didn't even greet Kurenai or Anko, but the man in front of her was not someone she could afford to offend.
"Please come in for tea," Kaede said as she made way for the guests.
The two girls were surprised when they entered the house and saw how beautiful the setting was.
Kurenai led them to the dining table and gestured for them to sit. "Please, I need to change and I will join you."
Just after she left to change the blood-stained apron, Shinku watched her and asked, "What is wrong again, Kurenai?" He had noticed she had been so down since arriving.
"Nothing," Kurenai replied.
"Huh? What do you mean by nothing?" Anko saw what was wrong with her and was not afraid to speak up. "Uncle, it's because that woman greeted only you and she doesn't even respect us."
"Just leave her and her behavior," Shinku said, trying to soothe his daughter.
Just then Kaede walked in, talking as if she did not care why the old man had brought that girl to her house.
"Sorry for keeping you waiting," she said as she set the tea tray down in front of Shinku. Serving him was a sign that she still regarded him as a teacher.
After drinking the first cup, Shinku accidentally dropped his teacup.
"Can I know why you came to my house without notifying me? Or you should have summoned me," Kaede asked in a respectful tone.
Cough.
"I came to see Kenji's son and I want to train him," Shinku said with a straight face. "But due to my age I can't do the job. She will be his new teacher," he added, pointing at Kurenai.
Kurenai's face was pale and her hands gripped her skirt tightly, preparing for what Kaede might say.
Kaede looked at Kurenai and found nothing about her that seemed special. She did not look like a strong fighter, but a prior agreement had been sealed.
"Okay, I don't have a problem with that," Kaede said, trying to finish the conversation so she could return to Tsume in the kitchen.
"I hope he accepts you as a teacher."
"What do you mean by that?" Shinku asked.
"It's about those incidents we explained to you yesterday, Uncle," Anko said, wondering if this man's memory was intact.
"It doesn't matter. Call this boy out to serve his master a drink," Shinku said, knowing Kaede did not like Kurenai.
"Megumi is in prison," Kaede said.
Both Shinku and Kurenai changed as if cold water had been poured on their faces.
"Kaede, what did he do to be sent to jail? He is just five years old," Shinku said. He couldn't understand why a five-year-old would be jailed unless he had killed.
"Well, the Hokage's adviser charged him with attempted murder and assault on an Uchiha police officer. He will be there for three weeks," Kaede explained as if it were not something serious.
"Kaede, this was your fault in the first place," Shinku roared, slamming his fist on the table.
"As a shinobi I respect you, but as a woman or a mother you don't deserve that title because..." he continued.
"You are a disgrace to motherhood," Shinku said.
"Oh, I thought you would at least be more polite. But if what I did pisses you off, please leave my house," Kaede shot back.
"And are you expecting me to let him be a crybaby whenever he gets hurt?" Kaede added in a snorting tone.
"Why are you dragging this boy into the same darkness that consumed you? Why are you letting him feel the same pain as you? Just because you lost everything during your prime, must you let this boy lose his path as well? After everything you should have shown love and bond, but no. You are making him ruthless. What is the difference between your teaching and the bloody Mist?" Shinku said.
He could understand why the child had been mischievous all these years.
"Kaede, you are nothing but... like I said earlier, you are not a mother. You... you are a monster," Shinku said while fuming. Both of them began releasing killing intent that made Kurenai and Anko feel suffocated.
If no one intervened, one of the two would die, or worse, Kurenai and Anko could die.
"Dad," Kurenai managed to call, struggling. Her father immediately withdrew his killing intent.
"A monster! You called me a monster? Okay," Kaede snapped.
"When I gave birth, only Yoshino and Tsume were with me that night before I learned the news that my foolish Kenji had been killed in battle after giving wrong intel. And guess who survived? All the Hokage and his advisers and the clan members who were with him did not suffer a scratch."
"What are you trying to say, you crazy woman?" Shinku yelled.
"It doesn't matter anymore. But when I was attacked at the clan with Megumi, I saw you among the crowd and you never came back to check on us. When he was put into a coma by a chūnin, what did you do?"
"Nothing. You did absolutely nothing."
"You don't even visit your student's son once and you are here calling me a monster.