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"I'm home! How come no one is here to welcome me?"

Tsunade's complaining voice drifted from the entryway, and Minato walked over with quick steps.

"Welcome back, Teacher. Dinner is already prepared."

"Uh..."

At these words, Tsunade paused mid-motion while changing into her slippers, casting a strange look at Minato.

For a fleeting moment, she had the distinct sensation of a wife returning from work to find her husband had cooked a meal to welcome her home.

It felt warm and cozy, but Minato's age stirred a sense of guilt within her.

"Sorry, I was held up by some business. Have you two eaten yet?"

"Not yet. If you hadn't come back soon, Sis, I would've starved to death." Nawaki's tone sounded somewhat resentful.

"Haha, sorry, sorry."

Tsunade walked quickly into the room and sat down at the dining table.

Minato brought the dishes he had been keeping warm on the stove to the table. Tsunade impatiently picked up a braised chicken leg, took a bite, and let out a sigh of satisfaction.

"This is so good. If only I could eat Minato's cooking every day from now on."

Hearing this, Nawaki looked puzzled. "What are you talking about? Isn't Minato cooking every day already?"

Tsunade smiled and ruffled Nawaki's hair. "Dummy! Sooner or later, you two will find girlfriends, get married, and start your own families."

Minato gave a gentle smile. "In that case, we'll just live nearby. That way, it'll be even more convenient for Teacher to come over to my place for dinner."

So gentle...

Hearing Minato's words, Tsunade felt instantly healed.

Yet, for some reason, she felt vaguely dissatisfied with his answer, though she couldn't pinpoint why—or perhaps she simply didn't dare to think about it too deeply.

"Ahem... let's talk about that later. Right now, there is a matter that requires your input."

Tsunade gave a light cough. "Due to certain reasons, Uzushio Village will be sending a girl to Konoha in a couple of days. Given the relationship between the Senju and the Uzumaki Clan, that child can be considered a distant younger sister to me and Nawaki."

Kushina is coming?

Minato felt a surge of joy in his heart.

"The Third's idea is that since the child is coming to Konoha all alone, she might feel lonely, so he wants her to stay with me for the time being."

Tsunade's gaze lingered on Minato's face for a second before she continued.

"I don't mind personally, but I still need to ask for your opinions. After all, Nawaki is the heir to this house, and Minato works hard cooking every day."

"Of course, it's fine if you don't agree. As proof of the alliance with the Uzumaki Clan, Grandfather once designated a plot of land in the village as the ancestral grounds for the Uzumaki Clan..."

"I have no objections!"

Before Tsunade could finish, Nawaki spoke without hesitation; he had always been a warm-hearted person.

"If Nawaki has no objections, then I don't either," Minato said gently.

Looking at it now, in the original story, Kushina should have lived in the Uzumaki ancestral grounds; otherwise, she wouldn't have been so easily kidnapped by the Cloud Village.

Perhaps she lived at Tsunade's house at first and only moved out after graduation, or perhaps after Nawaki passed away...

At this thought, Minato felt a sudden jolt of alarm.

He remembered that Nawaki died at the age of twelve during the Second Shinobi World War.

In other words, there was less than five years left...

Life had been too comfortable lately, and he had almost forgotten about this.

"Just as I thought..."

Tsunade shook her head and chuckled; she knew these two would agree.

Nawaki was passionate and straightforward, while Minato was gentle and polite. Although their personalities differed, both were kind-hearted children.

It seemed that old man Third had counted on exactly that!

Thinking of what had just happened, Tsunade gritted her teeth in secret frustration.

She had only just learned of this news from the Third himself.

The time shifted back one hour, at the Hokage Building.

"What do you want, calling me here?"

Tsunade had just finished assisting with a surgery at the hospital and was preparing to go home when she was intercepted by an Anbu sent by the Third and brought to the Hokage Building.

This was why her tone carried a hint of irritation.

"Well... I just have something I'd like to discuss with you. It won't take much of your time."

The Third felt a bit helpless. I am the Hokage, after all; can't you show me a little respect?

He thought better of it and let it go. After all, both of her grandfathers were Hokage, weren't they?

Tsunade took the document, her gaze sweeping rapidly across it before her eyes narrowed slightly: "Kushina Uzumaki? Is this the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

"That is correct."

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded: "In two days, Uzushio Village will send the child to Konoha."

Tsunade squinted, instinctively feeling that something was off: "What does this have to do with me? Has the intelligence been leaked? Do you need me to provide backup?"

"No, to prevent any leaks, currently only you, myself, and Lady Mito are aware of this."

Hiruzen Sarutobi said calmly: "As for the arrangements for this child... I will be honest with you, I intend to have her spend more time with Minato. After all, you know the suppressive power Wood Release has over Tailed Beasts..."

"Wait just a minute!"

Tsunade's expression darkened, and she waved a hand to interrupt Hiruzen Sarutobi: "You old geezer! Minato is only five years old! You actually want to use a Jinchuriki to bind his future?"

"You should understand the importance of the Nine-Tails to the village."

Hiruzen Sarutobi was silent for a moment, then sighed softly: "I have no intention of forcing them together; I only want to try and have them interact. If they can truly build a bond, it would be a good thing for Konoha. After all, that is how the First Hokage and Lady Mito were..."

Tsunade sneered: "And what if... Minato doesn't like that child, or that child doesn't like Minato? What will you do then?"

"Whether from the perspective of the village or from a personal standpoint, them being together is the best possible outcome."

"Minato's Wood Release can significantly reduce the risk of the Tailed Beast going berserk, allowing the child more freedom. And if Minato wishes to become Hokage, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would be his greatest asset."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused: "Furthermore, I can guarantee that I will not interfere directly."

Tsunade rolled her eyes: "That sounds nice, but why should I believe you?"

"That is a bit harsh..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched, and he helplessly rubbed his forehead: "I am the Hokage, after all. Do I not even have that much credibility?"

Tsunade scoffed: "I'll believe you when you throw away that broken crystal ball."

"Ahem..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi coughed lightly: "Rest assured, given the talent Minato has displayed, no one can force him. After all, even I would be unable to face the combined power of Wood Release and the Nine-Tails."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow; the old man had a point there.

Minato was only five, yet his raw strength was already no less than her own.

At his current rate of cultivation, who would be able to force him into anything in ten years' time?

"Although it is somewhat shameless, it is... all for the sake of Konoha."

Seeing Tsunade's expression waver, Hiruzen Sarutobi's tone became earnest: "Besides, that child was chosen as a Jinchuriki for the sake of Konoha, and the village owes her a debt. Why don't you ask for Minato and Nawaki's opinions?"

"Tch... I'll go back and ask them."

Tsunade pursed her lips. Thinking of the two boys' personalities, she already knew the outcome.

"I'm stating this in advance: if that child has a bad character... I will kick her out without a moment's hesitation!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded repeatedly: "That goes without saying!"

Only then did Tsunade let out a soft huff and leave, looking thoroughly reluctant.

Returning home, she looked at Minato's gentle, sunny smile and ate the dinner he had prepared, and her mood immediately soured even further.

Damn it!

My student is so outstanding, so perfect! Why should he be cheapened by some red-headed brat from who knows where?!

That damned old man!