Thescentofsimmeringbrothandfreshlysteameddoughhungheavyintheair,afamiliararomathatalwayssignaledonething:SakuraHarunowasinthekitchen.Today,however,theairbuzzedwithanextralayerofanticipation.Itwasn’tjustaregularfamilymeal;itwasaspecialoccasion.NarutoUzumaki,theSeventhHokageandSakura’sdearestfriend,hadmadearareafternoonoff,andhe’dbroughtalonghisson,Boruto,who,despitehisownburgeoningculinaryexperiments,possessedanalmostreverentrespectforhisfather'slegendaryfondnessforgoodfood.

Sakura,nowarenownedmedicalninjaandco-leaderoftheKonohaHospital,movedwithapracticedgrace,hermovementsatestamenttoyearsofbothbattlefieldprecisionanddomesticartistry.HerusuallysternexpressionwassoftenedbyagenuinewarmthasshewatchedNaruto,alreadyeyeingthesteamingpotwiththeunmistakableglintofpurejoyinhiseyes.Boruto,evertheobservantmodernninja,wassubtlyobservingSakura’stechnique,asilentstudyinefficiency.

“So,Sakura-chan,”Narutoboomed,hisvoiceechoingslightlyinthecozyhome,“heardyouweremakingyourfamousdumplingstoday.TheonesthatevenIchirakuRamencan’trival!”Hewinked,aplayfuljabathisoldrivalandatestamenttoSakura’sculinaryprowess.

Sakurachuckled,alight,melodicsound.“Don’tgetaheadofyourself,Naruto.Thesetaketimeandabitof…finesse.”Shegesturedtowardsaplatterofpre-portionedingredients.“Andit’snotjustaboutthecooking;it’saboutthemaking.Youknow,thetradition.”

Naruto’sgrinwidened.“Tradition!Ilovetradition!Especiallywhenitinvolvesfood.”HenudgedBorutoforward.“Comeon,Boruto,you’regoingtohelptoo.Learnfromthebest!”

Boruto,whohadbeenobservingfromaslightdistance,lookingalmostalittleintimidatedbythesheerdomesticityofitall,offeredahesitantnod.Hewasusedtothefast-pacedworldofshinobitrainingandvideogames,buttheideaofparticipatinginaculinaryritualwithhisfatherandSakura-san,afigureofbothimmenserespectandacertain,perhapsslightlyintimidating,aura,wasintriguing.

Sakuralaidouttheingredientswithmeticulouscare:finelymincedpork,crispchives,ginger,garlic,atouchofsoysauce,andasecretblendofspicesthatonlysheknew.Thedough,alreadypreparedandresting,hadasilkytexturethatpromisedadelightfulchew.

“Alright,”Sakurabegan,hervoicetakingonamoreinstructionaltone,“thekeytoaperfectdumplingfillingisbalance.Youdon’twantanysingleflavortooverpowertheothers.Andforthedough,itneedstobepliablebutnotsticky.”Shedemonstratedtheartofmakingthedough,herfingersworkingitwithapracticedrhythm,transformingitintoasmooth,elasticball.

Naruto,everenthusiastic,doverightin,hislargehandsalittleclumsywiththedelicatetaskofmincing.“So,likethis,right?It’skindalikechakracontrol,but…forfood!”Helaughedathisownanalogy.

Sakurasmiledpatiently.“Somethinglikethat,Naruto.Justtrynottochopoffyourfingers.”

Boruto,meanwhile,foundhisniche.Hewassurprisinglyadeptatrollingoutthethin,uniformwrappers,hismovementspreciseandsteady.Sakurawatchedhim,aflickerofprideinhereyes.Thisgeneration,whileperhapslackingsomeoftheraw,unfilteredpassionoftheirpredecessors,possessedaremarkableaptitudefordetail.

“Youhaveagoodhandforthis,Boruto,”shecommented,offeringararecompliment.“Steadyandcontrolled.Justlikeyourfather’sRasengan,butwithflour.”

Boruto’scheeksflushedslightly.“Thanks,Sakura-san.”Hefoundhimselfenjoyingthequietfocusofthetask,thetangibleresultofhisefforts.Itwasadifferentkindofsatisfactionthanlandingaperfectjutsu.

Astheybegantheassemblyprocess,thekitchentransformedintoasymphonyofmotionandgentlechatter.Naruto,thoughstillabitmessy,managedtofoldarespectableamountoffillingintohiswrappers.Boruto,withhisnaturallyprecisenature,createdperfectlyformedhalf-moons,eachoneaminiatureworkofart.Sakura,overseeingtheoperation,occasionallysteppedintocorrectafoldorofferawordofencouragement.

“Remember,”shesaid,hervoicesoftbutclear,“eachdumplingisalittlepieceofyou.Putyourheartintoit,anditwilltastethatmuchbetter.”

Narutonoddedvigorously,asmearofporkfillingonhischeek.“Myheartisinallofthem,Sakura-chan!Especiallytheoneswithextrafill