"Teacher Kushina, we're back!"
The two said nothing along the way, returning quietly to the Japanese-style wooden house one after the other. Inside, candles burned, their yellow light especially bright beneath the silvery-gray moonlight. They had extinguished the candles when they left, so the light inside meant Kushina had already returned.
They immediately called out in greeting.
"Swish..."
Then came the sound of the door sliding open, and the two stepped into the wooden house.
"Teacher Kushina?"
After entering, Chiba glanced around and froze slightly at the sight of the empty low table, where only the candles burned.
"What is it, Chiba?"
Yukina, who was slowly closing the door, asked. Unable to see, she did not know that the hall was empty.
"No, Teacher Kushina isn't in the living room."
Chiba answered truthfully.
Did she go to the secret room to bring food to Hyuga Yukyō?
No! Kushina should have left after delivering his food. She shouldn't be in the secret room now. To ensure Hyuga Yukyō's safety, she had always tried to have as little contact with him as possible.
Come to think of it, I still have something to confirm with Hyuga Yukyō. I almost forgot.
As these thoughts scattered through his mind—
"Did she go to bed?"
Yukina was not particularly worried by Chiba's words and spoke casually. As she spoke, she passed by Chiba and headed toward the stairs, saying, "Maybe she went upstairs."
By the time her words fell, Yukina had already climbed the stairs.
"Mm..."
Chiba nodded without saying much, though his brows furrowed slightly.
Could it be that the Curse Mark Jutsu problem hasn't been resolved...
*If that's really the case, I need to go to the Sarutobi Clan right now. The Third Hokage probably isn't asleep yet. Even if he was planning