Guys. Guys. Guys, you made me squeal, and I mean it. Omg, all those reviews.. thank you so much! *_* Plus, haha, the story's not even finished and you want a sequel? *is this real?*
But...sorry to disappoint! ^^" I believe in ending a story when the time's right and leaving it like that. So, no sequel or anything like that. I feel SOOOOOOO flattered you like THP so much, but gomen nasai... a continuation won't happen. ^_^"
Enjoy Nr. 14~!
His last day in the past was not like he had imagined it.
Naruto was feeling oddly out of place and wondered whether he was only craving for for attention on his last day here or if he was feeling the same tension and anxiety his parents felt. After all, there was this feeble tension in the house steadily building itself, and the reason for it was easily explained; even Naruto found it hard to not lose his control, mainly because everyone knew what was about to happen, but neither of the three wanted to accept that everything would end soon.
Then again, what had he expected? A happy farewell party? Sappy good-byes? A card saying, see you again in sixteen years, but we'll just visit you in your head and then disappear to the afterlife together? Yes, sometimes he wondered where he got all those illusions from.
Ever since Minato and Kushina had been called to a meeting with the Sandaime and his wife in order to talk about the birth, Naruto had been left alone in the large apartment and was distracting himself by trying to bake chocolate-chip cookies from Kushina's recipe book, which was wisely titled as Kushina's Badass Super Yummy and Awesome Recipes (even for Dummies), but his previous three attempts to create normal and edible cookies were all either burnt or he had mistaken the salt for sugar. Only his fourth take in baking seemed to be successful and Naruto proudly filled a jar with his cookies.
Being left to entertain himself and trying not to sulk because no-one had time for him, he sat down on the kitchen table and read today's newspaper while eating some of his cookies. He made it to page four when he heard the front door opening and when he looked towards the coatroom, he saw his father entering with a sigh.
"Welcome home.", Naruto said with a smile, "Did everything go well?"
"Sure.", Minato answered, "Kushina and Biwako are having all this women-talk, so I figured it would be smarter to make sure you wouldn't die of boredom, hehe.", he removed his shoes and coat before getting rid if his shinobi attire. He brushed through his blonde hair while walking towards Naruto, "I wish we had more time for you today, but I underestimated a few of the things I had still have to take care of...", he sniffed around the kitchen and said, "Did you cook something?"
"I baked some cookies.", the younger said proudly, "Want one?"
"Sure.", he answered and Naruto showed him the jar, opened it and let Minato help himself. He took two and bit inside the first one, "Wow, they actually taste pretty awesome.", he said after having munched for some while, "Kushina's showed you?"
He grinned, "Sorta, she gave me her recipe book, I did it all by myself! I'm glad you like it."
"I'm impressed.", his father said, "They are really good."
Minato wandered around the kitchen and made himself a cup of coffee, took a third cookie and ate it. Naruto was tensing up and felt his thoughts taking a roller coaster inside his head – no, he better keep his mouth shut this time, it was no use anyway and all he would manage was for the mood to be completely destroyed. Plus, if anyone was more stubborn than he was, it was his father. Naruto scanned him for a considerably long time, searching for any clues of his true feelings, for he knew his mundane behavior was just a mask to cover up what was really going on inside him. But Naruto could search as much as he wanted, Minato possessed a perfect pokerface and was acting as he always did.
It was frustrating.
The thick and uncomfortable silence was interrupted the sound of the doorbell echoing through the apartment a moment later.
"Ah, I bet that's Kushina.", Minato said more to himself than to his son and headed for the door.
Form where he was sitting, Naruto heard the door opening, but the voice of the visitor was not Kushina's. "Hey, Minato-sensei,", he heard Kakashi's voice from the front door, "Sorry for showing up just like that, but is Naruto here?"
Naruto frowned a bit, wondering why the young ANBU had come to see him today. Putting aside the newspaper, Naruto got up and walked towards the door.
"Yeah.", Minato answered and was about to call for him, but Naruto was already by the door, looking at Kakashi curiously, "Hey, what's up?"
"Can I talk to you?", Kakashi asked, his eyes quickly flickering over to a clueless Minato, "I mean, like, in private."
Minato held his hands up in a defensive manner, "I got it,", he grinned and turned around, "I have work to do anyway."
Kakashi nodded and then looked at Naruto whole pointing behind his shoulder with his thumb, nodding briefly in the same direction, "Can we take a walk, maybe?"
"Eh, sure,", Naruto replied and searched for his sandals before he slipped inside. He yelled at Minato that they left for a moment and once they received an "Alright!", as answer, they left the apartment and stepped outside, meeting the last rays of sunlight.
Naruto grinned crookedly, "Came to take me out for some good-bye ramen?"
"Actually, yeah,", Kakashi replied and smiled through his mask, "Unless you don't want to."
The blonde grinned widely, "Man, I never say no to ramen! Ichiraku it is!", he threw his arms up in the air and the two teenager headed towards Ichiraku Ramen bar, where they were greeted by Teuchi and offered two seats.
"What can I bring you, boys?", Teuchi asked once the two teenagers were comfortably seated on the bar chairs.
"For me, miso-pork.", Naruto answered with a watering mouth and watched how Kakashi vaguely pointed towards him, "Same for me."
"Two miso-pork ramen, coming right up!", Teuchi replied enthusiastically and started working on the soup. Once the ramen were served, Naruto began to eat soundly.
"So, when are you traveling back?", Kakashi asked curiously, but the tone in his voice made Naruto think he actually was aiming at something else. He stopped eating for a second before he answered, "Well, it's my birthday tomorrow... so I guess today is my last day."
The ANBU nodded slowly, "I see.", he smiled a bit, "Somehow, I'll really miss you, man... but, we'll meet again, right?"
Naruto nodded, "Yeah."
"Cool.", he said and then went back to eating his ramen. They ate the soup in total and uncomfortable silence and when Naruto was finished, he didn't feel nearly as content as he usually did when he was stuffed with his favorite food. He lowered his chopsticks and decided to shatter the silence between them, feeling he had a vague idea why the gray-haired wanted to say, "You didn't just want to treat me for ramen, right?"
Kakashi took his time with his answer. Briefly glancing at Naruto, he took a deep breath before he said, "Can we go? I wanna show you something."
"Sure.", Naruto answered, a bit puzzled at the question. Kakashi paid for the two ramen and the teenagers left Ichiraku. The ANBU led the blonde away from the town center and Naruto had no clue where they were going, but Kakashi's silence made him feel uncomfortable – in the past three weeks, Kakashi had been everything but quiet, his behavior really should worry him.
After a while of wordless walking through Konohagakure, he eventually asked, "Where are you leading me?"
"You'll see.", was the answer he had to be content with.
After a few more steps, Naruto started to get a thought where they were headed. They had reached a part of Konoha he hardly visited – mainly because had no real reason doing so. Once he saw the black memorial stone, he knew why Kakashi had brought him here, "I see.", he said quietly and watched how the ANBU looked pensively at the stone. He clapped his hands together and said a silent prayer.
The two teenager stood there in deep silence and Naruto faintly saw his own reflection in the dark stone, but didn't know any name carved inside. With every passing second, he felt heavier and heavier, and only glanced at Kakashi every now and then. It felt wrong to open his mouth and speak, and more importantly, it was hard to even think of the appropriate words to say.
After a few more moments, Kakashi's voice pierced the silence like a needle went through fabric, "Obito and I have never been friends.", he said in a calm voice, "I never acknowledged him. I never gave him the chance to befriend me... I was so arrogant.", he briefly shook his head and Naruto saw how he formed tight fists with both hands, "I always saw myself as superior, but when I realized how blind I had been whereas he had found all the answers, it was too late. He died before we could become real friends, and all I have left is his name engraved in the memorial stone.", he briefly looked at Naruto and the pain in his eyes was shocking the blonde.
Kakashi went on, but his voice was raspy, as if his throat was drying up, "I don't want any more names of the people I care for to be carved in that thing. Obito's already enough."
Naruto pressed his lips to a thin line; he knew what was going to come and he wasn't ready for it.
"I'm not dumb, Naruto. It's not that hard to figure out how you ended up as the Jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi.", he didn't seem to fear the truth he was going to speak, "Minato will die tomorrow night, during your birth, because he will seal the Kyuubi inside you. Because the seal will break. Kushina will die and Minato has to use Shiki Fuuin. Right?"
Before his heartbeat sped up, it seemed to pause for a dangerously long time. He had never imagined it would feel so horrible to actually hear what was awaiting them being spoken out loud, but Kakashi's words made his body tremble with anxiety. He didn't dare to look at his future sensei, who had this sick look of useless hope in his eyes; instead, the blonde fixated his gaze on the memorial stone. It was not easy to move his head in a slow nod.
"I thought so.", the ANBU replied, his voice thick. He seemed defeated, as if he had expected the answer, but not been ready for it.
He thought Kakashi would get mad at him, yell at him why he had been here three weeks with this knowledge and still acting happy family with everyone around him, but the contrary happened – he showed genuine sympathy, "That must've been hard.", he said, his own voice choking him. He squeezed his eyes close and softly shook his head, "Seeing your parents, knowing when and how they will die. And then not even allowing yourself to really be their son...", he swallowed soundly, "Ungh. I behaved like an idiot, Naruto.", he said apologetically, "I'm sorry."
"It's alright.", he replied with the feeblest smile, in fact, he felt like an idiot because he lacked the courage to speak.
"And there is really no way to... to change it? I mean, not even a tiny chance that they will survive?"
"I honestly have no idea, Kakashi.", Naruto's own voice was thick as well, on the verge of breaking, "Things will happen. Things that will bring enough change on their own... and... and-,"
He was out of words to say.
Not so Kakashi, "Listen, Naruto. This may be a lot to ask and maybe it's selfish...", he began, phrasing his request carefully, "But I don't wanna lose my sensei. I don't wanna stand here and read his name as well, I can't-,", he choked on his own voice, "He is like a father to me, he took care of me when no-one else wanted to - and I doubt you wanna lose your family, right?"
His heartbeat stuttered, "Kakashi-,"
"No, let me finish, please!", he cut him off, his visible eye pleading with him, "I mean, if there is only a tiny, really, really tiny chance that you come up with something that will prevent their deaths, but maybe not change the course of the future that much,", he paused a second, "Then why shouldn't we take that chance?"
"Believe me, if there was, I'd be the first to grab the opportunity and do it. But I can't think of anything. I'm sorry.", Naruto answered in a serious tone, trying to show Kakashi that he understood him, but was as clueless and desperate as he was.
"Can you just do it? Just leave?", he asked, getting angry bit by bit, his body shaking at the thought of his sensei being dead in less than twenty-four hours, "Letting them run in a catastrophe? Are you seriously trying to make me believe you are so heartless?"
Naruto felt how the situation was slipping out of his control like wet soap through his hands, "Kakashi, there is only so much I can do! Why don't you understand-,"
"Bullshit!", the younger snapped, "You're from the future! You should-,"
"Kakashi, I've spent the entire three weeks arguing with myself what to do!", he cut him off, "I've felt either completely desperate because I couldn't save them, or super-happy because I could spent time with them, talk to them, listen to their stories, be with them, but I've never felt content!", he had to catch his breath and felt his face heating up with anger, despair and shame, "And I never will, no matter what I do. I'm not their son. The baby that'll be born tomorrow will be their son. I'm the teenager form the future, do you understand that? It doesn't matter what I do, it won't ever change the fact that I am an orphan."
His words rendered Kakashi speechless and the ANBU looked away again. His voice was quiet when he said, "Then tell him the seal will break. Only that. I mean, Minato's not stupid, he probably already figured out how you ended up being a Jinchuuriki, but tell him. Just that."
"I'll think about it.", was all Naruto had to answer, "But I can't promise you anything."
"Thank you. That's... that's all I wished for, I guess.", came a genuine reply.
Naruto looked back at the stone and paid his silent respect before they headed back to the apartment, strolling down the street slowly and comfortably, chatting as if they had known each other for all their lives and leaving their fears and worries behind. Once they had arrived at the apartment, Naruto rang the bell, "Thanks for the ramen, man.", he said with a smile, "Actually, thanks for everything."
Kakashi patted Naruto's shoulder, but it felt awkward to part like that, so the blonde drew the shorter boy in a friendly embrace. Patting Kakashi's back, he said, "Don't worry. It'll all turn out well in the end. That's the only thing I can promise you."
He felt the ANBU nodding and heard the door opening. A second later, Minato said, with a hint of amusement in his voice, "Look at that, a miracle happened. I thought you boys would never become friends."
The two parted quickly, feeling a bit embarrassed because the older had witnessed the buddy-moment.
Naruto cleared his throat, "Bye, Kakashi."
"See ya, Naruto,", and then he looked at his former sensei, and there was this insane amount if sorrow reflected in his visible eye that Naruto had to look away.
"Ne, Minato-sensei,", Kakashi's voice sounded neutral, but one heard how he forced himself to act casual, "Good luck tomorrow."
"Thanks.", Minato chuckled a bit, "Just so you know, you will have to babysit."
Kakashi laughed, "But I'm not changing diapers."
"Oh, I wouldn't be too sure about that if I were you.", Minato joined the laughing, "See ya, Kakashi."
"Yeah, see ya.", Kakashi then took a deep breath, "Sensei-,"
"Hm?"
"... never mind.", he said, "See ya around, sensei."
Naruto looked at the two again and saw how Kakashi left with one last, hopeful look in his direction. He felt awful and angry at the same time, a mixture he didn't even know was possible to feel.
"So, what did you boys talk about?", his father asked while walking to the kitchen, getting a cup and filling it with coffee.
It bugged Naruto a bit that he was acting so carelessly and mundane. He shrugged, "Boobs."
Minato smiled, understanding the answer (probably) and said, "Ah, I get it. Well, you know where to find me if you need me."
He disappeared inside his small study and Naruto, having removed his shoes, shuffled inside the house, sat down on a chair in the kitchen and held his head between his hands.
Kakashi's words were stuck in the back of his head like chewing gum sticking on his soles and he sighed deeply, feeling more desperate than wanting to allow himself to feel.
Maybe Kakashi was right.
Then again, maybe his father was right. Or was his mother right? Was he right?
Maybe there was no-one who had the right answer, but maybe there was chance – but if there was, wouldn't he know? Without the Kyuubi's power, he would never be able to defeat Madara, and if his mother stayed the Jinchuuriki, it raised the question if she could ever control the fox like he did now.
Kakashi words were feeding his doubts and the fear to regret something later on. Naruto hated to have to think hard, and when he did, he always tried to just ignore it and act according to his instincts, but now he really had to use his brain. How did his father ever figure out what to do with Kyuubi in that short amount of time?
He turned around to look at the door of the study, behind which Minato was sitting, doing paperwork or whatever task he had left to do before he could call it a day. He had told him he was there whenever he needed help or advice. Wasn't this such a moment? Didn't he need a father?
But that was the problem, they hardly had behaved like father and son in those three weeks, even Naruto and Kushina had acted more like mother and son; with Minato, he somehow felt more like he was his favorite student.
After an hour and more of thinking, Naruto felt as if his head was about to explode. Kakashi's words had really done something bad – they had caused a chain reaction in his brain completely shattering his feelings toward simply leaving and letting things have their way.
Just tell him the seal will break, echoed Kakashi's words inside his mind, over and over again, and the more they did so, the more Naruto felt as if it was the right thing to do, but he simply couldn't gather his courage to go to Minato and tell him everything that weighed so heavy on his heart. He really needed help, needed advice, needed the strong arms of a father to guide him.
I don't want you to take the easy way out, his father had told him, after he had revealed his true feelings of being Hokage.
He saw Kushina's face after she had asked him if he was her son. He saw Kakashi's face staring at the dark memorial stone. He saw it all right before him – like back then when his mother had told him about everything that had happened in the night of the tenth of October. It all had been nicely visualized in his mind, as if he had been there, as he had felt the same fear, the same despair, the same regrets, and his breath was stuck in his throat whenever he tried to imagine his parents impaled by the Kyuubi's claw, using their last bits of strength and their last breaths to talk to him and keep him save.
Could he really leave like that?
Could he really live with himself – if he really left his parents to walk into this catastrophe alone?
Naruto, surprisingly, remembered another set of words, this time from no-one else but the Kyuubi himself, You are just too scared to change it, he heard the fox's low voice drumming down on him and he knew he was right.
He was scared. Scared of the outcome, scared that the world would be a different one if he removed a tiny piece from the bigger picture. If ever somebody had told him he would one day ask advice from the Kyuubi, Naruto would probably have tipped his temple and laughed. But that was exactly what he did in that very moment - for if the fox had been right once, he may be right twice. So Naruto pulled his mind to his subconscious and watched the demon fox sleeping inside his cage, snoring while resting his giant muzzle on his equally giant paws, ears slightly moved aback, but twitching at any sound. He showed no reaction to his host being there, and Naruto's face was neutral when he sat down in front of his muzzle, leaned his back against the furry head, "Kyuubi... can I ask you a question?"
"Will you leave if I say no?", came the answer, and Naruto moved along with the movement of the Kyuubi's jaw.
He ignored his comment, "Do you think it's really gonna change everything if I tell him? If I tell Minato that the seal will break?"
He felt the fur bristling, "This is a rare moment, you coming to me, asking for something else than my power... not a very wise strategy, asking a creature born out of other people's hatred for something like that,", he chuckled darkly and then got up, causing Naruto to fall back. Scowling, the boy stood up and looked at the fox, who had moved into a sitting position before he lowered his head down to the boy, grinning widely and feral when he said, "Tell me, Naruto, what do you have to lose?"
He shrugged, but his shoulders felt heavy.
"Compared to what you will lose tomorrow night?"
Naruto closed his eyes, feeling his loneliness creeping back inside his heart. Yes, years of loneliness were ahead of the baby born tomorrow, and even though it felt like a small fragment of his life now, he knew how hard it had been all this time to endure the hatred and neglect of everyone around him. How hard it had been to see everyone happy with their families, and to be left alone in the end everyday. It broke his heart yet another time, knowing his father had wanted him to be treated better – so much for the village respecting their beloved Yondaime Hokage.
"But... it would be selfish.", he mumbled, "Right? Why should only I have the opportunity to change my live? Why should I burden my parents even more than I already have? I mean, look at Minato, he already has so much on his mind, I will only bother him... and Kushina, she's-,"
"Did you manage to finish the time travel jutsu or some random idiot walking around that village? Ever thought it was a bit strange that your father wanted to invent such a jutsu, but couldn't finish it, and then his son finds the scroll – and lands in a time in which he could prevent his parent's death? Sounds a bit too staged to me to have been coincidence,", he replied, "This sounds more like fate having a say in this."
Naruto shook his head, "Anybody could've just mistaken a seal or two... it was a coincidence, I never did it because I was smart enough or whatever.", he argued stubbornly, "Kyuubi, I'm-,"
"Naruto, you already made up your mind, didn't you?", he replied, but his voice was rather bored, "Instead of asking yourself if you deserve it, tell yourself that you deserve it. And not only you... think of all the many people who will lose someone or who will die. Think of Itachi and Sasuke, think of your friends and their families. It isn't selfish. Other's might be saved.", he yawned, "On the other hand, it all might go in the complete other direction, and things might get even worse. It's a fifty-fifty chance, I'd say. It's up to you if you take it, brat."
The blonde chuckled, "I really love hearing you talking to me as if you care."
The Kyuubi laughed, "Well, Naruto...", he said, his voice even soft, "Maybe I really do. Maybe that... talent... everyone says you have is finally taking its effect on me."
"On a creature born out of people's hatred?"
The fox shrugged, "Maybe even on someone like me, yes.", he snickered, "Go back where you came from and don't interrupt my sleep anymore. Borrowing my powers and then not letting me recover properly, pfh..."
Naruto smirked and got up, "Hey, I didn't even use a tiny glimpse of your chakra lately. Don't act all like the abused pet or whatever."
"Shut up and go."
He laughed, "I got it, I got it.", he replied and then he realized something he had never even thought about before, "Oh... well, this could be the last time we see each other."
"Hm, the happiest day of my life."
"Just in case that'll happen,", Naruto said with a melancholic smile and he wanted to pat the fox's fur, "We've had it rough, but-,"
But the Kyuubi winced away and snorted, "Just leave already. You are annoying me.", he opened one eye to glare at him, "And don't touch me."
Naruto chuckled and then he waved, but suddenly found it hard to believe he'd really lose the fox. After all the trouble he had caused him, and after finally having reached the almost-buddy-relationship with him, it felt wrong to throw it all away.
And still, Naruto opened his eyes and knew what he had to do.
"Okay, calm down, stay cool, he knows already anyway, no big deal, he's not gonna freak out, okay, he's gonna freak out, but it'll be okay. This time, he will listen to me.", he muttered to himself while he stood in front of Minato's study, "Okay. Okay, I can do this."
He knocked.
He waited.
"Yes?"
"Don't chicken out, Uzumaki.", he muttered and pushed the handle down and stepped inside.
Minato was crouched over his desk, trapped in stale air smelling of exhaustion and coffee. Having a bad conscience to bother him in a stressful moment like this, Naruto closed the door behind him and tried to swallow the bitterness on his tongue away, "Uhm... Minato? Do you have a minute?"
He swirled around on his office chair and looked at Naruto, forcing a smile on his face. Naruto knew the pressure and the strain he was under, and for a short second, he thought it would be better to just shut up and leave again.
"Sure.", he replied, "What's up?"
"I know you don't wanna hear it.", he began with a racing heart and a closing throat, "But I can't go back without telling you, so please, hear me out. Please.", they felt like the hardest words to say and he had to force his tongue and lips to move.
Minato looked calmly at him and it only fueled Naruto's nervousness. Clenching hard fists, he gathered his courage and took a deep breath before he said, "Minato, I am your-,"
"I know.", Minato cut him off smoothly, with a caring smile appearing on his lips. He scanned his face and his eyes softened, "Of course I know who you are, Naruto. I've known who you are all this time."
Shaking his head, he stared at his father, "But-,"
He got up and put both his hands on Naruto's shoulders, "Remember what I told you? No information about the future, unless I ask you to."
A hint of anger was audible in his voice when he pressed through gritted teeth, "But there's something else you need to know! Something really important!", he tried to wince away from his touch, but found no strength to do so.
"Did I ever tell you why I wanted to invent a time-travel jutsu?"
Naruto was getting frustrated here, "No? Don't really care? Need to tell you something important and you keep interrupting me?"
Minato refused to listen, though, and his eyelids dropped, "I wanted to travel back in time and change that Kushina will be the Kyuubi's Jinchuuriki.", he replied, "Because it would spare her a lot of pain. And us a lot of problems."
Now, that was something new for a change. Naruto relaxed and he let his anger slip away, once again feeling surprised how he just wasn't able to stay mad at his father. What was it with this man that he always found the right words to say in every situation?
His father let go of him and the spot where his hands had touched his shoulder felt cold, "I couldn't finish the jutsu. It drove me insane to see how much she suffered and I wanted to help her, but I couldn't. It occurred to me then that there was no-one else to be the Kyuubi's next Jinchuuriki. There was no-one else than my girlfriend.", he chuckled ironically, "I didn't finish the jutsu. I believed it would do more harm than it should. I regretted it, but after some time, I forgot about it and decided to make Kushina happy in the here and now instead of changing a piece of her life that had already happened.", he considered Naruto's face, "And then you stand there before me, having finished the jutsu I had not managed to complete. And I thought, what if it was meant to be?", he looked sad when he said, "But then I thought, some things happen for a reason. And I look at you and I know it's right. There are some things you don't need to change."
Are you realizing what you are saying?, Naruto thought and all his anger was crawling back inside his veins, and he wondered why he didn't speak what was on his mind, when his father was telling him it was okay he'd be alone and the next Jinchuuriki of the fox.
"I know it's hard.", he said as if he had read his thoughts, "I know it is... but-,"
"You know nothing!", he then snapped and watched how his father's expression was wiped to a blank canvas before it darkened with regret, "Are you seriously telling me it's okay I'm gonna grow up without my parents?", there, he had said it. He had finally said what both had known for so long now, he had slammed his fist against the mirror he had been staring into for the past three weeks, and the crack in the glass made it finally break into shards, "I know why you did what you did – or will do, and I'm proud to be the son of the Yondaime Hokage, really, I am, but-, just once in my life, I want to be happy! Really happy, and the last weeks were the best of my life and... I just... I know it's selfish and all, but... but everyone deserves a family, right? So, why don't I deserve it? I'm working so hard everyday, and-,", he hiccuped when his throat felt dry and nastily narrow, "And-, I didn't make it easy for myself, really, I didn't want to tell you anything about the future – but can't you see? Can't you see that I had been... I had been so lonely all my life, I just want to have a Dad and a Mom for once!", he felt his eyes burn. He knew he had to fight the tears and his voice rose with his doubling feelings, "You don't know what I know, how's it gonna be and what's gonna happen to you and Mom and knowing it all and seeing you now, it's hurts! I can't bear the thought of letting you die, I just can't!"
Tears lingered in the corner of his eyes and he swallowed hard, trying not to cry in front of his father, but when he saw his sad smile, he knew it was all hopeless anyway, "Don't you understand? Why won't you understand me! I know-, I know you're the Hokage and all, but-,", he couldn't go on anymore, sorrowful tears fell freely from his eyes and he wiped them with the back of his hand. His face was hot and his throat burned when he could do nothing but sob, "Please, Dad! Don't you understand? I need you! We need you, you-, you have to listen to me! The seal-,", and he couldn't say it. No matter how much he wanted to, his lips didn't move for him. He heard Minato sighing sadly and then swallowing hard, but he didn't dare to look up, fearing he might never be able to stop his miserable crying if he saw his father's face now.
"Naruto...", his father said quietly, his voice nothing more than a feeble whisper, "Naruto, I'm sorry.", he said sincerely, "But there is nothing I can do. And I would do anything to make you happy, because I know you're not.", he looked uncharacteristically hollow and nervous, lacking his usual self-confidence, "But my hands are bound."
"You're the Yondaime Hokage.", the boy sobbed, still refusing to not look at him, "You're a hero. Don't tell me you can't do anything, not when you don't know how much everyone will suffer, you don't know-,"
"Yeah, I don't know.", Minato cut him off, "But I rather hold on to the things I do know. And I know a few things for sure.", he paused for a minute, "For example, I know my son will grow up to be a strong, determined and brave shinobi. I know he'll do a lot of great things I could never have accomplished in my life."
Naruto removed his hand from his eyes.
"I know he'll go through a lot of hardships, but I know he's gonna overcome them and become very strong, someone to admire, someone people will trust one day, because some people need to believe in someone else before they can find the strength to believe in themselves. And I know he won't understand why he has to be the one to suffer... and for that I'm sorry.", he said with genuine regret that made Naruto's heart feel even heavier, "But I know I couldn't wish for a better son. You are exactly like I imagined you to be, Naruto, and that makes me so very, very happy.", he laughed, but it sounded like crying, "And as a father, I should be someone my son can believe in, too. Yes, you are from the future, and yes, you know what will happen, but please trust in me to do the right thing, Naruto. Just like I trust you. Like I will always trust in you."
He nodded. There, his father had done it again, talked in a way that made Naruto doubt his own resolutions and decisions. It either was his personality to be so easily convincing, or it just was the experience in being Hokage and dealing with diplomatic problems nearly every day. Regardless of what it was, in the end, all Naruto felt was one small doubt growing into despair. Was he really right? What was the goddamn right thing to do?
Minato nodded encouragingly, asking his son silently to understand him, to trust in him, but Naruto felt out of place – maybe he really didn't belong here.
"Alright...", he whispered and turned around, wanting to get some space and longing for the warm comfort he had always felt when he had those heart-to-hearts with his father, but for some reason his father's well-meant and sincere words did nothing to console him this time. The situation felt reversed; where he had bathed in comfort everytime he had been in his father's presence, and upset when he had been absent, he had to accept that his frustration and conflicted feelings had set roots deep inside his lonely heart. All his well-meant resolutions – from just enjoying his stay, from trying to make Minato understand he was his son and needed a father, up to this moment where he just needed to tell him what was so heavy on his heart, Naruto let them go and didn't regret doing so.
In the end, he was no shinobi, he was no Child of the Prophecy or a savior, he still was a son, and a son always needed a father's guiding hand. And Minato was, in his opinion, pulling his hand away. Maybe it only was the sadness clouding Naruto's mind but if so, the same sadness took control over his words when he turned around again.
"Actually, it's not alright. Actually, I'm really sick of it.", he said tonelessly, only for his voice to become edgy, "If you'd do anything for me, then you will listen to me now. Really listen to me!", Naruto walked back towards him, anger flaring up in his eyes and his voice was hard and unforgiving – he was fed up with all the lies and pretense and he hit his father with the blunt truth, feeling disgustingly good doing so, "Mom's seal will break, the Kyuubi will break free and you will die sealing the fox inside me.", almost automatically, he moved his hands towards his belly, and with his previous words still hanging above them like a sword, he went on, "And today, I am proud to be its Jinchuuriki, to have control over the power you left for me. I am proud to be your son, to have your faith and trust, but all my life up to now, I have lived in absolute loneliness. No-one took care for me, no-one loved me, no-one comforted me or protected me. I was all alone. The villagers didn't see me as someone who helped to save their village, but as someone who helped to destroy it. All I had been was a Jinchuuriki, and nothing more. To be where I am today was damn painful, and yes, I'm over it now, but only because it belongs to the past doesn't make it undone in any way.", he felt as if the words came automatically when he went on. "And when I came here, I thought it was awesome to get to know you and Mom, but the more I got to know you, Dad, the less I understood you. Well, at least up to now, because I think I finally got you figured out.", and his voice was cold as steel when he said, "All this time I asked myself why you are so stubbornly trying to convince me to not change anything – because you are thinking like a shinobi, and not like a father. But I don't need another shinobi telling me what I can do and what I can't do! I need a father instead of a Hokage following his duties, because I'm your son!", patting a hand against his chest, he was sure his face was tensed with raw pain, "Did you ever look at me and see me as your son instead of, I don't know, a student or something? Did you?"
But there was no reply, and Naruto gritted his teeth, "You say you'd do anything for me – then show me I would be worth changing what will go so horribly wrong! Because I don't wanna give up what I've found here, but I can't do anything on my own as I am – I need help. Your help!", he stared him in the eyes, piercing him right to his soul, and it took him a lot courage to meet his father's face. With a reason; Minato looked more miserable than ever before.
Naruto felt his bad conscience dwelling up inside him the second their eyes met. Had he gone too far? For the first time since he knew his father, he was speechless. Not a single world left his mouth, nor did his lips move. Nothing, in fact, moved. He saw Minato in a state of pure helplessness, faced with the brutal reality he tried to shun out so desperately.
"Say something, Dad.", he demanded, boiling with anger, just like back then when he had met him for the first time, and the urge to place yet another fist in his stomach grew with every passing second.
"What do you want me to do?", he asked, his tired voice indicating that he himself had been running circles in his head trying to find a solution as well, "Tell me what you want me to do and I do it."
And even after all this time, Naruto still had no answer. But this time, he would not be the one to carry the burden, "I don't know. I guess you have to find the answer for yourself, Dad."
Minato looked like he was going to say something, but he didn't get the chance.
"Hey, what're you boys doing?", they heard Kushina's cheerful voice and when Naruto swirled around, he saw her standing in the doorway, caressing her belly with one hand. When she saw his face, her expression changed with worry and she reached out to touch his cheek and wipe some of the dried tears away, "Naruto? Are you okay? Why are you crying, sweetie?"
"N-Nothing,", he stuttered and quickly wiped the tears away and put on a smile, but it hurt to pretend and he felt how his face was trembling, "I just... sometimes I'm a crybaby. Because, you know... I really got used to being here and... and you guys took care of me and-,"
She smiled, "Oh, sweetheart,", she said affectionately and pulled him in a warm embrace. When he felt her warmth and smelled her flowery scent, Naruto felt fresh tears in his eyes.
"Don't cry,", she whispered in his ear, "No more tears, okay? It's all gonna be fine, Naruto, no matter what. I promise.", she gently rubbed his back and he felt how she pulled him tighter to her body when he started trembling. He wrapped his arms around her and buried his face in her shoulder. Never had he felt more comforted, protected or loved in his entire life. She gently pushed him away and put both her hands on his shoulder, "And now, don't be such a crybaby.", she playfully scolded him, "You are a shinobi of Konoha! And you should make your parents proud."
He nodded at her and wiped the fresh tears away from his face. Then she ruffled his hair with a wide grin on her face, "And of course we took care of you, Naruto.", she said softly, "We will always take care of you.", she lifted her head to look at Minato, "Right, honey?"
But there was no reply.
His father's silence was even worse than his pretense and Naruto formed tight fists. The only reason why he didn't start yelling at Minato was because of his mother; he didn't want to upset her. He took a calming breath through his nose and then said, "Thanks, Kushina. I just...", he swallowed soundly, "I take a walk, okay? I need to clear a few things in my head..."
She nodded at him, "It's alright. But make sure to be back for dinner! Any special wishes?"
He smiled widely at her, "Salty ramen! Yours are the best!"
Kushina gave him a thumbs-up, "I will serve you the best salty ramen you have ever had in your life!"
Naruto gave Minato one final glance – then he looked at his mother and the look in her eyes told him to not be too hard on his father. He turned around and left the room, closed the door behind him and stopped. Leaning against it, he closed his eyes and tried to calm his raging heart. He slowly started too see behind the mask Minato was wearing, and it hurt more than he wanted to admit, not only because Minato had been hiding more than Naruto had thought, but because he had failed to see it up til now.
"Minato? Honey, hey,", he heard Kushina's worried voice, dulled by the door between them and his breath caught in his throat. He wanted to leave, but his legs wouldn't work for him.
"What's wrong?"
Minato was choking on his own voice, "Nothing. Nothing's wrong, don't worry."
She sighed, "You don't need to lie to me, I know you're not okay. Just-,... Minato, I know it's hard, God knows I know,", her voice was thick as well, "But do Naruto the favor and open up to him. After all, he has only one day left."
"You don't understand, Kushina... you don't-,", he rasped and Naruto wondered if he was crying, which would be an awkward thing to even imagine – his smiling and beaming face didn't really look as if it was able to cry in the first place.
Kushina's voice was clipped, but he still could hear the sorrow in it, "Oh, I understand it all just fine, but what I don't understand is why you are such a coward, Minato. You've never been a coward once in your life."
Silence again, and this time, it lasted.
Naruto pushed away from the door and left the apartment.
He finally had enough.
A/N: Da-daam, the moment you guys have been waiting for has arrived! TT^TT
So, the reason why I told you last time that Kushina theoretically could use the time-travel jutsu as well is because back when Minato tried to use it, Kushina could've done it all the time... get it? Right now, if she used it, she'd be trapped in the future, remember?
Chatty-Janie shall now give the mic over to you! I'm curious what you're thinking!
Au revoir!~~~