My Life In A Nutshell - Juice WRLD
The hot water from the shower trickled down Minato's face, providing a soothing sensation. Mindlessly scrubbing his body clean with the soap in Tsume's shower, he began to recall everything that had happened from last night.
Everything.
Tsume's naked body, glistening with sweat as she rode him. Her wild locks of hair bouncing as she rolled her hips. She had been incapable of remaining in one position during their bout, frequently moving and dragging him along.
Minato closed his eyes, leaning his head against the wall of the shower. A stinging sensation emanated from his back due to the hot water. He grit his teeth at the pleasurable pain, weathering it with ease.
Throbs of pain ran down his chest and stomach, bite marks and scratches painting his toned body. The scalding water atop his 'wounds' were a constant reminder of the pleasure he had shared with Tsume.
Her curves, the way her body contorted in ways he didn't think were possible, her... screams of ecstasy.
Tsume Inuzuka was not a quiet woman.
That wasn't really a surprise though, to be fair. Though he hoped that the woman's daughter hadn't heard any of what had happened, regardless if she was young enough to not truly understand what was happening. No child needed to hear... well, that.
The blond man released another quiet sigh before turning the water off and stepping out of the shower. His eyes drifted over towards the sink, spotting the spare set of clothes that Tsume had provided for him.
A simple kimono with the Inuzuka Clan insignia stitched on the breast and on the back and a simple pair of black pants and sandals.
Ignoring just who the clothes belonged to, Minato dressed himself quietly. His fingers idly twirled the sash of the kimono as he pondered whether or not to cover his chest.
He glanced upwards, spotting his reflection in the full body mirror and sighed quietly. The scratches and bite marks upon his skin were far too noticeable to not cover up.
Minato tied the sash around his waist, ignoring how uncomfortable it made his love bites feel, and gathered his belongings. He exited the bathroom and immediately was assaulted by the aroma of eggs, bacon and various other foods.
He hadn't been showering that long, had he?
Glancing at the clock on Tsume's wall caused a small grimace to form on his face. He had been in the shower for nearly an hour.
Placing the wet towel in what he assumed to be a laundry basket, Minato idly traversed his way through the home. It was alot bigger than his own compound/home.
Kushina had always been a minimalist and he himself grew up in poverty. The size of the house didn't matter so long as they had one. Tsume's home could fit nearly three of his own with little issue. It was odd but Minato couldn't quite figure out why.
Tsume didn't seem like a materialistic woman, nor did any Inuzuka he personally knew. The Clan was loud, aggressive, and brash but they were also loyal and emphatic. Material items didn't mean much to those who made blood bonds and oaths at birth with partners, whether they be canine or human.
Was he just psychoanalyzing Tsume at this point? Possibly.
Was he distracting himself with these inane thoughts to ignore the pleasurable sex he had last night? Definitely.
With each step he took down the stairs was a mounting wave of anxiety and nervousness that burrowed into him. He had done a good enough job of not breaking down and questioning life when he woke up next to the feral woman but now? Now he had to face the consequence of his actions.
He didn't even know where to start!
Were he and Tsume... a thing now? Was he supposed to court her now? But they had already done the deed so technically they were... a thing now, right?
Would she expect a date now? Had they said something last night during their bout that would allude so?
He wracked his brain, desperately trying to search for any evidence but came up with nothing. The only things he remembered from last night were the positions Tsume was in.
The feral woman was right about one thing though, she most certainly was better on her hands and knees.
"Gonna stand there the whole time lookin' like an asshole or ya gonna come in here and get some food?" Tsume's gruff voice questioned from the kitchen.
The Yondaime grimaced quietly before slowly stepping out of the hallway and into the kitchen. Rounding the corner, he was greeted to the sight of a half naked Tsume.
The feral woman was bareback, hips swaying slowly as she cooked. In one hand was the handle of a skillet, sizzling with bacon and various other meats. In the other hand was a wooden spatula, currently being used as a fake microphone for whatever song the woman was humming to herself.
The only article of clothing upon her body was the scanty bra that covered her breasts with one of the straps hanging lazily off her shoulder.
It was an odd choice of clothing. Most individuals would have preferred to cover their actual private parts. Instead, Tsume had opted to show both lips and Minato found himself unable to stop staring at her body.
Once again, he felt that familiar voracity surge beneath his skin and had to take a calming breath to staunch his growing libido.
"I knew you were an ass guy." A playful snort left Tsume as she continued, pushing against the stove and accentuating her bare ass for Minato. "Ya left alotta prints there, ya know? Surprised ya didn't leave bruises for me to remember."
Minato inhaled deeply, averting his gaze from the woman and calming his racing pulse. He ignored the woman's quiet snickers as he slowly made his way to the table, sneaking glances at the woman that were most certainly noticed.
He hadn't been very subtle after all.
"How ya feelin'?" The Inuzuka Matriarch questioned as she flipped the pieces of meat on the skillet.
Minato was silent as his eyes returned to the table. Upon the granite countertop was an immense amount of food, ranging from traditional breakfast cuisine like pancakes, eggs and oatmeal to something more untraditional, like steak and fried potatoes.
He didn't think Tsume would have possessed a skill like this. It seemed a bit... excessive. This was alot of food after all. His stomach grumbled loudly, betraying his will and resulting in an annoyed expression painting his features.
"Uhh... Well, I-I'm good. I think." He replied awkwardly, idly grabbing a fork and knife. Not to eat or pick at the food but to keep his hands busy. Not a moment later did the utensils between his fingers begin to spin and furl, showcasing Minato's skills with anything that possessed a sharp edge.
"Good enough to play with my kitchenware, eh?" Tsume playfully teased as she leaned against the stove, watching Minato twirl and flip the utensils in his hands. "I paid good money fer that knife. Ya better not drop it."
The woman's quip caused a small smile to reach Minato's face. "I'll be sure to be very careful with the silverware you paid two thousand yen for."
Tsume's bark of laughter at his response caused his smile to grow larger. Without realizing it, Minato's shoulders began to slack, unwinding as he turned his attention back to the bountiful feast upon the table.
The blond was silent for a few minutes, idly listening to Tsume's hums and the occasional scrape of the spatula upon the skillet. "Not to pry or whatnot, but where are your children?"
He had stretched his senses throughout the entirety of the house when he was showering and hadn't felt the signatures from the woman's children.
Tsume made a quiet noise, somewhere along the lines of a scoff and a sigh, as she replied. "Handed em off to my cousin before we came back here. Normally, a couple of drinks ain't enough to keep me down but I took alot more than just drinks last night, didn't I?" Her grin was incredibly dirty and brought back a memory or two from last night.
Minato averted his gaze, causing another bark of laughter to escape the feral woman. "God damn, yer so easy to fuck with." Picking the skillet up from the stove, Tsume waltzed over towards the table before dumping the meat on an empty plate. Not waiting for the food to cool down, she picked up a piece of steak before stuffing it inside her mouth. A few hot exhales left her mouth as she made her way back towards the stove, turning off the burners and placing the skillet inside the sink.
"Ya know," She began, exhaling the steam from the piece of beef she was chewing on. "I didn't expect ya to down that much alcohol at The Lotus." She saddled up beside the table, which by the way, was just barely below her pelvis.
In short, her lower lips were definitely visible.
Minato cleared his throat, avoiding the sight and using his knife to spear a piece of sausage from the plate. Instead of stuffing it into his mouth like the woman, he waited for it to cool down while lightly blowing onto it.
"Yeah well, neither did I." He responded quietly, blowing lightly on the sausage and taking a bite.
Tsume hummed quietly, taking a piece of beef off the plate and tearing it apart using her claws. She took a bite out of the beef, speaking once she swallowed it. "Had fun though, yeah?"
Minato's eyebrows furrowed at the question. "Huh?"
Tsume rolled her eyes at the man's question. "I said, ya had fun though, right?"
The blond man turned his head towards the woman, expertly avoiding her lower lips and focusing on the upper ones.
"Define fun." He responded with a deadpan.
Instead of taking the bait, Tsume rolled her eyes. "You know what the fuck I'm talkin' bout. Don't act stupid now."
Minato narrowed his eyes but ultimately shrugged his shoulders. His head swiveled back towards the table as he picked up one of the various plates with food on it.
Twirling the knife and fork in his hand, he proceeded to cut into the pancakes. "What are we?" He instead asked, avoiding the question.
Tsume raised an eyebrow at the question, acknowledging Minato's refusal to answer her question.
Instead of answering the question immediately, like Minato thought she would, the woman remained silent, pondering the question and eating the remaining piece of beef in her hands.
Minato didn't push and instead focused on the delicious food in front of him. Every bite served to ease his anxiety and allow him to remain level headed.
Tsume released a quiet hum before scooting Minato's chair back and taking a seat upon his lap. Her right arm swung around his back, resting along his shoulder as she eased herself against his body.
"T-Tsume?!" He exclaimed, surprised at the woman's advancement.
The feral woman shifted in the man's lap, gripping his shoulder with the arm she slung around him. Both of her thighs took residency upon his legs as Minato subconsciously supported her weight.
Tsume snorted at the man's reaction, using her left hand to snag a piece of beef off the table. "We're whatever you want us to be, Minato." She spoke sincerely, no sign of playful teasing to be found.
The Yondaime furrowed his eyebrows at her words. With a racing heart, he spoke quietly. "Wha... What do you mean?"
Tsume hummed quietly, biting into the beef and swallowing it. "Yer such a smart man but ya got zero idea what to do or think in this situation, don't cha Speedy?"
Minato's silence was deafening.
She snorted, rolling her eyes as she did so. "Ya ain't over Kushina. Not by a long shot." She spoke, ignoring how tense Minato became. "Yer still mourning. Ain't nothing wrong with that. Doesn't bother me." Picking a fork up from the table, she stabbed a piece of Minato's pancakes, taking a bite and swallowing it, she continued. "However, ya've been a one-woman-man yer whole life. Ya don't got a single clue what to do next. Shit Minato, I bet you were thinking of absurd shit like moving in and helping with the kids or somethin'."
No he wasn't!
...
Okay, maybe a little!
The feral woman cackled at the speedsters expression, chewing on some more pancakes. "Listen Minato, and I want ya to really listen to me when I speak."
She placed the silverware down before turning her head to stare directly at Minato. Any signs of playfulness disappeared as she spoke.
"You and I? I got no issues with it. Hell, yer a good guy. Strong, smart, kinda handsome, I guess." The sly smirk on her face made Minato roll his eyes, though it wasn't taken to heart. "But right now, a relationship ain't healthy for ya and it sure as hell ain't gonna fix yer problems. It'll only complicate shit."
Minato made to speak but was prevented from doing so due to Tsume's finger covering his lips.
"And before ya ask, yes, I'd love to actually get to know ya and try to see if this could work. But it ain't happenin' till yer done mourning, Minato." She took her finger off his lips before shifting her position and taking more of Minato's food off his plate.
Silence filled the kitchen after Tsume's words, save for the occasional scraping of the woman's fork on Minato's plate. Throughout it all, the Yondaime was quiet, processing what had been said to him.
He wasn't... upset with the woman's words. If anything, he felt relieved at them. Tsume was right, he wasn't over Kushina and likely wouldn't be anytime soon. It was an odd feeling.
He was also slightly disappointed, to some degree.
It nearly left a dirty taste in his mouth. On one hand, it felt like he had betrayed his deceased wife with last night's activity. On the other, he felt...
He felt slightly better.
He couldn't really explain it. That persistent voice in the back of his head was silent as Tsume idly moved and squirmed upon his lap, eating and picking at various foods.
Was he still sad? To some degree.
Had he dreamt of Kushina last night? No, no hadn't.
Was he finally healing? Possibly, though he had yet to actually tackle the true issue with Kushina's death.
But everyone mourned differently, right? Yeah, yeah they did.
A small, tentative smile breached Minato's features as he leaned against the chair. The remaining tenseness in his body evaporated as he leaned his head back, finally relaxing his body for what felt like the first time in nearly three weeks.
He didn't offer a single reply to Tsume, believing it to be unnecessary. The woman was far more perceptive than she showed and she'd likely understand the gesture and the significance behind what he was doing.
"Food's gettin' cold, dumb ass."
Minato's tentative smile shifted into a genuine one, followed by a series of laughs.
Paperwork, paperwork, paperwork.
Mind numbing work.
Why was he doing it again? Ahh yes, to distract himself.
Minato stamped another paper, skimming through the content but ultimately stacking it in the 'Finalized' stack. It was one of seven stacks he had laid upon his desk.
The first was the 'Unfinished', obviously.
Second was the 'Absurd' pile. Created for the sole purpose, or rather excuse, to just not read and completely ignore.
The third pile was his favorite, one he aptly named 'Useless'. Take a good guess at what this pile was for.
The fourth stack of papers was titled 'Conjectures', and this pile was probably the most unique considering it was things that while easily solved and could be implemented/created/solved, he would hear out from outside opinions. Such as Shikaku or Fugaku and even Hiruzen.
The fifth stack was of papers was for everything 'Infracture'... No real reason why it was called that. He had just wanted an extra pile to make odd numbers.
The sixth stack, and it physically painted him to read these, were...
Well, he hadn't actually given this one a name yet. It was demeaning to his pride. Someone, and he likely believed that it was Jiraiya, spread word that he was now a Bachelor.
Now, Minato was a shrewd man. A calculating one and a ruthless one. But he could also see the humor of it and thus, allowed these to exist. If for nothing else, it was actually kind of like a stress reliever and more often than not, humorous. Reading the endearing, but mostly creepy, words of women who fawned over him.
Truth be told, Minato didn't even think he was that attractive. He was a handsome man, of course he believed that, but to the extent that so many woman would willingly go out of there way to send him mail?
Absolutely not.
Some of these letters and papers were more like resumes. Women could be so fucking weird.
The seventh pile was of course, the 'Finished' stack. Where everything that was finalized, done, and complete went.
One would ask, 'Why so many stacks if eventually, you'll just end up completing and finalizing various papers? Wouldn't just three suffice if that were case?'
And they'd be right.
But he was a sociopath. So he did things in sevens like all the other sociopaths.
Speaking of sociopaths, he was supposed to be having a meeting with one relatively so-.
A series of knocks resonated from the door, interrupting his thoughts.
Ahh, just in time.
"Come in." He ordered calmly, finalizing all of his papers and forcefully teleporting them off his desk.
The seal surrounding his office glowed for a moment, signaling that Minato had deactivated it. Not a moment later did the doors open, allowing Minato to gaze upon them.
With a stoic gaze befitting that of the Uchiha Clan Head, Fugaku slowly strolled through the office, offering a nod of respect to his leader before sitting down in the guest chair, just a few feet from the Hokage.
"How's the family?" Minato asked, leaning back in his chair.
Fugaku's stoic features shifted, if only a little, becoming softer as he spoke. "Mikoto works too much... Though, she's finally eating again."
The Fourth nodded his head at his former teammates words. Mikoto and Kushina had been relatively close and her death had affected the Matriarch something fierce.
"And the children?" Minato ventured with a raised brow.
Here at last did Fugaku's stone face crumble. The man rolled his eyes as his posture became somewhat lax, completely unlike him and very much so Not-Uchiha-Like.
"The woman dotes on him too much."
Him obviously being Itachi.
Nominated for Chunin at the ripe age of five years old, beating out Kakashi's own record by one year. Though with the trajectory, Itachi would likely surpass Kakashi in every merit.
"He is still a child." Minato countered with a shrug, leaning back in his chair and reclining it.
"He's seen war already." The Uchiha countered flippantly, leaning back into his own chair while slouching, looking completely undignified. "He'll live."
The Yondaime offered a shrug at his old teammates words. "Not every child sees a battlefield at three years nor are they ending lives at it either."
Fugaku was silent for a moment, arms crossing against his chest as he closed his eyes. "He is an Uchiha."
Minato released a quiet sigh as he spoke. "How long are we going to continue using that excuse?"
"Until the day my clan dies out."
That was probably the best he was going to get out of Fugaku. The man was as traditional as they came, even as children. It was a wonder that Mikoto had proposed first. Even moreso that Fugaku allowed it to even happen. Though, the man was completely smitten with Mikoto, he just never showed it. Something about pride and image.
How very Uchiha of him.
Dropping the subject, Minato motioned with his left hand. "How have those documents been fairing to you and yours?"
Fugaku scoffed as he leaned back in the chair, placing a foot atop the Hokage desk to balance himself from flipping the chair. "If you're asking me, it was damn overdue."
"Careful," Minato warned with a smirk. "Treason talk is met with deadly force."
Fugaku released another scoff as he closed his eyes, responding instantly. "If you wanted me dead, I'd be dead. Don't be an ass, Minato."
A chuckle left the Yondaime as he replied. "Threatening people isn't even fun anymore. You all just accept your fate. Atleast let me have my fun."
"I would quite literally die before allowing you a one-up over me. And that goes double for your happiness."
Minato clutched his chest dramatically. "Even my best friend wounds me so. My wife just died and even you stab me. My life is cruel."
Fugaku peeked an eye open, staring at Minato for just a moment before shaking his head. "Word on the street is you already found a replacement. Want to tell me what the hell you of all people were doing in The Lotus?"
The sound of Minato crashing into the ground reached Fugaku's ears, causing a hearty laugh to escape the Uchiha. Not a second later did the Clan Head find himself also crashing unto the wooden floor.
"You fell first anyway. It's the small victories that truly count, Minato." The Uchiha spoke from his floored position, not bothering to be embarrassed even more at the hands of his old rival.
Minato's face scrunched in annoyance. "How much do you know?"
Fugaku, still not moving from his position on the floor, scoffed loudly. "It'd be better if you asked me what I didn't know. Those Mutts are practically yelling it across the Village. They say Tsume couldn't keep her howls down."
The Yondaime groaned loudly as he rubbed his face, face flaming in embarrassment. He slowly stood to his feet, fixing his chair as he did. "Please, just lie to me. For once in your life, just lie. I won't even be offended."
Fugaku finally deigned to correct his position on the floor. He flickered to his feet, reminiscent to that of a certain Shunshin prodigy, and placed his chair upright. Taking his seat once again, he spoke with a flat expression.
"No can do, Hokage-sama. I'm a Shinobi and a man of my word."
Minato's eye twitched. What a cheeky bastard. "Shinobi lie all the time."
Fugaku shrugged his shoulders with a small smile, amusement painting his face. "Yes, but I do enjoy watching you squirm. It is amazing seeing you finally struggle with something. Aren't you anal? How did you walk into this situation so unprepared?"
Minato's dry expression only made Fugaku chuckle more. "I was drugged." He lied smoothly.
The Uchiha made an 'Ahh' sound. "So you did down seven glasses, huh?"
The Yondaime sniffed indignantly. "Six actually."
"Seven to many, you mean." Fugaku corrected.
Well, Minato wasn't going to argue with that logic.
"Don't use that word."
Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "Which?"
"Anal."
There was silence for a few moments.
"Oh, does Tsume enjoy that as well? I'm not entirely surprised." An Uchiha-like smirk painted the man's face. "You sly dog."
That was a terrible fucking pun. He should Rasengan him in the fucking face.
Minato took a deep breath. And then another. "I'll let that one slide. Only because you saved me when we were Genin."
The Uchiha turned his nose up at the statement. So very Uchiha of him to do so.
Rolling his eyes, Minato finally decided to tackle the real issue. "Tell me, why Itachi and Shisui?" His posture changed swiftly with Fugaku's also shifting. "Do you not realize how precarious this situation already is?"
Fugaku's jaw set as he replied. "Shisui was purposely chosen purely for reconnaissance and extermination." The man leaned forward as he spoke. "Itachi is a counter measure in case the plan deviates out of Shisui's control."
Minato's eyes hardened as he laced his fingers together, placing his elbows on the table and staring directly into Fugaku's eyes. "Shisui is a Konoha Shinobi. Therefore he works under my jurisdiction. I wouldn't have questioned the decision if it was only Itachi."
Fugaku shook his head as he replied, understanding what Minato was conveying. "Itachi does not possess the ability that Shisui does."
Minato's eyes narrowed as he tilted his head. "Explain." Word of mouth stated that Itachi was on track to surpass even Shisui.
Fugaku was silent for a moment, eyes straying to the floor as he pondered his words carefully.
Speaking slowly, he explained. "Shisui's Mangekyou ability... It is a mind-controlling Genjutsu, one that instills fake memories and experiences into the user."
Minato's eyes widened at Fugaku's words. "Are you out of your mind, Fugaku?!" The Yondaime slammed his desk with his fist as he spoke.
"We don't have to risk such a valuable asset for something that can be solved with a blade!"
Fugaku countered immediately. "We are trying to avoid the blade, Minato!" He stressed harshly as he continued. "Say we do spear Danzo? What of the consequences?! We know what the rat is capable of. I am doing this to prevent these circumstances from even happening in the first place!"
Minato rubbed his face tiredly as he replied. "I have several contingencies in place, Fugaku."
"You're not omniscient, Minato! You cannot do everything yourself!" Fugaku fired back instantly. "Something is inevitably going to get by you! If we possess the resources, why are we not using them?!"
Minato understood what Fugaku was conveying and a part of him actually agreed. Allocating resources to solve issues without escalating to violence or death was indeed good however, the issue lies in the principal.
Minato took a deep breath, calming himself down. Taking a moment to massage the bridge of his nose, he spoke slowly. "I can acknowledge, comprehend, and even accept the why and how, however, why would you not bring this to my attention first?"
Fugaku raised an eyebrow. "Oh, I apologize. Let's see..." He proceeded to grip his chin with his right hand, faking a thinking pose. "Hey Hokage-sama, I know your wife just died and that your child is going to grow up without the love of a mother and that he's a Jinchuuriki. I also know you're incredibly swamped with work, sending hundreds of clones out into the village to make sure everything is going smoothly after an attack from an unknown Uchiha member with the ability to control the Kyuubi."
"I see you're also incredibly busy stamping out thousands of documents and reports while simultaneously providing counter intelligence so that the other Major Villages don't try to take advantage of our bleeding country. But you know that Warhawk, Danzo? The psychopathic fanatic who kidnaps and brainwashes children? He's more than likely plotting your death and providing our enemies with vital information that could lead to our destruction and eliminating him would only expedite that process."
Fugaku's expression became flat as he stared into Minato's eyes. "Your plate seemed a bit busy, Minato."
Minato sighed quietly as he glanced down at his desk. "I'm the Hokage Fugaku... It's my job."
"We were blood brothers before the title and that foolish haori isn't going to change it anytime soon." The Uchiha responds firmly. "Let me and my own handle the situation. Shisui and Itachi can't fail."
Minato remained silent for several minutes following Fugaku's words. His eyes were closed the entire time, analytical mind racing through hundreds, if not thousands, of various scenarios pertaining to the situation at hand.
After nearly ten minutes of silence, Minato finally stirred from his mindscape. Opening his eyes, he released a quiet sigh before reaching under his desk and pulling out a piece of paper. He opened a random drawer of his desk, pulling out a small vial of ink and a brush.
Without speaking, he proceeded to inscribe Kanji after Kanji on the paper, creating an advanced seal that Fugaku couldn't hope to understand.
A few more minutes passed by before Minato put his ink and brush away. He inspected the seal, double and even triple checking it, before turning it towards Fugaku and sliding it his way.
"That seal..." The Yondaime spoke, nicking his thumb and allowing his blood to trickle unto it. "Activate it."
Fugaku glanced down at the advanced seal, picking it up and glancing at Minato. "It's a blood seal." He stated moreso than questioned.
"It's a blood seal." Minato mimicked with a roll of the eyes. "Good job, Seal Master. Now, activate it."
Fugaku grunted in annoyance before placing his hand atop the seal and flaring his Chakra. There was a brief poof of smoke followed by...
Nothing?
Before his very eyes, the piece of paper began to burn away, disintegrating and turning to ash. The Uchiha Clan Head furrowed his eyebrows before raising a questioning gaze to the Hokage.
"A precaution." Minato stated mysteriously.
Fugaku's eyes narrowed for a moment as he tilted his head. Something... Something didn't feel right.
It felt like a few minutes had passed by without him noticing.
"A precaution for what?" The Uchiha asked curiously.
"A precaution for what indeed?" Minato countered easily, leaning back in his chair.
"I hate when you do that."
Minato's annoying chuckle grated on Fugaku's nerves.
Tsume hummed quietly to herself, eyes glancing towards Kiba's sleeping form as she pushed her buggy up and down the aisles of the grocery store. She had to stock up on some groceries due to the feast that she had shared with Minato in the morning.
The man had managed to polish off most of the food she had made, complimenting her cooking skills as he did. Flattery had gotten him nowhere though he claimed it to be genuine.
Tsume knew she was a decent cook. She had been doing it all her life. But for Minato to say it was 'One of the best he's ever had'? She didn't buy it for a second. He was bullshitting her.
"Mommy?"
The feral woman stood on the tips of her toes to gaze at her daughter who was seated in the buggy. "What'cha want Hana?" She asked gruffly.
The six year old toyed with one of the packages of meat in the buggy before speaking. "Is that guy with the spikey hair my new daddy?"
Tsume blinked at her daughter's question, slightly taken aback by it. How did Hana know...? She was certain that she had washed Minato's scent off.
"Technically he's my daddy." She quipped with a grin, ignoring the various civilians who made faces due to her answer.
Hana tilted her head as she placed the package back into the cart. "We're sharing a daddy? How's that work?"
Tsume released a gruff laugh as her clawed fingers ran along several items in the shelves. She passed by a few items before snagging several ingredients from the shelf. "It doesn't work. Incest isn't allowed in the Inuzuka Clan."
"What if I want incest?" Hana questioned with innocent eyes.
"Then I'll knock you out." Tsume warned without looking away from the shelves of food.
Hana made a face at her mother's words, crossing her arms against her chest. "That isn't fair! How come you get a new daddy but I don't?!"
Tsume's grin grew larger at her daughter's words. "Tough luck, ya little shit. Life ain't fair. Let yer mom be happy for once."
Hana rolled her eyes as she picked up a can, trying and failing, to read the bigger words on the label. "Auntie says you were real happy last night. She said you were howling like Kuromaru."
Tsume side eyed her child as she threw a few more items in the buggy. "Sounds like Auntie wants her ass beat."
"Can I beat her ass?" Hana questioned with a smile, bouncing up and down in excitement.
"When yer older." Tsume promised with a smile.
"Yes!" The little Inuzuka pounded her fist in excitement.
Tsume was silent for a few moments as she pushed the buggy of groceries. "His name is Minato, Hana." She idly informed, sliding the buggy next to the frozen foods and picking up a few more pounds of meats and placing them in the buggy.
The Matriarch proceeded to lean over the buggy, looking down on her daughter who raised her gaze with curious eyes. "Minato Namikaze." She affirmed.
Little Hana furrowed her eyebrows at the name. "That name sounds fam... famil..." She stuttered several times, struggling to find the correct word.
"Familiar." Tsume aided with a soft smile.
"Yeah that!" Hana exclaimed with a clap. "Fa...mil...iar."
Tsume clasped her hands together, hips gently swaying as she spoke. "Minato is the Hokage. He's kinda like my boss... When yer older, he'll probably be yer boss too."
Hana's eyes widened with all the child-like wonder a kid could possess. "Whoa! He's the leader?! He must be really strong, huh?! When I met him, he seemed pretty weak though..." She trailed off quietly, stroking her chin.
Tsume barked out a genuine laugh as she caressed her daughter's face. "I thought the same thing, baby girl. He seemed like a pussy at first glance but man... He's got a mean right hook."
Hana tilted her head with furrowed brows. "Do you like him?"
Tsume's laughs died down at her daughter's question. She glanced towards the girl, nothing but curiosity in those brown eyes of hers. Pursing her lips for a moment, Tsume pondered the question.
"Yeah... Yeah, I do like him." She finally answered with a smile, stroking her daughter's cheeks and causing the girl to giggle.
Hana smiled at her mother before replying. "Then I like him too."
For some reason, a weight lifted off Tsume's shoulders. One that she hadn't known was there in the first place.
Huh... Who would have thought?
She really did like Minato. He was strong, kind, and an absolute monster in the bed. Those three qualities were all Tsume really needed in life.
Of course, her daughter's acceptance was one of them but Minato was good around kids. If the handful of times he was with Naruto, it was like looking at a different person. Though, she was sure that the guilt ate at him everyday.
He likely didn't believe he was a good father due to his job. So long as he tried, then it didn't really matter at the end of the day, right?
You only have a limited time in this world anyway. It's best to make the most of it.
The issue Minato possessed was that he was incapable of living in the present. It was always 'Go, go, go' with Minato. He was a meticulous man that planned every single little thing in his life. She wouldn't be surprised if he possessed a ritual-esk schedule that he followed every single day.
The man likely had several screws lose. But who didn't? They were Shinobi. It was impossible to do what they did for a living and remain sane.
The woman nodded her head before glancing towards her daughter once again. "Wanna go see yer new daddy?" She proposed with a small grin.
Hana's gaze snapped towards her mother. "Really?! Can we?!"
Tsume smirked with a nod. "Yep After we're done here and get the groceries back, how bout we take a trip to the Hokage's office, eh?"
"Yeahhhh!" Hana cheered loudly, punching her fist in excitement.
Minato needed to learn how to live in the present. Tsume would gladly help with that.
AN: W chain