Thanks for following my story. And thanks for the reviews ^^
Please enjoy the next chapter.
DISCALIMER: I do not own Naruto
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Chapter 2: Losses
It was 4:00 in the morning when Minato and Kushina looked through the doorframe into Naruto's bedroom. Naruto was sleeping peacefully, like Kei was. Kushina felt a Hand on her shoulder and turned to her husband. Both nodded and then left the house. They walked down the street to the Hokage Tower. They were to meet with Biwako Sarutobi, as well as their ANBU guard. They didn't take long to reach the Tower. The streets were very quiet, since the Villagers were still fast asleep. Biwako and the 5 ANBUs were already present. Biwako had long, brown hair which she kept in a high ponytail, dark eyes, slightly visible creases at the corners of her eyes and her mouth. She wore a purple kimono-like dress, along with a white haori and sandals. The ANBUs wore the traditional Uniform and their mask consisted of a Cat, a horse, a wolf, a dog and a rabbit.
The ANBUs all bowed deeply at the arrival of their Hokage and Biwako bowed her hair slightly as a greeting. "Minato, Kushina, good morning. How are you feeling?" She asked Kushina.
"Fine so far. Thank you, Biwako-oba-san" Kushina said bowing her head in a greeting as well. Biwako mumbled something under her breath. Something about respect and elders. Biwako had tried for years to get Kushina to stop calling her 'oba-san', but was failing miserably. And the Namikazes oldest son was just as bad. Always calling her 'obaa-san'. And she was the wife of the third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, so not many people called her the way the Namikazes called her. Actually. No one but they did.
"Good morning. Thanks for coming so early in the morning." Minato said smiling at Biwako's antics and bowed his head to Biwako as well. Just then, an elder man and a beautiful woman, with a bust of considerable size, came out of the tower. "Hiruzen, Tsunade, thanks for seeing us off" Minato said to the two new arrivals with a smile.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Sandaime Hokage, was tan-skinned and had brown spiky hair and a goatee. He had a single line running vertically under the corners of each eye. He was wearing a red, full-length kimono that was tied using a white sash and a white haori. He had put his hands behind his back and was now smiling at Minato. "Of course." Hiruzen answered with a smile.
Tsunade Senju was fair-skinned, had long straight blond hair tied in two loose pigtails and had a purple, diamond shaped mark on her forehead. She wore a green haori over a grey kimono blouse, held by a dark obi, which had the same colour as her pants. She also wore a blue crystal-Necklace. She put her hands on her hips and gave Minato a small smile. "I wish you guy's good luck" Tsunade said.
"Thanks. I'll leave things here to you then." Minato said to the two.
"Be careful, and come back safely." Hiruzen said to Minato and then looked at Biwako. "And you better come home safe as well, or I'll get angry."
Biwako smiled at her husband in return. "Don't worry. We'll soon have a new Namikaze-brat making everyone go crazy around here. Just like their mother." Biwako stated while smirking at Kushina, who only laughed sheepishly.
"We'll be better head out now. Hiruzen, Tsunade, see you soon." Minato said and turned in direction of north.
"Ja ne." Kushina said and turned as well.
Then Minato and Kushina took off. The 5 ANBUs following suit and Biwako looking after them.
"Guess I better go too. I'll see you soon." Biwako said and took Hiruzen's Hand. Gave it a squeeze and let go. She then went after Kushina and Minato.
"Why do I feel like something is going to happen?" Hiruzen asked while looking at the retreating form of his wife.
"It will be alright I'm sure, Sensei." Tsunade answered. But she couldn't hide the worry in her voice like she would have wanted.
XXX
Minato and his followers arrived at the small hut where Kushina had given birth the two prior times at around 6:00. They had travelled at a slower pace than usual, since Kushina was having a rather hard time. Usually, it would have taken them approximately 30 minutes to reach the hut. But with a highly pregnant woman on the group, it had taken them about twice the time. Which was still a rather fast pace.
"Alright Ookami (Wolf), Usagi (Rabbit), the two of you will stay guard outside in a radius of 30 Mile. Uma (Horse) and Inu (Dog), you two watch the Hut from up close. Neko (Cat), I want you to stay in the room with us, in case Biwako needs a hand." Minato gave his commands.
"Hai!" Was the mutual answer of the ANBUs. Ookami and Usagi disappeared in a Shunshin and Uma and Inu took their position in front of the Hut.
Minato nodded and took Kushina's hand. She then led her inside, followed closely by Neko and Biwako. Minato led Kushina into the living room, where Kushina sat down on a couch and leaned her head back. Walking around in the Kitchen to make dinner was one thing. Running over an hour through the forest was another. She was exhausted and needed a break. Biwako sat down next to her and checked that everything was alright, while Cat stood straight at the door. Ready for anything. Minato meanwhile walked into the room next to the living room. It was a rather big room. A big bed was in the middle of the room and there was a small crib in the corner of the room. There was also a table, with all kinds of medical utensils on it, across the room. "Let's hope we won't need them." Minato thought worriedly. "Ok. Time to get the room ready." Minato walked over to the Table and took out different tags. He then took out a brush and ink and started to draw different kind of seals. The seals he drew were for different kind of effects. Some were protective seals that would keep people from entering, others were Chakra suppressors, to keep the Kyuubi's Chakra from being felt by sensors. And the last ones were to help keeping the Kyuubi in check.
Once he was done he taped those seals all over the room on the walls. "This should do."
Minato then walked back into the living room and looked at Kushina. She was pale and was breathing heavily.
"How is she?" He asked Biwako.
"She's holding up. But she's not quite ready yet." Biwako answered and looked at Minato. "Tsunade really is amazing. To be able to tell that she's giving birth today so accurately. She really is the best Medic-Nin there is." Biwako stated with pride. After all, she had taught Tsunade everything she knew, and then Tsunade went and surpassed her.
"Yeah, she sure is." Minato said and sat down as well. "Neko, you can sit down as well you know. It's going to be a long day." Minato said and motioned to the single couch that was in front of them.
Neko seemed to think for a moment, but then she nodded. "Hai. Thank you, Hokage-sama" She said and sat down.
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"AAAAAHHHH!" Kushina shouted and grabbed onto the sheets of the bed. It was now around 16:00. About one hour ago, Biwako had said that it would be best to move to the Bedroom, since it wouldn't be long until Kushina was ready. So Minato had carried her into the Bedroom and laid her onto the Bed. The Contractions had become in shorter intervals until this moment.
"Kushina, I need you to push" Biwako said while keeping an eye open for the child. Neko stood beside Kushina and had a green glowing hand on her head, trying to minimize the pain.
"God Minato! For doing this to me again. I'm going to make your remaining life hell!" Kushina shouted and pushed.
"I know Honey, It'll be alright." Minato said and concentrated on the Seal on Kushina's stomach. He was currently reinforcing the seal of the Kyuubi.
"I can see the head Kushina."
"AAAHHHHHH!" Kushina shouted again.
"One more push, Kushina. Neko get here." Biwako shouted and Neko appeared at her side a second later with clamps and a scissor to cut the umbilical cord. Minato would have to take care of the seal, so he wouldn't be able to cut the cord.
"Alright it's here." Biwako said with a smile on her face. That turned into a frown and then a look of worry. "Oh no." Biwako said. Neko had meanwhile cut the cord and was looking at Biwako. Just like Minato and Kushina as well.
"What? What is with my child? Oba-chan!" Kushina shouted with worry.
"Biwako?" Minato asked now with equal worry. If he wasn't still holding the Kyuubi back, he would rush to her side without a though.
"Neko! I need your help. Now!" Biwako said and took the child to the table on the other side of the room. Her hands started to glow green and she put them over the heart of the child. The heart that was not beating. Neko had arrived next to her and started her own medical Jutsu on the child.
Both Biwako and Neko were so focused on the child and Minato and Kushina on both keeping the fox at bay and trying to find out what was wrong with their child, that none noticed the new presence in the room. The new presence moved and in an instant he was next to Biwako and Neko, and killed both by slicing their throat. Both fell to the ground. Not even knowing what had hit them. The presence, now identified as a man with a Mask turned around.
"What?! Shit" Minato cursed.
The Masked man had taken the child in his arms and looked at Minato and Kushina. He then pointed a Kunai at the child's throat.
"Yondaime Hokage, Minato Namikaze and his wife Kushina Namikaze, formerly Uzumaki. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"I don't know who you are, but you better not hurt my child." Minato said. He was still keeping the seal intact, which is why he couldn't move to the man and take his child back.
"Of course, that is, if you're willing to fulfil my wishes." The masked men said.
"What is it that you want?" This time it was Kushina that asked. Her breath was swallow and she was barely conscious.
"That, dear Kushina is fairly simple." The man stated. "I want you. More precisely. I want the Kyuubi inside of you."
"Don't be stupid. Let the child go." Minato said. He was getting angry. But he still couldn't move. Yet somehow, even though he had no actual evidence, he knew that something was wrong with their child. It hadn't cried once, and as much as he wanted to believe that it was just a real heavy sleeper, the part of him that was still thinking logically, told him there was nothing he could do for his child. And certainly not without the presence of a Medic-nin.
"Hmmm… So you don't want to give me the Kyuubi willingly. Well I wasn't really expecting it either way but… It's a shame. Such a young life." The man said, looking down at the little baby. His gaze then turned to Kushina. Their eyes met, and suddenly there was an eruption of evil chakra from Kushina's Body. Originating from the Seal that Minato was now trying to keep working with all his might.
"I'm just going to take it by force then." The Man stated. The Kunai then went down into the child's throat.
"NOOOOOOOO!" Kushina cried out in pure agony over seeing her child being killed. She, like Minato, had realized that something had been wrong, but still believed that their child could have been saved. This possibility had now been crushed by the Kunai stuck into their baby's throat.
Due enormous emotional breakdown of Kushina as well as the influence of the masked man, Minato was no longer able to hold the seal in place, and the Kyuubi started to materialize. Minato took Kushina into his arms and used the Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique) to bring her into a safe place.
Kushina was still crying. "My Baby. Oh god. Why?!"
"I'll be right back." Minato said and teleported back into what was left of the hut.
The Kyuubi was still materializing itself, and the masked man looked at it while still holding the dead baby in his arm. He was then attacked by Minato. Minato tried to hit the man in the face, but his punch passed right though and he appeared behind him. Getting over his shock quickly, he spun around and tried to his him with his leg. Put it passed the man again. The Masked man, who apparently was sick of carrying a dead baby around, threw it at Minato.
"Catch." He said and then disappeared to look at the finalization of the Kyuubi's transformation.
Minato's eyes widened and he sprung towards the baby and caught it. It was now laying naked in his arms. A baby girl. With blond hair, and 2 Whiskers on her cheek. "She's so beautiful. I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." Minato thought and let a tear roll down his cheek. He teleported back to the still crying Kushina, and put the girl in her mother's arm for the first, and also the last time. If anything, Kushina's crying became even stronger. She held her child close to her chest, with no intention of ever letting go. Minato looked back to where the hut had been. The Kyuubi had finished his materialization and was now moving at an incredible speed towards Konoha. And as the Hokage, he couldn't let that happen.
"Kushina. I need to go. The Kyuubi is on its way to the village. Stay here. I'll be back soon." Minato said and kissed Kushina on the Forehead. He then disappeared in a yellow flash.
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Meanwhile, the Kyuubi had reached the village. There were cries of terror and fear. Civilian were running into the inside of the Village, while the Shinobi tried their best to provide a safe evacuation to the shelters. But it was no use. Nothing the shinobi did had an effect on the Kyuubi. Kunai were hit away with a flick of the tail and Jutsu were simply not doing any damage. People died one after the other. They were crashed by the Kyuubi or were burnt by the fire that had started the moment the Kyuubi had entered the village. The situation seemed desperate. The Kyuubi had already reached the middle of the village, and was now preparing to attack. The Kyuubi then opened his mouth, and gathered what seemed like chakra in front of his muzzle. Ready to fire a Bijuu-Bomb.
"Kuchiyose no Jutsu (Summoning Jutsu)!" was heard and suddenly, a gigantic Toad appeared on top of the Kyuubi. And on top of the Toad stood Minato.
All kind of shouts were heard from the people in the village. "It's Yondaime-sama!" "We're saved!" "Hokage-sama!"
Minato went through a set of Hand seals and slammed his hand on the toads head. There was a huge poof of smoke, and Minato, The Toad and the Kyuubi had disappeared from view, only to appear 40 Miles outside of the Village.
Hiruzen, who had arrived at the scene the moment Minato teleported away, looked around. "It hasn't even been 5 minutes since it entered the village. And there is already so much destruction. So many death…" Hiruzen thought and started to give orders for evacuation of the civilian and the recovery of the injured and dead.
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Minato arrived in the middle of the forest on top of the Toad, which he sent back to his home. Minato had thus jumped off the Beast and the Kyuubi stood now right in front of him. And so, for the first time, he took a closer look at the Kyuubi, or more precisely, his eyes. Minato's eyes widened at what he saw. The Sharingan. "So the Masked man is an Uchiha. He must be controlling the Kyuubi then."
"I can't have you prevent the Kyuubi from destroying the village, Minato." Said the masked man who had appeared behind Minato.
The Uchiha threw a punch at Minato, who dodged it by crouching down. Minato then tried to sweep the Uchiha's legs away, by turning around with his leg outstretched, but the masked man just jumped over it. Minato proceeded to slash at him with his Kunai, but just like the last time, he simply past through the man. "Shit. What the hell is this Jutsu" Minato thought.
"Like I said. Can't have you get in my way." The man said and he started and grabbed Minato's hand that was holding the Kunai. He then started to distort together with Minato.
Minato noticed this and used the Hiraishin to get away again. He looked at the Kyuubi again, who had started to run towards the village again. "Damn. I can't take care of the Kyuubi and this guy at the same time, neither do I have any seals farther away. And where the heck am I supposed to seal the Kyuubi in the first place?!" Minato slowly started to panic. The strongest Bijuu was currently attacking his village and he was stuck with this Uchiha guy that had a grudge against Konoha. Kushina was too weak mentally and physically at the moment to seal the Kyuubi into herself again and there was no one who would willingly accept to have the Kyuubi sealed into themselves. And no one that could have it sealed into them without dying from the strain either. His thoughts were interrupted by the masked man who once again attacked, a Kunai in his hand. "Ok. First things first. I need to figure out this Jutsu… He can somehow dematerialize. But he did grab me before. So he does have a Physical Form… Alright. Let's try this" Minato thought and prepared a Rasengan in his right hand. He then threw a Kunai and ran right after it. He stretched the swirling chakra ball out and saw the Kunai pass through the man. But he had expected that. The Moment the Kunai arrived behind the man's head, Minato used the Hiraishin to teleport above the man and slammed his Rasengan into his back. The Rasengan hit and the Uchiha crashed into the ground.
The man managed to get up and jump away. He was holding his right arm and was breathing heavily.
"So you figured it out. My Technique." The man stated. "But even if you did. It doesn't change the fact that the Kyuubi will destr…" The Man stopped midsentence and looked in the direction of the village. The Kyuubi had stopped in his tracks. And then, the Kyuubi disappeared in a poof of smoke. Not only the Kyuubi itself, but its whole presence simply disappeared. "What… How..." The Uchiha murmured to himself. Then he turned to Minato again. "What did you do? Nothing should have been able to stop it!" the masked man shouted angrily.
Minato on his part was at a loss of words as well. "Hiruzen must have found a way to stop it. Good. Now I can concentrate on this guy." The moment Minato had finished his thought, the masked man started to distort.
"This is not over. We will see each other again. Minato Namikaze." The man said and disappeared.
XXX
Hiruzen was still in the middle of the village overlooking the evacuation. ANBUs were searching and rescuing possible survivors, the Uchiha Police force that had arrived moments ago had taken charge of bringing People to the shelters. He could see Fugaku Uchiha, Head of the clan, leading a group of children, probably from the orphanage that was around the corner, away. And Tsunade had taken control of the medics. She was personally not involved in the process of healing, after all she still had Haemophobia, but her inputs on how to heal someone where still a huge help.
Hiruzen's gaze then went to the Kyuubi that was still miles away. "Shit!" He thought as he saw that the Kyuubi was again on the move. "All of you, hurry it up. Team Bat, you come with me." Hiruzen shouted and ran in the direction the Kyuubi was coming from. The ANBU team Hiruzen had ordered to come with him, where following closely behind. They reached the Village gate a short time before the Kyuubi did. Hiruzen was about to go through a set of hand seals when the Kyuubi suddenly stopped in his tracks.
The Kyuubi, who moments before seemed like a bloodthirsty, ruthless beast, now stood in front of the Sandaime Hokage, and looked… calm. The breathing of the fox became slower and its eyes started fluttering shut. Like it was falling asleep. And then. Poof. It was gone. No residual scent, no chakra, nothing. Absolutely no trace of the Kyuubi no Kitsune. "Where the heck did it go? It can't just disappear like that… Can it?" Hiruzen thought while looking around. Trying to sense something. Anything. "Must be Minato's doing" He thought and signalled the ANBUs to follow him into the forest, where Minato had teleported previously. "Biwako…" were his thoughts while he accelerated his pace.
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Minato meanwhile had returned to Kushina's side. Her sobs had turned quieter, but she still refused to let go of their deceased daughter. Minato picked her up and teleported back to the hut. On the way to Kushina, Minato had looked for his ANBU guards. He was pretty sure the masked man had killed them, but he still wanted to make sure. He had been right. He had found both Ookami and Usagi 20 miles from the hut with sliced throats. Now that they had arrived at the hut, Minato started looking for his two last guards. Uma and Inu. He found them underneath the rubble of the hut. Like he had done with Ookami and Usagi, he sealed both Uma and Inu into scrolls as well. He was going to give them a proper burial once they got home. He kept looking and soon also found Neko and Biwako. Their death was really bitter to Minato. Both had tried their best to save his daughter, which he was really thankful for. He pulled them out of the scree and laid Biwako to the side while he sealed Neko away. He felt Hiruzen coming. "He'll want to see her" Minato thought and walked over to his wife. He didn't say anything. He was just as crushed as she was. All he did was take her in his arms and slowly rocked her back and forth. Tears were now also streaming down from his face onto Kushina's head. Feeling her husband crying seemed to make a new wave of emotion surge from Kushina as her sobbing once again turned stronger and she moved her right arm to now hold onto Minato's back. Their daughter in between them.
This was the sight Hiruzen Sarutobi and 5 ANBUs came across. "Minato" Hiruzen started.
Minato looked up. His tearstained face broke Hiruzen's heart. And what he said next broke it even more. "Hiruzen. I'm sorry. I couldn't protect her. Please forgive me." Minato said his face filled with guilt and grieve. He turned his gaze to Biwako, who was lying a few feet away from the pair.
Hiruzen walked over to his wife and took her into his arms. A few tears rolling down his face as well. "It's not your fault, Minato. None of this is. So don't blame yourself." Hiruzen said and picked Biwako up. "We need to head back, Minato. There was a lot of damage in the village." Hiruzen stated and turned to Minato.
Minato nodded and picked Kushina up as well. That's when Hiruzen, as well as the 5 ANBUs first laid eyes on the little baby in Kushina's arms.
"I'm sorry, Minato, Kushina" Hiruzen said sadly. Minato just nodded in thanks. They then took off in direction of the village. After some time, Hiruzen asked the question that had been going through his mind for a moment. "But tell me Minato, how did you make the Kyuubi disappear?" Hiruzen asked.
This made Minato have a look of surprise and then of confusion come over his face. "Me? I thought you did it? I couldn't. I was… busy." Minato answered, making sure he didn't let the fact slip that there was someone controlling the Bijuu. He would have to speak with Hiruzen about that when they were alone.
"Hah?! But if it wasn't you, and me neither? Who did it?" Hiruzen asked the question that was going through the mind of all people present aloud.
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Alright guys. This is it. I know this chapter is a bit shorter than the last one, but I had to cut here. Hope you enjoy it so far ^^ See you soon. Your PurpleShadow95
