Minashi's new background

Kakashi had been woken by the not so muffled sobs coming from the room next to his. He debated with himself for a few moments about just letting the weirdo cry herself to sleep. Then she cried out for her nii-san. Something in him clenched tight. Tou-san had brought her here without anyone else. Was she brought here alone? Did she lose her family? Letting out a quiet sigh, he moved to her room and attempted to comfort her. Once again the blonde doll had latched onto him and burrowed into his neck. He went to grumbled, but then he got a whiff of her scent. It wasn't just sunshine. She smelled of a fresh breeze sweeping through a meadow of wildflowers. It surprisingly calmed him.

When she admitted that she missed her Nii-san, Kakashi didn't know what to say. He never had a brother or sister. He didn't know what to say or do. But he'd seen others just hold another until tears stopped. So he decided to try it. But his curiosity got the better of him.

"What happened to him?" He asked and wanted to kick himself when her scent filled with sadness and the scent of her tears once again filled the air. He encouraged her gently, a nickname rolling off his tongue against his better judgement. "Mina-chan?"

To hear her admit that her brother was dead was like a punch to the gut. She was alone.

"I'm Sorry, I shouldn't have-" Kakashi tried to back track. He didn't want to make her cry more. Nevertheless, she continued to talk. How her brother saved her. How he wasn't just an older brother. He was her twin.

"I'm no Nii-san, but I can be your friend. I can protect you for your Nii-san." Kakashi found himself saying to the sad doll in his arms. His hands had a mind of their own as they threaded through her soft locks. They were like silk and every brush sent her scent into a whirlwind. Every stroke brought out a different scent, like those that blew on the breeze through the meadow. His eyes got heavy as he made it a promise to her.

The sun woke him in the morning. Carefully Kakashi slipped away from the doll to get ready for the day. He needed to get back to training so that he'd be ready for the academy. Also, just because the Golden doll was living with them now didn't mean that he'd alter his schedule for her. So he returned to his room, changed, and headed down to see if his tou-san was making breakfast. He had to force himself to move away from her. It was strange and worrisome. He pushed the weird thoughts away and focused on his routine.

Minashi felt when Kakashi left her. He took the warmth with him. Minashi let him be. She wanted to recompose herself. She had absently felt Sakumo outside her room after she woke up from her nightmare, but now she needed to think on how she was going to cover up her slip.

'I guess I can just tell the truth. That way I would be able to talk about Naruto to a certain extent.' She thought as she watched the sun rise through her window. Mind made up, she got up and grabbed a pair of clothes. She picked the orange yukata style dress and leggings paired with shinobi sandals. Slipping out of her room, she found the bathroom and made quick work of taking a shower, dressing, and brushing out her long hair. Twirling the brush in her hand, she absently wished that Naruto was there to do her hair like he did when they were kids. It then changed to Sakura, Tsunade, Minato, and lastly was Kakashi.

Shyly she held the brush to her chest as she walked to the scent of Sakumo and Kakashi. She really wanted someone to do her hair. Not only was it routine, but it was soothing.

Poking her head into the kitchen, she saw Kakashi up on a chair helping Sakumo chopping vegetables while the older silver worked with a frying pan. She could smell the eggs from her spot at the door.

"You can come in Minashi-chan." Sakumo called softly, kind smile on his lips as he glanced over to her.

Minashi stepped in and toed at the floor.

"Do you need something?" Sakumo asked as he squatted down to her level. Minashi looked up at him and showed him the brush. "Do you need help with your hair?"

Minashi shrugged. Sakumo hummed and looked at the long locks to see them sans-tangles.

"Do you want me to braid it?"

Minashi looked up at Sakumo with hopeful eyes. "Please?"

Sakumo smiled. "Give me just a moment to finish breakfast so you and Kakashi can eat while I do your hair."

"Hai." Minashi mumbled as she went to the chair Sakumo guided her to.

A few moments later, Kakashi was sitting across from her, a plate was in front of her, and another set was set between them on the end for Sakumo.

Minashi almost purred when Sakumo's long fingers brushed through her hair and began braiding it back.

"Saki-chan going to eat?" Minashi mumbled absently.

Sakumo chuckled. "It will hold. Your hair will not. You have very silky hair. It needs to be done while it's still wet or it will never stay."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow at Sakumo over Minashi's head. "How do you know that tou-san?"

Sakumo's fingers paused in Minashi's hair, but only for a fraction of a second.

"Your Kaa-chan's hair was similar in texture. She always asked me to braid it for her." He said softly.

Kakashi's eyes widened.

"Your hair is similar in texture to hers, but it has my thickness." He reached over and ruffled the gravity defying tufts. "Thus why it's so hard to do much with."

"You don't talk about Kaa-chan." Kakashi said softly.

Minashi peeked open an eye to see Kakashi sans-mask, but ignored it for the hopeful spark in his eyes. Her Kakashi never really knew much about his mother. Said that his father would always change the subject. All she had done was ask for him to do her hair, and Sakumo was already changing his relationship with Kakashi.

"When you lose someone you love with all your heart, it's hard to talk about them." Sakumo said softly as he continued to work through Minashi's hair.

Kakashi nodded and went back to his breakfast. Minashi let her's be. She would eat with Sakumo since he was doing her hair.

When he was finished, she had two braids along her skull and down her back brushing her calves.

"Done." Sakumo smiled and patted her head. "Now eat, before it gets colder."

"Hai Saki-chan." Minashi sighed and got to eating.

Sakumo grunted at the nickname but ate his own food.

After cleaning up the dishes together, all three headed to the back of the compound where an indoor Dojo opened up into a decent sized Training field. Kakashi didn't wait for the other two to go out and begin practicing his Katas in the low grass.

Minashi sat on the engawa of the Dojo as Kakashi slowly went through the Hatake Clan style. She felt Sakumo join her to watch him go through them with a keen eye.

"The Hokage says that you can join the academy in a few days. The paperwork and blood tests just need to be finished."

"Hai." Minashi mumbled as her mind and heart fought to not sink into melancholy. She could see Her Kakashi in the way Kashi-chan was moving slowly. Three decades of hard work, skills, experiences, and training were missing. However, she could see it. This was his foundation.

"Have you had any training Mina-chan?" Sakumo asked softly in the morning air.

"Some." She answered as his voice brought her back from her memories. She remembered her story and scrunched up her nose in fake thought. "Tou-san taught Nii-san and I." she answered.

Sakumo nodded and gestured to the training field. "If you are up to it, feel free to practice."

Minashi glanced at Sakumo, giving him a soft smile before moving to a space near Kakashi but leaving plenty of room for each of their own katas to flow.

Some training. Sakumo thought sarcastically as he watched the little golden star swiftly move through her own katas. The ease and efficiency with how she went through them was not just some training. But he couldn't be sure about it until he saw her in action.

"One more run through. Then I want you two to spar."

"Hai Tou-san." Kakashi called and went through them. Sakumo nodded and looked to the silent girl to see blue eyes on him.

"Minashi?" he asked when she didn't move.

"Hai." She mumbled and went through her own katas once more.

A few minutes later, the two children were facing one another in their own stances. Sakumo frowned at Minashi. Now that he really focused, something seemed familiar about her stance.

"Begin." He called out and Kakashi leapt after Minashi. Sakumo sighed, he needed to work on Kakashi's patience- His thoughts were abruptly halted when Minashi moved. She moved with experience, but like water flowing in a river. Smooth, precise, deadly.

Kakashi was on the ground on his stomach with Minashi's knee on his back and one of Kakashi's arm locked against her smaller frame.

Kakashi blinked. Sakumo blinked. Minashi cursed in her head. She tried to hold back. Even in a smaller form, her mind was still trained beyond the years of her body. If it was anyone else she would have lost due to her miscalculations in her smaller frame, but as it was, she was facing another child. Mistakes were made. But still she knew she took Kakashi down too easily.

"Some training Minashi-chan?" Sakumo called out. The skepticism and sarcasm was thick in his tone of voice. Minashi looked to him to see him with an unimpressed look, but twitching lips.

Minashi gave a sheepish look and released Kakashi. He glared at her from the ground, but she just smiled at him softly and offered a hand up. To her surprise, he took it.

"Again." Kakashi demanded. Warmth lit up in Minashi.

"Hai." She smiled back. And again they did go at it. Punches, kicks, sweeps, dodges. Taijutsu in their clan styles were almost similar. Both were still missing elements. Kakashi didn't know it yet and had developed his own off of the Hatake. He hadn't wanted to use his father's tanto any longer and had to adjust without it. Minashi's was the Uzumaki style that was aided with seals and kenjutsu. Although, her taijutsu wasn't in its final form. She had changed it later in her life to accommodate the Whirlpool Fist, Fox Kata, the Namikaze speed practices and her original brawler style mixed in to keep everything unpredictable.

Sakumo already knew what Kakashi's was missing, but the longer he looked at Minashi, the more he began to realize who it reminded him of. The piece of the puzzle slowly began to piece together. One that Sakumo was sure the Hokage probably already had all the pieces to.

"Alright, that's enough for this morning." Sakumo called out half an hour before the academy would begin. "Kakashi go get cleaned up. You too Minashi."

"Hai." They both called out and jogged back inside. Once out of hearing range, Sakumo summoned one of his messenger wolves. Kyo, a beautiful white wolf appeared in a small cloud. She was considered the runt of her litter when she was a pup, but they soon learned that she was not as weak as she appeared. Her smaller and leaner form gave her speed and flexibility. Add that to her intelligent mind, and she could always outsmart her opponents.

"Kyo, I need you to pass a message to the Hokage."

"Hai, Sakumo-sama."

"Tell him that Minashi had a memory dream. She spoke of a twin brother. Also she remembers her father. Lastly, I have confirmation that one parent was an Uzumaki. She knows the Uzumaki Whirlpool Fist Taijutsu."

"Hai, I'll be quick. Should I wait for a response?"

"Yes. I would like to know how he would like to handle this new information. Also check to see if her blood work is back. That is all."

Kyo bowed her head in a nod, turned and in a blur of white, disappeared into the brush headed for the Hokage Tower.

Sakumo headed back inside and waited for Kakashi and Minashi near the door. He didn't have to wait long. They returned a few moments ready to head out. Kakashi by his side and Minashi looking up at him shyly.

"Saki-chan?"

"Yes Minashi-chan?"

"Can I have a ride?"

Sakumo smiled kindly and lifted her up into his arm. His free hand resting on Kakashi's head. Together, the group made their way through the village. Sakumo remembered when Kakashi declared himself too big to be carried. He'd never admit it out loud, but he missed those times. So indulging this sweet little star in a few rides while she was still a kid, would sooth some of the yearning of his father instincts.

Fully awake this time, Minashi took in the village with wide eyes. While most of it was the same, it was missing all the scars she remembered it having. But then she remembered that Kurama had not yet been forced to attack.

It was also strange to Minashi. People were smiling and waving good morning. While there was still an underlying tension about the upcoming war, there was no hate directed at her.

[They don't know you hold me.] Kurama grumbled in Minashi's head. Minashi's eyes widened at the obvious answer.

'Thank you for that reminder. Sleep well?' she asked in return as her small group walked through the village.

Hn. He grunted and Minashi slipped into her mindscape. There she found her fox readjusting in his cave. Her smile turned honestly happy to see him looking much better. She glanced around at her scape and saw that he'd also been at work. The forest had grown again.

'Doing some housekeeping?' she inquired.

[Yes. I can multitask even when sleeping. Now that you have all of my chakra plus an extra half, I've been working on balancing out the Yang chakra to the level of the Yin.]

'Ah. How's it looking?'

Kurama opened one red eye to regard her mindscape form.

[Slowly but surely. It will take a few years to fully balance it all out. We cannot do the Bijuu cloak again until it has finished. Also, do not even attempt Sage mode until after you hit puberty.]

Minashi pouted up at the fox. 'seriously?'

[Do you want to turn to stone?] He raised a brow at her as a tail flicked out lazily towards her. She easily ducked it with a sigh.

'No.'

[Then no Sage Mode. Patience Minashi.]

Minashi snorted. 'That is something that will never change. I have patience during a fight, but with everything else? Fuck that shit.'

Kurama rolled his eyes and lifted a paw to her. [Patience brat. Now, get out. You're at the academy.] With a flick of his claw, she was rudely shoved out of her mind.

Blinking, Minashi realized they had arrived and Kakashi was glaring at the screaming children all running around the yard waiting for classes to begin.

"Tou-san" Kakashi began on a sigh that was bordering a whine.

"Deal with it Kakashi. You need friends your age. These will also become your comrades one day."

Kakashi groaned, but stopped when Minashi grabbed his hand. He glanced over to her to see a smile on her face.

"Soon Kashi. I'll be here soon to keep you company." Minashi grinned.

Kakashi huffed and pulled away. "I don't need a girl to keep me company."

Minashi only raised a brow. "Only one to kick your ass?"

"Minashi." Sakumo barked firmly. "language."

Minashi startled and looked at him innocently. "But it's true."

Sakumo sighed and rubbed his temple. Why did he have a feeling that once this child was comfortable, the Uzumaki in her would shine. He winced at the memories of his own Genin Uzumaki. Another long sigh left him in defeat.

Minashi smirked and looked back to Kakashi. Before he could escape her again, she launched at him and held him in a death hug.

Kakashi yelped as they toppled to the ground. "Get, OFF!" Kakashi snarled and Minashi giggled as they moved into a wrestling match. Minashi was yanked off like Velcro as Kakashi huffed and glared at her.

"Bye bye Inu!" Minashi giggled and Kakashi's face flamed as a few of the mothers near giggled.

With another snarled Kakashi turned and stomped off. She watched as a few boys went up to him and showed their sympathy for his 'little sister' embarrassing him. Them knowing a similar feeling. Minashi just grinned triumphant when Kakashi continued walking with them inside.

Sakumo turned and they headed away.

"You did that on purpose." He accused softly.

"Hm." She replied, not agreeing or disagreeing.

"Sakumo-sama." A voice called from a nearby tree. Sakumo turned and Minashi looked at the beautiful white wolf lounging on the lower branch. Was she a wolf or cat? Minashi idly thought at the cat like perch the wolf had chosen.

"Ah, Kyo-chan. Hokage-sama gave his response then?"

"Hai. Blood test results are back. He also wishes for you to bring Mina-chan back for another scan. They would like to put a face to her parents and brother."

"Understood. Thank you Kyo." The wolf nodded and Sakumo looked to the golden star in his arm. "Looks like we get to go see the Hokage again Minashi-chan.

"Hai." She mumbled as she turned her face back to bury against his vest. Sakumo sighed but decided a shunshin was better this time than walking. They arrived outside the Hokage's office and were promptly let inside.

Sarutobi smiled at the two as they took a seat before his desk. Minashi calmly staying on Sakumo's lap.

"Hello Mina-chan. I heard you had a hard night." Sarutobi smiled gently.

Minashi nodded shyly. "I remembered some things." She muttered as real emotions filled her eyes and voice. "Nii-san." She whimpered. "Nii-san gave his life so I could get away."

Sarutobi felt his heart soften at the honest feelings that she was displaying. This wasn't part of her act. She was really hurting.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Sarutobi asked "While we talk about it, Sakumo can find the family members we found that you are related to here."

Minashi looked up into warm brown eyes before she nodded. Sarutobi opened his arms and with a few quick steps, she was down from Sakumo's lap, around the desk, and back into Sarutobi's lap.

Sarutobi looked at Sakumo and tossed him a scroll. "Their names are on the scroll with their summons orders to my office. Take your time. Inojiro was already called for another scan so they will have to wait anyways."

"Hai." Sakumo said through his tight throat.

Sarutobi saw his tense form and gave the younger man a calming smile. "Relax Sakumo, you will still be her guardian. Her relatives are not old enough to take custody of her."

Sakumo's shoulders sagged. "Thank you Hokage-sama."

"Hai, Hai, now head out. Mina-chan and I have a talk to have."

Sakumo was gone in a swirl of leaves.

"Out." Sarutobi ordered to his hidden ANBU. When Sarutobi felt their signature leave his office he activated the privacy seals and then looked to the child curled up in his lap, half hidden under his haori.

"Mina-chan?"

"I dreamed of the past. Of our childhood. We didn't have a good one. Us being Kurama's containers wasn't a secret, no matter how much you had had it ordered as such. We were still bullied by children. Scorned and hated by adults, and treated worse than the dirt Konoha rested on. Nevertheless, I always had Naruto. Naruto always had me. As we grew older, we gained precious people. Our academy sensei, Iruka Umino, was the only person to treat us with kindness. When another sensei tricked us into stealing the forbidden scroll, Iruka-sensei believed us. He then acknowledged that we were us, not the fox we contained. But that was the first night I'd ever seen Naruto get angry for something not related to me. But I was right there with him. Iruka saw my silly brother as his own person and he saw me for me. Not just as Naruto's sister. Then there was team assignments." Minashi smile turned a bit victorious.

"It was the first battle of logic I won against you. You wanted to separate us, but Naruto and I didn't want to be separated. How could we protect each other if we were separated? I used the fox as an excuse. Said that I could control Naruto and Naruto could control me. Also who else other than Kakashi could control us? Later Sasuke could be right there as the last two Sharingan users. It felt so good to win against you. I think you had already had it planned that way, but needed an excuse." She shrugged at the end.

Sarutobi just sat and listened as she spoke of all the trouble her and Naruto used to get into as children. The love and lightness in her gaze was shadowed by grief, but he knew she needed this. Needed someone to talk to about her brother.

There was a knock at the door sometime later. Sarutobi recognized the signature as Inojiro and let him in before resealing the room.

"Minashi-san." Inojiro nodded in a slight bow.

"Inojiro-san." Minashi greeted back and looked at the Hokage. "Are we really doing another mind scan?"

Sarutobi chuckled. "No. We are here to discuss your family tree and finish getting your story together for when you meet your new Nii-san and Nee-san."

"Ah." Minashi mumbled.

"Now, according to the records that were recovered from Uzushio and the body count, there were still many that were unaccounted for and presumed dead."

Minashi nodded as she remembered Karin and Nagato. She'd have to look for them in the future once she got Sage Mode back. She knew their signatures, but also knew that one was just a toddler and another was dealing with re-starting Akatsuki as a criminal organization.

"Uzumaki Michi was the youngest son of the Uzumaki Clan head, youngest brother to Uzumaki Mito. He married Uzumaki Namika. They had three Sons. Both elder sons bodies were confirmed dead during the fall of Uzushio. Uzumaki Kenta, the youngest son, was assumed dead as well. This will be your Uzumaki father."

"Okay. But wont that put my blood too far from Kushina's?"

Sarutobi smiled. "No, Namika had a younger brother. Uzumaki Shouta. He was Married to Uzumaki Miyuki, Kushina's mother."

Minashi frowned as she looked at Sarutobi. "So~ my Great uncle is also my First cousin?"

"Hai." Sarutobi smirked.

Minashi scrunched up her nose at him. "Clans are weird." Sarutobi and Inojiro chuckled.

"Some yes." Inojiro said smiling. "Those with Bloodlines are more interwoven than others, but they still have to keep some distance between relatives or else birth defects out way the bloodline. The Yamanaka, Nara, and Akimichi aren't are strict on marrying within the clan. I believe the Aburame clan is the same, but it also takes a special someone to want to have their children introduce bugs into their body right after birth."

"Inuzuka Clan don't care who marries into the clan." Sarutobi added and cleared his throat.

"Back on topic. With Shouta-san being Kushina's father, it puts you two closer as blood relatives. Now for Kenta-san, we will say that Michi-san died during the fall of Uzushio after transferring the Kyuubi chakra to Kenta-san and ordering him to leave. Kenta-san leaves and disappears from the radar. When he's older, he finds a dying Namikaze Seina and takes her in. They make you. Seina-san dies during childbirth, leaving your elder twin brother Naruto and you as the first Blonde Uzumaki's born. Kenta-san finds it easier to hide you both that way. A simple henge when travelling and the rest is whatever you shall choose to reveal." Sarutobi finished and handed the family tree scroll to Minashi. Within the scroll also laid forged birth certificates.

"Birth certificates?" She questioned softly.

"Yes. We will say that we found a scroll with you. Only Sakumo and his team are aware that you arrived without a stitch of clothing. All else fails, Kenta-san taught you some seals to hide on your body."

Minashi pursed her lips in thought. "It will work. Did Kushina know Kenta-san?"

"Not that we are aware of. She was sent to Konoha with the Kyuubi-"

"Kurama."

"Kurama" Sarutobi corrected. "-when she was still a child. Kenta-san would have been only a few years older than her."

Minashi sighed and nodded as she closed the scroll and held it close. "So this will biologically say that I'm the youngest sister to Namikaze Minato and First cousin to Uzumaki Kushina."

"Or niece." Inojiro said smiling. Minashi frowned at him.

"I don't think it works like that." She said confused.

Sarutobi chuckled. "No, but Uzumaki's are strange that way. Kushina will put together that her father was your great uncle and start calling you niece."

Minashi raised a doubtful brow at the two men. "How do you figure that?"

Sarutobi smiled. "We know our resident Uzumaki very well."

Minashi blinked and just nodded blankly. "So how long are you going to make them wait? Sakumo returned with them ten minutes ago."

Sarutobi hummed and lit his pipe. Minashi rolled her eyes and covered her face with part of his Haori to filter the smell.

"Let them stew a bit longer. Also, I wanted to give you your papers for the academy. You start in two days."

"Wonderful." Minashi said sarcastically.

"Also, Inojiro is here to also set up appointments with you for therapy."

Minashi winced and looked at the sheepish blonde.

"Where would you prefer them to take place Minashi-san?"

"A sealed room, or a room I could seal."

Inojiro nodded and tilted his head in thought. "My office is already sealed with privacy barriers for such visits. Will that work?"

"Hai."

"Since you will be attending the academy, I can see you Saturday mornings instead."

Minashi frowned but nodded. "Okay. No longer than two hours a week though."

Inojiro smiled kindly. "I will not force you to talk. It will be for however long or short you wish the session to be."

MInashi relaxed at this. "Alright."

Inojiro bowed slightly. "Then I will dismiss myself. Hokage-sama. Minashi-san, I will see you in five days for your first appointment."

"Send Namikaze-san and Uzumaki-san in with Sakumo when you leave." Sarutobi ordered even as Minashi covered herself more with his Haori. She wasn't sure if she was really ready to see her parents yet or not. Or older siblings now.