Chapter Thirty-Five
"It's okay, try it again, son!" Minato called out for the hundredth time this morning as Jiraiya watched from his vantage point near the summit of Mount Myoboku. Naruto and Minato had been training for the past three weeks almost non-stop in hopes that Naruto would learn Flying Thunder God Technique. So far, success had been uneven. Naruto would occasionally be able to teleport correctly; other times, he'd overshoot or undershoot. I suppose I should be amazed that he can do it at all. Minato took almost a year of trying. Of course, he had no one to teach him, either.
"He'll get it eventually, grandpa," Hinata spoke in a subdued tone. The girl sat on a balance board on the nearby mountain peak, practicing her Sage Mode. Unlike Naruto and the rest of them, her eyes retained their purple hue, and the sage markings on her face were purple, similar to the war paint worn by Minato's late apprentice, Rin.
I just hope that doesn't portend a repeat of history. The uneasy thought made Jiraiya's stomach sour almost as badly as Tsunade's morning sickness. Jiraiya had only met Rin one time, and she'd seemed like a sweet girl, just like Hinata. The girl's death had nearly broken Minato and Kakashi. The only reason Minato pulled it together was Kushina. And the only thing that kept Kakashi together after that was Naruto and Kushina. The hard reflection left Jiraiya wondering.
"You should stop worrying; I doubt there is much you could have done to make a difference," Hinata said.
"You can read thoughts now?" Jiraiya said in amazement
"I can sense emotional state," she replied, "Regret and recrimination weigh heavily on you. I'm assuming it has to do with Minato and Naruto – something in the past?"
"Close," he said, "I was thinking about what a bad father figure I was to Minato," he shrugged, "among other people."
"I wouldn't say that," Hinata replied with a slight laugh.
"How do you figure? He always looked up to me like a father figure; I didn't even start to call him son until he was Naruto's age."
"And you worry that that predicts what kind of father you'll be?" she asked.
"Hinata," he crossed his arms, "you realize your daughter's actions might have seriously impacted more than just you or Naruto."
"It doesn't matter," she said, gaze unmoving as a statue.
"Doesn't matter?" he asked, perplexed. "Hinata, I wasn't exactly a role model before Kushina and your father strong-armed me into training you along with Naruto."
"But you became one," Hinata reminded him, "If it hadn't been for you and Naruto, I very likely would be a foot soldier in the Shinobi Corps, if even that, Grandpa." She smiled at the corner of her mouth.
"I always find it ironic how you identify with me as a grandfather when I was a major thorn in the side of your actual grandfather – and not just when you were training to fight Hanabi."
"Oh," Hinata remained expressionless, lost in meditation, "do tell?"
"That's a long story, but let's just say I had a major hand in your parents getting married."
"You'll have to tell me someday," she smirked slightly, "To this day my parents never told me the whole story."
Before Jiraiya could say more, a bright flash blinded him for an instant; when his vision refocused, Naruto was standing nose to nose with him, "Grandpa, I think I got it, ya know!"
"Beautiful, kid, now back up before Tsunade thinks we're up to something!" Jiraiya boomed. While happy for his grandson, the boy appearing out of nowhere had nearly scared the shit out of him.
Naruto flashed, again blinding him for a second, and he reappeared at the marker down the trail. "Hey, I wonder," Naruto disappeared with a flash, he again reappeared at the marker Jiraiya had wandered over to, this time with Tsunade at his side.
"Ugh, I'll never get used to that!" she groaned, slightly dizzy from the effect of teleporting.
Minato appeared at the plateau, "Son, I think it might be wise to work on it a bit more before you start transporting others." He nodded to Tsunade, "I hope he didn't startle you too badly."
"No worries," Tsunade responded.
The sound of clattering nearby distracted Jiraiya as Hinata dismounted from the board and landed. "Ready, love?" Naruto asked as she stowed the platform.
"Let's start on level ground," the girl said, "I'm still struggling to control the maneuver."
"Gotcha," Naruto snatched her by the hand and disappeared in a flash.
"I guess that's my cue to go," Minato winked and disappeared.
"We'll, it's just us now," Jiraiya said, taking her hand.
"All four of us," Tsunade rubbed her stomach.
Tsunade did not visible show her pregnancy, but Jiraiya knew the implication, "Four?"
"You, me, and the twins," a single tear dripped from her eye.
"Twins?!" he exclaimed.
"Akemi said both are healthy, but it will be some time before she can tell if they're identical of fraternal," she explained. "Double your pleasure, double your pain," she laughed.
"You had to say, 'pain,'" he groaned.
"I'm just glad you got out alive," she took his hands.
"Not a day goes by where I don't worry Pain coming back for me, or making a pass at Naruto or Hinata."
"Almost no one knows Hinata is a Jinchuriki, and part of the reason for Naruto being out here so much lately is to keep people guessing as to where he is." She crossed her arms, "As for you, they think you're dead."
"I know that," Jiraiya closed his eyes, thinking of the face of the orphan boy he'd left behind to change the world. What the hell happened to you, Nagato? He stared pensively down the mountain, wondering how close Naruto and Hinata ever came to being Nagato and Konan. Had I just stayed, had I just taken them with me on my travels…
"Jiraiya, what is it?" Tsunade asked concerned.
"So much of this is my fault," he shook his head.
"Jiraiya, we had just come out of a war where there were many wrongs and no rights," Tsunade protested. "People get twisted by those events, sometimes years after the fact."
"If I'd just stayed with them longer," he groaned.
"Or if you'd listened to Orochimaru and let him kill them," she shook her head, "Jiraiya, the fact that you stayed with them for three years at that time and taught them what they needed to know to survive is a major thing. Any other patrol would have just walked on and abandoned them, or worse."
"And now, they're coming for us," he shook his head. "They wanted to change the world and make it better, like those kids down there." He pointed to Naruto and Hinata, still both practicing Thunder God drills.
"Jiraiya, the road to hell is paved with good intentions," Tsunade squeezed his arm, "as well as thoughtless execution."
"I seem to excel at both of those," he dipped his head.
"Jiraiya," she gripped his hand, "maybe you could have done more, but there comes a time when a child becomes an adult, and that child has to accept responsibility for what he has become, good or bad." She pointed to Minato, Hinata, and Naruto, "Each of them, they received the tools that shaped them into good people from you, Jiraiya." She paused to smirk, "Although, your grandson I think is taking a few too many lessons from you and your books." She spanked him playfully on the butt, "Be grateful that Sakura insisted on teaching Hinata about birth control, or you're grandson would have a lot of explaining to do!"
"Heh," he pulled her into a tight embrace, "a regular chip off the ole block, if I do say so, myself." His hand migrated to her stomach, "Who do you think these two will take after?"
"Better be me," Tsunade groaned, "Otherwise, I'm screwed! I can't handle two of you running around, much less three!"
The laughter that followed was quickly punctuated by the sound of a commotion in the valley below. Raised voices didn't carry fully until Jiriaya heard Naruto's voice thunder, "Dad, wait!" as Minato vanished.
"Naruto!" Jiraiya and Tsunade called out from the plateau. Naruto appeared at the marker nearby, holding Hinata by the hand. Both of them appeared agitated. "Naruto," he asked, "what happened?"
"Dad said something about the village being in danger, he received a message from Inoichi Yamanaka!" Naruto's voice cracked.
"And he told us to wait here until we got the all clear to return!" Hinata added in a winded voice.
"All right, let's not panic," Jiraiya lied. His old heart was thundering in his chest. Only two things could have Minato spooked the way he was – Obito or Pain. Or both! Jiraiya pushed the thought away, "Okay, let's get back down the mountain to the lodge!"
"I can get us down," Naruto's voice remained grave, "join hands everyone," They did, and they were down the mountain to be greeted by Akemi, Gamakichi, and Gamabunta.
The June afternoon sun painted the village of Konoha brightly as Kushina stared from the Hokage's office. After the incident with the Uchiha Compound and the tablet, Minato furiously began training with Naruto and Hinata, leaving her and Kakashi in a curious position. The Hokage being gone so much was an unprecedented circumstance, and managing the village and the various military preparations fell to Kushina and Kakashi in his absence. Already the tabloids had begun spreading rumors of the Hokage's pending resignation – much to her annoyance.
"Mom," Konohamaru spoke up, "you shouldn't be so close to the windows." The boy spoke with an unnatural seriousness. "If someone were to take a shot at you, it would be premier opportunity."
"I appreciate the concern, but the windows are armored glass," she gently rapped a finger against the glass, making a dull sound as if striking concrete. "Kakashi insisted after Naruto was born."
"All the same," he nodded. The boy looked aged beyond his years in his olive-drab uniform, even with the signature blue scarf around his neck.
"I suppose I should thank you for looking out for me," she approached her adoptive son, "I still remember how blissfully ignorant I was of my own safety right up until Naruto's birth," Kushina shivered, "That was… one of the few times I really thought I was going to die."
"Mom," the boy's throat bobbed up and down, "I've lost my family; you, Lord Fourth, and Naruto are all I have."
"Konohamaru," she knelt down and hugged her little bodyguard, "your parents will come back for you when this mess is over."
"I don't want them to," he shook his head, "I was an afterthought to them, probably and accident."
Kushina had had enough, "Konohamaru," she took his chin in her hand, "My husband and I officiated your parent's wedding, they loved each other very much, and they do to this day."
"Love each other," he huffed.
"And," she added, "they were both thrilled to discover they were going to be parents." She caressed his cheek, "I know it's hard to understand, but just know they do love you with all of their heart."
"They have a funny way of showing it," he sighed. The boy was beyond tears, maybe even beyond anger.
"I know," she said, "from someone who has been there, trust me, I know." She squeezed his cheek gently. "Sometimes, people we love do things we can't understand or don't want to understand to protect us or ensure our safety. Take Lord Fourth…"
"Dad is training Naruto and Hinata," he interrupted.
"And he's left us and Kakashi to look over the village," she raised a finger. "Would we resent him for ignoring us to protect the entire village and our future?"
"I don't know if 'ignore' is the word I'd use for that," he protested.
"And yet, he's not here for either of us at the moment. However, we know and understand what is at stake, and that makes the separation bearable."
"Yeah, maybe."
"What about your grandpa?" she asked, hoping she wasn't offending the boy.
"What about him?" Konohamaru asked, clearly pained by the memory.
"He sent away anyone that could have protected him in his hour of need."
"Kushina, he was already dying, and he was trying to keep others from joining him."
"But we didn't know that until after he had died," she raised a finger to correct him. "I remember the sadness and anger that nearly swallowed you up until we told you."
"I remember," he said grimly.
"I didn't understand why my parents left me here until many years later," Kushina said. "I never knew if they lived or died. That is why I want you to understand it now."
"You think they could be alive?" Konohamaru asked curiously.
"After almost thirty years," she shook her head, blinking away tears, "I'd like to think if they were alive, they would have at least sent a postcard. "I'm reasonable sure they went to their deaths to draw attention from me, and they're buried in some unmarked grave somewhere out there."
"Mom," Konohamaru said somberly, voice cracking with tears, "promise me no secrets," he said. "If my parents don't make it through the war, please don't let me go on hoping one day for their return."
"Okay," she nodded, "but you have to promise," she held out her pinkie finger, "that you'll let them back in if they come back."
"I can accept them," he wrapped his pinkie around hers, "but don't ask me to stop being part of your family in return."
"I wouldn't dream of it, son," tears began flowing freely, and she pulled her son in close for a tight hug.
"Um… I can come back," Hanabi knocked at the door.
Kushina released Konohamaru to see her other apprentice. She wore an olive drab uniform instead of her normally fashionable designer robes. While Kushina was glad the younger Hyūga daughter was taking war preparations seriously, Kushina's heart ached at the thought of another great Shinobi War forcing any of the children she'd trained into frontline service. "It's all right, Hanabi, what's up?" Kushina stood up.
"Kakashi reports fifth division has completed the scheduled readiness exercise and is requesting to return to the village," Hanabi said.
"Tell him permission granted, and good job!" Kushina smiled.
"Yes, Lady Hokage," Hanabi bowed.
Really? "Hanabi, I am acting as my husband's proxy; I am not the Hokage," Kushina huffed.
"But you could be," Hanabi protested. "You'd be the first lady Hokage."
"My husband would have to resign or die before that happens, Hanabi," Kushina shook her head, "Neither of those is likely to happen anytime soon."
"You could do it if you had to, Mom," Konohamaru spoke up, "You'd lead every bit as effective as Grandpa or Dad!"
"Flattery will get you two nowhere, kids," Kushina put her hands on her hips. Both Konohamaru and Hanabi had wide smirks at the corners of their mouths. "All right, fine, you delinquents!" she laughed. "It will get me to buy you both Ichiraku's for lunch!"
"Yay!" the two exclaimed.
"Lady Kushina," Inoichi's voice sounded in Kushina's head, "We have an inbound bogey approaching the east gate, and none of our scouts are reporting back!"
"Inoichi," she tapped the side of her head, "issue orders to Fifth Division to intercept; they're already inbound. How many?"
"One," he replied.
"One?" Kushina heard small alarm bells beginning to turn in full klaxons in the back of her head. Someone ballsy enough approach the barrier solo! "INOICHI, initiate OPLAN 5027!" Kushina yelled.
"5027?" Konohamaru spoke in disbelief, "Invasion?"
"DO IT NOW!" Kushina boomed. The sound of alarms began filling the air, and Kushina stared out the panoramic windows, seeing civilians racing toward designated shelter points and shinobi personnel running to actions stations."
"Kushina! They've breached the barrier, and there's several of them!" Inoichi's mental voice sounded panicked.
In the distance, Kushina saw a low figure floating midair over the eastern district of the village. A bright flash broke across Kushina's vision, and she noticed the telltale image of a tsunami breaking through the village.
"Oh my god!" Hanabi's Byakugan eyes nearly fell of her head the grew so wide.
"MOM?!" Konohamaru squeaked.
In the span of a second, the wave was already halfway to the Hokage's Manion. "GET DOWN!" Kushina threw herself over the kids as the blast wave blew out the safety glass into a rain of tiny fragments. The violent rain was punctuated by the sound of thunder exploding in her head. As soon as the shock had ended, ringing filled her head as she tried standing, feeling tiny bits of glass raining out of her long, red hair. Kushina stared out, taking in the sight of a whole third of the village in ruins. My god!
"Lady Kushina, can you hear me?!" Inoichi called out.
"Kids?!"
"We're all right, Mom!" Konohamaru began clearing glass from Hanabi's hair.
"Kushina?!"
"Inoichi, recall my husband immediately!" Kushina stared out the shattered window to the ominous figure floating in the distance. The figure looked severe and imposing dressed in black. He wore no mask and his brilliant orange-red hair shook in the wind. "Tell him Pain is attacking the village!"
Author's notes: Hello everyone, thank you for reading as always. I hate to keep apologizing for my shortcomings, but sadly, this chapter is much shorter than I hoped. Work as of late has turned barbaric, and I've been developing a painful case of eyes strain in the last few weeks.
Like times in the past, I won't cut any planned content, just delaying to next week. Thank you all for your patience. Stay healthy, and stay classy! See you next week!