at the one eyed man. "Yes, Kakashi. We are. Let's go."

As they make their way inside, Naruto asks his question again to the Third. "Is that Kushina person you guys kept mentioning my mother?"

The Third nods. "Yes, Kushina Uzumaki." A pause, then with a affectionate smile for the boy, he continues, "You are a lot like her, Naruto. Blunt, outspoken, free-willed. Stubborn, I'd dare say." He lets off a light chuckle.

"Got that from his old man, too," Jiraiya says, a gentle inflection in his voice. "That guys, jeez." He shakes his head, ruffling his mane. "No one, and I mean no one, could get that boy to do something that he was adamant against."

Kakashi rolls his eyes. "Tell me about it." He can remember more often than not, having a bone headed argument with his sensei, trying to get his way and Minato would spin around and back hand him with stubbornness and logic. That guys was a stubborn mule if nothing else.

Before the old seal, both Kakashi and Jiraiya make small cuts on their thumbs and, with Jiraiya guiding them, place it on the appropriate places on the seal. At first, there was no reaction from the seal. Then the paper shutters and cracks in half, not unlike the seal on the gate. But per Jiraiya;s instructions, Kakashi moves out of the way and the Sage simply rips the paper off of the door.

"One time use," Jiraiya explains, stepping back. All four of them stare at the now bare door in silence. No one knowing what to do next. This is territory that hasn't been tread in a little over a decade. The house that used to be filled with life from a student, a husband, a wife, a sensei, a soon-to-be mother, a soon-to-be father, a leader, a protector, a messiah.

Now it's empty but still filled with the stale aftermath of their deaths. Naruto tentatively leans forward to open the door before pulling back as if burned. A moment nothing happens and the darkness of the house remains. Then, stagnant air finally begins to circulate and comes out of the newly made opening. Naruto makes a choking noise and takes a step back.

"First thing's first," the Third says, "go around and open all of the windows. Let's get some fresh air in there, shall we?"

With a goal in mind, all four make their way into the first hallway. A door to their immediate left and a staircase to their right. Kakashi goes and opens the door, grabbing a handful of dust while he's at it. He makes a face at that but rationalizing that this isn't the most disgusting thing he's had the misfortune of sticking his hand in and opens the door.

It's a small study with a large desk, bookcase, and a couch in the corner. Behind the desk, on the wall that would be at Minato's back should he be in the desk, is lined with windows. Kakashi makes his way over there and begins the tedious task of opening all of them. There is five in total. Some of them are easier to open than others, some take a little bit of force to pry them open enough.

When he gets back into the hall he can hear the others walking around further down it, passing a few other doors in favor of finding his student, idol and hokage. Kakashi gets the the end and the hall opens up into a wide dinning room where on the far right side is the spacious living room and on the far left is a full kitchen. Naruto stands in front of the large dinning table, touching a baby high chair placed between the two tables. Jiraiya opens the small window above the sink in the kitchen and the Third stands in the middle of the living room looking around at all of the pictures hanging around the entire room.

"They were really preparing for me," Naruto murmurs, touching the plastic that was probably really bright at one point but is now dark and faded under the layers of dust. After a few moments, he pulls himself away from the high chair and turns to the screen door behind him, a look of confusion crosses his face. "When the hell did this door get here?" Racking his mind, Naruto tries to remember if he has ever seen it in the obnoxious amount of times he has been in this yard and isn't able to draw a single memory of it.

"I think it was put there in the construction of the house," Kakashi guesses, walking into the living room to open the windows. The idea of the Third doing it never even crossing his mind. The last thing he can imagine is making the old man lean over the couches and have to force the window open. The chances of the old man busting a hip is too scary.

"I..." Naruto pauses, reaching out and writing in the dust on the window: "Don't forget this bullshit window/door is here."

After that, Naruto walks into the living room and walks over to one of the many picture frames hanging on the walls and wipes the dust away, his eyes widen at the sight of a man, in his twenties with blue eyes and blond hair staring back at him. Naruto squints a little in the light, trying to see it better.

"Hey Jiji," Naruto asks, slowly pulling his eyes away from the picture. "Do you think that there is still power running to this place?"

The Third considers. "Hard to say. I know it's no longer connected to Konoha's power grid but there is always the chance Minato had back up generators someone on the property."

"He does," Jiraiya says, walking into the room. "Give me a second, let me go see if they still work." With that he turns and heads back down the hallway they originally came through. A moment later they hear the sound of a door opening and Jiraiya descending. Naruto turns back to the picture and pulls it off the wall to step closer into the light.

Minato has a big, crinkly eyed smile on his face. His arms are around a beautiful dark purple eyed woman with... yes, vibrant red hair. She has a big, cheeky grin on her face and she's holding onto Minato's arms. She's looking up at him with this wonderfully affectionate and loving look. Naruto can feel the smile on his face. It's blatantly obvious that the two love each other. This was it. This was the family that Naruto was suppose to have.

Unfortunately something really big, really mean, really red and really angry took his parents away from him. Naruto takes a moment to scowl down at his stomach wondering if the red fluffball can feel his anger toward it. It probably can and it's probably laughing an evil... manacle demon fox laugh.

"Hey, Jiji," Naruto says, turning to look at the old man. He's inspecting another picture about a foot away.

"Hm?"

Naruto looks back down at the picture again, taking in their happy faces, wondering what they would be like if they were there right then. He looks back up at the Third to see him looking at him. "Jiji, where you there...? When my parents...?" He waves his free hand around ambiguously. "Did they say anything or...?"

The Third walks over to Naruto and takes his free hand with both of his own. "Naruto, the day you were born, after the Nine Tails disappeared we were rushing to where you and they were. Kushina was barely alive, reaching out for you. When we got there, she told me what your name was. Naruto Uzumaki-Namikaze, she had said. And then died there on the spot. Minato..." The Third closes his eyes as if he can see the scene behind his eyelids. "His body vanished before my eyes. It's speculated that he had a seal on his body to destroy it shortly after his death."

Naruto nods solemnly, looking down at their hands. "I get it. Thanks Jiji."

The Third nods sadly. "I'm sorry, Naruto, I know you would have really liked them. They would have been great parents."

Naruto smiles sadly at that. "You think so?"

Hiruzen hums in affirmation. "I do." A moment later, the sound of something powering up fills the room. Naruto looks into the kitchen to see the clocks on both the microwave and the oven flicker on and blink on 12:00.

"And then we got power!" Jiraiya calls from the darkness of the basement.