Beizawa did not know whether Kakashi Hatake was suffering, but he himself was quite happy.
In his line of sight, Kurenai Yuhi leaned forward, her snow-white arms braced against the coffee table as her red dress was pulled taut, outlining her figure.
Because they were so close, he could smell a faint fragrance.
He did not know whether it was her natural scent or the scent of her shampoo.
Just then, Kurenai Yuhi suddenly raised her head.
Beizawa instinctively met her ruby-like eyes.
"You weren't like this before."
Kurenai Yuhi sat upright and narrowed her eyes.
The old Beizawa would not have been so bold. Though he was gentle with everyone, he always maintained a certain distance.
Yet now, he could openly sneak glances at people.
"People always change."
A smile appeared on Beizawa's face.
Kurenai Yuhi looked at him and could not help but freeze.
She suddenly realized Beizawa's greatest change: he was now extremely confident.
Though she did not understand why, a confident and handsome man truly was pleasing to the eye.
That was also why she had not gotten angry despite catching him peeking.
"I like the current you better."
Kurenai Yuhi smiled, returning to the matter at hand. "What ideas do you have for Yakumo's second genjutsu?"
"The Art of Verbal Therapy makes the target lower their guard and relieves mental fatigue."
After giving it some thought, Beizawa said, "I think the second genjutsu can go a step further and make the target uncontrollably reveal their true thoughts."
He had drawn inspiration from Truth Serum from his previous life. This genjutsu could also be called the Art of Truth-Telling.
"The second genjutsu is clearly more difficult, at least C-rank, perhaps even B-rank."
Kurenai Yuhi spoke thoughtfully.
"It is indeed rather troublesome."
Beizawa smiled. "But we have plenty of time. We can study it slowly."
"That's true."
Kurenai Yuhi nodded, then asked, "Will it still be a sound-based genjutsu?"
"To lower the difficulty, I think we can start with visual effects."
Beizawa paused before saying, "For example, we could modify the Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique."
"Good idea!"
Kurenai Yuhi perked up.
The Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique affected vision, changing what the target saw.
For example, it could make a target mistake one place for another.
In the original story, Izumo Kamizuki had used it to make the Genin participating in the Chunin Ninja Exams enter the wrong classroom.
"We can make the patient see Yakumo Kurama as the person they trust most!"
Kurenai Yuhi said excitedly.
"Not bad."
Beizawa smiled in praise. "You reacted quickly."
"I merely expanded on your idea."
Kurenai Yuhi gave him a couple of appraising looks and asked, "When did you become so smart?"
"People always change."
Beizawa repeated his earlier words.
"Do you know the Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique?"
Kurenai Yuhi shifted her gaze and asked.
"No."
Beizawa shook his head.
"It seems I can still be of help."
Kurenai Yuhi chuckled, took out a ninjutsu scroll, and asked, "Do you want to learn it?"
"There's no need to waste time."
Beizawa declined. "It'll be enough if you learn it."
"Fine."
Kurenai Yuhi knew Beizawa specialized in Wind Release, so she did not press the matter.
Time slowly passed.
The sunlight outside the window faded from bright to dim, leaving only a streak of red glow on the horizon.
"Come on, drink!"
Kurenai Yuhi raised her wineglass excitedly.
After a busy day, the two finished researching genjutsu and sat down at the dining table for dinner.
"Cheers!"
Beizawa smiled and clinked glasses with her before draining his in one gulp.
"Ah!"
Kurenai Yuhi let out a long sigh of relief.
She swayed as she sat down, her red dress fluttering to reveal her curvaceous figure.
"Fill it up!"
Kurenai Yuhi held out her wineglass.
Beizawa picked up the wine jug and was about to pour her a drink, but quickly noticed how light it felt in his hand.
He shook it twice, but there was barely any sound of liquid inside.
"It's all gone. We're stopping here for today."
Beizawa set down the wine jug.
"What... what did you say?"
Kurenai Yuhi abruptly stood up and pressed her face close to Beizawa's as she asked.
The scent of alcohol and her fragrance washed over him.
With a slight turn of his eyes, Beizawa could see her soft, rosy lips.
He reached out and pressed a hand onto Kurenai Yuhi's shoulder, making her sit back down.
"All the alcohol you brought has already been drunk!"
Beizawa raised his voice and shouted.
"Then let's go buy more!"
Kurenai Yuhi said without the slightest hesitation.
"No."
Beizawa shook his head. "Drinking too much does no good."
"Huh?"
Kurenai Yuhi glared at him and asked fiercely, "Are... are you buying it or not?"
"No."
Beizawa replied without fear.
"You... you bastard, I'll remember this!"
Kurenai Yuhi's eyes were tired from glaring. She bit her finger and spoke with an unwilling expression.
"Alright, rest for a while. Once I finish washing the dishes, I'll take you home."
Beizawa could not help laughing.
Kurenai Yuhi gave a soft snort, stood up, walked to the sofa, and threw herself onto it.
Her full hips shook with the movement.
Beizawa cleared the dining table and carried the bowls and chopsticks into the kitchen.
More than ten minutes later, he took off his apron and returned to the living room.
"It's time to go home, Kurenai."
Beizawa looked at Kurenai Yuhi, who was lying facedown on the sofa, and spoke.
"I'm... not going home."
Kurenai Yuhi waved her hand, rolled over, and her red dress slipped askew.
"What?"
Beizawa asked with a smile. "Are you planning to sleep here?"
"Why not?"
Kurenai Yuhi sat up. "I have to come again tomorrow anyway, so I might as well not leave. It's too troublesome."
"Are you sure?"
Beizawa paused in surprise.
"Alright, I'm going to take a bath now. Where's your bathroom?"
Kurenai Yuhi swayed to her feet and asked.
"Over there."
Seeing this, Beizawa said nothing further.
His home was quite large. Housing three people would not be a problem.
"Be careful."
Beizawa stepped forward and supported her.
"I... I'm fine!"
Kurenai Yuhi jabbed him with her elbow.
"Alright, call me if there's any problem."
Beizawa supported her all the way to the bathroom door before letting go.
"Mm."
Kurenai Yuhi nodded subconsciously.
She took two steps, then suddenly turned back to look at him.
"What is it?"
Beizawa met her gaze and asked.
"Want to bathe together?"
Remembering how firmly Beizawa had refused to buy more alcohol earlier, Kurenai Yuhi teasingly asked with a smile.
The smile on her face seemed to say that she did not believe he would dare.
"Sure."
Beizawa spoke as he walked toward her.
Kurenai Yuhi's smile froze, and panic rose in her heart.
She hurriedly stepped back and, with a bang, shut the bathroom door.
"I changed my mind! I'm bathing by myself! You're not allowed to come in!"
Kurenai Yuhi pressed her back against the door, feeling her heart race and her cheeks burn.
Before you continue