The Demonic Konoha

Hiruzen nodded, "I see your point, Kakashi. Don't worry. It just so happens I got word from Jiraiya this morning. He'll be here soon. Maybe having a bit of time with Jiraiya will be a good break from team 7."

"So … I won't be with him?" Kakashi asked solemnly. The only reason he brought up Naruto's feelings once he got back was to hopefully get some training time alone with him before Minato woke up, but that might not happen now.

The Hokage chuckled, "It will be exactly what you need. Jiraiya is a new face and can smooth things over to give you a chance. That way you can take over the training once he leaves. You should be able to get some decent training in before Minato wakes up."

Kakashi's uncovered eye widened in excitement, "He'll wake soon?!"

"Maybe a month or two and we believe it will be safe to take him out," Hiruzen said and chuckled as he dismissed Kakashi. Once the excited sensei ran out he secured the room with a seal and two masked Anbu appeared. "You were meant to keep the decoy clueless."

Both Anbu obediently removed their masks, revealing that they were Sasuke and Sakura, and bowed respectfully, "Yes, Hokage-sama."

Sakura kept her head down as she continued, "We underestimated the decoy's awareness. We should've made sure he had no contact with others he knew from the academy as well. He realized he was behind."

"Unfortunately, yes." The Hokage said before putting a report on his desk silently ordering them to read it, which they did. "Thankfully, it seems the decoy only finds fault with Kakashi. This might be our chance to scare the decoy into staying in the village."

Sasuke nodded, "You want to arrange an encounter?"

Hiruzen nodded, "Go to Wine Village now. Jiraiya has decided to drop off the manuscript for his next book there in just over a week. He'll pick up Naruto in a day. Itachi will bring the Akatsuki and capture him, but he is our spy so don't expect him to help much. He can't blow his cover until we have all the demons. Be ready to 'rescue' the decoy after he suffers a little. Don't let him learn who you are or that he's not a demon vessel and don't alert Jiraiya."

"Yes, hokage-sama." The two Anbu said and put their masks back on before leaving.

XXXXXXXXXX 

Kaji didn't care where his teammates went once they came back. He simply focused on returning to the ramen chefs' home. However, once he opened the door he saw that Torune just arrived there too. Without thinking he kissed the insect user in front of the chefs the second Torune removed his mask.

Ayame cooed, "So cute!"

Teuchi giggled, "The bug got some pollen!

"Damn," Kaji muttered realizing he unintentionally opened the door to a slew of pollination puns, but he just shrugged it off. "Kakashi tried to prepare me for Minato's return and get in my good graces."

To Torune's surprise, Kaji didn't pull away. Instead, the demon's arm encircled his waist and Kaji's hand rested on Torune's hip. It was somewhat distracting for the insect user, who forgot what he wanted to report.

"If that's the case, is the Hokage assuming that Minato will wake up soon?" Ayame pondered out loud.

Torune snapped out of his daze, "He believes the man in their tank will fully recover in a month or two, which is why he's sending you on a trip with Jiraiya. He arrives tomorrow, master."

"Kakashi, Sakura, and Sasuke made reports already, huh? Is this meant to be some last-minute brainwashing or something?" Kaji asked though he did expect this to happen once Kakashi tried to talk to him.

Of course, it would've been significantly easier if he just played along. Originally Kaji figured he would do just that. However, Kakashi unknowingly picked the worst moment to talk to him. It's hard to be cooperative when you're dealing with pain caused by demonic levels of lust.

Torune nodded, "Yes. They're going to give you some time traveling with Jiraiya to Wine Village and Danzo is contacting his spy in the Akatsuki, Itachi. While with Jiraiya you'll be captured and tortured. Your saviors will be two Anbu, Sasuke and Sakura, and Jiraiya. Danzo has … He has suggested letting you get so injured that you're left crippled. I don't know if they're serious about that." He said and noticed the expressions on the chefs' faces. Did they decide on a Danzo dish to go with the Hokage hotpot? Perhaps …

Kaji ignored the homicidal aura around Ayame and Teuchi and sighed, "How deep is Jiraiya in all this?"

"Same as Kakashi. Relatively clueless." Torune answered swiftly. 

"Minato should wake up much sooner than their tube guy so we'll see what he says," Kaji commented, feeling a little nervous about meeting the man.

Teuchi grinned, "Just in case he eats like you we picked up some fresh meat-"

Everyone suddenly heard something. It sounded like some sort of machine crashing to the floor. If it came from anywhere else in the house they wouldn't have thought much of it. However, the noise came from the basement and there were only some machines down there. 

The medical equipment that keeps track of Minato's vitals and gives him air …

Quickly everyone went downstairs. Of course, Kaji and Torune got there first. When Ayame and Teuchi finally got down there they saw Minato sitting up in the tank.

"Minato." Ayame gently called out as Kaji slowly removed the breathing mask. For a brief moment she wondered why Kaji was the only one helping, but that became clear when Minato grabbed Kaji's arm. "Kaji! Are you ok? Minato, please wake up. You're hurting him." Ayame said as calmly as she could.

It wasn't easy to stay calm though and it was clear why Kaji didn't even let Torune help. Demons were very strong and Kaji must've sensed that it wasn't safe so he approached first. He was right. Minato hasn't fully woken up all the way yet and if he grabbed anyone else with his claw-tipped hands it wouldn't be pretty.

Yes, Kaji was just wincing, but that wasn't a small matter. Over the years the plant demon's skin has become very tough, but a traumatized, albeit half asleep, Minato was close to breaking the limb he was holding. Despite that, Kaji stayed calm and gestured for everyone to stay quiet. It seems Minato has been mumbling the entire time.

Kaji leaned closer to listen to the whispers, "Hiruzen and Danzo aren't here. We got you out …" He gently reminded Minato.

It took a few minutes, but finally, the haze in Minato's eyes seemed to fully go away. The former Hokage first looked down at the thing he was holding. After staring at the limb for a second he immediately let go of Kaji so fast that it looked like he recoiled. It was clear that he was starting to get overwhelmed.

Ayame and Teuchi rushed forward, "Minato. Look. It's us." They said and made sure he could see them.

Minato's eyes spotted them and he slowly became calmer, "How long have I been-…" Minato spotted Torune's mask hanging from the agent's belt.

Torune flinched, but Kaji moved next to him, "I'm a spy for Kaji. I don't follow Danzo."

"Without his help, you would possibly still be controlled by Hiruzen. As for your question, you've been with us for about 6 years, but it's been 18 years since Nine Tails attacked." Kaji explained, but he noticed that Minato avoided looking at his face. He didn't take it personally and instead took note of what the two ramen chefs were doing. 

Ayame and Teuchi were carefully moving the broken heart monitor. Clean up was fast and they started pulling out a box they kept near the tank. Inside were fresh clothes for Minato, but even if all the clothes were chosen based on the measurements taken the tails might be an issue. To get an idea of how this will work they got a loose blue yukata and cut a hole near where the tail would be. That's the outfit Ayame pulled out along with towels.

"I see," Minato murmured and his blue eyes shifted quickly the second he sensed the chefs come closer. He saw the clothes. "Thank you." He said softly and his wet fox ears twitched, accidentally sending drips everywhere, when he heard his own stomach growl.

Teuchi smiled and, for privacy's sake, gestured for everyone to go upstairs, "We weren't sure how to handle the … tail situation. This will be a little trial and error." 

"Tails? …" Minato's gaze drifted down into the liquid he was sitting in and saw the furry golden tails swaying around. "Oh … Then …" He gulped and reached up to feel the things he felt twitching on his head. "Oh …"

Ayame watched sadly, but quickly smiled and went up the stairs first, "I'll have a big meal ready by the time you're up!" She said cheerfully as Torune followed her up. Kaji was slowly bringing up the rea but stopped in front of the basement door.

"Keep the options straight!" Teuchi called up and gestured again when he saw that Kaji was hesitating at the door. Finally, Kaji left the room, albeit reluctantly.

It was understandable. Minato wasn't human and, if Kaji was anything to go by, he probably eats human flesh. Of course, Kaji would be concerned about leaving Teuchi there. However, Teuchi has seen Kaji at his worst and neither he nor Ayame was hurt. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that Minato wouldn't hurt him. 

To be fair, though, he would've had Kaji there to help. Unfortunately, Minato has made it very clear that he couldn't look at Kaji's face. Clearly, the reminder of his son, Naruto, was too painful for Minato, who seemed aware of at least that much. The strange thing was how did he even know that much to begin with?

"Let's dry you off!" Teuchi said as he pulled a stool out from near the tank. "It'll be so much nicer to not need this stool here. It was great for my back, but I tripped on it constantly." He chuckled good-naturedly as he helped Minato stand up and sit on the stool. "We got the fluffiest towels we could find just for you," Teuchi said as he got the towels and started drying Minato. The hardest part was the fluffy tails.

"Teuchi?" Teuchi paused when he heard the small voice, which was hoarse from years of disuse. He had just helped Minato put the yukata on and was starting to gently thread the tails through the hole. "I … I could hear bits and pieces over … Maybe over the last month."

"Last month?" Teuchi's eyes lowered sadly. "You heard us talking about giving Naruto a gravestone … So you'd know that Kaji was used to replace Naruto too." Minato nodded, confirming Teuchi's suspicions. "… I'm sorry. Is there anything you want to know?" He asked as he slid a tail through the hole in the yukata.

Minato sighed, "I clearly remember Hiruzen messing with the nine-tailed fox after I sealed it inside me … I was too exhausted to even move and he took advantage of that … I know nothing between that and what I heard recently … First off, exactly who is involved?"

As Teuchi summed up the mess of details so far he threaded the tails through the hole …

XXXXXXXXXX 

Torune's senses immediately locked on the dumplings that sat on the red plate. Something screamed inside him that those dumplings contained human flesh. It smelled similar to pork, but it had a richness to it. Right after he felt a sudden need to try it and a tremor went through his body. 

Kaji finally pulled off his goggles and spotted the tenseness in the insect user's shoulders, "You ok, Torune?" Kaji asked quietly so Ayame wouldn't hear. Of course, she was too busy closing, and locking all the doors and windows to notice anyway.

Before Torune could respond Teuchi opened the basement door. The chef was carrying the box with all the other clothes as Minato followed up behind him. For a moment the two very different sets of blue eyes met.