"For the next three days, do not mention the word 'Fuinjutsu' in my presence."
Clearly, there was a keyword in Hagoromo's sentence that didn't sit well with Kushina.
But if it wasn't about the breakthrough in the Reverse Four Symbols Seal, what was making Kushina so happy?
"Oh, I see. It's love—"
Before he could finish, he took a heavy blow to the head.
"You're an underage child; you know way too much!"
Was this a case of "shame turning into anger"?
Yes.
Because Hagoromo had guessed correctly: Minato Namikaze was returning to Konoha today.
To be honest, even though Kushina occasionally knocked him around, Hagoromo genuinely enjoyed her company. She was straightforward and honest; the fact that she didn't stand on ceremony with him meant she truly considered him one of her own.
"So, Minato-senpai is coming back?" Hagoromo asked, clutching his head and keeping a safe distance from Kushina.
"How do you know about Minato?" Kushina was genuinely surprised. How did he know about her relationship with Minato?
"Minato Namikaze, the Yellow Flash of Konoha—it would be weirder not to know that name, right?" Hagoromo played dumb.
As the Third Shinobi World War raged on, the name of the Yellow Flash had begun to echo across the ninja world. Especially after Konoha unexpectedly lost the White Fang, Minato had become the village's most powerful mobile asset, active on every front. He was being hailed as Konoha's lone hero, his fame even beginning to eclipse that of the Sannin in their prime.
Every time the Yellow Flash appeared on the battlefield, he bolstered friendly morale while striking terror into the hearts of the enemy. It wasn't strange at all for a ninja Hagoromo's age to know the name Minato Namikaze. Back in the Academy, even if most didn't know him personally, many worshipped him as an idol.
Of course, Kushina meant something else entirely. She wanted to know if he knew they were a couple and how he'd found out. But Hagoromo's vague answer derailed her train of thought, and Kushina wasn't the type to dwell on it.
"Anyway, we're resting today. No ninjutsu training, no C-rank or D-rank missions, and definitely no endless development of forbidden techniques. Just come with me."
"Understood! Master!"
Hagoromo wasn't about to object. He understood the value of balancing work and rest.
Kushina led Hagoromo to the main gates of Konoha. There, she stood like a "waiting wife" statue, gazing intently down the long road leading to the village.
It wasn't long before four figures—one large and three small—appeared in Hagoromo's vision.
Unfortunately, there was no touching movie scene here. Minato didn't teleport to Kushina's side, and Kushina didn't throw herself into his arms...
No, wait. A "touching" scene did happen, but Hagoromo wished it hadn't.
"Haha! Hagoromo! How did you know I was coming back today? I didn't expect you to come all this way just to welcome me. Truly my best friend!"
The speaker, without question, was Uchiha Obito.
Truly, a brain is a wonderful thing to have; unfortunately, some have one, and others are born without.
When a couple is reuniting, why is this "loser" the first one to come running out?
"I need to state for the record: I am not specifically here to welcome you," Hagoromo said quickly. He had to clarify immediately, or people with dirty minds might get the wrong idea.
"Don't be shy! Our friendship is beyond doubt!"
Shy, my foot. Doubt, my foot. I'm literally just here to fill space.
"Hagoromo, I heard you've been stuck in Konoha this whole time? Haha, how pitiful! Did you know? As an elite ninja, I've already executed an A-rank mission. Are you jealous? You must be jealous." Within three minutes of meeting after three months, Obito had already begun his self-aggrandizement.
Hagoromo just smiled without saying a word. Hmph, you loser, I'm currently working on an S-rank forbidden technique development task—even if I'm just the assistant.
Hagoromo didn't bother to refute Obito, but someone else couldn't stand the bragging. The silver-haired Kakashi let out a cold snort. "Hmph. I don't recall you playing any positive role in that mission. A certain 'Dead-Last' was dragging us down the entire time."
"Kakashi, you bastard! What are you talking about now?!" Obito couldn't stand Kakashi's arrogance (completely oblivious to the fact that he was the one being arrogant). The two immediately entered their "mutual-destruction" mode.
Hagoromo stopped paying attention to the idiot and waved to Rin, who was walking behind them.
"You guys, stop making a scene. Let's talk while we walk." By then, Minato had finished the re-entry registration. He called out to his students and walked over to Kushina.
"Kushina, I'm back."
The last time Minato had returned, it was only to pick up the other members of Team Minato—Rin and Obito. He had been in such a rush that he hadn't even had time to meet Kushina. In fact, the two hadn't seen each other in a year.
Minato and Kushina walked in front, with the others trailing behind.
Given Minato's popularity in Konoha, people frequently stopped to greet him. Minato responded to each one with a smile and a warm nod, showing no signs of impatience.
Obito was still shouting at Kakashi, while Kakashi maintained his indifferent attitude, occasionally throwing out a sharp word to poke at Obito's temper.
Rin and Hagoromo were talking in hushed tones.
"Is the lady up front Hagoromo's teacher? Why does she seem so close to Minato-sensei?"
"Is that really so strange? Don't you guys know? Kushina-sensei is Minato-senpai's lover..." Hagoromo dropped this nuclear-grade gossip in a perfectly casual tone.
"Kushina... as in the legendary 'Red Hot-Blooded Habanero'? She's Minato-sensei's lover?" Rin was genuinely shocked.
"Is there a problem? Red and Yellow have always been a classic pairing... Honestly, you guys should really keep up with this level of intelligence."
Before they knew it, Obito and Kakashi had stopped arguing. They were both straining their ears to listen to Hagoromo.
Even in a world at war, people loved gossip, and this was high-quality material. On one side, the legendary Habanero; on the other, the even more famous Yellow Flash.
"Tch, is that kind of information even useful?" Despite his obvious interest, Obito remained stubborn.
"Of course it's useful. The more intel you have, the better. Maybe you can find some 'leverage' on your teacher. Then, if there's a ninjutsu you really want to learn, you could use that leverage to blackmail him..."