The Mission
Minato looks at the scroll that Kakashi returned, frowning at the details of the seal that keeps the kyuubi safely inside of Kuchina. The Uzumaki shrine had the scroll stolen from. Minato knew he could only trust one ninja with the importance and discretion of this task.
The only hesitation that Minato had in assigning this mission to him was due to the content itself being around the tailed beasts. The Hokage did not want Kakashi to have more reminders of the accident with Nohara Rin than he already did. Her smiling face looked at him in his memory, recalling the three of them so joyfully bickering, fighting, and laughing together. Team Minato. He lets that kernel of regret sit in his body for a moment before letting it pass. Kushina has helped talk Minato through the loss of two of his students many times. If only Minato could provide a similar solace to Kakashi. His student that so obviously still wears the burden of his losses so forward.
The rumor mill had been vicious following Rin’s death to Kakashi. Kakashi became the source of this ridicule and hate directed by several members of the ninja force and villagers alike. Minato posted a memo as Hokage, revealing as much of the truth as he could get away with, and restoring Kakashi’s reputation.
He couldn’t sit by and let Kakashi live in a community that thought of him as a… Friend-Killer. The same community that had called Kakashi’s father, Sakumo, scum for saving his friends rather than completing a mission.
It was tricky, revealing Rin’s own choice to take her life, while also keeping the information on the Sanbi being sealed in her off the posting. He didn’t want it to seem he was covering for Kakashi, so he found as plausible an explanation as he could with some advice from his council. The official story was this: A mind-controlling ninjutsu had been used on Nohara Rin from the enemy ninja who had surrounded them, knowing Kakashi’s father’s history and how it would weaken the village to remove Kakashi as one of the ninjas in Konoha’s good graces.
He touches the edges of a second scroll, unrolling it and looking at pictures depicting each of the tailed beasts. His eyes land on the Sanbi and he feels grief bubble up in his throat, even after all this time. “I’m sorry, Rin-chan,” he whispers.
He wanted to give Kakashi the moment to get his bearings. Six months was a long time to be without his student, and selfishly, Minato wanted to spend some time with him before sending him back out.
Selfishness fought with duty as he looked at the third scroll on his desk that he had not opened again since he wrote inside the mission details that he had for Kakashi. It was another S-rank that Minato wanted himself to go on, rather than sending Kakashi. Another mission that was related to the tailed beasts, and the identities of the Jinchuriki who hold them inside their bodies.
The leaf village, Konoha, prospered not only because of their strength, but also because of their ability to collect and store information that can be useful later. Knowing the identities of the tailed beast’s jinchuriki and staying aware of where that power was could keep them safe from a future situation like the one that happened to Rin.
Despite the peace achieved following the war, the treaty was still tenuous at best. People were tired of fighting but would go back to it if they must. If Minato knew who all the current jinchuriki were and could confirm where they are and what they are doing, the Leaf would have a more complete defensive strategy. Minato could try and make sure nothing happened again like what happened to Rin. That was the goal.
Which brings him to writing up that third scroll regarding the Sanbi. It was the last one. Mist must have sealed away in someone or be planning to. It was extremely sensitive information, and a dangerous mission.
Minato exhales, standing up on stiff legs from sitting for much too long. A loud thumping has his eyes meeting the door. Kushina slams the door open and grins at her husband. Minato cringes a bit at the dent left in the wall from the door forcefully slamming open, and chuckles. She’s much stronger than she realizes sometimes. Menma was in her arms and his little blue eyes lit up at seeing his father. He made grabby hands at him and Kushina acquiesced, bringing him closer into the Hokage’s office.
“I am taking you home, Nato!” She announces. “You need to eat, and I need to cozy up to you by the couch while we watch a movie!” Minato rubs the back of his head, laughing a bit.
“Sure, sure.” He glances at the clock and feels a jolt. “I didn’t realize it was this late.”
Kushina comes all the up to his desk and glances at the scrolls. She gives Minato a knowing look. “So, this is what you’re working on.”
Minato nods, his hand slipping back off the back of his head. He starts rolling up the scrolls and Kushina touches his arm. “I know you want to be there with him, but I think the Hokage crossing borders and locating secrets will be a bit too loud. Even with shinobi stealth.”
Minato grimaces, “I can’t let him go alone, and the information is too sensitive- “
“Might Guy,” she counters. “He practically bleeds Konoha green, and will keep him safe- “
“Guy-kun isn’t the most subtle of ninja,” Minato counters, goes for a joke to lift the somber mood that the mission seems to leak.
“And I’m sure your dandelion hair has never made you stick out during your missions,” Kushina playfully volleys back.
“You know, if he knew we were talking about how to keep him safe, he would hate it,” Minato smiles. He had considered sending Guy with his rival on the last mission, but he knew that Kakashi would have pitched a fit. Kakashi’s style of pitching a fit is going steely eyed and avoiding his sensei, not to mention the absolute pathological need to go over the top to protect his comrades. Minato gets the sentiment, he also wants to protect his precious ones, but he also wants to live by himself. Kakashi could edge too close to lose himself in his protection. Self-sacrificing sort. Minato did not know how to stop that behavior, or if he even could. He just didn’t want to lose Kakashi.
What was the better option? Letting Kakashi go as he had been, on his own, facing certain danger and having little self-preservation skills? Or sending a comrade that would push Kakashi to fight and stay alive to protect his travelling companion? Minato’s eye twitched and he presses the heels of his hands into his eyes. He has a headache and is going to name it Hatake Kakashi.
“Menma is way past his bedtime, and so are we,” Kushina interrupts his thoughts in a soft tone, extending her hand to Minato. Minato takes Kushina’s hand and takes Menma from her, their sun making happy sounds at finally getting to be in his father’s arms.
“Home, it is,” he affirms.