After the heavy atmosphere surrounding the old woman's grief had finally settled, Minato and the others stayed to chat with her for a short while. They eventually offered their polite goodbyes and stepped out into the crisp air of Konoha to head home.
"You two go on ahead. I still need to give my formal report to the Old Man at the administrative office."
Tsunade shifted her gaze, catching the sight of Kushina's small, pale hand gripped tightly around Minato's own. A knowing, slightly mischievous smile played on her lips as she watched them.
"Cough—as for me, I am heading straight for the hot springs. Spending all that time in the damp Land of Rain has made me feel like I am literally growing mold."
The sunlight hit the village streets, reflecting off the polished forehead protectors of passing shinobi. It was a peaceful scene, yet the tension between the trio was palpable to anyone paying close attention.
Nawaki stood to the side, his jaw twitching slightly in an awkward grimace as he watched the exchange.
He was fully aware of the deep, fiery feelings Kushina held for Minato, but during their time on the front lines, he had also witnessed the undeniable, quiet ambiguity growing between Minato and Mikoto.
Nawaki might have been a straightforward person who lacked subtlety, but he certainly was not stupid.
He knew that getting caught in the middle of a romantic entanglement involving two powerful kunoichi and a genius like Minato was a recipe for disaster. Getting mixed up in this kind of drama was a quick way to end up in the hospital, or worse.
As he watched Tsunade and Nawaki depart in separate directions, Minato felt a rare flicker of internal panic. He masked it instantly behind his signature calm expression and looked down at the red-haired girl beside him. "Let's head home first, Kushina."
"Mm—"
Kushina gave a small nod, her voice uncharacteristically quiet, and she didn't say another word as they began to walk.
On the path back to their residence, the villagers of Konoha frequently stopped to greet Minato. He was no longer just a talented genin; he was a rising star, a war hero who had brought honor to the leaf. Minato responded to every greeting with a polite smile and a humble wave, playing the part of the village's golden boy to perfection.
Deep down, however, his mind was racing with calculations. He analyzed Kushina's silence, weighing the variables of her temper against the current situation. He needed to maintain his influence over her while navigating the complications of his growing bond with Mikoto.
Soon, the two of them stepped through the front door and returned to the quiet of their home.
Kushina walked silently into the room without removing her gaze from the floor. She sat down at the dining table, puffed out her cheeks in a classic pout, and stared at Minato with an expectant look, as if she were waiting for a confession she already knew was coming.
Seeing this, Minato let out a soft, controlled sigh. He realized that avoiding the conversation would only damage his standing with her. Thinking that the inevitable moment had finally arrived, he pulled out a chair and sat directly opposite her.
Minato took a moment to steady his voice, searching for the precise words to disarm her. "Um—Kushina, there is something important that I feel I need to tell you."
Kushina's shoulders slumped, and her expression turned dejected. "It is about Sister Mikoto, isn't it?"
"Mm—"
Looking at Kushina's visible sadness, Minato felt a momentary pang of genuine guilt. The carefully constructed excuses and logical explanations he had prepared seemed to catch in his throat, silenced by the raw honesty in her eyes.
"Are the two of you in a formal relationship?"
Kushina suddenly snapped her head up. Her eyes were burning with a fierce intensity as she stared directly into Minato's soul, demanding the truth.
Minato quickly held up his hands in a defensive gesture, his movements frantic but calculated. "No, that... not yet—"
Kushina's tone immediately sharpened, her voice rising in pitch. "Then does this mean you don't like me anymore, Minato? Do you just not want to be with me at all?"
Minato shook his head rapidly, his expression softening into one of reassurance. "How could that ever be the case? You know how much you mean to me."
"Whew."
Upon hearing those words, Kushina suddenly let out a massive sigh of relief. The tension drained from her body almost instantly, and her face relaxed into a much more pleasant expression. "Then everything is fine!"
Minato blinked, completely stunned by how quickly her mood had shifted. "? But I thought—"
Smack!
A small, firm fist suddenly collided with Minato's forehead. The impact wasn't enough to hurt a shinobi of his caliber, but the surprise of it left him momentarily dazed.
Kushina pulled her hand back and clenched her fist, her face still slightly tense but no longer angry. "Anyway—now we are even for all the worrying I had to do."
"Kushina—"
Minato rubbed the spot on his forehead, his expression a complex mix of confusion and relief. He had expected an explosion, not a physical punch followed by immediate forgiveness.
"Ah—it feels like it has been ages since I've had a chance to eat your cooking!"
Kushina stood up from the table, interlaced her fingers, and stretched her arms high over her head. She let out a long, dramatic yawn, signaling the end of the conflict.
"I will go buy the groceries for tonight!"
Minato stood up quickly, his gaze turning gentle as he looked at the vibrant red-haired girl. "Do you want to come along with me?"
"Mm—"
Kushina hummed noncommittally, looking away to hide the slight blush on her cheeks. "Let's go call Sister Mikoto too. After all, she is our teammate, and it wouldn't be right to leave her out."
Just as the words left her mouth, a pair of warm hands reached out and gently squeezed Kushina's shoulders from behind.
Feeling the sudden warmth of Minato's embrace, Kushina leaned back slightly. She rubbed her head against his shoulder like a content kitten, finally letting go of the lingering resentment from the trip back.
"Actually, you really don't have to force yourself to be okay with this."
Minato's tone carried a sincere hint of apology. He was a pragmatist, but he recognized that he was technically the one at fault in this social dynamic. He had assumed that with Kushina's fiery personality, she would have been furious, perhaps even refusing to speak to Mikoto ever again.
"Hmph, what choice do I have? Who told you to become so popular, Mr. Hero of Konoha?"
Kushina snorted and curled her lip in a playful pout. "Besides, the romance books say that there isn't a single man alive who isn't a bit of a philanderer. So, I already expected something like this. After all, with your personality—Hmph!"
Minato was genuinely puzzled by her logic. "The romance books say that?"
"It's nothing important!"
Kushina grabbed Minato's wrist with a firm grip and began leading him toward the front door.
She had secretly borrowed several romance novels from Nonou Yakushi earlier, thinking she could use the tips inside to win Minato over. She was far too embarrassed to admit that she was taking dating advice from a book.
"Let's go, it will be dark soon if we don't leave right now!"
The two of them made their way through the village until they reached the gate of the Uchiha Clan Grounds. After asking a few passing clan members for directions, they eventually found the modest home where Mikoto lived.
The doorbell rang, echoing through the house. Within moments, Mikoto ran to the door and pulled it open. She was visibly startled to see Minato and Kushina standing there together.
Seeing Kushina's gaze, which was a volatile mix of lingering anger and sharp scrutiny, Mikoto felt a massive surge of guilt wash over her.
"Kushina—I—"
"Sister Mikoto—"
Kushina drew out the word slowly, her eyelids drooping as she fixed Mikoto with a flat, "dead fish" stare. "You actually went behind my back while I wasn't looking and tried to steal a lead, didn't you?"
"I am truly, deeply sorry!"
Mikoto panicked, her face turning bright red as she bowed her head quickly in apology. "I'm sorry, Kushina. This doesn't have anything to to with Minato-kun, it was all my own—"
"Forget about it, I forgive you already~"
Kushina waved her hand dismissively, cutting off the apology. Mikoto froze in her tracks, completely stunned by the casual response.
"Eh? You do?"
"After all, Minato and I haven't officially established a formal relationship yet. It is mostly just mutual affection at this stage."
Kushina curled her lip, trying to sound more mature than she felt. "Talking about 'first come, first served' doesn't really apply here. At the end of the day, who Minato likes is his own freedom, and I don't really have the standing to criticize his choices. Who told me to be so slow to act on my feelings?"
As she spoke, she turned her head and shot a fierce, warning glare at Minato.
Mikoto stared blankly at the red-haired girl. She couldn't believe that such logical and understanding words were coming from the usually impulsive Kushina.
Feeling the heat of Kushina's glare, Minato laughed softly and waved his hand to ease the tension. On the walk over, he had started to piece together why Kushina was being so lenient.
Since she had first arrived in Konoha as an outsider, Kushina had always been by his side. She was extremely dependent on him for emotional support and social stability.
Three years had passed since they met. Although they hadn't put a label on their bond, they had long since become an inseparable part of each other's daily lives.
With a personality as volatile as Kushina's, of course she was angry. Of course she was feeling hurt and sad.
The only reason she was reacting with such grace was because she valued her connection to Minato more than her own ego. She was making a conscious effort to accommodate his desires so she wouldn't lose him.
"Anyway, do you want to come grocery shopping with us? Minato is going to cook a massive meal for everyone later tonight."
Kushina looked away, her mouth pouting high as she pretended to be strong and unaffected. "After all, we are all teammates in the same squad. It's a team-building exercise—"
"Kushina—"
Mikoto's gaze shifted, lingering on Minato's face for a long moment.
Minato offered her a gentle, reassuring smile. His eyes were filled with a mixture of apology for the awkwardness and expectation for her to join them.
"Alright, I'll come!"
Mikoto nodded happily, the weight of her guilt finally lifting. She quickly put on her shoes and stepped forward, reaching out to take Kushina's hand in hers. "Then let's head out together!"
Feeling the warmth and softness of Mikoto's palm, Kushina felt a bit strange, her heart fluttering with a mix of emotions she couldn't quite name.
But before she could process the thought, Mikoto was already pulling her down the street toward the markets.
Watching the two girls walk ahead of him, Minato felt a heavy stone quietly fall from his heart. A genuine, gentle smile appeared on his lips as he followed them. His plan to maintain harmony within his inner circle was working perfectly.
A short while later, they arrived at the main Shopping Street.
Nawaki, who had just finished his long soak in the hot springs, was walking aimlessly down the sidewalk, his hair still damp.
He couldn't help but wonder how Minato was handling the situation. He half-expected to see Minato being chased through the streets or perhaps already stabbed by an angry Kushina.
With those thoughts in mind, he wandered the streets with no real destination. He didn't dare go home yet; his sister's temper was the last thing he wanted to deal with while things were so tense.
If he was going back to the Senju compound, he wanted to make sure he was under Tsunade's protection.
Suddenly, he stopped dead in his tracks, his eyes widening in pure disbelief.
At the corner of the busy street, he saw Minato, Kushina, and Mikoto. They were standing together at a vegetable stall, picking out groceries while talking and laughing.
Although Kushina would still occasionally pout and shot a quick glare at Minato, the overall atmosphere between the three of them was unexpectedly harmonious. Mikoto walked gracefully beside them, chiming in with a soft laugh every now and then.
Nawaki stared blankly at the scene, his jaw practically hitting the pavement.
Brother, you're truly awesome!
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