"Ah?"
"He..."
"You just left like that?"
Uchiha Mikoto stared blankly at the two Explosive Tag in front of her. Even though she had prepared herself mentally, seeing how cleanly and efficiently the Explosive Tag were made and how she could leave without any sign of weakness left her with a feeling of unease, as if she had something she couldn't say.
"Yes!" Kushina nodded, pouting her lips forcefully before returning to normal. She hadn't spent much time with Araki yet, and he was leaving so soon. She still had so many questions she wanted to ask, like how the final exams went. It seemed she'd know all that now, until Araki returned. She then said, "He'll probably be back tomorrow morning."
"You mean..." Uchiha Mikoto's lips twitched violently as she said, "He spent the entire night training?"
"Yes." Kushina nodded again.
"You said before that they lived together, you didn't mean that, did you?" Uchiha Mikoto felt shocked again.
"Yes!" Kushina exclaimed. "When I first arrived, I didn't believe it. I thought Araki might not last long and might come back in the middle of the night, but now, half a year has passed, Araki has been training all along. I'm very surprised."
"Was Araki this strong six months ago?" Uchiha Mikoto suddenly asked.
"What aspect are you referring to that you're good at?" Kushina paused for a moment, then said, "Making Explosive Tag? I just taught him that a while ago! His learning ability is incredible! But you have to keep this a secret for me; I can't just show Sealing Jutsu to outsiders!"
"Mmm, mmm, you know me, don't you? I won't say anything." Uchiha Mikoto nodded repeatedly, then tentatively asked, "I'm referring to his body. When you first met him, was he this strong?"
"Of course not!" Kushina shook her head without hesitation. "I'm determined to protect him!"
"Did Araki really get stronger in the last six months?" Uchiha Mikoto asked in disbelief.
"Wow! I get it! You must think Araki is hiding his strength!" Kushina understood Mikoto's meaning, but she was still puzzled as to why her best friend kept focusing on Araki. She then said, "He definitely hid his strength. He didn't use his full power when fighting Maemoto Takashi, otherwise he would have defeated him much more easily."
"What about six months ago?" Uchiha Mikoto didn't get the answer she wanted.
"That's definitely not going to work!" Kushina said irritably. She felt that Mikoto hadn't grasped what she was trying to show off; the two of them were talking about completely different things.
"Why..."
Uchiha Mikoto sighed. She knew she wouldn't get any information out of him. She wanted to check on Araki's training, but didn't know how to bring it up. Suddenly, an idea struck her, and she asked, "Did Araki go to eat?"
"I don't know either!" Kushina said, shaking her head.
"Aren't you curious?" Uchiha Mikoto coaxed.
"Hmm... a little." Kushina nodded.
"Should we go check on him? He just finished making two Explosive Tag and is immediately throwing himself into training. Isn't that a bit too much?" Uchiha Mikoto's eyes gleamed with eager anticipation.
"That's not a good idea." Kushina shook her head decisively.
"I just want to see how he trains. I heard his training is extremely arduous and exhausting, even taking Might Duy to the Konoha Hospital. Aren't you worried about what might happen to Araki's health?" Uchiha Mikoto was still persistent.
"Well..." Kushina hesitated.
"We'll just sneak a peek and come right back after we see Araki. We're going to sleep, we won't be staring at Araki, so don't worry about disturbing him," Uchiha Mikoto quickly said.
"Alright... alright..." Kushina was indeed somewhat interested in seeing it. She Araki like a precious gem, and now that gem was glowing, she didn't know much about it. If she could take this opportunity to see how Araki trained, it would greatly satisfy her curiosity. So she said, "We'll just take one look!"
"That's right! Just one glance!" Uchiha Mikoto nodded.
"Set off!"
Kushina smiled expectantly. She had thought about this before, but she had never done it, out of respect for Araki's personal space.
She was very simple-minded, believing that everyone has secrets, and so did Araki.
She didn't even tell Araki her secrets, so she wouldn't be hypocritical and make Araki reveal his own secrets.
Whether two people are friends or want to take their relationship further, they need to have their own space. What two people should do together is complement each other, not restrict each other.
Kushina was quite clear-headed about this matter; she felt it might be related to his learning of Sealing Jutsu —it was a matter of mindset.
In the original story, after Minato became Hokage, Kushina's eyes sparkled with a happy smile, even happier than when she herself became Hokage, instead of stubbornly competing with Minato.
Kushina wanted to visit Araki, and she was very curious about Araki training, but she never took any action, just holding onto this thought.
She felt that if Araki hadn't told her, it must be because the time wasn't right yet, just like how she couldn't reveal that she was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
The time was right.
Or perhaps Araki wanted to say something.
Then it will be natural to say it.
If Araki doesn't want to talk about it, she won't get an answer even if she asks. If she forces her to ask, she'll probably get a perfunctory answer.
She was well aware of this.
When the time is right in the future, she will tell Araki in person that she is the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, and she will be the first to tell Araki.
only...
This kind of curiosity is like a seed.
Kushina refrained from watering the seed, maintaining proper restraint, which prevented her from encountering any problems.
but...
What Mikoto just said.
It was like watering the seed of curiosity in her heart.
This immediately allowed her curiosity to take root and grow rapidly, bringing her inner curiosity to the forefront.
In an instant.
The two tiptoed out of the room.
They walked towards the grove where Araki was training.
" Mikoto, are you sure it's over there? I don't see Araki at all!" Kushina looked towards the grove of trees in confusion. She hadn't seen Araki at all when she came out, and if Mikoto hadn't pointed in the direction, she wouldn't have known where to look.
"I'm sure, I saw it when I came out. Araki was heading this way," Uchiha Mikoto said confidently. She knew very well that Araki was training here. Of course, she didn't just see him; she knew it from the information and data she had.
"Maybe we should go back..." Kushina still felt that this wasn't a good idea.
"We're already out here, how can we go back like this? Don't worry, we'll just take a look. If we see Araki is alright, we'll go back." Uchiha Mikoto appeared very enthusiastic.
"Fine... fine then..." Kushina scratched her head and reluctantly followed.
A few minutes ago.
Araki opened the door, stepped out of the house, and, as always, embarked on his path of cultivation.
Just as he came out.
That subtle, almost imperceptible feeling of being watched returned.
"Is this targeting me?"
Araki remained unchanged and walked towards the grove, now wanting to verify that the grove was in the opposite direction from Tsunade's house.
If that person was targeting Tsunade, then there was no need to know their whereabouts so clearly.
But...
Araki followed them into the grove.
The feeling of being watched is still there.
"What the hell?!"
Araki frowned instantly. He wasn't some clay figure to be molded at will. His low profile and caution weren't signs of cowardice, but rather that he was looking for the best opportunity.
This person is staring at him.
The crucial point is that nobody even knows who it is?!
Or rather...
We don't even know if it's a human or a ghost!
This is no joke!
Araki is a little angry!
" The Ninja Academy exams are over today, I'm in a good mood. First, I'll run 300 laps around Konoha. If I can't finish that, I'll do 300 squat jumps!"
Araki deliberately spoke loudly, as if he were training with Might Duy, and gave a thumbs-up to the air. Then, without even bothering to warm up, he suddenly engaged his core muscles, propelling his thighs, calves, and ankles forward at an incredible speed.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh...
Araki transformed into streaks of shadow, leaping swiftly between the branches.
He wasn't running at an exceptionally high speed, but he was definitely faster than the average Genin, with the surrounding trees constantly flashing past in his sight.
Just as he darted out.
He felt that the gaze upon him had reached its peak.
This is an intensity we haven't reached all day!
It's certain that the person was staring at him, their gaze following him, as if they were afraid of losing sight of him.
The next moment.
With a rapid descent from Araki.
The feeling of being stared at disappeared.
This action immediately left the person watching behind them far behind.
but...
This feeling lasted only for a fleeting moment.
The feeling of being stared at reappeared.
"Let's see how long you can keep this up!"
Araki's lips curled into a cold smile. Anyway, he had cultivation as a reason and excuse, which was perfectly reasonable. He cultivated every night, so this sudden increase in intensity was not unexpected.
This means that Araki's current changes won't make those following him think that he has discovered something.
After all, they are still cultivating.
They did not take any special action after discovering and tracking them.
Green Chakra flows continuously from Araki's heart, constantly replenishing Chakra energy and allowing him to run as long as he wants throughout the night.