At eight in the evening, after finishing another round of "treatment" and having dinner, Kakashi respectfully took his leave.
Kei watched as Kushina, her face flushed, darted into the bathroom after washing the dishes. He quickly increased the intensity of the genjutsu on Tsunade.
Then, without even returning to his own room, he slipped straight into Kushina's bedroom.
Kushina, shy and hesitant, lingered in the bathroom for over an hour before cautiously tiptoeing into her room, wrapped in a bathrobe.
With a soft click, she locked the door.
She hesitated in front of the door for a moment, blushing, then—click—unlocked it again.
Click—click—click—click—
Using the stealth ability of [Silent Walker], Kei concealed his presence.
Resting his chin on one hand, he sat quietly at the dressing table, watching his girlfriend repeatedly lock and unlock the door. The smile on his lips was impossible to suppress.
He got up and walked behind her.
Raising a hand, he locked the door for her.
As Kushina stood there, bewildered, he suddenly scooped her up and carried her to the soft couch in the bedroom.
"Y-you—you! Why are you in my room!?"
Kushina stammered, her face burning with embarrassment. Even her neck, ears, and cheeks were flushed red.
"I—I—I guessed what you were planning to do~" Kei mimicked her way of speaking, pulling her onto the bed with him.
"You pervert!" Seeing his mischievous smirk, Kushina pretended to be fierce and bit his shoulder.
The next morning, when Kei woke up from his sleep, Kushina was already gone.
Hearing sounds from the kitchen, he smiled, satisfied with the wonderful night he had, and got up to wash.
While brushing his teeth, he glanced at Tsunade's wide-open bedroom door and casually asked. Based on the intensity of the genjutsu he used last night, if left undisturbed, Tsunade—given her gambling addiction—probably wouldn't wake up until noon.
So why was she gone so early?
"The ANBU took her this morning. I heard two ninjas just returned from a mission and needed her to confirm a treatment plan."
Kushina turned her head slightly, focusing on the breakfast cooking in the pot, trying to act natural. Thinking about what happened last night still made her blush.
Kei quickly finished washing up and went into the kitchen. He hugged Kushina from behind, wrapping his arms around her slender waist.
"I have a little gift for you."
Feeling the warmth and security from her boyfriend, Kushina's initial shyness and nervousness gradually faded.
"Consider it a special ability." Kei pressed his forehead against hers and silently gave an order to the system.
System, grant Kushina [Magical Girl Transformation].
[Magical Girl Transformation (Purple):
By shouting 'Magical Girl Transformation,' you can absorb special magical energy into your body, forming a unique energy-based outfit. You awaken a personal exclusive ability and gain a dedicated magical weapon or equipment. Your strength, speed, defense, stamina, casting speed, and willpower all increase significantly.]
A deep purple glow flickered for a moment.
Kushina, who was still curious about how a special ability could be given as a gift, suddenly froze.
A flood of unfamiliar knowledge surged into her mind.
Her body could even sense a completely different kind of energy—one that wasn't chakra.
Some kind of Yin Release application?
Exclusive magical equipment or weapons?
Kushina blinked a few times and quietly used her Nine-Tails chakra to disrupt the chakra flow in her body.
It seemed... This wasn't genjutsu?!
"Wanna give it a try?"
Kei loosened his arms around Kushina, deliberately avoiding mentioning how she had just tried to disrupt her chakra as a precaution against genjutsu.
After all, back in the Ninja Academy, he used to tease Kushina with genjutsu all the time. If he brought it up now, she'd definitely start bringing up old grudges.
Yeah. Topics that were bad for a couple's relationship—skip, skip!
"Wait a sec…" Kushina felt out the activation requirement for this ability, then dashed off to the living room, setting up a soundproof barrier.
She wasn't a kid anymore.
Shouting something like that in front of her boyfriend was fine. But if anyone else heard it, that'd be way too embarrassing!
"Magical Girl—Transform!" Kushina cleared her throat, raised her right arm, and called out the slightly childish phrase.
A dazzling, multicolored light burst from her body! Intricate, unknown magical runes appeared around her, gathering into form. Along with lively, mystical effects, a glowing, cartoonish Nine-Tails figure materialized behind her.
Kushina's eyes shimmered as a pair of green gloves appeared on her hands. Her signature red hair was now tied back with a green ribbon, edged with golden embroidery. Even the hair clip on her bangs had transformed into a tiny golden star.
She wore a short green robe, draped with a red cape lined with soft, snowy-white fur. Around her waist hung a small, cartoonish Nine-Tails pouch.
Her long, white boots perfectly accentuated her legs.
"Do you have any special abilities?"
Kei swallowed hard. He never expected [Magical Girl Transformation] to turn out !
This outfit… if paired with that skill…
"Huh?! Do I?" Kushina, still marveling at her new look, closed her eyes to sense her powers.
After a moment, she hesitantly unzipped the little pouch on her waist and pulled out a glowing golden star, formed from a fusion of magical energy and chakra.
Kei's eyes sparkled with excitement.
He had a hunch about what this transformation could do, but seeing it confirmed made him genuinely thrilled.
"Kei, you're too amazing~!" Kushina, overwhelmed with excitement, hugged Kei tightly, kicking her long legs in joy.
She couldn't wait to show off to that fox! If that jerk dared to give her attitude again, she definitely wouldn't hold back now~!
"If I'm this amazing… how about you wear this outfit tonight?"
"???! No way, no way!"
Kei burst into laughter, spinning Kushina around in his arms.
The two of them messed around for a while before sitting down to thoroughly test the abilities and limits of [Magical Girl Transformation]—then finally started enjoying breakfast together.
According to Kushina, while [Magical Girl Transformation] rapidly consumed physical energy and chakra, her Uzumaki constitution could easily handle the drain.
Moreover, she could feel that this energy, which was perfectly compatible with her own chakra, was also compatible with the Nine-Tails' chakra.
If she could negotiate with the Nine-Tails… Her strength might rise to an entirely new level!
"In a few days, want to spar in the Training Cave?" Kei suggested with a grin.
"Heh heh~ Just don't go crying when I knock you flat~" Kushina lifted her face with a playful smile and leaned in to plant a kiss on his cheek.
Having a boyfriend … Was the best thing ever!