"If I had to choose between Sister Kushina and the other villagers, I'd choose Sister Kushina without a moment's hesitation!"
"To put it bluntly, as long as Sister Kushina doesn't get hurt anymore, what do I care whether the other villagers live or die!"
At those words, Kushina no longer cared whether she embarrassed herself. With tears streaming down her face, she threw herself into Nobuhiko's arms.
Nobuhiko gently soothed Kushina with one hand while preparing to righteously force Tsunade to make a choice.
He had just worked himself into the right mood when Tsunade struck him head-on.
Thump.
"That hurts, Sister Tsunade! Why did you hit me so hard this time!"
If he hadn't still been holding Kushina, Nobuhiko would have been hopping in pain.
"Am I that close to the other villagers?"
"Hehehe, I knew you cared about Sister Kushina too, Sister Tsunade!"
Watching Nobuhiko change his tune faster than turning a page, Tsunade felt a little weary.
"Oh? Where did that impassioned Nobuhiko from a moment ago go?"
Nobuhiko pretended not to hear Tsunade's sarcasm and focused on comforting Kushina.
Tsunade gritted her teeth in irritation, sorely tempted to give the brat another hard punch.
"All right, let's give it a try. If something really does happen, I'll..."
"We'll shoulder it together!"
Nobuhiko seized the opportunity to take Tsunade's hand and spoke firmly.
"Me too, Sister Tsunade!"
Kushina also pulled free of Nobuhiko's embrace, placed her hand over theirs, and held on tightly.
"All right, we'll shoulder it together!"
Tsunade felt as though sand had gotten into her eyes as she spoke firmly.
Inside the sealing space.
"Nine-Tails, I hope you won't disappoint me either."
Kushina warned Nine-Tails in a tone more serious than she had ever used before.
"Hmph."
Nine-Tails said nothing, answering with a derisive snort.
Outside, Kushina suddenly opened her reddened eyes, and six whisker marks faintly appeared on her face.
Tsunade tensed all over, as though facing a formidable enemy.
Feeling that oppressive presence, Nobuhiko ventured somewhat nervously.
"Senior Nine-Tails, you wanted to see me?"
"Not bad, brat. You've got guts, daring to speak to me first. You're much better than the little girl beside you."
Hey, just praise me if you want to praise me. Don't draw aggro!
Seeing the veins bulging on Tsunade's forehead, Nobuhiko felt that Nine-Tails didn't seem quite so frightening anymore.
"Senior Nine-Tails, may I ask what you wanted to see me about?"
"Nothing much. I merely wanted to test this girl."
"And were you satisfied with the result?"
"I don't want to see her for a while. Tell her that."
"Huh?"
"Kurama."
With that, "Kushina" closed her eyes.
Nobuhiko and Tsunade exchanged a glance, delight showing in their eyes.
"Aaah, I'm so mad! That stinking fox shut me inside the sealing space and wouldn't let me see anything!"
"Then, when he came back, he didn't say a single word and just tossed me out!"
"How could he do that!"
Kushina started complaining the moment she returned.
After complaining for a while, she realized that neither her dear Little Brother Nobuhiko nor Sister Tsunade had come to comfort her.
It was a little awkward, but not very.
"Sister Tsunade, Little Brother Nobuhiko, what are you smiling about?"
Kushina asked, blushing a little.
Tsunade glanced at Nobuhiko, signaling for him to explain.
"Ahem, Sister Kushina, Senior Nine-Tails just asked us to pass along two things."
"First, he doesn't want to see you for a while, so don't go bothering him."
"Aaah, how dare that stinking fox!"
Kushina's blood-red hair began moving again despite the lack of wind.
Seeing Kushina about to go berserk, Nobuhiko was too frightened to keep her in suspense any longer.
"Calm down, calm down, Sister Kushina."
"Senior Nine-Tails also said his name is Kurama."
"Really?"
Hearing Nine-Tails' name, Kushina calmed down, though she was still a little curious.
"Then why did he say he didn't want to see me for a while?"
Why else? He's a tsundere.
But if he dared say that outright, Kurama would probably come out and hack him apart alive.
"Ahem, Sister Kushina, I think Senior Kurama might never have encountered anything like this either, so he needs some time to think it over."
"Then, Sister Tsunade, Little Brother Nobuhiko, does this mean I succeeded?"
Hearing Nobuhiko's explanation, Kushina grew very excited.
"Congratulations, Kushina. You should count as having taken the first step now."
Tsunade affectionately stroked Kushina's head.
"You know, even Grandma never learned Nine-Tails' true name. The fact that you've gotten this far is enough to show how outstanding you are."
"Not at all, Sister Tsunade. It's actually all thanks to Little Brother Nobuhiko."
Blushing a little, Kushina bashfully began praising Nobuhiko.
"That stinking-no, Kurama and I both heard what Little Brother Nobuhiko said."
"Inside the sealing space, I thought over what Little Brother Nobuhiko said too, and I felt it made a lot of sense, so I told Kurama. Then Kurama decided to meet Little Brother Nobuhiko."
"So it's all thanks to Little Brother Nobuhiko!"
↓↓↓
"Sister Tsunade, what are you doing?"
Both of them questioned Tsunade discontentedly at the same time.
"What do you two brats think you're doing, hugging each other like that!"
Seeing the somewhat dangerous look in Tsunade's eyes, Nobuhiko remembered her warning to him and promptly backed down.
"That's not fair, Sister Tsunade! You held Little Brother Nobuhiko in your arms at noon today too. Why can't I?"
Just because Nobuhiko backed down didn't mean the little hot pepper would too.
"There's no why. I said no, and that means no."
"That's not fair!"
Seeing Kushina about to go berserk again, Tsunade decisively passed the buck to Nobuhiko.
↓↓↓
Watching Nobuhiko play dead and Kushina argue unreasonably, Tsunade was filled with anger.
Although the brat Nobuhiko sometimes spoke gently and considerately, was serious and reliable in his work, had outstanding talent as a ninja, was a little handsome, and brimmed with cleverness while also having a mature side.
↓↓↓
At this point, it looked like she would have to sacrifice herself after all.
Tsunade refused to believe that, after she sacrificed this much, Kushina would still fail to see Nobuhiko's true colors!
"Are you sure?"
Hearing Tsunade's voice through gritted teeth, Kushina decided to stand her ground to the bitter end!
"I'm sure!"
"Fine, then today I'll show you this brat's true colors!"