Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains and spilled onto the wooden floor of the new house. The room still held the warmth from the previous night, mingled with the fresh pine-scented aura that lingered around Ryo. Kushina slowly opened her clear blue eyes.
Turning her head, she saw Ryo still asleep. His jawline was sharp, the corners of his mouth faintly upturned. Even in sleep, the remnants of battlefield resolve lingered between his brows, radiating a powerful presence. But under the soft morning light, that edge seemed subdued. His features appeared calm and steady. His chest rose and fell evenly, and the quiet rhythm brought her peace. The tension from the night before had long faded. Now, the sleeping man beside her, restrained and steady, exuded a reliable strength.
A warm current of affection welled in Kushina's chest. The sweetness in her heart chased away the last bit of sleepiness. She quietly lay there, her blue eyes fixed on the man she loved.
An invisible pull tugged at her.
Holding her breath, she carefully turned on her side and tilted her face upward slightly. With a soft exhale, her forehead lightly rested against Ryo's firm jaw.
In that moment—
Ryo's eyes opened instantly. Those dark eyes locked onto hers with no drowsiness, only sharp clarity and a heat that surged from close proximity. He immediately noticed her flushed cheeks and the startled expression from being caught.
"Mng…" Kushina made a small sound, cut off midway by Ryo's sudden movement.
She felt her waist tighten. A strong arm wrapped around her, pulling her tightly into his chest, denying any attempt to retreat. A warm hand gently supported the back of her neck, preventing her from turning her face away.
The shift happened in a flash. Ryo's movement was fast and controlled. With minimal effort, he closed the distance between them. His breath was warmer than before, enveloping her in the calm pressure of his presence. There was no hesitation in the way he approached, as if saying, "If you come to me, then be ready to accept the result."
Kushina's heartbeat jumped erratically.
Lying against him, her back against the soft mattress, she could feel his fingers resting at the base of her neck, warm and deliberate. He paused there, the intent obvious.
"Mm…" A soft sound slipped from her lips. Her cheeks flushed red, spreading down to her neck. Her body felt unbearably hot. Even though the power within her had been sealed, she felt completely defenseless under his aura.
The hand she had raised to weakly resist fell, gripping the edge of the pillowcase instead. Every breath she took was filled with his scent.
Just as the dominant yet gentle closeness felt overwhelming, the pressure abruptly lifted.
Fresh air rushed in. Kushina took several deep breaths. The flush on her face remained, as red as a ripe apple. Her red hair lay scattered across the pillow. She buried her glowing face deeper, too embarrassed to look up at the deep, steady eyes above her.
"Morning already, huh," Ryo said, his voice low and hoarse, still carrying the gritty texture of just waking up. It rolled over her like a low vibration, sending a tingle through her heart. "You've gotten gutsy."
"I… I didn't…" Kushina's voice was thin, her tone muffled and drenched in shyness, wholly unconvincing. She buried her face deeper into the pillow, curling into herself like a shy little red-haired ball.
A deep chuckle rumbled in Ryo's chest. Kushina, pressed against him, trembled slightly in response.
But he didn't tease her any further. He simply tossed the thin blanket aside and swung his legs off the bed. The sunlight traced the lines of his tall, lean frame. His well-defined muscles moved with purpose. Without looking back, he walked steadily toward the bathroom in his usual training shorts.
Soon, the sound of cold water could be heard through the glass door.
Only then did Kushina dare peek from under the blanket, her face still warm. Steam clung to the frosted bathroom glass, but the silhouette of his body remained visible. Water ran down his broad back and shoulders. Just that blurred view through the mist was enough to reignite the flush in her cheeks, this time spreading even faster.
"Damn it!" She muttered, annoyed with herself, like a real tomato being poked. She yanked the blanket over her head and rolled several times on the bed, both shy and frustrated. Her thoughts kept looping back to last night's ankle inspection, and this morning's completely unguarded "counterattack." Her toes curled under the blanket, her body still remembering the feel of his touch.
The cold shower seemed to clear away the last of Ryo's tension. When he came out, he had changed into a clean, dark training outfit. His damp red hair was swept casually back, revealing a clear forehead and still-sharp brows. A calm, grounded air surrounded him. It was hard to reconcile this version of him with the man who had whispered provocative words earlier.
"I'm going to train." He said this without turning as Kushina poked her head out from under the covers, still flushed. Then, he went straight downstairs.
The courtyard of the new home was far more spacious than the previous one. Ryo didn't rely on fancy tools. With only simple warmups, his body moved, joints cracking crisply as he activated his strength. He planted his feet, rooted low and firm like an old pine. With a low shout, he called out:
"Earth Release: Weighted Rock Technique."
A wave of invisible chakra spread over him like a crushing weight. The ground beneath him groaned under the sudden pressure. Under this heavy load, he began to swing his blade. No flourish, just the most fundamental moves: slash, chop, thrust, spin.
Once. A hundred times. A thousand times.
The wooden training dummy shattered under the force. His bare arms bulged with tension. Sweat poured down his bronze-toned skin, dripping onto the hard-packed ground. Each swing brought thunderous momentum, every motion seamless. It wasn't just sword practice—it was refinement. His body and spirit were being honed with each repetition. The weight didn't hinder him. It sharpened him.
The air split with every strike. Only the sound of sweat hitting the ground remained.
The morning passed in this rhythm of raw power. The golden light turned harsh under the noon sun.
Kushina had changed into comfortable loungewear and sat beneath the eaves, chin resting on her knees. Her blue eyes, mirroring the sky, were fixed on the figure in the yard.
Bathed in sunlight, every inch of him glowed with a golden edge. She watched, unmoving.
She watched him repeat simple motions, each one carrying the foundation of true strength. She saw the calm, quiet concentration in his brows. That deep-rooted stability, that solid and silent presence, gradually soothed the last flickers of her morning embarrassment. A warm feeling filled her heart. He's mine, and I belong only to him. The thought gently echoed. Under the eaves, the red-haired girl smiled. A quiet, sincere smile. Full of admiration. Full of happiness.
Lunch was homemade. Kushina cooked it herself. After training, Ryo returned, washed off the sweat, and sat at the table. He ate quickly, like someone used to life in a shinobi camp.
Just as they had set down their chopsticks, the yard filled with a familiar, lively voice.
"Hey! Ryo! Kushina! Guess who I brought!"
The cheerful shout came from Nawaki. Nawaki burst into the yard, one hand on his hip, the other carefully holding a young girl in a brand-new dress.
It was Uzumaki Kaori.
Kushina's younger sister had finally recovered. After care and rest in Konoha, her pale face had taken on a healthy blush. She was still slim, her eyes still a little wary of strangers, but when she saw Kushina walk out from under the eaves, that instinctual blood bond lit up in her eyes like sunlight breaking through clouds.
"Big Sis!" Kaori's voice was clear and full of joy.
Kushina's smile bloomed. She quickly stepped forward, knelt naturally, and opened her arms.
In the sunlight, two flashes of bright red hair collided in a tight embrace.
"Kaori!" Kushina's voice was filled with joy. She rubbed her cheek against Kaori's head, all her love and protectiveness pouring out in one motion.
Nawaki grinned beside them and walked to the edge of the yard. He winked at Ryo, who was still wiping sweat with a towel.
"See that? Sisterly love, right? I handled the assignment beautifully."
Ryo glanced at him with indifference, saying nothing. But when his eyes shifted back to the two sisters, a quiet softness appeared in the depths of his gaze.
Not long after, the front door rang again.
"Excuse the intrusion."
Mikoto's clear and gentle voice came through. She wore a simple purple dress, her long black hair flowing naturally behind her. Her appearance was graceful, her smile calm like a spring breeze. She stepped inside, her gaze briefly sweeping over Ryo, who still radiated the intensity of his morning training. Then her eyes landed softly on the red-haired sisters.
"Hi, Mikoto!" Kushina stood, still holding Kaori's small hand. Her cheeks were still warm with joy.
"Kaori was just asking for you earlier."
"Was she?" Mikoto's smile deepened as her gaze settled on Kaori. She crouched slightly and said gently, "You look very healthy today. That dress suits you."
Her voice was calm and soothing. She turned to Kushina, and her smile grew a touch more knowing. "I figured if you were here, I'd be able to find Kaori."
Everything felt natural. Like they were longtime friends used to sharing every moment of their lives.
But for those watching closely, something else stirred beneath the surface.
At precisely 3:10, Mikoto's eyes met Ryo's across the courtyard. His body still radiated heat and masculine strength. In that moment, her flawless smile faltered—only for a second.
And her hand, which had fallen casually to her side, curved in a little more than necessary. A quiet ripple buried deep beneath the surface. Only she could feel the chill inside.
But before Kushina's bright smile and Kaori's joyful gaze, that tiny tremor faded.
Nawaki occasionally chatted with Ryo about training. Mikoto would suggest, "Kushina, let's go check out the shopping street. It's been a while since we looked at fabric." Or, "The leaves by the Southern River are turning red. Let's take Kaori."
Her suggestions were always timely. Always just enough to draw Kushina out of the warm atmosphere of the home. Sometimes Kaori stayed behind with Nawaki. Sometimes Mikoto took her away for sweets.
Kushina, glancing back at Ryo in the yard, would hesitate. But seeing Kaori's eager eyes and Mikoto's warm smile, she could only suppress the feeling and nod.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 200 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)