My first and the biggest thanks to my beta-reader Chibi0Dragon! She made a lot of work transforming this bunch of random English words I wrote into this text. Also she corrected the first chapters so you can read them without thinking where the hell I studied English and simply enjoy the flow of the story. :)
Thank you for reviews they're really pleasant and useful – you inspire me to write more. Special thanks to MasterFranny, you gave me a very interesting idea about problems with Yondaime's return. You'll see it in the next chapters.
Also I'd like to answer some questions.
MasterFranny
"What would be Kakashi's reaction? He was Arashi's fav student. And what about Jiraiya, who was his sensei?" - They'll appear but not in the nearest chapters. Actually I think about writing a three-stories arc. So Kakashi first appearance will be somewhere near the end of the first part and Jiraiya will show in Konoha in the 2nd part.
"this is going to be het, gen or yaoi?" – It will be general. Just a story about a boy and his father. :)
Serry2
"Is this before or after the three year jump?" – The answer is "before". The story takes place somewhere close to the end of the filler season.
I hope you'll like these new chapters. Anyway I'm waiting for your reviews..
Chapter 2. The request.
Naruto was walking aimlessly along Konoha's streets. Thanks to Ichiraku he wasn't forced to pay for the ramen because the competition attracted a lot of customers, but he didn't feel any better.
"Thas bastard," he muttered. "Everything was going perfect, but now it's beginning to go downhill thanks to him." Every time saw the Yondaim's face he could feel himself begin to boil with anger.
"Maybe it's Kyuubi, and not me?" he wondered, but quickly answered his own question. "No. I just hate him because… because it's him. He sealed this damned fox inside of me, he caused me all this pain. Plus he's annoying. It's crazy eating all that ramen… It was foolish really, a Hokage would never have done such a thing. So maybe… he's impostor? " Naruto shook his head. "I'm thinking too much. Obaa-chan would have found out if he were really an impostor in a second. That means… oh no…he'll stay here make my life a living nightmare! Dammit!"
"Naruto!" he was snapped back from his thoughts by the pink-haired girl who came over to him.
"Sakura-chan!" he smiled. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," she smiled back. "I came to visit you in the hospital, but Shizune said that you were released. You really do heal fast. Even after receiving such a bad wound," she stopped in the middle of her thoughts not knowing if she should continue or not.
Naruto kept smiling.
"It was just a scratch. Next time he'll be the one who's defeated."
"Naruto…" Sakura sighed. "He's Hokage. Actually, he's one of the greatest Hokage in Konoha's history. Plus, he's a good man. I can feel it."
"How could you know?" Naruto growled. "You just saw him for a few minutes. How can you judge something like that?"
"Call it women's intuition," she answered.
"Ah!" Naruto's sighed. "I don't understand complex things like that. Let's go training instead."
And he went down the street thinking.
'If Sakura falls in love in him, I promise I'll kill him. One way or another.'
"Naruto," Sakura's smile was sad. "If only you could see how much he cares for you. I wish that I had the words to explain it…"
She reminded herself of the time when Orochimaru fled, and the 4th stayed by the unconscious Naruto.
Flashback
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"Don't even think of dying, Naruto," He ordered. "You…Orochimaru's right…You're too precious for me to let you die."
He made some hand seals for a justsu, and then another one.
Sakura was struggling to stand up. It looked as if the Yondaime had tried to kill Orochimaru, and now was trying to heal Naruto. But why?
To her, the minutes that passed seemed like an eternity. Yondaime made another hand seal and Naruto's breathing slowed, and became more stable.
Yondaime sighed, and rubbed his forehead.
"I almost killed you. If it didn't stop I would…" he sighed again, and only now did he notice Sakura who was still trying to get up.
The pink-haired girl stopped staring at Hokage. He smiled sadly.
"Hello," in a moment he by her side, examining her leg.
"I'm not good at medical techniques," he warned. "But I can still help you a little. Don't be afraid Okay."
"I.. I'm n...not afraid," Sakura tried to look brave.
His hands moved in a bunch of seals, too quickly for her to remember, and he helped her stand up.
"It won't heal you completely, but you should be able to move," he explained.
"How is Naruto?" she ran to her fallen comrade. His face was pale, but the wound didn't look as bad as she thought it would be.
"I have to help him," she thought activating a healing jutsu that Tsunade-sama had recently taught her. "We should take him back to Konoha," Yondaime offered.
"We can't", she shook her head. "He's too weak now. What if.."
She exhaled when a frightening thought came to mind.
"My jutsu couldn't heal him. I'm no good at healing jutsus," he confessed. "But this jutsu will freeze him in this condition for about 12 hours. It should prevent him from getting worst. The rasengan is very dangerous. Only a handful of medic nins would be able so save him. Is Tsunade-san still in the village?"
Sakura hesitated for a moment. She didn't know if she should give him information like that. What if he was still under Orochimaru's control? He took out Naruto within five minutes! How many shinobi would be able to fight him as an equal?
'I don't really have a choice,' she surrendered. "Naruto's life depends on it." She said it aloud this time.
"She's in the village."
Yondaime sighed with relief. A moment later he carefully hung Naruto over his shoulder, and turned back to Sakura.
"I move very fast," he warned. "This forest, is it near Stone country?"
"Yes," Sakura nodded.
"Then I know the path," he told her. "Come over here and hold on tight, if you fall down at this speed it could be very painful."
"Two people are too heavy for you," Sakura shook her head. "I'll get to Konoha myself."
"You're wounded," Yondaime warned. "You won't survive in this forest. There's no other way. We won't have enough time. End of discussion."
Their eyes met. As she looked at him she felt something familiar… The feeling was fleeting, but for some reason she knew that she could trust him.
"OK," she nodded and grabbed hold of his shoulder.
Yondaime stood still for a moment, and concentrated his chakra. He moved suddenly, and Sakura felt as if they're traveling at a speed that wasn't deemed possible.
She tightened her hold, and tried her best not to scream.
"Well," the felt a little foolish. "Now I know why he was called the Konoha's Yellow Flash."
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The rest of the day passed quickly, and Naruto didn't see the Yondaime anymore. This made him really happy. Only when he climbed into bed, did he remember their foolish ramen challenge.
"I wonder what his request will be?" he thought, but slept peacefully through the rest of the night.
His awakening wasn't so pleasant. Nightmares about various forms of 'torture' plagued his sleep. When he awoke, he was exhausted, but relived that the night was over.
"Baka," he told himself as he got dressed. "When was the last time you had a nightmare? When you were seven? Ten? And now this bastard appears and you're scared like a little girl. I can't believe it!"
He sighed as he put on his forehead protector. He knew that nothing he could try, would be able to keep him from thinking about the fourth. But he gave it a shot anyhow.
"When I become Hokage, I'll surpass him at all costs!" he declared. "So today I must do my best to complete the mission!"
After doing this he left the house. Honestly though, if he had known what the day had in store for him, he would have probably stayed home.
"Although your mission didn't end on a high note", Godaime looked at Naruto who just shrugged. "You've proven that you can be a squad leader. Maybe one day you'll make chuunin after all."
"Yes!" he shouted with joy. "So what will the next mission be?"
"The next mission is a B-ranked mission," she told him. "And Sakura will be your teammate again."
Sakura smiled at him as she entered the room.
"Yes!" Naruto shouted again. "And I'll be the leader for this mission too, won't I?"
"Actually…no," Hokage told him calmly.
Naruto's smile faltered, but quickly reappeared.
"Of course! It's a B-ranked mission after all! So… there should be a jounin on our team right? Kakashi-sensei? That's cool! The three of us together on a mission…"
"Naruto," Tsunade stopped the hyperactive teenager. "Kakashi is on another mission right now."
Naruto blinked.
"So who'll be the third?" he asked.
"I am," someone from behind, answered him.
"Aah!" Naruto screamed, jumping in surprise. It wasn't until after that did he recognize the person standing behind him. This made him shout even louder.
"Blondaime!"
"Stop calling me that!" Arashi growled.
Naruto kept staring at him. Now he was silent.
The 4th Hokage was dressed in a jounin uniform that fit him perfectly. His forehead protector kept up his mop of blond hair, and the expression on his face was unreadable.
"During my morning training I felt as if I wasn't in the best of conditions," he started to explain. "13 years of lying in a grave don't exactly sharpen one's skills, so Tsunade offered to let me work on some missions. Paper work just isn't for me," he sighed.
Sakura felt pity for him. For the first time in her life she felt as if a Hokage's work wasn't as good as it appeared.
"I don't care!" Naruto continued shouting. "Assign him to another mission!"
"No," Godaime's answer was short.
Naruto looked as if he would either faint, or kill somebody. He calmed down a litte.
"Then I refuse."
"Nani?" Tsunade and Sakura asked at the same time.
"I won't participate in this mission." Naruto explained.
Tsunade sighed. He could do it – every shinobi had the right to refuse to participate in any mission if for some reason it wasn't suitable for them – it was the law, and she couldn't do anything about it.
'Sorry, Arashi,' she thought. 'You should think of another plan.'
"Even if I give you a D-ranked mission instead?" she tried to frighten the Uzumaki. "how does baby-sitting for a month sound?"
Naruto bit his lip. It would be a painful decision but…
"Give me a D-ranked mission then," he replied.
Tsunade sighed again. Now she really was at her limit – it was impossible to make Naruto go on a mission with Arashi.
She looked over at Yondaime. He didn't look like he was upset at all.
"Very well," he smiled. "If you're struggling so much, Uzumaki Naruto, I'll have to remind you about our little deal."
"Dammit!" Naruto panicked.
Yondaime met his eyes and continued.
"You must be on my team for this mission. That is my request."
"No," Naruto shook his head trying to avoid the piercing eyes of the Yondaime.
Yondaime's smile became even wider.
"I overheard about a ninja who keeps bragging 'I won't go back on my words, it's my ninja way,' you wouldn't know him would you?" he teased.
He copied Naruto's words so perfectly, that it shocked Sakura. If he had never heard Naruto say this, how could he do it so well.
"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" Naruto cursed to himself. "Why do I have to participate in this stupid mission?"
'Calm down,' he scolded himself. 'Let's just make this mission short. They will never be able to make me do this again.'
"Alright," he answered finally. "I'll go on this mission."
Arashi kept smiling.
Tsunade stared in awe at Naruto. How did he get him to agree? Was it genjutsu? No… she'd have felt something. Yondaime just cut all they ways for retreat for Naruto leaving only the one he needed. How many times she saw this tactics in his missions?
'Arashi. You're the same as always,' she smiled. 'I'm really glad that you're back.'
"We'll meet near the village gate tomorrow at 9." Arashi informed them. "There I will tell you the details for our mission. Don't be late – I don't like it." And he left the room in complete silence.
The door closed and Naruto finally exploded.
"I hate you, Blondaime!" his shout could be heard all around the village.
That evening Naruto found himself in a small café not far from his house. for some reason he didn't want to go to Ichiraku's. Actually he was afraid as hell to find Yondaime there again.
"Naruto?" he heard familiar voice.
"Iruka-sensei!" he shouted.
The academy's chuunin sat in the chair next to him and stared at his favorite pupil.
"I've been looking for you everywhere," he told the boy. "It looks like you're trying to hide from everybody."
"Not from everybody," Naruto muttered.
"Yondaime," Iruka said looking at him.
Naruto's lip twitched.
Iruka kept looking at him. Finally Naruto sighed.
"Yes."
"Why are you so afraid of him?" Iruka asked. "Is it because he has almost killed you? That was because of Orochimaru's jutsu. He wouldn't have done anything wrong otherwise."
"He ruined my life," Naruto answered. "Thanks to him the whole village thinks of me as the Kyuubi kid, the monster. If it weren't for him my life could be a hell of a lot happier!"
"In some way you're right," Iruka admitted. "But in some way you're wrong. Yes, villagers used to hate you, that's true, but look at them now. You're a hero to many of them. You saved everyone when the sound attacked by stopping Gaara. Could you have done it if you didn't have Kyuubi's chakra?"
Naruto stared at him. Yes, he was right…The damned fox's chakra helped him a lot. He would be dead if he didn't have it.
"He gave you a tool." Iruka continued. "A tool to protect the village. A Hokage's job."
"Well…" Naruto concluded. "Maybe I should be a little easier on him. At least not so rude." He remembered the ramen challenge and growled. "But he's still a baka, and he's still a crazy and absolutely impossible person. I can't understand how a man like him could become Hoka..mph!"
"Shut up, you're shouting and people are staring at you!" Iruka whispered moving his hand from Naruto's mouth.
"Sorry," the boy appologised in a small voice. "But when I talk about him I can't be calm. Something begins to boil inside me!"
"All you need to do is to get accustomed to him," Iruka said. "I think he choose you for this mission for that reason."
"You already know?" Naruto asked.
Iruka nodded.
"The mission isn't easy but you'll become stronger. At least I hope so," he smiled.
The blond-haired boy smiled back.
"Iruka-sensei…" he began. "Do you know him well? What sort of person is the 4th?"
"Well… when he died I was very young," Iruka confessed. "But I do remember one time during the Kyuubi's attack."
"What happened?" Naruto asked.
"All villagers were running away, and I fell unable to move," the memories caused Iruka pain, and he closed his eyes for a moment to calm down. "That time…I thought 'I'm going to die,' but somebody pulled me from the crowd. It was him. He looked at me for a moment…and there was something in his eyes that made me feel stronger. I didn't want to cry anymore. Then he ordered some of his people to take care of me, and then left the village meet Kyuubi. I remember this as if it were yesterday – a crowd running for their life, and a single man going in opposite direction. To protect everyone."
He finished.
Naruto stared at him with his mouth opened.
"What a story," he said. But still, the person in Iruka's story and the blond disaster that he saw earlier that day…. Well, it was almost as if they were two different men.
"Don't judge the book by its cover," Iruka smiled almost as he knew what Naruto was thinking.
"Thank you, Iruka-sensei!" Naruto stood up, and moved towards the exit. "I guess that I should prepare for the mission." And with this, he left.
"Good luck, and do your best!" he sighed. He was worried, but didn't show it.
"Yondaime," he muttered. "Please look after him, and don't let him get hurt."