Your Dad Wasn't This Cute Back Then

Obito darted ahead first, hooking an arm around Sasuke's shoulders with practiced familiarity.

"Come on, come on! I've been hungry for half the day too. Sasuke, do you have anything to eat at your place?"

Sasuke did not even raise an eyelid. He reached up and removed that claw from his shoulder.

He weighed whether he should first find an empty alley and teach this brat some manners and boundaries.

Just as Sasuke hurried home with this absurd group of elders, dinner at home was nearly ready.

The rich aroma of tomato and scrambled eggs wafted from the kitchen, while steam made the pot lid bounce repeatedly.

The lock clicked, and Sarada skipped inside with her Ninja Tools bag on her back, the soles of her shoes still dusted with grime from outside.

"Mom, I'm home!"

Sakura was tending the stove, turning the food twice with her spatula. Hearing her, she answered from the kitchen.

"You're back? How did today's mission go? Were you hurt?"

Sarada tossed her Ninja Tools bag beside the sofa and vigorously rubbed the dust from her shoes onto the doormat. Only then did her shoulders finally relax.

She wiped her glasses and leaned into the kitchen doorway, pouting.

"What mission? The Chunin Ninja Exams are coming up soon, so Teacher Konohamaru has been drilling us like crazy lately."

"But honestly, Mom, I really don't feel confident at all..."

Sakura lowered the heat, rested the spatula against the edge of the pan, and raised her chin as she thought for a moment.

"Is that so? Sarada's going to take the Chunin Ninja Exams already."

After saying that, she glanced at Sarada, and the spatula lightly tapped against the pan again.

Sarada braced herself against the kitchen doorframe and leaned half her body inside, asking even more