A Rare Gem

"Would you like to stay for dinner?"

Kushina wiped the sweat from her forehead.

For some reason, after every massage from Shimizu, she would end up drenched in sweat, completely soaking her clothes.

"Maybe another day," Shimizu politely declined.

Given Kushina's current appearance, staying wouldn't be appropriate.

Honestly, although Kushina often appeared carefree, her qualities as a wife were undeniable.

She was an excellent cook and skilled at household chores.

In The Last, she even left Naruto a handmade scarf.

But for some strange reason, that scarf had always been kept at the Third Hokage's residence and was never given to Naruto, even when he was a child.

"Why not?" Kushina asked, puzzled.

Shimizu fixed his gaze on her.

Following his eyes, Kushina looked down and realized in shock that she was only wearing tight-fitting pants and a short-sleeved shirt with a whirlpool emblem today.

Her clothes were drenched in sweat, clinging tightly to her body, making certain contours unmistakably visible.

The snug pants also highlighted her impressive figure.

If others had seen her, they would have exclaimed that she was a rare architectural masterpiece in the ninja world—spacious, well-shaped, and perfectly suited for raising children.

Many would have offered sky-high prices just to claim such a "property."

Before Kushina could scream in embarrassment, Shimizu performed a body flicker and vanished.

Kushina stood frozen for a long time before letting out a loud cry.

Her ears turned crimson, and her delicately sculpted face flushed red. The surge of chakra caused her fiery red hair to lift, making her look like a living, breathing tomato.

"What kind of ridiculous outfit is this?"

Kushina hurriedly changed into new clothes, opting for thick layers that covered her entirely.

"Calm down, calm down. I was wearing underwear. Shimizu is still young; he doesn't understand anything," Kushina muttered, clumsily trying to console herself.

Then she looked at her newly changed outfit.

Her body was still sweaty, and she hadn't bathed yet—wasn't changing clothes pointless?

*Knock, knock.*

A knock came from the door.

Kushina quickly ran to open it.

"Shimizu, you didn't see anything... did you?"

"What about Shimizu?" Minato Namikaze stood at the door, looking confused as he scratched his head.

He thought he had just seen Shimizu leaving this place.

Could it be that Shimizu and Kushina had a close relationship?

This thought briefly flashed through Minato's mind.

"Hmph! What are you here for? Shimizu was just helping me with a massage," Kushina said, glancing down at herself.

The outer clothes she wore hadn't been dampened by her sweat, completely concealing her figure. No one would suspect what had happened earlier.

Crossing her arms, she turned her head away, pretending to be angry.

"Alright, I'll take you shopping tomorrow," Minato said, trying to cheer her up. He promised to spend quality time with her the day after tomorrow.

Only then did Kushina's mood improve, and she temporarily forgave Minato.

---

A few days passed in a blur.

During these days, Shimizu wandered the streets, pretending to sample the local delicacies.

He was waiting for the inevitable clash between Kushina and Minato.

Kushina's routine was predictable, and Minato's route to hand off mission reports happened to pass by the edge of the barrier in the lower-right corner.

Following them directly was out of the question.

Minato's strongest ability was his sensory perception, a crucial skill for mastering the Flying Thunder God technique.

Kushina also had Anbu members shadowing her, and Shimizu would be immediately caught if he tried to follow her.

By wandering the streets aimlessly, he avoided suspicion.

As long as he didn't constantly monitor Minato and Kushina, neither the Anbu nor Minato would be alerted.

"Today I'll be extra strict!"

A lively voice echoed from afar.

Shimizu raised an eyebrow. After days of waiting, the moment had finally arrived.

He casually moved to a nearby shop and ordered some dumplings.

Sure enough, Kushina and Minato's voices grew louder, clearly in the midst of an argument.

Eventually, Minato apologized and abruptly left Kushina behind.

He ran toward an area outside the barrier, where three kunoichi eagerly invited him to hang out.

Two of Minato's friends were also there, creating a joyful scene filled with youthful energy under the bright sunlight.

Kushina wanted to rush over and drag Minato back.

The Anbu quickly stepped in to stop her, leaving Kushina standing alone, her expression shifting constantly.

Watching Minato's figure fade into the distance, Kushina's face revealed a mix of sorrow and determination.

She clenched her fists, resolved to confront Minato and demand answers. Did he find being with her so unbearable?

Two golden chains emerged from Kushina's palms, catching the unsuspecting Anbu members off guard and binding them tightly.

She sprinted toward Minato's direction without hesitation.

Seeing Kushina run off, Shimizu carefully avoided the Anbu's gaze, paid for his dumplings, and swallowed one in a single bite before following Kushina.

Without the Anbu's interference, Shimizu could now tail Kushina more easily.

*Training Ground Three*

"This is way too difficult to control," Minato panted, sitting on the ground. The surrounding terrain was full of craters from his training.

"I once heard that refining chakra according to the direction of your hair whorl makes it easier..." Jiraiya rambled on, hoping to offer some helpful insights.

"Huh?" Minato found this advice hard to believe—it sounded like a superstition.

"Take a break," Jiraiya suggested after their discussion yielded no results. He pulled out two popsicles stuck together, broke one off, and handed it to Minato.

Minato's thoughts drifted back to the markings he had seen at Shimizu's place.

Jiraiya's suggestion seemed unreliable, but Shimizu's spiral markings on the wooden posts might hold the key.

As Minato's new jutsu development neared completion, those spiral patterns seemed increasingly familiar, resembling the marks left by his technique.

Lost in thought, Minato absentmindedly accepted the popsicle, continuing to ponder the spiral patterns for inspiration.

"Anyway, let's put the jutsu development on hold for now," Jiraiya said, excusing himself to handle other tasks.

Minato nodded, still deep in contemplation.

Before long, a sudden movement caught his attention.

"Eh?! Kushina, what are you doing here? Is this okay?" Minato's heart raced—had Kushina snuck out?

If the Hokage found out, it would be a big problem.

"Uh... Lord Third gave me special permission. He said it's fine to leave the barrier," Kushina nervously rubbed the back of her head.

"I see. No wonder the usual surveillance personnel aren't around." Minato breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as Kushina was about to ask something, another figure appeared—it was Shimizu.

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