HOKAGE GUARD PLATOON

Note: Clarity.

Hi guys, I think it is time to tackle the timeline of this fic. I really did not spend that much brain cells in establishing the timeline, in this case, the accurate age of the characters. Shoutout to Ann-Line, who did me a favor in noting the ages of the characters. This chapter is specially made for you.

Safe House

Even though the boy offered to tell him more about his life story, Minato can see how the young man struggled to start. Naruto, his son, is looking out the veranda towards the others who are engrossed in their training. Or, between Kakashi and Obito is more like squabbling and that's nothing unusual.

Minato watches Naruto silently. Although Minato and his team has arrived in this future-Konoha a few days ago, he has never had this chance to be alone with Naruto. It came with the fact that everything he does and his team is under heavy surveillance. Even the boy Uchiha, Sasuke, has never left Naruto's side whenever Minato is around. Of course, this precaution is warranted.

There is no definite way for Minato to prove that they meant no harm. That their arrival to the future is nothing but an unexplainable instance wherein the moment they open their eyes, they're in a different place. But who would believe him? According to the little information, Lady Tsunade supplied, the village underwent huge destruction and joined a war far greater than Konoha's interest.

So, that is the more reason why all the shinobi can be cautious of anything that is out of the ordinary. And that would mean him and his team.

But what a twist. He didn't know that this unfortunate event would give him a chance to meet his son. As he said earlier, Naruto is exactly a mix of him and Kushina. He was not exaggerating when he said that. Naruto has his mother's face, that cheerful grin of his is definitely his mother's. Although Minato takes full credit for Naruto's color of his eyes, hair, and even his slightly tanned skin.

Minato also noted Naruto's markings on his face, it seemed to explain why Minato could sense Kyuubi's chakra on him. This boy before him is the new Kyuubi's jinchuuriki. And Minato doesn't know what to think about that. Because this only reminded Minato that Kushina and himself had died in this era.

From where he came from, Minato remembers having dinner with his Jiraiya-sensei, who just returned to Konoha after his usual adventure. Minato remembers how he shyly asked Jiraiya how to muster up his courage to finally propose to his long-time lover, Kushina. To which Jiraiya responded with a huge cackle, a harsh pat on the back and Minato found himself listening for the next three hours about Jiraiya's tales with the women. Not the kind of advice he needed, of course.

Just before he left for his mission with his team, Kushina made sure to send them off at the Konoha gates, but she mostly, of course, just dotes on Obito until they left. Minato promised himself that when he gets back, he will definitely ask Kushina to marry him.

But he did not return from that mission. And he knows that Kushina, in their own time, is still waiting for him. Seeing how this Naruto is proof that Kushina and him married and had him, looks like he mustered his courage in the end. Just not at the moment.

Come to think of it, here he is savoring the fact that he fathered this golden-haired boy but in his own time, he has not even married the mother yet. Just how far in the future are they?

Everyone has been cautious about revealing accurate information to him, even Kakashi glossed over their age difference when Minato tried to ask him. Kakashi evaded as expected of him. And Minato spent sleepless nights trying to figure out possibly about everything. Most especially, how Naruto ended up being orphaned.

All that Lady Tsunade told him is that there was an attempt on extracting Kyuubi out of Kushina during childbirth. While they were successful, Minato was told that the past him (in his case, is his future self), made sure that no one gets a hold of the Kyuubi and offered his life to seal the Kyuubi into his newborn son. Kushina died in the same manner, protecting their son.

It all felt surreal to him, of course. He couldn't tell whether what he did, in that story, was the right thing to do or not. He knows full well what life a jinchuriki has, having Kushina as an example, why would he put his very own son up to that misery especially when he will be living all his life alone without parents? That's just cruel.

But also having to hear that Naruto is proclaimed as the hero of Konoha while being a jinchuriki, and also tamed the Kyuubi, it looks like everything went well. And no matter what his future self had decided that fateful night was the right thing.

"Naruto," Minato started.

"Hm, dad?"

Minato couldn't help his face from getting flustered, he just couldn't get used to Naruto calling him father. And it seemed like Naruto responded to him by reflex as if he had that chance to call him 'dad' in the past. Minato wondered how but he chose not to. Instead, he asked him something else instead, "How old are you now?"

"I just turned twenty-one," Naruto chirped.

Minato's face turned even redder, his eyes widened, "You're even older than me. I mean, my current age. My age now from where I came from - ahh, this is hard to-"

Naruto laughs, "I know you're younger than me. You're only around nineteen or twenty, right?"

"Nineteen," Minato replied, trying to calm himself. "How did you figure out? Did Kakashi tell you?"

Naruto hummed as if he was considering what to say before he shrugs. "He didn't tell me, I figured it out. Kakashi-sensei was thirteen when I was born. You and Kakashi-sensei are ten years apart, that part he told me."

"So," Minato took in the information, calculating, "You're currently twenty-one. Kakashi is thirteen years older than you, so that makes him thirty-four right now. He is THIRTY-FOUR?" Minato exclaimed. His eyes widening again.

Naruto nodded, snorting at his father who is now an image of himself looking like somehow, an idiot. "Hm, Kakashi is thirty-four." He confirmed.

Minato breathes in again, trying to calm himself and also trying to not react to Naruto suddenly dropping honorifics when referring to Kakashi. Because that is a predicament for another day. "Well, it's safe to say that between here and my time, there is more than twenty-one years apart."

Naruto nodded, "Twenty-four years to be exact."

"Ah," Minato nodded, "So between the time where I came from, and the day you were born, spans to three to four years, huh?"

Naruto nodded again.

"Those four years are unknown to both of us," Minato commented.

Well, not exactly. Naruto wanted to say. He knows all the things that have happened during those four years. Because a lot has happened within those four years, and it decided the course of the Fourth Shinobi War. But his father didn't need to know that. At least not yet.

Nobody needs to know that one of his students orchestrated one of the most heinous crimes and waged war against all nations.

"Hey, Minato-sensei's son," Speaking of who, Obito popped his head out before he joined them on the veranda. "I heard you brought Bakashi to Ichiraku Ramen. So, when is my turn?"

"Obito," Minato chimed in, "You know very well we are not to venture out of this Safe House."

"But Bakashi did," Obito pointed out, "Rin and I have to go too."

Naruto wished he could just say yes to that easily because he realized how unfair that could have felt to Obito and Rin. He did not think much about how they would react. For them, going to Ichiraku Ramen is no big deal. How is he going to explain to them that their appearance can cause confusion towards the rest of Konoha?

"You see, Obito-"

But before Naruto could even finish his words, Obito disappeared from where he stood and was replaced by Sasuke, his rinnegan activated. It is a sign he used his Amenotejikara jutsu to replace Obito's place. From where Sasuke previously stood is Obito, who realized what just happened and started yelling at them, "Oi! Damn old Uchiha! Don't you try to use this trick on me! You still haven't told me how you turned your Sharingan that way!"

"Tch," Was Sasuke's reply. It could also mean towards those who know him best as, you embarrasses me, brat. And you're the only other Uchiha breathing right now. Should I just force you back to your own era? Or maybe, just kill you right here?

"Sasuke," Naruto sighs, "Really, don't use your Rinnegan so pointlessly like that."

"Pft, don't need to hear that from you." Sasuke retorted as he dramatically turned towards the kitchen. "I'm just thirsty and needed to get to the kitchen faster."

Naruto raised his brow at Sasuke, but he bit back his argument because he knew, of all people, that Sasuke just did him a favor there. Now, he didn't have to confront Obito about the complexity of the situation. Naruto and Sasuke may have had issues with each other in the past, but after their last battle in the Valley of the End, their thoughts became one and now they only looked forward to protecting each other. Awkwardly. That seemed to be something that they both need to work on.

"Rinnegan, huh?" Minato commented. To be honest, Minato had not seen a sharingan pattern like that. It is always the tomoe pattern, whether from first to third stage. There are other Uchihas who have attained Mangekyou Sharingan, which gave them much more distinctive pattern unique to them. Throughout the history, Uchiha Madara is known to have the Eternal Mangekyou that gave him immeasurable eye prowess. But Minato has not seen Rennigan in his life. Rinnegan is not only rare, but some believed they are just myths.

Naruto nodded, "Sasuke is the only one who has that eye in this era."

"Even among all Uchiha?" Minato asked.

Naruto nodded softly, trying to get past his emotion. His father, after all, would not know that the Uchiha fell more than a decade ago, and Sasuke is the only sole survivor.

"I see," Minato nodded to himself, "It looks like not all Sharingan users can attain Rinnegan stage."

"Yes," Naruto nodded, "Even Sasuke attained his rinnegan in a very special way." Through the Sage of Six Paths. He wanted to add, but saying this now to his father will make him sound like he is telling him some fairytales.

Minato sighs, "I did not know twenty-four years can feel this long just hearing all of these,"Minato smiled at Naruto, "But I can't help but wanting to hear more. Neh, Naruto, how did you tame the Kyuubi? It really gave your mother a hard time, you know." Minato asked with a pout on his lips but one can tell that Minato genuinely wanted to hear about it. He has that glint on his eyes, and it made Naruto want to tell him more about it.

Naruto started with a giggle, "Well, it started when I stole the Nidaime's Forbidden Scroll-"

"YOU STOLE THE LORD SECOND'S FORBIDDEN SCROLL?" Minato's eyes went wide. There is definitely a look of second-hand embarrassment on his face as he took in the information.

Naruto grinned, flustered, "Well, I didn't know it was forbidden." He shrugs, "Anyway, I learned the Kage Bunshin No Jutsu… and…"

Minato listened with a smile curving on his mouth as Naruto continued telling him about that night, and how he came around learning the Kage Bunshin and when the Kyuubi's chakra manifested to assist that technique.

"Then, Jiraiya-sensei taught me how to summon the toads."

"Jiraiya-sensei?" Minato gasped, and he could feel the pricking of tears forming on his eyes. Lady Tsunade mentioned to him that in this era, his sensei had already passed. But having to hear that before the sannin died, he had guided Minato's son the same way that he did to him. He spied the sadness crossing Naruto's face just the mention of Jiraiya's name. It is safe to say that Naruto treasured the toad sannin deeply. Clearing his throat, he tried to lighten the mood by asking instead, "So, were you successful in summoning the toads? You're lucky if Gamabunta-sama wasn't the one to show up. He has such a grumpy personality."

"Right….?" Naruto agreed, nodding eagerly.

"Don't tell me…"

"All he does is say, I'll shake you off my head, you brat." Naruto copied the great toad's voice the best he could, coupled with his narrowing eyes.

Minato laughs at this attempt, "Yeah, that sounded like Gamabunta-sama, alright." But he has to give it to Naruto. Not everyone can ride on top of his head as that toad hates taking orders from anyone, unless they're highly talented as a summoner. Even Minato, himself, is lucky to have that privilege.

"But it only went well because Kurama lent me his chakra. Otherwise, I would not be able to summon Chief Toad at that time."

"Hm?" Minato confusedly tilted his head. He knows that Naruto is referring to Gamabunta when he said Chief Toad but who is Kurama? "Kurama?"

"Kurama. Dad, did you not- oh." Naruto stopped, realizing that Minato and those before the Fourth Shinobi War would not know about Kyuubi's name. Naruto sighs, "Kurama is Kyuubi's given name."

Minato was struck speechless once again at the extent of Naruto's bond with the nine-tails. He is aware that Naruto has tamed the nine-tails but he didn't know just how much. And to think that Naruto addressed nine-tails like he is someone dear to him only showed just how deep their bond is. Minato could not help but feel the spread of pride all over his chest. He smiled at Naruto, "So, after you summoned Gamabunta-sama?"

"I summon Chief Toad again to battle Shukaku." Naruto replied.

Unlike Kyuubi's name, Shukaku is a name known to others as the one-tailed beast. So, Minato once again gasped, "You battled the one-tail?"

Naruto nodded, "Yes, but don't worry. I'm friends with the one-tail's jinchuuriki now. I mean, was the jinchuriki." He rephrased.

Minato's head hurts trying to follow. One, because how Naruto can be friends with a one-tail jinchuriki when the one-tail is known to be the beast the Sunagakure possesses. Two, Naruto said that the jinchuriki used to be a jinchuriki. How? Once a jinchuuriki becomes one, they die the moment the tailed beast gets extracted, unless you're an Uzumaki.

But throughout his confusion, he couldn't help but just listen. There is excitement in Naruto's voice when he speaks of his experiences and while this is equally entertaining to Minato, he also felt like he owed Naruto this moment -as the father who should be around to witness his child's accomplishment. And Naruto is a hell of a kid. Does he even deserve to be this man's father? Minato couldn't help but question this. He paled in comparison to Naruto.

Naruto woke up from his nap late in the afternoon after his long talk with his dad earlier that noon. He climbed downstairs to grab something to eat but he quickly noticed Obito and Young Kakashi by the hallway with their ears stuck to the door in one of the rooms, obviously eavesdropping.

Naruto didn't hesitate and walked up to them, "Oi, what are you two up to - oh, is that Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto cut himself off when he could distinctly hear Kakashi's low voice from the inside of the room.

"Great, you can hear them clearly. Can you tell us what they're talking about?" Obito turned to him.

Naruto confusedly looked at them, unsure what they meant. But thinking about it more carefully, Naruto is gifted with a lot of unnatural abilities. He may hear the conversation coming from the inside clearly but the others might only hear buzzing sounds. "Hmmm… What about no." He grinned at them, more so to tease the young Obito and the young Kakashi, who gave him that judgemental look coupled with a disappointed pout.

But before the two younger versions could argue, he gently pushed them away before he slipped into the door and closed it behind him. Inside the room is his lover, Kakashi, the seventh Hokage, of course. Around him is Minato, Sakura, Sasuke and the new addition to their Safe House crew, Raidō Namiashi, Genma Shiranui and Iwashi Tatami. Naruto knew of them, the first two being Elite Jonins while the other was a chunin.

"Naruto,"

"Sensei," Naruto replied to, well, he wanted to say, his boyfriend but that would be inappropriate especially in front of his father and the Hokage's subject.

"You slept like a log on your afternoon nap," Whereas, Sasuke commented, "You must have been up all night last night." He continued with a smirk hidden under his passive face.

Naruto turned red, unable to retort while the others except Minato and Kakashi in that room looked like they were resisting to howl at Sasuke's comment. Kakashi was seen eyeing Sasuke as if he wanted to put Sasuke in a sack and throw him down the river. Oh, how he wished.

"Don't worry, Naruto-kun, you're just on time," Sakura looked away from Sasuke. She couldn't believe why Sasuke is teasing Naruto any chance he gets. How immature. "Hokage-sama just arrived."

The rest nodded to confirm this.

"I can't believe all of you are about twice my age now," Minato addressed the said three shinobi in front of him.

Whereas, the three still could not believe who stood in front of them. They have followed the case since the start. They are, after all, part of the Hokage Office. They have also heard from both the Godaime and Rokudaime that the recent case turned out to be the Yondaime and his Team Seven arriving from the past. That on its own is bizarre. Everyone will be reluctant to believe it at first.

But now, they are looking straight at Minato, one that isn't a product of a Reanimation Jutsu. This Minato is radiating an aura known to them as the Konoha's Yellow Flash. This is Minato in his youth, and this is exactly the man they remembered him as.

"Minato-sensei," Kakashi thought that the other three were too shocked to respond to Minato right now. The look on their faces show clearly the internal battle happening in their head right now. And he can't blame them. "When you were appointed the Fourth Hokage, Raidō-san, Genma-san and Iwashi-san were appointed as your Protection Squad. They are familiar with all the safety procedures that suit you best. You also have taught them the Flying Thunder Formation Technique during your reign. So, we decided that they will serve you once again, ensuring yours and your team's safety during your stay in this era."

Minato took in the information with a straight face. After having to hear a lot from Naruto earlier, it seemed like nothing would shock him anymore. He nods his head to Kakashi, "Hm, that's a good plan." He eyed the said three, "I will be in your care." He even bowed to them.

Genma and Raido got flustered but did not say anything, while Iwashi screeched in panic as he replied in an unmanly high-pitched voice, "We will be in your care, Hokage-sama - ah ah, Yondaime-sama!"

Minato laughs softly, "It's okay. You don't have to be so anxious." He then looks at Genma and Raido, "I don't know much about this era, so I will be counting on you."

Raido nodded, "We will try our best, Yondaime-sama."

"Thank you." Minato answered. His eyes then focused on the other elite jonin, who seemed to keep his shoulder-length hair even to his adult years. "Genma-san?"

But Genma didn't respond, so Raido stepped in, "Genma is still processing the situation. He will come around, Yondaime-sama."

"I understand." Minato offered a smile.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Sakura noticed the noticeable bag on the floor behind the Sixth. "Sensei, is that your bag?"

Kakashi momentarily forgot that he brought his belongings with him when he arrived in the Safe House. Now, everyone's attention is on him and he thought it would not sound like a big deal but the way they looked at him made it seem like it is. "Well, uh… I thought about moving here too, indefinitely."

Everyone raised a brow, apart from Naruto who already knew of this. Naruto just didn't think that Kakashi would really mean what he said. It made Naruto happy inside. It only showed just how much Kakashi considers Naruto's feelings.

"Wow," Genma finally reacted, "You refused to move to the Hokage Residence despite the tradition. But now you will be moving into a house in the middle of nowhere?"

"Genma-san," Kakashi awkwardly grin, somehow feeling the chills along his spine. He remembers that Genma is one of those who recommended Kakashi to move into the Hokage Residence because it will be much safer that way. But Kakashi opted to move into Minato and Kushina's Residence instead after Lady Tsunade gave him the key. He thought that Naruto would prefer there over the Hokage Residence.

"You really are the most stubborn Hokage to ever reign." Genma glared at Kakashi.

"Genma," Raido pulled the other away. Sometimes, his lover can be quite uncontrollable whenever his emotions get the better of him. "Remember that Yondaime-sama didn't move into the Hokage Residence too." He reminded Genma.

Genma watches the said man, Yondaime, once again and his mouth closed. It really is overwhelming to see Minato in the flesh once again. Minato's death was one of those he refused to acknowledge. As one of the designated Hokage Guard Platoon and failed to protect the Hokage at the same time, he will carry this guilt for a very long time.

"Sensei, there is no spare room, you know." Sakura reminded the Hokage.

"Ah, well…" Kakashi rubbed his neck awkwardly, unsure of what to say. While everyone looks at each other for several seconds, seemingly awaiting for Kakashi to continue. Kakashi cleared his throat, "Well, I was hoping my former students would take their sensei in."

"Well…" Naruto bit his lower lip, but doesn't know what to say. He looks at Sasuke instead.

Sasuke saw Naruto's stare and he widened his eyes at him, "Ha? Why would I do that?"

Sakura rolled her eyes as she nudged the Uchiha on his side, "And why can you not do that? Sensei is still our sensei. Furthermore, he is the Hokage."

"HAAAA? What's the connection? For all we know, he just wants to cuddle up-"

Sakura's eyes widened along with the veins on her temples as she threw a punch at Sasuke's face but the latter was a split-second faster to dodge it just in time. Sakura snarled, "You! You're impossible!" She said this as she yanked Sasuke by the collar of his robe, bowed to the others in the room before she dragged Sasuke out of that room.

"Sakura-chan is as intense as usual." Iwashi commented, calming his heart after reacting to Sakura's attempt to crush Sasuke's face. He had seen her punches before, and boy he would not want to be on her mercy.

"She kind of reminded me of Kushina." Minato commented.

Naruto laughs, "Definitely. Mom is so beautiful but her punches are scary."

Minato smiled at Naruto's remark. And it really seemed like Naruto was not lying when he said he had the chance to meet Kushina at one point in his life. And Minato is glad to know this. For such a short time, Kushina had made a mark on Naruto.

So, after the negotiation over the new room arrangement. It ended just like how Kakashi and Naruto planned it. Young Kakashi moved into Minato's room, leaving his previous roommate Obito sharing with the other Uchiha, Sasuke. Sakura and Rin remained together. Kakashi moved into Naruto's room where the younger one used to share with Sasuke.

This time, it pays to be the Hokage.

A/N:

More notes on timeline/age of the characters:

This is the complicated part of the calculation, plot-wise of both canon and this fanfic.

According to this fanfic, Minato and his team 7 traveled to the present time (their future) before the accident of Obito, so, that's before Kakashi was even made jonin. Kakashi is about 10yrs old (0r even 9 when he was made jonin.) But there is an argument from another source that Kakashi is made jonin at the age of 13 - but that really made everything else incorrect. So, I decided to follow the 9-10yrs old theory.

So, safe to say that Young Kakashi here has only turned 9 years old.

Young Kakashi - 9 yrs old, months before he was made jonin - just before the Kannabi Bridge Mission.

Between Kakashi and Obito, there are 4 years of age difference. (again, another source says, they are the same age. But I did not want to follow that)

Obito | Rin - 14 years old

Minato & Kakashi are 10 years apart.

So, once again. This is the list of ages:

Physical Age vs Era Actual Age

Naruto | Sasuke| Sakura- 21 yrs old

Rokudaime Kakashi - 34 yrs old

Minato - 20 yrs old vs 44yrs old

Young Kakashi - 9 yrs old vs 34 yrs old

Obito | Rin - 14 yrs old vs 38 yrs old

Timeskip = 24-25 Yrs in between.

Well, I hope you guys enjoy the chapter. This is more on Naruto-Minato bonding and the plot did not progress much from here. But next chapter, we will definitely. Gaara is coming to Konoha! And etc. So, watch out for that

And I am possibly going to start a new Naruto fic. Another Kakashi x Naruto. But this time will have Hashirama x Madara and Tobirama x Izuna. And it won't be a post-canon fic. I'm still working on it. I am reluctant whether I would want it omegaverse or not. I am a huge omegaverse trash so… possibly will do that. The other plot is a modern-au with a clap back to Naruto-universe canon parts. Hm, so I don't know. Anyway, let me know if there is another couple/ship you might want to be included in this new fic. Also, I'm not breaking up Minato x Kushina in any of my fics. I'm willing to trade Sasuke x Sakura in some of them HAHAH but not mommy and daddy.

Well, I hope to hear your thoughts on this new chapter. Much love. D.