48 Apple pie with cinnamon

It was in the afternoon when Haku and Shizune returned to the Senju compound without incident, their stomachs filled with delicious meat and a small bento to share with Tsunade and Enel. However, the inability to obtain information about what was happening inside troubled the ANBU and the ROOT agents.

Tsunade should have already gone to look for alcohol or visited the casino following her usual modus operandi, but instead, there was movement inside. However, due to the seals around the compound, they couldn't pinpoint anything. What was the Slug Princess up to?

Danzo's spies thought she might be engaging in some shady dealings with another village, information they could use against her to prevent her from becoming the next Hokage candidate. On the other hand, Hiruzen's ninja were more concerned about the well-being of the last member of the Senju clan. They didn't believe that two foreigners could harm her in her own home with her abilities, but the lack of information worried them.

Meanwhile, inside the Senju clan compound...

Tsunade and Enel had come to an understanding after talking for hours. Currently, Haku, Shizune, and Tsunade were moving all the clan's documents, research, and encyclopedias to seal them into storage scrolls, storing them in special boxes before sending them to the Shikkotsu Forest for temporary safekeeping with the help of Katsuyu.

Initially bewildered, the wise slug expressed her complete support upon learning the circumstances of their summons and her disappointment at how she had declined such a promising village. At the same time, she got along immediately with Haku due to her innocence, and Enel took the opportunity to consult Katsuyu's wisdom to see if she knew of any way for him to obtain chakra veins. However, there were no new developments on that front.

So, Enel thought that while they were busy packing everything, he could visit Mikoto as promised.

"Sure, just go," Tsunade waved him off with her hand while carrying a shovel over her shoulder to start gathering the remains of her clan and not leave them at the mercy of the village. "I'll come to get you when I'm done with these two later."

Initially, Tsunade wanted to go their separate ways and meet in Enel's village, but that wouldn't serve any purpose since they were not only seen arriving together, but Haku also mentioned that they couldn't reach the village without Enel's help. This left Shizune and Tsunade curious, but they didn't ask.

Enel left them a stack of apples to eat when they got hungry and exited the compound while whistling a cheerful tune.

The watchers immediately split to monitor him.

A few minutes later, inside the Uchiha compound...

"Enel!" Mikoto opened the door and smiled at the pleasant surprise. "I thought you had forgotten about me."

"With your charm, is that even possible?" Enel responded as he bent down to enter the house. "I brought some apples as a souvenir."

"Ah, you're as kind as ever," Mikoto didn't take Enel's teasing too seriously as she rested one of her hands on his cheek and waved with the other, delighted by the compliment her husband rarely gave her. "My family loves the apples you bring; they're almost addictive."

"Really?" Enel naturally knew that to be the case; after all, they were the best in the world.

"Yes, although Fugaku and Itachi might hold a slight grudge against you. After all, Sasuke's first word wasn't 'father' or 'brother,' but 'apple,'" Mikoto laughed.

That detail actually greatly amused Enel on the inside; he could only imagine the faces of both Fugaku and Itachi when it happened.

"I heard that you can make a fantastic apple pie with cinnamon," Enel said, intrigued.

"Kushina mentioned it to you?" Mikoto continued to deepen the misunderstanding that Enel didn't deny, although he had learned about it from the gossipy old ladies in the area when they were casually discussing it a moment ago as they passed by them.

"I haven't made it since Itachi was born. Wait for me a minute in the living room; I think I have the recipe somewhere," Mikoto said.

"If it's not too much trouble, I would love a copy," Enel nodded as he walked toward the now familiar living room. He regretted not asking for memories and knowledge from someone like Momo Akanegakubo from Food Wars or Alice Nakiri. The wonders he could have created with those apples in his possession...

"Of course," Mikoto agreed and confidently left Enel alone.

After several meetings, Mikoto already had a preliminary idea of Enel's character and wasn't worried that he might snoop around. Most likely, when she returned, she would find him sunbathing; he was such a pleasant and calm young man. Kushina was so lucky!

Enel swept the door and spotted a small figure in the living room.

"Well, what a coincidence to see you here, Itachi."

"This is my house," Itachi stood up and looked at him with all the seriousness a child his age could muster.

Well, there was the hostility Mikoto had mentioned.

Two could play at that game, squirt.

"Did I hear from Mikoto that Sasuke said his first word?" Enel asked, intrigued, as he sat cross-legged and rested his hands on his knees. "I'm curious. Tell me, what was your little brother's first word?"

Itachi almost stumbled upon hearing the question and, when he turned, had activated his Sharingan.

"So this is the famous Sharingan," Enel observed it up close for the first time despite his several visits. "Hmm, I think it would look better in green or light violet."

A vein throbbed on Itachi's forehead, but he refused to engage in Enel's game. He knew he couldn't get any information from this man pretending to be a child, and he also didn't want to be the target of his sharp comments. Moreover, he was a guest in his home, and his upbringing prevented him from casting a genjutsu, as much as he wanted to. How he managed to get along so well with his mother was something he would never understand! No, he had to go see his little brother's sleeping face to calm down and soothe his heart.

"If only father were here today..." Itachi thought, lamenting the absence of the clan patriarch due to an important mission.

"Itachi!" his mother called him by surprise halfway there. "I didn't know you were back. Did you see Enel? He's visiting and brought some more apples with him. Tomorrow I'll make my famous apple pie with cinnamon with them!" she said triumphantly while waving a recipe card in her hand.

Itachi unconsciously imagined the taste of a pie made with those apples and swallowed.

Well, as long as he kept bringing apples on each visit, it wasn't so bad...