By now, Kushina had grown accustomed to Sima Ming’s seemingly omniscient knowledge.
It was as though he knew every secret of the shinobi world.
She had long since stopped questioning it.
As far as she was concerned, as long as he meant no harm, his appearance was simply the Sage of Six Paths’ way of compensating her for losing Minato.
While discussing the Fourth Mizukage of the Hidden Mist, Sima Ming couldn’t help but voice a suspicion.
“Yagura becoming a Perfect Jinchūriki has always seemed strange to me.”
Everyone knew that after Yagura Karatachi became both Mizukage and the Three-Tails’ Jinchūriki, he eventually fell under the control of the Sharingan.
Since both Yagura and Isobu were controlled by the same Sharingan, it wasn’t surprising that they fought in perfect harmony.
Otherwise…
How could someone who had only recently become a Jinchūriki suddenly master perfect synchronization with a Tailed Beast overnight?
Even if the Three-Tails had a gentler temperament than the others…
It still sounded far too unbelievable.
After finishing her morning routine, Kushina glanced into the bathroom mirror.
Standing behind her was Sima Ming.
Young.
Handsome.
And always by her side.
He ate with her.
Lived with her.
Followed her everywhere.
Even during the most private moments—bathing or using the restroom—he could never leave.
Other than Minato…
He had become the closest person in her life.
Without realizing it, a faint ripple stirred within her heart.
But the moment Minato’s smiling face appeared in her mind…
Those emotions disappeared.
Kushina…
You can’t think like this.
Minato sacrificed his life for us.
Naruto is still just a baby.
I can’t betray Minato’s memory…
Besides…
Mr.
Sima deserves someone better than a widow like me.
Completely unaware of the battle taking place inside her heart, Sima Ming noticed her staring blankly into the mirror.
“Kushina.”
“It’s time to check on Naruto.”
She snapped back to reality, her cheeks instantly flushing red.
“I-I’m sorry, Mr. Sima.”
Her sudden apology left Sima Ming utterly confused.
Before he could ask what she meant, Kushina hurried out of the bathroom.
Over the following days, Kushina developed a new bedtime habit.
Every night before sleeping, she used her Adamantine Sealing Chains to secure herself in a sideways sleeping position.
Watching this, Sima Ming could only blink in confusion.
“…Is she embarrassed?”
Still…
He couldn’t deny that it made things easier.
Although waking up wrapped in the soft fragrance of a beautiful woman every morning sounded like a dream…
After several days of constant contact, it had become more torture than enjoyment.
Naruto’s house was isolated from outsiders.
There were no distractions.
No escape.
He had even begun worrying that something might eventually happen to his self-control.
Technically…
If he truly wanted to do something, Kushina couldn’t stop him.
But Sima Ming had no intention of crossing that line.
Some things simply couldn’t be justified.
Truthfully…
Kushina wasn’t the only one whose heart had begun to waver.
Sima Ming had never been this close to a woman before.
Living day and night beside someone as beautiful as Kushina without developing feelings would have been impossible.
Unfortunately…
Minato had only recently died.
Kushina’s love for her husband remained stronger than ever.
Opening her heart now was simply unrealistic.
Unless…
He acted like the villains in those questionable adult films.
Forcefully taking advantage of a grieving widow until she surrendered emotionally.
The thought lasted all of two seconds.
“Yeah…”
“Watching those movies is one thing.”
“Trying to copy them is another.”
“That’s a fast track to prison.”
Even if the Ninja World lacked laws covering such crimes…
His own conscience was more than enough to stop him.
“Lady Kushina!”
Yakushi Nonō suddenly rushed into the room, her face filled with panic.
“The village… the village…”
Kushina looked up from the crib where she was playing with baby Naruto.
“Calm down.”
“Sit first.”
“Tell me slowly.”
After taking a few deep breaths, Nonō finally managed to speak.
“The village plans to reduce the orphanage’s supplies.”
“They said the budget is tight and resources have to be prioritized for the front lines.”
She didn’t want to interfere with Konoha’s war effort against Kumogakure.
But the orphanage was already struggling to survive.
Most of the children were still growing.
If the supplies were reduced…
Having enough food to survive would already become difficult.
Nutritious meals would be completely out of the question.
If she hadn’t reached her limit, she never would have disturbed Kushina over something like this.
After all…
Kushina had already promised to help support the orphanage.
“…What?”
Kushina’s expression instantly darkened.
“Which idiot gave that order?”
“Did they think my words meant nothing?”
She slammed both hands onto the table and stood up so abruptly that Nonō instinctively worried she might frighten Naruto.
“You stay here.”
“I’m going to find out who’s bold enough to make a decision like this.”
Before Nonō could react…
Kushina gently placed Naruto into her arms.
Then she stormed straight toward the Hokage Building.
The guards spotted Kushina from a distance.
Remembering her previous visit…
They wisely informed Hiruzen immediately.
By the time Kushina reached the office…
No one dared stop her.
She pushed open the door without hesitation.
“Lord Third!”
“Why have you stopped the orphanage’s funding?”
Hiruzen blinked in confusion.
“…Stopped the orphanage’s funding?”
He genuinely had no idea what she was talking about.
The orphanage required only a tiny portion of Konoha’s overall budget.
More importantly…
Many of those children were the sons and daughters of shinobi who had sacrificed their lives during the Third Great Ninja War.
If the Hokage truly embezzled money meant for war orphans…
Who would still be willing to risk their life for Konoha?
“Kushina…”
“I think there may be some misunder—”
She didn’t let him finish.
Boom!
Her fist crashed into his desk, shattering the heavy wooden surface into pieces.
Then she pointed directly at Hiruzen.
“You speak of the Will of Fire more than anyone!”
“Those children are Konoha’s future!”
“Cutting the orphanage’s funding is the same as cutting off the village’s future!”
“How do you expect the shinobi fighting on the battlefield to feel when they hear this?”
“Are you trying to make things easier for the Hidden Cloud by destroying Konoha from within?”
Hiruzen’s face darkened.
He desperately wanted to explain that he had never approved such an order.
Unfortunately…
Kushina’s words came one after another like a barrage of shuriken.
He couldn’t get a single sentence in.
Truthfully, Hiruzen was furious as well.
Whoever had dared interfere with the orphanage’s funding had crossed a line.
Still…
There was one thing he couldn’t completely agree with.
Yes.
Children represented Konoha’s future.
But in his heart…
The children living in the orphanage were mostly civilians.
The children born into Konoha’s great shinobi clans would always remain the village’s greatest strength.
Naturally…
Such thoughts could never be spoken aloud by the Hokage.
Kushina glared directly into his eyes.
“I refuse to let the village Minato protected lose its future.”
“If this problem isn’t solved immediately…”
“I don’t mind personally paying a visit to whoever carried out this order.”
Of course, Kushina already knew Hiruzen wasn’t the one responsible.
This confrontation wasn’t really about the orphanage.
It was simply the perfect opportunity to vent all the frustration she had been suppressing toward him.
Having said everything she wanted to say…
She turned around and left.
The office fell silent.
Hiruzen’s expression was darker than the bottom of a pot.
After several moments, he spoke coldly.
“Go.”
“Bring Advisor Danzo here.”
There was no need to investigate.
He already knew who was responsible.
Danzo had wanted control of the orphanage for years.
Even its director, Yakushi Nonō, had once served under Root.
Whether it was recruiting talented children or expanding Root’s influence…
Danzo had more than enough reasons to interfere.
The hidden Anbu understood immediately.
The Third Hokage was genuinely angry.
This time…
He hadn’t even said “Please invite Advisor Danzo.”
He had simply ordered them to bring him.
The last person who had dared point a finger at Hiruzen and scold him to his face had been Tsunade herself.
Without wasting another second, the Anbu vanished toward Root Headquarters.
Meanwhile, Kushina walked home with a bright smile on her face.
For the first time in many years…
She felt completely refreshed.
In the past, even when she disagreed with Hiruzen, she would never have dared confront him so openly.
But now…
Just as Sima Ming had told her…
She no longer needed to hold back.
She had done nothing wrong.
And after pointing a finger at the Third Hokage and giving him a piece of her mind…
She felt better than ever.