"Got it. I'll make sure to sort everything out. Thanks, Xin." Kushina nodded seriously, lifting her head to look at him with genuine gratitude. No one had ever talked to her like this —not her clan, not the higher-ups, not even Tsunade. Only Xin, worried she'd fall into a trap, took the time to warn her.
Kushina had known for a while that the situation with her clan couldn't continue, but she hadn't been able to bring herself to take action. Now, Xin had helped her see the reality of it.
"You know, I'm handsome, but you don't have to stare like that," Xin teased with a smirk.
"...."
Kushina was fuming. Why did he have to ruin the moment? She clenched her fists, fighting the urge to smack him.
"Haha! Come on, let's go. They've probably already started eating by now," Xin said, waving her off as he started running.
"Xin, you get back here!" Kushina yelled, chasing after him, her cheeks puffed up in frustration.
"If you're brave, stop running!"
"If you stop chasing, I'll stop running!"
"If you don't run, I won't chase!"
"If you don't chase, why would I run?"
As their voices faded down the street, an old man basking in the sun couldn't help but smile and think, Ah, to be young again.
Meanwhile, as Xin and his friends enjoyed their celebratory meal, Koharu Utatane and Homura Mitokado, two supposedly "too busy to negotiate" elders, barged into the Hokage's office.
"Hiruzen, what were you thinking, letting Tsunade get away with this? And now you're letting Usagi Xin take the jonin exam? He's only ten!" Koharu didn't even wait to sit down before she started her tirade.
Beside her, Homura exchanged a glance with the Hokage that said, I didn't want to come, but I couldn't stop her.
Of all the higher-ups, Koharu had the worst relationship with Tsunade. Whenever Tsunade was involved, Koharu felt the need to interfere.
In the original story, she was the one who shot down Tsunade's proposal to prioritize medical ninja training, claiming there weren't enough resources for it.
Because she controlled the medical division, even the Hokage couldn't override her. And with Danzō and Homura backing her up, the issue was swept under the rug. Ironically, it was that very conflict that brought Tsunade and Dan Kato closer, eventually leading them to become a couple.
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had anticipated this visit-especially from Koharu. He calmly handed her the files on Xin's contributions and war achievements.
Koharu flipped through the papers, her anger visibly deflating as she read. There was nothing she could say-Xin had earned his promotion. His contributions and accomplishments more than met the requirements for the jonin exam. Age didn't matter.