Another shutout to my newest Patron, Ian Hess. Thank you so much!
This chapter is a bonus chapter for 50 cumulative powerstone btw. Enjoy.
Minato stood by the door, his figure was basked under the amber light that spilled from the runes above. His eyes quickly softened the instant they found her, that familiar shade of red, that impossible energy that filled every room she entered.
Ludwig let his senses roam. Kushina, for once, couldn't speak. Her lips parted, but the words tangled in her throat. From what she told him and the other regulars, when war was on the horizon, ninjas could be away from their villages for long. Not even Minato could escape that, Flying Thunder God user or not.
She also told them that she had come to terms that she wouldn't be able to see him for a long time. But it seemed that Minato's sudden appearance here sent her reeling more than it should.
"Minato… what are you doing here?" She finally managed.
Scratching his cheeks, Minato lifted one of his hands and waved at her. "Hey, Kushina. Long time no see."
"Minato!"
Her voice cut through the stillness, filled not with surprise or guilt but sheer delight. She nearly toppled off her stool as she turned toward him, grin blooming wide and unrestrained.
Minato caught her before she could actually fall, his reflexes as sharp as ever. "Careful." He said, smiling faintly.
Kushina laughed, brushing her hair from her face. "Hehe, you still move as fast as ever."
"I had to." Minato replied softly. "You never changed."
For a moment, they just stood there. The world was shrinking down to the two of them. The warmth of the restaurant, the flicker of rune-lights, and the hum of familiar voices around them.
Then, in typical Kushina fashion, she broke the quiet with a playful jab to his chest. "What are you doing here? Don't tell me the Hokage sent you to drag me home!"
Minato chuckled."Nothing that dramatic. I just… wanted to see you."
Even though Minato tried to mask it, he could still see it. There's a twitch in his expression. And coupled that with how he dragged his words before really answering, it seemed like Kushina's words nailed the target.
Of course, Kushina was not aware of it.
"Eh? Just like that?" She teased, her grin wide. "Don't tell me you missed me, dattebane~?"
"I did." Minato admitted simply. "A lot."
That froze her for half a heartbeat before she smiled again, softer this time. "You dummy," she murmured, voice quiet but warm.
Behind the counter, Ludwig turned away with a knowing grin. "Before you guys kiss and make half the restaurant jealous, you better sit down."
Both of them looked at him at the same time, one set of eyes had become wider than before, while the other eyes just looked at him with a tint of apology.
"W-what are you talking about, Lud! K-Kiss… That's something that should be done after marriage!"
Her words came out in fragments, each word after another came as if it had been forced from her mouth. But what was funnier was the red shade of beet creeping on her face. If it's not for the limitation of human biology, Ludwig was sure her face would take the same shade of red of her hair.
But before she could make more mistakes, Minato wrapped his hand around her body and pushed her down into the chair. Her blazing personality she always showed them whenever they forced her to do something was gone, either with her spirit. She suddenly became a feline; a very obedient feline.
Claire chuckled beside Kushina, but of course, the latter did none of the things she usually did in that kind of case. Truly, love was such a powerful thing. Even a fiery Jinchuriki of the strongest Tailed Beast submitted under its rule.
On another seat beside Kushina, Minato finally sat. Her posture was as straight as uncooked pasta, but it's not as brittle. It showed just how much conviction he had in his ability to react to any kind of attack.
It was something Ludwig had seen far too many times. People coming back from war still too high-strung to relax even within safety. Even when they were at home, they would be alert, looking past their shoulders every time they walked a few steps.
Thankfully, he knew and had the perfect remedy for that.
Ludwig slid one tankard into the makeshift beer tap. With a pull on the lever, a bright golden liquid slid through the wall of the tankards to fill it. Once it was nearly filled, his hands angled it back, letting the liquid pour directly into its kin inside, creating a perfect foam once he finished.
Ludwig brought the filled tankards with him, stopping only once he was across from Minato and put it in front of him. "Welcome back, Minato. The beer is in the house."
Minato, who was looking at the menu with interested eyes, whipped his head towards him. After his eyes lingered at Ludwig's eyes for a few moments too long, he moved his eyes to the tankard of ale in front of him.
"I-I can't take that." Minato stuttered.
Ludwig chuckled, but his eyes were still looking at the blondie in front of him. "Since you were sent to the frontline before you could make your second visit, you probably don't know this: I don't take objection when it comes to food. Whenever I offer food to my patrons, they have learned to take it."
Giggles broke out around the bar. Kushina was the loudest, while Claire masked it with the whiskey glass.
"Minato, just take it. No matter how bad it looked, Lud's food never disappointed." Kushina pat Minato back, an air of superiority dripping from every word he said.
Minato looked at Kushina, his face starting to relax a little bit. Then with a smile, he answered. "I remember. the ramen I had last time followed me to countless battles."
"Then, what are you waiting for?" Kushina laughed. "Lud, one Ramen for Minato, please."
"Coming right up." Ludwig answered in his professional tone.
His clothes rustled as he turned on his heels. But rather than walking deep into the kitchen, he stopped mid-way.
"Bilo, make one Ramen Kushina always order, please."
Bilo looked at him blankly. A natural reaction of the Faun when it came to a surprise cooking task.
"Stop thinking too much about it. It should be easy, I dare say the easiest menu we have." Ludwig crossed his arms, looking seriously at Bilo.
"Y-yessir, I'm sorry." Bilo quickly answered after his words. "B-but Chef, let me clarify first. The broth powder came in when the water was still cold, then the seafood. Once the water boils, the noodles enter, right?"
"Yep." Ludwig answered, letting his mouth pop by the end of his words.
"Understood, Chef."
Bilo left a firm answer before moving around. Taking one packet of Ramyeon with red packaging from the box before fishing out a bowl of seafood from the Stasis Cabinet.
When he saw Bilo walking towards the stove, he went back to the bar. Didn't even help him to quicken the time around the pot.
"Huh, you are back already?" Kushina looked at him. But then, as if she knew what was happening, she peeked into the kitchen. With an amused tone, she asked "What did he say this time?"
Crossing his arms in front of his chest, Ludwig answered with a laugh. "Nothing new. Froze up after I told him to cook, then reviewed the steps on me."
Kushina laughed loudly at his answer. To be honest, he also found it funny now. After so many flailing and fumbling, he thought Bilo would finally be ready for anything. But now, rather than just nodding and doing it, he would first freeze up and then review the steps when it came to food he never cooked before.
"Well, he has to be ready, else, I'll have to be ready for many complaints about tomorrow." Ludwig chuckled before looking at Minato. "Why haven't you drunk the ale? It's not poisoned, you know?"
"Ah sorry about that." Minato laughed wryly before wrapping his fingers around the handle of the tankards. "I was just too occupied talking with Kushina."
After saying that, Minato brought the tankards into his mouth, dunking the contents into his mouth. One gulp, two gulp, three gulp, and it was empty before long.
Minato let out a long sharp sigh and put the tankards back down. "T-that's oddly hit the spot."
Ludwig nodded at his words. He knew that feeling way too well. Nothing beats a can, or in this world's case, a tankard, of ale after a long day of work. That first dunking was just on another level, something unrepeatable even when the next tankard-fill was the same exact brand.
Just like any other people, Minato finally started to ease up after his first ale of the day. Well maybe in months.
"It is, right? Do you want another one?" Ludwig asked. "But, it will be on you. My service only extends to the first portion."
Minato's gaze lingered at the empty tankards. He's probably contemplating whether to order another one or not.
But then,
"Give him another one, Lud. Ah, his bills will be on me!" Kushina chimed in from his side.
Ludwig's eyes leave Minato and land on his girlfriend. She looked so smug, maybe already forgetting she had declared she would use him as a walking wallet a few minutes ago.
Just as he wanted to tease Kushina about it, a thought came to his mind. Even if he was almost 100 percent sure Minato came here due to Konoha knowing Kushina would be leaving for Tempest tomorrow, affirming it wouldn't hurt anyone.
So in a deliberate tone, Ludwig opened his mouth. "Oh? You have a lot o f money? Then why are you asking me to be your walking wallet tomorrow at Tempest?"
Just as he finished, Minato twitched slightly. Too fast and too small for anyone's eyes to catch. But under the scrutiny of the restaurant, it might as well be as loud as the sound of a sniper rifle.
Kushina's lips parted into a grin. "Didn't you hear what Claire said? Ryo shouldn't work at Temp—"
Kushina stopped abruptly. Her eyes went wide, pupils darting around, from him, to Minato. It seemed like she finally realized something was wrong.
Beside her, Claire spun on her seats, back against Kushina now. But from how her shoulders were trembling up and down, it was obvious what she was currently doing.
Probably sensing it was the correct time to ask, Minato opened his mouth, eyes softly landed on Kushina. "Tempest? Where is that? You shouldn't leave Konoha without permission, Kushina."
The red head shot another pointed glare at Ludwig. Seemingly still in the dark that the reason Minato was back in Konoha was because of her.
On his part, Ludwig just shrugged his shoulders. Better let her come clean to him. What's the worst it would lead to? Probably the Hokage decided to tag along. And to be honest, Ludwig was rather looking forward to that.
Even though he would be recognized by the Voice of The World in Rimuru's world, he shouldn't be much stronger than he currently was. And without any beings naming him, he wouldn't evolve past that point.
After all, from what he knew about Hiruzen Sarutobi from the Canon, he wouldn't do something worthy for evolution from this point of time.
Kushina finally deflated. She fidget with the hem of her clothes before looking at Minato.
"M-minato, it's like this…"
With those words as the start, she explained to Minato about the planned trips, how it came to be, and what she wanted to do there. Nothing was omitted to Claire's chagrin. A strategic leak. That's probably what she thought when she heard her explaining everything to Minato.
It was really a masterstroke to not include her in the meeting about her circumstances.
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