Prepare yourself for the following:
1. Three idiots and their depressed sensei try to find their place in the Shinobi world i. e. a radically different team 7 arising from the altered state of affairs, namely the presence of their families.
2. Minato struggles to hold onto his sanity in the midst of overpowered madmen in leadership positions.
Prologue
Several years prior
"I would like to hear what you've found," Minato said to the man looming in the Hokage office. The blackness of the night invaded the room, clinging to this sinisterly polished individual. A hefty stone tablet engraved with unidentifiable markings sat on the desk between them.
"I'm afraid to disappoint you, Hokage-sama," he said softly. "Perhaps, you've overestimated my abilities this time."
Minato's mouth tugged in the ghost of a smile, his hands crisscrossed in front of him. "Have I done that? Forgive me. Please present anything you've uncovered."
"It begs the question, does it not?" He said, changing the subject. First strike. "When Konoha sits in the middle of a minefield and the world is ready to burst into war, you have me practicing archaeology.
"Of course, I can agree that this is an incredibly old tablet. But I don't see you as a particularly religious man, and this will most likely boil down to some religious nonsense."
Minato struck back.
"Religious nonsense, huh?" His eyes raked across the indecipherable stone. Then back up at him. "Perhaps. But when I give an order, it is unfortunately not within a jonin's jurisdiction to question me. Had you joined my council as I recommended, you may be more justified in your inquiry."
A silence ensued following his words. How peculiar was the meeting of two genuinely civil individuals that hated each other. The stark figure in front of him didn't even appear to take offense to the observation. He chuckled, earrings fluttering, "You are, as always, correct. But you know that I rather prefer working alone."
He didn't retaliate. Minato decided he would not let it die so soon. Sure, there would never be an argument between them. But that didn't mean that every exchange of theirs wasn't a battle. A subtle battle where they rode the thin line between observation and criticism. Where they applied pressure, yet extracted little response.
"Were you not once vying for the position of Hokage? From experience, I can say it is a dearly unsolitary position."
"I've long since forgone that dream. I wonder if you realize the kind of freedom I'm afforded necessarily because I don't have such a troublesome title."
Ah, Minato thought. So, this was his retaliation. It worked.
"Do you enjoy my company, Hokage-sama?"
He blinked. "Sorry?"
"It seems as though you do, considering that you take any opportunity to prolong our conversations."
"I could say the same for you. Your question in itself is a distraction from the purpose of this meeting."
"Hmm, isn't that true? Let's agree then that we are both guilty of this deed and move onto the true subject matter."
He swayed forward and placed an ashy finger on the engraving. "I've only identified three words so far, and even those aren't confirmable. One is 'mutuality' which appears multiple times. The other two are what I believe to be names. Ashura and Indra. Likely, the names of mythic figures. They also appear multiple times. I can only conjecture that this is about these men - if they are men - developing an agreement of sorts. I have nothing more as of yet."
"This is it? Really? Perhaps I have overestimated you." Or perhaps you're lying, Minato thought. "Please continue to work on this, then. I hope you won't be needing the physical tablet as you've taken several copies of it?"
"Indeed," Orochimaru bowed lightly. "I'll take my leave."
His figure disappeared behind the doors, taking with it the tangible tension that had enveloped the room. A few minutes later, Minato sighed deeply, dropping his pretenses. He stood and shifted the hunk of stone to face him. Did the Sannin truly believe this was religious nonsense or did he recognize the potential the way Minato had? He had no way of knowing. Why had he put who he believed to be the most dangerous man in the Leaf - by Minato's own conviction - in possession of this knowledge? It was another part of the game. The risk of Orochimaru misusing this knowledge weighing against the benefit of keeping him close and under the supervision of Minato.
Why have you pushed me in such a corner, Sensei? he thought, ruefully.