Chapter 689: Sensei?

Chapter 689: Sensei?

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The barrier dissipated as Peter stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Minato's shoulder. "See? Sometimes you just have to trust that people can settle their own differences."

Minato's eyes, still filled with concern, flicked to Peter. "But what if she had killed him? Then what?"

Peter shrugged nonchalantly. "Would it really have been a bad thing?"

Minato's shock was palpable. "Yes, yes it would have!" His voice almost rose to a shout, anger and confusion blending on his face.

Peter glanced at the prone form of Hiruzen, who lay still, staring up at the sky. Reaching into his storage necklace, Peter pulled out a thick stack of papers and handed them to Minato. "You might change your opinion after going through all of that."

Minato accepted the papers, a mix of curiosity and dread filling him. Before he could begin reading, Kushina approached, her steps slow and measured. Without a word, she pulled Minato into a hug, burying her face into his neck.

Minato wrapped his arms around her, the papers crumpling slightly in his grasp. He held her close, feeling the tension in her body gradually easing. "I'm so sorry, Minato," she whispered, her voice muffled against his shoulder. "You were right. I just needed to get all of the anger out of me. I won't kill Hiruzen."

Minato smiled, squeezing her gently. "It's okay. I'm just glad you're alright and that you didn't do anything you'd regret later."

Kushina hummed in agreement, though a small part of her wondered if she might regret leaving Hiruzen alive instead. She hoped not.

Breaking the embrace, Minato looked into her eyes, concern replacing his earlier relief. "Wait, where's Naruto? Everything happened so quickly, I forgot about our baby."

Kushina placed a calming hand on his chest. "Mikoto is watching him for me."

Minato relaxed and nodded, pressing a kiss to her cheek. "Why don't you go check on him? I trust Mikoto but Naruto is still so young..." he said, indicating the papers in his hand. "I need to deal with this. I'll be home soon, and we can talk more then."

Kushina smiled and nodded, watching as Minato walked over to where Hiruzen lay. She turned to Peter, gratitude in her eyes. "Thank you for letting me deal with things without anyone interrupting."

Peter accepted her thanks with a nod. "Anytime." He smiled, gesturing behind him. "I was planning on heading to the Uchiha district. Want to walk together?"

She accepted, and they began the journey back, leaving just as some Anbu appeared to carry Hiruzen to the hospital.

As Peter and Kushina walked back to the Uchiha district, the silence between them was companionable, but heavy with unspoken thoughts.

Peter glanced at Kushina, noticing the distant look in her eyes. He guessed that she must be thinking about her homeland and decided to break the silence. "You know, I've just realized that I'll never get to see Uzushiogakure. What was it like?"

Kushina's expression softened, a small smile tugging at her lips as she looked ahead, lost in memories. "Uzu... it was the most beautiful place. Peaceful and serene. The air was always so fresh, and the sound of the waves crashing against the cliffs was like a constant, calming melody."

Peter listened intently, picturing the scenes she described. "It sounds like a paradise."

"It was," Kushina agreed, her voice tinged with nostalgia. "The village was mainly surrounded by water, but we also had a dense forest, filled with tall, ancient trees. And in the spring, the cherry blossoms would bloom, their petals drifting through the air like pink snow."

Kurama raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued. "Can I leave?"

Peter nodded. "Sure. I was only keeping you captive for the time being. But now that everything is over, you can go if you want. But I wouldn't if I were you."

Kurama's other eyebrow joined the first in a skeptical arch. "Why?"

Peter explained, his tone serious. "Pretty soon, you and your fellow tailed beasts will be hunted down. It's probably best that you stay in a place where you can be protected."

Kurama rolled his eyes, clearly unimpressed. "We've been hunted down for ages. Why should I be so careful now?"

"This will be different," Peter said cryptically. "You should take my advice and come to some sort of deal with Konoha. Become their guardian beast or something, for a price of course."

"..." Kurama looked at Peter as if he were impossibly dumb for even suggesting such a thing.

Peter didn't give up. "Wouldn't you like a place you can call home without having to look over your shoulder every five seconds, wondering when the next power-hungry human is going to try and seal you away or control you like last night?" He said, his words carrying some weight to them. "You could speak with the Hokage and work out an equal deal with the village. You'd be willing to live here and be given certain freedoms and luxuries, but in return, you have to help protect the village if it's ever in danger. I could see Minato agreeing to that pretty easily."

Kurama stared at Peter, the wheels turning in his mind. The idea of a home, of stability, was tempting. But he was a proud and stubborn beast, and the notion of striking a deal with humans was something he had never considered. Still, the thought lingered, and Peter's words echoed in his mind as they continued their walk, the future uncertain but filled with possibilities.

Before Kurama could fully process Peter's words and come to a decision, out of nowhere, a wooden kunai flew towards Peter's head. But, just before it could hit its mark, he raised his hand and caught it effortlessly between his fingers.

A split second later, two little kids with black hair and black eyes rushed out from the nearby tree line, launching a coordinated attack.

Peter sidestepped their every move with ease, bending down and flicking each of them on the forehead. The two kids, now identifiable as Itachi and Shisui Uchiha, who was only a few years older than Itachi, flew back a few yards upon the impact. But luckily, they managed to land on their feet like cats, grunting as they rubbed their stinging bruised foreheads.

[Insert picture of Shisui here]

Itachi turned to Shisui, complaining, "See? I told you we should have waited until he got closer."

Peter raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes. "What are you brats up to?"

Shisui was the first to respond, bowing deeply. "Please, we want you to be our sensei!"

Itachi joined him in bowing seconds later, his face earnest.

"?" Peter's surprise was evident as he looked at the two young Uchiha, not expecting such a request.

A/N: 1760 words :)

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