Dark rain clouds covered the endless blue sky while thick drops of rain freshened the lush grass but darkened the slab of concrete that was jabbed into the ground. Her name had been engraved into that slab, neatly carved in elegant kanji.

He would be lying if he said that wasn't sad. But it seemed as if his tears had failed him. Kushina's last words played on repeat in his mind the entire week. When he slept, when he showered... He couldn't seem to focus knowing that those words would be the last he would ever hear from her.

The cemetery was crowded with people he had never seen before in his life. Distant relatives perhaps. They all stuck together in little clusters, sobbing and dabbing at their eyes with handkerchiefs. As he walked past, they all said the same thing to him.

"I'm so sorry for your loss."

"She was a wonderful woman."

"To have died so young... This is purely tragic!"

Naruto had heard enough of those to last him the whole day. He sighed and tugged at the black tie he wore, narrowing his eyes at the girls he assumed were his cousins. They clung to each other and sobbed as if they knew Kushina for years, yet he never remembered them coming by the house once when she was ill.

The venomous growl he emitted caused them to back up and stare at him with fear in their eyes. Serves them right. He didn't need their fake sympathy.

"Try to be nice, Naruto. Maybe they truly are sad."

"Yeah right. You don't see me balling my eyes out like a hormonal-" Naruto stopped his rambling and turned to the speaker.

A tall man dressed in a black suit, which clearly didn't suit him, stood before him. His long white hair was pulled back into an untamed ponytail with jagged strands framing the sides of his face. Beneath his piercing but still gentle grey eyes were long red markings that stopped near his jawline. He smiled at Naruto. "Long time no see, Naruto."

"Grandpa!" Naruto exclaimed, gripping Jiraiya into a tight embrace. Seeing his grandfather after so many years brought a wave of relief to Naruto. The last time he saw him, he was only five years old. He was fourteen now going on fifteen and that reminded Naruto that there was a lot to catch up on with his paternal grandfather. He pulled back and grinned at him. "When did you get here? I thought you'd be working."

"Work can wait. I would never stay away when my son and his children need me most," Jiraiya said, his voice suddenly taking on a serious tone. "Speaking of which, where is your father?"

Naruto stared down at the soaked grass. Minato had become a ghost in the Namikaze residence. He would wander around late at night, staring at old photo albums or sometimes just sit on the back porch, staring up at the night sky. Between these strange ongoings, he was still preoccupied with planning for the funeral.

This worried Naruto. If this was how his father would act now, how was he going to act once the funeral was over and their lives returned to normal? If they ever returned to normal...

"He should be somewhere. I think I saw him near the..." Slowly, Naruto raised a hand and pointed to the black car that held Kushina's coffin. The service in the church had been completed and all that was left was to place the coffin in the ground. But Minato seemed to be delaying. No one had seen him since the church and once Naruto and Kitsune got out of the car, he disappeared somewhere. Hopefully to just clear his head.

Thinking back to the car ride, Naruto looked around for his red-haired sister. If Minato was a worry, then his sister was on a whole different level. She didn't sleep or eat. She spent most of her days crying and screaming and if she wasn't doing that, she was curled up in bed clutching a pillow to her chest.

This morning however, she had been silent. She didn't speak, not even when spoken to. Her face made no expression. During the service when she was supposed to go up to the podium to say a few words, she remained in her seat and simply stared at the priest.

As if reading his thoughts, Jiraiya spoke up. "Where's Kitsune-chan?"

Naruto shrugged but still looked around. Both his father and sister were worrying him. They hadn't been their normal selves and he was beginning to doubt whether they ever would be again.

He looked back toward the cliff side. The cemetery was located near a cliff overlooking a large river that stretched out further than the eye could see. An unusual spot but it made business boom for whoever owned the graveyard. Luckily for them, Kushina's grave was just near the cliff that it was safe for her coffin to be buried but also so that there was a pleasant view. There were not that many trees though, with only the odd shrub here and there. Scattered throughout the field, were white irises. They swayed gently despite the harsh wind forcing their hand.

Irises! That was Kitsune's favourite flower.

With a swell of accomplishment, Naruto looked around for any sign of his red-haired twin. Jiraiya watched him with slight confusion but said nothing. He took that as a cue and stepped back as he tried to find his son.

The irises were scattered at random here on the top of the cliff but if they were growing so freely then there had to be a pure source. Naruto grinned at his logic and quietly excused himself from Jiraiya before walking toward the edge of the cliff. His walk there was filled with the usual comments. The pats on the back, the solemn expressions, they were all beginning to get on his last nerve.

He stopped near the edge of the jagged rock. Bits of rock cracked away and he quickly backed away. He didn't want there to be another funeral in a few days time. He pushed aside his fear and looked out over the river. Its cloudy grey surface rippled dangerously from where he stood. All in all, it was beautiful but at the same time, chilling; and not just because of the sudden breeze. The impermeable fog was thick with the unsung tension of sorrow. Naruto shuddered and focused on trying to locate his sister.

When he heard a faint splashing.

Turning to the sound, Naruto spotted a figure standing near a small dock. The figure was standing near the edge of the dock, not moving but instead allowing the wind to blow over their clothes.

Squinting his eyes, Naruto tried to figure out who it was from where he stood. From the curves of the figure, it was obviously a girl. She wore a long sleeved short black dress with black leggings. Her red hair was done back into a thick braid that swayed as if it were alive. The red hair was enough of tipoff.

Naruto sprinted down the cliff side.

OoOoOoO

For the past few days, Kitsune had done a good job of avoiding everyone. She stuck close to small rooms and trees, for hiding away in, or just avoided leaving the house in general. How could she face everyone when all she would receive eere sympathetic stares? Not to mention those annoying children from school who would take that as opportunity to try and associate themselves with her. A spiteful thought, she knew, but she didn't need nor wanted their attention.

I just want my mother back... She thought as she gazed down at the white iris in her hand. She gently fingered the petals, enjoying their soft texture. With each brush of her finger, a pleasant scent drifted up to her nose. She clutched the flower tighter.

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you!"

Without turning around, Kitsune already knew who the speaker was. Who else would sound so cheerful on such a bitter day.

"Naruto... Why are you down here?" Kitsune questioned, keeping both hands in front of her.

The planks beneath her feet echoed and vibrated with each step Naruto took towards her. She was instantly able to smell his cologne and had to bite back the nasty remark that almost shot past her lips.

"Why am I down here? I could you the same thing," Naruto grinned at her as he stood beside her. A long silence followed as the two stared out over the river, neither saying a word. As comforting as it was, Kitsune really didn't need the attention from her twin brother who was pretty much in the same boat as her. Not even pretty much, he was in the same boat as her. But lately, it seemed as though she felt her pain was greater than his. It helped to boost that idea when he didn't fight back against it.

"Who would have thought to built a graveyard over a river... A crazy but wonderful idea," Kitsune whispered, staring down at the iris in her hands.

Naruto hummed his acknowledgement. Another silence followed until Naruto finally decided to break the ice. "Listen Kit...

"I'm sorry."

Kitsune could feel Naruto's eyes on her and felt obligated to continue, despite the voice in her head telling her to leave it at that. "I've made it seem as if I was the only one truly suffering when you and Dad are going through just as much as me, maybe even more. And trust me, I usually have a whole line of excuses waiting to be used but I guess for today I'll keep them locked up," she turned to him and looked him straight in the eyes. She knew she must've looked a right mess. Her eyes were still puffy and red from all the tears she had shed and dark rings encircled them as if she were a raccoon. "I want more than anything for us to be together with Mom again - even if only for a short while. But... As long as I'm alive and still here on Earth, I promise that I'm going to stick beside you and Dad, no matter what."

Strong arms wrapped around her before she even had time to finish her speech. Kitsune stumbled back, dropping the small flower into the river below them. Naruto's grip on her was tight, almost suffocating. His face was buried in the crook of her neck, his untamed locks of blonde hair brushing against her face.

She laughed nervously. "H-Hey now, I wasn't looking for that type of reaction. Well, maybe a little but I was kinda hoping for..." she stopped her rambling. The shoulder of her dress had become increasingly warm and soaked. Kitsune's puffed eyes widened in realization. "N-Naruto?"

He didn't respond, only tightened his grip.

Kitsune watched as Naruto's shoulders shook with restrained cries. Her words failed her for once, and the only consolation she could give him was a weak hug in return. Seeing her brother in such a weak and vulnerable state; it brought a fresh wave of tears to her eyes. She stubbornly shook her head.

No... She wasn't going to cry anymore. She had to be strong.

"I... Don't think I'll be able to t-to do this, Kit... I'm not strong enough..." Naruto cried, his voice muffled by her shoulder.

He crumbled and fell to his knees, dragging Kitsune down with him. Her legs bent beside her thighs, keeping her dress from slipping between the gaps in the boards.

In times like this, Kitsune always felt helpless as to what she was supposed to do when someone else cried. This time it would be different. She'd be ready to help with anything now. As long as it offered a sense of reassurance to Naruto and Minato. Kitsune held Naruto closer to her and rested her head on top of his. "You can, Naruto. And I'll be beside you every step of the way because I love you. A world that harbours such love within it should never perish, that's why I'm here."

Her words made Naruto clutch her even tighter. The air in her lungs quickly dissipated, leaving her breathless for just another ounce of air. She sighed and held Naruto for a while longer, allowing him to drain out his sobs.

She couldn't blame him. The past week had been nothing but pain and sorrow for them. They had lost their mother, and with the way things were going with Minato's mental state, it seemed they were also losing their father. They couldn't afford to lose each other. When push would eventually come to shove, Kitsune knew the chances were their lives would forever be altered. For better or for worse, she couldn't say but she needed to be strong. For hers and Naruto's sake.

A single tear rolled down her cheek, dropping into the river below.

"I know, Naruto... I know..."

OoOoOoO

With the funeral over, everyone's lives seemed to move on without hesitation. At least, that's how the rest of the Namikaze family seemed to be going about. It couldn't be said for Naruto's situation at home.

Jiraiya had decided to stay on a bit longer to help Minato cope with the pressure of being a single father. As affectionate as that was, Naruto knew that Jiraiya couldn't stay on for too long. For Jiraiya was a teacher and had extended his leave of absence to its maximum amount of time. Naruto didn't need to be a teacher to know that that was enough of a burden on Jiraiya's shoulders.

But for some reason, his grandfather was rather calm about the fact he was missing from his post. In fact, he seemed almost delighted.

Knowing Jiraiya, he was probably looking for a reason to be away from work.

Naruto tugged his blankets further up his waist and looked out of the window. He gently traced the trails left behind by rain drops until they reached the frame of his window, then he went back up and started again.

Rain seemed to be the only forecast for the next few days. Cuddle weather as Kitsune so proudly named it.

He chuckled and looked past the rain covered glass. No cars were out on the roads today and if there were, it was the odd public transport delivering the last of workers. The charcoal sky was the only thing to be seen above. A brief bolt of lightning shot across the sky, followed by the deep rumbled of thunder. A storm was coming. And by the looks of it, a really long one.

Naruto gazed down at his phone which was plugged into the charger by his bedside. Even though it was upside down, he could see the light from the screen shine off onto the tabletop. Students he had never spoken to before were suddenly sending him consolation messages or questioning if he was ever going to come back to school. The last part was a reference to the fact he and Kitsune hadn't been in school since Kushina's funeral. Jiraiya had called in and explained the situation in a surprisingly sombre tone and was able to get them out of school for as long as they saw fit.

At the time it seemed fitting but now that Naruto was alone in the confines of his room, he suddenly wished he was back in his class with the rest of the misfits. At least then he would be able to distract himself. Now he just had more time to think. More time to regret past decisions.

Naruto groaned and slumped into the warmth of his bed, pulling the covers over his head. He ignored the rumble of his stomach and tried to focus on other, more pressing issues.

Like Kitsune.

When he would pass her in the hallway, she would put on a brave face and smile but he could see the pain in her eyes. The worse happened at night when he could hear her strangled cries. Or when he would hear the monotonous keys of the piano. Yes, that sounded rather exaggerated but it was the truth. Each key played a dull sound that Naruto never knew possible. Kitsune would often joke and say that instruments could feel your emotion and play the tune exactly the way you wanted it to be but he didn't take it literally.

Now he saw why she took music as an extramural.

A knock at his door awoke him from his thoughts. He pulled the covers back enough so that only his face poked through and stared at the door.

"Who is it?" Naruto called.

When there was no response, Naruto reluctantly dragged himself out of bed. The cold sir wrapped its frozen fingers around him and he quickly made his way to the door, yanking it open with more force than needed. Standing outside his door, was none other than Minato. Naruto found himself at a loss for words.

He hadn't seen or heard from his father since the funeral. Was that bad considering they lived in the same house?

"D-Dad?" Naruto stared at Minato with wide, questioning eyes.

Minato looked nothing like himself. He had always been properly groomed and made sure that both Naruto and Kitsune went by that same example. His golden hair was rather dry and out of control, growing past his broad shoulders. Bags were under his eyes and the enthusiastic energy that usually flowed from his cerulean eyes had disappeared, leaving behind the embodiment of a broken man.

Naruto found this image of Minato hard to believe. It was as if a complete stranger had taken residence within Minato.

"H-Hey Naruto, I just came to see if you were willing to go for a little walk with me," Minato chuckled nervously and rubbed the back of his neck.

A little walk? In this weather? Naruto frowned but made no move to actually leave his room.

Sensing this, Minato stared down at the ground. "I need to talk to you about something important. To both you and Kitsune but... Maybe it would be best if I did this separately."

A voice inside of Naruto screamed at him, warning him that risking this conversation would lead to both him and Kitsune being shoved into another predicament. But it was the same as telling an over-eager child not to touch anything in a museum. You always ended up doing exactly what you weren't supposed to.

"S-Sure," Naruto quickly grabbed a pair of sneakers and a jacket before following his dad out. He glanced back down the hall toward Kitsune's room and sighed. Whatever Minato was going to talk to them about, Naruto hoped his sister would be able to handle it.

Naruto had assumed Minato would be taking him somewhere past their homestead but instead, he simply took him out to the backyard. He was serious when he said "a little walk". But now that they were outside, Naruto realized how neglected the yard really was. The grass had become more of a jungle than an actual lawn. Tangles of weeds took ownership of the dog kennel at the back of the yard, as well as the dollhouse that Kitsune had left behind when she was younger. She had used it as a backup when she didn't want to drag the one in her room downstairs. Naruto looked at the large tree in the centre of the garden. For as long as he could remember, that tree had always been in family memories. The tree house built into its branches had long since been abandoned and could have done with a fresh coat of paint.

All in all, this garden had a whole story book of memories. Memories Naruto really didn't want to let go of.

Rain hammered against the overhead covering, large gushes of water overflowing from the gutters. Naruto shivered in his orange tracksuit jacket and clutched it tighter to himself.

Minato had seated himself on the swinging porch and stared out at the garden, as if watching someone. Naruto took that as a sign to sit himself down. They didn't say anything for a while. The only sound that could be heard was the repetitive drops of rain against the overhead covering, along with Jiraiya's off-key singing in the kitchen.

"I must be an awful father..."

Naruto's head snapped toward Minato. When he finally heard his father's voice, he hadn't been expecting the statement so clearly. In fact, he had not known his father to be the blunt type. Without awaiting an answer, Minato simply continued. "Here I am, pretending as if this only affects me when I have two children who are going through just as much sorrow."

Remembering the similar conversation he had had with Kitsune, Naruto was more than ready for this. "Don't worry about it, Dad. We're all going through a hard time right now so I wouldn't expect you to be carefree all the way."

"But I promised your mother that I'd protect you. And I'm not doing a very good job at it at the moment."

Naruto cupped his hands together and stared at his shoes. Why was Minato speaking like this? There was a hidden explanation that Naruto felt was sitting right in front of him but he couldn't make out.

Minato reached into his pocket and began to pull out something. "Here. I have something for you."

A metal blade was placed between the two of them. Naruto stared down at it, examining it without actually touching. It wasn't like any knives that Naruto had seen before; in fact, he wasn't sure if he had ever seen a blade like it. Its metal was shaped like a diamond, increasing in width from the top then suddenly thinning back down. Its handle was wrapped in thick, yellow bandages with kanji letting written across its surface. However, the writing was ancient and past Naruto's time. He wasn't able to make out any of it.

"What's this?" he asked as he carefully picked up the blade. It was heavy in his hands and made his wrist ache.

Minato smiled tiredly at his son's curiosity. "A kunai. They were used in Japan centuries ago during battle. I got that from my father when I was your age. So now, I'm passing it on to you."

Cradling the object in both hands, Naruto turned to his father. "Is this why you called me out here? To give me a family relic?"

Minato's stare was directed at the kunai but Naruto could see the change of character in his father's eyes. "Honestly? No... I called you out here because I had something important to share and it wasn't just the kunai."

The rain suddenly poured down harder, hammering against the overhead covering. It was as if Mother Nature herself detected the severity of the situation and was trying to ease the tension. However, it only added to the unease Naruto felt boiling within him. The blood in his veins felt alarmingly cold and heavy, like the metal blade he held in his hands.

"I feel like this will be a chance to see you once more... Before I..." Minato grew hesitant. His hands kept balling themselves into fists before relaxing then viciously returning to their internal battle.

"What are you talking about? Why wouldn't you see me? Are you going away somewhere?" Naruto asked, frowning. Was his company really sending him away on a trip at a time like this? Give the guy a break. He just lost his wife and already they felt that money was more important.

"Somewhere? Yeah, you could say that. But to put it more accurately, I guess you could say my prayers were finally heard."

A small smile spread across Minato's lips but unlike all his other smiles, it didn't reach his eyes.

Naruto shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "So... What does that mean?"

"It means that I leave everything to you," Minato slowly stood up and towered over Naruto. He slowly crouched down and held onto his hands. Naruto felt goosebumps travel across his skin at his father's cold touch. The kunai remained between their hands, almost a tool to keep Naruto from moving. He looked up hesitantly at Minato. "Everything that is yours by right, shall be restored to you. And... it may take some getting used to but I promise that in the end, it will be all worth it."

Minato held on tighter to Naruto's hands. Naruto didn't see as Minato tried to force back the wave of tears that refused to go unnoticed.

Smiling up at Naruto, Minato's words were soft and sincere. Despite the harsh weathers surrounding them, Naruto heard every word as if they were alone in vacant room with soundless weathers outside.

"These past few days have shown me the strength that you possess, and the determination that makes me so proud to call you my son. You've been a pillar of strength for Kitsune, and most of all, for me. When Kushina..." Minato averted his eyes for a brief moment, to ignore the sudden pain he felt at mentioning her name. "When Kushina passed, I felt as if I the world was falling down around me. But you... Watching you remain strong through these difficult times gave me reason to live on. However; I don't believe that reason will be enough for me to keep you two safe."

"What?" Naruto tried to stand up but Minato's grip on his hands forced him to remain seated.

As if unfazed, Minato continued. "I might be fine now but down the line, who knows how I'll react to everything. Which is why I want you to know that everything I have done, was for you and Kitsune - and that I love you two more than anything. I just want... I want things to go right for you. I want you two to know happiness."

Naruto stared at his father. There were so many questions in his head that he knew if he over thought it his brain would inevitably explode. And the answers to these questions would never be answered. That much he knew. All he could do was stare at Minato and hope the answers would somehow immerge.

Slowly raising to his feet, Minato released Naruto's hands. He said nothing more, nothing less. Naruto watched his father walk to the step of the porch. It was only then that Naruto realized Minato had been barefoot the entire time. His pale feet had turned a shocking shade of blue that was sure to have some sort of medical hazard to it. Naruto arose and opened his mouth to point it out.

"Do you mind calling Kit-chan out here?"

Naruto frowned at the back of his father's head. He slowly nodded. "S-Sure. I'll go get her."

Quickly turning to head back inside, Naruto glanced back at father. Why had Minato spoken to him like that? Like he would be going away for a long time? The warmth of the Namiikaze homestead instantly wrapped itself around Naruto's body and he let out a shaky sigh. He went up the stairs to retrieve Kitsune but...

Little did he know that this would be the last conversation he would ever have with his father.