Kushina returned home in a daze, her whole demeanor slightly off.
For some reason, her body still tingled with a strange numbness.
Especially her lips and hips—where that bastard had touched her.
She could still feel his scent clinging to her.
Where the hell did he get the gall?
I'm the wife of the Hokage.
"Kushina, are you okay?"
Before long, Minato suddenly appeared from inside the house.
Seeing his wife standing there, legs slightly trembling, her cheeks faintly flushed…
He frowned in confusion.
He had used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport back home out of concern for his pregnant wife.
Only to find her in this peculiar state.
"Ah… I-I'm fine!"
Kushina pressed her lips together, choosing to shoulder everything on her own.
Minato stepped up to her, gently placing a hand on her rounded belly.
"Don't worry. The Third only did what he thought was best for the village."
Minato's voice was soft, trying to comfort her.
He assumed she was still upset over Hiruzen Sarutobi's decision to remove her from the village.
But Kushina ignored his words, her voice tinged with anxiety as she asked:
"Minato… Shin's Kekkei Genkai—his ability to foresee the future—is it real?"
Minato's expression turned serious.
"Why are you asking about that all of a sudden?"
"So it's true? Is it one hundred percent accurate?" Kushina pressed eagerly.
Minato looked at his wife's grave expression.
After a moment of thought, he sighed deeply and replied:
"Ever since Konoha discovered it, and Shin admitted to having that ability himself…"
"He's made six predictions in total. Every single one came true."
Kushina's face changed.
She remembered what Shin had told her.
That Konoha would face a great catastrophe. That she would die. That Minato would die.
That many people in the village would die. That Naruto would become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki after his birth.
Everything he had said… was real.
There were still two weeks left until her due date.
And when that day came, Konoha would face a disaster.
"Minato, does Konoha have any enemies right now?"
Kushina tried to gather more clues, attempting to guess who Shin's foretold enemy might be.
Minato only found her behavior more and more unusual.
Still, he patiently explained, "Kushina, the war is already over. Right now, Konoha has no enemies—at least not any visible ones."
"Is that so…" Kushina murmured helplessly.
So the only person who knew the truth... was Shin?
If she really wanted to save Minato, to save the village, she would have no choice but to ask him.
As this thought crossed her mind, a troubled look surfaced on Kushina's face.
"Kushina? What's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Minato asked, concerned.
"Minato… how well do you know Shin?" she asked, steering the conversation in a different direction.
"Shin? Why are you suddenly asking about him?"
Minato scratched his head. "I only got to know him near the end of the war. We were on a mission together."
"I heard both his parents died during the war. He grew up alone."
"Later, on the battlefield in the Land of Wind, his team's Jonin leader and all his comrades were killed during the Third Shinobi World War. Only he survived."
"It was after that that Orochimaru took him as a student, and he started showing his true strength."
Minato recalled the details as he spoke.
"He's a bit like Kakashi. Losing his comrades left a deep scar, made him emotionally volatile."
"But once you get to know him, you realize—Shin is actually a very gentle person."
From Minato's words, it was clear.
He truly admired Shin.
But Kushina thought otherwise.
Because she had seen another side of Shin. She had seen his true nature.
He dared to kill his own Jonin leader and teammates. He even dared to lay hands on the Hokage's wife.
Kushina chose not to share any of this with Minato.
Her gaze lowered, her thoughts spiraling.
Seeing her so downcast, Minato's brow furrowed deeply with concern. He asked:
"Kushina, what's really going on? Are you worried something might happen during Naruto's birth?"
"…Sigh."
Kushina let out a long sigh and, instead of answering directly, asked:
"Minato, tell me—if Konoha were to see the rise of another ninja as brilliant and powerful as The Supreme Shinobi, the First Hokage himself… but this ninja was morally questionable, cunning and unpredictable—would that be good or bad for the village?"
"Hmm…"
Minato paused, frowning in thought.
"I think it would still be a good thing. Having a ninja that powerful to protect Konoha would ensure lasting peace."
"As for his questionable morals, well… with time, he could be guided and taught."
Kushina let out a breath of relief. "I see…"
Yes, if he truly had the power to quell chaos like the First Hokage…
Then what did it matter if he lacked virtue?
With Shin in Konoha, and Minato by his side, the village would stand unshakable.
Even if the Nine-Tails broke free from its seal two weeks from now—even if some unknown enemy attacked—
If Shin helped Minato, then Minato would survive. The village would remain safe.
Which meant Minato wouldn't have to die.
And their unborn child, Naruto, wouldn't have to become the Jinchuriki, shunned and scorned.
But…
But he had those kinds of thoughts about me.
What should I do? Should I give in to him?
No, no… at the very least, I have to wait until after the baby is born…
But Shin—he's so incredibly gifted and talented.
So young, so powerful… and so absurdly handsome. Surely, plenty of girls are into him.
So why would he be interested in someone like me—a pregnant, married woman?
And yet, when she thought of those burning lips…
That strange, tingling sensation spread through her body again.
Indescribable.