Chapter 17: Home?

"Let me ask you a question." The larger man said as he looked to him. "If you have a choice, would you be a hero, or a man who carves his own path?" His face screwed up in confusion. What in the world could that mean?

"Can you explain?" Musket asked Rex as the ship sailed across the ocean, their destination still a few days away. Rex looked down to him as he leaned over the ship's railing. "What I meant was, what would you want to be? Me, I'd say I'm no hero. I mean that's obvious, hehe." He gave a chuckle as he rubbed at his scaled head.

Musket supposed he was right about that. "Well, what makes you a hero, in your opinion?" Rex thought about that, which was definitely a first for him. "Well, I'd say it's someone who wants to help those around him but also has a home he can keep safe."

"Hmm, really?" Musket mused as the dino man smiled. "Hehe, yeah. I don't know. I just thought it was something to think about, you know?"

Musket smiled. "Yeah, I guess you're right."

XXX

He was knocked out of his memories as the door to his hospital room opened. He looked to see Minato and Kushina enter, both looking very relieved to see he was ok. "Hey, what's going on?" He was hit for that as Kushina scolded him.

"What's going on! What do you mean you moron, We thought you were dead! You've been out cold for weeks! Why did you do something that stupid!" Musket could feel the lump growing on his head as Minato held Kushina back. She was crying as she looked back at him. "I'm sorry. I never wanted it to hurt you. I'm so, so sorry." She began to break down in Minato's arms as Musket looked at her in shock.

He didn't know what to say. His memories were still a bit hazy of what happened from when he awoke during the fight. He looked to Minato who gave a small smile. "Kushina, I'm…I'm sorry. I guess I was a little insensitive there, but you didn't do anything wrong. So it's all alright." He gave a smile. They didn't give one back.

They looked at him confused. "What's up?" He asked curiously. They looked to one another before Minato spoke up. "You don't remember?" He didn't like that.

"Remember what?" They seemed anxious to answer. He didn't like this, not one bit. "What happened?" He now asked, now more of a command. He may not have had the actual authority to ask such things from either of them but he'd be damned if he didn't get the answers he deserved to know.

Both of them looked to one another, clearly not wanting to answer. Kushina gave a glance back to Musket who clearly wasn't in the mood. Sighing, she began to explain.

"After you were knocked out, Jūgan attacked the rest of us. He nearly killed everyone. I was the last one standing. I thought he killed Minato." Tears started to fall as she gripped her long skirt with both her hands. Minato placed a hand on her back. "I didn't know what to do. I was desperate. I…" Her voice became shaky.

"You don't…"

"No!" She stopped Minato. "He needs to know."

Musket was confused and concerned. "Kushina, what happened?" She took a breath. "I'm not like most people. I have a monster sealed inside me. A demon. The Nine Tailed Demon Fox. One of 9 Tailed Beasts. As a result I'm What's known as a Jinchuriki."

"The fox is evil and malice incarnate. And I'm that moment, when I thought all was lost, it called to me. It told me to use its power, and I listened. I used its power to kill Jūgan, and then…I attacked you. I'm sorry. I never wanted it to attack you but because I'm so weak I let it get into my head. I don't deserve an apology, I'm nothing but a monster. I'm not even human." Kushina began to cry as Minato helped her the best he could, consoling her the best he could as she crumbled to the ground.

The tears streamed down her face as she hated herself for allowing that monster to hurt someone else. What was wrong with her?

"Don't you dare say that ever again!" The couple suddenly shot their heads up to see Musket staring them down. "What?" Kushina asked in a small voice.

"I said not to say that ever again. You're more human than anyone. Having to take on a burden as unfair as this and yet only falling when all you have left is gone. You are human. You'll always be more human than anyone. You're always more human than me. Because while you continued to be who you were despite that demon, I left my humanity behind for a selfish goal I'll never uptain. So stand proud. You are a warrior and someone who will continue to rise above all obstacles. And if you can't on your own then know that those who care about you will. It wasn't your fault for what happened to me."

They stayed there completely speechless. Musket stood there, waiting for their reaction. Kushina began to rise as she looked at the man in front of her. wiping away the tears she smiled before hugging him. "Thank you."

He reciprocated the embrace, a smile forming, happy to see she was better. "Anytime. Now you guys might need to help me cause I feel light headed."

"Huh?" Kushina asked as Musket became very heavy all of the sudden. Kushina suddenly found herself holding up a passed out, and extremely heavy, Musket. Minato helped her out in getting the man on the bed as they realized he still wasn't at one hundred percent.

Both decided to leave so he could get his rest as Kushina had a smile on her way out. The first since all those weeks ago.

XXX

1 Week Later

Musket began walking home after finally leaving the hospital. Luckily for him he was back to 100 percent once more as he made his way to his apartment.

The sun was slowly setting as the shadows of night enveloped much of the village as Musket walked through an alleyway to make it home. He felt a presence from behind him as his instincts told him danger was all around him. Turning quickly, he was met with the sight of an older man standing behind him.

"Musket I presume?" The man asked. Looking at Musket with his only eye.

"Um, yes. Who are you?" Musket asked, not liking the feeling he had for this man.

"My name is Danzo Shimura. I am part of Konoha's Council. I've heard much about you." Danzo gave no emotion in his speech or mannerisms as he stood still in the alley. Musket didn't know how to feel about that. "Well it's nice to meet you. Is there something I can do for you?"

Danzo didn't make a sound as he continued watching Musket with his judging gaze. Musket felt like walking away if this man wouldn't talk as he turned, only to hear the man speak again.

"You are quite popular here." Musket turned to see what this man was talking about. "Many have heard about you and of your missions. Not everything of course but when they heard that a stranger was seen with some of the best Jonin in the village, well let's just say that many rumors have started to spread."

"Is that so?" Danzo nodded. "Quite, though not many trust you. Many see you as a threat. Especially in these dark times, even you should know a stranger that just appears out of nowhere with almost no knowledge on who they are, well you should know that not many will trust you. Myself included."

Musket frowned at hearing that. "I see. Honestly you're right. I don't blame you for thinking that way cause I'd feel the same way. But I promise you I'd never try to harm this village. Nor it's people." Danzo didn't seem all that enthusiastic to hear that. "If you wish for me to believe you, I don't. As far as I'm concerned you are a threat until further notice. And for that, know I'll be keeping an eye on you. If you do anything against this village we will know. This is your only warning. Good day." With that Danzo disappeared. The uneasy feeling along with him.

Musket didn't like that. Though he knew nothing could be done about it. Not until he could prove himself. Turning once again, He walked to his home.

XXX

Hokage Office

Hiruzen heard a knock to his door as he allowed them to enter. The door opened to reveal Danzo. "How was your talk?"

Danzo grunted as he sat on a chair in the corner of the office. "Not very eventful. I only warned him not to try anything he may regret." Hiruzen nodded as he continued his paperwork. "From what Minato and Kushina had told me, I wouldn't blame you for feeling this way."

"Are you kidding Hiruzen? We shouldn't let him live. He's a danger to the village. Before even entering he defeated an entire Anbu squad without killing a single one of them before tying in a duel with Minato Namikaze. Then to test him we had him face off against four of our best Jonin who were given orders to use deadly force and yet he defeated them while not even killing any of them. Then he faces off against the Hyuga's main branch heir and finds the Byakugan's greatest weakness. And finally we allowed him to go on an A ranked mission where he had to face off against our Jinchuriki and survive while in a very exhausted and injured state. I already told you I didn't like that we were endangering our Jinchuriki but now this. He must go."

Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe as he allowed the other man to talk. He didn't deny anything he was saying. In all honesty letting Musket live goes against his better judgment. And yet.

"Did he sense you or your Root?" Danzo shook his head no. "Not until I allowed him too. And I still have spies watching him as we speak." Hiruzen nodded as he took another puff of his pipe. "My Anbu told me he only noticed them if they allowed him to. Which tells us his sensing abilities are quite poor. It's likely he can only sense danger when he feels threatened. Which means that if he tries anything around those I've allowed him near then we can keep him under our control. And I've already given the order to the Jonin. If they deem him a threat at any time, he will be put down."

Danzo frowned. "This is risky. I don't like it."

Hiruzen nodded. "I agree. But as it is, if we can use him then we will have a powerful asset to the village. One we MUST not let our enemies take. Under any circumstances.

XXX

Musket looked out to the village. Looking to the stone faces of the Hokage that watched over the village and its people. He looked to the lights as the night became filled with that of people moving through the streets. He looked in the direction of Minato and Kushina's home. He smiled. He'd show them. He'd make them all see soon, and make this place a home for him to protect. Rex's words echoed in his mind.

"I'm no hero, but as long as I'm here, I will not let anything happen to this place." Little did he know just what would happen in the future.

End of Chapter