Awaking feeling somewhat energized was a novel experience, one I had wondered I might never experience again. But thanks to Minato, I felt refreshed and full of life I had long since given up on, he made me wonder if there was a chance; however small, that I could make a difference here. I'm scared still to get close to anyone outside of my quartet family, it's hard enough to know there will come a day where I'll have to grieve them let alone anyone else outside of their circle. However, now that Minato had helped me I felt almost obligated to allow him into the circle, into my range of trust and love that I doubted I'd ever freely give away. It was an odd feeling, but a pleasant one, to finally be opening up a little. Liberating, I suppose. It was like a huge weight was being eased off my tiny shoulders, a weight I might no longer need to carry on my own. But enough of my internal thoughts, let's see how this day goes and if the night that follows can be as smooth as the one previous or hopefully even smoother.

Nobody came into my room for a while after I woke, probably scared to wake me when I was finally so blissfully asleep. However I was growing hungry, pangs of it fluttering through my stomach that caused me to whimper. I let out a short sharp noise, hoping that I might alert one of the two adults I knew to be present in the house at most, if not all, times. The door slid open and I raised my arms towards it anticipating Tou-san or Kaa-san to pick me up and take me to get a bottle, when dainty but strong arms lifted me up I blanched in confusion at the lack of familiarity but the sense of knowing the person who lifted me.

"Good morning, Izuna-chan!" That was definitely not Kaa-san or Tou-san. Glancing up I met the blue eyes of Minato, eyes widening I studied his face carefully from the genuinely happy smile to the upturned eyes.

"Yep, definitely Minato."

Letting out a breath I hadn't noticed I'd been holding, I allowed Minato to pull me close to himself and walk out of the nursery. Fixated on him I took in as much information as I could, glancing at the way his hair fell, the light that reflected off him from the open doorways and windows to the blueness of his eyes. I definitely could grow to like him, he was by far the most handsome adult currently around; and probably the least emotionally stunted too apart from Kaa-san. The uchiha had that tendency I reckon, emotional deprivation...didn't really help being brought up by them. Though I suppose I had only met my blood relations, so as such I shouldn't judge. As soon as I left my thoughts I noticed something different, I couldn't hear Kaa-san shuffling around the kitchen which was unusual and Itachi wasn't tearing after Minato in an attempt to say good morning to me either. Glancing over at the nearing coffee table in the open front area I saw nobody either, just a single mug of what looked like hot coffee and a pre-warmed bottle of my formula. Sitting down Minato leaned me back and began feeding me the bottle, I'm grateful really but oh so confused as this is normally Kaa-san's job and Itachi would always be begging to hold the bottle for me.

"So where are they?"

The bottle moved from my lips, empty now. My tummy full and, as Minato burped me over his shoulder, I heard a few words from his mouth. Most of which made no sense, my understanding of Japanese still very limited to what tidbits I remember from before this life and the bits I've gleaned from my family.

"You...where...Mikoto...Itachi...out...me...care...back." That really hadn't helped a whole lot, but I could kind of put the situation together in my head.

"Kaa-san has gone out with Ni-san, Tou-san is probably working and Minato is here watching over me?"

That made the most sense, but why Minato? I get that Kaa-san is good friends with Kushina but I've not even met her yet so why Minato? Somebody, who by all accounts, had no reason other than Kushina to be at the Uchiha head's house. It frustrated me that I had focused so much on movement I'd neglected to try and pick up the language faster, I really wanted to ask questions and to communicate just as much as I wanted to move and survive. Survival could involve asking the right questions and understanding provided information, so on that aspect I was more screwed than movement currently. The notion was not helpful, there was no way I could express my want to learn...or was there. Quickly I struggled in Minato's grip, worming my way out of his lap and onto the wooden floorboards of the main welcome area. Quickly trying to work out which direction the family turned playroom from before was in I tested my legs, sliding them in front of each other in some sort of crawl turned shuffle. Moving purposefully I kept looking for the right door, i'd never seen it closed so hopefully…

"There it is!"

A shoji door wide open showed me the room I'd been in with Itachi the other day, blanket and blocks still laid out on the floor in messy but purposeful positions. Continuing my determined motions I moved towards the blocks before unceremoniously dropping into a seated position before the charactered objects. Reaching out I turned to make sure that Minato had followed me, he crouched over my left shoulder eyes focused on my actions to ensure he didn't miss a bit. Using my stubby fingers I managed to pick up the top block, a character I couldn't recognise, and pulled it closer before holding it to Minato. He took the block, confusion knitting his brow as I stared at him then at the block and back again. It took a few minutes of staring and furrowed brows for him to make sense of the request.

"You...learn?" Was all I understood but I eagerly nodded, grinning at him in a way I couldn't have hoped to have done when I first became aware here. Immediately he sat in front of me pushing all the blocks to one side so there was room in between us. For a moment he had a thoughtful look on his face but he soon got into it and went into teaching mode, quickly showing me a cube and saying the character on it. We did this over and over again, till I'd memorised the characters and their sounds by heart. He praised me and hugged me when I finally did it all correct in one go, tickling me and eliciting giggles before laying on his back, placing me on his rising and falling chest. My head tucked in under his chin and I sighed, knowing that I had let him in already.

"So this is where Naruto got it from."

He just made me open my heart, a heart so solid and closed off to the world. He made me want to live, not just exist and be, but really and truly live. It made so much sense why Naruto was the way he was in the future, even if he hadn't known his father he was going to be so much like him in so many ways. It made me smile, because despite the bad in this world, maybe just maybe, the good was worth fighting for after all. Or even just these moments, as brief as they might become.

We stayed like that until Mikoto and Itachi found us in the playroom, small smiles and giggles stirring us from our nap. Sheepish smiles and gentle laughter filled the room, Itachi running over to leap at Minato and myself before joining in on a group hug along with Kaa-san. It was lovely, I just wish Tou-san was here too. Soon enough Minato handed me over to Kaa-san and headed for the door, I was sad to see him go but before he left he turned around and ruffled my hair.

"See you, Zu-chan." His words were genuine and the setting sun illuminated him with a halo as he disappeared from sight, blushing slightly at the affection I let Kaa-san cart me and Itachi off to the dinner table for some dinner. Her smile never faltering, even though Tou-san wasn't here with us tonight.

"Must be a clan meeting? Or a mission maybe, he looks like he is still in active duty after all."

The thought briefly crossed my mind, but I didn't worry. He was Tou-san after all and in the story he wouldn't die yet so why worry. He'd be back with us soon, I knew it. Looking longingly at the soft mashed potatoes in my bowl I realised that nobody was moving to feed me and a spoon was laid down next to my bowl, on the right side...my dominant hand side.

"I'm meant to feed myself?"

I mean I've done this before so It can't be that hard, right? Wrong. By the end of the meal mashed potato was everywhere and only half of the bowl even made it to my mouth before Kaa-san fed me the rest. Much to say my co-ordination and strength leaves a lot to be desired. Now the sun is setting, filling me again with panic. Quickly Mikoto scooped me up, gliding purposefully on light feet towards my room; Itachi at her heels. I had to wonder why, what difference would another room make where it hadn't before. The moment we were in the room, Itachi sliding shut the shoji door, the outside world vanished. In that moment all I felt were us, and it left me intrigued, focusing on the feelings of my families chakra that I'd been too overwhelmed before to feel.

"Kaa-san feels warm and gentle and Nii-san feels warm and...excitable?"

I couldn't be sure It was like grasping at something I had no idea how to use, my sense was so different and I couldn't fully understand how to grasp at the tendrils of chakra emanating naturally from my two family members currently present. But it was nice, to learn more about them without feeling the fear and utter terror of being overwhelmed and out of control. Another moment of joy that made this world worth living, opening up my stone heart even further. I couldn't even fathom how the nursery was now a safe space whilst I learned to control and live with my sense, but I knew it likely had to do with one bright haired man and his love for seals.

"Thank you...Minato."

I fell asleep in the arms of Kaa-san, hands being held between Ni-san's own, cocooned in the warmth and love of family in a world that was seeming less scary day by day.


END OF CHAPTER 4: LEARNING

Key:

"Thoughts"

Inner Guidance

"Speech"

One Horizontal Line = Time Passing

Author's Note:

So one more update! The updates are being more spread out but you can probably see that they are getting longer in length, I hope the extra day delay is worth the length expansion. Of course when the story progresses more the length will also increase, at the moment it's Izuna's baby days, she isn't up to a huge amount but the chapters show her steps in establishing herself and her place in the Naruto world.

Anywho thank you again to all of my subs/favs and all the people who are following and actively reading my story. It motivates me to continue and to continue doing the best I can for you all! If you spot any errors feel free to message me and I'll correct them ASAP; I'm doing my best to still go back and correct other errors when I spot them but there are many things you guys and gals will likely find that I may miss.

So enjoy, keep reading and please give me feedback it makes my story better!

K-Chan x