Naruto Karyuden

Chapter 72: Hidden Dream VI - Connection

HIDDEN DREAM VI - CONNECTION

The mood within the Hidden Dream Village is... different.

After the truth was revealed to them, things didn't exactly get better or worse, just different. There's still a melancholy and dread but where before it was from the betrayal of the Hidden Leaf and murder of their leader, now it's from their own leader betraying them.

The shinobi are still reeling in from everything while trying to hunt down the Amagiri clan who've mysteriously disappeared, along with Mōkin who was revealed to be a part of this.

The village is full of lost hope.

Naruto, for his part, has been trying to help in every way he can. His [Shadow Clones] have taken to cleaning the city and salvaging any belongings that can be salvaged. The Dream shinobi were unsure how to take in any of this, but they quickly saw that their attempt to capture and kill him has not left any malice in Naruto. He's definitely an odd fellow, that much they can agree on.

While the Clones are working on helping with whatever they can, the original Naruto is standing on the hospital rooftop with his back pressed against the wall, and staring blankly at Yaizu.

"So... You're saying..."

"Yes." Yaizu nods as he speaks in a hushed voice. It seems telling his grandnephew the truth took more out of his old body than he thought it would.

"You're... mom's...."

Yaizu nods again.

"And you're my..."

Yaizu nods once more.

Naruto slides down to sit on the ground with his head in his hands, absorbing everything he heard.

"When the Hidden Whirlpool fell, there were a lot of people chasing after me. I had to run. If I went to the Leaf, if I went to Kushina, it would've brought unwanted fire to them. I couldn't let that happen." Yaizu shakes his head. "So I hid. For years, I hid and when I finally felt it safe to come out... it was too late. I found out she'd died and Minato, as well. So I ran again." His breath becomes shallow with his eyes welling up.

Naruto slowly gets back up with his head hanging low; hair obscuring his features.

"I didn't know." Yaizu begins openly crying. "I swear to you, I didn't know. If I did, I never would've turned back, I never would've left you alone."

Naruto walks over to him and places a hand on his shoulder. "I know." He pulls Yaizu in for a big hug. "I know."

Yaizu returns the embrace and the two remain in that position for a solid couple of minutes. Both crying, both not saying anything, both glad to have found family.

Naruto pulls back and wipes away his tear with his sleeve. "Why didn't you say anything, back in the cave?"

Yaizu sniffs back an undignified booger. "I was just... processing it all. The thought that I had a grandnephew I didn't know about; to find that out after losing all hope for over 20 years... And you had an important mission to do, so you had to stay focused."

"Yeah, I get that." Naruto smiles. "So... what happens now? This is kinda my first time finding long lost family so I'm kinda clueless."

"You and me both." Yaizu laughs.

"I mean, you gotta come back to the Leaf! It's not just me, but a buncha other Uzumaki, too. I doubt granny Tsunade would mind at all."

"Princess Tsunade? Is she part of the Uzumaki clan, too? I thought she more identified as a Senju."