C 82 (2)

After about an hour, Terumi Shin checked the time; it was almost time to take his leave.

"Kain-san, I learned a lot from talking with you today. I'll think carefully about your suggestion when I return," he said.

Hearing this, Kain couldn't help but think Shin was too honest, and for a moment, he felt a bit guilty for deceiving someone so straightforward. "Shin-san," he said, "if you ever find that you can't stay in Kirigakure, you're welcome to come to my place."

Kain knew that Kirigakure's Blood Mist policy would only intensify, and that Uchiha Obito would eventually take over from Uchiha Madara, leading to Kirigakure's ruin. 

When that time came, Mist Shinobi's ability to track down defectors would weaken, and Kain could easily hide a few refugees in the Land of Waves.

"I understand. Thank you, Kain-san." Terumi Shin replied with a touch of newfound confidence. After saying goodbye, he returned to Kirigakure under the cover of his mission and his clan.

Once Shin had left, Kain shook his head and muttered, "Some Ninjas are too easy to deceive."

He put the issues of Kirigakure aside for the moment. His business interests required his attention, and with his current wealth, he could afford to expand his support for war orphans.

For now, he wasn't concerned about the Land of Fire. Its stable environment was perfect for Aya's development. Her influence had been reduced significantly, so it was unlikely Konoha would take further action against her.

Kain's primary focus remained on establishing control in the Land of Waves and the Land of Tea. Once those regions were on the right track, he intended to return to the Marvel world.

Inside Konoha Village

Kushina had just finished at the barrier class, where she'd completed another C-level mission, helping repair the runes. Her performance naturally won the praise of her instructors.

At only fourteen, Kushina had been personally trained by Uzumaki Mito, one of Konoha's foremost sealing masters. With her remarkable talent, few in Konoha could rival her in sealing techniques.

"Classmate Kushina!"

As she was about to head home, a voice called out to her. Turning, she saw it was Namikaze Minato, a former classmate from the ninja academy.

"It's you, Namikaze Minato-san," Kushina said, smiling slightly. "What's the matter?"

Kushina took a small step back, clutching the scroll in her hand. Although her last encounter with the Cloud Shinobi spies had nothing to do with Namikaze Minato, she still felt awkward around him. 

For that reason, she wasn't keen on becoming friends with him.

"What do you want?" she asked, her tone guarded.

"How about having a meal together? You should have some free time, classmate Kushina!" Namikaze Minato replied confidently. As he spoke, he produced a bouquet of flowers from behind his back and handed them to her, trying to maintain a bold expression.

Kushina's eyes twitched slightly at the sight. Without missing a beat, she stepped around him, leaving him with a curt response: "I don't have time!"

Namikaze Minato froze for a moment, his composure faltering. Desperate to salvage the situation, he called after her, "Kushina, I'll become the strongest ninja one day, just you wait!"

Whizz!

A kunai zipped past Minato, grazing his hair before embedding itself in the utility pole behind him.

"Go be crazy somewhere else. Don't come near me," Kushina snapped. With that, she hurried off. She glanced around nervously, relieved that few people had been around to witness the scene. Her reputation would've been in tatters otherwise.

Minato stood frozen in shock, staring at the kunai. It wasn't until Kushina was long gone that he finally shook himself out of his stupor. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out a book and muttered, "Why isn't this working? In the book, the girl with a similar personality to Kushina said yes…"

Scratching his head in confusion, Minato decided to seek advice from his teacher, Jiraiya.

Meanwhile, back at her home, Kushina was still fuming.

"What's with that guy? Is this another one of someone else's schemes?" she muttered.

Her frustration lingered as she thought about the boys who used to mock her at school. Now they were acting like nothing had happened and trying to be friendly.

"But even if I wanted to eat with someone," she thought with a huff, "it would be with the boss."

At that thought, her mind drifted to Kain. She recalled the time she'd massaged his head late one night. Embarrassed, Kushina let out a few muffled squeals, covering her face as she paced around the living room. 

Fortunately, Nawaki and Tsunade weren't home; otherwise, she would've died of shame.

"But is what the boss said really true?" Kushina wondered aloud. "He said the tailed beasts are like humans. That even if I can't befriend them, I should at least treat them like business partners. It sounds so strange… but I can't even get close to the Nine Tails right now."

Her thoughts drifted to Kain's advice. If she could manage it, she might be able to control the power of the tailed beast sooner—just like Grandma Mito had.

Kushina's expression turned serious as she remembered her last attempt to reach out to the Nine Tails. The overwhelming violence and negativity radiating from the beast had felt like a symbol of pure disaster.

"If I could really manage it," she murmured, "then I could learn to control this power. Maybe… just maybe, I could become like Grandma Mito."

After thinking it over, Kushina decided to give it a try, though she knew it might be dangerous. The seal on her body was powered by her own chakra, arranged in coordination with Konoha's Sealing Corps.

If Kushina herself were influenced by the Nine Tails' chakra, the seals created by the Sealing Corps wouldn't be of much use. After all, their skill couldn't compare to that of Uzumaki Mito.

If someone with sealing skills on par with Uzumaki Mito were available to assist her, Kushina might have been able to transfer the Nine Tails' chakra safely. Then, she could attempt to communicate with the beast more freely.

…

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