Naruto Shippuuden: A Time to Sow
Though it was not unusual for him to be called to his office at such an irregular hour, Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato was still surprised at the summons. Not only was he surprised but he was a bit annoyed. He had just fallen asleep and then when he was summoned he tried his best to keep from waking Kushina but that didn't do any damn good because since she's been pregnant, she's been waking up at the slightest whisper. He did wonder what could possibly be so pressing at this hour. After finally drifting off was when Shiranui Genma appeared to request his appearance. Genma knew that it was late and would not have intruded on his private time unless he believed it was a matter for his attention. Whatever it was that prompted him to show up, it must be quite important.
Of course, Minato thought to himself, further questions would serve no purpose. My questions will be answered in short order.
Minato arrived to the main gates where Shiranui Genma, Yamanaka Inoichi and two ANBU members stood, surrounding a body that lied on the ground. This guy looked in his late twenties early thirties and no village affiliation. None that was visible anyway.
"Obviously, this couldn't wait." Minato thought.
"Report." He said.
One of the ANBU members walked over to the Fourth Hokage.
"According to the traffic reporters, this man reached the village and dropped to the ground just inside the gates. He died from exhaustion and it looks like he was in battle before due to the wounds covering his body. He was carrying these."
He held out his hand that held a forehead protector and a document.
Minato took the items and inspected them over. The forehead protector had two cylinder shaped symbols on it and each cylinder had a point on each end and lines going down from one end to another making look almost 3D. Minato knew where this man was from. He was from the Hidden Crystal Village.
Minato opened the door to his office that was just appointed to him only days prior after taking the title of Hokage. Genma was right behind him. The ANBU members and Inoichi took the body to the morgue to be examined.
"What do we know about Hidden Crystal?" Minato asked.
"It used to be one of the smaller hidden villages, North on one of the islands above Hidden Waterfall. It's a pretty far distance from the mainland to that island. Due to seismic activity in that region the island eventually sank below sea level." Genma said. "One of their Kekki Genkai's is the hidden chakra."
"Oh the bloodline that makes a person think that the people who possess this bloodline do not have any chakra."
Genma nodded.
Minato looked at the document lying on his desk. He had yet to open it. It wasn't addressed to anyone in particular but it was probably important, important enough for a man to die for it. He reached over and opened the document.
To whom it may concern,August 8
Our island is undergoing severe seismic activity and threatens to destroy the island itself. Village specialists predict that the island will sink below sea level in approximately one month. We appreciate any assistance that can be offered to help us off this island. Please help us.
Kosaku Oki, Kurikage
"How long would it take to get up there, if we send a team now?"
"About a week." Genma said.
"So, that leaves us three….." Minato stopped
"What is it, Hokage-sama?"
Minato practically slammed the document on his desk and put his hand to his eyes. "This letter was written in August and it's now October. That was two months ago."
Genma let out a defeated sigh. "I wonder why it took so long to reach us."
The Fourth shook his head. "I don't know, Genma."
"We could send a recon team up there to ascertain the fate of the island."
Minato nodded. It was a logical suggestion, and one that Minato first supported. However, this would involve sending a team up North where they would come dangerously close to the Earth country. And since the war ended not too long ago, the Rock could still be sore from their loss and take unprecedented actions against any Leaf team they see. Ultimately, he would have to ask the former Hokage as to what he should do, whether that is to send a team to discover the document's origin and perhaps learn what had happened to the island. Minato hoped that the attempt be made. Given the calamity they had apparently suffered, it would be unfortunate if the mystery of the Hidden Crystal Village were to remain unsolved.
Minato rested his elbows on the desk and rubbed his face to wake him up some more.
Genma slightly grinned. "I take it that Kushina has been quite touchy since she became pregnant?"
Minato nodded. "Being Hokage requires late nights sometimes and when I come home late she wakes up and isn't really too happy."
"Yashira was the same way when she was pregnant with the twins. But after Satori and Tenten were born, it seemed like that when Yashira was pregnant was almost paradise compared to what infants will put you through. Now don't get me wrong, I absolutely adore the twins but I did have a lot of sleepless nights during that time and I guarantee you will too, Hokage-sama."
Minato pondered the thought and nodded. "She is due this month so we'll have to see."
"So have you thought of a name yet, Hokage-sama?"
"Well, Kushina and I want to name the kid after the main character from one of Jiraiya's books."
"Which is?"
"Naruto."
"Namikaze Naruto. It certainly has an interesting sound to it. But for some reason it would sound better if he took Kushina's last name and be called Uzumaki Naruto."
Minato thought about it and smiled. "Yeah, I think you're right. It does seem to have a better ring to it."