Their parents came to pick them up.
Not only Maki and Luka's parents, most of the students' parents came.
Even Sasuke's parents.
Present at the place, there were also those who had graduated but were orphans, meaning no one showed up because of them.
Minato and Kushina, as orphans, understood very well the pain of seeing such a scene.
"I already rented a restaurant for us to celebrate the graduation of all my children's classmates and parents." Minato said suddenly: "Everyone is my guest."
The orphans who had their heads lowered, raised them with a sparkle in their eyes.
Of course, because it was Minato, even the rest had a similar reaction.
"If it's an invitation from the Hokage himself, there's no way I can refuse. Hahaha!" Sakura's father laughed loudly.
"Ottosan!" Sakura blushed.
"Dear, mind your manners." Sakura's mother scolded him.
"Sorry, sorry." He scratched his head with a smile.
Little by little, everyone agreed to participate.
"Kushina, good to see you." Mikoto approached her.
Smiling, Kushina looked at Mikoto's belly: "I say the same. By the way, Mikoto, how many months until the third one is born? Do you already know if it'll be a girl or a boy?"
"It's a girl." Mikoto rubbed her belly lovingly: "She's expected to be born this month."
"Congratulations!" Kushina smiled sincerely.
She knew how much Mikoto wished to have a girl.
By the way. The one who seemed more anxious was Sasuke, he looked like an overprotective older brother beside his mother, giving several worried warnings.
While the conversation there continued becoming warmer and warmer, on the parents' side it started in a more rigid way.
In general, it was questions about work, or talking about the village's politics and the other villages.
Well, not everyone had much in common, so it was difficult to start a warm conversation like the women.
"I'm excited...!"
An orphan who thought he would have to celebrate alone in his small apartment, even started sweating in his hands from nervousness and anxiety.
He wasn't the only one.
Even the students who came from ordinary families were very nervous. Of course, even nervous, being close to their idol, even being invited to eat, was something they only imagined happening in dreams.
"Would it be okay if I asked for an autograph?" A girl asked shyly.
"It should be okay?" Ino was the one who answered.
"Yes, pap..." Maki pretended to cough, correcting what she almost let slip: "Ottosan won't mind."
"Really?" Many eyes sparkled.
It became crystal clear how much they idolized Minato.
While a group with more than 20 adults and children walked through the village streets, many became curious.
"Ahh, isn't today the Hokage's children's graduation?"
"Are they going to celebrate?"
"Looks like it."
"What adorable children."
"They all passed? Incredible!"
Under the gaze of several adults, even receiving some compliments, not everyone managed to remain indifferent, many smiled a lot, others even laughed nervously, but there were also those who laughed loudly.
"So embarrassing..."
Those who had some sense of embarrassment moved away mainly from Naruzo, who was the loudest, making peace signs as if he were some kind of idol greeting his fans.
It was so embarrassing that the girls especially wanted to dig a hole and hide.
...
At the restaurant, the adults were seated separately from the children.
There was a huge table where the adults sat, and two other rows where the newly graduated students sat.
'As expected, father thought of everything.' Luka thought: 'This way, those who don't have parents won't feel excluded.'
"I want to make a toast." Minato stood up in the host's position, saying: "To all the students present, I want to say that you are the future of this nation. Being a ninja isn't easy, but it was because I was a ninja that I managed to protect my family and meet my wife."
He held Kushina's hand, looking at her with love.
Smiling, he continued while raising his glass: "So, even if it's difficult, I wouldn't trade it for anything. I hope all of you also find what is precious, whether it's someone or even love for the village, and manage to live happily until the last breath of your lives. A toast!"
""""A toast!!""""
Many were moved by Minato's speech. Especially with the living example of someone who prospered amid war and today was Hokage, leader of the most powerful village in the ninja world, as well as having a beautiful and happy family.
The fact that he was also an orphan, was inspiring.
Everything Minato achieved was the result of his own hard work and sweat.
With burning eyes, the fighting spirit of many was awakened.
"I will succeed!!!" Naruzo shouted.
No one knew what he meant by that, but no one bothered to ask.
The reality was that, it awakened the desire to achieve something in all the graduates present.
Whether forming a family, or becoming a legendary ninja remembered in history, or even one day opening a small shop...
When the food was served, the place became noisy once again.
"Oniichan, try this." Maki placed a piece of tamagoyaki with chunks of meat and green seasoning.
Picking it up with his hashis, Luka tried it.
"Very good." He smiled.
"Isn't it?!" A wide smile adorned Maki's lips.
"Luka-kun, try this too." Ino placed something on his plate: "It's delicious~!"
Looking at it, Luka noticed it was gyoza.
Picking it up, he bit half of it.
It was meat and... Cheese?
That caught him by surprise, but it definitely wasn't bad.
"Yes, it's delicious." He had to agree, even picking two more for himself and three for Maki: "Try it too, it's really good."
"Mm." Maki hummed, picking one up with her hashis.
"Hey, Luka." Kiba got his attention.
Shifting his gaze to him, Luka asked: "What is it, Kiba?"
Kiba asked trying to be as non-invasive as possible, but still unable to contain his curiosity: "Is it true? I mean, about you being a descendant of the First Hokage?"
When that question was asked, many pretended not to hear, but certainly, their ears were wide open wanting to hear his answer.
"Yes, it's true." He answered straightforwardly: "It's also true that I can use Wood Style."
Extending his hand, Luka made wood come out of his palm, almost reaching the ceiling.
Then, his hand turned golden, swallowing the wood back at an impressive speed before returning to normal.
"Sugoiiii!!"
Even to this day, many idolized the First Hokage.
And, his Wood Style was legendary, marking an entire generation.
Being in the presence of someone capable of using the legendary Wood Style... Was exciting!
While the boys seemed to see that as a symbol of admiration, almost like ordinary boys seeing a robot, the girls saw it differently, something more intimate – more emotional.
"Garuru..."
Maki, seeing this, bared her teeth, making cute sounds, like a puppy protecting its owner.
She stopped when Luka's hand touched her head and when she noticed his smile directed only at her.
Her mind went blank for a second, soon she returned to being happy and eating without worrying about anything else.
'So easy!'
That was what Ino and the rest thought.