Chapter Text
The evening turns to night as the revelations keep piling up.
There's a hesitant sort of acceptance on Sakura's part. She believes it, or is trying her best to. How can she not? This is exactly what she's been hoping for since Naruto passed away and now that's what's she is getting. So what if this Naruto is shorter, dumber, younger than the one she knew? She'll love him all the same.
Sasuke places his hand gingerly on Naruto's head and realises that his hair is softer than his former best friend's. Naruto looks up at him, titling his head in question.
"What? You're admiring my hair now?" He shakes his head, trying to get Sasuke's hand off of him. Sasuke doesn't resist and takes his hand back, scoffing.
"Idiot, I was just trying to..uh nothing..."
Naruto huffs, and looks at Minato, "So. Um. What happens now? How do I get back?"
Minato sighs, "I'm not entirely sure that you can. I'm not familiar with any seals that can permit inter-dimensional travel. If you still had that scroll from...the other Itachi, things would've been alot easier. Besides, if two parallel worlds coexist, what's to say that there aren't more than that? A thousand, million, billion more worlds? The fact that you landed in our world is pure coincidence. Sending you back will be a gamble, if we don't know what's the factor that decides which world you're sent to."
Naruto looks at Minato blankly, "Yeah. Didn't understand any of that."
Sakura whispers to Sasuke, "Well, he's definitely different. Our Naruto would've gone off on a tangent discussing theories with the Hokage."
Sasuke nods his head in silent agreement.
Minato waves a hand at Naruto, "Doesn't matter. Let's just get you settled here, why don't we? You'll be staying here for an indefinite amount of time."
Naruto looks uncertain but agrees after seeing their expectant gazes.
"Perfect!" Kushina cheers, "You'll stay with us, ofcourse. We'll talk about your past and the details of our world later. It's getting too late."
Naruto raises a hand, "Hold up. Why would I stay with you two? Back in my world, I lived alone. I'd prefer that."
Minato stills, remembering what Naruto had said. That he doesn't know who his parent are.
He chews on the inside of his cheek, hovering a hand across his desk and grabbing Naruto's in a gentle grip.
"Naruto." He says, "Do you want to know who your parents are?"
Naruto chuckles and looks in his eyes, "I already do."
Minato stares at him in shock, "So- erm...you know? I mean, ofcourse you do. It's obvious, isn't it?"
Naruto rubs the back of his neck, "To be honest, I hadn't really noticed our similarities before. I don't know, never struck me that I could be the son of a Hokage. But here the signs are really obvious. Y'all- y'all look at me as if y'all are trying to fine your own son in me." He sighs, "But, y'all aren't my parents."
Kushina takes in a breath, "We are." She insists, "it's of no consequence that you're of a different world. We still are your parents, there, here and everywhere."
Naruto shifts in his seat uncomfortably, not ready for the change. He was an orphan, self-sufficienct, independent, and underneath all his cheerful attitude, ultimately a loner.
Sakura looks troubled and she speaks up, "Naruto. Hey, um, you don't have to decide right now. Just stay a night at their home alright? You can decide later on. If you want an apartment-" she looks at Minato, "-even that can be arranged, right?"
"Definitely. But, give this a chance okay?" He chimes in.
Naruto drops his hands by his side and gets up, grinning, "Alright! I'll give a shot."
And really, the whole room brightens up with Naruto's enthusiasm. Kushina beams with joy, Minato smiles softly, happy to know he might just get his son back. Sakura squeezes Sasuke's hand, an upward curl of her lips making Sasuke smirk at her.
This Naruto or the other, or any Naruto in existence, Kushina thinks, they all can light up the world.
This Naruto is a sun too, Minato muses, just like he had once been.
Just then, the door creaks open slowly, and a man walks in lazily, one hand in a pocket, and the other carrying a book with an explicit covering.
"Yo!" He says in a flat voice, peeping above his book, "Who is this kid?"
Naruto looks back and his eyes go wide, "SENSEI!" He shouts before moving towards the man. Unfortunately, he doesn't get far, not with Kushina stopping him by the jacket.
"Remember," she begins, "he's not exactly your sensei."
Kakashi quirks an eyebrow, "What does that mean? And why in the seven hells does this short fellow look like Naruto?"
For what feels like the thousandth time that day, Naruto looks sharply at Kakashi,
"Well that's because I am Naruto!"
Kakashi looks at Minato and the blond sags in his chair.
"This is going to be one long night."
..
It didn't last as long though. Because Naruto was hungry and his stomach growled making that fact known to everyone in the room. Kushina immediately started fussing and took Naruto by the arm, shouting at Minato to come home quickly and that if he doesn't, she will eat away all his food.
And so a slightly disgruntled Kakashi sat across Minato as the Hokage explained everything to his student.
"You know," Kakashi says by end of the story, "if I hadn't seen it for myself, I would've called you delusional and laughed in your face."
Minato chuckles, "Yeah, well for a minute, I was sure that that was exactly the case."
Kakashi gently places the book on Minato's desk that he had been holding throughout the conversation.
"Naruto is here again." He says, almost as a whisper. Finally letting himself get rid of the disbelief and come to terms with the fact.
Sakura and Sasuke who had retreated to the couch at the far end of the room stand up.
"We'll leave now." Sakura calls out.
Minato looks at them, "Go on. And keep things confidential at the moment. I'll see how to get others aware of all of this later."
They nod and walk towards the door. Sasuke stops and the entryway and turns towards the two seated men.
"Minato-san, we'll be at your place tomorrow for breakfast." He declares and closes the door behind him.
Minato laughs, "They just want to spend time with Naruto I guess."
Kakashi hums, "Yeah. They're idiots."
Minato gives him a look, "So you'll be there too?"
Kakashi picks up his book again, "Oh ofcourse."
Minato goes back to signing the unfinished paperwork, "Kushina is going to make me chop the vegetables tomorrow morning. I hope y'all appreciate the hardwork I have to do for y'all."
Kakashi smiles behind his mask, "What hardwork sensei? Chopping stuff helps maintain your wrist strength. It's all training."
Minato throws a brush at him.