I haven't seen the blond boy since the exam, I wonder how much he's grown in strength since then under the mentorship of an S-rank fighter? As I recall, Namikaze was supposed to be the fourth Hokage and on par with his teacher in terms of strength, so the potential is there even with the cutoff to improve in fuin.
- I hope Namikaze is ready for that," I shrugged and bowed slightly to both shinobi, "I'm glad to have a word with you, but I'm going to rest.
I turned around and, maneuvering through the crowd of ninjas that filled the camp, went to my place.
Even with all the barriers and signatures from the surrounding shinobi, there were a few sources that stood out to my senses that I couldn't help but recognize - Kushina was glowing brightly with monstrous red chakra, outshining everyone around her, and compared to her, Kingin Kyodai looked like a pale shadow, despite her danger. The former Third Hokage also stood out, but not that much.
As I made my way leisurely through the streets of the camp, I noted that the younger Uzumaki was about where I was headed, and as I rounded the corner of the building where the jonins were housed, I immediately noticed a tuft of scarlet hair sticking up near the entrance to my assigned room.
Only it was a blond head sticking out, slightly above the crowd, that made me frown. As I got closer, I could see a pair of ninjas talking about something, standing sideways to me. Kushina had her arms folded across her chest and was staring past her interlocutor with a disgruntled look, while Namikaze was smiling dazzlingly, talking animatedly and attracting interested glances from the passing kunoichi.
A quick look at the guy showed that since the last time I'd seen him, the blond had matured and grown, not only acquiring the characteristic confidence of a rather experienced fighter who had faced danger more than once, but also by chakra volume he was very close to the bottom rung of the elite.
A few months of active fighting and Minato might well move up to the top ranks, increasing Konoha's number of eS-ranked fighters by one more.
- Ai, Kushina-chan, are you waiting for me? - I called out to the girl, walking up close to the couple, but still unnoticed.
- Ryo-kun, you're finally back..." Kushina smiled charmingly when she heard my voice, turning away from the guy who had lost his enthusiasm, but she stopped in mid-sentence, her eyes wide open. L-bald! Ha-ha-ha-ha!
The kunoichi exploded with bells of uncontrollable laughter, not taking her eyes off my glistening head in the setting sun.
- Yes, yes, I've decided to change my image," she said, not at all upset by the reaction, and responded with a new burst of amusement.
I suppose, considering how I'd laughed at my friend in a similar situation, that reaction was understandable.
- Wow, that was unexpected, but the gods are clearly on my side! - Kushina took a breath after a moment, smiling broadly and ignoring Minato's scowl as he glared at me, "Where did you lose your hair?
- On a mission, of course," I grinned back, and unsealed the stone door and opened it in front of the girl, "but we shouldn't discuss it in the street, but over tea it's a good time.
I've got more interesting stuff on patreon (+ 200 chapter)
patreon.com/Chill76