“Dad”
Naruto woke up slowly. The rays of light bouncing off the walls of his room, and into his eyes. Had his room always seemed this orange? His gaze was unusually fuzzy, as if his eyes were wet and unable to focus. It took a few seconds for Naruto to regain his bearings, but when his eyes finally focused on to a point, he jumped. Warmth that he believed was the sun’s rays were actually a pair of arms, lovingly draped around his body. Small breaths tickled his face, and Naruto found himself looking into Minato’s face, looking so much like himself it was as if he were looking into a mirror.
The older blonde was sleeping peacefully on his side, looking as if he had no care in the world. His arms, loose enough to give Naruto a little space but tight enough to deny him the movement he needed to move away, conveyed a sort of desperation even though the man was asleep. Now, Naruto would normally have drop kicked the man as hard as he could, but he couldn’t bring himself to. It was so warm, Naruto didn’t know why it was so warm, but it was. His room was always a cold sort of indifference, a feeling of distance between him and everyone else in the village. He would always draw the blinds a few hours after he woke up, so that he didn’t have to see children hanging off their parent’s arms as families walked happily to the market. Before, he would stare longingly at the empty, dark village, but never dare to venture out into it unless it was urgent. Konoha at dawn was so starkly different from in the day, the air was cooler, the village quieter, and darker. But now, the sun’s rays were hitting him squarely on his nose, and although warm and comforting, gave Naruto an undeniable sense that he overslept. Tremendously.
How did this happen?! He never overslept! It paid to sleep light, he would be alert to any intrusions or attempts to hurt him. To break into his little apartment and break some of his belongings. How had he overslept by this much? By the looks of the sun, it was already noon! Dangerous, it was dangerous. Immediately, Naruto started to struggle in Minato’s grasp. Nailing a square hit on Minato’s face was out of the question. No matter what Naruto felt about the man, he was still the Hokage. It would definitely be a crime if anyone were to hit the Hokage, let alone the village monster. But what else could he do? “Yondaime! Yondaime! Wake up!” Naruto shouted at the blonde. No reaction. Naruto tried again, shouting directly into Minato’s ears this time. No reaction. Naruto felt his fear and panic bubble up within him, knowing rationally nothing would happen if he stayed longer, enjoying the comfort of MInato’s arms. But fear was inherently irrational. Naruto could taste his fear, a bitter, sour, sinking feeling in his chest. The fear urged him on, causing him to lose the tight control he had over his feelings. His breaths came out quicker and quicker, and Naruto felt cold beads dart down his brow, slipping down his face.
As he panicked, Naruto’s brain sped through the various options he had to escape. An idea came to his mind, one that he would normally never even consider, but he didn’t even think about it before opening his mouth, and letting the word spill out of his mouth. “…Dad!” Minato’s sleeping form almost immediately jolted up, sitting up so quickly it must definitely have caused some sort of pain.
Naruto rejoiced. He was finally awake. Then his face dropped. Minato had sat up, but he hadn’t let go of Naruto. Instead of having most of his weight on the bed, now Naruto was completely resting on Minato’s lap. He thought this was worse. No, this was most definitely worse, Naruto concluded, as he gazed up at Minato’s face.
His eyes were most definitely sparkling, filled with some sort of electrical wonder Naruto didn’t want to consider. Naruto didn't realise human eyes could open that wide, or be filled to the brim with tears with none escaping. On his face was the biggest, most genuine smile Naruto had ever seen someone’s face contorted into. He was slightly gasping, mouth agape as he stared at Naruto. Minato's arms tightened ever so slightly around Naruto, as if he were made of porcelain that would be broken if touched too harshly. “Y-you called me Dad” came the stutters, words tumbling clumsily out of Minato's mouth.
“I-i had no other choice!” Naruto loudly protested. “"It's late! You wouldn't wake up! You have to let me go! Let me go!” Naruto's breath came out in short laboured huffs, each one taking more effort than the last. But he couldn't let this stop him. He was a ninja damn it, and he would fight till the end. Naruto pushed his arms against Minato's chest, desperately trying to claw his way out of the warm embrace and towards the windows, with the one track mindess of a bull seeing red. Pull it down, Naruto, or they'll come again. They'll rip up your place, they'll burn everything you own, and… Yondaime, no, his dad, will see you're powerless and useless… And just a demon brat that doesn’t deserve his affection.
“Woah, Naruto, calm down!” Minato hugged Naruto tightly into his arms, one hand slowly stroking his back. “What's wrong, Son, what's got you so worked up?” At the word son, Naruto cried even harder, but pursed his lips and never let a single sob exit his mouth. Silently, he pointed towards the open windows, and, dutifully, Minato walked over to them and shut the blinds tightly, slightly confused. Finally, Narutos's breathing calmed, and he relaxed into Minato's arms.
Gently setting Naruto down onto the bed, and trying to get Naruto's mind off what just happened, he casually mentioned, “Oh, Kakashi went out to the store to buy some groceries and breakfast. Haha, and don't Worry, of course he bought ramen for you.”
Naruto sniffled, but seemed to accept the subject change, and demanded weakly, “I want miso broth ramen…” Minato could not help but swoon over Naruto's slightly whiny tone and pressed a hesitant kiss to his forehead
“Yeah of course, son, anything you want” Minato tried to act as casual as he could, that this was something completely normal, but he could hear his heart beating in his ears. Would Naruto accept this display of affection? Was it too much? Would he push Minato away? Minato gulped. “Shall we get you washed up?” He grinned and asked rhetorically, not giving Naruto a moment to ponder over what just happened. Quickly, he herded Naruto towards the bathroom, and turned on the tap.
Naruto, on the other hand, was shell shocked. The Yondaime had just kissed him. On. The. Forehead. Blanky, he followed Minato'a instructions to wash up, and ended up dazedly sitting down with Minato after. Yet again, Minato was excitedly chattering away about anything and everything and Naruto was only half paying attention. He was- he was kissed by the the Yondaime! He was kissed by his dad! Unconsciously, he raised his hand, and gently rubbed over the area where Minato had kissed him, as if he could not believe it. Naruto could not stop the warm feeling blooming in his chest, like a flower that was slowing unfurling its petals, covering the area in its blossoming beauty. If Minato told him that he was loved, Naruto thinks he could believe it now.
Quietly, Minato watched Naruto's changing expressions, and knew that Naruto was coming around to the fact that he had a dad that loved him. While Minato would be alright waiting as long as it took for Naruto to accept him, it was euphoric to see the little progresses he made stack up into more. Minato smiled knowingly as he continued talking about anything and everything, just relishing being in the presence of his son. With such an angel by his side, Minato was sure that all his following days could be as peaceful as this. With Naruto and Kakashi, Minato could finally feel the warmth of a true family, right here in Konoha.
“Tadaima” Kakashi’s lazy voice broke the silence between Naruto and Minato. One carried his summon Pakkun in one hand, and a bag of groceries in the other. Plopping down heavily next to Naruto and Minato on a chair, he splayed the groceries out on the table, but somehow the bag of piping hot miso broth ramen landed in front of Naruto. Kakashi silently thanked the mask that he wore for being able to conceal the grin he felt spread out across his face, as he watched Naruto light up at the sight of his meal.
“Itadakimasu!” Naruto cried out happily, grabbing a pair of chopsticks, all his previous cares seeming to vanish into thin air. He slurped his noodles loudly, before pausing and shooting a quick glance at Minato. Usually when Hound was here, he would just eat without any decorum, he knew that Hound would never mind. But this was the Yondaime, didn’t the Hokages usually insist on prim and proper manners? Jiji would always chide Naruto to eat more politely, although Naruto knew he was just saying that fruitlessly. But what if, Naruto placed his chopsticks down, suddenly feeling nauseous. What if Minato, his dad, would insist on table manners more? Would he still want Naruto if he saw that he was eating so messily? But the Yondaime seemed to cherish Naruto so closely… would he really abandon him just for this? Naruto shook his head vigorously at that thought. No, he couldn't judge himself by normal children's standards. After all, he was a monster demon brat. But… it wasnt really his fault. He saved the village dattebayo! He helped stop Kurama from attacking the village! Was he really some monster? Was Kurama even a monster?
“Even though I know that… Why did you have to seal Kurama in me?” It came out as a soft whisper, barely audible above the sounds of daily Konohan life below them. “Why me? It's not fair…” Naruto couldn’t help the hiccups escaping his mouth. “I hate you for that… Did you hate me or something? Was there something wrong with me from birth? Is that why?” Naruto knew he was being childish. He and Minato already talked about exactly this same topic earlier, and Naruto had told him he understood. Yet here he was, making a fuss like a baby just because…
Naruto immediately slapped a hand over his mouth. How could he let his mouth run like this in front of the Yondaime? (Thats also his dad.) Naruto instinctively flinched backwards, away from Minato. “Ignore that! I wasn’t- I wasn’t thinking straight, Yondaime!”
Minato watched as Naruto’s skinny arms trembled slightly as he held them tightly at his side, a bared and open position no doubt learnt from many years of abuse. To learn how to look as submissive and unthreatening as he could, to prevent himself from being hurt more. Minato’s heart clenched in pain, but he was unable to say anything. Gently, he knelt beside Naruto, and held his head gently to his own heart. Silently, he patted Naruto’s head. Minato knew there was nothing he could say right now that would fix this. Minato was so naive. How could he expect that Naruto could just accept that fact that he, his father, was the one cause behind his own son’s pain and suffering. Even if it was for a good reason, even if it was out of desperation, Naruto had the right to be upset. It would be something that Naruto always had to bear, to have the label of ‘demon fox’, while Minato got to be lauded as the hero of the leaf. Naruto was right, it wasn’t fair. It wasn’t fair.
“Naruto… I'm sorry. I’m sorry” But Minato knew there was nothing that he could do. What was done was already done. The most he could do now was treat Naruto exceptionally well, to protect him from further abuse, to ensure that Naruto got all that he deserved. Because he didn’t deserve the abuse and hatred all his life. Because he didn’t deserve being the jinchuuriki of the Kyuubi. Because he didn’t deserve to live alone, without any parental figures to protect him. ‘Sorry’ was not good enough, not to Naruto who had suffered so much. Not from Minato, who was so complicit in Naruto’s suffering, and who was the main cause of it. “I’ll do better.” Came the fervent promise. To make sure you want for nothing. To make sure you always have a place to fall back on. To make sure there's always someone here for you.