"Female friend?" Kushina frowned, feeling that something wasn't so simple.
How could Kairen know a Hyuga girl?
And he wasn't the type to meddle in other people's affairs—how could his conscience suddenly get the better of him and make him help the Hyuga branch family?
Could it be this Hyuga woman?
Kairen patted Kushina on the shoulder, telling her not to overthink it.
"Don't waste time. This is a special period—we're going to discuss important matters!"
Kushina scolded Kairen, "You still know it's wartime? You've already turned the village upside down, and now we have to bear the siege of four great ninja nations."
"What's there to be afraid of? I'm here, aren't I?"
Kairen put an arm around Kushina's shoulder and slowly walked out of the Hyuga residence.
As he left, he also waved to Hyuga Nochika to say goodbye.
Kushina pushed Kairen away and scolded him,
"You're getting more and more disrespectful. I'm Kushina—no hugging and slinging your arm around me."
If just hooking one arm already bothers you, then if I pressed you and hurt you, wouldn't you accuse me for a lifetime… Kairen thought helplessly.
"Kairen, Kairen~"
A childish voice sounded from behind.
Kairen turned around—it was Natsuka, and beside her were several children from the Hyuga branch family.
Kairen smiled, slowly squatted down, and looked at Natsuka, whose face was full of gratitude.
"Little Natsuka, what do you need me for this time? Could it be that someone from the main family is threatening you again?"
Kairen guessed.
Kairen had let Natsuka decide the fate of the Caged Bird Seal, so it was inevitable that people from the main family might target her afterward!
Natsuka shook her head. "It's not like that."
She pointed at the shy branch-family children beside her.
"They want to thank you!"
Kairen looked at the branch-family children and heard them sincerely say,
"Thank you! We'll never forget your kindness!"
Kairen rubbed their heads and smiled gently.
"Good children. Now that you're free, make sure to smile more."
"We will!"
After comforting the Hyuga children, Natsuka asked Kairen to bend down. Kairen did as she said.
She gently kissed Kairen on the forehead.
"You mustn't get married. You have to wait for Natsuka to grow up and then marry you."
Kairen touched his forehead. Without realizing it, he had gained another engagement.
But he took it as a joke and nodded to Natsuka.
"I don't love anyone—I'll wait for little Natsuka to grow up and become my bride."
"Heehee!"
Natsuka smiled so happily that her eyes narrowed, then, like a cheerful butterfly, she led her companions back home.
Watching their backs, Kairen casually wiped his mouth. The adult world was full of yellow thoughts—far less pure than that of children.
Beside him, Kushina said disdainfully, "Are you interested in that little girl?"
Kairen turned around and looked at Kushina, her red hair like maple leaves, and in a single glance wanted to strip her clothes off.
Wasn't I right? The adult world is far too direct and crude.
"What? We're not that many years apart. Can't I be with her?"
Kushina thought carefully and nearly forgot Kairen's age.
Kairen was mature both outwardly and inwardly; there were things he understood better than even her.
Who taught him that stuff?
Kushina wondered—could it be Tsunade?
Thinking it through, only Tsunade was closest to Kairen, and only Tsunade would have the chance to teach him that kind of physiological knowledge.
But why would Tsunade teach Kairen to know so much?
Could it be that Tsunade was also some kind of pervert like that Hyuga Bushi, targeting a little boy…
Kushina hurriedly shook her head, not daring to think further.
Tsunade wouldn't be that kind of person. She wouldn't.
Kairen looked at Kushina, who had fallen into inner turmoil, not knowing what she was thinking.
He put an arm around her shoulder and headed toward the Hokage building, asking as he walked,
"Why did Minato leave? Did he dump you?"
"Nonsense! Minato and Jiraiya-sensei went out to train and improve themselves. Our feelings are so deep—how could he possibly abandon me?"
"Heh heh, be careful. What if Minato meets someone even prettier than you out there? Then he won't come back."
"Impossible, (ꐦ ಠ 皿 ಠ) "
They chatted back and forth, with Kairen mostly concerned about Kushina's relationship issues.
But the thing Kushina cared about was a bit strange.
She tried to make her voice sound gentle and whispered to Kairen,
"Kairen… did Tsunade ever ask you to do some strange things?"
Why would she think that? Did she discover my secret relationship with Tsunade? But the way she asked made it sound like I was the victim… Kairen thought.
He instantly packaged himself as a boy forced by a shrew, saying somewhat naively,
"No! No! Tsunade is very good to me. At night she even lets me sleep with her."
Kushina's eyes widened, as if she had discovered the truth.
"What did she make you do? Did she force you to lick—"
Kairen now reverted to his true-age mentality.
"Tsunade taught me a lot. She said this is a step for a boy to grow into a man. Everyone goes through this."
Stone-cold proof!
That old woman Tsunade really did make a move on Kairen.
No wonder Kairen knew so much. No wonder he was different from ordinary children.
So it was all Tsunade's fault.
She couldn't find a man for thirty years and had already become twisted, actually reaching out to a pure child.
Heavens! Konoha is too chaotic!
Poor little Kairen, forced to be at Tsunade's mercy.
In her heart, Kushina didn't even call her "Tsunade-sama" anymore—she had seen through Tsunade's evil intentions.
She immediately looked at Kairen with eyes full of compassion and, in a sisterly manner, pulled him into her arms.
"Little Kairen, don't worry. I'll protect you. I won't let that evil woman Tsunade violate you again."
Kairen didn't care about anything now; his nose was filled with Kushina's fragrance.
You brought the wolf into the house yourself—don't blame me!
As for slandering Tsunade, I'm just a child!
Wasn't it Tsunade who made me understand so much?
Did I say anything wrong? I didn't!
Kushina patted Kairen's back, truly treating him as an innocent child.
"Don't cry, don't cry! I'll definitely go talk to Tsunade. When the time comes, you'll move out and live with me."
Am I crying? I'm clearly smiling.
This silly Kushina already had Naruto-mode activated and still wanted to bring the wolf into the house again. Kairen continued acting.
"Wuwuwu… Kushina."
"Tsunade even forced me to do many disgusting things. She… she made me clean down there, whipped me, and even bit me."
Kairen poured out all of Tsunade's evil deeds.
It was enough to make listeners grieve and weep.
Kushina hugged Kairen tightly, her face full of indignation.
"Too despicable! You're just a child!"
"It must be like this. Tsunade is so old and unwanted that her heart has become twisted—she actually reached out her demonic hand to you."
"Despicable… ╰_╯╬"