The soft haze had slowly started dissipating the darkness, bathing his room in the golden hues of the upcoming dawn. A sunray broke through the thin slip between his breezy curtains, crawling across his bed with first light, as it did most mornings. It caught on a strand of spun fire, a spark in the stillness, gleaming as if ablaze. He fixed it with a reverent look, lips spreading in a serene smile. Without realising it he had reached ahead, his fingers brushing gently against her fiery locks now caught in the light.

The slightest exhale and Minato looked up again, finding himself caught in her gaze. Her eyes seemed so impossibly dark in the dim light, a deep inky indigo that threatened to engulf him, and he thought he would gladly be lost in her look all day, every day. His eyes never left hers as he gently brushed the scarlet lock back, setting it behind her ear. His fingers lingered, feathering a touch down her neck and over a freckle-dusted shoulder, like a whisper across her skin. Her lips parted at that, a soft sigh reaching him and he gulped, fingers brushing down the side of her, over her ribs, drawing gooseflesh across her skin.

He couldn't quite explain it, how something so small could captivate him so, make him spark alive with each breathy sound at the back of her throat. He would happily spend hours, days, weeks, exploring each touch that made her breathless, each kiss that made her heart flutter and drew the whisper of his name across her lips.

His thoughts turned back to the night, to the delirious sweetness of finally running fingers across her smooth skin, pulling her closer, her hands fumbling with his clothing, her touch setting his senses ablaze, his heart threatening to drum out of his chest. He remembered the tumble into bedsheets that now bore her scent, every brush of her lips against his skin, the feeling of her hands about him and the way his very soul had set aflame as he had come undone above her, losing himself in her taste and her scent and in the fire of her locks all about. But above all else he remembered her delight; he remembered every breathy gasp, every strangled moan; her eyes fluttering closed, eyebrows drawn, lips parted, the sight of it imprinted in his mind's eye with every flash of lightning in the stormy night, like a collection of precious still-frames. He would spend a lifetime delighting her, just like this, if she willed it.

She must have seen the way he swallowed thickly as his thoughts got away from him because her lips drew up in a lopsided smile.

"Good morning?" she said, the whispered lilt in her voice managing to turn it into a question, and the simplicity of it was enough to make him laugh.

"A very good morning indeed."

"You're awake early, ya know."

"I had to make sure you won't try to escape me again."

She scoffed, a spark of humour in her look.

"I'm perfectly capable of escaping if I so wished, you should know."

Minato chuckled, gleaming eyes never leaving hers as his fingers traced a swirl down the side of her waist.

"And do you? Wish it?" he asked softly.

He thought she might have japed then, but her mirth gave way to something more tender, almost brittle, her eyes spelling out a wistfulness he thought he finally understood.

"No." she breathed and the smile that spilled across his face couldn't have been more radiant.

"I suppose I must have finally done something right." he murmured, fingers drawing patterns across her skin.

Kushina huffed, sound somewhere between laughter and exasperation before some new realisation came about her and her eyes widened ever-so slightly. Leaning as close as he was, propped up on one shoulder right beside her, it was easy to see the blush that coloured her cheeks, making his heart skip a beat; just as he had thought that she couldn't look more enticing... fool him.

"You…" she started haltingly, uncertainly, suddenly at a loss for words. "You… You've never…?"

He blinked. And then it dawned on him, along with the reason behind her nervousness. He wondered if it would have taken him less time to grasp her meaning if he didn't think the notion so absurd.

He shook his head slowly, smile tugging at the corner of his lips.

"There was this fiery girl who promised to wait for me and kissed my cheek. And, you see… I've thought of no one else since."

A familiar emotion was wavering in the depth of her eyes, coming alive with his words.

"Well then. I think I have you beat, ya know."

"Oh?"

"Even before that… there was this boy who saved me against all odds. He made quite the impression, ya know."

It shouldn't have been as overwhelming as it was, the feeling of serene warmth that washed over him with her words, as if something had just clicked into place, something he had known long ago, without acknowledging. And all his worries and fears, the insecurities and uncertainties, suddenly felt woefully absurd; it felt so very natural, as natural as breathing, being like this, with her. He couldn't quite fathom why he hadn't realised sooner… why he hadn't seen…

And then there was soft laughter on his lips, eyes crinkling up in mirth.

"You know, Jiraya-sensei said something quite similar that very night. That I must have impressed you, but have a long way to go to win you over."

Her eyes widened in alarm then, lips opening in mock-horror.

"You mean to tell me that by doing this we're proving your lecherous sensei right? We must end it at once, ya know." she exclaimed, sitting up fluidly.

She made to get up, but his arm was already about her waist, pulling her back, and she tumbled into him through laughter, the sound of it ringing through his room and reverberating through him, warming him on the inside. She tried to push against him, giggling all the way, but he deftly went along with her ministrations, rolling them both over and ending up over her, pinning her one hand with his own. Her fiery locks had tangled below her, framing her in flames, bringing out the violet in her crinkled eyes, happiness crackling through her look like Tanabata fireworks, and his breath caught at the sight of her.

How wonderfully perfect she looked, in that moment of time.

"Now there's the escape attempt I was hoping to thwart." he murmured, half-dazed.

Her chuckles had subsided, heart fluttering in her chest as she shifted against him and he felt the warmth of her thigh against his leg, her pulse quickening below his hand where he had pinned her wrist. Fire was sneaking down his frame, heat pooling in his stomach, ebbing lower, and he was sure she could feel it, the way she was affecting him, as always.

"And so you have." she whispered, lips quirking up ever so slightly, eyes sparkling in daring mischief. "So, what now?"

And then his lips were on hers, kissing her fervently, achingly, and he thought that, all things considered, he had lasted a ridiculously long time without claiming her lips that morning.


"Kakashi!"

He groaned. And he had been almost at the training field too, darn it.

He had been most excited to resume field training, spirits positively lifting as he saw the bright weather today, despite last night's vicious storm; but he had momentarily forgotten the main annoyance of training outside – meeting people. Especially chatty people who didn't understand social cues. And Guy Might seemed to be an expert at that indeed.

"Oy, Kakashi! I thought it was you!" the green-clad boy was yelling enthusiastically, near-jogging up to him and falling into step. "It's been a few days!"

"I've been busy." he said, stalking ahead in determination.

It would take much more than a blubbering dunderhead to make him be late for his training session with Minato-sensei.

"Hoho, I can see the truth of it now, my young rival!" Guy exclaimed, not catching the hint at all. "It must have been my spirit of youth that dissuaded you from accepting another challenge!"

"I have no time for this, Guy. I'm going training."

"What a coincidence! Me too! We shall train together and the fires of our determination can burn ever brighter when fuelled by the other's efforts!"

Kakashi simply rolled his eyes, pooling chakra to his feet and body-flickering ahead in a burst of speed, only losing his balance momentarily as he swayed at the landing. He found himself a good distance away, within the training grounds proper, definitely out of sight – he was getting rather good at it; with Minato-sensei's instructions he would get the hang of it within the week. He would then be able to master the body-replacement technique, which had such numerous implications that he could already think of at least ten that could aid him in his training sessions-

"What a magnificent display of skill, Kakashi! You've surely fanned the flame of my desire to win our next challenge!"

This time he did groan. How had he even…?

"Guy. I have an appointment with my sensei. I don't have time for childish challenges."

He ground the last part out through his teeth, lest the other boy finally catches on, even if it insulted him – Kakashi was, after all, a good deal younger than Guy Might and everyone else in their class, and yet he often felt like they were the ones acting like children.

To his immense disappointment, just like with every other clue he might have dropped, Guy simply did not understand insults.

"Oh, I heard about that, my brilliant rival!"

"I'm not your rival."

"It's made me even more determined! To know you're so advanced to have a jōnin instructor! Winning our next challenge will be that much better-earned!"

"I didn't know it was a day for challenges, Kakashi." came a merry voice from behind them and the white-haired boy near-jumped, not having heard his sensei teleport in as he usually did.

The man neared them in a few steps, hands leisurely tucked in his pockets, and Kakashi thought there was a peculiar light in his cloudless eyes today, as if his sensei was in a particularly good mood. Much unlike him, for that matter, as he realised that Guy was still there, frozen in place, eyeing the blond man with something akin to awe, and Kakashi suddenly felt a sense of inadequate embarrassment.

"He's not my friend." he hurried to correct, before Minato-sensei assumed he had anything in common with the impassioned dimwit boy in front of him.

"Kakashi, you never said… You're him. Konoha's Yellow Flash." Guy said incredulously.

Minato-sensei simply smiled, tilting his head sideways as he did so.

"That would be me. And you are…?"

"Guy Might, at your service, sir!" the boy exclaimed, giving them an enthusiastic thumbs up and the jōnin chuckled as if the peculiar boy before him was somehow amusing instead of thoroughly vexing. "Kakashi's my classmate and my eternal rival!"

"Eternal rival, huh…?" Minato-sensei said, eyeing Kakashi from the corner of his eyes, amused smile never leaving his face. "It's a pleasure to meet my student's rival then."

The Hatake huffed, crossing his arms before him, feeling his annoyance get the better of him. His father had told him not to boast of his accomplishments, especially when it involved putting others down, but it was so very hard to heed certain bits of advice when irritated, especially when the one irritating you was also claiming your sensei's time and attention.

"Not much of a rival. I've beaten him in every single challenge so far." he said irately.

"Which is why I will keep challenging you, my eternal rival! I won't let the passions of my youth die out; I'll train hard until the day I beat you!" Guy near-shouted and, to Kakashi's astonishment, he found Minato sensei smiling merrily at that.

"That's an admirable attitude to have, Guy-kun. Never lose the fire that drives you."

"And how do you plan on winning when you can't even use ninjutsu?" the Hatake bit out.

Guy Might remained undeterred.

"Taijustu! I'll become the fastest, strongest shinobi in the world! I wish to be as fast as Konoha's Yellow Flash!" he said, striking a pose.

Kakashi could only roll his eyes yet again. It had already been a good five minutes, precious time that he could have spent on training with his sensei, and instead he was debating the impossible with the academy's dead-last.

"Even Minato-sensei's enhancing his moves with chakra to be that fast, how could you possibly be as good as him?"

Perhaps it was good that they had had this run-in. Maybe Guy really needed to hear the honest truth, from Konoha's Yellow Flash no less, to make him realise the absurdity of his ideas. Maybe Guy would stop pestering him then; he really couldn't see what good would come out of it, even if his father insisted that Guy would actually be a good rival for him. They were leagues apart.

"Actually, Kakashi, that's not entirely true." the jōnin said instead, effectively shutting him up. "I do enhance my moves with chakra, but I can technically move faster, even without it."

Guy was staring at the man as if he had spilled gold out of his mouth.

"How?" he asked, fervently.

Minato-sensei simply smiled, waving a quick seal before his chest.

"Release!" he called out, and something about him wavered, as if the very air stirred and shimmered for a fraction of a second, before settling again.

Genjutsu? was Kakashi's first thought. No… A seal. He released a seal.

But before he could ponder it any further Minato-sensei turned to face the other end of the training field. And then he moved. And disappeared in a blur.

The stillness lasted but a second, a moment of time that felt like a frozen speck, dew shining brilliantly in the morning sun as it flicked off the grass stalks ahead in a line, as someone must have moved through it, so fast that it had been near-impossible to see. The white-haired boy blinked, trying to figure out what had just occurred.

Minato sensei was standing across from them, smiling his ever-present sunshine smile. Another flicker of movement and he was back beside them, looking at a gaping Guy, whose jaw would apparently hit the floor soon.

"Did… Did you body-flicker, sir?" Guy asked, shocked.

Minato shook his head.

"I ran. Not a lick of chakra used."

It was true, Kakashi knew it. He could see the wetness at the bandages wrapped about his ankles, where he had run through the grass still wet from last night's rain. And yet. Without chakra?

"How?" the green-clad boy asked once again, voicing Kakashi's own question.

"A seal." The jōnin said, crouching down, undoing the bandages around his right leg.

He tapped his own skin with a chakra infused finger and the intricate kanji of a seal appeared there, so complex that it made Kakashi's head swim just trying to make sense of it.

"It's a weight seal. I have one on each leg. I've been training with them for about five years now. I started light and kept slightly increasing the weight with time. It made everything much harder at first, but it was worth it. When I release them now, I'm able to put in a considerable burst of speed for a short time. Even without chakra."

"You need chakra to release the seal." Kakashi countered quickly.

"You do. When you've etched the seal on your own skin, it's the only way to release it. But if you've drawn it on, say, ankle protectors… Then you needn't release it at only. You only need to take them off." he said with a wink in Guy's direction.

The boy's eyes had bulged, blabbering Guy Might for once wordless. And then he started shaking, whole face scrunching up as his eyes watered. A look of startled worry passed over Minato-sensei as he tried to grasp what he had done wrong, but then Guy was wiping tears away, sniffing loudly through a determined look.

"Thank you, Konoha's Yellow Flash, sir! I will treasure your advice, sir, I will use it to become stronger, in the springtime of my youth, I will shine bright, sir, I swear it!" he shouted despite the tears and the snot.

Kakashi couldn't quite believe what was happening, alternating bewildered looks between the sobbing emotional mess that was Guy Might, the dead-last, and Minato-sensei, Konoha's Yellow Flash, smiling at the hopeless boy, offering him advice as if… as if he really believed Guy would own up to something.

Huh.

"I won't take more of your time, sir! I'll go tell my father!" the black-haired boy called out, already turning to go before he stopped, giving another enthusiastic thumbs-up. "Thank you for your support!"

And with that he was off, yelping in delight as he ran. And Minato-sensei was following him with a fond look.

"He's a nice boy." the jōnin said, "And a good rival for you, I think."

"Why does everyone keep saying that?" Kakashi groaned, his voice lacking its usual conviction for once.

Guy, becoming as fast as sensei? Truly?

Absurd.

Still. Maybe he'd start doing extra laps around the grounds. Just in case.


"We'll do it quickly, no fuss needed." Tsume was saying, waving one hand dismissively as she brought the cup of green tea up to her lips. "Current situation requiring haste and all that… all the better, if you ask me. Picture me, in a traditional wedding procession with all its droll particularities… I'd rip someone's head off before the day is done."

Kushina laughed merrily, reclining back in one of the colourful chairs in the hospital's tea shop. She hadn't planned on meeting her friend today, but she had run into her after visiting with Ryōta and Kaede at the medic's, making sure they were well. Tsume had also had an appointment, checking up on the "little leech" as she called it affectionally, and they had ended up stopping for a word.

"I'm happy for you, Tsume. Truly." The redhead said, running a hand through her ponytail absent-mindedly. "It sounds like we'll have two weddings this summer. Mikoto and Fugaku Uchiha also extended an invitation not a week ago."

"Oh I know, they sent an envelope our way too. All core clan families are invited, since Fugaku's future head and all that. I dread it. It'd be a dull event to be sure. Nothing like Uchiha rigidness to make your arse ache after a whole day of sitting through their ceremonies."

Kushina rolled her eyes, an exasperated smile playing on her lips just as Kuromaru snorted a short bark as if to agree with the Inozuka girl.

"Well, I'm happy for you both; you should know I'll enjoy both events."

"Only you'd enjoy mine quite a lot more, I'd wager." Tsume said with a sharp smile and a look that promised copious amounts of alcohol and entertainment. "Although who knows… Kemuri Sarutobi's been invited to the Uchiha wedding and I do so know you've been dying for a second date."

Kushina laughed again.

"You never know, the shrimp turned out to be surprisingly gallant." she said through chuckles, taking a sip out of her own tea, thoughts turning back to the Hanami festival and the surprisingly pleasant time she had had… and then… to the Yozakura after…

The Inozuka girl grinned, propping an elbow on the table and leaning her chin on her hand, eyeing her friend testily.

"Well, you're in high spirits today. Did something happen?"

She returned the tea cup to the table, fingers quite steady, as her cheeks definitely did not redden just at the thought of it.

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Oh come off it, Uzumaki. You've laughed more in the last hour than I've heard you laugh for a month. You're like a dog with two tails today."

Kuromaru's ears prickled at that, evident excitement just at the mention of it. Tsume laughed, gesturing to her canine companion as if to indicate the similarities.

"I'm… just enjoying the good news, Tsume." she said, but the treacherous smile was tugging at the corner of her lips uncontrollably.

"Uh-huh. And one Minato Namikaze has nothing to do with it, I'm sure?"

Her heart skipped a beat at that, hand running through her ponytail again, twisting it about, and her eyes flickered to Tsume's for the briefest of seconds. It was enough. The Inozuka's grin widened, showing pointed teeth, and then she barked out laughter.

"Why, you're blushing like a maid, Kushina, and maids blush like that mostly when they're maids no longer."

"T-Tsume!" she spluttered, her whole face aflame, as she looked about quickly, "Lower your voice!"

"Alright, alright… Sheesh, it's not like it's the last era… or the Uchiha compound." The dark-haired girl was saying through a cocky grin, "You know it's normal nowadays… But we don't have to discuss it."

"Thank you."

"Just tell me, is he as fast as they say in all aspects of his life?"

Tsume must have expected the chucked tea cup, because she dodged it expertly.


Minato was just drying the water out of his hair when he heard the knock and he tossed the towel over his shoulders, using a swift Hiraishin to make his way to the living room and open the door.

She had turned her back as she waited, looking out over the street, bathed in the golden glow of the sunset, and it felt like everything slowed down for a moment as he beheld her again, even if it had been a mere few hours. She had pulled her fiery locks in a thick braid as usual, thrown over one shoulder, exposing the delicate curve of her neck. A few fine strands of hair had escaped her braid, now shining golden in the sunbeams, twirling with the breeze, and he fixed them with a look, willing himself quite still lest he reach out and...

But they had agreed that they would start working on the barrier project tonight. It wouldn't do to get distracted from now.

The stillness slipped, Kushina turning back to him quickly, a nervous smile blossoming on her lips, most uncharacteristic for the bold woman he had always known. Her eyes widened fractionally as she saw him, look jumping to his messy damp hair and the towel about his shoulders and the zipper of his white sweatshirt, before meeting his own gaze again, the faintest trail of a blush colouring her face. He couldn't help his lopsided smile at that; perhaps this whole being-on-my-best-behaviour thing was difficult for her too.

"Hey there." he started, eyes finally flickering to the bag of groceries she was carrying. "What's all this then?"

He extended a hand to take it and she complied, fingers brushing against his momentarily. If she noticed the brief proximity, she didn't react.

"I figured we'd need sustenance to keep work going and, I'm sorry to say, but your kitchen is dangerously void of fresh ingredients, ya know."

Minato chuckled, turning towards said kitchen while she lingered behind to slip out of her sandals.

"I have to admit I don't get 'round to cooking much." he called back merrily.

"I can't believe I'm the one saying this, but you can't survive on cup ramen and boiled eggs alone, ya know."

"Hey, I'm a rather good cook, I'll have you know. Someone had to keep Jiraya-sensei fed with more than saké after all."

She laughed, appearing lightly by his side, setting about unpacking the food with him.

"Well, I'm here to contest your chef title."

"I can fetch the ladles. It's been a while since they've seen active combat, but I'm sure they'll manage." he japed and was rewarded with the melody of her laughter again.

"I had a more culinary challenge in mind, but I could absolutely take you on in a ladle spar as well."

He couldn't help the spark of mischief as he leaned against the counter beside her, carefully crossing his arms before his chest, doing his damnest to avoid the temptation of gently tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

"Probably not the best of plans if we want to get some work done tonight… seeing how our spars end as of late." he murmured, his smile widening as he saw her suck in a breath.

Colour had rushed to her face again, cheeks reddening in the way he so loved, as Kushina turned to face him, brandishing a leek almost threateningly. He choked back laughter.

"And whose fault is that?" she demanded, swatting at him with the vegetable.

This time he did laugh, lifting his hands up in surrender, before she turned more food items into weapons.

"Shoo. I know how to operate your kitchen well enough. You can prepare the scrolls, ya know."

"Yes, ma'am." he called out happily, pushing away from the counter and leaving her to it before tempting himself further. Her very presence was like a magnet, impossible to ignore, the familiar thrum of her warm chakra like a beacon to his senses, the ring of her laughter now a needed constant.

Setting his mind to a different task would probably be most prudent.

It took him the better part of half an hour to find all of his notes and to organise them across the table, unrolling scrolls with diagrams and calculations and propping the corners with the paper weights he had lying on almost every counter – a seal master's best friends, it had turned out, right after scrolls and paintbrushes. He hadn't had cause to look through any of it in quite awhile and he needed time to sort out through his haphazardly jotted ideas and formulas.

When he was finally finished, he turned to Hyōjin Uzumaki's own work, which Kushina had found in her father's study and brought to the Hokage. It was now lying by the couch, where she had unsealed it in the morning, and he quickly fetched it, unrolling scrolls across the table beside his own. The contrast was apparent at once – the precise diagrams and neat handwriting, so similar and yet different to his own, suddenly threw him back to the quiet afternoons spent with the meticulous man and for a moment Minato found himself frozen in place, eyeing the scrolls as if quite alien.

Inadequate. Not good enough.

The thought crept up on him like poison ivy, taking root as his breathing picked up, sweat breaking out at the back of his neck, the man's very work seemingly mocking everything he hadn't managed… and everything that he had failed. And how could it not? If he had been faster, stronger, better, then perhaps Hyōjin Uzumaki would be here now, explaining his own ideas.

He shot a hand out to steady himself, wrapping fingers about the back of the nearest chair, knuckles turning white as he exhaled a shaky breath.

"Minato?" came Kushina's voice from behind him and he startled, turning about much too rapidly, in instinct. "…are you okay?"

"Fine." he said quietly, clearing his throat.

She simply lifted an eyebrow.

"I've seen white sheets that might have defined "fine" better, ya know."

He gulped, forcing a brief smile as he ran a hand through his hair, consciously steadying the tremor in his fingers.

"I… It's been a while." he said hesitantly, a part of him recognising the fact that a mere half a month ago he would have probably deflected the question at once. "Since I last saw your father's work. I was just… remembering."

He had no right to this pain, he knew; it must be a speck compared to her own. And yet… it pained him all the same.

But despite it all she nodded, all quiet warmth and understanding, grief carefully tucked away. And then she was smiling, walking lightly to his side, all casual humour.

"Well that's good. We'd need you to remember, ya know, to get this thing off the ground."

But her hand went to his own, fingers wrapping about his and giving them a gentle squeeze, the warmth of her touch seeping through him, near jolting him. Such a small thing, and yet it melted through him, drawing a pent-up breath from his lips, muscles unlocking.

"Indeed." he agreed quietly.

Her merry calm was infectious, like a sunbeam, shining through her and all about her, and he was briefly reminded of seeing her earlier, outlined by the sunset gleam, as if ablaze. How apt it had been; how true.

And his smile came easier now as he laced his fingers through her own.


Hizashi cursed, face scrunching up in mute despair. His hands had wrapped about Gorou's vest, trembling.

Tanaka-san was still trying, the green glow of chakra illuminating her ghastly face, shining in the rivulets of rain coming down her skin, mixing with her tears.

In vain. Sakumo could feel it, deep down in his soul.

His student was gone.

"Hatake-sama!" someone was shouting nearby, but they sounded so far away, as if down a tunnel. His ears were ringing.

Someone's hand closed around his shoulder. Shook him. Whipped him about, hands waving animatedly, slashing through the pouring rain.

It all felt sluggish, with the unreal quality of grainy film, like the one they used at the academy to play films to the kids. The ones Kakashi watched. The ones Gorou had watched, before he'd graduated. Before he'd been placed in a team. Before he'd been placed in his team.

"…the intel… pursue… can't allow…" the person was saying sharply, but his words drifted in and out of focus.

"Sakumo-sensei." came Hizashi's trembling voice, drawing him back and the world snapped back in high relief, the staccato of the rain near-deafening him. "There's no time."

"He has the intel." the man before him repeated, his white face set in a determined scowl. "We can't let the information reach their frontline; we have to pursue! If they learn of the choke points and the rotations… they'll sweep them, they'll invade in force."

"Do you hear yourself, Tachi?!" Tanaka-san shouted, wiping away her tears, healing chakra finally fading to darkness. "You know what lays ahead. It's madness, if we pursue they'll close in, they'll slaughter us."

"It doesn't matter!" Tachi snarled. "Don't you see, we only need to take him out! A clear shot, it's all we need! And it will all be worth it! Gorou's death… it…"

Lightning cracked ahead, the rain sneaking icy fingers down his back, but he paid it no heed, his eyes still fixed on his students – one gone, one still breathing. For now.

"Sakumo. You know Tachi-san's right." Hizashi said through gritted teeth, hands still clutching Gorou's corpse.

He was right.

And he also wasn't.

They were behind enemy lines, Iwa teams pressing in close on all sides. If ever they'd have a chance to retreat it would be now, before they were completely cut off. All while letting their target slip away with the intel Gorou had died trying to protect… knowing that it could cost the lives of comrades and civilians alike.

But. Pursuing didn't mean certain success. It meant the sliver of hope for it, if they were lucky. If they were good, emotionally stable, focused. Which they were not. The only certainty in that choice was death. For himself and for the three young chūnin in his command. And for Hizashi. Another student.

Inconceivable. It was a suicide mission, hanging on a thread.

Was it worth it? Throwing their lives away for hope?

"Hatake-sama!"

"We retreat."

No one reacted, not even Tanaka-san, who had argued against the madness of continuing.

"W-what?"

"You heard me. Hizashi, help me carry him."

"Sakumo, you can't-" The Hyūga started, but he cut him off.

"I can and I did."

"But, sir! The mission-"

"That's an order, Ito Tachi. Retreat. Now."


They had decided to have dinner at the low coffee table, settling cross-legged on the floor, lest they damage the scrolls that occupied the table proper. Kushina had prepared Oyakudon Donburi, which Minato had always liked in general, but had discovered a whole new level of appreciation for now.

He didn't think he had eaten anything made by her since they were children, and while her cooking had always been good, it had been limited to basic meals in-between missions and adventures. He had no idea when she had developed the skills to prepare the most delicious food he'd ever had, but the result was evident – he near-inhaled it, happily admitting absolute defeat in the culinary field.

She had laughed then, japing about unused ladle potential, but a blush had dusted her cheeks again, a look of quiet delight about her, and he vowed to himself there and then that he'd make sure she heard the truth of those words all the time.

The rest of the evening they spent bent over scrolls, comparing notes and running calculations past each other, going back and forth with ideas. Kushina had grasped his concept in no time, needing minimal clarifications and explanation, expertly flipping through his notes and those of her father, aligning them perfectly. He hadn't expected anything less, but it still impressed him, seeing the ease with which she handled complex seals.

A treasure throve of information she was, much like her father, but while Hyōjin Uzumaki had been meticulous and systematic, she was seemingly chaotic, but with a flair for creativity that took the same knowledge, twisting it, making leaps and connections that would have taken her father days of pondering to reach. She was like a fire-cracker, bouncing back and forth through formulas, complementing his non-standard Fūinjutsu style wonderfully.

And Minato thought he could notice it in her look and in her smile, the approving gleam that he thought might verge on awe at times, as she found herself almost evenly matched in her knowledge, ideas and skills.

The exchange had enthralled him too, excitement burning through him all the while, and his eyes would fix on her constantly, taking in the alternation between concentrated focus and enthusiastic delight. It made her face come alive, playing at the corners of her lips, turning into a most tempting distraction.

He had just bent over a scroll propped at the back of a chair, inspecting one of her father's ideas for tapping into the barrier system at pre-specified locations, when she wandered over to him, engrossed in the scroll she was reviewing, eyes never leaving the swirling kanji.

"A neutral link?" she asked, tapping at the page with the brush she was holding, indicating the spot that had perplexed her.

He threw a quick look, leaning over curiously.

"Mhm. Do you have a different idea?"

"Perhaps if we connect it with an earth trigram… Root it here, see? It could stabilise this section…" she was saying, lost in thought, eyebrows mashing in concentration, and he couldn't help but steal a silent glance at her, close as they were standing.

She had flipped her braid back as she worked, but a lock of loose fiery strands had escaped her ministrations, falling gently across her face. She tucked it behind an ear absent-mindedly, brush held loosely between her fingers, before she brought the back of it to her mouth, tapping it against her lips as she pondered the formula.

Minato could have groaned. He felt himself grow still as his eyes fixed on the subconscious movement, breath catching in his throat. The need to touch her crackled through him like a surge, project be damned. If he had thought it'd be easier now, when they had finally hashed things out, he couldn't have been more wrong. If anything, it had intensified the desire now coursing through him unmasked and unguarded. He hadn't thought it possible that he could want her more… and yet he did.

The strength of the emotion took him by surprise, rooting him, pulse picking up treacherously.

Maddening, she was. As always.

"I… I'll make us tea." he said through a hoarse voice and turned quickly.

"Mm? Oh, thank you, ya know." she mumbled from behind him, her mind clearly still locked on the scroll.

Yes, keeping a moderate distance throughout the evening had been a prudent idea and he would do well to keep it up, if only because he was apparently so very bad at avoiding distractions, especially when said distractions were Kushina Uzumaki and her absurd way of making even the simplest of habits look endearing.

He never thought he'd envy a brush.

"Oh shmuck." came her voice from the other room, just as he had put the water to boil, and he peered around the corner curiously.

"Something wrong?"

She had moved to the small mirror in the corridor, a frown marring her expression as she regarded her reflection.

"I swear I always do this. I need to learn not to fiddle with my brushes, ya know." she said and he realised merrily that she had left an ink spot at her chin and was now trying to rub it away.

He laughed, tucking arms in his pockets as he went to join her by the mirror, leaning sideways against the wall.

"The literal markings of a Fūinjutsu Master." he said jovially and she huffed in amusement.

"The markings of a klutz, more like. Did I get it all?"

"Almost. You've missed a spot."

The light black stroke against her neck, high up below her ear, had probably been left by the brush earlier when she had tucked it behind one ear as she worked. He chuckled as she twisted about, trying to see what he was referring to.

"Wait, hold still." he murmured, reaching out tentatively, brushing back her locks.

She stilled at his touch, sides reddening ever-so-wonderfully as her heart fluttered in the hush. The ink smudged across his fingertips when he brushed it away, its scent mixing with that of cherry blossoms and of lilac that clung to her skin, and he felt his carefully constructed decision to avoid temptations crumbling away. His breath had caught in his throat, impulse taking over as his fingers lingered, trailing a whisper of a touch down the side of her neck, venturing lower, knuckles feathering across her shoulder.

Her lips parted at that as she exhaled a pent-up breath and he could feel her eyes fix on him in the reflection of the mirror.

"I… I think we've done quite a lot tonight, perhaps we could call it a day?" she whispered, her words electrifying in the semi-darkness of the corridor and his breath left him in a rush.

"Yes please." he heard himself say and he wasn't sure whether he had pulled her in or she had pulled him down, but then he was kissing her, Kushina gasping against his lips.

And he didn't know what had come over him as he gave into the heady fire that was her touch after an endless night of temptation. Before he knew it, he had pressed her against the wall, gathering her wrists in one hand, his other moving from the crook of her neck to her side, trailing to her waist, pulling her closer. Her fingers curled over his hold as she arched against him, an impatient moan coming from her lips, drowned in their kiss, and he thought he'd never have enough of her, not after a hundred, or a thousand or a hundred thousand nights.

The kettle whistled in the kitchen, the tea coming to a boil, all but forgotten.


Long Author's Note Incoming: Well hello there, fancy meeting you again! No, don't worry, I haven't dropped it. What I said last time stands very much true. Unfortunately, I experienced an impediment that everyone's been experiencing this year… I came down with Covid. I realise I have no right to complain, I was incredibly lucky to come out of it okay, without even needing ICU treatment on top, but it didn't go lightly. It lasted long and the after-effects of it had me exhausted for more than a month. Coupled with dealing with it in the family too, I had my hands full with a few very unpleasant months, which is why I've been away. But things are settling now. And I'm okay, back to work, back to hobbies, back to a sense of normality. And, hopefully, back to writing regularly!

Now, enough about the unpleasant stuff. A few notes on the text:

1. I started it so long ago that it felt almost disjointed coming back to it. But, I have finally managed to complete this fluff-fest of a chapter! I hope you guys enjoy. I think a few good-feel moments were just well due at this point, which is all what this chapter is about. Mostly. (Sorry, Sakumo) Especially knowing what's about to go down... let's recharge on positivity before the feel-fest.

2. I had a request about an M-rated chapter. You're sweet to think I could handle such content well (which I'm not sure I could), but I've never gone quite there, even if I toy around the edge. I think I personally wouldn't feel very comfortable with it, which would probably translate into the text too. I also kind of believe that some things are best left to the imagination before the beauty of the moment is stripped. So, I'm terribly sorry if I disappoint… but I don't think I'll be writing an M chapter for now.

3. Okay so the weights thing might be far-fetched… But everyone just keeps describing Minato as the fastest shinobi alive, even without Hiraishin, and I figured it would make sense if he trained in some way to increase his speed. And then I thought… Lee was inspired by Guy to use weights, which are inscribed in seals… fancy that, what would the odds be… So yeah, I came up with the whole thing, I hope it doesn't sound too jarring.

4. Speaking of Guy and Kakashi, Kishi's timeline is a bitch, spare meeee, I don't even know how to stay true to cannon when his cannon contradicts itself nine times out of ten. For the sake of saving me some nerves – I thought it plausible that Kakashi's younger than his classmates, advanced group. At this point he has already met Guy at school, they are classmates, Guy has already gathered the courage to challenge Kakashi a few times, proclaiming him a rival, but Kakashi is still mostly agreeing to make Guy go away. They haven't graduated yet. Both their dads are still alive. Kakashi is a bit distant, as he was shown in the manga and anime to be, even before his father died (a bit of an elitist streak), but he's about to get even nastier, you know why.

5. You didn't think Minato's PTSD would disappear this quick, did you? :P

6. I'm starting to come close to hard cannon so, as I'm wont to do, I scoured all sorts of sources looking for any information on what Sakumo's fatal mission was. I found nada. If I missed something, do let me know. Until then – away I go, conjuring things up.

7. Speaking of devouring sources, I've read plenty on my favourite pairing and multiple sources seem to agree that Minato absolutely loved Kushina's cooking and preferred it to pretty much everything else. So, here's a nod to that in this chapter. I guess it stands to reason – he lost his parents at a young age, no one to teach him, he learned out of necessity. But Kushina had her mom, who taught her how to cook properly, with love.

In any case, that's pretty much it. I hope you guys liked it! I'd like to finish off by saying thank you for all the wonderful reviews and PMs that you sent me in that difficult time. I read them all and they never failed to make me smile. Your support means the world to me!

I'll see you soon and stay safe meanwhile!

Ja ne~


Glossary:

Tanabata - also known as the Star Festival, is a Japanese festival that celebrates the meeting of the deities Orihime and Hikoboshi (represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively). According to legend, the Milky Way separates these lovers, and they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month of the lunisolar calendar.

Body-Flicker Technique - By using the Body Flicker Technique, a ninja can move short to long distances at an almost untraceable speed. To an observer, it appears as if the user has teleported. It is accomplished by using chakra to temporarily vitalise the body and move at extreme speeds.

Oyakudon Donburi – a Japanese rice bowl dish, in which chicken, egg, sliced scallion (or sometimes regular onions), and other ingredients are all simmered together in a kind of soup that is made with soy sauce and stock, and then served on top of a large bowl of rice.