Chapter Five: The Deal

Days passed since Minato confronted his family, and all those days were quiet. Not one member of his family attempted redemption. However, Minato wasn't just sitting around waiting for them; no he was helping Kakashi train Shikamaru and Choji in growing their chakra networks. With those days passing, there was a noticeable change in Naruto, he was slowly recovered from his shock, but . . . things aren't the same; they'll never be the same. The little ball of sunshine that Naruto use to be, was seemingly gone. Even though he recovered enough to be awake and aware of the things around him, he usually stared blankly at the walls, or whoever tried to talk with him. Since this was the case, Minato decided to use a shadow clone of his son as a medium for his spirit; he didn't feel right using his son's real body while he's awake. Currently he is observing his student, train his students, only giving them advice every now again, or showing them something new entirely. Minato smiled as they trained soon their chakra networks will grow strong enough that the seals won't be needed any longer. Though happy as he was for his the students of Kakashi, he was still sad. Minato tried everything he knew of to get Naruto to full snap out of it, but nothing worked, Katina is truly the only person who can fully awaken him . . . but how? How could he even get Minoa to release her?! Minato thought as he closed his eyes and went into Naruto's mindscape. He looked around and found Kama siting far back in her cage body curled up in a ball, her head on her knees, until she sensed him and looked up.

'Why don't you try talking to her, just her this time?' Kama asked as sadly, looking at the floor, making Minato sighed quietly. Kama was becoming more and more depressed and withdrawn. She hardly ever speaks anymore.

'That idea crossed my mind, but Minoa can be stubborn sometimes,' Minato replied as Kama said nothing before looking at the blond.

'It's still better than nothing at all . . .' Kama said drifting off making Minato give her a look of understanding.

'Alright . . . I understand, I'll go.' Minato said as he return to the world and stood up, before going to Kakashi.

"Kakashi, I'm going to head out for a bit. Keep an eye on Naruto for me okay?" Minato asked as Kakashi gave his master an eye smile.

"Of course." He replied as Minato left, he walked for a few minutes until a familiar voice stopped him.

Minato . . .?" It asked as Minato turned and found an old friend of his, Mikoto Uchiha, who looked at him confused.

"Minato . . . is that really you?" She asked as Minato looked shocked before he smiled and nodded.

"Yeah Mikoto, it's really me. Though I must ask what you're up to, since your home is in the opposite direction." He said with a small smile which she returned, but soon she activated her Sharingan and looked at him for a minute before deactivating it.

"Before anything, please tell me how you're alive before I answer your question." She asked as Minato nodded and explained to her why he is alive.

"I see . . . good for you. I'm sure Kushina is happy to have you back." She said as Minato turned away with a solemn look.

"Something happened that I don't know about?" She asked as he nodded and explained what was happening in his family.

"Oh dear . . . is Naruto okay? I've wanted to help him, but what's happening with my clan and the village, I couldn't really do that." She said as Minato nodded to her.

"We're trying to bring him back but what's happing to your clan, are they alright?" He asked as Mikoto gave a small sigh.

"Ever since the Kyuubi Attack, my clan was moved to a corner of the village, they thought we had something to do with it." She said sadly as Minato nodded.

"I see . . ." Minato said looking away again as Mikoto narrowed her eyes at him.

"Do you believe that too?" She asked as Minato sighed.

"No; but the man behind the attack had the Sharingan, so he must have been an Uchiha. However I doubt you would allow that, so I believe that you didn't have any knowledge of the event." He said as Mikoto sighed with a smile.

"It's good to know that I have a friend still." She said as Minato gave her a confused look.

"What do you mean? Minoa should also know this. We both figured this out." Minato said concerned as Mikoto sighed again.

"No . . . she made no attempt to help clear my clan's name, though she made no attempt to hurt it either. So I don't know. I feel so lost, everyone seems to doubt our loyalty and it just that we care very much, about our village so why is this happing?!" She said as let out an angry breath, while Minato gave her an understanding smile. After recomposing herself, she gave her friend a smile.

"I'm sorry that you heard that, I let my angry overcome me. I'm very glad you're back. You should come and visit sometime; it'll give us a chance to catch up." She said as Minato nodded and they parted, going opposite directions.

'It'll be easier if I know you're out of harm's way when we strike . . .' Mikoto thought as she left her friend behind.

Back to Kakashi's home, but on the outside of it

In front of Kakashi's door was a woman, who wore civilian clothes currently but on them was the Uchiha Crest. Taking a deep breath she knocked on the door and had to wait only a few minutes for Kakashi to open the door, upon seeing her he raised his one visible eyebrow.

"Sazuna Uchiha . . . do you mind me asking what you are doing here? The Uchiha don't seem to care for men that much, or anyone outside their clan currently." Kakashi asked as the newly named Sazuna sighed.

"First of all, the Uchiha do care for men and outsiders, just the ones we accept. Second of all, I want to see Naruto, if that's okay." She asked as Kakashi sighed and moved for her to enter.

"So I'm guessing that you were, or are part of the Anbu team to watch over Naruto?" He asked as Sazuna nodded.

"I once was part of Katina's team. Though it seemed to be disbanded for now, I've been give other missions to do." She replied as she noticed Naruto sitting on a chair, and her eyes grew sad.

"Has he been like this the whole time?" She asked as Kakashi approached her and spook

"Yeah he's been like this ever since Katina shown her true colors. This is her fault." He replied as Sazuna gritted her teeth.

"NO IT'S NOT!" She yelled at him as Kakashi one eye widens but it turned to a glaring one.

"Then who is to blame? Because all I know is that Katina said some hurtful things to Naruto, bad enough for one of my precious students to become like that!" He asked glaring at her and pointed at Naruto. Sazuna shook her head at his declaration.

"I know Katina; she loves Naruto dearly and would never willing hurt him. I'm not sure who's to blame for this, but it's not Katina!" She said as Kakashi sighed.

"Fine say I do believe you, why come now? When it's been about two weeks since this happened?" He asked as Sazuna visible shook.

"Like I said, I've been on missions, but really it was just, with everything that's happening with the village and the clan, I never got a chance. Now that I can, I wanted to see him, and to help him to the best of my abilities, truly I do! Everything about him makes me happy: He's been mine and many other's light in the darkness." Sazuna said as her eyes shown true sadness and Kakashi's eye soften upon hearing and seeing that.

'It seems like she's telling the truth.' Kakashi thought as he looked at her, before sighing

"Well, you're welcome to try to help him, but don't be too disapointed if he doesn't respond." He told her while he sat down, motioning for Sazuna to do the same. So she took the seat across from Naruto, the Uchiha said nothing for a few minutes before looking at the young boy in front of her.

"Listen, Naruto . . . I know you don't know me that well, but I know you. I watched over you ever since I entered the Anbu. I'm usually on Katina's team to watch over you and from what I hear, it's that you're hurting because of Katina, but please understand that she truly loves and treasures you greatly and I know it must have hurt for her to say whatever she did; but don't blame her I'm asking you to just forgive her, but to just to hear her out . . . okay?" She said as Naruto did nothing, so with a sigh in defeat she got up and hugged him.

"Please . . . give your sister another chance." Sazuna said as she began let the hug go, but Naruto hugged her back. Both she and Kakashi were surprise to get a reaction from the boy.

"Okay . . ." Naruto said hoarsely as he hugged her, making Kakashi eye smile.

'Seems to me that master was wrong . . ." he thought while watching to two.

With Minato at Minoa's office

"Fine, I'll do it. However there's another matter at hand I would like to talk about." Minato said as Minoa leaned forward in her chair.

"What is it this time brother?" She asked as Minato took a breath.

"Why aren't you helping clear the Uchiha name? You and I both know they are innocent." He said as Minoa sighed.

"It's not as easy as it seems, everyone seems to blame the Uchiha for the attack and-." She said as Minato glared at her making stop.

"They were not there Minoa; they're only going off what they heard from random people. You were there, you know what is happened and you know Mikoto. She would never let one of her own attack her village. As Hokage you need to take control and tell them the truth." He said as nothing was said for a bit until Minoa nodded.

"Okay, okay . . . perhaps you're right. I just, I don't know, perhaps I didn't want to relive that night I guess. But you're right . . . the Uchiha were blamed for too long, and I'll see to it that they are apologized to and fix our bonds with them." She said as Minato smiled for the first time since entering the office.

"Thank you Minoa, I'll see what I can do for your terms. Just keep your end of the deal." Minato said as he left, but had a disappointed look on his face.

'You've changed Minoa; you've never would have done this before. Something's wrong.' He though while he left.

Back to Kakashi's home

After Naruto spoke, Sazuna and Kakashi tried to get him to talk once again but it was only a few words if they were lucky. The two sat down with defeat as they looked at Naruto who stared back at them.

"Well . . . I'm sure his father would be glad to hear that his son is speaking again . . . perhaps you would like to take him around the village? I'm sure the Ichirakus will be glad to see Naruto again." Kakashi said as Sazuna was about to replied when the front door opened reveiling Minato, whose face was dark.

"Master, guess who's talking again!" Kakashi said with an eye smile as Minato nodded, but otherwise said nothing. Kakashi and Sazuna looked at the man confused until he approached Sazuna.

"Sazuna . . . would you please inform Mikoto that I'll be arriving. There's something I wish to discuss with her." Minato said as the Kakashi and Sazuna stared at him worriedly; Kakashi never seen him this serious since the Third Shinobi War.

"A-Alright . . . I'll go now." She said as she slipped past Minato and left. It was then he looked at his student.

"Master . . . what's wrong?" He asked as Minato glanced around.

"Not here . . . not while we are exposed like this, let's head somewhere safer." He said grabbing his son's arm along with Kakashi's and lead the two out of the house.

The Uchiha District

Currently Mikoto was sitting outside watching her two of her three children. She smiled as Itachi taught Sasuke the way of the sword. She sighed as she felt her second oldest appear behind her.

"Mother . . . Minato asked me to inform you of his arrival shortly." She said as Mikoto nodded.

"Aright Sazuna, do you know what he's arrive for?" She asked since she honestly didn't expect him to come over so soon.

"I have no idea, but he seems serious." Sazuna replied as Mikoto nodded.

'Perhaps he see the darkness in Minoa as well.' She thought as she stood up and looked at her boys again.

"How about you watch your brothers for a bit? I'll talk to Minato alone, okay?" She asked Sasuna as she looked reluctant but agreed anyways. Mikoto quickly prepared some tea for their arrival and had everything set up when a knock was at her door. She then made herself presentable and headed to the door, and opened it to find Minato, Kakashi, and Naruto there. Her eyes widen and she blinked a bit, before letting the three inside.

"Thank you for letting us in Mikoto." Minato said as Mikoto smiled at him.

"Nonsense, I invited you here remember? Granted I didn't expect you to arrive so soon, makes me wonder what's going on?" She asked as Minato left his son and student in another room while he and Mikoto entered a more privet one, it was the that he walked closer to her and whispered something into her ear.

"Oh I see . . ." She said as she quickly went through some hand signs and made a barrier surround the room.

"Something dark is happening Mikoto, it seems to have gotten hold of Minoa already . . . do you know what I'm talking about?" Minato said as she nodded.

"Indeed I do, I have theories but they either make no sense, or they have no proof backing them up." She said as Minato nodded.

"Truth be told, I hoped that I was wrong, but I had to confirm it. That's one of the reasons I visited Minoa today. When we talked, she seemed as if she was fully aware of what's happening around her, but her eyes are glazed over. So my theory is that someone has her trapped in a Genjutsu, a powerful one at that. I don't think she has control sometimes, and when she's under it she forgets about whatever she does." Minato explained as Mikoto nodded.

"Yes I've noticed it as well, but who would do such a thing?" She asked as Minato looked away.

"I have an idea, but I don't have time to search for proof. I have to leave the village for a month or longer . . . I'll try to think of anything that could help prove this. What I'm going to tell you, is something that should be given only to those you trust with your life." He said and waited for her to nod in understanding, which she did.

"The person I think that's responsible is either Orochimaru or Danza." He said as Mikoto nodded to him.

'I see he also suspected Danza, her dark views of things often irritated me, but Orochimaru? How would he be responsible? Unless he's-' Her eyes widen at what she just thought of.

"You don't mean?" Mikoto asked, fear written on her face.

"Yes, I do . . . if Orochimaru completed that; he could possible make his promise a reality. I suggest keeping a close eye on Danza, and Orochimaru's sister: Orochimara." He said he turned to leave, Mikoto noticing this brought the barrier down. At the door though, he stopped and turned his head to look at her

"You don't mind keeping an eye on my son right? I trust Kakashi, but he, just like me, is a male. And like all males we can't possible stop a fully trained shinobi." Minato said as Mikoto nodded.

"You have my word my old friend." She said with a smile.

'Perhaps we can get a peaceful solution after all.' She thought as she followed Minato out of the room to explain the situation to Naruto, Kakashi, and some members of the Uchiha clan.

I hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! I know it took what seemed like forever, but here it is! Hope this clears up some things!