The sun filtered through the trees of the training ground, casting dappled light over the three genin sparring under the watchful eye of Jiraiya. Ryosuke's movements were crisp, precise — faster than they had been just days ago. His strikes landed with controlled force, and he weaved between attacks with an ease that hadn't been there during their team test.
Minato narrowed his eyes slightly, sweating as he was trying to fight back 'He's gotten so much better already...I can barely even do anything.'
Jiraiya, arms crossed as he leaned against a tree, was thinking the same thing. 'That kid's growth rate is abnormal. And he's still hiding a card or two. Well, that is smart but he should trust me more! I'm his teacher, damn it.'
Kushina, of course, was too fired up to notice anything. She barreled toward Ryosuke, who parried with minimal effort, letting her momentum carry her forward before nudging her aside with a flick of the wrist.
"Heh, too slow," he muttered under his breath, though his face remained neutral.
Minato watched closely now. Just a small inkling, a gut feeling — but one that whispered, Ryosuke's not showing everything.
---
The sun dipped lower over the training field, casting long shadows over the grass as the team wound down. Kushina sprawled dramatically on the ground, hair fanned out like a fiery halo. "I swear," she groaned, "Jiraiya-sensei is making us work too hard!."
Minato chuckled, plopping down beside her. "You seem more mad because Ryosuke dodged every single one of your punches."
She pointed a finger at Ryosuke, who sat under a nearby tree, perfectly composed. "You are cheating. You've definitely gotten faster. Admit it! Ryo chan."
Ryosuke twitched and shrugged at the nickname,"Maybe I just don't like getting punched."
"That's a fair reason," Minato said with a grin. He leaned back, eyes flicking to Ryosuke. "Honestly though, you've improved. You were already solid during the test, but now, your reactions are a lot faster, I mean YOU, are a lot faster."
Ryosuke didn't answer immediately, gazing into the distance and shrugging, "I'm just… adjusting, I guess."
There was a fairly long silence after this as nobody spoke.
Then Minato coughed and awkwardly said to break it, "Hey, did any of you read 'Of Mice and Men'? Saw it in the shop the other day, figured I'd try it, so I spent all night reading it."
Ryosuke's expression shifted slightly. "What made you pick that one?"
"I don't know," Minato said, thoughtful. "Everybody seemed to be getting it, and it was just intriguing because I heard about how the author was someone who's seen the world outside the village or maybe even is an outsider. And, they were right, it was a perspective, I hadn't given a lot of thought to before, but there's a part where the characters talk about this dream farm, and I don't know why… but it hit harder than I expected."
Kushina's eyes flickered between them as they talked. The conversation had taken a turn—quieter, more serious. She didn't say anything, just rested her chin on her arms, listening.
"It's not flashy or dramatic," Minato added. "But it sticks with you."
Ryosuke gave a small nod, his voice softer than usual. "Yeah. It does."
Kushina stared up at the sky for a moment, then sat up abruptly. "Alright, that's it. I have to read it now, I don't like being the only one who doesn't get what you two are talking about."
Minato blinked, then grinned. "You'll probably finish it faster than me."
"I doubt that," she muttered, grabbing a blade of grass and twirling it. "But now I have to know what the fuss is about, and Ryosuke?"
"Yeah?"
"I'm sleeping at your place tonight."
Ryosuke jusr blinked dumbly for a second and smiled,"I'd be happy to have you."
And just like that, through sweat and silence, through teasing and the quiet gravity of shared thoughts, the space between them began to shrink—thread by thread.
.
.
.
The night market was alive with the hum of conversation and sizzling street food. Lanterns bobbed above tightly packed stalls, casting a golden hue on Kushina's red hair as she led the way, sniffing the air dramatically.
"I swear the dumplings are better on this side of the market," she declared with all the confidence in the world.
Ryosuke followed beside her with his usual composed stride. "It's dumplings. How different can they be?"
Kushina turned and gave him a look. "You say that like someone who's never truly lived."
Just as they stopped at a skewers stall, two familiar figures appeared from the crowd—Inoichi, holding a bundle of wrapped herbs, and next to him, Shikaku, looking thoroughly unimpressed to be out after dark.
"Ryosuke! Fancy seeing you here." Inoichi greeted with a small smile. "And with company, no less."
Ryosuke blinked once. "Inoichi-san. Shikaku-san."
Kushina gave a polite nod but didn't say anything, instead poking at the skewers on display.
Shikaku raised an eyebrow. "It's been a minute, Didn't peg you for the night market type though, Ryosuke-Kun."
"He's not," Kushina said with a grin. "I dragged him here. He probably would've preferred to stay home and talk to his books."
Inoichi chuckled. "Speaking of which… That book you mentioned? Of Mice and Men? Got around to finishing it."
Ryosuke gave a slight tilt of his head, inviting the commentary without saying a word.
Inoichi glanced at Shikaku. "It's… quieter than any heavy story I have read. Slower. But it hits harder, too. There's a kind of grief in it that doesn't scream—it just sits with you."
Shikaku nodded. "Yea, I nearly believed the book had to be written by an old veteran writer, it was very different and perhaps even revolutionary in a way, after all, this book is on a different level."
Inoichi leaned a little toward Ryosuke with a grin. "I don't know who this author really is, but he knows how to reach people. You sure you don't know them?"
Ryosuke shrugged with the faintest trace of a smile. "Maybe they just understand people."
Kushina glanced at him, something unreadable flickering behind her eyes.
"Well," Inoichi said, straightening up, "we won't keep you two lovebirds—"
"We're not—!" Kushina started, flustered.
Inoichi waved a hand dramatically. "Sure, sure. Just dinner under the stars with skewers and dumplings. Totally normal training team behavior."
Shikaku shook his head with a tired sigh. "Let's go before he starts planning a wedding."
The two older boys disappeared into the crowd, but Inoichi's teasing laugh lingered behind them like smoke.
Kushina mumbled something under her breath and turned back to the stall. Ryosuke stood next to her, quiet, but the small smile on his face hadn't quite faded.
This was, but a small interruption in their time together, they roamed around the market and finally deciding to get some barbeque.
---------
---------
Later that night, Kushina found herself at Ryosuke's home, arms crossed as she leaned against the doorframe of his small but tidy living space. "You know, you should really talk to Mito-sama again," she said, voice softer than usual. "I know you don't like her—or trust her—but she's… she's one of our only relatives."
Ryosuke sat across from her, the light from the small lamp casting shadows across his face. "She's important to Konoha," he corrected calmly. "Not to me."
Kushina frowned. "You could change that, you know. Just… come back with me next time. It doesn't have to be a big deal. Mito-sama will definitely understand!"
He shook his head, gaze drifting to the window. "No, it's not just her alone that took the decision, you know. You are a bit too young to understand."
There was a short silence. Kushina let out an annoyed hmph, spun on her heel, and marched toward his room.
"Where are you going?" Ryosuke asked, raising an eyebrow.
"To sleep. Be stubborn all you want, I don't really care that much." she said matter-of-factly.
Ryosuke blinked. "That's my bedroom thou—never mind."
He sighed as he grabbed a pillow and blanket from the shelf, casting one last glance at the closed door before settling onto the sofa. The cushions were a bit stiff, and the room was a little colder than usual, but as he lay there in the quiet, the presence down the hall made the silence feel just a little less heavy.