In the past, Minato didn't like it when he fell unconscious. Typically, unconsciousness means something has gone wrong. He hates when that happens. Minato still hates that it's the result of something going badly. Now, though, it also feels a bit like a reprieve when it happens. For a short time (and one time, a blessed hour) he escapes his worries. His constant headache named Hatake Kakashi.

Why did the Sandaime have to assign him a student?

"Minato," hisses an all too familiar voice in an attempt to tug Minato out of his respite. He whines and tries to ignore it. Maybe if he does the voice will go away. However, there is then a small growl of frustration and, suddenly, Minato is gasping into blurry wakefulness because a little fist has slammed into his diaphragm.

Blinking away the tears in his eyes as he tries to breathe, Minato curls on his side to protect the rest of his middle. He should probably be grateful Kakashi didn't aim that fist any lower.

"Oh, good, you're awake Minato," Kakashi says as he appears before his squinted eyes.

He scowls at the boy as he eases himself into a sitting position. "It's Minato-Sensei, you brat," he coughs while rubbing at the spot Kakashi punched.

The little boy rolls his eyes. "Whatever."

Now conscious and fully aware of the state of himself, Minato realizes he's achy all over, not just where Kakashi punched him or behind his temples like usual. To himself, more than the boy, he complains, "Ugh. I feel like I had a house dropped on me…"

"I told you not to put him in charge of the box," grumbles Kakashi, crossing his arms as he plops down on the ground next to Minato. "He's stupid."

He bites back the urge to scream. "Kakashi, I've told you a million times, it's rude to call our fellow shinobi stupid."

Kakashi gives him a furious glare. "He is!"

Minato grabs his student by his shoulders and begins to lecture, "Urgh, Kakashi— " However, he stops abruptly as he feels two unexpected presences appear. Standing up in one swift motion, he scoops up Kakashi under his arm as he reaches for a shuriken with his other hand. "Shit!"

"Minato," complains the boy, wriggling to get out from under his arm as Minato strengthens his hold on him.

He relaxes, but only marginally when he sees it's a pair of Konoha ANBU. One, a man, wears a mask that might be a weasel, and the other, a woman, a hawk mask. It makes Minato uneasy. He hasn't seen either before. While he's not overly familiar with the ANBU, he's pretty sure there isn't a bird one currently.

The hawk ANBU turns to the rodent. "…Are you seeing what I am, Ferret?" she asks in a voice that sounds torn between shock and dismay.

The other shinobi, Ferret, nods his head. "Yep," he answers flatly. He gestures at Minato. "L— Ah, Namikaze and Hatake, we need you to come with us to see La— The Hokage," he says.

Minato wilts. "Yeah, okay," he agrees. Man, he's really failing at being a jonin so far. He should have expected this would happen when Kakashi alerted him that their teammate for the mission was opening the box they were supposed to deliver. Minato lowers Kakashi back to the ground.

The boy immediately sets to work neatening himself after being roughly grabbed up. As they start to follow the ANBU back towards the village proper, Minato asks, "We're in trouble, aren't we?"

Hawk looks over her shoulder at them. She sounds horrified as she replies, "No!"

Minato continues to follow the duo but feels confusion tug his lips into a frown. If they aren't in trouble, why are they going to see the Hokage? At his waist, Kakashi grumbles, "This is your fault."

He glares at the mop of silver hair. "Kakashi, zip it," he hisses, hoping neither ANBU hears him speaking so unkindly to the boy.

He's still not totally convinced they aren't in trouble. Minato doesn't need a lecture on how he talks to his student on top of whatever else is going to be coming their way too.

Thanks so much for reading and please let me know your thoughts!