Chapter 5: Unspoken Bonds

Chapter 5: Unspoken Bonds

The sun was beginning to set, casting warm hues of orange and red over the rooftops of Konoha. Inside Raizen’s home, the soft sounds of Naruto’s laughter echoed as he crawled across the wooden floor, attempting to grab a small wooden kunai toy.

Raizen, seated at a low table filled with documents, glanced at the boy with a smirk. “You’re getting faster, huh?”

Naruto babbled in response, his bright blue eyes filled with mischief.

It was moments like these that made Raizen forget about the burdens of his work, the expectations placed on him as one of Konoha’s most influential figures. The business empire he had built over the years had brought him power, but none of that compared to the simple joy of seeing Naruto grow.

Then—a knock at the door.

Raizen turned his head. He already knew who it was.

When he opened the door, Kurenai Yuhi stood there, her expression relaxed, though her movements were slightly stiff.

“You’re late,” Raizen teased, stepping aside to let her in.

She gave him a tired smirk as she entered. “Mission ran longer than expected.”

That’s when he noticed—her bandaged hands and the faint red stains on her shoulder and back.

His expression darkened. “You’re injured.”

“It’s nothing serious,” she reassured, stretching her arms. “Just some cuts. You don’t have to look so worried.”

Raizen narrowed his eyes but didn’t push further. Instead, he gestured toward Naruto, who had stopped playing and was now crawling toward Kurenai excitedly.

Kurenai’s face softened immediately. She knelt down, scooping Naruto up into her arms. “Hey there, troublemaker. Were you being good today?”

Naruto giggled, tugging at a strand of her long black hair.

Raizen watched the scene, leaning against the table with his arms crossed. “He’s been fine. A bit too energetic, though. I don’t know where he gets it from.”

Kurenai chuckled, swaying Naruto gently in her arms. “It’s called being a child, Raizen. You should try playing with him more instead of burying yourself in paperwork all the time.”

Raizen sighed. “Running a business empire isn’t exactly a side job.”

“But raising a child isn’t something you can do alone either,” Kurenai said, looking at him meaningfully.

There was an unspoken truth between them. She had been there for him since the beginning. Whenever he struggled, Kurenai had been the one to step in—guiding him, scolding him when needed, and offering support in ways he never asked for but always appreciated.

She had become a part of his daily life.

A Quiet Evening

Dinner was a simple meal—rice, grilled fish, and miso soup. Kurenai, despite her injuries, had insisted on helping in the kitchen.

At one point, as they both reached for a bowl at the same time, their hands brushed against each other.

Raizen felt her fingers twitch before she quickly pulled away.

A slight pink tint appeared on her cheeks, but she kept her gaze focused on the food.

Raizen smirked slightly. “You’re oddly shy for someone so confident on the battlefield.”

“Shut up and eat,” Kurenai muttered, taking a seat.

Raizen chuckled but didn’t push further.

As they ate, Naruto sat between them, happily munching on small pieces of fish that Kurenai fed him. It had become a routine of sorts—Kurenai coming over after missions, helping with Naruto, and spending the evening at his home.

It felt natural.

Wounds and Worries

Later that night, after Naruto had fallen asleep, Raizen finally confronted her about her injuries.

“Let me see your back.”

Kurenai raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

Raizen sighed, setting down the medical kit he had fetched. “I know you’re downplaying it, but those cuts aren’t small. I can see the blood through your uniform.”

Kurenai hesitated but eventually turned around, pulling down the upper part of her flak jacket to reveal her shoulder.

Raizen’s jaw tightened at the sight of the thin but deep cuts running along her back. “Tch. You call this ‘nothing serious’?”

Kurenai shrugged. “I’ve had worse.”

Raizen didn’t respond. Instead, he carefully applied antiseptic, his fingers brushing against her bare skin as he worked.

He felt Kurenai tense slightly at the contact.

The silence stretched between them, filled only by the soft crackling of a nearby lantern.

“You’re always worrying,” Kurenai said softly.

“Of course, I am,” Raizen replied, his voice quieter than usual. “You come back injured, and I’m just supposed to act like it’s normal?”

Kurenai turned her head slightly, looking at him from the corner of her eye. “It is normal for a shinobi.”

Raizen paused. “...I know.”

The unspoken words hung in the air.

But that doesn’t mean I have to like it.

After a moment, Kurenai exhaled. “...Thank you.”

Raizen finished bandaging her back and leaned back slightly. “Just don’t make a habit of it.”

She chuckled. “No promises.”

As she adjusted her uniform, Raizen caught her gaze. For a brief second, there was something there—something deeper than friendship, something neither of them had put into words.

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