I do not own Naruto
Okay folks if I disappear it is not by choice it seems the wanna be dictator has threatened me and my account for not obeying his wishes to kill off a character so if I do vanish it is not my fault. For those who wish to see what I mean his review is there so do my guest to check it out. Please be kind and report other then that I am simply going to ignore him.
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Following day
After having calmed down Minato with aide from Iruka and her two younger apprentices, Tsunade found herself in the council room waiting. With what happened the other night, she knew this was going to happen, in fact she had Shizune prepare papers for the meeting those meddlesome old folks was sure to call. A sigh escaping her lips as she would honestly kill for a sake, or better yet to send Jiriaya flying for being a pervert if he was here, she allowed people to settle in.
Although as one by one shinobi and civilian alike stepped in, she saw some of the usual chatting among themselves as they grabbed their seats. The civilian side confused as this meeting was for the shinobi as some feel. They just accepted as they sat down in their chairs and waited. All the heads there, she gave a nod to Iniochi who was the only one aware of what they were about to discuss.
That movement not missed by the trio that she privately calls her royal pain in the ass advisers, she founds herself on the staring end of all three.
"Tsunade why has the meeting come?" Asked Danzo, who knowing full well why, because of that sudden chakra burst. "Is it simply to tell us that the Uzumaki is back? He was not due for at least another three months according to Jiriaya's reports you have so graciously shared."
"That wasn't Naruto." Tsunade replied quietly. Her words echoing through the room. It causes all of the ones in attendance to talk animatedly. Questions left and right pouring through, she ends up slamming her fist on the table to the point that it shatters. Civilian and shinobi alike, the two groups look at the Slug Sannin with respect (and maybe a little fear) as they settle down. Once again inquiries coming forth, they were silenced with a single hand in the air.
"You want to know who it was." She stated with a cold look. Each one shivering under her stare she just looks at them with a knowing gaze now in her eyes. "Tell me, why should I tell you?"
Startled by her question, so many questions once again came forth. Most assuming she was lying about it being Naruto. But others mentioning Akatski, Rock, and other ideas erupted much to the blonde's annoyance. Allowing them to settle their questions down to a minimum without raising her hand this time. She listens as Danzo speaks on his so called behalf of all.
"If it is not the Uzumaki, Tsunade..." The old bastard as she likes to think of him started to say as she interrupts him.
"Hokage, get it right Danzo. Its Hokage to you adviser."
She gives the old man a smirk as she reminds him of his place. The old man bristling with rage. The others immediately rant at her about respect and obeying her elders and such. The blonde woman just tunes them out as they rant and rave. Nodding her head to someone in the back, a figure disappears to get someone ready to come in.
Waiting for the person to arrive, she set about getting things done and maybe get a hell of a lot of power into her hands and out of that blasted old hawk.
"What I am about to do is give you what I will consider an S ranked secret. I know this village and its people. It is why the civilians will be informed as well. And if I here even one ounce of what will be said in a bit outside of Konoha. I will track that person down and personally execute them myself."
The look in her eyes backing every word that she just said. They started to say something as to the nerve of her to say that. But yet their lips remained shut as she looks at each and every one. "I do believe you understand me then. Good. Iniochi let us give them the debriefing shall we?"
Nodding his head, the woman begins to speak. Her voice full of authority that said listen or else to those in the room. Because she was not going to repeat it twice.
"As of a week and half ago, the patient in room 403-2 woke up after being placed in a coma after the Sound Invasion three years ago, due to massive chakra depletion. According to his records he was found at the base of the Hokage seating after the battle. Wrapped in bandages as per protocol, he was in a coma by the time I had gotten to him." She said as she paused just long enough to get a drink.
"What's this got to do with that night?" One of the other members asks curiously. Most looking at him in pity, the Hokage knowing he was new just pauses for a moment.
"Look Takeda-san right?"
"Yes."
"This is your one freebie. Interrupt me again and I will show you why I am a Sannin."
Gulping a little bit in fear he remains quiet as she starts up again. "For training purposes, the Yamanaka clan has allowed their younger members to learn their jutsus on coma patients as it would benefit both we believe. And it worked, Iniochi's own daughter in learning helped this mind not only reconnect his mind and body. She was there along with my apprentice Sakura Haruno when he woke up."
Making a gesture to the other blonde in the room, the mind user finds himself now speaking as well. "When he awoke, as I and Tsunade discussed earlier about this practice, Ino came to report to me. Telling me of what had happened, I had returned with her. Not only to teach her, but to also see about the man's identity."
Taking a breather, the Yamanaka head started talking once more. "When we both mind melded with the patient and traced the path that she had helped put together. The man's image appeared and when I saw who it was I immediately sent Ino out to fetch the Lady Hokage with a code 725."
Holding hand up for him to stop as people looked confused on the civilian side, it is the shinobi side that all watch as they talk among themselves rapidly.
"Lady Hokage, I am afraid I do not understand, may I ask what is a code 725?" A different civilian from before, the blonde woman replies calmly as she answers the woman. Giving kudos, to now only her bravery she replies with a somewhat cool but approving look towards the woman. Like the man earlier, the woman was relatively new.
"A code 725 is confirmation of a Kage level Shinobi not usually affiliated with Konoha or any of its allies."
"What do you mean not usually?" Asked another councilman.
"What I mean is I know who this person is." She states simply to the entire group of people. "And right now I am debating if I should tell you for this person is not happy."
Many people talking among themselves and demanding that she speak who it was, she simply remained quiet. Their voices getting louder and louder with demands, she just sits and waits. Not uttering a word of who it was that released that intent just the other day. Her eyes cool and collected, it takes another 25 minutes before the council, (mostly civilians) to sit down and remain silent.
"Why is this person not happy?" Asked the same woman from before.
Thoughtful as she wonders how to answer that question, Tsunade finds her truth as she speaks. "It is simply how Konoha treated his son."
Confused looks on all their faces, she just looks at them with a calm gaze.
"How we treated his son?
"Who is his son?"
"What could we have done to this boy?"
Holding up her hand, she is given a file by Shizune. The woman having been in there the whole time, quiet and unobtrusive. She was there as back up in case things went south with the 'adviser'. Both women were ready should he try something. Now throwing out the file, she allows them to look through it. No name on it, she waits to see if any of them can figure it out. Knowing full well that this was just the first few years of his life.
Each one grabbing a few pages of the file, she sees and studies the reactions of what they read. Of course remaining nameless the civilians found themselves gasping in horror at the beatings, and even the attempted murder attempts.
"How...how?" Asked another civilian member. The man looking at this with horror, as he reads. The blonde knowing full well he was responsible for some of this early on the little gaki's life that she refrains from punching him. "How….who would do that to a child?"
"How can I say it...you did on that particular one." She replies as she checks what he is reading.
Eyes widening in disbelief, the others look at the councilman with something akin to distaste. Catching those gazes among civilian and shinobi alike. More files are passed out, each one with the similar content, but attributed to them or someone in their family. One by one they all looked at the folders, even the newer ones who may not know had some that their family was responsible for.
"This is horse shit," Tsume Inuzuka stated. Noticing the woman is in denial, she holds files of the attempts she had her family members do to the boy she refers to as the demon brat. "That brat has no family alive."
A single eyebrow raised, it does not take long for the others to realize who the files are referring to. Some of them grinning in malice as if the memories they evoked were happy ones. The newer members giving a look of horror at what their family had done. Taking note of the reactions all around, the only ones not really affected were almost all the ninja clans save Inuzuka as their clean head seemed justified at what she had committed.
Of the civilians only the newer members that were reacting with horror and sadness. Making a mental to note to talk with them separately, she waited until all the denials were out in the open before she spoke again, "As you can see the files are on one Naruto Uzumaki." She states. "And as you all know that night when the Kyuubi attacked, it was sealed into a boy who was supposedly an orphan as the Sandaime had stated, by the Fourth Hokage."
No one saying anything, she continued on. "I am now going to tell you of a secret that only myself and a few others know." Her eyes turning to the Inuzuka woman who looks away, as she returns to speaking. The blonde woman knowing how much the Council is going to flip as they will most certainly deny it. She already has pictures set up as her favorite little pain looks to much like his father now for them to deny.
"About 16 years ago, The Fourth Hokage married a woman in secret to protect not only her, but any children they may have. Which they did have about 2 years later. The woman was the Red hot Habanero or the Crimson Death as some know. We mostly know her as Kushina Uzumaki, mother of Naruto and wife to Minato Namikaze aka the Fourth Hokage of Konoha."
With the announcement, it took many of the council a few minutes to register what she said. The faces on them incredulous and disbelieving, she nodded towards Shizune once more. Placing two pictures out on the table, one of the Yondaime and the other of the blonde teenager side by side, the council gazed at the images in shock.
Now with the trio of advisers, all of them were upset as they never really knew that the Yondaime had married. Normally having to get permission from them if single, they found themselves left out of the loop by the woman's predecessor. For if she knew and by the sounds of it the third…
"How the hell were we not informed! He was to come to us and the council for approval!" Danzou asked. Growling in rage loud and clear, the council listens as Tsunade with a sickly sweet attitude towards the man speaks in response.
"He didn't have to tell you if it was before he became Hokage."
Stunned by this news she continues on, "You see with the reputation both she and Minato had, he wanted to make sure none came after Kushina she worked her missions. Yes he knew she could handle herself as could he. But why bring their enemies on one another, especially after he became Hokage."
The others listening, the civilians and other clans could not help but find themselves in agreement. The Yondaime had indeed made a lot of enemies. Years after the Third Shinobi war, Iwa had often attacked and tested their borders as many retained their anger. Same with other villages as well. It was a troubling time, that they had to be on alert unlike now. So as they continue hearing her words, they find themselves thinking deep in thought...
"When she had gotten pregnant. They kept that a secret as well, a child of the Yellow Flash and the Red Hot Habanero would be quite valuable as a hostage or as a victim depending on the right offer." She stated, her eyes specifically one a certain adviser. The one just staring back impassively as she smiles. She knows he is seething inside, with all the times he had wanted Naruto for himself, it just makes her giddy with pleasure at his face.
"It's impossible!"
"How could that be true!"
Her first slamming the table as denial from the council begins she nods to Shizune who places side by side images of the blonde teen and his parents. The men and women find themselves in shock and later shame as the pictures were the proof. The jinchuuriki had Kushina's eyes and brashness, but everything else was all Minato Namikaze.
The one teen most of Konoha did not like civilian and even shinobi wise, was their hero's son. So much confusion and misunderstanding among them. It takes one of the shinobi to say something that was placed on the back burner for a short time.
Speaking up as head been quiet the entire time, Shikaku says one thing that makes them all quiet. The Nara head not much for talking he would later on admit, he admired the way that Tsunade handled things. Making sure they understood the feeling everyone got that night and the reasons why, as if allowing them to figure out whose chakra frightened his deer and all animals around Konoha.
"It's Minato...he's alive isn't he. He was the one who released that intent."
Just looking at him Tsunade responds with a deadly calmness. "Yes and he is not happy."
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Unknowing of the meeting going on about his new found friend, Iruka set about giving him a haircut. Having had to give them to Naruto as they would not take him, because of his tenant, the chuunin had to do it. At the beginning he was not that good as the blonde teen would attest to at a later time, but he became so and well now he found it ironic he was doing the same for the father.
Trimming here and there, Iruka mused on things as he hummed an idle tune.
Previous day….
Having let Ino and Sakura idly chatter with the man who listened and smiled, he soon found himself alone with the older man who was his favorite student's father. Introduction having been made by Tsunade, said man just looking at him curiously, he shakes his head and speaks.
"Just wondering why I never put it together. Naruto is a dead ringer for you. I was his teacher in the academy."
A pleased smile on his lips, Minato was about to ask something as best he could, but the chuunin held up his hand before he did. "I already know," he laughs. His hand rubbing the back of his head as he thinks of where to start.
"He was hyper, a little bit on the blunt and brash side. But then he had to be, I think" He states quietly. "His life was not easy and well...I guess he had to be just to get people to see him. Its why he went to pranking."
Despite hearing the beginning, Iruka found Minato wanting to learn more. His face set somewhat angry, as he gestured for him to go, he decided to go on the brighter side of Naruto's life. Most of it filled with abuse but also of pranking and escaping not just villagers but also shinobi and even ANBU, it found the blonde man laughing albeit hoarsely. Especially after the teacher made that comment about how good must they be, if a 6 year old can evade them.
A smile on the other man's lips as he continues talking of Naruto, he begins on those school day's. The tracking him down when he skipped, getting him to learn what he could teach. Even as he grew, his bonding with the boy who was bright and his wanting to know things as he could. Never afraid to ask questions or joke around with these few clan children that he made friends with then if you could call them that. But now could as he had earned their trust and companionship. He was happy to find himself an apt listener.
When it came to the missions Naruto told him about, he found some of it was not making him happy, but others making him laugh. Especially when Naruto got Jiriaya to take him as his apprentice. Telling the man the sannin's nickname that his son gave the Toad Sage, the man almost fell out of his bed and nearly choked in pain. Minato had found that hilarious, and managed to motion to Iruka that it sounded like his teacher perfectly.
So as they talked. Iruka found that the man gave him something that reminded him more of his former student. The smile...it radiated out from the blonde in front of him, one that even now makes him smile, for it matches his son's.
Today…..
Finishing up the hair and then taking care of the beard, he held out a mirror for his new friend to see. Nodding his pleasure at his new look, he observes as Minato turns to Ino and Sakura for their opinion. The two girls, having finished his therapy before he had come in, Iruka smiled as they wholeheartedly approved.
The former Hokage had his familiar hairstyle back with the spiky golden hair, and the two locks that were longer in the front. Deciding to keep the beard he had grown while in his coma, Iruka had helped him trim it to a goatee.
"Looking good Minato-san!" Ino replied happily as Iruka watched her head over to chat. Sakura doing the same, the two girls talked about what was going on in the village. Iruka himself throwing in his own two cents every so often with a laugh. They find Minato giving a smile here and there. Even when they tell him about Konohamaru and his idol worship of Naruto. This made him smile as at the moment the boy and his two friends Moegi and Udon had run by underneath the window.
The trio chasing after Tora, the feline had climbed a tree not to far from the room window. Helping him stand and wobble over with their help, Minato got to see the newly minted genin try their best at catching the wily feline. One he himself as well as the shinobi with him have had to deal with. There is still theories that the cat had to be related to the Nibi, rotating around the shinobi nations.
Seriously, the cat was in one of the bingo books as flee on sight supposedly! The damage it could do, was extreme when cornered.
Anyhow, as the girls help him back to his bed as the trio had left, (the cat had once again gotten away) they both go and take their leave as Shizune comes in. Having really finished his therapy early that morning, the two were going their separate ways. Sakura to learn more from Shizune as Tsunade was busy, and Ino had to go run her family's flower shop. Iruka stays behind and helps keep the man company.
Having gotten a pen and some paper from the school, he had given it to Minato to talk with. His voice still weak and hoarse, the man would be starting in a couple of days with Sakura. It was the reason why Shizune, under the Godaime's orders, would be showing the pinkette how to accomplish this so he can start talking easier.
But right now with a paper and pen, the two set about getting to know one another.
How long have you been teaching?
"I would say at least 7-8 years. Not sure," Iruka states. "I just knew when I got the chance I took it. I wanted to help the next generation become strong… I wanted them to understand that shinobi life was not easy, but if they value hard work and take care of each other, then they could do anything. They could even become Hokage." He chuckles, "I think Naruto took that to heart, despite the disadvantages some of my coworkers gave him."
A sigh coming from the other man's lips as he 'speaks', How bad was it?
"When he got to me, well he honestly did now how to read very well. He could write but it was more...well more or less, none of the other teachers he had would help him."
Because of the Kyuubi.
Nodding his head in agreement, the teacher continues on about the blonde boy's school days. "For the times when I could not help, I got him tutors. I was able to get him with reading and writing thanks to Shikamaru and Chouji to a level he could understand what I was teaching. The physical aspect was interesting though, he was pretty good as he observed the other students spar. He doesn't even now have a real set style, but what he lacks he makes up for in power."
Ninjutsu?
"Yes, your son is rather good with the Shadow Clones, as they have saved him more then once. He even knows your Rasengan, Jiriaya taught him." Iruka stated with a smile. Minato giving him a genuinely pleased smile, Iruka finds himself looking as it turns to a frown.
Should have been me… I should have been there to teach him so much. And he had no one.
"I know that will bother you for a long time Minato. But A it was not your fault the fox attacked, and B you have other things just as important for you to see." Iruka stated with smile. But next is the one question that even now he can not honestly truly answer. The main reason being, Naruto doesn't even know that this man is his father. Knowing his student like does and the mask he often wears when it comes to his identity this will be something that only his former student can answer.
I was gone for so long... do you think he will even want me in his life?
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Okay folks this one did take a while as parts of it I was stuck on. Knew how I wanted to say just finding the right words to say it. Yes Naruto should be making an appearance within the next 3 chapters at the most. Before I forget there will be one more time skip at least which will be the chapter before Naruto's return.