Chapter 27
In the serene forest that bordered the village of Konoha, Kushina Uzumaki demonstrated impressive skill. With Naruto in her arms, she manipulated the sand contained in a jar with a grace and control that defied expectations. The sand danced in the air, forming complex patterns that shone under the rays of the sun that filtered through the tree canopy.
Mikoto Uchiha watched, amazed by her friend's ability. "You really do have the kekkei genkai for magnetism," she commented, almost in disbelief at what she was seeing.
Kushina smiled, not taking her eyes off the sand that was now returning to the jar. "Yes, I am impressed with myself," she said, maintaining her usual humility.
"Are you hungry?" Mikoto asked, knowing they were on their way to the village and that lunchtime was approaching.
Kushina laughed, a mischievous sparkle in her eyes. "Me? I'm always hungry when it comes to ramen," she confided, thinking of the dish she loved so much.
Mikoto confirmed with a smile. "Yeah, I know."
The two women continued on to the village, chatting and laughing while Naruto watched everything with curious and attentive eyes. As they passed by a group of children playing nearby, one of them, through recklessness or malice, threw a stone in Kushina's direction. Without any conscious command, the sand from the jar moved quickly, forming a protective shield in front of her face.
The child who had thrown the stone screamed, pointing at Kushina with an expression of fear and anger. "Monster!" Other voices joined in, echoing cruel words that pierced the air.
The children, seeing the sand move as if it had a will of its own, let out cries of fright and began to run in all directions, wanting to get away from that display of power they did not understand. In a few moments, the area around Kushina and Mikoto was empty, with only the sound of nature filling the space once occupied by the children's voices.
Mikoto, still with a worried look on her face, turned to Kushina. "Are you okay? And Naruto, is he okay?" she asked, looking at the little one in her friend's arms.
Kushina, verifying that Naruto was still peaceful in her arms, replied with a gentle smile. "Everything's fine, yes. We're not hurt," she said, and then added with her characteristic enthusiasm, "Come on, I'm really hungry. We need to hurry up and eat that ramen!"
Mikoto, however, was not completely convinced and resumed the question with an even more concerned expression. "But are you really okay? Those kids... What they said..."
Kushina paused for a moment, looking at the path the children had taken. "Ah, Mikoto, I'm quite alright!" she declared, shaking her head as if to dismiss any concern. "I'm used to the prejudice for being different, but this..." she took a pause, "I didn't expect they would react like this to what I did. But, you know? We're always learning new things, aren't we?"
She winked playfully at her friend, as if challenging the world with her own resilience. "Today I learned that I can be a great mother and an incredible protective ninja at the same time!"
Mikoto couldn't help but smile, infected by Kushina's strength and positivity. "You're amazing, Kushina," she said. "Let's go then. Ramen has never sounded so good."
As Kushina and Mikoto walked away from where the children were, murmurs of disapproval began to spread among the villagers. Unpleasant phrases were whispered from one person to another, some of them reaching Kushina's ears, and with each step, she seemed to carry the weight of those words.
"Monster...", "That woman is dangerous...", "To think that she's close to our future Hokage...", the whispers continued, growing more cruel and audible.
Mikoto, with her sharpened perception skills, quickly noticed what was happening. Feeling the injustice and unjustified hatred directed at her friend, her friendly disposition was replaced by an expression of contained fury. "I'm going to tell them to shut up," Mikoto said, her voice low but filled with a dangerous warmth. "It's not right to talk like that, even if you are Minato's wife, they have no respect."
Kushina, noticing the shift in her friend's mood, placed a hand on Mikoto's arm, offering a reassuring smile. "Mikoto, no," she said softly. "It's not worth it. Words only have the power we give them, and I choose not to give any strength to these. Let's just keep going on our way."
Mikoto looked at Kushina, awed by the strength and serenity she exhibited even in the face of such harsh judgment. The anger in Mikoto faded, replaced by an even greater respect for her friend.
Kushina, changing the subject as one leaves behind the dust of a traveled road, smiled and said, "You know, I'm thinking of trying something different today. Maybe a miso ramen instead of my usual tonkotsu. A change in flavor can be interesting, don't you think?"
Mikoto laughed lightly, relieved by the change of topic. "Definitely," she agreed. "A little change is sometimes exactly what we need."
The walk to the ramen stand was quiet, with Kushina and Mikoto lost in their own thoughts. Kushina's determination not to let the venomous words affect her was palpable, but Mikoto still simmered inside with the desire to defend her friend's honor.
Finally, they reached the longed-for destination. The aroma of pork bone and miso broth greeted them, a reminder of normalcy on a day that had been anything but. The sight of the humble establishment brought a welcome smile to Kushina's lips.
"Hey, Ramen Uncle!" Kushina called out enthusiastically, trying to leave the previous events behind. "I feel like trying something new today. How about a miso ramen?"
The stall owner, a middle-aged man with a kind smile and warm eyes, looked at Kushina and nodded his head. "Of course, Kushina-san! Coming right up. Please, have a seat," he replied, turning his attention back to the kitchen.
Mikoto, still with a shadow of concern in her gaze, sat down next to her friend and ordered the usual, a classic shoyu ramen, something that always comforted her on colder days.
It wasn't long before their dishes were ready. The ramen uncle served them with a smile, wishing them a good appetite. Kushina thanked him and, with the innate skill of a multitasking mother, began to eat her miso ramen with just one hand, while with the other she held Naruto firmly in her lap.
The first spoonful brought a look of contentment to her face. "It's very good," she murmured between bites, but then, without warning, tears began to stream down her cheeks.
Mikoto, who had started to enjoy her own plate, called out to Kushina with concern. "Kushina, what's wrong? I know those tears aren't just because of the food," she said with a soft, yet firm voice.
Kushina tried to smile through the tears, not wanting to worry her friend further. "Ah, Mikoto, it's just that... sometimes, the pressure of being who I am, of carrying so much... it weighs down," she confessed, lowering her eyes to little Naruto, who slept peacefully, oblivious to the emotional burden his mother carried.
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