Balance
Ch. 2 Reminiscence I
Minato knew that he had a bit of a problem. Nothing major he was just trapped in a different dimension that was all. Come to think of it, it was a bit peculiar that he was fine with his hypothesis. Being proficient in the art of time-space fuinjutsu he knew that there were different dimensions or realms so to speak. Summoned animals inhabited a plane of existence that was separate yet connected from their world through portals.
It was how the first summoners came to be, those who passed the trials anyway. It was a single shinobi who then started the summoning contracts which allowed others to obtain summons without traversing to the summoning realm. They did have to pass their test first. It was this example that piqued Minato's interest in fuinjutsu and laid the very bones for his future.
Summoning a dog sized toad in the middle of the night produced no real results meaning that he was either so far away that the cost of summoning was magnified exponentially or that this realm was cut off. He could not even 'feel' his Hiraishin markers, not even meditating helped. This however led to his biggest concern at the moment, how to get back.
Kami he was a father now and where he was, lost in a different plane of existence with no idea how to return. His only consolation was that Kushina was there for there for their son. He could never truly hate anyone but he had despised that masked man, who called himself 'Madara'. He was sure that it was an imposter after all that man looked like he was around his teens and unless Madara knew of an immortality technique then he was sure of it. Even thinking about it caused him to become irate.
-=flashback=-
"Would you like to see your son, Hokage-sama?" said Biwako Sarutobi the Third's wife and an accomplished Medical ninja herself. She presented the babe to the proud parents.
"He's perfect Kushina" Minato told his exhausted wife. For him it was a sight to behold, his wife and his newborn son, it was such a perfect sight.
"He looks so much like you" Kushina replied
"He'll be having fan-girls before he graduates." Minato commented, knowing from experience the horror of the horde.
"Like I'll let those hussies after my little Naru-chan" Kushina growled, although she knew that that was almost certain. Her little boy would be courteous with everyone, oh yes courteous indeed.
Handing Naruto back to Biwako, the couple continued to cuddle enjoying the warmth that the other gave off.
"Step away from the Kyuubi yondaime or your son won't see tomorrow." Said a voice. Behind them and around the prone body of Biwako was a masked man.
'Naruto' both thought in panic, this masked character held their newborn son.
Minato glanced down to Kushina, a plan already forming in his mind. He did not like it, but he was the only one who was fast enough to save his child. He apparently took too long for the masked man's taste. His son was soon in the air a single kunai rushing to end his son's life.
He intercepted the kunai with one his own, teleported to the marker and caught his falling son. Only for him to notice the sizzling sound of explosive tags attached to the blanket. A split second later the blanket exploded.
Never in his life was he more grateful for his trademark technique than he was at the moment. Before the tags had detonated he had been able to jump towards a marker in their home. Gently placing down Naruto in his crib, he promised him that he would return in a few moments after he rescued his mother. Blue eyes stared at one another before the younger one looked away holding his father to his word.
Minato chuckled at the babe's action, it seemed as if he were speaking to an old soul. Now that his son was safe it was time to confront this masked lunatic.
In the time it took Minato to tuck his son the masked man had captured and chained Kushina to an earthen altar. Were it not for the Hiraishin marker in Kushina's ring he would not have found her. Well there was also the fountain of youkai that shone like a beacon, but that was beside the point.
"Commendable speed as always, Hokage-sama. However you've arrived too late." The masked man commented. Indeed he had arrived too late, the Kyuubi had been set free. A towering mass of chakra, the pure embodiment of hatred. A bijuu in the likeness of a fox, the mightiest of the tailed-beasts, that was the Kyuubi.
A few terse seconds passed with the masked man and the Kyuubi engaged in a staring contest. A few moments later there was a change in the kyuubi's eyes, it became red with three commas.
"Sharingan" Minato commented, great the stakes just got higher.
"Uzushiogakure, the land of the forefathers. The Uzumaki, the sages of old. Truly your heritage is amazing Kushina-san." The masked man said tracing a finger along Kushina's cheek, much to her displeasure. But she could not move away because she was still chained.
"Kyuubi, why don't you show your appreciation to your former warden." The masked man said. A monstrous tail raised above the others before smashing down onto the chained Kushina. Minato had just enough time to free her before the tail smashed the earthen altar.
"I'll deal with fur-ball." groaned Kushina
"Kushina." Minato whined, his concern breaking into his voice
"Minato, I know you're worried. But you can't possibly handle fur-ball and this man at the same time." Kushina argued.
Minato sighed at this. She was right of course. If it were one of the lesser Bijuu he might be able to win. But he could not handle the higher ones and this man at the same time, especially the Kyuubi. Besides Kushina was right she was a better match for the beast than he was.
"Obliterate them" ordered the masked man. The Kyuubi then opened its maw and began gathering orbs of chakra. He knew of this technique it was the greatest techniques a Bijuu could perform. It was a bijuu dama, a tailed beast ball. The Kyuubi swallowed the orb before firing it at the couple.
Minato knew he couldn't evade since the village was behind him, but he could divert the blast. He rushed forth a plan already forming in his mind. Biting his thumbs, he began to write a seal on each of his palms. He threw a Hiraishin kunai high in the air while simultaneously holding his left palm out towards the bijuu dama.
What happened next would have shocked anyone. The entire beam funnelled in into the seal in his palm. Teleporting to the kunai that he threw he aimed his right hand to the beast. Kushina had come through. The beast was held in place by golden chains. He unleashed the technique onto the Kyuubi's back.
It was a bit poetic that the Kyuubi was brought to its knees by its own technique. The masked man frowned it seemed that he would have to do things by himself.
"Finally decided to join the party huh?" Minato commented as he prepared his Hiraishin kunais. "You have the Sharingan but you are not an Uchiha I know."
"Me? I am but a man who had led my traitorous family in the past." The man commented
"You are…" Minato began, the subtle clues finally falling into place
"I am. I tire of waiting Yondaime. You will not stop me." the masked man commented before rushing forth.
Author's Note
School will be the death of me. Sorry I have been so busy with the new semester that I was not able to post. This chapter was supposed to be longer but I don't want to suddenly double my chapters. So instead this is a two part chapter.