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"Oi, Nagi get your ass up, it's twelve ya know." I shot straight up in my bed, snapping my eyes to my alarm clock. Fuck, I overslept. The pounding on my door only seemed to grow in volume and with a reluntic grunt I threw my blanket from my body. Standing I walked down the stairs and opened my door. A flash of red entered my vision then I was wide awake as she spun me around.

"Be careful Kushina, you'll hurt her." Fuck, these two. Kushina dropped me like a sack of Potatoes and Mikoto gave a small chuckle into her fist. I just managed to catch myself before I could hit my ass on the ground. "What are you two doing here?" How the hell had they even manage to find out where I lived? I had only been in Konoha two days by this point.

"Minato let us know that you were done settling." A huge grin on her face as she informed me… I was going to fuckin skin him for this. "Minato informed you wrong." I turned around to walk back into my house, however Kushina threaded my arm through hers. "Nope, you're spending the day with Mikoto and I."

My eyes narrowed at her, "You expect me to walk around in my pajamas?" she looked me over thoughtfully. Then released me reluntically. "Fine, but hurry up." Don't fucking tell me what to do, I'll take whatever amount of time I want to get ready.

Mikoto shook her head at us, while Kushina found it necessary to just barge into my home and take up residence in my living room. "Nice place you have here." She only got a bland look from me in return, why the hell were they messing with me anyway? With a grumble I walked up to my room, slipping on a fishnet long sleeve, jonin regulation pants, then my jonin vest over my fishnet shirt…. Don't fuck with me, my fishnet shirt came all the way up to my neck and my jonin vest was zipped to well past my breasts so I wasn't pulling an Anko and flashing the town…..Yet.

Just wait a few years and we'd see what was happening then. I looked myself over in my mirror while placing my kunai pouch on my right leg. My hair down around me. I looked good, my hair was long as fuck and while in missions I would braid it but, for a casual stroll around the village I saw no reason to.

I ran my brush through it, did a little spin. Then blew a kiss at my reflection. Damn I'm just fucking gorgeous, should it even be legal to be as beautiful as I was? "Nagi-chan hurry up!" Fuck, I had forgotten about them even being here. With a sigh, one last glance at my mirror. I walked out my room, and down the stairs turning off lights as I did so. No need to run up the electric bill you know.

"Finally…. Damn you look good!" Kushina sent me a wink, mischievous grin falling across her face. "A jounin already." She elbowed my arm, wiggling her eyebrows at me. "Bet Minato loved that." I decided not to feed into whatever she thought his reaction was. If anything he didn't even bat an eyelash at the fact that I was officially a ranking above him. Though he had congratulated me with that stupidly cute smile on his face.

Mikoto rolled her eyes, separating the two off us without so much of a word. Kushina shooting her a pout as we left my house and I sealed it up behind us. "So, where are you two lovely ladies dragging me off to today?" Kushina hummed, hands folded behind her back as she walked down the road.

Civilians parted for us, pointing at me and whispering. Then looking from Kushina and Mikoto while whispering. They needed to mind their own fucking business. We weren't some kind of circus attraction for them. The bad part was these two seemed use to the attention, I understood that as shinobi and Kunoichi it's easy to spot and talk about us, especially with our headbands on. But I found it rude as fuck to do so, especially when it was normally negative as hell.

"Well. I figured since you're new here and all, we could personalize your headband ya know." Kushina stated, looking directly at the band that held my headband with a blank look. I let my figures gently touch the metal. It felt heavy on my skin. Letting me know the significance that it held, that I was officially a soldier in this war. For the leaf.

"I'd like that actually." My lips twitched up into a smile, "Afterwards…. We're going drinking!" Mikoto scowled, shooting Kushina a glare. "Don't announce it to the village Kushina!" The redhead let out an easy laugh. "Sorry." We all knew that she really wasn't sorry as we walked towards on of the shinobi clothing stores.

"So I threw my kunai at him, but he dodged it! Who does that ya know?" I snorted at Kushina's story, her fist balled, eyes narrowed into slits. She was so passionate about her stories while telling them. It was amazing, how passionate she was about everything. "I don't know, maybe he didn't want to die?"

My opinion only made the redhead whirl around to give me a dead pane look. "Yeah, but it would have been so much easier for him if he had! I ended up having to use my chains on him, then from there I still stabbed him with my kunai…." She trailed off here, scratching her head sheepishly. "Let me guess, repeatedly?" Mikoto stated, her eyebrow raised at Kushina and amused smile on her face.

Kushina pursed her lips in return. "Maybe." I laughed, throwing back my head as I did so. This girl right here was amazing. "Amazing, I knew you were my friend for a reason." Her face went red, smoke shooting out her ears. "Hey! What's that supposed to mean Nagi-chan?"

"Exactly how it sounded." Mikoto stated bluntly, her nose raised in the air. I chuckled when Kushina deflated, "Ne, I don't even know why I hang out with you two, you're so mean." The two of us exchanged looks, obviously she hung out with us because no one else could handle her beautifully energized self.

"So what color are we thinking?" The sales lady asked while the three of us stood next to the headbands. I paused in my search, giving her a really blank look. Mikoto following my example. Kushina however found it necessary to answer the question. "Nothing in particular." Grin flashing towards the women.

Internally I cringed, great. Why couldn't she had just stared at the lady until she walked away like any normal person would do? Kushina was just too nice in my opinion. She should win a nobel prize for how nice she is. "Oh, well might I interest you in this section over here. They can feminize and spruce up any protector."

Nope, already had my eye on that nice little green bandana. I told the women as much, Kushina grinning as she picked up said band. "Oh it perfect Nagi-chan!" She even squealed which made me flinch at the volume in which she had done so. As if summoned by my name, and Kushina's squeal Minato poked his blond head into the entrance of the shop. Followed closely by Fugaku and Denki.

Mikoto narrowed her eyes at Fugaku, her hand instantly finding my arm and tightening around it. Fun fact, she actually really didn't like Fugaku, like. At all, if anything I would go as far as to say that Mikoto hated him. Which was something I was completely unaware of. "Oh Mikoto, I was unaware you would be here." Fugaku on the other hand, well he had this thing for her. Which made sense considering the fact that they were engaged and to be married by the end of the year.

"Yes, if I had known I would be running into you I wouldn't have come." Ohhhh, burn. My bitch just burned your ass. Her gaze that of ice as she stared at him. Fugaku's lips twitched down, a small sigh leaving him while all she did in return as continue to glare at him. During this exchange the rest of us just shared awkward looks. Kushina finally broke through everything by clearing her throat then threading her elbow through my own.

"Well, I think that's our cue to pay and leave Ya know?" She practically dragged me and Mikoto to the counter threw down some money. Which I didn't mind if she wanted to pay for me, it meant less money I'd have to spend. Right before she could drag us out Minato stepped in the way, lips perched.

"What exactly are you three going to do after this?" Her arm tightened around my arm, eyes narrowed into slits. "Nothing that concerns you."

"I just wanted to make sure you weren't going and getting yourselves in trouble." Who us getting into trouble? You've got the wrong girls obviously we're fucking angels. "If you must know we're going out drinking tonight."

He blinked, glanced at me for half a second then nodded. "If you need an escort home…" He trailed off staring at me for a moment longer then left. Followed closely by his posse. Mikoto grunted dragging us herself now. Grumbling incoherently under her breath, Kushina humming and nodding along to her grumbles while I toned the grumbles out.

"Too think mother and father want me to marry that, that… Ohhhh." She threw up her hands, frustration breaking out across her face as she stomped into our local bar. "Do you actually know anything about him?"

Kushina stated, head in her hand. Thoughtfully staring at Mikoto who paused. "He's an Uchiha." her voice was a whisper, downing a shot then turning to look directly at Kushina. "We have a large reserve for love sure but, I had hoped to break away from the rest. Marry a nice man outside of my clan. One that I want have to deal this the political side of it. Fugaku is to be our clan leader…"

She trailed off here, I hadn't spoken. Deciding to let Kushina speak, but when she trailed off I sighed. "Shouldn't he deserve a chance though? All you know about him is he's Uchiha soon to be clan head. His title doesn't define him as a person. Why not give him as a person a chance then go from there? All that other stuff can we dealt with when you get to it."

Mikoto didn't respond after that, the subject was dropped and we continued to have a good time. Joking around and when midnight hit, a flash of yellow bombarded my senses.

"Minato!" it took more effort than it should have for me not to fall onto my ass when I stood. The floor beneath me wobbling and my balance hard to sustain. "Oh, Nagi-chan."

His hand went to his hip, eyebrow raised at me and I just giggled in response. Wrapping my arms around his neck. "Hello handsome." to me I wasn't slurring the words. But when his eyebrows pulled together I figured I might have just a little.

I notice Kushina in not much better shape, scoffling at him. "You always interrupt our girl time." Minato sighed, arms wrapping around my waist as he peered down at me. I looked back up at him, wiggling my eyebrows.

His lips twitched up into a smile, then he kissed my cheek like the little cutey that he was. "I like to make sure you girls get home safe." was his response, which was sweet as fuck of him. He was just the sweetest thing ever. I would say where could I get one but hey, I already had the one.

I giggle at my own thought process, then beamed at him when he once again looked down at me. "Are you good Mikoto?" said girl grunted, head still on the bar. The acknowledgement only made Minato once again sigh.

His fingers going to his temples in exasperation. "Alright come on, ill walk you two home." Kushina stood, grumbling something about being able to make it on her own, but Minato was persistent. So he followed her home while carrying me on his back and helping Mikoto support herself.

He was way to caring sometimes in my opinion but eh, If I were sober I probably would have done the same thing…. Probably. Once Kushina was secure in her house, we walked. Or Minato walked Mikoto home, though when we got to her house Fugaku was waiting for her. His head in his hand, staring out over her front lawn.

"Great." she grumbled, though her scowl did lighten when he looked up and actually smiled at her. "Good you got home safe. I would have came to get you to make curtain myself. But Minato said he would, i didn't think my presence would be well received." he chuckled to himself. Then fell silent as he looked to the ground.

Mikoto didn't respond at first though, when she opened the door and he went to leave. She grumbled something about tea. His entire face lit up, which made me feel bad for him. Obviously he genuinely liked her, and she was more to him then an arranged marriage.

I could only hope that they managed to work everything out with each other. My head rested on Minato's shoulder, watching with mild fascination as the village passed us by. I drew in a breath then blew it out on his ear. Once again releasing a string on giggles when he pause. Shoulders stiff, only to continue walking a moment later.

I got bored about half way through our journey too… My house? Where were we even going? The streets looked familiar right? "I'm bored, let's do something fun." Minato opened his mouth to respond and…

I groaned, cradling my head in my hand and slowly sitting up. Water and a pill were immediately placed in my face, I took both with a grunt of acknowledgement. The blob of blonde hair letting me know it was Minato who provided me such things. I downed the glass of water after taking the pill.

My hand going to my temples to banish the headache that wracked my brain. Pounding against my temples painfully. "How are you feeling Nagi-chan?" Why the fuck would he ask a question like that? Did I not look as shitty as I felt? Huh? "How the fuck do you think I feel?" My moodily reply only made him chuckle at me.

"Well, you did have a lot to drink last night. It was definitely interesting to say the least." I squinted at him, looking up at his rather smug face. "What did I do?" His grin grew if possible. "You were very affectionate…" He trailed off here, chuckling to himself and shaking his head. "Affectionate how?"

"You told me I had beautiful eyes, then went on a tangem about how amazing I was. That you loved me. Though you did question me on how I deal with you alot." My hand went to my mouth, drunk me and I were about to have some fucking words. How dare she disclose that type of information too him. I officially was never going to drink again.

I felt my cheeks warm and I knew I had started turning red…. Just fuck my life right now. Minato just continued to smile at me, we had only started dating too. What the fuck was drunk me thinking?… That's right she was drunk she wasn't thinking. "What did you say in response?" I grumbled, his grin grew larger.

"I deal with you because I love you too." The feels, dead. I'm dead, just ho-ly shit. I didn't respond I just buried my head into my hands. Though Minato laughed, full on belly laughed at me. Yeah, never again.

"Ne, Nagi-chan we're going drinking tonight you in?" Kushina asked later that day when she had spotted Minato and I in town. I paused thinking it over then shrugged. "Sure thing." I say i'll never go out drinking again but… I'm obviously lying to myself everytime I do. Minato just shook his head at me, and I rolled my eyes at him. I did what I wanted, though to his credit he was a good sport.

Another month passed in a blur for me. "So, Jiraiya and I just got a mission." I paused half way through slurping down a noodle. Then continued eating, feeling my stomach drop. Eventually I just pushed my bowl away completely and turned to Minato trying to focus mainly on his huge smile and not on the mission he was being sent on.

"Really? What kind of mission?" His grin widened one I knew wouldn't be on his face much longer. "Front line work it's suppose to last at least two months but i'm gonna try and make it back early." He shifted uncomfortably, looking down then back up at me. "Would you like to go on that date when I get back?"

I thought it over, then smiled at him. "Sure thing." He laughed, hand going to the back of his head to scratch. "Alright Nagi-chan, well we're leaving out here in about an hour…" He trailed off and I just gave him a bland look in return. I mean I already knew that, knew that he would be leaving out today.

But did he really have to wait until the last possible moment to tell me so himself? Little fucker that he is I ain't surprised. "Don't look at me like that Nagi-chan it was just sprung on me last night." He held up his hand in defense and I huphed at him, deciding that since this Mission was going to be horrible for him I'd let it slide.

"I'll catch up with you later Nagi-chan." Jiraiya stated and I shrugged at him. I understood why he wasn't around as much what with the War beginning to slowly pick up pace as time went on. To think we weren't even in the swing of things yet and it was this bad…

I waved goodbye to them at the entrance of the gate, letting my face drop as I made my way to the Hokage tower. Severely disappointed in this mission, in the fact that Minato was the one that had to carry out this mission in the first place. I wasn't the one to assign the missions and I never fully knew why Minato had a flee on sight notice in the war.

But I was almost completely positive this mission had a lot to do with that fact. The war was picking up, and as such other villages were joining in. Konoha wasn't doing to well at the moment in this war. I knew at some point in the future the war began to turn in our favor, I knew we won after the bridge was destroyed, but some time in between Minato began to put us in the lead.

I knocked on the door entering into the room and plopping down on the chair across from Hiruzen. "I hate this." I informed him for probably the seventh time. "I am not overly excited for this either." My hand ran roughly through my hair. "They're only children, couldn't you have chosen a better mission for his Jonin exams?" He slumped in his seat as well, looking ten years older already and the war hadn't even picked up yet.

"There were no others that could challenge him like this one can, in the eyes of Konoha they are enemy Ninja." I scoffled lowly to myself but knew that he wasn't wrong however. "Taking the life of a frightened child thrown into war is different from taking the life of a man, or even a women." I had taken my fair share in the death of all three, I knew it was life or death.

However Minato, he was too sweet for this. Sure he was tough but I wanted his to stay the sweet little thing that he is forever. Call me selfish if you want but I wanted to shelter him from all of this. "I know Nagi, but this can't be helped." His eyes were just as solemn as my own. Despite this I was still upset with his choice. So I stood from my chair, giving him a long hard stare.

"I'll try and do as much damage control as I possible can." He didn't respond as I left and I didn't go back to his office for our normal chats over the next month. Eventually I managed to cool down enough to once again visit him in this time.

"Accept it." I shrank back, looking left, right then realizing there was no escape. I looked up into her eyes, pretty much glaring at this women. "Fine." My arms crossing over my chest. Her fist dropped to her side and she gave me the chester grin. "Excellent, be here at Five tomorrow morning and well start your rounds."

A scowl worked its way across my face, knowing that i'd be roped into doing almost all the work at this hospital will studying under Tsunade. Said women just smirked at me, pushing one of those blonde pigtails over her shoulders. "You better show up kid."

'What the fuck did I just get myself involved with?' Was all I was mentally capable of as I left the hospital. I walked to a certain mad genius lab, slightly depressed from having to accept Tsunade's want for me to be her apprentice but damn it. It was either accept or have every bone in my body destroyed by her monster strength. "I take it you were finally pressured into accepting?" Orochimaru stated while writing notes down in his Journal. I snorted slipping on a lab coat, safety goggles, then gloves before pulling my hair up and out of the way.

"It was either accept or die, I chose the easiest route as i'm sure you can imagine." He just hummed at me in return, not taking his eyes from his notes. "So, shall we begin or are you going to persist in ignoring me?"

"I am undecided." His reply only made me scoffle, I swear he and Tsunade were fucking made for each other sometimes. They were both absolutely terrible, he paused. Looking me over before handing me a notebook of my own. "Read through these notes then we'll continue from where I left off in my last experiment."

I grunted, knowing that today between having to deal with Tsunade and Orochimaru with the added fact that Minato was still gone would only be a longer day.

It had been three months since Minato and Jiraiya had left the village. Three long months tacking on an extra month only made me worried. So worried in fact that Tsunade had sent me home early from the hospital. I was a nervous wreck as I took off my scrubs and began to comb my fingers through my hair. My mother wasn't home, having picked up a job at the local tea shop as a waitress.

Maybe that combined with the fact that all my friend were on missions and she had a key made me jump when there was a knock on my door. I walked over too it, pulling my door open. Then paused, not expecting to see Minato standing on my front door. Bland and tired look on his face as he extended his arms. Showing off his Jonin jacket. "I'm a Jonin now Nagi-chan."

The chuckle he released was bitter, and I didn't know how to react exactly but the best I could think to do was. "Come on in, i'll start some tea." I moving back, shutting the door when he entered into the room. Sitting him down in the livingroom and walking into the Kitchen to begin the task of making tea. My mind blanking out as I filled the kettle then place it on the stove.

Pulling out tea and placing that along with two cups and sweetener on a serving tray. Once the whistle sounded. I poured the water in with the teacups. Picked up the tray, pulling in then releasing a breath before walking into the living room. I sat down beside Minato on the couch making him a cup of tea then placing into in front of him.

Watching from the corner of my eye as he lifted the tea cup to his mouth with shaking hands. I did the same with my own, taking a sip of it so I could mentally prepare myself for what I knew was about to happen. He placed his down, then just stared at his hands. Glancing at me when I placed mine down as well.

"I-." He stopped, closed his eyes then buried his head in his hands. I placed my hand on his shoulder. "Minato, i'm here for you." I would always be here for this boy. His hands shot out, crushing my body to his as he buried his face into my shoulder. Said shoulder immediately dappening do to his tears.

He was shaking, crying, and breathing heavily while hugging me and all I could do in return was scratch his scalp with my finger nails. "I- they were so young, children Nagi, I didn't want to but it was either them or me. I slaughtered them all." I don't think I had ever felt more useless in my lives then I did in that moment. Here he was absolutely devastated and all I could do was sit there and scratch his scalp. "I'm a monster."

His whisper was that of absolute loathing, he hated himself in that moment I could feel it in my very being. "No you're not." He was not a monster and nothing anyone said and anything he did could make me believe that. His arms tightened around me. "Yes I am, I murdered children Nagi, I slaughtered every last one of them in cold blood. I don't even know how you can stand to let me hold you. Let alone me in my presence."

He went to pull away and my arms tightened around him in return. "A monster is someone who can kill without remorse. Someone who can kill another in cold blood and not feel grieved over it. You are not a monster Minato, you are a man who protected his village even though it destroyed you, absolutely tore you apart to do so. You are not a monster, you're a shinobi."

He stopped trying to pull away from me, wrapping his arms around me in return. A bitter laugh leaving his throat as he stated just a bitterly. "What's the difference." I didn't respond, I just let him cry his eyes out while holding onto me. I might have cried as well, seeing him torn down too this point. Seeing Minato like this… I hated this war twenty times more than I had already.

So things got darker then usual in this one, figured I'd end it here. I really don't have any notes for this or anything to say this chapter speaks for itself I think. So let me know what you guys think so far. Looking forward to seeing your responses. Constructive criticism is always welcome. Till next time!

A/N: Still looking for someone to fix my mistakes, if you're interested and have google docs let me know.

Music of the chapter: I got so into this scene that I didn't even realize my music had stopped. When? I couldn't tell you but it says that last song I listened too was Wasted By Carrie Underwood.