I DO NOT OWN DREAMING OF SUNSHINE OR NARUTO

I am merely making use of their characters, settings, and themes to tell a different story.

If anyone would like to use my own work as a base/inspiration for a fic, you are more than welcome to do so, just credit me in the beginning and maybe send me the link so that I can read it too, I'm always looking for more DOS recursive.

Well, I think that covers all of my bases, so with that out of the way, on to the fic!

Chapter 5: An Explanation and Evidence

The more he learned about this strange group of people the more the woman's claim of being the sixth Hokage seemed increasingly likely.

Naruto.

That name, his newborn son's name - the name they had shared with precious few people.

Naruto.

It was hardly a common name - no, despite the word also being able to mean 'maelstrom' depending on the characters used, people were far more likely associate the name with its more common meaning: fishcake, the ramen topping. To most people such an association would deter them from choosing such a name. Kushina, however, was hardly ' most people' . For Kushina, a name to be able to reflect her clan's mons or a topping of her favorite food was clearly one with no downsides. Minato of course had no objections - Naruto was the name of the protagonist of his sensei's first - and in Minato's opinion, best- novel.

And here before him stood a man who also bore the name Naruto, who had the same bright blond hair and striking blue eyes that Minato himself had, whose cheeks bore the same whisker-like marks as the baby cradled within Kushina's arms…

He still had his doubts, of course - any shinobi worth their salt would - but if this was an infiltration plot it was the most elaborate and convoluted one he'd ever seen by a large margin.

Minato cleared his throat, causing the unknown shinobi to visibly turn their attention towards him (as though he hadn't held the majority of their attention from the moment they'd arrived)

"I'm afraid you have me at a disadvantage. You're all familiar with myself, but I can't say I remember having ever met any of you before."

It was a leading statement to be sure, one that would likely determine the tone of the majority of their interactions going forward.

It was the silver-haired man who responded first, "Mah, it's been a while, Minato-sensei - well, for me, at least. Allow me to introduce you to my students: Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and of course, the Rokudaime Hokage, Nara Shikako."

As he said each name, Kakashi - for even if this supposed older version of his student had somehow regained the eye he had previously lost, the physical resemblance was undeniable - gestured towards one of his students, with each of the boys nodding their head in greeting and acknowledgement towards Minato. Curiously, Kakashi's final student sent him a glare of vexation at the dramatic intonation he had used to introduce her before, just as her teammates had previously, she also turned to Minato and inclined her head in greeting.

While he only offered their names -and in the case of Shikako, her title- knowing Kakashi for as long as he had allowed Minato some insight as to Kakashi's feelings about his students simply based on his tone. No matter how much older this man may be -if he even truly was Kakashi- Minato had known Kakashi for essentially half of the boy's life by this point, and Minato believes that watching someone grow up allows for a certain amount of insight into their behaviors. From what he just saw, it was clear that Kakashi was proud of his students - especially Shikako. He didn't think that was just because she had become Hokage either. No, - if the pride Kakashi held for Sasuke and Naruto was similar to what Minato had held for Rin and Obito, then the pride he held for Shikako was more similar to the pride Minato felt for Kakashi - it was the pride of a teacher, sibling, and parent all rolled into one.

Before he can continue his comparison, Minato abruptly realizes that he had already begun thinking of them - well, Kakashi at least - as future versions of the people they claim to be. Logically he knows he shouldn't, but the ease with which they address and move around each other seems so natural. Thinking on it for a moment longer, Minato concludes that there is only one way to quickly determine if they are who they claim to be until he can bring them back to the village to have genetic swabs performed.

"I need to verify your identities, but there is only one way to do so until I can have medical conduct genetic testing." He says pointedly.

Shikako nods in comprehension while Sasuke reverts to what Minato recognizes as Uchiha expression #26: 'I am confused but refuse to show it'. It would seem that unlike his Uchiha friend Naruto has no such reservations about expressing his confusion. Apparently used to her teammates' mannerisms, Shikako's face remains calm as she explains what Minato meant.

"There is only one thing that can't be faked that is also unique to a single person. Naruto, please lift your shirt and channel a little chakra so that the Yondaime can verify that you are in fact the Kyuubi Jinchuriki."

Realization dawns on his face before he nods and proceeds to do as instructed. Minato holds his breath as Naruto lifts his shirt, his stomach seemingly bare for a moment before the familiar pattern of the same seal he had drawn on his newborn son only minutes ago becomes visible. Just to be thorough, he takes a minute to examine the seal more closely on the off chance that it could be fake, but even after a more careful examination Minato can only conclude that the seal he is viewing in none other than the Shiki Fujin, and while he can't determine if what the seal holds is in fact the Kyuubi without entering the seal, he can ascertain that there is a massive quantity of chakra within it.

Minato nods to Shikako

"Thank you Naruto, you can lower your shirt now." She says before turning back to Minato

"Our arrival here was the result of a poorly constructed experimental seal created by one of Naruto's genin. She decided to combine the matrices from multiple seals without taking into consideration the configuration of each matrix's original base and that's without even considering how each matrix changes based upon the other matrices used. The result was an unholy abomination that managed to catapult us roughly 24 years into the past of what I surmised to be an alternate dimension based upon the fact that Naruto's seal remained intact and occupied despite witnessing what was clearly an unsealed and rampaging Kyuubi immediately upon our arrival."

Minato had been unable to keep his face from clearly showing his horror as Shikako described his son's genin's attempt at seal craft. He knows without a shadow of a doubt that in that moment if he had looked to his side his wife's reaction it would have mirrored his own exactly.

"While I am reasonably confident that I would be able to design a seal to transport us home eventually, I believe that the aid of Uzumaki-san, Jiraiya-sama, and yourself would greatly accelerate the process. I am of course aware that given the current state of the village you can hardly afford to spare such resources, so in exchange for your assistance in this matter I will offer you the use of my own shinobi to assist in the rescue, recovery, and reconstruction efforts."

Minato raised a brow at her offer, "You believe that your shinobi are capable of compensating for such a loss?"

Finally dropping formality she had adopted when explaining their situation and requesting their aid, Shikako smirked, "No. I know they can. While you aren't exactly his parents, you might be proud to know that just like you Naruto has also managed to achieve complete mastery over one of Nidaime's original jutsu. Naruto, send out about a thousand henged clones to aid in search and rescue efforts. Be sure that all of them are wearing a forehead protector somewhere visible so they're less likely to be attacked when no one can recognize them."

As soon as she has finished speaking Minato's world is enveloped in some of the thickest chakra smoke he's ever experienced, and once it clears it reveals an impossibility. Thousands - four thousand, if he had to guess- of clones blanket every flat surface around them, giving their Hokage a quick solute before taking off to carry out her orders.

It's impossible, no one should have that much chakra; Minato himself can make maybe seven shadow clones without suffering chakra exhaustion - something considered very impressive considering that of the Jonin with reserves large enough to create shadow clones most can only make one or two before passing out. Even Kushina, who has some of the largest chakra reserves he's ever seen can only make about twenty!

This day just keeps getting more and more surreal.

—

She should have known that Kakashi would do something like this the moment he opened his mouth.

"Mah, it's been a while, Minato-sensei - well, for me, at least. Allow me to introduce you to my students: Uzumaki Naruto, Uchiha Sasuke, and of course, the Rokudaime Hokage, Nara Shikako."

Rokudaime Hokage, Nara Shikako

Like the same title didn't also belong to him.

Just like that, Shikako had been left to the sharks by her own Co-kage.

She refused to allow such a shameless and blatant act of betrayal go unanswered.

She narrowed her eyes, 'Just you wait Kaka-sensei - I will get you back for this. Maybe not today, maybe not even tomorrow, but I will get-'

A bead of perspiration ran down Kakashi's neck as he eye smiled at his beloved student, trying to hide his nervousness. Whatever amusement and satisfaction he had felt upon delivering his introduction had turned to lead in his stomach upon meeting his students' glare.

Uh oh, It was her squinty-eyed glare. This was worse than he thought, that meant that she was doing a villain monologue in her head while planning her revenge. Whatever scheme she concocted to get even was always worse after she'd done an internal villain monologue. Just ask the Raikage…well, not actually - though he supposes it'd certainly be a unique way to commit suicide.

But he's getting off track. Now, where was he? Hm…Oh, right! Shikako was giving him her squinty-eyed glare of doom…

Mah, his students were just adorable when they got all huffy.

Leave a review and let me know what you think! Thanks for reading!