Dark clouds covered the velvet sky but the yellow moon pierced through it all, casting a luminous glow over Konohagakure. The toxic scent of death drifted through the forest sending cold shivers up the spines of even the brave. Minato staggered as he tried to keep his balance. His once golden tanned skin was as pale as the dead. Blood streamed out of the corner of his mouth and several wounds over his body soaked his cloak.

He collapsed beside Kushina. Death's cold fingers were wrapping around what was left of his life but he couldn't die yet. Not yet...

He turned to Kushina. Her back was facing him and she was hunched over, gasping as she tried to breathe. His heart lurched at the sight. His wife - the woman he vowed to protect until death, was struggling to hold on. If only he could've protected her as well...

At least he was able to save them.

Lying in front of Kushina atop a white blanket were two babies. One was a boy with blonde hair and three identical whisker birthmarks on each cheek. The other was a girl, slightly smaller than the boy, with red hair. They were both asleep, completely unaware of the chaos that travelled just after their birth. Minato smiled as he stared at his two children. Then his smile faded. The twins didn't look much alike but they did have one thing that was similar.

The Reaper Death Seal.

The boy had the seal on his stomach while the girl's was on her chest over heart. The skin around the seal was raw and pink and Minato wanted nothing more than to remove it. It was like applying a tattoo to a new born baby. A decision he would forever regret. Having to seal the Kyūubi and the Nibi within his own children.

"They're beautiful, aren't they?" Kushina's weak voice whispered. He looked at her.

She was smiling as she looked at the two babies. Tears glistened in her eyes and were threatening to pour down her cheeks. She reached out and ran her hand down the side of the baby boy's face. He scrunched up his face and yawned. Kushina chuckled but stopped as blood shot past her lips. She shielded her mouth as she coughed. She refused to let her children be covered in her dying blood. The little girl yawned and her nose scrunched up, turning a light red.

Minato chuckled weakly and wrapped his arms around her waist. His hands came into contact with something warm and wet. Regret and shame seeped into him. "Gomen-nasai, Kushina-chan. I wish I could... I wish I could've..."

A sharp pain shot through his lungs and he gasped, pulling Kushina closer to him. Her body tensed at the sudden force but she relaxed. She placed a hand against his own.

"Don't look so sad... Minato-kun. I'm... I'm happy. Happy that you loved me. Happy that it's... Our children's... Birthday... Like... If I try to imagine surviving and the four of us... Living together... I can't think of anything... Beyond 'I'd be so happy.' If I had any regrets... It would be that I won't see Naruto and Kitsune grow up," she trailed off as she looked back at her children. "They're not coming with us, are they?"

Minato shook his head. "No. They deserve to live a happy life. The village will keep them safe. I believe in them."

Kushina sighed and closed her eyes. This wasn't how she wanted her children's birthday to go. She wanted to take them home with her, show them off to Mikoto, teach them everything she knew and let them lead fulfilling lives as Namikaze children. But now, that dream seemed very distant. She opened her eyes and smiled weakly.

"Naruto.. Kitsune..." Kushina started, sucking in as much air as she could. "Don't be picky.. Eat lots and grow strong.. Make sure that you bathe every day and stay warm.. Also.. Don't stay up late.. You need lots of sleep.. And make friends.. You don't need a lot of friends.. Just a few.. Ones you can really, really trust.." she winced as another burst of pain went through her. She doubled over in pain and clutched her stomach. Minato pulled her close against his chest. Through his vest she could feel the slow beat of his heart. Slow and weak. They both didn't have much time. Kushina glanced back at Minato and smiled reassuringly, showing him she was okay. She looked back at her sleeping children and continued. "I wasn't very good at it, but keep up with your studies and practice your ninjutsu hard.. Remember that everyone has strengths and weaknesses.. So don't get too depressed if you can't do something well.. Respect your teachers and upperclassmen at the Academy.. Oh, and this is important.. It's about the Three Prohibitions for a shinobi.. Be extra careful about lending and borrowing money.. Put your mission wages into your savings account.. No alcohol until you're twenty.. Too much can ruin your health, so drink in moderation.. Another Prohibition is women.. And men..." Kushina giggled and looked up at the bright moon.

It hurt to speak but she needed to. Even if they were asleep they could hear her. She wanted them to remember the sound of her voice. To grow and remember that she loved them until the end and even after. Her head bobbed as she slowly began to lose consciousness. Shaking her head briefly, she looked down at them.

"I'm a woman, so I don't know too much about this but.. All you need to remember is that this world is made up of men and women.. So it's only natural to take an interest in girls.. But just don't get hooked on bad women.. Find someone just like me.. And Kitsune.. Find someone like your father.. He might drive you up the wall at times but it's what will make your love special... Speaking of the Three Prohibitions, be wary of Jiraiya-sensei, dattebane.. Naruto, Kitsune, from now on, you're going to face lots of pain and hardship.. Be true to yourself.. Have a dream and have the confidence to make that dream come true.. There's so much.. Oh, so much more that I want to pass on to you .. I wish I could stay with you longer.."

Tears streaked her cheeks and she struggled to hold back a sob. The light sound of dripping reached her ears and she looked down to see some of her blood was spotting on Naruto's skin. Loud footsteps then caught her attention and she looked up.

Hidden Leaf shinobi leapt out from the trees, the Third Hokage amongst them. His eyes widened as he spotted Minato and Kushina and he rushed over to them. "Minato-kun... Kushina-chan..." he began.

The ninja behind stopped a short distance away. From the sombre looks on their faces they already knew that they were too late.

Kushina picked Naruto and Kitsune up, wrapping them both in the same blanket with a small gap in between them. They instantly snuggled against each other, yawning peacefully. Minato laughed and ruffled Kitsune's hair, smiling weakly. Hiruzen shook his head determinedly. "We have a medic maybe we can-"

"You were always so soft, Jiji," Kushina whispered, not taking her eyes off Naruto and Kitsune. Both her and Minato continued to watch their children sleep. They looked so at peace. So calm. Free. Yet... they would never know the people who were supposed to raise them like parents should. Instead, they had no choice but to leave them so soon.

"Just remember that your mother and I love you both equally. And we always will. Whatever you choose to do... Whatever goals you set for yourself... Just know that we support you through everything one hundred percent," Minato whispered, stroking Kitsune's cheek.

Kushina bit her bottom lip to prevent herself from crying and slowly handed the two to Hiruzen. He stared at them then down at the blanket. Carefully, he took the twins into his grasp and held them close to his chest.

"Aishiteru," Kushina whispered. She looked up at Hiruzen, her violet eyes reflecting the urgency she was feeling. "Please, just make sure that Naruto and Kitsune are safe. I beg of you..."

Hiruzen nodded.

Kushina looked back at Minato. Her lips curled into a gentle smile. "Aishiteru."

Minato smiled back and leaned his forehead against hers, looking deep into her eyes. "Aishiteru."

Kushina's eyes began to droop and she began to sway slightly. She collapsed onto her side bringing Minato down with her. Colour slowly left her eyes as she watched Minato, who stared back at her, his cerulean eyes reflecting the light from the moon. The corner of her mouth tilted upward as her eyes closed, death slowly pulling her into the light. Minato's eyes closed soon after but not before he reached out and clasped onto Kushina's hand; hoping they would wake up in the afterlife together.

Hiruzen spent some time staring at the husband and wife as they lie side by side. Till death do you part. He looked down at the two babies in his arms. The blonde haired boy began to stir and his face turned a bright red. He left out a loud cry, startling his red haired twin beside him, causing both to cry. Hiruzen looked back at the two medics. "Get the Council. They're going to need to see this."

"Hokage-sama, what about them? The boy and girl?" one of the ninja asked. His expression showed pure concern.

Hiruzen sighed as he looked back down at the screeching twins. He noticed the black spiral marks of the Reaper Death Seal and instantly knew where the Kyūubi and Nibi went. The two children in his arms were Jinchūriki. His eyes slowly moved back to Minato and Kushina. He had promised to keep the twins safe. He'd live up to that promise.

Slowly, Hiruzen stood up and rocked the twins to sleep as best he could. It was like they knew their parents weren't near and would rather be by them.

"We'll take them to the hospital for now. I'll sort everything out after they've been probably looked over."

A cold gush of wind swept over them, leaves breaking off from the trees. Two leaves, barely fully grown and still a light tint of green, drifted down. One landed on Naruto's forehead and the other on Kitsune's. Hiruzen frowned slightly before his eyes widened. He turned back to the couple. They still lie motionless.

Turning back, Hiruzen watched as another breeze swept the leaves away, the last of their outlines disappearing in the moon's light.