And now, Without farther adue I present: Chapter 21!
Chapter 21:
Naruto just sat in his mind, in front of Kurama. He was ticked. He found out who his father was, he met Jiraiya, who would probably betray him just the same, and now here he was, sitting in front of the nine tailed demon beast.
"Dammit!" Naruto punched the wall with his fist, creating an echo in the sewer.
"Brat, i've been telling you all along."
"Shut up, Kyuubi!" Thoughts ran through Naruto's head of possible things that could happen while he was unconscious.
"Yea, yea."
Naruto looked up at Kurama. He'd been acting a little strange lately. "O-oi, what's up with you!"
"Me?" Kurama shifted his paws before lying his head on them. "Nothing."
"Yea right!" Naruto pointed an accusing finger at the fox. "You've taken his side haven't you!"
"Brat, I am the greatest demon in all history. Don't associate me with you foolish mortals."
"Then what is it? Consider it... This month's rent."
"Rent?" Kurama laughed at the thought. "You amuse me. Alright. Let's just say, your father was protecting you."
"Protecting me? Yea, i doubt it. And if he was protecting me, from what?"
"Kit, if you found out at too much of a young age, you'd be shouting it out all over the streets."
"Yea, so?" Naruto walked up to Kurama and sat on his head.
Kurama just looked up at him. He was fully tempted to kill the boy, but the brat had grown on him. Kurama couldn't explain it. He was the nine tailed fox, and never once until now could he not kill a mere mortal. "If you started spreading the news, not only would the villagers not believe you and treat you worse, but news would soon spread that the Yondaime Hokage had a son. you'd be so danger."
"Why do you sound like you care?"
"I don't. I just care if you die. If you die, i die."
Naruto rolled his eyes. It was the dumbest answer he'd ever heard from the fox. "Yea right. I thought you said you'd eventually re-spawn."
"Well, that would be true. However, you're father sealed only half of me into you."
"Eh?"
"My other half is in him."
Naruto rolled his eyes. "OK i guess he doesn't deserved to be hated..." A tear rolled down his face. "But, i still want him out of my life after lying to me."
"Get some sleep." And with that, Naruto dozed off into a deep sleep.
Naruto awoke staring at a white ceiling. White walls surrounded him, and he was lying under white sheets. The curtain next to him was white, and the room reeked of penicillin. There was no other explanation, he was in a hospital. Naruto looked around the room, to find he was alone. He got up, fully healed thanks to Kurama, and opened the window. Jumping out, Naruto walked home. Villagers stared at him. However, they didn't seem as hateful as they once had. Maybe they don't recognize me.
He continued to walk home, with small steps. Walking up the steps, Naruto turned to face his door. He slowly unlocked it, unsure of what to expect. He never really checked if Minato left the house, but it was still possible that he never moved out. He opened the door, stepped in, and closed it. The room was dark, and it was silent. His window blinds were closed as well. Naruto took off his shoes before moving to the curtain. He opened it, revealing a clean room. Minato must have cleaned it. He thought. Lying on the bed, Naruto stared up to the ceiling. This wasn't home, this was torture. It was too quiet for his taste. After spending half his life knowing Minato, having him around, he'd grown to like the noise. Naruto had thought back to the first day he'd ever met Minato.
He'd been scared and alone then. Naruto remembered that he was running from the villagers who'd try and hurt him. He'd remembered that he had fell alseep in the woods where he could have been killed by wolves or other predatorial animals. That entire day, Minato had watched over him, and every year on his birthday until he came to live with him. He felt guilty, alone, he didn't know what to do. So he did the only thing he knew what to do. Go to his team. Sure they knew, and didn't tell him, but they probably felt that it wasn't their place to tell. He couldn't stay mad at them. He got up, walked to the door, and walked to Sasuke's house.
At Sasuke's manor, Naruto knocked on the door, to find Sakura opening it. "Naruto-baka go away!"
"Let him in, Sakura."
Sakura rolled her eyes and obeyed. "Whatever."
"Oi Sasuke-teme, why is Sakura-chan here?"
Sasuke looked up from his shuriken that he was cleaning. "Helping her with kunai and shuriken."
Naruto raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment. Sitting down on the sofa across from where Sakura and Sasuke sat, Naruto lied down and just stared at the ceiling. "Clean them like this,' Naruto heard Sasuke say. He closed his eyes, and fell asleep.
Sasuke
Sasuke looked up from the kunai and shuriken, to Naruto who was awfully quiet. He didn't like it, not one bit. Naruto had his quiet moments at time, sure, but not like this. Sakura, who was following his gaze, spoke up.
"What's wrong, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke didn't answer.
"Sasuke?"
"He's too quiet. Something is wrong with him, and we have training tomorrow..."
"Just ignore him, Sasuke-kun. He grew up with no parents, and is spoiled rotten because he can do anything he wants."
Sasuke looked at her, studying her face for any sign on guilt. "You, have no idea what Naruto has gone through, Sakura. Parents are a gift to us, and loosing them or not having them is one of the worst things to can happen to a kid."
"What are you talking about, Sasuke-kun?"
Sasuke picked up a kunai, and threw it at a target on his wall for practicing. On it's way to the target, however, it grazed Sakura's cheek. Blood dripped down her check slowly. "Sakura. Do you see any adults around here? Any clan members, any parents, sibling, cousins?" Sakura shook her head, and Sasuke continued on. "You don't know how much it hurts after you loose someone, do you?" Sasuke was now fuming.
"I-I'm sorry..."
"Better be."
Naruto
Naruto awoke on Sasuke's couch. He sat up, to see that it was late in the evening, the last few sun rays shining through the windows. "Look's like you're up, dobe."
Naruto just shrugged, not bothering to respond as Sakura sat next to him. "Hey, Naruto?"
"Yeah, Sakura-chan?"
"You okay? What's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"It's not nothing, baka!"
"Yes, it is."
"Dobe, you didn't even try to through a come-back at me,"Sasuke folded his arms as he sat on his coffee table.
Naruto couldn't hold it back any longer. "You remember when you guy's all met Minato right? Well, well I've known him since i was around five or six, and every year he would show up on my birthday and give me presents. He was like a father to me, while Iruka was a father to me the rest of the time. And, and, um... The year he left us during training, he didn't leave, he watched how the villagers treated me and he then said I was the kyuubi host. Then he asked if he could stay, and he lied to me through all these years saying he was my uncle, but told me two days ago that I was his son, and that he was really the Yondaime Hokage, and what not and... Ugh!"
Naruto weaved his hands through his hair. "I don't even know if I'm supposed to be happy or angry. Or even what to do!"
Sakura and Sasuke just stood there, frozen. Their teammate rushed through all of that so fast, and collapsed on the couch again. "It's okay, Naruto, we're here for you..."
Sakura
Sakura started to reflect what Sasuke had said to her earlier. Naruto had mainly grown up alone, although he had friends... There was a knock at the door.
Sakura just looked at Sasuke who shrugged. "I'll get your door, Sasuke-kun." Sasuke nodded and sat next to Naruto, talking about random things to keep his mind off of Minato.
Sakura walked to the door, and opened it. Who greeted her was a shock. Namikaze Minato. "Is Naruto here?"
"Get out! You hurt Naruto and now your punishment is not to see him!" The scream reached the two boys, who just moved deeper in the manor. Sakura, who in turn had slammed the door in Minato's face, locked it, and was now walking in the direction she knew the boys would be moving.
She knew that she was still weaker then them, but she also knew that slowly, she was gaining, and that they were slowly accepting her strength. If they hadn't already, why would she be here anyway? Sasuke would have never let her in for anything he considered unimportant like fan girls. As she turned the corner to the guest rooms, she heard the quiet voices of Naruto and Sasuke. She walked in the door she heard them in.
They looked up at her, and Sasuke spoke. "Is he gone?"
Sakura nodded, looking up at a shaken up Naruto. "Naruto you okay?" Sasuke spoke this time.
Naruto shook his head, and lied down. He was tired. Both Sakura and Sasuke could tell.
Sasuke
Sasuke gestured for Sakura to follow him out the door, and turned off the light before he heard Naruto mumble something. He turned around to look at Naruto, Sakura did the same. "What?"
"I don't want to be left alone..." Sasuke looked at Naruto's figure lying on the bed. Sasuke felt sorry for Naruto. He knew the feeling, and even if his brother's betrayal was worse then Minato's he understood.
Sasuke walked to the bed, and sat, leaning against the bed frame. It wasn't the most comfortable position, but it wasn't the worst. He heard Sakura shifting in a chair in the corner of the room. She sighed, staring out the window.
"Arigato..."
"Hey we're a team, right? It's what friends do..." Sakura's tired voice faded as she fell alseep.
Minato
He was hurt when the door was slammed in his face, but understood that Sakura wanted to protect her teammate. He'd walked around back to where a light was turned on, which was showing through a window. There, he'd found Sasuke and Naruto, and soon after Sakura walked in. He'd watched the scene unfold as Naruto's teammates leaving, then turning back and making themselves comfortable the best they could. He's been standing in front of the window the entire time, but one one noticed him as he was using a camouflage justu.
-2 hours later-
Minato was in his new apartment-since Naruto kicked him out- and was currently lying on the couch, reading the book the tale of a gusty ninja. The book was based off of a true story, and was in fact a entirely true story, except for one thing. The name of the main character. Jiraiya had experienced everything in the entire book, but oddly enough, he didn't put his name down. Instead, he put the name Naruto.
Minato thought of the time when he and his wife, Uzumaki Kushina came up with the name. They'd gotten it from the book that he was currently reading, and couldn't come up with the perfect name...
Flash back
Minato and Kushina were going through baby names to pic one out for their child. Kushina had stated that the child was a boy, but Minato wasn't entirely sure why she was so confident about it. Except for the fact that she was his mother. So far the list contained of Menma, Aoi, Shibi and many other for the boy names. Minato worked on the girl names-just in case. These consisted of Akane, Kagome, and Minako.
Minato furrowed his brow, and looked across the table to his wife who'd fallen alseep. Minato sighed, stood up, and walked over to Kushina.
"Kushina, dear, why don't you go to bed, I'll keep looking for names." Kushina just mumbled in response.
Minato chuckled, and picked her up, walking to the bedroom. Kushina had wrapped her arms around his neck, so he untangled them before leaving the room and closing the door quietly. Walking back to the kitchen table, he saw a book, that he guessed Kushina was looking at. He picked it up, and saw the title. He smiled, he found a name without even trying. Naruto. Naruto Menma Uzumaki Namikaze. He walked to the couch, and began to reread the book, falling alseep on the couch six chapters in. Now all was left was to get his sensei's approval.
End flash back
A tear rolled down Minato's face. He was now, more determined then ever, to earn his son's trust back.
Naruto
Naruto awoke to the sounds of something falling to the floor. He opened his eyes, looking around for his disturbance in sleep, spotting Sasuke rubbing his head, and a book on the floor less then a foot of him. "Dang Teme, you sure are tired," Naruto joked.
"Shut it, dobe."
Naruto was about to speak back a retort, but a pillow met his face. "Will you two shut up, I'm trying to get some beauty sleep!" Naruto and Sasuke just sweat dropped at Sakura's antics.
"I'm going to make some breakfast..." Naruto said, heading to Sasuke's kitchen. Sasuke grabbed his rivals arm and shook his head.
"Dobe, my house, and i don't trust your cooking."
Naruto's eyes twitched. "You've never tried my cooking."
"Whatever," Sasuke said as he walked out of the room.
Naruto rolled his eyes, walking into the living room and unsealing a scroll he'd stole from Gaara during the chunin exams. He opened it, or well at least tried to. It had a blood seal on it. Naruto's eyebrows furrowed. He knew how to seal from learning it from Minato, but he didn't want to talk to him yet. He'd forgiven him, but he still needed time. It was then he remembered that he had to meet his team today. Naruto packed things up before rushing out of Sasuke's Uchiha manor, running home.
"Oi, Dobe where are you going?"
"Got go go team, see you at the meeting!"
Naruto rushed through the streets, thinking of all the gear he would need for either missions or training. He was so self absorbed at the center, he can't noticed where he was going, and ran into someone. He fell on the ground, and sighed. He jumped up ready to insult whoever just ran into him, until he saw bright blond hair, and blue eyes. Minato.
Naruto stared at him for a minute, and Minato stare back. Then he ran off quickly, but heard a voice calling his name.
"Oi, Naruto get back here!"
Naruto just kept running, forgetting that he still had Minato's kunai in his kunai pouch. A flash appeared in front of him, grabbing his arm to keep him from running again. Bystanders just stared, and other whispered about the 'yellow flash's return'.
"What do you want Minato!" It came out a shout, and he hadn't meant that.
"I just wanted to see if you were okay..." Minato's face and voice was calm, but his eyes filled with worry.
"Okay, okay from what?"
"Jiraiya sensei sealed your chakra from the kyuubi when you attacked him..."
"Oh, yea i'm good, fine."
"Good to here." Minato paused. "I was wondering if you wanted to get some r-"
"You know what i have to go meet Kakashi sensei soon, i better get going." Naruto yanked his arm from Minato's gripped and ran off, glad as Minato didn't follow him.
Once he reached his door, he unlocked it, and walked in. He looked around for anything he could change into, but there was nothing there. He sighed, and threw his kunai, shuriken, and ninja wire in his pouch, before making a hot cup of ramen.
He ate it slowly for once, enjoying the flavor, and thinking what he should do with the blood seal on Gaara's scroll. He let his mind wander to asking Minato, but then quickly retreated his thoughts. He wouldn't ask Minato, and that was final.
He finished his ramen, before walking out the door to the training grounds. He wasn't surprised that Kakashi wasn't there. He saw Sakura and Sasuke walking towards him in the opposite direction.
"Naruto! Why the heck did you run off!"
Naruto just shrugged at Sakura's antics. A yellow and silver flash appeared. Naruto winced, knowing who it was. Minato, along with Kakashi. "Alright, my cute little genin team..." He trailed off
Sakura had punched Naruto for running off, and Naruto and Sasuke were bickering. Minato chuckled, before looking at Kakashi who wore a depressing aura around him.
"My little cute genin team is ignoring me..." His head was down. Minato rolled his eyes, trying not to laugh at Kakashi's antics before he got their attention.
"Alright!"
The team looked towards the voice. "Hai, Minato-sama?" asked Sakura.
"Pay attention to Kakashi will ya?"
Kakashi raised his head, a look of fake sadness and depression exposed. It changed a second later to his usual lazy face. "Alright, We're going to be doing some missions today.
"But why with him?" Naruto pointed at Minato, and everyone sighed.
"Because i made Minato-sensei co-captain of team 7."
"Whatever." Naruto rolled his eyes.
Minato looked at Naruto with a sad expression and sighed. "Alright, lets go."
Minato
Team seven walked into the mission room in the academy, heading to get their next mission, Naruto carrying a fidgeting Tora. His face was a little scratched up, but he'd managed to calm her down. He'd handed the cat to the owner, who was the wife of the daimyo.
"D-rank mission capture the cat Tora, complete," Saratobi Hiruzen spoke as he handed the ryo to team seven. "Your next mission will be baby sitting, planting crops, or...-"
"No. I refuse to do any of those missions, give us another!"
Everyone knew who the voice had come from. Naruto.
"You brat! Show some respect for the Hokage!"
"It's okay Iruka. Naruto, the missions are ranked for different levels of ninja. E-ranks for academy level, D-rank genin, C-rank and B rank for chunin, A-rank for jonin, and S-rank for ANBU, Hunter nin or above, and few limited Jonin."
"I don''t care give us another mission!" Naruto sat on the floor, turned facing the door. Minato just stared at Naruto, unsure of what had just happened. He never expected his son to care about mission ranks.
Then again... He is Kushina's son too...
He looked towards Sasuke and Sakura, who he could tell wanted another mission as well, but Sakura was pretending not too. She lifted up her arm, hands clenched and tried bopping Naruto on the head. Minato caught her wrist. She glared and used half of a self defense move to free her arm.
"Alright, Naruto. I'll give you a C-rank mission, if your senseis agree."
Naruto jumped up, excitedly. "What type of mission is it?"
"It's a escorting mission."
Naruto nodded, collecting his energy back. "Kakashi-sensei can we do it?"
"I don't see why not."
"I don't see a problem either, Naru-chan."
"I hate that pet name," Naruto pouted.
"Too bad."
Kakashi just laughed. "I might just use that now, Sensei." Minato grinned.
"ANBU bring him in." The ANBU nodded and shushined a few rooms away. A minute later they brought in a man with a straw hat, Gray pants and a shirt, and gray hair. He had a towel over his shoulder, and sake in his hand.
Naruto flinched, and Minato understood why. His past with drunk people. He knew once that Naruto had almost been blinded once from a drunk man breaking a sake bottle on his head, scratching his face with the glass shards. Of course he wasn't sure what age that was, he'd just heard the story.
"Hey Naru, you'll be fine."
"Give us another."
"This is the only C-rank mission paid for, and I will not give you anything higher."
"Ugh fine!"
Naruto
He looked towards the old man he was to be escorting. Tanza. An old drunk man who was a bridge builder. Kakashi was also late to the gates, meeting the team. He looked up to Minato, who just sighed. A swirl of leaves appeared, soon revealing Kakashi.
"Yo."
"You're late, Kakashi-sensei!" shouted Sakura and Naruto. Sasuke was just leaning against one of the gate doors with quiet 'hn'.
"Hai hai, there was a drowning sea turtle on the side of the road."
Naruto glared at Kakashi. "That is the worse lie i have ever heard, sensei. First off there is no ocean around here, and second... If there is no ocean, there is no turtles, and sea turtles are very unlikely to drown in the water. Their called sea turtles for a reason!"
Kakashi just sighed. "Anyway lets get going."
Tanza started walking, but turned around. "Alright you 'elite' ninja are here protect me from bandits at the risk of your lives!"
"You mock us, jiji! You're speaking to the Future hokage of Konohagakure, so show some respect!"
Tanza raised an eyebrow. "I don't care about hokage or any ninja related things, just things that involve me and me alone." He turned around and walked. Team seven got into formation: Kakashi in the front, Sakura behind, Naruto and Minato side to side, and Sasuke in the back.
Naruto glared at Tanza and edged away from Minato keeping his distance.
1 hour later
Naruto was still keeping his distance from Minato and glaring at Tanza when the silence was broken by Sakura.
"Mr. Tanza, how long will it take for us to get to the land of waves?"
"Well we've been walking for about a hour, and so I'd say around 5 in the afternoon. That is if you brats keep up this pace."
"Why you!" Naruto lounged at Tanza.
Minato wrapped his arm around Naruto's neck, and grabbing one of his arms it restrain him from attacking Tanza. "Now now Naruto. We're not supposed to kill the client."
Naruto kept struggling.
Tanza turned to Kakashi. "Am i really safe with these brats?"
Kakashi nodded. "If they try anything, Minato and I will control them. And if anything happens, Minato is and SS-rank Jonin and I am an A-rank." Tanza nodded.
Minato and Kakashi soon caught sight of two puddles on each side of the road. Naruto noticed too but didn't think much about it as he was too focused on Tanza to even pay attention.
Soon after the group passed, two men rose from the puddles, and attacked Minato and Kakashi. Tearing and ripping into a thousand pieces each with cold steel chains, the Two men smirked at the genin freaked.
"Minato!"
"Kakashi-sensei!"
"Two down... Four left..." Spoke the voices from behind in menacing tones.
So i hope you guys liked the chapter! It took me forever to write this, figuring out all the detals to put in etc. Almost all my chapters have been revised on their mistakes as well and i will be putting them in the story today or tomorrow so be on the lookout (This does not include on fighting scenes those will be next on my to do list)!
-Narutofanninja2