Chương 7: Chapter 7

Rubbing his forehead in frustration, Minato signed yet another document. He had almost forgotten of this hell over the three year break. It was the one thing he didn't miss about his duty which is ironic as it is most of the job. The past two weeks were anything other than easy for him. The forms continued coming and coming. Document after document was placed before him as soon as he retook office. It was like the workload just grew during his time away.

Of course, it was expected and he did it with a smile. Well, as much of a smile as he could give with the exhaustion from everything that had been happening. Over the two week period, the kids were becoming absolutely unbearable. They wanted to spend time with him every day when he got home. It seemed they became reliant on his presence during their training so losing that constant connection threw their world for a loop. It pained him to tell them no, but he had no choice. One can only take so much stress before they give. Luckily he had Kushina back to her normal self after a week of the revealing day.

That first week after Naruto's departure, Kushina was far from her usual self. A smile on the woman was near nonexistent and for a while, it seemed like it was gone for good. Mito and Menma noticed the change in their mother as well. A week later, they asked Minato if they were getting a divorce, apparently having the same thought as Naruto. At that point, Minato knew he had to speak with her about the way she was effecting the kids. He sat her down and listened to her rant on and on about how worthless she was as a mother and how she shouldn't have been allowed to have children in the first place. He let her pour all that negativity out to him in private as she cried on his shoulder. When she was finished, he told her of his conversation with Naruto. He explained that Naruto was truly not mad about the whole ordeal. When she couldn't accept that, he explained to her the plan he had of organizing a family vacation in a few months. They'd integrate the blonde back into their everyday routine as often as they could. Doing things like inviting him to dinner, asking him for help with the kids training or just spending time with them.

Kushina still wasn't back to her true self, but she had started to cheer up a bit more. She began spending more and more time with her friends she had been so out of touch with. A few days after Minato's plan reveal, she felt it necessary to ask them for advice. To do so, she had to open up to them and run the risk of being judged or possibly ostracized. To her surprise, they were very supportive. Of course disappointed in her, they understood the situation and could tell her regret was real and not just an attempt to save face.

That in itself took a huge load off of Minato's shoulders. Now he was sure his wife was speaking with someone about the ordeal and was getting help. It reassured him it would be alright in the long run. Now, all he was doing was awaiting his son's return which was still stressing him out. He read through the mission parameters and saw that there was more than a small chance they'd run into a few S rank ninja. Their scheduled ETA was two days ago, but underestimating mission completion times was common, even for ANBU commanders.

This was the first time he has known of one of his children actually being out on a mission. When Naruto was born, he had always imagined seeing him off on his first venture out of the village. Having missed that chance, he was giddy to see the boy return from the first one he would see. Still a strange concept that it would be from an ANBU mission, but nevertheless it would be something he'd remember forever. His anxiety only increased as the hours passed by and the day neared its end as the previous one had. He knew not every day was promised and with ANBU, no matter how strong you are, your chances of making it back are still slim.

Watching the footage of their Chunin exams battle is what put his mind at ease. Itachi and Naruto were absolutely amazing. He had never been filled with such pride in his life. Not only seeing his son using his technique, but representing his family name with pride regardless of his mistreatment. He was amazed completely, so much so that he watched it every single day. If that was their strength from just a year ago, he actually feared what they were now, adding to fact their ANBU training. They were possibly nearing the strongest pair in Konoha. That film reassured him that they would be absolutely fine, no matter who the opponent was.

Well, there were a few exceptions.

Four ANBU agents kneeled before their Kage within the late hours of the night. Minato stood to his feet, finally seeing the one group he was dying to welcome back. "Ah, Squad nine." He said with a bit more glee in his voice than he meant to put. "Welcome back." He quipped looking down at the one he knew was Naruto thanks to the unmistakable blonde hair.

The four stood to their feet, standing at attention, awaiting the order to report. Minato however wasn't even completely aware of the situation yet. His smiling face was too busy admiring his son in his ANBU uniform. The pride in his eyes was visible from miles. "Wow…" he whispered out, a bit louder than he planned.

A cough from the commander woke him up. "Hokage-sama… my apologies, but I believe a report is due."

Minato shook his head, giving a fatherly appraising nod to his son one last time. "Right, I apologize. Please, report." He said sitting back down. Hayate began with explaining their few near run ins with certain S-rank missing ninja heading up to Kusagakure, the events that happened upon their immediate arrival and the barely significant events that happened while Naruto and Itachi were inside. When he reported all he could, he passed the responsibility on to Itachi and Naruto who then explained the events that happened during their venture into the Temple, including their brief, yet brutal battle against the Snake Sanin Orochimaru.

At the mention of the Snake, Minato sent word to retrieve Jiraiya from wherever he was. The group continued giving their report by explaining the events that happened after delivering the man back to his father and them receiving the payment. Their trip home was apparently a lot scarcer with the S-rank nuke ninja than the trip there. With the report done, Jiraiya was ushered into the room in which Naruto and Itachi were again asked to recount their squabble with the man.

"Hmm… it's very uncommon for him to let go such talent…" Jiraiya mused as he leaned against the window ceil. "Did he say anything else?" he asked the boys.

"No sir, Jiraiya-sama." Itachi replied. "Just that he would be seeing us soon."

Jiraiya rubbed his chin in thought. "Could be a threat towards the village." He said at last. "That's the only common ground in which he is sure they will most likely be."

"In that case, I propose you start looking for him instead." Minato said. "If you are to find him, do not engage until you know of his plan."

Jiraiya nodded and leaped out the window to get ready for his venture out of the village once more.

"As for you four, you are dismissed." He said as they bowed, giving a simultaneous shout of 'hai' before making their exit. "Uh, Tora. Stay for a second please." He called out. Naruto stood in his spot waiting for the others to file out. When it was just the two of them, Minato's smile grew tenfold. "Wow. Look at you!" he said grabbing his shoulder's firmly.

Naruto plucked his mask from his face and smiled back as he scratched the back of his head. "Ah, Tou-san. I appreciate your flattery."

"My boy… in ANBU!" he said with a chuckle, grabbing his head with his hand. "I can't believe it! How was the mission? Were you hurt?" he asked suddenly.

"No sir. I was only inflicted with minor injuries from my battle with Orochimaru-san." He said wiggling his now healed arm. "I have some knowledge in medical jutsu, so I was successfully able to heal my injuries as well as the few imposed upon Itachi."

Minato was taken back again, if at all possible, his smile increased again. "You even know medical jutsu?" he asked in amazement. "Gosh son, you're already more adapt at the ninja arts than even me." He complemented.

Naruto's bashful smile only increased from the praise his father was giving him. "Ah, I am not at your level of expertise yet Tou-san. I am merely adequate in various subjects. I have yet to master any." He said knocking himself down a bit.

"Oh, you're too humble son. I mean, you've figured out my Hiraishin. Jiraiya is a seal master and has yet to do that." Minato continued.

"I guess that is true, but I did so with your teaching. If I am correct, Jiraiya is attempting to reproduce the formula from scratch." He stated once again.

"That's right, he is. But, I can't take credit for teaching you…" he said as his smile faltered a bit, but held strong.

Naruto noticed and reassured him. "I read your description of how you engineered the seal by dissecting the formula of the Nidaime, Tobirama Senju, to make it faster and much more proficient in battle. From there, you went on to explain how it works and what you needed to do to perform the technique. All I did was follow your advice."

Minato just smiled bashfully at his modest son. He begrudgingly accepted the praise he didn't feel he deserved, knowing if he refused it the boy would just argue another point. "Well, you're very near surpassing this old man. That's for sure." He said with a chuckle.

"Ah, I'm not too sure about that Tou-san. But, if you say so." Naruto finished.

Minato nodded at his son once more, his eyes still filled with pride. A few seconds of silence settled in as Minato just examined how much he reminded him of himself when he was in ANBU. Of course he was a lot older than Naruto is, but even so, the resemblance was uncanny. "Well." He said standing up straight. "I bet you're tired."

"Yes sir. A few days of tree hopping has taken a lot out of my body. A good night's rest will be more than enough to replenish me fully." Naruto replied.

"Well, don't let me keep you." He said extending his arm. Naruto shook his father's hand with a smile and a nod. "Oh, and if you'd like, your mother would really enjoy having you over for breakfast in the morning." He said as Naruto was walking out.

Slowing his pace, Naruto nodded his head. "Yes, that sounds fantastic." He said nodding on his way out. "What time would be acceptable for my arrival?"

"Oh, uh possibly nine." Minato replied.

Naruto nodded again. "Yes sir. I will attend." He said waving back to the man with a smile. Minato waved back at him with a smile of his own. His heart was racing for some reason. There was a warm feeling in his chest that he couldn't exactly explain. Things were going to be better now. He just knew it.