Chapter 4

The Namikaze compound was bursting with excitement. Well, as much excitement as a kids party could have. The massive property was filled with important people. Almost all of the clan heads and their children were in attendance and even a few civilians who were glad their children had been invited by the birthday kids just a few hours ago at the festival. A joyous occasion it was, there was food being served, music being played, and plenty of kid friendly activities taking place in the training area.

The children were continuing their game from earlier in a boys versus girls match that would've been outmatched had it not been for Mito somehow being able to hold her own against both Menma and Sasuke. While that was going on, the adults remained inside, chatting with one another or spilling the latest gossip around the village. As comical as it is with the people they knew, there was plenty to talk about.

For one, it seemed as though Kakashi was stuck to his remaining teammate like glue with people speculating on their more than friendly relationship, Tsunade and Shizune leading the talk. Then there was Jiraiya, trying his best to talk up a few of the single civilian moms who were adamantly denying his requests. Most of the clan heads, including the Yamanaka, Akimichi, Aburame, Inuzuka, and Hyuga clan heads were discussing next year's academy class and the training they had done to prepare their children.

In the kitchen, Kushina, Yoshino, Mikoto, and Ayame prepared plates of food for the guests and made sure everything was ready for cake and ice cream for later on. Kushina was working like a mindless drone, not even paying attention to what her friends were saying. Her mind too focused on her forgotten son, as it had been since they parted ways after the Kyubi festival. Still a painfully fresh realization, she just wanted this day to end. It seemed everlasting, as if Kami wanted her to suffer as long as possible.

That thought hurt as well. She couldn't even force a smile for her other children on their birthday. This really wasn't how she imagined this day going. It was supposed to be a day of relaxing and fun after the long period of stressful work they had put in over the three years. Stressful in the way that they really didn't make much progress. At the end of it all, Mito and Menma's skills were barely Genin level at best. Of course that isn't too bad for kids not even in the Academy yet, but even so. In the same period of time, one of her children excelled to the rank of ANBU! On his own! What did that say about their 'flawless training schedule'?

She still couldn't believe it. Any of it. Naruto had graduated the academy at the age of nine. He didn't even stay a full year! Then, he became chunin at ten and ANBU a few months later! It filled her with so many mixed emotions that she didn't know what it was she was supposed to feel. Was she supposed to feel happy for him, or sad he never told them? Prideful that her son was such a prodigy, or disappointed that he didn't need them?

There were just too many possibilities that jumbled together and too many unexplainable variables that threw her for a loop. Mainly Naruto's attitude towards the whole ordeal. His nonchalant manner as if it didn't happen. If he had been angry with them, or spiteful then she'd know exactly how to feel. She'd understand her feeling of self-hatred, but she didn't know how to feel about blatant disregard. She could not process this seamless forgiveness he held for them. All it did was hurt more than it would have had he called them out on it or ignored them altogether.

When she had gotten home from Ichiraku's, the first thing she did was go up to his room. There was nothing left within it sans a dusty note on his bed. The date it was written is what broke her heart more than the content itself. It was August 21st, Naruto's birthday.

The note had explained his reasoning for moving out, highlighting points such as him turning ten and being an active ninja, therefore making him an adult. Then it talked about not wanting to disturb anybody when he came home late from a mission, him taking up space, or using utilities for free when he now had an income to assist in paying. Confusing her as he said, 'I read in a book that in a well-functioning house hold, all occupants should pay a portion of the bills as is proper etiquette.' It didn't make sense to her that he wouldn't bring the matter up with them before making such a brash decision.

Regardless, that day, two years ago, he moved out. And they were just finding out now. What did that say for her mothering skills? She could try and tell herself 'the schedule was too filling' or that 'he had always been quiet' but she knew it was all bullshit. Just sad attempts to convince herself that she was still salvageable as a caring mother. How could she fault herself on something everyone would do right?

God, she hated this day so much. The day they had all been waiting for all week long. It was a hellish experience that slowed down second by second every time her heart beat. They hadn't spoken yet, but she knew, she knew Minato was feeling the same way.

-break-

Walking back into the kitchen, Minato grabbed two more plates from the counter silently. Walking them back out to the guests. A perfectly fake smile plastered expertly on his face as he weaved through the crowded home, searching for someone without a plate. Just as he had been doing all day, he greeted everyone who addressed him first. Only giving them quick 'hellos' or chuckle's when they threw a joke his way. All for the purpose of masking his agonizing frustration.

Naruto and the others parted ways after leaving Ichiraku's as he and Kushina brought Mito and Menma home to get dressed for the festival. After receiving that note from Kushina, a spark lit inside him that wasn't there while at the restaurant. Then, he couldn't even find the words to talk to his son. Now, all he wanted to do was have a conversation with him. To explain things or at the very least get a better feel for how Naruto felt. He couldn't accept that Naruto would just forgive them so easily. There had to be some level of resentment. Maybe just a little, but there just had to be something.

In a stroke of good luck for the first time that day, Minato saw Naruto and Itachi walking up the walkway through the window. He decided now was the time. If he put it off any longer he'd go insane. Handing out the final plate, he briskly walked towards the door. Before he made it, it was already opening.

"Hokage-sama." Said Itachi bowing in respect.

Minato scratched the back of his head with a bashful smile. "Ah, there's no need for that Itachi. Please, come in." he said stepping aside. Itachi nodded and went further into the house. Spotting someone that caught his attention, he bid the two a farewell, leaving Naruto and Minato at the door.

"Hello Tou-san." He said holding up the gifts he had brought for Mito and Menma. "Would you happen to know where I can place these?" he asked.

Minato searched around, not really sure where Kushina had set everything up. "Um. No I can't say I do." He replied. Naruto nodded his head and looked around for someone who might. Nodding to his father with a smile, he began to leave. 'Now or never' Minato thought. "Uh, hey Naruto." He called out, stopping him before he could leave. Naruto looked at him attentively. "Uh, could I talk to you for a bit?" he asked nodding his head up towards the top of the stairs.

"Of course. May I alert Kaa-san that I am here?" he asked gesturing towards the kitchen. Minato quickly nodded and tucked his hands into his pockets, now feeling a lot more nervous than he felt just a few minutes ago.

As Naruto left, Minato headed upstairs, sure he had gotten the hint it was a conversation to be held in private, away from the people. He stood in his and Kushina's bedroom, pacing back in forth, really thinking about what it was he wanted to say to him. He didn't want to bombard him with questions or just blatantly ask him how he felt. He didn't really want to talk him into it either. Naruto is an ANBU operative so Minato was sure he'd be able to deduce such a tactic. His plan wasn't interrogation, he just wanted to talk to his son.

-break-

After dropping off his gifts at the table he spotted in the backyard, Naruto greeted his mother who seemed as awkward as she had at the restaurant. Passing it off as a possible overwhelming of her return, he didn't address it.

Now, on his way up the stairs, he tried to guess what it was his father wanted to talk about. Possibly his incredulous growth and how he acquired his jutsu. He was sure he'd get scolded for not being patient, but Itachi and he were in such a competition, he didn't even think about it. He just had to keep finding something to get ahead of him. Every time, however, Itachi came with something newer and better, so Naruto had to keep up. Before he knew it, he was mastering his father's sealing notes. Kami, he prayed this didn't have to do with that.

Making it to the top of the stairs, he reminisced how long it had been since he'd been there. Everything was just the same. On the way, he passed by his old bedroom, peering inside. He noticed the note was gone, so maybe they had known of his self-training.

Finally arriving, he knocked on the door awaiting his father's approval to enter. Hearing the muffled 'come in', he stepped in and shut the door. Minato was outside on the balcony, overlooking the children in the backyard. Naruto stepped up and stood next to him. He looked down at the way Menma and Sasuke argued as they both drew their plan of action in the dirt for the rest of the boys to see, debating on which would work better.

"Ah, those two will become something amazing one day." Naruto said, once again kicking off the conversation. Minato didn't reply. He just continued to stare out at the group of kids, segregated by gender, plotting against the opposing side. There was a question resting on his tongue, but he couldn't ask it. He couldn't even speak.

"That's a lot how Itachi and I were…" Naruto continued, trying to get the man to say anything. Minato only chuckled so lowly, it almost sounded like he just blew more air out of his nose than usual. After a few more painful seconds of silence, Naruto nudged him. "So Tou-san… What was it you wished to speak about?"

Now, with no way to avoid the conversation that he himself requested, Minato cleared his throat, giving himself another few seconds to think about how to word it. Or, at least figure out whatever 'it' was. "I uh..." he tried. Naruto watched as his mouth opened and closed noiselessly as if the words were just not there. "I wanted to talk to you about… well, everything…" he said, finally spitting it out.

Naruto still didn't fully understand. Was he talking about the various jutsu he stole? "I apologize. I don't believe I follow you." Naruto replied.

"Naruto. I want you to understand… I mean… to know that… your mother and I…" The words were just nonexistent when he tried to form a sentence. "we love you…" Naruto looked at him just as confused as he had been the entire time. "We always have…"

Processing his words, Naruto's face went through a mixture of emotions including realization, sadness, panic, and worry. He looked at his father in concern. "Tou-san…" Minato waited with his breath caught in his chest. "Are… are you and Kaa-san getting divorced?"

Minato stared in shock, with a face that asked, 'where'd you get that idea from?'

Naruto fished through his pouch. "I read in a book that describes this scenario perfectly. First, you and Kaa-san seemed very tense and detached all day, you barely spoke with one another at lunch, and one of the final steps is pulling the children aside separately so that you can explain it."

Minato was at a loss for words. It was such a strange assumption to come to. Stepping back, he could see of course the similarities in the situations, but still. For an ANBU operative, he had assumed he'd be a little more observant and analytical. So stunned, he still hadn't said a word, so Naruto continued on with facts he once read.

"Sometimes marriages fail when the partners feel as though they are too confined within their everyday life." He said pulling out a little white book, flipping a few pages. "Possibly the training regimen is to blame. Since it is over, may I suggest a vacation sometime in the near future? There are amazing spas within Spring country. I read about them when I wa.."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa" Minato cut in, finally zoning back into reality. "We are not getting divorced, ok?" he stated, calming the boy down. "That's not it son, I just… I just wanted to let you know that… In case you didn't know." Still Naruto was confused.

"Well, of course I know that… I mean, why wouldn't I?" he asked him. Minato looked at him. No one was this forgiving. "Is this about me not telling you of the ANBU thing?" Minato didn't get a chance to answer before he continued. "I was going to Tou-san, honest. But, you guys were working so hard, I didn't want to bother you."

"It's not that either…" Well, that wasn't all of it. Mustering up the courage to finally discuss, it, he stopped, hearing the familiar sound of a Shunshin, an ANBU agent appeared on the ledge. He climbed down and bowed in the presence of the Hokage, but addressed the one he was there to retrieve.

"Tora-san. A mission has appeared which requires your teams' expertise." The man said. "Please gather Weasel-san and report to the ANBU HQ within 30 mins."

"Ah. I understand." He said nodding to the man. Once he shunshinned away, Naruto turned to Minato. "Well. Duty calls and what not." He said stepping back inside. "Some other time Tou-san. Oh, and let Mito and Menma know I was here." He called out over his shoulder.

'Damn it.' Minato thought. He just missed his chance. Of course, he understood though being in the ANBU himself at one point. When they called, you went, no matter what you had to drop to do so. Next time he got the opportunity, he wasn't wasting it as he had just then. He'd be sure of it.