Kushina Reads Female-Oriented Novels

That night, the moon was hidden and the stars were dim.

After Shimura Danzō left, the Anbu captain knelt on one knee before Sarutobi Hiruzen's desk.

"Lord Hokage, the ninja army under Orochimaru has departed from the village's outer base tonight."

Following the "swift victory" strategic policy discussed last night, a well-prepared Orochimaru set off under the cover of darkness with two thousand ninja, heading straight for the southwestern border—

He was to join Jiraiya, who was moving south, to crush Sunagakure as quickly as possible!

This was to kill the chicken to scare the monkey, making Iwagakure, Kumogakure, and Kirigakure wary, while also keeping the Uchiha Clan within the village in check.

"At the same time, an Anbu squad has arrived near the Kumogakure army encampment; they can disguise themselves as Iwagakure ninja at any moment to ambush and kill the Kumogakure forces."

The Anbu captain continued his report, "Lord Mitokado is meeting with the Daimyo in the Capital of Fire today; no good news has been sent back yet."

Sarutobi Hiruzen tapped his knuckles lightly against the desk.

The strategic landscape unfolded rapidly in his mind—the southwestern war with Sunagakure was about to begin, and the Kumogakure forces in the northeast would soon be held in check by Shimura Danzō.

The most critical variable now lay in the northwest, at the border bordering the Land of Rain.

"Pass on my orders."

Sarutobi Hiruzen commanded calmly, "Order Namikaze Minato to rush to the northwestern border immediately and provide full support to the local ninja forces."

The Anbu captain bowed his head to acknowledge the order, then heard the Hokage's voice rise once more.

"Send another Anbu squad to search for Tsunade with all their might, and tell her—"

Sarutobi Hiruzen paused, his voice heavy with immense gravity, "Konohagakure needs her!"

"Understood, Lord Hokage!"

As the Anbu captain departed, the Hokage's office returned to silence.

The flickering light from his pipe illuminated the deep furrows on the old man's brow.

He couldn't help but think of Uzumaki Kushina—this Jinchūriki of Kurama, who represented Konohagakure's greatest combat power yet remained unstable. Even with Namikaze Minato's request, she would still have to step onto the battlefield when the time came.

I hope it doesn't come to the final resort.

Sarutobi Hiruzen sighed in his heart.

He hoped for success on both fronts of the battlefield.

The night was deep, and the lights in Konohagakure were sparse.

A dark shadow landed silently in front of the Namikaze residence. Before he could knock, the door opened from within.

Namikaze Minato stood in the warm light, seemingly having sensed the visitor's arrival long ago. His face still wore a gentle smile, though his eyes had already shifted to the alertness of a ninja.

The Anbu ninja briefly conveyed the Hokage's emergency deployment order.

Upon hearing this, a flash of understanding crossed Minato's eyes. He nodded slightly, "Please report to Lord Hokage that I will depart immediately."

After seeing the Anbu off, Minato thought of his bride-to-be, a trace of helplessness appearing on his face. He turned and merged into the night, reaching Uzumaki Kushina's residence in a few leaps.

The light was still on inside the window. He knocked lightly on the door, and after a moment, it opened a crack, revealing the girl's bright figure.

She seemed to have just woken up; her thick, waterfall-like crimson hair was still slightly messy, hanging loosely over her shoulders.

She wore a light-colored haori embroidered with the Uzumaki clan crest over plain sleepwear, the collar slightly open to reveal the graceful lines of her collarbone.

The warm light cast soft shadows on the girl's delicate features, her eyes filled with confusion and sudden surprise.

Thinking of the little night-raid stories that only happened at night, she asked with a blush on her cheeks.

"Minato? So late..."

"Kushina."

Minato's voice was deeper than usual, carrying an unconcealable gravity.

"I just received an emergency mission and must depart for the northwestern border immediately."

The smile on Kushina's face froze.

She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, she only crossed her arms and stared at the apologetic Namikaze Minato.

As a ninja, she understood all too well what this deployment meant—those carefully selected wedding invitations, those secretly prepared bridal robes; everything would have to be put on hold.

"...You must be careful."

A thousand words swirled between her lips, but in the end, they condensed into these few short words.

Kushina looked up, trying hard to muster a smile, but she couldn't hide the disappointment in her eyes.

Minato watched Kushina's attempt to stay calm, a deep sense of apology welling up in his heart.

He wanted to reach out and stroke his fiancée's red hair, wanted to promise he would return soon, but who could predict the variables of the battlefield?

Moreover, the scale of this conflict would likely be unprecedentedly brutal.

To protect Konohagakure, and to ensure Kushina wouldn't be forced onto the battlefield, he had to give his all on the front lines!

"Wait for my return, and I will hold the grandest wedding for you."

Minato gazed at Kushina, his voice as gentle as water yet every word ringing with resolve, "I will let the entire ninja world witness that I, Namikaze Minato, am the man who loves you most in this world."

A vibrant smile spread across his face, so brilliant that it seemed to dispel all gloom under the moonlight.

His golden hair fluttered in the night breeze, and he looked like a warm little sun, brightening the night of their parting.

Uzumaki Kushina leaned against the doorframe, her originally fair cheeks already flushed with a charming crimson that spread all the way to the tips of her ears.

The young girl bit her lower lip subconsciously, yet she could not hide the sweet curve of her mouth.

"Mm, I'll wait for you to come back!"

Watching Namikaze Minato disappear into the night, Uzumaki Kushina gently closed the door. Leaning her back against the door panel, she pressed her hands against her pounding heart.

The corners of her mouth could not stop curling upward, and even her footsteps carried a light, joyful spring.

She walked back into the room with small, quick steps, her gaze involuntarily falling upon the wedding dress carefully hung by the window—

Different from the traditional pure white Shiromuku of the ninja world, this was an elegant Western-style wedding dress.

Layers of delicate lace outlined the exquisite neckline and waistline, and the long skirt draped like flowing clouds, shimmering with a soft, pearlescent luster under the dim light.

The veil was draped gently over the back of a chair, the tiny crystals studded upon it sparkling like stars in the night sky.

Uzumaki Kushina reached out to stroke the soft fabric of the wedding dress, her fingertips filled with cautious cherishing.

Half-written invitations were scattered across the table, every detail speaking of her longing for the future.

"Waiting for you to come back..."

She whispered softly, a gentle smile blooming in her eyes, "I will definitely wear this and be your most beautiful bride."

Thinking of the beautiful scenes of the future, Uzumaki Kushina could not help but show a happy smile.

After lingering before the wedding dress for a long time, she reluctantly returned to the bedside and picked up the novel she had been reading—

There were illustrations in the book, and the content depicted a woman wearing a white Western-style wedding dress with a happy smile on her lips.

And the book cover bore the title:

<I Forgave Everything in the Past, Because We Will Never Meet Again>

"This hateful author!" Reading to a critical part, Uzumaki Kushina could not help but say in annoyance.

The first half was clearly about the sweetness of knowing and staying with each other, yet in the blink of an eye, complications arose.

The return of a so-called "first love," accompanied by endless misunderstandings and meticulously designed manipulative words, tore a perfect marriage to shreds.

"How could you treat people who love each other like this!" Uzumaki Kushina threw the book onto her lap.

"If I ever find out who this author named Ji Boda is, I will definitely make him taste the power of my iron fist!"

Amidst her indignation.

Uzumaki Kushina could not help but think of the departing Namikaze Minato, and the firm vow he made before they parted.

The young girl suddenly straightened her back, a burning light igniting in her eyes—Uzumaki Kushina and Namikaze Minato would never be separated!