Kushina and Rin Nohara

Kushina bid Mikoto Uchiha farewell.

She quickly found Rin Nohara.

Inside a ward at Konoha Hospital.

Rin Nohara first examined Kushina, then nodded. "Kushina, the fetus is very healthy."

Dressed in a nurse's uniform, Rin Nohara looked just right.

Cute, yet faintly sexy.

The two qualities were displayed to perfection.

"Thanks for the trouble, Rin."

Kushina smiled and stroked her belly.

"Um... I wanted to ask, is there any news about Lord Tsunade...?"

"Lord Tsunade..."

Rin Nohara shook her head.

She didn't know either.

Over the past five days, many people had come to ask her.

After all, Lord Tsunade had been missing for so many days. It was only natural for everyone to worry...

There had been no word at all for five whole days.

They only feared that Lord Tsunade had met with foul play...

"I think... you should ask Jueming about this..."

Rin Nohara said to Kushina.

"I think Jueming should have a way..."

"Mm."

Kushina nodded.

That had been her plan as well.

Besides...

"Rin, how have things been progressing between you and Kakashi lately?"

Kushina asked curiously.

Kakashi was living in a villa now. He was handsome and had begun to mature.

Rin Nohara, who had always admired him since childhood, should have made some progress with him by now, right?

"Kushina... you may have misunderstood..."

Rin Nohara fidgeted with her fingers.

She began pacing around the ward.

Her gaze also drifted to one side.

That reaction made Kushina blink.

What was wrong?

Had Rin given up?

"Feelings from childhood... maybe they can't be counted on. Maybe it was only a momentary impulse..."

Rin Nohara explained as she looked at the floor.

At first, she had indeed liked Kakashi.

But later...

Before Jueming's overwhelming strength...

Rin Nohara had been steadily defeated.

Even if she did