C 87(1)

"Boss, are you back?"

Hearing footsteps, Kain guessed it might be Kushina. Only a few people could be let in by Nanami, and the light, quick steps sounded exactly like hers.

"Of course. After working outside for so long without rest, I'm practically exhausted."

Kain purposefully rubbed his neck, hinting to Kushina that he'd been very busy. During his time in the Marvel world, apart from practicing magic, he had been working with the military.

He often met with Betty Ross, the middleman, to practice Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Betty, who was clearly obsessed with Jiu-Jitsu yet stubbornly resisted showing it, often left an impression that made communication...interesting.

Kushina's gaze lingered on Kain's face for a few seconds before she suddenly summoned her courage. "Then... let me help you, Boss, by rubbing your shoulders?"

Her face flushed as she looked away, and she patted her knees with both hands.

"Then I'll trouble you, Kushina."

Kain agreed immediately, lying down on her lap just like last time. She was wearing those familiar black stockings again, with a hint of skin peeking out. 

Ever since Kain complimented how good she looked in stockings, she hadn't worn anything else.

"Boss…"

Kushina hesitated, suddenly regretting her offer. She'd been out all day, and there was probably dust on her legs. 

But Kain was too quick—he lay down before she could protest. Now, his head rested on her lap, and his face pressed against her thighs, which were squeezed tightly together.

'It's... it's too close…'

Kushina's cheeks burned bright red. She opened her mouth to speak but couldn't manage a word. With Kain so close, she couldn't resist sneaking a proper look at his face.

Luckily, his eyes were closed, or she wouldn't have dared to be so bold. As she studied him, a quiet realization dawned on her. Something about his face had changed.

The features were the same, but the more she looked, the more pleasing they became. It was like admiring something truly beautiful—so much so that she felt drawn in.

'He looks amazing. If only I could keep looking at him like this forever,' Kushina thought, a small smile curling at the corner of her lips.

"Kushina?"

After a moment, Kain opened his eyes, confused by her lack of action. Just as he started to tilt his head, she quickly covered his eyes with her hands.

"I'll start right now! I was just... recalling the steps!"

Her cheeks flushed an even deeper red. In truth, she'd been a little lost in thought, but there was no way she'd admit that.

Then Kushina began kneading his shoulders, her small hands trembling just slightly.

Kain's body had become much stronger now, and Kushina's massage felt like kneading steel. Slowly, fine beads of sweat formed on her forehead as she worked.

Meanwhile, Namikaze Minato, having just finished training, was hurrying toward the location of the sealing class. 

Today, he'd made a small breakthrough with the Flying Thunder God Technique. The progress had left him elated, as he'd finally begun to grasp the feeling of using the Flying Thunder God mark to teleport himself.

However, the joy of improving his ninjutsu was fleeting. If he could get closer to Kushina, that would make him truly happy.

'Is the book recommended by Mr. Jiraiya actually useful? Why does it feel like Kushina dislikes me even more the more I follow its advice?'

The thought left Namikaze Minato feeling dejected. After his first failed attempt, he'd gone back to consult Mr. Jiraiya, who had assured him that the book was a masterpiece for wooing women.

Determined to make it work, Minato had spent that night poring over the book, keeping the light on until midnight. Even when he forced himself to put the book down and turn off the light, its contents lingered in his mind.

'It's truly an amazing book!' Minato had thought after finishing it. The vivid, romantic scenarios described in its pages had left him captivated, even making him laugh out loud under the covers at times.

'It's too late to give Kushina a gift today. Missing one day shouldn't be a big deal, right?'

Just as Minato was debating what to do, he spotted Kushina near the entrance of Kain's dessert shop. Instantly, he stopped in his tracks, hiding behind a telephone pole to observe her more closely.

'It's definitely Kushina. No one else has such beautiful red hair.'

But something seemed off. Her face was flushed, and the strands of red hair framing her face were stuck to her skin with sweat. Her steps were unsteady, and she seemed to be limping slightly.

'This… this can't be…'

Panicked, Minato quickly ducked back behind the pole. Pulling out the book Mr. Jiraiya had given him, he flipped to a page that had left a deep impression on him the previous night.

'It's the same… all the same… No, no, I must be overthinking this.'

Minato tried to reassure himself, but when he peeked out again, the shop's door had already closed. Kushina and Kain were walking away together, heading in the direction of the Senju compound where Kushina lived.

'If she's heading home, there's no way I can follow her. I'm just Jiraiya-sensei's disciple, not Jiraiya-sensei himself. To go to the Senju compound, I'd have to get permission from Lady Tsunade first.'

Still, the scene he'd just witnessed left a bitter taste in Minato's mouth. The joy of his progress with the Flying Thunder God Technique had completely evaporated.

'Tomorrow, I have to ask Jiraiya-sensei about this!'

…

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