Chapter 47: They’re alive! Alive!

When she learned that Riku had been reverse summoned to Shikkotsu Forest, Tsunade went livid. She verbally tore a new one to Hiruzen who didn’t even bother to shrug to show his total lack of care about what she was saying. Every word she said to him went from one ear to the other.

She had summoned Katsuyu and had demanded her son back to which the slug for the first time gave her a resounding ‘no’ then threatened to not answer her summoning for a while if it was to make demands about Riku. Of course to add insult to injury the little slug reverse summoned herself before Tsunade could raise a single word of protest. That led the Hokage to go from livid to utterly murderous. After passing her nerves on two Anbu squads, the Anbu commander had called for the only one she thought could deal with Tsunade.

She called for Gai.

The jonin had been very ecstatic to have a ‘youthful’ spar with the strongest and most ‘youthful’ kunoichi in the world and reasonably gave his all, matching her blow for blow. After two hours, Tsunade had had enough and calmed down. She congratulated Gai for being a good sparring partner and left back to her office. Secretly, the Anbu commander wondered if she could push for more regular spar with the insane jonin instead of her subordinates.

Now two months later and Hiruzen had just broached the subject of bringing Minato’s back to life. Not that directly of course but that was what he implied.

“I didn’t wait for you to do that, sensei.”

“You… didn’t? What do you mean?”

“At the bottom of Root headquarters there was more than just… whatever Danzo did with my grandfather’s cells. He had Kushina inside a pod full of medical fluid that preserved her body.”

“That…”

“I know, no need to go on another rant about the bastard. Point is. Between Karin and Riku, they theorized that they could bring her back but also Minato. Everything is ready. Their bodies had been healed and more or less brought back to life or rather they’re on life support.”

“Minato has been buried for nearly two decades!”

“And yet his body was intact. They theorized that it was because of the Shinigami’s seal because it’s the only explanation that would make sense. Anyway the only thing missing to bring them back is Riku's modified version of the Edo Tensei. Karin is almost done with it.”

“How did you release Minato’s soul from the Shinigami’s stomach?”

“Uzumaki clan secret I’m afraid.” she replied with a shrug.

“Ugh. Uzumaki and Shinigami… I fear for the worst.”

“Everything went fine.” she replied not being forward with the fact that Orochimaru had taken Minato’s place. “There is a problem with Minato though. His chakra network was destroyed when he used the Shiki Fujin to seal the Kyuubi.”

“And here I thought something would go right for once.”

“We may not have Minato back in action but he is an excellent teacher and a seal master and the village hero. His presence alone would boost everyone’s morale but more importantly, Naruto would appreciate it. Both at having a competent teacher and his father in his life. The same for Kushina though her chakra network is intact, she can still fight.”

“I never thought the day would come where this family would be reunited again and not be in the pure lands for it.”

“That makes me think that Naruto is mature enough to put in practice our training cheat.”

“Hm.. you think?”

“He made Chunin. That’s proof enough. Though Jiraiya still insists on him trying to master the Kyuubi's chakra.”

“You don’t agree?”

“No. I think Naruto should become a splendid shinobi first before that. What’s the point of having all this chakra if the only thing he can do is shadow clones and the rasengan? Sure he knows other jutsu, Kakashi took care of that between missions but it’s mainly his main arsenal. He’s currently trying to add his wind affinity to it but it’s proven difficult.”

“After nearly five years of training with Jiraiya he hasn’t learned how to use his nature affinity?! What was Jiraiya thinking?!”

“Sometimes, I wonder if he thinks at all, sensei.”

Their conversation was interrupted by Karin who came in in a hurry.

“I did it! I mean, almost, but I did it!” the redhead exclaimed.

“You mean the modification to the Edo Tensei?!”

“Yes, Hokage-sama. It took me a while to understand Riku’s notes and train of thoughts but I did it!”

“What do you mean almost?” a very interested Hiruzen asked.

“I know it works. In theory. If it actually works? I still have to find out. There is also a slight problem in the jutsu itself. I need a bit of chakra from each of them for it to work.”

Both Tsunade and Hiruzen looked at each other for a moment then turned back to Karin.

“I may still have a tri-pong kunai Minato used but as for where it is… Maybe Kakashi has one?” said the Sandaime.

“Kushina made plenty of seals…”

“Their house was destroyed during the Kyuubi’s attack, there is…” Thinking for a second, Hiruzen got up and went to the hokage’s vault where he came back with a picture of Minato and Kushina together. Opening the frame from behind he pulled out a very old seal tag. “Here. It’s a tag that maintains the photo in pristine condition.” he said, handing it to Karin who took it.

“There is not much chakra on it anymore but that will do. Now all that’s left is the kunai.”

“Tora. Send word to Kakashi and Jiraiya, tell them to come immediately to basement 3 of the hospital and to bring with them one of Minato’s special kunai if they have one.”

“Yes, Hokage-sama.” the voice of an unseen Anbu resonated in the office.

The trio made their way to the one well sealed room in the third basement of the hospital. Karin and Riku had outdone themselves with the protection of the room. Nobody could enter without being keyed to the matrix or without someone keyed to it. Inside the room on two different beds were the bodies of Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina. Both were hooked on machines and covered in seals that maintained them alive.

Karin immediately brought out her sealing kit and began to draw on the floor a very complicated and complex seal matrix that Jiraiya couldn’t make any sense of when he arrived and started to examine it. That was of course after recovering from the shock of seeing his former student and his wife still ‘alive’. It took a while for Tsunade to explain everything to him and calm him down. Kakashi on the other hand, after recovering from his own shock, observed in silence.

When Karin was done she stood up from her crouching position and turned to her audience.

“The seal is ready. I just need-” Kakashi tossed her the special kunai that he had received from Minato as a gift when he made jonin without a second thought and she caught it. “Okay, thanks. Now comes the difficult part.”

“Which is?” Jiraiya asked in a skeptical tone.

“The body needs to be at the center of the seal as such…”

“They need to be disconnected from the machines and seals that maintain them alive.” understood Tsunade.

“Yes, but the effect of the seal will be immediate so just hurry up when you put them in position and quickly get clear of it. I don't know what will happen if someone is inside the matrix when activated.”

Both Kakashi and Jiraiya moved to pick Minato up and Tsunade was ready to more or less unplug him.

“Alright.” said a nervous Karin.

“Breath. Everything is going to be fine.” Hiruzen advised with his grandfather’s voice.

“It should.” replied the redhead.

“It will. Have faith in yours and Riku’s work. I know I do.”

Karin looked at him for a moment and took a deep breath to clear her mind. She did it multiple times and signaled Tsunade to go ahead. Quickly, Jiraiya and Kakashi moved Minato as soon as he was free and laid him down at the center of the matrix. Once the space was clear, Karin stuck the kunai in a particular area of the seal and activated it with her own chakra. The whole matrix lit up in a blinding light, illuminating the whole room in white. When it went back to normal, Minato took what sounded like a very deep and painful breath.

Jiraiya and Kakashi moved to help him but Karin stopped them with her chains. What Minato needed was space to catch his bearing. His alert eyes looked around for a moment to make sense of what was happening to him. When he calmed down, Karin retracted her chains and let the two men move. This time, they did it with caution and not led by their emotions.

“Sensei… And… Kakashi, is that you?”

“It is sensei.”

“We brought you back, kid.” Jiraiya said with a grin.

“Brought me back? Wh-.”

“Move!” Tsunade shouted and pushed with a bit of strength the two idiots blocking the way of a medic-nin to their patient.

“Tsunade?”

“Yes?” She asked, not looking at Minato, using instead a diagnostic jutsu to examine his condition.

“Why was I brought back? And how long was I…”

“Dead? 18 years. As for why you were brought back… It’s a long story that will be told later. First we need to bring back Kushina.”

“K-Kushina?!”

“Yes. She’s over there.” Tsunade said as she pointed her chin at the bed behind him. “Okay, you’re good. Nothing is wrong with you.”

Being let go, Minato quickly got up and went to his wife to have a look at her.

“She’s… She doesn’t have…”

“It took months to repair her body. We also removed her post-birth belly while we were at it.” Karin said. “Now if you don’t mind letting us bring her back, please move away.”

Minato looked at the redhead young woman and after giving a look to Tsunade and Jiraiyan did as instructed. Once again everyone went to their post. Hiruzen taking Minato away and instructing him to not go inside the seal no matter what.

A blinding flash later and just like for Minato, Kushina drew a deep painful breath. Again Karin used her chains but this time to restrain Minato.

“W-wha… What happened? Where am… Minato?” a confused Uzumaki spoke.

“It’s me, Kushina. We’ve been brought back.”

“Brought back?”

“To life.” Tsunade said as she began her medical diagnosis.

“But… How?”

“Give it a few minutes and I’ll answer any question you both have.”

Kushina nodded and Minanto, who had been released, went to her to hold her hand in support. Once cleared, Kakashi and Karin took their leave but remained outside just in case they would be called in. Hiruzen pulled out his own book of seals and brought out a big coffee table with plenty of pillows to sit down on. He also unsealed a tea pot with hot tea and the tea cups that went with it forming a set.

“That’s really neat.” Minato commented, curious about the book.

“And so simple.” added Kushina.

“It is.” replied Hiruzen.

““Who came up with that?””

“My son.” Tsunade replied to the two seal masters.

““You have a son?!””

“I do. A story for later. Now let’s fill you in as to why you were brought back.”

The conversation was long. It included Akatsuki, the state of the village and many other small things.

“Also because… Why not? It was both a challenge for Karin and Riku and you kind of deserved it. So did Naruto.” Tsunade finished the explanation.

““Naruto!”” they shouted the name of their son as one, finally having a thought about him after the load of information Tsunade had dumped on them.

“The kid is fine. He’s currently on a diplomatic mission to Suna.” Jiraiya revealed.

“You let him go to Rasa?!” Kushina said with horror. She had heard of what that man did to his own son.

“Rasa has been dead for half a decade. His youngest son is the current Godaime Kazekage but is also close friends with Naruto. Being the jinchuriki of the Ichibi had allowed them to bond.” explained Hiruzen to Kushina’s relief.

“How… How was my baby’s life?”

“Lonely. I did my very best to keep my promise Kushina but I have the regret to say that I mostly failed. I had to take back the hat and I had very little time for him. The village didn’t see him as the hero he was and shunned him. Despite that, he grew up into a very kind young man. A bit naive and immature still but he’s a proud shinobi of the leaf with plenty of friends. It hasn't been easy but he’s happy. All thanks to his indomitable spirit.”

“If you don’t count the organization full of S-rank shinobi wanting to rip the Kyuubi out of him, he’s in a good place.” added the toad sage.

“Over my dead body they will get my son.” the redhead said with rage and her husband nodded in agreement.

“Kakashi was his jonin-sensei and Jiraiya took him as an apprentice. He's strong but can become a lot stronger. Not much talent but his never give up attitude carried him far and will continue to do so. Bit by bit he’s proving the villagers that they had been wrong about him. And of course he’s addicted to ramen and dreams of becoming Hokage.”

Minato snorted when he heard that his son, like his wife, was addicted to ramen. The snort turned to a weird strangled sound when Kushina sent him a very nasty glare.

“He’s supposed to be back in a week. Plenty of time for the both of you to get to know about him. You can stay in the Senju manor in the meantime. Which reminds me… Your resurrection is going to be a secret for now until you’re back to 100%, Kushina. ” said Tsunade.

“Me? Not Minato?” exclaimed the redhead in surprise.

“You, yes. I’m sorry to say this, Minato but your chakra network was completely destroyed when we recovered your body to bring you back.”

“That’s because of the Kyuubi. When I summoned the shinigami I had to put half of the fox chakra in Naruto and take the other half in me. Since my chakra coils had already matured they couldn’t withstand the strain of its chakra.” The fourth Hokage explained.

“You told us about the why but what about the how?” inquired Kushina.

“You spoke of two names. Karin and Riku.” Minato added.

“Karin is the redhead outside.”

“She’s an Uzumaki, she has the Adamantine sealing chains like me.” Remarked Kushina.

“She is. She joined Konoha from Kusa five years ago under my rule.” explained Hiruzen.

“She’s an excellent medic and a seal mistress in her own right. Just like you, she specializes in barriers but also healing. A real genius in both. As for Riku…”

Tsunade took a deep breath and wondered for a moment if she should reveal the truth about him or not. She would have wished to know of him years before and it was her right yet she didn’t. Minato deserved to know too in her opinion. She looked at Hiruzen and Jiraiya and both shrugged, which didn’t help her at all.

“Riku is our son.” she finally said, confusing the married couple.

“‘Our’?”

Tsunade pulled out her own book of seals and brought out the folder on Project Hokage from it. She had sealed it before she left the office to come here just in case she would need it. Hesitantly, she handed it to Minato.

To say they were not happy by what they read was an understatement. They didn’t say anything but their facial expression said it all.

“I’m going to kill that guy!” Shouted Kushina, her hair beginning to rise in nine distinctive ‘tails’.

“I hope you’re speaking of Danzo and not my son.” Tsunade replied with narrowed eyes.

“Of course! I mean…. I’m not happy that my husband has a son from someone else but it’s not his fault, nor yours and certainly not your… son. Okay, it’s going to take some time to get used to that.”

“Good. Would have been a shame to put you six feet under when we just brought you back.” Tsunade threatened and joked at the same time with a way too sweet smile.

“How…I mean… Should I…” Minato was at a loss for words.

“While this discovery is a few months old, Riku didn’t show any interest in knowing you.”

“He didn’t?!” Minato said in surprise.

“Why? From what's written here, he’s an orphan of Naruto’s age. I mean… Isn’t he a bit curious?” inquired the redhead.

“Mainly because you’re an idiot.” Tsunade said bluntly, trying her best to not laugh. Hiruzen and Jiraiya had no such compulsion and did.

“I’m an idiot?”

“He said of my great uncle and you that, and I’m quoting here ,“they are just children who picked a brush and drew some silly doodles and pretended they were seals.”

Jiraiya went from chuckling to outright laughing his head off while Minato and Kushina’s faces were priceless. The perfect imitation of a goldfish.

“It took two weeks for him to break down your version of the Hiraishin and uncle’s and concluded you both didn’t know anything about space-time fuinjutsu from your notes. One month to have the working theory down and three more to have a better Hiraishin.”

“You’re kidding.” Kushina said in disbelief.

“Nope. Riku is a certified genius. The book of seals, you saw sensei and I use? He made that when he was ten. You must have read that in the file.”

“Honestly Hime, we’ll be here tomorrow if we begin to list your son's achievements with fuinjutsu.”

“True. Let’s say that the theory of bringing you back came from his mind. Karin was the one to free you from the Shinigami and she completed his research on the seal that was used for your resurrection.”

“I’d like very much to meet him, if only to talk about fuinjutsu.” Minato said and was echoed by his wife.

“Unfortunately, he’s… indisposed. Karin is outside though so you can ask all the questions you want about it.”

The conversation about Riku stopped there and switched to the couple's new accommodation and how they would get Minato outside the hospital when he couldn’t use henge to disguise himself. The resurrected didn’t know if their coming back to life was a good thing or not but they decided to make the most of it. For them, for the village but more importantly for their Naruto.