"From today on, you'll be living with me."
After they stepped out of Uzumaki Mito's residence, Tsunade's voice took on a rare, serious edge. "We aren't at war, but the assassination of young geniuses isn't exactly rare. You need to understand how important you've become."
"I understand," Minato replied with a dutiful nod.
Internally, he was perfectly calm. He had no intention of letting some clumsy assassin force him to reveal a trump card like Elementalization. If he moved in with a Sannin, he could maintain his "Golden Boy" persona while staying under the most formidable radar in the village.
"As for your rent... well, you can pay that off with your cooking~"
Seeing Minato agree so easily, Tsunade's serious facade crumbled into a smug grin. Realizing she might sound a bit too much like a landlord, she cleared her throat and added, "Of course, I'll have Nawaki help you out. And if you have any questions about your Cultivation, just ask!"
Minato offered a charming smile. "Does Teacher have any dietary restrictions I should know about?"
Tsunade tapped her chin. "Hmm... no real restrictions, but I'm not a fan of sweets. Keep the dango and syrupy stuff away from me."
"And your favorites?"
"Tender chicken. Like that Saliva Chicken you made earlier..." she laughed heartily, her mood clearly improved by the prospect of more food. "Honestly, with your skills, I'll probably eat whatever you put in front of me."
Chicken, then, Minato noted. Most boys—and apparently most legendary kunoichi—were carnivores at heart. He knew a dozen ways to prepare chicken. Despite her complaints about the heat earlier, he noticed she didn't actually shy away from chili peppers.
After picking up his few belongings and some daily necessities, Minato followed her to the Senju estate. It was a sprawling, traditional Japanese residence that felt heavy with history. As they crossed the threshold, the thumping of bare feet echoed through the hallway. A round-faced boy with spiky brown hair practically skidded into the room.
"Older Sister! You're finally back!"
The boy looked about two or three years older than Minato, radiating a restless Origin Qi.
"I'm back, I'm back," Tsunade said, a soft, genuine smile appearing as she gestured toward Minato. "Nawaki, this is my new disciple, Minato Namikaze. You two try to get along."
"Eh? No way! The sister who usually can't even drag herself out of bed actually found the energy to take a disciple?" Nawaki stared at Minato with blatant curiosity. "This kid... he's younger than me, isn't he?"
He looked Minato up and down, noting the sharp features and calm demeanor. And he's that handsome? He's going to be a magnet for the girls... Damn, I'm jealous already!
"Minato is a freshman this year," Tsunade explained, swapping her sandals for slippers and finding a pair for Minato. "And don't let his age fool you; he's a super Genius."
"A genius, huh?" Nawaki didn't seem particularly impressed. In his house, "genius" was a common label—his sister was one, after all.
"It's a pleasure to meet you. Please look after me," Minato said, bowing slightly with a gentle, polite smile.
"Ah, yeah! Nice to meet you too!" Nawaki puffed out his chest, trying to look like a dignified senior. "Since you're my sister's disciple, that makes you like my little brother. I'll make sure no one messes with you at school!"
Minato kept his polite smile fixed in place. Tsunade, however, couldn't help but roll her eyes. She knew that with Minato's current level of strength, he could likely bury her "stupid little brother" into the training ground dirt without breaking a sweat.
Minato's new room was right next to Nawaki's. It was spacious and caught the morning light perfectly. After unpacking and checking the fading light outside, Minato decided to turn in early.
Sleep didn't come easily. His mind was racing through the implications of his new life. By moving in with Tsunade, he had officially stepped onto the stage of the original plot. This meant he would soon be in the crosshairs of men like Danzo Shimura.
But Minato wasn't worried. His loyalty to Konoha was non-existent. If the village pushed him too far, he would simply leave. With the speed of the Glint Gint Fruit, no one could catch him. He could spend a few years growing in power and return with a Susanoo to reclaim any Mokuton secrets he lacked.
For now, though, his position was secure. He was Tsunade's disciple, a favorite of Uzumaki Mito, and technically the Third Hokage's grand-disciple. He was the "Golden Boy" of the Hokage's direct line. As long as he didn't do something as brazen as slapping Hiruzen Sarutobi in the face, he could get away with almost anything.
Eventually, his thoughts drifted, and he fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.
The next morning, his internal clock—honed by months of rigorous training—snapped him awake. It took him a moment to remember where he was. He washed up quietly, noting that the rooms of the two Senju siblings were still silent.
In the kitchen, he found a well-stocked pantry. The rice and oil were full, but the fridge was a different story. "Two slices of bread, canned fruit, some wilted spinach... so breakfast is usually just toast, then?"
Minato preferred something substantial. He checked the freezer and found a variety of instant meats. He pulled out a hamburger patty and tossed it into the microwave to defrost.
As he worked, he poured flour into a bowl. To speed things along, he condensed a miniature Rasengan in his palm, using the controlled rotation to mix the water and flour into a perfect consistency in seconds. Within half an hour, a rich, savory aroma began to drift through the house.
In her bedroom, Tsunade's eyes snapped open. Her stomach let out a thunderous growl. The smell was so incredible it had literally pulled her out of a dream. Remembering she had a live-in chef now, she threw on her clothes and bolted for the door.
"What is that smell?!"
Nawaki slammed his door open at the same time, still fumbling with his shirt. The two reached the dining area just as Minato emerged from the kitchen carrying a steaming bowl.
"Since you're both up, let's eat. I made some Dough Drop Soup. There's plenty more in the pot—"
He didn't even finish the sentence before the siblings blurred past him like a whirlwind.
"Ow! Sister, stop shoving!"
"Move it! I'm the one serving, so I go first!"
"Hehe, you're the best, Sis—"
"And the rest is mine."
"Hey!"
A moment later, they emerged and sat down, hunched over their bowls. They blew frantically on the steam before taking their first sips.
"Whew—"
"Ha—"
A look of pure bliss washed over both their faces. Minato couldn't help but smile. There was something healing about a warm bowl of soup in the morning. He had used a base of tomato and egg, adding the diced hamburger meat and spinach. The acidity of the tomatoes was the perfect wake-up call for the appetite.
They ate like starving animals, finishing every last drop.
"Ah... my stomach feels so warm. I'm actually satisfied for once," Tsunade sighed, leaning back and patting her belly contentedly.
Minato's brow twitched at her choice of words. "The beef and onions in the meat might make you sweat a bit, but it's good for your digestion."
"So good," Nawaki muttered, looking longingly at his empty bowl. "This is what breakfast is supposed to be."
Tsunade's eyes narrowed playfully. "Oh?"
"I mean—I still love your cooking the most, Sister!" Nawaki squeaked, waving his hands in panic. "But I didn't know Minato was a chef. You didn't just take him as a disciple for the food, did you?"
"Don't be stupid," Tsunade rolled her eyes. "I told you, he's a genius. In fact, he might be your biggest rival for the seat of Hokage."
Nawaki looked skeptical. "Come on, he just started school."
"Is that so?" Tsunade sat up straight. She realized Nawaki had been a bit too comfortable lately. A wicked glint entered her eyes. "Want to test that theory? I need to gauge Minato's progress anyway. Why don't you handle the evaluation? You're a senior two grades ahead of him, after all."
"Oh! Just watch me!" Nawaki stood up, full of fire. "I definitely won't lose!"