บท 47: Responsibility

"Tsunade-san, are you hurt? Is it serious?" Mikoto asked with evident concern in her voice.

Before Tsunade could respond, a red flash passed by them. Kushina, her hair flowing like furious flames, lunged at Chen with her fists clenched.

"Bastard, you hurt Tsunade-sama!" she shouted, her voice resonating across the field.

Chen, surprised by the sudden aggression, agilely dodged Kushina's attack. His movements were fluid, almost as if he could predict every strike.

Chen made no attempt to stop her.

Tsunade, seeing the situation escalate quickly, intervened between them. With a swift motion, she stopped Kushina's fist with one hand while holding Chen's shoulder with the other.

"It's okay, Kushina. Chen was merciful. Otherwise, I wouldn't be suffering from just a minor injury right now." She shook her head and gave Chen a meaningful look.

"Although I don't know where your Kekkei Genkai comes from, it's best not to expose it. Otherwise, it will be of no use to you," Tsunade quietly reminded Chen.

Chen nodded. "I know. Right now, only the three of you know my true strength. At most, others think I was born with special abilities and that my strength is slightly greater than that of an average shinobi."

Given the nature of Konoha, he knew that the village did not excel in wars against other villages but in internal conflicts. Civil wars were particularly fierce in Konoha.

'The Village of Konoha is absolutely professional in dealing with its own people,' Chen thought. 'No other Shinobi Village can compare in that regard.'

Tsunade's voice pulled him out of his musings. "It's for the best, Chen. We'll also help you keep the secret," she said, looking to Mikoto and Kushina for confirmation.

Mikoto smiled sweetly and said nothing. She, who lived with Chen, had been the first to witness his true power. She had even seen with her own eyes how Chen defeated Kaiden, a Jōnin.

Kushina, on the other hand, took on a defiant stance. "As long as you promise to do what I want in the future, this lady will help you keep it a secret," she said with a mischievous smile.

Chen approached Kushina with a malicious grin. "Kushina, do you know what happens to a disobedient girl?"

Kushina's eyes sparkled with curiosity and a touch of defiance. "What happens?" she asked, blinking innocently.

"You'll see now." Chen, with a quick and unexpected movement, grabbed Kushina and gave her three smacks on her buttocks.

The sound echoed in the clearing, leaving everyone momentarily stunned.

Kushina, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger, exclaimed, "You, you, you dare to hit me!"

Chen, with a satisfied smile on his face, responded defiantly, "What can you do?"

The tension in the air was palpable.

Mikoto watched the scene with a mix of surprise and a flash of jealousy in her eyes, while Tsunade frowned, clearly uncomfortable with the situation.

Kushina, still rubbing her behind, lowered her gaze and said in a timid voice, "My mother said only my future husband can touch me. If you dare to hit me, you'll be responsible for me."

Chen was speechless for a moment, only managing to articulate a surprised "Uh~~."

Then, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, he murmured, "This sounds like a good thing to me!"

Mikoto, unable to contain her jealousy, quietly approached Chen and pinched the skin of his waist hard, twisting it.

Chen only smiled.

Tsunade, watching the entire scene, commented with evident discomfort, "Boy, you're really annoying. Not only does Mikoto like you, but I didn't expect you, Kushina, to get caught up in this too."

Mikoto and Kushina exchanged glances, clearly perceiving the jealousy in Tsunade's voice.

However, Chen seemed oblivious to the emotional complexity developing around him.

Kushina, her cheeks still flushed, insisted, "Hey! Do you agree?"

Chen adopted a serious expression and replied, "Since you've really decided, you must know that in the future, you won't have the chance to leave. If you want to leave me, I won't be able to let you go."

"Of course," Kushina responded firmly, "what I decided will never be undone."

Chen nodded solemnly. "Well, you'll be Hyuga Chen's woman from now on. I'll never disappoint you in the future. That's also my promise."

Kushina blushed for a moment but quickly regained her usual coquettish attitude. "You better keep that promise, Chen," she said with a mischievous smile.

Taking Mikoto and Kushina's hands, Chen brought them together. "From now on, you two, Mikoto and Kushina, have to get along~! Kushina, you'll move to my house in the future!"

Mikoto and Kushina looked at each other, not knowing what to say. Although they weren't completely happy with the situation, they both understood that things would resolve over time.

Tsunade watched the scene with a mix of conflicting emotions.

Her gaze clouded over, and she felt a tightness in her chest, as if the air around her had become dense and suffocating.

"I... I have to go," she murmured, turning on her heels. "There are matters that require my attention." Without waiting for a response, she hurried away, leaving behind an uncomfortable silence.

Chen watched her leave, smiling.

Shaking his head, he turned to Mikoto and Kushina. "Well, I think we should go too. Kushina, how about we help you with the move?"

As they helped Kushina move her belongings, the surface of Konoha remained calm, but beneath that apparent calm, hidden currents began to stir.

The clan patriarchs and the high hierarchy of the village had set their eyes on Chen and his recent actions.

Hiruzen was forced to call a private meeting with the Hyuga clan patriarch.

The situation was delicate: Kushina was known as a potential Jinchuriki of the Kyubi, a fact that kept the top brass of Konoha on edge.

"The situation has... evolved," Hiruzen said, his voice heavy with concern. "With Tomo, we now have two potential candidates to be the Kyubi's Jinchuriki. This changes the entire landscape."

The Hyuga patriarch nodded gravely. "I understand the concern, Hokage-sama. But I assure you that the boy's intentions are pure."

Hiruzen didn't seem convinced. "Pure or not, his actions have triggered a chain reaction. The other clans are mobilizing, trying to get close to the Uzumaki girls."

Indeed, throughout the village, the young men of various clans were receiving instructions from their elders to befriend Kushina and Tomo. This political maneuver did not go unnoticed by anyone.

One night, in a secret meeting, the leaders of several clans were heatedly discussing.

"The Hyuga clan has taken the lead!" one exclaimed, slamming the table in frustration.

"We must act cautiously," warned another. "The Hokage is closely watching the situation."

Hiruzen, aware of these machinations, was forced to take drastic measures. He summoned his most trusted ANBU.

"I want you to watch anyone who approaches Tomo or Kushina with questionable intentions," he ordered. "But be discreet. We can't afford an open conflict between clans."

The ANBU nodded and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Hiruzen alone with his thoughts. The Hokage massaged his temples, feeling the weight of the situation.

"How can we determine someone's true intentions?" he murmured to himself. "This political game could tear the village apart from within."

________

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