The Future: Naruto Fanfiction

Chapter 7-A VILLAGE WORTH PROTECTING

The Hidden Leaf Camp

Following the explanation of ninja history, Minato and Kushina decide to get to know some of the villagers. Not only will this help their understanding of history, of what the village has become but it is essential for a Hokage to know their villagers. While the incumbent Hokage is Uchiha Sarada, the 9th Hokage, that cannot detract from the fact that Minato is the 4th Hokage and forever will be. As for Kushina she is the wife of the 4th Hokage, the mother of the 7th Hokage and the nine tails jinchuriki, a truly important member of the hidden leaf village.

Knocking on one door results in a familiar looking face opening it. The long black hair and the shadowy presence indicates to Minato and Kushina that this is a member of the Nara family. The man introduces himself as Nara Shikadai, the latest member of the Nara clan to join an Ino-Shika-Cho formation.

"So, the Nara clan is still faring well" Minato notes with a smile. He recalls the days of growing up in the academy, fighting alongside many brave men and women from the Nara family. It was a clan that had earnt its reputation not only as the hidden leaf's most intelligent clan but also one of the most respected in its history.

"Yes Lord 4th, we have suffered a few... a lot of setbacks because of the war but we are still here, we are still alive" Shikadai answers. It is a painful answer to give, agony wracks his heart as he thinks back to the day Boruto lead an assault on the enemy forces. That day he had primarily taken members of the Nara and Akimichi clans, nobody but Boruto had returned.

"Please don't call me Lord 4th" Minato waves his hand vertically with a tone of embarrassment, "You can just call me Minato".

"I believe my grandfather was friends with a Namikaze Minato" Shikadai points out.

"Shikaku" Minato raises his voice subconsciously as he leans inquisitively towards Shikadai, "Is your grandfather Shikaku?".

Shikadai nods, "That's right... I never met him, he died in the fourth great shinobi war".

Kushina lowers her head, 'They all talk about it, the fourth great shinobi war, as if it was the most important event in history. They all give credit to winning that war to Naruto... just how important was my son'.

"I see" Minato lowers his head awkwardly just like his wife, "I have been told that I was reanimated for the fourth great shinobi war, I'm sorry that I couldn't save him".

Shikadai chuckles at the apology, "There is no need to apologise, that hadn't even happened in your life yet, besides, if not for you and the other Hokage we would never have won the war".

A smile comes to Kushina's face as she rubs her hand along Minato's back. "Good work Minato".

"Thanks" Minato smiles awkwardly, "Though I haven't done anything yet".

"But not everything worked out well" she continues, "We've been bad parents to Naruto and bad grandparents to Boruto and Himawari".

Minato remembers the stories Sakura told them just a few hours ago, of how Naruto grew up in terrible circumstances. He remembers how it was said that Naruto was bullied and abused by the villagers, the same villagers who blamed him for the death of himself, the 4th Hokage. All because of one curse, the nine-tailed fox. It is testament to Naruto that he could do what nobody else could have ever done, taken all that hatred, that curse and turned it into a blessing.