DISCLAIMER!: I DON'T OWN NARUTO! Thought you'd know by now...
(A/N): Well guys, it's time for the Chunin Exams/Invasion Ark to come to an end...:(
BUT! We still have a long way to go in this story!...speaking of story...
TO THE STORY!
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Chapter 60: Last Goodbyes
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The silence carried for a long moment before a young blonde Jinchuriki broke the silence with a statement, little louder than a whisper. "He did it..."
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"He did it..." another said.
"He did it," "Really did it..." "He won," "I can't believe it..." "He defeated three Kage," people started a chorus of different sayings and statements of disbelief. Finally, the voices died down as Cole stood and walked over to Naruto. Hinata gently let him go so he could stand on his own. Cole walked up to Naruto and for a moment they just looked at each other.
They just looked at each other until Naruto cracks a smile. Cole smirks back at him and places a hand on top of his head. "Good job out there Naruto, I'm very proud of you." he said while ruffling his hair. Naruto laughs and looks up at Cole. "You weren't so bad yourself old man." he said with a megawatt grin. They both laughed for a while before took his had off of Naruto's head. "Come on brat, I think there's someone you wanna meet." Cole said while smiling down at his adopted son.
He turns and walks towards Minato. Naruto slowly follows behind him. Cole stops a few feet from Minato and Naruto slowly walks in front of him.
(A/N: Some music suggestions, 'River Flows In You' by Yiruma, OR 'Canon in D' by Mike Strickland, Both are Piano pieces and are very heartwarming)
Minato watches Cole walk towards him and raises an eyebrow. He looks at Cole questionably until he spots a short boy with Blonde hair walk out from behind him. Minato's eyes go wide as he looks at him. The boy looks at him for a long moment before Minato's eyes soften. "You have your mothers eyes, Naruto-kun." the Yondaime says as a tear rolls down his face. Naruto smiles at the older blonde and nods. "Yeah, I've seen the pictures. I gotta say though, now that I have a good look at you, I think I look almost exactly like you." he says with a laugh as a single tear rolls down his face. Minato laughs and nods his head. "Yeah, I guess we do look alike."
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It was at this time that several of the gathered shinobi started making connections. Quiet murmurs of suspicion and revelations we cast out into the quiet. Sakura raised an eyebrow and squinted her eyes, looking at the two blondes. "Why are they crying? And why do they look so much alike?" she says to herself. Shikamru sighs and breaks the truth to everyone of the Rookie Nine who weren't able to put two and two together. "Because he's his son." he says loud enough for several people to hear him. They all whip around to look at him. He sighs and shakes his head. "They're crying, they look alike, and Naruto looks nothing like Seinaru does. Plus if you ever looked at Naruto's official file in the Shinobi registry it says he's adopted. His birthday is also the day the Kyuubi attacked. Soooo, he's the Yondaime's son." he explains. The surrounding shinobi all start putting the pieces together and gasp lightly.
Sasuke just continues to watch the two blondes. "How are you so strong Naruto...How were you able to face all the criticism from the village, the village that should have been treating you like a prince...the villagers hate you...my family hated you...why did you keep this a secret...how are you so strong?" he said to himself. The notion of Naruto not only being physically stronger than him, but also mentally. Sasuke looked down and sat down with a sigh. "Looks like I lose Naruto, you've beaten me at every turn." he says with a slight smile as he looks back up at the reunited father and son.
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Minato had been listening to Naruto's life story. He smiled when Naruto told him about how Seinaru adopted him when he was three months old. The man had only been Sixteen at the time and was willing to take in a child for the better of the village. But Minato's smile left when Seinaru says the condition Naruto was in when he adopted him. Naruto had been malnourished and had sever trust issues. The only people the child could tolerate holding him while Seinaru was in another room was his now adoptive mother, and Kakashi. However, that was able to bring his smile back. He had hoped that Kakashi would look after Naruto when Jiraiya wasn't around, but that just brought up a new question.
"Where was Jiraiya-sensei? He was supposed to be your Godfather. Why wasn't he the one looking after you? No, offense Seinaru-san, but I was hoping Sensei would take Naruto in if something happened to me or Kushina-chan." Minato asked with a eyebrow raised.
"Guilt Minato...I felt guilty..." said a voice from behind Naruto and Cole. The two turned to see the Sannin walking up to them with a saddened look on his face. "I couldn't even look and Naruto without seeing you." he says with a sigh. "I haven't been in the vilage since you died. I couldn't bring myself to come back every time I thought about coming back, it reminded me how I failed. I failed at being a sensei, I failed at being a friend. And worst of all. I failed you Minato. If I had been in the village with you I could have done the sealing instead of you. I could have taken your place. Both you and Kushina could have survived if I had been there." he explained as tears fell freely down his face.
Minato looked at his sensei with a small amount of fury hidden behind a layer of sadness. "Yes, Sensei. You did fail me. But you can make it up by being there for Naruto now. Teach him. Be there for him. He'll need you more now then ever that this little secret is out." he finished as he looked at the shinobi that had gathered. Jiraiya wiped away his tears and nodded. "I will Minato. I swear on my life that I will be here for him from now on." he said with conviction.
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Cole smiled as he walked away from the three. He slowly walked over to the other two Kage that he had beaten. He sat down in front of them with a grunt of pain. Hiruzen joined him and sat before his sensei's. "So Saru, why don't you introduce us to the boy here." Hashirama said with a smile. Hiruzen smiled and nodded. "This young man is Uzumaki Seinaru, however, as you could probably tell, that is his cover name. He has yet to tell me his real name, but his handle is the Oracle of Six Paths." Hiruzen says while turning to Cole.
Cole raised an eyebrow. "I don't remember saying the 'six paths' part?" he said with a mischievous smirk. Hiruzen looked away and folded his arms. "Sorry, I just thought it sounded better than just 'The Oracle'." he said in a huff. Cole and Hashirama laughed while Tobirama narrowed his eyes at Cole.
"What do you mean when you call your self, 'The Oracle'?" he asked in a suspicious tone. Cole sobered and looked at the Nidaime. "When I say I am the Oracle, I mean I am a bringer of prophecy. I also have a...sixth sense that lets me see the future. I am only able to see what would happen in the world if I were not in it though. I was able to change the entire outcome of this battle to the point of a major victory for Konoha." he says as he takes a breath to start further explaining. "Originally, this battle was only suppose to be fought by Sarutobi-sama, he would fight you two and Orochimaru alone, and hewoul have died. However, I was able to intervene in the fight and bring back up, so Sarutobi-sama survived." Cole explains. Hiruzen's eyes widened at what Cole just said. If he hadn't been there he would have died in battle, and then Konoha would have been crippled.
Cole continues explaining when he see's the looks he is getting from the three of them. "I have also adopted Uzumaki Naruto. The boy right now should only be Chunin level, borderline Jonin if he is using the chakra of the Kyuubi. But now under my knowledge and guidance, he alone is Jonin level and has fostered a healthy relationship with the fox, granting him control over his chakra. I dare say, that with the chakra of the fox, he very well may be Kage level. Elite Jonin at the very least." Cole says.
Hiruzen's eyes widen even further as he looks at Naruto. His eyes water as he sees the blonde smiling talking to his Godfather and birth farther. The little boy he looked to as his own Grandson, had grown up so much without him realizing.
Tobirama relented his suspicions and smiled when he saw Hiruzen looking at Naruto. Hashirama grinned broadly and chuckled. "Looks like the village is in good hands, aye brother?" he says to the Nidaime. Tobirama sighs and shakes his head. "Yeah, I guess it is..." he says before looking at Cole. "So, do you have anyway to seal us or are you just gonna keep us like this?" he asked in a mildly annoyed tone.
Cole smiled at him and shook his head. "Yes I have a way to seal you. Do you have anything you want to say to the Sandaime here before I send you off?" he asks as he places his hand on Tobirama's head. "Yeah, I think it's time you retire Hiruzen. Get out from behind that desk and enjoy the life you have left." he said to his former student. Hiruzen smiles at his Sensei and nods his head. "I think I'll do just that."
Cole looks to Tobirama. The Nidaime nods, saying he's ready to go. Cole focus's some chakra into his hand. "Human Path: Soul Removal!" he exclaims as he raised his hand from Tobirama's head. The mans souls is visible for a brief second before he was moved on to the next life.
Tobirama's body crumpled revealing the dead body of Kin. Cole shook his head and Hiruzen scowled. "Orochimaru...Using his own men for this vial Jutsu...I should have killed his long ago." Hiruzen says as he spits the snakes name.
Hashirama sighs and looks to Cole. "I only have a warning for you. Do you know the truth of Madara?" he says to Cole. Cole nods his head. "Yes, I do."
Hashirama nods. "Good, then I can only repeat what my brother said. Enjoy the rest of your life Hiruzen, and Oracle-san, thank you for fighting for Konoha."
And with that he was sent on to the next life
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Cole and Hiruzen walked back to where Naruto, Minato, and Jiraya were. Hinata decided to join her boyfriend and meet his birth father. Minato looked at her and his eyes widened. "You're Hannah and Hiashi's daughter!?" he said in disbelief. "Yes, she is." Hiashi said as he walks to the group. "Its been a long time Minato, it's good to see you." he says with a sight smile. Minato smiled at the man. He turned his head back to Hinata and saw her hiding behind Naruto slightly. Minato chuckled. "Shy...just like Hiashi was at that age..." he thought as he smirked at Hiashi. The man in question scowled at Minato and shook his head. Minato chuckled and decided to not embarrass his friend in front of his daughter.
Cole walked up to Minato and cut into their conversation. "Sorry, Minato-san, but I need to send you off soon. Keeping up the force to keep you from returning to Orochimaru's jutsu is draining me dry." he says as he walks up to the group. The Yondaime nods and looks to his son. He smirks at him before shaking his head.
"Naruto, I wish you the best of luck. I love you son, never forget that. Ask Jiraiya for the key to your seal, I think you're ready for it. And one last thing," he says while a smile spread across his face. "Become the best Hokage this world has ever seen." he says and nods to Cole to do it.
Tears fell freely down Naruto's face as he nodded. "I will Dad...I swear I will and an Uzumaki never goes back on their words."
Cole looked to Naruto. "Now Minato-san, I'll be sending you off to the pure realm. The Shinegami owes me one so I think he'll let you out of his stomach to be with your wife." he says as he places his hand on Minato's head. Minato's eyes widened as tears ran down his face. He was only able to say one thing before he was sent onto the next life.
"Thank you..."
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(A/N): END OF ARK!
The next couple of chapters will be fluff to fill in the time between now and the Tsunade retrieval ark!
Remember to REVIEW! And as always, I'll see ya next time!