Minato looked at Team 7 standing before him, his usual warm smile on his face.
"Since Team 7 hasn't had a mission in a long time," Minato said lightly, "why don't I give you one today?"
Kushina and Naruto both perked up curiously, wondering what kind of mission Minato was going to assign.
Kakashi, Rin, and Obito also exchanged confused glances.
Minato chuckled, his blue eyes twinkling. "The mission is simple—help Naruto decorate his wedding room. How about it? Not a bad task, right?"
Everyone present rolled their eyes almost at the same time. What kind of mission was that supposed to be?
Naruto quickly waved his hands, embarrassed. "Dad, come on! Just leave this task to my friends. Kakashi-sensei's about to become the next Hokage, and you're still making him do this kind of work?"
Kakashi scratched the back of his head and smiled beneath his mask. "It's fine, Naruto. After all, our Team 7 hasn't done a mission together in ages. This feels… nostalgic."
As he spoke, Kakashi glanced at Rin and Obito. The three of them exchanged a look filled with complicated emotions.
Minato stood up cheerfully. "Then what are you waiting for? Let's all get to work!"
Rin clenched her fists with motivation. "Okay! Let's help Naruto finish his wedding room!"
Seeing everyone so enthusiastic, Naruto couldn't argue anymore. He just smiled sheepishly and let them carry on.
And so, under Kushina's guidance, the group began working together to help Naruto prepare his room.
As night approached, the sounds of rumbling stomachs echoed through the room. Kakashi, Naruto, and Obito all looked embarrassed as their hunger became obvious.
Kushina snickered when she noticed. "Oh no, I forgot to cook for you all. Minato, go outside and buy some food!"
Minato frowned slightly. "At this hour? There probably aren't any vegetable vendors left outside."
Naruto grinned. "It's fine, I'll go!"
Before anyone could stop him, he dashed out toward Konoha's commercial street. Even though it was nighttime, the village was still bustling. Konoha had grown far more prosperous compared to the days of Minato's Hokage era.
The vegetable vendor uncle saw Naruto approaching and grinned. "Well, well, Naruto! Looks like things have really changed for you. After getting engaged to Miss Hinata, you've started buying groceries and cooking, huh?"
The aunt next to him laughed and teased, "Haha, our Konoha hero is finally settling down into married life!"
Naruto smiled sheepishly.
The villagers of Konoha treated him with deep respect now. Even when he bought food, many of them charged him less out of gratitude.
"Thank you, uncle!" Naruto said warmly.
The man waved it off. "Don't mention it. Back then, if it weren't for your father, the Fourth Hokage, my family would've been killed during the Nine-Tails' attack. We'll never forget that debt."
Naruto's smile stiffened. He nodded quickly, grabbed the vegetables, and left. He knew if the uncle continued, Kurama inside him might get irritated.
Within moments, Naruto returned home.
"I'm back!" he called out.
As he opened the door, the warm glow of the lights greeted him. For a brief moment, Naruto felt his chest tighten. This—this was something he could never have imagined in the past. Coming home to a place where the lights were already on, waiting for him.
Minato, Obito, Rin, and Kakashi were still busy setting things up, while Kushina was already in the kitchen, boiling water in preparation.
When Naruto walked in, Kushina took the groceries from his hands and said, "You've worked hard, Naruto. Go rest on the sofa."
Naruto shook his head with a smile. "No way, Mom. Let me help you."
Kushina raised an eyebrow, amused. "Oh? Since when did my son know how to cook?"
Naruto chuckled nervously. "I can make ramen!"
With a playful glare, Kushina knocked her knuckles against his head. "You and your ramen. You can't eat that all the time—it's not nutritious!"
Naruto didn't argue. Instead, he started washing vegetables while Kushina began preparing them.
As he worked beside her, Naruto found himself glancing between his mother, his father, Kakashi, Rin, and Obito. For some reason, his nose stung, and he had to blink quickly to fight back tears.
Deep within his soul, Kurama stirred. The great fox smiled faintly, sensing Naruto's emotions.
Yes… such a simple, ordinary scene. But one Naruto had almost never known in his entire life.
No—he had once experienced it. But it was inside Obito's Infinite Tsukuyomi dream. Back then, he was "Menma," living a normal life with parents who weren't heroes—just ordinary jōnin. He had been so happy in that illusion, growing up with the warmth of his family.
But Sakura had woken him from that dream, dragging him back into reality.
And yet… this time, this wasn't an illusion. This moment was real.
Naruto quickly wiped his eyes, trying to compose himself.
Kushina noticed, her expression softening. "Naruto, what's wrong?"
He shook his head. "Nothing. I just… remembered something."
Kushina gave him a gentle smile. "Naruto, remember this—you don't have to hold everything inside. If something's bothering you, talk to me or your father. Don't carry it alone, okay?"
Naruto's lips curved into a tender smile. "Got it. Love you, Mom."
Her heart melted instantly. She reached out and flicked his forehead lovingly. "You little brat! Now hurry up and wash those vegetables."
Naruto laughed and went back to work.
Half an hour later, Kushina brought out four dishes. A perfect balance of meat and vegetables, steaming and fragrant.
Naruto's mouth watered instantly. This was the very first time he'd ever eaten food cooked by his mother. His heart pounded with excitement.
"Well then," he said with a grin, "I won't be polite—let's eat!"
He immediately grabbed his chopsticks and dug in.
Kakashi smiled and turned toward Minato and Kushina respectfully. "Sensei, Kushina-san, please, you two first."
Minato waved his hand. "No need. We're reincarnated bodies, we don't need food. You all go ahead."
Kakashi nodded and began eating as well.
Naruto, meanwhile, was eating so quickly he choked. He dropped his chopsticks and clutched at his throat, coughing.
Kushina immediately poured water and rushed to his side. "Slow down! No one's competing with you, so why are you eating so fast?"
Naruto gulped down the water and gasped for breath. Then, with a silly smile, he said, "Mom, it's delicious!"
Kushina patted his back, half-scolding, half-smiling. "Is it really that good? Look at you—wolfing it down like you haven't eaten in years!"
Rin chuckled and turned to Obito. "Obito, you should eat too."
Obito hesitated, then picked up his chopsticks. But after only a few bites, tears welled in his eyes and spilled down his cheeks.
Kushina blinked in surprise. "Obito, what's wrong? Is my cooking that bad?"
Obito quickly shook his head. "No… it's not that…"
Rin understood. She reached over and gently took Obito's hand. "Obito, blaming yourself won't change the past. You just need to face it honestly."
Obito's tears fell harder. He looked at Kushina with guilt. "Kushina-san, I… I'm sorry."
It was impossible for him not to feel this way. The food reminded him of their youth, when he, Kakashi, and Rin often visited Minato's home. Kushina always cooked for them, filling their childhood with warmth.
But then… he had betrayed them. He had brought so much pain to this family.
Naruto suddenly pointed his chopsticks at him and laughed loudly. "Hahaha! Mom, your food's so good it made Obito cry!"
The atmosphere shifted instantly. Minato and Kakashi chuckled, the heaviness of the moment lifting. Even Obito couldn't help but smile faintly through his tears.
Looking at Naruto, Obito thought to himself: Naruto… you really are like me. But unlike me, you were strong enough to hold onto your dream. You achieved what I never could.
And for the first time in a long while, Obito felt a small measure of peace at this dinner table.
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