Nonessential
Minato was rummaging through his pack. Across from him was Kakashi who sat in front of the campfire, warming his hands.
Frowning, Minato asked his student curtly, "Where's the map?"
"With you."
"I don't have it." A beat. "The medkit and compass is missing too."
"What?" Exasperation tinged his next words. "I didn't touch that pack sensei." Kakashi then added a bit petulantly, "And glaring at me won't help the situation."
Minato continued to search through the bag fruitlessly. Kakashi asked after a long silence, "Well? What's in the bag then?"
"There's a bento and a note." The soon-to-be Yondaime Hokage took out the box and the meticulously folded piece of paper. Careful fingers smoothed open the message and the man read out loud, "Minato. Don't panic. Those items are nonessential for survival training in the Forest of Death. I trust that you'll keep each other safe so I expect that you would need only one medkit – if any. And for the love of Shodai Hokage, you're on home turf. You don't need a map. If you two end up lost in Konoha's backyard, I'll be sure to laugh long and hard. Or you know what? You can always lie to your cute student and say that it was all in your plans to not bring a map because it's a training exercise."
Crickets chirped.
"Love, Kushina." His lips quirked upwards fondly when he read on, "P.S. And instead of those nonessentials, I made dinner. Better than the tasteless nutrient bars, right?"
Kakashi, after a moment, actually cracked a smile. "Kushina-san is quite thoughtful, isn't she?"
"Don't encourage her," Minato sighed and chuckled helplessly when he reread the memo.
A/N: Rapid-fire update :O