- Kai's POV -
First day back home wasn't pleasant.
It was horrible.
Me and Shikamaru had spent more than half the day just doing chores.
When we finished cutting the grass and washing the pavement, we had to sweep the house, and then, we had to ALL the clothes.
Yes, ALL the clothes.
I accidentally tore Yoshino's favourite dress while scrubbing it, but, eh, she'll never know where it went.
All the while me and Shikamaru laboured, Shikaku, Yoshino and Aelira were talking the whole day, Aelira getting squeezed of everything she ever knew.
Some way after Aelira told her life story, Yoshino was crying and hugging her, telling her that she was safe here and that what she went through should never happen to someone else.
But was she was really safe here?
I didn't care much about what happened, but I'd doubt she'd be having much of a free will anytime soon.
An asset as valuable as her would be controlled completely by Konoha.
Her existence will never stay silent forever, Danzo will soon find out for sure, and that's when it will go to shit for her, she'd be lucky if she wasn't assigned to pop babies so the village could register the Velkyn as an clan as well.
Regardless... Atleast her whole-hearted telling of her life had moved Yoshino, who was now fully intent to make Aelira fall in love with her food.
The aroma itself was mouth-watering, after a whole day of cruel labour, nothing was better than a delicious dinner.
Me and Shikamaru were seated near the compound door, looking at kitchen, where Yoshino was cooking.
Shikaku and Aelira were busy discussing things, as Shikaku was explaining alot of things to her, and she was telling him all the finer details of her clan that she knew.
Apparently, Hiruzen did end up finding some records about her ancestor, Ratan Senju, and had sent the records to Shikaku, so he could examine it and further add to them from Aelira's recounting of their history.
Also, it seems that the Second Hokage, Tobirama, was somehow involved with the Velkyn clan. Hiruzen had found a hidden seal within the records about Ratan Senju, which had a scroll containing the recounting of Tobirama's visit to the Velkyn clan, apparently, he had also played a part in concealing the existence of the Velkyn clan, destroying every single record of their abilities and their location which had previously been present in the Senju records, leaving only same key details in the seal which could only be opened by, as you guessed it, his student, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
What motivation could Tobirama have had to conceal their existence?
Perhaps it was because he wanted them to not diminish and start dying and get hunted like what happened to the Senju?
Well, if that was the reason, it didn't really turn out well did it?
"Hey, you two!" Yoshino yelled from the kitchen.
Shikamaru, who had fallen asleep, instantly woke up, "Huh- What is it now?" He asked Yoshino, slightly agitated.
"You fix your tone when you talk to me boy!" Yoshino yelled again and pointed at the table, "Go and prepare the table for dinner, now!"
"Yes, General!" I stood up and mockingly saluted towards the kitchen before walking towards the table.
"What a drag...." Shikamaru said lazingly and walked behind me.
Me and Shikamaru both starting preparing the table, putting the bowls and spoons and plates where they belonged, today, for five people.
Shikaku walked over with Aelira behind, "Enjoying your penance boys?" Shikaku asked with a slight smirk.
"If you find it enjoyable, why don't you do it instead?" Shikamaru instantly remarked, glaring at Shikaku.
Shikaku closed his eyes and smiled, "Nah, I am good." And sat down near the table.
Aelira smiled with a look of melancholy and said, "My mom was exactly like yours before she died, without the lord part, but she was just as strict."
And everyone fell silent, hearing her talk about her dead mom didn't really boost the atmosphere of the room.
"Alright now, no need to ruin the mood with your sob story- AAGH!" Shikamaru's voice was cut short by his own grunt as Shikaku slapped him across his head.
"Shut up and sit down, and apologise to her, that's not how you talk to people." Shikaku said with a stern voice.
I chuckled, sitting down near the table, opposite to Aelira, looking at Shikamaru who was rubbing his head.
"Alright, I am sorry." Shikamaru said and sat down.
Slap!
Shikamaru was slapped across his head once more.
"Next time, it'll be your cheek! Apologise properly." Shikaku said, glaring at Shikamaru.
"Alright!" Shikamaru grunted and looked at Aelira, "Look, i am sorry, that was uncalled for, I was just trying to lighten the mood."
Aelira shook her head, "It's alright."
"That's not how you lighten mood." Shikaku said sternly.
I chuckled again.
Yoshino walked in right after that, carrying a large tray filled with bowls, steam rising from each of them.
The smell hit instantly.
Rich… warm… comforting.
"…Smells good," I muttered without thinking.
"Of course it does," Yoshino said proudly, placing the bowls down one by one. "Unlike you two, I actually know how to do things properly."
"Hey, I cooked yesterday," I protested.
"With cup noodles," Shikamaru added flatly.
"…Still counts."
"It doesn't."
"Shut up."
Yoshino slammed the last bowl down and sat at the head of the table, "If you two are done embarrassing yourselves, eat before it gets cold."
We didn't need to be told twice.
I grabbed my chopsticks and immediately dug in.
…
Yeah.
Worth it.
Absolutely worth the suffering.
"This is so good…" I mumbled, mouth half full.
"Don't talk while eating," Yoshino snapped.
I swallowed quickly. "This is very good."
"Better."
Shikamaru was already halfway through his bowl, eating silently.
Typical.
Shikaku picked up his chopsticks, glancing at Aelira. "…Go on. You don't need to hesitate here."
Aelira looked down at the bowl in front of her.
For a moment… she didn't move.
Then slowly, she picked up the chopsticks.
Awkwardly.
She took a small bite.
And froze.
Her eyes widened—just a little.
Then she took another bite.
And another.
Not fast.
Not messy.
But… there was something different.
Something quiet.
Yoshino noticed too.
"…Good?" she asked, a little more softly than before.
Aelira nodded.
"…Yes," she said. "…It's good, it's been a long time since I had a meal like this."
Yoshino blinked.
And then her eyes started tearing up.
And then she started crying.
And then she furiously hugged Aelira, "Oh you poor girl! You've been through so much! Eat! Eat! Eat as much you like! I'll cook whatever you want, you sweet child!"
Me and Shikamaru scrunched up our noses while Shikaku chuckled.
"Enough with the drama already." Shikamaru said under his breath, continuing to eat.
After that, we continued to eat and Yoshino continued to dot on Aelira.
"You know, i always wanted a daughter." Yoshino said, "But I got stuck with these two punks!" She said, glaring at me and Shikamaru.
"Be grateful. A daughter's gonna get married and leave you anyway, who will take care of you and the old man then?" Shikamaru said.
Yoshino scoffed, "Oh please! I know you are just gonna leave your poor old mother to your cruel wife the moment you get married! You are gonna do whatever your wife will say and ignore me!"
Shikamaru groaned, "What makes you think I wanna get married? Seeing you and dad hasn't really been convincing."
"Oh, I know you will. You may say that, but just wait, you'll be running to get married pretty soon when you turn older! And then, the moment your wife finds me to be a nuisance- poof! I am forgotten, left to be scolded everyday by your wife and never even being heard by my own son!" Yoshino said and then looked at me.
"Atleast Kai will marry a good woman, he is hard working unlike you, and will probably be better looking than you, so atleast he'll attract a better girl!" She said.
"Hey, where did I get involved?" I asked, looking up from my bowl.
Shikaku chuckled, "Oh boy, discussing wives already. I am willing to bet atleast one of you will be married by the time you are like seventeen." And then he groaned, "Like me...."
"Your mother has already been looking at the girls of the other clans, i bet she'll have atleast one of you married through arranged marriage, by seventeen, again." Shikaku said, grinning.
Yoshino nodded, "Yes. It's important that I find proper girls for you two, otherwise you'll suffer forever like my poor brother Hara! Look at him, my poor brother is still suffering because of his witch wife! Oh I wish I could just strangle that demoness! Torturing my brother!"
I chuckled, again.
Shikamaru snorted, "I'll consider that when the time comes."
"Me and Noriko Yamanaka already came to an agreement about you and Ino, Shikamaru, do you get along with her at school?" Yoshino asked.
I nearly dropped my bowl laughing and then looked at Shikamaru, "Haha! No way- Ino?! Haha!"
Shikamaru froze mid-bite.
His chop sticks holding food stopping inches away from his mouth.
He slowly looked up at Yoshino, "You are joking, right?" He asked.
"No." Yoshino said firmly, "Why would I joke? Ino is a perfectly well mannered girl, she is strong, she is well spoken, she is good at socialising, she perfectly suits you!"
I continued laughing.
"Oh hell no!" Shikamaru yelled, "I'd marry a tree before I marry Ino! Atleast the tree won't yell for attention!"
Yoshino narrowed her eyes, "Now listen here, young man! Ino is a perfectly well girl, and you are to treat her properly."
I chuckled.
But then I stopped.
An instant pressure.
Near the door.
It moved at crazy speeds, I couldn't even sense it before I stopped right at the door.
It was strong.
My eyes widened and my attention immediately moved to the door, "Just who the hell is that?.. They must be as strong as Lord Third..."
Aelira had also sensed it, probably far before me, but not soon enough, she was tense and ready, "If we try to fight him, we will die."
Knock. Knock.
Shikaku sighed, "Didn't think it'd be this soon." He looked at me and then at Aelira, "Now, calm down you two, he is not here to kill us."
I gulped and nodded, sitting back down.
Shikaku stood up and walked to the door and opened it.
And there he was.
A giant of a man, almost too big to get through the door without moving down.
Long white spiky hair, the clothes of a sage, and red markings across his face.
And that palpable strength, utter complete strength.
He was so strong, that it felt like even my chakra wouldn't listen to me if I tried to fight him.
Just like back when we met Kakashi in the forest.
I stared.
There was no mistaking it.
"…Jiraiya…" I muttered under my breath.
One of the Legendary Sannin.
A monster.
A complete and utter monster.
And yet—
"…Yo," he said casually, scratching the back of his head like he'd just dropped by for tea.
"Hope I'm not interrupting dinner."
"Of course you are!" Yoshino said loudly, her eyebrows twitching, annoyed and displeased, "But since you are here, come and eat with us."