Ever since the last meeting, the entire Hidden Leaf Village had been operating under the orders of its leadership.
The Intelligence Division ramped up its infiltration efforts into the Cloud Ninja Village. Casualties were inevitable, but fortunately, many operatives were successfully embedded.
Intelligence regarding the Cloud Ninja Village started flowing in continuously.
Konoha shinobi, who had grown complacent over years of peace, underwent intensive sparring drills under Dai, Nawaki, and Minato's supervision.
Though no one had breathed a word, some perceptive individuals began suspecting something was amiss.
As time passed, an invisible pressure gradually covered Konoha, bringing along a sharper, more serious atmosphere.
Meanwhile, far away in the Land of Rain, Yahiko and the others continued engaging with the Cloud Ninja Village as Kawaki had instructed.
Both sides harbored their own secret motives, constantly probing and maneuvering against each other.
This wartime alliance wouldn't be finalized any time soon.
Six months passed quietly. On this day, Kushina reached a major milestone in her life.
She'd come of age!
Minato, who hadn't taken a break even on his own eighteenth birthday, had specially requested the day off to spend it with Kushina.
They wandered from Konoha's eastern border to its western edge, laughing from dawn until dusk.
Bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, a blond young man and a redhead walked hand-in-hand back to the Senju compound.
"Hey, you two didn't get lost, huh?"
They had barely walked a few steps through the door when Tsunade's teasing voice greeted them.
"Hehe~ Teacher's bride."
"Sister Tsunade, we're not even that late coming back."
Minato scratched his head awkwardly while Kushina proudly replied.
It was her special day—her birthday—and she was the guest of honor.
"It's not late at all; the moon hasn't even come out yet."
Tsunade scoffed, deliberately glancing up at the sky.
"Well..."
Before Kushina could fire back, guests arrived.
"Kushina, we didn't come too early, did we?"
Mikoto, her belly slightly rounded, stepped inside leaning gently on Fugaku's arm.
Of course, she wouldn't miss her best friend's coming-of-age ceremony.
"You take it easy."
Kushina naturally stepped forward to take over Fugaku's place supporting Mikoto.
"I'm fine. It's only been a couple of months."
Smiling, Mikoto lovingly patted her belly, her face glowing with joy.
This was her first child with Fugaku.
"Still, better watch your step. Be careful."
Kushina supported Mikoto carefully.
"I've never seen you so considerate before."
At that moment, Nawaki also walked out from inside, with Misaki following a few steps behind.
"Hmph!"
"If Onee-san gets pregnant, I'll be just as considerate."
Kushina couldn't have missed the teasing tone in Nawaki's words.
It was a roundabout way of calling her careless, but she couldn't argue back.
"Don't mind him. Let me check on Mikoto."
Misaki gently pushed Nawaki aside and stepped forward to help Kushina support Mikoto.
As a skilled Medical Ninja, giving a quick check-up was easy for her.
"Thank you."
Knowing how skilled Misaki was with medical techniques, Mikoto accepted without refusal.
Even though she'd already had hospital checkups, she trusted Misaki more.
After all, she was trained by both Tsunade and Orochimaru themselves.
Besides, more frequent checks weren't a bad thing.
"You're welcome."
The three quickly disappeared into the front yard, and the others resumed chatting.
"When is Misaki finally going to start showing?"
"Don't tell me you've got some kind of problem?"
"Wanna let me check for you?"
Tsunade shot suggestive remarks in the direction Mikoto had disappeared to, a mocking grin on her face.
Minato watched the whole thing like a comedy sketch but didn't dare laugh out loud.
He was genuinely afraid of getting dragged into it—no way was he risking offending his teacher's wife with that sharp tongue of hers.
"Wish your brother something good, will you?"
"I'm honestly speechless."
Nawaki pinched the bridge of his nose. This married woman just gets bolder every day.
"Hahaha~"
"Why don't you take after Fugaku? He looks healthier."
Tsunade spun around to tease Fugaku again.
"That kind of health I can't handle—I've got someone much healthier right here."
Fugaku, normally expressionless, actually cracked a smile at Tsunade's comment.
"What are you laughing at? I bought the cake back."
At this moment, Kawaki walked in holding a giant cake.
In terms of pure strength, three Fugakus couldn't match one Kawaki.
"She's complimenting your physique," Minato finally seized the chance to speak before he burst from holding back his laughter.
"If you're talking about other things, I won't agree."
"But… when it comes to physique—"
"Across Konoha, if even I, Kawaki Hatake, say I'm second best, who'd dare call themselves first?"
Kawaki handed the cake to Minato and laughed aloud, hands on his hips.
Unquestionably, he was knee-deep in his teenage phase.
"Pure madness."
Tsunade couldn't stand to watch any longer. If she hadn't been standing so far away, she'd have kicked Kawaki right then and there.
"How have you been lately?"
Seeing Tsunade leave, Kawaki also turned serious and casually chatted with Fugaku.
Over the past six months, everyone had their own stuff to handle; chances to meet up hadn't been plentiful.
The men opened conversation, shifting topics from serious matters to personal ones.
By dinner time, the courtyard was already filled with men.
Without exception, they were all seniors Kushina knew well.
"Everyone, time to eat."
Misaki came out to call them, and the group all headed toward the dining room.
Clearly none were first-timers here—they moved around like they owned the place.
Arriving at the dining room, each took their seat, and with a wave from Mito, numerous delicacies were brought onto the table.
As long as she was around, the Senju compound stayed under her command.
"Kushina, today is your domain."
"Grandma won't interfere anymore."
Once the dishes were fully served, Mito stepped back, handing the floor over to Kushina.
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From today on, you're officially an adult, sweetheart.
She looked at Kushina with warmth and affection.
"I love you, Grandma."
For some reason, Kushina felt her eyes well up and her nose sting, rushing into Mito's arms as two tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Now now, act a little more like an adult."
Mito gently wiped Kushina's tears away with her thumb, then reached out to stroke her red hair.
"Okay."
"Hehe~ Made everyone witness it like a sitcom moment."
Kushina nodded, regaining her smile as she faced everyone again.
"Thank you all for coming to my adulthood ceremony."
"Words can't describe how grateful I am—I'll raise a glass to all of you."
Picking up a cup that could hold nearly half a catty of sake, Kushina tossed her head back and drank it all in one go.
Several emotions were thoroughly suppressed by the intense stimulation.
"I doubt you can keep up," Nawaki lightly nudged Minato with his shoulder before finishing his own drink.
"Be a bit more confident. Drop the 'I doubt'," Minato replied with a bitter smile; truthfully, his drinking capacity simply couldn't match Kushina's.
"Haha~ That guy and my sister are cut from the same mold."
"You should learn from my brother-in-law more in the future."
Nawaki raised an eyebrow at Minato.
Outsiders all said Kawaki was henpecked, but he knew exactly how his older sister was completely under his thumb.
After all, that guy had seen sights no one else had.
"That naturally needs to be learned."
Minato nodded eagerly in agreement, though no one could tell just how much of this love-struck guy actually absorbed.
One cup of sake down, everyone became more familiar, and the atmosphere gradually warmed up.
Glass after glass, word after word, laughter never ceased.
Observing the lively scene before her, Mito—who usually preferred quiet—showed no sign of annoyance at all.
A gentle smile lingered on her lips, her gaze warm.
First glancing at her granddaughter and grandson-in-law, then shifting her gaze to her grandson and daughter-in-law, and finally settling on the adorable Ginji.
...
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