Chapter 1

A red-haired woman stood in front of a kitchen counter. She was fair-skinned, slender and her eyes were violet. Her hair was braided and reached her thighs with shoulder-length strands that framed both sides of her face and a black clip that parts her hair to the left.

She was wearing a high-collared, sleeveless blouse under a long, loose-fitting dress with a wristband on her left wrist and standard shinobi sandals. Despite her loose clothes, you could see the baby bump that formed in her abdomen

The woman was preparing dinner.

"You see this, my little angel?" The woman spoke, her eyes looking lovingly on her abdomen. "You're going to eat mommy's cooking again."

She was chopping some vegetables. As she did so, she was humming together with the music that was playing from the TV in their living room.

It was a quiet day, like usual. Nothing new happened. She was having cravings here and there, but it was nothing her husband couldn't handle.

Right now, he heard the front door open. Her husband was probably home now. Right on time. "Minato, is that you?"

No answer. That was odd. Usually, he would call out to her when he arrived home. Well, there was that little scuffle in the morning when she gave him the cold shoulder, but he still kissed her goodbye before he left so he wasn't mad at him or anything.

Seeing that nobody was answering her, she decided to investigate. Stopping what she was doing, she washed her hands on the sink and left her station for the living room to go check.

Once she got there, silence greeted her. Nobody was there, and everything was where she left it.

"Must have been the wind," She shrugged.

Walking back to the kitchen, she chuckled to a joke from a movie that continued to play on the telly. She even stopped to watch for a bit.

As she re-entered the kitchen again, she didn't expect what happened next.

"Oh-" A pair of hands covered her eyes, startling her. "Minato? Is that you?"

"I don't know. You tell me," The man covering her eyes, who was now named Minato, answered and released her.

The woman smiled and turned to look at her husband. He was taller than her. He had blue eyes and spiky, blond hair with bangs that frame both sides of his face reaching his jaw.

He was wearing a white hoodie with green trimmings. His pants were brown slacks that was paired with his uniform hidden under the hoodie.

"Minato...you scared me there." The red-head shoved him playfully. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Sorry about that, Kushina. I just wanted to surprise you," The blonde scratched the back of his head. He brought out a bouquet of flowers he had been hiding behind his back. "Happy Anniversary!"

The woman, who the man called Kushina, gasped. "You remembered! But I thought you forgot about it."

"I was messing with you," Minato said.

Kushina took the flowers and took a whiff of the fragrance. "They smell divine. Thank you so much."

She moved on to capture the blonde's lips in a deep kiss. They continued on for a while that when they broke the kiss, they were both breathless.

"That's not all," Minato said. "I brought cake and ice cream!"

"Really?" Kushina jumped up in glee. "Are you serious? What flavor did you get?"

"Your favorite," Minato said, giving her a smug look.

"You got chocolate and cheese?" Kushina was now sounding like a little girl.

"You bet!" Minato gave her a thumbs up and a huge grin, but in his mind he was saying, 'Phew, that was close. Good thing I guessed right.'

Kushina looked down at her womb. "You hear that dear? Dad got us our favorite!"

"I have a feeling you're going to grow up to be a spoiled little boy," Minato knelt down and kissed the redhead's belly.

He then stood up and looked at the kitchen counter. "So, what are we having tonight?"

"Since we're staying home tonight, I made some of our favorites," Kushina said.

"You mean?" Minato's eyes lit up.

Kushina nodded.

The man jumped for joy. "Is it ready? Is it ready?"

"Not quite yet," She shook her head, earning the opposite response. "But don't just stand there, go wash your hands and help me cook."

"Yes, ma'am,"

A few minutes later, they were done preparing the food. It was sublime. The food was mouth-watering. I have to say, the two of them had outdone themselves this time.

"This looks awesome!" Minato said as the table was set with their food. "I will never get tired of your cooking."

"Really?" Kushina's eyes twinkled. "For the rest of your life?"

"Of course!" Minato said. "What are we waiting for then? Let's eat!"

"I have to say, I'm getting hungry," Kushina said.

They ate in silence, but the blonde couldn't keep his eyes on his wife. The red-head was staring at her ramen toppings.

"Say, we haven't thought of a name for our child yet," Kushina brought up the topic.

"Oh yeah," Minato said. "Why? Have you thought of something?"

"Don't laugh okay?" Kushina said. "But I was thinking, we could name him Naruto."

Minato smiled. "I would like that, but wouldn't he be teased if he was named after a fishcake?"

"That's just not what it means," Kushina pouted. "I knew it! Even you would make fun of it!"

Minato held his hands up to appease her wife. "Woah, woah, I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I was just thinking about how the other kids would make fun of him."

"But, remember, that's not all that it means, y'know!" Kushina said. "It also means maelstrom."

"A whirlpool?" Minato thought aloud. "A storm that would not yield no matter what happens. I like it!"

"It's settled then!" Kushina clasped her hands together. "We'll call him Naruto, our little maelstrom."

(LINE BREAK)

ON THE DAY OF THE EXPECTED DUE DATE

"Yes sir, I understand. I will be there first thing tomorrow." Minato said. That was the last thing said in the call before the line disconnected.

"What was that?" Kushina asked, seeing the distressed look on her husband's face.

"They're cutting our vacation short," Minato said sadly. "Tensions in the Middle East are starting to heat up again, so they're pushing our deployment earlier."

"Well, there's nothing we can do," The redhead tried for a smile. "All we can do is enjoy each other's company until the morning."

And so, they did.

They lay in bed in each other's arms. They had a bad feeling that they wouldn't be able to see each other for a long, long time.

In each other's presence, they didn't even notice until the next morning when the sunlight flooded the room.

"Are you sure you're going to be okay?" Kushina asked her husband after he was finished getting ready.

"Don't worry too much," Minato quelled his wife's worries. "I always come back, don't I? My only worry is that I wouldn't be able to see the birth of our child."

"You better say goodbye to little Naruto then," Kushina said, presenting the now bigger belly to her husband.

Minato got on a knee so that he was eye level with Kushina's womb. "I'm sorry you won't get to see me when you get out, but you should know that daddy will miss you.

He stood up again.

"Well, I better get going," He said, taking one final look at the love of his life.

"And I better get packing for the hospital," Kushina said. "Be careful…"

"Please, if anything, they should be careful of me," Minato retorted, trying to keep the mood light.

"Then, you better come home!" Kushina said in mock anger.

"Of course, of course."

And so, with one final passionate kiss, their farewells were sealed.

Kushina watched as her husband rode the jeep that was sent by base camp.

As if on cue, just as the jeep pulled out of their curb, the contractions came. It started with cramps she was feeling on her lower back. She didn't think much of it because she had been feeling it for the past days, but now it was official. She felt the muscles in her womb churning, causing pain in her abdominal area, followed by a liquid dripping on her leg.

Well, it was time. Her water broke.

She tried to scream, but her knees gave in and she fell to her butt causing her to gasp instead. She tried to get back up, but her muscles were too weak for her to stand up.

WIthout, anyone to help her, she did the only thing she could do. She screamed for help.

(LINE BREAK)

AT THE HOSPITAL

Kushina's eyes fluttered open. She was lying in a room that she didn't recognize. Though, everything was still blurry.

She closed her eyes again to clear up her vision, and she began to realize that she was in the hospital.

"Oh my gosh, you're awake!" A female voice beside her gasped.

Kushina turned and saw a fair-skinned woman with long, straight black hair with bangs hanging on either side of her face roughly framing her cheeks, and black eyes. She was wearing a simple dark purple blouse with a red-plum skirt and a light-yellow apron normally worn over it.

It was their neighbor, Mikoto Uchiha.

"M-mikoto, I'm so glad to see you," The redhead managed a greeting to her neighbor. "I'm glad to see you. What happened?"

"Oh Kushina, right after your husband left, you had gone into labor and your water broke," Mikoto explained.

"D-did Naruto come out already?" Kushina asked.

"Unfortunately, no," Mikoto shook her head. "The doctors said that your cervix hasn't dilated enough yet."

"Ohh…" Kushina said. She was partly bummed out that she still had to suffer through the contractions, but she was also partly relieved that she would be awake to hear Naruto's first cries.

Before she could say anything else, a piercing pain shot to her chest that radiated towards her back. Her face scrunched up in pain.

"Oh, oh, oh," Mikoto said in worry. "Here, here, the doctors said to take this once you woke up."

Kushina popped the pill into her mouth and swallowed it with a glass of water. "Th-thank you for taking care of me," She thanked her neighbor.

"Think nothing of it," Mikoto smiled. "You did the same to me when I was pregnant with Sasuke."

Kushina returned the smile, but it was replaced by a look of concern, "If you're here, then who's taking care of Sasuke."

"Don't worry, I called the babysitter. She said that she would handle anything," Mikoto waved her off.

"Oh, I'm sorry to have bothered you," Kushina said in shame.

"No, no, think nothing of it," Mikoto shook her head. "You should just get some rest so you would have energy when Naruto's ready to come out."

"A-alright…" Kushina's eyes slowly closed as she passed out.

*BEEP BEEP BEEP*

The device beside the computer began ringing and it did not sound any good.

"Doctor! Nurse!" Mikoto panicked. "Help!"

(LINE BREAK)

SOMEWHERE, IN AN UNKNOWN BATTLEFIELD

"Alright, everybody be careful," Minato ordered his team who was following closely behind him. "We don't know if there are any traps in this area or how many enemies we are going to encounter here."

His team silently nodded.

"Sir, I have a bad feeling about this," One of his subordinates said. He was a spiky silver-haired man with dark grey eyes. He usually had a lazy expression on his face, but in certain situations, like this mission right here, he had his game face on.

"You and me both, Kakashi," the blonde captain nodded. "But, the intel our higher-ups gave us suggests that there is a high enemy activity in this area. We have no choice but to investigate."

"Uhh, sir…" A voice chartered from his radio.

"What is it, Eagle?" Minato pressed the button and answered the call.

"You remember how we were joking that the intel was bullshit?" The man named Eagle answered from the radio.

"Spit it out, Eagle," The captain said impatiently. "What's the situation?"

"Well, you were right, sir. You are surrounded. The intel was a trap."

Minato didn't have time to answer back as the sounds of guns clicking were heard all around them.

"Everyone! We'll smash through this side!" Minato said, pointing to one side of the seemingly abandoned building.

"Yes sir!" His team yelled in the affirmative at their captain's orders.

It was a bloody fight. Fortunately, there were no casualties on their side, but it was clear they were outnumbered. They were already out of the building, but there were more enemies chasing them.

"At this rate, we'll be overrun," Another guy from Minato's small platoon said. He had black eyes and short, spiky, black hair.

"Don't lose hope, Obito," Minato said as he threw a flashbang to blind their attackers. "We'll get out of here."

"But sir, we're out of ammo, and the jeeps are all the way on the other side," Obito reasoned.

"We are in a pickle, aren't we?" Minato chuckled despite the situation. "Any ideas?"

"Well, I have one but it's a suicide mission," One of the few ladies in the platoon spoke up. She had straight brown hair, which was cut in a chin-length bob that framed her face, and brown eyes.

"Let's hear it, Rin," Minato said.

"One or two of us could draw enemy fire while the rest of us would take the long way and sneak around them," The now named Rin suggested.

"That could work, but there's one burning question…" Minato's voice sounded solemn.

One man raised his hand. He had a fiery and determined look in his eyes. "I'll do it, taichou!" He said without hesitation.

Minato figured he would be the one to volunteer himself. He was always the one who wanted to prove himself especially in front of his peers, especially in front of Rin.

"Are you sure Obito?" Minato raised an eyebrow. "You're still young. You have a whole life ahead of you."

"I'm sure," Obito said. "Besides, they won't be able to get to me."

"Like the time you said 'You got this', but almost got blown up by a trap during training?" Kakashi teased.

"Or that time, you said you can take on Gai in a fight," One of the soldiers with a toothpick in his mouth added.

"No, no, no," Obito snapped as quietly as he could. "I ought to-"

"That's enough you three," Minato scolded. "It's an obvious choice. I'll draw them away from you guys."

"But, taichou!" Rin protested. "You have a family waiting for you at home and a son that's about to be born!" She said remembering the picture taken from an Ultrasound Machine that her captain was looking at on the plane here.

"It's a tough choice I know," Minato said. "But as I told Obito, you have your lives ahead of you. That's why it has to be me."

He looked over at his team. They still weren't convinced.

"Don't worry," he said, standing up in a nice guy pose. "I'll be right behind you."

A bunch of men shouted in a language that none of them understood as soon as his head poked out of their hiding spot. A few of them started shooting, but they were unable to hit their targets.

"Now, go!" The captain dashed off away into more rubble drawing most of their enemies away from the rest of his team.

(LINE BREAK)

KONOHA ACADEMY
YEARS LATER

"Tsk," A blonde-haired boy exited his classroom with a gloomy look on his face.

It was lively around him, but to him, they were just nuisances. On one side of the room, a bunch of the girls gathered around to gawk at one of their classmates, the heartthrob of the room. Oh, he hated that so much. What was so special about him that he didn't have? Why does have all the attention? Even his crush was part of the group he dubbed "fangirls." That was what infuriated him.

On another side of the room, one of his less annoying classmates was snoozing, even at the end of the class and another was munching on a bag of chips. The class president was in front of the class trying to get some announcements to the rest of the class, and his most hyperactive classmate, a weird guy with a bowl cut, dashed out of the room, shouting about youth or something.

That announcement could have been important, but he didn't care. He was dead inside. He didn't care anymore. The guidance counselors of his school always told him that he was a bright student, and he could easily reach the top of the class if he wanted to. Though, he couldn't care less. There was no one in his life to show off to or anyone to share his successes with, so he didn't bother.

Not wanting any part of the chaos around him, he left the room.

He left the school and walked around town.

Nothing was out of the ordinary. The shopkeepers shouted at him trying to get him to buy their goods. He just ignored them as usual, but at one shop, something piqued his interest.

There was this weird girl waving her hands in front of one of the shopkeeper's faces. The boy had to admit the girl was attractive, easily rivaling his crush at school, maybe even more. This girl had waist-length black hair that had bangs hanging on the left side with a bunny-shaped barrette in the back, blue-purple eyes, and a slender, well-defined body.

Normal, right?

Wrong.

The odd thing was that she was wearing a sexy bunny costume. It was paired with bright black high heels and wrapped her long slender legs in translucent black tights. Similar to a black leotard, the outfit highlighted the lines of her body, while the chest made a firm, modest valley. White cuffs accented her wrists and her neck was adorned by a black bowtie.

The blonde had to resist a nosebleed, but something bothered him. Somewhere in the back of his mind, something was tugging at him, telling him that this girl was familiar somehow, but he couldn't quite place it where he had seen her.

He stopped in front of the bakery, and the shopkeeper greeted him. The girl gave him an incredulous look.

"Two Bean Buns, please," The boy said.

"Coming right up," The shopkeeper gladly obliged.

The weird girl in a bunny costume stared at her with an incredulous look. Naruto just turned to her and offered her the bean bun, the dead look in his eyes not relenting in the slightest. He, then, began to leave and wander aimlessly.

"Wait!" The girl screamed when the blonde didn't even acknowledge her. "How did you-"

"You were staring at it the whole time," he said with his back still turned to the girl.

"But how will I-"

"Don't worry about it," Naruto waved his hand at the girl. "Well then, I'll be off."

"I didn't get you-"

She didn't get to finish her sentence as she was interrupted by a loud growl coming from her stomach. "Oh what the hell…"

So she scarfed down the bun to sate her hunger without any care for her manners anymore. Nobody can see her anyway. When she finished her food, she threw the wrapper in a nearby bin and chased after the good samaritan who helped her.

It didn't take long to find the blonde. It wasn't too hard to look for an unmistakable mop of blonde hair in the crowd of people. As before, he was walking aimlessly through the crowd like he didn't have a destination in mind.

At the end of the sea of people, she finally saw a path devoid of the obstacles. She picked up the pace and sprinted towards the front of the blonde.

"Oh, it's you again," he said.

Don't give me that!" The girl in a bunny suit huffed from the exertion. "I was trying to say...I didn't get your name."

The blonde was taken aback. This was the first time someone had talked to him this long. All his classmates would just ignore him and talk about him behind his back.

He rubbed the back of his head, the way he always did when he was embarrassed. "Sorry about that. Not many people would talk to me."

"So who are you?" The girl in the bunny suit asked.

"My name's Naruto," The blonde introduced himself.

The girl giggled. "That's a funny name."

The now named Naruto steamed at her reaction. "What's so funny?!"

"Nothing, nothing," she giggled once more. "Your parents must love ramen."

Naruto reverted back to his dead-set eyes. "I-I don't have any parents."

"I-I'm sorry," The girl promptly apologized, knowing she touched a sore subject. "Anyway, I'm Mai."

Naruto just nodded and started walking again.

"Wait, wait, wait," Mai waved her hands in front of the boy again, not wanting to get left alone. "If you don't mind me asking, where are you going?"

"Nowhere," Naruto shrugged. "It doesn't matter."

"Aren't you going home to do your homework?" Mai asked.

Naruto shook his head. "Why should I?"

"W-well…" Mai struggled to find a response. "D-don't you have anyone waiting for you at home?"

The blonde shook his head again.

Desperate to change the subject, Mai spoke again. "D-do you want to help me today?"

"What can I possibly do to help you?" Naruto asked holding his tone.

"Well, as you can see, nobody is able to see me, except you," The girl said. "I was hoping if you would help me look for other people who can…"

In that moment, something mischievous clicked in Naruto's mind. This was one opportunity that he was waiting for. For a long time, he had been planning for something like this to happen, and now, this was his chance.

He turned to the girl with a smile filled with mischief, "I have an idea…"

(LINE BREAK)