Minato Namikaze was a genial and even tempered man. He didn't hold grudges and try to move pass those that wronged him. However, since his fight with Naruto a few months ago and Jiraiya's words, Minato had been having a difficult time. It weighed on him how much his son resented his choices, his beliefs and seemingly just him as a person. So, he had spent time trying to truly understand things from Naruto's perspective. The more he thought about it, the more he felt a pit of bitterness form in his stomach. The very same people that always greet him with smiles and the utmost respect, once hated Naruto to his very core. How rage inducing it must be to see the one that damned you praised as a hero.

Minato had since taken to hiding out in shinobi bars, not to really drink but just to be left alone. There was a layer of insincerity he felt with is interactions with the villagers now, people he once trusted implicitly had this cloud of darkness over them. He realized he'd eventually have to get over this but it was proving to be onerous. What was not making it any easier was his current company.

"Is this a meeting of the bad fathers club or what?"

"I'm just bored, Yamanaka." said Hiashi

"I just come here for the quiet" replied Minato.

"Oh, Minato, I've heard Naruto will have one of my clansmen on his team, that won't be a problem will it?"

"Why would it be?"

"You know why. I don't want Naruto taking anything out of someone else to get to me, he's done it before."

"First of all, Inoichi, he only alerted Ino you had done something to him, no more no less. Secondly, Naruto wouldn't go through someone else to hurt you. Thirdly, Naruto never talks about you. As far as he's concerned, from what I can tell, he doesn't give you a second thought. Kushina squared it away and you got off light." the Yondaime finished, only to hear Inoichi grunt not happy to relive what Kushina had done to him.

"Also, I'm not a bad father, Hinata just doesn't like me."

"I'm sure it's just a case of teenage rebellion." Minato said.

"Exactly."

"And the fact she plotted to overthrow you with the aid of a former Hokage, that's normal."

"She's a Hyuuga, we're always advanced." Hiashi replied back, causing the pair of blonds to laugh. "Things have been improving slowly since she took over. It's Hanabi that concerns me."

"Why so?"

"Ever since Hinata has sought to relax-"

"Remove the stick-"

"RELAX the Hyuuga standards of expressing emotions Hanabi has become something else entirely. She used to politely ask me to train and now it's, 'hey dad, lets go train so I can be a beatass kunoichi'. What even is a beatass kunoichi?"

"She might have gotten that from Kushina."

"Of all the people to influence my little girl why her? Minato, you have to help me."

"Help how? Kushina does what she wants."

"I don't know, work your magic. Sweet talk her a little, use that Namikaze charm I assume you have."

"Charms lost a bit of its luster recently. Besides I'm not the most important man in her life anymore. I swear, if Naruto wasn't my son I'd be jealous."

"She's just making up for lost time." Inoichi postulated.

"I'd agree if I didn't see Tsunade behave similarly. They just fuss over him, it's absurd. She ran out of the house earlier because it was her 'sochi-kun's' first day as a jounin sensei. I swear, he has them wrapped about his finger."

"I doubt I can relate since I have a little girl. One your son defiled, by the way."

"Defiled? Not a strong proponent of feminist ideals, I see."

"Bah!"

"What about you, Hiashi? How has Naruto wronged you?"

"I actually don't and never have had a problem with Naruto. I had a problem with him being a target for a group of S rank ninja. I make no apologies for that."

"Bah! That boy's eyes are too sharp, Minato. He may not act but I can tell, he remembers everything. It's like he's just waiting."

"You're paranoid, Inoichi."

"Bah!"

"How much have you had to drink, Yamanaka?"

"Not nearly enough. You know my Ino still looks at me a little funny. I was following orders, damnit. I didn't deserve to lose the respect of my Princess for it."

"And Naruto didn't deserve to have his brains scrambled. Inoichi, you really need to drop this topic lest I forget I made peace with what you did and rasengan you out of this bar."

"Bah!"

Iruka looked over this year's group of graduates. Seeing the excitement and anticipation in their faces as they start their journeys to become shinobi of the leaf. He can't help but think about his last class, many of them nearing Jounin now. He wondered how this group would fair in comparison. Lost in nostalgia he couldn't help think about a certain blond. The one student he felt he failed. It'd taken him too long to let go of his bias and by the time he did, Naruto would have nothing to do with him. Even the night he saved him from Mizuki, Naruto offered a thanks but it was not a moment of bonding. He realized then, Naruto couldn't forgive someone that held what he contained against him, or at the very least he'd give them no credit for getting over it. He, Iruka, had simply been another person in his way, not giving him a fair shake. Iruka wanted to make amends to the boy but it just never came to be. Naruto was never impolite but he made it clear whatever Iruka was looking for wouldn't be found in him so he backed off.

He was proud of the stories he'd hear about Naruto, how he'd risen up in the ranks, the progress he'd shown thanks to dedicated sensei, and to think he'd be the first of his students to take a team.

"Team six on the roof, five minutes." Iruka heard, the voice breaking him out of his thoughts. He turned to see it was the very student he'd be thinking about. Naruto gave him a head nod and shunshin'd away.

Naruto hated the academy. Hated the very building, it was usually a source of humiliation as every fault, minor or major was harped on by his instructors. When he fought back, he got the bad reputation because no matter what he was in the wrong. He'd moved past much of that, much of the resentment he felt for what he endured in his childhood. It was unnecessary weight, especially if he wasn't going to act on it but certain places could bring it back, even if just momentarily. Like seeing Iruka. He knows the man, at heart, is good but he also remembers everything else. He, too, let his opinion of Kurama and his loss affect him. Not as bad as some but, then again, Naruto didn't have to deal with most other people nearly everyday so Iruka's fuck shit was more grating. He can acknowledged and was sincerely thankful Iruka saved him from Mizuki but it was his duty to stop a traitor so it wasn't like he was doing him, Naruto, some grand favor. He gave his thanks and didn't feel the need to go beyond that. One act doesn't erase history and one act doesn't outweigh thousands of others. It just showed Iruka was complex as any other person and Naruto wouldn't reduce him to some mindless hater. He was an impediment, he made his days harder and was cold when Naruto needed the opposite. He was less than professional but didn't outright sabotage him, though knowing your teacher doesn't like you and doesn't want to help you is undermining enough. He'd forgiven Iruka, eventually, but the man had no place in his life. Whatever stain on his honor he felt, it was his to resolve but Naruto felt no need to aid in that.

His brats just managed to get to the roof by the deadline. Looking over his future team, he saw Hanabi; the little firecracker herself. Apparently, she'd recently taken a shine to his mom so a Kushina Uzumaki like Hyuuga would be interesting. Next was Inoshin Yamanaka. Kid had a major chip on his shoulder because he couldn't use his clan's jutsu, something about a rare chakra imbalance made it impossible. He was something of a black sheep and wanted to be the strongest Yamanaka ever, even without their jutsu. It was a youthful goal, indeed. Last, and certain not least, was Makoto Urahara. Daughter of career chunin. She has an interest in kenjutsu, short blades and is pretty average across the board.

"I'm Naruto Uzumaki. Though some call me Senju, others Namikaze; I prefer Uzumaki. I like my family, the shinobi arts, a pearl wearing pig and many other things. I dislike people who interrupt my Hinata time-"

"Sensei, what's Hinata time?" asked the only other male on the team.

"Magical. Now, don't interrupt me. I also dislike bigotry and prejudice. My hobbies coincide with my likes and my hopes are too grandiose for brats to understand. Now, I'd like for you to introduce yourselves; starting with you, not-Hinata." Naruto said and chuckled when he heard her mutter "teme" under her breath.

"My name is Hanabi Hyuuga. I, too, like my family. I also like putting hands on disrespectful fools; oh, and Gamakichi. I dislike feeling restrained. My hobbies include writing and painting. My goal is to be a beatass kunoichi of legend like Kushina-sama who doesn't take shit from anyone."

"Alright, the mentalist is next."

"Grr, my name is Inoshin Yamanaka. I like training and proving people wrong. I dislike people too reliant on their family name to chart their paths in life. My hobbies? Training, I guess. Goals? Being the strongest Yamanaka in history, bar none."

"And finally, Butter knife."

"I'm Makoto Urahara. I liked my family and practicing kenjutsu. I also like sweet things. I dislike people who look down on nonclan shinobi or believe they can't be just as good as those from clans. My hobbies include dancing and singing. My goal is to be an elite kunoichi of the Leaf and a kenjutsu master."

"Excellent. Ok, so normally the Jounin sensei provide a secondary test to their genin teams and it is pass or fail. If you pass, you're a genin team and start training and taking missions; if you fail you go back to the academy. I'm willing to make you an offer; you can take the test I have planned and whatever happens happens. Or you can decided to not take the test and we immediately become a team. No path is better than the other but each comes with its own consequences. Meet me at training ground six tomorrow at 9am and let me know your decision." Naruto said before shunshin'ing away to a nearby rooftop, one occupied by Kakashi.

"You're awfully mean, Naruto-kun." Kakashi drawled.

"Mah, mah, sensei. They might surprise us and not take the bait."

"We both know there is almost no chance of that not happening. To think, you'll torture your cute little students, have you no shame?"

"I learned from the best."

"And you know what that teme had the nerve to call me? The outright gall?"

"Hanabi, calm down."

"Not-Hinata. You hear that, not-you. Arrogant bastard, I had half a mind to punch his face in."

"Hanabi, take a breath."

"I mean of all the things. It was bad enough all the lame nicknames he called me when I was a kid. Ok, so maybe I had a little crush on him, the whisker marks were cute but he didn't have to be an ass about it."

"You had a crush on Naruto-kun?"

"A small one, it's been years. Not the point. Who does he think he is, calling me Not-Hinata as if not to be you is like the negation of worth. How dare I not be you? Stupid, cute face, blond teme!"

"Such hurtful words my cute, little student directs toward me."

"Aaahhh! How long have you been there?" Hanabi asked, flushed with embarrassment.

"Long enough, Hanabi-chan."

"I'm going to go hit things." Hanabi said running off.

"That wasn't nice, Naruto-kun. You know she has a thing about being compared negatively to me."

"Yea, I know. She's also about to be a professional ninja and needs to get over her stuff or at least manage it better. I have to admit, it's a weird feeling being called a bastard instead of levying the insult."

"In her defense, you were being a bit of a bastard."

"Not you, too, beloved!" Naruto said, clutching his heart.

"Oh, so dramatic. If only the Akatsuki knew a few words is all it took to defeat you."

"Only from you" he said while walking over to her desk and giving her a kiss. "You busy?"

"Not particularly, no. Why?"

"Thought we could have a picnic by the waterfall."

"I'd love to." Hinata, sai, placing her hand in his as they flash away. When they arrived to the waterfall Hinata saw a shadow clone arriving with a basket, a blanket having already been set up. The two ate the small meal and chatted about nothing in particular, just enjoying their time together. Soon talking turned into kissing, kissing escalating into Naruto asking if she wanted to convene in the grato under the waterfall, which she consented to readily. When Naruto activated the seal to open the passage way he was assaulted with the vision of Jiraiya and Tsunade having clearly just finished what he'd planned on starting. He quickly closed the passage and walked away, Hinata snickering the entire time.

Being a rational adult, Naruto didn't overreact. His kaa-chan deserved to have whatever relationship she wanted, however Jiraiya violated an unspoken rule among seal users. He waited for them to come out, Tsunade mortified and Jiraiya a little smug for Naruto's liking.

"We can explain." Tsunade started.

"If you love me please don't."

"He's an adult Tsunade, he understands. Isn't that right, Naruto?" he said, still quite smug. He needed to be humbled. And this was only about the seals, not at all about Jiraiya screwing his mom.

"I understand you cracked my seals." he said with a glare.

"Oh, come on, it wasn't right to hog such a nice place to yourself."

"What are you talking about Jiraiya?"

"Um… Naruto told me about the grato while we were away on our training trip."

"Yea, I even told you why I created it but that clearly didn't matter."

"Don't be like that?"

"Like what? I could have made another one, I could make hundreds but that's immaterial. You, Jiraiya of the Sannin, broke my seals. An Uzumaki's seals."

"They weren't that hard brat."

"Because I need them simple enough for Hinata to work them but complex enough to provide basic security. But what you did is a slight against an Uzumaki."

Jiraiya rolled his eyes, the boy was being overdramatic. "So, go ahead and rap knuckles, brat."

"Jiraiya, am I the head the Uzumaki clan?"

"Of course you are, who else wou…" Jiraiya's eyes go wide. "Noo."

"Oh, yes, Ero-sennin. For your crimes against my clan's specialty I must inform the head of the Uzumaki clan."

"Naruto, we can work something out."

"No need. I never thought I'd ever get to say this. I never thought it'd be so sweet but Jiraiya, I'm telling my mom." Naruto said before he flashed away.

"Jiraiya, what was Naruto's reason for creating that space?"

"He wanted a place he could go with girly over there if they ever got back together and it'd be just for them."

"So, why would you bring me here?"

"Seemed like a good idea at the time, besides the brat spends just as much time at the Hyuuga compound, I didn't think he'd mind."

"Jiraiya, you have to think these things through, you know."

Before Jiraiya could respond, Naruto returned with Kushina.

"JIRAIYA, I'LL TEACH YOU TO VIOLATE MY SOCHI'S SPECIAL PLACE!"

"MOM, PHRASING!"

"Sorry, sweetie" she said scratching the back of her head. "Now, come here pervert, accept your beating like a man!"

"Nah, I don't want to do that."

"Jiraiya you either get it from her or from me, choose." Tsunade said. Seeing he was stuck, he ran. Kushina immediately gave chase.

Naruto walked back over to Tsunade and Hinata, who had been laughing the entire time.

"Sorry, Naruto, I didn't know."

"It's fine, if Jiraiya wanted to use it I would have been fine with it. It was more a symbol of hope than anything and I don't need it anymore." he said with a smile as Hinata kissed his cheek.

"Should we stop Kushina-sama?"

Both blondes looked at each other before answering. "Nah".