From this point onward, I will take my time writing. I read some of the chapters that I rushed through, they aren't very good. So there will be some time before each chapter. No point in taking a cake out of the oven before it's done.

Chapter 4

Four years later...

Minato carried his five year old son on his shoulders as they walked leisurely. Naruto was observing everything with keen interest and excitement. This was one of their rare strolls to through the village. So far, no one except those part of the council knew what was sealed in Naruto. Lucky they respect my authority. He thought dully, not liking that it was an order instead of them wanting to do it. Fukgaku's demand on his son's life unsettled him some. What is his clan planning?...

"Dad, that's your face!" Naruto's awed voice broke his thoughts.

The Uchiha can wait, I have more important people to worry about. He looked at where Naruto was pointing, the Hokage momument. His face was carved next to his predecessors. "Yup, that's me. Not bad, eh?"

"I think your face looks chubby." Naruto commented.

Minato chuckled. "I guess it does." Some people that walked by them looked at Naruto hatefully. Though the were subtle, he didn't miss disdain that flashed across their face. I guess it's too much to ask that everyone didn't know.

"Where are we going today dad?" Naruto asked, completely oblivious to the looks of contempt he was drawing. He was just happy that he was spending time with his father. Being Hokage didn't permit him to be home a lot.

"Hm..." Minato mused about it a while. "How about the park? We haven't been there in a while."

"Yeah, I want to see the fishes!"

XXX

The park was filled with lush grass, only a few trees in the grassy field. This was the ideal place parents picked to bring their children. Easy to keep an eye on them and they could talk to their friends that brought their own children.

"Okay son, don't wonder too far." Minato told him as he sat on a bench. He was in his casual clothes instead of his Hokage's robes. "I'll be right here."

"Huh? Don't you want to play too?" Naruto asked, trying to hide disappointment he felt.

Minato's expression soften, he could read his son easily. "I'm sorry son, I had to stay late last night. I'm kind of tired..."

Naruto hung his head. "Okay, I'll go feed the fishes then." He took off toward the pond on the other side of the hill.

XXX

Minato groaned when Naruto was out of sight. "I really hate my job sometimes..." He muttered. He only got to spend a little time with Naruto, less than he would have liked. When he did get to, he was too tired to do anything except talk. "There has to be a solution to this."

"Oh, what has our Hokage-sama looking so down?" Karin's voice caught his attention.

He looked up, seeing her dressed like always. A white blouse and short pants. "Hello, Karin." He greeted with less warmth than what he intended.

"Geez, you really need to get some sleep. You sound like the walking dead." She sat by him. "So what's up? Naru-chan with you?"

Minato nodded. "He went to the pond."

"You're not with him why?" She asked. "Usually you two are inseparable."

He sighed wearily. "I'm just really tired. The paper work is really starting to pile up. I just can't keep up. And raising Naruto on top of that I..." He shook his head, feeling overwhelmed.

"You've reached your limit." She stated with understanding. She looked up at the children playing, a hint of regret in her gray eyes. "Eventually we reach the point where we don't know what to do... but that's the point where you learn what you can really do." She smiled at him. "Only under pressure does our true self present itself." She patted him on the back. "Don't worry, you'll figure it out. If you gave up when things got tough, this village would have been destroyed long ago by the Kyubi."

"Thanks... that help some." Minato felt a bit lighter. Being a single parent was no easy task, even for the famed Konoha's Yellow Flash.

"No problem!" She stood up. "Come early tomorrow, the work piles up with there day offs of yours." She continued on the path leading toward the more crowded parts of the village.

"You still know how to kill the moment." He grinned, he words had cheered him up. He will find a way to balance his work and personal life. He had to be both parents, for Naruto's sake, he had to be more involved in his life. "I'll go see if he has enough bread." He stopped. "Wait, I need to get some bread first."

XXX

Naruto threw a pebble, it skipped five times before sinking into the depths of the pond. He ran out of bread to feed the fish with, so the fish went back to the deeper parts of the pond. "I'm not lonely." He murmured to himself. "Dad has a job to do, I understand that..." His words didn't sound convincing. Minato returned only when he was asleep, though there were the times he trained him. Those times were occasional, the rest of the time, Kakashi nii-san trained him. "He has the entire to village to watch over, including me..." Does that mean those people are more important to him than you? A dark voice whispered. "No, he loves me... but he has to protect them too. That's what it means to be Hokage." He said proudly. If he loves you, why are you alone most of the time?

Naruto couldn't form a response. As he thought about what the voice said, he hear someone was sobbing behind him. "Hm...?" He thought he was alone, not many of the other children wondered here. They preferred to stay where the playground was, playing with friends. Who's crying?

He followed the noise until he was standing in front of a big, thick tree. The sobbing was coming from behind it. He peeked around the tree, a pink hair girl had her head resting on her knees. Her little body shook from her sobs.

"Are you okay?"

"AH!" She screamed as she jumped.

Her scream scared him, he stumbled backwards and tripped over a tree root. "Ow..." His head landed on the root.

"W-who are you?" She asked, wiping away her tears.

He looked at her. Her bangs hung loosely over her face, almost like a curtain. "...Oh, I'm Namikaze Naruto. What's yours?" He answered, muting his family name because his dad said it would cause people to treat him different. "If they really want to be your friend, don't actually mention you are my son. A name can make the whole difference on how people treat you."

"H-Haruno Sakura." She stuttered a bit, still trying to control her sobs.

He got up and dusted himself off. "I'm sorry I scared you." He apologized sheepishly. "I just heard someone crying and came to see what was wrong."He peeredat her face, getting really close. "Are you alright? You sure were crying."

His concern expression and his close proximity made her blush. "I-I'm fine." She said shyly.

"You sure? I know we just met, but I'm here if you need someone to talk to." He offered.

She looked down at the ground, fresh tears welling up.

Inside, he was panicking. Oh crap, she's crying again! What did I do? "Hey, none of that." He wiped her tears away with his thumbs. Just like his dad used to do when he was younger when he hurt himself.

Him doing that, something burst inside her. All the jibes at the size of her forehead, no one showed her such kindness, except for her mom. She let out all the tears and emotion.

He was surprised when she hugged him, judging by the wetness he felt on his chest, she was crying. What do I do? When nothing came to mind, he did what his dad did. He rubbed her back, whispering comforting words. "There, there, it's okay."

XXX

After a few minutes, they were sitting under the tree with their backs against it. At least he was, she was leaning against his chest, having fallen asleep after crying herself out. "I wish dad was here, he'd know what to do." Naruto wistfully glanced around the tree, hoping to see his dad. He must have fallen asleep.

Gradually, she began to stir.

"You okay now?" He asked, brushing her bangs aside without meaning to.

She stared at him, slowly realization showed in her face. She immediately blushed, having realized that he was holding her close. "Y-yes." She replied softly.

He let out a sigh of relief. "Good, you had me worry there." He chuckled. "I thought I upset you. My dad said that's one thing you never do to a girl."

She blushed deeper, feeling his hot breath on her face. Despite him being the same age as her, he was well tone, and she was sitting on his lap with his arms around her.

"You're all red! Do you have a fever!" He felt her forehead. "Is that why you were crying?"

She looked away, he reminded her why she had ran to this part of the park. "No..."

"Then what?"

"They were making fun of me again..." She sobbed quietly.

Naruto panicked again. "No, please don't cry." He wiped the tears that fell. "Why would they do that?" He asked, trying to keep her talking.

"Forehead." She mumbled.

"Huh?"

"They were making fun of my forehead!" She shouted, annoyed that it wasn't obvious to him. "It's too big."

"Really?" He looked at her forehead. "I don't think so."

"You're just saying that."

He shook his head. "No, I don't really see the difference between yours and mine."

"Really?"

He smiled warmly at her. "Yup. Besides, if they want to make comments about you, then let them. As long as you are satisfied with yourself, then what does their remarks matter?" He brushed back her bangs again. "You should at least tie you hair back or something. It looks better that way."

She stared at him, not believing him. None of the children her age have never been this kind. She felt her heart skipped a beat when he smiled and again when he said that she looked better with her hair tied back. "Thanks..."

"Doen't mention it. Can you stand now? My legs are asleep."

"Sorry."

"Ah, that's better. That root was poking me in places I rather not say." He looked at her. "Sakura was it?" She nodded. "Well, I hope you can convince those people how great you are."

"Naruto!" Someone called out.

"Huh?" He glanced around the tree, there was his dad walking around calling his name. "Sorry, but I have to go, my dad is looking for me. See ya!" He called over his shoulder as he ran toward his dad.

Sakura watched him leap on his dad. That's he dad? The Hokage? She flushed bright red. She was embarrassed because she must have made a fool of herself in front of the Hokage's son. This is embarrassing!

XXX

"Ah, there you are son." Minato said as he was tackled to the ground. "Have a good time?"

Naruto nodded vigorously. "Yup, I met this girl and we talked and stuff."

Minato raised an eyebrow. "Did you make her cry? Your shirt is all wet."

Naruto stood up. "No, she was crying when I met her. I just comforted her like you use to do to me when I was younger." He explained.

"Is that so?" He looked over to where Naruto came from. A pink hair girl peeked at them from behind the tree. So he has a crush on him now? Wow, you work fast son. "What was she upset about?"

Naruto clenched his hands into a fist. "Some of the other kids were making fun of her." He growled. Then he relaxed. "And her face was all red and hot. I think she has a fever."

"A fever huh?" Minato smiled. You are still young Naruto, but you'll understand why she was red when you're older. "Come on, I think there's enough time to get some training in."

Naruto's eyes went big. "You're going to help me train?!"

Minato nodded, grinning at his son's reaction. He was kind of sad that he was shocked. "Of course, unless you want Kakashi to come over..."

"No, that's okay. Come on then!" Naruto tugged at his arm.

I wonder how surprised he will be when I'm home more often? The academy is going to be accepting applications soon.

And that's how Naruto and Sakura meet! Next chapter: Academy.