Kushina's crisp, bright laughter hadn't quite faded even after Ryo's figure had already disappeared into the edge of the dense forest.
Kushina held one hand to her stomach, which ached from laughing, and rested the other casually on the rough trunk of the large tree that had nearly caused her fall.
The burning heat on her face hadn't receded, a blush like a ripe cherry tomato spreading from her cheeks all the way to her delicate earlobes.
She took several deep breaths of the air, fragrant with the scent of grass, before she managed to suppress the triumphant euphoria that had been crashing wildly in her chest.
The skin-to-skin contact in that instant had made her heart tremble with heat, filling her with an unprecedented sense of fulfillment.
Mikoto truly was a genius!
…
Meanwhile…
In the Hokage's office, the light was mostly blocked by heavy curtains, leaving only a dim, yellow glow from an antique chandelier above the desk area, illuminating the swirling smoke in shadowy relief.
Hiruzen sat in a large chair, the soft light of the crystal ball reflecting on his deeply furrowed face.
At this moment, the sphere no longer displayed the training ground but the scene of Kushina and Ryo's practice, and that sudden "body slam" lingered in everyone's minds, silently exerting pressure.
A suffocating, almost palpable tension hung in the air, thick enough to condense into droplets.
The Third Hokage "clacked, clacked" on his pipe, the sound particularly rough and grating in the silence, as grey smoke continuously spiraled upward.
To his left sat Utatane Koharu, her face stern and unyielding.
"Hiruzen!" Utatane Koharu could no longer contain herself. Her plump finger stabbed toward the crystal ball, her voice sharp and shrill, her face pale with anger.
"How much longer will you indulge her?! Uzumaki Kushina is the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki! The village's most important strategic weapon!" She was practically roaring, spittle almost splattering onto the crystal ball.
"Look! Look at how she's behaving! Flirting and getting entangled with that Ryo! Is this the temperament a weapon should have? A Jinchuriki should not get involved in such romantic entanglements! Their hearts must be as cold and hard as stone! What's more—"
She abruptly turned to Mitokado Homura, the fire in her eyes burning hot. "You and I both know how dangerous it is when a Jinchuriki gives birth! Even a slight emotional fluctuation could lead to utter disaster! Who will bear that risk?!"
Her chest heaved violently, her agitation boiling over.
Mitokado Homura pushed up his glasses, which had slid down his nose, his brow furrowing slightly, but his voice remained calm: "Koharu, you are being overly emotional. Are you unaware of Ryo's identity? Tsunade's direct disciple, someone approved and personally appointed by Mito-sama, a direct descendant of the Hokage lineage. Teaching Kushina and enhancing the Jinchuriki's combat power is Mito-sama's intention, and also a guarantee of the village's safety. Besides, Kushina is still young, pure of heart. When young people interact, a few minor incidents do not mean anything."
"Incidents? Homura, are you blind?" Utatane Koharu's voice trembled with rage as she pointed at the two figures in the crystal ball. "Look at Ryo! Was that moment when he grabbed the Jinchuriki's waist an accident?! And now! Look at him…"
"Enough!"
The Third Hokage brought his pipe down hard on the edge of the table with a dull thud, forcefully suppressing Utatane Koharu's simmering anger.
"Mito-sama has her own considerations!" His gaze, sharp as a blade, swept over Utatane Koharu's indignant face.
"Ryo teaching Kushina to train and strengthen her abilities, allowing her to better adapt to her future role, is precisely what we want to see! As for emotions…"
He choked slightly on his smoke, his tone becoming meaningful. "That is also part of a bond. A strong bond is what can truly restrain a Tailed Beast."
In the depths of Hiruzen's eyes, a hint of weariness and calculation flickered, which even he himself did not wish to dwell on.
That chaotic scene in the crystal ball, the boy's clumsy panic and the girl's bright laughter, was too dazzling, piercing through some unspoken pretenses.
He even involuntarily thought of Mito's words, cold to the point of ruthlessness: sacrifice and control are always paramount.
His gaze refocused on the image in the crystal ball, where traces of blue chakra still lingered—the residue left by a Rasengan cast without hand signs.
A subtle glint, hard to detect, flashed deep in his eyes.
"You may leave."
Compared to those minor details, the Third Hokage paid more attention to that ninjutsu, the Rasengan executed without hand signs.
Utatane Koharu's chest rose and fell violently, her face alternating between red and white. Finally, under the oppressive gaze of Hiruzen, she stomped her foot and stormed out, slamming the door behind her.
Mitokado Homura gave the crystal ball a deep look before silently withdrawing.
(To be continued.)
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◇ One bonus chapter will be released for every 100 Power Stones.
◇ You can read the ahead chapter on Pat if you're interested: p-atreon.c-om/Blownleaves (Just remove the hyphen to access normally.)