Well, well, Kushina. I never thought you were into this!
Nobuhiko froze completely.
But remembering that Kushina was a little rich lady, Nobuhiko decided to grant her this simple little wish.
"Sister Kushina, banzai! Banzai! Banzai!"
"That's the feeling! No wonder that old man the Third Hokage was so happy that day. Little Brother Nobuhiko, you're so clever!"
"Why won't any of you believe me? I really mean it, Sister Kushina!"
"My admiration for Lord Hokage is like an endlessly surging river, like the Naka River flooding out of control!"
"Every thought I have and everything I do before Lord Hokage comes from the bottom of my heart, Sister Kushina!"
"Really?"
Seeing Nobuhiko's resolute expression, Kushina began to feel that her judgment had been wrong.
She had thought she understood Little Brother Nobuhiko well enough, but apparently she still did not.
Her Little Brother Nobuhiko really did admire that old man the Third Hokage so much.
"All right, Little Brother Nobuhiko, I was wrong just now. I shouldn't have doubted your admiration for that old man the Third Hokage!"
"Sister Kushina, remember this: no one in the entire village can match my loyalty to Lord Hokage! Mine, Kihara Nobuhiko's!"
"Yes, yes, I know. Little Brother Nobuhiko is the most loyal of all to that old man the Third Hokage!"
Kushina felt rather helpless.
Seeing that Kushina had believed his nonsense, Nobuhiko inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.
Although Tsunade could tell he was putting on an act, she certainly would not let it slip.
As for Kushina standing before him, whatever the reason, it was better for her to believe in his "loyalty" to the Third Hokage for now. As for what happened later, that could naturally wait until later.
"Sister Kushina, let's hurry and get barbecue. I can't wait!"
"All right, let's go. Barbecue is on me!"
After eating, Nobuhiko and Kushina strolled leisurely down the street, bathed in moonlight and chatting on and off, until he saw her home.
Walking home alone, Nobuhiko rubbed his slightly bulging belly.
Yesterday, the big rich lady had treated him to barbecue; today, the little rich lady had treated him to barbecue.
Fortunately, it was only these two days. If every day were like this, Nobuhiko felt he might as well give up being a ninja!
"Nobuhiko!"
A somewhat familiar voice reached his ears.
Nobuhiko looked toward the voice.
The person who had called out to him was none other than his father's friend, a man who had shared life-and-death experiences with him-Konoha jōnin and genjutsu master, Yuhi Shinku.
"Long time no see, Uncle Shinku, Kurenai-chan!"
Nobuhiko happily greeted Yuhi Shinku and the little girl beside him, who had curly black hair and red eyes.
"Long time no see, Big Brother Nobuhiko."
The little girl greeted him in a soft, sweet voice.
"Kurenai-chan, you're getting cuter and cuter!"
Nobuhiko patted the little girl's head.
"You're getting more and more handsome too, Big Brother Nobuhiko."
Seeing the little girl blush slightly as she praised him in her soft, sweet voice, Nobuhiko instantly felt healed.
"When I returned to the village, I heard that Yusuke had entrusted you to Lady Tsunade. I was just planning to take Kurenai to Lady Tsunade's house to see you. What a coincidence, running into you on the street."
Hearing this, Nobuhiko felt a little touched.
"Uncle Shinku, Sister Tsunade treats me very well. She even found lots of ninjutsu for me to learn. You don't need to worry."
"Haha, really? That's a relief."
Seeing that Nobuhiko was clearly doing well, Yuhi Shinku also breathed a sigh of relief.
"We'll head home, then, Nobuhiko. I'll come see you the next time I return to the village for some rest."
"All right, Uncle Shinku. Be sure to protect yourself on the battlefield. I'll visit your home once the war is over!"
"All right, it's a promise!"
"We're going, then. Goodbye, Big Brother Nobuhiko!"
"Goodbye, Kurenai-chan!"
Having enjoyed a delicious barbecue without spending a penny and gotten a little healing along the way, Nobuhiko happily returned to the old Senju residence, humming a tune.
After returning to the old Senju residence.
The moment Nobuhiko remembered that he would have to live here alone again, with no idea how long it would last, his good mood vanished. He did not feel like doing anything and went straight to sleep.
Before he knew it, a month had passed.
The timeline had also reached Konoha Year 40.
Nobuhiko had not been idle during this month.
As for ninjutsu, he had used a Shadow Clone to learn Water Trumpet Jutsu, then gone to the Third Hokage's office in person several times to ask how to train in Exploding Water Colliding Wave.
In the end, building on Water Shockwave and following the Third Hokage's guidance, his Shadow Clone finally mastered this B-rank ninjutsu through tireless effort, laying a solid foundation for his future training in "Who's Gonna Build the Dam?"
As for sealing jutsu, Nobuhiko's real body had learned One-String Light Formation, Self-Exerting Curse Binding Seal, and Fire Sealing Method: Flame Seal from Kushina.
Overall, Nobuhiko was very satisfied with the results of his training over the past month.
Root.
"Lord Danzo, this is what we've uncovered about Kihara Nobuhiko's recent movements."
The wearer of the Earth Dog mask knelt on one knee before Danzo and respectfully presented a scroll with both hands.
Danzo gave it a brief look, then began reprimanding him in an icy tone.
"From the moment you joined Root, I told you that Root has no place for useless people!"
"Now, I sent you to investigate a brat's routine, and you couldn't even complete such a simple mission. What use do I have for you!"
"Lord Danzo, the Anbu have increased their surveillance of us recently. Whenever they notice any sign of us approaching Kihara Nobuhiko, they come out to stop us. With no other choice, we could only use Black Chicken's insects to observe him."
"That's why the record of his movements is so lacking in detail. But there is one thing we can confirm, Lord Danzo."
"What is it?"
"Every evening, after parting ways with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Kihara Nobuhiko returns to the old Senju residence alone."
"Is that so? How many of Root's people are still out on missions outside the village?"
Danzo repeatedly stroked his chin and asked after a long period of thought.
"There's still the Black Boar Squad."
"Black Pig, is it? I recall his strength has already reached the level of a Special Jōnin."
"Yes, Lord Danzo."
The wearer of the Earth Dog mask answered respectfully.
"Earth Dog, take note. Here are my orders."
"Send word to Black Pig. Have him enter the village secretly without exposing himself."
"The investigation squad will continue investigating. Make certain of an exact time and place, then notify Black Pig to act."
"On the night of the operation, all Root ninjas still in the village are forbidden from going out. Except for the sensory ninjas, everyone is to remain silent."
"After subduing Kihara Nobuhiko, order Black Pig to unleash several large, conspicuous water release ninjutsu to destroy the scene, pin the blame on someone else, and alert the village. Then have him find somewhere to hide."
"Once the sensory ninjas detect the disturbance, Root will deploy in full force. You must reach the scene before the Anbu, link up with Black Pig, and take control of the scene."
"Yes, Lord Danzo!"
Earth Dog answered admiringly.
"Repeat it back to me."
"..."