Disclaimer: Naruto and all of its character belong to Masashi Kishimoto. I own nothing but the original characters I make.
Chapter 165: Minato X Kushina
20 May Konoha Year 42
Meanwhile on Earth, the relationship between Minato and Kushina had grown closer with each passing year. Kushina had never liked Minato and saw him only as a rival, but because Minato was her brother disciple, she shifted her perspective and saw him as a rival.
Raiken becoming Minato teacher gave him far more opportunities to be in the same place as Kushina. Every time Raiken set aside time to train Minato, Kushina would inevitably show up as well, claiming she was simply there to keep her own skills sharp under her brother guidance. Maruku eventually joined the routine too, turning what had started as private lessons into something closer to a small training group, and they met several times every week.
Although he could see Minato eyes every time he looked at Kushina, Raiken didn't try to stop it because Kushina's presence benefited them both.
Without ever realizing both of them had become like rivals, pushing each other forward without either one fully realizing that was what they were doing. Competing against Minato made Kushina train harder than she ever had on her own, and having Kushina watching made Minato refine his technique with a level of care he rarely applied when training alone. Raiken kept his observations to himself and let the two of them continue, occasionally adjusting the difficulty of an exercise just enough to keep both of them sharp.
Five years passed that way, one training session folding into the next, one mission for Team 7 turning into a shared meal afterward. Somewhere inside all of that repetition, something had quietly taken root between them. Minato noticed his feelings towards Kushina had grown much more, while Kushina felt happy when with Minato.
Kushina had not noticed it at first, she had assumed that Minato being a constant and familiar presence in her life was just how things were now, the same way Maruku training beside them had become routine.
It was only when Minato began to change and decided to confront her that she finally knew her feelings.
It was an ordinary evening after training had ended and Maruku had already left and returned home.
Minato had asked her to stay behind for a moment, his voice becoming slightly stiff, which she had never heard this kind of intonation from him before, and when she turned to ask him what was wrong, she found him holding a single rose.
"I like you, Kushina," said Minato, the words coming out faster than he had probably intended, as though he had been holding them in for so long that once he finally let them go, they refused to come out slowly.
Kushina froze.
"Ugh," she managed to hold herself from turning backward, feeling heat rush into her cheeks. She opened her mouth and then closed it again, completely unsure of what she was even supposed to say in response to Minato confession.
At this age, she was no longer a little kid, many of her friends had already gotten married.
"I want to marry you," added Minato, apparently deciding that since he had already started, there was no reason to stop halfway.
"You... you," stammered Kushina, pointing at him with a finger that was shaking slightly.
She couldn't say anything more after that.
A few seconds later, without any further explanation, she turned and walked away from him, leaving Minato standing alone in the training field still holding the rose, watching her retreat without giving him an answer.
"Did I mess something up?" muttered Minato.
Kushina did not stop running until she reached her room, where she immediately wrapped herself entirely in her blanket, curling into the smallest shape she could.
"Idiot Minato," she muttered inside the blanket, her voice muffled slightly.
Her heart, however, betrayed her. It was beating loudly enough that she could feel it in her ears.
"What is this?" she whispered, pressing a hand flat against her own chest as though she could physically slow it down by touching it. "Why is my heart beating so loud?"
She pulled the blanket tighter around herself and replayed the moment over and over, the rose, his voice, the way he had said her name.
"IDIOTTT!!" Kushina started to curse. "Dattebane Minato, I will kick you."
Every time she tried to dismiss it as nothing, her own body seemed to say something else and prove her wrong.
Kushina skipped dinner, and she did not fall asleep remembering what Minato had told her, circling back again and again to the same stammering, red-faced moment, and to the uncomfortable moment she felt today.
....
21 May Konoha Year 42
Meanwhile, Minato felt rejected and couldn't move on either. For the first time in his life, he felt heartbroken because of how Kushina reacted.
"Does she really hate me?" muttered Minato while staring at the ceiling.
"No... I can't be here. I really need to know whether she really rejected me or not," said Minato before standing up, and when he looked at the clock, it was 4 am. "Wait a minute! Has a day passed without me even noticing it?"
Minato looked at his surroundings, and for a moment he forgot to breathe in surprise at how fast time had passed.
"I.... I wanted to meet Kushina, but it was too early," said Minato.
He tried to sleep again, but he still didn't feel sleepy, so he went outside Uzumaki Kushina home at 5 am.
...
Author Notes: I have proofread this to check the grammar. SO PLEASE COMMENT
There is 30 advanced chapter on my patreon.
Chapter 188: Waifu Last
Chapter 189: Kaguya POV
Chapter 190: I Was Betrayed
Chapter 191: Hagoromo Appear
Chapter 192: Son And Mother
Chapter 193: Reveal The Truth
Chapter 194: Reunion
Chapter 195: Return To Konoha
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