Minato Namikaze and Kushina had not seen each other in a long time and wanted to catch up. Rather than taking their classes off separately, they both chose to finish the remaining introductions on the Ninja Academy's rooftop.
The teachers and children exchanged basic information about their interests and strengths, arranged a time and place for their next meeting, then dismissed their classes.
Left alone, Minato Namikaze and Kushina exchanged a glance, leaned against the railing, and began chatting.
"Minato, you've changed quite a bit since graduation. I heard you joined the ANBU afterward? How was it?"
Holding a hair tie between her lips, Kushina smoothed down her hair, which the rooftop breeze had tousled, and tied it up simply, exposing her fair neck.
The crisp, no-nonsense air that came with the change in hairstyle reminded Minato Namikaze a little of how she had been as a child. For a moment, he was lost in thought, and only answered after a brief pause.
"Everything went well. I was a little out of my depth at first, but things got better once I settled in. Captain Hatake Sakumo is a senior I really respect. He helped me a great deal."
His years in the ANBU had made Minato Namikaze much steadier. He had gradually grown from a shy, awkward little boy into a young man others could trust and rely on.
Minato Namikaze answered with a smile, steadying his turbulent emotions before asking a question of his own.
"How have you been these past few years? Mikoto told me you've been devoting yourself to studying Sealing Jutsu?"
The mere mention of "Sealing Jutsu" made Kushina wilt. She might have had a gift for it, but having a gift for something did not necessarily mean she had to like it.
Especially when