In Konoha, sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, scattering flecks of light across the courtyard of the Uchiha Residence.
The air carried the coolness unique to early morning and a faint floral fragrance, along with... a barely perceptible burnt smell drifting from the kitchen, courtesy of Tsunade's signature "special wake-up breakfast."
Yawning, Shinichi ambled out of the bedroom in a loose yukata, his hair sticking up like a bird's nest.
He had slept like the dead, recovering-with interest-all the energy he had spent on his earlier "friendly exchange" with Tenshiki Ōtsutsuki. Now he felt refreshed, light down to his bones.
"Say, Tsunade, isn't cooking beneath the Lord Hokage's talents? If you set the kitchen on fire, rebuilding it will cost a fortune."
Shinichi leaned into the kitchen doorway, watching the beautiful, apron-clad figure locked in a life-or-death struggle with a pot of unidentified black matter. His voice brimmed with teasing.
Without turning around, Tsunade brandished her spatula furiously. "Shut up! Be grateful you're getting anything to eat! Besides, as the Hokage's husband, shouldn't you contribute something to the village too? Like going to coach those three precious students of yours?"
She turned around, a smudge of soot on her radiant face. Paired with her faintly threatening gaze, it gave her a charm all its own.
"Coach my students?" Shinichi rubbed his chin, adopting an expression that said her suggestion suited him perfectly. "Come to think of it, I really haven't checked on them in a while. I wonder if they've been slacking off."
What he actually thought was, Perfect. I can use this as an excuse to slip out and dodge that "breakfast made with love."
"Then get going! Stop getting in my way!" Tsunade shoved him out of the kitchen without ceremony.
At Konoha's Training Ground Three,