With every bite, the flavors melted into her—soft rice, warm miso, gentle pickles, and tender meats that spoke of comfort rather than necessity. Kushina and Kana didn't just serve food; they served belonging. A plateful of peace, a bowl brimming with affection.
She hadn't meant to eat so much. First the ramen, now this feast of love and home-cooked care. But how could she refuse?
Her hands rested gently on her lap, her eyes half-lidded in a daze of fullness—not just of the stomach, but of the heart.
For someone who had known cold floors, uncertain nights, and meals eaten with caution rather than comfort, this was more than dinner.
Her stomach was full.
But her soul?
Her soul was overflowing.
She leaned back slightly in the chair, her fingers brushing against the edge of the table as she whispered, mostly to herself, "I don't remember the last time I felt like this…"
Kana placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "You don't have to remember, Haku. Just know that from now on… you'll feel it more often."
Haku looked up at her. Tears didn't fall, but they shimmered in her eyes—held back by sheer will and overwhelming gratitude.
Naruto, watching from the corner with a goofy smile, finally broke the soft silence.
"So, uh… anyone saving room for dessert?"
Everyone groaned.
Kushina smirked. "Not after you brought home an extra daughter, Naruto."
"Mom, after getting a daughter, you already forgot your only son," Naruto pouted, dramatically placing a hand over his heart like he'd just been betrayed by destiny itself.
Kushina smirked, crossing her arms and raising an eyebrow. "No, no. You'll always be my little boy—especially with that pouty face." Her voice was honey-sweet, but laced with her trademark playful sass.
Sakura, seated with her elbows on the table, couldn't help but snicker. "That pout should be registered as a national treasure. I've seen him use it to get free dango."
Naruto shot her a mock glare. "Et tu, Sakura?"
"Don't look at me like that," she said, grinning. "I'm just glad to see you not eating alone for once."
Everyone in the room burst out laughing, even Haku, who had tried to hide her giggle behind her hand. Naruto just groaned and slumped into the couch like his soul left his body.
"Okay, okay," he huffed, waving the white flag, "But seriously—I have a question."
Everyone quieted a bit as he sat up and looked around, slightly squinting in mock suspicion.
"How did all of you find out about Haku before I even introduced her to any of you?"
At that, Kushina and Kana both shared a look—one of those secret mom looks that communicate entire novels with a glance.
"Oh, sweetie…" Kana said with a slow smile, sipping her tea like this was the plot twist of the century.
"You really think a girl follows you back to the village, the village doesn't know?" Kushina added. "We're ninja, Naruto. Gossip travels faster than chakra here.""You really think a girl follows you back to the village, the village doesn't know?" Kushina added. "We're ninja, Naruto. Gossip travels faster than chakra here."
"Even the ANBU were whispering," Shizune added from the corner, chuckling. "Tsunade caught wind before you even left the gates."
"Yup. By the time you hit the food street, everyone thought you were introducing your new bride," Tsunade said with a smug look, tossing a peanut into her mouth like a mic drop.
Naruto blinked. Once. Twice.
"...This village is terrifying," he finally muttered.
"Welcome home, dear," Kushina said sweetly, patting his head like he was still five.
"After all this time, you're now acknowledging my presence?" Naruto asked, pouting with all the drama of a stage actor denied his spotlight.
Kushina didn't answer. She just chuckled and ruffled his hair—something so simple, yet so effective. His scowl melted into a smile, like snow touched by sunlight.
"Then," Naruto looked at both Kushina and Kana, his voice softening, "I see you both accepted Haku as your daughter."
"Of course," Kushina said, beaming. "Now I have one handsome son... and a few beautiful daughters—handpicked by my lovely boy himself." She winked.
Kana nodded with the same mischievous twinkle in her eye. "You've got good taste, Naruto. Each of them is special."
Naruto, a little flustered by the sudden praise, mumbled, "Mmm," while rubbing the back of his neck.
Karin whispered under her breath, "You see that? That's the face of a man who just got complimented and doesn't know where to put it."
Sakura leaned her chin on her hand, smirking. "Better get used to it, Naruto. Compliments are part of the 'dad' starter pack."
Even Sasuke gave a rare smirk.
Haku, watching it all, felt something bloom quietly in her chest. A warmth. A sense of being wanted, of being seen—without suspicion, without judgment.
Home.
That's what this place was becoming.
With everyone starting to settle into the cozy rhythm of early evening, the house was alive with soft chatter, sunlight spilling in through the windows like golden threads.
Naruto stretched out lazily on the couch, the smell of tea and warm air filling the room, when a thought flickered across his mind.
"Sakura, where are the others?" he asked, glancing toward her. "Hinata, Ino, Tenten… the usual suspects?"
Sakura leaned back on the arm of her chair, brushing her hair behind her ear with casual grace. "They're on a mission. Just a short one, though—they'll be back in a day or two. And trust me, when they hear about Haku, there's gonna be squealing. Possibly emotional glomping."
Naruto smirked. "Heh, so that's why the village felt weirdly quiet. Thought I got isekai'd or something."
Just then, the door slid open with a soft click. No knock. Just someone walking in like they owned the place.
Because, well… he kinda did.
In walked Kakashi.
Same old slouch, same old masked face. And a suspiciously thick book-shaped lump in his vest.
"Kakashi-sensei," Kushina greeted with a wry smile. "Look who finally decided to come back from his spiritual pilgrimage."
Karin didn't miss a beat. "You're late. Again. Don't tell me... 'lost on the road of life?'"
Kakashi gave his classic sheepish chuckle, scratching the back of his head. "Something like that."
[A/N: Definitely made a detour for a new 'Icha Icha' book.]
He casually pulled a coin pouch from his flak jacket and set it on the table with a solid thunk.
"Here. The payout from the last mission. Figured I'd drop it off before anyone accused me of skimming."
Naruto perked up instantly, snatching the pouch like a kid grabbing a cookie before dinner. He untied it with ninja precision and began counting.
"...One-sixty, one-eighty… two hundred thousand ryo!" he announced triumphantly.
Kakashi gave a little shrug. "I'm good without a cut. You kids can split it."
Karin raised a suspicious brow. "You sure?"
"Yup."
Naruto squinted at him, mock-serious, one eye narrowing like he was preparing to unleash a truth-seeking jutsu. "You definitely already bought a book with your share, didn't you?"
Kakashi looked away. "I have no idea what you're talking about."
"Oh no no," Naruto leaned in, pointing an accusing finger. "You spent your part on a brand-new Icha Icha, didn't you? And now you're here, acting like a philanthropist ninja dropping off donations!"
"I am deeply offended," Kakashi replied with the most unconvincing tone ever.
"You didn't even deny it," Karin chimed in, smirking.
Kushina laughed from the kitchen doorway, drying a plate. "Let him be. He might not be rich in cash, but he's always rich in drama."
"Don't encourage them," Kakashi sighed, sitting down beside Sasuke, who just shook his head, as if silently saying this family's crazy—but they're mine.
The room fell back into a familiar rhythm—laughter echoing softly off the walls, shadows dancing in the warm light. And somewhere between Naruto's teasing, Sakura's eye-rolls, and Kakashi's quiet guilt over probably spending 20k on spicy literature, the night continued—one filled with more than just food or money.
It was filled with love, and chaos, and peace.
The good kind of peace.