Kushina Uzumaki shivered as the Uzumaki washed away from the shore with the gentle bob of the
sea. It was always cold in the land of whirlpools, her home. At least the water had finally been consoled
though. In all, it was a rather vindictive beast. It reminded Kushina of an angry woman. Always falling into a rage
whenever something annoyed her, like the boats, and then, as if the wind were her lover, he would come and
lull her to peace. She would have found it sweet if it wasn’t the cause for the terrible weather.
“So we’re finally going to the land of fire…,” She muttered into her orange scarf.
Her father said nothing, merely watched her from the end of the boat while her sister grinned at the
disappearing sand.
None spoke until Kushina, suffocated by silence,
breathed, “Father, Look at the shore! Isn’t it beautiful? Are you even looking father?”
She turned and frowned to find him in slumber, his legs spread and his head back against the edge of the
boat. Just that fast sleep had reclaimed him. Kushina didn’t see how that was possible however since he had
already slept for half the ride. Still it didn’t surprise her. He often fell into his naps whenever the scenery was
lovely. It was simply his way.
“Well, you must be excited right sis?”
“Oh, honestly Kushina, It’s the same beach we see every day when we come home, get over it.”
“I’m not talking about the beach! I’m talking about our journey to the land of fire. Aren’t you even a little excited?
Her sister’s voice died away but Kushina didn’t let it take her hopes with it. Yes, she was a little excited and
yes she had seen this beach a million times but it still made her cheerful and she wanted to express that with
someone who felt the same. Apparently, those people were not her family.
“You’re so boring, you and dad.”
Her sister snickered and rubbed her gloved hands
together as a cloud of her breath came from beneath the blue scarf she wore, “I’m boring?”
“Yes, you’re boring. Lighten up.”
“Why don’t you?” Nasai quipped.
Never one to relinquish a challenge, Kushina laughed. “I will.”
Kushina stood without thinking for even a second, shaking the boat with her weight and stripped her jackets
and sweaters from her body. She lastly slipped her scarf away and looked at her sister with obnoxious dark eyes.
Her red hair drifted behind her and reached for the sky while Kushinas smile broadened. To her
disappointment, her sister was smiling just as overconfidently as she was.
“What is wrong with you? You know your cold!”
“Not really,”
She leapt from the boat in a neat flip and landed on her feet on the water, amused at her sisters shocked
expression.
“I thought you were going to jump in…,” She exhaled,
“Don’t do that! And put your clothes back on before father sees you!”
Obediently, Kushina sighed and zipped her coats back on over her fishnet body suit, grumbling to herself.
Her muttering was ignored as usual and she spent the remainder of the ride this way. Speaking only when she
was asked a question. With the hum of the misty ocean as the only noise, the hum quickly put her to sleep. She
woke to a vibrant but serious deep voice that came from above her, then a child’s voice.
“She doesn’t look like much of a shinobi…”
“She’s a kunoichi,” An even deeper voiced laughed.
Where am I? Are we there already?
She sat up and stared into bright gray eyes. The
surprise showed in her face and she jumped back, almost tumbling off the boat were she not caught by her
wrist. Now that her eyes were wide open, she took in her whereabouts. A gray haired child stood at the foot of the
older gentleman that had startled her. The gentleman's brown and gray head was hidden under his hokages hat and the robe he wore made it obvious that he was to be regarded highly. The young man beside him was the one who caught her wrist, dressed in a Jounins attire. His sharp blue eyes were as smooth as the sky above her and his smile was uneasy as he held her in mid action with one foot poised on the boat.
“Minato, this is Uzumaki, Kushina. She's from the land of
whirlpools. She's come to make an alliance with our village,”
Minato nodded his understanding while the words drifted away. He had no interest in her purpose here, just
the fact that she was here was enough. He had waited for hours and days for her to arrive, eager to see the hokage
in action signing a paper or negotiating. He wanted to know what his future job was going to be like.
“Kushina this is Namikaze, Minato. He’s my successor in any case. While I talk to your father I'll have him escort you
around the village,” His gray eyes gleamed with something that was in between a warning for their youth
and urgency against fraternizing and the grin on his face widened, “I’m sure he’ll make you feel at home.”
The young man,Minato, whom she now noticed was blond with neat spikes and eyes of translucent blue
stone, didn't like the words his leader spoke. She could feel an altering in his posture, minute as it was, and it
was a give away to his feelings and personality. Someone who was used to forced patience and
acceptance.
Not at all like me..., she thought in bemusment.
“But lord Hokage you said-“
“Yes, I know but it appears I'll need this time for myself. “
“Understood.”
A rapid pull sent Kushina from the boat and onto the
aged dock on her feet again, making her forget just how soft the his hands were. Her handsome stranger was
impatient after all. And apparently somewhat hindered at her presence. As though he had to put out a fire rather
than deal with one. For a moment she found it amusing, then realized that, to him, she was in the way. Just as she
had been with her family. With her mood soured, she looked away to her sister whose face had darkened more
so than on the boat. It would have scared her, if she had known the reason for the dark glaze on her pale face.
Instead she brushed it off and settled on being mildly disturbed, watching her father and sister leave with the
Hokage. As she watched them disappear into the breezy summer sun, their footsteps thudded in sync with her
nervous heart. Never before had her family's departure jarred her so much. But this time was different. They had
left her with a stranger who had no obvious intention to play chaperon.
Dammit...I guess I should act as though I was raised by royalty.
She held out her hand and smiled so wide she had to close her eyes, "It's nice to meet you, Minato."
She didn't hear him move so she opened her eyes to find him still in front of her, an inch or so taller, and half
smiling as though she had announced she was a female and had eyes, "What is it?"
"Your smile." He muttered the way a painter would comment a painting that needed something he couldn't
find. He was studying her.
"You want me to frown?"
"No."
"Well then what the hell is-oops."She slapped her lips
with her hands so hard they throbbed under her fingers. Here she was trying to make a good impression and she
had just cussed at the Hokages minion. Oh, I cant believe I just said that!
"You don't act very much like any other female, Kushina Uzumaki."
Her light blue eyes darted to his smiling face in a fury of the many ideas that ran through her head of hurting him.
"I'm not just any female."She snapped, "And I-I didn't mean to cuss at you I..."
"It's fine," His expression sobered back to the face he had when he had caught her by her wrist, restrained interest,
"The Hokages not here after all now is he?"
A seagull screamed overhead and glided into the water
to capture a small silver fish while the breeze around them brushed their loose hair and clothing in various
directions of the gleam of the sun. The same sun that was now beaming in her eyes, making Minato look as
though he were bathed in some ethereal water with the fluidity and firmness of light.
She found herself smiling without remembering her slightly swollen pink lips.
"I guess so...so who are you really?" She asked. He was too close to the Hokage to simply be a minion.
"I'm Minato Namikaze, your escort, right now. We probably wont see much of each other after this and if we do you'll
find out the answer to that question soon enough."
"Secretive." She grumbled, turning her back to him and
warming it in the glow of the sun.
"Shy." he mused.
Before she could sulk she picked up the sound of his footsteps starting towards her again. She turned to face
him instinctively, and found the sunlight blinding her, "That's a lie."
"It's the truth." He countered conversationally, taking her hand and leading her from the gleam of the sun so she
could see him clearly, and intently. But the link of their hands frightened her and she shook him off protectively,
"Sorry But I'm..."
"Shy?" He asked chuckling.
Her cheeks burned sapphire as she narrowed her red brows, "A little."
"That's a lie."
He took her hand again and this time waited a moment
for her to react, but she didn't other than looking down red faced, so he began to lead her towards the village and off the heavy planks of the dock.
She only hadn't reacted because she was suddenly reminded from his intense eyes, of the dark glower of her
sisters face. What was that?
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Story notes: Indeed there have been many of these stories lol. But I find it a lot easier to write one now that we've been allowed into Minatos head a little in the recent chapters and know a lot more about Narutos parents in general. Of course I may be wrong or outlandish to some but hey, what you read is what you get. lol. Just try to enjoy ^_^ I will listen to ALL feedback
Chapter notes: enjoy ^_^
Chapter end notes: Enjoy!!!!! and comment!