The pair were continuing their walk back to the Uzumaki-Namikaze residence, after escorting Tsume home. They walked in silence but Naruto could tell something was bother Kushina. She felt, apprehensive and he couldn't fathom why but he didn't want to push her before she was ready. Kushina felt like a nervous mess, she knew she had to do what she was about to do but was afraid of the outcome. She kept telling herself that this would be the only way things would change so it was worth the risk. Gathering her nerve, she finally spoke what was on her mind.

"Socihi?"

"Yea, mom?"

"I need you to forgive your father."

Naruto was taken aback, he really hadn't expected her to say that as she had been content with just leaving the relationship between Minato and him as theirs to solve. That had seemingly come to an end.

"I can't."

"Why can't you?"

"Because if given the opportunity he'd do the exact same thing again."

"You would too." Kushina said and watched as Naruto look visibly struck by her words.

"That might be the most hateful thing anyone has ever said to me."

"Why? You wouldn't give your all to save people in need even sacrificing what was most important to you to do so?"

"Not my child no and not for the trash of this village."

"You're lying."

"I'm not. I know how it feels to have someone assign you a lifelong commitment, I wouldn't do that to my child. I'd care enough to protect them."

"So, what would you have done? Kurama was rampaging. No, it wasn't his fault but it was happening so what would you have done."

"Left."

"And let all those innocent people die? I don't believe you."

"Only because you see them as innocent. I, however, know differently. Almost none of them were worth it."

"No, they weren't always like that. The attack changed the village for the worse but the people your father and I knew were worth it."

"Oh, they were worth abandoning me for? I'm glad you value them so highly."

"That's not fair."

"So? Most of my childhood was utter hell. Every night I'd wish for someone, anyone to just give a damn, to take me out of this place and it never happened. He could have chosen another kid, one with an actual family that could have protected them. It didn't have to be me."

"His honor wouldn't allow him to do that."

"The village is more important than me. His honor is more important than me. Shit, had Kurama not been extracted from you would Minato have left me at a grocery store because he was too distracted by a sale on ice cream?"

"No, he hates ice cream."

"Hahaha. Why are you pushing this?"

"Because I want us to be a real family. Not you tolerating his presence and him walking on eggshells around you."

"He made his choice. If Minato or you are upset that I won't forgive him then blame the people you sacrificed our family for."

"So, you won't forgive him because you hate the villagers."

"Yes. He had blind faith in scum of the village; the irresponsible Jiraiya and left me to the devices of a reactionary old man. He just trusted everyone to do right. And while Jiraiya and Jiji have both attempted to make amends with me, they at least admit they were wrong."

"If the villagers are so bad, if you wouldn't sacrifice anything for them then why did you work so hard during the invasion?"

"I was keyed up and looking for a fight."

"Bullshit. These people you claim to hate, when push came to shove you fought for them."

Knowing he was caught, Naruto didn't respond. Kushina took this time to demonstrate her maturity by skipping around her son in victory.

"Mom, please stop. You're embarrassing me."

"That's the right of a mother, you should respect it. But fine, I'll stop as soon as you start being honest. Why do you try so hard to stay angry at them and Minato?"

"Because they enjoyed it! They'll say they were afraid or unsure or in pain but it's all complete and total bullshit. As long as I was here, I was the them, the they; not one of the chosen that got to bask in the shade of the great tree. They continued to ostracize me for no other reason than they could, people bonded over it and pass that bias down to their kids. But I get outed as Minato's son, because apparently being related to you and therefore one of the last members of a longtime ally they fucking failed by the way, didn't mean shit. Being Minato's son has anointed me as worthy in their eyes.

Pfft, I haven't desired their acknowledgement since I was nine. And oh, hiss decision made me a marked man for a group of S-class nuke nin led by a man he couldn't kill. I won't forgive him because I don't matter to him and nothing he's done has demonstrated otherwise. I won't forgive the village because they're a bunch of two faced cowards that will praise their great hero while actively ignoring his final wish. They only respect strength and those that can impose it upon them. I don't respect people who have disdain for the weakest among them.

"Fine, I won't defend the villagers because I think you're right about a lot of them but you can't believe Minato doesn't love you."

"What evidence do I have to show he does? He couldn't even give me the benefit of keeping my status as a jinchuuriki a secret and that wasn't for me. He just wanted to show the world how much better Konoha citizens were, they'll be respectful and supportive of an orphan jinchuuriki! If he had thought about me at all he would have given me what Mito-sama and you got."

"He believed in them."

"Yes, he believed in them. Godforbid he take a moment to doubt his precious village long enough to protect his only son."

"We were kinda dying at that moment, Naruto."

"His choice. You offered to have Kurama sealed in you again. He could have taken that time to research a different seal or any number of things while preparing countermeasures for "Madara". He chose to give the village a weapon instead."

"If he hadn't done the sealing like he did, I wouldn't be here and I wouldn't have gotten to ever meet you."

"While likely, we don't know that for certain and your presence in my mindscape being extended was Kurama's doing. You being brought back was such a run of unlikely events that no one deserves credit for it; especially not Minato for being damn lucky."

"So, he gets all of the blame and none of the credit?"

"No, I could get over his poor decision making if he were actually sorry but he's not. He said he'd do the sealing again, he'd damn me to my personal hell again. Have me be that same kid, desperately hoping someone would save him from drowning in loneliness." Naruto finished with a bitter edge to his voice.

Kushina looked at Naruto. It is so easy to see Naruto as the competent shinobi he is now and not really consider the depths of the affects his childhood has on him. Kushina remembers some of the memories of Naruto watching families and how their primary actions were "protecting" their children from him, the monster which in turn made the villagers become monstrous in Naruto's mind. It also left a deep impression on him as he defines parental love as protecting your child(ren) from harm.

Kushina recalls Minato telling her about a conversation between Kurama and him regarding Naruto. Kurama arguing that much of Naruto's hatred stemmed from not viewing Minato as a fallible man but this larger than life hero. Eventually, Naruto was able to let go of that conception and Kushina truly believes he doesn't hate his father anymore but it appears he won't allow himself to even considering acknowledging him as a parent. She was quickly running out of arguments to convince her son to give Minato a chance as while he may some poor choices, the situation didn't allow for much else. It was just a cruel reality, no choice was perfect and it ultimately became an issue of what could Minato live with. Chancing that he could stop Kurama again by alternative means and maybe allow another rampage or choose a permanent solution. Granted misplaced faith in the wrong parties tilted the calculus but there simply were no good options.

The question is how to convince Naruto. If he were being wholly unreasonable this would likely be easier, just pester him with inconsistencies until he folded but while the root of his problem is in an idealization of parenthood, one both she and Minato failed to adhere to, Naruto has a right to not be ok with being made a sacrifice. He wasn't afforded the protections she was and while she was still a child, she at least knew of a time when her life wasn't defined by being a jinchuuriki. But her stubborn insistence on having a real family won't allow her to accept this. It is unlikely that amiable indifference would last especially when it's masking a well of disdain. Kushina's thoughts were cut off by Naruto.

"So, is this like an ultimatum? I forgive Minato or you're done with me?"

"Why would you think that?" Kushina asked, shocked at his question.

"Because I thought we were fine but you're defending Minato saying how you want your family to be but what if I can't give you that? Are you just going to cast me aside if I don't do what you want?"

"Do you really think so little of me?"

"I don't know what to think, I certainly didn't think you'd pressure me to change how I feel."

"It's not that simple, Naruto. Minato wants to make it up to you but you have to be willing to give him that chance."

"I did. He doesn't think he did anything wrong. Tsunade's done more for me than he ever will. She had no desire to come back here, I even tried to talk her out of it but she did and my life dramatically improved. A stranger, someone who had every right not to give a damn about me thought I was worthy of protecting to the point she even adopted me. HE WOULDN'T EVEN HYPOTHETICALLY CHANGE THINGS! If I ever have children, how could I ever trust their safety to him? He doesn't care about me, not like a parent should."

"When my parents first sent me here, I resented them. I didn't want to leave my home, I didn't want a strange thing sealed in me. It hurt that they were allowing it, saying it was a really important duty for me and only I could do it. No child wants to think there is a scenario where their safety and comfort becomes a secondary priority to their parents. That doesn't mean we didn't love you enough, Naruto. There was no magical best choice."

"Whatever, I don't want to talk about this anymore."

"But you need to. Naruto, how long do you think you can resent Minato and essentially everyone around you before you snap? It isn't healthy. Eventually the walls are going to close in and you're going to do something you regret. If for no other reason than your own peace of mind, sochi, try to let go of your anger."

"No. I can't. If I do then it'll be forgotten. They'll pretend like it never happened. That they didn't make me feel like my very existence was a mistake. Make me terrified to be seen in public with the few friends I had. It'll all get swept away and if it is ever mentioned it'll be so general and vague as to be meaningless. These are the people he chose over me and I'll never forgive him for saying he'd do it again, whatever his reason. He doesn't love me, he's not on my side. How could he say he'd leave me alone again? How is that alright after he saw what I went through. How can you defend him?" Naruto said, each statement coming out faster than the last as he appeared to be short of breath.

"Naruto, calm down. Take some deep breaths, it's ok." Kushina said trying to console her son. It may have even worked had Minato not appeared suddenly.

"Kushina, what's wrong with Naruto?" Minato asked while closing the distance between them. Naruto instantly recognized the voice and before Kushina could warn Minato to not come closer, he had been grabbed by Naruto and teleported away. Kushina created three shadow clones, each going to find either Tsunade, Jiraiya, or Hiruzen while she tried to locate her family, hoping irreparable harm won't be caused tonight.

Minato was slightly disoriented, never having been teleported at someone else's volition though not so disoriented to override his well honed instincts as he parried the straight right coming toward his face. Minato instantly created more distance as he tried to understand what had gotten into his son.

"Naruto what's wrong? Why are you attacking me?"

"Because you couldn't leave well enough alone. So what if I never forgive you? That's my right, I have every reason not to. Mom understood and yet now she's on your side. They all are. I'm always the unreasonable one. They always make how they treat me my fault and it started with you. For all I know you wanted people to treat me like they did, you wanted me broken and that's why you wouldn't change a thing."

"You can't possibly believe that."

"Why can't I? No other Konoha jinchuuriki had ever been outed and if you wanted them to be seen as heroes you would have revealed mom's status. You didn't though, did you? Only me, I'm the only one that didn't get the privilege of anonymity. You never gave me a chance to be anything but a whipping boy but when I wouldn't just smile and take it the Sandaime turned on me, too. All of my problems start with you. No more, you won't take anything else from me!"

"Naruto, you need to stop. You aren't well. Son, I've made mistakes, I'm sorry I wasn't sensitive to how you felt. When I said I wouldn't change anything it was because of how proud I was of the man you were becoming and I wouldn't want to risk that. I promise that's all." Minato replied with a hint of desperation in his voice.

"You're lying but I don't care. I'm not an idiot Minato and I haven't just been ranting dear father. I'll be solving my problems at the source I just needed time to make sure you couldn't flash away."

At his pronouncement Minato went wide eyed and did attempt to access one of his hiraishin markers just to find he couldn't, as if they were constantly in flux.

"Fire style: Dragon Flame Missile" Naruto called out, sending the white colored dragon toward Minato, who formed an Earth Style: Mud Wall to counter the attack. The wall upheld but Naruto wasn't expecting his opening attack to be anything more than a distract, something to put Minato on the defensive because as soon as he had finished the hand seals for his first jutsu he was already preparing the next, a combination jutsu of Earth Style: Earth Division jutsu which created a series of fissures within the ground and paired it with the Fire Style: Wrath of the Subterranean Dragon which causes a pillar or multiple pillars of fire to emerge from underground but will be focused through the fissures.

Minato shunshin'd away from the jutsu, managing to escape with nothing but a singed coat. His instincts alerted again, Naruto, coming from what appeared to be a mirror of ice, attempted to attack Minato from behind. The attacks were relentless but not sloppy. Minato had hoped that in his rage Naruto wouldn't fight like an S rank shinobi but a drunken brawler. However, Naruto was too good to play around with and realized he was going to have to fight him seriously until he could incapacitate his son or help arrived to calm him down.

Minato started aiming for the joints of his son, utilizing quick jabs and while he would land, Naruto would often roll with the blows and they would lose most of their effectiveness. However, he had also managed to avoid any serious damage to himself as well. Minato knew that he had an edge in taijutsu, as his ninjutsu arsenal and chakra reserves couldn't match to Naruto's. Seeing this as his path to victory Minato went to press his advantage.

Outside of the Time/Space Disruption Barrier Kushina, Tsunade, Jiraiya and Hiruzen were all trying to figure out a way to break through the barrier and stop Naruto. This was made all the more difficult by the five shadow clones trying to convince the party to leave.

"Naruto, please, remove the barrier, sochi. You don't have to do this." Pleaded Kushina.

"Boss disagrees, this has been a long time coming. Just let him take care of Minato and everything will be ok."

"Why does he need to take care of Minato?" asked Jiraiya.

"Because it was all his plan. He intended the villagers to ostracize boss, to make him into some broken weapon and when he didn't do what Minato wanted he started turning you all against the boss."

"Sochi, he didn't turn me against you. I just want us to be a real family, that's all but more importantly I want you to be well."

"And the boss will just as soo…" the clone never got to finish as it was forced to dispel by Hiruzen's negation jutsu which left him panting.

"That is much harder to do on shadow clones than elemental ninjutsu. If Naruto left the shadow clones to guard the barrier. It must be susceptible to direct assault."

"I guess I'm up. Rasengan" Jiraiya roared as he shoved the sphere into the barrier.. Only for nothing to happen outside of a small crack. "Well, that was something of a bust."

"Not necessarily, Kushina, aim several of your chakra chains dead center into the crack Jiraiya created. Maybe it'll act as a shatter point." Kushina nodded and summoned her chains, hoping this would be enough to get to her husband and son.

Minato, as he predicted was getting the better of Naruto in taijutsu but Naruto's durability was making the advantage negligible. However, Minato had discovered a hole in Naruto's defense that would allow him to end this without hurting Naruto.

The two blonds began another exchange, Minato waiting patiently for his opening. Naruto went for a combination of left hook, right straight, left cross. Minato managed to block the hook, slip the straight and turn into the cross with just enough time for his palm to make contact with Naruto's chest and place a sealing array there, causing Naruto to instantly drop to the ground.

"Son, please talk to me. What happened?" Minato said standing over Naruto, seeing his son attempt to get up, Minato spoke again. "Don't bother getting up, you can't, the gravity seal won't allow that." to be surprised by Naruto's smile and then the quick strikes Naruto landed on the inside of both his thighs along with the mule kick.

"I don't make it a habit of having a jutsu in my arsenal I don't have a counter for, even fuinjutsu." Naruto finished as he felt his barrier collapse and immediately was surrounded by his two moms and two sensei.

"Naruto, you need to stop" said Tsunade.

"Kaa-chan, I will I just need to finish this. He's dangerous and will hurt all of us eventually."

"Ok, ok I believe you just let me check you out, ok?" Tsunade asks and was relieved when the blond acquiesced to her request. As soon as Naruto was within arms reach, he felt a jolt and was rendered unconscious and was caught by Jiraiya.

Seeing Minato walking unassisted, Tsunade made her way back to the Senju compound, hoping she'd soon have answers for what happened tonight.

The reason behind Naruto's behavior will be revealed next time. Until then :)