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“I’m home! Aren’t you going to welcome me?”
Shin returned home and shouted loudly.
“What are you howling about? Who would welcome you? You’re lucky we don’t beat you up,” Kushina glared at Shin and retorted unhappily.
“Oh? Kushina, you want to fight me?”
Shin cracked his knuckles and walked towards Kushina. She’s gotten bold. Time to remind her who’s in charge…
“Don’t come over here. I was just kidding!”
Kushina took a few cautious steps back, then grabbed Mikoto and used her as a shield, hiding behind her.
“Look at your so-called ‘Best friend’ Mikoto. Using you as a shield. How heartless,” Tsunade said to Mikoto, enjoying the drama.
Konan looked at Tsunade, speechless. Aren’t you just trying to stir up trouble between Kushina and Mikoto?
Tsunade’s instigation was unnecessary. Kushina and Mikoto had already realized their friendship was more like plastic—fragile and easily broken.
“Tsunade, I have some big news. Want to hear it?”
Shin temporarily ignored Kushina, planning to discipline her later. Perhaps tonight would be a good time. He’d make sure Kushina unlocked even more new poses—otherwise, he’d walk backward from now on.
Kushina, seeing Shin back off, was about to celebrate when she suddenly felt a shiver.
Is Shin planning some kind of cruel revenge?
“What important thing do you want to tell me?” Tsunade asked Shin curiously.
“Ahem, I’m a bit thirsty after coming back from outside. And this shoulder is a little sore.”
Shin sat down in the main seat and complained loudly.
Tsunade clenched her fists. Clever as she was, how could she not understand Shin’s meaning? Fine. To satisfy her curiosity, she will serve him this once…
Just as Tsunade’s hand reached for the teapot, a smaller hand beat her to it.
“Shin-sama, are you thirsty? Please drink some water.” Karin diligently poured Shin a cup of tea, then ran behind him to massage his shoulders.
Tsunade looked at the diligent Karin and smiled.
“Sigh.” Shin sighed slightly. Compared to this, Shin would have preferred seeing Tsunade serve him tea and massage his shoulders.
“Did I not do a good job?” Karin asked Shin, hearing his sigh.
“No, Karin, you did great.” Shin felt Karin was definitely cut out to be a maid.
“Now, tell me what’s going on.” Tsunade nudged Shin’s shoulder.
Tsunade hated cliffhangers. If her curiosity wasn’t satisfied, she probably wouldn’t be able to sleep.
“Alright, I’ll tell you. It’s not good news… Konoha was almost destroyed. Well, it is mostly destroyed.”
Shin didn’t keep her in suspense any longer.
If he did, Tsunade might just use her Monstrous Strength to punch him. Shin had no masochistic tendencies; he didn’t want to be treated violently.
Tsunade’s expression stiffened slightly, then she shook her head. “I’ve already left Konoha. Whatever happens to the village has nothing to do with me anymore.”
Though Tsunade acted nonchalant, Shin could see a trace of sorrow deep in her eyes.
After all, she had grown up in Konoha, and the village had been founded by her grandfather and the Senju Clan. Her feelings for Konoha naturally ran deep.
Even after so many years away, which had diluted her feelings, hearing the news still made her a little sad.
“Actually, I haven’t finished my story. Konoha should have been completely destroyed, beyond saving. But in the end, I stepped in and saved it. Though the losses were heavy, at least it won’t be wiped off the map.”
Shin took a sip of water and said to Tsunade.
“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Tsunade gritted her teeth, looking at Shin. She was truly angered by him.
“Hey, hey, Tsunade, don’t be angry. I really didn’t mean to upset you.”
Shin quickly waved his hands, signaling Tsunade to calm down.
“Um, Tsunade, look, I helped Konoha out once, purely for your sake. So, shouldn’t you give me some kind of reward?”
After a while, once Tsunade had calmed down, Shin hinted to her. No, this was more than a hint.
“You want a reward from me? You must be dreaming.” Tsunade glanced at Shin, gave him a big eye-roll, and then ignored him.
“No way, Tsunade! You’re so heartless! Do you know how cold my heart feels hearing you say that?”
Shin grabbed Tsunade’s hand and placed it on his chest.
“Do you feel it? Isn’t it freezing cold?” Shin asked Tsunade.
“Don’t think I don’t know you’re using Ice Release.”
Tsunade pulled back her cold little hand and slapped Shin playfully.
“Really no reward at all? Look how pitiful I am. Nothing at all?” Shin looked at Tsunade with pitiful eyes.
“Stop being pathetic. It’s disgusting.” Tsunade huffed lightly, though her mood had improved significantly.
It didn’t matter if Konoha suffered heavy losses, as long as it wasn’t wiped off the map. Otherwise, her ancestors’ life’s work would have been in vain.
Though she claimed to have severed ties with Konoha, Tsunade didn’t want to see it truly destroyed.
Shin wore a frustrated expression.
After dinner, Tsunade suddenly walked over to Shin, tugged on his clothes, glanced towards her room, and then returned to her room.
Shin’s eyes lit up slightly.
It seemed there was a reward after all…
The thing he’d been waiting for was about to happen.
He had originally planned to discipline Kushina today, but forget it!
Tomorrow would be the same.
Kushina should be glad she escaped today. But just because she escaped today didn’t mean she could escape tomorrow or the day after, unless Shin completely forgot about it.
———
Shin came to Tsunade’s room, walking over to her with a grin. Seeing Shin enter, Tsunade blushed slightly and told Shin to close the door, and to close it tightly.
Otherwise, what if someone came over to eavesdrop or peek? She had to be prepared. Karin, for example, had a history of that.
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