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After Itachi Uchiha’s death, Shin returned to the Land of Whirlpools.
Pain took full responsibility for the Nine-Tails situation. Shin decided not to interfere further, letting Pain handle it. If Pain proved incapable, Shin would step in and recapture the Nine-Tails himself—
Upon returning home, Kushina immediately pounced on Shin from behind.
“Where have you been? I’ve been looking for you all day!”
“Weren’t you angry with me? Why are you looking for me now?” Shin asked Kushina with a smile.
“Hmph! Was I?” Kushina snorted lightly, then playfully punched Shin’s arm. “You still haven’t told me what you were doing.”
“I went to the Akatsuki. Nagato couldn’t keep a handle on the Nine-Tails, and Itachi Uchiha set it free.”
Shin didn’t hide anything from Kushina.
It wasn’t like he was out womanizing or doing anything shameful—there was no need for secrecy. If he had been womanizing, he certainly wouldn’t tell Kushina.
But Shin wouldn’t do that anyway. After all, the most beautiful women were already in the Land of Whirlpools—why would he need to look elsewhere?
“It’s only been a few days, and the Nine-Tails already escaped?” Kushina was speechless.
Didn’t Nagato possess the Rinnegan? What a waste.
Although Nagato possessed the Rinnegan, he couldn’t wield its true power. If he could, Itachi Uchiha wouldn’t have been able to free the Nine-Tails.
“Do we need to go capture the Nine-Tails again?” Kushina asked Shin.
If Shin went after the Nine-Tails again, she could tag along and have some fun with him. The thought made her quite happy.
“Nah. Let Pain handle this himself. Though I don’t know if he’s up to the task.”
Shin wasn’t interested in going. He wanted to relax in the Land of Whirlpools, or more accurately, indulge in a life of leisure for a while.
“Where are Mikoto and the others?” Shin asked Kushina.
“In the kitchen. Are you looking for them?” Kushina pouted, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
“In the kitchen? Is Tsunade in the kitchen too?”
Shin blanched.
If Tsunade was in the kitchen, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“Yes, Tsunade is in the kitchen. And she might have lost her mind. She actually wants to learn how to cook. How utterly delusional.”
“That sounds disastrous. She’s not exactly cut out for Culinary arts, is she?”
Shin agreed.
Though Kushina’s words were harsh, they were true. Tsunade’s cooking was worse than poison. Shin wondered what had gotten into her. Was she really losing her mind, as Kushina suggested?
Just as Shin and Kushina were discussing Tsunade, she emerged from the kitchen—or rather, she was kicked out.
Mikoto, her face impassive, pushed Tsunade out of the kitchen and slammed the door shut, locking it. Tsunade couldn’t get back in unless she broke down the door, which she wasn’t about to do.
“Mikoto, I can’t believe you’d team up with Kushina to look down on me!” Tsunade pounded on the door indignantly.
“Tsunade-nee, I apologize, but we’re running low on ingredients. We can’t afford for you to waste any more. You simply have no talent for cooking.” Mikoto’s emotionless voice came from inside the kitchen.
“HAHAHAHA! This is hilarious! Even Mikoto is fed up with you!”
Kushina burst out laughing. Seeing Tsunade’s frustrated expression made her incredibly happy.
It was as refreshing as a cool breeze on a summer day.
“Shut up, or I’ll punch you!” Tsunade threatened Kushina, clenching her fists.
“Pfft, go ahead! I’m not afraid of you!!”
Kushina wasn’t intimidated by Tsunade’s threat. Instead, she angered her further, as if deliberately trying to pick a fight.
No, not “As If”—Kushina was deliberately angering Tsunade.
“Heh, let’s see if I don’t beat you until you cry today.” Tsunade clenched her fists and lunged at Kushina.
Seeing the incoming punch, Shin reached out and caught her fist. “Tsunade, watch where you’re aiming!”
“Shin, I’m asking you, and I want an honest answer.” Tsunade looked up, her gaze fixed intently on Shin.
“Rest assured, ask me anything.”
“Alright then. Tell me, do I really have no talent for cooking?”
“Well…” Shin scratched his head. Don’t you have any self-awareness? Do you even need to ask?
How should he answer Tsunade now? Encourage her and say her cooking talent wasn’t bad??
The thought briefly crossed Shin’s mind, then he quickly dismissed it.
Encourage her? Impossible…
It was better to let Tsunade give up on cooking. Shin didn’t want to eat her dark cuisine—no, it should be called death cuisine.
How could he gently tell Tsunade without hurting her pride? That was the question.
“Ahem, Tsunade, why do you want to learn how to cook anyway?” Shin asked Tsunade.
First, understand her motives, then figure out how to deal with the situation. Shin thought he was being quite clever.
“Because I’m bored every day, so I want to find something to do. Is that a problem?”
“Ahem, Tsunade, cooking isn’t a good way to pass the time. The fumes will ruin your complexion. You’ll become an old hag,”
“Oh? So, Shin, you’re saying I’m an old hag?” Mikoto suddenly appeared behind Shin like a ghost.
Shin quickly turned around and saw Mikoto’s icy expression.
“Mikoto, of course I didn’t mean that! Mikoto is a beautiful master chef!” Shin quickly placated Mikoto.
The “cooking fumes” and “old hag” comments were just Shin trying to scare Tsunade. After all, with her Perfect Sage Body, what did she have to fear?
Unfortunately, he hadn’t scared Tsunade, and now it seemed he had offended Mikoto. He had to forget about dissuading Tsunade for now and focus on comforting Mikoto.
“Pfft!” Mikoto couldn’t help but laugh. “I was just joking. Did you have to be so nervous?” she said to Shin.
“Of course, I was nervous! What if my precious Mikoto really got angry?”
“Ugh.” Kushina and Tsunade shot Shin disdainful looks.
“So cheesy! I’ve got goosebumps! You two, get a room!” Kushina said, disgustedly pushing Shin and Mikoto.
“Mikoto, I’ll show you! Even without your guidance, I can still become a great chef!” Tsunade declared to Mikoto.
Hearing Tsunade’s declaration, Shin sighed and facepalmed. Looks like Tsunade hasn’t given up yet. What will it take to make her give up?
He was most afraid of Tsunade asking him to try her cooking. That was truly terrifying…
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