After careful consideration, he decided to hold back.
Romance could wait a year or so.
But the golden period for cultivation wouldn't last forever.
Orochimaru, Pain, Obito... they were a sentimental bunch.
Who knew when they might decide to "visit home."
He had to do his utmost, use every means possible, to increase his strength.
Only with strength could he protect the people important to him. Some things didn't need to be rushed.
Mind made up, Musashi strapped on his training weights and ran toward the Konoha Training Grounds to begin his extra evening session.
A body of seventeen or eighteen seemed to have endless energy and recovered quickly.
Weights maxed out. Lightning Style chakra and Yang Style chakra both engaged.
Every possible burden was added.
Amidst the cicadas and the evening breeze of Konoha.
The young man trained under the stars and moon, his sweat falling silently.
---
Nighttime.
Musashi emptied his mind, letting the coolness slowly wash away the fatigue of training.
Suddenly, sensing something, he turned his head. Through the crack in the bathroom door, he spotted a pair of big, shining eyes.
"Karin, it's so late. Why aren't you asleep?"
Karin blinked, lying without even blushing.
"Go back to your room."
"Big Brother, I'm scared."
"It's not thundering or raining. What is there to be scared of? Go back to sleep." Musashi kept a straight face.
"I'm just scared. At school today, they told ghost stories. I can't sleep by myself," Karin whined.
"Instead of studying properly, you're listening to ghost stories? I just told you, you're too big to sleep with adults."
"Please, Big Brother. Just this last time. Last time," Karin begged. Musashi could only helplessly agree.
"This is the last time!"
"Mhm, mhm." Karin nodded vigorously.
"Last time. I'll never listen to ghost stories again."
---
The next day, Musashi woke up earlier than usual because he felt a pressure on his body in his sleep.
Opening his eyes, the pressure was Karin Uzumaki.
He treated her like a hand warmer, and she treated him like an electric blanket.
Right now, the little girl was sprawled across his broad chest, sleeping soundly with a trail of drool at the corner of her mouth.
Gently moving Karin to the side, she smacked her lips, seemingly still in a sweet dream.
Musashi went to the bathroom and took a cold shower, which made him feel much better.
After a simple breakfast and preparing one for Karin, Musashi didn't wake her up. He ran to the Konoha Training Grounds.
Getting up for school was something kids had to do on their own; he never managed it.
"Yo, Musashi! You're early today!" When Might Guy arrived at the training ground with Team Guy, Musashi had already been training for over an hour.
"Morning, Teacher."
"Morning, Senior Musashi x2."
"Big Bro Guy." Musashi greeted him and continued training.
He didn't explain that the reason he was so early was that he had too much energy with nowhere to vent.
It was strange, though. They were both hot-blooded men, yet Might Guy never seemed to show much interest in the opposite sex.
Musashi couldn't figure it out.
Guy was in the prime of his youth, and years of Taijutsu training made his body exceptionally strong.
Logically, with such strength and at such an age, how could he focus solely on Taijutsu all day without getting distracted?
Perhaps his heart was just purer than Musashi's.