"I'm back, thank you!"
Seeing the girl's smiling face, Minato's heart warmed, and tenderness flickered in his deep blue eyes.
He himself had forgotten—past midnight was his eleventh birthday.
But Kushina remembered. Judging by the look of her, she had been waiting for him a long time.
From the faint redness in her big eyes, Minato could vaguely tell just how long she'd waited.
His gaze shifted slightly from Kushina to the main hall behind her.
The hall had been decorated with festive touches, colorful balloons hanging on the walls in various shapes.
Most noticeable was a balloon arrangement in the center of the wall forming two faces.
They were clearly Minato and Kushina...
"Why did you come back so late?"
Kushina asked, but without waiting for an answer, she took his hand and pulled him into the hall.
On the table sat all sorts of delicately prepared dishes, circling a large birthday cake at the center.
Written in sweet icing on the cake were six words: "Happy Birthday Minato!!!"
Kushina pulled him to the front of the table and turned her head slightly. A proud smile played on her lips as she said, "I made this cake myself."
Upon hearing that, Minato showed slight surprise, murmuring, "So this is what you've been busy with these past few days?"
He had originally thought Kushina had stepped up her training after feeling challenged by him.
But now he realized, those days when she seemed occupied were actually spent practicing making cakes—for his birthday.
"Uh-huh," Kushina softly confirmed, watching his reaction closely. Then, lowering her head slightly, she quietly asked, "Doesn't it look nice?"
"No..."
Minato's expression shifted dramatically, quickly replying.
"It looks really good...really!"
This wasn't flattery; although a beginner, Kushina's cake was indeed very delicately crafted.
Clearly, she had put tremendous effort into celebrating Minato's birthday.
Hearing his praise, Kushina wore a small smile of satisfaction. But something felt off about Minato's tone.
So she lifted her eyes and saw the emotional shimmer in his gaze.
"Minato, why are you..." Kushina started to ask, puzzled—suddenly, Minato pulled her into a tight embrace.
Her voice stopped short as she felt his body trembling violently.
"Kushina...I'm sorry..."
Minato spoke, his voice thick with emotion.
The reason for his outburst was because the moment reminded him of countless memories with Kushina.
She gave everything for him—even her last thoughts were for him!
"You made me The Fourth Hokage…my husband…Naruto's father…yet I failed to protect you!"
Minato's sudden "I'm sorry" left Kushina puzzled. In this entire world, who but Minato himself could understand its true meaning?
Though confused, Kushina slowly extended her hands and hugged Minato back.
At the same time, she whispered into his ear, "No matter what happens, I will always be by your side!"
These words immediately pulled Minato out of his reverie, causing his entire body to tremble violently.
Feeling the warmth coming from within his arms, Minato's turbulent emotions gradually calmed down.
"What a weak person I am..."
Minato then chuckled bitterly. No matter how set he was on this decision, thinking back still stirred up strong feelings inside him.
No matter how exceptional he might be, he was still human. And all humans are bound by emotion.
It's because of these bonds that people find the strength to keep going.
"Yeah..." Deep within, Senior Minato also responded softly, his heart as unsettled as Minato's.
Minato tightened his embrace around Kushina and said, "Yes, I'll make sure you're protected too. No one will ever hurt you again!"
Upon hearing this, Kushina abruptly pushed Minato away, her beautiful face showing slight displeasure. "I don't need your protection! If anyone dares to mess with me, I'll beat them up myself!"
Her reaction not only made Minato laugh.
Indeed, if it hadn't been right after childbirth, Duy wouldn't have found it so easy to kidnap her.
In the past, Minato had fought beside her. Even though she hadn't taken part in any big wars—as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki—her strength was undeniable.
Kushina possessed unique abilities from the Uzumaki clan, powerful enough to subdue the Nine-Tails.
Although these abilities lacked such suppression effect against tailed beasts directly in battle, they were still extremely formidable.
Currently though, Kushina had yet to awaken these powers.
"You're right..." Minato laughed, while Kushina lifted her fair neck slightly with evident pride.
"Have you had dinner yet?" Soon enough, Kushina shifted back to caring for Minato.
"Not yet," Minato replied, having become too absorbed in reviewing ancient records earlier.
Hearing this, Kushina blurted, "Then let me heat up your meal."
"No, I can do it myself," Minato insisted, unwilling to trouble her further.
However, Kushina pouted and said, "No way! Today is your birthday—don't you dare lift a finger!"
"Uh..." Seeing her get upset, Minato immediately held his breath.
Back then or now, no matter how famous Minato was across the Ninja World—even as Hokage—he'd never dare go against Kushina's wishes when face-to-face with her.
A man being afraid of his wife isn't shameful at all; quite the opposite, it shows love.
"Alright then."
Minato had no choice but to sit quietly in his seat while Kushina began busily moving around.
Watching Kushina move back and forth between the living room and the kitchen, Minato felt a warmth in his heart.
Some people are just meant to be together. Even if life and death—or even space and time—tried to pull them apart, that bond would never fade...
"Whoosh! Whoosh!"
At the same time, deep within the grassy part of Minato's courtyard, young green shoots quivered slightly. It was as if ripples had passed across the earth's surface.
But the disturbance didn't last; soon the yard fell still again, as if nothing had ever happened...
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>