About three weeks had passed since Kazane met and played with Hana Inuzuka at the park. She was currently enjoying one of her rare afternoon naps when the sudden sensation of chakra nearing awakened her. Focusing, she pushed her senses further to try to identify the chakra signature, recognising it almost immediately after. The chakra belonged to her father, Minato. He wasnt alone, however; three more signatures followed in his wake.
Not long after, he stepped through the courtyard gate. The barrier seals along the Namikaze residence recognised him instantly, relaxing with a familiar hum as he stepped through the gate. A quiet exhaustion of someone who had pushed himself past his limits long ago adorned his face, and an invisible weight seemed to press down upon his shoulders.
Kazane lifted her head from where she lay on the sofa in the sitting room, stilling mid-motion as she honed in on the three accompanying chakras. One was tight and disciplined, almost cold, with a sharp prickly edge. Kakashi.
One was... Loud and erratic like a playful child's laughter. There was warmth to it also, a ray of summer shining through it all.
And the last made her pause further. It felt similar to another she had felt, similar yet different in some way. Soft, comforting in a way that reminded her of Auntie Tsunade's warm hands and steady breathing. The kind of chakra that didn't try to be more than it was and just stayed happily still. Balanced.
She frowned faintly in concentration, trying to memorise them.
Minato stepped inside first, travel cloak loosened, his expression easing the moment he spotted her. "Kazane."
She didn't embarrass herself by running. No, let it be known far and wide, she instead walked, fast and controlled, stopping just in front of him and certainly not jumping into his embrace.
"You're back," she cried into his shoulder.
He smiled anyway. "I am."
Then the others followed. Kakashi entered next, posture straight despite the fatigue clinging to him like dust. His eyes flickered toward Kazane for half a second before returning to neutrality.
Behind him— "Wow," said the loud one. A boy with the orange goggles. "This is sensei's place? It's smaller than I thought."
Kushina's head snapped up from where she stood, a daring look in her eyes, and the boy froze mid-step.
"…Uh," he added, volume dropping by half. "I mean cosy. Very cosy."
Minato sighed softly. "Obito."
"Sorry," said Obito as he scratched the back of his head.
The girl beside him smiled apologetically, hands folded neatly in front of her.
"I'm Rin," she said gently. "Thank you for letting us stop by."
Kushina studied all three in a single, drawn-out look before relaxing just enough to smile.
"You're welcome," she smiled. "Minato, you didn't say you'd be bringing the whole team when you returned."
"Circumstances," Minato replied. "We needed to deliver a briefing scroll to Hiruzen, and the team needed a proper rest stop before discussing the post-mission details."
"And Obito needed to be supervised," Kakashi added flatly.
"I heard that!" Obito protested.
Kazane hadn't taken her eyes off them. Specifically, she hadn't taken her eyes off Obito.
His chakra was everywhere. Not spilling dangerously as her own did, in fact, it was all still very much contained within him, like with everyone else. Just messy as if it had a mind of its own, running rampant, free, and yet still none of it spilt. Life was so unfair sometimes, she lamented.
Obito noticed her, "…Why is she staring at me?" he whispered loudly.
"That's my daughter," Kushina said pleasantly. "Kazane."
Obito straightened immediately. "Oh! Hi! I'm Obito Uchiha!"
"I know," Kazane said.
He blinked. "You do?"
"Kakashi told me about you," she stated. "You're loud."
Kakashi snorted.
Obito sputtered. "Hey! That's rude!"
"It's true," she said, still staring.
Rin's smile twitched.
Kushina cleared her throat. "Inside everyone. Make yourselves comfy."
"I am not that loud!" Obito insisted, stepping forward and immediately setting off a faint warning flicker from a seal embedded near the threshold.
The house hummed.
Obito froze.
"…Did I break something?"
"No," Minato said with a sly grin. "The house just doesn't like yelling."
Kazane nodded seriously. "It hurts the walls."
Obito swallowed. "Got it. Whisper house."
Kakashi muttered, "A miracle it hasn't collapsed yet."
Inside, tea was poured. Cushions arranged. Obito sat cross-legged and restless, bouncing his knee, causing the table to shake until Kushina glared just enough to make him stop.
Rin knelt instead, lowering herself smoothly to Kazane's height.
"You are a very good sensor," she said kindly. "I could barely feel you noticing us."
Kazane considered her.
"You're soft. Comfortable," she said finally. "Like… you are holding something fragile."
Rin's breath caught for half a second. "That's very perceptive," she said, voice softening.
Kazane tilted her head. "Do you heal people?"
"Yes," Rin answered. "I'm training to."
"That makes sense."
Obito leaned forward. "Hey, what about me? What's my chakra like?"
Kazane looked at him again.
"…Messy."
Kakashi coughed to hide a laugh.
"Messy is good!" Obito argued. "It means I've got spirit!"
"It means you trip a lot," Kakashi said.
Rin hid her smile behind her teacup.
Kazane studied Obito thoughtfully. "You feel warm," she said. "Like sunshine."
"See!" He beamed. "Scary," he added suddenly, without thinking.
The room went very still, and Kushina's presence solidified slightly.
Obito's smile vanished. "I- I mean- not scary, scary- I meant impressive-"
Kazane blinked.
Minato intervened smoothly. "What Obito means is that you surprised him."
"Yes!" Obito nodded rapidly. "That!"
Kushina relaxed slightly as she gave a hidden wink to Minato.
Tea was sipped as everyone eased back in. Minato watched the children from the corner of his eye. Kazane's focus. Rin's gentleness. Kakashi's stoic broodiness and Obito's voice filled the gaps no one else touched.
An odd balance.
"You're my Father's team," Kazane said suddenly.
"Yes," Rin answered.
"Do you like him?" Kazane asked bluntly.
Obito didn't hesitate. "He's the best!"
"He's great," Rin said.
Minato smiled into his cup. Kazane nodded once, satisfied.
"Good," she declared. "He comes back tired."