MINAKO'S POINT OF VIEW

Everything is dark...where am I?....What happened...?  I tried to open my eyes...I tried to feel around me but I felt nothing. I was swallowed in darkness. I felt so heavy...as if there was a great burden on my chest.

"Hello? Is anyone there...?" Silence. I was swallowed in nothing but darkness...

But suddenly I felt warm.

The heat started where my chest used to be...spreading throughout my body. Each body part started to be able to move... my body felt lighter.

"Open your eyes Mina." Who was that? Why were they talking to me?  Suddenly the world was white, nearly blinding. My eyes fluttered, slightly blurry until they focused. There in front of me was a beautiful petite woman standing alongside a man with blazing red hair. The woman extended her porcelain hand to me with a big smile on her face. Her rose eyes shined brightly. I looked at her and the man who gave me an equally dazzling smile. His violet eyes seemed familiar...warm... I placed my hand in hers and suddenly my body glowed, it warmed all at once.

"Who are you?" I asked the couple. They came together before the woman adjusted a strand of my flaming hair.

"I'm your mother." The man gave me a grin, his violet eyes were so vibrant.

"And I'm your father ya know."  I grinned and giggled with happiness as I pounced on the two hugging them tightly.

"I-...I finally got to meet you...my family." My mother gave me kisses on the forehead and my father hugged me tightly. They were so beautiful...

"I never imagined how beautiful my family could be...I'm so happy!" My mother grinned at me again before tugging my hand.

"There's someone that's been bugging me for a while to see you."  My father winked at my mother. 

"Better not keep 'em waiting."  I was confused until I heard a voice behind me that froze me to my chore, happiness filling me to my bones.

"Mina...It's been awhile ya know." I looked behind me to see them standing there, smiles on their faces.

"Minato...Kushina..."

"Thank you for taking care of our son Mina. He grew up to be everything we ever hoped for, thanks to you." I blushed at Minato's words before hugging Kushina tightly, happy tears escaped my eyes.

"I missed you so much sis. I tried my best to uphold my promise to you. I tried so hard to be the best mother to Naruto that I possibly could." Kushina ran her fingers through my long hair and smiled at me, our parents looking at us proudly.

"You were a better mother to him than I could have ever hoped to be. You even gave him a sister and a father. You went above and beyond your promise and I couldn't be more grateful." My dad scratched his head. 

"Everyone is getting all emotional. Mina how about you tell us what we missed, starting when Naruto was born."

~~

Naruto ran towards where his gut was taking him, Kurama was leading the way without Naruto really knowing of it.

You must hurry, my darker side is fading.

Naruto ran faster, tears clouding his vision. He finally broke into the area where the battle took place to see Kakashi's back.

"Kakashi!" Naruto yelled. Kakashi didn't respond and Naruto finally took in his surroundings. A man Naruto  didn't recognize and Itachi were squaring off, Itachi looking dangerously unstable. He grabbed Obito by the neck and slammed him on the ground. Obito let it happen, feeling as if he deserved every hit he got. Naruto ignored them and went straight to Kakashi.

"Kakashi is my mom alright-" And that's when Naruto saw her. Laying in a pool of her own blood with a closed eye smile was the woman that may not have given birth to him, but gave him life and happiness. The woman that had loved him since the day he was born and supported him no matter the choice he made...was dead. Naruto fell to his knees, reaching out to touch his mother's cheek for the last time.

"I...never...I never got to tell you how much I appreciated everything you've ever done for me.  I never...I never got to tell you how much...how much I love you...Mom...Mommy...please don't die on me!! I need you!! Please! Don't die on me!!" Naruto sobbed as he touched her cold skin. Her cape of the Hokage was dripping with her blood...symbolizing the death of the title...the death of the heart of the Hidden Leaf.

"She's gone Naruto...she died...saving me." Naruto looked up to see an equally red and teary eyed Kakashi. Kakashi's jonin vest was covered in Mina's blood. His usually lazy yet cheerful eyes were shallow and dead. The second his wife died...he did along with her. Naruto looked at Kakashi's broken presence and felt Kurama become unstable.

My other half is still alive but fading quickly. Kurama announced to Naruto. 

"Can I save her?" Naruto asked the Nine-tails. The beast shook its head.

No...it's up to her will now. Let's see how strong the will of fire truly is.

~~

"And that's everything...up until the moment I...the moment I died ya know." Mina spoke. Her family was all together for the first time ever, filling her with unspeakable joy. She never wanted to leave them. After sitting and discussing with them all, Mina learned that her body shape and temper came from her mother. Her eyes, verbal tic, and personality were all from her father. Her mother was delicate, soft, yet brilliant. She responded eloquently to Minako's words and never said more than she needed to. It was obvious Naruto, Kushina, and Minako inherited their father's way of thinking: by not doing it at all. They spoke the first thing that came to mind and were honest about their feelings.

"Tell me about who you are...mother...father... I never knew anything about you...I don't even know your names." My father looked at her mother with a sly expression, showing her that he wanted Mina's mother to speak first. Her red eyes were bright, long hair, nearly white in color, went straight down her back. It reminded Minako of her daughter's luscious locks. Perhaps that was where she got it from and not actually on Kakashi's side.

"My name is Yuna Senju and your father is Kan Uzumaki. I am the daughter of the second Hokage, Tobirama. That would make you a direct decedent, his granddaughter. My mother was Mito Uzumaki's niece and they met at the wedding between her and the First Hokage. I was their only child. When my father reigned as Hokage, I was assigned to make a trip to Uzushiogakure, the land where the Uzumaki clan resided. The son of the head of that village was your father. We were distinct enemies at first and never seemed to get along until he proved to me he wasn't a complete idiotic knuckle head by saving my father from an attempted assassination."

"Hey!! I wasn't that stupid ya know!" Yuna rolled her eyes.

"Whatever you say sweetheart." Kan whispered in Minako's ear.

"She likes to pretend she wasn't into me since we met. There was this one time at the hotsprings when we-" Kan was interrupted by a blushing Yuna who smacked the back of his head.

"Can I finish? And that is not appropriate to discuss with our daughter!" Kan sighed.

"She's an adult! She is married with a daughter! I'm pretty sure she can handle it ya know!" Yuna gave him a death glare and Kan backed off.

"Always gotta be no fun ya know..." Yuna ignored him and continued.

 "Eventually I fell in love with him and we married. I moved to his village and we had your sister. After my uncle had died, my Aunt requested there to be another Uzumaki to take the Nine-tailed fox as she became older. During a widespread debate, your father, Kushina, and I decided it would be best if he took the fox. Just before he was supposed to make the trip to Konoha to become the second jinchuriki, a group of rogue ninjas attacked the village, attempting to steal our sealing jutsus. They destroyed buildings and killed many of our civilians...out of all of the destruction and death, there was one great thing that happened that day."

"What happened?" Minako asked. Yuna smiled at her youngest child.

"That was the day you were born Minako. Kushina may have told you that I died during childbirth which is true. I was able to hold you in my arms and name you after your grandmother, dying as I gave you to your sister. Your father died while guiding Kushina out of the village with a few other refugees so you guys could begin your life in Konoha." Minako always thought her father died from a broken heart...but it seems it was much different than she ever knew...her father died protecting her...her parents had always loved her. Mina looked at her sister with respect in her eyes. Kushina never once revealed to her that she was suffering. Mina always thought Kushina was strong but never knew she suffered like Mina did. She watched her family die then took care of a child left behind...

"We're the same..." Mina gasped as the realization hit her. Kushina frowned a little before placing her hands on her little sister's.

"I never wanted you to feel the pain I did...Taking care of you wasn't just a promise to Mom...I did it because we're sisters and I loved you. I gladly shouldered my pain and would do it again. I'm so sorry I had to give you the same burden." Mina shook her head.

"You may have given birth to Naruto but he is my son by heart. I love him equally to my daughter and would scour the earth to save him. My love for him isn't a promise...it's true and real." Minato grinned and Kushina teared up.

"I'm so glad..."

"I hope you can forgive your mother and I for leaving you...We had ten years to tell Kushina we loved her but never had the chance to tell you that we loved you as well. We are all so very proud of you and everything you had accomplished Minako..."  My father hugged me tightly. It felt so very different than a hug from Kakashi, Minato, or Itachi...instead of feeling equal or in love...it was a feeling of acceptance and safety...she could feel his pride for her seeping in his hold. 

"I can't believe you did it Mina! You became Hokage!! That's so cool yeah?" That voice.... 

Mina turned around to see her childhood friend and teammate Rin standing alongside Shisui, her student.

"Rin! Shisui!" She ran to greet them with hugs.

"Before you say anything...I am so sorry for any of the times I was rude to you Rin...I'm so sorry that I was a brat and competitive and-" Shisui placed a finger on my lips.

"Sensei, Rin has been so excited about everything you had accomplished. You have long been forgiven." Mina's violet eyes widened as she looked at her smiling teammate.

"Y-you mean you forgive me?"

"And Kakashi. What happened to me wasn't his fault. I chose my fate. I am sorry you all had to live with the anger Obito had following it. Once I learned of his path...I knew the only one who could save him was you." Mina looked at her feet. 

"I didn't though...I failed...he tried to kill Kakashi and instead killed me." Rin shook her head.

"Through death, you taught him forgiveness. He has forgiven Kakashi...he no longer wishes pain upon him and the village. Mina...don't you get it? You saved Konoha! Not just now but for futures to come!" Minako silently assessed her actions before coming to terms with the fact Rin was right. She remembered seeing the tears in Obito's sharingan eyes as the light in her's faded.

"You also removed Danzo from the mix which has saved Konoha from a possible civil war as well...you did it sensei. Not just in the name of the Uchiha...but in the name of our village. I'm so proud of you." Shisui smiled. 

"Oh and I am SO FREAKING HAPPY YOU NAMED A KID AFTER ME!!! I THOUGHT YOU WOULD ONLY DO THAT IF IT WAS A BOY?!" Shisui exclaimed. Minako laughed.

"I named her after you and Kushina...how should I not?" 

"I am sorry to ruin the moment Minako but your time with us is over...it's time to send you back." Minato spoke. He walked towards her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She looked into his sea blue eyes and felt at home...She missed him so much.

"What do you mean 'send me back'? Where am I going?" Minato smiled. 

"I prepared for this moment for years...it can only happen twice...once for you and once for Naruto. You have to be a jinchuriki for it to work." She was still confused before he kissed her on the forehead, warmness spread across her body before a golden glow radiated across her features. 

"Wha-what?!" 

"Until we meet again one day my daughter." Yuna yelled as Minako faded...Her body disappearing altogether.

"Until then Mina...take care of Naruto." Kushina whispered.

~~

Kakashi cradled the woman in his arms as she was surrounded by her son, student, and teammate. Itachi drobbed fighting Obito when exhaustion took over...he didn't know how to react to losing Minako...it hurt him too deeply. Obito lost all will to live...similar to Kakashi. There was no purpose on the planet other than being with her...why else would he bother? 

Kakashi felt Minako's body start to warm and looked down to see her stomach glowing gold. The necklace Minato gave her all those years ago glowed as well, spreading heat throughout her body.

"What the hell?" Kakashi whispered. Minako's body grabbed the attention of all the boys surrounding her, shocking them in place.

My other half is getting stronger. Kurama told Naruto. They looked at Minako wishfully before gasping when her entire body was engulfed in golden radiance. Her body slowly returned to normal, her ghostly skin had a feint blush rising on the surface. Kakashi felt her body heat and looked to see the hole in her chest completely healed. The men gathered around her despite Itachi's exhaustion and Obito's injuries.

"Mina?" Kakashi whispered in awe. Slowly...her violet eyes began to flutter open. Her lips were no longer pasty but rosy in color.

"K-kakashi..." She whispered with a hoarse voice. Kakashi began crying tears of joy , pulling down his mask and kissing Mina with his whole heart in it. He never thought he would hear her voice again...let alone hearing her say his name.

"I love you, I love you, I love you!" Kakashi exclaimed as he held her tighter, kissing her further. Minako returned the affection. Kakashi's obsidian eyes bored into Minako's violet. The two soul mates could not even have been separated...even through death. 

"Never leave me again...promise me. Please. I can't live without you." Kakashi whispered as he brushed away stray strands of ruby from her dirtied face. Mina realized that despite seeing her family and friends...she knew her heart truly belonged on earth...with her husband, her children...and now her village.

"I promise."