Chapter 73 — Minato and Kushina
Obito was surprisingly obedient afterward.
While Taichi patiently answered Rin's questions about medical ninjutsu, Obito quietly focused on his own training.
The blow he received earlier had hit him too hard.
Not just the overwhelming gap in strength between them and Taichi—but the crushing frustration of watching Rin get knocked down while he himself was completely powerless.
Taichi's warning echoed in his mind.
If something like this really happened in the future… was he just supposed to stand there, useless and furious?
Just imagining it made Obito's blood boil.
Time always slipped away quickly when training seriously.
Before they realized it, noon was approaching. After saying goodbye to Obito and Rin, Taichi headed toward the marketplace. His food supplies were running low—time for a resupply.
At the market, while selecting ingredients, Taichi suddenly spotted two familiar figures not far away… and blinked in surprise.
One man with bright blond hair was dragging along another with long white hair, lecturing him earnestly about something.
Taichi instantly recognized the pair—Jiraiya and Namikaze Minato.
But their strange dynamic puzzled him.
Why did Jiraiya look like he was being dragged to his execution?
As Taichi approached, he overheard Minato pleading:
"Please, Jiraiya-sensei, you really can't refuse this time. Kushina has already asked me to invite you three times. There won't be a fourth."
Jiraiya's face collapsed into pure despair the moment he heard Minato's words—like his soul had just flown out of his body.
"Jiraiya-sensei! Senior Minato!"
Taichi called out, cutting into their conversation.
The effect was immediate—Jiraiya's expression lit up as if he had just found salvation.
"Hahaha! Taichi, perfect timing! You're coming with me to Minato's house for dinner today!"
"Eh—wait, that's not really appropriate, Jiraiya-sensei…"
Taichi froze. That invitation came out of nowhere. He instinctively turned to Minato for help.
He did want the chance to get to know the future Fourth Hokage…
But under these circumstances, it felt like he'd be barging into someone's private dinner.
"What's wrong with that?" Jiraiya said confidently. "You're basically my half-disciple anyway. Having dinner at Minato's place is nothing."
Then he turned his head. "Right, Minato?"
Minato smiled warmly.
"It's no problem at all, Taichi. The more the merrier. Please join us."
Taichi felt the urge to bury his face in his hands.
Minato, Minato… Jiraiya-sensei isn't inviting me for dinner. He's inviting me to COOK. Kushina's temper is going to explode if she finds out…
After several rounds of polite refusal—plus Jiraiya's not-so-subtle "threats"—Taichi finally gave in and agreed to tag along.
On the way to Minato's home, Jiraiya leaned over and whispered:
"Taichi, once Kushina starts cooking, go help her out. Show Minato and the others that impressive culinary talent of yours."
Taichi shot him a look—then glanced at Minato, who was watching curiously.
He could only think helplessly:
Jiraiya-sensei… could you be any more obvious?
---
Only then did Minato finally catch on—realizing exactly why Jiraiya had insisted on bringing Taichi along. Still, he didn't expose him. Instead, he simply smiled at Taichi.
"Taichi's cooking is that good?
Then I'm in for a treat today."
As expected of the "Little Sun" Minato—his kindness toward his own people really was on another level.
When the three arrived at Minato's home, Kushina was already waiting at the door, practically bouncing on her heels. The moment she saw them, she rushed forward, snatching the grocery bags right out of Minato's hands.
"You took forever! I thought Jiraiya-sensei ran away again!" she grumbled, before turning to Taichi. "And this is…?"
"His name is Matsushita Taichi—Lady Tsunade's student, and you could say half a disciple of Jiraiya-sensei as well," Minato explained. "We ran into him, so I invited him along."
"Hello, sister-in-law! I'm Matsushita Taichi. Please take care of me!"
Taichi stepped forward, honey practically dripping from his voice.
Kushina's face instantly flushed a deep red—matching her long red hair perfectly.
"W-what sister-in-law? Don't talk nonsense!"
Despite her protests, she still stepped forward to take the groceries from Taichi as well, pulling him gently toward the house.
Left behind, Jiraiya and Minato exchanged wide-eyed looks.
This kid is this popular with girls??
Inside the house, Kushina glanced at the guests before giving Minato instructions:
"Minato, take care of everyone here. I'm going to start cooking."
The moment she turned her back, Jiraiya frantically began winking at Taichi like a man possessed.
Taichi sighed inwardly and stood up.
He walked toward Kushina with a polite smile.
"Sister-in-law, I also know a bit of cooking. Let me help! Two people will finish faster, and… well… Jiraiya-sensei is very hungry."
Kushina narrowed her eyes suspiciously and looked at Jiraiya.
"…Oh? That hungry?"
"Yes! Yes! So hungry I'm about to collapse. Let Taichi help you, please!"
Jiraiya chimed in instantly, nodding like a chicken pecking rice.
Kushina still looked dubious, but she couldn't resist the constant urging.
So she led Taichi into the kitchen.
Once they disappeared behind the door, Jiraiya wiped imaginary sweat from his forehead and shot Minato a deeply sympathetic look.
"Jiraiya-sensei… you're exaggerating. Kushina's cooking isn't that bad," Minato protested weakly.
Jiraiya scoffed. As if he'd believe that.
Men in love probably thought everything their girlfriends did tasted delicious.
He had fallen for Minato's sweet words once—ONE TIME—and had been trapped ever since.
The two chatted idly as the kitchen filled with the rapid rhythm of Taichi chopping vegetables and Kushina and him chatting about cooking techniques.
Half an hour later, dish after dish emerged from the kitchen—perfect color, aroma, and presentation. Even Minato was stunned.
This was all cooked within thirty minutes?
"All done! These are all the dishes for today."
Taichi placed the last dish on the table. "Sister-in-law did most of the work—I only helped a little."
Kushina, face pink, waved her hands.
"Oh, don't listen to Taichi. He's the real star! Everyone, come eat!"
Steam curled up from the table, carrying an intoxicating fragrance.
Jiraiya swallowed hard.
He picked up a golden, crispy tempura shrimp. The batter crackled softly under his chopsticks; seaweed flakes drifted like glittering confetti.
Crunch!
The crisp explosion echoed through the room. Jiraiya's eyes flew open.
The shrimp's sweetness burst across his tongue, the texture springy and perfect.
He froze—like he'd been struck by a lightning jutsu.
"Jiraiya-sensei, what's wrong?" Kushina asked nervously.
"It's… TOO DELICIOUS!" Jiraiya declared dramatically.
"This one was fried by sister-in-law," Taichi chuckled. "I only mixed the sauce. When it came out of the pot, I took a little taste—perfect crispiness, flawless heat control."
"Hahaha! Everyone try more!"
Kushina beamed proudly. For this dish, she had been the lead, so the praise hit her right in the heart.
As more dishes were sampled, even Minato began doubting reality.
Was this… really made by Kushina?
Some weren't perfect, but compared to her usual cooking, this was a transformation worthy of a Kekkei Genkai.
Kushina giggled brightly.
"Hehe~ It's all Taichi's credit! These best dishes? He made them!"
Jiraiya and Minato laughed together. With improvements this impressive, what more could they possibly ask for?
Dinner was lively, warm, and filled with laughter.
Kushina was especially enthusiastic—so much so that Minato felt a tiny spark of jealousy.
Afterward, they gathered in the living room to chat.
Naturally, the topic drifted to Taichi's training.
As soon as Taichi mentioned learning one-handed hand seals, Minato's eyes lit up.
"I've actually been studying one-handed seals recently.
If you have time, Taichi… want to practice together?"