Naruto: Random Flying Thunder God Technique? Intercepting the Dark-Dark Fruit

Shiranui Sho glanced inside briefly.

A bag of white powder, a small bottle of oil, a pork bone with meat on it, a few shiitake mushrooms, and a few eggs.

"Kushina-kun, did you just go grocery shopping?"

Shiranui Sho didn't know why the other party had suddenly come to visit her. Seeing that the other party seemed a little embarrassed, she took the initiative to start a conversation.

Going to buy groceries in the afternoon... well, that's not hard to understand for a ninja.

After all, the working hours of the ninja profession are flexible. Sometimes, after finishing a mission in the morning and returning to the village, it is reasonable to buy groceries and cook a meal to treat yourself in the afternoon.

"Huh?"

"Um, this is what I prepared for Xiao!"

Kushina seemed to only remember this at this moment, and quickly picked up the vegetable basket in her hand, a slightly nervous expression showing on her oval face.

At the same time, her bright eyes darted around, scrutinizing Shiranui Xiao, as if searching for something.

"Huh? Me?"

Shiranui Sho pointed to her face with her right hand and blinked blankly.

"Well, it's like this..."

Seeing the boy's puzzled expression, Kushina quickly put down the vegetable basket she was holding and hurriedly began to explain.

"I bought these groceries to cook dinner for Xiao!"

As she spoke, for some reason, Kushina's fair face began to flush red, and her eyes, which had been calmly meeting his gaze, started to look down at the ground.

“Uh, this…”

The confusion and doubt on Shiranui Xiao's face did not fade with Kushina's explanation; on the contrary, they became even more pronounced due to the content of her words and her expression.

I buy groceries and then go to his house to cook.

Did he hear me correctly?

When did they become so close?

"Well, please come in, Kushina-kun."

It is not proper to leave someone awkwardly standing at the door. Although Shiranui Sho was not quite sure what was going on, he still invited the girl in as a guest.

"Sorry to bother you!"

Kushina breathed a sigh of relief and walked into Shiranui Sho's house with a smile, carrying her vegetable basket.

"Is this guy a bit airheaded...?"

Looking at Kushina's smile, Shiranui Sho smiled helplessly, as if he too was infected by that pure and innocent smile.

The girl walked into the room beside him, and a fresh fragrance naturally wafted over her as she passed by.

His gaze was then drawn to the red-haired girl's next move.

After placing the vegetable basket on the floor in the entryway, Kushina stood on one leg, with the other knee bent backward.

Then, she stretched her arm on the same side back and deftly took off her ninja sandals, revealing her white, pearl-like toes.

After slipping her small feet into the pair of off-white women's slippers on the ground, Kushina repeated the trick, taking off the other ninja sandal as well.

Seeing this, Shiranui Xiao also looked away, coughed lightly, closed the door, and led Kushina to sit down in the living room.

"Xiao's kitchen looks like it hasn't been used in a long time?"

Kushina tapped her chin lightly with one hand, her gaze sweeping towards the kitchen.

The stove and sink were spotless, and the brand-new kitchen utensils were neatly arranged, but there were not many signs of cooking.

"While that's true, let's not focus on that issue for now."

Shiranui Xiao's lips twitched, and she quickly interrupted him to avoid being drawn into the girl's rhythm.

"Kushina-kun, what made you decide to cook dinner for me? We seem to be..."

We don't seem to have that kind of relationship foundation, do we?

The second half of the sentence seemed a bit too blunt and hurtful, so Xiao, who had good emotional intelligence, didn't say it directly.

Faced with the boy's doubts, Kushina then did something that exceeded his expectations.

The red-haired girl leaned forward, a strand of red hair brushing against his cheek.

Then, a small, white, delicate hand, smaller than his own, gradually magnified in his vision until... it gently stroked his head.

The fourteen-year-old girl's still-childish face was tinged with a shy blush and a gentle concern.

She whispered, "Um, I heard from Tsunade that Xiao accidentally ate a potentially poisonous fruit, which might cause some...mental problems?"

"Xiao, you need to be strong! You'll feel better soon after eating some delicious ramen!"

She withdrew her hand from the boy's hair and clenched her fist in front of her chest, trying to boost her spirits.

The girl's sweet fragrance, which defied all reason, wafted into his nose, along with her adorable, fair face and neck so close to his, causing Shiranui Sho's Adam's apple to twitch unconsciously.

However, the amount of information contained in Kushina's words made his face darken.

Xiao is happy that you can give her some perks, but she doesn't like the way you treat her like a special group!

……

"Eek!!"

Five minutes later, after listening to Shiranui Sho's patient explanation, Kushina let out a surprised and embarrassed cry.

She clutched the hem of her clothes tightly with both hands, her originally fair face completely flushed red, looking like a round and delicious little tomato.

"Xiao, are you alright?!"

“…Hmm.” Shiranui Xiao nodded again in affirmation, seemingly resigned.

He finally figured out what was going on.

If we trace the origins of this matter, we have to start with the relationship between Tsunade and Kushina.

At that time, Mito Uzumaki married Hashirama Senju, and their granddaughter was Tsunade.

A few years ago, Uzumaki Kushina was destroyed. As a surviving member of her clan and the next vessel for the Tailed Beast, she was escorted to Konoha and lived with Uzumaki Mito.

As one of the few remaining members of the Uzumaki clan, Kushina was loved by Mito Uzumaki like a granddaughter.

Naturally, Kushina and Tsunade became very close, and Kushina usually called Tsunade "older sister".

Then, perhaps it was because he had given him a detailed account in the morning and then said something to Kushina that she thought he had gotten sick from eating the fruit.

Kushina was grateful for the kindness shown to her when she was saved by Kumogakure, so she made a special trip to his home to take care of him.

Chapter 22 Kushina's Ramen

"Hmm, hmm hmm~"

Inside the kitchen, the melodious voice of a red-haired girl humming a strange tune could be heard; she seemed to be in a good mood.

In the living room, Shiranui Sho gazed at the graceful figure with waist-length red hair in the kitchen and sighed, "I still made it."

Yes, I still made ramen.

Although the misunderstanding has just been cleared up, giving Kushina a clear understanding of his mental and physical condition, the ingredients brought about cannot be wasted.

Kushina said that she should have been grateful to Xiao for saving her life.

Since we're already here, let's make ramen tonight.

A short while later, Kushina, wearing a slightly oversized apron, placed two steaming bowls of ramen onto the wooden dining table.

"Super delicious vortex ramen! Here it comes!"

After placing the two bowls of ramen on the table, Kushina smiled and took two steps back, putting her hands behind her back and gently sniffing the aroma of the ramen.

Clearly, she was very satisfied with her masterpiece.

"Wow, Kushina-kun is amazing!"

After smelling the aroma, Shiranui Sou also gave a thumbs up in surprise.

The aroma of this tonkotsu ramen is comparable to that of some other ramen shops.

"Hehe~"

Kushina's face flushed slightly as she proudly puffed out her chest.

dong dong dong-

Just as the two were about to sit down, the long-silent gate of the Shiranui family was knocked on once again.

"They're here."

Shiranui Sho got up, went to the entrance hall, and opened the door. Outside the door stood a blond boy with a bright smile.

"..."

Shiranui Xiao glanced at the blond boy, then turned to look at the red-haired girl in the living room who was curiously peering into the doorway, and blinked.

Before he could react, Minato walked in.

"Ah, Kushina-kun is here too, what's going on here...?"

"...Am I bothering you?"

To Shiranui Sho's surprise, when Namikaze Minato saw Uzumaki Kushina in the living room and two bowls of steaming ramen on the table, he merely scratched his head sheepishly and didn't react much else.

Kushina greeted the other person with a smile but didn't say much else, seemingly not familiar with them.

Looking into Minato's unwavering eyes, Shiranui was surprised.

"Xiao, I originally wanted to ask you about cultivation, but since you have guests, I'll come back tomorrow."

Minato Namikaze knew he couldn't be a third wheel for his good friend, so he immediately decided to say goodbye and leave.

Shiranui Sho escorted him to the door, and finally couldn't help but lower her voice to ask, "Minato, back in the ninja academy, wasn't there anyone you cared about?"

He felt that Minato and Kushina didn't seem to know each other very well.

"Someone you care about?"

Minato blinked, his clear blue eyes filled with confusion.

Xiao explained, "It's that kind of feeling where you can't help but pay attention to the other person's actions, and when certain behaviors of the other person catch your attention, you'll keep them in mind. That's roughly the idea."

"Oh, I see. Of course there is." Minato smiled knowingly.

Who would have thought that his next words would make Shiranui Sho's expression freeze.

"There's only one person in the ninja academy who I care about like this, and that's you, Xiao!"

A fierce flame flickered in his clear blue eyes, and Minato Namikaze's fighting spirit was undoubtedly ignited at this moment and in this place.

"What did you say!?"

Shiranui Sou looked terrified and subconsciously took a half step back.

His burning fighting spirit cooled down, and Minato Namikaze scratched his cheek with his fingers, embarrassed, and said, "I mean, Xiao, you were the person I cared about most back in school."

and many more!

Minato, my good buddy, why is your face red?!

Shiranui Sho gasped.

Even when he faced Blackbeard directly, he didn't feel this genuine fear.

He'd rather Minato stab him with a knife than...

"Goodbye and don't come back!"

With lightning speed, Xiao opened the door, pushed Minato Namikaze out, and then closed the door with the fastest speed he had ever used.

"..."

Minato stood silently at the door for a long time, scratching his brilliant blond hair, his handsome face full of confusion.

Did he say something wrong?

Back in the Ninja Academy, only he and Xiao were outstanding, far surpassing their peers.