By the time Saiki stepped out of the Hokage's office, the sky had turned completely black.
Lamps flickered to life along the corridor, stretching and shrinking Saiki's silhouette against the walls.
Watching the streetlights ignite through the window, Tsunade rose from her chair, a faint, lingering blush still painting her cheeks.
She adjusted her slightly disheveled collar and cleared her throat, affecting a mask of professional sternness.
"Well... go get settled in. We will discuss the situation on the front lines in detail tomorrow."
Saiki looked at her poorly disguised attempt at composure and couldn't resist teasing her.
"Tomorrow? I thought you'd want me to stay tonight for a 'detailed report.'"
"You!" Tsunade glared at him, but the tips of her ears turned a darker shade of crimson. "You little bastard, don't get too cocky!"
"I know, I know," Saiki laughed, raising his hands in surrender. "Then, my esteemed Acting Hokage, your subordinate takes his leave."
He turned to walk away, but a gentle hand caught his sleeve.
"Wait."
Saiki turned back. Tsunade stood on her tiptoes and pressed a lightning-fast kiss to his cheek.
The movement was as quick as a gust of wind. The moment she finished, she retreated two steps and looked away.
"Now go. I have documents to review."
Saiki touched the spot where her lips had landed, the grin on his face widening. "As you command."
He turned and left the Hokage Building, the smirk never leaving his lips as he stepped into the night.
The Hidden Leaf village was sparsely lit under the cover of darkness; the shadows of war had turned this once-bustling night into something cold and quiet.
Saiki walked down the streets, his feet instinctively leading him toward a destination etched in his memory—Kushina's home.
Two years.
Thinking of the red-haired woman, a whirlwind of complex emotions surged in Saiki's chest.
After the upheaval two years ago, the Nine-Tails had been taken, but Kushina had gained a strange kind of freedom in the aftermath.
He remembered the unfinished tension between them before he left—the intimacy and reliance born on the edge of life and death.
But two years can change many things.
Minato Namikaze... the man who had always lingered around Kushina.
Saiki clenched his fist.
Given Minato's character and undeniable charm, during these two years, would he have...?
No. He shouldn't think like that.
Saiki took a deep breath, pushing down his internal unease.
Regardless of what had happened, he needed to see it for himself.
Kushina's home was located in a relatively quiet residential area of the village.
After the incident two years ago, she had been provided with new living quarters—a private courtyard surrounded by several maple trees. Now, in the late autumn, red leaves littered the ground.
Saiki stood outside the gate, hand raised to knock, but he hesitated.
He felt a sudden, rare jolt of nerves.
It was an emotion alien to him, yet it vibrated through his heart with undeniable reality.
Just as he was doubting himself, a light, melodic humming drifted from inside the house.
It was Kushina's voice, singing a tune he didn't recognize, sounding relaxed and genuinely happy.
Saiki took a breath and knocked on the door.
The humming stopped instantly.
The sound of footsteps approached from within, and the door was pulled open.
"I'm coming, I'm coming! Is it the supply ninja? I'll be right—"
Kushina's words died in her throat.
She was wearing a simple, light-colored domestic kimono. Her long red hair was tied loosely behind her head, with stray locks framing her face.
After two years, her complexion was vastly improved—no longer the sickly pallor of a victim, but a healthy, vibrant glow.
Her eyes were still as bright as gemstones, but right now, they were wide with absolute shock.
She was holding a half-peeled potato. It slipped from her hand with a thud, rolling across the floor to Saiki's feet.
Time seemed to freeze.
Saiki looked into her eyes, trying to read her soul—was it joy?
Was it distance?
Or was there now the shadow of someone else in her heart?
And then, he saw it.
Incredulity first, followed by a wave of pure ecstasy, and finally, a thin veil of moisture clouded her emerald eyes.
In the next second, Kushina launched herself at him, her arms wrapping around his neck with enough force to nearly choke him.
"Saiki! It's really you! You're back! You finally came back!"
Her voice broke into a sob as she hung her weight on him, her red hair brushing against his cheek, that familiar, fresh fragrance filling his senses.
The heavy weight in Saiki's heart finally hit the ground.
He reached out and held her steady, pulling her whole body into his embrace.
There was no hesitation, no modesty; her reaction told him everything he needed to know.
"I'm back," he whispered, his palm stroking her back.
Kushina squeezed him tighter, as if terrified that if she let go, he would vanish like a ghost.
After a long moment, she pulled back just enough to frame his face with her hands, scanning every inch of him.
"You grew so tall... you've changed... but your eyes are the same. You still look at people like you can see right through them..."
Her fingertips traced his brow, the bridge of his nose, and finally rested on his lips.
The gesture reminded them both of those intimate nights two years ago, and the atmosphere suddenly turned thick with tension.
Kushina's cheeks flushed a deep rose, but she didn't look away; she stared directly into his eyes.
"For these two years... I missed you so much."
The words acted like a key, unlocking every dam of restraint.
Saiki leaned forward and captured her lips.
Kushina's body stiffened for a microsecond—not out of resistance, but pure bashfulness.
Her eyes were wide as she stared at his handsome face inches away, her lashes fluttering.
But quickly, she closed her eyes, her hands moving from his face to the back of his neck. She stood on her tiptoes, responding to the kiss with a clumsy yet absolute sincerity.
Unlike Tsunade's kiss, which was a mix of probing and struggle, Kushina's kiss was one of total trust and unreserved passion.
She was like a flame, direct and burning, pouring two years of longing and emotion into that single union.
After a long while, they finally broke apart.
Kushina's face was as red as a ripe apple, her chest heaving, yet she refused to let go of his neck.
"Come inside first," she whispered, her eyes shimmering. "It's cold out here."
Saiki leaned down to pick up the dropped potato and followed her into the house.
The house was modest but decorated with a warm, welcoming touch.
A soft yellow light bathed the living room. Several scrolls and notebooks were spread across the table—clearly research materials for Fuinjutsu.
The aroma of food drifted from the kitchen; a pot of soup was simmering on the stove.
"I was getting dinner ready," Kushina said shyly. " I didn't think you'd come... Ah, have you eaten?"
"Not yet," Saiki said, his gaze lingering on the scrolls. "Are you with the Sealing Corps now?"
At the mention of her work, Kushina's eyes lit up with pride. "Mm! I'm a special consultant for the Sealing Corps now. Even without the Nine-Tails, the experience of having it sealed inside me, combined with... with the inspirations I got from you,"
She blushed again. "I actually made some major breakthroughs in Sealing Arts. The village entrusts me with most of the critical barriers and sealing missions now."
As she spoke, she radiated a confident, professional glow.
Saiki could see that she had thrived over the last two years—not as a Jinchuriki weapon, not as a prisoner under watch, but as a true shinobi, an expert who was both needed and respected.
"About Minato-sensei..." Kushina said suddenly, watching Saiki's expression with extreme caution. "The front lines have been a mess these past two years. He's rarely in the village. We... we haven't seen each other much."
She explained it clearly, as if she were desperate to clarify any misunderstandings.
Saiki's heart warmed. He took her hand. "You don't need to explain. I believe you."
Kushina let out a breath of relief, her smile returning as she pulled him toward a chair. "Wait here! I'll add two more dishes. We have to celebrate tonight!"
Watching her vibrant silhouette disappear into the kitchen, Saiki leaned back, a sense of warmth filling his soul.
Suddenly, Kushina poked her head out of the kitchen, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "By the way, does Lady Tsunade know you're back?"
Saiki arched an eyebrow. "I just came from her office."
"Oh—?" Kushina dragged out the syllable, a teasing light in her gaze. "Then I bet she was 'very happy,' wasn't she?"
This girl had certainly learned how to tease in his absence.
Saiki smirked. "What's this? Are you jealous?"
"Not at all!" Kushina snapped her head back into the kitchen, but her bright red ears gave her away.
The sound of chopping began in the kitchen, and the humming started again, sounding more rhythmic and joyful than before.
Saiki looked out at the night. He realized that while a lot had changed in two years, coming home was the best feeling in the world.
He stared at the night view of Konoha, his gaze turning deep and thoughtful.