Chapter 15 – I Like Your Wife Too!
Kushina saw that the sky outside the window had already turned completely dark. She realized it was already late — the hour when one should be having dinner.
"Are you hungry?"
Her voice was soft, yet in her heart she was already nurturing the idea of showing off her culinary skills.
Hungry.
Amamiya Rei glanced at her and swallowed.
But he didn't want to eat dinner.
He wanted to eat Kushina herself.
"I'll go make you something to eat."
Kushina reached out and pinched his cheek, smiling as she rose to her feet and headed toward the kitchen.
Can I eat you instead?
Rei kept his expression under control and followed Kushina into the kitchen.
"No need, I'm not hungry. You don't have to go to the trouble."
It felt wrong to trouble a pregnant woman.
He maintained his persona — flitting about Kushina like a colorful butterfly.
Even if he couldn't actually taste her, just being close enough to smell her was satisfying enough.
Kushina found herself a little dizzy from watching him move about, and had no choice but to temporarily give up on cooking for him.
It was a pity she couldn't let Rei taste a meal made by her own hands tonight,
but there would be plenty of days ahead for that.
Having thought it through, Kushina clapped her hands decisively, deciding to take Rei for a walk through Konoha. It would also be a good opportunity to lower the wariness Rei still carried in his heart.
The streets of Konoha at night were peaceful and harmonious.
Every so often, children would dash past them in play, only to be called back home by their parents for dinner.
In the air drifted the sounds of their laughter, their farewells, and the gentle urging of mothers calling them inside.
Shops lined both sides of the street from one end to the other, each doorway adorned with a small hanging lamp. Their warm golden light spilled out, each one glowing like a fluffy ball of cotton candy.
The mild night breeze brushed past Amamiya Rei, lifting his hair and the fabric of his kimono.
Along the way, people frequently greeted Kushina with warmth, some even inviting her into their shops for a meal. Many glances also fell upon Amamiya Rei.
They didn't know who Rei was, but seeing that he was with Kushina, they treated him with the same friendliness and kindness.
"They're all saying you're very pretty,"
Kushina leaned close to Rei and whispered teasingly in his ear.
She gave him a mischievous wink.
"But they're not wrong—Rei really is a rare beauty."
Since it was already dark, Rei couldn't be bothered to blush.
Instead, his eyes simply showed the perfect touch of shy avoidance.
Is that all? he thought.
Once he returned to his male form, then he would be devastatingly handsome — a beauty that could stop hearts.
Being called beautiful was something Rei could tolerate. At least no one had called him "pretty lady" —otherwise he might have had a hard time keeping his expression in check.
Kushina generously treated Rei to grilled meat.
Rei was surprised to find that he rather liked it.
As expected, he was a true carnivore.
"Tasty, isn't it?"
"Haha!"
Seeing the starry gleam in Rei's eyes, Kushina's heart melted. Resting her chin in her hand, she smiled as she looked after him. "This place is quite famous! We can come here often in the future."
Amamiya Rei stopped shoveling food into his mouth and instead took the initiative to pick up the communal chopsticks and place food into Kushina's bowl.
His cover identity was that of a kind, soft-hearted, slightly naïve girl.
A little foolishness was good — it made the work easier and ensured no one would suspect he had the intelligence to serve as a spy.
Kushina lowered her gaze to the meat in her bowl and couldn't resist reaching out to ruffle Rei's hair.
Such a good child.
That boy from the Uchiha clan, deceiving someone as pitiful as Rei — truly despicable.
Kushina couldn't help but quietly condemn that wicked Uchiha brat.
After finishing the grilled meat, Amamiya Rei walked back toward Kushina's home at a leisurely pace, the perfect rhythm to help with digestion.
Rei truly did enjoy being with Kushina.
She was warm, open, and considerate—
and even though she was already a wife and mother,
she still carried a certain youthful innocence and romantic spirit.
She was the kind of person who was easy and pleasant to be around.
The night sky above glittered with stars,
and as always, nighttime stirred a particular liveliness in Rei.
With a flourish like performing a magic trick,
he presented Kushina with a bouquet of flowers.
Even if his body was currently female,
his instinct as a man to win a woman's heart had not changed.
Kushina's eyes sparkled as she looked at the large bouquet of lilies that had suddenly appeared in front of her.
"Where did this come from? They're so beautiful!" she exclaimed in delight.
Rei gave a faint smile but didn't answer her question.
He rather liked the Fourth Hokage's wife as well.
From the shadows, Kakashi — who had been trailing them the entire time — took in the scene before him.
He hadn't missed that earlier moment when a great bouquet had suddenly bloomed in Rei's hands.
Just as Uchiha Shisui had said, the other party did indeed possess the Wood Release bloodline limit.
The Hokage's decision had been the correct one.
Entrusting Amamiya Rei to Kushina-sama was indeed more effective.
Kushina's mood was sky-high; the smile on her face wouldn't fade.
Chatting and laughing together, she and Rei returned home.
When they opened the door, they saw Namikaze Minato in the living room.
As Hokage, Minato had already finished his day's work and returned home.
He smiled when he saw his wife holding a bouquet of flowers, with Amamiya Rei beside her.
Kushina held the flowers up and spun once in front of him,
the living room lights glittering in her eyes.
"Guess who gave these to me?"
The moment Minato appeared, Rei became more reserved.
He had lowered his guard toward Kushina, but only toward Kushina.
Glancing at the girl standing in the entryway, her wariness clear at his presence, Minato looked back at his pregnant wife and said fondly, "It was Rei, wasn't it?"
"That's right!"
Kushina hummed proudly and gave a slight pout. "Rei is much better than a certain someone who doesn't know the first thing about romance!"
Amamiya Rei: ... Am I just part of your married couple's roleplay now?
Sensing Rei's discomfort, Kushina pushed the flowers into Minato's arms and led Rei to a room she had already prepared.
"From now on, you're part of our family, Rei. This will be your room! If you need anything, remember to tell me, okay?"
She gently pressed Rei down to sit on the bed, smiling as she spoke.
Rei glanced toward the doorway, then nodded to Kushina. Only when she had reached the door to leave did he murmur softly, "Thank you."
Kushina's smile deepened without her realizing it. Closing the door softly behind her, she felt a warm current flow gently through her heart.
"It seems you like her."
Minato, seeing his wife emerge from the bedroom, smiled as he spoke.
Knowing that Kushina and Rei could get along put his mind at ease.
After all, Amamiya Rei's identity was special — a Wood Release bloodline user was not someone the village could entrust casually to any ninja clan. Leaving him in Kushina's care was the best choice.
Kushina nodded, walking over to Minato's side and glancing toward the bedroom door. In a lowered voice, she said, "She's a very good girl."
Taking the flowers from Minato's arms, she set them aside to trim the stems,
intending to place them in a vase.
Yet, when she cut the stem, it immediately grew back to its original length.
Kushina froze, then tried plucking one of the blossoms—
the bare stem immediately produced a fresh bud.
Before her eyes, the pale pink bud bloomed open.
"So it's a flower that never withers!"
Kushina exclaimed in wonder.
"It's being sustained by chakra."
Minato came to her side, smiling as he looked at the blossoms that had regrown. "She likes you too."
***