Hyuga Shinichi left the academy with Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina. The three of them walked together toward the Senju Clan Compound.
Since the graduation ceremony was being held today, Uzumaki Kushina, like the other students, had few classes scheduled. She had come to the academy just to watch the ceremony.
Now that the ceremony was over, they could naturally leave the Ninja Academy.
Namikaze Minato was going back to the Senju Clan Compound with them because Hyuga Shinichi happened to be free today. He'd decided to cook something delicious to celebrate Namikaze Minato's graduation.
As they walked, Uzumaki Kushina quietly followed on Hyuga Shinichi's right, while Namikaze Minato walked on his left.
Although they didn't talk much, Hyuga Shinichi keenly noticed that Uzumaki Kushina seemed to have something she wanted to say to Namikaze Minato. She had been silently working up to it.
After walking for a while, Uzumaki Kushina finally plucked up the courage to speak.
"Na... Namikaze Minato, congratulations on graduating!"
At this, Hyuga Shinichi glanced at Uzumaki Kushina, then turned his gaze to Namikaze Minato. So Kushina had been trying to figure out how to congratulate Minato on graduating.
Namikaze Minato looked surprised, as if he hadn't expected Uzumaki Kushina to congratulate him.
Once he'd recovered, he replied with a silly smile.
"Thank you..."
Before Namikaze Minato could finish, Uzumaki Kushina continued.
"Hmph, don't get carried away just because you became a Genin before me. I'll graduate and become a Genin in a couple of years, and then you'll see me overtake you!"
Namikaze Minato still looked at Uzumaki Kushina with a silly grin and said,
"Thanks for the warning. I'll do my best!"
Hyuga Shinichi thought, Is Minato really this absent-minded? Kushina's challenging you, not warning you.
The corner of Uzumaki Kushina's mouth twitched too.