Under Kushina's guidance, Kenji arrived at a ruined house that had been reduced to rubble.
"This was my home. Now it's all turned into this," Kushina said with great sadness, the scene evoking painful emotions.
Seeing this, Dan Uchiha immediately tried to curry favor again. "Little Sister Kushina, in the future, your home will be in the Hidden Leaf. I can protect you."
Unexpectedly, Kushina glanced at him and dealt a blow, intentional or not: "Brother Kenji will protect me. I don't need you."
"Uh..."
Dan Uchiha couldn't help but feel awkward, staring resentfully at Kenji.
He was unconvinced and even more unwilling to accept this.
He believed that if he had been the one to take Kushina away for protection at that time, Kushina would definitely look at him with new respect now.
He just hadn't considered that he wasn't a match for those two Genin.
Tsunade looked at Kushina, then asked Kenji, "You took Kushina and hid from those two Genin?"
At the time, Tsunade had truly been very worried.
Kenji alone might have been able to escape from two Genin.
But taking Kushina, who hadn't attended the Ninja Academy, made the hope seem slim.
Hearing this, Kenji smiled faintly. "Why hide? I just killed them directly. Wouldn't that be better?"
Tsunade was stunned and asked in surprise, "You killed those two Genin?"
Dan Uchiha clenched his fists, wearing a look of disbelief, thinking Kenji was bragging.
Previously, he and Michiko had struggled significantly against just one Genin. If Tsunade hadn't saved them, they might have lost their lives.
Could Kenji kill two such Genin by himself?
"Lady Tsunade, Brother Kenji even killed a Chunin just now, let alone two Genin!" Kushina puffed out her cheeks, seeming to feel it was unfair for Tsunade to underestimate Kenji.
"What? You encountered a Chunin and killed the Chunin?" Tsunade was in disarray; it felt like a fantasy.
How could Kenji's strength be that high?
"It was just luck. That Chunin didn't see through my Ice Clone and fell for it," Kenji bullshitted casually.
He would keep the secret of Sode no Shirayuki for as long as possible.
When it could no longer be hidden, he would explain. Anyway, Tsunade was one of his own and could be trusted.
As for Kushina, her attitude toward him seemed completely different. Calling him "Brother" with every breath, very smoothly.
Of course, Kenji found it pleasant to hear!
"Is that so?" Tsunade was still skeptical.
"Alright, alright, it's all in the past. We are all safe and sound, so why dwell on it?" Kenji changed the subject. "Kushina, if you're looking for something, hurry up. Once you get it, we're returning to the Hidden Leaf."
"Oh!" Kushina listened to Kenji very well and walked into the dilapidated house.
It had obviously been looted by rogue ninja; any valuable items had likely been taken.
However, after rummaging through chests and cupboards, Kushina actually found a crystal necklace in the hidden compartment of a broken wooden box.
"Great, it's here!" Kushina was overjoyed.
"..."
Both Kenji and Tsunade stared at the necklace, strange lights appearing in their eyes.
Kenji knew that Tsunade also had a necklace like this, very similar.
On his tenth birthday, Tsunade had planned to give him that necklace as a birthday gift, but he hadn't accepted it.
That was a relic of the First Hokage. It contained the First Hokage's chakra and had a certain suppressing effect on Tailed Beasts.
"This is my grandmother's heirloom. Before she died, she told me the necklace was placed here. Fortunately, it wasn't lost."
"Let me see it!" Kenji said.
"Mn!" Kushina handed the necklace to Kenji.
As soon as the necklace was in his hand, Kenji could feel a cooling power spreading through his palm, very comfortable.
The Uzumaki Clan excelled in sealing jutsu. Clearly, this necklace was unusual and sealed some kind of mysterious power. Perhaps it was a pair with Tsunade's necklace.
"Since it's your grandmother's heirloom, you must take good care of it in the future and carry it with you." Kenji put the necklace around Kushina's neck with his own hands.
Kushina was stunned. A trace of shyness flashed across her face as she nodded. "Mn, I will wear it all the time!"
Tsunade watched all this and sighed in her heart.
Kenji was indeed just like when he was a child—he knew how to charm people.
Before setting off, Kushina had looked like she hated Kenji.
But now...
"Since the mission is complete, I should return to the village. It is too chaotic here; it's not suitable to stay long." Tsunade dared not be careless again, her expression serious.
Kushina looked at Uzumaki Sōma and said to Tsunade, "Lady Tsunade, can Uncle Sōma come back with me?"
"Of course. Any member of the Uzumaki Clan can settle in the Hidden Leaf unconditionally."
"That's great, Uncle Sōma..."
However, at this moment, Uzumaki Sōma shook his head. "Kushina, I won't go back to the Hidden Leaf with you. I need to find Xiaoyi and my mother."
Kushina asked, "That's right, where are Xiaoyi and the others now?"
"I was attacked earlier. I lured the enemies away, and they went into hiding with my mother," Uzumaki Sōma said.
"Uncle Sōma, you are injured. It's easy for accidents to happen if you go alone." As Kushina spoke, she looked at Kenji again.
"Why are you looking at me? You're not asking me to help again, are you?"
Stuck with such a troublesome little lolita, Kenji expressed that he was physically tired and even more mentally exhausted.
Kushina seemed too embarrassed to trouble Kenji again, so she turned to look at Tsunade.
Tsunade pondered slightly and said, "For this matter, I'm afraid we need to return to the Hidden Leaf first and discuss it at length. We don't have enough manpower."
After the previous encounter, Tsunade dared not be arrogant.
If she were alone, she would dare to charge into battle without worry. But bringing Kenji and the others along meant she had too many scruples.
"No, the trip from the Land of Whirlpools to the Hidden Leaf takes at least a day. A round trip... I'm afraid Xiaoyi and her mother can't wait. I must go find them immediately." Uzumaki Sōma couldn't care less about his injuries; he wanted to set off immediately.
Just as Tsunade didn't know what to do, a familiar voice suddenly came through.
"Lady Tsunade, I've finally found you."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Four figures landed. Looking at their attire and forehead protectors, they were all Hidden Leaf ninja.
"Dan Katō?" Tsunade recognized the young ninja leading them. It was Dan Katō, whom she had met not long ago.
Kenji also recognized Dan Katō, but he only gave him a casual glance.
More of his attention was placed on the three people behind Dan Katō.
To the side, Dan Uchiha suddenly shouted with joy, "Little Sister Mikoto!"