Knock. Knock.

Minato groaned as the sound pulled him from his sleep. He squinted at the clock on his nightstand.

[4:00 AM]

His tired brain processed the time before he let out a disgruntled sigh. Who the hell is knocking at this hour?

Knock. Knock.

Rubbing his face, Minato forced himself out of bed, shuffling toward the door. His hair was messier than usual, and he was still blinking away sleep as he reached for the handle.

"Who is it?" he asked, voice thick with grogginess.

"It’s me, Sensei. Kakashi," came the familiar monotone reply.

Minato blinked, his mind catching up. Kakashi? He quickly unlocked the door and opened it, revealing his student standing there in full Jonin gear, his flak jacket neatly secured. Next to him, looking half-asleep and barely dressed for the early morning, was Sai. The toddler wore only an slightly oversized black sweater and his diaper. His dark eyes were lidded with exhaustion, and he wobbled slightly, barely staying upright.

Minato frowned, running a hand through his messy hair. "Kakashi… Why do you have a half-dressed toddler awake at four in the morning, babies need their sleep."

Kakashi let out a sigh. "Yeah, sorry about the timing, Sensei. I need a favor."

Minato arched a brow. "You want me to babysit?"

"Just for today," Kakashi clarified, shifting his weight slightly. "I need to set up my training exercise for my students, and Anko’s still out on an assignment. I figured if anyone could keep an eye on him, it’d be you."

Minato glanced down at Sai, who blinked up at him with a vacant stare, his small frame swaying slightly as if his body hadn't fully caught up with being awake. The oversized sweater hung loosely on him, doing little to shield him from the early morning chill.

Minato sighed, stepping aside. "Come in before he catches a cold. He’s barely dressed for this weather."

Kakashi sheepishly rubbed the back of his head. "Yeah… as you can probably tell, I was in a bit of a rush."

Minato gave Kakashi a dry look but didn’t push the issue. With a tired sigh, he stepped aside, allowing Kakashi and the drowsy toddler inside. As soon as Sai crossed the threshold, his small fingers instinctively latched onto the hem of Kakashi’s flak jacket, gripping the fabric tightly as if anchoring himself.

Minato's lips quirked into a grin. “So, you're officially a sensei now, huh? Man, one of my students stepping up to train the next generation—it’s enough to make an old man shed a tear!"

Kakashi let out a short chuckle, shaking his head. “Let’s save the celebrations until after training. I still need to see if these kids survive the first exercise.”

Minato snorted but nodded. "Fair enough. And yes, I'll watch Sai. I think Naruto will be happy to have a playmate for the day." He crouched slightly and gave Sai’s head a gentle pat.

Sai blinked up at him before turning to Kakashi, his grip tightening. “Mr. Kashi go?”

Kakashi crouched down, resting a reassuring hand on Sai’s shoulder. “Just for a few hours. I’ll be back to pick you up, promise.”

Sai was silent for a moment, his fingers twitching against Kakashi’s jacket  as he processesed what was happening before he he nodded. It wasn’t understanding exactly, but it was trust—however faint.

Minato straightened with an easy grin. “Alright, kiddo, let’s get you settled.”

Kakashi handed over a small backpack, his tone shifting to something more serious. "This has everything he’ll need—diapers, wipes, his drawing stuff, medicine… and, uh, a sedative."

Minato’s eyes widened. "A sedative?" His voice came out sharper than intended.

Kakashi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah… his night terrors have been bad lately. One of them triggered a panic attack, which escalated into a seizure. The sedative’s only for emergencies—if we can’t break him out of it any other way. We’ve only had to use it twice, but it’s better to be prepared."

Minato looked down at Sai, who stood quietly beside him, as unreadable as ever. The thought of a two-year-old needing something so extreme made his stomach turn. Without even thinking, he rested a hand on the boy’s back, rubbing small, slow circles. "That’s… rough. Hopefully, as he gets older, this’ll become a distant memory."

"Yeah, I hope so too." Kakashi exhaled. "Anyway, I better get going. I’ll pick him up as soon as training’s over."

Minato nodded, adjusting Sai’s backpack over his shoulder. "Don’t worry, I got him."

With that, Kakashi gave one last glance at Sai before leaping onto the rooftops, disappearing toward the training grounds.

Minato looked down at the toddler, who remained eerily still. "Well, Sai," he said, his voice gentler now. "Looks like it's just you, me, and Naruto today."

......

Sai blinked up at him, wordless as ever.

Minato chuckled to himself as he shut the door, adjusting Sai in his arms as he carried the sleepy toddler toward his bedroom.

“Alright, kiddo, let’s figure out where you’re sleeping. Can’t put you in the crib—Naruto’s already claimed that spot.” He glanced over at his son, who was sprawled out on his stomach, drooling heavily onto the sheets. Minato snorted. “And judging by that puddle, I don’t think you’d enjoy swimming in your sleep.”

He looked back down at Sai, who remained eerily quiet, his dark eyes half-lidded with exhaustion but still vaguely alert.

Minato sighed. “Guess that just leaves my bed, huh?”

Crossing the room, he laid Sai down on one side of the mattress, making sure he was comfortable before settling down himself a short distance away.

“Minato let out a deep sigh, sinking further into the mattress. “Alright, it’s still ridiculously early… maybe I can sneak in a few more hours.” With Naruto’s quiet breathing on one side and Sai’s occasional rustling on the other, the room remained peaceful as sleep took over once more.

Hours later, soft morning light filtered through the window, coaxing Minato awake. He blinked groggily before stretching. “Guess it’s time to get up—”

He stopped mid-motion, realizing something was weighing him down.

“Huh?” He glanced to his left and found Sai, still fast asleep, clinging tightly to his arm. The toddler’s grip was firm, his small fingers curled securely around Minato’s sleeve as if holding onto a lifeline.

Minato exhaled through his nose, a small smirk forming. “Guess he’s a hugger.”

Careful not to wake him, Minato attempted to ease his arm free. The second he shifted, Sai let out a faint murmer, his grip tightening instinctively.

Minato winced. “Okay, okay, shh, don’t wake,” he murmured, reaching over to gently stroke Sai’s head. The boy immediately calmed, his breathing evening out again.

Minato sighed, thinking. “Alright, I gotta get creative with this one…” He glanced toward his nightstand and spotted the solution.

Reaching into the drawer, he pulled out his signature tri-pronged kunai. “Man, if Kushina were here to see this, she’d slap me into next week.”

With a flick of his wrist, he threw the kunai toward the living room wall. In an instant, he flashed to it, grabbed a roll of paper towels from the counter, then tossed the kunai back into the bedroom. Another blink of light, and he reappeared next to Sai, seamlessly sliding the paper towel roll into the toddler’s arms.

Sai shifted slightly, his tiny hands reflexively gripping the substitute. After a quiet murmur, he relaxed, his breathing steady once more.

Minato wiped his brow. “A bit excessive, but effective,” he muttered. With both kids still sound asleep, he quietly rose from the bed, stretching out his arms.

“Maybe I can actually get some time to myself,” he mused, slipping out of the room and gently shutting the door behind him.

"Minato stretched as he settled into his recliner, flipping through the TV channels. “Man, it’s been a while since I had this much time to myself. First thing I’m gonna do is…” He trailed off, glancing down at himself. “Probably take a shower—been a few days since I’ve done that.”

Not wasting the rare opportunity, Minato quickly made his way to the bathroom, enjoying a much-needed, uninterrupted shower. Once refreshed, he returned to his recliner, letting out a content sigh as he sank into the cushions. “There we go. Relaxed, comfortable—”

“Dada! Dada!”

Minato’s head lolled back against the chair. “Damn. Spoke too soon.”

With a resigned chuckle, he pushed himself up and walked toward the bedroom, where Naruto stood in his crib, bouncing slightly as he reached for him. “Dada!”

That was all it took for Minato’s heart to melt on the spot.

“Morning, my little Naru-sun!” He scooped up his son, lifting him high before spinning him around gently.

Naruto squealed in delight, giggling uncontrollably. “Ha ha ha! Dada! Dada!”

The joyful noise stirred Sai awake. The toddler sat up slowly, rubbing at his tired eyes before scanning the room with a blank, groggy expression.

Minato immediately noticed the movement. “Uh oh. Looks like we woke up Sai.”

Sai blinked a few times, his gaze drifting to Minato and Naruto. For a long moment, he simply stared, processing the scene before him.

Minato took note of the boy’s calm demeanor—no signs of distress, no tensing up. “Morning, kiddo. You sleep okay? You were up pretty early.”

Sai remained quiet for a second before giving a small nod.

Minato smirked. “Good to hear. Well, since you’re both up, how about we get some breakfast going?”

"Minato smirked. “Glad to hear it. Since you’re both up, how about we get some breakfast started?”

Sai blinked up at him, his expression unreadable. “Where… Mr. Kashi?”

Minato crouched down to his level. “He had to go train his students, but he’ll be back later. I promise.”

Expecting some kind of distress, Minato braced himself, shutting his eyes slightly, prepared for the possibility of tears or even a quiet protest. But… nothing.

Curious, he cracked one eye open and glanced at Sai. The boy remained still, his face unreadable as ever, but there was no panic, no tears—just quiet acceptance.

Minato frowned slightly. “You okay, Sai?”

Minato frowned slightly. “You okay, Sai?”

Sai gave a small, silent nod.

"Ah… uh… great," Minato said, still watching him closely. "Remember, Kakashi will be back later. Until then, you can hang out with me and Naruto, yeah?"

"Pay! Pay!" Naruto shouted excitedly, bouncing on the bed.

Sai tilted his head slightly before nodding again. "Okay... I pway with Naruto."

Minato grinned. “Great, but before that, I need to change this little troublemaker. Feels like he’s carrying half his weight in that diaper.”

Grabbing a fresh diaper from the stash beside his bed, Minato laid Naruto down, preparing for the inevitable struggle. Sure enough, the moment he unbuttoned the flap of Naruto’s orange footed pajamas, the toddler started wiggling like he was trying to escape.

"Ai ai pay pay!" Naruto reached out toward Sai, attempting to crawl toward him mid-change.

“Hold on there, little guy, playtime’s coming,” Minato said, flipping Naruto onto his back again with practiced ease. “Stay still, don’t you wanna be clean?”

Naruto, however, seemed to think this was all part of the game. He giggled wildly, kicking his legs as Minato wrestled the soiled diaper off.

Sai sat nearby, watching the whole process intently. He didn’t understand why Naruto was enjoying this—why he was laughing while being handled so casually. Diaper changes, in his experience, were a quiet, matter-of-fact routine. There was no playfulness, no warmth. Just another necessary task.

“Aha! Gotcha!” Minato declared triumphantly as he wiped Naruto down and secured him into a fresh diaper. "You put up a fight, but as usual, Daddy reigns supreme!"

Naruto responded with a pout, even though neither of them truly understood what they were competing over. Still, there was a clear winner and a loser, and Minato was gloating.

“No need to be mad just ‘cause I'm the best,” Minato teased.

Naruto puffed out his cheeks, but when Minato crumpled the used diaper into a tight ball and attempted a shot at the trash bin—only to miss—he burst into laughter.

Minato sighed, shaking his head. "Did I say ‘best’? What Daddy meant to say was ‘exceptionally average.’"

Both he and Naruto started laughing, the toddler clapping his hands in delight.

Sai continued to observe quietly, his fingers twitching slightly. He wasn’t used to seeing something like this—this kind of lighthearted back-and-forth. His diaper changes were efficient, necessary, but never… fun.

Minato noticed his stare and turned to him. “Sorry for the delay, Sai. You need a change too?”

He reached over and gave the front of Sai’s diaper a light press, confirming his suspicion. “Yep, you do. No worries, though, I’ll have you cleaned up in no time.”

Minato grabbed the changing supplies from Sai’s backpack, setting everything up on the bed. Unlike Naruto, Sai didn’t wiggle, kick, or make a fuss—he simply laid down, still as ever, waiting for Minato to get it over with.

The complete lack of reaction was almost unsettling.

As Minato removed Sai’s used diaper, his breath hitched at the sight. His usually easygoing expression hardened. "Damn… that’s some serious diaper rash," he muttered, noting the redness, irritation, and even slight blistering on the toddler’s skin.

He frowned. How long had it been like this? Was it just from the night, or had it been building up over time? Kakashi had mentioned Sai’s past infection, but seeing it firsthand was another thing entirely.

“This has gotta be painful, kid,” Minato murmured, reaching for the rash cream in Sai’s bag. Still, Sai didn’t flinch or make a sound. He simply lay there, staring up at the ceiling as if this was just another routine task.

Minato’s frown deepened. It wasn’t just the rash that bothered him—it was the way Sai didn’t react to it at all. No wince, no shifting, no sign of discomfort. Like he’d been trained to ignore it.

““That’s not normal,” Minato muttered under his breath. He’d seen seasoned shinobi grit their teeth through injuries, but a toddler enduring pain without even flinching? That was something else entirely.

Sai, still staring blankly at the ceiling, spoke in his usual monotone. "Mr. Kashi say I haf daipy rash."

Minato let out a slow breath, forcing himself to keep his tone light. “Yeah, kid, I can see that.” He carefully wiped Sai’s irritated skin, his touch gentle but firm. “Do Kakashi and Anko change your diapers often enough?”

Sai gave a small nod. "Mr. Kashi and Ms. Anko change my daipy."

Minato studied him for a moment, his concern deepening. If Kakashi and Anko were changing him regularly, then why was the rash this bad? Had Sai simply not told them when he was uncomfortable? Or… had he been conditioned to ignore it?

Sai noticed Minato’s expression and, despite his usual blank demeanor, felt the need to clarify. He didn’t want Minato to think his guardians weren’t taking care of him.

"Mr. Kashi an’ Ms. Anko take care me," Sai said, his tone flat but deliberate. His mouth opened as if to say more, but then he stopped. His expression didn’t change, but something in his posture shifted—stiff, unnatural. His small hands clenched slightly at his sides.

"I haf daipy rash cus…" He trailed off. His blank stare returned, as if something inside him had shut down mid-thought. Then, after a long pause, he looked back up at Minato.

"Dunno why haf daipy rash."

Minato frowned. That wasn’t a normal toddler’s shift in focus—this wasn’t a case of losing interest mid-sentence. That hesitation, that unnatural pause… something had stopped him from answering.

And that something had nothing to do with being two years old.

"Mr.Kashi haf my daipy cream there."
Sai said to Minato as he pointed to his backpack.

"Huh, what?" Minato blinked, pulled from his thoughts by Sai’s quiet voice.

"Mr. Kashi haf my daipy cream there," Sai repeated, pointing toward his backpack.

Minato quickly shook off the lingering unease and mustered a lighthearted tone. "Oh, right! Thanks for the assist, kiddo."

He reached into the bag, rummaging for a moment before pulling out a tube of cream. His eyes skimmed over the label.

"Extra strength rash cream…" he murmured under his breath. His grip tightened slightly around the tube as a bitter thought crept in. Good god… this is what I let happen right under my nose while I was wallowing in self-pity.

Minato took a steadying breath, squeezing a generous amount of cream onto his fingers before gently applying it to Sai’s irritated skin.

The toddler let out a small sigh, his tense little body easing slightly as the cool sensation soothed the rawness.

Minato’s brows furrowed. "You’ve been in pain this whole time, haven’t you?"

Sai gave a small nod, as if it were nothing worth mentioning.

Minato exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "Kid, you gotta tell us when something hurts."

Sai stared up at Minato, his expression as unreadable as ever. "...Why?"

Minato paused before offering a small, reassuring smile. "Because you don’t have to just deal with it anymore. If something hurts, you tell us. That’s what we’re here for."

He finished applying the cream, securing a fresh diaper around Sai before patting his hip lightly. "Alright, all done. Whenever Kakashi gets back, we’ll set up a visit with a pediatrician, just to be safe."

Sai simply nodded, processing the information without much outward reaction.

"Dada! Dada! Nom nom!" Naruto suddenly chimed in, tugging insistently at Minato’s shirt.

Minato chuckled, ruffling his son’s hair. "I hear ya, I hear ya. Alright, breakfast time it is."

Scooping Naruto up, he reached for Sai’s hand. "C’mon, let’s get some food in you, too."

Without hesitation, Sai followed, his small fingers curling around Minato’s hand as they marched toward the kitchen.

Once inside, Minato settled Naruto into his highchair before glancing at Sai. "Alright, we don’t have a booster seat, so… guess we’ll have to improvise."

Leaving the kitchen for a moment, he returned with a stack of books and a pillow. Carefully, he arranged them on a chair, patting the top cushion with satisfaction. "There we go. Hop on up, kiddo."

Sai silently climbed onto the makeshift seat, adjusting himself until he was steady. He didn’t react much, but he seemed comfortable enough.

"Alright, you two, give me a few minutes, and I’ll have breakfast ready," Minato said as he headed toward the stove.

As Minato started cooking, Naruto began happily drumming on the tray of his highchair, babbling to himself. Sai watched, his gaze following the rhythmic tapping. After a brief moment of hesitation, he lifted his own hands and mimicked the motion, drumming softly on the table.

Naruto soon lost interest in drumming and instead started kicking his feet excitedly against his highchair. Sai, curious, observed him for a beat before copying the movement, lightly tapping his own feet against the chair legs.

"Ha ha ha ha! Ai pay!" Naruto giggled, clearly enjoying himself.

Sai blinked, tilting his head slightly. Was this… playing? He wasn’t entirely sure, but for some reason, it didn’t feel unpleasant.

"Alright, you two, thanks for waiting!" Minato called as he placed two plates down in front of them.

Naruto’s plate held a bowl of scrambled eggs and a small slice of toast, while Sai’s plate had scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast.

Naruto wasted no time diving into his food, shoveling eggs into his mouth with eager bites. Minato chuckled at the sight before turning his attention to Sai. "Go ahead, kid, eat up."

Sai stared at his plate for a moment, his small fingers hovering over the food before finally picking up a piece of toast. He took a slow, deliberate bite, chewing carefully, his expression unreadable.

After a few moments, he swallowed and muttered, "...Like it."

Minato’s lips quirked into a smile. "Glad to hear it, kiddo."

As Sai continued eating, Minato leaned against the counter, watching both boys. Naruto was already making a mess, crumbs scattered over his highchair tray, happily babbling between bites. Sai, on the other hand, remained quiet and methodical, neatly eating his meal with precise movements.

Minato took a sip of his coffee before casually suggesting, "Once you two finish up, how about we head to the park? Could be fun, right?"

He expected a small reaction from Sai, maybe a quiet nod or even the usual blank stare. Instead, the boy suddenly went still, his grip on his toast loosening slightly.

Minato frowned. "Something wrong, Sai?"

The toddler hesitated before murmuring, "D-Don' wanna..." His voice was barely above a whisper.

Minato set down his cup, raising an eyebrow. "You don’t wanna go to the park?"

Sai fidgeted slightly, his grip tightening around his toast. "...Mr. Kashi an' Ms. Anko not go there," he mumbled.

Minato blinked, both intrigued and slightly concerned. On one hand, this was the most Sai had expressed his feelings outright since arriving. On the other, it reinforced what Kakashi had already told him—deviations from routine unsettled him. If something wasn’t part of his structured world, Sai simply rejected it.

Minato leaned forward slightly, keeping his tone light. "So, you only wanna go places where Kakashi and Anko go?"

Sai gave a slow, hesitant nod.

Minato exhaled through his nose, running a hand through his hair. It made sense. Kakashi and Anko were his entire world right now. They were his safety net. Going somewhere new—somewhere they weren’t—was unfamiliar, and unfamiliar was uncomfortable.

"Well, that’s okay," Minato said easily, offering a reassuring smile. "We don’t have to go if you don’t want to. But just so you know, parks can be pretty fun. Lots of space, other kids, and even swings. You don’t have to decide now, though."

Sai remained quiet, processing his words. He didn’t respond, but Minato noticed how his grip on his toast relaxed slightly.

He let the moment sit before clapping his hands together. "Alright then, no park today. But what do you say we find something else fun to do, huh?"

Sai blinked up at him, still unreadable, but after a pause, he gave a small nod.

Minato grinned. "Good. Now, let’s get you two cleaned up before Naruto turns this place into a disaster zone."

Naruto, currently smearing what remained of his eggs across his tray, looked up with a bright grin. "Dada, look!"

Minato sighed but chuckled. "Yeah, yeah, I see it, buddy. Let’s get you wiped down before you redecorate the whole kitchen."

Minato grabbed a napkin and started wiping Naruto’s messy face and hands while the toddler giggled and squirmed in his highchair. “Hold still, you little rascal,” Minato muttered, though he was smiling.

Once Naruto was mostly clean, Minato turned to Sai, who was still sitting neatly in his makeshift booster seat, hands resting in his lap, his plate nearly empty. "You all done, Sai?"

The toddler gave a small nod.

Minato reached for another napkin. "Alright, let’s get you cleaned up too." He gently wiped Sai’s face and hands, noticing how still the boy remained. No protests, no giggles, just quiet compliance. Minato sighed inwardly. The difference between the two boys was striking.

"Okay, you’re both good to go," he said, tossing the napkins in the trash. "Now, what should we do next?"

Minato scooped up Naruto before following Sai into the bedroom, the toddler babbling happily in his arms. By the time he stepped inside, Sai was already struggling to climb onto the bed, his small fingers gripping the edge as he attempted to pull himself up.

"Here, kiddo, let me help you out," Minato said, effortlessly lifting Sai onto the mattress.

Sai wasted no time, scooting over to his backpack and pulling it open with the same quiet efficiency he applied to everything else. He rummaged through it for a moment before pulling out his sketchbook and a handful of crayons.

Minato set Naruto down on the bed as well, watching with mild amusement as the younger blond immediately became interested in what Sai was doing. "Daw?" Naruto chirped, crawling closer.

"You really like drawing, huh?" Minato asked as he sat at the edge of the bed.

Sai gave a small nod but didn't look up, already flipping to a blank page and gripping a crayon with precise, controlled movements.

Naruto, meanwhile, watched intently before grabbing a crayon of his own. His grip was clumsy in comparison, and instead of drawing, he immediately tried to chew on the tip.

"Ah, nope, not food," Minato said quickly, plucking the crayon from Naruto’s mouth. The toddler whined in protest, reaching for it again. "Yeah, yeah, I know. Here, let’s try using it the right way."

Minato grabbed an extra sheet of paper and set it down in front of Naruto, handing him back the crayon. The toddler blinked, then, with a delighted squeal, started scribbling wildly.

Sai glanced up from his own sketch, his expression unreadable as he observed Naruto’s enthusiastic—if not entirely coordinated—attempt at drawing.

Minato smirked. "See? Now you got a little drawing buddy."

Sai didn’t respond right away, but his grip on the crayon tightened slightly. He stared at his paper for a moment before resuming his slow, deliberate strokes.

Minato watched him for a beat before asking gently, "You like drawing a lot, huh? Do you know what you’re drawing?"

Sai hesitated, his crayon pausing mid-line. "...Dunno," he murmured. "Wanna daw for Mr. Kashi and Ms. Anko… ‘cause dey nice to me."

Minato’s chest tightened at the quiet sincerity in Sai’s voice.

Sai continued, his words slow and careful, as if he were still processing them himself. "Mr. Kashi an’ Ms. Anko say… if I miss dem, I pose daw. An’ den… I won’ miss dem no more." His voice wavered slightly.

Minato opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Sai’s movements faltered. His fingers trembled slightly, his crayon slipping against the page. "Bud… I daw, an’ I daw… an’ I know dey come back… but I still miss dem… an’ an’—"

Tears began to spill down his cheeks, his face still eerily blank, but his small body shook from the overwhelming emotions he didn’t quite know how to handle.

Minato’s throat tightened as he instinctively reached out, placing a steadying hand on Sai’s back. "Hey, it’s okay," he murmured, rubbing slow, gentle circles between his shoulder blades. "You don’t have to stop missing them, kiddo. That just means you care about them."

Sai sniffled, his fingers twitching around the crayon as he stared down at his drawing. His silent tears dripped onto the paper, darkening the lines he had carefully made. His breath hitched before he finally spoke, his voice small and raw.

"Don’ wan’ dem go no more."

And just like that, the dam broke.

A choked sob escaped him, his body trembling as the unfamiliar weight of sadness overwhelmed him. The realization that the first real stability he had ever known was absent, even temporarily, was too much.

"Waaaahhh!!"

Naruto, ever sensitive to the emotions around him, immediately burst into tears as well, though his wailing was more instinctive than truly upset—he was crying because Sai was.

Minato let out a soft sigh, shaking his head with a fond, exasperated smile. "Oh, you two."

Without hesitation, he pulled both boys into a hug, his arms wrapping securely around their small frames. Naruto, feeling the warmth and security of Minato’s hold, quieted almost immediately, his sniffles dying down as he clung to his father’s shirt.

But Sai… Sai took longer. His sobs gradually softened into quiet whimpers, his small fists gripping Minato’s sleeve as if grounding himself. He had no idea how to process these emotions, how to stop them, how to deal with the strange ache in his chest.

Minato rubbed his back in slow, steady circles. "I know, kiddo," he murmured, his voice soothing. "It’s okay. Let it out."

Sai didn’t respond, but his breathing slowly evened out, his body growing limp with exhaustion. His fingers twitched once against Minato’s shirt before finally stilling.

Minato glanced down, realizing with a small chuckle that both boys had fallen asleep—Sai curled against his side, Naruto resting comfortably on his chest.

"Minato glanced down, a quiet chuckle escaping him as he realized both boys had dozed off—Sai curled into his side, Naruto sprawled comfortably across his chest. Their breathing was slow and even, their small frames finally at ease.

"Guess it is about naptime, huh?" he murmured, shifting carefully so he didn’t wake them.

With practiced ease, he lifted Sai and gently placed him onto the bed, tucking the blanket around him. Then, he stood with Naruto in his arms, crossing the room to place him in his crib.

The moment Naruto’s body left his warmth, the toddler let out a sleepy whimper. "Ah ah ah…"

Minato sighed, shaking his head with a fond smile. "Oh right, I know what you need." He reached for a nearby pacifier, pressing it gently into Naruto’s mouth. Instantly, the boy relaxed, his small hands curling near his face as he settled back into sleep.

"Alright, you’re good… now, as for you, Sai." Minato turned back to the bed, observing the still-sleeping boy. Given everything Kakashi had told him, he wasn’t sure if Sai had any real bedtime habits—he wasn’t even sure if the kid knew what it meant to feel safe enough to just rest.

Not taking any chances, Minato grabbed a few pillows and carefully arranged them around Sai, creating a soft barrier in case the boy rolled in his sleep. "That should do it."

With both toddlers settled, Minato let out a quiet exhale. "Alright, kids are down for a nap. Now I can—"

His gaze drifted toward Sai’s backpack, catching sight of a few scattered drawings inside. Curious, he reached over and pulled them out, flipping through the pages.

At first, the sketches were simple—flowers, animals, a few abstract shapes. They were exceptionally well-drawn, far beyond what any toddler should be capable of. Minato shook his head in quiet admiration.

"Kid’s got talent… not even most adults can draw this well," he muttered.

But as he kept flipping, the images shifted. The warm, innocent subjects were replaced with something… darker. Figures with hollow eyes. Shadows looming over smaller shapes. And then, repeatedly, a tall figure with a single eye.

Minato’s expression hardened.

"Danzo."

He kept going, his grip on the papers tightening as the images grew worse. One drawing stood out—the sketch of a small figure with light grey hair, red streaks smeared across the body. The next page depicted a kunai, crudely drawn but unmistakably coated in red.

Blood.

Minato exhaled sharply, staring at the last image. Words were scrawled near the corner in shaky, uneven strokes.

"I'm sorry. My fault."

Minato ran a hand through his hair, setting the drawings down on his desk.

"“Dammit, Kakashi,” Minato muttered, his voice barely above a breath. “You weren’t kidding about those nightmares.”

His fingers rested on the edges of the paper, his grip tightening slightly. Sai was only two years old. Two. He shouldn’t have images like this locked in his mind—shouldn’t have memories so dark and heavy that they bled into his drawings.

Minato flipped back to one of the more haunting sketches—the small, gray-haired figure sprawled lifeless, red smeared across the page. Standing over it, another smaller figure, barely formed but unmistakably meant to be Sai, gripping a kunai that dripped crimson.

Minato exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. This lines up with Kakashi’s report... Danzo forced those kids to fight. But how? How does a child—barely out of infancy—survive a fight to the death against an older kid?

He drummed his fingers on the desk, the weight of the realization settling over him like a lead blanket.

Sai wasn’t just traumatized.

He didn’t even realize he was.