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Kushina pressed her ear against Shin’s door, straining to hear what was going on inside, but the house Shin had built with Wood Release was soundproof; she couldn’t hear a thing.
Tsunade walked over and tapped Kushina’s shoulder.
“Ahh!” Kushina jumped, startled, then glared at Tsunade. “Why’d you scare me like that?”
“Who scared you? What are you eavesdropping on?”
“I wasn’t eavesdropping! I was listening openly!!” Kushina retorted, annoyed at the accusation.
“Can eavesdropping really be done ‘openly’?” Konan couldn’t help but comment.
“Konan, when did you get so sassy?” Kushina moved towards Konan, intending to grab her, but Konan, using the Flying Thunder God Technique—instantly created distance.
“Why are you avoiding me? It’s not like I’ll do anything to you.” Kushina gritted her teeth, watching Konan retreat.
“Um, not so sure about that anymore, Kushina-nee,” Konan replied.
“Can’t hear anything. What were you even trying to listen to, Kushina?” Mikoto asked.
“How did you know I couldn’t hear anything? Were you eavesdropping too?” Kushina eyed Mikoto suspiciously.
“No! I wasn’t!! Don’t make things up!!” Mikoto blushed slightly and quickly denied it, refusing to admit anything.
Her reaction, however, only made the others more suspicious, including Tsunade and Konan.
“What do you think Shin and Mei are doing in there?” Mikoto quickly changed the subject.
Her diversion was successful. Kushina, Tsunade, and Konan fell into contemplative silence.
“They’ve been in there for almost two hours now, haven’t they?” Tsunade said quietly, having kept track of the time.
“Definitely up to no good. Should we barge in and see?” Kushina suggested.
“Good idea. This glorious and arduous task falls to you, Kushina,” Mikoto said to Kushina.
“Why me? Mikoto, why don’t you go in?”
“Because, Kushina, you are beautiful, kind, intelligent, brave, and generous—the uniquely perfect candidate.”
Kushina remained expressionless. Although flattered by Mikoto’s praise, she wasn’t foolish enough to fall for it.
“Mikoto, I’m not an idiot. I’m not going to barge in there.”
Mikoto sighed inwardly. ‘Tsk, Kushina’s gotten smarter. Can’t trick her anymore.’
“How about we send Hinata in?” Kushina’s eyes lit up as she looked at Hinata.
“Me?” Hinata looked completely bewildered.
“Yes! Don’t you want to see your Shin-nii?”
Hinata nodded. Although she was no longer afraid of these older sisters, she still felt most comfortable around Shin.
“Enough, Kushina. Don’t drag Little Hinata into this.” Tsunade intervened.
Tsunade suspected they might walk in on something inappropriate for a child and couldn’t let Kushina corrupt Hinata. She really had no shame.
Just then, Shin’s door opened, and he emerged.
As Shin stepped out, Kushina, Tsunade, Mikoto, and Konan all turned to look at him.
Shin’s heart skipped a beat, but he quickly composed himself.
“Why are you all staring at me?”
Though Shin appeared calm, inwardly he was panicking. He had just done something he shouldn’t have with Mei Terumī; he couldn’t help but feel nervous.
“Where’s Mei?” Kushina approached Shin, her nose twitching slightly as she sniffed the air. Her expression slowly darkened.
“Shin, you really are becoming more and more of a scumbag.”
Kushina’s fist flew towards Shin’s face. Shin quickly blocked it.
“Ahem, let’s talk this out calmly. No need for violence,” Shin said, restraining Kushina.
“Damn it! Did you or did you not… do that with Mei? Don’t deny it! I can smell it! My nose is very sensitive!” Kushina was so angry she wanted to bite Shin.
“Forget talking. Let’s just kill him.” Tsunade stood up, her face expressionless. Mikoto silently drew a kunai. Even Konan glared angrily at Shin.
Though Shin had anticipated their anger, he hadn’t expected them to resort to violence so quickly.
“Everyone, calm down! Violence solves nothing!” Shin pleaded loudly.
“Heh, Shin, don’t you often use violence to solve problems?” Tsunade sneered coldly.
——
In the end, Shin received a thorough “lesson” from Tsunade and the others. His hair was messy, his clothes torn to shreds—he looked like a beggar.
“That felt much better.” Kushina felt somewhat relieved after venting her anger.
Then, Kushina counted on her fingers: Mikoto, Tsunade, Konan, and now Mei Terumī. She’d been metaphorically cheated on four times.
Realizing this, Kushina’s anger resurfaced. She lunged at Shin again, biting him hard.
“If there’s a next time, I’ll bite ‘that thing’ off!” Kushina threatened fiercely.
Shin shivered.
Was Kushina really that ruthless? He’d have to be careful in the future.
Just then, a small arm reached out towards Shin. Karin Uzumaki looked up at him.
“Shin-sama, bite me. It can heal your injuries.” Karin then closed her eyes tightly.
Although Karin had never been bitten before, she knew from her mother that it hurt. But for Shin—who had saved her from Kusagakure and avenged her mother, she would endure anything.
The expected pain didn’t come. Instead, a warm hand rested on her head, gently stroking her hair.
“Thank you, Karin. But I’m not injured.” Shin smiled down at her.
Though he looked disheveled, Shin wasn’t actually hurt.
Kushina and the others wouldn’t really harm him seriously.
“Shin-nii, are you really okay?” Hinata asked worriedly. Shin looked so messy, his hair all tousled.
“Of course, I’m fine. Just a few little women; how could they hurt me?”
“Oh? In that case, Shin, care for another round?” Mikoto asked with a sweet smile, though her eyes held a hint of playful malice.
“Ahem! I was just joking! Please don’t take it seriously!” Shin quickly backtracked.
He didn’t want another “lesson.” Even if he wouldn’t get hurt—it was still embarrassing and ruined his image.
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