Naori smiled. "We did. I was buying groceries and chatting with the villagers, and I happened to bump into Anka, so I brought her back with me."
"Hokage-sama, good evening," Anka said with a smile.
"Good, come into the courtyard." Torifu then looked at Naori. "Am I cooking dinner tonight, or are you?"
Naori patted her chest. "I will. Since it's Anka's first time at the Kumotsuru Clan compound, I'll show her what I can do."
The three then walked into the courtyard together.
Hearing the voices, Amado walked straight over to meet them. "Good evening, Anka. We meet again."
Naori felt a profound sense of unfamiliarity. Seeing Amado like this, Naori almost thought they had another guest. When she had left the house, Amado was still filthy and disheveled. Now he had completely transformed!
However, seeing Torifu repeatedly wink at her, Naori immediately regained her normal composure.
Anka, seeing Amado as handsome as he had been yesterday, felt a significant increase in her goodwill toward him. "Yes, Amado-sama. I thought our next meeting would be for some work matter, but I never expected to be invited by the Hokage-sama to his home for dinner."
Anka's smile was gentle, a bit inconsistent with her decisive, efficient personality, creating a charming contrast. Amado, however, loved this feeling. "Have a seat and rest for a bit. There's tea on the table. Do you like it?"
Seeing that the two had started talking, Torifu and Naori quietly backed away, putting several meters between them.
The couple watched Amado's demeanor and couldn't help but shake their heads in wonder. "He's certainly keeping up the pretense, but can he maintain it? If they actually get together, with Amado's usual sloppiness, Anka definitely wouldn't stay with him."
Hearing Naori's worry, Torifu shook his head. "Bad habits can be changed! Look, when has Amado ever looked like this at home? Love changes people. Don't you worry."
Naori pouted, said no more, and just watched the two chat from a distance.
"Thank you, Amado-sama. When working, the Hokage-sama drinks tea to stay sharp, and I always get to join him for a few cups. Over time, I've grown to love it."
Hearing that Anka liked tea, Amado smiled. "That's good. I was worried you wouldn't be used to it. We have all kinds of tea here. If you'd like something else, I can get it for you."
"Also, just call me Amado. I'm not anyone's lord, nor do I hold a position in Konohagakure, so just be casual."
Anka paused, then smiled. "Alright, Amado."
As the two talked, Amado managed to lead Anka to the gazebo—Torifu didn't know how—and then Amado pulled out his tea-making equipment and began to fuss over it.
Torifu nodded at the sight. "Very good. He has achieved a stage of victory. He found a topic Anka likes and is interested in."
Naori was also delighted to see them getting along so well. "Excellent, excellent. I hope Amado can seize this opportunity. I'm going to go start dinner now. It might take a little while."
When she said the last sentence, Naori's smile clearly held a different meaning; she intended to give Amado and Anka more time alone. After all, Anka would be heading home after dinner.
"Good, you go ahead. I'll keep an eye on things here."
The sound of chopping began in the kitchen, and Torifu lay back on his chair.
During this time, Akihara, who was sleeping, woke up once and asked who the pretty auntie who had arrived was. Torifu told him she was his work assistant, but what Akihara would end up calling her was still unknown. This confused the groggy Akihara, who then went back to sleep, telling Torifu to be sure to wake him for dinner.
It was normal for children to need a lot of sleep. Torifu promised to call him and then paid him no mind. He pulled out his phone and started playing a game, occasionally glancing towards the two in the gazebo. Seeing their smiles grow brighter, Torifu felt happier and happier, so much so that he accidentally hit the number one spot on the game server.
Just then, Minato, having finished packing his bags, left his room. When he saw the two people in the gazebo, neither of whom he immediately recognized, he thought he was under a Genjutsu. After looking closer, he realized the bright, handsome man was his Second Brother? Minato found this hard to accept. When he was packing, his Second Brother's face was still covered in grime! How did he end up looking like this now?
So, Minato looked more carefully and realized he knew both of them. Wasn't that woman Big Brother's secretary, Anka? Right, she was invited over for dinner tonight. But did Second Brother really need to put on such a grand welcome? Should he change his clothes, too?
In just a few seconds, Minato's brain raced, rapidly analyzing countless scenarios.
In the end, he gave up; he couldn't figure it out. Seeing Torifu playing a game, he quietly ran over and crouched beside him.
"Big Brother, what is going on? Why is Second Brother dressed like that? Do I need to change clothes and get dressed up, too?"
Torifu heard the innocent question and wanted to laugh out loud, but he didn't want to disturb Amado and Anka. He just rubbed Minato's hair. "No need. That silly boy, your Second Brother is fighting for his love. Don't go and bother them."
Minato was no longer a child. At fifteen or sixteen, he was in adolescence and understood the things he needed to understand. When he heard Torifu say Amado was fighting for his love, Minato understood everything.
Still, he seemed a bit incredulous. "When did Second Brother and Anka …?"
Torifu spread his hands. "How should I know? I saw them looking happy together last night, so I just created another opportunity for him. It's up to him to seize it."
The thought that his Big Brother's secretary might become his Second Sister-in-Law confused Minato's thoughts; he needed a moment to process it.
"Then, Big Brother, will Second Brother succeed? Can't we help him?"
Torifu shook his head. "Whether he succeeds or not is entirely up to him. If Anka doesn't like him, there's nothing I can do. After all, Anka's future happiness is just as important. It has to be mutual."
Minato nodded. Big Brother was absolutely right. He had been a bit too naïve. Love and marriage required both parties to be satisfied. They couldn't be settled for or forced. It seemed he still had much to learn.