Chapter 51
Minashi sat on the engawa looking out upon the backyard of the Hatake Compound. Tea, one of her clones had made her, cooling on the tray beside her.
Kitsune was still asleep in the guest room, Sakumo was pattering around in the kitchen and Kakashi was still knocked out cold. Minashi's body wanted her to join him back in the world of slumber, but a frightening nightmare woke her.
The blonde violently shivered at kissing lips, green spandex, and bushy brows.
'I think I would take nightmares of my past over nightmares of Gai.'
Kurama just snorted at her and went back to sleep.
"You are not normally quiet," Sakumo yawned as he joined her with a plate of the cinnamon buns he'd made. Minashi didn't even spare them a glance before snagging two, one gone in just two bites.
The Hokage chuckled and picked up the teapot and her teacup in separate hands. She watched curiously as steam soon rose from both once more. The elder shinobi then poured a cup for himself and grabbed a bun.
"So?"
"Last night was fun."
Silver brows rose in doubt. "You seemed pretty dead set on leaving at one point."
Minashi pointedly ignored the flush rising on her cheeks and sipped at her tea. "I've never seen the clans come together like that before." She deflected hopefully.
"My goal is to make Konoha one village; not clans living together with walls and old grudges dividing them." Sakumo sighed. "Konoha needs to stand united, Especially in these times. The shinobi aren't too shaken up by my Hokageship, but for the civilians that don't live in the world we do in the same way, they must be wondering at their leader's wisdom. Naming a new Hokage, After, a war has already been declared."
"We had no control over when Iwa would push the borders. Your inauguration was scheduled to be before the war started."
"Yes, but if I'd returned home from my mission sooner, I could have taken the hat and not created unrest in the civilian sectors."
Minashi couldn't help her snort. "Well, they have no choice now. Yes, they help a good part of Konoha run, but we are a Shinobi village, not a Civilian village. Personally, I believe you are already doing so much good for the village, they just haven't realized or seen the results yet."
Sakumo chuckled softly. "I came out here to check on you, not to be cheered up."
The blonde just shrugged. "Just absorbing everything from yesterday….and wishing I could prank Kitsune without it being pointless."
The Hokage snorted into his tea before they both paused when they heard soft feet and tiny nails clicking on the floors.
Tiny barks turned excited as itty bitty Pakkun came stumbling out on his adorable little legs for pets and attention from the duo.
"Good Morning Kakashi." Sakumo ruffled his yawning pup's hair.
"Mornin'." He mumbled.
Minashi waved at him with one hand, the other already busy picking the pudgy pug up to give belly rubs. "Yo Kashi." She beamed.
Kakashi grunted and pulled the pup away from her, inciting a pout. "He's a ninken, not a pet. Don't spoil him."
"But he's so adorable and still has that puppy pudge." Minashi whined.
Kakashi pointedly ignored Minashi and sat in his dad lap, stealing a bun from the tray.
"When do you go back to Mt. Azamuki?" The Hatake pup asked around a bite.
Minashi looked at him. "When everyone is okay with it. Personally I want to go back as soon as possible to get back into my new routines, but I also want to spend as much time with family and friends as possible. It was cool seeing the gang yesterday. No one has really been in touch because of missions picking up for the war effort. Then the war hit and it's all shinobi on duty."
Kakashi nodded, stealing a sip from his dad's teacup. Sakumo just shook his head fondly.
"Well, Kakashi may have today off, but I'm pretty sure the rest of your friends are already back at it with missions and training." Sakumo supplied to the two pups.
"What about Nii-san and Nee-san?" The blonde asked.
Sakumo hummed as he looked to the sky to think. "I believe they report back tonight. So they should be making their way back here to try to steal you away."
"Oh. Okay." The Chibi Uzumaki looked to Kakashi. "Will you be okay with that Kashi? We really didn't get a lot of time together yesterday before the party started. Even after, it was a lot of time spent with our friends."
The silver pup shrugged. "Dad also has today off….Can't we all just spend it together? Even Minato-san and Kushina-nee are already like family."
Sakumo chuckled and ruffled silver locks. "That sounds like a good plan. We'll check with them when they arrive to see if it works or if they had anything special planned with Minashi."
Thankfully, to Minashi's pleasure her elder siblings didn't have anything planned. So instead the small family stayed in the Hatake Compound, watching Kakashi open presents, playing card games, holding a few small spars, and just enjoying each other's presence.
Kitsune arrived just as the sun set to take Minashi away. Giving her siblings and the Hatake boys hugs, the two Fox summoners then returned back to Mt. Azamuki.
Minashi collapsed onto the moss couch with a groan.
"That….was a busy three days."
Kitsune just snorted. "I'll say. So you going to climb into bed before I pop?"
The blonde just huffed and tore off her clothes as she headed into her bedroom and collapsed onto the furs. Kitsune rolled her eyes picking up the clothes to toss into the hamper. Covering her original with another fur, the Blood clone then dismissed itself.
Minashi groaned and let unconsciousness take her. She'd let the memories sort themselves as she slept.
The following four and a half weeks were continuous training for the blonde Uzumaki. She continued to train her body and senses with Riku-sensei as they ran the mountain. The only break had been her three day return to Konoha once more for her own 7th birthday. While it was no where close to as popular as the new Hokage's son, all of her friends still came and at least one adult from the clans to watch over their charges. It had been three of the best days of her life. She had gotten a lot of jutsu scrolls from Kushina and Minato, weapons from peers, and sealing materials from the Sannin and Sandaime.
Then it was back to training at the mount. Minashi was in the middle of her newest addition to her training regime, meditation, when Kitsune suddenly appeared in the glade Minashi had chosen to practice in.
There was a wildness in her blood clone's gaze.
"What?" The blonde asked calmly.
"Tsunade's water broke!" The clone practically screamed.
Minashi blinked….then blinked once more as her brain came back online.
"WHAT?!" The blonde shrieked jumping up to latch onto her clone. "TAKE US BACK YOU BAKA!"
The Clone didn't hesitate to Hiraishin them back to Konoha. They arrived in the Senju compound to chaos.
Orochimaru was running around with his hair a mess and panic in his eyes as he tried to get the hospital bag together.
Jiraiya…Minashi sighed as she found him unconscious and a black eye forming.
The duo looked to the cause of it all. Tsunade was pale, one had on her stomach, her sweatpants still on and soaked, the other hand gripping the doorjam to keep upright.
Honey brown eyes snapped to the two Uzumaki. Minashi saw the panic in her eyes.
"Switch." Minashi told her blood clone. In a small serge of chakra Kitsune turned to Minashi who then bolted out the door. Minashi herself returned to her adult form and henged under Kitsune. The Uzumaki already feeling that Tsunade's guard was far enough away and a few ANBU short. Not to mention all the seals protecting the place would keep them unaware of her switch.
The now Raven haired woman calmly walked to Tsunade and pried her hand from the door. The crushed trim would have to be replaced another day.
"Tsuna, let's get you to the hospital. No doubt your guard has already notified the Hokage and Sandaime."
"Orochi? Raiya?" She started to pant, Kitsune put a hand on the Senju's round belly and felt how hard it was. Tsuna groaned in pain, her hand clasped in Kitsune's to a breaking point if Kitsune hadn't enforced her own hand with chakra.
"They'll meet us there when they restart their brains." The Ravenette hummed even as she helped Tsunade out the door. A Kage bushin of Kitsune popped up behind them to stay and get the boys to the hospital eventually.
Carefully, but as quickly as Tsunade could walk, the Senju and hidden Uzumaki made their way to the hospital. Tsunade contractions slowly got closer and closer together the more they walked. Kitsune felt when the missing ANBU rejoined the guard, but pushed forward.
Tsunade was panting and sweating, having to stop to lean on Kitsune for each contraction. Kitsune kept her voice calm and her body stable for her friend and family.
At their slow pace it took almost forty minutes to hike across Konoha and get to the hospital. Kitsune might have also taken a longer way to continue to work Tsunade's contractions closer together. Her experience with Hinata roaring to the front. That and all the midwives classes she took to support her sister-in-law -even if it wasn't legally so-. When they were only five minutes apart, Kitsune and the Blonde Senju arrived at the hospital and were quickly whisked away.
The Ravenette was pleased to see that her clone had gotten Orochimaru and Jiraiya snapped out of their funk. They too followed the chair that Tsunade was wheeled around in until they were in the maternity ward.
The Senju Clan head was swiftly moved into a bed and made as comfortable as possible. Biwako was barking orders to the nurses, the Senju husbands were on either side of Tsunade, and Kitsune had her hands hovering over Tsunade's belly. Filtering Nature energy, the Ravenette was in full Sage mode as she watched both babies' chakras and Tsunade's own.
"Report." Biwako snapped even as she readjusted Tsunade's legs since the contractions were getting closer and closer to only a minute apart.
"All three are stable." A nurse called out reading the monitors.
"Chakra senses confirm stability." Kitsune hummed.
"The twins are both head down." A hyuuga nurse reported.
Biwako nodded at her team and looked into Tsunade's painfilled, but fearful eyes.
"They're….early." Tsunade panted worry clear in her tone.
Biwako just smiled serenely. "Do not worry Tsuna-chan, not only have I delivered a good portion of the civilian citizens of Konoha, but I have also helped bring many Shinobi children into this world. I was only waiting for when your sons would tell us they were ready to come into the world. Your body is ready and your sons are ready. Have faith, they are in good positioning, your chakra and theirs is stable. All vitals are in the green. You are not a high risk pregnancy or birth. You have the best medical staff available, trained personally by you and me."
Tension left the Senju mother to be with every sentence.
"Now, when your body tells you to push, you will-" Biwako said even as Tsunade winced when her dilation was checked. "-Which shouldn't be too long from now. You are fully dilated…..Have you been having contractions before today?"
"I thought they were Braxton hicks." Tsunade panted even as she closed her eyes to the cool rag Orochimaru placed on her sweating forehead. "I couldn't scan myself. My water hadn't broken. They weren't consistent." She then moaned in pain as another one hit.
Biwako rolled her eyes. "How long Tsuna-chan?"
"Three days?" The blonde said, ending with a questioning lit in her voice.
The Sarutobi snorted. "No wonder you're ready to pop." She muttered under her breath. "Alright team, remember how we practiced. Niko and Hana are on baby one. Kagome and Makiko are on baby two."
"Hai!" The four nurses nodded from the two separate baby stations they were finishing on setting up and preparing.
"Report." Biwako called again ten minutes later and received the same from the vitals nurse, Hyuuga nurse, and Kitsune.
Brown eyes watched the mother's face even as her hands and chakra observed the mother's body.
"Tsuna-chan." Biwako called gently.
Honey brown eyes met Dark chocolate brown. "Do you feel it?"
"H-hai." She nodded even as Jiraiya and Orochimaru helped her to sit up more, hands holding hers and her back up. Kitsune didn't remove her hands from over Tsunade's belly. She could feel it turn rock hard once more.
"Then push." Biwako ordered.
Time became a blur to the room's occupants as Tsunade switched between groaning in pain and gasping for breath. The two fathers worked to keep Tsunade's breathing even, sweat wiped away, and hands tightly held in theirs.
"PUSH Tsuna!" Biwako ordered eyes seeing something that would always warm her heart. "I see his head, now give me a big push sweetie!"
Tsuna's groan turned into a scream of pain as she bore down. The first team was waiting with a blanket and tiny aspirator.
"Good Girl! Almost there," Biwako called even as Tsunade leaned back, between the contractions, a sweaty mess against Jiraiya and Orochimaru's shoulders. "His head is out, now his shoulders."
Tsunade whimpered but sat up with her Husbands' assistance and bore down once more with a loud groan turned holler of pain.
"He's out!" Biwako said and Tsunade fell back panting and her body in so much pain. "Who is cutting the first cord?"
"Kitsune." The husbands said, shocking said woman. Violet eyes snapped to meet Gold and black.
"W-what?" She stammered.
Biwako chuckled but pulled the younger woman closer. Kitsune couldn't believe it. Even as the two nurses worked on cleaning the boy's lungs and his gurgled cries turned clearer and clearer, the Ravenette cut the cord between Tsunade and her firstborn. Kitsune watched with wonder as the babe was then laid across Tsunade's chest.
The senju's burst into sobs as her son cried against her chest, soon the boy settled down as his ear heard his mother's heartbeat and towels worked to clean him up.
Kitsune watched on as Jiraiya dissolved into tears and kissed Tsunade's head repeatedly, saying 'thank you' over and over between each kiss.
Orochimaru had his trembling hand on the tiny back of their son resting against their wife. Tears fell down the pale man's cheeks as he leaned down, not caring about the lingering goop, and kissed his son on the head.
"Do you have a name for baby A?" Nurse Hana asked even as Nurse Niko gently removed the baby to have further vitals and measurements taken.
"Itama." Tsunade sighed tiredly. "Senju Itama."
Kitsune discreetly hid away her camera even as she wiped at her own tears.
"How are you doing Tsuna-chan?" Biwako called even as she had her chakra covered hands still down and observing the blonde.
"Tired." Tsunade admitted.
"That's expected. Your Oxygen stats are still good, Baby B's stats are also good. Are you feeling the urge to push again?"
Tsunade shook her head and Biwako nodded and stepped back. "Alright, baby B might take time to slide further down. "Reiko, please confirm that."
The Hyuuga nodded and reactivated her eyes. "Baby B is still head down and in position…he is at the canal."
Biwako nodded. "Alright then once your contractions restart that urge to push will return. Let's get her some water. Make sure you keep your breathing even Tsuna-chan. You're doing great."
Tsunade just grunted even as she listened to her son's cries slowly settle. Honey brown eyes watched as he was measured, clothed in a diaper and swaddled up.
It was only ten minutes later when Tsunade was once again pushing to get her second son out. While her first one had taken almost two hours, it was only thirty minutes later when the Senju was screaming once more in pain as her second son crowned. Biwako praised her daughter in all but blood. She ordered her second team to be ready. Kitsune and her vitals team kept sharp eyes on both mother and son.
Finally, Tsunade fell back exhausted as her second son's gurgled cries filled the air before clearing for his loud ones. Tears fell down the senju's eyes even as she held her son so the fathers could cut the cord this time.
"Kawarama." She whispered into fine hair. "Senju Kawarama."
Kitsune once more secretly hid her camera after taking a picture of the family with their second born. She brought it out to snap pictures when all five were huddled together on the bed after Tsunade had finished the birthing process with the placenta and Kawarama had his turn getting his stats.
Biwako finished shuffling her three nurse teams out and shut the door behind them. Letting out a tired sigh, she turned back to the new family proudly. Kitsune leaned against the wall discreetly taking pictures. The Sarutobi wouldn't call her out on it because she wanted some copies.
"Well Tsunade," the Brunette called the attention from the new babies to herself for a moment. "I haven't had that clean and easy of a twin birth since those Nara brats." She looked at the clipboard with both boy's measurements and smiled. "Itama came out 6lbs 8oz and 22inches. Kawarama came out 6lbs 13 oz and 22inches. Even for two weeks early they are at a healthy weight for twins. We'd still like to keep you three here for a day of observation and then you may go home. I'll have either myself or one of our midwives come out and check on you daily for the next month until those boys break eight pounds. The midwife will also be able to assist as a lactation nurse and help your husbands with handling and any other questions they will have." Biwako seemed to pause before looking at Orochimaru. "Within reason brat."
Orochimaru flushed but nodded.
"Until then, my best suggestion is rest when the boys do. I'll leave you five to bond."
Tsunade looked down at the two boys in her arms. They were identical, but she could tell. Their signatures were slightly different. Both still had the senju reserves, but Itama's reminded her of Jiraiya's earth heavy signature. Kawarama's was lighter like Orochimaru's water.
Both babes yawned and a protective instinct roared to life in the Senju. She would never let anyone harm her sons.
Her honey brown eyes took in the tiny red birthmarks on their cheeks. While the same color as Jiraiya's, they were placed similar to her granduncle's, minus his third chin one. Fair hair was already thick on their heads. Tsunade kissed the pale locks, reminded once more of her uncle, but knowing this was all Jiraiya's genes. Twins sets of eyes opened and Tsunade beamed. Orochimaru at her side gasped. Jiraiya chuckled even as his fingers seemed so large as he gently caressed their cheeks.
Two sets of Golden eyes blinked up at their parents.
"They have your radiant eyes Orochi." Jiraiya smiled so happily that his eyes burned with tears.
"They have your hair." The pale man whispered.
"And plenty of senju." Tsunade chuckled fondly. "They really are a mix of us three. Thank you." She looked into their eyes.
"We should be thanking you Hime." Jiraiya kissed her temple.
"You have blessed us with miracles." Orochimaru's tears finally fell as his lean fingers trailed over his sons, even he looked to have hands so large against their tiny frames. "Thank you Tsuna." Orochimaru locked teary eyes with his wife. "I've never felt so happy…and whole."
Kitsune stayed silent as she watched the family bond, quietly taking more pictures when Tsunade carefully helped her husbands into holding a son each. Then switching so they could hold the opposite child.
The time traveling Uzumaki was soon also dragged over and had the honor to hold both babes. Silently, with a kiss to their foreheads, she promised to always protect them. Not just because she was their godmother, but because they were the reason that she gave up everything for a new start. She didn't notice Jiraiya taking his own pictures of her holding the twins.
After a feeding time for the boys with assistance from a lactation nurse, because medic she may be but Tsunade was still a first time mom, visitors were finally allowed.
Biwako escorted her own husband in. Following him was Sakumo, Kakashi, Kenji and Minashi. Behind them were Kushina and Minato. Each took their turns holding a twin. Kakashi and Kenji struggling the most.
"Is this what's it's going to be like to be a big brother?" Kenji asked randomly, cutting off a few of the adults' conversations.
"Big brother?" Kakashi and Minashi unisoned.
Kenji nodded and looked at his teammates and best friends. "My tou-san and Ka-san asked how I would feel about being a big brother."
"Aren't you already one to Obito-kun?" Tsunade hummed from where she was half asleep on Jiraiya. Orochimaru was already asleep against her thighs. The stress and anxiety having worn him out.
Kenji tilted his head adorably. "Yeah? I mean, but I didn't see him when he was this small."
A few chuckles went around the room at the incredulous look the boy shot the tiny babe in his arms.
"You'll be the best big brother." Minashi beamed at her teammate. Kenji's shoulders relaxed knowing that Mina-chan truly believed he would be.
Six months later…
"Move it kit!" Riku shouted even as the enemy nin chased her. "Faster!" He shouted from the branches above.
Minashi jumped, bringing her body into a complete horizontal line, dodging the kunai and body that followed as she twisted and flipped through her enemies. Landing on a foot, it was just enough to send her own kunai back.
Reaching a clearing Riku paused at the edge and watched as Minashi took on four of her over-powered shadow clones. They wouldn't die with one punch and could take a few of Tsunade's full strength hits.
Sharp Golden eyes watched as the clones tried different ways to place seals on Minashi herself without it dissipating for being incomplete. This all while the original was working on her brother's taijutsu style.
The Hummingbird style was new to her. The Uzumaki whirlpool was already in her muscle memory, but they'd been working on the hummingbird next.
Riku let out a sigh when the original had enough and was frustrated by the failed results on her clone's end. Yet her new Taijutsu was coming along well.
Fuuton: Daitoppa
The four clones were thrown away and Riku let the sigh he was holding, out in a long drawl. 'It seems her temper has reemerged with her age-regression.' The Fox-sensei thought with a fond smirk.
"AGAIN!" he barked and Minashi didn't hesitate to create four new clones and launch for a different section of the forested mountain.
1 year since leaving Konoha…
Katanas clang against one another as Kushina and Minashi crossed swords. Dashing apart the Blonde Uzumaki tried to once more get her practiced Kenjutsu katas to work in her swordplay against her elder sister.
"Is that all you've got Imouto? No wonder Kitsune-senpai asked for my assistance." The redhead teased.
The blonde was about to respond when her eyes rolled back into her head. The redhead didn't even catch her sister when she faceplanted into the water. Putting her own katana away she walked across the water and picked up her little sister so she wouldn't drown. She winced when her own memories returned a few minutes too late.
"Whoops. I guess throwing that explosion tag into their group as a prank was not a good way to dispel our Fuuin Theory clones." The redhead mused to herself, pointedly ignoring the facepalm Riku-sensei gave himself hearing her. Shaking it off she returned to her sister's shared burrow. She'd make it up with dinner and making sure she was bathed before tucking her into bed.
1.5 years since leaving Konoha…
Hiruzen sat peacefully in his lounge chair, feet kicked up, book in hand, he only looked up when there was a startled shout just before an explosion.
"You are not supposed to make the leaves explode." He called out dryly to the remaining clones working on the beginner Raiton exercises. Though he should have expected that from the child with almost unlimited chakra.
"PUT IT OUT!" Another clone howled from the second group as the bandages on its wrists had caught fire.
The group working on Suiton sent a small water ball to slam into the clone, dispelling it.
"Hmmm….You're getting better at controlling your suiton jutsuuuuu!" He ended on a startled shout when his spot was suddenly twenty feet in the air. Sunglasses astray, the retired hokage looked carefully over the very tiny edge around his chair to see ten clones pop out of the ground surrounding the thick pillar that now held him up.
"Awww…." They pouted at him. "We were aiming for fifty feet."
"You brat!" He shouted abandoning his vacation spot to chase after the Earth Jutsu clones that decided to test their first successful jutsu on him.
Katon: Kaen Funka
The tiny ball that rocketed from Hiruzen's lips was deceptive. The Clones knew this and in their panic couldn't pull up another Earth wall to save themselves. As soon as the innocent ball of fire touched a clone it exploded into a massive fire tornado, instantly taking out the rest….and part of the grassy plain. Hiruzen smirked please before the flames were doused by the annoyed Suiton clones.
Hiruzen met the deadpan expressions from forty identical faces. Even the Fuuton clones had stopped to watch.
"What?" Hiruzen grunted.
"JIJI!" Minashi's original called from the ground beside what had been her perch on a slab sitting on an earth spike she'd created.
"Stop doing that! You broke my concentration." The blonde scolded but Hiruzen couldn't help but chuckle as the blonde righted herself. He marveled at how easy she made sitting completely still, seem.
2 Years since leaving Konoha…
Minashi stared at the scroll in her hands before looking up at Tsunade.
"Seriously?" the revenant and awed tone was clear in the smaller blonde's voice.
The elder blonde chuffed, amused. "Look brat, I'm not going to stand around here explaining myself. You wrote to your family, which includes us, about struggling to get the Uzumaki Whirlpool and Namikaze Hummingbird to work together completely. Uzumaki's are a sister Clan to the Senju. My boys will be taught their clan style when they are ready, which is Years from now. You need nothing more than my permission, which is already given, to use our clan style to complete your own style. So stop looking a gift horse in the mouth."
"Thank you!" Minashi squealed and hugged the Senju tight around her waist, she pointedly ignored that she'd only grown three inches in two years. She briefly remembered that her and Naruto had been late bloomers with their childhood growth spurts. The blonde was still taller than she was the last time she was almost nine.
"Now…about those medical seals. Let me see where you are in your studies."
"Don't you need to get back? You didn't say how long you would be here. I assumed it wouldn't be long." The two blondes talked even as two dozen clones appeared to go over the Senju Taijutsu scroll behind them. They ignored the clones going through the five elemental jutsus and the multitude of Clones hanging out in trees reading.
Tsunade could only wonder just how Minashi didn't get migraines from all the different subjects she was working on. Yet, this was also the woman turned child that had memories stored in her brain from the Allied shinobi force. It was no wonder Inojiro was fascinated with her.
Tsunade just smirked. "The boys are in their father's hands for the next few days. I'm pretty sure that two toddlers can't burn down Konoha. Now, their sires? That I would worry about, but they will be too busy keeping my boys in line."
"But…Didn't Itama and Kawarama cause half of the residential homes burn down in the older part of the senju compound?" The Uzumaki asked curiously.
Tsunade just kept walking, pointedly ignoring the blonde Uzumaki. She would not admit that she'd been partially to blame for that….She really shouldn't have let Kenji and Obito babysit her brats.
"Tsunade?" Minashi called but the elder blonde kept walking and went in search of the Sake stash Kitsune promised she'd have ready.
"Ba-chan, please tell me you were joking." The Chibi whined.
Tsunade couldn't hold back her smile even as she brought the Sake up to her lips. "Nope. But adults are watching them now, Konoha should still be standing when I get…." Tsunade froze when nausea ripped through her at the smell of the sake.
"Oh for fucks sake!" The Senju shouted even as she set the bottle down and scanned her stomach once more.
Minashi felt a smirk grow on her lips when Tsunade whimpered and fell to her knees. "ehhhh?" The younger blonde gave a foxy grin. "Didn't you know? I felt it when I was hugging you." She teased.
Tsunade just whimpered. "But I was just getting time to drink again!" She whined.
Minashi couldn't hold it back anymore. She fell back cackling and was glad she wasn't going to be in village to witness Tsunade's legendary Pregnancy hormones again.
3 years since leaving Konoha…
"I'm serious Nii-san!" Minashi beamed even as she dodged a Kumo-nin's kunai and blocked the down swing of another's tanto with her katana.
"Is this really a good time to be CHATTING?" Obito yelped as he too dodged a Kumo-nin's blade and responded with his own Fireball, pushing his chuunin back.
Kakashi grunted and kicked away his Jounin while Minato dealt with two of the other Jounin. Minato looked at his sister even as he slit one throat and held the last one in a choke hold.
"I mean…I started the Sage training, but I really don't have the time anymore to just leave the war Imouto." The nineteen-year-old said even as he snapped the Nin's neck. Minashi internally flinched. Her brother was in battle mode. She should really know better than talk to him about training when he's like this. Especially since she knew he was still an ANBU captain when not training his students.
Rin, Minato's third student rushed with green glowing hands to check on Obito and then Kakashi. The latter who just shrugged her off and went to Minashi's side.
"How did you even figure this out Mina?" Kakashi huffed cleaning off his tanto.
The blonde sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. "I might have almost destroyed my chakra pathways in my hands. But I was bored and practicing my sage mode when I figured I'd multitask. It didn't hurt me in sage mode because of the strengthening aspect Nature chakra grants me."
"Huh." Minato mumbled even as he finished sealing up the dead bodies from their B-rank. The only reason the two Genin had been allowed to join was because there were two high-chuunin on the mission with their Jounin sensei.
"Looks like I'll have to then. It is getting kind of unfair that even Kushina is getting the Sage Training when she visits you."
"See! All the more reason Nii-san. Plus you haven't come to see my Burrow! I finally hunted enough animals to make a decent nest of furs for my bed. Not to mention I've finally covered my room floor with moss instead of the packed dirt."
Minato chuckled and lifted his hands in defeat. "Alright, alright. I'll see what Hokage-sama will allow."
"Good!" Minashi huffed as they all headed back for Konoha for their report. "because I also want your input on how best I should add Suiton. Then I also want to spar you. I've gotten the Hummingbird style down I think. I'll be merging the Taijutsu styles soon to try for my Fuuin-taijutsu again."
A hand ruffled her hair. "So much going on there Imouto. You sure you're getting enough rest?"
"Of course!" She grinned foxily then turned her head to her silver-haired friend. "So how did you get stuck on a Genin team…Kashi?" She teased her best friend.
Kakashi growled beneath his breath. "Kenji…"He practically spat "Is being recruited into ANBU."
Minashi's eyes widened. "He's only twelve."
"Hokage-sama is still keeping him chuunin." Minato interrupted. "He's not actually allowed out on any ANBU mission yet. He's only getting the training between his regular missions and duties."
Minashi then understood what had Kakashi's fur bristling. "Saki-chan didn't let you." She sing-songed.
"Mina!" Kakashi barked and lept at her, but she just giggled and increased the pace, but going zigzagged so they wouldn't lose their mission team. When the Hatake had finally cooled off, Minashi was bouncing beside Minato as they walked the last bit to the gates.
"So how'd you end up with only two Genin Nii-san?"
Minato sighed. "Odd numbers."
"Anko took Orochimaru-sensei's apprenticeship. So she didn't get assigned a team." Rin said shyly.
Minashi twitched. "That ball of sadistic craziness is working under our borderline mad scientist Sensei?"
"That's not nice, Orochimaru-sama has settled down since he married." Minato frowned at his imouto.
"He thought it wise to give Kawarama and Itama two of his pythons to play with." Kakashi deadpanned his superior and friend. "Two of his Poisonous Pythons Minato-sensei."
Minato chuckled sheepishly. "Well, let's get our reports in. It seems I need to hunt down my sensei for Sage training." He replied, quickly changing the subject.
4 Years since leaving Konoha…
"She has improved." Yashamaru hummed as he ate some of the boar from their impromptu cookout.
"Indeed." Mikoto smirked around her water bottle.
"How is Rasa Fairing?" Hiruzen asked as he grabbed a seat, his staff disappearing with a puff of smoke.
"Well, but nervous. Karura is expecting their first child after all. He's got security tighter than ever. I'm surprised my sister hasn't strangled him yet." The blonde Suna-nin smirked. "Though I'm grateful that Kitsune arrived when she did. She provided me a chance to escape."
"Mina-chan has picked up Kushina's Kenjutsu style as easily as we knew she would." Mikoto mused. "Itachi will have good competition when he's old enough. Kenji also better beware for her return."
"Oh? How so?" Hiruzen asked even as all three Shinobi watched Minashi carefully dispel the groups of clones they had each been working with. Hiruzen didn't want to once again think on just why the Shadow Clone Jutsu was a Kinjutsu. In the wrong hands, a VERY powerful enemy could be created.
"He's a prodigy in the Uchiha Kenjutsu style, even my own personal style, but he lacks the flexibility that Minashi has. It seems like I need to hunt my nephew down and have another training session with him."
"Minashi-chan has also allowed me to share the Tessenjutsu Fuuton Jutsus she's created. Rasa I'm sure would be happy to pass them along to Mitsuko-chan."
A thump alerted the group to the sack of Toad sage that collapsed on Hiruzen's other side.
"Jiraiya?" the Sandaime poked him with the empty stick from where he had too roasted a part of the boar meat.
"She's a fucking beast." He grumbled. "She's got the Fox Kata's down and abuses her clones to absorb chakra for her."
"How many is she up to?" Mikoto asked. "Kushina said she was struggling with the third one the last time she visited."
"She's got the third." He moaned even as he sat up. The fresh bruise on his cheek enough of explanation of how he knew that. "Plus…I think I might have sensed wrong but she might even be getting close to gathering it as she runs, as impossible as that should have been." He grumbled rubbing his sore cheek.
Yashamaru hummed as he took a sip of his tea. "This….Is why Rasa is happy to have Kitsune and her apprentice as his allies. Suna does Not want to be on the end of whatever beast that woman is creating."
Mikoto raised a brow at him. "You have no room to talk. You've been here off and on the past few weeks helping with her fans."
"Touche." The Suna nin grumbled.
5 Years since leaving Konoha…
"Rasenuzumaki!" Minashi shouted as she threw the ball of twisting chakra and water. The innocently looking ball landed in the lake and sunk.
"Is that it?" Minato frowned.
"Wait." Minashi grinned as the water started to churn before suddenly the water rippled and a Whirlpool violently ripped through the lake, turning the entire thing into a whirling deathtrap.
Minato blinked before letting out an impressed whistle. The taller blonde tilted his head even as his Golden toad eyes observed the chakra still fueling the whirlpool.
"Will it stop?" He asked. Golden eyes outlined by orange met Violet outline in swirling black.
"Nope. Not until I throw in a Rasenuzumaki that is twisting the opposite way."
Minato hummed as he scratched his bare chin, not that he could grow anything. That was something Naruto had grouched about and now Minashi knew it was genetic. Minato was doomed to be a pretty boy.
"What are it's applications on land?"
"Well, if I'm going up against another suiton user, I can normally absorb their techniques with the Rasenuzumaki and then the whirlpool gets shot back at them like a twisting vortex." The younger blonde stretched. "So, how is your Rasenshuriken Nii-san?" She smirked.
Golden toad eyes, showing that he'd mastered Sage Mode, rolled before he lifted a single hand and in a matter of seconds not only did he have the jutsu ready, but the jerk made it look easy.
Minashi pouted up at him. "It's barely been two weeks since I showed it to you." The blonde whined to her elder blonde.
Minato just smirked down at her. "Payback imouto. Payback for learning my personal jutsu in less than a month."
The Chibi Uzumaki just crossed her arms and pouted. "I still need a clone to keep it stable." She grumbled.
"You," he dragged out tossing the jutsu away to land in the lake "Also still have poor chakra control. It's gotten better but-" Both jolted when there was a sudden explosion. Two sets of eyes snapped to the lake and watched as a towering water vortex with howling wind rose up from the lake. It spun in a tornado of death for a few beats before letting out a last explosion of water and cutting winds.
Twin sets of different Sage eyes blinked….then blinked again as minds went a mile a minute in destructive fascination.
"No, Mina." Minato said sternly glaring down at his now widely grinning imouto.
"Yes, Mina." Minashi stared up into her Nii-san's eyes. He could hide it all he wanted, but she could see the spark of interest that all jutsu inventors held.
Minato and Minashi locked gazes. Riku in the trees just let out a long sigh. Why did the Tadpole think he would win against the Kit? Even Riku knew that wasn't going to happen. Kurama just openly cackled in the seal. Minato may not be blood Uzumaki, but the mindset needed for Fuuinjutsu had infected him. 'Either that or the two Uzumakis were rubbing off on him.' Kurama thought, still cackling.
The first son of the Great Fox Sage made a wise decision. He vacated the training area of the forest and warned the rest of the Clan to avoid the scheming blondes.
6 Months before returning to Konoha….
"Shit! I almost had it, AGAIN!" Minashi shouted as she launched at Kushina. The two Uzumaki locked in a battle of taijutsu, the elder even throwing in her chains to keep up a challenge. Only moments later Minashi was thrown back once again. The blonde didn't get up again.
"You okay Imouto?" Kushina called out not as worried as she once used to be for her little sister. She'd learned early on just how much of a beating her sister could take and would then return two fold.
"Uhhhg." Minashi moaned. "I was so close!" She whined.
"Hm, not really. You only got two seals on me."
"But it's one more than before." The blonde sat up and scrubbed her head. "I have the Taijutsu part down now, but it's applying the actual seals that I'm still having trouble with. I wish I had notes on how Oba-samas did it."
Kushina ruffled her hair earning a swat from the grumpy Uzumaki sitting on the ground. Kushina just smiled fondly. "I'm sorry imouto, if I had them, they'd be yours and even I'd be learning it."
Minashi slumped. "I know. But I've made so much progress in all my other areas of study, it just eats me that even with getting my own Taijutsu style done, I can't get the Fuuin part of it down. The seals are cooperating properly, but they aren't liking being put on active yet separately. Even if they aren't activated, they get too far apart to activate then." Letting out another groan Minashi flopped back.
Kushina took that as the end of their spar for the day.
"How was your last mission?" The redhead asked even as she stretched.
Minashi grunted. "Iwa are dicks."
"At least Kumo has backed out of the war." 'Not like they stayed long anyways. They tried entering after it had started only to get kicked back by a very angry Kushina.' Kurama snorted at her mental retort.
"Hmm." The blonde hummed thoughtfully. In all honesty, she really needed a break. Kitsune and her own body have been pushed hard the last few years. Between training, missions as Kitsune, and mission as Minashi, the blonde was definitely feeling the strain.
"How long until you come home?" Kushina asked softly, so softly that Minashi almost didn't hear her.
The Chibi Uzumaki looked over to her sister and found that she'd moved into a meditative pose. Already her eyelids and surrounding temples were curving with grey markings, slowly darkening to black.
Minashi had been immensely proud when both Minato and Kushina had completed their Sage training. Jiraiya wouldn't shut up about them not having adverse effects for Months….It was Hilarious.
"I'm scheduled to come home in six months." The blonde said just as softly back, getting into her own pose, Nature energy rushing to her much quicker. Minashi was practically instantly in Sage Mode. If she meditated longer, her Sage mode would last longer as well. Instead of that, she switched in and out of Sage mode; practicing taking it in quicker and quicker.
"We'll have a big party for you." Kushina hummed and let out a pleased sigh.
"Thank you."
3 Months before returning to Konoha…
Minashi stared grimly at the note Kitsune had handed to her.
"Sakumo is sure?"
"Yes. Training trip over shrimp." Kitsune grunted. "Konoha needs all available hands. He's been lenient and allowed you to stay with B and A rank missions once a month, but we need your power on the front."
"Got it." Minashi stood. Together they both returned to the burrow to fill up Minashi's seals and storage scrolls.
After one last quick soak in her bath, the blonde dressed for not just a mission in her regular mission wear, but she was ready for a long war.
While her scrolls had spar clothes and armor ready for when the weather turned, it was still summer.
Her ANBU inspired top covered from just below her still small developing breasts up to the built in face mask. Not to copy Kakashi, but to hide her whisker marks. Her hitai-ate rested around her neck. Her black shinobi shorts were low on her hips and barely reaching mid thigh. Her bandages and kunai holsters over lapped the bottoms, leaving the rest of her stomach and legs bare until her black shinobi sandals. Even her bandages had been dyed black to fit it. Slung across her hips was her utility belt. Clipped on were some of her smaller storage scrolls and her shuriken pouch at her lower back. Across her chest was a snug Katana holster that also held even smaller scrolls across the front while the sword took up the back.
Pulling her hair up into a high tail, it was let loose behind her back. Finishing off her ensemble were black gloves with metal armor plates.
Just about every inch of her skin, even her bared skin on her back, was covered in black and red ink. Black ink representing her regular seals. The red representing her blood seals that only she could access. In a pinch a team member could access one of her storage seals.
Ready, Minashi looked to her Blood clone and snorted. The only difference between their outfits was all of Minashi's extra scrolls. That and there was a light henge disguising some of the seals on Kitsune to read as something else, instead of the exact copies that the blonde herself wore. She also had her ANBU tattoo bared. Kitsune even wore her own face mask to hide her Jiraiya like black lines.
"Let's go." Kitsune hummed grabbing her Boss and in a swirl of chakra they were gone from the fox home.
Kitsune and Minashi appeared in the Hokage's office. Sakumo was standing over the war table that had been added into the room, her own security seals preventing those who didn't match the access seals, from reading.
Slate eyes glanced up along with the rest of the War councils'. Shikaro, Inojiro, the ANBU commander Dragon and Hiruzen all saw the two masked Kunoichi.
Sakumo twitched. "You look like twins."
"Well, she is my apprentice." Kitsune purred evilly.
Sakumo straightened. "AH, speaking of which, is her training complete?"
Kitsune held his firm gaze, hardened some by the difficult decisions needed the past six years being Hokage during War time.
"As complete as can be. There is nothing else the Foxes can teach her. She will be required every five years from now to return for an assessment to ensure she is keeping to her training. Other than that I would like to present Namikaze-Uzumaki Minashi, Kitsune Sennin of Konoha."
"Good." Shikaro hummed, pulling out a folder. "With your return Minashi-san, the council has come to a decision. Between visual confirmation from Sandaime-sama, and the written tests you have performed during his visits, the Shinobi council and advisors have all given their approval."
"Approval?" Minashi asked frowning and looked at Sakumo who was smiling at her proudly.
"Chuunin Minashi, I am happy to announce your Promotion to Jounin by unanimous votes. This is going down as a field promotion because all the teams you have worked with report that you have shown excellent leadership skills."
"I'm not even thirteen." Minashi whispered.
Hiruzen cleared his throat. "Minashi, you are one of Konoha's Sages, our top Chuunin Kunoichi, even with your lesser mission count since your promotion, they are always higher ranked than the other Chuunins."
"Stop Complaining brat and take your promotion." Kitsune smacked the back of Minashi's head. The masked blonde shot her a glare.
"I can still kick your ass."
Kitsune smirked. "Not completely."
Minashi grumbled at the truth. Kurama had forbid her from accessing his chakra until her body was older, so the blonde could not beat her Blood clone in an all out spar yet. Personally that made her still feel weak.
This was not because the Fox's chakra was corrosive like the first time. No, Kurama's chakra was just plain old HEAVY. She could last maybe a two minute spar in Kyuubi Mode, but then she was face plant, her limbs numb and mind exhausted. And that was after training for six months in using it and not passing out at one minute.
A throat cleared, returning the Blonde and Raven's attention back to the war council.
"Kitsune, you have an S-Class mission. We have two informants held prisoner in Iwa." Sakumo threw her the scroll with their information.
"Consider them homeward bound." The woman slipped on her Kitsune mask and was gone in a swirl.
"Jounin Minashi."
"Hai Hokage-sama!" She snapped into a salute.
Sakumo twitched before tossing her a scroll. "Unfortunately, you are to report to the Konoha/Kusa front. Iwa is dangerously close to our borders. You are to report to War Commander Orochimaru and aid him and the troops and push Iwa back. Our numbers are getting low and we do not have enough recovered from the Kumo front to send there yet."
Minashi felt a sliver of her Kitsune persona pull to the front. She bowed her head just the slightest.
"I will leave immediately."
"Kami be with you."
"And the Will of Fire with you." She returned before dashing out the open window.