Chương 77: The Red-Headed Fury
Haruto was halfway through his breakfast, enjoying the peaceful morning after his usual early training session with Daichi Uzumaki, when the quiet was shattered by a voice carrying through the courtyard outside his apartment.
"Daichi Uzumaki! You better have a good reason for not visiting your cousin!"
The voice was unmistakably loud and fiery. Haruto's chopsticks paused mid-bite as he recognized the tone—not the typical scolding one might hear from an Academy teacher, but something more personal, more intense. Curiosity piqued, Haruto stood up, grabbed the last piece of rice from his bowl, and moved to the door. Pushing it open, he stepped outside and immediately saw the commotion.
Standing there in the courtyard was none other than Kushina Uzumaki, the infamous "Red-Hot Habanero" of Konoha. Her fiery red hair flowed like a wild flame down her back, and her hands were firmly gripping Daichi's head, pulling him into a playful yet forceful headlock. Daichi, whose face was contorted with a mixture of embarrassment and discomfort, had his arms raised in a half-hearted attempt to free himself, but it was clear he was no match for her.
"Ow, ow, Kushina-nee! I was busy with Academy training!" Daichi protested, though his voice was muffled by Kushina's iron grip.
"Busy, huh?" Kushina retorted, her tone still playful but with a dangerous edge. "Too busy to visit family? Or too busy to remember that you promised to show me how your training was going, hmm?"
Haruto raised an eyebrow, watching the scene unfold with mild amusement. He had heard stories about Kushina Uzumaki, one of the most powerful kunoichi in the village, but this was his first time seeing her in person. She lived up to her reputation—a mix of fierce strength and unshakable loyalty to her loved ones.
Kushina finally let go of Daichi, who staggered back, rubbing his neck and giving a sheepish grin. "I'm sorry, okay? I'll come visit more, I swear."
"You'd better!" Kushina said, crossing her arms and giving him a playful but sharp glare. "Otherwise, you'll get more than just a headlock next time."
Haruto chuckled softly at the scene. It was clear that while Kushina was tough and intimidating, especially with her fiery temperament, her scolding came from a place of genuine affection. She cared deeply about Daichi, and it was obvious she wasn't going to let him forget the importance of family, even if it meant putting him in his place every now and then.
Just as Haruto was about to return to his apartment, Kushina's sharp eyes landed on him. Her expression softened into a smile, and she called out, "Hey, you're Daichi's friend, right? The one he trains with every morning?"
Haruto nodded, giving her a respectful bow. "Yes, I'm Haruto Takeda."
Kushina walked over, her fiery energy calming slightly but still present in every movement. She sized him up for a moment, then grinned widely. "Good to see Daichi has someone serious to train with! It's nice knowing he's got a partner pushing him."
Haruto glanced over at Daichi, who looked slightly embarrassed but grateful for the compliment. "We help each other out," Haruto replied with a small smile.
Kushina gave a firm nod, her hands now resting on her hips. "Good! Keep him in line, okay? These Uzumaki boys can be a handful."
Haruto couldn't help but smile more at that. Despite her fierce reputation, it was easy to see that Kushina had a deep love for her family, and she was the type to show it loudly and proudly.
"Sure," Haruto said, nodding in agreement. "I'll make sure he doesn't slack off."
With that, Kushina gave Daichi one last playful punch to the arm and turned to leave. "I'll see you soon, Daichi! Don't make me come find you again!"
Daichi watched her walk away, shaking his head and muttering something about family being "way too intense." Haruto, on the other hand, simply took note of what he had just witnessed. This was a side of shinobi life that wasn't always seen in battle or training—the humanity behind the legends.
"She's… intense," Haruto said with a smirk.
"Tell me about it," Daichi grumbled, though there was clear affection in his voice. "But she's one of the strongest people in the village. You don't mess with Kushina Uzumaki, even if you're family."
Haruto nodded thoughtfully. He had learned something important today—strength didn't always manifest in battle prowess or chakra control. Sometimes, strength came from the bonds you forged and the lengths you were willing to go to protect and nurture those bonds. It was something Haruto kept in the back of his mind as he continued his journey.
With a final chuckle at the scene that had just unfolded, Haruto turned back to his apartment. Tomorrow, training would continue as usual, but this morning had given him a reminder of what true strength looked like—fierce loyalty, whether in battle or in life.
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