With a bright smile, Nagisa stood off to the side with Mikoto as they watched a now three year old Naruto and Sasuke running and playing in the back yard of Mikoto's home. The last three years have flown by for the both of them. Itachi joined the Ninja Academy when he was five, and was already graduated, a Chunin and had his full force Sharingan. She couldn't be more proud of her first son, and her second son, was showing signs that he may be stronger yet than his brother.

With a sigh Mikoto leaned her head back on the house. "I wish time could just stand still like this. No house work to do. Both Itachi and Fugaku are out on missions. It is going to be just me and Sasuke here when you leave. If only my family could just stay home all the time."

Nodding Nagisa laughed. "I agree. Though, at least for a while yet to come, I doubt that I am going to have any kids."

Blinking as she looked over at her Mikoto didn't know what to say. "Why on earth would you say that? You are still young. You are only twenty three."

With a sigh and a bright smile as she lifted Naruto onto her lap she looked over at her. "It isn't my age Mikoto. I won't turn from him in the least but it is him." Then she looked straight down at Naruto who giggled as Sasuke ran up to him with a smile and a laugh. "When they look at him like they do, they look at me the same way."

"I think you are imagining things."

Nagisa sat a now wiggling Naruto down and watched him and Sasuke run over and lay down looking at the fish in the koi pond. "I am not Mikoto. Yesterday, Minato took the day off. He said that he wanted just one day to not have to worry about paperwork and spend time with Naruto. Since I didn't have anything to do, I went to visit with Chiyo and we went out to eat. While standing there ready to pay I heard someone call me beautiful and say they were going to pay for it. When I looked up, I got those same cold eyes that they give Naruto then he walked away and said it was a mistake."

Crossing her arms Mikoto glared. "I would have slapped him."

With a small smile, Nagisa stood up and walked toward Naruto and Sasuke. "It wouldn't have mattered anyway Mikoto. You know what I mean."

Watching with a smile as Nagisa lifted Naruto and headed back toward her she sighed. "I know. I am telling you though, that you need to tell him. Or let me tell him. Heck I will even have Fugaku tell him, I have seen it in his eyes just like yours. You never know unless…."

Shaking her head as she stopped before her friend. Nagisa rubbed her nose on Naruto's pulling a giggle from him. "I told you why I won't. Kushina was a dear friend and it wouldn't…"

"Be right I get that. But I knew Kushina just as well if not better than you did. And if I know her she is probably trying to figure out a way to get back down here and haunt Minato until he tells you that he has feelings for you. Or you for that matter."

Looking at her odd, Nagisa blinked. "You really think so?"

Nodding Mikoto crossed her arms with a smug smile. "Oh I know so. Kushina wouldn't want him to live a life of memories of her, she would have wanted him to move on and be happy with someone else if she couldn't be with him. And I know she would approve of you and Minato."

"Still I couldn't do it. But it is lunch time and I need to try and get some house work done. We will see you again tomorrow."

Lifting Sasuke into her arms as he ran to her she shook her head no. "Not tomorrow. Remember, tomorrow is the exam for Itachi to become Jonin. I still can't believe that my little boy is only eight years old and already just one class bellow his father."

Walking through the house Nagisa nodded. "I don't know what I am going to do with myself when Naruto and Sasuke are Genin. But they still have a while to go before that point I guess."

Nodding Mikoto smiled. "Yep. They have to pass a series of exams instead of just one big one now to become a Genin so they will be in the academy for a while."

Tossing Naruto in the air and then catching him as he giggled, Nagisa smiled a bright smile at him. "I am alright with that. I don't know what I am going to do with myself when he doesn't need a babysitter anymore." Then she waved goodbye to Mikoto and left.

Sitting Sasuke down and letting him run back in the house Mikoto watched as she crossed her arms. "I think things are going to change around for you Nagisa. You will see."

X

Sitting Naruto down in her apartment, Nagisa laughed as he ran over and started pulling out toys. After a few moments she turned and headed for the kitchen but stopped and looked down with wide, teary blinking eyes when she felt Naruto grab her leg. But it was what he said when he did it.

"Mama!"

Reaching down and lifting him into her arms, Nagisa sighed. "Not Mama. Nagisa."

"Mama!"

"Try this one. Gisa."

Naruto looked at her odd then giggled as he hugged her. "Mama!"

With a smile Nagisa let out a sigh. This was going to be just another thing to get him through. "Well I guess it will just take time of telling you Gisa instead of Mama."

"Mama!"

X

Minato sighed as he walked out of the Hokage Mansion. It was already dark, ten o'clock at least. He knew that Nagisa told him that it didn't matter if he left Naruto there all night or not. But going this late at night, was actually just another way to get to see her. He knew a long time ago that he had fallen in love with her. Not only was she beautiful, with the same kind heart and soul that Kushina had in a way. And the way she was with Naruto. He was his joy and she treated him just like he did. A baby.

Reaching her apartment building, Minato sighed as he looked up at her still lit window. "But even after three years I don't think I can do it yet Kushina. I love her but it still isn't as much as you either." Then he climbed the steps and gently knocked on the door. Looking up with a smile when those same violet eyes opened the door again smiling back at him. "Sorry I am so late again tonight."

Stepping to the side Nagisa let him walk in. "You aren't that late tonight. Naruto has only been sleeping for about a half hour. There have been nights you wouldn't get here till 1 in the morning remember. Ten isn't so bad."

With a smile as he rubbed the back of his head, Minato sighed. "I guess you have a point on that one. He in his crib? I don't want to keep you up later than I have too."

"Oh it is no problem at all. Yes he is in his crib." Nagisa watched as he walked in her room and sighed as her eyes half closed. Then she shook her head as she started to imagine what it would be like if when she seen him after work, was because he was coming home to stay. 'I have to get over this. I can't I won't do that to Kushina.'

"Nagisa? Are you alright?"

Smiling as she looked back up into his blue eyes she nodded. "I am. Was just thinking about stuff. I am going to take Naruto and meet up with Mikoto and Sasuke again tomorrow and we are going to take them to the park for a while. Was just thinking about what I needed to take so I can have it read tonight."

"I see. Well then I will see you at the mansion in the morning then."

"Right."

One last lingering look from each of them and Minato carried a sleeping Naruto out the apartment, and once again, Nagisa sat down on her couch with a sigh. Both of them thinking of the other right then. And both trying to figure out a way to move without the other. Though both of them knew that it wouldn't be long before the other knew exactly what was going on with each other.

Both looking up at the full moon as it became visible from behind clouds, spoke at the same time. "I wonder what would happen if I told how I felt?"

X

Putting Naruto in his room now, Minato went to his own, and let himself fall on the bed. "I am going to have to name another Hokage soon. Or I am going to wear myself out like crazy. Or at least get an assistant." Then his eyes started to flutter close. Sleep claiming him nearly the second they shut.

But what seemed like a split second from when he shut his eyes he opened them to find him standing in a field full of flowers. The blue iris. "Kushina's favorite flower."

"I am glad you remembered."

His eyes going wide as he stood and spun around he gasped when he saw Kushina standing there. "Kushina?"

Walking to him she nodded. "That's right. Once you fell asleep, I could sweep your subconscious mind away into dream land. I brought you here so I could talk to you." Then she gasped as tears sprang from his eyes and he pulled her into his arms. Then she smiled as she wrapped hers around his neck as she felt his tears drop on her shoulder. "Minato."

"Kushina why did you wait so long to do this?"

Making him let go as she stepped back, Kushina took his hands and smiled up at him. "I had no reason to stay around you. My only regret was not getting to watch Naruto grow up in person. But because you sealed every drop of chakra I had left in Naruto, I know when the time comes I will get to spend some real time with him. Until then I see through his eyes what happens. I am alright with that."

"Then why are you back?"

Letting go of his hands, Kushina reached up and wiped the tears from his eyes. "I am back because of you Minato. You aren't keeping your promise you made me."

"What?"

Her eyes narrowing slightly, Kushina pulled her hands from his face. "To move on and be happy with someone else. I already know who it is and she already loves you just as much as I see it in your eyes that you love her. Don't worry about disgracing my memory by bringing someone else in yours and Naruto's life. Tell her you love her and want to be with her."

Reaching up and cupping the side of her face in his hands, Minato's tears never stopped. "I don't know if I can Kushina."

Crossing her arms and glaring up at him now, Kushina stomped her foot. "So you plan on breaking a promise to me for the first time?"

"Huh?"

Her own eyes misting over with tears Kushina kept her glare. "You promised me that you wouldn't live a life on my memories alone. That you would move on and be happy. Well you have fallen in love with someone now all you have to do is be happy and you won't do it because of my memory? You promised me that you would."

"But….." Minato dropped his head as he once again forced her into his arms. "I at least want to wait until Naruto is old enough that he knows who you are."

Grabbing the front of his clothes, Kushina smiled. "That is why Nagisa is perfect Minato. She loves you. She loves Naruto. And was a good friend of mine. Even if Naruto calls her Mom, I don't care. Let him call her mom. I know that she will always make sure that he knows who I am and keep my memory alive and going in that house for him just like you are."

With a sigh as he closed his eyes. "Alright. I will tell her tomorrow." Then he made her look up at him and then seared her mouth with one last, warm kiss to his lips.

After he pulled back, Kushina looked at him odd. "Minato what was that for?"

"My last kiss ever to you was after your life was gone from your body. I wanted to correct that at least before I told her."

Nodding Kushina held her fingers up and smiled. "I love you Minato. And Naruto. Go and be happy with her. I know she will be with you." Then she snapped her fingers and the meadow and Minato were gone and she was standing next to the bed looking down at him. "I can't be with you to make you happy forever my love. Nagisa is perfect for you now. She was a dear friend and will make sure that I never die in the eyes of Naruto." Then she turned and wiped her own tears away as she floated straight out of his house and headed back to the heavens. "I hope he does."