Hokage Once More

Third person pov

Minato was pacing, pacing, and then pacing some more. Hiruzen watched with no small amount of amusement as his successor practically wore a hole in the floor. They'd spent the day catching Minato up. He was quick to memorize what needed to be known and asked inquisitive questions that proved to further his knowledge on what he'd missed out on. Hiruzen arranged for an announcement for Minato's reinstatement as Hokage to be made in as soon as a few days, eager to get this hat off his head and back onto the blonde young man's. Konoha was already abuzz with anticipation, ready to accept their Fourth Hokage back with open arms and open hearts.

Hiruzen did momentarily have to wonder if Minato was ready to do the same. He was not the same man he had been before, warped slightly by this new future. There were grimaces of distaste when certain things were talked about, and questions coated in sharp, tempered steel still hot from the forge. His blue eyes had almost seemed to glow as he leaned forward, head cocked in a manner near eerie. He wanted to know why his son had been treated so horribly in his absence. If it would've changed had he not appeared when he did. Naruto was the hero of the village-- he'd taken on a burden he hadn't wanted, and he'd done so successfully. He was the village's jinchuuriki. If anything, he was an individual to be cherished and praised. A little boy who had more strength than he realized.

Truth be told, Hiruzen had drawn a blank when showered in inquiries like these. He sweat under the cold, unfamiliar gaze shot at him. Opening his mouth to spew out excuses felt too much like a misstep. He was teetering on the edge of... something. What that was, Hiruzen wouldn't claim to know. It felt dangerous. Like Minato had reached the end of his very long rope in the blink of an eye, and was just waiting for someone to make another slip up. His love for his son was not to be underestimated. Despite having missed out on Naruto's youngest years, that did not mean he cared for his son any less. His adoration for him was still just as strong as it had ever been-- possibly even stronger now that he'd gotten a chance to meet the boy.

Back at the matter at hand-- Minato could hardly focus on anything. The academy had let out not too long ago, yet the Fourth was still antsy as ever. The moment the clock hit half past three he was nearly about to blow a gasket, standing up with newfound abruptness and some odd form of determination. The paperwork they'd been looking over was left abandoned as he walked the length of the room, smacking at his face every so often as though trying to snap himself out of something and shaking his head. Kushina would surely be cackling if she could see her husband now. Hiruzen wondered if maybe, somewhere, she was.

A knock at the door drew The Third away from more morose thoughts. Minato whirled so fast you'd have thought he used Hirashin to turn, tearing open the double doors with gusto and a hopeful expression. Kakashi was on the other side just as expected, fist raised to knock. Pakkun trotted past Minato's feet with a frustrated expression marring his wrinkled face. Hiruzen could recall the ninken being grumpy on the few occasions he'd actually seen it, but right now it look downright irate. Seeing Naruto's shaking form, he had a sinking feeling there was a good reason as to why. He took a long drag of his pipe as Minato's form tensed.

Minato's expression dropped. It delved into something darker as Kakashi stepped in, his lone eye grim and bordering on apologetic. Minato immediately looked like he'd been punched, looking at the small, quivering form in Kakashi's arms. Naruto's body rattled with distress, hiccups causing him to jolt every so often. He reached out weakly, hands hovering and unsure what to do, his eyes turning desperate in a matter of seconds. The whiplash of emotions wasn't unexpected coming from someone like him, but Hiruzen still found himself intrigued by this new side of his successor.

Naruto could hardly find it in himself to breathe at this point. He was being an idiot, he knew. Only pathetic babies cried over things like this. Normally he wouldn't have really bat an eye. Maybe yelled a little and gotten loud, but he'd have taken the failing grade with a roll of his eyes were it any other day. This was different, however. He had expectations he wanted to meet nowadays. Something to put effort in for. He didn't want to let down his dad. If he did, what if he got thrown out? Just as quickly as he'd taken Naruto in, he could surely punt him right back out if he chose to do so.

"Naruto..." Minato trailed off. The boy tensed immediately, hands tightening around the fabric of Kakashi's vest. Minato looked at his student, terrifying and full of authority. He almost seemed to grow taller, like he hadn't been standing at his full height before. Kakashi shifted his grip on the jinchuuriki. "What happened?"

"Bad day at school." Kakashi noted, but didn't elaborate. Maybe now wasn't the time. The copycat nin looked down at the five year old clinging to him, tugging him away from his body slightly to try and get a look at his face. Naruto's hand shot up to wipe desperately at his tears, his face red and splotchy. He seemed embarrassed and panicked, and Minato's heart ached. "We're here, Naruto. And I promise Minato-sensei won't be mad. Just look! He's been waiting for you all this time."

Minato looked stricken as Kakashi gave his son a closed-eye smile. Naruto sniffled, glancing almost shyly at Minato. Seeing his distress sparked an undeniable rage in him. Who had done this to him? Who had upset him this bad? It hurt. This was his little boy, and someone had harassed him to the point of him devolving into tears. Naruto was everything-- the sun, the moon, and the stars all in one. He was so cheerful and bright. Optimistic despite all he'd been through, and undeniably clever. To think someone had gone out of their way to break him like this... well, Minato had never claimed to be all that forgiving.

"He's right, Naruto! I've been practically dying to see you." Minato stepped a little closer, arms open and eyes hopeful. Naruto peered at him a little more openly. There was a visceral fear in his eyes that made Minato sick. Was he he afraid of? Surely not Minato. Right? If he was, how did he fix that? "I don't know what happened, but I'm sure it wasn't your fault. We'll get it resolved together, okay? I promise."

Naruto's expression crumbled like a sand castle hit by a tidal wave. It dropped into something so vulnerable that made Minato realize just how guarded his son had been before. The Yellow Flash swiped his son away from Kakashi, cradling him and shushing him softly. Naruto tensed just briefly before allowing himself to melt, unable to find the will to doubt right now. His dad didn't seem mad. Would he be mad if he knew? He'd said they'd resolve it together. It was a nice sentiment, but what if he didn't stick to his word when he found out what had gone down? Iruka-sensei was a real life ninja and a teacher to boot. What adult wouldn't believe him? All he had to back him up was Pakkun, but that was their word against the words of... of everyone, really. It wasn't like anyone else would stand up for him. He was six years old and a monster.

Still, he couldn't help but indulge in this. Couldn't help but wrap his arms around his father and lean into him, hoping beyond belief that it would all work out. His dad comforted him, rubbing soothing circles along his back and promising him that it was going to be okay. That he could never be mad at Naruto, and that he would believe him no matter what. These small reassurances built up, soothing Naruto far more than Kakashi's words were able to. He soaked it all up like a sponge, trying to tell himself he did deserve this, even if he was a monster. He did... He did deserve this, right? He was allowed to have this, wasn't he?

"I-I promise I-I tried really h-hard." He sputtered out through his tears, face smooshed into his dad's shoulder. "I-I didn't cheat! I-I-I promise!"

"I know, Naruto. I know. You would never do that." Minato soothed with conviction, tone soft and coated in comfort. The expression on his face told a whole other story. Kakashi wasn't sure he'd ever seen a man look so murderous. Hiruzen swallowed heavily, hands clenched atop his desk as he watched the scene unfold.

Minato wasn't going to let the injustice Naruto had faced all his life so far go unchecked. And hearing Naruto's cracking voice and broken pleads, maybe that was a good thing.

They calmed him down and let Pakkun do most of the talking. The pug didn't cut any corners, voice unforgiving and eyes set in stone. Naruto flushed hot with embarrassment. He couldn't believe he'd cried like that! Looking at his dad now, who nodded in understanding and scoffed on his behalf, perhaps he had overreacted. The little boy had fully expected... he didn't know. Some sort of rejection or disappointment. Some anger from his dad, perhaps. Not this unyielding belief in him. He heard him and Pakkun out and immediately trusted everything they'd said without a shred of doubt. No one had ever done that for him before. Naruto had to once again question whether or not he'd finally lost it. Perhaps this was a dream? A hallucination? He could've hit his head on something and was in a coma.

Minato had taken him home. Gotten him ice cream on the way and reassured him once again that everything was fine. He told Hiruzen to jumpstart the announcement of his reinstatement ceremony. Instead of releasing the notice a few days, it was to go out today. This would result in the academy closing down for the remainder of the week, allowing Naruto the break he needed after such a 'traumatic' event, as Minato had dubbed it. Naruto had given him a weird look. This wasn't nearly the worst thing that had ever happened to him, but it had upset him more than most things would. He was grateful all the same.

"I see." Minato's smile was tight as the explanation finished. Naruto was propped up on his hip, and Kakashi could almost see an apron on the man in his mind's eye. He looked painfully domestic, even with his anger. Naruto didn't seem to notice, licking the melted ice cream that threatened to dribble down the cone and onto his hand. "It seems Naruto's sensei and are will be having some... words."

"Murder isn't legal." Kakashi reminded smoothly. He eyed his sensei. "Next time you see him, you'll be the Fourth Hokage again."

"Oh, I know." Minato said, sounding content with himself. Kakashi shrugged vaguely. That was fair enough. He couldn't say he hadn't thought of flying through the window of Iruka's classroom and teaching him a lesson of his own. He sort of wished he could be there to witness when Minato finally did let loose. The man wanted to make an impact when he did it, Kakashi could tell. Where Kushina was brash and rushed into things, Minato had always proven to stay level-headed and clever. If he wanted things to hurt, then by god they were going to hurt. He would've felt pity for Umino were he not so riled up himself. He simply hid it better than most.

Naruto bounced back just as he did from most things, recovering when Kakashi's other ninken surrounded him with happy yips and wagging tails. They licked his hands free of the stickiness the melted ice cream had created. Minato seemed to sink into his son's giggles, terse expression melding into something warmer and more serene. Kakashi couldn't let but let out a breath of relief as well. He was worried his sensei was rushing a bit too fast back into this Hokage thing. After only a day of revision, was he truly ready to take the mantle back up? Kakashi had never been one to doubt Minato Namikaze, of course, but this was a whole other game they were playing here. He'd been gone six years and was a father all of a sudden to a living, breathing child who could already walk, talk, and scream insults. His wife was gone and the village was in a mild state of disarray. It was a lot to take in. There was a lot to fix.

The academy did in fact close, and the village was indeed sent into the very frenzy they'd all suspected. Decorations were mounted and businesses boomed. Everyone was excited to see their beloved Yondaime return. The festival was thrown together with careful hastiness that had the entire village bumping to do their part. It seemed there was no one unhappy with the news, all of them scrambling to create something beyond satisfactory for their returned hero. Wistful tales of his fight against the fox and his return from death spread amongst the people, sure to be told for generations to come. Kakashi found himself quite amused by it all. Minato didn't seem to share the sentiment. Though grateful, it was clear he wanted this to be over with.

Kakashi suspected this had something to do with Minato's simmering rage towards Iruka Umino, but he wouldn't comment.

Naruto was the proudest of all. Nothing could rival his grin and his awe towards his father. The morning of the dubbed 'crowning' came down upon them quickly. Minato had been scrambling to catch up on things, leaving Naruto with Kakashi during the day to go up to the Hokage's office and relishing in the lunches his son came up to spend with him. It was time he wouldn't trade for the world. It felt like Naruto and Kakashi were all he had, even if he knew that wasn't true. Things were different now. His past friends had aged-- experienced and seen six years more than he had. It placed a gap between them that didn't seem there with Naruto or Kakashi, even if Minato wished desperately he could've been there for his son.

Naruto sat on his dad's bed, hair in a bedraggled disarray from his sleep. He watched in muted wonderment as his dad tugged on his signature coat, the white fabric billowing slightly. Red flames clawed at the bottom edges of the jacket. He had seen it in history books a few times, sketched out in a way that didn't do the real sight justice. Naruto was struck with disbelief, the realization that this was his father settling into him exuberantly. He tried not to let his astonishment show too much. He was getting better at not expecting the worst from his father, but it was hard not to think he'd eventually find him annoying or idiotic. He was Naruto Uzumaki, after all. The village's demon child. He still couldn't believe how much his dad seemed to love him.

It felt nice to be loved. Kashi loved him too, he was sure, and so did the ninken. It was an encapsulating realization that never failed to leave him breathless. He could hardly believe it! If he tried to tell anyone, he wouldn't quite blame them for saying he was a liar. He couldn't even be mad at Iruka-sensei for not thinking he had a dad. Even Naruto still wasn't sure about this whole parent thing. He was ever the skeptic, waiting for a switch to flip, or a knife to stab him in the back. He knew that was crude of him. He trusted his dad-- he did! He just couldn't stop himself from waiting for what had always seemed so inevitable. To find such constant aspects in his life suddenly missing was foreign.

"I hope you're almost ready. You've got places to be." Kakashi drawled, appearing in the doorframe. He wasn't one to talk. Like Naruto, he wasn't dressed either. "Shikaku-sama is here."

"Huh? That old guy with the scar? Shikamaru's dad?" Naruto blurted out. Minato swallowed a laugh at his son's perplexed expression.

"The very same. Though I'd forgotten he had a son." Minato admitted, adjusting his cuffs. "I'll come find you after the ceremony, alright? We can all go get ramen."

Naruto didn't need anymore convincing. He dove off the bed in a flying leap, dashing off to his room. The faster he got dressed, the faster everyone could get going, and thus the faster he could get his ramen. The sound of thundering paws coming down the hall had Kakashi shaking his head and letting out a breath. The ninken all zoomed past, chasing Naruto's small footsteps all the way to his bedroom where he was surely rifling through his dresser with reckless abandon. Minato's smile was so wide it looked like his cheeks hurt. Shikaku's head popped through the door.

"I was wondering where they were all going." He admitted, his lazy drawl the same as it had always been. "How's Naruto settling in? Seems like Kakashi's ninken have taken to him quite well."

"That would be an understatement." Kakashi sighed, deflating. They were hardly his ninken anymore. How had Naruto won them over so quickly? He'd seen the boy slip them food, sure, but they'd been enamored with him long before that. Was it because he was small and cute? Kakashi had been tiny and undeniably adorable once too, and even then they'd still treated him the same. Not that he'd had all of them back then, but the point still stood. Naruto had them wrapped around his finger, and the blond didn't even realize it! He was just 'happy to have the friends', he claimed. If only he knew how willing they'd be to sacrifice their life for his.

"They may as well be his at this point." Minato agreed with no small amount of amusement. He grinned cheekily. "He's settling in great. A few ups and downs, but we're getting somewhere! And after today, Naruto is never going to have to worry about the village bothering him again."

Minato rubbed his hands together like he was scheming. Shikaku and Kakashi shared a look and unanimously decided that they probably didn't' want to know.