Walking through the streets, people passed to and fro as usual, but the atmosphere was noticeably colder due to the ongoing war.
Furthermore, members of the Uchiha Police Force patrolled the area, their gazes sweeping over the crowd with a mix of scrutiny and suspicion.
Their eyes didn't look like they were maintaining public order; instead, they looked like predators monitoring a high-value target.
Whenever their gaze fell upon Kushina, the intensity of their appraisal was blatant and incredibly unsettling.
Kushina's brow instantly knitted together, and the familiar sparks of fury ignited in her emerald eyes as her red hair began to float.
She absolutely loathed the feeling of being evaluated like a commodity.
Especially after the afternoon's emotional turmoil, this blatant spying was a direct assault on her nerves.
"Hmph!" she snorted loudly, her voice sharp with a clear warning of her displeasure.
She deliberately squared her shoulders and accelerated her pace, as if trying to physically shove through the oppressive air.
Her red hair whipped behind her in a lethal, sharp arc.
Saiki trailed silently half a step behind her, carrying her bundle, his gaze scanning the surroundings with cold indifference.
He had noticed these patrols long before they were close.
Based on their coordinated movements, it was clear the Uchiha clan had reached a consensus: if they encountered Kushina on the street, they were to keep her under absolute surveillance.
Leveraging their official positions, these men were acting with total impunity.
Suddenly, the Uchiha patrollers felt a wave of bone-chilling dread wash over them.
They instinctively turned their heads toward Saiki.
When their eyes met his flat, freezing stare, their previous arrogance vanished instantly.
It was like being locked in the sights of a starving apex predator; they hurriedly jerked their gazes away.
Fine beads of cold sweat began to form on their brows.
It wasn't until Saiki and Kushina disappeared around the far corner that the men finally managed to catch their breath.
They felt a sudden, crushing sense of humiliation, but the memory of Saiki's dead eyes kept them silent.
"Go... report back. They're heading toward Tsunade's residence," one of the more senior Uchiha whispered, swallowing hard.
As the night grew deeper, the leaden clouds above Konoha pressed even lower.
Kushina had clearly felt the wave of oppressive aura Saiki had released just now.
Even though she wasn't the target, that physical sensation of cold made the fine hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
She stole a quick glance at the silent boy beside her.
His face remained a mask of calm indifference, as if the intimidation that had just silenced the Uchiha elite hadn't come from him at all.
That silence carried the weight of an absolute, unquestionable warning.
The irritation and rage that had been boiling in Kushina's chest dissipated under the umbrella of his protection.
She hated being watched and she hated being treated like an object, but Saiki's protective posture made her heart skip a beat with a warm sense of security.
"Saiki, good job!" she said, slapping him on the shoulder with a grin.
Her eyes were full of appreciation, matching her "I've wanted to punch those guys for years" mood.
Saiki offered a small smile and a soft "Mm."
"Let's go. We can talk more once we're inside."
Thump! Thump!
"Coming! I'm coming!" Shizune's voice echoed from behind the door.
Normally, Saiki would have used his abilities to bypass the lock, but since Kushina was with him, he chose the polite route.
Creeeak!
The door swung open, and Shizune's large eyes lit up the moment she saw Saiki.
A bright, adorable smile spread across her face.
"Saiki! Welcome home!"
Because her focus was entirely on Saiki, he had to nod and gesture toward the side before she noticed their guest.
"Sister Kushina! You're here too?"
Kushina instantly puffed out her chest, planting her hands on her hips in mock indignation.
"What? Am I not welcome here?"
Startled by the Jinchuriki's intensity, Shizune waved her hands frantically. "No! No, that's not it at all!"
"Hmph! That's better." Kushina tilted her chin up, her familiar tsundere energy returning as she stepped into the entryway. "Excuse the intrusion!"
Shizune hurriedly stepped aside, her face still carrying a trace of lingering shock as she stuck her tongue out at Saiki in a secret gesture.
Saiki's eyes twinkled with amusement as he reached out and rubbed Shizune's head.
She let out a soft, content sigh, leaning into his touch.
"Alright, let's get inside. Sister Tsunade invited Sensei Kushina over. Is she home yet?"
Saiki already knew Tsunade was in the house, but he asked anyway.
Shizune nodded her small, cute head. "Yes, she got back a little while ago!"
"Good. Let's go."
He closed and locked the door behind them, Shizune trailing obediently at his side.
The moment they entered the living room, Kushina exploded like a firecracker, recounting the events on the street.
"Unbelievable! Those Uchiha bastards are getting way too bold!"
"I'm back," Saiki greeted Tsunade, who was currently listening to Kushina's venting.
Konoha was a mess, and Tsunade had returned early for two reasons: exhaustion from the previous forty-eight hours, and the Uchiha situation regarding Kushina.
Tsunade spared Saiki a glance, her brow furrowing slightly, but she didn't scold him. She just gave a quiet "Mm."
Saiki didn't expect much more of a reaction, so he turned to Shizune.
"How's the situation? Is dinner ready?"
Shizune shook her head sheepishly. "Not yet!"
Saiki smiled. "Perfect. I'll give you a hand."
Shizune followed him like a loyal puppy as they headed into the kitchen.
In the living room, Kushina's voice continued to rise with suppressed fury.
"...You should have seen their eyes, Sister Tsunade! It was like they were planning to skin me alive! Just because they're the Police Force, they think they can do whatever they want..."
Tsunade leaned back against the table, taking a slow sip of her hot tea.
She listened to the accusations in silence, the rising steam blurring the tired lines of her beautiful face.
Her gaze wasn't focused on Kushina; instead, her eyes drifted toward the kitchen where Saiki had disappeared.
Her brow knitted even tighter in thought.
This morning, she hadn't noticed, but over the course of the afternoon, Saiki's condition had deteriorated significantly.
To an ordinary observer, he looked fine.
But to Tsunade's medical eyes, he looked fragile—like a man who had been hollowed out from the inside.
Saiki had performed world-shaking feats recently, and those acts carried a price.
He had immense potential, but he was still a child; manifesting that level of power was undoubtedly an exercise in overdrawing his life force.
Hearing Kushina mention the Nine-Tails nearly breaking out earlier, Tsunade began to put the pieces together.
Her focus was so intense that she failed to notice the faint blush on Kushina's face when the topic of the "chakra leak" came up.
In the kitchen, the warm yellow light provided a sanctuary from the gloomy night outside.
Saiki expertly tied on the apron Shizune handed him and began washing the produce.
The sound of running water and the rhythmic, lightning-fast thwack-thwack-thwack of the knife filled the room.
Shizune assisted him, handing over salt and soy sauce, her eyes shining with pure adoration as she watched his fluid movements.
She stood on her tiptoes, whispering, "Saiki... Sister Kushina sounds really angry. Did those Uchiha people do something bad?"
"Mm. They're being a nuisance. But don't worry about it; it's high-level politics," Saiki replied, his hands never slowing.
"Oh." Shizune pouted slightly, her kind heart clearly worried. "But... isn't Sister Kushina in danger then?"
"Trust me. She'll be fine," Saiki said, dumping the chopped vegetables into a hot wok.
The sizzle and the explosion of aroma filled the kitchen. "As long as I'm here, and as long as Sister Tsunade is here, no one is touching her."
In the living room, Kushina's rant finally wound down.
She drained a large glass of water, finally feeling the pressure in her chest ease.
She looked at Tsunade, her confusion resurfacing. "Sister Tsunade, why did you insist on me moving in? I can handle those guys on my own!"
Tsunade set her tea down and looked Kushina in the eye, her gaze heavy with authority.
"You can 'handle' them?" Tsunade's voice was low, carrying a crushing weight of pressure. "Can you really? Even if you had perfect control over the Nine-Tails, the Uchiha's ocular powers are designed to dominate Tailed Beasts. One mistake, one momentary lapse of reason, and you become a weapon for them to use against the village. Sitting alone in your house makes you an easy target. I won't allow that."
Kushina opened her mouth to argue, but the logic was an iron wall.
She was strong, yes, but against the collective scheming and the genetic counters of the entire Uchiha clan...
She clenched her fists, her red hair fluttering once before she slumped forward, letting out a dejected "Oh."
The aroma of food from the kitchen grew more intense, eventually overpowering the faint scent of tea in the room.
Shizune emerged carrying two steaming platters, followed by Saiki, who was untying his apron.
"Dinner is served," Saiki announced, breaking the heavy silence.
Tsunade stood up and stretched, her voluptuous curves fully displayed, which helped dispel the somber mood.
She glanced at the spread and then at Saiki, her tone casual. "Mm. Smells acceptable. Let's eat quickly so we can rest. I'm dead tired."
"I'll get the rice," Saiki said, taking the bowls from Shizune.
Everyone was ravenous, and they set upon the food with zero hesitation.