----
Naruto stepped inside, hesitating slightly as he looked around.
This place was completely different from the tiny, run-down apartment he lived in.
The living room was spacious and well-lit, furnished with a comfortable sofa and coffee table.
Near the kitchen window, there was a long dining table, perfectly placed for someone in a hurry to grab breakfast and leap out the window.
Against the entryway wall, there was a display cabinet filled with photo frames, and several larger pictures hung on the walls.
Naruto's gaze was drawn to the photos.
He examined each one carefully, almost subconsciously imagining himself in them.
Was this… what it was like to grow up in a loving home?
"Karin, Haku, come help me in the kitchen."
Kushina's voice snapped Naruto out of his thoughts.
She led them away, leaving Minato and Naruto alone.
Minato noticed Naruto's interest in the pictures and smiled.
"Come sit over here, Naruto," he said, retrieving an old photo album from the cabinet.
Naruto followed him awkwardly, unsure what to expect.
They sat side by side on the sofa, and Minato slowly flipped through the pages.
"This one is from Kushina and I's graduation," Minato explained.
Then, he leaned in conspiratorially, covering one side of his mouth as if sharing a secret.
"Did you know? Back then, everyone called Kushina the 'Red-Hot Habanero.' She used to beat up nearly every boy in our class. When she lost her temper, she was terrifying!"
"EH?!"
Naruto's eyes widened.
He knew Kushina had a temper, but after seeing her be so gentle and caring, he had almost forgotten about it.
Suddenly, he recalled what Shikamaru had once said:
"Mothers are the scariest creatures alive."
As Minato continued turning pages, Naruto's suspicion grew.
If this world's Minato and Kushina were identical to the ones in his own world before their deaths…
Did that mean his mother would have also chased him down with a frying pan if he misbehaved?!
Minato chuckled. "This one was taken on our wedding day. What do you think? Isn't your mom beautiful?"
The photo showed Kushina in a stunning wedding dress with a joyful smile on her face.
She held a flower bouquet in her right hand, while her left hand was lifted in Minato's grasp.
Minato, dressed in a white suit, wasn't looking at the camera his gaze was entirely on Kushina, filled with warmth and love.
Naruto's throat tightened.
It was a beautiful moment, one he never got to witness in his world.
"Yeah," Naruto nodded. "Mom's really pretty!"
Minato grinned. "And your dad's pretty handsome, too, right?"
Naruto laughed. "Yeah, yeah, you're cool too, Dad!"
"Good answer." Minato patted Naruto's head. "But trust me you're going to be even cooler than me one day. That's what it means to surpass the previous generation."
They flipped through photo after photo.
Minato becoming Hokage.
Kushina's pregnancy.
Baby Naruto, just after being born.
Minato smiled fondly. "Kushina always complains whenever she sees these pictures."
"Eh? Why?" Naruto asked.
Minato glanced toward the kitchen as if making sure Kushina couldn't hear him.
Then, he mimicked her voice:
"Ugh, why did Naruto take so long to come out? I was in pain for hours!"
"PFFT—!"
Naruto burst out laughing.
But then, he turned to look at the photos again.
Slowly, he reached out, tracing his fingers over the images.
"So… Mom went through a lot just to give birth to me, huh?"
For the longest time, Naruto had held some resentment toward his parents.
They had left him alone. They had died, and he had grown up without them.
But looking at these pictures… hearing Minato's stories…
That bitterness was starting to fade.
"And Dad, you must have had a hard time raising me too, huh?"
Minato laughed. "You could say that. I had to wash bed sheets, change diapers… I even roped Kakashi into helping sometimes!"
Naruto snickered at the thought.
Minato flipped to another page, showing a photo of himself lying on the floor, playing 'horsey' while baby Naruto sat on his back.
In another, Naruto was perched on Minato's shoulders, while Kushina stood nearby, laughing as she kept him steady.
"This… seems pretty normal?" Naruto tilted his head.
Minato smirked. "It started off fine. But then, Naruto ambushed me with a 'Water Release' jutsu I couldn't dodge."
"…Huh?"
Naruto suddenly wasn't so sure he wanted this particular childhood memory.
They continued flipping through the many moments of Naruto's life in this world.
Birthdays.
Graduations.
Every important milestone was recorded in these photos.
As Minato narrated each story, Naruto felt his vision blur slightly, but there was a smile on his face.
'Maybe… this isn't just another Naruto's story.'
'Maybe… this is Dad telling me about the things I forgot.'
At the end of the album, Naruto saw a large family portrait.
There were photos of just the three of them.
Some with four people.
And others that included Kakashi, Jiraiya, Tsunade, and many more.
Naruto rubbed his eyes discreetly.
In every single picture, the person standing in the centre, smiling the brightest…
It felt like it could've been him.
"Does Pervy Sage and Granny Tsunade visit often?" Naruto asked, pointing at the last picture.
Minato sighed. "Yeah… they do. The house is usually pretty lively unless they run off for 'research' or gambling."
Naruto grimaced.
"Ugh, even in a different world, they're still the same…"
Minato chuckled. "So your Jiraiya-sensei was the same too?"
"Yeah," Naruto groaned, holding up three fingers. "He only ever did three things: Write, 'research,' and get beat up."
Minato laughed nervously. "Yeah… that sounds about right."
Just then, Kushina's voice rang out from the kitchen.
"You guys sound like you're having fun! Wash your hands and get ready to eat!"
Naruto turned to see her carrying a steaming plate of food, followed by Haku and Karin.
Dressed in a light blue T-shirt and apron, Kushina looked like the perfect gentle housewife.
For a moment, Naruto almost doubted her past nickname.
As they sat down, Kushina suddenly raised three fingers.
"Kimimaro will walk in three seconds."
Three seconds later—
Click.
Kimimaro stepped in.
"I'm home."
Naruto gaped.
"That's… incredible!"
Kushina smirked proudly.
"Right? After you grew up, it became way harder to impress you. I gotta show off when I can!"
"Itadakimasu!" x6
Naruto had barely picked up his chopsticks when he noticed his bowl was already filled with food.
"Guys…"
Everyone just smiled at him.
Only Karin spoke up.
"Just eat! From now on, I got your back, kiddo!"
Naruto blinked.
Then frowned.
"…You just flicked soup into my eye."
Karin: 囧
"WHY CAN'T EITHER OF MY LITTLE BROTHERS BE CUTE AND GRATEFUL?!"
----
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