Date

"Kushina, Naruto wasn't giving you trouble today, was he?"

As Minato waited for the ramen, he asked Kushina.

Kushina rubbed her belly. "Honestly, our baby has been so well-behaved. How could he make a fuss for no reason? I have a feeling that when he grows up, he'll become a man like Teacher Jiraiya."

"You've worked hard. I haven't been able to stay by your side every day."

"Not at all. You're doing it for the village too. And now that you've become Hokage, you won't have to go out on missions so often anymore."

As the couple chatted, they had eyes only for each other.

Teuchi watched them with a nostalgic expression.

Only Tobitake Tonbo was left speechless, force-fed this public display of affection.

Well!

It wasn't too bad. At least he got to witness the two of them being lovey-dovey. Naruto wouldn't even get that in the future, so that was how he consoled himself.

Swish, swish!

With that mood in mind, the dough in his hands danced like a dragon.

It quickly became springy noodles.

Smack!

He handed them to Teuchi, who inspected them and was very satisfied with their texture.

Then Teuchi carried a steaming bowl of ramen over to Minato.

"Here you are, tonkotsu ramen. Please enjoy."

"Thank you, boss." Minato was very polite.

Just then, Ayame entered through the doorway, carrying a box filled with noodles.

Tobitake Tonbo's eyes lit up. He set aside his work and walked over.

"Let me help you. You must be tired. Wipe your sweat."

He took the box from her, then pulled out a tissue and wiped the sweat from her forehead.

Ayame did not resist. Instead, she smiled brightly.

"Thank you."

"No need to be so polite. Hehe."

Tobitake Tonbo smiled, blushing.

However, his face was wrapped in bandages, so no one could see it.

Naturally, the intimate scene between them fell into the eyes of the two exceptionally powerful ninja.

"See, Minato? This child is as gentle as you were," Kushina said nostalgically.

Minato had been like that back then too.

Minato, on the other hand, blushed a little. Thinking about how young he had been when he did such things was rather embarrassing.

"Haha, of course. We're all children who inherited the Will of Fire!"

Minato's gaze swept across Tobitake Tonbo's face. No wonder a ninja like him was helping out at this shop—he had found love.

Just now, Minato had nearly thought his whereabouts had been exposed.

"Ayame, come help!"

Teuchi's voice rang out from the distance.

"I'm coming. I'll go help first. When the shop closes, I'll come play with you," Ayame said.

"Hehe, today is Lord Hokage's inauguration day.

I don't have to work today, so I came to help too.

Look, I learned how to knead dough and stretch noodles. Hehe!"

Tobitake Tonbo went with Ayame to the work area and showed her the dough he had kneaded.

Ayame fiddled with it for a moment. "That's amazing! It took me ages to learn that!"

Receiving her praise, Tobitake Tonbo was quite pleased.

A new brain really was useful. Learning these things came naturally to him.

His eyes glanced toward Minato and Kushina, and he raised his head.

So what if they were being lovey-dovey?

I can do it too.

"Oh, right. You and Kakashi are classmates, aren't you?"

Perhaps after they had finished being affectionate, Minato asked Tobitake Tonbo.

"Yes, and Obito and Rin too. I heard they used to learn under you, Lord Hokage!"

There was a hint of envy in Tobitake Tonbo's voice.

Kakashi's rapid growth into a Jōnin was inseparable from having a good teacher.

Sure, his talent was absurdly good.

But on the battlefield, practical combat experience would not increase just because of talent.

A good teacher could help a disciple quickly get through the beginner stage.

Fortunately, his talent was not bad either, and he could improve through the memories he read.

"Obito...!"

When Minato heard Obito's name, his eyes dimmed.

Failing to protect his disciple had always filled him with guilt.

"Obito is dead," Minato said.

"Ah... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you," Tobitake Tonbo apologized repeatedly.

Deep down, however, he was certain of it. So it really had happened.

It seemed some parts of the original story could still be used as reference.

"Then Kakashi and Rin are all right?"

After all, they were classmates. Asking after them could show that he cared, right?

Minato smiled. "It's nothing. There are always deaths in war, which is why we must become stronger—to protect the village and our comrades. Right?"

"That's right. This damned war."

Tobitake Tonbo was indignant as well.

He truly hated war. He would rather be a useless freeloader during peaceful times than a dragon in wartime.

It was rare to get the chance to chat with one of the most popular characters from the original story. Tobitake Tonbo was not doing anything illegal, so naturally he did not need to restrain himself.

He only needed to watch his words and avoid revealing certain information.

He spoke freely, without the slightest reservation.

Of course, that was limited to ordinary conversation and some insights into ninjutsu.

When it came to the overall course of events or politics, he did not say a word.

Even so, he left Minato with a very favorable impression.

This child was talented, calm, quick-witted.

And extremely steady.

He had not asked anything overly sensitive.

Minato had a pleasant conversation with Tobitake Tonbo, while Kushina occasionally chimed in from the side.

They chatted and laughed.

Ayame watched Tobitake Tonbo speak so confidently, her face flushing slightly.

He looked so handsome when he was serious.

And he was speaking with the newly appointed Fourth Hokage, which made him even more charming.

Portion after portion of noodles went out from Tobitake Tonbo's hands, while bowl after bowl of ramen went out from Teuchi's.

Before long, Minato and Kushina had finished eating. After greeting Tobitake Tonbo, they left.

Having just become the Fourth Hokage, Minato presumably still had a mountain of work to do.

As Tobitake Tonbo watched the Fourth Hokage leave, his thoughts became active.

From their conversation, he learned that Rin was still alive. It seemed that incident had not happened yet.

Kakashi had not come because he was already a Jōnin and was currently carrying out a special mission.

He had not even made it back in time for the Fourth Hokage's inauguration.

"All right, you two go out and have a look around together. There aren't many customers now, so I can handle things by myself."

The sun gradually sank, and the lanterns outside lit up.

The night market began.

Teuchi felt uncomfortable seeing Tobitake Tonbo being so intimate with his daughter in front of him.

Although he was satisfied with Tobitake Tonbo, he still hurried them out. Out of sight, out of mind.

"Then, Dad, I'll go have fun with Tonbo."

Ayame was delighted too. She dragged Tobitake Tonbo out of the shop.

"Ah, daughters really can't be kept once they're grown." Teuchi shook his head.

"Big Brother Tonbo, can you take off your bandages before we go shopping together?"

"Of course. If I'm accompanying Little Sister Ayame on a stroll, I naturally have to show my face."

"That's great."

Ayame had a wonderful time playing with Tobitake Tonbo.

They caught bubble fish, threw darts, ate takoyaki and sushi...

Even the bright-eyed moon could only silently shine down on them as it was force-fed their public display of affection.

Unfortunately.

The heavens did not favor Tonbo.

An unwelcome guest interrupted his private time with Ayame.

"Well, if it isn't Captain Tonbo?

You actually... actually have a girlfriend?"

As they leisurely strolled through the streets, Sheng Shimon's voice rang out.

"..."

With dark lines on his face, Tobitake Tonbo turned around.

Sheng Shimon stood behind them. When he saw Tobitake Tonbo turn back, his face was full of teasing.