[Chapter Size: 2000 Words.]
Third Person POV
Konoha, Year 41.
...
...
"Well... I'd better head back home. I'm a little worried about my uncle and my mother. Besides, I have to deal with the Uzumaki clan representatives who are staying at the Senju clan, and I doubt my mother is handling them properly, so I won't see you tomorrow." Tsuna said.
That was her final remark at the end of her conversation with Minato, as night began to take over the village after an entire day spent at Minato's apartment.
"Alright. How are things with them...? I know your mother didn't even attend the event and the hero award ceremony alongside Orochimaru..." he asked, crossing his arms at his door.
"Not good..." Minato immediately lowered his gaze, pressing his lips together. It was certainly not an easy subject for Kushina.
Minato looked at her with a worried expression. He cared for both Nawaki and Tsunade and didn't want to see them in that situation.
Tsuna lowered her head when she saw Minato's gaze. She seemed to press her lips together even more before responding.
"My mother drinks all the time and spends her days gambling alone..." She sighed. "She's starting to say that maybe she should leave and spend some time away from the village. I'm afraid she'll lose herself in her vices... Uncle Nawaki still has his responsibilities as the last male heir of the clan, but he won't leave his room. I feel like he sees himself as a failure for not being able to use jutsus with a missing arm. My mother tries to help in her own way, but right now, she's only making things worse. I really don't know what to do, Minato..." she murmured, looking back at him, on the verge of breaking into tears.
It was a subject that easily made her emotions waver. No matter how happy or laughing she was, just remembering the people she cared about at home after losing her father, Dan, and her uncle losing his arm, sadness would overwhelm her.
"Give me a few days. I'll try to talk to them." Minato murmured in the end, touching her shoulder. "I don't know if I can help much, but I'll do what I can."
Tsuna nodded and smiled slightly at him.
"Thank you, Minato..." she murmured at the end, cupping his face and leaning in. Then, she kissed him before pulling away, running a hand through her hair with a deep blush on her face and avoiding his gaze, still wavering between sadness and embarrassment. It seemed like her emotions had taken the initiative to kiss him.
"This is for everything... You are the person I love." She said, still shy, but this time, it felt much more natural. The last time she had said that was when she was on the brink of death. Now, she could finally express her feelings without fear.
Minato gave a small smile.
"I love you too, Tsuna. Take care." The words came out naturally from his mouth.
"Hey! What was that?!"
A voice exclaimed the moment Kushina stepped into the hallway, pointing at Minato and Tsuna in indignation.
It was an enraged Kushina.
"It was a kiss. You kissed him this morning too." Tsuna tried to appear calmer, momentarily forgetting her troubles before smiling at Kushina in a teasing manner.
"You damn brat!" Kushina muttered, clenching her fists in anger, her hair almost rising due to her sudden fury.
Minato only sighed. In the end, both girls left together, returning to the Senju clan. Tsuna even refused Minato's offer to walk her back, claiming that after kissing him, she was feeling a little embarrassed, and they would have the Anbu watching over Kushina the entire way.
Minato, on the other hand, returned to his apartment. He saw Mikoto stretching before lying down on one side of the bed. He went for a bath and then joined her on the other side, sleeping without any teasing from Mikoto like the previous night.
The next morning, while having breakfast, Minato brought up an important subject.
"Mikoto, I intend to do something alone today. Is that okay with you?"
She paused for a moment and watched him carefully, studying his expression before responding.
"You're going to talk to her, aren't you?" she asked, her gaze serious.
"Yes, I want to see her." Minato said, looking at Mikoto.
"Alright." That was all she said as she resumed drinking her tea.
A moment later, Kushina knocked on the door, carrying a picnic basket. As soon as the door opened, she was surprised to see Mikoto beside Minato.
"Mi... Minato!" She tried to call out to him, but before she could, Mikoto firmly grabbed her arm and dragged her outside.
"Wait! Where are you taking me?!" Kushina protested immediately.
"We're going out for a bit, just the two of us. Minato is busy today." Mikoto said as she continued to pull her away.
Meanwhile, Minato had already arrived at the Hyuuga clan. He landed smoothly at the entrance, where two guards controlled the flow of people coming in and out.
"Isn't that...?" The guards were surprised by his presence, immediately recognizing the approaching blond.
"Yes..." The other guard confirmed as they watched Minato walk up to them before stopping.
"I'm here to see Hanabi Hyuuga, my teammate." Minato informed them.
The two guards exchanged glances for a moment, seeming unsure of what to do.
"Apologies, Namikaze-sama, but we are not authorized to handle matters regarding branch family members. We cannot leave our post." One of the guards explained, trying to clarify the situation. He couldn't simply abandon his position to call someone from the branch family to the entrance of the clan.
"He cannot enter, but go to Fang Hyuuga's house and summon his granddaughter, telling her that her teammate is waiting for her."
A firm voice spoke up, drawing everyone's attention. It was Hiashi Hyuuga, approaching the entrance alongside his brother.
"Young Hiashi!" The guards were surprised and a bit flustered.
Seeing their hesitation, Hiashi insisted.
"Go and deliver the message. I will take responsibility for this." He said.
One of the guards quickly nodded and vanished to fulfill the order, obeying someone who was a strong candidate for the future patriarch of the clan.
Minato was surprised to see him. Having Hiashi Hyuuga help him, even though he had punched him nearly five years ago for insulting Hanabi in front of him, was unexpected. Still, Minato watched as he passed through the gate and nodded in gratitude, still taken aback by the young man's attitude.
Hiashi, however, said nothing more after the acknowledgment and simply continued walking alongside his brother, leaving the clan grounds and heading into the village.
Minato waited for a few more minutes until the Hyuuga guard returned.
The guard looked at Minato, seeming a bit hesitant, but eventually spoke.
"Apologies, but Fang has informed us that his granddaughter is indisposed and, therefore, will not be able to see you."
Minato narrowed his eyes for a moment but simply nodded and turned away, disappearing from the guards' sight as he walked back toward the village.
He avoided the main road and entered an alleyway, crossing his arms and leaning against a wall, deep in thought. His gaze shifted back toward the entrance of the clan.
"What's going on with you, Hanabi? Why are you acting like this?" He murmured before sighing. Then, without hesitating any further, he vanished.
The scenery around Minato changed in an instant. He was now inside a room, lightly touching the person resting there.
Before she could react, he disappeared again with her after grabbing her arm.
Now, the bright blue sky stretched around them.
They were both falling in freefall over the ocean below.
A startled, surprised scream echoed.
Minato finally saw Hanabi. She was looking at him, completely shocked, while tears still streamed down her face. She had been crying when he took her.
"Minato..." She murmured, still dazed, as they fell.
In the next moment, Hanabi was the first to hit the water, followed immediately by Minato.
They were no longer in the village but in the middle of the ocean, south of the country.
Minato opened his eyes, and as he did, he saw Hanabi still staring at him underwater. She remained there, looking at him, and he at her, for a few seconds before acting.
Without wasting time, he grabbed her and teleported out of the water, reappearing instantly on the shore.
Hanabi immediately started coughing as the water invaded her nose and throat. She struggled to catch her breath, spitting out the salty water as she continued coughing.
"Cough... cough... cough..." She looked at Minato, panting.
"Minato, what is this?!" she exclaimed, still trying to compose herself.
"Sorry about that, Hanabi, but I needed to see you." He spoke with a serious expression.
"Did you really have to do this?!" she questioned, wiping away the tears that were still running down her face.
"Yes, I did." He answered firmly. "After all, you didn't want to talk to me."
He wasn't sure if it was her grandfather, Fang, or Hanabi herself who didn't want him to see her, but he bet on the latter.
That seemed to unsettle her for a moment.
"I... I..." she murmured, unable to form a coherent response.
"Hanabi, I won't accept this." He declared before she could explain, his voice firm.
"You don't understand, Minato..." she murmured, averting her gaze to the ground.
"You're right, I really don't understand!" he retorted. "I thought we were teammates. I thought that from the moment we started talking and getting to know each other... Since the moment you saw my secrets in that forest, over seven or eight years ago, you would always count on me..."
He raised his hand, briefly transforming it into light before returning it to normal—a demonstration of the Pika Pika no Mi.
Hanabi had seen this power before. She had witnessed it when he was injured, watched as he trained the Rasenshuriken, saw all the damage inflicted on his body, and then saw him transform into light. She had watched his body regenerate as if it had never been harmed.
As a result, they had become friends, then teammates.
And now... He didn't know what they were.
But he knew she was special. And that he would protect her from whatever he could.
Upon seeing this, Hanabi lowered her head, unsure of what to say and feeling ashamed. Her eyes welled up with tears once more, small droplets falling onto the sand beneath her.
"I'm sorry..." was the only thing she could murmur. "But I must go back." She said, her voice trembling.
"No." Minato countered.
She lifted her eyes to him, surprised and even looking as if she felt wronged.
"Please, Minato... Let me go back. I'm sorry for everything, but... We can't be teammates anymore." She said, trying to accept the idea that Minato might handle things better without her.
"No." He repeated, unwavering.
She fell silent, her gaze practically begging him to stop insisting.
"I won't take you back, Hanabi. Not until you tell me exactly what's happening and how I can help you." His voice was serious and determined. Then, he continued.
"Because I once promised that I would deal with whatever was necessary, that I would face the Hyuuga clan itself and its cursed mark if I had to. And you trusted me back then."
He took a step forward.
"I ask you to keep trusting me now. I'm here to help you." He narrowed his eyes as she simply stared at him.
"Because if you don't help me understand what's happening..." His voice grew even colder.
"I will attack the Hyuuga clan myself."
Hanabi's eyes widened, shocked by those words.
"I won't accept this. Whether you want me to or not."
She was left speechless upon hearing that.
----
Raccoon Here:
I didn't mention this in this chapter, but all the girls have the Haishin symbol on their bodies, which is why Minato was able to abduct her before she could even react.
-------------Nexts Chapters ----------------
Chapter 216 - Cursed Seal of the Caged Bird of the Hyuuga Clan.
Chapter 221 - Escorting the Fire Daimyo.
Chapter 231 - The next gen.
Chapter 239 - We need to get stronger...
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