Kushina, You're Holding Your Scroll Upside Down

"So you kissed someone at seven. Do you still have your first kiss?"

All the way there, Kushina had been thinking about it like crazy.

She felt like this question had struck at her very soul.

But if Mirai had been the one she'd had her first kiss with, it didn't seem like such a loss?

It wasn't until they entered the house that she figured it out, and she stopped agonizing over it.

After shooting Mirai a fierce glare, Kushina headed deeper into the Senju Clan Compound ahead of him and pretended to study a detailed guide to Sealing Jutsu.

Mirai awkwardly scratched his head. He hadn't expected himself to impulsively kiss the little girl.

It was all because angry, puffed-up Kushina was too kawaii!

That's right, this couldn't all be blamed on him. Kushina bore at least half the responsibility.

Otherwise, why had he only kissed Kushina and not anyone else?

If Kushina knew what Mirai Uzumaki was thinking, she'd probably awaken Monster Strength on the spot and punch him into a vegetative state.

(Come on, there's still a tree planted in this guy's soul!)

"Oh, little Mirai. Where's Kushina?" In the courtyard, Grandma Mito appeared at random.

"Grandma Mito!" Mirai cherished this relationship. In his previous life, he hadn't experienced much familial affection.

But in this life, Mito Uzumaki's feelings for him were genuine, without the slightest trace of falsehood.

"Kushina just ran deeper into the compound. I think she figured things out and is ready to start studying seriously."

Mito smiled and casually ruffled Mirai Uzumaki's red hair.

Such a familiar shade of red! It reminded her of her younger self, of her days in the Land of Whirlpools—

When people got old, they really did tend to lose themselves in memories.

"Forget it. If that girl Kushina can seriously study Sealing Jutsu, that'll be a miracle!"

Thinking of Kushina's lazy appearance, Mito Uzumaki was at a loss for words.

At first, Kushina had been her chosen candidate for the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Mirai had merely been an alternate she took in along the way.

But now, Mirai might actually be the more suitable one?

He was more talented, studied harder, and he was a boy. He wouldn't face what she had during childbirth, when the tailed beast had nearly broken through its seal.

Mito weighed it all in her heart, though she said nothing on the surface.

She merely offered a meaningful word of encouragement. "Little Mirai, you need to work hard too! In the future, little Kushina may need you to look after and protect her!"

"Mm-hm! Grandma, I'm going to study Sealing Jutsu too! As for Kushina, I'll definitely protect her properly."

"Good boy. At the end of the month, Grandma will come check on your progress again."

"Okay~"

Mirai Uzumaki smiled as he turned and headed deeper into the compound.

After only a few steps, the smile vanished from his face.

Grandma Mito looked even more—lifeless than before!

And that tone, like she was entrusting someone to his care... If Mirai had truly been a child, he might not have noticed.

Unfortunately, he wasn't.

Pushing open the wooden door to the sealing room, Mirai found Kushina sitting with her back to the entrance. She held a sealing scroll in her hands, back ramrod straight, looking like she was studying very seriously.

Hearing his footsteps, she turned her head to glance at him, then quickly turned back, letting out a soft snort through her nose.

"Kushina, you're holding it upside down."

Kushina froze for a moment, then hurriedly flipped it over and looked down again—

Why were the symbols on the scroll still upside down?

"Baka! That awful Mirai tricked me! I was holding it the right way before!"

Kushina puffed out her cheeks, utterly furious!

"Hahahaha!" Mirai Uzumaki laughed without stopping. He hadn't expected that a casual tease would fool Kushina so easily.

Even the sadness from Grandma Mito's apparent last request had faded away.

Kushina bit her lip, her face flushing all the way to her ears. She threw the scroll to the floor. "It's all your fault!"

"Hey, hey! I wasn't the one holding the scroll."

"If you hadn't said nonsense, how could I have held it upside down?" Kushina looked like she was gritting her teeth again.

Watching her puffed-up appearance, Mirai couldn't help curling the corner of his lips.

He deliberately pressed his lips together, as though savoring something.

The moment Kushina saw it, her entire body froze as if she'd been hit by a paralysis technique.

The posture she'd taken to pounce on him and attack instantly collapsed, while the tips of her ears turned so red they seemed ready to drip blood.

She abruptly pulled her hands back and scooted away, like a startled little animal.

"Y-you... You're not allowed to make that motion!"

"Which motion?" Mirai wore an innocent expression.

"That... that one!" Kushina pointed at him, her finger trembling, but she didn't dare say the words "lick your lips."

"Anyway, you're not allowed to do it!"

Mirai raised an eyebrow. He more or less guessed what she was thinking and couldn't help laughing inwardly.

"Fine, fine, I won't." He sat cross-legged, spread out another scroll, and said, "I'll study. I won't disturb you."

Kushina gave a "hmph," hugged her scroll, and moved to the farthest corner of the room. She sat down cross-legged with her back to him, putting on an air of I don't want to talk to you.

But she couldn't take in a single word.

Her mind was filled with that scene from earlier—the way Mirai had pressed his lips together, the curve of his tongue sweeping over them, and the feeling of that stolen kiss.

She turned a page of the scroll, then realized she had no memory whatsoever of what had been on the previous page.

"Damn it..." she muttered under her breath, burying her face in the scroll. Even the tips of her hair seemed flushed red.

On the other side, Mirai truly settled down to study.

He knew time waited for no one.

Grandma Mito's condition was worsening by the day. At any moment, she might no longer be able to hold on.

Before that happened, he had to learn as much as he could.

Page after page of the sealing scroll turned. The structures of the techniques rapidly formed, broke apart, and recombined in his mind. Those ancient symbols and curse marks seemed as if they had been born to be engraved in his memory.

Three hours later, the Luminescent Stones in the sealing room began to dim slightly.

"That should do it." Mirai closed the scroll, stood up, and stretched his stiff shoulders. "Time to go back and eat."

A muffled "Mm" came from the corner.

Kushina stood as well, closing her scroll neatly—but she hadn't finished reading even a single page.

The two silently walked back to the main house.

Along the way, Kushina deliberately stayed half a step behind him. She didn't walk beside him or speak, only occasionally stealing a glance at him before quickly looking away.

By the time they reached the entrance to the main house, the aroma of food had already drifted out.

Mito sat at the table. Nawaki had already started sneaking bites and got his hand smacked with Mito's chopsticks.

"Grandma Mito, we're back!" Mirai and Kushina pushed open the door and entered.

Looking at the warm, lived-in home, a trace of warmth rose in his heart.

There were many fake people in Konoha, but this family's love was real.

"Oh, little Mirai and little Kushina. Hurry and wash your hands, then we can eat!"

"Okay~!"

The two little kids went to wash their hands, then obediently sat at the table.

"Where's Sis? Isn't she back yet?" Nawaki asked, rubbing the back of his hand.

"No idea. She looked so excited this afternoon. Who knows what she's up to!" Before Mito could finish—

Bang!

The front door was shoved open.

Tsunade strode in, her blonde hair disheveled and her face filled with the high spirits of I'm in a great mood today.

She swept her gaze over the table, her eyes landing on Mirai Uzumaki, then rushed over in three quick strides—

"Good kid!"

She scooped Mirai up and planted a fierce kiss on his cheek, accompanied by a crisp smack.

"Your big sister Tsunade's in a good mood today, so here's your reward!"

The entire table fell silent for a moment.