"I'm stuffed. Let's go."

  Shin wiped his mouth, then Kushina's, earning him a smug grin from her. She shot a triumphant look at Mikoto.

  Mikoto didn't react to the provocation, instead returning a gentle smile, much to Kushina's annoyance. Mikoto didn't seem to care about her rivalry at all.

  And after iing with her, Kushina found it hard to maintain her hostility towards such a sweet girl.

  "Hold it right there."

  Just as they were about to leave the ramen shop, the Uchiha ninja stopped them.

  Shin frowurning to face the man.

  He had just copied the man's [Sharingan] Prowess, evolving his own Sharingan to three-tomoe, but he still didn't like the guy.

  The man was arrogant and unpleasant; no one would like him.

  "You're an Uchiha, aren't you? Why are you with a Senju?"

  The Uchiha ninja questioned Mikoto.

  Mikoto lowered her head, remaining silent, her face pale.

  Seeing Mikoto like this, Kushina bristled. "What's it to you?" she retorted.

  She didn't like this Uchiha o.

  "What did you say?"

  The Uchiha stood up, his three-tomoe Sharingan gring at Kushina. Kushina, intimidated, hid behind Shin.

  He was a Jōnin, a killer. His killing i, amplified by his Sharingan, alpable.

  If Kushina hadn't withe destru of her d experienced such trauma, she might have been paralyzed with fear.

  Shin's eyes narrowed. He could tolerate a lot to maintain his low profile, but this was crossing the line.

  He was about to step in when a familiar voice rang out.

  "Shin, Kushina, Nawaki, what are you doing here?" Tsunade approached, fnked by two others.

  One had a pale fad an aura of ess, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows. This was Orochimaru, Tsueammate.

  The other had spiky white hair and red markings under his eyes. Jiraiya.

  "Is there a problem here?"

  Tsuiced the Uchiha Jōnin, his Sharingan activated and killing i radiating from him.

  "A Jōnin intimidating children? How impressive. What's your sunade asked coldly.

  The Uchiha Jōnin paled. He reized Tsunade; every ninja in Konoha knew her. He could act tough in front of others, but not in front of Tsunade.

  She wasn't afraid of the Uchiha , and she wasn't afraid to use her fists. If she punched him, even the Uchiha Head wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

  He had no choice but to back down.

  Besides, Tsunade was the best medi Konoha. If he ended up in the hospital, she could make sure he never left.

  "Get lost. And if you ever bother them again, I'll make sure yret it" Tsuhreatened.

  The Uchiha Jōnin, Uchiha Ryota, scurried away. Even if he was an Uchiha genius, the wouldn't risk disrespeg Tsunade for him.

  Tsunade was the Sandaime Hokage's student. fighting her was the same as fighting the Hokage. If the Hokage found a reason to punish them, the Uchiha would suffer.

  The current Sandaime Hokage wasn't the weak old man he would bee; he was still a force to be reed with.

  "Kushina, are you alright?" Shin asked.

  Kushina shook her head. With Shin by her side, she wasn't that scared.

  "I'll get you back for this. one day, Ryota."

  Shi the Uchiha's retreating figure. If they weren't in Konoha, Ryota would be dead.

  Shin was fident he could kill an Uchiha Jōnin. He might not be able to take on ae Jōni, but a regur Jōnin was no problem.

  "Pfft, hahahaha! What did you say, kid?" Jiraiya burst out ughing.

  Shin looked at Jiraiya and said with a smirk, "I said, one day, I'll dig a hole and bury you in it."

  Jiraiya's ughter died in his throat.

  "Sis, thank goodness you came. That was a close one," Nawaki said, relieved.

  "I'm sorry. It's my fault," Mikoto apologized.

  "It's not your fault, Mikoto. That guy was just being a jerk. If I were stronger, I'd punch him in the face," Kushina said, patting Mikoto's shoulder.

  Shin looked at Kushina, then at Mikoto. When did they bee friends?

  Kushina had been so hostile towards Mikoto earlier.

  Seeing Mikoto's vulnerability had softened Kushina's heart. Her hostility had melted away.

  "You're an Uchiha?" Tsunade asked Mikoto.

  "Y-yes."

  Mikoto looked at Tsunade nervously.

  "Don't be scared. I'm not going to eat you. But you're quite different from the other Uchiha, aren't you?" Tsunade observed. Mikoto didn't have the usual Uchiha arrogance.

  Most Uchiha, regardless of age ender, were arrogant and haughty.

  They were the cssic "young masters," always looking down on others.

  Tsunade had a good impression of Mikoto. She didn't judge her based on her .

  "Let me introduce you. This is my teammate, Orochimaru, and this dead weight is Jiraiya."

  Tsunade gestured towards her two panions.

  Shin had already reized them. They were hard to miss.

  "Dead weight? You're calling me dead weight?" Jiraiya grumbled.

  Orochimaru remained silent, his gaze fixed on Shin.

  Shin looked back at the Snake Sannin. Why was he staring at him? Had Orochimaru already embarked on his path of forbidden researd taken an i in him?

  No, that was impossible. It was too early for that.

  But why was he staring?

  Shi unfortable under Orochimaru's intense gaze, like a mouse being watched by a snake.

  "Iing," Orochimaru said with a sly smile.

  Shin frowned. Orochimaru's smile didn't bode well.

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