Naruto: Journey to Reach You-Chapter 39

The following day at 3 PM, Naruto finally returned from his mission. When Kushina heard knocking at the door, she walked toward it lazily—expecting it to be Tsunade, Sakura, or someone else checking on her. But when she opened it and saw Naruto, her eyes widened and she laughed with joy, throwing herself at him and hugging him tightly, saying softly:

Kushina: "I missed you."

He looked at her clinging to him like a child and smiled: "Looks like you're feeling better."

She raised her face from his shoulder to look at him: "Thanks to you... If you hadn't made everyone care for me, I wouldn't have recovered."

Naruto, brushing her hair affectionately: "I didn't make anyone do anything... You're one of them now. They'll look after you whether I tell them or not."

She smiled, then looked down shyly and said: "I thought you believed me when I said I wasn't sick..."

He lifted her chin: "My love... you might fool everyone, but not me. Did you really think I'm so stupid I wouldn't notice you were sick?"

Kushina, quickly: "Of course not! I didn't mean it that way... I just didn't want you to worry."

He smiled and joked: "Now let go—I'm really tired."

She realized how tightly she was hugging him and stepped back, flustered: "Sorry, I didn't realize... But you've been away from me a lot lately, and I missed you so much... That's why I got carried away."

He placed his hand on her head as he walked inside: "It's okay, my princess."

He dropped himself onto the couch and said playfully: "Where's the food? I haven't eaten in, like, two days."

Kushina, standing behind him with a smile: "It's ready. I made your favorite to celebrate your return."

He turned his head to look at her as she continued excitedly: "Ramen!"

Naruto: "Huh... Really? Thank you, my princess."

Kushina: "Okay, just rest here. I'll bring it to you."

She left and returned moments later. Naruto was eating while she watched him.

Then suddenly she said hesitantly:

Kushina: "Naruto... I just wanted to ask... Have you seen Ayako?"

He looked at her briefly, then back to his food: "Yeah... I visit her between missions. Why?"

Kushina: "I miss her a lot... She was the only one who kept me company while you were at work. I want to see her. Why didn't you bring her with you?"

Naruto: "Bring her with me?!"

Kushina: "Yeah... to live with us. Why not?!"

He looked at her, surprised: "Are you crazy, Kushina?! How can I just take her away from her father? Of course not."

Kushina: "If you really think about it, you're basically her father, Naruto. Even she admitted that. And you're fine seeing her every day during missions, but as usual, you'll lock me up and won't let me step a foot outside this village."

Naruto: "Yeah, that's what's going to happen. You saved me the trouble of saying it myself. I might be able to convince her father to let her visit you, but I can't promise anything."

Kushina: "But Naruto..."

He interrupted her: "Enough, Kushina. I'm not in the mood for this right now. I'm exhausted, and I couldn't sleep at all during that annoying mission... So please, behave and save this discussion for another time."

She looked at him for a bit, then lowered her head sadly: "I'm sorry... as you wish."

He glanced at her, stood up, and said: "Alright... Good night."

Kushina, surprised: "Now?!"

Naruto: "Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if I slept until tomorrow morning. Don't wake me up for any reason."

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Kushina, quietly: "Understood."

He left for the bedroom, and she stayed downstairs for fifteen minutes before following him up.

She quietly opened the bedroom door and gently closed it. When she looked at the bed, she saw him lying down, his arm resting across his forehead, staring at the ceiling as if lost in thought.

She was surprised—normally, when he's tired, he falls asleep instantly. So what's keeping him awake?

He caught her staring and said:

Naruto: "I'm not asleep... What is it you wanted, my princess?"

She moved toward him shyly, her gaze fixed on the floor. He watched her curiously for a moment and asked:

Naruto: "What's wrong?!"

She said shyly, "I just came to give you something..."

Then she walked up to him and kissed him gently on the cheek, saying, "That's it."

He looked at her and smiled, "Do you do this every time I'm asleep??!!!"

Her cheeks flushed as she looked away, "Yes."

His eyes widened as he looked at her and teased, "So every day, a beautiful girl sneaks into my room and kisses me without me even knowing."

She stayed in the same posture, though her cheeks reddened even more.

Then she said, "Anyway... sorry for disturbing you. I'll go now and let you rest... sleep well. Good night, dear."

She hurried off toward the door. Naruto kept staring at the door for a moment after Kushina left, thinking to himself: Ayako!! So you really do miss that little girl... And of course you would—she's started calling you 'Mom'...

How stupid of me, Naruto... I really don't know what I'm waiting for. There's no need to overthink it... I've made my decision, I'm just waiting for the right time to act on it.

Then he closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.

At seven in the morning... Naruto went to the Hokage's office. Tsunade was surprised and said, "Naruto!!... It's rare for you to be this early—Shizune hasn't even arrived yet."

Naruto, tiredly: "I've been up since three. I got really bored, so I decided to come early..."

Tsunade: "Good... I needed to see you about something important."

Naruto: "Huh? What is it?"

Tsunade: "There's a meeting today... and as the Sixth Hokage, I want you to preside over it."

Naruto: "A meeting?! What does that have to do with me? Sounds annoying... You're more suited for that."

Tsunade, angrily: "Enough, you lazy fool... Naruto, I don't have much time left. I need to be sure I'm leaving the village in the hands of someone strong and capable... Starting today, I'm going to train you on the duties of the Hokage."

Sakura walked in: "Good morning, Tsu—wait! You're here already?!"

He glanced at her then looked back to Tsunade.

Tsunade: "Good, you're here. We've got a lot of work today. And I don't know why Shizune is so late."

She turned her gaze back to Naruto: "So, what do you think?"

Naruto, dryly and joking: "I don't know, like I said... I think you're the best person for the job, old lady."

Tsunade lost it, slamming the desk with her hand and yelling, "What did you just say, you idiot?! Old lady?!"

Naruto, casually: "Of course. You."

Before Tsunade could yell again, Sakura clenched her fist and snapped: "Show some respect, you idiot!"

She swung at him, but he smoothly ducked down, dodging her punch. Her fist hovered in the air for a moment before she sighed angrily and crossed her arms.

Naruto, now serious, looked at Tsunade: "When is the meeting?"

Tsunade calmed down and sat back in her chair, "At one in the afternoon... Don't be late. All the clan leaders will be waiting for you."

He stood up and asked coldly, "And what's the meeting about?"

Tsunade: "Some nations are planning to wage war on us now that we've become the strongest of the Five Great Nations... All the missions come to us now, not to them. Things like that... They want to fight to regain their pride."

Naruto: "Didn't I already talk to them about this before?!!"

Tsunade: "Apparently, the only language they understand is war. I know you'll do everything to stop it—and I'm waiting to see how you plan to handle this."

Naruto: "Going to war is definitely not in our favor... We barely managed to rebuild the village, and we're still suffering from the aftereffects of the last war... Alright, leave it to me."

Tsunade, smiling: "I'm counting on you."

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