Chapter 14: I Hope My Child Will Be as Beautiful as You!
Kushina's eyes flickered toward Kakashi, curiosity softening her features though the faintest crease formed between her brows.
"...And who is this girl?" she asked gently, voice laced with quiet wonder.
From behind the porcelain mask came Kakashi's low, even voice.
"She is the possessor of the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai. The Hokage has entrusted her to your care."
Kushina's eyes widened, a gasp catching in her throat.
Wood Release?
The thought struck her like lightning—rare, mythical, and dangerously precious. Her heart skipped, a ripple of astonishment breaking through her composure. Yet even as the realization echoed, she forced her breathing steady and turned her gaze upon the girl before her.
The girl's expression was blank, devoid of warmth or hostility—merely distant. Yet to Kushina, there was something oddly telling about that emptiness. Kushina tilted her head slightly, puzzled.
Why does it feel... as if she doesn't even want to be here?
Behind Rei stood Shisui, whose voice was calm but earnest as he recounted the events in full. He did not conceal anything. For Rei's sake—for the trust he hoped to secure—he needed Kushina to understand her.
By the time Shisui finished, the gentle smile that had adorned Kushina's face had softened into something quieter, weighted by empathy.
Her gaze shifted to him. In Shisui's eyes, she found guilt—deep, raw, and unrelenting. His entire posture spoke of remorse, of self-blame that ran to his very core. Kushina had no right to condemn him; she was a shinobi too, and she understood all too well why he had done.
But her own childhood—marked by displacement and loneliness—made her ache in recognition. She saw herself in Rei's silent figure: uprooted, abandoned, torn from familiarity. Her heart tightened painfully.
Taken from her home by the very friend she trusted most...
Even she had not endured something quite so cruel.
Kushina drew in a steadying breath and gave a firm nod, her voice clear as she turned to Kakashi.
"Tell Minato—he can leave her to me without worry."
She would do everything she could to help this child. She would show Rei that Konoha was not only duty and war, but warmth and belonging—until the village became something she could call home.
Kakashi inclined his head silently, then vanished soundlessly into the night.
As for Shisui...
He lingered at the threshold, reluctant to let go. After a long moment, he bowed deeply, his voice heavy with sincerity and sorrow.
"Kushina-sama... I entrust her to you."
Kushina looked into his reddened eyes and gave a reassuring nod.
"Don't worry."
She closed the door gently.
Outside, Shisui stood rooted, staring at the barrier of wood that now shut him out. His fingers curled reflexively at his sides, nails biting into his palms as a sharp ache twisted through his chest.
Kushina crossed the tatami floor back to the sitting room. She poured steaming water into a small cup and pressed it carefully into Rei's small, pale hands.
"Here," she murmured, voice soothing. "Have some. It's warm."
Rei stared down at the cup, unmoving.
Kushina understood. In an unfamiliar place, anyone would instinctively stay on guard. That was normal.
She had also noticed something else—when Shisui left, Rei hadn't been entirely unresponsive. Even betrayed, even torn from her home, it was still Shisui's presence that grounded her, a familiar thread in this strange place.
Kushina did not point this out. Instead, she began to speak lightly, as if chatting about something unrelated.
"I'm Kushina," she said softly. "I came here when I was eight years old."
Her words drew Rei's eyes up, just briefly—but enough for Kushina to catch it. The corner of her mouth curved in a gentle smile.
"That's right," she continued brightly.
"I wasn't from Konoha, either!"
A playful wink accompanied the confession.
Rei's crimson gaze lingered on her, unblinking.
Inwardly, Rei admired her quick wit. With just two sentences and one small gesture, Kushina had subtly aligned herself with Rei—placing them, however faintly, on the same side. It lowered defenses without Rei even realizing it.
Of course, such tactics only worked if Rei were truly the innocent girl she appeared to be.
Still, Rei decided to play along.
Kushina, perceptive as always, could tell her words had struck some chord—the girl's slight reaction was proof enough.
"Do you want to know why I came here?" Kushina asked softly.
Her gaze turned inward, her voice tinged with nostalgia yet unburdened by sorrow. She answered her own question:
"I came here because I had a special power, too. I didn't have any family left, but here... there was at least one elder from my clan."
"They forced you to come, too?"
For the first time, Rei spoke. Her voice was quiet, but its sound made Kushina's heart leap in quiet relief.
"Not exactly forced," Kushina answered, voice gentle. "I didn't have anywhere else to go."
At those words, she saw it—the faint flicker of sadness that crossed Rei's delicate face.
Kushina's heart softened further. She could guess. This girl likely had no family either.
Compassion welled up within her, unguarded and raw.
"But shinobi... they kill people," Rei whispered suddenly. "Mama said... shinobi fight wars against each other..."
Kushina inhaled slowly, then exhaled, offering her the warmest smile she could muster.
"Wars are fought to protect the people of our village," she said gently. "And besides, the war has ended now. I believe in Minato—he won't let another one happen. Haven't you seen it? The village is at peace now. People are happy here."
She trusted that, on their way from the Hokage's tower, Rei had seen the bustling streets, the laughter of children, the simple joy of life in Konoha.
Prosperous. Peaceful. Serene. Joyful.
This was the Konoha of today.
Rei's eyes clouded with complexity. Kushina saw the hesitation written on her face.
Then, quietly, Kushina reached out and took Rei's small hand—guiding it gently to rest upon her own rounded stomach.
Hidden beneath wide fabric, her pregnancy wasn't obvious at first glance. But under Rei's palm, the slight swell was unmistakable.
Rei froze—stunned—before swallowing reflexively, throat tightening.
"I'm happy now," Kushina murmured, her smile radiant and serene.
Happiness radiated from her face so vividly it was impossible to doubt her.
"You're... having a baby," Rei murmured, eyes widening with startled wonder. He jerked his hand back instinctively, treating her as if she were made of porcelain—something fragile and precious.
Kushina's laughter bubbled forth, warm and unrestrained. Her gaze softened, tender.
Even abducted into an unfamiliar place, Rei's core remained untainted. Beneath the mask of indifference was a simple, guileless heart—easily swayed by kindness, instantly disarmed by love.
"That's right!" she giggled. Stroking her belly fondly, she looked at Rei with bright anticipation. "I hope my child grows up to be as beautiful as you."
That's impossible, Rei thought flatly.
Outwardly, though, a faint blush dusted his cheeks. Lips pressing together, he murmured with quiet conviction,
"Your child will be even more beautiful than me."
And far more delicious, he added silently.
Kushina's laughter rang through the room as she reached out and playfully pinched Rei's cheek.
Is this harassment? Rei screamed inwardly, widening his eyes in perfect imitation of a startled child.
Kushina withdrew her hand, smiling apologetically yet fondly.
"Sorry, sorry. You're just too cute."
Her words made Rei's ears turn scarlet.
Kushina's heart softened even further. How can anyone be this pure?
So unlike the hardened shinobi world.
Surely her mother had protected her fiercely—shielding her from war, from blood, from every cruelty of this life.
But even the strongest protection could not defy fate forever.
Her daughter had still been drawn into this world of ninjas.
The thought brought a pang to Kushina's chest, sharp and aching. Tears threatened to well, but she blinked them back.
Across from her, Rei battled his own urges, suppressing the flood of hunger that rose with every heartbeat echoing through the room.
***