Critical Moments-Volume 1

XXIX

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Minato sipped his morning coffee as the first sunrise of the new year crept into the living room. A quick check of his watch indicated it was 0555 – Naruto would wake any minute. He took another sip, rewarded by the sound of his son's alarm clock and the sound of him performing his morning exercises. Good boy, growing up strong.

Minato peeled back his memories of being Naruto's age. Probably the happiest memory was confessing to Kushina that he loved her, but Minato remembered many painful ones, too. Specifically, he remembered graduation day. He remembered waiting for his turn to cross the stage, knowing after Lord and Lady Sarutobi gave him his headband there would be no happy congratulations from his mom or dad. Even Sensei Jiraiya hadn't been there, having spent the previous night on a bender and waking up with a random woman in a love hotel. It was in that moment that he promised himself if he had a child, he'd be there when it counted.

Another sip of coffee, and he could hear Naruto in the shower. Even on holidays, Naruto made it a point to get out the door by 0700 to go train, even if there was no training scheduled. A regular chip off the old block. I just hope I'm better at this than Jiraiya was.

Naruto bolted down the stairs with haste of quicksilver, but he froze dead still as he locked eyes with Minato as he reached the landing. His son wore his usual ensemble of burnt orange athletic pants and a black t-shirt. "Good morning, son," Minato said as he raised his coffee cup, "I think we need to talk."

Naruto went from running to skulking toward the kitchen, barely acknowledging him. The kid is angry; he has a right to be. Take it slow, and don't force the issue. Naruto went to the sink, filled the electric kettle, and set it to boil. He went to another cupboard to retrieve a black sesame instant cereal and pour a generous portion into a bowl. As he set his bowl down on the counter dividing the kitchen from the living room, Naruto finally spoke, "Okay, talk." His tone was dour, but at least he was speaking to him. Naruto hadn't said a word to him since leaving the Hyūga Compound.

"Son, I know you're angry..."

Naruto slammed a fist onto the counter, "Angry!" he shouted, "I used to get angry when I brought home a failing grade on a test, Dad!" Naruto's angry boiled as the water in the kettle, "I got angry when I walked in on Sakura and Sasuke making out in a closet!" The kettle popped, indicating the water had boiled, "So you tell me," Naruto picked up the kettle and poured the steaming water into the bowl, "what the hell am I feeling now!"

"Betrayal, fury," Minato counted off the list, "like your Dad didn't back you up when he should have." Minato felt the stone land in his stomach. "Like Hinata wouldn't be in the hospital right now had I acted sooner."

"YES!" Naruto shouted, tears started to leak from the corners of Naruto's eyes as he slammed his hands down on the counter. Minato got to his feet, wrapping his son in a hug as his boy began sobbing in earnest. Of all the things I never learned to do well, this one is still the hardest. Minato had hardly done a standup job for Kakashi when Obito and Rin had died. When it turned out Obito hadn't died and had attacked them, Kakashi had already been on the cusp of manhood – too old to console like this.

Minato felt the guilt of his past and present failures seeping out as he held his son. "Naruto, I promised you when you were a baby that I would keep my mistakes small," his voice quivered through tears, "I'm sorry I failed you again."

"Dad, why!" Naruto beat a fist weakly against his chest.

"I wish," he choked for a moment, "I could tell you something about not interfering in clan politics," Minato shook his head, "But the truth is, I screwed up. You were right, and I should have listened to you, son. Had you not been there..." Go ahead, admit to it. "... I could have gotten her killed."