At Kushina's house on the weekend.
More than a dozen people gathered in the middle of the living room.
"Asuma, play this one, this one!"
"Asuma, do you even know how to play?"
"Stop arguing. Didn't you hear what Soseki said? Don't talk while watching others play cards. It's basic etiquette! Hmm~ I'll play the five of characters."
"Mahjong!" (x3)
"Aah!!!"
"Is this what Soseki meant by one shot, three wins? Asuma, you really outdid yourself!"
In the hallway.
"Come on, I won't lose. I'm very steady. If he can beat me with these seventeen tiles in one go, I, Obito, will smash these tiles right here..."
By the pond.
"The turtle-fishing competition has begun! Any means are allowed... Wait, draining the pond isn't allowed."
In the courtyard, Kushina busily prepared the grill.
"Big Sister Kushina, thank you for going to all this trouble." Soseki washed vegetables beside her.
"How could something like this be trouble?" Kushina glared. If her hands were free, she would have made Soseki recall the terror of being aggressively petted.
"Actually, I was the one who wasn't careful and couldn't control the number of people!"
"The more people, the better. The more people there are... the less you'll feel like the world has forgotten you!"
Listening to the laughter around her, her gaze softened as well. "Only at times like this do I not feel like someone with no 'roots.'"
Soseki fell silent for a moment, then suddenly changed the subject. "Big Sister Kushina, how is the seal inside you doing now?"
"Same as always. That old Third Hokage's sealing techniques aren't good enough." Kushina disparaged him before waving her hand dismissively. "But don't worry. Your big sister isn't the same as before. That old fox won't be able to control me again!"
Soseki let