Minato and Kushina were married, and their happiness was complete with the presence of a four-month-old fetus in Kushina's womb.
However, the joy was slightly disturbed by the loneliness that often struck Kushina.
Minato, as a prominent shinobi, was very busy and often came home late at night, leaving Kushina alone in their large house.
One morning, after a short, silent breakfast, Minato took his leave to leave on a mission. "I'll try to come home early today, Kushina," he said, gently kissing his wife's forehead. "Take care of yourself, okay?"
Kushina smiled faintly, trying to hide a faint disappointment. "Of course, Minato. You be careful too." She was well aware that her husband's promises were often difficult to keep.
After the door closed, silence immediately enveloped the house. Kushina let out a long sigh. "Ahhh, alone again," she muttered, rubbing her swollen belly. "Sorry, sweetie, I'm often lonely."
Feeling bored and fed up at home, Kushina decided to get some fresh air and go shopping at the market.
The bustling market atmosphere, the hustle and bustle of bargaining, and the tempting aromas of food soothed her somewhat. She walked slowly, enjoying the crowd, occasionally stopping to examine the merchandise.
Her gaze then fell on two twin boys who looked about the same age, maybe seven or eight. They moved nimbly through the crowd, their sharp eyes scanning their surroundings.
Kushina clearly saw how they worked together. They were identical twins with jet-black hair accented with striking red. The only difference between them was their eye color. Kenji had expressive black eyes, while Kazuma had piercing, fiery red ones.
They both had a natural cuteness, which they used as their main weapon.
Kenji, with his adorable, crisp laugh, would distract a trader with a barrage of questions.
Meanwhile, Kazuma, with his bright red eyes sparkling cheerfully but harboring a sly glint, would sneak up and deftly take some fruit or cake from the basket.
They did it perfectly, as if they were so used to the cheerful charade that covered their devious actions.
"Oh my, those kids," Kushina whispered to herself, curiosity getting the better of her.
There was something captivating about the interaction between the two children, as if they had their own secret language, a code of glances and small gestures that only they understood. Their cheerful faces were so convincing, it was easy to let others down.
Kushina decided to follow them. She kept her distance, hiding behind the crowd or the pillars of the market buildings, ensuring her presence was undetected.
He followed them through narrow alleys filled with trash and puddles, then along winding, rarely-traveled streets, until finally the two children arrived at a small, very simple, almost rickety, house in a remote corner of the village. The walls were worn, the paint was peeling, and the roof looked like it would collapse at any moment.
Kushina hid behind a pile of empty wooden boxes, watching from a distance. The two children entered the house. Soon, they heard voices talking from inside.
"Hehehe, we caught a lot today!" Kenji exclaimed, his cheerful laughter ringing out. "The apple seller even patted me on the head because I was such a 'cute kid'!"
"That was a great silly act, Kenji," Kazuma replied, his tone flat but with a hint of pride. "I almost couldn't help but laugh when you pretended to stumble in front of the cake shop. Luckily that old hag was busy worrying about you and didn't see my hand."
Kushina frowned. So, their agility wasn't just childish cleverness. It was a learned tactic. They were both orphans, and the harsh world had taught them how to survive.
As Kushina continued to observe, the door suddenly opened. Kenji, with his sparkling black eyes and adorable, cheerful smile, looked at the hiding Kushina. His smile didn't fade; instead, a glint of understanding appeared in his eyes.
Kenji nudged Kazuma, who was behind him. Kazuma, with his sharp red eyes, followed Kenji's gaze and also saw Kushina. A meaningful look passed between them, as if they were communicating without words.
Kazuma stepped forward, his hand in Kenji's. They walked closer to where Kushina was hiding, still with their cheerful expressions.
"Oh, look at this, Kenji!" Kazuma exclaimed cheerfully, as if he had just spotted a rare butterfly. "There's a beautiful aunt here! She must be lost, right?"
Kenji nodded enthusiastically. "That's right! Hello, beautiful auntie! Why are you hiding there? Are you playing hide-and-seek?"
Kushina emerged from her hiding place, slightly surprised by their reaction. "Hello," she greeted softly. "My name is Kushina. I'm not lost, and I'm not playing hide-and-seek."
Kazuma tilted his head, his innocent smile so convincing. "Then why are you peeking at us, Auntie? We have nothing to hide!"
"I saw you guys at the market," Kushina said straight to the point, staring alternately at Kazuma's red eyes and Kenji's black ones. "I saw you guys taking things from the vendors without paying."
Kenji and Kazuma's cheerful smiles didn't waver one bit. Kenji chuckled. "Ah, this auntie is so funny! We couldn't possibly do that! We were just helping the aunties at the market tidy up their messy merchandise!"
"That's right!" Kazuma chimed in, blinking his red eyes. "We're very helpful! If something falls, we pick it up and put it back!"
Kushina sighed. Their cunning was truly amazing. "I'm not stupid, children. I know what I saw."
Kenji and Kazuma looked at each other again, the same flash of understanding flashing across their faces. Their smiles remained, but there was something deeper behind their eyes.
"Well then, my very clever Aunt Kushina," Kazuma said, his tone a little more serious, but still with a cheerful smile. "It seems you've seen a bit of our 'show'."
"We had to do that," Kenji continued, his tone softening slightly. "We're alone in this world. We have no one else."
Seeing the change in their tone, Kushina felt her heart wrench. "You guys... are orphans?"
Kazuma nodded, the smile on his lips now bittersweet. "Since we were very young. We had to survive. No one cared for street kids like us."
"That's not true," Kushina shook her head. "I care. I can help you guys."
The sly glint in Kazuma's eyes returned, mixed with a hint of hope. "You? Why would you help us? What's in it for you?"
Kushina pointed to her growing belly. "I'm going to be a mother soon. And I can't imagine my children having to live like you guys. You remind me of myself as a child. A little naughty, yes, but I know there's a good heart behind it."
Kenji and Kazuma looked at each other again, this time with a more sincere glint.
"What can you do?" Kenji asked, his voice trembling slightly.
"I can provide you with a decent place to live, food to eat, and an education," Kushina said firmly. "I can help you become strong shinobi, not by stealing, but with true strength."
The two boys fell silent. The offer was so large, it was almost unbelievable to those accustomed to the hardships of the streets. They stared at each other, Kenji's dark eyes and Kazuma's red ones communicating without words. After a moment, Kazuma nodded at Kenji.
"Aunt Kushina," Kazuma said, his smile cheerful but with a clear sincerity. "If you know all about our actions, and you're still willing to help... That means you're a very kind person."
"We don't know what to say," Kenji added, his eyes welling with tears, but a wide, cheerful smile etched across his face. "Would you like to... come to our house? We'd like you to see for yourself how we live."
Kushina smiled softly. "Of course. I'll come."
Kazuma and Kenji looked at each other once more, an unspoken promise passing between them. They turned, and with light, energetic steps, they led Kushina towards their small home.
Although they have learned cunning from the harsh world, meeting Kushina may be the beginning of a new chapter where their intelligence and agility can be directed on a better path.