AUTHOR'S NOTE: So, I apologize right now! I hate having this long of delays between updates. However, the Holidays happen. Birthdays happen. And opening a new business happens. Therefore, I have been crazy busy. I plan on updating Kitsune before my weekend is up, and then hope to get back onto a weekly schedule (if not more than 1 a week). Only hiccup there may be is my oldest is having her sweet 16 this weekend, so that may make updates weird for next week-I have Christmas, New Years, my mom's birthday, my birthday, my husband's birthday and my oldest's birthday all between Dec 25-Jan 10...busy time of year :(-but it should get back to normal soon. Thanks for all the support and not giving up on me! Now, onto the continuing saga…

I was suddenly extremely uncomfortable. I felt that I was eavesdropping on something personal that I should not be eavesdropping on. Getting up quietly, I went to slip out the window.

"I don't think so, Kakashi. Come in here. You are a part of this conversation." Naruto's voice brooked no argument. Sighing, shoulders slumping, I trudged into the kitchen, suddenly very aware of my masklessness. Bowing to Minato, who looked troubled, I sat at an empty chair to the right of Naruto, who was sitting across from his father.

"So, explain. Explain in front of your sacrificial lamb." Naruto said, a hard edge to his voice as he motioned to me. I let out a huff as Minato looked at me, silencing me, even though I wasn't going to say anything.

"Naruto, I … I don't know where to begin, so I'll start at the most logical place. I had known Kakashi since his birth. I became his sensei. We bonded…he seemed to open up to me more than anyone else, even as limited as that opening up was." He shot me a look and a small smile. My lips twitched up slightly.

Continuing, he looked at his son. "I could tell a difference in Kakashi when he came back from one of his missions. He had saved Obito with the help of the fox from a collapsing cave. That had been unheard of, especially since Kakashi and the fox had always seemed…uncomfortable, with each other. Not outright rage, but…uncomfortable. I didn't know what had changed, but I knew something had." Looking down at his hands, Minato closed his eyes. Letting out a deep breath that seemed to have the weight of the world in it, he opened them; clear blue staring at his son's distrustful gaze.

"Kakashi wouldn't elaborate, and I didn't push. Perhaps it was puberty…how would I know? I had never been a jinchurriki, how do I know what goes through a container's mind? Anyways, Kakashi always seemed…older…after that…with more on his mind. There was a…weight, a maturity, which he seemed to carry. Again, I thought it was something to do with jinchurriki. Life…and training went on. And then you were born." Smiling softly at the memory, Minato took a sip of his drink.

Staring down into his cup, Minato continued. "I didn't know about the mark. You had been born with such a full head of hair… Your mother told me it was a birthmark, and so I never looked. I mean, what is in a birthmark, anyways? A birthmark is a birthmark. I never thought much about it." Minato looked sad. "So, life went on. Kakashi had promised to protect you, and I thought that a wonderful idea. After all, kin of the Hokage are natural targets."

Shaking his head at the memories, Minato continued. "Then I started getting word of an uprising in the Uchihas…a coup that would destroy the village. One day, Kakashi came to me, explaining what had happened, what would happen, and the ramifications of what would happen. I was confused, as I knew that only three people knew of this…I hadn't even informed the Elders." Looking ruefully at me, I cut my eyes to the floor.

"After Kakashi laid out the plan, I thought it the best option. Someone was going to be exiled…and Kakashi offering was better than drafting an Uchiha. I didn't know you were his soulmate, or I would have never sent him. He never told me about his mark, in all the time I had known him." Minato looked up, eyes beseeching, begging for forgiveness that Naruto hadn't given yet.

"And?" Naruto asked, staring.

"And…he went on the mission." Minato looked slightly confused. Naruto stared at his father, waiting. Minato started to look uncomfortable as the minutes ticked by. Naruto barked out a laugh. There was no humor behind it.

"Why did you let him get tortured, when he did all of this…all of the reasons to be tortured, for the Leaf?" Naruto stared hard at his father.

"Naruto, being Hokage isn't all handshakes and respect. It's making hard decisions…decisions you don't want to make, but that you have to make. For the good of all the people…not just one person." Minato's face still had that begging look on his face, begging for his son's understanding and forgiveness.

Naruto just stared at his dad. "And what now? Are you sending him back? Or are you going to let Ibiki-san kill him?"

Minato flinched as if slapped. I cleared my throat. "Naruto…I've already explained that I have to go back. The Leaf has made many advances, but still isn't ready for the Akatsuki's full force, even with the information I have gathered and the distractions I have placed."

Naruto turned fierce eyes on me. "Then I've already explained. I am going with you."

Minato stood. "Nar…"

Naruto looked over at him, blue eyes hard. "I'm seventeen and a shinobi. You are a Hokage who sacrificed your own jounin for the Village, instead of finding a different way. I cannot respect that. There are always other ways. You could have staged an escape, or had him fight off and incapacitate Itachi, or something instead of the barbaric things you allowed to be done to him." Taking his hitai-ate off, he pulled out a shuriken and sliced through the Leaf insignia. "You are no longer my Hokage."

()()()

Flashstepping through the trees, Naruto at my side, I was still sickened with the memories that haunted me. Minato's face was…devastating after Naruto said what he said to the Yellow Flash of Konoha. Minato loved his son dearly, and Naruto just destroyed a part of Minato. As Naruto packed a bag, I convinced Minato to not consider Naruto a rogue nin. No one knew what was said but us three, so I convinced Minato to just assume this as the beginning of the mission. He would tell the ANBU about the situation, as Naruto's name would have to be put in the Bingo Book. The ANBU would protect him as much as possible. I would protect him completely.

Neither of us spoke as we moved through the night. In the early hours of the morning, I noticed that Naruto looked exhausted. "We could stop..." I started.

"No. Knowing dad, he will already have my name in the Bingo Book. We have to get more distance." Naruto stared ahead, the fatigue on his face.

"Naruto, you don't mean that. You know your father loves you dearly. Even if you disagree with his decision." Naruto said nothing, staring straight ahead. After another mile or two I stopped. Naruto looked over, stifling a yawn. "On my back." Before Naruto could protest, I put his arms around my neck, adjusting him. "I slept some…you have not. I will continue on." I felt his arms and legs hold on for a while…as we went on, I felt him fall asleep.

This is not your fault.

I really don't know what to think anymore. I admitted, holding onto Naruto as he slept, still moving tree to tree.

Naruto has to make his own way. Maybe one day he will understand…or maybe one day you will.

What the hell do you mean by that? It had been about an hour before Kurama started talking to me. I was slightly fatigued, but felt I had to push on for Naruto's sake. I was in no mood for riddles.

Did you ever think that perhaps your and Minato's ways of thinking are outdated? Perhaps Naruto has some points? Yes, I agree with you that the Leaf still is not ready…although it is much better off than it was. In addition, yes, shinobi put the Village above themselves. However, there WERE other ways to handle your capture. You're just so caught up in Naruto that you blindly follow this martyr path. Maybe…just maybe…being with Naruto does not have to be as painful as you always seem to make it.

I don't know what you're talking about. Stopping, I looked around. Seeing a cave in the distance, I stopped the conversation I was having with Kurama. It was getting uncomfortable. The cave was secluded, and I was exhausted, as was Naruto. I couldn't wake him up to take watch and I couldn't' go on much longer carrying him. Laying him against a wall in the small, damp cave, I summoned Pakkun. "Keep watch." I instructed the pug nosed pooch. Nodding, Pakkun positioned himself in a secluded, shady corner.

Going over to Naruto, I pulled a blanket out of my backpack. The story was, Naruto was tired of being Minato's brat and in his shadow. He wanted a new life…and was looking for a sign. After being sent on a mission to bring back the rogue nin and being able to capture me, he believed that I let him capture me. That also helped my mission as well. I convinced him to join the Akatsuki. He packed two bags, and helped me escape. It was easy for him, being the Hokage's son.

Laying down, I pulled Naruto into my arms. However, this was not some romantic ideal of mine; we were probably still too close for Naruto's comfort, even though I didn't believe Minato would send people out looking for us…at least not in this direction. Minato knew the way I was going back. Still, I had to keep up the illusion…what if the Akatsuki was looking for me? Therefore, I couldn't start a fire…and the morning was cool. Combining our body heat under the blanket, I fell asleep, holding the blonde tightly to me.

()()()

Everything that happened the past twenty-four hours recycled itself through my brain while I slept. Cataloguing, organizing, reflecting, and puzzling. Waking, I felt refreshed, with a clarity I did not have before. Suddenly…there was tickling…I felt tickling on my wrist. Opening my eye, I saw that Naruto's head was bowed, his fingers running over the letters of his name on my wrist. "You're awake." He noted, not moving.

"Hai." I acknowledged quietly.

"You didn't wake me to take watch." He accused, fingers still running over the letters.

"No. I summoned Pakkun." I noted, mildly interested in what Naruto was doing. It felt nice. It was reminiscent of my other lifetime. With my Naruto. "You are right, you know." I conceded. "At least partially."

Blue eyes looked up at me. "Huh?" Naruto asked, confused.

"You are not the Naruto of my original timeline. This much is true. I am in love with Naruto…the Naruto of my original timeline. However, I am in love with you, too. That's the way soulmates work…at least with me. I didn't want to be in love with you in either timeline…but I didn't have a choice. I told you soulmates are different for every person. For me…for the Hatakes, once we meet our soulmates, we irrevocably fall in love with them. The love deepens over time, but its there, initially. Therefore, I did what was needed in my past life. Moreover, I will do what is needed in this lifetime. All of it, to protect you. I was drawn to you in both lives. I have a need…nay…an obsession, to protect you … both of you. Therefore, Naruto, I may not know you well, but I love you. In addition, since you made this decision to join me, I have made my decision as well. I will not push you away. But I will die to save you."

Naruto looked up, saying nothing. As I ran my thumb over his cheek again, he closed his eyes. "It seems Fate won't let me stay away from you." I continued. His face softened as my thumb continued to rub his cheek gently. "Therefore, I am embracing my fate, and pulling you close. Fate seems to be telling me that I can protect you better closer to me. I hope, one day, that you return my love. But I know soulmates are different for everyone. You may not return my love."

"And if I don't?" Naruto asked, opening up those beautiful eyes and staring at me as he whispered the question that hurt my heart.

"I'll love you always, and smile as you find someone else. Your happiness is my ninja way."

()()()

It only took another day to get to the Akatsuki. As Tobi ushered me in, Konan came over, staring at me, rubbing a hand up and down my arm "What did they do to you?" She asked. I felt Naruto's eyes on the back of me. I had told him about Konan. I had also told him that I would be finding a way to break it off, as I could not pretend or settle for anything with her, not with Naruto there, and the possibility of a chance with him.

"Uzumaki, Naruto helped me to escape." I said blandly.

At that moment, Pain walked in. "And, who do we have here?" Pain said, staring at Naruto, noting the slash of his headband.

"Uzumaki, Naruto. Lord Fourth's son…and rogue nin of the Leaf Village since I helped Chi Kira escape. I've come to join the Akatsuki."