"I'm back! Why is nobody here to welcome me?"
Tsunade's complaining voice echoed from the entryway. Minato quickly set aside what he was doing and walked over to meet her.
"Welcome back, Teacher. Dinner is ready and waiting."
"Uh..."
Hearing this, Tsunade paused in the middle of sliding into her house slippers. She gave Minato a strange, lingering look. For a split second, she experienced a bizarre sense of déjà vu, as if she were a wife being welcomed home by a husband who had spent the day preparing for her return. It was a warm, comforting feeling, but the reality of Minato's age caused a sharp pang of guilt to rise in her heart.
"Sorry I'm late. I had some business to wrap up at the office. Have you two eaten yet?"
"Not yet. If you didn't show up soon, Older Sister, I probably would have starved to death right here," Nawaki said, his tone carrying a hint of playful resentment.
"Haha, sorry about that."
Tsunade quickly walked into the dining room and took her seat. Minato began bringing the dishes over, having kept them warm in a covered pot. Tsunade didn't wait, immediately picking up a piece of braised chicken leg. After one bite, she let out a long, satisfied sigh.
"This is amazing. It would be wonderful if I could eat meals made by Minato every single day for the rest of my life."
Nawaki looked up from his bowl, sounding confused. "What are you talking about? Isn't Minato already making them every day?"
Tsunade smiled and reached over to ruffle Nawaki's hair. "Idiot! Sooner or later, both of you will find girlfriends, get married, and start your own separate families."
Minato offered a gentle, reassuring smile. "If that happens, we'll just live close by. That way, it will be more convenient for Teacher to come over to my house for dinner whenever she likes."
So gentle... Hearing his response, Tsunade felt a wave of healing wash over her. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, she felt a slight, lingering dissatisfaction with his answer. She couldn't quite put her finger on why, or perhaps she simply didn't dare to examine those thoughts too deeply.
"Cough... Let's talk about the future later. Right now, there is something I need to get your opinions on."
Tsunade cleared her throat to shift the mood. "For certain political reasons, Uzushiogakure will be sending a young girl to Konoha in a few days. Given the historical blood ties between the Senju and the Uzumaki Clan, that child is tentatively considered a distant younger sister to Nawaki and me."
Kushina is finally coming?
Minato felt a sudden surge of private joy. The pieces of the timeline were finally falling into place.
"The Third Hokage's idea is that since she is coming to Konoha alone and might feel isolated, he wants her to stay here with me for the time being."
Tsunade's gaze lingered on Minato's face for a moment, searching for a reaction, before she continued.
"I personally don't mind the arrangement, but I still needed to ask both of you. After all, Nawaki is the rightful heir to this house, and Minato is the one who puts in the hard work of cooking every day."
"Of course, if either of you disagrees, it's fine. As proof of our alliance, Grandpa once set aside a specific district in the Village as the Uzumaki Clan's territory..."
"I have no objection at all!"
Before Tsunade could even finish her explanation, Nawaki spoke up with total enthusiasm. He had always been a warm-hearted person who welcomed others.
"If Nawaki is fine with it, then I have no objection either," Minato said softly.
He realized that in the original history, Kushina must have lived in that isolated Uzumaki territory; otherwise, it wouldn't have been so easy for Kumogakure ninjas to kidnap her. Or perhaps she lived here initially and moved out later—maybe after graduation, or after Nawaki passed away. Thinking of this, Minato felt a sudden chill.
He remembered clearly that Nawaki died at age $12$ during the Second Great Ninja War. That meant there were less than $5$ years left. Life had been so comfortable lately that he had almost allowed himself to forget the tragedies looming on the horizon.
"Just as I thought..."
Tsunade shook her head with a chuckle. She had known these two would agree. Nawaki was passionate and simple, while Minato was gentle and accommodating. Despite their different temperaments, they were both inherently kind children.
Then again, that stinky Old Man, the Third Hokage, must have counted on exactly this outcome!
Thinking of the meeting she'd just come from, Tsunade gritted her teeth in frustration. She had only just received this news herself.
Rewinding to an hour ago, inside the Hokage Building.
"Why did you call me here so suddenly?"
Tsunade had just finished a grueling surgery at the hospital and was ready to go home when an Anbu sent by Hiruzen Sarutobi intercepted her. This added a sharp edge of irritation to her voice.
"Well... there is just a delicate matter I wish to discuss. It won't take much of your time."
The Third Hokage looked somewhat helpless. "I am the Hokage, after all. Can't you show me just a little bit of respect?"
He quickly decided to drop it. Who could argue with her? Both of her grandfathers had held his office before him.
Tsunade took the document he offered, her eyes scanning the text rapidly. Her gaze narrowed. "Uzumaki Kushina? This is the candidate for the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"
"That is correct."
The Third Hokage nodded. "In a few days, Uzushiogakure will send an escort to bring the child to Konoha."
Tsunade squinted at him, her instincts telling her something was off. "What does this have to do with me? Has the intelligence leaked? Do you want me to go out and rendezvous with the escort?"
"No. To prevent any leaks, only you, myself, and Lady Mito are currently aware of this."
Hiruzen spoke calmly. "As for the living arrangements... to be honest, I intend for her to have frequent contact with Minato. After all, you are well aware of the unique suppression power that Wood Release holds over Tailed Beasts..."
"Wait just a minute!"
Tsunade's face darkened instantly. She waved her hand to cut him off. "You stinky Old Man! Minato is only five years old! Are you actually planning to use a Jinchuriki to bind his entire future?"
"You must understand the absolute importance of the Nine-Tails to the safety of this Village."
Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment before sighing softly. "I do not mean to force a bond between them. I simply want to allow them to interact naturally. If they can truly establish a genuine bond, it would be a blessing for Konoha. After all, the First Hokage and Lady Mito were exactly like that..."
Tsunade sneered openly. "And what if... Minato doesn't like that child? Or what if she doesn't like him? What will you do then?"
"Whether from a political perspective for the Village or a personal one for them, being together is the most stable outcome."
"Minato's Wood Release can drastically reduce the risk of the Tailed Beast going berserk, which would allow that girl to live a much freer life. And if Minato truly intends to become Hokage, having the support of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would make him unstoppable."
Hiruzen paused to gauge her reaction. "In addition, I can give you my word that I will not actively interfere in their relationship."
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Talk is cheap, sensei. Why should I believe a word of that?"
"That's a bit much, isn't it?"
Hiruzen's mouth twitched as he held his forehead in his hand. "I am the Hokage. Do I really have this little credibility with you?"
Tsunade scoffed. "I'll start believing you once you throw away that damn crystal ball of yours."
"Cough..."
Hiruzen Sarutobi gave a light, embarrassed cough. "Don't worry. With the sheer talent Minato has displayed, nobody in this village will be able to force him into anything. After all, even I wouldn't want to face the combined power of Wood Release and the Nine-Tails at the same time."
Tsunade raised an eyebrow. That part of his argument actually made sense. Minato was only five, yet his raw strength was already approaching hers. At his current rate of growth, who would be strong enough to force his hand in ten years?
"Although it is a bit shameless... it is all for the sake of Konoha."
Seeing Tsunade's resolve wavering, Hiruzen's tone became more earnest. "Furthermore, that child was chosen as a Jinchuriki for our sake, so the Village owes her a debt. Why don't you just go back and ask for Minato and Nawaki's opinions?"
"Tsk... Fine. I'll go back and ask."
Tsunade curled her lip. Knowing the personalities of the boys at home, she already knew what the result would be.
"Let me state this clearly: if that child's character is bad... I will kick her out of my house without a second thought!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded repeatedly. "Of course!"
Only then did Tsunade give a final huff of annoyance and leave the office.
Now, sitting at home and seeing Minato's gentle, sunny smile while eating the delicious dinner he had prepared, Tsunade's mood plummeted again.
Damn it!
My Disciple is so excellent and perfect! Why should he be handed over so easily to some red-haired brat from across the sea?
That damn Old Man!
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