I'm a Kind-Hearted Person

"Thanks, Beizawa."

Kurenai Yuhi put away the scroll and said, "I'll study it carefully once I'm back."

"Want a lollipop?"

Beizawa casually opened a snack pack and asked.

"Is it appropriate for someone my age to eat a lollipop?"

Kurenai couldn't help but laugh.

"A bit childish for kids, but just right for adults."

Beizawa unwrapped a lollipop and brought it to her lips.

"You're still as amusing as ever."

Kurenai parted her soft lips and bit down on the lollipop.

"How does it taste?"

Beizawa took out a second lollipop and popped it into his own mouth.

"Very sweet."

Kurenai squinted her eyes and asked, "Why do you carry snacks around with you?"

"Rewards for my students."

Beizawa explained offhandedly, "It helps motivate them to study."

Kurenai thought of Yakumo Kurama.

But... it wouldn't apply to her, since she was the young lady of the Kurama Clan, lacking neither money nor treats.

"What do you want to eat tonight?"

Kurenai licked the lollipop with her pink tongue and said, "My treat, don't hold back."

"Let's go for grilled meat then."

Beizawa thought for a moment and said.

"Fine."

Kurenai nodded, a hint of nostalgia crossing her face, "Last time I had grilled meat was during the Chunin Exams, with everyone."

Everyone meant Kakashi Hatake, Obito Uchiha, Rin Nohara, and Asuma Sarutobi.

But sadly, only a few of them remained now.

"Why the sudden trip down memory lane?"

Beizawa raised an eyebrow and said, "Dwelling on the past makes you old."

"Are you an idiot?"

Kurenai shot him a glare and said, "Getting old is a topic women don't even touch."

"Sorry."

Beizawa said with a smile.

He knew Kurenai wasn't really angry; it was just friendly banter.

"Have you seen Kakashi lately? How is he?"

Kurenai asked as they walked.

"I saw him once last month."

Beizawa replied, "He's still the same, that lifeless demeanor."

Without exaggeration, the squad he was in could be called a gathering of legends.

Kakashi Hatake, a genius who became a jonin at just twelve.

But cursed with a lone star, he lost his father, his teammates, his teacher, and eventually shut himself off.

Obito Uchiha, whose Kamui couldn't hide his tears, turned dark for Rin Nohara, wanting to create a world with Rin in it.

He killed his own teacher, helped Itachi Uchiha annihilate his own clan, and later became Madara Uchiha, aiming to destroy the ninja world.

Besides them, there was Might Guy, who nearly kicked the series to its end, and Asuma Sarutobi, the Third Hokage's son, among others.

"I wonder when he'll finally move past his shadows."

Kurenai fell silent for a few seconds before saying.

"What about Asuma?"

Beizawa changed the subject and asked, "Is he still in touch with you?"

"I get a letter every few days."

Kurenai pursed her lips.

Beizawa keenly caught a trace of impatience.

In the original story, Asuma Sarutobi kept pursuing Kurenai Yuhi and finally won her heart just before the Fourth Shinobi World War.

But that's about ten years from now, so they aren't together yet.

"He's pretty persistent."

Beizawa smiled and said, "He hasn't forgotten you even in the Metropolis of the Land of Fire."

After the Third Shinobi World War ended, Asuma Sarutobi rebelled and went to the Land of Fire to become a Guardian Ninja.

Guardian Ninja are the shinobi tasked with protecting the Daimyo of the Land of Fire.

Although the original story never specified exactly when he returned to the village, it was most likely the year Naruto Uzumaki and the others graduated.

After returning, he became the team leader for Shikamaru Nara, Choji Akimichi, and Ino Yamanaka.

"Forget it, let's drop this. How many drinks are you planning to have tonight?"

Kurenai Yuhi crossed her hands and stretched her pale arms, asking.

"I'll risk my life to keep a beauty company."

Beizawa looked at her graceful figure and couldn't help but smile.

He hadn't had any thoughts about Kurenai Yuhi before—not because he was some pure love warrior, but because his strength was too poor and he only cared about surviving.

But now that he had the system, he no longer had to worry about strength.

He was a kind-hearted man and couldn't bear to see Kurenai Yuhi become a widow.

Ahem.

Right now, the relationship between Asuma Sarutobi and Kurenai Yuhi was only that of pursuer and pursued—nothing particularly close.

He was just competing fairly.

"Really?"

Kurenai Yuhi said with a smile, "You can still back out now."

"Then please go easy on me."

Beizawa said, very much following his heart.

"Since you helped me out, I'll let you off this time."

Kurenai Yuhi waved her hand, speaking generously.

With that, the two walked into the barbecue restaurant.

"Today, you'll get to taste my skills."

After sitting down, Beizawa took the initiative to start grilling the meat.

"There's something I've always wanted to ask you."

Kurenai Yuhi picked up the sake bottle and poured two cups, asking, "Why did you become a teacher?"

In the shinobi world, the most respected profession was naturally being a ninja, especially the strong ones.

Being a teacher at the Ninja Academy wasn't considered particularly glorious.

In the fixed mindset of many ninjas, only average chunin who weren't that strong became academy teachers.

"It was out of interest."

Beizawa said casually.

"Is that so?"

Kurenai Yuhi nodded and said, "But you really are suited to being a teacher."

"Have you just been working as a private tutor this whole time?"

Beizawa flipped the pork belly over, and a rich meaty aroma filled the air.

"Yeah."

Kurenai Yuhi paused, then said, "But I still have to take missions when the village assigns them."

Aside from the Ninja Academy teachers, all ninjas had to take missions on a regular basis.

Of course, Konoha's higher-ups had the right to choose for themselves.

Take Tsunade, for example.

After developing her fear of blood, she wandered the shinobi world gambling and even took Shizune with her.

But she didn't return to the village or take missions, and Konoha couldn't do a thing about her.

Jiraiya was similar.

"Come find me whenever you're free."

Beizawa chuckled lightly, thinking of the Yakumo Kurama mission, and said, "I can even help you teach that student."

According to the original plot, it would be several years before Kurenai Yuhi, with the help of Naruto Uzumaki and the others, finally resolved Yakumo Kurama's problem.

"Then I'll be counting on you, Beizawa."

Kurenai Yuhi did not refuse.

"It's settled. If you run into any trouble, come find me."

Beizawa raised his glass and spoke. Whether the mission could be completed would depend on this move.

Kurenai Yuhi was taken aback for a moment, looking at his sincere expression, a strange feeling flickering through her heart.

She felt that Beizawa's attitude toward her today was somehow different.

Could it be... Kurenai Yuhi quickly dismissed this illusion.

Because it didn't match the Beizawa she knew.

In her view, Beizawa was gentle with everyone, but given his looks, he still had no girlfriend—which meant he had no such intentions at all.

"Cheers!"

Kurenai Yuhi lifted her glass, clinked it against his, and downed it in one gulp.