Don't shoot me! I know its been a very long time since I updated! I think there will be several questions about somethings in this chapter, but I shall answer those down below. Know that I am terrible at fight scenes!

OMG! Naruto is over! My life is over! :'( No, but seriously go read the last two chapters from Naruto (699 &700). I say Kishimoto did a fantastic job of wrapping up the series. I will miss the weekly updates greatly but all good things must end.

Please Review!

xXx

The Slug and The Toad

With a flash of light, Minato lands in the familiar room of the Hokage's office. Taking a deep breath, he takes off through the door of the office still holding the younger blonde tightly in his arms. Flashing through the village as fast as he could, Minato started to feel the slight sting in his eyes. He was not going to loose anymore of his precious people, not if he had a say in it. He finally made is way across the village to the hospital.

As soon as he entered, a nurse ran up to him "Hokage-sama!"

"We must hurry," Minato breathed out, "he's been poisoned."

"Hai, Hokage-sama," the nursed nodded and rushed back to the front desk and called for the others. Moments later two more nurses appeared with a stretcher.

The oldest of the three nurses plucked the young blonde from the Hokage and pulled him on to the bed. As quickly as Minato arrived, Naruto disappeared with the nurses. Minato watched the swinging slowly come to stop. Not completely aware of his actions, the blonde made his way over the seating along side the front of the entrance. He sunk down into the hard metal chair and buried his face in hands as he rested his arms on his knees. Moments later he heard the door of the hospital open then shut, and a familiar presence sat down beside him.

"Sensei, I-" Kakashi started.

"Not, now," Minato cut him off.

"But, sensei," Kakashi tried again.

"I said, not now, Kakashi" Minato snapped shooting his head and staring dangerously into the eyes of the younger shinobi, "I do not have the patience to deal with you right now."

Kakashi opened his mouth as if he was going to say something but promptly shut it. He dropped his head and turned away from his sensei. For what seemed like an eternity, the two men sat in silence. Minato had gone back to burring his face in his hands. The tension in the room steadily rose until the younger felt as if he couldn't breathe. Kakashi sighed and decided he should take his leave. He stood and made his way to the door, but stopped just before exiting.

"I'm sorry, sensei," Kakashi whispered then walked out.

Although to anyone else it would have seemed Minato hadn't heard his student, but in all actuality, he had. And it damn near broke him. Kakashi was the last on one his team, and he couldn't afford to loose him too, not if he lost…

Minato shook his head, he couldn't think like that. His son would be fine. He didn't know how much time had passed but it was agony waiting on those nurses. Finally the young nurse walked out with a worried look on her face.

"Hokage-sama," she called and Minato rushed forward, "we were able to slow the poison down, but there is nothing more we can do. The poison is so complex; we've never seen anything like it. It's impossible to make an antidote for it without knowing the exact formula. I'm sorry, Hokage-sama. We've done all we can."

"You mean?" Minato's eyes widened.

"If nothing is done, then yes. The only person I know who could possibly do anything is Tsunade-sama," the nurse shook her head.

"Tsunade?" Minato breathed out.

He had no idea where the slug princess was, no one did. He would find her without fail. He would use every resource in his power to drag her back to the village.

"Is he awake?" Minato asked.

The nurse shook her head, "he woke up when we were working on him, but in order to stabilize him, we put in him in an induced coma."

"When will he wake up?" the blonde pleaded.

The nurse didn't reply but just shook her head.

"How long?" Minato asked he voice starting to shake.

"A few weeks at best," the nurse whispered.

"I see," Minato dropped his head, "where is he? Can I see him?"

The nurse turned and led the older blonde to the small room that held his son. When the door opened, Minato about fell apart. Seeing his son lay motionless on bed. Naruto looked lifeless. He was pale and still. One would believe Naruto was already gone if it weren't for the slow beeping of the machine next to him. Minato slowly made his way to his boy, sitting carefully next to him on the bed. He grabbed on of Naruto's hands and gave a little grasp. He was so cold already. The nurses and other staff slowly filed out of the room, knowing there was nothing more they could do. Minato sucked in a hard breath trying to hold on to his composure, but he was failing miserably. Feeling the familiar sting in the corners of his eyes, he shook his head. He had to be strong. He knew what he needed to do, but he couldn't muster up the strength to leave his son.

Then a thought occurred to him, the one person who would never leave his boy's side. But could he trust him? Minato shook his head. How could he ever think he couldn't trust Kakashi?

"Kakashi," Minato called knowing the man was close.

"Yes?" Kakashi replied stepping through the window.

The window of course, Minato would have been amused if he weren't in this situation. Kakashi hopped down from the window then promptly closed it. Then standing there, he had yet to make eye contact with his sensei.

"Kakashi, look at me," Minato ordered.

Kakashi took a subtle deep breath and lifted his eyes to the shocking blue ones.

"Please, stay with him," his sensei pleaded, "I've got to do things to help him but I don't want him alone," then he pulled out one of his kunai and handed it to the other, "if anything happens, you know how to contact me."

Kakashi nodded then looked down at the younger blonde.

"It's not your fault," Minato whispered as he rubbed one of his son's chubby cheeks, "I don't know what happened exactly, I expect you will tell me later, but I know you. You would never let anything happen to him if you could have done anything. So I'm not blaming you and I'm sorry for snapping at you earlier. I'm scared, Kakashi. I can't loose him, not after loosing Kushina, and Rin and Obito. Naruto and you are the only ones I have left. I can't loose you."

Kakashi was speechless, he had never once heard Minato say that he was scared and it scared him to hear it. Kakashi nodded as Minato flicked his gaze to him. Those terrifying icy blue eyes from earlier were now replaced with warm blue pools. Minato looked vulnerable for the first time ever. A small twelve-year-old boy could bring down Minato, the flee-on-sight shinobi. Kakashi tried to give his sensei a reassuring smile but it never reached his eyes.

"Watch him, Kakashi. I'll be back as soon as I can," Minato stood up then looked at his son once more, "I will save him."

Kakashi nodded as Minato left the room. The grey-haired shinobi let out a breath that he didn't even know he was holding and walked over to the oversized chair across from Naruto.

xXx

Minato made haste across the village. There was one person he could summon in order bring back that drunk of a Sannin, and thank Kami that man arrived earlier than he was planning. Reaching at his office he ordered one of the shinobi to go find his sensei, mentioning to look by the bathhouses or brothels if they couldn't find him. After that Minato walked over to his desk and search through his files until he found Tsunade's file. Pulling it out and reading it over, he noticed the last time they located her was six months ago. She would be long gone by then. Sighing he flipped through her file in case he missed anything, and that when the shinobi he ordered earlier walked in with the large white haired man behind him.

"Gaki," Jiraiya joked as he walked in, but then noticed the look on Minato's face and changed his tone to a serious one, "what's going on?"

"It's Naruto," Minato said solemnly.

"Look, I know I need to help him with his ch-" Jiriaya started.

"He's dying, sensei," Minato dropped his head.

"What?" Jiraiya's eye widened.

"He was poisoned in Suna by a man named Sasori, an Akatsuki member," Minato spoke quietly.

"Surely they can make an antidote for it!" Jiriaya hollered.

Minato shook his head, "the poison is far too complex. They slowed it down, but he's only got a few weeks at best."

"Minato," Jiriaya whispered just loud enough for the blonde man to hear his name, then regaining his voice, he stated "we need to find Tsunade."

"I know," Minato took a deep breath with the intention of regaining his composure, even if it was only a little, "that's why I called you in here."

"You want me to find her," Jiraiya stated.

"Yes, I do," Minato nodded placing his elbows on the desk and lacing his fingers together in front of his face, "I assume you have done as I have ask several years ago, after you know what happened."

"Of course, Hokage-sama," Jiraiya nodded, "I've kept my off-the-record tabs on her as ordered. Although, you know Tsunade, when she doesn't want to be found, she's pretty damn good at hiding."

"I assume you have an idea of where she is at though?" Minato asked.

"Of course," Jiraiya nodded, "but if she gets wind I am looking for her, she'll run."

"I know, but Jiraiya, you're a shinobi," Minato narrowed his eyes, "and a pretty damn good one at that. I know you'll find her before she knows about it."

"Hai, Hokage-sama."

"Also, tell her the situation when you find her, I don't want to have to explain it once I see her," Minato shrugged.

"Hai," Jiraiya nodded.

Minato would have smiled if he could. He could always count on his sensei, even if to everyone else it didn't seem like it, "Find her, and bring her back as fast as possible."

Minato stood up and threw one of his kunais to the other man, "when you find her throw it and I will be there to bring you both back. Is that clear?"

"Hai, Hokage-sama," Jiraiya bowed formally then straightening back up he gave his student a determined smile, "I won't loose my Godson, Minato."

"Thank you, sensei," Minato smiled weakly, "Now get going, we don't have much time."

Jiriaya gave one last quick nod before taking his leave, leaving Minato with his thoughts.

I'm sorry, Kushina. I let this happen to our son. What kind of a father am I?

Minato shook his head, then made his way back to the hospital to look after his son.

xXx

Even though Kakashi already knew who walked through the doors, you could call it a human habit to glance up and acknowledge the person, or you could call it paranoia of your senses failing you when you see someone you didn't expect. However the newcomer was just as he expected, a solemn-looking Minato. Kakashi released the breath he had been holding only to remember that he had to explain what happened to his sensei, and then he sucked in another breath.

The grey-hair man was sitting in a steel chair watching the small pale boy. Minato knew Kakashi loved Naruto like a little brother, and he had forgotten he wasn't the only one struggling with the idea that he might loose someone precious to him. At first, he was furious at his student for letting any harm come to his son, but he realized that Kakashi would certainly not let anything happen to his child if there was anything he could about it.

Kakashi and his son were the only two of his precious people, aside from Jiraiya, that were left. He needed to protect them. Even if Kakashi's life wasn't in danger, he couldn't risk loosing him by pushing him away. Minato noticed the tension in the shoulders of his student. It was uncharacteristic of Kakashi for anything to get to him emotionally, however this was nothing usual. For the younger adult, watching his ostensibly younger brother was dying before his very eyes, and the closest thing the man had to father was furious with him for letting the former be in the condition he is. Minato sighed and knew he must fix this before it got worse.

"Relax, Kakashi," Minato whispered as he walked over, placing his hand on the shoulder of the younger, then proceeding to sit down on the edge of the small bed.

"Sensei, I…" Kakashi started then was promptly cut of by a wave of the blonde's hand.

"Kakashi, I'm sorry for earlier, I really am. I told you before; I'm scared I'll loose my son. It's one thing to know he'll be in danger on missions, but it's a whole other level, when it comes to watching him slowly die before me, when I know there is nothing I can do," Minato watched his son as he explained, "I know this is not your fault, I know it. You would never allow anything to happen to him if you could have done something."

"Sensei, I am sorry I let this happen," Kakashi shook his head, "I should have stopped him, I should have, but I didn't"

"Kakashi, explain what happened, please," Minato asked looking at his student.

FLASHBACK

…."Naruto, what has your dad said about swearing?" Kakashi warned.

"Sorry, sensei…" Naruto scratched the back of his head sheepishly and smiled, and then looked over to Gaara who was taking in everything he had just told the red head, "Gaara, do you have any precious people?"

Gaara just looked at him, but when Naruto realized he wasn't going to get a reply he went back to doodling on the piece of paper. Gaara stared down at the teddy bear he was holding.

A little while later, there was an explosion somewhere in the city, but it was large enough and close enough for the vibrations to reach the tower. However being in a village full of Shinobi, neither Jonin were much concerned. Naruto, being the curious genin that he was, ran to the large window that spanned the side of the room they occupied, Kakashi followed suit. A little ways off was a tower of smoke rising from the explosion. Baki walked up to the window as well to examine his village.

"Kakashi-san, that was no ordinary explosion. We need to get the boys somewhere safe," Baki explained turning towards the Konoha-nin, "Now."

Kakashi nodded and scooped Naruto under his arms, while Baki rushed over to the little redhead and grabbed his arm, ignoring the protests from said little redhead. Both Jonin rushed out of the room with their genin dragging along.

Making their way through the tower at a rushed paced, Baki turned to Kakashi and explained where they were headed, "there is a safe house underneath the tower, but the entrance is outside."

Kakashi only nodded in agreement readjusting the protesting Naruto, who was not pleased with being ignored. They reached the main entrance to the tower, but once they stepped outside they were face to face with two men in red-clouded, black cloaks.

One with blonde hair pulled back into a high ponytail, and a long bang covering his left eye, while a smug smirk was plastered on his face. The other was more intimidating being large dome like body with a scorpion tail coming out the back.

"Look, they brought us just what we came here for!" the blonde laughed.

Are they after Naruto…. Or Gaara? Kakashi thought.

"Yes, that will help us recover some lost time," the other man replied.

Kakashi looked over at Baki signaling for him to prepare to fight. Once he received the go-ahead from Sand-nin, he placed Naruto down behind him whispering to him "stay back, they might be here for you."

Naruto nodded and hid behind his sensei.

Kakashi took his fighting stance pulling a kunai from his pouch. He momentarily brushed the famous three-pronged kunai, making him think about calling on Minato, but his pride pushed that thought aside. Baki pushed Gaara behind him and took his own fighting stance.

"Ah, looks like they are going to put up a fight," the blonde complained.

"It seems so, Deidra," the other replied.

At the finish of his sentence the scorpion tail shot forward aiming to take out both Kakashi and Baki, but both Jonin grabbed their youngster a leaped out of the way.

Kakashi placed Naruto back on the ground, and then made several hand signs "Katon: Gōkakyū no Jutsu!" A large fireball shot out of the man's mouth and straight towards the two men, however that tail swiped away the fire in one swing.

"Kaze no Yaiba!" Baki yelled shooting the sword-like wind towards the men. This time, the blonde set off a small bomb, using the blast to counter-act the wind.

"Kaka-sensei, let me help!" Naruto pleaded.

"No, Naruto. Stay back!" Kakashi told him sternly.

Naruto furrowed his eyebrows and clenched his fists, but he did as he was told and held his ground. Kakashi realized he was at a disadvantage trying to protect Naruto and fight at the same time. Glancing over, he noticed Baki had made the same realization. Making eye contact, they both understood that one of them would fight while the other protected the two boys. Being separated as they were gave the enemy a huge advantage, whether they realized it or not. Kakashi gave one quick nod and used the same Katon jutsu to create a small distraction, giving the two Jonin just enough time to grab the Kages' sons and regroup with each other.

"Kakashi-san, one of us needs to stand back and protect Gaara and Naruto, while the other fights off the enemy," Baki thought out loud.

"Yes, I agree," Kakashi nodded.

While the two older men were discussing their plan, Naruto was getting more and more frustrated with the fact that he had to stand back and be protected.

"My lightening techniques may work better against them since it can cancel out those explosives," Kakashi stated.

"Alright, I will protect the boys," Baki nodded sliding into a protective stance in front of both genin.

Kakashi reached up and lifted his hitai-ate revealing his sharingan. He then made the familiar hand sign for the Kage Bunshin. Both the original and the clone mimicked the signs for the Chidori in opposite hands. Connecting both chidori they created a lightening type cable between them.

Noticing the grey-haired-shinobi's plan, Deidara created a bird out of his clay and climbed aboard so he could have a quick get away if needed. Both Kakashis ran forward with determination of cutting right through that scorpion tail. However right as the set about reached their destination, the mouth of the shorter man shot open shooting out many senbon needles towards him. The needled dispelled the clone forcing the jutsu to break and forcing the original Kakashi to pulled out a kunai and block the needles. Not having much time to react, the scorpion tail flew out and hit Kakashi just enough to knock him back towards the others, however being the shinobi that he is he landed in a semi-battle stance.

Watching his sensei get beat because of him, Naruto decided to take action. Before either man could stop him, the little blonde bolted forward with a blue swirling ball in his hand, aimed for the shorter man.

"Naruto!" Kakashi yelled but it was too late.

Deidara laughed at the young genin trying to take on Sasori, and threw a small bomb at the boy, throwing him off track.

Naruto picked himself up off the ground after being hit by the explosive and gave the two men an angry look, which made it seem like the young boy was almost growling.

"I won't let you hurt my precious people!" Naruto yelled.

"Stay out of this boy, we aren't interested in you!" Deidara laughed.

"Then why are you here?" Baki asked.

Deidara lifted up an arm and pointed to the young redhead behind him, "we are here for the Ichibi."

"I won't let you take Gaara!" Naruto yelled forming the Rasengan again and this time charged towards Deidara.

Sasori opened his mouth once more and shot needles towards the young boy, no one noticed in time and Naruto had been hit by one of the needles. Before he even reached the white bird on which Deidara was perched, Naruto fell to the ground unconscious. Sasori's tail reached out a plucked the young blonde from the ground.

"Sasori, I believe this might be the Hokage's son?" Deidara laughed.

"Oh? Well, maybe we can use him as bait," Sasori thought out loud.

"Shit," Kakashi sworn under his breath.

"Kakashi."

"Sensei!"

END FLASHBACK

"I should have stopped him," Kakashi shook his head, "it IS my fault sensei. I did nothing more than watch Naruto run into a battle that was way over his head. I did nothing to stop him."

"Kakashi," Minato took a deep breath, "I know it may seem that way, but Naruto is too much like his mother. He rushes into battle before thinking about the consequences. Even if you had said something it wouldn't have made much of a difference, he wouldn't have listened."

"But, still…" Kakashi started but was cut off.

"But, nothing," Minato stated, "You did exactly what you should have done and protected him. We will teach him not to rush into battle without a plan once he is back on his feet."

"Of course, sensei," Kakashi nodded and turned his attention back on his student.

xXx

Can someone tell me where the line separation is when you "copy-n-paste" to upload chapters? Seriously I can not find it... Maybe I'm just blind... oh well, that was the chapter! See? I'm terrible at fight scenes! Some questions you might be wondering about...

Minato asked Jiraiya to keep tabs on Tsuande after the Kyuubi incident because he believed that having a top medic like that on call would have saved more lives.

Will Naruto die? I don't know... maybe... I haven't decided yet... if you haven't noticed this fic is more about Minato than Naruto... but hey I love Naruto so maybe I'll keep him alive...

Yes Gaara and Naruto are friends, but this time Naruto didn't have to literally beat it into him.

Konoha and Suna are allies now.

Yes, everything this fine between Kakashi and Minato... for now anyways! ;)

Any more questions please PM me or put it in your review and I shall answer it!

REVIEW!