Chapter 104 Reunion

The forest behind Hokage Mountains,

Swish!

The sun casted a golden hue over the tranquil lake, the air filled with the scent of pine and the soft rustling of leaves

Minato, with his spiky blonde hair rustling carefully laid out a checkered blanket on the grassy bank of the lake. Kushina, her fiery red hair a stark contrast to the greenery, unpacked a basket filled with assortment of homemade treats.

Nawaki seemed the most excited for this picnic as already halfway up a tree, plucking apples to add to the feast.

Tsunade donning a blue kimono stood calm and composed, watching the trio do all the work with a smile on her face as after continuous work in the hospital she had finally taken a day off after constant pestering from nawaki and kushina.

The preparations were done as the four finally sat next to each other and began to dig in, Kushina while eating turning towards Tsunade.

"Thank you so much for coming today sister Tsunade. I was so bored spending all of my time with these two fighting maniacs" Complained Kushina while giving Minato and Nawaki an angry look.

For the last few years she has hardly had an outing that didn't end up with Minato and Nawaki challenging each other to a fight and ruining everything.

"Ha… Ha"

"Come on Kushina! You know we are aiming to be hokage so fighting to improve ourselves every day is bare minimum"

At her complain, Minato showed an embarrassed look and let out a dry laugh but Nawaki tried to explain with an innocent look.

Seeing Nawaki not admitting his mistake, Kushina's grumpy look increased but his words seemed to remind her off something as quickly she turned towards Tsunade again who has been watching the three all this time with a smile.

"The news of lord third retiring and a new hokage about to be elected is all over the village, is it true sister Tsunade?"

Asked Kushina as Nawaki's mention of hokage had reminded her off the talk of the whole village.

"Yes it is and they seemed to be counting me as a candidate as well. I'm already so tired just from being the head of the medical corps and becoming hokage, I'll die working!" Said Tsunade with her eyes full of fear and how badly she wanted the daimyo to reject her application as a candidate for the jonin vote of confidence.

It's not that she hated the position of a hokage, her grandfather and uncle were both hokage and being hokage herself would surely make her proud and happy but that happiness would turn into hell when she wouldn't get time for herself, no gambling, no drinking, just constant work.

Pat!

"If you get elected and don't want to be hokage then you can just recommend me sister, I'll gladly bear this burden for you."

Thud!

Ouch!

Presented Nawaki himself for the task while patting his chest with a confident look on his face, the response a punch from Tsunade on the head causing him to grimace in pain.

"But they say that the most likely to be elected is lord white fang, he clearly stood out the most in the second ninja war"

"No he didn't, it was clearly Kazuki!"

Ignoring Nawaki hissing in pain, Minato shared the news about the most popular candidate though Tsunade immediately denying his words loudly, emotion getting over her suddenly.

…

There was a sudden silence at the bank of the lake, the faces of all four sitting next to each other couldn't help but show a look of emotion.

Sigh…

"Just where did he go? It's been three years and not one news of him"

Said Kushina while letting out a sigh, a sad look on her face as one of the closest to her in this village had left it three years ago without saying a word and not a word has been heard about him by anyone ever since.

"Wherever he is, I just hope he is safe"

Added Minato while turning around to look at the spiral pits on the ground at some distance, the days of training under him couldn't help but play in his head.

The cheerful atmosphere of the picnic seemed to change at the mention of that name as everyone found themselves lost in memories, but this atmosphere was broken suddenly.

Nom-nom

"Who made these dumplings? Would've been perfect if they were slightly sweeter"

"Really? I thought I added enough__

The words rang near the lake as Kushina subconsciously replied but she stopped suddenly and turned around with a shocked face.

The other three came back to their senses at this voice also as the four of them witnessed a tall man with broad shoulders and short silver hair at some point had appeared between them, his brown eyes with a funny look gazed at the four as he munched on the dumpling he held.

The four gazed at the silver haired man with an unbelievable look on their face, Tsunade seemingly the most shocked as her whole body trembling.

KAZUKI!!!!

SENSEI!!!

Thud!

Kushina was the first to break the silence as shouting she lunged at him, followed by the overexcited Nawaki as Kazuki not expecting this truly caught by surprise, thrown down.

"Wow! calm down it's just me."

"What do you mean just me? Do you have any idea how worried we have been!!? How dare you leave without saying a word!?"

Kazuki having experienced something like this for the first time in both lives found it truly awkward and tried to calm them down, though Kushina seemed to be riled up even more at his words and letting out everything for everyone.

"Yeah, don't belittle your importance to others sensei, don't make us teach you how bonds work."

Nawaki added what he felt inside as Kazuki hearing all this closed his eyes and putting some force stood up; both Kushina and Nawaki finally removing the hold of him.

Thup!

Stretching his both hands out Kazuki placed one on Kushina's head and the other on Nawaki as he ruffled their hair like kids, words leaving his mouth but his eyes still closed.

"I won't leave ever again…. I promise."

Saying that Kazuki took his hands back and opening his eyes walked towards Minato, leaving Kushina and Nawaki with embarrassed faces but still joy in the eyes, treated like little siblings perfectly.

Arriving before Minato, Kazuki gave him a look but saw no anger as he had the bright smile that he was so used to still on his face.

"Not angry like the other two, huh Minato" Asked Kazuki in a joking manner as he stretched his fist towards him, Minato at his words shaking his head and bringing his fist forwards, his lips parting.

"I know you enough to understand that if you left without telling then you must have a reason."

"Smart as always huh"

"Haha!"

The words fell as dabbing the fists both of them after a momentary silence burst into a laughter.

Finally, Kazuki turned his eyes towards the last figure as the smile on his face couldn't help but fade after looking at her, looking at the fair face his eyes couldn't help but play the scene of her jumping before the paper bombs wrapped yui and ryo aoyama that day.

Thud!

But before Kazuki could take a step towards her, she appeared before him like blending into space and arms were wrapped around his back and a head resting on his chest.

"It's good to see you again" The seemingly ordinary words fell in Kazuki's ears but probably no one beside him could sense the relief hidden in them, Kazuki biting his lips for a moment and his face showing some struggle.

"You too, Tsunade"

Thud!

But eventually taking a deep breath he raised his hand to tap her on the back as words left his mouth, Tsunade in his arms shaking at his words.

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