Welcome Home, Naruto.

Hiruzen Sarutobi walked to Jiraiya's side, his palm landing heavily on the man's shoulder with enough force to make Jiraiya's frame sink. He said nothing more, simply turning his head to fix his gaze directly on Minato.

"Fourth, I am going to consult with Utatane Koharu and Mitokado Homura to see if we can pull a few more elite squads for you."

Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke rapidly, his words firing off like a volley of shots. Without waiting for Minato to reply, he turned and strode toward the exit.

The door was pushed open, and a draft swept through, causing the documents on the desk to rustle and fluttering the dark brown robe Hiruzen Sarutobi usually wore. He disappeared into the corridor without looking back, leaving only a trail of hurried footsteps behind.

Jiraiya watched the door as it continued to swing, his face uncharacteristically devoid of its usual smirk. He crossed his arms over his chest and remarked.

"Old man... I've been seeing that resolute look on him more and more lately."

Minato looked up from the contents of the envelope and rubbed his throbbing temples.

"Is that so? I had always assumed that the Third, as the 'Shinobi Hero,' would always remain that unwavering."

"Well, Minato, don't underestimate the changes time brings to a person."

Jiraiya walked to the window, looking out at the Konoha currently under reconstruction.

"Who knows? Perhaps one day, when I, your teacher, grow old, I might change my own tune as well?"

He finished with a self-deprecating chuckle, though there was little mirth in the sound; it felt more like a buffer placed against something heavy.

He patted Minato on the shoulder and lifted his foot to leave, but he stopped abruptly, his leg suspended in mid-air.

Jiraiya tilted his head, his brows furrowing beneath his white hair as his nostrils flared slightly, as if catching a trace of something extremely faint in the air.

He closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, his gaze had turned sharp.

"Hey, Minato, there should be a limit to how hard you work."

He didn't wait for Minato's response; he paused, his voice dropping to a low volume, yet it struck Minato's ears with pinpoint precision.

"Can't you sense it? Right now, in this village... there are the signatures of two jinchuriki."

The envelope in Minato's hand fell onto the desk with a soft thud.

Jiraiya placed his hand on the doorknob, his tone regaining a hint of laziness, yet every word remained clear.

"Hurry up and get things settled, then go home and see Kushina. Today... there is more than one person waiting for you at home."

With that, he pushed the door open and walked out without looking back.

The sound of his footsteps faded down the corridor, sounding much steadier than when he had arrived, each step landing with firm intent.

Minato stared at the door that had closed once more. It took several seconds before he slowly stood up and looked out the window toward the direction of his home.

"Two jinchuriki, huh..."

Minato closed his eyes, his chakra perception spreading out like a net. It passed through the walls of the Hokage Office, drifted across the streets under reconstruction, and finally settled in a corner of the residential district.

There, he found two warm, slightly metallic-scented chakra signatures.

One he knew well: the Nine-Tails within Kushina, which had returned to a state of calm. The other was younger and more restless, like a fire that had just been ignited.

That was the unique, unmistakable fluctuation belonging to Naruto.

The corners of Minato's mouth slowly curled upward, and the exhaustion in his eyes vanished.

"It could only be you... Naruto."

A moment later, Minato seemed to be fully recharged. He threw his Hokage Cloak over his shoulders, his movements so swift they stirred a breeze.

"Right, I'll go back tonight and make sukiyaki with Kushina."

He calculated while tying his sash, his fingers rubbing against his chin.

"I wonder how much a boy his age eats... I'd better buy some extra meat."

He pushed the door open and stepped out, his figure turning into a streak of golden light that vanished at the end of the corridor.

The sun sank behind the Hokage Rock, and the clouds on the horizon were scorched a vibrant orange.

Lights began to flicker on throughout Konoha. At this moment, the strongest village in the ninja world shed its iron-blooded exterior to reveal the simple, ordinary foundation of life.

This foundation flowed through every street and drifted into every window in the residential district.

And in a small house within that district, the air was currently thick with the scent of profound happiness.

"So, the first time you went on a mission with Jiraiya-sensei, he swiped your wallet?"

Kushina leaned against the headboard, clutching a soft pillow, her gaze never leaving Lin Zi's face.

They had been talking for nearly the entire day, from the moment the sun was at its zenith until the twilight gathered, yet Kushina asked questions tirelessly, as if she wanted to cram the sixteen years of the boy before her into her heart all at once.

"That's right, that's right."

Lin Zi sat cross-legged on a chair by the bed, peeling an orange. He tilted his head back, feigning a look of deep recollection.

"The Pervy Sage started spouting off about the 'Three Prohibitions of Ninja,' and snap—he snatched my wallet right out of my hand."

He popped a slice of orange into his mouth and continued to complain, his words muffled.

"Then he left me with three hundred yen. I took that money to buy some takoyaki, ran to find him, and found out that guy had already spent all my pocket money drinking at a tavern! He was even bragging to the landlady!"

Kushina burst into a fit of laughter, her shoulders shaking as tears welled up in the corners of her eyes.

"Is that so? Then has Naruto been properly observing the Three Prohibitions of Ninja?"

"Me?"

Lin Zi tossed an orange peel into the trash can, clapped his hands, and looked righteous.

"I definitely have. I don't have a girlfriend, I don't drink, and I certainly don't like crowding into groups of people. I'm completely different from that Pervy Sage."

Kushina looked at him, her eyes softening.

She reached out, her palm resting gently on the crown of Lin Zi's head, his golden hair slipping through her fingers, carrying the unique warmth of a young man.

"Yes..."

Her voice was as light as a feather, yet her eyes slowly turned red.

"Our Naruto has already become such a wonderful ninja..."

Before she could finish, tears welled up again.

"Ah... old lady... don't cry..."

Lin Zi panicked instantly, not knowing where to put the half-peeled orange in his hand. He scrambled to grab a tissue, but Kushina grabbed his wrist.

Outside the door, Minato Namikaze stood quietly, carrying two large bags of groceries.

He peered through the gap in the door, watching that golden figure inside and listening to the sounds of Kushina crying and laughing, his chest feeling full, aching, and tight.

He took a deep breath and let it out slowly; the plastic bags cut into his fingers until they turned white, but he didn't notice.

Finally, he made up his mind, gripped the doorknob tightly, and pressed down—

Click.

"I'm home."

"Welcome back, Minato."

These were the words from Kushina, still thick with a nasal tone, but Minato wanted to hear another voice. He stood in the entryway, his gaze passing over his wife and landing directly on the boy by the bed.

Lin Zi was sitting by Kushina's bedside, his left hand held tightly in hers, his right hand still poised in the gesture of wiping her tears, his fingertips hovering in mid-air with an innocent "I didn't do anything" expression.

Their eyes met.

Minato looked at the face that was almost identical to his own, looked into those azure blue eyes, and suddenly felt a sting in his nose.

He bent down, set the groceries on the floor, strode over, and let his palm fall heavily onto Lin Zi's head, ruffling it vigorously.

"Yo, welcome back," Lin Zi said, tilting his head to dodge, only to be ruffled even harder.

"Mm."

Minato smiled, his palm feeling the warmth of that head, his voice so soft it was as if he were afraid of disturbing something.

"Also... welcome home, Naruto."

"Yeah, yeah, I got it."

Lin Zi raised one hand to shield his head, while his other hand was still being held by Kushina.

"My hair! Hey! Stop ruffling it!"

Minato raised his hands in surrender, the smile in his eyes impossible to hide. He turned to look at Kushina and began pulling items out of the bags.

"Is Sukiyaki okay for dinner? I bought plenty of beef and tofu... um, Naruto, will you eat with us?"

Lin Zi thought for two seconds, pulled his hand back, and stood up, looking ready to bolt.

"I think I'll pass. I was planning on going out for ramen or something. You two lovebirds..."

"That is not a 'pass'!"

Before Kushina could finish, her fist landed precisely on the top of Lin Zi's head.

Thwack!

"Not eating properly at your age! What exactly do you think you're doing! Naruto!"

"Alright, alright... I'll eat, I'll eat..."

Lin Zi hugged his head and crouched down, rubbing his scalp with a helpless expression.

"Stop hitting me..."

Minato turned back, watching this scene, and revealed a smile that was both helpless and doting.

"Kushina was known as the Bloody Habanero back in the day, after all... you'll have to be a bit more patient with her..."