Naruto: reborn as an Uzumaki

Shizune's cooking turned out to be as good as promised, and Kenshin found himself eating more than he intended. Tsunade noticed his satisfaction and wore a smug grin.

"Of course it's good! She learned from the best—me!" Tsunade declared proudly, leaning back in her chair with an air of confidence.

Shizune, standing nearby, shook her head with a small, amused smile. "I wouldn't say that exactly, Tsunade-sama. I learned a lot after we returned to the Leaf.

At first, the Third Hokage's personal cook handled it for us. But over time, I picked up a lot of techniques and eventually took on the responsibility myself."

Kenshin looked up. "That's impressive, Shizune-san. Cooking after all the work you do sounds exhausting."

Shizune nodded, her smile turning wry. "It can be, especially with the amount of work I have to juggle because of someone."

Tsunade frowned at that and crossed her arms. "Hey, I'm not that lazy. You just worry too much."

"It's my job to worry," Shizune replied smoothly, her expression unchanging.

Kenshin chuckled at their banter, feeling lighter than he had in days. The care and camaraderie between Tsunade and Shizune reminded him of the bonds he'd started to build with others in the village.

He thought about everyone who had shown him kindness: Suu, Ino, her friends, Yuki, Maki—even Kakashi, though the latter still maintained a distant neutrality.

Yuki and Maki, however, had become like family, and now even Tsunade and Shizune treated him the same way. It was more than he could've ever hoped for.

When dinner wrapped up, Tsunade leaned back in her chair and gave Kenshin a pointed look. "Alright, kid. Go take a bath and relax. Tomorrow's a big day, and you need to be well-rested."

Shizune nodded. "Give me a moment to heat the water, Kenshin-kun. It won't take long."

"Thanks, Shizune-san," Kenshin said, getting up from his seat.

A few minutes later, Shizune returned and led him to the bathroom. "The bath is ready. If you need anything, just let me know," she said with her usual calm demeanor.

Kenshin gave her a small bow. "Thank you, Shizune-san."

As she walked back to the dining room, Kenshin closed the door behind him and took a deep breath. The warmth of the steam and the scent of herbs in the bathwater were soothing. It wasn't his usual routine, but perhaps a bit of relaxation was exactly what he needed before tomorrow.

For now, he let himself unwind, the weight of the day's emotions and revelations slipping away as he sank into the water. Tomorrow would come soon enough, and with it, the final step in facing his past.

After the bath, Kenshin dried off, dressed, and made his way back to find Tsunade waiting for him. She leaned casually against the wall, arms crossed, her expression soft yet firm.

"Shizune has prepared the adjacent room for you," she said. "If you need anything, our doors are unlocked. Just call out."

Kenshin nodded, grateful. "Thank you, Tsunade-sama."

At that moment, Shizune stepped out of the room Kenshin was supposed to stay in, brushing her hands together as if finishing a task. "I changed the sheets for you," she informed him. "The room also has a separate heater, so you can adjust it however you like."

Kenshin bowed slightly, his voice sincere. "Thank you, Shizune-san. Both of you have done so much for me, and I can't ever properly repay it. Just a couple of months ago, I was an outsider here, and now you're treating me like family, even letting me stay with you."

Tsunade and Shizune exchanged warm smiles.

"You don't need to thank us," Tsunade said with a wave of her hand. "You're going through a lot right now, and it's our duty to help you however we can."

Shizune nodded, her expression kind. "Besides, you are family. If you're Tsunade-sama's nephew, then that makes you like a younger brother to me. And I have another younger brother who's also an Uzumaki, just like you."

Kenshin blinked in recognition, catching her implication. "Naruto-kun... I suppose? My sister told me about him. The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki."

Shizune nodded, her smile growing. "Yes, Naruto-kun. He's the reason we're here in the Hidden Leaf right now, the reason Tsunade-sama agreed to become Hokage. His willpower is second to none, and in some ways, you're very similar to him."

Tsunade chuckled, her tone teasing. "You're both reckless beyond comparison, among some other things."

Kenshin gave a small, sheepish laugh at that, scratching the back of his head.

"Alright," Tsunade said, standing upright and motioning toward the room. "Go ahead and get some sleep. You must be tired, and you've got a big day tomorrow."

Kenshin nodded. "Goodnight, Tsunade-sama. Goodnight, Shizune-san."

They returned his goodnight with kind smiles before he headed to his room.

As Kenshin settled into the bed, he noticed the faint floral scent of the air freshener, soothing and light. The fresh sheets were crisp and comforting, and the heater adjusted to the perfect temperature. Though part of him still felt like he was intruding, he decided to accept their hospitality for now.

Tomorrow would be one of the biggest days of his life, and he needed to be mentally at ease. Lying back, he closed his eyes, letting the warmth of the room and the comfort of knowing he was cared for lull him into rest. But then suddenly, a thought broke his comfort.

As the night deepened, Akane grew increasingly restless in the quiet Uchiha compound. Kenshin's silence gnawed at her—he could have easily sent a shadow clone with a message, yet he hadn't. That wasn't like him. Unless...

Her thoughts spiraled, various scenarios playing out in her mind. Unable to sit idle any longer, she decided to search for him herself. She slipped out through her window, the cold night air brushing against her face, and summoned several shadow clones to cover more ground.

One by one, they combed through the Uchiha compound's training grounds and surrounding areas, their movements swift and silent. When nothing turned up, they began working their way toward the village center.

As one of her clones moved closer to a secluded training ground near the edge of the village, it suddenly sensed a cluster of powerful chakra signatures. The clone dispelled instantly to relay the information, and Akane pivoted, heading straight there.

When she arrived, she saw dozens of Kenshin's shadow clones hard at work, practicing a wind release jutsu. The clones immediately noticed her presence, pausing mid-action as she approached.

Arms crossed and her expression a mix of anger and annoyance, Akane's gaze swept over them. "Why the hell didn't you come home?" she demanded, her voice calm but firm.

One of the clones stepped forward, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Uh... well, I was working on a new jutsu," he began hesitantly.

"But, uh, Kaede got into some trouble with the others back at the Shikkotsu Forest, so the real me had to go there. He was probably forced to stay the night. He should be back by tomorrow morning—afternoon at the latest."

Akane's sharp eyes narrowed. "Have you been training all day?"

The clone nodded quickly.

She sighed, turning away with a mix of disappointment and irritation. "You know, Kenshin, you're a good liar. But you're not good enough to fool me. I can tell you haven't been training for more than an hour. And you definitely didn't go to the Shikkotsu Forest."

The clone froze, unsure how to respond.

"But," she continued, her tone softening slightly, "I won't press you. If it's something you feel you have to lie to me about, I'll let it go. Just remember—if you can't tell me, just say that. Don't lie to me.

I trust you enough not to pry, but if you lie, it feels like you don't trust me in return. And that..." She paused, exhaling deeply. "That's actually really hurtful. We're supposed to be equals, as siblings and as lovers. But if you can't trust me the same way I do..."

The clone lowered his head, guilt etched on his face.

"I'm heading home," Akane said, turning away. "Go back to whatever you were doing and think about what I said." Without another word, she disappeared into the night.

Once she was gone, the remaining clones exchanged uneasy looks. One rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Yeah... we're in trouble. The real one's going to love hearing about this tomorrow."

Another clone raised a hand hesitantly. "So, uh... what if we just... all dispel right now? Leave the main one here to sit around until tomorrow afternoon and then wait for the real one to dispel him? We might avoid getting chewed out."

The group fell silent, considering the suggestion. Then, in unison, they nodded, muttering variations of "Might as well" and "All for one, one for all" before all but one clone dispelled, leaving the unfortunate last one to sit in the clearing, awaiting his inevitable fate.

Back at the Uchiha compound, Akane lay face down on her bed, her thoughts swirling. She buried her face into the pillow and let out a muffled groan.

"Maybe I was too harsh on him," she muttered. "He was probably lying because he didn't want me to worry. He's always like that."

Lifting her face, she rested her head on the side, staring at the wall. "I could've said it nicely. I guess I should apologize tomorrow when he comes back."

Akane sighed, tossing and turning as guilt lingered in her chest. Eventually, exhaustion won, and she drifted into a restless sleep, still mulling over her earlier confrontation.

Meanwhile, at the Hokage's residence, Kenshin was already asleep, the warmth of the room and the soft floral scent of the sheets lulling him into a deep slumber.

The next morning, a soft knock on his door pulled him from his sleep.

"Kenshin-kun, are you awake?" Shizune's voice called gently from the other side. "I'm about to prepare breakfast."

Kenshin rubbed his eyes, stretching before responding. "I'll be out in a minute."

Feeling much more refreshed, he got up, washed up, and stepped out of his room. As he entered the hallway, he saw Shizune heading off to the kitchen, humming softly to herself.

Then his attention shifted as another door opened, and Tsunade stepped out of her room—completely unaware of the situation.

Her pajama top wasn't buttoned, completely revealing one of her huge breasts, while the other was almost completely visible, and Kenshin froze mid-step, his face turning a vivid shade of red.

Tsunade blinked in confusion before realizing what had happened. Her eyes widened, and she let out a loud, embarrassed squeal, hastily covering her chest with her arms.

"Don't look!" she yelped, spinning away from him.

Kenshin immediately slapped a hand over his eyes, stumbling back a step. "I-I'm not looking!"

Turning her back to him, Tsunade scrambled to button up her pajama top, muttering under her breath about how she completely forgot they had a guest in the house. Once she was decent, she turned back around, her face still red from embarrassment.

Kenshin, however, was still looking away, his hand shielding his face. Despite his embarrassment, a small, ironic thought crossed his mind. 'If I was still Tom, I would've probably loved seeing her breasts... but now? Nope. Nope. Nope. Although I have to say, they looked bigger than I expected.'

He cleared his throat awkwardly, lowering his hand but keeping his gaze firmly averted. "Uh, maybe we can just pretend this never happened?" he suggested, his voice strained. "I'll just... I'll wait for you to go ahead first."

Tsunade let out an exasperated sigh, waving him off. "Fine. Just... give me a minute, alright?"

Kenshin nodded, standing awkwardly in the hallway as Tsunade retreated to compose herself. He shook his head, trying to will the redness from his face as he muttered to himself, "What a way to start the day..."

As Shizune called out from the kitchen, "Breakfast is ready!" Tsunade responded from her room, "Be there in a minute!" quickly changing into her usual attire.

Kenshin, already at the dining table, stood up the moment Shizune entered with the food. "Let me help you with that," he offered.

Shizune waved him off at first. "It's fine, I've got it."

But Kenshin insisted, stepping closer. Relenting with a small smile, Shizune handed him some of the dishes. "Alright, thank you."

Together, they set the table, and by the time Tsunade joined them, the meal was ready. The three of them sat down, and breakfast was a lively affair.

As they finished eating, Shizune leaned back in her chair, looking at Tsunade. "Tsunade-sama, you should probably head to the office and get some work done before Suu-san shows up."

Tsunade groaned, clearly not thrilled by the suggestion. "Ugh, I just wish Suu would show up right now and save me from all that paperwork."

No sooner had she said it than a knock came at the door. Tsunade raised an eyebrow, glancing at Shizune before walking over to open it. Standing there with a wide grin was Suu Yamanaka.

"Well, are you just going to stare, or are you going to let me in?" Suu asked playfully.

Tsunade turned back to the dining area, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. "Come on in, Suu."

Shizune let out a resigned sigh as she stood up. "I guess that means I'll be the one stuck with all the work today, as usual."

Tsunade chuckled, patting Shizune on the shoulder as she passed. "You're the best, Shizune."

Muttering under her breath, Shizune made her way to the Hokage's office, leaving Suu to join Tsunade and Kenshin in the dining area. Kenshin stood, bowing politely. "Good morning, Suu-san."

"Good morning, Kenshin," Suu replied warmly. "I hope you're ready. Today's going to be a big day for you."

Kenshin nodded, his expression serious. "I am."

Tsunade gestured for them to sit back down. "Alright, let's talk through the plan for today." As they settled in, the air grew more focused. It was time to prepare for Kenshin's next step.

Suu leaned forward slightly, her tone both professional and encouraging. "So, Kenshin, do you want to dive straight into the big one, or ease into it? It's your choice. This simulation will test whether your determination can outweigh your trauma. No shortcuts, no going back."

Kenshin paused, his eyes narrowing in thought. After a moment, he exhaled deeply and nodded. "Let's go straight to the final simulation. The incident in the Hidden Grass... the root of all this. If I don't face it now, I never will."

Suu smiled approvingly, gently taking Kenshin's hand into hers. "That takes real courage, Kenshin. Most people would hesitate to even consider it. Though, I'll admit, I had to give you a little... not-so-subtle push last night."

Kenshin smirked slightly. "It's kind of ironic that my therapist is even more reckless than I am. But maybe that's why you're the best."

Laughing softly, Suu clapped her hands together. "Exactly! Now, let's not waste any more time. If we linger, my dear husband is going to come storming in here. Inoichi was not happy about me coming today. He practically forbade it."

Kenshin raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Oh, you know..." Suu waved a hand dismissively. "Something about me nearly dying from a stroke yesterday and now doing an even more dangerous session today. He worries too much. Honestly, it's adorable."

Her playful tone and bright smile made it seem like this was just another day in her chaotic life.

Tsunade, standing nearby with her arms crossed, snorted. "Adorable? You're lucky he didn't tie you to the bed to stop you from leaving."

Suu winked. "He tried. I'm sneakier."

Kenshin couldn't help but chuckle, though he knew Suu's lightheartedness was just part of her charm. Beneath her seemingly reckless demeanor was a therapist with an unparalleled understanding of the human mind—and an unmatched dedication to her patients.

"Alright, Kenshin, let's get started," Suu said, standing up and gesturing for him to follow. "Come on, Hokage-sama. You're part of this, too. You're going to help me ease the strain on my brain like last night."

The three of them made their way to Tsunade's bedroom. Suu settled down cross-legged on the bed, patting the space in front of her for Kenshin to sit. Tsunade took a chair by the side, observing quietly but intently.

Suu closed her eyes for a moment, centering herself before speaking. "This simulation is going to feel real—more real than anything you've experienced before. Your mind will be taken back to that moment in the Hidden Grass.

But remember, Kenshin, you are not the same person who lived that day. You are stronger now, and you will never need to do something like that again."

Kenshin nodded firmly, his fists clenched at his sides. "I'm ready."

Suu's expression softened. "Alright. Close your eyes and take a deep breath."

-----------------------------------

Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.

A/N: tomorrow will be the end of the PTSD arc and the beginning of the festival arc. And one more thing, due to the university admissions exams in my country, I'll have to end this volume with the festival. But I'll keep writing volume 2, and hopefully try to upload a chapter per week.

I hope you guys will stick with me, and pray that I get admitted into a good university. A public one, cause I can't afford a private university. And I need to provide for the family and let my dad finally retire.