Chapter 176 - An Unexpected Guest

"Do you like sweet things?" Minato asked the people in the room.

"…" Lee, Karin, Sasuke, Jūgo, and Kakashi remained silent as they stared in awe of Minato's appearance.

Seeing no response, "Spicy it is!" Minato declared following which he swaggered off, leaving people with dumbfounded expressions.

Sasuke being uninterested in waiting followed after Minato into the kitchen.

"Do you need help?" Sasuke asked upon seeing Minato bring out a few ingredients from different shelves in the kitchen.

"It's okay. You can leave it to me,"

"Kakashi," Minato was surprised to see Kakashi appearing after Sasuke.

"What are you doing sensei?" Kakashi asked.

"Hmm…"

"Since we are going to eat something spicy, its definitely going to be Kushina's recipe," Minato said as he reached out for some meat in the fridge.

"Kushina?" Sasuke asked.

"My wife," Minato said as he looked towards a photo hung up on the wall.

"…" Sasuke turned to look at the photo.

Seeing Naruto's mom and dad in the photo, he was reminded of his own parents, and suddenly Itachi's shadow flashed in his mind.

"This photo," Kakashi pointed.

"I just found it today morning, So I hung it here," Minato said.

"Oh…" Sasuke finally understood why he hadn't seen it the previous day when he came for dinner.

"So what are we making?" Sasuke asked.

"You want to help as well?" Minato asked seeing that Kakashi already wanted to help.

"Mm," Sasuke nodded.

"Let's see…" Minato thought for a moment.

"I'd call it Kushina Style Curry Rice Extra Spicy Habanero Meat Ball Madness Rush," Minato said with a proud expression.

("Isn't that name too long?")

("For curry rice no less,") Kakashi and Sasuke thought simultaneously.

"Well then,"

"Kakashi, I want you to start slicing vegetables, but before that, I'd need you to skin the pineapple," Minato said as he handed a couple of vegetables and a pineapple.

"Sasuke, Crush the skinned pineapple to make it a juice and have this meat simmer in it for a while and give it to me,"

"I'll take care of everything else," Minato said as turned away.

Kakashi looked at the vegetables and pineapple in his hand.

"This…" They were already washed and cleaned.

Sasuke also noticed this too.

("He's quick even for chores…")

By the time Sasuke turned back, Minato already prepared the mixture for the curry.

"…" The two remained speechless at the speed the man operated in.

"Is it ready?" Minato asked.

"…" Kakashi and Sasuke could only shake their heads and start their work.

…

Back in the room.

Karin continued to observe Naruto.

But what she didn't know was that Naruto was already awake, but in a different state though.

Deep in his psyche, Naruto stared at Kurama.

"Sorry Naruto, they asked me to keep my lips sealed about it," Kurama said.

Naruto, on the other hand, was still unconvinced.

"Kurama, I asked you because I already knew things were strange when all the people I knew asked me to participate in the mission to kill the Ōtsutsukis."

"…" Kurama remained silent.

"It was strange because none of my friends ever killed a person,"

"Sasuke never killed Danzō, nor his elder brother,"

"Shikamaru technically never killed Hidan,"

"Technically none of my friends ever killed anyone, but suddenly they told me to go on a mission to kill the Ōtsutsukis,"

"I asked you that day because I knew people were hiding something from me, but why did you too?" Naruto asked once again.

"Naruto, I…"

"WHY?" Naruto shouted.

"…"

"The man who killed Azami is still alive,"

"Sasuke thought that we went to their base, but he was wrong,"

"We killed the wrong people!" (Bang!) Naruto punched the floor in anger.

"Naruto…" Kurama was worried.

"Azami was just a kid,"

"She had barely begun to live her life yet,"

"Even if she had those eyes, and was extremely powerful for her age, she was wise and decided not to become a ninja,"

"Yet, that bastard tortured her to death in front of me for a mere prophecy," Naruto felt helpless.

Kurama also knew how Azami was. A girl who was like a fire of life that danced and glowed. She was a friendly girl and gentle at heart. Her eyes made her feel like an alien; thus, most children her age avoided her. Yet she would never give up hope at making friends and living a healthy life. If her genius-ness were to be described, she would be a girl version of Itachi, but her eyes caused her to stand out to the point she was avoided. Even more-so by the children, just like how jinchūrikis were avoided by a.d.u.l.ts who knew.

"Boruto was right,"

"I am the worst parent in the whole world…" Naruto stared at his reflection on the water at his feet.

"Not true Naruto,"

"You were a great parent,"

"You even stepped down from being a Hokage to be there for Azumi,"

"But she died, in the end, didn't she, Right in front of my eyes!" Naruto shouted.

"True, but you were powerless back then,"

"Even if any other parent,"

"Even if it was Sasuke, her other grandfather,"

"I doubt he would have stood up as well as you did," Kurama said.

"…" Naruto stared silently.

Another reason why he participated in the final battle was so that, Sasuke would never have to go searching for the Ōtsutsukis again. It was the battle that would have finally made Sasuke finish atoning for his sins (according to him) and come back to live with his family.

"Cheer-up Naruto,"

"In this timeline, we can save everybody, including her," Kurama said.

"HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE???" Naruto shouted.

"…" Kurama frowned seeing Naruto was triggered but didn't know why.

"I am not even sure Boruto and Himawari will be born at this rate, not to mention Sarada,"

"This timeline has already changed beyond recognition in the past few months,"

"And even if they are born, Will Boruto and Sarada marry like the previous timeline?"

"Will Azumi be born?"

"Will we be able to prevent this from happening?" Naruto asked.

"You already have the answer, don't you?" Kurama asked.

"huh?"

"You have saved the third Hokage and the fourth kazekage,"

"Your father is alive for now and so are the other Hokages,"

"You prevented Sasuke from going to Orochimaru,"

"Zabuza and Haku are alive,"

"Haven't you already saved them all?"Kurama asked.

"…" Naruto was stunned.

"I know you can save her Naruto, in this timeline you can save everyone,"

"I have seen you do it again and again,"

"You did the impossible in the previous, and over here as well," Kurama said.

Naruto thought back to everything that had happened since he had arrived in this world.

"Believe in yourself Naruto,"

"The old you never gave up after all," Kurama smiled.

Naruto thought back to the differences he had in the previous timeline and the current timeline. Even if he was a ninja with fewer abilities, He had the guts and will power to carry himself. The old him never gave up until he achieved what he wanted to do. Even if the current him was more mature and wise, he was able to become childlike or serious when the situation demanded for it, but he had somewhat lacked his original essence of what made him a ninja in the first place.

"A ninja should work hard and persevere, but most importantly, he should have the will power never to give up…eh" Naruto recalled the words of his previous self and Jiraiya.

"Hehe," Kurama snickered seeing that old smile on Naruto's face once again.

"Thanks, Kurama," Naruto was genuinely thankful.

"I'm always here," Kurama smiled.

"By the way, where's Shū?"

"I tried contacting him earlier, but he doesn't respond," Naruto said.

"Shū will be asleep for a while,"

"I don't know how long but it seems like he's tired from suppressing that curse of yours…" Kurama said as he pointed to a dim orb that floated nearby him.

"Oh…" Naruto stared the orb.

A moment later he looked up at Kurama,

"Take care of Shū,"

"Sure thing," Kurama replied.

*Sh!*

Naruto opened his eyes.

"Naruto!" Karin exclaimed upon seeing Naruto wake-up.

"Karin," Naruto was surprised to see Karin beside him.

"Naruto-kun,"

"You're awake," Lee said.

"Yup, I'm back," Naruto smiled at Lee.

"…" Jūgo stared silently from the door.

"Lee, Karin, When did you guys come?" Naruto asked.

"We waited for a few hours for you to wake up,"

"Shikamaru, Neji, Tsunade-sama and the other kages left a while ago…" Lee informed.

"I see…" Naruto's eyes wandered around the room. Despite spotting Jūgo, he seemed to look for a particular figure.

"Where's Hinata?" Naruto asked.

"Eh?" Lee looked at Karin.

"She left before you came,"

"oh," Lee understood.

"I see…" Naruto's expectations went down a notch.

"Sasuke-kun and Kakashi-sensei are in the kitchen, along with your dad," Lee said.

"Sasuke is here? Ah, so that's why…" Naruto's gaze shifted over to Jūgo, who stood by the door.

…

Soon everyone sat in the living room, waiting for dinner. Meanwhile, Naruto was in the kitchen with his dad, Kakashi, and Sasuke.

Naruto stood in front of Sasuke.

"I'm sorry for what happened today,"

"…"

"It's… all right…" Sasuke said slowly.

"Okay you two, settle down at the table,"

"Kakashi and I will be serving you all," Minato said.

"Mm," Sasuke and Naruto nodded following which they left the kitchen.

Minato and Kakashi knew that what had happened earlier would be a chat for another time since there were guests in their house.

"I'll grab the plates," Kakashi said as he walked over to a shelf.

…

*Ding* *Dong*

"Hmm?" Minato looked towards the door.

"I'll get it," Naruto said as he got up from his chair.

*door opens*

"Hi, Naruto my man," A voice greeted.

Naruto froze.

("What's he doing here?") Naruto was shocked by this unexpected guest.

"Aren't you going to invite me in?" Deidara asked.

"Of course you can come in, Aniki" Naruto raised a hand.

"Yeah," Deidara gave a high five and entered the house.

("What?") Kakashi, Sasuke, and Minato were stunned to see Deidara in plain clothes entering the house.

"Hey guys, I want you to meet my Aniki, Deidara," Naruto introduced.

"Sup, Everyone," Deidara raised a peace sign as he stared at everyone seated around the table.

Minato walked in to set up an extra plate,

"Hi, I'm Minato, Naruto's dad," Minato introduced himself.

"Pleased to meet ya," Deidara smiled following which his eyes landed on the empty plate that was just set on the table.

"Would you like to have dinner with us," Minato asked.

"oh, what do you guys have for dinner," Deidara asked.

"Hehe," Minato snickered.

("It's finally time for that short name I came up with,") Minato thought as he looked at Deidara.

"It's explosive meatball curry rice,"

"…" Deidara's eyes gleamed.