Chapter 5

Natus's turmoil intensified as Naruto's presence, now eerily resembling a specter haunting their dwelling, became overwhelmingly conspicuous through his silence. She observed him moving through the chores with a soulless gaze and mechanical efficiency, a living testament to his shattered psyche. Despite her best attempts at reconciliation, they were coldly rebuffed, with Naruto asserting that a master need not apologize to a mere servant. This rigid adherence to roles only deepened Natsu's despair, and the stress surrounding her became so suffocating that it threatened the very essence of her unborn child's life, the only sliver of hope in her mire of regret.Natsu contemplated revealing the truth to Mito but recoiled at the thought, fearing that Naruto's psychological scars were beyond repair, and in his current state, her child would be devoid of a positive father figure, reliant solely on her. If Mito ever found out the truth Natsu was a dead woman once the baby was out of her, that by itself wouldn't be so bad as that would be karmic justice coming back to bite her, but with no doubt in her mind, she knew the Hyuga would use this opportunity to forcefully gain custody of her child.

This mere thought of this culminated in a full-blown panic attack where she nearly miscarried, a painful wake-up call to the gravity of her emotional descent.When a concerned Mito approached her in the hospital about the ordeal, Natsu found herself teetering on the edge of an emotional abyss. With her back against the wall, she spun a web of deceit, carefully weaving her words to hide the true agony gnawing at her soul. "You see, it's complicated," Natsu began, each word heavy with feigned confusion and worry, "Naruto's transition... It's forced me to confront aspects of myself I never questioned, including my sexuality. The stark truth is, I am strictly attracted to men, which complicates my feelings towards her now." She painted a picture of emotional disarray, suggesting that seeing Naruto as a woman quashed any romantic feelings she once held due to her unwavering heterosexuality.

Furthermore, she skillfully fabricated a tale of unilateral disinterest, positing that Naruto harbored no romantic feelings towards her or any other woman. According to Natsu's crafted narrative, Naruto was grappling with his own identity, tricking himself into having feelings for her when, in reality, he was mentally a straight woman as well. "If we continue to live together under these strained circumstances, the baby will undoubtedly sense our unhappiness," Natsu hinted, suggesting that their emotional turmoil could imprint on their child. She painted a scenario where their mutual discomfort and forced cohabitation could only lead to greater sorrow and confusion.

"Naruto's decision to father this child was under my undue pressure, without proper regard for his feelings," Natsu confessed, further twisting the knife of guilt and misunderstanding. "He would never abandon the baby on his own violation... but only because of a sense of duty.....nothing more."

Natsu glanced at Mito, her eyes pleading for understanding. "If Naruto were to try and fulfill this role under such duress, I fear he wouldn't be able to form a proper, loving bond with our child. It would be a relationship built on obligation rather than affection, and that's not what I want for our baby. A child deserves to be welcomed with open arms and hearts ready to love, not out of a sense of duty or because circumstances demand it."

She wrapped her arms around herself, as if trying to hold together the pieces of her fractured soul. "I've realized that perhaps the kindest thing we can do for Naruto—and for our child—is to release him from this obligation that he's not ready to shoulder. It's a painful decision, but in the end, it might be the most loving one we can make for all involved."

Amidst the fabrication, Mito's heart sank as she listened. She had indeed seen Naruto's role as a maid in a positive light, believing it represented his happiness or at least his acceptance of a new life. But hearing Natsu outline their lack of mutual affection, Mito blamed herself for never considering Naruto's feelings more deeply. She chided herself for not pondering whether Naruto was even attracted to women, let alone to Natsu. This realization hit hard, as Mito understood her oversight had led them into this spiral of unhappiness.

Mito, with tears streaming down her cheeks, expressed her heartfelt apologies to Natsu, acknowledging her role in their predicament. She accepted the truth that ending Naruto and Natsu's strained relationship was for the best. However, the prospect of divorce opened a Pandora's box Natsu could not afford to face. The Hyuga clan, ever watchful and ruthless, wouldn't care if the divorce was a mutual decision, undoubtedly they would try to punish Natsu for bringing such dishonor to the clan.

Mulling over the predicament, a desperate yet ingenious solution dawned on Mito. The only way to do this without putting Natsu under scrutiny was to make her a widow by faking Naruto's death. This may be a drastic measure, but if it would make them both happier then so be it.

With a heavy heart, Mito set her plan into motion, meticulously fabricating evidence of Naruto's untimely demise. As she mulled over the various scenarios, the idea struck her – Naruto would tragically 'die' due to choking on ramen. Such a peculiar cause of death would remain consistent with Naruto's well-known love for ramen, thus lending a layer of believability to the fabricated tale.

In a bid to offer Naruto a semblance of a future, she meticulously forged documents to establish a new identity for him: Summer Rose. Mito, determined to erase all traces of Naruto from the village and their lives, transported him far away to Tanzuka Town.

Upon reaching the small apartment in Tanzuka Town, Mito gently placed the unconscious Naruto on the bed. Beside him, she left a carefully penned note, its words laced with both sorrow and hope. The note began, "Naruto, as you awaken, you'll find that your past identity no longer exists. Legally, and in every other sense, you are now Summer Rose. This isn't a punishment; believe me, it's an act of liberation. You have been exiled not for any fault of your own but because we believe it would make you happier in the long run. I want you to not worry about Natsu or your child. I will watch over them, ensuring their safety and well-being. Your connection to them, while cherished, is a chapter that we must close for the sake of everyone involved. Forget about us and live your new life to the fullest."

With the note, Mito included a considerable sum of money and a suitcase filled with an assortment of pretty clothes, hinting at a life of possibilities ahead. Her choice of attire wasn't arbitrary; each piece was selected to encourage Summer Rose to embrace her new identity, to explore the vast expanse of her desires, preferences, and, importantly, her freedom. The clothes weren't just fabric; they were symbols of a new beginning, a tangible promise that she could forge a path unburdened by the shadows of a past life and societal expectations.