Night shrouded Iwagakure, and the lights in the Tsuchikage Office glowed faintly.
Jingxin left the building and headed home along the familiar road.
Halfway there, a petite figure came running around the corner.
Karin wore light-colored loungewear, her long red hair fluttering gently in the night breeze. She stopped in front of Jingxin. "Brother Kintsuchi, Mom heard you were back, so she specially made dinner and sent me to invite you over."
Jingxin saw the hopeful look in Karin's eyes and nodded. "All right. I happen to have something to ask you about, too."
The two of them returned to Karin's home.
Warm light shone through the windows of the stone house, and the aroma of food drifted through the air.
Chinatsu heard their footsteps and came out to greet them.
She wore a plain apron, her dark red hair tied back, and a gentle smile on her face.
"Lord Kintsuchi, welcome back." Chinatsu held a plate of food and said softly, "I heard you just returned from Konoha. You must be exhausted."
Jingxin: "It was all right. I took care of everything."
The three of them sat around the table.
Chinatsu served Jingxin a bowl of soup. "I made all this with ingredients gathered near the village. It might not be as refined as the food in Konoha."
Jingxin took a sip of the soup, its delicious flavor spreading through his mouth. "It's very good. Sorry for the trouble, Auntie."
"Lord Kintsuchi, there's no need to be so formal. We're family." Chinatsu smiled fondly and began putting food on Jingxin's plate.
Karin kept her head lowered, sneaking glances at Jingxin from time to time.
At the same time.
Next door to Jingxin's house stood the Ōnoki family home.
A bespectacled schedule clerk came by.
Kurotsuchi was still training at