After leaving Shinki's house, Kushina felt a tingling sensation on her scalp, as though something was about to sprout. Tsunade, on the other hand, kept yawning. The struggle of wanting to sleep yet staying alert to eavesdrop had left her restless. She hadn't rested well, and it felt like she'd consumed too much emotional "chicken soup."
That evening, back at the Senju ancestral home, Kushina sat next to Uzumaki Mito, chattering excitedly.
"Grandma Mito, I met a new friend today, and he invited me and Tsunade for dinner," she said, her voice filled with joy. It had been a rare sight to see Kushina this happy since she arrived in Konoha.
Uzumaki Mito, her face kind and gentle, hugged Kushina with one arm.
"Is it that little Hyuga boy, Shinki? Tsunade has been mentioning him quite a bit lately."
Tsunade, sprawled out on a nearby chair, grimaced slightly. Have I really been talking about him that much?
Nawaki's curiosity was piqued. "Hyuga Shinki? The one you said was a medical genius, right?"
"Yes," Kushina nodded vigorously. "And the beef and potatoes he made were delicious! Sister Tsunade ate five whole bowls!"
Kushina gestured animatedly with her hands.
"Kushina!" Tsunade's eyes widened in embarrassment. "Didn't you eat three bowls yourself?"
"I couldn't help it," Kushina mumbled, burrowing into Mito's arms, her cheeks flushed.
Nawaki glanced between his sister, who was now fuming, and Kushina, who looked bashful. Is it really that good? he wondered. Even Kushina, who often had a small appetite, had eaten so much.
Mito's gentle laughter soon turned serious. "I recall that boy mentioned having a blood disease and being unable to see."
Tsunade nodded, stifling a yawn. "Yes, his eyes are covered, so I'm planning to arrange for him to take more leave and rest at home."
"Tsunade," Mito's voice suddenly hardened, "you allowed a blind child to cook for you? And you ate five bowls?"
"Because it was delicious!" Tsunade defended herself, raising her hands. But as she processed Mito's stern expression, her heart sank. She looked up quickly, realizing she might have made a misstep.
Mito's eyes, usually warm, were now sharp with disapproval. The room fell silent. Kushina scooted a little farther from Tsunade, sensing the tension.
"Sister, you really let someone with injured eyes cook for you?" Nawaki interjected, incredulous.
"Be quiet!" Tsunade snapped at Nawaki, then turned back to Mito. "Grandma, I swear, he wanted to do it himself to show he could manage independently. I didn't force him."
Mito's gaze didn't soften. "Is that so?"
"If you don't believe me, ask Kushina. Shinki even comforted her afterward. She likes him so much she almost called him 'big brother,'" Tsunade added hastily.
"I did not!" Kushina protested, her face turning even redder.
"Nawaki, Kushina, go get some rest," Mito said, taking a deep breath. The two children obediently left, glancing back nervously.
Tsunade sighed inwardly. *Shinki, you owe me for this,* she thought.
As they walked away, Kushina whispered, "Will Sister Tsunade be okay? Grandma Mito looks so scary when she's angry."
"Don't worry about it. The worst that'll happen is a scolding," Nawaki reassured her. "Sister's used to it by now. Grandma always tells her to be more ladylike, but she never listens."
Tsunade, meanwhile, prepared herself for a lecture. She knew the routine: act contrite, endure the scolding, and hope it wouldn't last too long. But deep down, she had no intention of changing her ways.
Back at his own house, Shinki lay on his bed, moving his right hand slowly. A glass floated before him, swaying as he shifted his fingers. The second phase of the Tenseigan awakening allowed him to tap into some of its powers, even during this transition.
He was elated.
Like the Rinnegan, the Tenseigan had powers of gravitational manipulation. Full mastery could mean controlling planetary trajectories. However, he knew that pushing too far too soon would only lead to disaster. A tricycle fitted with a rocket booster wouldn't last; it would disintegrate.
He needed time to adapt, to gradually harness this power until he could wield it fully. Unlike Nagato, whose body strained under the burden of a transplanted Rinnegan, Shinki's eyes were his own. There was no risk of them draining him dry or crushing him under their might.
Yet, even now, the ability to manipulate gravity and repulsion excited him. Maybe he could teach the puppet masters of Sunagakure a lesson, show them true mastery of control.
In the stillness of the night, the rhythmic pulse of the Tenseigan's fetal movement resonated within him. It marked smooth progress toward complete fusion.
Late into the night, the lights in the Hokage office building finally dimmed. The Third Hokage, who was in his prime, finished his day's work. With his papers in order, he stepped out, ready to return home, only to be approached by an Anbu member.
"Hokage-sama, Lady Mito requests your presence after work."
The Third Hokage paused for a moment. "Understood."
It wasn't hard to guess why Mito wanted to see him—it had to be about Kushina.
With his escort in tow, the Third Hokage arrived at the Senju ancestral home. Uzumaki Mito had been waiting.
"Mito-sama," he greeted, signaling for his guards to leave as he walked quickly to her, bowing with the utmost respect.
>>>>>
Gimme Power Stones or give me death, or something like that