~12 years later~
I sighed and ran my fingers through my red hair. Another boring day at school. I walked out the doors and ran to my favorite waiting area. I waited until the other schools got out and watched the crowd in search of my older brother in sister. My name is Kushin Namikaze Wakaba. I don't know where the Namikaze came from. Mother would never tell me.
My father's name is Toshi Wakaba. I hate him so much. So do my older brother and sister, Minato and Hanato Wakaba. But we all love our mother. She is the nicest, kindest, sweetest woman, you'd ever meet. She used to be quite beautiful (We still thought so), but my father had aged her.
None of us could ever figure out what she ever saw in him. We all personally think that she was forced into a marriage with him. We know that she doesn't love him and we know that she never will.
Our father has tried to earn her love but he never got it. Even if she would warm up to him he would ruin it. He loved to drink and party. He was playboy and a drunk. Once he was drunk he would come home and hurt Mother. We all had gotten hurt by him in our life time. But never more than once. Mother always put a stop to it. She would take all our rage and protect us. I love my mother. I clenched my fists; one day when I was big in strong I would protect her.
"Kushin!" I looked up and saw my brother and sister waving. I waved back and ran to their side. Minato grabbed me in a headlock and gave me a noogie, "Uncle! Uncle!" Minato laughed. Hanato rolled her eyes and put her sunglasses on, "Come on boys, the sooner we get home the sooner we can start helping Mom" We nodded eagerly.
We started to head home when we were stopped by a group of bullies in Minato's school. The biggest on popped his knuckles, "Come on Minato dork, I know you can fight. Come at me" Minato held his ground, "I will not fight you. I made a promise, and I intend to keep it"
Mom had apparently been a ninja once and she had taught us how to fight. She and Hanato had the byakugan. My eyes were supposed to become like theirs but they didn't develop all the way. My pupils were pale and they were sharp. I could see the slightest movement and I could see through any illusion. I noticed any and all details.
Minato was called a genius, Hanato had beauty, and I was the baby. We each had our strengths and weakness, me more than any. Mom had noticed more than once that something seemed to block me when I fought.
The big bully threw a fist at Minato and he sidestepped. He bully started to get mad. He hit Minato in the stomach and Brother still refused to fight. He got thrown to the ground. I clenched my fists and started to shake. I could feel the air heating around me. I took a step forward.
Minato saw my movement and yelled, "Kushin stop! You made the same promise as me, I know you don't want to break it!" I stopped and looked away. I didn't want to break my promise but I wanted to protect my family.
The bully smirked and pulled his fist back. He paused and hesitated. He stared at me and gulped. He took a step back and started to shake. I don't know why he was scared to look at me. I clenched my teeth. I wanted to hit him back for hurting Minato, but I wanted to keep my promise.
I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I calmed myself down and opened them again. The bully lowered his fist and not so calmly stated, "Take this as a lesson, next time I want you to do something you'll do it!" Then he ran off with his squad right behind him. Minato wiped his lip, "Not likely"
We helped him home. We brought him into the kitchen and Hanato got a rag and got it wet with cold water. She held it to his spilt lip. He smiled, "Thanks sis" She smiled. I ran upstairs into my room where I knew she would be waiting.
I dropped my bag, "I'm home Mama" My mother turned around and smiled. She came over and we hugged, "Minato got in a fight again. He hurt his lip" Mama nodded and went downstairs to check the damage.
Mom sighed and kissed brother on the head, "How are you feeling?" Minato smiled, "I'll be fine, it's not the worst I've ever been through" That was true; Minato had broken his leg when he was six, that was painful.
Hanato opened the fridge, "I'm making dinner tonight, what do you want?" Mom smiled, "Anything you make is fine dear, I'm sure it will taste great" I clenched my throat and fell to the ground and started to writhe, "Please no! Don't kill me" Hanato glared at me and stuck her tongue out. We all laughed.
It was great to hear Mom laugh; she didn't do it very often. Father was very against her happiness. Mom smiled, "Kushin, It's your turn today" I jumped up, "Right!" We went out the back door and into the forest. We traveled father than normal.
We stopped quite deep into the forest and Mom activated her byakugan. She looked around and shut it off. "The reason I brought you so far out here today is because I need to tell you something important"
I looked at her, "What?" She sighed and turned around, "Long ago, about a half a year before Minato was born. Your father signed a contract. That contract sealed my future." Something wasn't right.
Mom continued, "If I ever talked about the contract your father would get in trouble" I clenched my fists, "Then let him get in trouble, he deserves it after all he's done to us!" Mom shook her head, "Not Toshi, your real father" That stopped me.
"Toshi's not my father?" Mom nodded, "He's not your father, Minato's father, or Hanato's father" I started to smile, "Good, I hate him" Mom nodded, "So do I. But I have no choice but to stay with him. Your real father's future depends on it" I looked at my mother, "Who is my real father?"
Mom sighed, "It's dangerous to tell you. I can't say right now but one day I promise I'll tell you" I nodded, "What's he like" Mom smiled and I could see happiness spark in her eyes, "He looks like Minato but you are the most like him" I smiled, "Really?"
Mom nodded, "I wished he could know about you" I looked at her confused, "What do you mean?" Mom sighed, "Minato, Hanato, and I were all taken right after I had gotten pregnant with you, I didn't even know about you at the time. Your father knows about Minato and Hanato, but not you"
I looked down, "Do you think he'd want me?" Mom walked over to me and put her finger under my chin. She lifted it up, "No matter what happens I know your father would love you so much, just like I love you so much" I smiled.
I smiled. Mom smiled and kissed my forehead, "You were named after your fathers mother" I looked up at her, "I was?" She nodded, "Your grandmothers name was Kushina. You have her red hair" I smiled. Then we trained for an hour.
We were about to walk back when Mom stopped me, "You have to promise me now that no one can know anything about what I just told you, not even your siblings. If anyone knows I said anything your real Dad will get in trouble" I nodded, "I promise" I smiled, I shared a secret that no one else knew.
Knowing that secret made me create a new resolve. One day I was going to find my real father and bring him back to rescue my Mother, brother, and my sister. I was going to find my father and let him know that I exist.
That night we ate a nice dinner before my fake father returned. I had to try harder not to lose my temper now that I knew what he had done to my family. We all went to sleep, but no one in the village slept long.
I woke up around midnight to a strange sound. I was sweating really hard. The air was boiling. I sniffed the hot air, I coughed on the smoke. The house was on fire! I ran to my closet and threw on some clothes. I ran through the upper level shouting, "Fire!"
I ran into my mother and she grabbed my shoulder and dragged my down the stairs. She ran into the kitchen and opened the pantry. She knelt down on the floor and lifted up a section of the floor. Underneath was a backpack.
She pulled it out and strapped it to my back. She coughed and looked at me, "This might be the only chance you'll get. I know that Toshi set this fire. I was supposed to meet him tonight only a few minutes ago. Toshi wants to kill you and your siblings."
I nodded. She coughed again, "I want you to go out the back door and run as far away from here as possible. You need the find Konoha, that's my home village" I nodded, "Once you get there you need to find the Hokage, that's the leader of the village. The Hokage will help you find your father"
I nodded, "That is your mission. Find the Hokage and then find your father." I looked at my mother, "What's my father's name?" She shook her head, "It's still not safe to say. Tell them your full name, tell them Toshi's name, and tell them my name and my maiden name. Can you do that?"
I nodded, "I won't fail this mission!" Mom wiped a tear from her eye, "Kushin, I love you so much, you're my little baby boy" I smiled, "I love you too Mama" She kissed me once more and shoved me out the door. I ran into the forest and didn't stop.
I traveled for almost a week. I was running low on supplies. I was almost out of food and I could only drink a few drops of water a day. I always had my map in my hand. I didn't want to get lost and spend more time in the forest. I needed to find Konoha and my father.
I was finally getting close when rain started to fall. Light flashed across the sky and the ground rumbled. But I could see the village, I couldn't stop now. I ran in the gates and looked around. Lighting was flashing all around.
I heard a voice, "Kid! Get out of the storm!" I turned around and saw some shinobi beckoning me under their shelter. I smiled and started to run towards them. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and the air around me crackled. Light flashed around me and my body was filled with pain that I couldn't have imagined.
The light faded and I fell to my knees. I couldn't even manage a breath. I fell forward. The shinobi called out for me. They ran to my side and flipped me over. They were calling for a medic's help. I heard one yell, "He's fading fast! Get Lady Sakura!" I gripped his shoulder, "I can't die. I have to complete my mission"
The shinobi looked at me, "What's your mission?" I choked, "I need to find the Hokage, then find my father" "What's your fathers' name?" I shook my head, "I don't know." I coughed and I could feel blood welling up in my throat. The world was spinning and I couldn't focus.
I heard a woman call out to me. She asked me my name and I managed to spit out, "Kushin" Then the world fell into darkness.
I had a burnt taste in my mouth. Everything hurt. I didn't even want to open my eyes it hurt so badly. What had happened? Where was I? I wanted my mother. I bolted up, "Mom!" My body spasmed and I fell back into the bed. I blinked a couple of more times. I remembered what happened. Toshi had tried to kill me and I got hit with lightning.
I took a deep breath and slowly sat back up. The sun was just barely peaking over the mountains. The door opened and I turned towards it. An old woman with blonde hair came in. She sat on the edge of my bed, "How are you feeling kid?" I swallowed, "I hurt?" She smiled, "Is that question?"
I shook my head, "No, I really hurt" She chuckled, "Where are you from?" I shrugged, "I don't know what's the town called. All I know is it's on the edge of the fire country" She nodded.
She held out her hand, "My names Tsunade, what's your name?" I smiled and gripped her hand, "Kushin" She looked at me and smiled, and then she laughed. I looked at her, "what's so funny?" She smiled, "I used to know someone that looked just like you. Except she was a girl. Your name is almost identical to hers"
I looked at her, "Was it Kushina?" Tsunade stopped laughing, "How do you know that?" I looked at her, "I was named after my grandmother Kushina. She even had my red hair" Tsunade nodded, "The shinobi that witnessed your accident said that you are on a mission to find the Hokage and find your father but you don't know his name, correct?"
I nodded. "My mother said that if I told the Hokage a couple of things then he or she would know who my father was" Tsunade smiled, "You can tell me, I'm one of the Hokages" I was surprised, "Really, there's more than one?" Tsunade smiled and nodded, "That's right. I'm planning on retiring in a few years"
I nodded, "Well If you're the Hokage then I guess I can tell you" Tsunade nodded. I took a deep breath, "Mom told me that I should tell you my fake fathers name" Tsunade looked at me, "Fake fathers?" I nodded, "For as long as I can remember he has been my father but Mother told me that he's not my father and we were all taken from my real father"
Tsunade looked at me, "All taken, are there more of you?" I nodded, "There's my older brother and sister along with my mother and me. My fake fathers name is Toshi Wakaba" Tsunade bolted onto her feet, "Is it really possible?" I looked at her, "What do you mean?"
Tsunade knelt down on my bed, "What's your mothers name?" I looked at her, "Mom's name is Hinata and her maiden name is Hyuga" Tsunade let go of my shoulders and took a step back. She held a hand over her mouth, "I don't believe it"
I looked at her, "What?" She looked at me, "How old are you and what's your full name?" I looked at her, "I'm 12 years old and my name without the Wakaba is Kushin Namikaze" Tsunade started to shake her head. She said barely audible, "He's the right age, and his name. Hinata left clues in everything about him"
I looked at her, "What do you mean by that? What do you mean I'm a clue?" She looked at me, "I know who your father is" I started to smile, "Really! Mom said that the Hokage would be able to figure it out!" She nodded.
She left the room for a moment and came back with some clothes and shoes. I put them on and she checked me out of the hospital (I didn't hurt anymore). We started walking through the village. We stopped in about the middle. She took me to a roof and we sat on the edge. I looked at her, "Why are we here?"
She sighed and pointed to the mountainside, "Up there is the faces of all the Hokage's. As you can see, I'm the fifth one up there." I nodded. "The man to my left is the fourth Hokage, "Minato Namikaze" I looked at her, "Minato's the name of my brother and Namikaze is my middle name"
She nodded, "He's your grandfather" I smiled, "Wow" She nodded, "The man to my right is the man I consider my son. He's the newest Hokage. His name is Naruto Uzumaki, that man is your father" I looked at the mountain, "Really? He looks just like big brother"
She nodded, "It's time you know about the contract" I looked at her, "Contract?" She nodded. She explained how it was forced upon my parents and how my real father was forced to sign it. Then she explained how Minato and Hanato were born" She looked at me, "We didn't know about you" I nodded, "I knew that" She nodded.
She sighed, "A few days before you were all taken I saw your mother and had a suspicion but she was kidnapped before I could confirm it. I didn't tell your father my suspicion in case it was false. That's what I meant earlier when I said you'd be around the right age" I nodded.
She stood up, "I've rambled long enough. I think it's time to end your suffering and your fathers." I smiled and nodded. We started to walk and she looked at me, "He never gave up. He's searched for you all these years" I nodded, "I could tell" Tsunade looked at me, "What do you mean?'
I smiled and sighed; "When Mom was talking to me about him I could see him in her eyes. I could see the love that she had for him. I had never seen that before. I knew that the man who could make my mother look like that had to be really strong. I could see in her eyes that there was a good chance that he would just give us easily" Tsunade smiled.
I smirked and looked at her, "If you consider my real father your son does that mean I get to be your grandson?" she looked at me surprised and she started to chuckle, "I guess so, welcome to the family" I smiled.
We walked to the Hokage building and walked all the way up the stairs. Tsunade knocked on the door and a deep voice yelled, "Enter". She opened the door and I followed her in. She smiled, "Naruto" My breath caught in my throat.
The man, who looked like an older Minato, except with marks on his face like whiskers, looked up at us, "Granny, what's up?" Tsunade smiled, "I brought the kid who showed up in the storm three day's ago" I looked at her, "That was three day's ago!?" She looked at me and nodded.
I ran my fingers through my hair, "Dang, I don't if they've moved yet" Naruto looked at me curiously, "Do I know you? You look oddly familiar?" I gulped and held my hand over my heart, "You don't know me, but you know my blood. You also know my mother, my older brother, my older sister, and my fake father"
He looked at me, "Fake father?" I nodded, "My fake father kidnapped my mother, brother, and sister 12 years ago. At the time my mother was pregnant with me but didn't know until a week later. My real father doesn't know about me"
Tsunade put her hand on my shoulder and smiled. I took a deep breath. Naruto looked at me. He slowly started to stand up, "Who are you and who is your fake father?" I looked up at him with determination, "My name is Kushin Namikaze and my fake father's name is Toshi Wakaba"
Naruto's breath caught in my throat. Then he whispered, "Hinata is your mother isn't she?" I nodded, "Yes, and Minato and Hanato are my siblings." I slowly looked up at him, "I think you're my father" Naruto slowly walked around his desk and strode up to me.
He enveloped me in his arms and I could hear his breath becoming shaky like he was going to cry, "Thank you so much for coming home to me. I've been searching for a piece of hope for years. You are my hope. I love your mother so much. I love your brother and sister. And now I love you" He hugged me tighter.
I sniffed, "Never once in my life have I ever heard Toshi say that he loved any of us except our mother. I've always longed for love from my father." I sniffed again, "I'm so glad I have it now" My father nodded and for the first time in either in our lives we hugged.
We prepared that night to travel back to my old village to try to find my family. I learned all about my father and his life. I also learned a lot about my mother. Dad explained the contract more fully and he explained the loophole he had found and planned on using.
During the next five days we swapped dozens of stories. I told him all about my life and about Minato and Hanato. He smiled as I told him about them but I could see the same sadness and longing that I saw in my mother when she told me about him. It had been almost 3 and-a-half weeks since the fire.
We finally got to the village but we didn't announce ourselves. I took him through the forest directly to the house. We at last got to the house and what I saw stopped me cold. It had completely burnt to the ground.
I started to walk in its ashes. I stood on the ground that would have been the room right beneath mine. I took a deep breath. Dad placed his hands on my shoulders, "We have a clue. The village would surely know about the fire and maybe our family is still in town" I nodded and walked forward.
We went into town and someone saw me and got excited. They all believed that I had perished in the fire. I shook my head and replied that I had gotten away but I was hurt and that Naruto had taken me in a taken care of me. I didn't mention anything about him being my real father, him being Hokage, or anything like that.
I looked at them, "Do you know where my family is. I really want to see them" They all looked sad, "I'm sorry but they dissapeared without a trace. No one knows where they have gone. I wish we could help" I looked down at the ground. Dad and I stayed at an inn in town for the night.
We searched for what we could but I already knew so well that Toshi could leave without a trace. If he didn't want to be found he wouldn't be. I knew somewhere within my memory had to be the answer but I just couldn't find it. We went back to the village and set up an alert.
The next morning Dad found me on top of Hokage Mountain. He looked at me, "Live here with me and train to be a ninja." I looked at him, "What would it help, we can't find them" He nodded, "Yet, we'll find them some day. And when that day comes you might need to protect yourself or one of them. Train and become stronger"
I turned and faced the rising sun, "I swear that one day I will face Toshi and take back what belongs to us. I will not fail!" Dad smiled, like father like son.