Her Aunt...

Kushina Uzumaki was a popular character from the original work: the mother of the protagonist Naruto Uzumaki, the wife of Minato Namikaze, and the second jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, existing only in history and memories.

Yet the Kushina Uzumaki currently before Li Tong looked to be about ten years old, still just a little girl.

The morning breeze was somewhat chilly, and Li Tong, standing in the water, shivered. Because he was close to the shore, the lake water only reached his knees, and his right hand was still clutching the katana he had just retrieved from the lakebed.

Standing behind Kushina Uzumaki, Shinsuke, who had already drawn his blade halfway, did not strike immediately. Although he had the duty of protecting Kushina, this brat who had suddenly popped out of the lake looked completely harmless; his weak aura and bewildered expression made it clear that this was, in all likelihood, an accident.

Kushina had screamed "perverted killer" because the boy was holding a sword, but Shinsuke did not think so. It was true that assassins might lurk at the bottom of a lake waiting for an opportunity, but an assassin would not do so without wearing any clothes.

Shinsuke's feet jolted, his figure flickered, and as if shifting his position, he moved from behind Kushina Uzumaki to in front of her, blocking their line of sight.

The stunned Li Tong finally reacted, quickly retreating five or six meters and shrinking back into the water. At the same time, he saw Shinsuke's status information.

Name: Shinsuke (Shinnosuke Sarutobi).
Identity: Deputy Captain of the Anbu Assassination and Tactical Special Force, Land of Fire, Konohagakure.
Reputation: 195 points.
Relationship: Vigilant.

Deputy Captain, the number two figure in the Konohagakure Anbu, second only to the Anbu Captain White Fang... this guy... Thoughts flashed rapidly through Li Tong's mind. He felt relieved; they weren't enemies. Although there was a misunderstanding, it could be explained.

"Who are you?" Shinsuke asked, squinting.

"Me! Li Tong!" Li Tong said quickly. "I was a ninja from Amegakure, came to Konohagakure to carry out a mission, then I was captured by you guys, beaten up, and lost my memory. Lord White Fang said I could join Konohagakure, and I agreed, so now I'm a Konohagakure ninja. We aren't enemies, we're on the same side, same side, heh!"

Shinsuke's eyelids twitched. He had never seen such a shameless person, someone who could talk about defecting and switching sides so naturally, without any hesitation.

"Oh, I know you. The Captain mentioned you last night. Why are you here?" Shinsuke asked.

"Just joined Konohagakure, was about to leave this forest, passed by this lake, and decided to take a bath..."

"Just you alone?"

"Chen He is here too, but I didn't have any clothes, so he went to get some..."

"Hmm." Shinsuke finished his questioning and pushed his half-drawn sword back into its scabbard. The status column for Li Tong also shifted from "Vigilant" to "Neutral."

A baby-faced girl with fiery red hair poked her head out from behind Shinsuke. She took a very quick look at Li Tong, pulled back, then poked her head out again, confirming that Li Tong had retreated entirely into the water. Because of the reflection on the surface, she couldn't see anything.

"Pervert! Big pervert! Bastard! Why aren't you wearing any clothes?" Kushina Uzumaki jumped out, pointing at Li Tong and shouting, clearly very agitated.

"Uh... I think this is a misunderstanding."

"Bastard, disgusting!!"

"I was just trying to take a bath."

"Why didn't you go home to wash? Pervert!"

"I... I don't even know where my home is. I was just passing by, and it just so happened..."

"Pervert, exhibitionist! This is a wild lake, who washes like that? Bastard!!!"

Kushina Uzumaki appeared very manic, her fists clenched tightly. It seemed that the scene from just a moment ago had caused great trauma to her young heart. She had indeed seen something she shouldn't have, but Li Tong was truly innocent.

"Big pervert! You're so disgusting! When you wash, you don't even, you don't even wear that?"

"What this or that? What are you talking about?"

"You, you big pervert..."

"Hey, hey, hey, little brat, aren't you going too far? Does me taking a bath bother you?"

Li Tong was getting angry too. He felt so wronged; he was just taking a bath and getting cursed out for it.

"You!! Who are you calling a little brat? Bastard!" Kushina Uzumaki also had a fiery temper. Despite her young age, she looked particularly fierce. Cursing, she actually rolled up her sleeves and walked toward the lake, seemingly intent on teaching Li Tong a lesson.

"Hey! I'm talking to you, little brat!" Li Tong suddenly stood up from the water again.

"Ah!!! Pervert!! Scoundrel!!" Kushina screamed at a high decibel again, covering her eyes.

Shinsuke's eyelids twitched again, and he swept a pitying glance at Li Tong. Arguing to this extent—based on his understanding of Kushina, this kid was definitely going to be in trouble for calling her a little brat.

"Let's go." Shinsuke quickly grabbed Kushina and led her up the grassy slope.

"Bastard! You're making me so mad! This pervert! I..." Kushina was still manic, looking like she wanted to argue with Li Tong, but Shinsuke held her back.

Whoosh—

The sound of rushing wind approached rapidly.

Chen He, transformed into a blur, returned, flying toward the lakeside.

Shinsuke glanced at him and stopped in his tracks.

Chen He had seen Shinsuke and Kushina from afar. He ran directly to Shinsuke, knelt on one knee, and said, "Greetings, Lord Shinsuke!"

"Hmm." Shinsuke nodded.

"Bastard! You dare call me a little brat, you're dead! Pervert exhibitionist! Don't let me see you again!" Kushina was still manic.

"Come and get me if you can!" Li Tong stood in the water, having completely abandoned all shame.

"What is this..." Chen He swept a glance over the situation and said hesitantly.

"Just a misunderstanding, children squabbling," Shinsuke said.

"Lord Shinsuke, that brat is..."

"I know who he is."

Shinsuke exchanged a few brief words with Chen He before forcibly dragging Kushina Uzumaki away. Even after they had walked quite a distance, Kushina was still muttering indignantly about something.

Chen He had brought new clothes suitable for Li Tong to wear; they were Konoha ninja uniforms.

"Where did you get that sword?"

"Picked it up from the bottom of the lake."

"Hm, then you keep it."

Li Tong climbed ashore and took the clothes Chen He handed him. They included both inner and outer layers, the fabric was soft and brand new, and Li Tong was quite satisfied. While Li Tong was putting on the clothes, Chen He looked at him with a strange expression multiple times—a gaze that seemed to hold a hint of pity.

"What's wrong?" Li Tong noticed Chen He's look.

"You shouldn't have offended her."

"Who?"

"That girl from just now, Kushina Uzumaki."

"Why?"

"She has a very terrifying aunt. If she complains, your situation will become even more difficult—perhaps even more terrifying than the assassination attempts in Amegakure. Her aunt has always favored her own kin over reason, and if she decides to take action, she does so openly, and no one can stop her. If your chances of survival before were 10%, then now, your chances of surviving are less than 5%."

"That scary?" Li Tong was stunned, his brows furrowing.

An aunt?

Kushina has an aunt?

Since when did she have an aunt? The original story never mentioned one!

"What is her aunt's name?" Li Tong asked.

Chen He looked at Li Tong, appearing very wary of that person's name, and hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Her aunt is Tsunade!"