Kushina's Smile

Minato Namikaze walked through the streets, lifted the curtain, and entered the ramen shop.

Under the dim yellow light, that red hair was particularly striking.

He slowed his steps, looking at his wife, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously turned up.

"You're eating this?"

Kushina Uzumaki was slurping noodles, with scallions and broth clinging to the corners of her mouth.

"Minato!"

"Hurry up and sit! Teuchi's noodles are the best!"

Her voice was full of vitality, eating noodles while calling out to Minato Namikaze.

"I just love eating it! It's the best in the whole world!" Kushina responded righteously, holding her bowl like a treasure.

Teuchi, from behind the stall, poked his head out, a proud expression on his face.

"Lord Fourth Hokage, Miss Kushina is a true gourmet, her tongue doesn't lie."

"My ramen is definitely the topmost delicacy in Konoha... no, in the entire Land of Fire!"

Minato Namikaze laughed, the worries that had been weighing on his heart for days were greatly dispelled by this lively atmosphere.

He took off his Hokage Robe, carefully folded it, and sat beside Kushina.

"Then I'll have a bowl too, the same as hers, Uncle."

"Coming right up! Please wait!"

Soon, a steaming bowl of ramen was served, with milky white broth and a fragrant aroma.

Minato Namikaze stirred the noodles, but his mind was wandering.

"What's wrong?" Kushina picked up a piece of chashu and put it into his bowl without hesitation, "Try this, Uncle stewed it especially tender today, it's melt-in-your-mouth!"

He took a bite, it was indeed delicious, but his thoughts were still drifting.

He just quietly watched Kushina.

Watching her squint her eyes, taking a bite of noodles, a mouthful of broth, eating with great relish...

That pure joy made a wave of guilt wash over his heart.

After finishing the ramen, the two walked side by side on their way home.

It was late at night, and the streets were deserted.

The moonlight cast long shadows of the two figures.

Kushina hummed an unmelodious song, her steps light. But after a few paces, she noticed the person beside her was unusually silent.

Minato Namikaze walked beside her, the smile on his face gone at some point, a trace of melancholy clouding his features.

Kushina stopped and looked up at him.

"Minato."

"Hm?"

"You have something on your mind, don't you?"

Kushina's eyes sparkled under the moonlight.

She reached out and gently smoothed Minato's furrowed brow.

"I've heard about what's been happening in the village recently."

"The Daimyo's affairs must be making things difficult for you, right?"

Minato Namikaze fell silent.

He didn't want to burden Kushina with these troubles.

He just wanted her to remain carefree and happy, just like she was when they were eating ramen earlier.

"It's nothing, just some village matters..."

"Minato Namikaze!"

Kushina interrupted him, her tone more serious than ever.

"We're a couple, aren't we?"

"Your troubles are my troubles. I won't allow you to carry them alone, understand?"

Looking at her determined gaze, the softest part of Minato Namikaze's heart was touched, and he finally sighed in resignation.

"Alright."

He recounted the two decisions made by the Daimyo Manor, and the intense division that arose within the village as a result.

From the Genius Cultivation Plan to the selection of the Guardians of the Twelve.

From the fervor of the Uchiha to the despair of the two Council Elders.

His voice grew lower and lower, filled with a sense of helplessness.

"Konoha... is being torn apart. The Will of Fire I took pride in is being corrupted by money and power."

"I don't know what I can do to stop it."

"As Hokage, I feel like a puppet, my hands and feet tied, only able to watch as the Village slides into an unknown abyss."

After speaking, he irritably ran a hand through his hair, his face filled with pain.

These past few days, this issue had been tormenting him, making him lose sleep and appetite.

Kushina listened quietly, not interrupting.

Only after he finished did she ask seriously, "Minato, why do we protect Konoha, after all?"

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.

Minato Namikaze was taken aback.

"Of course, it's to protect everyone in the Village, to protect our shared home."

"Then..." Kushina asked again, "Now, has the life of most people in the Village gotten better, or worse?"

This question left Minato Namikaze speechless.

He remembered the excited, flushed faces of the Civilian Ninjas when they received their first extra subsidy.

He remembered the joy of the small families celebrating that their children had a better future.

"But, the Village's autonomy... the Hokage's authority is being weakened!"

Kushina didn't let him evade, pressing him relentlessly, "Those Ninja Clans, are they wrong?"

"They want to make their families stronger, they want their children to have a better future. Is that wrong?"

Minato Namikaze shook his head with difficulty.

"And the Civilian Ninjas?"

"Are they wrong too? They don't want to spend their lives doing D-rank missions. They want to become stronger, make a name for themselves, earn more money, and give their families a good life. Is that wrong?"

Minato Namikaze shook his head again.

He couldn't refute it.

Because, there was nothing wrong with it.

"I can understand," he closed his eyes in pain. "But, they've all forgotten that everyone used to strive for Konoha as a collective! Was the selfless dedication of the Will of Fire wrong?"

"That's because there was no choice before!"

Kushina's voice suddenly rose, exceptionally clear in the silent night.

"Before, all resources were controlled by the Hokage and a few major clans. Of course, they could only strive for the Village."

"Because if they didn't, they'd get nothing! That wasn't called dedication, it was called having no other choice!"

"Now, Lord Daimyo has given them another choice, a choice that allows them to live a better life through their own efforts!"

"Everyone is working hard towards a better future, why should we stop them?"

Minato Namikaze's mind was in chaos.

Every word Kushina spoke struck hard at the beliefs he had held since childhood.

What he had always adhered to, the responsibility of the Hokage and the traditions of Konoha, was crumbling and shattering inch by inch.

Seeing the lingering confusion and pain on her husband's face, Kushina's heart ached as she opened her arms and gently hugged him.

Her cheek pressed against his broad, warm chest, her voice becoming incredibly gentle, yet full of power.

"Minato."

"Don't forget."

"You were once a Civilian Ninja too!"

This sentence exploded in Minato Namikaze's mind like a thunderclap!

His whole body froze, and his body trembled violently.

Yes.

He had forgotten.

How could he forget.

He had forgotten that he too was once an ordinary civilian, desperately taking on missions to save money for a C-rank ninjutsu scroll, eating only the cheapest Military Rations Pill for a whole month.

He had also hidden in the corner of the training grounds, looking with immense envy at ninjas from the major clans.

They possessed innate Kekkei Genkai, seemingly endless resources, and could effortlessly learn ninjutsu that he yearned for but could never obtain.

He was able to reach where he was today thanks to the Third Hokage's appreciation, thanks to his teacher Jiraiya's guidance, and thanks to his own talent far exceeding ordinary people and a hundredfold effort.

But in the Village, how many people could possess his luck and talent?

More people were just struggling desperately at the bottom, never touching the edge of their dreams in their entire lives.

The Daimyo's appearance gave them an opportunity.

An opportunity he had once desperately desired.

He had always stood from the Hokage's perspective, from the Cloud Top, contemplating how to maintain the Village's balance and tradition.

But he had forgotten that for those struggling at the bottom, this so-called balance was itself the greatest injustice.

Was the Leaf he wanted to protect truly the Leaf everyone in the Village wanted?

Under the cold Moonlight.

Minato Namikaze's Gaze, from confusion to struggle, finally transformed into clarity and determination.

He slowly lowered his head and tightly embraced his Wife.

Kushina's face revealed a smile once more, as gentle as ever.

"Kushina."

"Thank you."

His voice was gentle and strong, no longer lost.

"I... know what I need to do now."

"For a Leaf that truly belongs to everyone."

If you find this book good, remember to add it to your bookshelf to avoid losing it next time.