Chapter 27: "Why Do We Fight?" (Part Two)
Late December. Konoha was buried in snow again.
The new year was coming, the commercial district was livelier than ever, and the Uchiha Military Police found their workload going up whether they liked it or not.
Kushina had been given a rare day out from the barrier. She bounced along beside Namikaze Minato, wanting to go into every shop on the street.
"Apparently Mikoto is planning to have children in two years. Looks like she's done with the ninja life."
In the kimono shop, Kushina kept her voice low as she shared what she'd heard.
Namikaze Minato had a strong feeling that in this particular setting, the girl beside him was hinting at something. He scratched the back of his head and answered without quite thinking.
"That means they're really happy."
"I actually love being a ninja. It'd be nice if we could go on missions together..."
Kushina glanced at him sideways and muttered quietly, longing for a freer life. Minato knew there wasn't much he could do about her situation. He settled for something gentle.
"That day will come. Oh, I think this red one would really suit you."
"You think so?..."
Kushina understood what it meant to exchange kimono with someone. She let herself look shy about it. The new year was coming, and she wanted things between them to move forward.
"Honestly, it's a rare day off. Why did you have to come here?"
"Kakashi, you keep sending your seniors back to repeat at the Academy. Half the school is complaining about you."
Obito's loud, careless voice cut straight through the mood the two had been building. Kushina clenched her fist in irritation. Then a girl's gentle voice followed immediately.
"Obito, I told you to keep it down."
"I'm so sorry. He just doesn't pay attention to his surroundings."
Nohara Rin came over and bowed slightly. Her considerate manner brought the smile back to Kushina's face, and she forgot about Minato entirely, stepping toward Rin with delight.
"What a lovely girl."
Most of the couples in the shop smiled along. Everyone liked a polite and thoughtful girl.
Kakashi, dressed in a blue long-sleeved training outfit, wasn't paying attention to the room. He looked at Namikaze Minato with a more serious expression.
"Kakashi, right? We barely had time to talk last time. The Hokage has been praising your talent lately."
"I hope I haven't caused the village any trouble."
Kakashi gave a small bow at Minato's words. Minato responded with a warm smile and looked about to continue, but Kushina reappeared at his side.
"See you next time."
Minato gave a simple wave as he was pulled away. Outside the shop, Kushina asked quietly.
"That was Kakashi? The kid who turned down joining your team a while back?"
Minato laughed, no bitterness in it at all, and spoke well of him.
"Don't think of him as a kid. Kakashi is already a chunin."
"Young as he is, he leads a team independently."
"The Hokage has been troubled by the team-leading issue, but I think he's handling it well. Sending people back to the Academy isn't a bad thing."
"You know my techniques aren't really suited for small squad combat. Don't hold a bias against Kakashi."
In Kushina's mind, Minato was a genius ninja who could do anything and was loved by everyone. When she heard he had been turned down not long ago, she had been furious.
"Honestly. What a pretentious little brat."
She said it, then realized she had taken Minato's hand. Every other thought left her head.
Both of them went slightly red. Fingers laced together. The kimono hadn't been exchanged yet, but this wasn't a bad result either.
* * *
Back inside the shop, Uchiha Obito watched Nohara Rin helping Kakashi look at clothes and felt the familiar sourness rise in his chest. He forced the subject elsewhere.
"Who were those two just now, the 'tomato and egg' pair? Are they somebody important?"
"A genius jonin who has mastered his ultimate technique. Hard for the Uchiha's dead last to understand that kind of talent."
Kakashi answered without expression. Obito erupted. All three of them were eventually escorted to the door by the shopkeeper, with Rin apologizing the whole way out.
"I was going to pick something out for you too."
"Obito, Kakashi actually has time today for once. Stop arguing with him."
Rin said it gently, the second half slipping past as though she hadn't quite meant to include it. Obito rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed, and stumbled through a response.
"Rin was going to pick a kimono for me? Actually, I..."
"Idiot."
"Kakashi, it's your fault Rin didn't get to pick anything."
Obito went back to attacking Kakashi, who hadn't changed expression once. Nohara Rin laughed, genuinely happy. She really didn't want a war. She just wanted to keep living like this, together.
* * *
The last day of December. Konoha Hospital had a brief holiday.
The genin of the medical corps bowed to Furukawa Osamu one by one, offered their respects, and waved goodbye.
Mystical Palm, Chakra Scalpel, Affliction Extraction Technique, Healing Jutsu. Furukawa Osamu had mastered all of them completely. Experience was still building, but if he kept growing at this rate, he would most likely become the kind of medical ninja Tsunade was.
The medical corps was the kind of place that attracted ninja who were content with a quiet life. Good pay, safe work. Nobody here was eager for war. The ongoing border skirmishes were already something most of them found unpleasant. They didn't have much of a voice in village politics, but every one of them quietly hoped Tsunade would become Hokage. They believed that was what the village's future should look like.
"Is Tsunade-sensei still worried about all of that?"
"This is just the medical corps ninja's way of showing they care about her."
In the office, Furukawa Osamu brought over a cup of hot tea and said it lightly to Tsunade, who was sitting with her brows pressed together. She gave him an unimpressed look, took the cup, and sighed.
"I know what everyone means by it. But I'm not right for that position."
"The old man isn't old enough to retire yet. Arguing about all this now is completely unnecessary."
"On top of that, there's a war threat looming. This is the time to be united."
Fighting over who would be Hokage while hawks pushed for war to boost revenue. Furukawa Osamu didn't know what things looked like in other villages, but he doubted it was any better.
"Tsunade-sensei is still worried about the war? You haven't even started working on the Strength of a Hundred Seal."
"At this rate, I might complete the seal before you do. If a war does come, I'll protect you."
Tsunade reached over and flicked his forehead. Then she narrowed her eyes and leaned her chin on her hand.
"Don't think mastering sage arts means you'll surpass me."
"No wonder Shizune calls out your name in her sleep..."
* * *
January 1st, Konoha Year 46. The first day of the new year. Furukawa Osamu had gotten up early and was deep in sage chakra refinement.
Katsuyu worked carefully on his shoulder, sensing along with him. When Furukawa Osamu opened his eyes, she spoke with obvious delight.
"Lord Osamu, the progress is going very well."
"I'm certain the natural energy is already remodeling your cells. It reminds me of Lady Tsunade's grandfather, Hashirama Senju."
"In time, Lord Osamu will be able to apply sage chakra at the cellular level."
Furukawa Osamu nodded. Gathering reshaping the body felt like acquiring a spiritual root of his own.
"Katsuyu, war is my opportunity. I want to test your chakra theory in the field."