Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Family: The Story of S and N ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
The group of Wandering-nin was now residing in Water Country, in Hidden Mist, stopping for the night on their way to The Wave Country.

"That was close." Ichi chuckled, scratching the back of his head.

"Tails tucked firmly between our legs." Niro grumbled; his head was resting on his hands as he leaned over the table he was sitting at.

"Daddy, are you OK?" Rin asked, her quiet voice pulling Naruto from his thoughts.

Naruto was sitting on the edge of one of the room's beds, his sword and facemask discarded to the other side of the room, showing off his darkened whisker marks. He smiled kindly at the little girl with black and blonde hair and pulled her up onto his lap, kissing her temple softly. "I'm fine sweetie." He assured her. "Earlier this evening, we ran into some Leaf-nin, ANBU. I was just wondering if I'd met them before, if I'd known who they were."

"You miss Konoha village, don't you, Dad?" Daisuke asked, sitting beside his father on the bed.

Naruto smiled sadly at the blue-eyed boy. "Yes, I do, but you know I can't go back."

"I don't understand why that stupid village hates you. The stories you've told us, it sounds like you've saved their asses more than once, they should be grateful." Ginji huffed, arms crossing over his chest as he dropped onto the bed beside his father, opposite his older brother.

Naruto ruffed the younger blonde's hair. "Don't swear." He mumbled. "But you have to understand, the Kyuubi..."

"You're not the Kyuubi!" Ginji snapped, standing abruptly and spinning around to face his startled father. "You said yourself that the Kyuubi is sealed inside of you! You are you and the Kyuubi is the Kyuubi, you are two different people! By having the Kyuubi sealed inside of you, you saved that stupid, ungrateful village! But you are not the Kyuubi!"

"That's not how Konoha sees it, Ginji." Naruto explained, eyes downcast. "Let's drop this subject, it's depressing." He smiled brightly. "How's your training going?"

Ginji grinned, eyes looking slyly at his older brother. "I could kick Daisuke's butt any day." He said proudly.

"Tch." Daisuke snorted.

"Don't believe me?" Ginji snarled.

Naruto chuckled as the two boys went into one of their usual fights.

Tsunade had finally finished her tale of the Kyuubi, and after a few questions the room was silent once more. Many of the occupants were fidgeting, some still sniffling from the letter.

Sasuke grunted, interrupting the silence. "Who cares?" He scoffed. "The Kyuubi is sealed inside of Naruto, that doesn't change who he is. It doesn't change my opinion of him."

The rest of the people nodded in agreement.

Tsunade sighed in relief, not aware that she had been holding her breath. "Our first priority is to find Naruto then." She announced.

"Miki-san said they were heading to The Wave Country to visit some people they knew." Neji pointed out.

"Inari." Kakashi, Sasuke, and Sakura mumbled in unison.

"Who?" Tsunade asked.

"When we were Genin, we had a mission to transport a man named Tazuna to The Wave Country," Sakura explained. "There, we met his daughter Tsunami and her son, Inari. Naruto and Inari got really close before we left, and Naruto even promised to come back and see them."

Tsunade nodded. "Unfortunately, I can't send all of you." She sighed. "I would ask for volunteers but I already know that you'd all offer, so," She scanned the room. "Jiraiya, Kakashi, Sasuke, Sakura, Shikamaru, Ino, and Lee will go to The Wave Country. I know it's a rather large team, but we're not sure what his friends are capable of, nor Naruto himself, who knows what skills he's learned over the years."

The Shinobi whose names were called all nodded.

"Wow, Inari will be twenty-four now." Sakura smiled. "I'm kind of excited to go see them again, Naruto too."

Ino squealed with delight. "His kids were so cute! I can't wait to see them again."

Tsunade sighed. "One last thing, do not force Naruto to come." She told them. "If he doesn't come, just do me a favor and get a picture. Naruto, his brats, and his newfound friends." She smiled.

They nodded, smiling, and set off to get ready for their new mission, to find Naruto.