The evening sky over Akagakure was a deep indigo, dotted with stars that glimmered like jewels. Lanterns lined the winding streets below, their soft orange glow casting a cozy warmth across the village. The subtle crash of waves against the distant shore mingled with the lively hum of celebration.
The Uzumaki filled every corner of the village, celebrating. Their laughter and chatter swelled into a joyous chorus, mixing with the distant hum of music and the sharp crackle of food vendors grilling skewers. Children darted between stalls, their bright eyes alight as they clutched candy and paper toys. It was a scene painted with life, something the Uzumaki were famous for.
Tonight marked the anniversary of Akagakure's founding. Another year had passed, bringing the world into Year 42, and the Uzumaki honored their survival with revelry. It hadn't been long, though, since Kushina had confessed her feelings, a shift in her life that made everything taste different- even the air on nights like this.
This past year was much more boring than the last, but in her opinion, that was a positive. In this world, interesting things spell doom. The peace that came from her new village was much more preferable.
She watched it all from above, standing on the balcony of the Akakage building. Her blue dress swayed gently in the coastal breeze, and a strand of red hair fell across her face, which she tucked behind her ear.
Her room opened to a commanding view of the village, where she could look down at the festivities. The golden light of lanterns reached her face but not her heart, for though the sight was beautiful, it felt distant.
She leaned against the balcony's stone railing, her thoughts drifting. It was moments like these where she almost wished she could be one of them. Just another Uzumaki, nameless and unburdened, laughing without fear of tomorrow. She longed for the freedom of slipping into a crowd without titles or expectations clinging to her. To celebrate as someone ordinary, without the weight of a clan, a village, or the future resting on her shoulders.
But that was not the fate dealt to her. If the Uzumaki were to thrive, she had to remain vigilant. She had to stand taller than all of them.
Behind her, Kurama lounged on a low couch in her sparse but elegant room; his human-like form couldn't quite contain his fearsome aura. His dark robes with orange accents contrasted with the room's crimson tapestries, and his crimson eyes watched her with a mix of curiosity and affection.
He rose, his footsteps silent, and approached her, his presence a comforting warmth at her back. Without a word, he slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her gently against him.
"You can go with them, if you want," he said, his voice low but tinged with understanding. "Isn't it you who always says the Uzumaki care for their own? Do you think they'd lose faith in you if you stopped being cold for one night?"
Kushina leaned into him, her cheek brushing against his chest. "It's not that," she murmured, her voice soft but heavy. "I just… I can't relate to them anymore. Whenever I try, I slip back into being the Akakage. I don't know how to let go."
Kurama nodded, his arm tightening slightly. "That's fine. We're above them. We don't need to celebrate as the commoners do."
His words were blunt, but not cruel. For him, it was a straightforward truth, and Kushina knew it.
She sighed, her breath warm against him. "Sometimes I still want to." Her blue eyes flicked to the festival. The simplicity of their joy felt like a world apart from her own.
His red eyes turned skyward, catching the glow of the full moon that sat proud and high. "You'll see things as I do eventually. The longer you walk this path, the more you'll realize it- mortals blur together. They'll become nothing more than ants in your eyes. That's the true cost of immortality."
Kushina frowned, pulling back slightly to look at him. "But I'm not immortal…"
Kurama's lips curled into a smirk, sharp but strangely reassuring. "There are many ways to become immortal. Finding one shouldn't be difficult for the strongest people in the world."
She buried her face in his chest, her voice muffled but teasing. "I'll leave that to you, then."
Kurama grunted, a low "Hn" that vibrated through her. They stood in silence for a moment, the festival's laughter a distant echo. The weight of her responsibilities- Nagato's defiance, the Five Villages' alliance, Madara's looming threat- pressed against her, but Kurama's presence anchored her, a reminder that she wasn't alone.
He spoke again, his voice softer now. "Let's go somewhere else."
Kushina tilted her head, curiosity sparking in her eyes. "Somewhere else? Like where?"
He didn't answer. She smiled, a flicker of her old mischief returning, and nodded. "Alright, fox. Lead the way."
---
They slipped away from the Akakage's tower, vanishing into the night without fanfare. The streets were too loud and too crowded, and so Kurama led her toward the quieter edges of the village. The distant festival lights faded, replaced by the vast expanse of stars above, their brilliance unmarred by the village's glow.
At the far edge of Akagakure, a cliff overlooked the ocean. The moonlight shimmered on the waves, silver and endless. Here, the breeze was cooler, carrying the scent of salt.
He settled on the grass, his robes pooling around him, and gestured for her to join him. Kushina sat close, her shoulder brushing his, her blue dress catching the moonlight. The night was quiet, save for the waves below and the occasional chirp of crickets. It felt like a world apart from the festival, a private haven where she could be Kushina, not the Akakage.
She glanced at him, her heart fluttering at his crimson eyes in the starlight. "This is nice," she said, her voice light. "You're getting good at this date thing, ya know."
Kurama snorted, but his smirk betrayed his amusement. "Don't get used to it. I'm only here because you'd whine if I stayed behind."
She laughed, the sound bright and free. "Oh, please. You love this as much as I do. Admit it, you're having fun."
He raised an eyebrow, his voice dry. "Maybe a little."
"Whoa!" She nudged him playfully, her grin widening. "That's a lot for you, fox. I might start thinking you're soft."
He grunted, looking away, but his hand found hers, his fingers warm and steady. She squeezed his hand, her heart swelling at the quiet gesture. For a moment, they sat in comfortable silence.
Then, a spark shot into the sky, bursting into a cascade of red and gold. Fireworks erupted above the meadow, their colors reflecting on the ocean's surface.
Kushina gasped, her eyes wide with delight as another burst followed, painting the sky with blues and greens. "Kurama, did you-?"
He shrugged, his smirk returning. "I always figured you had a fondness for explosions."
She laughed, leaning into him as the fireworks bloomed, each burst a fleeting masterpiece. "I've always thought explosions were true art." Her voice softened, her blue eyes reflecting the vibrant colors. "Thank you… for this."
Kurama's arm slid around her, pulling her closer. "So sentimental," he muttered, but his tone was warm, his gaze fixed on her rather than the sky.
Kushina nestled against him, the fireworks painting her face with light. The weight of leadership lifted, replaced by the simple joy of being with him.
The meadow, the stars, and the fireworks- it felt like a date, a moment of romance in this brutal world. She didn't know what the future held with the Ghost of the Uchiha or the Five Kage, but here, with Kurama, she felt ready to face it all.
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A/N: I would appreciate it if anyone still reading could review my story. It still has grey stars, and I'd like for it to at least have a rating. Thanks!