Chapter 3

Lord Sarutobi sucked at his pipe as he reviewed the map of the Land of Fire. Patrols had been sent in every direction, along every major route out of the village, and the border guards had been given specific orders to stop anyone attempting to cross and verify identities of any children with any group. So far, nothing.

He sucked his pipe again – today was day three, and the sun was going down. In spite of the professional job that was taken to eliminate Kushina's security detail, Danzo maintained the possibility that she ran away after discovering a failed abduction attempt. Jiraiya, meanwhile, was pulling his hair out. Minato was a good kid who wouldn't have run away, and Hiruzen agreed with his former apprentice.

About the only good news in the past three days was a phone call from Sakumo Hatake at trading post about a day's walk from the border with Kumo. The trail had gone cold about halfway to the border, but a check of roadside traders confirmed a boy matching Minato's description had bought some basic provisions before taking off toward the border. At the very least, it was something to bring to Jiraiya to ease the man's worried mind.

"Lord Third," Danzo entered the room and bowed.

"Anything?" Lord Sarutobi asked.

"Other than that one sighting of Minato, nothing," the man shook his head.

"Impossible!" he shook his head, "How did they even know she was a jinchuriki!"

"Perhaps they didn't," Danzo casually walked to the Hokage's desk, opened a drawer, and extracted a bottle and two glasses. He poured two generous helpings of the sorghum liquor and offered one to Hiruzen. "Remember, she has a death-mark, and it isn't exactly like she did a great job of hiding it!"

Lord Third sighed as he considered Kushina as he swirled the clear liquor in the glass tumbler. While he certainly didn't blame her for her kidnapping, Kushina hadn't helped her case – she had not kept a low profile, and she had made enemies of the children of many shinobi. It was no stretch to assume someone might have sold her out or been intentionally careless with something that would have given her away.

About the only spark of hope in the equation was Minato. The boy had moxie for sure, and he had a bright future ahead. If he survives. He again dragged on the pipe and then took a sip from the strong liquor. If Minato could find Kushina, hopefully, he'd be smart enough to raise the alarm and not attempt a rescue solo. He dragged the pipe again and waited.

Kushina's stomach growled angrily as she planted one foot in front of the other. Over the past two days, her captors had been stingy with their rations, at best. Today, they had woken her pre-dawn and kept her moving nonstop. The fact that they'd started starving her didn't bode well. We have to be pretty much to the border. They're making sure you can't make a break for it, not that you could try. The bindings on her wrists were tight, and her handler had tied a tether to walk her like a dog on a leash.

Without her chakra, she was beyond useless. She was hungry, hopeless, and well aware that no one had come for her in almost three days. Dammit, don't tell me no one is looking; someone has to be looking! You're holding Nine-Tails, and it's too goddamn important for them to let it go! Anger overcame Kushina, and the grabbed a fistful of her flowing red hair – ready to start tearing it out in frustration. Wait a minute…

Something started gears turning in the back of her head. Think! Her starved brain struggled to come into focus as she tugged on her hair. That's it! Kushina released her grip and slowly looked down at the ground, trying to appear as defeated as possible. If abducted make every attempt to leave regular, repeated signs of your presence – small pebbles, scratch marks in the mud, tiny fragments of clothing, or strands of hair! Kushina plucked a lock of her hair and remained cautious to keep her hands hidden by the rest of her hair.

She dropped a few strands behind her, waiting for the expected blow to the back of the head. It never came. A few steps later, she dropped a few more strands of hair, again several paced later. With so little time left before you're to the border, is it going to make a difference? She dropped a few more strands; at least she had something to focus on now. A ninja never gives up; I'll keep dropping strands until I'm bald if that is what it takes!

Minato huffed in frustration as he hurriedly doubled back down the trail toward the fork in the road he'd come across. Dammit, this close to the border they must be really covering their tracks! He sipped some water from the bottle he'd bought at a roadside trader earlier. The sun was again dipping precariously low, and now his penlight was completely dead. Even with tonight's full moon, navigating and tracking would be hard.

As he reached the fork, Minato scanned the gait pattern. The few prints that could be Kushina's were becoming more of a shuffle. Unfortunately, that made following the already faint trail even worse. Minato scanned the ground for anything – tracks, disturbed leaves, broken sticks – and there was nothing. The kidnappers had been zigzagging across the countryside, trying to evade pursuers or anyone looking for them. Minato was about to start doubling back when he noticed something shiny reflecting the rising moon.

He knelt down and picked up the silky threads. Red silk… no… RED HAIR! His heart jumped in a way that it hadn't in the last several days. The hair showed no signs of exposure to the elements; it was fresh. Minato clutched the strand of Kushina's glorious hair as he sprinted up along the trail. Soon, he saw another, an a few meters later another. Good girl! Just keep the trail up a bit longer; I'm coming! Minato began running.

Every few yards, there would be a few news strands. We're right on the border here, move your ass! Minato sprinted for a good twenty minutes when he froze. He could make out the shape of men walking along the trail, guiding a smaller person along. Found yah! The red string of her glorious hair had led him to her.

Minato crouched low, assessing the group. There were four in close and four loosely around her. Move fast, no time to be a softy! He pulled his one kunai. The woodland trail narrowed ahead. Now's your chance, GO! Minato launched himself with everything he had at the first enemy, smashing a hammer fist into the back of the man's skull. Not waiting for him to collapse, Minato bounced of a tree and slashed a knife-hand chop at the union of the skull and neck the next man.

Minato flashed away as the man's body went limp. The escorts close around Kushina paused. Never hesitate! Minato took the man in back first – the one holding Kushina's bonds. The edge of Minato's hand burned from the hard CRACK of hitting the back of the man's skull. By the time his buddies turned to see what hit him, Minato was out of sight.

One down, three to go! Minato sprung from the shadows cast by the glorious moonlight and rabbit-punched the man on Kushina's right. This time, Minato didn't retreat; instead, he charged at the man to Kushina's left, ramming a foot into the man's babymaker followed by and uppercut to the man's jaw.

The last man wisely retreated, leaping into the tree branches overhead. Minato raced opposite the trail, making a quick but delicate slash of his kunai across the ropes binding Kushina's hands. She continued stumbling ahead, almost oblivious to the fact that she was free. Worry about her after you get that last one! Minato focused his chakra to run up the side of a tree. The man pounced and waved a kunai like a scorpion with a stinger, but Minato glided past the strike – moving faster than a speeding bullet.

The man went flying into a tree with a loud OOMPHH! Minato heard ribs break, and the man fell to the forest floor. Satisfied that there were not more threats, Minato turned his attention back to the staggering Kushina. All right, princess, let's get you home! Minato landed on the trail ahead, and Kushina came to an uneven stop. "Are you okay?" Minato asked. Kushina froze, blinking once incredulous. "I came to rescue you!"

Kushina felt the cold evening air whip around her as she staggered forth, knowing no one was coming now. The border had to be mere minutes away. She cursed herself for not thinking of leaving the trail of her hair until now; she cursed her damned red hair for giving her away to the enemy but not attracting rescue.

So deep were her recriminations, she scarcely registered the sound of meat being pummeled. Kushina first registered something off when she felt the tension around her wrists suddenly release as a gust of wind blew past her. There was more slapping, but then all became still. "Are you okay?" a familiar, earnest voice called. Kushina pried her exhausted eyes from the ground to see a sight that had to be a hallucination. Golden boy was standing a few meters up the trail from her. "I came to rescue you!"

God, I must be delirious! Her knees gave out, and Kushina felt the ground approaching until a firm set of arms halted her. "It's all right. You're going to be all right!" Kushina clamped her eyes shut, not wanting the hallucination to end. She wanted to pretend the fantasy was real. She wanted to believe Minato had actually cared enough to come save her.

Kushina opened her eyes and stared incredulous at the figure beside her. If I'm hallucinating, I'm doing one hell of a job of it! "You're safe, now!" His arms cradled her effortlessly, like he was carrying a newborn. It hit Kushina as she felt herself lift off the ground. THIS IS REAL!

"Hey, wait!" he kicked off the ground despite her protest, skipping tree limb to tree limb until he leaped into the night sky, silhouetted by the brilliant full moon. Minato glowed like he'd stepped out of a fairy-tale. As he perched them atop a treetop, he smiled like a child that had gotten the hottest toy of the year at the Rinne Festival. "How- how did you find me?" she asked.

Minato held up a handful of red strands of hair. "Your hair is beautiful, and I noticed it immediately. I followed it right to you!"

Elated as she was to not be a prisoner, the sour ghost of her circumstances came pouring back and she tugged away the seal paper on her stomach. "I suppose the Hokage thought I was too valuable to fall into another villages' hands."

"This had nothing to do with that. That was a fight between villages; this was not your fight," Minato replied. "And I came of my own accord; I'm not sure the Hokage knows I'm here."

He came for me?! "But, you ignored me the last time…"

"I knew you were strong," his words soothed a deep-seated ache that Kushina had had so long she'd forgotten what it felt like to not having it.

"But, I'm an outsider!" she protested, falling back into a pattern that was so familiar to her.

"You live in the Hidden Leaf," he winked, "that makes you one of us now!" One of us! To be included, even by one person, made her heart race.

The aching, the isolation, dropped away as he continued to hold her. Kushina felt the dampness forming around her eyes. "MINATO!" she put her arms around him and clutched herself around him. She cried into his neck as he continued to hold her. "I'm sorry!"

"It's all right," he assured her.

"It's not all right!" she screeched, "I treated you so badly!"

"I know what it's like to lose everything," he stroked her hair, "and everyone." He stared with tears glittering in his sapphire eyes. "I know the difference it can make, having someone reach out to you!" his voice shook with tears. He gently traced her tears away and then his own. "Now, let's get you home!"

Home! The thought of returning to the village was suddenly not as bittersweet as it had been. The fact that someone like Minato would be there meant that it was home. He dismounted the top branch and held her firmly until they were at ground level again. He extracted a packet of trail mix and a bottle of water from the pocket of his jacket, "It's not much, but I think you could use it."

"Thank you," she said in a whimper as she accepted both. Mild embarrassment washed over Kushina at how greedily she consumed both. Fresh water and the mix of nuts and sweets at least took off the worst edge of her dizzying hunger. She stared at him again with damp eyes, "Thank you!"

"You're welcome," he nodded. "Kushina, will you be able to walk, or will you need me to carry you?"

Kushina assessed herself. She slowly got her feet under her, but her knees were wobbly. "I…" she stared at Minato, bracing himself to catch her if she fell. "I… I might need a hand to stay steady," she wasn't used to asking for help, but right now, she was pretty sure she'd fall if she tried walking unaided.

Before she could say more, Minato as at her side with one arm around her waist and her arm propped over his shoulder. "How's this," he helped her hobble along.

"You're – fast!" she said speechless. Had Minato meant to cause her harm, he could have done it and been out of sight before she hit the ground.

"I don't like to boast," he chuckled as he helped her along, "it's always better to keep others guessing what you can and can't do."

"How cute, you have a boyfriend!" Nine-Tails teased.

Boyfriend… she stared at Minato, contemplating what was clearly meant to be an insult. "You know," Kushina strained her voice, "your girlfriend might get jealous if she knew you were holding me like this."

"Girlfriend?" Minato chuckled. "As if," he turned a side-eye toward her, "all the girls think I'm an effeminate wimp!" he laughed.

"He is!" Nine-Tails insisted.

SHUT UP, FOX! Kushina marveled at what she felt, or rather didn't feel. Nine-Tails had backed down. I'm in control! She tightened her grip over Minato's shoulder. "I'm sorry for how I treated you until now."

"It's okay, I'm just glad you're safe!" Kushina noted a certain squeeze of his arm bringing her closer to him, and the night warmed slightly.

"What happens now?" Kushina asked.

"Nagiso isn't too far," she remembered the name from the mission they should have left on a few days ago. "There we can hopefully contact the village and have someone come pick us up."

"Why not walk back, ourselves?" she asked.

"At the very least, I need to call my sensei," he said, "The old man is probably worried sick with me being gone this long!"

Minato's heart refused to slow down as he steadied Kushina. She'd been beautiful before, but he'd not expected her to be even more beautiful with her smile. I've seen an angel this evening. Most of the lights were out, except a few streetlamps, by the time they'd reached Nagiso. Thankfully, there was a grocer open late, and they did have a payphone. Minato placed the hundred ryo coin and made ready to dial when a hand slapped down the receiver cradle.

"Hey!" Minato protested, drawing his kunai as he turned to face the would-be opponent. As he eyed the older man, his heart first sank as he realized how much taller his opponent was. However, relief came across him as he recognized the man's kind face and grey hair, "Sakumo!"

Sakumo Hatake brought a finger to his lips, "Not so loud, kid," he whispered. "I see you found her," he said. "I was worried they' already gotten her across the border."

"Worry not," Kushina squeezed Minato's shoulder, "he took care of those Kumo low-lives!"

"So, they were Hidden Cloud," Sakumo said.

"Eight of them," Minato added.

"Eight?" Sakumo's voice rose in surprise. "You took on eight of them?!"

"All by himself!" Kushina beamed. Minato could feel his cheeks turning red. Even he could scarcely believe what he'd done to save the girl next to him. A little motivation goes a long way! He took in Kushina again. Despite her disheveled state, her flowing red hair and her rosy cheeks kept her cute as a button.

"Well," Sakumo extracted a scroll from his pocket, "I don't suppose I could trouble you two to do me one more favor, then?" he grinned.

"A favor?" Minato asked.

"Are either of you hurt?" Sakumo asked.

He exchanged a glance with Kushina then turned back to Sakumo, "Hungry and tired on my end."

"Same here," Kushina added, voice filled with determination.

"Very well," he added, "deliver this to the Tanaka house at the end of the lane – the one with the kitsune statue at the gate."

"And?" Minato asked.

"And then get yourself to the inn," he added, "I'll see if I can scratch up something for us to eat."

"That's it?" Kushina asked, incredulous.

"That's it," Sakumo grinned. "I figure you came ninety-nine percent of the way, might as well get your first mission logged, too." The mission! Minato had nearly forgotten the mission in the past several days.

"Our mission!" Kushina squealed.

"Not so loud," Sakumo hushed. "Get going, and I'll meet you at the inn."

"Well," Minato turned to Kushina, "care to take a walk?"

Kushina snatched him by the arm and began to drag him outside, "Love to!" As they got outside, into the night, Kushina and he adopted a more conventional arm in arm posture of a couple taking a late-night stroll. Despite the peaceful night, Minato's adrenaline continued to keep his heartrate up as he scoured the dark for hazards and as he became even more aware of Kushina on his arm. She's strong. Minato remembered her impressive constitution as a result of her chakra, but even he'd been taken about at how fast she'd recovered from being starved and forced to march. Something about holding her arm made him feel warm, calm despite the excitement factor. "Got something on your mind, Goldilocks?" she asked.

"Huh?" he asked.

"You're staring," she said.

"Oh, sorry!" he scratched the back of his head.

"Why do you stare at me?" she asked.

"Ummm…" Minato's throat began pulsating. "I… ugh…" his cheeks burned as she tilted her head to the side with a crooked smile. For the first time, he got a truly clear view of her violet eyes, dark like shiny obsidian in the shadows cast by the moon.

"Do you think I'm pretty, Minato?" she asked.

Crap! Minato felt his throat tighten. No girl had ever asked that particular question. The tightening around Kushina's eyes suggested if he didn't answer soon, he'd be eating a knuckle sandwich. "Yes!" he exclaimed. He prayed the truth would set him free.

"I bet you say that to your girlfriend all the time," she said with a sigh as they neared the end of the house at the end of the lane.

"What do you mean?" He asked perplexed. "I don't have a girlfriend?"

"Oh, really?" she eyed him skeptically, but Minato sensed an ulterior motive to the question.

"Really, honest!" he replied.

Kushina stopped them both in their tracks as moonlight revealed a faint snicker on her face, "Then I guess that means she won't be angry when I do this!" Before Minato could open his mouth to ask what she was doing, Kushina had grabbed him by the collar of his jacket and yanked his mouth to hers.

Minato remembered once suffering a mild electric shock while working on a project for the Academy. As her lips pressed to his, the same intensity crossed his body from his mouth to his heart and to his toes. However, this lacked the harsh sting that accompanied being shocked. Minato shivered as she drew back, "Yikes," he whispered, still incredulous as she let go of his collar.

"Did," Kushina shrank on herself, "did you like it?"

Minato smirked as a streak of daring crossed him, "I don't know, let's try again and find out!"

"W-what?" now it was Kushina's turn to be confused as her violet eyes grew wide.

"Haven't you heard," Minato grinned as he took her hands in his, "you don't really know if you like something unless you've done it two times!"

"I-I," Kushina's mouth fell open for a moment, then curled to her own grin, "is that so?"

"Yeah," Minato pulled her close and enjoyed the sparks on his lips again as they kissed. He didn't know if this was the start of someone new and wonderful or if this would end the way Jiraiya Sensei's last run-in with Tsunade had ended. As Minato held his breath, he felt Kushina's arms enfold him, and he put his arms around her as she melted into his shoulder. "So," he whispered, "how was that?"

"Good," she heaved as she squeezed tighter, "definitely good!"

"Good," Minato beamed, "and yes, I definitely liked it!"

"Minato… not that this isn't great," she tapped the scroll now in his pocket, "but we have delivery to make."

"Right," he straightened up, still giddy from the kisses he shared with Kushina. They again walked arm in arm until they reached the house with a white fox statue at the front gate. Minato knocked on the door and they waited.

When the door opened, both he and Kushina had to shield their eyes from the light spilling from the door, "Can-can I help you?" a nervous looking girl, maybe slightly younger stood in the door as their eyes adjusted. The girl had dark hair and tapped her index fingers as she stood half protected by the door.

"Is this the Tanaka residence?" Kushina asked.

"Y-yes," the girl stammered.

"Is your mom or dad home?" Minato asked, "we have a special delivery."

"Y-yes… one moment, please…" the girl closed the door and a moment later a grown up man with black hair and thick glasses answered the door, "May I help you?"

"Special delivery, sir," Minato held out the scroll.

"I see the Hokage is still using children as messengers," he shook his head as he took the scroll, "Thank you." The man tucked the scroll into the pocket of his robes, "Do you need a place to spend the evening?"

"We have accommodations," Kushina answered.

"Very well, have a good night," the man closed the door, and they were again in the dark.

"That was a bit anti-climactic," Kushina huffed.

"After everything you've been through the past three days?" He stared her in the violet eyes, illuminated by moonlight. "You're going to argue with something easy?!" He stared, she stared, and after an awkward silence, they broke out into hysterical laughter. Minato had Kushina back. All was well.

The trip back to the village was uneventful compared to the outgoing trip. Despite insisting they didn't need a babysitter, Sakumo insisted he follow them all the way to the gate. As they checked in at the gate, Kushina swallowed hard despite her dry mouth. While Minato had accepted her and, presumably, Sakumo, the whole village still had a strong notion of who she was.

"Kids, are you able to get to the Hokage's office without getting kidnapped?" Sakumo asked.

Kushina felt her ire rise, but she recognized the comment was in jest as the man chuckled. "Yes, smart Alec!" she groaned in response.

"Then let's get going!" Minato held out his arm and she looped her arm through his. At first, Kushina thought nothing of the gesture – they had walked arm in arm like this multiple times since he rescued her. Then she heard the whispered tones:

That's Minato walking with the Tomato-head?!

That's him all right! Who would have thought.

Damn, I didn't know he got into redheads!

She's not beating him up, maybe she's totally normal…

Kushina realized she was on display, being paraded down the thoroughfare by Minato in triumph. "Like an exotic beast on display, Kushina! Watch, he'll put you in a zoo as well!"

SHUT UP KYUUBI! Kushina had had enough of Nine-Tails' poisonous words. She detected a faint whimper as she walked along, content for now that the boy next to her liked her, and maybe the village could come to accept her someday.

Upon reaching the Hokage's Residence, she and Minato were moved to a private office and provided forms to fill out for their mission report. Kushina detested homework and paperwork, but filling out the story of how she'd been kidnapped and later rescued helped put things into perspective. She was alive, and she was safe. Had Minato not come to her rescue, she'd be strapped to a metal slab in some dark hole in the ground, and she'd be facing hellish experimentation.

Her hand trembled as she finished writing. So close to being someone's science experiment. Minato was still writing intently for several minutes. As he made several final pen strokes, he held out the form, "Care to have a read?" Kushina took the form, read how Minato came looking to do mission prep, how he found the apartment abandoned, and how he'd followed her trail for almost three days, and she saw the final bit about finding her by the trail of red hair she'd left behind. Kushina stroked a strand of her hair. Maybe deciding to shave it off and start over isn't such a hot idea! She chuckled silently.

Minato took their reports to the door and a shinobi guarding the office asked them to wait until called for. Kushina had no doubt they were in some kind of trouble – she'd been taken and he'd run off to save her. Pointless bureaucracy to make life even more mind-numbing. She sat back in the office chair for what felt like hours, in reality probably no worse than twenty minutes. The door to the office opened and the shinobi guarding them said, "This way, please."

Even Minato fidgeted as they walked up the stairs to the Hokage's office. When they entered, Lord Third was puffing his pipe staring intently at papers on his desk. Beside him was a tall, built man with a mane of grey hair. Kushina recognized the man as Lord Jiraiya. Minato gave a slight wave, but Jiraiya remained unmoved. For a long, uncomfortable few minutes, no one said a world.

"IT WAS MY FAULT!" Kushina exclaimed.

"What?" the three men said in unison.

"It was my fault, I got taken and didn't escape!" she shouted, "Minato had nothing to do with anything!"

"Oh, you just happen to mean he didn't run off without telling anyone he was looking for you!" Jiraiya shouted aloud, "Kid, I thought you were smarter than that! Do you have any idea how worried sick I've been since you two disappeared!"

"Sensei, I didn't have time," Minato protested, "the trail was nearly cold when I picked it up. Even a few hours' delay might mean she'd be in enemy hands right now!"

"Yes," Lord Third puffed his pipe, "about that, is it true you took on several Hidden Cloud Shinobi by yourself?"

"Eight!" Kushina shouted, "He didn't take on two or three, there were eight of them, all guarding me! And they were ANBU, not Joe-blow losers!"

"Is this true!" Jiraiya flashed a sharp eye toward his apprentice.

"It-it is true, sir," Minato's voice shook, "I knew the risks, and I thought that saving Kushina was more important than anything!"

Lord Third and Jiraiya exchanged a look, Lord Third took a prolonged drag on his pipe. Even Kushina could see gears turning in his head. She also took note of both men exchanging the faintest of smiles. "Minato," Lord Third turned to the golden maned boy, "I want you to know what you did was incredibly reckless, and you could have gotten yourself killed –"

"If I hadn't gone after her, she'd be on a metal slab in some mad scientist's lair right now!" he protested.

"Yeah!" Kushina added.

"—and your actions now have consequences," the Hokage replied sternly. "You took down eight ANBU from Kumo, your name is now plastered all over the Land of Fire because you were thought to be missing."

"I…" Minato raised his voice, but was soon cut off.

"And now everyone is going to know you took down eight ANBU," Jiraiya remained stern, "and your act of stupidity is likely going to be heralded as an act of heroism – running away, saving the village Jinchuriki, and saving the sole survivor of the Uzumaki Clan!"

"Kind of like The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi, eh old man?" Minato grinned slightly.

"You read that?" Jiraiya asked, stunned.

"The who?" Kushina furrowed her brow.

"Sensei is an author on top of being a shinobi," Minato explained.

"One whose stories haven't yet landed with an audience," Lord Third expelled a ring of smoke. "Perhaps you need lessons from your apprentice, Jiraiya?"

"Me?" Minato raised an eyebrow.

"Rescue a princess, conquer insurmountable odds, and you managed to even find time to complete your first mission – thanks to Sakumo's planning – all in one go," Lord Third smirked. "I could almost promote you to chunin for that alone!"

"L-Lord Third!" Minato stammered.

"Don't get too excited," Jiraiya said, "he said almost, which means you aren't getting promoted."

"Kushina," Lord Third turned his attention to her now, "I'm hoping this series of misfortunes may give you new perspective of working with others as part of a team?"

The jab was there, but she also had to acknowledge that she might have been rescued sooner had she had friends other than Minato. "Yes," she nodded, "but that doesn't mean I'm going to stand still for abuse!"

"I wouldn't expect it," the Hokage replied, taking another drag from his pipe. "Jiraiya, there is that other things we need to do."

Jiraiya nodded, and got down on his knee and extend the other, "Come on, son, get what's coming to you." Jiraiya tapped his knee.

"Lord Third!" Kushina protested, "You're not really letting this old hag take Minato over his knee!"

"He's getting what he deserves," the Hokage shrugged, and stared at Minato, "Certainly you're willing to accept it?"

Minato bowed, "I am, sir." Minato rose up and began walking toward Jiraiya.

"This is crazy!" Kushina protested again.

Minato stood solemn in front of his sensei and bowed, "I'm ready, sir."

"No, you're not!" Jiraiya clutched Minato in a bear hug, eliciting a yelp from Minato as his sensei squeezed him close. "I thought I'd lost you, son!" Jiraiya sobbed, face turning cherry red.

"I'm sorry I worried you, old man!" Minato hugged him back. Kushina felt her eyes becoming damp, and soon she was wiping away tears.

"My boy, you're growing up so fast! A few moments ago, you were some angry kid on swing who had just lost his daddy. Now, you're a genin, going on missions, saving princesses, and kicking ass!"

"Maybe you should take lessons from him, Jiraiya," Lord Third chuckled and coughed up smoke, "you seem to be falling behind on all fronts!"

"Yeah, and I guess I'm about to put myself even further behind," he let Minato go and rubbed away tears. "I guess this is where we have to reward you for being stupid, or what others would call brave!"

"Reward?" Minato said.

"Yes," Lord Third chimed, "we can hardly punish the shinobi who single-handedly saved Kushina and kept Nine-Tails out of enemy hands!" A draw slid open in the Hokage's desk and he threw a wooden case to Kushina. "Kushina, it seems appropriate that you pin this on him."

Kushina opened the simple wood case to see a medallion shaped like the flame symbol used by the village and the Uzumaki clan with the words FOR VALOR inscribed into the flame. The medallion itself hung on a short ribbon red as Kushina's hair. The Distinguished Service Medal! "Minato!"

Minato's jaw dropped as he eyed the medal. Minato trembled as he spoke, "I… I'm not sure I can accept… I'm no hero!"

"You're my hero!" Kushina grabbed him by his jacket, "and you'll always have this to remind you of it!" she pinned the medal to his jacket before he could protest further.

"Congrats, kiddo!" Jiraiya shook Minato by the shoulders, "You've earned it! Now, you two kids run along, and we can meet up at Training Ground Three for some practice drills later." He eyed Kushina, and then Minato, "And yes, you can bring your girlfriend, too!"

Kushina's cheeks burned at the comment. For better or for worse, fate seemed to have brought them together.

Lord Sarutobi sucked his pipe as the kids left, flooded with profound relief that Kushina and Minato had come home safely. "Well, all is well that ends well."

"She's going to be trouble," Jiraiya shook his head.

"Just like Tsunade was for you?"

"Worse, she actually likes the little rascal!" Jiraiya added.

"At least she finally warmed up to someone," Hiruzen shrugged, "Maybe there is hope yet."

"Lord Third, I insist she be issued a new safehouse inside the village," Jiraiya became somber.

"Oh?" Lord Third asked.

"She was needlessly vulnerable to abduction by being kept outside the village barrier." Jiraiya crossed his arms, "Just who gave you that idea?"

"Danzo thought she was too unstable to risk having in the village," Lord Third didn't like where the conversation was going. "You don't think he had something to do with this, do you?"

"You know I always mistrusted him," Jiraiya's voice was throaty as he shook his head. Jiraiya had, in fact, never liked Danzo, even when Jiraiya had only been an academy student.

"Jiraiya, do you have any evidence that he's up to no good?" Hiruzen asked the difficult question.

"If I did, I'd be doing a lot more than cautioning you about Kushina," Jiraiya sighed in reply.

"I agree, we should take some additional precautions, but unless we have something solid, let's please refrain from treating the ANBU director like a potential criminal." Despite his own confidence, the ember of doubt in Lord Sarutobi's mind refused to extinguish completely.

"Very well, sir." Jiraiya bowed his head.

"And Jiraiya…"

"Yes?"

"Your boy is quite special," Lord Third dragged on his pipe with a big smile.

"Almost as if he has a touch of destiny," Jiraiya grinned.

Still believing in fairytales at his age! He breathed out the cherry-scented smoke, "Yes, I'll admit there is something uncanny to his actions, especially for someone so young. He'll go far."

"Heck, maybe he'll be in your chair before long!" Jiraiya laughed, "That is assuming she doesn't wear him down first!"

Even Lord Third had to laugh, "Oh, please, it's just puppy love, I'm sure! How many relationships end within a year, without going to Mount Myoboku for three?"

"Yes," Jiraiya smirked, "how many do?"

Minato sat beside Kushina on Sunset Hill west of Konoha in the honeyed light of a late April evening. The last few months had been wonderful: Kushina was finally making friends, they'd celebrated the Yokai Market and the Rinne Festival together, and they'd celebrated his thirteenth birthday today together.

While he tried to remain upbeat with the picnic they were sharing, his heart remained heavy. In the morning, he'd be leaving for Mount Myoboku, and he wouldn't see Konoha again for three years – he wouldn't see Kushina again for three years. He would miss Kushina's thirteenth birthday in July. If he was lucky, he'd be back in time to see her turn sixteen.

"So, I guess this is it, Goldilocks," Kushina spoke somber, a faint remnant of the bitter girl he'd known months earlier.

"It's the end for a while," Minato sighed.

"Do you have to go?" Kushina stared with her violet eyes, pleading.

"You make it hard to say yes when you do that, girl," Minato smiled, feeling his eyes getting damp. "I could tell sensei that I've decided not to go," he shrugged.

"And you'd be missing out on the opportunity of a lifetime, and it would be my fault!" tears leaked from Kushina's eyes. "Face it, boy, you're going whether or not you want to, ya know!"

"Kushina, I'll count the hours we're apart," he protested.

"And the second you come back as a blonde himbo at age sixteen, you're going to have every bachelorette in this village after you, looking to make her way into your little black book… and your underpants!"

Minato wasn't sure if she was serious or if she was speaking in jest, "As if," he shrugged, "The only girl making her way into my little black book will have flaming red hair, violet eyes," he eyed her, measuring her response, "and a bad attitude!" he laughed.

Kushina lightly punched him in the arm, just enough to let him know how much she'd miss days like these. "Not too many of us out there like that, especially the bad attitude!" she laughed until she began to cry.

Minato embraced his girlfriend, feeling the past several months condense into mere seconds. He could choose now to have this end in the blink of an eye, and she'd become the name of someone he knew. Maybe they'd meet again, or maybe they'd never meet. Or you can give it some meaning, and see if it goes somewhere other than here. "Kushina, look," he paused to consider, "we're both still really young…"

"And that is why you're breaking up with me, I get it!" she huffed as she flopped back on the picnic blanket.

"No," he shook his head in protest, "I know our chances are slim, but… the last few months have been wonderful. I don't want this to end just because we'll be apart!" He felt his jacket pocket, reassured by the subtle contour he felt.

"Our chances are slim, boy, there is reassurance…" she sat up, with a pouty stare locked onto him.

"But no matter how far we are," Minato reached into his pocket, "I want you to carry a small piece of me with you," he pulled out the simple wood box.

"What's this?" Kushina asked as she accepted the box with hesitance.

"A piece of me, and my hopes and dreams for the future," he said, as Kushina opened the box. The simple heart-shaped locket was cheap pewter – the most he could afford.

"Oh my god!" Kushina covered her mouth against tears. "M-Minato!"

Minato delicately opened the locket to reveal a tiny photograph of himself. "Wherever I go, wherever you are," he unclasped the chain and brought the delicate bit of jewelry around her neck, "know that at least a small part of me goes with you." He locked the clasp behind her neck, "Close to your heart!"

Kushina didn't use words as she clasped him in a tight embrace, "T-thank you!" she sobbed with a moan. Minato held her, knowing as much as he didn't want the moment to pass it would soon. "M-Minato," she pulled back. Kushina reached into the pocket of her own jacket and extracted what looked like a short length of fine red yarn tied with a red ribbon. She placed the red fibers in his hand along with a small slip of paper.

He regarded the silky material, realizing it was strands of Kushina's hair tied with a strand of red nylon ribbon. Minato also turned over the slip of paper, revealing that it was a photo of Kushina. "Kushina?"

"A piece of me," she placed her hands around the hand grasping the strand of hair, "to carry with you." She paused, staring with her beautiful violet eyes in the fading light, "It brought us together once before." She cried as she brought herself close until their foreheads were touching, "may it bring us together again!" Minato embraced her for one last kiss before the sun dipped below the horizon.

Kushina thumbed open the locket and admired the photograph it contained of her young boyfriend. "And so, you see," she resisted the urge to tear up at the sight of the now ancient photo, "that is how I fell in love with the boy who would be the Yellow Flash of Konoha," she stared down at a handsome blonde-maned boy under her arm, "that is the story of how I fell in love with your father, Naruto."

"It's a good story, Mom," Naruto yawned gently as he nuzzled into her right side. Beneath her left arm, Hinata had already fallen asleep about the point in the story where Minato had rescued her with the October full moon in the background. Kushina traced her son's coif of golden hair lovingly as he too drifted off to sleep. Sleep, my baby son.

Only a few days earlier, Naruto and Hinata had been on their first mission together. Much like Kushina's first mission with Minato, it had involved near-death and a desperate rescue. Only today had Kushina been able to take her son home from the hospital after the ordeal the three of them endured. Hinata was still wearing a knee brace and walking with a cane. Naruto was clearly still sick and exhausted, but at least his pneumonia had cleared up to where he could come home. So lucky, so damn lucky!

She looked down at the photograph of Minato feeling fuzzy from the warmth of the two kids under her arm and the exhaustion of finally having all of Nine-Tails transferred from her. On one hand, Kushina was finally free of the burden and able to use her chakra again for the first time in over a decade after Tsunade had healed her damaged chakra network. On the other hand, she felt a pang of guilt as she looked down at Hinata, now carrying a full half of Nine-Tails like her son. It was a terrible burden to put on any child. I'm so sorry it had to be like this, Hinata. Kushina gently caressed her fingers through Hinata's dark, silky hair.

Kushina had long ago promised that things would be different for the two than it had been for her. They had each other and they had had parents. Maybe, just maybe, you got it right! Kushina's eyelids became like marble as she smiled, slowly sinking the way they had the night Minato had freed her from her bindings. She could almost see that handsome, earnest boy telling her that he was here to save her.

Minato entered the front door expecting a wild parade greeting despite the fact that Tsunade had called the office demanding that Naruto do no strenuous activities of any kind at least until his one-week follow up. After a nerve-wracking several days of rescues followed by medical emergencies, everyone was out of the hospital, and they all could take a major sigh of relief. Looks like they already are.

Kushina laid sprawled out on the couch in the living room, Naruto under her right arm and Hinata under her left. A thin bead of drool traced down from Kushina's lips to her chin, and her red hair was unruly and askew. Minato reached into his pocket, pulling out the thin ribbon Kushina had tied a strand of hair with the day he left for Mount Myoboku.

The original strand of hair had long since decayed after many years, but the thin band of material took him back to the night her glorious red hair had sealed his fate. The glorious red strand had led him to his princess, and there was no one else, could never be anyone else. Minato gingerly wiped away the strand of saliva and guided her chin upright. Kushina's dreamy eyes opened, "Minato… I'm… home…" she struggled to speak against the weight of sleep.

"Welcome home, love!" Minato planted his lips to hers. Despite being passionate, he was careful not to wake the kids as he spoke in a hushed whisper, "Welcome home!"

The end

Author's notes: Hello everyone and thank you again for reading. I hope you enjoyed my version of how Kushina and Minato fell in love. The next untold tale with be A Hokage's Suffering: Lord Third's Tale. I'll probably start posting around Thanksgiving. I'm trying to finish Love By a New Moon first if possible, and I'm devoting most of my energy to Critical Moments Volume 3.

If you are reading at time of publication, I have a favor to ask. There is a poll regarding the format of these untold tales (as separate stories or as one big collection). on my profile. Please vote; it is a great source of feedback so that I can craft you a better story. See you next story!