Does Jingyi Like Lady Tsunade?

Jingyi ignored Tsunade, cut himself a piece of meat, then sat beside Kushina and ate with her.

Besides the meat, he had also prepared fruit salad and juice.

There were vegetables to cut through the greasiness, too.

Although they had been dragged out early in the morning to buy groceries, with the weather like this, the few of them gathered around the fire eating fragrant grilled meat, and the atmosphere was quite nice.

To keep a certain bandit who demanded three portions every time he opened his mouth from going hungry, Jingyi had deliberately bought extra meat.

After eating a plate of meat and some fruit salad, Jingyi felt full.

Kushina was about the same. Nawaki and Tsunade had much greater appetites and were still stuffing themselves.

Watching the siblings tear into the meat, Jingyi could only say that they truly were brother and sister.

"Kushina, have you made any new friends at school lately?"

"No, just half of one."

Ever since she had knocked out her classmates' teeth on her first day of school, Kushina had become the little tyrant of the class. Almost no one dared to provoke her.

Likewise, her classmates were afraid of her and did not dare approach her.

"Half? Can a friend even be half a friend?"

Jingyi froze for a moment, then could not help laughing. Children had such strange ideas—there could even be half a friend.

"That's right, half a friend."

Kushina folded her little arms and huffed. "His name is Minato Namikaze, the little blondie I told you about last time. He's the only one in class willing to be my friend, and he isn't afraid when I get fierce."

"Tsk."

How should he put it? He really was worthy of being a little blondie.

Jingyi asked, "Kushina, do you like Minato as a friend?"

"No."

Kushina said indignantly, "He's only half my friend. And he looks silly, always grinning like an idiot, just like Brother Nawaki."

"Cough, cough!!"

Nawaki, who had been wolfing down meat, nearly choked to death.

"Kushina, who are you calling silly? Am I really that stupid?"

"Hmph, Sister Mikoto says you're silly too."

Kushina dealt Nawaki a devastating blow, and it was an extra-powerful one at that.

In an instant, the grilled meat in Nawaki's hand no longer smelled so good.

Because of their age difference, aside from looking after Kushina, Nawaki did not like playing with her. He thought Kushina was childish, while Kushina thought he was stupid.

The siblings disliked each other.

"Hahaha..." Jingyi laughed until his stomach hurt.

Tsunade found it amusing too.

Silly little brother, now you knew your own situation, didn't you? Even Kushina thought you were silly.

Mikoto Uchiha was the school's acknowledged talented beauty. Combined with her pretty appearance and gentle nature, she had become the white moonlight in the hearts of countless male students.

Although Nawaki did not regard Mikoto Uchiha as his white moonlight, there was no denying that he liked her.

That was why Nawaki had merely been unhappy when Kushina called him silly, but if Mikoto Uchiha said it, he would instantly shut down.

If the girl you liked called you silly, probably not many people could still laugh.

"You should switch targets early. You're still young, and you'll have plenty of chances."

Rubbing his stomach, Jingyi patted Nawaki on the shoulder.

"Why?"

Nawaki refused to accept it. Why could everyone else like Mikoto Uchiha, but not him?

Jingyi had no answer, so he gave Tsunade a look. Are you sure you won't teach your little brother a lesson?

Tsunade pretended not to see it.

"Jingyi, can I bring my friend here as a guest?" Kushina grabbed Jingyi's hand and shook it hard, looking at him pleadingly.

"Sure, sure. Kushina's friends are my friends. If you want to, bring them over."

Jingyi's head throbbed. When this hot-tempered little chili pepper acted cute, she was really impossible to resist.

"But you'll have to wait until my mission is over."

"Yay! Jingyi, you're so nice. I like you the most. It's a deal!"

Kushina happily jumped up.

Tsunade could not help teasing her.

"Kushina, do you know what liking someone means?"

"Of course I do. Liking someone is... liking them."

Children in the ninja world matured relatively early, including when it came to feelings, but expressing them was somewhat difficult.

Sure enough, Kushina stammered for quite a while without managing to explain herself.

This child... Tsunade tried hard not to laugh.

As she tried desperately to explain but realized she could not put it into words, Kushina began to panic. "It's like Brother Nawaki liking Sister Mikoto!"

"Pfft~~~"

The meat in Nawaki's mouth sprayed far away.

"Don't listen to her. When you grow up, you'll naturally understand things like liking someone. Even your Sister Tsunade is confused about it herself." Jingyi patted Kushina's little head.

And you say I like teasing children for no reason. What about you?

Look how anxious you've made her. She even dragged Nawaki out to use as a shield.

"Why?" Kushina raised her head in confusion.

Finally finding an opportunity, Nawaki loudly answered first, "Because Sister hasn't found anyone she likes, and no one dares to like her either. Jingyi, am I right?"

Ah... this.

You really are a genius, aren't you?

Seeing that Tsunade could no longer smile, Jingyi decided it would be better to stay far away. He scooped Kushina up and ran into the house.

As for Nawaki, all he could say was, kid, good luck.

"Sis, I was wrong! I really was wrong! Ah!! It hurts!!"

Nawaki's screams came from outside. Jingyi and Kushina sat on the sofa, while Kushina cautiously stuck her head out to peek outside.

That was too miserable.

"Jingyi, does no one really like Sister Tsunade?"

Kushina asked softly.

Jingyi blinked, lowered his head, and replied quietly, "Of course not. It's just that even if ordinary people like her, they wouldn't dare say it."

So that was how it was.

Kushina wore an enlightened expression. "Then does Sister Tsunade have someone she likes?"

"..."

Why do you have so many questions?

"Jingyi, do you like Sister Tsunade? If you like Sister Tsunade, are you too afraid to say it?"

"..."

After eating and drinking their fill, Tsunade soon left with Kushina and the bruised and battered Nawaki. Jingyi finally had time to work on his seals.

Inside a small tavern beside the Shimura Clan Compound, the Third Hokage, who had come at Shimura Danzō's invitation, sat across from him.

He then picked up the cup on the table and gently took a sip of the wine inside.

"Do something for me."

The Third Hokage frowned at this and refused.

"Sorry, I promised Lady Mito that your position..."

"There's no need."

Shimura Danzō gripped the wine cup in his hand and gritted his teeth. "Send Jingyi Hyuga away. As for the position of Hokage's advisor, I'll take it back sooner or later."

What was this guy planning now?