Naruto: Echoes of a Distant Home

A/N: Tanabata, also known as the Star Festival, a popular festival that is celebrated in Japan

"Ye Zi, wait for me."

In the bustling midtown, a boy with a bowl-cut hairstyle was running, waving his hands at a dark-haired boy about a hundred meters ahead.

The dark-haired boy walked calmly with his hands in his pockets, his head slightly raised as he moved through the crowd. Hearing his name being called faintly, he turned to look back. Seeing the bowl-cut boy, he stopped quietly.

"Yoru, are you treating me to BBQ again?" Ye Zi tilted his head, sending a lighthearted comment toward the panting boy who had just run up.

This casual remark landed on Yoru like a heavy weight, almost making him stumble. He laughed awkwardly while patting his pocket where his wallet was, then put his hands together in a pleading gesture. "Ye Zi, tomorrow is a really important day. Could you… help me ask Kushina out?"

"An important day? What day?" Ye Zi looked at him with confusion. Hearing yet another request to help him ask Kushina out, Ye Zi couldn't help but feel resigned. If Yoru always relied on him like this, how would Kushina ever like him?

"Huh?" Seeing Ye Zi's confusion, Yoru looked at him with an odd expression.

"What?" Ye Zi raised an eyebrow, puzzled.

"Nothing… nothing. Anyway, tomorrow is a really important day, and I…" Yoru fumbled, "I want to ask Kushina out, but I just don't have the courage to do it myself. I'm afraid she'll say no. Could you pass along the message for me?"

"Alright." Despite being slightly annoyed with Yoru's dependence, Ye Zi agreed straightforwardly.

Hearing this, Yoru's eyes lit up, and he shouted excitedly, "Thank you! Thank you so much, Ye Zi."

Seeing Yoru's overjoyed reaction, Ye Zi added calmly, "One BBQ meal."

Yoru's grin froze as he chuckled nervously, trying to negotiate, "Um… can I delay payment until next month?"

His personal stash of money was running low, and he needed it for tomorrow's expenses. He definitely couldn't afford to treat Ye Zi, who had a huge appetite for BBQ, anytime soon.

"Just remember it, then. I'll go help you ask her now."

Ye Zi started walking toward Kushina's house.

"Yes, yes." Yoru nodded enthusiastically, staring after Ye Zi's retreating figure with anticipation, not even considering the possibility of being rejected.

Passing through the lively streets, Ye Zi entered a quieter area on the edge of the village, and then into the 'Sakura Garden,' a place people often visited in the spring. But now, in the middle of summer, there wasn't a single cherry blossom on the trees.

He wandered through the Sakura Garden alone, walking down the path between the trees.

Though there was no pink scenery of blooming flowers, there was a lush, green atmosphere.

Sunlight dappled the path, creating small, dreamlike spots of light.

He stepped over the light spots, heading toward the "violent girl's" house.

Crossing the Sakura Garden, he arrived at Kushina's home, a place he was very familiar with.

She was staying in a house located in an isolated area of the village, with almost no neighbors around.

Knock, knock.

He didn't knock with his knuckles but patted the door with his hand.

After a moment, there was still no answer, but he heard Kushina's voice.

"Ye Zi, is that you?"

Before Ye Zi could respond, the door opened abruptly. Kushina peeked out, her head tilted slightly, causing her long, deep red hair to fall to one side.

"I knew it was you. Only you would knock on my door like that."

Kushina pouted slightly and gave Ye Zi a small glare before opening the door fully. She was wearing an apron, and she stepped outside, looking around as if expecting to see someone.

"Where's Yoru?" She thought he might be hiding nearby.

"He didn't come." Ye Zi looked at her, surprised to see her in a cute bear apron.

"What's with that look?!" Kushina noticed Ye Zi's expression and put her hands on her hips, glaring fiercely.

Ye Zi quickly averted his gaze.

"Hmph." Kushina snorted, rubbing her chin as she thought, "Yoru didn't come, huh? That's rare. So why are you here by yourself? Is there something you need?"

"It's about tomorrow." Ye Zi nodded slightly, his expression calm.

"Tomorrow?" Kushina gave him an odd look. "You came to see me just for tomorrow?"

Seeing Kushina's expression, Ye Zi raised an eyebrow. "Yes."

"Do you even know what day tomorrow is?" Kushina's strange expression deepened.

Yoru had acted this way, and now Kushina too. Could it really be that tomorrow was an important day?

Ye Zi didn't answer immediately, thinking about what was special about tomorrow. Suddenly, his mouth twitched slightly.

Tomorrow was July 7th. Could it be that here…

"Do you guys celebrate Tanabata here too?" Ye Zi asked in a daze.

Kushina rolled her eyes, not catching the oddity in his question, and retorted, "Obviously!"

Yoru, that guy…

Ye Zi rubbed his forehead helplessly and said bluntly, "Tomorrow is Tanabata, and Yoru wants to ask you out."

"Huh? Not you… oh, so it's Yoru." Kushina stopped mid-sentence, quickly correcting herself, her expression slightly exasperated. "Tell him I'm busy tomorrow."

Ye Zi replied sincerely, "I think you should go. I don't want to miss out on a BBQ meal from Yoru."

"Get lost!"

A vein popped on Kushina's forehead as she turned around and stomped back inside, slamming the door shut with a loud bang.

Staring at the closed door, Ye Zi wondered, "Will I still get that BBQ meal?"

"Oh well, I delivered the message. He can't back out now."

Ye Zi turned to leave.

At that moment, the door opened halfway again.

"Hey." Kushina poked her head out, looking at Ye Zi's back.

Ye Zi turned around. "What?"

"Um… are you free tomorrow?" Kushina asked.

"I am." Ye Zi replied directly, as he didn't have any missions scheduled.

"Then, come to my place tomorrow night." Kushina's tone was slightly flustered, as if realizing how her words sounded. She quickly added, "Oh, and bring Yoru too."

Now it was Ye Zi's turn to look at her strangely.

Seeing his expression, Kushina suddenly produced a ladle out of nowhere and threw it at him. Ye Zi dodged, surprised, letting it fly past.

"Violent girl, what was that for?" Ye Zi looked at the ladle lying on the ground, his face dark.

"Nothing. Just make sure you both come tomorrow evening. I'll make dinner." Kushina glared at him, then slammed the door shut.

Dinner…?

"Alright then."

Ye Zi glanced at the closed door and left.

He found Yoru and relayed the message.

Upon hearing it, Yoru felt both disappointed and happy: disappointed at being rejected, but happy to be able to have dinner at Kushina's place with Ye Zi the next day.

That evening, Ye Zi and Yoru arrived outside Kushina's house.

After knocking, Kushina came to open the door.

"You're here. Come on in." Kushina welcomed them in and led them to the living room. "Have a seat here; the food will be ready soon."

With that, she went back to the kitchen, and soon, sounds of clattering and banging echoed from within, like a battle was taking place.

"Kushina looks so cute in an apron. I never thought I'd get to eat her cooking," Yoru said with a dreamy smile.

Ye Zi, holding his head up with one hand, yawned with a grumbling stomach. He glanced at a plate of persimmon cakes on the table, grabbed one, and popped it in his mouth.

One after another, he quickly polished off all the cakes.

Yoru didn't touch them, saving his appetite for Kushina's home-cooked meal.

After a while, they started to smell something delicious coming from the kitchen.

"Ta-da! Dinner is served!"

Kushina came out carrying a plate of slightly charred food, placing it on the table before quickly heading back to the kitchen. After a few more trips, she filled the table with four dishes and a soup.

"Wow." Yoru's eyes widened as he stared at the less-than-perfectly-presented dishes, swallowing nervously.

"Can we start?" Ye Zi eyed the food, thinking the presentation was lacking, but his hunger persuaded him to overlook it.

"Of course! This is my homemade meal," Kushina said proudly, taking off her apron and sitting down beside them.

"Let's dig in."

Yoru eagerly picked up his chopsticks, grabbed a slightly burnt piece of meat, and put it in his mouth. He chewed once, then froze.

Not noticing Yoru 's expression, Ye Zi grabbed three or four pieces of meat and tossed them into his mouth.

"Huh?" After a few quick chews, Ye Zi's expression changed.

Kushina looked at them expectantly, noticing Ye Zi's face twist in surprise. She asked, "Ye Zi, what's…?"

Before she could finish, Ye Zi spat out the meat, with one piece landing directly on Kushina's nose.

Yoru swallowed his salty piece whole without chewing, staring blankly at the scene.

The slightly damp piece of meat stuck to Kushina's nose, and her eyes slowly closed in silence.

Ye Zi gently set his chopsticks down and stood up.

"Ye! Zi!" Kushina shouted in fury.

Ye Zi, already on his feet, quickly ran outside.

Kushina slammed her hand on the table and chased after him.

Seeing this, Yoru chuckled wryly and followed.

The three of them ended up in the yard.

"Hey, can you really blame me? That stuff was so salty, and I shoved several pieces in my mouth at once," Ye Zi said, looking warily at Kushina, who seemed to have pulled a kitchen knife out of nowhere.

Her deep red hair floated upwards like chili peppers defying gravity, making her look like a witch.

"Die!" She flung the knife at him, though it missed by a wide margin.

Seeing the knife's trajectory was way off, Ye Zi didn't bother dodging and said angrily, "Why don't you try eating it yourself?"

The knife sailed past him and embedded itself in a tree in the yard.

Yoru muttered timidly, "I thought… it was okay."

Though, he thought to himself, it's only edible if you don't chew and swallow it directly.

"That salty thing is edible?" Ye Zi shot Yoru an exasperated look.

"Don't expect me to ever cook for you again!" Kushina snapped, hands on her hips, eyes practically blazing.

"Who wants food that salty anyway." Ye Zi turned his head away.

"You're driving me crazy!"

With her hair flying, Kushina lunged at Ye Zi, who quickly took off running around the yard.

The two chased each other in circles, looking like a pair of fools.

Standing on the porch, Yoru's lips curled slightly in a smile, though a trace of sadness lingered in his eyes. He envied Ye Zi and Kushina at that moment.

Under the bright moon, shining like a silver plate, the night sky was clear without a single cloud, allowing the full moon to glow freely.

"So, this is how we're spending Tanabata this year. I hope it'll be like this next year, too." Yoru's gaze shifted from the two who were running around to the round moon above.

He smiled gently.

It was good to be in the same team as Ye Zi and Kushina.

Then he lowered his head, looking back at Ye Zi and Kushina in the yard.

"Oh, Kushina… don't be so fierce!"

As he looked over, he saw Kushina pulling the knife out of the tree.

Ye Zi yelled in frustration, "Enough! You violent girl! Your food was ridiculously salty, and I can't even say that?"

"You can forget about me ever cooking for you again! And I'm definitely not bringing you any lunchboxes!" Kushina had originally wanted to learn cooking to bring him meals, but her first attempt had ended in disaster.

On this special day, under the bright moonlight, a boy and girl were separated by a single kitchen knife.

R.I.P. Yoru, this side story was too sad...

Check out the patreon and get 50 chapters in advance -> SaintXI

Currently on Chapter 323 - The Defeated Momentum