Lunch was filled with laughter and warmth.
Kushina was washing the dishes, while Yamanaka Shinno sat at the dining table, resting his chin on one hand as he watched her busy figure.
It wasn't exactly a romantic scene, but for the first time in over a decade, in this strange yet familiar world, he felt like he had a home.
"Kushina?"
"Hm?"
"Nothing, I just wanted to say your name."
"Then... Shinno?"
"Kushina."
"Shinno."
"Kushina."
"Shinno—pfft! Ahahaha!"
By the time the afternoon had passed, Kushina had already lost count of how many times she had burst into uncontrollable laughter, her signature goose-like cackle filling the air.
She didn't even know why such a childish exchange made her so happy. But hearing Shinno call her name—it just made her heart swell with joy.
After putting the washed dishes away in the cupboard, Kushina dried her hands and hung her apron on a hook by the kitchen.
When she turned around, Shinno was no longer at the table.
???
Hearing the sound of drawers being rummaged through in the study, she curiously made her way to the doorway.
Inside, she saw open drawers, scattered bankbooks, secret scrolls tossed carelessly on the floor, and in the midst of the chaos—Shinno, still searching for something.
"Are you looking for something?" she asked, puzzled.
"...Probably," Shinno replied, pausing his search. "My heart?"
"Huh? Ugh! That was so cheesy! But... I kinda like it."
"Hahaha!"
Shinno laughed as he set aside the miscellaneous items he had collected over the years. Then, looking at the girl leaning against the doorway—dressed in casual clothes, yet still radiating beauty—he spoke softly.
"I was trying to find something worthy of you, so I could confess and ask you to be my girlfriend."
"A-And then...?"
Kushina froze for a moment before realizing what was happening. Her heart pounded with nervous anticipation.
She had always felt that just being with Shinno was enough to make her happy. But like every girl, she, too, wished for a proper confession to make their relationship official.
"But I realized... nothing could ever be worthy of you. So... I'm giving you my happiness instead. Kushina, will you be my girlfriend?"
"Yes!"
Kushina nodded so hard that tears burst from her eyes even though she was grinning from ear to ear.
She remembered what Shikaku Nara once told her—how Shinno cherished every relationship deeply, whether it was family, friendship, or love. But because of that, he always seemed distant at first.
Maybe he feared lies. Maybe he feared loss. Or maybe... he feared disappointment.
So when facing someone like Shinno, taking the first step might make him retreat. Taking the second step might make him hesitate.
But take the third step, the fourth step...
And he would throw aside all his doubts and run straight toward you.
Shikaku, I did it. Shinno is running toward me...
With a joyous laugh, Shinno pulled Kushina into his arms, spinning her around.
"Wooohooo! Kushina, congratulations! You're officially taken!"
"Pfft! How can you joke at such a touching moment?"
"You have the best smile when you laugh!"
"Hehe~ Then congratulations to you too! You're officially taken as well!"
"Hahaha! Cheers to that!"
"AHAHAHA—"
"If you keep laughing like that, our home is going to turn into a zoo."
"Hmph! I am not a goose!"
Kushina playfully punched Shinno's chest, happiness shining in her eyes like never before.
Then, she stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his neck.
Shinno knew exactly what that meant.
Without hesitation, he leaned in and claimed her lips.
In the past, Kushina could never understand why the couples in movies always kissed like they could never get enough.
But now... she thought she was beginning to understand.
Because a kiss wasn't just a kiss—it was love, passion, and the unspoken promise of forever.
...
"Twenty-one points! I win! Hahaha! Pay up! Give me all your winnings! Hahaha!"
Tsunade's ecstatic voice echoed from outside the room.
Snapping back to reality, Kushina suddenly realized that her shirt's top two buttons had been undone, and her waistband was halfway loosened.
"T-Tsunade is still outside!"
"Then let's wait until she leaves?"
Grinning mischievously, Shinno pulled the flustered Kushina back into his embrace. She playfully hit him twice before burying her face in his chest, trying to calm her racing heart.
After a moment, Shinno gently combed his fingers through her silky, fragrant hair and asked the question that had been on his mind for a while.
"Kushina, how did Shikaku and Inoichi convince you not to get mad after hearing those rumors about me?"
"...Do I really have such a bad temper? Hmph! Go ask Inoichi yourself. I'm not telling you."
Kushina pouted and buried her face deeper into his chest.
The truth was, she didn't need convincing.
She had already noticed Shinno's change. Unable to hold back her feelings any longer, she was the one who took the initiative—worried about the challenges they might face, she had gone to Inoichi for help.
And Inoichi? He had taken her straight to Shikaku.
The rumors, the countless "evidences" that followed... all of it was orchestrated to push Shinno in the right direction.
"Alright, alright, you have the best temper. Hahaha..."
Shinno decided not to push further. If Kushina didn't want to say it, he could always ask Inoichi himself.
"Annoying," she mumbled but held onto him even tighter.
"By the way, why is Tsunade at our place?"
"She came back to the village a few days ago and wanted to borrow money again. Sooo... I used the trick you taught me. Then she insisted on waiting for you, so we came back here together."
"Should I thank her for bringing you here? Oh, did you pack your clothes and things yet?"
"N-No..."
"Then let's go get them now?"
"Okay..."
Kushina's face flushed red again.
Even though she had always been bold, at a moment like this, she couldn't help but feel a little shy.
Both of them were the type to act as soon as they made a decision.
They slipped on their shoes and walked out of the room.
Kushina glanced at Tsunade, whose face alternated between twisted frustration and ecstatic joy as she played. Concerned, she whispered, "Shinno, is she gonna be okay?"
"She'll be fine. It's an A-rank genjutsu, but she realized it pretty quickly and would've broken free immediately if she wanted."
"Then why is she still—"
"At first, she probably held back to avoid mental backlash. But then she just... decided she didn't want to wake up. A gambling paradise? To a chronic gambler, that's irresistible."
"A gambling city... like Tanzaku Town?"
"More or less. I built the whole scene with genjutsu..."
Shinno described the extravagant casino he had crafted.
With games like blackjack, baccarat, roulette, horse racing, mahjong, poker, and even fishing slot machines—there was no way Tsunade could resist.
Genjutsu?
Heh.
She could break free anytime... but not before she enjoyed herself to the fullest!
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