I saw it all (Naruto Fan-fiction)

Chapter 7: The Lost Cause

A/N

As I was writing the story I realized I was listening to a lot of music scores and I typically like reading while listening to them. So I came up with an idea to provide you with music that you can listen to while reading my story.

I made a Spotify playlist that will have a new addition to it as the story goes along. The sixth song on the playlist corresponds to the previous and this chapter. :)

You can find it here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2otIKWcR3th5fkswnUDXNe?si=67f0ff1aa8a1408d

Tsunade sat at her desk staring at the now miraculously alive Fourth Hokage as he paced in her office with a cold and calculated look on his face. The two Hokage had a lot to discuss and so far all Tsunade learnt was that Minato indeed died 13 years ago only to be revived on the day Naruto went rogue and given a second chance at life with a mission to prevent his son from trudging the path of darkness. 

It appears that Minato caught up to Naruto and was just in time to save Sasuke and attempt to convince his son to return home. But to no avail Naruto was able to escape, the older blond was furious at himself for trusting his son so easily, but in all honesty "How could he not?", Naruto was his son after all.

"We have to figure out a way to track him" turned Tsunade's attention back to the Yondaime. 

"For a genin like himself, he masks his chakra well. If it wasn't for the circumstance we are in, I'd feel like a proud father" a hint of a smile flashed on the blond man's face.

"I don't know if I can send any more ANBU squads, there is just no point in sending them only to get slaughtered. I'm sorry if I sound harsh. Believe me, I love Naruto like a grandson, but I'm also Hokage, I can't risk the safety of my people anymore, we have already lost 5 squads!" Minato's eyes widened at that last part.

"5 squads? He killed off 20 trained ANBU?" a look of disbelief spread across his face "No, no, oh Naruto, what are you doing?" the blond man muttered to himself.

Learning about Naruto's escapades was too emotional even for Minato. He was trained to keep his composure, but how could he? His own son, his flesh and blood turned into a cold-blooded killer almost overnight, managing to land in the bingo book as an SS-class criminal. Minato was angry, no, he was furious. This whole situation, all this mess, it wouldn't be happening if he was here from the beginning, if he was strong enough and careful enough to protect Kushina and Naruto. The past donned on him but he knew better, for now, he had to try his best to lock up his regrets and past failures somewhere in the depths of his soul. He had to be here for his son and it seemed like the more he'd hear about Naruto's escape and his past the deeper his heart sunk forming a hole in his chest.

"There has to be a way to find him, damn it!" - Minato exclaimed

"I understand, I do! But as soon as he crosses the Fire country I can't send any relief squads, or else our neighbours on the bordering nations would grow suspicious. It's bad as it is that we lost our only Jinchuriki. We can't let this information slip. At this point our only hope is to follow his tracks covertly, only sending larger relief squads when we know it is him. One thing worries me though." sighed Tsunade.

Minato raised a questioning brow.

"The Akatsuki" the sannin continued

"Akatsuki?"

"Yes, Akatsuki is a terrorist organization that recently revealed itself to us. Their main objective is to collect Jinchuriki of the Hidden Villages. That of course relates to Naruto too. On their trip with Jiraya, Naruto encountered the two members of said organization, one being our own Itachi Uchiha. Seems like he joined this group after escaping the village all these years ago" Tsunade could see Minato look out the window as she continued "Your sensei was the one keeping close tabs on them, in fact, he left not long before Naruto's eventual escape. I wish he was here when the youngling snapped, Jiraya would maybe find a way to reason with him." Tsunade concluded with a look of sadness on her face. 

"Where is he now?" Minato looked sternly at Tsunade

"He should be arriving any day now. I sent the messenger to him right when the incident happened."

"Good, but back to those Akatsuki." Tsunade noticed a flash of concern linger on the younger Hokage's face. "Knowing what you just told me, Naruto is in more danger than we think. Let's hope Jiraya has more answers when he arrives." Tsunade just nodded in agreement.

Minato hoped that Jiraya would be able to provide more information on the Akatsuki, it seemed like ever since his return to the mortal world problems piled on top of one another leaving no time to even process what was going on. He was growing tired, but guilt and regret kept him awake. He was not sent here for a walk in the park, he had a mission, a goal, but with each second new information was thrown at him. The situation at hand horrified him. Naruto – his son, was broken and alone somewhere, and now to top it off his life was in danger. He felt guilty for placing such a burden on his son, it pained him to know that he was the cause of all misfortune Naruto had to encounter all his life. Some father he was. For now, though, all he hoped for is wherever Naruto was in this world, he was safe.

Deep in the covers of the night, a lone figure sat on a tree branch overlooking a lake. The moon reflected off the dark blue waters, light bouncing off, making the surroundings shine with an ethereal milky glow. 

The lone figure was of a young blond boy, he sat there for hours admiring the view in front of him, his big blue eyes almost glowing in the dark. A sad look adorned his young face and it seemed like he was in deep thought over something. Ever since that faithful encounter with his "father" a feeling of doubt clouded his thoughts. 

What if it really was his father? That wasn't possible, was it? 

For the young boy knew that his parents were long gone, taken from him before he ever had a chance to see them enough to remember them. They were taken away from him by that man. That masked man was the one responsible for Naruto's miserable life and one day, one day he would pay. The young boy could fill anger and rage bubbling to the surface as his once blue eyes now had a red gleam to them. There was no time to get all sappy and weak, he had to finish what he started and maybe once he was done, he would try and find that impostor that claimed to be his "father". Tomorrow...tomorrow his plan will take its course, it will take years to achieve what he wanted and there really was no guarantee he would survive but he had to. If not for his own, but for his parents' sake, they did not die in vain, he will avenge them and he will cleanse the world of hatred and be its saviour.

Tomorrow...all will start tomorrow. His eyes turned blue again as he sat there with a look full of determination.

A/N

A slightly shorter chapter, but I really wanted to include his conversation, it plays a role in the story. The next chapter will likely be the last once before we finally go into a time skip. Yay, I  even made some character art for that to show off the character designs. 

Also wanted to thank you all for the reads, we are inching close to 700 already!!! That's so unexpected really but that you all! :)