Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto

!!...Arc II begins...!!

Hurray! I've made it to Arc II! Kushina and Minato will be older in this! Now I don't know how long the war lasted or when it ended so I'm kinda making it up as I go along. Hope you enjoy Arc II!!

!!...Enjoy...!!

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:Our Love Story:

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Chapter Seven: Never Forget

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“Konoha has now gotten Sand involved in the war. That's just one more enemy for us to take down!” shouted the leader of Whirlpool.

Kushina sighed. She was eighteen and a Jonin now. She hasn't seen Minato since she was young and it took her a long time to get over being separated from him. She had no doubt he'd be engaged or with someone by now so she forced herself to forget about him all together...she failed. But she thought of him less and less with each passing day.

Her red hair was long now and reached down to the small of her back. Her bangs were just below her collar bone and covered her right eye. She had grown into a beautiful woman but she still had some tomboyish traits about her.

Her body was curvy and lustful. She had a lot of admirers but didn't pay much attention to them. They were still at war with Konoha and it had turned into 'The Third Great War'.

Six years have passed since she last saw Minato and took the Chunin exams at Konoha. She never went back and never looked back. She knew where her loyalties were...

Once the meeting was over she walked back to her home and went inside her room. She had matured a lot over the years...but she had done so by force. She was a solder in the war now and the people of her village had to toughen her up. Through harsh, almost cruel training she had toughened up and even mastered the Rasengan...though never used it.

Looking over at her desk she saw the beautiful sapphire necklace Minato had given her before the Chunin exams...or rather during it. And after...he had given her a special gift.

Kushina stood in the ring wondering why her grandfather would start a war with Konoha. Soon the Konoha ANBU started to advance towards her with frightening expressions.

'They...they're going to kill me?!' Kushina thought as she stared wide-eyed at the men coming at her. Suddenly a kunai came at them with a bomb attached to it. Once it exploded in front of ANBU a pair of strong arms came around Kushina a hand covered her mouth as she was carried away.

She recognized the smell...it was Minato's scent.

She instantly relaxed in his holdfeeling safe and secure. She was carried out of the stadium and to the gates. Once her holder let her go he looked at her with a serious expression. Reminding her of the current situation.

“You have to leave here! You'll be captured and taken in as hostage. They'll also probably question you thinking you might have known...either way...it's no longer safe for you here!” Minato stated. She didn't miss his worried expression...his pained expression. Just as he didn't miss hers as tears began to roll down her cheeks.

This was it...she was finally going to be separated from Minato. She never would have guessed it would be this painful...and lonely.

Reaching up she touched the necklace...it really didn't make much sense to keep it now.

“I suppose...you'll want this back...” she said sadly as she began to take it off but Minato stopped her from doing so. Looking up she saw him shaking his head.

“No...remember the promise? You take it back to your country with you...but eventually, I'm going to want it back.”

“But...a war has just started! We might never see each other aga-”

Kushina was cut off when Minato's arms wrapped around her pulling her to him.

“Make sure to take good care of it...” he whispered against her ear. He was going to miss this crazy red head.

“Minato...” Kushina blushed. In the background she could hear bombs going off and people shouting and screaming but chose to ignore it. Minato had found a secluded spot so that no one would see them.

“What will happen to you...when they've found out you've helped me escape?”

“Nothing...cause they won't find out.”

“What...what about Daisuke? What will happen to him?” Kushina asked remembering her team mate.

“I'll find him before they do...but before I do...and before you go. I have to give you your present. This is something for you to keep,” Minato said as he pulled away from her and reached in his pocket. He pulled out an odd shaped kunai with a paper attached to it.

“Eh? What's this?”

“It's a special kunai I made myself...If you're ever in any real danger...use it...”

After all these years...Kushina had never used the kunai. Daisuke was never brought back. She ended up returning home alone. She managed to avoid battle or any trouble on the way back by hiding in the shade of the trees. It was a week after that she had found out Daisuke was killed on his way coming back to the village. Minato had gotten him out...but Daisuke had bumped into Konoha ANBU members and was instantly murdered.

But her life...once she came back her life changed.

Things were much more strict. If you used any Fire country abilities you were taken in and questioned. The reason why she never used Rasengan. People quickly became cold hearted and distant. They were losing comrades day by day. But that's how it is in war.

Shinobi are always left for dead.

Kushina had been one of the lucky ones. She climbed up the ranks and was now a top shinobi. She often wondered what became of Minato. If he was even still alive. If his students were still alive. She didn't know. But she always tried forcing thoughts like this from her mind.

Thinking about Minato was painful.

'Minato...why won't you leave my mind alone...?' she wondered as she picked up his mothers necklace and gazed at it. It was still just as beautiful as when she first got it.

Hearing a knock on her door she set the necklace down and walked towards it to answer. Once she did she saw her comrade Kiko.

“Hey Kushina-san. We've got orders. We're to go to Fire Country's border...they have shinobi there and our job is to make sure they don't pass the border.”

“Ah...when do we set out?”

“Once you're ready...hm, what's that?” Kiko asked pointing to the necklace.

Kushina held it against her chest, “nothing that has to do with you.”

“Aw...no need to be so cold. I was just asking.”

“Whatever...I'm ready now so lets go,” Kushina said as she shoved the necklace in her pocket and went to grab her things.

She met with twenty more comrades at the gate.

“All this...how many shinobi are at the border?” Kushina asked.

“Just three.”

“So why do we have so many?”

“Because...they have someone really strong there. We'll need as many shinobi as we can get.”

“Ah...who is it?” Kushina asked. She really didn't have much interest in the subject but she felt she should get the information.

“I don't know his real name. But they say he's really fast and can take out multiple enemies out all at once. They even made an order that if anyone saw him they were to flee the battle field.”

“Hm...do we have a strategy?” Kushina asked.

“We were thinking a quick kill. Get to him before he even realizes we're here. We'll get there before him and we'll wait for him. Once he gets there we immediately strike!” Kiko said.

“Alright lets go.”

Once they got to the spot they were supposed to wait they spread out so they surrounded the place taking cover in the trees. Out of sight.

“Alright all set...now we just wait...” Kushina mumbled to herself.

They didn't have to wait long when a group of three walked in the area. The leader had short spiky blond hair and a long white coat with a vest underneath. His two team mates looked young. One had short red hair and the other spiky silver hair with his head band covering his left eye.

Kushina recognized them right away and her eyes widened as her heart raced. How could he still do this to her after such a long time apart.

'Minato...why are you here...? Are you the one they're all afraid of...?'

“Kushina! Konoha's Yellow Flash is here! Lets attack now...before he finds out we're here...” Kiko said through the wireless equipment.

Kushina was brought back to reality, 'that's right...I have to kill them...Minato...Kakashi...and Rin...I'm supposed to...' Kushina swallowed a lump that was forming in her throat. Orders were orders...besides she doubted Minato cared for her at all now.

Getting a kunai out she gasped when Minato looked up in the trees.

They had been spotted.

'How did he-?!'

Kushina didn't have any time to think...for in a split second a kunai was pressed against her throat.

“Don't move...” came a deadly voice.

'Minato...?!'

Kushina was shocked...he's never used that tone with her before. A part of her was deeply wounded by the voice and the promise of death it brought along with it.

Looking down she could see that Minato was still standing there. These were his shadow clones. Soon all her team mates all fell from the trees wounded and most likely dead.

'That's right...this is a war!'Kushina thought as she raised her leg and kicked behind her. The shadow clone disappeared and it was then that she realized the others did too. Looking back down she saw Minato staring straight at her with cold and piercing eyes.

'Does he even recognize me? Argh...! Why should I care?! This is my mission!' Kushina jumped from the tree sending chakra to her feet to give her a burst of speed as she took a kunai and clashed it with his.

Minato now got a look at her face and his eyes widened immediately.

“Kushina...?!”

“Heh, remember me now eh? Well it doesn't matter now...cause you'll be dead soon!!”

Why did that line hurt her so much?

Pulling away she got out five throwing stars and aimed them at him. Dodging them Minato was behind her in a second. Before she could even blink.

Before she knew it...a kunai was pressed against her throat and her hands behind her back with Minato taking a grasp of her wrists.

“You lose...”

Kushina gritted her teeth as she tried to break free of his grasp.

“Kushina...ah,” Minato gasped when he saw his mothers necklace fall out of her pocket and hit the ground. “You still...”

“...” Kushina didn't answer, 'why the hell did I bring that?!'

Rin walked up to them and picked up the necklace, “this is really pretty...ah...Sensei...is this the necklace you gave to her?”

“He...told you?” Kushina asked as her eyebrow twitched.

“Who the fuck cares?! You're an enemy now! You should be dead already,” Kakashi said coldly as he glared at Kushina with deep hatred.

Minato sighed. He didn't want to kill her, “come now Kakashi...our orders were to cross the border...not to kill.”

“Yeah well so long as I'm alive I won't let you cross! So you mine as well just kill me now just like you did with my comrades! Send me to my death just like you did with Daisuke!!” Kushina screamed out.

Just then Minato hit her in the back of her neck on her pressure point.

“Ah...” Kushina gasped out as she blacked out. Before she could fall Minato caught her and gently leaned her against a tree.

“...We leave. We have to get past the border as quickly as we can.”

“Wha-?! You're going to let her live?!” Kakashi questioned.

“Kakashi...I know...you've lost a lot...Obito-”

“Was KILLED by the enemy!!” Kakashi forced out cutting Minato off, “that's why we should kill as many of the enemy as we can!! So no one else will end up like him!!” Kakashi's voice sounded broken and strained.

“Kakashi...” Rin whispered as she looked at him. She loved Kakashi so much yet there was nothing she could do for him. Ever since Obito died he's been more cold towards the enemy. More merciless.

“Kakashi, you can't hold everyone responsible for Obito's death...just because they're from a different village,” Minato claimed.

“You're just making excuses for her! You know that if it were her she'd kill you in a heart beat!!” Kakashi claimed.

“Maybe...but then...I have no idea what she must have went through when she got back home...other than...I know she's been alone since. And when you're alone for a long time...your heart becomes cold.”

“Come on...we're going to complete our mission now...Kakashi,” Rin smiled. Knowing it would get him to go. Kakashi would do anything to see that smile.

Looking down in defeat Minato sighed and lipped a 'thank you' to Rin who nodded in return. Looking back Minato gazed upon Kushina. She was truly beautiful. He was a bit happy to see her again...after all these years he had yet to ever get her out of his mind. He wondered...if she still felt the same way about him.

'Hmph...probably not...'

“Kushina-san! Kushina-san!”

“Nn...who's...Minato...?” Kushina moaned in her sleep.

“Kushina wake up!”

Kushina's eyes fluttered open. She saw Kiko in front of her with a soft smile.

“Ah good...you're still alive...” Kiko sighed out as she sat back.

“You're...still alive...too? So then Minato...he didn't kill you...” Kushina said softly.

“Hm? Minato? You mean the 'Yellow Flash'? You mean you know him?!” Kiko asked with disbelieving eyes. Kushina snorted and looked away.

“Who me?! No way! Ah-?!” Kushina gasped as she felt something in her hand.

“What's up Kushina-san?”

“Er...nothing...go and check the others see if they can go on!”

“What are we going to do? We failed the mission...”

“So? We can still catch up to them! And take them out!” Kushina said as she signaled for Kiko to leave and check the others. Nodding Kiko did as told and once she was turned Kushina opened her fist to see Minato's mothers necklace in her hand a piece of paper attached.

As her heart began racing she opened the paper to see Minato's handwriting.

Never forget your promise...

The beginning of Arc II!! XD This basically consists of Kushina remembering her feelings for him and that nice stuff! It won't be as long as Arc I and in Arc III it'll be Kushina and Minato having a secret relationship and I'll go on from there. I don't know how many Arcs with will. Kk? Now...

!!...REVIEW...!!