In the forest, Kushina slowly lowered her hands as the surrounding barrier dissipated. Stepping forward, she exhaled softly.
"It seems quite a few people have their eyes on you, Kushina," Tsunade teased with a smirk.
"Sister Tsunade…"
Kushina, usually bold and outgoing, found herself uncharacteristically shy. This situation felt uncomfortably like a matchmaking meeting, and even someone as spirited as her couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed.
Tsunade crossed her arms confidently.
"Don't worry, Kushina. The choice is entirely yours. But let's be honest—after what we've just seen, that blond kid might have a crush on you, sure. But that Uchiha Shirou? He's infatuated with your beauty."
Kushina felt warmth spread through her chest at Tsunade's protective stance. Smiling gratefully, she replied, "Thank you, Sister Tsunade. But about those two…"
Her mind wandered to Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Shirou, leaving her momentarily lost in thought. Tugging at her crimson hair, she murmured, "Minato seems sincere, but his feelings seem tied to his duty to the village. As for Uchiha Shirou…"
Feeling guilty, Kushina revealed the promise she had made with Mikoto concerning the situation.
"So, you're saying that brat was just going through the motions?"
Tsunade chuckled knowingly. She'd already suspected as much but couldn't resist teasing Kushina, whose face turned an even deeper shade of red.
Between the two, Shirou seemed to hold a slight edge. One was drawn by duty, while the other acted out of genuine admiration for Kushina's beauty. The difference was unmistakable.
"That Shirou," Tsunade remarked, "for all his arrogance, might feel more deeply than he lets on."
Not wanting Kushina to misunderstand Shirou, Tsunade smiled and added, "Jiraiya gave Minato a book, so I'll give you one too. You might not believe it, but this one was written by Shirou himself. It's full of naïve musings about the future, but it might help you understand the Uchiha personality."
Tsunade pulled a red-covered book from her ninja pouch, a discovery from her investigation into Shirou's background.
"Shirou wrote a book?"
Kushina blinked in surprise. She had never heard of it before. The bold title "My Struggle" on the red cover caught her eye, and she hesitated before accepting it.
"Yes. On the battlefield, your chakra attributes might complement his. While Uchiha pride can be off-putting, this might give you insight into their character."
Tsunade laughed softly.
"This childish novel—doesn't it perfectly mirror the immaturity of Uchiha pride?"
...
Overhead, a bird soared through the forest as Shirou, traveling with Jiraiya, curled his lips into a faint smile.
Although not a sensory ninja, Shirou possessed a unique ability to communicate with animals—an extension of his Sage Body abilities. Earlier, a bird had informed him of a hidden presence.
Both Jiraiya and Tsunade had sensed Kushina during their brief encounter in the forest. But to Minato and Shirou, her presence remained concealed.
"Lord Jiraiya," Shirou began, his voice calm but confident, "I've always admired your Tales of a Gutsy Ninja. The main character's tenacity resonates with me. Here's a book I wrote—I'd love to hear your opinion."
Pulling out a red-covered book from his pouch, Shirou offered it to Jiraiya, a sly smile playing on his lips.
Jiraiya's face froze in shock.
"This book… you wrote it?"
The bold title, "My Struggle", stood out on the cover. The book had gained surprising popularity, even rivaling Jiraiya's works. Jiraiya had read it himself and was impressed.
"You came up with such a brilliant concept!"
Jiraiya exclaimed.
Shirou chuckled modestly.
"Not really. It's mostly based on my own experiences, though I added some imaginative elements. Of course, I adapted certain missions for privacy reasons since ninja tasks are often classified."
His modest explanation revealed his cleverness. "My Struggle" had only three published chapters so far: "My Family", "Life at Ninja Academy", and "What I Saw on the Battlefield".
Beneath Shirou's bashful demeanor lay an ambitious vision. He understood the ninja world's flaws better than most—it needed bonds and camaraderie, not superficial love stories.
Jiraiya studied Shirou, sensing the depth of his motives.
"Kid, you're something else."
Shirou responded with a polite smile.
"Lord Jiraiya, Minato doesn't just need resilience. He needs to understand the value of comrades."
Jiraiya couldn't help but laugh. Shirou's insight into Minato's character was spot on.
"You're a sly one," Jiraiya said, though admiration was evident in his tone.
...
Meanwhile, back in the forest, Kushina held "My Struggle" against her chest and smiled. The proud Uchiha who claimed to act out of "admiration for beauty" might have been hiding deeper feelings all along.
"Is red hair really that beautiful?" she muttered, glancing at her crimson locks before looking at the red cover of the book. A warm smile spread across her face.
If Shirou had known her thoughts, he would've chuckled and nodded. Exactly as you think.