In a flash of golden light, Minato Namikaze reappeared in the center of his living room.
The soft morning glow filtered in through the windows. The scent of bone broth still lingered in the air, and the sound of light footsteps could be heard from the kitchen.
"Kai—you're still here."
Minato's voice was calm, but it carried a note of relief.
The wandering sage stood near the table, hands tucked into his sleeves, gaze quiet and unreadable.
"Hey, Yondaime," Kai replied casually.
Minato approached quickly and looked around. "You're alone this time? The First and Second didn't return with you?"
"They didn't," Kai said simply.
Minato nodded, accepting the answer without pressing. Then his eyes shifted to Kushina, who sat nearby, a blanket wrapped around her shoulders.
"Kushina! Are you okay? How's your recovery?"
"I'm fine," she said with a warm smile. "You look worse than I do. Come on, eat something. You've been up all night."
Minato laughed, rubbing the back of his head as he took a seat. "Thanks. I won't say no."
Their eyes met, and for a moment, the tension lifted. Even in the aftermath of chaos, there was something healing in their gaze. A quiet understanding passed between them—one born of shared survival.
Kai simply sat across from them, unfazed. Romance was the last thing on his mind.
He was here for answers. And progress.
Besides, the food was still warm.
Kushina served them each a bowl of her now-famous bone broth ramen. Kai helped himself to two servings without hesitation. The ramen itself was average, but the broth—thick, rich, infused with umami—was nothing short of addictive.
Minato, having not eaten since the night before, devoured three bowls effortlessly. Between the battle, the Nine-Tails' sealing, and a sleepless night managing recovery, he was starved.
Kushina sipped hers slowly. Though her body had begun healing—thanks to her Uzumaki bloodline—she was still drained. But her spirit was fiery as ever.
Minato leaned back, finishing the last sip of broth, and exhaled with a satisfied sigh.
"That hit the spot."
Kai placed his chopsticks down. "Thanks for the meal. You've got a good cook in the house."
Minato chuckled, glancing at his wife. "I like everything Kushina makes."
Kushina blushed slightly, then shot a playful glare. "Don't try to flatter me now."
Kai waved a hand. "Food's over. Time to talk."
Minato's expression shifted.
"Yes. We need to."
Kai looked at him directly. "I assume the council meeting didn't go well."
Minato froze for a second, then smiled bitterly. "You really do see through everything, don't you?"
"Wasn't hard to guess. You came back too quickly to have resolved anything."
Kushina, who had been quietly wiping her bowl, suddenly slammed it on the table.
"What did they say this time?" she asked, voice sharp.
Minato hesitated.
But Kai spoke first.
"They've started pushing blame."
Kushina's eyes widened. "Already?! The rubble isn't even cleared yet!"
Minato sighed. "The village took heavy damage. Someone has to answer for it."
"But why you?" she snapped. "You're the one who sealed the Nine-Tails. You're the one who saved this village!"
Kai interjected again, voice even and composed.
"The council doesn't care who saved the village. They care about who left it vulnerable in the first place."
"They're saying he failed to protect the Jinchūriki," Kai continued. "That he allowed the enemy in. That his leadership didn't prevent catastrophe."
"They—!"
Kushina stood up suddenly, fists clenched.
"They want to blame him for something he couldn't have predicted?"
Minato raised a hand gently. "Kushina, calm down. You need to rest."
"I don't want to rest! I want to march into that building and scream at all of them!"
Kai watched quietly as Kushina paced, red hair flaring with every agitated movement. Her emotions were raw—protective, angry, justifiable.
Minato looked toward Kai. "They won't remove me from office—not yet. But Danzo and the advisors are already maneuvering to clip my authority. Shift public perception. Frame the event as a failure of command."
Kushina gritted her teeth. "So they're playing politics while the village buries its dead."
"That's what they do," Kai said simply.
Minato nodded. "They won't dare move openly—not with my reputation from the war. But they'll start quietly eroding support. A few rumors here. Some misdirected questions there. Enough to weaken the Hokage's position without looking like treason."
Kushina slammed her hand on the table. "Despicable."
"They weren't at the front lines," Minato said. "They don't understand what it cost."
"They weren't even there last night," she spat. "Where was Danzo's Root while we were being torn apart?"
Kai finally leaned forward, tone calm but cutting.
"They weren't protecting Konoha."
Minato didn't argue.
Kushina glared at him. "Are you going to let them get away with this?"
"No," Minato said softly. "But I can't retaliate directly either."
Kai gave a small nod. "You're walking a tightrope."
The Fourth Hokage looked up at him.
"I can handle the politics. But you didn't just come to eat. What else do you want to say?"
Kai glanced at Kushina, then back to Minato.
"I came to explain… why you have no choice but to accept the blame."
Kushina blinked. "What?"
Minato stayed quiet.
Kai stood slowly and walked toward the window, looking out over the recovering village.
"There's something about human nature you already understand, Minato. But she may not."
He turned back to Kushina.
"After a tragedy, people demand answers. And when they don't have a clear enemy… they will find one."
Kushina stared at him, confused.
Kai continued. "The masked man vanished without a trace. No name. No clan. No face. The average villager doesn't know who he was—or even that he existed."
"So?"
"So," Kai said, "the blame will fall on what they can see."
He looked directly at her.
"The Nine-Tails."
And then, without blinking: "You."
Kushina's breath caught.
Kai didn't soften the blow.
"You're the Jinchūriki. It was your seal that failed. Your chakra that was used. Your connection to the Nine-Tails that people will whisper about. Fair or not, people will blame you."
"And when they do," Kai added, "they won't stop at you."
Kushina whispered, "Naruto…"
"Exactly," Kai said.
The room went still.
Minato finally spoke. "That's why I didn't argue when Danzo questioned my leadership. I won't let that hatred reach Kushina. Or Naruto."
Kai turned to him. "That's why you'll let them attack you politically. Why you'll swallow the blame and carry it alone."
Minato smiled, though it didn't reach his eyes. "It's the only way."
Kushina sat down slowly, eyes red.
"You idiot," she whispered. "You weren't just trying to protect the village… You were protecting us…"
Her voice cracked.
"I was ready to fight them all, but you were already taking the blows for me."
Minato sat beside her, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"You're not a weapon, Kushina. You're my wife. And Naruto's mother. You don't deserve their hatred."
Kushina buried her face in his shoulder, silent tears wetting his cloak.
Kai watched without interrupting.
In moments like these, he didn't speak.
Eventually, Kushina straightened.
Her eyes were fierce again.
"If they hate me, so be it. But they won't touch Naruto. I'll raise him with love if the whole village turns against us."
Minato nodded. "We will."
Kai turned toward the door.
"That's why I came today," he said. "To warn you. And to remind you that even if they curse your name—what matters is what you protect."
Minato stood as well. "We won't forget it."
Kai gave a small smile. "Good. Because soon, the storm will come again. And this village will need more than reputation to survive it."
He stepped forward and vanished in a ripple of silver light.