C 31

Kushina sat down at the table, her head bowed in a posture of admission. It was evident that she felt remorseful for her earlier actions. She may not have many friends at school—if we look back at previous years, it would be accurate to say that Kushina has almost no friends at all. Kain had said a few kind words to her, treating her as an equal, which unknowingly led Kushina to see him as a friend. Unlike the gang at Ninja School who often mocked her physical appearance, Kain offered her respect and companionship. 

Although Kain had scammed a considerable amount of money, Kushina didn't seem to notice, perhaps because Kain was adept at disguising his commercial motives. Even some adults in Konoha couldn't distinguish between his authentic praise and his ulterior motives. Therefore, it was no surprise that, after seeing Miwa leave, Kushina attempted to play a joke on Kain. However, Kain's keen instincts sensed something was amiss when he heard her call out, "Boss Kain."

Moreover, it was uncharacteristic for Miwa to make such a childish move as merely sticking her head in the door, prompting Kain to see through Kushina's Transformation Technique with ease.

"Please don't make jokes like that again, Kushina," Kain sighed helplessly. He felt a hint of annoyance, but he recognized that she meant no harm. It was essential to communicate that this type of behavior was unacceptable, especially given the potential consequences. He thought it necessary to learn some ninjutsu skills himself, if only to be better prepared for any future encounters.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to," Kushina replied, her tone tinged with agitation as she lowered her gaze. She cherished her few friendships, and the idea of losing one over a misunderstanding was not something she could bear. Kain, however, did not immediately respond to her apology. Instead, he glanced at the damaged floor, muttering softly to himself about how much the repairs would cost, particularly given the bullet holes he had inadvertently created.

Kushina, still bowing her head, picked up on his comments and quickly realized she should take responsibility for the mishap. However, she was unsure how much to offer as compensation. In her small orange wallet, she had a limited amount of money, but she decided to put it on the table, slowly pushing it toward Kain.

"Forget it. Today was just an accident. Just make sure to pay more attention next time," Kain said, his tone relaxing a bit upon seeing the wallet.

Upon hearing this, Kushina thought he had forgiven her. She raised her head, a smile breaking across her face as she reached for her wallet. Yet Kain was quicker, slipping it into his own pocket. He weighed it in his hand, finding it surprisingly heavy.

"Let's consider this compensation," he stated. "Repairing the floor and replacing the hidden weapons will cost quite a bit, and I was so startled just now that I might need a hospital check-up afterward."

"Do you really want so much?" Kushina protested, a frown on her face. She had only just filled that wallet today, and the thought of losing that money made her feel uneasy.

"Let's not dwell on this," Kain replied, waving off her concerns. "Once I fix the floor and replenish my supplies, there will still be enough left over. I'll treat you to a meal, and that'll cover it."

By now, it was approaching dinner time, and Kain wanted to put the issue behind them.

"What do you want to eat?" he asked. "I'm in the mood for barbecue."

Kushina's eyes lit up. "I want to eat barbecue too!"

Kain shook his head. "No, let's do ramen. Once my barbecue restaurant opens, I promise you can have whatever you want there." He wasn't rejecting her request due to lack of funds but rather his own disinterest. As a resident of the United States, He had tasted many varieties of barbecue, and he had no desire for Konoha's offerings.

Kushina scrunched her face in discontent, thinking that since she had lost over 100,000 ryo today, she deserved at least a barbecue dinner. However, when they arrived at the ramen shop, Kushina quickly forgot her grievances as she happily devoured three large bowls, piling on extra ingredients. Kain couldn't help but shake his head in disbelief. She consumed so many sweets and meals every day without any visible sign of gaining weight. He wondered if the chakra she possessed had a good effect on weight management.

After finishing her meal, Kushina clutched her stomach and bade Kain farewell, heading back home. It wasn't particularly late, but Kain decided to return directly to the food store. The recent war had just ended, and he suspected that many spies from other Shinobi Village's might still be lingering in Konoha. It was best for him to be cautious and return early.

Upon arriving back at the Senju tribe, Kushina noticed the lights still on in her house. She lived with her grandmother, Mito, in the largest house in Senju territory. As she entered, she noticed that the lights in Tsunade's room were also illuminated. After the incident at Konoha Hospital, Tsunade had been dedicating herself to researching and developing medical ninjutsu, hoping to find a way to heal her brother Nawaki's injuries.

During her last visit with Nawaki, Kushina had observed that he was recovering but sounded considerably weaker than before. Tsunade's advanced medical skills would surely aid in Nawaki's recovery, and Kushina was confident that her aunt could work wonders.

Having recently returned home from training outside, Kushina was aware that her timing might not be precise, so Tsunade and Mito were unlikely to notice her entering. After calming down from the excitement of dinner, Kushina recalled her small orange purse, feeling distressed about its loss. Climbing the stairs, she remembered the chocolate box she had bought and considered using it to bribe Tsunade.

"One, two, three… they were stolen again? Damn you, Miss Tsunade!" Kushina fumed, counting the chocolates only to find that seven or eight were left. The last time she had hidden them in the refrigerator beneath some eggs, but it seemed that her attempts were in vain. With a sigh, she reluctantly pulled out three pieces from the box, making her way to the kitchen to prepare a cup of tea. She placed them on a tray and headed towards Tsunade's room.

"Miss Tsunade, you've worked hard staying up all night. Here's a little refreshment for you," she said cheerfully as she entered, attempting to mask her annoyance.

Upon entering, Kushina was taken aback by the chaos. The bed and floor were cluttered with scrolls and documents. Tsunade, who was buried behind the pile, had to stand up just to greet her.

"It's you, Kushina," Tsunade said, her expression shifting from mild annoyance to curiosity. Initially, she thought Kushina had come to confront her about the missing chocolates, but the sight of the refreshments made her realize the girl must have a favor to ask.

Their relationship had flourished over the years, marked by blood ties and shared temperaments, allowing them to bond easily.

"Are you still studying medical ninjutsu at this late hour?" Kushina asked, noticing the disarray around Tsunade.

Not having a clear space to set the refreshments down, she placed them aside and began to assist Tsunade in organizing the mess.

"It's not too late," Tsunade replied, shaking her head in frustration. "I feel like I can develop a healing regeneration technique, but this medical ninjutsu is turning out to be more complicated than I thought."

Kushina sensed the weight of Tsunade's disappointment. She had promised Nawaki she would help him, and the severity of his injuries—a permanent damage to his bodily functions and nerves—was posing a significant challenge that typical medical ninjutsu struggled to address.

Kushina watched her aunt intently, recognizing her determination and the burden she bore. It was a stark reminder of the struggles they faced and the bond that would keep them striving for a better future together.