Naruto: reborn as an Uzumaki

Kenshin stepped into the bathroom, momentarily surprised to see Kana already in the tub, scrubbing herself with an almost content expression.

Normally, she would drag her feet or even feign illness to avoid bathing, but now she seemed completely at ease. Her red hair was tied up in a neat bun, keeping it out of the water.

"Surprised to see you actually taking care of yourself for once," Kenshin teased, slipping out of his clothes and setting them aside.

Kana flashed him a playful smirk. "I can be responsible when I want to, Ken-chan. Stop underestimating your mom."

Akane, having stripped as well, gave Kenshin a sly grin before sliding into the tub. "Come on, Kenshin. Stop gawking and get in already."

Kenshin rolled his eyes but obliged, sinking into the warm water beside his sister. The heat of the bath melted away the tension from his long day.

After a few moments of relaxing silence, Akane grabbed a cloth and shifted behind Kenshin. "Let me wash your back, okay?"

Kenshin hesitated for a second but nodded. "Sure. Thanks."

As she began scrubbing, Akane broke the calm with a question. "Kenshin, why is Kaede so... pushy with you? I mean, Kira's respectful and doesn't cling to you like she's glued to your side. Can't Kaede act more like that?"

Kenshin tilted his head, thoughtful. "I've been wondering that myself," he admitted, leaning forward slightly to give her better access. "But... I think it's because I'm the first person to ever make her feel something. Kaede's been alive for eons. She's always been the strongest, even as a child. When she was just fifty—basically a ten-year-old by human standards—she could already fight and defeat some of the strongest beings in Shikkotsu Forest."

Kana, now listening, gave them both a bewildered look. "What kind of life has this girl lived? And fifty is 'just a child'?"

"Cats of the Shikkotsu Forest age differently," Kenshin explained. "Anyway, Kaede's never fought anyone who could push her back... except me. During our second battle, something changed. She saw a glimpse of someone stronger than her, someone who could challenge and maybe even defeat her someday. That feeling grew when Kira used Kotoamatsukami on her. I told Kira to use it when we were out of options, and it worked, but it also... altered Kaede's mindset."

Akane paused her scrubbing. "Altered how?"

"Kaede now believes that by serving me, helping me grow stronger, and staying by my side, she can push me toward that strength she saw in our fight. She wants to see me become the person who could finally end her."

"Wait, what's Kotoamatsukami?" Kana asked, clearly confused.

"It's a mangekyo sharingan ability. Basically a really deep suggestion that feels like your own. You can't usually realize it unless someone points it out." Kenshin explained briefly, before turning his attention back to Akane.

Akane frowned, her hands stilling. "So... she wants someone to kill her? That's... kinda sad. And twisted."

Kenshin nodded. "It is. But that's who she is. For her, living without challenges or rivals is worse than death."

Akane shook her head in disbelief. "Still, the way she acts around you is too much. I mean, what kind of woman would want to see the man she loves being kissed by another woman?"

Kenshin blinked, his cheeks flushing faintly. "Akane, that's—"

"Don't 'Akane' me, Kenshin," she interrupted, her eyes narrowing. "She can stay loyal to you without clinging like some love-struck kitten. It's embarrassing."

Kana, still washing herself, chimed in, her tone teasing. "It's embarrassing, but it's also kind of funny. Poor Ken-chan, surrounded by such intense women."

Kenshin groaned, rubbing his temples. "I'm not sure if I should laugh or cry."

Akane leaned closer, her voice softer but still firm. "Just... do something about her, Kenshin. I get her reasoning, but she's too much."

"I'll talk to her," Kenshin promised, letting out a resigned sigh.

Kana finished rinsing herself, her expression turning serious as she listened to the conversation. She shifted slightly in the tub, addressing Kenshin directly. "Ken-chan, I think you need to be careful with Kaede."

Kenshin glanced at her, surprised by her sudden shift in tone. "Careful? What do you mean?"

Kana leaned back, her brow furrowed in thought. "From what I'm hearing, Kaede's mental state isn't stable. If her decision to serve you wasn't entirely her own, then she's likely dealing with a lot of contradictory thoughts. She might not even realize it herself. All that affection she's showering you with? It might just be her way of coping, masking whatever turmoil she's feeling inside."

Akane tilted her head, considering her mother's words. "You mean... she's using Kenshin as a way to avoid facing her own feelings?"

"Exactly," Kana said with a nod. "Think about it. If Kotoamatsukami influenced her decision to serve Kenshin, she might not fully understand why she's so loyal to him. That confusion could manifest as over-the-top affection and clinginess. It's safer for her to focus on Ken-chan than to question her own thoughts."

Kenshin crossed his arms, his face contemplative. "So, what do you think I should do?"

Kana's gaze softened, though her tone remained firm. "Don't outright reject her. That could cause her to spiral or lash out. Instead, set boundaries—clear ones. Humor her where you can, but don't let her overstep. If you're firm and consistent, she'll eventually settle into a healthier dynamic."

"The last thing we need," Kana continued, "is for her to lash out at you, or worse, at someone else. She's incredibly powerful, Ken-chan, and if she loses control even for a moment... it could end badly."

Akane frowned, recalling the moment earlier when Kaede's murderous intent had flared. "Mom's right. She almost snapped at me just now when I pulled her tail. If Kenshin hadn't stopped her, who knows what she would've done."

Kenshin sighed, leaning back against the edge of the tub. "This is more complicated than I thought. Although it does make sense. I'm not sure if I can fight Kaede long enough to calm her down, and I'd rather not fight her for at least a couple more years."

Kana smiled faintly. "That's my Ken-chan. Just remember, even if she's difficult, she deserves someone to look out for her."

Akane huffed, crossing her arms. "Fine, but if she tries anything weird again, I'm yanking her tail harder next time."

Kana chuckled, the tension easing slightly. "Let's not antagonize her too much, Akane-chan. I like having my children in one piece. Besides, if something happens to you two, who's going to look after mommy?"

Kenshin smirked despite himself. "Noted. Now, can we focus on relaxing for a bit? This bath is supposed to be calming."

The three of them shared a small laugh, letting the conversation fade for the moment as they settled into the warmth of the tub.

After some time, Kenshin stood, wrapping a towel around himself and stepping out of the bath first. He turned to help Kana, who was still contentedly relaxing in the water.

"Come on, Mom," Kenshin said gently, holding out a hand. "You'll wrinkle up if you stay too long."

Kana pouted but allowed him to help her out. He handed her a towel and helped her dry off, his touch gentle and familiar, a reflection of the years he spent caring for her during her illness. She dressed quickly, and Kenshin followed suit while Akane finished drying off behind them.

Once all three were dressed, they exited the bathroom together and headed to the living room, where Yukari, Kira, and Kaede were waiting. Kaede's eyes immediately locked onto Akane, her expression darkening as her tail swayed behind her in irritation.

Akane stiffened but didn't back down, meeting Kaede's narrowed gaze with a steady one of her own. Before Kaede could act on whatever was brewing in her mind, her eyes shifted to Kenshin, who was focused on Kana as they settled into the room. Kaede exhaled deeply, standing and brushing off her clothes.

Kira, meanwhile, began stripping without a second thought, humming a cheerful tune. She casually tossed her clothes onto the floor, as though expecting them to vanish.

"Kira," Kenshin's stern voice cut through the air like a blade, freezing her mid-motion. "Pick those up."

She blinked, startled, then gave him a sheepish grin as she scrambled to gather her discarded clothes. "Sorry, Master! Force of habit!"

Kaede turned and headed toward the bathroom, her tail swishing lazily behind her. As she passed Akane, the tail flicked against her, just enough to brush against her side. It wasn't an attack, but the message was clear.

Akane gritted her teeth, muttering under her breath. "What's her problem?"

Kira sighed as she walked past. "You're lucky, you know. If she weren't under the genjutsu's influence, that would've been a lot worse." She kept her voice low, almost too quiet to hear. "Master and I really need to figure out how to handle her... stuff like this isn't going to stop."

Kira followed Kaede to the bath, leaving her muttered concerns hanging in the air. Yukari, ever dutiful, followed behind them, a serene but watchful presence.

Kenshin watched them go, the tension in his shoulders easing. He moved to the table, lifting the lid from one of the dishes and inhaling deeply. The savory aroma of a home-cooked meal filled the air, and for a moment, Kenshin found himself caught between the past and present.

Two months ago, he was the one always cooking, and the house had been quiet, almost eerily so. Now, the house was full of life—messy, chaotic, but undeniably lively.

Kana wasn't dying anymore, free from the chakra disease that had haunted her for years. Instead, she could act like the child at heart he knew her to be.

His sister, Akane, stood beside him, the love of his life in this life and the last. His aunt Yukari, always too polite and formal, but undeniably caring.

And then there were Kira and Kaede. Kira was more a friend and partner than a servant, while Kaede was... well, a ticking time bomb he needed to figure out how to diffuse before she became a real problem.

Kenshin smiled faintly, shaking his head as he took a seat. "Surreal," he murmured. "But it's mine."

Akane sat next to him, bumping his shoulder playfully. "What's surreal?"

"Everything," Kenshin replied, his tone warm despite the weight of his thoughts. "But it's good. I wouldn't trade it for anything."

Akane smiled, her eyes softening as she leaned her head against his shoulder. "Me neither."

The warm water of the bath rippled gently as Kaede shifted uncomfortably. Her bright red eyes darted around the room, taking in the strange, human contraptions. Soap, scrubs, bottles—none of it made sense to her.

Kira stood beside her, equally clueless, though she poked curiously at a bar of soap, sniffing it and wrinkling her nose. Yukari, ever patient, picked up the soap and explained its use, demonstrating with a scrub as Kaede and Kira observed with a mixture of confusion and fascination.

"Humans complicate the simplest things," Kaede muttered under her breath, her tail twitching as she sat back against the tub's edge.

Yukari glanced at her gently. "You'll grow used to it. Now, Kaede-sama, if I may ask... why did you seem so upset earlier when Akane-sama pulled your tail? You seemed ready to tear her apart."

Kaede's gaze hardened instantly, her eyes narrowing dangerously as she turned away without responding. The water sloshed as her hands gripped the edge of the tub tightly.

"It's a sign of disrespect in our tribe," Kira explained, breaking the tense silence. She sighed, running a hand through her damp hair. "Touching someone's tail without their permission is the same as challenging them—or worse, insulting their pride."

Kaede's tail flicked sharply, sending water splashing onto the floor. "She's lucky I didn't rip her arms off and shove them down her throat," she muttered darkly. "I was only trying to do what was best for Master. She overreacted."

"Kaede," Kira said softly, trying to soothe her. "Akane was just being possessive. She loves Master—it's natural for her to feel upset when another woman gets too close to him. You can't fault her for that."

Kaede let out a low growl, her frustration bubbling to the surface. "I don't care about her feelings," she snapped. "If it were anyone else who pulled my tail, they'd already be dead. Master stopped me, so I let it go. But I won't forget."

Kira placed a hand on Kaede's shoulder, her tone gentle yet firm. "You don't have to like Akane, but if you're going to stay by Master's side, you need to work on your relationship with her. She's important to him, and if you want to support him, you need to at least find some common ground. You need to figure out how you can convey your feelings to her."

Kaede turned sharply, glaring at Kira. Her gaze softened a fraction before she sighed deeply, the tension in her shoulders loosening slightly. "There's nothing to convey," she said flatly. "I want him to be stronger. That's it. From now on, I won't waste time with affection or sentiment. After the mission, I'll make sure he trains. I'll challenge him again."

Her voice dropped into a quieter, more serious tone as she added, "But don't tell him. If Master can't remember his promise to me on his own, then there's no point in this. I'll cancel the contract myself."

Kira frowned, her expression conflicted, but she nodded. "Fine. But Kaede, don't push him too hard. He's only human."

Kaede didn't respond immediately. Her mind was a storm of conflicting thoughts and emotions. She knew she was being unreasonable—Kenshin couldn't possibly reach the level of strength she wanted in such a short time. But the restlessness inside her wouldn't stop. She couldn't shake the anger she'd felt when Akane touched her tail.

Part of her still wanted to kill Akane for the insult. Yet when she saw Kenshin, her rage dimmed, replaced by something unfamiliar. A desire to obey him, to serve him, to believe in his promise.

'Why do I feel like this?' she wondered, her brows furrowing. The idea of serving Kenshin felt natural, as though it had come from her own heart.

Yet, it clashed violently with everything she had known about herself. Kaede had never been one to compromise, to lower her head to anyone, let alone obey without question.

Her tail flicked again, slower this time, as her focus drifted. The thought of Kenshin's promise calmed her, but it also frustrated her. 'Is this really me? Or... something else? But he couldn't possibly manipulate my thoughts, he tried already. Then what could it be?'

For now, she shook the thoughts away. There would be time to figure this out later. All that mattered was that Kenshin grew strong enough to keep his word. Everything else could wait.

Kaede's thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a splash of warm water being dumped over her head. She blinked, water dripping from her hair as she looked up to see Kira holding a small tub, her face alight with a mischievous grin.

"Loosen up, Kaede," Kira said cheerfully, setting the tub aside. "You're going to get wrinkles if you keep thinking so hard. Just focus on Master. Everything else will fall into place."

Kaede frowned, her tail flicking in irritation as she glared at Kira. For a moment, her pride flared, but it quickly deflated under Kira's carefree gaze. Her expression softened, and a rare chuckle escaped her lips.

"You're insufferable," Kaede muttered, shaking her head as she wiped the water from her face. Despite her words, there was a faint smile tugging at her lips.

Kira, meanwhile, was far less relaxed than she appeared. Internally, her thoughts were racing. 'Kaede's not stable right now,' she thought, her ears twitching as she monitored Kaede's reaction.

She couldn't let her start digging too deeply into her feelings or the lingering influence of Kotoamatsukami. Earlier, while listening in on Kenshin's bath through their mental link, Kana's comments about Kaede's potential conflict had struck a nerve.

If Kaede realized her decisions were being nudged by genjutsu, it could unravel everything—and Kaede wasn't someone who unraveled quietly.

"Come on," Kira said, tugging Kaede's arm lightly. "Yukari-sama went to all this trouble to teach us how to use these human baths. Let's not waste it."

Kaede hesitated for a moment, then relented with a sigh. "Fine," she said, stepping into the deeper part of the bath. She settled into the warm water, her muscles relaxing as the heat soaked into her skin.

The tension in her shoulders eased slightly, and for the first time in a while, she allowed herself to let go.

Kira joined her, chatting idly about the strange soaps and their scents, while Yukari chuckled softly at their banter. Kaede listened, her usual sharp edge dulled by the soothing environment. She glanced at Kira, noticing the genuine warmth in her teasing.

'She's trying too hard, even I can tell.' Kaede thought idly, though she didn't press the matter. Kira's playful support was enough for now, even if Kaede suspected there was more to it.

As the three of them relaxed together, Kaede's earlier frustration began to fade, replaced by a sense of quiet companionship.

For now, at least, she could push aside her doubts and focus on the moment. Kenshin's promise still lingered in her mind, but the bath's warmth made the thought feel distant—something to deal with later.

The sound of the bathroom door sliding open was followed by light footsteps padding across the wooden floor. Kira emerged first, skipping ahead with a carefree grin, steam still rising from her damp white hair. The warmth of the bath had evidently lulled her into a false sense of security.

It wasn't until she reached the living room and felt the icy bite of the winter air against her skin that she froze in place, eyes wide.

"Yeow!" she yelped, her tail fluffing up from the sudden chill. She whipped around, bolting back toward the bathroom with a blur of white fur and flustered muttering.

Kaede, dressed and composed, walked out next, her red eyes flicking to Kira's retreating form before settling on Akane, who stood nearby. Although her posture was relaxed, her narrowed gaze betrayed the simmering tension she felt toward Akane.

Akane, sensing Kaede's presence, returned the look with a neutral expression, though her lips tightened slightly.

Trailing behind them was Yukari, her serene demeanor unshaken as she stepped into the living room. She observed the scene with a soft smile, her red hair falling like a silken curtain down her back.

When Kira finally reappeared, bundled in warm clothes, she rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly. "I wasn't embarrassed, okay?" she declared, plopping down at the dining table. "I just forgot about the cold."

Kaede snorted softly, taking her seat at the table without comment. Kenshin joined them moments later, sitting between Akane and Kaede in a deliberate attempt to diffuse the lingering tension between the two. His presence seemed to settle the atmosphere slightly—at least outwardly.

Dinner was a quiet affair. Kaede ate in silence, her expression unreadable, though her actions spoke of a softer side as she occasionally picked up bits of food with her hands and offered them to Kenshin without a word.

Kenshin, caught slightly off guard the first time, accepted with a small nod, though he kept glancing nervously at Akane.

Akane, for her part, didn't imitate Kaede's actions. She wasn't about to make this a competition—not tonight, at least. Let Kaede have her moment, she thought. Tomorrow, she could deal with her in other ways.

For now, Akane's focus was on the night ahead. After almost 18 days, she would finally have the chance to be in bed with Kenshin again, and the thought filled her with visible anticipation.

Kira, blissfully unaware of the silent undercurrents between the others, chatted animatedly with Yukari about the bath experience and the oddities of human rituals.

Yukari humored her with patient nods and a warm smile, her gaze occasionally flicking toward Kaede and Akane with subtle concern.

As dinner progressed, Kenshin tried to steer the conversation toward lighter topics, his efforts met with varying degrees of success.

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Once again, thank you everyone for your continued support and power stones. And as always, please give me your power stones and comment your opinions. They make a big difference and motivate me to write more.