Family (1)

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That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

1 Corinthians 2:5

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"W-WOOAAAHHH!" 

Naruto marvelled, the sapphire in his eyes shimmering in awe. He couldn't contain his amazement, his jaw dropping as he surveyed the stunning, and meticulous terrain.

The flowerbeds were neatly flanked to the sides and a straight cobblestone path was paved toward the entrance of the house. Compared to the rest of the village which was submerged in snow, this place was devoid of any as such... Well, there are several patches, but the lack of such hints at impeccable cleanliness. 

Observing his nephew's reaction, a smile played Hayato's lips and he patted Naruto on the back. Naruto turned his gaze to Hayato, his blue eyes reflecting the warm, grinning image of his uncle who proceeded, "Come, let's go inside."

Naruto swallowed a mouthful of saliva before affirming, "O-Okay." The duo strolled along the cobblestone path, and Naruto used this chance to register the entirety of the terrain. The youth was genuinely stunned by this development. A bead of sweat traced its way down his temple as Hayato opened the door which creaked in response, and he vehemently announced, "I'm home!"

Shutting the door behind him, both individuals were unveiled in a slender, empty corridor dressed in inviting yellow wallpaper. A console table sat along the side, topped with a flower vase.

An ample tapping sound was heard, and through a cased opening on the other end of the corridor was an augmented shadow, hinting at an approaching figure. Before long, emerging from the other end of the corridor through an archway to the left was a beautiful female. She had glossy black hair tied back in a ponytail, donned a pink apron, obsidian black eyes cradling an infectious warmth, and a warm smile graced her cherry lips. She was none other than Hayato's wife, Uchiha Kaede. She replied in a soothing tone, "Welcome home hone-." 

Kaede's welcoming came to a pause, her smile subsiding, and lips parting in shock as an unfamiliar figure stood beside her husband. Recognising the youth, her lips morphed into a radiant smile, one both beguiling and loving.

Kaede spoke, "Oh my, this is a surprise." Approaching the duo, she kneeled before Naruto at eye level, her crinkled eyes radiating love as she stared right into his eyes.

*BA-THUMP* *BA-THUMP*

Naruto's heart raced, his being captivated by her charm. He inwardly praised, 'So pretty.' 

Placing her palm atop the youth's head, Kaede inquired, "Dear, didn't you say you'll get Naruto next week." 

Hayato snickered, replying to Kaede, "Haha, I wanted to surprise you."

Kaede turned her gaze back to Naruto, tracing her hand down from his head to caress his cheek, a tender smile directed at the innocent youth. Naruto flinched at her touch, evidently flustered, to which Kaede let a playful chuckle.

"He looks a lot more like Minato-san, doesn't he?" Kaede remarked with an all-knowing gaze, her soft tone oozing with a hypnotic charm.

Hayato grinned, "Yeah, but he's got his mother's energy."

"Haha, is that so?" Kaede warmly chuckled.

Naruto noticed that Kaede's eyes, though harbouring deep affection, possessed a lingering melancholy, one that she was keeping bottled within. 

Kaede intoned playfully, "Are you gonna stare at me forever?"

Contrary to expectations, to which she thought Naruto may fluster at her question, Naruto grasped her palm with his hand much to her surprise, and asked, his innocent tone laced with concern, "Miss, are you sad?"

Though he didn't know why, he could discern that the female in front of him was disheartened; an expression he was all too familiar with, and one he could sympathise with. Kaede's eyes and mouth were agape momentarily, but Kaede quickly regained her smile. Retracting her palm from Naruto's cheek, in which Naruto's hand lay on, she placed her other hand atop his, and queried, "Sad? What makes you say that dear?"

After a slight pause, Naruto answered, "Just felt like that, ya know."

With his response, Kaede was reminded of the conversation with Hiruzen yesterday, confirming the exposure of Naruto's status as the vessel of the Kyuubi, and informed of the mistreatment, and the malice the villagers shared. Pondering over the youth's answer, she mused, 'That's no way for a child to think.'

Kaede's eyes momentarily flickered, a subtle sadness crossing them, before she swiftly enveloped Naruto in a warm hug, catching the youth off guard. As she tightened her grip, she reassured him, "I'm not sad silly; I'm just really happy."

With trembling hands, Naruto slowly wrapped his arms around Kaede, closing his eyes, hypnotically besieged by the motherly-like embrace as the whiff of Kaede's perfume entered his nose. He replied in a muffled tone, "Happy?"

Kaede replied, "My nephew is with me, of course I'll be happy. We've been waiting so long for this moment, and we're sorry Naruto."

Immersed in the warm embrace, Naruto shed a tear once again. For the young orphan, today felt like a dream, a dream he had thought was never within reach. It was as though his prayers had been answered. After years of negligence, he finally felt like he belonged. 

To him, crying was a term defining a deep-rooted sadness. However, the tears he shed today were one out of genuine happiness. First, with his uncle, and now, in front of this woman.

Kaede whispered in a soft tone, "Oba-chan and Oji-chan will look after you, you can count on that ya know."

Naruto muttered, "O-Oba-chan." 

"That's right, I'm your Oba-chan," Kaede repeated, rubbing the youth's back supplementing a magic spell that served to ease his concerns, and calm his sobbing. She continued in her beguiling tone, "Don't worry darling."

"Y-Yes," Naruto stuttered in a croaked tone.

Their embrace prolonged, with Kaede rubbing his back, and Hayato merely watched with a smile, a smile that hid his deepened guilt. Soon enough, the muffled noises of Naruto's sobbing ceased, and they remained in the embrace, unmoving... 

"O-Oba-chan, i-it hurts," Naruto struggled to speak, his statement ragged.

"What was that dear?" Kaede raised a questioning tone, unconsciously tightening her grip. Her nephew's struggle went to deaf ears!

"U-Ugh," Naruto grunted.

"What he's saying is..." Hayato interjected, earning his wife's attention who opened one eye directed at him; 

"... You're killing him," Hayato nonchalantly ended his statement.

Kaede's eyes widened, and she abruptly pulled away from the embrace, now cradling the lifeless state of the youth in her arms! His eyes had no pupils, devoid of life with a bubbly foam exiting his mouth. "AHH, NO, NARU-CHAN," she bellowed, slight tears forming by the creases in her eyes.

Hayato sighed, massaging his glabella, "It's fine Kaede, he'll be okay." The man's nonchalance was a testament to his anticipation to this sudden escalation.

However, Hayato's reassurance appeared to have gone on deaf ears as evidenced by Kaede's panicking, who swung Naruto's fragile body like a flag in the wake of a perilous storm.

Unbeknownst to the trio, a spectacled young girl observed the entire scene with a dumbstruck visage, the lens of her glasses reflecting the unfolding events while a bead of sweat formed by the back of her head. She opted for stealth, hidden behind the archway that led into the living room. 

Recognising the familiar intensity of Kaede's hug moments prior, she mulled, 'That's kaa-chan's death grip.' Her glasses reflected the lifeless youth flailing around like a flag in a perilous storm as Kaede relentlessly shook his body. Clasping her hands together in a motion of prayer with a resounding clap, Karin whispered, "Rest in peace."

The world was spinning and started to dematerialise, slowly darkening. Naruto was on the brink of death! The youth rasped, "I-I-I-I'm f-f-f-fine." However, he was unable to voice out loud as Kaede shook his body like a ragdoll.

"Kaede, he's fine," Hayato quipped, facepalming at the fact his silly wife's tantrum may end up hospitalising the youth... Possibly even kill him!

"Oh." Kaede immediately ceased, noticing that the youth's eyes had become swirling lines stemming from dizziness. "Haha," she let out a strained laugh, correcting Naruto's standing posture and patting his outfit. With all the flailing, Naruto's head was throbbing, causing him to slightly stumble, but Kaede managed to keep him straight. 

Kaede intoned, scratching her head sheepishly, "I'm sorry Naru-chan, I tend to be quite idiotic sometimes."

Naruto stammered, raising his hands in a halting motion hinting at his dislike for Kaede's self-deprecated remark, "No, no, it's fine."

In a gesture akin to wiping tears, she grumbled, "I did the same to my poor baby Karin-chan. I need to be more careful."

"Hehe," Naruto chuckled, invading Kaede's tense state of mind. Naruto grinned, "Naru-chan, huh? I kinda like that."

Naruto's grin seemed to radiate like the sun, dispelling the darkness around. Moreover, his image coincided with his mother, and Kaede noticed a strong resemblance. Overcome with surprise at the youth's cuteness, Kaede's eyes took on a puppy-like expression, covered her mouth with one hand and playfully poking Naruto's stomach with the other. "My, my, such a cute child, aren't you?" she voiced in a squeaky tone.

"Hehe," the youth giggled in response.

Kaede stood from her spot, and proposed, "How about we get a move on? We can't just be standing here all day."

"Sure, let's go," Hayato nodded in agreement. 

Naruto scanned his surroundings, adorned in yellow elegance, and something else caught his attention by the corner of his eye. It was a pink haired girl around his age taking cover behind the same archway Kaede had passed through. However, the red-haired girl immediately concealed herself upon eye contact.

"Huh?" Naruto murmured, startled. However, her abrupt action reminded him of the remarks of the townsfolk; 

- Hey, my mum said that kid's a demon! -

- Yeah, don't go near him! - 

- Hey, get away from here! -

- He's gonna pass the curse to us, run away! - 

Awakening him from his stupour was a gentle tap on the shoulder. Turning his head, he met the warm gaze of his uncle.

Hayato inquired, his brows furrowed in perplexion, "Something wrong Naruto?"

Naruto reassured, shaking his head, "N-Nothing, I'm fine."

Though subtle, Kaede noticed a flicker of anguish in Naruto's eyes, pinpointing his emotional influx stemming from behind her. She rotated her neck, meeting with the eyes of a spectacled, young female, who quickly hid behind the archway, but was unable to escape Kaede's visual acuity.

Kaede's lips curled, and she called, "Ah, Karin-chan, come over here."

Kaede's sudden call prompted Naruto and Hayato to look into the distance, yet it remained absent.

Kaede continued, "Don't be shy dear, come here."

Slowly emerging from the other end, the timid girl who hid behind the archway was unveiled, her lips pursed in wariness as she shyly made her way toward Kaede, her hands interlocked in front. She appeared to be slightly taller than Naruto. Kaede draped her arm around Karin, and the children exchanged a stare.

Kaede introduced, motioning with her hands, "Karin, meet Naruto, your younger brother. Naruto, this is Karin, and she will be your nee-chan."

Karin bowed respectfully, to which Naruto, who was new to this behaviour, reluctantly mirrored.

Hayato and Kaede couldn't help but chuckle at this cute interaction. Both children raised their heads, and Kaede draped her free arm around Naruto, bringing both children close to her embrace; "Both of you are so cute," she screeched like a damsel in distress.

"Hahaha," Hayato laughed, his posture akimbo. He too, was unable to deny that this spectacle was endearing.

Suddenly, a bulb lit in Kaede's head, and she insisted, her eyes sparkling in excitement, "How about we celebrate our nephew's arrival over a delicious meal?" 

Hayato supported with a thumbs up, "That would be great." He continued, "Naruto, oba-chan's cooking is the best."

"OHHH!" Naruto exclaimed, his eyes sparkling.

"Ohh, stop it," Kaede blushed, her cheeks reddening as she placed one hand on her cheek, and waved her other hand at her husband in embarrassment. 

Suddenly, Naruto's vision augmented with a blurry effect, and he suddenly found himself observing from a vantage point. Walking along the corridor, Kaede hummed happily, unbothered by the weights pressed on her shoulders. She lilted, "Let's gooo."

"E-Eh?" Naruto stammered.

The youth was alarmed by the sudden motion... Kaede had casually scooped both children with ease, seating them on her shoulders!

"You'll get used to it," Karin said, as though aware of Naruto's thinking. Her nonchalance hinted at her normalcy to her loving, yet bizarre mother.

Naruto replied, "R-Right."