Author's Note: Hello! First chapter took a while - Kakashi insisted on being in this chapter, then Minato tried to strangle Ayame...it's been a busy few days. *sweatdrop* may thanks to all the lovely people who have put this story on their alert list!

Title: A Stranger's Smile

Author: The Unwritten Fellowship (Princess Kanako)

Pairing: Minato/OC

Date Submitted: 24/5/13

Disclaimer: *looks around for Naruto cast* Nope, I do not own Naruto - if I did, the entire crew would be right here.

Claimer: Chikane, Hikari, Benjirou, Daiki, Mariko, Sayuri, Keiko, Ayame, and anyone or anything related to them.

Summary: She was pale, sheltered, and insignificant compared to the healthy, confident women that inhabited Konoha, but when she smiled, she became resplendent. Something broke within him - a weight snapped away from where it had been pressing onto his heart. He had to protect this one - but what was she protecting him from?


"You've got to understand, Hokage-sama, it's not you that's the problem. Especially not you! It's the others; in the village, the others on the estate - they never talk to me! They treat me like the lowest thing imaginable, taking care of...of that thing in the nursery..."


Chapter I - S-Ranked Mission


Two years later...

A loud, piercing cry came from the direction of the nursery. Startled, Minato Namikaze dropped the sheaf of papers in his hand and had appeared in the nursery before they had hit the desk. Ayame Kumo, the fourth Hokage's paid employee/nanny of the new Jinchuriki, glanced up, agitated.

"Hokage-sama!" she yelped, jumping, "What-"

"What's wrong with Naruto?" Minato asked urgently. "Did he get into the kunai chest again?"

"Iie, Hokage-sama," Ayame replied, shaking her head as she bounced the weeping toddler on her shoulder, "He's just throwing a tantrum."

"Oh," Minato murmured, feeling slightly embarrassed, but relieved that his son was alright - more or less.

"By the way, Hokage-sama," Ayame said, a glint in her eye, "May I speak with you when he's calmed down?"

"Of course, Ayame-san," Minato answered after a moment, surprised, "I'll be in my study."

"Hai."


"So, what did you want to discuss, Ayame-san?" Minato inquired as Ayame slid the shōji doors shut and sat in the chair he had gestured to.

"I would like to hand in my notice, Hokage-sama," Ayame said after a few moments. Minato stared at her, azure eyes wide with disbelief.

"Pardon?" he murmured, putting down the brush beside the ink.

"I am handing in my notice," she repeated, "I'm quitting."

Slowly, Minato folded his hands together, resting his chin on his clasped fingers as he surveyed the woman opposite him. Ayame positively squirmed underneath his gaze.

"And, Ayame-san," Minato said slowly, "Would you mind telling me just why you are quitting?"

Ayame shuffled in her seat for a minute or so, refusing to meet his eyes. Minato sat silently. His patience was legendary; and at any moment she could crack-

"Hokage-sama!"

Like now.

"You've got to understand, Hokage-sama, it's not you that's the problem," Ayame gabbled, "Especially not you!" Minato mentally rolled his eyes. He idly wondered what this one found appealing about him. Probably the same as the rest.

"It's the others; in the village, the others on the estate - they never talk to me!" she whined, her cheeks flushing scarlet, "They treat me like the lowest thing imaginable, taking care of...of that thing in the nursery-"

Minato's hands slammed onto the desk.

"That thing, Kumo-san," he said icily, every syllable flung like a sharpened kunai, "Is my son."

"But he's-"

"A child."

"A monster, Hokage-sama! He should be destroyed!"

"Kumo-san!" Minato thundered, his legendary patience wearing thin fast, "You have one hour to collect your belongings and leave the estate. You have been relieved of your duties."

Ayame bit her lip, then bowed her head.

"Hai, Hokage-sama," she murmured, standing and leaving the room quietly.

Frustrated, Minato ran his hands through his hair, breathing slowly and evenly to calm himself. When he felt a little less angry than he had a few moments before, he made his way to the nursery. Standing by the crib, his tense features softened as he watched his son sleep peacefully, a tiny thumb still in his mouth. He smiled, and then planted a kiss on Naruto's soft forehead, tucking the pastel blanket around him a little to keep warm. Brushing a soft finger over Naruto's whisker marks, he frowned as Ayame's words echoed in his mind. His Naruto was not a monster. He was just a child, charged with a duty that few seemed to understand.

"Night-night, Naruto," Minato smiled, kissing Naruto's cheek before turning off the main light.

Heading back to his study, he flicked half-heartedly through the sheaf of papers he had dropped earlier. A note from the Academy, requesting funds for equipment, paperwork for the new playground, an application for newcomers waiting to be admitted to Konoha...The stacks of paper seemed endless, and Minato wanted to toss it all out the window.

His plans, however, were clearly not about to come to fruitation anytime soon, as Kakashi Hatake was perched on the window-ledge, his nose buried in one of those Icha-Icha books he'd started carrying around lately.

"Yo, Sensei," he greeted, his silver head bobbing.

"Kakashi," Minato returned, dropping his brush and rubbing his sore finger, "To what do I owe the pleasure at-" Minato glanced at the clock "12.47am?"

"You fired Ayame," Kakashi answered instead, surprising Minato as he closed his book.

"Yes, I did. Why does it concern you?" Minato's voice was mild as he stared at his former pupil.

"Ah well, you see, it wouldn't, except she's been in the bar complaining about you and your 'demon child' at the top of her lungs since eight thirty." He held up his hands in an 'I'm innocent' gesture at Minato's glare. "I'm just quoting her."

"Hmm. I'm sure she'll be dealt with by her mother." Minato stretched and continued, "On another topic, Kakashi, your timing is impeccable."

"Oh?" the silver-haired shinobi said cautiously, raising a brow. At Minato's gaze he straightened up.

"I have a mission for you. S-ranked." The copy-nin straightened up again. S-Rank missions were not to be taken lightly. He watched out of a curious eye as Minato scribbled something onto a scroll, rolled it up and beckoned him to come closer.

"This is top-secret, Kakashi," Minato said sternly, "I don't want any other ANBU members to know about this."

"Understood." With another bob of the head, Kakashi darted to the window and disappeared into the night. Minato sat down at his desk again, and hadn't even picked up his brush when -

"Oh you've got to be kidding me! A nanny!? THIS IS S-RANKED?!"

Minato dropped his brush again and laughed for the first time in a long while.


To be continued...