Gathering

Hyuga Kazuya raised his hand and knocked on the door.

Knock, knock!

"Coming, coming."

A cheerful female voice came from inside the room. It was clearly Kushina's voice.

Creak.

Kushina appeared at the door in casual loungewear.

When she saw Hyuga Kazuya and Hyuga Momona, Kushina smiled.

"You finally made it. Kazuya, Momona, come in. Your Teacher Minato is cooking, and Kakashi is inside too."

"Hello, Master's Wife."

"Hello, Sister Kushina."

After greeting her, the two entered Minato Namikaze's home.

Compared to the sprawling compounds of the Hyuga Clan or Kakashi's family, Minato Namikaze's home felt more lived-in and better matched the design style of a modern house.

At that moment, Minato Namikaze was wearing an apron and busy in the kitchen, but he had also heard Kushina and the others talking at the door.

"Kazuya, you're here."

"Yes, Teacher Minato, I'm here."

After greeting Minato Namikaze, Hyuga Kazuya curiously headed toward the kitchen to see what he was making.

Since Hyuga Kazuya could not cook either, all he could do was watch Minato Namikaze display the bearing of a master chef.

Like a peerless expert, he tossed the iron wok through the air while the flames closely chased beneath it.

The fragrance of meat spread through the kitchen. The scent alone was enough to make one's mouth water.

"Teacher Minato, you're amazing. It smells so good."

"Alright, alright. Go sit in the living room. It'll be ready soon."

With Minato Namikaze's abilities, he could move and maneuver freely even in such a cramped space. He did not need anyone's help at all.

And even if he got too busy, didn't he have the Shadow Clone Technique?

"Hehe, alright then. Keep it up, Teacher Minato."

Seeing that he was completely useless in the kitchen, Hyuga Kazuya had no choice but to leave and head to the living room.

On the living room sofa, Kushina was mysteriously whispering something to Momona, probably some secret between girls.

Hyuga Kazuya did not feel right interrupting them.

Seeing Kakashi reading nearby, Hyuga Kazuya walked over curiously.

"What are you reading, Kakashi?"

"Oh, it's Senior Kazuya. I was so absorbed in my book that I didn't even notice you arrive."

He closed the book in his hand and showed him the cover.

"Tale of the Determined Ninja. It's this book, written by Jiraiya-sama."

"Tale of the Determined Ninja? Is the protagonist named Naruto?"

Although Hyuga Kazuya had never read the novel, anyone who had watched Naruto would know the fame of that work.

"Senior Kazuya, you've read it too?"

"No, no. I only skimmed a few bits of it elsewhere."

"Oh, I see!"

Kakashi, who had thought he had found a fellow reader, could not help feeling a little disappointed.

"You really like this book? Then let me have a look too."

Naturally, Kakashi did not refuse. He also hoped that others would like the books he thought were good.

And so, Hyuga Kazuya and Kakashi read while Kushina and Momona chatted about secrets between girls.

Time passed.

Before long, Minato Namikaze had finished making dinner.

He told everyone to wash their hands and get ready to eat.

But as he passed Momona while washing up, Hyuga Kazuya felt that she had suddenly become somewhat shy and did not dare meet his eyes.

What happened? What did Master's Wife, that Crimson Chili Pepper, tell Momona this time?

Scratching his head, Hyuga Kazuya was thoroughly confused. He was too embarrassed to ask, so he could only leave it for later.

Minato Namikaze brought the dishes out one by one.

It was a very lavish dinner.

Minato Namikaze was already an excellent cook, and with Hyuga Kazuya and Hyuga Momona, two big eaters, there was almost nothing left over.

They had very respectfully cleaned every dish.

Patting his stomach, Hyuga Kazuya was extremely satisfied with the meal.

"Teacher Minato is incredible. Your cooking is so good. If you didn't become a ninja, you could easily make a fortune by opening a restaurant."

Minato Namikaze seemed to be deep in thought, though the smile on his lips betrayed his mood.

"Today's meal was great, but... but..."

"Oh? What do you want to say, Kazuya?"

Kushina's impatience made her unable to endure Hyuga Kazuya's suspense any longer.

"There was too little. It wasn't enough."

As he spoke, he patted his stomach, indicating that he was only half full.

"Haha."

Hearing Hyuga Kazuya's words, everyone smiled.

After dinner, Momona and Kushina were still chatting enthusiastically, Kakashi was seriously reading his novel, and Teacher Minato had gone to clean up the dishes.

Hyuga Kazuya had wanted to help, but Minato Namikaze said there was no need.

With nothing else to do, Hyuga Kazuya went out onto the balcony to get some air.

It was already very late, and the cold north wind scattered Hyuga Kazuya's worries.

"Maybe a cigarette would feel better right now."

"But who told me not to know how to smoke?"

Hyuga Kazuya shook his head and smiled helplessly.

"Senior Kazuya."

"Kakashi? Weren't you reading? Is something wrong?"

Hyuga Kazuya turned his head and asked curiously.

"Senior, there's something I want to ask you."

Kakashi seemed somewhat embarrassed.

"What is it?"

"Senior, am I useless? I didn't do anything during this mission..."

"I don't dare ask Teacher Minato. I..."

Seeing Kakashi's dejection and embarrassment, Hyuga Kazuya smiled kindly and ruffled Kakashi's soft white hair.

"Kakashi, it's nothing. Among the three of us, you're the youngest, right?"

Kakashi nodded and looked at Hyuga Kazuya.

"And you're the weakest. There's no denying that."

"But!"

Hyuga Kazuya deliberately emphasized the word "but."

"But one day, if we need you to fight, Kakashi, do you know what that means?"

Kakashi looked at Hyuga Kazuya in confusion, unable to understand what he meant.

"It means all of us will have to risk our lives!"

Hyuga Kazuya crouched down and stared firmly into Kakashi's eyes, as though conveying a will, a conviction.

Kakashi shuddered all over.

"Senior... you... I... I understand."

After saying that, all of Kakashi's dejection and discouragement vanished. He was no longer upset that he had contributed almost nothing to the mission.

From that moment onward, Kakashi turned it all into strength, into motivation to keep moving forward and grow.

"Where the leaves dance, fire endures. The firelight will continue to illuminate the village and make the new leaves sprout."

After patting Kakashi on the shoulder and speaking the village's oft-repeated words of the Will of Fire, Hyuga Kazuya turned and left, leaving Kakashi alone on the balcony.

He turned back and saw Kakashi standing there alone in a daze.

"Kakashi, do you really understand what I meant?"

Today's conversation had only planted a seed. Perhaps one day it would bloom and bear fruit, or perhaps it would not.

Since it was already very late, Hyuga Kazuya, Momona, and Kakashi soon left one after another.

Of course, Hyuga Kazuya left together with Momona.

The cold night wind swept through the streets, stirring up clouds of dust.

As time passed, the bustling streets grew increasingly empty. Only the neon signs along the roadside still flashed with dazzling colored lights.

Pulling his clothes tighter around himself, Hyuga Kazuya asked curiously.

"What was Master's Wife Kushina talking to you about just now?"

"N-Nothing..."

When asked that question, Momona, who had seemed perfectly normal moments ago, suddenly began to stammer. Her pretty face flushed red, and she looked adorably at a loss.

Seeing her so cute like that,

Hyuga Kazuya could not help but feel an inexplicable impulse stirring in his heart.

It made him move closer to Momona.

The two felt the warmth radiating from each other's bodies.

Without thinking, he pulled Momona into his arms.

He felt the warmth of her delicate body and breathed in her fragrance.

Looking at her exquisite face and delicate lips so close at hand,

perhaps it was male instinct, or perhaps something else.

Hyuga Kazuya instinctively leaned down and kissed her, tasting the faint sweetness and softness of the girl.

He could clearly feel Momona's delicate body tremble before going rigid.

It was only a brief kiss. He did not continue any further.

His adult soul and the moral values of his previous life both forced Hyuga Kazuya to stop himself.

When he stopped,

Momona's expression held complicated emotions—perhaps relief, perhaps disappointment, perhaps satisfaction.

"Later on, will you be my Wife?"

Stroking Momona's smooth long hair, Hyuga Kazuya spoke his thoughts.

"Okay..."

A voice so soft it was nearly inaudible came from Momona. Though faint, Hyuga Kazuya heard it clearly.

"Okay!"

Then the two walked hand in hand through the streets of Konoha.

Blushing shyly, feeling as though her soul had left her body, Hyuga Momona let Hyuga Kazuya lead her by the hand back to the Hyuga Clan grounds.

After seeing Momona home, Hyuga Kazuya did not think of going in to sit for a while.

He then returned to his own home.

He still had something more important to do tomorrow.

That time had come...