A/N:

Okay okay, before anything happens I wanted to say: I'm sorry about the very very very long wait between chapters. This chapter is long overdue and I finally found time to finish it. Again I apologize for the wait and I'm just happy I can finally bring you guys and gals a chapter after so long!

( After Naruto and his team Departed )

Minato stared blankly at the crowded streets of Konoha. The village people stared at the young Hokage in surprise and happiness as they watched him walk by. It was very rare when a Kage leaves his/her solitude of the office and walk the streets of the village. He received many bows and smiles from the oncoming people as whispers started break out. Minato tried his best to put on a happy expression and he greeted as many people as he could. He gave the occasional handshake to those brave enough to approach the fabled Yellow Flash, and a nod of acknowledgement to those who gave him their gratitude.

All were unaware of his internally suffering.

It was only an hour ago that he watched his eldest son leave the village embarking on his first C rank mission. Leaving him in his office alone, letting the Hokage bask in his inherent sadness, He wanted to chase after him, apologize and try to make it better.

"No." he thought as he lowered his head not wanting to let the villagers see the pain that flashed through his eyes "With how Naruto left my office, surely we would have caused a scene In front of everyone."

His mind trailed off as he gave another fake smile to a group of passing genin. Doing so almost subconsciously. He broke out of his sudden daze as he was his saw his large home come into view. Robotically he walked over to his front door and rested his hand on the polished metal doorknob. He heard laughter echo throughout the door and he could practically feel the warmness of his family flooding the inside. Oddly enough, he found himself start to frown.

He turned the doorknob clockwise and pushed until the door slowly opened up to reveal his family laughing happily together. As soon as he entered he saw his wife turn to him in surprise, that surprised soon turned into happiness "Minato-kun! Your home!" she said happily as she raised from her chair capturing the attention of the laughing kids. He gave another fake smile to his wife as he saw his kids look up to him and smile. "Hello Kushina-chan." he said quietly as she went over to him and planted a soft kiss on his lips. Oddly enough, it lacked the usual mirth.

Kushina shot him a concerned glance as a chuckle echoed through the house, Minato turned his attention to the new sound seeing his old student push back a flailing Natsumi. "Ahh Minato-sensei. It's good to see you leave your office once and while." Kakashi Hatake said as he held his iconic orange book in his free hand, a genuine smile gracing his lips. Before Minato had anytime to respond, Natsumi decided to make herself known "Tou-san! Since your back so early does this mean we get to start training earlier!" she said with a wide smile showing her enlarged canine. She still was hassling Kakashi and looked over at her dad. Menma raised his head at this, he nodded and looked at his father

"Yeah I'm tired of just reading jutsu scrolls all day."

Minato looked at the two expectant faces of his children and once again tried his best to smile. "We can start your training a little later. I just needed some time out of the office." he said scratching the back of his head making Menma scoff and Natsumi to frown.

"Tou-san are you okay? You look a little nervous…"

Minato looked over to his oldest daughter Mito. Her soft blue eyes piercing his own Cerulean. He gave a small awkward chuckle and shook his head "No I'm fine. Just really tired."

He gave a small smile to Kakashi and Kushina as he walked past the two and up the newly waxed staircase to his bedroom. He didn't then around as he close the door shit behind him. He leaned against the closed door and looked up to his bedroom ceiling. His thoughts running a mile a minute, he would never admit it, but he was scared.

"I waited too long...didn't I."

He muttered to himself, it barely coming out as a whisper, almost as if he was hoping for someone to tell him he was was fine. That he still had all the time in the world. His frown deepened as he closed his eyes, the pain in his heart only increasing by very second that passed by. He felt the door open against his back, he jolted up a little. He opened his eyes and pushed off the door to reveal Kushina, she looked over at her husband in worry. She walked in the large room making sure to close the door behind them with a soft click. Kushina crossed her arms around her frame and locked eyes with the blonde Kage.

"Minato-kun, is everything okay? What's wrong?" she said as she took a step forward, she found herself frowning when he involuntarily took a step back.

"Nothing is wrong dear, i'm just tired. Being the Hokage is a lot of-"

"Oh don't play the Hokage card with me"

She said her voice raising a bit shocking Minato momentarily "I've heard you play that card countless of times in the past few months and I'm getting real sick of it." she said as she walked closer to Minato "Now you tell me what's wrong right now because I'm tired of this back and forth."

"I hate how we have been treating Naruto."

Kushina felt the words stop in her mouth, her eyes went wide as she looked at Minato. "N-naruto? What are you talking about Minato." She said narrowing her eyes making Minato frown "You know what I'm talking about Kushina. For years we left Naruto alone without a care in the world. How can't you see what we did to him?" he asked bewildered. His body stiffening as Kushina slightly glared at him

"We had to train the kids on mastering the Kyuubi's chakra."

Minato found himself clenching his fists, his tired eyes locked with hers and he gave clicked his teeth. "How do you think that's okay? To leave Naruto alone while we spoil the other kids? Give them anything they want while Naruto doesn't get back shit?" He said finishing his a small scowl. Kushina shook her head, her body straightening "We did the best we could for Naruto, it not our fault he turned out the way he did-"

"Do you not fucking hear yourself!"

Minato's eyes went wide as he threw his hands over his mouth. His heart dropping even further as he saw the fearful look Kushina sent him. In all their years of marriage Minato never yelled at Kushina, and visa versa. They had fights yes, what couple didn't. But this was the first time Minato outwardly screamed at his wife. A long streak that he never wanted to break. He tried to take a step forward, he removed his hands trying to lightly touch his wife. She took a few steps back as her eyes started to glisten slightly. Still, she managed to send a weak grimace towards the blonde Kage

"What are you trying to say Minato? That's it's my fault that we didn't train Naruto? What would you rather me leave the rest of our kids out on the street while a terrorist group is attempting to come after them?!" she yelled at her husband, her voice cracking several times as she backed up to the bedroom door. Tears started to fall from her violet eyes, Minato looked shocked at his wife, anger starting to well up inside of him. Trying to mask the sadness he has been going through. "And since when did we leave them alone?! Everything that I can recall has always revolved around Menma, Mito, and Natsumi! How do you not feel anything for what we have been doing to Naruto!"

Kushina's tears started to fall faster and faster, each drop hitting the floor felt like a dagger piercing Minato's heart. Even so he felt the anger grow inside of him, multiplying by the second. He hated to admit it, but even looking at Kushina sent anger through him. Something he would have never thought possible. He avoided eye contact, not wanting anyone to see the pain and sadness in his eyes that now mixed with resentment and hostility. "I never would have expected my own wife to be so blind towards abandonment."

SLAP

Minato's head snapped violently to the side. His eyes starting glisten themselves, he touched his reddening cheek in pure disbelief. The anger vanishing as the loud bang of his bedroom door being slammed close made it to his ears. He rubbed his cheek and slowly turned his head, to see Kushina totally gone. Leaving him alone, to once again bathe in his rising guilt.

Namikaze Menma, the supposed prodigy that was soon following in the footsteps of his father, into becoming a powerful shinobi. He was powerful for his age, not saying his sister's weren't but he always trained harder than them, even in the smallest of things. So now he sat in his backyard, his two sisters sparring only a few feet away as he kept his eyes trained on the gravity defying hair of Kakashi. He narrowed his eyes at the jounin, something was starting to really bother him. His father came home looking pale, like a ghost. Soon left the family alone as he went upstairs to his room, now this upset Menma in several ways.

His father was a very open person, hell even people from different countries could tell you what kind of guy Namikaze Minato was like. So for him to come home looking like Orochimaru who had never even seen the sun before, was rather unnerving. Sadly it wasn't the first time he had come home like this, several times when his father came home late he would have a similar expression. His glare hardened at the back of Kakashi, he wasn't a fool. He heard the screams from his parents room, which is why they now resided in the backyard. Kakashi didn't want them to hear what was going on. He managed to catch only a slimmer of what his parents were saying, something about his older brother Naruto.

Menma clenched his fists tightly, it wasn't the first time he overheard his family talk about the older blonde. Every time his name would come up Minato would flinch into himself, a guilty shine reflected off his eyes as Kushina would blatantly ignore the subject. It seemed that every time someone even thought about Naruto the mood would turn sour, no matter the circumstance. And that pissed him off more than he cared to admit.

He hated seeing his family like this. His sister's would frown at Naruto's open ignorance, always pushing them away and treating them poorly. He sucked his teeth, a low growl trying to escape his mouth. Could his damned brother not see what he was doing to all of them? His eyes went wide as he watched his mother come barreling down the staircase. Her hands trying their best to cover her tear stricken face. He watched in pure silence as Kushina ran out there front door, he watched Kakashi go running off to his mother, no doubt to try and comfort her. Menma raised to his feet and jolted off his porch and into his house.

"M-menma-nii?!'

He didn't stop as he jumped up the stairs, without even knocking his swung his parents bedroom door open only to find an empty room. Menma cursed, he must have you that dammed Hiraishin. He slammed the door shut and looked down the stairs to see his confused sisters. Natsumi was the first to crack. She there her hands up in the air, her blonde hair matted to her forehead stained by the small amount of sweat from her previous spar. "What the hell was that nii-san!? I don't think I've ever seen you move that fast!"

Menma gave a scowl to his sister and jumped down the stairs. His didn't look startled, they wanted for him to speak. "I saw kaa-san run out of her bedroom crying." He clicked his tongue at there shocked expression "But of course he used that stupid Hiraishin."

Mito felt her heart clench, "Are you sure you saw her actually cry?" It was hard to believe after all. The legendary Red Devil running out of her own home crying. That story alone would make most people laugh in your face for saying something so idiotic. She noticed Menma's growing annoyance and couldn't help but be concerned. Something defiantly felt like it was changing…

Menma nodded, he gestured to the now empty living room and spoke "I know what I saw. Before Kakashi sent us outside I heard yelling coming from there room. I can only assume they got into a fight, and it went too far this time. And I saw Kakashi go after kaa-san." He tightened his fists as his eyes shined with displeasure "And always is it about Naruto."

The two Namikaze looked at Menma in confusion, Naruto? "Naruto-nii? What does he have anything to do with this?" Mito said a frown appearing on her delicate features. Natsumi nodded along with her, both showing signs of small discomfort for such a sensitive topic.

Menma felt his scowl return "Are you saying you don't see what's happening? Every time his name is brought up by anyone tou-san's whole demeanor changes. He turns quiet and barely even speaks. Kaa-san ignores the subject all together, look how he even acts to us!" he said his voice starting to raise ever so slightly. Mito t'ched. A small glare forming "Just because Naruto-nii is a little different doesn't mean he's causing all this." Natsumi nodding at her sister.

"A bit different? Are you saying because he's a bit different that our mother should be running out of our own home crying? When has Naruto ever come home and kaa-san and tou-san actually smile." he finished looking straight at both his sister's. He saw there frantic expression at they tried to rack there brain trying to find any circumstance that he was wrong. After a solid minute Menma gave a low growl and pushed past them both walking towards the front door.

"I thought so."

"Something seems wrong. They've been out there for almost 3 hours now."

Satoru muttered as he tried to close his hands around the small seamless window. The sky now looked obsidian black as large clouds started to cover the sky. The rain was falling quickly making loud tapping sounds on the window. Small puddles starting to form on the forest floor, and the giant oak trees now glistening from nature's shower. He shifted his eyes over to his female teammate, his eyes becoming solemn "What if something happened to them?" Satoru felt Izumi put her hand on his shoulder. Izumi gave him a reassuring squeeze, her hands starting to sweat from nervousness. "I'm sure they're fine. They probably just got lost."

"Then we should go out and look for them!"

"That won't be a good idea, it's too dangerous."

An older voice spoke this time making Satoru turn his head to the new speaker. He gritted his teeth at the older man, he felt his fists clench, he raised his trembling hands and pointed to the elder. "You're just a bridge builder what would you know?! They could be out there dead and we have no way to know!"

The now dubbed bridge builder shook his head slightly at the yelling boy. The flask he was holding was now getting gently placed on his kitchen table. The sound of metal clinking against the hardwood was everything but relaxing. Tazuna pulled out one of the rusting chairs and silently took a seat. The legs of the chair made an unpleasant squeaking noise against the rough oak floors. After a few more seconds of silence he gave out a deep sigh

"This is Waves Country rainiest season. We haven't had a storm this bad in the last 15 years." a loud roaring sound broke the wind as a sickening crackle went off sending tremors throughout the house. Tazuna sighed heavily as he moved his head to see the surprised face of Satoru "Like I said, it is far too dangerous to go out there. The best bet is to wait till morning once the storm has calmed down." Satoru balled his fists in annoyance. He clenched his jaw tightly as he tried to steady his tensing muscles. He stayed silent though, as he gazed out the shimmering window. Basking in his own worry.

"I do have to say. I owe that kid and your sensei my life. I know I lied about the mission rank and details. But they fought to the death and risked their lives to save mine. That kid- Naruto…" Tazuna's voice faded out near the end as he lowered his head out of view of the Konoha genin.

"It's just I-"

"Don't worry about it Tazuna-san."

He peaked his head out under his arms to see Izumi giving him a smile. "No need to worry. We Shinobi will do anything in order to protect people in need. That's why we are here after all." she said ending her sentence with a smile, earning a chuckle from Tazuna. He shook his head and used his arm to wipe the glistening sensation from his eyes. He stood up from his chair and bowed to the genin. "Arigato Shinobi-san. I'm going to go on now and head to bed. I'll make sure my daughter knows I'm alive and kicking. Please use my house like it is your own."

Izumi bowed briefly, she slightly elbowed Satoru. And reluctantly he followed suit. "Thank you Tazuna-san. Now get some rest."

"Arigato."

Izumi watched the elder walk through the living room until finally watching his old rotting staircase. Each step he took sent a small creek throughout the house until the soft click of his bedroom door was heard, finally leaving them alone. Izumi felt her smile start to drop, her eyes taking a tone of worry. She turned her body until she rested on the soft blue living room wall. This time she felt an arm rest itself on her shoulder, she shifted her eyes to meet the worrisome gaze of Satoru. Izumi closed her eyes and rubbed her arms as she leaned her head on the wall.

"You know. I always knew Naruto was stronger than us. But I didn't know he was that far ahead of us." Satoru muttered quietly as he once again watched the rainfall. Another loud bang made itself known as the window flashed yellow. It vanished as soon as it came. Izumi scoffed, she slightly whacked Satoru over the head, getting a small yelp from the raven haired kid. He rubbed his sore head as he sent a glare over at Izumi

"What was that for?!"

Izumi rolled her eyes, her soft blue bangs falling into her face. "There's no point in getting jealous over Naruto-Kun's strength" Satoru pouted at her words, he looked away from her again "I'm not jealous. I'm just surprised by his sudden jump in power."

He turned away from the window and leaned against the wall. With his free hand, he moved his bangs out of his way, revealing his whole face. "I just can't believe it, we caught a glimpse of him getting serious. And you saw it, he activated his bloodline before we left" Izumi nodded, of course, she saw it. She was just as surprised that he finally was able to use it in a real battle. A battle for their lives. "It all happened so fast." Izumi once again giving her attention to Satoru, "Seeing Kurenai-sensei get beaten so easily. And how fast we abandoned Naruto to that damn sword-wielding asshole!"

"Satoru calm down-"

"No I won't calm down!" he yelled aloud pushing off the wall and locking eyes with Izumi. His only blue eye gaining a soft glow. "I hate that fact that we didn't do a damn thing! We promised we would be there for him, and then we leave him and sensei alone! They could be dead-ahh!"

Satoru hunched over in pain, Izumi's first impacted with his chest making him topple over. He looked up with a twitching eye and locked on into Izumi's intense glare. "There are people trying to sleep Baka." she sneered at him as she removed her fist from his midriff "And stop repeating yourself, im sure they are fine. By tomorrow the storm should be over, if they're not back by 10, we will go out and look for them." she said as she turned on her heel, and started to walk away from the Satoru, so he couldn't see the emotions coursing through

"Let's get some rest. We still have a mission to complete after all."

Morning came quick for both Izumi and Satoru, once they awoke they were welcomed to see the smiling face of Tsunami, Tazuna's very own daughter along with her son Inari. She gave them a great thanks for getting her father home safe, a look of gratitude in her eyes as she cooked them all breakfast with a happy smile. Once they finished eating the clock struck 9, leaving Satoru and Izumi on edge. They shared a silent glance with one another, they were locked out of there thoughts once Tazuna slammed his drink on the table. He let out a happy sigh as he looked the genin "Well it's time for bridge building!"

He said with a grin making them chuckle. The Konoha Shinobi stood from their seats awaiting Tazuna the door.

"Now be careful with their Tou-san. And don't overdo yourself!" she said worriedly making sure he had what he needed in his bags. She looked over the the only no has and have a small bow "Thank you again for protecting my father. Inari and I really appreciate it." She said with a smile as said boy looked away from them. Satoru gave a chuckle and Izumi gave a small smile in return

"The pleasure is ours Tsunami-san."

After Tazuna said a quxi goodbye all three occupants left the house and on there way to the bridge. After a moment if since Tazuna spoke up. "Naruto didn't return last night, neither did the sensei." he said making Satoru frown and Izumi to nod. "The storm might have blocked their entrance into the village." Izumi said making Tazuna nod his head in agreement. Satoru spoke up this time, "If they weren't back by 10 this morning we were going to go out and look for them ourselves."

Izumi turned her attention away from the two males as she noticed a small crowd of about 5 people in a circle. She noticed that 3 of them were wearing white coats, presumably the medics of the village as they bent down. Ushering the remaining two people away, Izumi narrowed her eyes and stopped walking to focus on the group of medics. Satoru turned his head when he noticed the white haired girl wasn't next to him anymore. She few feet back as he raised an eyebrow

"Izumi? What's wrong?"

Izumi gestured to the group of white coats wearing individuals. Tazuna widened his eyes "Doctors? What are they doing out here?" Izumi squinted her eyes, trying to see what they were doing, but they contained to block her view.

After a few seconds one of the doctors for to his feet to reveal a head of blonde hair. All three watchers widen their eyes. Not believing what they were seeing. They saw a young boy, his jacket all all torn and his shirt was stained with blood. They saw a larger woman, next to the boy with they only assumed his town coat around her torso that was already covered in blood. They both looked deathly pale as they flipped him over to show them all they needed to see of the man and woman.

"Naruto!

"Kurenai-sensei!"