Any passionate male present would have seen his dreams come true by witnessing their actions. The deeds performed by these socially prominent women were straight from Jiraiya's stories.
Near Konoha's onsen, a restless Jiraiya was bemoaning his misfortune. He hadn't met any cool people today. All he noticed were a few elderly women about his sensei's age taking a bath.
He was still attempting to remove those images from his mind when he unexpectedly sneezed. "It has been a lengthy and agonizing day." "It appears that I overlooked an opportunity at some point."
Heaving a sigh over his misfortune, he attempted to drift off to sleep, hoping to erase the troubling images from his thoughts.
Meanwhile, a rejuvenated and calm Kushina and Mikoto exited the onsen, with Kushina wearing Mikoto's kimono.
Following a simultaneous discharge, both had rapidly cleaned each other. Kushina was indeed a bit unsettled by how rapidly events had unfolded but had no complaints about the outcome. A sense of fulfillment surged within her.
When the women entered the living space, they were welcomed by children covered in sweat and dirt. They swiftly guided them to the bathroom.
While Naruto and Sasuke were in the restroom, they prepared dinner. "We should certainly repeat this, Kushina." I completely had a great time today. "Perhaps we ought to include Hitomi as well next time, for nostalgia," Mikoto proposed.
Kushina agreed with a nod. "Sure, we can go ahead with that, but I won't repeat those actions, Mikoto." In my opinion, we both lost our grip today. "I'll confess I found it enjoyable, yet it's not appropriate."
Mikoto let out a sigh. "Forget about what's right or wrong, Kushina. Look at the outcome. Say what you want, but you've managed to release some tension—and with your new position, you're going to need that. Besides," she added with a teasing smile, "you could do it for poor Hitomi too. I bet that stiff Hiashi couldn't possibly keep up with her."
Kushina laughed. "Oh, Hitomi's a wild one, alright. She might seem all proper on the surface, but she turns into a total beast once she gets going. And honestly, I blame you for dragging her down that path."
Mikoto chuckled, about to fire back, when the sound of small feet thudding down the hallway interrupted her.
Moments later, Naruto and Sasuke burst into the dining room, loudly arguing over who had won their sparring match—each claiming to have mastered the techniques taught by Kushina and Itachi. In truth, they'd just been rolling around in the mud, trying to outdo each other.
Dinner passed quickly, and soon it was time for Kushina and Naruto to head home. She packed her shopping into a sealing scroll, and at the compound gates, Mikoto and Sasuke came to see them off.
Mikoto pulled Kushina into a hug. "Don't forget my offer—it still stands. Just let me know if you ever need me." She gave her friend a sly squeeze before letting go, making Kushina blush.
A couple of Military Police officers nearby couldn't help but watch, grinning—some amused, others clearly jealous.
"Thanks for everything today," Kushina said awkwardly, still flustered. "Good night."
---
Later that night, as Kushina lay in bed, flashes of what had happened with Mikoto played over in her mind. She didn't really regret it—though she couldn't deny feeling a tiny pang of guilt.
She thought, "I don't even know why I did that, but Mikoto's right. I need some kind of outlet for all this frustration. But going to Mikoto… I can't just walk up to her, can I? Ugh, stupid Mikoto and her stupid logic. Now I'll probably end up doing something I shouldn't because of her reasoning. I've never been good at… handling this myself. It's so irritating. Minato, please come home soon. I miss you so much. Stupid Minato! He could come home anytime using Hiraishin if he really wanted to. But no, he insists on staying with the forces to 'set an example.'"
As Kushina drifted into sleep, her mind subconsciously tried to justify her behavior with logic.
.
Over the past eight years, many things had shifted across the elemental nations. One major change was the constant deployment of shinobi among the great nations.
Another was the tightening of trade restrictions, especially concerning items that could be used for shinobi or military purposes.
Because of this, the great nations began claiming every mine and natural resource that could potentially benefit them.
Smaller nations found themselves under increasing pressure from their larger neighbors. Initially, many feared it would escalate into the Fourth Shinobi War, but it soon became clear that this conflict would take a very different form.
As Konoha increased its military presence along the borders, the smaller nations turned into political battlegrounds, with intense negotiations between major powers trying to secure favorable arrangements.
Minor nations, especially those caught between the great powers—like Kusagakure and Amegakure—became havens for smugglers and hubs of black-market trade involving restricted goods from surrounding regions.
Often, these underground activities were backed by the local daimyo or the rulers of those smaller nations.
Alongside that, these territories became prime zones for espionage and intelligence work, filled with spies and information brokers trading secrets and spreading false data.
Another result of this environment was the rise of powerful corporations such as Gato's shipping company, which expanded at an astonishing rate.
Outwardly, it looked like an ordinary trade business, but behind closed doors, there wasn't a single black-market deal that Gato wasn't somehow involved in.
Clever as ever, Gato set up his headquarters just beyond the Fire Country's reach to avoid punishment from Konoha or the Fire Daimyo.
When Mizu no Kuni fell into civil unrest, his profits skyrocketed—he supplied both sides with weapons, rations, and essential goods. Now, his sights were set on taking control of Nami no Kuni.
The small island was ideal for his growing operations. However, due to the ongoing Cold War between nations, he couldn't simply seize it outright.
Instead, he began quietly purchasing ports and infrastructure throughout the area, confident that he would eventually succeed.