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?
Iruka stood at the head of class watching the bright eyed and excited kids, "I have your team assignments."
A excited cheer rippled through the entire class. All of them were on the edge of their seats. This would probably be one of the most important days of their lives. Which Sensei and the teammates you were paired with could make or break you as a shinobi. They listened as Iruka began reading off the names on the list. As each kids name was read the new genin got to go up and grab their Shinobi Headband from the desk. It felt like an eternity until he got to one of the twins' teams.
"Team Five will be under the supervision of Rin Nohara. The students in this team will be Akane Namikaze, Kogeki Tsunzaku, and Yasashi Katagi."
Akane gave a tiny cheer to be placed with Rin. Growing up Rin had been like a big sister to her and Naruto along with Obito and Kakashi who were like brothers. The trio retrieved their headbands and returned to their seats. Akane smiled at the brand new hitai-ate in her hands and a swell of excitement bubbled up. She didn't know the two boys on her team very well but that only meant she'd have some new people to get to know.
Naruto was placed on Team Seven, with Sakura and Sasuke. Kakashi would be their Sensei. Akane felt a little worried about that. Kakashi was notorious among genin for the fact that he had failed all of the genin teams their Dad had tried to give him. What if he failed his newest team too?
Despite any worrying on Akane's part Iruka read of the rest of the teams. Kiba, Shino, and Hinata would be given to another first timer named Kurenai Yuhi while a man named Asuma Sarutobi would be the teacher for the next Ino-Shika-Cho squad. After he was done reading their names off he informed them that their new teachers would be getting in contact with them soon to let them know when and where they would start.
"Behave yourselves and listen to your team leaders. They're all you have standing between you and failure." Iruka said dismissing them all.
Kushina snagged her children in a suffocating grip as soon as they walked outside.
A ceremony was being held in the Academy yard.
"Theres my babies!" Kushina cooed as she nearly strangled them.
Their father Minato only laughed at their misfortune. Eventually they managed to wiggle free of their mother''s grip. This prompted her to lament about how fast they were growing up. There were proud looks in their parents eyes though and the twins were happy to have graduated at long last.
"Now we finally get to do the cool stuff, right? Like beating up bad guys and all that?" Naruto questioned.
"Probably not. Genin usually only get sent out on D or C rank missions. Normally those are pretty bland." Minato informed is son.
Both twins pouted a bit. That didn't sound cool at all. How were they supposed to learn to fight if they were being sent on missions to do menial labor? Minato ruffled their hair with a laugh and assured them they'd get to fight 'those bad guys' soon enough.
"Don't rush it. You're still kids so take the time to enjoy your childhood."
"I bet you guys got to fight lots of bad guys when you were genin." Naruto grumbled.
Kushina put her hands on Naruto's shoulders, "When we were young Konoha was often at war with the other Shinobi Powers. Now we're at peace and besides battles aren't fun and games. So please don't go running off into them just yet. If you do I'll worry a lot ya know?"
Well, they didn't want to worry their mom. Both twins nodded in agreement. No running headlong into any major battles or what not any time soon. It not like Rin or Kakashi would let them anyway, in fact Kakashi was probably getting a leash for Naruto as they speak.
The ceremony was a modest affair with only the new graduates, their family members, and the Academy teachers in attendance. Even with the Hokage there the focus was on the new genin. It was their day to shine after all and most of the kids soaked up the attention.
Eventually Iruka pulled out the camera. it was tradition for parents to be the ones to tie the new hitai-ate on their children for the first time. Eventually cameras came into use to take commemorative photos and then the Academy started to hand out graduation certificates. So Kushina and Minato each tied a the forehead protectors around one of twin's heads then all four stood together for a picture taken by Iruka.
Sasuke had attempted to sneak away from the celebration. It wasn't like anyone was there for him. He had no parents to tie the brand new hitai-ate around his head or take that picture with him. Stuff like that didn't really matter anyway. As he turned to leave he smacked right into none other than Obito Uchiha, technically his guardian.
The man only raised an eye brow at him, "Hey there Buddy."
Sasuke rolled his eyes, "I'm not your buddy."
He tried to brush past the other Uchiha but was stopped when a firm hand hit his shoulder. Obito sighed and scratched the back of his neck. Obito wasn't sure how to approach this kid half the time. Sasuke was a lot like Kakashi had been but when Obito approached Kakashi it was as a friend. He wasn't sure how to approach the Uchiha boy. Like father, a brother, or a friend? Obito took a deep breath.
"Listen. I know I'm not your parent or your brother and I'm not trying to replace them. Just let me be there for you a little bit. We're both part of the Uchiha Clan after all."
Being a Uchiha didn't mean much to Sasuke anymore. He used to be so proud of that name but now it wasn't hardly worth mentioning. It just told everyone around him that he was from a clan that had imploded and torn itself asunder. There was no honor in claiming that name anymore.
As if reading his mind Obito added, "I want to make the Uchiha name something to be proud of again. Will you help me out?"
Sasuke was ever the skeptic and only gave the man a suspicious look. Despite that Obito released his grip on Sasuke's shoulder to offer him a hand. While Sasuke didn't take Obito's hand, who knew where he put that thing, he did turn to go back to the ceremony.
"Fine but you better not be bluffing." He said stuffing his hands into his pockets.
Obito would take it. He'd break the kid out of his shell soon enough.
Months later all the genin teams were hard at work. Almost a week ago Team Seven had been sent out to be the bodyguards for a bridge builder. Akane had lost track of the other genin teams. Everyone was too busy working or training to keep in contact much. It seemed there was no end to the missions that genin could be assigned to.
Team Five's first couple of missions were probably the most boring jobs ever. Somewhere between washing the Hokage Faces and cleaning out the Lord Third's attic she had started to believe Minato just wanted them to be the village janitors. If Akane was displeased about that then Kogeki was absolutely livid, a defining trait of his family Rin had told her.
The Tsunzaku weren't quite Clan status but the family still had a bit of a reputation. That is for being either extremely tall or extremely loud and brash. Most of the time it was both. Kogeki Tsunzaku was definitely tall, he'd been the tallest in their class in fact, but was only loud when he was displeased with something, like today.
"Man this is totally boring! Why can't we get any good missions?" Kogeki complained.
If their Sensei had an answer she didn't give it, instead she handed him another pack of rice flour to carry. Today their mission was to help a new traveling merchant set up shop in town. This guy sold a little bit of everything, from foodstuff to weaponry, to toys and miracle cures, and they had been tasked to unload everything from his caravan as he sat and shouted orders their way.
Minato had told the three genin to be on their best behavior as they did their work. The merchant was apparently well known for having a quick temper. There also had been rumors some other unscrupulous behavior but no charges stood against him. Regardless of these things the man had something Konoha, and by extension Minato, wanted and in exchange for it he would get to set up shop in the village. It also meant they got to endure his cutting remarks and the creepy looks he gave Rin.
"This guy is something, huh?" Yasashi commented.
Akane agreed with him as she rolled another barrel onto it side. They were currently unloading gallons upon gallons of some strange liquid. Akane didn't know what it was but it smelled like piss and burned her nose. It was extremely unpleasant. They were about to their destination with the first barrel when the merchant began shouting.
"What are you doing you miscreant!"
Rin, being the Jounin in charge, immediately abandoned what she was doing. Silently she noted each of her Genin were doing their work. They weren't the ones that had drawn the man's rage then. She approached the man only to find him shouting at a small child. Perhaps they belonged to one of the people who'd been part of his caravan?
"Excuse me. What is the problem?" She asked politely, it was their job to make sure everything was going smoothly after all.
There was an odd expression that flickered over the merchant's face. He quickly covered it though when he sensed her. Rin might have been impressed if she didn't completely loath the guy already. The small child quickly scrambled away. A sliver of that same expression crossed his face again but he replaced with minor annoyance turning to the Jounin. Rin faked worry and began asking if everything was alright.
Akane caught the subtle twitch of Rin's fingers behind her back. A signal to follow or capture the kid. She immediately broke away from the crowd to follow the child. Rin watched the merchant's face while she made small talk with him for any sign that he'd caught on. If he had Rin couldn't tell.
Konoha had a maze work of back alleys and foot trails all over it. Plenty of people got lost in them all the time. The sole exception being the Shinobi of the village. Like most Leaf Shinobi she'd grown up in its tangled web playing games and cutting through the alleys when she was late for class or training. She would be able out maneuver the pint sized foreigner easily enough.
The chase ended quickly when the kid got themself cornered. He'd turned into a dead end formed up by a set of buildings. She smelled the kid even before she got close enough to see any distinguishable features. The only way she could describe it was every nasty smell in existence combined into one package. This kid smelled like despair and that was all she needed to know something wasn't right.
"Hey there. Are you okay?" Akane asked kneeling down.
The kid was young, maybe eight at the oldest. Their cloths were too big for them and stained, there were no shoes just dirty feet, and finally the kids hair was so overgrown and matted it didn't even look like hair anymore. It was obvious the neglect had been going on for months if not years.
Akane offered them her hand, "I'm here to help. Will you tell me who did this to you?"
They flinched away from her and tried to push themselves deeper into the corner. Their shuffling revealed large red welts on both their wrist and ankles.
"Please don't take me back." They whimpered softly.
"I won't." Akane didn't know what was going on but there was no way that kid was going back to where ever they had come from.
The kid was still trying to hide in the corner, repeating their earlier statement, when Kogeki arrived at the mouth of the dead end. He whispered her name unsure if he could come closer. Akane signaled him to wait where he was.
Akane shift backwards a bit trying to give the scared kid some space. Despite her telling him to stay back Kogeki came to join her. Squatting next to her Kogeki examined the kid for himself. For their part the child didn't seem to notice Kogeki had joined them. They only continued to shake and repeat their words.
Before she could think of someway to try and coax the child they sensed someone coming their way. Fast.
Kogeki snapped up to his feet instantly. He swung around in time to catch the first kunai that flew their way. Akane was a beat behind him forcing her chakra to create a shield in front of them. The blue energy wavered as she tried to stretch it all the way across the alleyway. It was pushing it a bit too far. She managed to hold it long enough to stop the first volley of kunai but then lost it. The chakra barrier didn't do much to stall the attackers and the two unmarked men came at them.
Kogeki produced a scroll and unrolled it enough to show the first summon seal. There was kanji in the center of the circle the read Hajime Ketsueki, First Blood. In a puff of smoke Kogeki had drawn a sword from the scroll. It was a basic enough weapon, a sword with a strong blade and red hilt.
Kogeki readied himself, drawing the sword back for the first man. The first enemy to reach them charged straight for the boy as he drew a sword of his own. Soon enough they were dueling it out at the entrance to the dead end. Akane was left to defend herself from the second man.
She blocked a blow aimed at her head by crossing her arms above herself. She grabbed the man's wrist pulling him into a kick aimed at his ribs. The enemy poofed away in a cloud of smoke and the only thing her foot made contact with was a log. For what it was worth the log then went flying toward Kogeki's attacker who had to poof away himself to avoid getting hit. Kogeki side stepped out of the way to avoid it as well. There was a good cut across Kogeki's cheek and it was bleeding pretty well. He tried to wipe away the blood with the back of his hand creating a large red smear across his face.
It was like gruesome war paint.
They didn't have long before the men resumed their attack. The man who'd attacked Kogeki returned to fight him. The one that had fought Akane tried to speed around her for the kid. Akane produced a chain of chakra, a jutsu her mother had taught her, and as the man sped past her Akane swung it at his feet. It twisted itself around his ankles and tripped him up just short of the kid. Akane tried to drag him back but he had the weight of a full grown adult on his side. She was forced to put extra chakra into the chain making it stronger and more receptive to her will. With that she started taking steps back wards slowly dragging the man along.
Realizing he was losing ground the man produced a kunai and charged it with chakra. Using that he struck the chakra formed chain around his ankles. Akane let the chain go allowing it to disappear then reformed it. She tossed the chain hoping she could get it around his torso. He snagged it out of the air then yanked on it before she could dissolve it again. This sent her flying through the air into the dead end of the alley.
She smacked back first into the hard wall of a building then hit the ground next to the kid. As she tried to get back on her feet Kogeki was sent flying her way and she was again smacked into the wall by him. Kogeki had put up a fight for sure but he was still left with a lot more cuts and bruises then his enemy. The pair pulled themselves to their feet.
"Any chance Rin-sensei or Yasashi are coming?" She asked.
Kogeki huffed raggedly and shook his head. They were being held up by the merchant and would most likely not be able to get here in time. The man had probably started his tirade just for this purpose. So he could send his goons out to get the kid and dispose of anyone they'd come across.
Only one thing for it then. It was the first time Akane had ever had to use it. Quickly she reached into her pouch and fished out a three pronged kunai. One of them men sick of having to deal with these kids rushed her. His fist went straight for her face and struck her right cheekbone. She felt the back of her head hit the building.
Between a fresh splitting headache and Kogeki shouting her name a flash of yellow sparked in the alley way.
Hell hath no fury like the Minato Namikaze.
Yay for protective daddy Minato! This chapter didn't really go where I was planning for it to but still ended up pretty well I think. Thanks for reading as always! Stay tuned for another chapter soon!