#konohas yellow flash

[keijidraws]

This is my favorite panel from my fan comic. He’s thinking oh shit, I’m going to kiss her, aren’t I?!

[bunkerhillbros]

“The Night the Kyuubi Attacked (Part 1)” from ALA21DDIN21.

[favficbirthdays]

Happy Birthday

Minato Namikaze (25th January)

Naruto

[weeblmaodotcom]

Screw your Itachi's or Naruto's T-shirts. This is a Real god-tier (true Yellow flash of konoha, fastest shinobi, ten tails chinchuriky) , Meme by Weeblmao.com

[keepyourpantsongohan]

Meaningful Highlights from Kakashi Retsuden:

Minato catching Kakashi before he falls, the same way Kakashi always does for his students. And Kakashi, even at eight or nine years old, straight out of his father's funeral and before being his student, immediately relaxing when he runs into Minato: His feet tangled beneath him and he pitched forward. Into someone’s back. “You were really strong back there,” a voice told him, and he suddenly saw bright golden hair. He felt his breathing become a little easier. The Yellow Flash of Konoha. Namikaze Minato.

Kakashi describing his current feelings about his father: Now he felt proud from the bottom of his heart to have been born the child of the White Fang of Konoha.

Kakashi wanting to help the people of Redaku in a way that they can sustain themselves, even as he actually is providing a great deal of support through the process: The people of this country had to learn how to stand up and walk under their own strength. Give a starving person bread or teach them how to grow wheat. As Hokage, Kakashi had always chosen the latter.

Kakashi reflecting on his time as Sixth Hokage he eschewed tradition to build something that developed beyond shinobi: A never-ending peace. That was what Kakashi had sought as the Sixth Hokage. An orderly society that would go on and on even when he was not the Hokage, even when the day came when the role of Hokage disappeared. To create a framework so that they would never again fall into the quagmire of war.

The way Kakashi shows that he still views all of the former students taught by him and his friends in a parental and protective way: They had long since reached adulthood, and some were now parents while others were active on the front lines as shinobi. Even so, no matter how many years passed, to Kakashi, they were his precious students and the next generation who needed to be protected. Seeing them having so much fun was enough to ease his heart.

[kkuramochi]

✩ would anyone be interested in a BORUTO REWRITE ? (follow this link to read the fic)

here are the major things i'm changing from the series to fit into a more realistic storyline ↴

first, and this is very based, but i dislike boruto's name in general. i know it's an homage to neji's name (which translates to "screw"), and don't get me wrong 'bolt' as a nickname that references both neji and minato's legacy (since the latter was known as the 'yellow flash of konoha') is awesome. but in my story, i've given the main character the name akihiro (ironically known as hiro by his peers) meaning "bright" or "shining" with this kanji variation 明弘 [in which the first one literally translates to "dawn".]

also, it'll help if you read THIS first (a post made by me and my cousin two years ago! and it's only now coming to fruition :>)

other key points where this story diverges from boruto, both in terms of plot, themes, and character dynamics:

akihiro's personality and role

akihiro is much more charismatic and endearing, resembling a "sweet-talker" type who bonds deeply with others rather than boruto’s initial rebellious and aloof nature. he embraces being naruto’s son but struggles with living up to the expectations, rather than rejecting them outright.

this adds complexity to his growth as a leader and makes him more relatable and likable to a wider range of characters.

akihiro is an only child

unlike boruto, akihiro doesn’t have a younger sibling like himawari. this shifts the family dynamic to focus more closely on his relationship with naruto and hinata, highlighting their efforts to guide him without distractions.

it makes akihiro’s journey more introspective and personal, with fewer family members diluting his arc. but this will tie into another plotpoint with sakura and sasuke's kid(s) looking up to him as an older brother figure, so he fulfills that role just as well. the reason i chose not to give him a sibling is because i'm still on the fence about giving akihiro the byakugan since it might be too cliché (but admit it, boruto's and himawari's designs would've looked pretty cool with the eerie edge of the hyuugas' pupil-less eyes). but i have no intention of making naruto pass on kurama to his kids, especially not to akihiro. so, the point of him having a sibling in the timeline where conflict arises pretty early (just after the events of akihiro's birth) is unlikely.

generation gap in konoha 9's children

the children of the original konoha 9 aren’t all the same age.

they were born across a realistic timeline based on their parents’ relationships (e.g., temari and shikamaru’s child is older than sakura and sasuke’s).

the reason for this was pretty much at face value, it just is highly unlikely that all the couples got together and fell pregnant at the same time. maybe some kids are same age but mostly spanning a five year range at minimum. this adds more diverse interactions across generations and avoids the forced "classmates" dynamic that boruto had.

right now i do have the konoha 9's kids figured out. from oldest to youngest, they are [this is during when my story starts, when akihiro is 15]:

shikadai nara (18) > chocho akimichi (17) > akihiro uzumaki (16) > inojin yamanaka (16) > shizumi nara (13) > sarada and souta uchiha (11)

stronger, more varied teammates

akihiro’s teammates are more specialized and powerful compared to boruto’s. yume kazemura, an immigrant from the land of mist with her water style and weapon specialty, and daichi hiiragi, a fire-style ninja with a less prominent earth style. akihiro himself would have wind and lightning style + hyuuga taijutsu — mostly because i wanted to divide each team in a way that balances each other out.

this team is a frontline squad, so their chakra amount and specialty is prominent. it also gives me a reason to make sasuke mentor akihiro later in the story since lightning style seems almost a precursor to space-time jutsu and no other konoha 9 member has an affinity for it.

in any case, their abilities are distinctive and critical in battles, unlike boruto’s team, which felt derivative of naruto’s team 7 and very replicated, in my opinion.

otsutsuki threat introduced as a mystery

a plot point taken from this post (which was actually made by my cousin, who is beta-reading this as we speak!), the otsutsuki threat is revealed gradually through mysterious portals, strange creatures, and sinister chakra bombs, rather than immediately presenting godlike enemies like momoshiki. the slow-burn introduction makes the otsutsuki more terrifying and allows the story to maintain a grounded tone while building tension.

the chakra bomb thing is introduced right after the events of "the last", a few months after naruto and hinata's wedding. a few konoha shinobi en route to kumo for their chunin exams (konohamaru's team being of them), come across a border villager in the land of fire who is on the brink of fever-induced delirium, somehow mid-speech just gives out an insane level of raw chakra pulsing out of his body before collapsing, dead.

the genin team leaders decide to investigate and find that an entire small village on the border was wiped out without a trace of struggle or attack. naturally, fingers are raised towards kumo who really have no clue what's going on. just when it was about to written off as an invasion by the rogue factions, another similar incident takes place in iwagakure. the land of fire and wind being the closest to it are now under fire.

then i plan on introducing a cult who are old regime supremacists (led by disciples of kaguya who were indoctrinated by black zetsu). they believe in the eradication of the non-shinobi factions, a play on the "survival of the fittest" morality. maybe i will integrate the bioengineering and technical development aspect. but it won't be nearly as advanced as the stuff introduced in the boruto universe.

by the time akihiro is 16, strange portals carrying behemoths (think chitauri from avengers, endbringers from worm or even kaiju from pacific rim) into the world open up all across the globe. each nation basically brings a standstill on managing the political uprising to secure their borders, working together to configure who is behind these attacks and where these alien creatures are coming from.

meanwhile, a kaguya cult member reveals the location of a portal leading to the moon base where a fee otsutsuki relics and shrines are found by hiro and his team. while the powerhouses are deployed to deal with the monsters, the village heads are swarmed with cases of riots, fights breaking out between borders and all in all, hostility brewing between the elemental nations.

eventually the behemoth attacks get so frequent and so far apart in distance from one another that it becomes impossible to manage them all — leading to the affected areas being vacated after entire cities are demolished.

this eventually leads to a showdown in the ruins of uzushio where the biggest behemoth shows up, alongside two otsutsuki clan members and most of the alliance is posted there for a drawn out battle.

eventually, after practically wiping the floor with the alliance, the otsutsukis leave but not without the promise of return to plant a chakra tree on earth and to clear it out of tainted blood so the trueborns can thrive in their new paradise. (since humanity right now is a mix of kaguya's blood which gives them control over chakra and human dna — basically, the otsutsuki want to cleanse the world of them and take over the chakra fountain that is earth).

political turmoil between nations

the story will include realistic international tensions among the five great nations. rogue factions, misunderstandings, and betrayals play a critical role in the otsutsuki conflict. everyone with be pointing fingers but due to an established alliance among the kages, no shinobi can act on their convictions without breaking the treaty and being ousted as a stray ninja.

this adds stakes beyond just physical battles, emphasizing the fragile peace post-shinobi war. it also involves side characters from other villages, making the world feel larger and more dynamic.

power scaling is even

the power scaling is balanced, with the konohamaru generation being significantly stronger than akihiro’s due to the chakra bomb conflict arising during their peak as chunin/jounin. while akihiro is talented, he isn’t overpowered like boruto.

battles require teamwork, strategy, and sacrifice. it will also make the older generations more battle-hardened, experienced and will give them knowledge to impart on their charges as sensei. this avoids sidelining older characters and makes fights more engaging. even lower-tier ninjas have meaningful roles (which will be even more prominent during the final battle arc).

akihiro's love interest

now, this is a topic i'm very conflicted on.

on one hand i have this incredible character planned (sayuri ayakami) with seishinkan, a kekkei genkai aligned with the spiritual power of chakra maneuvering. it affects perceptions, health and even can cause/absorb physical blows to an extent for redistribution later. it works on the basis of the very existence of the otsutsuki clan, how they manipulate space-time, dimensional and planetary jutsu.

[she's basically the non-overpowered and very much human version of eida]

akihiro has a unique romantic subplot with sayuri, a character tied to an ancient clan and her own burdens. their bond develops naturally through shared hardships and mutual growth. this romance feels organic and adds emotional stakes. while i have nothing against boruto’s dynamic with sarada, the uchiha-uzumaki thing feels a little overdone.

but this above all is a shounen series that i'm making with emphasis on action and politics in the ninja world. so, i'm not sure how romance will fly in this universe. (what do you all think?)

greater role for older characters

characters like naruto, sasuke, sakura, gaara, shikamaru, the other kages and the previous generation have pivotal roles throughout the story. they don’t fade into the background but instead serve as mentors, fighters, and emotional anchors.

especially during the stand against the monsters and managing the political uproar caused by the kaguya cult. this respects their legacy while highlighting the generational transition, something boruto struggles with.

a new way to beat the otsutsuki

like i said, many characters will play different yet very important role in building up to and even during the final stand against the all-powerful otsutsuki.

minor characters and even less power shinobi from the alliances collectively will help in taking down the enemies bit by bit. humanity’s triumph over the otsutsuki wouldn't rely solely on godlike powers or specific individuals like boruto and kawaki. instead, it will involve strategies and unique abilities from many characters, such as sayuri’s seishinkan severing dimensional ties.

this makes the victory feel earned by everyone, not just a chosen few, and emphasizes teamwork and innovation over brute strength.

sasuke's absence from konoha has a real reason

sasuke’s absence is explained by his investigation of the chakra bomb incidents as he is made to be the prime coordinator of the anbu of konoha and usually the first to respond to impacted locations on short notice due to his rinnegan prowess. it's not just due vague wanderings that's he's not with his family. his return then carries significant weight.

it gives sasuke a clear purpose and enhances his arc while tying into the main story. it also builds on how sarada and souta's dynamics are, and how each twin copes with their dad not being present and mom being busy with her obligations.

this is one of the reasons why they look up to akihiro that much more because akihiro with his natural charm, abilities and ties to the hokage is somewhat popular amount his peers. despite this, he is welcoming towards the uchiha twins and takes them under his wing, sticking up for them and not letting them be turned into social pariahs.

sayuri's seishinkan and her clan

sayuri's seishinkan is a unique spiritual kekkei genkai, not a derivative of the byakugan or sharingan. her clan’s history ties into the otsutsuki invasion and ancient conflicts. this avoids redundancy in bloodline abilities while adding depth to the lore.

villains across all tiers

the otsutsuki threat isn’t limited to godlike figures. generals, zetsu-like soldiers, and mutated creatures provide challenges for all levels of ninja. this ensures that even lower-ranked ninjas and civilians play meaningful roles, unlike in boruto where only top-tier fighters matter.

the pacing of the story

the story spans akihiro’s growth from age 16 to 19, with major arcs that focus on mystery, politics, and personal relationships. the pacing is deliberate, allowing for more character development and emotional moments. this approach feels more cohesive and satisfying compared to boruto’s often disjointed plotlines.

this rewrite creates a more balanced, grounded, and emotionally resonant narrative compared to boruto. it respects the legacy of naruto’s generation, develops a new generation with their own unique abilities and struggles, and introduces the otsutsuki as a nuanced, terrifying threat that can’t simply be punched away.

— NOTES. again, this is simply my take on the poorly faring sequel to naruto, a franchise that deserves to be hailed for it's dynamic worldbuilding and major contribution into shaping what shounen has become today.

if you want me to go in-depth about any of the plot points, feel free to ask in my askbox or comments. i want to start writing this as soon as possible and the more input i get from fellow fans of this universe, the better the end result will be.

[imxrtalide]

( MINATO NAMIKAZE / LEWD 18+ )

: The fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, leading to the moniker of Konoha's Yellow Flash. Kushina's lewd husband.

Namikaze Minato/Fem!Reader

content warning for tiny bit of dirty talk (with one mention of a daddy kink) + spanking

Minato fanfic dilf thirst.

The room is swathed in the colours of dusk; blue and purple and orange reflecting through the open window and across the walls. The sounds of conversation and laughter can be heard from foot traffic below, no louder than your labored breathing.

Your panties are already drenched, and he'd barely begun. You lay across Minato's lap, stomach against his thighs and nails digging into his trousers. The gooseflesh bumping across your naked skin is a heady contrast against him, still fully clothed as his hand roams over the curve of your ass. Your jaw is clenched hard enough to crack, the tension rolling off of you in nearly tangible waves. So far he'd only rubbed his hand across your eager and heated skin, fingers refusing to delve where you need him most; your cunt clenches at the thought, breath leaving in a moan.

Minato only chuckles at you, the sound warm. "Need something?"

You laugh breathlessly, head hanging limply. "Yeah. Need you," you manage to say in a whisper, flush bright on your face as you squirm in his lap, chasing his touch.

His hand comes down hard on your ass, making you jerk and gasp, thighs clenching together. It burns even as it sparks arousal deep in your core, teeth coming down on your bottom lip. Minato rubs the spot he spanked, shaking his head.

"Cant hear you, sweetheart."

You huff out a breath, eyes falling shut as you swallow thickly. And stay silent.

Minato sighs, and you can practically hear the shake of his head. His hand comes down to swat the other cheek, making you gasp his name. He waits before putting his hand gently over the mark, giving you plenty of time to fidget and pout before he eases his fingers over you, massaging the sore spot.

"Wanna try that again?" He asks, voice deeper and sounding impatient.

You bite down harder on your bottom lip, fingers digging into his leg. "I want you," you breathe, louder this time, "I need you, sir."

He hums under his breath, nodding his head. "Do you think you deserve that, sweetheart?" He moves his hand over your ass and down to your thigh, fingers curling just under your cunt. You stiffen at the barely-there touch, back arching as you pant. You're getting to your breaking point and you both know it; thighs trembling even as you push them together, seeking any friction you can.

You swallow both the lump in your throat and your pride, wriggling your hips against him. "Please," you murmur, not recognizing your own longing voice, "please, daddy."

Minato groans at that, grabbing a handful of your ass in lithe fingers. He leans forward to press a kiss to your sweat-slicked back, making you sigh softly. "Good girl," he whispers against your skin before righting himself in the chair, pulling your panties off and down your legs. The moment you're naked you shiver, tossing your hair back and biting down on your bottom lip.

Minato runs his fingers slowly over your naked ass, your only warning a hitch in his breath before he spanks you, harder this time.

Your back arches, a small whimper passing your lips. "One," you count, sounding as though you'd just run a mile. Minato rubs the spot tenderly, feeling his cock twitch at the sight of your reddened skin.

It goes on like this for minutes, maybe hours; all you know is that you're drenched between the thighs, shaking and panting and writhing in his lap, tears springing in your eyes from the addictive mix of pleasure-pain, desperate for his touch where you crave it most.

By the time you count twenty you're half-delirious, twitching at every breeze against your raw skin. You can feel Minato's cock against your stomach, hard and probably aching as much as you, right now. His breathing is heavy, voice a near growl every time he whispers sweetly to you how much of a good girl you're being, how well you take it.

He's groaning softly when he curves his palm down the bottom of your ass, his fingers dipping finally, finally, between your folds. You shudder in his lap, moan sounding more like a sob as you grind yourself against him.

His fingers stroke over your cunt, rubbing slowly back and forth before delving deeper, tip of a finger reaching your clit. You feel your stomach clench as your vision goes white, throwing your head back. Minato pushes your hair over your shoulder, leaning down to bury his face against your crown as his free hand moves to hold your neck, squeezing gently.

You cant breathe; not from his hand, no, he'd never, but from the sheer eroticism of it all. Hand on your throat and the other stretched to hold your entire cunt in the palm of his hand, fingers brushing over your clit expertly. You take in a shaky breath as your back arches, taut as a bow, cunt clenching hard on an aching emptiness -

His fingers work faster over that little bundle of nerves, pressing a kiss to your hair. "That's it, sweetheart. You did so well, beautiful - let go."

Your breathing stops completely as your thighs tighten around his fingers, everything coming to a complete standstill as you reach the precipice. You're wound too tight, much too close already from all the build up. Minato's fingers circle your clit faster, and -

You fall.

You come with a hoarse scream, toes curling and eyes squeezed shut. Minato tightens his fingers on the sides of your throat, and it only heightens the feel of your thundering heart, the waves of pleasure breaking over you like a storm. There's a roaring in your ears as your hips twitch, chasing the friction his fingers offer. You can feel more than hear Minato's low chuckle, whispering delicious words in your ear about how beautiful you are, coming apart in his hands like this.

You swallow down your moans as your body goes limp, completely spent. Your throat feels scratchy and you're sure your legs are mostly numb. Your ass will be sore for the next few hours and you don't honestly believe you can stand.

Worth it, you think with a breathless chuckle.

[waffliesinyoface]

really, if you think about it, minato being named hokage was an olive branch to the rest of the world. that was konoha saying "hey, everyone. you know this guy? The yellow flash? The one with a personal kill count in the thousands? We're taking him off the front lines and putting him in an office job. Why don't you all play nice so he doesn't have an excuse to get in some more exercise, yeah?"

[sur-i-ki]

Ｆｏｒ ｙｏｕ， Ｉ＇ｄ ｆｉｇｈｔ ｔｈｅ ｇｏｄｓ

⇝ 𝘧����𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘴𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘭𝘺

✦ 𝘋𝘪𝘴𝘤𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘳: 𝘱𝘰𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘮𝘺 𝘞𝘈𝘛𝘛𝘗𝘈𝘋 𝘢𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 (𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘭𝘺-𝘴𝘢𝘯)

✦ 𝘐𝘯𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯:

⋆ 𝘍𝘦𝘮. 𝘙𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳, 𝘴𝘩𝘦/𝘩𝘦𝘳

⋆ 𝘈𝘯𝘨𝘴𝘵/𝘍𝘭𝘶𝘧𝘧, 𝘈𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯, 𝘈𝘜

⋆𝘞𝘢𝘳𝘯𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴: 𝘔𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘥𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘩, 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨, 𝘴𝘸𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨

When the youngest son of the Kazekage was born, around the same time, a girl was born.

One is a monster.

One is claimed to rival the intellect of those in the Nara clan.

Both were born for each other. [Name] was trained for the longest time, by the best shinobi the village had to offer, to protect their best weapon.

A master for a sword.

But she didn't do what they expected her to do. Even though no one would go near Gaara, [Name] was the one who stuck by him, through thick and thin.

It was only a matter of time before they fell in love with each other. And the moment Gaara became Kazekage, she became Anbu Captian and the Head of the entire army the Sand Village had to offer. The second most powerful, right behind Gaara.

And everyone knew not to say bad things about the Kazakage when she was around. It always ended with someone in the hospital. And it wasn't her.

They all whispered about how much she loved him. All talked about how the Captian had lost control the minute she saw him.

Saw her life, her everything, her Gaara, motionless, on the ground, being sat on.

Ｈｏｗ ｄａｒｅ ｔｈｅｙ？

Sleepless nights, ever since the kidnapping of Gaara reached her ears, while she was on a mission. She came back to the village so fast, that people say she rivalled the speed of the Yellow Flash.

And now they are telling her that he is dead? Dead? No, she refused it. Because when he died, her heart would automatically stop. Her love would kill her right there and then.

And she wasn't dead.

Deidara had only started speaking about art, when his head hit the ground, rolling away from his body.

ʎzɐɹɔ ǝɯ ǝpɐɯ ǝʌol 'ǝɯ ǝɯɐlq ʇ,uoᗡ

Sasori jumped back, shivers running up his back, because of the look in her eyes. The absolute hatred and rage, that promised his death. Those eyes held more death than those of the Tailed Beasts.

In the end, there were two Akatsuki dead, and only one person fighting. The Konoha shinobi were shell shocked. Shocked at how she moved.

But she didn't care. Because Gaara wasn't waking up, no matter how much she shook him.

"Gaara-sama, Gaara-sama!"

There were tears forming in her eyes. She's never cried before. Sakura came around, her hands glowing green with chakra. She glanced up at [Name] before she placed them on his chest.

"Pulse, none. Time of death-"

She was cut off abruptly as [Name] pushed her away, placing her own hands on his chest.

"I was meant to protect. I was made to protect. To serve. He changed me. He saved me. My life is his as long as he exists."

Chiyo's eyes widened as she noticed how the speaking girl manipulated her chakra.

"𝙄 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨, 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙂𝙖𝙖𝙧𝙖 𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙄 𝙚𝙭𝙞𝙨𝙩."

Chiyo gave a hand signal to Sakura, who quickly got up and circled behind [Name]. Who was too busy pouring her life essence into Gaara.

One nerve. Three ounces of pressure. And a distracted captain.

[Name] was unconscious.

Everyone knows how that mission ended.

But after the war. After everything, [Name] got the one order that she dreaded.

ʇɥɓıɹ ʇı ɓuıop ʇ,uıɐ noʎ 'ʇ,usǝop ʇı ɟI

"[Full Name], as of right now you are being taken off of duty for your lack of management during your latest mission."

Her heart dropped. 

"I'm sorry?"

Gaara just stared ahead, looking at the wall behind her.

"I'm taking you off duty."

[Name] searched the eyes of her beloved, trying to see if he was messing with her. To see if he was understanding how this would hurt her. Hurt them.

"I didn't do anything wrong."

Gaara's eyes flicked to hers.

"I'm not going to change my mind."

"You can't do this! This is the one constant that's been in my life, Gaara. I'm a damn good shinobi. And, I didn't do anything wrong. I was trying to protect my teammates and eliminate the enemy! It was the best option I could up with! ME! The Genius of this village."

"[Name]-"

"NO! This is bullshit. I know I came back injured, but that's part of the job description! The reason you're giving me is shitty as fuck! I couldn't really think of another fucking escape plan, and I thought being injured but ALIVE was better than being tortured and DEAD."

They were standing toe to toe. She couldn't believe her ears. [Name] understood that her plan wasn't perfect, but her plan promised escape, alive, without any casualties. And that was more than enough for her to take a couple of kunai to her body to escape with her comrades.

"I won't. Change. My. Mind."

"Fine. Then don't talk to me. Because you're not listening."

And with that, [Name] turned and left his office, tears swimming in her eyes.

The next few days, it was absolute radio silence. Neither of them spoke to the other. And Gaara had appointed Temari as the new Captain.

A few days turned into a few weeks and nothing changed. Gaara had gotten better at expressing himself. But that entire fight he had with [Name] still made him want to jump out of the window.

He just didn't want to lose her. He wanted her to be safe. To be with him.

But you were right. It came with the job description. And you were a damn good shinobi. Plus, if you were saying that the plan you came up with was the best option, then you must have thought through everything else.

So, yeah, he realized, he was in the wrong for this. But how was he going to apologize to you after being so dumb?

In the end, he decided a little drink would help him think up a solution. So he dragged along Kankuro and headed over to the nearest bar for some sake.

---

After a couple of drinks, and a complete breakdown on his brother's shoulder, Gaara stumbled his way to the hotel room you were living in.

"[Name]~~, open up baby. I need'ta," he hiccuped, "Need'ta ta'k to you babe."

The door creaked open, and your stoic face showed up in his blurry vision.

"Gaara-sama?" his heart hurt that you used the honorific, one that you had reluctantly left behind. Gaara's eyes flashed, something low and guttural swimming in his eyes. His hands grabbed the edge of the door and pushed it open, while he finally stood up to his full height.

"Don' ta'k like that, baby~"

[Name] looked on, unimpressed but slightly surprised that he was drunk. She led him inside and laid him down on the bed, pulling his shoes off and bringing a bucket to him in case he throws up.

"I'll be leaving now, Gaara-sama. I hope you have a good night's rest."

She turns to leave when a hand catches onto her wrist and yanks. [Name] stumbles backwards and falls into the bed, her back flush against his chest.

"[Name]," his voice vibrated through her body, and she couldn't help but sink into his arms, finally feeling at home after a long time.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I should've trusted you, and I can't express how regretful I am I said those things to you, and how mad I am at myself for not trusting you."

Her breathing stills, as she realizes that Gaara wasn't as drunk as he had acted. If anything, he might be just a little tipsy at best.

"I was, I was just so scared of losing you after everything we've been through. Terrified that after all the fighting, blood, and war, I'd lose you and I, I would've never lived."

Turning, [Name] planted a kiss on his lips, his hands immediately flying to her hips and pulling, deepening the kiss.

"It's okay," she replies after pulling away, "I understand how you feel."

Gaara gives her a puzzled look. She laughs, hollow and empty as if she was in a place that robbed her of light.

"That time when the Akatsuki got you, Gaara, I was gone. Terrified, angry, and so sad. So, so sad I wanted to die thinking you were dead. And now, I never, ever want to see that again, so I try to do everything in my power to prevent that from happening."

He just squeezes your hips in return leaning in and touching your foreheads together.

"I think, I'm gonna sign us up for some therapy, and maybe we could have a date tomorrow? Oh and also, you have a lot of work to do 'cause Temari has been doing nothing 'cause she is mad at me."

She laughs, happy and feeling like a burden has been lifted off her shoulders. The rest of the night is spent with laughter and love, feeling as if the two had gotten closer to each other than ever before.

⇝𝘓𝘪𝘬𝘦𝘴, 𝘴𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘳𝘦𝘣𝘭𝘰𝘨𝘴 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘥! 𝘗𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯'𝘵 𝘳𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦 𝘮𝘺 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘬 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯

[emayuku]

SONGBOOK: The Big Band Singers II

The Big Band Singers: Tanjuro Kamado, Van Hohenheim and Minato Namikaze

Starring Elizabeth Mayuku and the American Standards Ensemble

This season’s lineup highlights the music and times of the greatest 20th century American composers and singers.

@doyoulikethissong-poll

@muichirosboba

@tanjuros 

@ask-tanjuro-anything

@tanjuro

@bloody-arty-myths

@funnylittleredhead

@ask-tanjuro-anything

@noisylovepatrol

@nothingtoseehere1-2-3

@staymarus

@silverynightart

@charlottecors

@anime-demon-slayer-kny

@nostromoboy

@brokendeathangel

@2demon2slayer

@demonslayedher

@nothingtoseehere1-2-3

@noisylovepatrol

@almond0moon

@vinjiko-kny

@iwriteloveletters

@reicchel

@crimsonblack2

@miimiishii

@earlgreybocchan

@vanhohenheimoflight-blog

@hohenheimoflight-blog 

@hohenheiml-blog-blog

@ry-hohenheim-light-wizard-blog

@illustraice

@theliteraryluggage

@roymaes 

@fma-merchandise

@areyousanta

@too-cool-for-facebook

@atomicpowered

@dearreader

@kokodrawings

@yellow-flasher 

@minatonojutsu 

@minaa-munch 

@sockendrache

@taetaebabe 

@minakushiweek 

@wandering-wardster 

@yn-uzumaki-hatake

@fuckyeahminatonamikaze

@xninosch

@konoha-kiiroisenko

@yell0w-flash

@konohasflcsh-blog

@namikaze-yellow-flash-blog 

@minato-namikaze-official

@thetide-thevamps-5sos-1d-blog

@culturegeek20

@annakirk23

@yuumei-art

@lackadaisycats

@bip-n-bop

@funfairsundaes

@ordinaryartistt

@matthew-knyshait

@ordinaryartistt

[quotesfusionpoint]

Peace begins with understanding. How do you bridge the gaps in your life? 🌍✨

Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, is the perfect blend of speed, intelligence, and compassion. Known as the Yellow Flash of Konoha, his lightning-fast reflexes and strategic mind made him a legend. But beyond his strength, Minato's greatest trait was his selflessness. He believed in protecting those he loved, even at the cost of his own life. His sacrifice during the Nine-Tails attack isn’t just a tale of heroism; it’s a lesson in unwavering dedication to one’s village and family.

One of his most memorable quotes, “I failed to protect my friends, but I won’t fail to protect my son!”, speaks volumes about his character. Minato’s story reminds us to stand firm, embrace responsibility, and leave a legacy worth remembering.

What’s your favorite moment of Minato’s? Share your thoughts below and tag someone who inspires you like Minato inspired his village.

Minato Namikaze, Yellow Flash of Konoha, Naruto inspiration, selflessness, Naruto quotes, Fourth Hokage, anime motivation, Naruto legacy, protecting loved ones, Minato sacrifice, Nine-Tails attack, anime community, inspiring characters, shinobi lessons, anime legends

[depressedhatakekakashi]

Wild Fang Kakashi AU?

MY BABY BOY

Pakkun didn’t think the hounds would have so much if an influence on Kakashi’s personality. He inew raising a human pup would be hard, but this is not what he expected

The first time Kakashi latches onto someone’s arm with his teeth Pakkun has mixed feelings. He’s proud as he would be for any growing pup, but he’s also horrified

Horrified because he knows even the Inuzuka isn’t known for biting their enemies a lot.

The poor unfortunate soul who got that first bite also got to see the Yellow flash struggle between laughing his ass off and trying to lightly scold Kakashi in the middle of a battle.

This Kakashi also has a love of jewelry that no other Kakashi does. Specifically bones jewelry. He can make a few nice pieces out of an arm or leg (don’t ask him how he got the bone it’s not important.)

A character who’s not Kakashi

A lot of people are horrified by Kakashi’s behavior when he snaps and goes for the bite. Obito, however, thinks it’s awesome.

Even long after he leave’s Konoha behind and begins his plans to put the world under an infinite genjutsu, Obito will sometimes peak in to check in on Kakashi. This has resulted in him seeing Kakashi chomp down on an enemies arm and rip it clean off, to which he always cheers (in his head cuz like hell he’ll do that our loud XD)

[ask-the-achs]

*The computer flicked on.*

TRYIEN SIGFRIED VS MINATO NAMIKAZE

THE FATHER OF THE APOCALYPSE VS THE FATHER OF THE PROPHECY

Minato Namikaze

Age:24

Bio:Minato Namikaze was the Fourth Hokage of Konohagakure. He was famous in life for his speed, leading to the moniker of Konoha's Yellow Flash. He died during the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, sacrificing his life to seal a part of the Nine-Tails into his newborn son, Naruto Uzumaki. He is a skilled fighter and hokage.

Weapons:unique kunai

Superhuman strength(is strong enough to several the tentacles of the 8 tails and easily defeats ment twice his size of his strength. Both of whom could break apart mountains and mountain ranges with their tails.) Superhuman durability(Minato could take hits from 2 tailed cloak Kushina and take hits from others like her. Kushina's body was strong enough to decay super powered snakes and burn and break down all things near it.) Superhuman speed (is faster then A and Bee both of whom are capable of attacking and dodging faster then light.) Thanks to his half of the 9 tails he's got fire and wind he naturally has lighting manipulation. He's skilled in sealing arts as he's one of the few people who knows how to preform the Eight Trigrams seal which can hold back the nine tails and has the Contract seal which allows him to sever people's control over another's controlled creatures. He also knows the ultimate seal being the Reaper death seal, but this seal can only be used once as this seal WILL take his soul. He also needs to be strong enough to seal the soul away. High skilled sensor(putting a finger on the ground allows him to sense everything around him.) Has sage mode(this mode allows him to add natural energy into his own abilities to increase in power and be neigh undetectable unless you have similar power. Also, he can't be absorbed by the rinnegan. He can use his body flicker and flying thunder god to teleport and increase his stats. The Rasagen can hold back and push back a tailed beast bomb from the nine tails who can destroy countries with the same attack and can make it bigger and stronger. He can use half of the Nine-Tails to make his attacks stronger or even make 9 extra arms or use tail beast bombs. Can summon Toads.

Weaknesses:using all his Chakra will kill him. He claims he's not good at using sage mode. The Reaper death seal will seal his soul in the stomach of the Reaper and kill him.

Tyrien Sigfrid

Age:Unknown but double Paradox's age.

Weapon:runes his Hammer and anything in his sack (Magni's sword Maui's hook Hou-yi's bow and various bottles)

Bio:long ago the Nordic realms Muspelheim and Niflheim started leaking into the void and created Ymir the first gaint and so he wandered creating realms with the his magic. Soon the sons of Bor (Odin and his brothers.) Soon came and killed Yimr which then carved his body up to make Midgard the realm of mortals while his blood flooded the realms. From the blood came Gaints mad at Odin. Meanwhile somewhere else one day Gaia gets hurt and mad at Zues for sealing away her monstrous children collects her magic and the sky's blood to make gaints to kills the gods as both gaint groups get slaughtered they meet each other and leave the realms unknownly leaving a small bottle of blood from both Gaia and Yimr. Years later the bottle smashes into the ground from the sky in the middle of a ground that was shared by Drawves and elves. They saw the blood become a baby gaint and making a truce raising the child and growing closer as a people. Being raised by the groups and finding out of his heritage he wanders the realms on one goal which strengthened among his Son's death. KILL ALL WHO THREATEN THE PEOPLE HE WAS RAISED BY.

Godly strength(stated by his wife to be the strongest of his family. Paradox has suplexed Dragons the size of mountains. His father in Law Gim once Punched a shark God so hard it shook all of Hawaii and was felt across the seas. His brother in laws which are all much weaker then him have spoken mountain ranges in rages. His wife has slapped around Titans and his daughter calls country destroying vampires 'Wimps') Godly durability (has been attacked by Valkires Fruies and even gods. He's survived everytime. [Mimir stated that Magi and Modi [Thor's sons can't hurt him and these two as children were strong enough to move building size monsters.] He once Drop kicked Baulder across Midgard. [Mimir says he wole up in the river kingdom. HE KICKED A GOD FROM SCOTLAND ALL THE WAY TO EGYPT] Ares Athena and Artemis tell others to never fight him.) Godly speed(despite his size he's capable of dodging attacks from Baulder who being a god of light can go light speed but he's also Fought Helios as an equal Helios was the titan of the sun. Once threw his hammer so fast his son who can react to garou and deku just barely dodged.) Rune magic allows him to cast enchantments on weapons or cast spells by spelling out what he wants to happen. Eleven magic let's him control plants and animals Drawven magic let's him quote 'hold any thing coproal or not.' Brok another drawf used his magic to seal the sound of a storm to use for later. Being both a Gaia and a Yimr gaint gives more powers. Yimr gaints have fire and ice powers along with the powers of prophecy Gaia gaints regenerate as long as they touch the ground are strong enough to throw mountains and islands. Both can change size. [He's stated to be big for a mortal and can grow bigger then Typhon who's according to Paradox 'Fucking gaint to the damn Gaints.' His size drawfed The cyclops who can forge lighting bolts the same way one does swords.] His hammer is covered in his magic and also his family's magic he can tap into the magic (Thronendressa can seal things into anything Raven can manipulate blood flesh and bone Paradox can copy any magic he can see and remember.) His bow can shoot gods out of the sky and he once shot a moon god out of the sky with it. Maui's hook can grant any who hold it shape-shifting its said one can drag islands across the seas. Magi's sword can control the weather and has the power of a raging asgard storm sealed into it.

Weaknesses:only skilled in using his hammer. His hammer is a blacksmithing hammer it's not a weapon. Despite his power he's a trickster. His magic is VERY LITERAL (Plants burst forth means explosion of flowers. Plants thrust forward makes vines shoot forward Etc etc.)

[thekingwhereitallends]

If minato wasn't with kusuina who could u see him with

I can't really see him with anyone else.

I mean,there wasn't really a woman around his age as far as i know that has chemistry with him.

There's Tsume but she's a little too harsh,idk maybe they could have been something. I mean,Tsume is Kushina but introverted.

If Mikoto wasn't with Fugaku,Minato and her would make a cute couple tbh.

Pakura?Damn,suna's champion x konoha's yellow flash make a badass power couple.

But why think about possiblities when reality is so beautiful when it comes to MinaKushi. Don't wanna see them with other people. It's one of few ships i'd never cheat on,ever.

[alumort]

Ao3

Oop someone is focused on a fic again 😅

Time did nothing but go on. Months, years… before anyone even realized it, Hizashi had become the leader of the Hyuga Clan, his father having passed away in his sleep without expectation. A ceremony was held for formalities and nothing else, as he had been doing all needed duties for months before everything became official, anyways.

They shouldn’t be wasting so much time on such things, at least not while a war was going on near the village. The elders didn’t pay attention to whatever he tried to say, only fussing about how his daughter should be dressed for the occasion. There were more important things to care about… why were they so focused on pestering her? It made no sense.

Hizashi just wanted everything to be over soon, tired already even if the ceremony was minutes away. He sighed, carrying his child before going towards where the elders had told him to go, ready to more or less become lost in his thoughts for half an hour or so.

~

He didn't stay longer than required, not wanting to even look at his father again– he excused himself, saying that his baby was hungry and grumpy, although that description would also suit him. All the noise and chattering was making his head ache…

Hizashi went home early, ready to prepare something to eat while his child slept on one of his arms, before an uncommon presence nearby alerted him. Not bad; rather, someone he was used to seeing every now and then.

An unexpected guest made her way towards his home and nobody noticed, with a characteristic electric blonde hair that he knew too well. Had it been anyone else, Hizashi would've been defensive, though there was no need for that.

Minato, Konoha’s Yellow Flash, one of his friends from their time at the academy. He hadn’t seen him– her in a long time, as both had been busy with their own things. She smiled at him as he opened the door, letting her come in without wasting time.

“I’m so sorry about your father, Hizashi…” was the first thing she said, going for a hug without saying much else. “Though, will you really miss him?”

“Not really, no. He was… awful, to everyone,” Hizashi replied, trying to be merciful with his choice of words even if worse synonyms came to his mind.

Minato could tell he wanted to call him anything else, and she chuckled, knowing well what went implied. The brunet prepared her some tea and sat down, not saying much, deciding to simply enjoy the company given while his daughter mumbled unintelligible things in her sleep.

"Are you excited? For your new role, I mean," Minato asked, taking a sip from her cup without saying much else, waiting for a response without a rush.

"... not really. I've been doing everything for a while," Hizashi admitted, resting his back on his chair as he talked. Looking at his baby, he continued. "I'm just worried that it won't be enough, somehow. I need to get used to this… it's hard, even more without her mother here."

“You're already much better than him. A better father, and you'll be a better leader… I’m sure of it,” the blonde commented with a grin, and somehow it helped soothe his nerves, at least slightly. "Naruto could be her friend, if you allow it. You're one of the few people who don't mind me being myself, you know?"

There was a short silence between the two, filled only by the chirping of birds from afar. Of course– not everyone was kind to people who were different from them, not even when Minato was more or less the reason that Konoha hadn't suffered too much during the war so far.

Another thing that made no sense, that had to be changed from the village and his Clan itself. With time, the world would become kinder, but for now… any support given was as precious as gold.

“... You and Kushina will be good mothers, Minato. Don’t let anyone else tell you otherwise,” Hizashi exclaimed, placing a hand on his friend’s shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. “And if you need help, I’ll do my best to make sure everything goes smoothly. I promise."

Another hug, and they had to part ways for a while, not knowing when they'd be able to speak once again.

~

As soon as peace replaced war, Minato was named the Fourth Hokage thanks to her excellent performance during every fight, at the cost of two of her students. She did her best to seem positive and optimistic, but Kushina and Hizashi knew better– there was no way of making her talk, though, so they let it pass… for a while.

Kushina would speak with her privately, she had said, though she didn't seem too convinced of that. Hizashi had urgent matters to attend to in the Clan and let it be, already trying to find some free time in his tight schedule for his friend.

They didn't see each other until Naruto was born, with other Hyuga and Anbu surrounding them. They had to be there in case Kurama attacked…

It was the day that the Nine-tailed beast attacked Konoha, and its fury was… devastating. No matter how many Hyuga and Anbu had been nearby, protecting the new parents and their child, a rogue ninja had appeared and killed people to cause chaos.

To go after Kurama, who was out of anyone’s control– the worst part was that Minato seemed hurt by the mere sight of the ninja, and for the first time in his life Hizashi saw her doubt with a guaranteed kill. They managed to chase him away, recovering Naruto from his claws at last; but their joy didn’t last for long.

Focusing on getting the baby meant leaving Kushina without protection, for every ninja who had survived went to defend the village from the beast… and the rogue ninja took the opening to strike, killing her while they were distracted– Minato was heartbroken, barely believing her eyes.

“Minato… we need to seal Kurama again,” Hizashi whispered, not wanting to rush her grieving too much. An expressionless face was all he was met with, and a nod.

In the end, the beast was sealed on mother and son, its chakra unable to be sealed inside a single person due to its enormous power. Minato didn’t bother hiding her feelings behind a smile anymore, and she never fully recovered from her loss. Hizashi understood her perfectly and still did his best to be by her side no matter what.

[its-f4nf4n-again]

Lamentations

Minato Namikaze has some regrets.

AO3 Link Here Word Count:  1815 Rated T for canon typical violence and canonical character death

.

“I was too late.  I’m sorry.”

It’s dark.  Almost too dark for Minato Namikaze to make out the outline of the stone he stands before in the Konoha Cemetery.

Or, rather, just beyond the cemetery’s perimeter; though it’s so close you wouldn’t know that unless you’d specifically come to pay your respects to the man the marker was meant for.

Sakumo Hatake, the disgraced White Fang of Konoha, was not permitted a true burial with his comrades.  Deserters are not granted the honor and in the Hidden Leaf Village, suicide is still considered a dereliction of duty.

Minato isn’t certain anymore that he agrees with the precedent, but it’s too late now for him to voice his dissent—Sakumo has long been dead, cremated, and buried.  The man who could have razed the Village in an instant if he wanted—could have brought the Legendary Sannin to their collective knees—is no more. Has not been for some time.

“I tried.”

Minato remembers how stoic Kakashi had been during his father’s memorial.  He remembers telling him so afterward only to be met with the cool, detached shinobi the boy had become in the wake of his immense loss.  Minato decided that day he would try to help, he would see to it that Kakashi understood there was more to being a shinobi than creating an emotionless husk whose sole purpose was to function as a tool for the Hokage to wield against Konoha’s enemies.

“I tried.”

Minato doesn’t know why he’s here, exactly, explaining himself to a dead man’s grave marker.

There are weeds all around the stone; a sure sign Kakashi has not been to see his father in some time.  It makes Minato’s chest feel hollow as he kneels and plucks the errant plants from the ground, pinching the stalks firmly between his fingers and wrenching them from the ground by the roots.  There’s something cathartic about it, the way the dirt sprays over his pants and the space around the marker slowly clears.

Kakashi will still be in the hospital where Minato left him, under the guise of a fractured wrist.  It’s mostly for observation, though—Minato had not liked the wane look on his face as they returned to Konoha, the faraway expression in his eyes as he stared at his hand, curling the fingers into a claw and then loosening them again.  Sometimes the hand twitched and Minato caught the swift, faint scent of ozone as if Kakashi’s lightning nature were springing to life; whether as a defense mechanism or an attack instinct, he remains unsure.

A wry laugh ripples from Minato’s chest, bursting from his throat in a self-effacing toll.

He is the Yellow Flash—the fastest shinobi in existence; known for his faster-than-light maneuvers through a battlefield.

And still, he’d been too late when it really mattered.  Too late to save Rin, too late to spare Kakashi.

Kakashi is a genius, that much had always been obvious. His prowess in ninjutsu was unparalleled, even before Rin transplanted Obito’s Sharingan into his empty eye socket.

Now, the boy is all but unstoppable.  Quick as any Uchiha had ever been, his talent lauded by everyone—Minato included.

But perhaps he of all people should have realized such swiftness could also be a curse.

When Minato found Kakashi, he was kneeling on the ground before Rin’s eviscerated corpse, tears pouring in a steady stream from his left eye while the other remained blank and unreadable, the same as it had been the day of his father’s funeral service.  His fingers trembled, wrist twitching occasionally.  Minato could still seen the faint silvery marks left from the Chidori—the pale scars that were slowly growing in number across his forearm as he used the technique more often.

The blood and viscera on his palm—pieces of his teammate buried beneath his fingernails—made Minato want to vomit.  Not because he had never seen equally gruesome things in battle before, but because it was Kakashi’s hand.  Rin’s blood.

How Kakashi had not been sick himself remains a mystery.  He was obviously far stronger than his own sensei.  Than his father had been or would be now if he were alive to see his son in such a position.

Minato remembers the way Kakashi changed after Obito’s death—the small difference in the way he treated others around him, as if the lessons of teamwork were finally beginning to permeate the hardened outer shell of a boy who had lost too much too quickly.

Because he is still just a boy and Minato—hardly a man himself—does not know how to provide him what he needs. He left Kakashi in a hospital bed because it was better than sending him home, but there must be other, better options.

Minato thinks he could be Kakashi’s friend; a confidante, even.  But he cannot be a father and it seems he might not be a fitting sensei either.  Could not be a comrade to be counted on.

“Pathetic,” Minato whispers as he pulls the last of the weeds from the ground.  He clenches them in his fist, dirt smearing over his fingers and turning his fingernails black—almost as dark as Kakashi’s had been when he found him kneeling beside Rin’s body.

Minato doesn’t know what to do with the wilting plants, so he holds them lamely, a ragged bouquet.

Fitting, he thinks, for where he stands now, begging forgiveness from a man long dead—a man who would no sooner know what to do were he still alive than Minato.

He wonders sometimes if the White Fang is better off having died by his own hand.  It’s a morbid thought, certainly, and one Minato would never voice aloud, not even to Kushina.

But the alternatives that existed to him… to waste away to nothing, disgraced and discarded.  To wither like an overripe tomato on the vine or the weeds in his hand, their leaves already drooping as they waste away.

Perhaps going out on his own terms was Sakumo’s shinobi way—the only way he thought he could carve out his own ending, refuse to bow beneath the weight of his imposed shortcomings and taint his son’s future with them.

But Kakashi is already called Friend-Killer, Minato heard the whispers on his way through the hospital as he left him sleeping fitfully against a hard mattress.

What will he do, now?  Now that his teammates are all gone, what should Minato do with the Copy Cat Ninja?

Minato hears the whispers, sees the writing on the wall of his future.  He knows that as soon as the greater conflict has ended, the Third Hokage will step down.  Minato knows in his bones he will be named the Fourth if he is still breathing.

And that means he will not have time to watch over Kakashi as he should.  The ANBU might provide a way for Minato to keep a closer eye on him.  Perhaps even have him assigned to his personal guard one day.  Because while Minato wishes nothing more than to keep Kakashi safe and sane in the wake of what has happened, the reality is that it’s impossible for him to be everywhere at once—no matter how fast he moves.

Minato can still feel the hot tears of Rin’s mother against his neck where she clung to him as he delivered the news—can still feel the seething rage radiating from her father as he demanded answers Minato could not give him, screamed to know who was responsible.

Minato blamed Kirigakure, but he also knows it is only a matter of time before the Noharas hear the less than nuanced story from someone with loose lips and an errant tongue.

What then?

While Rin’s father stood no chance against Kakashi were he to make any attempt on the boy’s life, that did not mean he would not try.  Did not mean he would not become violent if he were to confront Kakashi in the throes of his grief.

Did not mean Kakashi might not be forced to defend himself, might end up with more blood on his hands and beneath his fingernails.

No, Minato thinks, there is no way that will happen.  Not if he can help it.  If he assigns Kakashi to the ANBU as soon as he’s made Hokage, he will be too busy away from the village to worry about confrontations at home.  He will be able to build a new reputation for himself within the black ops, one that will eventually wash away the stain of Rin’s blood.

Of Obito’s.

He will learn to be a leader, to be trusted by his comrades again.  He will have a new team.

It is not a perfect solution—far from it—even now, Minato feels the bile rising in his throat again as he imagines what Kakashi will look like behind the cold porcelain mask of the ANBU.  He seethes at the idea of handing him a tanto to use instead of his own hand sheathed in lightning.

But it is the best he can do—the best he knows how to do.  There is no one else to help bear the burden of Kakashi’s rage.  Of his grief.  No one else to lead him into a future where he can decide for himself who he will be—who he will love and protect, and how.

So Minato Namikaze will make difficult decisions and some of them will be wrong.  He knows they will be.  Already it is clear that allowing Kakashi to be dispatched to retrieve Rin was a horrible mistake—a tragic error in judgment that lost him two children instead of one.

Because there is no way to mistake Kakashi for a child any longer.  Whatever remnant of innocence that may have yet lingered in him died with Rin, ebbed away with her blood as it soaked into the ground, as he mechanically scrubbed it from the delicate webbing between his fingers.

The last bit of Kakashi Hatake’s childhood fluttered and dwindled with the final furious beats of her heart in his hand.

Minato bows to Sakumo’s stone.  He doesn’t say anything—any words he tries to conjure turn to dirt on his tongue.

Sakumo deserves better than Minato to look after Kakashi—Kakashi deserves better.

He deserves his father.  His friends.

But the Yellow Flash is all he has.  And Minato knows no more how to be a human first and a tool second than Kakashi does.  He resolves to try, and it’s all he can do.

Of course, he will fail there too, eventually.  But for now, he carries the hope in his heart that he can right past wrongs by building a better future for his last remaining student—that Kakashi will find in him the mentor he needs now more than ever.