Updated: May 24 2014

Background information:

The story is now set at the beginning of the Second Shinobi World War, when the Rain (Ame) was led by Hanzou of the Salamander (later note: Minato was actually at the academy during the second war, but since I was too late in finding out about this, it's going to have to stay like this. Can't get everything right, hehe). The general interest was to expand land.

2. The Mission

At the age of thirteen, most would feel like they had responsibility and skill equalling a shinobi in their twenties – after all, most thirteen-year-olds had recently graduated. Minato's class had been an exception; they had graduated at the age of ten, but only two from their class had passed the chuunin exams. Of course, Minato had passed the exams a year ago, but that was to nobody's surprise. He was currently walking with a newly promoted Kushina, who looked like she had won a Championship. Apparently, being the only one who was promoted the year after the prodigy of the decade was not so far from that.

The two young chuunin strolled down a narrow, busy gate of Konoha one afternoon, discussing rumours they had heard lately. Minato was smiling, but decided not to comment that he thought it was both amusing and cute that Kushina had gained a sudden urge to discuss everything related to shinobi, war or training. He could risk being knocked out if he did.

Plus, Kushina had learned some pretty scary techniques lately, and Minato didn't feel like being their first victim.

In all honesty, Minato was genuinely impressed of her. She had adapted to the fact that she was most likely staying in Konoha for the rest of her life. The Whirlpool had become weak, and the future didn't look bright. Her parents had been murdered less than a year ago, which had been tough of course; now, Minato knew she worried more about her brother than anything, but she had a strong mind. She knew very well that she couldn't just run back to Whirlpool to help. She had accepted her situation as a jinchuuriki and knew how dangerous it could be to head out. Sometimes, she was furious about everything, but she was never mad for long terms.

"By the way," Kushina said, interrupting herself in the discussion of rumours. "What did the Hokage want?"

Minato had the night before rushed off in the middle of their training session when an ANBU showed up, calling for him. Minato cursed silently. He wasn't ready to talk about this – not to her.

"Just something about a mission," he said and acted casual. "I'm heading out tomorrow."

"Where?" Kushina asked with mild interest and a hint of suspicion.

"The border," Minato said after a moment's hesitation. "To this post near the Rain." He could feel the stare, but found the air in front of him far more tempting to look at than down at the interrogating face of his best friend.

"What's the old man got for you there?"

Minato realised there was no use pretending. He had tried to delay the subject and didn't want to tell her all the details even though he was leaving in only a day. He was already anxious about it, but the possibility of making her sad wasn't helping. Though she would know if he didn't tell the truth – he had never succeeded in the art of lying to her.

"They've had some trouble lately, and the Hokage is short on jounin," Minato said with his eyes planted firmly in front of him. "Some of the rumours you've heard are true. The Rain is sending scouts across the border, and they need someone to track their routes and hold them back."

"And that's your task?"

Minato nodded.

"For how long?"

The question hung in the air above them. It felt like heavy rain was falling on Minato's head and shoulders, yet the sky was just as blue and the evening sun was still shining. Nearly everyone who had been sent to the different border posts had been sent to stay, and since Minato was one of the most promising chuunin the Hokage had so far, it had only been a question of time before he too was ordered to go.

"Listen," he said, unable to answer the question just yet. "Can we meet up later? I can stop by your place."

Kushina shrugged, but Minato was aware that she could get the answer out of him later, anyway.

"Good," he smiled and tried not to sound too relieved. "Take this, I'm kinda busy tonight." He gave Kushina one of his three-pronged Hiraishin kunai. He had insisted on keeping one in her apartment at all times in case something happened, but she had refused of principle; it was too creepy to have a tool which could allow a man to show up in her living-room whenever he wanted. Even though this 'man' was Minato, whose appearances didn't seem to keep up with his age. Nevertheless, she was fine with the single-uses, so she accepted it.

"I gotta go, loads to do," he said. "See you later."

He turned and walked back where they came from, but could feel Kushina's eyes pierce his neck as he disappeared into the crowd.

Back in his apartment, he shut the door and entered the living-room, which was complete with a rather small television, a couch and a table, a kitchen corner and a cramped balcony. It wasn't much, but he had space enough for himself. He threw one look at the open scroll on the table and sat down to read through it once more to make sure he hadn't missed any important details. He hadn't.

He looked around the living-room. He hadn't needed many boxes to get everything packed. He wasn't very fond of possessions, so when his father passed away, he had only kept a few treasures. There was an old photograph of his parents – although he didn't remember his mother, seeing as she died giving birth to him – and a pair of fingerless gloves his father had worn nearly every day while he was working. Minato had saved them for later years when they might fit him, and now that he thought about it, he should take them with him …

Usually, thirteen year old boys were tall, and certain kinds of clothing their fathers had worn would fit more or less, at least shoes and gloves. Minato, on the other hand, was a little late in growing; he was still a bit skinny and as tall as Kushina, who had so far reached a whole meter and sixty centimetres. No one but Kushina teased him for it, though. Being known as a genius, a strong one as well, didn't make him a bully magnet.

Minato thought about how much Kushina had developed lately, and had to snort. It was ridiculous. She had always had sort of a baby's appearance: round, pink cheeks, bright red hair which framed her face (Minato couldn't blame most people for thinking of tomatoes when they saw her) and small for her age, just like him. But when they finally reached their teens, she had shot in the air, her face had evened out and her hair had grown darker and longer, making her look a lot more mature than before.

It was a shame he wouldn't get to see her grow up.

The sun had set and tiny stars appeared on the dark blue sky. Minato was sitting in his empty living-room, feeling drained of chakra after having delivered his boxes at Jiraiya's with the Hiraishin technique. He could have walked to save the energy, but the distance was too long; he wouldn't have time to visit Kushina.

He sighed. His apartment had been nothing but a stop-by where he could eat and sleep whenever he wasn't busy or walking down the streets. He didn't like being shut inside alone all day. Still, it felt weird leaving it so empty, as though he wouldn't have a place to come back to.

Wrong, he thought with a smile.

A sudden, familiar feeling, like a tap on the shoulder, shot through his mind for a second, and he didn't need much more time than that to disappear from the floor of his living-room and appear in Kushina's small entrance. His hand grabbed the flying kunai out of reflex and his senses were sharpened, looking for possible threats – but the only thing he found was the intense stare of a pair of violet eyes, coming from the girl who stood in the doorway to the kitchen with folded arms, tapping her foot impatiently.

Minato blinked of confusion and straightened.

"What's the matter with you?" Kushina demanded.

"Huh?"

"Why're you not telling me you're leaving?"

Minato stood still for a moment. Then, with a sigh, he walked towards the kitchen, passed her in the doorway and dropped the kunai on the kitchen table. He sat down on the rails on her balcony and waited for Kushina to join him. Eventually, she was the first to speak.

"How many years?"

He decided it was time to tell her.