Warnings: Scenes of a violent and sexual nature, graphic imagery, gender bending.

Pairing: Kakashi/Female!Naruto

Summary: AU. Naruto was born, and thus the Kyuubi attack occurred, a few years earlier than in canon. Minato did not die in the sealing but the council forces his hand and his worst nightmares come to life. Naruto's father might be alive, and she is very obviously the apple of his eye, but her childhood is the furthest thing from easy or happy.

Author's Note: This fic is actually quite fluffy and light-hearted overall. Very little angst here folks. All I really wanted to do was set up a universe that I've been itching to write. If there's interest, I might be persuaded into writing a sequel ;)

Chapter Ten: The Ruler And The Killer, Baby

A prisoner of war is someone who tries to kill you and fails, and then asks you not to kill him.

Winston Churchill

Azuma Shinji strained against his bindings and glared up at his captors. He was alone, separated from the rest of his team, and surrounded by Konoha ninja.

The mission had been a failure. When he had heard that the Namikaze brat was back in Konoha, rage that only thoughts of that cursed family could provoke had boiled inside Shinji. Namikaze Minato had slaughtered his uncle and father in one of the most underhanded and despicable ways. Yes, being a ninja was a high risk job but you usually had the opportunity to at least try to defend yourself against an attack.

Namikaze took that away, essentially depriving ninja of their rights. It was amoral and cowardly and Namikaze deserved to burn in hell for such using such underhanded tactics. The bastard didn't even have the guts to oversee the interrogation himself. Instead, Shinji was surrounded by lackeys. Little did he know that Minato was there, watching from a side room along with Jiraiya, Kakashi, Naruto and Itachi.

"I am so glad the Yamanaka's are on our side," Naruto suppressed a shudder as she watched Inoichi breach the prisoner's mind.

"Their jutsu are creepy."

"But effective," Jiraiya murmured, his attention focused on the interrogation. "Although if Iwa is planning a coup as well then we might have our hands full."

"Fending off both Iwa and Suna?" Minato snorted. "Yeah that might be just a little bit problematic."

"We'll just sic Gaara on Suna," Naruto waved a hand in dismissal of the threat they posed. "They're all scared shitless of him anyway. And all you need to do, Papa, is breathe in Iwa's direction and they'd scatter."

"My daughter, the strategist," Minato rolled his eyes but couldn't help the fond smile that curved his lips when he caught Naruto's unrepentantly cheeky grin.

"Come on, let's leave Inoichi to do his job. We have a strategy meeting to get to." Minato said after a moment and the rest of the group nodded their assent. It wasn't long before they had reconvened in Minato's office along with Hokage's personal guard, current ANBU captains, Nara Shikaku and Tsunade.

"Baa-chan!" Naruto grinned, wide and cheeky, when she spotted the older woman. "Is that another wrinkle I'm seeing?"

"Watch your mouth, brat," Tsunade scowled at Naruto but she couldn't hold the expression for long and it soon faded into a smile.

"How've you been, Naru?"

"Great!" Naruto proclaimed. "I have so much to tell you!"

"Is that right?" Tsunade shot a sidelong glance at the girl who was like a daughter to her then lowered her voice, bending to whisper in Naruto's ear. "Does any of it have to do with your new boyfriend?"

"News travels fast," Naruto managed to keep her voice steady even as a light blush stained her cheeks. "It's barely been more than a week…"

"Well I'm happy for you, brat," Tsunade laughed. "You two are practically made for each other."

"I'm glad you think so," Naruto smiled and would have said more but Minato called the room to order.

"Okay," Minato said as he settled into his seat and let his gaze sweep over the gathered ninja. "We all know why we're here to let's cut straight to the chase. Jiraiya, what information do you have?"

"The troubling kind," Jiraiya replied, uncharacteristically solemn. "Orochimaru is in Konoha."

A murmur spread through the room at this and Minato frowned, his lips thinning in a sign of his displeasure.

"You're sure about this?" Minato asked.

"I'm afraid so," Jiraiya nodded.

"How did that bastard get past security?" Tsunade asked and Jiraiya shrugged.

"The only way I can think of is that he's in disguise, and a very good one," Jiraiya replied. "Who exactly he's impersonating is anybody's guess."

"We think we might have an idea," Naruto said after exchanging a look with her father. "Gaara said that his father hasn't really been himself the last few months. Add that to this attack they're planning and we have a pretty good idea of whose face Orochimaru is wearing."

"There's one problem with that," Shikaku spoke up. "While I don't doubt that Orochimaru plans to wear the Kazekage's face eventually, it's no secret that he's after the sharingan first and foremost."

"You think he will attack Sasuke?" Kakashi's brows furrowed as he caught on to what Shikaku was suggesting.

"If he plans to do so, the best time would be during the second stage of the exams," Itachi spoke and, while his expression was neutral, there was a tightness in his jaw that hinted at the anger he was supressing.

"Itachi is right," Shikaku agreed. "The contestants are at the most risk during the second stage of the exam. Orochimaru will make his move then."

"Unfortunately for him, the no-interference rules are void when a legitimate threat is made against one of the contestants," Minato replied and his smirk was echoed by the rest of the room.

"So let's get a team together to keep a look out for our missing Sannin."

"Hokage-sama," Itachi immediately spoke up. "I gladly volunteer for this duty."

"Of course," Minato inclined his head in acknowledgement.

"Me too," Naruto added and Minato nodded his agreement.

"Kakashi, you join them as well and there'll also be an ANBU squad patrolling as back-up. Orochimaru is dangerous and I don't want to take any chances." Minato explained.

"Yes, sensei." Kakashi gave a shallow bow of acknowledgment and met Naruto's gaze, sharing a quick smile with his girlfriend before returning his attention to the meeting.

From there the talks progressed to strategies they could employ against Suna and possible ways to deal with the combined Suna/Iwa threat. Gaara turning to their side was a huge boost for Konoha and he would be a valuable ally for them no matter how everything played out. Sure, Orochimaru was still out there but you only had to glance at Itachi to see that the Snake Sannins days were numbered.

The threat from Akatsuki was slightly more worrying. The missing-nin that made up the organisation were no joke and would be difficult to defeat. Difficult, but not impossible. After all, the Hokage was one of the most powerful ninja to have ever lived and, with herself, Itachi, Jiraiya and Tsunade back in the village, Konoha's forces had never been stronger. With Gaara already on their side, it wouldn't be too difficult to turn the coupe that Suna had planned into an alliance instead.

Akatsuki were a threat to all the hidden villages and an alliance between Suna and Konoha was sure to spark further treaties and would ensure aid the case of any one village being attacked. Naruto could envision exactly how the situation would end up being played and out and if, for any reason, it seemed like things wouldn't work out, Naruto had her own network of allies to call upon. She hadn't spent her exile twiddling her thumbs after all.

"You seem to be in a good mood," Kakashi said as they left the Hokage tower once the meeting was over. Considering they'd just spent the past couple of hours discussing possible invasions, Naruto's good humour was a little surprising.

"I suppose I am," Naruto smiled up at her boyfriend as she linked their arms. "I just can't help but feel positive. Don't get me wrong, I'm not dismissing the threats we face. I just really feel like we're equal to them, you know?"

"Well, at least one of us is feeling optimistic," Kakashi smiled and pulled her a little closer to him so he could swing an arm over her shoulder.

"And we should keep that optimism fed," Naruto suggested. "I'm starving, what are you in the mood for?"

"How about barbeque?" Kakashi suggested. "I can't remember the last time I went to Akimichi's."

"Barbeque it is," Naruto grinned and started to lean upwards to brush a kiss against Kakashi's cheek.

They were interrupted before she could do so when someone shouldered their way between the two and Naruto found herself staring into eyes so dark they seemed to lack pupils.

"Eh! Tenzo!" Naruto gaped. "What are you doing?"

Her voice rose an octave or two with surprise and she had to supress the urge to punch him for interrupting so rudely.

"I'm hurt Naruto-chan," Tenzo said. "Is that any way to greet a friend you haven't seen in a decade?"

"It's the way you greet an interloper," Kakashi grumbled as he pushed Tenzo away to he could pull Naruto back towards him, annoyance clear in his visible eye.

"I saw you just the other month," Naruto tilted her head to the side, confusion knitting her brows as both she and Tenzo ignored Kakashi's grumbling. "You were on a mission. Don't you remember?"

"Ne, that doesn't count Naruto-chan," Tenzo smiled and his eyes curved into half-moons with the motion. "We should catch up properly. Are you free right now?"

"No, she is not," Kakashi frowned, his voice sharp enough to cause Tenzo to do a double take.

He took in the way Naruto and Kakashi were standing, arms wrapped around each other and so close wind wouldn't even find a gap to blow through. Understanding dawned and a smirk curved his lips.

"So that's how it is," Tenzo murmured. "You should have said something senpai."

Kakashi glowered but Naruto just laughed and snuggled even closer to her boyfriend.

"It's kind of a new development," she admitted. "Oh, and Tenzo?"

"Yes Naruto-chan?" Tenzo smiled but the expression quickly faded when a kunai flew past his face, nicking the skin slightly before embedding itself in the tree behind him.

"How many times have I told you not to call me chan?!"

Kakashi snickered as Tenzo stammered out an apology. Naruto held her stern expression for a little while before finally relaxing.

"We'll see you around, Tenzo!" Naruto tossed a wave over her shoulder as she pulled Kakashi away, her stomach reminding her that they'd been on their way to get food.

"Possessive much, Kaka-kun?" Naruto teased once Tenzo was out of hearing range. She hadn't missed the anger in his eyes when Tenzo had tried to monopolize the rest of her day.

"When it comes to you? Definitely." Kakashi didn't even try to deny it. He merely leaned down to press a kiss to the top of her head and squeezed her shoulder briefly.

Naruto blushed, touched by his openness and glad that this change in their relationship hadn't affected the way they interacted. She grinned at Kakashi, letting a comfortable silence fall as they made their way to the restaurant.

~O

Minato smiled as he watched Naruto and Kakashi walk away from the tower, arms around each other and Naruto's grin brighter than the sun. He was glad they were having fun because his next task was going to be decidedly unpleasant.

"How long has that been going on?" Jiraiya asked, his gaze also following the tiny figures of Naruto and Kakashi through the window.

"As far as I know, only about a week or so," Minato shrugged. "I'm not really surprised."

"Nobody who knows those two is," Tsunade snorted. "It's about damned time. That sappy look Naruto used to get whenever she got a letter from Kakashi was so sweet it was sickening."

"They'll be good together," Minato agreed. "But we have more urgent matters to attend to."

All traces of humour fled from the Sannins expressions and they moved to stand on either side of Minato as he took his seat. It was time to meet with an Iwa nin to decide on an appropriate course of action. Punishing foreign ninja was a tricky business. On one hand, the punishment had to be mild enough not to draw the ire of the foreign ninja's home village and incite war. On the other hand justice had to be done. In this particular instance, given the history between Konoha and Iwa, deciding on a punishment became even trickier. Fortunately, the group of Iwa ninja that had been involved in the attack had been stupid enough to carry out their plans in public and the jōnin in charge of Iwa's chūnin exam delegation was already waiting for them.

"Hokage-sama," the Iwa nin bowed low and respectful once he had been escorted into the office

. "My name is Sakata Higayoshi. On behalf of Iwa I extend my deepest apologies for the actions of our ninja."

"I'm afraid it will take more than a spoken apology, however heartfelt, to properly address this attack," Minato replied.

"All three of the Konoha ninja that were attacked a very much loved by this village. In the case of Naruto and Itachi, we have only just gotten them back after a very long absence. I'm sure you can appreciate that nobody has taken this attempt on their lives lightly."

"I assure you that the group responsible were not representing the wishes of Iwa with their actions and we are as keen as you to see that justice is met swiftly and appropriately."

Minato hummed thoughtfully as he considered those words. Whether or not it was true that the would be assassins were working under their own initiative rather than orders, official or otherwise, the emphasis on appropriate justice told Minato that Konoha would not be given free rein to dispense whatever punishment they would like. What a shame because Minato had no intention of letting them get away with that.

"Well that's very reassuring," Minato eventually said. "The penalty in Konoha for attempted murder is life imprisonment. Attempted murder of a member of the Hokage's family warrants the death penalty."

Sakata paled noticeably but his voice was steady when he replied.

"Then I'm afraid we might be at a bit of an impasse, Hokage-sama. The Tsuchikage will the see execution of Iwa ninja as a declaration of war."

Minato was tempted to scoff and remind Iwa of what had happened the last time they had decided to go to war with Konoha. Thankfully the temptation lasted only a moment and the good sense and political acumen that helped make him such a great Hokage quickly took over.

"So what would you suggest, Sakata-san?" Minato asked, leaned back in his seat and touching the tips of his fingers together.

"We would like to care of this internally, within Iwa's own laws, Hokage-sama," Sakata said, struggling to keep his cool when voicing what he knew to be an outrageous demand. Still orders were orders.

"Out of the question," Minato immediately rebuffed the idea, his eyes hardening into steely flints that made Sakata force back the urge to gulp.

"It's enough that you went after Konoha ninja, the fact that one of those ninja was my daughter means that there is absolutely no way the people involved are leaving Konoha until an appropriate punishment has been dealt."

"And what would Hokage-sama consider to be appropriate punishment?" Sakata asked.

"Life imprisonment, here on Konoha, for those that led the attack. The rest of the group will be free to return to Iwa as long as you agree to irremovable chakra suppressing bracelets."

"Hokage-sama!" Sakata protested, "Think of what you're asking!"

"Oh I have," Minato assured him. "I've thought very, very hard about this entire incident. Do you know what I find most curious, Sakata?"

The question was rhetorical and Minato carried on without giving the Iwa nin time to answer.

"I find it very strange indeed that the four of the six teams of genin that Iwa sent to take the chūnin exams were actually all jōnin level ninja. Don't you find that strange?"

Sakata's mouth opened, a slightly strangled sound escaped it and he promptly closed it again. His lips thinned as he pressed them together and tried to think of an appropriate response to the Hokage's implied accusation. All the smooth talking in the world couldn't help them now because they might be able to explain away one or two of the ninja as having not taken the exams before for various reasons but not all twelve. They were so busted.

"So I repeat," Minato's smile was blood-thirsty enough to cause even Jiraiya and Tsunade to suppress shivers, "life imprisonment and chakra suppressing bracelets. The ball is in your court Sakata-san."

For a moment time seemed to freeze and then Sakata sighed, his shoulders slumping in defeat and Minato's smile sharpened as satisfaction curled warm and heavy in his gut. Sometimes, he really loved his job.

~O

Barbeque had been the wrong choice. Kakashi gritted his teeth, the action hidden behind his mask. What was supposed to be a nice, relaxing lunch with his girlfriend had turned into an impromptu gathering for what seemed like half of Konoha's ninja. First they had met Asuma and Kurenai and their date had turned into a double date. That Kakashi could have lived with. Anko and Genma found invited themselves along soon after, then Kotetsu and Izumo had decided to join them and now Inuzuka Hana was pushing Itachi and Raidō into the already cramped booth.

Nine extra people was not relaxing. It was the furthest thing from relaxing and if it weren't for the fact that beings so squashed meant that Kakashi had an excuse to put his arm around Naruto and sit so close to her that they were pressed together from shoulder to ankle, he probably would have made his displeasure known. As it were, he was a hairs breadth away from doing just that when Naruto's hand slipped over his thigh and squeezed, effectively halting any protests he may have made. Kakashi glanced at her but Naruto was talking to Asuma and paying him not attention. Then her hand slid upwards a little and Kakashi had to swallow.

"You sure do move fast, Hatake," Anko was saying and Kakashi forced himself to focus.

"Why wait around when you know what you want?" It was Hana who answered. "Besides, you and Naruto have been close since you were kids, right Kakashi?"

"You could say that," Kakashi conceded, unwilling to talk much about their relationship. It was nobody else's business but their own.

"It's great that you didn't wait around," Hana sighed. "How long have you two been dating?"

"Can't have been that long," Anko postulated. "Naruto's only been back a few months and Hatake has been busy with his team."

"Is Team 7 taking the chūnin exams?" Kurenai asked and relief flooded through Kakashi at the change of topic as he nodded his confirmation.

"I'm not sure whether or not to enter Team 8. This year looks like it could get violent and I'm not sure if they're ready."

"If it's the Iwa delegation you're worried about, I doubt they'll be allowed to compete," Genma said. "Hokage-sama will see to it that justice is done."

Naruto had to duck her head to hide a smile at that. It was always heart-warming to see that the faith she had in her father was also felt by the rest of Konoha.

"What about you, Asuma-san?" Naruto asked. "Will your team be entering?"

"I think they're ready," Asuma nodded. "Their teamwork is excellent and I trust Shikamaru to keep them away from situations that are too dangerous."

"Ah, the famed Nara intellect," Naruto laughed. "From all accounts it seems like Shikamaru truly is his father's son."

"That he is," Asuma chuckled. "The exams are going to be interesting this year."

Naruto's mind immediately went to the possible threats Konoha was facing – Orochimaru, Akatsuki and now war with Suna and possibly Iwa as well. Interesting was one way of putting it. The chūnin exams started in two days and then all bets were off. Orochimaru was a dead man walking, Suna had no hope of overrunning Konoha without Gaara on their side and her dad had already proven to Iwa that Konoha was not a village to be taken lightly.

Akatsuki still needed to be dealt with but right then surrounded by friends and snuggled up to Kakashi, Naruto felt like she was well and truly back home and nobody, not even Akatsuki, would take her from her family ever again.