Chapter 1
Konoha Graveyard. On the outskirts of town, it held the bodies of many many friends and even family for many people.
Living in Konoha was very safe. Villagers hardly ever died here, because of their amazing system to keep everybody safe. But what everybody knew, was that the system was oppressive, and even children with enough talent would be sent into war for the "greater good". Shinobi were told to shut up and were berated if they made a mistake, to the point where almost 9% of shinobi committed suicide from trauma and mental abuse alone.
Yet nobody spoke up about it. It was easier to stay in line and keep your mouth shut than try to fight the higher-ups.
But that didn't stop Minato from going to the graveyard, to make sure everybody who made a sacrifice for the sake of the village or just helped make the village a better place got at least a little something to know that they were appreciated.
But when Minato got there, there was already somebody there. A small boy.
He had silver hair, and black eyes. But that's all Minato could make out about the boy, since a black mask covered half his face. But there was something about him. He seemed slightly familiar, but Minato couldn't place his finger on it.
When Minato emerged from the pathway with flowers in his hand, the kid turned.
'Huh, that's strange. I know I didn't make much noise, yet he sensed me easily.' Minato thought 'So either I'm getting rusty, or that kid's good.'
"..." The kid stared at him silently, and it took a moment for it to register that Minato was also staring at the kid. He broke eye contact, and the kid turned back to the gravestone he was standing in front of.
"... Who are you here for?" The yellow-haired man blurted out suddenly, and the kid turned again.
"It's really none of your business."
"Yeah, yeah I know. Sorry kiddo, just curious." Minato smiled lightly and the kid turned around again.
He sighed and got to work, putting a flower on each grave. He could feel the kid watching him, but he didn't mind. It was all in a day's work.
The next time Minato went to the graveyard, the kid was there again. He sensed Minato, yet again and watched him put flowers on everybody's grave. Every single time Minato went to the graveyard, the kid was there. And every time, the kid would just watch him without a word. Minato thought this was a little odd, but he never paid much mind to it.
"Why do you do that?"
Minato startled, and nearly dropped the flowers in his hands. The kid didn't pay any mind to the fact that he nearly just gave Minato a literal heart attack.
"Uh- do what?"
"Put flowers on everybody's grave."
"Because it's a nice thing to do. There are some graves here that barely get any recognition, and I want people to know I care about them, even if I didn't know them personally."
"They're dead. How are they going to know?"
"They probably won't. But I'll rest easier knowing that everybody here is at appreciated by at least one person." Minato smiled "After all, funerals are for the living right?"
"... Yeah, I guess so."
The two were silent for a minute.
"I'm here to visit my dad."
"Your dad?"
"Yeah. He died a few months ago. It was for a stupid reason, but I still miss him."
"He died for a stupid reason? Did he choke on ramen or something?"
"No. He took his own life because he failed a mission."
"Oh. I'm sorry kid."
"It's fine."
"... Do you have a mom?"
The kid pointed to another grave, right next to the one he was standing at.
"Oh."
"I never really knew her. Can't be sad about something I never had, right?"
Minato felt stung. Not in an offending type of way, but in a sorry type of way. It wasn't fair that the kid had lost both his parents so early.
"I'm sorry."
"You had nothing to do with it."
"Yeah, but that doesn't stop me from feeling bad about it."
The kid nodded lightly and turned back to the gravestone. Minato continued putting flowers on them until he was finished and only had three flowers left.
"Here you go kid." He handed the three flowers to the kid, who took them with surprise.
"What are these for?"
"You put them on the grave. I didn't want to disturb you, and I wanted to respect your privacy, so I kind of avoided those graves. But, you can put flowers on them."
"Oh... Thank you."
"No problemo!" Minato gave him a thumbs-up and left.
This is the story of how Minato and Kushina changed the world (and everything canon) with one act of kindness.