Deal

A/N: Sorry this is late. Miriam and I had a small mix up but it's corrected now.

Please note: The moment they cross the portal into the Elemental Nations, please consider they speaking Japanese. English will now be Italicized instead.

Disclaimer: See chapter 1. Reviews are welcomed. Flames are not.

Chapter 16

Minato stood in front of the stone-lined portal that separated the two worlds he had found himself in. According to his research, it was a permanent portal between this world and home. Although the two worlds were not totally in sync with each other, the portal can still be opened anytime. The best times for the best results were the solstices.

Now that he had fulfilled his part of the deal with the Shinigami on raising Harry Potter to fulfill his destiny and dealing with a cheater of death, he could take his family home, including his adopted son, Haru. He was really looking forward to seeing his home again.

It didn't help that he wanted to get away from the Wizarding World, and especially Dumbledore. The old wizard just could not let go that the evil one was gone for good. Haru and Naruto had made some friends at Hogwarts, but not enough to want to remain behind.

Of course, there was no way he was going to tell the old wizard that the Shinigami sealed the other half of the nine-tails in Haru. That had been a shock, but it did make sense.

It was the summer solstice. The lining between the two worlds would be the thinnest. However, the former Hokage had the permission to return to his home world with his family. He had planned this night to test that permission; if not he would have to wait for Sainhaim. Besides, he had another reason for this night.

The Genin Exams. His boys were old enough to take the exams and become full-fledged genin of the Leaf. In his biased opinion, they had earned their hitai-ate.

As the sun faded under the horizon and the natural colors of the summer bled out to dark shadows, Minato finally called to his sons who were playing tag with a large black Irish wolf hound among the standing stones and petrified trees.

"It's time."

The boys grinned as they picked up their packs. The dog changed to Sirius, Haru's godfather, and went to stand by Minato.

"Let's go," Minato said in Japanese as he took a step through the portal.

Both boys shouted, "HAI!" as they carefully they stepped through the portal and the changed landscape beyond. Sirius brought up the rear.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Sirius Black refused to leave his godson's side. He decided that he would be their future tutor in magic. It also could be said that he adored the two boys and refused to be parted from them.

He had nothing left in the Wizarding World. Now that he was free of all charges, he took up his Lordship duties for all of two months after he had been cleared of all charges. He did regret leaving his former best friend Moony, but it couldn't be helped.

Remus Lupin – Moony – was very much a Dumbledore's man.

He had stayed away from Harry on Dumbledore's order and never made contact with his surrogate godson in the whole time since Prongs' death. That was unforgivable, in the old Marauder's book. Never mind the fact that Remus would've discovered that Sirius had been free all those years and hiding with Harry.

Then there was the Black Family Fortune. It didn't take him long to unravel the mess that his grandfather had left behind when he passed away some time back. Thankfully, he had never disinherited Sirius, but still the finances were a mess.

It did not help that Lucius Malfoy hoped that Draco would inherit the Lordship, but with Sirius still alive, Lucius' dreams just went underground. Sirius took great pleasure in dissolving the marriage contract between House Malfoy and House Black for breach of contract.

It was an easy matter to give his voting proxy to Andromeda Tonks after he brought her back into the family, returning her inheritance and giving a large dowry to her daughter for bringing back a lost trait to House Black.

After spending three days with his Account Manager, Sirius swore he had writer's cramp from all the paperwork he had to fill out.

In the meantime, he had to duck Dumbledore during that time, also. The man wanted Sirius to take custody of Harry and undo the adoption. The older wizard wouldn't explain his reasons. He needed Haru to be Harry Potter, the Wizarding World's Golden Boy.

What Dumbledore didn't realize was that Sirius had spent several years as the boys' pet dog during the day and tutor at night. He told them stories, acted like a guard dog when needed. He wasn't about to betray his new family.

Sirius had no regrets, leaving behind a world that stabbed him in the back. He was going with the family that matters most.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Jiriaya was busy writing in a small journal when he heard a small pop beside him. Looking, he spied a small green toad. The toad opened his mouth and ejected a note.

"Hmm . . .what do we have here?" he mused as he tossed a bit of pocky to the toad, who caught it before disappearing.

"Sensei,

The deal is done. Meet me at where we usually meet in the fall."

The white-haired sannin blinked and then reread the note as a slow grin formed. "Well, the gaki finally did it."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

A silver-haired masked shinobi was finishing up his mission and was taking his time back to the Leaf Village, very reluctant in returning at the moment.

Kakashi Hatake was certain that the Hokage was going to try to foster another genin team on him. He really didn't want one. Genins were just whiny brats that were just playing at being a ninja. He was an elite jonin and not a baby-sitter.

Suddenly, a small blue toad kept pace with him, causing him to stop on a large tree branch. The toad ejected a note with its tongue. Giving the toad a disgusted look, he took the note and fished out a treat. He didn't have much left in the way of food, but a bit of left-over energy bar would have to do. The toad caught the treat before 'poofing' causing a small white cloud.

He quickly read the note. 'Hmm,' he mused. 'I guess I can take a quick detour. I'm not expected back at the village any time soon. After all, I am known for being late, anyway.'

He quickly changed his direction and headed off.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

Even though he wanted to head right away for Leaf, Minato wanted to wait for his former student and senseito catch up with them. He had two inexperienced pre-genin and a civilian with him. Perfect targets for assassination and ambush.

"Tou-san?" Haru asked after they stopped on the other side of the portal.

"Hai?"

"Do you think that crazy house-elf will find me here?"

Minato paused for a moment. "I don't think so, musuko*. Tally could only come with us because of her bond and the fact she is sleeping in Sirius' backpack."

Haru sighed as he remembered how the crazed elf had startled him in the shower, no less, warning him not to return to Hogwarts.

"Why don't you and Naru-kun go gather firewood?"

"Hai."

They made camp not far from the portal, where he knew that Jiriaya and Kakashi made theirs in times past. To help pass the time, Minato had turned everything into a field training exercise to help keep the boys focused.

The boys gathered wood while Minato set up temporary seals around the camp to keep them from being noticed.

The next morning, Minato went hunting and scouting the area for threats, leaving Sirius to make breakfast with his magic for the moment. Naturally, they could have let Tally do it, but she was still in a magical sleep until they had a house she could take charge in. As a house elf, she was very sensitive to the move. It was easier on her this way.

As they waited for their escorts, Minato turned his thoughts to the last few weeks. It hadn't been much trouble to tenure his resignation with the Aurors and the Ministry. He didn't even try with the Unspeakables. He would keep their secrets, and besides: they had a way to contact him if anything happened. He would also send them reports back if he heard anything on this side of the portal. This was a fair exchange, in his opinion.

The two men arrived the evening of the next day. Haru and Naruto were happy to see that their adopted older brother and uncle of the heart had arrived.

Kakashi was very pleased to see them as well. He missed the two boys and was disappointed not able to see them last fall, as the boys had to attend school.

He tested them during their rough-housing on their tracking and other skills and was pleased at their progress. He was quick to note that Haru was the brains of the pair, while Naruto was the heavy hitter. He couldn't wait to take on their training. Maybe he could get Lord Third to let him have the boys as part of his genin team. It was the only way he would take on the baby-sitting duty.

Naruto did, however, surprise him on how many clones he could make. Haru was also learning, but couldn't make as many as his older brother, yet. Although the shinigami had expanded his chakra coils to accommodate the other part of the fox, the boy just didn't have the reserves that Naruto had.

"They are going to make fine genin," Jiriaya complimented by his side of the fire, after watching them take on Kakashi in a friendly spar disguised as rough housing.

"That they are," Minato agreed. "Sirius will be their instructor for their kekkei genkai. As you know, he's Haru's godfather."

Sirius was busy joining in the fun after he had placed seals and spells to hide their presence in the stone valley. The whole glen was filled with boys' laughter in the darkness.

"It'll take about four days to get to Leaf from here, barring trouble. We'll have to travel mostly at night, as we will be traveling through some enemy territory," Jiriaya informed him.

Minato agreed. Although he was listed as dead, both Jiriaya and Kakashi had huge bounties on their heads if an enemy attacked them. Sirius and the boys would be killed for just being with them. Sirius may have a chance, as he was an Auror and was fully trained with his kekkei genkai. But a shinobi – he was not.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o

The group reached the Village of the Hidden Leaf several days later. They had to stop a few extra times to deal with bandits, the boys' needs as well as Sirius' lack of shinobi training. It was to be expected and planned for.

Minato smiled down at his village and took a deep breath.

Home. He was finally home.

A wave of sadness washed over him as the thought of his beloved wife, Kushina, would not be there to greet him.

Naruto grimaced. He had no love for the village of his birth, not after the way he had been treated the first five years of his life.

"Don't worry, musuko," Minato comforted his son by placing a hand on his shoulder. "You are stronger and better prepared now. Besides you have family to support you."

Naruto grinned his foxy grin. "Believe it!"

Haru and Sirius looked over the village with a critical eye. It didn't seem too bad to them. Haru vowed that no one will hurt his brother – no one. Neither civilian nor shinobi.

0o0o0o0o0o0

The gate guards watched as a party of six walked up to them. One of them had on a hooded cloak that kept his face covered. Two were boys around age ten to twelve. Two were known to them – Kakashi and Jiriaya. The last was a stranger that a mischievous grin.

"Yo," Kakashi greeted the guards, signaling an ANBU code. "A new family wants to relocate to Leaf. Jiriaya-sama and I are escorting them to the Hokage. I guaranteed them safe passage."

One of the guards nodded and pushed over the entrance log for the jonin to sign. Above them, a cloaked shadow shot off into the air to report in at the Tower.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Hiruzen Sarutobi was doing the bane of all Hokages everywhere – paperwork - when an ANBU reported to him about a new family wanting to relocate. One of the men was cloaked and hooded while the other man was a complete stranger with two boys looking around ten to twelve years old.

"Kakashi and Jiriaya-sama are with them. Kakashi flashed an ANBU code of all clear and SS-secret, your eyes only."

Putting aside the file he was going over, the aged Third waved his hand over a crystal ball setting nearby.

He blinked as he pushed the view of the small family to become larger. The boy. . . Those whiskers! That blond hair. . . It couldn't be. It was reported that the boy had been reported missing seven years ago. How did he manage to get out of the village without anyone seeing them? Even Kakashi couldn't find him, and he was on duty that night.

"Bear. Send for Ibiki and Inochi. I will need them."

An ANBU peeled from the wall and disappeared through the window. He waved the reporting ANBU away to return to his duty.

Had Kakashi found him on this last mission? Or did Jiriaya? Who were with them? Who was the other boy? And the two strangers with them?

This was a puzzle. Hopefully, a pleasant one. One thing was for certain: the village's Jinchuriki had returned.

0o0o0o0o0o0

A/N: As promised: This story is far from over. As for Dobby. . .without the horcrux in the diary, it's just a diary that has been tainted with dark magic. Don't worry I will be dropping hints on what is happening in the Wizarding World from time to time.

Until next time. – GF with the talented help of Miriam1

hitai-ate – forehead protector, signaling the area shinobi of a hidden village, in this case Konoha.

Musuko – son

Jinchuriki – means – Power of Human Sacrifice. They are humans that have a tailed beast sealed within them. Naruto has half of the nine-tails in him, where Haru has the other half, thanks to the Shinigami.