A simple introduction.
A hasty agreement.
And just like that, Kushina joined an organization that didn't actually exist.
Still, she was very happy.
Even though an hour earlier she had just finished eating, when grilled meat was in front of you, no one could refuse having a little more.
Or, to be precise… a few hundred million bites more.
"Another ten plates! Chōza, you're slowing down. Want me to wait for you?"
"How could that be? I swear on the honor of the Akimichi clan—when it comes to eating, you'll never beat me!"
Akimichi Chōza and Kushina had already reached the peak of their eating duel.
Both sides had devoured thirty-four plates of grilled meat and were now charging toward the next ten plates.
Everyone else sat around watching.
"Kushina isn't shy at all. She's way better than you two, Hiashi and Hizashi," Hiyasu Hyūga said with a loud laugh.
"That's not true, cousin! I can make lots of friends too!" Hizashi protested. He definitely wasn't socially awkward.
"Oh? Like who?"
"Well… like… like…"
Hizashi panicked.
Wait… all the friends I know were introduced to me by you, cousin. What do I do now?
His pleading eyes turned toward his older brother, Hiashi.
Save me.
Hmph. Now that you're in trouble you remember me? Where were you earlier?
But I still have to help him. If I don't, what if he stops coming to me next time?
"Cousin Hiyasu, let's go train. My Gentle Fist feels like it's hit a bottleneck."
"Hiashi, your attempt to change the subject is terrible. But fine—let's go. I'll train the two of you properly."
"Everyone, we're going out to train. Contact us if something comes up."
With that, the Hyūga trio exited.
"Contact us if something comes up."
The Aburame trio also left.
Actually, Shiken and Shibi still wanted to watch the spectacle for a while longer.
But Aburame Shikuro's problem still hadn't been resolved, and staying here felt too uncomfortable.
"Rinko, let's go. Let's go shopping today. No point wasting time here."
"Huh? Wouldn't it be a bit rude to leave like this?"
"Then you want to keep watching?"
"Let's go right now. I know a shop that has amazing dango."
The romance duo officially exited.
Seeing fewer and fewer people remaining, Kamito Uchiha didn't feel like sitting around anymore.
He gave Hideki Senju a look.
"So? Want to spar?"
"I'm still with someone. Can't you read the situation?"
Kamito glanced toward Minato.
The meaning was clear—if he's here, who are you worried about?
Hideki looked and thought:
You're watching this closely, huh? The power of the plot is truly terrifying.
"Minato, we're going to train. Later you can take Kushina around the village. Contact me afterward."
"Ah… okay."
The rival duo temporarily logged off.
Wait… I've never taken a girl shopping before.
By the time Minato realized that—
Hideki was already long gone.
Minato turned to look at Nara Shikaku.
Thank goodness… at least someone can stay with me.
To that, Shikaku silently thought: you're dreaming.
That look…
That was the look of someone about to drag him into trouble.
And how do you deal with trouble that's about to arrive?
Obviously—you leave before it gets there.
"Chōza, stop eating. We haven't finished today's task yet."
"Oh, right. Okay, Shikaku. Kushina, let's call this a draw today. We'll fight again next time."
"Alrigh! Next time I'll definitely win!"
"On the name of the Akimichi clan—next time the winner will be me!"
The Ino–Shika–Chō trio departed.
"Hey… why are you the only one left?"
Kushina finally noticed that everyone else had disappeared and turned to Minato.
"Uh… everyone had things to do, so they left first."
"What about cousin Hideki?"
"He went to train with Kamito."
"So he just left me behind like that?"
Damn Uchiha.
Uzumaki Mito strongly agreed. Back in the day, it was also that man from the Uchiha clan who stole her Hashirama away.
"Uh… Hideki probably didn't mean it that way. Why don't we go take a walk? It's a good chance for me to show you around Konoha."
"…Alright."
Kushina reluctantly went out shopping with Minato.
As for the bill at the barbecue restaurant—
Hideki Senju had naturally settled it before leaving.
The Senju clan is wealthy and powerful. We never dine and dash.
At that moment, Tsunade Senju was busy running away from debt collectors while muttering to herself:
"Next time I'll definitely win. Next time for sure…"
...
Hokage's Office
The Third Hokage and the "Shadow of the Shinobi World" were having an intense discussion.
On the table lay an intelligence report titled "The Destruction of the Land of Whirlpools."
"Hiruzen, hand Kushina over to me. I will train her into the strongest jinchūriki."
"Impossible. What Kushina needs is bonds—not harsh training."
"I don't care. Kushina must be handed to me."
"Danzō, I am the Hokage."
"Hmph. Hiruzen, you'll regret this."
With that, he slammed the door and left.
After taking a couple of puffs from his pipe, Hiruzen Sarutobi picked up the intelligence report and headed toward the Senju clan's ancestral residence—
To meet Lady Uzumaki Mito.
Meanwhile, after leaving, Shimura Danzō summoned a ninja and seemed to give him some kind of order.
...
Minato and Kushina wandered through Konoha's streets.
Kushina kept complaining.
Minato kept smiling awkwardly beside her.
Ah, the beautiful innocence of young love.
She was making a fuss; he was smiling.
But every good story has someone who gets in the way.
More than a dozen boys—each clearly much bigger than Minato and Kushina—suddenly surrounded them.
"Such ugly red hair. Little girl, you must've had headaches from it for a long time, right? Big brother will help you cut it off."
As he spoke, he reached for Kushina's hair.
Smack.
"Senpai, bullying people isn't right. You might not like someone else's hair, but you shouldn't insult them."
Minato stepped in front of Kushina and knocked his hand away.
That pretty boy actually looks kind of cool.
Kushina thought to herself.
The most handsome moment for a man… is definitely when he pulls you behind him to protect you.
"Tch. You're just a kid, and you want to play the hero saving the damsel? I will teach you today what happens to people who stick their noses where they don't belong."
He raised his hand, about to attack.
Minato's eyes sharpened.
Thirteen people.
And he had to protect Kushina without letting her get hurt.
That would be difficult… but manageable.
Boom.
A green signal flare streaked across the sky.
The moment Minato saw it, he immediately relaxed.
Among the thirteen troublemakers—two of them collapsed in terror, their legs trembling uncontrollably.
"Green flare… the assembly signal! H-he's the commander of the entire second year at the Ninja Academy—the one who leads a bunch of monsters… the blond-haired Kotaro!"
"Blond-haired Kotaro! The one who commands the White-Eye Monster, the Red-Eye Monster, the Evil Monk, the Bug Monster, the Ferocious Wolf…"
Everyone began backing away.
The leader stammered nervously.
"Y-you're… the legendary Blond-Haired Kotaro?!"
What blond-haired Kotaro? Don't make up nonsense like that. That name sounds awful.
Minato thought with a head full of black lines.
Behind him, Kushina's eyes sparkled like stars.
Wow.
Blond-haired Kotaro…
The man who commands a whole group of monsters.
So cool. So awesome. So flashy.
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