Hey guys, this is the new chapter.

Actually I wanted to bring it out after the weekend, but it was crap, so I had to work on it a bit more. Honestly, I'm not quite satisfied yet, but at least the story is getting somewhere.

I finally have a beta reader, werd me, who will help me in the future, so let's hope my spelling and my grammar will improve.

The title is a German play on words. Maybe some of you can understand it?

~ life is like drawing - just without a rubber ~

~ chapter twelve: blonde poison ~

The man sat on top of a large rock hidden between the trees near the mountains and watched the little cabin inside the valley.

Even though he was crouching, his knee pulled up under his chin, he was large. His big straw hat hid his face in the shadows, broader then his shoulders, making him seam not only large but broad. His bright red amour didn't make him look less suspicious. Not that anybody would have had the guts to ask him if they walked past, and that's exactly what an intelligent person would do.

The only good thing you could say about him is that he knew what makes him feel good, and what generally made him feel good, was hurting other people.

Things that didn't make him feel good were when he was curious about something and that something was left to his imagination, or his partner on this mission who would talk about nothing but loyalty. Not anymore. Or never was?

He was a top rate fighter, skilled, inventive, intelligent, but loyalty was something he wasn't made for.

And since the first matter as well as the second one applied to this special case, Han was in pretty bad mood.

He hardly cared that in general perspective an ambush was considered as wrong to morality. For him morality and modesty were books of seven seals, and if it had been up to him, burned and buried books in addition.

He cared even less that Minato Namikaze, the next Hokage of Konohagakure, was inside this building. Even though they were in the middle of war and every ninja of his village was out to bring home Minato's head, he didn't care. He had more important stuff to do.

It is generally known that a common ninja isn't above a bit of corruption, just as little as the ocean is above the clouds, and that really applies to him. Hearing the words honest or ethical impeccable, he would reach for a glossary, and hearing the jingling of large amounts of cash, he would reach for the code of law and throw it in the corner.

Even though the order had been "Kill the target and return without leaving any unnecessary traces", like one or two corpses, he had no problem with overriding it a bit.

While he watched the lights in the windows of the hotel flicker and let the cold breeze rustle in his large straw hat, he noticed a pair of shoes walking up next to him. He didn't look away from the lights even when the other man begun to talk.

"The borders are clear. Nobody will interrupt us from there. Any changes here? How was your day?"

"Why do you care?"

"I'm interested in psychology and I just can't figure out what is going on inside your head."

"I nearly blew up a whole village trying to get my dinner before I went back to this fucking cold rock."

"The natural and healthy diverting of all aggressive propensities through actions of pointless violence?"

"You genius."

"Anything new?"

"They arrived today, the target is there, too."

"Everybody who could mean trouble?"

"Minato Namikaze and one of the sannin called Jiraiya ..."

"Both of them? The Sandaime certainly isn't dumb."

"Kushina Uzumaki."

"The Kyuubi? Well, that would explain the strong presence of a biju in this area. She must have a lot of control over her buju if she is able to let its chakra flow without loosing all senses. Interesting."

"Furthermore three genin of Konoha."

"Just the normal life guards. Nothing we couldn't deal with."

"And the mystery."

"Mystery?"

"The one without identification."

"You mean no forehead-protector?"

"He is fake."

"Huh?"

"He is fake. I can feel it."

"_"

"Everything is wrong. His face, his voice, his eyes, his chakra ... his presence."

"_"

"Fake. Fake. Fake!"

"You really freak me out. I should have never come back and work with you."

"Then why did you follow their calls?"

"Why did you?"

"Curiosity."

"More like insanity."

"Obsession."

"For your 'mystery' or that thing on your back?"

"For something I can't understand."

"_"

"_"

"Couldn't you have got some sleep so that now I wouldn't have to deal with your useless explanations."

"Until I have figured it out I won't be able to sleep."

"Figured what out?"

"Why I'm not able to sleep."

"Curiosity or obsession?"

"... Insanity."

"What the hell is wrong with you, you stupid old git?", Naruto screamed angrily and fingered the sore spot on his head where Frostbite had punched him.

"I asked you something! I expect every person to be careful and watching so that nothing happens to me!", Frostbite said arrogantly. "So stop daydreaming!"

Assuming that he was talking about Naruto's very interesting conversation with his better half, Naruto just growled and went without giving an answer. Kurama's anger itself was bad enough and so strong that he was surprised that Minato hadn't noticed anything yet.

Maybe he mistook it for Naruto's own mood.

Never the less no need to make it worse by arguing with Frostbite.

"Sorry", Naruto mumbled instead. "Is there something you wanted?"

"I goddamn asked you what the hell is the plan? What are we going to do from now on?", Frostbite barked, his ugly face a fierce red.

"Why are you asking me, man?", Naruto sighed. "Minato is the one in charge for that mission. He has the responsibility, and he made the plan. So why don't you ask him?"

"That dumb little blondie over there?", Frostbite snorted and pointed at Minato. "Are you kidding me?"

Naruto squeezed his chopsticks tighter. Struggling to keep calm and not to lose his senses, Naruto closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'm blonde, too, haven't you noticed? Is it just that I don't wear a forehead-protector and so you think I would just sit there and endure all your rude comments without fighting back? If it is that I must disappoint you. My brother is a lot better in self-control. Or is it just because I don't look so girly?"

Minato, who had sat quiet on the table since the beginning of their horrible dinner, smiled at that comment. It was the first time he had heard Naruto calling him 'brother' so casual like it was the most natural thing in the world. He didn't notice Obito's hand gripping his chopsticks so tight that his knuckles were white.

Naruto secretly admired Minato for his self-control. He was the only one of the group who could endure their rude client without letting his bad mood show. Kushina was constantly shaking in anger, Rin was nearly crying and even Kakashi's face was not blank like normally, but angry. Obito's face was dark and angry, too, but Naruto concluded that that was most likely not Frostbite's fault but his own. Even though Kurama told him all the time that he had had no other choice, it didn't change the fact that he had still betrayed Obito.

Of course Naruto could tell that his dad was in bad mood by the way his eyebrows twitched and, but only because he had lived with him for nearly a month now and had studied his daily behavior in every single detail. For Frostbite, these little signs were invisible.

"He is the one in charge? Then we will die immediately! He is an embarrassment! And you call him a leader?", Frostbite complained, and Naruto felt his own anger rise in his chest. He clenched his fist and concentrated on his breathing, closing his ears for all the insults that Frostbite had up his sleeve.

They must have been really horrible, because Kushina slammed her cup onto the table. It shattered and water spilled over the tabletop, dropping onto the ground.

"That's it", she barked with a low voice. "I've told you before and I'll repeat it if you want to. We will be staying here for the night. In the morning we will be heading out and cross the border through the forest. After finding the next village, we will be walking to your hometown, using the normal trading streets. It will be the easiest and most effective way, because ..."

"Nobody asked you for your opinion, fucking dirty jinchuriki!"

Frostbite's scream hit Naruto like a punch in his face. And for one moment, he lost control.

Kurama's anger flooded his veins, reaching his brain and took over his body. But only for a moment. Then he had himself under control again, forcing Kurama's anger down back into his sub consciousness with his entire mind, relaxing his muscles and clearing his face from all emotions. It wasn't the first person who hated a jinchuriki from the bottom of his heart. He had heard people saying things like that a lot ever since the day he could hear.

It was nothing uncommon, nothing unnatural. No need to fight. Let this storm pass by.

Still, his fists under the table remained clenched.

"Jinchuriki are liars and monsters! I can't believe that someone actually let you participate on an important mission like this!", Naruto heard Frostbite scream while he let his eyes rest on the face of his mother. "They think you are strong? Because you're carrying a demon around? A demon that is killing, destroying, drinking blood, eating human flesh! A biju is a creature from hell! There's probably still one guarding it's gates! You've made a contract with the devil! Creatures like you aren't even human!"

These words didn't touch Naruto's heart, no matter how hurtful they were. He was over it, had been a long time ago. He had learned not to listen so closely to the words of a person who knew nothing about nothing. But Kushina hadn't and Naruto could see that they hit her heart, and that with full force.

She was chewing on her bottom lip, her fists were shaking and her eyes watered. But she was fighting, casting her eyes away from her opponents face, fighting with the tears. And won with a little help.

Minato had stood up from the table, and this time he didn't bother hiding his disgust for the man. His face was dark, his eyes gleamed dangerously.

"I think it's time we all go to bed", he said coldly, never braking eye contact with his client.

Frostbite seemed to think about it for a while, but then he gave in under Minato's death glare.

He stood up and walked past the blonde man to the door, not without ramming his shoulder painfully into Minato's chest. But the blonde didn't even flinch, starring holes into the client's back until the door closed behind him.

A heavy silence followed. Nobody spoke a word, Minato's eyes were still fixed on the door, Naruto's fists were still clenched under the table. Only the sound of Kushina's racked breathing was heard.

"Well ... I'm going to bed", Rin mumbled softly and hastily escaped the silence though the door. Kakashi followed her without a word, leaving the rest of the group behind.

Minato finally looked away from the door when he heard a soft whimper. Kushina's face was still casted down and her long red hair hid her eyes, but Naruto could still see that she was crying. Minato bent down and whispered something into his fiancé's ear, and then he pulled Kushina up on her feet. He moved his arms around her shoulder and led her out of the room. Naruto starred at their backs. Kushina was hurt, without a doubt, Frostbite's words had hit her deeper than he had expected. She was crying, he had never seen his mother cry. Kushina always seemed like such a strong person, like nothing could bring her down, like the devil. But Frostbite had managed to bring her down onto her knees, making the devil cry, with just a few words. No matter how weak this guy's body was, his tongue was deadly. And Naruto wanted to cut that poisonous thing out of Frostbite's mouth.

This night, Kushina would be weak. But Minato would be able to fix it. Tomorrow she would be the same scary person again.

Naruto was still starring at the door. He could hear the doors on the corridor close, one after another, leaving the three people still sitting on the table in silence again. Jiraiya let his eyes wander between him and Obito.

"Well", he said and stood up. "Since there is not going to be a party with just the three of us, I will go for a walk."

"But we have after midnight and it's very frosty outside", Obito stated confused and knitted his eyebrows.

"It can't be more frosty outside, then it is inside right now, with a Mr. Frost next door", Jiraiya answered while putting his jacket on. He walked to one of the windows and opened it. "See ya, kids", he said and the next moment he had already climbed out of the window and disappeared into the darkness.

"At least close the window, ero-senin", Naruto mumbled, but smirked at the comment of his sensei. That guy just knew how to approach a difficult situation with a smile.

Naruto looked away from the window and noticed Obito staring at him. They were the only ones left in the room.

Naruto knitted his eyebrows regarded the Uchiha quizzically. Obito opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again and shook his head. He stood up and closed the door behind him, leaving Naruto alone with his thoughts.

Naruto looked down at the remains of his dinner and pushed the plate away from his body with disgust.

Suddenly he felt tired like he hadn't slept for days. There was no use staying up and thinking about just how the hell he had managed to bring himself into such a messy situation.

Naruto sighed and stood up from the table.

He was halfway to the door, when he noticed that he had forgotten something, so he opened his palm and let the dust of his smashed chopstick fall to the ground.

He was sitting on the rock and watched how the lights in the rooms went dark. He had been sitting there for hours, observing the rage of the other biju, sometimes it was strong, sometimes it was so weak that he nearly lost trace of it. But then, when he had already thought that nothing interesting would happen anymore, the biju's rage was back.

Strong. Fierce. Red.

And he could tell that it was the nine-tailed demon fox. His partner had been right. It had to be the Kyuubi. Since it was red.

It was only for a short moment, like an electric shock. Then the rage was gone. Not only weak, but completely gone, like someone had closed a soundproof door.

But that short moment had been enough to let him notice something else. The Kyuubi had not been the only presence. The item on his back, that item he had picked up ... it reacted to the Kyuubi. Like a nervous jerking, like it was alive. Maybe it was? Who knew? He didn't.

And then he laughed. He couldn't help it. Everything was just so damn interesting!

Exciting! Perfect!

And he laughed. For a long time. Minutes? Hours?

Until the light went out and still a long time after that.

Until his partner left and went to the building.

He had said that he was insane and that he would be better off sitting here until the whole thing was finished. That he would be able to pull it off without him.

But he wouldn't let him.

If it would end here, when the sun would rise ... that was boring. And he would never be able to sleep.

So he had to try. He wouldn't let it end. He had so much fun.

He wouldn't let this end just now. Not yet. Not until he knew.

And he laughed. His partner would be mad. But he was a foul. He didn't think. Or maybe he did. He didn't care.

This game wouldn't end. Not yet.

Naruto woke up in panic, his eyes wide and his mouth open from his scream. He jerked up from his mattress, lost balance and fell onto the floor, hitting his chin painfully.

For a moment he just lay still, not moving a muscle, looking around in the room.

It was still the same dirty mattress, still the same cracks in the wall, still the same backpack in one of the corners. He was still in the same hotel. No shadows that would point with their fingers at him, mumbling insults, calling him monster, their faces blank. It had just been a dream. He hadn't been screaming and crying. He hadn't been sitting in the dirt, alone, while everybody turned their backs on his. His shadow hadn't been the one of a giant fox, furious and deadly. All just a dream.

He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath. Just a dream. Maybe the words of the damn Frostbite had affected him more that he had thought.

Naruto sighed, stood up with shaking limps and fell back into his pillow. A short glance at the alarm clock told him that it was only two o'clock in the morning. More than enough time to go to sleep again.

So he rolled around and went back to sleep.

The next time he opened his eyes he wasn't inside his room anymore.

He was nowhere at all. Everything was white, the only thing around was the endless lake. And Kurama.

The giant fox was lying on the water surface. His head rested on his paws. His red fur was still messy from the anger, but his eyes were warm and friendly as they rested on Naruto's face.

"You should come visit me more often, I get lonely here all by myself", he snickered.

Naruto stood up from the ground and walked over to his buji and moved his hand into the red fur behind his large ears. He smiled as he started petting the fox. Kurama actually purred like a cat.

"I'm talking to you all the time. How can you get lonely?"

"Talking to a person and having a visit from one are two entirely different things, kit."

They stayed silent for a while, each of them caught in their own thoughts. Then Naruto pulled his hand out of the fur and sat down on one of the fox's legs, resting his back against the fluffy chest.

"So, what am I here for? Normally you only call me if something's up, ya know", he said and looked up into the large eyes of his friend.

A biju is a creature from hell!

Kurama didn't look like a creature from hell at all. He could actually be kind of cute if he wanted to. His fluffy red fur, making Naruto want to pet it, his long slender legs, orderly folded under his body, his long red ears, reminding Naruto a bit of the ones of a bunny.

Very cute, indeed. Only his fangs and the black slits in his eyesreminded the blonde that the fox was no giant stuffed animal.

You have made a contract with the devil!

Kurama didn't look like a devil. He smiled. He could smile like a real human, warm and friendly. Even his eyes gleamed in a comforting way. Not even a hint of the devil to be seen in them.

You are carrying a demon around!

Kurama didn't look like a demon. He didn't even sound like one. When he parted his fangs to speak, his voice was low and comforting, no snarling, no hissing. Just calm and pleasant.

"There's nothing much I want, really", he informed his host with a light snicker in his voice. "Just felt like having some accompany. And since you are asleep right now, it's not like you have anything better to do."

Naruto pushed his head further into the red fur and closed his eyes, enjoying the steady and calm breathing of the fox.

"I have nothing against being here", Naruto answered with a slight smile on his face. "But please don't underestimate the consequences of not having enough sleep. I will just lay back and take a nap here, okay?"

"Sure."

Then it was silent again. Only a slight movement of the water surface could be heard, like a warm breeze, even though there was no movement to be seen. The endless lake was just as calm as always.

Maybe it is just Kurama's chakra which caressed the white water, causing it to whisper, telling stories about old memories and days darkened by the heavy clouds of the past.

So Naruto relaxed and listened to the wind and the calm heartbeat in his back.

"I am not a demon."

Naruto opened one eye. Kurama was still looking away from him, staring into space, but his smile had disappeared. So that was what the fox wanted to talk about.

"I know", Naruto said, still tired, and closed his eye again.

"I am not the devil either."

"I know."

"Then do you believe it?"

Naruto sighed. He pulled himself up from his comfortable half lying half sitting position, and leaned forward. He grabbed one of the fluffy ears and pulled Kurama's head around. The fox gave an unpleasant grunt when he was forced to look into Naruto's eyes.

"If I wouldn't believe you I would hardly have let you out of your cage, right?"

"Most humans fear me."

"Maybe that's somehow your own fault?"

"I killed your parents."

"I know."

"Then why don't you say anything?"

"I don't know."

"Well, if that isn't helpful."

"Have you ever thought that some things don't need a reason? Like why I'm still chasing after Sasuke after all these years? It's the same with you. Of course I could come up with a good reason, if you want me to, but it would be a lie."

"Then why are you doing it anyway?"

"Because I want to."

Kurama thought about that for a while. Then he sighed. "I think I'll never understand you."

"You don't have to."

"Hm."

"No need to be so grumpy", Naruto informed his fox and petted his giant head.

Kurama pouted. "It still bothers me."

Naruto crossed his arms in front of his chest and smiled. "Okay, let's say you are a demon like Frostbite said. Then I would be a monster like Obito said. A demon and a monster. We make a good match, don't we?"

"For me it doesn't sound so good, kit."

"Stop pouting, giant stuffed animal. Talking to you like this is much more fun than arguing with you behind bars, don't you agree? And that what's life is all about, right? To have fun."

"You sure have a hell of a lot of it. It's not like I could convince you otherwise."

"I have already learned two important things from you. First: A person who might look bad at the outside doesn't have to be. The world isn't black and white. Everybody has his good and bad side. The only thing that matters is how you define good or bad."

"And second?"

"Second: The Kyuubi and Kurama ... these are two entirely different things."

For the second time in one night Naruto was woken up by a scream. But this time it wasn't his own.

He moved his hands up and down the wall, searching for the lights, tangled himself up in his own blanket and fell out of his bed on the floor.

Hitting his back on the floor, a small 'huff' escaped his lips as the air was pressed out of his lungs.

He lay there for a moment, trying to catch up with reality. He could hear voices on the corridors, feet running over the floor, the shattering of glass.

And a presence. A strong presence and a strong charka-flow. How the hell could he have been asleep while something like this was inside the house. So close. He should have felt that miles away.

Naruto tried to stand up from the floor, but he only managed to turn around and fell down again, this time on his chin, and that hurt. The blanked was wrapped around him like a straitjacket, leaving him no room to move. His senses still heavy from sleep, he couldn't identify where the noises came from.

So he lay on the floor for a bit longer and concentrated on the presence instead.

It was strong, but not fierce, more like calm and collected. The chakra-flow was different. And weird. Naruto couldn't tell what exactly it was, but it felt like two different parts of a puzzle that just didn't want to fit together. But still it worked together as one.

And then he realized what it was. Two separated chakra-flows. Mixed together and used as one, but still not one. Like water and oil.

A jinchuriki!

With one movement Naruto tore the blanked apart and threw the shreds into the corner. He was fully awake now, all tiredness was gone. And along with his mind his senses returned. The noises came from one of the hotel rooms they booked, no doubt.

Naruto jumped up from the floor and grabbed hold of the door. He kicked it open and stuck his head out of his room, looking around in the corridor, searching for the reason of this late night adventure. The corridor was dark and empty, but in one of the rooms on the edge, as far away from his own as the cheap hotel made it possible, the lights were on. That was Frostbite's room. That was where the jinchuriki was.

Naruto ground his teeth, slammed his door close and sprinted towards the lighted room. Or at least he tried to, not that he came far.

After three steps out of his room he stumbled over something that was lying in the middle of the corridor. Something that he obviously hadn't seen in the dark, way too fixed on the ruckus that was going on in Frostbite's room.

And so for the third time of the day he fell onto the floor and hit his already painfully bruised chin.

Cussing and swearing, he lifted his head and rolled around to see what had been lying around in the middle of the floor.

"Obito!"

The Uchiha grunted. His nose was bloody, one of his cheeks was red as if something had knocked him down and he held his head that had obviously connected painfully with the hard ground.

"Hey, stand up", Naruto said and grabbed the boy's shoulders, shaking him awake. Obito's eyes fluttered open, looking around and trying to see where he was. Naruto helped him sit up and wiped the blood from his nose. Obito flinched and pushed Naruto's hand away from his face.

"You okay? ", Naruto asked concerned while Obito blinked, trying to get hold of himself.

"Naruto?", he asked when his eyes rested on the blonde boy holding him upright.

"Why were you lying on the floor? Were you attacked? What the hell happened?", Naruto asked him and was glad to see that a natural color returned to the boy's face.

"What happened?", Obito snarled angrily. "You slammed your goddamn door into my face! That happened!"

"Oh."

"Would you mind letting go of me now so that I can stand up?", Obito asked and tried to get Naruto's hand away from his shoulders.

"Sorry", Naruto mumbled and lifted himself from the floor, reaching his hand out to help Obito stand up. The Uchiha slapped his hand away and jumped to his feet.

"That was dirty", he said and rubbed his bruised cheek, where the door had hit him.

"Hey, I had no idea that you were standing behind my door. And by the way you knocked me down, too", Naruto tried to defend himself and pointed at his burning chin. Then he frowned.

"What were you doing behind my door anyway? Frostbite's room is the other way."

Obito gave him a grumpy look. "I have been there already, you idiot! I'm not like you, sleeping until everything is over. I've been trying to get Jiraiya!"

Naruto frowned. "Jiraiya ... is he not in the room with you?"

"No, he's not. He is a heavy sleeper just like you!"

Obito tried to walk past Naruto, but the blonde grabbed his arm to stop him. The Uchiha looked at him quizzically, but Naruto starred at the lightened room.

"No use going to his room, he isn't there."

"Huh?"

"He isn't there", Naruto repeated and started walking towards Frostbite's room, pulling Obito along.

"What do you mean he isn't there? Where is he?", Obito asked angrily, but had no choice but letting himself being pulled. Or he would have fallen down again. And Naruto would probably still have dragged him along.

"He's not in the building."

"What the hell did you do to him, you dirty bastard?"

"I didn't do anything", Naruto answered calmly. "But I can't feel his chakra anywhere around. Wherever he is, it's not in the hotel, that's for sure."

"Maybe you're just not skilled enough to feel his chakra", Obito hissed.

"Trust me", Naruto nearly snickered, "I'm not wrong."

He sped up his steps, rushing towards the half open door. He heard whimpering, and then steps, a cracking, shattering of glass and a sharp scream. And always this whimpering.

"Obito, what the hell is going on?", Naruto whispered to the stumbling Uchiha. "Who the hell is in that room?"

They had reached the door, but instead of walking in, Naruto pressed his body against the frame. Something told him that he shouldn't just burst in. So he listened. Still the whimpering, and a lot of steps. No talking, but heavy breathing.

"Who is fighting in there?"

Obito snorted. "Don't play ...!", he started but Naruto reacted fast. He slapped his hand over the boy's mouth, cutting off his loud voice.

"Hush, be quiet", he hissed, pressing his hand hard on Obito's mouth. "I don't know what is going on but something feels awful wrong here."

Obito seemed angry, but he took Naruto's advice and lowered his voice. "That broke in about 15 minutes ago", he hissed near Naruto's ear. "In Frost's room, wanted to kidnap him. He hid his chakra very well and I don't think that he actually wanted to fight. He just wanted to finish his job and disappear in silence. Kakashi-bastard found him first. More by accident then he sensed him. He tried to get sensei but he never got the chance, was injured pretty badly. Rin-chan's treating him right now. But since the attacker had to knock Kakashi out, he had to use his chakra and sensei found him short after. They are fighting now. Kushina is inside, too, but she isn't fighting. She's guarding Frost. That guy is whimpering all the time, scared as hell."

Naruto frowned and looked down at Obito. "Minato's fighting? Then that guy can keep up to him? They are at the same level?"

Obito nodded. "Yes. I came short, after me and Rin-chan had brought Kakashi away of the room, to help out, but sensei just screamed at me to get Jiraiya as fast as possible. Where the hell is he?"

Naruto just shrugged. He turned back to the half open door and his thoughts run wild.

His dad was fighting with another guy, probably a jinchuriki, no definitely a jinchuriki. And they were even. So why the hell hadn't he noticed it sooner? Shouldn't he have picked up their chakra, even in his sleep? Why the hell weren't they even using chakra? He couldn't feel anything, nothing but the normal chakra-flow, that's it. No jutsu. Just because they were in a little room and didn't want to destroy it? Because they didn't want to hurt Frost, he prey and client? And why didn't Kushina join the fight? If Minato and that guy were even, with Kushina's help they could defeat him instantly, two against one. And where the hell was Jiraiya?

Too many questions. And he wouldn't find answers by just standing around.

Naruto took a deep breath and turned his head so that he could look into the room.

Kushina was sitting in one corner of the room, crouching in front of a shivering and nearly mad with fear Frostbite. Minato wasn't standing far away from her. He was in his fighting stance, one of his kunais in each hand.

On the other edge of the room stood a man, in front of the open window, fully concentrated on his opponent. His hair was reddish hair, but it was richer then when Naruto had seen it the last time. He was younger, a lot younger, but still a lot older then Minato. The red beard was still there, as well as the black piece of armor over his nose. On his forehead-protector was the sign of Iwagakure.

Naruto's eyes widened. He had expected anyone ... but not him.

And before he could stop himself, the words had already left his mouth.

"Roshi."

No doubt, that man was Roshi, the jinchuriki of Son Goku. Naruto had met him before.

The man looked up and their eyes met. They starred at each other for a moment, and then Naruto' mind returned to reality. He slapped his hand in front of his mouth, as if he was trying to force the words back into his mouth. But it was no use. that man had heard him and seen him. Just like Obito, Kushina and Minato had.

"You ...", Obito started and looked up at Naruto's face which was still fixed on the attacker.

"You ... know him?"

Minato had dropped his kunais and starred at his brother's face. Naruto could see the shock in his eyes. The fight was forgotten.

Naruto opened his mouth to say something, but there was nothing he could have said to explain himself, so he closed it again.

Why was Roshi here? From all jinchuriki that could possibly have shown up, it must have been Roshi? A guy that left his village for training a long time ago? It didn't fit together.

"Naruto ...", Minato started and took a step towards his brother. Obito had already backed away from Naruto and Kushina's face was surprised and shocked.

"Naruto ... why ...", but he never finished that sentence.

Light was erupting in the middle of the room, where Roshi had stood just a moment ago.

And then suddenly the room was filled with smoke. Burning smoke. It burned Naruto's eyes and mouth, filling his lungs, making him coughing, taking every bit of air away. Naruto stumbled away from the door, dragging Obito with him, trying to get away from the gas.

Through the tears in his eyes he saw how Roshi disappeared through the open window, but then the smoke filled his eyesight and everything was white. He lost his orientation, Obito's arm was twisted out of his grip. He couldn't see, he couldn't hear. He had no idea where he was.

His world was white. White, white, white.

No, not completely white. There was something red inside the smoke, moving fast, in his direction. And then something hit him in the stomach and he fell down on the floor. Hands held him down. And then it happened. a electric shock shot up his spine. Just for the blink of an eye, but it was there and it was strong. it paralyzed him. And then it was gone.

Naruto twisted and turned under the grip, managed to through his attacker out of balance. He thrust his fist up into the smoke, blindly, and hit something. His fist connected with something heard and he could hear a painful groan. The hands were gone and Naruto stumbled to his feet and tried to get out of the room, away from the smoke, where he could see, breathe and think. A hand wound itself into his blonde hair and grabbed him hard, but Naruto ignored the pain and tore away from his attacker. His hair was ripped out of his skull, but that didn't bother him at the moment. Breathing! He needed to breathe!

His hands found the door frame and pulled himself outside and down the corridor. Away from the smoke. And he could breathe again.

Naruto leaned at the wall, breathing heavily.

Obito was next to him, coughing and gabbing, fresh tiers run down his cheeks.

Kushina was there, too. She coughed heavily.

Frostbite was lying on the floor, not moving. But he was breathing so he was alive. Too bad.

Minato was gabbing for air. He had apparently breathed in a lot of air, because every time he coughed, a little cloud of smoke would leave his mouth.

Nobody said a word.

Naruto turned around and looked at the door. Smoke was still coming out of the room, but it was less and less and soon it died down.

Still, it was no use following Roshi now. He was gone. The jinchuriki had become one with the night.

He was sitting on the rock and laughed. And laughed and laughed. Everything was just so

Funny.

Roshi was mad, oh yeah, he was. He had been screaming and shouting at him. Things like he had ruined everything and that the mission had been as good as finished. If only he hadn't interfered. That means Roshi was screaming when he could scream again. He was coughing up smoke. Stupid, weak, pathetic. Mission succeeded. Fool. What they searched for long wasn't there anymore. The Yondaime had been better and faster.

He didn't listen to his partner, Roshi had a lot to complain about. He just sat there, not moving. For a long time. Even after Roshi left for catching some sleep, he was still sitting there.

Not daring to move a muscle. And then he felt it was self, he opened his fist.

Strands of blonde hair were clinging to his fingers and falling onto the stone, catching the light of the moon, and shone in the darkness.

He laughed.

The boy hadn't been older than him, maybe even a bit younger. It was no use wondering about that either, since he himself had long lost count of his birthdays. Not that that day was something to celebrate anyway.

So close, so close. Right in front of his eyes.

He remembered the boy's shocked face. His crystal blue eyes, blinking at him through his tears. He had felt it. The strong electric shock pulsing through the item on his back. And the boy had felt if, too.

He rubbed his face where the blonde had hit him. A good punch. If it hadn't been for his smoke, his chin would have been broken.

He rolled the blonde hair through his fingers. And laughed and spoke to the darkness.

"Do you like the gift I left for you? Naruto Uzumaki?"

Naruto sat on one of the thin pillows in the kitchen and looked at his friends with concern.

Obito hadn't joked. Kakashi's wounds were pretty bad, not very deep and he would heal fast, but he had lost a lot of blood. Naruto had to admit that Rin was an excellent healer. With her help Kakashi would he on his feet again in just a few days.

Naruto watched her back as she was bandaging Kakashi who was laying on one of the mattresses they had brought from one of their rooms. Minato had suggested that they all stayed together for the night, since Kakashi was still unconscious and Jiraiya was nowhere to be found.

Naruto wasn't really concerned about the ero-senin. Jiraiya could take care of himself, he was strong as nearly and intelligent as Naruto himself.

What made him worry was the fact that Frostbite was still in shock, but that he would soon not be anymore. And he would scream, that's for sure.

Naruto's eyes were still fixed on the working Rin, but he could feel Obito's intense starring at his back. And Naruto knew that he would confront him. So he sat still and waited for the questions to be coming. His mind was working and he already had a headache, but he had no idea what could give for an answer. How could you explain that you know someone who will first meet with you in a few decades? Exactly right, not at all.

So he sat there and waited for the moment to come when he had to answer.

"Naruto", Obito started and Naruto knew that the moment was there. "Back in the room ... you called that man by a name. Rodi, was it?"

The already very quiet room went completely silent. So silent that naruto could hear his own heartbeat in his ears. Naruto took a deep breath. Everybody had heard it. There was no use denying.

"Roshi. He is ..."

But Naruto was interrupted by Minato. His father, who had leaned at the opposite wall, had pushed himself up and went over to the table. He reached out for one of the sake bottles. The hotel had provided them to the group, hoping that they would travel on tomorrow without ruining more of the building, if they were just treated nicely. No one of the group had touched them jet, but Minato gulped the whole liquid down in one swift movement. He put the empty bottle harshly on the table again, his eyes didn't leave Naruto's face for one second.

"Be silent, Obito", Minato growled. "We are not talking about that tonight. We have different things to worry about, so save it for tomorrow."

Obito looked like he wanted to give and angry response, but when he saw Minato's face, he just simply nodded. Naruto could imagine what was going on in his head. Minato will do everything to ignore that fact that his family betrays him.

"Naruto", Minato hissed and Naruto twitched in his seat. "You know that I want an answer from you and you will give it to me. But not today."

Naruto didn't know what to say, so he simply nodded, too tired to come up with a better answer. He would have to give an explanation for his behavior, but not today. So he had time to think and come up with a lie.

Naruto was angry at himself. How could he have lost his head in this kind of situation? That was pathetic. And that was the next Hokage?

He sighed and let his head rest on his arms. He was too tired to think.

But he wasn't allowed to sleep. Footsteps and a loud laughter let him lift his head again.

Jiraiya was sitting on the window frame and smiled.

"Hey guys!", he laughed and waved with his hands. "The great Jiraiya is back from his long field trip. I know that you've been sad without me, but now I'm back so no need to look so grumpy. Ouch!"

Kushina had jumped up from her chair and punched him so hard on the head that he fell down from the window frame.

"You crazy woman! What the hell are you doing?"

"That's what I want to ask! You were out, having a walk, while we were attacked by a stupid jinchuriki who tried to kill us all by choking us to death!"

"But I ..."

"Don't try to justify yourself!"

Naruto grunted and laid his head on his arms again. He didn't want to listen to fights anymore. So he closed his eyes and tried to go to sleep again.

However, he didn't know that this night he wouldn't go to sleep. Even though he was dead tired, he wouldn't be rubbing the sleep out of his eyes anymore. He would be sitting, his eyes wide open, scared. And even cry.

This time it wasn't a scream that brought him back from his dream world.

"Minato, is everything okay?"

Naruto lifted his head from his arms.

His father was still standing where he had been standing before, next to the table and the one bottles of sake that was still full. But now his face was pale, nearly white, and his eyes were opened wide. He seemed to see something that wasn't in the room. Sweat run down his forehead.

"Minato-darling", Kushina tried again. "Are you alright?"

Minato sunk to his knees and grabbed the table, trying to holding his body upright. He was shivering all over now, his eyes were unfocused. If it hadn't been for his grip on the table, he would have fallen on the floor.

"Minato?"

The blonde man moaned in pain and clutched his stomach. And then he threw up next to the table.

Kushina gave a little yelp while her fiance emptied his stomach over the floor.

Naruto watched surprised from him edge of the table how his father bent over, his fingers still clawed into the tabletop.

"God, sensei is sick!", Obito stated excited. Rin gave him a small smile. "Poor sensei. Are you okay? You shouldn't have pushed yourself so far. It was a long night. So stressful."

Jiraiya laughed. "Had too much alcohol, did ya? Should be more careful in the future. Don't drink so much on an empty stomach."

Minato didn't answer. He coughed and spat the liquid on the floor, his body trembling violently.

Naruto couldn't see his father's face but he was sure that puking up strong sake in the middle of the night was no nice experience, so he reached over and smoothly rubbed Minato's back.

"Don't worry, we'll clean up later", Naruto explained and let his hands travel over his father's back, trying to comfort him.

Minato just made another painful sound and gave a violent jerk, before he spat the next mouth full of red thick liquid on the floor. Red and thick...

Naruto froze.

"Minato ...", he started, but in this moment Minato lost his grip on the table and fell hard on the floor before Naruto could catch him. Minato looked at Naruto with wide, pain-filled eyes and tried to say something, but instead of words just a stream of red thick liquid left his mouth. Then his eyes shut and his body went limp.

"Minato ... Minato! MINATO!"

Naruto sat helplessly on the floor, next to his father, between them the lake of red liquid

A shattered bottle of sake lay on the floor next to them and the alcohol slowly mixed with Minato's blood.

That's the chapter so far. Minato is a character that is way too strong so I had to get rid of him.

Sorry :(

Please review :)