Chapter 52: That Feeling is Very Strange, Like Being Hit Over the Head From Behind

"Uzumaki Naruto? Uzumaki? That's the same surname as Kushina-san!" Obito exclaimed, as if he had discovered a whole new world.

[Kushina's clansman? But why isn't his hair red, but yellow like mine?] Minato Namikaze wondered inwardly, watching the boy who was currently preparing ingredients.

"Hello, my name is Rin. Do you need any help?"

Three-Naruto turned his head to see a sweet-looking girl, her hands clasped behind her back, looking at him with a gentle smile.

"Can you handle the innards?" Fortunately, he had only just started processing the ingredients. Though their arrival was a bit sudden, it would be fine as long as he prepared some extra food.

Rin smiled faintly and took over the work he was doing. "Do you want the liver as well? Won't it be too gamey?" she asked.

"Just use heavy seasoning, it'll be fine." Naruto cut the prepared chicken into evenly sized pieces. Yakitori, or 'grilled bird,' was essentially grilled chicken. It was called 'grilled bird' because in the ancient times of the Five Great Nations, chickens, due to their ability to crow and announce the time, were referred to as 'garden birds.'

"Naruto, you haven't lived in Konoha before, have you?" Rin asked curiously, her peripheral vision taking in his movements. Looking at his appearance, he should be about her age. If he were a Konoha resident, she would have likely seen him at the Ninja Academy. Even if they weren't in the same year, a sunny, cheerful big boy like him would definitely be a frequent topic of discussion among the younger girls; she should have heard something about him.

"Mhm." Three-Naruto nodded slightly. "I only arrived in Konoha not long ago."

"Tch." Obito secretly pouted. Although he knew Rin wasn't the type to be boy-crazy, seeing her chatting and laughing so happily with another guy, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy. The most, most, most infuriating part was that this guy's looks were only a tiny, tiny bit inferior to his own.

"Minato-sensei, why do I get the feeling that guy looks…" Having stared for a long time, one often discovers new things. Obito was startled by his own realization and quickly sidled up to Minato, whispering,

"He does, a bit," Kakashi also nodded after observing for a moment.

"Does he?" Minato Namikaze chuckled dryly. Even he himself had to admit, he and that boy looked remarkably alike. But he certainly didn't have any relatives who had married into the Uzumaki clan.

Click!

"I'm back!" Uzumaki Kushina pushed open the door and, seeing the room full of people, said in pleasant surprise, "When did you all get back?"

"Kushina." Minato Namikaze also smiled warmly upon seeing her. "We just got back not long ago."

"Here we go again, here we go again." Obito, feeling rather like a third wheel, quickly leaned over to Kakashi and muttered under his breath. "Every time Sensei and Kushina-san reunite after a long separation, they always get fed a full serving of 'dog food.'

"By the way, have you all met Little Naruto yet?" Uzumaki Kushina asked.

"We've already met." Minato Namikaze nodded, taking the vegetable basket from her hands.

"Looks like you're getting along well," Uzumaki Kushina said, looking at the two of them cooking together in the kitchen, and nodded with satisfaction.

"Little Rinrin…"

"Hm?" Rin turned her head and looked at her, puzzled, a vague feeling that something bad was about to happen.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Uzumaki Kushina asked with a mischievous grin.

"Eh? Eh?!!" This simple question startled Rin so much that she almost couldn't hold her kitchen utensils steady, her fair cheeks flushing a delicate pink. Obito and Kakashi were also drawn in by the question. Minato's curious head poked out from the kitchen door; although he was the trio's teacher, he generally didn't interfere in such private matters.

"Kushina-san, what kind of question is that?" she stammered, embarrassed. Though these were all people she couldn't be more familiar with, young girls tended to be thin-skinned; how could such a question be asked so directly to her face?

"Looks like you don't, then." Uzumaki Kushina rubbed her chin, looking like a female rascal as she said with a lewd grin, "What do you think of Little Naruto?" As the saying goes, don't let fertile water flow into others' fields. She knew Little Rinrin's personality and conduct through and through; after growing up, she would definitely be a model of a virtuous wife and good mother. Especially since she was so sweet-looking, the type that countless little boys probably adored.

Clang…

Three-Naruto fumbled to steady the knife. For someone who had used a blade his entire life to almost cut his own hand, one could only imagine how devastating those words just now had been. "Cough, cough, cough…" He coughed frantically to cover his embarrassment.

The others weren't faring much better. Minato, who had been craning his neck to peek, almost threw out his back from the shock of his wife's words.

"Kushina-san, what do you mean, 'consider him'?" Obito pointed at Three-Naruto and asked incredulously. If looks could kill, Three-Naruto would surely have been skinned alive and devoured countless times over by now.

"Oh? Is it not okay?" Uzumaki Kushina said, disappointed. "I'm not talking nonsense, you know. Little Naruto is really outstanding." After two months of interaction, she had gained a general understanding of her future son's strength. Becoming a Konoha jonin would absolutely be no problem for him. And one had to remember, Little Naruto was only twelve! He really was outstanding.

"Kushina-san, we only just met," Rin said, righteously refusing her Kushina-san improper suggestion. "I'm going to the washroom for a moment."

Three-Naruto quickly made his escape. This wave must be handled by the original; Mother's aura is too strong, I can't take it anymore.

Study.

Upon receiving the message relayed back from Shadow Clone Three-Naruto, Naruto also felt a throbbing sensation. Do I really look like the type of person who can't find a girlfriend? Why go to such lengths…

To prevent the situation from developing in an even more awkward direction, Naruto directly dispelled all his shadow clones and took charge personally. Fortunately, his mother's attempt at matchmaking had clearly been a spur-of-the-moment thing; she didn't bring up the related topic again for the rest of the evening, right through to the end of dinner. But the psychological shadow it left on the youngsters was not insignificant. It directly led to what should have been a lively and active dinner passing in a strangely awkward atmosphere. Especially Obito; Naruto had a persistent feeling that if he had gone out alone that day, Obito would definitely have cornered him in an alley for a duel befitting a man.

"Um, well…" After dinner, only the three of them remained in the spacious living room. Minato Namikaze coughed dryly twice, being the first to break the awkward silence. "Can you tell me what exactly happened?"

Even after such a short period of interaction, the more Minato looked at Naruto, the more he saw his own shadow in him. But how old was he himself this year? He couldn't possibly have fathered a child this old while he was still studying, could he?

"Mm, your feeling is correct. He is your son," Uzumaki Kushina nodded slightly.

Minato Namikaze wore an expression that said, 'I knew it.'

"Little Sun, where's your surprise? Your shock?" Uzumaki Kushina looked at him incredulously.

"Because I trust that you will give me the answers."

Listening to their slightly cheesy dialogue, Naruto subtly covered his eyes. He felt rather like a third wheel sitting here.

Under Uzumaki Kushina's explanation, Minato Namikaze also gained a general understanding of the course of events. His and Kushina's child. Gazing at Naruto, Minato couldn't help but fantasize about a scene of their family of three, celebrating joyfully together, a picture of domestic bliss. Perhaps, this was the result that a man strived and struggled for his entire life.

"Traveling through time… what kind of feeling is it?" Minato Namikaze asked curiously.

"Hmm… it feels like being hit over the head from behind with a club." Recalling his experience at the time, Naruto said as much.