At the Senju Clan Compound~
Inside Tsunade's mansion~
Mito Uzumaki, Tsunade, Nawaki, and Kushina Uzumaki had just finished dinner.
Because Uchiha Lei had played the hero and rescued her, Kushina Uzumaki was in a wonderful mood and had eaten dinner with a smile!
Meanwhile, Nawaki had suffered heartbreak because Uchiha Mikoto, his secret crush, suddenly had someone she liked, so he had been in a terrible mood and eaten dinner with a long face!
Tsunade's golden hair was tied with a brown hairband into a ponytail that fell below her pale shoulders, and her slender, willow-leaf eyebrows accentuated the allure of her brown, peach-blossom eyes!
Her upturned nose was fair, small, and delicate, and her pearly teeth set off the rosy softness of her thin lips. Together with her flawless, fair oval face, they presented a vision of beauty!
A green diamond-shaped pendant hung on a green cord around her fair, slender neck. It was a gift from the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and her bust slightly stretched the white, long-sleeved medical coat over her chest!
The white hem fell over her slender waist, narrow enough to encircle with one hand. Dark blue trousers covered her long, straight legs, and her fair feet wore dark blue ninja sandals!
Tsunade was full of youthful charm now, the belle of Konoha Hospital!
Tsunade frowned slightly, raised a hand to rub Nawaki's head hard, and asked loudly:
"Nawaki, you've had a long face ever since you came home. Did someone bully you?
Tell your big sister. I'll stand up for you and teach him a lesson."
Kushina Uzumaki had already become part of this big family and picked up Tsunade's boisterous manner, so she leaned closer curiously too, rolled up her sleeves, clenched her little fists, and loudly chimed in:
"That's right, Nawaki! Tell us! I'll stand up for you too."
Nawaki remembered that the one who had stolen Uchiha Mikoto away was her childhood friend, Uchiha Lei. Thinking of his big sister Tsunade's and Kushina Uzumaki's personalities, he shook his head and refused:
"No need, Sis, Kushina. You can't help me with this!"
Hearing Nawaki refuse to give her any face when she had spoken to him nicely, Tsunade immediately raised her fist, thumped him on the head, and scolded loudly:
"Nawaki, could you show a little backbone? If something's wrong, say it! Don't dither like a woman!"
Kushina Uzumaki was also a little annoyed by Nawaki's attitude and loudly agreed:
"Tsunade's right! Nawaki, just come out and say it! You're driving us crazy."
"Hiss..."
Nawaki sucked in a breath of pain, rubbed his head with both hands, and looked to his grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, for help!
Mito Uzumaki wore her hair in two buns, with her long hair falling to her lower back. Clear wrinkles already marked her forehead, but her oval face still showed traces of her youthful beauty!
She wore a white kimono cinched at the waist with a black sash and black wooden sandals, looking very kind and approachable!
She was the current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and the strongest person in Konoha!
Seeing her grandson Nawaki's expectant gaze, Mito Uzumaki remembered what had happened to Kushina Uzumaki that afternoon. This was a good chance to ask what she thought!
Mito Uzumaki coughed lightly, raised a hand to stop Tsunade and Kushina Uzumaki from pressing him further, and said slowly:
"Tsunade, Kushina, stop teasing Nawaki!
Kushina, though, you look quite happy. Did something nice happen?"
Kushina Uzumaki looked up at Grandma Mito, walked over to her with a smile, and recounted how she had been bullied that afternoon and then rescued by Uchiha Lei!
"That's what happened, Grandma Mito!"
Hearing that Uchiha Lei had rescued Kushina, Tsunade unusually said nothing, because the Senju and Uchiha clans were at odds!
Meanwhile, hearing Uchiha Lei's name, Nawaki wanted to confirm whether he was Uchiha Mikoto's childhood friend, so he grew excited and asked Kushina Uzumaki loudly:
"Kushina, does this Uchiha Lei you mentioned have a childhood friend named Uchiha Mikoto?"
"Nawaki, how did you know Mikoto is Lei's childhood friend?"
Kushina Uzumaki looked at Nawaki in puzzlement. Just as she was about to go over to him, Mito Uzumaki caught hold of her from behind!
Mito Uzumaki had seen Kushina Uzumaki blush slightly as soon as she mentioned Uchiha Lei. Having been through such things herself, how could she fail to recognize Kushina's feelings?
But she had to consider Konoha's interests as a whole. Kushina Uzumaki was the future Nine-Tails Jinchuriki who would succeed her, so she had to be cautious about anyone approaching Kushina. That was why she needed to caution her!
Mito Uzumaki's expression turned serious, and she shook her head at Kushina Uzumaki as she cautioned her:
"Kushina, let's set aside why Nawaki knows about Uchiha Lei for now!
Haven't I told you that the Senju and Uchiha are at odds? Why are you getting close to Uchiha Lei?"
Seeing Grandma Mito's serious face, Kushina Uzumaki thought of Uchiha Lei's smiling face. Her gaze grew determined, and she loudly voiced her thoughts:
"Grandma Mito, when I first joined my new class, Lei was the only one who spoke up for me!
Even if he's an Uchiha, I'll still be close to him. Besides, he saved my life!"
Hearing Kushina Uzumaki's words, Mito Uzumaki was taken aback too. She knew that trying to dissuade Kushina any further would only backfire!
Hearing that no one had helped Kushina when she was bullied reminded her that Konoha had also stood by and done nothing when the Uzumaki Clan was wiped out, and she sighed softly:
"Ah, Kushina, since Uchiha Lei is sincere about being your friend!
Grandma Mito won't interfere between you and him anymore, but you must bring him here to see me!"
Kushina Uzumaki was a little puzzled about why she had to bring Uchiha Lei home and asked curiously:
"Grandma Mito, why do I have to bring Lei home?"
Mito Uzumaki raised her hand to stroke Kushina Uzumaki's little head, gave her a kindly smile, and said softly:
"Kushina, of course it's so Grandma can see who stole her precious granddaughter's heart."
Kushina Uzumaki flushed bright red, clenched the hem of her clothes in both hands, and immediately shook her head to explain:
"Ah... no, Grandma Mito, you've misunderstood!"
Tsunade had also noticed Kushina Uzumaki's feelings and was very curious about what this Uchiha Lei looked like, so she teased with a smile:
"Kushina, a hero rescuing a beauty! From the look of you, you're ready to offer yourself to him!
Bring him home for Grandma and your big sister to see."
Hearing Tsunade's words, Kushina Uzumaki blushed all the way to her ears and hurriedly waved her hands to explain:
"Tsunade, stop joking! Lei did save me, but he already has his childhood friend, Mikoto!"
Nawaki also wanted to see what Uchiha Lei looked like and find out where he fell short, so he chimed in loudly with some excitement:
"Kushina, bring that Uchiha Lei guy home!
I want to know where I lost to him, and why Mikoto likes him instead of me."
Hearing Nawaki's words, Tsunade and Mito Uzumaki realized that Nawaki had suffered heartbreak, and that the reason was actually connected to Uchiha Lei too!
Mito Uzumaki and Tsunade looked at him sympathetically!
Grandma Mito's and his sister Tsunade's looks gave Nawaki the creeps, and he rose straight from the sofa and ran toward his room upstairs!
When Nawaki reached the stairs, he shouted to Kushina:
"Kushina, remember to bring that Uchiha Lei home!"
With that, Nawaki hurried up the stairs toward his room on the second floor!
Seeing her younger brother Nawaki's embarrassing display, Tsunade immediately clutched her stomach and laughed:
"Hahaha, Nawaki was hilarious just now! Who would've thought he'd had his heart broken!
And the reason actually involved this Uchiha Lei too!"
Mito Uzumaki thought about how Kushina Uzumaki now had someone she liked, and how her eldest grandson Nawaki, though heartbroken, also had someone he liked. Only Tsunade, despite being this grown-up, still left her worrying!
Mito Uzumaki glared at Tsunade and said loudly:
"Laugh, laugh, laugh! Tsunade, you're not getting any younger! Why haven't I seen you bring a boyfriend home?
Learn a thing or two from Kushina and Nawaki!"
Hearing her grandmother Mito Uzumaki's nagging, Tsunade immediately rose from the sofa, made a face at her, and said quietly:
"Grandma, what's so good about men? Aren't I comfortable on my own? I'm going to bed. I still have work tomorrow!"
Watching Tsunade leave like that, Mito Uzumaki sighed helplessly and suddenly felt that Kushina Uzumaki pursuing her own feelings was quite a good thing!
So Mito Uzumaki smiled and encouraged her:
"Kushina, don't lose heart! Who says a man can only marry one wife?
When a woman pursues a man, there's only a thin veil between them. As long as you try, you're sure to succeed! Remember to bring Uchiha Lei home for Grandma to see!"
Looking at Grandma Mito's expectant gaze, Kushina Uzumaki's eyes grew determined, and she also felt that Grandma Mito had a point!
So Kushina Uzumaki nodded and replied:
"Grandma Mito, I'll do as you say! I'll bring Lei home for you to meet!"
Hearing Kushina Uzumaki agree to her request, Mito Uzumaki was very happy too. She rubbed her little head and said with a smile:
"Kushina really is a good girl. All right, go get some rest early!"
"I know, Grandma Mito. You get some rest early too!"
After saying goodbye to Mito Uzumaki, Kushina Uzumaki headed toward her bedroom on the second floor, looking forward a little to seeing Uchiha Lei again tomorrow.
Before you continue