Naruto: Journey to Reach You-Chapter 36

Kakashi and Yamato looked at each other in confusion. Meanwhile, Sakura clenched her teeth in frustration, thinking:

Of course, he doesn't want anyone else to treat him but her... Naruto, you idiot.

The three of them went to the Hokage's office to submit the mission report. After Kakashi handed the report to Tsunade, Sakura said angrily:

"Well, I'm heading home. And please, Tsunade-sama, no missions for me today... I'm not in the mood for any of it."

She didn't wait for a reply and stormed toward the door, still fuming.

Tsunade looked at Kakashi, clearly asking for an explanation.

Kakashi:

"She had a fight with Naruto."

Tsunade stared at the door for a moment, then looked back at him with a mischievous smile:

"Kakashi... tell me everything that happened between them last night."

Kakashi looked surprised at first but then understood her expression. He smirked and said:

"Alright, as you wish, Hokage-sama."

Back at Naruto's house...

Kushina rushed into the room. As soon as Naruto saw her, he said angrily:

"What took you so long?!"

She sat beside him on the edge of the bed, placing her hand on his forehead to begin healing him.

"I'm sorry, my love."

He leaned back on the pillow, barely able to keep his eyes open. He looked exhausted. He stared at her for a while as she treated him and then asked:

"What did you do while I was gone?"

She smiled:

"The girls came and took me out with them. We went around the village, visited a lot of places, and then had lunch at a restaurant—"

He cut her off:

"So that's why you seem happy today... not like the other times. Usually, when I come back, I find you sad because I was away. But it seems I don't matter to you anymore."

Kushina, angrily:

"What are you saying?! Even if everyone around me is smiling, it doesn't compare to how happy I am when you're near me. You know how important you are to me... so don't say something like that again."

Naruto:

"Calm down, calm down... I'm just messing with you. So, where else did you go?"

Kushina:

"Ino took us to her place, and then we all went shopping..."

She paused, then added shyly:

"And I may have taken a bit of the money from the drawer..."

Naruto, smiling tiredly:

"It's fine, my princess. I left it there for you anyway."

She smiled sweetly:

"Thank you, my love."

She leaned in to kiss him on the cheek, but he turned away, saying:

"No... I don't want you catching whatever I have."

She leaned in closer and kissed him anyway:

"Are you joking? What's better than catching something from you?"

He looked at her and teased:

"Actually, there is something better... you lying next to me and both of us needing someone to take care of us."

She laughed joyfully:

"Even sick, you can't stop joking..."

Her laughter stopped when Naruto coughed. She said worriedly:

"Naruto... don't go on missions like that again."

Naruto:

"Don't worry, my princess... The mission wasn't that hard, I was just a bit tired..."

He coughed again.

"And that's what made me fall sick."

Kushina, sharply:

"It would've been easier if you had just let Sakura help you. I'm sure she tried, but you were being your usual stubborn self."

He turned his face away from her. She said gently:

"Alright, it's fine... You'll be back to normal by tomorrow morning."

She looked at him, then asked shyly:

"Naruto... how was your mission?"

Naruto, confused:

"Which mission?!"

Kushina, annoyed:

"The one with that girl."

Naruto:

"Girl?!"

Kushina, getting angry:

"Yes, that girl named Hyako... How was your mission with her?"

He looked at her, confused:

"And how do you even know about that mission?!"

(Flashback)

After Kushina left Tsunade's office and was heading home, Ino called her. They chatted for a bit, and then Kushina noticed a girl standing at the gate. She asked:

"Who's that girl? She doesn't look like she's from your village."

Ino:

"Yeah, she's not. That's Miss Hyako. She's from one of the cities and came to visit her relatives. I heard from Tsunade-sama that Naruto is going to be her guard."

Kushina, snapping out of her thoughts:

"It doesn't matter. Just tell me how your mission went with her."

He looked at her for a moment and said,

"It was normal."

Kushina stayed silent for a moment, then asked,

"So... did she get close to you... or... cry on your chest... or pretend to fall so you'd catch her, or faint so you'd carry her..."

She continued, trying to suppress her anger:

"Or maybe... she tried to kiss you?"

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He looked at her for a moment and replied,

"No..."

She let out a sigh of relief, but Naruto calmly added with a smirk:

"But she did try to do everything you just mentioned."

Kushina stood up in anger,

"What?! And did you go along with any of it?!"

He pulled her into his chest and smiled,

"No... of course not, my princess. I told you—I don't look at any girl but you. There's no need to be upset."

Her expression softened, and she gave a small smile as she stood up,

"Good... Alright, I'm done. And please, Naruto, listen to me this time and don't move from your spot. I hope you'll follow my orders just once in your life!"

He looked at her tiredly and said,

"Don't worry... even if I wanted to run away, I wouldn't be able to."

Kushina:

"Alright... rest for a bit while I prepare some soup for you. Maybe you'll feel a little better. And like I said—don't move until I get back!"

Naruto:

"Okay, Kushina. I'm not a kid."

She looked at him suspiciously, raising an eyebrow. He turned his face away from her.

She turned toward the door, but suddenly she felt some strands of her hair caught on something. When she looked back, she saw them gently held between Naruto's fingers, which he was softly kissing. Her face turned bright red as she looked at him.

He let go of her hair and said,

"Thank you, my princess."

She looked at him, still blushing, then smiled happily,

"You're welcome, my love."

And she quickly headed to the kitchen.

At 9 PM, the doorbell rang. Kushina went to open it and was surprised:

"Sakura?!"

Sakura, smiling:

"How are you, Kushina?"

Kushina, smiling back:

"I'm fine... come in."

Sakura entered and then asked,

"How's Naruto now?"

Kushina:

"He's much better than he was this morning."

Sakura, hesitantly:

"So... can I see him?"

Kushina, with a smile:

"Of course... follow me."

Kushina led Sakura to Naruto's room. As they approached, they heard him coughing. Sakura said,

"Sounds like he's still not fully recovered."

Kushina:

"Yes... he caught a really bad cold on that mission. I'm just glad you all made it back safely."

Sakura gave her a small smile as they entered the room. As soon as Naruto saw Sakura, he raised an eyebrow in surprise—it was strange she had come, especially after their last meeting ended in an argument.