An entire year passed. I trained as a ninja. In 6 months I was named a genin and six months after that I was named a chunin. Dad was excited about my progress. Some people started calling me the Red Dragon.

Nightmares plagued me almost every night. I never told anyone but I blamed myself for not finding my family. I knew somewhere locked in my memory was the answer to the problem but no matter what I tried I couldn't find the key.

Finally one week before the anniversary of when I left my mother I had a nightmare like none other. I think it was a long forgotten memory. I was a small child. I couldn't have been older than two. I had a bad dream and got out of the bed I shared with Minato. I started to walk down the hallway.

I could hear yelling in Mom and Toshi's room. I went to the door and peeked through the crack. Toshi was going on a rampage again. Mom looked pretty mad as well. Toshi blew up and came to the door. I jumped behind it and it slammed open. I was just small enough to fit behind it without getting hit.

I looked through the crack again and saw Mom slump to the ground. I snuck around the door and whispered, "Mama?" Mom looked up at me and quickly wiped her tears away. She sighed and held out her arms to me.

I ran into them and she held me tight. She kissed me on the top of the head, "Don't worry about Mama Kushin. I'll be all right. One day Daddy will come find us and he'll take us home." The small me nodded and she picked me up. I looked over in the corner of the room and saw Toshi's desk.

On top of the desk was a map. I went over to it and got a look at it. It was a map of all the places we had lived. But if I was only two in the memory then it was a map of places I would live. There was only one place on the whole map that we hadn't lived at yet. It was at the corner of the Fire Country. It was a small village famous for it's fighting tournaments.

I sat straight up in my bed. I was sitting in a puddle of my own sweat. Could it be that my dream was a long forgotten memory? I got out of bed and went to the bathroom. I splashed cold water on my face and looked at myself in the mirror. I had changed so much in one year.

I had a scar like an "X" on my cheek from a mission three months ago. My hair was slightly darker and my eyes were fiercer. My life had changed so drastically. I wondered if my family had changed at all. I was 13 now and so Hanato would be15, and Minato would be 17. I felt bad that I had lived with our real father and they had not.

They had lived with him when they were younger but there wasn't a good chance they remembered him. Mom had lived 13, almost 14, years without Dad. I knew how much she loved him and I knew how much Dad loved her.

I looked back at my image and clenched my fists. I wanted us to be a family once again. I wanted all of us to be happy. I had to go to that village and find my family. I ran into my room and grabbed my backpack. I pack some clothes and food. I found a black cloak with a hood and put it on. I looked back at my Dad's room and sighed.

He would have to report that he was leaving and get a team assembled. I didn't have time for that. I needed to go now. I left a note explaining everything so he didn't get to worried. I took a deep breath and tied my headband on. It was a symbol of my new life. I wanted to show Mom my new life, I wanted to show her I was happy.

I traveled for 5 days to the edge of the country and found the village from my dream. It had gotten larger but it was still famous for it's fighting tournaments. I had a feeling that Toshi was interested in the tournaments. He knew Minato was a fighter.

I finally got to the village just as the sun was setting. Tomorrow was another tournament. I went to the village information office and spent an hour in line. I finally got to the front and asked if a family named Wakaba lived in the village. The man I was talking to nodded. He pulled out a map and pointed out around where they lived and gave me the address. I thanked him and left.

I bought some dinner and ate it quickly. I knew about the contracts loophole and I planned on using it. The address was out in the forest and I swiftly headed for it. The sun had set and the darkness was becoming heavier.

I found the house. I decided not to announce myself. I snuck around the side and saw someone who made my blood boil. Toshi Wakaba was standing at the window. He was having a meeting with a bunch of men. He was drunk as usual.

I snuck under the window and listened to what he was saying. I bit my lip at his plan. He was planning on using the tournament tomorrow as an excuse to kill Minato. He thought that I was dead and was trying to kill Minato. Once he was dead he'd figure out a way to kill Hanato.

I slipped away from the window and took a deep breath. I had trained for this reason. This was the reason I was now a chunin. I was going to protect my family no matter what.

I waited until his meeting was over and snuck into the house. I then hid until the whole house was quiet. I found his room and almost touched the handle. If I killed him know then I'd be called a murderer. I had to get him to confess that he was going to try to kill Minato.

I cracked the door open and peeked in. Sleeping in the bed peacefully was my mother. She looked ever so much older. I clenched my teeth. It was all Toshi's fault. Tomorrow I was going to make him pay. I was going to take back my family.

I closed the door and started down the stairs. I heard a creak and turned just in time to stop a knife from touching my throat. It was a good thing I had my hood on and it was dark.

Minato stood ready to fight. He whispered, "Who are you are what are doing here?" I held up my hands, "I'm here to give warning to you. I am called the Red Dragon by my friends. Your father Toshi Wakaba is planning on using the tournament tomorrow to kill you and make it seem like an accident"

Minato took a deep breath, "I knew he would try sooner or later. Thanks for the warning." I nodded, "I will be participating in the tournament tomorrow. I will stand by your side and watch your back" Minato looked at me, "Why?" I sighed, "I have my reasons. You'll learn soon enough"

He lowered his knife and I peacefully left the house. I signed up for the tournament and paid for a room at an inn. I meditated for an hour and went into a restless sleep. I woke up in another puddle of sweat and took an early morning walk.

I ate and went up to my room. I put on my shorts, shirt, red and black jacket, wristbands, and headband. I grabbed my cloak and wrapped it around me. I didn't want people to see my face until they needed to. I took a deep breath and flipped my head on. No matter what happened today, I was not going to FAIL!

I won my matches with ease. The final battle would be an all out battle. It was everyone against everyone. No matter what I would protect my older brother. We had a half-an-hour break before the battle was to begin. I sat in my corner and held my peace. I heard some talking and saw Toshi enter the room.

He started talking to Minato. I had to search within myself to remain calm. All my anger felt like exploding. I bit my lip and watched as memories flashed across my eyes. I remembered all the good times with Dad and I felt happy. I was going to do anything to help the rest of my family feel that happiness.

The remaining contestants were called to the battlefield and Toshi left. Minato came to my side, "I don't trust you but if you got my back I'll have yours. But I have a question, what do you want the prize money for? I want it so I can help my mother and sister"

I nodded, "You can the have the prize money if I win. I only have two goals. One is to keep you alive. The second is to free your family." He looked at me, "Why is one of your goals to free my family?" I sighed, "I will tell you soon" He nodded.

We stepped out onto the battlefield and I scanned the crowd. Sitting near the edge was Mom and Hanato. Hanato looked older as well. She looked even more beautiful than before. Minato also looked stronger and more like Dad. Mom still had the beauty that I had always seen.

I had registered as the Red Dragon and when they announced my name Mom looked at me a little concerned. I had to force myself to look away. I wanted Mom to know that it was me.

The battle started. There were ten others not including Minato and I. We fought but they were pretty tough. My stamina had increased in the passed year but it was still tough. We finally defeated the last one. We looked at each other.

I held up my hands, "I forfeit!" The crowed "booed" but I didn't care. I turned to the coach's box where I knew Toshi was frowning. I pointed at it, "You might as well come out Toshi Wakaba! I know what you planned to do!"

A few minutes later Toshi came out onto the battlefield. He looked at me, "Who are you and what are you talking about?" I smirked, "No one you care about. I was underneath your window last night. It was there when it over heard your plan to use the tournament to kill Minato and make it look like an accident"

He clenched his hands. I glared at him, "I also know that you caused the fire that kill Kushin a year ago." Minato looked at me in surprise. I took a deep breath, "And 17 and-a-half years ago you forced Naruto Uzumaki into signing a contract. A contract which is now broken."

I heard my mother gasp in the crowd. Toshi smirked, "I knew that blond idiot would break it eventually." I laughed, "Naruto was not the one to break it. You were the one to break it" Toshi went red and snapped his fingers. Men surrounded him and he pointed at me, "Dispose of him!"

They all ran at me. I heard people land on the battlefield and I knew it was my mother and sister. I held my hands up, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!" Five clones appeared and we started to fight. Minato and Hanato joined the fight.

I turned around and saw my mother fighting as well. She was protecting me even when she didn't know who I was. I loved my mother so much. I felt a tear fall down my cheek. I had missed her so terribly. Minato saw me, "Are you crying?" I wiped my tear away, "Sorry"

Mom got hit and flew backwards. I ran towards her and jumped in front of her just before she got hit with a fire jutsu. I flew back and landed against the wall. Toshi started to laugh. I started to get up. My hood had fallen off but I was standing in the shadows.

He glared at me, "Who are you brat!?" I smirked, "Calling me brat doesn't effect me. You've called me it many times during my life" I looked up at him, "I came here today with two purposes. One was to keep Minato alive. The second was to reclaim my family and take them home!"

Mom looked at me, "Who are you?" I took a deep breath and stepped out of the shadows. "You should fear me Toshi Wakaba. My name is Kushin Namikaze Uzumaki, and I'm here to take my mother, brother, and sister home" Mom looked at me with tears in her eyes.

"Kushin?" I smiled, "I'm back Mom" I pointed to my headband, "I made it Konoha. I'm a chunin now" Mom started to cry. She ran to me and wrapped her arms around me and we hugged. I turned back to Toshi, "It's over Toshi, you might as well give up"

He clenched his fists and I ran at him. He snapped his fingers and another fire jutsu flew towards me. I didn't have time to dodge. I heard, "Rasengan!" The fire dispelled and Dad jumped in front of me. I smiled, "Took you long enough. I got here last night" I saw a vein pop on his forehead.

He spun around and gripped me under his arm and gave me a noogie, "What's that supposed to mean. Do you know how worried I was to wake up and find you gone? I didn't even find your note until hours later. You scared the crap out of me!" I yelled, "Uncle! Uncle!" He let me got and chuckled. I smiled, "Sorry Dad. I knew I couldn't let the chance pass me up"

Dad sighed and shook his head. He smiled, "Don't scare me like that again Kushin. I finally get you and you disappear" I laughed shyly, "Sorry Dad" He ruffled my hair.

I smiled and looked at him, "Dad?" He looked at me, "What?" I smiled and pointed behind him. Dad turned and froze. For the first time in 13 years, my mother and father looked upon each other. Mom looked at Dad, "Naruto?" Dad smiled, "I've been searching for you Hinata"

They ran into each other's embrace. Minato and Hanato ran to my side. They were happy to find out I was alive. I pointed to Dad; "This is our real father, Naruto Uzumaki" They looked at him. Minato looked like he was remembering something. He looked harder, "I've seen you before. In my dreams. I remember doing things with you and Mom"

Dad smiled, "That's because I'm your real father." Toshi looked like he was going to explode. He started to laugh, "I'm so glad that stupid contract is broken. Now you get to be banished from that stupid village!" I glared at him, "Didn't you hear me earlier. The contract was broken 13 years ago, stupid!"

Mom looked at me, "Kushin, be nice" I sighed; even after an entire year she was still the same. Dad gripped Mom's hand; "The contract was broken the day you took my family from me." Dad glared at Toshi, "It was broken the day you took my wife from me. The day you took my son from me, the day you took my daughter from me," Dad almost lost it, "It was broken the day you took my unborn son from me!"

I smirked, "The contract stated that Dad got all of us for exactly 4 years. You took them three days early. You broke the contract." Dad stood at my side, "Ready to test it out?" I nodded, "Let's do it Dad!"

I held my hand out and chakra started to spiral. I compressed it and ran towards Toshi, "Rasengan!" I hit him in his stomach and he flew back. He fell unconscious. It wasn't a strong one so it wouldn't kill him. But he'd have stomach problems for years.

I turned back and smiled. I saw my family together for the first time in 13 years. I stopped. The only thing missing, was me! I ran into all their open arms. We shared our first complete family hug.

Dad and I brought everyone back to Konoha. Everyone celebrated their return. That next morning I went up to the mountain and stood on the edge. I felt like there was some sort of hole that had been filled. I filled it part way when I met Dad and now it was whole with the return of my family.

But, one thing that I had learned, life was unpredictable. You never know when you'll be on top, or on the bottom. I smirked. The sun was starting to rise. I held out my fist and said, "No matter what happens. I'm an Uzumaki, and I…Will…Never…Give…UP!"

~Contract Terminated~