This fic won't be very long. Maybe 20 chapters. The chapters have been short so far but they may get longer as I go because there is a lot of story left so they will probably get longer. And this story won't exactly be a slow burn.

~

Scratch that. Being in the Naruto world was terrible. She was rejected by the ANBU Black Ops commander until she could remember how to be a ninja. Minato was nowhere to be found in the past week so she didn't know anyone that could help her. Her parents were total strangers to her. They were kind, yes. But she had no idea who they were.

She felt bad calling them mom and dad, knowing that she herself wasn't their actual child. Biologically, maybe, but not in soul. So far, it was lonely, and she had lost the opportunity to climb the ranks so that in the future she could possibly keep the Uchiha Massacre from occurring. Which meant she had to start her mission now. If she was stuck in this world she didn't want to die inevitably in the Fourth Great Ninja War.

As they would say in her world, she had to cock-block Minato. Airi was still hesitant on the making him fall for her part, as it felt wrong because she was using him in a way. It felt wrong trying to keep him from Kushina but she did not want to have an untimely end. She didn't want that for Kushina and Minato or anyone else for that matter.

It had to be.

If only she could find Minato. "Ugh, what the hell?! Where is that guy anyways?!" She growled to herself, punching the wooden post before her in anger. What was different from her frail body in Japan was that she was actually causing damage to this post. She had a strength that she had never had before. Honestly, it felt good.

If only her mood wasn't soured from the disappearance of the blondie. "He said he wanted to help me but where is he now? Huh?!" She felt like she was already failing her plan. How can she keep him from Kushina if she doesn't know where he is? Finally, the top of the post splintered off, having taken too much damage to remain intact.

Airi fell back onto the ground, her hair splayed around her head as she looked up at the clouded sky. She heaved in shaky breaths as she tried to think about her next steps. It was all she could think about. All the time. This burden on her shoulders. This weight that felt like tons resting on her. The fate of her new world.

A thought popped into her head. Jumping up, she stomped off the training grounds. She would look for him again. If she looked often enough and long enough she would find him eventually, right?

The sun had gone down and she still hadn't found him. She was so tired. Her nights were sleepless, and her days were exhausting. "Fucking hell." The girl sighed, sitting on a lone bench on the main path through the village.

It was useless. Minato was obviously preoccupied by his Shinobi duties and his love for Kushina. How was she supposed to learn ninjutsu. The Hokage offered no one to reteach her, and the ANBU Commander didn't want to waste his time on her if she was hopeless.

How was she supposed to save the future if she couldn't be a ninja? "Where are you, Minato?" She whimpered, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. How was she supposed to do this on her own? The girl sobbed quietly, the water flowing down her cheeks and dripping onto her lap.

~

It was the middle of the night when Minato finally made it back to the village. He had left the day that he had returned Airi to her family. Unable to say goodbye to her because the mission was so last minute. Kushina was still mad at him, which he was worried about. What he was more worried about was how Airi was doing.

It was odd for him, to say the least. He and Kushina had been... whatever they were since they were twelve. They were eighteen now and they had kissed once. He liked her. He really did. But Airi... something otherworldly was drawing him to her, it seemed. He couldn't stop thinking about her since the day he saw her crying under that tree near the lake. It wasn't love. She felt otherworldly. He had no explanation for it but he needed to know her.

Lost in his thoughts, he almost failed to notice the girl passed out on the bench. He had just entered the village and there she was. The girl he couldn't stop thinking about. She was fast asleep, her head tilted to the side as she slept sitting upright. Once he was close enough, he finally made the observation that she had been crying. Her cheeks were still flushed and he could tell that her eyes were puffy.

At least when she slept she wasn't crying. Minato wondered how stressful this past week must have been for her. He didn't want to go on that mission but he had no choice. And she was left alone.

Minato thought for a moment. Airi's parents would be asleep by now. Apparently, they weren't too worried when she had been gone for three days because the girl frequently spent her nights sleeping at the training grounds. They didn't tell them she had amnesia. Airi didn't want them to worry. They didn't know each other very well, but he didn't want to leave her on this bench.

"Alright, let's get you to a bed." He murmured as he reached down and lifted her into his arms. The girl stirred for a moment, but then she remained asleep. The Namikaze wondered if she had been sleeping at all.

Shaking his head, he carried her through the streets in the middle of a starry summer night.

~

It was late into the night by the time he was ready for bed. He had let her stay in his bed and planned to stay on the couch for the night. "First night back and I get the couch," he let out a disappointed sigh, gazing longingly at his bed that Airi currently lay in, fast asleep. Blissfully unaware of her newfound companions woes.

If only the Third World War hadn't been in full swing. Missions came unexpected, the war unpredictable. Everything was uncertain in times like these. One thing was for sure, he needed to make sure Airi would be okay. He asked the Hokage for his next mission to be taking care of her. Training her, making sure she was regaining her memories. It benefited the village because the ANBU Commander planned for her to take his place in the future when the time came. She was a talent that came out of nowhere. Just as he had been.

So the Hokage agreed, thinking nothing else of it.

Minato finished drying his hair and threw on his sweatshirt and pants, ready to head downstairs when he heard some ruffling in the bed. His cerulean eyes landed on a groggy Airi, currently wiping at her eyes as she looked around the room. "Where am... I?" She murmured, her eyes landing on Minato. Then her eyes widened slightly before her lips started wobbling.

"H-hey, what's wrong?!" He rushed over to the edge of the bed, his voice frantic as he saw the tears in her eyes.

"Where were you? I've been looking all over for you?" Her voice was shaking.

"I was on a mission. It was last minute I didn't get to say goodbye to anyone."

"I've been lost all week! The ANBU Commander won't see me anymore, I have no idea how to be a ninja, and I don't even know how to interact with my parents! They're complete strangers to me. I was so alone all week and I couldn't find you!" The tears started falling down her cheeks.

He didn't think of it that way. That she'd feel alone. That he'd be the only one she knew. Of course with her amnesia she'd forget her parents, and everything else. He was the one that found her, meaning he was all she knew right now.

"I'm sorry, Airi. It won't happen again. Please stop crying." He sat on the side of the bed, his hand reach out to her cheek to wipe away some tears. Please stop crying so I can see your beautiful eyes again.

"It better not!" She choked out, trying to steel herself. After a few minutes, she finally calmed down and soon she began to fall asleep again.

"You must be exhausted, I'll leave you to get some sleep." He pulled the blanket back over her and started getting up when she tugged on his shirt sleeve.

"Please don't go. Not until I fall asleep." He was about to say no when he saw her pleading eyes. Only until she fell asleep.

"Ok, I'll be right here." He assured her, sitting next to her on the bed as she lay down.

What he didn't know, was that the reason Airi couldn't sleep was because she was plagued with nightmares of the end of their world as they knew it. They wouldn't go away. Not until her job was done.

Not until everyone was safe.