A/N: To my concerned readers XD relax~ I'm not going to focus on Naruhina. Naruhina isn't the focus of the story. Nor am I going to make little Naruto have lovey feelings. He's 7. The worst I'll do is hint at it very slightly(not very much, sorta like a friendship but that's it enough to support it but not...smother you with it lol). Thank you for your concern about this though I appreciate it. Don't worry, you guys can relax and get some popcorn *smiles*

Chapter 3: Tricks

Inu's face was crumpling under the mask. He was glad for the mask. It kept him from making a fool out of himself in front of the enemy. Inu debated what to do next. If he tried to attack he could hurt Naruto in the process...if he chased the Minato look alike would run away. Right now things were at a stand still. Thus Dog decided for dialogue.

"You are coming with me." said the ANBU

Minato frowned, "If I come Naruto will be taken from me right ANBU-san?"

"No," Dog bluffed quickly, "Not if you come with me peacefully. You are in no condition to fight now."

Minato surveyed what was said to him. The dog masked ninja was right. If he got into a fight, Naruto could get injured. Plus he had no weapons and not enough chakra to fight him with any jutsu. He would lose if he tried to fight. If he were to flee the ANBU would follow.

"Hai, I will come with you but Naruto stays with me." Minato warned.

Minato got on his feet with a frightened Naruto in his arms. The 7 year old couldn't decide which person to be scared of. The Inu ANBU or his supposed father. Both of them were leaking killing intent in waves and it was too much for the tiny blond to handle. Naruto gripped Minato's shirt instinctively and hid his face. Dog noticed and made himself calm down enough for the kid to breathe easier. Minato did the same.

The Third watched-from his crystal ball- Inu persuade the man into coming back. He could see that this man meant no harm to Naruto but he was still suspicious of his origins. When the trio made it to the village he sent for Iruka to come in. The academy was done for the day so he was free. Iruka appeared.

"Hokage-sama," the instructor addressed.

"Iruka-san, I need you to watch Naruto while I take care of some things. I will send for him to be brought to you later."

"Hai, I understand," with that Iruka disappeared.

"I'm sorry to have to do this…" Dog hit Minato in the back of the head and knocked him out as soon as the blond man let his guard drop. He carried the man with his right and Naruto with his left.

"ANBU-san…what's gonna happen to him?" Naruto asked finally gaining the courage to speak.

"He'll be under the Hokage's custody for a bit…" Dog said, "don't worry about it."

Dog used all of his strength to jump through the concrete roofs. It was a bit difficult carrying two people but he could manage. He entered through the window and dropped Minato like a sack of potatoes as he panted. "It's done Hokage-sama."

"Good, now I need you to get Naruto to Iruka-san and call Inoichi here. I need him." replied Hiruzen.

"Hai," Dog said as he flickered away.

Sarutobi then bent down picked a lock of the clone's hair. He called his secretary and demanded that some of his medic-nin take a look at this DNA sample to identify the double.

Minato's eyes fluttered as he regained consciousness. He was currently tide up. His hands and feet were strapped to a chair. He frowned, realizing the he had been played for a fool. His eyes skimmed the area. It was dimly lit room with no windows. His blue eyes watched as two figures stepped out of the darkness.

"I'm sorry it has come to this," said the man, whom he recognized as the Third. "but you have left me no choice. Minato-san."

"Where's Naruto," the blond spat.

"He's safe, I assure you." replied the Sandaine.

"Inoichi I want you to probe his mind, find out if he's a threat. Try to find memories. Survey his mind scape." Sarutobi ordered the man behind him. Inoichi was tall with pale blond hair and light pupiless eyes.

Inoichi nodded and got to work. The first thing Inochi noticed was concrete. The floor in the man's mind was made of concrete and resembled a narrow pathway. The mindscape was relatively empty. Just white space with a floor. The floor represented the foundation on which his mind was being built upon. There were no defenses or least he had not found any yet. It was odd. It…appeared as if Minato's mind was just developing.

"You don't belong here." Inoichi turned around, Minato was there.

'Looks like he's making defenses. At this rate, the mindscape won't be so empty anymore.' Thought the Yamanaka. "I don't want to fight, I'm just here to evaluate your situation."

"Leave then," Minato said coldly, "there's nothing here. I want nothing more than Naruto-kun's safety."

The ground below them expanded a bit more. It became wider until it was the size of a dance floor. "He will be safe…if you let look around more."

"He will only be safe with me," Minato stated, "I'm his Father."

Inoichi found that the double's statement seemed programmed. As if he was doing it out of reflex. But he could see that this man felt a genuine connection to Naruto. "If you are deemed safe by the Hokage perhaps he will allow you to get close to the kid." Inoichi bargained, "If you resist it will be to your disadvantage."

"I'm not falling for that bluff again, intruder-san," Minato said as he charged at the man. The clone's representation moved fast, unhindered by the limitations of the physical world. Here, Minato could fight. Inoichi was on his toes. The mind specialist was careful to dodge and counter the assaults. Minato's clone was skilled but he still wasn't as fast as his original. During an opening Inoichi managed to hit Minato in the stomach.

Inoichi sighed and wondered when he would be home to his wife and daughter. "Look…Minato-san…" Inoichi said carefully, "I don't want to fight with you. If you let me do my job I will leave."

Minato panted for a few moments. "I will let you proceed, but as soon as you're done, you will exit my mind immediately." Minato faded.

Inoichi watched as words appeared all around him. Pockets of information, all out of order. Floating listlessly amidst the empty white space. Inoichi deduced that, the clone's mind did have a defense after all, and that the appearance of Minato here wasn't a spur of the moment as he originally thought. The words floated all around him as if trying to find a place to occupy and settle. Inoichi walked forward, the floor expanding as he did so. Until he came to a white door. The Yamanaka opened it.

"Are you okay Naruto-kun?" asked Iruka concerned, the boy had been eerily quiet since the ANBU brought him a few hours ago. They were currently in Iruka's apartment. The sun was beginning to set, saying farewell to the village.

"Yeah!" Naruto said, grinning, but it didn't reach his eyes. The boy had been pondering the day's events. They bugged him. That man bugged him. "It's just been a really freaky day Iruka-sensei."

"Why is that?" asked Umino.

"I can't tell you. Inu-san said it was a secret. ttebayo!"

"Oh well," said Iruka, "Maybe I can take you to Ichiraku ramen? That will cheer you up?"

"Yeah! Definitely dattebayo!" Naruto jumped from the coach and ran out of the apartment.

"Hey wait for me!" Iruka followed.

Inu stayed close to the Sandaime and asked him question after question as soon as he was out of the interrogation room. His heart was pounding with disbelief, sadness, and curiosity. He felt disbelief because he knew for a fact his Sensei and his wife perished 7 years ago. He felt saddened because as soon as Inu put eyes on Minato's double, he was reminded of that tragic day. Curiosity, because he wanted to know just what the hell was going on.

"Please keep calm," admonished the Third as he walked briskly down the halls, "As soon as the tests I have assigned are done...and Naruto leads us to the place he found that man…we will know what exactly is going on."

Dog frowned under the mask as he followed, "I know," he said calmly but with a slight edge, "but he looks too much like…him…I can't possibly be at ease until this is over."

"I understand but we must be patient Kakashi-kun,"