The Home of the Yuhi Clan.
"I wonder if Father is back yet?" Kurenai pushed open the door, stepped into the entranceway, and hesitantly called out, "I'm home!"
At the sound of her familiar voice, Shinku Yuhi immediately popped his head out from the kitchen. "Kurenai, you're back!"
This familiar, heartwarming sight brought tears to Kurenai's eyes unbidden. She rushed forward, threw her arms around Shinku, and burst into tears. "Dad!"
Shinku smiled as he stroked her head. "Don't cry now. You're a grown young lady. If you keep crying, what will people think?"
Wiping away her tears, Kurenai sniffled defiantly. "Hmph! I'll cry if I want to!"
Although they'd met several times on the battlefield before, it never felt quite like this—like being at home.
Deeply moved, Shinku pointed at his apron and chuckled. "Ha ha! Haven't tasted my cooking in years, have you? Today, your old man will treat you to a feast!"
Kurenai excitedly raised her small hand. "I'll help too!"
Shinku paused for a moment, shaking his head in admiration. "Kurenai, you've really grown up. You even care about your old man now!"
A faint blush colored Kurenai's face. If she told him she'd actually rehearsed this moment just for tonight's dinner, he'd probably clutch his chest again.
"Better keep that to myself—for Dad's heart health!" Thinking thus, Kurenai softly murmured, "Yes… yes, of course."
Fueled by the warm atmosphere of a caring daughter reuniting with her loving father, Shinku felt a powerful surge of motivation. His culinary skills, which should've become rusty over time, actually surpassed expectations. Before long, the meal was ready.
Looking around at the spread of delicious dishes on the table, Kurenai gave a satisfied nod and proudly declared, "As expected, only food prepared with love and heart can truly contain a soul! With skills like this, me not becoming a chef is truly a shame!"
Kurenai also felt fulfilled as she wiped away tiny beads of sweat on her forehead, secretly thinking, *Shizune always cooks for Tsunade-sama at home—it's time I caught up in cooking skills!*
"Itadakimasu!" After saying a brief prayer, Kurenai dove right in, enjoying every bite heartily.
"Slow down, nobody's taking it from you," Shinku said with a chuckle, then gently asked, "You suffered a lot in this war, didn't you?"
Kurenai shook her head. "Compared to others, I've been pretty lucky. At the very least, I don't have to worry about getting into dangerous situations."
"That's true enough," Shinku mused thoughtfully as he nodded. "Anyone who meets your squad usually scrambles to run away."
Kurenai puffed out her chest proudly. "Even entire battalions larger than a hundred men would flee in panic upon hearing Seiki's name!"
At the mention of Seiki's name, Shinku's expression turned complex. "Never thought I'd be the teacher of someone who became the Demigod of the Shinobi World."
Kurenai teased with a grin, "I remember you specifically stating that you two aren't master and student."
Caught off guard by this jab from his little black-hearted cotton jacket, Shinku twitched his lips slightly. "If I say no, who's going to challenge that?"
Kurenai covered her mouth, stifling a laugh. "Of course, of course—you're the greatest, Dad!"
"Sounds so insincere," Shinku sighed sorrowfully, muttering, "Where has gone the sweet little girl who used to genuinely say 'Daddy is the strongest'?"
However, compared with that child named Seiki, some loss of authority was only to be expected.
"By the way, Kurenai, let me ask you something," Yuhi suddenly turned serious. "Does Seiki... have any intention of becoming Hokage?"
Kurenai looked surprised. "Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"
Yuhi lowered her voice and said, "I heard that Hokage-sama has already submitted his resignation to the Daimyo. Considering Seiki's performance during the war, he might actually become the next Hokage!"
"Hokage? That feels worlds away!" Kurenai shook her head as she spoke. "Although Seiki used to say he wanted to become Hokage, I don't know what he thinks about it now."
"I see," Yuhi murmured.
"Is there anything wrong?" Kurenai asked, confused.
"I'm just worried whether he can withstand the criticism," Yuhi sighed. "No matter how great Seiki's achievements are, his age will always be an obstacle that cannot be ignored. After all, being strong isn't the only requirement for holding the position of Hokage!"
Kurenai remained silent for a moment before waving her little hand and saying, "No matter what choice Seiki makes, I'll support him!"
"That's true!" Yuhi nodded in agreement. "Seiki isn't the kind of reckless person who would make such a decision lightly. If he really decides to do it, it must mean he's carefully considered everything. We just need to support his decision!"
Even though she said that, Kurenai seemed somewhat distracted afterward. After finishing her meal in a hurry, she suddenly said, "I won't come back for dinner tonight."
Yuhi looked puzzled. "What? Do you have a mission right after coming back?"
"No, not really!" Kurenai explained. "Seiki lives alone, so I thought I'd keep him company during dinner tonight."
Yuhi suddenly raised her voice, "What about me? Don't I eat alone tonight too?"
Kurenai blinked her eyes and said, "But didn't I come back for lunch today?"
Yuhi clutched her chest with a look of grief on her face. Another day of heartbreak and failure!
...
Shizune's house.
"Tsunade-sama, at least help me cut some vegetables when you get home!" Shizune pouted slightly as she complained about Tsunade, who had immediately gone into 'couch potato' mode the moment she walked through the door.
Tsunade slowly peeked her head out from the couch like a lazy sea creature, giving a sheepish chuckle. "Little Shizune, are you sure you want my help?"
Remembering the devastating disasters Tsunade had caused in the kitchen before, Shizune helplessly sighed. "Then at least clean up the house a bit!"
Tsunade tilted her head in thought, hesitated for a moment, and then performed the Kuchiyose no Jutsu to summon the Licking Toad!
Before long, the house gained someone to help with the cleaning.
Seeing who it was, Shizune felt somewhat embarrassed. "Jiraiya-sama, I'm sorry to trouble you."
Jiraiya laughed heartily. "Don't worry about it! I happened to have nowhere else to go anyway!"
When the room was almost completely cleaned up, Shizune had also finished cooking and brought the dishes to the table.
At that moment, the ultimate foodie instantly perked up.
With no hint of guilt, Tsunade sat down and took a few bites before offering a satisfied review, "Your cooking has improved quite a bit!"
Shizune drooped her head helplessly. "Yeah, it has improved."
Jiraiya, sitting beside them, actively started a conversation. "You two have definitely become legends this time! Taking down the Mizukage like that is something I wouldn't even dare to dream of!"
"Especially during the recent inter-village meeting—you should've seen it! The moment Seiki's name came up, people from other villages all changed expressions!"
Both women proudly puffed out their chests.
Tsunade proudly declared, "No wonder he's my disciple!"
Shizune almost blurted out instinctively, "No wonder he's my—uh, Seiki!"
Tsunade smirked, "Huh? 'No wonder he's my…' what exactly?"
Shizune calmly replied, "Tsunade-sama, you're skipping dinner tonight."
Tsunade was taken aback, letting out an awkward chuckle. "Haha! I'm just kidding with you!"
But Shizune remained serious, "No, I'm serious. Tonight, I'm cooking for Seiki!"
Upon hearing that, Tsunade exclaimed dramatically, "You'd actually let me starve? I'm still building muscle, you know!"
Looking at Tsunade's ample chest, Shizune took a deep breath and grew even more resolute, "Tsunade-sama, maybe it wouldn't hurt to lose a little weight."
"I'm fat?" Tsunade unconsciously touched her stomach. "Impossible! I don't think I'm fat at all!"
Jiraiya chuckled lecherously beside them, "Heh, try a little higher!"
Under Jiraiya's lecherous leer, Tsunade shuddered involuntarily and instinctively punched him flying.
Looking at the human-shaped imprint stuck on the wall, Shizune sighed helplessly while rubbing her forehead, "Another wall that needs fixing..."
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