A clock was ticking from the opposite wall, incessantly.
The noise had filled his head, each tick resounding like a drum in his skull, as he stared blankly at the document before him. The pen he was holding was measuring rhythmically against the desk, fingers moving without a thought, keeping time with the ticks.
He had been occupying the small debriefing room for the last hour or so – time far longer than usually needed to complete a report, especially for one as seasoned as Sakumo. His eyes kept roaming over what he had written, aimlessly.
Encountered hostile enemy shinobi, in possession of intel. Identity: unconfirmed; height: 172 to 176cm, body type: type three, skin tone: type four, facial structure: type four, additional information: full face coverage - black cloth mask, eyes visible: type six; eye colour: grey to black; distinctive features: missing pinkie finger on left hand; captured: no; current status and location: unknown
He had been drilled since childhood, like any student at the academy, following the same standard descriptors – observe everything around you, memorise in detail in order to report. And so he had, penning down all that he recalled about the infiltrator and the men who had later intercepted, giving a concise description of the fight. And of the events after it.
Thorough, analytical, pragmatic – that was how one should approach reports, ideally. But…
His eyes fixed on the two sections at the end, still empty, black words standing out stark against the crisp white sheet.
Casualties:
Mission outcome:
He swallowed, throat tightening. A tremor ran through his hand, a drop of ink coming off the pen and spilling in a messy blotch at the edge of the page. A shaky breath rattled through his teeth, letters suddenly appearing blurred and wobbly and he blinked a few times, trying to shake off the sudden dizziness. The pen felt unsteady in his grip and he quickly transferred it to his other hand, wiping sweaty fingers against his trousers.
The clock kept thundering in his mind.
Casualties:
Hundreds, he wanted to write, but when his hand came down, pen scratching at the paper shakily, it only read: Gorou Haruka.
What would he have written if he had chosen differently? Would he be writing anything at all? Or would he be feeding the carrion birds at Ame's red marshes while someone else penned down his name with care, twisting the kanji almost elegantly? Would it have mattered for the most important section – the very last?
He licked dry lips. His heart seemed to be thundering in his chest, keeping time with the clock as he lowered the pen again, fingers trembling, forming almost jagged lines.
Mission outcome: I, Sakumo Hatake, ordered retreat against the judgement of my comrades. I was fully aware of the consequences of my choice; I enforced my decision on account of rank. Mission failed.
The gardens of the old Uzumaki home had once been meticulously kept, the lush green giving way to flowers in spring, nestling a modest pond as was custom. They had grown wilder in the time left untended, bushes overgrown, grass mixing with wild weeds, pathways covered in leaves and scattered cherry petals all about. And yet they still held a certain beauty, even in their wildness, and Minato found himself taking it all in as he walked ahead quietly, eyes darting from the unkempt maples to the unfurling wisteria, still budding in soft green, claiming most of the southern wall unchecked.
It didn't take him long to find her; she hadn't concealed her chakra signature, its agitated thrum calling out to him with each step.
She was sitting by the pond, dark kimono spilled about her where she sat, eyes fixed on her own reflection in the water warily. Her hair was still partially pinned up in an elaborate bun, supported by pins and thin kanzashi, but it had started to come undone; or rather, she was trying to do away with it, hands twiddling with her locks, pulling away at the ornaments, trying to untangle them. But her fingers were unsteady, trembling, pins ending up in knots instead.
For a fraction of a second he stood back soundlessly, memory coming forth unbidden, of another time when he had stood by this very house, faced with her grief and unable… unwilling… terrified to approach her.
Not this time.
He took a step closer, feet rustling the fallen leaves purposefully, and Kushina turned to him at once, almost startled by the sound, hands stilling amidst her hair. But the wary look melted away at once as her eyes met his, shoulders slumping instead.
"Minato…" she whispered, biting her lip to stop it from quivering.
Her fingers twisted about the tangled lock of hair she had been battling with.
"Here. Let me."
He knelt beside her, easing her hands down to her lap and setting about gently untangling the fiery strands. She sighed, closing her eyes as his fingers trailed through the soft flame of her hair, laying the kanzashi beside her wordlessly.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to… disappear." she said quietly after a few minutes of companionable silence.
He was already shaking his head.
"It's quite alright."
He had wanted to go to her during the service, but she had been surrounded by their friends, all offering condolences, moving between her and a stone-faced Hizashi and Minato knew that it would be improper… not when their standing was not yet public, a memorial ceremony being the worst of times to change that.
She had sought him out with a look every now and then, eyes red-rimmed and spelling out a tempest and he'd been keenly aware of her presence at all times, trying to steal a solitary moment by her side. But then Mikoto had insisted on seeing her off, and Kakashi had found him in the crowd, followed by a hollow-eyed Sakumo who had just returned briefly for his former student's wake. And before he knew it, Kushina had vanished amidst the throngs of people that had gathered for the service.
"I come here sometimes. To feed the koi." she said and he nodded, staying silent, fingers working gently through her tresses as he untangled another pin, letting a crimson lock tumble down her shoulder.
As if on cue, a plump koi fish splashed amidst the murky waters of the pond, rippling through the carpet of cherry blossoms at the surface.
"How did you… handle it? When Tora died?" she said finally, swallowing hard with the words.
His fingers stilled at the last kanzashi before carefully extracting it, laying it beside her with a quiet sigh.
"I swore to myself I'd end the war."
The words tasted bitter in his throat. He'd sworn… and accomplished little of it.
A strangled chuckle rose up her throat.
"That's so very you, ya know. Shouldering all the work."
He huffed, lips quirking up, even if the smile didn't quite reach his eyes.
"I suppose it was a little presumptuous. But I've sworn already, so. No backing down now."
"Well then. You're gonna have to learn to share, ya know." she said, voice breaking in a quiet raspy breath, her shoulders quivering.
And then she leaned into him to one side, hair spilling back untangled for once. Minato sighed, his arms finding their way about her, pulling her closer, one hand curling gingerly in the soft flame of her hair.
"I can be persuaded."
"To me, Pakkun." Kakashi called out and the tiny puppy bounded back, tail wagging enthusiastically. He had found all of the hidden markers in the training field, in record time.
The white-haired boy knelt in the grass as Pakkun approached, hand sneaking out a treat from his pocket and the dog clambered up in his lap happily. Kakashi laughed, scratching behind his ears.
Minato smiled fondly as he watched them, one hand patting the large auburn greyhound puppy called Ūhei that had lain in the grass beside him. His student's other ninken were all lying around patiently, waiting their turn for a field test.
They were considered to be litter-mates, even though they were of different breeds – they were, all together, bound to their new summoner now. They were a part of Kakashi's pack. Or perhaps he was a part of theirs. Whichever the case, the boy had started summoning them regularly as his chakra quantities expanded and they often incorporated summon training sessions now, spending calm afternoons in Training Field 3, working on the Hatake's coordination with his pups, training their endurance and their tracking skills.
It was an interesting experience – Minato hadn't exactly been involved in training the younger frogs that answered his calls the way that Kakashi seemed to be expected to train his pack. If anything, the frogs had trained him instead. There wasn't a particular group that he was limited to summoning, although he did end up working a lot with the ones he knew best.
The Canine Summons, however, seemed to operate differently – a new summoner that they deemed worthy entered a contract with a particular litter, working closely with them throughout the years, resulting in an unbreakable bond that went beyond the battlefield. Even now Kakashi often summoned his pups at home outside of training times, playing with them at leisure and simply enjoying their company.
"Did you see that, sensei? His fastest run yet!" the boy said with pride, lifting Pakkun up in the air and Minato chuckled.
"He'll be quite the formidable ninken."
"Just like dad's summons!" he said and seemed to deliberate, his own words giving him pause.
Minato could see how Kakashi's eyebrows furrowed, eyes dropping to his own lap as his hands slowly lowered the pup to the ground.
"Ne, Minato-sensei? Could I… could I ask?" his student ventured finally and the jōnin could have sworn despite the mask that his student was chewing the inside of his cheek nervously.
"Of course, Kakashi."
The boy gulped. Bull, the largest of his pack by far, lay a slobbery head on Kakashi's knee. His ninken already seemed keenly aware of the boy's distress.
"Has… Has Kushina-san mentioned anything about father? I know his missions are important, but… he's never been away this long."
Minato had to repress a tired sigh. He had guessed at the source of his student's growing anxiety, but he had allowed Kakashi to broach the subject in his own time… hoping all the while that Sakumo-sensei might return from the front.
But the man had left almost immediately after the memorial service, seemingly too shaken to linger behind, and he had stayed consistently away throughout the last month or so. Minato could hardly blame him – hadn't he done the same when faced with turmoil? But while he understood the man's conflicted emotions at the outcome of his now-infamous last mission, he still felt his absence keenly on Kakashi's behalf.
"We haven't heard anything from him personally, but the last reports from the west stated he was well." he explained calmly, one hand still patting Ūhei's back.
The puppy gave a happy bark and rolled over, waving its paws at Minato's hand. Kakashi stayed silent for a few moments, watching their play without seeing it, milling over his sensei's words.
"Do you think he's displeased with me?" he whispered, quietly, the mild spring breeze stealing away at his words.
Minato was fighting a frown. It was only natural that the boy would see it this way, he supposed – talented as he was, Kakashi was still just six.
"No." he said firmly, trying to imbed his own certainty in the words. "He's very proud of you, Kakashi. His absence has nothing to do with you. But you have to understand, things are a little… difficult… for him right now."
"Because of his last mission?"
"You heard about that, huh?"
The white-haired boy shrugged.
"Some people were talking about it at the market. They said… that he chose to abandon a mission like… like a coward."
He seemed to have shrunk in on himself, small hands clutching the pup in his hands closer in his lap. Pakkun seemed to have felt Kakashi's mood as well, stilling in his hold, licking at the boy's thumb instead.
This time Minato did sigh, an almost tired sound. He had heard the talk about Sakumo Hatake as well; he could only hope his student had heard the milder things.
"That wasn't nice of them to say. It would be better if you try to avoid such talk."
"Yes, Minato-sensei." His student said, eyes still trained on his hands, before pushing forward. "But… is it true?"
The blonde deliberated.
"Your father had to make some tough calls in the field. It's not always a clear-cut choice between furthering a mission or saving lives and it takes bravery to stand by your decision. He did what he deemed best, under the circumstances."
His student gave a small nod, tension still evident in his posture. With another quiet sigh Minato pushed up to his feet, nearing Kakashi in a calm step.
"Fret not, I'm sure Sakumo-san will return shortly. Be patient, for his sake." He said as he stopped beside the boy, ruffling his hair with one hand. "Come now. Let's finish our sets for today."
"Yes, sensei."
The grave was small. Too small, Tsunade thought, eyes focusing briefly on the woman kneeling before the freshly dug ground, crying softly as her fingers dug in the soil.
Another child, lost to the war. Like Nawaki. Like Jiraya's Ame kids. Like the countless children in the disputed lands.
What was the point to it all, if children kept dying? What was the point to Dan's death? What was the point to this war?
Her lips pursed, the corners of her mouth drawing down bitterly as her breathing picked up, fingers clutching tightly at the chrysanthemums she was holding in one hand, the other balling in a fist.
"Tsunade-sama?"
She took in a sharp breath, quickly turning to the black-clad girl before her. Shizune had stopped a few steps ahead, looking back at her questioningly. She was holding another bouquet of white flowers, intended for Dan's grave.
"Are you unwell?"
Her black eyes were wide, filled with the innocence of one who hadn't beheld the horrors of war yet, and even though she looked very little like her uncle in her colouring, Tsunade couldn't help but glimpse Dan's almost child-like optimism for the world in his niece's trusting eyes. It broke her heart a little further every time she beheld the girl's inquisitive look.
But… how much worse would it hurt when she no longer saw that same light? Because she knew that Shizune was pursuing in her steps most determinedly, heedlessly, willing to lay her life down for a system that would never, could never, stop fabricating war. And then she'd die too. The last of Dan's sunlit-look would drain from her eyes, too.
Her eyebrows furrowed, a spark of defiance igniting in her.
"I'm fine. Let's go." She said quietly, voice sounding a little stronger for the first time in more than a month as she took another step towards Dan's grave, a decision forming in her mind.
Shizune followed meekly beside her.
He brought his hands up in the now-familiar gesture, index and middle fingers extended, crossed before his chest. His chakra surged, followed by a quiet puff of smoke, and four identical clones appeared on either side of him before dispersing in opposite directions. He waited a few moments until they took their positions, surrounding the glade. He could feel their chakra – his own chakra, in fact, split evenly amongst all five – as it thrummed ahead, the clones taking their position and preparing for a coordinated rush.
The spring birds chirped about merrily, basking in the warm rays of the noon sun, displaying none of his agitation. If this worked…
He took a breath, leaning forward, anticipation coiling in him as his eyes narrowed. His fingers curled around the hilt of the Hiraishin kunai, waiting a moment more before he threw it in merciless precision, aiming high above the forest opening, blade swishing through the air. His clones shot off at once, foliage twirling soundlessly in their wake as they descended upon the glade on all sides just as he reached out for the kunai with his mind and pulled himself across the distance within the blink of an eye, breaking the its flight and finding himself briefly airborne above the meadow.
And then he fell, cushioning his soles with chakra to soften his landing amidst the soft grass just as his clones rushed in the opening as well, feet skidding to slow their bursts of speed.
An exuberated shout came from up ahead as Kushina shot up to her feet, waving a quick seal before her face to dispel her own clones that had taken up the key locations needed for setting up and maintaining the barrier – the much smaller, condensed version of it covered the forest meadow snugly, but was a perfect replica of their work in every other sense. It shimmered imperceptibly in the air about them as it wavered and shattered, its clone sentinels disappearing in poofs of smoke all about.
"It worked, ya know!" she shouted, bounding forward, practically skipping in her delight and planting her feet before one of his clones. "It worked, I felt it all! Wait, which one are you?"
He couldn't help the laugh that escaped him as he tucked his Hiraishin kunai in his weapons pouch, pushing up to his feet from the crouch in which he had landed. He waved his own dispersing seal before his chest and the clones melted away.
Kushina blinked, turning to him at once, eyes shining with excitement, face flushed, lips pulled in a triumphant smile as she leapt towards him. Her elation spilled through him too and he picked her up without thinking, spinning her in a circle, her laughter ringing about him as she clung to him, her fiery locks twirling in their wake, gleaming crimson in the sunlight.
If ever he had to describe happiness, this would have to be it.
He let her go then, but as soon as her feet touched the ground she was bounding up and down again, practically vibrating in her joy.
"You felt all?" he asked, her excitement mirrored in his voice.
"Every single one. Shone bright in the sphere, as ripples, as planned. One at two o'clock, one at six, one at eight, one at eleven and one straight above."
He grinned.
"That would have been me."
"Show off."
He laughed and Kushina huffed out a chuckle as well, one eyebrow lifting gracefully.
"Trying to impress me, ya know?"
His lips quirked up playfully.
"Maybe. Did it work?"
She rolled her eyes, smile never leaving her face, a trace of good humour flashing in her look.
"Nope. You'll have to try harder, ya know."
He cocked his head to one side, smile turning crooked.
"Noted."
She swatted at his shoulder then, chiding him about distractions and he laughed again, falling into step with her as they made towards the line of the trees, back where she had left the scroll with the barrier activation seal.
"You timed it well, the clones entered at the same time, but it wasn't an issue. The alerts go off simultaneously. Still, we should try it with more clones next time. Maybe you can maintain the barrier, let me have a go at it." she said, hurrying ahead, and there was a mischievous tint to her grin that brought a nervous smile to his face.
He was suddenly overcome with an image of scores of vicious redheaded kunoichi descending on his barrier – a feat he was certain she was perfectly capable of accomplishing, what with her chakra quantities.
"I hope it won't get overwhelmed, but the last calibrations should have taken care of that… We need to test the chakra detection threshold levels, we can't have it go off when any animal skitters through, ya know, but it should be adjusted to pick up even civilian chakra imprints, weaker as they are… And civilian children even more so… And summons… We have to look at chakra-imbued objects as well, though I'm pretty sure we secured that loophole well with the last link in the fire trigram…" she was saying now, rambling, listing off as she went.
But to test it on anyone else apart from themselves required running their work through the Research and Development department of the Fūinjutsu Centre – it needed evaluation and safety protocols drawn and clearances and officially scheduled trials with test groups and a whole other set of formalities like observers and clan-permissions and comparison parameters, each of which came with its own hefty set of documentation. He wasn't looking forward to it, but he knew it had to be done.
For now, however, he just wanted to enjoy the solemnity of the moment with her.
He paused, leaning against the trunk of an oak tree, its leaves already unfurled enough to provide thick shade at its base. The sunlight slanted at the edge of its shadow, gilding the tips of her tresses as Kushina knelt to collect the scroll, sealing it quickly within the storage seal on her wrist.
"We'll test all of that in due course. But… for now… It's stable."
She turned to him again, eyes gleaming.
"It's stable." she repeated incredulously, "Minato. We did it."
He grinned.
"Of course. I had no doubt."
"Had no doubt?" she repeated, a spark of humour in her look. "You dragged us all the way out of the village to test it, ya know!"
He winced slightly, bringing a hand up to rub at the back of his neck.
"Well… in precaution. Some of my Fūinjutsu experiments tended to get… a little explosive, at times."
Kushina laughed again, eyes crinkling up in mirth.
"Not when I'm around, ya know." she said, lips quirking up lopsidedly, "Adamantium Chain Barriers can stop even the best of your explosions."
He paused for a moment, not having considered that particular possibility. But the challenge in her voice was too good to pass up on. Mischief flickered through him, a familiar feeling of excitement coiling in his chest. With everything going on lately they hadn't had the chance to have a Fūin-based spar.
"Perhaps." he allowed and Kushina's eyes narrowed infinitesimally.
She neared him in a slow step, almost cat-like, sly smile dancing on her lips, her one hand twisting her locks over one shoulder and he couldn't help glancing down at her neck and the slip of skin at her shoulder, visible just below the low cut of her tunic, graceful collarbone dipping below the hem. He felt his heart skip a beat as she stopped just before him, her one hand reaching out slowly to brush fingers against his chest. He could feel the warmth of her touch even through the fabric of his shinobi blues, his breathing picking up as she held his look.
"You're awfully sure of yourself." she murmured, her fingers clutching lightly at his sweater and he swallowed thickly, eyes darting down to her lips.
Her grin was the only warning he got before she leapt back neatly just as he heard the faint hiss of metal, a cold chain slamming in the back of his legs, sweeping him off his feet and he yelped as he fell back in the grass, the air rushing out of him momentarily.
Kushina was laughing up ahead, doubled over, a chakra chain retreating back to her side with a quiet rattling sound.
"You should have seen your face, ya know!"
She had almost reigned in her mirth, but then she saw Minato push up to his elbows, a dejected expression on his face, and a fresh course of laughter rocked through her. He lasted all of half a minute before he joined her in her merriment, plopping back in the grass, laughing along with her.
"Come on." she said finally, still chuckling. "Mikoto might look nice, but if I'm late today I think she might gut me."
Tsume hadn't been entirely wrong when predicting the solemnity of the event – the Uchiha most certainly followed tradition dutifully, especially when the future clan head was involved. Fugaku and Mikoto's wedding ceremony took the better part of the afternoon, respecting every custom.
Like most weddings, it was separated in two parts – the shrine ritual and the reception after, with the first usually being attended by close family members, while the second meant inviting most anyone, from distant relatives to friends and acquaintances. When the bride and groom were future clan heads, however, the exchange of vows before the Gods was also attended by the Hokage, and other clan heads as solemn witnesses – it was a prudent custom, ensuring that no other clan could argue succession later or support a false claim.
And by some unspoken consent, being one of the few surviving Uzumaki and having had high regard as the daughter of the ambassadors for Uzushiogakure, her standing seemed to have been elevated on par with that of clan head, at least where other clan leaders were concerned. Either that, or Mikoto had simply put her foot down and come up with a solid-enough reason to back her request. Whatever the reason, she had been invited to join the ceremonial procession escorting the bride and groom to the Shinto shrine within the Uchiha grounds, along with the other dignitaries.
Kushina twisted about carefully, hands tucked beneath the wide long sleeves of her kimono as she peered up at the other part of the assembled delegation. Mikoto and Fugaku had taken their places at the front, right behind the Shinto maidens, and Kushina threw a measured look at her friend. The dark-haired girl looked splendid in her shiromuku, the very picture of grace below the shade of her wataboshi, and Kushina was happy to see the genuine smile playing at her lips, a look of joy about her.
Whatever misgivings she had had with her arranged marriage when she was younger, she seemed fond enough of Fugaku now, stealing demure glances at him. He had adopted a stony face, looking almost regal in his montsuki haori hakama, but Kushina couldn't help noticing how his features would soften slightly every now and then as he glimpsed Mikoto out of the corner of his eyes, his lips almost quirking up in a smile.
They were happy. And eager.
Kushina found herself smiling too.
Their parents came next in the ceremony procession, followed by the Hokage and his wife, representing the Sarutobi clan. Behind them stood the heads of the remaining three noble clans, besides the Uchiha: Hiashi and Hizashi's father for the Hyūga, Chōza's parents for the Akimichi, and Shibi, who had already assumed his position as head of the Aburame after his parents' deaths. The rest followed in no particular order; Shikaku was there for the Nara, escorting his mother in his father's absence, walking just before Inoichi's parents for the Yamanaka and Tsume's father for the Inuzuka. She was certain that Tsunade-sama had also been invited, for the Senju, but she was nowhere to be seen.
And then came she, for the Uzumaki.
The kimono she wore had been a gift from her mother, one of the very last such; it was blending indigo and violet, the shades of the sea at night, its hems and sleeves embroidered with dark blue spiralling waves and with purple wisteria in bloom, for the colourful gardens in every Uzumaki home. It made her feel as if she was carrying a piece of her land with her, their traditions living on through her, carefully tucked away in her heart.
And so, she held her head high amongst the Konoha elite, fiercely proud of her fiery hair and of every eddy on her garb.
The rest of the afternoon passed slowly, engulfed by the timeless calm of the Shinto grounds. Mikoto and Fugaku adhered to every tradition – the purification upon entry, the ritual prayers, the blessings, the exchange of saké cups, the sacred dances by the shrine maidens, the vow before the gods and the ceremonial sprig offering. By the time they got to the part where the attendees drank saké as well, closing off the ceremony and their bearing witness, Kushina could feel herself getting restless. A part of her envied Minato, who was no clan head himself, and as such was simply invited to the reception after, along with their other friends.
But then the ceremony was ending, Mikoto and Fugaku turning around to face the room, their hands now clasped, and people were rushing outside the shrine to congratulate them.
And just like that her soft-spoken friend, now beaming, eyes alight, became the wife of the future head of one of Konoha's most powerful clans.
The reception had been set up in the riverside gardens of the Uchiha compound, probably to make use of the large performance hall at their one end – the only building that could comfortably host the entirety of the Uchiha clan and the added guests on top when needed.
But they had decided to make good use of the fair weather for most of the evening, setting up tables outside amidst the thick canopy of the trees, lines of colourful lanterns stretched above them amidst the branches. They had been lit about an hour prior, their soft light illuminating the trees and the meadows below in the settling dusk, their glow bobbing gently with the breeze.
Minato was just talking to a group of shinobi who had approached him when he spotted a tuft of familiar white hair beside one of the larger tables stocked with drinks.
He could have rolled his eyes.
With a quick apology to the lively girl that had just been accosting him with questions, he made his way to the table ahead.
"Why am I not surprised to find you near the saké, sensei…" he said, tucking hands in the sleeves of his haori.
"Well, well, if it isn't my second favourite student!" Jiraya boomed, whirling around almost gracefully, one hand clutching a cup filled to the brim, before leaning closer in a mock-whisper, "Can't risk the wrath of all Uchiha around by claiming anyone but Mikoto as my first favourite."
Minato laughed.
"I'll let it slide." he said merrily, pouring himself a cup of saké as well and leaning against the table beside the white-haired man. "Back for the wedding?"
"Of course! Wouldn't miss a former student's big day now, would I? Not to mention that the Uchiha throw spectacular receptions, when they deem to invite you." the Sannin said through a toothy grin, observing the people ahead.
A koto had started playing somewhere not far off, its melody mixing pleasantly with the calm song of the first crickets and the sounds of laughter about. A group of Uchiha children, all primly dressed in kimonos, ran past them in their games, disappearing amidst the crowd.
"Besides", Jiraya continued with a grin, "I hear you've been working on a certain grand Fūinjutsu project. Was curious to see if I'll find you still in one piece, clothes unsinged and all that."
He had to laugh again, hand finding the back of his neck in habit.
"Actually, it's going well. It should be finished by the end of the month."
Jiraya raised an eyebrow, a low whistle on his lips.
"Truly? Now I really am curious. You'll have to indulge your old sensei."
Minato grinned. The barrier was not common knowledge yet and, as such, couldn't really be discussed in the open. But his sensei was well aware of the initial concept and its hurdles – he had helped Minato with the first design after all. He quickly found himself most eager to share their progress.
"You're always welcome for a cup of tea, sensei."
"Bah. You should know better than trying to lure me over with tea." The Sannin rasped out, ever-grinning, lifting his saké meaningfully before taking a sip.
Minato chuckled, mirroring him, dimly aware of the man's look in the following silence, the Sannin taking him in from the corner of his eyes.
"You seem well." he said in a somewhat lower voice. "You don't look like you might pass out any minute, for once."
He had to suppress a wince, lips quirking up in apology for the worry caused.
"I've been… better lately." the blonde said honestly, running a hand through his hair, his eyes scanning the crowd in habit and lingering briefly on her face before quickly glancing away. "It's been good, being back home."
Jiraya seemed to have followed his look, grin growing all-too-knowing.
"Ah yes, Konoha and it's red-haired merits."
Minato almost choked on his saké.
"Sensei-" he started, throwing a look about them, but they seemed to be the only ones around.
"You might want to step up your game some, Minato. I don't think you're the only one noticing Konoha's… assets."
Minato rolled his eyes at that. He knew well what his sensei was referring to. He had been quite aware of her throughout the whole evening, his eyes seeking her out constantly, from a distance. As he did just now, yet again.
She caught his breath every time.
She was dressed in a kimono wrought with the symbols of her clan, its indigo colour bringing out the violet of her eyes, making her smiles come alive on her lips. Her fiery hair was pinned up with hana kanzashi, but some strands of it had been left to frame her face, blazing in the soft glow of the lanterns.
She was radiant.
Just then she smiled at something Tsume Inuzuka was telling her and she inclined her head, the streamers of her flowery kanzashi brushing her cheek and the curve of her neck. And despite the distance and the gathering darkness above the gleam of the lanterns, he could have sworn her sides reddened as her eyes darted quickly his way.
He felt as if a coil in him was being wound tighter and tighter.
How much he wanted to approach her.
But… he dared not make a public display of their standing, not during war time. Not when he was Konoha's Yellow Flash, known – or infamous as chance might have it – throughout all five nations. He remembered all too well the incident in the Iwagakure base – the way the man had leered at her, triumphant at having found the slightest hint of weakness; the slightest hint that Minato might care for her as more than just a teammate.
What would his enemies do if they knew just how very much he cared? How the very thought of her coming to harm because of him made him sick?
They had talked about it and Kushina had near-laughed at his reasons, claiming she could take care of herself excellently, thank you very much. But she had her own concerns, these involving the council and other unwanted involvement in private affairs. So, she had been quite happy with the decision to keep the matter unspoken.
At least for now, he told himself. Until the war is over.
And then gods help anyone who tried to stop him from taking her hand, in public or not.
Still, having made the decision didn't make it easy to uphold… especially on evenings like this one, when she captivated at a glance.
And he hadn't been the only one to notice.
He had seen every suitor, every attempt at proximity and the way they looked at her with interest bordering on fascination, or sometimes, to his displeasure… even something akin to hunger, when they thought her unobservant. But Kushina had dismissed them all, some more graciously than others, finally finding solace in her Inuzuka friend who seemed more than willing to scare interested parties away with brash jokes.
Once, not too long ago, such displays of advances may have set him on edge. Not so now, when he knew, with unwavering certainty; when he saw the glint in her eyes as she glanced his way and the giddying warmth in her smiles, secretly tucked in the corner of her lips.
The Toad Sannin really couldn't have known.
"As to that, sensei… I'm not worried." he said softly, barely audibly, taking another sip of saké.
He could see the white-haired man turn slightly beside him, eyes widening momentarily as he took in Minato's foolish smile, his face treacherously warm. And then a grin spilled on Jiraya's face, so wide that his eyes crinkled up.
"Well then." He said, bringing a hand up to clap Minato's back. "I'm glad you're not."
She was standing amidst the crowd, her hands clasping a lit floating lantern, keeping it from flying away before the signal was given. They were to be released together, as a sign of well-wishes for the newlyweds.
Tsume had gone to find her betrothed, leaving her momentarily alone, surrounded by unfamiliar guests. Their eyes were alight with excitement, impatient for the spectacular display of light. It was an Uchiha wedding tradition, she knew – floating lanterns signified the flame that reached the gods.
It happened out of nowhere.
One moment she was standing on her own and in the next she felt his presence behind her, his silent movement remaining nearly unnoticed by the people around. But the familiar warmth of his chakra and his very scent were unmistakable for her, recognition sparking at once. She could have sighed in relief as she turned to face him, her eyes taking in the warm knowing smile and his eyes now reflecting the gleam of the lanterns all about. His hair seemed to be catching the light, like sunbeams coming alive.
"Hey there." Minato murmured, lips quirking up to one side and she felt her heart flutter in her chest.
"Hey."
How much she had longed to near him, after a torturously long day of stolen looks.
"Enjoying the evening?" he asked casually.
But there was nothing casual about the way he was looking at her; the way his eyes drank her up, holding her gaze with intensity.
"Moderately." she said, unable to keep the playful hint out of her voice. "It could be better, ya know."
"Hmm… I was just thinking the same."
His eyes flickered down to her lips as he said that, lingering briefly before moving back up again and she felt her pulse quicken in her ears, her thoughts turning liquid.
He glanced away then, eyes seemingly roaming the streamers with lanterns about, but his hand moved, ever-so-slowly, as if the movement was unintentional. His fingers brushed lightly against the edge of one long end of her obi, trailing the soft fabric in a whisper of a touch.
A soft sigh escaped her, her heart giving a funny leap as her cheeks warmed at the idea of the innocent touch-that-wasn't-quite-a-touch, concealed amidst the group of well-wishers.
Just then a murmur rose up through the crowd, growing louder with cries of "Congratulations!" as people started releasing the paper lanterns all around. She could see his soft smile as he brought his own lantern forward, letting go of it as she did with hers, the two floating upwards slowly, almost languidly, to join the flickers of light all about. Her lips pulled in a smile, taken by the beauty of the sight, keenly aware of his hand still holding gingerly on to the end of her obi, and of the slip of space between them that had somehow shrunk.
"Kushina!"
Tsume's joyful shout cut through the moment at once. Her heart lurched as she turned about, feeling Minato's fingers retreat at once.
"Sorry, I was hoping we'd make it back before the lant- Oh hey Minato, didn't see you there." The Inuzuka said, a knowing grin on her face.
"Tsume-san. Always a pleasure." he said pleasantly, as if the moment of mere seconds ago hadn't occurred at all.
Tsume's grin had acquired a sharp edge.
"Probably not that big of a pleasure right now, I'd wager. Sorry, I gotta whisk her away." she said before turning to Kushina, "An Uchiha brat was asking about you. Something about seals around the stage."
"Oh. The Kabuki play. I made them steam-release seals, for the entry. Did they muck it up, ya know?"
People had already started retreating towards the ceremonial hall where the entertainment for the night was to be held. She turned back to Minato, wistfulness battling apology in her sheepish grin, and he smiled back at once, eyes full of impossible fondness.
"Go. I'll catch you later."
"Some catch she is, ah?" Tsume rasped out with a smirk.
The redhead elbowed her in the ribs.
"Indeed." Minato agreed calmly, smile never leaving his face, well aware that Tsume was one of the few people who knew.
"See you." Kushina muttered, practically dragging the dark-haired girl away, and the last thing she heard was Minato's soft chuckle behind them, making her lips quirk up in response.
Despite being quite large, the hall was still crowded, every seat taken, leaving many people standing around by the walls, the quiet hum of conversation carrying on every side.
Minato had chosen to remain standing, half-hidden near the back end of the room; it wasn't that he didn't appreciate the attention he seemed to be getting, people eager to talk to Konoha's Yellow Flash, but he was grateful for the temporary calm. He leaned his shoulder against a thick wooden beam, crossing his arms lightly before his chest, as his eyes sought her out yet again, like moths drawn to a flame.
She was standing just across from him, leaning against the opposite wall of the hall, beside an alcove, after having slipped in late, probably tweaking around with her seals until the end. She had stilled now, all quiet grace, eyes seemingly trained on the stage, but he had caught her gaze again and again as she seemed to seek him out with a look constantly, the ghost of a smile playing on her lips.
And the coil kept winding tighter in his chest with every wayward glance, fire sneaking down his veins.
A ripple of murmurs went through the crowd just before the taiko began drumming away, drowning out all other sound, her seals activating and sending a cascade of smoke down the stage. And then the lights dimmed about them, leaving only the lanterns trained on the performance ahead.
It was as if someone had sent a zing of electricity through him, the fine hairs on the back of his neck rising in near-static, a quiet huff leaving him as his eyes found hers without pretence, holding her look in the guise of the semi-darkness about. He was dimly aware that somewhere up ahead a masked actor had taken to the stage, assuming his mie, the sound of the drums petering off to allow for the shout of his name.
Minato saw little of it.
Her eyes had widened in the dark, almost startled, as if she too could feel the very air between them charge. Even in the dark he could make out the trail of a flush in her cheeks, her eyes holding a near-feverish gleam, a haunting intensity to her look. Her lips had parted, and he was certain her breath was coming out a little faster, her chest rising quicker against the soft fabric of her kimono.
His fingers twitched, remembering the feel of her obi in his grip, the warmth of her presence and the maddening scent of her. The Taiko sped up ahead, keeping pace with his heartbeat as he swallowed thickly, that same coil winding impossibly tighter. He could feel the saké he had drunk earlier getting to him, a brilliant feeling of lightness clouding his mind at the sight of her, a spark of molten heat spreading down his frame.
By gods, he wanted her. He ached for her, the need spiking through him, making it hard to think.
She shifted where she stood then, twisting a lock of her hair with one hand, kimono brushing against the bend of her wrist and he had to suppress a low groan as his mind leapt to a different image, of shrugging the beautiful fabric off her shoulder, his lips trailing against her freckle-dusted skin to the curve of her neck.
He exhaled a shaky breath, trying to cast the thoughts away, aiming for a shot of rationality, dimly aware of the throngs of people between them; but everyone's eyes were fixed on the stage, following the whirlwind dance of the kabuki actors and when he looked back at Kushina she was moving, her eyes darting his way one last time before she ducked below a side-entrance curtain soundlessly, disappearing out of the hall.
What little resistance he had crumbled like a sandcastle in the waves.
He forced himself to wait a few minutes, nerves thrumming all the while, a blaze igniting in his chest, before he finally slipped out of the room.
Finding her took him no time at all, keenly aware as he was of her chakra signature at all times.
She had made her way back to the gardens, straying away from the lit meadows of the reception, opting for the quiet of a side alley behind the performance hall. It was nestled between the theatre and another smaller building, probably used as a storeroom for the stage aids. There were no lanterns here, her figure dimly lit in the moonlight as she leaned against the rough outer wall of the storeroom, half-hidden between the twisting climbing branches of a wild wisteria. It had taken over most of the building's side, its blossoms blooming in dark violet, much like the flowers embroidered on her kimono, and he sucked in a breath – for a moment she seemed wild, enchanting, like a forest spirit formed by the flowers about.
He neared her in a quiet step, brushing away a hanging wisteria branch in his path. Her eyes were watching him intently, widened, impossibly dark in the night, and his fingers curled against his palm, feeling the charge zing through him. They were in public, in the open, at a very crowded event, this was improper, he should leave, but… they were alone, hidden amongst the wisteria, its heady scent mixing with hers, setting his senses ablaze.
"Lost?" he said instead, humour tucked in the crook of his smile.
"Needed some fresh air. It was… awfully stifling… in that hall."
Her heart was fluttering in the hush, breathing coming out somewhat uneven between slightly parted lips.
"Quite."
"And the change of scenery is nice."
"Mhm." he agreed placidly, taking another small step forward, ending up just before her, Kushina now looking up at him. His fingers brushed against a blooming wisteria just beside her face. "Most captivating."
Her cheeks reddened in the way he so loved as she bit her lip through a hint of a smile and he felt himself coming undone at the sight of her, coil springing, a feeling of near-vertigo sweeping over him.
"Kushina…" he heard himself say, voice low and rich.
And then he had closed the distance between them firmly, kissing her amidst the thicket of blooms, his one hand clutching at the back of her obi sash, pulling her closer, the other trailing down her waist and the soft fabric at her hip. He was dizzy with her, head swimming with her scent, her taste, with the way her fingers clutched at his hair. The fire that was her touch swirled tighter, a wave of heady sensation thrumming down his nerves with each little move as she shifted against him, her hip brushing lightly between his legs.
All sense left him as he broke their kiss, his lips finding her neck, fingers loosening her obi ever-so-slightly, pulling away at the rich fabric to reveal the bend of her neck, trailing kisses down her heated skin, biting softly at the crook of her shoulder, and a breathless sound escaped her, fingernails digging in his back even through his haori.
He didn't know what force on Earth stopped him from pulling her in a Hiraishin right then, event all but forgotten, their suspiciously-joint sudden absence be damned. He would never know how he could want her ever more each time, insatiably, her very presence untethering him.
"Minato…" she whispered, his name coming out in a quiet strangled moan, the sound sending a wave of sparkling brilliance down his chest, and he thought he'd never have enough of hearing it.
Just then a door slammed open from further down the alley, spilling light in the darkness ahead, the sound thundering about. They both froze for a fraction of a second before he straightened, pressing within the wisteria by her side, arm resting against her stomach as he eyed the stage aids that tumbled out in the alleyway laughing, oblivious that they weren't alone. Kushina was still as a statue beside him, wide-eyed, her breath coming hard and erratic in the stillness, much like his own.
"I could… Hiraishin." he mouthed breathlessly, leaning by her ear, "But I don't have any markers within the Uchiha compound. It would mean leaving proper, for tonight."
She bit her lip, throwing a quick look his way before glancing at the stage aids again. They were joking about, taking swigs of saké from small bottles, starting down the alleyway and nearing them languidly.
"I… I promised Mikoto I'd be there, for the sending off, at the end, along with the clan heads." she mouthed back and Minato nodded.
He had expected as much. It was tradition. The people who had attended the shrine ceremony sent-off the couple at the end of the day.
"Well then." he murmured, as he brought a hand up, fingers brushing against the hem of her kimono, pulling it gently in place.
He held her look briefly, taking in the hazed gleam in her eyes, as if she still couldn't quite shake off the moments prior, and his lips quirked up in response.
And then he body-flickered to the roof, melting against the shadows.
He pressed his back against the rough tiles, heart hammering in his chest, head near-spinning, nerves coming alive with the ghost of her touch. A sliver of reason was trying to worm its way back to him and for a moment he felt like kicking himself. He seemed to be unable to exercise control around her, even when risking being seen like that amidst one of Konoha's most traditional and honour-bound clans. Such actions would be considered highly improper, bordering on scandalous. Not to mention the risk of her being associated with a shinobi tagged as kill-on-sight in every Bingo book.
He blamed the saké… amongst other things.
"Oh!" he heard a man exclaim from the alley beneath, finally having noticed Kushina in his approach. "What are you doing here, miss? Are you lost?"
Despite the misgivings with his own actions, he couldn't help the silent laughter that rocked through him as he heard her sharp intake of breath from below, Kushina recognising his own words from minutes earlier.
"Just… needed some fresh air. Thank you." she said and then her calm steps sounded, drawing further away.
One of the men in the alley whistled after she had left.
"Damn. What a girl." he said, to a muttering of approval.
Minato grinned. They had no idea.
"You've decided then?" Jiraya asked, leaning casually against a wooden beam as he sat on the railing of Tsunade's balcony. His fingers still gripped the edges of a half-drained saké cup.
She was standing rigidly in the doorway of her terrace, her hand chafing slowly against her other arm, as if to ward off a chill despite the warm late-spring night. Her eyes were fixed on the village below without seeing it, silence stretching before she spoke.
"Yes."
He sighed, throwing his head back against the beam.
The stars seemed unusually bright tonight, the sky seeming somehow larger, a deeper black with the coming of summer soon.
"You know, you missed a perfectly sound wedding tonight." he grumbled.
She all but ignored him.
"Did Sandaime put you up to this?"
Jiraya barked out a laugh.
"Of course. Couldn't very well ask Orochimaru, we all know he's like to set ladies running faster." he said, almost certain that his wide grin didn't seem forced.
Tsunade sighed, closing her eyes.
"I told sensei. I've made up my mind."
He swirled the cup, the liquid sloshing against the edges.
"Where will you go?"
She shrugged.
"I don't know yet. Anywhere. You'd know that better than most."
"What of money? Will you pick up a trade?"
He left the rest unsaid. The rumours he'd heard didn't need addressing – that her main trade… her primary work and brilliant talent were simply no longer an option.
Her lips curled up.
"Perhaps I'll pick up gambling."
He barked out a laugh.
"That would make some betting houses very happy. You're the worst gambler I've ever met."
He cast another glance over Konoha, his laughter subsiding, eyes taking in the evening calm with its many merry lights that twinkled from the tiny windows around.
"We always said that our village needs us. But amongst the tree of us… Orochimaru pickles up reptiles and I bring scraps of news, but you… you save lives. Konoha needs you most of all."
She had grown very still. Her eyes, when she finally met his look, were impossibly tired.
"For what? Yes, I save lives, only for them to be thrown away later, on another battlefield, in another war. Only for those lives I save to have children who will then be killed too, made to fight fresh out of the academy steps."
"Tsunade…"
"It will never stop. You know it as well as I do. As long as shinobi exist, there will always be another war."
He felt his eyebrows furrow.
"We can stop it. We can break the wheel, I know we can." he grumbled out, his mind jumping briefly to the toad sage… and to Minato's smiling face.
It couldn't have been all for naught.
She was already shaking her head.
"I'm sure that that's exactly what every cog in the wheel thinks as it keeps spinning along. I refuse to be a part of it. No more."
He sighed a weary, bone-deep sigh. The night had turned into a chilly one after all.
"I won't stop trying to change it, you know, even when you go." he said in the end, flashing her yet another grin, "The handsome hero never gives up."
She smiled then, a wizened, saddened thing, a sense of deep melancholy tucked in her eyes as she held his look.
"Well, in that case… I'll bet you'll fail."
AN: Alright, this one turned out longer than I expected~ But hey, some more sweet moments before the coming heartbreak. Because, I figured, Sakumo wouldn't have taken the decision overnight. It would have taken time… some "wounds" fester. Same goes for Tsunade (though different decision).
A few notes on the text:
1. From what I gathered from different sources, Pakkun was apparently able to say Kakashi's name when he was four months old. Meaning he is not older than Kakashi. So here he is as a pup, learning the art of being a useful adorable little bugger :D Because come on, who doesn't love puppies.
2. I spent forever researching traditional Shinto weddings and trying to tie them into the logic of this world. Obviously there are no clan systems in Japan, so I hope it kind of makes sense. Essentially yay, more world-building :D
3. Yes, I am aware that Minato is pegged as flee-on-sight, not kill-on-sight in the Bingo books. Don't worry, there's time to change his status, he'll earn that rank good :D They're still only 18 (soon 19).
4. Yes, you guessed it, the one thing I might love more than Japanese Sakura trees might be wisteria. And since it blooms later into spring than the cherries, and it's technically been a month now since Hanami - wisteria. Wisteria everywhere. I'm all down with shaping the world into my perfect garden, mwahahaha
6. Sooo is this chapter kind of mostly about the whole little conundrum about Minato and Kushina's not-very-public relationship and the "hardships" that come along with that? Yeeap, that it is. The whole situation got me thinking, people knew all about the Fourth Hokage in the original manga and anime, but Kushina was rarely mentioned, if ever. Now, obviously that's because Kishi fleshed out the details later :D But I thought it plausible also that… maybe not a lot of people knew. Maybe Minato tried to protect his family by not having his private life widely known. I believe it would make sense, with his overprotective tendencies, to try to keep things out of the public's eye. In any case, it felt mostly right in the sense of this story, so I've gone along with it. And this chapter is a deeper dive into that.
7. In case it was unclear - Tsunade betting that Jiraya will fail comes from her being a terrible gambler. So in a way she's wishing him good luck :P
So, I hope you've enjoyed it! Thank you once again for all of your kind words and support and for dropping by to read and to leave me a line! Your comments never fail to make me beam! Oh and, hi CagedHeart7, I hope you're feeling better! Kick Covid's butt hard!
Glossary:
(Hana) Kanzashi: hair ornaments used in traditional Japanese hairstyles. The flowery ones with hanging streamers are called hana kanzashi
Shiromuku: the traditional Japanese wedding kimono often used for brides of traditional samurai families, nowadays used for Shinto weddings
Wataboshi: a traditional soft white hat that the bride wears during a Shinto wedding, similar to the veil worn in the west, in that the bride is hidden until the point in the ceremony when she is unveiled to her groom.
Montsuki haori hakama: the traditional male attire for a Shinto wedding
koto: a string musical instrument, also known as the Japanese zither - it is Japan's national instrument
Obi: a beautiful belt sash used to hold a kimono at the waist
Haori: a traditional Japanese hip- or thigh-length jacket worn over a kimono.
Kabuki: a classical form of Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for its heavily-stylised performances, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performers, and for the elaborate kumadori make-up worn by some of its performers.
Taiko: traditional Japanese drums
mie: an element in Kabuki theatre in which the actor holds a picturesque pose to establish his character. At this point his stage name is sometimes heard in loud shout from an expert audience member.