*Sounds of Birds chirping early in the morning*
TRRRIINNNNGGG!!!!!
Naruto's alarm was ringing.
*Ugh!*
Naruto turned about in the bed following which he reached out his alarm.
*pat*
The alarm stopped ringing…
"HOAAHHH!" Naruto sat upright and yawned lazily as he stared around at his dark room only to see the slit under his door lit up.
"Eh?"
"Dad's already awake this early in the morning?"
"it's only five though…" Naruto thought.
*Door opens*
Naruto slowly walks out of his room to see Minato doing a handstand.
"Eh…?"
"Naruto?"
"Why are you up so early?" Minato asked while seeing Naruto upside down from his perspective.
"Same thing I'd ask you, dad," Naruto said as he stared at Minato.
"This,"
"It's just my morning stretching routine," Minato smiled, following which he reverted to standing back upright.
"What would you like for breakfast?" Minato asked upon placing his hands on Naruto's shoulders.
"Breakfast?" Naruto thought for a bit.
"I'm going to train now, so I want something light,"
"Around 10 or so, I will probably head over to Ichiraku's or something…" Naruto said.
"How about I pack food for you in a box?" Minato asked.
("That part used to belong to Hinata ya know,")
("Though I gotta admit it is kinda weird to see my dad eager to do it,") Naruto thought upon seeing Minato's expectant expression.
"Sure," Naruto nodded.
"Okay,"
"Have a bath now,"
"By the time you are out, everything will be ready," Minato smiled.
Naruto was not really that comfortable, after all unlike being busy like before, he was free now.
"Hey dad, do you want me to help or something," Naruto asked.
"No, I'll handle it," Minato said as he wore his pink apron.
Naruto's eyes twitched,
("Dad's really good at handling everything all right,")
("Though I wonder, if he was a girl would he be the housewife of the year?") Naruto thought
"You are not training alone are you?"
"If there's another person, I'll pack lunch for two," Minato said from inside.
"…" Naruto stared silently.
"Hm?" Minato questioned.
"Nah,"
"One box is enough," Naruto said following which he headed towards the bathroom.
*Sound of water running,*
Naruto saw the bathtub being filled up with water.
("When did he…?") Naruto was shocked.
"Is the temperature okay?" Minato asked from outside.
"…" Naruto could only stare in silence seeing how everything was being automated around him.
("Yup, No doubt about it,")
("He's the housewife of the year…") Naruto thought.
"Turn it off when it's full," Minato said.
"yeah…" Naruto stared in a daze subconsciously comparing himself as a dad.
("Did I ever do anything at all?") Naruto questioned himself as he turned off the water.
Naruto finished washing himself and then immersed his body in the bathtub.
"Haaahh…" Naruto sighed in a relaxed manner as he stared at the ceiling comparing himself to his dad.
A few moments later Naruto sat upright in shock.
("Wait a minute,")
("Dad died at the age of 24, and is reanimated at the age of twenty-four,")
("But I am…") Naruto felt the whole world turn around, following which he hung his head down in depression.
("Am I the dad, or is he?") Naruto was depressed upon comparing his age.
Kurama and Shū shook their heads in confusion as well.
Back in the desert…
*Sounds of footsteps*
The Kazekage and his team ran across the desert with the sun rising up bit by bit.
*Sh!* A huge light ray extended across in the distance.
"Huh?" Baki, Rasa, Gaara, Kankūro, and Temari stared at the beam as they neared the village.
Baki stared at the path ahead of the team, where a group of people slowly came into view.
("That's the investigation unit…") Baki and Rasa looked at each other and confirmed through their expressions.
"Kazekage-sama," One of the members appeared and half-kneeled in front of Rasa.
"What's going on?" Rasa asked.
"Daimyō-sama has been assassinated," The man reported.
"WHAT?" Rasa and Baki played along as naturally as possible, which also matched up with the expressions from Temari and Kankūro as well.
However, Gaara's naturally shocked reaction was entirely unexpected to any of the members over there.
"Huh?" The man stared at Gaara, expecting his usual emotionless expression.
"Who's the culprit?" Rasa quickly asked.
"Ah,"
"Only one has been found so far,"
"He seems to be the mastermind behind it all," The man reported.
"Speak,"
"Who is this person," Rasa asked.
"It's none other than our recently appointed council member, Yūrsan," The man said.
"Yūra?" Rasa frowned.
"Has there been any other clue?" Rasa asked.
"No,"
"Yūrsan has kept his lips sealed on the collaborators,"
"We have imprisoned him for now,"
"Honored Lady Chiyo advised the council to wait for your judgment on the matter," The man said.
("Looks like he has handled it well,") Rasa thought internally.
"I see…" Rasa replied.
"Also,"
"There's been news that the younger brother has taken over the position,"
"He has asked for your presence before him as soon as possible as the new daimyō," The man said.
("That's quicker than I expected…") rasa thought.
"I see…" Rasa nodded following which he pointed out towards the beam in the sky.
"Are you aware of that?" Rasa asked.
"Yes,"
"Apparently,"
"It's a new monument that our village has gained control of,"
"Honored Lady Chiyo suggested it be called the time light dome," the man said following which he pointed to the light ray in the sky.
"That light ray changes in accordance to the position of the sun,"
"In fact, the burial for the daimyō is said to be held in front of the time light dome today," The man replied.
"Time light dome?" Rasa and the others found it weird.
Rasa took a look towards the direction of the light following which he was reminded of a particular scene.
("It couldn't be…")
("The seventh's work, could it?") Rasa thought back to Naruto's memories where he fought against Deidara and unleashed a rain of rasengans that created a crater so polished; it was like a mirror that reflected light.
"Kazekage-sama?" The man stared at Rasa.
"Let's Go," Rasa snapped out of his thinking and urged his team to proceed to the village.
"Yes!" Baki and the others nodded as they went on a ninja ran towards the village.
Sarutobi Residence…
Hiruzen was busy tying his ninja armors to his body in his room.
"Dear," Hiruzen heard a voice.
Hiruzen turned back to see his wife at the door.
"What is it Biwoko?" Hiruzen asked.
"Read," Biwoko handed over the scroll to Hiruzen.
"huh?" Hiruzen opened the scroll.
"This is…" Hiruzen looked at Biwoko.
"I must head early,"
"Send breakfast over," Hiruzen said as he quickly grabbed his Haori and his Hokage robe.
"Yes!" Biwoko nodded and headed downstairs immediately.
*om*
Naruto munched on the sandwich in his hand.
"I've kept your bento here," Minato said as he pointed to the box neatly packaged in a cloth at the other end of the table with chopsticks on top.
*gulp* Naruto wasn't feeling that much comfortable.
He smiled awkwardly at his dad who was actually younger than him.
"Where are you going to train?" Minato asked.
"The third training ground outside the village," Naruto said.
"I see…" Minato thought back to the bell training where he had tied Obito to the log, which also happened to Naruto when he was under Kakashi.
"Later…" Naruto waved as he quickly grabbed his bag and packed the bentos in and headed outside.
"Have a good day," Minato waved at Naruto as he left the house.
"Now then…" Minato looked at the kitchen, following which he undid his apron and neatly folded it.
He then donned the ANBU robe and a mask and headed towards the kitchen to collect his bento which he had packed for himself.
("Time to go to work,") Minato thought.
(Whoosh!) Minato used his flying thunder god technique to leave the house.
*Sound of footsteps*
Naruto walked towards Neji's house only to see he was waiting by the footpath outside.
"Good Morning!" Neji greeted.
"Good Morinin," Naruto nodded back following which he asked.
"Shall we go?"
"Yes!" Neji walked towards Naruto.
(Whoosh!) they had vanished from their spot as they quickly headed over to the training field.
*sound of wind*
Naruto and Neji were quickly jumping across rooftops.
"HAAAA!!!!!!" A figure charged towards the two from behind.
Neji and Naruto had instantly recognized this voice.
(Whoosh!) The figure appeared between Naruto and Neji.
"Naruto-kun, Neji-kun,"
"Good Morning," the figure said.
"Bushy Brows,"
"Lee," Neji and Naruto called out at the same time.
"Are you guys going for training?" Lee asked.
"Yeah," Naruto nodded.
("Ah,")
("Sasuke is probably going to be pissed,") Naruto sighed.
"Can I join?" Lee asked.
"Mm!" Naruto nodded following which Lee had an even more fiery gaze as he stared at the two,
"Thanks for allowing me to join," Lee said.
"Mm!" Naruto and Neji nodded.
Sasuke was waiting at the training field while staring at the rising sun.
(Whoosh!) the trio landed in front of him.
"Good Morning,"
"Uchiha Sasuke," Lee greeted.
"Yo!" Naruto saluted with two fingers.
Neji, on the other hand, was quiet.
"What are these two doing here?"
"I thought the fight was between us," Sasuke said in a grumpy voice.
"Well…" Naruto smiled awkwardly.
(Whoosh!) an ANBU agent landed in front of them.
"Naruto," the man called out.
However, Naruto and Sasuke instantly understood from seeing the yellow hair behind the mask that it was Minato.
"Hm?" Naruto looked at his dad.
"The Hokage requires your presence in his room immediately," Minato said.
("What could have happened?") Naruto thought.
(Whoosh!)
Minato teleported along with Naruto into the Hokage's Office room.
"Naruto," Karin called out upon seeing Naruto arrive.
Naruto turned around to see Karin, Kiba and Shino stand around with Asuma standing beside Hiruzen.
"What happened old man?" Naruto asked.
"Naruto,"
"Hinata…"
"has been…"
"Kidnapped," Hiruzen said.
"WHAT?" Naruto's eyes widened.
Also a bonus image for this chapter.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5e/44/80/5e448063748a3b62c978d64e7b1fcbb7.jpg
Check it out!