The sharp tip of the Kunai sliced open a bloody gash on her arm before she could defend herself!
"Ugh..."
Uzumaki Kushina let out a suppressed groan of pain. Her body trembled slightly from the sharp agony, her violent offensive came to an abrupt halt, and the scene fell instantly silent.
Crimson blood quickly stained her sleeve, dripping down from her fingertips.
She didn't bother with the wound, instead raising her head. Her blue eyes, misted with moisture from anger, pain, and a deeply hidden stubbornness, locked onto Gu Lingxiao.
That gaze seemed to silently question: Now, what are you going to do?
Gu Lingxiao looked at the "just right" wound on her arm, then met her provocative and probing gaze, sighing helplessly in his heart.
[Oh? Is this... a slip-up? Or is it that even an accidental injury is being used by her as part of testing me? Interesting. This woman really doesn't let any opportunity pass to figure out my constitution.]
He took a roll of clean bandages and a handkerchief from his Ninja tool pouch and walked over slowly.
Under Uzumaki Kushina's burning gaze, he gently grasped her injured arm.
The moment their skin touched, Uzumaki Kushina's body trembled, almost imperceptibly.
That wave of warm energy surged over again.
[These little hands, so fair and tender, they're practically works of art.]
While Gu Lingxiao carefully wiped the blood around her wound with the handkerchief, he let out a sincere, lecherous exclamation in his heart.
His movements were professional and gentle; he looked focused and serious as he bandaged Uzumaki Kushina's wound.
However, just as he tied the final knot, his large hand, which was holding her wrist, did not immediately let go.
Just as she was about to frown, she felt her hand being gently turned over by him, palm facing up.
Under Uzumaki Kushina's stunned gaze, Gu Lingxiao's thumb did not move away. Instead, carrying a trace of scorching heat, it pressed and rubbed gently but firmly against a vital Chakra node in her delicate palm.
That was no unconscious rub, but a clear, highly suggestive, and aggressive action.
It was as if he were using this action to tell her: I have received your scheme; now, it is my turn.
This action made all the blood in Uzumaki Kushina's body rush to her head with a roar, even more violently than when she heard all his previous inner thoughts!
That thumb, carrying a scorching temperature, slid across her delicate palm with a measured weight.
Uzumaki Kushina's body froze instantly.
A wave of scorching heat, more violent than any time before, roared up to the top of her head. It was not a fire of anger, but a mixture of shame, offense, and a hint of panic at having her thoughts seen through.
This action was more aggressive than all his previous lecherous inner thoughts.
[Hehe, can't take it already? This should count as 'in-depth', right? System, show me the rewards quickly!]
Gu Lingxiao's inner voice, like a heavy hammer, slammed hard against Uzumaki Kushina's nerves.
So, all of his actions were premeditated.
Almost the moment his thought fell, a mechanical voice that only he could hear rang out.
[Ding! Detected in-depth contact (holding hands to treat injury) with target "Uzumaki Kushina", triggering In-depth Sign-in!]
[Congratulations Host for obtaining the reward: Uzumaki Clan Bloodline Limit · Adamantine Sealing Chains (Beginner)!]
Gu Lingxiao felt a wave of wild joy; a brand new skill panel slowly unfolded in his consciousness.
The very moment the sign-in succeeded, a faint yet incredibly pure aura of Chakra flashed and vanished from within Gu Lingxiao's body.
This aura might have been imperceptible to others, but to Uzumaki Kushina, it was like a thunderclap in the dead of night!
Her body jolted violently!
As a top-tier user of the Adamantine Sealing Chains, she was familiar with this Chakra fluctuation to the marrow of her bones!
This... this is the aura of the Adamantine Sealing Chains!
She raised her head abruptly; the anger and shame that had just risen in her azure eyes were instantly replaced by a pure, incredulous horror.
Why... would he possess the aura of the core secret technique of the Uzumaki Clan?
"Uzumaki Kushina, is something wrong?"
Gu Lingxiao released her hand, stepped back slightly, and asked in that same unchanging, respectful tone.
[But how does one use these Adamantine Sealing Chains? Do I need to perform hand signs or just shout a slogan? No manual provided, zero stars.]
This inner grumbling that followed immediately left all of Uzumaki Kushina's suspicion and questioning stuck in her throat; she couldn't utter a single word.
Her gaze toward Gu Lingxiao had completely changed now.
It was no longer looking at a lecher, nor at a mysterious source of intelligence, but as if looking at... an unknown creature that was completely impossible to understand with common sense.
Uzumaki Kushina stared at him intensely for a long time, finally said nothing, turned around, and walked silently toward the direction of the Village.
Her heart had long since been stirred into a monstrous storm.
The two left the training ground, one after the other.
Gu Lingxiao walked behind. The gaze beneath his mask seemed to fall on Uzumaki Kushina's swaying figure, but his peripheral vision swept over a large tree in the distance without leaving a trace.
[Oh? A little mouse has been following us the whole way. This familiar Chakra... is it Danzo or...?]
[Very well, let me show you what it means to be truly unfathomable.]
He withdrew his gaze; his inner thoughts did not cause the slightest suspicion in Uzumaki Kushina, as if everything just now had been an illusion.
And behind that large tree, the figure of Goshawk slowly emerged after confirming they had gone far, his eyes filled with undisguised jealousy and heavy suspicion...
Konoha Village, an underground stronghold hidden from the light of day.
"This man, Gu Lingxiao, has an unknown background and unfathomable strength, yet he was able to replace us and become the sole bodyguard of Uzumaki Kushina. His actions are suspicious; I recommend an investigation."
Goshawk knelt on one knee, reporting everything he had seen in a low voice to a Root Ninja wearing a white mask, not without adding his own embellishments.
The Root Ninja listened quietly to the end, and a hoarse voice sounded in the gloomy space.
"The stability of the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is of paramount importance. Any suspicious factor that might affect her must be thoroughly eliminated."
"I will report this matter to Danzo personally."
A web of conspiracy against Gu Lingxiao had already been quietly spread.
On the way home, Uzumaki Kushina's steps were exceptionally heavy.
This man named Gu Lingxiao—his existence had completely exceeded the scope of her cognition.
He could predict the future, he possessed mysterious healing power, and now, he had even obtained the non-transferable secret of the Uzumaki Clan—the Adamantine Sealing Chains!
What on earth was that "System"? Why would it give him rewards?
All of this was like mountains pressing down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.
[I need to find a place when I get back to properly test these chains. I wonder if they're sturdy and if they can bind a Tailed Beast... Hehe, or, using them to bind someone of Uzumaki Kushina's level should be quite interesting.]
Gu Lingxiao's damn inner voice rang out once again without warning, challenging her nerves, which were on the verge of collapse, with the most lecherous thoughts.
Uzumaki Kushina stumbled, nearly falling right there on the street.
She grabbed the wall by the side of the road, only then managing to steady herself.
She felt that her mind was about to be driven completely crazy by this bastard!
Now that he had the Adamantine Sealing Chains, the first thing he thought of was to use them to bind her?!
Finally, the silhouette of her home appeared before her eyes.