(BONUS CHAPTER)
Deep into the Night. The underground base in Konoha remained brightly lit.
"So, how did it feel riding sister Tsunade?"
Kushina sat on the edge of the desk next to Yuto, who was tinkering with a communication device, her fair, smooth feet resting on his thigh. "Did it give you a sense of great accomplishment?"
"Cut it out," Yuto shot her a glance, looking exasperated. "All I felt was stiffness—nothing else."
"Oh, really now?" Kushina smirked, her toes creeping further up his thigh. "That was the soft, fragrant body of the Legendary Sannin Tsunade, you know. Not like us, ghosts with zero physical presence."
Yuto shuddered, his hands freezing mid-task. He grabbed the redhead's mischievous foot with a sigh. "Seriously, nothing happened. I see her as a mentor."
"And what's wrong with that? Me and Mikoto-chan are your classmates' moms, after all."
Kushina scoffed, then tapped her chin thoughtfully. "But honestly, I'm surprised that big sis was even willing to let a little rascal like you ride her! She must really like you!"
"It was just a bet," Yuto shook his head.
"Not just anyone's worthy of her honoring a bet, you know." Kushina grinned wickedly. "You think if it were the Third Hokage in your place, she'd still go along with it?"
"Stop—that mental image is way too strong!" Yuto couldn't help but shudder.
"Which is why you, little troublemaker, need to work twice as hard!" Kushina launched herself off the desk and into Yuto's lap, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Who knows? You might just end up becoming the Fifth Hokage's man!"
"I—"
Before Yuto could defend himself, a voice suddenly called from outside the lab door
"Yuto, you in there?"
It was Naruto. That unmistakable voice was hard to miss.
Yuto glanced at the redhead in his arms, but for once, she showed no intention of hiding. Still clinging to his neck, she answered lazily,
"He's here. Come on in."
"Huh?"
A small noise of surprise came from outside before the door creaked open.
"Hey there, kiddo." Kushina remained seated on Yuto's lap, waving at her own son. "Nice to meet ya. I'm Uzumaki Kushina."
Naruto blinked at the scene, brain short-circuiting. Without thinking, he blurted out, "Uh… hi! I'm Uzumaki Naruto."
"I know. You're Yuto's best buddy, right?" Kushina grinned broadly. "Looking forward to your support from now on!"
"Y-yeah…" Naruto scratched his head, bewildered.
'Why does this lady feel so… familiar?'
"What's up, Naruto?" Yuto interjected, trying to stand—only for Kushina to pin him back down.
[Big sis, what kind of humiliation game is this?!]
[I wanna see how long it takes this dummy to figure it out!]
Their silent exchange went unnoticed. Naruto rubbed his temple awkwardly. "I was just wonderin' why Shisui's late. Everyone's waitin' for him."
Lately, shisui had been handling combat training for their "Classmates Association", and everyone had improved a ton.
Of course, ideological education hadn't been neglected either. They'd all started embracing Yuto's vision for reshaping the world, vowing to fight alongside him for a brighter future!
"Shisui's off today," Kushina cut in before Yuto could reply. "You're getting a new instructor for training."
"New instructor?!" Naruto's eyes widened.
"Mm-hmm." Kushina nodded, smirking. "Someone real strong. Good luck~"
"O-okay… thanks, lady…" Naruto wandered off, visibly troubled.
The second he was gone, Kushina burst out laughing. "Did you hear that?! The little idiot called me lady! He didn't even suspect! What kind of brain does he have?! If his old man saw this, he'd beat him senseless!"
"Pretty sure I'd be the one that Minato would beat senseless first," Yuto chuckled nervously.
"Oh? Now you're scared?" Kushina teased.
"Terrified. But also… kinda thrilled."
"You're such a bastard. I oughta bite you!"
"By all means." Yuto pointed to his lips.
"Pfft!"
Kushina stuck out her tongue and hopped off. "Later, loser. Gonna check if Mikoto needs help."
The advanced tailed-beast chakra research had been Mikoto's project lately. The former housewife had turned part-time scientist, eager to contribute however she could.
*Beep beep beep.*
The communicator chimed. Yuto hit the button, and Uzumaki Rina's face flickered onto the screen.
"Lord Yuto, Konoha's compensation just came through," she said without preamble.
"Good. Release "Lord Danzō" tomorrow as planned." Yuto nodded. "He behaved during his rehabilitation, right?"
"Y-yeah! Real… real well." Rina's expression twisted like she was holding back laughter.
"What happened?" Yuto frowned.
"Well… Danzō's currently delivering piglets for the farm's pregnant sows…"
"What? How did that happen?"
Yuto's jaw dropped.
*Underground Base – Training Grounds*
Naruto returned to his friends, looking dazed.
"So… was Yuto not there?" Shikamaru asked, eyeing his expression.
"Nah, he was." Naruto scratched his head. "But brother Shisui's off today. We got a new instructor."
"Someone new?" Sakura fiddled with her ribbon, uneasy. "Hope they're not too strict."
"Don't worry. Yuto wouldn't pick someone unreasonable," Ino reassured her.
Shikamaru kept staring at Naruto. "Then why do you look like you've seen a ghost?"
"I, uh… saw a lady with Yuto." Naruto frowned. "She felt familiar, but I can't quite place her in my mind…"
"A lady?!"
"Wait—is it a date?!"
The group erupted. Ino and Hinata's faces paled instantly.
Shikamaru sighed. "What kind of lady?what did she look like?"
Naruto rubbed his chin. "Super pretty red hair, super nice… total knockout!"
"Red hair?!" Ino gasped. "So the ghost girls I saw that day were real?!"
"Oh, right!" Naruto slapped his forehead. "She said her name was Uzumaki Kushina! Ring any bells?"
Silence.
Dead, horrified silence.
The group stared at Naruto like he'd just announced the apocalypse.
"Uh… guys? Why're you lookin' at me like that?"
Shikamaru couldn't meet his eyes. "Dude… remember Shisui mentioned that name before. Uzumaki Kushina is the Fourth Hokage's wife."
"Huh?!" Naruto's eyes bulged. "Y-you mean—"
"Yeah." Sasuke's eye twitched. "That's your mom."
And just like that, Naruto and Sasuke shared a moment of silent, tragic solidarity.
'That bastard Yuto really has no shame.'
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