MINAKO'S POINT OF VIEW

"Good work Shisui and way to be there Itachi, ya know!" I cheered. The boys and I were finishing up a day of training. Kakashi was supposed to come home from another mission today and I was super excited. This weekend was Naruto's first birthday and I wanted him to be there.

Itachi and Shisui were incredibly advanced shinobis, already passing their chunin exams at the same rate Kakashi and I did. Despite us being only a team of three, we were the only team of their generation of ninjas that had a 100 percent success rate.

"Okay guys that's enough for today. You have this weekend off! Although I expect to see you both on my nephew's birthday ya know! Consider it a mission!" I grinned. Itachi nodded and blushed slightly while Shisui grinned.

"Sweet! More of Mina sensei's cooking!" Shisui cheered. I rolled my eyes with a smile before wiping some sweat from my brow. I dismissed the boys and headed over to Gai's place since he was watching Naruto today. I arrived in a matter of minutes to see the odd man in a bunny suit dancing in front of a giggling Naruto. I started laughing and Gai pulled me towards him.

"Ah the sweet Lotus flower of the Leaf!" I gave Gai a friendly hug before picking my nephew up. I gave him kisses on his cheeks and held him towards me. All my stress and anxiety immediately vanished and a smile made its way to my face. Only Naruto and Kakashi had that affect on me. Only they could make me feel so relaxed. I thanked Gai for watching Naruto before heading home. It started getting dark and I quickly stopped by the KIA stone with my nephew in my arms. He was calming down, laying his head on my chest to listen to my heartbeat and snuggle in my warmth. It was early October, the fall season settling in and the slightly chilled air showed that. The leaves started to shed from trees and colors of gold, red, and green scattered across the ground. Kushina always loved Fall. It was her favorite season out of all. I walked towards the stone and sighed as I spoke a little prayer aloud towards all of my friends and family on the stone. I missed them so much... The pain never went away. It dulled but didn't dissappear.

"Say Hi to Mommy and Daddy Naruto." I spoke to him. His bright blue eyes and head of wild yellow hair moved up to look at me, his tiny little fingers touching my cheek. Naruto mumbled something that wasn't a word and I smiled wide. He tried so hard to talk sometimes and I was so proud.

" Kushina, Minato... Your son is such a gift." I spoke to the stone.

~~

Naruto was fast asleep in his crib, sucking his thumb slightly and holding on to a little stuffed fox I gave to him. He had his own room now since a few months ago I was able to buy Kakashi and I (mostly for me) our own apartment which was near the Uchiha compound. It was a stand alone building with a single floor, just like a house, except it was incredibly small in size. I sighed and quickly dressed in Kakashi's old shirt, his scent making me smile. I was so excited to see him, the distance from him being an Anbu was killing me...especially since I couldn't join him. I also wanted him to see how much Naruto had developed. He started really trying to walk and talk...he even recognized his own name! I laid in bed with the lights off, the room was entirety black. I closed my eyes hoping I could get a little sleep in before Kakashi woke me. I fell into a light slumber until I felt fingers caress my cheek and smooth out my hair. I smiled slightly before sitting up and feeling his sculpted chest since I couldn't see. I moved my hands further up to go behind his neck and moved myself closer to him.

"I missed you." I whispered. He said nothing but brought his lips to mine with a ferocious passion. Never before has he given me this much affection in a single kiss. It was like he was putting his whole heart out there...as if he missed me more than anything. The back of my head hit the pillow as I let him take over, his lips moving against mine as if the world didn't matter. I moaned quietly when I felt his hands rubbing circles on my hips, our bodies intertwined. I went to cradle his cheeks in my hands when I felt that the one side of his face was severely scarred.

"What the hell? Kakashi what happened?!" I whispered shouted. He placed his lips on mine again before I felt his body heat leave mine.

"Until we meet again Mina." He said. His voice...

"Mina I'm home!" The real Kakashi said as he opened up my bedroom door. I forced a smile on my face as the light from the hallway shined on me. I glanced over to the other side of the room to see the mystery man was gone. He had the same voice as the man from before...

Who is he and why does he have this strange affliction with me?

All I know is that I feel like I knew him...but it would just be impossible for him to be who I thought he was.

~~

"Happy Birthday Naruto!" We all cheered as I stuck a miniature cake in front of the one year old. Naruto was ecstatic; he absolutely loved people and was giggling uncontrollably from all of the attention. All of my friends came to celebrate his birthday. Kakashi, Tsume and her two kids, the Uchihas and Shisui, Gai, Asuma, even the Third and Iruka stopped by. Naruto pointed at the pastry and looked to me for answers.

"Cake." I named it for him.

"Ccceke." He babbled. Naruto used his baby hands to grab and smash the cake into his mouth. It got all over him, on his face, his hands, and his hair. I giggled at my little baby boy who was growing up way too fast. I looked around my decorated apartment and smiled. Even though a year ago was the worst day of my life...losing so many that I loved and cared for...I'm glad I could push through and make today a happy one...not just for me but for my nephew. Kakashi wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and kissed my temple. I melted in his warmth and sighed from happiness. I wonder if this is what Kushina felt when she was with Minato?

"You did great Mina. Look how happy he is." Kakashi murmured in my ear. I looked at the little boy with such love and adoration in my eyes. He was so perfect...Kakashi was such a help to me parenting Naruto. Even though he was gone so often, his salary helped fund us having an apartment and keeping food on the table. When he was home, he would stay by my side with everything, from cleaning and cooking, to spending time with me trying to de-stress. There was no one else I wanted to spend my life with than him. I gave him a loving kiss on the cheek, quickly cleaning up Naruto in the bathroom before he opened up presents. I washed his hair and face quickly before changing him into a little orange onesie I bought for him. It was fuzzy and had a little hood. He looked so cute! I took him back out to see my various guests snacking on different treats I had set out.

"Alright! Present time!" Gai cheered. I sweatdropped at his antics before sitting on the floor next to a table with a small pile of gifts on it. Naruto was sitting on my lap and leaning his head on my chest like always. He loved my heartbeat.

"Ooh! Mine first!" Gai gushed. I laughed at him before taking the wrapped gift he was holding. Naruto saw the paper and started bouncing slightly. I put him on the floor with the present so he could open it himself. He tore away at the paper, giggling while doing it. Mikoto took a few pictures for me so I could always have the memory. After Naruto completely destroyed the wrapping paper, I took the present inside and held it up for everyone to see. I, and everyone else at the party, sweatdropped at what Gai gave him. It was a little tiny green jumpsuit, identical to his.

"Uhh...thanks ya know." I said as I sweat dropped at the gift. He held a thumbs up before grinning. A little sparkle appeared on his pearly whites.

"Yeeaahh! No sweat!" I reached over to see a bag with tissue paper in it. I grabbed that and saw it was from the Inuzukas.

"Here Naruto." I called to him. He proceeded to rip out all of the tissue paper and quickly grabbed the item inside. It was a little stuffed animal dog. Naruto immediately gripped onto it and pointed at it while looked at me with a questionable look in his eyes.

"Puppy." I said as I named the inanimate creature for him. He played with its ears and tail before trying to sound it out.

"Pppyyup." He babbled. He grinned his only front two teeth at the little thing before chomping down on its ears. I smiled at Tsume who had Kiba climbing all over her shoulders and her daughter eating mountains of cupcakes at her feet.

"Thanks Tsume, he really loves it ya know?" I smiled. She grinned her wolfy smile before yelling at her kids to knock it off. The rest of the gifts were little presents and toys for Naruto to use. Shisui bought him a little shirt. The Uchihas gave me money to be put towards a savings account for him, Asuma got him a teething ring, and Kakashi gave him an "I love my Aunt" little hoodie. I grinned so wide at that one. The Third came up to me while everyone else was absorbed in their own worlds, talking and chatting alike. Hiruzen helped me clean up some of the mess while Naruto crawled on the floor with Sasuke and Kiba.

"You don't have to help me ya know." I looked up at the aging man before he gave me a closed eye smile.

"No, I insist." We quietly wiped down some counters and picked up trash. Hiruzen placed a hand on my shoulder as we finished and I turned to look up at him.

"You've truly grown into a fantastic woman Minako Uzumaki. Your parents and your sister would be so proud. I am very proud of who you have become, from the young fiery prankster you once were into the strong and capable motherly woman you have blossomed into. You've turned a day of tragedy for you into a day of happiness for your nephew...that is truly commendable. My gift for you and Naruto may not be clear right now but you will see it soon. I promise." My eyes watered at the old man's words, reminding me what it would be like if I actually did have a grandfather. I hugged him tight and let the tears slip away. The Third was truly the wisest and sweetest of the ninja world.

~~

"Goodnight!" I called out to the last people who were leaving. I sat down with Naruto on his little play mat and sighed. The apartment was cleaned already since I began cleanup while the party was still going on. Kakashi had left around when the Hokage did because the Third wanted to see him in a meeting. It was getting late and I was going to put Naruto to bed soon. I stood up and leaned over to grab the sitting Naruto's hands before pulling him up slowly. He made his way to his feet and slowly stood on them.

"Good job Naruto!" I cheered. He smiled and looked very concentrated before taking a step forward...then another...and another... He soon was walking with me while using my hands as supports. I was grinning wide at this huge accomplishment...my baby was walking! I took my hands away and sat on the ground in front of him with my arms out.

"Come to me Naruto!" He slowly made his way over to me with his hands out towards me. He finally fell into my lap and I caught him, sweeping him up into my arms and kissing him all over his cute chubby face.

"I love you Naruto!" I giggled into his hair. He giggled back and laid his head on my chest, listening to my heart. His baby blue eyes looked up at me and he pointed straight towards me, as if he was naming me.

"Mommy." He spoke clearly as he held his finger up. My face was blank, tears slowly flowing down my face steadily. Naruto had spoken his first word...he called me Mommy.

~~

KAKASHI'S POINT OF VIEW

After a wonderful day that I got to spend with the girl I love most, I was ordered to come to the Hokage's office to speak with him privately. It was getting late and hopefully Mina was still awake at home. I knocked on the door of the office and heard the Hokage permit entrance on the other side. I opened the door to see the Third sitting at his desk with a steaming cup of green tea and a single paper on his usually cluttered desk. I walked into the center of the room before kneeling down.

"What did you wish to see me for, Lord Hokage." He chuckled before asking me to stand, which I complied to.

"Kakashi...there's something I wish to talk to you about." A nervous bubble filled inside me as I thought of every bad thing I've ever done.

"It seems as if there is someone that is visiting the village. We have very little information at this time but it seems at if this masked man is following Minako...I have pictures that I have received from patrol guards that saw this man standing outside her bedroom window, staring at her. I am concerned he is after the nine-tails inside her and Naruto, after all, it had been a year after the incident. Minako has never wanted a body guard and has asked of me to never give her one, but I am going to break that promise. Kakashi, I am assigning you to be Minako and Naruto's bodyguard for the time being. I want you to keep an eye out for this masked man...and whatever you do...do not tell Minako. I need her to be unaware to try and lure this man out of hiding. Do you understand? Instead I want you to be there with her...spend time with her like a normal couple would...she needs you." I looked up at the Hokage dumbfounded. Never in a million years would I have guessed that the Hokage would call me here to tell me my mission was to be with Mina. It was as if my silent prayers have been answered. However, I was deeply troubled by the idea that this masked man was following her. Who was he and what did he want? Was it for the nine-tails or something more? I took the picture on the desk and stared at the blurry figure.

Whoever he is, I'm going to find him.