"So you're here~"
"Are you ready?"
"Next, you're going to the battlefield with your teacher~"
The moment he heard the voice, Uchiha Kai had only one thought in his mind.
Namikaze Minato... is back!
When did he get back?
As Uchiha Kai thought this, a drop of cold sweat unconsciously beaded on his forehead.
After all, he had spent last night at Kushina's house.
This feeling... was a little too intense!
At this moment, Nohara Rin was the closest to Uchiha Kai.
She was the first to notice the change in him and couldn't help but feel a little confused.
She didn't know what had happened, but the handsome big brother next to her had suddenly become nervous, even sweating on his forehead.
'Is it because he ate something spicy?'
'Or is the soup too hot?'
'It can't be... because of Teacher, right?'
Her teacher was Konoha's Golden Flash, who was always doing his best to protect Konoha.
As a Konoha ninja, shouldn't Uchiha Kai feel safe?
Why would he be so nervous that he started sweating?
Nohara Rin's young mind couldn't comprehend just how complex relationships between adults could be.
When Uchiha Obito heard Namikaze Minato's voice, a clear look of joy appeared on his face.
He immediately jumped up from his seat and turned to look at Minato behind him.
"Teacher, you're finally back! This is great! I can finally go to the battlefield with you and fight side by side!"
"Teacher, I'm telling you, once we're on the battlefield, I'll definitely blow you away, hehe."
Uchiha Obito said, like a child showing off a lollipop.
Nohara Rin also stood up and looked obediently at Namikaze Minato.
"Teacher, have you eaten? Would you like to have some ramen with us?"
Kakashi didn't say much, but his gaze also followed the others and landed on Namikaze Minato.
It was obvious that the three of them held Namikaze Minato in high regard.
Minato scratched his hair and smiled apologetically.
"Sorry, in a bit... I have something else to do. After you finish eating, I'll come get you, and then we'll head to the battlefield together."
Upon hearing this, Uchiha Obito's eyes darted around a couple of times, and he immediately understood.
He smiled mischievously, sidled up to Minato, and bumped his arm a couple of times with his body.
"Oh, oh, I get it. Teacher, are you in a hurry to see Sister-in-law Kushina?"
"Hehe, that must be it."
Without waiting for Minato to answer, Uchiha Obito confirmed it for him.
When Uchiha Kai heard the name "Kushina," the chopsticks in his hand froze.
Nohara Rin looked at the tactless Obito and rolled her eyes at him.
But she agreed with what he said.
After all, their teacher had been away for a long time. Given his relationship with Kushina, he must be thinking of her.
"Teacher, we're not in a hurry. You go ahead and take care of your business. We'll wait for you here after we finish eating," Uchiha Obito said, still grinning.
Kakashi's gaze was distant, his thoughts unknown.
But it was clear that Kakashi wasn't interested in such matters of the heart.
Hearing this, Namikaze Minato smiled embarrassedly, a clear blush on his face.
Because Uchiha Obito had guessed his thoughts exactly.
But he didn't explain, only apologizing gently again.
"I won't keep you waiting long. I'll be quick."
After speaking, Minato also noticed the presence of another person in the Ichiraku Ramen shop.
Unfortunately, Uchiha Kai was currently facing away from him, so Minato couldn't see his face.
But looking at the fan crest on Uchiha Kai's back, Minato knew he was a member of the Uchiha clan.
Minato was quick to arrive and even quicker to leave.
Nohara Rin and the other two soon sat back down, eating and laughing.
Learning that Minato had left, Uchiha Kai subconsciously glanced back in the direction he had gone, his thoughts already flying high in the sky.
'Is he... going to find Kushina?'
'I wonder if Kushina will let it slip.'
'Or worse, will she directly expose my evil deeds?'
At this moment, Uchiha Kai's heart also began to pound with anxiety.
The ramen, which had tasted good just a moment ago, instantly lost all its flavor.
Nohara Rin keenly noticed the change in Uchiha Kai. Surprised by his reaction, she couldn't help but ask.
"Big brother, are you familiar with my teacher?"
Nohara Rin was thirteen or fourteen, and Uchiha Kai was sixteen, so it was perfectly fine for her to call him "big brother."
Hearing Nohara Rin's voice, Uchiha Kai immediately snapped back to reality and looked at her with a slightly sheepish smile.
"I might know Lord Minato, but... Lord Minato doesn't know me..."
Uchiha Kai, on the other hand, hoped Minato Namikaze would never know him. After all, it wouldn't be a pleasant introduction.
"You don't know him?"
Nohara Rin murmured, not entirely convinced.
She always felt that there was some connection between this big brother and her teacher.
But she quickly stopped caring about it and continued to chat happily with her teammates.
At this moment, none of them recognized the cruelty of war, nor did they know what they were about to face.
Only Kakashi's eyes were filled with solemnity. Looking at his two happy teammates, his gaze became a bit distant.
'War...'
Not long after, Uchiha Kai found a random excuse and left the ramen shop.
Ever since he learned that Minato was back, he had lost his appetite.
All his thoughts were consumed by Kushina.
At the same time.
Kushina, who had just finished her medicine and was staring blankly in her room,
Suddenly heard a cheerful and happy voice from outside the door.
"Kushina, Kushina, I'm back!"