Masked Koi: Chapter 21. "Turn"

Three Weeks Until Finals

Midnight was approaching and Naruto would've liked to say he was getting a hang of genjutsu. Really, he would've truly liked to say that. In reality, he wasn't making much progress towards genjutsu at all. He dispelled the other few clones that were practicing something else, probably fire release (Naruto sighed in content; they had been and make more progress than he'd hoped), and sat down on the grass, looking at the moonless sky.

He sat cross-legged, molding his chakra and tried to enter his mindscape. He did manage to, but after calling out his late sensei's name and running around, he was unable to find that pure white space she'd taken him too.

Back to the real world, he let out a frustrated huff. Was she avoiding him? Naruto shook his head. Maybe she was just trying to push him. Naruto had a feeling she wanted him to become independent of asking her after she had 'resurfaced'. Before that, Naruto was convinced he was on his own, and he was. Kakashi focused on Ino and Haru, seeing that they had their own weaknesses that seemed more important than his (and he didn't resent Kakashi because he knew how to walk up trees and taijutsu), and they were, in a way. Naruto had given up on Kakashi getting around to really really training him, but not in an angry way. He understood that Kakashi saw him as a strong student that didn't need handholding.

Naruto shivered a little; it was cold at night. Hand-holding reminded him of when Nishiki had told him that no one would hold his hand on their first day of training. He had been frightened, on the inside, to learn that no one would dote on him like he'd wanted his father to do, but he realized that doting would only hold one back. Nishiki hadn't doted on him, instead choosing to make him strong so people had no reason to dote on him and so that he'd be confident in his skills instead of looking to others expectantly to train him and protect him. Doting made people weak and didn't bring out their full potential.

In terms of training, there were several ways of bringing out a child's potential and capabilities. Of course, the 'work hard' and 'work even harder' theme was universal. However, there were some who chose to push and push until the child broke. Danzo was an extreme case: erasing a child's emotions to make them killing machines and loyal to a ridiculous point to Konoha. Still, he couldn't be criticized in the area of successful missions. His ROOT ANBU were extremely successful and very skilled. But, they had to be kept safely because they were quite fragile. Once they met non-ROOT members, things tended to go downhill very quickly. Emotions came into play and they often mentally exploded at the foreign concepts that every 'normal' shinobi expressed. Suicide rates were high in those who were so used to ROOT culture and had ROOT values ingrained even into their beings because they didn't know how to conform. Either they committed suicide or refused to be assigned on missions that had non-ROOT members on the platoon. They would only be on platoons or paired up with their fellow ROOT members. A rare other consequence was simply killing the non-ROOT shinobi on the team they'd been sent out on a mission with. That had only happened a few times, mainly because the ROOT member was so freaked out that didn't focus and then they were killed for trying and/or succeeding in killing another teammate.

That was why Danzo kept his ROOT far away from prying eyes. He didn't want his finely sharpened kunai to shatter.

Naruto really wished Nishiki were here, regardless of why she didn't appear in his mind. He had doubts about his way of trying to find her and thought maybe he wasn't looking for her in the right place. Naruto gave up after a long while. She did things her own way on her own time and he doubted she'd appear just because he wanted her to appear. He had things to accomplish, things to try to practice and do.

After all, she did say that her wish was for him to become the strongest shinobi he could become.

Two Weeks Until Finals

Naruto grinned at his hands. He'd finally been able to engulf them in flames. When he'd been able to first successfully engulf his hands in flames, he'd extinguished them almost immediately, afraid he'd somehow burn his hands. In hindsight, it was ridiculous. If that was true then his fingertips would have been burned as well. Even with his accelerated healing powers (he'd heard it once from that lady with the purple-painted cheeks) he doubted he'd be able to heal fast enough. Hands were necessary for seals and he had two weeks.

He cringed a little at that number. Time was ticking faster than he'd imagined.

He let the flames dissipate from his hands and wiped the sweat from his brow. He rolled up the scroll Shisui had given him on behalf of Koi with joy; he'd finished up learning everything else he needed to learn from the scroll.

Suddenly, the ground shook and Naruto fell on his butt, being caught by surprise too quickly to stick himself to the ground. Naruto heard a strange sound and ran over to the source. He knelt in the bushes and he gaped at what he saw.

His father, the Yellow Flash, stood there with a rasengan in his hand. Then, Minato gripped his ransengan-holding hand's wrist and furrowed his brows in concentration. Then, fire began to glow from the center. The flames were desperate to come out of the already densely packed chakra ball and then shot out like senbon.

For a moment, Naruto was in awe. Then, he realized who was the wielder of the jutsu. Him. Naruto glared at the man hatefully before hearing a whisper in his head: Stop being stupid. Go over there, stupid.

Naruto sighed, deciding to heed Nishiki's words yet having a feeling he'd regret this. He ambled over to his father and looked awkwardly at the ground. "I didn't come here to see you."

Minato sat down on the grass, very tired from trying to complete the rasengan. "Then why did you come here? You make it very obvious that you don't like me, so why are you here?"

Naruto felt hurt. He opened his mouth to say something even more hurtful, but there was another whisper: Hey! Don't you dare say what I know you were thinking of saying! Let me do that when he's dead!

"Someone told me to," Naruto said, each word sounding awkward and too big for his mouth.
"Someone?" Minato asked.

Naruto shook his head. "What were you doing with that rasengan?"

"Oh, so you know the rasengan?" Minato's eyes swelled with pride. "The rasengan is an incomplete jutsu; it lacks chakra affinity application. I learned that you have already found out what your second affinity is and are working hard on it. As it turns out, I have the same affinities that you do, and more. Would you…" Minato ran a hand through his blonde hair, having the same awkward feeling when he first asked Kushina out on a date. "Do you…uh…"

"Spit it out," Naruto said, a little too harshly than he'd expected. "S-sorry…" Inside, Naruto was kicking himself for even being around the vermin. He had the urge to walk away, but Nishiki had wanted him to go over and Naruto had learned everything from her scroll and Minato's rasengan looked so interesting and Naruto didn't know what else to do except try and fail at genjutsu again.

"Do you mind if I help you out with genjutsu?" Minato finally said. It felt good, finally being able to say that.

Naruto was taken aback. "How…"

"Well, with one Hatake you're sure to have your secret safe. With two, you might as well have broadcasted your secret to the world," Minato smiled a little. Then it disappeared. "Sorry…for bringing that up. I know that she's a sensitive topic."

"It's fine. What have they told you?" Naruto remained standing.

"First, that it would be very hard for you if you were anything like your mother. Recently, that you suck," Minato said simply. Naruto's cheeks reddened a little. "Sorry, Naruto," Minato tried to hold back a laugh and failed.

Naruto clenched his fists and his mouth did something that might've resembled a pout. "Stop laughing, old man. Help me."

"Old man?" Minato raised a brow. "I'm only forty-two."

"That's old," Naruto retorted.

"Yeah, yeah," Minato waved it off, rolling his eyes. "Before I help you, let's get lunch. How does ramen sound?"

Naruto gave a shrug and followed the exhausted Jounin to the infamous ramen shop known as Ichiraku. Naruto had never really felt the way that the ramen shop suggested: one happiness, but he supposed he should. For one, it was a free meal. For two, he might actually achieve the one thing he'd wanted since before he could walk: his father's love. In the back of his mind, a very small part of him was secretly excited. He perished the thought and focused on the first and more important benefit. Determination shone in his eyes. He was going to beat both Koi and Kushina's records at Ichiraku Ramen.

"Shio ramen with extra naruto on top," Minato said. "Naruto, what would you like?"

"Miso ramen with extra pork," Naruto said, eyeing his father. "So that's how you got my name?"

"It wasn't my idea," Minato said. "It was a name in Jiraiya-sensei's book that your mother decided was a good name for you."

"So you have both fire and wind release?" Naruto asked. "And, how do you know the rasengan?"

"I created the rasengan," Minato said, smiling widely. "I also have lightning release."

"The rasengan in theory could have any application, right? Meaning that it would look completely different if it had fire release applied to it in relation to lightning release, right?" Naruto asked, sipping some tea.

"That's right," Minato said. "Smart boy, just like me."

Naruto smirked, but didn't say anything. He clearly didn't know just how stupid he truly was. Nishiki had certainly seen this and made no secret of it when talking to Naruto about him in his mind. It was quite hilarious, seeing Minato's obliviousness.

"What?" Minato frowned. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Naruto said slyly.

"That's what you said when I tried to ask you what was wrong," Minato pointed out. "Go on, tell me. What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Naruto said, his face perfectly innocent. Minato let it go, figuring his son was entitled to his own thoughts just as much as he was entitled to his. The blonde man contentedly sipped his water and looked at his son. Pain echoed in his chest and he realized how old Naruto had gotten in the blink of an eye, in the blink of his oblivious eye.

"Naruto, I'm sorry," Minato said. Naruto didn't look at him. "Naruto, really. I really am. When you were little, Konoha was still recovering financially and socially from the war, even though a couple years had passed. In reality, the war hadn't gone very well at all and we were on the brink of defeat. I know, it isn't an excuse in the slightest, but that's what all that paperwork was. But, I'm grateful that Koi stepped up. She and Kushina used to talk about how girly and weak I was. I never realized how right they were until now."

"Yeah," Naruto said hollowly.

"Here's your order," the man set down two bowls and Minato watched in astonishment as his son seemed to vacuum up the noodles and broth. Minato was only halfway done when Naruto asked for seconds. Minato finally finished his bowl, only for Naruto to ask for thirds.

And fourths.

Minato lost track of time after that. The corner of his mouth twitched and he sweatdropped. He counted the stack of bowls and saw twenty-two bowls. Minato gaped.

"Congratulations!" the man said. "Twice you've made it on the board here! Here's a few free tickets for free bowls," the man handed Naruto the small slips of paper brightly decorated with pictures of ramen and some narutomaki. Naruto silently put them in his pocket and was asleep within moments. Minato smiled at the display and paid and carried Naruto to his home.

He opened the door and set Naruto on the couch with a blanket on him and took a seat on a cushion by the kotatsu. It wasn't winter yet so it was simply a low table. Minato closed his eyes and listened to the even breathing of his son. Between his far apart knees were his hanging hands. Minato tucked the covers around the boy and leaned back on the couch.

"Hey, Minato," a voice said.

Minato opened his eyes and rubbed them. "Huh?"

"Why is he here? I thought he moved out," Mikiko said, her hands on her hips.

"He's spending the night after quite a bit of ramen," Minato smiled at the memory.

"Well, the flowers outside are wilted; get rid of them. Just a reminder. And, order more tea," Mikiko said.

"Hai, hai," Minato said wearily. "What time is it?"

"Midnight. You had passed out there," Mikiko said. "Oh, you're awake," a bit of disgust crept into her voice as she looked at the form of Naruto.

Naruto pushed off the blanket and stood. "I'm going." Naruto walked past both Namikaze and gripped the doorknob. "Minato, tomorrow I have something I'd like for you to do, in addition to teaching me genjutsu." Naruto turned the knob and walked out into the night, towards the hospital.

Minato frowned as Mikiko glared at the boy until he disappeared. "Minato, you really need to teach that boy manners. He's so rude and didn't even acknowledge I was there!" Mikiko huffed and disappeared to her room. With a tired sigh, Minato went back to sleep on the couch.

One Week Until Finals

Nori turned her head, hearing a squelch as something made a thud on the balcony of her apartment. In hindsight, she'd wished she'd shared it with her Genin; it was too quiet and her Genin were loud and annoying and a good distraction. Normal Jounin either liked the quiet or hated it. The latter because they were often partly insane due to the things they'd seen. For Nori, she hated both of them because she didn't like when her mind wandered because there was nothing to wander to but the fact that she had nothing to think about and reminisce about and then the thoughts about the people she might've met and promised something with and everything she could be forgetting and what if, if, if, if…

Her eyes widened a millimeter before she closed them. Wrong thing to do; it got imprinted in her mind. Dammit.

There was a dead cat in front of the door. Another. It was bloody and oh so dead with senbon sticking out of it and its eyes had been ripped out, but she still got the feeling it looked at her. It was creepy, to say the least. It had silver fur. It had blood staining nearly all of its nice fur.

She got up despite herself and leaned on the door to look at the cat closer. She knelt and picked it up and looked into its bloody eye sockets. She closed her eyes shut, her eyes feeling painful and dropped the cat suddenly and locked the door and drew the curtains in a flurry and ran to the bathroom, slammed the door, locked it, washed her hands, sliding down the back of the door, and put her hands over her eyes as she cried.

It was done and Minato felt sick. Naruto grinned. But to Minato, it felt as if he'd just done a deal with the devil even though he knew his son wasn't evil.

"Much appreciated," Naruto said and walked out. The door clicked.

No. Minato steeled himself. No, you are not going to cry. Minato clenched his fists and thought about all the things that made him angry but he couldn't seem to shake it. It stuck to him like a disease, like the bird shit that never seemed to come off no matter how many Genin scrubbed it on a D-Rank mission.

Minato grabbed a kunai and stabbed his hand, wincing a little. Now, if he cried and he doubted he would, it wouldn't be of sad, regretful tears.

There was no more Namikaze Naruto. There was just Uzumaki Naruto. Minato choked on a sob. He was confused, so confused. When had he not understood anything? Since Kushina died? Since Koi died? Since Naruto hated him? Since he'd signed the change of name form? He thought he and Naruto were just starting to get along, but he was wrong. What had he done wrong?

Six days ago, Minato had taught Naruto how to cast genjutsu step by step and the boy was training and Minato didn't want to interrupt. No, Minato realized. It wasn't because he was afraid of interrupting. It was because he was afraid of seeing that angry look. The angry look that came from Naruto's tears as a child, being alone that Minato never saw because Koi always wiped them away.

That afternoon, on his break, Minato went to his home. The flowers needed to be replaced. Minato didn't replace them though. He just bought more flowers and set them on the grass beside the wilted ones that Koi used to water, the wilted ones that Kushina used to care for. Minato dug in the damp soil and found strange sticks. He pulled a few out and examined them with his dirt-covered hands.

"Incense," Minato realized. "Why is this here?"

Mikiko fled from the window. Minato noticed; he was a Jounin. His analytical side took over: did she do this? Why? These were the incense that Minato burned for Kushina but had lately forgotten because Yori was there and Kushina's due-process divorce papers had already been signed by him and he had no reason to think about her but Naruto was still there and…

Minato planted the new flowers next to the old ones, figuring they'd give off their life or something. Sigh, whatever. He didn't know how plants worked. He wasn't a Yamanaka.

"Mikiko, do you know what this is?" Minato held it up.

"No," Mikiko said a little too quickly. Minato might have never helped out in T&I, but he could tell a lie when he saw one. There it was. Like a huge brightly-lit sign on her face.

"Yes you do. Why were they in the garden?" Minato asked.

"Naruto used to do that before he moved out," Mikiko shot back.

"These are the incense I used to light for my former wife, his mother. He wouldn't do that; he changed his name to Uzumaki, her maiden name, today. Spit it out, Mikiko. Why were they in the garden?" Minato pressed.

"I don't know! Your ANBU did that!" Mikiko said. She was grasping at straws.

"Both of them were students of my former wife," Minato said dryly.

Mikiko crossed her arms. "I still don't know. Did you order my tea?"

"Here," Minato handed her a form. Mikiko looked at it and then ripped it into pieces. Minato handed her another one. "It's so you can order yourself. I'm busy with security plans and I can't do everything. Village safety comes over simple tea leaves."