I~~~~I
Black bangs felt over dulled blue eyes, a soft gasp leaving thin lips as the greater half of the man's chakra poured into the seal transcribed on the baby in the man's arms.
Iraku bit back a groan, panting heavily as he released the child in his grasp, his veins burning over the chakra having been pushed into his coils.
Glancing down, Iraku smiled one last time at the little girl he had grasped tightly, shaking his head as he looked skyward. Minato, his rather eccentric and caring friend, stood above Gamabuta the Head Toad, facing the spot the Kyuubi had been moments before.
"Hundred Seals Style…Is seriously taxing." Iraku murmured, glancing back at the child he had just condemned. His eyes shut tiredly, but he willed them open despite the fading beat of his heart. He wasn't done, and Minato still had to collect Naruto. Still, pain surfaced, Iraku's vision blurring as he coughed. Something wet coated his hand as he covered his mouth, his body swaying.
Iraku chuckled heavily, looking skyward. He supposed that using the Zero Seals, Soul Seal on Kushina to give her half his life force didn't exactly work well with the whole Hundred Seals Tormented Hand Seal. His eyes glazed as he looked to Naruto one last time, reaching even as he felt burning chakra rise around his body. Violet chakra turned to claws, the five fingers grasping at his body, burning through his clothes.
"M-Michiko…I-I'm so sorry I didn't g-get to see…S-Sashi grown up."
Iraku whispered as his eyes slipped shut, the violet chakra swallowing him in its embrace, dragging him down into the ground, leaving nothing behind.
I~~~~I
Minato could feel Iraku's chakra dwindle, his eyes shutting as the Kyuubi's presence vanished. Violet light broke over the forest, signaling that Iraku's jutsu had worked. Still, Minato knew the cost his friend had paid, it showed in the way that the seal Minato knew was on Iraku's body simply vanished from his mind, no trace of it left. Bodies still carried the mark, and yet that same mark had been erased from existence. The only way such a thing could have happened would have been Iraku's entire being burning from the inside out, leaving nothing behind.
Minato opened his eyes, turning upon Gamabuta in order to go fetch his daughter and see his wife once more, to deliver the news to Michiko and her kids.
The Yondaime froze, his eyes flashing with the image of Iraku's newest child, the giggling little girl with bright blue eyes and dark cyan hair. Sashiko would never get to know her father, would never have that joy.
A heart clenching gasp slipped over Minato's lips, his vision suddenly darkening.
Inwardly he cursed, thinking back to the odd man who had started the whole thing, the one wearing an orange swirling mask. Thoughts drifted to the weird black and white plant thing that had attacked him and Iraku, allowing the instigator to leave.
'Poison…H-He must have used poison.'
"Minato-Boy, I can't stay any longer!"
Gamabuta shouted toward the faltering Hokage, his eyes shutting just as the toad vanished in a puff of smoke.
Forward, Minato fell, his body racing toward the ground as the wind whistled in his ears. His last thought surfaced like a curse, and yet it was only a simple name.
'N-Naruto…'
I~~~~I
Michiko clutched onto Kushina's hand as the woman began to cry.
Tears slipped over Michiko's eyes as she watched Gamabuta vanish, Minato's body falling fast toward the ground. Iraku's chakra had long since disappeared, striking a cord inside of the normally strong woman as she felt a hole form where her heart was.
Like a string that had been cut, the bond Michiko formed with Iraku was severed. Emptiness crept upon them both, Michiko's body pushing itself even through her grief. Kushina turned to her, her violet eyes wide and scared, such emotions looking foreign on the Kunoichi's features.
"M-Michi!"
Kushina pleaded with the woman, causing her to gently encase Kushina's hand with her other one, her brown eyes darkening as she stared into the violet orbs of her adopted sister. "I will be back. Stay here and wait, alright?"
Michiko stood, letting go of Kushina as she turned around sharply.
Standing in the doorway to the living room, leading out to the nursery where Sashiko, Miko, and Mila rested, was Michiko's eldest son, Ichihara.
The Chunin gazed at his mother with lost eyes, before he clenched them shut and nodded at her with a tightly closed jaw.
"G-Go…"
Michiko faltered at the broken tone her son held, before her mind was made up by Kushina's soft cry, her body twisting while her hand took hold of the sword laid out on the table beside Minato's Reaper Death Seal.
I~~~~I
Michiko rushed out into the forest, pushing the chakra in her limbs to go faster.
As she ran she felt other signatures close in on the area she was rushing to, her heart beating franticly.
Hazel eyes darted around the landscape, searching for any speck of blonde or white, for any sign of child or Kage.
Iraku was gone, no doubt about that. Michiko had always been attached to him, and once she saw the seals on her ring fade away, she knew that not even the man's body remained. The seal was two ways, each one having a receiving one on their rings, and a broadcasting one on their hearts. The seal was like Minato's Hirashin, and only vanished if the body was completely destroyed.
"Over here!"
A call echoed, Michiko's body shooting right over a tree limb, snapping another in half as she pushed against it. Lightning chakra danced over her feet, a trick taught to her by Iraku, her body flashing into a destroyed area of the forest moments later.
A familiar Jonin was crouched beside a blonde haired male, the sight clenching at Michiko's heart even as she drew herself to a stop on the other side of the downed man.
The Jonin was a brown haired child with hazel eyes, a black bandana forehead protector, and lightly tanned skin.
"G-Genma, is he alright?"
Michiko spoke up, drawing out more chakra from within herself to heal any injuries inflicted to the male below her.
Genma bit down on his lip, flaring his chakra for more help as he checked Minato's pulse.
"He's alive."
Relief flooded through Michiko's veins, even as her hands hovered over the man's chest, checking for injuries while also healing any she found.
Michiko forced her body to be still, trying not to let her emotions get the better of her as she focused on Minato.
Thoughts drifted toward the other blonde she was supposed to look for, and the brunette spoke to the rather calm, but still freaked out, Jonin.
"Find his daughter, she was due East that last time I felt Iraku…I-I can't sense him anymore so that's as best as I can give you."
Genma looked to Michiko, flinching when she mentioned Iraku's situation. The Jonin rose to a standing position, however, nodding sharply to her.
"I'll go right away."
The young nin launched away, leaving an imprint in the dirt as he raced toward Iraku's last know position.
All the while, Michiko continued to heal the fractured ribs her friend possessed, her teeth worrying her lip as she tried not to shake.
All of this was because of that stupid man, that foolish Uchiha who had attacked Kushina and ripped the Kyuubi from his seal.
If Michiko ever got a hold of that imbecilic selfish bastard, she would tear him limb from limb and show him exactly why she had gotten the Flee on Sight order just like Minato and Kushina had.
Iraku was famed as the sadistic one of their little duo alongside Kushina, but no one had ever had to deal with a vengeful Oreshizoku with Hyuuga and Uzumaki blood running through her veins. Michiko would stop at nothing to destroy anyone who harmed her family, and those men in black cloaks with red clouds had painted rather large targets on their backs.
I~~~~I
Hours passed before the Jonin returned with a passed out Michiko and an unconscious Minato in tow. Kushina was up and holding a muted Ichihara as they waited to hear the news. Genma still had not returned, Raidou leaving to aid him and the rest of the ANBU in their job of finding Naruto while Iwashi, Sarutobi, and the now present Jiraya all waited with Kushina.
Minato had been stabilized, even if such a thing took all of Michiko's strength and left her with chakra exhaustion.
Kushina took watch over her husband and friend, Iraku holding onto the sniffling body of his youngest sibling, Sashiko, while Jiraya cared for the crying twins curled against his sides.
Iwashi stood guard beside Sarutobi, his teeth clenched as he gazed at Minato's prone form.
All of them just wanted the night to be over, for their families to come back.
Sarutobi Hiruzen looked toward the sky, silently praying that Genma, Raidou, or any of the other shinobi looking would find Naruto. There needed to be no more losses on this day, no more.
I~~~~I
The Kyuubi attack had left many families without loved ones, Uchiha Iraku and Namikaze-Uzumaki Naruto at the top of the list.
Naruto was never found, the altar she was sealed on and Iraku's headband being the only things left at the scene.
Kushina and Michiko remained in mourning, the two only leaving their houses to attend the mass funeral. Minato had woken two days after the incident, promptly handing over his Hokage Duties temporarily to the next capable person, Orochimaru of the Sannin.
Orochimaru was shocked at the sudden change, even if it was only until Minato and his family finish grieving, but accepted it none the less after encouragement from Michiko.
Jiraya took to taking care of Ichihara and his siblings alongside the rest of the Hokage Guard Platoon, allowing the others to mourn for as much time as they needed.
Kakashi, the last living student of Minato, aided Jiraya in helping take care of the children alongside Shisui and Itachi.
The week was filled with rain, the skies opening up to cry on the people of Konoha.
I~~~~I
Brown hair curled over small slightly pointed ears. Honey orbs cast looks over the assembled children standing before the brunette, a soft sigh leaving her lips.
"Ichihara-Kun, what did I tell you about playing pranks on Minato?"
Uchiha Ichihara shifted on one foot, glancing toward his other cohorts. His straight black hair brushed the tips of his ears, his blue gaze pleading with his friends.
Uchiha Shisui, a shaggy black haired male with onyx eyes, simply grinned sheepishly while tugging Ichihara and the other cohort to his sides.
Lastly was Uchiha Itachi, his long, straight, black hair cascading over his shoulders, pulled back into a low tail that went just below his shoulder blades. His onyx eyes met Ichihara's own blue, all three males shifting uneasily on their feet.
Black shirts sporting the Uchiha crest rested on each one, white shorts covering Itachi's legs, black leggings covering Ichihara's, while Shisui wore brown shorts. All three sported black headbands tied around their foreheads, as well as three necklaces with tomo charms and black ninja sandals.
"S-Sorry Aunt Michiko…W-We hadn't meant to catch Minato-San in the attack. Ihara-Kun said that it wouldn't be that explosive…but we must have miscalculated."
Shisui tried to explain to the rather irritated brunette tapping her foot in front of them all.
From behind Michiko, a gentle laugh rang out.
"Come on Michi-Chan, don't be so hard on them. They managed to get Jiraya and Danzo in that one, which is pretty good."
The melodious voice was revealed to belong to a long red headed female when said woman came around Michiko's side, carrying a sleeping infant in her arms.
The infant had dark red hair, so dark it was almost black in color.
Itachi froze as he spotted the child, Ihara darting over immediately to reach for the boy.
"Is that Menma-Kun?"
Shisui whispered in awe at Kushina, Itachi following Ihara like a robot as Kushina giggled and allowed the boys to play with the baby's limbs.
"Yup…he's getting so big."
Michiko's lips softened into a gentle smile as she gazed at her friend, taking in the sight of the Uzumaki finally being a mother.
A year and a half had passed since that fateful night, the one that took Michiko's first love and Kushina's first child from them.
Things had regressed mostly to normal, Uchiha Fugaku cutting in at times to help out Michiko along with Mitoko, his wife, lending a hand.
Ichihara, Itachi, and Shisui had all been assigned to the same Jonin Team, which meant they often carried out missions together.
To the village and outside world they were known as the Sharingan Trio, each feared in their own right. Itachi was the weapon's specialist, mostly with long range attacks or Genjutsu incorporated into it. Shisui was the upfront attacker, using Kenjutsu and his famed Shuinshin prowess to take down multiple enemies in seconds. Ichihara was more of the backstage part, using Lightning style integrated into his kenjutsu in order to land fatal blows, his prowess in medical ninjutsu aiding in his rather quiet methods. Ichihara was also the Torture expert, the student of Mitarashi Anko, Orochimaru's apprentice.
"I-Ihra!"
A call echoed from the hall, Ihara tilting to the side to see the adorable little girl running toward him with outstretched arms.
The little girl had dark cyan hair brushing her shoulders in messy spikes, her midnight blue eyes alight with happiness as she giggled and dashed to her older brother.
Ihara's eyes lit up at the sight of the toddler, his feet pushing himself forward in time to catch the girl as she stumbled forward.
Sashiko grinned at her brother and giggled happily, wrapping her arms around his neck as she kissed his cheek sloppily.
Happiness curled in Michiko's gut while she watched two other children rush out of the hall, calling the cheeky child in her eldest brother's arms.
Peace, it was a feeling one had to work toward after heart break, but seeing her family finally happy again, Michiko had to say such things were worth the pain.
I~~~~I
Minato cradled his head in his hands, gazing at the man standing before him, telling him of the treasonous act one of his advisors had tried to instigate.
"Thank you for notifying me of this Orochimaru-Sama…I-I am glad you informed me."
Orochimaru of the Sannin, the viscous member of Team Sarutobi and the most known detester of Minato's hold over the Hokage seat, nodded at the Yondaime.
Ever since the Kyuubi attack that left Orochimaru in charge for the better half of the next year, the two had grown to tolerate one another's presence. Of course the hatred was more so on Orochimaru's part than Minato's, but with the blonde haired Hokage being there for Orochimaru's goddaughter Michiko, the Hebi Sannin found himself unable to hate the man nearly as much.
Michiko had always been important to Orochimaru, he mother, Hyuuga Orama, one of the few people who had cared for him after his parents had died. Hiruzen had selected him as his student by Orama's request after all, and even when Orochimaru met the supposedly dead woman years later on a trip to Uzushio alongside his Sensei, the woman had still treated him like family.
Orochimaru had met Michiko and her little sister Koran when he was a Chunin, and upon meeting them he was surprised for the little brunette to call his 'godfather'.
Once Michiko and Kushina had come back to Konoha after Orama's death and the downfall of the Uzumaki, Orochimaru took in the Oreshizoku and raised her as much as he could.
Now, the two meant a lot to each other and Iraku's death had almost destroyed one of the few precious people Orochimaru had left, were it not for Minato and Kushina stepping up and helping her through all of the grief.
That was the reason why when Danzo had offered him help in gaining the Hokage position, if only Orochimaru turned his experiments in a more sinister direction that would mean the death of a lot of children, he notified Minato.
No more children needed to die at his hand, no more sad looks or disgusted gazes needed to be aimed at him by others. Orochimaru would die if Michiko ever gazed at him had he accepted the offer, her eyes filled with loathing.
Minato took a deep breath, before calling out to his ANBU.
"Neko, call in all available teams. You will be placed under Orochimaru's command…Also get me Michiko, Kushina, and Mikoto. Tell them that they are being called into service once more."
I~~~~I
Ichihara gazed at the many children placed under watch by the ANBU Black Ops. Shisui and Itachi stood by his side, all three of them masked. Itachi wore his Itatsi [1] mask, Shisui wore his Karasu mask, and Ihara wore his Hyo mask.
Before them were the ROOT operatives rescued from Shimura Danzo's command when he was brought down by Namikaze Minato, the Yondaime.
Two of them were rather familiar to Ichihara, as he recognized one of them as Yakushi Kabuto, the boy Orochimaru had been perplexed about disappearing, and another was a boy no younger than four who refused to leave the side of another raven looking to be five, a silver haired boy sitting before them both protectively, looking about five or six.
It twisted Ichihara's insides to see such young children forced under Danzo's regimen, especially since the boy he recognized was Doten-Shi Ken, the son of one of his mother's friends who had died not long ago.
Danzo would pay for this, all of it.
I~~~~I
"Team Six under Yamato Tenzo, Oreshizoku Sashiko, Doten-Shi Ken, and Sai. Team Seven under Hatake Kakashi-"
Sashiko sighed, leaning against the body beside her.
Ken raised a brown at the rather withdrawn child, before shaking his head with a chuckle as Sai leaned on Sashiko's other shoulder.
His two friends were odd, what with Sashiko's blue hair, blue eyes, sickly pale skin, and her odd affectionate gestures, and Sai with his black hair, black eyes, similar pale skin, and witty sarcastic comments.
Both of them enjoyed odd books and teasing Ken in the most round-about manner possible, making them perfect in a team since Ken would banter right back.
Being placed under this Yamato was rather surprising though, as Ken had figured that the Hokage's right hand woman's child would get stuck with his student as a teacher. Still, the boy wasn't complaining. More time with Sashiko and the other members of the Oreshizoku clan was good enough for him.
Still, Ken made a mental note to watch out for Sashiko's 'little brother', Namikaze Menma, the son of the Yondaime.
Menma always ruined Ken's attempts to get Sashiko to finally go on a damn date, and it really pissed off the red head.
"Team Nine under Maito Gai, Rock Lee, Tenten, and Hyuuga Neji, Team Ten-"
I~~~~I
"Team Six passed their test."
"Team Seven failed and will be reporting back to the academy next week."
"Team Eight failed and will be removed from the Shinobi program."
"YOSH, my youthful students passed as well!"
I~~~~I
"Menma! Wake up!"
Blurry blue eyes opened up, a soft groan leaving pale lips as the dark haired child rose up from his bed.
Shaggy red hair covered his face as he gazed toward his mirror, turning toward the calendar beside it.
Blue eyes lit up brightly as a grin suddenly spread over Menma's lips.
"The Genin Exam is today!"
The boy hollered, rushing toward his closet in order to get ready.
Outside the thirteen year old's room, Kushina smiled from her position beside her son's door.
The Uzumaki lowered her arm and walked toward the kitchen, shaking her head as she heard her son stumble over something in his room.
No doubt the boy had stayed up all night the previous day working over that seal his father got him started on, fiddling with it in an effort to make it work.
A knock sounded from the front, bringing Kushina's attention to her door where she sensed a familiar signature.
A smile drifted over the red headed Kunoichi's lips as she walked forward, opening the door.
Outside stood the familiar fourteen year old girl she had taken to expecting on certain mornings, Oreshizoku Sashiko, her goddaughter.
"Come on in Sashi-Chan, he's just getting ready."
The cyannette nodded at Kushina, greeting her with a good morning as her two teammates filed in behind her. She wore a blue tank top under her black lined fishnet tee. Beige cargo pants covered her legs, a long blade slung over her should with a brown strap crossing her chest along with a belt wrapping around her waist that held tags, scrolls, and pouches for Kunai, Shuriken, and Senbon. She wore black ninja sandals and had her longish hair pulled back by her headband. A single black headband, her fathers, was wrapped around her arm.
Sai came next, dressing in a black shirt that exposed his stomach and short shorts that barely covered his knees, a Tanto strapped to his back. He wore black ninja sandals and had a black Konoha headband placed on his forehead. Scrolls decorated his waist, along with kunai pouches.
Ken came last, his spiky red hair bound above his head while twisting black seals painted the side of his face, going down to his right arm and across his back. He wore a fishnet shirt line with black trim, a green vest covering the fishnet while black slacks covered his legs, black leg weights resting over his shins. Black gloves covered his hands, shining metal plates decorated with the Oreshizoku symbol adorning the front. Ken wore black shinobi sandals with the toes covered by black metal plates.
All three remained at the entrance so they didn't have to remove their shoes, Sashiko leaning on the little shoe box let at the front, gazing at the different symbols engraved into each cubby. Menma's had a fishcake on the front, Minato's had a Thunder God Kunai, Kushina's had a red pepper, Ihara's had a lightning bolt, Jiraya's had a novel, Sashiko's own had a katana, Ken's rested beside her with a kunai on the front, while Sai's had a smiling face.
"Sashiko-Nee!"
A voice shouted from further inside the house, Sashiko turning in time to catch Menma as the boy launched at her.
Laughter spilled from Sashiko's lips as she greeted her little brother figure, not catching the jealous glare Ken shot Menma.
The Namikaze Heir snickered under his breath at Ken's look, placing a one up on his part against the damn Genin who constantly flirted with his Nee-Chan.
Menma hated Ken and he was glad Sashiko never seemed to accept the boy's proposals, instead sticking to being friends, training, or cloud watching with Shikamaru.
The Nara was someone Menma could stand Sashi being with, but not the two assholes- oh sorry Kaa-San, horrible boys, that were Sashi's teammates.
"Come one Menma, let's get you to the Academy so you can take that test and become a Genin."
Menma nodded, turning to wave at his mother.
The boy was shocked when he found the red haired woman standing behind him, holding a scroll and a bit of toast.
"Here's some breakfast first. Also the scroll has your lunch, and a bit more if you decided to share. I'll pick you up along with Ihara-Kun and Michiko, but your Tou-San could be a little late."
Menma smiled and took the items, reaching to hug his mother as he grinned at her.
"It's okay, he's the Hokage, so he has a lot to do."
Menma pulled away, promptly rushing out the door after stuffing the toast in his mouth.
Sashiko shook her head and followed the boy, casting a wave over her shoulder.
"Ja Ne Kushina-San."
Kushina blinked at the familiar phrase, shaking her head with a sigh as she thought of Kakashi corrupting Michiko's child.
As long as it stuck to phrases and not his habits than Kushina supposed she was okay with it. Though, the look on Jiraya or Orochimaru's face if Sashiko started reading Icha Icha would be priceless.
As tempting of a prank as the idea was, Kushina would hold off on it. Wait till Sashiko finally showed an interest in guys, after all.
I~~~~I
"Alright then Menma, please perform one basic Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, and one basic chakra technique."
Umino Iruka, the brunette teacher of the advanced Academy classes, ordered Menma to begin.
Over the years of Minato being the Hokage, the Academy had been refined. Now, the passing exam involved a written exam that dealt more with gathering information from older Genin than word of mouth, showing your own adaptability to Taijutsu and Bukijutsu, and being able to perform more than three basic Ninjutsu.
The students were required to learn chakra exercises, starting with sticking leaves, going all the way to the very start of walking on trees and sometimes water walking. Genjutsu was a bit optional since not many had the aptitude, but the basic release technique could also work for this. Next was ninjutsu, but all three E-Rank Ninjutsu plus a D-Rank would work, or two D-Rank, or one B-Rank. Another higher than one B-Rank was worth extra points. Elemental Ninjutsu was also worth extra, and any clan techniques were treated separately.
Menma himself already knew what to do, willing his chakra to the surface like his mother had taught him.
He chose Fire Style, adapting to it more so than any other element thanks to his natural affinity for it. Flashing through hand signs, he angled his body toward the target wall, blowing outward.
A large amount of fire poured from his mouth after he spoke.
"Fire Style, Fire Stream!"
The fire slammed into the wall, the rather well sealed room growing hot even as Menma released his B-Rank Jutsu. Next he raised his fingers, forming the seals for his mother's favorite Genjutsu.
"Five Seals Style, Broken Thought!"
The area shimmered around him, the jutsu one his Aunt Michiko had taught to Kushina back when they were Genin.
Menma released the jutsu, receiving a proud smile from Iruka that made him light up.
Next, Menma channeled chakra to his feet, walking over to the wall, climbing up it with ease.
Iruka nodded, jotting things down on his chart, before he then asked Menma for any other Jutsu.
"No, I already did seals and used Ihara-Ni's chakra manipulation with the Bukijutsu."
Iruka shook his head at the boy, speaking up. "Alright then, Menma, you pass. Here's your headband."
Iruka handed over the black band to Menma, the student grinning at his Sensei as he took it.
"Thank you for teaching me, Iruka-Sensei." Menma spoke up, bowing respectfully at his teacher. Iruka froze in shock, before he to bowed at his student.
"Thanks for being a good student, Menma."
I~~~~I
"-and I wish you well on your road to becoming Shinobi. Now then I will announce the teams."
Iruka shouted over the overjoyed children, casting a wink at the red haired boy seated beside a raven haired boy and a pink haired girl.
The Chunin called out name after name, Menma taking note of who exactly went where, before he caught his own team.
"Team Six is still in circulation. Team Seven under Jonin Hatake Kakashi-" Menma caught the flicker of irritation on Iruka's face, snickering inwardly since he knew that Kakashi had been dodging paperwork lately and Iruka was getting annoyed.
"-Namikaze Menma, Uchiha Sasuke, and Haruno Sakura." To Menma's right, a raven haired boy stirred, glancing toward his friend. Menma grinned, earning a smirk from the older boy. The boy wore a black high-collar shirt with the Uchiha crest imprinted on the back, black shorts going down to his knees while black ninja sandals covered his feet and black gloves covered his hands and kunai pouches rested at his right thigh and left hip. A Konoha forehead protector rested on his head, pushing back black bangs.
In front of both of them a pink haired girl shouted 'Yes!' over getting the two 'celebrities' of the class on her team. She had long hair and bright green eyes, her pale skin flawless. A red headband was wrapped around the back of her head, keeping her hair out of her face. Haruno Sakura wore a red dress and black sandals, a kunai pouch resting on her right hip.
Menma rubbed his ears at the screech the girl had given them, sighing heavily. His hair was cut right above his ears, sticking out everywhere like his fathers. He wore a green coat over a black shirt with the Uzumaki crest embroidered on the back of his jacket. He wore two diamond earrings, the diamonds cut into nine other diamonds that represented the Namikaze Clan. His pants were like Sashiko's, since he preferred the loose feel of cargo pants, however his were tucked into his black sandals. His forehead protector rested where it should, and around his neck rested a necklace with the Kanji for Maelstorm.
Menma had been given the necklace by his mother on his fifth birthday, the necklace originally supposed to be Naruto's, his older sister. With Naruto being gone, however, and Kushina being too sentimental to give it away or wear it herself, she gave it to her son.
Menma had worn the necklace proudly ever since, drawing comfort from the metal with his father's seal carved into the back.
"Team Eight under Yuhi Kurenai, Hyuuga Hinata, Inuzuka Kiba, and Aburame Shino. Team Nine is still in circulation. Team Ten under Sarutobi Asuma, Yamanaka Ino, Nara Shikamaru, and Akimichi Choji. Team Eleven-"
Menma looked at the others assigned their teams, grinning at Hinata when the Hyuuga looked to him. A blush spread over her cheeks, but she waved back.
It seemed this would be interesting after all.
I~~~~I
"I'm Hatake Kakashi. I'm older than all of you. I don't really have likes or dislikes. You aren't old enough to know my hobbies, and as for a dream for the future…never thought of it."
Menma's eyebrow twitched at Kakashi's introduction to the three of his Genin, a hiss leaving his mouth as he glared at the Jonin.
Kakashi looked at him with his blank gaze, only to receive an Uzumaki twinkle.
The Jonin froze upon seeing the prank worthy look Menma had shot him, the look one the Scarecrow had seen on Menma's mother's face many a time.
"His name is Hatake Kakashi, or otherwise known as Kakashi of the Sharingan. He is Twenty-Seven now, he likes dogs, me, my dad, irritating people, being late, eating eggplant, reading porn, and Ero-Sennin. He dislikes cats, pranks, boring speeches, being early, anyone who flirts with Sashiko-Nee, and being unable to read in peace. His hobbies are reading that stupid book of his, bugging Sashi-Nee, getting Ihara-Ni to prank people, and scaring the bast- sorry, baka, Doten-Shi. His dream is to protect the people he cares about."
Kakashi mutters, before he gave Menma his most irritating eye smile, following up Menma's speech.
"This Gaki's name is Namikaze-Uzumaki Menma, otherwise known as Konoha's Gakiest Gaki. He is Thirteen, the youngest in your class, and he likes ramen, his parents, has a damn older sibling complex with Sashi-Chan and Ichihara-Kun, he hates Doten-Shi Ken, not that I can blame him, and he loathes anyone who flirts with our Sashi-Chan. His dream is to become the most irritating brat he can be…oh wait sorry you already did that. He now wants to be a Seal Master and drive me to an early death."
Menma nodded at Kakashi, smirking as he applauded the man silently.
Sasuke grunted and then spoke up.
"Uchiha Sasuke, fourteen. I don't mind Menma, Itachi, my mother, tomatoes, or Sashiko-San and her family. I don't like fangirls, sweet things, and almost everything else. I train and help out Menma mostly, and my dream is to kick Itachi's ass."
Kakashi whistled at Sasuke's language, Menma cheering his friend on. Sakura shrunk upon hearing the language being used, before she too spoke up.
"I'm Haruno Sakura, and I'm fourteen. I like-"
Menma held up a hand to the girl's face, huffing in exasperation.
"We'll skip that part. I already know you mind-raped Sasuke and I, no need to speak it aloud."
Sakura froze, cheeks heating up as she turned away, Sasuke shivering.
Kakashi looked skyward, wondering why the hell his Sensei had given him Menma and Sasuke. The two were rather hard to handle, what with Menma's innocent natures right up until he was no longer around Sashiko, Kushina, or Minato. All three believed Menma was a damn saint, even after Ichihara had mentioned him cussing at a Jonin for manhandling a kid.
Perhaps Tenzo would trade Sashiko with Menma or Sakura…let the tree-hugger deal with the headache.
I~~~~I
Well what do you know. So in the summary I said Minato felt after Naruto had Kurama sealed inside of her. This then translates to what happened. Uchiha Iraku is one of my OC's, and yeah, I put the Oreshizoku Universe into this one. It was so hard to write this, up until I had that idea and suddenly the rain starts to fall, and if you've read my ANs on TLJ, you know that makes me write.
So here is the past few years, right up until the current point in the story. There won't be any more big time skips, and over time the timeline will get more cohesive as details from the past are revealed.
[1]- Itatsi- Scientific Version of Itachi, just so it's not too obvious since I use Japanese for the ANBU codenames.
