Kakashi, Itachi, and Sarada all stood in front of the Prime Minster. "So we're going to be attacked again?" He asked looking at the three Uchiha.
"It would seem that way." Kakashi said nodding his head. "If it weren't for the fact that Minato still possessed Sage Jutsu we may not have won."
"That is lucky." The Prime Minster said calmly. "Sarada, what brought you back home?"
"A report was left with my men." Sarada said nodding her head. "We have no idea where the intel came from, but now that I'm here I have a hunch." She said glancing over at her brother.
"I may not be a part of this government," Itachi said putting his hand in his pocket. "That doesn't mean I want to see innocent people die."
The Prime Minster glanced at the Uchiha man. "Itachi." He said respectfully.
"Father." Itachi said narrowing his eyes at Sasuke Uchiha.
"I understand your hesitance to aid us, but I must thank you for giving us some kind of warning before the attack." Sasuke said standing to his feet and checking his cufflinks. "If you do not wish to aid us any further, I would completely understand."
"Bullshit." Itachi said taking a step closer to Sasuke. "We all know that the three of us are three of the four strongest people on the continent, and the other one is resting in a hospital after being out of the game for years. I can't stand the idea of those pricks thinking they're entitled to our power."
"Fine." Sasuke said crossing his arms. "I'll have you assigned to Sarada's unit…"
"No." Itachi interrupted. "The only person I can trust to watch my back is Minato."
Sasuke sat back in his chair and looked at his son. "Last I checked, the two of you hated one another, not to mention that Minato is a civilian."
"Do you really think that would keep an Uzumaki from the fight?" Itachi asked calmly. "Would it stop Naruto?"
XXXX
Minato groggily opened his eyes and looked around the room. He quickly noticed that it was empty so he widened his senses and felt the building bursting with life and energy. "Why does one of us always end up here?" He asked himself as he rubbed his eyes.
"Come in." He said just before he heard a knock.
"You know it freaks me out when you do that." Kasai said opening the door and walking to the chair in the room.
"How are the two of you?" Minato asked starting to sit up.
"We're fine." She said rubbing her stomach before her eyes hardened on Minato. "Are you crazy?"
"For marrying you? Yes." Minato said before laughing and being lightly hit by Kasai.
"I'm being serious." She said as their eyes met. "You aren't allowed to die."
"Not allowed?" Minato asked with a chuckle.
"Nope." Kasai said shaking her head. "If you tried I would just fight my way into the afterlife and drag your lazy ass back."
"I love you." Minato said smiling at his wife who was still crossing her arms.
"I love you too." She said sticking her nose in the air, when the door opened again.
"Am I interrupting something?" Sakura asked the couple.
"No." Kasai said as a smile crossed her face. "We were just going over where we stood with one another."
"Ah." Sakura said happily as she put a set of X-rays on the viewer. "As you can see, when we first brought you in, you nearly destroyed every chakra point in your body."
"And now?" Minato asked noticing the specific language she used.
"You've fully healed." Sakura said with a smile. "The combination of your seal and Kurama's chakra, brought you back to 100%."
"Does that mean I'm free to go?" Minato asked, his spirits being lifted.
"Yep." Sakura said nodding her head. "I'll give you two a minute." Sakura said taking the X-rays. She stopped for a moment and looked at Kasai before letting out a tiny squeal.
"She really can't wait to be a grandma." Kasai said smiling at her mother in law.
"No she can't." Minato said standing up and kissing his wife on the forehead. "Go on and wait for me outside. I'll be dressed in a minute."
"Ok." Kasai said as Minato helped her stand back up and she walked out of the room.
Minato's smile disappeared instantly. "I didn't expect to ever see you again."
"Can anyone sneak up on you?" Itachi asked.
"Kakashi has done it once or twice using his Mangekyo." Minato said shrugging his shoulders as he turned around.
"Makes sense." Itachi said leaning against the far wall.
"I take it this isn't a normal visit." Minato said grabbing the clothes that Kasai had brought him.
"Sorry." Itachi said shaking his head.
"Do you want something from me?" Minato asked putting on his shirt.
"We both know that you're our best shot at fighting them." Itachi said with hesitance. "I hate to admit it, but we need you."
"We?" Minato asked sliding on his pants.
"Yes we." Itachi said nodding his head. "You, Sarada, Kakashi, my father, and me are the strongest people on the continent."
"I know a ton of people who would argue with that." Minato chuckled putting on his shoes.
"And they'd be wrong." Itachi said focusing on the Uzumaki symbol on Minato's back. "We both nearly killed each other back then, and I had the Rinnegan. I walked away with a scar, you got out of it good as new. You can't tell me you aren't powerful."
"We were kids." Minato said standing up again. "That life is behind me."
"Fine." Itachi said waving the blond off. "So Kasai's pregnant?"
Before he could realize it Minato already had Itachi pressed up against the wall. "If I see you anywhere near them, not even I will be able to put you back together when I'm done with you."
Itachi smiled as he saw the fire back in the man's now red slitted eyes. "You've still got the fighting spirit inside of you." Itachi said grabbing Minato's arm. "I won't lay a finger on your family, but they will. Our fathers killed Momoshiki, they sealed away Kaguya, and you just killed Alashiki. Do you really think they'll let your offspring live?"
Minato tightened his grip on Itachi as the two former best friends stared daggers at one another, before Minato applied one final push and let Itachi slide back to the ground. "You're right." He said turning around. "But this doesn't change anything between us, once this is all over you can just disappear again."
"Fine." Itachi said walking towards the window as he balled up his fist and bit his lip.
XXXX
Minato stared blankly at his father's stone grave. Obito's had recently been resealed even though neither Hokage had a body to leave behind. He balled his fists up as he fought the tears when he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned around and saw Sarada's kind eye looking back at him.
He hugged her immediately and started to cry on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry." He said between sobs.
"Sorry?" She asked pushing him a bit away from her and looking at him. "What do you have to be sorry for?"
"If it wasn't for me, you wouldn't have gotten hurt." He said getting a better handle on his emotions.
Sarada balled her fist and was about to punch Minato when she saw the look of sheer brokenness he was feeling. "I made my decision to follow you two, and I decided to fight. You can't blame yourself for any of it."
"If I had just let him go, maybe he wouldn't have left." Minato said falling to his knees and putting his palms on the stone. "He didn't know what was going to happen, but I tried to kill him anyway."
"Itachi would've left the village either way." Sarada said white knuckling her fist. "You chased him down as he was running away from his mistakes."
"I miss him." Minato said as he watched his tears fall on the stone.
"So do I." Sarada said looking into the distance. "So do I."
XXXX
"Damn it." Minato said to himself after Itachi jumped out of the window.
XXXX
Kakashi pushed his front door open and walked in slowly. "I'm home!" He shouted to the house.
After a moment Kuroto came around the corner and immediately stepped directly in front of him. "I saw the news."
"I don't want to discuss this now." Kakashi said waving her off.
"Tough, because I do." Kuroto said crossing her arms. "After the kids were born you said you were done being a ninja."
"I didn't think about any of that." Kakashi said strongly. "Someone was attacking my home, and my body moved without even thinking."
"Idiot." Kuroto said turning away from him. "Let me guess, you're going with them, aren't you."
"I have to." Kakashi said nodding his head.
"Damn it." Kuroto said gritting her teeth. "The day you retired the headband was one of the happiest days of my life."
"You gave it up too." Kakashi said putting his hands in his pockets.
"Couldn't be a Leaf ninja." She said shrugging her shoulders. "It was the day I knew that we would get to grow old together."
Kakashi pulled her into a hug. "We will."
"You better come back to us." Kuroto said nuzzling into his chest.
"I always do." Kakashi said smiling and rubbing her back.
