Kushina had seen through something...
After lighting the candle on the table, Chiba let out a faint, bitter smile and slowly sat down. Downstairs, the sounds of dishes and chopsticks being cleared away drifted up.
Just moments ago, after Kushina had finished recounting Hirohiko's situation, she had sent him upstairs.
And Kushina's final words—"When you think the time is right, tell me everything"—made it obvious that she had realized he was hiding something about Hirohiko. Her decision not to ask showed absolute trust in him. She believed he could resolve Hirohiko's problem, and so, in order not to hinder him, she had said that.
As for what Chiba had concealed, it was naturally Nao's death. Hirohiko's madness was undoubtedly because of it. After all, anyone would go mad after personally killing the person most important to them, let alone Hirohiko, a member of the Uchiha Clan.
The reason he had not told Kushina was so she would not worry. At the very least, before Hirohiko's matter was resolved, keeping it from her would prevent her from developing all sorts of negative feelings about Hirohiko during that time because he had personally killed Nao.
Kushina had already endured enough.
Kushina being strong was one thing, but now that he had returned, making her bear things she should not have to bear—or rather, things he did not want her to bear—was another matter entirely.
And if Hirohiko's situation was resolved, then there would be no problem telling Kushina about Nao.
By then, Hirohiko's matter would be settled, and he would be safe. Even if Kushina became upset and furious over Nao's death, she ultimately would not worry about Hirohiko because of it, nor would she be afraid of anything or feel that the burden on her shoulders had grown heavier.
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