Asuma only gritted his teeth in response and hissed.
'' I will still leave and I don't care if you declare me a nukenin!"
After saying that, Asuma walked out of the kitchen and went outside. Kasaro who was sitting next to him just shook his head and asked with seriousness:
" Father, are you seriously going to declare Asuma a renegade?"
-'No son, on the contrary let him go to the fire temple. Hopefully, with their discipline, Asuma will come back more restrained.''
" Dad, you like to put on a show," Kasaro said reproachfully.
"There's no other way to raise you little brats... By the way, what's the news in Konoha?"
"The village is settling down, but the people aren't happy. The clan leaders and the elite jonin have been quiet since the meeting you left. It's the law after all."
Hiruzen, wary, casually asked.
"Kasaro, will you enlighten me about the laws that have been passed without my knowledge?"
Kasaro, surprised, began to enumerate.
"Dad, these laws are only related to the Kyuubi jinchuriki."
" Go on..."
'No one can know that they are a jinchuriki and preferably not even the jinchuriki himself, no one can divulge to the jinchuriki about family ties, no one can have patronage over the jinchuriki. From clans to family, no one is to train the jinchuriki or even have contact with him, lest they have influence over him. After nursery school, he will be placed in an orphanage and then on to the shinobi academy. That's pretty much it..."
Hiruzen, listening to all these laws, gave in to anger from within and even broke the tea bowl with his clenched palms. And when he got his thoughts in order, he said:
"I'm out."
He stood up abruptly from the ottoman and headed for the exit, putting on his counselor's robe. And Kasaro stayed behind to sip his tea, saying:
"What a family I have, both of them crazy."
And left to clean up the table.
***
Hokage's office.
Minato stayed up late into the night to sort through a ton of papers. He would've fallen off his feet if he hadn't had the help of his loyal companion and wife. Kushina helped with the sorting of documents, errors in mission contracts and reports on the work done. And Minato himself supervised the process.
They had already finally come to terms with the fact that they had given up on their son and tried not to think about it or remind each other of him. When they were done with the paperwork, they sat across from each other, sipping coffee. Minato sipped some and asked his wife.
"Darling, did you go to the Uchiha's today? How was Miroku?"
"She said to tell you she wanted to see you. Well, I gather from her childish babbling..."
Minato smiled warmly at that and told her.
"Tell her that in two days, I'll be done with business here and take the day off."
"Darling, what do you think? Will things get better soon?"
"Kushina, soon.."
The door opened abruptly and the Third Hokage burst into the office. His face was unruffled, but there was fire in his eyes. Hiruzen folded the seals for the listening barrier, took a deep breath, and began.
"Minato, Kushina I understand, you have grief in your family, but how can you hate your son because of this?"
The couple, confused, asked in unison.
"What are you talking about?"
"What am I talking about? Your cruel law, the law that isolates Naruto from the others. Are you two out of your minds? Do you suspect what he might become? You've taken everything from him, his home, his family, even his last name.."
Minato, after some thought, began to coldly state his actions.
"I already told you that it was our common decision, and the council supported it. The village's weapon should have no attachment. He will get what the other children get-education, housing, money for expenses, and when he becomes a genin he will provide for himself. And the fact that I didn't give my surname was so that there would be no questions."
Hiruzen, seeing the stalemate, then just glanced at Kushina, waiting for her opinion. Kushina, on the other hand, said she was in complete solidarity with her husband. Hiruzen, suppressing the urge to punch them in the face, continued.
"Well, but Naruto needs a last name. Yes! Uzumaki Naruto! That will be his last name."
Kushina and Minato reacted to this in a confused manner and Kushina let out a protest.
''But Third is my last name! You'll give him away!"
"It's not your last name anymore, you're Namikaze! I'm giving Naruto the last name of Uzumaki Kaname! At least let him pay for ruining that kid's life."
Minato flared up at this point.
"That's impossible, what you're suggesting is treason!"
Hiruzen retorted.
"Treason? Don't forget who I am! Puppy! What I'm proposing is to make life a little easier for this child. You know it's hard in this world without a last name. And the truth about him being a jinchuriki will still come out... Then how do you explain that a simple clanless boy can contain the power of a Kyuubi?"
That was a question the pair couldn't answer. So Hiruzen continued.
"Uzumaki Naruto remains, and the Uzumakis, though few in number. But they are still there, so, many have time to reflect and come to your desired conclusion. And don't ever forget that he's your son!"
And then Kushina and Minato burst out in unison.
"He's not our son! Go away!"
Hiruzen removed the barrier and left, closing the door behind him.
And Minato and Kushina were left to banish this conversation. But that the only thing they agreed on was the last name. For indeed without it they themselves would be in trouble.
And Hiruzen went to the pub to drink the day away.