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  Shin and Kushina arrived at the Academy just in time.

  But someone was even ter: Nawaki. Under Shin's amused gaze, Nawaki was sent out to stand in the hallunishment.

  "Huh, where's Akiko?"

  Shin sed the , but Akiko was o be seen.

  "Shin, what are you thinking about?"

  Mikoto asked curiously, notig his distra.

  "I was just w why Akiko isn't here."

  Kushina, who had been drowsy, suddenly perked up, her eyes fixed on Shin.

  "Shin, don't tell me you have a thing for Akiko?" she asked suspiciously.

  "Kushina, your eyes are scary," Mikoto giggled.

  "I'm not ied in Akiko. I was just curious," Shin said, a bit exasperated.

  He had no i in little girls. He wasn't a creep.

  Besides, Akiko wasn't as pretty as Kushina or Mikoto.

  "I have an annou regarding Uzumaki Akiko. I'm sure many of you are w why she isn't here today."

  Tanaka-seood at the podium.

  "Akiko has taken a leave of absence. She won't be ing to school for a while."

  Shin pohe annou, a suspi f in his mind.

  After css, Shin approached Kai. "Kai, you live with Akiko. Do you know why she's absent?"

  "Why should I tell you?"

  Kai gred at Shin.

  "Good question. How about this?" Shin pced a hand on Kai's shoulder, applying pressure.

  Kai broke out in a cold sweat, his shoulder screaming in pain.

  He didn't cry out, though, maintaining his pride. But he quickly caved.

  "Akiko was called away early this m. I think she went to Lady Mito's pce."

  "Thanks for the info." Shin smiled auro his seat, his suspis firmed.

  He guessed that Akiko had been chosen as the ails Jinchūriki. He didn't know why Akiko, but it was good news for him and Kushina.

  Being a Jinchūriki wasn't a good thing. Not everyone could be like Naruto and gaiailed Beast's approval.

  "Shin, you've never cared about Akiko before. Why are you suddenly ied in her?"

  Kushina asked when Shiuro his seat.

  She knew Shin wasn't romantically ied in Akiko, but she couldn't help but feel jealous.

  "Because it's important to us," Shin said cryptically.

  If he or Kushina had been chosen as the Jinchūriki, he would have had to find a way to refuse.

  Now, he didn't have to worry about that.

  Akiko's absence meant she robably receiving special training from Mito. Being a Jinchūriki wasn't easy; it required rigorous preparation.

  After school, they received a notice that they wouldn't be attending Mito's lessons for the time being.

  Shin wasn't disappointed. He had already learned everything he o know.

  'Mind's Eye of Kagura!!!'

  Shin closed his eyes, and his surroundings appeared in his mind. He could sense Chakra with incredible crity.

  He had awakehe Mind's Eye of Kagura, a secret teique that only the Uzumaki could learn. Mito had taught it to him.

  She had also taught it to the others, but he didn't know if they had mastered it. Kushina hadn't. He doubted Kai and Akiko had either.

  He sed the entire Senju pound and its surroundings with his expanded sense.

  He tinued using the Mind's Eye of Kagura for an hour before finally opening his eyes, exhaustion weighing on him.

  It was mental exhaustion. The Chakra cost was minimal, but the strain on his mind was signifit, especially with prolonged use.

  But it had its bes. It slowly increased his mental power. It was one of the ways he had found tthen his mind.

  The other method was to use the System's Replication Cards to copy Uchiha ocur prowess.

  "Looks like Tsunade isn't ing back. Let's eat."

  Shied his room and annouo Kushina.

  "I've been waiting forever! I'm starving!" Kushina whined dramatically.

  Shin chuckled and prepared a vish dihey had money now; there was o be frugal.

  After dinner, Shin trained his Taijutsu asu iraining ground. He then dispelled his Shadow es, abs their memories and experiences.

  He had secretly sent them out to train in Ninjutsu.

  Shin ahe knowledge he had gained, refined Chakra for an hour, then took a bath and prepared for bed.

  Just as he y down, his door creaked open, and Kushiered, clutg a b.

  Shin stared at her, bewildered.

  "Kushina, what are you doing in my room? Shouldn't you be sleeping?"

  "Did you fet what you said this m? We're sleeping together from now on. You promised! Don't tell me yoing ba your word?"

  Kushina tried to sound fierce, but Shin only saw ess. Fierce ess.

  "Kushina, you're really going to sleep with me?" Shin asked, surprised.

  "Of course! And we've slept together before, haven't we?"

  Kushina climbed onto the tatami mat, snuggled up o Shin, ed her arms around him, aed her head on his chest.

  "That was when we were little. Don't you feel awkward now, Kushina?"

  Shin ihe sweet st of her hair.

  "Not at all. I feel fortable sleeping with you, Shin."

  Kushina snuggled closer, nuzzling him.

  Shin wasn't going tue. That would be stupid.

  "Alright, let's get some sleep. But try to stay still, okay? No moving around."

  "Shin, do you dislike me?"

  Kushina pouted. Even in the darkness, with only the moonlight filtering through the window, Shin could see her expression.

  "Even if I were to dislike someo wouldn't be you. Now go to sleep."

  Shin pinched her cheek and closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of this human-shaped pillow.

  Kushina also felt fortable and safe in Shin's arms. She quickly drifted off to sleep.

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