Kushina was willing to listen to advice, so she followed Sima Ming’s suggestions exactly.
Without using chakra to strengthen her body, she sealed an additional twenty to thirty catties of weight onto herself and began training in the courtyard.
As an elite jōnin, even though Taijutsu wasn’t her specialty, this level of weight barely affected her.
So she increased it.
Fifty catties.
Then eighty.
Finally…
One hundred catties.
For most people, custom-made weighted equipment would have been required.
For Kushina, however, it was much simpler.
Using her mastery of Sealing Jutsu, she created the weighted gear herself.
In the ninja world, Sealing Jutsu was one of the most versatile techniques in existence.
With sufficient mastery, it could be applied to almost anything.
Although the added weight didn’t make walking difficult, after only a few minutes of training, sweat soaked through her clothes.
Just then, Yakushi Nono returned from taking Naruto out for a walk.
She stopped in surprise at the sight before her.
Among everyone she knew in Konoha, only one father-and-son pair trained their bodies with such relentless determination.
Might Duy…
And his son, Might Guy.
It was said that during the Third Great Ninja War, the elder Might had killed four of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist despite remaining a genin throughout his life.
Could Lady Kushina also be training in that legendary Taijutsu?
Yakushi Nono didn’t ask any questions.
She simply glanced at the exhausted Kushina before carrying the sleeping Naruto back to his room.
The moment Kushina saw Naruto return, fresh determination surged through her tired body.
Even Sima Ming was surprised by her sudden burst of strength.
Perhaps…
This was the power of a mother’s love.
The price of overtraining soon became apparent.
By dinnertime, Kushina’s arms were so sore that she couldn’t even lift her chopsticks.
Whenever she managed to raise her hands, they trembled uncontrollably as though powered by tiny motors.
Coincidentally, Yakushi Nono had already returned to the orphanage after putting Naruto to sleep and helping prepare dinner.
She wouldn’t be back for another two or three hours.
Seeing Kushina struggle, Sima Ming spoke.
“Let me help you.”
She hesitated for a few seconds.
Every part of her body was crying out from hunger.
Finally, with slightly reddened cheeks, she whispered,
“Sorry to trouble you… Ming-kun.”
After receiving her permission, Sima Ming stepped closer behind her.
Reaching one arm gently beneath her shoulder, he picked up the chopsticks and began feeding her.
As warm food filled her stomach, the incredible vitality of the Uzumaki Clan gradually began restoring her body.
Strength slowly returned to her limbs.
The trembling in her hands gradually disappeared.
Because he was standing so close behind her, his view blocked by her long crimson hair, Sima Ming never noticed that she had already recovered.
For some reason…
Kushina didn’t mention it either.
After finishing the meal, she smiled softly.
“That’s enough, Ming-kun.”
“I’m full.”
Sima Ming nodded before quietly putting down the chopsticks and stepping away.
Later that evening…
Inside the bathroom…
Kushina glanced at the bathtub.
After a brief moment of consideration, she gave up the idea of taking a bath.
Just as before, she decided on a quick shower instead.
Nearby, Sima Ming obediently held up a blanket to block his view.
Everything seemed normal.
Until…
Halfway through rinsing away the soap…
Her foot suddenly slipped.
The fatigue from the day’s training hadn’t fully disappeared, and she completely lost her balance.
With a startled gasp, she fell backward.
The painful impact she expected never came.
Instead…
She landed directly on Sima Ming.
Reacting instinctively, Sima Ming reached out to catch her before she hit the ground.
His hands grasped whatever they could.
The bathroom instantly fell into an awkward silence.
“M-Ming-kun…”
“You…”
Realizing where his hands had landed, Sima Ming’s face turned pale.
“I’m sorry!”
“I didn’t mean to!”
He immediately let go and hurried to his feet.
Kushina also slowly stood up.
Without another word, Sima Ming quickly retreated several steps before raising the blanket once more.
Yet…
No matter how hard he tried…
He couldn’t erase the memory from his mind.
The smooth, fair skin.
The slippery sensation of the soap.
It felt completely different from touching her through layers of clothing.
Meanwhile, Kushina silently lowered the water temperature.
The cool water washed away the lingering warmth on her skin…
As well as the faint handprints left visible through the soap bubbles.
Without saying a word, she finished showering, changed into her pajamas, and quietly returned to the bedroom.
Sima Ming followed behind, looking thoroughly embarrassed.
Unexpected accidents were called unexpected for a reason.
No one could have predicted what had just happened.
He couldn’t help worrying.
Over the past few weeks, Kushina had gradually opened her heart to him.
Would everything disappear because of this single accident?
“Kushina…”
“I…”
Before he could finish apologizing, she gently interrupted him.
“It wasn’t your fault.”
“I was the one who lost my balance.”
“If you hadn’t caught me…”
“I would’ve been hurt.”
Her words allowed Sima Ming to finally breathe a sigh of relief.
What surprised him even more came later that night.
Normally, Kushina slept on her side.
Although she always rolled over in her sleep and ended up lying on top of him by morning…
She had never intentionally done so.
Tonight…
She lay down flat.
Directly above him.
Sima Ming instantly froze.
His arms remained stiff at his sides.
He didn’t dare wrap them around her waist as he unconsciously did while sleeping.
Accidents during sleep were one thing.
Holding her intentionally…
Was something entirely different.
Unlike Sima Ming’s nervous confusion…
Kushina’s entire body was tense.
She knew that every morning she woke up nestled in his embrace.
She knew those embraces were unconscious.
But tonight…
She had chosen this herself.
Why?
Had Sima Ming’s constant companionship quietly entered her heart?
Or had the accident in the bathroom made her stop resisting the feelings she had been trying to ignore?
Her thoughts were in complete turmoil.
On one side…
There was Minato.
The man she had loved with all her heart.
On the other…
There was Sima Ming.
Gentle.
Reliable.
Always quietly supporting her.
For the first time in her life, the cheerful and straightforward Kushina didn’t know what to do.
Minato had sacrificed his life for her and Naruto barely a month ago.
If she accepted another man so soon…
Wouldn’t that be betraying him?
Then another concern arose.
Sima Ming wasn’t free.
He was forever bound behind her.
Would he truly accept a widow…
A woman with a child…
Someone who still loved her late husband?
Would he worry that if she could move on from Minato…
She might one day leave him as well?
Yet…
If Sima Ming remained trapped behind her forever…
Accidents like today’s were bound to happen again.
If they truly became husband and wife…
Then moments like today would no longer carry the same burden of guilt.
After struggling with herself for a long time, Kushina finally spoke softly.
“Mr. Sima…”
“I’m here.”
The moment he heard her return to calling him “Mr.
Sima” instead of the affectionate “Ming-kun,” his heart tightened.
“I…”
She hesitated.
Again…
And again…
Unable to find the right words.
Feeling her confusion, Sima Ming decided to take the initiative.
He gently wrapped his arms around her and spoke with unwavering sincerity.
“I’ll always stay by your side.”
Kushina’s voice trembled.
“But…”
“I can’t forget Minato.”
“That wouldn’t be fair to you.”
Sima Ming smiled gently.
“Why should you forget him?”
“Minato isn’t just Naruto’s father.”
“He’s also part of your life.”
“Your past is what made you who you are.”
“If you erased those memories…”
“You wouldn’t be the Kushina I know.”
“And I would never want you to become someone who abandoned the people she loved.”