Uzumaki Minami entered Kushina's house and found that she had a lover at home, named Namikaze Minato, who was cooking in the kitchen.
Kushina had a lot to talk about with Minami, so she took Minami to her room. After Namikaze Minato served some tea and snacks and mentioned the lunchtime, he went downstairs to attend to other things.
"Kushina, your life is really good now...."
Uzumaki Minami said with a bit of envy, feeling that such a life was almost perfect.
"It's not good at all. I'm completely living under surveillance now. They've drawn a circle for me, and I can only live within it. I haven't been out for so long...."
Kushina gestured with her hands, indicating that the barrier she lived within was very small.
"This kind of life is too stifling. When I was young, I was almost kidnapped by the Hidden Cloud Village, fortunately, Minato rescued me. After that, I... I couldn't go out anymore. Now, life is really difficult, Minami. Even just to see you, I have to send a message through someone."
"...Well, it's still not bad."
Uzumaki Minami awkwardly smiled. She had noticed on the way up that the house was two stories and quite spacious, with complete interior furnishings...
Compared to her small single room in the Grass Village, it was much better.
Moreover, conditions for her were very tough in the Grass Village, basically living in a state of confinement. If it weren't for her perception ability, she wouldn't have been able to leave the Grass Village.
Perhaps she wouldn't be able to take on any missions or meet Lord Yoichi, and would have ended up being stuck in the Grass Village forever.
Kushina quickly shook her head and asked, "It's really not good, Minami, can you now take on missions outside the village?"
"I think so, it's just that my strength is too low, and I haven't learned medical ninjutsu well yet. Lord Yoichi told me to study well first, and then he will take me on missions later since I am already a member of Yoichi's team."
Uzumaki Minami said with certainty at the end.
"That's great. Up to now, I can't even leave the village, let alone visit you at Konoha Hospital."
Kushina said enviously and then took Minami's hand and continued, "Minami, come visit more often, I'm so bored alone. By the way, do you remember the sealing technique the Great Elder taught us when we were kids, back then....."
Talking about childhood made Kushina very happy; she hadn't seen her family in a long time. After coming to Konoha, only Uzumaki Mito gave her peace of mind.
Later on, Uzumaki Mito died due to transferring the Jinchuriki, Tsunade was always on missions, and Minato was often out on missions, leaving even fewer people to accompany her.
Now, meeting a childhood companion from her clan, Kushina couldn't wait to share everything she had been holding in for years.
"By the way, Minami, the house you are staying at now, is with Uchiha Yoichi, right? He seems a bit strange...."
Kushina suddenly remembered yesterday's matter and started telling Uzumaki Minami about it.
"Yesterday, I originally asked him to pass on my address to you, and at first, Uchiha Yoichi thought it was troublesome and refused. Later, he suddenly said he would only do it if I shook his hand....."
"Shake hands?"
Alarm bells went off in Uzumaki Minami's mind, and she nonchalantly turned her head a bit to look—orange dress, bare feet.
It was still safe; it should not be Lord Yoichi's type.
"There must be something special about you, Kushina; Lord Yoichi isn't that kind of person...."
Uzumaki Minami confidently assured Kushina.
Hearing this, Kushina nodded her head, stretched out her hand, gesturing to keep explaining, "That's what I thought too. Shortly after shaking hands, his body temperature suddenly got very high, and then he quickly withdrew his hand. Minami, do you think there might be something wrong with Uchiha Yoichi's body?"
Body temperature too high?
Uzumaki Minami quickly recalled the time when that monster was sealed inside Uchiha Yoichi's body. Similar situations had occurred several times back then, but Lord Yoichi said it's not a big problem.
"No issue, I know about this; this is Lord Yoichi's special ability...."
"Is that so? As long as you think it's fine, Minami."
Kushina had more to say, but suddenly there was a knock on the door. Namikaze Minato said from outside, "Kushina, lunch is ready. Let's eat first."
"Coming."
Saying this, Kushina turned to Uzumaki Minami and said, "Minami, let's eat first. Minato loves experimenting with cooking."
The two then went downstairs. A sumptuous meal was already laid out on the table, looking very delicious.
Kushina was very happy today. The depression from being trapped in a barrier had disappeared with the arrival of her childhood clanmate.
The annihilation of the Uzumaki Race had been an uncomfortable memory from Kushina's childhood, but seeing a clanmate today lightened this discomfort somewhat.
"Ms. Minami, I heard you've been studying at Konoha Hospital recently; are you planning to become a Medical Ninja?"
During the meal, Namikaze Minato smiled warmly and asked.
Uzumaki Minami paused with her spoon upon hearing this, then said, "Not yet, I've only studied for a few months, and there's still much I haven't learned."
"If Ms. Minami plans to, I could ask Lord Hokage, and maybe you could directly become a Jonin of the medical team...."
Namikaze Minato said kindly with a smile, but before he could finish, Uzumaki Minami interrupted, "No need, I'll follow Lord Yoichi's arrangement after learning medical ninjutsu."
Kushina chimed in, "Then he will likely want you to become a Medical Ninja, otherwise, why learn medical ninjutsu?"
"If Lord Yoichi wants me to, I will; if he doesn't want me to become a Medical Ninja, then I'll only treat him!"
Uzumaki Minami spoke with firm resolve, leaving Namikaze Minato with nothing more to say.
'This is tough to persuade; it seems the task given by Lord Hokage will fail....'
Namikaze Minato thought to himself, deciding to no longer push the topic of becoming a Medical Ninja. Yesterday afternoon, the Third Generation Hokage had unexpectedly called him into the office, asking him to persuade this clansman of Kushina today.
But the other party's attitude was too resolute, something he, a stranger they just met, simply couldn't change.
After finishing the meal, Uzumaki Minami excused herself, saying she still had to study in the afternoon. Although Kushina had much more to say, Uzumaki Minami's attitude was firm, and she left Kushina's house after speaking.
Shortly after she left, Kushina realized what had happened and angrily confronted Namikaze Minato, "Minato, what was that about? Why did you say such things to Minami? Her early departure was because of your two comments, wasn't it!"
Though she asked, Kushina was sure Uzumaki Minami left early because of what Minato said at the dinner table.
"Kushina, I was just asking; it was Lord Hokage who asked me to. Don't be upset."
Namikaze Minato quickly explained in an attempt to calm her down. "It seems your clansman has some peculiar qualities, especially having a notable talent for medical ninjutsu. Lord Hokage wanted her to become a Medical Ninja, so he asked me to bring it up...."