Naruto: Imitation Ninja

Unlike the time when he was slacking off in Sunagakure, Xing Liu felt energized as soon as he returned home.

However, just as he was planning to surprise his beloved wife, he overheard a few girlish giggles coming from inside the house.

"Zhai-chan, when do you think big brother will be back?"

"I don't know either~"

"But he should be back in a few minutes, right? After all, he's been coming back right around mealtime these last few days," Zhai-chan replied sweetly.

"That's what I thought! I've been married to Minato for so many years, and I've never seen a ninja take international missions so lightly," came a voice with a slightly mature tone, teasing.

"Sis, actually, big brother..."

"Alright, I know that brat Xing Liu wouldn't do something irresponsible like that, so Zhai-chan, you don't need to worry too much."

Kushina looked at the adorably sweet girl in front of her and couldn't help but wonder what it was that made the girl fall for Xing Liu so much. She had gone as far as defying the objections of her family to marry him.

"Xing Liu is lucky to marry a girl like you~"

"Sis, that's not true. Actually, big brother treats me really well..." The girl suddenly seemed to recall something, and the anxious expression on her face melted away, replaced by a look of happiness.

"Heh~ I originally wanted to marry big brother too, but you beat me to it."

Xiao Zhao had indeed once considered marrying Xing Liu and had hinted at being willing to share him with Zhai-chan... but Xing Liu had seriously rejected her.

It wasn't that Xiao Zhao lacked charm compared to Zhai-chan, but Xing Liu felt that if he really did that, it would be unfair to both girls.

Moreover, he wasn't one of those "studs" who needed to take on as many women as possible just to prove his worth...

"Sis... why are you still bringing that up..."

Zhai-chan, lost in thought, panicked when her sister brought it up again.

Even though she was now married to Xing Liu, in her heart, she still felt that the position of "big brother's wife" should have been hers, not the shy little fool who could barely express herself like her.

"See? Sis, you're still clinging to your brother-in-law like this. This isn't like you at all~"

As the words entered the room, the three women inside reacted to varying degrees.

"Big brother~!"

"Tch~ So now you're bringing up that relationship at this time? That's cheating..."

"Little Xing Liu?!"

Xing Liu entered through the front door, first greeting Kushina, who was sitting in the middle of the sofa, then turning to the girl who was looking at him with a surprised expression.

"I'm back~!" Xing Liu stepped forward, pulling the girl into a tight hug, as if wanting to bury her inside his chest.

"Hehe, welcome back, big brother~!" Zhai-chan smiled and, while inhaling the familiar scent, rubbed her cheek against his firm chest.

"Ugh... you really have no shame, huh? Doing this in front of us, your two elders," Xiao Zhao said, although her tone dripped with mockery, her expression was more one of comforting understanding.

"What's wrong? Is it wrong to express some longing in our own home?" After getting his "energy boost," Xing Liu gently released Zhai-chan and began to spar verbally with his sister-in-law.

"I'm not saying it's wrong, but can't you see that your two elders are still here?" Xiao Zhao pouted, looking at the man in front of her with a slight grievance. "And from the moment you came in, you haven't even looked at me..."

"This..."

Xiao Zhao's words really left Xing Liu at a loss for words.

Anyone could see that he had been intentionally avoiding her.

"Alright, Xiao Zhao, don't pick on little Xing Liu so much," Kushina finally spoke up, interrupting their playful bickering.

"Tch... I was hoping to watch this heartless man squirm a bit longer, but since you've said so, Sister Kushina, I'll let him off for now~" Xiao Zhao suddenly turned all smiles as she looked at the two in front of her.

"I actually came here with Kushina for a reason. Didn't I tell you, Zhai-chan?"

"Actually, no, did something happen, sis?" Zhai-chan tightened her grip on Xing Liu's shirt after hearing her sister's words.

Xiao Zhao noticed her sister's nervousness and, deciding not to tease any longer, immediately revealed her purpose.

"I came to tell you that I'm getting married in a few days."

"Ah?" The rest of the people in the room, except for Kushina, looked at Xiao Zhao in surprise.

Especially Xing Liu, who had just been thinking that Xiao Zhao still liked him not long ago.

It was only a few days since he last saw her. How could she suddenly have another candidate for marriage?

"I know you're all surprised by this news. Actually, when I made this decision, the other person was also very surprised," Xiao Zhao recalled the proposal not long ago.

On an ordinary day, an ordinary man had proposed to her, and she had accepted. Everything had happened so smoothly, it was almost like a dream.

"So, what's this man who will become my brother-in-law like?" Zhai-chan asked, confused, as she couldn't recall her sister having any contact with anyone else other than Xing Liu.

How could she suddenly have a brother-in-law after just a few days?

"He's just an ordinary villager~"

"He doesn't have big brother's amazing skills, and he isn't as handsome as big brother..."

"He's just an ordinary person, ordinary enough that you wouldn't even spot him on the street."

"But he's someone I can trust to spend the rest of my life with," Xiao Zhao said, smiling at her younger sister.

"Does sister-in-law know about this?" Xing Liu turned to Kushina, who had been quietly observing, hoping to glean some information from her expression.

"Of course, I know. He came to see me before the proposal..."

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR GUYS!