Hokage Residence.
Inside the house, the atmosphere was a bit subtle. Ren and Hidan sat quietly to the side, eating snacks, while Uzumaki Mihui sat upright on the sofa with her eyes closed, beads of sweat forming on her forehead.
In front of her, Kushina was stroking her chin with one hand, looking at Mihui with a surprised and uncertain expression.
"I say..."
Unable to bear it any longer, Uzumaki Mihui opened her eyes and looked at Kushina, who was leaning close and staring at her, saying helplessly, "Kushina-nee, have you stared enough?"
Ever since they entered, Kushina had thrown aside her gloves and apron, not even bothering to cook, and had been following Mihui, staring non-stop.
"Uh..."
Kushina sat back down, scratched her head apologetically, then widened her eyes again and looked over, pressing, "Are you really the Mihui I know?"
Uzumaki Mihui rolled her eyes and said irritably, "...No, are you happy now?"
"Hehehe."
Realizing she had asked a pointless question, Kushina chuckled, then leaned in and hugged the other person.
Actually, at the door earlier, Kushina had already sensed that Mihui had the same large amount of Chakra as herself, plus the iconic red hair, making her incredibly easy to recognize.
The two were also good friends who had grown up together, but when Kushina was six, she was sent to Konoha, and soon after, Land of Uzumaki was destroyed. Uzumaki Mihui, who was out on a mission with other companions, was lucky enough to escape.
However, very quickly, these Uzumaki Clan members who had escaped were once again hunted throughout the Ninja World. They began to hide, constantly on the run, and gradually became separated from their companions.
Finally, Uzumaki Mihui, left alone and nearing childbirth, had no choice but to seek refuge in Grass Ninja Village. After her child was born, it was already too late for her to leave.
"Oh, right."
Looking at Uzumaki Mihui, who was pressed against her, Kushina buried her head in the other's neck and asked curiously, "Mihui, how did you come to Konoha, and how did you come with Ren?"
"Eh?"
Uzumaki Mihui was momentarily stunned. Her gaze began to shift back and forth between Ren and Kushina, and she said with some confusion, "Didn't you ask Ren to save me from Grass Hidden Village?"
"Huh?"
Kushina's eyes widened, and she said with a look of shock, "No, I didn't."
The next moment, both of them turned sideways simultaneously. Kushina was the first to act, her eyes widening as she shot a questioning look at Ren.
"Cough, cough."
Meeting their gazes, Ren coughed twice, then chuckled awkwardly, "Actually, it's nothing much. I just happened to hear that there were Uzumaki Clan members in Grass Hidden Village while I was on a mission.
I figured it was on the way anyway, so I went to check it out. After confirming her identity, saving someone or something like that, it's pretty normal, right?"
"Is that so..."
Although they still had some doubts, they didn't ask any more questions. After all, their reunion was a good thing.
"Grumble~"
Just then, a strange sound was heard. The group subconsciously turned their heads to see Hidan clutching his stomach. Noticing their gazes, he flushed red and turned his head away.
"Pfft!"
The two exchanged a smile, then Kushina stood up and said with a smile, "Then I'll continue cooking. It'll be ready soon."
Uzumaki Mihui was even faster. She quickly stood up and snatched the apron, looking at Kushina, who was still so carefree despite her pregnant belly, and said helplessly, "You rest. I'll do it."
"Then I'll trouble you, Mihui."
Kushina didn't refuse and happily turned to go check on the sleeping Karin. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she turned her head towards Ren and nodded, "Ren, go help."
"Ah?"
Ren, who was leisurely eating melon seeds, was momentarily stunned. He threw the leftover melon seed shells aside and stammered, "But I just got back, I don't feel like moving..."
Kushina didn't speak, she just stood there with her arms crossed, watching him quietly, making Ren feel completely uncomfortable.
Helpless, he could only start looking around, trying to find a shield for himself, but his gaze only lingered on Hidan for a moment before moving away.
Hidan, that kid, let alone cooking, would struggle even with assisting. With his wild personality, he'd surely make the kitchen a mess.
After looking for a long time and finding no excuse, Ren could only stand up with a bitter face. Just as he was about to go help in the kitchen, a sudden thought flashed in his mind, and his raised foot suddenly stopped.
"Hmm?"
Under the confused gazes of Hidan and Kushina, Ren turned and quickly walked to the window, opened it, and then shouted outside, "Kakashi on the tree, come here!"
"..."
Kakashi, leaning against the tree trunk, twitched his mouth twice, then leaped down from the tree and came closer, saying indifferently, "What do you want?"
"What do you think?"
Ren rolled his eyes, then pointed to Uzumaki Mihui, who was busy in the kitchen, and said as if it were obvious, "Of course, I want your help. Hurry up and come in, I'm practically starving to death."
Seeing Ren's matter-of-fact expression, Kakashi's face instantly darkened. He turned, about to leave, but the next moment his gaze collided with Kushina's.
"Kakashi~"
Kushina slowly walked to the window, looked at Kakashi, and said with a beaming smile, "You won't refuse."
At this point, the smile on her face became even brighter, and there was a hint of coercion in her eyes.
"Right?"
"..."
A minute later, looking at Kakashi standing not far away, holding a kitchen knife and cutting meat, Ren smiled proudly, and his hands, picking vegetables, couldn't help but speed up a bit.
"Ren!"
A loud shout came, and Ren's hand instantly trembled, almost dropping the vegetables. Not far away, Kakashi raised his head with a resentful expression; that shout almost made him cut his finger.
Even Uzumaki Mihui, who was stir-frying the dishes, turned her head and looked at Kushina, who was standing outside the kitchen, chiding, "What are you doing, Kushina-nee?"
"Mihui, look at this kid Ren!"
Kushina stood outside, pointing at Ren, and shouted, "He's not serious at all about picking vegetables."
"Uh..."
Looking at the clean vegetable leaves that had been torn off in his hand, Ren scratched his head awkwardly and chuckled, "Kushina-nee, don't worry, it won't happen again."
Seeing Ren's sincere attitude in admitting his mistake, Kushina gave him a warning look and then turned to go to the living room.
"Seriously..."
Looking at her departing back, Ren put the picked vegetables into the water to wash them, while muttering, "Bullying your own brother like this every day, Minato-nii doesn't even bother to manage her..."
However, Uzumaki Mihui, who had overheard Ren's muttering, leaned closer and asked curiously, "Ren, is the Minato you just mentioned Kushina's boyfriend?"
"No."
Ren shook his head and said faintly, "They're legally married."
"..."
"Ding-dong!"
Just then, the doorbell rang. Ren sensed for a moment, then withdrew his perception, looked at Kushina, who was walking quickly towards the door, and pouted, "Well, the main character is here."