Brothers

Chapter 10

Kushina Gaiden

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Kori, Temari, Naruto, Sakura, Jiraiya and Kushina had stopped for the night in their tents that Jiraiya sealed. The first day of travel was fairly uneventful. Kushina layed in her tent and thought through her days when her, Kori and Minato were a family

--Flashback--

Minato was working on paperwork in his office bored out of his mind. Almost as if on queue, his 2-year-old son burst in his office and jumped on him "DADDY!" his son yelled, hugging him.

Minato laughed and asked his son playfully "Kori-chan, how many times do I have to tell you not to rush in to my office while daddy's at work?"

"I don't know, but I'll do it anyway because I love you!" he squeezed the young hokage tighter and Kushina just walked in.

"Kori-chan! Don't disturb your father when he's working." She lightly scolded. Kushina was 5 months pregnant with their second child.

"Aww." Kori pouted in a deflated tone, hopping off his father. They both were surprised just how fast Kori developed with his motor skills and speech. A silver haired ANBU appeared into the room, instantly putting a smile on Kori's face and returning him with the joy he had recently lost. "Kakashi-san!" he yelled running to Kakashi. Kakashi took off his ANBU mask and squatted down to Kori's height and was met with a hug and returned it.

"Kori-chan, what are you doing here?"

"Silly, I'm visiting Daddy!"

Before Kakashi could respnd, Uchihas Fugaku and Mikoto walked into the room, Mikoto being 2 months pregnant with their own second child. "Hokage-sama, we need to talk about some serious matters." Fugaku casually yet eagerly said.

"Sure, Kori-chan why don't you and Mommy go out in the hall with Kakashi-san?"

"Actually sir, her and Kakashi should stay, as I'm sure Kakashi knows why."

Kakashi nodded

"Who will watch Kori-chan while we're talking?"

"Hokage-sama, the building is surrounded by ANBU inside and out," Mikoto pressed

"I meant who will keep him company?"

"Well, Itachi-kun is outside, I'm sure they'll keep each other company."

Minato sighed "Ok, Kori-chan, can you wait while we grownups talk?"

"Aw, fine." Kori pouted walking out. Mikoto closed the door and Kakashi started the meeting

"Minato-sensei, something went wrong in the mission."

"It appears the ANBU squad assassinated the wrong man before getting the intended target." Fugaku said criticizing the ANBU squad.

"What do you mean?" Minato asked

"My squad took out a man with an identical appearance before taking out our target."

"And?"

"And it happened to be a Kiri shinobi. Kirigakure is outraged and demands reparations or they won't hesitate in declaring war." Mikoto filled in.

"What kind of reparations are they intending?" Kushina asked

"They want a shinobi for a shinobi. But they want someone young and powerful. Hokage-sama the advisors are discussing it should be a child with a strong kekkei-genkai. We're afraid Itachi-kun or Kori-chan might be choosen." Fugaku explained

"Alright, the council has power over the situation, I don't. I'm sorry, I can't do anything."

"We understand Hokage-sama."

"Thank you for telling me about the situation. Kakashi-san, you, Tenzo, Yugau and (insert random Uchiha hence an additional reason for the Uchihas to be in the meeting) are not going to be prosecuted, it was a mistake. But it is a mistake that will cost us. You're all dismissed."

"Yes Hokage-sama"

--Time Skip--

A couple months later, an ambassador from Kirigakure came and evaluated the children. The ambassador had recognized a woman with long red hair. Uzumaki Kushina. He was shocked when he heard a child that looked like 3 maybe 2 run up to her shouting "Mommy!" the child jumped up and hugged her. He instantly figured out the easy puzzle in front of him. It was the child of one of the most powerful Uzumaki's and had royal blood meaning most likely a more potent Naiyagan. If they had chosen him, then they could have direct control over an Uzumaki. He made his decision and walked to the council hall to get the approval. As soon as he said all would be forgiven if they had that specific child, the council accepted the request in a heartbeat. When Kushina heard that Kori would be chosen she was devastated. She didn't know what to do and neither did Minato. Jiraiya came back to Konoha to help keep their minds off losing their son. The 10th of October, 1:28 A.M. Kushina went into labor. 1:29 A.M. the Kyuubi no Yoko attacked Konohagakure. When she gave birth, Minato explained what he had to do and what he would do. They said their goodbyes. He left her there with their first son. It was the last time she saw him alive. The funeral was full of tears and crying, especially from Kushina, but what puzzled her most of all was Kori's unemotional stare as if he was already a shinobi. As the oldest son, Kori got the folded hokage cloak that belonged to his father. Kori walked up to the coffin, picked up a flower from the bouquet there next to it and kissed the flower and placed it on the coffin. Quickly, he kissed he right index and right middle fingers and placed them on the coffin too, dragging them off as he walked away.

The next day was the worst day of her life. There was a knock at her door. She answered and there was a tall man with long dark brown hair spiked up sort of like Kakashi's with a giant sword that looked like from one of the seven swordsmen. It was hard to see the design, but she could see it was a slightly faded red color. He bore the hidden mist headband and she knew exactly what his job was. He was with a woman who had long light brown hair with her bangs covering a little of her left eye and was expecting a child as well.

"I'm here to take Kori." He said.

She felt a tug at her leg. "Mommy, I don't want to go." She bent down and hugged him tightly and he hugged her just as hard. "I don't want to go." He kept repeating, making this even harder for her.

"I know, I know." She kept repeating. After a couple minutes the man slipped his hands in between them and began to pull Kori from her. She began to sob even more and she pulled Kori back. He pulled even more and ripped him from her arms. He ran out of sight while the young looking woman stayed as Kushina broke down on her doorstep.

"I can't imagine what you must be going through. You lose your husband and the next day you get your son taken from you. I'm so sorry. Please understand, he only did that before it would've become even more for you than it has to be."

The man Shunshined back to them "Don't worry, I'll protect him with my life. I'll do what I can to let you see him whenever possible. I promise you, with my honor one of the 7 swordsmen." Kushina felt a speck of pain and burden leave slightly. Maybe she could see him grow up after all.

Overall, this was tied for the worst day of her life. October 10th, October 11th and December 15th. The worst days she have ever been through in her life, and will be through. December 15th came and she was called to Sarutobi's office. She got ready and left Naruto with Tsunade to babysit. She was still dealing with Kori's forced departure. It was hard raising Naruto alone. Kori wasn't that demanding as a baby, but he never took naps. He would sleep at a normal time and sleep the whole night. Naruto on the other hand was pretty demanding. He ate a lot and needed a lot of attention. Thank god, she had Tsunade to help or Kushina would never had gotten any sleep at all. She actually felt a little relieved to be seeing the Hokage, that was until she heard his order, "Kushina-san, please sit down." He insisted, face and voice a little pained. She gave a confused face but sat down in front of him "I understand you just gave birth to Naruto, but something came up within the council." She nodded her head telling him to continue. "The council has decided that you, Uzumaki Kushina, have to be exited from the borders of Fire Country having no business in the village anymore." He said sadly

"But, but, Naruto's my son, that should be enough reason." She pleaded, only making this harder for Sarutobi Hiruzen to follow through with this. He just looked down and shook his head. She stood up, tears in her eyes but with a furious face "You can't do this to me!" she said bitterly "First Minato is sent to his death, then you take Kori away from me and now this!? Fine! I'll take Naruto and go to Whirlpool!"

"I'm sorry but…" Sarutobi collected himself, holding back the tears from falling and his voice from cracking due to the sadness he was in. "Naruto is to stay here in Konoha." Kushina's world came crashing down around her. Everything slowed down as she stared at Sarutobi as if there was no life in her body, like an empty vessel. She saw his mouth move and words were coming out, but to her all those words were drowned out from being clear enough to understand. Her eyes teared and she began to cry. She ran out of the office. Sarutobi tried to catch her, but she was out of sight by the time he made it the door calling out for her to come back. She ran though the streets crying her eyes out, leading towards her home that she had once shared with her husband and son. She bursted through the door running up to Naruto's room. She opened the door and saw the two sleeping, Tsunade in a chair and Naruto in his crib. She walked up to the crib and picked up her infant son.

She cradled him mumbling over and over "I love you, I love you." She kissed his forehead repeatedly. She contemplated fleeing with Naruto, but soon thought of what Minato would want. She knew he would want Naruto home in the Leaf, so Naruto could grow up where he belonged, where he was born. She didn't know how the villagers would treat him, but she knew Kakashi would take care of him. Jiraiya would come back too, when Naruto was old enough. She went into the kitchen and wrote a note telling Tsunade what the situation was. She walked up and looked at Naruto one last time, kissed his forehead on last time and said "I love you Naruto" one last time before she departed for Whirlpool, the land of the Uzumakis.

For two years she stayed there, not allowed to see Kori until he became a genin. He did quicker than she thought he would. From then on she was allowed to see Kori for a full week each month. She taught him the Uzumaki's signature taijutsu, which he learned fast than she thought he would too. On his 6th birthday she asked the Mizukage if she could bring him to Whirlpool for his branding ceremony. He accepted right away. When she was about to brand him, he did something unexpected, he broke free from the restrainers and took the shaft of the branding pole and brought it to his own arm. After a full second or two, she took off the cast iron clan emblem and poured water over his new wound. She told him to repeat the handseals she was about to make. He looked up and saw her make the three handseals and he repeated them as ordered, Tiger, Bird, Ram. He closed his eyes and felt the chakra flow into his eyes. When he opened them they were a first stage Naiyagan (white diamonds). She continued to train him in the doujutsu. In a year and a half he progressed into the second stage (gray diamonds) and two years after that he matured it completely to the final stage.

About a month later when at Kirigakure visiting Kori, she was called into the Mizukage's office.

"Mizukage-sama?"

"Yes, Uzumaki-san, I have a request for you."

"What is it?"

"I know I can't order you to do this mission, but we need to revise our treaty with Suna. They want a representative to go to Suna and you are the best negotiator I know. Will you please go?"

She nodded "Only if I get to see Kori two weeks a month instead of one."

The Mizukage sighed in relief; he thought she would ask of something more drastic "Consider it done!"

"Okay, I'll leave right after I say goodbye to Musuko-kun."

"Thank you Uzumaki-san."

She left, never to be seen again. After two weeks and Suna saying she never arrived, the Mizukage declared her M.I.A. On her way to Suna, the wind began to pick up and sand whipped at her face. She had a feeling a sandstorm was coming. She looked for any kind of shelter and found a cave. She went in and was stuck for a couple years. She used trapped water from condensation for hydration and found stray animals in the cave and ate them for food. She fought to survive every god damn day.

--End Flashback--

Kushina sighed. She wondered what things could've been like, but didn't think too highly of it. What mattered was that she was finally reunited with her two sons and could finally be there for them. That was all she cared about, her family. She fell asleep not much in her dreams, except some of her special memories with Minato. She woke up with the smell of cooking fish filling the air. She walked out of her tent and saw Jiraiya sitting by a fire cooking some fish he caught.

"Oh hey Kushina. Sleep well?"

Kushina sighed "I guess so, was thinking about stuff before I fell asleep though."

"About the painful parts of your past again?" he guessed

She nodded her head "Yeah, I guess its coming up because I'm worried about Kori." She admitted.

"Well I remember Tsunade saying he did something like this before. So I'm sure she can do it again."

"Jiraiya, what if my medical jutsu doesn't hold up for him? He could die!"

"Kushina, you need to relax, everything will be alright." He assured

"I can't help but worry."

Before they could finish their conversation, Kori and Temari walked out of their tent. They both were noticeably still tired by the looks on their faces. Temari had her hair down still as well as not sporting her headband, Kori missing his as well.

Kori yawned softly "What's up?" he asked while yawning.

"Oh nothing Musuko-kun."

"What were you two doing last night?" Jiraiya asked suspiciously along with giggling perversely as he buried his face in his notebook, pencil ready. The two looked blankly at him, piecing together what he truly meant slowly. If it wasn't for them just waking up they would have figured it out sooner, but dammit it was early.

"DAMN YOU, YOU PERVERTED SON OF A BITCH!"

His mother smacked Kori upside the head "Watch your mouth!"

"Sorry Kaa-san." he apologized

Naruto and Sakura walked out of their tent. "We're trying to sleep!" Naruto yelled.

"Sure whatever you say Nii-chan." Kori said skeptically

Sakura blushed and Naruto looked at him in confusion "What do you m…" Naruto began blushing too, being to speechless to even stammer.

"I guess I was right. Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!" Kushina had lightly grabbed his left forearm, being careful to not squeeze too much to not put him through too much pain.

"Stop teasing your brother!"

"S-s-s-sorry Kaa-san…"

"To your brother!"

"S-sorry Nii-chan."

Naruto grew a small smirk and a mock-evil smirk inwardly. He had the power as the little brother. Sure his older brother can kick his ass, every younger brother knows that their older brother can kick their ass. But being the little brother, Naruto could tell on Kori for 'hurting' him whether physically or his 'feelings' would differ but he could still tell on him. He could do it whenever Kori pissed him off, ah, sweet revenge. Naruto decided to start doing it now. "I don't know…" he said skeptically "I don't think he means it." Naruto was whacked upside the head by Sakura and grabbed by the wrist by his mother, who let go of Kori. She squeezed hard enough for him to feel the same amount of pain as his older brother did.

"And you don't be a leech and take advantage because you're younger!"

So much for having the power. "It's ok Oni-san!" he said quickly to get everything settled quickly. Kori would have laughed, but he was smart enough to not say anything or even make a peep. Kushina let go and the two girlfriends of the 'oppressed' Uzumaki children giggled at the antics the family supplied them.

"Come on, we need to find Tsunade." Jiraiya reminded them and everyone was brought to attention of why they were all here.

"Alright! Lets go right now!" Naruto beamed doing a pose. His stomach growled and he said in a deflated tone "After I have something to eat."

Kori looked down at what Jiraiya had prepared. "Jiraiya-sama, I hope you remembered to make something for me."

Jiraiya slapped himself in the face at remembering the simple fact why Kori couldn't eat what he made. "You're allergic to fish."

Kori sat down and took out a breakfast granola bar. "I knew someone at one point or another would forget so I prepared a couple small things before I left."

Breakfast was uneventful and everyone packed their tents and Jiraiya sealed them into a sealing scroll.

"Alright lets head out everyone." Jiraiya instructed. Everyone nodded and began their second day of travel.