"From today on, you'll move in with me."
After leaving Uzumaki Mito's place, Tsunade's tone was serious.
"Although it's not wartime, assassinations of geniuses aren't uncommon. You should be aware of your own importance."
"I understand."
Minato nodded.
He didn't want to carelessly reveal his trump card, Elementalization, because of something like this.
"As for the rent and such, you can pay it off with your cooking~"
Seeing Minato agree, Tsunade smiled smugly, then seemed to feel her behavior was a bit much.
After a moment's thought, she added.
"Of course, I'll have Nawaki help you, and if you have any questions about your training, feel free to ask me!"
Minato smiled.
"Does Teacher have any dietary restrictions?"
Tsunade thought for a moment.
"Hmm... no restrictions, but I don't really like sweets, like dango or things like that."
"Then what does Teacher like to eat?"
Minato asked again.
"Hmm, tender chicken, like the saliva chicken you just made..."
Tsunade said, giving a hearty laugh.
"But with your level of cooking, I'll probably like whatever you make."
"Chicken..."
Minato thought to himself.
Most boys were carnivores, and as a common ingredient, he knew many chicken dishes.
And looking at Tsunade, although she couldn't handle much heat, she didn't seem to mind chili peppers.
After picking up some daily necessities, Minato followed her to Tsunade's house.
As they entered, a round-faced boy with brown spiky hair rushed out barefoot, his footsteps thumping on the floor.
"Big Sis, you're back!"
The boy looked two or three years older than Minato, appearing full of vitality.
"I'm back~"
Seeing the boy, a soft smile appeared on Tsunade's lips as she introduced them.
"This is my younger brother, Nawaki. Nawaki, this is my disciple, Minato Namikaze. You two get along well."
"Eh? Unbelievable, the Big Sis who can't even get out of bed actually has the leisure to take a disciple..."
Hearing Tsunade's words, Nawaki couldn't help but complain, then looked at Minato curiously.
"This kid... looks younger than me?"
And he's so handsome, he'll definitely be popular with the girls... Damn, how envious!
"Yeah, Minato is a freshman this year."
Tsunade changed into slippers and found a pair for Minato.
"And he's a super genius!"
"Eh? A genius..."
Nawaki didn't take it too seriously; after all, his sister was also a genius.
"Nice to meet you, please take care of me," Minato said with a gentle smile.
"Ah, right, nice to meet you too."
Nawaki nodded, trying to look mature.
"Since you're my Big Sis's disciple, that makes you my little brother! I'll look out for you at school!"
Minato gave a polite smile.
Tsunade couldn't help but roll her eyes.
Although Nawaki was two years older, based on Minato's current strength, he could easily rub his stupid little brother into the ground.
Tsunade's house was large, a traditional Japanese-style residence.
Minato's room was arranged next to Nawaki's, and it had great lighting.
After setting up the room and checking the sky outside, Minato went to sleep.
But perhaps because of the sudden change in environment, he couldn't sleep for a while, his thoughts racing.
Contact with Tsunade meant he had begun to involve himself with characters from the original plot.
This would inevitably include some people with ulterior motives, like the likes of Danzo Shimura.
Minato wasn't too worried; his sense of belonging to Konoha wasn't strong. If pushed too far, he could just leave.
With the power of the Glint-Glint Fruit, no one could stop him from leaving Konoha.
As for Wood Release ninjutsu, he could just come back with Susanoo in a few years to take it.
Of course, that was just a worst-case scenario.
Now he was Tsunade's disciple, cared for by Uzumaki Mito, and technically the Third Hokage's grand-disciple, belonging to the Hokage's direct line.
With this political background and the uniqueness of Wood Release, as long as he didn't jump up and slap Hiruzen Sarutobi in the face, no one would do anything to him even if he stepped out of line a bit.
However, given his personality, he wouldn't do anything to bully others using his influence.
With his mind wandering, Minato finally drifted into a drowsy sleep at some point.
Until the next morning, the biological clock he'd developed from recent training forced his eyes open.
Looking at the unfamiliar surroundings, it took a few seconds to remember he'd moved into Tsunade's house.
He got up and washed.
Passing by Nawaki and Tsunade's rooms, it was quiet; it seemed they were still sleeping.
After washing up, Minato went to the kitchen and looked around, finding that the kitchenware and seasonings were fairly complete.
Checking the cabinets one by one, the rice, flour, and oil were almost full.
Then he opened the fridge: two slices left in a toast bag, canned fruit, some sauces, eggs, green onions, tomatoes, wilted spinach...
"Hmm... looks like breakfast used to be just bread."
Minato scratched his head; he still preferred hot food.
He checked the freezer: mostly instant foods—chicken patties, chicken thigh cutlets, pork chops, hamburger meat...
After thinking, Minato took out a piece of hamburger meat to defrost in the microwave.
Then, pouring flour into a bowl, Minato condensed a mini Rasengan in his hand, stirring while adding water. He soon mixed the flour into the desired consistency.
After a flurry of activity, half an hour later, a rich aroma gradually wafted out.
In her room, Tsunade suddenly snapped her eyes open, her stomach growling like crazy.
She smelled the aroma of food; it was so uncanny it actually woke her from her dream!
After a few seconds, she remembered she'd just brought a cook—disciple—home yesterday, so she hurriedly dressed and rushed out of the room.
"What smells so good?!"
Just as Tsunade stepped out, Nawaki rushed out of his room while pulling on his shirt.
The two reached the living room just as Minato was coming out of the kitchen carrying a large bowl.
"Since you're awake, let's eat. I made some dough drop soup; there's plenty more in the pot..."
Before he could finish, the siblings turned into a gust of wind and rushed into the kitchen.
"Ow, Big Sis, don't push me!"
"Shut up! I'm serving you first!"
"Hehe, Big Sis is the best~"
"The rest is mine."
"..."
Soon, the siblings emerged from the kitchen carrying large bowls.
Without a word, they sat down next to Minato and eagerly scooped up the soup with spoons, blowing on the steam and taking small sips.
"Whew—"
"Ha—"
After a mouthful of soup, both siblings let out a sigh of satisfaction.
Minato couldn't help but smile at their reaction.
He always felt dough drop soup was magical, with a warm and healing feeling. Simply put: warm and cozy.
And the recipe was very versatile.
He'd made tomato and egg dough drop soup, adding some spinach and diced hamburger meat without clashing flavors.
The tomatoes easily stimulated the appetite, especially for someone who liked the taste and was eating it for the first time.
Slurp, slurp...
The siblings were like two pigs, finishing every last drop of the dough drop soup in their bowls.
"Ah, my stomach feels so warm, I'm so satisfied~"
After finishing the soup, Tsunade leaned one hand on the tatami and patted her slightly rounded belly with the other, licking her lips in retrospect.
What provocative words...
Minato's mouth twitched.
"I added some hamburger meat. Since the main ingredients are beef and onions, you might sweat a bit after eating. Besides, dough drop soup is naturally good for the stomach."
Nawaki reluctantly put down his bowl.
"So delicious. This is what a real breakfast should be..."
Tsunade's gaze sharpened.
"Oh?"
"Of course, I still love Big Sis's cooking the most!"
Nawaki flinched and waved his hands hurriedly.
"But I didn't expect Minato to be able to cook. Say, Sis, you didn't take him as a disciple just because of his cooking skills, did you?"
"What nonsense are you talking?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes.
"Didn't I tell you? This kid is a super genius. He might even be your biggest rival on the path to becoming Hokage!"
Nawaki looked skeptical.
"Liar, Minato just started school."
"Oh—?"
Tsunade sat up straight. She suddenly remembered that her brother didn't seem to have faced many setbacks.
Thinking of this, her gaze suddenly became playful.
"Then do you want to try? I happen to need to test Minato's strength anyway. Why don't I leave this task to you, a senior who's two grades ahead of him?"
"Oh! Then just watch!"
Nawaki was full of excitement.
"I definitely won't lose!"