"Sir...I think we should just give up...It's been months..." one of the ANBU captains was standing in Minato's office.
Minato just sighed. He didn't want to believe it, but he was going to have to face facts; his wife was probably dead. He dismissed the ANBU. "I know she's out there..." he said to himself. He felt if he kept saying that, it'd be true. He rested his head in his palms and let out a heavy sigh. He looked up as he felt another ninja approaching. "Come in." he said before they could knock.
"Lord Hokage," a young genin walking in, a mix of joy and unease on her face.
"Yes, Hanako? What is it?"
"It's about Mrs. Kushina..."
"Yes?" he tried to hid the hope in his voice.
"She's...she's back, sir," she said meekly.
"What?!" he couldn't help the grin and tears that had formed.
"At the hospital...But-" she sighed. Before she could tell him more he used his instant teleportation to leave her alone in his office.
Almost a year... He thought as he raced to the nurse's station. Almost a year...and I finally get to see her again! By this time, tears of joy were streaming down his face. He wiped his eyes on his sleeve before walking calmly up to the nurse.
"Good morning, Lady Tsunade," he greeted happily.
She nodded, not matching his happiness. "Listen, Minato...I think there's something you should know..."
"Whatever condition she's in, I don't care! I want to see her!"
Tsunade sighed. "Okay..." she said, defeated. If there was one thing she knew about her old teammates student, he was stubborn. She told him where to find his wife and he took off running down the hall.
When Minato reached Kushina's door she weakly called out to him. He rushed in and took on a look of horror.
His wife lay in the bed, immobilized. She wasn't strapped down, but it was clear she couldn't move. She was nothing but skin and bone. She was flushed of color. Even her eyes were dull.
Minato's happiness turned to dread. All his time worrying about her being alive or dead...Well, this was worse than either. It was if she was between worlds. "Kushina...what happened to you?"
She smiled and spoke in a debilitated voice. "It's great to see you..." she coughed violently. "How's...How's Naruto?"
"H-he's fine..." Minato's was fighting to keep his voice steady. "He's missed you...But he never thought you were dead...Neither did I..."
"Sorry to worry you..." She smiled feebly. She let out another bout of coughs. "I...I have something to tell you..."
Minato shook his head. "Wait on it...You need rest...Do you want me to get you anything?"
Kushina continued as if he didn't speak. "On...on the mission...This man...I...He..." she started tearing up.
If he wasn't worried before, he was completely terrified now. There weren't many times Kushina would cry. The last time was when they made their son a jinchuriki. What could be so bad that she'd cry now?
"He...he what?" he urged her.
By now Kushina was sobbing. "I'm sorry Minato!" She sat up and leaned over to hug him. Having no strength, though, she ended up heading towards the floor. Minato caught her and knelt on the bed holding her.
"Kushina...no matter what happened...I'll always love you. I promise...Now what happened?"
"He...He..." she couldn't utter the word. Instead, she took a deep breath and hit the call bell. Minato looked at her confused, but she motioned him to be quiet.
"Yes, Mrs. Kushina?" a young medic walked in.
"Could you bring her in? I want Minato to see."
The nurse nodded and walked back out. Minato looked at Kushina looking more confused than before.
Not long after, the nurse returned, carrying a small bundle. Kushina forced herself into a proper sitting position and took the bundle from the nurse. Minato was pretty sure he knew what was going on at this point, but he had to ask all the same.
"Is...is that a baby?" he asked.
Kushina nodded, but didn't say anything.
"And...it's yours?" he ventured.
She nodded again, this time looking away.
"Boy or girl?" he asked.
She didn't meet his gaze. "Girl...Her name's Shira."
"My daughter's name's Shira, eh?"
It took a moment for his words to register. She whipped her head towards him. "What do you mean your daughter!?" she asked completely taken aback.
"Well, yeah. You had her...We're married, that does make her my daughter right? I mean...I might have to go through adoption papers since I'm not her...well none of that matters."
Kushina blinked and was silent for a moment. She broke into a smile and rested her head against Minato. "I love you so much, Minato."
He smiled and hugged the girls gently. "I love you too. Can I see her?" Kushina nodded and handed the sleeping infant to Minato.
Minato moved the blanket off the baby's face. He smiled softly. "She looks a lot like you." Then he noticed her hair and tilted his head slightly. "Uh...one thing though..."
"I know...Her hair is white..." Kushina said in an unreadable tone. "I... I think it was the experiments...While I was pregnant...and a bit after... the man...he was doing experiments..."
"Are you feeling okay? Did he hurt you?"
"No no...I'm fine...I think he was more focused on Shira..."
"She seems fine though..."
Kushina shook her head. "No...actually..."
"She's got a block on her chakra..." Tsunade stood in the doorway. "It's there, but it seems like we can't measure it or get it to flow properly."
Minato looked a bit scared. "Is...is that deadly?"
Tsunade was fighting the urge to laugh. "If it was she'd be dead."
"Oh...yeah..." he rubbed his neck sheepishly. "Is that all we have to worry about?"
"Well..." Tsunade sighed. "Without a proper flow of chakra...she can't perform jutsu...Any chance of her being a ninja is very slim."
Minato and Kushina both exchanged looks.
"But," Tsunade continued. "It wouldn't be completely impossible. Only time will tell." She said in a more hopeful tone. She walked over and took Shira from Minato. "Come, Fourth Hokage. Kushina needs her rest."
Minato kissed Kushina gently and laid her down. "All right. I'll see you first thing in the morning. Good night."
Kushina managed a farewell before drifting off to sleep.