"You really are carefree." Kushina snorted. "But... that child is truly pitiful, becoming a Jinchuriki at only four years old."
"That's why I brought her back."
Kushina fell silent for a while, then quietly said, "...You did the right thing."
"Hm?"
"I said you did the right thing!" Her voice rose a little. "Though it was a bit impulsive, you did the right thing!"
"Then why did you say I was carefree just now?"
"Being carefree and doing the right thing aren't contradictory!"
The night market gradually grew more crowded. Warm yellow lanterns stretched into a sea of light, illuminating the entire street.
As they walked, their shoulders leaned together, their shadows merging into one on the ground.
By the time they finished browsing and returned to the Senju Clan Compound, the courtyard had taken on a different scene.
Konan was in the middle of the courtyard drawing with Yugito. Several crooked flowers and a little dog with an obviously oversized head had been drawn on the ground in chalk.
"Yugito, look! This is a puppy!"
"...Its head is huge."
"That's what makes it cute! You don't understand!"
"Oh..."
There was also a little girl with dark brown hair sitting at the edge of the corridor, her chin propped in both hands as she watched them draw.
She had large eyes and two neat square patches of purple face paint on her cheeks.
When she saw Mirai and Kushina enter, she stood and bowed. "Brother Mirai, Sister Kushina, you're back."
"Rin is here too." Mirai nodded at her.
Rin Nohara wore light-colored clothes and had an obedient smile on her face. "Konan said a new friend came to the house today and asked me to come play with her.
She also said she would bring Kurenai over tomorrow."
"That sounds