"Talking"

'Thinking'

Biju talk/think/Jutsu

Disclaimer: I own nothing.


His reanimated state was clear in his blue eyes ringed with black. Worry and fear showed on his face as he watched the blonde across from him keep working on the seal. The other man helping the blonde also stopped when he saw his fellow reanimated being hesitate.

Red eyes rimmed with black looked into those reanimated blue eyes.

"Minato?" Tobirama asked quietly, trying not to bother the other blonde nearby.

Minato didn't even glance at the Second Hokage. He walked over to see what his youngest was drawing with her blood ink on the seal around them. Her part of the design was already finished. So why was she still working on it?

If Minato had blood, he would have turned white.

"Minaruki!" he shouted, pulling her away from the seal. Calm, bloodshot blue eyes looked up at him, a calmness he didn't expect.

"Tō-chan," Minaruki whispered, her voice soft but tired. "Why did you stop? We're almost finished."

Minato pointed to where she had been changing the time destination. "I thought we talked about this! You're going back to your birth—"

"No!" she stated firmly, her voice cold. It always surprised Minato how much she resembled him. She looked just like him and even had the same birthmarks as her twin brother. The only things she seemed to get from Kushina were her temper when pushed too far and her love for pranks. But even those had faded over the years. She even had his sunny golden blond hair, while Naruto had Kushina's fiery red.

"I talked it over with Tobirama-sama," she explained. "Going back to when I was born won't work. I'd just be a defenseless baby. So, I'm going further back. Even if I'm not an adult right away, it'll give me time to become strong enough. And if I'm younger, I'll have time to grow up and make a name for myself. That way, I can protect everyone better."

"But you'll be erasing your own existence!" Minato hissed, gripping her arms, stopping himself from shaking her to try and make her see reason.

Minaruki's gaze softened. "Hai. I'll take that risk. I'm not the Child of Prophecy. Naruto is. With him gone, we're doomed. So, I'll go back and make sure he's born and that his precious people, my precious people, are protected from the evil that forced us underground. Tō-chan, this was Naruto's last wish. For me to go back. To save everyone I could. I can't do that if I'm not strong enough."

Minaruki took a step closer to her father, pulling him into a close hug. "Just because my original self will no longer exist in this time doesn't mean I won't still be there for Nii-san," she murmured, a soft laugh escaping her. "This time, I get to be the older sister and keep him safe."

Minato knew that if he had a living body, tears would be streaming down his face. Instead, he tightened his hold on his daughter, his ink-stained fingers gently moving through the long, smooth strands of her hair. She had let it grow long as a way to remember her mother's own long hair.

"Musume, do whatever you need to do to become part of my family back then. You know my history. A war orphan who longed for family. Sensei was like a father to me, but having my own blood beside me will be an honor. You won't be my daughter, but a sister will be loved just the same."

"I understand, Tō-chan. It might take a while, but I'll make sure our family stays together and protected. Let's finish this seal."

Minato nodded, pressing a kiss to her temple. Minaruki released him and went back to carefully ink her new existence into the intricate design of the seal.

Returning to his designated area, he quickly completed his part, making no mistakes. He wouldn't send his last remaining child back through time without ensuring everything was absolutely perfect.

A short while passed before the final seal masters stepped away from the large, delicate, and detailed artwork of the seal. Tobirama folded his arms, a smug smile playing on his lips. Minato watched with quiet acceptance. Minaruki felt a familiar fire, which had been banked for so long, ignite within her.

Finally.

Finally, after all these years, she was going back to fulfill the promise she made to her Nii-san.

A warm hand settled on Minaruki's shoulder, and she didn't need to look to know who it was. His familiar scent filled her nose, bringing a sense of calm to her tired mind.

"Is it finished?" he asked in a low voice.

"Hai," she whispered.

"Time for bed. You'll need every ounce of energy you can muster for what's coming." Tired cerulean eyes turned, looking up at a single, deep, shadowed eye – his sharingan was concealed.

Minaruki let out a long, weary sigh before allowing herself to slump against her former sensei. With ease, he scooped her up into his arms, preparing to Shunshin(Body Flicker Technique) to their apartment.

Minato fixed his last student with a flat stare. In return, Kakashi's visible eye crinkled into a smile. "Sensei~"

"My displeasure at you dating my daughter, a full fourteen years your junior, remains, Kakashi~" Minato said with that scary smile of his that promised pain.

A nervous chuckle escaped Kakashi as he wasted no more time in his escape. With a rustle of leaves, he vanished with his precious burden.

Releasing a long breath, Kakashi activated the privacy seals within their small apartment and gently laid his girlfriend on their bed. Bloodshot blue eyes blinked open, watching as her lover and boyfriend shed his own clothes before doing the same for her. He drew her warm form close against his, pressing a kiss to her forehead. Reaching up, Minaruki kissed the small beauty mark just below the corner of his mouth. A small smile touched his lips as his strong arms wrapped around her.

"I wish I could go back with you," Kakashi murmured into her golden hair, his fingers tracing soft patterns at the base of her spine. Minaruki hummed, snuggling into his scarred chest. "As a preteen, I was so uptight. Just a plain stubborn kid, always trying to live up to my father's name." But Kakashi knew, as did everyone else still living, that only Minaruki could make the journey back. The remaining half of the Kyuubi would safeguard her and guide her within their dimension.

"Don't worry, Kashi," Minaruki hummed, pressing a soft kiss to his skin. "I'll straighten you out."

A soft hum rumbled in Kakashi's chest as he held her closer. "That's all I ask. I need you in my life. You've always been my guiding light."

Minaruki felt a prickling behind her eyes, but no tears fell. Instead, she focused on cherishing this final night in her lover's embrace before she would be sent into the past.


Minaruki slept soundly through the night and well into the next day. As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows across the room, she finally stirred. Her father and Kakashi were waiting for her in the cozy living room of their small apartment. Minato held a small jar containing the last of the blood ink in one hand and a brush in the other, offering her a gentle, sad smile.

"Rest well enough for the final seals, Minaruki?" he asked softly.

"Yes, Tō-chan," she replied, moving to join them. Without a second thought, she disrobed, her comfort with her father and lover overriding any need for modesty. Minato carefully began applying the intricate seals across her bare skin. Meanwhile, Kakashi's nimble fingers gently brushed through her long golden hair, beginning to braid it back to keep it out of the way for the seals that would follow.

Soon, they switched places. Kakashi stood before her, his sharingan now visible, his single crimson eye seeming to absorb every detail of her face. His long, calloused fingers delicately traced the unmarked skin, avoiding the swirling patterns of sealing ink. He leaned in slowly, pressing a tender kiss to her lips.

"Oi," a low, menacing voice rumbled from behind Minaruki. Kakashi chuckled softly, and a small smirk touched Minaruki's lips.

Kakashi's visible eye darkened, and Minaruki's amusement faded. "You can be just as reckless and stubborn as your brother," he whispered, his breath warm against her ear, "Promise me you'll try not to get yourself killed because of it."

Minaruki smiled at him, her blue eyes filled with affection. "I'll do my best, Kashi. But I can't promise anything when it comes to protecting the people I cherish. Naruto and I are exactly the same in that regard."

Kakashi sighed, pressing another soft kiss to her lips. "I know," he murmured before deftly sidestepping a kunai that whizzed past his head, courtesy of Minato.

A low growl emanated from behind her, and the air shifted slightly. "Finished," Minato grunted, then subtly initiated a gentle wind jutsu. "Once the ink's dry, get your cloak on. We're heading to the seal. The other Hokage have been guarding it since you left."

Before Minaruki could fully register the shift, the familiar sensation of teleportation enveloped them, and their trio reappeared at the location of the time-travel seal.

The sight that greeted her wasn't unexpected. The remaining shinobi from what were once the great elemental nations were gathered there. Though they had initially returned to their homelands after the worst had passed, the practicality of maintaining a unified front had eventually led them back together. They were no longer defined by their villages; they were simply shinobi. The Shinobi Alliance, though still a force, was now a shadow of its former strength, the vibrant hope of victory long since replaced by a grim determination to survive in the face of overwhelming adversity. Their existence had become a constant struggle for concealment.

The heavy robe slid from her shoulders, pooling at her feet. Any lingering sense of vulnerability was immediately shielded by the cascade of her long hair and the subtle, yet potent, genjutsu woven by her father and Kakashi.

A light scratching sensation drew her gaze downward. Sand, fine and warm, swirled gently around her wrist. She looked up to see Gaara, one of the last remaining Kage. The elder leaders of the other nations had already made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives to aid their people in escaping the ruins of their homes.

The Kazekage stepped closer, his turquoise eyes carefully scanning the intricate seals adorning her skin before meeting her intense gaze. "You and Naruto pulled me back from the brink of utter darkness," he said, his voice low and sincere. "I've never truly been able to repay the two of you for your friendship." He extended a closed fist towards her. "Perhaps the only way I can offer some small measure of help now is to give you Shukaku's memories. May you find an unexpected ally in him."

Minaruki offered a soft smile, gently bumping her fist against Gaara's. As the influx of Shukaku's memories subsided, the dull throb in her head faded, and she gazed into his slightly unfocused teal eyes. Lifting her hand, she cupped his jaw. His eyes closed, a silent acknowledgment of her touch. He understood that her heart belonged to another, yet his affection for her, born from their early friendship alongside Naruto, remained.

"I won't burden you with any demands," Gaara murmured, his voice carrying a quiet sincerity. "Only a wish for you to find your own happiness in that time. Don't let the weight of our survival over your own future. Forge new bonds, find people who will stand by you as we have."

"I will," Minaruki whispered, leaning in to press a soft kiss to his cheek. "And while I can't make any guarantees, Gaara, I'm going to try to save your mother. You deserve happiness, just like everyone else."

A tear traced a path down the former Kazekage's weathered cheek. "May your journey be safe," he murmured, his voice thick with emotion.

Minaruki offered a gentle smile and a nod before turning back towards the waiting seal. Slowly, she inhaled deeply, drawing in a calming breath, and then let her consciousness drift inward, into the familiar landscape of her mind. As expected, her lifelong companion sat in his usual lotus position. He had remained uncharacteristically quiet for the past month, focusing all his energy on amassing the immense chakra reserves needed for their perilous journey.

'Ready, Kurama?' she projected mentally.

One massive, blood-red eye cracked open, its gaze settling upon his host, "As ready as I can make us, brat. Have you bid farewell to everyone?"

Minaruki's blue eyes closed with a smile that didn't quite reach their depths.

'It's not farewell, old friend. Just a see you later,' she projected, trying to infuse her mental voice with more confidence than she felt.

"They won't be the same individuals, you realize. By altering the past, you'll erase much of their pain, and with it, the very experiences that shaped their understanding and the bonds they forged."

A soft chuckle echoed in her mind as Minaruki regarded the massive, orange fox. 'Perhaps not. But it simply means I'll have the opportunity to build new connections with them, won't I?'

Kurama rolled his massive eyes; his gaze fixed on his infuriatingly optimistic host. "You possess your brother's infuriatingly unwavering faith in connections."

The light in Minaruki's blue eyes flickered momentarily at the reminder of Naruto.

"He would be proud of you, you know," Kurama rumbled, his voice losing some of its usual gruffness.

Minaruki lifted her gaze to meet the ancient, crimson eyes, and a genuine smile, the first in what felt like an eternity, finally bloomed on her face. 'Yeah,' she murmured softly.

"Alright then, let's get this journey underway."


Minaruki's eyes flew open. She whirled around, taking in the sight of the last remnants of her family, both by blood and by bond. Minato approached her, pulling her into a final, tight embrace before teleporting to his designated position around the intricate seal. Tobirama followed suit, offering a rare, gentle pat on her head before vanishing to his own point.

Hashirama enveloped her in a bear hug, his booming voice filled with warmth. "Good luck, Minaruki! You've got this." He too teleported to power a section of the seal. Next in line was the reanimated form of her grandfather figure.

"You and Naruto certainly kept things lively," Jiraiya chuckled, a fond glint in his eye. "Wouldn't have traded those headaches for anything. Wish I could have guided you two better, but you both grew into remarkable individuals." He clapped her on the shoulder. "Now, remember what we talked about."

"You're a sharp old man, Jiji. You won't be easily fooled," Minaruki said, her voice low but firm. "Even if you don't voice your suspicions, you'll piece together the truth of my situation. Only a mistake on my part will force a full confession. And that cannot happen. Your advisors, in any era, are not to be trusted."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded somberly, a gentle hand resting on her shoulder. "May fortune guide your path, my child." With a swirl of leaves, he vanished to his designated spot.

Suddenly, Minaruki had to duck her head as two pale arms draped something around her neck. Blinking down at her chest, she fought back a tremor as her gaze settled on the familiar jewel.

"Your brother shattered the curse on this," a warm voice said. "Take it with you, so you never forget what you're fighting for. You may not have desired the title, but you possess the spirit of a Kage, just like Naruto." Soft lips pressed against her forehead, and Minaruki's eyes burned with unshed tears. She couldn't cry; the ink couldn't be smudged. Watery blue eyes looked up into warm, honey-brown ones on an aged, yet strong face.

"Baa-chan," Minaruki whispered, her throat tight with emotion.

"Make us proud, Mina-chan," Tsunade murmured, her voice thick with affection.

"I will," Minaruki murmured, her voice soft yet carrying across the silent assembly. "Believe it."

"We already do," Tsunade grinned, a flash of her old fiery spirit in her eyes as she moved to her designated point. Age might have weathered her, but her strength remained undeniable, a match for any Kage present.

A familiar, comforting scent filled Minaruki's senses, and she looked up into the mismatched gaze of coal and sharingan red. Long fingers gently wove through her loose strands of hair as Kakashi leaned down, their foreheads touching.

"I love you," he whispered, the words meant only for her.

"I love you too," she replied, her voice thick with emotion. "And I'll make sure to remind your younger self exactly why."

A soft chuckle rumbled in Kakashi's chest before he lowered his mask, revealing his full face, and kissed her deeply, a lingering promise on her lips. After a moment, he released her, guiding her to the very center of the seal before taking his own position. The remaining Kage-level shinobi followed suit: Gaara, Chojuro, Darui, Kurotsuchi, Mei, and even Orochimaru.

The snake sannin still exuded an unsettling aura, a figure not to be fully trusted. Yet, he was no fool. He knew survival on the ravaged surface was impossible. Immortality held no allure in a desolate world. Furthermore, he was now contained within his original body, a condition for seeking refuge with the other shinobi. It was that or face certain death at Madara's hands.

Minaruki cast one final look around the seal, taking in the determined faces of the village pillars and the supporting shinobi behind them, a shared glimmer of hope in their eyes.

"Minaruki-chan," a gravelly voice called across the intricate markings. Her gaze flickered to Orochimaru, her blue eyes meeting his reptilian gold. "I cannot erase the errors of my past. But perhaps... they can be avoided."

Minaruki arched an eyebrow, surprised by the unexpected request from the snake sannin. His golden eyes flickered to his right, settling on Tsunade for a moment.

"I believe if anyone could possibly set a Sannin on a better path, it would be you," Orochimaru said, his gaze returning to Minaruki, a surprisingly earnest plea in his reptilian eyes. "If your journey takes you far enough into the past... could you perhaps spare me from myself? If you prove sufficiently... intriguing, it might dissuade my obsession with the Hokage seat. Lately," a rare hint of something akin to regret touched his voice, "I find myself longing for the days with my team."

"I'll do what I can," Minaruki nodded. A subtle, almost unsettling smile flickered across Orochimaru's face, likely the closest he could manage to genuine gratitude.

"Removing Danzo from the equation would likely sever my path towards darkness," he continued, his tone shifting back to his usual analytical coolness. "However, I remain a scientist, a creature of logic. Use that against me."

Minaruki smirked. "Took you long enough to ask, Oro-chan."

Orochimaru's lips thinned into a grimace. "Just go, gaki."

Minaruki chuckled softly before settling into her own lotus position at the seal's center. Gathering her chakra, she felt the immense power surrounding her begin to resonate with her own.

A blur of motion followed as her hands executed the impossibly long sequence of two hundred hand seals. When the final seal was complete, a profound silence descended before every shinobi surrounding the intricate design slammed their hands onto its surface, channeling their chakra and activating the ancient technique.

Fuuin: Rewind