Title: Namikaze

Summary: In a world that is slightly different from the one we know Minato and Kushina live. Now the children of this world must grow up to become the amazing Shinobi we all know and love - only a little differently. Joined by a few new faces can the rookies navigate a world full of blood, politics, schemes, and mysterious enemies intent on killing them?

After the chaos that surrounded the night of October the 10th Konoha was on high alert. Those still able to fight were positioned at strategic defense positions around the village. Those that couldn't were being brought in and pushed back out of the hospitals as quickly as possible. The medic nin had a hard time of it, having to assess every injury with a critical eye. The criteria for injuries bad enough to be admitted on a more extended scale had to be strained.

Even the maternity ward was being over ran with the injured from the Kyuubi attack.

Thanks to the chaos though no one had questioned why she hadn't been admitted to the hospital immediately once she'd gone into labor. They had chalked it up to Minato being out fighting and her being unable to get the hospital by herself. Everything else they glossed over as vaguely as possible and all the nurses swallowed it willingly enough. The nurses were more concerned with the fact that the new Hokage wasn't as available as previously thought and went about their work lamenting that fact.

"What a night to give birth, huh?" Mikoto Uchiha sighed, bouncing Naruto and watched as a pair of nurses shoved another Kyuubi victim down the hall.

Kushina had to agree with her, "Yeah, I'll say. Heh, and we weren't even expecting this little gal."

The 'little gal' in question wrinkled her nose as if she were offended by that then simply yawned. The baby girl was a bit smaller than her twin brother, not enough to make the medical staff worry. They were being discharged immediately since the doctors deemed both infants and their mother to be in surprisingly well enough health to go home.

Ah, the blessings of having Uzumaki blood.

It was unfortunate that Minato had to see to the recovery of the village which meant he wouldn't be able to assist her in taking the twins home. Thankfully Mikoto had volunteered to assist her with the task and as it turned out she wasn't the only one. Kakashi had appeared in the doorway to her hospital room looking uncharacteristically shy and unsure.

So he was still a little kid, in some ways, after all.

"Minato-sensei asked me to come and help." He explained looking almost bashful.

Kushina smiled and waved the awkward boy in to the room, "Come here Kakashi."

Mikoto excused herself to see if she could wrangle up a wheelchair for Kushina. She gave Kakashi a knowing smile as she passed and gently placed Naruto back into his bassinet on her way out. When Kakashi got close enough Kushina instructed him how to hold his arms then gently placed the newborn girl there.

"What if I drop her?" He questioned immediately tensing as the baby settled into his arms.

Kushina laughed, "You're a Jounin Kakashi. I highly doubt you'll drop her. Just relax."

She was right he told himself, actually he was ANBU but they couldn't exactly say that out loud. He took a deep breath and settled himself. Then the baby wiggled a little in his arms and scrunched her face up making him panic all over again. Was she going to cry?

"Bounce her a little." Kushina said softly.

He followed her order and gently bounced his arms. This seemed to be just the magic to calm her down as she instantly settled again. Her pink went content and he sighed in relief but handed the baby back to her mother none the less.

"What did you decide to name her?" He asked walking over to peek at the other twin.

"We decided to name her Akane," She seemed rather proud of herself with that one.

The name meant 'deep red' if Kakashi remembered right. It suited the little girl who had the same ruby red hair her mother did. Though Akane's was still just a little swirl of soft strands on the top of her head unlike her mother's extremely long locks. The boy on the other hand had the same blond hair his father did and quite a bit of it too. As if sensing Kakashi's gaze on him Naruto scrunched up his face just like his twin had scaring off the teen.

Mikoto chose then to reappear in the doorway with a wheelchair and an aggravated look in her eye. Some poor fool must have tried to put up a fight and while Mikoto was pretty mild, most of the time, getting in her way would only invoke her particular brand of Uchiha ire. It was something Kakashi didn't really want to see.

In no time at all, mostly to not risk losing the wheelchair, they had the few things Kushina had brought packed into a duffle bag. Kushina herself was settled into the wheelchair with the help of Mikoto. Despite what the doctors seemed to think she was still sore all over, some of that might have more to do with getting a nine-tailed beast yanked out of her then actual childbirth but that was hard to say. Naruto was settled in Kushina's arms and Mikoto carried Akane. Kakashi had decided he would push the wheelchair as to avoid any more contact with babies who scrunched their noses at him. Not that he was going to admit that. No self respecting fourteen year old was scared of babies.

The walk back to the Namikaze house was actually rather boring Kakashi had to admit. Granted most of the villagers were extremely eager to greet the Hokage's two brand new babies but Kushina's temper was legendary and no one wanted to toe that line. So mostly all that happened was a lot of whispering and old ladies cooing from the sidelines.

The Namikaze house had always been a clean and orderly place. Minato and Kushina never seemed to make a mess. In fact they always seemed to leave things cleaner when they left than when they arrived. So seeing it in the state of disarray that the attack had left it in was a shock. Mikoto sighed at the mess and uttered a string of mutters and curses under her breath.

The house itself hadn't sustained any structural damage but anything that had once been on the wall was now on the floor. If something had sat on a shelf it was most likely on the floor too, in a million pieces. Kushina would mourn her nik-nak collection later. Kakashi and Mikoto cleaned out the the living room first. Thankfully the heavy couch had barely wiggled in place and was still in pretty much the same shape it had been before the attack.

Kushina was settled there with a twin on either side of her while Mikoto went to check out the twin's room. Kakashi wandered toward the kitchen and dining area.

Mikoto's review of the room was that it had faired better than the living room. The crib was still in one piece and most of the wall decor had managed to stay where it had been nailed. Basically all that they needed was to get another crib but the twins were small enough they'd fit in the one for awhile. Kakashi's review of the kitchen wasn't as good. It was hard to tell if the appliances were working correctly when the house, and most of the village, was without power. All of the cooking utensils had shaken free of their holds, a knife was sticking out of the wall, and the kitchen window was fractured but had yet to shatter completely.

Basically it was going to be a tiring time with two new babies and a house to fix especially when on top of that her husband had to keep the village from falling apart. Kushina let out a deep sigh, this was going to be an experience alright. Mikoto and Kakashi straightened up the kitchen and the bathroom for Kushina before they had to leave. Mikoto needed to check up on her own children but swore to come check up on her the next morning. Kakashi muttered something about going to help around the village.

Once she was left to her own devices Kushina couldn't help but stare at each of her children. They were alive and healthy and whole. Both her and Minato were alive too and with each breath she took that day the more her gratitude grew. There were so many questions left unanswered from that night but for now this was more than enough. So far each twin had remained peacefully asleep as if they too were to tired from the previous night events to do much else besides nap.

It was late when Minato finally got to come home. Despite being the current Hokage he had found himself on the wrong end of one of Third's famous lectures. The ones he had often given hot head genin during his own Hokage days. After being thoroughly informed that despite his responsibilities he need to eat and sleep like the rest of them he was sent home like an errant child. Not that he was really complaining though, he was excited to see his wife and his children again.

He found them in the nursery. The twins were in their crib and his wife was out cold in the rocking chair. He didn't bother turning on the light, the power was probably still out in this district. The moon streamed in through the window and provided enough for him to see by. Smiling he walked to the crib to peer at his children.

Akane was sound asleep and her little hand twitched every once in awhile. Naruto was awake though peacefully staring upwards at the mobile. When Minato came into his, blurry, view his eyes tried to follow him. Pulling the boy into his arms filled Minato with an odd warm feeling. Naruto yawned but kept his eyes always on Minato's softly illuminated face.

"Hey there Buddy. I'm your dad." He whispered softly.

Naruto offered toothless newborn smile at that. He rather like the sound of this strange big person's voice. Minato continued to coo sweet fatherly things to his son and daughter earning more smiles and soft cooes.

Kushina peeked at him through half lidded eyes and smiled.

Thank You for reading! As always comments and reviews are always appreciated. And to those who were concerned this is NOT a neglect fic.