...
Around ten at night, Mokgetsu, who was developing and perfecting the Yang Seal, heard the door of the house next door suddenly open.
Curious, Mokgetsu opened his Byakugan to look next door.
His neighbor was Namikaze Minato's house, which had not been occupied for some time.
As the walls in his vision gradually faded, a familiar figure came into Mokgetsu's view.
"Did he come back early?" Mokgetsu closed his Byakugan and looked back at the manuscript on the table.
Although Minato had mentioned in his previous letters that it might be a few months before he could return, with Orochimaru volunteering to fight, the war in the Land of Hot Water did not require Minato as much, so his rest time could naturally come sooner.
A minute later, Mokgetsu's door was knocked on.
Mokgetsu quickly tidied up the manuscript and went downstairs to open the door.
"Mokgetsu, long time no see." Minato greeted with a sincere smile.
Orochimaru's support was very timely. Generally speaking, after completing a big battle, some time for rest is needed, but Orochimaru's quick support allowed Namikaze Minato, who had been fighting on the front line for a long time, to immediately take a break.
When the higher-ups asked if Namikaze Minato needed time to rest and adjust, without hesitation, he directly requested a break.
Since there were no imminent battles in the Land of Hot Water, staying with Orochimaru wasn't very meaningful, and it was even a bit of a waste of combat power.
"Minato, long time no see." Mokgetsu warmly invited Namikaze Minato inside.
"Sorry to bother you so late, Mokgetsu, shall we talk tomorrow?" Namikaze Minato hesitated for a moment before saying.
Actually, Namikaze Minato had rushed back at full speed, hoping to arrive in time to catch Mokgetsu's dinner.
After all, coming from another country and considering the timing, despite his efforts to rush, it was still quite late when Namikaze Minato arrived.
Now it was almost bedtime, and Namikaze Minato didn't want to inconvenience Mokgetsu too much.
Mokgetsu had also come off the battlefield not long ago, and the East Coast Battlefield was much more intense than the war in the Land of Hot Water. Ever since the Eight-tailed Jinchuriki had an incident, the Land of Hot Water battlefield became much more peaceful.
"No, you came at the right time. I was just about to make a late-night snack. We can eat and chat." Mokgetsu said with a smile, uttering words Namikaze Minato couldn't refuse.
Namikaze Minato was conflicted because he felt Mokgetsu might be saying that for his sake, but he also really wanted to eat Mokgetsu's late-night snack.
"Let me help you make it." In the end, Namikaze Minato chose to lend a hand to alleviate his guilt.
Mokgetsu nodded in agreement and then casually asked, "Ramen okay, or do you want something else?"
Namikaze Minato quickly nodded, remembering the ramen Mokgetsu made in Loulan. It was more than fine.
Next, Mokgetsu made the noodles while Minato chopped some ingredients, both busy in the kitchen together.
As they prepared the snack, they talked about the experiences they'd each had since they'd last met.
"Everyone is quite troubled by the current state of the Ninja World; even Jiraiya-sensei says he doesn't have time to write novels," Namikaze Minato shared Jiraiya's battlefield gripes with Mokgetsu.
"Well, Obito has complaints similar to Jiraiya-sama's, but for him, it's about not having time to read ninja novels," Mokgetsu said with a smile.
During the time at the East Coast Battlefield, Obito was busy with tasks and cultivation all day. He barely had time for entertainment before collapsing into bed.
"That sounds like something Obito would say, but I bet Kakashi scolded him," Namikaze Minato smiled, recalling something.
"Which is just as well; it saves the team from getting into danger one day because you get engrossed in a novel," Mokgetsu nodded, repeating what Kakashi had said.
The smile on Namikaze Minato's face grew broader as the images played out in his mind.
Obito would complain with a ninja novel in hand, while Kakashi would, with a calm expression, reprimand him as Nohara Rin watched them, covering her mouth and chuckling.
"When it comes to being a teacher, there's much I need to learn from you, Mokgetsu," Namikaze Minato sighed as he thought of the students he hadn't seen in a long time.
Namikaze Minato truly felt that Mokgetsu was much better than him in teaching.
Not only in teaching ninjutsu, but in various other ways, Mokgetsu was superior.
If, in the future, Obito and the others became renowned strong ninjas, and people came to commend Namikaze Minato for teaching them, he would truly feel ashamed.
Because Obito and their strength had little to do with him, it was mainly Mokgetsu's work. Minato had just passed on some taijutsu and mission experience.
"No one is born knowing how to be a teacher, and Minato, you are already doing well. Obito and the others are very satisfied with you," Mokgetsu said as he finished up the ramen.
He wasn't just comforting Minato; given that the students thought well of Minato even after having Mokgetsu as their teacher was rare.
One must know that after being taught by Mokgetsu, Obito basically complained about this Chunin teacher today and that Chunin teacher tomorrow, with no teacher as satisfactory as Mokgetsu.
"Since I've been recognized by you, Mokgetsu, I really can't say I'm lacking," Namikaze Minato joked for once.
As the ramen was completed step by step, Namikaze Minato became increasingly excited; he had rushed back to Konoha just to taste it sooner.
Once the ramen was ready, Mokgetsu handed a steaming bowl to Namikaze Minato.
Smelling the enticing aroma, Namikaze Minato almost grabbed a pair of chopsticks to dig in right there in the kitchen.
Half a year, it had been, and only heaven knew how he endured that time.
But Minato had strong self-control, and he restrained his urge, carrying the bowl to the table to sit down, waiting for Mokgetsu to join before starting to eat.
At that moment, Minato could no longer hold back. Without even saying 'I'm digging in,' he picked up a pair of chopsticks and took a mouthful of noodles.
As the familiar and astonishing flavor surged back, Minato felt a sudden sense of joy and happiness welled up.
He didn't stop, taking a piece of char siu, another mouthful of noodles, and then some soup.
It was worth it; Minato felt it was worth it, even if he had to travel more within the Land of Fire.
Immersed in the late-night snack, Minato only realized he had been silent throughout the meal afterward, quickly expressing his gratitude to Mokgetsu.
"No problem, it was nothing," Mokgetsu smiled and shook his head.
With his chef skills, it wasn't bothersome, and besides, Minato and Kushina had helped him quite a bit since he transmigrated.
"Mokgetsu, how's your progress with the Flying Thunder God Jutsu? Do you need me to explain it further?" Minato felt he owed Mokgetsu some help.
Flying Thunder God was Minato's specialty, and since Mokgetsu was also cultivating it, Minato thought he could help Mokgetsu improve his technique.
"The progress is going smoothly, but an explanation isn't necessary," Mokgetsu declined the kind offer.
Mokgetsu was aware of his own space-time aptitude, which only came as a bonus when he received system rewards, with his mastery of the Flying Thunder God pushed up primarily with the Mastery Scroll.
Minato's explanation would only waste their time as Mokgetsu couldn't learn anything in that manner.
"If you have time, Minato, I'd like to have a sparring match tomorrow to feel the difference between our Flying Thunder God techniques," Mokgetsu proposed.
Mokgetsu wanted to test himself against a ninja like Minato, even though his Flying Thunder God proficiency was far behind Minato's, but he had other abilities.
"Either tonight for a sparring match or in a few days, as I might be busy," Minato thought and answered.
Having just come off the battlefield, there would be a lot to handle soon, especially after having been a field commander for some time.
"No hurry, just let me know when you're free," Mokgetsu said as he got up to clear the dishes.
Considering Minato's fatigue from the journey and the late hour, Mokgetsu thought tonight wasn't a good time for sparring.