Finishing his bowl of ramen after taking one last sip of the savory leftover broth, Hidetada set it firmly on top of the first bowl. Licking his lips, he reached for the bottle of water to quench his lingering thirst. Taking several long gulps, he set the container aside and let out a deep, satisfied sigh.
Life was truly great.
Tilting his head curiously towards Kushina, he found her leaning back precariously on her stool, patting her stomach with an expression of pure, unadulterated contentment. The moment he raised a skeptical eyebrow at her, she quickly scrambled to sit up straight, affecting the poise of an elegant lady.
"How did you even manage to eat twelve bowls of ramen?" Hidetada asked, staring at the sheer number of ceramic bowls stacked high on the counter. By the sixth bowl, the tower had become too high to be stable, forcing her to start a second column.
Kushina opened her mouth to defend herself but let out a very unladylike burp instead. She immediately covered her mouth with a cough, her purple eyes flickering toward him with a flash of embarrassment. "Twelve bowls is not even that many!" she insisted, her hands waving vivaciously to emphasize her point. "It is you who is the problem! How could you only eat two bowls of this stuff? That is a total disrespect toward the chef!" She finished her lecture with a satisfied nod, convinced of her own logic.
"That is not how it works," Hidetada spoke in a flat, deadpan tone as he rose from his seat, reaching into his back pocket to retrieve his wallet. Seeing him stand, the red-haired girl followed suit, sticking her tongue out at him tauntingly. "That is exactly how it works."
He hummed to himself, weighing whether he should actually bring himself down to her level or not. 'Eh, it's fun to argue with kids,' he decided.
"No, it doesn't."
Hidetada opened his wallet as he spoke, thumbing through the thick stack of bills. "Yes, it does!" Kushina countered.
It seemed she was exceptionally apt when it came to the art of arguing over trivial matters.
Pulling out two ten-thousand ryo notes, Hidetada slid them across the smooth wooden counter toward Teuchi. The young chef looked at the money and hurriedly waved his hands in front of himself. "This is too much, Hidetada-kun! I cannot accept this!"
The Senju heir snorted at the protest before offering the man a genuine smile. "Keep it, Teuchi. I haven't eaten any ramen like yours in the entire village. You've earned it."
Before the chef could mount a counter-argument, Hidetada had already stepped through the heavy drapes of the stall, pocketing his wallet as he emerged into the cool night air. Kushina followed closely behind, huffing as she caught up. Side-eyeing her, Hidetada spoke in a mirthful tone. "So, what do you think, Kushina? Do you still think the ramen from your village is much better?"
He began walking toward the compound as she fell into a comfortable step beside him. The Uzumaki girl sniffed haughtily. "Yes, the ramen in Uzushiogakure is much better," though she couldn't help but lick her lips at the memory of the meal and continued begrudgingly, "But this stall... it was not that bad."
Kushina considered offering a few more compliments before deciding against it. She couldn't very well betray her village's honor in just one day.
"Nuh-uh. Our ramen is objectively better," Hidetada mocked with a smirk as they continued through the quiet, empty streets of Konoha. The village was peaceful at this hour, the houses silhouetted against the indigo sky. Kushina shook her head animatedly before replying in a condescending tone. "We are all entitled to our opinions. Even if it's wrong."
He smirked suspiciously, before raising his hand and placing it atop her vibrant red hair, ruffling it without mercy. "Hmm, I didn't expect you to be so articulate, you squirrel."
Kushina slapped his hand away, a deep red flush creeping onto her cheeks. She looked at him heatedly. "A squirrel! Absolutely not! I am more like a fierce tiger. Definitely not a squirrel!"
The fact that she puffed out her cheeks like a blowfish immediately after saying that did not help her case in the slightest.
"I don't think so. You're definitely a squirrel," Hidetada jeered with a wide grin. "I have seen how you eat, puffing your cheeks with ramen until they're ready to explode." He paused, glancing down at her mortified expression. "Also, you barely reach my chest. So you're definitely a tiny squirrel."
Kushina growled, her teeth gritting together in frustration. "I am not short!" she shouted. The Senju raised an eyebrow, replying casually, "I never said you were."
A brief silence followed as she scratched her cheek in embarrassment. Taking in her fiery appearance again, Hidetada added with a snort, "Maybe I was wrong. You're not a squirrel, but a red panda instead."
The girl bristled aggressively at the comparison before opening her mouth to fire back. "Well, if I am a red panda, then you are a..." Kushina paused, searching her mind for the most insulting thing she could think of. "You are an overgrown ape! Yes! That is what you are! An overgrown ape that speaks too much!"
Hidetada couldn't help but chuckle at the visual. "Is that the best you could come up with? An overgrown ape? Clearly, I was not wrong when I said your brain was just filled with thoughts of ramen."
Grinding her teeth at the insult, Kushina finally deflated. There was no way she was going to win a war of words against him. With an annoyed sigh, she blew away a stray strand of hair that had fallen across her eyes. But despite the bickering, a small smile touched her lips. Today had actually been fun.
When Kushina had first learned she was being shipped to the Village Hidden in the Leaves, she had fought against it with everything she had, loathing the idea of abandoning her home. But in the end, duty to the village was paramount. When she first met Hidetada, her mind had been clouded with suspicion. Yet, after seeing how he treated her, the boy had begrudgingly earned a measure of her respect and trust.
Was he her first real friend in the village?
Kushina glanced at him nervously before speaking in a small voice. "Uhm, Hidetada-san... are we friends?" She turned her face away quickly, terrified of his reaction. What if he just burst out laughing at her for even suggesting it?
"Hmm," Hidetada mused, suddenly slinging a heavy arm around her shoulders and pulling her close, causing her to stumble for a second. "I don't see why not." His other hand darted up to ruffle her silky hair again. Kushina tensed, her hand rising to slap him away as usual, but she paused and decided against it, instead leaning further into his solid, warm figure.
The Senju heir raised his eyebrow at her but chose not to comment on her sudden change in disposition, his eyes gaining a glint. He patted her head as she nuzzled into the touch, eventually letting his hand fall back to his side while keeping his arm wrapped firmly around her shoulder.
A cold wind blew through the street, brushing against his face as they continued their walk. For a moment, the heavy thoughts of the coming war and the reality of people dying left his mind, allowing him to enjoy the simple peace of the moment.
After a few more minutes, they finally reached the high wooden gates of the Senju compound. Pushing them open, Hidetada stepped inside. He was greeted by the same hollow silence that had started to permeate the compound over the last year. Looking down at Kushina, he realized the day's excitement and the heavy meal had finally caught up to her; she had fallen fast asleep against his side.
With an amused sigh, he lifted her up into his arms, carrying her bridal-style. He began heading toward one of the many guest rooms available in the sprawling compound. Hidetada didn't know if she had arrived with any luggage or not, so it was best to leave her in a comfortable room until morning.
Despite how much she had eaten, Kushina still felt remarkably light in his hands.
'Maybe she really does have a black hole in her stomach,' he wondered. 'How can someone eat that much and not weigh a ton?' It was utterly ridiculous. Or perhaps he had simply become so strong that he could no longer accurately gauge weight.
Reaching his destination, Hidetada nudged the bedroom door open with his foot. He stepped inside, scanning the room to ensure it was clean and ready for a guest. Satisfied with the state of the room, he gently placed the girl down on the bed. Kushina shifted slightly as he let go, her expression twisting momentarily as if she missed the warmth of his hold. Shaking his head, Hidetada ignored the thought and pulled the thick silk sheets up over her.
He stepped back outside and pulled the door shut with a gentle click.
Feeling the cumulative weight of the day's training settling into his bones, Hidetada decided he needed a bath. With a weary sigh, he turned toward the washroom. 'Who decided to make this compound so damn big?' he grumbled internally.
Ignoring the impatience bubbling in his chest, he walked quickly through the empty, winding hallways. His bare feet made no sound as they padded against the polished wooden floor, despite the speed of his pace.
Soon, he stepped into the washroom and tossed his dirt-stained, sweaty clothes into a basket, making sure his wallet was tucked away safely from any moisture. Rotating the heavy handle of the shower valve, Hidetada stood still as the freezing cold water began to pelt down on him.
Within minutes, he had rinsed his long brown hair with shampoo and scrubbed himself clean until not a speck of training ground dust remained. Turning off the water, he dried himself and stepped into the clean, white robes that had been set out.
Stepping back into the hallway, the cool night air kissed his damp skin, making him shiver slightly. Extending his sensory reach, he pinpointed Mito's chakra signature and used a body flicker to reach her location instantly.
...
Mito Uzumaki was standing in the moonlight by the koi pond, a small box of fish food in her hands. She scattered a few pellets to the colorful fish before setting the box aside on a stone bench.
Her calm, regal expression shattered into one of stunned surprise as Hidetada materialized directly behind her. His arm wound around her waist while his other hand came to rest on her delicate shoulder. He leaned down, resting his chin near the curve of her neck, his breath ghosting over her skin.
With a sudden, shuddering breath, Mito felt her knees go weak. She leaned back, nuzzling her face against his. Her body seemed to lose its strength entirely, pressing against him for support.
"It makes me sad seeing you all alone like this, grandmother," Hidetada mused softly, his eyes fixed on the koi circling in the dark water below.
Mito tried to maintain her legendary composure, her voice coming out cool but slightly strained, "I have been alone for most of my life, child." She suppressed a violent shudder as his breath tickled the sensitive skin of her throat. "A-a few more moments won't make me any lonelier."
Hidetada hummed deep in his throat, the low vibration traveling through her entire frame. By now, her legs had almost entirely given up on her; she was resting her full weight against him, her body molding to his in a way that was indecent for a woman of her standing. For a fleeting second, Mito wondered when she had become so lenient with him.
In the beginning, she had simply felt pity for him, the heavy burden he bore from birth was a weight no child should carry. She had poured her heart into his upbringing.
Hidetada had always been precocious and terrifyingly calm as a child. He never cried; he never caused trouble. This had only deepened her fascination with him. She had eventually resigned as a village elder just to focus on raising him. As he grew, he always knew exactly what to say to dismantle the emotional borders she kept between herself and the rest of the world. Eventually, Hidetada had become her entire world. She often wondered if it was because she had received so little attention from Hashirama during their cold marriage.
Mito had grown spiteful toward her late husband and had been determined to mold her grandson into a better man. In dedicating all her hours to him, she realized the fear of him leaving or ignoring her had slowly consumed her. She never denied him anything; she never said no. Even now, she didn't have the heart to tell him to pull away, nor did she want him to.
To put it simply, Mito Uzumaki had become addicted to the presence of Hidetada Senju.
Hidetada's hand slid slowly up and down her midsection, the heat of his palm seeping through the thin fabric of her robes and sending a jolt through her nerves. Squeezing her eyes shut, Mito let out a trembling breath as his voice filled her ear. "I wanted to ask you why Kushina was here, however..." He looked up at the vast expanse of the sky, pausing to watch the twinkling stars. "It is already late enough."
He leaned in, his lips brushing against the pulse point on her pale neck. Mito's breath hitched sharply, her legs giving out completely. She was standing now by Hidetada's strength alone. Pulling his lips away, much to her secret disappointment, he whispered against her ear, "So, good night, grandmother."
...
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Word Count: 2336.