Prologue Part 2
"Congratulations."
"Huh?" was all Kushina responded with. The nurse turned and smiled at Kushina, looking a her notes briefly.
"I estimate you due date to be in early October." Though Kushina was initially surprised, a smile quickly spread over her face.
"That's great!" she declared.
She could've just ran home, but she wanted to get there as absolutely fast as possible. That entailed going via the roof tops, bounding all the way home.
"Minato!" she called out, slamming the door open. The blonde poked his head out the kitchen, still stirring his pot.
"What is it?" he asked, a minor look of concern on his face, "Something…" He stopped when he saw his wife grinning from ear to ear. Kushina then told him the news. Minato's eyes widened.
"Wait.. you mean…"
"I'm going to be a mother, you know!" Kushina said happily.
"I'm going to be a father!" Minato said, equally happily, as Kushina leapt into her husband's embrace.
Later that night, after the two parents-to-be finally calmed down from the initial joy of the news, they went to bed with each other. As Kushina slept, Kurama decided to strike up conversation.
(in the mental world)
Kushina looked up to see Kurama lying on his stomach, looking down at her.
"What is it Kurama?" Kushina asked, rubbing her eyes slightly, "I'm trying to sleep."
"Did it really take you that long to figure out that you're going to have a kit?" Kurama asked, as he leaned on his hand.
"Wait?" Kushina asked, with surprise, "You knew?"
"And don't talk me about not getting any sleep," Kurama said, "I didn't get any sleep that night you first made the little thing."
"Its not a 'thing'!" Kushina said, putting her hands on her hips, "Its a baby, you know!"
"Whatever," Kurama said, waving his claw slightly.
"So, how did you know?"
"Please, the moment you conceived I could sense a change in the flow of chakra."
"So you just brought me here to confirm that I'm having a baby?" Kushina asked, cocking her head.
"Actually, I brought you here to warn you," Kurama answered, as he sat up, and folded his arms.
"Warn me?" Kushina asked, blinking in surprise.
"As I just said, I sensed a change in your chakra flow, which is being diverted to the child," Kurama explained, "Generally, for jinchuriki, that makes the weakening of the seal. That's what happened when Mito was given birth."
"Why is that a problem?" Kushina asked, "Its not like you're going to escape, are you?"
"No," Kurama answered, "But its not impossible, actually if anything its likely, that word will spread amongst both your friends and your enemies, that the wife of the Fourth Hokage, and the jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, is going to have a child. During the period of childbirth, the seal will be weak enough, that an extraction wouldn't be difficult. They could pull me right out of you in an hour using a technique that would normally take days." Kushina frowned at the mention of that, as she put a hand on her stomach.
(the next day)(in the physical world)
Kushina told Minato what Kurama told her, and for advice they sought out the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and his wife, Biwako.
"Yes," Hiruzen said, frowning slightly, "I remember when Lady Mito gave birth. The seal was almost undone."
"Well," Kushina said, "That won't be a problem with Kurama. He won't try anything. I'm sure of it."
"We don't doubt that," Biwako answered, before smiling slightly, "You're control over the Nine-Tails did help save our son and the rest of your students." Kushina smiled at that, but frowned internally. She didn't like that word "control", because that connoted a dynamic between her and Kurama that didn't exist. They were partners, and one didn't control their partner.
"Still," Hiruzen said, "There are risks involved. As the Nine-Tails told you, both you and Minato have enemies that would like nothing more than to see the beast unleashed on the village and its people. So that end, it would be best for you to give birth in a barrier, and under guard. Better to be safe than sorry." Kushina put a hand on her stomach, where her baby was developing, and where the seal that kept Kurama within her was. She couldn't help but find it rather ironic.
(nine months later)
Eventually, Kushina's due date rolled around, and she went into labor. For security purposes, they had moved to off-village location that only a few knew about: a cave in the forest, with a platoon of Anbu outside. Kushina was now screaming in pain, as she went through what was so eloquently called the "miracle of life". Kushina once heard a saying that "miracles hurt". She really hoped that was the case.
"You're doing great, Kushina!" Biwako said, "Just keep pushing!" Kushina tried to do as told, even though the pain made it difficult to think about anything other than getting this over with. Minato was by her side, holding her hand. Well, "holding" was a gentle way of putting it, it was more like "steadily crushing into powder".
"Come on Naruto!" Minato said weakly, "For both our sakes, hurry up!"
Meanwhile, with the jinchuriki Kurama could feel the chakra fluctuating through Kushina. He had felt this feeling before, when Mito was giving birth. However, when that was happening, he had been struggling in vain to escape. Now he was more or less just watching, as the energy swirl through him.
"I can see the head!" Biwako announced, "Keep pushing!" Kushina screamed so hard, the Anbu outside could hear it. The screams filled the entire cave.
"Come on Naruto!" Minato cried. Right then, the screaming stopped, and a soft crying replaced it.
"Its a boy!"
"Well done, Kushina,"Kurama said.
Tears streamed down Kushina's face, as the pain finally went away, as she heard the cries of her baby. Minato started crying as well.
"Finally," he said, as he reached for the baby "I'm a father."
"Not yet!" Biwako scolded, "Mother gets him first. Its the rules."
"Alright," Minato said sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. Biwako brought the boy over to his mother, who looked at her son for the first time. As she did, Kushina remembered the name they had decided on.
"Naruto," Kushina said weakly, but happily, "I'm so glad I'm finally able to meet you."
"You'll have plenty of other opportunities," Biwako said, with a smile, "Right now, we have other things to do." With that, she and her assistant stepped away to look over the newborn, as Minato lay a hand over her own.
"You did great, Kushina," he said.
"I couldn't have done it without you," Kushina said, smiling back at him. She then weakly put a hand over her stomach.
Thanks, Kurama she thought. Within her, Kurama just grinned.
"Maybe now I can finally get some sleep," he said. Kushina chuckled at that slightly.
"Now, let's get you…," Minato couldn't finish, as he saw Biwako and her assistance collapsing to the ground.
"What?" the new parents sounded.
"Step away from the Jinchuriki!" a new voice sounded out. A man had appeared straight out of nowhere. He was as tall as Minato, and wore a hooded cloak. But what really stood him out, was the swirling mask that covered his face. However, neither Minato or Kushina were paying attention to that, the only thing their attention was on was the fact that Naruto was in grasp.
"I said step away from the Jinchuriki!" the man ordered, "Or would you rather this boy die in his first few seconds?" As the parents looked on with horror, Kurama leaned up, and narrowed his eyes. This feeling he thought.
"Who are you!" Minato demanded.
"Who I am is irrelevant at this point," the masked man said as he pulled out a kunai, and held it up to Naruto, "Now if you care what happens to this brat, step away from the jinchuriki!"
"Look, just take it easy!" Minato said, holding up his hand.
"I'm actually taking it quite easy," the man hissed, "You're the one who seems to be acting quite manic." He then held the knife closer to Naruto, until it was starting to poke the baby in the cheek.
"Kurama!" Kushina cried, "Help!" Within in her Kurama cringed.
"In your current state, you would be in serious danger if I attempted to channel my chakra through you,"he explained.
"I don't care!" Kushina cried, "You have to save Naruto!"
"You know I'm on a deadline," the masked man said, "And this is taking way too long." With that, he tossed Naruto into the air.
"NARUTO!" Kushina screamed. The man then lunged at Naruto with his kunai, but before he could do anything, the baby was caught by Minato, and seemingly taken out of danger.
"I expected nothing less form the Fourth Hokage," the masked man said, as he landed, "But let's see how you react to this." He then took a stance. Minato then noticed several sparked paper bombs under Naruto's blanket.
"MINATO! NARUTO!" Kushina cried. Fortunately, Minato was a quick thinker, as he instantly transported himself away, to an old equipment shed he sometimes used, tossing away the blanket, which promptly exploded. The force still sent him flying away, as he held Naruto close. When he skidded to a halt, and he regained his equilibrium, he looked down, and quickly looked over his son.
"Naruto's alright," he said with a relieved sigh. He then noticed a shard of wood in his leg. But he didn't care. All he cared about now were his wife and his son. He wanted Kushina he thought as he pulled the shard out And now he has her. I've got to move fast. He then flashed himself to a safe house a few miles from village, and gently set Naruto in bed.
"Just stay safe here," he said softly, as he placed the now sleeping Naruto under the covers, "I'll be right back with your mother."
(somewhere else)
The still weak Kushina had been brought to an area a few miles from the village, which consisted of a pond and a series of rock pillars. Kushina had recognized it as the place where the Nine-Tails had been sealed within her. She was now being bound to the rocks through chakra chains, as the masked man stood before her.
"I know that you're marked with Minato's Flying Raijin seal," the masked man said, "He can go to wherever you are instantly. So I'd like to get this over with quickly."
"What do you want?" Kushina demanded from the man
"Isn't it clear?" the man asked, and while Kushina couldn't see his face, she could hear the smirk on his voice, "I've been waiting a long time for this chance. I'll be taking the Nine-Tails now, and then I'll be destroying Konoha." Horror resonated throughout the red-head, as the man took the stance. That was when Kushina noticed his eye. It was the Sharingan.
(in the mental world)
A feeling suddenly resonated with Kurama, as he grabbed his head. He recognized this feeling.
"No," he said, "It can't be…." Right then, his eye swirled, as it took on the shape of the Sharingan. He then began to feel himself being pulled…
(in the physical world)
Kushina couldn't even scream as she could feel Kurama's chakra being drawn to the surface, as the seal began to decay. Kurama she thought weakly.
"I'm sorry, Kushina." The red chakra around Kushina then flared up, as it exploded from the seal on her stomach.
"Now come out, Nine-Tails!" the masked man ordered. With that, with a roar, Kurama exploded into the physical world, trapped in the masked man's genjutsu, and now under his thrall.
"Now that that's done with," the masked man said, "Let's go on to the village." But as he started to walk away, he heard Kushina starting to get up.
"So you're still alive even after the extraction?" he said, looking over to the red-head trying to get back on her feet, "The Uzumakis are truly impressive, though I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything else from the Red Vixen of Konoha." Kurama growled as he looked down at Kushina, his eyes blank.
"Kurama," Kushina weakly called as she looked up at him.
"I heard that you got such a title through your masterful control of your Tailed Beast," the masked man said. Kurama then held up one of his claws.
"How fitting would it be for me to have him kill you?" With a roar, Kurama was forced to bring his claw down on Kushina. The force kicked up a massive cloud of dust. But when the fox moved his hand, it was revealed that Kushina had disappeared. It wasn't difficult for the masked to figure out what had happened.
"The Yellow Flash truly lives up to his name,"he said, "Well, it doesn't matter at this point. Come along Nine-Tails." Kurama could only growl, as he remained trapped in the genjutstu.
(at the safe house)
Minato flashed into the house, Kushina in his arms, weak, but alive.
"Minato," Kushina said softly, "He's going to take the Nine-Tails to the village. You have to stop them."
"Don't worry," Minato answered gently, as he carried Kushina to Naruto's bed, "I'll deal with everything. Just stay here with Naruto." He then set Kushina in the bed beside their sleeping son. Kushina then slowly reached up, and pulled Naruto close to her, pressing her forehead to his, whispering his name as she did. Seeing this sight, made Minato clench his fists in determination.
"Thank you, Minato," she said, before looking back, "And good luck." Minato then put on his forehead protector, and Fourth Hokage coat.
"I'll be right back," he said firmly.
(in the village)
It was a regular evening in Konoha, as most people made the preparations for turning in for the night. That included everything from making stops at grocery stores, to coming and going from bars. Two of the people walking down the street were Kakashi Hatake, and Might Guy, though it was more Guy was just following and pestering Kakashi, rather than the two walking together.
"How many times are you going to refuse me?!" Guy demanded, "We must spar!"
"You know we do have a mission tomorrow," Kakashi said, glancing back at his self-proclaimed rival, "Can't we just do a game of rock, paper, scissors?"
"Its the springtime of youth!" Guy declared, "And we've got to make the absolute most of it! The best way is with some hardcore training! And the best train…." He stopped, as he noticed Kakashi had stopped walking.
"Do you feel that?" Kakashi asked.
"The only thing I feel is your chilly attitude!" Guy snapped, pointing a finger in his face.
(at the Uchiha household)
With their parents out, Itachi claimed the task of taking care of Sasuke for himself. He was now sitting on the wooden porch, looking up at the sky, his baby brother in his arms.
"What's this feeling?" Itachi asked out loud. Of all the nights for Mom and Dad to go out? he thought. He then noticed Sasuke squirming, as he started to cry.
"You feel it too, don't you Sasuke," Itachi said softly, as he held his brother close, "But don't worry, you're brother won't let anything happen to you."
(at the Sarutobi household)
Hiruzen was doing some reading when he sensed a dark presence in the air. Puffing his pipe slightly, he glanced out the window at the rising moon.
"Could it be?" he muttered
(in the village)
The masked man landed in an alleyway in some random spot at the village. He didn't even pause to look around, before slamming his hand onto the ground.
"Summoning Jutsu!"
There was a massive burst of smoke, which sent a blast of wind across half the village, knocking people to their feet. As the people all looked up, and at that smoke, they saw a shape. It was absolutely massive, and nine lashing forms going through the air. A pair of glowing red eyes then appeared.
"Wait, that's the…," one person said. A rumbling growl rumbled through the village, as the form loomed over, revealing itself in the process. The beast then reared up, spread its arms, and roared.
"Its the Nine-Tails!"
"Go, Nine-Tails!" the masked man ordered. With a roar, Kurama commenced his attack.
The enthralled fox held up his claws, before with a single swipe, it uprooted an entire structure. His tails lashed out, crushing another several buildings. Kurama let out another roar, sending out a shockwave that blasted away several blocks, and hundreds of people.
"So after all those precautions, the Nine-Tails was still extracted," Hiruzen muttered to himself looked out through his window, as he adjusted his gauntlets, ready to charge into battle himself. Biwako he thought, knowing that must have happened to his wife.
"Cursed beast!" Guy shouted, as he took battle stance in the direction of the fox, "Come out and face me so that I may release all my energy! I, Might Guy, shall be your opponent!"
"Don't act recklessly!" Kakashi said, "You and I both know the level of control Kushina has over the Nine-Tails. This doesn't make any sense!"
"Battle doesn't need to make sense!" Guy declared, keeping his battle stance, "I will fight the fox!" However, before he could charge at the beast, Shinku Yuhi dropped in front of them.
"Both of you need to get to the safe area!" the jonin ordered, "These orders come directly from Lord Third!"
"Lord Hiruzen?" Guy asked, "But…"
"We've got our orders," Kakashi said, graving Guy's collar, and yanking him away.
Meanwhile, the Leaf ninja were trying to counterattack against Kurama. But, needless to say, it wasn't going well. Any attack that they threw at the beast proved completely ineffective, seeing as very few of them had a just in their arsenal that could challenge such a massive creature. Kurama, meanwhile, just clawed away any ninja that got too close. At the same time, on the Hokage monument, Minato had landed on his own head, looking over the village, and Kurama's rampage. He narrowed his eyes, as he held out his special kunai. Sorry Kurama, I know this isn't you he thought But until you can be freed from the genjutsu, you are a danger to the village!
However, unbeknownst to the Fourth, the masked man was standing in the streets, looking up at him. He narrowed his one visible eye, and gave the Nine-Tails an unspoken command. Kurama then turned towards the Hokage monument, and opened his mouth. Red and blue chakra was then gathered in his mouth, forming a large orb. Minato recognized that technique, as he got ready. Right then, Kurama fired his Tailed Beast Ball, to which Minato held up his dagger against.
A seal appeared in front of him, which the orb collided with. It then seemed to be soaked into the orb, until it vanished completely. Minato then made quick gesture. Off into the distance, there was a massive explosion. Minato cringed slightly; that took a lot of energy out of him. He then looked back out at Kurama, who continued his clash with the Leaf ninja. I've got to be cautious about redirecting them, Minato thought But first I need to get into contact with Lord Hiruzen and tell him about… He stopped his thinking, when he sensed a presence behind him.
Minato thrust his dagger behind him at the masked man, only for both the dagger and his arm to phase cleanly through the man, like he wasn't even there. Minato barely even had time to react, as the masked man grabbed Minato's arm.
"Apologies, but I can't have you getting in my way at this point," the masked man said. With that, he activated some kind of just based in his eye, as everything seemed to be sucked into it. However, before Minato could get sucked in, he flashed away with his Flying Raijin.
"So he got away?" the masked man mused, "Oh well, it won't happen again."
(at Minato's shed)
Minato landed in a heap in the forest clearing. As he got up, he rubbed his chin.
"That was way too close," he muttered, "That jutsu…" He then sensed a presence, as he noticed the same warping effect, as the masked man reappeared.
"I must say I'm impressed," the man said, "But that won't help you escape." Minato cringed, as he pulled his kunai out of the ground, and held it at the ready.
"Who are you?!" he demanded.
"Come now," the masked man said, "Do you really think that's important at the moment?"
"No," Minato answered, "What's important is why you attacked the Leaf."
"For war's sake, for peace's, for boredom's sake, for revenge's sake, or because I felt like it," the masked man answered as a chain dropped from his sleeve, "You can choose." Minato cringed, as he got ready to fight. If I can beat him, that should break the genjutsu on Kurama he thought That could at least solve one problem. But for now, I have to entrust the village to Lord Hiruzen.
"Now, shall we begin?" the masked man asked. With that, the two ninja launched themselves at each other.
(in the village)
The still enthralled Kurama continued to thrash throughout the village, crushing everything and everyone in his path. Fortunately, what little he control he had left was being used to keep him just using the physical attacks. If he started using chakra based attacks, such as his Tailed Beast Ball, the village would already be in total ruin. Kurama pulled back his fist, and slammed it into the ground, sending a massive ripple of force going throughout the village, and blasting many of the attacking ninja away. Several ninja leapt at him, only to be impaled on Kurama's claws, and thrown away.
"Hold the attack and wait for the Fourth Hokage!" one ninja ordered.
"Don't break off!" Hurizen ordered, as he swung the Enma Staff at Kurama, only to for the fox to block at the attack with his arm. He then dodged the a strike from the claws, as he made several quick hand signs.
"Fire Style: Fire Dragon Bomb!" A massive stream of fire then blasted down at Kurama, who easily took the blast, and clawed at Hiruzen again. Kurama then inhaled, and let out another roar, that was so strong it blasted an entire building out of the ground. Left with no other choice but to continue his attack, Kurama held up a fist for another attack.
Right then, however, his eyes changed, as the pupil returned to its natural slitted appearance. Kurama regained his senses, as he could feel the genjutsu being broken. The ninja were all shocked as the beast suddenly stopped its assault, as it reared up, and looked around.
Minato must've defeated the Uchiha the fox thought. Kurama then saw all the damage that he had caused. He clenched his fangs in frustration, as his claws gashed through the ground.
However, Kurama was suddenly broken from his thoughts, as he felt another stream of attacks from the ninja. The fox didn't respond this time in kind. Instead, he braced himself, and leapt away, out of the village walls. Not long after that, the ninja came after him.
"Damn it!" Kurama growled, as he held up his arms to block their attacks, "I'm trying to leave!" However, none of the ninja either heard him, or were paying attention, as he was forced to block more of the attacks. That was when he felt a presence on his back.
"Sorry about all this, Kurama," Minato said.
"We'll discuss what happened, later," Kurama said.
"Just bear with it for a little while longer!" With that, he activated his Flying Raijin, and an instant, the Nine-Tails had disappeared. Hiruzen let out a sigh of relief at that, but he still frowned at the place where the Nine-Tails had been. He had been among the few who noticed when the fox had stopped his attack, and became defensive. It was indicative of a genjutsu being broken, which explained a lot, but also opened up a number of questions.
"Lord Third, what do we do now?" an Anbu asked.
"We got back to the village, and start rescue operations!" Hiruzen ordered, "Trust the Fourth to deal with the beast!"
(back at the safe house)
Minato had decided the best place to bring Kurama was his safe house, where Kushina and Naruto were as well. When they arrived, Minato had brought Kushina out as well. Naruto was in Kushina's arms. Disturbed, Naruto started to cry.
"Sorry to wake you," Kushina said weakly, as she held him close. Kurama took a breath, as he rubbed his head. The family then looked up at the fox.
"To think I let myself be controlled by an Uchiha again," he growled, "Disgraceful."
"None of this was your fault, Kurama," Kushina said, "It was that masked man." Kurama looked in the direction of the village, and clenched his claws.
"The fact that Madara alone could control was bad enough," he said, "But the fact that this new man was able to subjugate me says a lot. This raises a whole new menagerie of problems and questions."
"We don't know enough about what happened yet to make any judgements," Minato said, to the fox, "Later, I'll have to investigate everything. But for now, we need to figure out what to do with you."
"You can seal him back into me, right?" Kushina asked, as she knelt in the grass and soothed her crying son.
"No," Minato said, "You're too weak right now, and your chakra is too depleted. A full sealing jutsu could hurt you more than anything else."
"He's right," Kurama said, "As durable as you Uzumakis are, this could seriously damage you and your body."
"So what do we do?" Kushina asked, "If your allowed to just go out on your own, you'd be sought out by every single village."
"That's true," Kurama agreed, "But there's another option." That immediately got the attention of Minato and Kushina.
"What is it?"
"You could divide my being in half," Kurama explained, "One half can be sealed in Kushina, since I'm confident she'd survive that. You can seal the other half in someone one else."
"Who?" Kushina asked. She then looked at Minato, and noticed that he was looking at Naruto.
"Wait!" she said, clutching her son, who had finally stopped crying, to her chest, "You don't mean…"
"Jiraya-Sensei once told me about a prophecy," Minato explained, "The prophecy of a child that would someday save the world."
"And you think Naruto could be the one?" Kushina asked.
"I don't know," Minato answered, "But I have faith in our son, and he were to have Kurama's aide, then I'm sure that he could do it, and we can teach him."
"You know the stigma I held as jinchuriki," Kushina said, "You would have him grow up with that?"
"He'll have both of us at his side," Minato said, "He won't be alone in this world. That I promise you." Kushina listened to that, as she looked at her boy. Kurama also listened, and thought about the Sage, and his own prophecy. Could it really be referring to this boy?
"As long as we're here for him," Kushina said, "I guess I can accept it, so long as I can train him myself." The two then looked to Kurama who folded his arms, and shrugged slightly.
"Wouldn't be my first choice," he said, "But I have heard the prophecy as well, and I'm willing to take the chance." The parents all smiled at the mention of that.
"I'll begin the sealing preparations," Minato said, as he clasped his hand together. Kushina looked down at Naruto, and kissed his forehead.
"I just hope that this works," she said. Kurama's keen ears heard that. He certainly hoped as well.
(later, on the Hokage monument)
The masked man stood atop Hashirama's head, as he looked over the damage that the Nine-Tails had caused. He looked to his side, where the worst of the damage had been done by the Fourth's Rasengan. Not only had he failed to destroy Konoha, he'd lost his chance to seize the Nine-Tails.
"Never pays to be overzealous." The masked man whirled around, and saw, sitting on a rock behind him, another masked man. The man was dressed in a plain, black and white ninja battle garb. On his back was a long, thin scimitar, and his head was wrapped in bandages. But was most distinguishing, was the mask on his face. It was a plain white, with a completely smooth surface, save for a long horizontal slit over where his eyes would be. The masked man took his battle stance.
"Come now," the other man said, "You know you aren't in a state to fight me."
"Good, because I'd defeat you."
"I don't doubt that, but sadly that's not the case. You know, you could've just extracted the Nine-Tails, and left, but instead you decide to use it to ravage the village. Old grudge I take it?"
"I have no reason to tell you," the masked man said.
"Well, I really don't care anyway," the other man countered, "I've got much more important things on my mind."
"Such as?"
"Bringing order to a chaotic world," the other said as he rose to his feet, and folded his arms. The masked man listened to that, as his eye narrowed.
"Who are you?" he asked.
"Not really a friend, not really an enemy. I can be either though, depending on what you choose." The masked man and the other man then stared each other down.
"So, what do you choose?"
(later at the village)
The sealing had gone on without a hit. After it was done, and Minato had put Kushina and Naruto back to rest, he immediately went back to the village, to oversee the damage. When he got there, on the one hand he was relieved, seeing as considering who attacked the village, only one part of the village was seriously damaged. But on the other hand, while buildings could be repaired, people couldn't be. The casualties had mounted quickly, and while Minato wasn't sure how many there were exactly yet, he did know that there were too many. Nothing to do now, though, but start rebuilding.
"Minato!" The Fourth turned, and saw Hiruzen dropping down to his level.
"Lord Third," Minato said with respectable nod.
"Can you tell me what happened?" Minato frowned at that question, as he looked back at the damage.
"I'm really not sure," he answered, "It was like everything was going fine then…" That was when he remembered something rather important.
"Lady Biwako!" he said with horror. He looked at Hiruzen who looked down solemnly.
"Lord Hiruzen, I'm…" Minato was silenced when the Third held up his hand.
"Its alright, I don't blame you," he said, "You fought long and hard to protect the village against an opponent you knew nothing of, and had no preparation against, and you saved us all. How's Kushina and your son?"
"Both are tired and weak, but alive," Minato answered.
"Minato," Hiruzen said, putting a hand on his successor's shoulder, "You've done more than enough for the village. Go to your family, and get some rest."
"But…"
"No 'buts'," Hiruzen said, "If you don't do it, I'll drag you back myself." Minato was surprised, but smiled at that, and nodded, and flashed back to the house that he brought his family to after the sealing. Taking an exhausted breath, he took off his coat, and put it in the hanger for the day.
"If nothing else, this will be something Naruto can tell his kids about," he said. Normally, Minato would have laughed at his own joke, but was too tired to do it.
After that, he entered into the bedroom he shared with Kushina. There he saw his wife and son fast asleep in bed, the latter held tight in the former's arms. Minato smiled as he sat on the bed, and stroked his son's cheek.
"Don't worry, Naruto," he whispered, "You're dad's here. And he's never going to leave you." Naruto stirred slightly, but didn't wake up. Kushina also stirred slightly.
"..you know,' she said in her sleep, as she pulled her son closer. Minato couldn't help but chuckle at that, and wonder if his son would inherit such a quirk.
Note: As you could no doubt see, I omitted the fight between Tobi and Minato. Mostly because it would've gone just like in canon, and no need to detail something that we already know. I'll do that probably periodically through the story, where if I can't put in enough divergences, I'll just not write the scene itself.
Now to those who may be disappointed that Minato and Kushina survived (if the cover didn't make it rather clear), it stands to reason that if Kurama had been their ally, I'd argue that it would be unlikely that they would've died. However, this opens up a whole other points of divergence for the story to take.
This concludes the prologue, but it won't immediately go into the main story. There are a couple of things that will need to be covered first, that don't count as prologue in my opinion.
Please review.