WHAT IF NARUTO AND KUSHINA COUGH RED HANDED ONE THE BED

Hello guys, how are you all? Welcome back to my channel. So today we are going to see what if Naruto and Kusha cough red-handed when the bed and subscribe if you enjoy the video and also check the description. So let's begin the story. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across Kanahakur as Narut Uzumaki bounded through the village streets. A triumphant grin plastered across his whiskered face. Training with Kakashi sensei had been cut short. The copy ninja had been summoned for an emergency meeting with the hokag, leaving Nar with an unexpected free afternoon. He'd considered stopping by Ichiaka for a celebratory bowl of ramen. But the rumbling in his stomach reminded him that his mother had promised to make his favorite tonight if he came home early. Perfect timing, he thought, adjusting his headband as he leaped across a rooftop. At 16, Nar had grown considerably from the hyperactive academy student he'd once been. His frame had filled out with muscle from years of intensive training. And while he still maintained his enthusiastic personality, there were moments, brief, shining moments, where actual wisdom seemed to peek through. This would not be one of those moments. The Uzumaki household sat on a quiet street in a respectable neighborhood of Konoha. It was a modest two-story home, nothing extravagant. Despite Minato Namik's being the fourth Hokag, Kusha had insisted on something normal, something that felt like a real home rather than a statement of power. The garden out front bloomed with flowers she tended herself, and the red Uzumaki swirl was painted proudly on the mailbox. Naruto landed on the pathway with practiced ease, barely making a sound despite his energetic approach to most things in life. The front door was unlocked. It usually was during the day. Kusha always said that locking doors was what people did when they didn't trust their village and she trusted Kohaa with her life. After all, she and Minato had nearly given those lives to protect it 16 years ago during the Ninetailes attack. "I'm home," Narudo called out cheerfully, kicking off his sandals in the Jenkin. "The house was quiet, which was unusual. Normally, his mother would be bustling around the kitchen by this time, or his father would be in his study working on the endless paperwork that came with being Hokag. The silence didn't particularly concern him. Maybe they were both out, but his mother's sandals were by the door, and his father's distinctive canai holster hung on its usual hook. Mom, Dad. He padded through the living room in his socks, noting the teacups on the low table. still warm, he discovered when he passed close enough to feel the residual heat. So, they'd been here recently. The house had always felt warm to Nar, filled with the love of parents he'd nearly lost before he could form memories of them. In another timeline, one he sometimes learned about in hushed conversations or through guarded looks from older villagers. He'd grown up alone, ostracized, the ginuriki of the ninetailes without knowing why everyone feared him. But in this world, Minato's desperate gambit had worked differently. The seal had held. The Shinigami had claimed its due, but both his parents had survived. Barely. Those early years had been difficult for them all, he'd been told. Manado had been in a coma for 6 months. Kusha had been so weakened that even walking was difficult for nearly a year. But they'd survived. They'd healed. and they'd raised their son together in a village that saw him as the Hokag's child rather than simply the Ninetailes container. Narudo moved toward the stairs, thinking his parents might be resting. His father occasionally came home early when the paperwork got too tedious, claiming he needed to strategically retreat to regroup his forces, which his mother would tease meant he was playing hookie. The stairs creek softly under his weight, a familiar sound. He'd grown up running up and down these steps, sometimes chased by his mother when he pulled some prank, sometimes racing up them to show his father a new jutzu he'd learned. Their bedroom door was at the end of the hall, slightly a jar. Narudo could hear voices now, his mother's melodic tone, his father's deeper rumble. Though he couldn't make out words, they were probably just talking. Maybe his mother was helping his father get out of his formal hokag robes. He was always complaining about how uncomfortable the ceremonial clothing was. Mom Kakashi sensei canceled training early, so I thought. Naruto pushed open the door as he spoke, his mind already jumping ahead to asking if dinner might be ready sooner than planned. Time seemed to slow in the way it only did during moments of absolute horror. His mother's distinctive red hair, the Uzumaki trademark that he'd unfortunately not inherited, having gotten his father's blonde instead, was spled across a pillow. His father's Hokag coat was definitely off, along with several other articles of clothing that Naruto's brain absolutely refused to catalog. There was a lot of pale skin, movement freezing mid-motion, and worst of all, the identical expressions of complete shock on both of his parents' faces. For one eternal second, nobody moved. Nobody breathed. The universe itself seemed to hold its breath in sympathetic horror. Then Kushina let out a shriek that could probably be heard in Sunaker. Nar Naruto's brain, which could calculate complex combat scenarios and adapt mid battle with surprising tactical acumen, completely shut down. His mouth opened, closed, opened again like a fish gasping for air. I you I didn't he managed his face transforming into a shade of red that would have made a tomato jealous. The door was open. Get out. Kusha grabbed a pillow, hurling it with the strength of a woman who had once restrained the ninetailed fox with adamant chains. Even weakened and mortified, her aim was perfect. Nar dodged on pure instinct, stumbling backward into the hallway. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I didn't see anything. This was, of course, a complete lie, and they all knew it. He had definitely seen things. Things that were now seared into his brain forever. Things he would probably need therapy to process. Manado, to his credit, had managed to pull a blanket over himself and his wife, though his face was nearly as red as his sons. Naruto will just downstairs. We'll talk downstairs. 5 minutes, 10 minutes. Kusha corrected and there was a dangerous edge to her voice that suggested that staying anywhere near this bedroom for another second would result in consequences that would make training with Jeriah look pleasant. Nar didn't need to be told twice. He practically teleported backward, his body moving on automatic pilot. He stumbled down the hallway, nearly tripped on the stairs, and somehow made it to the living room where he collapsed onto the couch, staring at nothing. His brain helpfully began to replay what he'd seen. "No," he told his brain firmly. "We're not doing this. We're not thinking about this. This didn't happen. This is a gen zutsu. Someone's put me under a jen jutzu." Release. Nothing changed. He was still sitting on his parents' couch, having just walked in on his parents in the middle of, "Nope," he said aloud, standing up abruptly. "Maybe he could just leave. He could climb out the window, fake his own death, move to another village, start a new life as a civilian." He'd always thought about learning to be a farmer. Farming was safe. Farmers never walked in on anything awkward. But even as the thought crossed his mind, he heard footsteps on the stairs. His parents were coming. His parents whom he just seen. Not thinking about it, he muttered, sitting back down and staring intensely at a spot on the wall as if he could bore through it with sheer willpower. Kusha entered first, now fully dressed in one of her casual purple outfits. Her long red hair hastily pulled into a ponytail. Her face was still flushed, but the expression she wore was complicated. part embarrassment, part maternal concern, and part something that looked like she was trying very hard not to laugh despite everything. Manado followed, dressed in a simple gray shirt and dark pants, his legendary calm clearly being tested to its absolute limits. His hair, normally perfect, stuck up in a few odd directions. They stood in the living room doorway for a moment, and the silence stretched like taffy. Finally, Kusha cleared her throat. So, so Nar echoed, still staring at the wall. That was Manato began. Don't, Nar interrupted. Please, for the love of all the ramen in the world, don't finish that sentence. Despite everything, Kusha let out a slightly hysterical giggle. It was the kind of laugh that came when a situation was so absolutely mortifying that the only options were laughing or crying, and she'd apparently chosen laughter. That seemed to break something in the tension. Minato's lips twitched and then he was smiling despite himself and then he was chuckling and within seconds all three of them were laughing though Naruto's laughter had a slightly manic edge to it. I cannot believe Kushina gasped between giggles. Your face your absolute face when mo Nar practically wailed. We agreed not to talk about this. We didn't agree to anything. Manado pointed out though he was trying to compose himself. We barely said three words to each other. Kusha wiped tears from her eyes, taking deep breaths to calm herself. "Okay, okay, we need to we should talk about this. I vote for never speaking again," Naruto suggested desperately. "We can communicate through written notes or interpretive dance." "Anything but actually discussing what just happened." His mother moved to sit on the couch beside him. And Naruto instinctively leaned away, which earned him a look. Kusha Uzuaki's looks were legendary. They could stop enemy Nin in their tracks and make grown men reconsider their life choices. Naruto, she said gently. And there was that mom voice that somehow made everything both better and worse. Sweetie, this is awkward. I know. Trust me, I know. I'm pretty sure I'm going to be embarrassed about this until the day I die. That makes two of us," Narudo muttered. Three, Minato added, settling into the armchair across from them. He managed to smooth down his hair, resuming some of his normal composed appearance. "But your mother's right. We should probably address this. Why?" Nar looked between them desperately. "Why can't we just pretend this never happened? I'm great at pretending. I once pretended I didn't eat all the leftover tongue katsu for three whole days before you found the empty container under my bed. We knew after 20 minutes, Kusha informed him. You're terrible at pretending. Naruto deflated slightly. Oh, Minato leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees in that way he did when he was trying to be serious dad rather than Hokag. Nar, you're 16 years old. You're not a child anymore. Even though sometimes your mother and I forget that I don't want to be an adult right now, Naruto said miserably. Adults have to deal with stuff like this. Can I go back to being 12? 12 was good. Nothing terrible happened when I was 12. You nearly died fighting Nizuki when you were 12, his mother reminded him. See, simple times. Kusha reached over and gently turned Naruto's face toward her, forcing him to make eye contact. Her violet eyes were warm, understanding, and still more than a little embarrassed. Listen to me, you knucklehead son of mine. What you walked in on, that's a normal part of adult relationships. A private part, yes, and I'm going to start locking the door from now on. Please do, Naruto interrupted fervently. But it's nothing to be ashamed of. For any of us, she paused. Though you could have knocked, the door was open, Nar protested. I always just come in when the doors open. That's what open doors mean. They mean come in. This is a safe space. Nothing traumatizing is happening here. New house rule. Minato said. Knock on bedroom doors. Even if they're open, especially if they're open. New house rule accepted. Naruto agreed immediately. Enthusiastically accepted. That rule is my new best friend. His mother was watching him with that expression she got sometimes. The one that said she was seeing past his deflection and jokes to what was actually going on underneath. You're really embarrassed, aren't you, Mom? I don't think embarrassed covers it. I think I've transcended embarrassment. I've achieved a new state of being that exists beyond embarrassment. I'm embarrassment incarnate. I'm Naruto. He stopped his rambling and slumped back against the couch. Yeah. Yeah, I'm really embarrassed. Kusha pulled him into a hug and despite being 16 and theoretically too old for mom hugs. Naruto found himself leaning into it. She smelled like lavender and kitchen spices, the scent of home and safety. I know this is weird, she murmured. But you're going to be okay. We're all going to be okay. This is just one of those things that happens in families sometimes. Does it happen in other families? Naruto asked, voice slightly muffled against her shoulder. Please tell me this happens in other families. Oh, definitely, Minato assured him, though most people don't talk about it. I can see why, Nar muttered. They sat like that for a moment. The initial shock and panic fading into something more manageable. The laughter had helped, Nar realized. It had transformed the moment from something horrible into something nearly mortifying, which was somehow better. Finally, he pulled back from his mother's embrace and managed to look at both his parents. "So, are we going to be weird now around each other?" Kusha considered this "Probably for a little while," she admitted. "But we'll get past it. We're family. We've gotten through worse things than awkward moments." "I don't know," Naruto said dubiously. "We're talking about the time you both fought the Ninetailes while I was being born. This might actually be worse. It's definitely not worse, Minato said. But there was amusement in his voice. For you, maybe. Naruto grumbled. You weren't the one who opened the door. His father's expression softened. No, but I was the one whose teenage son saw him in a compromising position. Trust me, that's its own special kind of mortifying. There was something oddly comforting about that. The knowledge that his parents were just as uncomfortable as he was. It made the situation feel more balanced. somehow less like he'd done something wrong and more like they'd all just stumbled into an unfortunate moment together. Can we establish some ground rules going forward? Nar asked. To prevent future incidents, please, both his parents said simultaneously. Okay. Rule one, locks. Locks on doors. Love locks. Believe in locks. Agreed. Kushina said. Rule two, if I come home early, I'm going to shout really loudly from downstairs and wait for confirmation before coming up. That seems excessive, Minato started, but Kushina elbowed him. Rule two accepted, she said firmly. Rule three, we never speak of this again ever to anyone. This conversation is classified at an S-rank level. If someone tries to read our minds to learn about it, we self-destruct. That might be a bit dramatic. His father said, "Dad, I saw things. Things I can never unsee. Things that will haunt me. This isn't dramatic. This is survival." Kusha bit her lip, clearly trying not to laugh again. "Okay, rule three accepted. This incident is now classified information." "Thank you," Narudo said with genuine relief. He paused, then added awkwardly. "And I'm sorry for just barging in. I should have been more careful. His mother ruffled his hair, a gesture she'd been doing since he was small. And we're sorry you had to see that. Parents are supposed to protect their children from traumatic experiences, not cause them. I wouldn't say traumatic, Naruto hedged, then reconsidered. Okay, maybe a little traumatic, but I'll live. Probably. Maybe. We'll see how the nightmares go. You're not going to have nightmares, Minato said with exasperation. Dad, I have nightmares about way less disturbing things. Last week, I had a nightmare that a Churaku ran out of miso. This is definitely nightmare material. The conversation continued as the afternoon light shifted toward evening, the initial horror gradually transforming into something the family could acknowledge and then hopefully moved past. They ordered takeout for dinner. Nobody was in the mood to cook after the day's excitement and ate together in the living room, carefully avoiding any and all topics related to privacy, bedrooms, or closed doors. As Naruto lay in his own bed that night, staring at the ceiling, he reflected on the strange turn his day had taken. He'd started the morning thinking he'd have a normal training session. He'd ended it having experienced what would probably be the most awkward moment of his entire life, but his parents had handled it with grace. he had to admit. They'd been embarrassed, mortified even, but they talked about it, laughed about it, and helped him process it rather than making it worse by pretending it never happened or getting angry at him. This is what family is, he thought. Being there for each other even during the horrible, awkward, embarrassing moments. Maybe, especially during those moments, he still planned to knock very loudly from now on and maybe invest in some of those noiseancelling seals he'd heard about. just in case. But he'd survive this. They all would. Families had been surviving awkward moments since the beginning of time. After all, the Uzumaki family was just carrying on that proud tradition, though he was definitely going to need extra ramen therapy to fully process this. Lots and lots of ramen. The morning after, what Naruto had mentally classified as the incident that shall not be named arrived with all the subtlety of a flashbomb in a library. Sunlight streamed through his bedroom window. Birds chirped outside with a fence of cheerfulness. And somewhere downstairs, he could hear his mother moving around in the kitchen. Naruto groaned and pulled his pillow over his face. He'd actually slept pretty well, despite his earlier predictions of nightmares. Apparently, his brain had decided to protect him by simply refusing to process the previous day's events while he slept. Unfortunately, his brain had now woken up and remembered everything with perfect horrible clarity. Maybe I can just stay in bed forever. He thought people would understand. Sorry, can't come to training today, Kakashi sensei. I'm dying of embarrassment. Yes, it's terminal. No, there's no cure. A knock on his door made him freeze. Naruto. His mother's voice was carefully cheerful. The kind of cheerful that people used when they were trying very hard to act normal. Breakfast is ready. I made your favorite pancakes with red bean paste. Naruto weighed his options. He could pretend to be asleep, but his mother had shinobi senses that could detect a fake sleeping teenager from three rooms away. He could escape out the window, but that would only delay the inevitable. or he could be brave, face his fears, and go downstairs like a mature almost adult. Coming, he called back, then muttered, like a mature almost adult who definitely didn't see anything yesterday. He dressed quickly in his usual orange and black jacket. Some habits died hard and took a moment to give himself a pep talk in the mirror. Okay, Uzumaki, you've faced down enemy N. You've mastered the raisin gan. You've survived Kakashi Sensei's training regiments. You can handle breakfast with your mom. Just act normal. Everything is normal. We are a normal family having a normal breakfast. The pep talk helped approximately 0%. Downstairs, the kitchen was filled with the warm smell of cooking and morning sunshine. Kusha stood at the stove. Her long red hair braided down her back today. Wearing a casual outfit that suggested she wasn't planning to leave the house. The table was set for two. Dad already left? Nar asked, sliding into his usual seat and trying to act like yesterday had never happened. Early meeting with the council, Kusha replied, setting a stack of pancakes in front of him. They were perfectly golden, just the way he liked them, with the red bean paste already warming in a small bowl beside them. He said to tell you he's sorry he missed breakfast and that he expects you to work hard at training today. Right. training. Normal training. On a normal day, Naruto poured what was probably too much red bean paste onto his pancakes and took a large bite to avoid having to talk more. His mother sat across from him with her own plate and a cup of tea. For a few minutes, they ate in silence. Not the comfortable silence they usually shared, but the awkward kind where both people were very aware they weren't talking. Finally, Kushina set down her chopsticks and folded her hands on the table. Okay, we need to talk about yesterday. Nar nearly choked on his pancake. I thought rule three was that we never speak of it again. Rule three was that we never speak of it to anyone else. His mother corrected. But between us, Nar, we can't just pretend it didn't happen. That's not healthy. I'm perfectly happy being unhealthy about this, Naruto insisted. But his mother's expression told him this was a losing battle. Kusha Uzumaki had many strengths. Her chakra chains were legendary. Her ceiling techniques were considered some of the finest in the world. But perhaps her most terrifying ability was her absolute refusal to let uncomfortable topics remain unressed. Where Manado might strategically retreat and hope time would solve the problem, Kusha charged in with all the subtlety of her famous temper. Naruto, she said gently. I know yesterday was embarrassing understatement of the century, but I think we should talk about it. Not about the specific details, she added quickly, seeing him start to panic, but about the bigger picture, about relationships and privacy and growing up. Naruto felt his face heating up. Mom, please, we don't have to do this. I know about stuff. Jeras told me things. Terrible. Terrible things that I can never unknow. Kusha's expression darkened at the mention of Jeriah. That perverted old Toad told you about. She took a breath, visibly calming herself. Okay, first of all, whatever Jeriah told you is probably 90% nonsense and 10% things you're too young to know about. Second, this isn't about the physical mechanics of anything. Then what is it about? Nar asked, desperately hoping they could finish this conversation in the next 30 seconds so he could flee to training and never think about it again. His mother stood up. Get your jacket. We're going out. Out. I'll wear it. Some conversations are best had over Ramen. Nar perked up slightly despite himself. His mother knew his weakness. Ramen made everything better, even conversations about mortifying incidents and the bigger picture. 20 minutes later, they were seated at a Churaku Ramen, the familiar comfort of the small shop wrapping around Naruto like a security blanket. Tuchi, the owner, greeted them with his usual warm smile, and his daughter Aam brought them tea while they waited for their orders. The lunch rush hadn't started yet, so they had the place mostly to themselves. Kusha had chosen the seats at the far end of the counter away from the entrance. Maximum privacy for what was clearly going to be an excruciating conversation. So Kusha began once Ayam had delivered their ramen. Miso for Nar. Show you for herself. Let's talk about yesterday. Nar slurped his noodles loudly, hoping that if he was eating, he couldn't be expected to talk. His mother waited patiently, sipping her tea. Finally, Narudo swallowed and set down his chopsticks. "Mom, I really don't know what you want me to say. It was awkward. It's still awkward. Can't we just move on? We will move on," Kusha assured him. "But I want to make sure you're okay first." "That you understand that what you saw was perfectly normal and nothing to be ashamed of. I'm not ashamed," Naruto said quickly. "I'm just extremely uncomfortable and wishing it had never happened. That's fair, his mother acknowledged. I wish it hadn't happened either, believe me. But since it did, I want to make sure you know that adult relationships, healthy adult relationships, include physical intimacy. Your father and I love each other very much, and that's part of how we express that love. Naruto made a sound that might have been agreement or might have been distress. It was hard to tell. And someday, Kusha continued, her voice gentle. You'll have relationships like that, too, with someone you care about, someone you trust, and it'll be a good thing, a wonderful thing even, not something weird or embarrassing. Can we not talk about my future relationships right now? Nar pleaded. One crisis at a time, please. His mother smiled. Fair enough. But I want you to know that you can talk to me about this stuff. not just about yesterday, but about relationships in general, about girls you like or questions you have or anything. Naruto focused very intently on his ramen. I appreciate that. But also, the idea of discussing girls I like with my mom is almost as mortifying as yesterday was, more mortifying than talking to Jeriah about them. Naruto considered this different kind of mortifying. Jeriah's version involves way too many inappropriate comments and usually ends with him trying to take me to places I definitely shouldn't go. Your version would probably involve you interrogating any girl I showed interest in and possibly threatening them with chakra chains. I would not. Kusha started then paused. Okay, I might. But only if they didn't treat you right. Despite himself, Narut laughed. See, this is why I don't talk about this stuff, but you should. his mother insisted. Naruto, I know I can be a bit overprotective sometimes. Sometimes, but I'm your mother. I want to know what's going on in your life, and I want you to feel like you can come to me with anything, no matter how awkward or uncomfortable. Naruto finally looked up at her, meeting her eyes. In them, he saw genuine concern mixed with lingering embarrassment and a fierce protective love that had been there since the day he was born. His mother had nearly died to keep him safe. She'd survived impossible odds to be part of his life. The least he could do was have this awkward conversation with her. "Okay," he said quietly. "I get it, and I I do appreciate it. Even if it's uncomfortable, Kushner reached over and squeezed his hand." "That's all I ask. Now, eat your ramen before it gets cold." They ate in companionable silence for a few minutes. The tension from earlier finally starting to dissipate. Nar was halfway through his second bowl. He'd ordered a second one immediately after finishing the first when his mother spoke again. Can I ask you something? Nar looked up wearily. Depends on what it is. Are you seeing anyone romantically? I mean, and there it was. The question he'd been dreading. Mom, I'm just curious. You're 16 now. Most boys your age are interested in someone. I just want to know if there's a special girl in your life. Naruto's mind immediately conjured an image of Sakura. Pink hair, green eyes, and absolutely zero romantic interest in him whatsoever. Then there was Hinata, who'd been kind to him since they were kids, but was so shy she could barely speak around him. And sometimes when he wasn't thinking about it too hard, he noticed other girls at the academy or around the village, but nothing that felt like the big dramatic romance the books always described. There's no one specific, he admitted. I mean, I like girls in theory, but I'm pretty focused on training and missions right now. Kusha studied him with that mom look that suggested she could see right through him. What about Sakura? You used to talk about her all the time. Naruto winced. Yeah, well, Sakura is great, but she's not interested in me like that. She's got a thing for Sasuke, and honestly, I think I was more interested in the idea of her than actually her, you know, like she was the pretty popular girl, so of course I thought I liked her. But we're friends now, and that's that's good. His mother nodded thoughtfully. That's very mature of you to recognize that. I have my moments, Naruto said with a small smile. Don't tell anyone though. I have a reputation to maintain. Your secrets safe with me. Kusha took a sip of her tea, then added casually. What about Hinata? Narut nearly dropped his chopsticks. Hinata? Why would you bring up Hinata? Oh, no reason. His mother said innocently. Just that she's a sweet girl who clearly cares about you. I've seen the way she looks at you. Hinata's nice, Naruto said carefully, feeling his face heat up. She's always been nice to me, but I don't think she I mean, we're just friends. Probably. I think you think she gets really quiet around me, Naruto explained, and sometimes she acts kind of weird. I always figured I made her nervous or something because, you know, I can be a lot. Kusha made a sound that might have been a suppressed laugh. Oh, my sweet oblivious son. What's that supposed to mean? Nothing, his mother said. But she was definitely smiling now. Just that you might want to pay more attention to how people act around you. Girls especially, Narut frowned. I pay attention. Uh-huh. Tell me, has Hinata ever fainted when you talk to her? Well, yeah, a few times. But that's because she has those weird fainting spells. She's always been kind of frail. Now, his mother was definitely laughing. Naruto, I love you, but you're completely hopeless when it comes to reading romantic signals. What are you talking about? Cushionis shook her head fondly. Never mind. You'll figure it out eventually. Or someone will have to spell it out for you in very small words. You're being cryptic, Naruto accused. I don't like it when you're cryptic. I'm being a mother, she corrected. There's a difference. Some things you need to figure out on your own, Nar grumbled, but returned to his ramen. After a moment, he asked, "Can I ask you something now?" "Of course." "How did you know dad was the one?" "Like, how did you know you wanted to be with him?" Kusha's expression softened, becoming distant with memory. That's a good question. I think I think I knew because he saw me, not just the ninetailes ginuriki, not just the girl with weird hair and a short temper. He saw me, Kusha, and he liked what he saw. He made me feel safe and understood and valued. "That sounds nice," Naruto said quietly. "It is," his mother agreed. "Your father isn't perfect. Nobody is. But he's perfect for me. We balance each other out. He's calm when I'm chaotic. I'm passionate when he's too reserved. We make each other better." Naruto thought about that. "Is that what I should look for? Someone who makes me better? Someone who makes you want to be better?" Kusha corrected. There's a difference. You shouldn't need someone else to complete you. You're already complete on your own. But the right person will inspire you to grow, to improve, to reach higher, and you'll do the same for them. That sounds complicated. It is, his mother admitted. Relationships are complicated, but they're also wonderful. Worth all the complications. They finished their ramen and Kusha paid despite Naruto's protests that he had money from his last mission. My treat, she insisted. Consider it an apology for yesterday's incident. As they walked back through the village, Nar felt lighter somehow. The conversation had been awkward, yes, but not as terrible as he'd feared. And his mother had actually given him some things to think about, about relationships, about what he wanted, about paying more attention to the people around him. "Mom," he said as they approached their house. Yes, thanks for talking to me about all this. Even though it was uncomfortable, Kusha pulled him into a quick hug right there on the street, not caring who saw. That's what I'm here for, kiddo. The comfortable stuff and the uncomfortable stuff both. Can we be done with uncomfortable stuff for a while, though? Absolutely. I think we've hit our quota for the month. They were almost to the front door when Naruto suddenly stopped. Wait, you said Hinata looks at me in a certain way. What way? His mother's smile was mischievous. Like I said, you'll figure it out. Or someone will spell it out for you. That's not helpful. It's very helpful. You're just not seeing it yet. Nar groaned as they entered the house. But there was no real frustration in it. His mother was being deliberately mysterious, which meant she wanted him to figure something out on his own. It was annoying, but it was also kind of nice. She trusted him to work it out, though he had absolutely no idea what he was supposed to be working out. Girls were complicated. Hinata was nice, but acted weird around him. "His mother thought this meant, something significant, and somehow he was supposed to figure out what that meant. I'm going to need more ramen to process all this," he muttered. "You just had three bowls. Emotional processing ramen is different from regular ramen, Mom. It's a medical necessity. Kusha laughed and the sound filled their home with warmth. Yesterday had been mortifying. This morning had been awkward, but somehow they made it through together. And Naruto felt closer to his mother than he had in a while. Even if she was being annoyingly cryptic about Hinata. He'd figure that out later. Right now, he had training with Team 7. and Kakashi sensei was probably already late to their meeting point, which meant Naruto had at least another hour before he actually had to show up. Time enough for maybe one more bowl of ramen for emotional processing purposes, of course, completely medical. His mother didn't need to know. Training that afternoon was mercifully normal. Kakashi was indeed late. Something about helping an old lady with her groceries, though the excuse changed every time he told it. Sakura was focused on perfecting a new medical ninjutsu she'd been learning from sununade sama. And Sasuke was his usual brooding self, though he did manage a grunt of acknowledgement when Naruto arrived. Everything was blessedly perfectly normal until Hinata walked by. Teammate was finishing up their own training nearby. And as they passed by, Hinata caught sight of Narut. Her pale lavender eyes widened. Her face turned bright red and she gave a small squeak before hiding behind Ka. What was that about? Nar asked genuinely confused. Ka laughed. Hinata being Hinata. She's so weird around you, man. I don't get it. I've never done anything to her. Sakura made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a suppressed laugh. You really don't see it, do you? See what? Why does everyone keep saying that today? Even Sasuke smirked slightly. You're hopeless though. What? Naruto looked between his teammates in frustration. "What am I not seeing?" "Nothing," Sakura said quickly, though her eyes sparkled with amusement. "Don't worry about it," Narudo wanted to press the issue. But Kakashi chose that moment to finally arrive, and the conversation shifted to training exercises. But throughout the afternoon, as they practiced kai techniques and worked on their teamwork drills, Naruto found his mind wandering. His mother's words echoed in his head. Pay more attention to how people act around you. Girls especially, Hinata had always acted strange around him. Quiet, blushing, sometimes fainting. He'd always thought he made her nervous, his loud personality overwhelming her shy nature. But what if? No, no way. Hinata was nice, but she couldn't possibly, could she? Nar, focus. Kakashi's voice cut through his thoughts as a kunai whistled past his ear. Right. Focusing. Very focused. He pushed the thoughts aside for now. There would be time to figure out whatever weird thing was going on with Anata later. Right now, he had training to focus on. But as he practiced, launching himself through the air with a raisin gan forming in his palm, he couldn't help but wonder if maybe, just maybe, he'd been missing something obvious all along. His mother certainly seemed to think so. And his mother was rarely wrong about people. I'll pay more attention, he decided. Starting tomorrow. When my brain isn't still trying to forget about yesterday, one crisis at a time. That was a good life philosophy. one crisis at a time. The next morning brought rain. Not the gentle spring drizzle that Naruto found peaceful, but the heavy, persistent downpour that seemed determined to make everyone in Kenoha miserable. Water cascaded off rooftops, turned the streets into rushing streams, and made the prospect of outdoor training approximately as appealing as volunteering for one of Ibiki's interrogation demonstrations. Naturally, this was when Minato decided father-son training was essential. You've got to be kidding me, Naruto groaned when his father appeared in his doorway at 6:00 in the morning. Already dressed in training clothes and looking far too energetic for someone who should still be asleep. Shinobi don't get to choose the weather conditions during missions, Minato said cheerfully. Besides, rain training builds character. I have plenty of character. I'm overflowing with character. I could donate character to people who need it. Get dressed. I'll meet you downstairs in 5 minutes. Nar considered arguing further, but his father had already disappeared. Probably using the herratation to teleport directly to the kitchen because apparently even walking downstairs normally was too slow for the yellow flash of Kenoha. "At least this means I won't have to deal with any more awkward conversations," Nar thought as he dragged himself out of bed. "We'll be too busy training to talk about feelings or incidents or anything else uncomfortable. This assumption would prove to be wildly incorrect." Training ground 7 was a soggy mess. The posts where team seven usually practiced were slick with rain. The grass had transformed into a muddy swamp and the trees dripped water with almost malicious consistency. It was, in short, completely miserable. Manado stood in the center of it all, apparently immune to discomfort. His blonde hair plastered to his head and his training clothes already soaked through. He looked like a recruiting poster for reasons to become Hokag. mandatory suffering. "Okay," Nar said as he approached, already regretting every decision that had led to this moment. "What fresh torture are we starting with?" His father smiled. "We're working on your reaction time and spatial awareness. I'm going to use the herration to attack from different angles, and you need to defend yourself in the rain. The rain adds an element of unpredictability. You'll need to track my movements while also compensating for reduced visibility and slippery footing. Or Naruto suggested, "We could do this literally any other day when it's not raining." Where's the fun in that? Before Naruto could respond, his father vanished. A canal with a distinctive three-prong design flew past Naruto's head, and suddenly Minato was behind him, foot sweeping toward his legs. Naruto jumped, barely avoiding the attack, and summoned a shadow clone to counter. They fell into the familiar rhythm of training. Attack, defend, counter, adapt. Despite the miserable conditions, Nar found himself getting into the flow of it. There was something almost meditative about fighting in the rain. The sound of water drumming against the ground, drowning out everything else. For about 20 minutes, they trained in focused silence. Then, Minato called for a break. Your reaction time is improving," his father said as they sat under one of the larger trees, which provided minimal shelter from the rain. "But you're still telegraphing your movements with your shoulders." "I know, I know." Kakashi sensei keeps telling me the same thing." Manato pulled out a canteen of water because apparently they weren't already wet enough and took a drink before offering it to Nar. So, how are you doing after everything? And there it was. the awkward conversation Naruto had been trying to avoid. "I'm fine," he said quickly. "Totally fine. We don't need to talk about it. Your mother said she talked to you yesterday." "Yep, we talked. It was very informative and also excruciating. Can we move on now?" Minato was quiet for a moment, watching the rain. When he spoke again, his voice was careful. "I know this is uncomfortable, Nar. It's uncomfortable for me, too. But I'm your father. I need to make sure you're okay. I'm okay. I promise. Mom and I talked. We established new house rules. Everything's fine. House rules are good. His father agreed. But I'm not just talking about preventing future incidents. I'm talking about making sure you understand context about adult relationships and what you saw. Naruto groaned and let his head fall back against the tree trunk. Dad, please. Mom already gave me the talk. I don't think I can handle the same conversation twice in 2 days. This isn't the same conversation, Minato said. Your mother talked to you from a mother's perspective. I want to talk to you from a father's perspective. Is there a difference? Absolutely. Naruto sighed in defeat. Okay, fine. What's the father's perspective? His father was quiet for a long moment, seeming to gather his thoughts. The rain continued its steady drum beat around them, creating a bubble of relative privacy in the middle of the training ground. When I was your age, Minato began. I thought I understood everything about relationships. I'd read books, listened to Jeras, colorful stories, observed couples around the village. I thought I was prepared for when I eventually met someone special. Were you not even close? His father admitted with a slight smile. Your mother was is unlike anyone I'd ever met. Fierce, passionate, stubborn, kind, powerful. She challenged every assumption I had about what a relationship should be. Naruto listened, curious despite himself. His parents rarely talked about how they'd gotten together beyond the basic story of his father saving his mother from kidnappers and her declaring he'd be her boyfriend after that. The thing is, Minato continued, "Relationships aren't something you can learn from books or stories. They're messy and complicated and require constant work, but they're also the most rewarding thing you'll ever experience. That's kind of what mom said." "Your mother is usually right," his father said diplomatically. "But what I want you to understand, what I need you to understand is that what you saw the other day was an expression of love and trust and intimacy between two people who've built a life together. It wasn't something shameful or wrong. I know that intellectually, Naruto said. But it's still really weird to think about my parents doing that. I understand. And when you eventually have children of your own, they'll feel the same way about you and your partner. Naruto made a face. Can we not jump to me having children? I'm 16. I haven't even figured out the girlfriend part yet. Minato laughed. Fair enough. But my point stands. What your mother and I have, what we share is part of a healthy, loving relationship. And someday when you find someone special, you'll understand that aspect of relationships too. Mom gave me a similar speech yesterday. Naruto said about finding someone who makes you want to be better. Your mother's wisdom strikes again, his father said with genuine affection in his voice. Did she also interrogate you about your love life? extensively. She brought up Sakura and Hinata and made all these cryptic comments about me being oblivious. Something flickered across his father's face. Amusement mixed with understanding. "Ah, well, your mother does enjoy being mysterious sometimes. Do you know what she was talking about?" Nar asked hopefully. "Because everyone keeps saying I'm missing something obvious, but nobody will tell me what it is." Minato stood up, stretching. That's not something I can tell you. You need to figure it out yourself. Why does everyone keep saying that? Because some lessons need to be learned firsthand, his father said. But I will give you one piece of advice. Pay attention to how people act around you versus how they act around others. That will tell you a lot. That's what mom said. Like I said, your mother is usually right. They resumed training, but the earlier intensity had faded into something more measured. His father focused on teaching him a new variation of the raising gan, one that could be maintained while moving at high speed, which was apparently a technique Minato had been developing before the Ninetailes attack. The key is to split your focus, his father explained, demonstrating with a glowing blue sphere of chakra in his palm. Part of your mind maintains the rotation and compression, while another part handles movement and spatial awareness. Narudo tried it, forming his own raisin gan and then attempting to run. This fear immediately destabilized and fizzled out. This is harder than it looks. Most worthwhile things are, Minato said. Try again, and this time, don't think about it so much. Let your body remember the movements while your mind stays relaxed. They worked on it for another hour with Naruto making slow but steady progress. By the time his father called for another break, he could maintain the raisin gan for about three steps before it collapsed. Not impressive, but better than his initial attempts. You're thinking too hard, his father observed as they sat down again. You need to trust your instincts more. Kakashi sensei says, "I rely on my instincts too much and need to think more." Kakashi sensei is teaching you strategy and tactics. Manado said that's different. In combat, you need both the ability to plan and adapt, but also the ability to act without hesitation when the moment demands it. Nar nodded, filing that away. Then surprising himself, he asked, "Dad, can I ask you something personal?" "Of course." "How did you know you wanted to marry mom?" "Like specifically, what was the moment?" His father looked at him with surprise. Then a slow smile spread across his face. "That's an interesting question. What brought that on? I don't know, Naruto admitted. I guess after yesterday and talking with mom and everything, I've been thinking about relationships more about what I want eventually. Minato leaned back against the tree, his expression distant with memory. There wasn't one specific moment, he said. It was more like a gradual realization. We were on a mission together. This was before we were officially dating, though your mother had already declared I was her boyfriend. She told me about that," Naruto said with a grin. "After you saved her from those cloud ninja, "Yes, well, your mother has never been subtle about her feelings," his father said with affection. "Anyway, we were on this mission and things went wrong. We got separated from our team. We were low on supplies and we had enemy mean tracking us. We should have been terrified, but instead, I remember looking at her, covered in mud and exhausted and still ready to fight. and I realized I wanted to spend the rest of my life seeing that determination, that fire. That's kind of romantic, Naruto said in a weird battle focused way. Your mother brings out the romantic in me, his father said simply. Even in the middle of combat, that's when I knew when I realized that I couldn't imagine my future without her in it. Every plan I made, every goal I set, she was part of it. And when I thought about growing old, it was her I imagined growing old with. Narudo was quiet processing this. How old were you? 17, his father said. Just a year older than you are now. And you were sure that young when you know you know. Manado said, "Though I'll admit, I didn't propose right away. I waited until we were both 18, until we'd survived the war. Until I felt like I could actually offer her a future rather than just uncertainty. Was she surprised when you proposed? His father laughed. Not even slightly. She told me she'd been waiting for me to get around to it and threatened to propose herself if I took much longer. That sounds like mom that I asked your mother. Manado corrected. Impatient forward absolutely terrifying when she wants something. I never stood a chance. They sat in comfortable silence for a moment. The rain finally starting to ease up. Through the clouds, hints of sunlight were beginning to break through, "Dad," Nar said quietly. "Thanks for talking to me about this. I know it's probably weird for you, too." "It is," his father admitted. "But less weird than I expected. You're growing up, Nar. You're not a kid anymore. You're a young man, and that means having these kinds of conversations, even when they're uncomfortable. I guess I should probably get used to uncomfortable conversations," Naruto said. They seem to be a theme lately. Wait until you have teenagers of your own, his father said with a grin. Then you'll really understand uncomfortable. Okay, seriously, everyone needs to stop jumping to me having kids. I'm still trying to figure out the basics here. Manado stood up, offering his hand to pull Naro to his feet. Fair enough. But speaking of basics, we should probably head home. Your mother is making lunch and if we're late, she'll assume something terrible happened and level half the village looking for us. Also a very mom thing to do. Naruto agreed. They began the walk back to the village. Both of them soaked through but somehow in better spirits than when they'd arrived. The rain had stopped completely now and steam was beginning to rise from the warming ground as the sun broke through the clouds. Nar, his father said as they walked. One more thing. Yeah. When you do find someone special, whether that's soon or years from now, bring them home to meet us. Your mother and I want to know the important people in your life. So, mom can interrogate them and you can subtly threaten them with the herration. Exactly. His father said without a hint of shame. That's what parents do, Naruto laughed, and the sound echoed across the empty training ground. Despite everything, the awkward incident, the uncomfortable conversations, the brutal early morning training in the rain, he felt closer to his father than he had in a long time. His father wasn't just the Hokag, the legendary yellow flash, or the man who'd sealed the Ninetales. He was a person who'd been 16 once, who'd fallen in love, who'd made mistakes and figured things out as he went along, just like Naruto was doing now. Hey, Dad. Naruto said as they reached the village streets. Yes, I'm glad yesterday happened. I mean, not glad. Glad because it was horrible and I'm still traumatized, but glad because it meant we got to talk like this about real stuff. His father put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing gently. Me too, son. Me, too. They walked the rest of the way in companionable silence. Two generations of Uzumaki Namik's men, slightly less traumatized than they'd been 2 days ago and significantly more soaked. When they arrived home, Kusha took one look at them and sideighed. You two are dripping all over my clean floors. It was characterbuilding rain, Minato said solemnly. Character building my ass. Get out of those clothes before you catch cold. Both of you and Nar. She pointed at him with a ladle she'd somehow acquired. There's someone here to see you. Someone? Nar echoed, confused. Who? Hinata Huga. She's waiting in the living room said something about team 8 being assigned a joint mission with team 7 and needing to discuss details. Naruto's brain immediately shortcircuited. Hinata was here in his house waiting for him while he looked like a drowned rat. His mother's cryptic comments from yesterday suddenly seemed very relevant. Pay attention to how people act around you. I'll just go change, he said, aware that his voice had gone up half an octave. Be right back. 5 minutes, maybe 10. Maybe I'll just move to another country. Don't be dramatic, his mother said, but she was smiling knowingly. Go get dry clothes and then come talk to your teammate. She's been waiting very patiently. As Naruto fled upstairs, he heard his father murmur to his mother. You planned this, didn't you? I have no idea what you're talking about, Kusha replied, her voice full of barely suppressed laughter. I'm just a concerned mother making sure her son's teammate gets the information she needs. Uh-huh. Though, if certain oblivious teenagers finally start paying attention to certain Shy Huda girls, well, that would just be a happy coincidence. Naruto groaned from his bedroom. His parents were the worst. The absolute worst. But as he changed into dry clothes and tried to make his hair look less like a bird's nest, he couldn't help but smile slightly. Maybe paying attention wouldn't be so bad. Maybe there were some things worth being uncomfortable for. Maybe, just maybe, his mother was usually right. He took a deep breath, checked his reflection one more time, and headed downstairs to face whatever fresh awkwardness awaited him. One crisis at a time. That was still a good philosophy even when the crisis seemed to be multiplying exponentially. Hinata Huga sat primly on the Uzumaki family couch. Her hands folded in her lap, her lavender eyes fixed on a spot approximately 3 in above the coffee table. She looked like she was attending a formal diplomatic meeting rather than waiting to discuss mission details with the teammate. She also looked like she might pass out at any moment. Are you sure you don't want some tea, dear? Kusha asked, her voice warm and encouraging. She'd positioned herself in the adjacent armchair like a protective guardian, though whether she was protecting Hinata from awkwardness or orchestrating said awkwardness was unclear. And no, thank you, Uzuaki Sama. Hinata managed, her voice barely above a whisper. I'm fine. Please call me Kusha. Naruto's mother insisted. We're practically family. What with you and Nar being on allied teams? Hinata's face turned an impressive shade of red at the word family. I that's thank you. Kusha's smile could only be described as matchmaker victorious. From upstairs, there was a crash followed by Naruto's muffled cursing. Hinata jumped slightly and Kushina just shook her head fondly. That boy, she said with exaggerated exasperation. He's probably trying to style his hair or something ridiculous. as if Hinata hasn't seen him covered in mud and blood dozens of times. I do don't mind, Hinata said quickly. "I mean, Naruto can take all the time he needs. I'm not in a hurry. I have nowhere else to be. I'm completely free. Not that I'm free because I don't have friends or activities. I just meant I know what you meant," Kushina said gently, taking pity on the poor girl. And for what it's worth, I think you're very sweet to come all the way here to discuss mission details rather than just waiting until tomorrow's team meeting. Hinata looked down at her hands. Kakashi sensei s said it was important that team leaders coordinate before the official briefing. And since Karina sensei is on a mission, Kakashi sensei is well, he's Kakashi sensei always late. Kushina filled in. That man would be late to his own funeral. Despite her nervousness, Hinata smiled slightly at that. Footsteps thundered down the stairs and Naruto appeared in the doorway, having changed into clean clothes. His usual orange and black jacket over a dark shirt. His hair was still damp but no longer dripping, and his face bore the slightly panicked expression of someone who just realized they had no idea what they were doing. "Hey, Hinata," he said with forced casualness. Sorry for making you wait. I was just training with dad in the rain, so I was wet. I mean, my clothes were wet, so I changed them into dry clothes, which I'm wearing now. From her chair, Kushina made a sound that might have been a cough or might have been suppressed laughter. Hinata stood up quickly, clutching a scroll to her chest like a protective talisman. and Naruto. Thank you for singing me. I know this is sudden. I should have sent word ahead. I'm sorry for I intruding. You're not intruding, Nar said quickly. You're totally welcome here. Anytime. Our door is always open. Well, mostly open. Sometimes it's closed. We've been working on that actually. Kusha stood up smoothly. I'm going to go help Minato with lunch. You two discuss your mission details. Take your time. She paused in the doorway, adding innocently. And Nar, remember what we talked about. Pay attention. Naruto's face went red. Mom, but she was already gone. Her laughter echoing from the kitchen. An awkward silence descended on the living room. Nar and Hinata stood approximately 6 ft apart, both acutely aware of the sudden absence of a chaperon and having no idea how to proceed. So Naruto said finally mission details. Yes, Hinata said with obvious relief at having a concrete topic to discuss. Kakashi sensei said that team seven and 8 will be working together on a joint reconnaissance mission near the Fire River border. There have been reports of unusual chakra signatures and they want multiple tracking specialists on site. She handed him the scroll and their fingers brushed briefly during the exchange. Hinata jerked her hand back as if burned, her face flushing an even deeper red. Naruto, following his mother's advice about paying attention, actually noticed this time and noticed that Hinata's reactions around him were unusual. She didn't act this jumpy around other people. He'd seen her interact with Ka and Shino. She was quiet with them too, but not nervous quiet, more like comfortable quiet with him. She acted like she was always on the verge of flight. "Are you okay?" he asked concerned. "You seemed kind of tense." "I'm fine," Hinata said quickly. "Too quickly. Completely fine. Normal levels of fine. Why would I not be fine?" "I don't know. You just seem uncomfortable, Naruto said, trying to be helpful. Did I do something wrong? If I did, you can tell me. I won't be upset. Hinata looked like she wanted the floor to swallow her hole. You didn't do anything wrong, Naruto. You never do anything wrong. I mean, you do wrong things sometimes, but that's normal. Everyone makes mistakes. I make so many mistakes. I'm making one right now, probably. Naruto blinked, trying to parse that statement. I'm pretty sure you're not making a mistake. I should go, Hinata said abruptly, moving toward the door. I delivered the scroll. That's what I came to do. Mission accomplished. I should definitely go now before. Wait, Naruto said, stepping forward. You don't have to leave. I mean, if you want to leave, that's fine. But you don't have to. We could talk about the mission or other stuff. Hinata froze, her hand on the door frame. For a long moment, she was perfectly still. Then, so quietly, Nar almost missed it. Other stuff? Yeah, Naruto said, feeling braver. Like, I don't know. How's your training going? I heard you've been working on some new gentle fist techniques. Slowly, Hinata turned back to face him. Her expression was cautiously hopeful like a wild animal being offered food and not sure if it was a trap. You you heard about my training? Ka mentioned it. Nar admitted. He said you've been working really hard that you're getting a lot stronger. Something shifted in Hinata's expression. Surprise mixed with pleasure and just a hint of pride. I am trying, she said, her voice still soft but slightly steadier. I want to be as someone worthy of standing beside my teammates. Someone who can protect the people important to me. That's really cool. Naruto said genuinely. I'm always trying to get stronger, too. It's like no matter how much progress you make, there's always further to go, you know. Hinata nodded. And for the first time since arriving, she seemed to relax slightly. Yes, exactly. Though sometimes it feels like I'm not progressing fast enough. like everyone else is moving forward while I'm standing still. I totally get that," Naruto said, moving back to the couch and gesturing for her to sit. "To his surprise," she did, perching on the edge of the cushion like a bird, ready to take flight at any moment, he sat in the chair his mother had vacated, maintaining a respectful distance. Sometimes I watch Sasuke or Niji or even Sakura and it feels like they're naturally talented and I'm just working twice as hard to keep up. But you're a amazing Naruto Hinata said then seemed to realize what she'd said and pressed her fingers together nervously. I mean your progress has been incredible. Everyone says so. You've mastered techniques that most Jonan struggle with. Naruto felt his face heat up at the genuine admiration in her voice. Well, I've had good teachers and I've got the Ninetailes chakra to help, even if it's sealed. That gives me an advantage. You work harder than anyone I know, Hinata insisted. And there was surprising firmness in her soft voice. The Ninetailes chakra is just a tool. You're the one who's learned to use it. You're the one who never gives up no matter how difficult things get. That's all you, Naruto. They looked at each other for a moment and Naruto felt something shift in his perception. He'd always thought of Hinata as the shy girl from the Huga clan, someone he knew peripherilally but not well. But sitting here now listening to her speak with such conviction about his abilities, he realized he'd been overlooking her. Pay attention to how people act around you. His mother had said acted nervous around him. Yes. But she also looked at him with admiration. Respect. something else he couldn't quite identify, but that made his chest feel warm. "Thank you," he said quietly. "That means a lot. Actually, I don't think people usually notice how hard I work. They just see the results, not all the training that went into it." "I notice," Hinata said, then quickly added, "I mean, your teammates notice. Everyone who trains with you notices. It's very noticeable." From the kitchen came the distinct sound of Kusha dropping something followed by Manato's low murmur and his mother's response of I'm not spying I'm cooking. Both teens pretended not to hear. So this mission Naruto said trying to get back to safer territory. What exactly are we looking for? Hinata seemed grateful for the subject change. She pulled out another smaller scroll from her jacket pocket. The reports indicate unusual chakra signatures near the old mining outpost at the border. Not human signatures, something different. The mission is to investigate and determine if it's a threat. What kind of different? The reports aren't see clear, Hinata admitted, but the pattern suggests it might be related to summoning jutzu or possibly ancient ceiling techniques. That's why they want both teams. Team seven for combat ability and your father's sealing knowledge. teammate for tracking and reconnaissance. When do we leave? Day after tomorrow, Hinata said. Early morning. It's expected to be a three-day mission, possibly longer if we encounter complications. Nar nodded, his mind already running through preparations. Okay, I'll make sure I'm ready. Should we coordinate our gear? Make sure we've got compatible supplies. That's be very practical of you, Narudokuin, Hinata said looking surprised. Hey, I can be practical sometimes, Naruto protested goodnaturedly. I'm not just all ramen and raising gan, you know. Hinata smiled, a real genuine smile that transformed her whole face. I know you're much more than that. Before Naruto could respond to that oddly intense statement, there was a knock at the door. I'll get it. Kusha called from the kitchen. appearing with suspicious speed. She opened the door to reveal Ka and Isuka with Aimeu perched on his head and behind them, Shino Abirim. "Hey, Hinata," Ka called out cheerfully. "We figured you might still be here." Karina sensei got back early and wants to do a team meeting about that. He stopped, looking between Naruto and Hinata with sudden interest. "Wait, are we interrupting something?" No, both teens said simultaneously far too quickly to be convincing. Ka's grin turned absolutely feral. Oh man, we are totally interrupting something. Shino, we're interrupting something. It would appear that way. Shino agreed in his usual monotone. Though whether we should leave or stay is unclear. My insects suggest that departing would be the polite course of action. Your insects are wrong, Ka said cheerfully, stepping inside without invitation. This is way too interesting to leave. Kusha, still standing by the door, looked torn between being a responsible adult who should send the boys away and being an invested mother who wanted to see how this played out. We were Jay just discussing mission details, Hata said, standing up quickly. Nothing else, just missions. Very professional mission discussions. Uh-huh. Ka said clearly not believing a word of it. That why you're both bright red. We were training in the rain," Naruto said defensively. "It was cold. We're just warming up. Completely normal face warming because of rain and cold." Shino pushed up his glasses. "The correlation between outdoor precipitation and indoor facial flushing seems scientifically questionable." "Nobody asked you, bug boy," Narudo muttered. Aimero barked something that sounded suspiciously like laughter. Hinata looked like she desperately wanted to activate her bakugan tunnel through the floor and escape through the village's underground water system. I should go team meeting. Very important. Can't be late. Yeah, let's go. Ka agreed, but his grin suggested this conversation was far from over. But Naruto, we're going to talk later about mission details. The way he said mission details made it very clear he wasn't talking about missions at all. As teammate departed with a nod of practically fleeing and KBA looking like Christmas had come early, Kusha closed the door and turned to her son with undisguised glee. So she said that went well. Mom, nothing happened. Narudo insisted. We just talked about the mission. Uh-huh. And that's why Hinata looked like she wanted to both stay forever and escape immediately. She's just shy. Oh, my sweet oblivious son, Kushina said, patting his cheek. You really don't see it, do you? See what? Nar practically wailed. Why does everyone keep saying that? His mother just smiled and headed back to the kitchen, leaving Nar standing in the living room, more confused than ever. The next day, Nar learned that Kiba Inuzuka could not keep a secret to save his life. By lunchtime, half of their age group seemed to know that Hinata had visited Naruto's house. By mid-afternoon, rumors were circulating about why. And by evening training, the speculation had reached truly absurd levels. So, I heard you and Hinata are dating now, Sakura said casually as they practiced canai throwing. Narly dropped his canai. What? No. Who said that? Eno heard it from Ka who apparently walked in on you two having a moment. There was no moment. We were discussing mission details. That's what they all say. Sasuke drawled from his position 20 ft away. Somehow he'd heard the entire conversation, though I'm surprised. Didn't think the Huga Eerys was your type. I don't have a type and we're not dating. We were literally just talking about work. The denial is strong with this one, Sakura observed to Sasuke as if Naruto wasn't right there. Indeed. I hate you both, Nar declared. I hate everyone. This is the worst day of my life. Worse than when you walked in on your parents. Sakura asked innocently. Naruto froze. How do you know about that? Know about what? Sakura's expression was the picture of innocence, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. Nothing. Forget I said anything. Too late. Sasuke called out. Now we definitely know something happened. Before Naruto could dig himself into a deeper hole, Kakashi finally appeared in a swirl of leaves, his signature lateness intact. Sorry I'm late, their sensei said cheerfully. I got lost on the path of life. You use that excuse every time, Sakura pointed out. Doesn't make it less true. Now then, I hear we have some interesting gossip about Naruto to discuss. Sensei Kakashi's visible eye crinkled in a smile. I'm joking mostly, but we do need to discuss the joint mission with teammate. Let's focus on that rather than Naruto's complicated love life. I don't have a complicated love life. I don't have any love life. The lady doth protest too much. Sasuke murmured. Did you just quote Shakespeare at me? I have hidden depths. Sasuke said with a completely straight face. Sakura was openly laughing now. Even Kakashi seemed amused behind his mask. Nar groaned and collapsed onto the ground dramatically. I'm never leaving my house again. I'm going to become a hermit. I'll live in a cave and eat bugs and never have to deal with gossiping teammates ever again. If you live in a cave, you won't have your mother's cooking, Kakashi pointed out. Can you really give up her ramen? Naruto sat up immediately. Okay, maybe I'll be a hermit who visits home for meals. That defeats the entire purpose of being a hermit, Sakura said. I'll be a revolutionary new type of hermit. A part-time hermit. Hermit Light. Can we focus on the actual mission now? Sasuke asked, sounding bored. But Naruto suspected he was enjoying this entirely too much. Kakashi pulled out a scroll. Fine, fine. We'll stop teasing Naruto about his extremely obvious crush on Hinata. I don't have a crush and focus on the mission parameters. As Kakashi began the briefing, Naruto tried to pay attention. He really did. But his mind kept drifting back to Hinata's visit, to her soft voice saying he was amazing. To the way she looked at him with such genuine admiration. Do I have a crush on Hinata? He wondered. Is that what this weird feeling is? He never really thought about her that way before. She was just Hinata. Quiet, kind, talented in her own right, but easy to overlook in a room full of louder personalities. But now that everyone kept pointing it out, now that he was actually paying attention, maybe there was something there. Maybe, Naruto, Kakashi said, breaking into his thoughts. Did you hear anything I just said? Uh, yes. Really? Then what's our primary objective? To uh do the mission successfully? Sakura dropped her head into her hands. We're doomed. To be fair, Kakashi said generously. That is technically correct. though not particularly specific. As his teammates groaned and Kakashi restarted the briefing, Naruto caught Sasuke watching him with an expression that might have been understanding sympathy. It gets easier, Sasuke said quietly, so only Naruto could hear the confusion. Eventually, speaking from experience, Sasuke didn't answer. But the faint color on his cheeks suggested Naruto might not be the only one dealing with complicated feelings. Misery loves company, Naruto thought. At least I'm not the only one suffering. Though he was definitely the only one whose suffering had become public entertainment for the entire village's youth division, Small Mercy's, he really needed to talk to his parents about soundproofing and maybe about moving to another village or another country. Another continent might be safer. That evening, after a dinner filled with barely suppressed laughter from both his parents, apparently the gossip had reached even the Hokag's office. Nar retreated to his room to prepare gear for the upcoming mission. He was carefully checking his canai for damage when he heard a soft knock on his door. "Come in," he called, expecting his father with some last minute mission advice. Instead, his mother entered, carrying two steaming mugs of tea. She changed into comfortable house clothes, her long red hair loose around her shoulders, and her expression was softer than usual, contemplative rather than teasing. "Thought you might want some company," Kusha said, offering him one of the mugs. "And maybe some conversation that doesn't involve your teammates gossiping about your love life." Nar accepted the tea gratefully. "How much did you hear? Enough to know that Ka Inuka has a big mouth and that the rumor mill is working overtime." She settled onto the floor beside his bed, leaning against the wall with the ease of someone who'd spent many evenings in this exact position. "Want to talk about it?" "Not really," Naruto admitted, then paused. "But I guess I should since you're here and everything," his mother smiled. "No pressure. I actually came up here to tell you something about when I was your age." Naruto set aside the canai he'd been inspecting, giving his mother his full attention. Kusha rarely talked about her youth. The memories of Yuzuaku were painful ones, wrapped up in loss and destruction and being one of the few survivors of her clan. "You don't have to," he started. But she shook her head. "I want to. I think I think it might help you understand some things about relationships and growing up and how confusing it all is." She took a sip of her tea, gathering her thoughts, and Naruto waited patiently. When I first came to Kenoha, Kusha began. I was 9 years old, terrified and completely alone. Yuzuakure had fallen. My family was gone. And I was brought here because of the ninetailes inside me. Because the village needed a replacement. Ginuriki, Narut had heard parts of this story before, but never from this angle. The other kids were cruel, his mother continued, her voice distant with memory. They called me tomato because of my red hair. They made fun of my accent, my mannerisms, everything that marked me as different. And I was so angry at them, at the world, at fate for taking everything from me. But you met dad, Naruto said. He stood up for you. Kusha laughed softly. Eventually, but not at first. You want to know the truth? The first time I really noticed your father, I thought he was weak. What? It's true. He was this scrawny kid with blonde hair that stuck up in all directions. And he was always saying these grandiose things about becoming hokag and protecting everyone, but he looked like a strong wind could blow him over. She smiled at the memory. I actually felt sorry for him. Narudo tried to imagine his father, the yellow flash, the fourth hokag as a scrawny, weak kid and failed completely. The thing is, Kusha said, "I didn't understand strength back then. I thought strength was about being loud, being aggressive, never showing weakness. That's how I survived after Yizhio fell. By being fierce, by never letting anyone see me cry, by fighting back against anyone who looked at me wrong. That sounds exhausting, Nar observed. It was, his mother agreed. I was so lonely, Naruto. I had no friends, no family, no one who understood what I was going through. The only time I felt anything other than angry or sad was when I was fighting. At least then I had a purpose. She paused, turning the tea mug in her hands. Then one day when I was about 12, I got kidnapped by cloud ninja. They wanted the ninetails, wanted to study the seal, figure out how to create their own ginger. I was terrified, but I pulled out strands of my hair and dropped them as I was taken, leaving a trail. And dad followed it. Naruto said, "Knowing this part of the story, your father followed it." Kushina confirmed that scrawny kid I'd dismissed as we tracked me across miles of hostile territory, fought off two adult ninja, and saved me. And when I asked him why, why he'd risk his life for me when no one else in the village seemed to care. Do you know what he said? Nar shook his head. He said, "Because I noticed. I saw your hair, the red hair you hate, and I thought it was beautiful. I noticed that you were alone and I understood loneliness. I noticed you were hurting and I wanted to help. He said he'd been watching me for a while, working up the courage to talk to me and when he realized I was in danger, there was no question about what he had to do. Kusha's eyes were bright with unshed tears even all these years later. That's when I understood real strength. It wasn't about being the loudest or the toughest. It was about noticing people who needed help and choosing to act. It was about being brave enough to care even when it was easier not to. So, you fell in love with him right then? Nar asked. His mother laughed, wiping at her eyes. Oh, absolutely not. I declared he was going to be my boyfriend, much to his shock and terror, but I didn't really understand what that meant. I was 12 and I just learned that someone actually saw me as a person rather than a vessel for a demon. I latched on to that feeling without really understanding it. When did it change? Gradually, Kushina said over years we trained together, went on missions together, grew up together. I watched him become stronger, not just physically, but as a person. He was kind when he could have been cruel, patient when he could have been frustrated. He never tried to change me or make me less intense. He just accepted me. All of me. The angry parts, the scared parts, the parts one didn't like about myself. She looked at Naruto directly now, her violet eyes serious. And that's what I want you to understand. Naruto, relationships, real relationships, aren't about dramatic confessions or love at first sight or any of that nonsense Jera writes in his books. They're about finding someone who sees you, really sees you, and chooses to stay anyway. Is that what you think is happening with Hinata? Nar asked quietly. She sees me? I think Hinata Hiba has been seeing you for a very long time, his mother said gently. While you were too busy looking at other things to notice, Naruto thought about that. About Hinata's quiet presence over the years, always there but never demanding attention. about how she'd stood up for him during the tunin exams even though she was terrified about the way she looked at him yesterday with such genuine admiration. I don't know what to do with that, he admitted. Everyone keeps saying I'm oblivious and maybe I am. But I genuinely didn't notice until everyone started pointing it out. And now I'm noticing and it's weird and I don't know how to act around her. That's normal. Kusha assured him. When I finally realized my feelings for your father were real, that I wasn't just grateful to him, but actually loved him, I could barely form complete sentences around him. For weeks, Mabuki used to tease me mercilessly about it. Sakura's mom, the very same. We were teammates along with Sam Inazuka, Ka's mother. The three of us watched each other fumble through first crushes and relationships and all the complicated messiness of growing up. She smiled at the memory. Mabuki liked to say that watching me try to flirt with Minato was like watching a tomato try to do diplomacy. Lots of red-faced yelling and confusion. Despite himself, Naruto laughed at the image. The point is, his mother continued, it's okay to be confused. It's okay to not have all the answers. You're 16, Nar. You're supposed to be figuring this stuff out, making mistakes, learning what you want and who you are. But what if I mess it up? Naruto asked. What if I do or say something stupid and ruin everything? Then you apologize and learn from it. Kusha said simply. That's part of growing up, too. Making mistakes and figuring out how to fix them. Your father and I have had plenty of fights over the years. We've said things we regret, done things we wish we could take back, but we work through it because we care about each other. She reached over and ruffled his hair affectionately. Besides, I've met Hinata. That girl is tough underneath all that shyness. If you say something stupid, and you will because you're my son, and verbal grace is not our family's strong suit. She'll forgive you. She's already chosen to care about you, Nar. That's not something that breaks easily. Nar leaned into his mother's touch, feeling some of the tension drained from his shoulders. Thanks, Mom. This helps. Kind of. Kind of. Kusha pretended to be offended. I pour out my heart, share my deep wisdom, and I get a kind of, "It helps a lot." Narudo corrected with a grin. "Better? Much better." She stood up, stretching. "Now you should probably finish preparing for your mission and maybe get some sleep. You're going to need your energy if you're going to be working closely with Hinata for 3 days." Mom, what? I'm just saying it might be good to practice talking to her like a normal person before you're stuck in the wilderness together. I can talk to her like a normal person. Yesterday you told her you were wearing dry clothes. Kusha pointed out after explaining in detail that you had changed into them because they were dry. Okay, that was a low moment for me. Just remember, breathe, be yourself, and try not to overthink it. Hata already likes you for who you are. You don't need to pretend to be anyone else. After his mother left, Narut lay back on his bed, staring at the ceiling. His mind was turnurning with everything she'd said about noticing people, about real strength, about relationships being built on seeing and being seen. Had Hinata been seeing him all this time while he was oblivious? He thought back over the years. Hinata at the academy, always quiet, but never mean like some of the others. Hinata during the tunein exams nearly beaten but refusing to give up her words about never going back on her word echoing his own philosophy. Hinata at various training sessions always pushing herself harder always trying to be better and yes always turning red and stammering around him specifically. How did I miss this? He wondered. Everyone else seemed to know. My parents knew. My teammates knew. Even Sasuke somehow knew. and he barely pays attention to anything that isn't training or his family drama. But maybe that was the problem. He'd been so focused on his own goals, becoming stronger, earning recognition, living up to his parents' legacy that he hadn't paid attention to the people around him. Not really. He saw them as teammates, as friends, as obstacles to overcome or allies to fight beside. He hadn't seen them as people with their own hopes and feelings and complicated inner lives. I need to do better, he resolved. Starting with actually paying attention to Hinata. Not as a potential girlfriend or because everyone's gossiping about us. Just as a person, as someone who's been trying to get my attention for years and deserves to be noticed. That felt manageable. He could do that probably. Maybe he'd try anyway. Downstairs, Minato found his wife in their bedroom getting ready for sleep. She was brushing out her long red hair, a nightly ritual that usually took 20 minutes. "How'd it go?" he asked, leaning against the door frame. I told him about us, "About how we got together, about how relationships are built on seeing and being seen. Think it helped? I think he's starting to understand." Kusha said he's a good kid, Minato. Smart in his own way, even if he's oblivious about romance. He gets that from me, Minato admitted. I was completely oblivious about you for years. You're still oblivious about some things. Cusha teased. Like how you keep leaving your dirty socks on the bathroom floor. That's different. That's strategic sock placement. It's lazy is what it is. Manado crossed the room and wrapped his arms around his wife from behind, resting his chin on her shoulder. Do you ever think about what it would have been like if things had gone differently? If we hadn't survived the Ninetales attack? Kusha set down her brush, covering his hands with hers sometimes. But then I remember we did survive. We got to raise our son. We got to see him grow into this amazing young man who's about to figure out what it means to care about someone romantically. We got lucky, Minato. We did, he agreed softly. We got so lucky. They stood like that for a moment, comfortable in each other's presence, thinking about the alternate timeline that might have been. Where Naruto grew up alone, where they were memories rather than parents. He's going to be fine, Kusha said firmly. With Anata, with the mission, with everything. He's got good instincts when he actually stops to use them. He gets those from you, Manato said. He gets his stubbornness from me, Kushina corrected. and his tendency to speak before thinking and his love of ramen. Actually, he gets a lot from me. He gets his heart from you, Minato said. Seriously. That's the most important part. Kushina turned in his arms, reaching up to cup his face. We raised him right. Both of us, even with our mistakes and our awkward conversations and our complete inability to keep bedroom doors locked, we're never living that down, are we? Never, she confirmed cheerfully. That's going to be the story we tell at his wedding. Remember when you walked in on us and it was so traumatizing it kickstarted your entire romantic awareness? You're terrible. You love me anyway. I do. Minato agreed, kissing her gently. Even when you're plotting to embarrass our son at his future wedding, especially then, Kusha said, that's when I'm at my best. They laughed together and the sound echoed through their home. A space filled with love and laughter and the occasional mortifying incident that somehow brought them all closer together. In his room above them, Nar heard his parents' laughter and smiled despite himself. They were ridiculous and embarrassing and occasionally walked around the house like locks didn't exist, but they were his parents and they loved each other and they loved him. And maybe, just maybe, he was starting to understand what that meant to be seen by someone and to see them in return. He had three days on a mission to figure it out. Three days working closely with Anata Huga. 3 days to try being less oblivious. No pressure, he thought. Just a mission where I have to track down mysterious chakra signatures while also trying to have normal conversations with a girl everyone thinks I should be dating. What could possibly go wrong? Everything. His brain helpfully supplied absolutely everything. But he'd faced worse odds before. Probably. He fell asleep still thinking about lavender eyes and quiet determination and what it meant to really see someone. His dreams were full of red hair and yellow flashes and the steady patient presence of someone who'd been watching him all along, waiting for him to notice. Meanwhile, across the village in the Huga compound, Hinata sat with her younger sister, Hannabi, trying to explain why she'd come home looking like she'd seen a ghost. "So, you went to his house?" Hannabi said, her tone far too knowing for an 11year-old. "For mission details," Hinata insisted. "It was completely professional." "Uh-huh." And you turned bright red because his mother was there and she was very knowing like she could see right through me because she could. Hannabi said flatly. Everyone can see right through you. Had an Asama. You're not exactly subtle about your feelings. Hinata buried her face in her hands. This is a nightmare. His teammates know. His parents know. Now my sister knows. Soon the entire village will know. The entire village already knows. Hannabi corrected. KBA's been telling everyone who listened that he caught you in a moment. Whatever that means. Nothing happened. We just talked, but you wanted something to happen. Hannabi said with the brutal honesty only little sisters could achieve. Hinata couldn't deny that. Maybe. Yes. But Narutkun doesn't think of me that way. He's just being nice because we're teammates. or Hannabi suggested, he's finally starting to notice you and doesn't know what to do about it. From what you've described, he was acting pretty weird, too. He's always weird. Weird in a different way. The way people get when they're noticing someone for the first time. Hava looked at her little sister with surprise. When did you become an expert on romance? I read a lot, Hannabi said with a shrug. And I pay attention to people. It's a shinobi skill. It's a nosy little sister skill. That too. Hannabi grinned. But seriously, Na sama, you're going on a mission with him for 3 days. Maybe actually talk to him. Like real conversation, not just mission stuff. What would I even say? Start with normal things. Ask about his training, his goals, his interests. you know, get to know him as a person instead of just watching him from afar and hoping he'll spontaneously develop feelings for you. I don't, Hinata started, then stopped. Okay, yes, that's exactly what I've been doing. But how do I change that now? Just be yourself, Hannabi advised. The real you, the one who stood up to Niji and I during the tunin exams, who trains harder than anyone, who's actually really strong when she stops doubting herself. That's the person worth noticing. Show him that person. Hinata hugged her sister impulsively. When did you get so wise? I've always been wise. You're just now noticing. As Hinata prepared for bed, she thought about her sister's advice, about being herself, about letting Naruto see who she really was beyond the stammering, blushing girl who could barely speak around him. It terrified her. But maybe it was time to be brave. After all, Naruto had once told her during the tunin exams that she was strong. Maybe it was time to believe him. 3 days on a mission, 3 days to be brave. She could do this probably. Maybe she'd try anyway. Across the village, two teenagers fell asleep thinking similar thoughts. Either knowing that the mission ahead would change everything. But that's how the best stories always begin with uncertainty, hope, and two people finally starting to see each other clearly for the first