Hi guys! Here's the next installment!

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I'm Not My Father

Chapter Six: Starting Fresh

Kushina watched her estranged son as he rested on a hospital bed due to the stress he had gone through not even an hour ago. She couldn't blame him, especially since she was the one that caused that stress.

"Not my best execution," she muttered to herself, chuckling awkwardly. "Still, at least now I know for sure."

She smiled softly, content to just watch Naruto sleep. Her eggs hadn't been wasted, and the product of them laid before her. While the method of their use would never have been her first choice, she was relieved that her donation to the hospital wasn't in vain.

It made her guilty thinking this way, for it made it seem like she viewed Naruto as a thing and not a person. She clenched her trembling fist at what Orochimaru had done; but she couldn't fully thrust her rage onto the man. If he hadn't implanted her eggs into Shojo, she wouldn't have run off to the Leaf for sanctuary. It was by good graces that Shojo was chosen, leading to Naruto being born in the village.

"Orochimaru," she growled out, knowing exactly what the twisted man wanted with her newly realized son. The body of an Uzumaki would be ideal for him to inhabit. "I won't let you have him, ttebane. He's my child."

"So," a voice called, making her turn and see her husband walking up to stand next to her, "you found out?"

She turned back to the window, her gaze growing tender as she resumed watching Naruto. "Yes… Naruto, he…" She smiled faintly, but it held incredible warmth. "He's my son."

"I had my own suspicions," the blonde admitted. "I just wish you would've talked to me first before springing this on him. We could've eased him into it."

"No," Kushina denied immediately, getting his attention. "Naruto's very guarded with his trust. He thought I was trying to hurt him when he heard the truth; that I enjoyed torturing him. His eyes, they…" She shook her head sadly. "They reminded me of how I felt when I was made a Jinchūriki by Mito-sama…"

Minato wrapped an arm around her shoulders to support her. "What do you plan to do next, Kushina?"

"I want to have him move in with us; but, I know it'd be too big of a step. He has to fully accept what's happened before anything like that can happen; if it will at all, anyway." She took a breath to gather her thoughts. "For now, I'll support him however he needs me to. If he wants time to think or space from me, then I'll give it to him."

"That's probably for the best. If that happens, I'll have Anko train him some more while you focus on your other students."

"I hope it doesn't come to that, Minato-kun; I really do…"

The following day, Naruto left the hospital after thanking the staff for letting him stay in a vacant room. Heading to his apartment, he took some time to wash up and put on a fresh copy of his clothes before walking to the small cemetery his birth mother was buried in.

Sitting in front of her grave once more, he stared at the engraved name with a small smile. "Morning, mom… Things got pretty intense yesterday after team training. I...found out that Kushina-sensei is my blood mother; that I was born from her eggs through you."

His hands rested on his knees, clenching them as he trembled.

"It doesn't matter to me if she's the source of my birth. You were the one who carried me, who nurtured me, and who birthed me. You were the one who gave me love; even if it was in your dying breath." He smiled through his growing tears. "No matter what happens, you will always be my mother… I don't care if it isn't by blood. I feel it here," he rested a palm over his heart, "and I will treasure it." He got up and moved in front of the grave, kissing the top of it as a tear fell. "I love you…"

With that said, he left the cemetery. He felt a bit lighter after that talk, and he still had training with his team. He just hoped things wouldn't become awkward between him and Kushina.

The Genin of Team 13 arrived at their training field on time, but their sensei wasn't there waiting for them. It made the two kunoichi curious while Naruto wasn't too bothered by it.

"So," Yakumo began, speaking to him, "how did it go yesterday, Naruto-san?"

He looked to her and Hanabi, who also looked interested in his answer. "…It was really eye-opening. Turns out…I'm connected to Kushina-sensei in a way I never thought."

"Connected?" Yakumo repeated, her tone one of concern. "Is it a bad connection…?"

"Not really… It was just…unexpected. It really caught me off guard, but I'm not going to dwell on it."

"But what was the connection?" Hanabi pressed, and he saw that she too was concerned; she just hid it better.

"Sensei is…" He paused with a sigh, finding it a bit harder to admit to his teammates than he once thought. Telling his mother's grave was easy, because he told her everything that was happening; good or bad.

"If you'd like," Kushina spoke up as she entered the field, prompting her students to turn to her, "I could tell them, Naruto."

He shook his head. "No, I'll do it." He turned back to his teammates and revealed, "Sensei is…my blood mother."

Yakumo looked a bit confused while Hanabi looked thoughtful. "W-What does that mean?" the Kurama heiress asked.

"It means that Naruto was born from fertilized eggs that were implanted into another woman," their sensei explained, earning a grateful look from Naruto. It was hard enough for him to admit he had another mother, so she would explain how he did. "The woman who carried Naruto would be categorized as his birth mother since he was pulled from her womb. However, the eggs used to start that birth were-"

"Your eggs," Hanabi finished with wide eyes, unable to hide how she really felt about the reveal. "…Naruto is your son…"

Yakumo gasped in surprised, her hands flying to her mouth at how scandalous the situation was. Naruto was obviously seen as an outcast because of who his father was. To find out that he's also the son of the Uzumaki Matriarch? No one could blame her for being shocked.

"Yes," Kushina admitted. "Naruto is my child by blood." She turned to him with a soft smile, one of understanding. "But I know that I could never replace the woman who gave her life for you. She risked everything to bring you here while I'm still a stranger to you." At his nod, she added, "And if you need some time to sort this out, you may be excused from my training and have Anko instruct you for some time."

Her students were all taken aback by the offer. "I… I'll be okay, sensei," Naruto replied. "I know it's a lot to take in; but, I don't want to stop learning from you. After all," he finally returned her smile, "I still need to learn about my ancestral art."

Kushina's demeanor brightened up considerably at this, her joy at the thought of teaching him fuinjutsu displayed proudly on her face. "Yes! Yes, you do!" she agreed excitedly. 'Finally, I can pass down what Mito-sama taught me, ttebane!' she added in her thoughts.

With everything sorted out, the atmosphere around Team 13 grew lighter and they started off their training for the day.

"Well, rip off my scales and call me a worm," Anko declared with a grin, sitting on the roof of Naruto's apartment with said boy. "Never in my life did I think you'd be the kid of someone important."

"Me neither," Naruto agreed softly.

"But, we both know that this hardly changes anything. Kushina-sama may be your mother too; but she wasn't your first mother."

"Thanks," he replied, giving her a grateful look for the words of comfort. "So, when will we continue my lessons in Snake Style jutsu?"

"Not for a little while, unfortunately. I've got a mission with a couple of Jonin that requires my skillset." At his depressed sigh, she smirked and nudged him with her arm. "Hey now, no brooding. I'm not leaving you all hung and dry, gaki. There's a scroll on your bed that goes over the Striking Shadow Snakes technique. It shouldn't be too hard for you to figure out."

He perked up at the information. "Thanks. Good luck on your mission."

Standing up and stretching, she returned, "Good luck with your team training. Also, what do you think of the D-Ranks so far?" She couldn't help laughing at the sight of his annoyed, borderline pissed off, expression. "Enjoy them while you can, gaki!" she teased before leaving in a burst of smoke.

"Damned sisters and keeping the truth from us," grumbled the Genin, feeling sorry for younger siblings who had to deal with teasing, secretive older siblings.

"Ready for your first lesson?" Kushina asked Naruto with an eager smile. It had been a week since they had found out the truth, and she was anxious to finally start instructing him on the finer intricacies of fuinjutsu.

"Yes," he answered, sitting across from her at their team's training field.

"Alright, I've seen the seals you've used and can tell you've made a lot of progress on your own. What's the highest caliber seal you've made successfully?"

"That reverse barrier I used during our Genin Test."

"Ah, barriers… Those can be finicky little bastards," she commented thoughtfully. "Some barriers only block specific things, while others cover broad categories; but can actually be weaker than specific barriers."

"That makes sense. The seal has to spend more energy covering more options compared to something singular, like a Fire Barrier."

"Exactly! Now, did you bring your notes?"

Nodding, he unsealed them from a scroll and handed them over. "Those are my notes concerning existing seals and how to improve or alter them. My personal notes are hidden away."

"Smart choice. Personal seals are tricky to make, and if someone were to find them, they could cause some serious harm since they won't know what you planned. Out of curiosity, would you mind sharing the goal of one of your seals?"

"I'd…rather keep that to myself for now, sensei," he awkwardly denied. While he was excited to learn sealing, he wasn't ready to share his personal notes just yet.

"I understand," she assured, giving him a smile. "How about I show you a seal that I've made?"

"You don't have to," he tried to say, feeling guilty at the offer.

"Oh, I know that. I want to, though." Her smile remained, but her voice softened as she added, "I want to share this with my son…"

He recoiled unconsciously, making her smile sadden. "I…"

"Naruto," she cut off gently, reaching across to place her hand on his. His violet eyes met hers, and they saw that she was expressing longing and understanding in them. "I know that the situation with us is…difficult. But, I need you to know that I'm here for you."

He looked away at that, his demeanor one of anxiety and nervousness.

"I'm not trying to take her place," she added, making him turn back to her with widened eyes. "Shojo was, and always will be, your mother too; a better one than I was."

"Sensei, you didn't-"

"That's no excuse," she interrupted firmly. "I had my suspicions for years now; but, I was waiting for more proof before I could lay them to rest. Even then, I could've done something to help you with your situation in the village."

He frowned at this. "I don't want your pity."

"It's not pity," she defended, her smile returning slightly; a painful one that got his attention. "It's kinship… Like you, Naruto, I was an outcast of the Leaf Village. I wasn't born here; I was immigrated. I was treated poorly by other kids, and it didn't help that Mito-sama had passed on the Kyuubi to me."

He stayed silent, letting her speak.

"I felt alone when I was growing up, with only a couple of people treating me kindly. Sometimes, I even thought of leaving because it was so hard to face the world when I was shunned for being an Uzumaki." She gave a bitter chuckle at that. "Not like I would've been able to leave anyway, since the Leaf wouldn't want to lose their Jinchūriki…"

Part of Naruto believed that she had been holding this in for years, and he felt both privileged and uneasy at possibly being the first to hear how she truly felt.

"So, I know what you're going through," she continued. "I don't pity you; I understand you. And I want to understand you more," she grabbed the hand hers was placed on, gently squeezing it to show her support. "I want to be there for you as a teacher, a friend, and hopefully someday a mother. I'm meeting you halfway, Naruto." Her smile grew faintly. "I hope you meet me the rest of the way."

She released his hand, and part of him missed the warmth he felt. His gaze was locked on the ground in front of him, body sagged in depressed thoughtfulness. For so long, he had wanted someone to make that offer to him; to be there for him when he needed them. By all rights, he should've been happy.

But instead, he felt unsure. He wanted to accept, but the woman before him was an important figure in his life; one he only recently found out about. It made him hesitate, which made him anxious, which depressed him.

"We'll meet back here in a couple of hours," Kushina spoke up, making him look up slightly. "Take that time to clear your head, okay?"

She sounded so supportive, so understanding that it made him feel guilty for hesitating. He couldn't speak, and just settled for a nod.

"I'll bring something for us to eat, too," she added before vanishing in a Body Flicker.

Left alone, Naruto couldn't find the will to do anything more than sit in silence and think; the endeavor being difficult because of how jumbled his thoughts had become.

"Maybe I pushed too hard," Kushina mused with a sigh, sitting in her husband's office. "I don't want to lose him before I could get to know him…"

"He needs time to sort things out, Kushina," Minato assured her. "I was the same when I found out my parents had adopted me. I was so lost since I thought they were my parents my entire life."

"But they were," the Uzumaki woman argued.

"And I know that," he replied with his hands up placatingly. "But you have to understand the shock I went through because of it; knowing that what I believed wasn't completely true. That's how Naruto is feeling right now, most likely. His whole life, he thought that Shojo was his mother in both blood and name, and he had accepted that she isn't going to be in his life."

She listened attentively, hoping for a way to help Naruto warm up to her.

"Then along comes someone who is a big deal both inside and out of the village, showing proof that she is his mother, and not the woman who died delivering him. His mind is still in shock, trying to pick up any pieces that may have broken off during that revelation."

"So, what do I do? Keep my distance like almost the rest of the village does?" she argued, her expression fierce. "I will not do that to an innocent boy; especially when I know that he's my son!"

"And I'm not asking you to. All I'm suggesting is that you take things slower. If he looks uncomfortable, back off a bit; or you will push him away."

She clenched her hands in her lap, gripping her clothes tightly. "It's hard, Minato-kun… I have to force myself not to reach out and pull him close, to never let him go again…" Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears. "He's my son…"

The blonde Hokage stood up from his chair and strode over to her, sitting beside her on the couch that was in his office. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and she instinctively leaned into him for comfort.

"If you push too hard, Kushina, then he might not see it that way," he explained. "You have to ease up, or you'll lose him for good."

She choked out a sob, finding the situation to be one of the hardest moments of her life. In her husband's embrace, she wept for the child born from her stolen eggs; for the child who grew up feeling a loneliness that could compare to Jinchūriki.

When Kushina returned to the training field with two takeout orders of Ichiraku, she saw Naruto in the middle of a personal training session. Cringing slightly, she saw that it was more of a venting session to get rid of some frustration; as seen by him relentlessly wasting away his chakra with poorly executed Fire Style jutsu.

Still, at least she was able to see that Anko had taught him more than just Snake Style jutsu.

"Naruto," she called out, making him stop from performing another Fireball Jutsu. "Take a break and eat. We'll pick up where we left off afterwards."

He sighed to himself and nodded, heading over to her so they could eat. It was an awkward silence for them as they slurped their ramen, neither of them knowing what to say to the other.

Kushina was about to have one of her famous outbursts from the tension, but to her surprise, Naruto beat her to it. "Sensei, I… I'm trying to make sense of everything. From a logical standpoint, this whole situation is clear as glass. But from an emotional one…"

"It's frustrating, isn't it?" she guessed, earning a nod. "I feel the same way. It's hard to deal with, but I hope we can get through this together."

"…You said you would meet me halfway, right?" he asked, raising his gaze from his ramen to meet hers.

"Yes, I did." He was hesitant, she could see it easily; but she said nothing to pressure him.

"Do you…" He took a moment to take a breath and calm his nerves. "Do you think that…we could start fresh?" She tilted her head slightly at the question. "I want to accept your offer; I really do… But, I don't know you other than by reputation. So, do you think we could take it one day at a time?"

Hope filled her heart, and she couldn't stop the bright smile that threatened to split her face. "Yes! Yes, I'd like that very much."

He wasn't pushing her away; he just needed to get a better understanding of who she was and how she would treat him. She could do that! She'll treat him like any other student and help him grow as a ninja; but at the same time, she would ease herself more and more into his life. She could start by doing what she is now: sharing a meal with him.

Ideas swarmed into her head, each one filled with the goal of bringing her and Naruto closer together until finally they could be a family.

Getting her focus back on track, she declared, "I promise not to make you too uncomfortable, Naruto. I may come on a bit strong on some occasions; but I'll try not to push too hard."

He could live with that for now, so he nodded in acceptance. "Right… So, about that lesson…?"

"Oh, of course! Why don't I show you one of my favorite seals? It was actually one of my first ideas that took me a long time to finish." she offered excitedly.

"And what seal is that, sensei?" he asked, curiosity growing within him.

With a bright grin, Kushina pulled out her old notebook from her Genin days and opened it to the first few pages. "It's called Dive to the Heart." (1)

1~ I've decided to incorporate a few Kingdom Hearts elements into this story, and not just the music.

And that, as they say, is that!

I'm so sorry that this took so long to update. Work, family issues, new story ideas, and sometimes just lazy forgetfulness got in the way. Not much of an excuse, but it's the truth; and I'd rather be a truthful fool than a lucrative liar.

Kushina and Naruto have agreed to take things slow and start over. While it's not ideal for Kushina, she knows that it's the best way for Naruto to become a part of her life. However, be prepared for random moments where she will come on a bit strong (which I hope to make into a series of comical events for you readers).

Two things before I end this. The first is a request. Lots of authors these days – myself included – have "Characters Reading" versions of their stories. I'd like some eager and willing authors to give some of my stories a go at this format; except for ones that already have Reading versions.

I have Reading versions for:

Kouma Shōkan: The Whirling Maelstrom

A Sun's Devilish Maid

Sackcloth and Ashes

Star Wars: The New Republic

If you'd like to give one of my other stories a shot, then please PM me!

The second thing is suggestions for what Naruto will encounter for his own person Dive to the Heart. I'll happily hear any ideas and silently choose the one I like the most! So, take a moment to think, and share your ideas!

Until next time!

~pain17ification~