Click!
Slowly lowering the hidden door, Kushina laid the blanket back down, covering it once more. At the same time, she moved the table Chiba had shifted back to its original position.
"Teacher Kushina..."
At that moment, Yukina's voice came from behind her, from the kitchen doorway.
"What is it?"
Hearing this, Kushina turned around and looked at Yukina, who was leaning against the doorframe. A faint smile appeared on her face, and her tone was exceptionally gentle.
"Did... did you tell Chiba?"
The hand resting on the doorframe slowly tightened. Yukina pursed her lips and asked as if testing the waters.
"Even if I hadn't told him, with how meticulous that boy is, he would have discovered it sooner or later. Rather than let some misunderstanding happen then, it was better to tell him now."
At those words, a gentle smile touched Kushina's lips. She walked over, stroked Yukina's head, and spoke softly.
She was practically a different person from how she treated Chiba and Hyuga Yukyō.
"But then, he'll definitely..."
Feeling the warmth of her beloved teacher's palm, Yukina's face still held traces of hesitation and worry.
"Looking at you, do you think he wouldn't get involved? Besides, the first person he went to see was that guy. Given that guy's trust in Chiba, Chiba should already know about the Hyuga Clan by now. He was bound to investigate sooner or later. When he examined your eyes, he must have already known, right? You knew it too, didn't you? He saw the mark on your forehead."
Gently stroking the soft black hair of her only female disciple, Kushina spoke with a sigh.
"Mm... I... I know, but I still don't want..."
Hearing Kushina's words, Yukina lightly bit down on her teeth. Of course, she knew Chiba had already