Uzumaki Tsubaki was busy preparing dinner inside Uchiha Makoto's luxurious villa.
This was the one meal a day that Makoto actually ate at home, so she treated dinner with exceptional seriousness—almost like a battle.
Before long, four dishes and one soup were ready.
Just as she finished and the aroma was at its peak, Makoto happened to open the door and return home.
Born into a bloodline clan with a thousand-year legacy, Uzumaki Tsubaki deeply understood the importance of timing and "wok breath" in cooking. Every minute and second had been carefully calculated.
"Welcome home, darling~"
"Would you like to eat first, take a bath first… or enjoy me first?"
A classic opening line.
Tsubaki said it with some embarrassment, but she had heard that this kind of welcome ceremony could greatly improve Makoto's mood.
"Mm."
Makoto looked at the dishes on the table—and at the beautiful, radiant Uzumaki Tsubaki.
She had shed the awkwardness of youth. Her hair was tied in a dangerously alluring style, giving her a far more mature charm.
So—
Makoto quickly cast aside all the frustrations from work and focused entirely on enjoying the "delicacies" before him.
Meanwhile.
Konoha Village.
"Mito… didn't you have time to make dinner again today? And you're not back yet…"
Senju Hashirama seemed to have had a belated pang of conscience.
After disappearing with Uchiha Madara for two full months, he had deliberately come home on time for dinner for four or five consecutive days, hoping to make it up to Uzumaki Mito.
But reality had changed.
Mito no longer stayed at home cooking and waiting for him.
Instead, she was leaving early and returning late every day.
She even sent shadow clones to work nonstop on matters related to the Kunoichi Mutual Aid Association, rallying Konoha's kunoichi to reclaim their ninja way and return to active duty.
As for her real body—
She personally took on missions.
In just a few days, she cleared two B-rank missions back-to-back.
Her efficiency was astonishing.
Even veteran male jōnin in Konoha couldn't complete two B-rank missions in such a short time.
"…Guess I'll just go mooch a meal off Madara again."
Hashirama sighed lightly.
He felt that Mito had changed a great deal—but she also seemed genuinely happy.
So he didn't think too deeply about it.
Madara… here I come again.
Just as Hashirama stepped out of his house, intending to head to the Uchiha district to freeload dinner, a Konoha ANBU appeared before him.
"Hokage-sama, please go to the Hokage Building immediately. Lord Tobirama has an urgent matter to discuss with you."
Hashirama blinked.
"Is it really that important?"
The ANBU captain nearly lost his composure internally.
As someone personally promoted by Tobirama, he had never seen Hashirama do actual work in the Hokage's office. It was always Tobirama sitting in the Hokage's chair handling affairs.
For Tobirama to personally request Hashirama's presence—
This was unquestionably a matter concerning the village's future.
And yet the Hokage was asking if it was "really that important"?
What exactly counted as important in the Hokage's mind?
Despite his internal complaints, the ANBU replied respectfully:
"Extremely important. You must go immediately—and alone."
He deliberately emphasized alone.
Although Hashirama didn't seem to notice, this detail mattered greatly.
The ANBU had appeared in the Senju compound for a reason—
to avoid a certain someone.
That's right.
The innately evil Uchiha Madara.
"I understand."
Hashirama nodded, temporarily giving up on his plan to eat with Madara, and followed the ANBU to the Hokage Building.
Upon arriving at the Hokage's office, the ANBU departed at once.
Hashirama entered alone.
"Tobirama, what's so important that you had to call me over personally—"
"…Mito? You're here too?"
Hashirama froze.
Inside the office were not only Senju Tobirama, but Uzumaki Mito as well.
This was exceedingly rare.
The probability of Mito, Hashirama, and Tobirama all being in the Hokage's office together was about the same as Tobirama and Madara being in the same room without bloodshed.
"I've been helping Tobirama handle some of the village's daily affairs recently," Mito said calmly.
There was a faint look of anticipation in her eyes.
She hoped Hashirama would say something.
Even if he exploded in anger.
Even if he scolded her for neglecting him.
Even if he accused her of no longer caring.
But—
"Oh, is that so? That's great!"
"Tobirama's always busy. With you helping him, things should be much easier. That way, I can feel even more at ease when I go and—"
"All right, all right, Big Brother. Stop talking."
Tobirama cut him off immediately, terrified that Hashirama would say that name.
Even as his younger brother, Tobirama was speechless.
At a time like this, you're still thinking 'Madara, Madara, Madara'?!
Brother—
is your Madara addiction really that severe?!
And Big Brother—
Can't you tell?!
Sister-in-law is angry at you!
She doesn't even cook for you anymore!
I can't even freeload meals now—I have to solve my own dinner problems!
Do I really need to spell it out for you?!
What a sin…
Still, with Mito actively participating in village administration, Tobirama trusted her greatly and delegated part of Konoha's affairs to her.
With her help, his workload had indeed been reduced.
Painful—but gratifying.
Tobirama glanced at Mito from the corner of his eye.
Seeing that her expression hadn't changed, he finally relaxed.
Sister-in-law really is as magnanimous as ever…
"Let's talk about business," Mito said softly, snorting in mild displeasure.
She was used to it. Truly used to it.
Hashirama scratched his head.
He sensed that something about the atmosphere was off, though he couldn't pinpoint what.
He only felt that Mito was noticeably colder toward him.
"Tobirama, what happened?"
Tobirama's expression turned serious.
"Konoha and Akatsuki Village formed a joint squad to carry out a mission. In the Land of Rice Fields, they clashed with ninja from Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning."
"Konoha lost one chūnin. Akatsuki Village lost two chūnin. Kumogakure's casualties are currently unknown."
"Big Brother, this is no small matter."
"It involves not only Akatsuki Village, but also Kumogakure of the Land of Lightning."
"As Hokage of Konoha, you must take a stance."
"What is your opinion?"
Although Tobirama was effectively the Shadow Hokage—Konoha's so-called "Nine-Thousand-Year-Old"—
on such a sensitive issue, he wisely chose to ask Hashirama first.
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