“Good morning! Lady Kushina!”
“Mmm,” Kushina replied with a soft hum, rubbing her eyes. She cast a glance at Lin Yu with her beautiful eyes before heading into the bathroom.
“The toothpaste and towel are ready for you. Please take your time!” Lin Yu said, a smile plastered on his face despite the dark circles under his eyes.
“I want savory tofu pudding for breakfast.”
“I’ll make it right away!”
“And a cup of hot milk too!”
“No problem!”
Gulp, gulp…
Whew. Lin Yu watched Kushina wash up and wiped the nonexistent sweat from his brow. He had paid the price for his ‘foolishness’ yesterday. The black eyes were just a physical punishment; he had also been forced to sign dozens of ‘unequal treaties.’
For example: he could no longer meet with Mikoto alone behind Kushina’s back, could not eat food cooked by Mikoto alone, and could not stay over at Mikoto’s house…
With her limited intellect, Kushina could only come up with such treaties. After coercing Lin Yu into writing down the treaties to her satisfaction, Kushina went upstairs happily with the ‘evidence.’ She wanted to hide them, lest some villain steal them!
Lin Yu, with his black eyes and bitter expression, was actually quite pleased. Did I sign? Did I leave my fingerprint?
Nothing!
I don’t admit it!
Even if I wrote it myself, so what? I had a sleepwalking episode and just liked writing nonsense!
However, he would ‘take good care’ of Kushina for the next few days. With Kushina’s memory, she would immediately forget today’s events if he treated her well for a few days.
“Lin Yu, I forgot to mention, I also want the old woman’s steamed dumplings!”
Kushina’s slightly smug voice came from the bathroom. Lin Yu, interrupting his thoughts, quickly responded and grabbed his jacket before heading out.
Lin Yu remembered the old woman’s steamed dumplings. They were in the commercial district, quite a distance from here, but the taste of those dumplings was truly excellent. The meat filling was generous, and the broth was abundant, guaranteed to splash all over your face with every bite!
The shop was called “The Old Woman’s Steamed Dumplings,” but it was run by a middle-aged woman. Lin Yu didn’t know her and she hadn’t appeared in the original story, but with the quality of these dumplings, she shouldn’t have remained unknown.
…
“Hmph, hmph, hmph~” Kushina hummed a tune while combing her long hair, feeling quite pleased.
If only Lin Yu brother could be this ‘obedient’ every day. Kushina’s small face scrunched up at the thought. Although Lin Yu was usually good to her, she preferred a Lin Yu who was wholeheartedly devoted to her!
What should she do?
Kushina frowned, biting her finger, appearing somewhat troubled.
She had overheard some girls gossiping at school: “If men are disobedient, you have to discipline them! If you discipline them often enough, men won’t dare to disobey!”
Kushina remembered they said a boy at school had a father like that, a typical ‘henpecked husband.’ His name seemed to be Shikaku Nara… She would have to ask him properly someday about how his mother administered discipline!
Kushina made a mental note of this. She would ask him during the next school-wide practical class. She didn’t know which class Shikaku Nara was in, nor what he looked like, only that he was a ‘trouble-averse boy’ with a pineapple-shaped hairstyle.
While Kushina was lost in thought, she didn’t notice a figure flash past the window.
“Yes! That’s how it will be. From now on, I, Kushina, will tame Lin Yu!” Kushina established her life goal for the day, her small eyes shining brightly, as if already envisioning a beautiful future.
*Bang.*
A sharp pain in her neck, and Kushina’s vision went black as she collapsed onto the table. Issei sneered dismissively, “Such poor vigilance. Does the village truly need such a little girl?”
“Shut up! Hurry and take her away. This little girl’s chakra is special. The village might need to research her unique chakra.”
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, experimental subject? Then she’s truly miserable.” Despite saying she was miserable, Issei’s tone held no trace of pity. He picked up Kushina and stuffed her into a sack. It was daytime, and a little girl would be too conspicuous.
“What about the other one? Weren’t they said to be living together?” Troda searched around, not finding Lin Yu’s figure, and asked with some curiosity.
“Boss, could the information be wrong?”
“Never! It doesn’t matter. Our objective is this little girl. The other one is irrelevant. Let’s withdraw from Konoha first!” Troda decided to ignore Lin Yu, as their sole target was Kushina.
“Boss, hurry, the ANBU are approaching,” came Wen Tai’s slightly hurried voice from outside.
“Let’s go! The negotiation team won’t hold them for long. We’ll withdraw first and return to the Land of Lightning quickly.”
“Tch, I thought we’d get to spar with Konoha’s ANBU this time, but we couldn’t even detect them. What a waste!” Three figures quickly vanished from the room.
The unconscious Kushina, stuffed in the sack, felt nothing. However, deep within her, behind the sealing gate, a pair of blood-red demonic eyes slowly opened, fierce and malevolent…
…
*Whoosh, whoosh!*
Two figures in black robes landed on the roof of Lin Yu’s house. One of them frowned, “Are we late?”
The other, an ANBU with a cat-like mask, said, “Their target was just a little girl?” He found it strange. Was the Cloud Village making such a big fuss just to kidnap a little girl?
“In any case, we must report to Lord Hokage first.”
“Then… what about the safety of that little girl?” the cat-faced mask ANBU asked with some reluctance. Perhaps they could still catch up if they pursued now.
“Hmm… you continue the pursuit, I’ll go report. Remember, all three of them are Jonin, don’t forcibly expose yourself.”
“I understand!”
After both ANBU departed, Lin Yu’s figure emerged from the shadows, his face expressionless. The ANBU’s actions were by the book. It seemed Danzo’s Root had not yet gained absolute dominance. If these two ANBU returned with their report, Lin Yu might have to send them to the Pure Land.
This was not about their mission; this was Lin Yu acting from the perspective of Kushina’s family. Regardless of others’ opinions, he would do what he deemed right for those closest to him!
As for the Cloud ninja… their fate had long been sealed.
Kushina carried Lin Yu’s Undying Netherflame. If Lin Yu wished, he could rescue Kushina right now. However, his objective was not merely to save Kushina; otherwise, these three Cloud ninja would never have been able to take her away.
Lin Yu wanted to test Kurama’s credibility. The original story was the original story, not the reality he faced now.
Also, had Konoha truly become so corrupt that it wouldn’t even react when someone intruded into their home? While he felt a twinge of sympathy, if Konoha truly disappointed him, he would leave with Kushina. Nothing else mattered more than a single strand of Kushina’s hair.
However, it seemed the situation was developing in a positive direction. The next step was to see how Sarutobi Hiruzen would choose to act upon receiving the news.
Lin Yu was somewhat expectant. Would this old cigarette-loving grandfather from the original story, in his prime, compromise? Or would he be firm for once?
If he compromised, then Lin Yu wouldn’t mind staging a Konoha Crush Plan along with Orochimaru!