Naruto: reborn as an Uzumaki

Ino stood, brushing her hands off and flashing Kenshin a bright smile. "Come on, Kenshin, lunch is ready. We've just been waiting for you and Mom to finish up."

She led him into the house, weaving through the hallways until they reached the dining room. "Take a seat," she said cheerfully. "I'll finish up the last touches."

Kenshin stepped inside and saw Ino's father, Inoichi, already seated at the table. Straightening up, Kenshin greeted him with a respectful bow. "Inoichi-san, it's good to meet you."

Inoichi's expression remained neutral, though his sharp eyes scanned Kenshin briefly. "So, you're the client my wife stayed up all night for?" he said, his tone calm but mildly curious.

"I'll admit, I'm surprised someone like you would have mental health issues. But I suppose it's not my place to pry. Let's leave it at that." He motioned toward the table. "Go ahead, sit. My daughter's been looking forward to this."

Kenshin nodded, taking a seat across from Inoichi. The room fell into silence as the clinking sounds of Ino preparing the food filled the air.

A few moments later, Suu came downstairs, looking slightly more rested after her earlier coffee. She smiled at Kenshin as she joined the table.

"Ino, let me help." Kenshin offered, starting to rise.

Suu raised a hand, stopping him. "Sit, Kenshin. Let Ino handle this."

Reluctantly, Kenshin sat back down, watching as Ino brought over dish after dish.

The first was the main course: perfectly seared salmon, its glossy teriyaki glaze catching the light as she placed it over bowls of steaming white rice. The scent was warm and inviting, making Kenshin's stomach growl softly.

Next, Ino brought out a salad made of fresh spinach leaves tossed with toasted sesame seeds and a light, fragrant soy dressing. The nutty aroma mingled with the richer scent of the salmon, creating an enticing combination.

Finally, she served bowls of miso soup, dotted with green onions and small cubes of tofu floating alongside pieces of seaweed.

"Here we go," Ino said proudly, taking her seat after serving everyone. "Teriyaki salmon bowl, spinach and sesame salad, and miso soup. Enjoy!"

Kenshin glanced at her, clearly impressed. "You made all this, Ino? You didn't have to do this much."

She grinned, brushing off the compliment. "It's no big deal. Just eat up before it gets cold."

As the family began their meal, the dining room filled with the soft hum of conversation and the clinking of chopsticks.

Kenshin sat quietly, finishing the last bite of his second serving, when Ino leaned over with a smile. "You want more?" she asked, already picking up the serving bowl.

He hesitated, as politeness dictated, but Ino quickly reassured him. "Don't be shy. I made extra, knowing you'd probably want more. You're our guest, after all, and we know you have quite the appetite."

Encouraged by her words, Kenshin nodded. "Thank you, Ino," he said softly, letting her add another helping to his plate. As he continued eating, he couldn't help but compare Ino's cooking to his own. It wasn't just the flavor—though it was excellent—but the care behind it.

'Maybe there's a difference between cooking out of necessity and cooking because you want to,' he thought. 'I could probably learn a thing or two from them.'

As if reading his thoughts, Suu smiled and said, "Don't beat yourself up, Kenshin. Ino's cooking might be good, but she's only good at a handful of dishes. Most things she makes? Absolutely terrible."

Ino's smile faltered as her face turned bright red. "Mom!" she exclaimed, mortified, while Inoichi barely stifled a laugh behind his hand.

Suu continued, unfazed, "Unlike Ino, you've managed to do almost anything. It's pretty impressive how you've juggled housework, cooking, taking care of your mother, and still found the time to create your own ninjutsu."

Inoichi raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "Ninjutsu, huh? What kind of jutsu have you made, Kenshin?"

Kenshin shrugged, trying to dismiss the attention. "Just a few wind release techniques. Honestly, with the Sharingan and Uzumaki chakra reserves, anyone could develop them. They're not that special."

Suu frowned, clearly unimpressed by his modesty. "There's no way they're 'nothing special,' Kenshin. You're way too humble for someone who claims they can't die."

She leaned back, crossing her arms. "Your jutsu are at least A-rank, like your Wind Burst. And Gust Bullet? Even if we lowball, that's still A-rank. Personally, I'd say it's closer to S-rank with its range and potential power. Not to mention the amount of control you'd need to maintain it for a prolonged period of time."

She gave him a pointed look, her voice growing more serious. "And let's not forget your Wind Chakra Mode. That's easily an S-rank technique. You can maintain it for hours if not more. Honestly, it's near the top of the scale. So stop downplaying your skills, alright?"

Kenshin blinked, surprised by her sudden critique. He opened his mouth to respond, but found himself at a loss for words, her words lingering in his mind.

He instead blushed slightly at Suu's enthusiastic evaluation of his abilities, feeling a mix of embarrassment and pride. Meanwhile, Inoichi was left momentarily stunned, stuttering as he tried to respond.

"Suu, you might be overestimating him," Inoichi began. "Even the Fourth Hokage—"

Suu cut him off mid-sentence. "I know what Minato did," she said almost casually, her tone lacking the reverence most people reserved for the name. Suu had been close friends with Minato, and it showed in how she spoke of him.

"Minato developed an A-rank jutsu, sure. But that's pure chakra control. It's not the same as incorporating nature releases, which is what Kenshin did. The Rasengan might be the pinnacle of chakra control, but it's still unfinished.

Kenshin's Gust Bullet and Chakra Mode, on the other hand, require immense control over not just chakra but also nature transformation. And wind release is rare, so he didn't even have much oversight. In that sense, they're even more impressive than the Rasengan, especially when you consider his age."

Kenshin finally interrupted, his voice tinged with curiosity and confusion. "Wait, Suu-san, how do you even know so much about my jutsu?"

Suu gave him a playful wink. "I might've peeked into your memories a little bit more than necessary during our sessions," she admitted shamelessly.

Kenshin's eyes widened, caught off guard. Ino patted him on the back in a comforting gesture. "Don't take it personally," she said with a small laugh. "It's a habit of hers. Since her treatment relies on memory, she sometimes accesses bits without permission. It's how she works."

Inoichi joined in with a knowing chuckle. "Kenshin, you've let my wife into your mind twice now. Trust me, depending on how much she's peeked, she probably knows more about certain things than your own mother does."

Kenshin slumped slightly in his chair, groaning, "There goes my privacy."

Inoichi leaned forward, intrigued. "Well then, Kenshin, tell me—how did you come up with the idea for this 'Chakra Mode' and your other jutsu? Surely you had some inspiration?"

Kenshin shrugged nonchalantly. "Honestly, it just popped into my head one day. I didn't think too much about it at the time."

Inoichi raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Even so, if this Chakra Mode really is an S-rank jutsu, that's remarkable. Not many Shinobi in history have created something like that. You must be very talented."

Kenshin rubbed the back of his head awkwardly, refusing the compliment. "That's not the case. I basically brute-forced the Chakra Mode. I built the foundation over years of trial and error, but it barely went beyond baby steps.

When I did complete it, it was like 10% talent, 20% hard work, and 70% adrenaline. Honestly speaking, I was lucky the final result was manageable enough to refine later."

Suu leaned back in her chair, a knowing smile on her face. "Adrenaline or not, Kenshin, you can't deny that talent played a part. Luck favors those who seize it. It doesn't just come to anyone—it comes to those who deserve it. And trust me, Kenshin, you deserve every bit of that success."

Kenshin looked away, slightly flustered by her words but unable to suppress the small smile forming on his lips. For the first time in a while, he felt a sense of validation he didn't know he needed.

Ino clapped her hands with enthusiasm, interrupting the conversation. "Alright, that's enough talking for now!" she said cheerfully. "I'm bringing out dessert!"

She darted off to the kitchen, returning moments later with a plate of freshly prepared anko-filled mochi. The soft, round sweets were neatly arranged on a tray, lightly dusted with roasted soybean flour for a touch of nuttiness.

Ino set the plate down on the table and began serving the mochi, her pride evident in the way she presented them.

"Go ahead, try some. Ino's mochi are really good." Inoichi said, gesturing for him to try one.

Kenshin picked up a piece and took a bite, the soft and chewy texture yielding to the sweet red bean paste inside. The subtle nuttiness of the soybean flour complemented the sweetness perfectly, making each bite both satisfying and balanced.

"These are amazing," Kenshin said sincerely, looking at Ino. "You made these yourself?"

"Of course!" Ino replied, grinning. "I figured you might enjoy something light and sweet after lunch."

To accompany the dessert, Ino also served steaming cups of ginger tea. The warm, mildly spiced aroma filled the room, blending harmoniously with the nutty and sweet scent of the mochi. Kenshin took a sip, the gentle heat and spice of the ginger tea perfectly balancing the sweetness of the mochi.

"This is really thoughtful," Kenshin admitted after a moment, looking at the tea and the dessert. "Thank you, Ino."

Ino waved him off, her cheeks slightly pink. "It's no big deal. I just thought you'd appreciate something nice after your therapy session. Besides, Mom and I like to treat our guests well."

Inoichi, now enjoying his own cup of tea, leaned back in his chair with a smile. "Ino's been showing off a bit today," he teased, earning a playful glare from his daughter.

Suu chuckled softly. "It's a good thing she did. A sweet end to the meal always lifts the mood."

Kenshin felt a warm sense of gratitude settle over him as he continued to enjoy the mochi and tea.