Amaya Uzumaki POV
I tore another page from the notepad I had with me. It must have been the hundredth one I'd pulled out and ended up stuffing into my bag. I brought the pen I was using to the fresh page in front of me, but my hand stayed still over the paper.
Ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty seconds...
Completely frozen there, unable to write a single thing.
I let out a heavy sigh and closed the notepad with some impatience, leaving my hands on the bench where I was sitting. I leaned back, letting my head tilt backward, keeping my eyes closed.
I'd lost track of how many minutes or maybe hours I'd been sitting there on one of the benches in the village square, scribbling different ideas and eventually giving up on each one.
Where's a source of inspiration when you need one?, I asked myself without much enthusiasm, taking a deep breath afterward in an attempt to find some remnant of creativity inside me.
— Something tells me you're having trouble... — A male voice, already familiar to me, said in a carefree tone.
I opened my eyes slowly, my head still tilted slightly back, seeing Shisui and Kakashi there.
My brother was the one who had asked the question and had an amused smile on his face. Kakashi wasn't as expressive as Shisui, but still wore a mild expression.
— Is it that obvious? — I asked and gave them a weak smile, quickly adjusting my position on the bench.
The two approached, each taking a spot on the bench beside me.
I didn't waste time asking them about their appearance there together given that it was simply impossible for them to stay near each other without provoking one another. And considering the two walking together willingly could hardly be considered normal.
As it seemed, each had been released from their daily duties and were on their way somewhere, but as they passed near the park where we were, they sensed a strong chakra nearby and quickly recognized it as mine.
I wanted to hit myself on the head with that. I was aware my chakra was strong, but there were moments when it seemed to become even more intense:
When I started getting irritated or letting myself get too carried away by my negative emotions.
A heavy sensation seems to take over the air. It's like a kind of aura that forms and, if unchecked, can feel threatening.
I'd talked about this with Kushina and Minato, and the redhead explained to me that it's a characteristic of some members of our clan. Our chakra is naturally abundant, and for some people, it can feel suffocating.
Probably my Uchiha-Uzumaki mix just made it even more complicated—I'd deduced that by thinking about the Uchiha clan members and how most of them had a presence marked by their energy.
My parents started teaching me a way to control my chakra when this happened, but I hadn't mastered it yet.
So, every now and then, it still happened, though I always tried to stay calm to not give space to negative emotions.
— Now come on, share what you're writing there — Shisui said excitedly, pointing to the notepad in my hand, after we talked about the two boys showing up.
— Actually, there's nothing — I said and let out a soft sigh — And that's the problem.
That's how I told Kakashi and Shisui about what I was doing with Minato.
Since the conversation I'd had with the blond about alliances, our talk about love, his and Kushina's story, as well as Minato's internal dilemma, the two of us had resumed Hiraishin training.
But the focus wasn't exactly on training at that moment: It was the only time we could discuss matters involving the marriage proposal without Kushina finding out.
If we tried to talk about it at home, it was very likely the redhead would overhear or even find it strange that Minato and I were having so many conversations without involving her. And training together gave us these moments alone, as well as a convincing "excuse" so Kushina wouldn't question our unusual interaction.
I had offered to help Minato with the proposal preparations, but we were a bit unsure how to put it into practice.
Kushina was extremely intuitive, so if it wasn't very well organized, we ran the risk of her figuring out what was happening before the proposal was even properly made.
And I wanted to come up with something meaningful for my parents. Their story was full of important moments, all of which led them to where they were now...
— But I can't think of something that could blend Minato and Kushina's characteristics into the proposal — I finally said — That's why I'm here, practically burning my brain cells trying to create something...
— Best to ask someone who's already married — Kakashi commented after a few moments and I looked at him — From there you could get some ideas — I agreed weakly.
It was a good idea, but there was just one small 'but'...
— And who is she gonna ask, scarecrow-face? — Shisui asked — It's not like Amaya... — He glanced at me briefly — No offense — He looked back at Kakashi — Is on good enough terms with everyone in the village to go around asking for help with this.
— And do you have any better idea, weasel-face? — Kakashi asked, with some irritation in his tone toward Shisui — Because so far I haven't seen you helping with any suggestions...
And that's when an idea finally came to mind.
— You two can help me with that — I pointed and noticed both boys turning their eyes to me.
— What? — They asked in unison, confused.
— How did your parents' marriage proposals happen? — I asked, alternating my gaze between Kakashi and Shisui.
Their expressions of surprise gave way to understanding. If there weren't people I could ask directly, maybe with what Shisui and Kakashi knew about their parents, I could find some inspiration.
— I think my father mentioned it once — The platinum-haired one spoke first, running a hand through his hair — He proposed to my mother in some special place for them, or something like that...
— And Kagami and Akemi? — I turned to Shisui next, looking at him.
— I don't really remember what my mom said, but I think something happened and someone ended up "pushing" the two together — He emphasized the pushing with his hands — Possibly someone intervened and ended up helping my dad, since he wasn't very developed in that area — And my brother looked at me for a moment, giving a weak laugh — Like a certain someone...
But I ended up ignoring his last comment while thinking about what he and Kakashi had told me. A special place for the two..., I pondered. And also having someone's help to make the proposal happen...
Like the turning of gears, for the first time that day my mind formulated something with those newly acquired pieces of information. Finally, it started working internally on an idea that, to me, seemed ideal for Minato and Kushina.
— You guys are amazing! — I said excitedly.
As a thank you, I planted a kiss on each boy's cheek and stood up, leaving them there on the park bench as I ran toward the area where I'd been training with Minato.
By the time I reached the place where my father was, I had organized and detailed the plan I'd formulated with the help of the ideas from Kakashi and Shisui's stories earlier.
And Namikaze couldn't help but look surprised by my excitement while we trained. I told him the basics of what I'd thought up for the proposal, and to my relief, he approved.
We talked for a long time, refining that idea, and only realized how much time had passed when Kushina showed up calling for us a bit angry because we'd forgotten about lunchtime.
__________________________________________________________________________
Over the past week, Minato and I organized everything we needed to put our plan into action. Actually, most of it was organized by the blond; I would only handle two things in the whole plan.
If everything went as planned, it would be foolproof.
Kushina Uzumaki POV
Even before Amaya came to live with me and Minato, we had the habit, when we were all home, of having our meals together, given how often we were away or didn't see each other.
It was a simple tradition, but it meant a lot, giving us the chance to always have some time together. And since Amaya became part of our family, that became even more meaningful, both for me and for Minato.
But lately, something felt off.
Since the day the blond and I returned from our mission outside the village, it seemed like something was out of place.
Amaya and Minato had started training together again, and that in itself wasn't strange to me, but rather the fact that the Uzumaki only did it with the blond.
My girl had the same habits and always divided her time equally between me and Namikaze, never letting either of us feel excluded as she herself had once told me.
However, unlike what I expected would happen, Amaya didn't ask me to help with her training, as she always did.
I tried to tell myself I was overthinking it, since the redhead's lack of seeking my help could stem from the great mastery she'd gained with practically everything I'd taught her. It wasn't like Hiraishin or other more complex techniques from Minato that she could still learn—especially since she spent much more time with me day-to-day than with the blond.
— I'm heading out! — Amaya announced, stopping for a moment at the kitchen entrance where Minato and I were.
— Tsunade said she'd leave your medication refill with nurse Lucy, since she'll be out of the village for a while with Jiraiya-sensei and Orochimaru, on a mission — Minato informed the redhead.
— Your hospital re-evaluation is today? — I asked with a slightly surprised tone, and Amaya nodded quickly.
Oh, crap!, I thought, wanting to smack my own forehead for forgetting that.
Tsunade had warned before Minato and I left on our mission that Amaya should get a re-evaluation sometime after the treatment the Sannin gave her, to ensure she was fully recovered and ready to return to her routine as a kunoichi.
But with everything that happened the mission and Amaya's behavior, which to me seemed exclusively unusual I hadn't even remembered the Uzumaki's re-evaluation.
I was going to apologize to Amaya for forgetting, but when I turned my attention to her, the redhead was already moving away to leave.
— Don't forget to... — Minato started to say, but she quickly interrupted him.
— I know!
A few moments later we heard the front door open and close quickly. A heavy sigh couldn't help but escape my lips.
— Everything okay? — Minato asked beside me, and I turned to him, seeing him standing next to me.
To anyone else, I might simply nod and brush it off, saying I was fine, just tired or distracted, but to that pair of anise-colored eyes watching me, there was no way not to tell him everything.
— Is Amaya angry with me? — I asked a bit more quietly to the blond, who promptly looked at me without understanding.
— Why do you think that? — He returned my question calmly, holding my arms gently.
— She's been distant, Minato — I said quickly, starting to let myself be carried by the inner discomfort I felt — I know it might just be in my head, but she seems to have pushed me away — I paused for a second — No, that's not it. It seems like she just stopped seeking me out like she used to, always looking for ways to spend time by my side... — I looked at my hands, clenching them — Could she be like this because of what happened that day? About me telling her she should discuss her first love with me, instead of you? She might have resented that, since you two have a closer and longer bond, or maybe because I actually sounded angry with her and... — But I couldn't keep talking because Minato silenced me with a quick kiss.
He held my face between his hands and wore his usual reassuring smile.
— Has anyone told you you worry too much? — He asked calmly while stroking my cheek.
— I'm being serious, Minato! — I scolded him, slightly annoyed, and he gave a weak laugh.
— Don't worry, I'm sure whatever is going on with Amaya isn't because of anything you said or did — The blond said casually, yet sounding convinced.
— How can you be so sure? — I asked, looking at him, seeing him smile.
— Because she's our daughter.
My lips parted slightly, but not to speak. It was involuntary because I was, in a way, surprised. And I ended up laughing like Minato had before, smiling afterward.
Yes, our little girl is like that, I thought, she acts disconnected from the world when something's weighing on her mind or when she's doing something important, whether for herself or for others.
— This time doesn't seem any different, 'tebane... — I reassured myself, and the blond looked at me, not understanding why I'd said that out loud — You should be going too — I reminded him — Don't keep your team waiting, or Kakashi and Obito will find something to argue about again — The blond gave a weak laugh, agreeing.
This time, it was me who held Minato's face between my hands, stealing a longer kiss from him. I looked at him, seeing him slightly flushed with a silly smile on his face. How I love seeing that smile directed at me..., I amused myself and smiled.
— Good luck with your three little troublemakers! — I wished him, and Minato laughed as he left the kitchen.