However, it was obviously impossible to admit such a thing.
So, Kushina shook her head and showed a confused expression.
"What thing? What did Mikoto do last night?"
Hayato Ren and Kushina could now be considered an old married couple.
Therefore, Hayato Ren could tell at a glance that Kushina wasn't being sincere.
However, he had no intention of exposing her.
First, he hadn't suffered any losses last night - in fact, he had gained quite a bit.
Second, Konan was still in the dining room, and pursuing the matter further wouldn't be good for either of them.
Still, this matter couldn't just be left like this.
So Hayato Ren mentally noted this incident in his little black book, thinking he must find an opportunity for revenge in the future.
Then, Hayato Ren nodded to Kushina with his usual expression.
He called out to Konan who was eating in the dining room:
"Konan, how about I take you to school later?"
If Kushina had made this suggestion, Konan would have politely refused with the reason that she had already grown up and didn't need anyone to accompany her.
However, if Hayato Ren proposed it, Konan's reaction was completely different.
"Thank you, Brother Ren~"
After agreeing, Konan visibly sped up her eating pace.
Come on, mouth, move faster! Don't make me late for school.
Today could be said to be the most enthusiastic day about going to school since Konan started her studies.
Soon, in a whirlwind of activity, Konan finished her breakfast.
Then she quickly walked to the entranceway with small, quick steps, took out a pair of white lace-trimmed socks and put them on her feet.
Next, she slipped her feet into her sneakers.
Actually, most ninjas preferred to wear sandals for movement - they were breathable, waterproof, and very suitable for combat needs.
However, Hayato Ren didn't have that habit.
Because if you wear sandals in certain special environments, things like sewage would come into direct contact with your skin.
For Hayato Ren, who was somewhat particular about cleanliness, this was absolutely unacceptable.
Influenced by him, Konan also gave up the convenient all-terrain sandals and opted for sneakers that were more suitable for running.
After putting on her shoes, Konan took a ninja tool pouch from the drawer above the shoe cabinet, hung it on herself, and casually placed several kunai inside.
After completing all this, Konan jogged over to Hayato Ren's side, then looked up and showed an innocent smile.
Hayato Ren reached out and patted Konan's head, then took her left hand and slowly walked with her toward the Ninja Academy.
Hayato Ren's home wasn't too far from the Ninja Academy, but it wasn't particularly close either.
For an ordinary person, it might take half an hour to walk there.
But if a ninja were to run across the rooftops, it would only take a few minutes.
Normally, Konan kept her walk within ten minutes—after years of treading this path, nothing along the way could capture her attention anymore.
But today, her pace noticeably slowed.
In this moment, she desperately wished this road could stretch on forever.
Because these were the rare, undisturbed moments she could share alone with Hayato Ren.
However, Konan possessed remarkable self-discipline.
So even though she cherished this feeling deeply, she would never intentionally take a longer route.
"Konan, how have things been at the Ninja Academy lately? Has anyone been bullying you?" Hayato Ren asked casually while holding her hand and strolling leisurely.
"Same as usual, nothing special. And those little brats are nowhere near capable of bullying me," Konan replied with a hint of pride—the confidence of someone ranking first in both academics and combat training.
Since White Fang hadn't followed the original storyline by becoming a makeshift "sunny-day doll" but had instead retired to enjoy leisurely walks around home, Kakashi hadn't graduated early from the Ninja Academy to embark on his legendary ninja career.
Yet even a prodigy like Kakashi couldn't compare to Konan, who had awakened the Paper Style Bloodline Limit.
With her ability to fly using wings crafted from paper, Konan was practically invincible among Genin.
Originally, Konan wanted to graduate early, tired of playing "house" at the Ninja Academy.
But Hayato Ren had tempted her with an offer: if she followed the standard path to become a ninja, he would personally serve as her team leader in the future.
Lured by this promise, Konan eventually conceded.
Hayato Ren pinched her cheek playfully and teased, "Calling them little brats? How old are you, acting so mature all of a sudden?"
At this, Konan looked up intently at Hayato Ren and responded earnestly, "I'm not a child anymore. Where I come from, girls my age are already old enough to marry."
Under her fervent gaze, Hayato Ren instinctively turned his head away.
He had more or less sensed Konan's feelings—after all, he wasn't as oblivious as those harem anime protagonists.
But his remaining shred of "conscience" held him back from acting on those feelings.
So he simply patted her shoulder and replied with gravity, "Your most important task right now is to focus on your studies. Don't overthink things. We can talk about all this after you've grown up."
"When I grow up, can I be like Kushina-nee?" Konan asked, her bright eyes fixed expectantly on Hayato Ren.
"Let's talk about it then. Who knows—you might meet someone you like by that time."
Hearing this, Konan abruptly stopped walking, the warmth in her expression instantly replaced by cold sharpness.
Seeing her predatory glare, Hayato Ren felt a flicker of panic.
Then, with a frosty expression, Konan waved her hand, signaling for him to crouch down.
Under normal circumstances, Hayato Ren would have taken the opportunity to tease Konan.
But beneath Konan's expressionless face, he chose to obediently comply this time.
Konan raised both hands and slapped Hayato Ren's cheeks with force, producing a sharp "smack" sound.
Then, she stared intently into Hayato Ren's eyes and spoke word by word:
"Even if it's Brother Ren, I would be very angry if you said such things. The person Konan likes most is Brother Ren, and I would never like anyone else. This is something I want Brother Ren to always remember."