Chapter 8
Minato waited until the Third was done with his current meeting before tapping on the window. Hiruzen waves him inside, and Minato slips in, reclosing the window behind him. He takes a couple deep breaths before he starts speaking, the older man waiting patiently.
“Obito called for me.”
“Minato—-”
“Listen.” He wasn’t going to be talked over like this. “I gave him one of my kunai, and he used it.”
“And if it was a trap?”
“He was unconscious. Practically half dead. I hate to offend him, but I don’t think he had the brain power for any kind of actual plans.”
“Minato….” His voice is soft and sympathetic, and it just makes him more determined.
“I will take full responsibility for any of his actions.”
There’s silence between the two of them, both men staring at each other. Finally, the Hokage sighs, and Minato feels himself relax a bit.
“And where is the boy now?”
“The Hokage suite of the hospital—- I, uh— forgot I’m technically not supposed to have access to it anymore….”
“No. That works out well enough. It will be easier to keep an eye on him.”
“I have Tsunade looking after him, and she has been told to not let anyone else know he’s there.”
Hiruzen nods in understanding. She was probably the best choice, for many reasons. Though Minato seemed from the outside to be mainly reacting on emotion alone, he was thinking hard about what he was doing. He supposed that wasn’t unusual from the man.
And it’s not like Hiruzen could blame him for being emotional in the first place.
Obito had thought to have been dead for almost three years now, and all the sudden, he just—- turns up. Drastically changed, but it was definitely still Obito, and showed signs of having been alive this entire time. Something wasn’t adding up, and it was understandable that Minato wanted to find out what.
Besides, Obito was still a child. Perhaps there was still a chance. A chance he wouldn’t end up like—--
Minato places a scroll on the desk, suddenly a lot more serious, and Hiruzen looks towards it before back up to the other.
“I will admit, Obito—- wasn’t alone when I found him. But what he was with—- it wasn’t anything human. I was able to trap him, and I have him sealed in this. I figured it would be the easiest way to get information, at least, until Obito wakes up, and I can perhaps speak to him. But I warn you, care is going to be needed with this creature.”
Hiruzen nods. If Minato was saying they needed to be careful, then they were definitely going to need their best. He already has an idea.
“I believe I know exactly who I want to handle this, if that is truly the case.”
“Thank you, Hokage-sama.” Minato gives a bow, feeling grateful. Now all he needed to do was wait for Tsunade to give him the okay to visit, and have a talk with Obito. Surely, he would be able to get him to open up.
He hoped so.
Hiruzen gave him a wave that said that if he had nothing else to say, that he was dismissed, and Minato left. He heads home, stepping inside. Almost immediately, Kakashi is there in front of him, the look on his face demanding answers. Minato gives a soft sigh, placing a hand on the boy’s head and ruffling his hair, which Kakashi is quick to swat away.
“I will tell you soon enough, Kakashi. But– for now– it is best left unsaid.” He hears a huff from Kakashi, and he can’t help but chuckle. Even under all the bravado, he was still just a kid. “Naruto….?”
“Still sleeping. He woke up for a bit, but he just needed changed, and he fell back asleep pretty quickly.”
“That’s good.” Minato made his way to the small bassinet in the living room where Naruto was sleeping soundly. He reaches in, unable to help but run a finger over the baby’s cheek. He then turns and heads into the kitchen. “How about some lunch?”
“That sounds good. Is….is everything okay, Sensei…?”
“Yes, Kakashi.” Minato smiles softly, warmly. “Everything is fine. Something just happened that I can’t speak about yet. Not until things settle down a little. But– hopefully, if everything works out– then we have nothing to worry about. Good news, even.”
Kakashi blinks in surprise, but he doesn’t question anymore, knowing that Minato was the type of person to have his reasons for what he did and said. And so, he would trust him, and wait for whatever needed to be done to happen.