The King and his Son Ch: 11

I believed in many things. Music being a part of the heart and soul, someone finding that special someone that is their missing half. And so much more. But what I hadn't thought I'd believe in, were ghosts. That's right, I said ghosts.

After their first kiss, Naruto and Hinata walked around, Naruto had his arm wrapped gently around her waist. Sighing softly, the young man smiled softly. For the first time in ten years he was happy… right now, his life was perfect that was for sure. Though, he couldn't help but notice that Hinata has been quite the entire time. But why? Was something on her mind that she wanted to say or was she just unsure as to what to say?

"Hina-chan, what's wrong?" asked Naruto as they stopped over a bridge.

Hinata looked up at Naruto and gave a soft smile. "It's as if you were brought back from the dead… just for me. You don't know how much I missed you Naruto. I kept having nightmares…" She frowned softly before turning her head away from him. "Nightmares of you screaming for help… calling out to me but I just couldn't get to you."

He had no idea that his disappearance had caused her so much pain. Looking away in shame, Naruto tried to think on what he could say to make it up to her… though no matter what he just couldn't think of anything that he could say or do to make it up to her in the least.  The young man had no idea that he had caused so much pain to Hinata… Turning back to her, he whispered "I'm so sorry Hinata; I never meant to hurt you."

"I'm just happy that you're alive Naru-kun." Hinata said with a soft and gentle smile. That smile of hers made the blood rush to his face, creating a soft pink to tint his cheeks.

Taking a deep breath, Naruto looked over the bridge and into the water that flowed below them. He could see his reflection perfectly… his red hair looked lighter to him for some reason though. The more he looked at his reflection the young man wondered if he could have a peaceful life now that he had Hinata in his life. Right now, it just seemed too good to be true.

"Naruto… please, come back with me."

"No."

"But why?"

"I can't go back Hinata. It's hard to explain but I have my reasons for never going back." Naruto whispered, his eyes closed as he tried to repress the memories… the blood, the gun shot, the tears and the pain. All of it, he wanted to forget it all but no matter what he just couldn't seem to forget no matter how hard he tried.

Frowning, Hinata gently grabbed her hand as she said "Naruto, please you have to come back. You're the only one that can help everyone." He didn't answer, his eyes still closed. There was no way that he could go back. Life couldn't be that bad right? Sure Orochimaru is an ass but… it just can't be that bad. "Naruto, no one is allowed to quit. We work almost all day long barely getting any sleep or time at home. All our clients have left us and… if we leave or quit he'll make sure that no one can get a job. It's hell for us Naruto."

"I'm not going back Hinata."

"Why? If you love me you'll come back and help not just me, but everyone. You're mother included."

"Why? What's wrong with my mother besides her grieving over my father?" Naruto said, trying to keep himself calm. But, he knew that it was harder than it sounded with Kurama's main power being controlled by anger.

"Orochimaru is trying to get her to marry him."

Naruto's eyes widened in shock. The snake was… trying to get his mother to marry him?! Growling, he said "damn it… I still can't go back Hinata. Besides, my mother won't marry him. If she still loves my dad, there is no way that she'll marry that snake." Naruto was sure of that, his mom wouldn't marry Orochimaru. There was just no way would that happen.

"Naruto… do you love me?"

"Of course I do."

"Then please come back with me?!"

"Damn it Hinata, I can't."

"Why?!"

"I can't. I… I just can't okay? Besides what about you, you left."

Hinata frowned and looked away. Naruto wasn't sure but he had a feeling that he pushed way too many buttons with her feelings. But he couldn't help that, there was no way that he was going to go back to his old life. That was something he was trying to get away from. "I was ordered to come here to sign you up. You're the only hope we have now. You can save everyone… you only have to come back with me." Whispered Hinata with tears in her eyes when she looked up at him.

Turning away, he whispered "I'm sorry Hinata. But I cannot go back. Not for what I've done." Before he could hear her ask him what he had meant, Naruto ran off. He had to get away, damn it why did she have to make him feel so damn guilty? As if he didn't feel guilty enough as it was. Just thinking about what she had said made his stomach hurt like hell. Guilt was a powerful thing that was for sure.

As soon as he felt that he was far enough, Naruto sighed and sat down under a tree. Trying to think of what path he should take. No matter what, he knows that he can't go back. But at the same time, he knew that he had to go back. Though he knew that he should do the right thing and help but… damn it he just couldn't. Burying his face in his knees, Naruto just wished that he could forget everything in his past just wouldn't leave him alone.

Sighing softly, Naruto tried to get himself to calm down. Maybe he was being stupid… he should go back and he knows that. His mother would never want to marry the snake, and he knew that he scared her as much as he scared Naruto. It was just common sense!

"What's the matter red?"

Blinking, Naruto lifted his head and stared at a tall man with long spiky white hair. He wore a green jacket with a red vest over it. Red hand guards, matching green pants with bandages around his ankles and red sandals. Around his forehead was some kind of metal forehead protector with steel horns on it. What else Naruto noticed, were the red lines under his eyes.

Who was this man?

"Who are you?"

"Just an old man taking a nice walk through the field."

Rolling his eyes, Naruto pushed himself up as he said "I'm just gonna go. Enjoy yourself old man." He started to walk away, wondering what the hell he was going to do though… it seemed that it didn't matter. Life was just complicated.

"Why you are like Minato."

Eyes widening, Naruto turned around and stared at the old man's grin. "Follow me." He then started to run off. Naruto ran after him, trying to figure out what the old man had said. Did he know his father? But if so, why hadn't he ever met this man before? Or, was it something else that had done it? Did he forget this man or maybe he just plain never met him in the first place.

The old man leaned against a tree writing something down in a note book. It made him wonder what he could be writing about… Shaking his head, Naruto looked at the white haired man as he asked "you knew my father?" Asked Naruto as he tried to figure this man out a little bit. Trying to place him, though it just seemed that no matter what he just couldn't think of anything to get him to think properly. This man was confusing to him for some reason.

The old man smirked as he said "you mean, I know your father."

"Hate to break it to you old man, but he died ten years ago."

"Nope, wrong Naruto."

"How do you know my name?"

"He's as alive as you and me. Follow me, and I'll show you. Also… my name is Jiraiya." With that, the old man ran off. Naruto called out to him, hoping he would wait up at the very least. He had to admit, this guy was fast. Did he train with weights too? That would be the only thing that would make sense to him. Shaking his head, Naruto kept on following the old man; he had to figure out how his father was still alive.

For, the more he thought about it the more it made him wonder about the facts. There was no way that his father could be alive. He was dead; his skin was cold when he last saw him. Even Hinata had said that he was dead… he was buried for crying out loud.

Jumping through the trees, Naruto tried to get through that way. Maybe if he was lucky, he would get in front of the old man before it was too late. Before he could see his father again. He didn't think that he could face him again. After all, he was to blame for what had happened all those years ago. Shaking his head, Naruto knew that at some point he had to shake those thoughts from his mind, he had to think on his future but no matter what he just couldn't get over the pain.

Grabbing some veins, he saw as the old man ran into the forest on the ground, while he was up above. It made Naruto wonder how this guy could get through so easily. There was no way that could be possible. Come on, this guy was fast but even this old man had to have his limits!

Jumping from the tree branch, Naruto landed on the ground and ran after the old man, since it didn't seem as dense as it was right now. Frowning, he yelped when one of the branches had grabbed his hair. Narrowing his eyes, Naruto slashed at the branch with his chakra, though the chakra had made contact with his hair, turning a bit of it blonde. Damn… he didn't want his hair to be blonde again.

Shaking his head, the young man kept on running after Jiraiya. He had to catch up or risk falling too far behind. Taking a deep breath, Naruto pumped chakra into his legs, increasing his speed. He had to keep going, had to catch up… had to see this for himself if his father was alive or not. Maybe, he could get over his past if he saw his father… maybe; this was the first step for him…

"Stop." The old man suddenly said, holding up his hand. Naruto skidded just stopping mere centimeters from his palm. Jiraiya smiled softly before moving a few leaning branches to show a small cave. "In here…" he said softly, almost as if his father was asleep. Why would his father be in here?

Frowning, Naruto slowly started to walk into the cave, looking around trying to see if he would find any trace of his father. The deeper he got, the lighter it got. As if this were more of a tunnel, rather than a cave.

When he was able to get to the other side, Naruto frowned when he saw that it was an open lake with fire flies dancing around. Water lilies floating in the water and many kinds of flowers around the lake almost like a beautiful flower crown. But… why hasn't anyone noticed this place before? Frowning, he looked around some more and didn't see his father. "Look down." Said the old man, which Naruto listened too. Looking down, he frowned, raising a hand to his face and tilted his head. His reflection coping him.

"You trying to cool me old man!" shouted Naruto, staring at Jiraiya with a glare. Was he trying to trick him, making him think that his father had somehow survived! Giving him the hope that… that he would be forgiven for what had happened. "That isn't my father, that's just my fucking reflection!"

"Look harder Naruto."


Frowning, Naruto turned around and looked down and stared at his reflection. Frowning, he tried to stare harder. The water started to ripple as did his reflection. When he stared at his reflection, he saw the changes from the rippling water. The hair started to turn blonde, the whisker marks faded from his face…

When the water started to calm, staring back at him was his father. Minato's face looked back up at him with a serious expression. "He lives within you Naruto." Whispered Jiraiya. Tilting his head, Naruto tried to get those words sorted up. His father lives… within him? How was that possible? Was his father's will within him or something? Or was it something else?

"Naruto…"

Blinking, Naruto looked up and stared at the starry sky. The clouds started to circle the sky above him. Swirling, twisting, forming the body of his father. The clouds started to turn into different colours, the colours that Naruto could remember his father wore on that day… Minato stared down at his son with sad eyes. "Naruto… why haven't you gone back…"

"I couldn't! I just couldn't go back after what happened to you father…" called out Naruto, trying to get over the fact that his father was speaking to him, his father's spirit.

Shaking his head, Minato stared at Naruto for a moment as if trying to figure his son out. Naruto frowned, wondering what his father was going to say. "Naruto, you have to stop running from your past. You are not being the boy I raised… I raised you, to help those in need. And here you are Naruto… hearing that those dear to you need help and you refuse to go…" Naruto looked away, ashamed that his father was right. He had been raised to help those in need and… he refused to help his mother and those from his past.

"Dad, I'm not who I used to be." Whispered Naruto.

"That, is a lie Naruto and you know it. You are my son; you have the will of fire within you Naruto. Don't let it burn out, and help those in need Naruto." Minato said with a smile before he started to fade. "Remember Naruto… help those in need." Naruto called out to his father, trying to catch up. Calling out to him to stop, but no matter what he just couldn't keep up with his father. Frowning, Naruto tripped and fell over into the water. Sputtering water, he swam back to shore, looking back at his reflection and saw that his hair was blonde… not just patches but, his whole head, all of his hair was blonde once more. Staring with wide eyes, Naruto couldn't believe it…

"Do you see Naruto… your father still lives. He lives within you… so long as you hold his memories and will within you." Said Jiraiya with a soft smile. Reaching into his robes, he pulled out a scroll and handed it to Naruto. "Read this, and you'll learn something that just may help you."

"Thanks Jiraiya… I have to admit… I did learn something." Naruto couldn't help but laugh softly. "I cannot stop running from my past, no matter what… My past is my past and I cannot run from it." He chuckled for a moment before he started to run off. "I'm gonna go back!" shouted Naruto to the old man and laughed softly.

He was going to go back to his father's company. And help those in need. Nothing was going to change things anymore, from now on, Naruto wasn't going to let his past haunt him. He was going to make sure that he gets over this past no matter what.