"So you're completely sure I can do this?"

Kakashi stood leaning against the doorframe at the entrance to the Sarutobi compound's guest room. It was the second time he visited Minato after their first encounter, and in all honesty, Minato was surprised he'd be back so soon. After all, it was only yesterday when Kakashi seemed like he was moments away from murdering him in cold blood. Does Minato hold a grudge? No, but will he remember this? Definitely. He could've sworn he'd have a nightmare of Kakashi at night if it weren't for him seeing this world's Naruto for the first time.

And a day right after that would also be the first time Minato had gotten the chance to talk to him.

"Yes. Hokage-sama and Inoichi-san think it's alright for you to approach Naruto too. But you'll have to use an alias," Kakashi smiled. While he kept in mind that Minato's identity isn't a hundred percent proved yet, he trusted him deeply. Even though this wasn't the man that watched him grow as his sensei, they were similar on many levels, and Kakashi found himself truly respecting him. "You can come up with a name for yourself."

"A name..." Minato hummed in thought. He'd never think of giving himself a name before, but he'll be using one that will probably be sticking to him for a while. He racked his brain for a name before finally nodding. "Alright. I got one."

Kakashi raised his eyebrows, stepping aside from the door to let Minato through. "Let's head to the academy then. Their classes should be ending by now."

Reaching the academy didn't take long, and there were certainly no murder attempts on the way this time round. Minato stifled a chuckle at the way Kakashi tensed up at a particular path they followed yesterday, but they continued walking. He had to admit- preparing to talk to a 7 year old who bears the exact same genes as his son was nerve-wracking. What was he supposed to ask? How should he make Naruto feel loved? After all, he was still a stranger.

As they neared the academy, Minato inhaled deeply, readying himself for the upcoming conversation with Naruto Uzumaki- who apparently did not take after his father's last name in this world. Kakashi glanced over at him as he came to a stop before the academy gates. "We're here."

Minato's gaze followed the children that ran past, eyes wandering in search of Naruto. He eventually landed his sight on the lone swing on the tree, but this time, Naruto wasn't there. The teacher didn't seem to be around either. Eyes narrowed in confusion and concern, he scanned the crowd in search of the blonde boy, only for his eyes to widen at a familiar looking child. "Isn't that Shikamaru?"

Kakashi raised his eyebrows, surprised that Minato knew about the Nara boy. He promptly nodded in response to Minato's question. "Yea. That's him, the Nara clan heir. You know him?"

"He was close friends with Naruto. Back in my world, I mean," Minato answered, a surprised smile on his face. "Maybe he knows where Naruto is."

Minato walked towards the boy, noticing that Chouji was there, next to him too. They seemed to be close friends in this world as well- only that Naruto wasn't there with them. The boys were busy chatting until they noticed Minato walking over, and their attention was then on the man instead.

"Hello, there. Um, do you know Naruto?" Minato asked, a smile adorning his face. The two looked at each other before nodding at him, confused as to why a 'random man' would ask them that.

"I thought everyone does," Chouji muttered under his breath to Shikamaru, who just shrugged at the statement. Minato felt the urge to chuckle. So Naruto was famous here? He was curious for what reason that was, but he'll find out soon enough.

"Do you boys know where he is? I'm looking for him. Has he gone home already?"

Shikamaru blinked, seeming to think for a while as Chouji pulled a bag of chips out of nowhere. He finally shrugged, scratching his head. "Nope. No idea where he's at. Probably off somewhere doing something stupid again, I doubt he goes home this soon."

Something stupid? Now Minato was confused. He wasn't sure if that was supposed to be something good or bad, probably bad, but he can get to know about that later. He had to find Naruto now- It's the first time he's allowed to interact with him!

"Alright. Thanks a lot," Minato smiled at the two boys who nodded right back at him. Chouji was still busy with his chips, but Shikamaru seemed to be scanning him from head to toe. Minato had to admit it made him a little nervous.

"Sorry, we can't help much. Why are you looking for Naruto, though?" Shikamaru asked, tilting his head. Telling him the truth was definitely not an option, so Minato had to come up with something on the spot- and quickly.

"It's not much to worry about," Kakashi walked over and inserted himself into the conversation, much to Minato's relief. Shikamaru turned towards him, surprised at the man's sudden appearance. "You should go home now, don't be late for curfew."

"It's not that early," Shikamaru muttered under his breath, receiving a chuckle from Minato. He stared up at the man before heaving a sigh, making sure to bow before turning away as Chouji followed suit. "Troublesome...I'll leave now, bye."

Minato watched the two boys walk out of the academy sluggishly before turning back to Kakashi with a defeated chuckle. Maybe today just wasn't the day. But just as Minato was about to give up, he noticed the teacher from yesterday, in one of the corners of the academy fences. "...Maybe we can ask him."

Kakashi stared at the direction for a while before he shook his head. "It's alright, you can go. I'll come over when you need my help."

"..Okay then," Minato was a little unsure about that, but nodded either way. Surely Kakashi wouldn't do some shady stuff to him a second time. As he neared Iruka, the chunin seemed to notice him as well. Minato smiled at him, but the man seemed to have a panicked expression on his face. Which Minato couldn't quite understand, but it should be fine. "Um, excuse-"

It was, in fact, not fine.

For the average chunin, dodging is something they'd eventually have picked up over the years of missions and dangerous situations they've gone through. That may even apply to some well trained genins. It would be pretty easy to dodge an attack coming from a non-shinobi, but for a 'civilian' like Minato... Well, it wouldn't go so well.

So when Minato got a bucket of pink paint dumped on him a split second after stepping onto the grass, it took a short while for his brain to be able to process what happened before he could finally react. He touched the paint on him, staring at the pinkness in disbelief.

But before he could say a single word, a little blonde boy popped up from the other side of the fence, a bright grin on him. "Aha! I gotcha, Iruka-sensei-"

Needless to say, the boy himself was pretty surprised too when he found out that the victim of his pink disaster was not the desired target he had in mind. But he didn't have time for a proper reaction before he felt a shudder run down his spine, a familiar aura of death radiating off his teacher.

"NARUTO! You get down here right now!"

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I got bored so I drew the scene, u can tell i speedran it

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