The future has passed

I'm home

Third person POV
Sara was wrong. It was not her that needed strength, but him. Naruto stood in front of a door, his body once again showing signs of hesitation that would've made past-him disgusted. Uzumaki Naruto did not hesitate. He did not fear the unknown; nor did he avert his gaze from the insurmountable.

There was a nagging voice in the back of his head. A dangerous feeling of worry that even the most paranoid of shinobi could never understand. It was the kind of dread exclusive to those that had everything they ever wanted, and feared that it could vanish at any second.

Despite Minato's words, Naruto would've prefered to face a hundred copies of Kakuzu than face his mother right now. Not his mother, though. The woman that might one day become his mother. Or rather, the woman that will not become his mother now that his presence changed the past this much.

Sara was with her people, handling paperwork and the like. Despite her claim that she was no longer a queen, the administration of her people was handed to her. The refugees were declared a de-facto clan, with Sara as clan head. Until further notice, to avoid strange questions coming up - as Minato only had the clearance to tell his wife - Naruto was part of that clan.

He was 'Naruto of Roran'. The lone shinobi of the destroyed city, and the bodyguard to the queen. In the sealed documents he wasn't even a proper leaf shinobi anymore. It didn't matter. The bonds he made were more important.

He asked for a single favor. That the forehead protector which he left behind in the office be given to his teacher Iruka once the boy graduated from the academy. Parting with it was easier when Hiruzen agreed.

He could get a new one once the paperwork was done. He could have kept the old one until that was done as well, but it was more a symbolic gesture than anything.

This hidden leaf was a new start for him. And like many new starts, it was difficult. It might've been the most difficult thing he had ever done. His shaking hands tapped against the wooden door three times. Steps echoed from inside and before he could think about jumping onto the roof and making a run for it, it slid open.

She was… beautiful. Her hair reminded him of Sara's, and her face evoked that kind of familiar feeling which could only be born from watching yourself in the mirror; inspecting every bit to figure out which features were from which parent.

Minato stood behind her, not saying a word. It took Naruto a moment to realize they were both standing there frozen. He swallowed, not knowing whether to bow in greeting or just say 'hi'. She made choosing obsolete, grabbing him by the hand and dragging him in. The door shut behind them.

Naruto didn't know what she was doing. She put him next to Minato, looking at them before nodding with a wide smile.

Kushina: Minato!!! I told you our kids would get my good looks.

Naruto felt his knees grow weak at the smile. It was disarming and he felt like an asshole for expecting something low of his mother. For not trusting Minato's words.

Giving her a shaky thumbs up, he mirrored her smile. He was desperate to avoid the mess of emotions he felt when he met the third hokage again. He was attempting to, at least, and failing.

He wasn't even sure what to call her. Mom? Mother? Kushina? She wrapped an arm around his neck, the other around Minato's. Was it so easy? Just accepting who he was without suspicion? Just forming a bond over something that sounded so insane even in a world full of ninja?

Hell yeah it was that easy. That's what he does. He's Uzumaki Naruto. He laughs at expectations. He wrapped his arms around her, giving her a hug. He made friends in less time than that. What did he have to lose? Nothing.