The heat was sweltering for the inhabitants of Kaze no Kuni. The unforgiving nature of desert climate lead to a populace that thrived in the wee hours of the morning and in the afterhours of sunset. When the sun was at its highest, the majority of Suna's residents took refuge indoors.

Unlike their civilian counterparts, shinobi were forced to endure the harsh daytime hours that most would prefer to avoid. It was a long-held belief that the merciless nature of the Suna's surrounding territory produced shinobi of a higher caliber than shinobi from other villages.

A belief Gaara was coming to appreciate as his team trained with Baki outside of Suna.

Each breath of air felt uncomfortably warm as Gaara lazily cycled a waterfall of sand with the most tenuous bit of concentration. At the base of the flow, Temari was attempting to master the second stage of wind manipulation.

Yet a morning of team training and hours of continuous chakra exertion had taken their toll; Temari's face was redder than a beet, her breathing was reduced to laboured panting, and Gaara saw tremors periodically wrack his sister's body. In the last half-hour, Gaara observed his sister's concentration waiver each time she was forced to wipe the sweat off her brow.

Gaara forced himself not to recoil slightly as his sister snarled as her focus slipped again.

Taking note of where Kankuro was refilling one of his puppet's senbon launchers, Gaara silently applauded his brother's foresight to place himself a safe distance away from the blonde timebomb stewing below him.

"Not again!" Temari raged as the refined bit of wind chakra slipped away with a light burst of chakra.

Gaara's sleeveless arms extended, vibrant azure whorls on his arms appeared to almost glow under the glare of sunlight while he concentrated on maintaining the shape of his jutsu. The tattoos on his arms were Gaara's tribute to his relationship with Shukaku. Rasa had argued the design made it easier for enemies to identify Gaara. Not untrue, but Gaara would not be swayed. While not invulnerable, Gaara had worked for years to minimize his weaknesses and become a force to be recommended with. With Shukaku in his corner, identifying tattoos would hardly put him at a disadvantage.

"Temari, you made improvements today, but you're getting sloppy," Baki-Sensei stated unnecessarily to a visibly seething Temari. "Take a break and reflect on what changes occurred when you lost focus."

"Baki-Sensei, I can do this! I almost have it!" Temari's entire body trembled, whether from exhaustion or anger was difficult to say.

Baki merely shook his head and looked up to where Gaara was silently observing.

"Gaara-sama, Temari is done for today."

"I could have kept going! A piddly technique like that was nothing to Gaara!"

A reasonable, if ineffectual argument that Baki would hardly be moved by. From the sullen way Temari was clinging to her battle-fan, his sister knew it too.

With a light shrug, Gaara gradually released his hold on the sand to prevent gusts of wind from blinding them. With a deft leap, he landed next to his sister and felt a twinge of pride as he noticed his sister squeeze her fan with bloodless fingers.

Personal growth was a joint obsession between Gaara and Shukaku. At one time, Gaara had been content with training because it was what Shukaku wanted him to do. As time went by and Gaara tracked his personal growth, each improvement became an achievement—no, a burning need to press beyond the next obstacle.

Kankurou was brilliant and possessed a crafty mind, but at times he felt his brother's progress was stagnant.

Temari was a force of nature: Temari was like him. Days like today would ultimately push her to become even stronger.

As Baki began reviewing with Temari, Gaara rapidly became disinterested with the scene playing out in front of him. Tuning out Baki's low rhythmic explanation, Gaara turned his focus inward.

Shukaku, are you awake?

Gaara's mindscape was grey, with flashes of black here and there. It was desolate and reinforced his belief that Shukaku had been lonely in the emptiness of his mind.

Two years into their relationship, Shukaku had confessed to Gaara that their seal was imperfect. Having never known anything different, Gaara had been unsure what exactly that entailed. As time went by, he came to believe the seal was like shoving a square peg into a round hole. As he paid attention, Gaara noticed the chakra flow between Shukaku and himself was sluggish like a river of molasses. This effectively caused Shukaku to shunt huge amounts of chakra to Gaara, but only receiving perhaps two-thirds of the benefit. At times, Shukaku's ability to perceive the outside world simply ceased to exist, leaving his friend reliant on auditory cues.

All in all, Gaara's seal was a hot mess. A mess that Shukaku hinted could only be fixed by a jinchuuriki from Konoha, though his friend became cagey when he attempted to press for additional information.

As time passed, he concluded that Shukaku had experienced some form of mental trauma caused by repeated, amateur sealing. Not an expert in the obscure art, Gaara lacked definitive proof but speculated that the effect was akin to long-term mental abuse in humans.

That belief at the forefront of his mind, Gaara resolved to make Shukaku's existence as pleasant as possible.

Whether or not Shukaku's perception of the world would change over time, Gaara didn't know. What he did know was that his friend possessed an interesting perspective on morality, low tolerance for any perceived slight, and extreme mood swings. On the other hand, Shukaku responded well to praise, was a good conversationalist if the right topic was broached, and was fiercely protective of anything and anyone he deemed his.

Gaara refused to treat Shukaku as anything less than an equal. Shukaku was not a monster, he was his best friend. They were partners: it was that simple.

Hence, Gaara had informed his father that he required all the shinobi to address his partner with the respect appropriate to a protector of the village. To this day, his father's left eye twitched whenever someone mentioned Shukaku's name with attached honorifics.

From the back of his mind, Gaara felt a burbling whine echo in his mind.

Gaaarrrraaa, I'm bored. Why can't we start yet?

Gaara chuckled fondly at his best friend's antics, used to the baffled looks all of Suna directed his way when he conversed with his bijuu. His behavior inspired fear in some, concern for his mental state from most, and a select few learned to accept it.

Opposite of shame, Gaara flaunted his oddness and stonewalled anyone that spoke against himself or his friend.

Don't worry, Shukaku. We'll train together soon.

Waiting is boring. I want to blow something up.

We definitely can blow up some dunes around here, but we need to wait.

Why should we?

Placating Shukaku was an everyday occurrence. For his peace of mind, Gaara had mastered the art of redirection. In this particular case, the Kazekage's presence was a juicy morsel to dangle in front of his overeager friend.

The Daimyo is coming to see what we can do and the Kazekage will be with him. Can you imagine how nervous he'll be?

Kehehehe, excellent! We'll give him a show! And we'll show that puny gold dusting fool a thing or two about power! Shaaaaa!

Did you forget the best part, Shukaku?

Hmm…tell me.

You told me the Kyuubi and his host haven't—

AHA!

Gaara smirked.

Gonna pound that conniving bastard! Ha! Telling us that his host is stronger! Gonna rub it in that nasty fox's face while you nap tonight! Hopefully we can see them in person and crush them like an egg!

Shukaku mostly allowed Gaara to sleep six hours a night, but his bijuu was rather unpredictable. If Shukaku was unable to rest, Gaara was going to be awake for the ride. Again, it didn't bother Gaara. A restless night or two was nothing to a jinchuuriki, especially compared to the value of providing Shukaku with companionship when he needed it.

Oi, Gaara. Give Temari our gift!

Gift? Oh. Right.

Thanks for reminding me.

Removing a scroll from his bag, Gaara unsealed a katana crafted of costly chakra metal, that he had liberated from a Kumo infiltrator a few weeks ago, and a pair of canteens.

"Temari," Gaara extended his hand, offering an uncapped canteen to his sister.

"Oh, thanks, Gaara."

Temari wasted no time chugging a few swallows, her colour improving as she relaxed.

Gaara flexed his fingers around the sword's guard. They had only a short time left before Rasa would be arriving with the Daimyo. If Gaara's demonstration with Shukaku went well, Rasa believed an opportunity to re-establish commerce and expand their military power would finally be possible.

He could see the wisdom in pursuing the opportunity that Gaara and his team had provided their village.

Gaara's team had been on a simple C-rank survey mission a month prior, when a miracle landed in their laps. A pair of missing-nin had kidnapped the Wind Daimyo's favorite daughter and were running for the border. Gaara had easily intercepted the pair and become the hero to an ecstatic but highly clingy four-year old. That rescue prompted the first visit to Sunagakure from their Daimyo in nearly a decade.

Baki talks too much. Always about boring things too.

Baki is intelligent and has always respected our power, without bending to accommodate us. I appreciate his forthright behavior and benefit from his instruction.

Ha! I already taught you how to manipulate futon chakra.

You did. It would have been much harder if you hadn't provided insight.

Shukaku made a low sound like a cat purring.

"Yo!" Kankuro skidded down a dune to where they were loosely grouped. "You guys actually accomplish anything, or did Temari just throw a hissy fit?"

"As if you could do any better, moron!" Temari snapped back. "All you do is sit around playing with your puppets! Maybe if you get off your lazy ass and practice your taijutsu for once, I might take you seriously!"

Mari-chan is so feisty! I love it when people underestimate her!

It was a peculiar thing, but Shukaku adored his sister. That bizarre infatuation began when two genin had the poor misfortune of making a snide comment about Gaara in front of Temari. The pair had been unable to walk-away under their own power and both had bloodied faces, a few teeth knocked out, and several lacerations. Since that initial display of brutality, Shukaku had become his sister's personal cheerleader and supported Gaara's efforts to help her become stronger.

She's scary either way. I've come to understand females have a unique ability to inspire fear. Perhaps an innate genjutsu ability.

Give her our present! Learning to manipulate a blade should make the waterfall exercise far more instinctive. Besides, without that fan Mari-chan is easy pickings. If she has both she'll be a killing machine!

Baki-Sensei uses blades to maximize damage with futon jutsu to significant effect. If Temari augments her fan with a blade, she would have little to no trouble with most opponents. It also removes a glaring weakness in her current specialization.

All the better to squish insects. Give it to her and tell her to stop sucking! We can't be seen with more embarrassments!

Kankuro isn't perfect, but he is quite skilled.

And when I destroyed his puppets with a tail thump?

Understood.

Kehehe!

Tact was another skill Yashamaru had painstakingly fought to teach Gaara. Apparently Shukaku's blunt delivery left much to be desired. Nevertheless, tact did not come naturally to Gaara.

"Temari," Gaara wrestled with his tongue and grimaced when the rest of his team turned to stare at him.

"Yeah? What is it?"

"Here."

Temari caught the katana on reflex, but looked from him to the blade with a perplexed look.

"A sword?"

"Shukaku and I think Baki-Sensei should teach you kenjutsu."

Gaara sighed as Temari went oddly still and seemed to be studying him rather intensely.

"Why?"

Gaara pretended not to notice how Baki and Kankuro took a noticeable step backward.

"It should help with elemental manipulation," Gaara replied calmly, feeling somewhat gratified by the shared looks of relief between Baki and Kankuro. "Also, your subpar skills in close combat are a significant concern. Shukaku and I observe that you easily overpower any opponent from range, but if you're unable to maintain distance, your opponents tend to defeat you too easily. To that extent, extra training in physical conditioning and kenjutsu would likely see significant benefit."

For a long moment, no one said anything. A lack of reaction seemed a positive, so Gaara tentatively felt accomplished.

See, a little tough love works miracles! It worked with you after all!

Gaara scarcely was able to bask in the pride of a job well done, before his automatic defense kicked in as Temari launched projectiles at his face.

"My combat skills are subpar, are they?! I'll show you!"

After a significant amount of mediation from Baki, coupled with several minutes to cooldown apart, Gaara was sitting next to Kankuro a short distance away feeling frustrated and confused.

"I wasn't trying to upset her," Gaara sulked. "Shukaku and I just wanted her to be an even better kunoichi."

Kankuro sat next to him tinkering with something or another.

"You did a better job than you used to, but our sister takes criticism pretty hard. If Shukaku or you had suggestions for me, I could handle that way better."

"Is that so?"

Puppet boy is delusional.

It seems likely.

"Tch, anything you got, bring it, Gaara." Kankuro stared him down.

Hmm, he did ask for it. Tell him he's a one-trick pony that sucks. Also, I hope he gets lost in the desert and we don't have to drag his useless carcass on missions anymore.

Shukaku did not like his brother. Unlike the incident with his sister that clearly defined Shukaku's infatuation with Temari, Gaara really didn't understand the mutual enmity between the tanuki and his brother.

"Kankuro, I could defeat you with my sand easily," Gaara attempted to reason with his brother, to little effect. "What happens when someone uses elemental jutsu to compromise the terrain? You would be defeated easily."

"Tch, as if. That's what I have you and Temari for."

I know you said your siblings are off limits, but it would feel so nice to bury that moron.

You have a point. Kankuro tries my patience at times.

"Shukaku wants to kill you for being an idiot," Gaara mentioned casually.

Gaara ignored the obnoxious gagging from his brother.

"I'm not saying that specializing in puppetry is a foolish decision," Gaara freely complimented his brother. There were at least a dozen puppeteers in Suna's active shinobi forces, but many lacked his brother's creativity. "But a day may come when you wish you had expanded on your specialization."

Gaara looked up. The sun began its descent on the western horizon, but beyond the dunes he could see Rasa approaching with the Daimyo and a limited accompaniment.

Moving to greet him, Temari and Kankuro fell in to flank him from either side. If their previous interactions were still bothering them, the pair of them were performing admirably as they moved to greet and bow to the group.

The Daimyo's impractical garb with its costly golden thread sparkled, making it seem like the rotund figure was swathed in sunlight.

That guy is important?! He looks like a chump we should be dumping in a retirement home! Oh man, I want to eat this guy more than the Kazekage.

Gaara's lips twitched.

"Daimyo-sama, it is my honor to introduce to you my youngest son, Gaara." Rasa comported himself with expected decorum as was expected from one leader to another. "In honor of your visit, he has requested we observe his latest accomplishment."

This is booooring.

Politics are boring, but necessary apparently.

Humans are weird.

Yes.

"Kazekage, your son is the one who rescued my Tsukimi-hime?"

"Otou-sama, wait!"

Off a second litter that had just finished being lowered, a familiar figure wrapped in lavender and white silks dashed toward them.

The shinobi guarding the pair murmured in dismay as the pint-sized girl wasted no time blasting aside decorum and loping between the Daimyo and Gaara.

"Gaara-kun! I came to see you!"

"Tsukimi-hime, it's a pleasure to see you under more welcoming circumstances," Gaara shot Rasa an uncertain look, taking comfort at the short nod his father offered. "I was unaware that you had accompanied your revered father."

You're talking all stuck-up. I don't like it.

I don't either.

"Did you miss me?"

Overwhelmed by physical proximity and Shukaku's chortling, he felt a wave of relief when Rasa rescued him.

"Gaara has spoken of his encounter with you often, Tsukimi-hime," Rasa's response appeared to have pleased the girl because a grin split her face from ear to ear. "With Daimyo-sama's permission, I would be pleased to arrange for Gaara to show you around Suna shortly. But first, allow Gaara to demonstrate his talents for your father.

"Ah, I suppose!" For some reason, Tsukimi seemed dispirited, but the Daimyo was nodding agreeably already.

"Yes, indeed. Let us view this demonstration so that we may return to the village for the evening banquet. I am quite famished after that ride!"

We could lop him in half. I bet we could feed the entirety of Suna with all that blubber.

That may be a bit of a stretch.

Perhaps his sense of humor had become a tad bit darkened after long-term exposure to Shukaku.

"I will arrange to have your meal awaiting your return," Rasa assured the Daimyo who patted his daughter's head fondly. "Gaara, please show us what you and…Shukaku-sama have accomplished."

Yahoo! That two-bite loser has finally acknowledged my superiority!

"As you wish," Gaara said, bowing deferentially to the Kazekage and his Daimyo.

Gaara vanished and reappeared a short distance away. Nothing mattered except this moment. Imperfect transformations were a thing of the past. This time…it was all in.

You ready to strut some stuff, Shukaku?

Yahoo! Let's do it! I wanna blow something up!

Faintly, Gaara heard exclamations of shock, but they were far distant, far beyond his caring. Gaara cloaked himself entirely in chakra and pushed his body to alter shape.

Shukaku's enormous frame shook itself like a dog. Before he could suggest a course of action, Gaara felt Shukaku gathering the chakra at their mouth and shooting it into the distance to the shocked exclamations of their spectators.

Watch this, suckers! Tremble before our awesome! Wahahahahaha!

Standing atop the Yondaime's head, Shisui looked down on the village of his birth. Below, civilians coexisted with their shinobi counterparts, a mutual level of trust and respect that was absent from most of the hidden villages.

After everything he'd seen, it felt like peace.

Whenever he returned to Konoha, Shisui paid homage to the four carved faces that perpetually watched over his home like sentinels. It was a tradition that started shortly after his tutelage under Jiraiya concluded, continuing as he was deployed with ANBU and espionage missions alike.

The Sandaime's head was for days that Shisui felt weighed down by the burden of knowledge he relayed to his Kage and the price of silence. For days of optimism and accomplishment, Shisui chattered away to the Shodai Hokage until his voice grew hoarse. If a mission left nothing in his stomach but bile, Shisui begged for absolution from the Nidaime's silent visage. For days such as today, that Shisui dared to plan for the future, the Yondaime's spikes served the dual purpose of inspiration and cautionary tale.

Like most Uchiha, Shisui was a shitty sensor. For the most part, finely honed instincts made up the difference.

Shisui lifted his hand into the sky and waved lazily to his company.

"Predictability is dangerous in our line of work, Shisui."

"About time you turned up, Itachi," Shisui mock-pouted, flashing his cousin a grin. "I've been back almost an hour."

"Delegation of authority only goes so far, my friend."

The younger man would never be tall, but there was an aura of command emanating from Itachi's lean figure. Itachi had shed Uchiha standard clothing for Konoha's jounin uniform, with his hair in a low tail that always failed to contain the bangs framing a smiling face.

There was an unspoken ability to perceive the ability among top tier shinobi: the ability to measure an opponent's skill with just a look. Shisui could discern with a glance that, in his year away, Itachi had become an apex predator.

Glancing from the Yondaime and back to Itachi, Shisui nodded decisively.

"When's your face going up, Godaime-sama?"

"In six months, after the Chunin Exams," Itachi's words bounced on the wind, a hand rising to shade his eyes from the sunlight. "I will be announced as the successor privately to the upper echelons within Konoha ahead of time, but the majority of our forces will learn of it when the Sandaime steps down."

The news would surprise no one. A Kage took an apprentice for one purpose only: time was the sole mitigating factor.

"Are you ready?"

Itachi's lips eased into an almost wistful smile, the spell of peace vanishing as clouds appeared in the younger man's eyes.

"No."

"You have some sense then," Shisui stated sadly, but a bitter edge of sarcasm creeped into his words. "Just remember that you won't be alone. I've got your back and you have support like no Hokage ever had."

Such a comment would have likely ended with Shisui tarred and feathered, but he felt it was accurate. A great internal shift had occurred within Konoha; his clan, once reviled, had finally settled inside Konoha with their elders' prejudices shunted firmly in the past.

There was still squabbles over petty things and dissent from the old guard, but the younger generation had finally begun to live the dream of unity Konoha had been founded upon.

"Thank you for your support," Itachi said after a long moment, Shisui observing a deep furrow in his cousin's brow.

"What is it?"

"I understand there is no shame in knowing one's limits, but…"

"But?" Shisui prompted.

"When I am Hokage, I will perform my duties to the best of my ability," Itachi spoke with quiet resolve and a touch of sadness. "But sometimes I wish I had never been considered for the role."

As a cousin, Shisui wanted to react accordingly, but as the man Jiraiya had moulded him into, Shisui mulled the statement over before speaking. Immediately it was clear to him that Itachi was not trying to escape the perceived "yoke," but neither was he resigned to his fate. Whatever this bizarre confession was, Shisui's gut told him this was something far more compelling than Itachi expressing self-pity.

"Why do you feel that way?" The question was delivered with care and stuffed with as much support as he could convey with simple words. "Because I'm not one to play to anybody's ego, but I'm not sure I understand the problem. I thought you wanted to be Hokage."

"I know that I'm strong enough," Itachi replied with unexpected confidence. "I have excellent comrades and perhaps even a soundly tactical mind. However, I'm not sure I'll be willing to pay the cost when the time comes."

No one truly understood the burden of taking lives until they had done so. No amount of mental preparation really made up for it. A Hokage's role carried a heavier price. Shisui knew that, understood that Itachi had an unfavorable disposition for the role.

Except…Shisui studied Itachi intensely for a moment.

"My perception of the world has changed a lot since training with Jiraiya," Shisui said carefully. "Leaving taught me how little I understood of the real world. I can hardly fathom what becoming Hokage ultimately means. The responsibility of so many lives is an unmeasurable burden of conscience."

"Then you understand why I would be reluctant to accept such power," Itachi smiled almost sardonically and Shisui felt himself taken aback when his cousin's eyes melted into a perfect Mangekyou shaped like shuriken.

Shisui jerked forward, feeling his gut tighten in anguished sympathy. Those eyes were a blight on the Uchiha. Such a harsh perspective of the Sage's gift would cause a clan riot, but it was the truth. The price for power often decimated the soul.

"The Nidaime called our eyes the curse of hatred," Itachi folded his arms around his middle and looked down toward the village. "I understand where the name comes from now. But more than that, hatred can only exist in the absence of love."

Uchiha were not exactly known for being rational, Itachi certainly had a point. But still…

"Did you lose someone?" Shisui felt unnerved asking.

"Almost." The reply was hoarse and weak. "I thought I lost her."

Shisui's jaw slackened and it took all of his willpower to keep himself upright and not tumble straight down the cliff-face.

Lost her. Itachi…oh Kami. His cousin had gone and fallen in love while he was gone. And—never said anything!

Shisui desperately wanted to hound Itachi for answers until he spilled the beans on this girl, but unfortunately duty before pleasure. Besides…he was a master sleuthing shinobi. Digging up some information on a kunoichi Itachi liked couldn't be too difficult.

"Wait," Shisui ran a hand through his hair and smothered a groan. "What does that have to do with you not wanting to be Hokage?"

"I realized that my love was stronger than my devotion to reason." Itachi's snapped, causing Shisui to throw his arms up in a surrendering recoil. "How can I be Hokage when I would burn the world to the ground for the people I value most?"

Huh. Itachi had inherited the Uchiha tendency for drama after all. What a bummer.

"Okay, enough of this self-doubting, wallowing crap," Shisui snapped his fingers in his cousin's face, feeling better when the glower vanished from his cousin's face. "If we really are screwed by a so-called 'curse of hatred,' there is no reason to fuel that fire. Now just listen to me, Itachi.

"I've been on some shitty missions. Ones that awakened my own eyes, that tore my soul apart. I understand what it is to want to take revenge, to value others over myself. But you're looking at that like it's a bad thing."

Seeing Itachi looked mostly unconvinced, he rolled his eyes and cursed genetic pigheadedness. Yanking Itachi by the ponytail, he jerked his future Hokage to the edge of the cliff.

"Whenever I come home, good mission or bad, I see this," Shisui released Itachi and threw his arm out, laughing as a balloon floated up from the ground above a squalling toddler below. "I want to do what I can to protect these people. I've walked into the darkness so that none of them have to. Because every single one of these people are my family. And nobody screws with my village and lives to tell the tale."

"You know, that's pretty much the will of fire in a nutshell," Itachi remarked dryly. "You sure you don't want the hat?"

"No," Shisui shook his head soberly. "A few years ago, you would have been a shit Hokage. You would have accepted the role and maybe done a half-decent job. Back then, your thinking was far too linear; from my perspective, your thinking was like plotting a course on a map and refusing to deviate, even when presented with potential outcomes that should have rocked your moral foundations. For all my visual prowess, I couldn't see what changed in you.

"Now…I think I might see."

It was a harsh statement. Perhaps a tad bit more honest than Shisui should have been, but a piece of Shisui had broken when the kind-hearted cousin that had toddled after him adoringly disappeared behind an emotionless veneer. Shisui had despaired at the amount of pressure Fugaku placed upon his heir. And guiltily relieved with his death.

"I'm happy now."

Simple words that packed a hell of a wallop.

"Are you?" Shisui choked.

Itachi's smile was beatific, face highlighted by streams of sunlight.

"I never sought to become Hokage, but I agreed to train because it was what was expected," Itachi returned almost wistfully, his attention straying to their village below. "My best friend taught me that experiencing happiness is not the same thing as living it."

Shisui followed Itachi's gaze to the ground, past a pair of patrolling shinobi, a few civilian nobodies and—jumped. Shisui circumspectly checked to make sure the long-legged girl was the one Itachi was creeping on and—yep. Damn! A tanned kunoichi with a white and blaring orange crop-top, covering up some pretty nice cleavage, over a white skirt with heeled sandals. And green pigtails with—giant dango-stick hair pins?! What the actual fuck?

Needing some sort of explanation for the definitely-not-a-mirage kunoichi that hadn't vanished after a surreptitious kai, Shisui full-body turned and his jaw dropped.

It was like a scene from his book-that-he-certainly-wasn't-publishing. The intense genius type was attracted to a vibrant, vivacious woman who had come into his life and…

Taught him how to live.

Shisui looked back to the boisterous teen below. Younger than Itachi, but not by much. The girl below radiated joy as she held a book in her hands—waving it teasingly in the direction of a taller redheaded boy. The girl twirled behind her other companion when the redhead lunged at her.

"When do I get to meet her?" Shisui asked just a little breathlessly, not bothering to explain since self-denial was not typically Itachi's modus operandi.

"Who knows?" Itachi smirked cryptically. "For now, she's just my friend."

"For now," Shisui agreed mischievously. "But I sense a plan in the works."

Itachi's smirk widened.

"No plans. I'll allow her to decide for the both of us."

"Holy shit," Shisui gaped. "This girl must be something else. You've never…really bantered with me. I mean…I've talked at you. But this is totally new territory!"

"You're insufferable as always. How have you been, Shisui?"

"Ah, set up some potential meetings with a contact for two months time," Shisui kept things deliberately vague. Paranoia was a staple of a successful spy, unlike Sensei, Shisui never allowed himself to believe there wasn't a possibility of being overheard. "Worked on some writing—"

"Why do you write?"

"Why do people read?" Shisui shrugged away from the dark scowl of disapproval that devoured Itachi's good humor. "I find it relaxing and like anyone, I need a diversion that isn't somehow tied into being a shinobi. Unlike Jiraiya-Sensei, I'm not really into writing erotica for the sake of it. I just like to come up with ideas. And, sure, I'm a bit of a romantic, but more in a wants-to-be-swept-off-my feet-sorta way. You know…"

"As long as I don't have to read complaint reports from the bathhouses, I don't mind you writing."

"You will," Shisui shivered as the Shinigami turned its unholy attention his way. "But not from me! Just from Jiraiya-Sensei."

"Fine," Itachi folded his arm. "I'm going to have to get back soon. Kage Bunshin are effective, but only to a point."

That was a total bummer, though, that reminded him…

"Itachi, what do you do for fun?" Shisui asked, delighting in the startled look on his cousin's face. "You must have some sort of diversions besides training."

"If I did," Itachi deliberately seemed to be angling his face away. "I wouldn't tell you."

"Hot damn," Shisui muttered. "You've become really sassy since I've been away, Itachi! Secrets aren't nice though, tell me!"

"Perhaps another time," Itachi's humor dissipated and his posture shifted in a way that had Shisui pulling back and providing expected space to a superior. Itachi was discreetly activating minor privacy seals and his cousin was suddenly all-business. "Pleasantries aside, I had another reason for seeking you out.

"Uchiha Shisui," Itachi invoked a tone of voice that instantly had Shisui jerking to attention. "Report."

The Sandaime had authorized Itachi's clearance level and now only the Hokage ranked above his cousin's authority.

"Orochimaru has done an excellent job evading our tracking teams," Shisui relayed calmly. "I've discovered why."

Shisui held up a scroll and tossed it to Itachi who snatched it out of the air, only to eye it suspiciously.

"And this is…?"

"I tracked Orochimaru to an area just outside Kusagakure. With my specialized jutsu, I was able to witness something I definitely wasn't meant to see. What I can tell you is that Orochimaru has perverted the laws of nature," Shisui squeezed his fingers into his palms and traded a look with Itachi. "Somehow…he is taking over the bodies of other people. I've never seen anything like it and I hope I never do again. In the scroll, I recovered what was left of the prior host body. I doubt you'll get anything off of it, but if anyone can, I expect our experts could."

Shisui didn't need to see Itachi's expression to sense how unsettled his cousin was. Understandable really, creepy ethic bending psychopaths had a habit of being unsettling.

"A shinobi of Orochimaru's caliber would be able to conceal his chakra from most sensors. Combine that with literally possessing the body of another person and it's rather easy to understand why we've had such difficulty tracking him down."

"I know that you recalled Jiraiya-sensei too, but I think you should be careful what you tell him," he said, refusing to acknowledge the guilt of going behind his mentor's back.

"I hope you're not implying that Jiraiya-sama is unable to deal with traitors, Shisui."

"Bah, should have known I'd botch up the explanation," Shisui muttered. Lifting a hand toward his distinctly unamused cousin, he made a placating gesture. "Look, Sensei understands that Orochimaru is a traitor. In fact, if Orochimaru were openly attacking Konoha, Jiraiya would be the first to risk his life. There will never be a more loyal shinobi than him."

"And yet?" Itachi prompted unnecessarily.

Rubbing the back of his eyelids with his wrist, Shisui sighs.

"Geez, Tachi," he muttered. "I find it hard to believe you that just a few minutes ago you weren't sure you were going to be Hokage. Now look at you! Giving me scary looks and—"

"Shisui!" Itachi glared. "Explain!"

I'm sorry, Jiraiya.

"Hesitation is the failure that can overthrow the most powerful of shinobi." Shisui exchanged a meaningful look with Itachi, noting that the other's rigid stance had relaxed. "Jiraiya is loyal and would kill Orochimaru if he had to, but I could see him hesitate, even if he didn't intend to. For the sake of Konoha, it's my official recommendation that you send me. I have no positive memories holding me back."

"The Sandaime and I will consider it, but you must know my authority is not final in these matters. Not yet, anyway," Itachi said after a pause. "Is there anything else urgent?"

"Suna's going to be a wildcard in the next few years," Shisui grunted. "I have confirmed that their jinchuuriki has somehow managed to retain control of his bijuu's transformed state."

"This is certain?" Itachi looked absolutely baffled, with good reason. Suna's sealing experts were notably subpar and their jinchuuriki were known for being particularly unstable.

"Yes," Shisui nodded grimly. "Just adding to that little hornet's nest, their Daimyo is probably going to restore funding to Suna. I didn't stick around to find out for sure, but I'd say it's a practically a sure thing."

In a perfect world, a prospering ally was something to be praised. Unfortunately, reactions of the other great nations may be more problematic. If Suna got dragged into war, Konoha would be obligated to assist. As a weak ally grew in strength, so too their ability to demand greater favor in return for loyalty. Alliances were complex fragile things and they rarely lasted from one generation to the next.

"Thank you for your report," Itachi murmured. "I'm sure the Sandaime and I will have much to discuss."

"So…since you called me back all this way for the big day," Shisui planted his hands on his hips and grinned comically. "Let's talk genin teams!"

"I already told you that you're taking a team," Itachi replied dismissively.

"And?" Shisui prodded. "I submitted a request for the team I wanted over a year ago! You know that team dynamic would be amazing!"

"Sandaime-sama was not impressed with the lack of kunoichi," Itachi deadpanned.

"All right! You got my team approved!" Shisui whooped! "Team Shisui is going to kick ass!"

"And your spy network?"

"Psh, I already told you how I'll work that out. Don't worry so much, you'll get grey hair and put-off that girl you want to date."

"Shisui, be serious."

"Alright, alright, you're a stick in the mud sometimes, sheesh!" Shisui rolled his eyes fondly. "I suppose Jiraiya-sensei has already sent in the report about that group…Akatsuki."

"That group has raised a number of red flags from the intel departments," Itachi grimaced. "S-rank criminals typically are too paranoid and motivated by self-interests to come together for a common purpose. For shinobi of that caliber to form a coalition that has so quickly gained a reputation for mission completion is impressive and worrying."

"Honestly, we're flying a little blind when it comes to them. Between the two of us, Jiraiya and I have squat. That organization may have high-profile members, but aside from sporadic sightings, we have nothing. No list of members. Very little on potential strongholds. No contacts. Whoever is heading that group is far cleverer than I'm comfortable with."

"The lack of information is troubling. Ideally, it would be useful to have an informant, but infiltrating an S-rank organization isn't feasible without measures that the Sandaime and I won't sanction."

"I'll keep an ear to the ground, Itachi-sama," Shisui offered a slight bow and a crooked smile when Itachi flashed an annoyed look his direction.

"I'm not the Hokage."

"Not yet," Shisui agreed. "But in the meantime, do you want to spar?"

"Hmm," Itachi grimaced slightly. "Yes. I could use your insight to improve."

"Difficult to improve upon genius and that craziness Gai inflicted on you, but what the hell! Let's dance!"

Even if the grunt work of catheters, bedpans, and medical charting were eliminated, practicing medicine would never be a passion for Minato. To his consternation, medic training had not required enthusiasm. Compulsive perfectionism issues coupled with his eidetic memory were more than enough to ensure Minato learned and memorized everything Tsunade threw at him.

Well, that and a bombshell Kurama dropped on Minato just after his tenth birthday.

Following a particularly harrowing session attempting to refine his chakra control for medical jutsu, Kurama cagily suggested he may have some material that may help. Intrigued, Minato had joined his friend in their mindscape where Kurama conjured up partially completed notes on a seal that was intended to artificially constrict a chakra pool to enable an individual to perform techniques that required more precise chakra control.

The conversation that followed had quickly turned into the first real argument between Minato and Kurama since becoming friends. For Minato's part, he'd expressed disbelief that Kurama failed to mention—in the span of a couple decades—that viewing portions of memory was possible. Offended, Minato had argued that every aspect of his life was available for Kurama at every single moment without restriction. Kurama had called him an ungrateful brat and locked him out of his own seal for days.

It had taken over a week of persistent haranguing and tearful apologizing before the fox had dragged him into the seal, scooped Minato into his paws, and shook him until it felt like his brain was about to leak out his ears.

After a long discussion, Minato added Mito to the list of touchy subjects to avoid discussing with his best friend. Despite Mito's blacklist status, Minato had been allowed to look at Kurama approved pieces of the Uzumaki's work. Most of the materials, unfortunately, were related almost solely to prison or chakra suppression. What knowledge he had been able to glean was incredibly limited and not the reservoir of abilities that Minato had expected from a legend of her caliber. Upon hearing his confusion, Kurama had merely snorted and stated that people rarely lived up to the myths. His friend had also pointed out that the Nidaime had learned the basics of Uzumaki sealing before creating an ability that elevated his status to one of the most powerful shinobi to ever have lived. In turn, Minato had taken the Nidaime's technique and single-handedly ended the Third Shinobi War. Neither of them had been Uzumaki, but both of them had achieved notoriety that transcended the clan that was famous for sealing.

They may not have invented the wheel, but they made it better.

Mito's seals, while powerful and showed great technical ability, lacked the spark of innovation Minato had discovered while examining Tobirama's notes on sealing. Still, Mito's insights offered a starting point in the creation of a seal designed to constrict chakra flow to make medical jutsu possible. The original design was crude and unfinished, but it had been a starting place.

Redesigning matrices and creating a sequence of seals for adapting to Kurama's chakra rather than suppressing it and... bingo!

And so, Senju Minato had crafted his first "official" seal. A damned healing conversion seal usable only by himself and adaptable to only jinchuuriki. Not a success Minato was excited by, but it was an advancement for jinchuuriki so he felt he should take what he could get.

On the upside, Tsunade had been absolutely elated by his success. On the downside, she badgered him into taking more medical courses.

If Tsunade's return had not provided such a tremendous boost to the personnel enrolled in the medical programs, Minato was rather unsure of how the hospital would have coped with shinobi patients and kept up with the burden a steadily rising civilian population placed on the hospital. Already, two enormous buildings had been constructed to keep up with Tsunade's vision of specialized care units and it was barely able to keep up with the patient load. On top of everyday visits, word of mouth spread and brought an influx of visiting patients. Foreign patients padded Konoha's coffers with requests from the desperate and wealthy, that flocked to the most renowned medic in the world for treatment.

For the last few days, fair weather and school holidays had increased the patient load from overactive children. Minato's latest was a small boy with mousy brown hair, clutching his grandmother's hands for dear life.

"Mamoru-kun, see my fingers?" Waggling the digits in the air, he felt a glimmer of satisfaction as the little chin bobbed up and down. "Excellent. You'll see my hands glow green, but I won't actually touch anything yet. But you must stay still. I'm sure you know that moving makes everything hurt more. Do you think you keep still for me?"

Another nod.

Fishing one of his many, many pre-made paper seals from his pocket, he activated it between both palms and performed the seals for the advanced diagnostic jutsu Shizune had painstakingly taught to him.

"What's the paper for?" The boy's curiosity drew him forward where he was staring with wide fascinated eyes at Minato's glowing hands.

"Well," Minato grinned. "You know how ninja can do special abilities?"

"Yeah, your powers."

"Right," Minato agreed, trying to simplify his explanation for the child's benefit. "Everyone has a different amount of energy to use our abilities. Some have a little, some have a lot. I have too much to heal you normally. Without this paper, I wouldn't be able to do it at all."

"Really?" The boy sat up, barely wincing as he frowned at the paper. "Paper can do things like that?"

Over the boy's shoulder, he shared a grin with the grandmother who looked flustered and teary-eyed.

"Only special paper, Mamoru-kun. Now, can you hold still for me?"

"Yeah…I can do it!"

"I knew you could," Minato praised gently. "Now hold still."

Minato carefully ran a glowing green palm over the join of the ligaments, bone, and muscle of the knee that was black and blue, and slightly crooked. No tears in the sinews that would require a more skilled medic, just a standard dislocation.

"I'm going to have to realign your knee before I can pop it back into place," Minato explained, reaching out to ruffle the scroungy mop of brown hair. "I know it sounds scary, but it will make everything feel much better. After I do that, I'll ease the swelling a bit. But this is an easy fix."

"So quickly?!" The older woman jerked slightly, looking almost embarrassed by her own question.

"At his age, I foresee no issues. He'll be back on the playground as early as tomorrow."

"It hurts a lot now," the boy remarked dubiously. "And it will…just feel all better? Will fixing it hurt?"

"Only a little, and much less than what you're feeling now," Minato responded truthfully, knowing that dishonesty now would not be something the child would forget later. "Do you think you can be brave for me?"

The determined expression was one Minato was all too familiar with. The boy had more courage than most children his age.

"I can do it."

"I know you can," Minato said. "Alright, let's get this done for you, kiddo."

Ten minutes later, the boy was walking a bit gingerly, but otherwise seemed content with the lollipop he had received for good behavior. Minato had waved off the tearful thanks from the frazzled grandmother before stepping behind the nurse's station and offering the completed file to the waiting nurse.

"Hey! Minato-kun!"

Turning at the sound of his name, Minato saw Sakura waving at him from down the hall. Following Sakura, nose in a file, was Shizune with a rather pinched facial expression.

"Good afternoon, Sakura-san," Minato offered kindly, stepping out of the way of a pair of volunteers moving an occupied gurney.

"You're here today?" Sakura looked around hopefully. "Are any of our friends working this afternoon?"

After passing their first aid course, academy students were required to "volunteer" a certain number of hours at the hospital. Students studying beyond the basics could sign up for additional training under a medic, as Sakura often did.

"I am, but I just finished my last patient," Minato shrugged. "And I haven't seen anyone except Kiba earlier and he was only in because he broke his nose while working on a new technique."

"Ugh, that's the second time this month!" Sakura shook her head vigorously. "What is that moron thinking?!"

Probably isn't thinking, sadly.

Uncomfortable with the way Shizune had turned her attention to the triage list on the wall, Minato started edging his way toward his nearest exit.

"I'd love to stay and chat, but I've gotta meet my Nii-san in a few minutes," Minato whispered, quickly pressing his finger to his lips and making shushing sounds as he mouthed. "See you at the Academy."

Minato walked briskly in the opposite direction.

"Minato?" Shizune's voice perked up hopefully.

A quick kawarimi with a garbage-can got him around a corner.

"SHIZUNE!"

Oh, hell. Tsunade was having one of her days!

Minato gave up any efforts at subterfuge and bolted through the nearest open door.

Channeling Kakashi, Minato offered a jaunty wave to a young man having his blood pressure taken by a timid looking medic.

"Pardon the intrusion!" He called as he darted past another unoccupied bed before fleeing through an open window. With mortal peril haunting his steps, Minato raced up the wall of the small-injury clinic before racing toward the controlled chaos of Kakashi's personal chakra signature.

Lounging against the rooftiles, Kakashi was reading and lazily stroking Pakkun's side. The pair were so perfectly content that Minato hated to disturb that easy serenity.

Not that it mattered. With their keen senses, the duo were completely aware of Minato's presence already.

"Hey, Nii-san. I can't believe you're on time!" Minato uttered with bemusement colouring his tone. "And hello to you too, Pakkun!"

Kakashi waggled his visible eyebrow and saluted cheerily.

"So harsh! Next you'll suggest that I didn't miss you."

Acting his age, Minato wrapped himself around his brother like an octopus. Inhaling a heady whiff of Kakashi's musky scent, he sighed contently and melted against Kakashi's warm back.

"Oh, Minato-pup," Pakkun greeted with his tongue lolling out of his mouth. "It's been a while."

"Nii-san's fault." Minato squeezed Kakashi's shoulders and peered down at the pup. "How have you and the pack been?"

"Not too bad, Minato. Bull's mate had a litter recently so the boys and I have been getting to know the new pups," the pug remarked, before snapping around to glower at Kakashi. "This lout still owes us some treats though. Did a tracking gig that someone forgot about."

"Maa, I'll take care of it tomorrow," Kakashi promised easily. "I promise."

"You'd better," Pakkun barked. "And call us to roughhouse with the pup sometime, Kakashi."

Pakkun vanished with a puff of smoke.

"Is everything alright?" Minato puzzled out curiously. "That seemed odd."

With a light hum and a casual attitude that suggested that he definitely was ignoring the question, Kakashi stood and hoisted him up for a piggyback ride.

"I think I'm getting a little big for this," Minato flushed slightly from embarrassment.

"Hmm, you're pretty short," Kakashi pointed out casually.

"I'm a perfectly average height for my age," Minato spluttered, before poking a finger into Kakashi's gravity defying hair. "And you're just ludicrously tall!"

"Hmm, you must really be worried about your height to know all that, pup," Kakashi chimed cheerily. "Don't worry, you'll grow up eventually."

"I work in the hospital! I have to know statistics!" Minato protested as Kakashi raced over the rooftops, but he feared his efforts were in vain since Kakashi was cackling like a madman.

Kami dammit! I have Hatake AND Senju blood! I am NOT short!

Just because he can't hear you, doesn't mean I want to hear you squeal like a little girl.

Minato bit his tongue and groaned. How come no one ever took his side?

Sorry Kurama.

As if I care.

Arriving home, Kakashi leapt from the rooftop with the grace of a cat and dropped down into the grass. A pair of squirrels startled and skittered away, while a few birds screeched.

"Alright, you said you had something in mind, pup?"

Fifteen minutes later found Minato hunched over Kakashi, an ink brush in hand, and piles of his research notes scattered around them. Minato adjusted a line with painstaking care, glancing periodically at the exposed Sharingan; Kakashi flipped the page of Icha Icha Combo and occasionally giggled lecherously.

The inked paper in his hands represented countless months of painstaking research. This now was the fruit of his efforts.

With trembling fingers, he settled the sealing paper over Kakashi's forehead.

"Here goes nothing," Minato muttered. "Fuin!"

Minato chewed his lip as the prototype seal activated with a brief flare of chakra.

"Well?" Minato dared to ask.

"Feels the same," Kakashi commented dryly, turning the pages as if he could care less about the success of this particular venture.

"No difference at all?"

How could that be possible?

"Nope," Kakashi needlessly confirmed, turning a page.

"That can't be," Minato muttered uselessly as he stared at the lines of sealing ink.

Where had he gone wrong? Minato had spent a truly horrifying amount of time with Kurama trying to perfect that stupid thing after the last attempt. How could it not work?!

Hurriedly activating one of his conversion seals, forced himself to calm and focus on the task at hand. Minato guided his chakra carefully into Kakashi's body and into the visual cortex of the active Sharingan. Kakashi's body reacted to the stimulation, but no more than the body would process a slight rush of sugar.

"Oh, come on," Minato growled. "It's bijuu chakra! That should make SOME difference."

"Pup, your hackles are up," Kakashi remarked blandly.

"Not now, Nii-san!"

Attacking his stack of notes, he felt increasingly despondent at the lack of potential indicators for the cause of his failure. Minato was a sealing master—unofficial for the time being—but that was hardly relevant! He was technically a trainee medical shinobi with crappier than advisable chakra control. And goddammit, there was definitely cause to argue overconfidence, but it was absolutely infuriating that a solution to the Sharingan chakra drain was a greater obstacle than reverse engineering the Hiraishin.

Alright. Accepting that this was another failure, what had gone wrong? What had gone right?

The seal technically worked without negatively impacting Kakashi's internal homeostasis; that, if nothing else, was a huge weight off his shoulders. That indicated that the damaging properties of Kurama's chakra were purified, introducing a minute quantity of bijuu chakra into the cells safely.

Nothing had gone wrong, but the regenerative qualities of the chakra appeared to be dormant instead of boosting Kakashi's system.

What had gone wrong?

"Do you want to tell me why you look like you want me to spontaneously combust?"

"I'm sorry, Kakashi," Minato apologized half-heartedly, still unable to decipher where his misstep had been. "Nothing went wrong, but it didn't work either. I was sure it would this time too."

"Hmm, you know, my jounin-sensei was a sealing master."

Minato grunted.

No shit? Tell me something I don't know.

"What you're trying to accomplish is beyond what little I managed to learn," Kakashi tugged his hitai-ate down and vanished his book to places unspoken. "I think Minato-sensei was a little disappointed when none of his students demonstrated aptitude for his specialization."

It wasn't true. Or was it? Minato never wanted his students to be different, but he had wanted to be part of their growth. Maybe he would have enjoyed sharing his love of fuinjutsu, but he more than most understood the art wasn't for everyone.

"You remind me of my Sensei sometimes. And not just because you share his name."

Minato fumbled with his notes. The topic of the Yondaime Hokage was one Minato went out of his way to avoid. Being compared to himself was problematic and could lead to questions Minato would not answer.

But—

Kakashi had deliberately lowered his guard and demonstrated remarkable vulnerability. Minato couldn't turn away from the trust his brother was offering.

Minato tossed his notes to the side, turned, and surrendered his focus to Kakashi's intent gaze.

"You think I could be like him someday?"

"You already are."

Minato wanted to turn away from the intensity shining in that lone grey eye. It felt too much, as if the weight of Kakashi's happiness and spirit was irrevocably bound in that moment. There was no escaping that hypnotic stare, only a sense of peace.

"My sensei had many qualities that you share," Kakashi spoke reverently. "But the trait I recognize the most is your resolve. I have never known a person to be more driven, more devoted a single purpose than my Sensei. You're aware of the technique that was his specialization? Of course, you, do. You probably would know better than I would."

"Hiraishin," Minato felt a half-smile tug at his lips.

Hiraishin," Kakashi echoed, tri-pronged kunai appearing in his hands.

"That's—" Minato breathed.

"A graduation gift," Kakashi whispered fondly. "For making jounin."

"You kept it with you," Minato remarked quietly, feeling mixed emotions flutter in his system.

"Always," Kakashi slid the piece away and coughed. "Anyway, that sidetracked me. Now let's see…ah, the Hiraishin. Do you know why the Yondaime recreated the Hiraishin?"

"The war effort," Minato responded instantly.

"Yes, but more specifically, to end the war," Kakashi intoned quietly. "The short version is that Konoha was on the verge of losing the Third Shinobi War. If Minato-sensei hadn't mastered the Hiraishin, there may not have been a Konoha left to defend.

"I see that same wild-eyed determination to protect the people you care about. You're so much like him, Minato."

I never wanted you to notice.

"Even for a genius, mastering skills, creating jutsu, and developing new seals takes time. It may take you longer than you want, but you have the sort of resolve that surpasses even my Sensei, Minato. I've witnessed it. When you set your mind to a task, you don't just accomplish a goal: you conquer them. You're not going to lose to anyone, pup. Especially not to ink and paper."

Such faith elated and dismayed Minato with equal measure. For this moment at least, Minato would pretend not to notice the dangerous way his brother's mental health revolved around his wellbeing. Today, he would allow himself this moment to be happy.

"You have a lot of faith in me, I suppose I better not let you down," Minato tested the waters carefully. "I don't want to give you false hope, Kakashi."

"You will succeed," Kakashi snaked his arm back to cup Minato's head. "I never doubt my favorite comrade."

"Enough faith to give me some tips on raiton training?" Minato said, only half-jokingly.

"Mah, you're still working on suiton," Kakashi rolled to his feet. "Book store?"

Whatever it was about training together with jutsu, Kakashi avoided it like the plague.

Kurama, I could really use some actual assistance with raiton. I understand the theory, but training with an experienced, willing Sensei would be a boon to my personal efforts. Do you know anything that might be useful?

Less than you already know. Lightning really isn't my style nor was it favored by previous jinchuuriki. Sorry, Minato.

It was a longshot, but I felt it was worth asking.

"Alright, we can go to the bookstore." Minato raced after his taller sibling. "This better not be an excuse to get another copy of Icha Icha whatever book you're after."

"Nope!" Kakashi's eye danced madly. "Shisui's new book was supposed to hit the shelves today."

Seriously?

"Ugh."

Even with elevated standards, the Academy graduation exams presented little challenge for a time traveller.

After putting the finishing touches on his essay, annotating various strategies for defusing a hypothetical territory dispute between Konoha and Kusa, Minato placed it on Inuzuka-Sensei's desk and dismissed himself from the testing room.

Rather than test students in classes, they were each assigned a testing schedule that gave them a room and a time allotment. With this system, Minato could take an encryption exam, while Naruto tested shinobi guidelines, or Sasuke took an accuracy test. In order to prevent cheating, each group had a unique exam for each testing group. It was a clever idea that eliminated competitive tension and allowed students to focus on individual assessments.

Rounding the corner, he spotted Ino walking with a singed Shikamaru. Minato imagined there was a story there, but dragging it out of his friend would be far too troublesome a task.

Visually, Shikamaru had changed very little over the years; the Nara perpetually slouched, dressed in dark, comfortable clothing, and napped during classes.

However, whenever a new skill was introduced in class, Shikamaru learned. If it was a jutsu, the nonchalant Nara would appear to sleep through the lesson, but presented impeccable results when asked to demonstrate their progress in the following days. If it was a trap, Minato spied Shikamaru observing the process with a single, sleepy eye, only to replicate the device perfectly later.

Shikamaru must practice his skills, but when? The elusive behavior was a puzzle for another day.

Much like her father, Ino was brash, haughty, and driven to prove herself. The blonde bombshell wore a navy-blue dress with her long hair coiled in a bun. Tucked into the elegant bun, a deceptively innocent blue flower bobbed: aconitum blossoms were as lethal as they were beautiful, just like Ino herself.

"Hey Minato-kun! We just got out of an encryption exam! Have you taken yours yet?"

"Geez, you're giving me a headache just listening to you," Shikamaru yawned.

"Quit your moaning, Shika!" Ino lugged the lazy boy forward. "Why are you being so difficult?!"

"Trees?" Minato cited their general outside of class hangout area.

"Yeah, might as well," Ino altered course without missing a beat. "Better than sticking around here."

On the way over, a traumatized Naruto joined them, blue eyes looking unnaturally bright as he wailed over a certainty of failure on his math exam.

A large camphor tree on the Academy grounds shaded a generous area with its girth and sprawling limbs. Sai was drawing silently while Kiba and Sakura were squabbling next to him.

"Wow, I'm surprised so many of us are out here," Minato murmured, while squinting as the sun shone directly in their eyes.

"Meh, I'm just glad I don't have to do homework anymore," Shikamaru grunted as he threw himself under the shady portion of the tree, eyes already closed. "Tou-san and Kaa-san said they really raised the standards since they were in the Academy…no wonder it was such a drag."

"Oh man, my brain is gonna leak out my ears!" Naruto clutched his head and rocked back and forth. "No more tests! I can't take it!"

Towering over the majority of their agemates, Naruto looked like a blond clone of Jiraiya with a stocky build, spiky ponytail, and dramatic tendencies. Living with the Uchiha had kept Naruto's clothing devoid of fashion disasters; aside from a thin vertical orange stripe along the seam of his shorts, Naruto was dressed from head to toe in black with an Uzumaki spiral splashed proudly on his back.

"Quit griping Naruto," Shikamaru complained from his spot on the ground. "It's not like we'll ever have to do these stupid tests ever again."

"Dude, he's totally in the right! That last test was brutal!" Kiba whirled with a slightly tormented look that Akamaru whined with piteous sympathy. "All those numbers…argh!"

"If you weren't goofing off, writing notes to your friends, you would have been fine!" Sakura, the intellectual defender, shook Kiba by his heavy grey jacket. "Most of us aren't acting like this! It's called understanding the material!"

"We don't goof off that much…" Naruto moaned unhappily. "Kaa-san assigns terrible detentions when she's in a bad mood so I've been working extra hard to stay on her good side this term."

"Yeah, I see what you're saying there Naruto. Tough luck." Naruto perked up as Ino, much to everyone's surprise, supported the prankster. "My parents have been real pains lately too. They do the psych reports for the Academy and I have to listen to them nitpick every little thing I do! 'Ino, beating up people isn't a way to solve your problems! Ino, if you keep calling your friends names it might damage your friendships!' Like they expect me to be perfect all the time! I know none of them were half as talented as we are at our age!"

"I'm sorry about that, Ino-san," Sai offered from where he was sketching quietly. "Perhaps you should point out their deficiencies the next time they say something to you. I've read that doing so often provokes intriguing results."

` Minato jerked slightly, unsettled by the fact that Sai somehow continued to mask his chakra far too well. Definitely an indicator that he had become a bit overdependent on his sensory abilities. He would have to step up his training a bit…

That musing was disrupted by Sasuke arriving looking pristine in the expected high-collared Uchiha attire. Chouji trudged a short distance behind, munching on a stick of jerky in-between mouthfuls of potato chips.

"Sasuke! How'd it go?"

"Accuracy exams are a joke," Sasuke muttered, dropping down in the open spot at Minato's side. "I'm glad we're moving into teams. The Academy is a waste of time for us."

"Speak for yourself," Kiba griped.

"I learned a lot," Ino interjected. "But I'm ready to progress under focused teaching."

Since you have time now, maybe you should have that talk with Naruto.

Turning his attention away from the ongoing conversations, Minato focused on Kurama's suggestion. It wasn't the worst idea. Minato had been putting off the inevitable conversation with a multitude of excuses. Bypassing them, he just felt uncomfortable broaching the topic with Naruto.

Nevertheless, it was necessary.

Not yet.

Putting off the inevitable may prevent Naruto from becoming strong. He needs to do this. You know this even if you don't like it. I agreed that we should give Naruto time to mature and grow until he could physically cope with the chakra exposure, but we're beyond that now. After you graduate, your control of day to day life becomes much smaller and certainly more difficult.

I just wish…

Wishes are for people that have a choice. We don't. Not unless you want Naruto to be unprepared for the dangers awaiting him.

The difficulty with having a bijuu inside your mind was a lack of privacy and an inability to lie to oneself. The voice in your head would never allow that.

It really is impossible to argue with you. I wonder why I bother trying anymore.

Oh, so you are capable of higher learning after all. I'd had my doubts.

Kurama! I was trying to be nice!

Tch. You're dragging your feet. Get a move on.

Fine, fine. Look, going right now.

"Naruto," Minato stood, coming back to himself and noticing the attention from all quarters. "Err…come with me real quick."

"Eh?" Naruto cocked his head, still looking semi-distracted by the conversations that haltingly resumed.

"I thought I'd give you some last minute pointers for your tactics test," Minato said, glancing askance to avoid Sasuke's shrewd gaze. "As long as you don't mind me helping you out a bit."

"Huh?" Naruto looked confused momentarily before breaking into a face-splitting smile. "Okay! I'm coming Minato-chan!"

Ugh. Oh, Naruto.

It's days like this that I really like that kid.

Thanks a lot, furball.

Oh, you're welcome. I live for your humiliation. It brightens my day like nothing else.

What happened to normal methods of expressing sentiment?!

Boring.

"Don't take too long!" Ino shouted after them. "You haven't had lunch and I doubt you'll get much of a chance unless your test schedule is way different than mine!"

Before they made it more than a handful of paces away, Sasuke fell into step with them. Rather than perturbed by the addition, Minato relaxed marginally. Bringing Sasuke into the loop could only benefit Naruto. Not only would Sasuke provide emotional support, there was no one more protective and loyal to their family than an Uchiha.

Stopping at a group of stumps, Minato gestured and the three of them sat.

Kurama?

We're good.

Thanks.

"Alright, what did you actually want to discuss?" Sasuke asked, sitting down and fiddling with the leather tassel on his bracer.

Demonstrating remarkable insight, Naruto transitioned from rocking back and forth on his heels to studying Minato like he was piecing together a puzzle.

"What's going on?" Naruto said quietly, tossing a tense glance over his shoulder, to where their friends were still loosely clumped.

"I want to discuss something with you, Naruto," Minato hesitated, but deliberately pressed a hand to his abdomen. The colour drained out of Naruto's face and Sasuke's features could have been made from carved stone.

"What about it?" Naruto bit our harshly, looking at his hands, away, and curling his fingers into fists.

Not a good sign. Resistance was expected, but the overt hostility was unexpected. Kurama was obviously correct, he should never have put off this conversation.

"Do you remember what we talked about all those years ago? When we discussed what we are?" Minato ventured carefully, rather wary of the atypical frosty glint in Naruto's sapphire eyes. "I told you back then how jinchuuriki are essentially living prisons for their tenants."

"I remember," Naruto grunted. "What of it?"

Minato watched Naruto rip out a handful of grass, drop it, and reach for another clump of greenery.

"None of us care," Sasuke interjected with a low snort, that snapped Naruto out of his brooding glower. "Bijuu or not, you're just Naruto. If you ever thought our friends would turn their backs on you, you're a bigger moron than I thought."

"Don't you think I know that?! My family is the best! Our friends, the ones that know, no one cares. They don't even bring it up and they still treat me the same!" Naruto jumped up and kicked a rock. "This isn't about you guys!"

Minato's eyes shuttered for a moment.

I'm not sorry, Naruto. I don't have that luxury. But—

"Then what?" Sasuke grunted. "Is this about the villagers?"

I'm sorry I placed so much faith in people.

"I can't stand it," Naruto flopped down like a dead fish. "No matter how nice my clothes are, how good my grades, or no matter how hard I work, nothing changes. I don't go shopping with Kaa-san because I don't want them to overcharge her or sell bad food. I try to use the rooftops, because when I don't, people are always giving me dirty looks and whispering. Even Hiashi thinks they're a bunch of prejudiced fools!"

"If the villagers are idiots, why do you care what they think?"

Minato lifted a brow, but nodded gratefully in thanks. His friend's lips quirked slightly, before his attention reverted to Naruto.

"I—I don't!" Naruto's hair quivered like an agitated porcupine, before the blond slumped forward miserably. "I just get tired of it sometimes. I don't like how they all look at me, like they're waiting for me to prove that I really am just a stupid demon. I just wish I didn't have to put up this crap all the time. I wish I was normal, like everyone else."

The conversational rebuttals Minato could attempt were numerous, but only one of them was ham-fisted enough to defuse an Uzumaki.

"I never took you for a coward, Naruto," Minato stated quietly.

Both of his friends stilled like statues; a moment passed and Sasuke made a garbled, choked sound, while Naruto's widened into saucers.

"You're letting people who don't even truly know you, control your life," Minato stated dispassionately. "I always imagined you would prove to Konoha who Uzumaki Naruto really is. Instead, you're allowing your fears to prevent you from realizing your dreams."

"But—"

"You're a jinchuuriki!" Minato shook off the protests and crossed his arms. "That isn't going to change. Instead of resenting it, own it. Be proud. Fear isn't going to change the hearts and minds of people that are afraid. Only you and your actions can do that."

Baby blues watered, a nose quivered, and Minato was knocked flat by a sobbing blond.

"Naruto!" Minato gasped, aghast as the blond clung to like a monkey—a giant, blond monkey. "Naruto! It's fine! Gah! Get off!"

Attempts to pry Naruto off ended in dismal failure. Several minutes of cajoling pleas and desperate glances directed to a merciless Sasuke, before his friend finally intervened and wrangled the overemotional Uzumaki.

"Naruto, we still need to talk," Minato choked out, swatting at bits of grass clinging to his shirt.

"Oh, right," Naruto grunted, slightly red in the face as he attempted to wriggle out of the headlock Sasuke had him in. "What did we need to talk about?"

"Have you talked to the Kyuubi since that day?"

Instantly, Naruto collapsed to the ground gasping and Sasuke whipped around with a perplexed frown.

"He hasn't," Sasuke's eyes flicked down to Naruto who had his head cocked and a finger tapping his chin. "You want him to speak to it."

No one gave Sasuke enough credit. Not only was he skilled in a variety of combat methods, but his friend was incredibly quick on the uptake.

"Naruto, there will come a day when you need to be able to use the Kyuubi's chakra. You don't want it to happen when you become angry on the battlefield, when you're not ready for it. You need to start learning how."

"Wouldn't it be best to just use my own power? Why should I bother with that stupid fox's chakra anyway?" Naruto protested, looking askance toward where their friends were gathered. "I have a lot of chakra all by myself and I'm kicking ass."

"You make a lot of valid points," Minato hummed thoughtfully, drawing a confused pout from the blond. "But if I have a sword and don't know how to use it, what happens when I try to use it for the first time?"

Naruto chewed his bottom lip and frowned unhappily.

"It took me forever to get as good as I am," Naruto admitted with a distasteful moue of his lips. "And I kept making a lot of stupid mistakes when I first started out. Mistakes that…probably would hurt me or someone around me."

"Exactly," Minato said. "That's why learning to use that chakra now instead of when a mission goes sour is going to be so important."

"You've interacted with the fox."

Sasuke eyes lit up with something like awe, while Naruto spluttered.

"-you?! You met yours?!"

Cheeks flaming with embarassment, Minato grinned sheepishly.

"There is nothing lonelier than being locked away," Minato stated, allowing a bit of bitterness to seep into his words. "The Kyuubi hated me for a long time and I can understand why. I want to be his friend and work together. Like Fū-san is with her bijuu."

"Oh…Oh!" Naruto perked up. "You mean, like her flying!"

"Of course," Minato grinned. "Fū couldn't fly without getting along with the Nanabi. She might have been able to use the chakra without communicating, but nothing more than that. From what I've heard, Fū is friends with her bijuu too."

"Huh, how do I talk to the fox then?" Naruto looked somewhat reluctant but determined.

"Before I tell you, promise me you'll ask the Kyuubi to reach out for his other half, okay?" Minato said.

"Huh?"

Minato resisted the urge to ruffle Naruto's hair—albeit barely. There were times that the blond looked so adorably perplexed that Minato had the tendency to treat the other boy like an elder sibling or the forbidden "p" word.

"Since my relationship with the Kyuubi is going a little better, it might be a good idea if my Kyuubi talks to your Kyuubi," Minato said. Seeing Naruto nod, though still looking like he was a bit confused, Minato plowed onward. "And now let's discuss meditation."

"Oh, this is going to be unpleasant," Sasuke rubbed his head thoughtfully. "If it's a mind thing, I could just knock him out."

"Shut up, Sasuke!" Naruto howled. "It's just…meditation. Ugh, yuck!"

Minato clapped a hand over his mouth to prevent a snigger from escaping as Naruto's face shrivelled up like a prune.

"Naruto, I can tell that you're not very happy about giving this a shot, but thank you for doing it."

"You were my first friend, dattebayo!" Naruto smiled sheepishly. "You haven't let me down yet so…I gotta show you that I'm not going to let you down either! If this is something I have to do to get stronger, than I'm going to do it. Even if I'm not excited about it."

"I hate to say it, but if Naruto is determined, he'll master it sooner or later," Sasuke seemed determined to ignore the way the blond's eyes lit up like stars.

Truly an Uzumaki through and through.

"Alright, now try to relax and be patient," Minato said encouragingly, knowing how short Naruto's attention span could be. "I don't expect you to succeed right away, but one you learn, achieving a connection will be instantaneous."

"Nevermind, Naruto is going to need a few years for this. He has the patience of a toddler!" Sasuke muttered from the side.

"Why you!"

Why me?

Because the Nidaime Hokage sent you back in time to save the future.

Sometimes I think you deliberately say things like that just to ruin my mood.

Yep.

You could at least deny it!

The truth is more interesting.

The mocking laughter chased him as he firmly coaxed Naruto into pose and attempted to guide him through the early stages of making contact with his bijuu. Barely into the initial explanation, Naruto's stomach growled like a hungry bear and instigated a round of whinging complaints of hunger and ramen.

If Madara didn't kill them all, Minato swore the insatiable Uzumaki appetite might.

Minato tripped for the third time in under a minute as Shizune and Tenzo alternatively pulled, pushed, and dragged him toward the surprise waiting for him.

"Keep your eyes closed, Nato!" Shizune giggled in his ear.

"You're covering my eyes with one of your hands! And you've blindfolded me! Twice!" Minato tripped again, when his arms were pulled in opposing directions. "Guys, I'm going to have two dislocated shoulders if this keeps up!"

"Bah, everyone here can fix it," Shizune giggled to his right.

Not the point!

"Now, now, pup," Kakashi's voice called from—Minato tipped his head to his left. "If we didn't have faith in your talents, we wouldn't have to take such measures! Besides, most people only graduate from the Academy once!"

Wow. Way to subtlety drop hints for that pathetic jounin-sensei test. Next thing you know, Kakashi will be monologuing to some enemy shinobi, explaining how he defeated them before he actually defeats them.

Kurama, I don't think Kakashi is foolish enough to do something like that. Jiraiya would do that, sure, but, Kakashi isn't that overconfident.

Willing to put your naming rights where your mouth is?

You already have the naming rights to my next jutsu! And—ouch! My toes!

"Someone totally just broke one of my toes!"

"Err—"

"What is taking you so long?" Tsunade barked, causing the trio to knock into Minato from all sides ending with an elbow to the gut and a rattled spine. "What the hell are you doing to him?"

Oh, thank Kami. It was a rare day that Tsunade was the voice of reason, but he cherished his savior chastising the trio herding him forward.

"We're bringing him for the surprise…" Tenzo replied, sounding uncertain and uncomfortable.

"Oh, shut up."

Tsunade's chakra flickered, a trail of footsteps, and Tsunade's crisp fingernails slid beneath the double-layered blindfold.

"Ready, Minato?"

Not even marginally, but Tsunade's presence had done a lot to soothe Minato's rattled nerves.

"As I'll ever be."

The cloth was yanked free with a solid tug: Minato exhaled sharply at the mountain of parcels in front of him. Boggled, Minato's jaw worked soundlessly for a second. The click and flash jerked him out of his stupor.

"So cute!" Shizune cooed from behind the camera lens. "Say cheese!"

"Hey!" Minato protested. "What is all this?"

Sidling over him, book notably absent, Kakashi slung an arm around Minato's shoulders.

"These are gifts to start your shinobi career," Kakashi explained, voice devoid of his typical humor as he pointed to the parcels.

"Have to make sure you have everything you need," Tsunade snorted, but looked rather fond and there was a distinctive shine around Tsunade's eyes that was not part of the genjutsu that cloaked her appearance.

A lump tightened in his throat and Minato knew his eyes were watering slightly. Graduation was a significantly different experience when you had adults in your life that loved you. It made him ache at the thought of kids that had no one to share their accomplishments with.

Minato had known that hurt once. Naruto probably had in another life, but would never know it now.

"Thank you," Minato said, letting a pair of tears fall before smiling. "I'm not trying to ruin the moment, but I'm just...really happy. I don't want to take anyone for granted. I love you all."

"Oh, Minato." Shizune buried her face in Tenzo's chest. Said ANBU face went scarlet, his arms wrapped around Shizune's waist, and tenderly rubbed the woman's back.

"Damn, kid," Tsunade dropped into her chair with a grunt. "Making me all emotional."

Minato tugged Kakashi down beside him, knowing that closeness would be the cure for Kakashi's ailment.

"You have quite a pile there," Kakashi aptly demonstrated his propensity for stating the obvious.

"I suppose so."

Snagging a parcel, Minato grinned and waved as the camera flash went off again.

From Gai, a green leotard that vanished abruptly—Kakashi's command of Katon jutsu apparently approached Uchiha levels—and a surprisingly thoughtful waterproof scroll-case.

Before Minato could finish opening Jiraiya's gift, Tsunade ripped her teammate's complete literary works out of his arms and demonstrated that books were no match for brute strength. After Kakashi's horrified exclamations petered out, Jiraiya's other gift of an expensive set of quality shuriken and kunai were begrudgingly approved. The sentiment wasn't the same, but Minato felt a surge of pleasure that Jiraiya had sent him anything at all.

From Tenzo, a serviceable, black equipment pouch. Opting to continue the practical trend, a medical kit that Shizune had personally assembled with enough supplies to perform an emergency field surgery that Minato certainly wasn't qualified to perform.

There were limits even for prodigies!

From family friends; protective clothing for different climates, fuinjutsu supplies, and field equipment for extended stays outside the village.

From citizens of Konoha; ridiculously expensive kimonos that he would never, ever wear. Useless trinkets that he set aside to pass out to the girls and an assortment of baked goods that Minato figured would be appreciated by the local orphanage.

From the Sandaime, Minato tugged a note free and read the neat script.

Minato, I'm sorry that it took me so long to put this together for you. The majority of the Senju Clan's records went missing, but as a student of the Nidaime, I had in my possession a few items that I felt should be turned over to you now. If you desire, I would be more than willing to share my recollections of your parents.

-Sarutobi Hiruzen

"That from Sensei? What is it?"

Shrugging, Minato lifted the lid and gasped softly. A pile of photographs sat atop a wrapped parcel. The first was a picture of Senju Tobirama in the Hokage robes with six grinning teenagers standing around his stone-faced father.

"Nidaime-sama!" Tenzo gasped, clearly in the throes of hero-worship.

"I don't think I've seen that one," Tsunade moved so she was sitting next to him. "I guess that old bitty Koharu was young once, after all."

Minato listened in turn as Tsunade identified each person and committed the faces to memory.

"Aa," Kakashi observed the photo curiously. "Pup got lucky that his Hatake genes prevented a genetic windfall. Looking constipated all the time can't have been good for the Nidaime's mental state."

"Sempai!" An utterly scandalized Tenzo pointed an offended figure at Kakashi's back. "The Nidaime is one of the most powerful shinobi to ever live. And Minato-kun is his son! How could you say such blasphemy?!"

Shizune giggled, but Tsunade snorted and pointed at the picture.

"Kakashi's right. Oji-san really did have a stick up his ass."

"Tsunade-sama!" Shizune wailed, eyes aflame. "You shouldn't say such things about Minato's parents!"

"Minato's a genin. If he can't handle a little bit of swearing by this point, he'll never make it past his first mission." Tsunade tapped her foot dangerously and the floor creaked ominously, Minato almost feeling sorry for Tenzo who was staring at the cracked floorboards with tears in his eyes. "Now keep looking at your presents! We have a party to get to in a while."

Nodding, Minato looked through the meager pile of photographs. Most featured the Nidaime and his team. One was a candid shot of Tobirama with Hashirama's arm slung around his shoulders, and an image of a woman with gorgeous red hair that Kurama's unhappy rumblings identified as Uzumaki Mito.

With only two photographs remaining, Minato paused at an unfamiliar team photo with Uchiha Kagami standing behind three youngsters. One of them with noticeable silver spikes in a ponytail with a lopsided grin.

"Tou-san," Kakashi breathed the word like a prayer, a finger reaching out to hover over the smiling visage. "I've never seen my father's team picture…never even knew who his Sensei was."

"I knew," Tsunade admitted quietly. "I just never thought about it much. Kagami died shortly after Sakumo made Chunin. And the teammates never had a chance to make a lasting impression."

The implied death sentence of the nameless shinobi hung in the air.

I'll have to frame this one and put it up. I think Kakashi needs it more than I do.

The final image was of an older Sakumo, closer to the man Minato remembered, sitting with Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru. Each of them with a sake cup in hand, saluted the photographer.

Sakumo, who were you? What kind of man were you before the village betrayed you? Kakashi needed you, for that, I used to resent you. Maybe it's unfair to judge you…after all, I never knew you and I never walked your path.

"Let's see what else you have from my old sensei!" Tsunade lifted the photographs from his hands gently setting them aside.

"Right," Minato caught himself from reaching back for the pictures.

For no discernible reason, he felt oddly bereft at their loss.

Forcing himself to focus on the last parcel from the Sandaime, he tugged at the ribbon mechanically. Pulling away the last bit of wrap, Minato's eyes lit up at the sight of a chokuto. The hilt had a vine pattern carved along the shaft, while a light touch proved the blade to be made of chakra conducting steel. Along the leather sheath, a note was attached.

This blade was one that Tobirama kept among his personal possessions. It originally belonged to Hashirama-sama. Rather than rotting in my personal collection, I'm sure both your ancestors would prefer it passed to you—back into active service.

"I don't remember this," Tsunade looked at the blade with an appreciative look. "Of course, he passed away when I was very young, so that isn't so surprising. I'm happy Sensei returned it to our family though. That will definitely be a benefit to your career."

"You don't mind?" Minato's fingers traced the hilt, startled as he felt an external chakra source, emanating from the blade itself. The aura was faint, but felt peculiarly sentient as the foreign chakra greeted him with something not unlike a welcome. As quickly as it came, the chakra retreated into a state akin to hibernation.

What was that?

That, was Senju Hashirama's chakra. Be careful with that, Minato. A blade imbued with the lifeforce of that man is an artifact many would kill for.

Why would the Hokage give it to me?

If I'm honest, that chakra is likely responding to the Senju part of you…or my chakra. I doubt the old man knew.

Wait? Is this thing dangerous for you?

Don't be foolish. It's a sword: a pointy stick useful for poking holes in less competent mortals. It's unlikely to possess any properties that resemble that foolish troupe of swordsmen from Kiri.

How sure are you?

Is this really the opportune time for you to badger the both of us with your compulsive need to panic over everything you're not sure about? As the older and WISER individual, I can tell you that damn sword probably has chakra sticking to it because Hashirama's chakra is an utter abomination that clings to everything it touches like glue.

That didn't really answer my question.

You're hopeless. You know that, right?

You do mention it rather frequently.

The blade hummed again and Minato reluctantly pulled his hands away, feeling almost as if he were pulling apart a pair of magnets, but not wanting to alarm his family members.

"Guess I'll need to brush up on my bladework," Minato admitted. "Maybe I can ask Sasuke and Naruto for some tips."

"Now that's an idea," Shizune praised fondly. "Your jounin-sensei may be able to assist you too!"

"Your summons may be of help in that area too," Tsunade suggested.

Now that suggestion had potential. The otters had been invaluable in augmenting Minato's skills on the sly. A more direct form of instruction would be priceless.

"I'll do that," Minato gave the sword a last, appreciative glance before turning toward one of the last packages that Kakashi was offering him.

"The one is from me," Kakashi scratched his masked cheek and slouched slightly.

A swath of fabric dumped into his lap. Shaking out the material, Minato gasped softly: a white haori with a pattern of scarlet triangles on the sleeves. It was a style unique to the White Fang. Until now, anyway.

"It's…you don't have to wear it," Kakashi said, far too easily to signify anything except discomfort.

"Kakashi," Minato poured every ounce of earnest emotion into his voice. "It's perfect." Minato stood and slipped into the short sleeved haori. Turning fully about, Minato grinned and set his hands on his hips. "So? How do I look?"

"It suits you," Kakashi eye-smiled, looking lost in memories, but of a positive nature rather than negative.

"Eh?" Tsunade stood, reached over, and snapped his hair elastic.

"Hey!" He cried out a protest as his long hair tumbled down his back free of constraint. "What's that for?!"

"Hold still!" Tsunade mussed his hair with her fingers, despite his best efforts to dodge. "Ah, there we go! Now that you look like you've just rolled out of bed, you could pass for a Hatake!"

"Gee…thanks," Minato smoothed his hair forlornly. "Now I have to comb it again…"

"My gift should be rather obvious," Tsunade stated proudly as she dumped the last package in his lap.

Giving it a feel, Minato said.

"Uniform?"

"Several," Tsunade admitted as he unwrapped the paper. "Training and mission uniforms can be very different."

Black and navy uniforms in various lengths, styles and durability. All crafted from flexible materials and compatible with fuinjutsu. Standard, but costly.

Standing up, Minato looked from each person and made sure to catch their eyes.

"I…I just want you all to know how much I love you."

Shizune made a soft sound.

"Pup."

Kakashi stepped forward, but Minato retreated, halting his brother in his tracks.

"No, no!" Minato shook his head. "This isn't going to be a sad moment or one of those crazy, sappy speeches that will have us all crying. Not today!"

The four adults exchanged glances that were both bemused and proud, but ultimately remained expectant.

"Tenzo, when you stealth-moved in with Shizune for an eternal sleepover, Tsunade promised to kill you if you screwed up!" Minato almost laughed as Tenzo's jaw crashed into the floor and Shizune had her palm smothering her own set of giggles. "I'm glad you're still among the living! Shizune's happiness is important to me and you've become an essential member of our family. Thank you!"

The man shuffled awkwardly and caught the box of tissue Tsunade threw at his head. With a plaintive sniffle, the man mumbled a watery thanks.

"Shizune, you're the family rock. Seriously, without you, we would all be screwed. From the simple things like making sure our family doesn't starve and eat out every night to bringing me extra blankets on colder nights. You're always thinking about everyone around you. You're amazing and you inspire me to be…better than I am."

Shizune broke into a blubbering fit that she was doing a poor job of stifling.

"Nii-san and Oba-san," Minato's swallowed around a lump that refused to leave his throat. "I can't classify what you two mean to me. But when I think of home, I think of you two. To be in your arms, is to be home. It's my greatest wish to defend the people I love, my home. I promised not to get too sappy, but I…

"I know everything is about to change. But I wanted to thank you all for helping me become the person I am today. Just…thank you. I love you all."

For a long moment nobody moved, no one breathed.

"That was the sappiest, speech ever!" Tsunade swept Minato into her arms, and he could hear her voice break slightly. "You just promise to come home, you little brat."

With a content sigh, he snuggled into her shoulder feeling safe, secure, and utterly content.

"Oh, Nato."

Shizune's callused fingers squeezed his own, the thumb rubbing the back of his hand. Tenzo inched closer, hovering at his elbow.

From behind, Kakashi's comforting arm reached out to ruffle his hair and settle at the base of his neck.

They stood there as a content tangle of bodies for a time. It was a rare pleasure to just soak in the vivid presence of people you love. It was a gift Minato was not about to undervalue.

"Not to rush anyone, but if we want to make it reasonably on-time, perhaps we should get going soon?" Tenzo prompted cautiously. Apparently, a few hits from Tsunade really did teach someone new tricks.

"Oh! My appetizers!" Shizune squealed, kawarimi'd with a wooden spoon, and disappeared into the kitchen. "Where's my spatula?!"

Tenzo shunshined after his distraught lover.

"Zune-chan, you have it in your hand!"

"Those two," Tsunade muttered with a soft sigh. "When is that man ever going to propose?"

"What makes you think he hasn't?"

"Hmm?" Kakashi perked up behind him.

"They're engaged?" Tsunade chewed on the words distastefully. "They better not be without saying something…"

"No, no," Minato wriggled slightly, until Tsunade took the hint and set him down. "Fū-chan told Naruto that he asked Shizune, but she turned him down."

"Oh?" Kakashi leaned in, eye glittering with eager delight. Tsunade looked undecided between elation and dismay, but seemed to settle for interest.

"This is only what I heard," Minato fed the gossip monsters carefully. "But, Shizune told him she would only propose to him if he survived living with our family for a few years. Word around the clans is that we're a handful."

"It must be the end of the world if the gossipmongers aren't completely wrong about something," Tsunade mused, not sounding in the least offended. "In any event, I have some new ammunition the next time you're out for a sleepover, Minato."

"You're going gambling again?" Minato groaned as he remembered the last time he'd been dragged to a gambling den to watch the Legendary Sucker get conned by some of the most obvious ploys in the world. "You know how your luck is Oba-san! And your instincts at the card table are more likely to start a war than end in victory!"

"Bah! You're too young to know anything about adult activities like gambling, Mina-chan! Go get your sandals on! We're out of here!"

Tsunade swatted him on the back before briskly making her way into the kitchen to herd the frantic duo outdoors.

"Should we…intervene?" Minato jumped as a dish met a smashing end. "Or maybe we could head over and they could catch up?"

"You're learning!" Kakashi smiled proudly.

Minato and Kakashi made a break for it.

If someone looked into the classroom, they would have imagined at least half of the class was awaiting execution rather than simple team assignments. As it was, there was a low hum of conversation interspersed with occasional hysterical outbursts, hushed whispering, and darting glances.

Minato ignored the appreciative looks directed his way from graduates that were not part of his circle-of-friends as he took a free seat between Sasuke and Sai. The latter greeted him with a polite nod, which Minato returned, while Sasuke uncharacteristically said nothing, merely shifted in his seat.

"Ah, shit," Kiba's voice came out slightly muffled from where his face was buried in Akamaru's fur. "I'm gonna get paired up with a couple of civvies, I just know it! I helped Naruto prank Iruka-Sensei too many times! There gonna put me with those losers, I just know it!"

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Sakura turned on Kiba, the Inuzuka flailing backward and deposing Shikamaru from his chair. Said Nara merely grumbled and curled up for naptime on the floor, while Kiba skittered backward to escape an enraged Sakura.

"I-I, just…" Kiba looked around helplessly for aid. "Guys? Help me out here!"

"Exercise that brain of yours, mutt." Sasuke grinned mockingly.

"Gonna have to agree, Inuzuka!" Ino winked and flashed her teeth ferally. "You totally brought this on yourself."

"Kiba-kun, you need to learn to think before speaking," Sai chimed in with a peculiar look that made the pale boy appear as if he were lost in a fog. "It took a lot of effort to achieve friendships with everyone, but it has been much easier since I stopped saying everything I thought out loud."

Sai didn't naturally ease into their circle of friends like Sakura. It took a lot of effort, surviving multiple prankings, and more than one intercession from Minato and Sasuke of all people. Slowly but surely, Sai had inched his way into friendships; somehow becoming a regular sparring partner for Chouji, painting Shikamaru's ceiling with a realistic sky, and creating origami with Ino and Hinata. Eccentric took effort, but eventually Sai fell into their group as if he had been there all along.

"What exactly is your problem, Kiba?!" Sakura looked seconds from pummeling the nervous boy. "I'm one of the top students here. And yeah, my stamina isn't as great as yours, but I could run circles around you, moron!"

"Bullshit! The Academy isn't a joke anymore, but you're still from a civilian family, Haruno! Your family can't teach you anything! All of us get extra training outside the Academy! You don't! Sure, you're better than the other civvies in our class, but that isn't saying all that much."

Years of time together, still, Minato failed to compelling argue that clan children didn't make better shinobi. Honestly, they typically did. It was a rare day that a clanless nobody had the chakra pool, the skill, and the determination to tangle with shinobi that were literally bred to be powerhouses.

Not to say civilians wouldn't become shinobi, statistics merely reflected the truth of an unfair system. Statistics also contributed to present attitudes. Superiority complexes were alive and kicking; unfortunately for Kiba, he often stuck his foot in his mouth.

"Knock it off!"

Crack!

Sasuke slammed his hands down on the desk.

"We've graduated. We're genin now. Start acting like it. Kiba, show some respect for your comrades. Sakura, just smash his nose in next time."

"Will do, Sasuke-kun!" Sakura chirped, churlishly sticking her tongue out before stomping over to reclaim her seat beside Ino.

"Team assignments used to be predictable, but since they revamped the Academy, there isn't much that we can predict," Ino said. "At one point, I would have been certain that I would end up with Chouji and Shikamaru because of our parents, but now, I'm not sure that will actually happen."

Not a bad analysis, from his point of view, but Minato knew Naruto would be separated from himself and that an effort would be made to keep at least one kunoichi on each team. Aside from that, the team match-ups for this class should have proven intriguing. Oh, to have been a fly on that wall!

When Sasuke began fidgeting with the metal plates on the back of his new gloves, Minato decided enough was enough.

Minato shifted and nudged Sasuke gently. "Okay, Sasuke, what's wrong? I can see that you're wrestling with something in your mind. What's the matter?"

"How is it that you can always tell?" Sasuke shook his head and snorted. "You must be spying on me or something."

"I just know you," Minato countered factually, playfully nudging him in the ribs. "But, Sasuke, you never answered my question."

"I'm worried too," Sasuke whispered softly, looking down and twiddling his thumbs tensely. "About team assignments."

"They won't put you with an unsuitable team," Minato explained, attempting to put Sasuke's mind at ease. "Considerations are given to team dynamic and personality concerns. Placing you with individuals that won't promote teamwork is ill-advised. And don't forget they brought in a team of psychologists to observe us. I'm sure that will have an impact on our placements too."

"As if that's what he's worried about," Shikamaru mouthed off from where he was sprawled on the floor.

"What's that supposed to mean, Shikamaru-kun?"

The Nara rolled over and muttered something unintelligible.

You're an idiot.

Oh, come on! What did I do this time?

As if I could be bothered to explain the obvious.

"Hey guys!"

Turning toward Naruto's voice, Minato raised his hand in greeting, only to freeze up and feel Kurama howl in outrage.

"Naruto! What the hell are you wearing?" Ino asked the question Minato was unable to ask, due to feeling absolutely stupefied.

Yondaime, I'm going to murder your offspring.

Not my son, remember?

Naruto was dressed in overly familiar dark, red armor with black garb underneath. Instead of the spiky ponytail, Naruto had let the mess down and somehow styled it into an imitation of Uchiha Madara.

Maybe it would have been funny if Naruto hadn't died when that lunatic Uchiha ripped his bijuu out of him. And manipulating Obito into destroying the world.

He's dressed as him! HIM!

It's just harmless mimicry. It doesn't mean anything!

Don't try that with me. He's dressed like that piece of trash!

And what do you want me to do?! Go tell him that Madara is still alive and has it out for him personally? Because that will go SO well!

"Naruto, you know we're just getting team assignments today," Hinata rubbed her cheek with a disappointed frown. "We're not going on any missions that require…armor. At least not for a long time."

"That's what you guys think!" Naruto grinned cheekily! "I'm ready to rescue some princesses!"

"Why are you dressed like Madara, idiot?" Sasuke asked, before frowning again. "And how did you get the money for that? You got a lot of presents, but that wasn't one of them."

"Ah! Ero-Sennin sent me a bunch of money as an early graduation present. I ordered this baby for missions! I can't wait for our first one!"

I can't wait to see you painting fences, cleaning the Inuzuka kennels, and chasing cats while wearing that get-up…

"I think he looks cool," Chouji defended cheerily, eating a piece of jerky and twirling a shuriken with his free hand.

"Why are you modelling yourself after Madara?" Sasuke sniped, face twisted into a harsh scowl.

"Hey, I was paying attention when Kaa-san was explaining clan history!" Naruto looked oddly starstruck. "Madara founded the village AND was best friends with the Shodai! Besides, my hair is long enough to look like the clan drawings of him! I look so freaking badass!"

You're gonna look like a smear on the floor!

Firmly deciding not going there with Kurama was the safest option, Minato sat and watched as Sasuke stood and verbally erupted.

"Moron! Madara was a traitor to Konoha and a disgrace to our Clan! He left the village, came back, and tried to destroy it! The Shodai Hokage had to kill that crazy bastard to prevent him from destroying Konoha!"

Naruto gawped like a fish out of water.

"What?! No way! You're just jealous! And a liar!"

Before Sasuke could punch his brother's lights out, Minato stood, only to be interrupted by a confused looking Sakura.

"Naruto, he isn't lying. Don't you remember that lecture on the Valley of the End? Madara fought the Shodai Hokage to the death after he went crazy."

"WHAT?! Seriously?" Naruto was the picture of devastation. "I thought he was a good guy!"

"Yeah," Minato rubbed the back of his neck as Kurama snarled viciously. "Madara is a bit of a sensitive topic in Konoha."

"Ah man," Naruto groaned. "I wanted to look like a badass Uchiha! I don't want to look like some emo traitor!"

Minato's head thumped to his desk, but not before Hinata dragged an unresisting Naruto away to scold him and return the blond's hairstyle to its mirror of Jiraiya.

"Hey, Minato," Minato felt Sasuke move closer, their elbows bumping. "Thanks."

Maybe it said something about Minato surrounding himself with people that had prickly outer shells, but had good hearts inside.

Turning his face, he caught a rare unguarded smile from the perpetually pensive Sasuke and found himself returning the rare smile with one of his own.

"For what?"

Rather than answering, Sasuke's eyes glittered mischieviously and he turned to face the front of the room.

"Oh crap! Here comes Iruka-Sensei!" Kiba moaned, diving behind his desk.

The door swung and their tactics teacher entered the class with a clipboard and a cheek splitting grin from ear to ear.

"Alright, good morning genin! I would like to take this opportunity to say that teaching all of you during tactical assignments was an absolute pleasure!"

"Woo! Thanks, Iruka-Sensei!" Naruto cheered.

"Alright Sensei! Your class was never boring so I always showed up to it!" Kiba whooped loudly.

There was a round of polite remarks, that Iruka seemed to take in stride, despite the dark flush on his face.

"Good luck everyone. No matter what we'll still be friends," Minato quickly spoke before Iruka resumed talking. "I can't wait to hear about how your first team meeting goes."

"Thanks Minato-kun," Chouji looked rather emotional and uncertain. "I want to hear how all of you do too!"

"Sheesh, what a pain," Shikamaru reappeared next to his friend. "But not hearing from all of you would be odd, so let's get together in a few days."

"I would like that," Sai stated quietly.

"I'd love that," Sakura's insecurity was plain as day on her face.

"Count me in," Ino added, easily followed by everyone else.

"Thank you everyone!" Iruka called out, attempting to restore order. "Listen up! I'm going to be calling out your assignments as instructors arrive."

Minato sat up attentively. This was the moment that would define everything.

"—good luck!" Iruka waved out a group of three civilian graduates with a female jounin, before Shizune walked in, waving cheerily toward Minato before approaching Iruka.

"Ah, Shizune-sensei," Iruka looked somewhat ruffled. "Is there—"

"I'm here to collect our apprentice, Iruka-sensei," Shizune smiled at the frazzled chunin kindly. "Haruno-san."

"Huh?" Sakura sat up in her chair and Minato had a sneaking suspicion he already knew what this was about.

"Haruno-san, you've been selected as an apprentice to Senju Tsunade," Shizune grinned as Sakura practically leapt from her seat in excitement. "Your progress in the classroom and at the hospital has not gone unnoticed. Come with me please!"

Sakura appeared rooted in place so Minato resigned himself to poking his friend in the back.

"Sakura-san, trust me, you don't want to be late!"

"Gah!" Sakura burst forward at rather alarming speeds until she was neatly at Shizune's side. Reaching her goal, Sakura's fist pumped into the air and she screeched in triumph! "I did it! Shannaro!"

Minato watched Naruto lean forward with stars in his eyes as Sakura waltzed out the door in triumph.

"Sakura-chan is soooo cool!" Naruto giggled, not noticing that Hinata looked prepared to set him on fire!

"R-right, then," Iruka scratched his cheek. "Next, let's see…"

A poof of smoke engulfed the front of the classroom. Having sensed the familiar chakra arriving, Minato laughed as Jiraiya appeared on the back of a tolerant looking Gama inside the classroom to appreciative oohs and ahs.

Minato was rarely blindsided, but he hadn't expected Jiraiya to take another team. The Sannin had expressed no desire to train more students, not to mention a genin team. And with his spy network to consider, it was a bizarre move.

That could only imply something had changed. Not that it was necessarily bad. Minato knew firsthand that Naruto couldn't ask for a better teacher, the other two students would be just as fortunate.

"Hear you have some brats looking for a Sensei, Umino-san," Jiraiya purred, swinging his hair around and posing in what some might consider a dramatic fashion.

"Ero-Sennin!" Naruto shouted, leaping up on his desk theatrically and pointing a finger. "What are you doing here?!"

"I told you not to call me that you brat!" Jiraiya had his fist extended and his face had reddened.

"Then stop writing those dirty books!"

"SHUT UP!" Iruka's head grew as he shouted in outrage at the arguing pair. "Team 7 under Jiraiya is Uzumaki Naruto, Hyuuga Hinata, and Akimichi Chouji."

Minato watched Chouji stand up uneasily, before trotting up to the front with Hinata to follow out the bickering Naruto and Jiraiya.

"Hinata wasn't exactly a surprise, but I didn't imagine Chouji ending up with those two," Ino admitted.

"Yeah, I didn't exactly see that coming either," Shikamaru seemed irked by that.

"Team 11 is—"

"Going to wish they'd never been born!"

A devilish chortle came from a kunoichi with purple hair, wearing a trench coat that Minato couldn't quite identify.

"Anko-san, hold on a minute—"

"Quit blathering, Umino!" The kunoichi waggled a kunai in their former sensei's face. "Mitarashi Anko: Sensei of Team 11! Welcome to your new hell! Now, Tsume's offspring, Inoichi's girl, and uh, Sai! Get your asses to training ground 13 within the next fifteen minutes…or else!"

Anko tapped her kunai to her throat, grinned wickedly, and disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Kiba looked spooked, while Ino actually looked intrigued. A second later, the pair grabbed Sai and raced out of the room.

The Sensei seemed rather eccentric so far…surely they wouldn't put Minato with Kakashi? Right? As a jinchuuriki, they had to assign him to someone with adequate sealing ability. Kakashi was on that list, but would they really do that?

"Am I late?"

Minato sighed in relief as Uchiha Shisui appeared at the door, wearing a standard jounin's uniform looking rather relaxed. When the jounin scanned the room, he grinned and winked in his direction, confirming his suspicions.

Shisui trained with Jiraiya. Alright, I can work with that.

Speak for yourself. We got an Uchiha as a Sensei.

I thought you liked Shisui.

Like and tolerate have different meanings.

Oh Kurama. What am I going to do with you?

"No, you're right on time," Iruka said. "Uchiha Shisui has Team 12 consisting of Uchiha Sasuke, Senju Minato, and Nara Shikamaru."

"Troublesome." Shikamaru stood up and stretched. "Wasn't expecting to get stuck with an Uchiha."

"Come on."

Minato followed as Sasuke led them to where Shisui was standing exchanging pleasantries with Iruka.

Well, that's weird. Sasuke isn't in a bad mood anymore. Must not be worried about assignments anymore.

"Alright you three, follow me."

Ten minutes later, Minato was kneeling between Sasuke and Shikamaru, watching Shisui handed each of them a bento and chopsticks.

"Thank you, Shisui-sensei," Minato said, Shikamaru tossing out his own mumbled "thanks," while Sasuke mulishly grunted out a very Uchiha rendition of gratitude.

Minato had interacted with Shisui only a handful of times in the last few years. Not unlike Jiraiya, the Uchiha spent prolonged periods of time away from Konoha. Minato could only assume that Shisui had returned with many more skills under his belt and a repertoire of abilities that Minato could only benefit from learning.

Shisui embodied the Will of Fire and all that it stood for, whatever else he had become over the years was unimportant.

"Alright, so technically you all know who I am, but adhering to tradition can be beneficial, so I'll introduce myself first," Shisui explained methodically, as he set aside his empty lunch kit. "My name is Uchiha Shisui, I was apprenticed to Jiraiya of the Sannin for four years. After I returned, I spent some time working in the village, but I'm often sent on long-term missions outside of Konoha. I enjoy dancing, training, writing, and spending time with people I care about. I dislike traitors and gardening. My dream for the future is to help the three of you become jounin, get married to a yet-to-be-determined amazing person, and to do whatever is necessary to protect Konohagakure no Sato and all within it."

He wants to help us reach jounin? That is an odd thing for a sensei to say. What an awesome guy though. I really lucked out in the team department too.

If you start fangirling, I'm going to give you a taste of Shukaku's medicine. And don't mess with me because your sleep deprivation is my entertainment!

Oh, please! That's hardly a threat! No one loves sleep more than you do!

Hero worshipping is stupid and I'm not going to put up with you doing it!

I wasn't!

What an awesome guy?

….

That's what I thought.

"Now, let's see…" Shisui reached out and flicked Minato between the eyes.

"Sensei! What was that for?!"

"Looked like your head was in the clouds there, Little Silver! If I'd been an enemy, you would have been in trouble."

That was…unfortunately rather true.

"Okay then, I'm Senju Minato. I live with Tsunade when Kakashi is on missions, but otherwise I live with my Nii-san. I enjoy working on my fuinjutsu, spending time with my friends, reading, and training. I dislike people who judge books only by their covers and those that abandon their comrades. My dream is to grow strong enough to protect the people that are precious to me."

"Good start! Glad to see you haven't changed too much since I saw you last," Shisui winked and Minato rolled his eyes good-naturedly. "Alright, Sasuke you're up."

"…fine. I'm Uchiha Sasuke. All of you are aware of my living situation. I enjoy spending time with my friends and training. I dislike Kumogakure, fangirls, and people that waste my time. My dream is to become a shinobi my father would have been proud of," Minato frowned as Sasuke paused, before adding. "And to keep the few people I truly care for safe."

Minato helplessly chewed his lip, saw Shisui only nod thoughtfully, while Shikamaru looked like he'd sucked a lemon.

"Not bad, not bad," Shisui remarked coolly, turning a speculative gaze toward Shikamaru. "Now, Shikamaru, better have you go before you take a nap in your bento."

Shikamaru sighed, shoved the partially eaten meal to the side and folded his arms.

"My name is Nara Shikamaru. I live with my parents. I like sleeping, looking at clouds, and spending time with my friends, even if they're definitely too troublesome. I dislike running…and my dream is…I guess to retire young and marry someone that doesn't nag or try to change me."

"Interesting," Shisui leans forward, chin balanced on his palm and grinned. "I have some fun news for you three."

Ah, here it comes.

"What?" Sasuke demanded in a clipped, irritated tone.

"You're not genin until after you pass a jounin sensei's test," Shisui smirked.

"What?!"

Minato jumped, swivelling to look at Sasuke who had the beginnings of killing intent pouring off him. Going on instinct, he reached over and squeezed Sasuke's arm gently. The other boy stiffened before relaxing marginally and lowered his voice to a low growl.

"Itachi never mentioned a test."

"Of course, not," Shikamaru muttered, sounding not, well, happy, but earned another notch of Minato's respect by keeping his composure. "Whatever sort of test this is, wouldn't be effective if you knew about them. Not only would your ability at deception have to be dramatically better than it currently is, but I never took you as the type that relied on cheating, Sasuke."

"I don't," Sasuke growled with a reinvigorated resolve.

"Good, because Shisui-sensei could be anticipating your reaction and manipulating us already. So quit being so predictable."

More than you know, Shikamaru.

Minato blinked as Kurama forcefully ejected him from the genjutsu, ignoring his furry friend's mutterings. On each side, Sasuke and Shikamaru each broke out of their respective illusions, earning a nod of approval from their sensei.

"As fun as it is to watch all of you react to my little announcement…" Shisui winked at them cheekily. "Let me start by saying that my test is going to be different than what most jounin-sensei will be doing."

This was it then. Minato caught both Shikamaru and Sasuke's attention.

"As a team," Minato declared, looking Shisui dead in the eye.

"As a team." Sasuke echoed.

"Yeah, what they said." Shikamaru sat forward. "Bring it sensei."

"Huh, well, I've never been a stickler for tradition anyway!" Mirth clung to Shisui's words before the Uchiha broke out into a truly cheesy smile. "That being the case, screw the test. Congratulations! You're officially Team 12!"

Minato spluttered, barely withholding a protest.

"That was rather anti-climatic," Shikamaru looked rather annoyed, while Sasuke's left eye began to twitch.

"From a certain sort of perspective, Shikamaru, but you may feel differently come tomorrow." Shisui said with a glint of something unsettling that promptly had the three of them leaning away from their sensei. "Before we get to that, I feel it's important we have a discussion about our team. Let me ask you why believe you were placed on a team together."

A question leading to introspection, but allowing a sensei to derive quite a bit of information from their responses. An unusual tactic, but Minato could definitely see the implications.

"Troublesome," Shikamaru's face was scrunched up like a raisin. "The team assignments were rather unbalanced. I'm going to go ahead and say this is a political move for the village."

"Not an unreasonable conclusion," Shisui shrugged. "Go ahead and elaborate."

"If you get it, why bother explaining?"

"Humor me." Shisui quipped patiently.

"Eh…it's pretty obvious, isn't it? We have a Senju, an Uchiha, and me. A Senju might not have been a big deal, except Minato is ostensibly the last Senju. While a final member of a clan already has value, the Senju being the founders of Konoha is a point of pride for the village.

"Then we have an Uchiha with arguably the most powerful dojutsu in Konoha. And not just any Uchiha, but the brother to the Hokage's apprentice. Anyone with half a brain can piece together that connection's importance.

"And I guess…that leaves me. On paper, I'm unimportant, but my father is an influential figure that appears in all Bingo Books and is the Jounin Commander of Konoha. Therefore, there will be troublesome people interested in all of us.

"Basically, as a consequence of losing the genetic lottery, people have unreasonably troublesome expectations of all of us."

"So we're all potential targets," Sasuke murmured, looking disgusted by the notion. "Well, I say let them try. We won't come quietly."

"None of you will be easy pickings. I'll make sure of that," Shisui broke into the discussion. "But we can have that particular discussion later. Shikamaru, please wrap up your team analysis."

"Was hoping you'd be happy with that," Shikamaru grumbled, but sat up and resumed his explanation. "Our team placement also works from a bizarre, but realistic tactical position. Sasuke engages enemies in close combat, Minato takes them out from close to mid-range, and I restrain or distract from a distance. Sensei learning from a Sannin means he's probably suitable for most roles anyway so he can do whatever. We balance out fairly well. I could have explained more in-depth, but I don't really feel like it."

Minato stared in disbelief as Shikamaru yawned, locked his hands behind his head, and flopped backward to glower balefully at the clouds as if even the sky had wronged him somehow.

"That was rather insightful," Shisui clapped his hands in light praise. "Now whose up now…how about, Sasuke?"

"Fine. Before graduating, I noticed our classes were being observed. Specifically, classes focusing on team exercises. I'm assuming they were trying to determine who worked best together." Minato watched Sasuke pause, angling his face toward the dirt. "I'm difficult to work with. Unlike Minato, I don't have patience for people who don't learn quickly and I'm not as tolerant as Nara when it comes to listening to others prattle on and on. I know that placing myself on a team with shinobi I don't get along with would likely have caused a rift in the team and been a blow to any teamwork. Therefore, I think it's fairly telling that I was placed with the two individuals I respect the most from my class."

"Can't believe that just came out of your mouth," Shikamaru said with respect shining from his face. "Not bad, Uchiha."

"Sasuke…that was…insightful. And I am so, so proud of you."

His friend ducked his head down, his ears turning pink but he seemed to overcome his embarrassment because he sat up straight and continued speaking with renewed confidence.

"I also think it's possible that our elemental affinities were taken into consideration. I know most of the graduating class doesn't use elemental jutsu and probably won't for a while, but Minato and I do. Shikamaru might not use any yet, but I know that Nara is a genius under that laziness so the potential must be there. When they tested us, I remember that Nara had a doton affinity, Minato uses raiton and suiton, while I use raiton and katon. With that spread of elemental talent, I believe the three of us may be able to construction some combination techniques that will work well together.

That was…not at all what Minato had expected. In all honesty, he was rather impressed by the level of insight that Sasuke had demonstrated. Collaboration jutsu? Not at all what Minato had envisioned, but it was a fantastic idea and certainly a good source of teamwork.

"Sasuke, that was very impressive."

Minato had never seen a bashful Uchiha before. The proof was before his eyes, red in the face, and fiddling with his sandal strap.

Damn. He blew me out of the park there. Sasuke's got an impressive head on those shoulders. It's not that I never noticed, but sometimes it's easy to forget. Blinded by how close I am and all that.

Uchiha prodigies. Probably all the inbreeding.

KURAMA!

You know I'm right. Keep in in the clan, right?

For Sage's sake! How did you get to be so ornery, Kurama?

Probably being sealed. It kinda blows even if I like you.

I'm sorry! Seriously! Are you ever going to let me live that down?

Nope.

That's pretty much what I expected.

"I have to agree with Minato-kun." Shisui beamed down with pride at his younger relative. "I guess Itachi isn't the only genius in your house, brat!"

"You guys are going to overinflate that ego of his," Shikamaru remarked, dodging an incoming swipe from a flush-faced Sasuke. "See? He's all embarrassed now."

Sensing a brawl about to break out, Minato rushed to offer his perspective.

"Truthfully sensei, I think Shikamaru and Sasuke covered most of the important things. But the one aspect of our team that neither of them considered is that our team may face additional hostilities because of me."

Minato ignored the way his friends suddenly snapped to attention.

"Why would it matter?" Sasuke snarled dangerously. "You're a jinchuuriki…so what."

"And that's the point," Shikamaru was upright again, though he looked no happier than Sasuke. "I heard that it's common for other villages to kidnap people like Minato. For example, if a team from Kumo met up with us outside the village, they would likely try to eliminate the team and take Minato."

Minato jerked around to look at Shikamaru, giving him a look that clearly suggested he thought the other boy was nuts.

"I'd like to see them try!" Sasuke slammed a kunai into the ground. "Minato's my best friend."

"And that's the point, Sasuke," Shikamaru rolled his eyes, but his voice had softened. "Because we're Minato's friends, we won't resent him for any extra danger."

"I appreciate it, guys, but have a little faith in me too," Minato tried to lighten the dampened mood from his brooding teammates.

"Yeah, I'm pretty glad I didn't try the test Jiraiya-Sensei is giving your friends," Shisui grimaced. "You three are a little too bloodthirsty and I'm not sure I would have survived a combined assault."

"Some Jounin you are," Sasuke grumbled.

"You wound me!" Shisui squacked dramatically. "But let's move on."

"To what?" Minato asked curiously.

"Minato, give me your strengths and weaknesses. Go!"

"I'm okay with seals," Minato attempted a little humility; the sniggering from Shikamaru and the mutterings about "obsessed genius" rather undermined that. "Alright, fine, I love working with seals and I'm rather good for my age. Ninjutsu is probably my strongest skillset. Suiton comes naturally to me and I can use a few jutsu. My raiton manipulation is not very advanced. To be honest, I could use some assistance, but my brother has not been as helpful as I would like. My taijutsu forms are clean, but I need to increase my speed. My chakra control is fair and my medical knowledge is above average. I can perform basic healing techniques, but my reserves are too vast for the precision control necessary for surgical level techniques. I am working on a sealing matrix that may allow me to perform those skills at some point, but so far, I'm limited to basic healing. I have a chokuto, but I'm truly a novice when it comes to kenjutsu. Genjutsu isn't my forte, but I'm excellent with detecting and dispelling them. I'm resistant to most poisons thanks to being dosed by my family members repeatedly. Additionally, I have the otter summoning contract."

"Tch, you're such a pain, Minato," Shikamaru said.

"If you don't like it, quit slacking off, Shikamaru," Sasuke defended seamlessly.

"Meh. I know I have a doton affinity. Never bothered trying to learn any jutsu though." Shikamaru sat up looking strangely focused. "Because of my friends nagging and stupid graduation requirements, my chakra control is pretty good. I have smaller chakra reserves than these two monsters." Shikamaru points at his friends casually. "So, that's definitely a weak point for me. I can use the basic weaponry, but it isn't excessive. I've managed to increase the speed of my Kage jutsu, but there is still significant improvement I need to make. Physically, I'm in good shape for a graduate, but I consistently lose in taijutsu matches to most people. I can use the basic healing techniques, but like Minato, I don't really enjoy medicine. Genjutsu is pretty easy to recognize and dispel since I have smaller reserves anyway. My best asset is my ability to analyze combat situations, while my physical abilities are probably my weakest points."

"Alright," Shisui acknowledged easily, before turning pointedly toward his cousin. "And you, Sasuke?"

"I thought you got our academy reports," Sasuke pointed out shrewdly.

"Reports don't tell me what you think your strengths and weaknesses are."

Sasuke straightened, suddenly looking slightly more considering, possibly even respectful.

"My kenjutsu skills are coming along well, but I need advanced training from a specialist if I don't want to plateau. As it stands, my physical training and stamina are solid. I definitely feel that my dexterity trumps my strength in a fight. My taijutsu is good, especially with my Sharingan, but…" Sasuke tapered off, looking angry before it was smothered by a glimmer of determination as he stared down Shisui. "Itachi is coddling me. I need someone who can push my limits and help me to get better.

"I have that problem as well," Minato interrupted abruptly. "Kakashi and to a lesser extent, Tsunade seem hesitant to help me grow."

"If that's really how it is, I can tell you that my Kaa-san is a royal pain, but Tou-san enables me to slack off. I guess you could say I'm allowed to go at my own pace," Shikamaru mumbled. "Not that I want to work harder, but for the sake of honesty."

There was a certain sort of merit to what they were saying. Something Minato had come to understand as an adult, but only from an empathetic perspective. Truly, he had a better understanding now.

"Now you know why direct family members are barred from teaching their children," Shisui smiled wryly. "I'm pleased that you all acknowledged the need for help. I actually didn't expect any of you, let alone all three of you to do so this soon."

"Whatever," Sasuke grumbled. "Let's just get this over with. I can use genjutsu, but I'm better with ninjutsu. My chakra reserves are above average and my chakra control is good, but could stand to be improved."

"All of you expressed strengths and weaknesses, which is what I was hoping to hear." Shisui beamed. "In the coming days, we will discuss personal goals, but for now, I'm giving you all the afternoon off. Just make sure to meet back here tomorrow morning at seven, bright and early with everything you think you'll need for training."

"Why does this sound like some sort of trick?" Shikamaru drawled.

Minato shivered as Shisui quirked a single brow.

"I'll see you all bright and early, Team 12."

In a flash, Shisui poofed away.

As his sensei disappeared, Sasuke felt the invisible weight crushing him, lift.

Uchiha Shisui was his jounin-sensei. That was…a relief. All those sleepless nights worrying about who would be in charge of his training and future seemed stupid now. Itachi had tried to reassure him, but Sasuke hadn't been so easily consoled. Itachi had influence, but he wasn't the Hokage yet. The old man could easily have tried to match him with someone unreliable like…Kakashi or worse, that crazy man in green that Itachi had trained with. As hard as it had been to accept, Sasuke was aware that Shisui was one of the best that Konoha had to offer. Training with him would be an honor, even if he would never admit that out loud.

Looking to where Minato and Shikamaru were quietly talking, Sasuke felt relieved. Naruto and Sasuke had stayed up so many nights discussing potential teams. Naruto had his preferences, but hadn't shared the same fears that Sasuke felt.

There may be a large group of 'friends' that he socialized with, but within that number, only a select few were people Sasuke could tolerate spending excessive amounts of time with. He had presumed that he would be unfortunate and end up with at least one person outside his preferences. To that end, Sasuke's list had begun and ended with Minato.

Not only was the Senju a powerhouse that motivated Sasuke to train harder and faster, but the competition was friendly and lacked the frustration he felt when he trained with Naruto.

Minato's personality was just…comforting. Like a warm blanket after a cold day. Every fault, every flaw that Sasuke presented was treated with acceptance, with a lack of judgment that Sasuke had only very recently begun to appreciate.

The cold truth was, there was just something about Minato. Something that made him special. Something Sasuke wasn't prepared to put into words.

To that end, Sasuke refused to consider a team that didn't have his best friend on it. That had left one space to brood over.

As much as he loved Naruto, being confined to a genin team would put strain on their relationship. As a sibling he loved Naruto, but by the end of the day Sasuke invariably wanted to put his fist in that moron's loud mouth—had done a few times, much to his Kaa-san's frustration. In the short, Naruto being on his team spelled out disaster from beginning to end.

Sakura had the capacity for intellectual conversation, but had recently started blushing and watching himself and Minato with wide doe eyes. As far as Sasuke was concerned, potential fangirls were deal breakers.

Ino was…tolerable. Mostly. Better than Sakura, that loudmouth Kiba, or Naruto. Ino scraped past with a marginally acceptable.

Chouji…Sasuke wasn't sure. Of the two of them, Sasuke possessed the stronger personality, which suggested the two of them would not conflict, but still…not who Sasuke would pick.

Sai was…weird. Probably fine. Still likely to get on his nerves. But someone Sasuke could tolerate.

Shikamaru was acceptable to him. Intellect was something Sasuke could respect, while physical ability could be stimulated by a determined sensei. Shikamaru didn't grate on Sasuke's nerves. Not the way almost everyone else did.

In truth, Sasuke had hit the jackpot. Good sensei with an even better team.

Hyperaware of his companions, he watched Minato shift his weight the way his friend did when he had far too much pent-up energy but was doing his best to refrain from acting.

"You want to spar before we head home?"

"You spar." Shikamaru hopped to his feet nimbly and stretched his arms. "I'll watch."

In quiet agreement, Sasuke was on his feet and extending a hand to his friend. Sasuke refused to acknowledge the flutter in his chest when Minato accepted the hand up.

With practiced ease, Sasuke settled into a defensive position. A moment passed, Minato blitzed forward. Sasuke spun and attempted to catch his friend's danced backward, chin tilted upward, and looked like a beckoning demon with those sparkling scarlet eyes and—

Sasuke somersaulted forward, planted his palms on the ground, and aimed his heel for Minato's jaw.

Minato dodged.

Feeling lighter than he had in ages, Sasuke lunged forward as if he were weightless. Sasuke threw himself forward with a barrage of precise strikes. Minato simply reacted; twisting out of the way, vaulting overhead, launching a counter that sent Sasuke on the defensive for a time.

Back and forth they waged their taijutsu duel. By unspoken agreement they refrained from jutsu and weaponry, sticking only to taijutsu.

By the time Shikamaru stepped forward to disrupt their spar, Sasuke was exhausted, but reluctant to concede. Minato looked equally tired with a sheen of sweat on his skin, panting for breath, but an elated grin.

"You're both ridiculous. You know that right."

"Maybe," Minato laughed, tugging out a pair of water bottles and tossing one to Sasuke with a wink. "I don't know about Sasuke, but I feel pretty good. Exams were a little bit nerve wracking!"

"You weren't nervous about the exams," Sasuke argued, taking a long, welcome drink of water. "You've been just as ready as I have to take those stupid things."

"I always worry!"

That was true. Minato was the number one mother hen of the group. Not that Sasuke would ever say it to his face.

"We better get going," Shikamaru muttered. "It's getting late and I got a bad feeling about tomorrow."

"It's not that late, Shika," Minato said teasingly. "I bet you just want to nap."

"That too, but I'm not looking forward to tomorrow," Shikamaru groaned miserably. "Sensei has something planned."

"I think you're right." Minato grinned broadly. "But maybe we should hunt down our friends first? Hear how things went?"

"Yeah, alright," Shikamaru replied with a long-suffering sigh. "But let's make it quick."

"Sasuke?" Minato paused, looked back toward him with a slight frown. "You coming?"

"Yeah."

Sasuke surprised himself, striding forward with a purpose. Allowing instinct to guide him, he slung an arm around each of his friends' shoulders.

"Let's go."

Sasuke was more than aware they were both studying him, but he merely smirked and strode forward with his comrades each falling into step with him.