Disclaimer: I don't own.


Minato frowned.

She's late.

Kushina, while not a particularly punctual person, was never late by more than ten minutes or so. And she always came with some sort of reason on her lips. To be late by an hour though…

Something must be wrong.

Minato's scowl deepened. He hadn't gotten a lot of sleep the night previous. As his sensei had predicted, it was nearly dawn by the time they had returned from their mission and reported to the hokage. He had managed to get a few hours of shut-eye before his training session in the morning, where he was thoroughly trounced due to his lack of focus. Now he was sitting around doing nothing but waiting for his red-headed friend. All in all, this day had put the young blonde in an irritated mood.

I mean, I'd get if she had something come up, but couldn't she let me know?

He sighed, brushed himself off, and began to make his way home, determined to take a nap and hopefully put himself in a better mood for the remainder of the day. Half way there, though, a tomato stand caught his eye, and his thoughts wandered back to the young kunoichi.

I wonder what happened.

He shook his head. It was none of his business.

He passed a hair accessory store, displaying shiny black barrettes in its windows.

I hope everything's okay.

He turned decidedly away from the store. She was strong. He knew she was strong. She was fine.

He passed their favorite ramen stand.

Unless she was kidnapped again…

Minato halted, and slowly his feet twisted in the dirt until he was facing the opposite direction. Then he took off.

That's ridiculous. She couldn't be kidnapped again. And I'm sure her family upped security after what happened.

Nonetheless, he found himself pushing harder towards the Uzumaki compound, ignoring the anxious feeling bubbling up in his stomach. Everything's fine, he told himself, Something just came up. Last minute mission. Stomach bug. Family pet died. That's all.

Still, he held his breath as he broke through the last bit of trees that surrounded the large manor. Immediately, though, he came across an attendant, causing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

"Excuse me," he called, causing the worker to turn her attention towards him. "I'm looking for Uzumaki Kushina? I'm a friend."

The attendant nodded. "She's in her room. Go ahead to the entrance. One of the attendants there will lead you to her."

Minato bowed. "Thank you." He set a brisk, but leisurely pace up the walkway, taking his time to admire the large, picturesque manor lent to the highly respected Uzumaki of Uzushiogakure. The last time he'd been here, the entire household had been placed under a strong genjutsu. He remembered rousing people up, trying to find out if anyone had seen what had happened to Kushina, when he chanced an investigation of the gardens to find bright, fiery strands of hair laying strategically at the edge of the grounds.

Minato found his shoulders relaxing as he strolled under large, looming trees and through scenic gardens. The flowers were very well looked after, here. Minato mildly wondered if Kushina liked gardening. He doubted it – it didn't really fit her tough-girl image, but then again, nothing really did. She might surprise him, like she did yesterday.

Soon enough, the blonde found himself at the entrance. Another attendant bowed. "May I help you?"

"Um, I'm here to see Kushina? We were supposed to meet, and when she didn't come I just wanted to make sure everything was okay…"

The servant's eyes widened with understanding. "Of course. You're the boy who saved the young mistress when she was kidnapped." She dipped into a lower bow. "You have no idea how grateful we are for your heroic actions."

Minato rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed and awkward. "Oh really, it was nothing. I wanted her back, too, you know."

The attendant straightened to scrutinize him closely, making Minato fidget. She was an older servant, probably a long-employed housekeeper. Her shrewd looks made him think she knew and observed a lot more than she let on. "Yes, perhaps you can help," she finally said, her shoulders slumping slightly. "Come."

He obediently followed her through the halls until they reached the edge of the main house, taking a walkway that hugged the outer rim of the building. When they reached a certain screen, she bowed. "The mistress is in here."

"Thank you." He bowed back, missing the look of surprise on the older woman's face before she retreated.

Minato turned to knock lightly on one of the wooden frames. "Kushina?"

No response.

Minato frowned and knocked harder. "Kushina? It's me, Minato. Is everything alright?'

The silence stretched long enough for Minato to contemplate knocking again, before he heard a thick, hoarse voice reach him through the screen. "Go away."

Startled, Minato felt the last remaining vestiges of his irritation from the day fly away. Something was definitely wrong.

"Kushina, are you alright? Can I come in?"

"No! Go away!"

Was she…crying?

Minato was floored. Urgently he called, "I just want to make sure you're okay. What happened?"

"It's none of your business! Now get lost!" Her voice was definitely shaky, almost…desperate.

Minato's concern peaked, and he firmly gripped the wooden frame and slid it aside. "No. Not until you—" He stopped himself midsentence when he was finally able to see into the room.

K-Kushina? Minato's stomach rolled with queasiness. He had never, ever seen her like this. Not even when she was getting teased and bullied. Not even that day under the cherry blossom trees. She was curled up into a defensive little ball under her covers. Her eyes were swollen and her cheeks were splotchy. Her shoulders were hunched, as if the entire world had it out for her. Her beautiful, lovely, flame-colored hair hung limply and lifelessly down her back.

Her normally brilliant indigo eyes glared dully at him. "I told you to go away." She curled up tighter under her blanket and looked away. "You shouldn't be here."

"A-are you sick?"

"No. I'm fine. Now go away."

Minato stepped forward, raising a hand to place it on her shoulder.

She jerked back and slapped it away. "Leave!" she said so ferociously that he took a step back.

"I—"

"There's nothing you can do so go! Go, go, GO!" Her voice broke, and her lips trembled. "Just…just leave me alone…" she finally whimpered. "I-I can't look at you right now."

Something in his chest felt tight. "Did I…do something?"

She shook her head. "You did nothing wrong. I'm just…screwed up. You shouldn't be here, be around me. Just leave." She hung her head, looking so utterly broken that Minato was afraid she would shatter with the smallest breeze.

"Kushina, I—"

"Please," she whimpered, with so much feeling that without really meaning to, Minato found himself backing out and shutting the door.

Dazed, he sat down on the edge of the walkway, gazing unseeingly at the small pond in the courtyard.

What…What happened to her?


"Uzumaki-sama is here to see you, Hokage-sama," his secretary informed him.

Hiruzen sighed. "Let him in," he called before bracing himself for the visit from the ambassador, no doubt here to question him about what had happened with his daughter.

Last night could definitely have gone better. The girl was unable to stop crying, and an ANBU had to carry her home. Honestly, it was heart wrenching to see the state she had been in. Sarutobi couldn't even imagine how his own children would have reacted if they had been told they had been brought here solely to be the Kyuubi's container. Kushina had eventually agreed, but that didn't make him feel any less guilty.

Such pain and suffering…all for the sake of the power balance between villages.

Speaking of which, his meeting with Jiraiya earlier had certainly added to his stress for the day. A leak…That was the last thing he needed. Organizing a chuunin exam was no easy task, without having to worry about spies and invasion attempts. First Kumogakure, now Tsuchigakure. Each conflict giving rise to a new one. If I'm not careful, we'll have yet another war on our hands.

The door finally creaked open, letting the Uzumaki in, but not the Uzumaki he was expecting.

"Yuuhiko-san."

The woman nodded. "Hokage-sama."

Hiruzen began to feel a sense of foreboding settle around him. Fathers, he could handle. He was a father himself. Mothers, on the other hand…

"What can I do for you, Yuuhiko-san?"

"You told my daughter about the circumstances of our coming here last night." While her face was blank and unreadable, her voice was stony and hard, reminding Hiruzen that the current Uzumaki ambassador had married into the family. Standing before him was the true member of the impressive clan.

He touched his fingers into a steeple. "Yes, I did."

"I was under the impression that you would discuss such actions with my husband and me before informing her."

"Over the last month I did discuss the matter with your husband. He understood the pressure the council was placing on the issue, and agreed that it was time." He had assumed – no, he had hoped that the man had informed his wife about the decision, but obviously that wasn't the case.

The woman's face flashed with fury, before settling back into an emotionless expression. "You will wait for my permission before you seal the Kyuubi into her. Regardless of what my husband may say, I am the one who holds most authority over Kushina. She is my daughter. And it is I, not my husband, who possess Mito-sama's support as well." She turned on her heel and strode to the door. Before exiting, though, she said, "I am most disappointed, Hokage-sama. The Shodai built this shinobi village for the protection of its inhabitants, including its shinobi. We are soldiers, protecting this place for the sake of those we love; we are not tools for the councils bidding. You will do well to remember that."

The door clicked shut.

Sarutobi leaned back into his chair, fighting the urge to slump his shoulders. Sometimes, he felt that he was too old for this job.


Uzumaki Yuuhiko was furious. It was one thing for her husband's idiocy and pig-headedness to hurt her, but it was another thing entirely when their daughter was involved. Kushina was young, naïve, and innocent in every way that mattered. Although a tough girl on the surface, she still saw good before she saw bad, and could be horribly sensitive to certain things. She wasn't ready.

When Yuuhiko had agreed that Kushina would be the Kyuubi's next Jinchuuriki, she immediately insisted that they move to Konoha, so that Kushina could begin making the necessary bonds that would give her a reason to protect the great shinobi village. That way, when the time came for Kushina to learn of her purpose here, she would understand.

That was just two years ago. Not nearly enough time for Kushina to learn what it meant to protect something.

But that darn council and her darn husband and the darn hokage had panicked after the Kumo incident, and had 'jumped the shuriken', so to speak.

And now she was left with a miserable, lost daughter who had holed herself into her room, refusing to see anyone, including her own mother.

She strode briskly into the manor, ignoring the attendants who greeted her, making a beeline for her daughter's room. She doubted the situation had changed, but Yuuhiko still wanted to check on her. She probably hadn't eaten today either. If things weren't better by tomorrow…

Perhaps I should arrange for her to talk to Mito-sama…

Her steps slowed as she rounded the last corner, reluctant to see her only child in such a pathetic state and be helpless to do anything. But the sight that greeted her made Yuuhiko stop completely in surprise.

A young boy stood hesitantly in front of her daughter's room, fidgeting nervously. His hand was partially raised, as if to knock, but when he noticed Yuuhiko it immediately dropped.

"May I ask what you are doing here?" Yuuhiko inquired, curious.

The boy hastily bowed. "Uzumaki-san. I, uh, I'm a friend of Kushina's."

"Oh?" She took a careful look at the boy who spoke of her daughter with such familiarity. Blonde, spiky hair, blue eyes… Her eyes lit with realization. "Ah, you are Namikaze Minato."

"Uh, yes I am. You must be Kushina's mother." He bowed again. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Yuuhiko felt a flicker of amusement. He certainly is a…polite boy. "Likewise. However, you still haven't answered my question, Namikaze-kun."

The young prodigy looked flustered. "Oh, well- I came here earlier and saw that Kushina wasn't…feeling well."

She arched a brow. "And?"

"A-and I, I mean, I didn't know – I just, that is…" Minato took a breath to collect himself. "I know she probably hasn't eaten anything," he said quietly and held up his other hand, which Yuuhiko saw was holding a carry-out bag. "I brought her some ramen. It's her favorite."

Yuuhiko's lips curled into a genuine but sad smile. "That's very kind of you, but I'm sorry to say that my daughter is refusing to see anyone right now. Even myself."

Minato frowned. "I realize, but…she needs to eat. Please, if you could just let me try…"

She held a hand. "I must respect my daughter's wishes."

The boy looked at her carefully with piercing cerulean eyes, before dipping into another shallow bow. "I understand. Sorry to intrude." With that, a swirl of leaves started to dance and circle around him, and then he vanished.

He can do the shunshin technique already? He really is a prodigy, she mused before deliberately turning away from Kushina's room, suppressing a smile when she sensed the child sneaking back in through a window. Well, at the very least, they match each other in stubbornness.


The room was dark and musty when Minato swept silently into the room. To his immense disappointment and concern, Kushina was exactly how he had last seen her.

He crouched in front of her and his chest tightened when she gazed right past him, as if he wasn't even there.

"Kushina," he whispered. She didn't respond. "Kushina," he tried again.

Her form finally jerked, and she flicked her eyes to focus on his face in surprise. "M-Minato?" her voice was scratchy from disuse. "What are you doing here?" Her eyes narrowed. "I told you to leave 'ttebane!"

"You never said not to come back," he pointed out.

She rolled her eyes, and the sarcastic gesture that was completely Kushina coupled with the verbal tic made Minato practically giddy with hope.

"I brought you salt ramen. From Ichiraku's," he quickly bribed before she could kick him back out.

She stared blankly at the carry out bag. Minato could tell that her stomach was currently locked in a fierce battle with her mind, and eventually her stomach won out. She reached for the bag and pulled out the container. "Thanks," she muttered.

Minato just smiled, removed the lid for her, and gave her a pair of chopsticks.

He sat with her for a while, content to just watch her eat and slowly regain some of her usual vivacity. When she was almost done, though, he had to ask.

"So…do you want to talk about it?"

Kushina raised the container to her lips to drink some of the broth, before setting it back on her lap. "…I don't think we should hang out anymore."

Minato jerked. "What?" That was not what he meant by 'talking about it'.

"I'm sorry that I'm backing out like this," she continued before he could say anything more, "But you've made a lot of headway into the jutsu –"

"We've made a lot of headway into the jutsu!"

"—and you should be fine on your own from now on. You're really smart, Namikaze. I don't think there's much more I can help you with."

"That's not true! And even if it was, so what? Even if the justu was finished, why shouldn't webe able to hang out?" Minato was incredulous, and frantic. He really, really liked spending time with Kushina. It was the only time he felt like a normal fellow ninja, not some glamorous prodigy.

The red-head snorted. "Why would we? You're a league of your own, Namikaze. You graduated two years early – "

"You graduate early too!"

"Only by a year. And that was just because kids enter the academy earlier in Whirlpool. I'm nothing special in terms of being a ninja."

"Yes, you are. You've got amazing levels of chakra, and you're strong –"

"I'm not saying I'm a bad ninja. Just not in your league."

"I don't think so. And who cares? I like hanging out with you, Kushina. Do you not?"

Kushina closed her eyes. "Of course I do," she almost whispered.

"Then what's the problem?" Minato demanded, starting to get frustrated that she wouldn't look at him.

When she finally turned to stare directly into his eyes, however, he became unnerved by her steeliness.

"I'm no good for you, Namikaze. You're better off without me."

Minato frowned. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"I'm an outsider. Don't you want to become Hokage? Hanging around a foreigner isn't going to help you any."

"I told you before, didn't I? You're not an outsider. You live in this village. You fight for this village. You're one of us."

She closed her eyes again. "Not according to some people."

"Some people. And you know they only say that because they're intimidated by you. I know that better than anyone. Everybody else sees you as a part of the village, Kushina."

She opened her eyes again, and Minato was surprised to see that they were a little glassy. "I know what I'm saying, Namikaze. I'm not good for you. For anyone really. Please, can't you just trust me on this?"

Minato held her gaze with his bright, cerulean eyes, "I do trust you, Kushina," he said, completely serious, "Which is exactly why I can't do what you want me to do. Why would I push away someone I trust?" He stood up. "Unless you say you hate me, or don't like my company, I see absolutely no reason to stop hanging out. So I'll be back in the morning to do exactly that." He made his way to the door, leaving her to sit there in silence.

Before he left, though, he said in a softer tone, "Get some sleep, Kushina," over his shoulder. She didn't respond. Just stared out the window, her shoulders slumped, clutching at the ramen container on her lap.

He opened the door, stepped outside, and closed the door behind him.

I don't understand…


Low murmurs whispered around the area. It was a quiet weeknight that saw only a handful of people going to the bar to grab a few glasses of sake. One woman, however, had been there for most of the night, sitting alone despite her pretty features and generous curves. People knew to avoid her, unless they wanted broken bones.

At one point, however, a brave man sat on the stool next to her and ordered a bottle of sake. She paid him no mind.

They drank in silence for a long moment, before the man tried to give it a go.

"Lovely night, isn't it? Perfect for a lovely lady such as yourself."

The blonde woman drained her saucer before placing it down on the counter. "Cut the crap, Jiraiya. What are you doing here?"

The man grinned. "What, can't a guy grab a drink with his old teammate?"

She simply glared at him while pouring another glass.

"Shouldn't you slow down? Drinking is one of the shinobi vices, you know."

Tsunade snorted. "You're one to talk."

Jiraiya frowned. "He wouldn't want to see you like this, you know."

"How would you know?" she snapped, "You didn't even like him."

"Well I still say he was a pansy," Jiraiya asserted, "But he was a good ninja, with lots of ambitions. Ambitions he can't fulfill anymore. There's no reason for you not to fulfill yours, though, but instead you're just sitting here wallowing away in alcohol."

Tsunade growled. "What do you want, Jiraiya?"

He shrugged. "I need a favor."

"What?"

"I'm going to have to leave the village for a bit. But the chuunin exams are coming up, and my team needs training."

She gave him a disbelieving look. "You want me to train your snot-nosed brats while you're gone?"

"Yep," he said cheerfully.

"Jiraiya, you know how I am with blood now."

He snorted. "You don't need to draw blood to beat them into a pulp - I know that better than anyone." He rubbed his chest gently, wincing with the memories.

Tsunade suppressed a smirk. "Still…"

"Come on. I know you're barely taking missions anymore. This will give you something to do." He clapped his hands in front of his face and winked. "Please?"

Tsunade looked at him for a long moment, before finally saying, "Fine. But they'd better not whine too much, or I can't guarantee they'll still be alive when you get back."

Jiraiya shrugged. "Fair enough. Trounce 'em good. Oh, I've also been giving Minato some one-on-one training. It's up to you if you want to do that too."

"Namikaze Minato? The kid everyone's calling a genius?" Tsunade regarded him carefully. "Weird. You usually can't stand that type."

"Hey, Minato's nothing like snake-face." He took another sip of sake, before smiling. "He's a good kid. Lots of dreams and potential. He'll go far."

Tsunade arched a brow. Out of the three sannin, Jiraiya was the only one to take on students. First there were those three Ame orphans, and then when he got back, he had taken on a genin team. Oddly enough, being a mentor fit him, despite his vices. It made Tsunade wonder if he'd ever have kids of his own.

"Hmph," she said aloud, "We'll see. I'm not going easy on him just because he has some special attention from you. Especially if you've had a bad influence on him."

Jiraiya laughed. "Ha! No, trust me, he's not like that at all. In fact, he's a perfect gentleman," Jiraiya made a face, "despite my best efforts. Actually, for a while I was worried he was asexual."

"He's eleven."

"He's a male."

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Well, what made you stop worrying?"

He grinned. "Let's just say I'm pretty sure he's developing a crush on someone. It's cute, even if she is as violent as you are."

She arched a brow. Maybe he does take after you in some ways, she observed. She took another drink, but did not pour herself anymore. Namikaze Minato, eh? Let's hope your luck in your choice of girls is better than your sensei's.


A/N: So I've been doing a lot of math and realized that it wouldn't make any sense if I had Tsunade leave right after Dan died - Dan died in the Second Shinobi War, but Tsunade definitely had to have left after Shizune became a chuunin, which was when she was 13. Shizune was 27-28 or so during the first part of Naruto so...

Reviews are appreciated!