Chapter 12

After eating three full portions of food, Tsunade slumped onto the sofa with a satisfied groan. Shinki, watching from the kitchen, couldn't help but think that she must have starved herself on purpose just to enjoy a feast at his place. If Kushina hadn't been buying enough food for an army, he would have been hard-pressed to keep up with Tsunade's voracious appetite. 

*Asking her to pitch in for food money? Ha! That's wishful thinking,* Shinki thought. *It's a miracle she doesn't ask me for gambling money.*

He hadn't seen Kushina in a couple of days and wondered what the little rich girl was up to. Just as he finished tidying up, the front door opened, and in walked the very girl he'd been thinking about. But she wasn't her usual energetic self. Instead, Kushina looked downcast and sluggish.

"Shinki, Sister Tsunade," she greeted them, her voice lacking its usual pep.

"What's wrong? Who upset you? Tell me, and I'll knock their teeth out!" Tsunade jumped up, wrapping her arms around Kushina to comfort her. "Did that brat Nawaki get on your nerves again? Don't worry, I'll make sure he keeps his distance for at least a week."

Kushina's eyes sparkled for a moment before dimming again. "No, it's not Nawaki…"

Tsunade's brows furrowed, curiosity and worry crossing her face. "Then who?"

"It's Grandma Mito." 

Silence fell over the room. Tsunade's defiance vanished as she retreated back onto the sofa like a deflated balloon. "Nope. Not touching that. Your Grandma Mito scares even me. Sorry, kid, but you're on your own."

Kushina's eyes grew misty with betrayal. *Sister Tsunade, you're abandoning me?*

Shinki couldn't help but chuckle at the scene. He stepped forward and rubbed Kushina's head, his smile soft. "Kushina, what did Mito-sama do? Did she scold you?"

Kushina shook her head vigorously. "No way! I'm always well-behaved. I'd never make Mito-sama angry." Her pout deepened, and she sighed. "She wants me to start attending the Ninja Academy tomorrow, but I don't want to go."

"That's not a bad thing, Kushina," Tsunade said, sitting up with a serious expression. "Grandma Mito is doing this for you. At the Academy, you'll learn more than just ninja skills. You'll make friends, meet other kids, and become part of Konoha."

Kushina's lips quivered. "But what if my new classmates don't like me?"

Tsunade paused, momentarily at a loss. Memories of her own Academy days flooded back: making Jiraiya cry on the first day and then getting an earful from her grandmother. *Maybe fists weren't the best first impression…*

Seeing Tsunade's hesitation, Shinki stepped in. "Kushina, you're looking at it the wrong way."

Kushina blinked, confusion replacing the sadness in her eyes. "I am?"

"Yes," Shinki said, crouching down so they were at eye level. "Your primary reason for going to the Academy is to learn. Everything else—making friends, meeting classmates—is secondary."

"But… what if they're mean to me?" Her voice was small, hesitant.

"If someone tries to pick on you, just remember: sometimes a little force can go a long way," Shinki said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Kushina's eyes widened, a spark of hope igniting. "Really?"

Tsunade groaned, realizing where this was going. "Shinki, don't encourage her!"

"Of course," Shinki continued, ignoring Tsunade's warning. "If someone makes fun of you or gives you an ugly nickname, don't hold back. Punch them once, and they'll think twice next time. If a teacher or their parents complain, just say, 'My sister is Tsunade, take it up with her.'"

Kushina's eyes shone with admiration, and she nodded. "I get it. Punch first, talk later."

"That's not what I meant!" Tsunade protested, but the damage was done. Shinki leaned in closer to Kushina, his voice dropping to a whisper.

"And you know," he said conspiratorially, "that's how Tsunade-sama got through her first day at the Academy."

"Hey!" Tsunade shouted, but Shinki was already sprinting toward the door, laughing. "Come back here, you brat!"

As Tsunade chased after him, Kushina stood in the center of the room, giggling. Maybe the Academy wouldn't be so scary after all. And if anyone dared to mess with her, she'd show them why *hot pepper* Kushina wasn't just a nickname—it was a promise.