"Yes!"
Araki and Nawaki responded simultaneously, their emotions stirred up by Tsunade.
At least Araki is genuinely taking it seriously.
As for what Nawaki thought when he saw the scroll full of questions, only he knew. He understood that the contents of the scroll were the key to unlocking the prison cell, and once he had fully mastered them, he could get out.
But he can't do it now!
Nawaki stared blankly at the scroll, tears welling up in his eyes. He seemed to be witnessing a sad story.
Chapter 33 What exactly do you like about him? (First update)
It was almost the same time that Araki went to Tsunade's house.
The streets and alleys of Konoha.
The two girls held hands and walked together in another direction.
" Kushina, where are you going? We haven't eaten yet!" Mikoto asked curiously as she was led towards a path that didn't lead to the dining area.
"Hehehe, it's a secret." Kushina gave a mysterious smile.
"What secret?" Mikoto, becoming even more curious after hearing this.
"Of course, I can't tell you the secret!" Kushina shook her head. Actually, she didn't know how to say it either, then said, "You'll find out in a bit!"
"Alright!"
Mikoto nodded gently, accepting Kushina's coy revelation, and passively allowed Kushina to lead her in the right direction.
Glug glug~
The two had only taken a few steps when Mikoto's stomach began to protest silently. She had deliberately not eaten much, saving it for herself and Kushina.
"How much longer? I'm so hungry!" Mikoto pouted and stared at Kushina in a coquettish manner. The expression she displayed was different from when she was in front of others.
"We've arrived!"
Kushina pointed to the ninja tool shop across the street, and with a smile, pulled Mikoto inside.
"You want to buy ninja tools?"
Seeing this scene, Mikoto suddenly realized why she had dragged her along.
There are regulations in ninja tool shops: all ninja tools sold there can only be sold to real ninjas who wear ninja Forehead Protector.
Students at the Ninja Academy are not eligible to purchase these items!
After all, the ninja tools in the shop are all genuine and lethal. Take the most common Kunai; if the sharp blade is used improperly, it can cause great harm even within the village.
Kushina is still a student at the Ninja Academy, but Mikoto has already graduated and wears Konoha Ninja Forehead Protector, making her a proper Genin.
Kushina can buy things that Mikoto can't!
"Actually, it's not that..." Kushina shook her head, still pulling Mikoto along as they walked towards the entrance of the ninja tool shop.
"I won't help you if you don't tell the truth~" Mikoto suddenly stopped and said to Kushina with a sly smile.
"Well, then I'll tell you." Kushina hesitated for a moment. She still needed Mikoto's help, so she had no choice but to give in. She leaned close to Mikoto's ear and whispered, "I want to sell Explosive Tag. Can you help me sell them to the shopkeeper, and then use the money to buy blank tag paper and special talisman-making brushes and ink?"
"Where did you get those Explosive Tag?" Mikoto asked, immediately curious.
"Stop asking!" Kushina shook Mikoto's arm, pleading, "Help me."
" Araki's, right!" Mikoto looked utterly helpless. She felt she had asked the wrong question; even a fool could figure it out.
"How did you know?" For some reason, Kushina's face turned bright red upon hearing Araki's name.
" Kushina, tell me honestly, what exactly is your relationship?" Mikoto's inner gossip was burning fiercely, and she immediately asked Kushina, seizing the opportunity.
"Um... friends." Kushina replied after a moment's thought, her cheeks flushing even more as she thought about what happened between them.
"You're lying!" Mikoto saw through Kushina's coy, girlish demeanor at a glance. Although they were both young, this was clearly abnormal. Coupled with her experience in the Junior Detective League, her logical reasoning abilities were significantly stronger than her peers. She ruthlessly exposed her. "Friends living together?"
"You, you, you, don't talk nonsense! We don't live together! Don't talk rubbish!" Kushina hurriedly waved her hands to explain. She was clearly telling the truth, but as she explained, her mind was filled with images from last night, and coupled with her recent daydreaming, her face turned even redder.
"Do you think I'm stupid?!" Mikoto couldn't help but roll her eyes at Kushina, immediately raising her hand to touch her best friend's face, then dramatically pulling her finger back and exclaiming, "It's burning hot!"
"Oh my god, what are you doing...?" Kushina was already shy, but now she was even more shy.
"No, you have to be honest with me. Did Araki make you do the things I asked you to do? If you don't tell me, I won't help you!" Mikoto deliberately put on a stern face to scare Kushina.
"Yes, yes, it was him. I helped him." Kushina had no choice but to confess.
"You're not even a ninja yet!" Mikoto was somewhat prepared, but she was still surprised to hear Kushina admit it. She said, "Don't you know that you can't enter ninja tool shops to buy and sell?"
"You probably don't know," Kushina replied.
"But you can't even get in, so why are you helping him?" Mikoto was completely baffled.
"I still have you!" Kushina said with a grin, taking Mikoto's hand. "I knew you would help me!"
"You even schemed against me!" Mikoto's eyes widened suddenly. No wonder she'd distanced herself so much. Then, she stared suspiciously at Kushina and asked, "What exactly is your relationship?"
"Friends!" Kushina replied immediately.
"I'll give you one more chance to rephrase your words!" Mikoto's eyes were filled with coercion and intimidation.
"We really are friends!" Kushina said firmly.
"You're just kidding me. I don't know if you're lying to me or to yourself. Can friends really be like this?" Mikoto was completely unconvinced.
"Then... what is our relationship?" Kushina suddenly asked.
"Huh?" Mikoto was about to say "We're friends," but then realized something was off and she almost fell into Kushina's trap. She snorted, "We're different! You're using a fallacy!"
"Oh dear, you've said so much, are you going to help me or not!" Kushina felt she couldn't continue arguing about this topic; she felt her body temperature rising from Mikoto's words.
"Is Araki researching and manufacturing Explosive Tag?" Mikoto asked curiously, taking the bag from Kushina's hand.
"Um."
Kushina nodded. It wasn't that she was revealing Araki's secret, but rather that she felt this explanation was just right when facing Mikoto.
After all, the Explosive Tag in the bag were looted by Araki from the ninjas of Kumogakure.
There is no legitimate source at all.
He couldn't withstand further questioning.
If Mikoto could believe that Araki made the Explosive Tag Explosive Tag himself, then she wouldn't dwell on the matter any further.
"That kid's got some skills."
Mikoto muttered to herself. She was the daughter of a wealthy family and a member of the strongest Uchiha Clan in Konoha. She had never worried about money, but she also knew that Explosive Tag were expensive.
What exactly do you like about him?
Mikoto seemed to sense that now was the perfect time, and suddenly asked a question, then stared intently at Kushina, trying her best to put pressure on her.
Chapter 34 A Responsible Best Friend (Second Update)
"He... he... ah?!"
Kushina was carefully considering the question and was about to answer when she realized something was wrong.
This isn't even a question.
This is a trap!
hateful!
Mikoto tricked me!
Kushina suddenly realized that her best friend seemed to be using the tactics she had learned in the Konoha Military Police Force on her, which was clearly a feint, and she almost fell for it.
"Hehehe, still being stubborn!"
Mikoto gave a dry laugh. From Kushina's reaction, she understood everything; she had clearly been about to answer.
Even though Kushina recovered later...
However, judging from the almost-answering tone, it was clear that the question was correct.
This little girl actually likes Araki!
Mikoto's previous assumptions were all guesses; she felt there was something wrong between Kushina and Araki, but she had no evidence. Although she still has no evidence now, she feels she knows the truth.
"Why..."
Mikoto sighed helplessly, said nothing more, and went inside with the bag containing the Explosive Tag.
Kushina was left standing alone at the door.
Kushina wanted to go in with them, but she was shy. The topic they had just discussed had left her a little flustered. She never expected Mikoto to ask her such a sensitive question so directly.
A moment later.
Mikoto ran out of the ninja tool shop in shock, her eyes filled with astonishment.
"What's wrong?"
Kushina looked Mikoto up and down and found that the latter hadn't taken anything out, not even the bag containing the Explosive Tag she had taken when she went in.
"Are you sure you want to exchange all the money from selling those Explosive Tag for blank talisman paper?" Mikoto asked, her lips twitching violently.
"And the brushes and ink for making talismans," Kushina added.
"Do you know how much a blank talisman costs?" Mikoto asked, seemingly ignoring Kushina's answer.
"I don't know." Kushina shook her head; she truly didn't understand.
"Now I'm telling you, a blank talisman costs 100 taels. Do you still want to exchange it? One Explosive Tag can only be exchanged for two blank talismans!" Mikoto felt that this was not worth it at all.
"Exchange!" Kushina said firmly. Araki hadn't mentioned money to her; an exchange would suffice.
"Are you serious?" Even someone as wealthy as Mikoto felt this was a waste of money, and her eyelids twitched. It felt like exchanging a bottle of soda for two empty bottles.
"I'm serious, hurry up and change it for me, I'm hungry and need to go eat!" Kushina urged.
"Are you still hungry...?"
Mikoto's face immediately darkened. She had been helping Kushina with this matter on an empty stomach. Helpless, she turned around and went back to the ninja tool shop.
The number of Explosive Tag in her bag didn't surprise her.
A mere 24 Explosive Tag won't sell for much money.