Ch.6

~In the past~

The Sandaime sat at his desk looking at the group in front of him. "What I am about to tell you is confidential." They all nodded their heads. "There are a group of rogue uzumaki survivors who are coming towards Konoha. We have received Intel that they have stolen forbidden jutsus from the uzumaki compound."

"If that's the case shouldn't someone not be here?" Fugaku said.

"What'd you say!?" The fiery redhead yelled.

"Kushina is a loyal Konoha shinobi-"

"That's right!" She cut in.

"And you'll need her help stopping this group. Don't underestimate them. We do understand that they are planning something against us but what we have no clue... That why I've gathered all of you. You're the strongest Minato, Kushina, Fugaku, Shikaku, and Kakashi."

"Isn't he a little young?" Shikaku pointed towards Kakashi lazily.

"He can take care of himself and us." Minato said.

"And I agree. I suggest not to engage the group until you know what they're plans are they should be here in a few days I'd like you to follow them before attacking." He said looking at Kushina. "Intercept them at the land of tea and try to figure out their plans before reaching Konoha. Stealth will be your best friend on your mission." They all nodded their heads. "I would like you to leave by 3:00pm. Take these photos and study the enemy... You are dismissed." The group filed out and he lit his pipe taking a deep drawl. "I'm becoming too old for this."

-/-

"Eh Minato, we should get ramen!" Kushina burst out.

"We're supposed to be getting ready for a mission." Kakashi said blandly.

"Kakashi's right we should be studying." Minato added.

"But that's so boring! Besides we can study and eat at the same time!" Kushina argued.

"It's a confidential mission. No one can know about it. We can't be studying in the open." Minato said, "Sorry Kushina. As soon as we get back, I promise."

"I'm holding you to that promise, Namikaze." Kushina said her finger in his face. A second later she turned to Kakashi, "See you at the house before we leave." She said rustling his hair and running ahead of the group.

Kakashi looked over at his sensei, "Are you sure you wanna marry her?..."

"Unfortunately I love her, kid." Minato said with a smile, "See you later." Kakashi shook his head and walked home to collect his gear.

Minato headed in the direction the redhead disappeared. Many people waved or said hello. He had become a bit famous since the war. But he had a job to do and a beautiful woman at home. He picked up the pace coming to his apartment building. He rushed up the stairs and opened the door that was already unlocked. He stopped looking for the tornado that had gone through here.

Kushina popped her head around the corner, "Do you know where my lucky shuriken is?"

He looked around at the destruction she caused, he was only 5 minutes behind her tops. He sighed, "You put it on top of the fridge to keep it safe..."

"The fridge!" She exclaimed running past him to the kitchen, "Got it!" She called as Minato began to clean the scattered objects. Kushina came back into the living room, "Sorry about the mess, you know I can't go on a mission without my lucky shuriken."

He smiled at her, "Maybe next time you can be patient enough to wait for me to come home?"

"I knew it was somewhere! I just had to find it!" She tried to defend herself. He shook his head and chuckled. Minato was a neat and organized person, but Kushina definitely wasn't. It seemed every time he left her alone there was a new mess to clean. How her parents didn't go insane he didn't know. They were almost done cleaning the living room, "Um... Don't go in the bedroom yet..." She said running off to probably clean the mess.

Minato sat down and flipped open the folder. The leader seemed to be Asami Uzumaki. She was 25 the same age as them. There were 3 others, Emi Uzumaki who was 23 and Asami's sister. There was also Hana Uzumaki who was only 21 but very deadly. There was one male on the team, Hisao Uzumaki who was 24. They were all deadly. And they all could have been people Kushina had known. She had left the village when she was 8, they could've played together.

Kushina walked out a small bag in her hand. "So who is this rogue group?"

"They're young. They're names are Asami, Emi, Hana, and Hisao Uzumaki."

Kushina froze, "What?" She asked sounding shocked she rushed over to the couch looking over the folder, "This... This can't be right."

"Did you know them Kushina?" Minato asked scooting closer. She just sat silently. "Kushina?"

"Me and Asami were best friends Hisao used to play with us and Emi used to follow us around though it annoyed us. I thought they died. All these years..."

"Kushina are you going to be ok for this mission?" Minato asked grabbing hold of her hand.

"Yeah... It's been years." She said looking back. "It's just shocking..." She said looking at Asami's aged faced. She couldn't help but remember the girl that used to run alongside her. Their red hair flying behind them. They both swore never to cut their hair and to only marry an Uzumaki. But this was no longer the girl she knew, this was a ruthless enemy planning an attack against her home and she would stop them. "Can we keep this between us? I don't want to hear Fugaku's mouth."

He chuckled, "I understand that. Just don't push yourself." She smiled softly at him, "I'm here for you."

She blushed, "I know you are, that's why I love you." She said leaning in towards him. Minato gently placed his hand on her cheek. Just as their lips were about to connect there was a knock at the door. Kushina moved her head, "Who is that!?" She yelled angry at whoever ruined their moment.

"Um... Probably Kakashi..." Minato said standing up to open the door.

"Oh right." Kushina said with a chuckle and rubbing the back of her head.

Kakashi walked into the living room, "Did I interrupt something?"

"Yeah me and your sensei were about to make out." Kushina replied blatantly. Both the boys blushed and became rigid.

"No we weren't." Minato quickly added, but Kakashi doubted him based on his blush.

"We have to be at the gates soon are you ready?" Kakashi asked.

Minato blushed, "Um... No..."

"Really sensei?" Kakashi called as Minato rushed off to the room.

"I'm ready!" Kushina added grabbing her bag proudly. Kakashi rolled his eyes or rather eye, but she could see a slight smile under that mask. "So what's up kid?"

"I'm 17 now, I don't think kid fits anymore."

"What are you talking about? Your still a tiny little thing." She said laughing and rustling his hair. He knocked it away annoyed which only seemed to encourage her teasing. Luckily Minato came in soon after and rescued him.

"All ready to go?" He asked. Kakashi looked around though they were only 7 years apart he looked at them like parents. Minato looked after him when he first joined his team. And Kushina used to invite the team over all the time. He used to hate it spending more time with Obito seemed like punishment. He missed those days now. Now it's just him and Rin. They both missed their goofball teammate. He stopped his musings realizing the group was about to leave.

"Come on squirt." Kushina called.

"Really?" Kakashi said dryly. Minato laughed cheerfully as they came to the village gates where Fugaku was waiting for them.

"You're late."

Kushina looked at her watch, "By 2 minutes!" She exclaimed, "Besides Shikaku's not here yet."

"How troublesome, just cause you're late doesn't mean you have to throw me under the bus." Shikaku said walking up his hands in his pockets.

"Let's go." Fugaku said. Heading out the gates. The rest of them grudgingly followed.

"Who put him in charge." Kushina whispered to the rest of the group.

The group made their way through the forest in silence. Fugaku and Minato were in the lead followed by Shikaku and Kakashi. Kushina was in the rear. She was on high alert sensing for anyone in the area. She felt 4 spikes in chakra in the forest and one of them felt familiar. "Stop!" She called to the group. They all stopped on the branches and looked back at her. "There's four shinobi in the forest. They feel familiar I think they're Uzumaki."

"Should we hide ourselves?" Kakashi asked.

Kushina shook her head, "If they are Uzumaki they already know we're here as well."

"We should stay in the trees at least hide are selves a little." Shikaku replied.

"You underestimate an uzumaki's sensory abilities." Kushina replied.

"They weren't supposed to be here for days." Fugaku snarled out.

"Well obviously the information was wrong." Minato replied. "Prepare yourselves."

Before they got a chance to move chains wrapped them up from shoulder to toe. They couldn't move and with every second they felt more drained. "Too late. You should be out in seconds." A male voice said. They all collapsed except one she was fighting to stay awake. The one thing that stood out to him was her red hair.

"Hisao..." Kushina whispered before passing out.

That's when he realized who she was, "Kushina..." Hisao said shocked.

"Good job, Hisao." Asami said.

"Asami... It's Kushina." He said pointing to the red head on the ground. Asami froze then walked over to the still girl. She crouched down looking at her. Her face wasn't as round but it was definitely her.

"Tie them up and bring them with us." Asami demanded.

"Why?" Hana whined.

"We can't let them tell the hokage we're here. It's a threat to our success." Asami replied dryly.

"What about Kushina?" Emi asked.

"She seems to have chosen her side." Asami said. Hisao looked away, "I know you had a crush on her when we were kids but things change." He looked over glaring.

"Haha you attacked your first love?" Hana teased.

"Shut up!" Hisao said.

"Let's go." Asami demanded.

-/-

Kushina began to wake up she tried to move but her hands were tied behind her back she looked around and saw the others tied up next to her. "Psst any of you idiots awake."

"Same old Kushina." Hisao said. "And no they're all still out."

"Hisao! What are you doing!? Where are we!? What are your plans?" She looked him over. His hair was a deep red, short and pointy. He was tall and broad. "What happened to you guys?"

"We came for revenge on Konoha."

"What did Konoha do to you?" Kushina asked.

"Don't act as if it's a perfect city. They left Uzushiogakure for destruction. They destroyed countless lives in the war. And I know what they did to you..."

"It's not that bad..."

"You said you were moving here for better opportunities but instead they sealed a monster inside you. A demon that could clear a forest with it's tail. They used you. They made you a weapon and left my family to die."

"That's not true! Konoha would've supported you if they could have. They would've helped if they knew!"

"They did know Kushina. My dad had his suspicions he sent a letter to Konoha for support but they said there was no threat a few days later we were destroyed. I saw my parents die in front of my face. They let us scatter around the world as long as they had you their weapon."

"I'm not a weapon! And they don't treat me like one!" He snorted, "I'm a trusted Konoha shinobi and you're threatening to destroy my home! I will stop you."

"And how are you going to do that?" Asami asked from the tree.

Kushina looked up in the tree to see her past best friend. "Asami! I know you're in charge are you crazy!"

"Maybe a bit." She said with a laugh. "You see they let the Uzumaki's be destroyed the very type of people they need to keep them from being destroyed." She said with a smirk.

"I would never let you use me or it!" Kushina yelled.

"Unfortunately you're seals are too strong, but we have this." She said grabbing a scroll. "What keeps it so strong is your Uzumaki blood, but they let all the Uzumaki's die. We're going to bring the future holder of the kyuubi here and destroy their seal. It'll be much easier to do since they can't be an Uzumaki. Konoha screwed themselves."

"What what do you mean? That's impossible."

"Not with this scroll. It makes it as easy as a summoning scroll. Hisao let's go." Asami said as they walked to the center of the clearing.

"Asami! Asami!" Kushina called. The others began to wake up.

"What's going on?" Shikaku asked as he tested his restraints.

"They want to use the kyuubi to destroy the village." Kushina said upset.

"What?" Minato asked panicked.

"They can't use the current jinchuriki. They're trying to bring the future one here. They think it'll be easier to break that seal than the current one." Kushina said. Minato knew what she was but the others didn't.

"What that makes no sense! That's impossible!" Fugaku said.

"What did the hokage say! Don't underestimate them. There was a reason they were destroyed in the war!" Kushina yelled back. "Asami stop it!" Kushina yelled to her.

"You know her?" Fugaku asked accusingly.

"Does it matter?" Kakashi asked defensively. He didn't like the way he was looking at Kushina.

"No it doesn't." Minato answered for him. They seemed to be pouring all their chakra into certain points around a scroll.

"It's not working!" Emi called out.

"It's trying to anchor itself down. Just keep pulling." Asami called.

"We have to stop them." Kushina cried.

"Is anyone able to free themselves?" Shikaku called. They all replied no. He knew the likelihood was low they were all chakra exhausted and had no use of their hands.

"Come on you stupid demon!" Asami yelled soon after a giant cloud of smoke appeared in the clearing.

"What the hell?" Hana yelled. Standing before them was a giant mansion. The ground had changed as well. The trees seemed bigger and the ground looked scarred. Some of it looked old and a little grown over. As if many battles had taken place here.

Someone appeared on the roof. He was tall and blonde they couldn't see his face but they could see the bright orange he was wearing. Kushina could feel the kyuubi's chakra from here and quickly had to suppress her own. But she could also feel other people in the house as well. "He's the one we want." Asami called to the group.

Kushina mentally begged the boy to run. All of a sudden his voice rang out, "Oi! You ruined my party you're gonna-" his foot slipped and he began to tumble down the roof. With each bump the Konoha shinobi flinched. It ended with a two story drop to the ground face first.

"Ooh that's gotta hurt." Hana said with a snicker.

"I think this just got a lot easier." Asami said while crossing her arms. "Hisao go get him." She commanded.