"Psychic Shadows of the Hidden Leaf

"Kushina, has Naruto been behaving today?" Minato asked as they waited for their ramen.

Kushina smiled and gently patted her belly. "Oh, come on, Minato. Our baby is so well-behaved. Why would he cause any trouble? I have a feeling he'll grow up to be as charming and confident as Master Jiraiya."

Minato chuckled softly, though a hint of guilt crept into his expression. "Thank you for understanding, Kushina. I wish I could be by your side more often."

"Don't be silly. You're Hokage now, and you're working hard for the village. Besides," Kushina said, giving him a warm look, "now that you're stationed in Konoha, you won't have to go on frequent missions anymore."

Their loving exchange drew smiles from the few patrons in the ramen shop. Even Teuchi, the chef behind Ichiraku Ramen, seemed nostalgic as he watched the couple interact.

Kaitan, however, felt a little bitter.

He sighed inwardly, I didn't come here to eat dog food!

Yet, there was something oddly comforting about their interaction. If nothing else, it was better than the harsh realities of the battlefield. Kaitan busied himself with kneading dough, his hands working swiftly and skillfully.

The dough flew in his hands as he kneaded, stretched, and folded it, creating a smooth, elastic texture. When he handed the noodles to Teuchi, the chef inspected them with an approving nod.

"Not bad, kid. Your technique's solid," Teuchi commented, though he still kept an eye on Kaitan to ensure his ramen quality wasn't compromised.

Before long, the steaming bowls of ramen were ready. Teuchi carefully brought them to Minato.

"Here you go. One tonkotsu ramen and one seafood ramen. Please enjoy!"

"Thank you," Minato said with his characteristic politeness.

Just then, Ayame entered the shop, carrying a box of supplies. Kaitan's eyes lit up when he saw her. He quickly set aside his work and walked over to help.

"Let me carry that for you, Ayame. You look tired. Here, let me wipe your sweat," Kaitan said with a bashful smile.

Ayame smiled back warmly. "Thanks, Kaitan. You're always so thoughtful."

The brief exchange didn't go unnoticed. Kushina nudged Minato playfully. "Look at that, Minato. Doesn't Kaitan remind you of someone?"

Minato grinned, his cheeks reddening slightly as he remembered his younger days. "Well, I suppose he does. Young love, huh?"

Kaitan, unaware of their comments, continued chatting with Ayame as they worked side by side. He even demonstrated the dough-kneading techniques he had learned, eager to impress her.

Ayame clapped her hands in delight. "Wow, you're amazing at this! It took me ages to get the hang of it."

Kaitan scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "It's nothing, really. I just practiced a lot. Watching you work was a big help."

Meanwhile, Minato, Kushina, and Teuchi exchanged knowing smiles.

---

As the evening went on, Minato struck up a casual conversation with Kaitan.

"You're a ninja, right? I can tell from your build and posture."

Kaitan straightened up, nodding respectfully. "Yes, Lord Hokage. My name is Kaitan, and I work in the analysis unit under Captain Yamanako in the Dunko Division."

Minato smiled warmly. "Ah, I see. You've got a good team leader in Yamanako. He's sharp and dependable."

"Thank you, Lord Hokage," Kaitan said, his tone humble.

Kushina, curious, chimed in. "You mentioned being part of Kakashi's graduating class. Did you know Obito and Rin, too?"

Kaitan's expression softened. "Yes, I knew them. I heard they were part of your team, Lord Hokage. You must've taught them so much."

Minato's face clouded momentarily at the mention of Obito. "Obito... he's no longer with us."

Kaitan immediately bowed his head. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring up painful memories."

Minato's smile returned, though it was tinged with sadness. "It's all right. War takes so much from us, but it also reminds us of what we're fighting for. We must become stronger to protect those we care about."

Kaitan nodded earnestly. "You're right, Lord Hokage. War is terrible, but I hope we can build a future where peace lasts."

Their conversation drifted to lighter topics after that, ranging from ninjutsu techniques to anecdotes from Minato's younger days. Kaitan found himself relaxing, enjoying the rare opportunity to chat with one of Konoha's greatest heroes.

Ayame, standing nearby, watched Kaitan with admiration. He seemed so confident and composed, even in the presence of the Hokage.

---

When Minato and Kushina finished their meal, they thanked Teuchi and Kaitan before heading out.

"Take care, Kaitan," Minato said with a wave.

Kaitan watched them go, his mind buzzing with thoughts. So Kakashi's on a special mission right now, and Rin's still alive. That means the events I've been dreading haven't happened yet.

Shaking off his concerns, he turned back to Ayame, who had just finished helping her father.

"Want to take a break and walk around the night market?" Kaitan asked.

Ayame nodded eagerly. "I'd love to! Let me grab my coat."

Teuchi, sensing the budding romance, waved them off with a mix of fondness and exasperation. "Go on, you two. Just don't stay out too late."

---

The night market was bustling with activity, lanterns casting a warm glow over the stalls. Kaitan and Ayame strolled leisurely, stopping to try different snacks and play games.

Kaitan won Ayame a small stuffed fox at a dart-throwing game, and she couldn't stop smiling.

"You're really good at this!" she said, hugging the prize.

Kaitan laughed. "It's all about focus and precision. Being a ninja does have its perks."

They continued walking, chatting and laughing as the evening deepened. For Kaitan, it felt like a rare moment of normalcy in an otherwise chaotic world.

But their peaceful outing was soon interrupted by an all-too-familiar voice.

"Well, well, isn't this a surprise? Captain Kaitan, out on a date!"

Kaitan froze, his eye twitching as he turned to see Shenu, one of his more annoying colleagues, smirking at him from a nearby stall.

"...Shenu," Kaitan said through gritted teeth.

Shenu grinned mischievously. "Don't mind me. I'm just here to enjoy the night market. But I must say, this is quite the sight. Who knew our stoic Captain Kaitan had a romantic side?"

Kaitan sighed heavily. Why now, of all times?

Ayame, however, simply laughed. "Don't tease him too much, Shenu. He's been a perfect gentleman tonight."

Shenu raised his hands in mock surrender. "All right, all right. I'll leave you lovebirds alone." With a wink, he disappeared into the crowd.

Kaitan shook his head, feeling both annoyed and relieved. "That guy never knows when to quit."

Ayame just smiled. "He's not so bad. Besides, I think it's sweet how protective you are of me."

Kaitan blushed, scratching the back of his head. "I just... want to make sure you have a good time."

"And I am," Ayame said softly, her eyes sparkling in the lantern light.

As they continued their walk, Kaitan couldn't help but think that, for all the challenges he faced as a ninja, moments like this made it all worthwhile.

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