MINAKO'S POINT OF VIEW

Before I fell asleep for the night, I wished the little baby in Kushina's belly goodnight. When I touched her seal, my mind suddenly went blank.

"Where am I?" I thought to myself as I felt my body drift in some warm, reddish orange bubbly liquid. I looked around and saw nothing, before hearing a dark and sinister chuckle. Suddenly my feet landed on a dark ground with some water on it. I looked up to see an incredibly high gate with a seal on it. Something sinister was behind the gate, that I was sure of... However, I couldn't stop myself. I walked forward towards the gate, slipping through the bars and heading further in. The chuckle got louder and louder before I came across a giant table with chains holding down what seemed like some sort of fox creature with nine tails. I gasped from shock but somehow did not feel afraid. I knew it wouldn't, and couldn't, kill me. The bright red demonic eyes of the fox rested on me while chained down.

"Ahh...Minako Uzumaki. We finally meet." The terrifying demon fox spoke in a deep voice. I couldn't help but feel enticed to respond.

"Nine tailed fox." I called out. He chuckled again before smirking.

"I am Kurama. I called you upon you for a reason."

"I am not setting you free." I growled. Kurama actually laughed, shaking the flood with his size.

"No you fool. I came to warn you. Something big is going to happen soon...this child will be in danger."

~~

I woke up to see Kakashi snoring lightly next to me. I was startled by it but did not say anything since I didn't want to disturb him. His arms were wrapped tightly around me and my face was nestled on his bare chest. It honestly felt so nice...I couldn't deny it. I smiled into Kakashi, feeling my heart race slightly. I sighed in content before closing my eyes again. After thinking about it...I really started to feel something for him...something more. It felt concrete...raw...and real. We were always a perfect match as rivals...I guess I shouldn't be surprised if we were good matches as friends...or even more...

I had a hard time thinking about feeling anything for Kakashi...I felt like if I fell in love again...if I fell in love with Kakashi, that I was going to lose him...like I lost Obito. My time to tell Obito or have a chance with him fell short in the end. I never did get to tell him how I felt until his last moments...something I regret not doing earlier. I looked over at Kakashi and saw the slight curvature of his nose. His peaceful expression as he rested with me, his soft pearl lips parted slightly, they all made me feel at ease and...happy. My chest was burning with a feeling I have never experienced so strongly. I wanted nothing more than to run my fingers through his silver hair and to kiss his lips. Was this the same feeling I had with Obito? What this the same love? Was this love? I felt Kakashi tighten his grip on me while still sleeping. A small smile crawled across his maskless face and I immediately knew the answer to my final question. Yes...this was love.

And I am not going to let the opportunity pass me by yet again.

I leaned my face forward, placing my lips onto his. Kakashi opened his eyes slightly and pressed me tightly against him, kissing back. I ran my fingers through his messy silver locks as my lips continued to dance with his. He rolled over on top of me and continued to kiss me, my heart beat becoming so loud I could hear it throughout my body. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door to my room. Kakashi leaned away from me and we both looked at each other wide eyed before I motioned for him to go hide on my balcony connected to my room. He grabbed a novelty anbu mask off of the wall and put it on his face before hiding on the balcony.

"Who is it?" I asked as I quickly fixed my hair and rubbed my face to make it look like I totally wasn't just making out with Kakashi. The door then was opened to reveal Minato holding something in his hand, something I couldn't see.

"Good morning Mina!" He chimed with his child-like blue eyes and spiky electric hair. I smiled at him brightly before sitting up fully.

"Good morning Minato! Whatcha got in your hand, ya know?" I asked. He smiled at me before walking fully into the room and looked around.

"Well...I guess we have to figure that out now won't we? Meet me downstairs in ten minutes, I want to have a brother and sister in law type of day. Oh and tell Kakashi to come out too, Kushina has breakfast made for him." Minato winked at me before walking out the door. I froze and Kakashi poked his head out of the door while still wearing that stupid mask.

"I'm guessing the hiding part didn't work." I couldn't stifle a laugh as I walked up to Kakashi, adjusting my shorts and tank top as I did. I plucked the mask off of his face and smiled at his half smile. I placed a small kiss on his lips and grinned, throwing the mask back on my bed. Kakashi's hands played through my ruby locks, a small smile on his face.

"So why have you decided to be so affectionate with me? Not that I mind..." Kakashi asked. I blushed heavily and placed a strand of hair behind my ear.

"I have finally come to a decision." I started. Kakashi raised an eyebrow at me, listening intently.

"I realized...I'm ready. I have fallen in love with you Kakashi." I heard his sharp intake of breath before looking up to see the widest grin on his face. He picked me up and spun me around, laughing while I giggled. He brought me close and kissed me passionately on the lips.

"I've been waiting years for you to say that." He grinned. He then took both of my hands in his, grinning at me.

"Minako Uzumaki, will you be my girlfriend?" I grinned before nodding and jumping on him. Excitement filled me, I finally had my first boyfriend!

~~

Minato and I left the house quickly, before I could really say anything to anyone about Kakashi and I's relationship now. He led me deep into the forest where he took me to a small creek, one with a tiny statue of a woman holding a gong and black and red koi fish in the cool water. Minato sighed before sitting on a boulder overlooking the small creek. I sat across from him, only a few feet away.

"Mina...I took you here because I wanted to talk to you about something." I nodded for him to continue.

"I did some research on your sister's seal...and it seems that when she gives birth, she may potentially have the seal holding the nine-tails captive, break. If that happens...Kushina could potentially die and the nine-tails would not have a host, unleashing it upon the village. The only bloodline strong enough for the nine-tails are Uzumakis. As the Hokage, despite my own wishes, I have to come up with a backup plan." He stopped and took a deep breath, taking one of my hands in both of his, looking at me directly with his bright blue eyes.

"Minako, what I'm asking is...if something happens to your sister...will you be the host of the nine-tails?" I sucked in my breath and my mouth dropped. Was I hearing him right?! Was Minato insane?!

"Why would I volunteer to become a jinchuriki?! Not even Kushina wanted to be one ya know!" I spoke while greatly aggrevated. This was a death wish!

"She did it for the sake of the village! I have to protect the village as well! I am just saying, in an emergancy situation...please Minako...you are the only one who can do it...you're the only other Uzumaki that can protect this village and my son by being there." I froze before grinning.

"A...son?! You're having a son!?" Minato scratched the back of his head emberassed.

"Damn...Kushina wanted to tell you...my bad...so will you do it?" I thought about it silently for a moment. I never thought for a moment that pregnancy could kill my sister because of this demon fox. If the seal did break however, who else could contain it besides me? I would be the only Uzumaki around except for my newborn nephew...but I would never let him live a life of ridicule and hatred for being a jinchuriki. He doesn't deserve it, the little angel. I had to do it. I had to do it for my sister and for my nephew, taking the hit so he won't have to. I then thought about the dream I had the night before. That was a dream right? Was Kurama telling the truth? I closed my violet eyes before clenching my fists.

"I'll do it." I whispered. Minato looked up with a surprised expression before releasing a sigh of relief.

"Thank you. Please don't tell your sister, or she'll kill me. Oh and congrats on you and Kakashi by the way." I blushed heavily.

"Um...thanks. Wait! How did you find out to know?!" Minato just laughed and shook his head, ignoring my question.

"I brought you something." My eyes lit up and I smiled, excited for what he was about to show me. He held open his hand to reveal a silver necklace with a small silver disk that had an Uzumaki symbol engraved on it and on the back it had the symbol for fire. I jumped up and down with excitement before hugging Minato tightly.

"AHH YOU'RE THE BEST MINATO!" He only chuckled before ruffling my hair.

"Kushina has the same one. I just thought you would like it." I grinned and nodded eagerly before turning around so he could put the necklace on me.

"My chakra is in there, same with your sister's. When you're in a situation where you can't survive, I'll be there to save you." I smiled at Minato, so thankful that this man married my sister. He was the best big brother a girl could ask for.

"Thank you Minato." He grinned before walking me back to our home, the Hokage Mansion.

The second we walked through the door, Kushina pounced on me and hugged me tightly.

"AHH! So many cool things are happening today ya know! You and Kakashi finally got together!? We've been trying to make that happen ya know!" Kushina gushed as she rubbed our cheeks together. I raised an eyebrow and Kakashi appeared, shrugging his shoulders.

"Um what? I don't know what you're talking about ya know?" Kushina stepped back and grinned her round belly in sight. Her white shirt allowed me to see part of the black seal on her stomach, causing mine to churn.

Kurama.

"Well we've been trying to get you guys together for sooooo long, ya know!" My sister grinned. I smiled at her and blushed.

"You've been trying?! I didn't even know Kakashi really liked me until the other day ya know!" Kakashi sweatdropped and Kushina pulled away.

These people... I swear...

I looked down at my necklace and looked at my sister's belly.

I swear on my life, nephew, that I will protect you always. If that means I will be a jinchuriki, then I will...for you..