"Are you leaving tomorrow?" Xiao Nan's small hands clutched Lin Yu's arm tightly as she heard he was leaving, her face filled with a little fear.
"Don't worry, I'll come back to see you," Lin Yu said with a smile, ruffling Xiao Nan's hair.
"Sensei (Senpai), are you really leaving?" Yahiko and Nagato blurted out at the same time. They then glanced at each other, their faces flushing red. Yahiko gritted his teeth and turned his head away from Nagato, then looked at Lin Yu with concern.
"Yes, something has happened to my family in Konoha, and I need to go back and check on her. I'm worried about her," Lin Yu nodded with a smile.
"Family? Is it that person named Kushina? She's a girl, isn't she? What is she to you, Lin Yu?" Xiao Nan pouted a little angrily from the side, no longer calling him Lin Yu-aniki.
Speaking of Kushina, a happy smile touched Lin Yu's lips. "Ah, she's a girl as cute as you, Xiao Nan, but more lively."
"I can be more lively and cute too!" Xiao Nan's ears perked up when she heard that girl was more lively than her. She quickly said to Lin Yu.
Lin Yu felt a bit helpless, then said seriously, "Everyone has their own characteristics. Kushina is lively and active, and Xiao Nan has a cool and aloof temperament. I think Xiao Nan like this is very good and attractive."
Hearing Lin Yu say she was very good and attractive, Xiao Nan forgot about the people present and quickly buried her flushed little face into Lin Yu's embrace, looking shy and adorable.
"Hey, hey, hey, you're not even adults yet, what kind of behavior is this hugging and embracing!" Jiraiya, the bachelor, was displeased. It seemed he was the only one among the five present who was not loved or cherished. Alas, how lonely!
"Alright, you don't have to be so pessimistic. War could break out at any time. With Lin Yu's strength and medical ninjutsu, the village wouldn't let him just retire. There will always be a chance to meet again," Jiraiya said rather uncomfortably after taking a drink.
Upon hearing the word war, Yahiko and the other two's expressions changed. It was because of war that they became homeless. Xiao Nan looked up from Lin Yu's embrace, her small eyes filled with worry. "Will Lin Yu be in danger?"
The little girl was really going for it now, calling Lin Yu by name without any suffix.
"There will definitely be dangers, but he's skilled in medical ninjutsu and wouldn't be on the front lines in the logistics unit, so the danger isn't great," Jiraiya pouted, somewhat envious of someone being able to spend time alone with Tsunade.
Nagato's expression was a bit strange, but he didn't say anything. Lin Yu didn't want to reveal his Rinnegan, and he wouldn't be foolish enough to do it for him. This was a secret between him and Lin Yu-senpai.
"I've decided. I'm going to train hard to protect Lin Yu-aniki," Xiao Nan said with determination on her face.
Lin Yu felt even more helpless. Why did these girls always want to protect him? He was actually very strong. Now, with the addition of the Tenseigan, his confidence was even greater. He truly didn't fear the current ninja war.
Xiao Nan didn't care if he was strong or not. She looked at Jiraiya seriously. "Jiraiya-sensei, please guide me from now on!"
"Count me in!"
"Me too."
Jiraiya put away his indifferent attitude and cleared his throat. Looking at the three earnest and determined young faces before him, he said solemnly, "Have you thought it through? My training is very strict, and there's a risk to your lives if you're not careful."
"I'm ready!" Xiao Nan was determined to fight to protect Lin Yu.
"I'm ready too." Yahiko was determined to strive for peace.
"Me too!" Nagato was determined to fight to protect Yahiko and Xiao Nan, and more importantly, for Yahiko.
"Good! Then starting tomorrow, you will undergo the rigorous training of the toad sage!"
...
In the early morning, before dawn, a figure grew further and further away from the small wooden house.
"Are you sure you don't want to say goodbye one last time?"
From the crown of the pine tree, a little boy with orange hair quietly asked the fair-skinned young girl in front of him.
"No. The next time we meet, I won't be standing behind him, just watching him from afar like I am now." Xiao Nan's expression was resolute. She watched the receding figure with a hint of longing until it disappeared. Then, her face returned to its usual cool demeanor, and she leaped down from the treetop.
"Nagato, aren't you going to persuade Xiao Nan?" Yahiko asked with a hint of grievance. His companions seemed to have changed.
"Ah? You're right." Nagato recalled what Lin Yu had said to him before leaving. He looked at Yahiko with a complicated expression.
"What do you mean 'you're right'! Are you even listening to what I'm saying?" Yahiko was a bit exasperated, scratching his head in annoyance.
"Anyway... you're always right."
"Nagato, do you still love me?"
"Mmm, you're right..."
"Ah! Oh heavens! Spare me!" Yahiko fled from Nagato as if he were escaping, his speed almost comparable to the Body Flicker Technique...
When Lin Yu left, he didn't say goodbye. He believed Jiraiya could take good care of them. After all, they would meet again someday, so it was better to avoid the sadness of parting.
Lin Yu was now a little worried about Kushina. Although in the original story, the transfer of the Nine-Tails didn't cause any major problems, he still couldn't shake off his unease. The system wouldn't send him on missions for no reason... at least, for proper missions, the system was quite reliable. Lin Yu defended this secondhand system one last time.
Two days later, Land of Fire, Konoha Village.
At the gates of Konoha, Lin Yu presented his identification and Konoha ninja proof. After his identity was verified, a guard quietly told him, "Lord Orochimaru said to have you stop by his place when you return."
Lin Yu nodded, bid farewell to the nameless guardian god, and hurried home. On the way, he didn't see any collapsed buildings or casualties, which eased his mind considerably. It seemed the Nine-Tails hadn't broken free from its seal, and his worries lessened significantly. He hoped it wasn't too late. Kushina, wait for me!
As it turned out, Lin Yu's worries were unnecessary.
"Wow! Lin Yu-aniki, you're finally back! Kushina missed you so much!" As soon as Lin Yu opened the door, Kushina, who was resting at home, sniffed the air like a dog smelling a bone and rushed to the door, throwing herself into Lin Yu's arms.
"I missed Kushina too," Lin Yu said, inhaling the pleasant scent of a young girl from Kushina, his heart filled with relief.
Lin Yu cupped Kushina's small face and examined her carefully. He found no signs of injury. Excellent!
Kushina's face turned red under Lin Yu's gaze. Feeling the warmth of his hands, she felt as if her face could fry an egg. Shyly, she twisted her head and pulled away, saying, "Lin Yu-aniki, why are you looking at me like that?"
Lin Yu's old face flushed red. He coughed and said, "It's nothing, I just think my Kushina has become even more beautiful."
"I haven't changed that much, have I? It's only been a little over three months... Have I really become more beautiful!" Kushina covered her face, then took out a small mirror to examine herself carefully.
Hmm, her eyes had gotten a bit bigger, her nose a bit more upturned, and her chin slightly sharper. She really had become much prettier!
Lin Yu looked a bit embarrassed. He had just said it casually; he never expected Kushina to find so many changes. He collected himself and asked Kushina, "Kushina, have you seen Mito-sama?"
Kushina put away her small mirror, her little face filled with sadness. "I have, sob sob, Grandma Mito is gone. I've lost another relative."
"Then the Nine-Tails..." Lin Yu hesitated.
"Ah, you mean that grumpy, stinky fox? It's here." Kushina took Lin Yu's hand and placed it on her small belly, her face flushing slightly.
Lin Yu felt the soft, smooth touch of his fingers, his heart fluttering uncontrollably. He quickly withdrew his hand, his old face turning red, and said, "Has... has the Nine-Tails caused you any negative effects?"
Kushina scrunched up her face and shook her head. "Not really. It's just that whenever I go to talk to it, it always yells a lot, so I put it in confinement. When I grow up, I'm going to beat it up every day for being fierce to me!"
Kushina's face puffed up indignantly at the end, looking as cute as a steamed bun.
Lin Yu felt a bit speechless, and mourned for the Nine-Tails for a second. Then, he suddenly felt that Kushina's last sentence seemed to be hinting at him: if I'm fierce to her, will I also get beaten up...