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Normal POV

The dictionary definition of an orphan is: a child, who has lost one or both parents through death. If we look at it that way then Namikaze Minato, contrary to popular belief, is not an orphan. As to be an orphan your parents have to be dead and his parents are not dead, yet at least. So with that in mind, how about little information about Minato's parents. Let's start with his mother, Namikaze Saiko, a green-eyed and blonde-hair beauty, which has few parallels. At the age of seventeen Saiko ran away to Konoha to be with Takeshi Arashi, Minato's father. To those that knew her it was no surprise, she had always been a romantic and the handsome black-haired, blue-eyed Arashi caught her eye. A little about Arashi: he is one of smartest and strongest Shinobi Konoha has ever produced. Anyway, he and Saiko were a happy couple. Unfortunately, their happiness did not last. Kumogakure kidnapped his wife, when Minato was a few months old. Arashi was sent to look for her and he never came back. Most assume they're dead, so Minato was put into in orphanage; Arashi had no known relatives and the last Saiko's family had died during the war. As for the current location of Minato's parents, you could find Saiko in an underground prison- in Kumogakure- and Arashi could be found in the cell next to her. They are malnourished, dirty and hang limply from their chains, but they are still breathing, if only barely. Both have long since given hope of being saved, but good things come to those who wait. Something good is on way, give it 3 years and it'll come in the form of a redhead, with fiery temper. Now that's cleared up, let's see how our protagonists are doing.

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Kushina was discharged out of the hospital two weeks ago and has been training harder, than ever before. There have been some setbacks, since the sealing, as well as benefits. A benefit is being able to sense negative emotions, and one setback is the drastic change in her chakra control: it has never been perfect, but now it's worse. Hell most academy students have more control than she does. So she has been working on improving it. As for her vow to protect Minato, she decided to hold that off, till she's strong enough. Besides Minato is Chūnin and Kushina is Genin, there's a drastic difference of skill and they hardly see each other. You can't protect someone, if they're not around. Anyways, Kushina got her own problems. One of those problems is her team. Her team is made of two girls and one boy, but that's not the problem. The problem is that Iwana Jiro, Kushina's male teammate, is in love with her, or at least he thinks he is. Also he, somehow, got the diluted idea that him and Kushina will get married, retire from active duty, and have three children. As for the girl, Masuyo is umm... the founder of Minato-kun is the Greatest Fan-club™. Poor Kushina, she has the worst luck. However, it could be worse, at least they can get along well enough, to get things done. Even if it is only because Masuyo doesn't know about Minato's crush on Kushina. Good thing too. Now, Kushina sensei is another problem. He plays favorites and his favorite is Jiro. Also, he tends to ignore the girls in favor of Jiro. Unlike Kushina Masuyo doesn't care. As far as she is concerned it's not a problem; after all, it gives her more time to beatify herself for Minato, that Fan-girl. Kushina, on the other hand, sees it as a huge problem. But no one really listens to her complaints so she is force to learn on her own using her clan's scrolls and and books she checks out from the Shinobi library

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Minato's Pov

I wish sensei wasn't on a mission; he's the only one who will spar with me. No one else takes me seriously… I miss Michiko and Daichi; they always take me seriously and give me advice, even if I am younger than them.

There was a loud crashing sound followed by some swearing. It was then I realized, after looking around, that I've wandered into a private training area.

I better leave before I'm noticed, who ever this place belongs to might get angry, if they see me, but the person yelling sounds familiar. Hmm…

"Who's there?" The familiar voice asked, the sound of movement followed. Kushina materialized on a branch of a nearby tree. "Huh? Minato? What are you doing here?"

"Kushina?" I blinked in confusion, "Sorry, I just kind of stumbled on to this place by accident."

"Oh, hey, want to spar?" She asked.

"You want to spar with me?" Why would she want to?

Kushina grinned, "Of course, I want to see if the Namikaze are really as amazing as the history books say."

"My last name isn't in any history books." Now I'm confused, what is she talking about?

"In Uzushiogakure, your last name is mentioned in every history book. One of the two legendary clans. Anyways, do you want to spar or not?" Kushina asked.

"Sure. Umm, if you don't mind me asking... Why is my surname mentioned as a legendary clan, in your village's history books?" I asked as she led me to a clearing.

"I'll tell you, after we spar." Kushina replied as she turned to face me, "Ready when you are."

"What are the rules?" I asked.

'Taijutsu only." Kushina said, "Lethal force, and maiming are not allowed."

"Got it. So, I guess we start now?" I waited for her to agree.

Kushina nodded, then she went to punch me, but I avoided it.

Kushina stared at the spot I was just at and said: "You're fast. Like really fast. This will be fun!"

After that we just ran around, trading blow after blow, until we both were exhausted and by then it was already dark out.

Kushina slumped on to the ground next to me, "That was fun, even though I lost."

"Yeah it was. You know you're the only person, besides my team, who will spar with me. No one seems to take me seriously despite my rank. Thank you." I smiled at her.

"You don't have to thank me. Though I do get what you mean... Hey, Minato, umm, you want to spar again sometime?" Kushina asked.

I smiled, "Sure, how about once a week? Unless we have a mission or something like that."

"Every Saturday, around the same time as today?" She asked.

"Sure, that works for me. Come on I walk you home." I stood up, and waited for her to do the same, "On the way, you can tell me why my surname is in you village's history books."

Kushina dusted herself off and began, "Well, you see, according to the history books, in the beginning there was chaos and one day Amatsu-Mikaboshi, created Jūbi out of hatred and chakra to kill all living things. To protect the humans two gods were asked by Amaterasu, Kami-no-Kaze and the goddess/god Inari, to create a powerful Clan of Humans to defeat and seal away Jūbi. Kami-no-Kaze created the Namikaze Clan and Inari the Uzumaki Clan. Both clans were given gifts to help themselves: like regeneration, which I think originally only the Namikaze Clan had but now the Uzumaki Clan has it too. Anyways, it says the two Clans kept Jūbi in check for decades. Any questions."

"Why isn't this in any history books I've seen?" I asked.

"Not sure, but I read somewhere that some insane schizophrenic, who called himself Napoleon, once said, 'History is the version of past events that people have decided to agree on.' Or something like that." Kushina replied, "Though it's probably because it's so unbelievable. The Uchiha and Senju have been broadcasting their relation to the Rikudō Sennin for centuries and an Uchiha ancestor had a Rinnegan. The Uzumaki have keep quiet about and no one in my clan has had a Rinnegan in years. Who would you believe?"

"Honestly, I don't know. But I can't exactly say I believe the Uchiha and Senju. Neither have had the Rinnegan user, since Konoha's founding." I looked up realizing we had already reached Kushina's house.

She smiled at me, an enigmatic smile kind of smile, and it was as if she knew something I didn't.

"Well, see you around, Minato." She said, opening the door.

"See you." I replied, and began heading home.

Kushina, she actually spoke to me… She's so cool, but I can't help wonder: what does she knows, that I don't. That smile she gave me it seemed like she was happy with my answer, but why? I hope one day I figure it out. Maybe I'll ask her about it.

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