Outside Konoha~
Beneath the towering broadleaf forest, bucket-thick trunks grew in tangled clusters, with moss, fallen leaves, and soil all around.
Beside a pitch-black hollow beneath a tree, cold and damp permeated the surroundings. After the three women met, the atmosphere dropped to freezing point.
Uchiha Lei had his left arm around Kushina Uzumaki's waist, while Konan and Yumiko stood on his right.
Kushina Uzumaki's eyes were icy. She cast a hostile look at the voluptuous Yumiko, then glanced disdainfully at Konan beside her and asked with a cold snort:
"Brother Lei, who are these two women? Aren't you going to introduce them?"
"Yes, Brother Lei, who's this beauty?"
Konan held Uchiha Lei's wrist, her expression innocent as she looked curiously at Kushina Uzumaki.
Yumiko could tell that Uchiha Lei and Kushina Uzumaki had an unusual relationship, so she moved a step to the side, afraid of being misunderstood, and chimed in:
"Yes, Lei, hurry up and introduce us so we can get acquainted. Another sister means another way to survive!"
Uchiha Lei nodded in agreement, tightened his left arm around Kushina Uzumaki, and looked at her as he introduced her:
"This is Kushina Uzumaki."
Uchiha Lei turned toward Konan beside him and introduced her:
"This is Konan."
"My name is Yumiko. It's nice to meet you, Kushina."
Yumiko introduced herself and offered her right hand in a friendly gesture, hoping to get along peacefully with Kushina Uzumaki.
"Hello, Konan, Yumiko. I'm Lei's fiancée, Kushina Uzumaki."
Kushina Uzumaki lifted her chin proudly, shook Yumiko's hand quickly, then withdrew her own in one swift, clean motion, giving Yumiko no time to react.
Seeing that Kushina Uzumaki was most likely a ninja too, Yumiko frowned slightly, gave a small smile, and withdrew her right hand, which had been left hanging in the