Tampering with Time

by Palaserece

When Kyuubi was extracted from Uzumaki Naruto, it was the Nidaime Hokage that came up with an unconventional solution. An experimental reincarnation jutsu on Namikaze Minato and a one-way trip, with his Kurama, to the past. (Minato-centric)

8. Breaking the Cycle

Mikoto looked from the hairbrush to the child smiling bashfully with his hands pressed together in gesture of supplication. Unwillingly, she felt her lips twitch upward and her insides melt from the overdose of cuteness. As as an expert in genjutsu that distorts reality in the mind, she was rather miffed that she could be so easily subverted by a pint-sized boy batting his eyelashes.

"Hop up here, Minato-chan." Mikoto snatched the brush, twirled it between her fingers, and patted the kitchen stool invitingly. Minato scurried up like a squirrel and grinned knowingly. Cheeky little brat knew he had her wrapped around his finger. Idly, she wondered exactly when she had become a sucker for children.

"Did you sleep alright?" She inquired, feeling her lips quirk again when the child murmured happily under her attentions.

"Aside from being a little cramped, it was pretty good." The small boy pushed back into the brush and held perfectly still when she encountered a tangle that she had to work out of the boy's hair.

"It's a rather large futon in that room. It should be more than large enough for you two boys and Shisui." She said, wracking her brain as she pictured the large bedroom. Nothing stood out to explain why the bed would feel cramped. Cozy perhaps, but cramped? "Is my Naruto stealing your blankets again?"

"No. Err…well, I guess maybe." Minato's response had hints of fondness and exasperation engrained in it. That level of maturity was eerily reminiscent of a younger Itachi, though Mikoto suspected the Senju child had surpassed even her son with his insight. Yet another notion she definitely could not share with Fugaku. "Naruto did hog the blankets and Shisui was just fine but...well."

"Well?" She knew from experience that a child trailing off midsentence usually lead to nowhere good. Putting that knowledge to good use, Mikoto tapped the back of Minato's head with the brush and clucked with her tongue. "What happened?"

"Not long after you tucked us in, Sasuke showed up and insisted that he needed to sleep with us since Shisui was probably up to something." Mikoto's lip quivered slightly and she resumed brushing the hair earning a pleased purr from the Senju in return. "Sasuke kept trying to steal my pillow."

"Why did he believe Shisui was up to something?" Mikoto bit back a bark of laughter and pretended not to see her boys peeking at her from around the corner.

"He just wants to be included." Minato purred a reply with a content sigh. "Not sure why Itachi ended up with us, but five in a bed is a crowd. You can barely move and Shisui snores when he can't roll."

"I see." Mikoto bit her lip, resolving to quietly make some adjustments to the rooms and explain the situation to Fugaku later-perhaps in a few weeks if she could divert his attention for that length of time. She loved her husband. Truly, Mikoto did, but Fugaku was also one that did not handle change very well. Perhaps it was a syndrome that afflicted the majority of the male population, who was to say?

Over the indignant squawking from the hallway, Itachi entered the room in navy Uchiha attire adjusting the tape around his wrists with a blank look. Mikoto had noticed her eldest had taken to smiling more since their house had taken to resembling a zoo, but beneath the rare flickers of joy, was the worrisome mind of her prodigy.

Mikoto knew fussing over Itachi would only push her son away, but she felt rather helpless to bridge the gap that seemed to have always been there. Itachi's icy exterior thawed only for the youngsters; before it had only been for Sasuke, but she recognized the attachment her eldest felt for Naruto and even the Senju boy. What Mikoto was truly unsure of was whether or not Itachi comprehended the depth of affection he felt for the children. Secretly, she suspected her eldest remained oblivious despite his obvious intelligence.

"Good morning." Minato mumbled a greeting with none of his usual grace.

"Minato." Itachi walked past the two of them and made to exit the house. "Keep Naruto and Sasuke out of trouble."

"Hey!" Naruto shouted from his not-so-well-hidden-spot directly outside the room. "Itachi-nii!"

"Nii-san!" Her little Sasuke's feathers ruffled as he appeared in the entryway looking conflicted. "Where are you going?"

Itachi paused and glanced over his shoulder with a solemn look before padding back toward his little brother. The expected forehead tap had Sasuke scrambling backward and Naruto bent over busting a gut—until he received his own poke.

"Itachi-nii!" The brothers groaned at the eldest in unison and Mikoto watched her eldest smirk for a moment.

"Team training this morning?" She asked gently. It seemed a bit unusual since Itachi's sensei rarely had them meeting before ten and it was barely eight.

"Mitshiro-sensei has a mission." ANBU level no doubt, Mikoto accepted the comment with a nod and even Minato had perked up somewhat from his hair trance. "I'm meeting for a taijutsu spar with Maito Gai."

"Have fun!" Minato chirped while Mikoto had frozen in shock.

Maito Gai was infamous throughout Konohagakure for his lousy taste in clothing, even worse hair styling habits, and his prowess as the village's premier taijutsu expert. In some respects, it was a boon to Itachi to be able to train under a master of his art that even her clan could not begin to match in hand to hand combat. On the other hand, Mikoto was still and Uchiha and her son would lead the clan and their village one day.

"Learn anything the man is willing to teach you. He has no equal in our village for taijutsu even among our clan's most skilled shinobi." Sasuke and Naruto had both made a gurgle of shock, though Minato remained quiet under her reflexive motions. Mikoto held her son's gaze with an iron vise while she made her demand. "If you show improvement in your abilities, the boys and I will delay your father discovering this association too soon." Naruto looked ecstatic that he was being included in a bit of subterfuge while Sasuke looked dismayed—likely because the boy craved Fugaku's affection like nothing else. "That being said, there is a condition I require of you if you intend to continue associating with Maito-san."

"What is your restriction, Okaa-san?" It seemed her son was resorting to a more respectful form of address in order to fish for more information; Mikoto felt almost disappointed by how transparent that tactic was. In any event, she was not about to be fooled by such a simple deception even if her foolish husband would likely have been soothed by such an obvious ruse.

"You will not mimic Maito-san in appearance or attire. Challenge this and I swear to allow Naruto, Sasuke, and Minato free reign to make your life hell until I feel you've earned a lesson." Itachi's jaw had slackened somewhat and her composed, prodigal son seemed at a loss of words. Mikoto grinned unpleasantly. "Do we have an understanding, Itachi?"

"You have my word." Itachi shifted uneasily under her gaze and she felt cheered that she had managed to penetrate her prodigy's thick skull. "I'll be home later."

"Such a good boy." Mikoto murmured before looking back at the pair standing in the doorway. "You two better go get changed. We're heading to the Hyuuga Compound soon."

"Ugh." Naruto whined from the doorway with an oversized scowl that reminded Mikoto of Kushina when she was about to verbally eviscerate someone. "I hope that jerk isn't there."

To Mikoto's exasperation, Sasuke mirrored Naruto's distasteful facial expression with a 'hn' to add just a bit of Uchiha flair. Those boys were certainly going to add to the occasional greys that Mikoto plucked increasingly often.

"Naruto, Neji is not a teme. He's just older and the Hyuuga…" Minato flailed a bit and snuck a look her direction. Mikoto merely folded her arms and raised a brow pointedly and the silver haired boy hastily made a selection. "They Hyuuga Clan seems to be a bit on the rigid, formal spectrum."

"He just probably has a stick up his— "

"Naruto-chan." Mikoto smiled dangerously. "Do we need to have that conversation about manners again?"

"Ack! No Kaa-chan!" The blonde zipped out of the room like his ass was on fire and Mikoto laughed again to herself, not minding that it sounded almost croaky in her chest. Naruto was certainly on to something in regards to the stuffy Hyuuga, but she would curb his need to publically point out those flaws if it was the last thing she did.

No doubt today's 'playdate' would have at least some sparring involved. Naruto had loudly announced to Hiashi that his heir had done 'training' exercises as a group the last time Hinata had come to the Uchiha District. Naturally, Mikoto suspected the Hyuuga Clan head would make an attempt to prove they were the superior teachers. After all, it's what Fugaku would have done. Men really were predictable when Clan anything was at stake.

Mikoto produced a leather band and carefully began pulling the silver hair into a high tail. "This will help keep it out of your face for now."

"Thank you, Mikoto-sama." The small boy thanks her politely and she patted his cheek fondly.

"You ought to get your sandals on too." She shooed him in the direction of the door and felt thankful that at least one of the boys was obedient. Sasuke was typically well-behaved, but Naruto had been rubbing off on him lately.

"Just like you rubbed off on me." Mikoto spoke aloud as she stared out the window searching for a redhead that would never appear. "You used to drive my father crazy."

Mikoto strode toward the front of the house where Sasuke and Minato were dutifully getting ready to leave. After slipping into her own sandals, she took a quick look, in the conveniently placed mirror, to make certain her appearance reflected the perfection her clan was famous for.

"Come on, Naruto!" Sasuke put his hands together over his mouth and hollered down the hallway. "We're going to be late getting to Hinata's place!"

"I'm coming! I'm just trying to find my coat!" Naruto screeched and there was a loud crash that had Mikoto counting backward from ten in her head.

"Moron! I told you I grabbed yours already!" Sasuke growled, shaking the offending garment in the direction of Naruto's voice before balling it up and chucking it just as a blonde careened around the corner and into the room. Some of the pictures on the wall rattling dangerously when he skidded to a halt only to be snatched into the air by an already edgy Mikoto.

"Gah!"

"Sasuke! Naruto!" Mikoto's voice dropped a decibel and Sasuke shrank back appropriately until he was almost using Minato as a human shield. The Uchiha matriarch's lip twitched and she lifted the blonde that was quivering in fright. "No shouting in the house. Okay?"

"Ehehe hi, kaa-chan!" The blonde mustered his most charming smile and batted his eyes almost convincingly enough to wiggle out of any trouble. It was fortunate that Mikoto was an Uchiha mother and unmoved by such cuteness.

"And Naruto-chan." Mikoto shook the blonde causing him to yelp and flail about futilely. "No running in the house!"

"Sorry kaa-chan!" There was a tremor of emotion in the boy's mouth and instantly she set the blonde down and bent over to brush an affectionate kiss over the blonde's forehead. Like magic, her adopted son's face lit up and regained his boisterous personality.

"Alright! Let's go see Hinata-chan!" Naruto cheered.

"Just a moment." She put her hands on her hips, delighting in how the adorable trio froze and stared at her nervously. Deliberately slow, she raised a hand and extended her index finger toward the pair of orange sandals neatly sitting next to the doorway.

"Oh yeah! My sandals!" Naruto dropped to his bum reached for the eyesores that she was already regretted allowing him to buy. What had she been thinking?

"I think you boys are going to have fun today." She opted for positivity.

"Yeah, I guess." Naruto scratched his cheek, tugging on one garishly orange sandal, and paused with a pinched look that hardly boded well. "Say Minato." They waited ominously for Minato to make an appropriate noise. "Is that masked guy really your aniki, Minato-chan? Because he's kinda creepy and doesn't seem anything like you."

Oh, Naruto-chan…why oh why must you bring up such topics at such inopportune times?

"Hn." Sasuke offered from the side, clearly displeased in some form or another.

Neither of Minato's friends had taken to Hatake Kakashi very well, but the Uchiha Clan itself was still sulking over the donated Sharingan incident, which may have contributed to that negative outlook. Mikoto suspected the true source of disapproval from the copy-nin's unannounced visits that resulted in their friend vanishing for the greater part of the day. This had occurred twice so far and apparently her boys were overprotective to the point of being homicidal because Kakashi had only barely avoided a kunai to the abdomen from Sasuke after a well-timed glitter bomb from her Naruto. Needless to say, Fugaku had not been informed and it had taken a lot of frantic effort to clean up the sparkles before he got home that night.

"You don't think Kakashi and I are alike?" Mikoto thought the Senju sounded more amused than upset, her theory proven correct when the scarlet eyed boy's eyes rolled slightly when Sasuke and Naruto were not looking.

"He wears a mask! And Shisui said he reads yucky stuff about adults kissing and stuff. Ugh!" Naruto gagged animatedly and Sasuke's nose wrinkled slightly.

Oh dear. Just wait until those two hit puberty. Mikoto felt a keen sense of dread fill her belly. Oh dear…her children were going to be a nightmare on the dating scene. That arranged marriage idea that the Clan had recently done away with was starting to look mighty keen.

"I would say that Kakashi-nii and I are no different than Itachi and Sasuke." Naruto froze like a trapped rabbit, Sasuke seemed almost hurt if not mildly offended, but Mikoto was holding her breath. She could not specifically explain why, but she was incredibly interested in hearing the outcome of this little discussion. "I say that because Sasuke has a more extroverted personality compared to his brother. Sasuke is more adventurous and seems to thrive on interactions with others and outside stimuli. Itachi seems perfectly content to read and would likely remain someone that does not engage with others if not for Shisui's intervention. Of course, based on our interactions, I think Sasuke will probably be a different sort of shinobi than his brother."

Mikoto was rather dumbfounded and she became aware of Sasuke's annoyance vanishing only to be replaced by intense interest.

"What do you say that, Minato-chan?" Naruto asked the question that was lingering on all of their minds.

"Well, Itachi uses mostly, genjutsu right? That means he is probably a support role." Mikoto felt herself sweating as the Senju boy wrapped up a rather brief but precise analysis. "Sasuke and Naruto will have a lot in common on the field." Both boys shot each other dubious looks. "Both of them will probably be highly involved combatants that will get in close range, while executing heavy ninjutsu combinations. Of course, I could see them both using swords even if their techniques are entirely different."

"Hell yeah! Sasuke and I are gonna be awesome together, dattebayo!" Naruto tossed his leftover sandal into the air with a cheer.

"Sasuke is one of my best friends." Tobirama's heir stated with such unreserved matter-of-factness that Mikoto was caught off-guard. Such statements seemed so simple, but were costly and precious. And yet, she watched her son's face light up with pleasure and all previous hurts vanish without a trace. "Just like you are, Naruto. Of course I'd notice what makes you guys special."

Mikoto's throat sealed and she swiftly wiped away stray tears before one of the boys noticed her action.

"You're important to me too, Minato!" Mikoto watched Naruto wrap himself like an octopus around a flustered looking Senju that was desperately clawing at the arm around his neck. A moment later, Sasuke rescued Minato from Naruto's clutches only to wrestle the blonde right back to the ground.

Idly she felt regret about the less than impeccable appearances in front of the Hyuuga, but Minato was laughing, Sasuke was growling, and Naruto was screaming a protest. And an orange sandal had somehow disappeared in the ensuing chaos.

Perhaps there was something to that will of fire you preached, Hashirama-sama. Madara lost himself to grief before that dream was realized…but my son might have learned. Even though the repercussions may drive me nuts. I could really use a drink.

"What was that about teme?" The blonde jammed his elbow into Sasuke's gut.

"Minato was turning blue, dobe!" Sasuke snarled, but Minato saw the spark of excitement in his eyes when the Uchiha flipped them over and tugged the blonde's arms behind his back.

"Was not!" Naruto squirmed desperately. "Get off of me you, pervert!"

"Who are you calling a pervert?" Sasuke snapped back, but her son had already scrambled backward with a disgusted look on his face.

Mikoto spared a second to wonder where they were learning all these terms and shook her head with a groan. Gripping Minato's shoulder, she steered the unresisting child around her sons and outside.

Sometimes the best course of action was inaction.

"I guess it's just going to be you and me, Minato-kun." Mikoto murmured as she ushered him down the lane of the Uchiha district. A pair of stray cats scattered out of the way of their footsteps and the occasional line of birdsong warbled in the background.

"I don't mind." The red-eyed boy skipped a few steps and smirked over his shoulder impishly.

Mikoto fought a grin at the crash, bang, and shouting that occurred behind them. There was a pair of curses that would have made a lesser woman blush but Mikoto resolutely continued walking, only waving a greeting to various Clan members and vowing to wash Naruto-chan's mouth out with soap at the end of the day.

"Wait!" Naruto cried, darting to catch up with them and snagging one of her hands and squeezing it. "Made it!"

So much for being a big, tough kunoichi; the gesture warmed Mikoto and she gave the sweaty hand a squeeze in return. They had not been together for long, but she really had fallen in love with her son.

"They were like ten feet away, dobe." Sasuke gasped from his place next to Minato where he was pretending not to be completely out of breath.

"Whatever!" Naruto proved his maturity and stuck his tongue out at Sasuke.

"That's enough." Mikoto decisively ended the debate and they walked in silence aside from occasional greetings with fellow clansmen. Soon enough they were walking down one of the main thoroughfares that was already crawling with civilians. It started with a few turned heads that morphed into perplexed frowns after they stared from Mikoto to each of the children in turn. Some of the older generation zeroed in on Minato's face before their faces scrunched up and a few hands went to their mouths in reverent gestures she could tell made the Senju child uncomfortable. Those that noticed her blonde son had backed away and were muttering angrily. And finally, those that had noticed what they perceived to be Konoha royalty in the company of the village pariah looked almost threatening and began spreading the verbal poison like wildfire.

Sasuke did not have the immediate genius of his brother, but her son had a natural intelligence of his own. Mikoto gestured with her free hand and Sasuke instantly placed himself on Minato's side in a flanking gesture that put the Senju between Naruto and himself. Mikoto had practically smashed Naruto into her side and was glaring at anyone who looked ready to approach and say anything about the jinchuuriki's presence.

Sasuke growled. Mikoto was no natural sensor, but she could sense her son's limited chakra supply flickering as a result of an unbalanced emotional state. "What is wrong with them?"

"They're always like this." Naruto's bravado had slipped and he seemed so very young and Mikoto pressed the blonde closer to her wishing she could shield him from this unwarranted cruelty.

"It's disgusting." The venom coming from the gentle, silver haired boy was shocking but even more so was the staggering weight of the Senju's disapproval. The man had been dead long before she was born, but Mikoto had no trouble believing the child was Tobirama's heir upon seeing the cold conviction demonstrated by the small child.

"Naruto, did you prank them or something?" Sasuke looked desperate to understand. "I don't see how you could have pranked them all though…"

"He has not done anything." Mikoto infused more than a small measure of harsh disgust into her voice, smiling with no small amount of satisfaction when the scandalized civilians recoiled in shock. "Civilians are just too ignorant of what they can't possibly understand."

The dirty looks multiplied in intensity but Mikoto was wearing the haughty persona of a typical Uchiha and she guided them through the street with a watchful eye.

"Can't we just arrest them?" Sasuke groused, sounding incredibly serious. "Tou-san could arrest them. I know he could!"

"If only it were that simple." There was a surprising spike of legitimate killing intent from the silver haired child, directed toward a cluster of civilians that fled like the cowards they were; the intent subsided almost instantly and Minato's scarlet eyes were downcast and his shoulders slumped.

"Minato-kun is quite correct I'm afraid." The itch to reach for a durable spool of ninja wire and a pair of shuriken was unbearably tempting at this point. Her oxygen intake felt more than a little constrained and it was difficult to relax enough to plaster on a confident mask. "A person's behavior might be deplorable, but there is little we can do about it. We're just going to have to show them that they're wrong."

"I'm sorry, kaa-san." Naruto apologized into the fabric of her pants and that was nearly the straw that broke her resolve.

"Don't you ever apologize for them, Naruto-kun." Her words were harsher than she intended, but it was almost too much just to hold it together. More for her own benefit, Mikoto knelt and scooped up the jinchuuriki and pressed his face into her chest and continued to stare down anyone that looked their way for too long. "You've done nothing wrong."

If Fugaku was foolish enough to criticize her 'breach in decorum,' she would just have to break his nose again. Sooner or later, the lesson would stick.

They had nearly reached the Hyuuga Compound, Naruto had insisted on walking again and had joined Sasuke in the Club for Brooding Scowls, when a voice that sounded vaguely familiar called out to her.

"Mikoto-san!" The familiarity was unexpected and derailed any chance of looking appropriately disinterested.

The pinch-faced brunette, Nara Shikaku's wife, Yoshino, was crossing the road from a teahouse with a reluctant child in tow that was dragging his feet through the dirt and actually leaving a small trail of ruts behind him.

"Nara-san." Mikoto greeted the other woman with interest. Prior to the recent Akimichi barbecue, she had never interacted much with the other woman; at the barbecue, Mikoto had actually enjoyed the taciturn woman's company. Yoshino had been like a breath of fresh air and had been dismissive of any attempts at formalities and had treated Mikoto like a real person and not just the prominent wife of Uchiha Fugaku. Mikoto had not had any real friendships since Kushina died, but she could definitely see potential for something not limited by petty social machinations. She had enjoyed it more than she was comfortable admitting.

"None of that formal stuff." Shikaku's wife waved her hand imperiously and gave the slouching boy a thoroughly aggressive shaking that caused the boy's teeth to rattle in his head. "Call me Yoshino. Nara-san makes me feel like I'm ready for the wrinkles that my son seems determined to give me!"

"Very, well Yoshino-san." Mikoto placed a hand on her boy's shoulder and urged them toward the sluggish Nara heir. "It's nice to see you again to Shikamaru-kun."

"Yo, Shikamaru!" Naruto barrelled into the Nara boy's space and nearly knocked the boy sprawling. "Haven't seen you since the party! Would you and Chouji like to hang out with us sometime? He was a lot of fun and he almost ate more dessert than I did! I need to have a ramen eating contest with him!"

"You're too loud." The boy scratched the back of his head, while scowling up at the sky aimlessly. "But as long as you don't do something troublesome, I suppose that would be okay."

"Right on!" Mikoto watched despairingly as Naruto shot his fist into the air for an instant before flapping his arms like a chicken and bouncing in place. "Eating contest with Chouji!"

"Not to worry." Mikoto's little Senju wandered up and placed a placating palm almost apologetically on Naruto's shoulder. "We'll keep an eye on him, Shikamaru-kun."

"Yep." Sasuke smirked mischievously.

"That's right!" Naruto chirped before his face turned a violently shade of red and he rounded on Sasuke. "What the hell is that supposed to mean, you bastard?!"

"That you're an idiot and need us to watch you." Sasuke deadpanned.

Mikoto rolled her shoulders with a practiced sigh and Yoshino rolled her eyes and stepped a few paces back where they could converse out of range of the quarreling boys.

"You have your hands full." Yoshino commented dryly and deposited a shopping basket laden with produce next to her. "I'd wager heavily that your normal routine is nonexistent at this point."

"Is it that obvious?"

Yoshino snorted, crossed her arms, and gestured vaguely at the boys who had settled into a discussion with Minato standing between Sasuke and Shikamaru while Naruto stood front and centre regaling the trio with some tale.

"Uzumaki Naruto is a handful." Mikoto stiffened, only to relax in the next moment when she noticed the fond wistfulness playing at the corner of Yoshino's mouth. "Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against the boy. He may look like his father, but that child is one-hundred percent Uzumaki Kushina's son. And I'm sure you understand better than most how busy of a woman you're going to be for the next decade."

"You know?" Mikoto's jaw dropped slightly and she made a prompting motion with her hand. That sort of information was beyond classified to anyone and everyone. She only knew because Kushina had been her best friend.

"Of course." Yoshino admitted, a single callused finger pointing casually in Naruto's direction. "You and I graduated from separate classes and we travelled in different social circles. And again, our postings in the war were different, but almost everyone heard or saw Uzumaki Kushina and her teammates around the village. Of course, Shikaku worked closely with the Yondaime and became friends with the man; that alone provided enough pieces of the puzzle that the rest was obvious."

Again, Mikoto is struck by how open the Nara matriarch is. Perhaps honesty was simply part of how they manipulated the situation. If so, the Uchiha was afraid it was already working.

"The reputation of the Nara Clan is well deserved." Mikoto observed dryly.

"We all have our talents." Yoshino surprised her again with the gentle deflection of praise. "I could spend the afternoon trading pretty words that are both true and tedious. So I'll get right to the point and tell you why I stopped you."

"I've enjoyed speaking with you so please do not offer any apology." It was a piece of the truth anyway.

"All the same." Yoshino reached down to regather her basket of produce into her arms. "My family is hosting a dinner this Saturday for the Clan Heads and their families. It's a casual gathering and you hardly need to bring anything. But we would very much hope you and your family can come."

Mikoto again felt like she was ill-prepared for the generous offer and stared in shock for a few moments before nodding slowly.

"Your offer is deeply appreciated." Mikoto infused her voice with genuine sentiment. "We will be there and I will bring something just the same. I like to cook so the effort is no trouble."

"If you want to, I'm not about to turn down free labor." Yoshino smirked and Mikoto wondered if that had been the trap all along. "And Mikoto-san?"

"Yes?"

"I'm aware that Kushina-san was your best friend, but that hardly means you need to coop yourself up in the compound like an old retiree." Mikoto gaped at the implied insult and had lost the words to formulate a reply. "I hereby invite you to a gathering of Clan wives. We meet every Thursday in the evening to complain about our useless husbands, play games, and have a little fun. You should come."

"I'll have to think on it." Mikoto plastered on a flustered smile, unable to formulate anything more as a comeback.

"Now, now." Yoshino waggled a finger in front of her face and adopted a dangerous leer that made Mikoto wonder how the Nara never had adopted a reputation for being frightening. "Don't let Hiashi rub off on you. That man needs a good woman to beat some sense into him for the sake of the Konoha populace. If you like, I'd be happy to walk with you. I need to invite that troublesome individual anyway."

"How did you know?" Her eyes widened.

"It's obvious." Yoshino snorted but Mikoto detected the humor emanating from the other woman. "But if you come to one of our ladies' nights…perhaps I'll fill you in."

"I just might." Mikoto spat back, feeling rebellious and feeling challenged all at once. "And I would hardly mind the company.

"Good to hear." Yoshino sounded approving and she started toward the boys again. "I think you and I are going to get along just fine, Mikoto-san. Shall we?"

Yoshino gestured to the children and Mikoto nodded slightly, still caught in a fog of disbelief. What had just happened? It seemed a bit too unbelievable, but perhaps she had made a friend again. How odd…how nice.

---

"Do they always bicker like a married couple?" Shikamaru griped in a muffled murmur that Minato suspected was deliberately toned down so that only the Senju would catch it. Thankfully Sasuke was too busy gagging Naruto with a very aggressive headlock and did not appear to have noticed Shikamaru's commentary.

"Sasuke may appear to be irritated, but if he was actually annoyed he could easily put a stop to Naruto's antics." Minato rattled off his observations that the Nara was soaking up like a sponge. "He would never admit it, but Sasuke enjoys his banter with Naruto. Naruto is creative, funny, and has a good heart. In a lot of ways, they are complementary friends. So don't be deceived by appearances. With those two, you're going to have to look underneath the underneath."

The Nara tipped his head in acknowledge but did not otherwise response. A pensive Nara was a contemplative Nara so Minato was inclined to count that as a win. A new life had not erased the fact that he actually enjoyed teaching and passing on tidbits of wisdom even if the delivery method was unconventional.

"Did you hold up your end of the bet?" Minato asked. Curiosity had a knack of getting the better of him; that had been true in his old life and was holding fast in this one as well.

"Yeah, yeah." Shikamaru grunted, falling into a slouch. "Except your bet has made my life all the more troublesome."

"Learning a technique reserved for a genin can only be an asset." Sasuke rejoined their conversation after settling his differences with Naruto. Once again, the Uchiha haughtiness emerged from hiding: "Otou-san has even started training us more seriously since we learned the technique."

"Heck yeah!" Naruto bounced, not noticing the other boys eyeing him warily. "Shisui has been dodging my shuriken for days!"

Minato twitched and quickly raised a hand to hide a smile. Poor Shisui had become rather paranoid and had taken to replacing himself with nearby furniture anytime Naruto made sudden movements. Needless to say Fugaku had not been amused and had lectured the chunin extensively and threatened to make him pay for the damages. Naruto miraculously got out of trouble with a mere slap on the wrist and a ban on Ichiraku ramen for a week that had traumatized the blonde into submission.

"It's troublesome because now my kaa-san keeps pestering me to start training with the clan." Shikamaru remarked as he shot an uneasy glance toward his mother. "It's not like I have to worry about graduating the Academy until I'm twelve anyway. But now I'm being nagged about training all day long."

"Do you want to be weak?" Sasuke had zeroed in on Shikamaru like one a cat ready to devour a mouse. Minato sighed and resigned himself to several future conversations with Sasuke on how not to treat your friends. It would be an uphill battle persuading his friend to his line of thinking, but the pay-off would be substantial. And someday Sasuke might even thank him for it.

"I think Shikamaru is just concerned about spending time with his friends and enjoying life before graduation, Sasuke-kun." Rather than galvanized by the gentle chiding, Minato was relieved to see that Sasuke merely looked thoughtful. "Once we become shinobi, our lives are dictated by the Hokage and what Konoha requires of us. This means our free time is limited. And not everyone likes to train for fun like we do."

"You could come train with us sometime. Training with friends is way more fun than hanging out alone." Naruto offered readily, not seeming to notice how his natural charisma seemed to draw the Nara in. "And you could bring Chouji! He's a lot of fun! And afterward we can play ninja and have snacks."

"I guess that would be alright." Sasuke grunted. "Just don't bring the Yamanaka girl. She was-"

"Too troublesome?" Shikamaru asked with his hands shoved into his pockets.

"Too loud." Sasuke spat, mouth wrinkling up as if he had tasted something particularly sour. "I never thought someone could be louder than Naruto-" A garbled protest. "-and more annoying than my cousin Shisui."

"I just said that Ino was too troublesome." Shikamaru's gaze drifted upward until his chin was nearly vertical as he stared up at the sky. "But I still think she should come. She'll settle down once she gets to know everyone."

"Sasuke, I don't think she was quite that bad." Minato winced at the rather harsh comparison. Inoichi had been quite the extroverted personality type and he had turned out to be an exceptional shinobi. Minato suspected that all Ino needed was a time and experience. "And besides, Ino seemed to get along pretty well with Hinata."

Ebony eyes trained on him and Minato lifted his eyes and gave the ebony haired boy a pouting, eye pleading glance. Sasuke seemed taken aback for a moment, but a moment later threw his arms up in surrender and smiled crookedly.

"Fine. I guess if she's Hinata's friend, it's fine." Sasuke seemed more playful and even cracked a smile. "We're vising her family today too."

"Oh yeah!" Naruto spun in a circle and posed exaggeratedly. "We're going to see Hinata-chan! Why don't you walk with us Shikamaru?"

"That's a fine idea, Naruto-kun. Don't you think so, Shikamaru?" The Nara matriarch had a pleased smirk on her face and Shikamaru had blanched and was groaning into his hands.

"It would seem so." Mikoto was the picture of serene and Minato felt a rush of satisfaction at seeing how relaxed the Uchiha woman was next to the forceful Yoshino. It was an unusual pairing, but perhaps a strong personality like Kushina would be a boon to the Uchiha matriarch.

"This is such a drag." The Nara boy moaned unconvincingly into his hands. "Can't we just go home now? We've been out for an hour."

"Only an hour?" Minato did not bother easing up on the sarcasm and felt satisfied when the Nara flinched slightly.

"An hour is a long time…or not?" Naruto's face screwed up and Minato fell into a coughing fit while Mikoto muttered about adding additional material to Naruto's sessions. Oh God…how far behind was his son?

"Stop complaining, Nara." Sasuke shot out; it was rather evident to Minato that the Uchiha Clan as a whole found Nara laziness incomprehensible and were repeatedly baffled by what they perceived to be unusual behavior. "You're starting to seem worse than that Yamanaka."

"That's a little harsh." Minato twitched as Shikamaru rounded on Naruto with a voice infused with incredulity. "You can't tell time?"

"I'm working on it!" Naruto grumbled defensively and Minato spied the blonde shooting Mikoto a desperate look.

"I'll show you later." Sasuke promised and Minato's sense of reality was instantly shattered. On the Brightside, Mikoto looked almost as shocked by the boy's offer.

"Thanks Sasuke!" Naruto returned and Minato automatically turned and trudged toward the Hyuuga compound.

He needed to get out of there before his head exploded.

"Wait for us!" Naruto called and the other three boys—Shikamaru included—caught up within seconds and began chatting cheerily as they walked the last few blocks to their destination. A few tidbits worth remembering were shared and filed away for later use. Just like his father, Chouji was bribable with food but potato chips were a slam dunk. Minato had a few ideas about that if the other boy did come train with them. And apparently the Inuzuka Clan Head had two children, but the youngest was probably even more of a handful than Naruto. Yep, a little rivalry was certainly a healthy thing and that certainly created some possibilities.

Any advantage he could bring to the table to get this generation ready for what was to come…he owed it to them. If a lesson could save their lives or make a difference in the war to come than Minato had no choice. Come hell or high water, he would get these children prepared. Certainly there would be a bit of a biased focus on Naruto and Sasuke but he would do what he could for the others too.

The Hyuuga Clan grounds had high walls and a guard visibly standing at attention just beyond the gate. The Hyuuga Clan seemed strangely obsessed with privacy and tradition considering their dojutsu practically made the lot of them voyeurs. Minato had spent many uncomfortable afternoons listening to Jiraiya-sensei complain ferociously about his misfortune not to be born with the all-seeing eyes of the Hyuuga Clan.

Not surprisingly for a Clan with all-seeing eyes, the Clan Compound did not immediately appear to have guards in attendance. Though Minato naturally sensed the four signatures sporadically placed about the manicured front entrance. Two in the parallel entrance trees that still bore traces of the Shodai's chakra from when the Hokage grew them to welcome them to Konoha. The other two concealed alongside the stone wall.

"Do they measure the grass?" Shikamaru gestured to the perfectly manicured greenery that even Minato could admit had perfection that rivalled the Daimyo's prized gardens. It certainly must seem out of place in a village that trained shinobi in arts of destruction rather than creation.

"Shikamaru!" A warning growl from behind and even Minato tensed up in fear. An angry, motivated Nara was a force of nature not to be tampered with.

"Yeah the whole Compound is like that." Naruto nodded agreeably. "I think the Hyuuga are probably gardening ninja."

"I don't think that's an actual thing." Minato spotted some affronted tree limbs rustling tellingly and rushed to divert Naruto. "let's just do our best to have a good time today. It's a bummer that Shikamaru-kun can't come with us though."

"Yeah." Naruto seemed almost sounded sad while Shikamaru scoffed. "leave me out of this."

Thankfully Hyuuga Hiashi appeared at the entrance garbed in a rich, white kimono and derailed any further bickering between his friends. No doubt someone alerted the Clan Head that an additional visitor had arrived and had taken upon himself to greet them personally.

"Nara-san, I did not anticipate your arrival. I hope you were not delayed by any unsavory types." The man's attention lingered over the Uchiha matriarch for a telling moment. Minato did not appreciate for one second the underhanded barbs that Hiashi was passing out in an effort to look superior. His experience as a Kage being a boon in this situation, the Senju rapidly placed a restraining arm on Naruto's shoulder while noting Shikamaru was mirroring his action on the other side. "Uchiha-san, I was beginning to become concerned when you did not arrive on time. You'll have to forgive me for the absence of tea. I'm afraid the servants are preparing a fresh pot."

Minato was certain that Hiashi could have given any four-year old a run for the money on a lesson in pettiness. Fortunately, Yoshino interceded before someone else managed to muck things up.

"Tch, quit behaving so troublesome, Hiashi." Minato heard nearly identical splutters from the trees above as Yoshino crossed to where the Hyuuga Clan Head was standing; Hiashi balked and took step backward into a defensive position that screamed indignant. "The Hyuuga and the Uchiha Clan both have amazing dojutsu that gives you an edge. Tell us something we haven't known for the last century! Now grow up or so help me I'll sic Tsume on you and we both know how well that will go."

Minato wished for a camera to capture this moment forever because Mikoto looked stunned and Hiashi wore a combination of fury and embarrassment on his rapidly reddening cheeks.

"Your kaa-san is awesome, Shikamaru." Naruto murmured quietly but the Senju could already see hero-worship taking root in his friend.

Fate appeared to want to trump the already tense situation because Hyuuga Hizashi appeared behind his brother in a charcoal colored yukata that appeared to almost be…dressed down. At his heels were Neji, Hinata, and Aburame Shino trailing like puppies. Though it would have been impossible to miss the way the Hyuuga heiress lit up and waved eagerly to Mikoto and her friends.

"Have a good time, tou-san." Little Neji offered shyly while Shino and Hinata mirrored his sentiments.

"Greetings, Nara-san, Uchiha-sama." Hizashi smiled slightly and turned to Hiashi—obviously unaware or uncaring of how tense that atmosphere was. "Onii-sama, I'm going to leave Neji and Shino-kun under your supervision since you will be supervising Hinata-sama's friends."

It was clear to Minato that Hiashi very much wanted to deny the request but was unwilling to make a scene in such a public place with so many important witnesses in the vicinity. And Mikoto and Yoshino looked remarkably smug with almost leering smirks affixed to their face as they watched Hiashi being bulldozed publically with no recourse but to accept it.

"I have no objection." Clearly he did, but the man was doing his best to retain his composure. "May I ask what business is taking you outside the compound today?"

"Of course, onii-sama," Hizashi's voice had softened a decibel, though Minato could have sworn there was a bit of glee clouding Hizashi's otherwise flawless performance. "In fact, I'm meeting Uchiha Maiko for a lunch. Meeting her at the Clan gathering was a stroke of good fortune."

"You're meeting with an Uchiha?" Hiashi looked like he had been struck with a particularly impairing ration jutsu because his mouth open and closed once or twice before he re-established his blank façade.

"No, onii-sama." Hizashi corrected almost gently as he adjusted the pristine folds of his own kimono. "I'm meeting with a woman whose company I found enjoyable. Certainly you can appreciate the value of good companionship?"

"I hope she pleases you, father." Neji said with a sweet innocence about him, while Minato felt his entire face burn red.

"If our meeting is agreeable, I may introduce you to her another time." Hizashi offered calmly and gave his son an affectionate pat on the back that had the boy glowing with happiness. "Enjoy your time with Shino-kun, Neji."

"I will, tou-san."

Minato watched Hizashi pass his twin and pause before the matriarchs.

"I expect you will treat my Clanswoman with appropriate respect, Hizashi-sama" Mikoto's tone was completely serious but the smirk she shot Hiashi was riddled with glee.

"You have my word, Uchiha-sama." Hizashi bowed to the woman and inclined his head to his purple-faced twin. The Hyuuga branch member paused once and surveyed the group of children. "Please enjoy yourselves. My brother is an excellent host and will ensure you have a wonderful time. Nara-san, it's always a pleasure to see you."

"Likewise, Hizashi-kun." Yoshino replied familiarly, going so far as to wink boldly at the stoic man. "Be sure to accompany your brother to our Clan residence this weekend. And feel free to bring a companion, if you like."

A pink faced Hizashi waved and vanished from the Compound grounds.

Hiashi's expression was positively frosty as his brother made a hasty retreat.

"Shikamaru-kun, it was nice to see you." The other boy waved with a look of pure understanding and Minato gripped both boys and started ushering them toward the door and past Hyuuga Hiashi. Impolite or not, the other man was about to explode and none of them wanted to be around when that happened. "Hinata-chan, how about we go inside and get started."

---

Naruto had often wondered what having a family would be like. He used to spend hours gazing out the window of the orphanage and watch the lucky few walk away with their new families. The blonde had known better than to complain since he was fortunate to eat more than once a day. Still, he sometimes wondered about that queer look he saw on the faces when people laughed and smiled at one another.

Naruto might have gone crazy if the Sandaime had not rescued him from the isolation of that locked bedroom in the orphanage's attic. Even if people glared at him, Naruto had been able to explore the village itself. He had met Teuchi and his daughter that did not chase him away and even let him eat dinner at their stand. No, he realized how fortunate he was even if his heart longed for something more.

Then Minato had approached him. The other boy had reached out to him to ask him to play: it had been the best night of his life. The blonde had nervously waited for a parent to call the other boy away or for him to just leave on his own, but Minato stayed. They had dinner together and Naruto instantly felt giddy when he discovered the boy with the long hair had a situation like himself; maybe it was selfish, but he was secretly thrilled at the prospect that he might not have to face his days by himself anymore.

Then Minato had somehow convinced other kids to play with them too. For a moment Naruto had felt apprehensive, but then he realized that Minato was like magic. The other children did not balk at Naruto's presence, if anything they were either indifferent or welcoming. Sure Sasuke was a grouch sometimes and needed to loosen up a bit, but he was still pretty fun. And Hinata's cheeks turned red like a tomato every other minute; but the weird looking girl was kind and surprised the blonde with her creativity. Best of all, the Uchiha Clan did not seem to share that animosity that everyone else seemed to have toward him.

Naruto hated to admit it, but the next day or so was a bit of a blur. Probably from the emotional shock of a family actually wanting him. Never in his wildest dreams did Uzumaki Naruto ever dare to imagine that someone might want him. Jiji visiting him and giving him a hug once in a while was already huge, but suddenly everything was different.

Naruto had two brothers now. Sasuke did not exactly seem thrilled, but he did not really complain either. Naruto pranked the crap out of Sasuke and loved watching the duck butt's eyes shoot flames in his direction. Itachi was not the fun type and seemed far too serious for Naruto's taste, but the older boy would ruffle his hair every now and then the stoic brother would smile at him ever so gently. It made Naruto think that maybe Itachi being boring was not so bad after all.

Parents were hard for Naruto to accept simply because he had never believed he would have any. Uchiha Fugaku was a stern character that lectured way too much for Naruto's liking; that and the blonde was not so sure that his new tou-san had been entirely on-board with this adoption thing. But Uzumaki Naruto never gave up and so he had wormed his way into the man's attentions until Naruto was absolutely positive that Fugaku was not as indifferent as he pretended to be. He had felt the other man's heart race after he picked him up on that strange night...Fugaku cared even if the man pretended otherwise.

Uchiha Mikoto was more incredible that Naruto's wildest dreams. There were hugs that left him feeling giddy and warm on the inside. There was learning how to read the characters that had, at first glance, seemed like an insurmountable barrier that he had not known how to conquer. There were baths, meals, and kisses. Uzumaki Naruto had thought he had known what love was, but the bubbling attachment that surpassed all of his previous experiences replaced his old notions and the blonde instinctually connected the dots between the new roar of emotions and love.

In a short time, his precious people had expanded to include his family, friends, and Sandaime-jiji. Naruto felt these new people that had come into his life were as essential as breathing. Naruto still wanted to become the Hokage, but he wanted it so that he could protect these people with everything he had. If any of them vanished, Naruto was not sure he would survive that pain. Being alone had been hell, but to lose the people that saved him would be a new, harsher form of a hell that Naruto refused to discover.

And now…happiness was not such an alien subject. Happiness and the people that nourished that feeling…it was kind of amazing.

"Naruto-kun!" A glowing hand grazed his forearm and Naruto was jolted back to the present.

"Ack! How are you so fast?!" Naruto threw himself out of the way and nearly tripped over his own feet. Naruto's eyes narrowed and he somersaulted across the grass and hopped back to his feet.

Naruto placed his palms on his knees and panted lightly. Hinata was standing a few paces away looking only slightly dishevelled with flecks of grass clinging to her white kimono and her arms and legs in position to kick his ass right back into the grass.

"I'm sorry." Immediately Naruto felt bad when Hinata looked away and bit her lip while glancing toward where her dad-super prick if you asked Naruto-was speaking quietly with Mikoto.

"Don't be!" Naruto jumped forward, grabbed Hinata's shoulder, and gave his friend a hearty shake.

"I told you not to go easy on me!" Naruto smacked his chest and fell into the stance that Itachi-nii had showed him with tou-san. It still felt a bit weird, but they were quick to reassure him that he would become accustomed to the different poses.

"I don't want to hurt you."

Hinata was still looking at the ground. Naruto shook her again and his friend jerked to alertness and stared at him awkwardly.

"How am I supposed to get better if you go easy on me, Hinata-chan?" Naruto grumbled, but let his hands fall to his sides in a scowl that would have made Sasuke proud.

"I... you're right." Hinata fell back into a ready stance. "Let's try again, Naruto-kun. And maybe..." Naruto frowned as Hinata swallowed harshly but her eyes looked more determined. "It would be best if you avoided looking at your feet. I notice you keep looking down and that will not only cause you to lose your balance, but it leaves me openings to attack you."

"Oh. That really makes a lot of sense!" Naruto felt dumb for not realizing something like that on his own. It seemed like common sense to him. "Let's try this again!"

Naruto and Hinata traded blows that Naruto felt all the way down to the bone. Naruto's lips quirked into a smile: he was already having a great time.

---

"The Hyuuga Compound flower beds have an impressive number of beetles."

Minato pointed to the beetle with tiny yellow markings.

"Is that coloration normal, Shino-kun?"

The question was intended to draw out the solemn boy and Minato was pleased to see Shino lean forward a bit too quickly to be dismissed as anything but eager.

"You have a keen eye, Minato-kun." A pale finger reached out toward the creepy crawler and stopped just shy of tracing the scurrying insect. "That particular beetle is a sub-variety of a much rarer beetle known for their abilities to absorb chakra. While the coloration is exquisite, this particular insect would fare poorly in battle."

A dirt clod was flung into the flower bed where they were sitting and the Senju glowered at where Neji and Sasuke were engaging in a pissing match that was being passed off as a 'spar.' It was a simple result of Sasuke reacting to Neji's quip about the Hyuuga Clan's taijutsu superiority. Minato understood that the boy was just aping the same line of crap that the majority of the Hyuuga Clan was spouting, but he would have thought that Sasuke would be a bit more restrained: not a chance. To be fair, Minato was quite willing to assign the majority of blame to Hiashi who had egged the situation on after reinforcing Neji's snippy comment which escalated to where the two boys were attacking each other with the limited taijutsu they had both been taught. And of course, it appeared that Neji was winning, but Sasuke was giving him hell just the same.

"If you insist on continuing the illogical pursuit of determining which clan possesses a superior taijutsu ability with only a limited amount of training, keep your spar out of the way. You're disturbing the insects!" Minato detected the trace amounts of killing intent emanating from his Aburame companion. It was small now, but given time Minato knew the ability would be quite impressive in a few years.

Neji and Sasuke had both jumped when Shino addressed them and had appeared to have forgotten they were in the midst of a brawl.

"Sorry, Shino." Minato's brows shot up at the familiarity that Neji conveyed in that address. If the Aburame had managed to breakdown the icy Hyuuga mask so quickly...that was impressive and rather telling. "I will steer our spar in other directions. My apologies."

"Sorry about the dirt, Shino-kun. Minato." Sasuke apologized breathlessly; apparently Minato's friend seemed more focused on taking advantage of the precious reprieve by gulping in air and giving his small body a rest. "Are you two going to join us?"

Minato almost felt guilty for not instantly agreeing to the suggestion. No doubt Sasuke was fishing for an out to the spar...but Minato knew his friend would use the experience to grow even stronger.

"I'm content looking at the different insect subspecies for now." Minato smiled over the crestfallen look that Sasuke instantly buried beneath a weak grin. "Unless Shino has an objection, of course. Do you want to spar, Shino?"

"Your offer is a considerate one and I would not be averse to sparring after we conclude our discussion." Shino rocked back on his heels and adjusted the glasses that had slid down the bridge of his nose as he stared the Senju down. "Due to your own notable efforts in instructing me in chakra control, my parents have increased my training regimen by 33%. I would be interested in matching up against you, though if the previous trend holds, I may not pose a significant challenge."

Sasuke had been lured back into a more typical spar with Neji and the pair both panted heavily while continuing to trade blows.

"Eating dirt is no fun at all." Minato translated the mess fondly while the Aburame nodded gravely. "But if you enjoy our spar later on, you should consider sparring with our other friends later on."

"Other friends?"

There was a pang of wistfulness disguised in that question that reminded Minato far too much of overly cheerful Naruto who hid his pain far too well.

"Of course." He kept it simple and matter of fact. This was an Aburame he was dealing with, after all.

"I have no qualms."

Naruto bellowed a war cry from across the courtyard and Minato watched him charge Hinata again only for the heiress to weave to the side and plant the blonde into the ground with a roundhouse kick.

"I think Naruto is losing." Minato remarked dryly.

"Your assessment seems to be supported by considerable evidence." Shino said blandly. "Perhaps he should concede."

"Never." Minato's thoughts travelled to that story that inspired the blonde's name. "Naruto is too gutsy to give up. It may seem foolish in the moment, but he will only become stronger over time. It may not be today or even tomorrow, but Naruto will come out on top."

Minato knew it was an impulsive decision to speak on Naruto's behalf. Still, it went against everything that comprised his personality to stand back and not defend Uzumaki Naruto. But if Minato could get a few other people to see Naruto as more than just a loudmouth nuisance...all the better.

It was quiet for a few minutes and they watched Sasuke viciously flipping Neji over in a rare moment of triumph that lasted three seconds before the older boy vaulted to his feet and tumbled the Uchiha.

"You seem confident." Shino ventured cautiously and Minato felt a flicker of regret for being the cause of that unintended apprehension.

"I've seen more than a measure of his worth." Minato answered the unasked question. "I can't say more, but I'll tell you he is not a book to be judged by his cover."

"A lesson any shinobi should take under advisement." The Aburame remarked while losing some of the stiffness in his shoulders. "But I apologize if offense was given. I will take your observations into consideration and reserve judgment."

"Thank you, Shino-kun." Minato murmured softly. "I appreciate it more than you know."

The other boy merely nodded and Minato felt a desperate need to change the course of the discussion before it became too infused with melodrama.

"Shino-kun, are you at all familiar with the jutsu that causes transparency?" Minato asked, stretching his arm just so and managing to coax the insect with fluttering wings of purple, amber, and white onto his finger. Grinning triumphantly, he carefully turned toward his companion wearing tiny sunglasses who eagerly leaned forward to inspect the wing pattern.

It was subtle, but Shino shifted into his personal space and there was an echo of buzzing that died down almost immediately. Minato rubbed his hands together: palpable interest implied a much higher degree of success.

"The Aburame Clan does not practice a particularly diverse base of shinobi techniques. Like many Clans, I believe we prioritize the cohesive and essential knowledge of symbiotic abilities with the kikai bugs that inhabit our bodies."

Minato translated that to imply that Shino had not heard of the jutsu in question. Though he was far from oblivious to the minute tension that appeared in the other boy's movements after he had mentioned his kikaichu.

"I am certain that your parent's may possess a more diverse base of connections that may lead you to the jutsu in question." Minato worded his response carefully and was rewarded when the quiet boy next to him nodded thoughtfully. "But my suggestion is based on the concept of adapting the jutsu to become biologically assimilated by your kikai. I imagine invisible bugs could be an asset to your combat style, right?"

"It would indeed be an idea with considerable merit." The other boy commented but his attention turned to focus on Minato who felt a bit uncomfortable under the weighty scrutiny of a Clan that was comparable to the Nara's intellect on a different scale.

"Something on my face?" Minato scrubbed a knuckle over his cheek, mindful of the dirt clinging to his fingers.

"You seem rather knowledgeable on a wide variety of topics that could be considered obscure." The four-year old presented his argument in a quizzical, low tone that undoubtedly sounded far more mature for his age. Unconsciously Minato felt his brow line dampen and he wondered if perhaps he had made an error. "And you have not only withheld information, but have shared what you know communally. In a village that prizes secrets, you seem to have little care for hoarding information that may give you an advantage."

"One person alone against a danger leaves little certainty in victory." Minato's mind raced, wondering if there was a way to swing this sort of situation to his advantage. Kikai bugs had a knack for discerning fluctuations in a person's behavior. It was reasonable to conclude that Shino may not be privy to that information yet, but this was Shibi's son and he was not about to place a sucker bet like another Senju he knew. "But a community or group together may stand against insurmountable odds and triumph. If I can make my friends stronger, it may very well save my life or the life of another."

"Your argument is sound." The Aburame seemed to conclude after a moment. "Thank you for sharing your insight about that jutsu. I will ask my father about it at a later date. May I ask where you learned of such a jutsu?"

Such a loaded question that Minato felt entirely uncomfortable answering even if Shino's question appeared innocent on the surface. Clan children were on an entirely different level from that of civilian parentage. Insightful and capable of killing and words were definitely traps.

"The Hokage probably won't let me give details." Minato rubbed his dirty fingers in the grass and carefully wove the truth while providing a trail of breadcrumbs that would lead to a different conclusion altogether. Mentioning a classified topic would prove invariably beneficial under this circumstance. "But I can tell you that where I came from, I saw a man use it many times. He told me that it was useful for spying." And research, but he hardly needed to mention that little detail.

"Fascinating." The Aburame stood and offered a hand up to Minato that he accepted with a gracious tip of his head that was returned with a solemn nod. "My Clan is often recruited for infiltration purposes. Such an ability could only be beneficial in such circumstances. I will be putting your idea to the test."

"Let me know how it goes." He gestures to a free area of grass. "How are you in taijutsu forms, Shino-kun."

"I had only started the basics recently, but my association with Hyuuga Neji has made improvements in that area a necessity." The Aburame replied monotonously.

"I can see why that would…" Minato winced as he heard Sasuke hit the ground again and knew Fugaku would be in a mood when he heard about it. "Shall we spar then, Shino-kun?"

"I will not hold back." The Aburame droned a warning.

"Good to hear it." Minato grinned. "If you did, I don't think I would improve."

---

Mikoto had absolutely had it. Screw propriety. Screw the Uchiha manners. And damn the Hyuuga and their idiocy to hell. Mikoto sorely wished Yoshino had stayed after delivering an invitation to Hiashi that could have passed as an ultimatum to another get together.

"Hand her over!" Mikoto barked at the flustered branch nanny that had been fruitlessly attempting to calm Hiashi's infant daughter for the past ten minutes while they pretended nothing was wrong and made pointless small talk.

All but ripping the infant from the stuttering woman's arms, Mikoto lifted the burbling babe and pressed the small head onto her shoulder and started rubbing the infant's back. Distantly she heard Hiashi dismissing the serving woman, but Mikoto blocked that out and focused her attention on the squirming body. Almost instantly, the struggling bundle relaxed to a few strained whimpers that rapidly turned into snuffling sounds. A tune on her lips and a sway in her lips, Mikoto listened to baby Hanabi fall to sleep in a matter of minutes with only light infant breaths tickling her skin.

"Thank you for caring for my daughter." Hiashi was standing next to her stiffly, almost awkwardly, and Mikoto felt an ounce of sympathy for the man for the first time in perhaps…ever.

"I like children." Mikoto admitted freely, while rubbing the infant's back. The children were all paired off in the yard and no one was crying so she counted that a success. "And your welcome…though I'm surprised you're allowing an Uchiha like me to touch her."

The bitterness in her voice was unintentional, but the effect was immediate. Hiashi looked like he had been slapped and looked rather unhappy. Mikoto did not care though. She was tired of petty little pretenses and was starting to think Yoshino had it right.

"If I have given offense— "

"Just stop." Mikoto paused to wrap the blanket more firmly around the baby before continuing the swaying motion. Thankfully, Hanabi barely stirred and continue to snooze on her shoulder. "Don't you just get tired of behaving like this? I don't know how the rivalry between our clans started since the only answers I hear come from bitter old men, but is it really worth trying to outdo each other all the time?"

Hiashi could have been made of stone beside her, but Mikoto was far from done.

"You and Fugaku are men cut from the same cloth." She continued, watching the man flinch back, but she did not care. Mikoto was on a roll and for the first time she was speaking her mind unhindered by what her clan might think. "Both of you are proud men that somehow feel you exist solely to further reputations of your clan. And both of you are so blinded by some petty need to look superior that both of you forget that we live in a community. Does any of it bring satisfaction? This is a silly contest on who has the greater visual prowess, but it's a pointless argument. We could compare the moon and the stars and yet never come up with an appropriate answer since both present very different functions. And I just wish all of us could simply get along and realize how much better life could be if we work together. How much more would our reputation grow if we were linked than if we stand alone having pissing matches."

Mikoto trailed off and watched the six children gather into a loose circle. This has to be the source of her bitterness; adults caught up in senseless competition while the youngest of their number smile, learn, and grow stronger as a cohesive unit.

Mikoto had buried her head in the sand these past years and forgotten. She had notions many would call radical, some would call disruptive, and some would call change. But the hope of a nation is right in front of her she can almost taste it. Except most people praise the truth while secretly abhorring it. People are not keen on being confronted by what they don't want to hear. And again, Mikoto feels helplessness and uncertainty settle over her bones.

"I know that my opinions don't really matter." It is not an apology, but she refused to offer one that would reek of insincerity. "I just see potential constantly being wasted and no one musters the nerve to change things. I'm an Uchiha and I understand better than most how difficult my family can be…but that doesn't mean there isn't a better way."

Shino and Naruto have attached themselves to a tree and appear to be studying a bee hive from a respectful distance away. Hizashi's boy appears to be engaged in a quiet discussion with Minato whose ponytail is swishing lightly while performing cooldown stretches next to him. And Hinata is more or less ordering Sasuke around while the two set up the table with china cups for tea and fresh smelling cinnamon buns on a picnic blanket under the tree.

"You remind me of my wife." Mikoto had been prepared for insults, threats, and disdain, but had not expected the soft—almost grief-stricken—response. Mindful to continue rubbing the sleeping babe's back, Mikoto turned fully to take in the Hyuuga who was watching the children with a hollowness in his eyes.

"I knew Hisani." Mikoto pictured a shower of dark blue hair, a smile that seemed exotic coming from a clan characterized by lack of expression. "We attended the Academy in the same year. Although our clan differences kept us from becoming friends, I remember that she was kind to everyone. Definitely nicer than I was. I had heard she passed…but not how. What happened to her, Hiashi?"

"She gave birth and all seemed to be as it should be. Hisani was tired and slept often but the labor had been a long one and I put it from my mind." Hiashi rasped and the man's pearly eyes glistened with a watery sheen. "But a week after Hanabi was born, a fever came over her in the middle of the night. The medics did all they could, but they suggested the infection had been there all along disguised by her exhaustion. Nothing they did worked and she died within hours."

"I'm sorry for your loss." The words came automatically and Mikoto felt she meant them this time. As a kunoichi, death was something she encountered often, but a loss outside the battlefield seemed so utterly senseless. And it was clear to Mikoto that Hiashi was handling her passing badly.

"My thanks." Came the gruff reply and Mikoto knew she could not leave things in such…a mess.

"I will do what I can for Hinata while she is in my care and you may send Hanabi as well if you believe this will be of benefit."

"Are you suggesting that I am incapable of looking after my children?" The man's guard was back up and there was clear aggression in his stance. Again, Mikoto found Hiashi predictably similar to Fugaku: bull-headed idiots indeed.

"You are angry, grieving, and you are not fine." Mikoto snapped, fully embracing her old friend's gumption while keeping her voice to a low, threatening whisper. "Pretend all you want to the clan elders, but I've seen the looks you've given your daughter. And I've seen how you look at your brother's son. I know that you obviously love your children, but you're so lost in your own grief that you aren't thinking straight. I'm offering to help you not for any political gain, but because it's the right thing to do."

Ominously, the sun vanished behind a shield of grey clouds and rain began to pour. The children all began to shriek and run for cover.

"It appears the weather has turned. I think it's time you leave." Hiashi's face was like stone and his arms were extended in a clear demand. Mikoto felt a keen sense of helplessness as her good faith offering was all but thrown back in her face.

"As you wish." Mikoto regretfully turned over Hanabi and felt a keen sense of regret when the baby settled before starting to cry again, louder and louder. Turning away was like taking a knife to the back and Mikoto felt nothing but failure.

"Hiashi, whether you want to hear it or not…I hope you understand that you don't have to do all this alone. My Clan always wants to do things themselves and it has not made us any better…I think we're on the road to change but it's a difficult road."

With that thought, Mikoto moved to gather her ducklings as escape the Hyuuga Compound as quickly as possible.

---

Mikoto's chakra felt disturbed, but Minato knew better than to say anything. Something definitely had occurred to disturb the normally imperturbable woman but seeing how pinched her lips were, he complied easily with saying a hasty goodbye to Hinata, Neji, and Shino with promises to see all three of them at the Nara residence in a couple days.

Stepping outside, they children stared dubiously at the overwhelming downpour that no sane person would willingly venture into.

"We're walking home in that?" Sasuke looked more than a little dismayed at the prospect.

"I've played in the rain lots of times, Sasuke. It's not so bad." Naruto stuck a hand out from under the shelter and flicked a few droplets toward a disgruntled Sasuke.

"You guys look like you're trapped by the weather!" They all jolted until the spotted a familiar, soaked chunin approaching from the entrance carrying a folded up umbrella. Minato gave a short wave of welcome before burying his fingers in his coat pockets.

"Gumhead! You're here!" Minato nudged Naruto who ignored the elbow to the gut and continued his loud antics, further irritating the bristling chakra signatures in the trees. "If you brought an umbrella, why aren't you using it? You're completely soaked!"

"It's Shisui." Sasuke remarked as if that alone explained everything. "Obviously he's stupid."

"Yeah, I guess." Minato shivered. They were certainly amazing friends, but it never boded well when the two of them agreed on anything.

Kids. Minato just shook his head.

"Hi brats!" Shisui grinned despite his entire wardrobe being sopping wet and his remaining hair clinging to his skull. The older boy futile mopped the wetness away from his eyes. "Soon as I saw the storm appear, I figured I'd better bring you and umbrella, oba-san!"

"You're right on time, Shisui-nii." He complimented the other boy. "You really ought to teach us the shunshin sometime."

"We'll see." The chunin waggled his eyebrows that did a fairly good impression of drowning caterpillars.

"You're a good boy, Shisui-kun." Mikoto accepted the umbrella without commenting further and Minato found his concern growing with the atypical behavior. She was behaving very strangely and it was making him more and more uncomfortable as time went by. "Thank you."

"What about us?" Naruto rounded on the other boy. "Why didn't you bring more than one?!"

"What about you?" There was a flicker of danger in Shisui's almost predatory posture.

"You deliberately didn't bring us one." Sasuke concluded, looking increasingly vengeful as he cracked his knuckles.

"What?" Naruto's outrage was apparent and he swept a fist toward Shisui that the chunin evaded with a cheeky roll of his eyes. Despite missing, Minato could see that the punch was definitely more grounded and steady than it would have been before Naruto's little spar with Hinata today: Minato was impressed.

"So that's how it is, Shisui-nii." Minato was more amused than anything else. "Bring it on."

"Go on then." Mikoto pushed them, a ghost of a smile appearing on her face. "Why don't we see how long it takes Shisui to catch you guys in a game of tag. Stay together and evade him as long as you can. You can have a nice, warm bath as soon as you get home."

"We can do it kaa-san! Just you watch!"

"Big words, let's see if you can live up to them!" Knuckles cracked and Shisui winked at them a little too brightly. "Run away little kiddies!"

Not needing to be told twice, they bolted into the deluge. The rainfall instantly soaked through their clothes and Minato was ridiculously thankful that Mikoto had tied his hair back for him today. The streets had emptied with the downpour which meant they did not have to worry about dodging civvies while splashing through ever-growing puddles that flung mud and grit everywhere. Thankfully the rain was on the warmer side and did not noticeably lower their body temperatures.

"We need to ditch him somehow. We can't let that gumhead win!" Naruto's competitive streak was showing and Sasuke looked to be in complete agreeance. And Minato was not about to let someone else beat him in a game of tactics. Not easily anyway.

"Hiding is out of the question. He's too close." Sasuke's stamina was being sorely tested after a spar with Neji and the Uchiha did not have the benefit of a bijuu in his belly to keep his reserves high. Nevertheless, Sasuke was not about to just give up and Minato respected his friend for his determination.

The footfalls of splashing pursuit sounded far too close for comfort, which called for delay tactics. Pumping a bit of chakra into his feet, he attached himself to the side of a building and only slipped for a second before he adequately adjusted for his reserves and continued to run along the side of the building and avoid the puddles. It only took a moment before Naruto and Sasuke joined him on a mad scramble along the walls.

"Methinks you're slowing down, kiddies!" Shisui sounded utterly delighted and Naruto craned his neck to stick his tongue out at the older boy.

"Shut it, jerk!"

Minato giggled as Naruto and Sasuke growled angrily at the provocation. This was more fun than he expected!

Fishing a sweet bun out of his pocket that he had been saving for later, Minato tested the weight of the potential projectile in his hand for a moment. It was a gross misuse of Hinata's favorite treat, but at least the birds would appreciate it later. Leaping high, Minato torqued his body midair and flung the sticky bun with as much force as he could manage straight at Shisui's face. The maneuver seemed to pay off because the older boy reared back defensively with a surprised squeak. Not willing to waste the opening, Minato finished twisting until he was firmly back on the ground and raced across the sodden road.

"You got him!" Naruto looked more and more excited as he started scanning the terrain.

"We need to find something to get him with?" Sasuke spluttered as he wiped at the water that was pelting them continuously.

"It was a lucky shot and I don't think we're going to catch him off-guard again." Minato's legs burned as the water splashed his already soaked body.

"Got that right!" Shisui blurred into view directly in their path with crossed arms and a superior smirk on his face despite the rain pouring down on him.

"Get him!" Naruto roared.

"Way ahead of you, dobe!" Sasuke readied a fist and raced toward Shisui.

"No, wait!" Minato tried to stall them just as Shisui vanished with a pop of chakra leaving a stick behind and causing Sasuke and Naruto to crash into each other.

"Gumhead!" Naruto groaned as he sat up and rubbed his head. Sasuke merely projected immature killing intent and frantically searched the area for his cousin. "He's dead!"

Minato was already running for the spot he felt Shisui's chakra appear at and pushed himself off the ground and attached himself to Shisui's back. Minato realized the other boy could have dumped him and almost felt sympathetic for instigating revenge against someone who was 'letting them win' but it was Shisui's decision so who was he to question it?

A few seconds later and Sasuke and Naruto charged Shisui. The chunin in question staggered in an exaggerated fashion, his chakra bubbling like joy, before the swaying teen toppled sideways dragging the trio with him into the mucky dirt.

Minato managed to avoid a mouthful of dirty water, but a second later Naruto's flailing sent a hail of grit and mud in his direction.

"Ack, Naruto!" Minato rolled to the side and scrubbed at his eyes, hearing scuffling and rolling.

"Shisui, we're all covered in dirt now!" Minato ignored Sasuke's complaining and carefully blinked his eyes open.

Apparently that was a mistake since Naruto took that second to jump in a puddle right next to him splashed Minato right in the face.

"That's it!" Minato wiped his eyes on his soggy sleeve and stomped on his own puddle and smirked evilly when Shisui and his two friends spluttered in shock.

"Alright! Splash attack!" Naruto surged forward and started peddling his arms in the water kicking up spray in all of their faces.

Sasuke swiftly retaliated by tackling Naruto into the water. Minato rather suspected that Sasuke just preferred to physically demolish someone after losing so badly to Neji earlier. Shisui whipped out a few hand signs and Minato recognized vaguely as a weak futon jutsu; throwing his hands up, Minato gasped as he was clobbered by a wave of wind propelled water until he landed on his rear a good dozen feet away from a laughing Shisui.

Minato rubbed a red eye blearily and gagged up a mouthful of water. A moment later, Sasuke was staggering to his knees and the Senju felt his friend grab his arm and tug him upward. He whispered thanks to which his friend gave him a short nod. To no surprise, Naruto was already on his feet with a defiant look enhanced by muddy streaks that looked like war paint decorating his face.

"Sasuke, Minato, you guys distract him." Naruto cracked his knuckles promisingly. "I'll get him."

"On it." Minato confirmed. At this point, Shisui should know he had a good beating coming and Minato was more than happy to assist the blonde in a sinister scheme.

"Make it good, Naruto." Sasuke stepped away and planted his feet in a ready position.

"I'm all over it."

Minato and Sasuke shared a glance, the Senju subtly lifted a finger and gestured. Shisui was still laughing, still a chunin, and still way out of their league, but Minato knew the other boy would play along to a certain extent and if anyone could pull off a fun victory it would be his son.

"Want another beating huh?" Shisui grinned.

The duo charged forward while Naruto stayed in reserve until they were three-quarters of the way to their target when Minato veered off. It was not much of a plan, but Minato felt it was a positive that they had a plan at all. Shisui's head turned to follow his momentum for a second and Sasuke used the opportunity to close the distance and take a swing for the chunin's gut. Minato swung around from the opposite side, but he had not closed in quite yet. Sasuke's attack was agilely dodged and Shisui's eyes glinted with amusement as Minato ran toward the other boy who had turned to intercept him.

"Take this bastard!" Naruto used Sasuke's position to launch himself up to Shisui's face and smash a glowing blob of mud that had been sticking to Naruto's hand into the startled chunin's face. It was a feat that would have been impossible for the jinchuuriki prior to learning a more advanced form of chakra control and part of Minato really couldn't believe what had just happened. If his eyes had not been deceived, Naruto had developed his first technique. Definitely more of a handy E-rank parlour trick, but potentially useful.

Shisui was on the ground hacking and choking up mud but there was a trace of disbelieving wonder on the chunin's face. Sasuke had not gotten a clear view of what happened, but looked relatively pleased with his relative's gagging so raised a fist to bump together with Naruto. Minato on the other hand was trying to wrap his head around what exactly Naruto had done.

A second later and the hair stood up and there was a surge of familiar chakra. Minato grinned in delight when he was plucked from his feet and lifted into lanky, strong arms.

"Maa, looks like you've been beaten Shisui-kun." Kakashi's voice rumbled in greeting. "You're all dirty, pup."

"Yep." Minato's nose tickled by the sent of explosive residue, smoke, and blood. An assassination mission would explain why the arms wrapped around him felt like iron. Without attempting to free himself, Minato wrapped his arms around his brother's torso and tucked his face into the damp flak jacket and listened to the frantic heartbeat beneath his ear ease into a staggered rhythm. A little more water was hardly going to make much of a difference.

"I'm glad you're here." A hand wandered to his ponytail and gave it an affectionate tug.

"Ugh, it's you." Minato heard Naruto grumbling below. "You better not be kidnapping him again!"

"Hmm." Kakashi's chakra uncoiled and the man gave Naruto a lazy eye-smile. "Did you say something, Naruto?"

He was about to ask the other boy when a voice rang out in a voice that was far too familiar even after two decades sealed way; some things, some people were just unforgettable.

"Is that you Hatake-brat?" Someone called in a voice that rang far too familiar in Minato's ear and his brother jolted to alertness. Whipping his head around, Minato peered through the sprinkling rain toward where three individuals stood near the shinobi check-in station.

Even in a downpour wearing a cape, Jiraiya-sensei is unmistakeable. A few spikes of white hair, a few more lines that are just visible due to the street lights, and an overall sense of amusement. Next to the overly tall Sannin, Tsunade looked no less imposing though her chakra emanated with varying degrees of skittishness and rage. The healer's faithful shadow, Shizune, looked far more tolerant and almost wistful as she looked around her as if memorizing different details.

And if there is person capable of seeing through Minato's carefully crafted deception, it will be Jiraiya. Keeping his former name is a detriment under these circumstances, but it had seemed like the best course of action at the time. Still this left Minato wondering if he had possibly made a grave error somewhere along the line. Though he supposed he could always fall back on just telling Jiraiya the truth if at all necessary.

"Breathe." Minato heard the voice and blinked once before reappearing in the artificial grove next to his best friend.

"If I'm going to make a mistake, this is where I make it." Minato stared at his snow-pale reflection in a false lake looking equally grim and a touch shy of nervous. "I'm only human, Kurama. I can't always help feeling nervous."

"The truth is more simplistic than that." Giant tails freely swayed through the air creating gusts of disturbed territory with each motion. "Jiraiya was the closest thing you ever had to a father. For that alone he is the one most likely to unravel your secrets, Minato. But the real danger is the one you already know about but refuse to acknowledge. You want him to find out the truth."

"I don't." Minato denied it; and for an instant he swore the image on the pond was of a man with spiky, golden hair and with cerulean eyes and…a great paw splashed the image and all that was left was an almost girlish face with curiously red eyes staring forlornly at the surface.

"Before you befriended me, deceiving yourself would have been a simple matter." Kurama's voice was curiously patient and gentle—very unlike his massive friend. "But now I share your every thought and see what you see. And I can sense how much feel Jiraiya could be trusted. You see him like I saw the Sage. But unlike my old man, Jiraiya has always been loyal to Konoha first. Even if he were to believe you, every word you spoke to him would be relayed to the Sandaime and soon enough those words would reach Danzo and possibly Obito's ears."

'You don't know that, Kurama.' But those words were desperation themselves. 'If Jiraiya-sensei believes me, I know I could persuade him to— '

'If.' Kurama plucks him from the ground and drops in a paw and stares down dispassionately. 'Are you willing to gamble your son's life on a chance?'

'That's not fair.' He rasped. 'You yourself have already reminded me that Naruto isn't my son.'

'While that remains true, your love for him burns brightly as ever. You are…coping better than I had hoped. Perhaps acceptance is not out of the question, given time. But you saw what happened in that future, Minato. We lost. And you cannot gamble this new chance away on hopes and dreams that have no place in this world.'

'How is it that you're the one that has been imprisoned unfairly the longest yet you can see more clearly than I can sometimes? You don't deserve what we've done to you, Kurama. I'm sorry for what I had to do.' The small boy reached out and stroked the vulpine face gently. The monstrous fox chuffed but allowed the touch. 'You're right, Kurama. I can't pin this new future on hope.'

'Don't lump yourself in with the rest of your species, Minato.' The fox looked almost devilish for a moment. 'You may have sealed us both away, but my revenge will be exacted on someone who truly deserves his fate. Besides, we need to celebrate.'

'Eh?' Minato blinked feeling rather clueless.

A tail smacked the unsuspecting jinchuuriki with a mouthful of fluff. 'Ack! Kurama!'

'Tsunade being here means we don't have to tolerate the filthy Uchiha Clan anymore.' The massive bijuu purred contently and Minato narrowed in on the fuzzy chakra that radiated something far more sinister than malevolence: joy.

'You…' he stuttered, catching himself with the fox's maw closed in a bit too close for comfort. Best friend or not, Minato knew better than to test the limit's of the bijuu's patience. 'I thought you had gotten over our friendship with Sasuke.'

'Itachi is…fine. Shisui is a fool but harmless to us. Sasuke mettle will be tested by me at a later time. Still…the Sharingan is disgusting, evil, and I loathe its existence. As much as I detest that accursed Senju family, my tolerance for them is significantly greater.'

'Really feeling the love, Kurama.' Minato mumbled.

'I merely hate your Clan and everything they stand for, not you.' Kurama snorted, his large eyes beginning to droop and Minato felt himself shooed out of reach of the spear-like claws.

'Right then.' Somehow, the Senju had a feeling that was as good as it was going to get. Minato released his grip on the cage. 'Thanks again, old friend.'

'Quit annoying me and get out of here.'

---

To Tsunade, the rain was a mild irritation compared to the massive migraine she was currently suffering. Jiraiya had 'suggested' they seek shelter but Tsunade just wanted to get to Konoha, meet with sensei, and get the hell out of the Kami forsaken village.

Her forefather's stone faces felt unbearably constricting and unfairly guilty.

'I don't care what you think of me Oji-san. I'm not the naïve little girl you once knew. And pigs will fly before I stay another night in this godforsaken village.'

the blonde ground her heel and resisted the urge to put Jiraiya through a wall. That could wait until after she had given Sarutobi-sensei a piece of her mind.

"Tsunade-sama, are you staying now?" There was something akin to wonder or hero worship on the brunette's face. This chunin was probably just going to be another dead bit of fodder and she would never see him again and she was not likely to remember this later since she intended to be as smashed as humanly possible.

Looking back sourly at the doe eyed boy—because no thirteen-year-old chunin was truly an adult—Tsunade shook her head roughly and turned away.

"She's having a bad day. Don't take it personally kid." There was her old friend trying to smooth over her rough edges for her. It was one of the few aspects of her old friend that Tsunade had the most patience for since it was less offensive than his more persistent habits.

"Let's just get this over with, Jiraiya."

Tsunade ignored the rain splattering her legs and the mud clinging to her heels as she stomped forward. Jiraiya made some vague excuse and was quick to catch up to her. The medic felt a bit badly for causing Shizune discomfort, but she promised herself she would make it up to the girl later. Maybe they would stop buy a resort, gambling town and Shizune could get a nice massage.

"Is that you, Hatake-brat?" Jiraiya called out like the loudmouth he was. Tsunade folded her arms and felt a simmering resentment that she managed to contain as her teammate addressed a tall man with gravity defying hair—even in the downpour. Said man was holding a dirty child with a similar hair color while two other youngsters resembling drowned rats stood next to an equally grubby looking teenager. It reminded Tsunade of all the reasons that it was possibly a lucky break that she had skipped parenthood. Unless Dan of course—

Tsunade slammed the door on that line of thinking, hardened, and whipped around so fast that her hood fell backward and the rain—easing up, thank goodness—merely sprinkled her hair with dampness.

"Welcome home, Jiraiya-sama." Namikaze's apprentice nodded respectfully to Jiraiya and once to her—not that she bothered returning said gesture. Though she did make eye contact, briefly noting the way the copy-nin shifted child to his hip and wrapped a protective arm around the youngster. "Tsunade-sama, it's…good to see you back."

There was something hidden there buried in that tone of voice that she could not readily identify, but Tsunade was not in the mood for mind games. There would be enough of those later.

"I'll have to give you a new autographed copy of my latest book." Jiraiya offered and Tsunade fought back a scowl at the mention of the disgusting literature. "I'll catch up with you after we check in with my sensei."

"Thank you, Jiraiya-sama."

Before Tsunade could snag her teammate's ear and drag him to the tower, she felt a preternatural stillness fall over the man at her side.

Jiraiya has his quirks, but even a decade since their last altercation, Tsunade was capable of recognizing when her most loyal friend was on guard. Her unease flickering, the blonde scanned the group and settled on the dark haired youth that was wiping away smears of mud from his hitai-ate. The teen's face was peculiarly expressive and the coloring screamed Uchiha, but there hardly seemed anything that Jiraiya would have reacted to. Scoffing, she barely glanced at the smaller Uchiha, but paused and felt herself soften with understanding as her gaze travelled over impossibly wide sky-blue eyes and familiar spiky blonde hair. The possession marks told another rather heartbreaking story and the Senju patted her old friend. So old pains…it certainly made a sort of sense now.

"Shizune and I can deal with sensei ourselves, Jiraiya." Tsunade had experienced enough loss in her life to not wish it on another person. Jiraiya had never been the same after his beloved student's death and she knew from experience he would never completely heal from that.

Tsunade was sure some part of sensei disapproved of Jiraiya's lack of involvement in Naruto's life; still, she was not about to cast stones when she would hardly have fared any better.

Namikaze's brat had hauled himself to his feet and called out with every once of his mother's brashness.

"I'm going to be the Hokage, dattebayo!" Tsunade's eyes closed and she heard that same declaration echo in her own ears from the two men that she had lost far too soon. "And my friends are going to be my ANBU generals."

"There is no such thing, dobe!" Another voice protested.

"Good to hear it, kid." There was some of her comrade's brashness, but Jiraiya had lost none of his stiffness. If anything, Tsunade could have sworn the man was about to start firing off jutsus.

"What is—?" A non-subtle elbow jabbed into her side and Tsunade instinctively raised her fist only for a gauntleted hand to beat her to the punch and tap her own chakra-charged fist before pointing a finger.

"Look?"

"Yes, I see Namikaze's brat." Tsunade hissed at just above a whisper, but kept her attention focused on her obviously distraught comrade. "Jiraiya I'm going— "

"Hime!" Jiraiya interrupted her again and an instant later he was behind her and giving her a rough shake. "Look again!"

Feeling disgruntled and knowing her hair was now clinging unpleasantly to her face, the Senju woman turned back and looked past the blonde bundle of energy that had dismissed their presence and was chatting with the broody mini-Uchiha. The teenage Uchiha had placed himself at Hatake's side and was reaching for the silver haired boy, saying something in tones she could not quite make out and the child turned his head toward her. Scarlet eyes blinked at her, while that silver hair that she had previously disregarded added another piece to the puzzle. Most damning of all was the rainwater that was eroding the last bit of mud from the child's face. Underneath the muck, a signature red slash adorned a cheek. The child—Kami the child looked almost waifish—turned his face revealing the identical, damning mark on the opposite cheek.

"Tsunade-sama, is that?" Shizune asked her and Tsunade felt a giggle morph into a sob in her throat before clenching her teeth and her ears started to ring. It was as if the all the air had been expelled from her lungs in an instant. Any notions about an easy exit fled and Tsunade felt herself recoiling in a panic.

No…no…it could not be. It was impossible! What the hell was going on? What kind of sick joke was this? What the hell? What the hell? I'm going to kill whoever thought this was funny. I'm going to-

"Tsunade-sama." Shizune had latched onto her elbow and the Sannin could sense the woman's erratic heartrate from their close proximity. She shrugged off the woman's attentions almost viciously and could rustle up the effort to feel guilty about it.

Sarutobi-sensei had a lot of explaining to do and if she was not satisfied with the outcome, a new office would be the smallest of his concerns.

Author's Note: Okay! Sorry for the delay. Two days after Christmas, I order a new computer. The next day my old computer stopped working completely. So a big, wonderful thank you to my best friend "R" for going through my files and recovering this chapter and some other documents from my computer. Seriously, rewriting this thing from scratch would have ruined my day.

Thank you to everyone who has given my story a chance. And a HUGE thank you to my reviewers. It was a really discouraging series of events but you guys kept me from throwing in the towel. Love you guys and hope to hear from you again!