Night fell, and Konoha was still basking in the afterglow of the day's festivities. But in a detached house beneath Kage Rock, warm, intimate light spilled from the windows.
This was Uchiha Ling's home. It was usually rather quiet, but tonight it had a rare, welcoming warmth.
To keep the two of them from arguing during the day, Uchiha Rin had invited Kushina and Tsunade to dinner that evening, partly to celebrate the end of the Third Shinobi World War.
The table was laden with a feast. Some dishes had been ordered from restaurants, while a few looked less impressive but were clearly made with care. As Kushina revealed with a hint of pride, she had tried making those herself.
Tsunade had contributed several bottles of fine wine she'd treasured for years. The liquor was clear, its aroma rich and mellow.
At first, the mood still carried a faint trace of the day's festivities.
Kushina did her best to play the hostess, serving Ling and Tsunade, but whenever her eyes drifted toward Tsunade, a subtle wariness still showed.
Tsunade, on the other hand, was far more relaxed than she had been during the day. She had set aside the burdens of being one of the Sannin and a teacher, though she still held onto some reserve. Most of the time, she drank quietly, listening as Ling shared a few simple, nonclassified anecdotes from the front lines.
After a few drinks, the alcohol acted like a gentle catalyst, loosening tense nerves and blurring the lines between their roles.
"Hic..." Kushina's cheeks were flushed, and her usually upright posture had grown languid. Clutching her wineglass, she gazed at Uchiha Ling with bleary eyes. "Ling, you know, when you were gone, I worried about you every day, but I couldn't let it show.