Chapter 4

Minato's POV

So, I am inside the stomach of the Shinigami, and I have no reason to be happy. I mean, I'm dead, that's no happy thought. Then again, somehow, my wife, a.k.a the love of my life is with me- again, no reason to be happy, but I'll take it. My son is alive, probably being slightly spoilt- I hope he becomes a shinobi, that'll be helpful- though he'll probably be immensely grateful for the power boost I gave him.

Hopefully he is humble and happy, because that's all I can ask for him- WHoa! That was a dangerous swing! Shinigamis, always getting in the way of my thoughts! Kushina supports me, though she is still slightly miffed that I sealed the Kyuubi in Naruto. Not really sure why that is a problem, she managed to suppress its power completely, so obviously he can too. That aside, why did the Shinigami suddenly stop? It's not like i haven't accepted my fate, so… this is strange.

Being sucked out of a stomach is strange- perhaps that's why people hate vomiting so much. It's not pleasant, and I'm tempted to resist, if only so the seal doesn't fail. Wait! Nononononono, please NO!

"Kushina! Why are you being sucked up as well?!"

"I'm not sure, but this is new! Maybe a new adventure! Imagine the things we could do!"

Oookayyyy… perhaps our time inside the belly wasn't such a good idea. Kushina going insane is never good. I'm going to have to calm her down.

"Unless someone decided to summon the Shinigami to release us, we can't leave, so we have to be prepared for-"

Well, so much for my warning. I don't even know what's going on, and the Edo Tensei (?) was complete.

After the apparently obligatory 10 minute gap given to let us get used to our surroundings, I noticed that there were more than the two of us. Kushina gasped at my left side when she saw the female… considering the hair color, I'm guessing that she's either Mito Uzumaki or Kushina's mother. Not sure who would be scarier.

The other two would be the First and Second Hokage, Hashirama and Tobirama Senju… For some reason, I feel a bit of animosity towards the Senju clan, and I can't for the life of me understand it. Lady Tsunade evokes the same animosity.

In front of us is… a silver-and-pink masked man wearing silver-pink-black armor. This just keeps getting more and more bizarre.

I decide, since the confusion on everyone else's face is obvious, to ask the questions.

"Who are you, and why have you summoned us?"

"Who I am will be revealed in time, call me Ji-O for now. As for why I summoned this group… Well, there are many reasons, but chief among them is that you, Minato Namikaze, along with your wife, Kushina Uzumaki, died untimely deaths, and had to make difficult choices in the process. I think you deserve second chances, though whether you have the opportunity or not is a different story.

The other three have been called to help me achieve my objective, nothing more nothing less. Except for maybe some retroactive sense-knocking for almost all of you. Now that that has been established though, there is one clarification I have to make. I haven't summoned you- I've revived you."

Huh, I thought jokes were cracked over less insane things. More importantly, how did he revive us?

"You'll excuse me if I find that impossible… I did use the Shiki Fūjin seal, so technically, the Edo Tensei can't work on either me or my wife."

Lady Mito gasped, apparently she understands the seriousness of what I did.

"Young man, you will explain where you learnt that jutsu, and why you decided to use it. Ji-O-dono, you have a lot of explaining to do, seeing as I am missing a lot of information."

"Mito-sama, I taught Minato the Shiki Fūjin, and he needed to do an emergency sealing of the Kyuubi into a newborn. How I got sucked into the Shinigami's stomach I will never know though."

I could kiss you right now, Kushina. Still, how did you get sucked in?

"The reason only the Uzumaki's are allowed to use the Shiki Fūjin is that we are the only clan with the durability to survive the requirements of the Shinigami… Any other person would have to give their soul and that of the Uzumaki that taught them the jutsu in exchange, since Uzumaki are the only people who can survive the rigors of a cut stomach long enough to revive them completely. And why would anybody even think of sealing the Kyuubi into a newborn?! It's suicidal at best anyway, Uzumakis are the only ones capable of holding the Kyuubi-"

I'm jumping in now "Extracted post childbirth, m'lady. The Kyuubi was rampaging all over Konoha due to a masked Sharingan user that named himself Madara Uchiha. As weak as she was, the Kyuubi had to be restrained and Kushina was the only person available to restrain it. With no choice, Konoha needed to be safe… I sealed half of it into our son, Naruto. That's why the Shiki Fūjin was used. I can only hope that he is training to control its power…" I was weirdly aware of the bout of depression I was feeling… If he knew what I did, would he forgive me? Would he thank me?

Lady Mito didn't like the situation, but she didn't argue. Either way, revival…. Huh, guess I'm happy to be alive again. Question is, "Why us?"

"Honestly, the reason for that, Fourth, is that your son is not really in good hands- Konoha has dumped all its hate onto him in the six years he's lived, and I won't stand for that. I said I'm giving you a second chance… If I were to bring him here, would you and Kushina here train him to survive?" Is it strange that he seems nervous, yet excited? Also, please restrain yourself, Kushina, your scowl is scaring me

"Are we outside Konoha, then?" Dumb question, but then, this looks awfully like Training Ground 7.

"This is an alternate dimension, one I created for your residence, and should you accept, training little Naruto. I believe he needs to be outside Konoha as a minor reprieve from the torture he experiences, and-"

Yeah, Kushina can be really scary if angered… Who is he though? Also, please release him, love, he is not to be lifted by the neck

"Listen, buster! There is no if when it comes to Naruto… Bring him here immediately or I will kill you, revival be damned!" I may seem calm, but my anger is being barely held back by the fact that he seems to be concerned for Naruto. Kushina is much too different from me- she doesn't hold back.

"Still, the hatred he feels shouldn't be much- what makes you so determined to help the child?" Lord First seems not to notice the scowl on Kushina's face… not that I blame her, my KI is barely being suppressed.

Lady Mito acts and slaps her husband on the head. "And you call yourself a grandfather… Why is it that you never learn?! Even Tsunade is spoilt by your callous attitude!"

I think I know my answer. Just in case though, "What do you say, Kushina?"

She glares, and I answer "Ji-O, at the very least, the two of us agree to your terms. Not sure of Lords First and Second and I'm not going to be the one who orders Lady Mito around."

Lady Mito also speaks up again. "I speak for the two idiots people call Kage when I say that we wish to nurture one of the last of the Clan of Sealing… isn't that right, boys?"

I sweatdrop as my predecessors sweat and nod. Why do I get the feeling that these three seem as close as Kushina and I were? She is still suspicious of him, I am too.

Thinking inwardly, I ask the Kyuubi half within me whether it can sense the identity of Ji-O.

"The chakra is familiar, but do note that I only say that to save my ass again. Any co-op with me, is still a long time away, asshat" came the insulting reply… Being called an asshat by the Kyuubi kinda sucks, but what can you do? It's a demon.

Lady Mito voices the question that I have. "I still am missing the information I require… Your intentions do not speak for your motivations, and I do need to hear of that."

" And that mistrust, while valid, is definitely what validates the Kyuubi's hate towards humanity… And I hate using that title" came the scathing and disgusted reply from Ji-O

"Oi, Yondaime no teme" the Kyuubi speaks. "You might've fucked up if he's willing to speak to a fūinjutsu mistress like that, not that I don't enjoy the look of deep hurt and slight suspicion on the less influenced redhead here"

"Perhaps you could tell me who you are- I only sealed half of the Kyuubi into my son, the other half is in me, and it says that your chakra is familiar to it" I may despise the Kyuubi, but its sense of self-preservation and knowledge of chakra means its a better sensor than most shinobi. Lady Mito didn't comment

"Figured you'd use your resources to its max capabilities." I could hear the smirk in his voice. "I'll give you a clue then- First" he pointed to Lady Mito "Second" then to Kushina "Co-third" he pointed at myself and himself.

All three humans were confused, even me. Though the Kyuubi did speak in my mind, or, actually, it roared in laughter "Damn, the guy's a true fox. Prepare to grovel in shock, teme, because he is merciless!"

Seeing I was even more confused than the two ladies he pointed out, he sighed, then his hand went to the strange belt buckle -How did I not notice that!?- and proceeded to remove the watch(?) on the right side of it and the armor dissipated.

Yeah, the strangled gasp Kushina made was my reaction as well. My face was decidedly funny, though not at the time it was made.

Yeah, I'm back... I'm also lacking in motivation for my Harry potter fic. Those who have read that, please tell me if you want it redone, because I'm considering it. That would've been updated, but like I said, no motivation to write, due to it being one dimensional in nature.

I used Minato's POV here due to the sheer absurdity of his calm demeanor, even in fights. Thought it would work well with the humor I'm aiming for in this chapter, plus I wanted to show how I think he looks at things in retrospect.

Review and comment on this... Also, do you want the next chapter to be in Naruto's POV?