Fear not! I have returned with another chapter, dragged from the depths of a dark cavern (aka my mind).

Ah, not much to say on this chapter. There are spoilers for the latest chapters of Naruto.

Oh, wait. Spoiler. Did anyone else think that the last 10 or so chapters of Naruto could have been condensed into 2 if Madara hadn't kept repeating himself?

Moving on!

Chapter 19

Naruto gaped at the woman standing above him. She looked like his mother, the one from the other universe, but there were huge differences. Her hair was much shorter—even though it was pulled back in a tight French braid, he could tell it only went to her shoulders. There was also a thin scar running through her right eyebrow and on to her temple.

"I knocked you down with one punch?" she laughed. Kushina advanced on him and Naruto scrambled back, hurrying to his feet. "The years have not been kind to you, Minato."

Naruto's eyes widened as he connected the dots. "Oh! Wait a—"

"Shut up!" Kushina shouted. This time, Naruto was more prepared for her and dodged to the right, avoiding her fist. He immediately had to fling himself back as her left knee came up to say hello to his chin. He had just regained his balance when she pivoted her hips, straightened out her leg, and kicked him square in the solar plexus. Naruto staggered back and gasped for breath.

Kushina's next blow was fast—incredibly so. Naruto put his arm up to block it and felt the force behind it sing from his wrist to his shoulder. Unfortunately, he didn't have a chance to get a word in edgewise, as all of his concentration was put into anticipating and avoiding his mother's powerful attacks.

Come on, kit. Fight back!

I can't hit her, Kyuubi! She's—gah!

Kushina finally stopped as she hit her intended target—his voice box. Naruto fell back, gagging and clutching at his throat. Before the fox could heal him, Kushina had snapped wires around his body, pinning his arms to his chest. Naruto stumbled and fell hard, unable to keep his balance.

"No more lies, Minato," she said, kneeling next to him. "I listened to them for three years. No more."

Naruto shook his head furiously and tried to gesture up to the bed. Kushina followed his gaze and saw Minato, still unconscious, sprawled on the cot. She stalked over to him and pulled the blankets back. Minato stirred, but didn't wake up, and she shook her head sadly.

"Lethargic, unresponsive." She snorted. "You always were terrible at shadow clones, Minato."

The blond let his head hit the floor and started yelling at Kyuubi for distracting him. Kyuubi snarled back not to distract him, as the sooner his throat healed, the sooner they could explain.

Kushina grabbed Naruto by the front of his shirt and leaned him against the wall.

"So, here we are," she said, sitting in front of him. "Quite the situation. I wonder where you've been for the past sixteen years, honey."

Naruto just stared at her and waited on Kyuubi to heal him.

She shrugged. "It doesn't really matter. My purpose in being here is to make sure you can't do to my daughter what you did to my son."

Naruto blinked and tried to speak, but ended up coughing.

She waited until he finished. "I didn't believe him at first. I told Orochimaru that it had to be a lie, my Minato would never do that. But then, reports came back. Kyuubi had attacked Konoha the night I gave birth to twins. The brave Fourth Hokage had died defeating the beast. The midwife who'd delivered my son also confirmed the tale. You had come to the valley that night, waiting for me to give birth. You were agitated and kept muttering something about seals to yourself. When the midwife brought our firstborn, our son out, you took him and vanished in a yellow flash."

Kushina paused and had to close her eyes for a second. Naruto took the opportunity to speak. "Wait—you have to listen to—"

"How the hell are you able to talk?" she demanded, eyes alight with anger. "I guess I didn't kick you as hard as I thought."

She brought her leg up for another silencing blow, but was tackled to the ground by Minato, who had apparently fought through part of the sedatives.

"Oh, now you wake up," she snarled. Kushina delivered a sharp right hook to his jaw and Minato went flying, landing hard.

Her eyes narrowed as he rubbed his jaw and clumsily turned around. Naruto grimaced—clearly all the meds hadn't worn off. "What kind of shadow clone are you?"

"No—clone," Minato gritted.

"He's Namikaze Minato!" Naruto shouted.

Kushina whipped out a kunai and held it to Minato's throat. He clutched at her wrist, trying to turn it away, but she kicked at his arm. "If he's Minato, who're you?"

"I'm Naruto."

The silence could have been cut with a knife.

Naruto stared up at her and Kushina stared straight back. Her eyes narrowed and her mouth twitched. A frown creased between her eyes as she looked him over. He smiled, but it faded when she said, "That's impossible."

"Eh?" Naruto was confused. "Why? I am Na—"

"Don't say that!"

"Don't shout at him!" Minato snarled.

Kushina stepped away from Minato, leaving him on the hard floor, and crouched in front of Naruto. "My son . . . Naruto is dead. He died the same day he was born, because his father was a bastard and messed up the sealing process that would have turned my baby into a living weapon."

"I'm not dead!" Naruto protested. "And my father's not—"

"Stop speaking," Kushina ordered. "You are not my son."

Naruto stared at her and cast around for something to say to her, something to convince her. His eyes landed on the symbols on her cloak. "I can prove it!"

One blond eyebrow hiked up. "Really? Let's see."

Naruto closed his eyes and reached deep inside himself. He knew it was in there—he'd found it in the other world and used it in the Shinigami's stomach.

Ah, there.

Kushina felt her heart stutter as the blond leaning against the wall started to glow green. She could feel it—the unique signature of Areah Broah. There was no doubt—this boy was a member of the Churaeah. And the hair, the eyes.

The kunai in her hand clattered to the floor.

Naruto opened his eyes and grinned at her. "Is this enough proof for you?"

Kushina mouthed wordlessly for a few more moments, watching the green glow around her son fade away. She shook her head and covered her mouth. "No . . . no, that's impossible. H-how?"

"Simple," Naruto said with a grin. "I'm not dead."

"Untie him," Minato demanded. "Now."

Kushina looked over her shoulder and shifted so that she could see them both at the same time. "No," she gulped. "No, I don't think so."

Minato shoved himself to his hands and knees. "Untie my son."

"Not until I understand what's going on," Kushina shot back. "How both of you are alive and where have you been for the past sixteen years?"

"That's a long story," Naruto said.

"I've got time," she replied, leaning against the wall. Minato tried standing up, but fell back down heavily. Kushina frowned at him. "What's with you?"

"He's been sedated," Naruto answered. "And his chakra's sealed because he's on trial."

"On trial?" Kushina chuckled and Minato sent her a very dark look. "For what?"

"Killing—"

"Koharu!" Minato shouted, interrupting Naruto's response. "She—oh! She threatened Naruto! Shoulda done more than kill her!"

Kushina frowned. "Are you sure you're Minato?"

Minato blinked a couple of times and focused on her face. "Kushina?"

Her only response was to raise an eyebrow.

"Kushina. It is you." A smile spread across his face, and he crawled forward, reaching for her. "It's been so long."

"Sixteen years, actually," Kushina answered. She peered closer and frowned. "What the hell? You don't look a day over twenty-six."

"The seal he used took him to the Shinigami's stomach," Naruto answered, drawing her attention. Minato finally got up to her and she made to push him away, but Minato just grabbed her hand and twined their fingers together. She frowned at him, but he wouldn't let go of her hand.

"Kushina," he whispered. "I didn't get to explain. I'm so sorry. So sorry I left you. Didn't you hear? Didn't he tell you everything?"

"Oh, you mean Orochimaru?" Kushina sneered. "Oh, yes. He told me everything. How you wanted to create the ultimate weapon, so you got me pregnant to tap into the Areah Broah. You orchestrated the Kyuubi attack so that you could seal it in our child—give him the ultimate power. Unfortunately, something went wrong and you and Naruto died."

"And you trusted him?" Naruto burst. "But—but he's a missing-nin! A liar! He killed the old man!"

"Old man?" Kushina wondered.

"Sarutobi," Naruto explained. "And Snake-face killed him! Why did you trust him?"

"Orochimaru became a missing-nin over a year after the Kyuubi attack," Kushina snapped. "Why wouldn't I trust him?"

"It appears he orchestrated this whole situation," Kakashi said from the doorway.

"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto cheered. "Lemme outta here, will you?"

Kushina stared. "Kakashi? When did you get so tall?"

Kakashi sighed and stepped over to Naruto, releasing the wires that bound him. "I'm not that tall. And Orochimaru told us here in Konoha you were dead."

Kushina fell silent and started chewing on her lip. Her eyes flicked uncertainly between Minato and Naruto. She closed her eyes and banged her head against the wall. Minato protested softly, his other hand coming up to cradle her head so it didn't hit the wall. A single tear leaked from her eyes and she reached up to wipe it away.

Could I have been wrong all these years?

"Don't cry," Minato murmured.

"I think it would be best if we moved this to the Hokage's office," Kakashi suggested. "I'm sure Tsunade would like to see her former student."

Kushina nodded and stood up, reaching a hand out to help Naruto up. He stood, grinning at her and Kakashi. Minato staggered to his feet, leaning heavily on Kushina and Kakashi. The ANBU at the door stopped them.

"Wait, you can't leave, Hokage-sama," he said. "You're still a dangerous person."

Minato's face contorted at the thought of going back inside the room. "No—I can't—Kushina—"

"It's okay, Minato," she said, offering him a smile. "I'll be back, I promise. Can you wait for me in there?"

He took a deep breath and looked into her eyes. After a moment, he nodded his consent. Kakashi guided him back to the cot, where he laid down. Even with the excitement, the sedatives were still powerful and still in all of his food. He took one sip of water and was out just a few minutes later.

"So, how exactly did you get past all of the guards?" Naruto asked as they walked back out.

Kushina grinned. "The symbols sewn into this cloak," she answered. "They allow me to pass undetected, make people's eyes slip over me unless I speak or do something to draw their attention. So, it's true Tsunade is the Hokage?"

Naruto nodded. "Yep, Obaa-san is in charge!"

Kushina laughed. "How many casino parlors has she set up so far?"

The gates of Konoha were bigger than she'd expected. The gates were the only opening in the high, high wall that surrounded the Village Hidden in the Leaves. She had reconned the entire area and theoretically, one could get through by navigating the mountains that the giant faces were carved into. Unfortunately, the ANBU here weren't idiots. That sector was heavily patrolled.

And it wasn't like she could scale any part of the wall. There was a huge ring of emptiness also surrounding Konoha, and guards continually walked on top of the wall, scanning for intruders.

It was night, so that meant that the gates were closed. Otherwise, she would have just walked up, blown sleeping dust in their faces and continued inside.

Tama sighed and tilted her head to the side. As curious as she was about her mother's traveling, and her 'father's' sudden reappearance, she really didn't feel like going up against an army of ninja on high alert. It would have to wait until day, and she'd just camp in the woods until then.

She cracked her knuckles and turned around, ready to search for a good place to stay, but stopped dead when she saw the people standing behind her.

One of them laughed cruelly and leveled a huge sword at her. "Looks like the little girl isn't a ninja, after all. She definitely would have sensed us so close to her."

Tama's eyes widened and she turned to run, but a woman stepped forward and swept her legs out from under her. Tama went down hard, but rolled over and kicked out. The woman blocked the kick and pinned Tama down faster than she could blink.

The woman knelt and grabbed Tama's chin, tilting her head this way and that. "It looks like we have the daughter of the Fourth Hokage and the Churaeah's high priestess."

"Excellent leverage," one spiky-haired man said. "Just in case they do not give us Sasuke."

The woman nodded. "I agree. Take her."

The man with the sword grinned and seized Tama's arm. "It would be easier if I could cut her legs off."

Tama's heart beat faster and she stared at the huge sword he was wielding. Fortunately for her, the one with the spiky hair stepped forward. "No, we need her more or less intact."

He moved closer to her and Tama kicked out, not to be taken so easily. The man captured her leg and twisted it, wrenching her knee out of its socket. She let out a scream, but he backhanded her and she fell silent.

"If you scream again, I'll break your jaw," he informed her. "If you try to run, I'll dislocate your other knee."

"That's enough," another voice interrupted. "Pick her up. She can't run with her knee like that. Take her back to the base and make sure she can't get out."

The three turned to leave at the order of their leader, Tama slung over the shoulder of the man with the sword. She passed the leader and stared straight into his eye. Behind the orange mask, she could see a blood red iris with three black commas swirling in it.

She shook inwardly and nearly passed out as the blue man carrying her jostled her knee.

Damn it. Why didn't I listen to Mom and just stay in the valley? If somebody is out there, please help me.

Naruto winced and rubbed his knee. Kushina noticed and frowned. "What's wrong, Naruto? I didn't hurt you did I?"

He shook his head. "Naw, you'd have to hit me pretty hard to do any kind of lasting damage. Kyuubi heals most of that stuff pretty quick."

Kushina's frown deepened. "I thought—what happened that night?"

"Everything will be explained, Kushina," Tsunade said, joining them on their way to the Hokage building.

"Hey, where'd you come from, hag?" Naruto asked, looking around as if she'd appeared out of thin air.

Tsunade bonked him on the back of the head. "The hospital, actually. Jiraiya's room. He's showing a great many signs of improvement. I expect him to wake up within a week."

Naruto grinned. "Really? You think?"

"What happened to Jiraiya?" Kushina asked.

"We don't know," Tsunade replied, pushing the doors to her office open. "He's been in a coma for six weeks now. His mission and whereabouts are classified."

The door slammed shut behind Kakashi and Tsunade turned around. "As will be this conversation. Now I want explanations, and hopefully, someone to blame. Start talking."

The stone was there, as it always was. The names too numerous to count, too dear to be disregarded.

Kakashi wondered idly if someone died, and then came back to life, were they still counted as KIA?

He had been standing before the memorial for ages, since the debriefing ended. All had been explained—Orochimaru had purposely made sure that Kushina and Naruto stayed apart, why no one knew. Kakashi rubbed the back of his neck and stared up at the Konoha flag, which was at half-staff until sunset today.

The elite Jounin lowered his head for one final look at the memorial, but something caught his eye. It was a piece of paper, wedged beneath the stone. Kakashi frowned, wondering how he didn't notice it before, and picked it up.

There was no address, no "Dear whoever" or "Love, me." Kakashi turned it over and scanned the first line.

I wish you wouldn't remember me.

His eye narrowed and he continued to read, despite the fact that it wasn't addressed to him. He rationalized that by saying it wasn't for anyone, so why shouldn't he read it?

I wish you wouldn't remember me.

I know how your heart hurts and your eyes water when you remember me.

You think of my smile, my happiness, my life and how you will never see them again.

You think of the chances missed, words you never said.

You grieve, you wallow.

You idiot.

I did not die so that you could live on in misery.

I did not die so that you could create a monument to me and pay respects by being sad.

I died for your smile, your happiness, your life.

What good was my death if you died with me?

Do not remember me. I would rather you forget and be happy, than remember and be sad.

Kakashi stared at the small paper for a moment more, before folding it back up and sticking it where he found it.

His eyes ran over the inscription on top of the stone, seeing it in a very new light—literally, the sun was rising.

"To those who died in the line of service, may we never forget for what they fought."

He stepped back from the stone and offered one final salute to the many men and women memorialized on it, knowing they could never return it. With a heavy heart, he turned to prepare for the trial of his old sensei.

Sarutobi and the Senju brothers stared at the mirror.

Hashirama sighed. "Such a shame that Koharu died. She was a great ninja once."

Sarutobi shook his head. "You didn't see her grow. She became cold, vicious. She refused to see that people could be good, and chose to take the worst view of them."

"How so?" the Second asked.

"She refused to believe in Naruto for one," Sarutobi responded. "Koharu and Homura were among those leading the call to kill him after the Kyuubi attack. They didn't believe that he could contain the demon. She overruled me on the Uchiha disaster as well, ordered Itachi to kill his entire family."

"Clearly, he didn't kill them all," Hashirama said. "Sasuke's alive."

Sarutobi nodded. "Yes, Sasuke was his one weakness."

"Ooh, look," the Second said. "The trial's starting. Let's see how Tsunade does."

Hashirama shook his head. "I still don't believe that's my sweet little Tsunade. I don't know where she gets that."

Yes, the trial will be next chapter. At last.

And Tama's been captured! Oh no!

And you all know why Kushina wasn't there. And no, I haven't forgotten about Jiraiya, there's just not a whole lot I can do with him right now.

As for the note at the end, it was partially to give Kakashi something to think about (might or might not change him, but it's food for thought) but it was also my rather lame attempt to do something for Memorial Day, which was today in the US. Even if you don't live in America, which I'm sure is true of many of you, you can take a moment to honor people who died doing the right thing and protecting their country. Soldiers, firemen, police officers. They deserve our respect, and remembrance, if only for one day of the year.