In this one-shot, Minato is not dating/married to Kushina.

"Where is the Lord of Fire?!" Minako was hit in the face again, crimson blood drizzling out of the side of her mouth. The girl's fiery red hair fell messily around her shoulders and back, sweat and blood causing some strands to stick to her. Her violet eyes were boiling with rage, exhausted from the interrogation she was going through. She was on a top-secret mission with Minato when she was ambushed and taken prisoner. She was supposed to hide the Feudal Lord while transporting him to a new location, however she and Minato split up to confuse the enemy on their trail. Minato completed the mission safely and Minako took the hit for him.

"Somewhere safe from you assholes." Minako growled. She spit blood on the interrogator's face, the burly man infuriated with her actions. The man grabbed a fist full of Minako's bright red hair and pulled her forward so she was face to face with him.

"I'm gonna hurt ya so bad, you'll be beggin for me to kill ya." Minako scowled at the ninja, the man hitting her again. Her arms and legs were sore from being chained to the wall. She wasn't planning on being captured, but it really did help Minato do what he needed to do, she just didn't know how she was going to get out of this...or if she even could. The man hit her in the face again before turning away, heading to a wall with weapons settled on it.

"You Leaf ninja always say the same shit. Will of Fire this, comrades that...I'm really tired of hearing that bullshit..." The large man growled. His skeevy comrades laughed as they watched their Leader work. Mina's violet eyes went wide when he saw him heat up a brand in the fireplace, fear settling into her stomach.

"You know...I'm actually excited about watching you squirm." The big man walked towards Minako with a sickly grin on his face, the red head terrified of the pain awaiting her. The end of the metal brand was a bright yellow and red, signaling it was extremely hot. As the man walked closer, he was so focused on hurting Mina that the sound of dropping bodies didn't even register. He extended the brand forward, about to touch Minako's cheek when he suddenly froze.

"Move another muscle and I'll slit your throat." The terrifying words left the lips of a man known back home for his gentle and caring personality. His narrow blue eyes and spiky blonde hair were so innocent and warm. Minako knew the truth though and so did his enemies: Minato was the world's most terrifying demon on the battlefield. Minako sighed in relief, knowing that he came just in time to save her, that she was finally free from this torture. The man's mouth was open, shock and unadulterated fear coursing through his veins like ice. Minato was the most feared ninja in the world with a 100% kill ratio. He knew survival was impossible when it came to the legendary Yellow Flash, Minato Namikaze.

"T-the Y-yellow Flash!" He gasped out. Within a swift moment, the kunai that was placed around his neck immediately sliced across. Minato's expression held no remorse or weakness, he was pissed.

"Your tongue is a muscle." Minato said as the body dropped along with the hot metal brand. Minato immediately freed Minako from her confinement, the young woman slumping into Minato's arms. She gave him a weak smile, his perfect face contorted with worry.

"You came for me..." She spoke softly. His expression remained the same.

"Of course I did. You're not leaving my side." Minato said. Minako accepted that and allowed for Minato to carry her, the red head observing his features as he sped out of the compound and into the surrounding forest. Their mission was complete and Minato didn't have to come back for her, after all many ninjas would have abandoned a captured comrade. Minato didn't care about that however...he felt sick in his stomach the moment she suggested splitting up back at the dam. He just wanted to know she was safe at all times...that she was okay. The only time he was so sure of it was when she was content in his arms, when his watchful cerulean eyes were protecting her.

The Yellow and Red flash made it to the Hidden Leaf rather quickly, not bothering to turn the mission in just yet. Minato went straight to the hospital just to make sure Minako was alright. Even when the nurses asked for him to wait in the waiting room, he refused, wanting to remain at her side at all times. Minako luckily had no broken bones but did have bruising on her ribs. After she was healed enough to stand on her own, the medics gave her some pills to help reduce the inflammation and obviously the pain. Even after the medics cleared her, Minato held firm, not wanting to be away from her side. He made a shadow clone to turn in the mission for them and carried her in his arms yet again, instantly teleporting to his home. Minako raised an eyebrow at the man she crushed on her whole life. This behavior wasn't like him.

"Minato...you can put me down now ya know. I can probably walk on my own." 

"I said you weren't going to leave my side." The spiky haired male ignored her, carrying her inside and laying her down on his soft couch. She fell asleep on said couch so many times after staying with her teammate for dinner, but this time was different.

"Do you want tea or water? You probably need to re-hydrate..." He spoke, trailing off at the end of his words. Minako sighed, knowing that Minato was deep in thought and wouldn't listen to her at the moment anyway.

"Water sounds good." The yellow haired man nodded, slipping off his jonin vest and hanging it up as he walked into the kitchen. Only a minute had passed by the time Minato returned with an ice cold glass of water for the red headed beauty. She smiled in thanks, greedily drinking the liquid. She had no idea how thirsty she actually was until she chugged the entire glass. Minato sat in a chair across from her, observing her with wandering eyes and the same worried expression written on his face.

"What's wrong Minato?" Minako asked lightly, gently placing the glass down on the coffee table. Minato didn't look her in the eyes, his knuckles were tightly clenched.

"I was the team captain...I should have been able to ensure your safety and the client's. When I couldn't sense you in the area anymore...I felt so panicked. I should be able to keep you safe and I failed you today." Minako looked at Minato with soft violet eyes. He cared about her so much and to know she was injured and nearly tortured to death in order for him to complete the mission easily tore him apart inside. He should be the one to make sacrifices, not her.

"Minato...I'm a ninja...I have to put the mission first. My safety is never ensured on missions. I accepted that the minute I received my headband." Minato's blue connected to her violet, his knuckles turning white.

"Well I put you first! I always will put you first! I'm never ignoring that instinct again because look where it got you! That man could have killed you and nearly broke you." Minato came over to Minako, lifting up her shirt on her left side to reveal a massive purple bruise from the hit on her ribs. With a feather light touch, Minato traced the shape while swallowing the lump in his throat.

"I'm never going to fail you like this again Minako." The red haired beauty looked up at Minato's serious expression, seeing the determination on his face. She reached a hand up to caress the bottom of his jaw delicately.

"Why would you go this far for me ya know?" She whispered. Minato's serious expression was finally broken by a closed eye smile, the ends of his lips barely curving upwards.

"You mean you don't already know?" He said, furthering Minako's confusion. He leaned forward, pressing a sweet kiss on her forehead.

"It's because I love you."