Dreams of the Past

"Demon!"

"Monster!"

"You should just die!"

Laughter followed the horrible names as they flowed into the ears of the poor girl of only seven years of age. Her eyes stung as she fought back her tears. It was the same ever since she was little. The Adults were the worst. Now the academy kids were doing it too. Minashi felt a traitorous tear slip down her cheek. One of the older boys took a step closer, but Minashi couldn't go anywhere. She was pressed up against a wall. Fear started to spiral in her chest.

The fear was suddenly pushed away when she felt it. Warmth. That same warmth that had always been there since she was born. She rubbed away her tears to see that she was now staring at a back. Her lips lifted into a smile. She knew that back of sunshine yellow hair. It was the same as hers.

"Naruto." She whispered.

Bright Cerulean eyes looked over his shoulder and gave her the biggest grin before they went hard. Minashi didn't need to be in front of him to see that no more warmth was in her elder brother's eyes.

"Leave her alone. No one is allowed to pick on my imouto but me."

"Che- what are you going to do?" one of the eldest boys sneered.

Minashi watched at Naruto started brawling with the boys. Her own mouth lifted into a sneer as they teamed up against him. Naruto's warmth was still in her chest and his determination to protect her was clear in her mind. Cocking back her fist, she joined in to help her Nii-san. She was not weak.

"Naruto!" Minashi cried out in joy. Naruto looked over to Minashi as she entered the clearing they agreed to meet up at. Naruto's grin was as bright as the sun.

"You got it!" He cheered as they both opened the Forbidden Scroll Mizuki-sensei told them about.

"Only because you distracted Jiji." Minashi smiled in return.

"Now we just have to find a clone one to learn so that Iruka-sensei has to pass us." He said even while looking over the scroll. His face scrunched up and Minashi looked at the clone one he'd found to see what was the problem. Minashi frowned at it. She knew Naruto had a hard time understanding big words. So did she, but she also enjoyed learning new things through reading.

Reaching over she grabbed his hand and his troubled blue eyes met her confident ones. His tense body relaxed as he felt through their connection that she was confident that she could learn it and teach it to him. They would always be there for each other.

Minashi gave him a grin and he returned it. Together, they learned the Kage Bushin.

Minashi sat up from the ground and looked to Iruka-sensei that was hovering over them dangerously.

"It's all over." Iruka laughs, but Minashi and Naruto can hear the anger in it.

Naruto just rubs the back of his head sheepish while Minashi holds the scroll over her back.

"Got us already? Not Bad. You're quick sensei. We only had time to learn one technique."

Iruka's face blanked as he looked between them both. Slowly his eyebrows rose as he took in their battered clothes and exhausted faces. Minashi prayed that he wouldn't be mad. He was the only teacher to really pay any attention to them.

"Iruka-Sensei, Can we show you the Jutsu we learn?" Minashi asked hesitantly. "We worked really hard. It's a clone Jutsu. If we can do it, will you let us pass? Please?"

"Yeah Sensei, you'll have to let us pass. That's the rule right? Anyone who learns a jutsu from the scroll passes." Naruto join in with his twin.

Iruka frowned at them. "Huh? Where did you get that idea?"

Minashi felt her stomach drop. Naruto was right there with her, but he kept his smile.

"Mizuki-Sensei told us about it. He told us where we could find it and this place-"Minashi stopped her brother at the look of dawning horror on Iruka's face. Naruto stops and glances between them as he gets the message from Minashi that they were tricked. Minashi feels the anger and self-loathing in her brother bloom, but she just holds his hand tighter. They were never alone.

"Mizuki?" Iruka whispers as it comes together in his head.

Naruto's gut tells him to move and he does. He goes to push Minashi out of the way, but Iruka is there first, pushing them both out of the way of a hail of Kunai.

"So you've found our little hide away." Mizuki grins.

Iruka glares up at him. "So that's the way it is. I should've known."

"Minashi, Naruto, Give me the scroll, now!"

"Wait a minute." Naruto mumbles. "What's really going on here?" he asks already knowing but needing to hear it.

Iruka pulled out the kunai from his body and stood before the twins. "Minashi, Don't let Mizuki get the scroll! Naruto get her out of here. Return the scroll to the Hokage. That is the Forbidden Scroll. It has powerful Jutsu in it that could put the village in grave danger. Mizuki used you two to get the scroll for himself. For his own power."

Naruto's face darkens in anger. Minashi tightens the strap holding the scroll and glares angrily up at the white hair ex-sensei.

"Now, now, Iruka is just trying to scare you two. He doesn't want you two to have the scroll."

Naruto looks confused between the two older men but glances to Minashi. 'What?' she vaguely hears in her head. 'Another lie'. Minashi sends back. Naruto nods.

"Stop lying Mizuki! Minashi, Naruto, don't let him trick you."

"Oh? I'll tell you who's really lying." Mizuki grinned manically.

"No!" Iruka shouts.

"They've been lying to you your whole lives. 12 full years since the decree." Mizuki's voice is taunting.

"What decree?" Naruto asks even as Minashi feels her body go cold.

"Everyone knows it except you two. Iruka's trying to hide it from you now. He'd do anything to shut me up."

"Iruka-sensei?" Minashi whispers as her body begins to tremble.

"What decree? What does everyone else know about it?" Naruto demands getting angry even as fear pools in his stomach.

"It's forbidden! Don't tell him!" Iruka shouts and throws Kunai at Mizuki. The white hair man just dodges or deflects the kunai.

Mizuki laughs. "The decree is that no one can tell you two that you share two halves of the Kyuubi no kitsune. It's inside you both!" He points at them without care. "The same fox that killed Iruka's parents and destroyed our village has taken over both your bodies. You're two halves of the Kyuubi!"

"Stop it!" Iruka shouts throwing more kunai.

Mizuki dodges as he jumps to another tree. "They've all been sneaking around, hiding things from you your whole life. Didn't you two think it was strange how everyone treated you? Like dirt. Like trash. They hated you for just being alive."

Minashi looks down at the ground. It all made sense now. Her eyes stung. She was part of the fox that killed so many people.

"No." Naruto whispered.

"Naruto. Minashi." Iruka trailed off.

"You'll never be accepted into this village. Even your beloved sensei hates your guts!" Mizuki taunted.

Minashi's tears fell as she gripped Naruto's shaking hand tighter.

"no." he mumbled again as his body begin to shake. She couldn't focus enough to feel how he was doing. Spiraling down into her own head of darkened understanding.

"Now Die!" Mizuki shouts as he throws a large Shuriken.

"Get down!" Iruka shouts and Naruto turns to cover Minashi. Minashi's eyes widen when she looks over Naruto's shoulder to see Iruka protecting them both. The large Shuriken lodged into his back. Naruto turns to look at their sensei with wide eyes.

"W-why?" Naruto stutters.

"Iruka-sensei?" Minashi whispers shocked.

"We're the same." He whispers and coughs in pain. "When I lost my parents, no one seemed to care. They didn't have time for me. They just forgot I was there. My grades dropped. I became the class clown. I just wanted them to see me and know my name. My schooling wasn't good enough to get the attention, so I did crazy things and then I had to pay for it. It was hard. I know that's how you two feel. Naruto, Minashi. I could've been there for you more. I let you two down. I'm sorry. No one should have to suffer that much. No one should be alone like that."

Minashi's lips tremble and she feels her feelings reflected through Naruto.

"Don't make me laugh! Iruka always hated you two. He was orphaned because of the nine-tailed fox that killed his parents. That beast is now inside you both! He'd say anything to get the scroll from you."

Naruto gets up and drags Minashi away.

"Naruto! Minashi!" He tries to reach out to them, but the shuriken is still lodged in his back.

Minashi runs behind Naruto as they dodge trees, logs, and roots.

"N-Naruto?" she stutters choking back her sobs. Her brother was quiet. He was never quiet. Suddenly he pulled her down and covered her mouth. His blue eyes almost glowing in the night.

"Naruto!" Iruka calls out. The twins look out from their hiding spot to see another set of themselves stop and look back to Iruka. "Everything Mizuki said was a lie. Give me the scroll. Hurry!" Iruka nears the twins. "He's coming after you two to take it away."

The hidden twins watch as the copy Naruto launches back at Mizuki and sends him flying into a tree.

"It can't be. How did you know Naruto?" Iruka asks as the copy Naruto slid to the ground, back against a tree as he panted hard. Iruka puffed into smoke to reveal Mizuki and watched as Naruto did the same.

"Because I'm Iruka."

Mizuki snarls as he stands up. "You're a fool! Why are you protecting those freak brats? They're the ones who wiped out your family!"

"I don't care what you say. You're not getting your hands on that scroll."

Mizuki laughs tauntingly. "As if you could stop me. Don't you get it? Naruto as his sister are just like me."

"How's that?" Iruka snaps.

"He wants the scroll for his own power, his own vengeance. That's how beasts are. He'll even make sure that beast of his sister joins him. They are connected at the hip. He'll encourage her to rage with him and destroy everything."

"You're right." Iruka said.

Minashi felt her eyes sting. Naruto shook beside her as he held her tighter. She could feel the sadness between them both.

"That's how beasts are." Iruka continues. "Both that's not who those two are."

Naruto freezes, Minashi's eyes snap open.

"Naruto and Minashi are nothing like that. Naruto is one of a kind. He's a bit of a prankster and Minashi only encourages it, but he will always work hard and put all his heart into everything he does. Sure, he messes up, but Minashi is there. She is always at his side. She is one of a kind in her own right. She is dedicated to always learn new things and always be kind to those around her. They may be twins, but they complete each other. He is loud, she is quiet. He is brash, she's patient. Sure, they mess up sometimes when their pranking, but their suffering only makes them stronger. That's what separates them from being a beast. Therefore, you're wrong. They are nothing like the Kyuubi no Kitsune. They are Uzumaki Naruto and Uzumaki Minashi of Konohagakure no Sato."

Minashi buries her face into Naruto's shoulder as his face is buried into her hair. For the first time. Someone could see them. Acknowledge them. Not as the Demon twins, but as Minashi and Naruto.

"You really believe that dribble?" Mizuki sneers. "I was going to save you for later, but I changed my mind." Mizuki pulled out another shuriken and ran at Iruka. "You're finished."

Naruto jumps out, Minashi right with him. Naruto head-butts Mizuki and Minashi puts all her strength into kicking him in the groin.

Mizuki goes flying back as he lets out a sound like a dying animal. Iruka looks up to see both the twins standing before him.

"Naruto? Minashi?"

"Y-You Brats!" Mizuki pants as he's still trying to get off his knees as he cups his groin.

"If you ever lay a hand on our sensei-"Minashi growls as she moves the scroll to Iruka to hold.

"We'll kill you." Naruto finishes.

Mizuki got to his feet. "Such big words. I can completely destroy you both with a single move!"

Naruto and Minashi moved in sync. Their hearts and mind working almost as one. Protect their sensei. Knowledge that they knew each other was not the fox. Only their loving Nii-san/Imouto.

Both moved into stance for the new jutsu. Fingers in a cross form. "Take your best shot fool." Minashi snarled.

"We'll give it back to you two thousand fold!" Naruto shouted.

"Let's see you try Fox Brats!"

{Kage Bushin no Jutsu!} The twins shouts in unison. A massive poof sound and sight of clouds surrounded the forest. Hundreds and hundreds of Naruto and Minashi clones filled the ground, trees, and every open space available.

Mizuki's eyes bugged out at the sight of hundreds of solid clones surrounding him.

"If you're not coming…" One Naruto clone said.

"Then we're coming after you!" a Minashi clone finished.

Naruto and Minashi finished tying up a thoroughly beaten and unconscious Mizuki. Together they walked to Iruka who was smiling at them. Naruto grinned sheepish.

"We kinda got carried away."

"Are you okay Iruka-sensei?" Minashi asked as she kneeled beside him. Naruto on Iruka's other side.

Iruka let out a slow breath. "Yeah. I'll be fine." His smile suddenly got softer. "Both of you close your eyes."

Naruto and Minashi shared a glance before doing as their first precious person said. When they opened their eyes, they saw that they each worn a new hitai-ate and Iruka was missing his.

"Naruto, Minashi, You have earn your graduation together. I couldn't be prouder. Naruto, you have my hitai-ate. Take good care of it. You're now a shinobi of Konoha." Naruto sniffled as he covered his eyes with his arm to wipe away the tear.

"un." He agreed muffled. Iruka turned to Minashi with a kind smile.

"Take care of that hitai-ate for me Minashi. That was my mother's. She was an amazing Kunoichi. She always protected what she loved with the fiercest of fires burning in her heart."

Minashi's tears finally fell and she nodded as she wiped them away. "Un." She agreed.

Sarutobi looked at the two blonde children before him. The incident from a few days ago was finally calming down. Now, he had to tell them that he would be separating them. He already knew they wouldn't like it.

"About your upcoming team assignments." Sarutobi began. "Konoha Genin teams work with three genin and a Jounin sensei. While we have an odd number of girls this year and one team will have two girls, it will just have to work. So, Naruto, Minashi, we have no choice but to separate-"

"NO." They both said in unison.

Sarutobi sighed. "Naruto, Minashi-"

"No." They said again.

"Just give the girl on my team to someone else." Naruto argued.

Sarutobi sighed as he set his pipe down. "Naruto, teams don't work that way. We have you set up with the top Kunoichi and Top Shinobi of your class to balance it out. Minashi is on the team with the next two top boys. We do this to balance out-"

"No." Naruto stubbornly said as Minashi wondered how she could get Jiji to keep them together.

"Jiji," Minashi called for his attention. Old brown eyes moved from Naruto to her. "We work best together. You know we share a connection."

"One that's never been proven." Sarutobi said, but they both knew he didn't mean it. He was the only one that believed they shared a connection.

Minashi bit her lip before something dinged in her mind. "Wouldn't it be best to keep us on the same team? I keep Naruto under control and he keeps me under control."

Sarutobi looked to Minashi. She was so much like her father it was scary sometimes. The same for Naruto and his mother.

"What are you implying Minashi?" Sarutobi asked gently.

Minashi's eyes dimmed and hardened. "The fox. We can keep each other control. If we can't I'm pretty sure you'll put us with a sensei that could."

Sarutobi sighed even as Naruto flinched, but Minashi's hand squeezed his in comfort. He returned it and the reassuring feelings she sent him.

Sarutobi puffed on his pipe for a few minutes as he looked between the two new genin before him. There would have been a five-person genin squad anyways. However, he wanted them to be separated to learn to rely on others besides their sibling. But Minashi had a point. He'd been having a problem finding another sensei that would have been able to handle her if she lost control.

"Alright. Do not let me regret this." Sarutobi warned but both twins were too busy grinning at each other to care.

Minashi woke up feeling the tears on her cheeks. Her heart ached. She missed Naruto so much. He was her other half. He knew everything about her and she knew everything about him. She tried to muffle her sobs, but her chest ached. She curled up under her covers, but the tears still came as her mind replayed the memory dreams.

"Nii-san." She sobbed. "Nii-san!" she cried out as she curled into a ball. She wanted her Nii-san. She couldn't do this all by herself.

The blanket was pulled away from her and warm hands moved to wrap her against a small frame. But the scent filled her nose. It was familiar but slightly different than she was used to.

"Shh." Kakashi whispered in her ear. Minashi choked softly on another sob as she burred her face into his neck.

"Kashi. I miss Nii-san." She mumbled into his neck.

Kakashi stayed silent but held her still. When she had calmed down a little he was laying with her on his side.

"What happened to him?" he asked softly.

Minashi stayed silent but nuzzled a much smaller chest than she was used to.

"Mina-chan?"

"H-he died." She whispered.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have-"

"He saved me." She continued. "Baka Nii-san."

Small but still long fingers threaded through her hair in a soothing motion.

"I'm sorry you lost your brother."

"Twin." She whispered into his chest.

Kakashi sighed as his face scrunched up in sympathy. He held her tighter.

"I'm no Nii-san, but I can be your friend. I can protect you for your Nii-san."

Minashi was quiet for a moment before a sniff broke the silence.

"Promise?" She mumbled.

"Hai. Promise." He said into her soft hair. He felt her lips pull into a smile against his chest. He felt his own lips twitch into one as he continued to brush through her hair with his fingers until she fell back asleep, him following right behind her.

Sakumo rested his head against the wall outside of Minashi's room. He'd heard her sobs and felt Kakashi's signature move to her room. To hear the child calling out for her nii-san, he didn't ever want to hear such heartbreak from her again. To learn that he'd given up his own young life to save her, it broke his heart. Keeping his steps quiet, he slid open the door to Minashi's new room to see Kakashi and Minashi curled up together fast asleep.

Leaving them be, he returned to his own room and sent a message to the Hokage about Minashi's nightmare. He'd have to ask the girl in the morning about it. If her memories were coming back, they would need to know what had happened. Also, who had sent her to Konoha for protection.