(The illustration of Naruko Uzumaki—check the discussion section of the previous chapter.)
[Nagi propped up a simple grill rack using tree branches, then began preparing the fish he had caught…]
Naruko also started grilling fish on the other side.
After placing the fish over the charcoal fire, she happily waited for the meat to roast.
But after a while—
She smelled an incredibly rich aroma.
The scent was so enticing that she couldn't help drooling. Following the smell, she stood up.
Meanwhile, Nagi calmly brushed his fish with a special seasoning mixture.
For some reason, his hands instinctively combined the spices in perfect proportions, as if his body remembered the balance of flavors.
Naruko lifted her head, eyes closed, sniffing the air with a blissful expression as she slowly walked toward Nagi.
Seeing her approach, Nagi asked softly,
"Want to eat together?"
"Really!?"
Naruko looked at him with wide, sparkling eyes full of hope.
"Sure. But wipe your drool first."
"Hehehe, I forgot. Your grilled fish just smells too good!"
Naruko wiped her mouth, then went back to her own grill, pulled out the fish skewers she had prepared, and brought them over to Nagi's side.
Seeing this, Nagi also helped take care of grilling her fish.
"Mmm—hot! But it's so good!"
Naruko's face was filled with pure happiness.
Nagi blew on his fish before taking a bite.
"Hmm. Not bad."
After finishing one fish, Naruko grinned at Nagi.
"Hehehe… can I take a few more?"
"Sure. Take as many as you want."
"Thank you! You're such a great person!"
Her mother had told her not to casually eat other people's food, but… it smelled too good. Besides, she had permission.
Just as she reached out—
Nagi suddenly stopped her.
"Wait a moment."
He took out several bottles of seasoning.
For some reason, when he saw Naruko eating grilled fish, a formula-like combination of spices suddenly appeared in his mind. It felt as though he somehow knew her preferred taste.
Under Naruko's surprised gaze, Nagi skillfully controlled the seasoning bottles, sprinkling the spices over the fish with smooth, practiced movements.
After a moment, he handed the fish to her.
Naruko thanked him and immediately took a bite.
"Mmm—ah! This flavor… this is happiness!!!"
Tears of joy streamed down Naruko's face.
After finishing their meal, the two of them extinguished the fire and cleaned up the area together.
Once everything was tidy, Naruko sat down beside Nagi and began chatting with him.
Eventually, the conversation drifted toward her worries.
"When people look at me or call my name, they only see me as the Hokage's daughter. No one truly recognizes me as a person. I'm really sick of it. So now I want to become Hokage myself. That way everyone will acknowledge me."
"Hokage, huh…"
Nagi looked up at the sky.
For some reason, he had the vague feeling that there was someone in his memories—someone noisy who constantly talked about becoming Hokage.
But he couldn't remember who it was.
So he said,
"I think… I have a friend. In the past, his life was filled with all kinds of bad experiences, and he was always lost and confused. Even though only a few people truly acknowledged him, that alone was already incredibly difficult. So… becoming Hokage requires real resolve."
"Resolve?"
Naruko tilted her head curiously.
"Yes. It's not that you become Hokage and then gain recognition. It's those who are acknowledged by others who become Hokage."
"If you want to become Hokage, you need that kind of resolve."
"Never go back on your word—that's his ninja way."
"Even though I don't know who he is… I believe he must have a bright, sunny smile."
"Never going back on your word…"
For some reason, Naruko felt that she really liked those words.
And honestly, the "I have a friend" excuse sounded a bit cliché.
In Naruko's mind, the friend Nagi was talking about was clearly himself.
Today, she felt like she had discovered a hidden treasure of a friend.
Not only was his grilled fish amazing, but he also seemed to understand her very well.
Soon, evening approached, and the two prepared to leave.
Naruko waved to Nagi.
"I had a lot of fun meeting you today! Let's hang out again next time!"
"Oh, and I'm sure we'll become great sisters!"
"I'M A BOY!!!"
"Eh!?!"
Naruko looked as though she had just heard something impossible.
[Dinner Time — Namikaze Residence]
Naruko helped Kushina carry bowls and dishes to the table.
Minato sat nearby reading a book about village policies.
During dinner, Kushina noticed that her daughter seemed unusually happy today, so she asked with concern,
"Naruko, you seem really happy today. Did something interesting happen?"
Hearing her mother's question, Naruko obediently replied,
"Yeah! I met a really nice person today."
"A girl or a boy?"
"A boy. But he looks just like a girl."
Hearing this, Kushina leaned in with obvious curiosity.
"Oho~ A boy who looks like a girl? What did you two do today?"
"We went fishing together, and then we grilled fish together! His grilled fish tastes absolutely amazing!"
At this point, Naruko's eyes turned into sparkling stars.
"That does sound nice."
Kushina smiled warmly at her daughter.
But neither of them noticed that Minato's expression had completely frozen across the table.
Kushina continued,
"By the way, what's his name?"
"Hmm… I think it was Nagi ."
"?"
Kushina paused in surprise.
Minato suddenly remembered something and said,
"Oh right. I recall now—he's Genma's cousin."
"Genma's cousin? Oh, right. I remember Genma's uncle…"
Kushina also recalled some details about Genma's family.
"Yeah."
"I see."
Late at night—
Namikaze Residence
Naruko seemed to be having a pleasant dream, a sweet smile on her face.
Meanwhile, Minato tossed and turned in bed.
The thought of his precious daughter happily spending the day with a boy kept replaying in his mind.
Even though that boy was Genma's cousin, Minato simply couldn't fall asleep.
Residence
Nagi was already asleep.
But every now and then, he murmured in his dreams—
"…I'm a boy…"
[Jiraiya]: Sigh, Minato. When daughters grow up, they eventually leave their fathers. You've got to learn to accept it.
[Minato Namikaze]: Master Jiraiya, Naruko is only five years old. And besides, nothing between them has even started yet.
[Kushina Uzumaki]: Ara, I actually think they look great together. They're a little young, but starting as friends isn't bad.
[Kakashi Hatake]: That's right, Minato-sensei. One day Naruko will get married. Would you really feel comfortable entrusting her to a boy other than Nagi? Besides, that's something the Minato of that world should worry about.
Sensei, I still remember you urging me about marriage back then. I'm just helping urge your daughter in another world.
[Minato Namikaze]: ...That hurts.
[Jiraiya]: Hahaha! Naruto, in that other world, your relationship with Nagi might end up closer than the one you have with him in this world.
[Naruto Uzumaki]: ...
Right now, my feelings are extremely complicated.
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