"If you've made up your mind, then go."
Namikaze Minato looked at Nanchuan You and shook his head. "Worst comes to worst, I'll cover for you."
By now, Namikaze Minato understood Nanchuan You well.
This student of his was different from Kakashi and the others. He knew his own mind.
Someone like him would not let other people's words shake his resolve, nor would he change his mind easily.
So Minato had only voiced his concerns. He had never expected to talk You out of it.
Since You had already decided, Minato would make sure he had cover.
As Hokage, he had that much authority.
"Thank you, Sensei."
Nanchuan You smiled in gratitude.
Minato waved it off. "You've done far more for me than this. It's nothing."
"Go on back. Once you've finished what you need to do, get some rest."
He spoke with his usual gentle smile.
"Yes."
Nanchuan You nodded, rose, and left.
When he returned home, he was surprised.
Someone seemed to have cleaned his room. Everything looked tidy.
He looked up and saw a young woman standing ahead of him.
"You're back?"
Kurenai Yuhi stared at his sudden arrival, then lowered her head. "Your place looked a little messy, so I thought I'd help clean up."
"You're... not angry, are you?"
Entering someone else's room without permission and moving things around was rather presumptuous.
That remained true even though Kurenai and Nanchuan You had grown close.
"No, I don't mind."
Meeting her gaze, Nanchuan You smiled. "I should thank you."
"I've been busy lately. I haven't cleaned my room in a while."
"Let's finish it together."
He found the cleaning supplies, and the two of them cleaned the room together.
Once they were done, Nanchuan You took Kurenai out to eat as thanks.
"Well, fancy running