Naruto: Imitation Ninja

"Xing Liu, I recall you saying once that we could make one unconditional request of you, right?"

If it weren't for recalling old memories, Kushina would've completely forgotten about the bargaining chip they had, one that allowed them to make Xing Liu obey any order.

"Did I? Why does it feel like I don't remember that at all?"

Oh no! Xing Liu suddenly recalled that he had made such a promise to this couple in the past.

Seeing how long they had gone without mentioning it, he had assumed they'd forgotten all about it. Who would've thought they'd suddenly bring it up now?!

No way! He had to firmly deny it! Otherwise, who knows what cruel and unusual demands this couple might make?

"Heh heh, I knew you'd pretend to forget."

"Good thing I was clever enough to have you write a promise down!" Kushina grinned mischievously, pulling a scroll from her robes. Clearly written on it was Xing Liu's unconditional pledge to Minato and Kushina, signed and dated.

"How about it? You wouldn't want to break your word in front of your precious Xiao Xi, would you?" Kushina teased, waving the scroll smugly.

Damn it! Xing Liu wanted to slap his past self for leaving such damning evidence behind.

Without that scroll, he could've easily talked his way out of this minor promise with his silver tongue.

"Fine, tell me—what do you want me to do?" Seeing that there was no escaping this, Xing Liu could only pinch his nose and accept his fate. He wasn't about to tarnish his reputation as a man of his word in front of Xiao Xi.

"Hm… What should I have you do?" Kushina, seeing how cooperative Xing Liu had suddenly become, felt a bit at a loss. After all, her desire to order him around had only been a passing whim.

But now that she had to come up with something serious, she found herself unsure.

Should she have him take over Minato's Hokage position so they could roam the world freely?

Wait, that idea might actually work!

Though, who knows how many people would rise up in protest if a slacker like Xing Liu became Hokage?

Seeing Kushina's increasingly sinister smile, Xing Liu started to feel that even breaking his promise in front of Xiao Xi might be better than fulfilling whatever she was plotting.

"Hey! While I did say you could ask me to do something unconditionally, you wouldn't ask me to do something impossible, right?"

"If you do, I reserve the right to refuse. And refusing still counts as fulfilling the promise," he added slyly.

This little cheat was something he'd picked up from his past experiences.

Sure, it was a bit shameless, but you couldn't expect him to fulfill any request, especially if it went against societal norms or ethics, right?

"Huh? There's such a loophole?" Kushina, who had been brainstorming ways to torment Xing Liu, froze at his words. She quickly dismissed her immature ideas.

After all, if Xing Liu refused outright, wouldn't that waste their precious opportunity?

"Fine, I'll discuss it with Minato when he gets home." Kushina decided it was better to brainstorm with her husband than rack her brains alone.

"Alright, but you'd better decide within a week. Otherwise, the offer expires," Xing Liu said, smugly adding a time limit. With only two days left in the week, he doubted they could come up with anything too troublesome.

Kushina, however, had long grown accustomed to Xing Liu's shameless antics. Even with the time limit, her expression remained unbothered.

But as she left, she couldn't resist one final jab.

"小星琉,其实有没有人说过你真的很狗啊~!"

"Xiao Xing Liu, has anyone ever told you how shameless you are~!"

With that, she turned and walked out of his apartment without looking back.

"Do you think I want to be shameless? It's this cruel world that forces me to act this way…" Xing Liu muttered, sighing as he closed the door. He then headed to the kitchen to help Xiao Xi set the table for dinner.

---

After finishing dinner, the two went out for a walk. Xing Liu had drunkenly disrupted their original plan to conquer every street and alley of Konoha that afternoon, but the evening stroll held its own charm.

"Big brother, what do you think of mature and outgoing women like Kushina-neechan?" Xiao Xi suddenly asked, catching Xing Liu off guard.

"Huh? Why are you asking that all of a sudden?" Xing Liu, of course, knew why she was asking—it had to be Kushina's bold comments from earlier that evening.

"If it's because of what Kushina said, you don't need to worry about it."

"After all, everyone has a personality that suits them."

"Like me and Minato. If my personality were like his, would you still like me?"

Xing Liu's words made Xiao Xi pause to reflect.

If big brother's personality were swapped with Minato's… wouldn't he become an uptight, rigid blockhead?

She definitely didn't want that!

"Heh, looks like you've imagined it already~" Xing Liu laughed as he saw Xiao Xi's face pale at the thought.

"And if we gave Kushina's personality to you, what do you think would happen?"

Kushina's personality… in her own body?!

Ew, the very thought was too ridiculous to entertain!

"Looks like you already know the answer."

"Mm-hmm, I'll just stick to being myself! If I had Kushina-neechan's personality, I wouldn't be able to handle it…" Xiao Xi said firmly.

"Haha, and that's why I like you—so earnest and adorable." Unable to resist her cuteness, Xing Liu pulled Xiao Xi into a tight embrace, cherishing the rare treasure standing before him.

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