Chapter 45: Wings of Contract and Whispers of the Heart

"Ah! Jin, don't forget—our Uchiha pharmacy opens tomorrow!" Hikari called out, snapping her fingers. "That means you'll have more medicines to process. It'll be tough!"

"No problem," Jin replied. Then his eyes lit up as he remembered something. "Right—I forgot to mention. The eagle-ninja I've been raising finally reached full favor. I've established a summoning contract with it. I'll open up the shared space and transfer summoning permissions to you and Mikoto. That way, you can call it whenever needed. Much more convenient, and safer from prying eyes."

With a flick of his hand, he passed the summoning permissions to Hikari and Mikoto. A ripple of chakra shimmered, and in an instant, the eagle appeared—its wings spread wide across the training yard.

The massive bird, with a wingspan over 15 meters—nearly the size of a small jet—radiated chakra at Jōnin level. With a natural affinity for wind release, its top speed exceeded the speed of sound—over 400 meters per second.

Terrifying power in the skies. Of course, such speed came with limits: it could carry only one or two people, and the rider had to withstand enormous wind pressure and inertia.

"There's an empty summoning scroll at home," Hikari said, nodding in approval. "I'll use it to register the eagle with all of us. That way we can summon it individually. It'll also make mapping the region easier—I'll continue expanding the map daily."

She looked at Jin seriously. "Wait until I finish the full layout before flying out anywhere together, alright?"

She didn't want Jin flying off alone across the seas.

"Got it," Jin smiled. He could feel her concern—and he didn't dismiss it.

After dinner, Hikari unrolled a blank summoning scroll. Together with Jin and Mikoto, they passed through the spatial gate, signed their contracts with the eagle-ninja, and returned home.

Meanwhile, in the Uzumaki Clan

Upon returning home, Kushina reported to her grandmother, Mito Uzumaki, about her plans to attend the Academy's Shadow Clone course and study fūinjutsu alongside Jin.

"Oh?" Mito's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Sounds like someone's getting awfully close to young Jin. Studying together now? Don't tell me you've fallen for him?"

Nearby, Tsunade—just back from a mission—and little Nawaki leaned in, eyes wide.

"Grandma!!" Kushina yelped, cheeks burning red. "No!!"

But something twisted quietly in her chest. Had she? She hadn't thought of it that way before. Originally, she only approached Jin at Mikoto and Mito's request. But over time, something changed.

His presence… it was just comfortable. Calming. Everything he said, everything he did—it always seemed to be what she needed, even before she realized it herself.

If Mito hadn't brought it up, she might have never noticed that their friendship was quietly changing… and quickly.

"Hmm~?" Mito teased again, her eyes catching every shift in Kushina's expression.

"No! No, no, no!!" Kushina waved her arms, her face going redder by the second. Her hair even began to float in a surge of chakra.

"All right, all right!" Mito chuckled, backing off before the Uzumaki temper could explode. "Forget I asked."

Then she softened. "If you'd like, you can invite him to join us. He's working on sealing techniques, right? With his talent for medical ninjutsu and what Tsunade has told me, he's definitely worth bringing along."

"I will!" Kushina grinned, instantly cheering up. "I'll tell him tomorrow!"

Tsunade chimed in with a sly grin. "So you're using Shadow Clones to double your learning? Excellent. Then I'll visit Jin more often too—we've got medical techniques to exchange."

"Hey, maybe I can get him to lend me a clone to help me study," she added. "Why didn't I think of that sooner?"

Mito nodded in quiet approval. She knew that if Tsunade could absorb Jin's knowledge, it could one day save the clan from a future crisis. She was quietly grateful that fate had brought someone like Jin into their circle.

The Next Morning

"Jin! I talked to Grandma. She agreed! Can we start today or tomorrow?" Kushina asked excitedly on the way to the Academy.

"Let's start today," Jin replied casually. "No point delaying."

"Perfect! Minato learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu too. We can train together—use clones for fūinjutsu studies. Meanwhile, I'll focus on taijutsu and body conditioning. Shadow Clones aren't great for that."

Kushina looked puzzled. "Taijutsu? Isn't that... hard?"

"Well... not really," Jin smiled. "Don't worry, I've got methods that'll help. It won't be as bad as you think. Just trust me."

Thanks to the Sea King meat and his custom vitality training techniques, physical growth was much more efficient.

"All right! I believe you." Kushina's eyes sparkled with sincerity… and something else. She turned her gaze away quickly, face flushed.

Her heart whispered, He really is handsome…

Until yesterday's talk with her grandmother, she had never noticed it. But now, the idea stuck—and strangely, she didn't mind it at all.

From a short distance behind, Minato Namikaze watched silently. His hands tightened slightly.

Is… is Kushina falling for Jin?

A quiet ache stirred in his chest. He wasn't angry—just… disappointed. It was the silent sting of first love left unspoken.

He admired Jin, even liked him.

But it was clear—the spark in Kushina's eyes hadn't gone unnoticed.

And Jin? He didn't seem to notice at all.