Half an hour later...
Hssssssss…
Steam still curled thickly in the air, the faint hiss of hot water echoing like a lullaby of indulgence.
The bathroom walls dripped with condensation, and the scent of lavender soap clung heavy in the mist.
Drip… drip… drip…
Water droplets slid down the sleek tile, mixing with faint echoes of moans that had long since faded but still seemed to haunt the air like ghosts.
Naruto stepped out, a towel lazily slung over his shoulders, his body glistening clean—and thoroughly satisfied. Each step he took left a wet print on the tile, steam rising gently around his ankles.
Behind him, Sarada lay sprawled on the cold floor, her body twitching with lingering aftershocks. Her hair was plastered to her flushed face, lips parted as she gasped softly, barely conscious, a blissful smile stuck on her face like she'd touched nirvana itself.
Drip… drip… hiss…
"Still need to wash up, huh?" Naruto chuckled, casting a smirk over his shoulder. "Take your time, pet."
A soft moan escaped her throat, weak and dreamy.
Naruto casually dressed, pulling on his black pants but leaving his torso bare. There was no need for a shirt, especially when the red kiss prints and nail scratches scrawled across his chest and sides like love-written scars. He flexed slightly, amused at how deep Sarada's claws had dug this time.
He made his way downstairs, the hiss of steam fading behind him. As he descended, the scent of home-cooked food filled his nose—spicy, rich, and comforting.
The moment he stepped into the kitchen, Kushina Uzumaki looked up from the stove, spoon in hand. Her vivid red hair was tied up into a messy bun, and her apron clung to her curves, dusted with flour, spice, and something that smelled faintly of cinnamon. Her smile was warm at first—but quickly curved into a sly smirk as her eyes swept over her son's shirtless, marked-up body.
"Well, well… good evening, sunshine," She purred, a teasing edge in her voice. "You look like you've been through a war. Or started one."
Naruto grinned, running a hand through his still-damp hair. "Can't lie. The girls get a little too excited sometimes."
Kushina arched a brow, resting a hand on her hip as her other stirred the pot.
"Too excited?" She echoed, lips twitching. "Naruto, I heard moans all the way from the hallway. You weren't even trying to keep it down, were you?"
She took a slow breath, as if replaying the sounds in her head, her cheeks ever-so-slightly pink. "Honestly… I was this close to joining you in the bed with Sakura."
He chuckled, grabbing a rice ball off the counter. "Hey, I told them to be quiet. But the second I touch them…"
He gave her a smug glance. "It's over."
Kushina gave a slow, amused groan, fanning herself lightly with her hand. "You really are something else... You're not just a lady-killer… you're a whole natural disaster."
Her gaze drifted back to his bare torso. "Honestly, those poor girls…"
Naruto winked. "Dragon's touch, mom. Can't help what it does."
Kushina shook her head with a laugh, but there was a flush to her skin, and her tongue briefly licked at the corner of her lips.
"You're lucky I've got strong nerves," She muttered, turning back to the stove with a swish of her hips. "I nearly dropped the ladle when I heard that one scream—was that Sarada? She sounded like she saw Kami himself."
He sat down, still chuckling. "She saw something alright."
Kushina smirked without looking back. "Eat up, you damn dragon. You'll need your energy if you're going to keep breaking your playmates like that."
Naruto took a big bite of curry, humming. "Mmm… You always know how to spoil your son."
She turned, leaning on the counter, watching him with a blend of pride, amusement, and something deeper in her gaze. "Just don't make me a grandma too soon, alright?"
Naruto choked slightly on his food. "Oi—! Seriously?!"
Kushina just laughed, already walking off with a mischievous flick of her apron. "Just saying! At this rate, I might have to start knitting baby booties by next month."
Naruto muttered under his breath, grinning. "Damn women in this house…"
After a few minutes, Naruto leaned back in his chair with a satisfied sigh, patting his stomach as the last of the meal disappeared from his plate. "Man, that was amazing, Kaa-chan. I swear, you cook better than any chef in Konoha."
Kushina grinned as she placed her hands on her hips, feigning modesty. "Of course, I do! What kind of mother would I be if I couldn't even feed my son properly, huh?"
Naruto chuckled, swirling the last bit of miso soup in his bowl. "You spoil me, you know that? Any future wife I get is gonna have to pass the 'Kushina Uzumaki Taste Test.' If she can't cook better than you, it's a dealbreaker."
Kushina raised an eyebrow, sauntering over and lightly smacking the back of his head with a ladle. "Tch. You better not use me as an excuse to stay single forever! And what's this about a wife already? Aren't you still supposed to be a little boy?"
Naruto gave her a sly grin. "Kaa-chan, c'mon… I stopped being a 'little boy' the moment I became the man of the house."
Kushina blushed slightly and bit her lower lip.
Naruto teased, stretching his arms lazily. "Now I've got the strongest fists in the village and the prettiest mom. I'm untouchable."
Kushina blinked, then burst out laughing, smacking him with a kitchen towel. "You little flirt! I'm your mother, Naruto!"
"And a damn fine one at that," He said with a wink.
She gave him a look somewhere between amused and exasperated, trying not to smile too hard. "You'd better save that smooth talk for the girls your age, or I'll have to teach you another lesson in hand-to-hand combat."
Naruto leaned forward with a grin. "Then I'd want this match to be in my bed."
Kushina huffed, but her eyes softened. "You're such a troublemaker, you know that?"
"Only for you," He said, winking again.
The playful energy in the room mellowed into something warmer. Kushina sat down across from him, resting her chin in her palm. "So… tell me more about this mission. You really think Zabuza and Haku weren't bad people?"
Naruto nodded, his tone shifting to something more reflective. "They were doing what they had to. Zabuza… he reminded me a little of you, honestly."
Kushina blinked. "Me? How?"
"He was rough on the outside. Dangerous. Scary, even. But everything he did… it was for Haku. Like how you'd tear the world apart for me."
Kushina felt her heart tighten. "Naruto…"
He looked away, his voice a little quieter. "Sometimes I wish things had been different for them."
Reaching out, Kushina gently ruffled his hair. "That's because you have a good heart, my boy. A strong one. It's what makes you special."
He smiled. "Guess I got that from you, too."
They shared a brief moment of quiet before Naruto stood up, stretching his arms. "Alright! Time to head out."
"Going training again?" She asked, knowingly.
Naruto smirked and turned toward the door. "Something like that. If anyone comes looking for me, tell them I'm out being awesome."
Kushina stood too, walking over and fixing his collar. "You mean training, right?"
He leaned in, grinning. "Kaa-chan… when you're me, being awesome is training."
She rolled her eyes and flicked his forehead lightly. "Fine, fine. Just don't be out too late."
"No promises," he said, flashing her one last grin before walking out the door.
--- ✦ ✦ ✦ ---
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