Once dinner was over, no one left.
Even Minato made no move to rejoin Kushina.
The servants cleared the table, wiped it down, and brought out fruit and drinks.
"Minato," Tsunade spoke first, deliberately steering clear of their earlier topic. "Are you planning to stay in Anbu or step out?"
"Whatever you think is best," he replied.
With Team Ran disbanded, Minato had little interest in forming a new team.
But with Nawaki still around, he couldn't quite bring himself to abandon him entirely.
So he left the decision up to Tsunade.
"Hmm..."
"Then I'll have both you and Nawaki transferred out."
"You've been in Anbu long enough anyway," Tsunade said after a moment's thought.
It was only natural—Nawaki and Minato couldn't remain in Anbu indefinitely. The departure of Nagato and his companions had simply been the catalyst.
"All right, whatever you say," Minato nodded in agreement.
"Now Senior Minato will finally have more time for his significant other," Konan teased with an amused smile.
"You're not wrong," Minato chuckled, completely unfazed by her jabs. Everyone here already knew about him and Kushina anyway.
"Oh, Teacher~"
Konan suddenly seemed to think of something else.
"What is it?" Jiraiya took a sip from his teacup.
"If we don't come back, can we get the cash value of the house you promised us earlier?" Konan's greedy side showed as her eyes sparkled with dollar signs.
"You little brat—" Before Jiraiya could even respond, Tsunade shook her head, half-amused and half-exasperated.
"Cash it? I'll give you a broken-bone discount." Jiraiya almost choked, shooting Konan an annoyed glare.
"Forget broken bones—I'll settle for an 80% discount," Konan bargained playfully with a sweet smile.
"You know how much I love my students," she added, batting her big eyes at Jiraiya, gazing at him with hopeful anticipation.
"Don't even think about it," Jiraiya refused flatly. "I'll personally hand it over when you turn eighteen."
There was no way he was giving money directly into this reckless spender's hands. Three people's worth of funds—and who knows how fast she'd burn through them?
"Hmph, stingy~" Konan wrinkled her nose, clearly disappointed.
Like a duck that had just flown out of her mouth.
"Do whatever you like," Jiraiya shrugged casually, popping a grape into his mouth with a laid-back attitude that showed no regard for proper teacherly decorum.
Muttering under her breath, Konan vented her frustration by playfully punching Yahiko twice.
"Forget about the cash," Jiraiya continued.
"But I'll grant one reasonable request for each of you."
"One only, so choose wisely. This chance won't come again." Seeing Konan's shenanigans, Jiraiya chuckled but made a small concession.
"Then I definitely need to think carefully," Konan's eyes sparkled again, already scheming what benefits she could squeeze out of Jiraiya.
"What about you two?" Jiraiya stopped paying attention to Konan and turned to Yahiko and Nagato.
"Teacher," Yahiko—the ultimate lovestruck fool—spoke up. "Can I give my request to Konan instead?"
Totally wrapped around her little finger.
"Fine by me. Do whatever you like."
Kawaki thought to himself that it was fortunate Konan and Yahiko were a couple—otherwise Yahiko would've been the poor guy.
"Yahiko, you're the best. Love you."
Konan beamed and mimicked the hand gesture she had learned from Kawaki.
"Love you too."
Yahiko responded with a smile, grinning like an idiot.
"I can't stand to watch this."
Sakumo covered his forehead with one hand, muttering that his family was full of oddballs.
Maybe it was better they left—he'd finally have some peace.
For some reason, he actually had that thought for a moment.
"Where's Nagato?"
Kawaki turned his gaze to Nagato.
"Teacher, I don't really want anything."
Nagato's response fell exactly in line with what Kawaki had expected.
He'd always been that way—never one to fight for attention or compete with others.
"If you can't think of anything yourself, then I'll decide for you."
"That girl named Nonou, do you remember her?"
Kawaki intentionally left out her full name to gauge Nagato's reaction.
"I remember, I remember."
"What about her?"
Nagato lit up at first, then abruptly stood up in alarm, thinking the teacher might have some bad news for him.
"Calm down."
"She's fine."
"How about… you want to see her?"
Kawaki quirked the corner of his mouth, clearly teasing him.
He knew Nagato was reserved by nature and wanted to provoke him a little.
"I…"
Nagato didn't know how to respond properly.
"Oh well, if you don't want to, then forget it."
"Pity. She still remembers you."
Kawaki was clearly trying to entice Nagato.
"I do."
"I miss her."
That innocent affection buried deep within Nagato's heart now surfaced completely thanks to Kawaki's prodding.
"Now that sounds better."
"She's currently a ninja in the Land of Earth, so I can assign her to work with you."
"What do you think?"
Nagato's mood soared and plummeted like a rollercoaster with every word Kawaki spoke.
Since Jiraiya's Intelligence Department already had enough personnel, moving Yakushi Nonou wouldn't be a big deal.
"Really?"
The joy hit too suddenly; Nagato could barely believe it at first.
He hadn't expected his teacher to prepare such a significant gift for him.
"Of course it's true. Do you think your teacher would lie to you?"
Tsunade had never seen Nagato act like this before.
"She's great."
"She's passed us a lot of valuable intel from the Land of Stone."
Tsunade knew a little about Nonou's work since Jiraiya had praised her repeatedly.
He said she was naturally suited for espionage and performed each mission exceptionally well.
She had already operated in several countries and never failed anyone.
"That's not what I meant."
Nagato scratched his head—he wasn't interested in hearing about her mission details.
"Don't worry."
"She hasn't been disfigured or injured."
"She's perfectly fine."
Kawaki gave Nagato the answer he wanted right away.
"That's good, that's good."
Nagato fiddled with the black-framed glasses in his pocket, his heart pounding with excitement.
The day of their reunion was fast approaching. At this moment, he even had the urge to leave for the Land of Rain immediately.
"Teacher, I've made my decision."
After so long, Konan finally made two requests.
"Racked your brain much? Hurry up and say them."
Kawaki teased Konan with a smirk. He really couldn't imagine what unreasonable requests this troublemaker would make.
"The first one is, our room must always be kept ready."
"And the second one is, everyone mustn't forget us."
After saying these words, Konan's tears streamed down her cheeks.
When had she ever been a greedy little gold-digger? Right now, she was just a little girl about to leave home for a distant journey.
"What kind of requests are those? Think of two new ones."
Kawaki's chest tightened. If it weren't for all these people around, he might have broken down already.
"You're such a sentimental softie."
"I don't have anything else to ask for."
Konan shook her head, already sobbing uncontrollably.
"No one will forget you two, and there will always be a place for you at home."
Tsunade rubbed her teary eyes, her voice slightly choked.
"Alright, it's not like we're parting forever."
"You guys keep chatting. I'm going out for a walk."
Sakumo stood up, lifted his chin slightly, and walked out of the dining room.
That night, the dining room lights burned well into the night.
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