The afternoon sunlight slanted into Ryo's living room, scattering patches of light across the floor.
With Rin at the Ninja Academy, the house felt peaceful and warm.
Kushina sat cross legged on the carpet, her fiery red hair standing out vividly in the light.
She was animatedly talking to Mikoto beside her, her expression bright and lively.
Mikoto listened quietly, a soft smile on her lips. Her long black hair fell over her shoulders as she nodded now and then.
The living room was calm, filled only with gentle breathing and the faint sound of birds outside.
Suddenly, the sound of a key turning came from the entrance, followed by steady but slightly tired footsteps.
"I am back." Tsunade appeared at the door, her blonde ponytail a little messy, fatigue from completing a mission still visible on her face.
But the moment she saw the people inside, especially Ryo who had just walked out of the kitchen holding a cup of water, the exhaustion in her eyes was instantly replaced by heat.
She casually tossed the pack on her shoulder to the floor.
With a dull thud, the quiet was broken.
A few days before Rin started school, Tsunade had been sent by Hiruzen on a mission to negotiate with the Fire Daimyo.
The reason was simple. Over the past few years, a large portion of Konoha's funds had been diverted into the Wood Release project, leaving the village finances stretched thin.
So Hiruzen turned his attention to Tsunade.
After all, she was related to the Daimyo.
With Tsunade speaking, things would go much smoother.
"Tsunade onee san, welcome back." Kushina immediately smiled and greeted her.
Mikoto also stood and smiled gently.
Tsunade's gaze passed right over them and locked onto Ryo.
That look was direct and intense, like a predator fixing on its prey.
The moment Ryo met her eyes, he felt a strong sense of danger.
"Yeah, I am back," Tsunade replied, but she did not head for the sofa.
She walked straight toward Ryo, her steps urgent.
Under Kushina and Mikoto's surprised gazes, she grabbed Ryo's wrist with considerable force.
"Come on. Upstairs," Tsunade said in a low voice that allowed no refusal.
She did not even give Ryo time to put down his cup before pulling him along.
"Huh. Tsunade onee san?" Kushina called out in confusion.
Mikoto also stared at them in surprise.
Ryo gave a helpless smile, quickly set the cup on the nearby cabinet, and let himself be dragged along.
Tsunade ignored the others completely. Sunlight or not, she only wanted to vent.
She almost dragged him up the stairs, their footsteps echoing loudly.
"Ryo, I am in a very bad mood, so you had better endure it," Tsunade said as she pushed him onto the bed after entering the room, her tone rough.
Downstairs, the living room fell into a strange silence.
The smile on Kushina's face froze, slowly turning into disbelief, then embarrassment and anger.
She sat back down on the carpet, hugged her knees, and puffed up her cheeks.
Mikoto also sat back down. The smile faded from her face as she looked toward the staircase with complicated emotions.
Before long, faint sounds came from upstairs.
Dull thuds of bodies colliding mixed with Tsunade's restrained but unmistakable gasps and moans of intense pleasure.
Even through the floor, the sounds were not loud, yet painfully clear, like stones dropped into a still lake.
"Kuh." Kushina's face turned bright red as she covered her ears, as if burned.
Yet the sounds seemed to pierce straight into her mind, vividly painting images that made her ears burn.
She twisted restlessly, toes curling, until she could not endure it any longer.
She suddenly raised her head and shouted toward the stairs with all her strength, her voice sharp and filled with jealousy, grievance, and frustration.
"Tsunade onee san. You are way too loud. It is so noisy. I am going deaf."
Her voice was shrill and full of a young girl's resentment and dissatisfaction, along with the bitterness of being beaten to it.
"And I was clearly here first."
The last words came out with a heavy nasal tone, almost on the verge of tears, releasing all the pent up grievance and helplessness of her age.
Beside her, Mikoto's fair face had already flushed a deep red that spread all the way behind her ears.
Hearing Kushina's tearful complaint, she trembled slightly and lowered her head even more.
She pressed her lips together and murmured softly, almost like a sigh, filled with low spirits and subtle sympathy. "That is right."
That quiet murmur was not only agreement with Kushina's complaint about the noise, but also carried Mikoto's unspoken guilt.
As someone who joined later, as the one who stepped into her best friend's relationship, she never wanted to be ahead of Kushina in something as intimate as this.
That guilt weighed heavily on her, making her feel even more embarrassed in the face of Kushina's grievance.
Kushina lowered her hands from her ears and let out a long, resentful sigh.
She rested her chin on her knees and stared blankly at the light on the floor, her voice dull with frustration. "Damn it. If only I were two months older."
Mikoto quietly reached out and gently patted Kushina's trembling back, offering silent comfort.
Her movements were careful, her eyes filled with understanding.
She opened her mouth as if to say something, but no words felt adequate.
The sounds upstairs continued, sometimes high, sometimes low, stretching on like a cruel test of patience.
Time seemed to drag endlessly.
Finally, after what felt like forever, the noise gradually subsided and returned to silence.
Some time later, footsteps sounded again.
This time, only Ryo came downstairs.
He had changed into loose home clothes. His expression was relaxed and refreshed, though a trace of tiredness lingered in his eyes. Tsunade's passion took stamina.
The moment he stepped off the last stair, Kushina jumped to her feet, her cheeks still red.
"Ryo." She rushed up to him and accused angrily. "You went too far. And Tsunade onee san too. It is broad daylight and you did not even hold back. It was so loud. My ears are ringing."
Ryo looked at the flustered Kushina and reached out to rub her red hair.
She tilted her head away and snorted, clearly still upset.
"Where is Tsunade onee san." Mikoto asked softly as she walked over, glancing past Ryo.
"Her." Ryo smiled helplessly. "She worked too hard and fell asleep."
Mikoto nodded in understanding, her gaze lowering slightly.
Ryo looked between the puffed up Kushina and Mikoto who seemed calm but clearly downcast.
Even with his thick skin, he felt a bit uneasy.
Kushina's grievance and Mikoto's quiet resentment pricked at him.
He cleared his throat and decided to placate them.
Starting with Kushina.
"Alright, alright, my little Kushina," Ryo softened his voice and reached out again.
This time, Kushina twisted a bit but did not avoid him, letting him rub her head.
The familiar touch eased her anger slightly, though she still pouted.
"I came down to be with you, did I not." Ryo said gently, then turned to Mikoto and lightly tapped her nose. "And our gentle Mikoto, do not be unhappy."
Mikoto's cheeks reddened at the affectionate gesture. She gave a soft response.
The initial appeasement worked. Ryo let out a quiet breath.
He took Kushina by the wrist and guided her to sit on the sofa, with Mikoto sitting beside her.
"Kushina," Ryo said seriously, leaning forward slightly. "Do you remember what I told you before."
Kushina was still caught up in mixed emotions and did not react right away. "Huh."
"About the Nine Tails," Ryo said clearly. "Helping you fully master its power and become a perfect jinchuriki."
Kushina's eyes widened instantly, sparkling like stars.
All her earlier grievance and dissatisfaction vanished in an instant.
"You mean." Her voice trembled with excitement as she sat up straight, gripping her knees. "Now it is possible. Really."
"Yes," Ryo nodded confidently. "Before, my strength was not enough and you were too young. Forcing the Nine Tails power would have been too risky and harmed your foundation."
"But now it is different. My strength is enough. More importantly, with your current body and mental state, you can handle it."
Kushina stared at him, eyes shining.
"Wah." She jumped up from the sofa and screamed in excitement, her face lighting up with a brilliant smile.
"That is great. That is great. Ryo, you are amazing."
She threw herself at him, hugging his neck and shaking him hard, completely forgetting about the earlier noise.
Ryo felt a little dizzy but relaxed inwardly. This really worked.
Kushina let go and spun around the living room excitedly.
"Perfect jinchuriki. Freedom. Konoha will never be able to restrict me again. I can go anywhere. The desert. The sea. Mountains. Forests."
She grew more excited as she spoke, longing shining in her eyes. "I was brought to Konoha when I was eight. It has been almost ten years. I was going crazy. Ryo, when do we start."
She stopped suddenly and stared at him intensely.
"Do not rush," Ryo said with a smile. "Take a couple of days to adjust your mindset, then we will begin."
"Yes." Kushina nodded vigorously, her face full of anticipation.
Watching Kushina return to her lively self, Ryo finally relaxed, only to feel a strong gaze from the side.
He turned and met Mikoto's dark eyes.
They were beautiful as always, but clearly unhappy.
She looked at him quietly, lips pressed together, her eyes filled with lingering sadness.
Compared to Kushina's excitement, Mikoto's silent grievance weighed on him even more.
Ryo felt a knot form in his chest.
"Mikoto." He immediately softened his tone and turned toward her, reaching out to take her hand.
But she gently pulled her hand back before he could touch it.
Her gaze lowered, long lashes casting shadows as she spoke softly with a hint of nasal tone. "So Kushina's matter is settled. What about me."
The question was calm, yet it struck straight into Ryo's heart.
It sounded like, everything is arranged for everyone else. What about me.
Ryo felt his head ache.
He knew exactly what she meant.
She wanted equal care and reassurance, especially now that Kushina was about to reach a turning point, amplifying her insecurity as the later one.
"Of course it is not settled," Ryo said at once, his voice gentle and sincere. "Mikoto, you know that you and Kushina are equally important to me."
He tried to move closer, lightly resting his hand on her arm.
"What happened earlier was my fault. I focused only on Kushina." He apologized honestly. "You have every right to be upset."
Mikoto's lashes fluttered, but she still did not look up.
Ryo continued, his voice low and soft. "Do not be angry, alright. I promise, for the next few days I will spend time with you properly. Whatever you want to do, I will do it with you. Shopping, walks, or staying home."
He watched her expression carefully. "Or do you have something special you want. Tell me and I will get it for you."
Mikoto finally lifted her gaze slightly.
The grievance in her eyes had faded a little, though some resentment remained.
She studied him for a few seconds, then sighed softly and said with helpless affection, "You are really good at saying nice things."
Her tone had softened considerably.
Ryo felt the tension ease. He knew he had passed this hurdle for now.
He quickly smiled and gently hooked her fingers.
This time, Mikoto did not pull away and let him hold on.
Her shoulders relaxed, even though she did not smile.
Nearby, Kushina was still spinning around happily, humming and throwing playful punches, barely noticing what was happening.
Ryo carefully held Mikoto's fingers while watching the energetic Kushina and feeling Mikoto's need for comfort beside him.
He sighed inwardly.
"So this is it," he thought. "Having both sounds great, but actually keeping balance is not easy at all."
Each one required care. One misstep and things would ignite.
This sweet burden was not light.
He tightened his grip on Mikoto's fingers, receiving a gentle squeeze in response.
The unease in his heart was replaced by a heavy sense of satisfaction.
Difficult or not, it was worth it.
He just needed to keep improving his ability to balance everything.
(To be continued.)