When I left, Naruto sat on the bed, staring at the photo as if deep in thought.
Kushina:
"I watched him closely, wondering what he'd do… and suddenly, he placed both hands on the photo—it seemed like he was about to tear it up.
But right before he did, his hands froze. He clenched his eyes shut tightly, as if making a decision.
In the end, he took the photo and buried it in the farthest part of the drawer."
Months passed as I continued living with Naruto in the same house. One night, he decided to take me out to dinner—a change of routine. And it turned out to be one of the most beautiful nights of my life.
I won't deny it: if it weren't for Naruto, my life would've been a nightmare. Just knowing I'm with him makes me feel safe, even though everyone around me wants to kill me.
Anyone who even thought about looking at me thought twice before doing it.
We finished our meal and left the restaurant… and while we were walking, we heard a little girl's innocent voice say:
"Goodbye, lovebirds!"
We both froze in place the moment we heard that word. I'm pretty sure my face turned redder than ever—probably over 50% blush!
I didn't dare turn to look at Naruto, but I bet he was just as shocked.
After a long moment, we both turned at the same time to see who said it—it was a little five-year-old girl named Ayako.
Since that day, Ayako started visiting us often. Her mother had passed away, and her stepmother would frequently kick her out of the house. When that happened, she'd come stay with us the whole day.
It's hard to describe how happy Naruto was when Ayako came over. He'd be absolutely thrilled and wouldn't go to work that day—he'd spend all his time playing and talking with her.
You might find this strange, but… I was actually jealous of that little girl. Despite her age, she had a way of taking him away from me whenever she was around.
He'd talk with her, play with her, do whatever she asked—and he'd completely melt when she cried, giving her anything she wanted.
Eventually, I noticed she started calling him Dad… and me Mom.
Maybe that's what brought us even closer together.
I loved being with both of them. And strangely, Naruto could match her energy and make her feel like he was her age.
Honestly, it was hard to tell who was the adult.
Some villages painted him as a monster, but when I got close and truly understood him… I saw how simple he really was.
He didn't seem powerful or like someone with a beast inside him. On the contrary—he carried enough kindness to fill the whole world.
He absolutely loves children—adores them.
I used to wonder, if he loves kids this much, why hasn't he gotten married yet?
Especially since it wouldn't be hard for him to find a wife—plenty of amazing women would love to be with him.
But in time… I figured out the reason.
Anyway, after Ayako said what she did, Naruto and I turned to her and said in unison:
"We're not a couple!"
She replied mischievously:
"Are you sure???" … and then ran off.
We both stood there, watching the direction she ran in, frozen for a while.
Then we continued walking.
Silence fell between us until I broke it nervously and said:
"Why do I even fall in love with you anyway?"
He replied:
"Well… we've been living together in the same house for months.
It seems the whole village misunderstood what's going on."
Kushina, even more flustered:
"Just because I live with you in the same house doesn't mean I love you..."
She looked at him, then teased:
"You have blue eyes and blond hair… no, no, no… I don't like those things at all..."
She quickly walked ahead to get away from him, but he stood frozen in place upon hearing her words.
Before she could get too far, he grabbed her arm and pulled her back toward him, saying playfully:
"And why would I love a girl who looks exactly like a tomato?"
Kushina's face turned beet red the moment he said that, and she lowered her head to the ground in a mix of embarrassment and sadness.
Suddenly, she felt his lips touch hers…
Kushina (narrating):
"No matter how much I try to describe it, I can never truly express the happiness I felt in that moment... It was so unexpected, especially since we had just been arguing… The moment I felt his lips on mine, I couldn't believe it was real.
My eyes widened completely, and I swear my face must've reached a hundred degrees!
I never imagined—never even dreamed—that this would happen.
It was my first kiss, and it was so much more beautiful than I ever imagined…
I stood frozen in place while he kissed me, until he looked at me with a smile and said:
'Why not?'"
From that day on, we started acting like a couple. And we owed it all to little Ayako, who finally encouraged him to confess his feelings to me.
That's one of the reasons he's so attached to her.
And that's how we fell in love.
Ino:
"Well… that story was more than wonderful.
Plus, I learned some new things about Naruto I never knew before.
By the way, Kushina, since he gave you that necklace on your engagement anniversary, what did he give you on the day of the engagement itself?"
Kushina:
"He gave me the most precious thing to me…
He rebuilt my house that had been destroyed in the explosion.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw it…
I started staying there from time to time before going back to him."
Ino:
"You two are such a perfect couple, Kushina."
Kushina smiled shyly.
Karin:
"That reminds me of my love story with Sasuke."
Sakura suddenly stood up, slamming the table with her hand, shouting angrily:
"What did you say, you idiot?!"
Karin stood as well, mimicking Sakura's anger:
"Yes! And what's it to you, you broad-foreheaded hag?! He loves me, not you!"
All the girls (thinking):
"Here we go again…"
Sakura, fuming:
"He loves me—only me! He's mine, and he'll never be anyone else's. Don't even waste your time.
He always rejects you!"
Karin:
"Rejects me?! Are you kidding?!
He's the one always trying to avoid you! But since you're so pathetic and can't take care of yourself, he has to look after you until someone else takes over the job.
And why do you think he let me stay here—he even insisted I stay!"
Sakura:
"There's no stranger here, Karin. We all know you begged to stay. If you hadn't annoyed him so much, he would've never agreed—you idiot!"
Karin:
"What did you just say… you broad-foreheaded freak?!"
Their heads bumped together as they glared angrily at one another.
Kushina, stunned, whispered to Ino:
"Is this… normal?"
Ino, cheerfully:
"Welcome to the group, Kushina.
That's how it always goes—every time we hang out, it ends in a never-ending fight between those two.
And Sasuke never does anything to stop it."