Naruto SI: Kaito Red Lightnin Chapter 212
Kushina's head shot up immediately, cheeks flushing. "Kai-kun!"
Kaito grinned widely. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll take Naruto and the others out for the night, so you two can… catch up, ya know."
Kushina's face went scarlet. "W–What…..Wait! But Naru-chan hasn't even met Minato yet, ya know! He has to meet his father—"
Kaito shook his head with an amused smirk. "We can do that tomorrow. I'm sure there's plenty you both want to talk about tonight, ya know."
Kushina's eyes widened at the implication, her blush deepening. "K-Kai-kun!"
Kaito just laughed, waved. "We'll be back tomorrow morning. Have fun!" Before she could protest, he vanished in a flash.
Kushina blinked, still flustered, her cheeks glowing red. "How does Kai-kun even know about that stuff, ya know? Has he been reading Jiraiya's books?" she muttered, mortified.
Minato chuckled softly, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Knowing Kaito… he probably figured it out on his own."
Kushina groaned, hiding her face in her hands. "That's even worse, ya know."
Minato laughed quietly, wrapping an arm around her shoulders again. "He really takes after both of us."
Kushina smiled through her embarrassment, leaning into his side. "Yeah… maybe a little too much, ya know."
…
The morning sun shone softly over the Village Hidden in the Leaves. Birds chirped as they darted between rooftops, and the quiet rhythm of daily life began to stir through the streets.
Inside the Uzumaki household, gentle rays slipped through the curtains, painting the bedroom in a warm, golden glow.
Kushina stirred with a sleepy sigh, a peaceful smile tugging at her lips. She reached out instinctively, hand brushing the sheets beside her—warm, but empty.
Her brows furrowed. "Huh…?"
Blinking her drowsiness away, she sat up slowly. The blanket slid off her shoulders, and a flash of bare skin reminded her she wasn't wearing a thing. Her face turned crimson.
"Oh—oh no, ya know," she whispered to herself, clutching the blanket against her chest. Her heart thudded wildly. Last night… that wasn't a dream, was it?
Her fingers brushed her lips as the memories came flooding back—the warmth of his hands, the way he whispered her name, the look in his eyes like she was the only person in the world.
"Minato…" she breathed, her voice soft with disbelief and lingering affection.
Then, a smell reached her nose—sweet, comforting. Pancakes?
Her head tilted. "Wait… someone's cooking breakfast?"
Still clutching the blanket, she blinked in confusion before scrambling out of bed and tugging on her robe. Tying it hastily around her waist, she hurried out of the room, her hair a mess and her heart still racing.
The house was quiet except for the soft clatter of chopsticks and the faint sound of humming coming from the kitchen.
Kushina's heart raced as she followed the sound. Each step felt heavier than the last, as if some part of her didn't dare to hope.
When she turned the corner and stepped into the kitchen, she froze.
Minato stood by the stove in his blue shinobi attire, sleeves rolled up neatly, her pink apron tied around his waist—the one that proudly read "Best Mom." He was completely focused on the pan in front of him, flipping its contents with calm precision. The morning sun streamed through the window, catching his blond hair and turning it into a soft halo of gold.
Kushina's breath caught in her throat. Tears welled in her eyes before she even realized it.
Minato must've heard her quiet gasp, because he turned, still holding the pan in one hand. That familiar, gentle smile curved his lips as their eyes met.
"Morning, Kushina."
That was all it took.
She moved before she could think, rushing across the kitchen and throwing her arms around him.
Minato barely had time to react, quickly setting the hot pan aside before Kushina collided with him, hugging him tightly.
"Hey—careful," he laughed softly, steadying them both. "The pan's still hot."
Kushina didn't care. Her arms only tightened around him. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "You're really back, ya know…"
Minato's expression softened. He rested one hand atop her head, his thumb brushing through her hair. "I'm really back, Kushina."
She buried her face against his chest, voice muffled but full of feeling. "I thought I just imagined it last night, ya know. Thought I'd wake up and… you'd be gone again."
Minato exhaled softly, guilt flickering in his blue eyes. He brushed a stray tear from her cheek. "I'm sorry I made you go through that pain. But I'm here now—for real this time."
Kushina looked up at him, her lips trembling into a teary smile. She reached up, cupping his face in both hands before pressing her forehead against his.
"You better be," she murmured, eyes closing as their breaths mingled. "You disappear again, and I'll drag you back myself, ya know."
He chuckled softly, then leaned in and kissed her — slow, tender, and full of all the words they didn't need to say. When they finally parted, Minato gently guided her toward the table.
"Come on, sit. Breakfast is almost ready."
Kushina let him lead her, still dazed from the quiet joy of it all. She watched as Minato moved around the kitchen, rolling up his sleeves a bit more and humming under his breath like he used to.
He poured her a cup of coffee and brought it over. "Just the way you like it — two spoons of sugar, no milk."
Kushina blinked, surprised he remembered. She took the cup and smiled up at him, her expression soft and dreamy. "Thank you…" she whispered before taking a sip. The warmth spread through her chest, melting away everything else. For the first time in years, everything felt… right.
Minato turned back to the stove, checking the pan's heat. Satisfied, he grabbed a bowl from the counter and gave it a gentle stir with a ladle, his movements precise and calm.
Kushina lowered her cup slightly, curiosity lighting her eyes. "What are you making, ya know?"
Minato looked over his shoulder, smiling. "Your special pancakes. I remember how much Kaito loved them, so I thought I'd make some for the kids."
Kushina's eyes went wide. "Wait—the kids!" She jumped up suddenly, panic rushing through her voice. "Kaito's bringing them home this morning! What are we doing?! I don't even have anything ready—"
Minato laughed softly, waving his hand dismissively. "Relax. I've got the cooking handled. You go shower and get ready—they'll be here any minute."
"But, Minato—"
He turned and gently placed his hands on her shoulders, his smile calm but playful. "You've been taking care of everyone for years, Kushina. Let me take care of you this morning."
Kushina blinked at him, taken aback by how easily he said it. Her lips parted slightly before she smiled, warmth flooding her chest again.
"Fine," she said, narrowing her eyes playfully. "But if you burn my kitchen, I swear—"
"I'll accept full responsibility," Minato said quickly, grinning.
Kushina snorted, shaking her head. "I'll hold you to that, ya know."
She leaned up and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek before turning to leave, her robe swaying gently as she walked down the hall.
Minato watched her go, his expression soft, content. Then he turned back to the stove, humming quietly as he flipped another pancake
…
Outside the Uzumaki home, the morning air was warm and fresh.
Kaito appeared in front of the house with all of them — Naruto, Karin, Guren, Kimimaro, and Haku — each of them suspended midair, held neatly by his glowing chakra chains.
He released them one by one, setting everyone down gently — except for Naruto, whom he "accidentally" dropped face-first into the dirt.
Naruto shot up, sputtering, a leaf stuck to his cheek. "Oi! You did that on purpose, ya know!"
Kaito feigned innocence, eyes wide. "What? Me? Never, ya know."
Naruto grumbled, brushing off his jacket as the others laughed softly.
Kaito stretched and walked toward the door. "Come on, you lot. Mom's probably waiting." He walked ahead toward the house, slipping off his sandals at the doorstep. He opened the door, calling out, "Mom, we're back, ya know!"
From the kitchen came Kushina's cheerful voice. "In the kitchen, dear!"
Kaito smiled knowingly, already imagining what was about to happen. He stepped aside, letting the rest of the group walk in first.
Naruto led the way, rubbing his stomach. "Man, I'm starving! Mom, what did you cook tod—"
He stopped mid-sentence, freezing at the sight before him.
Standing by the stove, sleeves rolled up and blond hair glowing in the morning sun, was Minato Namikaze.
Naruto's eyes went wide, his mouth opening and closing soundlessly. The rest of the group halted behind him, staring in disbelief.
Kaito couldn't hold back his grin anymore. "Morning, Mom. Morning, Dad. So what are we having for breakfast, ya know?"
Kushina, sitting at the table with her cup of coffee, waved cheerfully. "Good morning, you lot! How was the trip? Did you have fun?"
Minato turned slightly, setting another plate of pancakes on the counter. His smile was soft but warm. "Good morning, Kaito. I made your mother's special pancakes. I remember you liked them a lot when you were little," he said. "Come sit; I made plenty for everyone."
Guren blinked and nudged Karin. "That's… the Fourth, right? Or am I still dreaming?"
Karin's lips parted slightly. "You're not dreaming…"
Naruto still hadn't moved. "Wha—what…dad how… what's going on?!" His brain looked like it had short-circuited completely.
Kushina burst out laughing at their expressions. She stood up, wiping a tear of amusement from her eye, and walked over to Naruto. "Naruto, your father back, ya know."
Minato smiled and took off the apron, walking over to him. "Hey… it's been a while, Naruto-kun. My, you've really grown up, huh?"
Naruto's voice was almost trembling. "Dad…?" His gaze darted from Minato to Kushina, then to Kaito, as if needing someone to confirm what he was seeing.
Minato nodded gently. "Yeah, it's me. I guess this must be a surprise to you, huh?"
"A surprise?!" Naruto shouted, voice cracking slightly. "Of course it's a surprise, ya know! I mean—what's going on?! You're supposed to be dead, ya know! How are you even here?!"
Beside him, Karin leaned close and whispered, "Naruto… that's really your dad?"
Naruto gave a shaky nod, eyes still locked on Minato.
Haku, Guren, and Kimimaro stood behind them silently, unsure if they should say anything or bow.
Kaito finally stepped forward, hands tucked into his pockets. "Well, technically, Dad didn't die the night of the Nine-Tails attack, ya know."
Naruto blinked, his brows furrowing as he stared at his older brother. "But you said—"
Kaito nodded slowly, letting out a soft sigh. "I know what I said. It was a cover-up. Dad didn't die that night. He was injured and went into a coma. The reason I blacked out and had to use my life force was because I had to heal both mom and dad that night. But while mom was okay—except for her chakra coils—dad had gone into a deep coma."
Naruto's eyes widened. "Coma?"
"Yeah," Kaito said, folding his arms as if recalling every moment. "Dad's been in a coma for the past ten and a half years. And because dad had made a lot of enemies during the Third Shinobi War, the Third Hokage had to declare Dad dead. You see, Dad was the reason why Konoha even won the Third Shinobi War. If it hadn't been for him, Konoha would have likely lost."
Minato scratched the back of his head, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips. "Eh, I don't think Konoha would have lost without me, Kai-kun. You're overexaggerating my contributions."
Kushina ignored him completely, nodding along with Kaito instead. "If the third hadn't, we could have been attacked multiple times. The other village would have sent assassins to get back at Minato, ya know."
Naruto looked between them, still in disbelief. "Then why wasn't I told?"
"We didn't want to take the risk, Naruto. " Kaito's tone softened. "Only a few people even knew Dad was still alive. Mom, me, a few doctors, and the Third Hokage. And Lady Tsunade. Like I said, it was better to keep it hidden. "
"Even Lady Tsunade couldn't heal him, ya know. That's why he was in a coma for so long." Kaito continued. "I used the same seal that I used to heal mom on dad, but I had to tweak it a bit for his condition, that's why dad only just woke up a few days back. We didn't even tell Mom, ya know—that Dad was awake. We wanted to surprise her. She only found out yesterday."
Kushina mock-glared at Kaito, swatting his arm lightly. "I'm still not over that, ya know!"
Kaito grinned, rubbing the spot she'd hit. "C'mon, Mom, it was a good surprise!"
Naruto just stood there, mouth half open as he tried to piece everything together.
He blinked once. Twice. "...So wait— hold on— Dad's been in a coma this whole time? You mean— he's been alive in our house!?"
Kaito rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Not exactly. He was in the hospital — the Hokage's private ward, sealed off with heavy privacy barriers, ya know. More like the hidden room behind the sealing chamber. But yeah, basically."
Naruto's eyes widened. "For ten years!?"
"Ten and a half," Kaito corrected casually.
Naruto's jaw dropped. "Ten and a half!?" He spun toward Kushina, hands flailing. "Mom! You knew!?"
Kushina smiled sheepishly, taking a slow sip of her coffee. "Maaaybe, ya know."
"Maaaybe!? You definitely knew!" Naruto said, pointing an accusatory finger at her before whipping back to glare at Kaito. "And you lied to me too, ya know!?"
Kaito raised both hands defensively, keeping his grin. "Technically, I didn't lie. I just… didn't mention Dad was in a coma, ya know."
Naruto's eye twitched. "That's the same thing!"
Minato chuckled, scratching the back of his head with that familiar awkward smile. "He really does take after you, Kushina."
Kushina huffed proudly. "Of course he does, ya know."
Naruto folded his arms, still fuming but visibly overwhelmed. "Then why did we visit Dad's grave every year? If he wasn't dead, why go there, ya know!?"
Kaito scratched his cheek. "Eh… to keep up appearances, ya know."
Naruto stared at him like he'd grown another head. "Unbelievable! The whole village thought you were dead, Dad! Everyone's been telling stories about you since I was little! Kaito-nii used to brag about how cool you were, and Mom—" he turned to her, gesturing dramatically, "Mom kept saying how dorky you could be—"
Kushina grinned, eyes gleaming mischievously. "Still true, ya know."
Minato chuckled, rubbing his neck. "I suppose I can't argue that one."
Naruto groaned, throwing his hands in the air. "And now you're just—here! Cooking pancakes like it's totally normal!"
Karin covered her mouth, trying not to laugh.
Guren shook her head, whispering under her breath, "how are they related."
Haku smiled faintly.
Even Kimimaro's lips twitched in quiet amusement.
Naruto turned back to Minato, eyes wide again. "So… you're really here. For real. Not some kind of zombie, right?"
Minato chuckled, the corners of his eyes softening as he looked at his son. "No, I'm not a zombie, Naruto. Just… me."
Naruto hesitated, staring at him for a moment before a grin broke across his face. "That's… that's awesome, ya know."
Minato laughed quietly, the sound warm and light as he stepped closer, resting a gentle hand on Naruto's shoulder. "I'm sorry you had to grow up thinking I wasn't here. I wish I could've been part of it all."
Naruto blinked, his grin softening into something smaller, quieter. "Yeah, but… it's fine, ya know. I had Mom. And Kaito-nii. And all my friends. So it's okay."
Minato chuckled under his breath. "Still… thank you. For not resenting me."
Naruto's grin returned, brighter this time. "Resent you? Are you kidding!? I get to meet my dad for real! This is awesome! I've got so many questions, ya know!"
Kaito groaned, rubbing his temples. "Here it comes."
Minato's smile widened, while Kushina snorted into her coffee to hide her laugh.
Kaito stepped forward before Naruto could launch into a barrage. "Dad, before Naruto bombards you with endless questions, lemme introduce everyone properly, ya know."
He turned and gestured toward the group standing just behind Naruto. "This is Karin," he said first, patting her lightly on the shoulder. "She's the same age as Naruto."
Karin froze for a moment under Minato's gaze, then quickly bowed, nearly tripping over her words. "Ah! Y-yes! It's an honor to meet you, Minato-sama!"
Minato smiled kindly, waving off the formality. "No need for formality, really."
Kaito then moved to Guren, resting a hand gently on her head. "And this here is Guren," he said with an amused grin. "These three are a year older than Naruto."
Guren followed immediately with a polite bow of her own. "It's an honor to meet you, Fourth Hokage-sama."
Minato chuckled softly. "It's nice to meet you as well, Guren."
Kaito moved on. "That's Haku," he said, motioning to the calm boy with short black hair standing slightly apart from the others.
Haku bowed deeply, his tone polite but even. "It's an honor to finally meet you, sir."
"And that's Kimimaro," Kaito added, glancing toward the quiet white-haired boy who gave a single nod.
Kimimaro bowed deeply. "It's an honor to meet you, Lord Fourth."
Kushina beamed proudly, hands on her hips. "They're all good kids, ya know."
Kaito smirked. "More or less."
Karin crossed her arms. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Naruto laughed, shaking his head. "It means you're trouble, ya know!"
"I've heard a lot about each of you from Kaito — and from Kushina too." Minato smiled softly, looking around at them all. "And please — when we're alone, don't call me Hokage-sama. Just Uncle Minato is fine."
Karin blinked, an awkward smile forming. "Uh— o-okay, Uncle Minato."
Guren gave a short, respectful nod. "R-right."
Haku inclined his head politely. "Of course, Minato-sama."
Kimimaro gave a curt nod. "Right, Lord Fourth."
Minato blinked, looking a little awkward. "...That might take some getting used to."
Kushina snorted, grinning as she reached over to pat Haku and Kimimaro on the shoulders. "Good luck with that, ya know. I've been trying to get these two to call me Aunt Kushina since the day I met them — and they still refuse! For some reason, they just can't do it."
Haku looked sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck. "Eh… sorry about that, Lady Kushina."
"See?" Kushina laughed, clapping her hands. "Alright, enough of that! Breakfast's getting cold!, ya know!"
Naruto blinked, then immediately perked up. "Oh, right! Food!"
Everyone moved toward the table, the smell of warm pancakes filling the air. Kushina and Minato worked in perfect sync, setting down plates and pouring tea like they'd been doing this every morning of their lives.
Kaito dropped into the seat next to Naruto, smirking. "Told you this was worth waking up early for, ya know."
Naruto ignored him, eyes fixed on the stack of pancakes as he stabbed his fork into the top one and took a massive bite. "This is amazing, ya know! Dad, you made this!?"
Minato chuckled, setting another plate in front of Haku and Kimimaro. "Glad you like it. Your mother taught me years ago."
Kushina smirked proudly. "He used to burn half the pan back then, ya know."
Minato let out a mock sigh of defeat. "I've improved… a little."
Everyone laughed — the earlier tension replaced by warmth and lighthearted chatter.
As they ate, Naruto barely slowed down between bites, firing questions like rapid kunai.
"So, Dad, is it true you're even better than Kai-nii with that teleport jutsu? And the academy teachers said you beat a thousand shinobi during the war all by yourself! And — oh! Mom told me you made the Rasengan in one day, is that true!?"
Minato smiled, patient and amused. "One question at a time, Naruto."
Naruto swallowed another mouthful and leaned forward eagerly. "Can you train us? Kai-nii's been teaching me the Rasengan, ya know, so can you help too?"
Minato chuckled. "Of course, I can help. I'd love to train with you all."
Naruto's grin widened so much it nearly split his face. "Really!? You mean it!?"
Before Naruto could explode with excitement, Kaito's voice cut in, quieter but firm. "Before we get carried away… there's something important, ya know."
Everyone turned toward him.
Kaito folded his arms, expression serious. "No one outside this house can know Dad's alive."
The cheerful air in the room dimmed instantly.
Naruto frowned. "Eh? Why not?"
Kaito's gaze flicked toward him. "The masked man."
Naruto blinked, confused. "What about him? Isn't Dad, like, stronger than him, ya know?"
Kaito nodded slightly. "Yeah, he is. But that guy's still a wildcard. We don't know what he'd do if he found out Dad's alive. We still don't even know who he really is, ya know. If word gets out, he could attack Konoha again… or worse. So for now — we keep it quiet."
Haku nodded firmly. "Understood."
Karin straightened, expression serious. "We won't say anything."
Kimimaro gave a short, silent nod, while Guren glanced around the table before saying, "We won't say a word. Promise."
Naruto frowned for a moment, then sighed, scratching the back of his head. "Well… I don't care as long as we get to spend time with dad, ya know."
Minato smiled softly, warmth flickering in his eyes. "That's good enough for me."
Kushina leaned forward, resting her chin on her hand with a playful grin. "Speaking of spending time together… how about we go on vacation for the week, ya know? Just us."
Naruto perked up instantly. "Vacation!? Really!?"
Kaito nodded. "Yeah. We could go to our resort in Hancho Village. Construction just finished, and it won't open for another two weeks."
Minato blinked, looking between them. "Our… resort?"
Kaito turned to him with an easy grin. "Right, you don't know. We kinda own a few resorts and restaurants around the Land of Fire, ya know. It's called Sōsen-tei — all under Sōsen Holdings. Mom started it after Lady Tsunade became Hokage.
Minato blinked, a little stunned. "You've been busy."
Kushina grinned proudly from across the table. "Mhm! My kai-kun worked hard, ya know. We figured if shinobi life ever got too crazy, we'd have something peaceful to fall back on."
Minato chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "Still… isn't that a little risky? People might recognize you."
Kaito waved him off, confident as ever. "Oh, don't worry about that. I've got a seal that works like a transformation jutsu — but it doesn't wear off unless the user dispels it, ya know. Even sensory types can't tell the difference."
Minato blinked again, then smiled, half proud and half amazed. "You've really thought of everything."
Karin looked at Kushina, eyes wide. "Wait, Aunt Kushina, are we… also coming?"
Kushina tilted her head, looking genuinely surprised. "Of course you're coming, ya know! You five are family. What kind of aunt would I be if I left you behind?"
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