The truth Revealed
DO NOT OWN NARUTO OR ITS CHARACTERS ALL RIGHTS BELONG WITH KISHIMOTO, VIZ MEDIA, AND SHONEN JUMP. PLEASE SUPPORT THE ORIGINAL RELEASE!
THE IDEA OF THESE OC CHARACTERS ARE NOT OWNED BY ME. THESE SPECIFIC VERSIONS HOWEVER ARE MY BRAIN CHILD, IF YOU USE THEM GIVE ME CREDIT.
The Uchiha Rebellion
Chapter 6: The Truth Revealed
6 Months Later
The sun had just begun to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden glow over Konoha. Minato and Akane walked side by side, their hands brushing against each other's as they made their way to the meeting spot. They had kept their relationship a secret for six long months—six months filled with stolen moments, hushed whispers, and the constant fear of being discovered. But now, they were ready to share the truth with the people they cared about most.
Akane glanced up at Minato, her heart racing with a mixture of excitement and anxiety. She knew this wasn't going to be easy, especially when it came to Kushina. Despite everything, Kushina was still her friend—one of her closest, in fact. The thought of hurting her was almost unbearable.
But Minato had insisted. "We can't keep this hidden forever," he had told her, his blue eyes filled with determination. "They deserve to know the truth. We deserve to live our lives without hiding."
Akane had agreed, even though the knot in her stomach had only grown tighter since then.
As they approached the training grounds where Kushina and Akimitsu were waiting, Akane took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. Minato gave her hand a reassuring squeeze before they stepped into view.
Kushina was the first to spot them, her usual bright smile lighting up her face. "Hey, you two!" she called out, waving. Akimitsu stood beside her, his arms crossed casually as he watched them approach with his usual calm demeanor.
"Hey, Kushina, Akimitsu," Minato greeted them, his voice steady. But Akane could feel the tension in him, the weight of what they were about to say pressing down on both of them.
Kushina tilted her head, sensing that something was off. "What's going on? You two look serious."
Minato glanced at Akane, silently asking if she was ready. She nodded, her heart pounding in her chest. Minato took a deep breath and turned back to their friends.
"There's something we need to tell you," Minato began, his voice calm but filled with emotion. "Akane and I… we've been seeing each other. We've been in a relationship for the past six months."
For a moment, there was only silence.
Kushina's eyes widened, her expression shifting from shock to something much more complex. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, her heart racing as a thousand emotions swirled inside her.
"Six months?" she finally managed to say, her voice shaky. "You've… you've been hiding this for six months?"
Akane stepped forward, her voice soft but steady. "We didn't mean to hurt you, Kushina. We just… we weren't sure how to tell you. But we knew you deserved to know."
Kushina's face flushed with emotion, and for a moment, it looked like she was going to cry. But instead, she took a step back, her lips pressed into a tight line. "I just… I need some time to process this," she said quietly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I… I'll talk to you both later."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, her red hair catching the last rays of the setting sun as she disappeared into the distance.
Akane watched her go, her heart sinking with guilt. "Kushina…"
Minato placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression filled with quiet sadness. "She'll come around," he said softly. "She just needs time."
Akimitsu, who had been silent up until now, stepped forward. His calm, steady presence was a welcome relief in the tense atmosphere. "I'm happy for both of you," he said, a small smile playing on his lips. "I can see how much you care about each other. You've found love, and that's something worth celebrating."
Akane managed a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Akimitsu. That means a lot."
Akimitsu nodded, then glanced in the direction Kushina had gone. "I'll talk to her. I think she just needs to hear from someone who isn't directly involved. Maybe I can help her work through this."
Minato smiled, his gratitude evident. "Thanks, Akimitsu. We appreciate it."
Akimitsu waved off the thanks. "Don't worry about it. I'll do what I can. But for now, you two should take it easy. This is a big step, and you both deserve some peace after all this."
Akane and Minato shared a glance, the tension between them finally starting to ease. They had taken the first step toward living their truth, and though there were still challenges ahead, they knew they could face them together.
Kushina sat on the floor of her quiet home, her knees pulled up to her chest, and her arms wrapped around them. The house felt colder than usual, though she knew it wasn't the temperature—it was her. The revelation from earlier in the day still echoed in her mind, cutting deeper with each passing moment.
Six months. They had been together for six months, and she hadn't noticed a thing. The more she thought about it, the more she felt like a fool. How could I have missed it?
Her mind drifted back to small moments over the past few months. Little things she hadn't paid much attention to at the time. The way Minato would glance at Akane, the soft smiles they exchanged, the way they sometimes lingered a little too close to each other. She had brushed it off, convinced it was nothing more than camaraderie from their shared missions.
But now, with everything out in the open, it was so obvious. The signs had been right there, and she had been too blind to see them.
Kushina squeezed her eyes shut, trying to block out the painful memories. She had loved Minato for as long as she could remember—ten years of friendship, admiration, and love, all leading up to this crushing moment. She had always believed that, in time, Minato would see her the way she saw him. That they would eventually be together.
But now, everything had changed.
A sharp knock at the door pulled her from her thoughts. Wiping her eyes, she stood up and made her way to the door, her heart heavy with lingering sadness. When she opened it, she was surprised to find Akimitsu Senju standing there, his expression calm but concerned.
"Hello, Kushina," he greeted her, his voice soft and warm.
Kushina hesitated for a moment before stepping aside, letting him into the house. She wasn't sure if she was ready to talk to anyone yet, but Akimitsu had always been a good friend. Maybe he could help her make sense of everything.
Once they were inside, Akimitsu sat down at the small table in the center of the room. Kushina joined him, her arms crossed tightly over her chest as if trying to hold herself together.
For a few moments, they sat in silence, the tension hanging in the air. Then, finally, Kushina spoke, her voice thick with emotion. "I can't believe it, Akimitsu," she said, her hands trembling slightly. "I missed all the signs. They've been together for six months, and I didn't even realize it."
Akimitsu listened quietly, his dark eyes filled with understanding. He didn't interrupt, letting her vent her frustration and pain.
"They kept it from us. From me," Kushina continued, her voice rising slightly. "I've been Minato's friend for *years*. We've been through so much together. And Akane—she's supposed to be my friend too. How could they hide this?"
Akimitsu nodded slowly, his gaze never leaving hers. "It's hard," he said gently. "They should have told us sooner. But… they didn't have to tell us at all."
Kushina looked up at him, confused. "What do you mean?"
Akimitsu sighed, leaning forward slightly. "Minato and Akane didn't owe us anything, Kushina. Relationships are complicated. They could have kept this hidden forever if they wanted to, but they chose to be honest with us."
Kushina bit her lip, her eyes dropping to the table. "I know that," she muttered. "But it still isn't fair. I've loved Minato for ten years, Akimitsu. Ten years. I always thought that one day… maybe one day he'd see me the way I see him."
Her voice broke, and she quickly wiped her eyes, trying to keep the tears from falling. Akimitsu reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I know it's not easy," he said softly. "And I know it's painful. But Minato and Akane… they found something with each other. Something real. And while it hurts, I think we should try to be happy for them."
Kushina's jaw tightened, a wave of bitterness rising in her chest. "I want to be happy for them," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I can't help but resent Akane for stealing him away from me."
Akimitsu frowned slightly, his hand still resting on her shoulder. "Akane didn't steal him, Kushina. Minato made his own choice. Just like you've made yours over the years."
Kushina opened her mouth to argue, but the words died in her throat. Deep down, she knew Akimitsu was right. Minato hadn't been taken from her—he had simply chosen someone else. But that didn't make the pain any easier to bear.
After a long silence, she sighed, her shoulders slumping in defeat. "I guess I just… I just need time."
Akimitsu nodded. "That's understandable. Take all the time you need. But don't shut them out forever. They're still your friends, and they care about you."
Kushina nodded slowly, though she wasn't sure how long it would take for her heart to heal. But for now, she was grateful to have someone like Akimitsu by her side.
"Thanks," she whispered. She hugged him. "For listening."
Akimitsu smiled gently. "Anytime, Kushina."
As the night settled over the village, the weight of Kushina's emotions felt a little lighter. She knew the road ahead wouldn't be easy, but at least she didn't have to walk it alone.
Kind of have to feel bad for Akimitsu, the girl he likes, likes their friend who likes someone else im the friend group. How hilarious. Don't feel too bad for him yet. Next chapter will start to spice up.