Those hands were somewhat cold.
Yet for some reason, Naruto felt an inexplicable warmth from them.
"Stay for dinner before you go. I happened to buy a batch of ingredients today."
She said.
"Um..."
Naruto was at a loss.
"You were with Mr. Tazuna just now, right? It's fine. Explain it to him, and Mr. Tazuna will understand."
"I..."
Naruto still wanted to say something.
But Kushina Yukiei had already taken off her coat and started cooking.
It seemed she had not properly cooked for quite some time, and she was now incredibly enthusiastic.
Naruto stood there, no longer knowing whether he should leave.
She was enthusiastically cooking for him, so it did not feel right to simply walk away now...
He fell into a dilemma.
"Is Naruto all right?"
Kakashi looked at Sparkle.
Since someone had their eye on the Nine-Tails' power, Kakashi was somewhat concerned. But Sparkle had indicated that she would keep an eye on Naruto, so Kakashi let him be.
In any case, Naruto had not gone very far.
"Mm, my Shadow Clone Jutsu is watching him. Naruto went to the house next door. It seems he's staying there for dinner."
When they entered the town, Sparkle had briefly left, saying she was using a Shadow Clone Jutsu to conduct some scouting first.
Kakashi trusted Sparkle greatly.
"That guy."
Kakashi covered his face.
How had helping someone carry water turned into eating at their house?
"That idiot."
Sasuke muttered as well.
"Next door? Ah, that's Yukiei."
Tazuna turned around. "Well, let him go. She's a pitiful person too."
"Is something going on?"
Kakashi asked.
"Yukiei's husband and child have both passed away. She herself has a serious illness too. She can still move around, but her health doesn't seem very good."
Tazuna fell into thought.
Sparkle's arrangements had begun several months ago.
She could alter some developments, but she had no way to overturn everything completely, so she could only influence things gradually.
Several months ago, Sparkle had quietly placed Kushina Yukiei's existence in the Land of Waves.
Her "serious illness" kept her indoors and away from people, which also reduced contact. That way, it did not matter if she failed to appear for several days in a row.
Before Team 7 arrived in the Land of Waves, Sparkle had constructed a social environment for "Kushina Yukiei," fabricating the existence of such a person.
Though fabricated, the feelings Sparkle had invested were real.
Even the pain "Kushina Yukiei" felt was real.
During the earlier battle with Zabuza, Sparkle had indeed appeared while enduring tremendous pain. That had not been false.
Sparkle herself could not create that terrifying aura, but there was one exception.
That was when she resonated with Master Jingliu.
During resonance, Sparkle threw her entire heart and soul into it. At such times, she would also feel the pain, emptiness, and suffering brought by Jingliu's Demonic Possession.
Only while immersed in that pain could Sparkle perform so convincingly.
A true idol would never shrink back because of pain.
And the reason Kakashi had been intimidated was merely because Sparkle had allowed a little of the killing intent and emptiness brought by Demonic Possession to brush against him.
"If that little brat can eat there, Yukiei will probably be happy too—if her child were still alive, they'd probably be about Naruto's age."
"Sasuke, get some proper rest. We need to discuss some matters with Mr. Tazuna."
Kakashi had Sasuke go rest first.
Namely, the matters Sparkle had mentioned before: the mission upgrade, the payment, and the loan.
Those matters had to be made clear.
Even brothers had to settle accounts clearly.
Especially since this was a good thing for the Land of Waves.
The towns of the Land of Waves were bleak. The unemployed could only squat on the roadside, while begging children were everywhere in the streets.
Ever since Gato came to this country, it had lost all hope. Even its hero had been killed.
They did not even possess the strength to resist, because Gato was the one who controlled the armed force.
"(╯▽╰) Smells so good~"
This was the first time Naruto had eaten such fragrant food.
Honestly, Aunt Kushina's meal was very simple. The only thing that could count as meat was that fish.
But why?
Why did food cooked by someone else for him smell so good?
Naruto felt wonderful.
"Does Aunt Kushina live here alone?"
Naruto asked casually.
"...Ah. Yes."
Aunt Kushina smiled. "But not today. Because Naruto is here."
"Now you're making me embarrassed."
Naruto scratched his head.
He had only helped her carry a bucket of water when he was feeling a little stifled...
"Well then, Aunt Kushina, I'll be going now. If you ever run into any trouble, come find me, Naruto Uzumaki!"
Naruto patted his chest.
"Mm. Ah, wait a moment."
Aunt Kushina walked over, straightened Naruto's turned-in collar, then pulled up his zipper.
"Mm, that's better."
What a strange feeling. What was this?
"Then I'm off."
"Mm, take care, Naruto."
With light steps, Naruto arrived at Tazuna's front door.
"Yo, Naruto. Looks like you're feeling much better."
Kakashi came out of the house, seemingly about to take an after-dinner walk.
"Hehe, I don't know why, but I kept feeling strange before. But after having a meal at Aunt Kushina's house, I feel like I've come back to life!"
Thud—
Kakashi stepped into empty air and nearly fell into the water basin.
"W-What?"
There was an indescribable panic in Kakashi's voice.
"At Aunt Kushina's house next door."
Naruto was puzzled. How could Kakashi not even walk steadily?
—Could this be why Kakashi was always late?
Naruto felt that he had discovered something incredible.
"Aunt Kushina?"
Kakashi struggled to get back up.
"Aunt Kushina Yukiei. What's wrong?"
"No, it's nothing. It's just... ah... mm, I was checking for the possibility of enemies lying in wait. What if you ran into an enemy in disguise, Naruto?"
Kakashi truly did not want to explain that the pronunciation of "Kushina" was exactly the same as that of his teacher's wife, Kushina.
"Oh dear."
Kakashi pulled his forehead protector lower.
Ever since arriving in the Land of Waves, Kakashi had felt like his sanity was constantly being challenged.
Fortunately, it had only been a false alarm just now.
"There can't possibly be anything worse, right..."
Zabuza: Damn it, that brat is still chasing me!
Ma'am, I love you!
White hair and red eyes, I'm in love.
Shouldn't this count as blue hair?
From Tazuna's tone, this person isn't blind yet.
Blind → dead.
The person above, that's a phonetic loan character. It can't be typed out.
Let me recommend the Snow Woman doujin next door to everyone.
Naruto's scene had not aired "in real time" in the anime broadcast.
Because it happened simultaneously with Kakashi's side. While Naruto was visiting, they were explaining the Land of Waves' situation here, recounting the island nation's past.
Only after that explanation did the scene switch to the other side with what seemed like a "delay."
Wait, why did a married woman suddenly show up? Could this be foreshadowing?
That silhouette feels strange. Does anyone have the image from the end of the previous chapter?
I took a screenshot, but it's hard to see clearly. Difficult to tell.
I think so. Neither of them seems very healthy. It has to be foreshadowing.
+1. She probably approached Naruto after seeing the Nine-Tails and wanting the Demon Fox's power.
Burn the Hidden Mist to ashes... Could it be that she wants to release the Nine-Tails and stage another Nine-Tails Night in the Hidden Mist?
Naruto, she's a bad person!
A bad woman is even better.
Before you continue