Moving In with Tsunade

"Starting today, you're moving in with me."

After leaving Mito's place, Tsunade spoke seriously. "We're not at war, but assassinations targeting geniuses aren't uncommon. You should understand how important you are."

"I understand."

Minato nodded. He didn't want to hand over his trump card—his ability to become an element—just because someone pressured him.

"As for rent and things like that, you can pay me back with your cooking~"

Seeing Minato agree, Tsunade smiled smugly. Then, as if she felt she was being a little unfair, she thought it over and added, "Of course, I'll have Nawaki help you. And if there's anything you don't understand about training, just ask me!"

Minato smiled. "Is there anything you don't eat, Sensei?"

Tsunade thought for a moment. "Hmm... Nothing in particular, but I'm not too fond of sweets, like dango."

"Then what do you like to eat?" Minato asked.

"Hmm, tender chicken, I guess. Something like that Saliva Chicken you just made..."

As she spoke, Tsunade laughed heartily. "But if your cooking is this good, I think I'll like anything you make."

"Chicken..."

Minato pondered. Most boys were carnivores, and chicken was a common ingredient, so he knew plenty of chicken dishes.

And judging by Tsunade, she couldn't handle much spice, but she didn't mind chili peppers.

After picking up a few daily necessities, Minato followed Tsunade to her home.

As soon as they entered, a round-faced boy with brown, spiky hair came charging out barefoot, his feet thudding against the floor.

"Big Sis, you're back!"

The boy looked two or three years older than Minato and was full of energy.

"I'm back~"

At the sight of him, Tsunade's lips softened into a warm smile. She introduced him to Minato. "This is my younger brother, Nawaki. Nawaki, this is my student, Minato Namikaze. You two should get along."

"Huh? Unbelievable. My sister, who can't even get out of bed, actually had the energy to take on a student..."

Hearing Tsunade, Nawaki couldn't help teasing her. Then he looked Minato over curiously. "This kid... looks younger than me?"

And he was so handsome, too. He'd definitely be popular with girls...

Damn, that was so enviable!

"Yeah, Minato's a new student this year."

Tsunade changed into slippers, then found a pair for Minato. "And he's a super genius!"

"Huh? A genius..."

Nawaki didn't think much of it. After all, his sister was a genius, too.

"Nice to meet you. I hope we get along," Minato said with a gentle smile.

"Uh, yeah. You too."

Nawaki nodded, trying to look mature. "Since you're my big sister's student, you're my little underling! I'll look out for you at school!"

Minato gave him a polite smile.

Hearing that, Tsunade couldn't help rolling her eyes. Nawaki was two years older than Minato, but from the strength Minato had shown so far, he could easily pin her foolish little brother to the ground and rub his face in it.

Tsunade's house was large, a traditional Japanese-style residence.

Minato's room was next to Nawaki's, and it got plenty of sunlight.

After setting up the room and checking the sky outside, Minato went to bed.

But perhaps because he was in an unfamiliar place, he had trouble falling asleep at first. His mind was in turmoil.

Meeting Tsunade meant he was now involved with people from the original story.

Some of them were bound to be schemers, like Shimura Danzō.

Minato wasn't too worried. He didn't feel a strong attachment to Konoha. If they pushed him too far, he could always leave.

With the Glint-Glint Fruit's power, no one could stop him from leaving Konoha. As for Wood Release, he could come back and claim it a few years later with Susanoo active.

Of course, that was the worst-case scenario.

He was Tsunade's student now, and Mito Uzumaki was looking after him. That made him the Third Hokage's grand-student, part of the Hokage's inner circle.

With that political backing, along with the uniqueness of Wood Release, no one would dare do anything to him as long as he didn't jump up and slap Hiruzen Sarutobi across the face. Even if he acted a little out of line, they wouldn't do anything to him.

Still, he wasn't the sort of person to throw his weight around.

His mind wandered, and at some point, Minato finally drifted off to sleep.

It wasn't until early the next morning that the body clock he'd developed through his recent training forced him to open his eyes. He stared at the unfamiliar surroundings for two seconds before remembering he'd moved into Tsunade's house.

He got up and washed.

As he passed Nawaki's and Tsunade's rooms, he found them quiet. It seemed they were both still asleep.

After washing up, Minato went to the kitchen and looked around. It was fairly well stocked with kitchenware and seasonings.

He checked the cupboards one by one. There was still plenty of rice, flour, and oil.

Then he opened the refrigerator. Inside were a bag with only two slices of toast left, canned fruit, some sauces, eggs, green onions, tomatoes, and wilted spinach...

"Hmm... Looks like they usually have bread for breakfast."

Minato scratched his head. He still preferred hot food.

He checked the freezer, too. It mostly held ready-made food: chicken cutlets, chicken leg steaks, pork chops, hamburger patties...

After thinking it over, Minato took out a hamburger patty and thawed it in the microwave.

Then he poured flour into a bowl. A tiny Rasengan formed in his hand, and as he added water, he used it to stir. Soon, the flour had reached just the right consistency.

After half an hour of clattering around, a rich aroma began to drift through the house.

In her room, Tsunade's eyes snapped open. Her stomach growled like mad.

She could smell the food. The aroma was downright wicked—it had actually lured her out of sleep!

After a couple of seconds, she remembered she'd brought a cook... a student home yesterday, so she hurriedly got dressed and dashed out of her room.

"What smells so good?!"

Just as Tsunade came out, Nawaki rushed out of his room, pulling on his shirt as he went.

They reached the living room, where Minato came out of the kitchen carrying a large bowl.

"Since you're awake, come eat. I made some flour-drop soup. There's plenty more in the pot..."

Before he could finish, the siblings became a gust of wind and rushed into the kitchen.

"Hey, Sis, don't shove me!"

"Shut up! I'm serving you first!"

"Hehe, you're the best, Sis~"

"The rest is mine."

"..."

Soon, the siblings emerged from the kitchen carrying large bowls.

Too eager to talk, they sat beside Minato, scooped up the soup with their spoons, blew on it, and began drinking it in small sips.

"Phew—"

"Ahh—"

After a mouthful of soup, the siblings let out sighs of contentment in unison.

Watching their reaction, Minato couldn't help smiling.

He'd always thought flour-drop soup was magical. It had a warm, comforting quality to it. Simply put, it was warm and soothing.

It was also a very forgiving dish. He'd made tomato and egg flour-drop soup, and adding spinach and diced hamburger meat hadn't clashed with the flavor. Tomatoes easily sparked people's appetites, especially if they liked the taste and were trying them for the first time.

"Slurp, slurp..."

The siblings were like two pigs, polishing off every last drop of soup.

"Ah, my stomach feels all warm. I'm so satisfied~"

After finishing her soup, Tsunade propped herself up with one hand on the tatami and gently patted her slightly rounded belly with the other, licking her lips as she savored the taste.

What a suggestive thing to say...

Minato's mouth twitched. "I added a hamburger patty. It's made mostly of beef and onions, so you might sweat a little after eating it. And flour-drop soup is warming to begin with."

Nawaki reluctantly set his bowl down. "That was so good. Now that's what breakfast is supposed to be..."

Tsunade's gaze sharpened. "Oh?"

"Of course, I still like your cooking best, Sis!"

Nawaki jolted and quickly waved his hands. "But I didn't know Minato could cook. Hey, Sis, you didn't take him on as a student just because he's good at cooking, did you?"

"What nonsense are you talking about?"

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Didn't I tell you? This kid's a super genius. He might become the biggest rival on your path to becoming Hokage!"

Nawaki looked unconvinced. "You're lying. Minato's only just started school."

"Oh...?"

Tsunade sat up straight. She suddenly realized that her little brother might not have been through many setbacks, either.

With that in mind, her expression turned playful. "Then why don't you give it a try? I need to test Minato's strength anyway. How about I give that job to you, his senpai from two grades above?"

"Oh! Just watch!"

Nawaki was eager. "I definitely won't lose!"