As evening bled into night, Kitahara Kaede walked toward Minato's house, carrying a bag of seasonings.
The streetlights had just flickered on, and an evening breeze drifted through the alleyways, carrying the faint, savory scent of dinner.
He looked down at the bag in his hand, his pace faltering for a heartbeat. It had only just occurred to him that when he bought these things, he hadn't actually considered whether Tsunade would be there tonight.
Kaede stood still for a few seconds.
'Whatever,' he thought. 'If she's not here, I'll just leave them. They'll need them sooner or later anyway.'
He looked away and continued on his way.
He soon arrived at Minato's ho and knocked on the door.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
Footsteps echoed from inside. When the door opened, Kushina peeked out, her red hair cascading over her shoulders. A smile began to form on her face, but it vanished an instant later, replaced by a stern expression.
"Kitahara Kaede."
Kaede looked at her. "Sister Kushina."
Kushina pulled the door wide and put her hands on her hips. "Oh, so you actually rember how to visit?"
Kaede paused. "I've been... busy with a few things lately."
"Save it," Kushina said, narrowing her eyes as she stared him down. "What could possibly keep you away for this long? You just didn't want to co, did you?"
Kaede rubbed his nose. "It's the truth. I'm not lying."
Kushina studied him for a few seconds, as if trying to detect a lie. Kaede's expression remained perfectly steady; he was becoming frighteningly good at lying with a straight face.
Kushina huffed and stepped aside. "Get in here."
As Kaede entered the house, Kushina noticed the bag in his hand. She raised an eyebrow. "Bringing things again? Didn't I tell you that you don't need to bring anything when you co over for dinner?"
Kaede lifted the bag. "It's not a gift."
"Then what is it?"
"Seasonings."
Kushina blinked, stunned.
Kaede spoke naturally. "Last ti, Lady Tsunade ntioned she would be the one cooking next ti and asked to bring so seasonings." He paused and then asked, "Is Lady Tsunade here today?"
Kushina's expression suddenly turned strange. She looked at Kaede, then at the bag, and a slow smile curled the corners of her lips.
"Oh..."
Kaede didn't understand what that "oh" ant. He glanced at her, and Kushina's smile only grew more pronounced.
"I was wondering why she dove straight into the kitchen the mont she arrived, insisting on cooking herself. So, she was waiting for this."
Kaede handed the bag over. "Maybe Lady Tsunade just had a sudden whim."
"A sudden whim?" Kushina crossed her arms. "Perhaps... that's possible."
Kaede didn't respond to the tease. Kushina didn't press further and took the bag from him. "Co in and sit. Lady Tsunade arrived not long ago."
Kaede took off his shoes and walked into the living room. Tea was already set on the table, and from the kitchen ca the sound of a spatula clinking against a pan.
Minato wasn't there.
Kaede sat on the sofa and looked up. "Lord Minato isn't back yet?"
"There's a eting at the Hokage building," Kushina replied, carrying the seasonings toward the kitchen. "He'll probably be a while."
Kaede nodded and sat back to wait.
In the kitchen, Tsunade was staring at the soup in the pot, her brow furrowed.
Kushina set the bag down beside her. "What's wrong? Not finished yet?"
Tsunade didn't look back. "The flavor is slightly off."
"Missing sothing?"
"Soy sauce."
"Ddidn't I give you so?"
"It's not the right taste."
Kushina rolled her eyes. "You're really this picky about cooking?"
Just as Tsunade was about to respond, Kushina pushed the bag toward her. "Here, Kaede brought so."
Tsunade's movents froze. She opened the bag and imdiately spotted the bottle of soy sauce. It was an old-fashioned bottle from that little shop on the corner of South Street.
It was her favorite brand.
As Tsunade's fingers touched the bottle, she fell silent.
A mory flashed through her mind. Once, she had complained that the soy sauce at ho didn't taste right, ntioning in passing that the old shop on South Street was better. The next day, Hagoromo Kaede had placed a bottle of that exact soy sauce in the most convenient spot in the kitchen.
She had asked him at the ti, "Why did you buy this?"
He had simply replied, "Because you like it, don't you?"
Tsunade gripped the bottle, her knuckles whitening.
Kushina leaned in. "What is it?"
Tsunade snapped back to reality and looked down at the soy sauce. "It's nothing."
"Doesn't look like nothing," Kushina countered.
Tsunade ignored her. She carried the soy sauce to the kitchen doorway and looked out into the living room.
Kitahara Kaede was sitting on the sofa with his back to her. His shoulders were lean, his posture quiet. For a split second, the silhouette before her eyes shifted into another.
On a battlefield, Hagoromo Kaede had stood before her, kunai in hand, his voice as calm as ever.
"Stay behind ."
Sothing tightened in Tsunade's throat.
Kushina peeked over her shoulder and looked at her. "What are you thinking about?"
Tsunade retracted her gaze. "The seasonings he brought... they happen to be exactly what I wanted."
Kushina smiled. "What a coincidence."
Tsunade placed the soy sauce by the stove, her voice dropping to a whisper. "Quite a coincidence."
In the living room, Kaede sensed a gaze on his back and turned to look. The kitchen doorway was empty.
He frowned. 'Was I imagining?'
Kaede looked back at the tea cup on the table. Once Minato returned, he needed to find an opportunity to bring up the matter regarding Mount Kikyo.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door.
Kushina called out from the kitchen, "Kaede, help Lady Tsunade bring out the dishes. I'll go open the door."
Kaede stood up. "Alright."
He stepped into the kitchen, greeted by a wave of heat. Tsunade stood at the stove, her sleeves pushed up slightly, her golden hair tied back in a high ponytail instead of flowing over her shoulders.
Kaede paused.
In the simulations, he had seen this profile many tis. She would complain that he chopped vegetables too slowly; he would complain that she was too heavy-handed. Nawaki would be beside them stealing food, only to be smacked on the head by her while still chewing on a piece of fried fish.
A dull, aching pain—like a withdrawal symptom—surfaced again.
Kaede suppressed the emotion. "Lady Tsunade, is there anything I can help with?"
Tsunade didn't turn around. "Those few dishes are done. You can take them out."
"Okay."
As Kaede reached for a plate, Tsunade suddenly spoke. "Wait."
Kaede stopped. Tsunade leaned down and pulled a cloth from the cabinet.
"The plates are hot. Use this," she said naturally.
But as she leaned over, a silver chain slid from her collar. A piece of blue fluorite rested against her bodice, shimring slightly.
Kaede froze where he stood.
That necklace.
How could it be...?!
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