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Chapter 32: Kushina's Emotional Knot, Konan Returns!
Kushina seemed a little stunned. She stared blankly up at Oborotsuki for a long moment before finally looking away, turning her gaze toward the doorway.
"Your goal… isn't something just anyone can help you achieve…"
"For example?"
"Can you help me achieve it?"
Oborotsuki gave a mischievous grin.
Since Kushina had taken the initiative to open up and talk about these things so frankly,
It meant she had already come to terms with it—at least on some level.
She already understood what his intentions were.
In that case, there was no need to keep tiptoeing around, being vague and indirect.
Truthfully, Oborotsuki had never liked that kind of roundabout approach anyway.
He preferred being straightforward—getting right to the point.
Kushina gave him a quiet, meaningful glance but said nothing.
Discussing matters between men and women with a man who wasn't her husband—
This was a first for her.
It was only natural she'd feel a bit uneasy.
As for Oborotsuki's teasing, she simply pretended not to hear it.
Right now, her heart was still filled with longing for Minato.
No matter how excellent Oborotsuki was, no matter how flirtatious his words, she didn't yet feel that kind of impulse toward him.
After a while, Kushina suddenly looked over curiously and asked in a casual tone:
"You really… don't mind at all?"
"Mind what?"
Oborotsuki tilted his head in slight confusion.
"I've already been married…"
Kushina spoke calmly, expression unchanged.
"What's wrong with being married?"
His counter-question made Kushina feel quite surprised. She couldn't help but look him up and down once more—this young, handsome man.
"Isn't it commonly thought that someone who's already been married is… less desirable?"
"And I've even had a child…"
Kushina said, glancing back toward the room where little Naruto slept peacefully on the tatami.
But Oborotsuki's lips slowly curved into a meaningful smile.
He stared at Kushina for a long while—until she started feeling uncomfortable—before finally speaking calmly:
"Let all those worldly opinions go to hell."
"Kushina, I don't care about any of that nonsense."
"I only know you're an exceptional woman. Your beauty isn't just on the outside—it's also the strength in your heart. I'm very fond of you. Even if Minato were still alive, I wouldn't give up pursuing you… Who knows—maybe if I'd met you when you were younger, there never would've been a Minato…"
He really dares to say it…
Kushina thought silently to herself.
She couldn't help but study Oborotsuki again. That handsome, sunny face really wasn't inferior to Minato's at all.
But what had truly attracted her to Minato was his sun-like quality—always putting others before himself.
Oborotsuki's words were something Kushina had never heard before in her life.
From childhood to now, the education she received and the people she met had all upheld monogamy.
In this world, female shinobi faced many expectations—not much different from another world's "three obediences and four virtues." Many retired from being ninjas after marriage to become housewives, supporting their husbands and raising children.
If a woman divorced after marriage, she was often seen as "impure" and faced disdain or even scorn.
Behind closed doors, they endured unimaginable psychological pressure.
Even though their status as shinobi was already noble, it was hard to escape this fate.
Kushina had always assumed all men in the world demanded the same from women.
She never imagined Oborotsuki would be so different.
"But I…"
Kushina hesitated, then shook her head as if trying to dispel the messy thoughts in her mind.
I can't betray Minato.
She didn't say it out loud.
Although Oborotsuki's words felt very novel.
After hearing them, a tiny ripple really did stir in her heart.
But still—Kushina felt this was all too strange.
"I know—you prefer Minato's radiant, selfless personality over his handsome looks, but…"
"Kushina, have you ever considered? That kind of quality, for a man with a family, can be very selfish."
"He died honorably, left his name in history—but what about you? What about Naruto? What he did was deeply unfair to you and your child."
Oborotsuki gave a bright, sunny smile.
"No—don't talk about Minato like that!"
Kushina snapped sharply.
But Oborotsuki paid no mind to her defensiveness. Companionship was his deadliest weapon!
Minato could no longer be there for her, could no longer participate in raising Naruto.
Over time, Kushina would naturally transfer all the love she felt for Minato onto Oborotsuki.
When the time came—facing the reanimated Minato—Oborotsuki was certain Kushina would still choose the father who had truly been there to raise her child.
He stepped forward and gently wrapped his arms around Kushina's shoulders, saying nothing more.
Though Kushina's words were sharp, she showed no real resistance.
But she also stayed silent.
The two simply stood there, feeling each other's warmth.
Just as Oborotsuki's desire burned fiercely, Mayumi and Red returned.
The moment they stepped through the door, they saw Oborotsuki embracing Kushina. Both froze in place.
Like a startled rabbit, Kushina gently pushed Oborotsuki away and turned aside as if nothing had happened.
Oborotsuki looked at the two at the door and smiled:
"You're back?"
"I'm starving. Let's make something to eat."
With that, he casually walked toward the kitchen.
"That guy…"
Red muttered with a pout.
Mayumi, however, showed a knowing, gentle smile. She said nothing.
She walked in, approached Kushina.
"Oborotsuki is actually a very good person."
"He's very considerate and caring, and he's strong enough to shelter us from any storm."
"And most importantly…"
Mayumi leaned close and whispered something in Kushina's ear.
Then she gave a mysterious smile.
After hearing it, Kushina's expression became slightly unnatural. She secretly glanced at Oborotsuki.
As if sensing her gaze, Oborotsuki poked his head halfway out of the kitchen. Their eyes met.
Kushina immediately looked away and turned toward her room:
"Naruto must be hungry…"
"Kushina."
Mayumi gently held her back:
"Naruto is still small, but he'll grow up eventually."
"You wouldn't want him to grow up without a father by his side, right?"
With that, she instinctively touched her own belly.
Little Karin would be born soon too.
No one understood better than she did the sense of security that came from having a man by your side.
"Yeah, Kushina…"
"When little Naruto grows up and asks where his daddy went—what are you going to tell him?"
Red, having overheard the conversation, also walked over and softly took Kushina's hand to remind her.
With the two of them speaking one after another, Kushina—who was already wavering—felt her emotions grow even more complicated. Her mind was a mess.
After a moment of silence, she subconsciously glanced toward Oborotsuki in the kitchen again.
…
Oborotsuki didn't force Kushina.
He knew she hadn't yet crossed that final emotional barrier in her heart—but she was close.
Once she slowly adjusted to this new life, she would make her choice.
That day, as usual, Oborotsuki first used Flying Thunder God to return to Amegakure headquarters, planning to check if Konan had come back.
Unexpectedly—he really did find her.
He had just returned to his room when, not long after, Konan came knocking.
"Oborotsuki—are you in?"
Oborotsuki practically jumped three feet in excitement and rushed to open the door.
Seeing Konan's familiar face, he immediately pulled her into a big hug without a word.
The action left Konan completely stunned—her body stiffening, momentarily at a loss.
"O-Oborotsuki… what… what are you doing?"
"Konan-senpai—you're finally back! I missed you so much!"
Oborotsuki said happily.
"I… I was worried about you too… but can you let me go first?"
Konan's face was already bright red.
In her entire life, this was the first time a man had held her so tightly.
"You were gone for so long—what happened?"
Oborotsuki naturally released her, stepping back to let her catch her breath, and asked casually.
But his gaze instinctively drifted toward Konan's belly.
It seemed noticeably larger than a few days ago.
"There was an unexpected issue during the mission, but it's fine now."
"By the way—how did your mission with Madara go?"
Konan clearly had no idea that Oborotsuki and Obito had gone to Konoha to cause trouble.
Hearing this, Oborotsuki's expression stiffened slightly. He nodded vaguely.
"It was… okay."
"By the way, Konan-senpai…"
Oborotsuki had just started to explain everything and tell her he wanted to take her away—
When Pain's Deva Path suddenly appeared.
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