[Chapter Size: 2100 Words.]
Third Person POV
Konoha, Year 41.
...
...
The sound of birds could be heard outside Minato's apartment as he woke up drowsily in his bed, shared with his fiancées, despite not having had any intimate relations.
Mikoto was sleeping peacefully in her corner, while Kushina, sprawled on the bed, was almost drooling on Minato's face. For Minato and Mikoto, it was refreshing to finally sleep more than five or six hours, as they had been used to during the war. The sun was already illuminating the entire village by this time.
He got up calmly, gently moving Kushina away from him to get out of bed.
"Minato..." she murmured in her sleep, probably dreaming, as she pouted as if kissing someone.
He disappeared without physically leaving the bed, using his teleportation technique to arrive in the kitchen.
"You're already awake?" Mikoto commented, rubbing her eyes, which caused Kushina to wake up as well.
Minato shrugged as he started preparing something for them to eat. However, he noticed that there was nothing left in the kitchen shelves since he had removed all perishables to prevent spoilage. Fortunately, he had a few supplies left in his storage scroll, which he placed on the table to prepare breakfast.
"Hmmm! Minato's breakfast!" Kushina exclaimed, jumping with joy at the thought of eating his food again. She rushed to the kitchen, laughing and running, while Mikoto walked in much more calmly.
"And you, Tsuna, you've been there for the last two," Minato said, looking toward the window as the two women returned to the kitchen. Tsuna appeared, opening the window as she climbed inside.
"So, you knew I was here the entire time..." Tsuna commented.
"Of course I did, but I was asleep, as you probably noticed," Minato said with a grin. "And what exactly were you doing here?" he asked.
Her eyes widened, a slight blush appearing on her cheeks.
"I..." She seemed a bit lost, feeling the gaze of Mikoto and Kushina on her. Gathering her courage, though still embarrassed, she blurted out, "I came to check if you didn't do anything inappropriate!"
"..."
Mikoto, Kushina, and Minato all fell silent upon hearing that, until Minato couldn't hold back any longer and broke the silence.
"Hahahaha!" He burst out laughing, clearly amused.
"Stop laughing! I had to check!" Tsuna exclaimed, her embarrassment growing. Still, Minato's laughter seemed to lift her out of the gloom she had been feeling the day before.
"Were you trying to spy on us, Uchiha?" Mikoto asked with a sly smile, resting her hand on her chin as if enjoying the situation.
"You—Uchiha!" Tsuna stammered, unsure if she could feel more flustered.
"Well..." Kushina spoke up, her face turning progressively redder. "Maybe I did steal a few kisses..." she admitted softly.
"You were dreaming. I saw it all," Mikoto commented in a neutral tone.
"That's not true, dattebane!" Kushina jumped out of her chair, planting her feet on the table and pointing a finger at Mikoto.
"Could you all stop making a mess? This is my kitchen, and I want respect here," Minato said firmly as he lit the stove to prepare coffee and cook something.
Everyone fell silent, and Kushina slowly sat back down. Tsuna joined them at the table.
"So, what are your plans for today?" Tsuna asked.
"We could go to the beach!" Kushina suggested enthusiastically.
"No way... I doubt we can do that right now," Minato replied.
"I can't leave the village, even with teleportation. My father will soon start looking for me since I haven't returned to the clan..." Mikoto added.
"Speaking of that, is the Uchiha clan's prodigy really going to fight me?" Minato asked as he stirred the omelet.
"Who are you fighting?" Kushina asked, surprised. She hadn't heard of any such challenge, as Minato hadn't mentioned it in the letters he sent her.
"Minato challenged the clan's favored heir to become the Uchiha chief..." Tsuna explained.
"Really? Why?" Kushina asked in shock.
"Because he was supposed to be my fiancé. But I decided to be with Minato, the one I love, and I defied my father. Minato also said he would fight the entire clan to protect me," Mikoto stated with a wink at Kushina.
"Seriously?!" Kushina exclaimed, turning to Minato for confirmation.
"..."
Minato simply shrugged.
"But I doubt they'll let it go after what you did in the Raikage's fight. Even my father hasn't said anything since then. It seems he's recognized your strength, Minato. But I doubt the clan will just accept this. I'll probably be expelled, and I'll have to remove the Uchiha name and symbol. After all, I doubt the clan elders will allow this marriage," Mikoto said.
"And you're okay with that?" Tsuna asked, a bit surprised, as was Kushina.
"I chose this, fully aware of the consequences. Besides, do I really need to use the Uchiha name anymore?" she asked calmly, resting her elbows on the table as she spoke with a serene tone.
"..."
Tsuna and Kushina remained silent while Minato approached with the food, placing it on the table for them.
"You can eat now. Save the conversation for later," he said as the three girls couldn't resist and started eating Minato's much-desired food quickly. Mikoto, however, was more accustomed to his cooking and ate at a steadier pace, remaining calm, unlike Tsuna, who was more reactive, or Kushina, who was hyperactive.
"Hmmmmm," Kushina closed her eyes as she savored the food.
Minato put away the kitchen utensils and joined them at the table, calmly grabbing his omelet with bacon and eating quietly.
They stayed there for a while, until a knock was heard at the door.
"Who is it?" Tsuna asked as she ate.
"An ANBU," Minato commented, sensing the person's attire on the other side of the door through his haki.
"I'll see what they want," Minato said as he stood up and went to the entrance, where he found the masked man waiting.
"Minato Namikaze, the Hokage requests your presence tonight. Please report to his office as soon as you can," the ANBU said before vanishing.
"Already..." Minato muttered, scratching his head as he closed the door.
"I thought the ninjas would be summoned in three days..." Tsuna commented.
"I believe the Hokage is calling all camp leaders for a meeting. I'll have to deliver my report to him personally," Minato explained.
"In any case, there will be more Shinobi arrivals in the village. Should we go see them?" Kushina asked.
"We can, but I'd also like to see the village again," Minato said, and everyone nodded in agreement, finishing their meals before beginning their day's activities.
Meanwhile, in the Hyuuga Clan.
Hanabi rose from her futon, preparing for the day. She swapped her sleeping attire for a dress and, after washing up, headed straight to the kitchen, where her grandfather was waiting for her.
"You're finally awake, my granddaughter," he greeted calmly, his face marked with age and his eyes bearing the distinctive Hyuuga white.
"Grandfather... I'm sorry I got back so late yesterday. I didn't even get to speak to you..." she said softly.
"It's fine... I know you were with your team. But the clan won't be happy about that," he commented as he poured tea for Hanabi.
"I know..." she murmured, sipping her tea calmly.
"I'm glad you're well. How was the war? I've heard some things... about you and that boy from your team," the old man said.
"Yes... we saw many comrades fall... but we grew stronger and did our part," Hanabi responded solemnly.
"Indeed... war is bloody. It must have been similar to the First Great Ninja War, where I fought... I lost so many comrades. My brothers and parents died fighting to protect the main family," he recounted, his voice heavy with memory.
Hanabi remained silent, lowering her head as she listened.
"About that..." she murmured hesitantly.
"You'll soon have to serve the main family, Hanabi. It's tradition..." he said with a firmer tone.
Hanabi instinctively shrank at those words. In the Hyuuga Clan, once a member reaches a certain age, they are required to serve the main family, leaving their teams to form squads that exclusively serve the heirs, leaders, and elders of the clan.
"But you're only fifteen... so you have a few more years before you need to worry about that," he added at the end, though his tone remained stern. He understood the obligations of the clan, but Hanabi's reactions and doubts concerned him. The main family could easily see her as someone needing stricter discipline, and activating the Cursed Seal on her forehead was always a looming threat—a pain that was impossible to forget.
"I know, Grandpa..." Hanabi muttered, sounding a bit downhearted.
"Besides, I recommend you stop using the bow style. The clan already knows about it, and there are rumors of a Hyuuga fighting with a bow. No matter how talented you are, they won't allow anyone to deviate from the traditional Hyuuga teachings that the clan has preserved for centuries," he said.
"But Grandpa..." Hanabi clearly didn't like hearing that. After all, she was very skilled with her style, and abandoning it would weaken her potential.
"You can't, Hanabi! Stop insisting on this!" Her grandfather suddenly erupted, his voice loud and stern, surprising Hanabi as she clenched her fists.
"Sorry about that..." He broke the silence again, his tone calmer now as he looked at his granddaughter. "It's just that the clan is rigid, and you could face serious punishment. They won't tolerate your bow any longer. They see it as offensive that a clan member would stray from the path the rest of the Hyuuga follow," he explained, his concern for Hanabi evident despite his strict demeanor.
"I understand..." Hanabi murmured, though in truth, she didn't fully understand. She felt confused and unsure of what to do.
'I'll fight the Hyuuga clan if they don't accept it, I promise.'
Minato's voice echoed in her mind. She remembered that she hadn't even wanted to use a bow at first—he was the one who introduced it to her. She wondered if he was serious about that promise, if he would really challenge the Hyuuga clan the way he did with the Uchiha for Mikoto.
'No, I can't let him make another enemy... Besides, I'm not his fiancée like Mikoto...'
The sad thought echoed through her mind.
"I don't know what you're thinking, Hanabi... but just know that I want you to be safe. You may be summoned to meet with the elders soon," her grandfather said in a serious tone, feeling helpless in the face of the clan's authority. He knew how much pressure the clan could place on the only family he had left.
"Why? Is it about my bow style?" Hanabi asked.
"Unfortunately... yes. It's hard to say this, but you stood out too much during the war. The rumors have spread, and even the clan is talking about it. You not only use a bow, but many have witnessed your capabilities. Your team's reputation has grown, and Minato Namikaze's name is being heavily discussed in the village. That includes your team... and it's overshadowing the heir of the main family. The elders aren't happy about it. A member of the branch family gaining more recognition than those of the main house... that's something they won't tolerate," he murmured.
"But that's not fair..." Hanabi murmured, unable to believe what she was hearing. She had done her part in the war, fought alongside Minato, and developed a powerful style. Now her clan wanted to take away her strength, her team, and her pride—throwing it all away just because she wasn't born into the main family?
A hollow feeling began creeping into Hanabi's chest. It was a familiar emptiness she hadn't felt in a long time... not since her academy days, when Minato had shown her a new path. A time when she made friends, laughed for the first time, and had fun, forgetting the fate sealed for her by birth.
"I can imagine what you're thinking, Hanabi... I was once the same way," her grandfather murmured, seeing the dark aura that surrounded his granddaughter. "But this is our destiny. We were born to serve the main family. You'll understand that in time," he said, watching Hanabi rise from her seat.
"I understand... I'm feeling a bit unwell. I'll go to my room," Hanabi said in a dry tone as she walked away.
"Forgive me, my granddaughter... but this is our destiny," her grandfather said softly to himself.
In his mind, it was this or death. The clan would eliminate Hanabi if she resisted too much. He preferred she return to the clan's customs—so long as she stayed alive.
-------------Nexts Chapters ----------------
Chapter 206 - Celebration.
Chapter 211 - Hanabi Hyuuga 01.
Chapter 221 - Escorting the Fire Daimyo.
Chapter 230 - Jinchuriki of the Nine Tails.
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