Summer was approaching, and the weather grew increasingly muggy and humid. After a heavy rain, the air was filled with a faint earthy smell.
Naraku, carrying a large, square cloth bundle, hurried towards the Konoha training grounds.
The month before last, he finally received Tsunade's permission to move around normally, but he still couldn't accept missions, a similar restriction to Kushina, who also couldn't leave the village freely.
The two often helped Mikoto with her children, and whenever they met, their conversations mostly revolved around lamenting their respective bleak lives. Over time, a sibling-like bond formed between Naraku and Kushina.
Kushina would call him "Naraku-kun" and insisted he call her "Big Sister." Whenever Naraku argued that he should, by rights, call her "Auntie," he would immediately witness the famous scene of the "Red-Hot Habanero's" hair flying wildly.
In the end, he had no choice but to succumb to her domineering ways and obediently call her "Big Sister."
Mikoto had some reservations about this, complaining that the generational hierarchy was so muddled she didn't know how to calculate it anymore.
Kushina, however, didn't care at all, happily comforting her by saying, "Let's just calculate our own ways. Why bother with so many rules? As long as we're happy, that's all that matters."
"After all, 'Big Sister' sounds much younger than 'Auntie.'"
Mikoto:...Are you being polite?
Meanwhile, Minato, whose generation was also muddled because of Kushina, was completely unaware of this. Every day, he was busy training and going on missions with the three children in his squad.
During this time, the situation between Kumogakure and Iwagakure was tense. Konoha might be dragged into the conflict at any moment, and if there was a shortage of soldiers, his squad would most likely be sent to the battlefield.
Therefore, he had to ensure his students quickly developed the ability to protect themselves and survive the brutal war.
This was also the purpose of the Third Hokage's previous reorganization—to gather scattered forces and quickly integrate them into Ninja units capable of fighting at a moment's notice.
Since being assigned to the Minato Squad, with a good-tempered and thoughtful teacher, and with Kakashi, Obito, and Rin already having a good relationship, they had been getting along very well. They trained and went on missions together without any hitches, and their individual strengths had improved.
Kakashi had not neglected his ninja sword skills, diligently honing his sword techniques. At the same time, his new Ninjutsu, "Chidori," was fully developed and rated as an A-rank Ninjutsu. However, its drawbacks of being too fast and difficult to adjust during a charge remained, and there was no good solution for the time being, so it could only be used cautiously.
Obito, with his One-Tomoe Sharingan activated, was much stronger than in the original timeline. For short periods, he could fight Kakashi back and forth without falling behind, and his usually terrible throwing accuracy had greatly improved.
Minato couldn't help but marvel at the power of the Sharingan, wondering why the Uchiha clan was now Konoha's unshakeable strongest bloodline clan.
As the only girl in the squad, Rin had been interested in Medical Ninjutsu since her time at the Ninja Academy. After graduation, she delved into this path and could now skillfully use several relatively simple techniques, perfectly adequate for first aid.
There was also Might Guy. Although not in the same squad, Kakashi often saw him at the training grounds, sprinting in various strange poses under the urging shouts of the Jonin, Inuzuka Tsume, who was supervising her squad's training, leaving Ebisu and Shiranui Genma far behind.
Minato and Inuzuka Tsume had a good relationship, and sometimes they would let the students from their two squads compete against each other, either in one-on-one matches at the training grounds or by simulating battlefields in the nearby forest, using various tactics to completely wipe out the opposing squad.
After their official encounters, Kakashi realized that Might Guy not only used the Flash Great White Fang for psychological attacks, like his father, but also possessed excellent taijutsu.
His attacks were wild and fierce, and his speed was incredibly fast. Among their peers, only Obito, with his One-Tomoe Sharingan activated, could roughly discern the trajectory of his moves.
Unfortunately, Obito could see them but couldn't defend against them. He was beaten up in every squad battle, gnashing his teeth in anger, and always swore with a bruised face that he would get even next time.
At noon, another intense simulated battle ended. The forest was already a mess, with broken branches and trees everywhere, and even the ground looked as if it had been plowed several times, pitted and scarred with soil and rocks flying around.
The six young Ninja, who had "died together," ignored the fact that it had rained the day before and the soil was still damp. They each found a comfortable spot, lay down directly, and panted heavily.
Rin was currently too exhausted to get up and heal the others, so she could only ask about their condition first: "Is everyone alright?"
"We're all fine! Rin, don't worry!" Obito quickly replied, then mumbled incoherently, "Might Guy, you just wait!"
"This is the fifteenth time you've made the same threat," Shiranui Genma retorted.
"And you fail to make a comeback every time," Ebisu added, twisting the knife.
"Damn it...!" Obito almost died of anger.
"Alright!" Might Guy still gave him face, giving a thumbs-up and grinning, "Bring it on! An unyielding fighting spirit is the most dazzling light of youth!"
"Save your strength, you guys. Aren't you hungry?"
Kakashi powerlessly complained about these oddballs, staring blankly at the white clouds in the sky, silently anticipating today's lunch.
A faint landing sound reached his ears, followed by a small shadow covering his eyes.
"Sleeping on the ground isn't good for your health."
"Naraku!"
Kakashi immediately sat up and turned around, his ninja sword clattering to the ground from his lap.
In front of him was Naraku, who had come to deliver food. He was about to put down the large bundle, almost half his height, and winked at him with a smile.
The sun behind Naraku cast its light freely, making his entire being glow.
"You've worked hard training, Kakashi."
Naraku untied the cloth bundle, announcing the dishes in a slow, enticing tone: "Today we have grilled fish, fried chicken nuggets, and tamagoyaki, along with stewed pumpkin, chilled vegetables, potato salad..."
Obito, who had been sprawled on the ground just moments before, sprang to life at light speed, crowding over and rubbing his hands, eager to get a share.
"Do you even hear what you're saying, Kakashi? There's so much good food, can you really eat it all? Let me taste it for you first!"
"Do you want to hear what you're saying?"
Kakashi rolled his eyes at Obito.
Such a large quantity, it was obvious it wasn't just made for him alone.
It must have taken a lot of effort.
Perhaps Naraku had been busy with these things since finishing breakfast.
-- I should have known not to tell him about today's training plan.
Kakashi thought with a hint of annoyance.
The others also got up from the ground, their eyes gleaming as they stared at the lunchboxes. Still, they felt they weren't that close to Naraku and were a bit embarrassed to ask him for food.
"I made a lot; everyone gets a share."
As he spoke, Naraku spread out the cloth bundle as a picnic blanket, making it easy for everyone to sit on the ground. He arranged the bento boxes in a line, opened the lids to reveal the dishes, and then handed out the smaller boxes containing rice.
Then he took out eight pairs of chopsticks, and in a blink, six pairs were gone.
"Thank you, Naraku! This is truly youthful! Waaah!"
"Thank you very much for the meal! I will eat it with a grateful heart!"
"Then I won't be polite. Thank you!"
The boys were already wolfing down their food and fighting with their chopsticks.
"Naraku-kun, thank you for making us lunch."
Rin also couldn't suppress her hunger. After thanking him, she took the chopsticks from Obito's hand and picked up a piece of fried chicken, devouring it with gusto.
"You're welcome." Naraku glanced around and asked, "Where are Minato-senpai and Inuzuka-auntie?"
The next moment, Minato appeared beside them with a smile: "Even I get some?"
"I can tell it's going to be especially delicious just by the smell!"
Inuzuka Tsume rubbed her palms, finding Naraku more and more pleasing the more she looked at him.
Not only had he saved her daughter, but his character was also so gentle, kind, and considerate. He was truly a good child, hard to find even with a lantern.
-- If only Hanako could marry him.
Inuzuka Tsume mused inwardly, but her hands were quick. She picked up her chopsticks and started eating.
For a moment, only the sounds of chewing and swallowing remained.
Kakashi poked at his portion of rice and discovered chunks of glistening, braised pork buried underneath, the sauce having seeped into the rice grains.
He quietly glanced at the others, including Rin. Their rice was just rice; there was no hidden meat.
Kakashi looked at Naraku, who had sat down right next to him. The latter gave him a slightly guilty look, his index finger pressed to his lips.
[Don't tell the others.]
-- Got it.
Kakashi curled the corners of his mouth, tilting his lunchbox slightly towards himself to block anyone from seeing anything unusual. He heartily ate the fragrant braised pork mixed with rice, thinking how good this life was.