He pressed something into her hand. A kunai but the tag on this one was different than any other.
"If you ever need me, use this."
She looked at the weapon curiously. "What does it do?"
"It'll let me know where you are. Doesn't matter when or where, promise me you'll use it." He knew all too well her village was closer to Iwa and with war so close, it had him worried.
"I promise. I have a question though."
"Hm?"
"How is this going to work? I mean, if we aren't allowed to see each other after this," She hated the idea of it. "What are we going to do?"
Minato thought for a minute then smirked. "We're ninja, aren't we?"
"Yeah…" Kushina didn't see where he was going with this.
"We could have a meeting place outside our villages. Away from everything else."
"I know just the place! Come on!" She was up and pulling him up with her. Where she got her bursts of energy, no one knew.
He had no idea where she was leading him but that didn't stop him from following her. They wound their way through the forest for about an hour. No words were exchanged. Kushina looked like she was concentrated too much on trying to keep from getting lost to spark a conversation. He chuckled lightly at that, not that she noticed.
Kushina ducked under a low hanging branch and turned to see Minato hadn't done the same. Instead he had walked into it. She bit her lip to keep from laughing "Maybe you should watch where you're going and not watch me so much."
"You say that like its easy." He teased, going under the branch.
Kushina closed the space between them. Entwining their fingers, she raised herself on her tiptoes and kissed him. It was sweet and easy to get lost in but she knew she had his complete attention for the time being and control.
He didn't much appreciate it when her lips parted from his. A hint of a pout crossed his face.
She snickered. "We're here."
He looked at the clearing behind her. Simple. A small stream ran through the middle, glistening in the fading sunlight. Minato scratched the back of his head. "Where exactly is here?"
"You weren't paying attention the whole way here?" She sighed. "It's about 30 miles east of Konoha… from the main gate that is."
He smiled at her and moved forward as she led him into the clearing. Apparently, he hadn't learned his lesson the first time to watch where he was going and tripped.
Kushina lost her balance when he fell into her. Both toppled to the ground; Kushina landing flat on her back and Minato on top of her. Now a blush stained her cheeks. She hooked a finger around the collar of his shirt as he tried to move off of her. "Stay."
He stopped moving. Surprised by her demand but he wasn't going protest.
"You seemed a little upset when we got here. I never said I was done." Propping herself up with one arm, she pressed her lips to his. It only took a second to coax a reaction out of him.
He slipped an arm around her waist. His free hand brushed Kushina's hair out of her face. They were alone and both of them knew that. Alone time was rare. Being from different villages, not to mention being on opposing sides of an impending war, had them under constant watch.
Kushina locked her arms around his neck and rolled them over to put herself on top. She straddled his hips, lying on top of him.
Minato slid a hand onto the small of her back. A smirk played on his lips as he felt her take the initiative to deepen their kiss. A snap of a branch brought them both from sweet bliss. He sat them up and there was a protectiveness to the way he held Kushina.
A trio of ANBU from Whirlpool had found them.
Kushina froze in his lap. She knew why they were here but hated that they were a day early. They weren't going to leave without her.
"Why are you so early?" She snapped.
"War." That word was the only one that need be said.
"What?!" She was hoping against hope she had heard wrong.
"We sided with Iwakagure which means you're currently sitting on the enemy." One ANBU said, already with a shuriken in hand.
"Don't even think about it…" She watched the shuriken vanish from his hand. "Give me a minute and I'll come meet you… please."
They nodded and left the area, choosing an easy enough place to find to wait for her.
Minato tighten his hold around her waist. He could tell she was torn between her loyalty to her village and staying with him. "You know how to get me."
She nodded but it didn't help. "Promise you'll come."
"Anytime you need me no matter the reason."
They shared a brief last kiss before she slid off him. Kushina stood up, managing to keep her composure.
He stood with her. "It'll be okay. I'll see you again."
"Off the battle field and on good terms?"
"Maybe to the first and always to the second."
She hugged him before leaving him standing there to meet the ANBU.
They were waiting for her, all masked with hoods pulled up. She silently followed them.
"There will be no more missions for you to see him."
That struck a nerve. She was careful to bite back her response. They wouldn't be able to meet again until she was in trouble and she knew he would rather avoid a situation like that.