Hey people!
Sorry for the long wait!
This chapter was one of the very few I hadn't written beforehand (I usually write 3 chapters ahead of publication to avoid this). It was a very difficult chapter to write for me, which resulted in me taking forever to write it. To make up for the long wait, though, it is extra long!
Chapter-specific warnings: fluff (yay!), but also a lot of emotions (yes, again).
I hope you like it! Do let me know ;)
Chapter 18
Minato leaned back on his chair with a sigh as the jounin left. The man couldn't quite manage to completely hide his slight limp. Minato knew he would be heading out to the shinobi wing of the hospital as soon as the paperwork was complete. Shikaku, standing next to Minato, cleared his throat.
"-Well, this is troublesome news."
Minato snorted at his friend's comment.
"-Only you would find the total absence of news to be troublesome news. But you're right: this is troublesome."
Minato sighed and stood up, motioning for his friend to follow him into the small room next to his office. It had a large window and comfortable looking sofas. One wall was covered with bookshelves, with scrolls and books neatly organized on them. This was Minato's little study, a place he had furnished and decorated into a relaxing bubble. He only very rarely conducted business there. This room was a space for him to relax and take short breaks in during his office days.
Both men sat down on the sofas with satisfied groans. This had been a long day. Jounins had come in to report from their missions as usual. Unfortunately, even if most missions had been successful, the overall picture was getting a little bit alarming. Tensions were rising again. The Elemental Nations had been at each other's throat for the past ten years, but it looked like things might soon escalate into open violence rather than the passive-aggressive equilibrium it had been until now.
Shikaku was the first to break the silence.
"-The Raikage is getting itchy feet again."
Minato groaned. As much as he respected his fighting skills, the Raikage was a difficult man to deal with. He was rash and unpredictable. And proud. Very proud.
The image of a war-weary Raikage flashed into Minato's mind, the man's gruff voice sounding like a thunder clap on the devastated battlefield.
Minato waved his hand, clearly indicating that he did not wish to speak about the current state of things for the moment. They would have plenty of time to discuss the matter of the delicate international situation at the meeting the next day.
"-Any news from Suna?
-No, looks like Raisa is maintaining the meeting despite the storm.
-Hm. Have you decided who you'll be taking this time?
-Kakashi and Naruto."
Minato's answer earned him a raised eyebrow.
"-Bold. When is he due back?
-He's back. Came in two days ago. He spent yesterday with his team."
Shikaku hummed in acknowledgment.
"-You still don't know where they went?
-Hasn't told me.
-He hasn't debriefed you?
-Just said that everything went smoothly.
-You're not curious?
-Plausible deniability."
Shikaku sniggered. Things were bound to get interesting, with this new Naruto entering the game. He couldn't wait to see what the younger man would do.
Both men fell into a comfortable silence for a few minutes. Minato stood up and started preparing tea for the both of them.
"-How's Yoshino?
-Her older brother just became a grandfather. She's ecstatic. That should get her off Shikamaru's ass for a bit."
Minato chuckled.
"-He's still young, I'm sure he'll settle down eventually.
-I'm in no rush for him to do so. And I don't think he's in any rush himself. I've hardly ever even seen him go out on dates.
-Ah, you know how it's like. Naruto and Kakashi don't tell me anything either."
Shikaku shrugged.
"-Let the kids enjoy their freedom. I'm sure Kakashi is glad the old coots are gone. Sage knows he'd be facing a lot of pressure to restore his clan otherwise."
Minato laughed while bringing the tea to the low table between the sofas.
"-That would have been a massacre waiting to happen."
Shikaku snickered, grabbing his cup of tea.
"-Can't say I would have tried to stop him."
Minato made a noncommittal noise. Shikaku took a whiff of the delicate smelling tea before talking again.
"-Well, even if Shika did settle down, there's no guarantee there'll be grandchildren involved," Shikaku remarked, assessing his friend for any reaction.
Minato reclined on the sofa, his cup of tea in one hand, the other casually on the back of the furniture.
"-Why do you say that?"
Shikaku took a couple seconds before answering him.
"-You do know about them, right?"
Minato tilted his head, indicating Shikaku had a point.
"-Hard to miss."
Shikaku sniggered at that.
Minato was about to add something when a discreet knock interrupted him. He sighed lightly then went to open the door to find Spider on the other side. The ANBU said a few hushed words to the Hokage, who walked back out into his office, closing the door behind him.
Shikaku sat unfazed, used to his friend and superior's constant working. He sipped his tea comfortably while going over the current situation in his mind.
The meeting with the Kazekage was taking place in three days time. It would take about half a day to get to the meeting point, a place designated in the accords ruling the salt trade between the two nations. The two Kages met every second year to fine-tune the trade depending on the going rate, supply and demand.
Usually, Minato would take two of his personal guard ANBU with him. The Kazekage usually took one of his own elite and his son, Gaara, jinchuuriki of the One-Tail. Shikaku was pretty certain the Kazekage brought his son just to rub it in Minato's face. Both men knew how much Minato disliked the seal this poor kid had been saddled with his whole life.
Bringing Naruto to the meeting instead of his usual guard was a bold move. Knowing what Shikaku did now about the younger blonde, it wasn't a surprise that his father would take him with him, all things considered. Shikaku wasn't aware of the details, but he didn't doubt Naruto had known the Kazekage's son in his alternate life.
It would be a first, for Minato to include his son in such an open power play. Of course, the salt trade agreements were rather low profile on the scale of international relations, but never before had Minato so openly brought his son into his own Hokage duties. After the incident with Kumo, and the news of Naruto's existence reaching the Tsuchikage's ears, Minato had always tried to keep Naruto as far away from the other Kages as possible, something Naruto had never resented his father for.
The salt trade between Konoha and Suna gathered very little attention from the other countries. The other Kages and Daimyos didn't fear these meetings, as Raisa's dislike for the current Hokage was well-known. There was virtually no chance of both countries aligning together for any cause.
Shikaku didn't expect any country to be spying on the meeting this time around. That being said, he expected Naruto's presence would impact the dynamics between the countries. How so, he couldn't even begin to predict. But there was no doubt in his mind that it would be interesting.
Before he could think more on the matter, Minato came back into the room. He sat back down on the sofa, and just looked at his cooling cup of tea with a frown. Shikaku raised an eyebrow questioningly.
"-Should I be worried?"
Minato answered, his gaze still on his drink.
"-That was Biwako Sarutobi.
-Oh? That's unusual for her to seek you out. Whatever did she want?
-She wanted to, and I quote, inform the Hokage that the Sarutobi clan had placed one Naruto Namikaze under their full protection."
Shikaku coughed, choking on his tea.
"-They did what?!
-I am just as surprised, trust me.
-Oh I do. What ever did they do that for?
-I have no idea.
-Does Naruto know?
-At this point, I would be surprised if he didn't somehow."
Shikaku clicked his tongue in agreement.
"-How did he even manage to do that? The last time the Sarutobi took someone under their official protection was a century ago!
-Hell if I know.
-That kid of yours is one hell of something, I'll give you that."
Minato finally took his cup and drank his lukewarm tea. When Shikaku finished his own cup, he stood up and stretched, groaning.
"-Well, I'm on my way.
-I'll be right behind you, I'm done for the day," Minato answered, standing up as well and bringing the tea service to the small sink in the corner to wash it.
"-You're finishing early.
-Today's our twenty-sixth anniversary with Kushina, we're celebrating.
-Oh, what have you got planned?
-Nothing much," both men headed out of the small room, taking the direction of the Tower exit. "We didn't want a big celebration. We're just going to the onsen and having a nice dinner at home.
-Simple enough," Shikaku approved.
"-We haven't had much time together recently, we figured a quiet evening would be perfect. With Sayora on her training, it'll just be the two of us.
-Well, don't let me keep you. I have my own wife to get back to."
The Nara clan leader clasped his friend on the shoulder before heading to his compound. Minato leisurely walked to the Namikaze estate, used to feeling his ANBU guards' discreet presence around him.
Once home, he took a shower and changed into a simple but comfortable yukata. He headed back out and walked to the Yamanaka flower shop, where Inoichi warmly greeted him. The old friends chatted while Inoichi wrapped the orchid Minato had ordered in a beautiful silk furoshiki. After accepting his friend's invitation to come for dinner sometime in the next few weeks, Minato bade him goodbye and headed out to the Academy.
He arrived half an hour before the end of the classes and nodded to the jounin on guard duty before confidently walking into the building. He felt the protective wards tickle on his skin for a split second before the sensation faded. Apparently, Kushina had updated them recently. From the feel of it, there was a very nasty surprise awaiting anyone who tried to break into the Academy. A lesson learnt twenty-two years ago. The protective barrier had been up ever since.
Minato strolled through the hallways, smiling at the muffled sounds of the students answering their instructors, or debating amongst themselves behind classroom doors. His sensing abilities soon brought him to a specific classroom. Still outside, he could hear Kushina's voice as she explained how to layer a simple Earth array into a seal to stabilize it. That would be her senior class, then. He knocked on the door, interrupting the explanation.
"-Enter!"
Minato smiled at the slight note of curiosity he could hear in Kushina's voice. Holding the orchid behind his back, he pushed the door open and walked in, provoking a wave of amazed whispers. The students immediately stood up and bowed with a chorus of respectful 'Hokage-sama!'
Minato chuckled and stepped further into the room, looking at Kushina's questioning face.
"-Settle down, children. Sorry to interrupt your class. I was wondering if I could borrow your teacher for the rest of the day?" He said smiling at his wife, pulling the orchid out to present it to her.
Kushina's face instantly reddened at the unexpected gift and question. The children in the room hooted and shouted their encouragement, deepening Kushina's blush.
"-What do you say?" he asked her again, winking at her.
Her blush receded as she chuckled softly, a smile appearing on her lips. She accepted the orchid and took it from his hands very gently.
"-Thank you. You shouldn't have.
-How could I resist?"
Her smiled widened, and she took his hand with one of hers, the other still firmly holding the plant. The children clapped their encouragement, making the two adults laugh. Minato turned to the students and winked at them.
"-Children, your class is dismissed. You're done for the week. Have a lovely weekend!"
He winked one last time and both he and Kushina were gone in a flash. They reappeared instantly in the park opposite the Academy. Kushina's voice resounded in a peal of light laughter.
"-Minato! I still had to give them their homeworks!
-Then it's a good thing I arrived when I did," he answered with a wink, tugging her into a hug.
She chuckled softly and looked up to his face, raising on her tiptoes to kiss him softly on the lips.
"-Thank you for the surprise. The flower is beautiful.
-Happy anniversary, Kushina," Minato kissed her again.
The couple slowly walked through the park holding hands. The park was a small one, but it was very quiet at this time of the day. There were a few playgrounds throughout, and the place would be full of playing children as soon as the Academy finished for the day.
Kushina and Minato leisurely walked to their home in comfortable silence. Kushina went to the kitchen table to unwrap the orchid once they got into the small estate. The plant had several bunches of small flowers. Each flower was a beautiful vibrant blue, with purple edges. While Kushina observed the flower, Minato prepared them some of her favorite tea.
"-It's beautiful, Minato, thank you.
-Anything for you, my love," Minato smiled as he sat down next to her, holding her hip with his arm.
"-Did Inoichi find it for you? It's a rare variety.
-He did. He found it a week ago. We both thought you'd love it."
Kushina smiled.
"-I do. I'll have to thank him too.
-He invited us for dinner whenever we're free in the next couple weeks.
-That'd be lovely. I haven't seen them in a while."
Minato hummed his agreement. Kushina kissed his brow then picked up the flower and brought it to her indoor garden. Minato followed her with the tea tray. He put it down on a low table next to a white giant orchid. He sat down in the love-seat on the other side of the table, observing Kushina as she moved a few plants around to create a space for the new one. She hummed a slow melody as she moved about, bringing a loving smile to his lips.
He loved watching her tend to her plants. She moved so naturally between the various leaves, vines and pots, always humming a song or another. Her hair would shine in the light, taking on a soft glow as they shifted in the slightly green tint of the small garden. The flowery smells in the room mixed into a delicate perfume he had come to associate with peacefulness and home.
After finding what she deemed the perfect spot for the plant, Kushina nodded to herself and came to sit next to Minato on the small sofa. She brought her feet up and lowered her head to his shoulder. He handed her a cup of tea, and she closed her eyes to inhale the delicate fragrance.
"-Hm. This is lovely. I needed this."
Minato hummed and kissed her brow, happy to feel her relax next to him. They took their time drinking their tea, the tensions of the day slowly melting out of them both. After a long moment in peaceful silence, Minato softly started talking.
"-Would you like anything specific for dinner, tonight?
-I don't want anything complicated. I got some fish at the market this morning. We could make some sushi, what do ya think?
-Sushi would be nice. We haven't had some in a while.
-What about you? Fancy anything in particular?
-I was thinking about making a lemon cake for dessert."
Kushina chuckled softly.
"-I should have expected that."
Minato chuckled too. What could he say? He absolutely loved lemon cake!
Kushina put her teacup down and stood up. She stretched, turned around and kissed Minato.
"-I'm gonna grab a shower and change."
Minato nodded. He finished his tea too and put his cup down on the tray. He brought the set back to the kitchen, washed and dried it. He headed upstairs, following the noise of water to the main bathroom.
The room was full of steam: Kushina had always loved taking scalding hot showers. Probably a result of her being Kurama's jinchuuriki. Minato had to admit the hot water could be enjoyable on tired muscles.
He wordlessly observed the fogged-up form of his wife in the shower, her soft voice muffled by the humidity in the room. Her hair had taken the color of blood, leaving nothing to the imagination as the water flattened it onto her body.
Minato silently removed his yukata and stepped into the screen-less shower. Kushina let out a surprised shriek as his hands caressed her hips. She turned around and lightly slapped his shoulder, earning his soft, amused laughter.
"-It's not funny, dattebane!
-It is."
She frowned as he placed a soft kiss on her shoulder.
"-Your hands are cold."
He placed another kiss at the jointure between her shoulder and her neck, a smile tugging on his lips.
"-They're not..." he splayed his hands out to grab her hips more fully. He then trailed them up her sides, his thumbs softly tracing the underside of her breasts. "See? They're not cold."
Kushina glared at him. His smile widened: there was heat in her gaze, but no anger.
His hands continued their ascension, trailing up her arms to come cup her face. He very gently caressed her cheeks with the back of his fingers before gathering her hair in one hand. The hot water was engulfing them both, their torso pressed together.
Minato gazed into her grey eyes.
"-You are so beautiful."
It was Kushina's turn to smile and take his face into her hands. She tipped his chin down to kiss him. Their kiss started slowly. They lost track of time as they took their time rediscovering the other. Skin glided against heated skin, lips explored and kissed, hands caressed and held.
Slow, intimate, the dance of lovers long used to each other but still falling in love with every breath.
Later, they slowly dressed each other in comfortable yukata, their movements slow and loving. Kushina playfully kissed Minato's nose as she adjusted his collar.
"-Don't move."
She didn't give him time to answer as she sauntered away and out of their bedroom. She came back a minute later, holding a rectangular, silk-wrapped packet.
"-Happy anniversary, love of my life."
He smiled and kissed her, murmuring his thanks.
"-Go on, open it."
Her joyful smile melted his heart, the light of her own happiness shining in her eyes. He carefully unwrapped the silk to discover a beautifully carved wooden box. He opened it to find an exquisite calligraphy set of brushes and ink.
"-It's beautiful, thank you," he kissed her again.
Kushina excitedly clapped her hands.
"-Wait, that's not all. The handles are made of the Shodai's chakra tree. The hair is a mix of chakra tree fibers and a summon's tail hair.
-A summon's hair? How did you manage to get that?
-Let's just say I was owed a favor."
Minato simply 'okayed' and touched the block of ink. He closed his eyes and let his senses explore the hard-packed material.
"-Is this…?"
Kushina nodded enthusiastically.
"-Hmhm. Home-made ink, Uzumaki recipe!
-Kushina! It must have taken you weeks to make! How did you even find the ingredients?
-A woman has her secrets," she winked at him.
Minato chuckled.
"-Well, you're welcome to keep your secrets, woman. I love you with the mystery," he smiled again, then looked at the box in his hands before looking at her once more. "Thank you, Kushina. I love it."
And he did. This was a beautiful gift. He couldn't imagine how long it must have taken Kushina to make the block of ink without being able to feel chakra, even if it was one of her own clan recipes.
After giving Minato his gift, Minato and Kushina headed out and took the direction of the onsen. The owners were Wave-country citizens who had come to live in the Leaf over ten years prior. They had opened a prosperous onsen which provided high quality soothing massages. After a thorough security check, Minato had made the small business one of his go-to places to relax. He and Kushina had booked a private part of the edifice for the occasion.
Both Kushina and Minato enjoyed the massage they received. They stayed for a couple hours, thoroughly enjoying the warm baths and the attentive and discreet care of the staff. They left feeling like their limbs were made of cooked noodles, and completely happy about it.
They had barely spoken the whole time, simply happy to let the peace and quiet of the place settle in their bones and bring them into their own little cloud.
Once back home, they comfortably worked in the kitchen to make a simple meal of rice, vegetable and sashimi. Minato's lemon cake was still slightly warm when they had it for dessert, melting on their tongues in buttery deliciousness.
Throughout the meal, the conversation was light, Kushina providing most of it with stories of her students. She loved the little hellions, as she called them. Minato never tired of hearing about her days at the Academy, grateful for the joy teaching fuuinjutsu brought her.
After the meal, they continued talking while tidying up the kitchen, discussing Sayora's progress with sealing and chakra control. Minato kissed Kushina's forehead after putting the last plate in the cupboard. She rose on her toes and pecked his lips before stepping back.
"-Thank you for tonight, husband of mine. A quiet evening, just the two of us was just what I wanted."
Minato smiled back, pulling her into his arms.
"-You're very welcome, wife of mine. And thank you too. It had been too long since we last did this, hasn't it?"
Kushina hummed in agreement. She settled her head against his chest, closed her eyes and breathed him in. They had been together almost thirty years, known each other for almost ten years on top of that, and Kushina could not imagine her life any other way. That man whose chest was rising and falling against her cheek, whose warmth was seeping into her skin, was her center, her rock, her everything. They had gone through so much together. They had grown so much since the first time they met, all those years ago.
After a couple minutes of comfortable silence, Kushina softly answered.
"-Yes, it was too long."
Minato didn't answer and just held her a little bit tighter. She reciprocated his tenderness. She pulled out a few moments later, rising to her toes to press a soft kiss on his smiling lips.
"-Go on ahead, I'll join you in a bit."
Minato nodded and let her go to exit the kitchen. He startled when he felt Kushina pinch his left butt cheek. She giggled as she sauntered to the back room. Minato shook his head and chuckled, his heart swelling with love and tenderness.
Twenty nine years, they had been together. Married for twenty six. And he still loved this woman as fiercely as all those years ago.
The blonde man smiled to himself as he walked up the stairs. He could hear Kushina walking around the house, watering the plants. That was her ritual: every night, before heading to bed, she would water the numerous plants she loved to grow in their house.
His heart warmed as he heard her sing to herself. They had had a lovely evening, just the two of them. Sayora was away on a mission with her team, a simple routine run for medical supplies in one of Tsunade's teaching clinics.
Relaxed and content, Minato reached the upper floor. He stopped as he passed the door to Naruto's old room. He hesitated a moment, then walked back and opened it. The room was spotless. The furniture was simple and practical but the plants, books and various items and pictures gave the room a warm, cosy atmosphere. Even though their son had moved out of the house to live with Kakashi a couple years ago, Kushina and he both kept his room ready for him to use whenever he wanted to spend the night. While not often, Naruto never hesitated to use it.
The Hokage stepped in and approached the bookshelf. The books on it were a mix of chakra and sealing theory, adventure novels, and a few of Naruto's favorite children books, kept as souvenirs. Framed pictures were almost on every shelf. Minato reached for the stuffed rabbit that was propped against a potted peace lily. The toy was grey instead of its original white, the thread showing where patches of fake fur had been worn out. One eye was missing, replaced by a wooden button. One ear had been sowed back with bright orange thread.
Minato chuckled to himself as the memory unfolded in his mind. One night, Naruto had gotten so excited playing with Kakashi's pack that he had inadvertently torn out the ear. He'd been so surprised he hadn't moved for several seconds before breaking into high pitch, screeching sobs. It had taken half an hour and all of Kushina's patience and soothing words and hugs to calm him down. It had taken twenty more minutes to convince him that the needle wouldn't hurt his rabbit. Only then did Naruto accept to let Kushina sow the ear back on. But the toddler had refused all the thread colors Kushina had tried to use. Minato had thus had to go for emergency shopping. None of the late-night shops of the village had had colored sowing thread to sell him.
Raccoon, one of the two ANBU guards on duty that night, had discreetly slipped away and come back just in time to thwart another explosion of sobs. He'd silently appeared in the family's living room, walked up to the exhausted toddler and held out a spool of bright orange thread. The elite member had been rewarded by a blinding smile, a fierce snotty hug, the rabbit being renamed 'Acoon', and an orange thread bracelet.
Minato smiled fondly. Raccoon had gone into retirement three years later. For those three years, Minato had never seen him without a bright orange circle painted on his right arm guard.
"-Reminiscing, husband?"
Kushina pressed herself to his back, her arms encircling his waist in a comfortable hug. Minato leaned back against her, enjoying her warmth. The couple stood in silence, simply enjoying the feeling of the other in their arm.
This room held so many memories for them. He could hardly believe Naruto was now twenty two! Looking around, it almost felt like yesterday that they moved his 'big boy furniture' in, when he had turned eleven and had started the last Academy unit.
Minato closed his eyes and focused on the feeling of Kushina's arms around his waist. He could feel her forehead between his shoulder blades, and her hair brushing the hem of his yukata by his hips. He breathed her light, foral smell in. His back vibrated when she started humming to herself.
After a while, Kushina shifted to come to Minato's side. She extended one hand to Acoon, pressing the sowed ear between her fingers. Keeping her eyes on the rabbit, she spoke in a soft voice.
"- We will need to talk, eventually, you know."
Minato sighed, his hand lightly squeezing the plush toy.
"-Kushina..."
Although had known this moment would come up eventually, Minato was reluctant to break the peaceful atmosphere of the evening.
"-You can't keep me out of this. I am not starting a fight. I know you have your reasons for not telling me. And that's okay. But I want answers. I need answers. I don't need them now, but I will need them eventually."
Her voice remained level, but factual.
Minato moved to sit on the bed, leaving the rabbit in his wife's hand. She tugged it closer to her, holding it to her chest. She turned to face him.
"-Minato," her voice was soft, "look at me."
He lifted his eyes to her. She was so beautiful. Her long fiery hair reached her thighs. She had braided it into a loose plait at the onsen. A few strands had escaped and were framing her face in a light caress. Minato never tired of watching her hair. Of touching it.
"-Please. I'm his mother, I have the right to know."
A lump formed in his throat. Of course, she had the right to know what was happening. But how could he tell her? How could he tell her how much her son had suffered?
Hurt entered her grey eyes at his silence. Her beautiful grey eyes.
"-I don't know how to tell you," he admitted in a murmur.
At his admission, the hurt receded a little. She clutched the toy tighter to her chest and walked the couple steps that separated them to kneel between his thighs. She put the old rabbit in his lap, bringing one of his hands to it too. She rolled the ear between her thumb and forefinger, her eyes focused on the movement.
"-He is changing. Since his mission, he's changed so much. I need to know why our son is changing. Something happened. Something you are not telling me. Something he is struggling with."
Minato didn't deny her suspicions.
"-I can't help him if I don't know what it is," she murmured, pain evident in her tone.
She lifted her head and searched his eyes.
"-Do you not trust me with this?"
Her eyebrows scrunched up, betraying the self-doubt he could already hear in the dipping of her voice.
Minato cupped her face in his hands, holding her gaze with his.
"-Of course I do. You know that. I will always trust you with our son. With all our family. I just…"
Minato sighed. He dipped his head and rested his forehead on Kushina's, closing his eyes.
"-It's so hard to tell," he said in a whisper.
"-I know it is, dearest."
There was no reproach in her soft tone. Only acceptance, forgiveness, and subtle pleading.
"-He needs you so much right now.
-That's why you need to tell me."
She didn't move from her position while Minato gathered the courage to give her the explanations that he knew would break her heart. After a few minutes, eyes far away, Minato started talking.
"- He was hurt during his mission. Badly. He used the Hiraishin to get away. This, you know." Kushina nodded. "We don't know how, but his doing so triggered something much bigger than him. He didn't receive memories from another life. Well, technically, he did. But not just memories. Two of his soul paths crossed and merged.
- What do you mean, 'soul paths'?" Kushina asked, confusion obvious in her intonation, her voice still soft, as if afraid speaking louder would break the bubble they were in.
Minato took a fortifying breath. He delivered the explanation in a factual yet slightly distracted voice.
"-Naruto somehow became the transient for Ashura Hotsutsuki's soul. Ashura is the Rikkudo Senin's son. He is a Sage of the Six Paths, and by becoming one of his transients, Naruto has become a Sage as well. His soul has taken different paths, but he was able to walk from one of those paths to this one.
-What are you saying?
-Those memories he received, he didn't receive them. He's lived them."
Her eyes widened in horror, her face suddenly drained of color.
"-Are you saying this is not our Naruto?"
Terror and anger colored her words.
"-No, he is our Naruto," Minato quickly reassured her in a firm tone. "He is our Naruto, but he is also a Naruto who's lived another life. He is both.
-Okay..."
Silence reigned while Kushina studied Minato, frowning.
"-What are you not telling me, Minato?"
Minato hesitated. Questions swam in Kushina's eyes. He could see she already suspected what he was about to say. He swallowed a couple times before speaking, his voice dry and scratchy.
"-The reason we didn't tell you… His other life… It was not a pleasant life, love," he ended his sentence in a wince, wishing he could take it all away.
Kushina clenched her jaw, a flash of pain then determination shining in her smoky eyes.
"-How bad?"
Minato broke eye contact with her and looked at the plush rabbit still in his wife's hands.
"-Bad. We..." His throat constricted around words he couldn't bring himself to say. "There was a war."
A sharp intake of breath. He knew all too well how it felt to learn their son had had to suffer through a war they knew nothing about.
"-A war?" Kushina repeated, unbelieving. "Who were we at war with?"
There was a sharpness in her question that suggested pain for whoever was to blame for the war.
"-I'm not sure. He hasn't told me."
Her surprise only lasted a moment before she hissed her next accusation.
"-Was it Iwa?
-No.
-Kumo?
-No.
-Kiri?!" She exclaimed, her surprised tone indicating how unlikely she thought this was.
"-It wasn't any of the elemental nations.
-What?! What do you mean?
-It's a long story. All I know is that they worked together.
- 'They'?"
Confusion. And a touch of anger that Minato knew was caused by the frustration she was surely feeling. He hadn't meant to let that slip, but there was no going back now. She needed to know.
Minato unconsciously squeezed the rabbit in his hands, brushing against Kushina's slowly trembling ones.
"-Minato, why are you saying 'they'?"
Her grey eyes pinned him down, accusation clear in her snarling voice. He simply looked at her, bracing for the pain that was going to follow.
Her left hand jerked once as realization downed on her.
"-We were not there, were we?" Her voice was barely above a murmur.
Minato flinched. He shook his head.
"-We both died the day he was born," he whispered.
"-No." The denial was laced with pain. "No"
Pure agony flashed in her eyes.
"-Who… Who raised him?"
Minato didn't answer. As much as he wanted to, he could not form the words. He looked down at Acoon.
Kushina brought her trembling hand to his chin and lifted it until he was looking at her again.
"-Minato, who raised our son?"
Her voice was trembling, her eyes searching.
Minato was unable to prevent the tears from flooding his eyes. He felt them roll down his cheeks. Pain squeezed his chest. He could only imagine how devastating his silent answer would be for Kushina. His heart broke at seeing the understanding in her eyes, the light of them dimming behind salted water.
"-I'm so sorry, love of my life."
A hiccup answered him as Kushina held her sob in. Minato reached out for her and pulled her into his arms. She didn't sob, but he could feel the heat of her tears burning paths down his neck. After a few minutes, she took a shuddering breath but did not move, her voice muffled by his shoulder.
"-Tell me more."
Her voice was strong, if slightly broken.
"-I don't know much. I know it got better when he grew up. He was put on a team under Kashi when he graduated the Academy.
-You mean Kakashi wasn't there for him?!
-He… I don't think he took our deaths very well, love."
Kushina whimpered as her heart broke further. Kakashi, for all his strength, was so fragile. She couldn't even imagine how he must have felt after losing them, especially considering the state he was in after he lost his comrades during the war. As much as it hurt her to learn that he hadn't been there for Naruto, she couldn't resent him. Frankly, she was just relived to know he'd still been around by the time Naruto had graduated in this other life. She wouldn't have been surprised if he'd followed in his father's footsteps, however horrible.
"-Did..." she cleared her throat. "Did Naruto know? About us?
-He did. He knew us. We had left chakra imprints."
She jerked back from him but kept her hands on his shoulders.
"-Chakra imprints… How…" She jerked back. "Kyuubi! He grew up alone as a jinchuuriki?!" Her tone became angry. "Do you have any idea how horrible it must have been?!"
Kushina's voice was now accusing, hot with fierce protectiveness. She jumped to her feet and started pacing, mumbling to herself. When Minato didn't answer, she turned towards him again, her anger at the injustice ready to explode. She knew it wasn't his fault, but she couldn't contain the emotional turmoil raging inside her.
Minato's haunted blue eyes stopped her cold. He was clenching his jaws so hard she could see the muscle of his cheek jumping. She froze for a few seconds before realization hit her.
"-You do know..."
Minato silently nodded. Her eyes widened in understanding.
"-That day, when you came back from the office… That's what happened, isn't it? He told you, didn't he?"
Kushina slowly walked up to Minato, her whole body shaking. Minato reached up to her as she fisted his sleeves in her trembling hands. She raised her gaze to his, his face already blurring from the water gathering once more in her eyes.
That day… Kushina would never forget it. She would never forget how utterly broken Minato had come back from his office. How completely he had shattered in her arms as she held him through body-wracking sobs. She could remember how his hand had almost torn her night shirt as he clung to her while he wept.
As if she needed confirmation, her husband's broken voice reached her through the ringing in her ear.
"-He's suffered so much, Kushina."
She sunk to her knees as her heart broke for her son. Minato followed her down to the floor, encircling her with his arms. His heart beat against her cheek as she let go of her emotions.
She didn't need to know the details for the pain to be complete. All she knew was that her son, her live wonder, had suffered so much it ripped Minato's heart out, and that he had had to take that suffering alone. She would need to know more later, when she could take the news without breaking. But not right now.
Right now, she only knew the sounds of the strong man next to her crying through the night. Right now, she knew the feel of her son's arms around her waist as he broke down in their kitchen, sobs shaking his body like hers were doing in that moment. Right now, she remembered the agonizing sounds of unimaginable pain and anger and loneliness in his cries as she held him to her heart.
In her mind, she remembered his utter terror as his body was ripped apart by chakra but he only had eyes for Kakashi bleeding in their hallway. She remembered Naruto's repressed flinches every time Tsunade would walk into the room he was in. She remembered the nausea he had tried to hide at that first meal they'd had together as a family after his mission. She remembered the split second when his eyes had widened his disbelief when he'd spotted her for what she now understood was the first time, his body completely rigid while his stranger of a little sister hugged him welcome.
Right now, she remembered all those little moments that hadn't made sense. Now, they did. And she could almost hear her own heart shatter, the sounds almost deafening above her own sobs.
Kushina barely felt it when Minato carried her to the bed just next to them. She could only focus on the softness of a well-loved raccoon-turned rabbit in her shaking hands and holding it to her chest. She could only feel the strong arms around her and the never-leaving lips on her forehead.
Kushina didn't notice when she finally succumbed to sleep in Minato's arms, the both of them wrapped together around a plush rabbit, in a bed just large enough for one person.