The following morning, Tetsuya went outside to sit on the beach to look at the majestic waves of the water and peering sand. Then he noticed a short time after sitting down that Yumi was coming in his direction while Yuki looked on from the beach house balcony. Before he could say anything to Yumi, Tetsuya wiped off some food residue from breakfast that was still on Yumi's cheek.
"The water is pretty, Daddy." Yumi said with a joyous look on her face.
"I knew you would be amazed at the scenery of the beach when it's bright out, sweetie. There is a neat place where you can see the rest of the beach. Come along I will take you there. We will be back in a while, Yuki." Tetsuya stated as he was about to take Yumi to the pier and Yuki nodded in response to the last part of his statement.
On the way to the pier, Tetsuya held on to Yumi's hand and he noticed how happy his daughter was about seeing the beach. Upon reaching the pier, Tetsuya pointed out to Yumi to be careful while on the pier and she assured her safety by finding the rails which made Tetsuya feel relieved.
While walking around the pier, Tetsuya noticed that both his mother and father were sitting on the same bench as they were the day prior in which he motioned Yumi to come by him. Then Tetsuya's mother noticed that Tetsuya was on the pier and nudged his father who was napping to wake up. Yumi, however, was a little nervous about meeting her grandparents so she stood by her father.
"Good morning, Tetsuya. Enjoying this fine morning and seeing the scenery from up here. Who is the little girl you got with you?" Tetsuya's father stated after noticing Tetsuya standing on the pier.
"Mom, Dad. I want you to meet your granddaughter, Yumi." Tetsuya said after giving Yumi a push to walk forward.
Then Yumi proceeded to talk to her grandparents after they exchanged introductory greetings back to her. While the talks were going on, Tetsuya decided to look at the beach until he was tapped on the shoulder by his father.
"Is something wrong, Dad?" Tetsuya asked out of concern.
"No, son. I figured I let your mother talk to your daughter for a while and I think you're doing a good job raising her just by looking at her." Tetsuya's father replied while looking at Tetsuya's mother and Yumi.
"Thank you, Dad." Tetsuya said in a calm tone.
"Any time, son. Oh, by the way there is something I must tell you. Last night while your mother was outside talking to you, I decided to call your sister last night and it went straight to voicemail." Tetsuya's father said in a calm tone.
"Did you leave Kushina a message?" Tetsuya asked out of concern.
"Yes, the message was very long and like what me and your mother told you right at this spot last night. Also, if she wanted to accept our forgiveness that she can come down and visit. Once your mother found out that I had done this she was happy for me and we had a tear not knowing if Kushina or her family will come." Tetsuya's father replied in an honest tone.
"I believe that Kushina will come, Dad. She had missed you and Mom for a long time even while she was trying to raise me. So, I think this was the right you could do to bring back the entire family again." Tetsuya said with a smile on his face.
"Thank you, Tetsuya. I really appreciated that." Tetsuya's father said with a smile on his face.
Tetsuya and his father notice that Yumi and Tetsuya's mother were done with their conversation. So, with that the four of them proceeded to leave the pier in the direction of the beach house. On the way back to the beach house, Yumi decided to get a head start while Tetsuya stayed behind with his parents. However, Tetsuya's father went on ahead just after he noticed his son's facial expression about his granddaughter going way ahead of them.
This caused a look of concern on Tetsuya's mother just a few moments later.
"It's going to be alright, sweetheart. Your father will make sure your daughter won't get hurt." Tetsuya's mother said in a comforting tone.
"Thanks, Mom." Tetsuya said with a smile on his face.
"You know. Yumi and I had a good conversation back there at the pier. Other than what you were describing about her to me last night, she has got a good chip on her shoulders. By looking at her right now, I must think she looks up to you a lot, sweetheart." Tetsuya's mother stated as she and Tetsuya were getting to closer to the beach house.
"Yes, she does. To tell you the truth Mom, she wants to be like me when she gets older, but I had my doubts about it at first instead of being happy for her and giving guidance. When it came time to nearly put myself in a comatose state, I realized that if this was something that Yumi wants to do then I will support her every step of the way." Tetsuya said with a calm tone.
Tetsuya's mother had a smile on her face as soon as she heard that statement. Then she and Tetsuya were rejoined by Yumi and Tetsuya's father near the stairs that lead to the beach house. The group was led by Tetsuya before he opened the door to see Yuki getting chairs out of the storage closet.
Tetsuya helped Yuki place the chairs in the lounging chair before motioning his parents and Yumi to come inside the beach house.
"Yuki, I want you to meet my father. Dad, this is my wife Yuki." Tetsuya stated the introductions of Yuki and Tetsuya's father.
"It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Uzumaki." Yuki stated after giving a proper introductory greeting to Tetsuya's father.
"It is nice to meet you, Yuki." Tetsuya's father stated his introductions to his daughter in law.
"Do you want anything to drink, Mom or Dad?" Tetsuya asked after his parents took a seat.
"Water will be fine." Tetsuya's mother replied on behalf of her and her husband.
"So, we hear that you work at a noodle shop. That means you like to cook a lot, Yuki?" Tetsuya's father asked out of curiosity.
"Well I've enjoyed cooking ever since I was a little child when my mom first taught me how and it's stuck with me ever since." Yuki replied with a smile on her face.
"Oh...that is wonderful. So, what is the best meal that you like to cook for Tetsuya?" Tetsuya's mother asked with a smile.
"To be honest, the best meal I have ever made for Tetsuya would be pork cutlets and rice. That's because he likes it the way I make it and when I first met him that was the first dinner I ever cooked for him. But no worries, he dabbles in his fair share of cooking himself." Yuki replied with a smile on her face.
"Interesting. So, what kind of meal for example would my son make that is out of this world?" Tetsuya's mother said with a curious look.
"Grandma, my daddy's famous special dish is good but me and my mom never know what he puts in it that makes it so great. It's one of my favorite dishes." Yumi replied with a smirk on her face.
"Oh, really. Is that true, Tetsuya?" Tetsuya's mother said in a wondrous tone.
"Yes, Mom. I do make a special dish on certain occasions unlike when I first came up with the recipe a few years ago." Tetsuya replied in a honest tone.
That was when a smile came on Tetsuya's mother's face after taking a sip of her water while his father on the other hand had a sigh of relief. Then Yuki looked at Yumi with a smile on her face as if she was giving her cue to say something.
"Oh, I go to school on a regular basis but they're out on break right now." Yumi said with a smile on her face.
"That's great to hear. So, what year of school are you in?" Tetsuya's father asked out of curiosity.
"I'm in my second-year elementary grade student at an academy, Grandpa." Yumi replied with a calm tone.
"Do you do any activities for school? Are you one of the top marked students in your class, Yumi?" Tetsuya's mother asked out of curiosity.
"Well I just got done with a soccer league around four months ago and I try to be involved as much I can for class activities. Yes, I get high marks on all of my tests at school." Yumi replied with a smile on her face.
Yumi after replying to those questions proceeded to the beach house bathroom. Then, Tetsuya's mother and father looked at Tetsuya who was getting ready to refill their glasses of water with smiles on their faces. This had made Yuki curious until she realized why her in laws had those smiles and started to feel proud of both her and Tetsuya.
"Mom, Dad. Can I ask the both of you something?" Tetsuya asked in a calm tone.
"Yes, son. What is it?" Tetsuya's father replied with a calm voice.
"Between the both of you, who would Yumi most resemble if any traits were traced back to you or mom?" Tetsuya answered in an honest tone.
"I would have to say she could be more like me, sweetheart. I could tell just by talking to her earlier she had nearly the same personality that I did when I was her age." Tetsuya's mother answered in a calm tone.
"Hmm...it does make sense. However, Yuki, do you have anybody in your own family that is like Yumi?" Tetsuya's father stated before coming with a definitive answer.
"Well I thought my father would be someone that was like Yumi in terms of personality but her capacity to care for things and interpretation of love is way different than his. You see me and Tetsuya had a talk about this a long time ago right after we had noticed she helped out somebody out without us prompting her to." Yuki answered in an honest tone.
"Hmm...so that must explain why I have the special connection with Yumi is because she reminds me of you, Mom. I really don't know what to say." Tetsuya said right before he was about to hug his mother.
"It's ok, sweetheart. Don't cry." Tetsuya's mother said in a assuring tone.
"Yumi, sweetie. Can you get the door?" Tetsuya said as he heard a knock on the door.
"Who could that be, Tetsuya?" Yuki asked out of concern.
Then Tetsuya whispered into Yuki's ear a possibility and the conversation that his dad had with him back at the pier. Yuki after hearing the news decided to cooperate in anyway she can to make things comfortable at the beach house. Tetsuya walked to Yumi's direction in figuring out why she wasn't answering the door. Upon looking at the door hole to see two familiar faces standing outside, Kushina and Minato with bags in tow, Tetsuya explained to Yumi that everything was going to be alright and let them in the beach house.
By the time Yumi let in Kushina and Minato, Tetsuya notices that his and Kushina's parents along with Yuki are not in the lounging area and so he decides to look for them. It didn't take him long before Tetsuya found his mother and father alongside Yuki in the room that he and Yuki were staying in at the beach house.
"So, who was at the door, Tetsuya?" Yuki asked out of concern.
"It is them. Looks like they're going to be a part of this vacation as well since I saw bags with them. Can you stall them for a quick minute, please? I'll repay you later, dear." Tetsuya answered as honest as he could while referring to Minato and Kushina as them.
"Alright, Tetsuya, my love. You owe me big time." Yuki stated before she went to rendezvous with Yumi to preoccupy Kushina and Minato.
"What is going on, son?" Tetsuya's father asked out of concern.
"Ok, here goes. When Yumi tried to answer the door earlier she was hesitant about opening it because she looked through the door hole to see that it was Kushina and her husband. That means Kushina did get your message from last night, Dad. However, the reason I wanted to talk to you and Mom in here first before talking to her first is to see if you need me on the side when you guys do talk to her." Tetsuya answered with a sigh under his breath.
"Hmm...I think you should be in there when me and you father talk to your sister. Wouldn't you agree, dear?" Tetsuya's mother said in a calm tone.
"Yes, I would. I mean this would be the first time in so many years that we all be in the same room and such with our family being reunited with new additions. Even if some of them couldn't make it this time but there will be a next time." Tetsuya's father answered with a smile on his face.
"That is fine with me and I just wanted to make sure. Now let me go check to see if everything's set up and it looks like it is." Tetsuya stated before he noticed a hand gesture from a hallway telling him to come to the lounging area.
Once Tetsuya brought his mother and father into the lounging area, he noticed that both Kushina and Minato were in there while Yuki and Yumi were in the kitchen watching. Minato proceeded to introduce himself to Tetsuya and Kushina's parents in which they greeted him back before he walked into the kitchen area by Yuki and Yumi. However, Kushina was still standing there not knowing what to do with her facial expression all but neutral.
Tetsuya then walked up to Kushina and whispered into her ear that the people she was looking at are their mother and father. Then Tetsuya stepped back to the side between Kushina and their parents to see what would happen next.
"Mom...Dad...it is you." Kushina stated right as she hugged her and Tetsuya's parents.
"Oh, Kushina, darling. Just like we told your brother recently me and your father are very sorry for leaving you guys at a very young age." Tetsuya and Kushina's mother said after getting out of the hug.
"I understand, Mom. I got the message that Dad left last night on my voicemail and played it back a couple of times before I realized that I had to find you guys as well just like Tetsuya did to accept your forgiveness." Kushina said with a smile on her face.
"Thank you, Kushina. That means a lot you know your brother praised on how well you did on raising him on our behalf." Tetsuya and Kushina's father said with a smile on her face.
"I knew that he would talk good about how I raised him while he tried to make sure I didn't get into any trouble, you know." Kushina stated while nudging Tetsuya on the arm.
"Ok, Sis. Not in front of Mom and Dad." Tetsuya said after checking his arm.
"Hmm-hmm...it feels wonderful to be surrounded by our daughter and son once again, wouldn't you agree honey." Tetsuya and Kushina's father said in a pleasant mood.
"Yes, it does and makes my heart completely happy again. This makes me want to hug them both just like the last time we were all together." Tetsuya and Kushina's mother said before she about to hug her family.
This prompted Yuki who was in the kitchen still to get out her phone to take a picture of the lovely sight that she, Yumi, and Minato were witnessing too. "Daddy, the wish you wrote in the beginning of your memoir finally came true." Yumi thought to herself after comparing the sight she was witnessing to an excerpt of the memoir Tetsuya entrusted her with.
Tetsuya then walked over to where Yuki and Yumi were since he just noticed that they took the picture of the emotional reunion and he wanted to see it. So, Yuki showed Tetsuya the picture and he started to have a beaming smile on his face as a reaction before requesting that he show Kushina and his parents the photo. Once he showed Kushina and their parents the photo that Yuki took, Tetsuya noticed the reactions were identical to his own and proceeded to give Yuki back her phone.
Before he could say anything, Tetsuya felt Yumi tugging on his shirt like she wanted to talk to him about something, but she wanted to discuss it outside. Feeling a bit curious into what was going on, Tetsuya followed Yumi outside while Yuki decided to head towards the bathroom.
"What is it, sweetie?" Tetsuya asked out of curiosity.
"Daddy, would have I have to give up my room here since Aunt Kushina and Uncle Minato are here now." Yumi answered with a sad look on her face.
"Of course not, sweetie. This beach house has 3 bedrooms and 2 separate bathrooms. So, there will be plenty of room for your aunt and uncle. Is what's been bothering you?" Tetsuya asked while rubbing Yumi's head.
"Well...sort of. Also, I wanted to say sorry for not answering the door right away earlier, Daddy. I didn't want to cause a big scene in front of Grandma and Grandpa." Yumi replied in a sad voice.
"Oh, Yumi. I'm sorry for putting you in that kind of situation. It was a little surprising for me as well to see your aunt and uncle here. But to tell you the truth sweetie, I kind of expected for them to show up." Tetsuya said while rubbing Yumi's head.
"What do you mean, Daddy?" Yumi asked out of curiosity.
"Well your grandfather had told me earlier that he tried to get in contact with your Aunt Kushina but never got an answer back. I guess she listened to your grandpa's voicemail many times and had the courage to come here since she knew that we were out in this area anyways. It makes me feel very happy you know that, sweetie." Tetsuya said after hugging Yumi.
"I know, Daddy. It reminded me so much of the wish that you wanted to happen in your memoir and now this has come true." Yumi said with a smile on her face.
"You know, sweetie. You're right. It looks like your grandparents are trying to get to know your uncle alongside your aunt with her non-stop jabbering." Tetsuya said with a chuckle at the end of his statement.
"Daddy, you know that Aunt Kushina likes to talk a lot when she's excited, so it isn't that funny." Yumi stated as she nudged Tetsuya.
"Ok, you got me there, sweetie. Let's head back inside before your mother starts wondering why we've been out here longer than expected." Tetsuya stated as he and Yumi headed back inside the beach house.
Once Tetsuya and Yumi entered the beach house, they didn't see Yuki either in the kitchen or the lounging area. So, it left for Tetsuya to check in the room that he and Yuki were staying at but before he went to search in there he told Yumi to ask her grandparents, aunt and uncle if they wanted anything to drink. By the time Tetsuya made it to the room, he saw that Yuki was in there sitting on the bed with a curious look on her face.
"What did Yumi want to talk you about, my love?" Yuki asked with curiosity.
"Oh, she was concerned about rooming now that Kushina and Minato are here. I told her that's taken care of since the beach house is big enough for them as well. Also, she apologized to me for not answering the door to them earlier because she didn't want to cause a scene towards my parents. Other than that, we wounded up talking about how Kushina and Minato are talking to my mom and dad to getting to know them better." Tetsuya replied with a calm tone.
"I see so she was worried about the same thing I was earlier, but I'm glad that you got it taken care of." Yuki stated before she kissed Tetsuya.
"Thank you, Yuki. Do you think we should make the main meal a simple one like yesterday? I mean with the unexpected arrival of Kushina and Minato barely gave us some time to think of an idea for anything." Tetsuya said while putting his hand over his shoulder.
"Hmm...well, now that you come to think about it my love. That is a good idea but if we do that let's not pick the place I ordered from last night. Let's hope your parents and even Yumi understands why we have to do this." Yumi said with a calm tone.
"No worries, Yuki. I think they will understand since this will be a special occasion after all, you know." Tetsuya said as he held onto Yuki's hand.
Then Tetsuya and Yuki headed to the lounging area to see that Yumi, Kushina, Minato, and Tetsuya's parents were expecting them to show up. It was in that moment when Tetsuya explained to everyone about the meal situation and they understood right away that it would be a little while before the food would arrive. This prompted Yuki to place the food order, but she had to do it on the balcony since that was where her cell phone service was the strongest.
Meanwhile, Tetsuya and Kushina's mother stepped out on the beach while Tetsuya decided to follow her. Noticing that Tetsuya had followed her to the beach area, Tetsuya and Kushina's mother motioned him to come take a seat right next to her.
"Minato seems to be a really kind and nice guy. He really seems to love and care for your sister a lot. That's the impression me and your father got of him." Tetsuya's mother said with a smile on her face.
"I'm amazed to hear that, Mom. You know he is my best friend and those are some of the reasons why I've remained his friend for as long as I have." Tetsuya said with a smile on his face.
"I'm happy to hear that, sweetheart. Can I ask you something?" Tetsuya's mother said with a pleasant tone.
"Sure, Mom. What is it?" Tetsuya asked in response.
"Kushina told me and your father that you had eradicated some darkness inside her and revealed to her something about you sacrificing your hopes to make her life happy. Is it true, sweetheart?" Tetsuya's mother asked out of concern.
"Yes, Mom. It's true and that occurred on a trip to the Sacred Estate right before I proposed to my wife. You see Kushina had negative vibes on that trip which one of our clan's higher ups noticed along with Yuki and that was when I had to put an end to it. Even though I exhausted all of my energy to get rid of Kushina's dark side and once she came back to her normal self that was when I told her a promise I made after we were separated from you and Dad. After I told her everything about that promise and how it got fulfilled, Kushina told me to do what's best for me. Ever since then the bond between me and her has gotten closer and stronger." Tetsuya said with an honest tone.
"Oh, Tetsuya, sweetheart." Tetsuya's mother stated right before she hugged him tightly.
"Mom, it's ok. Oh, it looks like Yumi is motioning us to come back inside the beach house." Tetsuya stated while looking up at the beach house seeing Yumi waving her out hand out the window for Tetsuya and his mother.
Tetsuya and his mother went back inside the beach house to see that everyone was about to sit down in the lounging area since the dinner Yuki ordered for had arrived. Yumi proceeded to bless the food before anyone could take a bite.
Once everyone took a bite of their dinner, it seemed that the food tasted delicious. Then by the time dinner was done and over with, Tetsuya and Kushina's parents started to head back to their home but not before thanking Tetsuya for the dinner, the day's events, and meeting Minato and Yumi.
After the mess from dinner was cleaned up with, Yumi headed off to bed but not before saying good night to her parents and aunt and uncle. However, Tetsuya reminded Yumi to take a bath first before going to bed. Then Tetsuya got a chance to sit down in the lounging area next to Yuki and across from Kushina and Minato after cleaning up the dinner garbage.
"It was great to meet your parents for the first time today, Tetsuya and Kushina. They were really nice and respectful people." Minato said in a calm tone.
"Thank you, Minato." Tetsuya said with a smile on his face.
"Yes, thank you for the compliment, Minato. You know." Kushina stated with a calm tone.
"I couldn't agree with you more. Oh, do you guys want to go see the beach now or hold it off until tomorrow?" Yuki stated with a curious tone.
"Well, they can see it at any time. It's not going anywhere besides let's just relax a little, Yuki." Tetsuya replied on Kushina and Minato's behalf.
"Sorry...my love. I didn't mean to." Yuki stated in a nervous tone.
"It's ok, Yuki. I understand what you were trying to say." Tetsuya said while holding onto Yuki's hand.
"I'm getting tired. So, I don't know about you guys, but I am heading off to bed. Good night, Kushina, Tetsuya and Yuki." Minato said after yawning.
"Ok, Good night, Minato." Kushina, Tetsuya and Yuki said in unison.
A couple of minutes after Minato headed off to bed, Yuki noticed smoke coming from the beach. Since she was about to head off to bed, Yuki got Tetsuya and Kushina's attention about the smoke.
"Yuki, it's just like last night. Don't worry I'll lock up once me and Kushina come back inside. Try to get some sleep, ok. I love you." Tetsuya stated before he sent Yuki off to bed.
"Alright, I love you too. Just remember to lock up." Yuki said as she gave Tetsuya a good night kiss and headed off to bed.
"What did you mean to Yuki by last night about the smoke, little brother?" Kushina asked as she and Tetsuya as stepped outside of the beach house.
"Mom likes to sit outside on the beach at night time with a fire pit going and don't worry she told me that Dad knows about it. That is what I meant in my conversation to Yuki, Sis." Tetsuya replied as he and Kushina were getting closer to the fire pit.
Once they reached the fire pit, Tetsuya and Kushina saw their mother sitting around it with extra logs right by her foot. Then Tetsuya and Kushina's mother had a smile on her face once she saw her children were sitting right by her.
"Hi, Mom. I see that you brought some extra firewood with you." Tetsuya said with a smile on his face.
"I sure did, sweetheart. I see that you brought your sister out here with you." Tetsuya and Kushina's mother said in response.
"Hi...Mom." Kushina said in a nervous tone.
"Kushina, what's wrong?" Tetsuya asked out of concern.
"I can't think of much to say to Mom right now and it's upsetting me a bit because I know there is a lot of things that I want to tell. You know that feeling I'm talking about don't you." Kushina replied in a concerned tone.
"Oh, of course I know that feeling, Sis. But please don't feel down about it. Right, Mom?" Tetsuya said with an assuring tone.
"Most certainly. Enjoying this time with you guys means more than to see you get sad, darling. Just like your brother said." Tetsuya and Kushina's said with a smile.
"Think of something that you still appreciate to this very day, Sis. For example, I told Mom last night the backstory of how I fell in love with Yuki and in turn she told me how her and Dad fell in love." Tetsuya said with a smile.
"Ok, if you want me to then I will share the story about how me and Minato met." Kushina said with a smile on her face.
Then Kushina proceeded to tell her and Tetsuya's mother the story of how she and Minato fell in love. Once Kushina had got done telling her love story, Tetsuya had to put in two of the extra pieces of firewood that their mother had brought out into the fire pit. Suddenly, Tetsuya and Kushina's mother was amazed by the love story that Kushina told and reflected on the one that Tetsuya gave the night before.
"It fills my heart with joy to hear love stories from my daughter and son. Kushina, yours was like how mine turned out to be. Tetsuya, yours was very sweet on what you did for your wife. As your mother, I am proud for the both of you." Tetsuya and Kushina's mother stated with a tear dripping down her face.
"Aww...thank you, Mom." Tetsuya and Kushina said right as they hugged their mother.
"You're welcome." Tetsuya and Kushina's mother said after wiping the tears off her face.
A couple of minutes had passed when Tetsuya and Kushina's mother got up from the fire pit area and decided to head on home but not before saying good night to her children. Once they got done with their good night greeting to their mother, Tetsuya and Kushina decided to look at the gazing night sky.
Then Kushina pulled out a yellow-star pendant that was on a red ribbon out of her pocket and had a smile on her face. Tetsuya saw what Kushina had out in her hand and he noticed that it looked familiar.
"I've seen a pendant exactly like that once before, Sis." Tetsuya said with a curious tone.
"Oh, yes. I came across one of the girls that you rescued a while back, little brother. I think it was Komari. She wanted to me to give this to you as appreciation for saving her and her friends through the invasion and helping them getting settled here in the Pure Land." Kushina stated as she handed the pendant to Tetsuya.
"That is very sweet. I think I will cherish this pendant since it's a gift from the Busters." Tetsuya said as he put the pendant in his pocket.
"Busters?" Kushina asked out of curiosity.
"It was a nickname of the group of those twelve people that me and Yuki rescued which the Gatekeeper told me when I was in that brief coma like state. So that wasn't like something I made up right away, Sis." Tetsuya replied in an honest tone.
Kushina proceeded to smile and nudge at Tetsuya's arm. Then Tetsuya proceeded to have a smile on his face before nudging Kushina's arm. Tetsuya and Kushina both got up to look at the waters of the beach before running back inside the beach house while the thinking back of the unforgettable memories they made leading up to their respective reunions with their mother and father in turn made their lives go full circle.