minaa-munch

[minaa-munch]

Are Tsunade and Dan your parents?

"Why would you ask me that?" Minato counters, tan fingers idly twirling his chopsticks as he glances at his bench partner, who eyes the bowl of cold soba just inches away. Minato barely acknowledges it, his blue eyes focused on the shinobi sharing their table.

"The short answer is no."

It wasn't the first time he'd been asked this question—was it because he and Tsunade ane were both blond? An aggravated exhale escapes him at the thought, and the pointy end of a chopstick taps the wooden surface of the table, just inches away from the fingers that had been inching toward his bowl.

Just the thought of Dan-the-yurei and Tsunade-the-onni contributing to the gene pool was enough to send a shudder down his spine.

There were enough monsters in the shinobi world.

[minaa-munch]

Kakashi: hmm. Becoming Hokage was one of the worst things to ever happen to me, but Sensei actively enjoyed being hokage.....was there perhaps something wrong with him? Genma: please. PLEASE tell me you aren't only now realizing this.

[minaa-munch]

You're telling me that masked man Obito could get past all the anbu and the barrier and the third hokage's wife? Like what's up with what? I mean even if trained a lot how can he go against all those ninja? And how come the sharingan in kakashi's head not throb when the owner was literally right there? How could Minato lose against Obito?

Maa maa, there are some theories online - demo, none of them make sense though. Woe to us common folk who attempt to make sense of this massive plot hole.

Personally, I'm more peeved that the Bawako was so easy to get rid of. Like. Really? The Biwako? The one who used to make the Uzumaki Kushina cringe with a single look?

I call foul.

[minaa-munch]

"Maa maa--"

"Can't blame me for trying...ne?"

@senjutsunade

Romantic candidate for sensei?

"Tsunade ane."

:|

“Ha, funny. Mock my childhood while you’re at it. Just do a one-two.” He says as he imitates two jabs.

[minaa-munch]

He's at the monument to lost/dead ninjas.

"I don't mean to cry, I'm sorry dad... I just....wonder what things would have been like if I'd gotten to grow up with you and mom. The holidays? Birthdays... what would they have all been like...? Would mom ground me? Would you train me?"

Naruto wipes his tears on his sleeve and sniffles. He's not ashamed of crying, he just feels like maybe his dad will have a harder time hearing him through tears.

"You both were so amazing.... I hope I'm turning into a man you'd be proud of.... Tell mom I cleaned my room just for her...."

Proud? He was more than proud. Naruto was everything he and Kushina had hoped for -- hell, even more than what they had hoped for.

That was the first thought that came to mind. Pale digits, akin to whisps of chakra touch the faint barrier, tentative at first before before pressing hard against it, almost hoping it would break under the pressure.

And Naruto -- Naruto seemed so far away. He could hear him, feel his chakra as if it were right there, but.

But he couldn't see him. The vestiges of his own chakra that had stuck to the fuuin on Naruto's stomach had mostly faded ever since his encounter with Pein and yet--

"..."

Lips part but there is no sound. He exists in a mute, liminal space, with barely a few tethers. The only thing he can see is Yang Kyuubi and multiple silhouettes - some were people, some were other beings. Death was the one perpetuity no one could escape, after all.

And he had come up with quite a bargain, hadn't he?

"Don't tell me you're having second thoughts now" The Kyuubi's voice is a low growl, chakra akin to a warm flame.

Minato takes a deep breath, feeling the weight of his choices press down on him. “Aa…” he murmurs softly, more to himself than anything.

The path he had chosen was one he couldn’t turn back from, not now. Not when he could still hear Naruto's voice, still feel the pull of his presence even if he couldn’t be there for him.

"I'm sorry, Naruto," he whispers into the silence, a sound only he and the Kyuubi can hear.

He had no right to call himself his father, not after everything he had put his poor son through, after everything he had deprived him of.

I love you. I'm so proud of you.

"I'm so sorry."

[minaa-munch]

what kind of body count does the yellow flash have hm?

The bloody and mostly unmoving kind.

He lost count. Past the academy, they didn't really compete on stuff like this.

[minaa-munch]

“Tou-San should have been Hokage. Not a flake like you.”

Blink. Tan digits pause over the 'no-exit' list, while blue hues exchange a curious look with the KMPF chief before shifting to the shadow behind him. Fugaku looks equally confused, before glancing over his shoulder at the young Uchiha.

From his vantage point, Minato can only see the top half of little Sasuke's face; spikey hair framing narrowed charcoal hues, as if they could set his hair on fire through sheer force of will.

Maa maa, the chibi must have learned that word from Kushina when she kidnaps babysits the Uchiha duo. Poor kids.

"How about you be the next Hokage and show us how it's done, ne?"

[minaa-munch]

...

To die or not to die (again) - that is the question Quit picking on the goei shōtai. There's a reason I assigned those three to it, Tsunade ane.

Also I want them to not retire early. Had to fight for that squad ya know.

@senjutsunade

Lets try that again you dumb flake.

@minaa-munch

[minaa-munch]

Happy Birthday Rin.. ❤️

Art commissions are open.

[minaa-munch]

What's the one thing chunin Minato wanted for himself?

"Chunnin, ka?" Cue a contemplative hum. He eyes the steam rising from his tea while the chatter of academy students and adults fill the air. As a newly minted Jōnin and a representative at the open house, he had been asked all sorts of questions - how many missions did he have to complete, did the job pay the bills (the answer was 'barely'), and how he managed to keep his hair the way it was (by one of the adults).

Yet this was the one question he actually had to think about.

"I wanted more time."

"I developed my jutsu because I had time and opportunity to experiment with fuuinjutsu at the outpost during the war" He begins, tan digits pulling a three pronged kunai from his weapons pouch as if to elucidate "I made a lot of mistakes in the process and could never really work on some of my failed combinations because I was always being sent out for recon or infiltration."

The glint of metal catches blue hues as he eyes the fuuin on the handle before his gaze shifts to the academy student. "In our trade, we barely get enough of it, ne?" The weapon is promptly deposited back to its holster, "Spend it wisely while you can."

[minaa-munch]

I had the honor of drawing the cover of @naruto-fantasy-zine 💞

Plus two spreads (light and dark) that go with it :D

[minaa-munch]

Do you really think Kakashi should have been made Jonin? He was very young right?

"..."

Fair point. But given that Konoha represented the Land of Fire's militia, age was hardly worth noting as a concern. The village churned out soldiers after all. Kakashi was incredibly gifted and had all the skills befitting a Jōnin - from battle tact to ninjutsu. He was quite similar to Minato, in that sense. On that note, I believe his promotion was also during war times (ironically, also similar to Minato's) so it was probably a necessity.

But that doesn't change the fact that he wasn't ready - and that too, not because of his age, per se. Kakashi was a deeply traumatized and emotionally stunted individual. Where he definitely had the skillset of a Jōnin, he lacked the foresight and the emotional maturity of one.

So yes, Kakashi was rightfully promoted to the rank -- was it the ideal scenario? No. Did they have other options? Probably not.

[minaa-munch]

Minato's thoughts when he realized he was going to be a father?

Let it be known that when it comes to parenthood Minato wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed. He didn't have any parents, and the closest thing to a father was Jiraiya who also happened to be an active shinobi on the roster.

So here's a mini snippet:

"I have nothing left..."

A voice edged with loss, knuckles white from grasping the handle of the tanto blade. Light hues stare at the bloodied grass where pieces of her comrades lay like broken ceramic.

"Curse you" -- she breathes a whisper as a shadow engulfs her small form. She barely has time to turn before the cold tip of a kunai pierces her throat. Trembling digits rise to grasp at the handle while her lips continue to move.

"Curse you " She gasps, head angling to meet frigid blue hues the only way she can "--curse all that share your blood. May you feel the pain of all the deaths you've caused over...and..ov-"

Gurgle. Swish. Thud.

Minato flicks the blood of his kunai as the severed head of the kunoichi stares listlessly at him from the grass. Dull eyes spare her a glance before silently trudging towards the other chakra points tickling his peripheral.

K̴̛̜̕͝ö̶͖́n̷͍̜͗͑͑ȯ̸̫̕͜h̸̥̎͊a̵̪͎̿͆̇ ̴̦͚̘̓n̷͉̓̚͜o̵͎͙̒̈́̂ ̴͍͔̮̋̈Ķ̴̹̮̉i̶̧͕̞͝i̵̢̾r̵̨̟̍̓́ó̴͕͚͘i̸̢͈̾̔̕ ̶̭̾̈́͘ͅS̵͕̭̥̊̒e̷͔͎̊͗̿n̷͇͍̏k̷̓̚͜͝ō̵̮̙̔̍͝ Pause. Minato blinks, before turning back. The kunoichi's severed head is staring back at him, lips twisting to form words.

K̴̛̜̕͝ö̶͖́n̷͍̜͗͑͑ȯ̸̫̕͜h̸̥̎͊a̵̪͎̿͆̇ ̴̦͚̘̓n̷͉̓̚͜o̵͎͙̒̈́̂ ̴͍͔̮̋̈Ķ̴̹̮̉i̶̧͕̞͝i̵̢̾r̵̨̟̍̓́ó̴͕͚͘i̸̢͈̾̔̕ ̶̭̾̈́͘ͅS̵͕̭̥̊̒e̷͔͎̊͗̿n̷͇͍̏k̷̓̚͜͝ō̵̮̙̔̍͝

Minato instantly takes a flash step back. Ink bleeds from her eyes and bubbles from her hair. Two horns emerge, followed by tendrils of shadows and dusted color, marked sigils of a language lost to humankind.

K̴̛̜̕͝ö̶͖́n̷͍̜͗͑͑ȯ̸̫̕͜h̸̥̎͊a̵̪͎̿͆̇ ̴̦͚̘̓n̷͉̓̚͜o̵͎͙̒̈́̂ ̴͍͔̮̋̈Ķ̴̹̮̉i̶̧͕̞͝i̵̢̾r̵̨̟̍̓́ó̴͕͚͘i̸̢͈̾̔̕ ̶̭̾̈́͘ͅS̵͕̭̥̊̒e̷͔͎̊͗̿n̷͇͍̏k̷̓̚͜͝ō̵̮̙̔̍͝

The head is gone. The reaper shifts its prayer beads to another palm, its eyes bottomless pools of miasma. Timeless. Immortal.

And for all his speed, Minato can't move. Eternity stares back at him with thinly veiled amusement before removing the dagger from its mouth.

K̴̛̜̕͝ö̶͖́n̷͍̜͗͑͑ȯ̸̫̕͜h̸̥̎͊a̵̪͎̿͆̇ ̴̦͚̘̓n̷͉̓̚͜o̵͎͙̒̈́̂ ̴͍͔̮̋̈Ķ̴̹̮̉i̶̧͕̞͝i̵̢̾r̵̨̟̍̓́ó̴͕͚͘i̸̢͈̾̔̕ ̶̭̾̈́͘ͅS̵͕̭̥̊̒e̷͔͎̊͗̿n̷͇͍̏k̷̓̚͜͝ō̵̮̙̔̍͝

The Yondaime awoke with a start, hand grasping at his chest where he could have sworn the Reaper had stabbed him. Frantic blues search for the specter in the dark before a tug at his fingers bid him to breathe.

Breathe. He can make out the shadows of the window sill before his vision slips to the comfort of the stars swathed by shades of blue and purple. He counts each flicker of light under his breath until he can no longer hear his heart race in his ear. Swallowing against his dry throat, Minato raises one hand to his sweat-soaked forehead.

This was the third time he had seen the same dream - no, nightmare. Except the kunoichi was new. The chakra, the blood and the weapons had all felt so real.

And the reaper --

"I'm going to be a mother ttebane!" "And I'm...really going to be a father!"

Ever since Kushina had told him about her pregnancy five days ago, he had been getting nightmares about the reaper killing him in some way or form. He had talked to Inoichi about it, of course. The Jōnin  had simply reassured him that his dreams were related to stress -- most likely about fatherhood, since that is when they had begun, before pointedly adding that it 'served him right' for reading the scrolls Kushina had told him not to touch because they were forbidden, potentially cursed and definitely terrifying.

Considering how the probability of being haunted by the Shinigami was as high as Jiraiya sensei declaring a chastity retreat that lasted the rest of his life, he put more stock in the former. And honestly - who was he kidding? He didn't know the first thing about raising a child. Sure, he had some experience with children - he had taken on a Genin team when he had been promoted to Jōnin, but that hadn't exactly ended well. Two of his kids were dead and the only way to ensure the third didn't end up the same way was to assign him to the ANBU unit under his direct command.

Point being; where he could be entrusted with the safety of an entire village, he could hardly take care of those who mattered most to him. People he loved just kept...slipping from his fingers.

"I'm going to be a mother ttebane!" "And I'm...really going to be a father!"

And by kami, did he want to be one. He wanted to be one so badly. He wanted to start a family with the woman he loved most in the world but was he even strong enough to be able to protect them--

Cue a forceful inhale at the thought, as if the action alone would banish it. Now was not the time to ruminate over his fears. Maybe there were just...unfounded fears. The wars had just ended, they were in relatively peaceful times and there would be nothing to worry about unless someone mucked up - and as the Yondaime, he would not let that happen.

Iie, not just as the Yondaime. Minato raises his hand to wipe the telltale wetness at his lids, only to be met with resistance. Cue a light snore, before dainty fingers tighten around his.

"--stupid fox 'ttebane." Kushina mumbles in the dark. It pulls a faint smile to his lips and he squeezes back, almost as if in reassurance.

He would protect his family. No matter what the costs.

[minaa-munch]

Happy Birthday to Rin!

[painting a portrait of Rin every year to trace progress, and bc i love her. also i was inspired by this kimono design (grape leaves patterns just suit her perfectly). also rip Obito i guess]

[minaa-munch]

Tsunade: I don't know what direction life's gonna take me. That makes me question my abilities.

Minato: We're Hokage. We make our own directions +_+

Kakashi: -is busy discovering the joy of chai latte-

@senjutsunade @konohagakurekakashi

[minaa-munch]

Yondaime sama can I steal your hat? I wanna be Hokage

Yare yare, everyone wanted to be Hokage until they realized the amount of paperwork it involved.

Who was he kidding? Between Orochimaru and Kushina, there weren't many in the 'I deserve to be the Yondaime' club.

Speaking of--

"You...might need to get in line."

[minaa-munch]

So, Minato Sama. You've just been given the Hokage position. What's the first 5 things on your official hokage agenda?

Sama? Cue a sheepish grin. What makes you think he has an agenda?

He has a list. In categorical order.

ANBU ANBU assignments - members, as well as missions - are assigned directly by the Hokage. In the Hokage's absence, the defacto lead is assigned to a trusted aide. During Minato's term, that is Nara Shikaku. There should be no interference from any of the councils unless the Hokage specifically requests it. Also there's this matter of the ROOT division he's looking into. It's a redundant idea. Who the heck came up with it, again? 🤔

Konoha Ninja Academy The Konoha Ninja Academy has been following the same structure since the Nindaime's reign. The times - and frankly, demographics - have changed since then. They need an updated entrance test and assessment methods, as well as a streamlined curriculum that includes introduction to fuuinjutsu.

Hokage Guard Platoon An elite platoon comprised of shinobi handpicked by the Hokage. The purpose of the platoon is to act as an escort unit whenever the Hokage has to travel beyond the village's perimeters i.e., to another village or to the Daimyo's palace. The 'kage' is seen as the strongest shinobi of a hidden village. However, that does not make them infallible. The guard platoon exists to ensure that there is a statistically significant chance of the kage returning to the helm, irrespective of the scenario.

Civilian protection reforms Reforms aimed specifically to protect civilian rights to trade and collaborate with other civilians from friendly villages. Konoha, although a representation of Hi no Kuni's militia, has a sizeable civilian population. Said civilian population dabbles in trade and farming which, if utilized and fostered, will decrease the village's dependence on its shinobi for bringing in funds.

Village Ambassador Program (pending external approval) In the wake of the third shinobi war, the need of the hour is to form better bonds with the victors (as well as the losers). One way of doing that is through Chunin ambassadors who can periodically act as a means of cultural exchange. If this works well enough with Chunin, the program can be extended to include civilian entrepreneurs (in conjunction with #4).