"Tap, tap, tap."
Three crisp knocks rang out, followed by the sound of a key turning in the lock.
"Aunt Kushina! I'm here!"
A figure with long red hair eagerly burst inside and leaped straight at Kushina.
"Karin! Let me pet you~"
Kushina caught Karin in her arms and immediately started stroking her hair.
"Mmm, Aunt Kushina, you smell so nice~"
Karin struggled a little in Kushina's embrace before finally surrendering.
"Kushina, you look so young~"
Looking at her close friend, who looked much younger than she did, Mikoto teased her.
"Oh, please, I'm not really that young."
Kushina shook her head modestly, then flashed Mikoto a smug smile, showing her little canine teeth.
"But compared to you, Mikoto, I'm much younger~"
"Ah! You're asking for it!" Mikoto pounced on her, and the three tangled together as laughter rang out.
Just then, the thoroughly serious Fugaku walked in.
He smiled at the sight of Mikoto playing around with Kushina, then turned toward Minato.
"Fugaku, what brings you here too?"
Minato asked with some curiosity.
"Sasuke wanted to come, Karin wanted to come, Mikoto wanted to come, and Itachi isn't home."
Fugaku sighed helplessly and said, sounding rather resigned,
"So I could only come along and take a look. Otherwise, being home alone would be pretty lonely."
Minato nodded, then beckoned to Sasuke behind Fugaku.
"Sasuke, don't be shy. Come on in."
"Hello, Uncle Minato."
Sasuke nodded to Minato, then went straight into the living room and sat beside Naruto on the couch.
Naruto raised an eyebrow and turned toward Sasuke.
"Hey, little Sasuke, what brings you here?"
Sasuke frowned and retorted expressionlessly,
"I'm the same age as you. Don't call me little Sasuke."
"Hmm? Aren't you forgetting something?" Naruto raised his fist and shook it.
The corner of Sasuke's mouth