The next morning, sunlight slipped through the gaps in the window and fell gently across Menma's face. He rubbed his bleary eyes and looked outside, the corners of his mouth unconsciously lifting into an eager smile.
"Alright! Time to go watch the show!" Menma's voice held a hint of barely contained excitement.
Menma quickly got dressed. He didn't wake Naruto, instead slipping quietly out of the room on his own. After a quick wash in the bathroom, he slowly headed downstairs.
The morning sunlight dappled the stairs, casting a pattern of light and shadow. In the kitchen below, Kushina was busy making breakfast. Pots and pans occasionally clinked together, and the air was filled with the aroma of food.
"Mom! Are we going to make a scene at the Hokage Office today? Give the Old Third Hokage a little shock." Menma called out loudly as he went downstairs.
Kushina, who was busy in the kitchen, heard him and poked her head out, looking puzzled.
"I'm going too? Didn't we say we'd wait until after your birthday?" Kushina sounded a little excited. If they really did this, she could tell Naruto who she was. The thought made her feel rather thrilled.
"Of course you have to come! We need to add fuel to the fire!" Menma said as he walked over and sat down at the table.
"Then why didn't you wake Naruto? We could all go together," Kushina asked, still holding a spatula.
"I'm not ready to tell him the truth yet. Today, it'll just be the two of us," Menma replied.
A trace of disappointment flashed in Kushina's eyes. She'd thought she could finally stop hiding her identity, but it seemed she still had to keep it from Naruto.
"Menma, I'm not trying to criticize you, but everyone else knows except Naruto. Will it really be a surprise for him?" Kushina asked.
Menma fell into thought. He scratched his head, feeling that Kushina had a point, then said, "But if we tell him now, won't all the effort we've put in so far go to waste?"
Menma was torn. He didn't know whether to tell Naruto the truth now and go stir things up at the Hokage Office together, or wait until his birthday and surprise him then.
"I'm sure Naruto will understand that you meant well. Besides, that day is your birthday too, Menma." Kushina smiled at him, her voice as gentle as the morning breeze.
Actually, ever since Kushina had decided to stay at home using the Transformation Technique, the plan had changed. If they stuck to the original plan, it might not have the effect they wanted—in fact, it could backfire.
"Hmm... I guess so. The plan's already changed, and sticking to the original one might really have the opposite effect," Menma said thoughtfully.
"That's more like it! Then I'll go wake Naruto." As she spoke, Kushina dispelled her Transformation Technique, set the breakfast she'd made on the table, and went upstairs.
Menma looked at the breakfast before him: a steaming bowl of noodles, a golden fried egg, and a glass of fresh milk. He couldn't help wondering how Naruto would react when he saw Kushina. Would he be stunned, or burst into tears?
The more Menma thought about it, the more curious he became. It felt as if a little cat were scratching at his heart; he wanted more and more to go upstairs and see.
With that thought, Menma promptly got up and headed upstairs. He'd barely climbed a few steps when he heard a voice coming from his room:
"Hey! Are you Danzo in disguise? Did you turn into her because you want to capture me again? What did you do to Menma? I'll never forgive you!" Naruto shouted. Menma was instantly at a loss for words. He'd never expected this completely unforeseen third possibility.
Menma quickened his pace and reached the doorway, then leaned against the frame and quietly watched the two inside.
Kushina was holding Naruto tightly. Neither of them said a word; they simply held each other in silence.
"I really don't want to interrupt, but don't we still have to go to the Hokage Office?" Menma said helplessly.
Only then did the two of them react. Kushina let go and stood up.
"Naruto, I'll tell you some things later. Go wash up first, then come downstairs and eat breakfast. We still have to go to the Hokage Office." Kushina gently patted Naruto's head, kissed his forehead, and started to leave the room. At the doorway, she made sure to kiss Menma too.
That left Menma at a loss. Naruto got out of bed and came over to him, looking at him expectantly.
"Is that really our mom?" he asked.
Menma nodded to confirm it. Silent tears slid from Naruto's eyes. Seeing this, Menma reached out and wiped them away.
"Mom's been with us these past few days as 'Auntie Ku.' We originally wanted it to be a birthday surprise for you, but some things happened and we couldn't keep it going. That's why you're seeing her as she is now."
Naruto was stunned. The news truly came as both a shock and a joy. Then he suddenly remembered what Kushina was like when she got angry and realized something. He hurriedly got dressed and went to wash up.
While he did, Menma told Naruto about bringing Kushina back with Edo Tensei. Naruto listened as he washed, unable to contain his happiness.
The two of them went downstairs together and sat at the table. Menma tentatively tried the breakfast, while Naruto wolfed it down as if he were tasting the most delicious food in the world.
Kushina noticed something was off. Only then did she see Naruto eating breakfast with tears streaming down his face, big drops falling into his bowl.
"You silly boy. Is the breakfast really that good?" Kushina stood up and gently wiped Naruto's tears with a tissue.
"No, it's because this is the first time I've eaten food made by Mom," Naruto said.
"You silly boy, you've been eating it for two or three days already. How can you say it's the first time?" Kushina said with a smile.
"It wasn't the same before..." Naruto continued, eating as he spoke.
Kushina sat beside Naruto, rested a hand on his back, and quietly watched him eat his noodles.
Menma found that today's noodles didn't seem as bad as before, and he dug in too.
After the two boys finished breakfast, Kushina took the dishes to the kitchen to wash them. Naruto immediately went over to help her. The two of them chatted and laughed, making a warm picture of a loving mother and son.
Menma sat off to the side, quietly reading a book titled Basic Ninjutsu Knowledge.
"Menma, can't you learn from your older brother? He knows to help me wash the dishes. Look at you—you don't do anything," Kushina said as she washed.
"That's what an older brother is for," Menma said casually, without even looking up from his book.
They smiled at each other and continued washing the dishes. When they were done, the three of them left together.
The sun shone brightly over Konoha's streets. Kushina walked ahead, holding Naruto's hand, his face beaming with happiness. Menma followed behind, reading as he walked. People came and went around them, while vendors' cries and children's laughter mingled together, creating a lively scene.
The people on the street stared at them in shock, their eyes drawn to Kushina. When Kushina spotted anyone she knew, she greeted them warmly.
Just then, Kushina suddenly stopped. Menma hadn't noticed and walked straight into her.
"Sorry, sorry, I..." Menma looked up to see who he'd bumped into. When he realized it was Kushina, he immediately sensed trouble.
Kushina reached out and grabbed Menma by the ear. Her hair began to float slightly as she glared at him.
"Who taught you to read while walking?"
Menma looked at the angry Kushina, promptly shut his book, and hurriedly said, "I won't read anymore, I won't!" The pain made him behave in an instant. The Red Hot Habanero really was impossible to handle when she got angry.
Only then did Kushina let go. She asked with concern, "How is it? Does it hurt?"
Menma shook his head, then suddenly nodded. He didn't dare say it didn't hurt. If Kushina did it again, he really wouldn't be able to take it.
Kushina said nothing more. She took Menma's hand and continued walking. Now she held Naruto's hand in one of hers and Menma's in the other. Her face glowed with happiness, and her heart was full.
"Kushina?" a familiar voice called out. Kushina turned and saw someone she recognized.
"Mikoto! It's been so long!" Once she recognized her, Kushina greeted her warmly.
Mikoto had been out shopping when she happened to spot a familiar figure on the street. Thinking it looked like Kushina, she'd followed her. When Kushina turned to scold Menma, Mikoto finally confirmed it was her and called out.
Mikoto came over to Kushina. Naruto and Menma greeted her politely too.
"Kushina, you're..." Mikoto asked curiously.
"Hm? Didn't Fugaku tell you? Well, never mind. I'll bring Naruto and Menma over to your house later, and we can have a good chat. I need to go to the Hokage Office first," Kushina said.
"Then it's settled. Come over for lunch today. I'll go buy some groceries and get everything ready," Mikoto said, then left.
The three of them continued on until they reached the Hokage Building. The Chunin on duty there froze when he saw them, but none of them stepped forward to stop them.
Kushina simply walked into the Hokage Office Building with Naruto and Menma and headed upstairs to the Hokage Office.
At that moment, the current clan heads of the Nara Clan, Akimichi Clan, Yamanaka Clan, Inuzuka Clan, and Uchiha Clan were all in the Hokage Office: Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, Inuzuka Tsume, and Uchiha Fugaku. The two elders, Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura, were there too. They all seemed to be waiting for someone.
Just then, someone knocked on the door. Everyone in the room turned to look.
"Is it Danzo? Please, come in," Hiruzen Sarutobi said.
Kushina pushed the door open and entered, with Naruto and Menma right behind her.
Everyone present except Uchiha Fugaku was stunned when they saw who it was. They stared at Kushina with wide eyes, disbelief written across their faces.
Hiruzen Sarutobi was briefly startled, but quickly composed himself. Anbu had previously reported that an unfamiliar woman had appeared in the Jinchuriki's home. Hiruzen had intended to visit in person, but he hadn't expected the woman to be Kushina in disguise.
The others also noticed Naruto and Menma behind Kushina. They immediately understood what was about to happen and moved aside, leaving the space open for her.
Before you continue