Bai Lin had no idea when he'd developed a habit of smiling with his eyes narrowed.
Perhaps it was from running the Everything Shop, where he always had to deal with all kinds of people in a gentle manner.
Or perhaps most people thought someone like that seemed mild-mannered and harmless.
In any case, whether he was smiling gently or plotting in secret, his eyes would always narrow without him realizing it, like a lazy cat that had everything under control.
At that moment, he was studying Kushina with narrowed eyes, a faint smile playing on his lips.
The girl's red hair fell over her shoulders. Her cheeks were flushed pink, and her gaze darted away, unable to meet his. Even her fingers were unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes. She looked awkwardly bashful.
Bai Lin found it amusing and deliberately didn't look away. Why's this girl blushing? Did she really think I was handsome? Or is she thinking about something weird?
Kushina, don't look back. I'm...
Don't blame Bai Lin for stealing Minato Namikaze's thunder. Every person who'd crossed into another world had some sort of inexplicable collector's itch buried in their heart.
Watching the heroines from the story appear one by one at his side gave him a sense of control and satisfaction that others couldn't understand. He couldn't help wanting to keep these important people close.
Bai Lin wasn't a pervert. At least, that was what he believed.
With the experience of two lifetimes, he saw the eight-year-old girl before him as more of a younger sister who needed looking after.
He'd hesitated for a moment: should he stand by and wait for Minato Namikaze to save her, then quietly watch from the sidelines?
But the instant the thought crossed his mind, the reluctance in his heart shoved it aside.
Fine, no more excuses!
He was a little fixated!
He was a pervert!
He'd crossed into another world, so what if he was a little perverted?
Even if there was no romance involved.
At that thought, Bai Lin's state of mind reached a new level. It felt as if his state of mind had reached the Great Ascension stage, despite his strength being only at the Foundation Establishment stage.
The good things in this world were mine once I set my sights on them. With my abilities, how could there be anything I wanted that I couldn't get?
Sorry, Minato Namikaze.
Forgive me, bro. I don't want you to die young!
"Y-you keep looking at me. Why?" Kushina finally couldn't take it anymore. She lowered her head further, her voice as faint as a mosquito's, tinged with embarrassment and fluster.
Her feelings were a tangled mess.
With Bai Lin watching her so intently, on the one hand, she felt an indescribable shyness.
When you're young, you shouldn't meet someone so dazzling. Otherwise, you'll find that no one else in the world is as wonderful as he is.
But on the other hand, a deep sense of inferiority welled up inside her.
People made fun of her red hair. Her classmates at school called her "Tomato." Would Bai Lin also think her hair was strange and annoying?
"It's nothing." Bai Lin withdrew his gaze and greeted her warmly. "It's nice to meet you. I'm Bai Lin. I hope we get along."
"Huh? Oh, I'm Kushina Uzumaki." Kushina shyly introduced herself, worried she'd make a bad impression on Bai Lin.
"It's still early, and you've only recently arrived in Konoha, right, Kushina? You probably haven't had a chance to explore yet."
"If you're not in a hurry to head back, how about I show you around?"
When Bai Lin smiled with his eyes narrowed, the corners crinkled into a gentle curve. "I know every corner of the village by heart, from the Hokage Building to the commercial district, except for the clan compounds."
"It'll make things easier for you once you start living here."
"D-do you not think my hair is... strange?" Kushina asked, her face lighting up with incredulous delight.
"Strange?" Bai Lin tilted his head.
"It's not strange at all! Kushina's red hair is really special," Minato hurriedly said with a smile.
"Who asked you to butt in?" Kushina glared at him.
Minato, you're supposed to be under the car right now, not in it.
Bai Lin couldn't bear to leave Minato Namikaze standing there like a third wheel, so he turned to him and said, "Minato, head back first. We've got a meeting today. Organize the Everything Shop's latest figures, and I'll announce a few important things tonight."
"Got it, boss!"
When Minato Namikaze heard Bai Lin tell him to go, an inexplicable sadness rose in his heart. He felt as if something important were slipping through his fingers. But faced with his boss's narrowed, smiling eyes and firm tone, he could only obediently answer.
He scratched his blond hair, glanced deeply at Kushina, then quickly looked away.
He and Bai Lin were practically like family. How had he ended up getting sent away like a third wheel?
Watching Minato's forlorn back, Bai Lin felt a little embarrassed too.
Damn, I can actually feel the presence of a heart demon.
All my life, I, Bai Lin, have followed my own path and done as I pleased. I've always fought for what I wanted and protected what I wanted to protect. Since when did something so trivial make me feel guilty?
He shook his head, pushing those inexplicable feelings aside. When he turned back to Kushina, his gentle smile had returned. "Forget about him. Let's go."
"Why do you keep looking at me? Is it because I'm handsome?"
"Conceited!"
Kushina's cheeks warmed, and she glared at him.
He really is handsome!
What should I do?
Why is my heart beating so fast?
Could this be what they call love?
Kushina was screaming inside as she sneaked another glance at Bai Lin.
"Kushina, do you know something?"
The two of them walked along slowly, and Bai Lin spoke first.
Kushina asked, "What?"
"There are countless roads in this world, but what lets you walk forward in peace has never been other people's opinions. It's the light in your own heart."
"You care too much about how other people see your red hair, and that's kept you from seeing what you truly want deep down."
"Youth has no price—bet your life, I mean..." Bai Lin couldn't help laughing at himself. His narrowed eyes curved like crescents. "Youth has no way back. Rather than huddling in the face of other people's mockery, follow your heart and live as brightly as you can."
"I can see how strong you are inside. Instead of trying to make the people who mock you approve of you, work hard to become stronger."
"When you've truly left everyone far behind, you'll see how laughable their approval is."
"Once, a sincere friendship had been right in front of them, but they hadn't cherished it."
"If that's the case, leave them far behind until they can no longer reach you. Then they'll naturally look up to you."
Aside from the system, Bai Lin's only advantage after arriving in the Naruto world was that he'd consumed far too much motivational chicken soup in his previous life.
In Konoha, where the Will of Fire held sway, and in the warped world of the Ninja World, Bai Lin believed his Will of Phosphorus would never lose to the Will of Fire.
"But the people at school..."
Kushina's eyes suddenly began to sting.
Bai Lin didn't answer her. Instead, he walked her through Konoha's streets, pointing out the sights along the way.