A New Member

"I'm back! Why isn't anyone here to greet me?"

Tsunade's complaining voice came from the entryway, and Minato hurried over.

"Thanks for all your hard work, Sensei. Dinner's ready."

"Uh..."

At that, Tsunade paused as she changed her shoes and gave Minato a strangely thoughtful look.

For a moment, she had the distinct impression of a wife coming home from work to find her husband had made dinner for her.

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

"Sorry, something came up, so I got back late. Have you eaten yet?"

"Not yet. If you hadn't come back soon, Sis, I would've starved to death." Nawaki sounded a little aggrieved.

"Haha, sorry, sorry."

Tsunade hurried into the room and sat down at the table.

Minato brought the dishes he'd kept warm on the stove to the table. Tsunade eagerly picked up a piece of braised chicken drumstick, took a bite, and let out a satisfied sigh.

"This is wonderful. I wish I could have Minato's cooking every day from now on."

At that, Nawaki looked confused. "What are you talking about? Minato cooks every day."

Tsunade smiled and ruffled Nawaki's hair. "You idiot! Sooner or later, you'll find girlfriends, get married, have children, and start families of your own."

Minato smiled gently. "Then we'll live nearby, so it'll be easy for you to come over to my place for dinner, Sensei."

How sweet...

Hearing Minato's words, Tsunade immediately felt comforted.

For some reason, though, she felt vaguely dissatisfied with his answer. She couldn't say what bothered her—or maybe she didn't dare think too deeply about it.

"Ahem... let's leave that for later. There's something I need your opinions on."

Tsunade cleared her throat. "For certain reasons, a girl from Uzushio Village will be coming to Konoha in a couple of days. Given the relationship between the Senju and the Uzumaki Clan, she could, more or less, be considered a distant younger sister to Nawaki and me."

Kushina was coming?

Minato's heart leaped with joy.

"The Third Hokage thinks she might feel lonely arriving in Konoha all by herself, so he wants her to stay with me for a while."

Tsunade paused to look at Minato, then continued.

"I don't mind, personally, but I still need to ask what you two think. Nawaki is the heir to this house, after all, and Minato works hard cooking every day."

"Of course I don't mind!"

Nawaki answered without hesitation before Tsunade could finish. He'd always been warmhearted.

"If Nawaki doesn't mind, then neither do I," Minato said gently.

From the looks of it, Kushina had probably lived in the Uzumaki Clan's compound in the original story. Otherwise, the Cloud Village wouldn't have been able to kidnap her so easily.

It was also possible that she'd lived with Tsunade at first, then moved out after graduating—or perhaps after Nawaki's death...

At the thought, Minato's heart suddenly lurched.

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

That meant it would happen in less than five years...

He'd been living so peacefully lately that he'd almost forgotten about it.

"So that's how it is..."

Tsunade shook her head with a wry smile. She'd known the two of them would agree.

Nawaki was warm and straightforward, while Minato was gentle and polite. Though their personalities differed, both were kindhearted boys.

The old geezer Third had probably counted on that!

Remembering what had just happened, Tsunade gritted her teeth in anger.

She'd only just learned about this from the Third.

An hour earlier, at the Hokage Building.

"Why'd you call me here?"

Tsunade had just helped finish an operation at the hospital and was about to head home when Anbu sent by the Third had intercepted her and brought her to the Hokage Building.

That had put a bit of a bite in her voice.

"Well... there's just something I'd like to discuss with you. It won't take too long."

The Third was a little helpless. I may be Hokage, but could you at least show me a little respect?

He thought it over, then decided to let it go. After all, both her grandfathers had been Hokage.

Tsunade took the document and quickly scanned it, her eyes narrowing slightly. "Kushina Uzumaki? Is she the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki?"

"That's right."

The Third nodded. "In a couple of days, Uzushio Village will send someone to bring the girl to Konoha."

Tsunade narrowed her eyes, instinctively sensing something was off. "What does this have to do with me? Has information leaked? Do you want me to escort her?"

"No. To prevent a leak, only Lady Mito and I know about this besides you."

The Third spoke evenly. "As for what happens to the girl after that... I'll be frank. I'd like her to spend time with Minato. As you know, Wood Release is effective at suppressing Tailed Beasts..."

"Hold it right there!"

Tsunade's expression darkened, and she cut Hiruzen Sarutobi off with a wave of her hand. "You old geezer! Minato's only five! You're planning to use a Jinchuriki to tie down his future?"

"You should understand how important the Nine-Tails is to the village."

Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for a moment, then sighed. "I'm not trying to bind them to each other. I only want to see if they can get to know each other. If they really do form a bond, that would be good for Konoha. After all, the First and Lady Mito were like that..."

Tsunade sneered. "And what if Minato doesn't like the girl, or she doesn't like him? What will you do then?"

"From the perspective of both the village and the individuals involved, their being together would be the best outcome."

"Minato's Wood Release would greatly reduce the risk of the Tailed Beast going berserk, and the girl would have more freedom. And if Minato wants to become Hokage, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki would be his greatest ally."

Hiruzen Sarutobi paused. "I can also promise that I won't interfere directly."

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Easy to say. Why should I believe you?"

"That's a little harsh..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi's mouth twitched. He rubbed his forehead helplessly. "I am Hokage, after all. Don't I have even that much credibility?"

Tsunade scoffed. "Get rid of that stupid crystal ball, and I'll believe you."

"Ahem..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi cleared his throat. "Don't worry. Given the talent Minato's shown, no one could force him into anything. Even I couldn't face both Wood Release and the Nine-Tails at the same time."

Tsunade raised an eyebrow. He did have a point.

Minato was only five, yet his combat strength was already no weaker than hers.

At the rate he was training, who could force him to do anything ten years from now?

"It may be shameless, but... this is all for Konoha."

Seeing Tsunade waver, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke earnestly. "Besides, the girl was chosen as a Jinchuriki for Konoha's sake. Konoha owes her for that. Why not ask Minato and Nawaki what they think?"

"Fine... I'll ask them when I get home."

Tsunade pursed her lips. Knowing what the two of them were like, she already knew their answer.

"Let me make this clear: if that girl turns out to be a bad person... I'll throw her out without a second thought!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded repeatedly. "Of course!"

Only then did Tsunade give a soft snort and leave, looking thoroughly displeased.

Back home, seeing Minato's warm, sunny smile and eating the dinner he'd made only soured Tsunade's mood further.

Damn it!

I've got such a brilliant, perfect student! Why should some red-haired brat from who-knows-where get to have him?!

Damn old geezer!