A/N: Did you know that Naruto's name means steamed fish paste? My buddy told me. You can go to n a r u t o c e n t r a l. c o m.

Live or Let Die

The cottage was silent except for the slightly labored breathing of Naruto. He sat there, stunned still at his father's violent outburst. Though it had happened at least two hours ago, Naruto could still remember, in perfect detail, the look of absolute hatred that had shone in his father's eyes as he glared at Naruto. Naruto had felt the room fill with killing intent and found himself insanely relieved when the Hokage had stormed into the forest to vent his anger.

Though the entire cottage was depressingly silent, Naruto swore he could still hear that terrible roar that had escaped from the soul of the Yondaime. The sheer emotion in it had surprised Naruto a lot: he hadn't thought that his father, the one who had abandoned the entire village, would feel so strongly for things that, in Naruto's opinion, were completely true.

Hours passed. Naruto stared sightlessly out the small window adjacent to his bed. Naruto frowned: it was getting late and the Hokage hadn't come back yet. Somewhere deep inside himself, Naruto felt a little spark of something that felt a lot like worry.

Naruto snorted in anger. He couldn't believe he was worried about his father.

'So what? So he hasn't been back to this dump since he screamed and ran out like a little girl. That doesn't mean I have to care.'

Naruto snorted again.

'Guess he couldn't handle the truth, the coward. Running away again and…I'M HUNGRY!!!'

"If you keep snorting like that, one day you just might turn into a pig."

Naruto's head turned to the doorway so fast he was surprised he didn't break his neck.

"Blondaime!! You're back!!" Naruto despised himself for the relief he heard in his tone and hope Yondaime didn't hear it.

Yondaime smirked. Naruto cursed silently: he'd heard it.

"Oh little Shortie wasn't worried for his old cowardly father was he?? Let's hope that – HEY!!! Don't call me that midget!!" Yondaime finally caught Naruto's little nickname for him. Naruto started to laugh hysterically at him but gasped in pain when he moved. Yondaime rushed over from the door to check on him, worry etched on his face.

Naruto weakly waved him away, hating being fussed over by the man he wanted to kill. Yondaime moved away slightly and frowned at him. Naruto unconsciously mimicked this frown.

They sat there, silent.

"So what were you doing in the forest anyway?"

Naruto cracked open the eye he wasn't aware of closing. Naruto slowly turned his head toward Yondaime slightly surprised he hadn't already given away his reason for being here in one of his many rants. He had only been here a few hours ('God has it really been only a few hours? It feels like it's been years since I came here.') and he had managed to keep his secret. But he didn't want it to be secret. He wanted this bastard to know that, because of his actions, his own son was trying to kill him.

Naruto wondered if this was how Sasuke felt about his brother, Itachi. If so, he could understand the burning need to become stronger than that which you so hated. That aching need to kill…

"Well?" Yondaime's voice pierced his train of thought. Naruto mentally shrugged: he couldn't hurt him physically yet, so wounding him mentally would have to do for now; besides he couldn't keep a secret for long.

Naruto took a careful breath and locked eyes with his father.

"I came here to kill you."

Minato mentally congratulated himself for staying straight faced when his son hatefully hissed out his purpose for being so deep in one of Konoha's numerous forests. The pain at hearing such a declaration pierced his heart almost as deep as the death of his beloved Sango had.

With a calm he truly didn't feel, Minato rose from his crouching position next to his son and walked to the window. It was twilight. He breathed deep of the semi-night air that wafted through the open window. He smiled: Kushina had loved twilight the best and was happiest at this time of day.

"Hmm, Kushina…" He breathed her name out longingly. He missed her dearly. If his beautiful wife were still here, she would know what to do, to say. He shook his head slightly.

'If Kushina were still here, Naruto would've grown up in Konoha with a mother, though perhaps not a father.' Minato shook his head more firmly. ' No…I would have stayed…for her.'

Minato wondered how Itachi handled his little brother's hatred for him. He hoped he didn't feel as wretched as he, though he more than deserved Sasuke's hatred for the death of their clan, and he had only known of Naruto's hatred for a day!!

Thinking of Itachi made Minato wince: he was glad Naruto had come when he did because, if he hadn't, he would have found just how much of a traitor his father was when Itachi and Kisame had finally brought him to him at Akatsuki headquarters. He grimaced even more deeply: this was more awkward than when he'd paired Sasori and Deidara together.

Minato chuckled a little, remembering Sasori's reaction to his new partner.

"What the hell's so funny and who the hell is Kushina?" Naruto's angry voice, not yet deep enough to be called a growl, brought him out of his semi-pleasant thoughts.

He turned. Naruto was scowling deeply.

'Guess he was expecting more of a reaction…' Minato thought absentmindedly. He felt his body slipping into a slightly defensive stance. It was like he was facing an enemy.

'No! He's my kid, not my enemy!' Minato thought desperately, but another part, a more logical part, reminded him that, to Naruto, he was his enemy. His body had recognized what his heart had not wanted to, and he wanted to weep at the injustice, or perhaps perfect justice, of it all. He would not allow himself to break down and cry as he had a few hours before. He was a Hokage of Konoha, and, though disgraced, he would act like it.

"Well?" Naruto said mocking his own words from only minutes before.

Minato moved from the window and went about flipping on lights; it had gotten quite dark.

"You gotta stop copying me, kid. I know I'm awesome but you have to show some originality."

Minato felt as if he were in some sort of play. He was a good actor and could easily slip back into the role of the easy going happy Hokage who everyone had so loved, but it felt like a suit that didn't quite fit. He knew he could never be that person again, the very acts he had committed as leader of the Akatsuki, making him practically an S class ninja, prevented that if it were not for the other things he had done.

'I should be used to acting though; it's all I've done since I left Konoha.'

Minato sighed: he had learned long ago not to question the whys of life though sometimes he didn't heed his own advice and let it go.

"As to why I chuckled, well…because I can, and don't talk that way about your mother." Minato answered his question as he wandered into the kitchen to fix something to eat: he didn't think he wanted ramen.

He tapped his chin. What to cook? If he were being honest with himself, he'd acknowledge the fact that he couldn't make too much of anything besides ramen. He didn't want to attempt to make something he wasn't sure he could prepare correctly and end up killing Naruto and himself.

He grinned morbidly. Naruto would probably think it was the perfect way fro him to go: killed by his own food.

'I wonder if he would be too bothered by that. I mean he doesn't seem to care how I die just so long as I'm dead.' Minato shook his head as he finally decided to just cook eggs and bacon.

'God, I hate myself…' He bit back a dry sob, realizing just how true that stray thought was.

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--Wow 3 pages and over 1000 words this time!!! I feel bad for poor Minato, don't you? How do you like the newest development? I've always thought that was where he was…with the Akatsuki I meant. Anyway review please; it would make me happy!!!