"Alright! To celebrate Nawaki's successful graduation, we're having a barbecue tonight!" Tsunade suggested, temporarily setting aside the absurd idea that had popped into her mind.
"Yes! I want Minato to make it!" Nawaki chimed in.
"No way, let's just go to a barbecue restaurant instead?" Kushina countered.
"Minato works so hard cooking every day, and you eat so much, Nawaki..."
"What? I eat so much? Do you even hear yourself?!" Nawaki pointed at himself in disbelief. "I have the smallest appetite in this house! Even you eat more than me!"
Kushina's cheeks puffed up. She wanted to snap, but she had to admit he was right.
Currently, Minato was the biggest eater in the household. At some point, his appetite had started growing in a way they couldn't understand. Now, he could easily consume as much food as the three of them combined in a single meal!
Tsunade, with her Hundred Healings Technique, could maximize her absorption of energy from food to convert it into Chakra, keeping her body in peak condition at all times. This also meant she had a considerable appetite.
As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, Kushina possessed extraordinary vitality and physical energy, far surpassing ordinary people. However, this also meant she required a significantly greater intake of nutrients.
Two years ago, it hadn't been such a big deal, but now her appetite truly exceeded Nawaki's.
So, when Nawaki said she could eat a lot, she couldn't really refute it.
"That's exactly why we should go to the barbecue restaurant! Minato's already working so hard cooking all those meals every day!"
"But I want to eat what Minato makes! His grilled dishes are so diverse—so much more interesting than the same old menu at the restaurant."
Nawaki grumbled, "Besides, today is to celebrate my graduation, right? Can't you just indulge me a little?"
"Then we'll eat at home."
Minato gently patted Kushina's head and smiled. "Doesn't that prove my cooking is even better than the restaurant's?"
"Mhm, mhm!"
Kushina nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling.
The restaurant's menu was always the same—not that she was tired of it, but it lacked any novelty.
For Minato, however, everything could be grilled!
Seeing how determined Minato was, Kushina didn't object further. She nuzzled her head against his palm, though in truth, she preferred his cooking too.
After picking up groceries on their way home, Minato immediately disappeared into the kitchen to start preparing the ingredients.
Seeing that Kushina and Nawaki had returned to their rooms, Tsunade quietly slipped into the kitchen and stood behind him, gently placing her soft hands on his shoulders.
The pose was somewhat intimate, but Tsunade seemed oblivious to it.
"Minato?"
"What is it, Teacher?"
Minato continued washing vegetables, as if accustomed to such contact.
"Are you... particularly concerned about Grandpa's necklace?" Tsunade asked softly, her tone deliberately casual as she probed.
"Hmm?" Minato looked up in surprise, only to find his vision blocked by a pair of ample breasts. "Why do you say that, Teacher?"
"When I was giving Nawaki the necklace earlier, you seemed... off." Tsunade leaned forward, tilting her head, her amber eyes fixed on him with a teasing glint. "Could it be jealousy?"
"I was just thinking about something else," Minato replied casually. "You don't think I'm the type of child who fights over things, do you, Teacher? Besides, even if I were jealous, why would I be jealous of Nawaki?"
Hearing this, Tsunade's heart skipped a beat, and she blurted out, "Whose jealousy are you talking about?"
"Who do you think I should be jealous of, Teacher?" Minato threw the question back, his tone ambiguous, a playful smirk playing on his lips. "Who do you want me to be jealous of?"
"You little brat!" Tsunade was momentarily speechless, a blush rising to her cheeks. She ruffled his messy blond hair and gnashed her teeth in frustration.
She finally realized that their usual physical contact, those unspoken understandings and subtle flirtations, weren't just her own deluded fantasies. Minato had been deliberately provoking her all along.
If she harbored improper thoughts about Minato, then judging by his reaction, this brat was also harboring improper intentions toward his teacher...
This realization brought her both delight and irritation—irritation that she, the teacher, was being manipulated by her own student!
With that thought, she tugged on both sides of Minato's cheeks. "You must be quite pleased with yourself, aren't you?"
"Mmph, I don't understand what you're saying," Minato mumbled, his words muffled.
"Stop playing dumb!" Tsunade snapped, releasing his cheeks and fixing him with a burning gaze. "Give me a reason!"
"Teacher, do you think you need a reason to like someone?"
Minato rubbed his cheek, still feeling the lingering warmth of her fingertips.
"No..."
Tsunade said, then couldn't help a cold laugh. "But you definitely need one to like two people!"
Minato gave an awkward smile. "That's indeed a troublesome situation."
Hearing this, Tsunade's eyes narrowed dangerously. "You little brat, you really dare to think about such things?"
"It's not about daring. If emotions could be controlled, Teacher wouldn't be discussing this with me. You should know that better than anyone, right?"
Minato replied calmly, making Tsunade feel exposed, as if her innermost thoughts had been laid bare.
She desperately wanted to ask him what he was planning, but the fear of not getting the answer she wanted kept her from pressing further.
That night, Tsunade couldn't sleep.
Tossing and turning in bed, she felt a sense of aimless confusion.
Every time she closed her eyes, she could almost see Minato's face, wearing that wicked grin, saying: "Teacher, isn't this a crime? To have such thoughts about your own student... you pathetic teacher!"
Or perhaps: "Teacher, you wouldn't want Nawaki to find out about this, would you? You wouldn't want to tarnish the First Hokage's legacy, would you?"
These thoughts startled her awake several times. She washed her underwear twice, and only as dawn approached did she finally manage to fall asleep.
Meanwhile, Minato seemed unaffected. He woke up early and prepared breakfast.
With his memories from his previous life, he took such matters in stride.
Moreover, since Tsunade hadn't pressed him further, it meant that to her, his presence was more important than the answer. This attitude already spoke volumes.
"Good morning, everyone!"
Nawaki burst into the living room, his energy overflowing. Seeing only Minato and a listless Kushina, he asked, "Has sis not woken up yet?"
"She probably didn't sleep well last night," Minato replied, ladling a bowl of hot porridge for Nawaki. "Don't worry. You have your class assignment today, right? Eat first."
"Good work!"
Nawaki ate his breakfast, occasionally letting out a silly laugh as if he could already see his future as Hokage.
After quickly finishing his meal, he solemnly put on his forehead protector. "I'm full! Just leave the dishes in the sink. I'm heading out!"
"Hold on, Nawaki." Minato tossed him a pouch. "Ninja missions carry certain risks. Take these Clone Seeds with you. They could be helpful in a pinch and make it easier for me to support you."
"Ah, thanks!" Nawaki accepted without hesitation. He knew Minato's strength and wasn't about to let a foolish sense of pride get in the way.
Watching Nawaki's excited figure disappear, Minato's eyes held a hint of curiosity.
As for the cursed necklace theory, his attitude was: better safe than sorry. After all, Tsunade's luck was inherently bizarre.
So he decided to secretly guard Nawaki for a while, to see what was really going on.
Please Support me by becoming my patreon member and get 10+ chapters.
[email protected]/Ajal69
change @ with a
Thank You to Those who joined my Patreon