The warm autumn sun bathed the road leading to the gates of Konoha in a golden glow.
Villagers who had already learned of the frontline reports had spontaneously gathered on both sides of the path. The dense crowd stretched from the village entrance all the way to the Hokage Building.
The news of the great victory on the frontlines had already reached the village. Combined with Hiruzen Sarutobi's deliberate publicity, word of the returning frontline troops quickly spread throughout the village.
In the crowd lining the road, ninja and civilians mingled together. Excited children squeezed through the throng, craning their necks to peer in the direction outside the village.
Kushina held Nono's hand and desperately pushed her way to the front of the crowd. Her gaze was filled with intense anticipation as she looked toward the gate.
"Have you heard? He's among the returning troops this time."
"Ah, Minato Namikaze—I came just to catch a glimpse of him!"
"I heard he's only $8$ years old, yet he successively crushed the vanguard units of Sunagakure and Iwagakure, and even took down the Third Kazekage!"
People chattered animatedly. By the roadside, children held up banners with crookedly written characters saying "Welcome Back, Heroes." Girls around Kushina's age chattered excitedly about something, occasionally letting out bursts of thrilled screams.
"Those fangirls—" Kushina pouted. Without a doubt, these peers of hers were absolutely here to see Minato.
Nono, standing beside her, chuckled. "What can you do? Minato's deeds are just that legendary."
Kushina's cheeks puffed out, her expression clearly displeased. "But Nono, you're not like that!"
That's because I'm letting you have your way, sister! Nono smiled without replying.
Though she held strong feelings of affection for Minato in her heart, she also deeply cherished her friendship with Kushina. Especially after that time Kushina unhesitatingly shielded her with her own body, Nono was determined never to do anything to hurt her friend.
Otherwise, given Kushina's level of experience, Nono could easily have made the silly girl willingly step aside from Minato with just a little maneuvering.
When the silhouette of the troop finally appeared at the end of the road, the crowd fell silent for a moment. Immediately after, cheers surged forth like a tide.
"They're back! They're back! Look! Lady Tsunade is at the front! Is that Nawaki? Hey—Nawaki!"
By the roadside, Shikaku Nara and a few companions waved from a distance toward Nawaki. Seeing this, Nawaki proudly puffed out his chest and waved back at them.
"That guy looks so smug. Going to the battlefield really changes a person, huh?" Shikaku Nara laughed.
"Sister Tsunade!" Kushina waved energetically at Tsunade. Seeing her, Tsunade smiled and nodded back.
Then Kushina nodded toward Nawaki, who was also waving at her, and continued scanning the procession for a certain figure she had missed for so long. "Where's Minato? Wasn't he supposed to return with them?"
Nawaki thought to himself: This Minato-obsessed girl! I'm practically like a brother to her, right?
Not just Kushina, many people's gazes were anxiously searching through the ranks, finally settling on the striking golden-haired figure at the rear of the procession. It was a boy who still looked somewhat youthful.
The boy's golden hair shone brilliantly under the sun, his azure blue eyes clear and gentle, his face still bearing traces of lingering childishness. He wore a white high-collared haori on his upper body, walking with composed steps at the back of the group.
Beside him walked a black-haired, black-eyed girl with delicate, beautiful features. The two walked side by side at the rear of the procession, looking very well-matched.
"That's—Minato Namikaze?" In the crowd, a middle-aged ninja muttered to himself, his eyes filled with disbelief. "He looks just like an ordinary kid—"
"Ah! He's so handsome—" Some girls had their hearts captured at the very first sight of his face.
"Eight years old... When I was $8$, I was still playing ninja games with my classmates. My son is $12$ and still can't use the Three Basic Jutsu properly—"
For a moment, exclamations of wonder, discussions, and cheers interwove, creating a noisy and fervent wave of sound that echoed through Konoha.
Minato walked within the procession, feeling the gazes from all directions. He maintained a gentle smile on his face, though the tips of his ears were slightly flushed. Inside, he felt a cold detachment toward the mindless worship of the masses, yet his "Golden Boy" mask remained perfect.
Mikoto walked beside him, gently nudging his arm. "Everyone is looking at you."
"It's a bit uncomfortable," Minato whispered in response, his eyes sweeping over the excited crowd on both sides of the road, searching for Kushina's figure.
"Lord Minato—" A group of girls around Minato's age stood at the front of the crowd. Upon seeing Minato, they immediately let out excited screams.
"Hah, what did I tell you?" Mikoto wore an "I-told-you-so" expression, unconsciously moving a little closer to Minato, as if silently staking a claim.
Sensing the possessiveness emanating from Mikoto, Minato gave a dry chuckle. His gaze suddenly fell upon that conspicuous head of red hair in the crowd.
"Kushina!" Minato's eyes brightened slightly as he waved to Kushina.
"Minato!" Kushina's eyes reddened. Though in terms of time, Minato hadn't been gone for very long, ever since he left, she had felt enveloped by a thick sense of loneliness.
Despite having Nono and Grandma Mito keeping her company, it never quite filled the deepest void in her heart. Suppressing the urge to rush forward and hug him, Kushina's gaze suddenly swept over Mikoto beside him.
They're too close! The thought flashed through her mind instinctively, a primal sense alerting her that something was off about their relationship.
However, this sliver of doubt was quickly swept aside by the joy of reunion, because she saw Minato smiling at her, waving to her.
Nono's gaze also paused for a moment, looking at Minato and Mikoto's shoulders, which were almost touching. That distance has already crossed the boundary of friendship!
Her eyes fell on Mikoto's face, noting the other girl's exquisite features. Her breath hitched slightly. She's so beautiful! And her demeanor is excellent too! Judging by Minato's demeanor, he doesn't seem to think there's anything wrong with this? What exactly is he thinking?
Though puzzled in her heart, now wasn't the right time to dwell on it. Thinking this, Nono temporarily set aside her doubts.
Mikoto had naturally noticed Kushina too. Seeing the joyful smile on the other girl's face, Mikoto slightly reined in the smile on her own face, her feelings a little complicated.
As the procession moved toward the Hokage Building, Kushina also bid farewell to Nono and returned to Mito's residence. She knew the group would definitely visit Grandma Mito first upon their return.
Sure enough, not long after, Tsunade knocked on Mito's door, followed by Minato and Nawaki.
"Grandma, we're back!"
Mito Uzumaki sat by the bed, her kind gaze sweeping over their faces. "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back—" She nodded with a smile, her eyes filled with relief.
"Minato—" Seeing the face she had missed day and night, Kushina could no longer restrain her feelings of longing and threw herself into Minato's arms.
Minato caught Kushina's "rocket headbutt," gently patting her back to soothe her emotions.
"I'm back!"
"Mm, welcome back!"
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