บท 11: Truth

"I am all done!", burped Naruto and tapped his round stomach with his palm. "Thanks for the meal. Well, it's about time to go."

Naruto started rummaging in his little frog pouch to find the money to pay up but after a while, he became somewhat nervous and stiff.

His head turned very slowly towards his brother.

Kaito noticed it and glanced toward him. "Just go ahead. I am not finished yet and will pay this time. So don't worry about it." Kaito had enough money on him to pay for the food.

Kaito was the one that made sure money was not an issue for both of them. Even when Naruto liked to waste it on food. At least it went somewhere reasonable instead of other weird stuff.

"Are you sure? I could help out in the kitchen and do the dishes or something. That is what I did last time." He was happy but Naruto also didn't like to ask his brother for money in times like this.

"So you already got no money since then?" Naruto flinched at that question and scratched his head sheepishly.

"It's alright.", smiled Kaito. "If you are eager to do the dish-washing here, then go ahead and do the laundry at home."

"Urgh...Alright..." Naruto accepted that exchange of favors and jumped down from the chair. "Be careful and see you later." Before he ran off he made sure to advise Kaito not to get into anything.

Kaito only raised a brow in response to his worry. Isn't it more the other way around?

Sighing he continued on eating the rest of his food. While he did, Kaito also placed his chin on his hand that was leaned on the table with his elbow.

Thinking a little bit about his somewhat confused mind it was Ayame that brought him back.

"Why are you so deep in thought? Not even touching your food for so long. Did something happen?", she asked him while grabbing the empty dishes that Naruto left behind.

Kaito watched her and at first didn't say anything. "Is it that obvious? Well, nothing special. I just wonder about some things."

"Hmm. And what are you thinking about?", she asked again and started to do the washing.

Kaito narrowed his eyes and smiled a little bit. "Well, I wonder. Am I more like my father or my mother? I got this red hair definitely from her."

"Yeah, that red fiery hair is definitely from her. Even your..." She stopped talking and even what she was doing.

Even Teuchi heard it and was somewhat taken by surprise. To confirm if he just made some wild guess he looked at Kaito. But the only thing he saw was him staring at the two in wait for an answer.

"I see...So you really did know them...." Kaito his voice became somewhat solemn. He was actually a little bit angry.

His new memories gave him so much information and the first thing he did was trick the people he loved to get some confirmation out of them. To know if what he knows is true.

Of course his heart actually felt betrayed by them now because he knew the memories were right.

They always knew but never told them. Why is that?

"Kaito...Where did you learn that?", asked Teuchi now and looked at him. He even put more attention to him as well.

"Well, every time I look at that boulder up there and compare it with Naruto´s face..." Kaito meant the 4th Hokages stone monument. "I always start to wonder why he looks so familiar...So similar to him...And I just probed you to figure out if you knew something..."

"I see. Does Naruto know?"

"Nah, he wouldn't be able to make such connections. I haven't talked to him about it either. Its...a very complicated topic that we both like to keep silent about...So, why didn't you tell us anything? From Ayame´s reaction, I can clearly tell that you know our parents."

Ayame felt saddened now after knowing he tricked her. She knew what he would feel after something like this came out.

"Are you angry at us?", asked Teuchi when he looked at his daughter and saw her not being able to say anything. "It is something we have promised someone."

"Not really...But you better make it up with telling me a little bit about my parents..." Kaito looked away when Ayame also stared at him in hope to receive a favorable answer.

Ayame saw him avoiding her pleading look and smiled. This kid was actually shy enough to not look her in the eye because of guilt. "Alright. It´s not like we can hide it anymore. Right, father?"

Teuchi only smiled wrily "That is true. Well, what do you want to know?"

"How do you know them?", Kaito asked and looked back at them.

"That was when they were still teenagers. It was about the time when I came to Konoha with my late wife. Ayama was only freshly born at that time. It was our new start in life. Your mother, Kushina was her name, was someone who loved ramen as much as you two do. It really surprised us."

"Her personality was bright and merry. Because she came often to my shop after it opened, we came to know each other from that."

"Yeah. I still remember when aunt Kushina was still pregnant and had a really big belly with you, hehe. She had such beautiful red hair.", added Ayame now.

She was smiling softly at Kaito now. "You know, Kaito. It was also that time when I made a promise to always be a good Onee-san to you two. Actually, at that time I didn't even know you would be two."

Kaito heard that and somehow had to smile back. That explained their friendly behavior to them. "I see. And my father?"

"As you know he was the fourth Hokage. He was a very strong man that protected this village to his utmost.", explained Teuchi again.

"And left us alone...", added Kaito.

Teuchi frowned. "Kaito...Your father died while sacrificing his life to give you both a future. Don't say such things about him. No, it had to be said that both your parents tried everything to keep you safe. You need to understand that."

"Then why is it that everyone still hates us even though we are the children of the previous Hokage? Children of heroes?"

Teuchi stayed silent after hearing his question.

"See, I am right. Both our parents died for nothing." It was a sentence that came out instinctively because he was irritated. But at that sentence, Ayame slapped Kaito on his face. He could only look back at her while holding his cheek.

"How can you think like that! Both your parents loved you more than anything! They would have loved to stay by your side." Ayame looked very angry at this moment. "It is just that some events did not unfold as they wished. But even then they made sure to let you live in a safe place."

"She is right. The one that told us to keep quiet was the third. He is also the one that always looks after you...If you really want to know everything you should ask him."

Kaito looked at them and became angry. He knew they meant well but his emotions told him otherwise.

He needed to leave and calm down. That is also why he started to leave the place after hammering the payment on the table.

"Kaito!", shouted Ayame and wanted to stop him. But he was already gone by that time.

Both of them looked at each other. "I wonder if it really was the right thing to tell him." Teuchi sighed. "You and your big mouth." He flicked the forehead of his daughter.

"...He got me when I was distracted.", she rebuked.

"That just goes to say how smart he is. Sometimes such a trait may be a curse...", said Teuchi a little bit saddened and could only continue what he was doing.