Minato was walking with Naruto in his arms, the man was oddly well dressed for just a casual stroll with his son.
Minato was trembling. For some reason something had set fear in his heart, a mind of fear not from a particular person more so a place a person is at.
Minato made it to the village gates where the gate guard shinobi stood at attention to the blond Hokage.
"At ease you guys, I not uptight enough for formalities."
Minato explained.
" Uhh right."
Izumo rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment.
Kotetsu cleared his throat.
"Anyways, Lord Fourth, are you ready for your escort?"
The man asked but Minato waved his hand.
"No that won't be necessary, we're just going to a small clearing about a few minutes out from the village.
Minato explained to the gate guards.
"Alright well be careful out there sir."
Izumo said as he bowed.
Minato smiled as he waved to the two men.
Naruto looked at the area around the wooded area that surrounded him, he never left the village before he was more used to seeing buildings and homes rather than big trees.
Minato noticed his son's amazement at the nature around them.
"Right this is your first time outside the village, I gotta get you out more Naruto. "
" Twee! "
Naruto shouted as he pointed to a random tree.
"That's right my little Naru-sun, that is a tree."
Minato said to the boy.
As Minato continued walking away from the village he started coming across scarred parts of the forest, these parts of the forest which sustain damage from a great battle.
Minato's heart began to race a bit as a surge of memories rushed back to him of the Nine tails attack and that masked individual.
Minato sighed as he shook his head. He had to be strong, his village and more importantly his son relied on him.
"This sure does bring back... unpleasant memories. I'll have to get the environmental committee together to help mend the land again."
Minato said as he continued to walk.
The walk that the man was so determined to do was starting to wear on him as a small structure started coming into view.
Minato paused, he stopped walking, he couldn't take another step. It was too painful, the memories, the one he lost. It was all too much for him to bear.
"Dada down!".
Naruto said.
His son's words snapped Minato out of his daze as he looked down to his toddler son who was eager to explore the area.
"Uh sorry Naruto yeah I'll let you go."
Minato placed Naruto down and the toddler was quick to run around and examine different parts of the area.
Minato sat down on the ground, this was harder than he thought. He thought he was ready to see her again. It's been nearly a year since the attack on the leaf he overcame a lot... maybe it was too soon for him to face his her... maybe in another year... Maybe even two or three years to be safe? Yeah that was a smart idea.
Minato got up and his eyes snapped to Naruto, his son, he never had a chance to meet her...he never saw her face either given that Minato took down all the photos of his deceased wife... He can run away this time he has to do it, not just for him but for his son.
"Alright Naruto daddy isn't tired no more."
Minsto said as he picked up his son.
"Dada pway."
Naruto pouted as his playtime with some rocks were interrupted.
"Don't worry we'll play more later."
Minato smiled as he rubbed his son's head.
After some more walking Minato made it to the the small structure.
"Here we are."
Minato said as he walked around the back of the building to a burial site and a small shrine to a red haired woman.
"Here we are Naruto.. it's your Mama."
Minato said as he started getting choked up.
Naruto looked at the gravesite confused.
"You don't understand now...but I'll explain it to you later."
Minato said as he put Naruto down.
"Hey Kushina... It's been awhile...a long while.. I've been a coward I should have visited you sooner... Oh look our son he's getting so big so fast it's insane...he has your face I see a little bit of you every day... "
Minato began trembling as flood tears were threatening to flow from the man.
"I'm sorry Kushina... I'm sorry for being so weak!"
Minato fell to his knees and started crying hysterically. A year of pent up sadness, pain, regret, and anger finally comes to surface as his tears flow freely.
"Dada?"
Naruto went over to his crying father, the child was concerned for his Dada, he had never seen him cry before, Dada was always happy jumping around with his centric attitude.
Naruto started thinking about what he could do. What do people do when someone else is crying? The toddler thought back on his rather short memory...he very vaguely recall part of his extremely early life... he remembers bumping his head on something at one point, he really didn't like how that felt so he started crying, he had cried harder then he ever did before and his Dada was quick to appear to him, once Dada saw Naruto bumped his head, Dada picked up Naruto and gave him a big...
Naruto hugged Minato as tightly as his little arms allowed him to.
"N Naruto?"
Minato wiped his tears and saw his son trying to console him.
"Nawu wuv Dada."
The baby said to his father trying to console the man that hugged and cared for him so many times before.
This pushed Minato over the edge as he started wailing loudly. His sadness now comes pouring out but as each minute passes and each tear the weight of the world that Minato shoulders, becomes a little lighter.
Some time had passed as Minato and Naruto were lying down on a grassy field looking up at the sky.
Minato was reflecting, he felt his mind lighter ,for the first time in a long time it was clear...
"It's a beautiful day ain't it."
Minato turned to his head to see a red haired woman lying next to him.
"Ku?"
"Shhh, look."
The woman laid on her side and pointed her finger to the left.
"
Minato turned his head and he saw Naruto was struggling to keep his eyes open.
" It must be naptime for Dada Naruto."
Minato said.
Naruto walked over to Minato and laid on top of the man and quickly fell asleep.
The woman giggled.
"He has your blond hair but he has my face...we did a good job"
The woman went to touch Naruto's cheek but she stopped short of doing it.
Minato softly caressed the woman's hand and he gently moved to Naruto's cheek and they both rubbed the toddler's chubby cheek, Naruto briefly stirred in his sleep before falling back to sleep.
"Our baby... he's gonna have to beat the ladies back with a stick when he's older."
Said the woman as she laid back down again.
"... I miss you...we both do... It's been hard and some days I wonder if I have the strength to continue doing this. Can I be both a good father and a Hokage? "
Minato continued to lament until he received a firm bash on his head.
" Ow!! That hurt."
The man covered his head.
" Good maybe you'll remember to stop doubting yourself... you're the best father, husband and Hokage will never forget that."
The woman said as laid next to Minato.
Minato started tearing up, he missed this, it's been too long.
"Thanks honey I needed that, it's been too long."
The woman sat up.
" Minato I love you and since I love you so much I gotta tell you, you have to move on and heal. If not for my sake then for you and our son's sake I know you'll never forget me and what we had."
Minato then was gonna sit up but the woman placed her hand on Minato.
" Don't... you're gonna wake him up."
The woman leaned over to Minato and gave the man a kiss on his lips.
" Please just heal...now you should probably wake up now. "
Said the woman as she started walking off.
" Wait don't go I still I... "
Minato found it hard to find the words.
" I'll always look out for you two."
Said the woman as she walked into the forest and she soon disappeared from view.
"I love you... Kushina."
Minato said as he laid back down but then things started going dark.
Minato woke up.
The man gently got up with Naruto in his hand so as to not wake the child.
...
Minato closed his eyes and smiled as a warm breeze blew past him and Naruto, his worries, stress and grief seemingly washing off of him.
"It's a new day...we should head home, Naruto."
Minato said to his sleeping son as he started leaving the area, his stride has more pep in it now.