Chapter 34

Minashi yawned as she settled behind her desk. She hadn't slept good the night before. While she didn't wake up screaming, the nightmare was still unpleasant. She'd slipped from her room and into Kashi's. The unimpressed look on Sakumo's face that morning, was enough to say she shouldn't make a habit of it.

Surprisingly, things hadn't been completely awkward with the elder Hatake. He'd treated her the same as always when he picked her up Saturday night from Kushina and Minato. Sunday was spent training with Sakumo and Kakashi with some of the Academy basic jutsus. Minashi worked on refining the skills she already knew. Or Chakra control that Sakumo kept testing her on.

The theory night for Kitsune had obviously been rescheduled, and Minashi was kind of happy it was. Especially after her Saturday appointment with Inojiro. While he'd been absolutely enraptured with her new mindscape, she pushed herself to talk about Naruto. She started with their childhood. It was the easiest. Inojiro was patient with her. Keeping a soft smile as she retold their pranks, and their plots to find what was under Kakashi-sensei's mask when they first made Genin. She ended up spending most of Saturday with the man, just walking around the new grove, around the lake and into the massive forest. He'd been happy to see that even the grass had started sprouting wildflowers of the main meadow surrounding the lake. Minashi had just smiled and continued to enjoy their walk.

Her only extra task on Sunday had been to slip out during the night and slap a secondary seal beside all around the walls of the Uchiha Compound. Once safely out of sight, she's activated the seals. She could almost Feel the Killer Intent on the other side of Konoha coming from the Uchiha Compound.

So, she found herself that morning, missing the coffee she could get as Kitsune, but pleased with the reward of seeing Kenji storming into the classroom with pink hair once again.

"Seriously?" he hissed as he sat reverse in his seat in front of her and Kakashi. "You just couldn't let it go?"

Minashi snickered. "Nope."

"It suits you." Ryouta hummed sitting down in his new regular seat beside the Uchiha. "Kakashi, Minashi." He nodded a greeting.

"Morning Ryouta!" Minashi beamed.

"Good Morning." Kakashi nodded back.

"So, who are you going to hit next?" Kenji smirked.

"I would also like to know." Ryouta's lip twitched. He was still eye burning orange from just recently leaving the compound. "I believe there is a saying that fits our situations."

"Misery loves company." Kenji chuckled.

"Yes." Ryouta gave a small smile of thanks.

"I have to wait." Minashi shrugged.

"Why?" Ryouta frowned.

"If I hit too often, the patrols will catch me. Plus, the Uchiha's genjutsu was removed. That sort of counts. It's also a warning to not hide my art."

Kakashi snorted beside her. "This is not art."

"Everyone has their own sense of what art is Kashi." Minashi pouted at him. Kashi sighed loudly.

"No. I'm not starting a fight over pranks being art or not."

"Killjoy." Kenji sniffed dissatisfied. Minashi's Blood Clone memories were always very happy to report that Kenji loved trying to get under Kakashi's skin.

"Still, do you know who your next target is?" Ryouta butted in. She had also notice that he seemed to be the peacekeeper between the two boys. Either that or he didn't like being annoyed by their fighting.

"Hai~" Minashi smirked.

Kenji, Ryouta, and Kakashi stared at her. She just kept smiling.

"You going to share with the group?" Ryouta deadpanned.

"NooooPe~" Minashi dragged it out playfully.

Kenji snorted at her. Kakashi just sighed again. He seemed to be doing that a lot this morning.

"Alright you brats! Sit down and shut up!" Sumiko-sensei called the murmurs of class to an end. "Since I had a wonderful weekend, I decided to do a pop quiz."

Groans rang around the room. Minashi's the loudest.

Sumiko just rolled her eyes at them. "You don't even know what it's on yet brats!"

"But it's still a test!" a boy cried out.

Sumiko just glared at him. "You can hand them out then."

He groaned but went to the front and took the papers from their Sensei.

The next half hour was spent in silence as the class worked on the pop quiz about the lectures from last Monday. Minashi was never more grateful for her Blood Clones and ability to compartmentalize her mind so well. After the horror of the pop quiz, Minashi found herself enjoying the simplicity of being a child.

She'd gotten so wrapped up in her own issues, she forgot why she had even let this issue of being stuck in a child's body continue. She was supposed to be getting a second childhood.

Although, she could deal without the actual lessons she already knew from experiencing them in real life. Chakra theory, Chakra Manipulation, and breaking down the hand signs into repetitive practices. Those had been lectures Iruka sensei had drawled on about. That and the academy jutsus.

The academy Jutsus were not just three though now. Not only did they have to know how to Henge, Clones, and Kawarimi; They had to also know how to start tree walking and water walking. Minashi finally understood why her sensei's generation was so strong. Also, it probably explained why Kakashi-sensei didn't teach them to tree climb until later. He probably didn't want to admit that he forgot that the academy had changed.

The Kunoichi lessons were the most different to her. While there was still flower arrangement, it was also beginner seduction lessons. Using glances, small body language, and coy smiles to enrapture their targets. Herbology had been recently updated and doubled as Medic nin training and poisons training. She wasn't surprised to see Shizune participating in the latter. She'd been happy to even see the niece of Tsunade's once fiancé.

There were still definitely lessons that she didn't remember the first time though. Tactics and Strategy was a lesson that seemed to be getting stronger instead of just studying reports of previous shinobi. Sumiko made it a class effort and would throw scenario after scenario after them. She made it a point to let them know when one of their strategies either killed their team, or killed the person playing the team leader. Things this week seemed to have change for the extreme.

Minashi had watched Kakashi closely during his own turn today at team leader during Sumiko's strategy lesson.

Sumiko's good mood had transferred into making today's Tactics and strategy lessons take on an extreme lifelikeness.

Sumiko had taken a Kunai and ran it across the throat of one of the students of Kakashi's 'team'. The room had broken out into screams when blood flowed down the boy's neck. He just blinked at them before reaching up and touching it.

The fake kunai and blood had done the job though. Kakashi had gone so pale. He wasn't alone though. Everyone in the class had reflected his shock and horror.

"Your previous teachers have babied you up until now. Even I have tried to ease you all into the world you've signed up for. Mark this as the beginning of the truth. Being a shinobi is no joke. You make a bad decision, a teammate dies. You stupidly play a hero, You die. You abandon a mission because you didn't plan correctly, your team dies." Sumiko slammed the fake kunai on her desk and glared at them.

"Graduation is in six months. At this moment your fellow four years are experiencing the same thing. It is an academy rule to begin your preparations at a set date before that graduation."

"In six months, you all will be Genins, legal adults. You will be assigned your Jounin senseis or you will begin your serious apprenticeships. From this moment on, you will be treated like shinobi instead of academy students. You have all the information you need by now to survive outside this academy. This last half year with me, you will learn how to apply those lessons in real life situations."

Sumiko's eyes traveled to Kakashi and Minashi. "You two better study up if there is anything between first and fourth year that you missed."

Kakashi and Minashi nodded.

"Good. Let's continue." Definitely different. Yet, she was glad that the academy was helping them prepare to use their skills like this.

They soon moved out to the training ground of the academy and worked on survival skills they had learned about. Trapping, fire building, and perimeter securing.

Trapping they learned to hunt for small game. Fire building, they learned how to make a safe fire, a bed of coals when in risky territory, and how to snuff fires out quickly.

Minashi remembered her teachers touching these topics, but never the full hands-on lessons. Maybe one or two during year three when they were eleven. But they didn't have the teacher assistant throwing in surprise attacks.

She was never happier when lunch arrived, and she could just let her body and mind rest.

Sumiko-sensei hadn't been kidding. They were going to work them hard and prepare them.

Everyone is going to be disappointed when we get all the D-rank missions first. She mused to herself.

"What was it like Minashi-chan?" Kurenai asked, breaking Minashi from her inner thoughts. She tilted her head to look at the girl sitting on Kakashi's other side. Minashi had her head resting in his lap after she had finished her lunch.

"What?" She asked.

"The Summon's land!" Anko cheered beside her, practically crawling into Kurenai's lap. "You spent almost three days there!"

Minashi gave Anko and Kurenai and upside down smile. "So Cool! It was all these HUGE trees!" She threw her arms wide ignored Kakashi's muttered displeasure as she almost smacked him in her excitement. "The foxes live beneath them where they have hallowed out a burrow under the trees. The sky is funny looking took. Shades of red and violet and very pale blue."

"Did you get to sign the summon contract?" Asuma asked next. "Tou-san said I can sign the Monkey contract if I pass their test when I'm Chuunin."

Minashi hummed and looked up to the sky. "Nee-san has to get training first. She's been bad at keeping her promise to train with them. So, I think once she's passed their training, she'll take me. Then they'll see if I can handle the training. If I can, I'll get to sign it." She suddenly flipped up and beamed at their large group. It ranged from some of the kids their age in first year, and their friends from Fourth year. "Ne, ne, Did you know that Kitsune-sama is a holder of a Fox contract too?"

"Really?" Shikari sat up from her own nap on Inomi's lap. "There are two contracts? I thought the summons only made one?"

Minashi beamed, happy to spread the gossip to one of Kitsune's youngest fans. "She apparently did what Ero-sannin did."

"Who?" Half the group asked.

"Jiraiya-sama." Kakashi chuckled.

"Why do you call him that Minashi-chan?" Gai frowned confused. "That sounds so unyouthful."

Minashi's grin turned wicked. "I caught him peeping in on the women's bath! Even Nii-san calls him a per-" A hand slapped over her mouth and she glanced back to see pink dusting Kakashi's cheeks above his mask.

"Tou-san said that isn't a word we're supposed to repeat." He reminded her. Minashi just raised a brow at him before licking his hand.

"He-he was peeping?" Rin stuttered as her face flamed.

Anko growled. "I'll kick him in the balls." Most of the boys flinched and scooted away from the purplette.

"Why would he do that?" Obito asked suddenly. Minashi looked at him to see that he wore a confused look. "I mean it's just not nice."

Minashi hummed and sat back adopting a thinking pose. "Kashi, what did Nii-san say about it again?"

"You can't teach an old dog new tricks?"

"No." she frowned.

"Oh, then it was that you can't change someone that doesn't want to change."

"Yes." She smiled at him. "Thank you." She looked back at Obito. "Ero-sannin is weird. It wont change no matter how much he's kicked." She shrugged.

Obito frowned. "But that's not right."

"I've heard Tou-san say before that sometimes the strongest Shinobi have weird habits." Inomi frowned.

"He is one of the Sannin." Genma muttered around his dango stick.

"Isn't Tsunade-sama known as the legendary sucker?" Raido smirked.

"She is?" Rin and Kurenai gasped.

"Yep." Kakashi deadpanned. "Tou-san said they each had a bad habit."

"What's Orochimaru-Shishou's?" Anko frowned.

Kakashi frowned and looked to Minashi. "Do you remember? I don't remember Tou-san exactly explaining it. You've also spent time with him."

"Only for Fuuinjutsu and that ended a while ago." She whined.

"I think Shishou is fine." Anko shrugged.

"He's creepy." Rin whispered.

"He's not very nice." Obito frowned.

"Ka-san said he's a genius though." Kenji finally popped in from his what seemed like bottomless lunch. Minashi had only eyed the nine-year-old. First, he is all smiles, and now he was eating like an Akimichi. "Apparently he's responsible for a lot of the new elemental Jutsus Konoha has. Not to mention the new poisons. He also graduation the academy at age seven or something. Only a few have ever beaten his record since."

"I believe your Nii-san is one of them Minashi." Ryouta hummed.

"Now you and Kakashi will be added to the list." Genma mused aloud.

The group was quiet for a bit before a few individual conversations picked up between closer friends. Minashi and Shikari were the only ones to not return to talking. Both opting to return to their chose laps and nap.

The afternoon lessons were even harder than the morning ones. Minashi grumbled in her head at how she chose the absolute wrong time to attend classes as herself.

Taijutsu as no longer just one on one. It was two on one. Then after everyone had a turn at fighting one against two, they then went up against Sumiko-sensei.

Her reason? We may face opponents that are bigger and stronger and our Jounin sensei may not be there to help all the time. They were to learn how to hold up long enough until then. It was not expected of them to take down a full-grown adult or even a teenager. They were at too much of a disadvantage.

Thus, all the D-ranks or safe C-ranks.

Minashi shuddered at the thought of her first C-rank here. She just Knew it was going to end badly. Her and Naruto had good luck, but it never seemed to stretch to their missions. Instead, a simple C-rank always ended up as a B-rank. Bad days, they turned to A-rank.

Minashi felt proud of herself after the spars though. Her body was getting used to both her Kitsune form and her physical body. Muscle memory had kicked in. She was no longer overreaching. This kept what her body and mind wanted to do, in sync. She was happy that she didn't have to hold back completely as a child. Her class was mostly Clan children or children of shinobi families. They had training and it wasn't surprising if a Genin hopeful could get one up on a Chuunin.

So Minashi did. She used her smaller form, her speed, and her brain against Sumiko-sensei. But the Kunoichi was still a seasoned shinobi.

Minashi ended her match by taking Sumiko's kick to the side. Kicking off the ground and spinning around Sumiko's leg, Minashi used Sumiko's and her own momentum against the taller Kunoichi. Spinning her off balance, Minashi then twisted to land on the elder's back with the real kunai to her neck.

Another thing that had been changed. They were now to be using live weapons in their Taijutsu matches.

"Well done." Sumiko called from beneath her. Minashi got off and Sumiko didn't even bother with the dirt on her pants. "Good use of using my size to your advantage."

"Thank you Sensei." Minashi smiled, pleased to be praised. That would never change about herself. She enjoyed any scrap of attention she was given.

"Next!" Sumiko called and Minashi jogged back to Kakashi. He nodded at her.

"Well done. Tou-san will be happy."

"Nii-san and Nee-san too." Minashi beamed.

Kakashi's eyes crinkled a bit with his small smile, hidden beneath that mask of his. "Of course. They always are happy when we show results of our training."

Minashi pouted and snatched Kashi's hidden nose. He yelped and pulled at her wrist.

"Mina! Let go!"

"You started talking like a boring adult again." Minashi huffed but released him.

"But it was the truth." Kashi muttered a bit nasally as he rubbed his nose. "And ow." he glared.

"Big baby." Minashi smirked. Kakashi growled at her.

"Am not."

"All I did was pinch your little nose. You act like I pulled it off."

"How about I pull your nose!" he growled and lept for her. Minashi let out a playful squeak and dodged. Kakashi landed on a foot and spun easily to follow her change of direction. He launched at her again. He was getting quite adgile. She mused to herself.

Minashi's giggles filled the air as they went bounding around the edge of the training ground.

This had always been Her blood Clones' favorite thing to do to entertain themselves. Tease Kakashi until he acted like a kid. The memories always warmed a special place in her heart.

"Mina! Hold still so I can pull your nose off!" he growled. Minashi jumped onto the side of a tree and launched off just before Kakashi would have landed on her. He instead landed on a crouch and snarled where she stood on a branch higher up on another tree.

"Missed me!" She yelled down.

"Hatake! Uzumaki!" Sumiko shouted. They looked at her. "If you need to wear off energy then spar! No goofing off!"

"HAI!" They chorused.

Kakashi's eyes sapped back to Minashi. She stared at him right back. Slowly both their hands reached for their weapons pouch. Minashi drew a hair faster. Her Kunai dug into the trunk where Kakashi had just been. He'd backflipped off. Minashi took off into the branches. She heard and felt him following a moment later. She dodged, ducked, and dropped to avoid the shuriken Kakashi threw at her. Minashi did a front flip to land back in the clearing. Mid-air she met Kakashi's focused gaze and smirked at him before sticking her tongue out. Her flip continued, spinning three-sixty to avoid anger fueled Kunai. Landing she took off. Closer to one of the designated sparing areas, she skid to a sudden stop, a punch winding up as she turned. Her head turned and met Kakashi as he advanced on her. He too started to skid, it turning to a backwards duck when he realized if he didn't, he'd get a fist to the face.

Then they were at it. Fast for a pre-Genin, but nevertheless skilled for their age. Jabs, punches, kicks, sweeps, chops, even a headbutt or two on Minashi's behalf. Kakashi kept up with the pace she was pushing him into.

She saw it soon when he started to tire, but his eyes burned with determination. They always did when they would spar.

The hair rose on Minashi's neck. She dropped and swept Kakashi's legs out quicker than before. She stayed low as she heard the Kunai whistle over her head and land just past Kakashi. He jerked when it dug into the ground. Eyes wide as they looked behind her.

Minashi snapped her head around when she didn't feel a signature to explain who would do that.

Instead, she found herself looking up into her own blue eyes.

What was her Kitsune Blood clone doing here? She'd left it with Hiruzen to relax and read Fuuinjutsu theory books in his office. It would be there for advice if needed, not seek her out.

"You are good." Her clone said. "I was right to recommend you to Asako-sama."

"OI!" Sumiko snarled marching up. "Who the hell gave you permission to throw Kunai at my students?"

Kitsune just raised a brow at the fellow Kunoichi. "Ah, apologies, The Hokage informed me that the academy has moved into its Mock Genin Months. I arrived just when young Hatake-kun and Uzumaki-chan here began their spar."

"That didn't answer my ques…tion…" Sumiko trailed off as her anger was replaced with recognition. "Wait, are you Kitsune-sama?"

Kitsune smiled just barely with a nod. "Hai."

"My apologies then Kitsune-sama. I am Yamanaka Sumiko, this is my class." She waved to the nine-year-olds that had neared with curiosity.

Minashi noted though that Suzume, Shikari, and Koto seemed to have stars in their eyes. Even Kakashi seemed to have eager eyes.

"They are one of the three groups of fourth years here at the Academy. The Hokage was correct. We have started the transition into Mock Genin."

"They will be trained like full-fledged Genin then?"

"Hai."

Kitsune nodded. "I noticed that you were sparing them as well."

"Yes, to prepare them against stronger opponents."

"Have you worked on any team buildings?"

"No. Today was the first day of the transition. It's scheduled next week to move into two on one, then three on one the following week. From there we keep it at the three verses one but switch up the team combinations."

Kitsune nodded. "So, you can start to see who will work best together."

"Hai."

"Wonderful. I am on a little bit of Medical Leave. The Hokage has asked that instead of lazing around and getting on his last nerve, that I should use my vast experience to help train the next generation."

Sumiko wisely didn't react to the first half of her statement and focused on the latter.

"Wonderful. Would you like to join me in the individual spars? Myself and Hachiro-san would welcome the help." She looked down to Minashi and Kakashi with a twitching eye. "As you saw, we have a couple of younger prodigies that have endless energy. They are good already for their age but can be better."

Kitsune chuckled as she too looked to see Kakashi and Minashi standing together. Minashi's eyes though were narrowed on her Clone.

"I think I can keep them busy."

"Have at it!" Sumiko laughed. "Watch the blonde. She's a cheeky brat."

"Am not!" Minashi replied automatically.

"Are too." Kakashi chuckled.

"Am Not!" Minashi pouted to him betrayed.

"Alright squirts, let's see what you got." Kitsune smirked and led them to one of the larger sparring rings. "Come at me one at a time. Then we'll see how your teamwork is."

Minashi let Kakashi go first. She did as she knew he would. He was smart, used his size to his advantage, but also tended to jump into a head on fight without sparing time to assess his enemy.

Kitsune eventually grabbed him by an ankle and threw him out of the ring. And not very gently either. His groan echoed over the field.

"OI! No breaking my students!" Sumiko shouted over to Kitsune.

"He's Fine!" Kitsune smiled back without a care to Kakashi's whined 'Am not.'

"Well squirt?" Kitsune chuckled challengingly to Minashi.

'This is weird.'

'It's not like you've never sparred against yourself boss'

'Point. But I also wasn't having to hold back in a child's body.'

Minashi began to circle her Kitsune clone. The clone just stood with an arrogant smirk, twinkling eyes, and arms crossed over her chest. Her body looked relaxed, yet Minashi knew her own tells. The clone looked relaxed; It was an illusion. Every muscle was ready to move at a moment's notice.

"I would say I don't have all day, but I do." Kitsune chuckled. "You do have good instincts. Assessing your opponent before attacking. Another reason I recommended you to Asako-sama."

'You going to circle me all afternoon like a bitch in heat circling the alpha, Squirt? Or are you going to move that itty-bitty pathetic body of yours and come at me like when Masumi called ramen unhealthy and food for heifers?' Her clone taunted.

Minashi used to pity her brother for his shadow clones. That was until they got older. While Naruto's clones tended to go rogue or plot mutiny, which didn't change with time. Minashi's cooperative clones had changed to be sassy and have a Mouth on them.

She wasn't sure which was worse.

The latter was winning at the moment.

Minashi tried to ignore the telepathic taunts. A kunai flew past the cheek of the Clone. She tilted her head an inch and it whizzed past.

Minashi used Kawarimi with the Kunai. Mid-air she spun and Kitsune caught her ankle. Minashi was thrown like Kakashi, but she popped with another Kawarimi Kunai right at impact. Kitsune jump into a backflip, and used a hand to spring off Minashi's head, pushing her forward and off balance.

Minashi tumbled into a forward roll, throwing shuriken at Kitsune when she was back up.

Kitsune deflected them with two Kunai. A grin with sharp canines flashing, was revealed behind her crossed arms.

'That all you got shrimp?'

'I will end you.' Minashi snarled and rushed forward with her own Kunai ready.

'All bark and no bite, poor little shrimpy.' Kitsune teased as she deflected the kunai Taijutsu.

Kitsune put on a burst of speed and Minashi went flying across the field again, rolling and bouncing until she stopped at the base of a tree.

"That was a little much. Shouldn't we stop this Sumiko-san?" Hachiro grunted.

"Shh." Sumiko hissed her eyes on Minashi. "I've never seen her this focused. Even with Kakashi."

"I would be too. If rumors are correct, she's an S-rank Shinobi." Hachiro chuckled.

"She's really S-ranked?" Koto asked from beside them. It was hard for the class to focus once Kitsune arrived. Especially when the students realize that Minashi knew Kitsune. If the gossip of the village was correct, then Minashi might end up sharing a Fox summoning contract with Kitsune-sama.

"It hasn't been confirmed." Sumiko mumbled as she watched the tiny form of Minashi push to her hands and knees. Blue eyes looked through escaped bangs. The look sent a shiver down Sumiko's spine. She saw Hachiro tense beside her as well in her peripheral.

Minashi looked down right pissed. She'd never seen the sometimes shy, quiet, but otherwise cheery girl, look anything more than annoyed.

"uh-oh." Kakashi whispered at Sumiko's side. She shot him a glance.

"What?"

"Kitsune-sama got Mina angry." He whispered with worried eyes.

"She was probably aiming to. People tend to lose focus when angry in a fight."

Kakashi chuckled nervously and rubbed at an arm. "Not Mina." He mumbled.

"Oh?" Hachiro asked hearing the conversation beside him. "What happens then?"

"She gets Serious." He shuttered. "Nothing is off limits."

Curious, The Chuunin senseis looked back. They did just in time. Minashi's eyes narrowed to slits as she stood facing Kitsune-sama. Kitsune-sama just raised a brow at the blonde girl a third her height.

Minashi suddenly brought her hands up in an unfamiliar sign. She didn't speak. Instead, three additional Minashi's appeared.

"Ah crap." Kakashi groaned. "She's furious."

"S-sumiko!" Hachiro hissed as they watched the clones launch at Kitsune. They attacked and dodged Kitsune's attacks. Minashi was mixed in with them. Two were popped. The last one was thrown into Minashi. The cloud of smoke covered them both. Minashi rolled on the ground up hopped up onto her feet throwing more Kunai at Kitsune-sama who had barely moved from her spot.

"They're solid." Sumiko realizing Hachiro's panic. "Kage Bushin."

"Hai." Kakashi groaned beside them.

"How does she know that?" Sumiko asked without taking her eyes off the spar. Minashi was doing well for a Genin. Sumiko would even place her as low Chuunin already. She raised a brow at that. Had the brat really been holding back?

"Mina told me that she has too much chakra like her Nee-san. It's common in Uzumaki. But they don't have as much control. Kushina and Mina said it's like trying to pull a drop of water the size of a rice grain from a lake. So, they use the Kage Bushin instead of Bushin Jutsu."

"Huh." Sumiko mumbled.

"Tou-san always has her doing chakra control exercises. Same with Kushina-nee-san and Minato-san."

"We covered Bushin Jutsu before she arrived. So, we didn't test her on it." Sumiko realized.

Gasps suddenly rang through the clearing. Sumiko's eyes widened in panic when she too saw the horror before them.

Kitsune had stabbed Minashi in the chest.

Minashi suddenly just smirked and disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

Kitsune blinked. Her eyes scanned the field. Sharp eyes shot down a few beats later. She lept into the air once again, throwing a kunai down at the mop of blonde that appeared arms reaching for ankles. It too popped.

A kunai flew in front of Kitsune in her mid-air position from the trees. Her eyes widened at the tag attached.

"DOWN!" Sumiko ordered seeing it too. The students dropped to their bellies just before the explosion sent a shockwave through the area.

Heart pounding Sumiko looked up to see that there was a see-through barrier around them. Her eyes found Kitsune sitting within the barrier with an annoyed look.

"Sneaky little shit." Kitsune huffed. "Making me use a shadow clone."

"Kitsune-sama?" Sumiko asked.

Kitsune met Sumiko's gaze. "Ah, gomen ne, it's a protective barrier. I didn't realize the brat had live tags on her. Your students weren't sparring anymore anyways. You can observe safely now. Though it shouldn't last much long."

Another explosion filled the air.

"Maybe." Kitsune muttered.

Minashi twiddled her thumbs and kicked her feet back and forth in the chair. The Jounin leaning against the desk in front of her, just continued to keep narrowed eyes on her.

Minashi kept her eyes pointedly on her own hands.

Hurried steps echoed in the hall and Minashi let out a long sigh.

"What happened?" Minato asked worriedly as he entered the Headmaster's office. He paused when he noticed that Kitsune calmly stood in a corner with a blank face.

"Namikaze-san. Thank you for coming. Hatake-san said that you were the one to contact today for Minashi-chan."

"Yes, he has a team training and Kushina has Mission reports she's late on. I'm between Missions. What is this about?"

"It seems that little Minashi here thought it was a good idea to use Live Explosion tags during a spar this afternoon. If not for Kitsune-sama here, her class that was observing, could have been severely hurt. Especially since more than one tag was used."

"I do take partial responsibility." Kitsune shrugged. "I was curious about her skills and wanted to see what she could do. So, I pushed. I might have angered her enough to use the tags. Otherwise, she wouldn't have used them. Am I wrong?" Kitsune looked down at Minashi. Minashi saw it though. Her Blood Clone's eyes were twinkling in mirth.

Mutinous clones. Naruto's were only supposed to be like that.

"No." She grit through her teeth. "They are part of my weapons check. Saki-chan said it's good for shinobi to get into routine when packing weapons. I wanted to get into the habit of always being prepared."

"See?" Kitsune smiled please. "They were not there to be used in the other spars."

"That does not matter. What does, is the fact that her tags caused damage to the academy grounds. It even scared the Second years two fields over. This doesn't include all the worried parents or caregivers I've had checking in on why there were explosions at the Academy."

"Okawa-san, I apologize for my Imouto's actions." Minato bowed at his waist. "I can pay for the damages."

Minashi winced and felt the guilt pool in her chest.

Daichi Okawa ran a hand down his face. He was getting too old for this shit.

"I'll help pay as well." Kitsune stepped forward and patted Minato's shoulder. He looked at her surprised.

"I can't let you-"

"I tried to find and push your Imouto's buttons. This is results of my curiosity. I'll help pay." She looked back to Daichi. "I'll also meet with the parents if still needed. I can explain that I'll be helping out at the academy and was showing the students the dangers of Fuuinjutsu. It will explain the explosions, yet sooth their minds that their children will be getting Guest instruction from one of Konoha's elites."

Daichi's shoulders relaxed in relief. "That is acceptable. Thank you Kitsune-sama."

"Kitsune, please." She corrected.

"Then please call me Daichi. We will be working in the same place while you are with us."

"Daichi-san." Kitsune nodded then turned to Minashi. "You have manners Squirt?"

Minashi's eye twitched at her damned clone. She turned to Daichi and gave him the puppy eye jutsu.

"I'm sorry." She pouted. "I won't do it again Okawa-sama."

Kitsune rolled her eyes. Minato tilted his head at Minashi curiously.

Daichi melted. "Oh, no worries Minashi-chan, you just have to be more careful." He reached forward smiling and ruffled her messy hair. Her braid long starting to unravel.

Minato's eyes widened as he realized what just happened. His gaze shot up to Kitsune to see her roll her eyes again.

"Well, Classes have been let out for the day. Kitsune-san, if you would follow me, the parents have been waiting semi-patiently for my explanation. Minato, thank you for coming. Take care Minashi-chan. No more explosion tags on academy grounds." He ordered and walked Kitsune out.

Minashi's shoulders hunched when she heard Minato's disappointed sigh.

"Minashi." He said soft.

"Gomen-nesai." She interrupted.

Minato moved and kneeled before her. His face ducked until their eyes met. He gave her an encouraging smile. Slowly she looked up and met his gaze evenly.

His own eyes scanned over her messy figure. Fondness filled his gaze as he realized her outfit was basically ruined.

"You tried hard huh?"

Minashi just stared at the kindness and love in his eyes. There was no anger. It confused her.

"You're covered in dirt and soot." He reached up and started to try to clean her face.

"Nii-san." She whimpered as her eyes stung. He was being so kind. Why?

"Do you know what you did wrong?" he asked gently.

Minashi dropped her gaze. "Hai." She mumbled.

"What did you do wrong?"

"Used Fuuin against a comrade."

"Why did you use unnecessary force in what should have been a simple spar?" his voice was still soft, still kind.

It made the guilt in her chest grip her harder.

"She- she- just kept pushing. Called me shrimp. Looked at me like I was weak. I wanted to prove that I was strong."

"You let your emotions get the better of you." Minato reached up and started tucking her stray hairs behind her ears. "That is the second thing you did wrong. You could have really hurt your classmates."

His kindness hurt and confused her. Why wasn't he scolding her? Yelling at her?

A gently hand lifted her chin back up so her eyes met Minato's.

"No one was hurt. Kitsune-san claimed partial responsibility. Knowing her, she did part of this on purpose. So, I don't blame you completely. I'm just sad that you let her push your buttons. Looks like we have some things to work on." He smiled at her.

"Why aren't you yelling?" she whispered confused.

He blinked at her confused. "Why would I yell?"

"I got in trouble. I made a lot of problems. For you, for Kitsune-san, for Okawa-sama, for Sumiko-sensei."

Minato looked at her softly. "Ah, you did. But you are just a child. You have acknowledged that you know what you did wrong. You won't let it happen again. Yelling at you wouldn't have improved the situation any. Only hurt you and me. Instead, I'm going to carry you home and we will work on your emotional training this evening with Sakumo-san and Kakashi-kun. Okay?"

Minashi let the few tears fall. "H-hai." She choked.

Minato gave her a loving look then scooped her up against his chest. Minashi clung on tightly as he navigated out of the offices. She felt Kakashi fall in step, but she just shut her eyes and basked in the feel of Minato.

He hadn't yelled. He hadn't shouted. He hadn't said he was disappointed.

"You okay?" Minato whispered a few minutes into their walk.

"Hm. Love you Nii-san. I'm sorry for causing trouble."

Minato's chuckle vibrated against her small frame. "Love you too Mina-chan. And you're still a kid. You should have seen all the trouble your nee-san got into in the academy. It's just part of being a kid. You learn what is right and wrong. When you do something wrong, you learn to not do it again. It's all just a part of growing up."

His hand reached up and pet the back of her head. More tears fell down her cheeks, but there was a happy smile on her face.

So, this is what it was supposed to feel like. She mused. Being loved unconditionally by family.

Together they made it back to the Hatake Clan compound. Minato pushed Kakashi and Minashi through conditioning exercises until Sakumo would return.

He called it a form of punishment. Minashi wondered if he was a closet sadist, or was Kitsune rubbing off on him?

Sakumo returned before dinner, and heard from Minato what had transpired at the academy.

He shot her a curious look that she could easily read. 'You'll explain later.' Was clear as day in that look.

Minato excused himself before dinner, leaving with a hug and kiss on her forehead. He had plans to pick Kushina up from the Hokage Tower where she was doing her paperwork. Apparently, one of the Lead Chuunin in charge of filing reports, had trapped Kushina there until she finished.

"Kakashi, go through your katas. Minashi, join me for a game." Sakumo called after dinner when they had moved to the training ground.

Kakashi obediently went to work and Minashi joined Sakumo at the Shogi board.

"You may go first Minashi." Sakumo waved.

Minashi eyed him but did as told. They were silent as the game began.

"Care to explain what happened at the academy?" He asked softly.

Minashi looked up to meet calm coal eyes. Her own eye twitched. Why has she been finding Sakumo so hard to read at times?

Cutting her finger with her thumbnail, she let the blood well before etching a seal on the floor beside the board. The board blocked it from Kakashi's view.

"Minashi?" Kakashi called out right after she was done. Damn Sensitive nose. She cursed forgetting he had an overpowered nose.

She gave him a smile and wave. "Sorry Kashi! Need to trim my nails."

Kakashi eyed her but returned to his katas.

"Fuuin" Minashi muttered making a sign. A small bubble of chakra surrounded them, but remained clear.

Sakumo hummed as he looked it over. "Good work. Privacy seal?"

"Hai. It's hard to talk about my Clones without slipping up." Sakumo nodded at her and their game resumed.

"So, academy?" He pressed.

"My Kitsune clone hasn't popped so I'm not entirely sure why she showed up. She said Hiruzen sent her over, so she'd stop annoying him. Kitsune was supposed to get back on the roster. The blood clone reported something about Medical leave though. So, I can't be sure what is going on yet."

"Hiruzen told me about your Blood Clones. He mentioned that they are supposed to have a link to you. A type of telepathic link? Shouldn't it have just told you?"

Minashi grunted. "Hai. They are only supposed to use it for important things. There is also a distance they have to be near me for, for it to work clearly. If my Blood Clone left the village, that link would be inaccessible."

"Hmm." Sakumo mused silently and made a move on the board that made Minashi pause. "Anything else?"

"I can choose to cut the connection if needed. Same on their end."

"They are independent then?"

Minashi shrugged. "They are an advanced Shadow Clone. They are also a little less reckless than Shadow clones."

"How so?"

"Papa and I had a theory that since Shadow Clones didn't feel pain, only transferred information, that made them reckless. The Blood Clones can bleed. They feel pain. They have human instincts to stay alive. Shadow Clones know that they are tools to be used as shields if needed. The Blood Clones will do what their originator would do to stay alive. It makes them better than Shadow Clones in a way. They'll fight to last longer. That and it's much harder to tell that they are a clone. The Fuuinjutsu used in making them, is attached to their originator the entire time. They are constantly connected to my Chakra. That's why there is a telepathic connection. They are an extension of myself in a way."

"What happens if you are too far from your Blood clone? Hiruzen informed me about the Suna Mission."

"The mission to rescue the Sand Siblings." Minashi frowned at the board. "Check."

Sakumo grunted.

"That mission, I had to leave my Mina-clone with extra chakra since I would be leaving the village. It was too important of a mission to not go myself. The Clone's chakra doesn't regenerate the same when I am out of range. So, it had to be careful of what it did and how chakra heavy it was."

"How does it regenerate then?" He tilted his head and moved another piece. "Check."

Minashi froze and looked the board over. Well shit. Leaning on her hand she stared at the board and reviewed all her memories of Shogi to see how to get out of this mess.

"Meditation." Minashi responded absently. "Food. Sleep. Like normal Shinobi. They were created to be as human as possible. Shadow Clones can't and will run out of chakra. They were solely designed for information gathering. Blood Clones are an extension of that. Let's say there is an A-rank infiltration mission that has an expected undercover aspect for at least a year. But there is only one person qualified to get this done. With the Blood Clone, they will be able to have additional 'help' to form a cover story. You're also able to cover twice the ground in information gathering."

Minashi finally moved her piece and smirked up at Sakumo. "Check."

He looked down at the board between them. "Impressive." He moved another piece. "Both your strategy and the Blood Clone."

The air around Minashi went nostalgic and Sakumo looked up to see her eyes softened as she looked out to Kakashi. He could tell though she really wasn't looking at him.

"It was actually Naruto's idea. He wanted a way to be able to eat twice as much Ramen then the knucklehead already could. I was in total agreeance with him. During the nights I would worry over the shinobi I'd sent out to search for surviving civilian pockets, I would try to work on any of the crazy Fuuin ideas Naruto used to throw at me that failed at first. I was no master at Fuuinjutsu before the war started. Ero-Sannin was first to start my training in it, but Kyuubi training and Sage training had gotten in the way. I was good. One of the best in the village still, but never up to his level. After, well I had Papa and Tobirama. They taught me in the Uzumaki style. Or what they could remember from their Uzumakis. Then their own styles."

Minashi chuckled as she looked back to the board and continued to play. "Tobirama was always a bit miffed that I was so good at his jutsu. So, he abused it to train me. Papa too. Especially when I told them that I had others doing my Hokage paperwork so I could train."

"What?" Sakumo blinked at her.

Minashi just smirked down at the board. "Checkmate." She grinned.

Sakumo was just staring at her.

"What?"

"You had Clones do your paperwork?"

Minashi smirked. "Funny really. No Hokage before me thought to do so, even though they had the reserves and access to the scroll with the jutsu."

"Does Hiruzen know this?

Minashi blinked. "I've been debating when to tell him. Though I kind of see it as fair game since he's thrown off my plans so much. Let him suffer a bit longer." She then narrowed her eyes on him. "You better not get caught by the old monkey."

Sakumo smiled innocently at her. "Another game?" He asked instead gesturing to the board.

"Tou-san!" Kakashi called as he rushed up to them. Minashi wiped away the privacy seal. "Can we work on some more jutsu now? I'm all done my Katas."

Sakumo hummed looking between the two pups before him. He knew his conversation with Minashi had gotten sidetracked. He didn't get an answer on why she was angry at her own Clone. But he couldn't talk with her properly without one of her privacy seals.

He'd let her procrastinate for a little bit longer.

"Alright. Give me a minute. I want to grab something."

Sakumo got up from the engawa and headed inside. Kakashi sat beside Minashi and frowned at the board of shogi.

"You played against Tou-san?"

"Hai."

"He's been teaching me too when he has time."

"I had a friend before arriving here that taught me." Minashi sighed. "Saki-chan is a tough opponent though."

"Did you beat Tou-san?" Kakashi's voice filled with awe as he looked the pieces over again.

"Hai, just barely."

"But even Nara-sama has a hard time beating him." Kakashi exclaimed.

"Huh?" Minashi blinked up at him. Two coal eyes were wide.

"Tou-san and Nara-sama sometimes play it. Tou-san would have me watch and talk about the strategy afterwards. It's always a close match."

Minashi hummed as she looked back down and reviewed the game they'd played.

"I let Minashi win." Sakumo said joining them again.

Minashi's gaze snapped up to his twinkling one.

"I needed to see her strategy first. She's well taught. I look forward to testing you further Minashi-chan."

"Again." She demanded, sounding like the troublesome Naras.

Sakumo held up a hand. "Patience." He then showed them three small slips of white paper, no bigger than his palm. "Training first. What do you two know of Elemental chakra?"

"That it's a Chuunin skill unless being an aspect of Clan Jutsus." Kakashi recited.

"Correct."

"We've only talked about the theory in class." Minashi tried to hold back her eagerness.

"So you two should know what I'm holding right?"

"Chakra paper." Kakashi nodded eagerly.

Sakumo smiled and handed them each and piece and kept one for himself. "Put in chakra, depending on its reaction to your chakra, we'll be able to see your main affinity. When you are Chuunin we will do this again and instead test for Secondary affinities. By then, you should have enough control to learn how to pull back on your main one to reveal the secondary."

"Do you two remember how to tell which reaction is which?" Sakumo quizzed them. He always did with each lesson or training. It was no wonder Kakashi had been so far ahead of his age group. She didn't think any of her friends' parents, even the clan ones pushed so hard without making it seem that hard.

"Fire will ignite and burn to ash." Minashi started.

"Wind, splits the paper in two." Kakashi went next.

"Lightning will crinkle the paper."

"Earth, turns to dirt and crumbles away."

"Water will make the paper wet."

Sakumo smiled at them proud. "Well done. Kakashi, go ahead."

Kakashi fed the paper chakra and it crumpled. "Lightning!" he exclaimed excited. "Like you tou-san!"

"Ah. I can help you practice Lightning Manipulation then." Kakashi beamed. Sakumo turned to Minashi. "You next Minashi."

Minashi nodded and focused on her chakra. She tried her best to hold back what she knew the last time she tested her chakra. But her control was still shaky.

The paper split in two. Relieved Minashi let out a breath, but it was too soon. The two sides then began to dampen in her grip. Minashi cursed mentally at the sight.

"Whoa!" Kakashi whispered. "Tou-san what was that?"

Minashi looked up to see Sakumo eyeing her. Minashi grimaced.

"Well, you are Half Uzumaki and Half Namikaze. Both are strong clans even if there are only a few left. I'm surprised, but not surprised." Sakumo said evenly. "Wind comes from Namikaze. Minato should be able to assist you with that. He is Wind affinity."

"I thought Wind was rare in Konoha?" Kakashi asked.

"It is. The Sarutobi Clan is the only other one that has it for main Affinities. Back in the warring era, the Sarutobi rested between the lands of Suna and Fire. Namikaze though was originally a small but strong clan from Suna."

Minashi's eyes widened on him in real surprise. "Really?"

Sakumo smiled. "Hai. I'm sure if you asked Minato, he can pull out some of his family history. His clan was very meticulous about keeping records. Until Minato was of age, they were kept safe as is any protocol for dying clans. He received them when he became Jounin. The same for all the Uzumaki holdings Kushina has." He glanced to Kakashi. "Just like if anything happened to me, all of the Hatake holdings would be locked away safe until you made Jounin. You would then have the position to be responsible enough to make a decision on what to do with everything. My hopes would be that you would make me proud and be Happy."

Kakashi stared at him with wide eyes. Sakumo reached over and ruffled his hair. "All I ever want for you Kakashi is to grow up strong and to be happy."

"Now Minashi, I have a secondary affinity for Water. I can assist you with it while you are here. When I'm away, Kushina should be able to help. She had a primary affinity for water and secondary Wind. Minato, I believe has also worked with water recently, but it is not one of his secondary affinities. That would be Lightening." He smiled at Kakashi who perked up. "So, he will be able to help you Kakashi, if I am unable."

Sakumo left but quickly returned after going to one of the trees near the main house. He held up two leaves from a pile he retrieved.

"Lightening." He began holding the leaf on either end. Black wiry lines squirmed up the leaf before connecting. "Kakashi, the process of this exercise it to control the lightning without burning the leaf up. Once your leaf looks like this, we'll move onto the next step. Lightning is one of the trickier elements to control. That's why I'm okay with you starting early."

Kakashi nodded and took from the small pile of leaves Sakumo had grabbed.

"Wind." Sakumo held it on other ends again. The leaf split down the middle cleanly. "This will not go automatically like the chakra paper." He explained.

"Okay."

"Same with Kakashi, as soon as it looked like mine, we'll move onto the next step." Minashi nodded knowing this was going to be boring. "Also, I can't show it, but if you want to attempt water as well, I can explain it." Minashi eagerly nodded and he chuckled. "Draw the water from your leaf and have it pool to the center of the leaf without completely drying out it out."

Minashi deadpanned him. That was not the training Tobirama put her through.

"Don't give me that look pup." Sakumo grunted and pressed down on her head as he ruffled her hair.

Minashi gave a small displeased snarl. Her hair was messy enough. "Stop it Saki-chan!" She whined, swatting at him. Sakumo just chuckled before handing over her own pile of leaves.

"You two can work on this until bath time." He got up smiling and left them to the evening sun.

Kakashi cursed sticking his fingers to his mouth after another leaf caught fire. But being the determined little brat he was, he picked up another and tried again. Minashi couldn't let that slide.

She knew wind already. It was instinct. Her water needed practice. So, she tried the new exercise.

She dried out the leaf.

Cursing she tried again. It was much more difficult than the water manipulation Tobirama had her doing. That had been pooling bubbles of water from a moving source of water. The bubbles being of various sizes. Then separating clean water from a jug of muddy river water.

Minashi paused at her thoughts. Okay, maybe not harder, but definitely harder for me since it required smaller amounts of chakra. She was always weaker to jutsu and exercises that required small chakra amounts or delicate control. Another reason she'd never be a medic-nin. That's why she'd made the tags.

Minashi worked on pulling smaller and smaller amounts of water from the leaf while her brain spilt and thought on other tasks.

I'll need to get with Tsunade soon. She's the only medic-nin with enough control and understanding to be able to help me make more Iryojutsu Tags. She might even have new ideas. Not to mention, she wanted to pass on some of the breakthroughs her and Sakura had made over the years. Including one that saved many lives of their shinobis.

"Alright. Enough." Sakumo's voice snapped her back to the present.

Minashi jerked and lost control. Her leaf was sucked of all water. It became a mess of dust that soon was soaked with the water she'd pulled out.

Sakumo just chuckled at her. Kakashi was pouting behind his mask even as he put the burn ointment on them that Sakumo brought.

Together their small group headed inside for bath time. Soon after, the exhaustion caught up with both academy students and they were out cold.