Disclaimer: I sadly don't own Naruto or any characters in this story; it all belongs to masashi kishimoto.

Chapter 1: Just in case

April 29

"I'm going to be a father." Minato whispered to himself while lying in his comfortable bed beside Kushina. He hadn't been able to get the phrase out of his mind ever since Kushina broke the news a few months ago; he would often repeat the phrase to himself everywhere he went. "I'm going to be a father."

He could already imagine it, playing with his own son. Seeing his child grow up to be the best of Kushina and him. 'I wonder who Naruto will resemble more?' his son's name brought a stupid grin to his face, the same that took a week to wear off his face when he and Kushina became a couple. He remembered when Kushina told him the name she wanted to choose; they had just finished reading Jiraiya's "Tales of a gutsy ninja" when she suggested the name. At first, he laughed out loud, saying only Kushina would name her son after a ramen topping, but his laughter died as soon as he saw an all-but-sweet smile on Kushina's face with her red locks flowing like nine red tails.

"Naruto means maelstrom, not as in Narutomaki! And I hope our child grows up to be like the character in Jiraiya-Sama's book. Someone who has the determination never to give up!" said Kushina after Minato stopped laughing. Minato had spent the next few days trying not to laugh at his wife. In truth, he agreed that it was a great name; he could see that. After the initial hilarity of the suggestion wore off just enough for him to think about it. Kushina did have a point. He would like for his son to know the meaning of hard work. Every shinobi has to work hard no matter how talented they are; in fact, he believes that the more talented you are, the harder you should work. On one hand, being talented meant that you could become strong enough to protect what you hold dear and achieve your dreams but on the other...

In the shinobi world, being talented meant attracting interest from inside and outside your village. Talented shinobi often are thrown into the fire far quicker than less talented ones. They are expected to succeed at their mission regardless of whether they are ready. They were pushed farther into the pool's deep end if they succeeded. If the shinobi didn't die during this process, they would start gaining a reputation outside their village, which meant a target on their back and a bounty on their head. If said shinobi decided to rest on his laurels and not push himself to higher heights, an early death was the only thing awaiting him.

He had seen this happen frequently during his career, promising shinobi dying far quicker than they should because they were served more than they could chew. Minato was even a little guilty of this with his last living student. 'Kakashi.' he thought and sighed. He had been giving almost as much thought to his young ANBU as his yet-to-be-born son. 'Maybe being a father wouldn't be so different from being a Jonin Sensei. I guess Kakashi could use a younger brother. He has barely left Kushina since I assigned him to guard her; he even stays after hours.' thought Minato with a smile. 'After all, they were the only resemblance of a family I had before marrying Kushina, but... Rin and Obito are dead, and Kakashi's mental health was reaching new lows before I assigned him to guard Kushina.' A shiver as one as he had never felt made his way through his spine, and suddenly a bone-sheering fear gripped him, and his breath became ragged and shallow. 'What if something happens to Naruto?' what if I'm not fast-' Minato's train of thought broke off as Kushina cuddled into him. 'Everything will be fine. Tomorrow Jiraiya-Sensei will come, and we will talk to him about him being Godfather. Everything will be fine...' and Minato drifted off to sleep.

April 30

"Huh?" Was all Jiraiya could say while blinking several.

Minato only gave him a smile and said, "Yeah, Kushina and I liked it! I think this story is wonderful!"

"Really?"

"Really, every chapter reads like one of all the stories of the adventures you used to tell me when I was a genin. It's almost autobiographical." Explained the blonde with a soft smile while he reminisced about the past.

"Yeah, that's all well and good, but I didn't even sell." Said a dejected Jiraiya before his trademark perverted grin entered his face. "I think I'll include some spicy moments to boost interest for my next one.

Minato paid no mind to his Sensei pervertedness and said softly, "The main character in here, I thought his determination was pretty awesome. He is actually quite a lot like you, Sensei."

"You think so?" Jiraiya scratched the back of his head, suddenly embarrassed by the compliment from his star pupil.

"So, I was thinking..." stated Minato, slightly embarrassed. "I really hope my soon-to-be-born child can become an amazing Shinobi, just like the main character in your book. So... that's why I would like to ask your permission to name my son after him." Jiraiya couldn't speak; he was gobsmacked at the unexcepted request.

At that moment, Kushina came out of the kitchen, clearly pregnant, and put a hand on Minato's shoulder. At the same time, the other hand tenderly caressed her belly. "I think it is a wonderful name." Kushina gave him a small smile.

Jiraiya broke into laughter. "I should have known it was your idea. I randomly came up with it while eating ramen; It's hilarious naming your son after rame-." Jiraiya never finished the sentence as he took in the sight of Kushina's hair floating menacingly.

"Naruto means maelstrom, doesn't Jiraiya-Sama?" said the Uzumaki in a sweet voice that dared the sannin fuck around and find out.

Jiraiya gave a nervous laugh. "I-I, so would that make me his godfather then? Are you really sure about this?"

Kushina nodded while Minato spoke, "You are my Sensei; you are a ninja that possesses true skill. There is no one else in the whole world." Jiraiya could only smile at the words.

"I just wish Tsunade was in the village so I could share the news with her." Kushina sighed. "Do you have any idea where she is?" she asked hopefully.

The white-haired man shook his head. "Tsunade has done a good job covering her tracks, but I'm not putting too much effort into keeping tabs on her location. She lost too much, maybe there I'll come a time when we need her here, but unless blondie over there gives the order, I have to prioritize other matters." Said Jiraiya a little somberly.

After that, they ate and chatted amicably until they heard a knock on the door. Minato stood to answer the knock, only to find out it was his predecessor to the title of Hokage.

"Sandaime-Sama!" exclaimed Minato in surprise.

"Hello, Minato. I'm sorry to intrude into your home unannounced this late in the evening. Still, I have matters to discuss with you and Kushina."

"Oh, Okay, come on in."

"Is that you, old monkey?" called Jiraiya.

"Jiraiya? This is a most opportune moment indeed."

"Guess what old man? They just made the godfather of the gaki." Said Jiraiya with a goofy smile that perfectly reflected his happiness at the moment.

Hiruzen chuckled and made his way to the table to ask Kushina how her pregnancy was coming along and congratulate Jiraiya before sharing the matters he came to discuss. "Minato, Kushina, there is something I must explain to you about giving birth. It happened to Mito-Sama; as you know, she was also a Jinchuriki. During her labor, the nine tails' seal was nearly broken." A pin dropping would have been heard by everyone in the room if.

Minato closed his eyes. 'I knew something was not right. Ever since I told him that Kushina and I were going to be parents, there was something in his face mixed in with the smile he had given me.' Minato took an almost imperceptible breath, steeled his nerves, and turned to grab his wife's hand. "Everything is going to be fine, Kushina." Said Minato with a smile.

"I know." Answered the redhead with a smile of her own.

"Kushina, I'm sorry, but as a precautionary measure, we have to ask you to deliver the child somewhere away from the village, inside a barrier. You will be protected by the ANBU, and I'll also send my wife, Biwako, to help you deliver your child."

The pregnant Uzumaki tightened her grip on her husband. "Naruto, our son's name is Naruto." Saying his name aloud diminished her rapidly increasing nerves, if ever so slightly.

Hiruzen gave a small but warm smile and nodded. Shortly after, the Sandaime excused himself and was soon followed by Kushina, who claimed she was feeling slightly nauseous. As Kushina made her way to the bedroom, she kept repeating the exact phrase over and over in her mind. 'Everything is going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine!' as she repeated the phrase, a plan began forming in her mind... 'Everything will be fine... and I don't want to add to Minato's plate with the silly worriers of a pregnant wife, but just in case...'

While Kushina went to lie down, Minato and Jiraiya sat quietly under dreadful silence. After a while, it was the toad sage that broke the silence. "Everything will be fine, Minato."

The Yondaime Hokage let out a huge sigh. "I know, it's just... could you be there the day of Naruto's birth? It's expected to be October 10."

Jiraiya gave him a small smile. "Minato, you long since surpass me as a seal master. Kushina's mother taught you seals in ways I can hardly understand... but if it makes you fill better, I'll see what barriers we can put up for security measures. As for your request, well, you know I have to keep tabs on my spy network. We may not be at war, but we have to keep a lookout for everything. Iwa won't be a threat for a while, but Kumo and Kiri didn't come out of the war as bad" Minato knew his Sensei had a point. He was needed outside for now, but something in his gut screamed to throw logic out of the window and order his Sensei to stay.

Jiraiya stood up and headed for the door with Minato behind him. Seeing the distress in his students' cerulean eyes, he put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed slightly. "Everything will be fine, Minato."

"I know, Sensei, but... just in case..."

"I promise I'll stop to meet my godson as soon as possible. I can already imagine all the fun we will have; I can picture very clearly what he will be like the first time we take to Mount Myōboku. I hope that kid doesn't get used to Kushina's cooking because he will be in for a hard time... as you can remember." Teased Jiraiya to lift the somber mood of his star pupil. Minato skin color turned slightly green at the memory of Shima's exotic cooking.

"I'll see you soon, Minato." And Jiraiya bid farewell.

Minato sat down on one of the couches and stared into space. Worry started to creep up again in Minato's body, and he did the only thing he could think of. He decided to make a plan. 'I can let my worry show in front of Kushina. I know everything will be fine, but... just in case.' With that thought, he went to lie down next to his wife.

May 1

Kushina woke up late only to find that her husband was long gone. 'It seems that Minato woke up early and went to work.' Though Kushina as she stretched and swept the drowsiness of her mind. 'All right, I have to get started and return before Minato returns so he doesn't suspect anything. I need to visit the Senju clan compound, Kaa-chan's and I's old things are still there since I never moved them after she died and I moved out.' Kushina thought as she got ready. After she finished her morning routine, she was about to leave when a thought occurred to her. She closed her eyes and concentrated. A few seconds later, a smile spread across her face.

"Kakashi, you have 5 seconds to come out, or it will hurt 5, 4, 3, 2..." A small figure with silver hair and a dog mask appeared before her, kneeling.

"Kushina-Sama?" said the ANBU member with an underlying tone of amusement.

Kushina proceeded to smack the ANBU member in the head. "Don't Kushina-Sama me, Hatake, and take your mask off when talking to me." Said Kushina with a smirk as Kakashi tentatively removed his mask. "I'm going to plan a surprise for Minato when Naruto is born, you can still follow me, but I'll need you to be a good boy and not spoil the fun. Okay?" said Kushina as she ruffled Kakashi's hair. Kushina had loved taking the mickey out of all of Minato's students, but she just went the extra mile with Kakashi. Someone had to remember that even though he was already a Jonin, he was still young and shouldn't be so uptight and serious all the time. He made no attempt at avoiding this now, he long had learned his lesson about stopping Kushina, but he never could suppress the tick in his right eye. Kakashi just sighed and nodded. He figured that if his Sensei had a problem with it, Kushina would manage to protect him.

As Kushina made his way to the now uninhabited Senju compound, she started to think back to her childhood growing up there. Ever since the marriage between Mito Uzumaki and Hashirama Senju, every Uzumaki that entered the Konoha was welcomed with open arms into the compound. The compound had a certain Natural beauty that couldn't be matched by any other place in Konoha. The tall and robust trees surrounding the compound made you feel in touch with nature, and the air was the purest she had felt the pleasure of breathing in. It wasn't Uzushio, but it was beautiful and was the most at home she ever felt in Konoha before she and Minato moved in together.

Kushina entered the compound and made her way toward her old house. It was a house like any other, except instead of only having the Senju clan crest in the door, it also had the Uzumaki clan crest in the original sky blue. She smiled fondly at the old symbol. For some reason, the clan at one point, had decided to change the symbol's color to a red that matched the most recognizable physical trait in an Uzumaki. Yet, she could still remember that you could see the original symbol plastered in some places in Uzushio. Kushina's mood soon turned sour as she remembered her home country. She was very aware that most of the younger generation didn't know about the deep ties between Konoha and Uzu.

Ever since the fall of Uzugakure, most of the knowledge of the once-great clan seemed to have died with the village. She didn't fault Konoha for not aiding Uzu, at least not now. She would admit that, at some point, she was resentful of this village for not assisting them. But as she matured, she understood that everything happened far too quickly for Konoha to send help. According to her mother, the concentrated attack from Kumo and Kiri was unexpected. She may understand this now, but it still stung. However, what she couldn't forgive was how the Sandaime had allowed their sacrifice and friendship to be forgotten. It made her blood boil. Thankfully now that Minato was Hokage, it will all be fixed shortly. She had put her foot down that until Minato agreed to change the curriculum in the academy, he would be sleeping on the couch. Minato never had agreed to anything faster in his life.

She had spent much of her time planning what should be taught about her clan before her pregnancy. She fondly remembers how she had used Kakashi as a test subject to cram him with every piece of information that would be taught in the academy. Kakashi had kept his expressionless face all throughout her lessons. To anyone else, it would seem like Kakashi just went along as a favor to his Sensei, but she knew better. The boy had enjoyed learning about the clan. 'He is just like Minato in that sense; both would never pass a chance to learn something new.' Mused Kushina as she opened the door.

Kushina took a deep breath as she entered the house; she took in the sight of the dusty living room where she used to eat with her mother, Akane Uzumaki. She shook her head after a few seconds. 'There is a reason I didn't come when planning what to teach about the clan... too many memories.' She took in a deep breath. 'I'll better do this quickly for my sake.'

Kushina went towards the room where her mother kept several scrolls about the clan's history, fūinjutsu, ninjutsu, and taijutsu. Her mother had brought all of these scrolls from Uzu for the sole purpose of teaching her. In her words, "I won't let any Uzumaki smear the history of the great Uzumaki clan on why watch much less my own daughter!" and that is why Kushina was drilled into the ground with studies since a young age. At that moment, Kushina had loathed her studies, but now she could look back and appreciate the memories fondly. "I understand, Mom. Naruto will also grow to represent the clan and make us proud." Said Kushina under her breath. Slowly, without her noticing, her clan pride had grown. Though it didn't quite reach the hubris the Uchiha and Hyūga displayed, she still was incredibly proud of her clan's history. She would be dammed if Naruto wasn't proud of being an Uzumaki.

Kushina bit her thumb, spread some blood on the doorknob, and opened the door. Kushina then undid the additional security seals her mother had put in place. After taking care of the security measures, she selected every scroll she had dimmed, important enough for Naruto to have. She divided them by fūinjutsu, ninjutsu, taijutsu, and clan history. She ordered them according to their rank or, in the case of the clan's history, chronologically. She then took four larger scroll seals and proceeded to modify the matrix. She took a while to plan how to modify the storage seals, but she got an idea after brainstorming. 'It shouldn't be that hard, just a bit tricky and long. I guess no one really has a reason to develop such a seal yet and record the knowledge.'

Kushina started to work with some ink and brush she had brought along with her. After brainstorming how to go about this, she modified the sealing matrix and added some kanji to the scroll. What she wanted to create was essentially a layered progressional storage seal. The four scrolls were going to be stored in a larger sealing scroll. Inside the bigger scroll, four kanji would appear. History, fūinjutsu, taijutsu and ninjutsu. Once you entered the chakra into one of the kanji, the seal would release the current lowest-ranking scroll of the chosen subject. In the bigger scroll, questions would appear to test your knowledge on the scroll you took out. It took Kushina a couple of hours, but she had figured it out, and now she only had to add the question to the larger scroll. She would be doing this during the remaining months of her pregnancy. She put the storage seal on her bag, stood up, and stretched. "Fūinjutsu sure is a wonderful thing." She said to herself.

Kushina decided to go home before it was too late, but she passed by her old bedroom door before she left. She stared at the door for a moment before letting out a sigh and opening the door. She explored her old room for a while before finding a box filled with small red books. She smiled softly, grabbed one of the books, and opened it. 'My old journals. I stopped writing years ago, but maybe I should store them in another scroll for Naruto.' She quickly followed with her line of thought and sealed her journals into another scroll. After that, she made her way home.

Meanwhile, Minato was at one of his safe houses, reviewing several of his notes. At the beginning of their relationship, he and Kushina had bonded a little over their writing hobby. Kushina initially had only kept a journal to cope with her loneliness due to being an outsider. She stopped writing a couple of months after they began their relationship. Minato, on the hand, never stopped writing. He had too many thoughts in one day not to write them and keep them stored for a later date. Today was precisely that date. Minato was looking at all the journals he had written through his years. The rasengan and its multiple steps, as well as theories on combining with chakra nature, fūinjutsu, tactics, the hiraishin with the improvements he had made and derived jutsu he created, daily thoughts, and his own fighting style. Minato's fighting style had three different variations. The first was based on a relatively simple style, although it could be pretty risky. If the user didn't have the speed and reflexes to execute the style properly, the enemy could exploit the small openings in the user's guards. The second variation focused on quick slashes, stabs, and counters with a kunai. This style had a particularity that was almost exclusive to Minato. Most shinobi essentially threw ninjutsu out the window the moment they grabbed a kunai. Minato wasn't like most ninjas. He wasn't Konoha no Kiiroi senkō for nothing. His uncommon talent for one-handed hand signs and rasengan allowed him to incorporate ninjutsu while fighting in close-range combat seamlessly. The third variation was created when he implemented the hiraishin into the second variation. The combination proved to have become highly lethal indeed.

Minato collected all of his notes and organized them in terms of difficulty. Minato debated including his notes of the Nidaime's hiraishin and his improvements along with his other notes. He had been torn between passing his knowledge to Naruto and letting him be his own shinobi. After deliberating for a while, he concluded that he wanted Naruto to have all the tools to surpass him, but he wouldn't out right-hand things to him. He had been thinking of a seal that would grant Naruto gradual access to his notes, the hiraishin, of course, being the grand prize. Unknowingly Minato created the exact same seal that Kushina had created down to the last brush, with the only exception that Minato didn't have anything regarding his family history. Minato inspected the seal and grinned. "I think I call this seal the sequential learning progress-tracking seal. Fūinjutsu sure is a wonderful thing."

October 3

Minato sat in his office with the beautiful view of Konoha behind him. At the moment, the blonde Hokage was examining a particular piece of paperwork. Unlike most of his paperwork, which is usually handled by his shadow clones, he wanted to take this one personally. He had been thinking about it, but every time it came to his mind, the worry of somehow offending him came along.

He sighed. 'I'm just bad at these things. I'm horrible at expressing my feelings. I know that I'm not a cold person; quite the opposite... it's just how I'm even going to put it into words.' Though Minato as he examined the paper in his hands. Kushina had given him the last push to decide to go for it. He remembered yesterday with a smile.

Flashback

Minato was peacefully eating the miso ramen with extra chasu he had picked up on his way home while Kushina ate her favorite salt ramen. Kushina observed her husband and waited for the perfect moment to strike. Finally, she found the right opportunity.

"You know Minato... I have been thinking something lately." Her husband only nodded, signaling to continue. Before speaking, her eyes were twinkling with mischief. "I think Naruto should have a brother." She said with the straightest face she could muster.

Minato started to choke on his ramen for a few seconds until she took pity on him and passed him a glass of water. She remained dead serious and looked him straight in the eyes, causing him to avert his gaze.

"Already? I mean, Naruto has even been born... shouldn't we wait, I don't know, a little." Said Minato with panic in his voice.

"Are you saying you don't want to make more babies with me, Namikaze?" Kushina lifted an eyebrow, and her tone sounded more like a threat than a question.

Minato turned, paled, and started to stutter. "I-I K-Kushina t-t-that wasn't w-what I-I m-meant." Kushina couldn't hold it anymore and burst out laughing. The blonde just stared at his wife for a couple of seconds before letting out a relieved sigh.

"Don't joke like that." Minato pouted.

"Well, I wasn't joking, at least not entirely." Now the yellow flash was outright confused. Kushina decided to stop being cryptic and took a sheet of paper and passed it to her husband.

Minato grabbed the paper and analyzed it before a smile appeared on his face. Kushina seeing Minato's smile, decided to voice her thoughts. "I know you have been thinking it for a while, and knowing you, you would have taken ages to do it." Minato gave her a sheepish smile and rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment. Minato smiled again and looked at the paper that read "Adoption form for Hatake Kakashi."

After a couple of seconds, Minato frowned. "I'm worried I might offend him. You know what he thinks of his father..."

Kushina gave him a tender smile. "Minato, you know you want to give it to him. I'm sure Kakashi won't be offended. If he weren't so cold, he would be fanboying over you. You are the person he admires the most and has been there for him since he was what? Eight?" Minato nodded in response and thought about when he should do it.

"Just don't take too long, Minato."

Flashback ends

Minato was still reminiscing when he seldom heard a knock on the door, and he absentmindedly answered to come in. He was still looking at the form in his hands until he heard Kakashi's voice. Minato jumped at the voice and fumbled with the paper. The paper fell out of his hands right beside Kakashi's feet. The young ANBU moved to grab the form that, thankfully, it landed face down, and Minato had to prove why it was claimed that he had God, unparallel speed. After returning to his seat in less than the blink of an eye, he spoke rather nervously while rubbing the back of his head. "Sorry Kakashi, it's classified information, yes, very classified."

Kakashi blinked behind his mask at his Sensei's odd behavior and shrugged it off as nervousness because of his son. He stood there waiting for his Sensei to speak. After all, he had called him but got confused after he didn't talk. "Was there something you needed Hokage-Sama?"

Minato blinked, and the realization hit him that he was the one that had called Kakashi. Minato coughed into his fist. "Right, Kakashi, as I have told you already, please address me as you always have. No need to be so formal with me. I called you in here to thank you for protecting Kushina."

"But..." began Kakashi.

"The ANBU directly under the Sandaime will take over for now."

"Then I'll be returning to my duties in ANBU?"

"There is no need to be so hasty. Take a week or two off before you return to your duties." Said Minato with a smile. Kakashi nodded, bowed, and exited the office, but Minato remembered something before he left. "Kakashi, wait!" Minato turned his gaze to look down at the adoption form, and he felt his mouth go dry and couldn't get the words out.

"Hai?"

"Ahh, never mind. I'll tell you later." Kakashi just nodded again and exited the office.

Minato let out a sigh of frustration at not being able to talk with Kakashi about the adoption. He put the form back in his pocket and looked at the clock. 'Right, I should go and hide Naruto's scroll... and now I know just the place to hide it.' He thought while smirking.

Kushina let out a tired sigh. 'Agh, walking all the way here has been a total pain in the ass with this belly.' She thought as she went to where she had chosen to hide Naruto's scroll.

Kushina entered a beautiful clearing with a small cascade. She smiled as she remembered when she and Minato would come here in their teenage years. Kushina would tell her mom that she and Minato would go out to train, and they come in here and just hang out. This was their place. In the later years of their relationship, they had even been a little cabin hidden away from everything when they wanted a little more privacy to "practice" their cardiovascular endurance. They had taken precautionary methods so no one but them could see their little cabin. They had put on a seal that worked as a powerful and constant genjutsu barrier that wouldn't affect either of them, thanks to the blood seals they had put in place.

Kushina entered the little cabin and took out the scroll she had prepared for her yet-to-be-born Naruto. She looked around the small cabin; it wasn't anything fancy. Just a bed with a nightstand beside it and a closet. She smiled when she spotted a picture on the nightstand. It was a picture of both of them smiling together at a festival. She was so lost in the memories that she almost missed the bright yellow flash that appeared in front of her. After a second, Kushina went wide-eyed as she stared at her husband's equally wide cerulean eyes.

"M-Minato?"

"K-Kushina?"

"What are you doing here?" They both said at the same time.

A couple of seconds of silence followed, in which neither could speak. Kushina recovered first and used her usual humor to divert attention from her. "You weren't planning on bringing any girls here, right Namikaze?" said Kushina with narrowed eyes.

To her happiness, she achieved what she aimed for and made Minato stutter due to the surprise. "W-what? N-no, of course not." Kushina's eyes remained narrowed, trying to keep the conversation off her.

"So, then what are you doing here?" she asked with a fake tone of suspicion.

"I-I-I, wait, what are you doing here?" asked the blonde back.

Kushina had been expecting it, so she doubled her efforts. "Don't play with me, Namikaze, and what's that scroll on your hand?"

Minato blinked a couple of times when he realized he had Naruto's scroll in his left hand. Minato quickly hid behind his back. "Nothing. Just a scroll I took with me by accident from the office." Said Minato in a hurry. Now Kushina was suspicious. "And why do you have a scroll with you? Said Minato after a few seconds of silence.

Kushina cursed under her breath. "It's just something for Naruto, a gift I wanted to hide here."

Minato blinked a couple of times before letting out a laugh. "You too?" said Minato before continued laughing.

Kushina waited for her to notice she wasn't laughing and pointed at the scroll in her husband's hands. "So, you lied to me."

Minato instantly gulped and went pale. "I-it's not like that."

"Really?"

To her surprise, Minato went from uncomfortable to slightly sad and looked toward the ground. "it's just something I did for him. I know everything is going to be fine-"

"But you did just in case..." Minato looked up to see the sad smile she had. Neither of them moved in a long silence until Minato got closer and enveloped her in a tender hug.

"I'm scared." She said with a terrible voice that Minato felt a lump in his throat. Minato didn't have any words to reassure her. There were no words that would calm down a mother who feared for the well-being of her child. That and Minato was also scared shitless himself. He opted just to embrace her with his tall frame and long arms and transmit the message that he wanted to put into words. "I won't let anyone harm a single of Naruto's hair."

Kushina lost track of how many minutes she spent in Minato's arms; she could have stayed like this until she had to give birth for all she cared about. After the long hug, neither spoke as they took their scrolls and placed them in the nightstand cabinet. They both sat on the bed in silence before Kushina said.

"So, did you talk to Kakashi?" She got her answer when she felt Minato tense and sighed in frustration.

She was about to give her a piece of her mind when her husband spoke. "Actually, I was thinking of putting the form in here and returning to grab it after Naruto's birthday. Since everything will be fine, we can return to get the form and talk to Kakashi together." He finished with a smile.

Kushina knew it was a lie but had to give him his due credit. It was the smoothest lie he had ever told, so she just nodded with a smile. Meanwhile, Minato was mentally patting himself on the back. He stood up to open the cabinet and placed the adoption form next to the scroll. After that, hand in hand, both made their way out of their small cabin in silence.

Author's notes

Hi, thanks for reading the first chapter hope you like it. I don't have anyone to Beta read my story, so if anyone is willing to do it, I would love your help.