The moment Ryo put down Kushina, he felt that the atmosphere was off.
The heavy, ancient main gate of the Senju compound stood open, and people were standing behind the threshold.
The last rays of the setting sun outlined the silhouettes of two young women. One tall and blonde, with a fiery figure, arms crossed over her chest, a hint of an inquisitive curve on her lips, and eyes like blades scanning between him and Kushina. It was Tsunade.
The other had red hair tied in two buns, wearing an elegant kimono, with gentle and perceptive eyes, carrying a faint sense of relief. Uzumaki Mito.
Nawaki had just run out in a panic, yelling "Sis," and the clang of a bottle hitting the ground intensified the tension.
Nawaki now stood with his mouth agape, eyes wide, staring intently at him and Kushina, who had just slid off his back.
As soon as Kushina's feet touched the ground, the scrape on her knee twinged, and she instinctively hissed, swaying slightly, subconsciously grabbing Ryo's faded clothes.
Tsunade's scrutinizing gaze, Mito's peaceful eyes, Nawaki's idiotic expression, Kushina's action of grabbing his clothes, an invisible pressure permeated the air.
He had never met Tsunade in person, only heard that she was a hot-tempered master. His instinct told him that this was big trouble.
An uncomfortable feeling of being nailed to a display rack instantly seized him.
"Cough." Ryo abruptly pulled his clothes back, so quickly that he almost made Kushina stumble.
He cleared his throat and spoke stiffly, "Kushina, you're home. I'll be going now." With that, he turned to slip away.
"Wait." Tsunade's voice wasn't loud, but it pinned him in place like a nail.
She walked down the steps in a few strides, not looking at Ryo, but first carefully examining Kushina. Disheveled red hair, a small face streaked with dust and tears, torn pants, and a knee injury.
Her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, and then her gaze slowly returned to Ryo, with a sharp, assessing look as if evaluating something new.
She had seen Ryo and Minato's fierce fight through a crystal ball that afternoon and had also heard the notorious reputation from Nawaki's complaints. But now, this person was actually carrying Kushina back?
This contrast made her very curious.
"You're Ryo?" Tsunade finally spoke, her voice calm but edged with curiosity. "Nawaki keeps calling you the Calamity Star, but today I'm seeing another side of you. What's this, playing the knight in shining armor now?"
Nawaki behind them finally found his voice, stammering, "Sis. He… he's Ryo. That…" The words Calamity Star caught in his throat, not daring to come out.
Ryo was tense and rigid all over.
Someone like Tsunade knew about his mess?
And she was even looking at him as if judging him.
"Don't know," Ryo muttered, shrugging. "Just some trash—I swept it up."
Mito's gentle voice chimed in, "Tsunade, let the guest come in first. Ryo, you've worked hard." She looked at Kushina's knee with concern. "Kushina is injured, healing her is the priority."
Tsunade nodded, suppressing her questions, and turned to Ryo. "Did you hear? Since you brought her back, lend a hand and help her in." She gestured toward the door.
Ryo's heart pounded like a drum.
Go in? Stay with Tsunade, Mito, and Nawaki? For a first meeting in this strange atmosphere? No. Absolutely not.
"No need. I still have training. Kushina, see you tomorrow." Ryo quickly blurted out an excuse, his words like a chanted spell. "Farewell." He turned and bolted, like an arrow shot from a bow, whooshing away in a gust of wind.
Only the silhouette of the red-haired boy wildly running remained on the stone path.
Tsunade was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Ha. This kid runs faster than a rabbit. Nawaki, didn't you say he was a Calamity Star? Why is he like this?" Her laughter echoed through the neighborhood, with a hint of amusement. The contrast between rumor and reality was too interesting.
Nawaki was completely dumbfounded. Oh right. Was this still the fierce Ryo?
Kushina stared blankly in Ryo's direction, her face confused. The warmth of being carried back was still there, but now mixed with a sense of loss. Why did he run?
"Alright," Tsunade put an arm around Kushina, "let's go in, girl, let your sister check your injury." She helped Kushina into the house.
Nawaki silently picked up the kettle and followed.
In the living room, Mito sat quietly.
Tsunade had Kushina sit down, and she herself knelt to examine the wound. "It's a bad fall, but a minor issue." Green light glowed from her palm, yang-nature chakra covered the injury, the bruise dissipated, and the wound scabbed over, leaving only a red mark. "Try moving it."
Kushina moved her legs and feet, surprised. "It really doesn't hurt anymore. Thank you, Tsunade-neesan."
Tsunade waved her hand. "It's nothing." Then she lowered her voice, her eyes inquisitive. "Kushina, that kid… didn't Nawaki say he was fierce before? This is the first time I've seen him in person, and he's like a different person. Tell me, what happened? How did he end up carrying you?" She was curious about the origin of this contrast.
Nawaki complained from the side, "Sis. He's a bully."
Tsunade ignored him. "Nawaki always says he's unapproachable, but seeing him with you… are you two secretly dating?" Tsunade teased. "Kushina, you move quick—and I've got to admit, Ryo's a good-looking kid."
Kushina's face flushed slightly, and she said flustered, "No… nothing. Sister Tsunade, don't guess wildly." Images of fighting over meat and being protected in the alley flashed through her mind, both sweet and shy, so she buried her face and whispered, "Ah, don't ask."
Tsunade noticed Kushina's ears turn red and her smile widened. "Alright, alright, I won't press. But it looks like our little Kushina's all grown up, huh?" She gave Kushina's ear a playful tug, her curiosity about Ryo easing a bit at Kushina's reaction.
Nawaki turned his head and mumbled, "The world is going to the dogs…"
Mito smiled as she looked out at the twilight, in the direction where Ryo had disappeared, her eyes growing increasingly relieved. The once stubborn red-haired boy had revealed a protective side in their reunion.
(To be continued.)
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