"Sorry, did I wake you?"
Namikaze Minato's eyes carried a trace of apology.
Amamiya Rei shook her head, and after some hesitation, she finally spoke up.
"Thank you."
Her voice echoed in Minato and Kakashi's ears. Minato was briefly stunned before realizing why Rei was expressing gratitude.
It must be for the words he had told Kakashi earlier.
— "Follow her will."
Minato shook his head. If anyone should apologize, it should be them.
After all, it was they—the shinobi—who had disturbed the quiet life Rei once had.
And since they had forcibly kept her in Konohagakure, it was only right that they take responsibility for her future.
"When it comes to your own life, the decision should always be yours," Minato said with quiet resolve. He looked at her seriously and asked, "Rei... you don't wish to be a shinobi, do you?"
Rei nodded without the slightest hesitation.
After confirming her answer, Minato responded crisply, "Alright, I won't go against your will and make you a shinobi. However..."
He paused for a moment, then tried his best to explain the true purpose behind wanting to train her—he didn't want her to misunderstand.
"However, your abilities are special. If they were to be discovered, you might find yourself in danger. So... would you be willing to undergo training?"
Minato emphasized, "Of course, the training isn't to make you a shinobi or send you on missions, but to give you the power to protect yourself."
There was nothing false in Minato's gaze, nothing forced in his smile.
His sincerity was almost tangible—no one could doubt his words.
Knowing Minato's nature, Rei chose to believe him.
He nodded.
In fact, undergoing shinobi training had already been part of his own plan.
Skills gained in solitude were never the same as those tested in real combat.
Seeing that she accepted without much suspicion, Minato's lips curved into a smile.
It seemed their interactions over the past two days hadn't been without effect—at least in Rei's eyes, they were no longer "bad people."
She had begun to trust him.
Minato felt a warmth in his chest and silently vowed not to betray that trust.
After sending Kakashi back to rest, Minato returned to the living room with Rei—only to find the lights still on. Uzumaki Kushina was sitting on the sofa, clearly waiting for them.
"Why did you go out?"
Hearing the sound at the door, Kushina rubbed her eyes, got up from the sofa, and looked at Minato and Rei with concern.
"Sorry, did we wake you?"
Minato immediately stepped forward, gently slipping an arm around her waist, his eyes carrying that same trace of apology.
Kushina shook her head and placed her hand lightly over her slightly rounded belly, explaining, "No, no... I just got up to drink some water."
But when she noticed that Minato and Rei were both absent from the room and had gone out so late at night, she couldn't help but worry something serious had happened.
"Kushina."
"Mm?"
She tilted her head curiously, wondering what he wanted to say.
Minato glanced at Rei. Knowing that Kushina had a close relationship with Rei, he felt it necessary to ask for her opinion, so he earnestly told her about the decision they had just made on the rooftop.
"Starting tomorrow, I've decided to train Rei's abilities so she can have the strength to protect herself."
Hearing this, Kushina blinked, instinctively looking to Rei, worried this was something Minato had forced on her.
After all, she understood Rei's deep-seated fear and rejection of shinobi and the shinobi world.
But when she saw no trace of rejection or resistance in Rei's expression, she finally let out a quiet sigh of relief.
Kushina immediately nodded—of course she supported Rei training in ninjutsu.
In the end, Mokuton kekkei genkai was like a dormant explosive.
It was just a matter of when it would go off.
And when it did, Kushina wasn't sure she'd be able to protect Rei.
Even though Minato was the Hokage, there were many things he couldn't decide alone.
"Do your best, alright, Rei? I believe you can do it!"
Kushina clenched her fists and encouraged her with full sincerity.
Rei's lips curved into a faint smile, and he nodded firmly toward Kushina. "Yes! I will!"
He definitely would.
To receive personal training from the Hokage himself—
What a rare opportunity!
And if he could get a taste of Minato's flesh too...
How delightful!
How absolutely delightful!
Amamiya Rei was filled with anticipation.
Kushina yawned, her eyes misting slightly, and her face showing fatigue.
Considering her condition as an expectant mother, they all returned to their rooms to rest.
The next morning—
At the Namikaze household breakfast table.
Minato had gotten up early to prepare kelp tofu soup, tamagoyaki, toast, and onigiri.
In preparation for the day's training, Rei had put on the more movement-friendly outfit she'd bought during yesterday's shopping trip.
Kushina couldn't help but marvel at her own foresight—thank goodness she'd prepared training-appropriate combat wear for Rei beforehand, otherwise today's morning training might have been affected.
All throughout breakfast, Kushina kept offering encouragement for Rei's first day of training.
After giving her a few extra reminders about things to be careful of during training, Kushina noticed Rei seemed to have something on her mind.
"Mm..."
Rei's expression carried a trace of shyness, as though she found it hard to say—almost as if she feared causing trouble for Minato and Kushina.
Minato and Kushina immediately exchanged glances.
Minato wasn't afraid of trouble; compared to inconvenience, what he feared more was Rei feeling wronged in Konoha and rekindling the idea of leaving.
Following Minato's subtle cue, Kushina asked gently, "Rei, what is it? Is there something you'd like to say?"
Rei glanced at her, cheeks turning rosy before she finally spoke in a small voice.
"I... I want to find a job."
Her words left Minato and Kushina momentarily stunned.
Two seconds later, both their eyes lit up.
A job—that was a good thing!
Wanting to work in Konoha meant she was taking the first step toward integrating into the village.
This was a clear sign of progress in Rei's relationship with Konoha.
"I can heal people... Shisui said it's called medical ninjutsu..."
Her wide, innocent eyes blinked as her cheeks flushed slightly. "Could I help out at the hospital?"
Minato had almost forgotten that Rei also possessed medical ninjutsu.
"If you're willing to help, that would be wonderful!" he said with genuine delight.
Medical-nin were always in short supply.
Even at Konoha Hospital, the number of actual medical-nin was limited—most staff were ordinary doctors who simply knew medical science and related knowledge.
In some ways, Kushina's intuition was sharper than Minato's.
She gently placed her warm hand over Rei's, her tone full of warmth. "Rei, whether or not you get a job, this is your home. You're already part of our family. I truly see you as my own younger sister. And of course, I'll support any choice you make!"
Minato looked at Kushina and couldn't help but smile, nodding in agreement. "Kushina's right."
Rei looked at her with deep emotion.
Such a wonderful woman... yet she was someone else's wife!
Minato... you'd better count your blessings.
***