The tense silence was torture for the extraverted Uzumaki but was comforting for the hardened soldier within him. And he knew the others with him, though exhausted and tense, were grateful for the chance to let the reality sink in. They chose not to move very quickly at Akira's insistence- he may not have been a medic, but he could sense their chakra levels.

He knew exactly how worn out the children were- knew they needed to rest.

At first, he was met with resistance. Obviously, taking your time in enemy territory was practically suicide, and they all knew it. But Akira pointed out that if they didn't take the time then to rest as much as they could, then they'd collapse during a fight and get killed. That, plus the agreement that Akira would engage the enemy first, finally got the remaining members of Team Minato to agree to go slower.

To their astonishment, no Iwa-nin appeared before them. Well, to everyone's astonishment except Akira's. He knew the reason why, having sent clones to take care of the would-be ambushers before anyone else could sense them. He knew the pain of losing a teammate, a family member. He knew they'd need time, maybe some professional help.

But those thoughts were for after they got to safety.

Hey, kit.

Akira instantly brightened, relieved to finally hear from his dear friend. Kurama! You're awake earlier than expected.

So I am. My chakra replenished faster than expected, is all. Kurama was silent for a moment, doing whatever he did. We're further than we hoped. You're younger?

And more like an Uzumaki, Akira nodded, lifting a hand to clench and unclench it a few times. I got here just as the cave collapsed. But from what he said before... before, he only truly started joining him after Rin died. And according to Kakashi-sensei, Rin only committed suicide because of a faulty seal keeping Isobu in her. So everything should end up ok as long as I fix that seal... right?

A snort sounded from their mindscape. Don't ask me, kit. I'm just here for the snarky commentary and to tell you when you're a moron.

Yeah, that's what I thought, Akira grumbled, sighing. It might be better to leave Obito there for a while since I don't think anyone but Sakura could heal him after that boulder. Maybe Granny, but even she has limits, and I doubt we could get him there in time to save that half of him. Or the rest of him.

Kit. Better get really prepared for a lot real quick.

Huh? What's up?

Your father.

Akira froze, stiffening. While he knew he wasn't in any physical danger (most likely, anyway. He shouldn't underestimate the Yellow Flash), his mind wasn't quite ready yet.

(He doubted he would ever be truly ready, but he'd burn that bridge when he got to it.)

"What is it," Rin asked. Kakashi simply drew his sword.

Akira hesitated, and he could sense the suspicion coming off his companions in waves at the action. "Well, I'm not sure if you guys know them or not," Akira started. "But there's someone there. Feels like a..." He scrunched his face before closing his eyes. "... I don't know that clan," he muttered, feigning ignorance. "Wind and water natured... 21? Has been watching us for a while, but seems worried. I think they know you."

The children looked at each other, a silent conversation Akira had no hopes of interpreting crossing their features. Kakashi closed his eyes, a small burst of chakra coating their surroundings. The change was extremely subtle, but the child relaxed slightly, giving a nod to Rin. She was the one to turn to Akira, a small smile on her face. "It's our teacher."

Akira nodded, slipping his hands into his pockets as his stance relaxed. "Then you're on your way home," he stated. A wide grin stretched his lips (a mockery of the smiles he gave once upon a time, but a mockery he'd keep for now) as his body truly relaxed. His shoulders slouched, and his weight shifted from the balls of his feet more towards his heels. He angled his stance to keep Minato within his sight, tilting his head slightly towards the kids. "Unless you got different orders, Shinobi-san," Akira called, just loud enough for the man to hear. "Though your kids probably need a break."

Not even a rustle or second later, and there stood the Yellow Flash. In all his living, bright glory. Tense, untrusting, and battle-ready, but there and alive.

Maybe a bit younger than the Minato Namikaze Akira got to know. So he focused on those changes- the lack of stress lines, the brighter shade of blond (untainted by the heavy dust and ash of the battleground), the darker skin betraying the blood flowing just under the surface.

It was... difficult, but Akira managed to start thinking of the man as a long-lost uncle. His father's twin. Though it seemed he wasn't fast enough to hide his immense grief, if the confused and wary looks sent at him said anything. So Akira rubbed the back of his neck and smiled. "Sorry. I heard the stories, but... you look almost exactly like my late father."

Surprise flitted across the three's faces, eyes going between the Flash and Akira. A frown came across Minato's and Kakashi's faces, with the latter looking between the red-head and the blond. "From what I saw of pictures, at least," Akira continued, his eyes falling to look at the ground between them. "Everyone always said I took after my mother in nearly every way."

"Who was your father," Rin asked, a gentle note to her voice.

"It's probably best to save that story for when we're not in enemy territory," Kakashi cut in, a steel edge to his eye. Everyone nodded, moving to action.

Internally, Akira let out a sigh of relief. None of them seemed to outright catch the lie (even if it was technically true), and Minato seemed to accept Akira for the moment. Yes, he was always ready to end the red-head (he saw it in the way his shoulders sat- in the way Minato always kept the red-head in his line of sight and the hand that twitched towards his weapons pouch with every sudden movement), but in this time of war? Akira would have done the same under similar circumstances.

So far, crisis averted. No panic attacks, minimal flashbacks, no accidentally calling him 'Dad'.

Good job so far, Kit. Baby steps.

.

.

.

They walked until the sun set and then some, trying to get out of enemy territory as quickly as possible. Once they reached a decent enough place to set up camp, the two kids went off to collect what they'd need while Minato watched Akira like a hawk. (Though Akira knew it was just a ruse- to see if he'd spill something important with an adult rather than one of the children.)

The Uzumaki, meanwhile, only started on some seals. Seals for restful sleep, protection, privacy, and to keep whatever light and smoke they made within a barrier. He let Minato watch as he made them, keeping conversation to nothing until the privacy seal went up. Once that went up, though, Akira sighed and leaned back a little. "I know you have questions," he called over his shoulder, pushing on his knees to stand.

"Who wouldn't," the blond stated with a hint of a smile- likely trying to get Akira's guard down. He knew the man before him- knew he wouldn't trust anyone without a Konoha headband farther than he could throw them. Especially someone claiming to be Uzumaki, who just appeared with his kids.

Akira shrugged, kneeling at the center of the small camp area and letting chakra stretch from his fingertips in thin strings, etching a seal into the ground. That was one of the Uzumaki kekkei genkai- to be able to imagine a seal in their minds and (with enough practice) to bring it to life with thin chakra threads. They didn't need as much concentration or chakra control as normal threads and couldn't be used on anything other than seals. He explained as much when Minato's eyes clouded in both curiosity and suspicion.

From the ground came a soft orange glow- much like a campfire- without flame or smoke. A comfortable heat washed over the area, ending at the edge of the barrier seals. At the obvious curious gaze, Akira smiled sadly and sat back. "We had to get creative when all the wood burned out."

Unfortunately, that seemed to be the wrong thing to say. "All the wood...?"

Shit. He was so used to talking to his dad about everything, and this didn't even seem like a big deal to him. But to anyone else- to anyone who hadn't seen what Akira did... So the red-head nodded, pulling his knees to his chest as his mind raced. Luckily, his mind turned towards when he had to flee Uzushiogakure- when the armies of Zetsu came to destroy the island and the hiding spots therein. "We were hiding on an island," he started, resting his chin on his knees. "Me and a few other Uzumaki. And whoever needed a place to stay that we met on the way."

After he got a nod, Akira continued. "It was good for a while. No bounty hunters, no real fighting... you could almost forget there was a war." His mind showed his time on Uzushio- the calm and feeling of home. The paradise it was before Zetsu came along, the hidden gems within the fallen city. "But the person we were running from... That thing found us. Spread his toxic chakra all along the ground and water and air, killing anything that came in contact with it." He let his mind recall that day- the way everything just died in a wave as Madara's deadly chakra washed over the island, carried by the water and wind. "That chakra's deadly to any living thing- plants, animals... humans. Infects their systems and destroys them from the inside out."

Akira took a breath, letting his eyes unfocus for a minute. Then, he shook his head, hair wildly swinging with the motion. "Sorry. It hasn't been long since... Since it ended." The blond nodded in understanding, something akin to sympathy in his gaze.

"I see." Akira didn't dissect the expression on the man's face, instead focusing on the source of light within the dark. "I won't pry. What's your plan, then?"

With a shrug, the red-head replied. "Get you guys to your village. Maybe hang around for a little while to make sure the bastard who killed everyone I loved isn't around and can't do the same to you. After that... well, I was thinking of traveling. Look for some of his puppets, recover a bit so I don't die along the way... maybe make a friend here and there."

Minato frowned. "That's not a plan. That's a wishlist." That statement made Akira snort, chuckles spilling from his lips.

He didn't know it, but his eyes held such intense grief under slim amusement that Minato had to pause. "You sound exactly like- like Hana." Flashes of bubblegum pink hair, eyes alight with spring and laughter, hands that could heal any wound after flattening a mountain range filled his mind, Akira's eyes glazing over as her voice rang through his head.

The seal worked! They didn't need any sort of firewood or fire anymore- just a stick and some chakra. With the energy of a thousand suns, Naruto joyfully laughed and sat back, admiring his handiwork. With a harsh winter in store and no kindling or fuel in sight, finding a stable source of heat was more crucial than ever. They couldn't waste what little chakra they regained in rest on regulating their body temperature, after all.

A soft smile, a small hum. "Was there any doubt," a feminine voice called out, amusement in her tone. "You're Naruto Uzumaki, after all! Sealing master extraordinaire; the embodiment of stubbornness."

"Hey!" That didn't stop the chuckles filling the space- hell, even the Teme was laughing! Instead, Naruto crossed his arms, a teasing glint in his eye. "If we're talking about stubborn, Sasuke's way more bull-headed than I am."

A warning growl was all the warning he got before a raven mass launched itself at him, sending the both of them to the ground in a rolling, fighting mass. A couple of meters away, their third smiled softly and rolled her eyes. If he concentrated, he could hear the low chuckle of their missing teacher, an eye-smile the only sign of what he might have been feeling.

With a blink, Akira came back to the present, taking a moment to gather his bearings. He took a deep breath, noting how his vision clouded and cleared as what he assumed to be tears fell. He let them, unable to remember the last time he just cried.

(Tears refused to fall when the water dried up, his body saving whatever it could. But when he finally killed Madara? When everything ended after so long, and he realized he'd have to go back alone?

If he wasn't already dehydrated, he would have bawled like a child. Though, he thinks, anyone in that position would have done the same.)

"Sorry," he told the man watching him with such sorrow it made his chest ache. "I think everything's just... catching up. What were we talking about?"

After a pause, Minato softly smiled. "Nothing that can't wait."

It was around that time that Rin and Kakashi returned, their air somber. Honestly, it was kinda cute how they thought Akira couldn't sense them hiding just a few meters away, but he'd let them believe they gave him the slip for the moment.

It didn't take long for the kids to fall asleep, the weight of the day finally making itself known. And with them came the discussion of who'd take first watch- even if Akira knew his seals wouldn't break, wouldn't allow anyone into the camp without one hell of a fight, he'd still keep watch. He wouldn't make the same mistake that cost him Kakashi-sensei.

But the problem was, as much as he trusted Minato, Akira wouldn't give up the duty without a fight. He couldn't sleep anyway- he had rested more than enough for the next week, and any sleep he did get would be plagued with nightmares galore. With Minato, the problem lied in how he didn't fully trust Akira.

Which, why would he?

This random kid comes up, claiming to be an Uzumaki and helping his kids out for nothing in return? As much as his gut told him Akira was alright, it also told him the kid was hiding something bigger than trauma and what caused it. And he couldn't be too careful in this time of war- he'd already lost one of his kids.

He wouldn't lose any others.

So, in the end, both sat in silence, letting the kids sleep as they watched over the site. Come dawn, they started moving again.

And, come noon of the third day, they made it to the gates of Konoha.