6 Chapter 6: Family time
"Naruto, get up how long are you going to lie there"
Naruto raised to sitting position then asked with lost look on his face "Is everything you talked with ero-sennin true?, did they purposely hid my parents' idenities and forbid you guys to meet me"
Tsunade said with pained expression to Naruto "It's not like that" then glared at Ryuu "You have to understand Naruto. Your parents especially your father was so hated outside of fire country."
"Who is my father?" Naruto asked
"He is Minato Namikaze, The late Hokage" Ryuu said bluntly.
When Tsunade tried to say something Ryuu said "Mom, it's already too late to hide it from Naruto"
"No, you are lying. Old man would have never lied to me. He loved me like i was his grandson." Said Naruto tears running down on his face.
Then Naruto stood up and started walking towards to the door with lost look.
"Naruto where are you going" Tsunade asked.
"Just leave me alone, please." Naruto said.
"Let him be mom. He needs some time to be alone. We have turned his world upside down" Ryuu said to Tsunade making her relax bit.
When Naruto left Ryuu turned to his family then asked " Mom, nee-chan let's go to the hotel. Let's talk there. By the way where is Haku?
" Yes you are right. Let's go to the hotel? Tsunade said
" Oh, Haku is probably near the city. He said he needed some medical herbs. We planned to meet him in about 5 days later" Shizune said.
"Is that so. How is he? It's been 2 years since we saw each other" Ryuu asked about his only friend he befriended when he was traveling with Nakamura on one of his training trip.
" He's doing well. I'm thinking of taking him as a student."Tsunade said making Ryuu happy.
" Is he that talented, If you are considering to take him as a student he should be quite good at way of healing. At least he deserves some peaceful life doing what he wants after what he went through" Ryuu said.
" Yes. Such a gentle soul." Shizune added
"Let's not talk about depressing stuff. Let's go to the hotel" Tsunade said receiving three nods then 3 people and one pig left restaurant together heading direction of the nearest hotel.
When they reached the nearest 3 story tall hotel Shizune quickly made arrangement with reception and booked 2 rooms. One room with two beds and for Ryuu she booked single bed room.
They went to the room with 2 beds. When they made themselves comfortable Ryuu started conversation saying "How have you guys been. I missed you guys lot"
"We missed you too. We traveled a lot" Shizune said and Tsunade added last part.
"How is Nakamura and Mifune-dono" Tsunade asked
"They are fine. After you left nothing much changed. I rarely met Mifune-sama. As for Nakamura-sensei he's still as energetic as ever". Ryuu said with smile.
"I trust you have grown lot stronger" Shizune said
"Of course nee-chan. As a man of the family i need to be strong. Or how else i'm going to protect my family. By the way are there any guys harassing my beautiful sister? Do you need me for to scare some good for nothing men" Ryuu asked teasingly making Shizune cough.
"No need Ryuu-chan. I can take care of myself" Shizune said with warm smile.
" Yeah yeah. You don't need to worry. She is forever alone type of woman" Tsunade said making fun of Shizune.
Shizune gasped at Tsunade "What are you saying Tsunade-sama. I'm busy taking care of messes you make daily"
"Keep tricking yourself Shizune. And let me enjoy simple things in life" Tsunade said with laugh earning chuckle from Ryuu.
After few rounds of laughter Ryuu's face turned serious and asked from Tsunade "Mom, What were Jiraiya and Naruto doing here?"
"After sensei's unfortunate demise Konoha council decided to appoint me as Hokage." Tsunade said frowning.
"What do you think about it mother? Ryuu asked
"I don't have much choice. If i don't become Hokage i will be at risk becoming nuke-nin" Tsunade said with hint of anger in her voice.
"They can't risk branding you as missing nin" Ryuu said.
"No, Konoha council can make it possible. In Konoha there's someone aiming for Hokage seat. He will eliminate me to strengthen his position at any cost. Without sensei's protection it is possible. We have to thank Jiraiya. Jiraiya made it possible for me to become Hokage and stay in control. But he can't influence council forever. Sooner or later they will brand me as missing nin if i don't go back to Konoha or become Hokage." Tsunade said.
"Then why don't let Jiraiya become Hokage" Ryuu asked.
"Jiraiya is more useful outside keeping tabs on other villages and events. Konoha can't risk confining Jiraiya inside Konoha" Tsunade said regretfully.
"I think we should discuss it with Jiraiya-sama." Shizune said hesitantly because Ryuu was on bad terms with Jiraiya.
"I agree." Ryuu said making Shizune relax
"Yes. I think so too." Tsunade said.
After brief moment of silence Ryuu said "I met Orochimaru and his henchman" shocking master and apprentice duo.
Seeing their expression "Don't worry, everything went smoothly. Orochimaru can't do anything even if he wasn't injured." Ryuu said.
"Ryuu-chan!" Tsunade and Shizune both exclaimed loudly.
"Overconfidence is dangerous thing. How could you be this reckless" Tsunade almost shouted.
"I know my limits mom. I'm not saying i'm the strongest. You know me, i don't take the risk if i'm not sure about the situation. Even Jiraiya would pay high price to defeat me." Ryuu said reassuringly.
"It's just.. I don't want to lose you son." Tsunade said in soft whisper.
"I love you mom, sis. I won't cause you any sort of pain needlessly." Ryuu said awkwardly
"More importantly what did he want? Did he seek you for his injury?" Ryuu asked changing subject
"Yes" Tsunaded answered shortly then said "It's getting late Ryuu-chan. There's no point discussing things at this late."
Getting the hint Shizune too said "Yes, It's getting late. I think we should rest for now Ryuu-chan."
"Okay, let's call it a day. Goodnight mom, sis" Ryuu said getting the hint that Tsunade wasn't willing to talk about it and getting "Goodnight Ryuu-chan" from them. Then he stood up and thought while reaching for the door ' It seems meeting with Orochimaru is unavoidable"
When Ryuu left Shizune spoke "Tsunade-sama do you think Ryuu is suspecting that we are going to meet Orochimaru"
"I think he does. He was a quite good observant ever since he was a small child" Tsunade said.
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'Now it's the best time to meet Naruto' Ryuu thought and vanished from his room.
When Ryuu came outside of the hotel he searched for chakra signatures of Jiraiya and Naruto.
He found Naruto alone in the park nearby. Jiraiya was not so far away from him.
'He's probably keeping tabs on Naruto. Since Jiraiya is keeping eye on Naruto i will leave better impression on Jiraiya while talking with Naruto' Ryuu thought.
When Ryuu shunshined beside him Naruto didn't even react. Naruto was just sitting there with far away look.
Ryuu thought "I really messed his mind'
Ryuu coughed loudly to gain Naruto's attention. Then when Naruto turned to Ryuu he said.
"Can i talk with you Naruto?"
"What do you want?" Naruto said to him in annoyed voice.
"I wanted to be sure if you were ok. I understand your feelings even it's just a little bit" Ryuu said calmly.
"What do you know about me. I suffered all alone. You don't know what suffering is, what being alone is. You have your mother and your sister" Naruto said angrily.
"Actually i can relate to you. Before i met mom and sis i was a slave" Ryuu said without change in his tone.
This caught Naruto's attention.
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked
"In Iron country when i was six years old the slave caravan i was on ambushed by bandits. And by luck i made into the forest" Ryuu said.
With sigh Ryuu continued "If you don't know, Iron country is always covered with snow really cold place. I don't know how long i wandered in forest just with tattered rag covering my body exhausted, starved and cold. If nee-chan didn't find me by chance i would have died in cold forest and became food for wild animals. I was all alone before i met my family. That's why my most important thing is my family. Without them i would have died. I trained from young age to protect my family. This family includes you."
"Hearing this Naruto didn't know what to say. "But.... but.." He couldn't find a word to say.
"I know you are confused and angry. I was angry at 3rd Hokage too. But as mom said you have to understand too. Even though if he loved you dearly he still was Hokage and you are a Jinchuuriki. He had responsibility. Now we are here you are not alone anymore" Ryuu said
"Then what must i do" Naruto said. He was already crying. He didn't know what to do anymore.
"Be true to yourself. Follow your heart. Don't live in regret. If you have questions we are here. Always remember that you have family and you are not alone anymore." With saying this Ryuu left leaving Naruto in deep thought.
Ryuu materialized beside Jiraiya then said. "Now you have your chance to mend your relationship with your godson. Thank me later." Then he vanished again.
"This brat is really getting on my nerve" Jiraiya said but with smile.
