Year 40 of Konoha.
The four great shinobi villages—Sunagakure, Kirigakure, Iwagakure, and Kumogakure—submitted their letters of surrender.
Konoha negotiated with them and received substantial reparations.
This marked the definitive end of the war.
After four long years of conflict, peace had finally dawned.
Konoha's bustling streets were packed with people, a sea of figures as far as the eye could see.
The air was thick with the vibrancy of life.
Cheers, laughter, and chatter intertwined like a never-ending symphony.
Elders, children, shinobi, couples, families—everyone had stepped out of their homes on this first day of peace.
Kin stared at the crowded streets, his face as bitter as a yellow lotus.
"Why are there so many people in Konoha?"
During the war, the streets had been nearly empty. Even after the victory, they'd only grown slightly livelier—nothing like this.
There was barely any open space. It felt like the entire village had gathered here.
If someone unleashed a large-scale jutsu now, would Konoha be wiped out in an instant?
"Well, the war's over. Everyone's celebrating," Namikaze Minato said with a smile, taking in the lively scene. Even the shinobi had mostly shed their flak jackets.
Nearby, a young couple chatted as they squeezed through the crowd.
"Let's go somewhere else," Kin muttered.
He used to complain about the empty streets, but now he found himself missing those days.
"There's a festival tonight to celebrate the end of the war," Uzumaki Kushina protested, her face twisting with frustration. She was dressed in a white kimono patterned with pink plum blossoms, a peach-shaped purse dangling from her hand.
She'd worn this outfit specifically for the festival! And now he wanted to leave!?
Kushina glared at Kin.
Kin glared right back.
"Must be tough being a Special Jōnin, eh, Kushina?"
"You bastard! What did you say!?" Kushina rolled up her sleeves, ready to throw hands.
"Alright, that's enough," Minato interjected, sighing.
"Hmph!" Kushina turned away with a snort.
She refused to let this ruin her mood. What kind of man would disregard a woman's dignity and pick fights with her?
Uchiha Kin was the worst.
"Tch."
Kin scoffed, and the three of them finally merged into the bustling street.
The festival had brought out stalls and games rarely seen otherwise.
Kushina dragged Minato into a goldfish-scooping booth.
"Boss, three tries, please!"
The booth was run by a man in his twenties.
"Grab 'em yourself," the vendor called out, too busy to even look up. His stall was packed with customers.
Kushina eagerly picked up a small scoop.
It was more like a paper net—flimsy and prone to tearing if handled too roughly or too slowly.
Unless, of course, the player was a shinobi.
The vendor abandoned his other customers and hurried over to the trio.
"Uh… sirs, ma'am, how about I just give you some money? Maybe try another stall?"
He stared at the trio's overflowing buckets, the goldfish practically suffocating inside.
Their nets hadn't torn even once.
This was just bullying.
The three of them exchanged awkward smiles.
Finally satisfied, Kushina dumped the fish back into the tank.
"Fine, we'll go."
They left the stall to explore other games and sample the street food.
As night fell, Konoha lit up like New Year's, alive with celebration.
While walking through the streets, Kushina suddenly brightened and waved.
"Hey, Mikoto! Over here!"
Minato and Kin followed her gaze. A woman in a green flak jacket was approaching with Uchiha Fugaku in tow.
The moment Fugaku spotted Kin, his smile vanished. But the woman beside him—Uchiha Mikoto—waved back at Kushina.
With no choice, Fugaku followed Mikoto toward them.
"Well, well, if it isn't the Young Clan Head?" Kin greeted Fugaku with a mocking tone.
The two were already sworn enemies.
"Come on, Kin, ease up," Minato slung an arm around Kin's shoulders. "Today's the first day of peace. Let's celebrate."
Kin clicked his tongue but relented for Minato's sake.
Fugaku pressed his lips together and stayed silent.
"Lord Kin, please don't trouble Fugaku. He's had a hard time too," Mikoto said respectfully, bowing slightly.
Kin scoffed and looked away.
"Who's calling him 'Lord'?"
Kushina quickly pulled Mikoto up.
"He's just a jerk!" Kushina huffed, sticking her tongue out at Kin when he shot her a look.
Uchiha Kin—a man who wielded his power without a shred of decency.
Kin gave Kushina a razor-thin smile.
"What was that, Special Jōnin Kushina? Slandering a superior officer is a punishable offense. I could have you detained."
"Try it!" Kushina made another face at him before dragging Mikoto away.
The trio became a group of five.
The only difference was that the smile had migrated from Fugaku's face to Kin's.
Minato could only shake his head. Ah, Uchiha family drama.
The festival ended late that night.
As they parted ways, Kin couldn't help but ask, "How do you know them so well?"
He didn't recall the three having any prior connection.
"We met them during our mission in the Land of Hot Water a while back," Minato explained.
"Don't you dare bully Mikoto! She's always looked out for me!" Kushina jabbed a finger at Kin in warning.
"Or else I'll—Gyaa!!"
She gnashed her teeth. Sure, the three of them ganged up on her all the time, but she wouldn't tolerate Kin harassing Mikoto!
"Heh." Kin dismissed her with a smirk.
"Mind your rank, Special Jōnin Kushina."
Of the three, only Kushina hadn't made it to Jōnin yet. Minato had already earned the title.
"You bastard! I'll kill you! Minato, don't stop me!"
Kushina flailed wildly, looking ready to tear Kin apart. But when she actually lunged, she froze.
Because Minato really wasn't stopping her.
Seeing Kin lift his foot, Kushina slowly backed off and turned to Minato.
He was staring into the distance.
"Is that… Lady Tsunade?"
The other two followed his gaze. Across the river, a solitary figure sat hunched on the bank, hugging her knees. Her head was bowed, her expression unreadable.
"I heard her boyfriend died on the battlefield not long ago," Minato murmured.
"Katō Dan, right?" Kin watched the lonely figure.
"Tsunade-nee…" Kushina started forward, but Minato caught her arm. She looked at him, confused.
Minato shook his head.
"She needs to be alone right now."
Kin nodded in agreement.
After all…
The war had taken everything from her.
...
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(End of Chapter)