Naruto's room had been furnished with Shizune's help. Unlike its bare-bones appearance before, it now had plenty of household items and tasteful decorations, with an orchid on the windowsill.
He'd grown taller, and the narrow bed he'd slept in since childhood had become cramped. They'd replaced it with a large wooden bed, big enough for him to stretch out across.
He'd lived alone since he was little. Apart from his time in Heaven, this was the first time he'd experienced someone taking care of him in his daily life.
Care given without expecting anything in return, as naturally as breathing.
Knock, knock~
Someone knocked on the door, and Naruto answered.
Shizune came in with a plate of peeled, sliced apples. She set it on the side table, smiled when Naruto thanked her, then turned to leave.
Just then, Jiraiya came into the room and sat cross-legged on the floor, spearing an apple with a toothpick.
Shizune hadn't closed the door. She went back to the living room, picked up another plate from the kitchen counter, and brought it in. "I was just about to take this to Lord Jiraiya's room."
Jiraiya took it from her. "I told you, there's no need to call me 'Lord.'"
Shizune nodded and left the room, gently closing the door behind her.
Jiraiya picked up the plate and offered it to Naruto, who was training. "Haste makes waste. Overtraining can damage your body. Come take a bath with me later."
Naruto checked the time. It was eight.
As soon as Tsunade got home, she'd drawn water and heated it. She was probably soaking in the courtyard bath and drinking now. She wouldn't be done until at least nine.
Naruto shook his head. "No. I'm going to bed in an hour."
As Jiraiya pictured Tsunade emerging