"How has this year been?"
Sitting behind her desk, Mimi asked the young man before her.
Beneath his brilliant blond hair was a gentle, sunny smile. Minato laughed heartily. "Pretty eventful."
Looking at the gloom hidden beneath Minato's sunny smile, Mimi could more or less guess just how eventful it had been.
He had always lived in Konoha's greenhouse, protected from the outside world. Now that the child had seen more of it, he had grown as well.
"Keep that mindset," Mimi said.
Nearby, the three little ones serving as her guards watched Minato curiously.
Rin had been granted special permission to slack off and study medical knowledge in the office.
As for Kakashi and Obito, they would rather stand around in a daze than read a book.
Minato showed the curious trio a sunny smile, curiosity appearing in his eyes as well.
"Let me introduce you," Mimi said. "This is your senior disciple, my first disciple. These three little ones are your junior disciples."
"Hello," Minato said. "I'm Namikaze Minato."
"Senior disciple," the trio greeted him in perfect unison.
"If you have nothing to report, go back and rest," Mimi said. "Little Hot Pepper has been clamoring to see you."
Little Hot Pepper was a nickname Mimi had blurted out on a whim, and Minato didn't dare call Kushina that casually.
Hearing this, Minato furrowed his brows with a slight headache. "I understand, Teacher."
"Oh, right. Bring Little Hot Pepper home for dinner tonight."
As a mother-in-law, Mimi approved of this marriage.
Life in Konoha was plain and cozy. Go to work, attend a few meetings, and the day was over. Now that the war had temporarily slowed, Mimi had plenty of free time.
After work as usual, she led the three little tagalongs home.
Night gradually fell. The