Chapter 61
Soothing fingers brushed through clean red hair, gently waking Mariko up from her exhausted stress induced slumber. Slowly the Uzumaki started to wake before her memory caught up with her and she shot up in a mild panic.
"Shhh.." A calm voice cooed from too close. Borderline hyperventilating, Mariko's wide red eyes snapped to the owner of the voice. Her panic eased as the last pieces of her memory slotted into place.
"Ku-kushina." She got out through her very dry throat. Thankfully Kushina handed her a glass of water, which the elder redhead greedily drank. Handing the glass back, Mariko took in her surroundings.
"Wh-where am I?"
"The Senju Compound and as of yesterday, it's been agreed upon to just update it to the Joint compound of the Senju and Uzumaki Clans."
Mariko's mind couldn't process much but she still found herself focusing on her younger cousin's voice. "What-what? Why?"
Kushina gave a small sad smile. "The same man that threw Uzu to the enemy had also been whittling down the Senju Clan, with the Uchiha Clan next on his sights. He didn't want anyone strong enough to stop him from creating his own military empire. Anyways, because of this there are very few Senju left. Aunt Tsunade was one of them until she married and had her two sons and daughter. She's also adopted her first fiance's niece into the clan. But she's a little older and can't really be claimed as more than an honorary senju. But, I'm pregnant with my own first child and soon to be married. Since both our clans are small, we decided to just live on the same land until we needed to expand, then we could divide the land later on if needed. But probably not. Great Aunt Mito had a lot of protections in place that we've just added onto over the years."
"You're rambling." Mariko sighed gripping Kushina's hand to stop her younger cousin, but her familiar nervous rambling had calmed down the elder Uzumaki from her panic. "So, You'll be moving into the Senju and Uzumaki compound soon?"
"Hai. My fiance and I have picked out a few of the buildings we'd like to claim as a home and indoor dojo. Plus, we'll also be able to clear out some land for a training ground on our side of the compound grounds."
Mariko chuckled and ran a hand through her hair.
"But, another reason you are here is because this is where Tsunade-oba takes care of some of her more personal patients. Kitsune-senpai is one of them since very few know her true identity. Tsunade and her husbands do, so they take care of her when she pushes too far. Oba also takes care of my little half sister Minashi. She's the new Kyuubi jinchuriki so sometimes she overworks herself since she's friends with the fox-"
"Kushina!" Mariko's eyes widened at the word vomit her overly excited imouto was spewing. "You...have a little sister? But i saw your parents-" Mariko's mouth snapped shut and Kushina's smile dimmed.
"She's technically Minato's half sister. They share a mom. Minashi is Kenta's daughter."
"Ren and Riku's little brother?" Mariko's eyes widened. "He got away?"
"Apparently." Kushina shrugged helplessly.
"Kushina, he stayed behind on the shore to make sure us few survivors got away." Mariko whispered. "He had already been injured with Ren and Riku. Even your Father was holding them back at your mother's side….Fuso, Ise and I got separated when we were slipping through Kumo territory. I didn't...I didn't see the Twins or Kenta again."
"Fuso and Ise got away." Kushina said sadly. "They were lost in the crossfire of the end of the Second war though. But, Nagato survived!" Kushina tried to smile away her sadness. "He's currently helping his best friends run Ame."
"AME?" Mariko yelped "What about Hanzo! Even i didn't dare cross into that country."
"Hanzo is a six months dead now." Kushina stated. "Konoha assisted the Ame rebellion in overthrowing Hanzo. They are Konoha and Suna's allies now."
"Where is Kenta then? If our little cousin made it here-"
Kushina shook her head at her nee-san. "Minashi and her twin brother lost their mother, Minato's mother, during childbirth. Kenta kept them in hiding for four years on his own. But something was after the Kyuubi chakra he'd sealed inside Minashi and Naruto. Naruto gave his to Minashi and both her brother and father then sacrificed their lives to get her as close to Konoha as possible, knowing i was already here before Uzu was attacked."
"Oh that poor dear." Mariko whispered.
"It's okay, she's done very well here!" Kushina beamed. "Sensei took her in since Minato and I were still teenagers and couldn't raise her with our mission duties all the time."
"Sensei….You called the Yondaime Sensei." Mariko bit her lip.
"Oh! Yeah, Hatake Sakumo was my sensei!" Kushina beamed. "He's got a son too. Kakashi is Minashi's age at thirteen. They'll actually be fourteen this fall."
"You...you also said she's the Jinchuriki. How... is she handling it?"
Kushina snorted amused. "She somehow made friends with the grumpy fox. It's an odd relationship too. Not only is he a friend for her and keeps her out of trouble, he's also the one egging her on into mischief. But the fox genuinely cares for Mina."
Mariko's shoulders relaxed. "I know this will sound horrible, but I'm glad she's taken your burden. The rest of us were just too old to take it or didn't have the right bloodline. You were the only one young enough."
Kushina smiled sadly at her Nee-san. "I understood my duty. Kenta-oji i think did the right thing though. Sure, i had to retrain my chakra after her seal absorbed the Kyuubi from mine, but…" Kushina looked at her hands with a fond smile. "Mina-chan is special. There is just this mature air about her. Sure, she still had her Uzumaki traits popping out most of the time, but i trust her to do what's right."
"I look forward to meeting her then." Mariko sighed. "Speaking of little girls. Where is mine?"
"Tsunade-oba is looking after her. Her own twin sons and her youngest daughter are probably helping too. They just found out that they are going to be big brothers and sister again, so they don't mind getting the practice in. So, Karin is in good hands."
"How can I ever repay you all?" She whispered. "Not only did this Kitsune-san look for our family, but she actually got us here."
Kushina bit her lip as she eyed her fellow redhead. "Sensei….asked the Yamanaka Clan head and Heir to see if any of his Clans women would be able to help you with your traumas. When you are ready, there is a list of a few women to choose from."
Red eyes widened in surprise. "Really? He...went that far out of his way to gather them?"
"Sensei looks big and scary, he's not Known as the White Fang for nothing…"She trailed off as Mariko's eyes went even wider. "Oh, right you've seen the bingo books."
"That was the white fang?" Mariko hissed.
"Hai. Sensei has been Hokage for about Six years now...Coming up on seven actually. I Lost a little time in Ame." Kushina shrugged.
Mariko just let out a small whine of frustration.
"Anyways," Kushina waved off her stray thoughts "despite what the bingo book says, he's just a big softie underneath it. He still allows Mina-chan to get away with calling him Saki-chan."
Mariko snickered into her hand before Kushina suddenly stood up and held out her own hand. "Since you're up, how do you feel about a walk for some food? You've been asleep for two days straight."
Vermillion eyes widened in shock. "W-ww-w-what?"
"Yeah, Oba-san said it was a side effect of the Healing you received though." Kushina shrugged, but Mariko found herself scrambling to her feet and looking for a mirror. There was one on the dresser, and yanking off her shirt as she scrambled for the edge, the Uzumaki froze at what she saw.
"They're gone." Mariko whispered. Red eyes caught violet in the reflection.
"Sensei called Tsunade to his office not only because she's a quarter Uzumaki and female, but because she's the best damn medic. She made sure there would be no external scars. She couldn't heal any mental scars, but our friends in the Yamanaka Clan have promised to help you for as long as you need it."
Fresh tears fell down Mariko's face as she turned and fell into Kushina's arms.
"Is this real? I'm not dreaming right?" She sobbed.
"This is real, you are not dreaming nee-san."
"I can finally call a place home? A safe home?"
Kushina hugged the older Uzumaki that has always been like a sister to her, tighter. "YES!" She promised fiercely.
"Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Mariko sobbed over and over into her fellow redhead's shoulder.
"Thank you, Nee-san for surviving until we could find you." Kushina choked back. She then giggled a little. "Stinking hormones. I've been crying like crazy." Mariko soon joined her giggling and pulled back to look at the woman that was now no longer the shrimp she remembered her as. Instead she was easily the same height.
"I'm not looking down at your shrimpy form anymore." The elder Uzumaki teased as she ran fingers through Kushina's long tresses.
"Nope." Kushina grinned. "So, ready to go see Karin and meet some of our Senju family?"
"I think so." Mariko hummed, hugging kushina's arm to her side, the younger Uzumaki mimicking her.
Mariko held onto her younger cousin as they walked through the halls, past a garden and into the main part of the Main family home. The sound of children's laughter reached her first. Just before the two Uzumaki reached the slider, it was thrown open by two identical white haired boys with bright gold eyes. With cackles they raced out.
Mariko's eyes widened as following them was a man taller than even the Yondaime with long white spiky hair...except there was black marker all over his face.
"Get back here you little brats! I taught that for you to use on your AUNT! NOT ME!" He hollered even as he leapt out and landed before the two boys. They screamed in unison before they were thrown up in the air with ease by the tall man's hands.
Mariko's heart leapt into her throat before the boys landed easily in the man's hands once more. The man began then spinning and spinning as their screams turned to squeals and cackling laughter that matched his own.
"Raiya!" Another taller, but slightly shorter man with long black hair shaved on the side, walked out. Golden eyes burning with annoyance. "Don't you dare get them riled up before the lessons!"
"Awww…"All three white haired boys pouted.
Mariko just stood there watching as the one called Raiya just continued to pout before the raven haired man took the boys down and shooed them back inside to prepare for lessons. The Raven and white haired man then shared a kiss before following in after them. Mariko felt her cheeks flushing at the intimate act.
Kushina spied her flushed face. "Jiraiya and Orochimaru Senju, husbands to Senju Tsunade. They are a triad in every sense."
"Uhh…..Right." Mariko blinked rapidly. "Karin."
"This way." Kushina snickered. "And don't worry, Minato is Jiraiya's student and he still flushes when Jiraiya and Orochimaru kiss. He says it's like watching parents kiss."
Mariko just nodded mutely as they walked through a kitchen and then into a large open living room. There on the floor were two toddlers about four years of age. One with soft blonde hair, and the other with another head of white hair.
"Hey squirts!" Kushina called to the children.
"Hi Kushina-nee!" the blonde toddler waved.
"Hello Kushina-nee-san."
"Wakana, Tachirama, where's Tsunade?"
"I'm here." Tsunade sighed entering with Karin on her hip and a sleek brow raised. "Kushina, remind me to strangle Kitsune when she gets back."
"Oh?" Kushina asked even as Karin called for her mama and the two were reunited with a few tears shed.
"Yes, Do you remember that shit eating smirk she had when we left Ame?"
Kushina hummed and tilted her head thinking about it. "The same day we woke up with missing memories from the night before?"
"Bingo!" Tsunade grunted. "I counted back after getting Biwako to confirm how far along I am. Four weeks exactly. I'm due at the end of december." She sighed. "Whatever happened that night nullified the contraceptive seal I normally wore. Thus," She waved at her still flat stomach.
Mariko blinked and looked down to Tsunade's stomach. Tilting her head she opened up her senses and felt that there was a ball of life there.
"He'll be strong." She absently said, reading the chakra growing off of Tsunade's own network.
"He?" Tsunade and Kushina chorused, surprised.
Mariko nodded. "Girls naturally don't pull as strongly off of their mothers. It's why they normally start with smaller reserves. Boys tend to pull from the mothers more than girls." She glanced at Kushina. "Just like your little boy, and he's really pulling strong. He'll take more after his Uzumaki because of it."
When the silence continued, the Redhead met the surprised gaze of Kushina, and the intrigued gaze of Tsunade.
"What?" She mumbled self-consciously.
"How do you know this?" Tsunade asked curiously.
"I was training to be a medic before the invasion." Mariko shifted on her feet. "Like Mika-oba I am a natural sensor. I trained my sensing specifically for medical purposes."
Tsunade suddenly grinned and gripped the slightly young woman's arms. "When you are settled in, please please tell me you'll take a job as a competent medic, and before you ask, no biting required. Sakumo already has you registered as an Uzumaki clan member so Clan laws protect your bloodline. Please, I need people that actually know what they are doing and have special skills to help make our jobs easier. Getting Hyuuga Medics has been a pain in my ass that i'm still fighting. But until i get more, you would be perfect for helping to 'see' the chakra flow. I mean i've tried getting Kitsune or Minashi's help since they are both sensors, but it's not the same type of sensing that i need. But if you can see a underdeveloped fetus so easily-"
"Tsunade!" Kushina barked.
The Senju blinked and sucked in a breath. "Please. When you are settled in, I can give you a high paying job and i'll even let you pick hours that will work around Karin."
Mariko's mouth gapped like a fish. Kushina pulled her away and frowned at Tsunade.
"Didn't sensei say not to even broach something like that for at least a few weeks?"
Tsunade huffed crossing her arms. "He said to try not to. He never said I couldn't. Plus she isn't going into a panic so I think it's fine."
Mariko blinked before taking a few calming breaths more or less for her sanity's sake. "Time. Let me...Get adjusted to the village and just being Safe….Then maybe we can do a trial of sorts?"
Tsunade nodded once. "Deal. Now, I need to return Tachirama to his mother. Sukitama should be back from the market by now."
"Oh! Can we join?" Kushina beamed.
Tsunade looked between them before sighing. "As long as she can promise to keep them from public knowledge."
Kushina nodded and started explaining a secret part of the Senju line still in existence. It explained why Tachirama had looked like a tiny Senju Tobirama.
Three months later...
Team Ro's feet were practically dragging as they landed on the outer wall of the village. Even Minashi's mind and body were exhausted. Not that the mission had been hard, but being someone else for so long, wore on one's mental state.
"Home." Tengu moaned.
"We have a report to deliver first." Boar sighed, also tired and still healing from the slice he'd taken during the termination of the Slave market. Usagi had done her best, but his thigh was still bruised where the cut had once been. "Let's go so we can sleep."
"Hai~" was the mumbled chorus of responses. In a few shunshins, Team Ro ended up in the upper compartment of the Hokage's office. Captain Boar greeted Captain Lion then sent a chakra signal down to the Hokage.
Sakumo sat up when he felt the ANBU signal in his own tattoo. Quickly finishing up his meeting with Shizune who had reported for Tsunade on the most recent Hospital reports.
A moment later the Barrier was activated and Team Ro was signaled to appear.
They did, and it took all of Yosei's training to not just collapse onto her butt.
"Team Ro." Sakumo said with a relieved sigh. "You are late."
Boar bowed. "Apologies Hokage-sama, Our mission turned out to be a little bigger than we were expecting."
"Debrief me." Sakumo ordered sitting back in a more comfortable position for the report coming.
"As planned, Team Ro changed into a traveling merchant family from Fire to Tea country. We built up rapport in Fujitori for two and a half weeks before moving on at civilian's pace to Tea's capital, Hongawa. There we worked in not only selling our wares and once more attempting to build rapport with the locals, but we also made sure that our 'children' that Raiji, Tengu, Kappa, and Yosei were acting as, were put on display by running the stalls. As we stayed longer and investigated at night, it was discovered that the missing teens were only disappearing every three months. That is why the Tea Daimyo didn't reach out sooner. Between the spacing and the varying age ranges, any local police would have had issues investigating the kidnappings."
"We learned a month into our stay at Hongawa that we had missed the last kidnapping by a month and a half. So our mission got extended. Kappa, Tengu, Raiju, and Yosei agreed to present situations when the next opening came around, to act as accessible as possible. Yosei made sure they each had tracking seals Usagi and I could follow. Whoever was taken would then report via the Com cuffs of their surroundings, victim counts, enemy counts, and any other useful intel."
"Who was taken?" Sakumo asked stiffly.
The team shifted nervously.
"I was." Yosei sighed. "Their buyer at the time was looking for a girl on the younger side and untouched. Since Raiju is taller than me, I was able to pass myself off as a year younger."
The Yondaime sighed and rubbed his aching temple. "Of course you did." He muttered. "Continue."
"We were able to track Yosei to Degarashi Port. They held her there for a week while the rest of Team Ro scouted the warehouse. Hanasake Group's main base was taken out before the next shipment was due out." Boar hesitated. "This is where we discovered their other port of operation. The ship's manifest had already picked up from Gingoro Port in the Land of Noodles."
A silver brow rose. "You made a decision then to continue the mission then?"
"Unanimous vote." Boar nodded. "Once Usagi finished healing the previous kidnapped teens and Yosei's Clones escorted them home, we took command of the ship and set sail back for Gingoro port. Using the Blood Henge seals we made up a story that got us back into Hanasake's Operation in Noodles country. It was a few days later that we had enough intel to confirm their numbers. They too were eradicated. We then contacted the Noodle Daimyo and informed him of our actions discreetly."
Usagi stepped forward with a scroll. Sakumo took it with interest.
"Between my team and I, we were able to keep the Daimyo from pressing charges for entering Noodle Country without permission. Off the record the Daimyo rewarded the team for our proactive initiative as they were just starting to notice the pattern. We did make sure to leave a copy of our investigative notes for their records to make sure the Hanasake group can't get another foothold."
The Yondaime skimmed the personal letter from the Daimyo and set it aside to further read later.
"You then made your way home?" He assumed.
"Hai." Boar nodded. "It took us an estimated week's time to make our way back." He then pulled out a slightly larger scroll than the small message one from the Noodle Daimyo. "Our written reports are also complete and stored in here. I wanted my rookies to get used to getting them done before details were lost."
"Good job Team Ro." Sakumo took the report scroll. "I will review the reports and pass them along to the Commander. If we have no further questions, your pay will be in your accounts by the end of the week."
The Six ANBU felt their bodies begin to relax as the upcoming dismissal was welcomed.
"A week off." Sakumo ordered. "All but Raiju and Yosei dismissed."
The two teens let out long sighs that were borderline groans. The rest of their team had no problem abandoning them for the siren song that was their beds.
Sakumo activated a secondary barrier and stared at his two youngest ANBU, his pup and ward.
"Remove your masks." The duo did as told and two tired faces met his own carefully controlled one. "I will not tell you two to not put your lives at risk like that again because I know it would be pointless. You two are shinobi. Minashi, one of my youngest but best Kunoichi. Kakashi, I'm so very proud of how strong of a shinobi you are turning out to be." Sakumo sighed and gave them a gentle look. "Welcome home."
"Tadaima." The teens chorused.
"Now, Kakashi, you've been requested for a solo mission." He tossed said scroll to his son. "While it will not seem important, to the one requesting it, it is. So, you will be temporarily pulled from Team Ro to complete your first Solo mission. Please meet with your client at their current address."
"Hai!"
"Dismissed." Kakashi left in a shunshin.
Minashi felt Sakumo's chakra flare a moment later and the four signatures of his guard disappeared right before a solid barrier rose up around the room.
"Minashi." The blonde teen straightened at the serious tone in Sakumo's voice and gaze.
"Hokage-sama." She acknowledged.
"I leave for the Kage Summit in two days. 'Minashi' will be taking her annual time off to visit the Home of the Foxes. Do send a clone there so you can still get things done if needed. Otherwise, I am making a personal request that Kitsune be my personal guard to the summit. I will be having three other guards to accompany me that you will be in charge of. They will not be standing at my side during the meeting, you will."
Minashi twitched. "Mask and all?"
"If you wish. You may also keep it to only your secondary half mask if desired."
"Who else is on your guard?"
"Minato will be attending along with Shikaku and Kagami."
"Intimidation, Strategy, Prediction." the Blonde mused. "And throw in my own unpredictability and future knowledge of the Kages and you have a well rounded guard to show off not only Konoha's power, but to defend yourself if you were to somehow end up weakened."
"Correct. Now, I need your word that you will not draw on any of Kurama's chakra. A-san will be bringing his adoptive brother Killer B to the Summit according to intel."
Minashi frowned. "He'll still be able to sense Kurama since the seal is open and he's on good terms with Gyuki." The blonde bit her lip. "I have two days to prepare?"
"Hai."
The blonde nodded. "I'll have a seal that will completely block my signature then. I've gotten away from Minato not noticing the similar chakras between my Blood Clone and original self with a slight genjutsu seal to throw him off of Kitsune's chakra signature. B-san will see right through it….Yes, a complete hidden signature would be best, plus I am still supposed to be a mystery outside of your office."
"Good. On another note, shortly after you left for your mission with Team Ro, your Pack returned."
Blue eyes snapped from her thoughts on the seal to the Yondaime's calm eyes.
"They had reached out to me but I had to ignore their pulls." She whispered.
"They couldn't reach you because of your mission. So your Beta Haku made an executive decision to return to Konoha instead."
Hope and excitement started to bubble under Minashi's skin. "Did they-"
"Uzumaki Mariko and Uzumaki Karin have been successfully received and moved into the Senju-Uzumaki Compound. Mariko-san has also come a long way after three months of therapy sessions with Inoiri Yamanaka."
Tears fell unbidden down Minashi's cheeks at the news. In a sudden leap she was across the Hokage's desk and practically strangling Sakumo in a hug.
"Thank you!" She cried out in joy.
Sakumo huffed fondly as he returned the teen's hug. "It should be us thanking you. Another Uzumaki has been found and put under Konoha's protection because of your dedication to protect your family." He murmured into blonde hair he easily pet to help calm the kunoichi down.
Sakumo let the hug go on until the teen Kunoichi was ready to release him. Clearing her throat and wiping away her tears of joy, Minashi returned to her position on the other side of the Yondaime's desk.
"I'm so happy to hear they are here." She grinned. "What else have I missed?"
Sakumo twitched and Minashi felt a bit of dread pool in her stomach.
"You were late returning home. Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina have wed in a small private ceremony. Only their sensei's and closest friends attended the private ceremony. They were gone for two weeks on their honeymoon, Minato only just returning a day before you. They were upset but understanding that I had Kitsune on a mission, and also you were still gone for your own mission."
Sadness pooled in Minashi's stomach. "I missed it?"
Sakumo nodded sadly. "Hai. You left on your mission so quickly they hadn't gotten the chance to tell you the date they had picked. It is only because of the reports Boar had sent that I hadn't already sent a team out to check on Team Ro."
"Oh." The blonde mumbled as her eyes dropped to the ground. "There were pictures, right?"
"Hai. I'm sure Minato and Kushina will be happy to tell you all about it."
"Hm." The blonde sighed a bit dejected. "Anything else?"
"The Senju and Uzumaki Clan Heads have created a new alliance." Sakumo informed her, watching as the Cerulean blues he'd missed shot up. "Minato and Kushina have moved into the once Senju Compound. They have had a secondary Main family home built separately from the main Senju family home. Mariko and Karin have moved into a home near the Uzumaki Main family home. Additionally, Tsunade had added Senju Kudorama, Senju-Nara Asuka, and their son Senju Tachirama to the Senju family tree. Kudorama's line is still an S-rank secret even higher than your own Jinchuriki status."
"Huh? Why?" The blonde tilted her head confused at the names she didn't recognize.
Sakumo blinked as he processed that he had information that the blonde didn't.
"Did... you not know who the ANBU commander was?" the Hatake asked slowly.
The Blonde Uzumaki shrugged. "Nope. Naruto and I had a healthy fear of the Dragon, even Dragon number two made sure we feared him. We never learned who he was. By the time i got the hat he'd already sacrificed himself to hold a defensive line so shinobi could retreat. His mask was never replaced after the Alliance went underground."
Sakumo just sighed and rubbed his temple. "I have half a mind then to keep his line a secret still. But you are cunning enough and curious enough to find out now that you know he's Senju."
"Duh." The blonde smirked as her earlier sadness was pushed away for burning curiosity. "So, which line-"
"Tobirama Senju had an affair with Uzumaki Miho and had a son. Senju Fujirama was raised to be the first Commander Dragon under his father's tutelage. Fujirama then married Uzumaki Sukitama who has also moved back into the Senju uzumaki compound to help her son raise his own son. Senju Kudorama, our current Dragon, married Nara Asuka and had Senju Tachirama. The boy is currently the same age as Wakana."
"Holy shit." Minashi whispered. "What Naruto would have given to learn this. No wonder the Dragon was so scary. Tobirama was scary as a reanimation."
Sakumo snorted in amusement at the blonde Uzumaki. "Kudo isn't so bad. He and I grew up together because his mother was my Aunt. My second mother was her sister."
Minashi groaned and rubbed her temple. "Gah, Clan crossing." The yondaime just chuckled at his friend/ ward once more. "Anything else I should be aware of?"
"The mission Kitsune was apparently on was classified if anyone asks."
"Got it." Minashi sighed and rubbed her sore neck. "Am I dismissed then?"
"Yes. I want Kitsune to report to me tomorrow morning. It can be a shadow clone or a blood clone. I want to fill her in on the coming Kage Summit with the rest of my guard."
"Done." The blonde said before yawning. "Where am I living now?"
"Minato and Kushina requested that when you got home, to pass on the news of the move to the new compound. We went over custody of you and confirmed that they were not only old enough now, but with you being a Jounin it would be your decision. They hope you would move in with them."
Minashi nodded. "They probably combined and moved all my things into a room there anyways knowing them."
"Hai. Minashi-" The blonde looked back to her friend and father figure. "Just because you have moved in with your family doesn't mean you need to be a stranger. You will always have a place at the Hatake compound."
The blonde let a soft smile lift her lips. "Thanks, i'll remember that when i piss kushina off and need a place to hide."
Sakumo snorted and waved a hand at the blonde. "Go. Make sure you get plenty of rest and food before reporting as kitsune. Don't also forget that you need to have at least shadow clones leaving for your two assigned weeks to Azamuki."
"You got it!" The blonde saluted and once the barriers were dropped she disappeared into a shunshin.
Minutes later Minashi arrived at the Senju-Uzumaki gates. Blue eyes softened at the sight of the two Clan symbols painted on the arch of the gates together.
'How things change…' she murmured to her lifelong companion.
Vermillion eyes peeked open and gazed through his host's eyes. Mito and I may have never gotten along, but from the few conversations we did have; I believe she would have been happy to see her birth Clan and her husband's clan symbols together like this.
'You're getting sentimental old man.'
Tch, only because your mushy ningen emotions have infected me. The grumpy fox growled.
Minashi snorted and just shook her head as she headed in at a sedate pace. She felt the barriers welcome her with a wash of not only the old chakra from Hashirama and Mito, but Tsunade's own Chakra being the Senju Clan head. She hummed when she felt Kushina's chakra in the barriers also welcome her. Her Nee-san must have added additional protections while the blonde was away.
Following the well known path, Minashi first headed for the Senju Clan Main home. Pushing the sliding door open, the Blonde was just about to call out before two blurs instead tackled her.
"Omph!" Minashi groaned as she landed on her back.
"Mina!" Twin shouts of glee filled her sensitive ears from the two six year olds now on her chest.
"Itama, Kawarama." Minashi groaned.
"Okaerinasai!" They beamed, Golden eyes filled with innocence and excitement.
"You've been gone for months Nee-san!" Itama pouted.
"Yeah! You even missed Mom kicking Papa and Dad out of their room!" Kawarama smirked.
"Oh! Can you help us pick out gifts?"
"Yeah! Wakana has already gotten help from Suki-oba-san on picking out a gift for mom."
"Why does Tsuna-oba need a gift?" The blonde huffed as she finally got the brats off her so she could sit up and hug them properly.
"Mom's pregnant with our little brother!" The twins chorused.
Cerulean eyes widened even as her jaw dropped. "What?"
"Yeah, just about four months along." Tsunade added as she entered the foyer with Wakana on her hip and annoyance in her honey brown eyes. "You wouldn't happen to know how such a thing happened, ne? Minashi?"
Minashi stiffened at the warning in that gaze. "Of course not Ba-chan. You were away in Ame. I was here training with my team." She beamed innocently.
"Uh huh." The Senju stated staring at her deadpanned. "So, what brings you here brat?"
The teen blonde followed Tsunade back into the house with both white haired children holding her hands.
"Hm, just checking in on my senseis and extended family." Minashi smiled at the twins and Wakana who beamed back at her.
Tsunade huffed. "So no medical assistance needed?"
"Nope. Our mission wasn't that bad. Captain was healed enough by Fumiko that all he had left was some bruising. He'll sleep the rest off. Sakumo ordered me to rest and recover my chakra as well. I have my required time at Azamuki due, so i'll rest up enough before heading there for the next couple weeks."
"Aw, but you just got home Nee-san!" Itama pouted as he cuddled her on the couch. Kawarama on her other side sent her a similar pout.
"I know, but i have to keep up with my end of the deal with my Summons or i would be in breach of contract."
"Kushina and Minato will be sad." Tsunade said honestly after setting Wakana down near the kotatsu table. "Here sprout, Papa wrote up some more writing practices for you." Wakana let out a whine, but a stern look from her mother and the youngest blonde did her practices.
"Kushina was especially upset that she couldn't drag you into a kimono for their wedding." Tsunade continued as Minashi extracted herself from the twins. The Uzumaki made sure that they were well distracted with gifts she'd gotten while in Tea Country. Wakana's own already sitting in her lap. The stuffed fox looking similar to one of Minashi's summons.
Minashi shuttered at the thought of formal clothing. "That, i'm happy to have missed. But i am a little sad that i didn't get to witness Nii-san cry at his own wedding." She shrugged disappointed.
Tsunade snorted even as they moved into the kitchen to talk. Together they sat at the table in there and shared a quick cup of tea the elder blonde brewed. "Surprisingly he held strong. So, Sakumo let you in on their move to the compound?"
"Yep. I'm pretty sure all my stuff was moved in from their apartments to a new room in the Uzumaki house."
Tsunade nodded. "Yep. Orochimaru and Jiraiya were there to help."
"So, where is Tachirama?" Minashi smirked. The Senju huffed.
"Sakumo let you in on that then. We had a hunch you didn't know about it since you didn't mention it before."
"Nope. Never knew about them." Minashi hummed around her cup. "Happy to be in the loop now though."
Tsunade rolled her eyes at her cousin. "Tachirama is at home with his mother and grandmother. Sukitama is looking forward to officially meeting you. She's been watching you since you arrived and was happy to know another Uzumaki had made it to Konoha."
"Hm, i'll have to search her out when i get back."
"So, where is your Master?" The Senju asked since the room wasn't sealed.
"Returning tonight according to Sakumo." The Uzumaki met honey brown eyes. "The Kage Summit is a little over a week away. Kitsune is being assigned as guard for the Yondaime."
Tsunade hummed. "So Oro was right. Well, I guess if you see her before us, wish her safe travels."
"Will do." Minashi smiled back. "I guess i should go see my new home."
"You have been procrastinating." Tsunade raised a brow at her fellow blonde in silent question and reprimand.
"Hm." Minashi acknowledged as she placed her cup in the sink.
"You should see a Yamanaka soon brat." Tsunade called to her fellow blonde even as she was halfway out the back door.
With a silent wave Minashi hopped onto the nearest tree and headed for her Nii-san's signature. Moments later she landed on the grass of the front yard of a traditional home almost as large as the Senju Main home. The Uzumaki Spiral was proud on the front wall of the house. But it was the touches of Kushina that warmed Minashi's heart. Flowerbeds full of color were everywhere.
Instead of the earth tones of the Senju House, Kushina had instead had the home painted in the Uzushio colors. Cream, gray, blue, gold, and accents of red were all over the walls, posts, and roof tiles.
Heading for the main doors, Minashi lifted a slightly trembling hand and slid open the door.
"T-tadaima." She called out past her tight throat. With trembling fingers she was able to get her sandals off and into a cubby with her name printed on them before she heard slippered feet slide to a stop in front of her.
Watery Cerulean eyes looked up and met bright identical ones in her taller Nii-san. Her own height, still barely reaching his chest.
"Okaeri." Minato smiled warmly at his fellow blonde. Minashi couldn't help it when she kicked off and tackled her brother into a hug. Minato grunted but caught her smaller frame as it wrapped around him.
Minato smiled into blonde hair even as he heard and felt Minashi taking in his scent all while nuzzling into his neck. Smile still on his face, he carried his sister into the living room and sat down on the couch with her still in his lap. Hearing her let out a final sigh of content, Minato met his Imouto's gaze when she pulled back.
"I'm sorry i missed your wedding Nii-san." She sniffled with watery blues.
Minato gave her an understanding smile. "You were working hard on your mission, ne?"
Minashi nodded and wiped away some stray tears. "Ah."
"Then it's okay. Kushina and I are both shinobi, we know that sometimes personal time gets sacrificed for the missions."
"We saved a lot of innocents." Minashi mumbled.
"Then all the better." Minato chuckled as he adjusted the younger blonde to sit sideways on his lap. Personally he noticed she was still too light and would have to make sure Kushina fed her more. "So, how long do you have off?"
"I get to rest tonight, but Sakumo told me that Kitsune said that I have time due at Azamuki."
"Already?" Minato frowned.
"I was scheduled to return there anyways. It's just because our mission ran late that it seems so soon." Minashi sighed as she leaned into his collarbone, her exhaustion finally starting to catch up. "Where's nee-san?" Minashi yawned as she snuggled in deeper to her nii-san and his scent of Home.
"She's out shopping with Mikoto and Tsume. Kushina wants to help them get the last minute things needed for the nurseries since they are both due next month."
Minashi hummed. "Do they have names?" She asked even with eyes closed.
"Mikoto chose Sasuke after the Sandaime's father. Tsume chose Kiba for her second child."
"Hmmmm….." The blonde teen enunciated already just about asleep.
Minato smiled fondly down at his little sister. Hearing the soft breaths of the teen on his lap even out, Minato just carefully stood and carried Minashi to her new room.
With a similar accent wall of burnt orange, the rest of her furniture from Minato's apartment had been added in. The White bedroom set was accented by black here and there. The closet was packed full of Minashi's clothes, her dresser the same. Both of her desks had been combined into one with extra storage cabinets. Pictures of their family were hung up everywhere. There was even a seal on the ceiling dampening the chakra signatures outside of the bedroom walls. It was a stronger one than what Minato and Kushina had in their own bedroom and the seals they had over the entire house. All because they knew how powerful of a sensor their imouto had to be with the fox aiding her all the time.
Like He'd done when she was just a small child, Minato pulled back marble yellow/red sheets, and gently set his imouto into bed. Removing her armor, pouches, and wraps, the Yellow flash tucked his baby sister into bed. Kissing her temple, he moved like the silent shinobi he was to the door. Flipping the switch, the room was engulfed in darkness.
"Sweet Dreams Imouto." Minato whispered into the darkness.
"Tadaima!"
Minato looked up from the Fuuin Theory scroll he'd been studying. "Okaeri!" He called out even as his beautiful wife practically barged into the living room, a bag of scrolls in hand, her entire being glowing, and happiness in her eyes.
"Minato! You won't guess at what I found at the store today!" The excited redhead was quick to dump the scrolls onto the kotatsu table Minato was working at. With lightning reflexes Minato moved his things away and caught a few of Kushina scrolls trying to escape. Chuckling he helped her open them until she found the one she wanted.
With a small flare of chakra and a puff of smoke, a pile of clothes appeared on the table.
"Ah-ha!" Kushina beamed as she found what she wanted to show him. Minato's eyes bugged out at the sight of the orangish-red onesie. Kushina smile was massive as she showed off the extra's of the outfit. "Look! It even has adorable ears and a fluffy tail! I can't wait to take him to Azamuki and show Asako-sama! I bet she'd adore it!"
Minashi couldn't help but chuckle as his wife continued to ramble.
"Oh, oh! And Mikoto found the cutest Cat onesie to match! Tsume even found a dog one too for little Kiba!"
"I'm sure the boys will look adorable." Minato smiled.
Kushina just beamed as she absently rubbed her five month pregnant belly. "Un!" She giggled before showing off a few more outfits she'd found all while informing her husband of the few commissions she'd also put in for the Uzumaki swirl to be added. A few she'd even commissioned to have the Namikaze symbol added.
Minato's smile grew as he saw the Circle with three wave crests drawn out on the order forms. It had been a long time since he'd seen his own Clan symbol, many of his clan's items stored away until he'd made jounin. Then it had been something he hadn't been sure of if he should even wear. But with his son on the way he did technically have three members now. While Married to the Uzumaki Clan, Kushina was keeping her clan name for security purposes.
"Thank you Kushi." He called softly, interrupting her rambling about matching outfits.
Kushina blushed beautifully as she saw the loving look her Blonde was eyeing her with.
"W-well, I couldn't help it, dattebane. I didn't realize how many cute things babies had. Mina-chan was already almost five when she came to us." She mumbled.
"Ah." Minato chuckled. "Speaking of which, guess who's finally home?"
"Really?!" Kushina was just about to jump up when Minato snagged her wrist and pulled her into his lap. The redhead yelped startled before looking into Cerulean blues she loved so much.
"She's sleeping. Their mission must have been extra hard with how late they got back. But you know what time of year it is as well right?"
Kushina pouted up at her blonde. "I know. Asako-sama already sent a fox to me saying congratulations for my pregnancy and that it exempted me from the triennial training. She made sure I remembered to send Minashi to them for it instead."
Minato hummed an affirmative as he kissed her temple. "She'll be leaving in the next couple days."
"So I'll have the house to myself?" The redhead sighed.
"Ah. I have a meeting with Hokage-sama about the Kage Summit in the morning."
Kushina sighed. "Has it already been a year since the war ended?"
"Hm." Minato articulated even as his hand began combing through the silky strands of red hair he adored.
"Can't Sensei take someone else?" She pouted.
"Can't." Minato hummed into her hair. "Godaime-to-be. Sakumo wants me to have the political experience and i'm just a guard."
"Hmmm." The Uzumaki hummed still displeased.
"You know you can always visit Mariko-san and Karin-chan."
Kushina huffed. "I already plan on it. She's been doing so good with Inoiri that she wants to try going out into a crowd again."
"Then you and her will have plenty of things to keep occupied. I know the maternity leave hasn't been pleasant, but it won't last forever."
Kushina just made a noise of indifference as she leaned into her husband more. The couple sat in silence, basking in each other's presence. Kushina fell into a slight doze until she remembered something.
"Have you asked Mina yet?" She asked and hid a yawn, tired from her day of shopping.
"No." Minato sighed. "She did what you are about to do, and fell asleep before i could ask her."
Kushina huffed slightly amused. "Well, you are closer to her in blood, so i still think you should be the one to ask her."
"I will. She just needs to stay put long enough for me to ask."
"Don't forget to let her know when he's due." Kushina yawned. "I want her there. The squirt also needs to remember to take off for her own birthday in October. We haven't gotten to celebrate properly in two years."
Minato just chuckled. "Hai, hai." He kissed her temple and stood up. "How about a nap Kushi?"
"Sounds heavenly." The Uzumaki practically purred.
Minashi roused to the gentle prodding of her internal companion.
'Hm?' She sent to him.
You are going to be late for your meeting with the Wolf if you don't get moving. Kurama deadpanned her.
"WHAT!?" Minashi yelped and shot up. She was disoriented when she realized she was in her bedroom, yet the smells were slightly off. Blinking her tired brain active she took a few precious moments to take in how her room was as similar as possible to her previous ones at Kushina's and Minato's old apartments. The same furniture, the same painted wall, and improved suppressing seals on the ceiling.
Humming a fond pleased noise, the Uzumaki quickly rushed out the room with a set of clothes as she smelled for the bathroom. After a quick shower, she called up a shadow clone to do her hair. A shunshin back to her own room and she quickly found her sealed scrolls where her Kitsune clothes were stored. She'd had to send Jiraiya and Orochimaru a thanks as she recognized their scents on her scrolls. They must have moved them out of sight of her Nii-san and Nee-san to protect her identity.
Grabbing one, she stored it in her weapons pouch. Following her nose to the kitchen, she found Kushina at the stove and Minato at the table with a newspaper.
"Ohayo!" The Blonde called to her siblings.
"Ohayo." Minato and Kushina called in unison.
Minashi snatched fruit from the bowl on the table, and toast from the toaster.
"Whoah, whoah, slow down there imouto." Minato tried to catch her, but she just spun to avoid his grabbing hands. Instead she kissed his cheek before rushing to Kushina to do the same. Kushina chuckled fondly and kissed her imouto's cheek back.
"I'm running late!" Minashi told them even as she downed the toast with a glass of milk.
"I'm sure you still have time to sit for breakfast." Minato tried to catch her again, but Minashi just grabbed the bento Kushina held out instead.
"Nope. Sorry! Plus I have to find Kitsune and have her send me. You two know how much of a pain in the ass she is to track." Minashi falsely grumbled.
Kushina huffed fondly. "I wish you could stay, but give Asako-sama my greetings!"
Minashi paused on the windowsill when her nee-san's words registered. Her brain screeched to a halt as her brows pinched. With the apple still in her mouth she turned back around and looked at her nee-san. She was in Minato's pink apron and just smiling a little sadly at Minashi. Minato just looked exasperated as he too had started gathering his own bento and pouches.
"Aren't you supposed to also be heading for Azamuki nee-san?" The blonde questioned.
"This is why we hoped to talk to you." Kushina sighed at her sister. "You've missed a lot since you left on your mission."
Minashi turned and sat on the sill, her attention firmly on the Redhead. "I'm listening."
Kushina looked to Minato who shared the glance before they looked back at the blonde teen.
"Sensei informed you we are married?" Kushina confirmed.
"Hai~" Minashi sighed sadly. "I'm sorry for missing it."
Kushina just gave her an understanding look. "We'll show you the pictures when you get back. But there is more Imouto. It's another reason why we moved."
A single blonde brow rose. She thought it was mainly because of the marriage, uniting of the Senju Uzumaki clans, and then probably the addition of Cousin Mariko.
"Kushina is pregnant." Minato finally broke the silence that had encompassed the kitchen. Kushina being unsure how to tell her little sister the news.
Minashi's brain ground to a halt. She realized then, that she had been unconsciously suppressing her own chakra sensing ability. Not wanting to know when or if Kushina had gotten pregnant.
"Ah?" Minashi's vocals worked without her brain truly functioning.
"Hai!" Kushina beamed, but her smile was more nervous, Minashi was looking at them blankly. "Mariko-nee has already told me it's a boy! We have the sonogram confirming it." The uzumaki began to ramble. "Biwako-sama also gave us a due date of November 4th. So we were hoping that you could make sure that you wouldn't be assigned any long term missions over the two weeks before and after the due date."
Minato gripped her hand and Kushina's rambling were quickly cut off as she wrung her hands nervously.
"What we really wanted to ask you though imouto, was permission."
"Permission?" Minashi whispered.
"Hai. I know he can never replace the Nii-san you lost, but we were hoping that you would allow us to name our son after your brother, Naruto. This way his memory could live on."
"Just like Tsunade-oba's boys!" Kushina exploded. "They may have been lost young, but their memories will live on in their descendants."
Minashi felt the tears build up in her eyes. Swallowing thickly she bowed her head to hide the tears.
"Hai. You have my blessing." She whispered. "Naruto would have loved to have his name shared this way."
Minashi didn't notice Kushina had moved close until she was pulled from the sill to sit on the counter instead. In the same move, her elder Uzumaki had pulled Minashi into a hug.
"Thank you Mina." Kushina whispered.
Minashi could only wrap her arms around Kushina and burry her face in her shirt to hide her tears. It was then she felt the bump against her own stomach. With a hitched breath she placed a trembling hand on the covered belly.
Kushina leaned back and watched as her Imouto went still and pulled at nature energy. The blonde teen closed her eyes as she felt it. There, under the surface of Kushina's own chakra was a signature she hadn't felt in at least fifteen years.
'Naruto' She cried out in her mind. It was the same. The same light of burning chakra that had always been at her side. The only difference was the missing bijuu chakra that had always been intermixed.
Purring filled her head as her companion basked in that familiar chakra with her. She didn't realize the noise had traveled to outside of her mindscape as well.
Bent down with her cheek pressed to Kushina stomach, the blonde teen was basking in the feel of Naruto's chakra.
A hand pet her hair and another was gently running up and down her back. Violet Sage eyes looked up to meet Kushina's natural violet eyes and Minato's Cerulean.
"He feels like Nii-san." She whispered in explanation. "A ball of pure sunshine." Tears choked her words. Minashi suddenly found herself in between both Minato and Kushina as they held her in a tight hug.
Minashi cleared her throat a few minutes later as she gently extracted herself from her Nii-san and Nee-san. Wiping away her tears she beamed at the couple.
"I can't wait to meet him. I'll make sure to put in my request to Hokage-sama for Naruto's birth."
"Good." Minato sighed and pushed back some of her bangs. "Now, we won't hold you up any longer. Get your training done with your summons and come home soon."
"Yeah!" Kushina beamed once more discreetly having already wiped away her own tears. "You have to help me decorate Naruto's nursery! I can't wait to show you what Mikoto, Tsume and I found shopping yesterday."
Minashi chuckled fondly. "I look forward to it." She leaned forward and gave the redhead another hug. "I love you Nee-san." She pulled away to repeat the hug with her Nii-san. "I love you Nii-san."
"We love you too." Minato hummed. "Be safe while training."
"I will." Minashi chuckled and hopped to windowsill once more. "Ja ne!" She beamed and with a chakra powered leap, she was in the trees. Once on the Senju walls, she disappeared into a shunshin. Appearing in the ANBU barracks, she double checked that Fumiko wasn't present in their shared room.
A flare of chakra later and a duplicate clone of herself was present. Another chakra flare and activation of her Blood Henge Transformation, and Minashi was once more Kitsune.
With a sigh, the tall Blonde glanced at her shorter blood clone. "Apologize to Asako-sama for me."
"Of course. She'll understand." Her blood clone nodded before looking up at her taller counterpart. "You need to take ba-chan's advice and seek Inojiro or Inoichi. We both know you need it after Kushina and Minato's news."
"I know. There is also the seal i need to work out." She groaned.
The blood clone waved off her worry. "I'll set Shadow Clones on it. Leave it to me."
"Thanks." The blonde then turned into her Raven haired and black facial marking henge. After changing into actual clothes instead of henged ones, her Blood clone quickly braided her hair back out of the way.
"Anything else?" The Clone asked.
"Nope. Just need to send you away." Kitsune chuckled even as she placed a hand on the clone. With a swirl of chakra, the Clone was sent to their burrow on Mt. Azamuki.
Pulling her Kitsune mask from one of her storage seals on her skin, Kitsune placed it on the side of her head. A swirl of chakra later and she appeared on the couch in the Yondaime's office.
Sakumo looked up at the flare of chakra to see Kitsune kicked back on one of the two couches in his office.
"Kitsune." He greeted with a smile.
"Yo." She waved lazily back.
"You're early."
Cerulean eyes blinked before frowning. "I thought we were meeting at ten."
"Noon." Sakumo corrected.
"So I could have slept for another two hours?" She growled before she heard the laughing in her head. Letting out an annoyed sigh, she flopped back onto the couch. "Damn alarm clock."
'Fuck you furrball.' Kurama just continued to laugh at his own well played trick on his host.
Sakumo just chuckled even as he sorted through the few scrolls and forms on his desk. "I take it your apprentice is back in Azamuki?"
"Yes. She's attending her Triennial training session for the next two weeks."
"Good."
"She also had the pleasure to inform me of Kushina's current state of indisposition from the shinobi corps." Kitsune hummed.
Sakumo looked up at her. "Ah, so they finally told her. How did she take it?"
"Some tears and overwhelming emotions. I've already informed my apprentice to seek her therapist when she told me they are going to name the baby after her brother."
Sakumo nodded and made a note to check in with the Yamanaka Clan Head. "When will she have that done?"
"When she gets back." Kitsune then sighed. "It reminded me that I'm also overdue for a check up."
"That you are." Sakumo nodded. "When we get back I want you to make an appointment with Inojiro or Inoichi."
"Hai~ hai~" The Ravenette huffed as she pulled her mask over her face.
"How was your vacation? We didn't get to talk much before I sent you on that mission." He asked, slightly lying since they didn't have any barriers up.
Kitsune just hummed. "Boring if i'm being honest." She fibbed. "I missed home."
"Well, you'll get some excitement with the Summit coming up."
Kitsune just snorted. "Yeah, No. This is going to be nothing but a damned headache."
Sakumo winced, even if Kitsune couldn't see it. The Hatake knew Kitsune was correct. Even he wasn't looking forward to it. He'd already been in meetings with Hiruzen to prepare for the summit himself, never having been to one before. The Sandaime had warned him of everything he knew about the Tsuchikage and Mizukage. The elder Kage couldn't help him with the new Yondaime Raikage or Rasa. Yet Sakumo was almost looking forward to meeting with his fellow ally. At least they had a budding friendship after almost a decade of Alliance and War planning together.
Sakumo rubbed his temples, praying that he could stave off whatever headache he was sure was bound to happen during the Summit. A few moments later he returned to his paperwork and let Kitsune keep the silence semi-comfortable.
The Yondaime was just about to ask Kitsune about her thoughts on a request form he'd gotten, when he looked up and saw her mask askew and breathing deep.
Releasing an amused huff, he let his friend get the rest of her nap in before the meeting.