“Tomato” The boy with a bandana pointed at her. “That’s what we’ll call you from today on because your hair is sooo red!” The laughed out loud, causing Kushina’s face to heat up. The had cornered her as she returned from the bathroom, but no matter. Her hands clenched into fists as she readied herself to defend her clan pride, her red hair. Suddenly, a boy with golden hair stepped in from of her.
“It’s not nice to bully others you know.”
“O-Oh Minato! We-We were just welcoming her! With a cool name, that’s all.”
He glared at them, causing them to scamper off. He turned to her then, “Why don’t you join my group for lunch?”
“Hmph, I didn’t need your help.” She crossed her arms angrily and tried to leave. Just then, someone wrapped her arms around her. She turned to see a girl with raven hair in short twin tails, like pineapple stems. “Kushina-sama right? Come on, it’s no fun eating alone. Join us?” Kushina, seeing that a girl was going to be there too, felt more comfortable joining them.
Kushina later learned that the girl’s name was Shimeru, a tomboy, fun-loving girl. She was then itroduced to Iyashi, a boy with shaved hair, and Yoshirou, a boy with long black hair pinned to the top of his head.
Iyashi, Shimeru, Minato, Yoshirou, these were her first friends at the Academy and the people she would end up spending many days with.
********** When she realized that she was in love with him:
As usual, Minato escorted Kushina home, relishing their time together. Kushina shooed him away as they came to her front gate. She knew if her siblings say her with a guy, they would be relentless in their rumors and teasing. Minato smiled knowingly and waved as he left. Kushina opened the front door to see an empty house. It stood eerily quiet. Where was everyone? Usually her adopted family of five siblings would be running around, causing the familiar ruckus throughout the house. As she walked through the long hallway, a group of ninja suddenly crashed through the window and kidnapped her.
They tied her up, blinding her so she could not see and gagging her so she could not scream. Then they carried her as if she were a sack of potatoes, rushing off to an unknown location.
The entire way, Kushina dropped strands of her hair, praying that someone will come for her, to save her.
And someone did, Minato. With his speed and silence, he took out the two ninja before they could put up a fight.
Kushina felt herself drop into the waiting arms of someone and rush of air around her as the newcomer rushed off. When they got to a safe enough distance, Minato took off all the pieces of rope and cloth.
“Minato!” Her eyes watered as she looped her arms around him. “Thanks for saving me.” She felt a strange sensation at the bottom of her stomach as her cheeks heated up.
She had her face buried in his chest but she could tell he was smiling.
He scooped her up as he replied.“Usually you would hear a lot of noise from your house, so I checked the chakra signatures when you went in.” Minato paused. "I went in after you but they must have detected me because I got stuck in a genjutsu.”
Kushina tensed up as she said in a quiet voice, “You should have gotten help idiot, not come after me. If you had gotten injured or died...” She choked down a sob.
“Are you the jinjuriki?” He asked suddenly.
Kushina jolted as she stared at his face, expecting to see the frown and bitter eyes of the classmates she snarled at one too many times for calling her tomato.
But Minato just smiled. “It’s not a bad thing. It just means you are protecting our village.” he said, causing her heart to miss another beat.
He took her to his house that night and swore to interrogate the Hokage for what had happened tonight. There was no way a whole family would disappear for no reason.
Kushina was known throughout the school as the red hot habanero- beating up any and all people that tried to make fun of her hair. And she was there again, surrounded by cherry blossoms, wet mud, and the menacing seniors of her school. Their friends had been beaten to a pulp by Kushina and they were hungry for revenge. Kushina, unfortunately, could not defeat these as they were older than her. Reluctantly, Kushina had sent a message to Minato for help and he was there in a flash, body flicker. He fell over and rolled on the ground at first, but quickly bounced onto to his feet and whisked out two kunais. The boys recognized him immediately and backed off. They did not want to deal with the legendary Tsunade for hurting his son.
"I hate it,” Kushina muttered, hands twisting in the wet mud that was seeping through her clothes. “I hate this school, I hate this weather, I hate everything.”
She watched as Minato stopped and turned towards her, moving with cautious steps. He didn’t say anything, just opened up his arms in case she needed someone.
“Most of all,” Kushina sniffed, tugging at her soggy hair mixed with mud, “I hate this stupid mop on top of my head.”
“That’s a shame,” he replied, his hand brushing through her hair, “I quite like it.
She felt a tingling sensation in her stomach as her heart sped up. She coughed forcibly to hide her embarrassment. “Let’s just go home.”
He took her arm, incidentally at the same place where a bruise was forming, making her wince. He drew back quickly. “Sorry about that, I was just thinking I could patch you up a little before we go.”
Even though she had seen in multiple times, it still amazed her to see the green glow of the medical jutsu he used to heal her. And afterwards, she felt no pain whatsoever.
“And now you’re telling me what's been going on with you,” Tsunade ordered, and indicating her son to sit down in front of him with a nod as Dan poured citrus tea into the cups. “You’ve got both of us worried.”
Minato laughed. “You’re exaggerating, mom.”
Tsunade narrowed her eyes at him.
“You think I don’t know my own son?” she said, before taking a sip of the tea.
Minato looked away abashedly.
“Now you talk or I’ll make you.”
The blond opened his mouth, then closed it. His parents were very familiar with his friends as they had come over more times than he can count. He did not want his mother doing anything irrational to help him...
“You’re mother’s right, you should talk to us. Especially when you need advice” Dan told his son, his voice warm.
Minato smiled at his father's remark. He tried to form the words, feeling a blush creep onto hos cheeks. Despite trusting them, this was an embarrassing topic to talk about.
“Is it your early graduation?”
Minato shook his head. Not that that didn’t bother him any longer, but … well, that wasn’t it.
“You worried about grades?”
Tsunade’s lips uptured playfully. “Love, maybe?”
Something in Minato’s face responded.
“She’s gotta be a living goddess to have caught your attention.”
Minato looked up, face tinged red. “You could say that...”
“Don’t worry,” she told her son confidently, “I’m sure she’d be elated to have you.”
“I don’t think she likes me that way though.” Minato twisted around his cup.
“But I thought you were popular in school?”
Minato gave a small smile. “That doesn’t change anything. We- We’ve been friends for a long time”
Tsunade’s mouth formed and O at realization, “Ah, that is the most difficult decision.”
After a moment of silence, Minato asked, “How did you and father get together?.”
The blond took a deep breath. “You won’t get anything useful from that or any of my experiences with love. I stuck like glue around only one friend my entire childhood… and it was on the field that your father and I met. He was as sweet as you, Minato. I took to him quickly.”
Minato sighed and took a gulp of tea– he had to admit, his father had amazing skills when it came to tea. “So… what should I do?”
Tsunade looked to her husband, who was also thinking hard about this issue.
“Maybe ask your other friends, her close friends, see if she likes you back.” He suggested.
Tsunade shook her head, “At their age, they should be able to make their own decisions. You should talk to her. But be careful, changing friendship into a relationship is something you can’t take back.”
Minato’s lips curled into a tight smile.
It was a week later that Shimeru walked up to him after school, “Do you like someone?”
She thought about it for a moment before replying, “Someone likes you.”
Minato’s breath caught in his throat. She can’t mean Kushina. “I like Kushina.” He blurted out, knowing that he can trust her with this information.
She gazed at him with wide eyes, then clicked her tongue. “I can’t believe you haven’t noticed already. She is heads over heels for you. I know she told me not to tell but I want her to be happy. You know where she is, don’t delay it.” With a pat on his back, Shimeru left him.
“Hey,” he said, taking a step towards Kushina.
“Oh, hey,” she replied, smiling at him. “You waiting for me?” It was five in the afternoon, the time Kushina’s tutorials ended. She had more chakra than most people so it was hard for her to control it.
“Who else?” Minato flashed a nervous smile at his friend. He took a deep breath.
“You have so many friends and admirers Minato, I don’t understand why you don’t try indulging them a little.”
Minato stopped walking abruptly, causing Kushina to to turn around to look at him. “I like you.” He said a little too quickly. “Will you go on a date with me, Kushina?”
Kushina's face turned a bright red as she gaped at him. Her heart pounded out of control.
“Yes,” She said quickly. “Let’s do that. I mean, let’s go. I mean... where? Where to.”
He laughed at her blubbering, causing her to turn even redder.
“Ichiraku ramen?” Her favorite place, as Minato had come to know it.
“Y- your treat, though,” Kushina stated, crossing her arms as if trying to appear her normal, defiant self.
Minato smiled widely, relieved that she had accepted.
Kushina started to walk, and Minato followed. Somehow things felt a little akward between them, but Minato knew it would dissipate with time.
Kushina wandered Konoha, craving some restaurant food for dinner. ‘Tonkatsu sounds good. But it’s a bit expensive…’ she thought to herself. She passed buildings and people, surveying all the restaurants and their prices. Maybe I’ll just get the groceries first...
There was a sudden flash, and Kushina instinctively lifted her arms to catch someone that was falling in front of her.
After a moment, she realized she was holding Minato. He looked up at her with a big dumb grin. “Kushina, I’ve fallen for you and I can’t get up.”
With a face as red as her hair, and unable to think of anything to say, Kushina dropped him. “Minato! W-What are you doing?”
Minato rubbed his rear ruefully. “Saying my daily ‘I love you.’”
She sighed, “I’m going shopping, why don’t you do something more useful and come with me.”
‘Five spice powder, rice, dried shrimp, dried seaweed,’ Kushina thought to herself as she rounded a corner.
And walked right into Minato, who was supposed to be helping her get the chicken for tonight. He gave her a big dopey grin. “Did you cast a genjutsu on me, because I’m lost in your eyes.”
Kushina looked at him with concern in her eyes as she pressed her hand to his forehead. “Are you ok?”
He smiled at her, “Of course.” He lifted the meat to show her, “I got what you asked and was waiting for you that’s all.
As they waited in the register line, Kushina whispered into his ear, “Where are you even getting these weird phrases?”
Minato gave an awkward chuckle. “I saw them on The Konoha Tribune and wanted to try them out.”
Kushina rolled her eyes. “Reading the newspaper like an old man?”
“Hey, they have some really interesting things.” He said, a little hurt by her words. She shoved all the bags into his arms. “For annoying me all day and using me as a test subject, you better carry all those.”
“I was going to even if you didn’t ask.” She knew that of course, yet she felt a tinge of annoyance at his smile. “I needed hands to do this.” She snapped back as she unwrapped a lollipop, his favorite flavor, and shoved it ungracefully into his mouth.
“Congratulations on graduating,” Minato said as he swung upside down from a tree branch and brandished his bouquet of flowers as soon as he saw Kushina walking over. “I’m sorry I had to miss the ceremony.”
Kushina looked at his upside-down face. He looked handsome even like that. She knew he was really busy these days with the current political circumstances and an oncoming war, but she could not help feeling the sting of disappointment that he had not been there when she walked across the stage. Ever since the kidnapping situation, and the revelation that he could make up seals, it seemed like every one of the older ninja wanted his assistance, so much so that they’d asked him to graduate early.
Noticing her frown, he dropped down in front of her, reaching out to comfort her. “Oh, I’m really sorry, Kushina, can I make it up to you?”
“I don’t care that you weren’t there, idiot,” she snapped, blushing a little. “I’m going home.”
Minato followed her, hands in his pockets. She slowed down to let him fall in line with her, secretly happy to walk next to him under the stares of her classmates and their parents as they took the busy road away from the academy. As always, he filled her with warmth and calmness.
Then she realized the stares were not for her particularly, but for the bouquet of flowers Minato was still holding. She snatched it from him, “Ugh, you’re drawing a lot of attention with this.”
He chuckled, “I had to give you something.”
“Buy me some miso ramen then! That’s the least you can do.”
When they got there, They greeted Teuchi and his son Sarui. When Kushina asked about his day, Sarui boasted about how his wife was expecting a child and how it would be the highlight of his life. Kushina eagerly volunteered to help take care of him or her when the baby was born, remebering how she had pestered her parents when she was young to have a sibling. Minato agreed with her.
Kushina watched Minato with awe as he etched a swirl and a loop and a few characters into the bark of a tree, building on a half-formed idea as he worked. He had been developing this for months but only ever tested it to see if it works. Kushina had been learning the complex Fushi alphabet since three years old, yet she had never thought of mixing it with modern language, much less creating a new jutsus out of it. And he was only a chunin.
In that mission, Minato realized Toshirou, their teammate and his last friend from their academy group of five, did not return after the allotted 20 minutes to fend off the enemy. Kushina urged Minato to keep going but he refused to lose yet another friend. Kushina refused to let Minato go alone. Unfortunately, when he teleported there, they found themselves surrounded and hopelessly outnumbered. Minato’s teleportation failed the next two times, making him wonder if there was a cooldown time he did not think of. Upon fighting, both accumulated deep gashes along their skins and nearly exhausted all of their chakra. Minato tried the seal again, grabbing Kushina's hand and Yoshirou’s collar, focusing the last faded remnants of his chakra. The ground and the Cloud-nins vanished as they landed three miles away.
Minato’s knees buckled then and he collapsed onto the ground. Kushina cursed at him under her breath. She lifted him up, dragging him with her, each step sending another jolt of pain through her. Minato shuddered with an unseen chill, fingers tangled painfully in her hair. It was sheer luck that a medic was nearby. When Kushina woke up again in the hospital tent, she looked over to see Minato smiling at her. If she was not busy holding back tears, Kushina would tell him he looks much too happy for someone near death. Then again, he would only respond that being around her made him happy, no matter the situation.
In the afternoon, he was propped up in a sitting position to get some food and answer some questions the ANBU captain had, detailing his latest seal invention.
"What's so wrong with saving your teammates?" Minato asked when he finished. Kushina did not like these men pressuring Minato when he was clearly still recovering. Protectively, she had planted herself beside him despite the doctor’s protests that she should rest.
Kushina glared at him with narrowed eyes, fury rolling in waves off of her, and spluttered out ten kinds of obscenities. She wished he'd get angry about something for once.
"You could've died," she snapped.
"You could've, too." He mused and added, "I didn't want that."
"Look, if you think I'm that easy to kill - "
He kissed her mid-insult, knowing that she was only going to start shouting and annoy the sleeping neighbors.
Instead of protesting, she leaned in and kissed him back like it's the last thing she'll ever do.
After her little outburst in the hospital tent he decided to rethink his priorities, and instead he decided to take on a Genin team instead.
"Your new students are 7, 9 and 9 years old?" she asked him in an incredulous tone and Minato merely scratched his cheek shyly before nodding. "That is much too young, way too young to be a ninja! They deserve a childhood."
“I think you are the only one who stayed at the academy until 13 years old Kushina.”
“And I needed all those years. Minato, when you become hokage, promise me you’ll change this. This… this just isn’t right.”
He rubbed her arms gently, “I understand. I will do what I can.”
When he told her it was Sakumo's son, she had expected a well mannered, generous young man. However, Kakashi turned out to be a haughty, snobbish little boy who seemed to consider others beneath him.
Kushina right off the bat told Kakashi that he was an arrogant little brat and should learn to behave. Kakashi shot back that he thought Kushina is a disgrace to ninjas and possibly a waste of oxygen. Minato has to slam a pot down on his table a little too hard to quite them, telling one to behave himself and the other to please be quiet, because she's being out-argued by a nine-year-old.
Kushina mutters something obscene as she leaned over to peer in the pot. "I thought you hated seafood."
Minato rolls his eyes and hands her an extra-large serving without a word.
When Kakashi's out of earshot, he tells her that his father had committed suicide last year and he had basically rejected everything that his father resembled, which unfortunately was respect, kindness, and honor. She softened considerably after that.
"I do not like that boy," she says sometimes – and then one day without any warning it becomes "I do not want that boy to live with us or anything" and he brings his student home from a mission to find saury and eggplants taking over their fridge.
Out of all three of Minato’s team, Kushina loved Obito best because he loved to have fun and was respectful to everyone. He always sought out people to help and she always noticed it, all around town.
The Yellow Flash nickname started as a bad joke between some jonin under the influence of too much sake - but it stuck and by the end of the month, nearly everyone in the village knew Minato as such. Then unexpectedly, one day, it turned up in a captured Mist bingo book.
"Welcome back home, you’re a day early." Kushina said as she helped him take off his coat. “I guess that would be expected from the Yellow Flash.”
“The... what?” He spluttered, gazing at her with wide eyes.
She laughed, “There’s gossip from my friends that everyone is calling you that.”
He tried to be modest about his new jutsu, of course. He explained the seal and the precise chakra control to the Leaf's elders and elite, first cheerfully, then seriously, and finally with growing desperation when he realized that no one else can even move themselves an inch with his technique. Other seals are brought in for him to examine - twisting, complicated ones on musty scrolls - and he found with surprise that he could read them like words on a page, expertly untangling them until everyone but the Sandaime and maybe Orochimaru completely lose track of what he's talking about.
Two years of bonding was all they got. Kakashi was only eleven when things went downhill. When Uchiha Obito died, Kakashi reevaluated his values and decided that maybe teammates really are more important. He swore on his life to protect Rin, but just as they left the collapsed cave, they found themselves surrounded. Rin with her fire and Kakashi with his lightning, they fought until they had exhausted themselves. It was lucky that Minato had come back for them in time to defend them.
Minato felt guilty for have left them to complete the mission and stood by Kakashi’s side, insisting that Kakashi be allowed to keep the Sharingan eye. He told Kakashi to live for the sake of the people he loves, have loved, and will love. Become strong for those people, as that was his nindo.
Kakashi expected that the Uchiha clan would berate him for defying the Sharingan. He expected Mikoto to glare at him every time they passed each other on the streets for letting her precious little cousin die. Thinking of her before it all, a kind woman who always invited them over for dinner, tore at his heart. He expected the punishment for almost failing the mission when he went after Rin. He expected the whispers that followed him as was for his father. But that did not mean it did not hurt.
Friend-Killer Kakashi. That was his first nickname, and it left a sour taste in his mouth.
They never spoke it out loud in fear of punishment from the Hokage, but he could hear the whispers.
The rumors had started when he came back with the Sharingan. The Uchiha clan were outraged that their Sharingan could just be gifted away. Then their pride was damaged a second time when Minato beat them in court- Not that it was hard, the Uchiha rarely won in court. The very next week, everyone was whispering how Kakashi had killed Obito to obtain the power. The week after that, people hypothesized that it must have been jealousy for Obito and Rin’s passionate love. Some elaborate plan, they would say, to get the power and his crush at the same time.
Rin always pulled him closer to her when they said these things, letting her warmth remind him that he was not alone, but it pained Kakashi everytime. He dreamed of his father many times, realizing how he had felt and hating himself for having distanced himself when his father needed him the most. He had the nerve to feel disappointed that his father had fallen so low. He regretted that he never apologized or said a proper goodbye.
Oftentimes, he would wake up to the right side of his pillow dampened by tears. Obito’s eye. He was fine though, as long as he had his four puppies, and Rin. He vowed to dedicate his life to protecting her, for the sake of his best friend.
Rin mourned everyday, so to cheer her up and strengthen her, Kakashi put up a front, smiling for the first time in his life. He invited her out to meals and spent time with her, allowing her to curl up in his embrace and cry. It broke him every time but he always told her that he was fine, that she could always lean on him.
He could tell his change of attitude only spurred on the rumors, but Rin was all that mattered. As long as she was okay, he would be too.
Less than a year later, Rin died. Kakashi and Guy fended off the people as they urged Rin to go ahead and blow up their headquarters. Of their group of ten that charged into enemy territory together, only the three of them remained and destroying one of their communication spots would help move the war to Konoha’s advantage. He had not planned that there would be more soldiers waiting at the headquarters after the ruckus they made to attract their attention. When Kakashi realized Rin had disappeared, he left Guy to finish the mission and went after Rin, knowing he might die doing so. He felt that something was wrong when the soldiers put up a weak defense against him as he retrieved Rin. He felt that something was wrong when a strange dark chakra seemed to be emanating from Rin. But he ignored it all, he had to save her.
Then they were cornered by a different group of Shinobi at a bridge. That was when Rin jumped in and killed herself.
Kakashi went into a shocked coma.
Minato sat silently outside the hospital room, his mind blank, and he had absolutely no idea what to do next until he felt a firm hand on his shoulder. His wife sat next to him, one arm draped around him. They discussed the prospects of making him move in with them.
Kakashi’s mind cleared up after a month of muddled memories and twisting and screaming in his bedsheets. He woke up to see Kushina sitting by his hospital bed, holding onto his hand.”Kushina-san?”
She muttered a few incoherent words as she opened her eyes. “Oh Kakashi! You’re awake!” Kushina’s arms pulled him into a hug. Almost all his muscles clenched in protest. He had not expected such a warm greeting for what he had done.His mouth opened to say stuff, but the words were stuck in his throat as tears trickled down his cheek.
Unable to form a sound, Kakashi lifted his arms to curl around Kushina. She was warm and comforting, even if her hair tickled his face. “It’s okay, Kakashi. We’re here for you,” she murmured quietly, stroking his hair.
She pulled back slowly and stood up with a smile, “Wait here.” She stalked outside for a few moments before returning with Minato.
He rushed forward too and hugged him.
As Minato pulled away, Kakashi blurted out with a confused tone, “Why aren’t you guys angry?”
Minato frowned, a wrinkle creasing between his eyebrows. “Why would we be angry?”
One of Kakashi’s hands came up to gently touch the bandages that covered Obito’s eye. It still stung painfully, a constant reminder of his loss. “Both of them are dead.” His voice was flat. Dead. Like he felt. “Because of me.”
“Oh, Kakashi.” Kushina sighed, her voice cracking as tears welled in her eyes. She cleared her throat to speak with a firmer voice. “We truly believe it couldn’t have been you. You cared too much for her to have stabbed her.”
In that moment, Kakashi could see the front Minato had always put up drop to show a sorrowful and weary gaze. Kushina took his hand and squeezed it. “One of the hardest lessons to learn is that the people you love will die, it is unavoidable. It happens much more often in times of war and within the life of a shinobi.” He sighed heavily, sounding more exhausted than Kakashi had ever heard him. “All you can do is latch on desperately to a purpose. Your nation’s safety, your wife at home, your friends who are still alive. Wallowing in guilt over every death will only ruin you. If you want to honor them, remember them in your heart, Kakashi.” Kakashi, in his own misery, had forgotten that Minato had lost two of his close friends and countless teammates.
He stared at the white bed sheet, blinking back tears. “I…” It felt like his throat was closing over feelings he couldn’t put into words. Kakashi trembled, his chest aching and his vision blurring. Even knowing that his sensei’s words were true, the guilt smothered him like heavy smoke, cutting off all his oxygen. Kushina’s arms wrapped around him again as Minato rubbed soothing circles in his back. In that moment, he dropped all his walls and felt his Sharingan eye cry. He leaned into her, feeling the warmth seep through him. Once again, he thought he could love again.
After his sobbing died down, she added, “We’ve discussed this and we want you to stay with us,” she said.
He opened his mouth to argue, but she interrupted loudly, “And no arguments. We already got the papers and everything settled!”
Kakashi’s eyes widened, “Papers?”
“To adopt you.” Minato stated matter of factly.
Kakashi felt his eyes stinging again. “Are you sure about this?” He asked quietly, “I-I” His voice faded as he bit down on his lip.
Minato’s expression didn’t waver as he nodded. He never wavers, not in the face of danger, not when Rin grieved for months after Obito’s death nor when Kakashi collapsed after hers. “You’re my student, but you mean so much more than that to me.” Minato smiled gently, his skin crinkling around his eyes. “In fact, I admit I think of you as my son.”
Kakashi couldn’t look at him. Minato sensei’s words reminded him of his father, causing the ache in his heart to worsen.
Minato knew not to press the question. “Our relationship doesn’t have to change if you don’t want it to, but I want you to know that that I care for you.”
Kakashi wanted to accept, but the memory of his father’s body with a sword through his chest made him falter. The thought of Minato or Kushina ending up dead as well was enough to relight that burning panic - his chest tightened, numbness like a shiver tingling into his arms. He made a strangled sound, like his father’s last gasp as he drove the blade into him. Minato laid a steady hand on Kakashi’s chest, seeing that Kakashi’s breaths were quickening.
“You’re all right Kakashi, you’re all right now. Focus on my hand.”
“How can I ever repay you for your kindness Sensei.” Kakashi breathed, feeling embarrassment heat up his cheeks.
When they returned to Minato’s house, Dan urged Kakashi to eat some hot food before resting. It touched Kakashi deeply to see all of them talking to him as if they had always been a family.
After dinner, Minato returned to work and Dan offered to wash the dishes so Kushina could show Kakashi to his bedroom. Kushina guided him downstairs to the ground floor with a cozy living area and a door at the far wall. She brought him into the room: a bed with a shuriken print duvet on the left wall and a study table on the right. “You can sleep in here. Look! We’ve already changed the bedding for you!”
He was at a loss for words. “If you have nightmares, please don’t suffer by yourself, come to us, sleep with us. We have our arms open for you.” She looked at him meaningfully before showing him to the closet. Inside was all of Kakashi's clothes and belongings. “Feel free to decorate this room however you want!”
He spun around to hug her, pulling her tight against him, as if she were his lifeline.
Kakashi was not opposed to being their adopted son, but he was only twelve and both of his teammates were already dead because of him. His mind screamed at him that he shouldn’t go near them. Yet, Kakashi wanted to believe that this would turn out for the better, that everything’ll be okay.
Tsunade came home early from the hospital for once as today was a special day. The four of them, Dan, Kakashi, her, and Kushina spent the day setting up the decorations, knowing that this event will be important to distracting Minato from the war. When he entered the room, the four stood up from their seats at the dinning table, "Happy 20th birthday, Minato!"
As he sat down, Kushina and Dan both offered him a plate of a new dish they were trying out, pressuring Minato to choose the champion. He laughed nervously, torn between his father and his wife. Both of the dishes were delicious. His eyes wandered over to Kakashi, pleading for help. The copy ninja looked away, stuffing himself with another large chunk of teriyaki tofu.
“I- uh... like my wife’s better.” Dan huffed angrily as he sat back down beside his wife.
She brushed his pale blue hair out of his face as her red lips curved into a smile. “Don’t worry, you’ll always be the better cook to me.” Her leg brushed his under the table, making him shudder.
“Lets book a hotel later.” He whispered into her ear.
After an hour of joyous chatter and the clinking of silverware, Kushina called their attention to the cake. Kakashi eyed the cake warily. It looked so good but he had already stuffed himself full of the delicious food on the table.
They launched into the birthday song, Kakashi being slightly off tune. Then all four of them watched as Minato blew at the candles. His first attempt did not take all of them out, causing Kushina to giggle and tease him for not living up to his lengendary status. He rolled up his sleeves and made a show of finishing the job.
When Minato had opened all of their presents, all very ordinary civillian objects, he started a game of charades.
At night, in the privacy of their bedroom, Kushina whispered to him, “You know, you are my sun. Bight, cheerful, warm. Oh, if you left me I would wander the darkness of this would forever alone.”
Minato tickled her, “Where did you learn these cheesy lines?”
She giggled, trying but failing to push him away. When he finally relented and wrapped her within his arms, she gasped out, “My friends and I were doing poetry yesterday and they helped me come up with this. They say nothing beats a love poem for your hubby.”
He nuzzled her neck, “They might be right. I really liked it. Can you repeat it to me?” And she did. Minato smiled fondly. When they were younger, Kushina would have been disgusted by calling him sweet things and dishing out compliments. But now, she served as his anchor to who he was and kept him alive through the hellish war.
Everyone smiled and waved at Minato with an air of respect. Respect for killing thousands of people in the war. If he hadn’t been hardened by all the deaths, he would have thought the notion disgusting. He tried to push it from his mind, to be proud of being one of the strongest Jounin in Konoha and a very possible candidate for the position of the Fourth Hokage, but he couldn’t help wishing he was a normal person. As a man with a fearsome reputation that struck fear in the hearts of many, Minato knew there were hundreds of enemies out there who have sworn revenge against him and his family.
Minato rarely came home because of all the missions his team was taking but Kushina wasn't bothered because she had Kakashi to give her company. She had refused to send him out on any more missions during the war as she felt he was too young, and had suffered too much already. He agreed with her only when she protested that she would be lonely at home and needed a guard as much as a companion.
If a mission had been particularly bad, instead of asking Minato about it, Kushina would hold him close, wrapping one arm around him and resting his head against her shoulder, reminding him that he. When he was ready, she would be there for him.
One night, he had the darkened look again and she sat silently next to him, weaving their hands together. After a moment, he told her of the Uchiha on his team that had died on their latest mission.
When the war was finally over, it was printed on the Konoha Tribune the very next day. Kushina kissed him passionately and they made love that night, ecstatic that the horror was finally over.
"I'm going to be Hokage," he told her a week after the treaty was formed, a cheerful grin on his face. Kushina tackled him in a tight hug, smiling brightly back at him as she planted a tender kiss on his lips. She had spent the week spreading news about his achievements to everyone she knew and had even convinced the press to spread his name even further. But she would not tell him that; she was happy to support him from the shadows.
As Kushina stood with Kakashi leaning against her in the crowd of cheering people both Ninja and civilian alike, she felt a sense of pride when she saw the newly appointed Yondaime Hokage standing atop the Hokage Tower, with his cloak billowing in the wind.
His eyes scanned through the crowd of people as if he was looking for someone, and when his blue eyes met Kushina’s own, a delighted smile made its way on his lips. She could tell he was looking at her, even without him saying it. She had felt him gazing at her for many years already.
The next day, they prepared for moving into the Hokage Residence so that Minato’s work would only be a step away. This allowed for efficiency and safety. Tsunade and Dan insisted on staying in the house, unwilling to let go of the place they have many fond memories of.
Everyday was lively in their new home. Kakashi had gotten a room on the second floor because he enjoyed the view it offered. A blanket of green spread out to the horizon, and in the winter, it would be entirely white. Sometimes, he could see ripples in the leaves, indicating a shinobi returning from work to their family or a shinobi leaving for their next mission. Either way had a promise.
Ever since moving in, Kakashi’s days had become more lively. Whenever Minato was given a break from from his duties, he would would thunder step into the house with his brilliant smile and play with the dogs. If Kakashi had not planned a mission for the day, and Minato would even train a little with him. Kakashi liked to be around Minato, both because of his charisma as a leader and his chakra, warm and sunny. It amazed Kakashi how easily Minato could draw everyone in to listen and fully trust his ideas.
The frost bit into Kakashi as he stood motionless in front of the memorial.
He traced his numb fingers over the carved letters. Uchiha Obito. Nohara Rin.
Hatake Sakumo, Kakashi added. For what he had done for his friends, he deserved to be up there too.
His lips were purple and his body has quivering, goosebumps running alone his arms. But all he could think about was the blood he still sees on his hand some days.
She committed suicide to save the village, he would tell himself. But then another part of his mind would whisper, No, you’re the one who killed her.
His chest ached painfully as his right eye shed tears. I miss them… He couldn’t help remembering the times when Obito had dragged him to his house to eat dinner together. Obito’s grandmother was an amazing cook and was even kind enough to offer to teach Kakashi. He remembered Obito and Rin seeking him out on the weekends, dragging him to their sleepovers. He remembered all his banters with Obito and Rin’s constant support. Their laughter… their chatter…
Kakashi’s knees buckled as he dropped to the ground, clutching at his heart. It was Obito’s death anniversary today, and that was the only time Kakashi allowed himself to visit the memorial. He knew his mind would get carried away and that it would only reopen old wounds, but he had to see them again.
A flicker of chakra was all the warning he got before strong arms wrapped around him, engulfing him in warmth. He sobbed, and gripped at the arms, seeking solace in the embrace. He didn’t realize how cold he had been until he felt the searing pain in his fingers and on his ears.
“Kakashi,” Minato said tentatively, “You’ve been here too long, you’ll get frostbite. Come home.”
Kakashi nodded slowly. “Take me home Sensei.”
The world blurred as Minato flash stepped home in the time between one blink and the next. Kushina stood up immediately from the couch and wrapped a thick blanket around Kakashi. A hot mug of chocolate milk, bitter just the way Kakashi liked it, was shoved into his hands as they sat him down.
The tears did not stop. Kakashi put down the mug to bury his head in Kushina’s chest. She held him tight against her. He listened to her heartbeat, the steadiness calming him slightly.
Kushina held him until his tears eventually ran dry and he sagged with exhaustion.
When he finished his drink, Kushina helped him take off his jacket, pants, and shoes, leaving only his boxers and a thin long sleeve. She led him to the bedroom she shared with Minato and urged him to lay down.
Kushina fitted him in her arms and Minato laid down behind him, wrapping his arms around him. His sensei raked his fingers through Kakashi’s silver hair as Kushina rubbed his back, soothing the aches in Kakashi. With them, Kakashi felt safe and warm. Kakashi curled into the space between the people he thought of as parents, letting himself drift off into sleep.
So be it that he was Friend-Killer Kakashi to the outside world.
The only people who mattered to him knew the truth and that was enough.
It was with the influence of Kushina and his own love for children that Minato pushed the minimum age of Genin to 13, the minimum age of Chunin to 15, and the minimum age of Jonin to 17. This change, he hoped, would bring about an educational change and allow for more emotional stability. Two years into this reign, Minato felt that the economy had stabilized and, with both Kushina and his desire for children, decided to try for one. He believed that if they just kept a close watch on Kushina, the pregnancy would turn out just fine.
Kakashi groaned as he pushed back his sweat laden hair. The summers in Konoha were unbearable, baking its citizens late into the night, and it was at its worst during midday. For the past month, he had taken up as many field missions up north as he could to escape the city-sized furnace. He loved the colder months: the icy chill, the snow-covered fields, the soft snowflakes, and the glacial waters. When he was young, he’d often make his father tell him stories of the Hatakes, Samurais and hunters from the Land of Snow, proudly wearing fur coats made from animals they have hunted down. Up there, towering spruce trees spread across the vast area, flourishing even in the cold. Konoha’s oak trees huddled together in dense clumps, surrounding Konohagakure in a sea of green leaves. He’d much rather be surrounded in frost than simmer in this heat, and sometimes he dreamed of sledding across the ice with the Hatakes. Kakashi wedged his way in next to his furry companions, all of whom had taken post in front of the air conditioning unit.
It was useless, pressing up against Urushi only made his discomfort grow. Even though they made quite a mess everyday and were near impossible to train, Kakashi refused to un-summon any of his puppies, and besides, they’re the ones that helped keep Kakashi out of nightmares at night. Kakashi wandered back to his bedroom to open his fan. He shoved his face into the warm wind, hoping for some relief, and let his thoughts drift to happier things.
Minato and Kushina were officially going to be parents- despite their insisting that they already were. Kakashi feared the monstrosity the kid was going to be. With the strength and healing of his grandmother; the sunny disposition and intelligence of his father; and the chakra of his mother, Naruto might very well save the world one day. And- Kakashi smiled- he will teach that boy, his brother, all his jutsus.
Kakashi glanced over at the right side of the room, where a crib had been placed. He had persuaded them to place it in here, knowing very well that the first months after his birth will be a constant headache. For the past few weeks, he had been collecting things to decorate the area, readying it to welcome home the boy. Just then, Shiba bounded into the room with a ball clenched in his jaw. Kakashi groaned, feeling lethargic and lazy.
Bisuke whimpered pleadingly, rubbing Kakashi's hand. “It’s too hot to play, Bisuke,” Kakashi complained even as he took up the ball. At this point, his dogs knew he had a weak spot for them and couldn’t deny their requests.
He threw the ball back into the living room, hoping to entertain the rest of the group. Bisuke gave a satisfied yelp before bounding after it. Kakashi smiled at the sight. Suddenly, a chorus of barking rose from the living room, followed by a familiar voice. Kakashi rushed out of his room to apologize, but Minato just shook his head, laughing, “I should be the one apologizing for startling your pets.”
Bisuke had darted behind the couch and, upon sensing the warm chakra, peeked out to see Minato. The other dogs were all bounding energetically around Minato, begging for his attention. Minato had seen it necessary to place three pronged kunais all over the house in case of emergencies.
The first thing that tipped Kakashi off was his hokage outfit. He had been working. The second was that he thunder stepped into the upper living room rather than go through the front door or the downstairs living room. “What happened sensei?” Kakashi knew that it was usually this time of the day that Kushina went to visit her friends, Mikoto and Meibuki. Could she be in danger? (Shimeru was dead, so was Iyashi, but the world must go on.)
“Nothing’s wrong… I just wanted to tell you about the dangers of giving birth as a jinjuriki. Let’s go into your room to talk.” Kakashi was intrigued yet worried. Nobody but the immediate family of the jinjuriki and the council knew of this secret.
Before heading in, Minato crouched down to give Bisuke a pat. “Sorry I startled you, buddy, I’ll play with you later ok?”
After they talked, Kakashi sat in grim silence, contemplating the situation. Kushina was in grave danger if her pregnancy ever got revealed. She did a transformation jutsu to walk around town but stayed indoors for the rest of the time. Kakashi could tell she was frustrated and irritated by the rules, but now Kakashi knew just how crucial it was. Minato took the ball from his pocket and waved it over Shiba’s nose, grinning. “Is this yours?”
Shiba yiped excitedly, making Minato smile. He pitched the ball across the room and laughed, far too calm for somebody who just revealed his wife was in danger. At least, it would seem to outsiders. But having lived so long with him, Kakashi could tell Minato was worried.
When Minato left to finish his Hokage duties, Kakashi tried to distract himself from the depressing onslaught of thoughts, he reminisced the first time he got the dogs. It had been a cool autumn morning and his father had come home from another mission with a large kennel.
He had sat down with Kakashi and revealed that his mother had been an Inuzaka. “Unfortunately, she died on the battlefield when he was very young. Her dog had been found barely alive, severely crippled but alive. She had recently given birth and the Inuzaka clan wanted to pay their respects by giving you one of her children.”
Kakashi accumulated more puppies along the way, always eager to adopt them into his family as it made him feel less alone. It was when he had gotten his third puppy that he realized he would need a method to summon them, and thus his use of ninken on the battlefield.
When Kakashi had helped Kushina put on her shoes, the swollen belly being an annoyance as always, he burst out that he wanted to go with her. She eyed him suspiciously. He had never enjoyed their gossiping and idle chatter. Plus, their children were much younger than him.
“If you are worried about my safety too, let me just remind you that I have and had two ANBU guards dogging me my entire life since a certain kidnapping incident.” She was getting quite fed up with being treated as if she were some porcelain doll, degraded from her shinobi status to a mere civilian.
“No! I- I just get bored staying at home. Spending time with you sounds nice that’s all.”
Kushina had enough experience in her life to tell he was lying, but it was no use to call him out so she agreed. She made the most of it now, taking him to get a snack, see a sight, or get a dessert whenever they headed out. It made her less irritated, excited actually, to think of it as a son-mother bonding time.
“There's my favourite wife and favorite son!” Minato greeted them when they got home from their daily walk, pressing a quick kiss to her lips.
“You’re home early, don’t you usually have a ton of paperwork?” The two, sweating from the sweltering heat outside, quickly changed into the slippers Minato had placed down for them and stepped inside.
As Kakashi watched Minato retreat to the kitchen, he realized that the light from the living room made it seem as if there were a glow about him. Kakashi smiled despite himself and thought about how both Minato and Kushina were so bright, carrying the will of fire confidently within them, that they could illuminate the entire Fire country together.
Kushina patted him gently on the back and led him forwards into her- no, their- home. Minato handed them both mugs filled with a light orange liquid with jelly bits. “I worked extra hard yesterday so I could be home to cook you guys something. I miss you guys sometimes, you know. And Kakashi, I bought your favorite drink, mango aloe.”
“You’re such a good father.” Kushina said as she took a seat at their dining table.
“I can't be your favourite son,” Kakashi argued, sipping at his drink. He closed his eyes to relish the refreshing coolness. “You have your real son on the way.”
Minato, the twenty-five year old war-hero, sighed wearily, he had tried arguing this point before but it got him nowhere. Kushina waved the thought away as she sat opposite the two, “Naruto's going to be a crying mess once he's born. You, on the other hand, will be just as sweet and wonderful as now.”
Kakashi blushed, knowing his arguments might be annoying them. Yet they never showed him anything except softness, patience, and joy.
All the traits that made Kakashi admire his Sensei and his beloved wife.
When Kakashi went to sleep, cuddling one of his puppies as he always did, Minato pulled Kushina into the bath to wash together. He knew that it was a tough matter to be pregnant, as he could tell by her constant complaints, unpredictable mood swings, and strange food cravings. As such, in addition to caring for her, he made it his duty to massage her every night.
At first, she had been against it as he worked so hard as the Hokage, but he refused to relent. In the end, she consented only to stop his persistent requests. He told her that when Naruto was born, she would have repaid him two times over for his efforts.
As Kushina lowered herself into the tub, some of the water sloshed over the rim and puddled on the tiled floor. She leaned back against Minato, who was already accustomed to the slightly heavier weight. He kissed her ruby red hair, then her ear.
She took his hands and moved it onto her protruding stomach, letting him feel the movements of their child. “He’s already got my personality, you know! He’s been moving around all day, that over-hyper child.”
“If he’s like you, I would think he loves ramen too.” They both laughed as they thought of Minato’s late night excursions to Teuchi’s home, begging for just one bowl. The first time, Minato had insisted that it was an emergency, not that he was trying to take advantage of his Hokage status. After a few times, Teuchi had a to-go bowl ready for him, and if they met, Teuchi would wink knowingly. “Wouldn’t want a very pregnant and very angry wife to go on a rampage would we. You wouldn’t be a very good Hokage if you let that happen.” Having visited his restaurant almost everyday growing up, Minato only laughed at his words and thanked him, knowing full well that he was trustworthy.
“You know,” Minato said suddenly, “I hope they have your hair, beautiful and red. Maybe they’d grow it long, and I can brush it everyday like I do yours.’”
Kushina took up a strand of her long hair between her fingers and smiled. The thing she had hated once had become a source of pride for her. “I hope they’ll have your sweet and sunny disposition,” Kushina returned.
Minato smiled at her, “And when they grow up, maybe when they have a crush of their own, I’ll tell them all about the first day I fell in love with you. Then I’ll tell them how I fell in love a little more every day since.”
“Do you think Kakashi would ever get a girlfriend?”
Minato chuckled as he repeated the words his mother had said to him once, “She’s gotta be a living goddess to have caught his attention. You know, if he just smiled more, all the girls would be fawning over him.”
“Ah, that is true. He is a very handsome and intelligent boy. I’m so glad to have him as our first son though, he is much more mature than people his age.”
“I hope Naruto is not too crazy.” They both laughed again. Minato pressed his cheek into the side of her hair, watching as she scrubbed her arms.
It wouldn’t be long now before they’d get to meet him, and they were oh-so-ready to welcome their second son.
“I’d like it if our children were friends,” the red-head murmured, and looked up to see her husband wrinkled his nose in distaste.
“I’ve no problem with Mikoto-san, but her husband… ”
“Come on, Fugaku isn’t that bad,” she pressed.
He raised an eyebrow at her, then sighed, “Their pride and stubbornness really gets to be too much at times.”
Kushina replied quietly, “The Uchiha are only defensive because everyone else discriminates against them.”
“I know… I’m working out a treaty right now, and Fugaku is a sensible man. He knows the best course of action will be to accept.”
Kushina intertwined their left hands together, gazing at the glimmer of their wedding ring. “I know you’re trying your best, but will you be able to get it through the council? You told me before that the council protested against letting Uchiha have any form of power.”
He rubbed her shoulder with his free hand, “I got the education laws through, this shouldn’t be any harder. You know I won’t relent unless it goes down peacefully.”
Kushina giggled, “My stubbornness really has rubbed off on you.”
When they finished off their bath, Minato helped Kushina out of the tub and into her clothes. She always got a little frustrated at the difficulty of putting on underwear and shoes by herself, but Minato’s presence was enough to calm her.
