"Click."
The sound of the front door opening echoed through the Namikaze household as Minato finally returned home.
"Dad, you're back!"
In the living room, Chiharu turned her head with lightning speed, her face lighting up with joy at the sight of her father standing in the entryway.
"Mm," Minato responded with a warm smile. He reached down to ruffle his daughter's soft golden hair, an action that Chiharu seemed to relish, leaning into his touch with evident delight.
"I'll heat up dinner for you," Kushina offered, setting aside the knitting project she'd been working on and rising from her seat.
"Thank you," Minato said gratefully.
"You're home much later than usual today," Kushina observed, approaching her husband. With practiced ease, she helped him remove the distinctive white haori that identified him as the Fourth Hokage, draping it carefully over her arm. "It must have been an exhausting day."
"I'm fine," Minato assured her softly. His gaze drifted across the room, settling on Naruto, who was quietly training in the living room—an unusual sight when normally his son would be the first to enthusiastically greet him upon his return.
"Is something wrong?" he asked with a curious smile.
"Dad, I..." Naruto began, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes.
Seeing her son's hesitation, Kushina stepped in. "Naruto's year-end exams finished today. He performed excellently in taijutsu and chakra control, but the theoretical portion was..." she trailed off, her expression growing somewhat peculiar.
Only Minato truly understood the source of her discomfort. During her own Academy days, Kushina had consistently struggled with the theoretical components of ninja education, rarely managing to pass those sections.
"You submitted a blank paper, didn't you?" Minato asked gently, his eyes twinkling with understanding rather than disappointment. As Hokage, little escaped his notice, especially concerning his own children.
"Yeah..."
To Minato's surprise, both Naruto and Kushina responded in unison, their voices soft and slightly guilty, as though they shared responsibility for the incomplete exam.
Minato waved his hand dismissively, a reassuring smile crossing his features. "Don't look so worried. Everyone has areas they struggle with."
"Naruto's taijutsu score ranked among the highest in his entire grade," Kushina added quickly, as though this might balance the scales.
Both mother and son exhaled audible sighs of relief at Minato's understanding reaction. The synchronized response highlighted the uncanny connection between them—truly a special bond between mother and child.
"That said," Minato continued in a thoughtful tone, "theoretical knowledge, even if challenging, remains an essential component of a shinobi's education. Even when something doesn't come naturally to us, we must still put forth our best effort rather than abandoning it entirely."
Minato had shifted the conversation not to scold Naruto, but to ensure his son understood the importance of perseverance. Fundamentals overlooked during Academy years often demanded a far steeper price once one became an active ninja in the field.
"Yeah, I understand," Naruto acknowledged, though his voice lacked conviction.
"I'll finish preparing your dinner," Kushina said, finally relaxing as she headed toward the kitchen to attend to the meal.
Naruto visibly relaxed, the weight lifting from his shoulders. He turned to resume his training, but paused when Minato crouched beside him.
Father and son faced each other—two pairs of identical sapphire-blue eyes meeting in silent communication. Minato smiled warmly and asked, "The holiday break is approaching. Have you thought about how you'll spend it?"
Naruto blinked in surprise before shaking his head. "I should probably continue training. I don't think I've earned a break yet."
The day's examination results had left Naruto feeling unusually pressured. Although his performance ranked among the best in his class—with the exception of theoretical knowledge, which he considered less important—he recognized that his advantage stemmed largely from beginning his training earlier than his peers and receiving personal guidance from his father.
Meanwhile, Sakura, without any prior training or family connections to the shinobi world, had managed to match the prodigious Sasuke in chakra control—a remarkable achievement that hadn't escaped Naruto's notice.
Minato recognized the thoughts troubling his son, but persisted with his suggestion. "Remember, Naruto, you're still young. There's no need to dedicate every waking moment to training. Occasional relaxation is just as important for your development."
"But—" Naruto began to protest.
"I understand your concerns," Minato interrupted gently. "While consistent training is indeed the most reliable path for a ninja to improve, maintaining an unbroken regimen for extended periods actually diminishes its effectiveness over time."
"This break lasts an entire month. Even if you dedicated every day to training, continuing at your current intensity would likely hinder rather than help your long-term progress."
Minato wasn't simply trying to persuade Naruto. Shinobi training demanded both physical and mental stamina. Children from prominent ninja families like Naruto often began their training far earlier than their peers—studying at the Academy during daylight hours, then continuing their practice at home well into the evening.
But even the most dedicated shinobi weren't machines. Even Minato himself occasionally found his limits tested by the demands of his role. More importantly, he didn't want Naruto's childhood memories to consist solely of endless, monotonous training sessions.
Moreover, blindly pushing forward without proper rest risked doing more harm than good.
"Chiharu hasn't spent quality time with her brother in quite a while, has she?" Minato observed, noting the hesitation in Naruto's expression. He glanced meaningfully at his daughter who sat nearby.
The perceptive Chiharu immediately understood the cue. She sprang forward, wrapping her small arms around her brother's waist and gently swaying from side to side in a playful manner.
"That's right!" she exclaimed. "I want my big brother to play with me. No one has played with me properly in ages!"
With her adorable features and endearing mannerisms, Chiharu's pleading was nearly impossible to resist. Since her birth, Naruto had maintained a particular softness toward his little sister, never once speaking harshly to her or denying her reasonable requests.
"Well, I guess..." Naruto glanced uncertainly at his father, who nodded encouragingly. Finally, the boy relented. "Alright."
"Yay!" Chiharu jumped with excitement, clapping her hands together in delight.
"What are you three discussing that has you looking so happy?" Kushina inquired as she returned to the living room, carrying Minato's reheated dinner.
Minato, Naruto, and Chiharu turned toward her simultaneously. As Minato accepted the meal from his wife's hands, he explained that he had encouraged Naruto to use the upcoming break to relax rather than continuing his rigorous training schedule.
Upon hearing this, Kushina's expression brightened considerably, clearly pleased with the decision.
"Will Dad come with us too?" Naruto asked hopefully. Beside him, Chiharu's eyes widened with similar expectation.
"I'm sorry," Minato replied, genuine regret evident in his voice. "I'm afraid I won't be able to join you."
"Oh," both children responded with quiet understanding. Despite their youth, they had developed an awareness of their father's responsibilities as Hokage.
The Hokage belonged to the entire village, not just to his family. His duties afforded him few opportunities for extended leisure. Consequently, Minato couldn't spend as much time with them as a typical father might. Nevertheless, this reality hadn't created any emotional distance between him and his children.
Both Naruto and Chiharu maintained immense pride in their father's position and accomplishments. Being the Hokage's children gave them a sense of purpose rather than resentment.
"So what exactly did you have in mind?" Kushina asked, her violet eyes showing a subtle mix of emotions as she regarded her husband.
Minato shifted his attention back to the children. "I thought perhaps you could visit various cities throughout the Land of Fire. If time permits, you might even venture to the Land of Hot Springs to enjoy their famous thermal baths."
As he outlined this preliminary plan, both Naruto and Chiharu's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
However, the moment of excitement was brief. Almost immediately, both Minato and Kushina's expressions transformed, a shadow of guilt passing over their features. Minato drew a deep breath before continuing.
"Naruto, Chiharu," he said solemnly, "I'm sorry, but your mother won't be able to accompany you on this trip either."
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