Later that day, Souta resumed his work at the tea shop. Kushina stopped by, her red hair as vibrant as ever. She plopped into a seat with a dramatic sigh.
"Long day?" Souta asked, setting down a cup of tea.
Kushina grinned. "More like a long week. Kakashi's been driving me crazy. Kid's sharp, but man, he's got an attitude."
Souta chuckled. "Maybe he's just trying to impress you."
Kushina laughed, shaking her head. "That kid? No way. He's too serious for that."
Souta smirked slightly as he wiped down the counter. "You sure? Maybe he just respects strong kunoichi."
Kushina rolled her eyes. "Most guys don't."
Souta shrugged. "Not every guy."
She eyed him. "Oh? And you?"
He leaned on the counter. "I think a strong woman is an advantage, not a problem."
Kushina huffed in amusement but didn't argue. Instead, she stretched, taking a sip of tea. "Minato never minded either."
Souta let the words settle for a second, then spoke lightly. "Well, yeah. Hard to mind when it's also a strategic advantage."
Kushina blinked. "Huh?"
Souta tilted his head. "I mean… think about it. You're the jinchūriki. The village has always kept a close eye on you, right?"
Kushina frowned slightly. "What's your point?"
Souta shrugged, casual as ever. "Just saying, if I were Hokage, I'd want my village's greatest asset somewhere I could keep it safe." He tapped the counter lightly. "Like, say… at home."
Kushina's grip tightened around her cup. "Tch. That's ridiculous. Minato loves me."
"I'm sure he does," Souta agreed, voice easygoing. "But he also loves the village. More than anything, right?"
She didn't answer right away.
Souta dried off a teacup and set it down. "I get it. You two are childhood sweethearts, fate brought you together, all that." He leaned slightly forward. "But the village always comes first. And Minato? He's the kind of guy who'd do anything for it."
Kushina exhaled sharply through her nose. "So what? You're saying our marriage was some kinda political move?"
Souta didn't answer directly. Instead, he tilted his head. "When was the last time Minato put you before the village?"
Kushina opened her mouth—then hesitated.
Souta watched her fingers curl slightly against the table. He wasn't pushing. Just… nudging.
Letting her own thoughts do the work.
After a moment, Kushina scoffed and shook her head, like she was brushing it off. "You're overthinking things."
"Maybe," Souta said, smiling. "But I'm just a tea shop guy. What do I know?"
Kushina rolled her eyes but didn't argue. She picked up her cup, finishing the last of her tea before standing up. "I should head home."
Souta nodded. "Come by anytime."
She waved a hand over her shoulder as she walked out, disappearing into the dimming light of the village.
That night, as she lay in bed, Kushina found herself staring at the ceiling longer than usual.
Minato wasn't home yet. He wouldn't be for hours.
She was used to it. It wasn't new.
But for the first time in a long time, it bothered her.
She turned onto her side, pulling the blanket up. She wasn't mad—no, that wasn't it. It wasn't even about Minato himself.
It was about her.
Souta's words repeated in her head.
"So tell me—when was the last time he put you before the village?"
She shook her head, trying to push the thought away.
It was stupid.
It didn't matter.
She knew Minato loved her.
Didn't he?
Kurama stirred slightly in the back of her mind, but as usual, the fox stayed quiet. Indifferent.
She closed her eyes.
Tried to sleep.
The thought didn't go away.
The next day, she found herself at the tea shop again.
When Souta greeted her with that same easy smile, she didn't turn away.
"Morning," he said, setting a cup of tea in front of her without even asking.
Kushina sat down with a sigh. "You're annoying, you know that?"
Souta smirked. "I hear that a lot."
She picked up the cup, taking a slow sip. She didn't say anything at first. Just sat there, staring at the steam rising from the tea.
Souta let the silence sit between them before leaning against the counter. "Rough night?"
Kushina scoffed. "You could say that."
"Minato still busy?"
Kushina huffed, setting the cup down. "When isn't he?"
Souta nodded, as if he already knew the answer. "Must be lonely."
Kushina didn't respond.
Souta watched her carefully. She was already thinking about it. That was good.
He leaned forward slightly, resting a hand on the counter. "You know, people always talk about how shinobi sacrifice for the village," he said casually. "But they never talk about what their families sacrifice."
Kushina's eyes flicked up to him.
Souta smiled, but it was different from his usual grin. It wasn't teasing. It was understanding.
"Being married to a Hokage can't be easy," he said. "The whole village comes first, right? No matter what."
Kushina didn't answer right away. She picked up her cup again, staring into it.
Souta didn't push. Just let the words settle.
Finally, Kushina sighed. "I knew what I was getting into," she muttered.
Souta tilted his head slightly. "Did you?"
She glanced at him, brow furrowing. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He shrugged, voice light but deliberate. "I mean… Minato's Hokage first. Your husband second."
Her fingers curled slightly against the cup. "That's not true."
Souta exhaled through his nose, smiling faintly. "If it were me…" He let the words hang for a second, just enough to draw her attention. "I'd turn against the whole damn world for the person I love."
Kushina's breath hitched—so small, so quick that she probably didn't even realize it.
He leaned on the counter, gaze steady. "No village, no duty, no 'greater good' would come before her. Ever." He picked up a cloth, wiping down the counter like he hadn't just said something that might linger in her mind for a long, long time.
Kushina scoffed, but it wasn't immediate. "That's reckless."
Souta grinned. "Maybe. But love's supposed to be, isn't it?"
She didn't respond.
Didn't argue.
Just sat there, fingers tapping against her cup.
Souta let the silence do the work.
Finally, Kushina let out a slow breath and shook her head. "You're a pain in the ass, you know that?"
Souta chuckled. "I hear that a lot."