Honestly, just sitting there looking at Kushina was a pleasant experience for Saiki. After all, looking at a beautiful woman always puts one in a good mood.
So, Saiki quickly adjusted his mindset. I'm just looking at a pretty girl. I haven't actually done anything. What's there to be embarrassed about? He began to earnestly study every detail of her lovely face.
Despite her explosive temper, Kushina possessed a very pure, innocent type of beauty. Her features were well-defined and picturesque. Her large eyes were especially captivating; they seemed to speak volumes, sparkling with a moving light.
And that head of blood-red hair only enhanced her vibrant charm, making her look like a radiant, thorny rose.
The sudden silence left Kushina unsure of what to say. When she noticed Saiki staring at her so brazenly, she immediately glared back at him.
But Saiki remained unfazed, continuing to look at her earnestly. Kushina wanted to get angry, but since his gaze held only admiration and none of the sleaziness of a street thug, she couldn't muster any real fury.
Finally, she knitted her beautiful brows and demanded, "Why are you staring at me like that? Is there something on my face?"
"Nope, nothing," Saiki replied candidly, his mindset perfectly adjusted.
Feeling like she was genuinely being teased, Kushina raised her voice slightly. "If there's nothing, then why are you staring at me?!"
To this, Saiki simply smiled and offered an honest compliment. "Because you're beautiful, Sensei. I never really looked closely before, but seeing you up close now... paired with that gorgeous red hair, you are truly beautiful!"
Hearing Saiki's praise, Kushina was momentarily at a loss for words. As his teacher, she should have been angry that a student dared to speak to her like that. But hearing him call her beautiful—and specifically praising her hair—made it impossible for her to get mad. In fact, a tiny spark of secret joy bloomed in her chest.
After all, what woman doesn't like to be complimented?
Especially Kushina, who had suffered so much grief over her overwhelmingly bright red hair.
Still, Kushina suppressed that spark of joy. She let out a "Hmph!" and said, "Are you saying your teacher wasn't beautiful before? Saiki, you brat, don't you know staring at people like that is incredibly rude?!"
Since Kushina put it that way, Saiki had to reign in his gaze slightly. "You were beautiful before, too. It's just that looking closely now, I realize you're even more beautiful. As for being rude... Sensei Kushina, we know each other so well, are you really feeling shy around me?"
"Saiki, when did you get such a thick skin?" Kushina looked at him, completely exasperated.
Saiki chuckled, completely unfazed by her complaint. "Sensei, it's not a thick skin, it's the honest truth. Look around the Hidden Leaf. In terms of looks, you are easily one of the top beauties in the village. The fact that I didn't notice it before makes me wonder if I was blind."
Being praised so effusively was too much for the usually brash Kushina. Blushing furiously, she stammered, "S-Saiki, you're lying!"
Despite her words, Kushina was secretly overjoyed.
As for his "thick skin," Saiki gave himself a mental pat on the back. He hadn't expected to say something so cheesy, but he could clearly feel how happy it made Kushina.
"I'm not lying! You really are beautiful," Saiki nodded in confirmation.
Alright, in the end, it was Kushina whose "skin" was thinner. She had never been praised like this before. Saiki's compliments lacked any real finesse, but just a few sentences had completely banished her previous depression.
"You're just trying to trick a kid," Kushina said, changing the subject. "Anyway, why did you come over?"
Mentioning the reason for his visit, Saiki turned serious. "Sensei Kushina, because of your special status, from now on, I will be the one protecting you."
"Protecting me?" Kushina blinked, surprised. Then, she asked dubiously, "Are you sure you can protect me?"
Faced with her lack of faith, Saiki stated confidently, "Don't underestimate me, Sensei. I am very strong."
"Are you sure?" Kushina double-checked, still doubtful. She knew exactly what her "status" meant. Because she couldn't fully control the Nine-Tails, she sometimes required the assistance of a Sealing Squad. Otherwise, given her own strength, she wouldn't need protection at all.
Saiki nodded. "I'm sure. Sister Tsunade sent me to keep you company. From now on, as long as I'm with you, you can go out whenever you want."
Compared to Naruto later on, Kushina enjoyed a bit more freedom as a Jinchuriki, but hearing she could go out whenever she wanted thrilled her to no end.
"Are you sure you aren't lying to me? I can really go out whenever?" Kushina's eyes flashed with delight as she stared at Saiki, terrified he would say it was a joke.
Saiki smiled and nodded. "Of course, Sensei. You can go out freely from now on. I will take full responsibility for your safety."
A huge, radiant smile spread across Kushina's face. She stood up and slapped Saiki heartily on the shoulder a few times, exclaiming happily, "That is fantastic! Being stuck in this room all day, I feel like I'm going to rust!"
"Wait right here!" With that, Kushina headed for the kitchen.
Actually, Saiki had left out one detail: for the next couple of days, with so many eyes likely tracking her, she couldn't just wander around freely. That was a specific instruction Tsunade had given him before he left.
Saiki watched as Kushina clattered around the kitchen. A moment later, she emerged carrying a plate of fruit.
"Here, eat up! Don't be shy!" Kushina said, looking incredibly pleased.
Thinking about how depressed she had been earlier, and looking at the fruit on the table, Saiki honestly suspected that if his news hadn't cheered her up, she would have completely forgotten to offer him anything.
Given Kushina's brash personality and her low mood, forgetting to be a good host was something Saiki could easily overlook. Playing along, he picked up an apple and took a bite.
Sitting back down, Kushina still asked suspiciously, "Saiki, you're absolutely sure you aren't lying to me?"
"Why would I lie to you?" Saiki rolled his eyes at her. But after a moment's thought, he added, "However, you still can't go out for the next couple of days. After that, it should be fine."
Hearing she had to wait two days, Kushina immediately voiced her displeasure. "What did you say? Didn't you just tell me I could go out?"
Her explosive reaction didn't surprise Saiki in the least. "Sensei Kushina, don't be so impatient! If you really want to go out, I can accompany you for a short while, but not for too long. You have to understand, the village is not peaceful right now. Do you have any idea how many people are watching you? When you suddenly showed up earlier, you nearly gave Sister Tsunade a heart attack."
Kushina frowned slightly. She naturally understood the implications. As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, her status was critical, and she was in constant danger.
But she still asked, unwilling to accept it, "Just two days? You're not lying?"
Not being a Jinchuriki, Saiki couldn't truly relate to the frustration of being constantly monitored. But he replied, "Yes, just two days. However, in a little while, we need to do an examination on you."
"An examination?" Kushina looked at him in confusion.
Saiki nodded slightly in response. "Yes, an examination. We need to ensure the seal on the Nine-Tails is absolutely stable."