Naruto’s loud cries interrupted the conversation between Kushina and Sima Ming.
As a first-time mother, Kushina looked completely overwhelmed.
She gently cradled Naruto in her arms and rocked him back and forth, hoping to soothe him.
Unfortunately, instead of calming down, Naruto cried even louder.
“Could he be hungry?” Sima Ming suggested from behind her.
He had no experience raising children either, but babies usually cried for only a few reasons—they were hungry, needed a diaper change, or were uncomfortable.
Considering several hours had passed since Naruto’s birth and he hadn’t been fed yet, hunger seemed like the most likely cause.
Kushina didn’t waste any time questioning the suggestion.
She quickly loosened her clothing and guided Naruto toward her.
Sure enough, the moment he began nursing, the crying stopped instantly.
Naruto’s tiny hands clenched into little fists as he eagerly drank his fill.
Watching her son finally settle down, Kushina smiled warmly despite her exhaustion.
Seeing the situation, Sima Ming quietly stepped back several meters.
After all, remaining so close behind her would make it impossible not to see something he shouldn’t.
Noticing him retreat, Kushina let out a sigh of relief before speaking sincerely.
“Thank you, Mr. Sima.”
Assuming she was thanking him for reminding her that Naruto was hungry, Sima Ming replied casually,
“You’re welcome.”
With all of her attention focused on Naruto, Kushina temporarily forgot about Konoha’s uncertain future.
Once he was full, Naruto let out a tiny yawn.
His eyelids gradually drooped.
Kushina gently rocked him once more, trying to lull him to sleep.
As her body swayed from side to side, Sima Ming was forced to sway with her as well.
Fortunately, the movements were small enough that he could endure them without clinging to her back to avoid becoming dizzy.
Just as Naruto seemed ready to fall asleep…
He suddenly burst into tears again.
“Are you still hungry?”
Kushina looked puzzled and tried feeding him once more.
This time, however, it had no effect.
Even with his mouth occupied, Naruto continued crying loudly.
Seeing that she hadn’t realized the problem, Sima Ming spoke again.
“Check his swaddle.”
Kushina immediately unfolded the blanket around Naruto.
Sure enough, one section was already soaked.
Another frantic round of cleaning followed.
By the end of it, Sima Ming didn’t even have the energy to complain.
One moment he was thrown toward the east.
The next moment, he was flung toward the west.
When Kushina bent over, he was nearly launched straight into the ceiling.
Fortunately, he reacted quickly enough to stabilize himself in midair.
Otherwise, he would have crashed directly into her back.
“Kushina…”
Realizing what had happened, Kushina hurriedly bowed to apologize.
The sudden movement sent Sima Ming swinging through the air like the pendulum of a clock.
“I’m so sorry, Mr. Sima!”
“I really didn’t mean to!”
She looked so guilty that tears almost welled up in her eyes.
Yet she forced herself to stop bowing again, afraid of making things even worse.
“I-It’s fine…”
“Just… please don’t move around so much…”
“…Ugh…”
The thought of living like this every day made Sima Ming feel utterly miserable.
Hearing him retch behind her, Kushina hesitated for a long moment before quietly saying,
“Mr. Sima…”
“If it’s more comfortable…”
“Why don’t you just lean against my back?”
By now, the distrust she had initially felt toward him had almost completely disappeared.
He had saved her life.
Helped her think about her future.
And even taught her how to take care of baby Naruto.
For reasons neither of them understood, he was permanently confined to staying behind her.
Even the smallest movement sent him flying around.
Meanwhile, she had to care for an energetic newborn.
Remaining perfectly still simply wasn’t possible.
The guilt in Kushina’s heart only grew stronger.
After hearing her suggestion, Sima Ming merely stepped a little closer instead of actually leaning against her.
While waiting for Naruto to fall asleep, another problem occurred to him.
Sooner or later…
Kushina would need to bathe.
She would need to use the restroom.
She would also need to sleep.
When that happened…
What exactly was he supposed to do?
“Kushina…”
“Yes?”
“Slowly turn so you’re facing the door.”
Although she didn’t understand why, Kushina obediently turned around as slowly as possible.
Once she stopped moving, Sima Ming backed away until he reached the ten-meter limit, placing himself just outside the room.
Then he used his Spiritual Pressure to gently push the door closed.
Normally, a Soul Reaper in spirit form could pass effortlessly through walls and doors.
However, earlier, when Kushina had accidentally thrown him into the ceiling, he hadn’t passed through it.
That made him wonder…
Could solid objects somehow interfere with the mysterious connection between them?
Even if they couldn’t break the link, perhaps a closed door could at least provide some privacy and reduce future embarrassment.
The moment the door shut…
Sima Ming instantly found himself back inside the room.
He hadn’t felt any pulling force.
Nor had he sensed any spatial distortion.
It was as though he had never left the room in the first place.
“Mr. Sima?”
Hearing the door close, Kushina became curious.
However, afraid that suddenly turning around would fling him through the air again, she remained facing forward and softly called out.
“Kushina.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve discovered something important.”
After hesitating briefly, Sima Ming explained the results of his experiment.
The moment she heard his conclusion, Kushina instinctively spun around.
As expected…
Sima Ming was thrown halfway around her in a wide arc.
There was a saying that if someone vomited often enough, they would eventually get used to it.
Sima Ming felt that perfectly described his current situation.
Although he still felt nauseous, it wasn’t nearly as unbearable as before.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Sima!”
Kushina apologized immediately after realizing what she’d done.
Sima Ming no longer had the strength to blame her.
Instead, Kushina found herself worrying about something else.
In the future…
Whenever she bathed…
Or used the restroom…
A grown man would always be directly behind her.
He couldn’t even wait outside.
Even Minato had never followed her into the bathroom.
Yet neither of them could think of any solution.
She certainly couldn’t stop bathing forever.
Nor could she avoid using the restroom.
For the first time, Kushina found herself wondering if it might have been better had Sima Ming never saved her at all.
Then this impossible situation would never have existed.
Meanwhile, Sima Ming carefully studied her clothing.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through his mind.
Although walls and doors couldn’t separate them…
Her clothes clearly could.
Otherwise, he should have ended up trapped inside the same clothes she was wearing.
Excited by the discovery, he quickly grabbed a nearby blanket and stretched it out in front of himself.
Success.
This time, he didn’t pass through it.
The blanket formed a solid barrier between them.
At the very least, it would spare both of them some unnecessary embarrassment.
Thinking further, Sima Ming suggested another solution.
“Set up a wooden frame inside the bathroom and hang a blanket over it.”
“That way, I won’t have to hold it up every time.”
The idea sounded perfect.
Reality, however, had other plans.
The blanket worked only while Sima Ming held it.
The moment it was simply draped over the wooden frame…
He instantly reappeared on the same side as the showerhead once again.
Their awkward predicament remained completely unsolved.