Naruto: reborn as an Uzumaki

Kenshin and Akane came down the stairs with relaxed expressions, chatting softly as if they'd just finished a casual conversation. Yukari, who was setting the table with the lemon cake Suu had brought, glanced up and asked, "What took you two so long?"

Akane shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, I just had to show this brat something," she said, jerking her thumb toward Kenshin.

Suu raised an eyebrow, curious. "And what might that be?"

Akane smirked. "A gift for someone. For the Rinne Festival," she said, her tone final. "And since it's a gift, I can't say what it is."

"Well, whatever you were doing, it was taking long enough," Ino teased, crossing her arms and grinning mischievously at Akane. "From the time you two spent up there, anyone would think you were up to something."

Akane waved a dismissive hand, her tone casual. "What could I possibly be doing with my little brother? I just had to show him something, that's all."

Ino faltered for half a second before letting out a light chuckle and waving it off. "Fair enough, I guess," she said, though her mind raced.

Kana, eager and cheerful, took the lead in cutting the lemon cake. She made twelve even slices, ensuring everyone got two pieces. "Let's dig in!" she exclaimed, passing the plates around.

The room filled with light chatter and laughter as they enjoyed the cake. Ino, however, couldn't fully relax. Though she kept up appearances, her mind raced.

She couldn't comprehend how Kenshin and Akane were so composed, their dynamic so effortlessly normal and sibling-like after what she had overheard.

There wasn't a hint of awkwardness or guilt between them, and Ino found herself struggling to meet Kenshin's eyes, the memory of his faint moans still fresh in her mind.

And Akane? Ino refused to even think about what she might have been doing in that room with him.

Suu, who had been quietly observing, caught her daughter's subtle unease. She glanced at Ino several times during the conversation, her expression calm but knowing. When their eyes met briefly, Ino gave her a slight shake of the head, silently begging her not to say anything.

Suu's gaze softened, and she offered an almost imperceptible nod before redirecting her attention to Kana, who was enthusiastically talking about her mission tonight.

After a while, Kana leaned forward from her seat, a playful glint in her eyes as she addressed Kenshin. "Ken-chan, can you make dinner tonight?"

Kenshin, reclining casually, smirked and shook his head. "Nope. Why don't you make dinner, Mom? I've been making dinner for years, it's your turn now."

Kana gasped dramatically, clasping her hands in front of her chest. Then, with a soft, almost angelic pout, she leaned closer to Kenshin.

Her big, shimmering eyes looked up at him as she pleaded, her voice sweet and innocent. "Please, Ken-chan? Don't you want Mommy to have a special dinner her big man made with love? Especially before my big mission?"

Her tone, combined with her expression and her naturally childlike charm, was so disarming that even Kenshin, who was used to her antics, couldn't hold his composure. His face turned bright red as he instinctively looked away. "That's not fair, Mom!"

"That level of cuteness… it's not good for my heart," he muttered, his voice flustered. "It's lethal."

Seeing an opportunity, Akane, sitting on Kenshin's other side, leaned in with a similar expression and tone, tilting her head slightly for added effect. "Please? Nee-chan wants a special dinner too, for mommy's big day."

Kenshin turned his head cautiously, glancing at her, but instantly regretted it. Akane's attempt at cuteness wasn't as natural as Kana's—it carried a subtle allure that made her appear more captivating than innocent.

His face grew even redder as he pinched his nose, feeling the telltale sting of an impending nosebleed.

"Alright, goddammit!" Kenshin exclaimed as he shot to his feet, his voice strained. "I'll make dinner! But nobody's allowed to help except Aunt Yukari!"

Yukari rose with a faint chuckle, her hands clasped gracefully in front of her. "Kana-sama, Akane-sama, please don't do that to the poor boy. He could actually die from your 'lethal cuteness.'"

That was all it took for Suu, who had been biting her lip to keep from laughing, to finally burst out, her laughter filling the room.

Ino, however, remained quiet, her gaze fixed on Kenshin as he hurried to the kitchen. The image of him nearly getting a nosebleed after seeing Akane's face refused to leave her mind.

In the kitchen, Kenshin grabbed a tissue and plugged his nose, muttering under his breath as he tried to calm his racing heart. Yukari entered a moment later, a faint smile on her face as she observed him.

"You have it rather hard at times, don't you, Kenshin-sama?" she said softly.

Kenshin sighed, his face still bright red. "You don't know the half of it, Aunt Yukari. The way Mom acts—she's cute, sure, and I love it. But sometimes it's hard to believe she's a real person. It's like she was designed to be cute beyond what should be possible for someone her age. Not even kids are that cute most of the time."

Yukari chuckled, stepping beside him as he rolled up his sleeves and began prepping ingredients. "Well, I think your mother would be delighted to hear that, though it's probably best you don't tell her. She might take it as a challenge to be even cuter."

Kenshin groaned lightly, shaking his head. "Please, don't give her any ideas."

Turning his focus to dinner, Kenshin began mentally listing possible dishes while Yukari quietly assisted, her calm presence a welcome contrast to the lively chaos of the living room.

In the living room, Suu was still trying to compose herself, though her laughter kept bubbling up every time she remembered Kenshin's flustered reaction. She wiped her eyes, shaking her head in disbelief.

"It's not every day you see a son getting that embarrassed because his mom is too cute," she said, still chuckling. "And Kana-san… honestly, it's hard to believe you're the mother of two teenagers. The way you act, it's… actually impressive."

Kana beamed at the comment, tilting her head playfully. "Why, thank you, Suu-san! It's important to keep things lively, don't you think? And besides, Ken-chan enjoys my cuteness too much."

Ino, sitting beside her mother, managed a small laugh, more from Suu's infectious amusement than her own thoughts. She couldn't shake the unease gnawing at her, though. 'How could Kenshin and Akane act so... normal?'

The contrast between their outward dynamic and the truth she had overheard earlier was too much for her to reconcile.

Her gaze shifted to Kana and Yukari. What unsettled her even more was how both of them seemed fully aware of the situation and yet entirely unbothered.

It wasn't just acceptance—it was as if Kenshin and Akane's relationship was the most natural thing in the world to them.

Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Kenshin opened the fridge and took stock of the contents. After a moment of thought, he closed the door and turned to Yukari.

"With this many people, I think hot pot would be the best option," he decided. "It's quick, convenient, and we can make plenty. But we'll need more meat. I'll go out and grab some."

Yukari nodded, already setting to work preparing the vegetables and other ingredients. "Leave it to me, Kenshin-sama. I'll have everything ready by the time you're back."

Kenshin grabbed his wallet and made his way through the living room, casting a brief glance at Kana and Akane.

Both of them smiled at him innocently, as if they hadn't just flustered him into retreating earlier. He groaned internally and hurried out the door.

The butcher shop wasn't far, and Kenshin arrived quickly. The shopkeeper, a middle-aged man with a warm demeanor, greeted him with a polite nod.

"Ah, you're the young man from the Hidden Rain, right? Transferred to the Leaf recently?"

There was a faint edge of caution in the shopkeeper's otherwise welcoming tone, a sentiment Kenshin was used to. The Hidden Rain's reputation still lingered in people's minds. He didn't mind, though—right now, his focus was on dinner.

"I need enough meat for twenty people," Kenshin said simply.

The shopkeeper raised an eyebrow, surprised. "A big party, eh? Well, in that case, I'd suggest you take a bit extra. You don't want to run short with so many guests."

Kenshin considered this before nodding. "Good point. Add enough for five more people, just in case."

The shopkeeper smiled and began preparing the order. "All right, just wait a bit, young man."

A short while later, the man handed Kenshin several large bags packed with beef, chicken, and lamb. Kenshin paid and thanked him before making his way back home, the weight of the bags barely slowing him down.

Back in the kitchen, Kenshin set the meat on the counter and immediately got to work chopping it up. Yukari, who had already prepared the vegetables, smiled approvingly.

"You're quick, Kenshin-sama," she remarked.

He shrugged, focused on his task. "It's nothing. Let's get started."

Once everything was ready, Yukari headed to the living room to let everyone know.

"We're having hot pot for dinner," she announced with a smile. "Please get seated at the table."

Kana clapped her hands together in delight. "Hot pot! That's perfect!"

The others began moving toward the dining area, the lively atmosphere continuing as they chatted and joked.

Ino, however, remained a little quieter, her mind still preoccupied with thoughts she couldn't fully express.

Suu gave her a knowing glance but said nothing, deciding to let her daughter work through her thoughts at her own pace.

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