灯光
Minato never had any parents, not in his "past life," nor his current life.
Jiraiya-sensei was more of a father to me than a master. Minato smiled wistfully. I guess that makes him Naruto's grandfather.
"Kufufufu," came Orochimaru's distracted chuckle.
Ah. But that Jiraiya never happened to me, it was all a crazy memory. Right now, in the present, this is my father, and I'll be damned if I let him defect from this village like he did in my prognostication dream. Minato looked up from his place at the corner of the dark basement. He was surrounded by scrolls; Orochimaru didn't have any scrap paper and Minato wanted to doodle with the crayons he'd stolen from the orphanage. To improvise, his adoptive father had thrown him some Forbidden Jutsu scrolls so he could draw at the back of them.
He'd expected Orochimaru to attempt to dissect his body the instant they entered this secret laboratory, but the scientist merely pointed him to sit somewhere and stay silent as he finished up the last of his research.
Hunched over his research table with scalpels and notes, Orochimaru was in a different state of mind, transfixed.
Minato recognized that expression; he'd been like that himself when he created the Death God Seal and most certainly did not wish to be disturbed even by Kushina.
Which is why I won't break his concentration.
...
...
...
Boring! I'm going to take a peek.
Sneaking over by quiet feet, Minato approached Orochimaru from behind, peering over at what he's doing. He almost wretched. T-That's a human body! Is it an enemy nin or a citizen of Konoha? Either way it was messed up, and Minato tugged the scientist's shirt. "OI!"
"Not now, Minato-kun."
Minato pouted. Before he smiled.
Orochimaru noticed out of his corner of his eye, and set aside his scalpel, drying his bloodied hands on a nearby towel. "Why are you smiling, Minato-kun?"
"Heheeheh, I'm just happy you're my dad," he confessed. He never had a chance to father Naruto or be fathered. It made Minato feel bubbly, so it wasn't difficult to show it. And so, Minato held up his sketch of Orochimaru and himself holding hands like parent and child. It genuinely looked like a 5-year-old's drawing, although not intentionally.
Holding his breath and waiting for a reaction, Minato watched.
Orochimaru's lips twitched before he let out a low cackle as he landed a hand onto Minato's head, and ruffled his hair.
It was almost the same way he petted Kakashi and Obito. It will be a long wait before they're born, but I will make sure Rin doesn't die. There were a lot of things Minato had to preemptively counteract. It was going to be a long journey.
Minato tilted his head and watched Orochimaru's eyes. Soft? Gentle? They were so much like his own when he'd first admired Kushina, and he knew exactly what to do. He pushed forward and hugged the Snake.
Feeling a gasp come from Orochimaru, Minato inwardly laughed. This was the man Jiraiya was always distressed over? He's just a lonesome human, like the rest of us. After nuzzling his adoptive father's ribs for extra measure, Minato hopped back and flailed. "So, when are you going to eat? You're going hungry."
"It's not necessary for me to..."
Minato's stomach growled an interruption.
"...Oh? I've almost forgotten." Orochimaru looked thoughtful. "It was a mistake to reject Tsunade's cooking lessons."
Minato frowned. Argh! Fine! "That's okay," he said serenely, "I know how to use the stove and cook a healthy meal." He pivoted and made for the exit up the staircase to the kitchen, and Orochimaru raised his eyebrows in mild surprise.
"So many surprises, Minato-kun," he remarked as he followed after, experiment forgotten. "Lest you burn down the house, I'll supervise. Kukukuku."
"There's no food here!" Minato complained as he raided the fridge. "It's all body parts! You're crazy!"
He'd heard that insult about him before, but it was never said directly to his face. Well, well, I'll make an exception for my 'crazier' 'son.' "What do you suggest, go shopping?"
Minato sighed. "You're completely hopeless, dad."
灯光
