Chapter 64
Kitsune reappeared in her bedroom of the Senju Main House. Silently she took a shower and just stood in the hot water until she felt...normal enough. Dressing in a simple ANBU sleeveless top and shinobi pants, she didn't bother with any wrappings or shoes. She instead only grabbed the scroll with the gifts for the kiddos before heading out the sliding door. Walking the engawa, she made it to the main family area only to pause when she stepped in and found Uchiha Kagami still present and currently being strangled by Tsunade.
"Tsunade-oba-san!" Obito was panicking even as Kenji was kicked back with his little brother, both other Uchiha laughing their asses off. "Please don't kill Kagami-oji-san!"
"I'll stop strangling him when he spills on what set off my best friend!" She snarled. "Spill Uchiha!"
"I-I..DOn't KnoW!" Kagami gasped out.
"Tsuna." Orochimaru sighed, grabbing her wrists. "Jiraiya will handle it. You know this. You can't keep the Uchiha here to continue interrogating him."
Tsunade's eyes misted. "But-"
"Come let's wait for Jiraiya to return. The Uchiha will take his brat and the brats they are watching and head home."
Kitsune rolled her eyes before she glanced over at the feel of chakra nearing from one of the family bedrooms. Wakana poked her head out and with tiny fists, rubbed her face and eyes. Slowly those honey eyes opened and blinked up to find Kitsune blocking her way into the main room.
Recognition was fast on the little girl's face.
"AUNT KITTY!" She squealed and launched at Kitsune who's entire being lit up at having the familiar warmth of Wakana's chakra bursting with joy.
Humming in a likeness of a purr, Kitsune caught and held tightly onto Wakana. This, this tiny little girl and her two brothers and soon to be third. This is what she accomplished. Inojiro was right, She just had to remember the good of everything she's done.
"Tsune-Oba!" Itama and Kawarama shouted from the main room and joined their sister in getting hugs from their godmother. Kitsune let out her laughter and happiness as she welcomed the three Senju sprouts into her arms and smothered them with her chakra.
"Oh, look at you sprouts." She praised eyeing them up. "Did you two grow again!?" Kitsune chuckled fondly at the twins. They just grinned proudly. Both their papa's were tall, so it wasn't unexpected. "And look at you little hime." She cooed at Wakana, fingers running through soft honey blonde locks. "You look more and more like your mama with every time I see you."
Wakana giggled and just hugged her favorite aunt tighter.
"Papa said you were with the Hokage for an important meeting." Itama asked
"Did you bring us presents?" Kawarama finished his brother's sentence, twinkling in both their eyes.
Kitsune snorted. "I wouldn't be a proper aunt if I didn't." She held out the scroll to little Wakana. "How are your chakra lessons coming along there little sprout?"
"Good!" She grinned, showing off a missing tooth. "I got the leaf to stick on for almost a whole ten seconds!"
"Hm, then go ahead and show off your skills. Do you remember our lessons on seals?"
"Hai~" Wakana cheered and opened up the scroll. Tongue sticking out she pulled at her chakra slowly, but with stubborn determination and soon the black ink lit up. After a pop of smoke three items were revealed. Kitsune took over from there. Grabbing the beautiful hair comb, she pulled Wakana's hair back and stuck the comb in place.
"There. That will help keep those unruly bangs of yours from getting in your face. When you are older, there are also special compartments hidden in the design. I'll let you explore those when you are older."
She then grabbed the two tantos that were practically identical and held them up to the twin boys. They reached for them but she pulled them back until twin sets of Golden eyes were on her.
The playful glint left them as they saw the change in their aunt. This was no time for their games.
"These are weapons, tools for shinobi. You only wield them to protect those precious to you. You wield them to protect your siblings, your parents, your friends, comrades, and village. You two will be entering the academy come spring. You will be on your way to becoming shinobi of Konoha. Your elders will expect greatness from children with your breeding. I want you to ignore them. Ignore the fact that you are Senju. Clan Name doesn't mean anything when you are shinobi. You two only need to focus on getting strong enough to protect those precious to you. Train with these and with them carry the legacy of those that came before you who also had the burning will to protect those precious to them. Your parents and I will guide you and protect you until you no longer need our protection."
Golden eyes shared a glance with each other before meeting Kitsune gaze once more.
"One last thing." They snapped to attention at the warning in her sharp eyes. "Never, use these tools against a comrade with intent to do harm. I will punish you then."
Itama and Kawarama gulped but nodded. Kitsune held out the swords again with a softer look.
Both boys were still excited to have their gifts, but there was respect in their gazes and hands as they gripped onto their swords. Together they pulled them out and burst into awe when they were then able to split the swords into dual wielding swords.
Kitsune chuckled at their awe. "Oro should be able to assist you in creating your own Katas for these. Yet, don't forget to check with your mom. Her Granduncle was a sword master of the Senju as well."
"Thank you Tsune-oba!" They cheered, sheathed the swords and gave her a hug. Wakana was fast to dive in to be between them once more.
Kitsune hummed pleased as she nuzzled the three children practically her own. Itama and Kawarama were first to run off to their Papa and beg him to help them practice Katas already. Orochimaru sent her a thankful look then took the twins out back.
Wakana was still in her arms, so Kitsune stood with the precious girl as she moved towards Tsunade and hugged the older blonde with her protruding belly.
Tsunade grunted as she looked her best friend over. "You look no worse than normal."
Kitsune just snorted. "And you look as glowing and grumpy as ever." She teased right back, hand already on Tsunade's belly, chakra gently checking on Senju baby number four. "How's the little one?"
"Naoki." Tsunade said softly. "We finally picked a name."
Kitsune glanced up to honey brown. "In memory of Nawaki?"
Tsunade nodded.
"He'd love it, Tsuna."
"I know." She quickly cleared her throat. "So, tell me, where did my husband run off to?"
Kitsune shrugged. "Dunno, I wasn't quite here until Wakana tackled me."
Tsunade's gaze turned concerned once more. "Everything okay?"
Kitsune shrugged. "Too many anniversaries hitting this year. It's...I thought I could manage them, but something just snuck up on me is all."
Tsunade sighed and shook her head at her friend. "You are under my watch then."
The Ravenette just smiled. "Yours and Inojiro's. And I don't mind. I've missed your little parasites."
Tsunade groaned. "You will never let us live that down will you?"
The Ravenette just cackled. "Never." She grinned wickedly.
The blonde Senju just sighed and accepted her fate. "So, Jiraiya?"
Kitsune hummed and let her senses fan out over Konoha and found her Toad friend actually already in the compound but carefully hidden as he...watched over Oro and the boys.
"You will always have my respect, Tsuna. Your husbands love you yet fear you. I take it you were on the prowl before you caught the Uchiha and Jiraiya abandoned house to avoid you making him take you with him?"
"Damn straight." She grumbled.
"He's mooning over Oro in the backyard." Kitsune shrugged. "Probably hoping I'd cool your temper."
Tsunade sniffed displeased before rolling her eyes. "Oro will get him back for abandoning him to me alone. It's a repetitive cycle. He'll come begging back tonight."
Kitsune's face scrunched up. "I don't need to know how your sex life works, thank you very much."
Tsunade's grin turned wicked. "You sure?"
The Kunoichi just huffed and turned back to their unwilling audience. Kenji, Shisui, and Obito frozen in a bit of awe. Yet, hiding behind Kenji was a second little one.
"Tsuna, how did you end up with almost all of the Main Family Uchiha Brats in your house?"
Tsunade's face dropped into a deadpan. "Obito was babysitting Shisui and ran to Kenji when they pulled off a prank after being inspired by the Konoha prankster. It didn't go so well with Fugaku-san. Mikoto-san is over at Kushina's showing off little Sasuke, so Itachi somehow found himself over here since Kenji is his minder today. Thus the two pranksters found Kenji here and all four of them have been hiding here."
Kitsune stared before glancing at the four Uchiha. Kenji looked resigned, no doubt from the years of Minashi conditioning him. Shisui looked guilty, Obito was whistling feigning innocence. Itachi just looked adorable and lost.
The Kunochi twitched. "You are lucky my Apprentice isn't back yet or she'd only enable them."
Tsunade stared glacially at her friend. "Don't you dare just summon her back for the hell of it."
Kitsune switched Wakana from one hip to the other; Mirth in her eyes. "Oh?"
"Minashi's due back finally?" Kenji perked up. Kitsune shot the Teenager a nod.
"By the end of the day. If not, I'll drag her back myself."
"Cool." Kenji blinked before pointing to his dad. "Is he okay?" Not too concerned with the most world renown medic in the same room.
They all looked to the twitching form of an unconscious Kagami Uchiha.
"Oh, right." Tsunade hummed before waving it off. "He's fine. Uchiha are known to be delicate but resilient. Kagami especially has a rare form of their more dramatic tendencies. This wouldn't be the first time I've choked him into unconsciousness when he was too terrified to speak."
Kitsune deadpanned the Senju. "That...is not normal Tsuna."
The Senju just shrugged. "What Konoha Clan is?"
"Touche" Kitsune huffed amused. "So, tell me what I've missed and I'll tell you about my wonderful adventures pissing off the other Kages."
Tsunade cackled even as the children settled in and soon the rest of the Senju horde were called in for story time.
Minashi waved away the smoke as she reappeared where her Blood Clone had sent her the long way via the summons realm. Riku-sensei had given her an encouraging hug before she'd been reverse summoned back to Konoha in her bedroom. The Young Blonde teen, slowly took a breath and she headed for the living room where her Nee-san's laughter was bright and echoed by the chakra of her best friend.
The Blonde Uzumaki peeked out to see Kushina sitting there, a black haired baby in her lap, even as her own belly was more pronounced as she was sitting.
Blue eyes latched onto the tiny baby. Slinking out like one of her own foxes, Minashi edged closer and closer to the Uchiha baby. She was practically on top of them when Kushina's hand touched the top of her head. Minashi flinched just the tiniest amount but looked up to see her Nee-san just smiling patiently at her.
"Would you like to meet him?"
Minashi nodded and Mikoto pulled the blanket back from her son's face. There a pale chubby baby was revealed further. His head was topped with a thick mop of raven locks, and black eyes were looking innocently upon this new person.
"Minashi, meet my youngest, Sasuke. Sasuke meet Minashi."
The blonde teen reached forward and poked the chubby cheek even as she re-memorized Sasuke's Chakra. "Hello Sasuke."
Big black eyes just stared at her and before Minashi could get a word in, she was pulled onto the couch, a boppy around her waist and Kushina putting a very tiny uchiha in her arms.
Said uchiha baby cooed up at her and as blue stayed locked onto black, a tiny fist holding her finger, something in Minashi shifted stronger than before.
She knew her destiny as being the Protector of the Prophecy child. However, feeling how clean, innocent, and pure Sasuke's chakra was, made that desire to Protect explode like a supernova. All her bottled up feelings after Gaara's birth, Neji's, Shino's, Sakura's, Choji's and Kiba's as well, all spilled over and connected with Sasuke's. These kids, these innocent future Shinobi were hers to protect. Naruto would forever be her main focus, but his generation would be hers to personally protect.
'I will not fail this time.' She promised.
Minashi woke the next morning a mix of refreshed and exhausted. She was glad that Kitsune had time off and even as herself, her ANBU team wouldn't have a mission for a few more days.
Dressing in some of her casual training outfits that doubled as almost civilian clothes, the Blonde teen grabbed her brush and headed down to the main floor of the house in search of her Nee-san or Nii-san.
Instead of just her Nii-san at the table going over mission reports and Kushina working to get breakfast together; there was instead another Redhead Helping Kushina as a much older Redhead also sat at the table talking with a white haired child and a redheaded baby in her lap.
Minashi just stood there a little dumbfounded. Sure a part of her knew there were more redheads in Konoha, but knowing was different than seeing the proof. Plus, it had been months since she'd seen Nagato as Kitsune.
"Imouto." Minato's voice called her from her stupor. She physically shook and moved into the room, partially ignoring the eyes of the other two stranger adults in the room. Her focus was instead on Minato who was smiling fondly at her. "Need help?"
Minashi nodded and handed over the brush, grabbing a seat. Minato stood and moved to do her hair since Kushina was busy. Cerulean eyes then clashed with the Indigo across from her. Long red locks had many highlights thick and thin showing off a mix of white and silver gray hair.
"Hello." Minashi murmured. The elder Uzumaki across from her just raised a red brow as her free hand lifted her teacup to her lips, eyes not off of the younger.
"Hello little Chick." Sukitama hummed, setting down her teacup with the grace that reminded Minashi of one Senju she spent years with, learning seals from. It made her want to twitch at the reminder. "Do you know who I am?"
"No." Minashi answered honestly.
"I am Senju-Uzumaki Sukitama, your First Cousin once removed's Wife. For our Uzumaki Linage, I am from a distant Civilian family with no further relations to the Main family. Your Grandmother Namika, though was my third cousin making you my third cousin twice removed on that side."
Minashi's face had scrunched up as she tried to follow that wacked out family tree in her head.
Because Minashi didn't want to hurt her still tired brain she just sighed with a lazy shrug. "Cool, so what do I call you?"
"Suki-oba will be well enough." She said with a small smirk.
"Hm." Minashi vocalized before her eyes were drawn to the almost year old in the elder's lap. "And who's that and the boy beside you?"
Sukitama chuckled and ruffled white hair of the Four year old boy. His red eyes had been switching between the two with sharp intelligence.
"This here is my grandson, Senju-Nara Tachirama. His mother needed a break and his father was busy with work. So we agreed to come meet the young Chick I've heard nothing but praises about since you arrived years ago. Secrecy of Tachirama's blood has kept us secret, but since we are all now living safely under Mito-oba's seals, we can meet more family."
Minashi felt her shoulders unconsciously relaxing. "I'm happy to see more family, despite the genealogical distance. And the chibi?"
"This is little Karin." Sukitama looked over as Kushina and Mariko joined with the food at the table. "She belongs to young Mariko-chan here."
Said redhead huffed and took her daughter back as everyone settled in. Mariko's gaze met Minashi's and smiled softly. "Hello Minashi-san, I'm Mariko, your second cousin once removed. This is my daughter Karin, your second cousin twice removed. We've moved into the house two houses down since it was in the best condition."
"Yo!" She waved and adjusted her head absently as Minato finished off the braids to her hair and then took his own seat.
They said quick prayers for the food before chowing down. It was mostly a quiet breakfast as even Kushina looked to still be half asleep but slowly waking.
"What are your plans for today Mina-chan?" Kushina called to her sister that had been awfully quiet.
The blonde teen set down her tea and tilted her head contemplatively. "Well, my Team is still on a break apparently. Taichou went on a mission without us and got hurt. So we're off until he's healed. So, probably try to be social. Maybe look up some friends. Between the war and ANBU I really haven't gotten to see my classmates."
"Bonds are important." Minato hummed. "Have fun and don't mess around with any more of Kurama-san's chakra just because you have a few days off."
Minashi felt her cheeks puff up at her brother. "That was one-"
"More than once." Kushina snorted. "You're still a kid Minashi, go relax and have fun. Enjoy it while you can."
Minashi rolled her eyes. "Fine, fine." She looked at Sukitama and Mariko, the latter looking almost fondly at her. "If ya need a babysitter, just let Nee-san or Nii-san know. I love kids. I watch over Tsunade-ba-chan's all the time. Same for Tachirama-kun." She nodded to the elder.
"Thank you little chick." Sukitama hummed.
After helping to clean up, Minashi soon left and then found herself hunting down her off-duty teammates.
Ryouta was found first since the Hyuuga compound was the closest. Literally dragging him from his own personal training time, he only followed with a defeated sigh. It wasn't long before they kidnapped Kenji from the Uchiha compound and then tracked Kakashi to their old grounds. Minashi tackled him and the Hatake yelped.
"Mina!" He growled, but she danced out of his reach.
"Come on! Let's find some others!"
"Ugh, why?" Kakashi groaned but still followed their favorite blonde back towards main konoha.
"Because! I finally have some free time and something i have in mind to do is gonna take some extra hands to accomplish. It's been a while since the Prankster set off a large scale prank." the Blonde uzumaki grinned and all three teen boys stopped in their tracks, despite their fourth continuing on.
"She's gonna hit something public." Kenji stated.
"Yep." Kakashi sighed resigned.
"Hm, at least she hasn't hit a compound since the war got really involved." The hyuuga tried to comfort his teammates, failing miserably as they all realized they weren't getting out of helping. Quick shunshins and they were at the blonde teen's side once more.
The four Jounin slipped into the Chuunin Lounge looking for Ryouta's past Genin teammates. Koto and Suzume were found playing a game of cards with more people than expected. It seemed to be taking up a good amount of the lounge main room. Minus fellow Jounins, and a few out on missions, most of their graduating class was present.
Minashi stepped forward and Clapped loudly once. The game was interrupted and she grinned as all eyes were on her.
"Alright, who wants to make 200 ryo?"
Anyone in the lounge that hadn't been paying attention were then.
"How?" Shiranui Genma called out around his senbon, eyes glancing back down at his cards. He didn't necessarily need the money, not with his promotion fast approaching.
"I need a few extra hands with a big project."
"What type of project?" Nohara Rin called curiously, always willing to lend a helping hand.
"I can't tell you. I can't answer any other questions. Additionally, no one else will know your involvement."
Beside Rin, Obito perked up as his prankster senses were tingling. He'd meant to spend his day off from the Police with Rin, but this sounded good.
"Make it 400 ryo." Obito called standing up, grinning. Hey, he may be a prankster and Chunnin, but he was also a broke Chuunin.
"Done. Any other takers?" Minashi smirked.
"I'll go to keep Obito out of trouble." Rin sighed and stacked hers and Obito's cards up.
Asuma, Genma, Raido, Izumo, Shikari, Koto, and Suzume all stood up to follow.
"Wonderful!" Minashi grinned "Try to keep up!"
The Nine chuunin followed the Four Jounin as they headed for the Uzumaki/Senju compound. The thirteen shinobi were then dragged to one of the abandoned buildings and found themselves staring at an image sketched out on one of the walls.
"This, is our task for the day!" Minashi announced.
"You're-!" Obito started gleefully before he was silenced by a sharp glare from his elder cousin.
Minashi just smirked. "No comment. Anyways, in order to get this done in broad daylight without setting off ANBU or patrols, it will be a team effort. Normally I'd do just the painting myself since I have Shadow clones. But, I thought it would be a good time to catch up with our friends. Since the war is over an all, missions are less and this will be a good way to also train while having fun!"
Stunned silence before Shikari snorted. "You better be lucky i like you more than Oji-san or I'd rat your ass out right now for the Pineapples."
Minashi just smirked. "Ah, but you are now all accomplices, who's to say that you all weren't helping me sneak in and prank the other clans years ago?" She asked tilting her head and eye smiling innocently.
Genma whistled. "Blackmail. Nice touch."
Obito snickered "Oh, can i help with the Sandaime's face?"
"Oi, That's my right." Asuma glared, but it was ruined by his twitching mouth.
"Alright, alright, settle down." Kenji called as the others too had broken into who got to paint which.
"There is still the rearrangement." Ryouta reminded them. "So those of us with Doton strong affinities will be the most taxed."
"Teamwork will be our strength in getting this done before we're caught." Kakashi continued.
Minashi's grin turned foxy as the chuunins' chakra bubbled with excitement. "Let us begin planning. We don't have all day if we want the full effect."
The Yondaime was just returning from lunch with some of his friends, most of them mourning with poor Jiraiya and Orochimaru as they were the ones with the most temperamental pregnant wife of the century. None of them had any true remorse for the idiots. They knew what they'd been getting into.
Settling into his Chair, Sakumo let out a sigh at the sight of all the paperwork that still awaited his attention. While he had the secrets to getting it all done, it didn't mean he liked doing it. But This village was his home, a place where his pup and friends lived. He would lead as best as he could and make sure all his citizens wouldn't have to live the type of life Minashi and her brother had. Thankfully since Minashi's arrival, the Sandaime had already started with good programs for the orphans and academy students.
Sakumo had just spun around to enjoy a few more peaceful minutes before actually doing work, eyes set to absorb the village and wonder about his pups, when the coffee he'd taken with him to enjoy, spewed from his lips and he bent over choking up a lung.
Gaining some semblance of control over his lungs back Sakumo's eyes shot back to what made him inhale his coffee.
"Lion!" He wheezed out. The Captain dropped down and followed his Hokage's gaze. "Am i seeing that right?"
The ANBU's chakra flared startled. "Oh…yes."
Across the village one ANBU Commander was just returning from running a training patrol when they stopped atop the village walls. The hidden Senju actually stumbled when his habit of gazing up at his grandfather was thrown for a loop with the image he found instead.
"Son of a bitch." he hissed, Chakra leaking with his KI, making the poor trainees flinch back in fear. He didn't remember what he hissed to the group, but Kudorama sped away to gather an experienced squad to hunt down that kami-damned Uzumaki brat! He should have known!
Minashi sat back proudly on one of the taller buildings of Konoha. She could hear their friends laughing up a storm as they watched the once pristine mountain suddenly give way like a waterfall to the new and improved mountain.
No longer were the Hokage's in order, let alone looking like the stern visage they'd had before.
Nope. With some creative Doton and precision Chakra control, the faces were nothing like they were before.
The Sandaime's was first. Mostly because he'd held the position the longest. Not only was his face turned into a leer, but it was painted all over with the visage of a Monkey with the addition of blood running down it's nose and hearts in its eyes.
The Shodaime's was next. His face had been turned into a dorky looking laugh, wide mouth and all. In addition he had a beautiful flower crown upon his brow and his face was painted like a clown.
The Yondaime was third. Getting his face to match the pout Minashi knew wasn't as hard as expected. The wilted wolf ears were only the icing on the cake. The cherry on top was his paintings showed off that his hair was in mismatched pigtails and way too much make-up.
The Niidaime was last. Instead of the stern face everyone was used to seeing, he was looking poleaxed and blushing like a virgin, hair a beautiful hot pink to match.
"Scatter!" Minashi ordered to the Nine laughing Chuunin and three other Jounin. They didn't hesitate and Minashi disappeared in a shunshin to stand a top the Mountain. Hands rubbing together eagerly, she waited for that Suiton heavy Senju chakra to divert towards her.
Excellent. Now knowing who she was messing with, she couldn't wait to test herself against the grandson of the Niidaime.
It was only moments after she'd finished stretching that Dragon landed on the mountain.
"Uzumaki. I've let this slide long enough."
Minashi just raised a brow. "Let what slide? I just came up here to enjoy the view."
Kudorama just snarled as he lunged. Minashi yelped and played up the innocent act.
"EEEkkkk!" She squealed and took off for the new- slightly deadly- game of cat and mouse.
"GET BACK HERE UZUMAKI!" Dragon shouted chasing the teen down the face of the mountain and right into the village. Minashi just cackled as she spun, flipped, and leaped throughout the village.