Chapter 3: Hello, Old Friend
"Dr. Tsunade Senju? I'm taking off for Kush my lunch. Minato is here for us to pick the children up from school, I shouldn't be long." Kushina knocks on Tsunade's office door to get her attention. Tsunade was busy in her office handling her duties when she heard a knock, turning her attention to Kushina.
"Kushina, no need to use my professional title. We're family. Take all the time you need, you deserve it. Shizune and Hashirama can handle it. You overwork yourself enough." Smiling and waving her off, Tsunade starts to return to her paperwork but not before uttering
"Could you let my son know his father and I need his help installing the deck in the back pool area of our estate this weekend? I told Dan to hire a contractor but he insists on doing it himself." Tsunade rolls hey eyes but she is smiling fondly. She knows it was his way of wanting to spend time with his son.
"By help you mean you drinking sake and directing them both? Minato is probably going to bring the boys as well. Mebuki and I have a play date with the girls this weekend. Negato and Naruto hates tagging along with us." Kushina chuckles.
" Kushina, you know me so well. Now, shoo. Don't keep my grandbabies waiting, I look forward to seeing the boys this weekend." Tsunade smiles, waving her out the door.
Kushina hurries downstairs and out the door. Getting in the car she gives Minato a quick soft kiss. Happy to see him even if she saw him this morning. What can she say? She can never get enough of her handsome blonde. Minato stood about 6ft,lean, had a strong jawline, bright blonde hair and blue eyes with a smile many women swoon over smooth voice to match. Puberty had been his friend, he hadn't been very tall in school and most times was mistaken for a girl because of how "pretty" he was.
"Let's go get our babies." Kushina smiles excitedly, looking forward to Naruto's ramblings about his day, Deidara showing off her drawings, and Karin going on about how the curriculum isn't advanced enough for her or Negato. Negato may pull pranks but he does so out of boredom and he also loves grinding Karin's gears. For their age, Negato and Karin were extremely smart. Getting their smarts from Minato yet the personality traits and looks from Kushina.
"Your mom says your she and your father need help building the deck in the backyard of the estate by the pool area this weekend." She adds buckling her seatbelt as Minato started to drive off.
"By help she means she drinks her sake, barks orders and spoil the boys rotten? Because I'm sure you've told her about the girls play date." Minato chuckles fondly, knowing his mother like the back of his hand. He also was chuckling at his father, knowing his mother told him to hire a contractor but, he's stubborn and it's his way of bonding with Minato.
Kushina nods, giggling at her husband.
"I visited the academy today, that Kakashi and Obito...As much as they bicker with each other, they flow well as partners. They remind me of Tobirama and Madara. Not surprising since Obito is Madara's nephew and Tobirama is Kakashi's godfather." Minato changes the subject as he drives, telling Kushina about his day so far. A normal thing between the two.
"I think they bicker so much because Obito is oblivious of Kakashi's flirting and Kakashi wasn't taught that being a smartass isn't flirting. With Madara and Tobirama it's because Tobirama hasn't gotten over Madara marrying Hashirama in secret." Kushina shrugs, making that simple deduction based off what Hashirama has told her about how he ended up married to Madara. Madara would flirt with Hashirama the same way as well.
"You may be right. Deep down Tobirama is happy that Madara makes Hashirama happy. He just finds it fun being the bane of Madara's existence." Minato shakes his head, chatting with his wife about their day.
"We're here." Minato smiles, putting the car in park then getting out with Kushina to stand by the car to wait on their children. After a few moments of waiting Kushina see's Negato holding Deidara and Naruto's hands as they chatter about their day and about the new kid. Karin had Deidara's free hand. Both older siblings listening intently as they walk.
When Naruto and Dei see their parents they wiggle out the parents grip. Naruto rushing to Minato to tell him about his day meanwhile Deidara showing Kushina her drawing. Kushina admiring the drawing and Minato listening to to Naruto closely. Making sure he doesn't miss a word.
"Hey mom? Can my friends come over? Yahiko's mom already says it's okay. Itachi is new, he has no other friends in his neighborhood. He's gonna ask his parents when they get here and of course introduce you guys." Negato asks hopefully. Negato doesn't have many friends with things in common like him so Kushina is happy when he brings a new friend over.
"Where is this Itachi?" Minato asks before Kushina could.
Negato points to a raven haired boy and girl. The boy holding the little girl's hand as they chattered with what looked like their parents. Minato could only make out the hair, their faces were turned as they talk. Thinking nothing of it he nodded, there were plenty of people with dark hair but, the Uchiha's with hair that dark. Kagami also had a habit of being a playboy so Minato would not be surprised if it's another secret love child of his.
"Sure, why don't you lead the way? They're new to this town. We welcome them not the other way around." Minato takes Naruto's hand while Kushina takes Deidara's. Karin trailing beside her brother, not that Karin would admit it but she had a crush on the new kid. Itachi was it?
Mikoto was listening to Itachi talk about his day and his new friends Yahiko and Negato as Sasuke held her brother's hand, politely waiting for her turn.
"He says he's gonna ask his parents. Please, can I go mother? I told him I'd even introduce you guys so you're comfortable." Itachi asks politely
"Well alright as long as we're intro-" before Mikoto could finish her sentence she was cut off by the sound of feet approaching and a
"Hello, I'm Kushina this is my husband Minato and o-" Kushina couldn't finish her sentence because standing in front of her was her best friend she hasn't seen in years. Last time they had seen each other it was before college.
"Kushina"
"Koto?" They say at the same time, in shock that the other is standing in from them.
"Oh my gosh! It's been so long. How are you? Still as beautiful as ever." Kushina squeals, hugging her best friend.
"Kushi, stop it. I should be saying that to you. 4 kids and you look absolutely fabulous" Mikoto gushes.
"Oh yes, I was gonna introduce them. This is Naruto and Deidara." Kushina motions to a grinning Naruto and a smiling Deidara on Minato's hip, at some point Dei went over to her father. She then motions to Negato and Karin who were chatting with Itachi while Fugaku and Minato chatted. Each man with their daughter on their hip.
"That's Negato and Karin, twins. Just like Naruto and Dei." Kushina smiles.
"We have to get together for a playdate with the girls. We have so much to catch up on. Starting with you and Minato." Mikoto giggles.
"This weekend sound good? Mebuki and I usually do lunch, park and nails with the kids every weekend? Mebuki's little girl, Sakura is really close with my Deidara. They're absolute angels." Kushina bites her lip, hopeful. She missed Fugaku and Mikoto dearly. They were the few people that welcomed her when she transferred here from Ireland as a child. They were always great friends, friends you hold on to and cherish when you get them. The Uchiha's returned that sentiment, tenfold.
"This weekend sounds good, Sasuke can use r&r, this move has been tough on her. Besides, looks like our husbands have plans already for the weekend" Mikoto motions over to Fugaku and Minato who were already making plans to BBQ and help Minato's father with his deck. Chuckling when she overheard Fugaku stating that his father, Indra, is still bitter about Tsunade drinking him under the table in college.
"You know he wants a rematch. We should definitely invite him over." Fugaku suggests to Minato who had just invited him over to his parents house. Fugaku and Minato's family were really close growing up along with the Senju brothers.
"It's a plan. I gotta get going. Itachi can come over. I'll have the babysitter tweak dinner to accommodate Itachi coming over. If you need anything, or are concerned do not be afraid to contact me or Kushina." Minato bids Fugaku and his family goodbye after exchanging contact information and addresses.
"Bye Kushina, Itachi won't be any trouble. We'll be by to get him when we're off wor-" Fugaku interrupts Mikoto by whispering in her ear while Sasuke fiddled with her fingers, afraid to ask the pretty woman with red hair if she could come over and with her brother. Sasuke didn't want to be away from him and Deidara had welcomed her into her friend group. She saw it as the perfect opportunity to play her new friend.
"Sasuke wants to know if she can come over with Itachi to play with Deidara." Mikoto asks sheepishly.
Kushina agreeing, they bid each other farewell. Looking forward to reconnecting with their old friends and their kids becoming as close as they were as kids.
The Uchiha and Uzumaki-Namikaze over time became closer with the Haruno's being added to the family group. Sakura being an only child, cherished having friends she was close with around her age. The weekend playdates becoming a regular thing until the girls became teenagers themselves. The parents still meeting for drinks, lunches and sometimes vacations.
AN: I lied, the next chapter will be the time skip.