"Talking"
'Thinking'
Biju talk/think/Jutsu
Flash Back
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Minaruki listened with fascination as stories unfolded around the dinner table. Kushina and Sakumo had prepared a lavish meal, and she and Kushina were easily outpacing the boys in their consumption. However, Minaruki's pace slowed as Sakumo and Minato began discussing Jiraiya. She hadn't realized the depth of the bond between Sakumo and Jiraiya. Even more captivating was learning that Sakumo had been the jonin-sensei of Kushina, Mikoto, and Hizashi.
Minaruki's gaze drifted to Kakashi. Had their lives truly been so intertwined? How would things play out now with all the changes Minaruki intended to make from her own timeline?
"Oh! We absolutely must have dinner together more often, Senpai!" Kushina exclaimed with a bright grin. "I can even drag Mikoto and Hizashi away from their stuffy clan compounds!"
"Kushina," Minato sighed, a hint of exasperation in his tone.
"What? It's true! Especially Mikoto. Ever since she was forced to marry that rigid Fugaku as the clan heir, she's been losing the spark that made her so wonderful."
"Fugaku's not that bad," Minato defended his acquaintance. "Just very... clan focused."
"Hizashi is clan-focused, but the stick up his rear isn't quite as far as Fugaku's," Kushina deadpanned.
Minato sighed while Sakumo coughed, subtly masking a chuckle. Kushina had a point, but he wasn't about to encourage the Uzumaki woman more than necessary. Kakashi, meanwhile, was engrossed in observing the conversation, not bothering to ask about the individuals being discussed. It wasn't difficult to deduce, though. His father had taught him about the various clans and their respective heirs.
Once the food was gone, Kushina and Minaruki retreated to Kushina's room to organize Minaruki's new wardrobe. Kushina smiled as they put some items away in the dressers and divided the rest into two piles to be sealed away for Minato and Kushina to take back to their own homes.
With the clothes neatly sealed, Kushina's violet eyes met Minaruki's tired blue ones.
"How are you truly feeling, Mina-chan?" she asked softly, pulling Minaruki gently into her lap.
"Fine," Minaruki mumbled. Kushina hummed softly as she undid the braid in Minaruki's hair, her fingers gently threading through the long strands. Minaruki's eyes fluttered closed at the soothing sensation.
"Please don't try to mislead me," Kushina said after a brief pause. Minaruki didn't tense but let out a soft breath. "How much do you genuinely recall, sweetie?" Kushina had sensed it from their first meeting. The girl's eyes held too much knowledge, too much pain, too much grief to not remember everything. Kushina's suspicion was confirmed a moment later.
"Everything," Minaruki whispered. She knew it was a deviation from her plan to keep a low profile, but she hadn't realized how much she craved a connection with Kushina and Minato until they were right in front of her. "Tou-san said that Kaa-san passed away during Naruto's and my birth. Tou-san used a henge to appear more like us, but the pursuers were still after him." Minaruki rubbed her stomach. "Tou-san made Naruto promise to protect me. Then, he used a special seal to place Kurama inside me," she mumbled, her eyes closed.
Minaruki felt Kushina's fingers still for a split second before resuming their gentle work through her hair.
"Kurama?" Kushina inquired carefully.
Minaruki offered a small smile at the name. "He initially wanted me to call him Kyuubi-sama. But Naruto always said I was more stubborn than him. I promised Kurama I'd eventually become his friend." Her expression clouded at the memory of her brother dying in her arms. "Naruto kept his promise too. A terrible creature tried to extract Kurama from me. Naruto distracted them so I could escape. I didn't want to leave." Her eyes began to sting. "Naruto told me to listen to what Tou-san had said. I nēded to go to Konoha. I... I left him. Kurama forced me to go when Naruto pleaded with him to get me away."
Kushina finished the braid and pulled her Imōto closer. Her heart ached at the immense trauma the young girl had endured. Having the Kyuubi sealed within her by her own father, and then her own twin brother sending her away to his death.
"Naruto was a remarkably brave Nī-san," she whispered. "He would have become an exceptional shinobi."
"He... he wanted to be Hokage. We were planning on coming here together," Minaruki whispered, a mixture of truth and fabrication in her words. "Tou-san told us that Kages were the strongest, protecting everyone. Naruto wanted to be like that. He said he'd become the Hokage of Konoha so he could protect me and everyone precious to us."
"Oh, Imōto," Kushina murmured softly, hugging her sister tighter and gently wiping away her tears.
"I felt it," Minaruki whispered. "I felt it when he died." Kushina stiffened slightly. "Tou-san never believed us, but we had a connection. A special connection. Feelings could pass between us. Thoughts, if we concentrated hard enough. He blocked me from feeling his pain, but I felt it when he died. I feel so empty," she whispered, clutching at her chest.
Kushina blinked back her own tears as she began to gently rock her little sister. She didn't know what to say, how to help. Kissing the blonde hair in her lap, she looked up, hoping to find some source of comfort, only to see a pair of familiar cerulean eyes watching them with profound sadness. Minato's own eyes were glistening. Silently, he moved towards them and joined Kushina in holding Minaruki.
When Minaruki finally cried herself into an exhausted sleep, Kushina and Minato worked together to tuck her into her futon. Once she was settled, they quietly returned to the main room of the compound. Kushina hugged herself tightly as Minato guided her with a solemn expression.
Sakumo stood up from the couch, his brow furrowed with worry at their expressions. "What's wrong? Is Minaruki alright?"
Kushina held herself even tighter as tears welled up again, while Minato sighed heavily. "She's asleep. Kushina was concerned about Minaruki and wanted to make sure she was truly okay."
"She's not," Kushina said, her voice thick with tears. "Her father and brother sacrificed themselves to save her. She felt her brother die."
Minato sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Apparently, as twins, they shared some kind of telepathic and empathic connection. She said she feels empty."
Sakumo let out a long sigh and scrubbed his face wearily. "I knew she wasn't completely alright. Inohiro mentioned trauma, but I didn't realize it was this severe."
"Tou-san?" Kakashi asked, his voice filled with curiosity and concern for the "doll."
Sakumo looked at Kakashi and offered a sad smile. "Minaruki told you she lost her twin, didn't she?"
"Hai," he nodded.
Sakumo rubbed the back of his neck, trying to find the best way to explain.
"Kakashi-kun," Kushina said gently, drawing the boy's attention. "How would you feel if your tou-san was suddenly taken away from you and killed, leaving you completely alone?"
Kakashi visibly blanched at the thought, a sharp pang of pain lancing through him.
Kushina offered a small, understanding smile. "It hurts just thinking about it, doesn't it?"
"H... hai," he stammered.
"Minaruki doesn't have to imagine it. She lived it. We—" she said, gesturing to all four of them—"are all she has right now after losing her father and brother. A brother with whom she shared a special connection. She's missing that connection. It will never be fully replaced, but it will heal as new bonds form around it, helping to mend the wound it left behind."
Kakashi nodded, understanding Uzumaki-san's blunt explanation. "Is that why she... clings to me?"
Kushina blinked, taken aback by the direct question. Minato answered for her. "Yes and no. You likely remind her of something familiar, though. I've noticed that she takes in both Kushina's and my scents whenever we hold her close. I believe she has a very keen sense of smell. You can relate to that, yes?"
Kakashi nodded. "So... I smell familiar?"
"Hai," Sakumo said, understanding dawning. He'd wondered about it, but Minato's mind often worked with a Nara-like sharpness. "That's probably why she didn't panic when she woke up after I brought her to Konoha. We have similar base scents. She must have smelled it and felt safe before she was fully conscious."
Minato nodded, pulling Kushina closer. "She's just going to nēd to be reminded that she's loved and not alone. Probably quite often." He smiled kindly down at the boy. "Will you help us with that?"
Kakashi's gaze grew determined. "Hai. I promised to protect her for her Nī-san anyway."
Minato chuckled softly and ruffled Kakashi's hair. "You will make a fine protector. Kushina and I will help you train to become even better."
Kakashi almost had stars in his eyes as he looked at the popular couple before him.
Sakumo rolled his eyes subtly behind Kakashi's back. His son was so starstruck by these two.
"Thank you again. Would you two like to walk with us to the academy tomorrow?"
Minato sighed and pouted slightly. Kushina smiled kindly. "Thank you, but I know Minato has reports to file, and I have a shift at the mission desk tomorrow."
"Ah," Sakumo nodded. "The day after then? It will be Minaruki's first day."
Both teenagers beamed. "We'll be there," Minato promised. Sakumo walked them out. Somehow, he knew that those two would likely pressure their comrades into taking on any morning tasks they had so they could be there for Minaruki.
Sakumo shook his head and spent the last part of the evening helping Kakashi with his training before he too succumbed to exhaustion.
The following morning, Minaruki awoke to the subtle, comforting scents of Kushina and Minato lingering around her. She savored the feeling for a while before finally getting up and changing into one of the new training outfits Kushina had picked out. It consisted of a three-quarter sleeve mesh undershirt, a sleeveless orange shinobi top, black shinobi pants, and black shinobi sandals – perfect for getting active.
Practically skipping down the hallway, she arrived in the kitchen, drawn by the delicious aroma of breakfast. She could feel a bit of drool forming at the sight of the morning feast laid out on the table.
Sakumo chuckled softly as he saw her. "Here you go," he said gently, lifting her and placing her in her usual spot. She noticed him take the brush from her hand and carefully work through the knots that had formed in her hair during her restless night. The braid Kushina had done had long since come undone. With her hair still a little damp, Sakumo rebraided it into a single, neat tail.
After breakfast and cleanup, she was warming up alongside Kakashi, practicing their katas. When Sakumo finally signaled for their mock spar to begin, Minaruki was glad to release some of the pent-up emotions from the previous day. Crying so much had been a little embarrassing, but she did feel a sense of lightness after falling asleep in Minato and Kushina's comforting embrace. It reminded her that this was her second chance, and she was determined to help create a better future for when Naruto eventually arrived.
Minaruki and Kakashi sparred until it was time for Kakashi to head off to the academy. When Sakumo and she returned to the compound, they went back to the training grounds and sat down.
"Did your tou-san ever teach you anything about chakra?" Sakumo inquired gently.
Minaruki nodded slowly. "A little," she replied vaguely.
Sakumo raised an eyebrow, his gaze questioning. "Care to show me what you know? I've already been working on chakra control exercises with Kakashi on my days off, but I'd like to see your current level. That will help me, Minato-san, and Kushina-san figure out the best way to train both of you."
"Okay," she mumbled and moved over to a nearby tree. She frowned slightly as she reached for her chakra. She knew her control would be less precise in this younger body, and with the added bijuu chakra she'd received from Kushina, her control was likely even worse.
Placing her foot on the trunk of the tree, she focused on channeling her chakra to the sole of her foot.
A loud bang echoed through the clearing before she was suddenly yanked away from her spot. Sakumo's heartbeat was rapid against her back as they both stared at the tree she had inadvertently exploded at its base, now toppling over in the exact spot where she had just been standing.
Minaruki blinked, her eyes wide and innocent.
Sakumo's jaw dropped in stunned disbelief.
Miles away in the Hokage's office, the aged Monkey Sage sat gazing intently into his crystal ball, his curiosity piqued about the Sixth Hokage's progress – or rather, his guardian's progress with the unexpected houseguest. A hearty laugh suddenly erupted from him at the scene unfolding in the Hatake training grounds. His stoic ANBU guards merely exchanged weary glances. They were all well aware that their leader found amusement wherever he could, and the crystal ball was a prime source. Sarutobi mused to himself that young Minaruki was quickly becoming his new favorite form of entertainment.
"Well, shit," Minaruki blurted out.
Sakumo's initial instinct was to correct her language, but the sight of the exploded tree and the sheer unexpectedness of it mirrored his own internal reaction.
"My thoughts exactly," he murmured, setting her gently back on her feet. "Alright. It seems that receiving the remaining portion of the Kyuubi's chakra has completely disrupted whatever control you previously possessed."
Minaruki gave him a flat, unimpressed stare. He couldn't help but sweatdrop at her expression.
"Let's try going back to the fundamentals then." He turned away and plucked a fallen leaf from the damaged tree. Minaruki gave it a small pout.
Sakumo offered a faint smile. Minaruki took the leaf and sat down, attempting to balance it on her forehead. Her first action, however, was to meditate, seeking to quiet the whirlwind of thoughts in her mind. Once she felt a semblance of focus, she gathered the merest wisp of her chakra and carefully placed the leaf on her skin. It trembled precariously, a testament to her shaky control even with such a minuscule amount. Releasing a slow breath, she concentrated on maintaining her focus and staying calm.
Unaware of the passing time, she only registered the moments when Sakumo would silently add another leaf to her head, her instincts taking over to subtly manipulate her chakra to hold the new addition in place. She could feel the delicate weight of leaves accumulating on her arms, legs, and even her toes, yet she maintained her stillness. If there was one thing she had always been better at than Naruto, it was this quiet focus. He'd never been able to sit still until his sage training. Minaruki had a greater capacity for forcing her body to remain still, and her thoughts flowed more clearly in that stillness.
Completely motionless, relaxed to the point of near dozing, she didn't perceive the subtle shift until a new, unfamiliar energy began to flow through her.
"Brat! You're drawing in Natural Energy!" Kurama's mental snarl echoed in her mind, jolting Minaruki back from her meditative state.
'How much?' she thought back.
Kurama grumbled internally but reluctantly offered the truth. "Surprisingly little. Just enough to be noticeable. You haven't taken in enough to mix with your chakra yet."
Minaruki mentally turned to her mindscape, looking up at the begrudgingly impressed giant fox. 'Are you suggesting that I could potentially acclimate my body to Sage Chakra at a much younger age?'
"What? No," Kurama growled mentally, though his massive eyes flickered around the mindscape, noting that even this small intake of natural energy had already begun to subtly heal her inner landscape. The spectral forest seemed to have more saplings sprouting at an accelerated rate. Kurama sighed internally. "Okay, maybe."
Minaruki's eyes widened slightly as her mind raced, piecing together the implications. She tilted her head in thought within her mindscape, observing the changes.
'Could a seal help regulate it, filtering it and maintaining this slow intake? Just enough to get my coils used to it without the risk of petrification?'
Kurama sighed mentally, looking at his host and, against his gruff nature, his closest companion. "I don't nēd to answer that."
A small smirk touched Minaruki's lips in her mind before she consciously returned to the outside world. The same knowing smirk played on her face before she blinked rapidly, finding Sakumo standing directly in front of her, one eyebrow raised in question.
Minaruki glanced down at herself, noticing that not only had she kept all the leaves he had placed on her perfectly still, but they had also inexplicably sprouted delicate vines that connected them all over her body.
"Uh," she stammered, blinking dumbly, unsure how to explain. "Whoops?" she muttered sheepishly.
Sakumo maintained his skeptical gaze. "Minaruki," he began, the lack of the "-chan" signaling a more serious tone. "What exactly did you just do?"
Minaruki looked up at him, attempting her most innocent expression. "While I was focusing on my chakra, I felt this... strange energy around me. I was curious. I tried pulling at it, like my own chakra, and a little bit came." She lifted her arm, gesturing to the network of vines. "Did... did that do this?"
A flicker of unease crossed Sakumo's face. His long friendship with Jiraiya had taught him enough to recognize what she was describing. Natural Energy. It was incredibly dangerous if one attempted to manipulate it without proper guidance. "Minaruki, that is the natural energy that surrounds us. You must never, ever play with that on your own again."
Minaruki pouted, her lower lip jutting out slightly. "But it was so pretty," she whined playfully.
Sakumo's eyes hardened slightly. "No. I have a friend who is a Sage and utilizes natural energy to create Sage Chakra. I will inform him when he returns that you seem to have an aptitude for it, but you are absolutely forbidden from touching it on your own. Is that perfectly clear?"
Minaruki's shoulders slumped. "Hai."
Sakumo let out a long, relieved sigh and nodded. "You are an exceptionally quick learner. Do you feel that you have a better grasp of your own chakra now?"
Minaruki turned her awareness inward once more, assessing her internal energy. Her personal reserves had been significantly amplified by the addition of the other halves of Kurama's chakra, essentially doubling her capacity. She did have a clearer sense of her chakra now, but she knew her control was still far from perfect. Keeping leaves still was one thing; more complex manipulations were another entirely.
She sighed softly and stood up. "I'll only improve with practice." With that, she turned to head towards another tree, but Sakumo swiftly scooped her up off the ground and onto his hip.
"How about we practice a little further away from the compound?" he suggested, his smile a tad strained.
Minaruki winced slightly, but a moment later, after a few rapid shunshin, they arrived at one of the jonin training grounds.
Minaruki immediately went to work. Just as she and Naruto had done countless times as teenagers, she charged straight for a tree, intending to practice her tree-walking. She managed three steps before her chakra flared uncontrollably, blasting her backward. Sakumo caught her with ease, and she was up and running again in an instant.
Sakumo observed the determined little blonde relentlessly push herself for hours, each failed attempt to scale the tree followed by an immediate, stubborn retry. Leaving a shadow clone to keep watch, he went to retrieve Kakashi before returning to the training grounds. Kakashi's eyes widened at the sight of the damaged tree, a silent testament to Minaruki's raw power, before he too settled into his own chakra control exercises.
Sakumo let Kakashi focus, his own attention drawn to the low growls and muttered curses escaping Minaruki's lips. But amidst the frustration, he noticed a subtle yet significant progress – she was climbing higher with each attempt. A proud smile touched his lips as he watched her unwavering persistence.
He learned a valuable lesson about his new ward that day: she possessed an unyielding stubbornness, a fierce determination, and a refusal to surrender. Even after they shared take-out for both lunch and dinner, she continued her relentless efforts, her small form becoming increasingly coated in dirt, leaves, and stray twigs. Sakumo finally called it quits just after sunset. Minaruki protested, insisting she could continue, but the exhaustion radiating from her small body was undeniable. Gently scooping her up onto his shoulder, he grabbed Kakashi, and they headed back to the compound. He wasn't surprised to find Minaruki already fast asleep by the time they arrived home moments later. He cleaned her up as best he could before tucking her into her futon for the night.
Once Kakashi was also settled for the night, Sakumo was greeted by the silent presence of an ANBU operative in his living room.
"Yes?" he inquired, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
"Hokage-sama requests a brief meeting with you," the ANBU stated simply.
Sakumo nodded, and after activating the compound's seals, they departed.
A few minutes later, they arrived at the Hokage Tower. The privacy seals shimmered into place, but the ANBU remained, a silent guard.
"Sakumo," Sarutobi greeted warmly. "My apologies for summoning you so late."
"No problem at all, Hokage-sama. Kakashi and Minaruki were already sound asleep."
Sarutobi offered a soft smile. "How is she settling in?"
Sakumo let out a weary sigh. "It's... complicated."
"Do elaborate," Sarutobi requested, lighting his pipe with a thoughtful expression.
"Her trauma is still quite raw, so she experiences moments of intense emotion. She also tires easily, which I suspect is a consequence of absorbing the Kyuubi's chakra. That influx certainly didn't help when we attempted to train her chakra control today."
Sarutobi chuckled softly, then coughed to mask his amusement. "Indeed. It provided a rather... engaging interlude to my day."
Sakumo rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Things seem to be progressing well on the family front, thankfully. Minato and Kushina plan to accompany us to her first day at the academy. We've also tentatively arranged for them to watch both Minaruki and Kakashi when I have missions, and vice versa."
Sarutobi nodded, making a quick note of the arrangement. "I will do my utmost to accommodate this. However, please ensure you have alternative arrangements in place for instances when all three of you are unavailable."
Sakumo nodded in understanding. "I will see to that promptly."
"Excellent. Anything else on your mind?"
Sakumo nodded, a slight frown creasing his brow. "When do you anticipate Jiraiya's return?"
Sarutobi raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "I dispatched a request for him to return home. It could be anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months."
Sakumo's frown deepened. "Minaruki either possesses some form of sensory ability or a natural inclination towards Sage Chakra. She began drawing in natural energy today. I've witnessed Jiraiya do the same, albeit on a much grander scale, so I barely recognized it initially. I have cautioned her against attempting it without proper instruction."
Sarutobi, however, was considering the implications of this new development with keen interest. Was this an unconscious action? An accidental occurrence? Or was she instinctively testing her boundaries? Cultivating another Sage would be immensely beneficial to both her and the Leaf. Minaruki's unique connection with the Kyuubi made this prospect even more extraordinary. He'd never heard of a Fox Sage before.
"I will send Jiraiya another message, updating him on a potential Sage candidate," Sarutobi stated thoughtfully. "As for the reason I summoned you, it wasn't solely for an update on Minaruki. I have an A-rank mission for you and your team. You will depart midday tomorrow. I apologize for the short notice, but it appears your current arrangements for Minaruki and Kakashi will suffice."
Sakumo sighed softly. "I was hoping we'd have a few more days."
Sarutobi offered him an understanding look. "I would grant them if I could. Your team is uniquely qualified for this particular task." He handed over a sealed scroll.
"I understand, Hokage-sama," Sakumo said, bowing slightly before dismissing himself.
Minaruki's pout was lost in the spiky blonde mess atop Minato's shoulders. He had insisted on giving her a piggyback ride, a gesture she had thoroughly enjoyed – right up until they reached their destination.
The Academy.
Minaruki REALLY didn't relish the thought of enduring tedious lectures all over again. It hadn't been fun the first time around when her reading skills were lacking. Now, with the ability to comprehend everything, it promised to be even more mind-numbing. Tsunade and Sakura had drilled the academy curriculum, genin, and chunin information into her and Naruto's heads. Mostly Naruto's, admittedly. But that didn't mean she escaped their frustrated outbursts when boredom struck. And then there were the endless practical exams, followed by the even more grueling jonin ones. It was a bitter pill to swallow that they'd never actually gotten to take those final exams. The war had erupted, and everything had spiraled into chaos.
Minaruki groaned into Minato's hair, earning a chuckle from below. "What's wrong, Imōto?"
"Kashi says the Academy is dull," she mumbled into his hair.
Kushina chuckled in unison with Minato. "It can be a bit dry, but there's a lot of important knowledge to gain. Plus, you'll have opportunities for training."
Minaruki's gaze slid towards Kushina, who visibly sweatdropped at her utterly unimpressed expression.
Minato gave a little hop, causing Minaruki to bounce against his back. "Cheer up, Imōto! You'll make some fantastic friends here."
"Hmm," Minaruki hummed, her tone unconvinced. She noticed Minato and Kushina exchanging worried glances before their eyes flickered over to Sakumo, whose expression mirrored their concern.
"Think of it this way, Minaruki-chan," Sakumo called, drawing her attention. Blue eyes met his kind, deep charcoal gaze. "You and Kakashi will be spending the next few days and the weekend at Kushina-san's home while I'm away. You'll have even more time to practice your clan techniques."
A small smile finally graced Minaruki's lips. "Hai." She suddenly leaned forward, launching herself into a tight hug around Sakumo's neck. "Be safe, Saki-chan?"
Sakumo returned her embrace warmly. "Of course. I have to come back for both Kakashi and you."
He gently set her down and knelt before Kakashi. "We already discussed this morning about this new arrangement. Be on your best behavior." He glanced pointedly at Minaruki before looking back at Kakashi. "Keep an eye on her for me? She might nēd a hug when she feels down."
Kakashi nodded solemnly. "I'll protect her."
Sakumo stood and ruffled Kakashi's silver hair. "That's my boy. Now, I nēd to finish packing. I'll see you both in a week."
"Hai, Tou-san," Kakashi replied, watching his father walk away before a small, soft hand gently gripped his. Kakashi looked down at the golden-haired child beside him.
"Saki-chan will be alright. He's strong," Minaruki reassured him quietly.
"I know," Kakashi said, turning towards the academy, not noticing Minaruki hesitate at the gates once more. She glanced back at Kushina and Minato, their encouraging smiles a silent reassurance.
"We'll be here waiting when classes are over," Kushina called out with a warm smile.
"Have a good time," Minato added with an encouraging grin.
Nodding, Minaruki finally stepped through the gates and located her assigned classroom. A sense of unexpected calm settled over her when she realized she didn't recognize any of the other children. A small smile played on her lips as she consciously donned her 'Uchiha' mask of detached neutrality. Though, a genuine smile almost broke through when she was introduced. She truly loved her last name.
"Alright everyone, we have a new student joining us. Uzumaki-Namikaze Minaruki. Please offer her a proper welcome later. For now, let's begin today's lesson."
Minaruki blinked at the instructor, a chunin who seemed utterly bored and slightly annoyed. Shrugging it off internally, she found an empty seat near the back, by the window. Letting out a small yawn, she rested her head on her arms, half-listening as the instructor droned on about history and theory for most of the morning.
Rather than focusing on information she already knew intimately, she retreated into her mindscape, her thoughts immediately turning to her own sealing theories. She'd had numerous ideas during theoretical discussions with the reanimated versions of Tobirama and Minato, but they'd never had the luxury of time to truly explore them. So, she spent the morning with the only other Sealing Master readily available to her: Kurama. He had absorbed knowledge from Mito, Kushina, and her own past life. While his critiques were often blunt and laced with his characteristic gruffness, his honesty was unwavering.
And despite his extensive knowledge of seals, he remained unable to break through the intricate seal Minato had crafted with the Reaper Death Seal. Kurama, of course, would vehemently deny that Minato had outsmarted him.
The morning passed quickly in this mental exercise. Finally, when lunchtime arrived, she retrieved the bento Kushina had lovingly prepared and found a secluded spot high up in a tree to eat. It had required a surprising amount of focused chakra control, but she had managed to climb it, leaving only minor indentations in the bark. Observing the other five to seven-year-olds running and playing in the yard below, she sighed quietly, a pang of boredom hitting her. She knew socializing with her peers would be a challenge. She was essentially a mid-twenties adult trapped in a five-year-old's body. Their childish games held little appeal.
Kakashi was the exception, his demeanor and thoughts often mirroring that of an adult. Plus, he was Kakashi. But she couldn't spot him in the bustling yard.
"Hey!" a voice called up to her. Minaruki blinked and looked down. Standing at the base of her tree was a boy with striking black hair. His deep black eyes and pale complexion instantly identified him as an Uchiha. "How'd you get up there?" he asked, his voice filled with curiosity.
Minaruki blinked, observing the boy more closely. He seemed vaguely familiar. With a small sigh, she packed up her empty bento, deciding to ascend higher. Focusing her chakra to her feet, she demonstrated rather than explained how she'd climbed.
"Cool!" he exclaimed, looking up with wide eyes. "Hey, teach me that!"
Minaruki frowned down at the somewhat impolite Uchiha boy. He simply beamed back up at her, his excitement palpable. Minaruki blinked, momentarily surprised. A smiling Uchiha?
Intrigued now, she jumped down a few branches, landing gracefully on a lower limb, and sat there, staring at him. The boy seemed to shift uncomfortably under her intense gaze.
"Do you... talk?" he finally asked.
Minaruki nodded once.
"Can you teach me that?"
Minaruki simply shrugged.
He frowned up at her, a hint of childish annoyance in his expression. "You're weird."
Minaruki snorted softly. She'd forgotten just how brutally honest young children could be.
"Is he bothering you?" a voice inquired from beside her. Minaruki didn't even flinch. She had sensed the new chakra signature approaching long before he spoke. Instead, her blue eyes moved to the slightly older boy now standing beside her on a lower branch.
Her eyes widened in recognition. It was someone she knew. But instead of his usual senbon, he held a dango skewer in his mouth. Genma, she thought, a sharp pang of grief momentarily piercing her as a flash of his death during the war assaulted her memory.
Minaruki offered him a small, grateful smile, pushing aside the painful recollection, and shook her head.
"Hey, Genma-san! Do you know how she did that too?" the Uchiha boy called up, his curiosity undeterred.
Genma glanced down at him. "Nope. I just jumped from another tree."
The boy's shoulders slumped in disappointment. "Aw man."
"Obito-san, you really shouldn't bother someone when they clearly want to be alone," Genma chided gently.
Minaruki froze internally. That... that was Obito?
Obito pouted up at Genma. "But she's the new girl! I wanted to see if she wanted to be friends. Then she just walked right up that tree without using her hands!"
Genma sighed, rolling his eyes slightly. "Whatever." He looked back at Minaruki. "Are you alright with him being annoying?"
"Oi!" Obito protested, but Minaruki's attention was solely on Genma. He was missing his leaf headband, but his facial structure was undeniably the same, minus the scars of war. She smiled up at him kindly. Standing up, she reached up and gently patted the older boy's head before jumping down and doing the same to a flustered Obito, whose cheeks flushed a bright red. Minaruki simply giggled softly and walked away.
Genma hopped down from the branch, glancing at the slightly younger Uchiha before his gaze followed the retreating figure of the unusual blonde girl.
"New student, you mentioned?" Genma asked, a hint of intrigue in his voice.
"Y-yeah," Obito mumbled, scuffing his shoe against the ground. "She's in my class, but she slept through the whole thing. The teacher didn't even seem to notice."
Genma's eyebrow arched slightly at that revelation. That's rather odd. With a shrug, he dismissed his fleeting curiosity and headed off to find his own group of friends.
Obito, however, was already scanning the courtyard, his eyes searching for the blonde girl. She had been surprisingly pretty. A warmth spread across his cheeks as the image of her kind smile flashed through his mind again, 'She's even prettier than Rin,' he thought, a new and unfamiliar feeling stirring within him.
Minaruki couldn't have been more relieved when the afternoon lessons moved outdoors. It only took a few moments after lining up for kunai practice for the delayed realization to hit her: she was indeed in a class with people she should have recognized. Obito was standing in one of the lines. And if her recollection of Kakashi's old team photo was accurate, the brown-haired girl with the distinctive purple markings on her cheeks was Rin. Minaruki mentally sighed, channeling her inner Nara.
'Troublesome.'
Being in a class with them was just inviting trouble, bad karma waiting to happen. She didn't know Rin, and this version of Obito was even more of a stranger. Kakashi's stories painted a picture reminiscent of Naruto, but they were still fundamentally different individuals.
She also desperately wanted to avoid dwelling on the looming decisions surrounding Obito's eventual fate. She wasn't strong enough yet. Her network of allies was insufficient. She didn't possess the necessary leverage against Zetsu and Madara. Not yet.
Minaruki absently flung kunai and shuriken at the targets as her thoughts swirled. She didn't notice the curious glances she was attracting.
While it was true that she now housed the entirety of the Kyuubi, and Kushina had a greater chance of surviving Naruto's birth in this timeline, it didn't negate the possibility of someone discovering her status as the jinchūriki and attempting to exploit it. Minato, if he became Hokage, would still prioritize the village's safety above all else.
She rubbed her throbbing temples, promising herself to confront these anxieties when the crucial dates drew nearer.
Blinking, she tried to refocus on her immediate surroundings only to be met with an unnerving silence. Looking around, she saw that every pair of eyes was fixed on her, wide with astonishment. Glancing at her targets, she muttered a quiet curse under her breath and then looked towards her chunin instructors. Their eyes mirrored the shock of the students. She offered a sheepish smile, attempting her most convincing innocent expression.
One of the instructors swiftly took her arm and guided her back inside, while the other resumed teaching the rest of the bewildered class.
Once back in the classroom, the chunin sat her down, his gaze filled with curiosity.
"Uzumaki-san," he began, his tone measured, "I've noticed your lack of engagement in class. I initially attributed it to the trauma the Hokage informed us you endured. However, I suspect there's more to it. Do you find my lessons... uninteresting?"
Minaruki sighed softly and nodded.
"Is it perhaps because you struggle to understand the material I'm presenting?"
She shook her head in negation.
The chunin hummed thoughtfully, his gaze still probing. "Hatake-san mentioned you had received prior training. He only specified physical and chakra exercises." Minaruki simply raised a questioning eyebrow at the young man. "Could it be that you find my class uninteresting because you are already familiar with the content?"
Minaruki's eyes widened slightly, 'How did he figure that out?'
Her sensei chuckled softly and gave her a gentle pat on the head. "You're not the first precocious student I've had the pleasure of teaching. Hatake's son was an exception; he tested out of the lower levels before even starting the academy. But your demeanor reminds me of my Nara students – utterly bored because they already grasp the concepts, I'm teaching. How about you take a few assessments for me? That way, I can accurately determine which class would be most suitable for your current level of understanding."
Minaruki smiled up at him gratefully and nodded eagerly. So, she spent the remainder of the afternoon seated at a desk, diligently working through exam after exam, each designed to gauge her knowledge across various subjects. She paused on the final test, a fleeting memory of the Third Hokage's request for her to remain in the academy for at least a year surfacing in her mind. Minaruki rolled her eyes inwardly and deliberately answered the questions at the level of the current graduating class. She did, after all, nēd the time to allow her physical body to catch up with her mind's advanced skills.
Her sensei simply stared at her completed tests, a dumbfounded expression slowly morphing into a chuckle and a genuine smile.
Minaruki subtly suppressed a foxy smirk. She would abide by the Sandaime's request. But just barely.
"Alright, Uzumaki-san, you'll begin tomorrow in Amami's class. I'll submit your advancement exams to formally confirm this placement."
"Thank you," Minaruki said, and the chunin visibly jumped at her mature tone. She smirked inwardly before returning to her seat. A few minutes later, the rest of the class trickled back in, settling down for the final lecture of the day. She watched as her chunin instructors conversed in hushed tones for a few moments, occasionally glancing her way. They exchanged nods before the one who had administered her tests left the room, clutching her results. Smiling to herself, Minaruki laid her head down, finally allowing herself a genuine catnap.
Minaruki perched on the swing, her gaze fixed on the academy gates as she waited for Minato and Kushina to arrive. To her surprise, Kakashi had silently approached and now leaned against a nearby tree, exuding an air of someone twice his age. Minaruki simply ignored him, a small, mischievous part of her enjoying his subtle discomfort. Her lips twitched as she watched him fidget. She hadn't greeted him with her usual hug, and she could practically see his sharp mind trying to decipher her unusual behavior. Minaruki let him stew in his thoughts.
"Mina-chan! Kakashi-kun!" A cheerful voice called out, breaking the tense silence. Both children turned towards the gate, spotting the vibrant redhead waving enthusiastically.
"nē-san!" Minaruki exclaimed, scrambling off the swing and running towards Kushina, dragging a momentarily stumbling Kakashi along with her. He quickly regained his footing and joined her jog. Minaruki released his hand as they drew closer, launching herself into a hug that Kushina easily returned with a beaming smile.
"Imōto!" Kushina greeted back warmly. "Did you have a good first day at school?"
Minaruki hummed contentedly into Kushina's neck as her nē-san squatted down to ruffle Kakashi's silver hair.
"And you, Kakashi-kun? A good day?"
Kakashi sighed softly. "As expected," Kushina offered a small, sympathetic smile at the serious young boy.
"Alright then!" Kushina grinned, standing back up. "Since Minato is still on duty, we agreed to meet back at my apartment for dinner. We just nēd to grab a few fresh things from the market on the way." Keeping a hand gently on Kakashi's shoulder, she guided him down the road, Minaruki happily nestled close, enjoying the comforting scent of her nē-san.
"Uzumaki-san!" a voice called out a few minutes into their walk. Kushina paused, turning back to see the chunin instructor from the academy hurrying towards them. He was slightly older than her, as most academy teachers tended to be compared to a young jonin like Kushina.
"Shiranui-san, is everything alright?" she asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.
'Shiranui? As in Genma's dad?'Minaruki blinked at him with newfound curiosity.
Shiranui Shin sighed as he produced a scroll and handed it to Kushina. "You collected Uzumaki-chan before I had a chance to speak with you. She wasn't formally assessed before joining the academy and was placed based on her age. However, after training this afternoon, I realized her sleeping in class might not be due to mere tiredness or disinterest. I administered the advancement exams. She passed the first three with exceptional scores."
Kushina's eyes widened slightly, her grip on Minaruki instinctively tightening. "And the fourth exam?"
Shin sighed again. "She was just shy of passing."
Kushina visibly relaxed. "So, she didn't completely test out of the academy." A small sigh of relief escaped her lips.
Shin smiled reassuringly. "No. But she will be moved to the graduating class and will spend the remainder of the year with them." He looked down at Kakashi's wide, dark eyes. "Looks like you won't be the only five-year-old potentially graduating, Kakashi-kun." He then turned back to Kushina. "She'll be in Kakashi-kun's class, under Yamanaka Sumiko."
Kushina smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Shiranui-san. I'll inform Minato and Sakumo-senpai of the change."
They parted ways, and the trio continued their shopping. A short while later, they arrived at the jonin housing district near the Hokage Tower.
Minaruki and Kakashi each carried a bag of groceries as Kushina unlocked the door to her modest apartment. It had two bedrooms and a lovely, open-plan kitchen that flowed into the dining and living room area. Being on the top floor, the balcony off the living room offered a beautiful panoramic view of Konoha. Minaruki's gaze kept drifting towards it, a silent invitation to sit and enjoy the scenery.
"Do either of you have any homework?" Kushina asked as she began to prepare dinner.
"No, Kushina-san," Kakashi replied politely.
"None of that, Kakashi-kun. You can call me nē-san too," Kushina said with a bright smile.
Kakashi considered this for a moment before responding, "Kushina nē-san."
Kushina beamed and turned back to her cooking.
Minaruki seized the opportunity to slip out onto the balcony, settling into one of the chairs. She closed her eyes, simply breathing in the fresh air. She felt the familiar mental tug as Kurama drew her into their shared mindscape.
"How are you doing, brat?"
'Better than I anticipated,' she replied softly, moving towards his massive form and climbing onto his head. He seemed to have finally reached his full size.
"You're letting a lot more information slip than we had planned," he pointed out, his nose nudging her gently onto his back.
Minaruki shrugged mentally and burrowed into his warm, fluffy fur. It was incredibly soft and comforting. She hummed contentedly, unaware that her subconscious form had shifted to that of her current child body. Kurama noticed the change. He knew her mental form would likely fluctuate between her adult and child selves depending on her emotional state. Right now, she was a child seeking comfort.
"When are you going to start showcasing your sealing knowledge?"
'Soon,' she mumbled sleepily.
"Brat," he growled playfully but sighed when he felt her mind grow quiet. She had already drifted off to sleep. Gently lifting one of his massive tails, he draped it protectively over her small form. He knew she nēded to talk to someone who truly understood her past. The Yamanaka couldn't come soon enough. He had seen her dreams. He knew they were just the beginning. Now that their chakra had begun to stabilize with her returning control, he understood the human mind's capacity for self-inflicted pain. He silently prayed she wouldn't let it overwhelm her. He had to ensure she remembered she wasn't alone.
Letting out a deep, internal sigh, he rested, his kit nestled safely against him and slowly began to merge his own powerful chakra with hers. If she was going to work secretly for the Hokage as they had discussed, she nēded to be stronger, capable of handling his immense power. Closing his own crimson eyes, he focused on carefully guiding his chakra through her nascent coils, all while meticulously balancing his own Yin and Yang energies.
Kushina glanced up from stirring the simmering pot, her eyes scanning the living room for her little Imōto and Kakashi-kun.
She wasn't surprised to find Kakashi engrossed in one of the chakra theory scrolls Minato had carelessly left on the coffee table. The boy possessed a sharp intellect, much like his father and her Minato. She just hoped that intense focus wouldn't consume him. When her initial search didn't locate Minaruki, she subtly reached out with her sensory abilities, her healing chakra acting as a beacon, and pinpointed her on the balcony. A soft smile touched her lips. Dinner could wait a few more minutes; she wanted to check on the small child.
Sliding the balcony door open, she was slightly taken aback to find Minaruki sitting in a perfect meditative posture. A closer look, however, revealed that her Imōto had once again drifted off to sleep. A flicker of worry crossed Kushina's features, but she trusted her instincts. If something truly amiss was happening, she hoped she would sense it. Gently scooping the sleeping child into her arms, she carried Minaruki back inside. She laid her carefully on the bed in what had once been the guest bedroom, now transformed into Minaruki's own space. Drawers were filled with new clothes, weapons were safely stored away, and one wall was painted a soft, comforting orange – a detail Kushina and Minato had incorporated into both their apartments after noticing the girl's fondness for the color.
A pleased smile gracing her lips, Kushina returned to the main room just as Minato arrived, greeting Kakashi with a friendly ruffle of his silver hair. His gaze then softened as he looked up at her, and her heart did a little flutter. Kami, she truly loved this man.
He greeted her with a quick, chaste kiss, mindful of Kakashi's presence.
"Rough day on patrol?" she asked as they moved towards the kitchen. Minato groaned, leaning heavily against the counter.
"Shikaku nēds to get out of the hospital. I'm tired of waiting for his lazy butt to finally get out of bed. Our team can't take on any missions with him sidelined."
Kushina rolled her eyes playfully. "He's a Nara. What did you honestly expect?"
Minato pouted. "But he's a shinobi! It's like an unspoken rule that we don't lounge around in hospitals. We're supposed to despise them."
Kushina chuckled, stirring the dinner while they continued their lighthearted banter.
Turning back to check on the simmering fish, she jumped when Minato let out a startled yelp.
Instinctively alert, she whipped out a kunai, holding it at the ready. She froze, however, at the sight of Minaruki blinking innocently up at Minato, who clutched his chest, his expression one of surprise.
"Kami, Mina-chan, you scared the life out of me!" Minato breathed, his hand still over his heart.
Kushina simply blinked at her boyfriend. He was one of Konoha's most skilled sensors, second only to herself. She then looked at her Imōto, noticing a mischievous twinkle in the girl's cerulean eyes as she yawned and looked up at Minato. Focusing more closely, the realization dawned on her: her little Imōto was a trickster, and a remarkably skilled one at that.
The lingering flicker of jealousy she had once felt about the Namikaze genes seemingly overpowering the Uzumaki traits vanished in that instant. She might not physically resemble an Uzumaki, but she was still half of their blood. And unlike Kushina's own vibrant hair, there would be no outward warning of her Uzumaki nature. A smirk played on Kushina's lips at the sheer ingenuity of it all.
Her grin widened as she squatted down to Minaruki's level. Tired blue eyes looked up at her innocently. They couldn't fool Kushina, though. The telltale spark of Uzumaki prankster mirth was still dancing within them.
"Ne, Mina-chan, how much training did your Tou-san give you in stealth?"
Minaruki smiled back innocently, the barest twitch of her lips the only indication of her knowing. Kushina had her answer. A soft chuckle escaped her as she stood back up, noticing the contemplative look on Minato's face.
"She got you good," she teased. Minato just pouted in response. Kushina rolled her eyes playfully and gestured towards the rice cooker. "Help me serve dinner." She glanced down at the smaller blonde. "Mina-chan, can you help set the table?"
Minaruki nodded obediently, taking the plates and bowls Kushina handed her and walking off to the dining area.
Kushina's smile faded slightly, and Minato paused, his gaze meeting hers. "She completely suppressed her chakra signature," Minato said softly, a hint of concern in his voice. "Even with her... companion."
Kushina hummed sadly in agreement. "I don't like to imagine the circumstances that necessitated her learning to do that."
Minato gently kissed her cheek. "We'll protect her now, so she can finally relax," he promised, his voice filled with sincerity.
Kushina smiled and nodded, a warmth spreading through her chest. Grabbing the rest of the food, they headed to the dining room for their first proper family dinner.
