"I just wanted to tell you that without my interference, both you and Minato are as good as dead," Shin said in a low, eerie tone.
"What do you mean by that?" A trace of disdain flashed across Kushina's face. "You think you can do something about it?"
"If there's really an enemy even Minato can't handle, what makes you think you can?"
"Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique is impressive, no doubt, but when it comes to dealing with massive beasts, he's at a disadvantage. I'm sure Miss Kushina knows that better than anyone," Shin said, a smirk of contempt curling on his lips.
Massive beasts?
Kushina's heart skipped a beat. The Nine-Tails?
So, in the end, the seal on the Nine-Tails would still break.
She furrowed her brows, lost in thought for a moment, before retorting defiantly, "If it's just the Nine-Tails, we still have the Third Hokage. The Hidden Leaf isn't without options."
Shin let out a mocking chuckle. "But what if there are other enemies?"
"Who else?" Kushina's beautiful eyes widened in an instant.
"Hmm…" Shin casually shook his head. "That's premium information. Pay up if you want to know."
"You…"
Kushina gritted her teeth, seething with anger.
(▼皿▼#)
"Come with me right now and explain everything to Minato and the others," she barked suddenly, attempting to push Shin along.
But he didn't budge.
Shin sneered, "Heh, you think I'll spill just because you ask? On what grounds?"
"If you won't talk, I will!"
Kushina clenched her teeth, awkwardly sidestepping him and making a move toward the Hokage's office.
"Even if you speak up, it won't change a thing. You have no idea who the enemy is or what kind of tricks they've got up their sleeve," Shin drawled, his voice chilling.
Kushina's delicate frame trembled.
She turned her head to glare at the smug, frivolous guy before her.
[Kushina Hatred Value +2000]
"What exactly do you want?" Kushina demanded, her body shaking with rage.
"Miss, look at you, getting all worked up over nothing," Shin teased. "Shouldn't you at least show me a little gratitude first?"
He put on an innocent expression. "Otherwise… well, it's not like I'm the one who's going to die. Why should I even bother?"
"You… What kind of 'gratitude' are you talking about?" Kushina asked, a sudden unease creeping into her heart.
"I want…"
Shin leaned forward.
He pinned Kushina against the wall, lowering his head to whisper into her ear with a voice as soft as a mosquito's hum, "I want to taste Miss Kushina's flavor!"
As he spoke, he lightly nibbled on her small, delicate earlobe.
A tingling sensation shot through Kushina's ear.
Fury erupted in her chest, and she raised her hand to slap this brazen creep across the face.
[Kushina Hatred Value +5000]
But Shin easily caught her arm.
"Look at you, getting all riled up again!" he taunted. "Be careful, you wouldn't want to hurt little Naruto, would you?"
"You… You shameless bastard! You're a disgrace to the Hidden Leaf!" Kushina spat, her chest heaving with anger.
She wanted nothing more than to punch him square in the face.
But just as she tried to muster her chakra, a numbing sensation spread through her body. She realized her pressure points had been sealed.
She couldn't channel her chakra anymore.
Shin withdrew his fingers. Using the Six Meridians Divine Sword to block pressure points was honestly overkill.
But the effect? Far superior to the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist.
"What did you do to me?" Kushina couldn't accept this. She was a Jonin of the Hidden Leaf, after all.
To be rendered powerless in front of Shin was unthinkable.
Just how strong had his combat ability become?
Kage-level?
But he was just a teenager!
While Kushina's mind swirled with shock and doubt, Shin suddenly reached out with a gleeful expression. One hand wrapped around her waist, which had grown fuller due to her pregnancy, while the other rested on her round belly…
"You… You animal! What are you trying to do?!" Kushina cried out, struggling.
But she didn't dare move too recklessly, terrified of what he might do to her unborn child.
Her entire body trembled with rage.
[Kushina Hatred Value +10000]
"Miss Kushina, why do you smell so sweet, like milk? I just want a taste!" Shin grinned wickedly.
The sensitive touch made Kushina shiver all over.
"Your team leader and comrades—if they knew their sacrifices brought back a beast like you, they'd turn into vengeful spirits and devour you in the next life," Kushina snarled through gritted teeth.
"Vengeful spirits? Oh, I'm so scared!" Shin mocked. "Kushina, I'm guessing you don't know that my rigid, stick-in-the-mud team leader and that arrogant, nose-in-the-air teammate of mine were both stabbed to death by me on the battlefield, one sword each."
"Tell me, who's scarier—someone like me, or a vengeful spirit?"
Shin spoke with brazen confidence, almost as if he were bragging.
"You… You mean to say…" Kushina couldn't even focus on his invasive touch.
She swallowed hard, her voice trembling. "Your team leader and teammates… You're the one who killed them?"
(っ?Д?)っ
Shin shrugged innocently. "Yeah, I told them straight up that the Hidden Leaf had abandoned us and that we needed to break out and save ourselves while we still could."
"They didn't believe me, fine. But then they started spouting nonsense about the Will of Fire, how the flames of the Hidden Leaf burn eternal or whatever."
"They even tried to drag me down with them to die for nothing."
"So, I had no choice but to reluctantly put them down…"
Kushina's lips quivered, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"Shin… Are you even human?"
[Kushina Hatred Value +10000]
Shin gently caressed Kushina's back, murmuring softly, "Of course I'm human. It's precisely because I'm human that I have emotions and desires, that I'm drawn to you, Kushina, and want to savor your taste."