I do not own Naruto. Some angst ahead…

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He had forms in front of him, ready to sign. But his mind was not on infrastructure, or the cost of rebuilding some warehouse the kyuubi had stepped on. Instead, his mind was on the two people whom he was keeping secret from all but a select few. Obito, and Sakura. Not even Kakashi knew that his dead team mate was alive and back in Konoha, albeit in the most secure location in the village, sealed to the point of barely registering any of his chakra.

He was still 'visiting' him at the memorial…

Obito. Minato's eyes closed briefly, a mix of grief, anger, and disbelief. How could his happy, idealistic, loyal to his village student turn into… this? He shook his head, eyes opening as he stared blankly once again at the forms in front of him. He couldn't allow himself to think of Obito as he was. He'd attacked the village, Kushina had died because of him. He didn't think there was any way that he could ever forgive him for any of this.

Even if he had been brainwashed.

Minato sighed as he thought over everything that Inoichi had relayed to him from Sakura's mind, as well as the report she'd written that was about the fourth ninja war. Uchiha Madara, the real one, had been the one to cause this. Him, and that creature, whatever he was, that was called Zetsu. So much of this, he didn't understand. He wasn't an overly theological man, though he believed in the existence of the kami. But this Kaguya, who called herself a goddess…

Pushing that thought aside, he tried again to concentrate on the paperwork in front of him, but it was no use. So instead, he created a kage bushin to deal with it, and hiraishined out to the top of the Kage mountain. Looking out over the village from this vantage point… sometimes, it was the only way he could breathe.

It had been almost two weeks now, and he still missed her with every fibre of his being. It was only the thought of Naruto that kept him going, his and Kushina's son. His infant child needed constant care and attention, and whenever he couldn't be with him himself, Minato left his son in the capable care of his godmother, Mikoto. She'd been more than willing, despite having an almost three month old of her own to look after as well.

Minato sighed and closed his eyes, reaching out with his senses for the tiny, but rapidly growing chakra signature of his son. Being both half Uzumaki, as well as the jinchuuriki for the kyuubi, Naruto had a discernible chakra signature, even if it was much weaker than a civilian born Academy initiate at this point. He found him, right there with Mikoto, and Fugaku as well, it seemed.

He pulled his senses back slowly, the chakra of the village washing over him, and this was how he noticed a particular signature, one that was bright and sharp, like flowers with sharp thorns. It was her, Sakura. His senses told him that she was walking along the street that led to the marketplace. She'd been released from the hospital a few days ago, and had already had her first therapy session with Inoichi.

Without thinking, he flashed to the top of a building near where she was. Looking down, he saw her walking along, and he frowned. The sight of her often stirred a sense of irrational resentment in him. After all, if she and her team hadn't come back, then he wouldn't be here without Kushina. He wouldn't be spending his days forcing back his grief, and Naruto…

…Naruto would be alone.

He sighed, frustrated with himself. It wasn't her fault, not really. Without her and her team there, his son would have been alone, raised as a pariah of the village. Minato wanted to lash out at certain people at that thought sometimes, and he had to force himself to remember that that wasn't going to happen now. Not this time.

He followed Sakura as she walked along, staying on the roof and observing her. He saw his ANBU already watching her, and that they also saw him. When she reached the marketplace, he leapt down from the roof, but still kept to the shadows. He watched as she bought plums, apples, some vegetables, and a large chunk of beef, noting when she also bought a pack of dango.

When she was done, she headed back in the direction she'd come from, in his direction. As she passed him, he saw her eyes flicker to him, and knew that she had seen him. And yet, he stayed where he was. Once she was gone, he hiraishined back up to the Hokage mountain, only then noting his accelerated heart rate.

He really needed to get this anxiety of his under control! Closing his eyes, Minato breathed deeply, calming himself. It wasn't helping him any, and would only hinder when he needed to properly meet with her to discuss matters pertaining to the attack, the future, and her team mates. Which would be tomorrow, he remembered.

His clone dispelled then, and he knew that his sensei was back. He hiraishined back to his office to face a frowning Jiraiya, with arms crossed as he gave him a judgemental look.

"A bushin, really?" his sensei asked.

Minato shrugged as he sat back in his chair and picked up the papers his bushin had dropped when it dispelled. "I needed to get some air for a moment," he said without remorse as he signed his name on the form, before putting it on the 'done' pile and pulling out another. "You're back quickly, sensei."

"Well, it didn't take as long to track down my informant as I thought it would," Jiraiya said. "You were right, you know."

"It's been known to happen," Minato said as he signed yet another form. "What was I right about?"

"The rogue ANBU being led by a certain elder," Jiraiya said, and Minato stopped what he was doing, sitting up straighter. "Where did you get this information?"

Minato held up a finger, then stood, activating all kinds of privacy seals on the office. Some had already been here, some he'd added after taking office. And more, he'd added in the past several days. Maybe he was being overly paranoid, but after everything he'd learned about the future… Well, let's just say he didn't care too much about what anyone might think in light of that.

"What I'm about to tell you, only three others beside myself know about," Minato said. "Only Inoichi, Ibiki, and one of my ANBU."

"Kakashi?" Jiraiya asked, but Minato shook his head.

"Not even him," he said, then proceeded to tell his sensei everything.

To say that the Toad Sannin was shocked would be an understatement. "And you know for a fact that this isn't all an elaborate ruse?" he asked.

"Inoichi's search was thorough," Minato said. "She's really from the future."

He watched as his sensei absorbed all of that. "This is quite unbelievable," he said. "Yet you say that the Yamanaka confirmed this?"

Minato nodded. "I want you to check out the seal that Obito has on his heart," he said. "I've already had a look at it, and it does seem to be a control seal, as Haruno says. But a second opinion in this matter would be helpful."

Jiraiya nodded. "When do you want me to look at it?" he asked.

"Tonight," Minato said. "Can you meet me at my place after eleven? I'll take you to him."

Jiraiya nodded, and Minato released the seals on the office. Then his sensei left, and he returned to his never-ending Hokage paperwork.

Thanks for reading! Reviews are appreciated.