Kyusei watched Naruko washing vegetables in silence out of the corner of his eye.
Ever since she heard Kaoru's name, her mood had visibly dropped.
Even her beautiful golden hair seemed to have lost some of its shine.
…The same experience as Naruto, huh.
Kyusei sighed softly in his heart.
The Naruko in front of him wasn't Naruto.
Girls were naturally more sensitive—more perceptive of details that boys often missed.
Naruko had already been emotionally fragile because of Kyusei's existence, and hearing Kaoru's name had inevitably made her overthink things…
Even if—
unfortunately—what she was thinking wasn't entirely wrong.
Kyusei didn't really have the right to say anything about it.
Yes, in name, he was Naruko's "father" from another world.
But only in name.
He wasn't the Uzumaki Kyusei of her world.
And he himself was only twelve years old…
Naruko was already sixteen.
Time passed quietly, second by second, and night soon fell.
One dish after another was quickly completed under Kyusei's hands.
This was all thanks to his previous life as a wage slave.
Back then, he couldn't even fry an egg, but rising prices had forced him to learn how to cook.
Following short cooking videos and copying them step by step, he had gradually developed pretty decent skills.
Knock knock knock—
Someone knocked on the door.
Kyusei was still finishing the last sauce, but he spoke to Naruko anyway.
"That's probably Kaoru. Naruko, go open the door."
Naruko, who had been quietly watching Kyusei cook, stiffened instantly at his words.
Kaoru…
The Fourth Hokage who sacrificed herself to protect the village.
The first female Hokage.
The legendary Golden Flash.
And—very possibly—
her mother.
"Why are you just standing there?"
Under Kyusei's puzzled gaze, Naruko walked stiffly toward the door.
Her heart was pounding wildly.
She wasn't mentally prepared to face this person yet.
Just as she forced herself to place her hand on the doorknob—
The knob turned.
Naruko's breathing stopped.
Her pupils trembled slightly as the door slowly opened.
"Kyusei, what's wrong? You didn't open the door for so long—"
Kaoru's slightly puzzled voice sounded as the door opened.
Naruko stared blankly at the girl who gradually entered her field of vision.
Brilliant golden hair.
Azure eyes as deep as the sea.
Delicate features without a trace of makeup.
Fair skin.
…So beautiful.
Naruko stood frozen, utterly at a loss, staring at this twelve-year-old Fourth Hokage.
She looked so much like—
Naruko stared intensely at Kaoru, her heart pounding violently.
There was no need for confirmation anymore.
She was her mother.
The identical golden hair and blue eyes already proved everything.
So she really was the daughter of the Fourth Hokage…
Why?
Why?
Why was she the Hokage's daughter?
Why would the Hokage's daughter be treated like that?
Why did no one ever tell her?
Naruko's emotions instantly surged like a stormy sea.
"Eh?"
Kaoru tilted her head, a little confused by the girl staring at her in a daze.
"H-hello?"
Kaoru tried greeting the strange girl.
Naruko looked stiffly at Kaoru, unable to express what she was feeling.
Like a malfunctioning robot, she spoke awkwardly:
"Y-you… hello."
"I-I… I'm… Uzumaki… Uzumaki Naruko. N-nice… to meet you…"
"I-I'm… sixteen this year…"
"I like… like eating ramen…"
"I… I…"
Her words became more and more chaotic.
Naruko looked at the confused Kaoru, her emotions spiraling out of control, her hands and feet not knowing where to go.
She had no idea what she was supposed to do.
She felt incredibly stupid.
Mom must think she's an idiot…
"I see. Nice to meet you."
"I'm Namikaze Kaoru, Naruko."
"You can call me Kaoru."
Kaoru smiled gently.
She didn't know why this girl was so nervous, but that didn't stop her from treating her kindly.
Kaoru took Naruko's hand, her expression warm, and blinked softly.
"May I call you Naruko?"
"Y-yes…"
Naruko blushed slightly at Kaoru's gentle demeanor.
Just as her mind went into overdrive trying to figure out how to act around Kaoru, a voice came from behind her.
It made her relax—
though, for some reason, she also felt a faint sense of regret.
"Kaoru, let me introduce her. This is Naruko~"
Kyusei popped his head out from behind Naruko, wiggling his eyebrows mischievously.
What was this idiot planning now?
Kaoru looked suspiciously at Kyusei, then back at Naruko.
Come to think of it…
This girl's facial features looked a lot like Kyusei's.
She also seemed a year or two older than him.
And her surname was Uzumaki…
Don't tell me—
"I see!"
Kaoru suddenly clapped her fist into her palm, wearing a confident I've figured it out smile.
"Naruko!"
"She must be Kyusei's long-lost older sister!"
"That's definitely it!"
"Eh?!"
"EH??"
Naruko and Kyusei both stared at Kaoru in shock.
"Hehe, Kaoru, do you remember Kushina and Minato?"
Kyusei gave Kaoru a hint, amused by how far off she was.
"Of course I remember Minato and Kushina—"
Kaoru started speaking instinctively, then abruptly froze.
Her eyes widened as she looked at Kyusei, then at Naruko.
Kaoru was extremely intelligent and quick at deduction.
Between Kyusei's mischievous expression, the mention of Minato and Kushina, and the girl in front of her—
Golden hair.
The same eye color as hers.
Facial features remarkably similar to Kyusei's.
This…
This girl couldn't possibly be—
Kaoru's delicate face flushed bright red.
She looked helplessly at Naruko, her gentle composure completely collapsing.
"Y-you… you're not…!"
Before Kaoru could finish, Naruko stepped forward and hugged her tightly.
"Mom~~"
Naruko's sobbing voice rang out.
So it really was true.
This was her and Kyusei's child.
Kaoru, her face burning red with embarrassment, instinctively hugged the girl back.
Her heart was already racing beyond capacity, but she forced herself to speak gently anyway.
"N-Naruko… don't cry…"
Standing nearby in an apron, spatula in hand, Kyusei watched the two girls with a smile.
Meeting dad—one punch.
Meeting mom—one hug.
As expected of Naruko.
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