Konoha mornings were… weirdly peaceful.
The smell of grilled fish and miso drifted from the kitchen. Kushina hummed off-key while chopping vegetables, and Minato was already sipping tea like the calmest man alive.
And me? Akari, eater of flesh, inheritor of Muzan's power, sworn protector of the Namikaze family?
I was setting the table.
Like a normal girl.
How did my life come to this?
"Akari-chan, pass me the soy sauce!" Kushina called.
I handed it over automatically. "You know, you treat me like I've been here forever."
Kushina smiled so brightly it hurt. "That's 'cause you belong here. I don't care where you came from. You're my little sister now, dattebane!"
…And just like that, my heart pulled a Naruto. It went believe it! all on its own.
Minato glanced at us from behind his tea. He didn't say much, but the warmth in his eyes spoke louder than any words. That man didn't need to shout family; he just was family.
I clenched my chopsticks a little tighter. I swore I'd protect them. No matter what.
Later that day, Kushina dragged me into the village for "girl time." Which, apparently, meant shopping until my arms went numb from carrying bags.
"Try this one, Akari-chan!" she held up a bright red kimono.
I eyed it. "Don't you think this screams 'please rob me, I'm rich and blind'?"
She pouted. "But it'll look so cute on you!"
I tried to argue, but then she hit me with the sister card. And somehow, I ended up in a changing room.
When I came out, Shisui just happened to be there.
He froze. His eyes widened. His face went nuclear red.
"A-Akari…"
"…What are you doing here?" I asked, raising a brow.
"Mission. Totally mission-related. Very serious ninja business. Not following you. Nope. Definitely not."
Kushina giggled behind her hand. "He's got it bad."
Shisui: "KUSHINA-SAN!"
Me: smirks internally while pretending not to notice my own cheeks heating up.
That night, though, the warmth shattered.
I was walking back alone after putting away Kushina's shopping bags when the air turned cold. Shadows thickened unnaturally.
He appeared.
Black Zetsu.
"Enjoying your new life, pawn?" his voice oozed from the darkness, amused and sharp all at once.
I didn't flinch. "Enjoying stalking me like a creepy ex?"
A pause. "…Your tongue is as sharp as ever."
He circled me like a vulture. "You were supposed to gather information. Infiltrate. Yet all I see is you playing house with the Hokage and his wife."
I crossed my arms. "Patience. You want intel? It's easier when people trust me. Minato already treats me like family."
His golden eyes narrowed. "And where does your loyalty truly lie, Akari? With me… or them?"
My heart skipped, but my face didn't betray it. I leaned in, smiling just enough to be unsettling.
"Why not both? You feed me flesh, I give you scraps of what I learn. Everyone's happy."
I wasn't lying—exactly. I'd play his game. Take his flesh, his knowledge, every crumb of advantage he threw me. And then, when the time was right…
I'd cut his strings.
Zetsu smirked faintly. "Very well. I'll hold you to your word. Do not forget—we both know what happens to pawns who betray me."
And with that, he melted back into the ground, leaving the night too quiet.
Back at the Namikaze home, Kushina was waiting in the doorway, hands on her hips.
"You took your time! I was about to come drag you back myself."
Minato glanced up from the couch with that small smile of his. "Everything alright, Akari?"
I nodded, forcing the tension out of my shoulders. "Yeah. Just… needed some air."
Kushina yanked me inside immediately. "Good. C'mon, let's make midnight dango! You and me, sister style!"
I laughed softly, letting her pull me along.
And in that moment, surrounded by warmth, I decided:
I wasn't a pawn.Not Zetsu's.Not fate's.
I was Akari. And I would rewrite this story with my own hands.
Even if I had to devour the entire ninja world to do it.