In the early morning, Naruto stretched.
Judging by the sky, it was probably seven o'clock.
It had been a long time since he had gotten up this late.
After getting out of bed, Naruto took ingredients and cooking utensils out of his ninja tool pouch, then went into the courtyard to start cooking.
He had spent all of yesterday busy outside, and the kitchen was still empty. Luckily, there was no shortage of firewood, so he could light a fire and cook.
"Little Naruto, you're up so early."
Mito Uzumaki emerged from the room holding Kushina's hand. The two of them had spent another night talking.
Kushina went straight over to the stove, watching Naruto's practiced movements with curiosity. Her nose twitched. "That smells so good!"
Both women had reanimated bodies. They needed neither sleep nor food to sustain their bodily functions.
Of course, they retained the senses relevant to combat.
Sight, touch, smell, hearing-even taste.
Perhaps Orochimaru, or perhaps the Second, had designed the technique that way to ensure that reanimated bodies possessed a complete set of senses for combat.
But this also allowed them, outside of combat, to experience the world and the little moments of warmth with their family in a way closer to being alive.
"Yeah, I'm up."
Naruto gave a brief reply as he turned the food in the pan.
He did not give a detailed answer to Kushina's question, merely saying casually, "When you live alone, you have to learn a few things."
He dished up a serving of breakfast onto a plate and set it on the small wooden table beside him.
At his words, Kushina's eyes dimmed, but she quickly rallied.
"Let Mom make lunch today!"
Naruto's hand paused as he held his bowl.
He looked up into Kushina's eyes, brimming with