A/N formal apology for being trash and not updating in almost a week

I actually had no idea how to start with this one but this chapter is sickeningly sweet sorry in advance

also this was hard i tried to stick to canon events as much as possible

but also its kinda funny so ye

enjoy~~

disclaimer; naruto ain't mine

The week continued in its usual bustle.

With Minato in the hospital, and the chuunin exams in two days, it was obvious that he wasn't going to be able to attend. He was pretty pouty about it, considering that he was actually home for the event to take place, unlike he thought originally.

Kushina kept him entertained; she would come visit in her off hours. When she wasn't preparing her team and Minato's team, she would enter his room with the whole gang, laughing and talking about the next days ahead.

Of course, Minato would beg Kushina to go home and rest, but she wouldn't have it. She spent her nights at her husband's side, squeezing into his small bed together. She wouldn't admit it, but she was afraid now. She doubted that the anxiety she had developed would go away. She remembered a time two years ago, before they were married, when he left to a far away land for a mission. He came home disoriented and clueless; it had taken him a full week to get back into the swing of things. The only thing he did remember was that a particular blond boy had helped him complete it. Kushina found it strange, but dismissed it. Rouran did have an odd group of people, after all.

Minato was seated in his bed, feeling fine. He had told Tsunade that he didn't want to stick around in the musty hospital room for one more day or he'd die, but she wouldn't listen. She insisted Minato needed his rest, because in her words "Being the number one candidate for next Hokage means you can't go getting yourself killed!"

Minato thought they were babying him.

He crossed his arms over his chest, and glared at the blonde woman standing at the side of his bed, adjusting his IV tube.

"Really, Tsunade, I feel great!"

She quirked an eyebrow, "Alright then, stand up."

Minato, finally relieved that there was a possibility she would let him leave, eagerly bounced out of bed, only to land right on the floor, face first.

Tsunade clicked her tongue. "See? Your legs still aren't working properly yet. It's the poison's side effects. It'll take a while longer."

He grumbled from his spot on the floor, and Tsunade sighed, helping him back up and seated on the bed again. "Really Minato, God help us if you're leading the village."

He only grinned at her, "Have a little faith."

Shaking her head again, she placed a little tablet of medication in his hand, along with a glass of water. "Take it, it'll speed up the healing process."

He did as was told, and Tsunade left the room. Leaving Minato alone again.

He looked out his window and saw numerous people lining up towards the chuunin exams venue. He was roving his eyes over the crowd for a certain someone, and eventually spotted her among the many shades of browns and blondes. She was standing, hand on her hips, yelling at what looked like to be Obito. Minato quirked an eyebrow, wondering what ever it was Obito got into now.

Minato sighed again and let his shoulders drop. He wanted to be there so badly. He knew that Kakashi was going with Kushina to cheer everyone on. Obito, Rin, Asuma and Hayate were participating in this year's exam, along with some other genin from Konoha's teams. Including Might Guy, and his team.

Minato smiled sadly, and leaned over to grab the remote to flick on the TV in his room. If he couldn't get to watch them in person, perhaps he could watch them on the television. He knew they had done that in the past years when Konoha hadn't been hosting the exams.

The colours flashed from the screen, and splayed across the room. Minato leaned back against the pillows, and rested his hands behind his head. He was just about to get comfortable when someone else burst through the door to his room.

"Yo," Jiraiya said, waving. "Look what I got."

Minato almost jumped for joy at what Jiraiya had at his feet.

Smirking, Jiraiya unfolded the wheelchair, walked over to Minato and gestured for him to get in it. "What are you waiting for? We got some fights to watch!"

As Jiraiya wheeled and manoeuvred Minato throughout the streets of Konoha, (which earned them many incredulous stares) he was explaining what had already happened earlier today.

"Obito, Rin and Asuma passed the written test." Jiraiya went on, "Hayate didn't get through, the last question psyched him out and he quit."

Minato chuckled, "They really should change it, I mean, you either quit now and try again next year, or you take on the question. But if you get it wrong, genin forever!"

Jiraiya laughed, "Its effective though, it brings out some gutsy ninjas."

Minato sighed, "Sensei, stop making jokes about your book."

"But it was a good joke."

Minato groaned, and threw his hand over his face while Jiraiya laughed and made a rather sharp turn, throwing Minato to one side of the chair.

"Sensei!"

"Sorry."

Jiraiya kept going into the direction of the arena, and continued, "The second round was weird this year. They all were forced to fight in the forest of death; it was rather difficult according to Rin. Kakashi, Rin and Obito clashed with Might Guy, and his two teammates. Obito almost failed because Guy dispatched him, but someone was slower than he was in reaching the goal, so Obito went through."

Minato let out the breath he didn't know he was holding, "Who didn't get through?"

"Asuma."

Minato looked sad, "Is Kushina upset?"

Jiraiya scoffed, "Upset? More like relieved. She's glad that she gets to keep them around for a while longer, she said something like; 'I still have more to teach them.' Whatever that means."

Minato smiled, "Its probably some sealing jutsu."

"Well whatever it is, she's happy, so don't worry. But you might worry after I tell you who's up first."

Minato held his breath, "Who?"

Jiraiya smirked, "Well this year since of the war, not many chuunin came out to participate, so we're heading right into elimination rounds. Kakashi actually has to participate in this year's exam; apparently his previous chuunin test didn't go through, so now he has to fight. He already went through the Forest of Death with Rin and Obito, like I said before."

Minato gasped, surely Kakashi was way ahead of the group that he was up against; he would become a chuunin at the end of the day. "Jiraiya-Sensei, who's up first?"

The older man smirked, and pushed Minato into the arena, "Why don't you see for yourself."

Jiraiya pushed his student farther into the venue, and he immediately spotted Kushina standing off to the side, watching the arena intensely. When she spotted her husband and Jiraiya, she gasped. "What are you two doing here?"

Jiraiya looked proud, "Minato wanted to watch so I rescued him."

Kushina rolled her eyes, "When Tsunade finds out you helped him, you'll both be dead."

Minato gulped and looked up and his teacher who only crossed his arms. "We'll be fine."

Kushina looked at Minato, and smiled softly, "I take it you know what happened already?"

Minato nodded, "Yeah, so who's up first?"

Kushina smiled, and pointed to the arena. Minato whipped his head around to look, and gaped at what he saw. There was Rin, her fists raised and her jaw set, looking straight into the face of Asuma's older brother, Ichiro Sarutobi.

Minato immediately started freaking out, "What? Who made this fight? Rin! No!"

Kushina whacked him over the head lightly, "Calm down! She's your student remember, have faith in her Minato!"

Minato looked on worriedly, 'Come on Rin,' he pleaded, 'don't let him win.'

The whistle blew, and immediately both genin were at each other. Ichiro had drawn Kunai, and Rin had four shuriken in her right hand. She parried Ichiro's blow with her weapon, and jumped back, throwing all the spinning stars outwards.

Ichiro must not have taken her seriously, because he laughed and dispatched the onslaught of shuriken easily. Grinning, Ichiro had formed his hand seals into a fire sign, and yelled as the blast of flame escaped his lips.

Minato gasped as he saw Rin's small form take the huge fireball, but Kushina gripped his shoulder. It was then when Ichiro's fire was met with a wall of water, and steam quickly filled the room. When it dispersed, Rin was panting, her hands stuck in the sign for water, and she was drenched from head to toe.

The stadium was silent, but Minato started yelling from his seat "Yeah! Way to go Rin! See? I told you the water dragon would work!"

It had been Minato who taught Rin how to use the water style technique upon discovering her chakra nature. He had explained to her that the water dragon was actually a technique developed by the second Hokage, and that it wasn't actually his. But Minato seemed to be a fan of him, Tobirama happened to be his sort of idol.

Rin was panting, but smiling, as she waved to her sensei. Minato pumped both of his fists in the air, and Kushina whistled beside him.

However, Ichiro wasn't done. He quickly came at Rin again, dispersing a medley of shadow clones in his wake. Rin stood strong, and reached into her pack, using the exploding tags she found there, she threw them, and at least one each attached itself to each clone, effectively taking them out. She weaved hand seals again, ready to make use of another water style justu, something that Minato had taught her. She planted her hands down on the ground, and water exploded from under her fingertips, quickly making the battlefield akin to a shallow swimming pool. Ichiro was caught in the middle of it, and Rin immersed her chakra once more to rotate the water, causing a small whirlpool.

"Don't drown me!" Ichiro yelled, "I can't believe you!"

Rin looked at him harshly, "Stop being a baby, it's against the rules to drown someone."

Minato was losing it in his seat; his excitement for the girl was through the roof. He kept swaying from side to side throwing faux punches and cheering. It wasn't like he was out of place though; Kushina and Jiraiya were just as enthusiastic.

Rin glared, and pressed the palms of her hands impossibly closer to the ground. Causing the speed to pick up in her small whirlpool and for Ichiro to spin as fast as he could.

"Oh I get it," Kushina mused, "She's trying to make him dizzy."

Just as Kushina finished her sentence, Rin ceased the whirlpool. The water calmed down, and Ichiro hastily stood up, swaying, and ankle deep in cold water.

"Come and get me little girl!" Ichiro seethed, and Rin didn't waste any time in rushing towards him, every fibre in her being told her to take Ichiro down, serving him right for not taking her seriously in the first place.

She recoiled her fist, and sent a powerful punch right to Ichiro's jaw, sending him flying backwards to land on his back in the water, stars in his eyes and completely knocked out.

The stadium erupted into furious applause, and Rin smiled tiredly at her fans. She gave another quick wave to her supporters while Minato kept telling everyone in the stands; "That's my student! She's my student!"

The whistle blew, and Rin was declared the winner, effectively moving onto the next round.

She quickly bounded over to where Minato and Kushina were standing with Jiraiya, and Minato held his arms open for her to jump into. "Congratulations!" He yelled, "I knew you could do it!"

Rin instantly pulled back, and smacked Minato's arm, "Sensei! Aren't you supposed to be in the hospital?"

"…No."

Rin gave him warning look, and he smiled waving his hands awkwardly, "Its ok! I'm resting still!"

She relented, and took a seat on the spare benches in front of Kushina where there were towels, water bottles, and basically anything you needed after a hard workout. She took her share in full, and relaxed her muscles, trying to get a good rest before she had to fight again.

The day wore on agonizingly slow, and soon, Kakashi joined Rin on the bench. Minato was proud to see that the majority of his team had made it through, even though he knew Kakashi wasn't taking this very seriously. It was before Obito's first battle, that Rin had gone onto her second, and she had won that one too. Effectively earning her status as a chuunin. Minato was ecstatic for her, and showed her gratitude when she came back with her brand new headband. Giving her high fives and a large pat on the back.

It was a couple hours later, when Obito finally appeared in the arena. He had his stance ready, kunai raised, up against Might Guy. Obito was determined to get this guy back for kicking him in the face earlier, regardless if he was choking or not.

The whistle blew, and another fight started. Guy did a series of flips and kicks, trying to psych Obito out with his insanely good taijutsu skills. However, Obito wasn't going to be easily phased this time around, and threw his kunai straight at Guy.

Perhaps he was trying to imitate his teacher, Obito didn't exactly have a flying thunder god technique, but throwing kunai still looked pretty cool.

In the process of Guy dodging the kunai, Obito weaved seals for his fire style Jutsu, releasing a powerful force of fire, heading straight for Guy. Luckily for Obito, his attack landed, unluckily for Guy, the fire permanently damaged a piece of his bodysuit. Charcoal wasn't exactly a stain you could wash out.

"Nice Obito!" Kushina yelled, and Jiraiya clapped beside her, while Obito's team (save Kakashi) went crazy for him.

"Yay Obito!" Rin yelled.

If Minato had noisemakers, or glow sticks, or something that attracted attention to him, he would be waving them around. He was still in his wheelchair, but had his hands cupped over his mouth to amplify his voice, and kept screaming; "Yeah Obito! Show them what I taught ya! That's right use your kunai! Way to go!"

"Sensei," Kakashi started, "You're so embarrassing."

Minato huffed, and looked at Kakashi, "At least I'm having fun, support him for once won't you?"

Kakashi grumbled, but went to his teacher's side, and cupped his hands over his mouth "Obito, if you don't become a chuunin I'll never forgive you!"

Minato looked over at Kakashi, "Not exactly what I meant, but it's a start."

The smoke dispersed, and Guy came barrelling out of it, punching Obito Square in the jaw. The Uchiha was flung backwards and rolled a couple times until his back hit the wall. Getting up quickly, but hastily, Obito ran towards Guy again, who drew a kunai. Obito's own kunai clashed with Guy's and both ninja's pressed against each other for quite some time. Obito started to gain the upper hand, and was about to push Guy down and claim the battle, when Guy noticed a weak spot. Obito had a huge opening near his legs, and with one swift kick, Guy took out Obito's legs from underneath him, sending him to the floor. Guy quickly served another kick to Obito's stomach, flinging him flat on his back. Obito's limbs were splayed out, and he was struggling to catch his breath, he had been winded. He was going to get up and finish the battle, when the whistle blew, signalling Guy as the victor. Obito had lost.

"Shit." Kakashi said, holding his face in his hands, "Tough."

Obito walked over sadly to join his team, grabbing a water bottle from the bench and chugging it down. He refused to meet anyone's eyes. He was embarrassed, he knew Rin already had become a chuunin, and it was easy to tell Kakashi was going to be reinstated as one. He was the weakest link.

"Obito."

Obito whipped his head up and saw Minato beckoning him forward. He didn't want to go, but he knew that his teacher's word was most often law. He didn't reject it, and walked up to Minato.

Minato smiled softly, and gripped his shoulders in both hands, "You were amazing."

Obito didn't look at him, and kept his eyes on the ground, "No I wasn't. I lost."

"Just because you lost doesn't mean you weren't great." Minato went on, "Heroes lose all the time, especially right now in this war. People protect us, but sometimes they lose their battles trying to, that doesn't mean they weren't great ninjas."

Obito nodded, he knew Minato was right, but he still felt bad about it. He wanted to become a chuunin with the rest of his team. He didn't want to be left behind.

"Its all right Obito, there actually might still be a chance you get your title."

Obito looked at Minato hopeful, "Really?"

He nodded, "Because you did well in the first two rounds, you still have some points to wrack up." Minato looked on towards where Kakashi and Guy were now lining up to fight, "Plus, if Kakashi beats Guy then you advance."

Obito immediately perked up, and sat beside Rin on the bench, hoping that his teammate would pull through for him, for once.

Kushina opened the door to her home, wheeling Minato in first. They had been caught when they went out to celebrate about Minato's team all becoming chuunin. Tsunade hadn't been happy to find out that her patient had made an escape, but upon seeing his student's smiling faces, and shiny new headbands, she made an exception. She pushed a bottle of medication into Minato's hands, and sternly told him to take one pill every morning and every night. She waved to Kushina as she was leaving the restaurant, dragging Jiraiya by the ear behind her.

Kushina had left Minato by the doorway to take off her shoes, and he wheeled his way into the house. He caught on how to move himself around quite quick, and was getting the hang of it slowly.

Kushina was just about to stand up, when she heard a large crash.

"Minato?" She called, running to where he ways, hoping she didn't find him in a heap on the floor. "What's happened?"

She turned the corner to find her guilty husband looking down at the shards of a broken vase.

"Sorry?" He offered.

She sighed, and rested her hands on her hips, "What am I going to do with you?"

Minato smiled innocently, "Love me I hope?"

She shooed him away with her hands, and he wheeled out of the room apologetic. She cleaned up the mess he'd made and dumped the contents into the trashcan.

"Kushina!" Minato called from the other room, "I need help!"

Kushina walked to where Minato had made his way to now, and wanted to laugh. He was trying to squeeze himself through their bedroom doorway, and he threw his head back to look at her, "It won't fit."

Kushina smirked, "You've used that excuse before."

He blushed furiously, and turned away from her, "That's not what I meant! And I swear its you who said that not me!"

She chuckled softly, and made her way to his side, "Relax, I was just teasing."

He grumbled, and crossed his arms over his chest, "I just wanna go to bed."

"Don't be such a little kid Minato," She laughed, "Come on, up you get." She snaked an arm around his torso, and was pulling him up so she could use her weight to support him.

"No, Kushina wait-" Minato started, "You don't understand, I can't even move my-"

He didn't manage to get his sentence out, because soon, both of them were crashing to the floor. Kushina, under Minato's dead weight, realized that he couldn't move anything concerning his lower body, he couldn't even stand. As soon as she had managed to get him up, down they went again, the chair rolling away from them, and face planting on the floor side by side.

Minato let out a large gasp as his stomach hit the ground, and using his arms, pushed himself on his back so he could catch his breath. Beside him, Kushina was laughing.

"Hey, what's so funny over there?"

She continued laughing, rolling onto her back, "I can't believe that just happened, how graceful we are."

Minato scoffed, "We were never graceful, remember our first dance at our wedding?"

Kushina covered her face with her hands, "Don't remind me."

But like always, Minato continued anyway, "I was trying to spin you, but I spun you too hard and you lost your balance. We both ended up on the floor when I lunged to try and catch you." He laughed softly, "I felt so bad."

Kushina laughed along with him, "It was fun though, that day, you and me."

Minato shrugged, "Its always fun."

Kushina propped her head up on her elbow, "Really," she quirked an eyebrow, "Even now?"

Minato turned his head to look at her, and without missing a beat, nodded, "Yeah, even now."

Kushina's eyes shone, and she leaned to kiss him quickly, still on their carpeted bedroom floor. She broke away, and looked at him mischievously, and leapt up.

"Wait here."

"Uh," Minato said, as she walked out of the room, "Its not like I'm going to get up and go somewhere. Because I can't."

Kushina returned to their bedroom with a blue packet nestled under her arm. She closed the door, and resumed her position on the floor beside Minato. He looked at her curiously, and she just kept up the mysterious glint in her eyes. She sat up, and pulled Minato's arm so that it rested behind her head, she rested her head down on his bicep, and pulled out the blue packet.

"You didn't." Minato gasped, "Are those-"

"Pictures?" Kushina smirked, "Maybe."

"Please don't tell me we're paying two year old me a visit."

Kushina laughed, "No. Look."

Kushina brought out the pictures that were taken when they were eighteen years old. They looked noticeably younger, and baby faced. It took a while for Minato to realize that his mother had taken these pictures all those years ago. It was the day of Sakumo's funeral, which was kind of morbid to think about, but that was the day where Kakashi actually laughed.

"Look at this one." Kushina whispered, and Minato glanced over at the one she was holding. It was a picture of the two of them, sitting on the Namikaze front porch, talking about whirlpool. Minato remembered it was late at night, but the porch lamp illuminated their young faces. "Who could have taken this? I remember we were alone."

Minato scowled, "My mom was always a stealthy one, she told us she was going to bed. She probably took it."

Kushina held the picture close to her heart, "I will never forget this day even if I tried." she smiled sadly, "It was when we were talking about Sakumo and Fumiko, and if they had been reunited after so many years."

Minato nodded, and looked at the picture. Kushina was looking towards the sky, in the middle of saying something no doubt. Minato had his hands behind him, leaning back on his palms, and looking nowhere other than Kushina's face.

He looked back to Kushina, who was staring intently at the picture she was holding of them. The scene in the picture kind of resembled how they were now. Kushina looking up, and Minato looking at her. Minato smiled at her, and Kushina turned to his face, meeting his eyes. "What are you smiling for?"

He shook his head, "Don't worry."

She rolled her eyes, and continued flipping through pictures, while Minato looked nowhere other than her.

It was when the clock had struck twelve, when Kushina had decided it was time for bed. Minato kept nodding off beside her, and thought that he deserved the sleep. The only obstacle was how to get him in bed; she couldn't pick him up and drag him.

Coming up with an idea, Kushina got up from her spot, jostling Minato awake. "Minato, it's time to sleep now."

"Okay, throw me a blanket will you?"

"I'm not letting you sleep on the floor idiot." Kushina scoffed, "I have an idea."

"Okay, what is it?"

"You'll see."

Minato sighed, and waited for her to continue with whatever she was doing. It was about thirty seconds later, when Kushina piped up, "Okay I'm ready, use the flying thunder god Technique."

"What?" Minato asked, "How-"

"Just do it."

Minato grumbled again, but did as she asked; it was then when Minato landed on something soft, and was looking into the eyes of his wife did he clue in.

"Oh, I see." He nodded, "Smart."

Because Kushina was branded with Minato's thunder mark she was the closest thing to him, and he instantly teleported to her. Mind you, she had made sure to draw the blankets so he could get under them, and put a couple pillows so she wouldn't be crushed by Minato's weight. She was feeling quite pleased with herself, and Minato smiled down at her from his spot above her.

"Roll over." Kushina said, "I need to get these pillows out."

Minato did as told, and plopped down on his side of the bed beside her. She quickly placed a pillow by his head, and one at her own. She bent over and pulled the blankets up over them, nestling in them for the night.

"Goodnight Minato."

"Uh, Goodnight, but there's one problem."

"What is it?"

"I don't want to sleep in my clothes…"

Kushina grumbled and got out of bed, and walked over to Minato's side, who was looking at her sheepishly. "I love you?" He offered her.

"Yeah yeah, you're a pain, ya know."