Mending The Past To A Better Future

Chp 16. Below Surface {Part-2}

+*+*+

Kushina Uzumaki didn't know what was going on between her boyfriend and his student, but the tone in the air had been rather tense since they had figured out that Naruto was most likely an Uzumaki.

Kushina figured that Minato would've been excited for her, for finding someone of her own kin. And while he had certainly seemed so at first, it had quickly changed - though to what, she didn't know.

As for the DNA test, she wasn't certain if Minato's excuse made sense because DNA tests could have been destroyed. But both of them had seemed rather adamant, so she had decided to trust Minato and let him do what he thought was best.

As for Naruto herself... well... Kushina couldn't imagine a better addition to her small family.

Naruto was a lot like her, strangely enough. She had the same kind of facial structure, and for the first time, Kushina stopped to think about if whether or not that was an Uzumaki genetic that they shared. Not to mention, she had sky-high chakra levels and had formerly been a bijuu container.

There were also minor things too, like how Naruto shared a similar verbal tick to her own and had a penchant for pranking.

It was like she was seeing a younger version of herself.

And, she thought gleefully, if Naruto really was an Uzumaki, then Kakashi would eventually become part of the family too with the way things were looking. And although Minato seemed convinced that Shisui had a crush on Naruto, Kushina was still sure of what she was saying.

She hadn't met Shisui more than a handful of a times, but whenever she had, he had been cheerful and bright and very friendly. He was similar to them in that fashion.

Kakashi, however, was completely in his shell. He didn't like talking to anyone or doing anything that didn't have anything to do with training and the Shinobi way. He was distant, even from his team. And it was expected when he had witnessed the tragic death of his father when he hadn’t even been a pre-teen.

However, when Naruto came along, he just acted so different. And Kushina could tell he didn't even notice, nor did he notice that he was feeling the way he was. She could bait him in ways Obito never could, and Minato had told her about the fight they’d had right when Naruto had supposedly gone “missing”. Sure, it had been a lot more harsh than the situation really warranted from two kids, but underneath all their snark and bad mouthing, they genuinely cared.

It was all so cute to witness.

Kushina gestured Naruto and Minato to their seats at the kitchen table before heading for the kitchen. "I think this calls for ramen, right Naruto?" she grinned broadly, and swept out of the room to give them some privacy for their talk.

+*+*+

Minato and Naruto sat across from one another, blue on blue, their firm lip sets matching as they stared at each other.

Her heart was pounding in her chest and slowly rising in her throat through the intensity of his stare.

Kami. He knew. It was so clear to see.

Minato opened his mouth, and Naruto cringed ready to face whatever harsh words he was about to throw at her and-

"Who made you?"

- what?

"What?" Naruto voiced her thoughts, unsure if she had heard him correctly.

"I was so stupid to not have seen. You look exactly like... me. You share the longevity and the ability to sustain serious wounds like an Uzumaki. But I know... I know Kushina and I didn't conceive. Kids are no where close to being in the picture, which only leaves the explanation that someone took our DNA and created you."