1. Eye Of The Hurricane


Everything hurt.

It was the only thing Minato could think about, the only thing on his mind as in a pinch he went from feeling nothing to feeling everything-every ache, every cramp, the ringing in his ears, blood seeping from...his eyes snapped open, a dazed sense of confusion falling over him along with a growing amount of dread.

He was outside, lying in the dirt, with debris of rocks and trees scattered around him. Why was he outside? This wasn't right-he should have been in the hospital, still practicing his breathing exercises because his water broke and it hurt and-

Minato's ears stopped feeling as though they were stuffed with cotton, and he dimly realized the ringing in his head wasn't ringing at all...but a baby crying. He struggled to push himself up, wincing as his stomach felt like it was going to drop out-but that was nothing compared to the sight before him.

Smoke filled the air, with the debris he hadn't seen still crackling with flames, the ground scorched and the air felt heavy and hard to breath in-or was that him starting to panic?-as just two feet away Kushina laid on the ground, her skin paler than usual and her body unerringly still. She had an equally still Kira clutched in one arm and a bawling infant wrapped in a blanket with blond wisps of hair in the other, both children pulled in tight against her chest.

"K-Kushina-chan?" Minato felt detached, barely recognizing the scratchy and hoarse voice that came out of him. Had he been screaming recently? He felt like he still could, but apparently that wasn't possible right now.

Why...why were Kira and an infant out here? His mind tried to distract itself with the next thing it could focus on, and that was his step-son and...actual son? He...he couldn't remember giving birth, just the beginning pains of contractions hitting him and-and why couldn't he recall anything beyond that? Everything afterwards was disturbingly blank.

"I found them! Over here!"

Minato was slowly aware of the approach of shinobi, his muscles aching as he tried to turn and look, but he blinked as a hand on his shoulder prevented him from doing so. He furrowed his brow as he stared up at a man, his senses returning with more clarity. "Sensei? What's going on?"

"I should be the one asking you that, gaki." Jiraiya replied. Vaguely, Minato was aware of the ANBU that had appeared and were checking over his family. "First you and the pipsqueak just vanish, and the next thing anyone knows Kyuubi's suddenly knocking down our front gates and-"

"What?!" Minato jerked back at that, but instantly regretted it as everything ached in protest. He winced and tried to make sense of what he'd just been told. "You're...you're not serious are you? How...?" he trailed off, his gaze turning suddenly to Kushina. "I-something must have caused her seal to break." he gripped his hair with his free hand. "I can't remember though, it's like a chunk of my memory is gone."

"That can be looked at later," a newer, but more aged voice spoke up, and Minato realized that the retired (but reinstated due to Minato's pregnancy) Sandaime Hokage had turned up as well, "first though you need to return to the hospital."

Minato grimaced, and he glanced at the ANBU once more, his fist clenching as they removed Kira from Kushina's grasp-his small body still unmoving. "Don't...don't tell me he's-"

"Merely sleeping, Hokage-sama." One of the masked nin replied as he adjusted Kira in his grip, allowing Minato to see him. The blond absently noted that the boy would need to be washed up soon, as his face was dirty and his clothes were muddy, and his whisker marks-

Minato's gaze shot back towards the infant-Naruto, his mind faintly told him, that's what his name's supposed to be-and his stomach dropped further, his heart sinking as he saw the whisker marks on the infant's face too. Don't let me be right, just let it be dirt on his face... "Sensei, what happened to Kyuubi?"

"Well, it was transported out of the village, and into this forest. Then the beast began to disappear, like it was being..." Jiraiya trailed off, the question now starting to take on a new light, "it looked like it was being sealed. Do you honestly think that Kyuubi's-"

"I can't remember, so I don't know what happened." Minato retorted, a touch sharper but he didn't want to believe things could get any worse. "There's got to be another explanation though, maybe one of us killed it, maybe it just left-or-or-" his throat constricted, his chest seizing as the full weight of the situation began to bear down on him.

Kushina-chan's dead, Naruto-tan might be a Jinchuuriki and Kira-tan not only lost his mother but now his father...and-and I have to raise them by myself-we were suppose to be a family! We were suppose to be in this together; what happened, Kushina-chan?! What-

Minato's eyes widened, a sharp pain in his neck as his eyes slowly closed and he dropped over Jiraiya's arm.

Sarutobi looked at his student in disapproval. "Was knocking him unconscious really the best course of action?"

Jiraiya looked down at Minato. "You saw how he was beginning to freak out. The last thing we need is him getting anymore stressed so soon after giving birth."

The Sandaime sighed, but conceded to the point; Minato wouldn't be any good to anyone-especially his children-if he suffered from a complete nervous breakdown. He glanced over at the the ANBU. "Inu, Tori, you will both take the infant and Kira-kun to the hospital and place them with Minato-kun. Inu, you will keep guard over them, and Tori, you will guard Kushina-kun's body after you take her to the morgue, which Tora will be escorting her too. The rest of you, find out from this place what you can about what happened here tonight." His voice turned stern and his eyes hardened.

"The Yondaime was not only presumably kidnapped, and so was his step-son, from under our village's very nose, but the Kyuubi was able to be released. You have your assignments, now move out!"

"Hai!" The group of shinobi chorused, and all but three sprinted from sight.

Jiraiya hefted Minato into his arms, while Tori adjusted his grip on Kira to hold him more securely. He noticed Inu having trouble with the newborn, and the spiky silver hair was a distinguishable enough marker to his identity. "You sure you can handle the kid?"

Inu stiffened up, the baby squirming as he had been quieted down after being properly wrapped up. "...yes." It came out hesitant, but then his posture became more resolved. "Though not even a crying baby will keep me from doing my job to protect Sensei's children."

With the Sannin giving him a single look, and nodding at his own sensei, the group of four made their way back to the village, leaving Sarutobi alone and rubbing the bridge of his nose. "The answers to what happened here tonight can't come quickly enough."

He'd have to call a council meeting, there was too much that didn't add up tonight for there not to be one. Things needed to be contained, and fast.


The hospital was in a frenzy, and even Jiraiya storming through the hall wasn't enough to make people move out the way quickly, leaving Kakashi and Tori jostling not just to keep up but make sure that neither child awoke. Kakashi would not be much of a ninja if he could not withstand the pressure of a hard life, but these past two days had left his nerves practically shot.

There was a pounding in his head only amplified by the yelling and rushing around them from the damage Kyuubi did, short as its rampage had been. Tora hadn't followed them into the hospital itself, opting instead to take the back exit-which was a smart option given Kushina's status in the village. No one knew how Kyuubi got released, and it wouldn't take much for people in their anger and grief to believe she had broken her seal intentionally.

It weren't as though Kushina hadn't been targeted before, and unfortunately this time it might've worked.

One of the nurses gasped upon seeing the group, but anything else she might've wanted to say was cut off by Jiraiya demanding to be shown where Minato's room was. The nurse nodded frantically and escorted them past other rooms filled with patients screaming and crying. Kakashi glanced down at the infant in his arms, and shifted the palm of his hand to cover its ears. He wanted to put off having to deal with a crying baby for as long as possible.

When they reached Minato's room, much of the equipment and furniture had been taken away, likely to provide seating and help for the other patients that flooded through the hospital doors.

The nurse nervously looked at Minato as he was set on the bed, and at the infant in Kakashi's arms. "He gave birth while he was kidnapped?" she breathed in slowly. "I'll do a routine check to make sure he's not in danger of blood loss or any other complications before a doctor can see him."

It had been hard to ignore out in the field, but now the blood that stained the closed front of Minato's haori was too noticeable against the white of the coat. Kakashi averted his gaze out of respect when the nurse opened the haori, having already deduced that there would be nothing underneath covering him up.

"Well?" Jiraiya asked, impatient with how quiet the nurse had gotten. "Is he gonna live?"

"Yes," the nurse replied briskly, "the bleeding has stopped on its own, and signs show that he's already gone through the afterbirth." Kakashi was relieved, if faintly nauseas-this was a much more in-depth look at pregnancy than he'd ever wanted to know. "I'll cover it up just in case there's spotting, and a doctor should see him soon enough."

"What about the children?" Tori questioned. "They were out in the forest too."

The nurse frowned for a moment, but sighed. "Let me wash my hands again and I'll take a look at them." she said and once that was done, Naruto got first look because he was a newborn.

Kakashi shifted Naruto to hold him against the crook of his shoulder more securely, but his surprised reaction when the nurse pulled the blanket back was the same as everyone else's in the room. The umbilical cord was cut cleanly and tapped over, which should not have been possible out in a forest.

"This baby is in remarkably good condition." The nurse sounded startled, if not unsettled.

Jiraiya rubbed his chin, his expression deep in thought. "Whoever kidnapped Minato-kun must have been prepared to deal with him giving birth," his thoughtfulness turned grave, "which means this was planned, perhaps months in advance."

"What would be the purpose of it though? Did they intend to kidnap Hokage-sama's child?" Tori asked.

"If that were true, they wouldn't have taken the pipsqueak." Jiraiya replied. "Much as Minato-kun loves that kid as his own, legally Kira-kun's only his step-son. No, there's something bigger going on; keep an eye on them, Inu, I've got to go start my own investigation."

Kakashi nodded, not wanting to disrespect the man by telling him he already had that order. He wrapped Naruto back up, and after Kira was given a quick once over, Tori followed after the Sannin.

The nurse placed Kira on the bed by Minato's side, and Kakashi didn't miss the way she immediately wiped her hands on her uniform, as if she'd just touched something filthy. "I'll bring him a settee to sleep on." she said somewhat reluctantly and a touch too hastily departed from the room as well.

In all the chaos and confusion from the Kyuubi's attack, the woman's reaction to Kira was yet another wake-up call. He'd have to be even more vigilant now.


When Minato awoke a second time, he found a white ceiling above him, and underneath his form a soft material. He blinked, but closed his eyes as the weight of the last time he awoke settled over him, though in comparison his body didn't ache as much, being little more than a numb feeling-or was that his shattered emotional state's doing?

His fingers twitched, and he furrowed his brow as the tips brushed against something soft. He glanced down, and found Kira curled up beside him, still as dirty as-Minato frowned. How long had he been asleep for? Days? If so, why the hell didn't anyone wash Kira up?

"Sensei, you're awake."

Minato's gaze snapped to the foot of his bed, where tilting his head forward he could see Kakashi holding Naruto, his ANBU mask slung around his neck. "Kaka," he winced at the rasp still in his voice, "Kakashi-kun, how long have...I been asleep for?"

"A little less than six hours, you were all brought here some time during the night." Kakashi replied.

His words were a shot to the heart; Minato leaned back against his pillow, eyes closing in mourning. Kushina-chan's probably in the morgue. What the hell happened out there? He kept his thoughts from going any further, not wanting to have another panic attack. He was the Hokage, the leader of the village that expected him to lead, he was a mother (and father depending on how Kira was going to view him) with two boys to raise. He couldn't afford to show any kind of percieved weakness, even if he was on maternity leave.

And so, Minato opened his eyes, and forced himself to sit up. When Kakashi stepped forward, one arm outstretched to help him, the blond held out his own hand to stop him. "I want a report of what the damage is and how long I've been missing for."

Kakashi was likely frowning given how the mouth beneath his regular mask indented. "Are you sure that's wise, Sensei? You just woke up."

Minato sighed heavily, absently running his fingers through Kira's hair, causing the boy to shuffle closer to him. It made him smile briefly, but then he caught sight of the blood on his haori and it made him redouble his efforts to distract himself. "I'm sure. I don't want to go out there and not know what's going on."

"How could I forget? Running in blindly isn't your style." Kakashi said, his tone somewhat bleak and caused his jest to fall flat as a joke to lighten the mood. "Yeah, that was terrible." The younger man said, but in a moment he straightened up, appearing as serious as could be while holding a newborn. "I'll tell you what I can recall, as I was not around for everything; almost two days ago, your water broke and I helped you to the hospital. When I told Kushina-san, I think she almost outdid your Hiraishin to get to your side."

Minato's chest ached as he couldn't remember it, but it did sound so much like her. "Go on."

"Eventually Kushina-san was kicked out of the hospital due to visiting hours being over, and I was reluctantly made to switch duties with another ANBU," here Kakashi paused, and Minato could guess this was where he needed to start bracing himself, "but during that short amount of time between the shift change-you were gone. Your window was wide open, and there were no signs of a struggle. Then...then Kushina-san was on a rampage because not long before you went missing Kira-kun was taken from his room. For almost a whole day we searched high and low for you both, but...but then last night the Kyuubi appeared just outside the village."

Minato clenched his free hand, his other only resting on Kira's head. "And?"

"And while it was not in the village for long, it still caused both untold amounts of property damage and costs dozens of lives." Kakashi's tone had become detached, keeping himself very much in the mindset of how an ANBU should act. It never failed to be unsettling though, even as Minato had tried his best to steer Kakashi from that darkness inside him.

"I see." The blond said after processing the words. "Then I will have a lot to work through when I'm out of here."

"Which will not be any time soon; you're on leave after all."

Minato's gaze slid past Kakashi, who looked unperturbed as an elderly woman walked in with a young medi-nin behind her. "Biwako-sama? What are you doing here?" Was he so thrown off that he couldn't sense them outside his room?

"Stopping a foolish young man from going beyond his limits apparently." Biwako replied shortly. Minato felt his face heat, and looked down at his lap feeling chastised. "You are not to move a foot out of that bed until I have deemed you fit to leave."

Minato blinked. "You, Biwako-sama?" he hunched into himself when the elderly woman arched a brow. He hadn't meant for it to sound so blunt and disrespectful.

"I was and still am a capable medi-nin, and Taji-san will be a suitable nurse for your children." she explained curtly. "Which brings me to the next order of business; when was the last time your children ate?"

Minato opened his mouth to speak, but he drew a blank. He looked at Kakashi, who seemed just as baffled by the question. "I...I guess they haven't, or if they did I can't remember since that part's gone."

"I will make a note to bring in a Yamanaka specialist to deal with your memory loss." Biwako said, and glanced at Kakashi. "Well? What are you waiting for, give Taji-san the baby."

Kakashi held Naruto just a little closer to himself. "I can't do that, I am here to protect Sensei and his children."

"And I am here to keep them alive." Biwako retorted. "So tell me, did they give you childcare lessons in your ANBU training? Teach you how to feed a baby or make reluctant children listen to you? If you want to help, go with Taji-san and take note of what she shows you."

Minato watched Kakashi struggle with himself before reluctantly handing Naruto over to the medi-nin, and the ANBU picked Kira up before following her out of the room. The blond turned his gaze back to Biwako, who was giving him a scrutinizing once-over.

"Tell me, what hurts and how much?"

Wow, right to the point, Minato thought wryly, but winced as he shifted against the headboard. "Everything aches to an extent, but mostly my stomach, head and...between my legs." he coughed, embarrassment coursing through him. He might've spent ten months with having a vagina and a functional womb, but he was still flustered to talk about it. He didn't much like talking anyone's private parts, much less his own. And both Sensei and Kushina-chan would tease me about it too, Minato felt a pang at the thought of his wife, and focused back on a stone-faced Biwako.

What? Oh, right, she's waiting for me to continue. Snap out of it, Minato, you're better than this! The blond reprimanded himself. "My arms and legs feel-relatively-fine, my head still has a slight pounding in it, my stomach feels like it's going to drop, and my...it just feels uncomfortable between my legs but there's no sharp pain."

"I see. Provided you are not withholding the true measure of your pain, it is likely while you were kidnapped, your captor-or captors depending on what exactly their goal was last night-had planned on at least keeping you stable-or at the very least, alive." Biwako explained in a matter-of-factly tone.

It was something in that moment Minato appreciated, as he tried to think over the possibilities with the same calm professionalism. "There are three scenarios that could have occurred for last night; they wanted the children and were waiting for me to give birth to have both of me and Kushina-chan's sons, the goal was to release the Kyuubi and both Kira-tan and I were just insurance for Kushina-chan to comply to-with Naruto-tan's birth being an inconvenience they planned for-or I was the target and Kushina-chan found us but the release of the Kyuubi was the inconvenience.

"There are things that don't add up, even in any one scenario. The loss of my memories of the event are troubling and I have yet to find out if Kira-tan is able to remember anything either." Minato frowned to himself. "If it were just me, I could chalk it up to stress and extreme trauma, but both of us? That would be more suspicious."

"That will be for later, after all, you have three months of your maternity leave remaining before you are reinstated to office." Biwako said sternly.

Minato's frown deepened at the reminder. He'd been so ready to get back to into office...that he almost began to forgot the original agreement which had been worked out before this whole thing happened. "Surely I'll need to-" he stopped when the elderly woman gave him an icy stare.

"Hiruzen will be able to manage the village in the mean while, just as he had before this tragedy, but your sons need you now. Despite how much you, Kushina-san and Sachiko-san wanted to keep it a secret, it spread like wild fire through the village about Kira-kun's condition, and with there being no evidence yet of Kyuubi being resealed into Kushina-san, how long do you think it will take before suspicion falls onto one of your children of being the host?"

Minato's eyes widened. Yes, he loved the village very much, but he was not oblivious to the faults of it. He'd seen how Kushina was treated before he'd become Hokage and people were more subtle with their dislike afterwards, but Kira had become a new target because they could 'prove' he was no good and sometimes even Minato's presence wasn't enough to make them back off.

How long will it be before Naruto-tan is suspected to be a Jinchuuriki? No one in the village knows what happened. And it was frustrating because even Minato didn't know what happened, and he was there for it!

"How long will the investigation take?" Minato asked.

"With most of the shinobi forces backed up to help with the relief effort, answers likely will not be coming until a weeks time." Biwako replied, but waved her hand dismissively. "Though now is not the time to fret. Trust that Hiruzen will do what is best and put it out of your mind-besides, you will have time for little else but your children."

Minato sighed. Yes, he could remember very well from when Kira was born how the first few months went. He'd tentatively offered to help out, but Kushina had been adamant (as well as feeling guilty most likely) that she needed to take care of Kira while Sachiko was still recovering from the...complication from the pregnancy.

Now he was regretting at least not going with her to a class to observe at least how childcare was done. He'd gotten used though to being Kira's 'big brother' - even if technically he was his step-father- that now he was being bit in the ass by not being more actively involved. It's not just going to be Naruto-tan who will need help. How's Kira-tan going to handle the shift? I can't be 'cool' anymore and let him get away with stuff Kushina-chan didn't.

"I've been Kira-tan's step-father since he was born, and yet now I see I have no idea what I'm doing at all." Minato said heavily.

"Then you'll learn." Biwako retorted. "You'll make mistakes, all parents have at one point, but show Kira-kun that you still love him and he'll adapt to this change along with you. Tell me, how did he react when he found out you were pregnant?"

Minato blinked, and as he thought about it, he found himself relieved that this memory block didn't extend so far back. "He was worried," he said quietly, "that I would die like his mother had, or that I wouldn't love him anymore since I was getting my 'own' son now." he frowned; it was really quite morbid Kira had so casually mentioned it, but unfortunately it had been too late to make people stop talking about it-both about Sachiko and the 'being his son' part.

"Kushina-chan and I reassured him as best we could that I would be fine, and that I still loved him. We told him that we weren't replacing him, but making him a big brother. He...he liked that, actually." he added, a fond smile crossing his lips at as he said the last bit.

Biwako nodded. "Continue showing him this acceptance and he'll forgive you when you eventually make a fool of yourself."

Minato's eye twitched. Here he thought for a second she might've been going easy on him. "I see, thank you for the advice."

Biwako nodded once more. "Now, open your haori and lift up your shirt." she frowned when Minato hesitated. "What is it?"

"It's just, well, there's nothing...I'm not wearing any pants." The blond muttered.

The elderly woman arched a brow at him once more. "Did you think I could not tell by the fact your legs are bare? Or did you not think that part of the exam would be making sure you weren't in any danger of still bleeding out?"

Minato flushed. "Well, it's just, I don't know if you've...well..." Oh no, he wanted to say it, but was too painfully embarrassed to speak so bluntly in front of his respected elder. "...seen this."

The woman stared at him. "A man with a vagina?" There was something both amused and irritated in her eyes as Minato made a strangled choking noise. "Come now, do you think in my lifetime I have not seen the Seahorse Seal on both men and women alike? You literally have nothing I haven't seen before."

"That may be true, but it's just...I've always been rather modest." Minato replied, his face still flushed. "Just give me a moment." he added, and did all he could to remind himself that this was for his health. The sooner it's done, the sooner I can recover and get out of here.

And when the exam was done, Minato was relieved that by the time Kakashi and Taji arrived with his kids, he had a blanket pulled over him up to his stomach. He managed a shaky smile at Kira, who stared at him for a moment before launching himself at the bed, wrapping his arms around Minato's neck.

"Kaka-nii said you were fine, but I didn't believe him!" Kira said, and Minato noticed Kakashi's eye twitch at the nickname.

The blond wrapped his arms around Kira and was just as relieved to see him awake. "Were you a good boy for Kakashi-kun and Taji-san though?" his smile widened as Kira avoided looking at him. "It's okay, you can tell me."

Kira looked at him wide-eyed, his voice hushed as he tried to ignore Kakashi and Taji. "I found an orange book sticking out of Kaka-nii's pocket and Taji-san got mad at him when I showed her."

"Little thief pickpocketed me when I wasn't looking." Kakashi muttered.

Taji sent the ANBU a glare. "You shouldn't have been reading that on the job."

"I wasn't reading it...yet."

"Keep your voices down." Biwako said sternly as she emerged from the adjacent washroom, Minato's haori in one hand. "I will have someone wash this, and Taji will be assisting you until you are adjusted to your new situation."

Minato blinked, he thought it would only be for a day or so. "I don't want to take you from your work, Taji-san."

The medi-nin bowed, Naruto still sleeping contently and not jostled by the movement. "It is no trouble, Hokage-sama."

Minato was not going to argue, as he knew he'd honestly need any help he could get. "Then thank you for your time, Taji-san." he couldn't bow without feeling his stomach drop uncomfortably, so he settled for inclining his head. "Is there anything I should know first?"

"Kira-kun will need to be cleaned up, and I will show you how to feed your baby when he wakes." Taji replied. She narrowed her eyes at Kakashi. "Go and see if you can find any scrubs for Kira-kun and diapers for the baby."

The young ANBU looked annoyed. "I will not abandon Sensei."

"Did you forget that I am also ANBU? They will be fine in my care, and you need to familiarize yourself with these tasks if you wish to really help your sensei." Taji said sternly.

Kakashi muttered something under his breath before he shunshined away, and Biwako nodded approvingly at Taji before taking her own leave.

The medi-nin smiled at the blond. "Would you like to hold your son?"

Minato felt Kira stiffen, and he rubbed the brunet's hair. "I already am, but I know what you mean." Kira looked at him with a slight smile, and the blond tucked him against his side. "Lets meet your little brother, okay?" Kira bit his lip, and he nodded, giving Taji her cue to walk over to them.

"Cradle your arms, Hokage-sama, and support his head." she instructed, gently adjusting his grip once Naruto was in Minato's arms.

The weight of his son in his arms, with Kira sidled up beside him made his chest ache as in knowing what he gained, he was painfully aware of what he lost. He felt a small hand on his cheek, and Minato blinked as Kira wiped away a tear that slipped out.

"Don't cry, Nii-san, you'll make Naruto-chan cry too." he said, glancing down at the baby who was sleepily beginning to open his eyes.

Minato chuckled softly, and rubbed his head against Kira's. "You can call me Otou-san, or even Okaa-san...if you want." The brunet looked up at him startled, orange eyes wide and surprised that it hurt how much he looked like Sachiko. That was one of the effects of the Seahorse Seal, the child tended to end up favoring the recipient more in looks. "I'm not saying I'm going to replace either your father or mother, but think of it as a security blanket. No matter what, you'll always be my son too."

Kira sniffled, his eyes water as he tucked against Minato's side again. "I...I would like that...Otou-san." he choked over the word, and Minato didn't blame him. "I just...need time to get used to it."

"We all do." Minato replied. He sighed, and realized how rude he was being. "I'm sorry, Taji-san, for ignoring your presence and-" he stopped himself once he saw that the woman was clasping her hands in front of her mouth, eyes sparkling.

"This is such a beautiful moment." she whispered.

Minato blinked, but slowly smiled as he nodded. "Yes it is." A knocking at the door was all he got before a dark-haired woman In a jounin uniform rushed in with Kakashi following after her, and Minato sighed. "And the moment's over-Mikoto-chan, what are you doing here?"

Mikoto glared at him incredulously. "I came to see if you were alright, everyone's saying how Kushina-chan's dead and you might've been too."

Kakashi looked chastised even as he shoved the diaper bag and scrubs into an annoyed Taji's arms. "Sensei, I'm so sorry that I didn't stop her in time. I know you need your rest and-"

"It's okay, Kakashi-kun." Minato said gently. "You were only doing what you were told."

"Wow, not even a mom for a whole day and you're sure getting the hang of being kindly reprimanding." Mikoto said.

Minato rolled his eyes. "It's nice to see you too, but couldn't you have picked a better time to catch up?"

The woman turned serious, any teasing left gone. "I meant what I said; you've been missing for two days and then all hel-" she glanced down at Kira, who was attentively watching them both-"heck breaks loose and they find you in a forest? What happened out there?"

Minato sighed, did everyone know that? "I don't know. The last thing I can remember is my water breaking and after the contractions, but after that it's all a blank." he shook his head, too frustrated to dwell on it. "What about you? Is your family okay?"

"Yes, Itachi and Sasuke are being looked after my one of our relatives, and Fugaku and his police force are helping with the relief effort and I was about to join before I heard you were here." Mikoto replied. She looked down at Naruto, her gaze softening. "He looks a lot like you, what did you decide to call him? It was a ramen ingredient, right?"

"Naruto." Minato supplied, which was actually a scarily appropriate name when he thought about it. Even before he and Kushina agreed on the name from the main character in Jiraiya's book, the blond had had a strong craving for ramen throughout the months.

"That's right, your little fishcake." Mikoto said teasingly.

Kira snickered, even if only because she wasn't teasing about him being the 'sparkle' in anyone's eye yet.

Minato took the ribbing in stride though. "Yes, I liked ramen through my pregnancy and we picked a name that was also a ramen topping." he recited dryly.

"I was only teasing." Mikoto replied. She reached over and ruffled Kira's hair before she stood. "I'd better go start helping, but we'll talk more after," she paused, her expression turning morose, "the chaos has calmed down."

Minato kept from wincing, and nodded. "Yeah, it would help make things feels normal again."

"We're shinobi, Minato-kun, I don't think we'll ever be normal." Mikoto replied, and the blond couldn't disagree with her. The woman nodded to both Kakashi and Taji before departing, but taking her place in the door was another nurse holding a bottle.

"ANBU-san, you said you needed formula to be brought to Hokage-sama's room?"

Kakashi nodded. "Yes, thank you." his hand was smacked away by Taji and he glared at her as she took the bottle instead. "I thought babies needed milk?"

"They do, but did it honesty slip your mind not to stay and watch her make it?" Taji retorted.

Minato paled at the same time Kakashi did. No, they...the staff wouldn't dare...not so soon. "Taji-san, do you really think someone would poison a newborn?"

Kakashi reacted instantly as the nurse tried to slip away, grabbing her by the wrist and pulling her back into the room. She looked terrified as Taji's hands began to glow green, and soon enough the formula turned a sickly purplish color. Kakashi tightened his hold on the nurse's wrist, causing her to cry out. "Who else touched this bottle, or did you work alone?"

"I swear I don't know anything!" The nurse said, her fearful eyes turning to Minato. "Nurse Riko said she would make the bottle and told me to bring it up-I swear on my life I didn't know it was tampered with, Hokage-sama!"

Kakashi stiffened. "That's the nurse who checked you over when you arrived, Hokage-sama."

Minato noticed Naruto beginning to squirm, and how Kira was starting to curl up on himself. "Keep your voice down, you're scaring my children." he said coldly, and the nurse immediately went silent. "Inu, take this woman and Nurse Riko both to T & I, if this woman is as innocent as she claims, then there won't be any trouble."

"And Riko?" Kakashi questioned.

Minato would have been merciful, but the fact was, he would have been the one to feed Naruto the poison if Taji hadn't stopped it, and he'd been too soft when it came to Kira's safety enough as it were. It was time for things to change. "She was going to kill my son, and the attempt on the life of a member of the Hokage's family is a capital offense."

Kakashi nodded, and pulled the woman out with him.

Minato noticed Taji looked contemplative. "Was I too harsh?"

"No, just that I think we both came to the conclusion had this got past me you would have murdered your own son." Taji replied. "I do not judge your actions, we are still shinobi and you are protecting your family."

Minato glanced back at Kira again, who was staring at him wide-eyed. "Yes, both of them." The brunet leaned back into him, and Minato hoped he could protect both his sons from any harm from now on.