As they stepped further into the house, the door to Minato and Kushina's home closed softly behind them. The warmth from Kushina's home enveloped them, soft lantern light casting a gentle glow across the room. The girl's eyes were wide and darting around, taking in the space with a mix of curiosity and cautious wonder.
Kushina was already moving toward the kitchen, her vibrant energy contagious as she called out over her shoulder, "You kids must be starving. Ramen's almost ready. You'll get a bowl so big, you won't need seconds."
Shiba, with his nose already picking up the scent of something delicious, eagerly trotted after her, his little tail wagging in anticipation. Kakashi sighed. I'll have to thank Kushina and Minato for even feeding my ninken.
Kakashi led the girl to the kitchen. With her amount of curiousness, she'll have a blast watching Kushina cook. As they stepped into the kitchen, the aroma of ramen filled the air, causing the girl to pause, her nose twitching curiously. She sniffed the air with a lot of intensity. That's right—this is probably the first time she's smelled anything like this.
The girl watched Kushina work, her eyes wide with interest, as if trying to understand every detail of what was happening.
Kushina, sensing the girl's curiosity, turned and smiled warmly at her. "You like cooking, little one?" she asked gently, her tone inviting.
The girl hesitated for a moment before pointing at the stove, her gaze flicking to Kakashi for help. Kakashi, sitting down at the table, leaned forward slightly. "She doesn't know how to talk yet," he explained softly. "But she's trying to learn."
Kushina's eyes softened. "I see," she said, nodding in understanding. "Kakashi-sensei." She finished smirking.
Kakashi ignored the teasing and leaned forward slightly, using simple words and hand signs, pointing to the stove and mimicking a stirring motion. "Cooking," he said, then pointed to the girl and made a big fake smile. "You... like?"
The girl watched him closely, her expression thoughtful. "Fire?" she then pointed at some meat, "Cooking?" She's making her own connections now–impressive.
Kakashi nodded, "Yes, that's cooking too."
"This is called a pot," Kushina said, pointing at the large metal container simmering on the stove. The girl's eyes followed her finger, and she mimicked the word quietly, as if testing it out for herself.
"Pot," she whispered, her voice barely audible but filled with determination.
Kushina's smile widened, and she continued the lesson, pointing to various utensils and ingredients as she worked. "This is a ladle… And this is broth…" Each time, the girl echoed the words, her voice growing a little stronger with each repetition.
When the bowls were ready, Kakashi gently guided the girl to the table and sat down besides her. Kushina first brought out a bowl for shiba, leaving it at the floor close to the table.
Kushina placed a steaming bowl of ramen in front of the girl, "alright, dig in! This is gonna be the best meal you've ever had, guaranteed."
The girl leaned in, sniffing the rich broth, her eyes narrowing slightly as she processed the unfamiliar scent. Then she simply stared at it. Kakashi raised an eyebrow, waiting to see what she would do. Is she going to eat it or just keep staring at it?
Kushina, who had been quietly observing her, noticed her curiosity and smiled. "Go ahead," she encouraged gently, nodding toward the ramen.
The girl hesitated for a moment longer before reaching out with her small hands, tentatively grabbing a single noodle. But the moment she touched it, she yanked her hand back, her eyes widening in surprise as the hot broth stung her fingers. Despite the shock, she quickly blew on her fingers and then, more cautiously, tried again—this time with more success. Efficient… and brave.
Kakashi watched as she took a tentative bite, her eyes lighting up as the rich flavours hit her tongue. She likes it. Good—I'm not sure how I'd explain to Kushina that her cooking scared her off. Encouraged, she began eating more energetically, using her hands to scoop up the noodles and vegetables with increasing speed. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and Kushina couldn't help but laugh softly at the sight.
Kushina didn't mind the drops of broth falling all around the table. In fact, she seemed delighted by the girl's unrestrained enthusiasm for the food. The room filled with the sounds of soft chewing and the occasional hum of approval from the girl. She's really going for it.
But then, as the girl slurped another noodle, her gaze shifted to Kakashi and Kushina. Her eyes widened in surprise as she noticed that Kakashi's bowl was already half-empty, and yet... his mask was still on, and he was calmly chewing, as if nothing unusual had happened. Uh-oh, she noticed.
She blinked, her hands pausing mid-air, completely puzzled by how Kakashi had managed to eat so quickly without her noticing. She stared at him, trying to figure out his secret, but Kakashi just continued to chew nonchalantly, his visible eye crinkling slightly in what she could only assume was a smile. Just a ninja eating his ramen... super fast.
Kushina, noticing the girl's confused expression, let out a soft laugh. "Kakashi's got some tricks up his sleeve, huh?" she teased, nudging him playfully. "He's a master of the ninja art of stealth eating."
The girl gazed at Kushina but didn't catch any of her words except for "eating." Her eyes then flicked between Kakashi's bowl and his mask, her brow furrowing in concentration as she tried to make sense of it. Calm, she's not going to figure it out. Nobody has.
Kakashi, sensing her curiosity, finished chewing and gave her a small nod. "It's a secret," he said quietly, his tone light but with a hint of mischief. He then brought his hand to his lips and mimicked a zipping motion, his expression playful but gentle.
The girl tilted her head slightly, still trying to understand what he was doing. She wasn't entirely sure what it meant…
Woof! Shiba interrupted his eating to bark, and it seemed that was what the girl needed to understand what Kakashi was trying to say, as her eyes shined with recognition and she nodded at him. Her gaze then flickered to his hands
The girl then turned to Kushina and watched how she was eating. She noticed how they both held their chopsticks, deftly picking up noodles and other ingredients with ease. She stopped mid-slurp, her eyes narrowing in concentration as she studied their movements.
Without warning, she dropped her noodle back into the bowl and grabbed the chopsticks beside her, determined to copy them. But as soon as she tried to hold the chopsticks, she realized her hands were slick with broth and bits of food.
Kushina, noticing the girl's predicament, handed her a napkin with a warm smile. "Here, wipe your hands with this." She then followed by cleaning her own hands so the girl could copy her.
The girl took the napkin, hesitated for a moment, then carefully wiped her hands clean. She seemed to study the napkin, as if trying to understand its purpose, before setting it down neatly beside her bowl. Always observing, always learning…
Once she was satisfied, she picked up the chopsticks again, this time with more confidence. She tried to mimic Kakashi's hold on them, but her fingers fumbled with the unfamiliar tools.
Seeing her struggle, Kakashi leaned in slightly, showing her how he held his chopsticks, his movements slow and deliberate. "Like this," he said softly, demonstrating the proper grip.
The girl watched him intently, her eyes locked on his hands as she tried to mirror his actions. After a few attempts, she finally managed to pick up a noodle, her face lighting up with a mix of surprise and triumph. She looked up at Kakashi, her expression asking for confirmation. She learned it after just a few minutes, and without flying noodles.
Kakashi gave her an approving nod, his eye crinkling with a smile. "You got it," he said, again being gobsmacked by her cleverness. Maybe being surprised is going to be my new normal.
They ate in comfortable silence, the only sounds being the clinking of bowls and the soft slurping of noodles. By the time she finished, it wasn't just her hands covered in broth, but her satisfied face as well. She used her newfound napkin skills to clean herself up, albeit a bit clumsily. She's got this whole eating thing down. Well, sort of.
Kushina suddenly perked up with a mischievous grin. "You know, I think I've got something else that'll make your night even better."
Kakashi raised an eyebrow. "More food?" he asked, glancing down at the girl, who had finished her noodles with such gusto he wouldn't be surprised if she wasn't hungry anymore.
Kushina winked, already heading toward the pantry. "Not just any food, Kakashi."
She returned with a small box, holding it up like it was a precious artifact. Opening it, she pulled out a few chocolate-covered sticks, offering one to the girl with a smile. "Here, try this. You're going to love it."
The girl eyed the thin stick with curiosity, hesitating for a moment before gingerly taking it from Kushina's hand. She inspected it from every angle, sniffed it cautiously, and then took a tentative nibble.
The reaction was instantaneous and dramatic. Her eyes went as wide as saucers, and her whole body froze, as if she had just discovered a hidden treasure. Did she just find the meaning of life in a Pocky stick?
Without any further hesitation, she took a bigger bite, her face lighting up with pure, unrestrained joy. She stared at the Pocky like it was the greatest thing she had ever tasted, the sweet chocolate and crunchy biscuit clearly blowing her mind.
She quickly stuffed the rest of it into her mouth, her eyes darting to Kushina with an almost pleading look, as if asking, More? Please?
Kushina chuckled, thoroughly amused by the girl's reaction. "I told you! Here, sweetie, have as many as you like."
The girl wasted no time, eagerly grabbing another Pocky stick and devouring it with the same enthusiasm, her face a picture of absolute bliss. She even let out a soft, contented hum as she savored the taste. Okay, now she's obsessed. Great. How am I supposed to explain to her that there are other foods out there?
Even Shiba seemed intrigued, watching with wide eyes as the girl polished off her third pocky stick. The little dog let out a quiet whine, clearly hoping for a taste, but the girl gently shook her head, holding the stick up high as if saying, This one's mine, sorry.
Kakashi watched the scene unfold, trying to keep his usual cool demeanor, but a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. Well, I guess Pocky's the key to her heart.
Kushina stood up after everyone had finished eating, stretching her arms over her head with a satisfied sigh. "Well, now that we've had some food, how about a nice warm bath?" she offered, her tone bright as she smiled down at the girl. "Trust me, it's the perfect way to end the day. You'll feel refreshed."
The girl blinked up at Kushina, tilting her head in confusion. She clearly didn't understand the word "bath" and just stared at Kushina, her expression a mix of curiosity and uncertainty. Right, she has no idea what that is.
Shiba got her attention and took over here… Did he just seriously start cleaning himself as a cat?
It worked though and the girl nodded slowly, but as she stood up to follow Kushina, she turned and looked at Kakashi with big, pleading eyes, clearly wanting him to come along. Her gaze was so innocent, so full of trust, that Kakashi felt a pang of guilt for even thinking about leaving her alone with Kushina, despite knowing she was perfectly safe. I do not think I am the best one to explain normal life for her.
Kakashi shifted uncomfortably in his seat, the weight of her stare making him squirm. Is she seriously expecting me to…? He cleared his throat, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "Uh… I think Kushina can handle this one. I'll just… I'll explain the bath and then leave, alright?"
The girl's expression didn't change, her eyes still fixed on him as though she hadn't quite understood his reluctance. Kakashi sighed softly, knowing he couldn't just leave her hanging like that. Great. Just great.
Standing up, Kakashi gestured for the girl to follow Kushina, his steps slower than usual as they made their way down the hall to the bathroom. He could feel his face already starting to heat up at the prospect of having to explain everything in the bath. This is… this is fine. It'll be quick. Explain, then I'm out.
Kushina opened the door to the bathroom, revealing a warm, inviting space filled with steam from the running bathwater. The girl's gaze darted around, taking in the unfamiliar setting. Kakashi stepped inside hesitantly, trying to find the right words.
The girl tilted her head, listening and watching intently, as if trying to grasp the concept. Please let this be enough. But instead of responding verbally, she simply shrugged, then proceeded to pull her shirt off over her head, completely unfazed.
Kakashi's eyes widened in pure, unfiltered panic. What the—?! He turned so fast he nearly crashed into the wall, his face flaming red. "O-okay! I think that's enough explaining!" he stammered, his voice an octave higher than usual. Why do I always end up in these situations?!
Behind him, he could hear Kushina trying not to laugh, the sound of her stifling her amusement filling the air. "Kakashi, I've got this," she said, her tone both soothing and amused. "Why don't you go ahead and wait outside?"
Kakashi, still red as a tomato, nodded furiously without turning around. "Y-yeah, okay! I'll—uh—I'll wait outside," he stammered, already halfway out the door, backing up without looking.
Kakashi, his face still burning, leaned against the wall outside the bathroom, taking a deep breath to calm himself. She really has no concept of modesty, after all who needs something like that in the forest. He shook his head, trying to shake off the embarrassment.
As he finally exited the room, he let out a long, shaky breath, his heart still pounding. Note to self: Avoid all situations that involve explaining baths. Forever.
Again a longer chapter :D You know what it means though...sorry!
At the moment the story is a "list" of moments that I am trying to connect, and having kind of a block for the next few "connecting" chapters.
But the feelings were high and well... the last chapter of this story is finished (not counting the epilogue), 2758 words as of now.
This is good news for you, since no matter what happens, you will get an end.
Thanks for following the story!
Happy reading! xx