"Mikoto, it's heading your way!"
"Grab it!"
Kushina, looking anxious, shouted to Mikoto at the other end of the alley.
"I know."
As soon as Mikoto responded, she saw a dark shadow rush straight at her.
It was a huge, fat cat—wearing a golden necklace no less.
Considering how chubby it was, it could still jump surprisingly high.
All you could do was sigh and admit—this was definitely a ninja-world cat.
"Ahhh~"
Mikoto, afraid of getting her face scratched, covered her face and leaned back in panic.
She wasn't exactly known for her combat skills, and didn't dare use her full strength on the cat.
Just thinking about that stubborn old rich lady employer gave her a headache.
"Are you okay?"
Kushina ran over, not scolding Mikoto at all and helping her up with obvious concern.
"It's my fault. I let it get away again."
Mikoto felt slightly awkward. The cat had practically been right in front of her, yet still slipped away.
"Don't worry. This cat's been caught so many times, it's gotten super quick at escaping."
"And I saw Fumiko already chasing after it."
Kushina brushed the dust off Mikoto's backside.
"Feels kinda nice~"
She playfully pinched it.
"Eww, you're such a pervert!"
Mikoto lightly hit Kushina's arm, and the two girls burst into laughter.
The earlier little mistake was instantly forgotten.
Kushina seemed easygoing on the outside, but she had a surprisingly thoughtful heart.
"Youth should be filled with friendships like this!"
Dai suddenly popped out from somewhere, eyes teary like he was recalling his own youth.
Unfortunately, the two teammates from his youth had long since fallen in missions.
"Teacher Dai."
Kushina and Mikoto stopped fooling around immediately, feeling the same jolt of nervousness as kids caught slacking off in class.
"Hmm, keep it up, you two."
"Oh, and by the way, if you don't hurry, the cat will disappear."
Dai flashed them a thumbs-up, his dazzling White Fang grin shining through.
"Ahh, right away."
The two quickly rushed off. Just imagining losing the cat brought the rich lady's scowling face to mind.
Even the words she might say, they both pictured it vividly.
In short, they absolutely did not want to face her.
"Big bro Dai."
A voice interrupted from behind Dai.
"Minato!!"
"You're here for Kushina, right?"
Dai turned around and saw Minato standing there, slightly embarrassed and scratching his head.
Their generational relationships were quite confusing.
Minato used to call Dai "uncle," but Dai corrected him later.
He was still young—who needed an "uncle"?
"Yeah, what kind of mission are you guys doing?"
"Let me guess… catching cats again?"
Minato, now dressed in casual clothes, looked incredibly handsome.
Not just anyone could pull off that hairstyle.
"Haha, yeah."
"This fat cat runs away from home four or five times a month."
Dai laughed loudly—the reward alone from this rich lady was probably enough to buy a brand-new cat.
"I'll help then."
Minato eagerly offered to assist. Once he went after it, surely it'd be a piece of cake.
"No need. Although small..."
"These are invaluable moments on the road of youth."
Dai declined without hesitation.
If even such a simple task required help from others, when would Kushina and the others ever grow?
"Alright then, I'll just wait with you."
Minato didn't push further. He thought Dai made a fair point.
"Go sit over there and get something to eat."
Dai pointed toward a nearby yakitori stand.
If not for the improved economic conditions lately, he definitely wouldn't have treated others so readily.
"Great, I was getting hungry anyway."
Minato had been traveling for a while and was really feeling hungry.
The two entered the yakitori shop and casually ordered a few dishes.
Then they began chatting while eating.
Mostly it was Dai talking, while Minato responded occasionally.
Three sentences in and Youth came up; five and he was shedding tears.
Minato truly had no idea how to respond.
Just as he thought this conversation couldn't possibly go on any longer, Kushina and the other three appeared in the distance, holding a fat cat.
Minato felt like he'd just spotted his savior and silently vowed never again to be alone with Big Bro Dai.
"Kushina."
At Minato's call, Kushina's eyes lit up.
She thrust the fat cat into Mikoto's arms and sprinted straight toward Minato.
"When did you get here?"
Kushina sat down beside Minato, completely ignoring Dai, their team instructor.
"Not long ago."
"You hadn't finished your mission, so Dai and I decided to wait over here."
Minato reached up and gently brushed a small leaf from Kushina's hair—it must've stuck there when she grabbed the cat.
Within moments, Mikoto and Fumiko also entered the shop.
Since Minato often visited Kushina, he already knew the others pretty well.
After exchanging greetings, Mikoto and Fumiko found empty seats and sat down too.
"Elder Dai, we've completed our mission."
Mikoto still held tightly onto the fat cat.
"Good job. Grab something to eat."
"I'll go submit the mission report."
Dai took the cat from Mikoto's arms, intending to give the young people some space.
"Thank you, Teacher."
All three girls said in unison as they bid him farewell respectfully.
"Have fun, and I'll just head home directly afterward to spend time with my child."
With a cheerful smile, Dai left holding the cat, not forgetting to order more food and pay the bill before leaving.
He'd made a promise to treat them, and he wasn't about to break that promise.
The path of Youth allows no lies.
As soon as Dai left, the atmosphere at the table instantly became livelier.
Although Minato was also a Jonin, since he was close to them in age, there was little generational gap.
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"We're always catching cats or chasing dogs—it's so boring!"
Kushina stuffed a skewer into her mouth and started complaining.
She wouldn't dare say this if Dai were still around.
Because she'd definitely get lectured, and she really couldn't stand Dai's preaching style.
"It's not that bad."
Mikoto actually found it kind of interesting. She didn't particularly seek exciting missions.
Once she married Fugaku, she probably wouldn't even have the chance to do missions anymore.
"Not bad? It's absolutely *so* boring!"
"I'm totally jealous of Minato. He must've gone on a big mission today."
"Or else he wouldn't show up now."
Fumiko's guess hit the bullseye. Her personality actually bore a striking resemblance to Kushina's.
"Nah, it's just a minor mission."
"It's a break the teacher gave us."
Minato didn't think catching Kakuzu would be much trouble, nor did he feel like elaborating further.
"Minato, you're already a Jonin now, while I'm still just a Genin."
"You don't think less of me, do you?"
Kushina couldn't figure out what had gotten into her—she kept blurting out random thoughts as they came.
"How could that be?"
"Even if you couldn't use any ninjutsu, I'd still like you."
Thanks to Kawaki's coaching, Minato now could say things like this in front of everyone without feeling shy at all.
"Pfft—Cut the lovey-dovey crap in front of me!"
"You're cursed!"
Out of all of them, Fumiko was the only one still flying solo, and she chomped angrily on a grilled skewer.
"Haha, then I'll definitely not grant your wish."
"My Minato is the best."
As she spoke, Kushina snuggled up even closer to Minato, nearly clinging to him.
"You guys are making me sick."
Unable to stomach the sight any longer, Fumiko turned her anger into appetite and wolfed down a few more skewers.
"Hahahaha～"
All three burst into uncontrollable laughter.
Soon enough, the extra skewers they had ordered arrived.
The four continued eating and chatting, enjoying a very warm atmosphere.
After finishing their meal, they went their separate ways, while Minato and Kushina began enjoying their sweet time together as a couple.
From the streets to the alleys, from sunset to moonrise...
...
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