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She went to bed angry, lying on her back in her nightgown, glaring up at the ceiling, crossing her arms under her breasts. She was so angry, she couldn't even masturbate, even though the heat of her crotch was there, reminding her that she was Uzumaki too. Uzumaki heat, and all that. Stubbornly, she tried to ignore that growing tingling as the night welcomed perverse thoughts to creep into her head. Past encounters with her husband, before he was her husband, when young need made them reckless in public. And even reckless when they were older and he was responsible for the entire Village…

And what recklessness was passed on to their son?

The thought of her oafish boy made her glare harder and turn her head like the ceiling was accusing her. But while she tried to bat the visuals away, they stuck and only became more potent. First, he kissed her; like a man kisses his wife. And then like a man kisses his woman. Harder, and he'd pull her body to him so that she could feel his shaft pressing through the layers of their clothes; layers that impatience and muscle did away with in fitful shreds. She'd normally be in control, but if he was this desperate… No need for pretense. She'd turn around, bend over the bed, and submit to him.

Huffing, letting a moment of useless conflict between morality and arousal go at it, Kushina finally conceded, kicked back the covers, and ushered her desires.

thump-murmur-whisper-thump-creak

Sounds of somebody in the home! Kushina sat up suddenly. Intruders? Unlikely, though Kumo did leave her with some trauma that only Minato soothed in the dead of night. And what home invaders would think to storm in on an Uzumaki household?! Never mind that Naruto was the renowned savior of the known world! The dread of a Red-Hot Habanero serving up mashed tomatoes was spoken even in the frosty peaks of the Land of Iron.

Ever nimble, she kicked and scrambled off the bed, raced to the door, and listened. The movement was still going on; whoever it was didn't seem too interested in stealth, but he – the voice – was definitely whispering. "…like that, tebayo."

Naruto?

Kushina was relieved, but only for a moment. The sense of danger had passed, so now the danger of her could loom. She'd just begun to fantasize, and he'd arrived in time to interrupt her. Probably to sneak in and go to bed after gorging at Ichiraku! She should have investigated! She should have made sure he didn't eat at all! Go to bed hungry and desperate!

Well, I'll show him, tebane! She had on a predatory smirk as she moved out of her room.

She prowled the corridor silently, like a fox with a fox's smirk that Kurama would have commended her on. She reached his door and made for the knob. That habit of not locking doors; it came in handy sometimes. He was just settling in… not even bothering to put himself down with a new pair of her panties. He would not have been disappointed had he gone for one.

She jerked the door open.

"Naruto! What are you doing coming home this late, alright?! Were you at Ichiraku again?!"

She rushed out her words before she could have a chance to fumble them. She couldn't even gauge the situation she had walked in one: Naruto behind Hinata's rump, both of them naked, Hinata on all fours with her pale body suddenly flaring red..

They were… They were…!

"Mom!" exclaimed Naruto, catching the rumpled blanket and swinging it over himself and Hinata. Hinata vanished under the covers, becoming a trembling mass of sheets and shame. "I-I thought you were asleep!"

Normally, her retort would be swift and vicious, probably with an ear pull. But this scene had startled her so and put a stone in her stomach. Was it… jealousy? Longing? Disappointment? She was cowed, stepping back, shivering from her own raging pulse. Her backstep tried to find purchase, but it was uncertain, warning that her knees might give out. "I-I…" She couldn't come up with anything. And then something switched; that maternal instinct. Everything was alright! The world was a kind place! Nothing to see here! She tilted, waving her hand and smiling a fake, joyful smile. "Just let me know when you're done, tebane~"

She closed the door serenely, paused outside it, and breathed out calmly.

…

And then she sprinted as she never sprinted before, with her bottom lip pulled up tight and her eyes focused on her bed. This time, she locked the door behind her.

Heavy minutes of listening to Naruto's and Hinata's rummaging passed.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, hugging her knees to her chest, staring expectantly at the doorknob, Kushina bore the brunt of the night. There was the scramble outside, Hinata profusely apologizing as Naruto chased her around, trying to ease her anxiety. But there was nothing for it. She wouldn't stay and wouldn't be bartered. She'd keep her modesty, humiliation, and manners – "I'm sorry, Kushina-san" and Kushina could even hear the depth of her bow outside her door – and leave to be alone. That wouldn't be the end of her, Kushina was sure of that much. But then, she had also been sure that she'd expect grandkids with pink hair who shouted "Shannaro!"("Cha!") when in combat. But Hinata was fine… and cute. And, of course, she had the best 'traits' that men loved among Naruto's generation.

They couldn't even lift off the bed in that position…

Kushina ducked her head, tried not to think or remember just a handful of minutes ago… actually, hours ago. She'd been sitting and stewing longer than she thought. The images and sounds kept playing in loop in her mind, her attention so rapt on the unmoving door, she actually lost track of time and reality.

Naruto hadn't made to mend the awkwardness. As far as she could tell, he also was holed up in his room, thinking about the disastrous mess made between two women.

Whatever he was doing, he wasn't coming in… even though, at some point – maybe when her arms and legs needed to stretch – she got up, quiet as can be, and unlocked her room. Let him have a chance to come in and explain. She did tell him to let her know when they were done.

Motherhood…

She wondered, then, how Tsume would handle the situation. Belt her lewd son? Praise him for such a fine catch? Leave him be to finish the process? Or would she hop in, giving firsthand instruction? Too perverted, Kushina reprimanded, shaking her head of those perverse fancies. Yet… she had to wonder regardless.

Her wondering had lasted the night and the next day. Not that she was just sitting there, brooding nonstop. She used the restroom, brushed her teeth, did all the things she could in her room, and even slept. She slept well, too, with the blankets still kicked back, hugging a pillow one-armed to her head, snoring and splaying her legs. If not for the unease of waking, it was almost like a relaxing day off…

Until the door finally opened.

Naruto didn't bother knocking. While cautious, he turned the knob, and Kushina – awake at the time and almost ready to break to the heed of her stomach – sat at attention. She shouldn't feel like this when her son was entering her room: anxious, scared, excited, hot. She was like the little girl who was going to be scolded by her father… rather than being the mother who deserved some explanation as to why her son was sneaking Hyuga heiresses in his bedroom.

"Mom?"

Who else? Kushina tried not to look overwhelmed by any one emotion. Her bottom lip stiffened up. She wasn't a complete wreck, at least.

"Naruto," she answered softly. A good start; at least her voice didn't crack, nor did she hurl something at him. He didn't deserve that… The rational part of her thought so, at least. But dwelling on it… She couldn't imagine she'd feel much different if she had walked in on Minato cheating on her.

Naruto stepped inside; the door was barely opened to the breadth of his body, so he sidestepped and closed the door behind him. Kushina inhaled sharply.

"Uh… Heheh." Naruto obviously didn't know where to begin. He didn't feel right saying that he had a girlfriend, because that wasn't what Hinata was. Close and personal, maybe; possibly exclusive to each other's loins. But admitting that to his mother that he'd grown up without.

"Sorry" was at least a start to a conversation, though a poor one. "I-I was having dinner with Hinata, and…" And outside, I started to fondle her. And she was nervous about getting naked behind Ichiraku, so I brought her here.

Kushina scowled, unsatisfied. He could apologize, but she wouldn't accept it. How could Hinata have…?! Kushina fisted and wrung the hem of her nightie. Maybe she should have dressed. She was vulnerable in this thin clothing. Nearly see-through; indecent before her son, though he had hardly the nerve to look at her after that embarrassing encounter.

"I didn't mean for you to see…" He trailed off.

Just as well, for he wouldn't be able to finish when Kushina rushed in with a frantic, "Then why didn't you just lock the door?!" She came at him so fast with the question that she fell forward on her hands, leaning and causing her breasts to jiggle in her gown. Flushing, she brought an arm up to steady underneath them. Naruto probably didn't notice. … Good… She settled back, her face pursed up in a self-conscious scowl. "Really, Naruto. You're so reckless."

Naruto saw the chance for some levity and seized it, laughing in his impish way and saying, "I guess I got that from you!" His reward was a painful pinch to his cheek.

"I was never that careless, tebane!" She growled, twisting her fingers on him until he cried for mercy. Lucky he was her son, or she wouldn't let go. Huffing, she crossed her arms and looked away from him, dwelling on her statement. It was a lie. When the Uzumaki heat hit, she was all sorts of careless, grinning mischievously as she encouraged Minato to take her in all strange and public places. Naruto at least had closed the door; there were times when she couldn't even make sure the latch was made before she jumped Minato's lap.

There was a drawn-out silence between them again, and she thought for a second that he'd just slip back out the door like he had the other night, when she had expected something much more exciting to occur in her bedroom. Her pouty eyes looked up at him as if to make sure he didn't make a move for escape. If they were going to talk about what was going on, they were going to get through it now. She would find out that her rambunctious son, like her, had found a solution to his irresistible urges – which didn't include her – and she would be relieved for him, give him some appropriate, motherly guidance and wish him well with Hinata. Yet somehow, that felt cheap… and felt like she would have been cheated. She had put effort in to having Naruto notice her ever since she discovered his little panty obsession. Hinata, while cute and busty, didn't have the flare to grab a boy's attention!

That was envy surging to the surface, but Kushina at least had the sense to keep it down before she'd blurt out something she didn't mean. Hinata-san didn't deserve her scorn.

Stifling the obvious discomfort of the topic, Kushina asked in attempted-evenness, "Does that mean that Hinata-san is your girlfriend?"

The topic was mutually uncomfortable for both of them. Naruto gestated with his answer, going this way and that, not sure how he'd describe the relationship; at least to his mother. "Well, not really," he said after momentarily chuckling sheepishly.

An answer that earned a mother's rebuke again; same cheek being pinched. "What are you doing, messing around with the Hyuga without honorable intentions! Jeez!" She turned away, letting go of his cheek and folding up her arms again. "You really have picked up bad habits without me around." She furrowed up defensively. "It was that Jiraiya-sensei, wasn't it? Old pervert."

"No, no," Naruto nervously laughed in defense of his late master. "It wasn't Ero-Sennin." Not entirely, at least; his behavior was pretty influencing to a growing, impressionable teen. "It's just…" Naruto looked directly at his mom, and found her looking right back. There was a tense spark between them as she awaited his further explanation. He struggled… struggled to keep his eyes from dipping to the plunging vee of her night shirt. Her folded arms had plumped up her breasts. Her normal daywear didn't accentuate her womanly figure like this – aside from those clinging black spandex that she sometimes wiggled into. His breathing hitched, and he was becoming aware that the unfinished business of Hinata's visit was rearing again.

Kushina noticed a sudden strangeness in his behavior. His settling grin was becoming strained, changing to a wrenching line and his cheeks were beginning to blaze with a passionate pink that highlighted the lines of the Kyubi.

He confessed when the heat started to boil in his stomach. Surrendering control to Kurama's rage wasn't nearly as intoxicating as his. "Sometimes," he gave out in a steamy breath, "I can't help myself, alright."

She knew exactly what he meant. It wasn't like she could control herself for long when she reached that age and imprinted all her lust on innocent Minato. But Naruto was different. Her thighs clutched together. She felt the perspiration at their juncture. That bothersome heat was starting to build; something in the air, in the room. She could tell her nipples were sticking out against her flimsy dress, so she avoided bringing attention there. Her arms slipped down to instead futz with the hem of her gown. Cold? No, hot.

Naruto was sweating.

It was hot…

"Is it… just Hinata-san?" She needed to know.

Naruto looked at her. A look of shame and apology. She knew the answer and swallowed deeply in preparation.

"No."

She couldn't contain herself then. The heat was clouding her sense, distracting her from the 'what ifs' of the immediate future. "Then why…?!" She started, caught herself, and then forced it out. "Then why were you taking my underwear, tebane?!"

Both recoiled simultaneously like a kunai had just swept between them. Naruto couldn't mask his anxiety under a façade of jokes and goofy charm with this. His lips pulled away from his clenching teeth, hissing and stammering. He had been paranoid, like everyone else who indulged in their predilections, every time she cleaned up or asked an out-of-blue question. But this was the real thing! He was found out! Pulse racing but he felt all of himself heavy.

"I…! I…!"

Of course he wasn't going to get anything out right away. Kushina tucked back, frowning but not in anger or disappointment. It was more the look of insecurity of one who did not allow herself to feel insecure anymore. "I found it a few days ago when I was cleaning your room…"

His neck tightened. He knew he shouldn't have risked it.

"And I…" She sealed her mouth shut then. She wouldn't tell him. It was too embarrassing to confess even now. She wouldn't tell him that the panties she was currently wearing, riding up her backside, soaking in her arousal, was meant to be a present; something to thrill him as much as herself. But if he had Hinata…! And others! She became frantic and desperate again, needing to know what was going on! "Why did you take my underwear?! If you…! If you had girls already!"

Naruto waited, steeling his nerve. His gaze was downcast, ashamed. At his sides, his hands were grabbing at his trousers. And, though she wanted to keep eyes locked, she noticed the anxious lump pushing out against his right pantleg. He's just nervous, alright. It-it doesn't mean anything. She forced her eyes to remain at his. She couldn't be the vulnerable one here.

The fists pushed down, away from his pants. He'd found that certain resolution; the 'tough choice' to be honest. Really, he was caught, and he wasn't about to throw blame at Hinata or Sakura-chan; neither had anything to do with his panty raids. "Because," he started, and then trailed off. It was harder to commit. She wasn't any distance away from him, so near he could reach out and touch her… or grab her. "They… They were…!" His lips suddenly came together, smooshed tight like a pufferfish.

Kushina couldn't believe it. Her draw started to drop as it dawned on her mind. Jiraiya-sensei behaved very much the same way when she caught him doing something perverted like this in her panty drawer. She asked him the same question she had just asked Naruto: If you have others, why mine?! Their answer was identical: "Because… they're yours."

Jiraiya received the beatdown of his life for that response. But for her own son to admit it like that. She felt far from upset. She felt… flattered… and relieved. All that pining without reciprocation; Naruto was just dense, not uninterested. Her woman's intuition was just as keen as ever!

She understood the gravity and what it meant to Naruto to have confessed. She had to let the room breathe for a moment, calm down from his revelation. So instead of contemplating, she made a play for levity like her son. "Is that so? You get your good taste from your father, then!" Kushina's tone changed back quickly enough, unable to keep up the façade of jest and lightheartedness.

Naruto wasn't sure that joking in their current situation was appropriate, and not when he delivered such a taboo bombshell. But there was no denying it: she was drop-dead gorgeous, and he had told her so repeatedly in their ephemeral meeting. At first, it was giddy butterflies at finally meeting her. But that effect quickly transpired to hard lust and desire. He quenched what he could with Sakura-chan and Hinata. But there was just something he was not getting from them, and that was her; Uzumaki Kushina.

And here she was now. Now that she hadn't erupted in a burst of rage and contempt – which would have likely left him in the hospital with a concussion and amnesia – he had a chance to acknowledge her form. His mouth shut as his eyes went over her form. No, this gown did nothing for his imagination. Every curve and supple swell were right where the gown showed it. Her clothes thighs held onto the gown, pinching it toward her groin – the only part of her left mysterious. He knew right where her nipples were; he could reach out and pinch them if he was in the mood to get a serving of smashed tomato. But there they were, sticking out from her chest.

Kushina wouldn't pretend not to notice his objectifying gaze. That he was so bold to do so, after confessing his predilections, was a testament to how desirable she was to him. She could grant him a reward for that courage and flattery.

Or else, they would be wasted.

Kushina behaved very much like Hinata, tucking her chin in and looking at him with big, doe-like eyes. He couldn't appreciate the rest of her when she was looking up at him so vulnerably, so intimately. "Would you… like to see something I got for you yesterday?"

He blinked. The last thing he was expecting at a time like this was a gift! But a gift from his mother – growing up an orphan – was something he always wanted. True, she gifted him here and there with clothes or the occasional – very occasional and restricted – coupon for free Ichiraku. But right now, this seemed like it would be a very personal gift, very meaningful. He didn't know what to expect, because there were also times Sakura-chan would draw him in with kindness before giving him a royal beatdown.

He nodded. She blushed, prepped herself mentally, and leaned back, splitting her legs carefully and showing him her sexy panties...

His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

ccc Epilogue; a week later ccc

"I'll take some leeks and cabbage, alright!" said Kushina merrily to the grocer, who just as merrily met her order and asked if she was taking good care of Konoha's finest hero. She giggled to herself with a proud blush. "You bet! Still trying to balance out his diet, though!" No secret that Naruto was a glutton for Ichiraku and ramen; she and the grocer laughed. And when the transaction of patronage was done, she moved to other shops and groceries in the market, prepping for another fine meal at the Uzumaki house. She seemed so very excited and relieved, unlike the trepidatious little mouse she had become when she carried those woes for her son's perversions.

It was balancing out… maybe.

"Ah!"

Kushina stopped, her smile vanishing from her face as she heard the frightened gasp and came face-to-face for the first time since the incident with Hyuga Hinata. The shy girl trembled – Poor thing. – and looked like she was about to break down and cry in front of Kushina. However, she composed herself and gave a respectful bow to the Uzumaki matriarch. "G-good morning, Kushina-san!" "I'm sorry" were the spoken undertones of her entire demeanor. She carried shame and disgrace for what she had been caught doing with Kushina's son.

Kushina stared at her for a long moment, like she was thinking what should be done with this Hyuga harlot. Slowly, she approached, and with her head still bowed, Hinata prepared for a mother's scorn, whether by tongue or by the cold dismissal she had become accustomed to by her father as a child. She was not expecting Kushina to pat her shoulder, nor was she expecting to be met with a warm smile by the beautiful redhead.

"Please take care of Naruto, Hinata-san, alright," Kushina said with sincerity and warmness.

Hinata, who was supposed to nod and be grateful for this blessing, just stood in wide-eyed shock. And that was enough for Kushina, who giggled in passing and went to finish her shopping.

A good reaction. Tsume, watching Kushina from within the crowd, could smell the change of the Uzumaki. She wouldn't be bothered by her for advice for her indecision anymore. And that should be a good thing. The mother was there for the son in their heat. That should be enough.

Tsume turned away, a subtle smirk on her painted lips, and began her own grocery shopping.

ccc The end. ccc