Karin opened her eyes with difficulty, her hand instinctively reaching for the spot in the bed where her mother slept. She found nothing, but unlike previous times, she wasn't worried.
There was nothing to worry about anymore.
She stretched, yawning and shaking off the sleepiness. A new day was starting, and she appreciated the good new days she had been having lately.
She quickly went to the bathroom to wash and comb her hair, as her mother always advised her.
In the past, she didn't take it seriously, but ever since Takeshi told her he loved her clean and well-combed hair, the girl made an effort to keep it beautiful enough.
She headed to the kitchen, where she could smell the aroma of the food her mother was preparing with care, as always.
On the way, she noticed the sliding door slightly open and peeked in out of curiosity.
The sight that greeted her was of Big Brother Takeshi, clinging as always to her mother, Aunt Kimiko, his lips around the woman's chest.
Karin shook her head, disappointed that Big Brother Takeshi was still drinking from her mother's breast. Unlike him, Karin no longer did such childish things.
The girl closed the door and walked thoughtfully to the kitchen, greeting her mother with a hug.
—Fufu, good morning, darling— Yumi smiled tenderly.
Karin stepped aside, looking at her mother's back as she cooked, her childish mind absorbed in endless irrelevant and random matters.
—Mom, why don't you marry Big Brother Takeshi?— she suddenly asked, startling the older Uzumaki.
—W-w-what are you saying, Karin?— Yumi responded awkwardly, taken completely off guard.
Karin tilted her head, a mischievous smile on her lips. She didn't fully understand what marriage implied, but for her, it would be natural for her mother and Big Brother to marry. They were her two favorite people, after all.
—Well, even though Big Brother Takeshi is going to marry Aunt Kimiko, I don't see why you can't also marry him, Mom.
—Pfft!!— Yumi spat, or perhaps coughed, at the unexpected conversation her daughter was dragging her into.
—Karin, where did you hear that!?
—Hm? Aunt Kimiko usually mumbles those things when she rubs Big Brother's clothes on her face. I've seen her several times— Karin said innocently.
Yumi lost the color in her face and proceeded to scold her daughter for spying on people and explained that Aunt Kimiko was just joking, since a mother and son cannot marry.
Although even she herself wasn't sure, she wouldn't delve into the topic.
—Karin, you mustn't say those things, understood? Marriage is an adult matter, and a girl like you shouldn't interfere in such things— the woman finally admonished, until Karin nodded, rolling her eyes.
A while later, Big Brother and Auntie woke up, entering the bathroom together, as always, and sitting around the table to eat.
After a while, Yumi pulled Takeshi aside to talk about something, and Karin was left next to the cold Aunt Kimiko, whose stony face rarely changed unless her son was mentioned.
Karin had been experimenting with the woman for pure fun. She found her abrupt changes fascinating, so she took advantage of the strange woman as if she were a toy.
—Aunt Kimiko, does Big Brother Takeshi still drink from your breast?— the girl asked tentatively.
She watched in fascination as Kimiko's face went from coldness to confusion, and from confusion to an excited glow, her lips which were once a thin line now curved into a rare smile, and her cheeks flushed.
—Hehe~, my Takeshi still does. He's a boy who really needs his mama— she said, shaking her head from side to side, her hands cupping her cheeks.
—Woa, Aunt Kimiko seems to really like that— Karin commented with a mischievous smile, satisfied with the woman's reaction.
********************************
The night fell over the Land of Fire, the bustling streets of another city welcomed Takeshi's group, vendors offering trinkets and sweets everywhere, couples declaring their feelings, and alcoholics sprawled in some corners.
As usual, Yumi and Karin wandered around, enjoying the place, while Kimiko followed them with a serene expression, protecting the fragile mother and the lively girl.
Meanwhile, Takeshi himself embarked on his endless search in the casinos, buying information here and there and double-checking every hovel to make sure he didn't miss the blonde with giant breasts or the flirtatious short-haired young woman.
He didn't have high hopes. He had received mixed information about Tsunade's location in this city, but the same had happened many other times.
He simply wandered around, his mind more focused on the matters involving that temple where the brat Sora was hiding.
Suddenly, a commotion reached his ears, an enraged man demanding something he failed to understand, given the thousand conversations happening around him.
His brown eyes caught two blonde pigtails swaying over the shoulders of a voluptuous woman who was bowing in apology to a furious merchant.
Takeshi blinked a couple of times before smiling.
He approached with a confident stride, managing to hear the angry man a little better and understanding the gist of the situation:
Tsunade, obviously, asked him for more money after losing everything the man gave her last time.
Takeshi stood to the side, clearing his throat and interrupting the man's tirade, noticing Tsunade's clenched and tense fist.
She would probably destroy something soon if he didn't intervene.
—Ahem, excuse me, good sir— Takeshi began, gaining the attention of Tsunade, Shizune, and the old man. He offered a courteous smile and reached into his backpack. —I can pay the debt of the Onee-San here, if you agree.
—Huh? What are you saying, kid?— the man blinked, confused.
Tsunade's face suddenly lit up, both from the saving hand and the compliment from the boy in front of her.
—Don't worry. I'll pay the lady's debt— Takeshi repeated confidently.
**************************
—Hah! What a good boy!— Tsunade exclaimed after emptying her fifth bottle in just a few gulps.
After paying the woman's debt, Takeshi took both ladies to an all-you-can-eat restaurant and treated them to dinner and many, many bottles of sake.
—I'm glad you had a good time, Miss— Takeshi commented while wiping his mouth with a napkin. —Now we can talk business.
A curious glint appeared in the Sannin's eyes, but she waited patiently for Takeshi to continue. She already suspected he wanted something, but she wasn't going to turn down a free dinner, so she went with the flow.
—I have 25 million in my hands that can be yours, if you agree to come with me to check on a friend.
—...
Tsunade didn't reply, waiting for the young man to continue speaking, but noticing his silence, her expression turned to disbelief.
—**Is that all!? 25 Million just for checking on a patient!?**— she exclaimed, almost dropping the sixth bottle a waitress had just brought.
—Fufufu, that's right, miss. Ah, if you can cure her, I'll add another 25 million— Takeshi added, and Tsunade's pupils turned into dollar signs for some reason.
—Let's go then!— she stood up, the bottle still tightly clutched in her hand.
Takeshi thought that, in any world, money can do anything. That, and knowing a bit of the history and its characters beforehand.