Chapter 13: Kushina May Actually Kill Him

Super Awesome Beta: Blaizekit

Minato stood rooted to the spot as his mind, which normally had at least a dozen different plans ready to hand him, drew a complete blank as to how to deal with this. Well, not a complete blank, but at least no plans he could foresee having a positive outcome. If he drew closer, would that help or only scare his son more? Should he leave and let his son come to terms with this on his own? He could follow his son in stealth, so safety wouldn't truly be an issue... but that idea really didn't appeal to him.

If this was about acclimating Naruto to his presence, then wouldn't it make more sense for him to stay with the boy? But then wouldn't he be scaring him even more...? Naruto looked like he might bolt at the slightest provocation, and had yet to meet his father's gaze since his first reaction of flinching and looking away.

Augh, the whole thing was just a mess! He wasn't a Yamanaka; the extent of his psychological training was to break people, not put them back together! If only Kushina were here, she'd know what to do... after killing him for causing this mess in the first place, of course. She was going to be furious when she found out.

A noise startled both of them and the elder blonde looked over to see the small pickpocket from before peak out from behind the trash. The child froze at the sight of him. The Yondaime fought the urge to sigh in exasperation as the kid's already tear-stained eyes began to water. Konoha's fearsome Yellow Flash and terrifier of small children. Kushina was going to have a field day with this. You know, after she got over being angry with him.

The street urchin threw something at his feet before turning around and fleeing. Minato felt bad about scaring the kid, but there wasn't anything he could do about it. Naruto took precedence.

He looked down to see his son's green frog wallet and stooped down to pick it up. Partly so he could return it to Naruto, but mostly to buy more time before having to face the inevitable. Well, he couldn't put it off forever, and since he couldn't see leaving his son as a good thing... staying and talking to him was probably for the best.

Naruto struggled to control the overwhelming fear that threatened to take over his mind. The intense pressure of bloodlust disappeared almost as fast as it had come, but he still couldn't stop shaking. Dammit, he'd made a vow to not be a scaredy-cat anymore! He was going to be Hokage! He couldn't let something like this stand in his way!

But those eyes... like staring death in the face.

He couldn't look at them or he'd break and run. As if there was any hope of escape from that.

Naruto shoved that thought forcefully aside, he would not be afraid! He wasn't a weakling! He-

Oh, kami, it was coming closer!

His treacherous brain began thinking of running again, and only got worse as the demon approached. His muscles hurt from being tensed and ready to flee, but the figure stopped just out of arm's reach and crouched down.

Suddenly his vision was filled with green fabric and he blinked rapidly at the frog in his face. Gama-chan?

"You know," a soft voice spoke, "it's actually a little ironic that you chose this wallet out of all the others. Did you know your old man had signed a contract with the toad summons? Heh. I wonder what Gamabunta-sama would think of your Gama-chan here?"

Naruto's mind stalled as it tried to wrap itself around this seemingly random choice of topic. What? He lifted his gaze to see who was talking to him, but a glimpse of those eyes stopped him. He clenched his fists in frustration.

The soft voice sighed. "I'm sorry. I should have known better than to use that much killing intent around someone who's not used to it."

He sounded so sad, and... like he should know that voice. There was a rustle of cloth as the figure in front of him settled into a sitting position.

"Your mother is going to kill me when we get back, you know. I hope you enjoyed having a dad for a day, because I'm so dead." He paused. "Well, more dead."

Dad? Naruto wondered as memories began to surface. Of the smiling blonde man next to an energetic redhead. Of waking up this morning and discovering it hadn't all just been a dream... This was his dad?

Something snapped within him and he felt a surge of anger war with the fear flooding his system. No. Absolutely not! HE REFUSED! He was so fed up with being scared all the time! He was going to become the most powerful ninja in the world, he shouldn't be afraid of anything! Least of all his father!

Minato was startled when his son suddenly leapt to his feet and punched the wall beside them. Hard. He repeated the process, while muttering something that gradually grew louder until the Yondaime could make out, "I am not afraid!"

Naruto's knuckles began to split and bleed and Minato reached out to stop him from damaging himself further. He stopped when the teen flinched away from his hand, but his son let out a growl of frustration and whirled on his father. Seizing him by the shirt and pressing their foreheads together so he could stare straight into Minato's eyes, he ground out between clenched teeth, "I. Am. Not. Afraid."

The elder blonde let him hold that position, wondering if he should do anything to help, but it wasn't long before his son let go and stood up straight. He folded his arms and nodded confidently at the Yondaime as if the whole matter had been settled. "I'm not afraid of you."

Minato couldn't help himself, he burst out laughing. It was just... he was so... so... Kushina! Even the offended pout his son was giving him now was exactly like his mother's! Which meant he should probably stop before Naruto started pummeling him for finding his seriousness funny.

It took a bit of his political straight-face training to get his mirth under control, but he managed it. "Sorry, I wasn't laughing at you, I was laughing at how much you reminded me of Kushina. You may look like me, but you definitely act like your mother. Speaking of which, we should get back before she starts to worry."

The teens expression went from a scowl to an awed smile as he remember what they had been sent out for in the first place. "Mom's making ramen!"

The boy quickly grabbed the Yondaime's sleeve and pulled him to his feet. He didn't let go until the elder blonde chuckled and ruffled his hair before quickening his pace to a suitable speed. They stopped long enough to pick up the bag of produce from the entrance of the alley before Naruto had them speed off again.

"Mom!" Naruto exclaimed as he shoved the door open, and boy was it a novel experience to be able to use that word! He barely remembered to remove his shoes before rushing over to hand the redhead the bag of ingredients he'd been carrying. "We got all the stuff you need for ramen! Is almost done? Can we eat soon? How long will it take?"

She smiled brightly at him as she took the bag and began peeling and chopping vegetables. "Not too long. You guys took longer than expected, did anything happen?"

The boy completely missed the way Minato stiffened from his spot near the doorway as he opened his mouth and began explaining about the guy with the sword and how Dad had scared him away by just glaring at him -he may have forgotten to mention the part about his own fear- and how they'd had a race home and how he was a little upset that his dad had let him win...

He wasn't sure, but it seemed like his mother had gone unnaturally still during his story, and when he finished, she'd answered with a, "Is that so? Would you please go outside and bring in some firewood for the stove?"

Naruto thought she'd be more excited than that, but nodded with a confident grin and went out the back to do as requested.

As soon as the door had shut, Minato ducked. Which was fortunate as a kitchen knife went sailing through the spot his head had just occupied. It embedded itself into the wooden door frame behind him and he shot his wife a nervous look. She didn't even know about the worst part of it yet...

"Kushina... Honey..."

Blue chakra swirled around her catching her hair and making it flutter like fire behind her. He could practically feel the rage radiating from his wife as she fixed him with a murderous glare. "Run, Namikaze."

The Yondaime didn't need to be told twice and was out the door before anyone could say 'Yellow Flash', the Red-Hot Habanero right on his heels.

A/N - Sorry it's short! I had a really hard time with this chapter, but I finally finished it. Next chapter should be easier to write and be out closer to the actual weekend. Man... those drama llamas at the beginning and middle were so hard for me. I much prefer light-hearted humor. Or Kushina's brand of violent insanity. XD

Onto the counting thing! So, nobody got them all, but Cute Kirby got the closest with all but one, Yamato. So, here's the answers!

Gaara: Ichibi, one tail
Yamato: This one was tricky because I got tired of calling the box just 'neko' for two-tailed cat, started call it Neko-san, then realized that's what people call Yamato's ANBU identity, and then changed it to Yamato. Does it make sense at all? XD I'm sorry this one was kind of not fair.
Jiji: Fairly straight forward, Jiji, Sarutobi, Third Hokage.
Namikaze: Same reasoning as above. Forth Hokage, Namikaze Minato.
Hime: I was surprised some people couldn't get this one. XD It's the same logic as Jiji, but with Tsunade. Fifth Hokage.
Inu: Ah, this stumped quite a few. Inu is for Kakashi and his dog summons, who was named temporary Sixth Hokage. :3
Kitsune: Much the same logic as Inu, but for Naruto whom would end up being Seventh Hokage if they bothered to count Kakashi's short reign at all. XD
Tako-Octo: Most people got this one. XD Killer Bee, Eight Tails.
Kurama: Nine Tails, obviously.
Tobi: Obito, who becomes the Ten Tail's container.

Story Recommends!

Troublesome Timing by FrozenLights - Awesome time travel idea, putting Shikamaru into the twin of Uchiha Sasuke. Kazuki is an Uchiha that acts like a Nara, it's quite hilarious. Especially when you start mixing in stuff with the Uchiha Massacre, and the whole dealy-o with Shikaku... it's just super fun to read. :3

The Daddy Thing by Obsessive Child - This story is the most like M:TABD that I've seen. Except it's with a much younger Naruto and doesn't involve Hiraishin Kage-Bunshin life-hacking. It's completed too, so no waiting for more updates (booo no more updates. D:).

Aight, I gotta go get ready for work! Later guys!

-Py