We're Tied Together by Our Souls

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

"Blabla" Saki speaking when Sakura is awake

"Blabla"= Minato speaking when Sakura is awake

Chapter 11

Minato was sitting under a tree thinking. The event with Sakura and her parents made him think back to the night when that masked man attacked the village, and when he released the Kyuubi from its prison, Kushina.

That night has been haunting him ever since. It felt like it was his fault, he shouldn't have let down his guard when Naruto had been born. He should have had more guards to keep Kushina and Naruto safe, but he didn't, and they paid the price. Kushina was almost crushed by the Kyuubi, but he had managed to get to her in time. However, she was weak after the Kyuubi had been set free from her. If it hadn't been for her being an Uzumaki, she would have died instantly. If he had been able to stop that masked man, maybe he could have found another way to stop the Kyuubi. Kushina wouldn't have had to die, and Naruto wouldn't have become the new Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi and have been mistreated by the village.

He had seen through Sakura's memories how the village had looked at Naruto whenever they were together.

It was his fault that Naruto had been treated so badly by the village. He had hoped that the village would see him as a hero, but Minato had been naive. He should have known better. He knew how Kushina had been treated, but she had just ignored the village, but even Kushina had her limits. She had taken out her frustration of the villagers' treatments by playing pranks and beating the crap out of guys who pissed her off.

Naruto, however, had just learned to ignore the hateful stares.

But Minato knew that Naruto had suffered. He had no one, only Sarutobi came and checked up on him, and even if he didn't show himself, Minato was sure that Kakashi had looked after Naruto from the shadows, doing his best to keep Naruto safe.

Minato knew Kakashi probably took his and Kushina's deaths hard. They had become like a family and after first losing Obito and Rin, Minato feared his and Kushina's death brought Kakashi to his limits.

Minato hated himself for letting his student and son suffer.

Saki was sitting a bit away from him, studying him. She knew something was troubling him and she had hoped that Sakura would come here and try to get him to talk about it. Whatever it is that is troubling him must be big.

Suddenly, Saki felt a presence beside her. Looking up, she saw Sakura standing there also watching Minato.

"What's wrong with him?"

Saki shrugged "I don't know, he doesn't want to speak with me about it, so I thought maybe you could get him to speak. I can leave you alone for awhile while you speak. Maybe you can get him to open himself up to you."

Sakura nodded, "I will try Saki, but don't expect anything."

Saki nodded and left Sakura alone. Sighing, Sakura walked up to Minato and sat down beside him.

"Hey, how are you?"

Minato snapped out of his thoughts and saw Sakura looking at him concernedly.

He tried to smile, but by the expression Sakura had, it didn't fool her.

"Nothing, this situation just reminded me of something. It got me thinking about the past."

"Something is troubling you." Sakura stated.

Minato didn't look at her, making her frown.

"You know, it does no good to keep it all inside, you know? Sometimes it's better to talk with someone who will listen. And if you want to talk, I'll be there and listen."

Minato looked shocked, but grateful. Sakura leaned against the tree and closed her eyes. Everything was so quiet around them, Sakura almost fell asleep when Minato spoke up.

"Do you know about that night, the 10th of October, fifteen years ago?"

Sakura nodded slightly, not wanting interrupt him.

"That is the night I became a father, but also lost everything because of one man. My wife was the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi, and she would give birth to our son that night. We were forced to take some cautions so that seal wouldn't break and the Kyuubi escape. Shortly after Kushina had given birth, a man with a mask attacked us; he had taken our son as a hostage and forced me to leave Kushina's side to save Naruto. I flashed out of the secret room because the man had put an explosive tag on our son and I left Kushina unprotected. The moment I was gone, the man drew out the Kyuubi from Kushina. Because Kushina was an Uzumaki, she didn't die immediately after the Kyuubi was forced out of her. The man was about to let the Kyuubi kill her when I got there and got Kushina to our son. That night ended with me sealing the Kyuubi in my own son. I failed to protect Kushina, it was my fault that the man got to her. If I had just put more ANBU around the barrier and been more aware, maybe Kushina would still be alive. I made my own son become a Jinchuuriki and be mistreated by the villagers. In the end, it's my fault as well. I failed to keep my family safe. I wanted my son to be seen as a hero, not as a monster. Its my fault."

Sakura's eyes snapped up and she turned to Minato, smacking him over his head with a small amount of chakra.

"OUCH! What was that about?" Minato complained, holding his head.

Sakura rolled her eyes at him.

"Well, for starters, stop blaming yourself. What happened that night wasn't your fault. How would you know that man would come and attack you when you were vulnerable? And how would he know about the seal? How would he know that the only moment the seal on a female Jinchuuriki is weakened is when they give birth. I have been reading about Jinchuurikis and how the seals work. What happened that night was fate. There was nothing you could have done to prevent that. I can tell, even though Naruto had to go through many hardships, I don't think he would blame you. Sure, maybe a punch or something, but it's Naruto. He is a forgiving person. He would probably understand why you did it. You had no choice right? You didn't want to give this burden to another family's child. And I know that Naruto looks up to you, he admires the Fourth Hokage. His dream is to become Hokage one day and surpass the former Hokages."

Minato looked shocked ,but Sakura wasn't finished yet.

"Naruto has this natural ability to become friends with anyone he meets. He fought another Jinchuuriki in the Chunnin Exam, and they became friends. He just knocked some sense into people he fought and then they were friends. I don't know how he did it, but he did. Sure, Naruto is a bit clumsy, sometimes he acts like an idiot, and he doesn't see that a certain girl has feelings for him. I swear, every time they are together, I just want to knock some sense into your son. He doesn't see it, but Naruto has guts, he never gives up and he'll never go back on his words. He is a strong willed shinobi. He has the will of fire inside of him. He is a great teammate, and he never fails to amaze you. From what I heard, Naruto mastered the rasengan in a week. Never once I have seen him falter, even if his opponent has been stronger than him, Naruto just keeps going and getting stronger. "

Sakura shook her head.

Minato blinked, trying to take in what Sakura had just told him. Naruto wanted to become a Hokage, and looked up to him as a hero. He didn't know if he should laugh or cry for joy. Hearing how good Naruto is and how well he has turned out was a relief. His worries about Naruto disappeared when Sakura told him about his son. And having her telling him that it hadn't been his fault that night also helped.

Carefully, he laid his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. Sakura didn't move or say anything. She just let him sit there. The silence was pleasant. Saki wasn't there to disturb them. And a part of her was glad she wasn't. Minato wouldn't have talked to her if Saki had been there.

"Thank you," he whispered.

"For what?" she whispered back curiously.

"For listening."

"It's nothing, I have been told that I'm a good listener."

"You are, more than you think."

Sakura smiled lightly, not looking up. "Really? I don't know what to say."

"There is nothing you need to say. I promise, you have done enough by just being here and listening to me."

Sakura opened her eyes and glanced down at him.

"I'm glad to be helpful at least."

Minato opened his eyes and glanced up at Sakura. She had closed her eyes.

"Well, speaking of nothing, perhaps we should start our training now, don't you think?"

Sakura's eyes flew open and looked down at him.

"Really? So what are you going to teach me Minato-sensei?"

Minato chuckled and sat back up.

"Well, I have some things in mind, since your chakra reserves have grown, and there is no need for you to call me Sensei."

"Really? Aw… what a shame."

Sakura joked, a giggle escaping her lips.

Minato let a smile come to his lips and chuckled.

"So, are you ready to begin our training?"

Sakura nodded, "I am."

Tsunade glared at the person in front of her desk.

"Did you ever tell Sarutobi-sensei about the Haruno clan?" she asked, her voice cold as ice.

"Sarutobi was a fool. He didn't see that girl's potential."

"And you thought you had the right to hide this information, so that you could get your hands on her, Danzo?!"

Danzo said nothing. He just glared back at Tsunade.

"Sakura is my student, Danzo, and I have no intention of letting you get your dirty hands on her so that you can turn her into a soulless, killing machine who you can use for your own benefit."

Danzo narrowed his eyes.

"What makes you say that?"

Tsunade slammed her fist on the desk.

"Don't you dare stand there and lie, Danzo! I know that you plotted with Sakura's aunt and uncle to use her gift, but they couldn't use it for they own benefit. So, you sealed her gift, so that Sarutobi wouldn't know about it. They have confessed, Danzo! There is nothing you can say or do to prove otherwise. Ibiki and Inouchi found evidence in their memories."

"What do you want?"

"I want you stay away from my student. If you don't, I will personally make sure you will wish you never were born."

Danzo snorted, and with that he left the office.

To be continued

Chapter 11 is finished. I'm just flying through these chapters, aren't I? Well, I hope you like it, sorry, but I can't kill off Danzo just yet, I wish I could, but I can't. We have to wait a while before that happens. I know there are people who want him dead. You just have to be patient, you know what to do now right?

R&R people!