In the shadowed embrace of a secluded cave, just a whisper away from Konoha's boundaries, the night air was shattered by a scream - a raw, primal sound that spoke of unbearable pain and fierce determination. Kushina Uzumaki, her red hair a vivid flame in the dimness, was in the throes of labor. Between gritted teeth and clenched fists, her voice erupted again, "It fucking hurts!" Every word was laced with the fierce strength of a warrior and the vulnerability of a mother-to-be.

Minato looked up, distracted from his work maintaining the Kyuubi's seal. "She going to be all right?" Minato asked the gray-haired Biwako with a look of fear and concern. 

A knowing grin stretched across her wizened face. "Well, it seems even the most powerful man of our age is afraid of childbirth. Don't worry, Lord Hokage. We women are born far stronger than men." soothed the nurse. Kushina let out another scream.

"Dammit! Naruto, hurry up and get out here." Minato mumbled, struggling to keep the Kyuubi locked in its cage.

"There! I can see his head! Kushina, you're almost there. Just one more push, and this will be over!" Encouraged Biwako.

Kushina's body tensed as she let out one final scream. That was blissfully met with the loud cries of a newborn baby. The old nurse gingerly took the newborn to a small washbasin at the cave's far end.

Minato stared after her. "I'm a father." He mumbled. Then, a big grin exploded across his face, and a twinkle shown in his eye. "I'm a father!" He looked down at his exhausted wife, who was intently watching Biwako wash their newborn son.

In a flash of yellow light, Biwako let out a squeal of surprise as the baby vanished. Looking around frantically, the older woman finally spotted the newborn in his father's arms. "Are you trying to give this old lady a heart attack!?" She chided, but the Fourth Hokage didn't even notice getting his first honest look at his son.

Minato's eyes, usually so steady and confident, now held a touch of bewilderment as he gazed at the infant cradled in his arms. The realization that this tiny, fragile being was his son seemed to both astonish and humble the renowned ninja. His gaze lingered on the child's bright blond tufts - a mirror of his own - mixed with a tinge of unspoken disappointment; he had hoped for the child to inherit Kushina's fiery red. But it was the delicate, whisker-like marks on the baby's cheeks that truly captivated him. Minato traced one of these lines, his voice softening to a whisper. "Where did these come from, little one?" The question, filled with curiosity and awe, floated unanswered in the dim light of the cave.

"Minato... Let me hold him, please. I want to meet our son."

Minato was about to hand Naruto to her when everything went to hell. Suddenly, the seal holding the Kyuubi at bay flashed and started to glow a deep crimson. Kushina screamed as her back arched up into the air.

"What's going on?" Minato demanded, clutching his son to his chest. Biwako didn't respond as she held glowing green hands over the redhead. A horror look stretched across her face after a minute or two. "Damn, that fox! I can't believe it was able to hide this." 

"Is she all right? What's going on? Tell me, dammit!" Minato demanded.

"Lord Fourth! The seal is still failing. You and your wife are having twins. My only guess is the nine tails somehow hid the other child!"

Hearing this, Minato did an amusing thing, Kushina, on the other hand. Was in far much pain to respond to what was being said. First, he simply looked confused; then, he smiled with joy. Then his skin turned a rather vivid green shade, only to pale the next second. All this time, his head was whipping back and forth between his wife and Naruto before his eyes settled on the seal on his red-headed wife's bulging stomach. Then, he simply looked horrified.

Biwako stumbled back as Naruto was thrust into her arms faster than she could blink.

Placing his hands on the seal. Minato frantically began feeding as much chakra as possible into the Kyuubi's seal, only to feel it Crumbling away. "Dammit! Dammit, it's too late! Can you do anything to get the baby out faster?" Minato begged.

"Yes, but the consequences would be severe. It would all but destroy her reproductive system."

"Do it now! The seal is about to shatter, and I can't hold it for much longer."

Kushina looked up at her husband's terrified expression. Understanding filling her eyes. "It's… ok... that does not matter... anymore. Just do it!"

Grudgingly, the old nurse laid the struggling newborn on his father's discarded trench coat. Before placing both of her softly glowing, green hands just above her stomach. "This will hurt, so brace yourself."

Kushina managed a firm nod, bracing herself. As the procedure began, a searing pain tore through her, but her thoughts clung to the safety of her children. 'Just hold on,' she thought, her mind oscillating between fear for her newborn and the overwhelming physical torment.

"There we go." The nurse sighed, holding a struggling red-haired baby with deep purple eyes and all the classic signs of Uzumaki. As soon as Minato saw that the procedure was a success, he quickly scooped Naruto up and took hold of the Biwako's shoulder, teleporting away in a flash of yellow light.

"What the hell! Where am I?" the old nurse shouted, shocked at her sudden change in location.

"My house. Bedroom. Top floor. Put the kids in the crib," Minato replied absent-mindedly as he searched a large ornate wooden dresser for the needed items.

Finally, locating his Hokage seal. The damn thing had rolled to the back of the drawer again with pen and paper in hand. He quickly wrote out a short letter to Hiruzen explaining what had happened and what he planned to do. When that was done, he wrote another document titled "Last Will and Testament."

Sealing the two documents into a scroll. His eyes fell on a small, black stone. When an idea hit him, he picked it up on his last mission. At the time, he thought it would be an excellent addition to his wife's garden. But now, it would serve a greater purpose. With one finger, he formed the smallest Rasengan he could manage. With it, he began engraving a simple yet complex seal into the small black rock. Adding the rock to the scroll with the two documents, he turned to the Biwako.

Who was trying and failing to get the twins to stop crying. "Please deliver this to Hiruzen as fast as you can!"

"What about the children?" asked Biwako concerned.

"Go now. That's an order!" Minato yelled, losing his patience with the woman.

She grudgingly took the envelope and slammed the door on her way out.

"Don't worry, Mommy and Daddy will return soon, Naruto… Menma. Yes, I think that will be a good name for you. After all, it's your grandfather's name, and he was a great man." With that, Minato bent down and gently kissed his sons' foreheads before disappearing in a flash of yellow light.

=X=

Arriving back in the cave. Minato cursed. "Dammit!" Red chakra had already begun seeping out from his wife's unconscious form. Quickly, he tossed one of his special three-pronged kunai far outside the cave before scooping up his wife, bridal-style. He winced as the malevolent, red chakra burned his arms.

Flashing into the clearing just outside the cave. Minato laid his wife down on a soft patch of grass before quickly backing off.

He never felt as helpless as he did watching Kushina slowly rising into the air, wrapped in red chakra. Her head tilted back as her eyes and mouth opened in a silent scream. As the seal on her stomach opened, a shapeless mass of red chakra comprised hatred and raw power. It started to pour from the black void that once was the seal, slowly taking a recognizable shape. First, a paw, in the blink of an eye. The Kyuubi stood there, its nine tails thrashing, each with the power to level mountains. Fur Shining, a bloody red, bathed in moonlight. Raising its mighty head, it loosed a roar that shook the earth, causing birds to flee, babies to cry, and men and women across the land to tremble in fear.

"KUSHINA!" The Kyuubi roared, eyes dilated in a fury, raising its paw, fully intent on smashing the one who had dared keep him imprisoned, the most powerful of all the bijuu. His paw came smashing down like a falling star cratering the ground. Growling in annoyance, knowing he had missed his target. Kushina had vanished in a flash of light.

=X=

Reappearing back in the bedroom where he had left the kids, Minato gently laid Kushina beside Naruto and Menma before retrieving a small, three-sectioned glass box from the end table beside the bed. It contained three large pills - one green, one yellow, and one red. They had received them as gift from the Akimichi clan. Placing the yellow pill in his unconscious wife's mouth, forcing her to swallow it.

Seconds later, Kushina's eyes flew open as her body tried to process the massive amount of raw chakra that flooded from her dying body. "Minato," Kushina whispered as she locked eyes with her weary husband.

"Shhh," Minato hushed her. "Save your strength. We don't have much time. I brought us here so you… could hold our sons at least once. Before I have to do what must be done." Minato whispered, tears streaming down his face. He looked at the beautiful, red-headed woman he loved, the woman he had married. One of the very few who had ever seen him for himself. Not as a prodigy or a genius, but only as himself. The one person he knew he could never live without.

"What are you going to do?" Kushina asked, pulling her two sons close to her chest.

"Kushina... I'm truly sorry if there was any other way." Minato whispered, looking away.

"What are you saying, Minato?" genuine fear for her sons flooding her voice. 

I am going to seal away the Kyuubi." Minato took a deep breath. "Inside both Naruto and Menma."

"What? No! Why our babies? You know the hell Jinchuriki has to live with! The hell I went through. That's the last thing I want for them." Kushina yelled at her husband.

"If we don't do something, the village will be destroyed. Our home, Kushina! All of our friends will be gone as a citizen of Konoha, as both the Fourth Hokage and now a father. I must. For someone whose homeland was destroyed, you should understand that better than anyone!"

"Can't we just destroy the Kyuubi, delaying its return? Surely, with our powers together, we can." Kushina pleaded.

"No, Kushina, not with you in that condition and all the chakra I have already used. Even if we did that, it would leave the village vulnerable without a jinchuuriki and break the balance. You know that," Minato said with a sad but determined look.

"But why our children? I don't want them to bear such a heavy burden!" Kushina cried.

"Kushina, What kind of Hokage would I be if I asked some other parent to give up their children when I was unwilling to sacrifice my own?"

"But why do you have to die?" Kushina whispered.

Minato reached out, cupping her cheek. "Kushina, you are the one who made me the man and the Hokage I am today. Without you, I… would be a shell of the man I once was. No, we should die together. We have lots of friends in the village. So, no matter what, our sons will have a family. I bet they will fight over who gets to take them in." Minato said remorsefully.

Kushina looked down at her two sons and gently kissed the now-sleeping newborns. "This is the first time I have ever lost an argument with you. It shows just how serious you are. But at least they will have each other."

Minato inwardly winced, knowing that wasn't true. But that was something he could keep to himself.

"Thank you, Kushina," Minato said, taking his two sons in his arms before turning to leave.

"Minato, take me with you. I still have enough power to help," Kushina said, struggling to get on her feet.

"Of course," Minato said, allowing his wife to lay a hand on his shoulder before disappearing in a flash of yellow light.

=X=

Meanwhile, Hiruzen was happy, enjoying his hard-earned retirement. 'What a beautiful night,' he thought, lounging in a comfortable chair on the roof of the Hokage's tower, gazing up at the stars and smoking his favorite pipe. "This is the life." Unfortunately, it was not to last; the roof door burst open, and his exhausted wife stumbled out.

"Why are you here and not with Minato and Kushina?" Hiruzen asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

"S-something has gone very wrong. I was ordered to deliver this to you," said the Biwako, passing the small package to the ex-Hokage. When Hiruzen's hand touched the package, the Kyuubi's roar echoed across the village.

=X=

Minato and his family reappeared in a large forest clearing about ten miles from the village. "Stay here," Minato ordered, once again disappearing in a flash of light.

Minato reappeared just in time to see a large squad of Leaf shinobi pulverized by a casual flick of one of the Kyuubi's tails.

Wasting no time, Minato slams his palm on the ground. "Summoning Jutsu!" unleashing a massive cloud of smoke. From which, a voice echoed out. 

"What's this, Minato? Why are you summoning m-... Oh, that's why," said the gargantuan toad Gamabunta, instantly recognizing the feel of the Kyuubi's chakra."Wait a minute, I can't fight the Nine-Tails! Are you crazy? I'm not suicidal!"

"I only need you to hold him still for a second. Can you do that, old friend?" Minato said from the top of the massive toad's head.

"Perhaps, but you're buying the sake after this."

"Sorry, but I can't do that, old friend. You will have to have Jiraiya stand in for me this time."

The Kyuubi sniffed the air. "I can smell you, Minato, and you brought me a snack. How nice!" growled the Kyuubi, rushing straight at them in a blur of speed.

"Gamabunta, now!" Minato yelled. Not a second later, Gamabunta kicked off, flying head-first into the red fox, sending them both crashing to the ground crushing the forest underneath.

Gamabunta yelled in pain as the Kyuubi relentlessly tore into his shoulder. "Minato, do whatever you're going to do. I can't hold him!" Gamabunta grunted.

"Get off me, you oversized to..." The Kyuubi was cut off as he vanished in a massive flash of yellow light.

Rising to his feet, Gamabunta lamented before disappearing in a puff of smoke, "I couldn't have asked for a better summoner or a better friend. Good bye, Minato Namikaze." 

=X=

The second Minato and the Kyuubi appeared back in the clearing. Golden chains Molded from pure chakra burst from the ground, ensnaring the furious bijuu.

"Kushina!" the Kyuubi snarled.

"How long can you hold him?" Minato asked, looking down at his wife.

"L-long enough," Kushina gasped, covered in a sheen of sweat as she tried to maintain the chains holding down the Kyuubi.

"Right. Kushina, I am going to add your and my chakra to the seals so we can see them one last time in years to come," Minato said as he started going through a long series of hand signs, pausing before he completed the last one. "All right, if there is anything you want to say to them, now is the time. We won't see them for a long time," Minato said, a smile on his face, the Shinigami already looming over him.

Kushina took a deep breath. "Naruto, Menma. Don't be picky. Eats lots and grow strong. Make sure to bathe every day and stay warm. Also, don't stay up too late. You two need lots of sleep And make friends. You don't need many of them, just a few you can trust. I wasn't good at this, but keep up with your studies and practice your ninjutsu. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, so don't get depressed if you can't do something well. Respect your teachers and upperclassmen at the academy. Oh, this is important about the three shinobi prohibitions. Be extra careful about lending and borrowing money. No alcohol until you're twenty. Too much can ruin your health, so always drink in moderation. The third prohibition is women. I'm a woman, so I don't know much about this. But all you two need to remember is that this world comprises both men and women. So it's only natural to take an interest in girls. But don't get hooked on a bad one. Find someone just like me if you can. Be wary of Jiraiya-sensei." Minato smiled at the mention of his father figure.

"Naruto, Menma," Kushina continued, "from now on, you two will face lots of pain and hardship, but at least you will have each other always hold true to each other. Just be true to yourself and have a dream. Not just that, but have the confidence to make that dream come true. There's more, so much more, I want to pass on to you two. I wish I could stay with you two longer! I love you both! Minato, I'm sorry I used up all your time."

"No, it's ok. Naruto Menma, my message to both of you is... Well, I guess it's the same as your nagging mother's. Goodbye, my sons," Minato said with a sad smile.

"Death reaper seal!" With that, spectral hands flew out of Minato's stomach and grabbed hold of the Kyuubi, ripping its soul in two, sealing half in each Child. As soon as the Kyuubi was sealed away, both Minato and Kushina fell dead with a smile on their faces, knowing that their sons would live and have a chance to be happy.

=X=

Two weeks later

Hiruzen stood at the window in the Hokage's office. Looking out over the village. The village was mourning its beloved Fourth Hokage and the lives of the lost brave shinobi. On his desk laid the two scrolls that Minato had sent him that he was not brave enough to open. Next to them was a blank letter to Jiraiya that he didn't have the words or heart to write. In the corner was a crib, where two newborns slept, oblivious to the world.

He sighed as he sat, knowing he couldn't put it off. "Make sure I am not disturbed," Hiruzen said to the empty room.

"Yes, Lord Hokage!" came the reply from one of the A.N.B.U, who always remained hidden in the shadows of the office.

Hiruzen pulled out the first of the two letters and began to read.

=X=

Hiruzen, my time is short, and there is much to say. I am still trying to figure out where to begin. First, as you well know, I failed to keep the Kyuubi sealed away despite all my carefully laid plans. Twins were never something I could have accounted for. An oversight that will cost my family everything. Something I will never forgive myself for.

I plan to seal the Kyuubi with my two sons instead of the original plan. We discussed if the Kyuubi were to be freed. My new plan has a few consequences. Since I will be sealing the fox in my two sons instead of just one, seals will undoubtedly be weaker. It pains me to say this, but one of my sons must be sent out of the village for as long as the seal is in its infancy.

There is a possibility that the two halves of the Kyuubi, in close proximity to each other, can break the seal.

This problem should no longer be an issue when they enter their teenage years. When that time comes, my son will be brought back to the village and allowed to live with his brother as family. One last thing. Inside this package is a small stone that I wish to be given to the one you choose to leave the village. I don't care what you do. Just make sure he has it.

Sincerely, Minato Namikaze

Fourth Hokage and head of the Namikaze clan.

=X=

Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, eyes wide at the two impossible decisions he faced. Going over to the crib, he looked down at the two sleeping infants, one with blonde hair and sky-blue eyes, almost a clone of his father. The only difference was the set of whisker-like birthmarks. The other one's hair was red, just like his mother's, with all the usual signs of an Uzumaki. After a lengthy bit of thought, the elderly Hokage decided that Menma would be the one to leave the village. His brother would likely grow up to look just like his father, which would endanger him, especially outside the village.

"Now, the only question is where to send him?"

"Lord Hokage, Homura, and Koharu are here to see you," said an A.N.B.U standing by the door.

"Yes, let them in. It's fine," Hiruzen sighed. Homura and Koharu burst into the room.

"Hiruzen! We must find a way to finalize the peace treaty with Kumogakure!" stated Koharu, all business as usual, Not overlooking the open package and letter in the Hokage's hand.

"Finally, you opened it. What's it say?" Homura asked, changing the subject. Wordlessly, Hiruzen passed the letter to the elderly Council member.

"I have already decided that Menma will be the one to leave the village."

"Why... Why this is... perfect! We can send the boy to Kumogakure for a few years as a sign of trust. I am sure the Raikage will happily agree." said Homura excitedly as he handed the letter to Koharu.

"Killing two birds with one stone, as they say. It's a good idea, but, of course, we will have to add some conditions. We wouldn't want him to come back weak and untrained. We can't have a weak jinchuuriki." Koharu said with a small smile.

Hiruzen paused, thinking it over. No, that will only put us in more danger. What would happen if they decided to turn him against us? It would be all too easy. No, Menma will be sent to the daimyo, where he can live as part of the court. 

"A.N.B.U!" Hiruzen called.

"Yes, Lord Hokage?" replied an A.N.B.U, hanging from the ceiling.

"Take this stone and get it fitted onto a sealing band. Then, seal it around the boy's wrist. I don't want it ever coming off."

"It will be done, Lord Hokage," said the A.N.B.U, vanishing in a puff of smoke.

=X=

A few weeks later

A squad of A.N.B.U is close to the capital of the land of fire. Their mission is to escort Menma to the daimyo's palace safely.

"Captain, we should stop here for the night. The child will need feeding soon." As soon as the words left the shinobi's mouth, two of their companions let out a scream of pain as they fell to the ground lifeless, kunai embedded deep in their backs. Hurriedly, the captain placed Menma at the base of a large tree as they prepared to face the unknown threat.

"Do you see them?" whispered the shinobi wearing a dog mask with red streaks along the cheeks, standing on the captain's right side. The rest of the squad took defensive positions around the tree, their eyes sweeping the forest for any signs of life - a slight shifting in the leaves or a smell on the wind.

"Lightning Release: scalpel beam jutsu!" yelled two voices hidden in the trees, shocking the A.N.B.U on the ground. They had no time to react to the thin beams of blue light that shot down from the trees above, burning a clean hole through each A.N.B.U, killing them nearly instantly as the smell of burning flesh filled the air.

"Oh, man! That never gets old!" yelled Star, a thin, dark-skinned man with long white hair. He wore a pair of very ostentatious orange sunglasses and the typical Jounin uniform of Kumogakure, except for his hitai-ate, where the village symbol was crossed out with a deep gouge. 

"Don't get cocky. Star. That could have been us just as easily." said Soul, leaning against his single-bladed scythe. He was a big man with the same dark skin and dress style as Star, minus the sunglasses. His hair was jet black and so greasy it almost looked wet. However, his most striking feature was his cold, dead, black eyes.

"You need to lighten up seriously, man. Being so serious can't be good for your health," said Star as he searched the dead shinobi just as a baby started to cry.

"What's that?" Soul said, going over to the tree.

"Oh, what? The kid over there? I was just going to leave him for the wolves. It's no use to us," 

"If I remember correctly, there's a small town not too far out of the way. I wonder if Macao still lives there. He's always looking to buy fresh meat."

"You mean that dude who runs the orphanage?"

"You know him?" Soul asked, raising one eyebrow.

"Only by reputation and name. Man, I just love the way you think! We get some spare cash, and he gets a new plaything. It works for everyone!"

Nodding, Soul picked up The screaming baby. Jumping back into the trees, heading off towards the Border of the land of earth.

"Hey, wait for me!" Star yelled, trying to catch up.