"Takayama Haru, you're back this early?"
"Mhm."
Takayama Haru nodded and playfully flicked Kushina Uzumaki on the forehead.
"You jerk!"
Kushina blushed and shoved Haru's mischievous hand away. "Did you meet your students?"
While changing his shoes, Haru replied, "Yeah. One's named Obito, another's Rin, and the last one is Kakashi."
"I know Kakashi—he's a genius! The son of the White Fang!" Kushina said with pride.
Haru raised an eyebrow in surprise. "You knew that?"
"Hmph, of course I did! You think I don't know anything?"
Kushina stood in front of him, acting like a feisty little cat—adorable and proud all at once.
"Come on, let's go inside."
Haru naturally took Kushina's hand. She blushed but didn't pull away.
"What about the other two?"
"One's from the Uchiha clan, the other has the surname Nohara."
"Wow, your students are all amazing. The son of the White Fang, someone from the Uchiha clan…"
"Yeah," Haru nodded. "They're strong—very strong."
Just as they stepped into the house, Tsunade's loud laughter erupted. "Hey, kid! You still haven't proposed to Kushina yet? Stop pretending to be so cool!"
Kushina instantly pulled her hand back in embarrassment. Haru, on the other hand, felt the urge to sock Tsunade.
Tsunade continued, "I mean, Kushina is from the Uzumaki clan. She's a Jinchūriki, and the other half of something pretty powerful. I gotta admit, I'm holding back."
Haru suddenly chuckled—just as Mito Uzumaki walked into the room.
"Haru, he's already a Jonin now. Were you asleep during yesterday's meeting?" Mito asked with a slight smirk.
Tsunade's eyes went wide. "What? He got promoted? Since when do we skip ranks like that? He hasn't even gone through the Chūnin phase yet. Did Lord Third really approve this?"
Mito ignored Tsunade and turned to Haru with a warm smile. "Come on in. Dinner's ready."
During the meal, Tsunade continued grumbling, saying that Haru was disrupting the order Konoha had followed for years.
But Haru just smiled. "Rules are made by people. So naturally, people can break them too. That's not unusual."
Tsunade remained annoyed, until suddenly, Orochimaru appeared out of nowhere.
"Tsunade, quick! Come to the hospital—emergency."
Without finishing her meal, Tsunade rushed out. Healing the wounded was always the top priority for the Medical Corps.
Haru's ears perked up. He faintly heard Orochimaru whisper to Tsunade that something had happened in Kirigakure.
Kirigakure?
Haru immediately thought of the Three-Tails incident that would later lead to Rin's death.
At the time, Madara and the Third Mizukage had conspired to implant the Three-Tails inside Rin and send her back to Konoha to destroy it from within.
The plan was stopped only because Kakashi killed Rin with his own hands.
That memory stirred thoughts of the fallen Uchiha—and of Madara Uchiha himself.
Just then, Kushina gently placed a piece of meat into Haru's bowl. "Haru, this is your first time leading a team. You'd better think carefully about how you're going to train them tomorrow."
Haru nodded. "I know, Kushina."
But inside, he couldn't help but wonder—was this the beginning of the Third Great Ninja War?
Maybe it had already begun, and very few had noticed.
Otherwise, why would kids like Kakashi, Obito, and Rin have to grow up so quickly?
Even that 20-year peace treaty that Danzo signed with the Hidden Cloud seemed too good to be true.
And Haru didn't believe for a second that such a treaty would last.
The next morning, Haru was still asleep when he was jolted awake by a loud voice.
"What are you doing?!"
He rubbed his eyes groggily, blinking as he looked around the room, trying to recognize who was yelling.
It was Kushina Uzumaki.
Hands on her hips, she fumed, "Takayama Haru, how many times have I called you?! You're still in bed?! It's almost time for your meeting with your students, and you're going to be late!"
Haru yawned. "What time is it? No rush."
After washing up, Kushina was still pushing him. "Hurry up! You're seriously going to be late!"
She couldn't understand why Haru was being so lazy. But then, Haru looked at her, suddenly reaching out and holding her hand.
"What are you doing?"
Kushina blushed instantly.
Last night, Haru had been thinking over and over about what Tsunade had said at dinner. It had touched him deeply.
Girls are shy—he, as the man, should take the first step.
"Kushina, I like you. Will you marry me?"
Kushina turned bright red. Her beautiful eyes stared at him. "Is that… a proposal?"
Haru froze.
Wait—wasn't that exactly what he meant?
Kushina saw his silence and her thoughts raced.
Was this really how he was proposing? In the middle of some trees, with no ring, no flowers?
Was she being too hasty by agreeing?
After a pause, Haru said seriously, "Alright then, Kushina. I'm proposing to you—right here, right now. Will you marry me?"
Kushina stared at him and couldn't help but laugh. She poked him in the arm. "You wooden block! Couldn't you at least bring a flower?"
Haru's eyes lit up. He slapped his forehead.
"Oh man, my brain really is made of wood!"
Just then—boom—a clone appeared and sprinted out the door.
A few minutes later, the clone returned holding a bouquet of red roses.
Kushina smiled sweetly, took the flowers, and looked up at him with those sparkling eyes. "Hmph… I'll say yes!"
Then she added, "But you'll need Mito grandma's approval. She's my elder."
At that moment, Mito Uzumaki stepped out of her room, smiling.
"I approve."
Kushina blushed and ran to Mito. "Grandma Mito! You were eavesdropping on us?!"
Mito looked at the two of them with warm eyes. "Seeing you both together like this… as an elder, I'm truly happy."
"Your wedding is settled."
Kushina lowered her head in embarrassment. She never imagined she'd get engaged to Haru this way.
And in Haru's heart, a special kind of joy began to blossom.
Was this… love?
At the same time, a deep sense of responsibility swelled within him.
He was about to marry the future mother of his child.
No matter what happens—he won't give up.
Suddenly, Kushina gasped, "Takayama Haru! You better get moving—you're about to be late!"