-Kid's a lot tougher than she looks. Still, she'll need time to heal. Although I don't think she'll get it anytime soon.-
"Thank you Jariya, I can go in by myself." Jariya looked up, they had reached the house Minato lived in before he realized. He sighed. He knew he should say something, anything to help put her at ease, if only he knew the words.
-Dammit Tsunade this should be you standing with her not me. Might as well tell her now.-
"Chihiro, a lot has happened since you left. I really hate to be the bearer of bad news but, a war has started and with your current condition both mental and physical, I don't think the Hokage will allow your involvement." There was a silent pause too long for comfort. Jariya took this as a sign to leave.
"Thanks, but I'm going to be suffering regardless if I'm on the battlefield or not. A loss is a loss whether I'm out there fighting or sitting at home. Someone killed in action or in the village, is still dead. Pain will always exist." With a blank face Chihiro opened the front door only to pause.
"But I will find a way to end it and bring peace to the world." Another sigh from Jariya as she walked in the house and closed the door behind her.
"For a second there I was worried, but with a heart like that it'd take a lot more than a few wars for her to lose her way." Jariya took a few steps ready to leave. "It'd be best to let her settle back into her life. Try not to rush or push her to hard." Coming out from behind a tree Obito waved Jariya off and ran off inside the house.
*INSIDE THE HOUSE*
"Obito please, come back tomorrow. After she has calmed a bit. We'll all have dinner." Although his sensei was smiling Obito could he wasn't letting him through. "Right now she needs to take time for herself." Minato watched his student nod sadly before leaving. He sighed. He felt sorry for the boy, he was Chihiro's best friend. A glimpse of a shadow caught his eye, but it was gone before he had time to see it. He had a good feeling who it was.
"Minato! Where are you? You better not be trying to skip out on dinner!" Minato sweat dropped. If he didn't go on now, Kushina was going to go red, if she wasn't already.
"Chihiro sweetie, if there anything you need, anything we can do to help please, let us know." Kushina felt lost. Sure she was a woman but there were things even she didn't know how to handle yet.
"Actually, I was thinking, I could stay here for a little while…if it's alright with the two of you, that is." Looking at her now, the two could see she was having trouble adjusting.
"Heh, well that saves us the trouble of asking." Kushina shot up and headed to the kitchen, leaving Chihiro confused and Minato smiling.
"Huh? I don't understand." She pouted when both adults stood there laughing at her.
"You don't have to worry about a thing, Chihiro. We had already taken care of all the arrangements for your stay here. All that was left was to ask you." He let the news sink in for a moment before continuing.
"Kushina and I didn't want you to be alone. We decided, along with the third hokage, that it would be best for you to stay with someone you trust would be there for you. And who better to trust than your Oniisan?"
"Hey don't forget about me!" Kushina punched Minato on the arm playfully. The sight drove Chihiro to tears. All emotions that were building inside her, she let it all out.
-This is why I love you! You too Kushina. I'm happy I have a family again. And my friends…oh they must be so worried about me. I wonder if Obito is alright. I miss him. And even that too cool for you Kakashi. I miss all of them. I need to talk to them, let them know I'm okay. I'm going to be okay.- Chihiro hugged her family hard. She was going to do her absolute best to be okay.
Sometimes your own happiness can be unfortunate to others.
AU: Yes this is a very short chapter and for a good reason. Now the story line kind of falls back into the series, you'll see what I mean.