I do not own squat
1 month later Konoha hospital
Not used to his new face yet, Minato found himself looking in the mirror once again. After the bandages had come off, he didn't know how but he seemed to have aged. When they initially came off, people had commented that he looked like he hadn't aged at all. It's been 15 years since his supposed death according to Tsunade, and with the seal he should have died. But here he was alive and looking like nothing changed.
Over the next few days though it seemed time caught up. His hair now sported silver strands around his temples and now he figures he looked the age. He even had the beginnings of wrinkles much like Iniochi around his eyes and mouth. Nobody knows how he was able to come back, he just was…
Now as to his other issue, Tsunade having come the following day from his wake up, the woman was just in shock. His words were slow at first as he had to get used to talking again. She learned of that night and what he had done. Hearing he had split the Fox's chakra in two and put the other half in himself? She had a conniption at him as it was another headache on top of the one she has already.
Of course, understanding the whole status of jinchuuriki, he was updated on a situation that was brewing. One that involved his son and why he wasn't in Konoha at the moment. Eager for news on how the boy has been and what he was like. The blonde woman had shook her head because she needed to get him up to speed.
It seems the one who released the Fox was still alive, and gunning for not just it but also the other holders of the tailed ones. With wind of the one inside him, that could prove problematic for her as it meant that there were two Foxes to a degree instead of one.. Knowing he can handle himself onnce he is back to normal, the woman had insisted his presence be a secret. She did not want one bit of him being back with that in him coming out.
Protesting because he wants to see his son and can't do that if his presence must be kept a secret. The woman simply smiled. "You know with him coming back anytime now I could simply have him be your guard."
Brightening at that, she shakes her head in amusement as she looks at him. "Trust me that would be bad, Naruto is not the most patient of people."
"Takes after his mother then.." He replies with a smile on his lips.
Tsunade nodded her head. "Little brat has the patience of about 3 seconds before, he's itching to do a mission." She chuckles. "Calls me Baa-chan to boot."
Groaning as it was something he knew the woman didn't like she laughed at his face. Making him wonder her amused look she just looked at him with fondness. "That son of yours is the only one I let get away with it." She stated. "At least he calls Jiriaya the proper name."
Raising an eyebrow in question the woman says two words that have him trying not to fall over laughing. "Pervy Sage sounds right." He grinned.
"It does, doesn't it."
Laughter aside though, the woman looks at him though with a deep sadness. "He needs you, you know. His childhood was not that great."
"What do you mean? Didn't Jiraiya or Tsume take care of him?"
Shaking her head, she hands up the papers she had been holding for a while. Allowing him to see for himself what the teenager's life had been like till now. The constant attempts by Iniochi, Skikaku and even Chouza to take him in when the Inuzuka woman would not. The blocks of anyone wishing to adopt him as even Teuchi had tried. The ramen stand owner being one of the first to see him among the civilians as just Naruto.
He was not happy.
"Even though he wasn't there most of the time personally, Jiriaya at least made sure Naruto's bills were paid and that he got an allowance." Tsunade stated. He even funded the Ramen stand he goes to all the time." She comments as Minato gives a little smile. The man known for his noodle addiction gave a wry smile as he was indeed happy.
"And Tsume?"
"Nothing… I think she just didn't care after you and Kushina died…well that night with the Kyuubi." The blonde replied calmly. "Her son Kiba and daughter Hana accept him though." Telling him about the time Naruto helped the siblings with their dogs among other things. He was glad of their presence in his life.
"And Kakashi?"
"He did his best to look after Naruto." Tsunade commented. "After what happened, and the attempts on his life afterwards. He requested to be put on Naruto's guard detail. To do so he had to go to ANBU Minato."
Knowing full well most in ANBU barely see loved ones for years he still gave a dark look as Tsunade tells him about his son's team and supposed sensei. Making a mental note to have a good talk with the now known copy nin about his son's education.
"Did anyone else at least teach him something?"
"Other than Jiraiya, there's a chuunin named Iruka from the academy." She said warmly. "He took care of Naruto, Minato. I guess you could honestly say Iruka is the one who gave him something of a childhood from what I understand."
"Oh?"
Chuckling, the woman just smiled. "You will have to ask him. In fact, he should be coming by soon. I asked him to come here for that very thing."
"I thought we were keeping my presence a secret."
"We are Minato. Iruka is one I completely trust." Tsunade replied. "When it comes to Naruto, Iruka treats him as family."
That said there is a knock on the door, opening it Minato is treated to a sight of a young man in his late 20's. His hair is brown and pulled back with a scar across his nose, it took a minute for him to recognize him. A smile crossing his features as he had saved the then teenager from being crushed to death, said teen now grown just looks at him with surprise.
"What…how…."
"Still trying to figure that out, Iruka." Tsunade chuckled as Minato spoke up a second later.
"I owe you a thank you, Iruka-san" The blonde man started with a warm smile as the chuunin is puzzled. "You took care of my son, when no one else would have from what I understand. And for that I owe you."
Confused to say the least, the chuunin just looks at them with confusion at first but then it hits him as he looks at Minato. There was another person who resembles the Fourth and to an extreme now that he truly sees it.
"Naruto…Naruto is your son?!"
Nodding his head, Minato just smiles as the chuunin just sits down with happiness and a little bit of shock and regret. "Naruto is going to flip out."
His turn to be confused now at Iruka's words. Tsunade gestures to the papers in his hand as the younger man begins to speak. Telling him of the Mizuki incident and the revealing of what was inside him and how it came to be inside him. The older of the two men just sighed.
"So my own son may not like me being here."
Just looking at Minato, the teacher just shook his head sadly. "He worships the ground you walk on but finding out the Fourth Hokage sealed the fox in him? Also made him hate you that day. Finding out the one who did it to him is also his father? He won't be happy."
Looking at both the teacher and Tsunade, Minato finds the truth to be evident in both their eyes. The blonde woman speaking now, she looks at the saddened father with a gentleness that only a mother could bring. "Maybe if he had found out before that incident, he may have accepted you as he would have had time to adjust."
"But the way he found it; it bugs him still." Iruka stated. "He talks to me about it sometimes. He resents you for doing it mainly. But I don't think he blames you." He stated quietly, "if anything he commends you for trying your best."
Quiet now, the three look at one another when they hear three young voices running through the streets below them. Almost at full power yelling and screaming.
"THE BOSS IS BACK EVERYONE!"
"YAY BOSS IS HERE!"
"THE BOSS IS FINALLY HOME!"
A smile from ear to ear on their features as they hear the shouting. Iruka grins as he tlks to the blonde man with joy. "Sounds like Naruto is back from his trip." He chuckles. "Only he can make those three screams like that after three years."
"Those three?"
"Konohamaru, Moegi, and Udon. They worship the ground your son works on unfortunately..." Tsunade replies with a slight scowl. "That little brat has taken to calling me Baa-chan too. And Naruto taught him that blasted jutsu." Grumbling about it as she leaves, Minato looks at Iruka with a puzzled expression. The teacher trying not to snort with laughter till the blonde woman was out of range.
"Naruto when he was young…he got bored." Iruka snickers. "He created something that Jiriaya loves." Explaining the premise about the 'sexy' jutsu that his son made when he was only 10, Minato, despite shaking his head, smiled.
"Sounds like his mother." He replied. Telling the teacher about the pranks Kushina had done in her youth to get back at others. They found themselves laughing at the memories that it brings forth in the former Hokage.
Right now, considering what was going on, it was best that Minato did not take his old job back, With the other half and all the enemies he had made, especially in Iwa. Konoha would be in deep shit in a manner of only days. So, it was best he remained out of sight for now. But the thing was Minato still deep down wanted to see his son. Deep in thought, it was then that Sakura came into the room. With Tsunade not able to be there all the time, it was either the pink haired girl or Shizune there to check on him. Inoichi and his daughter at times as well. The younger ones though knew his son better than most and were happy to tell him of his boy.
Sakura especially was important as she was his teammate as genin. The girl luckily not knowing of what was in Naruto, the young woman had told him of the escapades that they had gotten into with the last Uchiha.
The last Uchiha, hearing about the massacre almost broke him once again. Despite being a complete ass a majority of the time, Fugaku was a good man and always gave the best advice when it came to defense. Between the two of them, they were going to further shore up Konoha's defenses. Especially after Kushina gave birth as Minato had been distracted with his wife's pregnancy to pay attention to most things.
The Uchiha Lord had to, at Kushina's request, drag her husband out of stores or else he was going to end up making them poor. Not his fault he had wanted the best of everything for his soon to be son. Fugaku understood Kushina's worries as a few times, she had to stop his wife for him, while she was pregnant with Itachi and their newest son Sasuke.
Finding that the entire clan was dead save for the two brothers had made him sad. Finding out it was the older of the two who did it, leaving his brother alone. That actually made him wonder. Still though as she continued to tell him of the fights Naruto had done that saved him and many others a few times. He was impressed and proud of his son.
The teen had brought Suna as an ally. He helped restore the Snow Lord, and even aided others who became some of Konoha's biggest supporters. He knows of the Crescent Moon, he knows of Wave now. He even chuckled a bit when she told him that his son had a bridge named for him.
"It's time to go." She stated quietly. Her thoughts with the man she looked at him with a determined gaze. "Tsunade told him."
Shocked to say the least he turns to the open door and finds a blond teenager standing in the way. Blue eyes meeting identical ones, Minato winced in pain as the first thing his son does is punch him in the gut hard.
"NARUTO!"
