Each of Their Growth

Hyuga Ao slowly finished a set of Gentle Fist movements. After taking the towel a maid handed her and wiping the thin sweat from her neck, she instructed the maid to prepare a medicinal bath while sensing the changes deep within her bones.

Hyuga Ao now soaked in a medicinal bath twice a day, once in the morning and once at night.

She trained in the morning and recuperated at night.

Combined with the specially prepared medicinal diet, Hyuga Ao could clearly feel that the speed of her Marrow Cleansing and Organ Refining had increased.

She estimated that at this rate, she would complete her Marrow Cleansing and unlock Shikotsumyaku in three years at most.

Once she had Shikotsumyaku, she could consider whether to participate in the Second Shinobi World War, because Shikotsumyaku was simply too powerful for self-preservation.

Hyuga Ao assumed a Gentle Fist stance, closed her eyes, and sensed the flow of force and chakra through her body.

"Good!" Joy shone in Hyuga Ao's eyes. They said that the poor studied while the rich practiced martial arts, and after receiving the resources of a shinobi clan, her physical constitution was visibly growing stronger.

Ordinary Core Condensation Martial Artists had already reached the point where there was nothing more to train when they achieved Core Condensation. They focused more on nourishment afterward.

But Hyuga Ao was different. Her body was still developing, so she could use Core Condensation to achieve perfect physical cultivation.

With the abundant medicinal ingredients and nourishing food available, her physical strength was improving by leaps and bounds.

Moreover, the body that grew this way was different from those of the successive Raikage, who had forcefully trained themselves through the natural environment and Nintaijutsu.

Hyuga Ao, on the other hand, had grown up relying on the best food and the best training. She had developed the most natural physique, one with limitless potential.

If placed in the Nasuverse, it could even exist as an innate skill: Natural Body.

After bathing and changing, Hyuga Ao took the clothes the maid had prepared and headed for the Ninja Academy.

At this point, Uzumaki Kushina had already lost her beloved grandmother and become the Jinchuriki of the calamity beast, the Nine-Tails.

She was lost and afraid, exactly when she needed a friend's comfort.

Today also marked the end of Kushina's observation and adjustment period, and the day she began attending the Ninja Academy.

Inside the Ninja Academy.

Namikaze Minato entered the classroom and discovered that Hyuga Ao and Uzumaki Kushina, who had both taken extended leave, had come to class today.

He approached them and was about to greet them, but immediately realized that something was wrong.

The usually lively and cheerful Kushina was currently leaning against Hyuga Ao's chest, her shoulders trembling. When he drew closer, he could hear faint sobs.

Was Kushina crying?

Minato quietly took his seat and cast an inquiring look at Hyuga Ao.

Hyuga Ao gently patted Kushina's back and sighed silently.

She really had not expected Mito Uzumaki to fail to hold on until Kushina graduated. According to the original story, it should not have happened so soon.

By the timeline, Mito had not taught Kushina that much, had she? How could she be so confident in Hiruzen Sarutobi?

Hyuga Ao looked at the crying Kushina with pity, then gave a slight shake of her head, indicating that they would talk later.

Kushina had already begun to recover. During the days since Mito Uzumaki's passing, she had thought she had endured the grief.

But she had never expected that upon arriving at the Ninja Academy today and seeing Hyuga Ao's gentle smile, the grievances and sorrow in her heart would pour out uncontrollably.

After venting her emotions for a while, Kushina gradually calmed down.

Once her emotions had been released, Kushina immediately felt awkward and embarrassed about her situation.

Oh no! She had cried in Ao'er's arms for so long. Her tears and mucus had dirtied Ao'er's pants, and Namikaze Minato had watched her cry the entire time.

Kushina felt utterly mortified.

While silently communicating with Minato, Hyuga Ao noticed that something was wrong with Kushina in her arms.

She watched Kushina's face grow redder and redder. If she did not act soon, Kushina would transform into the Red Hot-Blooded Habanero.

Hyuga Ao bent down, gently embraced Uzumaki Kushina, and said into her ear:

"It's all right, Kushina. Everything will pass."

Hearing Hyuga Ao's words, Uzumaki Kushina was deeply moved. She felt that none of her earlier thoughts mattered anymore.

What more could she ask for with a friend like this?

She raised her head and glared fiercely at Namikaze Minato before beginning to clean herself up openly.

She had become the usual Kushina again.

Namikaze Minato, who had been glared at from the side, could only awkwardly scratch his hair and smile bitterly. He had no idea what he had done this time to upset Kushina.

That afternoon, after finishing their Shuriken and Taijutsu training, the three gathered together and exchanged stories about their recent experiences.

"What? You're engaged!" Kushina's shrill voice sent countless birds flying from the woods.

Beside her, Namikaze Minato also stared at Hyuga Ao in surprise.

"Who's the man? What does he look like? How old is he? What does his family do?"

Hyuga Ao looked helplessly at Kushina, who had surrounded her and was firing off question after question. Perhaps this was the reaction of a normal girl.

"Calm down, Kushina! Calm down!"

Hyuga Ao hurriedly held back the excited Kushina, regretting her decision. She should never have dropped this piece of news just to distract Kushina.

They said three women were worth five hundred ducks, but Kushina alone was worth five hundred.

Fortunately, Minato helped her out by asking, "Ao'er, what did you mean earlier when you said the Hyuga clan head took you as his disciple?"

Although it was an attempt to help her out, it was also something Minato himself was curious about. As someone who knew about the Caged Bird, he also understood Hyuga Ao.

Namikaze Minato knew that Hyuga Ao's conflict with the Main Family was irreconcilable.

Seeing that Kushina had successfully been drawn to Minato's question, Hyuga Ao cast him a grateful look.

Then she put on an expression that said I'm amazing.

"It means the Hyuga Main Family saw that I had extraordinary talent, so they begged me to become his disciple."

"From now on, I'm the Hyuga heiress. Come on, Kushina. I'll take you shopping along the whole street today."

After saying this, she subtly signaled for Minato to continue.

Although his own doubts had not been resolved, their long-standing tacit understanding allowed Minato to cooperate and divert Kushina's attention.

With Minato's help, they finally managed to shift Kushina's attention to shopping and food.

Hyuga Ao, Kushina, and Namikaze Minato walked along Konoha's snack street.

Namikaze Minato had packages hanging all over him and wore an utterly hopeless expression.

He deeply regretted helping Hyuga Ao coax Kushina into going shopping. Would it not have been better to let Hyuga Ao suffer on her own? What a perfect opportunity for revenge! Shopping with women was too troublesome!

Hyuga Ao, walking ahead, was in a good mood. After all, nothing made people happier than spending money by imperial decree.

Especially when it was the Main Family's money.

Kushina was the happiest of all. What could be more delightful than having a tycoon for a friend?

After shopping, Hyuga Ao and the others went to eat Akimichi Clan barbecue, which they had previously been unable to afford.

The Akimichi Clan's barbecue restaurants all followed a high-end route. Jonin usually came there to dine and socialize.

Hyuga Ao saw many unfamiliar faces from the Naruto of her previous life.

But their attention was soon captured by the barbecue.

Since Hyuga Ao did not want to cook the meat herself, she paid the restaurant's servers to grill it for them.

As expected, professionals really were different.

The barbecue before them was fragrant and enticing, tender in texture and fresh in flavor.

Hyuga Ao finally understood why Choji wanted to eat barbecue every time he came home.

The bright moon hung high in the sky. The moon created by the Sage of Six Paths' Chibaku Tensei had remained unchanged through all the upheavals of the shinobi world over the years, waiting for the day it would be awakened.

Underground, Kushina recalled the events of the day and revealed a warm smile. She opened the scroll Mito had left for her and began studying it carefully.

"Granny Mito, I understand now what you meant when you said a Jinchuriki's heart must be filled with love."

At Minato's home.

Namikaze Minato was striking the notebook hanging on the wall with inch-force punches, one punch after another.

"Today, Ao'er and Kushina didn't tell me anything about what happened to them. That means they must know that telling me wouldn't help. If I want to become a Hokage who can protect everyone, I still need to become stronger!"

At the Hyuga residence.

Hyuga Ao endured the intense pain without making a sound. There were more people around her now, so she had to be even quieter and more careful when removing the Caged Bird.

Although it felt as if a red-hot blunt knife were slowly sawing through her brain, Hyuga Ao's sleeping face remained tranquil and peaceful.

Just like the shinobi world at that moment.