Morning.
Makoto didn't go to the Hokage's office today.
Instead, he sat on the sofa at home, reading a magazine and sipping the tea Ayano had brewed.
"Kushina isn't feeling well? She still hasn't gotten up," Ayari said, looking at Kushina's tightly shut bedroom door.
On any other day, no matter how lazy Kushina was, she wouldn't stay in bed this late.
Ayari even suspected that Makoto had worn her out last night.
Makoto calmly put down his teacup and said, "She's pregnant."
As soon as he said that, the women in the room froze in place.
Then, Makoto added, "It's mine."
Ayari was the first to react.
She rolled her eyes and said, "No kidding. If it weren't yours, that'd be a real problem."
She sat across from Makoto, picked up the teacup he had just drunk from, and took a sip herself.
Even though she had mentally prepared for this, now that the moment had come, she still felt a little unsettled.
Seeing Makoto sitting there leisurely, flipping through a magazine without a trace of worry, she inexplicably felt annoyed.
She got up and kicked him.
"Kushina's pregnant, and that's all you have to say?!"
"If she's pregnant, then she'll have the baby," Makoto said matter-of-factly.
Just then, Mikoto arrived.
These days, except for not staying overnight, she spent most of her time at the Hokage's residence.
Seeing Ayari fuming, she asked, "What's wrong?"
Ayari huffed, "Ask him!"
Makoto replied, "Nothing much. Kushina's pregnant."
Mikoto: "..."
Makoto added, "Now that both of you are pregnant, at least it'll be more convenient for you to keep each other company."
Mikoto: "..."
Ayano glanced at Makoto but remained silent, continuing with her own tasks.
The women in the house all understood what kind of person their Hokage was, so news of Kushina's pregnancy didn't come as much of a surprise.
They all saw it as something natural and expected.
Except for Ayano. She glanced at her own belly and let out a silent sigh.
Mikoto hesitated for a moment before saying, "I'll go check on Kushina."
With that, she walked to Kushina's bedroom and knocked on the door, but there was no response from inside.
"Kushina, it's me. I'm coming in."
Kushina was lying on her side with her back facing the door.
She had fallen asleep in her clothes.
When Mikoto approached, she noticed that Kushina's complexion looked off—her eyes were red and swollen, as if she had just been crying.
Mikoto froze for a moment before silently leaning over the bed.
At that moment, Kushina seemed to be murmuring in her sleep.
"It's not like that, Minato… It's not like that, Minato…"
"I'm sorry, Minato…"
Mikoto let out a silent sigh and reached out to gently caress Kushina's face.
But the touch startled Kushina awake.
She instinctively shifted further into the bed, away from Mikoto.
Mikoto quickly reassured her, "It's me, Kushina, it's me!"
Kushina focused her gaze and, recognizing Mikoto, finally relaxed.
Her hoarse voice broke the silence. "Mikoto…"
She lay back down, curled up, and pulled the blanket tighter around herself.
After a brief hesitation, Mikoto said, "You didn't sleep well last night, did you?"
"..."
Kushina didn't respond.
Mikoto assumed she was feeling down after finding out about her pregnancy.
Having known each other for so many years, Mikoto understood all too well the kind of relationship Kushina had with Minato.
After a long silence, Kushina suddenly spoke.
"Mikoto."
"Hmm?"
"What… does it feel like to be a mother?"
Mikoto considered her words carefully before letting out a soft chuckle. "When I was pregnant for the first time, I felt a mix of emotions—joy, fear, anxiety… all of them. Pregnancy is a long journey, full of hardships and suffering. I was often angry and unhappy… But the moment I laid eyes on my child for the first time, I felt that everything had been worth it. The joy my child brought me was unlike anything I had ever experienced. It was completely different from the feeling of love for a partner. Even though our time together was short, I felt like I could give up anything for my child."
However, after hearing her words, Kushina asked, "Then now… for the child in your belly, have you ever hated it?"
Mikoto was taken aback and looked at Kushina's back. "Kushina, you…"
Kushina's throat was sore, and her voice came out hoarse. "Mikoto, don't you hate it? It's taken away the life you used to have. Mikoto, you were happier before, weren't you?"
Mikoto remained silent for a while before responding, "Kushina, children are innocent. Everything that led us to this point was the result of our own choices."
"Innocent…" Kushina repeated the word, finding it unbearably ironic.
Minato had loved this village dearly, devoting himself wholeheartedly to protecting it—was he not innocent?
She had only wanted to save Minato, never intending to hurt anyone—was she not innocent?
And yet… what had become of them?
She placed a hand on her abdomen.
It was still too early to feel anything, and her stomach remained as flat as before.
It was hard to believe that a new life was already growing inside her.
"Mikoto… You and I, we have to live on."
"We have to give birth to these children and raise them well."
Mikoto smiled at those words and nodded. "Of course."
She thought Kushina had finally come to terms with it.
But Kushina remained motionless, staring blankly at the bedding.
She was carrying his child.
Minato, you must hate me so much.
It's okay, Minato.
Just give me a little more time… Just a little more time…
Kushina slept until the afternoon.
During that time, Mikoto came out of her room and told everyone that Kushina hadn't rested well the night before, so no one disturbed her.
When she finally got up, she freshened up on her own and came out wearing a beautiful dress, looking much better than before.
"I'm hungry."
Ayari said, "We saved lunch for you. After you eat, let's go to the hospital for a proper checkup. Mikoto's going too."
Kushina nodded knowingly. "Alright."
She neither cried nor made a fuss, nor did she show any negative emotions.
Makoto watched her figure as she walked into the kitchen, lost in thought.
Meanwhile, Ayari, Mikoto, and Natsu were discussing potential names for the future children.
Hearing them, Makoto said, "No need to discuss. Kushina's child will be named Naruto."
Ayari frowned. "Naruto? What a strange name. It sounds like a ramen ingredient."
Makoto replied, "Kushina wants to name her son that. Show some respect."
Ayari sighed helplessly. "And if it's a girl?"
Makoto simply said, "It won't be. It's definitely a boy."
Ayari could only move on. "What about Mikoto's baby?"
Mikoto also looked at him curiously.
Makoto glanced at the three women. "What names do you have in mind?"
Ayari: "If it's a boy, Choji. If it's a girl, Yuki."
Natsu: "If it's a boy, Ryo. If it's a girl, Miko."
Mikoto hesitated. "I haven't decided yet…"
Makoto raised an eyebrow at Ayari. "Why Choji?"
Ayari shrugged. "I think it's a good name. The moment people hear it, they'll know he's Neji's brother. Don't you think that's a good thing?"
Makoto's expression turned a little strange. "It's not bad, but… isn't it a bit too common?"
Ayari pondered. "Is it…?"
Makoto immediately said, "How about Sasuke?"
The three women asked in unison, "Why?"
Makoto replied calmly, "No reason. I just think it's a good name."
Mikoto hesitated. "But… the Third Hokage's father was also named Sasuke."
Makoto feigned surprise. "Oh? That so? Well, no matter. Sharing a name with my son is his good fortune."
The three women: "..."
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