Adventure 29: Understanding The Past!
"But…Alu, if what you said is true," Minato started to protest but he instantly shut up. Alu looked at Minato with an air of finality.
"The Fourth entrusted your life to me," she repeated, "I will … I want to find that masked man as much as you do…so wait, can you at least promise that you'll wait…and work with me?"
Minato bit his lower lip. He finally nodded though. If her drive was the same as his, then more help wouldn't hurt. Minato knew Alu could take care of herself at least. It was his own weakness that he knew he'd have to get over. He had to get stronger. He knew Alu was right. Minato decided to ask some more –lighter weight—questions in hopes that Alu could give him some more answers.
"…What village was I from at the time?" Minato asked, his heart beating quickly.
"…You were like me…a travelling ninja who didn't like to talk about his past…" Alu replied. "All I know is…you were very…close to Kushina and the Fourth…the Fourth…hoped that you would watch over Naruto…but he didn't want to burden you with this on your life…he leaves that choice entirely to you…all the Fourth wished for was peace…" Alu said with a sigh.
Minato's mind reeled. So he didn't like talking about his village? He was close to the Fourth and Kushina? He was supposed to watch over Naruto for the Fourth? The Fourth wasn't making him do anything unless he wanted to…but Minato felt like that pull to the kid had to have been more than just fox-related now. Minato figured it made sense…although, how did Naruto play into the sealing of the Kyuubi?
"How did Naruto play into the sealing of the Kyuubi?" Minato asked.
"Naruto…his parents never wished for this fate upon their son….but they gave him up for the sake of the village…and they died against the fox in hopes that Naruto would be hailed as a Hero…" Alu said sadly. Minato felt a sad pang in his heart. Naruto's parents sacrificed Naruto…so the Fourth could protect the village…at a cost…why Naruto was picked out of anyone though didn't make sense to Minato. "Why though…why Naruto?" Minato demanded.
Alu sighed then. She closed her eyes for a moment and spoke once more. "…The Fourth had put up a barrier so that no one could get out or in….it was only him…you….Kushina….and Naruto's parents happened to be there…it was like fate…" Alu gazed at Minato seriously. Minato knew she wasn't lying. Her eyes held too much intensity for it to be a lie. "…his parents blocked the fox's attempt on their child…and in doing so…lost their lives…their last breaths were spent wishing for their son to live….to live a long fullfilling life…and to be strong…to be happy…with that…the Fourth respected their wishes…treating their son as a hero…but in the end he did that at a cost…using the Shinigami death seal requires the caster to sacrifice their soul…" Alu spoke slowly and as though she was a bit distant. Minato listened quietly, absorbing everything. "Anyhow…I…I was there too ….and I did my bit…that's all I can tell you…I'm sorry," and she smiled sadly.
Minato recalled the Third performing that same jutsu and asking Minato if he'd seen it before. That struck Minato as peculiar…but then Minato realized. The Third must've been outside that barrier…and seen the fighting unfold. The Third must've been trying to help Minato remember something. Minato's heart sank. He would've tried harder to remember if he'd known at the time. That brought up some more questions…Minato blinked. "How long was I in the fight…how old am I?" he pressed.
"mmm …you're around…30…ish," Alu scratched her head. I don't actually know…" she said sheepishly.
"I'm in my thirties already?" Minato sighed, "Well…oh well..it's not that bad…I guess…being over 30…" he couldn't help but sound a bit deflated. He hadn't expected to be…that old.
Alu chuckled. "No, there is nothing wrong with it, old man," she smirked brightly. Minato made a face but he wasn't mad at all. In fact, he was pleased to be getting information.
"…So…did you put me in a suspension jutsu too?" he asked. "Why weren't you there when I woke up?"
"Oh…well yes and no," Alu replied, "I did but…it's complicated…" she saidwith a wave of her hand. "To put it simply, your body and Kushina's has been sealed away…rather…your spirits have gone through a …suspended rebirth…it's…it's hard to explain…sorry…but your bodies weren't here really…not until this year," Alu admitted.
"Where have we been suspended then?" Minato pressed, trying to piece together all of the confusing bits and pieces.
"..suspended….well…quite literally…off the wheel," Alu replied.
"Off the wheel?" Minato repeated.
Alu nodded. "You look confused as you feel, I'm sorry," and she gave him a small sad smile. "Mah…I made a promise to the Fourth so I can't delve much deeper than that…As for Kushina…"
"What role does she play? Minato asked quickly. "How old was Naruto when…when the Yang half was sealed into him?"
"…Kushina…" Alu bit her lower lip, obviously grappling with something, "Kushina was…the previous Jinkuuriki of the Nine-Tails…she had a special chakra which was why she was picked…around the young age of …of eight –I think—to take upon the fox…"
Minato looked at the ground. To have that wieght put upon you so young…Minato felt his heart tighten. He was so aware of the way humans treated the Bijou like cattle. No wonder the Bijou were resentful and hateful towards humans. Humans treated the Bijou as though they were massive power stocks…not living creatures with thoughts and emotions. Minato wondered if there wasn't one Bijou that was actually happy… genuinely happy. "… Naruto's parents…are they alive?" he asked. "I got the impression…that he didn't have…have parents…"
Alu shook her head. " Naruto doesn't have his parents now… the questions you have would've been better to ask Sarutobi," she replied. "I didn't know him or Naruto at the time," Alu added, "Things happened fast…I came back to the present actually only recently…about around the time you were waking up….after all that went down, I mean…I really am fourteen right now," she pointed to herself. "Just because I time-traveled…doesn't mean my aging process went on pause…that is a misconception some people get…." Alu stood up and Minato looked at her as she stretched.
"I see…" Minato murmured. "…If you really can't tell me anymore…then…it's ok…." He stood up too. "Thank you, Alu, for at least giving me some information," Minato said, with a nod. Alu gave him a small smile.
'I know you've been trying to figure out some things…I can't tell you much more…not even I know what happened to your memories…for that I'm sorry," and Alu sounded sincere. Minato nodded again.
"If you can help me find Kushina, I'm sure she'll be able to guide me like she said she would…" He said. "Do you have a way of finding her?"
Alu nodded. "Kushina definently has a unique chakra. I only sensed it once as you know…but I would recognize her in a crowd…I…I am not quite sure how to track her for sure but…I have a feeling wherever she is…isn't far from…well…hopefully…we will find her," and Alu sighed. "You released her right?"
Minato began to walk side by side with Alu, as Alu began to walk back in the direction of the Inn. "I did…will her…will her memories be intact unlike mine?"
"I don't know," Alu gave him an apologetic frown. "I really don't know…" They elapsed into a silence. Minato's thoughts swirled. He felt closer to Naruto already. A part of him wanted to go back and make sure the kid was ok…but he knew that Naruto had his own little family…and Minato didn't think he was well enough aquainted for Naruto to accept him into it. Besides, as far as Minato could tell, no one knew about the Yin half of Kyuubi. Many people it seemed, assumed the whole fox was sealed in Naruto…not just half. Minato was secretly grateful for this. At least the warning from Jiraiya had been just about his appearance…and not the fox. Otherwise Minato felt like the village wouldn't have let him slip away nearly as easily as it had.
Alu sighed again. "… Life's complicated isn't it?"
Minato couldn't help but let out a small meek chuckle. "I- I suppose it is," he siad, running a hand through his hair. "…We should return…"
Alu tugged on Minato's sleeve. Minato looked back to her questioningly, "…Don't tell anyone what I told you –not that I think you will…but you can't even tell Naruto…" Alu said serious. Minato didn't question this because he could tell it was important. He nodded simply in response.
"Alu…thank you again for at least…informing me…" Minato said gratefully. "I still have a lot to find out but…hopefully we will find Kushina."
Alu nodded. "Yeah… also... Usagi has been getting more curious about you…and your amnesia," Alu said quietly. "I trust him but I will leave it to you if you want to tell him… "
Minato nodded. Setting his new concerns aside for the future, Minato's mind wandered back to Miku. How could they help her? She didn't have chakra and there wasn't anything that could be naturally done to change that. They returned quietly to the Inn.
