Author's Notes: See? I keep promises! This is "Weakness" from Chapter Eight as per request. If you have any others you'd like to see expanded, let me know! I still have ninety of these to go!

...Oh dear Jesus!Naruto, I still have ninety of these to go. -headdesks-

The role of Hokage had an interesting fine print, Minato learned. He was supposed to be the strongest shinobi in Konoha, but this "strongest shinobi" undertook no shinobi missions. The amount of paperwork was ridiculous. The meetings were tedious. Catering to the advisors and the council was draining.

He had painted a target on his back with the creation of Hiraishin and subsequent title of "Konoha's Yellow Flash"—a name Jiraiya and Kushina loved to distort. As Hokage, said target was of monumental proportions. And as Hokage, that target now included anyone and everyone close to him.

Rin held her glowing hands over the cut on Kushina's side. Kushina's face was ashen from the poison on the blade. The killing intent radiating from Minato was enough to make those around him uncomfortable—and deliriously thankful it wasn't aimed at them. The man it was aimed at had passed out from a combination of terror and a Rasengan to the chest. Kakashi had handed him to Minato's ANBU escorts as Minato knelt by Kushina's side.

"I've managed to extract most of the poison," Rin explained quickly before Minato could speak. "But she needs to get to the hospital so that she can be administered an antidote."

Minato nodded, picking Kushina up with ease. Within seconds, he was walking through the hospital doors and ordering a medic-team to look after her. Hours later, he sat by Kushina's bed, watching the steady rise and fall of her chest. Her color was no longer that horrid gray tinge, but she was pale and looked paler still against the deep red of her hair. The hospital supervisor himself had attended her and had told Minato she was out of danger and needed only rest, but Minato could not help but worry, especially after hearing from one of the nurses that they had lost Kushina twice before stabilizing her. He rubbed gentle circles on her unresponsive hand, callused and rough and still managing to be delicate.

It always surprised him when he watched Kushina sleep. She was usually all whipping hair and loud yells and flashing eyes and it was only while asleep that Minato saw how small she could appear.

Feeling someone at the door, he turned before the door opened.

"How is she?" Sarutobi stepped inside. Minato bowed his head in respect at his predecessor.

"She should wake up in a few hours."

Sarutobi nodded gravely and opened his mouth to speak, perhaps to offer sympathy or hope, but Minato interrupted him. "She'll be in danger always. Any child we have. Even Kakashi and Rin."

He hadn't voiced a question, but Sarutobi answered him plainly. "Yes." In that yes, many warnings regarding their future were stored.

Minato reached out to brush a rebellious strand of hair away from her face.

He didn't know when Sarutobi left or when he fell asleep, but he awoke to the soft morning light shyly breezing past the curtains and fingers running through his hair.

Blue eyes meet green. She smiled and he emulated her. Neither spoke or moved, but they did not have to. It was enough to watch her blink, hear her breath, feel her warmth. He clutched her fingers like a lifeline.

It wasn't safe for a man like him when someone else held his heart, but, at the moment, Minato really couldn't care.