Land of Fire — Konoha Village
Morning sunlight spilled over the tiled rooftops of Konoha, painting the village in a soft golden hue. The familiar hum of life filled the air, shopkeepers lifting shutters, children chasing each other down the narrow alleys, and shinobi leaping across rooftops on early assignments.
The Hokage Rock loomed quietly over the village, its carved faces glowing faintly under the sun's rays... silent guardians watching over another fragile day of peace.
A gentle breeze carried the faint scent of blooming flowers from Yamanaka's garden district, mixing with the aroma of grilled dango and steaming ramen. For most, it was just another morning in the village hidden in the leaves.
But for Kushina Uzumaki, peace had long since left the building.
"Naruto Uzumaki! If you don't stop running around in your underwear, I swear I'll tie you upside down from the clothesline!"
From the backyard came a tiny battle cry.
"Never! The future Hokage fears no pants, dattebayo!"
Kushina's eyebrow twitched as she slammed open the sliding door, wielding a frying pan like a divine weapon. Naruto, grinning like a maniac, darted past her with toothpaste still foaming in his mouth.
"Get back here and brush properly!" she shouted, chasing him through the yard.
"Can't, Mom! Late for training! Gotta become strong enough to beat that weird mask guy from my dreams!"
Kushina paused mid-swing, her expression changing for a split second as a flicker of panic crossed her eyes.
But she quickly forced a grin, masking it behind her usual teasing tone.
"...You mean the one you made up after eating too much ramen before bed?"
Her voice came out light and playful, but her hand still trembled slightly on the frying pan handle, a motion so small that Naruto, of course, didn't notice.
"Hey! He's real, dattebayo! He said something about 'reality is an illusion' and then took my ramen!"
"..."
Kushina sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as her thoughts ran wild.
"…How the hell did that guy get discovered by this idiot?" she muttered under her breath. "Or was it intentional?"
Her eyes narrowed slightly, that sharp intuition at work beneath the surface.
Knowing that man's cunning, if he didn't want to be seen, there's no way he would've been.
Still, she couldn't help but think, 'It's been a while since he came here…'
'Did he… perhaps happen to encounter something?' Kushina thought, her brows furrowing slightly.
But then she shook her head, forcing a small smile. 'No, he should be okay… he's so strong, after all.'
'He's mastered space-time ninjutsu too, so everything should be okay…'
Kushina froze for a moment, realizing just how long she'd been lost in thought about him.
A faint blush crept onto her cheeks as she quickly shook her head, trying to dismiss the swirl of emotions inside.
"Tch… it's just a bit of concern, nothing more," she muttered, puffing out her cheeks in mild embarrassment.
But as Naruto tripped over the laundry basket and sent socks flying everywhere, she couldn't help but laugh.
--
Kushina finally managed to drag Naruto back inside after what felt like a full-blown chase across the yard.
By the time they sat down at the table, the house looked like a battlefield, socks hanging from the ceiling fan, the tablecloth half-pulled off, and toothpaste smeared on Naruto's cheek like war paint.
"Honestly…" Kushina muttered, setting down a steaming bowl of miso soup in front of him. "One morning without so much trouble, is that really too much to ask?"
Naruto grinned, already stuffing rice into his mouth. "Mmf! Overcoming trouble builds hokage, Mom!"
Kushina's eyebrow twitched. "Oh really? Then maybe next time I should train your 'future Hokage' butt with my frying pan, dattebane!"
Her tone was sweet, the kind of sweet that made every sane person within a five-meter radius take cover.
Naruto froze mid-bite, eyes wide. "...That doesn't sound very Hokage-like, Mom!"
Just as Kushina was about to really teach him a lesson, both of them suddenly turned toward the direction where a soft chuckle echoed.
Their reactions couldn't have been more different. Kushina froze, her eyes widening in surprise before she slowly turned her head and there he was.
The man she'd been thinking about for so long.
His hair had grown slightly longer, some strands falling over his mask, giving him a rough, almost feral charm.
He leaned lazily against the wall, watching them with that familiar, silent amusement.
Even though Kushina couldn't see his expression, she could feel his smirk.
Before she could say a word, Naruto acted first.
He jumped from his chair, pointing dramatically before charging forward with all the courage of a hero.
"Mom! This is the weirdo guy with the mask I've been talking about! He's real, dattebayo! Come on, let's catch him and teach him a lesson!"
Obito didn't even move at first, he just watched the kid charge at him like a tiny whirlwind.
Then, with one smooth motion, he reached out and grabbed Naruto by the collar mid-run, lifting him clean off the ground.
Naruto's legs flailed in the air, arms swinging wildly as he tried to punch and kick at the masked man.
"Put me down, you weirdo! I'll beat you up, dattebayo!"
The whole scene almost looked comical, Obito standing there completely calm, holding the furious child at arm's length like someone inspecting a stray cat that bit him.
"Hmm," Obito said lazily, tilting his head. "You've got spirit, I'll give you that. But your aim needs work."
Naruto kicked harder, but it was like trying to hit a wall. "Mom! He's mocking me!"
Kushina's temple twitched. She slammed her hand on the table, veins popping on her forehead.
"That's enough, you little brat!"
Before Obito could even lower him, Kushina stormed over, snatched Naruto from his grasp, and bonked him right on the head with her fist.
A comical THUNK! echoed through the room as Naruto's eyes spun like swirls.
"OWWWW! Moooooom!" he whined, rubbing his head.
Kushina folded her arms, glaring down at him. "That's what you get for charging at guests, dattebane!"
Obito chuckled quietly behind the mask, amusement dripping from his tone. "Still as fiery as ever, Kushina."
Kushina glared at him next. "And you...stop showing up out of nowhere and laughing like a creep!"
Obito raised his hands in mock surrender. "Fair enough."
Naruto stared up at his mother with a look of pure betrayal, rubbing the bump on his head.
"Mom! Why'd you hit me?! It should've been this weirdo—he's the thief!"
"..."
"..."
Both Kushina and Obito went silent.
Naruto blinked between them, first at his mom, who now looked oddly nervous, then at the masked man who just stood there, clearly entertained.
Naruto squinted. "Wait a sec… don't tell me, Mom… you know this weirdo guy?"
Before Kushina could even think of a reply, Obito spoke up smoothly, his tone suddenly low and mysterious.
"Well, Naruto… you're right. I am a thief. And what I stole was actually your—"
He didn't get to finish.
In a flash, Kushina jumped forward, wrapping her arms around his neck and yanking him down into a tight chokehold.
"He is… my friend! Yes, that's right, Naruto — he's a friend! So be polite!" she blurted out, her face stiff as she forced an awkward smile.
Cold sweat ran down her temple as she glared daggers at Obito, who was clearly struggling not to laugh beneath the mask.
Naruto frowned, suspicious. "Mom, you're acting super weird… don't tell me…"
Kushina froze, pulse pounding in her chest.
"Y-Yeah?"
Naruto's eyes widened in horror. "You… you're his partner too?! So you're a thief too, Mom?!"
"Pfft—HAHAHAHAHA!" Obito finally lost it, breaking free from her hold as laughter boomed through the room.
Kushina's face turned crimson — part anger, part embarrassment.
"NARUTO!!!"
Bang! Bang!
Her fists came down on Naruto's head again and again as the boy yelped and flailed for mercy.
"OWW! MOM! STOP! I WAS JUST ASKING, DATTEBAYO!!!"
Meanwhile, Obito leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, still chuckling behind his mask.
"Ah… mornings like this really are the best."
--
The living room was quiet now, almost very quiet.
Kushina sat at the low table, serving food with practiced movements, the soft clinking of dishes the only sound that filled the space.
The reason for the calm was simple: the loudest member of the household had already fled.
Naruto had bolted to the Academy in record time, yelling something about "extra training" but everyone knew he was just escaping his mother's wrath.
Obito sat casually at the table, eating through his mask with that same infuriatingly calm composure. Somehow, even without removing it, he made the act look natural.
Kushina stole glances at him every few seconds, her fingers tapping lightly against her knee.
Finally, Obito sighed, voice breaking the silence.
"Why are you fidgeting like that, Kushina? Speak up."
"Uhh, it's nothing…" she said, forcing a small smile. "I'm just… surprised."
"Surprised?" Obito tilted his head, leaning back a little, his tone curious. "At what?"
Kushina hesitated for a moment before answering.
"Well, I thought you didn't like anyone knowing you were around. But you just showed yourself to Naruto like it was nothing."
Her gaze softened slightly, curiosity replacing her earlier nervousness. "That's not like you."
Obito paused for a second, then chuckled quietly.
"Well, that part hasn't really changed much…"
"Then why…?" she asked, confusion seeping into her tone.
Obito turned his head toward her, voice calm but teasing.
"Because Naruto isn't a stranger, you know… He could be my step-son. As a stepdad, isn't it fine for me to show my face?"
Before Kushina could react, he casually reached out, pulling her into his embrace.
Kushina froze, her breath catching. Then, instinctively, she relaxed into it — her arms moving on their own as she hugged him back.
Her face turned pink as she mumbled against his chest, "W-What nonsense are you talking about, you bastard… that kind of thing won't happen."
Obito chuckled softly, his hand gently stroking her back.
"Well, it doesn't look very convincing, Kushina."
At that, she fell silent.
Resting her cheek against his chest, she listened to his steady heartbeat, that same sound she hadn't heard in what felt like forever.
Her eyes closed slowly as the warmth of the moment embraced them both, a quiet breath of tranquility shared in silence.
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