Three days later.
The skies over Konoha were overcast. The air felt cold, gloomy, and silent, though the sounds of reconstruction echoed in the distance. The village hadn't recovered. Its wounds were still wide open.
Kushina walked slowly along the village's main road. In her arms was a small baby sleeping soundly. Naruto—her child. Or more accurately, the child of this body.
Her expression was unreadable. A mixture of bitterness, awe, confusion, and resignation. Her gaze swept across the village she had only seen through a computer screen before.
"So... this is the real Konoha..."
Her steps halted as she passed a large ruin near the gate.
In the distance, a gaping ravine cut into the earth like a torn wound. Rubble lay scattered. Broken pillars. Some villagers still wore bandages and dirty clothes as they worked to repair homes.
"The impact of the Kyuubi attack... it's overwhelming."
She held Naruto closer. The baby whimpered softly in his sleep.
At home.
A small house with the classic Konoha architecture. Inside was simple, a soft couch in the living room welcomed Kushina's tired body as she sat down, still cradling Naruto.
"So this is what it feels like to be a mother...?"
She looked at the small baby with complicated emotions. Naruto's face was innocent, pure. His tiny hands reached into the air, as if trying to grab something unseen.
'What am I supposed to do now? Just... raise this child?'
That thought echoed in her mind over and over.
"I wasn't even a father in my past life… and now suddenly I have to be a mother?"
She let out a long sigh.
"This is insane."
Naruto stirred. A faint sound—
The baby began to cry softly.
"Oh no..."
Kushina quickly looked down.
"You... you're hungry, huh? I'm sorry! I totally forgot...!"
Panic laced her voice.
With clumsy, awkward movements, Kushina face flushed red, her heart thumped between panic and embarrassment.
Half an hour later.
Naruto had calmed down. His tiny body lay peacefully in her arms, breathing slow and deep. Asleep.
Kushina sat again, this time with a far more relaxed expression—though her face was still slightly red.
"Okay... I can do this..."
She looked at her own now-slender, delicate fingers.
"I'm a woman now. But that doesn't mean I'm doing something wrong..."
She fought against the discomfort in her thoughts.
"Yes! This is purely maternal instinct!"
"Not because I have any weird thoughts about Kushina's body or anything like that!"
She looked at Naruto with a tired smile.
"At least... I can still fix a few things."
And at that moment, for the first time since waking up in this world, Kushina felt a little... at peace.
Kushina slowly stood up, calming her thoughts before stepping toward the large mirror hanging on the bedroom wall. Her steps were slow, as if every footfall carried an invisible emotional weight.
In front of her stood the reflection of a young woman with long red hair, part of it falling across her soft, oval face. Her large eyes looked slightly cloudy, holding back a deep weariness.
The face in the mirror—gentle, beautiful, but also filled with sorrow.
"This... is me," she murmured softly, almost a whisper.
She wiped her face with both hands, then touched her red hair. This hair... so striking, just like in the anime she used to watch. Soft, long, and shiny. But now it was messy and tangled.
"Still young, still pretty," she muttered bitterly while observing her flawless skin. "But look at me now—a widow, and... a new mom."
She chuckled softly, bitterly. Her laugh echoed gently through the silent room. But before she could continue her reflection, a soft knock sounded from the window.
Knock knock.
Kushina quickly turned, raising an eyebrow. Behind the glass stood a figure dressed in black ANBU gear. His left eye was hidden beneath a forehead protector, while his right eye—cold and calm—stared inward.
Kushina immediately opened the window. The cold morning breeze brushed her face.
"Kakashi?" she asked in disbelief, her eyes lighting up.
The young boy, still in his teens, stood tall. He gave a short salute.
"Sensei's wife," he said formally but gently, "I heard you survived. I... I'm glad to hear it."
A small smile appeared on Kushina's face. It felt strange—someone she'd only seen on a screen now stood in front of her. Kakashi Hatake. A fan favorite, now in his youth.
"Thank you, Kakashi... for your concern," she said, her voice slightly trembling with emotion.
Kakashi nodded slightly.
"Would you like to meet Naruto?" Kushina asked.
Kakashi looked briefly puzzled. "Naruto?"
He frowned, trying to recall. The name was familiar… like something he'd read somewhere. Then his eyes narrowed slightly.
"Naruto... as in, the character from Master Jiraiya's novel? The Tale of the Utterly Gutsy Shinobi?"
Kushina chuckled softly, this time more sincerely. "Yes, that's right. Naruto is my son. Minato chose the name. He really liked that novel."
Kakashi nodded slowly. "I never thought... Minato-sensei would name his child after a novel character."
"Well," Kushina shrugged with a smile, "it's a good story. About courage, determination... and dreams. A perfect fit for our child."
She paused, then looked at Kakashi with hesitation. "By the way... has Master Jiraiya's new novel been published yet?"
Kakashi paused, his expression still flat but a bit confused. "I'm not sure. I don't think so."
'Then…' Kushina thought, 'Should I help Jiraiya publish it sooner? But... considering the content… and Jiraiya's personality…'
Kushina's face paled slightly, then quickly turned red. She imagined herself sitting with Jiraiya, discussing a manuscript full of indecent scenes. Her body shivered.
Oh no! I can't! Not a chance!
Sometimes curiosity is dangerous. It can kill a cat... or make me die of embarrassment! she thought quickly, mentally slapping her own cheek.
Kakashi noticed Kushina's sudden change in expression and stared at her with a puzzled look. He couldn't read her thoughts, but from his perspective...
'Maybe… Sensei's wife is still mourning Minato-sensei's death,' Kakashi thought. 'Grief can strike unexpectedly.'
Kushina realized Kakashi's gaze and quickly looked away, clearing her throat. "Sorry... I was just... thinking about something."
"I understand," Kakashi replied calmly, still polite.
They were both silent for a while. The atmosphere grew quiet, accompanied only by the sound of birds chirping in the distance. The morning light was now warmer, resting gently on their shoulders.
Kushina then spoke softly, "I've lost so much... But I still have Naruto. I'll protect him, with everything I have."
Kakashi nodded silently. He looked at the woman before him—gentle yet strong, wounded but still standing. His teacher's wife... who now had to raise a child on her own.
"Naruto is lucky to have a mother like you," he finally said.
Kushina smiled. "Thank you, Kakashi."