the enlightened one (neglected and framed Naruto)

chapter 27

We see Haku returning as Naruto was napping with his kids as she sighed. "I live with babies. All 4 of them." She said with a sigh as she went to the kitchen to make lunch.

She unsealed the scroll as she began crushing the herbs to a powder and turned the stove on. She made hummed a song of a bluebird as she tenderized the meat as well as season the meat. After she placed the meat on the stove, she began making the soup as she swiftly cut down the vegetables. She then grated the herbs into powder as she sprinkled them in.

She soon realized the oil reached the ideal heat and began frying the ox tail. She startled adding seasoning as the aroma promptly woke up Naruto as he took a deep breath to get a deeper understanding of the aroma. 'That is truly a mouth-watering scent.' He thought as she looked to see Haku in an apron as he felt an arrow strike his heart. 'Truly I tell you. If I lose her, it is when both of us die.' He thought as she continued oblivious as she was deep into her work.

He soon sat down quietly as he let her continue. "Is their room for me as well?" He asked as she squealed but glared at her husband. "You could have told me." She grumbled as he smiled, causing her to sigh.

"So is their more for me?" He asked once more as she nodded at the childish nature that he would always express with her. "You seem to be in a better mood." She said as he nodded.

"Yep. After some playing and a little nap, I realized that as long as no one is near my kids, I'll manage." He stated, not knowing the choice that happened earlier with his wife.

"Well, about that. You know how our anniversary is coming soon?" She asked as he nodded.

"Yeah. The day when I proposed to you at the frozen Nation." He said as she nodded. "Yes, well, since we need to store as much chakra and my parents are busy with all the planning for war and whatnot. I decided to hire a babysitter." She said as he nodded, slowly understanding the importance of this coming war, as well as their anniversary.

"Okay, I understand. Which of the Mizu nin are coming to babysit?" He asked as she started sweating a bit as she took out the plates for him and her as well as bowls for their children.

"Well, the thing is. Their is no Mizu nin coming for 2 months, meaning..." She starts as his eyes widen. "No. No, no, no!" He cried as he hit his head on the table in realization as she placed his plate and patted his back.

"Please tell me it's Tenten or better yet, Iruka." He cries as she chuckles awkwardly. "It's Naruko after constantly telling me she can help." She states as he sulked harder.

"Please tell me your joking." He said as she sighed, waking up the babies. "Let's try to be optimistic about it. You are getting the Hokage's child to babysit your amazing children." She said as he sighed.

"Fine, but we have to change plans." He said as she nodded. "I'll be ready tomorrow night for date night in Konoha." She said as he nodded as they began eating.

"Menma!" Shouts Naruko as Him and Minato come down in a hurry to see a beaming Kushina and Naruko. "What happened?" Asked Minato as Menma nods just as confused.

The 2 women smiled and explained what happened when they were finished, the men were shocked. "So you are going to babysit Nii-san kids? When?" Asked Menma as Naruko then froze.

"You didn't ask when?" He said as she nodded a bit sad. "All I know is that it's soon." She said as he sighed at her carelessness. "Well, we should be making dinner it's about getting late." Said Kushina with a newborn fire in her eyes as Naruko nods.

"You think he will forgive us someday?" Asked Menma as Minato shook his head. "Trust takes time to build, and the only thing we can do is be patient." He said hopefully as he nodded, looking towards the females in their family as they excitedly cooked dinner, something that hadn't happened for a while.

"Maybe one day he will be here with us again." Said Menma as they took their seats.

We go to the Hyuga household as Hinata is in her room holding a red scarf. "I'm sorry." She muttered with red eyes as she heard the door opening to see Hanabi.

Seeing her older sister crying, she came in with a hug, trying to comfort her as Hinata. When she calmed down, Hanabi saw the scarf as it turned a bit aggressive.

"You should throw that thing you made for Naruto away. That bastard doesn't deserve to be remembered." She said as this seemed to worsen hinata mentally, but she calmed outside.

"Hai, it's just that." She starts as Hanabi stopped her. "It's time to let go of the past and its decisions and focus on the future." She advised as this simple advice had truth, and she knew it. She stood up, placing the scarf in a small box as she handed it to Hanabi.

She smiled kindly as she handed the box to her. "Thank you for your kind words. You are right. It's time to move forward." She said as this made her grin.

She took the box as she left. "Goodnight nee-san." She said as she closed the door to see her father. "She is better now, but what should I do with this?" She asked as he sighed.

"Put it in storage. That took months for her to make, and it's not our place to dispose of it. Even if it was made for scum." He growled that last part as she nodded, agreeing as she left.

"I still must make arrangements to meet this Ryujin fellow Minato brought. Maybe we can convince him to be a citizen of Konoha bolstering our strength long term." He said in thought as he went to his office to do his head duties.