Disclaimer: Naruto and every character of the Naruto universe belongs to Kishimoto Masashi and companies I don't know.
I want to thank the hard work of ScarsOfTime (u/947576/), without him, I am lost.
Original Upload date: 29/11/212
Last update: none
Chance for a Prophecy
Chapter 5. – Foundation-stone and union
Toroku had been staring after the vanishing silhouette of the Sandaime Hokage for long minutes from the exact same spot. 'Damn, he's strong.' He couldn't recall when he had drawn out the staff or when he moved to use it. The old man was still fast and incredibly powerful. But he was glad. After he "saw" the ANBU and the Hokage in action, he was sure that his actions were unnecessary, even if he had sensed the intruder a millisecond before them. After a last shrug, Toroku made his way towards his room on the narrow path, back to the village.
He was lost in his thoughts about the previous fight with Kakashi. He managed it much better than he first thought he would, but a new feeling bothered him. That enormous rage that he felt. What if the same thing happened during a real mission and he froze in the middle of a life and death situation when facing with a strong and dangerous opponent, or if his feelings overwhelm him while he is facing with a friend during a sparring match? He couldn't let that happen again. He had to harden himself and lock away everything from his old self, to prevent a future catastrophe. As he was walking towards the village, he suddenly stopped and flung his head up when he had realized…
He was alone… He was alone outside of his room, for the very first time since he had woken up in the hospital. Okay, not perfectly alone, but besides only one ANBU hiding ten meters from him behind a cliff, he was almost alone. A smile appeared on his features and a warm sensation filled his chest. A sensation of his first steps to gain their trust. With this last thought he continued his trip toward the village, smiling and enjoying the nature around him and the warm breeze as it gently stroked his whisker marks on his cheeks.
…..
Sarutobi looked up from the long and irritating scroll in front of him to answer a knock on the door. He already waited for his arrival and he wasn't surprised when he first sensed the familiar chakra signal.
"Come in, Minato."
"Sarutobi-sama." He bowed and approached him with graceful and confident steps.
"I heard what happened."
"Yes. I already received a short summary about the interrogation. Inoichi-san is a very efficient shinobi. It seems that our guest from Iwa was originally a spy, but he couldn't contain his emotions too well. However, his hiding skills are extraordinary." Minato gave a confused look to the Hokage.
"His mission was only observation, nothing more. Inoichi revealed that his younger brother died during your last mission in Iwa… When he saw Toroku, he thought he was your relative and he couldn't suppress his killing intent." Sarutobi shook his head and looked into the wide cerulean eyes of Minato.
"That's true that we look very alike, but that's ridiculous." Minato frowned and slowly shook his head.
"You not only look alike, but you have more in common than you think, Minato." Sarutobi's eyes darkened after the statement, which started to bother Minato like hell. He hated when he behaved like this, hinting and not spilling out what he knew.
"What do you mean by that?" Minato frowned, his eyes narrowed as Sarutobi had sighed and pulled out a drawer to grab its contents. He slowly eyed the thick file in his hand, sighed again, and after a minute of hesitation he finally handed it over to Minato, then he touched and channeled some chakra into carved pattern on the desk to activate the privacy seals of his office.
"You would learn about it later anyway, but I wanted to inform you on my terms. After this incident I can't delay it anymore."
Minato's eyebrow raised. He wasn't used to this side of Sarutobi. He was in the position of his trust, but now he was hiding something very important. He looked at the file in his hand, hesitating for a moment before opening it. It was Toroku's personal file with every bit of information they were able to gather after his arrival. A small picture of the smiling teen was at the top right corner of first page above the report. He had eyed the picture for a moment, before his eyes moved down and started carefully reading its content.
'Original name: Unknown. (Code name: Odoroki Toroku)'
'Gender,weight, height, special, identifications… found belongings… hospital reports… known skills… etc'
'Relatives: Test subject fourteen confirmed'
Minato looked up to meet Sarutobi's darkened eyes, but his azure ones were now filled with confusion. While the thoughts were forking in his head like lightning, he gathered his emotions. He already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear it from the Hokage's own mouth.
"Who is test subject fourteen?" he asked calmly without any hint of his frustrating thoughts. Sarutobi watched him seriously, and puffed from his never missing pipe before he stated calmly,
"You."
Sarutobi eyed him without motion, waiting for some kind of reaction from the blond, but when no answer came he continued in the same calm tone.
"According to the tests, he is a very close relative. A first generation, like father, son, or brother." Minato just stared at the file in his hands without any reaction. He had been hardening his emotions and forced himself to observe the situation and the file in his hands like a professional, caring only for the facts.
"We can easily assume that the first two options aren't possible, so that leaves only one left. He is your brother, or more likely your half-brother. I doubt that you would forget your mother's pregnancy, so the only option is an affair of your father."
"By the age gap, it was one of his last acts," Minato stated with a sour tone, but still calmly. He already knew what would be the next step of this game.
"You know what this could mean Minato, don't you? If his memory was erased purposely to infiltrate into Konoha and be near you... if he is here only because of you… this is a dangerous situation for the village. Are you prepared for the decision that is expected?"
Minato only nodded slowly, his face showing no emotion, then he finally closed his eyes and shook his head, and his calm mask started to crack.
"Yes, it could be… but what if he isn't? If his appearance here is only coincidence? What do you expect of me? That I should kill him? That I should execute a teenager, who could be my only living relative?"
Minato's calm was starting to fade away. Of course he had been suspecting, and was also aware about the hints, that maybe there was more to this teen and that maybe they were somehow connected in some way. He wasn't blind. But as the Hokage had hinted the execution of the boy, it just made his eyes twitch.
"I don't like to repeat myself Hiruzen… but If we execute him now, that would make us merciless killers and nothing more." The Hokage didn't bother himself about the casual address, he just eyed the blond in front of him curiously.
"In the near future you will have to make decisions like this."
"I know that very well. But you are you, and I am I. We are different and I won't sacrifice anyone without any real proof, based only on speculations. And I doubt you are also that kind of person." Minato's voice died lower as he grabbed himself and calmed his aching nerves again.
"I take full responsibility for his actions. He wants to belong to this village and he wants to become a shinobi. Assign him to my team, that way I can keep an eye on him continuously, and accommodate him next to my apartment. I'll do what I have to do, if the time comes, for the sake of the village, but as of now this isn't that time."
Sarutobi didn't break the connection of their eyes, nor the silence which settled down in the office. He eyed Minato's every small movement, reaction, waiting for a tiny hint, but he was determined. In some aspects he was right. The boy at the moment wasn't a threat, and he was also determined to serve the village. Toroku was an impetuous boy who couldn't hide his emotions. And today he also experienced the strange aura that surrounded the boy. He hadn't laughed as freely as he did in the afternoon since the war had started. During that time, he felt like he moved back in time decades, where he was without the weight of the problems, the war, the continuous worrying for his people. Sarutobi closed his eyes, puffing continuously from his pipe, filling the room with the smell and smoke of the lazily smoldering fine tobacco, while his thoughts gathered around the choices.
Finally, he opened his eyes to meet a calm, blue ocean in front of him, then he just simply nodded in consent. He sensed Minato's fully tensed muscles relax, and his expression warmed as he gave a bow.
"Thank you Hokage-sama."
"Do you want to inform Toroku about your… relation?"
Minato nodded without hesitation and looked back at the door. He felt the boy's chakra signature behind the doors for some time past. Sarutobi touched another small seal on the surface of his desk without a word to signal to his secretary. When the doors opened, the blond teenager stepped in, escorted by an ANBU. The Hokage nodded to the guard, who bowed and left the room without a word. Toroku also bowed and moved nervously toward the desk where the two men were watching him calmly and… knowingly, hesitant of what to say next. Then Minato sent a small, warm smile at him and pointed to the chair next to him to sit down, and he was more than thankful to accept the offer to escape from this awkward situation.
"Toroku-kun. We are here to discuss some very important matters about your… future in Konoha." The Hokage said this with a moderate tone, and Toroku tensed in the chair.
"You will be accommodated next to Minato-kun's apartment in the future. You can move there tomorrow morning." The blond relaxed a little and nodded, waiting patiently for the old man to finish his words.
"Also, you will be assigned to Minato-kun's team."
The Hokage moved to his right and pulled out a drawer, placing a Hitai-ate in front of him on the desk, still eyeing the teen. Sarutobi pointed toward the Hitai-ate and Toroku reached after it, like a child for a piece of candy. His azure irises sparked in awe as he stared at the headband, studying every small part and every detail of it before he tied it on his forehead. He couldn't stand it, a small smile left his mouth and the heavy air in the office disappeared.
"Welcome to our lines, chuunin Odoroki Toroku." The blond grinned again like an idiot. His mouth was spread from ear to ear, but suddenly confusion ran across his face.
"Chuunin? I beat the crap out of the shrimp and he's a jonin! Why should I be his inferior?"
Minato let out a loud laugh at his statement, still chuckling afterward while everyone else waited for him to control himself. He had cleared his throat and looked back at his newly found relative with a calm face.
"That is because we don't know anything about your previous experience. Your power and skills may be on jonin level, but this isn't all about power. With time you can gain that rank."
Now it was time for Sarutobi to chuckle at the blond, who was now sitting in the chair with folded arms around his chest, his legs crossed, and frowning at Minato, sending angry looks toward him. He was sulking, just like a kid. It was very unpleasant that merely ten minutes ago they were talking about the execution of the very same boy in front of them.
"Be patient Toroku-kun. Furthermore there is one more thing that we must discuss before you start active duty with the rest of your team." Toroku straightened in the chair and now he was looking curiously at the Hokage, who waved for Minato to continue.
"We found a relative of yours here in Konoha." Toroku's eyes widened, his head switching from man to man, to settle down again on Minato.
"How? Who?" These were the only two word he could process from himself in his surprise.
"We conducted a blood test, and one was positive…"
"Who is it then? When can we meet?" Minato now scratched the back of his head nervously, not sure how to continue.
"Well, you already know him. It looks like you are half-brothers, based on the test results."
"I have a brother? And I know him?" Toroku's eyes widened to an unnatural size, his thoughts running in his head at an insane speed. 'Brother, so we must be alike… There's only two blond who I know, but Inoichi is…' He looked back at Minato with a confused, but knowing look.
"No way…"
"Well, trust me this is as unexpected for me as for you. I've also only just found out myself."
Toroku frowned as the previous statement's background started to became clearer. At first he thought that they placed him around Minato because he only knew him, and of course to keep an eye on him. But now... he was a little bit disappointed. After the first ten minutes of ecstasy, that he would be a real shinobi, he would be able to leave that room, and that he had family... It seemed distant now.
"You still think that I'm a spy… or an assassin… Someone after Minato, don't you?" he asked with a sad smile on his face.
"Indeed," Sarutobi stated calmly. "Remember what I told you Toroku-kun. Trust is something that you can earn with time and hard work. And I know that you are aware that your… presence is more than suspicious."
Toroku had nodded and stood up, his eyes filled with determination, and he bowed again just like hours before toward the two men. He looked up, and smiled at the old man at the table, then to Minato.
"I won't disappoint you. And I never go back on my word. That is my nindo." Minato smiled at the pleasant sight and he was really glad that this sentiment remained from the boy's previous life. Sarutobi nodded in response.
"You can go now. I'm sure there is a lot you two wanted to talk about."
The two blonds nodded and stood up, while Minato grabbed his arm.
"Come on, I'll give you a lift."
"No, No, No wai…!" The two blonds disappeared from the room and Sarutobi was sure that the soundproof walls of the Interrogation and Torture department wouldn't be enough to restrain the yells of Toroku.
'I hope you made a good decision Minato…'
When the two blonds appeared at the Interrogation and Torture department in the middle of Toroku's room, he was surprised. Surprised that he wasn't going to die. He was panting heavily, a little bit shaky, but not as bad as it was the first time when that bastard used Hiraishin on him. He looked at Minato, still angry, but more confused, and he just made a grin in return.
"It always gets better and better. I don't even feel anything, but for the first ten times I looked much worse than you for your first time. I had to lay down after I lost my lunch."
"How does it work?"
"There is a seal in your room. I used that to have one base point as the destination and my starting point to another. I use a time-space ninjutsu to transport myself between the two points. Actually, it's much more trickier than that, but something like that in short."
Toroku's anger flashed away and they sat down on the bed side by side without a word. An awkward silence fell upon them, but neither of the blonds dared to break it. Neither of them knew what they should say to the other. Finally, Toroku opened his mouth,
"You know, I don't think I previously had anybody as a parent figure, or a brother." Minato just raised an eyebrow at the statement.
"Why do you think that?"
"Because, when I need certain knowledge it pops up. And now, when I'm looking for something about a family, there's nothing…" Minato smiled at Toroku.
"Then, it's time for the both of us to learn something new." The blond teenager smiled back, but the silence came back between them.
"What should I call you?"
"Well, I would really appreciate that within the team, you call me sensei like the others. But beyond that, time will make that decision for us."
"Well then sensei, you'll be teaching me, right?" Minato raised a suspicious eyebrow at the blond.
"Well, yeah…"
"Then teach me that teleportation technique." Minato just stared at him in disbelief, then burst out laughing.
"Why? I thought you hated it?" Toroku just rolled his eyes while his company still chuckled.
"Yeah, that's true, but it seems very useful too."
"In time. It's not an easy technique, you know. Besides, Kushina would kill me if I taught it to you before her."
"Who is she?"
"You know, she's my... girlfriend." Minato shuffled on the bed a little.
"Anyway, pack anything you want, and rest now. You had a long day, and so did I. I'll get you tomorrow morning and you can move into the apartment. And also prepare for some introductions." The blond got up from the bed and started to wave goodbye when he was stopped.
"Minato!"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks."
"For what, exactly?"
"For everything." Minato looked confused, but when he saw Toroku's wide grin, he just mimicked it and waved his hand, then disappeared in a flash of gold, leaving the teen alone in his small room. The blond leaned back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, still grinning. He was happy. Really happy.
The next morning came with record speed. Not that Toroku had too many things to pack, but still way too fast. Minato told him yesterday that he would introduce him to people, and he was sure that those would be his girlfriend and the team. He really wanted to make a good first impression, and now as he looked into the small mirror in the bathroom with his bed hair, he couldn't do anything else but grimace at his image when he felt the familiar chakra signature appear outside the room.
A minute later a blond head peaked inside the slightly opened bathroom door.
"Morning. Are you ready?"
"Just minute," he answered casually while fighting with his spiky hair, which now pointed in every direction it shouldn't.
"You know, I think you just made it worse." Toroku sent an angry look toward Minato, then he ruffled his hair in his frustration.
"Still the same."
"Argg! I don't care. Let's go."
"Anything to carry?"
"No, everything's in my pocket."
"Then let's get out of here." Minato placed his hand onto Toroku's shoulder to disappear in a blink, leaving the white room behind.
They were now standing in front of a light orange door. Toroku shook his head, and placed his still trembling left hand onto his forehead when uneasy groan left his soft lips as he felt the way softer side effect of the technique, while Minato pushed a small metal key into his other.
"Here. You're first." Toroku stared down into his palm, examining the small key in his hand and smiled as the cold key started to take over his body heat, until he could only feel the curves of the metal. He pushed it into the keyhole, turning slowly, enjoying every moment of his first step into his new life.
The apartment was small but still much bigger and inviting than his small hole before. It had a normal sized sitting room with a table and a smaller couch, an open kitchen, and there was also a very small eating corner. He walked around to find out where the other two doors lead. He found a small bathroom and a bedroom with a single bed, but what caught his eye were the empty shelves, which filled the whole wall from corner to corner with a small desk in front of it. Toroku approvingly nodded at the sight and immediately tried out his new bed. It was nice and comfortable. He looked toward the small window, which let the sunbeams into his room, revealing millions of slowly dancing dust motes. Minato leaned against the door frame, watching as the teenager relaxed on his new bed.
"I spoke with Sarutobi-sama this morning. They furnished the apartment with some stuff, but he also sent this." Minato gave a small envelope to the lying Toroku, who was now watching him curiously.
"What's this?"
"This is an allowance, to cover your first month's costs until you can earn enough from the missions. We will need to buy some stuff. Like equipment, clothes, and food. I thought after this we could start with a small introduction, then get that stuff before you meet the rest of the team." Toroku nodded as he stood up to face with Minato, when he felt the familiar touch on his shoulder and they appeared in a different room. Toroku shook his head and touched his forehead to calm down his slowly spinning brain.
"I thought that you lived next-door?" he muttered while he was still rubbing his temporal.
"Indeed, yes." Toroku's eyes widened.
"You can't be serious, using that move a distance less than ten meters to the side, can you?" Minato just shrugged while he was walking toward the kitchen and grabbed a glass.
"Juice?" Toroku just watched him in disbelief.
"You're a lazy bastard! I'm sure that the whole town is filled with your shit! I'm sure even every room of this apartment is filled with it, actually!
"I like this guy." Toroku spun around to meet a wildly grinning woman, with long, ruby red hair, leaning against a door frame with her hands folded around her waist. He was too busy scolding Minato to sense her presence.
"It's nice to meet you, Toroku-kun. I heard a lot about you. And yes, he is a lazy bastard who can't even walk to the toilet at night. He'd rather use his Hiraishin." Minato only rolled his eyes in annoyance from the kitchen, moving a hand toward the woman.
"Toroku-kun, let me introduce Uzumaki Kushina."
The teen stared at her in disbelief, his eyes wide and he felt his mouth fall open. He spirited away from the small room, from Konoha, from the Fire country, away from everything, inside his mind, where a foggy picture flew tenderly inside his thoughts. Someone smiling at him, but he couldn't see her well, only the soft silhouette. A voice of a woman, full of love and care, distant, but still soft and heartwarming, echoed in his mind. "I love you."
"Everything alright?" Toroku shook his head to clear his thoughts and smiled at the ruby-haired beauty in front of him.
"Yes, thank you. It's nice to meet you too. I'm Odoroki Toroku." He bowed politely, then tilted his head still examining the girl in front of him, rambling away again.
"What? Is there something on my face?"
"Ah, no, no. I was just admiring your hair…" Kushina immediately tensed at the statement, narrowing her eyes.
"What about my hair?"
"It's just…beautiful..." The hard expression immediately melted away from Kushina's face, replaced with a familiar soft, warm smile as she moved toward the boy to place a soft kiss on his forehead.
"I really like you." If Toroku ever felt himself embarrassed, he was wrong. His whole face, even his ears were now burning like an inferno, melting away his tanned skin, which glowing now with in bright crimson color. She turned toward Minato, who was leaning against the dining table, his eyes narrowed at the previous scene.
"Hey Toroku-kun. As the introductions are now over, let's get going. We have a lot of things to do."
"Where are you going?"
"Shopping. And No. No way you can come. I want to finish it fast and I think so does he."
Kushina didn't answer, just stuck out her tongue and walked away to hop down on the couch. But she still sent a warm smile toward the still brilliant red young teenager. Minato shrugged then turned to Toroku.
"Can we go?"
"Yes, but we'll be walking!" Minato waved a hand toward Kushina, who just ignored him, but she waved back to Toroku with a wide smile.
"Crazy woman…" Minato muttered to himself when they left the apartment and headed toward the shops in the town, slowly walking on a narrow backstreet. Their footsteps didn't make any noise, only the slowly flying dust marked their way, when their feet meet with the hard soil.
"You had another flashback, didn't you?"
"Ah, yes, but it was kind of personal, so I don't really want to talk about that if you don't mind." He was scratching his cheek nervously, and Minato smiled back knowingly. 'Girls…'
"Well I would like to congratulate to you anyway."
"For what?"
"You did a very good job with Kushina. You wound her around your finger. She's quite sensitive about her hair." Toroku gave a confused look in response but then nodded.
When they finished with shopping Toroku felt as if he were a pack-mule, despite most of the stuff being stored tidily into scrolls, thanks to Minato, who was wise enough to bring them so at least the half of the goods could be placed into them. It would be a pain in the ass if he should tote his brand new and indeed heavy three full set of kunais and shurikens with the other things. With around ten minutes of continuous arguing, Toroku was glad that he could convince Minato that twenty packs of instant ramen was crucial inventory of his new apartment, even more than new clothes, but in return he made a promise that he would learn how to cook properly from Kushina, which actually wasn't a big deal. He was already looking forward it.
"Are you sure I need all of these?"
"Well two hours ago you had only one set of clothes, and nothing else, so yes." 'I doubt about that.' Actually, Minato packed a lot of things that weren't immediately necessary, like dozens of empty scrolls. However, Toroku had a feeling that he already had a plan with those which would result in long and sleepless nights for him. When they finally arrived to their place he collapsed on the couch, leaning back against its back-rest while putting his arms onto his face to shroud his eyes and stretched out his legs.
"I don't understand women. What could they love about this…?" Minato just grinned at the comment while started to unseal the remaining goods from his scrolls until he finished.
"Put these in their places, settle in, and we'll be awaiting you for dinner at six. If you need anything we'll be here, just knock."
Toroku nodded, not even moving his head toward the blond as he left the room the lazy way again. 'That was tiresome…' He moved his eyes over to the goods, his arms still rested on his forehead, only shifting them to uncover his eyes. He let out an irritated sigh knowing he would be occupied with the packing almost the whole afternoon. 'If I don't start it now, I'll never do it… But first, a bit of entertainment…' He shut his eyes to survey his surroundings with a light chakra flow. 'I got you…,' he chirped inside his head cheekily and moved to the window and waved toward a cherry tree with a grin, where he knew his shadow was hiding and watching him. 'I can't help it, I just love poking fun at them.' He moved from the window and let out a small sigh. 'At least there isn't any windows in the bathroom.' He finally turned to the big pile with an irritated groan to face with his new obstacle.
At exactly six o'clock, Toroku had been standing in front of a door only five meters from his own, pale orange one. He wasn't as worried as before. The meeting with Kushina calmed down his nerves, but he could feel that they tensed again. Meeting with a team. He was standing in his newly bought outfit, a pair of black pants, a pair of standard shinobi sandals, and a white t-shirt with an orange spiral like pattern on its front. He let out a breath and knocked on the door, which was flung open immediately.
"I really started to wonder if you would stay out here or come in in the end." Toroku made an apologetic smile toward Kushina.
"Nervous?"
"A little," he shrugged.
"You don't need to be.
She caught his wrist after he left his sandals at the door, and she literally dragged him inside the sitting room, straight toward a big couch, where Minato was sitting together with a young girl with shoulder-length brown hair and two purple rectangles on each of her cheeks.
"Just in time, Toroku. Nohara Rin, this is Odoroki Toroku, our new team member." Toroku made a low bow and moved closer to the duo sitting around the small table filled with snacks and drinks, hopping down next to Minato.
"Nice to meet you." Rin smiled back at him and he looked around the apartment, looking for the fourth member of the team, whom he had already met.
"Minato, the fourth member is Kakashi-kun isn't he?" Minato let out a sigh an nodded.
"Indeed, but he will be late…"
"You look much better Toroku-kun since I last saw you." Confusion ran across his face. He tilted his head to the side as he eyed the young kunoichi curiously .
"You know, we already met once. We found you on the training ground with Kakashi-kun. I was the one who gave you first aid. You looked pretty bad, I really didn't think you would survive." Toroku just blinked and bowed his head.
"Well, thank you for saving my life. I owe you one." He sent a wide smile toward the brown girl and looked after the outgoing Kushina.
An awkward silence fell onto the small group. Minato didn't know how to act with his newly found brother, and vice versa, and Rin… she didn't know how to react to them either, seeing their tension. Thank Kami a hurricane came into the room named Kushina with a tray filled with cups and a bottle of sake. Minato raised an eyebrow at her, but didn't dare to make a comment. He was grateful. She put it down on the table and hopped next to Rin with a wide smile. She eyed Toroku curiously and switched back and forth between the two blonds for half a minute.
"You know, even without that test everyone could tell the obvious…" Rin's head flung up and raised an eyebrow at the statement.
"What do you mean by that, Kushina-san?" She blinked toward Minato, who let out an irritated sigh.
"You didn't tell them?"
"No, what do you think tonight's gathering was for? I won't run from house to house just for that."
Before she could throw back a harsh comment, a knock could be heard from the door and Minato utilized the opportunity to flee to it, coming back later with Kakashi and hoping that Kushina calmed down during the brief interval. He had calculated well, she was eyeing Toroku again from head to toe, fully ignoring him after he waved a hand toward Kakashi.
"Kakashi-kun, you already met Toroku-kun. Take a seat and serve yourself." When everybody sat down, Kushina caught the opportunity to push Minato to the issue with a light hit from her elbow into the blond's ribs.
"Okay, okay, I'm going." He cleared his throat, switching his tone to the leader of the team.
"I think you already figured it out, but from today forward we have a new team member. Chuunin Odoroki Toroku joined our village. I have spoken with Hokage-sama and he agreed to get us back to active duty the day after tomorrow. We will meet at nine at the usual place tomorrow for a little shake up." Toroku raised an eyebrow at the statement, but before he could ask anything Minato continued, "I'll pick you up."
"And also, before any rumors start to rise, I would like to clear some things about our new team mate, if you agree Toroku-kun." He nodded while shifting on the couch.
"Toroku-kun had only joined to Konoha's shinobi forces a day ago, and before that he wasn't the part of the village. He lost his memories." Rin turned toward Toroku with a wondering look and eyed the teen from head to toe, making him shiver.
"You really don't remember a thing?" He shook his head.
"Yes, that is the case." Kakashi narrowed his eyes, observing the blond suspiciously and barked out toward him, earning an angry look from Minato.
"If you don't remember, you could be anyone. A murderer, for example, or a spy…" Toroku raised an eyebrow, but something in his chest squeezed at those words.
"Kakashi, I think you aren't in a position to judge anything like that..." Minato narrowed his eyes toward his silver haired student, who was staring back at him stubbornly. After a minute of silent fighting, Kakashi moved his eyes toward Rin and just shrugged in his annoyance. Minato let out a long sigh and slowly shook his head at the reaction of his student.
"There is one more thing. Yesterday revealed that he has a relative here in Konoha."
Rin narrowed her eyes, as did Kakashi as they now looked toward the two blonds sitting next to each other.
"And that is you." Kakashi stated without any hint of surprise, as he eyed the teen again more suspiciously, who in turn tried to tune out the disturbing tone of his voice, his previous behavior and the cold piercing eye. He was now annoyed. 'Calm down…Don't hit him… Don't hit him…'
"Well, actually, yes. It seems that we are brothers…"Minato nervously scratched the back of his head and looked to the still silent Toroku with a smile.
"Anyway, I would like to ask you to help him while he settles down." Toroku rolled his eyes in annoyance.
"You know, I'm not a child."
"How old are you actually?" asked Kushina curiously, but she received only a blank look.
"I don't know, around eighteen." He made a shrug and looked back at Kushina.
"Well, then we have to choose a birthday for you, don't we?" Toroku had tilted his head to the side in his surprise, and smiled.
"Eh, yes. Maybe."
"Then from now on it will be today. I already have something in mind." Toroku raised an eyebrow and looked at Minato, who just shrugged.
"Anyway, first I have this small bottle of fine sake, for celebration, and I think this is a good opportunity for that. One sip for the two brats and a normal portion for the three of us. Like the idea? Good. Then please, the cups."
After the drink was portioned, Minato stood up to make a toast.
"To the new friends. And to the lost ones." The mood immediately tensed between the two young ninja, but they also raised their cups and drank it. Kushina slowly shook her head as the depression spread across the small trio. 'Minato, you're an idiot… you may be a genius, but you're still an idiot.'
Kakashi stared down to his lap after the pledge, buried in his thoughts. Emotions ran through his mind, but his only visible eye was cold as ice when the final one raised on his face. Anger.
"He isn't worth him…" The one eyed young boy muttered angrily, his eye focused on his cup on the desk while his hands rested on his knee. Minato narrowed his eyes and Kakashi clenched his hands into fists as he let his anger free.
"He isn't worth him! No one is worth him!" Everybody tensed as the atmosphere became heavy around them.
"Enough!" Minato barked out in a commanding voice. He was now again the leader of the team, as he switched the roles.
"No one could replace Obito! He is just an intruder, an outsider! He could be a spy, or an assassin who is after your life! "
Kakashi had risen from his seat unconsciously, his muscles tensed and his fists clutching painfully as the joints of his hand whitened by the strain. He looked at the blond with pure hatred in his eyes and stormed away from the room, leaving behind the others in an awkward silence and Toroku with shocked, wide eyes. Minato had let out a sigh as he started rubbing his forehead with closed eyes, the feeling of an oncoming headache rising within it. Finally, Rin broke the silence after a long, tensed minute.
"I apologize for his behavior. Please forgive him Toroku-kun, we've had a hard time the last three weeks." Rin's voice was soft, and sad as it died to whispering in the end. He just answered with a sad smile, as he didn't know what to say. His first reaction was anger, then confusion, but when he saw the tension and the reactions from the others, he restrained himself to jump at Kakashi before he left the room.
"Well, that went better than I expected…." Kushina stated calmly while she sipped the sake in her hand, earning a confused look from Toroku.
"Would someone please be so kind as to enlighten me on what the hell that was?" the blond teen asked the people around him, earning another minute of tense silence, which was broken by Kushina.
"Obito was their teammate. He died during their last mission in Iwa three weeks ago, and since then they were off duty."
"I'm sorry about that…" Toroku shook his head slowly and fixed his eyes on the floor.
"Don't bother yourself about him. He will calm down in time when you know each other better."
"I doubt about that." Toroku leaned back on the couch and folded his hands in front of his chest with narrow eyes while Minato still rubbed his head in silence. Rin was again the one who tried to temper the mood.
"It will be okay. I promise." She sent a heartening smile toward the boy, who replied with a small doubting smile, but he felt the atmosphere of the room lighten.
"So, who's hungry?!" Kushina burst out loudly with absolute contrast of the past few minutes, earning grateful smiles from the group while they moved to the kitchen.
The remaining time of the night passed in a much better mood, but the shadows of Kakashi's outburst was still hanging awkwardly above them. The night ended and Rin left the apartment, leaving the blonds and Kushina behind. When the redhead moved toward the kitchen to clean up the remains of their dinner, Minato turned toward Toroku at the doorstep.
"I'm really sorry about what happened. But please try to understand his feelings." Toroku shrugged before he answered with a calm tone.
"It's okay. I know that I still have a long way to go before I earn anyone's trust, including yours." He let the silence fall between them again. "I'm prepared…"
Minato just nodded before Toroku left the apartment, watching him silently as he disappeared behind the door.
The next morning was awkward. When they arrived at the training ground where Toroku was found, the remaining members of the team were already waiting for them. The blond gratefully noted that the training ground was repaired, the large crater, which emitted the disgusting scent of his blood had disappeared, and only the lack of the green grass pointed that something had happened there before. Kakashi changed his tactics toward the young blond, he was now just simply ignoring his presence, not even bothering to look in his direction, like he was simply invisible. And that was a bad tactic against him.
When Toroku got up, he was determined to get along with Kakashi after the last night, but now his muscles tensed and he felt the anger spread across his chest, but he got over the temptation to punch the face of the arrogant, silver-haired shrimp. 'I hate being ignored, I can't stand this feeling. It would be much better if he just started to shout.' Rin greeted him with a kind smile and a small wave of her hand as they reached the duo next to three thick poles.
"Before we start active duty, it would be essential for all of you to properly know each other's fighting style and to make a small team strategy accordingly." Kakashi turned his head spectacularly away from Toroku, earning an angry tension of muscles from the teen and a mimicked movement from him in response. Unfortunately they weren't aware of Minato's rolling eyes and Rin's slowly shaking head.
"What we are going to do Minato-sensei?" Rin was again the first to speak. This caught Kakashi's attention and he finally slowly turned toward their leader, still aware to not even let the minimal sight of the blond teen into the corner of his eyes.
"It will be very simple." Minato was now grinning. "Catch me. You have until dinner time to do so."
Then, with a puff of smoke, he disappeared, leaving whirling leaves and the three teens in the clearing. Rin turned toward the others with pleading eyes, finding herself between the two irritated boys back to back with each other. The girl slowly shook her head again and let out a sigh at the childish behavior.
"Please, for Kami's sake put aside your differences, or we will be wiped out in a minute. We have to act like a team if we even want to find him." Toroku turned toward Rin and glanced at Kakashi's back with a snort, crossing his arms in front of his chest, and turning away again.
"Not until he acknowledges my presence." Rin let out an irritated sigh and turned toward Kakashi.
"Please…" The young masked ninja narrowed his eyes, but nodded to the girl.
"We are going to split up. Rake over the area, and if someone finds him, alert the others with a small chakra signal."
"That would also inform Minato about our presence and he'll just Hiraishin away… I got a better idea," stated Toroku calmly, earning a deadly look from Kakashi.
"I am the jonin here, so I am the commander of this operation…" Toroku just shrugged, but his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Whatever…" 'Arrogant brat…'
Rin shook her head and let out a hopeless sigh, but she hadn't the willpower to start convincing the young jonin that Toroku was right. "This will be a long day…"
The three shinobi disappeared from the clearing as they jumped toward the woods around the training ground to found the fastest ninja of Konoha, who was watching them from a safe distance on a tree branch with narrowed eyes. 'This isn't going to be good…'
After two hours of a desperate hide and seek game with small success, the trio gathered again in the middle of the field.
Toroku was unspeakably irritated because of Kakashi's annoyance, they wouldn't catch Minato like that, despite his sensing skills, but he also didn't want to act on his own. And Minato was good. If he didn't want to be found, he wouldn't. He almost scared his ANBU to death when he appeared in front of her to ask if she saw Minato somewhere, earning a flying kunai toward his head and an almost ten minute long argument with the bird-masked woman.
"Can I speak now, jonin Kakashi?" Toroku asked with undisguised sarcasm in his tone, earning an angry look from him and an irritated "Tch."
"Whatever."
The yellow flash of Konoha was standing on the previous branch, eying his team curiously, when he let out a small yelp of surprise and almost fell from the tree and onto his ass if he couldn't caught a branch. The place suddenly filled with replicas of Toroku. Not a dozen, not fifty, but easily two or three hundred, which were now charging toward the four winds of the compass, including his direction. He realized that his mouth was open and he grinned as he shut it. 'Now, this is starting to become interesting.'
As the clones flooded the place, Minato had to be more and more aware where to Hiraishin. The whole training ground was already filled with his seals, as he prepared them as soon as he disappeared for the first time. However, he felt that maybe it wouldn't be enough this time. The rush was intense and continuous. Whenever he dispelled a clone, at least two replaced it in a second as the knowledge of his location flowed back to them. He found some clones of the other two team members mixed into the small army to distract him, which was actually almost successful when he faced a wildly grinning and laughing Kakashi after he appeared in a small clearing.
After half an hour of continuous chasing without a break, he started to feel the effects. He had to admit, the tactic was good, and only with the sheer amount of clones could they tip toed him continuously, leaving no time to recover. He sent a kunai toward a charging clone to dispel it, when three more appeared behind him to jump on his back. He easily deflected the attack with a roll to his left, where a fourth Toroku was already waiting for him, grinning.
He used his Hiraishin to appear in a small clearing away from the mass he left, when an odd and cold feeling caught his leg. Minato looked down, to see Rin's familiar jutsu, as he started to sink into the ground, feeling as it hardened around his ankles. He sighed, and when he attempted to use his jutsu to escape from the trap, electricity ran across his spine, blocking his movement and mind to prevent his escape. At the moment the more disturbing than painful feeling disappeared, he felt three hands on himself and he looked at the grinning Toroku, the softly smiling Rin and the emotionless Kakashi.
"We got you…" Toroku stated with a sing-song voice.
"Indeed. I have to admit you did a great job with this trap, but don't let the victory go to your head."
When he finished the sentence, three blond clones appeared without a sound behind them, each pointing a kunai to the back of their heads. In the blink of an eye, Minato was out of his prison without any effort and smiled proudly at their team when the clones disappeared.
"Still, I think you all deserves a reward. I'm glad you managed the task."
"Tch." Kakashi was evidently irritated by the success of Toroku's plan.
"I think it's time for lunch, everyone. Let's head to Ichiraku." He earned a cheerful "Yeah!" from Toroku, a smiling nod from Rin, and an irritated groan from Kakashi as they turned to head into the village.
"Don't stare at me! You're annoying!" Kakashi stated with a death glare toward Toroku, who just made a shrug at the comment, and continued to watch the boy from the other end of the counter. He was so dam curious about how the young jonin managed eating in a way that he couldn't peek behind his mask, not even for a millisecond.
"Hey Kakashi! You got some kind of disease?" Kakashi narrowed his eyes and sent quite a large amount of killer intent toward the blond.
"Or you got a hair-lip, or ugly teeth, or what?" Minato chuckled between the boys while Rin just rolled her brown eyes in her annoyance. 'They've been doing this since we arrived…'
Kakashi ignored the blond and he turned away from him to finish his meal as fast as he could manage, in order to finally get rid of the annoying company.
When everybody finished their meal, they sat in silence, enjoying their filled stomachs, when Minato turned toward them.
"I think that was enough for today. Now, everybody go home and rest. We will have a real mission tomorrow and I doubt it will be a D rank…."
The small group nodded and waved a hand as farewell, except Kakashi, who was still irritated by the blond, though not as much as yesterday or in the morning. Minato shook his head as he left for his apartment with Toroku.
The small team hopped from tree to tree to arrive as fast as they just could to their destination. They were heading toward one of the guard posts, close to the border of Kusagakure and the land of fire, to transfer equipment scrolls to the infantry forces, and gain report scrolls for the Hokage. It was simple and Minato was satisfied with their first mission. He was grateful to Sarutobi for that. The team wasn't ready for anything more until they shaped back to their old selves and Toroku settled down into the teams daily routine. The fights with Iwa seems to be over, however their mission's destination was more than disturbing. They were too close to the bad memories of their last mission, but it still held much less risk than the other front of the war with Kumo.
Minato wanted to finish the mission in record time, within two days. One there, one back, staying at the post for the night to rest. He moved at near-full tilt, only slow enough that the remaining members of his team could keep up with him without over-straining themselves. However, it was still insanely fast compared to normal travel speed. During their trip Minato watched Toroku curiously, wondering how he would perform during his first real mission. Until this point he was satisfied with Toroku's behavior.
When they left Konoha, he was cheerful, glad that he could be out of the gates and out of the ANBU investigation, and he instantly picked on Kakashi to rile him up during their trip. Minato looked back over his shoulder and smiled as the two young boys argued at the back of the team about something trivial. 'Just like with Obito.' He sigh and turned backwards to face with them, still hopping from branch to branch fully aware of his surroundings and the dangerously approaching branches at head level. He easily avoided them and hopped up, still traveling backwards. He rested his eyesight on Rin, whose face was a bit more ruddy than usual, then moved it toward the boys. They seem to be fighting, but Minato knew that they were also paying attention to their environment as they immediately stopped the arguing and flung their heads toward him as soon as he faced with them. 'If only they focused their energy on the task at hand, we could have traveled faster, but still, I'm amused at Toroku's stamina. Even Kakashi's winded, yet he hasn't even broken a sweat.'
"We are approaching the borders and we will reach our destination within two hours. Move to formation and be aware of everything around you. And from now on, not a sound if it is not about life or death."
The three shinobi nodded, and placed themselves where they should be, forming a straight line, with Toroku at the back of Kakashi, who was now looking at Rin's back. She was centered to the middle as the only medical ninja in the team who could help them if necessary.
The woods were silent, not even the cries of animals could be heard. Only their faint footsteps echoed amongst the trees as they were jumping and landing on the branches, making faint sounds to disturb the silence. The sun's last strong beams needled through the leaves, painting abstract light patters on their faces.
They traveled in complete silence with sharpened senses, without a word until they reached their destination just before twilight, a little bit drained by their insane speed. Thanks to Minato's hard training the two veteran members were already used to this, and the new member also seemed familiar with the pace. Their trip was luckily uneventful, thank Kami, but when they arrived at the post Toroku's eyes widened and his mouth fell open from the loud cheer by which the remaining shinobi greeted Minato. When the hand shaking and shoulder clapping was finally over, he raised an eyebrow at Minato, demanding an explanation, but he just waved his hand in his irritation. Toroku narrowed his eyes as he watched Minato and Kakashi march out from the small bunker and then turned to Rin for any hint.
"Is he some kind of celebrity, or what?" Rin chuckled and shook her head, still laughing.
"Kind of… in our last mission he took out almost the entire force of the remaining Iwa ninjas that attacked near this guard post. Alone. So yes, you could say that he is famous. Most of the people here are alive only because of him."
Toroku felt pride and he was in awe. 'My only known relative is a war hero…'
"Wow. He's awesome…"
"Yes, he is." Rin sent a sad smile back at him. They left the bunker to follow the others without a word, both buried in their own thoughts; one in sorrow, one in warm pride.
Toroku's night was sleepless, due to the guards all over the facility and his sore muscles because of the long run. He couldn't sleep. The moon was already high in the inky black sky, and he was nervous. His senses sharpened subconsciously as his stress level grew. He was now extremely tense, because of his senses, that he couldn't even concentrate on suppressing them to a tolerable level. He could smell the dry blood at a faraway battlefield, and the scent of the animals in the woods. A bird shoot up from a nearby tree and he jerked up from his sleeping bag at the sudden noise.
"Hey, relax and sleep, or you'll faint tomorrow…" he heard Minato's faint muttering next to him as he turned around to face with the sitting boy.
"I'm trying… but my senses just won't settle down and it's irritating like hell." He put his head into his palm, trying to ignore the continuously tapping animals and the smells of his environment. He let out an irritated groan and leaned back, trying to focus his mind on somewhere else, resting his crossed arms on his face.
Toroku sneaked a peek at Minato between his arm to see he was now leaning against his wrist and watching him with a curious face.
"What?" Minato just shrugged and leaned back, his head resting on his arms, to watch the night sky filled with sparkling stars. Toroku let his arms fall to his side and he sat up again, watching Minato hesitantly.
"Hey, Minato."
"Hmm?"
"Can I ask you something?"
"It depends…" Toroku rolled his eyes in the black night and he looked over his shoulder, where Rin and Kakashi laid in the same standard sleeping bag, evidently occupied by their dreams.
"What happened on your last mission?"
"Why do you want to know?"
"I'm curious. Furthermore, I want to understand them..." He sneaked a peek behind him at the two sleeping shinobi again. Minato let out a sigh.
"It was three weeks ago, we split up. I came here to fight with the remaining Iwa forces. They outnumbered us, and not just a little." Toroku nodded. He already knew about this. He was curious about Obito, but he didn't want to ask Rin or Kakashi.
"And they?" Toroku's muscles tensed, as he heard an almost unnoticeable soft noise. He didn't move, but he saw Minato's silent nod with his eyes, that it was okay.
"They had another mission at the Kannabi bridge. During it, Rin was captured, and when Kakashi and Obito went to save her, Obito died. I arrived too late." Silence fell amongst them, until Minato continued.
"Obito was an Uchiha. He was able to active his doujutsu, and before he died he offered it to Kakashi, who lost his left eye during the rescue attempt… Kakashi blames himself for his death…."
"You know, Obito was like you in some ways. I'm sure you would have gotten along well. He was loud and cheerful, sometimes clumsy, and he was always late." Minato smiled as he remembered the shrimp with the orange goggles.
"Kakashi is his absolute polar opposite. A silent, tempered little prodigy who worships the rules… or he was, until that time..." Minato shook his head.
"Give him some time, please…" Toroku nodded and leaned back to settle down in his sleeping bag again. Somehow, knowing this was calming down his aching nerves, and he now at least had something on his mind to focus on. It took only five more minutes before he finally fell asleep.
"You should also sleep, Kakashi…"
The young boy flinched in the sleeping bag as he laid with his back pointing to his sensei, staring in front of him to the nothingness. One of his eyes had been flaring with faint ruby light into the darkness of the night, before it disappeared when he closed his eyes.
Author's Note:
Yes, this little story is positioned exactly after the battle of at Kannabi Bridge. They found Naruto only days after the team had returned to Konoha after Obito's "death".
I would like to ask for your help. I need supporting casts, so if you have got an OC and you would like them to show them in this story in the background, send a pm with the details of them. Of course it would be credited and never ever claimed to be my characters.
I want to thank you for all the favs, follows and the constructive critics.
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