Raising Naruto

Unimportant Author's note: First: thanks for the reviews. Second: This 'moment' is set a couple of days later.

Another Obvious Lie

"Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto" He said once more, cherishing every little syllable of it's sound. It had been his decision to use Kushina's name as well as his. After all, he was their son, not just his.

"It's a good name." Someone said. "But I didn't know you were planning on giving him her name as well."

Remembering who was sitting next to him, he answered his former teacher. "Neither did I"

Before he was born, there had been no discussion about the names. They simultaneously agreed on his first name, and since Kushina had taken over his surname when she married him, they never even talked about their child's. It seemed so obvious back then.

Just like it seemed so obvious to name him 'Namikaze-Uzumaki' right now.

"It just felt so right." He continued after spacing out, again.

This worried Jiraiya even more. He and Tsunade had been worrying about him for the past week, and even if he was still bad, he was pulling through better now. It was a big improvement on the shadow of Minato that returned from the sealing, and locked himself up in the nursery for 2 days. He didn't even respond to their appearances, not recognizing or even hearing their voices. They had been taking care of Naruto for a while, but after a day they decided only Naruto could save him.

They had been right, although Minato still wasn't completely saved. He hadn't left the house, and hardly ever lost Naruto out of sight, but at least he was walking and talking, and making improvement.

"How is the village coping?"

This brought Jiraiya down to earth, but surprised, no shocked him quite a bit. 'I didn't know you were ready for that yet... Maybe you are coping better than we originally thought' was running through his mind'Or maybe it's just a way to escape the void Kushina left in this house'

"Bad. Many people died during the attack, most houses were destroyed or damaged and the people are without a leader." He answered truthfully, knowing it was pointless to lie to his student.

In any other situation he would have laughed about the clearly visible realisation on Minato's face. It was if he suddenly remembered he was Hokage, or actually anything other than a father and husband. Knowing his mind would go in an overload if he would do something now, he immidiatly continued.

"Sarutobi-sensei took his old job back for a while, so the real leadership isn't the point." He answered truthfully yet again, seeing a lot of worry disappear from Minato's eyes. "But they need you as a symbol."

It took a while before Minato was able to answer with an answer he had from the second he heard Jiraiya say those words, only he still didn't understand. They needed hope, they needed a leader that let them to the future, not dwelling in the past.

He knew Naruto needed him as a father, more than anything. He knew he needed his son, more than air and more than water. He knew his village needed hope, more than a father.

"I know." Those words seemed so easy to say. So obvious. They why did it seem like a lie?

For the first time in a week, Minato was not holding Naruto yet smiling. Sure, it wasn't a real smile, but the people of Konoha didn't know that. They only saw their Hokage on the balcony, telling them what had happened and what they were going to do. Giving them a purpose, for he knew many of them had also lost it together with some loved ones.

"... The Kyuubi No Kitsune died. After ..." A little lie didn't matter today. If people would know the beast was very alive at the moment, and wasn't going to die by human hands, they wouldn't have cheered, like they did right now. They would be yelling or something alike, telling him to kill his son, most likely. No, they would never know, for their deserved their oblivious bliss, and his son a childhood.

"... yet many lives were lost. But let's not dwell in the past but look to the future, so ..." Another lie didn't matter now. If the people would only know how good he was at 'not dwelling in the past', they wouldn't be listening to him like this, like he was their Messiah, or even God. They would be yelling, telling him he was a hypocrite, telling him he was a inhuman, that lost lives can't 'just be forgotten'. That there was no future for a broken family. But they couldn't see it was an obvious lie.

They saw what they wanted to see. They saw hope, a leader, a hero. Years later, people would still speak about their fearless hero who killed the Kyuubi and gave the people hope. They would say he had faced more hardship than anybody else, yet remained strong.

Only his closest friends would know just how strong Minato had been when he had been crying, how he had lost all hope.

".. Let us find new hope, a hope for the future." And with those last words, said Hokage finished his speech, returning to his own hope. The fake smile was immediately replaced by another one. Given, this one was smaller, but it was most definitely not a lie. His son immediately mirrored his with a smile on of his own, as if to say it was alright.

"He's a sweet little boy, Minato" Tsunade said, while handing him over to his father. "And he's pretty smart too, most young baby's don't understand or respond to their parents emotions like this at his age."

Even before Minato could answer, Naruto did in his very own way by starting to cry very loud. This prevoked not only the attention of a very worried father, but also the diminishing crowd's one. While the entire village was wondering why there was crying from up there, Minato immidiatly moved inside. Kakashi, Tsunade and Jiraiya followed him with a puzzeled expression on his face.

"Why are you trying to hide Naruto?" the latter one asked his student, voicing all their thoughts.

Minato sighed before he answered. "What do you think Iwa would do if they would find out I had a son AND my village was weakened? They know they can blackmail me with Naruto. Hell, I would do anything for him."

"But keeping the village out?" Tsunade asked him this time. "What life do you think you're giving your child? You can't keep him next to you forever, Minato."

Wasn't it obvious? Why couldn't they see that he did it for the sake of his village, and not himself? "I'm not planning on keeping his existence a secret for the village. I'm not just going to present him to my enemies on a silver platter!"

Wasn't it obvious what they would do? Wasn't it obvious they would try to kill him?

Wasn't it obvious ...?

Alright, that last few sentences were the 'obvious lies' the title speaks about. Everybody most likely sees just how over protective he is over Naruto. So he's basicly keeping Naruto for himself for a while.

Anyway, anybody curious what reminded me I still had to put this one up? CHAPTER 440 RAW!!!{Naruto owns his daddy, in multiple ways}

Well, we've been through the one of the more dramatic parts of the fic! A happier chapter inspired by a beautiful picture on deviantart is comming up! If you already want to see the picture (it's kind of a preview for the chapter) , look at my profile, I have a link posted over there. Next chapter will also be longer.

Sayonara!