The following day, at the Senju residence.
The sound of writing softly echoed through the elegantly decorated study.
At a desk near the window, Mito, dressed in the traditional qipao of the Uzumaki clan, was writing on an unfurled scroll.
The warm winter sunlight streamed through the window, casting a soft, warm hue over the entire study.
The atmosphere was serene and cosy.
What Mito was writing at that moment was actually a completely new textbook on sealing techniques.
The current textbook used at the Ninja Academy is the version she compiled when the school was first established.
Not long ago, during a casual chat with Natsuhiko, he happened to mention this textbook.
When she learned that Natsuhiko had embarked on the path of sealing techniques through this textbook, Mito felt gratification, realising that their master-student relationship had perhaps been fated from the start.
As for the others who had learned sealing techniques through this textbook, she completely overlooked them.
While discussing the content of this textbook with Natsuhiko, Mito also noticed that many sections needed to be clarified; when that needed to be clarified, she compiled this textbook; she was still relatively young and naturally had an incomplete understanding of sealing techniques.
So, after discussing with Natsuhiko, Mito developed the idea of rewriting a new set of textbooks.
And not just an introductory textbook—she planned to organise all her lifetime's knowledge and compile a set of books that could genuinely guide someone from beginner to mastery in sealing techniques to leave for future generations.
This set of textbooks would be a fitting conclusion to her life.
For someone who had dedicated most of her life to sealing techniques, there was probably no more perfect way to conclude things.
The only regret she had was that, from what she learned from Natsuhiko, there was another path for sealing techniques with another potential existence. Still, she no longer had the time or energy to explore its mysteries, let alone record it in this textbook.
This set of textbooks was destined to be incomplete, and the task of completing it would likely have to be handed over to that child, Natsuhiko.
Thinking of this, Mito couldn't help but smile, feeling quite pleased with herself for making the quick decision back then to take Natsuhiko as her disciple before anyone else.
Who would prefer to avoid a student who could understand things so quickly and even extrapolate from them?
If Kushina could be like Natsuhiko, she'd have much less to worry about.
Just as Mito was comparing her two disciples, a series of hurried footsteps sounded from the wooden corridor outside the door, breaking her train of thought.
Here we go again.
She is so grown up, yet still so restless.
Mito shook her head helplessly, slowly put down her pen, and counted down in her heart:
"Three, two, one..."
Bang!
The next moment, the paper door of the study slid open, and an exaggerated wail echoed through the room:
"Grandma Mito——!"
It's worth mentioning that the tone was oddly similar to Nobita's cry for help when asking Doraemon for assistance.
Immediately, a young girl ran in from outside, leaping into Mito's arms as if diving into the water.
Unfortunately, Mito didn't react much. She continued looking at the scroll while her left hand instinctively patted the little head lying on her lap in a familiar cat-petting motion, casually asking:
"What happened? Who made our Kushina angry this time?"
"It's that big idiot Natsuhiko!"
Kushina angrily complained to Mito.
"Heh, if Natsuhiko's an idiot, then there are no smart people in this world."
Mito quipped, then casually asked:
"But haven't you two been getting along well lately? Why the sudden argument?"
Upon hearing this, Kushina pouted, looking aggrieved as she said:
"It's all Natsuhiko's fault… that guy… that guy actually fell for another girl..."
Mito finally shifted her gaze to Kushina, her expression slightly surprised.
After all, with her years of experience, she could see that Natsuhiko and Kushina actually liked each other, and it was only a matter of time before they ended up together. She hadn't expected such a turn of events.
However, Mito wasn't in a hurry. She even had the mood to tease Kushina:
"Isn't it good that Natsuhiko likes someone? Why are you so anxious, Kushina?"
Kushina's face instantly turned as red as a ripe tomato.
Oh no, she was careless.
She had only been thinking about complaining and accidentally revealed that she liked Natsuhiko.
"I… I don't like that guy!"
Kushina instinctively retorted.
"I didn't say you liked Natsuhiko." Mito spread her hands.
Seeing Grandma Mito smiling at her, Kushina felt her face burning. She was overwhelmed with embarrassment; she only wanted to get up and run away.
Seeing this, Mito quickly held her down, rubbing her cheeks to dissipate the redness.
"Kushina, there's no need to argue. I've known for a long time; there's nothing you can do about it. Your behaviour was just too obvious."
Kushina's small mouth opened slightly.
How could that be? She had clearly hidden it so well.
Then she thought of something, her face full of tension:
"Grandma, does that mean Natsuhiko knows too…?"
Of course, he does.
Even if he didn't know, he must have realised it after I pointed it out back then.
Mito thought to herself, but she smiled faintly on the surface:
"Who knows? But some boys are slow to figure these things out, so it's not surprising if he doesn't know."
Kushina considered Natsuhiko's usual behaviour and concluded that he was definitely the type Grandma Mito described. She finally felt relieved.
Otherwise, she really wouldn't know how to face Natsuhiko in the future.
However, Kushina quickly recalled Natsuhiko's behaviour over the past few days, and her heart soured once again.
Maybe Natsuhiko isn't slow to learn; he just hasn't found someone who can help him realise it.
At this point, Mito returned to the main topic:
"So, Kushina, what's this about Natsuhiko liking another girl? Are you sure there's no mistake?"
"There's no mistake..."
Kushina then proceeded to detail to Mito all of Natsuhiko's odd behaviour, from meeting Nonou to working at the tavern.
After finishing, Kushina asked for advice: "Grandma, what do you think?"
After hearing the story, Mito couldn't help but raise her eyebrows, feeling there must be a huge secret behind this.
Even if you stripped away the parts where Kushina had exaggerated, it was still clear that Natsuhiko had a particular fondness for this girl named Nonou.
However, there shouldn't have been any previous interaction between the two.
Could it be that Natsuhiko really fell for her at first sight, liking her as soon as they met?
But that doesn't seem right either.
Mito cupped Kushina's cheeks, examining her closely.
It was clear that as Kushina was growing up, the baby fat on her face was gradually fading, and she was looking more and more like Mito, so her appearance shouldn't be a hindrance to others.
Moreover, with the emotional foundation between Natsuhiko and Kushina, he shouldn't be so easily attracted by another girl, should he?
Just then, Mito suddenly recalled something.
Could this be the "childhood friends can't beat the new girl" rule that Natsuhiko had mentioned in passing?
Even though Kushina spent an entire semester with Natsuhiko every day, did she lose her charm because they were too familiar with each other?
The more Mito thought about it, the more she found this guess plausible.
After all, she had personally experienced the power of this rule herself—though she was the new girl in that case.
This could be a problem.
Mito couldn't help but murmur in her heart.
After all, in her vision, after her death, Natsuhiko would take care of Kushina in her place.
And he might even take on the responsibility of helping Kushina revive the Uzumaki clan.
Although Natsuhiko could do these things as her senior brother, it wouldn't be the same.
She thought that after taking Natsuhiko as her disciple and spending every day together, it would be natural for them to become a couple, but she didn't expect a new girl to come into the picture.
With this in mind, Mito couldn't help but become very interested in this girl named Nonou.
What kind of girl could make Natsuhiko, who's usually so dense, fall in love at first sight?
Out of curiosity and a desire to give Kushina some advice, Mito asked about the girl.
"Kushina, what is it about this Nonou that made Natsuhiko so captivated?"
With a blank expression, Kushina pointed to Mito's ample chest.
"That."
Mito looked down and hesitated:
"Kushina, are you saying you lost to her in terms of feelings for Natsuhiko?"
"But that doesn't make sense. Didn't you say they just met?"
Kushina continued with a blank expression:
"No, I'm saying Natsuhiko just likes big chests."
(End of chapter)
P.S
Advance 70 Chapters are up on my Patreon.
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