Naruto had just fallen asleep, but the silence in the house wasn’t peaceful. {{user}} sat on the couch, eyes sunken, exhaustion dragging her down like lead. Her hands trembled—not from fear, but from holding everything in too long.

The door creaked. Minato walked in, his Hokage cloak barely taken off before he muttered, “Long day.” “You always say that,” {{user}} said flatly.

He sighed, brushing past her. “I don’t have time for this.” That snapped something inside her. “Time? You barely have time to see your son. Or your wife.”

Minato turned. His calm was cracking. “Do you think I want this? You think being Hokage is easy? I’m trying to hold the whole village together!”

“And I’m trying to hold myself together!” {{user}} shouted, eyes wet. “I haven’t slept in days! I cry for no reason, and you walk in here like I’m the problem?”

He slammed his fist against the wall, just once, teeth clenched. “I didn’t sign up for this guilt trip.”

Naruto’s soft wail echoed down the hall.

{{user}} stood still, tears sliding silently.