The evening sky over Konoha was painted in hues of golden orange, marking the day's slow descent into night. The village was peaceful, though the shadows of the Third Great Ninja War still lingered in the hearts of many.
In the midst of that calm, a woman with long red hair walked with light steps, cradling a tiny blonde baby who was busy sucking on a milk bottle. Beside her walked a man in a mask, hands casually tucked into his pockets.
"Kakashi, come with me to Ichiraku. I've been craving their ramen for days," said Kushina, patting Kakashi on the shoulder with her free hand. Her voice was cheerful, though her eyes remained sharp, scanning her surroundings.
Kakashi turned slightly, glancing at the baby in her arms—Naruto, calm and content in his mother's embrace. "Ichiraku…? Now?"
"Of course! Listen, if there's one thing every time traveler—I mean, wise person—must do, it's try Ichiraku Ramen at least once in their lifetime!"
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, a little confused by her strange phrasing, but decided not to ask. He knew well enough by now that Kushina sometimes said... odd things.
They walked through the village's main street. Some villagers glanced their way. The stares weren't hostile, but tension lingered—like people hiding discomfort behind polite smiles.
Kushina felt it. Her eyes narrowed slightly, but she kept walking with her head held high.
'I know what you're thinking... But don't expect to treat Naruto like in the original timeline,' she thought sharply. Yet she still smiled politely at an old woman passing by.
Even though the village still searched for a scapegoat in the wake of Minato's death and the Kyuubi attack, no one dared harm the wife of the Fourth Hokage openly.
The Konoha elders understood well: provoking hatred toward Kushina—like they did to Naruto in the original story—would be a fatal mistake.
Kushina wasn't a child. She was an elite kunoichi. She couldn't be manipulated through loneliness like a kid could.
The village's original plan for Naruto was simple:
Villagers' hatred → loneliness → need for acknowledgment → desire to become Hokage → loyalty to Konoha.
But Kushina?
If the villagers pushed her too far, she wouldn't seek their approval—she'd fight back.
And the higher-ups knew: if Kushina decided to take revenge, no one could stop her. Not even if it meant burning Konoha to the ground.
So instead, they chose silence. Distance. And silent observation from the shadows.
At Ichiraku Ramen, the savory aroma of broth and miso welcomed them like a warm hug. Kushina inhaled deeply.
"Ah… the smell of nostalgia," she said with a satisfied smile.
Behind the counter, Teuchi—the shop owner—smiled warmly.
"Well, well, Kushina-san! Long time no see! And that must be... Naruto, huh?" he said, leaning in to peek at the baby.
"That's right! Little Naruto the milk-lover," Kushina replied with a warm smile. Naruto glanced briefly at Teuchi, then returned to his bottle.
"And Hatake Kakashi… Quite the surprise seeing you here too!"
Kakashi gave a small nod. "She persuaded me. Quite aggressively."
Teuchi chuckled and quickly got to work, preparing two bowls of his special ramen.
They sat down, and Kushina positioned Naruto comfortably in her lap. Kakashi sat beside her, arms crossed—relaxed but alert.
When the two steaming bowls were finally placed before them, the delicious scent filled the air.
"Here you go!" said Teuchi. "Made with extra love!"
Kakashi sighed softly, then slowly pulled down his mask.
At once, Kushina turned and stared at him.
"Wow!" she exclaimed, eyes gleaming like a kid seeing a rare toy. "I knew it! You really are handsome, Kakashi! Not losing to Minato at all! It's such a shame you hide that face all day!"
Kakashi blushed instantly, clearly caught off guard.
"P-please don't tease me, Sensei's wife…" he mumbled, bowing slightly and spooning up the broth awkwardly.
Kushina giggled, her voice playful and teasing. "Alright, alright. Since you gave me a treat for the eyes, I'll treat you to dinner."
Kakashi nearly choked. "K-Kushina-san!"
His face turned even redder, and he tried to hide his embarrassment by slurping his ramen as fast as he could. Kushina laughed, then dug into her bowl with gusto.
"Waaah! So delicious!!!"
Naruto stirred occasionally in her lap, causing Kushina to feed herself with one hand—but it didn't lessen the joy on her face.
Kakashi stole a glance at her, watching the bright, satisfied expression she wore. He hadn't seen her laugh this freely since the Kyuubi incident. And somehow… it warmed something inside him.
After they finished eating—and after Kakashi tried to sneak money under his bowl only to be caught and refused by Teuchi—Kushina stood up with Naruto back in her arms.
"Let's go home, Naruto. Today we had a great meal thanks to Big Brother Kakashi," she said, nudging Kakashi with her elbow.
"I-I didn't do anything…" Kakashi muttered, but a faint smile appeared on his lips.
As they walked home beneath the star-speckled night sky, Kushina felt content. Not just because her stomach was full, but because—at least for today—she had laughed freely, even if only for a little while.