Idea: After Minato returns from his mission to Rouran he says not a word. After swearing his young student Kakashi to silence also, he remembers. He remembers, and plans. A Life and Times Divergence fiction.
Summary: After watching his son fade away, Minato and Kakashi return to Konoha. They remember, and they plan for the worst. (Minato/Kushina, Minato-centric and maybe a few more pairings in later chapters)
Warning: Kyuubi is out of character, OCs! Violence (come on, they're ninja…)
Disclaimer: You think I own them? Nope! I own the OCs, only! …Wish I owned Naruto though...
Title: Aftermath of A Fox's Tail: Minato's Tail
(Memories and Reactions)
Minato and Kushina pulled a part, staring at each other in shock. "What was that about?" Kushina asked.
Minato shook his head, "I don't know Hime, I just don't know..." Naruto's feeling had been so... pure, his hunger, his fear, his panic... That his son, at three was feeling emotions that no three year old should… Minato pulled her close, trying to provide some measure of comfort.
"He was scared of something..." Minato's eyes narrowed, "Inu...?" His eyes widened as he realized who it was, "Kakashi!"
"Why is Kakashi in ANBU?" Kushina asked.
"I don't know..." Minato murmured, why was it Inu and not Kakashi taking care of Naruto? Was Naruto not safe? Was it not safe for Kakashi to be associated with Naruto? Would that put Naruto or Kakashi in danger? "Why would Kakashi join in the first place?"
At least they knew that Kakashi would carry through with his promise... but... "Where is Jiraiya-sensei?" Minato asked
"I think we can worry about where Jiraiya is in the memories later," Kushina replied sensibly, "The question is, should we stop and rest for a bit or keep going?"
Minato bit his lip, "We only have a week to go through the memories and to plan... so we might as well keep going." Minato replied, "If it does get to be too much however..."
"You can pull us out." Kushina agreed. They needed to do this.
Minato's Tail
It's my first test! I studied really, really hard; I hope I do well... No! I will do well! Inu-nii quizzed me and I got a prefect according to him so! ...Oh this is so much easier than Inu-nii's quizzes... *yawn* I'm bored...
Ok! I can't wait to get my test back! It was so easy... why was it so easy though? Kina-sensei's giving them back... Hey wait a minute... Zero? With a note that I cheated? I didn't cheat! ...What's the point in doing well if they think I cheated and give me a zero? Inu-nii won't be happy...
Minato's Tail
Minato pulled away as the memory ended. "Something is really wrong with this picture..."
"..." Kushina stared up at Minato's shock in her eyes. "That was Kina-chan..."
"Wait, Kina-sensei is your friend?" Minato asked in horror.
Kushina nodded. "Why isn't she treating my son fairly?"
Minato shook his head, unable to believe that one of their friends would be so cruel to their son. And it was obvious that Naruto was theirs... "There are still several more memories..."
"Let's keep going."
"...As you wish Hime."
Minato's Tail
Uzumaki-sama and Namikaze-sama are so cool! I want to be like them when I'm older. Especially Namikaze-sama! I want to be Hokage too, and then maybe they'd stop looking at me with those eyes... There might not be much of a point to studying but I'm gunna do my best anyway, I don't care if I'm getting zeros, Inu-nii says that I'm doing very well, even when the papers I bring him have zeros. Inu-nii even helped me write that report on the Kannabi bridge mission that Namikaze-sama went on. Stupid Sensei, we were told to write a report on a mission of our choice and write a report with what I'd do different... But now it's time to train!
Inu-nii gave me special training kunai when I told him I wanted to be like Uzumaki-sama and Namikze-sama!
"Oh no! The demon's getting smarter!"
"Kill it kill it!"
"Get out of our training ground Demon and don't ever come back!"
Hey no! Don't take those! Those are mine! Inu-nii gave them to me! ...Help! Inu-nii, somebody! Thank you... 'Gaku-jii... They took the supplies that Inu-nii gave me!
Minato's Tail
Their eyes snapped open. That was even more intense than the other two had been! "...I think we need to stop for the moment..." Minato breathed, he recognized those kunai... "Those were mine... the ones I trained with to use my Hiraishin..."
Kushina buried her face in Minato's chest, "They probably got destroyed..."
Minato nodded sadly. "I don't think 'Gaku would have been able to get those back... They'd have gone into the Konoha Weapon's Museum..." With all the other weapons that belonged to all the Hokage...
Minato and Kushina decided to spend the rest of the day with Team Seven. Watching as Minato's old training kunai were stolen was a bit too much.
Jiraiya found the five of them in Training ground seven Kushina leaning against Minato as they watched Obito and Kakashi train, with Rin watching, to take care of any cuts and scrapes. Kakashi was getting along with them both much better, but there was still much to be desired in his acceptance of them, especially Obito.
Jiraiya sat with them, "So, feeling better?" he asked.
"Sensei... have you ever had a feeling that..." Minato trailed off, "That you weren't... ready for something? You want it with everything that you are but right when it's being handed to you... you flinch away?"
Jiraiya shrugged, "How are your students Minato?" He asked, sitting down on his student's other side.
"...Their doing better." Minato admitted, "Though I might have to insist we play more training games... it seems that that's the only time that Kakashi truly has fun being part of a team..."
"Then play more games." Jiraiya replied.
Minato and Kushina shared a look before Minato turned back to the older man, "You are going to be Naruto's Godfather, but you aren't there in the memories that we've gone through..."
Jiraiya shrugged, "Your guess as to where I am in those is as good as mine, though... unless I retire between now and then it's likely that I'd be on a mission."
Minato and Kushina had to concede the point. They turned back to watch the training just as Kakashi pinned Obito, again.
"Kits, enough!" Minato called finally, "Take a break!"
Kakashi came over and collapsed on Minato's lap, much to the man's amusement. "...Tired Tou-san..."
Minato rolled his eyes and looked down at his student fondly, "Maybe if you lightened up a bit and tried to have some fun with Obito you wouldn't be..."
"Awe... Tou-san..." Kakashi whined as Minato started to card his fingers through Kakashi's slightly damp hair.
"You really would have more fun 'Kashi-kit, would you like it better if I introduced more of our games?"
"That would be nice Tou-san..." Kakashi muttered, yawning. "Ano... about his memories... can I see them too?"
Minato chuckled, "Sure."
Minato's Tail
Why did they have to choose Bunshin, again? My control isn't good enough for it! Kawarimi is easy, so's Henge... So why do I always test on Bunshin? ...Unless they want me to fail... Oh look, its Mizuki-sensei... Another way to pass? Do I look stupid to you? ...I must, alright, I'll do it... Better go tell Sandaime-jiji...
Oh My God! I can't believe I got him with that stupid prank! *laughs* Now to play my part in this. Now! Where is that scroll... Oh, there it is! ...Really Jiji, did you have to make it this easy?
...Ok, so this is the place that Mizuki-baka will be... rather soon. Let's take a look, Jiji did give me permission to learn one Jutsu in here so... ...Kage Bunshin? ... Oh this is cool... Mental feedback on dispersion? ...Why doesn't Jiji use this for his paperwork? Solid clone plus gained experience is awesome!
...Oh hey! Iruka-sensei! ...I've seen Inu-nii making eyes at him... as long as Inu-nii is happy... But still, Hey wait! ...Oh there's Mizuki-baka...
Wait! Wait, wait, wait... I'm the fox? Ha! Baka, I know I'm not but according to the plan... Oh I can't believe that! You touch Iruka-nii again and there will be nothing left of you when Inu-nii and I are done with you!
Minato's Tail
Minato and Kushina gave each other speculative glances. "Iruka? Who's that?" Kushina asked.
"He's Mauri-sensei's kid," Minato replied. Oh this was too good! Minato looked down at Kakashi, "I heard Mauri-sensei needs a babysitter..." Minato grinned evilly.
"Oh... That would be a good way for them to get acquainted!" Kushina agreed, giggling.
Kakashi didn't answer; he was still watching Naruto's older memories. He didn't know that his Tou-san was going to try his hand at matchmaking.
Kushina blinked, "You mean that adorable little boy that we sometimes see riding on her back?"
"Yep, that's Iruka." Minato confirmed. "They'll be cute together, ne?" he asked with a soft smile.
"Mm," Kushina agreed, "Let's continue..."
"As you wish My Uzu-hime..."
Minato's Tail
...This guy is weird! I've seen him around the village watching me too... but he never really made an effort before now to talk to me, although... He did used to come sit with me and keep me company when Inu-nii and 'Gaku-ji were busy. ...Before 'Gaku-ji died anyway...
What he did to Ebisu-baka was priceless! ...Though why Kaka-sensei couldn't train Sasuke and I at once makes no real sense... Toads are awesome!
...Why do you want me to tap Kyuubi's chakra...? Ok... I'll trust you... Damn, this summoning thing is hard! All I'm getting are tadpoles as pseudo-toads! ... Hey wait why are we at the top of a... Ah! You bastard!
...That's a really big fox... though I'm not sure what I was expecting anymore... Hey, Gimme some chakra, if you don't we go splat! ...Thanks... Kyuubi-sama...
Kuchiyose! Ok... This toad is freaking HUGE!
Ha, hahaha... Oh He got told! Serves him right for pushing me off a cliff... Test? I can do it, just you watch tteba! ...Damn it! I told myself I wouldn't say that so often...!
Minato's Tail
Minato pulled Kushina out of the memory as he felt his heart nearly stop. Fugaku was going to die too?
Kushina focused on something else, "Jiraiya..."
"Hm?" Jiraiya didn't move, totally clueless about the danger he was in. "What's up Kushina-hime?"
"If you ever think that throwing a kid off a cliff is a good idea for training... I'll kill you." Kushina promised.
Jiraiya blinked at her, bewildered. "If I ever think of something like that, go ahead."
Minato missed this byplay; he was too busy worrying about why the Uchiha would die.
"Minato?" Kushina called.
"I-I'm ok," He reassured her, a bit shaken. Well, he was the Hokage; he had the power to protect his friend didn't he?
Minato looked down at Kakashi, "I am the Hokage now... I will do whatever I have to, to protect my friends, and my family."
"...Minato?" Kushina asked.
"...Nothing Hime, Shall we continue?"
Minato's Tail
I hate Neji for what he did to Hinata! She didn't deserve to almost die! I swear Neji I'll beat you... Ha! That wasn't so hard! I won! I hope Sasuke knows what he's doing... Feathers? Uh oh...
Uh, that didn't feel good at all! What...? An, invasion...? Oh crap! Gotta go after Sasuke!
That's Gaara? ...He had it worse than me that's for sure... Sasuke! Sakura-chan! Grr... You aren't getting away with this Gaara! ...That's one fucking huge Tanuki...
I won! ...Needed Bunta-sama to do it but I won!
Minato's Tail
Kushina had tears in her eyes. "...Naruto... all Jinjuuriki have it hard..."
"What did Neji do to Hinata?" Minato wondered as he pulled Kushina closer and pet her hair. "And who are Neji and Hinata...?"
"Sasuke looked like Miki-chan and 'Gaku..." Minato mused, thinking about what they'd seen, Neji and Hinata have to be Hyuuga... Hinata is Hiashi's though I'm not sure whose Neji is..."
Minato's Tail
Eh? Shika! What do you mean Sasuke is gone?! Give me one second! ...I really wish 'Gaku-ji had been able to get my Kunai back! Those bastards at the Museum... I know those kunai were mine! Inu-nii said Tou-san would have wanted me to have them...
No! Focus, focus! I have everything... Oh hey Neji, hey Kiba! Hey Chougi! ...So it's just us than Shikamaru? Ok. That formation is good... I wouldn't change anything really except... I wish I didn't have to hide! When I put my finger to the ground I can... I have chakra sensor abilities, not many but...
Chougi! ...Are you sure you can do it...? ...Alright then, we'll leave him to you!
Spiders?! ...I have a feeling we're all going to hate spiders now... Neji? But! ...Fine, come on Kiba, Shika, we need to keep going or we'll never get Sasuke back... We'll leave this to you Neji, good luck!
Grr... No matter what we do it seems that we are being forced to leave the others behind one by one... Kiba! ...I suppose you're going to tell us to keep going too? ...Fine, stay safe you dumb mutt... Come on Shika! We have to go.
Never mind that! We have work to do! I won't look back... but I do hope that everyone is ok... Tsunade-ba-chan promised backup, please let them arrive soon..
Eh? Shika! You can't be serious! I can't leave you behind too! I don't- ... Fine you lazy genius bastard I'll go! ...Just... Stay safe Shika...
I can't believe that I've had to leave them all behind! They could be dead for all I know! ...Good luck guys... Please hang in there until help arrives...
Eh? Who is -this- guy...? ...It doesn't matter... Oi! Sasuke, come home! ... What do you mean NO? ...I don't want to fight this guy but... Oh hey Lee, are you sure you should be up? ...Are you sure about that...? You're absolutely sure you can take this guy? ...Ok I guess... But wait! You're still injured! But-! ...Fine, if you really feel that way then... Good luck buddy...
Sasuke... I'm coming...
This... This place... It's the Valley of the End... ...I can admire this place later! I have to find Sasuke! ...There he is! Sasuke!
...Why are we fighting...? Sasuke, what happened to you? ...! ...You... You tried to kill me... WHY? ...Kyuubi-sama... Please help me... jumbled thoughts...
...Uh... I-Inu-nii...? Tsunade-ba sent Inu-nii... Inu-nii, Sasuke tried to kill me... Why would my best friend do that...?
Minato's Tail
Minato's grip on Kakashi (who was still in his lap) tightened. "My little Kitsune-Ryouken..." Minato breathed, "Thank you..."
"...Why...?" Kushina asked.
"Why what?" Minato asked, "Why did Sasuke not want to come back? Or is it... Why did Sasuke try to kill Naruto?"
"...Both I suppose..." Kushina admitted; there were tears in her eyes as she looked up at him. "...We have to do something!"
"Surviving past Naruto's birth is what we need to concentrate on now, my Hime," Minato reminded her, "A lot of the problems might actually stem from the fact that we didn't live last time."
"You really think so?" Kushina asked desperately.
Minato nodded, looking down at his young student/adopted son. He chuckled, "...Kakashi-kit fell asleep..."
(End)
…Wow this one is the longest chapter yet… Enjoy! Ktsune means fox and Ryouken means hound, I strung them together to make a new nickname for Kakashi, though it might not get used that often.
Neph
