10. A Marriage Without Passion

When Naruto returned home from the hospital, dusk was already settling in.

The living room on the first floor was lit.

The curtains were drawn, obscuring the view of any activity inside from the outside.

The blond young man gazed intently at the warm, blurred glow beyond the curtains.

His beloved was just behind that veil.

What was she doing now?

Watching TV? Reading? Cutting fruit? Or simply lost in thought?

According to Haruna’s wishes, he should sneak in through the second-floor window, but tonight there was no need; they would not exchange a single word.

For three years, this was essentially how their household functioned.

Simply because Haruna wanted it, and Naruto did not object.

Whether material or emotional, as long as she desired it, Naruto would never refuse her.

Yet, his quiet wife never spoke up in other matters.

Her sole request was—to keep their distance.

Thus, naturally, they remained distant in all other respects.

Except for their wedding night, Naruto had never touched Haruna’s body. In this regard, Haruna was excessively indifferent.

Though she was a woman of marriageable age, she seemed to have no need for intimacy.

Naruto, on the other hand, harbored the desire for marital relations. Occasionally, he wondered if something was amiss with a sexless marriage.

It was like an elephant in the room—obviously there, yet always tacitly ignored by both of them.

Did other couples grow cold like them? Was such a marriage normal?

But it was only occasional; the blond youth did not dwell on it too much.

Firstly, forcing the issue would only hurt Haruna.

He hadn’t married to satisfy his own desires.

He chose marriage because the person he wanted to spend his life with was her, Uzumaki Naruto.

Moreover... this was not solely Haruna’s problem.

He was unsuited to touch her.

In short, everyone had their own way of life, and Naruto felt there was nothing wrong with how their marriage functioned, no need to conform to mainstream norms.

After all, he would never refuse Haruna’s choices.

So he did not feel pain; their marriage was normal.

If that was the case, then there was no problem.

Free from desire’s interference, their simple relationship highlighted the pure fidelity of their marriage.

But now, the situation was different. Haruna needed treatment; her mental state was poor.

Their stable and peaceful marriage faced a serious crisis.

Therefore, he had to understand his wife’s specific condition and eliminate the sole source of instability in their marriage.

So the young man abandoned the thought of climbing through the window and instead approached the door that, as the male head of the household, he should enter through, yet had never boldly opened in three years.

...

The first floor of the Uzumaki residence.

The spacious living room was silent.

Even though the variety show on TV was filled with laughter and cheer, turned up to the maximum volume, it only made the room feel emptier.

Probably because the house was simply too large.

Naruto was a hero of the Fourth Great Ninja War and a candidate for the Seventh Hokage; naturally, his residence was one of the finest villas in Konoha.

Yet, their marriage was distant, they had no children, no pets, and rarely entertained friends or family.

Thus, this beautiful villa always felt cold and empty.

The joyful noise filled the living room; the show’s guests laughed loudly and enthusiastically.

Haruna lay half-reclined on the sofa, her unruffled brown eyes reflecting the faint glow of the screen.

On the screen, the host solemnly declared, “If there’s a joke, I’ll say it; if there’s a joke, I’ll cheer it—that’s my ninjutsu way!”

After saying this catchphrase, the host and guests burst into laughter.

The show’s edited laughter enhanced the lively atmosphere; the variety show was very cheerful.

After the war, Uzumaki Naruto possessed unparalleled influence, so even watching a random TV program, one could detect traces of her illustrious husband’s presence.

Haruna frowned and shifted her reclining position.

The sofa had become increasingly uncomfortable recently.

But it was only three years old; replacing it now would be wasteful.

After all, she was not working now, living solely on Konoha’s disability subsidies for war veterans, and could not afford such expensive furniture and decor.

This beautiful, delicate home was entirely built by Uzumaki Naruto.

She was merely a parasitic bindweed… or perhaps a gloomy parasite.

---

At their best, Haruna was not so sensitively self-conscious.

This sofa was chosen together when they decorated their new home before marriage—its cotton-linen texture was a bit rough, but Haruna liked the cozy feeling of fabric upholstery.

Naruto had smiled and said it was just right, the sofa was spacious enough for the two of them to lie down and watch TV together comfortably.

His blue eyes were bright, lips curved in a dazzling smile.

Back then, she and Naruto had just gotten together; the fact that she was favored by a great hero had not fully sunk in, so she simply smiled.

Yet in her heart, she shyly imagined the two of them snuggled on the sofa.

Would Naruto hold her?

She felt a little shy, a little hopeful.

Unfortunately, things didn’t go as hoped. After marriage, this expensive sofa was only ever lain upon by her alone.

The large TV screen continued playing the lively variety show, but Haruna only felt irritated.

Just as she was about to turn off the TV, the door lock suddenly rattled.

!

She abruptly raised her head, alertly staring at the door.

No one but her would enter through the front door, and usual visitors came only by prior arrangement.

Why did the visitor have a key to her home?!

Fortunately, her vigilance lasted less than two seconds before a familiar, bright voice dispelled all the dark shadows of danger in her heart.

Then.

It brought a deeper kind of moisture.

*

“I’m home,” Naruto said cheerfully.

In the three years since their marriage, this was the first time he spoke those words as a member of the household at the entrance.

Seeing Haruna look at him silently, he softened his tone: “Did anything happen at home today?”

Naruto’s gaze showed concern for Haruna today.

He was usually cold and taciturn, while she was neat and quiet.

Tonight, alone at home, her attire was different from how she dressed during the day when facing him or going out.

Haruna wore a loose house dress; her brown hair was somewhat messy from lying on the sofa for so long, with a few strands playfully sticking up.

This was, besides their wedding night, the first time Naruto had seen her so relaxed.

Most of the time, though not adorned in finery, she appeared plain and clean, dressed neatly.

She never let herself look disheveled before others.

That version of her was certainly admirable, but now, she had a different kind of allure.

Naruto could smell the scent of home on her.

Warm, fragrant.

Like a fluffy cotton quilt warmed by afternoon sunlight.

Haruna’s startled, hastily upright posture from the sofa was endearing.

Especially when she saw it was him, the wariness in her eyes melted like snow in sunlight, replaced by a more obscure silence that belonged only to them as a married couple.

That silent emotion was as dark and bitter as coffee, but if one cared to savor it, a unique fragrant aftertaste emerged.

When they met each other’s eyes, even without words, such emotions always surged.

His Adam’s apple bobbed up and down.

Probably because he hadn’t drunk much water while talking at the hospital, Uzumaki Naruto suddenly felt an unexplainable dryness in his throat.

But now was not the time to quench thirst.

“Sorry to startle you,” Naruto knelt before her with concern. “Did you hurt your leg? Does it hurt?”

Naruto was tall, long-limbed, muscular.

Even with Haruna sitting on the sofa and him half-kneeling on the carpet, they were nearly eye-level.

“My rehab has been going well. I just sat up; I’m fine,” Haruna said plainly, dodging his hand as he reached to touch her.

She pretended not to notice the way his throat moved just now, or the still obvious, obscure look in his eyes despite his restraint.

Her young, strong husband, the night, their villa.

Whether by keywords or the strong masculine hints from Naruto, it was an intense intrusion, making her legs weak and her eyes uncertain.

But the pride she always maintained before Naruto forced her gaze to remain cold and calm, as if she felt nothing as she returned his stare.

And even with such hints, what of it? There had been such moments before, enough to give her the illusion of being loved.

Yet at night, he still found her...

Recalling that humiliating night, Haruna felt as if cold water was poured over her head, quickly breaking free from that strange feeling.

Her voice remained flat: “Why aren’t you acting like before today?”

“I was carrying medicine; it wasn’t convenient to climb through the window. What if the bottle got broken?”

That sounded like an excuse; Haruna frowned slightly. “Are you sick?”

---

“I went to the hospital to get it for you,” Naruto said gently. “It’s a new special medicine for chakra congestion.”

Haruna was a little annoyed. “If Ino has a problem, why didn’t she contact me directly?”

“I wanted to find out for myself. Ino can’t stop me.”

“And didn’t I pick up your medicine before?”

She was even more annoyed. “Is that the same?”

“It’s different. Back then, you hadn’t thought about leaving.”

“...”

She fell silent.

As he spoke, Naruto’s hand rested on the edge of the sofa, on the empty space beside her thigh—not touching her.

His voice was calm, far from domineering, merely stating a fact.

She grew even colder: “I can take care of myself. Haven’t we discussed this many times?”

“All you need to do is agree to the divorce. Or—”

Haruna’s words abruptly stopped.

Naruto covered her lips, halting what she was about to say.

In his eyes, the sky gradually clouded over, emotions she couldn’t understand swirling within.

He whispered, “Don’t casually say such things; it hurts feelings.”

“I’m not casual.”

With her mouth covered, every movement of her lips was felt under his palm—

Very good.

This made Naruto more aware of what she was trying to say.

“There has never been any affection between us.”

She met his sharp blue gaze and said the same.

“Or do you have different opinions on the divorce plan? Feel free to say so.”

“You’re sick, Haruna.”

Naruto ignored her last proposal and changed the subject, his tone gentle.

She frowned: “You’re talking to yourself again.”

“...This is a new special medicine. Anyway, let’s try its effect today, okay?”

He chose to concede again.

Haruna disliked Naruto’s attitude, as if she were ruthlessly hurting this upright great hero.

But she did not want to bear such heavy moral blame (even if it was only self-directed), nor did she want to wait for her temperament, which was unlikely to improve, to change.

She was just that kind of flawed person, beyond help.

So separating directly, cutting off all legal and moral obligations as a married couple, was what she most desired now.

For the first time, Haruna realized she could be so straightforward and harsh, pouring out all the heavy, dark mud in her heart.

Not a bit held back; completely exposed.

Quite shocking, wasn’t it?

Your quiet, gentle wife has such a hysterical side.

“The matter is not over.”

She said coldly, “I can take the medicine first, which gives you some more time to think about your answer.”

“After the medicine takes effect, we’ll continue talking.”

Part.

Tonight, the relationship between her and Naruto must be cut off clearly.

Originally, she wanted to treat the illness subtly, using illusions and hypnosis to endure a little longer.

But since Naruto insisted on investigating the truth with Ino, forcing them both into an unbearable deadlock, so be it.

Divorce, then.

There was no need to continue these painful, tormenting days.

With no love between man and woman, no blood ties, why drag it out?

Haruna had lied to Ino.

She really couldn’t understand Naruto’s heart, nor why he was dragging out the divorce; what she said then was just an angry, deliberate slander.

No one in the world would believe Uzumaki Naruto was that terrible a person.

Not even Haruna herself.

Uzumaki Naruto was a good, good great hero.

So... she hated him even more.