Konohagakure.
Tsunade, fully geared up, was preparing to head out to the front lines once again.
But before she left, she wanted to say goodbye to Rinjin.
It had been over a week since their last meeting at the Senju estate.
It wasn't that Tsunade didn't want to see him—she was simply too embarrassed.
All thanks to Grandma's meddling—those words about "please take care of him" had left her red-faced and mortified.
Clad in deep blue armor that hugged her figure, Tsunade slung her pack over her shoulder and scaled the wall at 66 Mingcha Street.
Just one look, she told herself—just a quick peek, and then she'd leave right away.
But as she quietly slipped into Rinjin's house, the scene that greeted her left her frozen in place.
In the courtyard, Rinjin—dressed in a fitted black combat suit—was crouched in front of an impossibly adorable little girl.
Her face was streaked with dirt and tears.
"Don't cry, don't cry, little Mei, it's okay…"
Rinjin was the picture of a doting father, gently dabbing her cheeks with a handkerchief.
"Mommy's just gone traveling on the River of Forgetfulness, so you have to be a good girl, okay?"
"Boo-hoo… Waaah!
I want to go traveling too! I want to go out and play!"
Hiding behind the rock garden, Tsunade nearly cracked her face trying not to laugh—or explode.
The River of Forgetfulness—seriously?!
Why not just say her mom's swimming in it wearing a bikini?
And who the hell is this kid's mother?
Rinjin, did you finally cheat on me?
Hot-tempered—well, straightforward—Tsunade couldn't stand it a second longer. She leapt out from behind the rocks and stormed over, brimming with righteous fury.
She grabbed Rinjin's ear before he could even react.
"Come here!"
Face dark as thunder, she dragged him aside.
"Talk! Whose kid is this?"
Looking at Tsunade, who practically had "jealous" written across her forehead, Rinjin covered his ear and groaned inwardly.
Little Tsuna, I really misjudged you!
With that kind of hand speed, you're not a Beedrill evolved from Kakuna—you're a Ninjask with Speed Boost!
Suppressing a laugh, Rinjin put on his most earnest smile and explained,
"Don't be mad. She's a friend's kid. He and his wife went traveling and left her with me for a while."
"Really?"
Tsunade's big amber eyes narrowed with suspicion.
Rinjin nodded frantically and leaned in close, whispering in her ear,
"Look—she's got reddish-brown hair and green eyes. Does she look anything like me?"
His breath tickled her sensitive ear, and in an instant, this legendary kunoichi jumped like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. Her cheeks flushed a fiery red.
"You… you… you! If you want to explain, just explain—why get so close?!"
Watching Tsunade practically steaming with embarrassment, Rinjin could only shrug.
Seriously, what is this?
If I don't explain, you get mad.
If I do explain, you get even madder!
You might as well change your name to Ironclad Express!
After grumbling to himself, Rinjin ignored her, turned around, took Mei Terumī's little hand, and muttered,
"Let's go, this auntie's a dummy."
With that, he and Mei Terumī vanished on the spot.
Time to bail—
If he stayed any longer, he was sure his head would be flattened!
A moment later, Rinjin and the little girl reappeared in Amegakure.
The one-and-a-half-year-old clung tightly to his side, her big eyes full of fear as she looked around.
Everything was new and strange to her—including the man beside her.
"Uncle Rinjin… can… can you take me home?
I… I want to wait for Daddy and Mommy to come back at home…"
Little Mei Terumī looked up at him, voice trembling.
Then, as if afraid he'd refuse, she stammered on,
"I… I can take care of myself. I can… buy groceries… I can… cook…"
She couldn't cook. She was lying.
Mommy always said good kids don't lie, but she lied anyway.
She didn't want to keep moving around. She was scared of all these unfamiliar places.
Looking down at the little girl, tears sparkling in her eyes as she tried so hard to be brave, Rinjin let out a long sigh.
Raising a child really wasn't easy.
After a moment's thought, he knelt down to meet her gaze, speaking softly,
"Uncle promises—when you grow up, and Daddy and Mommy come back, I'll definitely take you home."
He reached out and patted her head, then added,
"Think about it—if you went home now, wouldn't Daddy and Mommy worry about you being hungry? Or scared at night?
I've heard… there are blood-red eyes hiding everywhere in the mist!"
The little girl's eyes went wide. She shivered, and a scene flashed through her mind:
A pitch-black room, lying alone in bed, hungry and tired.
Outside the window, a pair of terrifying eyes stared at her from behind the curtains, watching her every move.
Shuddering, Mei Terumī instinctively gripped Rinjin's hand tighter and snuggled closer to his chest.
"Then… Uncle Rinjin, can… can you stay with me at home…?"
Rinjin pursed his lips, pretended to think it over, then shook his head.
"No can do~ Uncle has to work, just like your dad—gotta earn money to buy you yummy food."
Maybe the thought of those eyes was too much, because the little girl didn't protest. She simply held out her arms for a hug.
Seeing this, Rinjin scooped her up in one smooth motion, using the classic parent technique from his past life.
Nestled in his strong arms, the little girl finally relaxed, no longer trembling.
"Uncle, you have to watch my back!"
Seeing her so serious, Rinjin nodded solemnly.
"Don't worry. As long as Uncle's here, those scary eyes won't dare come close."
With that, he carried her toward the Amegakure tower.
...
In the Amegakure leader's office, Rie watched her big brother holding a child, her eye twitching uncontrollably.
"Bro, what's this all about???"
"My daughter. What do you think? Isn't she pretty?"
Rie scrutinized Mei Terumī for a moment, then nodded seriously.
"A very cute little one!
But, dear big brother, maybe you should go home and check your closet and under your bed!"
Rinjin scratched his head, confused.
"What do you mean?"
Rie shook her head, expression sly.
"Nothing, really. I just think you look super cool in Sage Mode!"
As soon as she said it, Rinjin's face darkened.
Oh, so that's how it is? You're playing word games with me now!
Looks like high school math and science aren't enough for you anymore!
Good thing I've got a copy of 'HTML & From Beginner to the Grave'—want to give it a try?
Seeing her brother's increasingly sinister glare, Rie broke out in a cold sweat.
The next second, she flashed a fawning smile.
"Come on, bro, don't be mad! I was just messing with you~"
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
The story isn't over...
🤔 Want to know what happens next to the characters?
🤫 Eager to explore the untold secrets of this world?
✍️ Ready to read more of my wildest stories?
✨patreon.com/DarkGolds