This came to me after i watch The Lake House. I think the mailbox is a cool thing and this is what happens when i go 'cool! i'm doing it!'

father and son story.

I'll explain more when the second chapter comes out. I dont want to give to much away... i guess i did already but still... lol i hope you like it!

-Felina


Letters

Chapter One: The Box

It was one of those day in the Hokage's life that he wish he could just leave and disappear; but couldn't.

He had to sit in the council room with old people drooling on his arm while his eyes stayed glue to the roof, counting water marks and panels, anything to keep sane within the boring meetings and the sound of them talking about water.

Water.

While the nation is in war their worried about the rain not coming and the water is down. Hello! It's called a river and it carries water! Oh and what's this? We're surrounded by trees; I bet there's an underground water way! Le gasp!

Just what he wanted to say but that doesn't go well with them, so the young Hokage kept it to himself, waiting for when they talked about ninjas and war. They never cared that, even if he was young, he had ideas that could help. Most of the time he went to the old man and told him; he got stuff done with this fools. Now he on the other hand couldn't talk to them without a fight breaking out.

Well not so much as a fight but it was close… he had one council woman bite him.

Now she sits far away from him, glaring for the most part of the meeting. She didn't think he was a good choice to be Hokage but was out voted but that didn't stop her from showing she didn't like him.

"Lord Hokage! We're talking about something that needs your input!"

Like now.

Slowly his eyes rolled back to look at the council members who stop talking after the woman said something about the quietness on his end and were now staring at him with mix feelings throughout them. He sat back up, wiping his mouth before clearing his throat.

"Well I didn't think water was on our biggest problem right now; we live in a forest where everything is green and lush, I don't believe we have to worry about it." He said.

"But –"

"Listen, our water is down because we use the rain; we gather it from atop the mountain, clean it and than put it into use. I don't see why we stick to something like that and yes I know the war and some other nation could try to poison us by the river. But if we just clean and purify it we can use it and not have to worry about water."

"Hokage it would have money to work something like that and we don't have it while we're in a war!"

The Hokage sighed while rubbing his temples. Sometimes these council members can act just like spoiled brats. "It wouldn't cost anything really. You know we can just use the rivers through out the village and we can move the water plant from the mountain to one of the training grounds near the mountain. I can summon up some ninja to help out the workers for it."

"Our ninjas are needed else where."

"Than fine, but our Genin can't go off to battle just yet and you know it and seeing how there's a short supple on Jounin that Chunin are taking teams out. That's another thing – we can't keep sending our young ninja's out during this warring state. Most of our Genin's are just getting their wings and don't know things that could save them; hell most haven't even killed. I demand you stop passing missions off on them without me knowing!" The Hokage said with a hint of angry. He was sick of them acting like they ran the place and he was just a face for the public. He didn't accept this title for them to do that, he accepted it so he could stop young teams from going into battle without prep; He became Hokage so he could pull some of the battle ninja back to teach the young and prep them for what could be asked of them. Not to sit here and get yelled at by people who either are just well placed civilians or old ninjas that couldn't go off to war now.

"Than what would you have us do, Lord Hokage?" The woman sneered. Oh how he wished she was younger…

"Well afew things. One stop with the damn missions; you say we need our ninjas than don't send them out on missions that have nothing to do with protecting and winning this war. If we win but lose so many; we lost our goal."

"Goal?"

"Yes, We're in war and I know people die because of it but if we lose so many of our ninjas, most of who are not old enough to drink – I say that changes too – than we lost children, we lost our future… we lost someone's little boy or girl because we couldn't pull your act together and sent them away, marching to their deaths. To me… that is a huge lost." He paused taking a sip of his tea before meeting the eyes of the council, seeing them watching him, waiting for what else he was to say; he gave them a grim smile, knowing they were at least going to listen to him now. "Our goal, council members is not only to win and keep our village standing but to make sure we bring our ninja's home to their family and loved ones."

"About the water, well I said what I wanted to say about that. Also Chunin shouldn't be training Genin, it works for the school but about fighting right now? Some of the Chunin are the same age as their Genin students or younger. They don't know what much about wars and battle fields. We need some of Jounin home to teach our genin and Chunin about that stuff. Knowing that they need to be quick or they're dead. That would help with keeping our numbers up too and if you don't see that… well you should go and look at the sheets of K.I.A.'s or the missing sheets. There are a lot of them and I for one don't want to see another stack of paper coming to me about them. You send me papers about us needing ninjas and I get papers about our ninjas dying, going missing at the same time. So the next time you are about to send me a request or a demand for ninjas you make sure to know how everything is being ran."

"Are you blaming us for this?" The woman asked hotly as she stood.

He stood as well, placing his hands in the table leaning forward. "What I'm saying council member is that when I try to do something to help us you turn around and deem it unworthily or 'that would cost too much'. How is spending the money - money we get because of our ninjas – to help the cause and help our future ninjas a bad thing? How is making sure they get trained correctly a bad idea? How is asking the Daimyo of the sand – who by the way has ninjas but no one to lead them – to help us while we help them something that will take thought? All these things should be done by now! I told this of you the first two meetings we had about these ideas and we've had five since then!"

"WE The Council Members are here –"

"To help the Hokage – me by the way – to understand the wants and needs of the villagers so that he or she could do their best to aid his or hers people. I know this… I've been told this but I don't see the council members doing that. I see them trying to keep money locked up, to counter act everything I say at every turn… I see people of my village doing the wrong things and if I could I would throw every last one of you out of this council and pull some people who are living through this war, who know what should be done but I can't. So am stuck with you and you're stuck with me. But you know what?" The Hokage leaned back picking up the cup and taking what's left of his tea before placing the cup back down.

"I'm sick of waiting for you to make your choice and with the way all of you have been acting it seems like you have made it but just don't want to tell me. That's fine, act like children who don't get their way. I am sick of this; like you say you are the Council Members to help the Hokage but this Hokage is going to do what he knows is right and not listen to you anymore until you get over whatever it is that is making you hate me. Get over it and join me to help our people, your friends, family. After this war go ahead and do this but don't you ever, ever get in the way of me protecting this village." He turned and walked out, leaving some of the Council members yelling at him, some yelling for him to get back here others not liking what he said.

Well he didn't like what he said but it had to be done. No more of this waiting around for them.

There was two following him, quietly and at a respectable distances and he didn't believe they were there to do something to him so he slowed, still hearing the shouting of his actions and stopped just in front of a window before turning to the two.

A man and a woman who he saw most of the time sitting near the biting member but not by choice, they always sat there.

"We want to help." The man said.

"Your names?"

The woman smiled. "Fumio." The man nodded. "Bunko." Bunko said with a nod as well.

"Well Bunko if you don't mind, could you send for some of Jounin; I'm thinking ones that have been out the longest. They need a break from the fighting. Also look at the teams." The Hokage said waving them near him as he started to walk again. "Look for teams that have Chunin leaders and fresh teams, pull them back and see if we have any ANBU around, we're short on them I know but if you cant find some in the village go for the ninja who were wounded in battle ones that can still fight and some that shouldn't anymore; give the kids what would happen to them if they are lucky. I also want the teams with Jounin to stay closer to the village; we can't have only kiddies to protect our village. See if the jounins' with teams would take some of the genin's on, help them with a training, tell them that we will pay them more and pull both of the teams off and him or herself as well so they can train more and become ready for what's ahead of them."

"Both of you could work on that one together." He added as a last thought.

"But I can do it Hokage!" Bunko protested.

"I know but it will be done faster if there are two of you and this is a big project. Ninjas aren't going to be happy about it. But like I said tell them we will pay them to help train these kids so they can live longer and the ninjas will have more to help them. That last part should do the trick. Also side note; Fumio tell any Jounin that is working at the school to do this."

"What about the children?"

"I was getting to that." He said with a kind smile. "The Chunin teaching the genins, those guys can take over at the school. They teach from a test book and know what is needed of the genin so would know to get them ready for it. That why they start the training of genin stuff early; newly appointed Chunin though should stick to the ninja that I want the Jounin to teach. Got that?"

"Yes sir!"

"Good, good. Fumio I also want to get the workers to bring that rain thing down, it's silly and really doesn't cut it. Get them to start using the river water for it. I want that done soon, I want all of it done soon."

"Of course sir, anything else?" Fumio asked as they walked into the Hokage's office.

"well I'm going to work on the Daimyo so we can get that stuff done."

"I thought we had a bond already."

"We do just I think it's about time we settle it and get the sand ninja's power with us. Working together could just save their village and ours but also to help save our ninjas out on the battle field. But for you guys… well I think that would do for right now. Those projects are going to bring you about of trouble." He said with a smile causing the two in front of him to give a shaky smile back. "So that's it and thank you."

"You're welcome Hokage." They said together before bowing and leaving. After they left the Hokage's smile dropped and he gave a groan as his head fall on his desk still wondering why he said yes to the old man. His head snapped up and he quickly grabbed a scroll and a pen when a knock was heard.

"Enter."

The third Hokage walked in, smiling and giving a small chuckling at him. "Tough day?"

Groaning and letting his head fall back down again he replied with a nod.

"Yes I heard about your nice talk with the council; their not so happy with you right now."

"When have they ever been, Sarutobi?" The young man asked.

"Ahh well that is true but I am believing I made a good choice when I made you Hokage, Minato. Good choice indeed. Do you know how long they have been brothering me about the water? Or about anything really?"

"Why didn't you just do what I did? It wasn't that hard." Minato said sitting back up to write, knowing that this letter needed to be done soon.

"No I guess it wasn't that hard; for you which is why I put you as the Hokage. I'm getting to old to play their silly games."

"And I'm just right, huh?" Minato said giving the man before him a questioning stare.

"Oh indeed." The third said, chuckling while he found his lighter before lighting his pipe. "The one I think can do some good for this village."

"Thanks but I still believe I should be out there beside these men and women that I send out."

"Perhaps. Or you could be here; protecting those ninjas loved ones and the villagers. This war is almost over, I feel it. You can finish this than things can go back to the way it was; just with anew Hokage, eh?"

Both Hokages smiled before chuckling and Minato shook his head. "Alright putting it that way and I see your point. But hey it's not like you can't do some protecting." He said before watching the third tap his back, making a face.

"Ohh my back."

"You're faking it!" Minato yelled, pointing at the third as he stood – bent over – walking to the door.

"No, no it really does hurt. Should have it checked out." The third said as he reached the door. "Oh before I go I thought I should tell you, one of your students is standing at the stone. Has been for awhile." Sarutobi said facing the forth.

"Ah… Thank you… I'll deal with him." Minato said with a nod before placing the letter in a pocket before standing as the third walked out. He went out the window before poofing away to stand just outside of the memorial area to see his sliver head student standing in front of it. Shaking his head, knowing the pain he was going through, Minato walked over slowly before sitting down off to the side behind Kakashi, allowing the boy to talk first. The boy still had on the hospital clothes and some dried blood on his arm. He should be still there to rest and recover but Minato didn't have the heart to stop his grieving yet.

Besides Kakashi's charka was fine, not going into spikes and he wasn't shaking. Only his mind and heart was truly hurting right now; the fourth could bet the young Jounin couldn't think clearly… or he would of to remember to tie the back of his gown.

Lucky there wasn't any wind.

Minato pulled out the letter and started writing again.

"Sensei?"

"Yes Kakashi?" Minato asked as they fell back into teacher student. He glanced up after the boy didn't say anything for awhile only to see Kakashi just standing there, gathering his thoughts again. Showing no difference, the young Hokage went back to the letter. For his first treaty Minato thought it looked good and didn't ask for much. Maybe it would work well?

Kakashi turned from the stone to look at Minato, reaching behind him and tying his gown shut. Minato smiled into the paper at the slowness of him but it wasn't a happy grin, knowing why he was that way.

"Could have told me…" Kakashi mumbled finishing the tying.

Minato smiled up at him. "Yes I could have but you seem to be in thought. Besides I didn't want to watch the back open any wider as you tied. Also." He pointed at his student with his pen. "You should be in your hospital room where the nurses can take care of you." Kakashi rolled his eyes before sitting down in front of him.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah… writing the beginning of a treaty with Sunaga."

"Ah…"

They sat in silence for awhile, listening to the birds and Minato's pen moving across the paper. The slight gust of wind blowing the leaves while Kakashi sat there lost in thought again, watching the pen move across the paper but not really watching. It was some time before Minato stopped and rolled the scroll up before placing the pen and scroll in his pocket. He watched Kakashi's one eye still stare unseeingly. His head bandage up keeping his left eye covered.

"Kakashi…"

"Don't Sensei… I know what you're going to say. I know it but…"

"But don't let it eat you."

"Yeah…"

"Well ok than… Come on; let's get you back to your room. I'm sure your nurse is looking for you." Minato said as he stood. Kakashi followed with a sigh as the two walked to the hospital. Once they got there Kakashi was took awhile by two nurses telling him what he did was bad, etc, etc. Minato gave a small smile and nod to them before walking out not wanting to stick around in the hospital nether.

He went to the hawks and sent the letter out with the fastest one they had, wishing it luck before heading back to his office knowing there was a lot of work for him and it was close to night fall and he really didn't want to sleep at the desk …again.

Once he got there he was greeted warmly by his helper, which he gave a nod to before closing the door, not really knowing why she worked there because most of the time ninjas just poof in or come in through his window so having someone out there to say 'I'm sorry but he's busy right now.' To no one didn't really make sense even the council members didn't care if he was busy with someone else, they would just walk in.

But oh well, something for another day.

He tapped the box his sensei gave him when he became Hokage – it came with his new book – before sitting down and starting on the pile he knew was there with a sigh.

It was close to midnight when he finished the pile and he felt drained but with a yawn he opened the box and pulled out his journal he started after becoming a Jounin and got his team. It was good to write problems out and or thoughts down that way you could go back to them and see them for what they are.

It helped a lot over time.

And now he used it to get the stress of being Hokage and his true thoughts about what happens during the time he had this title. Flipping to a new page he wrote about the annoying devils – his nickname for the council – about Fumio and Bunko helping and his ideas of what he wants to do. Finally Kakashi.

The boy has been so troubled since he woke up and Rin doesn't know what to do.

His team is falling apart.

With a sigh the book closed once he realized he had two pages just on his team. The book returned to the box and the seal was put back on it before he stood up and walked out.

Nothing more could be done today and a man needs his sleep if he is to do this job.

A lot of sleep that just doesn't happen.