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"Shin, stay away from that woman from now on," Kushina said seriously once they were inside the cabin.
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"Yeah, no arguments here."
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Shin wasn''t keen on being manhandled and unable to retaliate. It was infuriating.
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He''d get her back when he was stronger. For now, he''d steer clear of Tsunade and her vice-like grip. His cheeks were still sore.
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''Just wait, Tsunade,'' Shin thought darkly.
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Hours later, the ship finally reached the shore. Kushina, pale and nauseous, leaned heavily against Shin.
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"Shin, I don''t feel so good. My head is spinning."
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Shin supported her, surprised that she was seasick. It was probably because this was her first time on a ship.
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"We''re here, Kushina. Hang in there."
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"Tsk, tsk, getting seasick? How embarrassing," Tsunade quipped, arms crossed.
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Kushina''s open hostility had irked her. She didn''t want to stoop to the level of a child, but seeing Kushina''s pathetic state, she couldn''t resist a jab.
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"I am not seasick!"
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Kushina weakly shook her head, trying to maintain a defiant front despite her nausea.
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Tsunade merely clicked her tongue. Continuing this squabble with a child was beneath her.
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"Let''s rest for a bit before we continue."
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Seeing that not only Kushina, but also Akiko and Kai, were suffering from seasickness, Tsunade called for a break.
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Shin was fine; he didn''t get seasick. And Uzumaki Hikaru, being a Jonin, was also unaffected.
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They rested, ate some rations, and then resumed their journey.
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"How long will it take to reach Konoha from here?" Shin asked Tsunade.
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"Come closer, and I''ll tell you," Tsunade said with a sly grin, beckoning him with a finger.
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"Nah, I don''t need to know that badly."
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Shin and Kushina trailed behind, taking in the scenery of the Land of Fire.
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They had set foot on Land of Fire soil as soon as they disembarked. While not the largest of the Five Great Nations, it definitely had the most fertile land.
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The trees here were lusher than those in the Land of Whirlpools, and the people seemed more prosperous.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
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"Shin-chan, how are we going to live in Konoha?" Kushina asked, her voice laced with worry.
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"Same as always. Don''t stress, Kushina. And please, stop calling me ''Shin-chan''."
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Shin patted her head reassuringly.
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Kushina felt a wave of warmth. She was apprehensive about this unfamiliar place called Konoha, but with Shin by her side, her fears seemed to melt away.
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As long as she was with Shin, it didn''t matter where they were.
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Gradually, Kushina''s anxiety lessened. The shadow of the Uzumaki Clan''s destruction seemed a little less dark.
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"What are you two chatting about?"
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Tsunade had fallen back to join them.
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"Wow, you actually have time to talk to us?" Shin remarked.
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"We''re escorting you, but we''re in Land of Fire now. The most we''ll encounter are bandits. It''s safe here."
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Tsunade had been vigilant before entering Land of Fire, but now she was completely relaxed.
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Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
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A volley of Kunai and Shuriken rained down on them, some even strapped with Explosive Tags.
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Shin''s face paled. He couldn''t worry about hiding his strength now. He grabbed Kushina and dodged.
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The Senju ninjas, though caught off guard, were still highly skilled.
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They reacted quickly, shielding the Uzumaki survivors and evading the attack.
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Tsunade''s eyes widened.
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She had been about to pull Shin and Kushina out of the way, but Shin had reacted first, moving with incredible speed.
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She estimated his speed to be on par with her own.
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''Looks like that kid Shin isn''t simple after all.''
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She quickly dodged the projectiles. Now wasn''t the time to ponder this; she had to deal with the attackers.
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Her eyes turned cold. To be ambushed within Land of Fire borders was unacceptable.
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And she had just told Shin that it was safe here. This was a slap in the face.
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Tsunade felt her cheeks burn with shame. These attackers would pay.
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Shin and Kushina took cover behind a large tree, Shin''s arm protectively around Kushina. His eyes darted around, alert for any movement.
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If only I could awaken the Uzumaki Clan''s Mind''s Eye of Kagura...
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The Mind''s Eye of Kagura was a Sensory Technique unique to the Uzumaki Clan, one of the most powerful in the ninja world.
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When activated, it allowed the user to sense Chakra fluctuations within a radius of several dozen kilometers.
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With a known Chakra signature, it could pinpoint the target''s location, movement, number of people, and even their speed.
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Its sensory capabilities were comparable to the Byakugan. Unfortunately, very few Uzumaki could awaken this ability.
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In the original story, only Karin was known to possess it. Shin didn''t know if he could awaken it.
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If he had the Mind''s Eye of Kagura, he could easily pinpoint the enemies'' location and movements, making it easier to defend against them.
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Unlike now, where he was forced to rely on his senses and constant vigilance to avoid being caught off guard.
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Shinobi were masters of assassination; surprise attacks were their specialty.
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"Kushina, don''t be afraid. I''ll protect you."
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"I''m not afraid," Kushina said, clenching her fists. She hated being the damsel in distress.
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''I have to train harder.''
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She resolved to become stronger so she wouldn''t be a burden to Shin.
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As Shin and Kushina hid, the battle raged. Over twenty ninjas, clad in identical uniforms and without forehead protectors, emerged from the forest.
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It was impossible to tell which village they were from. They charged towards the Senju ninjas, weapons drawn.
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Tsunade channeled Chakra throughout her body, activating her monstrous strength. A powerful aura enveloped her.
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"Die!"
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She punched one of the attackers, sending him flying like a ragdoll.
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He was dead before he hit the ground. That was the power of Tsunade''s monstrous strength.