Chapter III
Kushina hated being at the hospital. It made her think horrible thoughts. Plus, it smelled like antiseptic and death. She did not want to be reminded of what she had to give up of Uzushiogakure, The Land of Whirlpools. And though, she loved the Land of Fire's, expansion and protection of her home, she couldn't help but feel at times her marriage was a bargaining tool for advantage in case of war.
Her husband, Minato, The Fourth Hokage, was late. Naruto's bright eyes were staring at the clock with a mischievous glint and though her tiny hands could not reach far Kushina could tell that her daughter wanted to have her father's attention. No matter how minute.
She wiggled, giggled, and gasped in different moments trying to mimic the clock on the wall. But her attention always went back to the sliding door of the hospital room as they waited for the results of her exam. And her late husband.
The labored breathing of Minato was ignored once he entered the room. Naruto's loud giggles and cries reaching for him.
As he picked up his daughter from his wife he could not stop the small smile on his face. "If only your annoying brother was here." He whispered, as he held her to his chest.
Kakashi, was always doing something other than visiting nowadays.
Kushina laughed. Thinking of the things Minato might do when he finally showed up. The teen had always found an excuse for almost all things that he deemed important. And though, Kakashi, as Minato put it, was having a crisis...Naruto did not need to suffer without knowing her brother -pseudo or otherwise-.
He sighed when he heard her little snores. "It must have been a long day."
Kushina did not speak. She watched as Minato moved around the room. Their daughter in his hands. "It must have been a long day...filled with adventures around the village and your mom showing you the world..."
Naruto stirred lightly.
It wasn't often that Minato was late but Kushina savored this small moment of peace. It allowed her to not think of the words Kurama had told her. It allowed her to have a moment to pretend.
And though, she had yet to tell her husband or Mikoto, she knew that one of these days that her time spent with her daughter would just only be a memory.
A memory that only could be spoken of in small doses.
But even so, her heart, was still beating.
"...Kushina." Minato called.
Her violet eyes widened. "Yes."
"Are you okay?"
She nods. "I'm fine dear. Just thinking."