Chapter 395: Satsuki
Uchiha Fugaku felt like the sky was collapsing.
The matter started yesterday during the day. His wife Mikoto had rarely made such a solemn request—today she needed to conduct some "extremely important and private learning" with their daughter Satsuki. No matter what happened, even if Uzumaki Naruto came looking for Satsuki, Fugaku absolutely must help deflect him and prevent anyone from interrupting.
At the time, Fugaku had even felt a hint of relief—finally! His daughter, whose eyes only held that blonde boy and who wished nothing more than to revolve around him daily, finally understood the need to make time for "self-improvement," even learning to "refuse Naruto"?! This was practically historic progress!
This indicated Satsuki's obsessive dependence on Naruto might be developing toward a healthier, more independent direction! Fugaku was extremely satisfied with Mikoto's educational results, feeling the family's future held hope for restoring some normal father-daughter interaction.
However, this relief of "my daughter is finally growing up" was completely shattered late last night by excessively cheerful knocking.
The visitor was Uzumaki Kushina. Her face wore an excited, brilliant smile, that blue dog following beside her.
What puzzled Fugaku even more was that Mikoto showed no surprise whatsoever at Kushina's sudden visit at this hour. Instead, she greeted her with equally nervous, shy yet barely concealed excited and agitated expression.
The two women quickly huddled together, beginning a conversation Fugaku couldn't insert himself into at all.
"How was it, Kushina? Did everything go smoothly?" Mikoto grasped Kushina's hands, uncertain whether from nervousness or anticipation.
"Mm mm mm! Super smoothly! Simply too cute! I saw it with my own eyes!" Kushina's voice was somewhat distorted from suppressing excitement. "They already kissed! Went to Naruto's room! That scene! Naruto was completely led around by Satsuki, looking absolutely pure and innocent!"
"Uu..." Hearing this, Mikoto's face instantly flushed with two patches of red. One hand lightly covered her chest. "That's good then... my daughter... is she really about to completely grow up..."
"Yes! Really thank you, Mikoto! Thanks to you!" Kushina excitedly embraced Mikoto, her voice even carrying a hint of choking. "Are we... are we about to become grandmothers?!"
Fugaku. "..."
He stood there. Every single word those two women's mouths had just emitted—"kissed," "Naruto's room," "led around," "completely grow up," "become grandmothers"—struck hard against this old father's heart.
He saw it, understood it, completely got it.
What "self-improvement learning"?!
This was clearly a long-premeditated "plan" at minimum known and facilitated by both mothers. And his seemingly cool and proud little daughter had actually... proactively offered herself to that blonde kid?!
Moreover, from Kushina's excited, blurred description, the process seemed... quite "smooth"? His daughter even occupied the "leading" position?!
---
"How... how was it? Naruto... he didn't bully you, did he?"
Uzumaki Kushina carefully asked in the gentlest tone. In a deliberately prepared quiet Japanese-style room at the Uchiha clan head's residence, she and Uchiha Mikoto had waited all night, barely sleeping. Finally, shortly after daybreak, they awaited the two "parties involved."
Though their steps were slightly slower than usual, and both faces bore lingering blushes and barely noticeable weariness—Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Satsuki.
At this moment, three women—or rather, two mothers and one girl who'd just experienced transformation—sat together in a circle, conducting this conversation destined for delicate atmosphere.
Each person's face inevitably carried blushes. The air filled with subtle tension mixing concern, shyness, and excitement.
"N-no, not at all," Satsuki hastily shook her head. Her voice was softer than usual, even carrying a hint of mellowness. "Naruto was... very considerate... and, and very gentle..."
She used words like "considerate" and "gentle," seemingly trying hard to describe a feeling of being treasured. But specific details obviously made her too shy to speak, her voice growing smaller and smaller.
Watching her daughter's shy yet seemingly subtly satisfied appearance, Mikoto felt slightly reassured. But as a mother, that deep concern still prompted her to ask the next more direct question.
"Then... how did the first time feel?" Mikoto considered her wording, working to make her voice sound calm. "Do you... still want to continue with Naruto?"
This question was so direct that even Kushina sitting to the side couldn't help releasing a low "wah," instantly covering her equally heated cheeks.
"...Mm." Unexpectedly, this time Satsuki barely hesitated. Though her cheeks reddened like they'd drip blood, she still gently nodded. She seemed to be struggling to find appropriate words to describe, ultimately whispering somewhat clumsily yet utterly honestly. "Very... it really felt very..."
"Felt what?" Kushina and Mikoto almost simultaneously couldn't help pursuing, bodies unconsciously leaning slightly forward.
Satsuki took a deep breath, gathering courage before supplementing in a voice thin as a mosquito's whine. "Very comfortable... and also..."
"Al-also what?"
Satsuki raised her eyes. Those always cool and calm black pupils now rippled with unprecedented, dreamlike moisture. Word by word, utterly seriously, she said:
"Happiness."
This answer contained no excessive sensual description, no complex experience sharing—only the purest, most core emotional summary: happiness.
These simple yet heart-striking two words instantly struck Kushina. She felt so excited her heart might jump out, making her want to immediately roll around on the tatami to calm this excessively surging emotion!
The conversation's atmosphere seemed to relax somewhat because of this. At this point, Satsuki straightened her posture slightly, hands properly placed on her knees. With utmost solemnity, she looked toward Kushina, carefully presenting that request she'd rehearsed countless times in her heart.
"Um... Aunt Kushina... may I... live together with Naruto from now on?"
Finally here! Kushina inwardly exclaimed. She'd been waiting for this question!
"Mm mm mm! Of course you can!"
Kushina immediately nodded like a pecking chicken, face blooming with an incomparably brilliant smile. She grabbed Satsuki's hands, enthusiastically patting them.
"From now on, that boy Naruto is completely entrusted to your care! Really, Auntie thinks you're most suitable! Actually, I've even looked at houses in advance, in Konoha's most prosperous area! You two can live at Naruto's house first. Auntie will move out. You must promise Auntie you'll treat Naruto well! Of course, if Naruto dares bully you even a tiny bit or make you unhappy, tell me anytime. I'll absolutely educate him properly!"
She grew more excited as she spoke, speaking rapidly, wishing she could immediately completely transfer her son's "guardianship."
"Oh right, right! Have you decided when to formally hold the wedding? No rush, but we can start planning! Where do you want to go for the honeymoon? Just say if you need Auntie's help preparing anything!"
Hearing Kushina's series of thoroughly prepared words full of complete trust and entrusting meaning, watching her attitude of wanting to immediately "package up" Naruto and send him to her side, Satsuki's surface still maintained a shy, obedient appearance. Face flushed, she lightly nodded in response with "mm."
But beneath those lowered eyelids, in the inner depths no one glimpsed, intense feelings mixing immense satisfaction, possessiveness being thoroughly recognized, and the exhilaration of "finally being legitimate" silently swept through her.
Kushina's words were tantamount to personally, officially placing her most treasured "possession" into her protective scope.
This unreserved acceptance and authorization gave her possessiveness toward Naruto unprecedented, legitimate "approval" from the elder generation level.
This feeling made her sense deep, solid reassurance and wild joy.
---
"Here, drink."
In another relatively quiet Japanese-style room, the atmosphere proved completely different from the women's subtle warmth next door. Uchiha Fugaku slowly poured freshly brewed tea into the cup before Uzumaki Naruto across from him.
Steam rose hazily, blurring part of the sight between them.
When Naruto instinctively wanted to reach for the teapot to return the gesture politely, Fugaku slightly raised his hand, imperceptibly preventing his movement, completing the pouring himself.
His face showed no expression—neither anger nor joy visible, only calm. But this calmness itself sufficed to make the room's air somewhat heavy.
Naruto accepted the warm teacup with both hands, fingertips feeling the porcelain's delicacy. The blush on his cheeks hadn't completely faded. When his gaze contacted Fugaku's calm sight, he couldn't help dodging somewhat, seemingly working hard to organize language, wanting to say something.
However, though Fugaku's gaze fell on Naruto, his thoughts seemed to drift toward more distant times.
Outside the delivery room, the first time he accepted from the nurse's hands that small, wrinkled infant wrapped in soft swaddling.
Mikoto's weak yet gentle voice sounded by his ear. "Sorry, dear. It's a girl... looks like those names we thought of in advance for a 'son' can't be used for now."
"...It's okay. Since like Itachi, she's a cute girl, I also thought of another name in advance."
"Oh? What is it?"
"Let's call her 'Satsuki.'"
"Ah, 'Satsuki'... is that slightly modifying the Third Hokage's father's name? Why call her that?"
Fugaku fell silent for a moment, considering his words while confirming the expectations he placed on this name.
"'Satsuki' is also an elegant name for 'May.'"
"May is the season when seedlings grow vigorously, when all things are renewed. It symbolizes 'new life full of hope, nurtured after experiencing long darkness and bitter cold.'"
He looked at his daughter's peaceful sleeping face in the swaddling, his expression showing the gentleness and expectation he rarely revealed as Uchiha clan head.
"This is my expectation for this child. Hahaha! Satsuki, don't disappoint this name. Grow up healthy and strong, become an outstanding shinobi!"
Time flowed. That tiny infant who once needed his careful cradling in his palms had now blossomed gracefully, even... just last night, completing a critically important "rebirth" in her life.
Fugaku released a long sigh.
He refocused his gaze on the blonde youth sitting properly across from him, appearing somewhat restless. Naruto seemed to have finally gathered courage, wanting to formally speak.
However, Fugaku broke the silence first.
"You brat... quite impressive."