Slice of Life - A Barbecue Party for the Ninja Village's Younger Generation!

"Brother Liuxia, it's me, Kushina." My younger sister's voice drifted from outside the door, laced with a hint of anticipation and caution.

Having just finished a rendezvous with the beautiful daughter of Duke Zhou, Liuxia opened the door at the sound of Kushina's knocking. Seeing her standing there, her eyes sparkling with expectation, he heard her say, "Brother Liuxia, you're finally back. I heard you've been very busy lately preparing for the Chunin Exams. Yesterday, the Third Hokage said the next exam is a month away; could you take me around Konoha? I really want to go out with you."

Looking at his sister's smiling face, a pang of guilt welled up in Liuxia's heart. He had indeed neglected Kushina because of the Chunin Exams, and with Tsunade frequently away on missions lately, only Grandma Mito was left at home to keep her company. Hearing from the Third Hokage yesterday that he had some free time, Kushina had waited until morning to come and invite him; this thoughtfulness and consideration made Liuxia's heart ache.

"Kushina, I'm sorry. I really have been neglecting you lately," Liuxia said gently. "Of course I can. Today, I'll take you around Konoha. We can go wherever you like."

Hearing Liuxia's agreement, the smile on Kushina's face grew even brighter. "Really? That's great! I've been wanting to see the current commercial district in Konoha for a long time; I heard there are lots of fun new things there."

Liuxia smiled and nodded. "Then let's head to the commercial district. Quite a few new shops have opened recently. I'll take you to eat delicious food and buy whatever you like."

And so, on a bright and sunny day, Liuxia led a jubilant Kushina out of the house, heading toward the commercial district with long, brisk strides under the morning sun. Along the way, Kushina chirped like a little bird, excitedly talking about all the things she couldn't wait to do, while Liuxia kept a smile on his face, listening tirelessly to his sister's words and occasionally offering constructive suggestions and warm responses at just the right moments.

Soon, they arrived in front of the first shop. This store sold a wide variety of ninja gear, and the dazzling array of merchandise was overwhelming. Kushina stared with curiosity at the neatly arranged scrolls and uniquely shaped kunai, her eyes gleaming with eagerness. Liuxia naturally understood his sister's thoughts and spoke in a soft voice, explaining the specific uses of the equipment and their importance in battle. After listening to her brother's explanation, Kushina had an epiphany, gaining a deeper understanding of these mysterious weapons.

Next, they arrived at a beautifully decorated dessert shop. Before they even stepped inside, Kushina's gaze was firmly captured by the colorful, exquisite, and tempting desserts in the display window. Knowing his sister had a special fondness for sweets, Liuxia bought some delicious treats for her without a second thought. Kushina took the food with great joy and began to eat with satisfaction. "Brother, these dango are so delicious!" she said, and while tasting the dessert, she didn't forget to feed a few pieces to Liuxia.

Munching on dango, Liuxia and Kushina walked into a small, delicate accessory shop. The shop was filled with ornaments that shimmered under the lights, but Kushina's eyes were soon drawn to a particular necklace.

The necklace consisted of a thin silver chain with a small, Uzumaki-shaped pendant hanging from it; the design was simple yet elegant, as if it contained endless vitality and life. Kushina's fingers lightly touched the glass case, her eyes revealing an undisguised fondness.

Liuxia noticed his sister's gaze. He walked quietly to her side and asked softly, "Do you like it? I'll buy it for you."

Kushina turned her head, her eyes shining with surprise. "Really, Brother Liuxia? It's so beautiful."

Liuxia smiled and nodded. He walked to the counter and quietly purchased the necklace. When Kushina turned away to continue admiring other accessories, Liuxia walked gently behind her and tenderly fastened the necklace around her neck.

Feeling the coolness against her skin, Kushina turned around in surprise, her fingers brushing the necklace. "Brother Liuxia, how did you... thank you, I really love it!"

Watching the joy on his sister's face, a warm current surged through Liuxia's heart. "As long as you're happy, I'm satisfied. This is what I wanted to see most today."

Kushina hugged Liuxia tightly and said gratefully, "Brother Liuxia, you're always the best to me."

Leaving the accessory shop, they arrived at a small performance area where a street performer in flamboyant clothing was doing magic tricks. Kushina watched intently, clapping excitedly every time the performer finished a trick.

Just then, Pakura and Karura appeared in their line of sight. Pakura was holding a skewer of candied hawthorn, seemingly uninterested in the surrounding bustle, while Karura observed everything around her with a smile.

Liuxia greeted them. Although Pakura appeared cold on the surface, she was not actually averse to Liuxia's friendliness; as an opponent, Liuxia was undoubtedly strong and worthy of respect, and he hadn't made things difficult for them after defeating them. Moreover, Kushina's straightforwardness and enthusiasm made Pakura unable to help but reveal a faint smile, her attitude beginning to soften.

Karura suggested, "Since we're all here, why don't we try that newly opened shaved ice shop? I heard their shaved ice is delicious."

The four of them went to the shaved ice shop together and ordered several different flavors. Kushina chose strawberry, while Pakura opted for matcha. They sat around a small table, chatting while they ate, the atmosphere relaxed and pleasant.

Kushina asked Pakura curiously, "Sister Pakura, what do you usually do in your village?"

Pakura was slightly taken aback, then replied, "Hmph, I train and carry out missions, of course. But occasionally, I relax like this."

Karura added, "There is a beautiful stretch of sand near our village. Sometimes I go there for a walk to enjoy the tranquility."

As time passed, the relationship between the four became even more harmonious. They shared interesting stories from their respective villages and exchanged some insights on being a ninja.

Just as they were chatting happily, Liuxia proposed, "Since everyone is here, why don't we have a dinner party tonight? Let's invite Ai, Yagura, and Kitsuchi as well. It'll be a friendly exchange for our generation of ninjas before the third round of the exams."

Kushina clapped excitedly. "Good idea! We can go to that famous barbecue restaurant."

Although Pakura maintained her tsundere attitude, her eyes revealed anticipation. "Hmph, since you've all said so, I'll reluctantly join."

Karura smiled and nodded. "That sounds great, I'm looking forward to it. I'll notify the Sand."

In the afternoon, Liuxia personally invited Ai and the others to the barbecue party that night. Although everyone was surprised, they were all young and held no deep-seated grudges, so they agreed.

"Hiruzen, you actually let that brat Liuxia run wild? Not only did he gather the enemies for a dinner party, but he even took Kushina along! Do you not realize her importance?" Danzo roared in agitation.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, took a deep breath from his pipe, slowly exhaled the smoke, and looked calmly at his old friend of many years. He understood Danzo's concerns, but he had his own considerations. "Danzo, you don't need to be so agitated. In the end, they are all just children. If it weren't for the constant strife in the ninja world, why would they need to fight to the death in cruel battles? As for Kushina..."

At the mention of Kushina, Hiruzen's gaze softened. "You know the state of Lady Mito's health; even the Yin Seal cannot stop her aging. Let her go; all of this is so she can build deeper bonds with the village."

"You will regret this, Hiruzen!" Danzo glared at him, his eyes wide.

However, Hiruzen remained unmoved and replied firmly, "I am the Hokage of this village, Danzo."

That very night, the young people from various ninja villages gathered together to celebrate. This gathering became a precious fragment in their memories. As time passed and these young people entered their twilight years, they would still sigh when recalling the scene, marveling that only someone with the bearing and heart to govern the entire ninja world could have hosted such a unique gathering during a time when the villages were tense and hostile.