Chapter 4

                                    

                                          


                          
            
                          
Minato had heard the baby crying from the kitchen, he'd gone to check on Naruko. Stopping by the door, he'd watched as Naruko picked a raccoon baby outfit for her son and started talking to him. He'd seen mothers on the streets with their children, and fathers as well. Minato himself had lost his parents during the Second War, and had never thought of having kids before. Watching Naruko, a new mother in her own right, handling Gaara though-
                          
He'd just stood there and watched, noting that Naruko hadn't noticed him there yet. The chakra suppressors were at least working. As he listened, he'd found out that Naruko had been an orphan. He'd found out that Naruko wasn't just a shinobi. She was also a scared mother. A teenager who couldn't be any older than Minato, who was only eighteen himself, alone in the world with a son. Right now, Naruko wasn't a shinobi. She was just a woman who had nothing, a woman that wanted to do best for her son.
                          
So, when Naruko started doubting herself, Minato had felt the need to speak up.
                          
"You look like you're doing a good job so far."
                          
Naruko sat up a bit, tugging Gaara closer to her chest. She hadn't even sensed Minato. The chakra suppressors seemed to be working just fine then, but she hated it. She hated that she couldn't even sense someone outside of the room. Kami, Gaara could get hurt and Naruko wouldn't know. She wouldn't be able to do a damned thing about it. Swallowing her worries down for now, she stood up from the bed, turning to face the other.
                          
"What's for lunch?"
                          
"Tempura. Lunch will be ready soon," Minato assured, studying the woman. This had become a strange habit, studying Naruko. It had started when he began visiting the comatose woman at the hospital. He'd merely been concerned and a bit curious about the woman after she did saved his life and his team. Before he knew it, he'd gone every day and sat at Naruko's side for roughly an hour, studying the sleeping woman. Even with Naruko no longer in a coma, that habit had seemed to stick. He took in how small Naruko looked in her kimono, and noted the way she held Gaara protectively to her chest. She was obviously guarded, nervous, but under her circumstance it was understandable. 
                          
Gaara began cooing again, drawing Naruko's attention to him. Another smile, one that completely stunned Minato, was aimed at the child. Naruko started rocking the baby in her arms, hoping to get him back to sleep, aware of blue eyes watching her every move. It was strange. She knew Minato didn't want her here, so why was he staying longer than necessary? Did he expect Naruko to do anything? She inwardly scoffed at the very idea. If she did anything, they wouldn't hesitate to take Gaara away from her. "What were you doing at the hospital when I woke up? Visiting someone?" Now that she thought about it, why had Minato been there? Naruko had checked; no one had been guarding her room. Did Minato have a friend at the hospital right now? Someone that had been hurt on a mission?
                          
Minato paused at the question, not knowing what to say. He supposed the truth wouldn't hurt. "I was going to visit you. You were in a coma for a week. I've been checking on your condition every day to see if you'd wake."  Naruko paused in her pacing, looking over at Minato. "So in a way, you were spying on me." Naruko said with a raised eyebrow.
                          
Seeing Minato sputter indigently was definitely amusing.
                          
"I was not! I was just-"
                          
"Spying on me," Naruko cut in, a grin coming to her face. If she had to be stuck here, why not have some fun? It was certainly entertaining to see Minato glaring at her.
                          
"I wasn't spying on you! I was the one who brought you to the village after you passed out from killing those missing nins!" Minato almost to yelled out his answer.