Well well well... here we have number 17 in the again installment. I'm sure by now you're all sufficiently pissed off at the number of cliff hangers from the last chapter... for that I am proud of myself. And yay summer! Exams are over and done with so I might be able to update a little more often... I just need the ambition to write more and my editors need the ambition to edit faster. Anyway, I've wasted a sufficient amount of time now. Well, I'm getting this out soon mainly because there were a lot of people who guessed the main cliffie. Well, either way... So on with the show! err... story...
But before we do let's give a big hand to our star of the last chapter... MORPHINE!!(and the temp nurse...) and his partner... ANTI ANGST SASUKE!! A lot of people liked them so here they are to wave at you from the side lines! Now the story will really start...
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Sakura, Kakashi, and Haku all exited Sasuke's hospital room and headed towards their sleeping areas. Sakura yawned, only now realizing how tired she was after all the stress was off and she wasn't as worried about her teammates. Haku headed towards a makeshift cafeteria to get something to eat.
Kakashi watched them go their separate ways. He took a deep breath and sighed as he looked back to his two students' hospital rooms. 'What have I gotten them into?' He thought as he turned to leave and report. A swirl of smoke and leaves later and he was gone.
--
Naruto tried to open his eyes but ended up squinting as two shadowed figures stood before him. As the light died and his eyes began to adjust, he got his first clear view of the two people in front of him. At first he didn't understand who they were. As the light died further Kyuubi unwrapped his tail and Naruto smiled as a tear ran down his face. He ran to the pair of people in front of him and wrapped his arms around them. The two people wrapped their arms around him as well As Naruto clung to the necks of the two in front of him, he took in every detail of their features.
One was a man about a little taller than him, the other was a woman about his height, but shorter than the man on his left. Naruto drew back from the pair and opened his mouth to speak but couldn't find the right words. The only sound he found he could get out was a small gasping sound every time he tried to talk. The woman giggled and kissed his forehead, breaking the silence. A soft and warming smile graced her lips, her eyes portraying true happiness and pride. The man smirked as Naruto looked towards him.
"Touching reunion, no?" Kyuubi asked, being the first to speak since the light show started.
"Long time no see fur ball" The man said tilting his head and smirking in a somewhat playful manner.
"As too you Minato...Namikaze," The fox nodded in acknowledgement to the woman "Kushina Uzumaki."
Naruto wiped a stray tear from his eye as he once again looked to the pair before him. "I... I'm... You're..." Naruto tried to get out but couldn't "You're my..."
Minato's smirk widened to a broad smile "What's with the fractured sentences? I thought you could speak better than that."
"He does really look more like you then me though." Kushina said.
"Yea, but I was taller at his age!"
"His chakra has taken on his 24 year old form instead of his 13 year old physical form." Kyuubi said more to himself then anything.
"Yondaime... I'm just..." Naruto started.
Minato shook his head and laughed. "No need to be so formal! Try a sir, or better yet," Minato looked to Naruto smile still in place. "Maybe Father or Dad."
Naruto nodded finally clearing his head "Dad... and Mum?" He tried the words, a strange feeling on his tongue "I'm sorry, it's just this is kind of the first time we've met, so I'm a little, umm..."
"It's alright I know this must be hard for you... So many emotions at once I mean." Kushina said softly resting a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
"I thought you'd like this little present." The fox smiled knowingly "Although now you might need to thank Orochimaru." Naruto looked to the fox with a raised eyebrow. "I've been trying to do this for you for a while, but if you recall, I've said earlier this is a place that can only be reached when the physical body is at risk of dying." Kyuubi showed his teeth in an attempted grin.
"Ok... So because he beat me into a pulp I was able to see my parents is what you're saying...?" Naruto shook his head in wonder at the irony.
"See? I knew you had a sense of humor!" Minato said with a laugh.
"I'm glad I could have met you before you died." Kushina said with a smile
"See? Now that the awkward meeting is over, it's easer to talk to your old man!"
"That and the fact that the fox broke the silence." Kushina said. All of them laughed, enjoying the moment. No matter how hard Naruto tried, he couldn't hold back the odd stray tear that fell from his eyes.
"I really wish you could come back with me when I wake up... and I've got so many questions!" Naruto said feeling like he really was 13. "Like about my relatives, and what happened to them, and-"
"Whoa! Easy! I really don't know if you have that many relatives still around. It's not like we mass produce or something!" Minato said jokingly. "I honestly never had a tight relationship with my parents." Minato said. Kushina nodded in silent agreement before adding her own two cents.
"I did, but you won't find my parents in the physical world." She said, placing a hand on her sons shoulder.
"By the way, my last name, it was your last name, right?" Naruto asked, pointing to his mother who nodded. "So how come you didn't give me your last name?" Naruto asked, turning to his father. Minato's eyes softened.
"When the Kyuubi was sealed inside you, I had hoped everyone would think of you as a hero, but as you know all too well that was not the case. I had planned for this previously and because everyone thought of you as, well, the Kyuubi himself... having my last name would have only made things worse."
Naruto nodded. "they would have scorned me for more than fuzz-butt over there... I could almost imagine the angry villagers just plain pissed that I was a monster and had the great Yondaime's last name... ah well." Naruto chuckled as he received a noogie from his father.
"Honestly, you two could pass for brothers more so than father and son!" Kushina said as she poked at her husband.
"So umm... how 'bout I teach you something?" Minato asked with a devious smirk in place.
Naruto's eyes lit up "Really really!?" Naruto then flung himself at the older blonde, making the two topple over. They landed with an "oof". Minato stood up with Naruto still hanging around his neck causing Kushina and Kyuubi to chuckle.
"Always knew he was clingy." Kyuubi said, smirking.
"If only you were a little smaller; I could wear you as a necklace." Minato laughed out, causing everyone to laugh again. Naruto let go and scratched the back of his head as he apologized. Minato smirked and ruffled his son's hair.
"Soooo... what are you going to teach me?" Naruto asked, excitement getting the better of him.
"Something that I regretfully didn't write down before I died..." Minato started, leaning to Naruto's ear as if to tell him a secret "How'd you... like to be... Konoha's next..." Minato started extremely slowly. Kushina sighed and smacked her husband behind his head. The glare she sent him was saying to stop teasing the poor boy and get on with it or else.
'I always thought she was the overprotective type...' Kyuubi thought to himself as he watched Minato rub the bump on his head.
"Ow ow ow... shesh ok ok! How'd you like to be Kohona's next Yellow Flash?" Minato finally said.
"And I can help you with Genjutsu. I know that's your weak point" Kushina added.
Naruto's grin seemed to over grow his face causing him to pump his fists in excitement "Wow! You mean it?"
"Just remember kit, if you use up all your chakra here, your done. So only use enough to understand how to do the technique. If you use up all your chakra here, you will disappear, considering your current predicament, not to mention the seal Orochimaru put on your physical body" Kyuubi warned.
For the next few hours Naruto trained with his parents as they taught him a few things that he can take back with him to the physical realm. Minato taught Naruto a few simple sealing techniques and how to become The Yellow Flash while Kushina taught him the finer points of Genjutsu and ways to combine simple ones with other jutsu to keep the opponent occupied. Naruto listened intently, as did Kyuubi who knew full well that Naruto would not be able to remember all of the lectures he was receiving.
Once Naruto had a small grasp on what his parents were teaching him, they began to exchange stories. They talked until the fox's voice rung in their ears. "Hate to say it, but you need to wrap it up kid... look." Kyuubi pointed with his head over to the blue light which had grown to consume a large portion of the side walls of swirling colours.
"You're 24 now right?" Minato asked suddenly.
"Well, yes, but..."
Minato held up a hand and Naruto stopped talking. "You know by the time I reached your age, I'd developed a number of new jutsu and techniques." Minato smirked. "Perhaps you should try?" Naruto nodded.
"I will. Do you have any tips?"
"Oh sure, but the biggest one would have to be go for it. Especially since you got a hidden helper you can probably do almost anything you put your mind to!" Minato gave Naruto a slight punch in the arm and motioned to Kyuubi who snorted at the term "hidden helper."
"And remember, no matter what were proud of you. No matter what happens you'll always have people accepting you with open arms!" Kushina said wrapping her son in a large hug and kissing his forehead again.
"I'll be even more proud of you when you become my successor! Remember, you'll always be my son." Minato smiled and gave Naruto a hug. Naruto began seeing blue.
"Whats going on?" He asked, his voice sounding far off.
"You're being called back." Kyuubi said simply.
"One more thing! I know you've been trying to help Kyuubi break his bonds! Just so you know you're going about it all wrong! It's easier then you think! Instead of using your chakra to unravel the seal, try something simpler!" Minato suggested, earning a giggle from Kushina, though it sounded as if their voices were at the end of an echoic tunnel.
"Bye... mom... bye... dad!" Naruto called, not sure where he was anymore. He felt the warmth of his parents hugging him again, but it was slowly fading. He heard them call a goodbye to him as the blinding blue light grew even brighter.
A faint echo of his parents voices rang in his ears that sounded like "we love you"
--
Kakashi was disturbed from his nap by an excited medical nin. "Look! Naruto's waking up!" After reporting to the Hokage about what had happened and the information he received about Orochimaru, Kakashi had gone back to the hall where Naruto and Sasuke's hospital rooms were and had fallen asleep. He couldn't help but feel as if everything that happened to his students was his fault. But more than anything, he wanted to talk to Naruto ever since he saw a particular scar on Naruto's chest. It had been quite awhile since he was first brought to the room and it was now morning. 7 o'clock to be somewhat exact. The first half of the Chuunin exams would be over at 3.
Kakashi entered the room to see Sakura and Haku already there, as well as Sasuke who had been moved into Naruto's room once he came out of a morphine induced... err... hysteria.
"He's finally stable and his brain activity has been steadily increasing so he should be awake any moment!" The medical nin said. Sasuke looked bored, but still kept his eyes on Naruto. Sakura and Haku had brought them both flowers which they had "found" in a window box on a balcony. Naruto's deep steady breathes became more controlled, signalling he would soon be awake. His right arm had a cast on it and was laying in a sling giving it a slight elevation. A final tear came out of his eye.
"He's been doing that a lot" Haku commented when he saw it.
Suddenly Naruto gasped and opened his eyes. He looked from side to side eyes wild. He sat up and looked around, quickly regretting it and laid back down. "Well he's energetic still..." Sasuke said. Naruto turned his head to look at him.
"Sorry" He panted. He felt his pillow was wet and with his left arm wiped a tear from his eye. He looked at the drop on his finger and smiled.
"So what were you dreaming about?" Sakura asked when Naruto wiped his tear on his sheet.
Naruto just laughed and said "You wouldn't believe me even if I told you." He tried to move and noticed his arm was in a cast. Naruto blinked and knocked on the plaster. "You know, I think this is the first time I've needed a cast."
"What do you mean? You've never broken a bone before?" Haku asked
"Well of course I have, but most of the time... umm never mind..." Naruto forced a laugh.
Sasuke caught the blonde's abrupt change in sentence and eyed him suspiciously "Well, now, Sasuke, do you think you can walk?" The medical nin asked. Sasuke got up and took a tentative step out of the bed. He grunted. Once he had both feet on the ground he walked over to a chair in the corner of the room. "Well then, you seem to still have some pain, but otherwise good to go! Your clothes are here." The nin handed him his things. Sasuke hn'ed and sat in the chair. "And please think carefully about whether or not to continue the exams. Don't overdo it"
Sasuke limped into the side room to get changed. Once he came back he plopped down into the chair again. Just as he slumped down the door opened again and another nurse came in. Sasuke instantly paled at the site of her. "I heard you still have some pain and I..." She never got to finish Sasuke ran from the morphine wielding temp faster than anyone thought possible. The temp turned and ran after him, calling to him to stop.
"Do I want to know what happened while I was unconscious...?" Naruto stared at the door while everyone around him just sweat dropped.
"Tell you later... umm... actually I'll show you later... I got the surveillance tape from Sasuke's room. Wouldn't you know he was in the only room with a WORKING surveillance camera?" Kakashi smirked behind his mask, eye turning into an upside down U. Everyone just stared at the Jounin.
"I don't even wanna know how you managed to get the security tape..." Sakura said, shaking her head.
"Well, all unwanted information aside... could you all perhaps leave me and Naruto alone for a moment? I would like to talk to him privately." Kakashi said as Sakura had started to ask Naruto about the red chakra. She stopped as she noticed the serious tone in Kakashi's voice. Slowly everyone left, leaving the two alone.
"Kakashi? Do you want to know what happened to that snake freak? It that it? Well I can tell you one thing; I kicked his butt!" Naurto said, forcing a big smile that closed his eyes.
"Save it." Kakashi said slightly snippier then he intended, causing Naruto to blink and sit up. Kakashi pulled the bed sheet back so only Naruto's feet were covered. He pointed at a large scar that was half covered by bandages. "Tell me about that, will you?" Kakashi said his eye locking into Naruto's.
Naruto looked back and gulped as he followed where his sensei was pointing. On the left side of his chest, right where his heart should be, was a scar. Kakashi peeled back the bandages a bit to get a better look at the whole thing. The scar was faded like it had been there for quite a while and most of the lines were too pale to see unless you were looking for them. The scar looked as if it was burned and ripped all at once at the same time. It was also almost perfectly round and although it was perfectly healed it still hurt. Once he fully realized what was implied he swallowed hard, and visibly paled.
"There is only one way to make a scar like that, and it looks too old to be made by Orochimaru... even with the fox... Not to mention the fact that as far as I know I'm the only one able to do this jutsu... Naruto... would you mind explaining to me..." Kakashi paused for a moment, trying to control his emotions.
"How did you end up with a scar from a Chidori?"
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oh ahh oeeewww! Can i make cliffies or what!? In case you rabid fans are wondering, I enjoy the death threats. They're very creative. he he. Anyway, that's all for chapter 17. A touching chapter if I do say so... well at least I got through the cliff hanger that I put from last time, right? Well sure I made another one... well not really… but hey those are what keep me writing! plz R&R and as you exit through one of the many openings here please feel free to take a cookie! Hope to update again soon!
Thanks again HelKat for correcting the chapter!!