Hello, all you lovely, fantastic readers! This is…the last chapter of "Effect and Affection." I know, I know. Hate on me, it's expected. It's a short story, and pretty tragic. It was filled with angst and stuff. But DON'T WORRY! I already have the sequel, "Affection and Consequence," in the works. A&C will be much longer, and it will deal with a whole new set of issues; but you know, it won't be so dramatic. Okay, scratch that. All my stories are 'dramatic,' but it won't be so angsty. Here are the things you may choose to hate me for in this chapter:

This is a huge cliffhanger.

I've got this huge vision, which probably won't make you like me at all.

Those of you pulling for ObitoxNaruto…will be happy eventually, but not for a while. Those of you pulling for NarutoxOther…will not be satisfied. Even though I'll put Obito and Naruto together, it's not going to be all sappy and romantic. The way I see it…they're ninja. Ninja have hard lives. I know, in the manga, we don't really see stuff like this. But…well, have you seen Ibiki's head?

For all that Naruto is strong, she can't save everyone.

Anyway. Last chapter, Mushapi left a review. Because of this review, I realized that I didn't make this very clear: Naruto's memories weren't sealed. The ninja who were drained of chakra and attacked in the woods were. Remember, earlier Rin noticed that Hoshika and Hisoka tended to those patients. Naruto was put in a genjutsu which made her attack herself; she was supposed to die. She lost her memories because when she was attacking herself, she gave herself brain damage. Remember, she had a seizure and spent some time in the hospital learning stuff again? That was the brain damage. Just so it's clear.

And now…here's the last chapter. Thanks for sticking with me, you guys…it makes me feel all gooey inside!

It wasn't the baby.

It certainly wasn't Minato.

No…it was the stress, the shock, the oh god this is happening.

Kushina wasn't ready. Little Naruto wasn't ready. The village wasn't ready. Minato wasn't ready. But the universe has a way of anticipating things and making everything fit together…even if many people get hurt in the process.

Kushina didn't believe in destiny, per se…but she did believe everything happened for a reason. She just…didn't know what this reason was.

Little Naruto was fighting her way into the world, Rin was holding Kushina's hand, and Rin's friend – Kin – was making sure Naruto wasn't going to get hurt on the way out. Minato was pacing the length of the room, making sure to stay out of the way. Kushina felt like her hips were being forced apart, and she just…hurt. All over. She knew she was making pained, grunting noises, but she didn't care. It hurt.

"C'mon, Kushina-san. Push. Naruto wants to come out! She's excited to get out and see you! Help her, okay? She's counting on you!"

And then, Kushina felt the most awful ripping, and Kin sucked in her breath.

"Rin," she said sharply. "Get Riku-senpai."

Rin pried Kushina's fingers off her hand gently, but quickly. "I'll be right back, Kushina-san. Don't worry, okay? We're going to take good care of you."

Kushina could only nod, and cry out when he stomach felt like it was being destroyed from the inside. Kin was trying to tell her something – something about her placenta, maybe? She couldn't hear very well. The pain was making her ears ring and tears run down her face.

Even through the thick walls, Kushina could hear frightened shouts, and the sounds of destruction. Everything was going dark, but…she held onto consciousness to express her parting wish. As a kunoichi, she knew when it was time to let go. She was going to die.

"Minato," she gasped, shrieking at another jab of pain. "Save them."

She heard someone's voice, or at least she thought she did. She really wanted to see Naruto, before she died. She wanted to be there to guide her through her life. But it wouldn't happen. There was a moment of quiet acceptance, and then…

There was nothing.

I'm just a line break…don't mind me!

Kushina-san fell into unconsciousness with a smile on her face. Rin, who'd come in just moments before, looked sadly to Kushina-san's husband – for he wasn't Hokage-sama now, or even Minato-sensei. He was a husband in pain, and he wasn't even bothering to hold in the tears.

Outside, the fox drew nearer.

"Minato…save them."

It was Kushina-san's last wish. Rin knew that her old sensei hadn't found another alternative. She wasn't allowed to help with the cesarean, but she didn't let go of Kushina-san's hand.

"I…I can't," he said quietly. Anguished. And, as though Kushina-san had been holding on just for this, she cracked one eye and whispered.

"Please…Minato...you are strong. Rin…please…"

Rin knew what Kushina-san was asking. She felt tears in her own eyes, and even though Kushina-san was losing her life quickly, and probably couldn't hear, Rin replied, "Of course. I won't let it be like Naruto said it was." She turned her eyes on the Hokage, and willed herself to keep the pity she felt out of them.

"It is her last wish."

He gazed at Rin for a short moment, and then a tremor racked the hospital. Kin cut the umbilical cord.

Without a word, the Hokage – it was a transformation, and Rin could see it happen – scooped up the little girl lovingly. Rin could still see traces of tears, but there was no more fear on his face. No more anguish. Only determination. He nodded once to Rin, and let his eyes linger on his wife's pale, pale face.

It was more tender than a goodbye kiss could ever be…and Rin knew that Kushina-san, Naruto, and…the old Naruto would be on his mind as he faced the demon.

"Hokage-sama! I insist-"

"Kin, let him go," Rin said quietly. "That little girl is going to save us all. Please…just trust him."

Please, she added to herself. Please let Naruto grow up like she should.

I'm just a line break…don't mind me!

There was nothing else he could do. It was history repeating itself, even though it hadn't actually happened yet. He'd racked his brain – studied the seal on Naruto's stomach, studied everything. The best he could do was modify it, to give the baby extra protection from the demon.

He laid Naruto down on a nest of blankets on his desk, and gestured to the darkness.

"Kakashi," he said quietly. "Look after her."

"H-hokage-sama!"

"This is the only way I can save you…save them…save her. Please help me save her."

And he bit his thumb and smeared kanji in blood all around Naruto – on the desk, on the floor, even halfway up the walls. Eight points.

In ink mixed with blood, he painted a design on the little girl's stomach, careful to keep the moisture falling from his eyes away from any part of the seal.

"You are a hero, Naruto," he whispered as he was done, kissing her forehead, all the while pumping chakra into the seal. "Don't ever think otherwise."

To Kakashi, he said, "Don't let her forget it."

"O-of course, Hokage-sama." Minato heard the slight quaver in Kakashi's voice, and smiled grimly.

"Naruto would tell you to stop being such a brick," he commented. "I'm off…please take care of Rin and Obito. They need you."

He didn't wait for a reply, but instead left through the window and took off at a run, throwing a kunai right in front of the fox as soon as he had a clear shot and cutting his palm deeply in preparation.

"It's the Hokage-sama," someone shouted. "Fall back!"

A few seals later, and Gamabunta fought with Minato for the last time. "This is your choice, kid?"

"You bet it is," he replied. "When I accepted the position of Hokage, I promised to keep my people safe."

The hand seals for the sealing technique had to be done perfectly – fortunately, he'd perfected them. He only hoped this would be enough to protect Naruto from the evil chakra of the fox.

He thought, with a crude sort of relief, about the first Naruto, and how he was glad she was already dead because she wouldn't have to kill herself. He thought about Obito, who would be sad and probably angry that he had been out of the village, on a mission. He thought about Rin, who was so supportive, even though she was losing two more people. He thought about Kakashi, and willed him to be strong. He ended the string of seals, and put all of his will into trapping the fox; the Shinigami made the deal willingly. He thought about the absurdness of the situation – he was making a deal with the god of death!

And then he saw Kushina's face in his head, and he didn't think about anything at all.

I'm just a line break…don't mind me!

Near the border of Fire Country, Mochizuki Naruto awoke with a start, clutching her chest and breathing heavily. She wiped her eyes and wondered why she was crying…

…And why she suddenly felt like she'd lost something very important to her.

Aloud, she wondered, "Who is Minato-sensei?"

OMG! Do you guys totally hate me? I kinda hate myself for leaving it like this. But...well. It's all part of my vision. By the way, for those of you who want to know about chibi Naruto...if Naruto is here now, how can she live as a child? The answer, my lovelies, comes in "Affection and Consequence."

I'll probably post a short sidestory, like I did between "Cause and Effect" and "Effect and Affection." It will detail the adventures of Mochizuki Naruto, and it will be kind of lighthearted, like "Years Go By" was.