How much more did she want? Kurama was furious. Were all human women this complicated? Where was Uzumaki Mito when you needed her?
Despite how Mito had tormented him in the past, she had never dangled favors over his head like this, and she certainly never strung him along just to get something out of him.
"Lending me your chakra was part of our last deal," Kushina said, raising an eyebrow. "But now you want my help, and you expect me to do it for free? Come on."
She quickly realized how her words sounded and blushed. "Wait, no, that didn't come out right."
Kushina's face reddened even more as she corrected herself, "Anyway, I told you about Ophis, but if you want me to help you meet him, you'll need to sweeten the deal."
She paused, before adding, "Oh, and by the way, Ophis said you smell. Like, really bad."
Hold on-did I just say something I shouldn't have? Kushina's brain caught up a little too late, and she instantly regretted the words that had just left her mouth.
She shot Kurama an awkward smile, hoping he wouldn't overreact.
Kurama stood completely still, like a statue. The words replayed in his mind on an endless loop: "Ophis said you smell. Like, really bad."
"ROAAAR!!" Kurama suddenly exploded with rage. "KUSHINA! Get out! I'll lend you my chakra, but you need to take down that white snake! Take it down!"
Kurama, humiliated and furious, couldn't believe he was being called smelly. He was a tailed beast, for crying out loud!
"I'm not doing that," Kushina said, shaking her head. "I can't beat Xin, and I can't beat Ophis either. So... yeah. Good luck with that. Bye!"
Sensing she was in over her head, Kushina quickly made her escape.
"GET BACK HERE, BRAT!" Kurama roared in frustration.
Coming out of the sealed space, Kushina let out a long sigh of relief and flashed Xin an embarrassed smile.
"Xin... I think I messed up."
"What did you do this time?" Xin asked, looking up as he continued playing with Ophis's fluffy tail.
Kushina quickly explained what had happened in the sealed space, and by the end of it, Xin couldn't stop himself from laughing.
Meanwhile, Ophis gave Kushina a look of pure disbelief.
Seriously? You dragged me into this mess to tease that smelly fox?
Whatever. I won't hold it against you. After all, Kurama does stink.
Unlike him, Ophis thought, she smell amazing.