Disclaimer: I own none of the original characters.

This chapter is from Minato's point of view. Enjoy!

.

.

.

Minato

..

I should never have agreed to take them on this mission, I should have gone alone when Lord Hokage assigned it, he would have understood with how dangerous it was.

Dangerous…More like inevitable death.

I shook my head trying to ignore that detail. I couldn't afford to be careless in this situation. Right now I needed to focus on making sure that the perimeter was secure for the night.

I took the first guard duty for that reason, I didn't want Kakashi to run in to trouble right before our mission began, we were going to need his strength at the gates.

The mission plan was stupid, there was no way that we would get in as refugees, and even if we could, I don't think that Obito could hold a transformation jutsu that long. Not that I didn't have faith in my student, Obito was strong, but transformation was his worst form of ninjutsu. All of them have weaknesses and unfortunately this one could mean life or death for our entire team.

I continued through the trees, every 500 feet I would stop to listen more clearly before heading in the next direction. South, West, North, East as I always did, routine was my forte. I wanted to get back to camp and rest, although I made a good show of not being exhausted in the previous 24 hours, I was drained and needed some sleep.

I stopped for a moment after finishing my rounds. The forest was peaceful, in the distance, you could hear the rain, anyone who wasn't a ninja could have never heard it from so far away. It made me remember how close we were to the possible last day of our lives.

As a shinobi, you are aware of the dangers that you will encounter around every turn, the possibility of death on every mission. The life of a shinobi was danger filled, that's why we try not to get close to others and build bonds, we only end up hurting our loved ones in the end. That isn't true for all the village, some of us are willing to risk heartbreak for even five minutes of being with someone that we love and cherish. A lot of former shinobi in our villages have families that they came home to when they were done fighting and that is what some of us younger ones look forward to in the future, we have so much more to fight for when we have these bonds.

I sighed. "I will try to make it home to you Kushina". I thought out loud. I always feel that if I speak into the universe, maybe some miracle will happen. I needed a miracle this time, I hope someone was listening.

I suddenly hated myself for a moment. I hadn't told her the severity of the mission, I made it seem like it would be no problem, that it was just a simple stealth mission, like every other one I have ever done. She had seemed worried, but she always was about me. If I would have told her what I told my students…I can't even begin to imagine what she would have done.

She probably would have taken the same route that Kakashi did when I told him that I was going alone. Saying that we couldn't go on the mission if she beat us to a pulp. She could be so scary when she's angry and upset.

The stillness of the night was calming, but I should get back to my team, I need to check in with them even from afar and make sure that they are….

" Who's there?" I spun around just in time to block the shuriken that came flying at me, sending them flying away with a few clinks.

"If it isn't Konoha's yellow flash." A voice echoing in the trees, seemed to come from all directions. "It's been a long time Minato."

"Who are you…Show yourself!" I didn't recognize his voice. If I could only find him, maybe I would know. An eerie mist rolled through the trees. I had even less visual ability than before. I'll have to rely on my other senses to find this guy.

A sound came from my right, I jumped and kicked to the left, making contact with an open hand which gripped my foot tightly. "Very good". The voice spoke in the mist. I still couldn't see a face, just the scarred fingers wrapped around my foot. "Ah, so you always were that cunning…Not that it matters." Before I knew what was happening, I was projected through the air. I moved my body to kick off the nearest tree and threw myself back at assailant, my right arm and kunai blocking my neck and chest in case of a counterattack. I caught a glimpse of the man before he flickered away, kicking harshly down on my back sending me flying to the ground, breaking through a layer of grass and dirt as I hit it.

"ACK". The taste of blood in my mouth made me gag a little bit. I felt like I was moving more slowly, how was he able to hit me so easily otherwise. Was I not using my full potential against this foe? I began to stand back up, wiping the blood from my lips with the back of my sleeve.

"Are you having trouble facing me?" The voice called out from above. "I don't remember you being this weak Minato." I looked above again as he flicked out of sight. Who is this guy.

"Then again…" He was behind me. I swung my arm backwards making contact again this time with his arm as I met his gaze, one of his eyes were closed. I was holding and matching the pressure against his forearm. "You don't know how to fight me yet, do you?" He chuckled deeply. His voice disturbed me. If I could just make contact with my palm, I could mark him for my flying raijin.

"You're trying to mark me, aren't you?" How did he know…Could he hear my thoughts? There is no way that he would have known otherwise. I have never met this man as far as I can recall. "There is no need to do that now."

"What would you know about it?" I said hesitantly. Almost as if I didn't want an answer, but yet I needed to know who this was and why he knew me so well. What did he want…?

He jumped a few feet back from me taking his guard down completely. I didn't trust that move, he had something planned if I were to attack again. I stood my ground, being sure to keep my guard up. I marked the trees around the perimeter of the forest where we had set up camp, I could use my flying raijin technique to escape if necessary, but that could put my team in danger.

The man's right arm reached down to the leg of his pants; he began pulling the fabric up from his ankle leaving his shin exposed. My eyes widened with shock and confusion.

"You've already done that, Minato…"

What…? I never touched him. How…how could that be? It was my markings; I was sure of it.

He man started laughing wildly as he dropped the pant leg down. "You can test it out if you don't believe me, I'll wait." He couldn't be serious. He was asking me to use my technique to attack him…?

None of this encounter was making any sense. How did he have the markings. How did he know who I was?

"I don't need to test it out, I can tell from here that it is real, I just don't understand how."

He paused before answering. I could feel his gaze as if he was trying to get into my mind through my eyes. He was terrifying to even look at. His pale skin looked almost white, covered dark scars from head to toe. His jet-black cloak rimmed with a sky blue around the collar and his black hair was slicked back against the top of his head, reached just past his shoulders.

"You will." Is all he responded with. Before I could get another word in, he opened his other eye.

What is that…? It was nothing like I had ever seen before…

The blue pupil almost had light projecting from it, it was so bright and the red that covered the outer edges reminded me of fresh blood. I have never seen nor heard of an eye like that. What and who was this guy.

I decided that it was time to make a move, who knows what this could turn into if I didn't do something soon. I went to lunge at him and didn't move.

What…?

I was completely paralyzed. Not a single part of my body would move, I felt like the air had gotten heavier and my lungs were filling up with water, I almost had to gasp for breath, but I couldn't even try before his hand was wrapped around my throat. "you aren't who I need right now." He whispered.

Can't breathe…

I can taste blood again; it was trickling out of my mouth onto his hand.

"I want Kakashi Hatake…" He pulled his hand from my throat and licked the blood from it. "Goodnight, Minato".

I tried to yell, I tried to speak, I tried to move.

"K-k-kash…" Is all I could say.

..

Everything went black.

.

.

.

.

Hope you guys are enjoying so far. I sure am.

Reviews and feedback welcome. Don't forget to subscribe for updates. I try and write at least a chapter a day!