The soft light of morning crept through the paper windows, drawing Kaito from the restless haze of dreams. For a moment, he half expected to see his cramped apartment back on Earth — peeling wallpaper, his laptop open with a half-finished fanfic draft.
Instead, his eyes landed on the wooden beams above, the faint scent of polished cedar lingering in the air. His body felt strangely refreshed, yet unnervingly different. The weight of chakra pulsed quietly inside him like a second heartbeat, steady and alive.
"Still not a dream…" he muttered, dragging a hand across his face.
The door slid open with a familiar creak, and a cheerful voice spilled in.
"Good morning! You're awake already, Kaito-kun?"
Kushina stood there, sunlight catching in her long, vibrant red hair. She carried a tray with practiced ease — steaming bowls of miso soup, rice, and grilled fish. The smell hit him immediately, making his stomach growl before he could even respond.
He sat up quickly, trying not to look too flustered. "Y-Yeah, morning, Kushina-san."
Kushina's lips curved into a grin as she set the tray down. "None of that '-san' stuff. Just call me Kushina! We're friends now, aren't we?"
Kaito nearly choked. Friends. With Kushina Uzumaki. A week ago, she had been just another fictional character he admired through a glowing screen. Now she was standing here in front of him, laughing casually as if the world hadn't just turned upside down.
He forced a nod. "Okay then… Kushina."
Her smile widened in satisfaction. "That's better. Now eat before it gets cold. Cooking's not my strongest suit, but I put my heart into this one."
Kaito picked up the chopsticks, hands still trembling slightly. He hadn't realized how starved he was until the first mouthful of rice melted in his mouth. Warm, fluffy, with just the right hint of vinegar. The miso soup was rich, comforting — better than anything he had eaten in months back in his old world.
"This is amazing," he said honestly.
Kushina's cheeks tinted pink. "R-Really? Heh, then eat as much as you like. I'll make more if you're still hungry."
As they ate, Kaito kept sneaking glances at her. She looked so alive — nothing like the tragic fate he remembered from the anime. His mind swirled. Could he change that? Was it even possible?
"Kaito-kun?" Kushina tilted her head, eyes narrowing slightly. "You've been staring at me an awful lot."
He nearly dropped his chopsticks. "Ah—! Sorry, I was just… spacing out."
She giggled, the sound like bells ringing. "Spacing out while looking right at me, huh? You're funny."
His ears burned red. He quickly shoved another mouthful of rice into his mouth to shut himself up.
The silence stretched for a moment before Kushina leaned forward on her elbows. "So, Kaito… you never did tell me where you're from. You just… showed up last night, all beaten and tired. Are you really an Uchiha?"
His heart skipped. He had been dreading this question.
"I… guess you could say I'm a distant branch," he replied carefully, recalling the countless fan theories he used to read. "Not from Konoha directly. That's why I'm unfamiliar with the village."
Kushina studied him for a long moment. Her sharp gaze made him sweat, but eventually she smiled, apparently satisfied. "Makes sense. You do have the Uchiha look. But your eyes… they're softer. You're not as gloomy as most of them."
Kaito laughed awkwardly. "I'll take that as a compliment."
Before Kushina could say more, the faint sound of footsteps echoed from outside. A voice called through the door.
"Kushina! You awake? I brought you those scrolls you asked for!"
Kaito froze. That voice was unmistakable — young, energetic, and slightly cocky.
Kushina perked up instantly. "Oh! That's Minato. Hold on, I'll go get the door."
Kaito's mind went blank. Minato. The future Fourth Hokage. The man Kushina was destined to fall in love with. His chopsticks clattered against the bowl as panic surged.
This was it — the first real obstacle in his accidental transmigration.
The sliding door opened, and sure enough, Namikaze Minato stepped in, golden hair catching the sunlight. His calm blue eyes flickered briefly to Kaito before settling on Kushina with a smile.
"I didn't know you had company," Minato said politely, though there was a faint edge of curiosity in his voice.
Kushina waved her hands quickly. "Oh, right! This is Uchiha Kaito. He's… um… new to the village. I was just helping him settle in."
Kaito bowed his head slightly, forcing his voice steady. "Nice to meet you, Namikaze-san."
Minato's smile didn't waver, but his eyes sharpened almost imperceptibly. Kaito felt a shiver crawl up his spine.
"Likewise," Minato replied. "Any friend of Kushina's is a friend of mine."
The tension in the air was subtle, but unmistakable. Kushina, oblivious, busied herself with clearing the bowls.
Kaito clenched his fists under the table. He had read this story a thousand times, seen countless fanfics of Kushina and Minato's love. But now that he was here… could he really just sit by and watch it unfold?
Or would his very presence start to rewrite destiny?