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?

The next morning both twins sat on the couch looking very ashamed. Their mother had returned early that morning and was let in on all the details over breakfast. Kushina stood in front of them arms crossed tapping her fingers. Both Akane and Naruto expected to be yelled at. When their mother had remained silent through the whole explanation they'd begun to worry.

"So Iruka passed you?"

Naruto nodded, "He said the technique I learned from the scroll was jounin level at least. It would work to replace the normal clone jutsu."

His mother was quiet for a minute thinking it over. All academy students needed to know all of the basic jutsu techniques to pass. There were fundimental to any shibobi's skill set. Naruto had only struggled with the one, probably only due to his terrible chakra control, but that ultimately still failed him. By learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu in replacement of the normal Clone Jutsu he had convinced Iruka to pass him. Ultimately though Iruka had left it to them to decide if they wanted Naruto to pass or not. While he thought it would be fine they might think otherwise and as his parents they had a say in the matter.

They had already decided to go along with Iruka and let Naruto pass. There was a more pressing issue they had to deal with. Kushina took a deep breath sliding her eyes in the direction of her husband. Minato tiredly stared back.

"Minato can I talk to you for a minute," Kushina sighed waving her husband into the dining room.

The twins shared a glance as their parents passed but dared not move. Their parents had gone to the farthest corner of the kitchen to speak. They could hear their whispers but not the actual words they were speaking. Akane elbowed her brother who'd been unusually quiet the whole time.

"Can you hear them?"

He simply shrugged at her but peeked out the corner of his eye. Kushina and Minato seemed to have come to an agreement on something though. They came back slower than they had left then both took positions on the floor and directed the twins to do the same. They'd done this before during times they decided that there need to be a 'talk'. Nervously Naruto moved to join them first and Akane followed.

"You both know we love you no matter what. Right?" Minato began.

Both nodded.

"We need to tell you something very important about the night you were born."

Naruto looked at them worriedly, "The fox attack?"

Everyone in Konoha knew about the Nine-tailed Fox that attacked Konoha the night they were born. Most of the villagers seemed to have taken it as an ill omen or something for the twins future. Though no one had ever threatened them or treated them badly there was always this palpable nervousness the whole village had around them. Until now Akane had always just thought it was because their father was the Hokage and no one wanted to upset him.

"Has anyone taught you what a Jinchuriki is yet?" Kushina asked.

Akane vaguely remember the term popping up but nothing specific. She looked toward her brother who shook his head too. Their mother began to explain how some villages had people with giant demons called the 'Tailed Beasts' sealed inside them. She spoke at length about how these monsters were very dangerous when they were set loose.

Kushina took a deep breath, "Before you were born. I was a Jinchuriki for the Nine-Tails. The night I gave birth to you two a masked man attacked us. He pulled the fox out of me and set him on the village."

Akane shot her brother a look. Naruto was looking at her the same way. Their mother had been a living vessel for a monster? Their kind and loving mother who made the most amazing meals, put bandages on their scrapes, and kissed them goodnight every evening? Akane thought it must be some kind of joke but when tears pricked at the corner of their mother's eyes she couldn't make herself believe that.

"Two more strange people showed up that night too. They took you away from me and sealed one half of the fox in each of you."

Kushina wanted nothing more than to sweep her children up in a hug then. It was horrible to have to dump this news on them but they were genin now, no matter how they did it, and they needed to know. It wasn't like they could hide it for long after the stunt that betrayer had pulled. Naruto at least would have known and he never hid anything from his sister. This situation could go wrong in a number of ways.

Akane ran for it. Without a word she dashed into her room slamming the door behind her.

Naruto looked genuinely surprised before looking back to his parents, "She didn't take it very well."

Kushina didn't know if she should laugh at her son's nonchalant attitude or cry about her daughter's less than ideal one. Her husband's gently hand on her shoulder caught her off guard. Naruto's concerned eyes made her realize the tears she'd been holding back the whole time had slipped out.

"I'll talk to her," He said softly leaving mother and son to themselves.

Naruto in all honesty wasn't sure how to feel. It was obviously a bad thing that there was some sort of monster in his belly, he knew that much. His mother had said she'd been the same way before they'd been born and there were others like them out there in the world too.

"Is the fox evil, Mom?" He questioned. Certainly it was a bad thing but was he totally unrepentfully evil?

"It's hard to say, Naru-chan. Never once has he done a good thing the entire time I knew him but maybe someday he can change." She offered in response.

His next question broke her heart, "It doesn't make us bad, right? To have the monster in us?"

She took his hands gently in her own, "Of course not Naruto. The Kyuubi changes nothing about you. No matter what and as long as you keep love in your heart he never can."

Minato stood at Akane's bedroom. He knocked softly but got no response. When he tried to open the door he found she must have put something against it to keep the door shut. He sighed and closed his eyes sensing out the Hiraishin mark he had on her. He used it and was mildly confused when the space he'd ported to was completely dark. He heard a muffled sniffle and realized he was in his daughter's closet.

"Aka-chan?" He asked softly finding his daughter in the dark closet as soon as his eyes adjusted.

His little girl was curled into a ball in the far corner looking much smaller than a twelve year-old. Something in his heart broke especially when he heard her soft sniffs and sobs. Gently Minato sat next to her in that dark closet. He looped a long arm around her shoulders and pulled her against his side.

"Dad, what am I?"

Minato didn't hesitate, "Your my little girl and you might be a little spoiled but you are definitely not a monster."

Akane sniffed loudly when he hugged her, "You're one of my precious people and I'd rather die than see you get hurt."

Little sobs shook Akane as she buried her nose into her father's chest. Minato was mildly surprised at the strength she had as she clutched him, they were growing up so fast. He made soothing noises and rubbed her back gently. He told her he loved her, that her mother and brother loved her, that she wasn't a monster just because there was a demon inside her. He'd repeat it over again as many times as he needed too.

"You aren't alone, Akane. You know we'll never leave you. We're a family and we stick together no matter what."

She nodded gently loosening her hold on him but still not letting go of him.

"Should we go back out? I'm sure Mom and Naruto are worried."

She gave him a soft, "Yeah."

Their family would make it through this and many more challenges. They loved each other more than anything after all. Their parent assured them nothing would change. They'd been living with the fox inside them since they were infants after all. The only difference now was that they knew about it. Only the high ranking shinobi and certain other individuals knew any of the actual details about that night.

"Why don't we stay in today? No training. Let's just celebrate you guys graduating." Kushina suggested.

The twins whole heartedly agreed to that. Minato had to go to work for a little bit to at least let Iruka know of their decision. He also had to get the paperwork for all the graduates so they could be sorted into teams. Promising to be back in time for their celebration he ruffled their hair and headed for the tower.

Hours later both twins were covered in frosting from 'helping' their mother. Kushina laughed trying to wipe the sticky sweet stuff from Naruto's face. Minato looked on from his place at the table looking over information files on the new Genin. A knock sounded from the front door.

"I'll get it!" Naruto shouted wiggling away from his mother.

He swung the door open to and immediately leaped for the person on the other side. Akane joined them at the door laughing, "Gramps!"

Jiraiya was too busy trying to wrestle his godson off his face to try and respond. The boy had a pretty good grip on him especially when his fingers tangled into Jiraiya white locks. The pair nearly fell down the stairs before Minato stepped in to save his teacher.

"Nearly got suffocated there." The older man wheezed dramatically.

Akane laughed and gave her brother a high five. The twins lived to terrorize the Sannin, all in good fun of course. Whenever the older man came around there was always fun to be had often at the expense of others in the village. He also tended to bring presents which the twins loved.

Jiraiya gave them a playful glare then began to pout, "Seems my godchildren don't love me anymore. Guess I'll just have to take these present all the way back where I got them."

"No! We're sorry." One twin said.

The other chimed in, "We love you Gramps!"

Jiraiya seemed to think about it. He crossed his arms and cocked his head to the side. He shot them a look they reciprocated with perfect innocent smiles. Yeah, like he'd ever fall for that but he let out a long sigh.

"Okay. I'll forgive you just this once." He said before.

Both twins laughed cheerfully pulling the man inside by his hands. They told him all about the academy and graduating. Jiraiya would never admit it but he loved every bit of babble that came out of their mouths even if he didn't understand half of it. He was definitely not old enough to be feeling like a grandfather.

Minato could only shake his head watching the trio enter the house. They'd left him to carry all of Jiraiya's things in by himself. He began gathering things up as he heard more footsteps nearing him.

"Hey, Minato-sensei!" A cheerful voice chimed.

Another deeper voice chuckled, "We heard there was a party."

Rin was smiling as she and Obito dragged Kakashi behind them.

As always great thanks for reading and if you liked it let me know!