Memories...

Minashi glared down at the ball of chakra in her hands. She almost had it. Just a little more. The clone before her shared a determined look. Together they focused wind into the ball and-

"OI OI OI! One of the Narutos are going Kyuubi!" Her twin's voice rang through her head and ears. Concentration lost as she felt the malevolent chakra fill the air, her own ball of chakra dispersed. She turned to find that it wasn't just one of Narutos.

"Fuck!" She shouted. "One of mine too!"

Wood sprouted from Yamato-taicho's resting spot into two different directions. The Kyuubi Minashi and Naruto were already working through clones of both twins trying to pin them down.

Once the Kyuubi chakra was finally gone, Mina felt her vision dim with the memories. Her and Naruto collapsed together in the massive clearing.

"Ma, it might be time for a break." The lazy voice of their sensei said as he stood over them.

Kakashi eye smiled at the matching glares he got from the twin blondes.

"That- would—be nice." A voice huffed a short distance away. Minashi and Naruto turned to Yamato. He was bent over panting, chakra exhausted. Guilt filled their connection from both parties.

"Alright." Naruto sighed and fell down and around to lay on Mina's thighs. She did the same and enjoyed the feeling of her twin against her once again. They were delaying their separation to their respective summoning worlds. This last minute training was their only bonding time. Any other time was taken up by Baa-chan and Sakura beating lessons into their heads. Especially since Ero-sennin hadn't done any of that while they were gone the past year and a half with him.

Training with the Kyuubi chakra had been an experience with Ero-sennin, but nothing that they knew was coming up. They wouldn't have each other to fall back on.

A warm hand took Mina's. Skin rough with callouses. Mina squeezed his hand in return.

'We'll be fine.' Mina heard softly spoken from Naruto.

'Miss you already.' She sighed back.

'We'll come back stronger' Minashi smiled outwardly at his determination.

"Un." She agreed allowed.

Kakashi smiled wistfully at the two blondes smiling half asleep on the destroyed grass. He'd been told that they had some sort of twin connection. He'd been skeptical at first, but actions proved the blondes right. Now he could only be happy that while he hadn't been there for them, they always had each other.

Pain ripped through Minashi. Her own heart stuttered when she realized what just happened. Her head snaps to look across the battlefield to where Naruto was falling out of Kurama's cloak.

"NII-SAN!" Minashi screamed and raced over to him. She's grateful for their friends as Gaara caught her brother with his sand. Bounding over to them, Gaara wrapped her and the nearby Sakura in his sand and they flew away, Sakura working hard to keep Naruto's heart beating.

They needed to get away from Madara and the Jyuubi.

Minashi took Naruto's hand in her own. Pain filled blue eyes met her own. She tried to take some of his pain away, but he blocked her.

"Naru-" she called softly.

"Mina." He smiled at her sadly. "Gomen. I lost my Kurama."

Minashi shook her head. "We'll get him back. You'll get him back." She said and went to place her hand on his seal, ready to give up her Kurama to save her brother. He was the true driving force behind the alliance anyways. He was the one that inspired everyone. He was the one that could talk enemies into friends.

A cool hand gripped her own and her eyes snapped to Naruto. "No." He says firmly. "You need him."

Tears blurred her vision. "Not more than I need you."

Naruto smiled at her sadly, and reached over to stop Sakura. Jade green eyes snapped to Cerulean blue even as the sand set them down.

"Naruto!" a new, but now familiar voice shouted and joined their small group.

"Tou-san." Naruto smiled. Their reanimation father stared down at his son in horror and sorrow.

"Madara took his Kurama." Minashi choked out. "He keeps stopping me from giving him my Kurama."

Minato looked into his son's eyes. "Naruto?"

Naruto just smiled tired up at his Tou-san. "Take care of her?"

"Of course. But you need to live too."

Naruto smiled brighter. "I have an idea. Only Minashi can pull it off."

Minashi gripped his hand tighter even as she felt another presence land near them.

"What plan dobe?" Sasuke's voice is harsh behind her.

He grinned at him. "Fuuinjutsu. Tou-san and Niidaime-sama can teach her." He looks back to Minashi. "Hide." He says softly. "Take who remains and hide. Survive. Learn." His eyes blinks slowly. "We're the Unpredictable twins of Konoha. We can do anything. Find a way to go back." He whispers as she feels his control over the connection loosen.

Tears pull down Minashi's cheeks.

"Go back." He murmurs.

"Nii-san." Minashi whimpers as their connection is strained.

'I love you Minashi.' His voice is just a weak whisper in her mind.

'I love you too Naruto' She sobs back.

He smiles softly at her and she sees it and feels it. The connection snaps as the lights leaves his eyes.

Minashi sucks in a breath and screams. She feels the cold presence of her Tou-san wrapping around her. She hears the soft sobs of Sakura. She hears someone collapse beside her, she crackle of his signature tells her it's Sasuke. The sand beneath her trembles and doesn't need to look up to see Gaara crying as he too falls to his knees.

Minashi just screams. It's empty. Her chest, her mind. He's gone. She's alone. She hates it. She hates being alone. She's always had Naruto before the loneliness could settle in. Now he was gone.

Kurama pities his container. Pulling her into her mindscape he lets her mind mourn as he took control of her body.

Minato stiffened when Minashi's cries suddenly cut off. He looked to see red eyes on him.

[Release my container.] Minato jumps off and watches as his daughter stood up and dusted herself off. Sad red eyes looked at the deceased form of Naruto. [Shukaku's host, Gaara.] Said man looked up to red eyes. [Please cover him and seal his form in your sand. My other host will not be desecrated by that horrible reanimation jutsu.] The sand moved and covered Naruto and slowly rose into the air to hover at waist height. [Take him back to Konoha. We will follow shortly with everyone else.] Gaara nods and flies off.

Kurama turned to the Yondaime. Grief filled eyes met carefully blank red.

[I will not let my host's last wish not be met again. We move out. We abandon this front. We live to see another day. We save who we can. I'll lend you our Chakra Yondaime. Use it wisely to get everyone to safety. When Minashi awakens she'll be focused on her brother's last wish.]

"Hai." Once taking some of Kurama and Minashi's Chakra, the Yondaime was gone in a flash of red and yellow.

Red eyes turned to a still softly crying Sakura. Sasuke had finally risen to his knees and looked with Mangekyou eyes into Kurama's own.

[Don't die.] He ordered them both. [The brat won't be able to live if she lost her pseudo brother and sister as well.] Sakura can only nod. Sasuke's eyes narrow.

"You're a damn Bijuu, why didn't you give him some of your chakra?"

Kurama raised a sleek brow. [The brat and I had one last conversation before I was ripped from him. He's an idiot, but he's learned to know when he's out matched. Especially with only Shukaku and myself left, we don't have enough power to face the Jyuubi. Tactical retreat is all that the Alliance can do now. Retreat and regroup. Now, let's go. We need to spread the word and get the fuck out of here.]

The two other Members of team 7 could only nod as they followed the Kyuubi control Minashi.

Minashi gripped Kurama's fur inside her mind. While she was mourning, she still paid attention to her last companion's actions. She knew she should be the one doing what he was, but she just felt so empty.

Darkness was swallowing her. She felt empty but like she was drowning in the darkness.

'Naruto' She whimpered into the fox's fur.

A part of her mind already understood what he wanted her to try to attempt. It was crazy. It was stupid. It was impossible. But wasn't that something they always proved wrong?

Together. Her mind reminded her. They defied the impossible together. But now it was just her. Her lungs seized and she buried her face deeper, dampening the fur with her tears.

Kurama wiped away the tears that leaked out from his containers eyes. They were a mix of hers and his own. He ignored the looks from Sakura and Sasuke running at his side. He was a Bijuu. He didn't have to explain that his container's grief was strong and his own flowed through with his other lost blonde. He would not lose his remaining container. His remaining friend.

Minashi woke surrounded by warmth. Tears were dried on her cheeks. Her dreams had been cruel. Reliving Naruto's death. Feeling the connection snap. Her arms wrapped tighter around the warmth. Ozone and dog, wrapped around her senses.

Kakashi.

She either must have screamed in her sleep or woken him up with her sobs. She didn't know. Nevertheless, she appreciated waking up surrounded by his scent. Burying her nose further into his neck, she let the last pulls of sleep keep her in a half awake/ half-asleep state.

Small fingers ran through her hair slowly.

"Nightmare?" A groggy voice mumbled.

"Memory." Minashi mumbled back. Arms tightened around her.

"Sorry." He said back.

Minashi smiled sadly into his skin. "Thank you."

"Hm." He drowsily replied before his breathing eased once again. Minashi waited a few beats before looking over to the end of the bed to see Minato sitting there with a half asleep Kushina leaning on him.

"You okay here Minashi?" Minato asked. "Do you want us to stay too?"

"Un." She nodded once. "Until I fall back asleep." She mumbled. Minato gave her a soft smile and moved.

Minato sat at the head of the bed and ran his fingers through her hair. Groggily Kushina squirmed up into the small bed and rested her head on Minato's lap while the rest of her was pressed into Minashi's back. Kushina pulled Minashi and Kakashi closer to cuddle into her warmth with her free arm, keeping it there and them close.

Home. A voice whispered in her mind.

She was surrounded by her home.

Her eyes got heavy.

Everything would be alright. She was safe at home. No more painful memories plagued her. Instead, she dreamed of painting the Hokage Mountain with her twin. Bright smiles on both their faces.

When Minashi woke again, she wasn't alone. She was eternally grateful for that. Though, she only found one problem. She was trapped in a vice grip and breathing hair. She blew the beautiful red strands from her face and tried to wiggle to see if she could get out.

After some struggling, she huffed annoyed as more red covered her face from all her movements.

She tried poking and pinching the older teen to wake her up, but Kushina just grunted and tightened her grip. Minashi whimpered when breathing became difficult.

Snickering whispered through the room. "Need help?" Minato's light voice filled the air of her new bedroom.

Minashi's eyes looked between red strands to find mirth filled blue ones hovering over the two girls.

"Help Nii-san." She pouted playfully.

Minato smiled. "Here's a lesson about your Nee-san. She's a cuddle trap. I didn't develop my teleportation jutsu just to be the fastest on the battlefield. It's also so I can escape my Kushina's arms in the morning."

Minashi blinked up at him. Huh…Who knew the Flying Thunder God was recreated to escape viper arms. Kurama's snort filled her head and Minashi ignored it.

"Help me please Nii-san." Minashi said again making her eyes as wide as possible and adding a pout to her lips.

Minato Melted.

"Aw, of course Imouto. Hold still." He reached between the hair and arms to touch her without touching Kushina. Suddenly her world spun. Minashi gripped her stomach as it rolled in protest. This was not only her first time using the Hiraishin in this body, but it always felt weird to travel through someone else's space-time jutsu.

Groaning she buried her face into Minato's neck as he held her now in the living room. His chuckles vibrated against her.

"Sorry Imouto. You'll get used to it." He watched her carefully. "Although, you are doing better than most. Almost everyone has puked on the first ride. Even I did the first time I tried it."

Minashi swallowed thickly. "Don't count me out yet." She murmured. Minato grimaced but brought her to the kitchen where Kakashi was already working on toast and fruit.

"Kushina is not a morning person. I'm sorry there isn't much more available for breakfast. Plus after-" he paused and looked at Minashi before rewording the loss of Kurama. "She lost a lot of Chakra. She is still recovering from it still so she needs a lot of rest."

"Thank you for your hospitality Minato-san." Kakashi said with a slight bow.

Minashi yawned and sat down in the chair Minato placed her in. She wearily eyed the toast and fruit, but slowly began to eat as her stomach settled.

"So Sakumo tells me that you do training in the mornings?"

"Hai. For an hour before the Academy. We leave time to change and grab a real breakfast before leaving."

Minato nodded and dug into his own food. "Alright. I can take you two to a training ground close. It's one I usually train at anyways. Kushina should hopefully be awake by the time we come back but I'll probably be the one to take you two." He paused as his eyes glazed over. "Yeah, we'll only 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 at the academy this afternoon again."

Minashi raised a brow at her Nii-san. What was that about? Unfortunately, she had a feeling she didn't want to know. A shared look with Kakashi told her that he felt the same.

Sitting against a tree, scroll forgotten in his lap, Minato watched his little sister and Kakashi-kun smoothly go through their Katas. His lips were up in a smile. Minashi was just as much of a genius as himself.

She'd been taught the Uzumaki style and worked it into her body. He could tell it was instinct to her already. He knew Kushina would be so happy to see this.

His mood darkened when he remembered why she was already so good. She'd been on the run since she was born. Tasked with a burden, only to take on the rest of the burden from Kushina unknowingly.

Minato let out a tired sigh. It was all still so unreal to him. He'd been told his mother was dead. But to learn she hadn't and left him alone? He didn't know what to think. But he also knew he was almost grateful. She may have left him, but she left one last gift for him.

He smiled at Minashi who grinned at him just before her and Kakashi went through their sparring next. Minato's keen eyes focused on their positioning, style, and attacks.

Minashi was a gift. Minato knew that. He just wished she wasn't as burdened with the death of their brother. His heart ached for the brother he never got to know. He really wanted to ask her what he was like. But he knew the wound was too fresh still.

"Alright you two, cool down and stretch. You'll have enough time for chakra control exercises before we head back for showers and food."

"Hai!" they chorused and did as told. Minato beamed. He was starting to realize why Jounin became senseis. It was refreshing to teach the younger generation. Maybe he'd apply this year when Kakashi and Minashi graduated. Maybe he could get them as a team.

Minato was snapped from his daydreaming when he felt a pull from the energy around him. Energy that he'd trained in during his younger teens to turn into Sage Chakra. Training that he was waiting to finish with Jiraiya-sensei. His eyes snapped to Minashi to see that it was around her.

"Minashi!" Minato snapped and rushed to her.

Minashi jolted and looked at Minato with wide blue eyes and he kneeled before her. He was frantically looking over her.

"Where did you learn to do that? How did you do that? Why-What? Are you okay?" he asked frantically looking all over her for traces of stone transmutation. Finding none, he relaxed a little to find sheepish blue eyes looking up at him innocently.

"Oops?" she said wincing. "I didn't mean to. I was just focused and it called to me."

Minato blinked at her. "You know what it was?"

Minashi sighed. "Saki-chan said it was natural energy. I didn't know it. He told me not to pull on it, but it is so pretty and feels so good." She whimpered.

Minato sighed and pulled her close.

"Please. Please Minashi. Do not Touch the natural energy around you without the guidance of a Sage. I've taken part of that training. It's very risky. I still don't practice it until my sensei is near."

Minato felt panic swell when Minashi's eyes watered and her chin began to quiver.

"H-Hai, n-n-nii-san." Minashi stuttered as a tear slipped down her cheek.

Minato Squawked. "AH! Minashi, it's okay, it's okay." He tried to comfort the girl as he pulled her into his arms. Her whole body trembled and guilt filled Minato.

Kakashi blinked as he watched Minato flail and flounder over the crying doll. That was until he pulled her into his arms. Kakashi got a full view of the doll's face then. There were no tears. Only a foxy grin. He covered his masked mouth to hold back his snort of laughter. The Golden doll had totally just played one of Konoha's Genius Jounin. His own body shook with laughter as his eyes met the twinkling blues of Mina's. He almost lost it when she winked at him. Heh, maybe she wasn't so bad. As long as she wasn't annoying him.

Minato carefully opened the door to the apartment. Silently he ushered the children back to Minashi's room to clean up and change. He left them with strict instructions to stay quiet and to take turns. Quietly he snuck through Kushina's apartment. He found her bedroom empty of his girlfriend. Slipping into the kitchen, he froze at the sight of Kushina asleep at the table. His gaze went over every detail of the room even as he suppressed his signature as much as possible and kept his breathing to a minimum.

Carefully Minato moved further into the room. Counting every step, every breath, and keeping his eyes fixed on Kushina's every movement.

He made it to his destination. His eyes finally left Kushina to look at the coffee pot. He paled at the sight of an almost full pot. Grimacing to himself, he silently made his way to Kushina and glanced to see her cup empty. Stealthy as his ANBU training made him, he reached out and snagged her cup and took it back to the pot to fix up a second cup to how he knew she liked it.

Just as he set it back down, a voice filled the air.

"Nii-san. We're done. I'm hungry."

Minato panicked when Kushina twitched and a throaty growl filled the air.

"Minato-san?" Kakashi called from the doorway in confusion.

"Mi~Na~To~" a gravelly voice snarled.

Minato yelped, jumped away, snagged the two children, and Hirashined like his life was in danger. To him, it was. Kami he loved her, but he healthily feared a freshly woken Kushina.

Panting, Minato collapsed onto the stool behind him. Laughter boomed behind him. Kakashi was groaning and gagging from the ground. Minashi was patting his back soothingly, only a little dizzy herself.

"Did you wake her up before her third cup again Minato?" Teuchi called from the stove. "I thought you learned that lesson years ago?"

Minato whimpered. "Mina-chan and Kakashi-kun finished sooner than I thought." He explained and helped the two kids up onto the stools and looked to the smirking Teuchi. "Pork please."

Teuchi nodded and looked to the kids. "Three Miso please." Minashi asked. Teuchi raised a brow.

"Just three?" He'd seen how much that child could put away already.

Minashi blinked at him. "I'll order more at Lunch. Nii-san forgot to pack us some, so we'll be back."

"We can't have Ramen for breakfast and lunch." Kakashi stated. "Miso too but with eggplant please."

"Hai hai." Teuchi nodded and went to work.

"Ramen is food of the Gods." Minashi deadpanned. "It is to be eaten for every meal. Sadly, to be a good Shinobi, I must also turn towards other healthy options to achieve that goal."

"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." Minashi growled and Kakashi gulped passed his dry throat when he found a Kunai at his throat. Where had she gotten that?

"OI!" Minato spluttered around his tea he'd ordered while they were fighting. His hand quickly took it back from Minashi with a reprimanding look. It was better than trying to figure out how he didn't notice she'd pinched one from him.

"No threatening comrades with weapons." Minato scolded.

Minashi just narrowed her eyes at Kakashi. He took his escape by a well timed Teuchi with his breakfast.

Minashi hummed and turned to her own food. Three bowls were quickly devoured by the time Minato and Kakashi were done. Much happier with a full stomach, she waited for Minato to be done before hopping up onto his left shoulder.

"Onward!" she shouted happily.

"You have feet." Kakashi snipped up at Minashi right as the trio headed for the academy.

Minashi stuck her tongue 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 confused. "That doesn't make sense."

"Now Mina-chan-" Minato tried to stop the argument going on between them with him literally between them. At the same time he was happy to see his Imouto expressing herself more. Especially after last night's screams that came from her room. Kami he never wanted to hear that sound from her again.

"Yes it does." Minashi said and crossed her arms. Trusting Minato's arm on her ankles to keep her in place. That and her own chakra sticking 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." Minashi smirked.

Kakashi growled. "Am Not!"

"Prove it." Minashi gave a sharp tooth grin. He was just so easy to goad.

Kakashi paused and Minato, with Minashi still on his shoulder, stopped to glance at the boy. Minato wisely kept his opinion to himself. He wasn't quite sure what was going on, but he felt slightly insulted.

"Minato-san," Kakashi started softly. "Can I please have a ride too?"

Minato softened and lowered. "Hai~" he called happily. Kakashi gently hopped on and once a hand was firmly latched onto his locks, he stood back up and continued walking. Two Five years olds on each shoulder.

The sappy grin on his face showed just how pleased he was to be carrying to kids on his shoulders. It also called out to some of his lingering fan girls. Though they were smart enough not to approach. Kushina was not a Kunoichi to mess with. So instead they gossiped at how adorable the kids were. How much of a good father Minato would make one day. He was already a good Nii-san.

When Minato finally dropped them off, he left for his Patrol duty with the best mood, and a smile that no bad attitude of his grumpy teammates could wipe off.