Outside the window, where the chair was facing Xīng Liú, a woman with dark red hair sat, her face filled with concern as she gazed at him inside the gambling den.
"This fool still doesn't treat them like family, huh?"
"Even if you can't go back now, don't we, your family, still have you here? There's no need to overthink it..."
Hiding outside the gambling den and secretly observing Xīng Liú was Uzumaki Kushina, who had come after getting the address from her husband. She wanted to check on her future "sister-in-law."
Apart from being slightly surprised when she first saw the two sisters, Xiao Zhao and Xiao Xie, she had now completely focused her attention on the solemn expression on Xīng Liú's face. After all, what could be more important than her own brother?
The expression on Xīng Liú's face at this moment was one she had only seen before, shortly after Naruto was born, when he had shown it in front of her and Minato. Perhaps it was this very forced smile that led them to accept him as their brother.
"Little Xīng Liú, Little Xīng Liú, why haven't you untangled your knot yet?"
At that time, both she and Minato had asked Xīng Liú why he wore such a face. But after smiling at them, he looked just like now, with a hopeless gaze as if he was staring at the sky—so close, yet so unattainable.
"I just don't know how much longer I can stay in this world, and I don't know if I can live harmoniously here." Those were the words Xīng Liú had once spoken to Minato and Kushina.
At that time, they didn't understand the meaning behind his words. But as time passed, and after he began doing all sorts of unpredictable things, they finally realized that Xīng Liú wasn't someone from their world.
Yet, even after they understood this, it didn't change the fact that Xīng Liú was their brother.
---
Inside the gambling den, the three women, though not as perceptive as Kushina, eventually realized that today's Xīng Liú was different from his usual self after he had lost several rounds.
"Big brother, are you feeling unwell? Do you want Xiao Xie to help you 'woosh' it away?"
The first to speak was the soft and cute Xiao Xie. She carefully placed her small hand on Xīng Liú's forehead, comparing it with her own.
"Big brother, you don't have a fever? Could it be a stomach ache? Do you want Xiao Xie to rub it for you?"
Xīng Liú, who had been lost in his thoughts, couldn't help but pay attention to the adorable girl in front of him. Without thinking, he lifted his hands and hugged her tightly, as if he were trying to squeeze her into his body. He only released her when Xiao Xie cried out in pain.
"Haha, Xiao Xie, Big brother is fine now~"
After releasing his pent-up negative energy, Xīng Liú revealed his trademark lazy smile, causing Xiao Xie, the shy girl, to hide behind her sister, peeking out from behind to look at him.
"Big brother... if you're okay, that's such a relief... If Big brother is unhappy... Xiao Xie would be sad too."
Xiao Xie's voice was sweet and shy, but it was because of this soft, adorable girl that Xīng Liú finally unlocked his inner burden.
"To hell with this alternate world... I'm the man chosen by the gods! How could I, someone with so many opportunities, still be this weak and indecisive? I can't let those overpowered, reincarnated, and 'Dragon King' characters look down on me!"
Yes, Xīng Liú was now free from all burdens.
It was rare to be reincarnated into another world, yet he was still so fearful and hesitant—what was the difference between this and before he came to this world?
So, to start planning his future as the supreme, overpowered character, Xīng Liú played a few more rounds of Mahjong with the three women before deciding to leave. However, his decision was met with unanimous opposition from the two girls, aside from Tsunade.
"No, big brother! We haven't even finished half of yesterday's rounds yet... Why do you want to leave so soon? Even if you can leave me, can you leave Xiao Xie?"
Before Xiao Zhao even finished speaking, Xiao Xie had already forgotten her shyness. She walked over and tightly hugged Xīng Liú's arm, no matter how much he tried to pull away; the soft and cute girl refused to let go.
"Big brother... stay a little longer. It's not easy for us to escape from home. If we go back so soon, we'll be punished by the Taoist elders."
Xiao Xie's soft voice, paired with her weak and pitiful expression, made it hard for Xīng Liú to refuse her.
Though the girls in this world weren't exactly confined to their homes, it could be said that they weren't free either. Especially girls like Xiao Xie and Xiao Zhao, whose age meant they were always busy at home, taking care of everything. Every day seemed to pass without them noticing.
"Fine, I'll stay a little longer. But you must go back before it gets dark! Otherwise, your families will worry."
With that, Xīng Liú prepared for the next round of Mahjong. Aside from stepping out for a quick meal of Ichiraku Ramen, he spent the entire day inside the gambling den playing with them...
The final round dragged on so long that, in the end, Xiao Xie and Xiao Zhao didn't manage to return before sunset as promised.
"Goodbye, Big Brother~!" Outside a plain building, Xiao Zhao and Xiao Xie waved at Xīng Liú, who had come to send them home.
"Goodbye. If your parents scold you, remember to come find me for help~" Xīng Liú couldn't help but call out, hoping that his words would keep the sisters from punishment.
"Alright, now I need to go back and fix my apartment door, then start planning for the future." Although Xīng Liú had spent the entire day playing Mahjong with Xiao Zhao and Xiao Xie, he had already roughly mapped out what he wanted to do next.
---
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