Tale of the Dual Hokages

Minato looked at Akita taken aback. "A… Akita… why would you say that?" He watched her carefully as the tears flowed from her purple gold eyes.

Akita glared at him. "That's what you've always wanted. Why not just let me bleed out and die!?" She winced grabbing her stomach.

Jiraiya walked into the room looked between the two. "What's going on? Akita you know you're not supposed to be moving." He crossed his arms standing in front of Minato.

Minato shook his head. "Nothing Sensei, I was just leaving. I have some thing's I have to do. Excuse me." With that Minato left.

Akita sat up in her bed that night. She winced. 'Dammit… how did I let myself get in this condition…?' She shook her head and looked over to the chair beside her bed. Mizuki was peacefully asleep in the chair. She pulled herself from the bed and grabbed her gear. She hadn't thought much of going off on her own. She knew that this was the worst time as well but she had to, for the sake of the village. She looked at Mizuki and softly kissed his forehead. 'I love you guys…' She let out a breathless sigh before jumping out of the window. She wouldn't be back, or at least, that's what she thought.

~6 years later~

Minato walked beside Kushina their hands entwined with their sons hands. The small blond child laughed as his mother and father swung him back and forth. Kushina smiled brightly her red hair blowing in the wind. Minato's blue eyes landed on his wife. She reminded him so much of his old teammate. He let out a saddening sigh.

Kushina looked at him. "What is it love?" She burrowed her brows watching him carefully.

Minato looked at her and gave her a soft smile. "Nothing dear… just thinking about her…" He picked Naruto up. "Want to grab some lunch son?"

Naruto jumped happily in his father's arms. "YES!" Minato laughed lightly.

Kushina placed a hand softly on Minato's bicep. "I know you miss her Minato… but there's nothing we can do about it now. She's gone… you heard what Jiraiya-sensei said. She was killed." Minato nodded.

Minato sat in his office chair and turned around to look out the window behind his desk. 'Akita…' He closed his eyes. He had never gotten over his first love but he did have a connection with Kushina, he loved her. He would never love her as much as he loved Akita. He turned back to his desk and looked through some papers. Kushina had been sent off on a mission to observe Orochimaru. He hated sending her off on observation missions. Minato stood. Paced. There was a light knock on the door that brought him out of his thoughts. "Come in…"

The door opened and a hooded figure walked in covered in blood and carrying a lifeless Kushina. Minato's eyes went wide.

"K… Kushina?!" He ran to the figure and took his wife from their arms. "N… No…" He grit his teeth and looked up to nothing. The person who had stood before him carrying his dead wife was gone. He called for medical ops. He had to find the person who had brought his wife back. Naruto was left with Kakashi and he went into the village.

The hooded figure stood in the Uchiha graveyard. Akita reached up dropping her hood, her dark red hair falling in curls around her shoulders. "I'm sorry mother and father… I've failed you…" She dropped her head and placed her hands against her mother and fathers headstones. A voice shocked her from her thoughts.

"Akita… No, it can't be. You're alive?" Minato stood a couple feet behind her, his eyes full of tears from the loss of his wife and the pure shock of his teammate standing in front of him. "They… found your body. You were dead… how can this be?" He reached a shaky hand out to her.

Akita moved out of reach. "You were supposed to still think I was dead. I wasn't coming back, then I found Kushina. Orochimaru killed her when she wasn't paying attention. She went without pain. I really should be leaving now." She pulled her hood back over her head and walked past Minato, her cloak blowing out behind her.

Minato grit his teeth and reached out grabbing her arm stopping her in her tracks. "You… died Akita… you left Mizuki and I. How could you?!" He growled furiously.

She looked at him. "Are you done?" Her eyes were dark. She snatched her arm away from him. "I left… to keep you safe. I'm dead remember? What do you care?" She turned her back.

Minato's heart sank. "Akita… wait, please don't go." He looked down. "I need you, you can't leave me. Not again, please."

Akita stopped and sighed. She couldn't stay. Could she? She turned to him. "Minato…" He stared at her, tears running down his cheeks; his beautiful blue eyes staring into hers. It broke her heart to see him this way. She looked away from him. "Fine…"

Minato watched her carefully before giving her a soft smile. "T… Thank you so much…" He scratched the back of his head. "I… guess I should pick my son up. Please… meet me back at my office?" Akita nodded and walked off.

What the hell had she gotten herself in too.

Akita sat in the window of Minato's office. She'd been waiting for 30 minutes now. The door opened slightly and in ran a small bundle of energy. The boy stopped in front of Akita and looked up at her. "Hi pretty lady."

Minato laughed softly. "Sorry Akita. Naruto, this is Akita. She's an old friend of mine." Naruto tilted his little head at Akita.

"You're not my mommy… Where's my mommy?" He frowned, looking around. The small chiled walked around his father's office looking for Kushina.

Akita's heart fell for the child. She looked up at Minato who still stood a whole head taller than she did. Akita walked over to the child and knelt in front of him. She placed her hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eye. "Naruto, sweetie… you have to listen to me alright?" Naruto looked at her and nodded. Akita sighed closing her eyes. "Your mommy has… has gone to a better place. She died protecting the village. She's a hero. She told me to tell you that she loves you very much and that she'll always be looking after you. I promised I'd help protect you and your father." She gave Minato a slight glance. What she said was true. She had promised Kushina this. Akita bit back some tears. "Just know that she loves you very much, Naruto. You were her world and you always will be."

She watched the boys' face. He slowly began to tear up. "M… Mommy's not… coming home?"

Akita shook her head. "No sweetie. She's not."

Naruto stood in front of Akita sobbing. She wrapped her arms around the child in a soft but firm hug.

Akita stood in the doorway of Naruto's bedroom. He'd fallen asleep crying and she wanted to make sure he was going to be ok. She sighed and shut the door softly.

Minato looked at her. "Thank you… I don't think I could have done what you did." He scratched the back of his head.

She shook her head. "No need to thank me. It's what Kushina wanted. She was my friend too." She sighed once again. "I miss her too Minato. She was a good friend." Akita walked downstairs and towards the door. "Have a good night Minato. I'm sorry for your loss." She opened the door.

"Where are you going to go? It's not like you can go home…" He thought back to the Uchiha massacre.

That comment struck a chord with Akita. He was right. She couldn't go home. Her brother had killed her clan. "I'll… figure something out. Goodnight Minato…" She pulled her hook over her head and walked out.

Where was she going to go? She wanted to leave. Then again, she wanted to stay. A sigh escaped her lips. "I guess it's time to come out of hiding…." She walked into the night.

"Welcome home Akita." The voice startled her. Akita spun around staring into silted eyes.