"What does she worry about?! She hasn't even had a single nightmare about it! Anyone who dared to mock her beautiful hair and face must die! And I have no doubt about it!" Mito sighed sorrowfully and added grimly, "I blame Ryo for this."
"Ryo?" the homeowner widened her eyes in surprise. "What does he have to do with this?"
"What does he have to do with it? He's been brainwashing her about this since childhood! At first, I took it all as a joke and even indulged it, but by the end of the academy, it had turned into a guide to action, and it was too late to do anything."
"May the Shinigami of the souls of the uninitiated be at peace," Senju nodded in agreement. "If she's already capable of handling two jounin now, what will it be like in a few years?"
"By the way, it's also Ryo's fault — he taught her the Rasengan and the chains," the guest remarked casually, sipping aromatic tea and nibbling on cookies.
"Speaking of Ryo," Linli hesitated for a moment, throwing a quick glance at her companion but continued nonetheless, "why did you still allow him to be the father of my child despite your relationship?"
"Because you deserved your piece of happiness after a not-so-happy life even by shinobi standards," Mito replied after a brief silence. "And despite Ryo firmly establishing himself in my bed before heading to the front, there's no love between us in the conventional sense. Yes, we like each other, both in conversation and physically. Strangely enough, the boy is very level-headed and thoughtful; sometimes I even think he's my peer... So, our relationship is mainly physical, not romantic. And I know for a fact that Ryu had another partner besides me."
"But..."
"Believe me, for a young and active Uzumaki, three lovers are not the limit. I know that much. So, ultimately, it was his decision, and I merely nudged Ryo towards a positive answer, guided by my own considerations. After all, in war, anything can happen, and even Uzumaki can die from numerous wounds despite all our resilience. It would be very disappointing if such a talented young man were to perish without leaving any legacy behind except for a few techniques. We live in dangerous times, dear, and no one can guarantee that tomorrow won't be the last. While I somewhat ensured Kushina's safety by pushing her towards Hatake Sakumo as her teacher, Ryo is beyond my reach, so at least let there be a daughter after him, should the worst happen."
"Aren't you even a bit jealous?" Linli cautiously inquired, digesting the reasons voiced by the guest.
"Jealousy? I'm too old to engage in such foolishness," Mito chuckled. "Or do you think Hashirama never strayed? I'll tell you a little secret I've learned over the years of married life — there are no absolutely faithful men. No matter how much they love us, men always have wandering eyes for other women and will try to lift more than one skirt even with a beautiful wife at home. It's in men's nature — to acquire as many partners as possible. The question is where they return after their escapades."
"And... even Hashirama-sama?"
"Alas, Hashi-kun was far from as perfect as he's now preferred to be portrayed," the guest shook her head. "However, that's ancient history I'll tell another time. I'm afraid it's time for me to return home — Kushina should be back from training soon."
"Thank you for your help, Mito-sama," Senju immediately got up and bowed.
"It was no trouble at all for me, Linli," the redhead beauty waved dismissively, also rising from the sofa. "I may not have time to visit you tomorrow, but I'll drop by in a day for sure."
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