"Talking"
'Thinking'
Biju talk/think/Jutsu
Flash Back
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Minaruki's intense gaze was fixed on the swirling ball of chakra in her hands. Almost there. Just a fraction more. The clone mirroring her movements shared her determined expression. Together, they channeled their wind chakra into the sphere, and—
"OI OI OI! One of Naruto's going Kyuubi!" Her twin's frantic voice echoed in her mind, shattering her concentration. The malevolent chakra surged through the air, causing her own unstable ball of energy to dissipate. She whirled around. It wasn't just one of Naruto's clones.
"Crap!" she yelled. "One of mine too!"
Wood erupted from Yamato-taicho's position, snaking out in two distinct directions. The Kyuubi-infused Minaruki and Naruto were already grappling with clones of both twins, attempting to subdue them.
Once the raw Kyuubi chakra finally subsided, Minaruki felt a wave of dizziness wash over her, the residual memories of the outburst clouding her vision. She and Naruto collapsed together in the large, scarred clearing.
"Well now, perhaps it's time for a little break," their sensei's lazy drawl drifted down as he stood above them.
Kakashi's visible eye curved into a smile at the matching glares he received from the two exhausted blondes.
"That... would... be appreciated," a voice wheezed from nearby. Minaruki and Naruto turned to see Yamato bent double, panting heavily, his chakra reserves depleted. A shared pang of guilt resonated between the twins.
"Alright," Naruto sighed, flopping down and maneuvering until his head rested on Minaruki's thighs. She mirrored his movement, relishing the familiar closeness of her twin. They were delaying their inevitable separation to their respective summoning worlds. This last-minute training session was their precious, fleeting bonding time. Every other moment was consumed by Baa-chan and Sakura relentlessly drilling lessons into their heads, especially since Ero-sennin hadn't bothered with any of that during their year and a half away with him.
Training with the Kyuubi chakra had been a unique experience under Ero-sennin's guidance, but it was nothing compared to the unknown challenges that lay ahead. They wouldn't have each other to rely on.
A warm, calloused hand took Minaruki's. She squeezed it in return.
'We'll be fine,' Naruto's soft voice echoed in her mind.
'Miss you already,' she sighed back mentally.
'We'll return stronger,' Minaruki projected a small, outward smile, mirroring his determination.
"Yeah," she agreed aloud, her eyelids feeling heavy.
Kakashi offered a wistful smile at the two blondes, half-asleep and intertwined on the ravaged grass. He'd been informed of their unique twin connection. He'd been skeptical initially, but their actions had consistently proven them right. Now, all he could feel was a quiet gratitude that, even in his absence, they had always had each other.
Agonizing pain tore through Minaruki. Her own heart skipped a frantic beat as the horrifying realization dawned. Her head snapped up, her gaze flying across the chaotic battlefield to where Naruto was falling, the protective cloak of Kurama dissolving around him.
"NĪ-SAN!" Minaruki screamed, her voice raw with terror, and she instinctively surged towards him. She felt a surge of gratitude for their allies as Gaara's sand swiftly caught her brother's falling form. Bounding towards them, Gaara enveloped her and the nearby Sakura in his protective sand, and they were propelled away,
They had to escape Madara and the monstrous Jyuubi.
Minaruki clutched Naruto's hand in her own. Pain-filled blue eyes met hers. She instinctively tried to siphon away some of his agony, but he gently blocked her attempt.
"Naru—" she choked out softly.
"Mina," he smiled sadly, his voice weak. "Gomen. I lost my Kurama."
Minaruki shook her head vehemently, tears welling in her eyes. "We'll get him back. You'll get him back," she insisted, reaching towards the seal on his stomach, ready to offer her own Kurama to save her brother. He was the heart of the alliance, the one who inspired everyone, the one with the uncanny ability to turn enemies into allies.
A cool hand gripped her wrist, halting her movement. Her eyes snapped to Naruto's. "No," he said firmly, his gaze surprisingly resolute despite his weakened state. "You need him."
Tears blurred her vision. "Not more than I need you."
Naruto offered her a heartbreakingly sad smile and reached over, gently stopping Sakura's frantic efforts. Jade green eyes met her tear-filled cerulean ones as Gaara's sand gently set them down.
"Naruto!" a new, yet now achingly familiar voice shouted, joining their small, desperate group.
"Tō-san," Naruto smiled weakly. Their reanimated father stared down at his son, his expression a mixture of horror and profound sorrow.
"Madara took his Kurama," Minaruki choked out, her voice thick with unshed tears. "He keeps stopping me from giving him mine."
Minato's gaze searched his son's pain-stricken eyes. "Naruto?"
Naruto simply offered a tired smile up at his father. "Take care of her?"
"Of course. But you need to live too."
Naruto's smile brightened slightly. "I have an idea. Only Minashi can pull it off."
Minaruki's grip on his hand tightened, even as she felt another presence land heavily nearby.
"What plan, dobe?" Sasuke's harsh voice cut through the tense silence behind her.
Naruto grinned weakly at his rival. "Fuuinjutsu. Tō-san and Nīdaime-sama can teach her." He looked back at Minaruki, his gaze softening. "Hide," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Take who remains and hide. Survive. Learn." His eyelids fluttered slowly. "We're the Unpredictable Twins of Konoha. We can do anything. Find a way to go back," he murmured, his control over their twin connection visibly weakening.
Tears streamed down Minaruki's cheeks.
"Go back," he repeated, his breath shallow.
"Nī-san," Minaruki whimpered, her voice breaking as their connection strained, a fragile thread about to snap.
'I love you, Minashi,' his voice was a mere whisper in her mind.
'I love you too, Naruto,' she sobbed back, her heart shattering.
He offered her one last, gentle smile, and she saw it, felt it – the finality of it. The connection snapped, the light fading from his eyes.
Minaruki gasped, a strangled scream tearing from her throat. She felt the cold, familiar presence of her reanimated father's chakra wrapping around her protectively. She heard Sakura's soft, heart-wrenching sobs. She heard someone collapse beside her, the distinct crackle of their chakra signature telling her it was Sasuke. The sand beneath her trembled, and she didn't need to look up to know Gaara was crying, collapsing to his knees in despair.
Minaruki just screamed, a raw, primal sound of utter emptiness. Her chest ached, her mind felt hollow. He was gone. She was alone. She hated it. She had always had Naruto, a constant presence that had shielded her from the crushing weight of loneliness. Now he was gone.
Deep within her, Kurama felt his container's overwhelming grief. Pulling her consciousness into their shared mindscape, he allowed her mind to mourn, taking control of her physical body in the ravaged world outside.
Minato stiffened as Minaruki's agonizing cries abruptly ceased. He looked down, his blood running cold as he met the crimson gaze of the Kyuubi.
"Release my container," Minato instinctively jumped back, watching as his daughter stood, dusting herself off with an eerie calm. Sad, red eyes fixed on the lifeless form of Naruto. "Shukaku's host, Gaara." The sand manipulator looked up, his own eyes red with grief. "Please cover him and seal his form within your sand. My other host will not be desecrated by that vile reanimation jutsu." The sand obeyed, engulfing Naruto's body and slowly rising into the air, hovering at waist height. "Take him back to Konoha. We will follow shortly with everyone else." Gaara nodded silently and flew off, carrying his precious burden.
Kurama turned his attention to the Yondaime. Grief-stricken eyes met carefully blank red ones.
"I will not allow my host's last wish to be denied again. We move out. We abandon this front. We live to see another day. We save who we can. I will lend you our chakra, Yondaime. Use it wisely to ensure everyone's safety. When Minashi awakens, her focus will be on honoring her brother's final plea."
"Hai." After absorbing a significant portion of Kurama and Minaruki's combined chakra, the Yondaime vanished in a flash of red and yellow light.
Red eyes then turned to a still softly sobbing Sakura. Sasuke had finally risen to his knees, his Mangekyou Sharingan fixed intently on Kurama's own crimson gaze.
"Don't die," he commanded them both, his voice low and dangerous. "The brat won't be able to bear losing her pseudo-brother and sister as well." Sakura could only nod, tears still streaming down her face. Sasuke's eyes narrowed.
"You're a damn Bijuu, why didn't you give him some of your chakra?"
Kurama raised a sleek, red brow. "The brat and I had one last conversation before I was ripped from him. He's an idiot, but he's learned to recognize when he's outmatched. Especially with only Shukaku and myself remaining, we lack the power to confront the Jyuubi. Tactical retreat is the only viable option for the Alliance now. Retreat and regroup. Now, let's go. We need to spread the word and get the hell out of here."
The two remaining members of Team 7 could only nod, their faces etched with grief and grim determination, as they followed the Kyuubi-controlled Minaruki.
Inside her mind, Minaruki clutched at Kurama's fur, her silent sobs wracking her small form. While a part of her mourned the irreplaceable loss, another part registered her last companion's actions. She knew she should be the one taking charge, but an overwhelming emptiness had settled within her.
Darkness was consuming her, a suffocating void. She felt utterly alone, adrift in an endless night.
'Naruto,' she whimpered into the fox's comforting fur.
A fragmented part of her mind already grasped the impossible task he had entrusted to her. It was insane. It was foolish. It was likely impossible. But hadn't they always defied the impossible?
Together. Her mind supplied the missing word, a painful reminder. They had faced every impossible obstacle together. Now, it was just her. Her lungs seized, and she buried her face deeper into Kurama's fur, the dampness of her tears spreading.
Kurama gently wiped away the tears that leaked from his container's eyes, a mixture of her grief and his own ancient sorrow for his lost companion. He ignored the bewildered and grieving looks from Sakura and Sasuke as they ran alongside him. He was a Bijuu. He didn't need to explain the depth of his container's pain, a pain that resonated with his own loss. He would not lose his remaining container. His remaining friend.
Minaruki stirred, enveloped in a comforting warmth. Dried tear tracks etched her cheeks, remnants of the cruel dreams that had replayed Naruto's final moments, the agonizing snap of their connection. Her arms instinctively tightened around the source of the gentle heat, the familiar scents of ozone and dog filling her senses.
Kakashi.
She must have cried out in her sleep, her sobs likely pulling him from his own slumber. The details were hazy, but she was undeniably grateful to wake surrounded by his comforting presence. Burying her nose deeper into the crook of his neck, she allowed the last vestiges of sleep to hold her in that liminal space between wakefulness and dreams.
Small fingers tentatively traced patterns through her hair.
"Nightmare?" a groggy voice mumbled against her head.
"Memory," Minaruki murmured back, her arms instinctively squeezing him tighter.
"Sorry," he replied softly.
Minaruki offered a small, sad smile against his skin. "Thank you."
"Hm," he mumbled drowsily before his breathing evened out once more. After a few quiet moments, Minaruki's gaze drifted towards the end of the bed, where Minato sat, a half-asleep Kushina leaning heavily against his side.
"You okay here, Minaruki?" Minato asked gently. "Do you want us to stay too?"
"Un," she nodded once, her voice still thick with sleep. "Until I fall back asleep." Minato offered a tender smile and shifted closer.
He sat at the head of the bed, his fingers gently stroking her hair. A groggy Kushina squirmed her way further into the small bed, resting her head on Minato's lap, the rest of her body snuggled against Minaruki's back. With her free arm, Kushina pulled Minaruki and Kakashi closer, enveloping them in her warmth, keeping them securely nestled against her.
'Home,' a quiet voice whispered within her mind.
She was surrounded by her home.
Her eyelids grew heavy.
Everything would be alright. She was safe here. No more painful memories plagued her drifting thoughts. Instead, she dreamed of painting the Hokage Rock with her twin, bright, carefree smiles illuminating both their faces.
When Minaruki awoke again, she wasn't alone, a fact for which she was eternally grateful. However, a new problem presented itself: she was firmly trapped in a red-haired vice grip, her face buried in a fragrant mane. She blew the vibrant strands away from her eyes and wriggled, attempting to escape the surprisingly strong hold.
After a few frustrated struggles, she huffed in annoyance as more red hair simply covered her face with each movement.
She tried poking and pinching the older teen's arm to rouse her, but Kushina merely grunted and tightened her grip. Minaruki whimpered softly as breathing became increasingly difficult.
A snicker echoed softly through the room. "Need a hand?" Minato's amused voice filled the air of her new bedroom.
Minaruki's eyes peeked through the curtain of red hair to find mirth-filled blue ones hovering over the entangled girls.
"Help, Nī-san," she pouted playfully.
Minato chuckled. "Here's a little insight into your Nee-san: she's a cuddle trap. I didn't develop my teleportation Hiraishin no Jutsu just to be the fastest on the battlefield. It's also a vital tool for escaping Kushina's morning embrace."
Minaruki blinked up at him, momentarily stunned. Huh... Who knew the Flying Thunder God was partly a countermeasure against viper-like cuddles? Kurama's snort rumbled in her mind, but Minaruki ignored it.
"Help me, please, Nī-san," Minaruki repeated, widening her eyes as much as possible and adding a pleading pout to her lips.
Minato visibly melted.
"Aw, of course, Imouto. Hold still." He carefully reached between the hair and arms, making sure not to Tōch Kushina directly. Suddenly, Minaruki's world spun violently. She clutched her stomach as it churned in protest. This was not only her first time experiencing the Hiraishin in this small body, but the sensation of traveling through someone else's space-time jutsu always felt profoundly strange.
Groaning softly, she buried her face in Minato's neck as he held her securely in the living room. His gentle chuckles vibrated against her.
"Sorry, Imouto. You'll get used to it," he said, watching her carefully. "Although, you're handling it better than most. Almost everyone throws up on their first ride. Even I did the first time I tried it."
Minaruki swallowed thickly. "Don't count me out yet," she murmured, a hint of defiance in her voice. Minato grimaced slightly but carried her to the kitchen, where Kakashi was already preparing toast and slicing fruit.
"Kushina isn't a morning person. I apologize that there isn't much more available for breakfast. Plus, after—" he paused, glancing at Minaruki before carefully rephrasing the loss of Kurama. "She expended a significant amount of chakra. She's still recovering and needs plenty of rest."
"Thank you for your hospitality, Minato-san," Kakashi said with a slight bow.
Minaruki yawned widely and settled into the chair Minato placed her in. She eyed the simple breakfast with weary disinterest but slowly began to eat as her stomach settled.
"So, Sakumo tells me that you two train in the mornings?" Minato inquired.
"Hai. For an hour before the Academy. We leave enough time to change and grab a proper breakfast before heading out," Kakashi replied.
Minato nodded, digging into his own food. "Alright. I can take you both to a training ground nearby. It's one I frequent anyway. Kushina should hopefully be awake by the time we return, but I'll likely be the one to take you to the Academy." He paused, his gaze momentarily distant. "Yeah, we'll just come back for a quick clean-up, food, and then leave. She has mission desk duty again, while I have patrol. So, she'll pick you two up from the Academy this afternoon again."
Minaruki raised a questioning eyebrow at her Nī-san. What was that odd tone about? Unfortunately, she had a sinking feeling she didn't want to know. A shared glance with Kakashi confirmed that he felt the same unease.
Leaning against a sturdy tree, a forgotten scroll resting in his lap, Minato watched his little sister and Kakashi-kun seamlessly execute their katas. A proud smile Tōched his lips. Minaruki possessed the same innate genius he did.
She had instinctively grasped the Uzumaki style, integrating it into her movements with surprising ease. He knew Kushina would be overjoyed to witness this.
His mood darkened slightly as he remembered the harsh reality behind her advanced skills. She had been on the run since birth, burdened with a terrible secret, only to unknowingly inherit the rest of Kushina's burden.
Minato let out a tired sigh. It all still felt so surreal. He'd grown up believing his mother was dead. But to learn she was alive and had deliberately left him? He didn't know how to process it. Yet, a part of him felt a strange sort of gratitude. She might have abandoned him, but she had unknowingly left him one last, precious gift.
He smiled as Minaruki grinned back at him just before she and Kakashi transitioned into their sparring match. Minato's keen eyes focused intently on their positioning, fighting styles, and attacks.
Minaruki was a gift. Minato knew that. He just wished she wasn't so burdened by the loss of their brother. His heart ached for the sibling he never truly got to know. He desperately wanted to ask her what Naruto had been like, but he knew the wound was still too raw.
"Alright, you two, cool down and stretch. You'll have enough time for chakra control exercises before we head back for showers and food," Minato called out.
"Hai!" they chorused, immediately following his instructions. Minato beamed. He was beginning to understand the appeal of being a jonin-sensei. It was surprisingly rewarding to teach the younger generation. Maybe he would apply this year when Kakashi and Minaruki graduated. Maybe he could even get them as his team.
Minato was jolted from his pleasant daydreaming by a subtle shift in the energy around him, a familiar pull he had experienced during his younger years while training to harness Sage Chakra – a training he was still waiting to complete with Jiraiya-sensei. His eyes snapped to Minaruki, and he saw a faint, swirling aura surrounding her.
"Minaruki!" Minato exclaimed, rushing towards her.
Minaruki jolted, looking up at Minato with wide, startled blue eyes as he knelt before her, his gaze frantically scanning her.
"Where did you learn to do that? How did you do that? Why—What? Are you okay?" he asked breathlessly, his eyes searching for any signs of stone transmutation. Finding none, he relaxed slightly, meeting her sheepish, innocent gaze.
"Oops?" she said, wincing slightly. "I didn't mean to. I was just focused, and it... called to me."
Minato blinked at her, utterly bewildered. "You know what that was?"
Minaruki sighed softly. "Saki-chan said it was natural energy. I didn't really understand it. He told me not to draw on it, but it's so pretty and feels so good," she whimpered.
Minato sighed and pulled her into a tight embrace.
"Please. Please, Minaruki. Do not Tōch the natural energy around you without the guidance of a Sage. I've undergone part of that training. It's incredibly risky. I still don't practice it unless my sensei is nearby."
Panic welled within Minato as Minaruki's eyes began to water, her chin trembling.
"H-Hai, n-n-Nī-san," Minaruki stuttered, a single tear tracing a path down her cheek.
Minato squawked in alarm. "AH! Minaruki, it's okay, it's okay!" He frantically tried to comfort the distraught girl, pulling her closer. Her small body trembled in his arms, and a wave of guilt washed over Minato.
Kakashi blinked slowly, observing Minato's frantic and clumsy attempts to soothe the crying child. That is, until he pulled her into a comforting embrace. Kakashi finally got a clear view of the doll-like face then. There were no tears. Only a sly, foxy grin. He quickly covered his masked mouth to stifle a snort of laughter. The seemingly innocent blonde had completely played one of Konoha's most brilliant jonin. His own body shook with suppressed amusement as his eye met the twinkling blue of Mina's. He almost lost it when she subtly winked at him. Heh, maybe she wasn't so bad after all. As long as she wasn't actively trying to annoy him.
Minato carefully eased open the apartment door, silently ushering the two children towards Minaruki's room to clean up and change. He left them with strict instructions to remain quiet and take turns. Stealthily, he moved through Kushina's apartment. He found her bedroom empty. Slipping into the kitchen, he froze at the sight of Kushina asleep at the table. His gaze meticulously scanned every detail of the room, suppressing his chakra signature as much as possible and keeping his breathing shallow.
Cautiously, Minato moved further into the room, counting each step, each breath, his eyes fixed on Kushina's every subtle movement.
He reached his destination. His gaze finally left Kushina to settle on the coffee pot. He paled slightly at the sight of the almost full pot. Grimacing to himself, he silently made his way to Kushina and glanced at her empty cup. With the stealth honed by his ANBU training, he reached out, snagged her cup, and returned to the pot to prepare a second cup exactly as she liked it.
Just as he gently set the refilled cup down, a voice filled the air.
"Nī-san. We're done. I'm hungry."
Minato panicked as Kushina twitched, a low, throaty growl rumbling in her chest.
"Minato-san?" Kakashi called softly from the doorway, his voice laced with confusion.
"Mi~Na~To~" a gravelly voice snarled, the sound sending shivers down Minato's spine.
Minato yelped, leaping backward, snatching the two children, and Hiraishined away as if his life depended on it. In his mind, it did. Kami, he loved her, but he also harbored a healthy fear of a freshly awakened, pre-coffee Kushina.
Panting heavily, Minato collapsed onto a stool behind him. A booming laugh erupted nearby. Kakashi was groaning and gagging on the ground. Minaruki was patting his back soothingly, looking only slightly disoriented herself.
"Did you wake her up before her third cup again, Minato?" Teuchi called from behind the ramen counter. "I thought you learned that lesson years ago?"
Minato whimpered. "Minaruki and Kakashi-kun finished sooner than I anticipated," he explained, helping the two children onto stools and looking pleadingly at the smirking Teuchi. "Pork, please."
Teuchi nodded and looked at the kids. "Three miso, please," Minaruki requested. Teuchi raised a questioning eyebrow.
"Just three?" He had already witnessed the child's impressive appetite.
Minaruki blinked innocently. "I'll order more at lunch. Nī-san forgot to pack us any, so we'll be back."
"We can't have ramen for breakfast and lunch," Kakashi stated firmly. "Miso too, but with eggplant, please."
"Hai hai," Teuchi chuckled, turning to prepare their orders.
"Ramen is the food of the Gods," Minaruki deadpanned. "It is to be consumed for every meal. Sadly, to be a good shinobi, I must also consider other healthy options to achieve peak performance."
"It is not the food of the Gods," Kakashi snapped.
"Is too."
"Is not."
"Is too."
"Is not."
"Is too."
"Is not."
"Is too. Say otherwise again, and I'll stab you," Minaruki growled, a kunai suddenly appearing at Kakashi's throat. His Adam's apple bobbed nervously. Where had she even gotten that?
"OI!" Minato sputtered around the tea he had ordered while they were arguing. He swiftly snatched the kunai back from Minaruki with a stern look. It was better than trying to figure out how he hadn't noticed she'd pilfered it from him.
"No threatening comrades with weapons," Minato scolded gently.
Minaruki merely narrowed her eyes at Kakashi, who wisely took his escape route when Teuchi delivered his breakfast.
Minaruki hummed contentedly and turned to her own food, quickly devouring the three bowls by the time Minato and Kakashi had finished. Much happier with a full stomach, she waited for Minato to finish before hopping onto his left shoulder.
"Onward!" she shouted cheerfully.
"You have feet," Kakashi snipped up at Minaruki as the trio headed towards the academy.
Minaruki stuck her tongue out at him. "I'm four. I'm allowed to get rides. You're too much of a baby to get one."
Kakashi looked at her, genuinely confused. "That doesn't make any sense."
"Now, Mina-chan—" Minato tried to interject, attempting to stop the escalating argument while literally being in the middle of it. At the same time, he was relieved to see his imouto expressing herself more freely, especially after the heart-wrenching screams that had echoed from her room the previous night. Kami, he never wanted to hear that sound again.
"Yes, it does," Minaruki declared, crossing her arms defiantly, trusting Minato's arm around her ankles to keep her secure, along with her subtle chakra adhesion to his flak jacket.
"Adults act like big babies over not doing childish things to other adults. You are a child. You're supposed to get rides. No rides means you're a big baby like boring adults."
"Am not!" Kakashi glared.
"Are too," Minaruki smirked, thoroughly enjoying his irritation.
Kakashi growled. "Am Not!"
"Prove it," Minaruki challenged with a sharp-toothed grin. He was just so easy to provoke.
Kakashi paused, and Minato, with Minaruki still perched on his shoulder, stopped to glance at the boy. Minato wisely kept his opinion to himself. He wasn't entirely sure what was happening, but he felt slightly insulted on behalf of adults everywhere.
"Minato-san," Kakashi began softly, a hint of vulnerability in his voice. "Can I please have a ride too?"
Minato's expression softened, and he lowered himself. "Hai~" he called out cheerfully. Kakashi gently hopped onto his other shoulder, and once a small hand was firmly latched onto his spiky silver locks, Minato stood back up and continued walking. Two five-year-olds perched on each shoulder.
The sappy grin plastered across his face clearly demonstrated his delight at carrying the two children. It also inadvertently drew the attention of some of his lingering fangirls, though they were wise enough not to approach. Kushina was not a kunoichi to be trifled with. Instead, they whispered amongst themselves about how adorable the children were and what a wonderful father Minato would make one day. He was already a fantastic Nī-san.
When Minato finally dropped them off at the academy gates, he left for his patrol duty in the best of moods, a smile firmly in place that even the collective grumpiness of his teammates couldn't erase.
Minaruki's gaze lingered on her Nī-san's retreating form, her head tilted in contemplation. His sappy grin made her wonder if it would still be firmly in place by the time evening arrived.
"How much you wanna bet he'll still be grinning like a complete idiot when we get back home?" Minaruki asked Kakashi quietly as they stood at the Academy gates.
Kakashi glanced from Minaruki to the receding figure of Minato. "Hm, Tō-san always told me never to make a fool's wager."
Minaruki shrugged, but didn't move to head inside. Kakashi started forward, then stopped, noticing her lack of movement.
"You coming?"
Minaruki took a slow, deliberate breath. "Yeah," she mumbled, reaching out to clutch a corner of his shirt. "I'm scared, Inu," she whispered.
Kakashi grimaced internally at the unwelcome nickname but pushed his annoyance aside. The longer he looked at Minaruki, the clearer it became that she was genuinely distressed.
Minaruki felt her breathing quicken, her mind beginning to race with unwelcome thoughts. Faces. People. Comrades. Sensei. Individuals who had become precious to her simply because they were precious to her friends. She had a sinking feeling she would see them in this class. She had been consciously avoiding the thought, but this was Kakashi's graduating class.
She would be facing the dead. Seeing the living she had lost was one thing, as was encountering the deceased she had barely known. But these... these were people she had fought alongside, joked with, smiled with, pranked with Naruto. She didn't want to see them. See their innocent, pre-war faces.
"—shi."
She couldn't breathe. She didn't want to be here anymore.
"Minaruki!" Minaruki jolted as she was roughly shaken and moved.
Warmth enveloped her from behind as her body was gently guided into a fetal position by a cool hand pressing down on her head.
"Breathe slowly," a calm voice instructed. "In. Out. In. Out."
Minaruki focused on the rhythmic words, desperately trying to push the vivid images of her fallen comrades to the periphery of her mind.
"There you go," the voice said, a hint of satisfaction in its tone.
"Is she alright?" Kakashi's concerned voice came from behind her. The other voice, she now realized, belonged to the person whose hand was still gently pressing her head between her knees.
"She'll be fine. I believe she experienced a panic attack."
Kakashi's sigh was long and heavy. "Oh," he mumbled.
"Do you know what triggered it?"
"She lost her father and brother. Tō-san said it's trauma. She has nightmares. But she's never had a panic attack before. She did say she was scared before it started. It's her first day in the upper-level classes at the Academy."
"Hm," the voice hummed, the hand on her head shifting into a slow, almost petting motion. "She seems to be regaining her composure. Minaruki-san, how are you feeling now?"
"I don't want to go in," she mumbled, her voice small and hesitant.
"Why?" Kakashi asked, his confusion evident.
Minaruki knew she couldn't reveal the true reason – the impending encounter with faces that should be gone, the signatures she had deliberately ignored until now. She knew she would have to face them. Genma had been a stark warning. She had managed to compartmentalize it while avoiding him, but now, there was no escape.
Swallowing hard, she offered a partial truth, directing her answer to Kakashi instead of the stranger.
"I-I was supposed to go with Nī-san. I'm scared without him," she choked out, tears pricking at her eyes. "What if I mess up now? I don't want to disappoint my new Nī-san and Nee-san or Saki-chan. They're the only family I have left."
A heavy sigh escaped the person in front of her before she suddenly found herself being gently lifted into cool, strong arms.
"Let's head inside. I believe we can resolve this before I drop you two off. Who is your teacher?"
"Amami-sensei," Kakashi replied, his voice slightly muffled as Minaruki felt the gentle breeze against her arms.
A familiar yet strangely unfamiliar scent filled her nostrils, emanating from the jonin uniform of the person carrying her. Confused by the conflicting familiarity, she lifted her head and found her blue eyes meeting an intense, golden gaze.
"Feeling better?" the pale-skinned man asked as they began to walk.
Minaruki simply stared, her mind momentarily blank.
He raised a sleek, black eyebrow. "I believe your fears are unfounded."
Minaruki glared up at him. He merely offered a faint, enigmatic smirk.
"I don't know who your father and brother were, but I'm certain they would want your happiness. I don't possess extensive knowledge of familial bonds, but my teammates and sensei ensured I understood that as long as I gave my best effort, they would always be proud. I have no doubt your new family members feel the same way."
Minaruki's brain short-circuited. She turned inward, finding a similarly bewildered nine-tailed fox.
'Did I just get comforted by Orochimaru?'
"Hai?" Kurama mumbled, equally perplexed.
'We didn't accidentally jump dimensions instead of just time, did we?'
"No. This is our timeline and our dimension."
'Huh. Well, shit. I thought I'd have to hunt him down and pull a Naruto on him. Why is he even at the Academy?'
"Why don't you just ask him, brat?" Kurama grumbled, mentally swatting her away.
"Who are you?" Minaruki asked, adopting her most innocent and curious child voice.
"I am Orochimaru."
"He's one of the Legendary Sannin. One of the students of the Sandaime Hokage," Kakashi interjected.
Minaruki looked from Kakashi to Orochimaru. "Who are the Sannin?"
Orochimaru sighed, a hint of weary amusement in his golden eyes. "We were bestowed the title Sannin because myself and my teammates, Jiraiya and Tsunade, were able to face Ame's leader, Hanzo, and emerge alive."
Minaruki's anxiety momentarily receded as a rapid-fire plan began to form in her mind regarding the infamous Sannin. "Where are they?"
Orochimaru's expression shifted, the usual unsettling amusement replaced by a hint of something darker. "We parted ways not long after the Second Great War concluded."
"Why?" Mina asked, her voice carefully laced with childlike innocence, though her cerulean eyes held a calculating glint as they met his golden gaze. She knew she couldn't outwit Orochimaru intellectually, but perhaps emotional manipulation was a different game entirely.
Orochimaru sighed, the sound rustling through the academy corridors as they walked. "Our personalities clashed constantly. We could no longer coexist peacefully outside the heat of battle. Additionally, other…circumstances drew us in different directions."
"But teams are like families," Mina stated, her voice firm despite her small stature. "Families stick together."
Orochimaru paused, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his pale features as he looked down at her. "Families are still torn apart, child. Your own experience should attest to that."
A sharp pang of grief pierced Mina's chest, and her blue eyes narrowed fiercely. "Tō-san and Nī-san gave their lives to protect me. I will do the same for my new family. I will do the same to protect my own teammates. Yours are still alive. Your family, whether by blood or bond, is still alive. Don't push them away because of a foolish disagreement." Her voice trembled slightly as tears welled in her eyes. "I argued with Nī-san right before the attack. I never had the chance to apologize before he was gone. Don't make my mistakes."
Orochimaru stared down at the blonde child nestled in his arms, a flicker of something akin to bewilderment in his golden gaze. He still couldn't quite fathom why he had picked her up in the first place.
His medical leave, a consequence of an enemy jutsu disrupting his chakra coils, had been inconveniently repurposed by his sensei into a month of academy duty. He couldn't help but suspect the old man had orchestrated this. Amami Yamanaka required a temporary assistant teacher during her usual aide's maternity leave, and he had been deemed…suitable. He had initially dreaded the prospect.
But now…
He had encountered the Hatake brat hovering anxiously around a distressed blonde child near the gates. He recognized the telltale signs of a panic attack from Tsunade's less violent lessons. He couldn't explain why he hadn't simply left them alone. Perhaps it was the lingering fear of Tsunade's fists for neglecting a child in distress that had moved his feet. Everything else that followed felt almost involuntary, a strange compulsion triggered by the sight of those tortured blue eyes explaining her loss to the unforgiving ground. He would likely never understand why he had offered comfort to the blonde girl. Which led to their current silent standoff.
Bright blue eyes stubbornly held his gaze. Was this why his sensei had been subtly amused? Because he knew this child would be in his assigned class? Now she was lecturing him, of all people, on his own fractured team scattered across the Elemental Nations?
'Interesting.'
He would have to observe her actions during his temporary assignment. It might even serve as a welcome distraction from his forced exile from his laboratories. He required 'rest and relaxation', apparently. How teaching unruly children qualified as either was beyond his comprehension.
"I will consider your words," Orochimaru finally conceded to the child in his arms.
A soft, genuine smile Tōched her lips. Orochimaru felt a peculiar, unsettling sensation slither through him, 'Curious.'
He gently set the child down at the classroom door. She looked up at him, that disarmingly soft expression still present.
"Thank you, Orochimaru-san."
Orochimaru merely hummed in response as that strange feeling rippled through him once more.
"Control your emotions better, child. Competent shinobi do not succumb to such…displays."
Minaruki stared at Orochimaru, her expression utterly deadpan. Apparently, his fleeting moment of humanity had already expired for the day.
"Competent shinobi don't abandon their comrades to their problems. They confront them together," she retorted sharply before swiftly disappearing into the classroom, dragging a bewildered Kakashi in her wake. She had just sassed one of the legendary Sannin.
Orochimaru blinked, momentarily stunned by the empty space where the child had been. Understanding dawned a moment later. That brat had known who he was. How she knew about his teammates'… tendencies to avoid their issues would be a matter for further investigation. He felt a faint twitch at the corner of his lips. Perhaps this assignment wouldn't be entirely dreadful after all.
Minaruki stood beside Amami as the other children settled into their seats, Orochimaru taking a detached position at the teacher's desk. Minaruki found herself almost rudely staring at Amami.
Amami raised a questioning eyebrow at the intently gazing child.
"What is it?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.
"Yamanaka?" Minaruki asked plainly.
"Ah," Amami replied, understanding dawning. "My husband is a Yamanaka. I married into the clan." She gave the child a considering look. "My brother-in-law, Inohiro, has mentioned you."
Minaruki hummed, rocking back slightly on her heels. "What did he say?"
Amami smirked, a playful glint in her eyes. "If I told you, I'd lose my advantage."
Minaruki stared for another moment before shrugging nonchalantly.
"Alright, you brats. Sit down and shut up!" Amami called out to the class, her tone shifting to a more authoritative one. The noise subsided, and all eyes turned to the front. Minaruki kept her gaze fixed on the back wall, deliberately avoiding looking at the familiar chakra signatures emanating from the students before her. The painfully familiar signatures.
"We have a new student joining us. She should have been with us a few days ago, but someone neglected to assess her prior to enrollment. This is Uzumaki-Namikaze Minaruki. Minaruki-san, would you like to add anything?"
Minaruki shook her head silently.
"Take a seat then."
Minaruki nodded and forced herself not to gravitate towards Kakashi's side. She quietly took an empty seat, and without a word, she reached under the desk and tightly grasped his hand. Kakashi only spared her a brief glance before turning his attention forward. He undoubtedly felt her trembling. She had been momentarily distracted by Orochimaru, but now she was surrounded by their chakra.
Minaruki tried to focus as Amami-sensei introduced Orochimaru as their temporary co-teacher, explaining that their usual sensei was on maternity leave and that Orochimaru was also on medical leave. She wasn't entirely sure of the details. She felt fragmented memories threatening to surface.
Laying her head down on the desk, she retreated into her mindscape. She climbed onto Kurama's massive, slumbering head and settled into her familiar meditative pose. Taking a deep breath, she concentrated on clearing her mind, on reminding herself that while she had witnessed their deaths, she had been granted a second chance. She could prevent their tragic fates this time.
'I am not the Child of Prophecy,' Naruto is. Her own voice echoed in the vastness of her mind.
She had stated that firmly to her Tō-san, and to many others over the past years. They could all sense it – he was their beacon of hope.
"If not the Child of Prophecy, then who are you?" Kurama's deep voice rumbled beneath her.
Flashes of memories flickered before her eyes: Naruto always standing protectively before her, then later, them standing side-by-side, fighting as one, her unwavering support in every battle. Their separate departures for specialized training – Naruto to the toads, like their father, she later learned; her reverse summoning to the foxes, her mother's forgotten allies from Uzushio, a contract her mother rarely used, fearing the connection to her own tenant.
"If not the Child of Prophecy, who are you, Minaruki?"
Minaruki opened her eyes, a confident smirk playing on her lips. 'I am no Child of Prophecy. I am here to protect that child and all those precious to him.'
Kurama hummed contentedly and settled back down for his nap.
Minaruki slipped back into the waking world, releasing Kakashi's hand after giving it one last reassuring squeeze. She looked up at her sensei, still not fully engaged in the lesson, but allowing herself to take in the faces around her. First, their chakra signatures, then slowly, she met their eyes.
Two spectral figures still overlaid their younger selves, but the more she consciously forced her mind to separate her past from this new present, the easier it became to manage the intrusive images. She knew it would take time to lay her past comrades to rest and forge new bonds with these chibi versions. But time, for once, was something she now possessed. That thought brought a small, genuine smile to her lips.
'I really did it, didn't I? I traveled through time.'
"Hmph," Kurama's mental scoff echoed in her mind. "You're only just now realizing that? You're supposed to be the smarter twin." Minaruki wasn't offended by the fox's teasing. It was a well-worn joke between them and Naruto. Naruto was brilliant in his own way; he had just been a little…dense.
Amami-sensei continued her lecture, but Minaruki found her attention drifting in the familiar waves of boredom. She was relieved when the lesson finally transitioned from trapping and survival tactics to the more intriguing realm of Fūinjutsu theory for storage scrolls and exploding tags.
Minaruki seized the excuse of notetaking to delve into her own theoretical work. Nothing too advanced, of course; she couldn't risk revealing her true knowledge. But she had been idly contemplating a seal tag designed to store elemental chakra. Modifying the basic storage seal to accommodate chakra wasn't particularly challenging but compelling the tag to absorb molded elemental chakra directly from a person, rather than being willingly filled by the sealer, presented a more complex problem. Not to mention her ultimate goal: to have the tag turn that stolen chakra against its unwitting host upon activation.
The primary obstacle, she mused, was that the enemy's chakra would inherently resist being sealed away. The process needed to be subtle enough that the victim wouldn't notice the initial absorption. Yet, the tag also required a secondary matrix to filter and store the acquired chakra until the precise moment of activation, when it would be unleashed with devastating force against its former owner.
Minaruki tilted her head, her gaze fixed on the two intricate matrixes sketched in her notebook. Her pencil tapped rhythmically against the paper as she pondered.
"The chakra flow will be unstable. You've overlaid a three-trigram pattern onto a two-trigram one. There's no balancing mechanism for the excess chakra—" Minaruki's absentminded voice cut off her own thoughts as her pencil tip landed on a specific symbol within the three-trigram matrix. While such mismatched patterns typically resulted in imbalance, she had incorporated a unique element into the larger matrix to counteract this. Furthermore, it was integral to her idea of redirecting the absorbed chakra back at the attacker.
"Huh," her internal voice muttered. "It's maintaining equilibrium within the seal, yet designed to send the chakra back deliberately off-kilter. What's the purpose of this?"
"Absorbs enemy's elemental chakra when molded for attacks. Stores it. Destabilizes it. Returns it as a foreign assault upon activation."
"Oh? If you possess such understanding, why did you barely pass the Fūinjutsu section of the Advancement Exams?"
Minaruki paused, the question finally registering.
"Idiot," Kakashi muttered from beside her.
Minaruki looked up to meet the unimpressed brown eyes of Amami-sensei.
"Uh…" Minaruki stammered, momentarily caught off guard before shrugging. "Because I require the physical training the Academy provides?"
Amami hummed again, crossing her arms over her chest. "Answer me this, Uzumaki-san. Could you have tested out of the academy entirely and pursued an apprenticeship until team assignments?"
Minaruki blinked up at Amami, weighing the merits of truth versus fabrication. Instead, a bright smile bloomed on her face as a different thought sparked. She was a child now. She could easily deflect blame onto the adults around her.
"Jiji told me not to graduate in less than a year," she announced cheerfully.
Amami stared at her, a mixture of confusion and disbelief in her expression. "Who is 'Jiji'?"
"Hokage-sama," she replied with wide, innocent eyes.
Amami's gaze intensified, shifting to Orochimaru, who was now openly scowling at Minaruki, then back to the blonde child.
"The Hokage," she stated slowly, each word deliberate. "Instructed you to deliberately prolong your graduation by at least a year?"
Minaruki offered a radiant, guilt-free smile. "Hai~" she chirped, delighted to shift the responsibility elsewhere.
Amami sighed, rubbing her temples with her fingers. Minaruki was spared further interrogation as Amami turned and walked to stand beside Orochimaru.
"Are you somehow involved in this as well? I have two exceptionally gifted students, and one just claimed she's deliberately here under the Hokage's direct orders."
Orochimaru fixed her with a narrowed gaze. "No. I was actually contemplating the irony of my sensei assigning me here to be tormented by precisely this child."
Their gazes both flickered back to the blonde girl, who was now regarding them with an air of utter innocence.
Amami grunted softly. "Whatever. I'll make her regret it," she murmured, a predatory smile curving her lips.
Minaruki paused, overhearing their hushed exchange, 'Huh, perhaps the Academy might actually become interesting now.'
"Interesting" proved to be a significant understatement, she soon realized. Minaruki found herself unexpectedly co-teaching the Fūinjutsu theory lesson for the subsequent two hours, completely bypassing the scheduled history lesson.
Following that, she was essentially sequestered with Orochimaru to discuss advanced theoretical concepts while Amami oversaw the tactics training.
It struck her then how fundamentally human Orochimaru had been before the war's profound corrupting influence. Now, observing him in this earlier stage, she could perceive the inherent humanity that had always existed, albeit twisted and warped over time. Sensing through his chakra, she could discern that he hadn't yet succumbed to that darkness. His past plea for salvation resonated within her. This, she instinctively knew, was a crucial starting point.
When the lunch bell finally rang, Minaruki demonstrated a distinct Namikaze trait: remarkable speed. She had Kakashi by the hand and out of the academy grounds with astonishing efficiency. They slowed their pace near the main thoroughfare of Konoha. As a form of apology for the abrupt departure, she allowed Kakashi to choose any takeout he desired before they headed to Ichiraku Ramen for Minaruki's own lunch.
"So, what was that all about?" Kakashi inquired, finally breaking the silence.
"Huh?" Minaruki mumbled around a mouthful of savory ramen.
"Why did we bolt from the academy like it was engulfed in flames?"
"Hm." Minaruki pondered his question. How could she articulate her reluctance to confront her former comrades so soon? Observing them from a distance was one thing; engaging in conversation without breaking down was an entirely different challenge.
"Well?" Kakashi prompted again, having already finished his meal.
"I don't know if I'm ready for new friends yet," Minaruki admitted truthfully. "Naru and I made close friends while traveling. We lost them during the war."
Kakashi sighed softly and gently took her hand in his. "Don't worry about that. You don't have to force friendships if you're not ready. But they will likely try to talk to you. They don't always recognize when others prefer their own space." He huffed slightly.
Minaruki giggled, leaning forward impulsively. She swiftly pressed a kiss to his cheek, just above his mask. Kakashi sputtered, his visible skin above the mask flushing a deep crimson as he looked away.
"M-Mina?"
"Thank you, Kashi," Minaruki smiled warmly. "For this morning too. For all the times you've comforted me when I'm sad. It makes me happy."
Kakashi's blush intensified as he averted his gaze further. "Y-y-yeah, well, someone had to," he stammered.
Minaruki giggled again and turned back to her delicious ramen.
Minaruki and Kakashi walked back to the academy with a lighter atmosphere surrounding them, particularly Minaruki. Kakashi's reassuring words and her own internal reflections echoed in her mind. She didn't have to rush into new friendships. She had time.
They returned to the academy with some of their lunch break remaining. They settled beneath a large, shady tree a short distance from the main clusters of students. Kakashi sat down, retrieving a scroll he was still borrowing from Minato.
Minaruki promptly curled up in his lap, using it as a makeshift pillow for a nap. Kakashi merely stared down at her for a moment before huffing and returning to his reading. Minaruki smiled contentedly, drifting in and out of sleep.
She sensed a familiar chakra signature nearby, but Kakashi remained relaxed, indicating no immediate threat. Besides, the signature was recognizable.
"Is she asleep?" a boy's voice inquired softly.
Kakashi sighed, a hint of annoyance in his tone. "Yes. Please don't wake her."
She heard the boy settle down near Kakashi. "How do you know her?"
Kakashi groaned, clearly exasperated. "What do you really want, Asuma?"
"She called my dad 'Jiji'. I've never seen her before."
"How am I supposed to know her relationship with the Hokage?"
"But she's living with you, right?" Asuma pressed.
Minaruki felt Kakashi tense slightly beneath her. "Hai. Tō-san said we have guardianship of her since Minato-san and Kushina-san aren't old enough yet."
"But you've been coming here with them," Asuma pointed out.
Kakashi groaned again. "Tō-san is on a mission. I'm staying with them since they don't have any immediate duties outside the village."
"Ah," Asuma murmured, and Minaruki could feel his gaze fixed on her. "How does she know my Tō-san, though?"
Minaruki could practically feel Kakashi's glare directed at Asuma. "I don't know," he gritted out.
"AH! There she is!" a booming voice exclaimed, causing Minaruki to whimper softly. Kakashi's hand gently brushed over her head.
"Shut up," he snapped, his tone sharp.
"Oh! I am deeply sorry! That was most unyouthful of me!" the loud voice was only marginally softer. "I merely wished to introduce myself to the youthful Minaruki-san."
"Go away, Gai, before you wake her," Kakashi growled, his voice low and threatening.
Minaruki sighed and slowly sat up, scooting closer to snuggle into Kakashi's side. It was partly for comfort, but also to feign lingering sleepiness. She draped her legs over his and buried her nose in the crook of his neck, one eye peeking lazily through her bangs at the growing group surrounding them.
"Look, now you've woken her," Kakashi grumbled, though the arm she was leaning against tightened protectively around her. She suppressed a pleased smile. He probably wasn't even consciously aware of his actions.
Gai bowed deeply at the waist. "My sincerest apologies, Minaruki-san! I did not intend to rouse you. I simply wished to make your acquaintance. I am Maito Gai, Kakashi's eternal rival!"
"Self-proclaimed," Kakashi muttered under his breath.
Minaruki giggled softly. Gai looked up, his cheeks flushing slightly at the sight of her smile.
"Hello," she murmured in response, her voice still thick with feigned sleepiness.
"How do you know my father?" Asuma demanded, crossing his arms stubbornly.
Minaruki looked at him with wide, innocent puppy-dog eyes but deliberately chose not to answer. He narrowed his own eyes at her, opening his mouth to repeat his question, but was interrupted.
"Hey! Minaruki-chan!" Obito called out, running towards them with a wide grin. He skidded to a halt when he noticed the two other boys sitting nearby and Minaruki practically nestled in Kakashi's lap. "Hey, what are you doing to Minaruki-chan?" he glared possessively.
Minaruki blinked, genuinely confused by his sudden hostility, 'What?'
"Letting her rest," Kakashi deadpanned. "Something none of you are allowing her to do. And who are you?"
Obito crossed his arms, maintaining his glare. "Uchiha Obito." He glanced back at Minaruki. "Hey, Minaruki-chan, why weren't you in class?"
"Idiot," Genma said, sauntering up to stand behind Obito, accompanied by three other boys. Minaruki recognized those chakra signatures: Izumo, Raido, Kotetsu.
Minaruki fought down a rising sense of panic, focusing instead on a different, dawning realization.
'They're adorable,' She mused, observing them more closely, looking past the spectral images of their older, deceased selves, 'All cute and still a little chubby. I want to pinch and squish their cheeks.'
She resisted the urge. While it kept her mind occupied with something lighter, acting on those impulses would not be wise. Not yet. She couldn't help but wonder, though – Would she be able to do that to her friends when they were born? Would they be this irresistibly squishy?
"My uncle mentioned that she was in the wrong class. She took the advancement exams and moved up to the graduation class. If you were paying attention instead of sleeping, which my uncle constantly complains about, you would already know that," Genma explained, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Obito pouted, glancing back at Minaruki. "Really? Why would you want to move up? You'll be with all the older kids."
Minaruki chose to remain silent. Obito groaned in frustration. "Still not talking."
"Not to you, apparently," Kakashi snickered, a rare smirk playing on his lips.
Obito's glare shifted to Kakashi. "Oh? And who are you to know that?"
"I live with her," Kakashi stated simply, his smirk widening slightly.
Obito flushed. "W-what? Why?"
"None of your business."
"Idiot! That's not fair! Tell me! And who are you anyway?"
"Hatake Kakashi," a new voice interjected. Minaruki recognized Kotetsu's familiar signature. "He's in our class as well. They're both prodigies, so they get to graduate early."
"This idiot is a prodigy?" Obito scoffed, though Minaruki sensed the underlying embarrassment beneath his anger. He was clearly insecure about someone his age being more skilled. She let out a quiet sigh.
Just as she was about to tell them all to back off, a whirlwind of energy and feminine indignation barreled through the group of boys. Her arm was suddenly seized, and she was unceremoniously dragged away from the burgeoning crowd.
What?
When Minaruki's disorientation subsided, she found herself sitting amongst a new group of children, this one exclusively comprised of kunoichi of slightly varying ages. Shit.
A girl with wild, curly black hair and striking red eyes was gently patting the head of a miniature, surprisingly well-dressed purple-haired snake enthusiast. And utterly adorable.
"Thank you, Anko. I don't think we would have gotten her away otherwise," a girl with long, flowing black hair and gentle brown eyes said gratefully.
"Yeah, those boys were totally crowding her and bickering over the dumbest things," Anko preened under the praise.
Minaruki tilted her head, observing the two girls before glancing around at the others. There was a Yamanaka girl from her class she didn't immediately recognize, a Nara girl with a perpetually bored expression, a girl obviously identifiable as an Aburame by her high-collared cloak and the faint buzzing of insects, and a girl who bore a striking resemblance to Kiba, but with longer hair styled in spiky pigtails.
"Sorry about Anko dragging you off like that. But we figured it probably wasn't much fun listening to the boys argue," Kurenai said with a kind smile.
Minaruki shrugged, a small, noncommittal gesture.
"I'm Yuhi Kurenai," the gentle girl introduced herself.
"Mitarashi Anko!" the purple-haired girl interjected with a wide, enthusiastic grin.
Minaruki looked to the remaining girls.
"Inuzuka Kawa."
"Yamanaka Inosui."
"Aburame Shimi."
"Nara Shikari."
"Do you want to be friends?" Kurenai asked softly, her brown eyes filled with genuine warmth.
"Yeah! Us kunoichi have to stick together!" Anko cheered, pumping a fist in the air.
Minaruki felt a familiar pang of longing in her chest. These weren't her old clan friends. But perhaps this was a necessary first step. The spectral faces of her lost comrades flickered behind these younger ones. Old precious people who need protection in this new future. She focused her attention back on the kunoichi before her. New precious people I can protect now. A small, hopeful smile Tōched her lips.
"Hai," she said softly. "I'm Uzumaki-Namikaze Minaruki."
