Asuma: You Don't Want Both of Them Too, Do You?

"How did you do that?" Kurenai Yuhi asked, stopping her attack.

"Um?"

Naruto was still pinching Hinata's cheek. Hinata blushed and lowered her head, but didn't try to dodge. Before she knew it, he had grabbed her and pinched her cheek with a bit of force.

"It hurts," she said.

"Does it hurt more when you pinch me before or this time?" he asked.

At the same time, he didn't leave Kurenai Yuhi hanging; their conversation flowed smoothly, almost simultaneously. After finishing his sentence with Hinata, he turned to answer Kurenai Yuhi's question.

As a result, the context of his words was somewhat incoherent and seemed rather incongruous.

"Oh, just a naked choke, then beat them up. Ah, it hurt more last time, so this time you can't scream. Hmm? Why? There are no whys."

"Ido really doesn't have a physical form. I don't know why I was able to beat him up. Maybe it's because I'm just pretty handsome. Why do you look so wronged? Did I bully you?"

The first half of the sentence was addressed to Kurenai Yuhi, and the second half was addressed to Hinata.

Shino Aburame stood to the side, watching Naruto seamlessly connect the conversation between the two women. Although he didn't know what time management was, he instinctively felt that this guy was a bit too powerful.

Kurenai Yuhi: "."

Hinata: "."

In the end, Kurenai Yuhi took Yakumo Kurama away. Shino pushed up his small round sunglasses, not wanting to stay and be a third wheel, and made an excuse, putting his hands in his pockets as he left.

Of the remaining members of Team Eight, Shino is the strongest, the eternal Obito, with a 100% win rate to this day. However, more than being Shino's strength, he's more Shino would choose as his wife.

What should a Mushishi pair with? There are no Gushi in this ninja world.

He never held back his questions overnight; he asked whatever came to mind. So he turned and touched Hinata's face, asking with a gossipy look on his face.

"Hinata, does Shino have a girl he likes?"

"I don't know." Hinata's eyes darted away, and she hurriedly lowered her head.

Naruto raised an eyebrow, cupped Hinata's face in his hands, and forced her to look him in the eye. Ignoring her mumbled complaints, he asked with a grin.

Why are you hiding this from me?

"It's not good to gossip about others, and besides, I... I only heard it from others," Hinata said with difficulty. "So, could you please not say it?"

"No," he said fiercely.

"I really can't tell you, then please don't tell anyone else," she said tentatively in a low voice.

"Hmm." He hesitated for a moment, but didn't give in. "Don't tell anyone else, go ahead and tell me."

"It was during the Chunin Ninja Exams held in the Land of Wind. Shino seemed to be quite interested in a girl from Takigakure." She tiptoed and whispered in Naruto's ear.

"Takigakure? Could it be blue-green hair?" His eyes held a strange glint.

"Ah, Naruto, do you know him?" Hinata's voice was tinged with nervousness.

"I don't know him, but Gaara should." He raised an eyebrow, guessing that Hidan Kakuzu died early, while the Seven-Tails Jinchuriki was still alive and well.

However, he was just being curious; whether it turned into a beautiful misunderstanding or a love triangle was none of his business.

Seeing that it was almost noon, Naruto scratched his trouser leg and glanced lazily at Hinata.

Are you going home for dinner?

". Um."

"Don't go back. Leave some food for Lord Hiashi. Eat with me today." Naruto grabbed her hand and pulled her forward.

"Oh? No need, no need. I'll just eat at home."

"Stop, let's go." He didn't let go of Hinata was saying.

He knew Hinata's personality was just like that; she'd been introverted for a long time. He took her around, visiting eight restaurants, and they ate from noon until dark.

Night falls.

Asuma stood at the front door, breathed on his palm to make sure there was no smell of alcohol, and then clicked open the door. He changed his shoes in the entryway and cautiously entered the living room.

The TV was empty, the living room was spotless, and the green plants on the windowsill were thriving.

Kurenai Yuhi sat on the sofa, frowning and lost in thought. Hearing a noise from the doorway, she turned around and met Asuma's gaze. Her frown immediately eased.

"You're back?"

"Yeah, just finished a mission with Shikamaru." Asuma sat down on the other side of the sofa, leaning back against the cushions. He subconsciously reached for a cigarette but then seemed to remember something and pulled his hand back.

What's wrong with you today? You seem preoccupied.

"Do you still remember that child from the Kurama Clan?" Kurenai Yuhi asked.

"Yakumo Kurama?" Asuma was somewhat surprised. "I remember she didn't seem to be suited to be a ninja, later..."

"Her problem has been resolved."

"Sharp."

"I didn't solve it," Kurenai Yuhi said.

Upon hearing this, Asuma gave Kurenai Yuhi a serious look. Knowing Kurenai Yuhi as he did, he knew she wouldn't joke about something like this.

"Who else could it be but you?"

It wasn't that he was deliberately trying to please Kurenai Yuhi. In fact, after Itachi Uchiha's defection, the pinnacle of Konohagakure's Genjutsu was held by only a handful of people—you could count them on one hand.

"Naruto?"

"When I heard the news, I also had this shocked expression, but that's the truth," Kurenai Yuhi said.

"That's a good thing!" Asuma coughed. "After all, he's one of the disciples of the Legendary Sannin, so it's normal for him to have some Genjutsu skills."

"Indeed, this is a good thing for Konohagakure." Kurenai Yuhi stared intently at the fruit platter on the glass coffee table. "But what worries me is something else."

"What?"

"Naruto and Ino are close, aren't they?" Kurenai Yuhi asked.

Asuma didn't really care much about his disciples' private affairs, but since he had watched them grow up, he knew a little about their situations.

Besides, Ino and Naruto's situation is so obvious that he can't ignore it even if he wants to. If he's not careful, he'll be bombarded with their PDA.

"Right, the two of them have had a good relationship since they were little," Asuma replied vaguely.

"Hinata likes him." Kurenai Yuhi frowned.

"That... the kind of thing they like, maybe only they themselves know." Asuma could easily understand what Kurenai Yuhi meant, and quickly changed the subject.

He didn't want to get involved, lest he make a rash statement and get himself into trouble.

"Naruto and Ino are adults now, and they've been dragging this out. I get the feeling that he wants both of them?" Kurenai asked.

"That's unlikely," Asuma said, a headache forming in his head.

"Given that guy's personality, what isn't he capable of?" Kurenai Yuhi hugged the plush toy on the sofa and sighed.

"You prefer Ino, right?" Kurenai asked.

"Not really." Asuma didn't respond, but said from a different angle, "Hinata also a good girl. Although she is a bit introverted, she complements Naruto."

"If the two of them get together, who knows what wonderful changes might occur."

"Complementary?" Kurenai Yuhi eyes at the bearded man, somewhat speechless. "You're only saying this because Hinata is my student, aren't you?"

"No." Asuma chuckled awkwardly.

"I know that although you say that, you actually favor Ino more in your heart," Kurenai Yuhi Ino. "There's nothing wrong with being biased, after all, Ino is your student."

"And what about you? Do you prefer Hinata?" Asuma asked.

"Hinata is indeed gentle and mild-mannered, and she rarely fights or competes. There's nothing wrong with that kind of personality, but it will inevitably make her life a little more difficult in the future."

Kurenai Yuhi sat on the sofa, looking quite worried.

"But Ino has a good personality; she's sunny and kind. A while ago, Ino even sent us some flowers and carefully remembered the varieties of flowers we liked."

"Yes, indeed." Asuma also fell into deep thought.

But soon he realized what he meant and glanced at Kurenai Yuhi with a hint of surprise.

"You're not like Naruto, wanting both of them, are you?"

"Cough cough. What does this have to do with me!" Kurenai Yuhi stood up and strode towards the kitchen. "I have Hinata, that's enough. I'm not feeling well tonight, you can sleep on the sofa."

Asuma: "???"

He wanted to slap himself for speaking such blunt truths. But it was strange, though, since these were things that were clearly none of their business.

The next day.

Asuma woke up on the sofa, while Naruto woke up to Sakura's knocking. He was wearing a bear-patterned pajama and leaned against the doorframe, opening the door sleepily.

"Why are you here again?"

"It's a holiday." Sakura tilted her body slightly and walked straight in, placing a bag of groceries on the table. "I came here especially to cook for you, isn't that good, Master?"

He paused for a few seconds to think. He had accompanied Hinata around yesterday and eaten everything she wanted. If he ate anything from the street today, he would probably throw up.

He had made plans to visit Ino's grandmother tomorrow, and if nothing unexpected happened today, his plan was to stay in bed and sleep until he naturally woke up before going to see Yakumo Kurama Ino.

Kurenai Yuhi can't find Ido, but that doesn't mean Naruto can't find it. After all, he put it there himself; with a little effort, he should be able to get it out.

"That would be great." Naruto yawned and went back to his room. "Make yourself at home, I'm going back to catch up on some sleep."

Sakura was already changing into her Maid Outfit and wasn't annoyed by his words. She turned to look at Naruto, smiled, and replied "okay," deliberately lowering her collar.

Unfortunately, the Maid Outfit had a high neckline, and even though Sakura Haruno was of average build, lowering the neckline only created a comedic effect.

He had just woken up from his nap, washed up, and gotten a glass of water from the kitchen, but hadn't swallowed it yet. Suddenly, Sakura walked straight in and stood in front of him.

Under his questioning gaze, Sakura suddenly pulled up her skirt and asked.

"Can you check if these stockings are any good quality?"

"Cough cough!" Naruto sprayed a mouthful of water all over the white stockings, almost choking on his breath. "What?!!"

"Naruto, you're such a pervert," Sakura said, touching her stockings. "Even if you're in a hurry, you don't have to do this! You could have just told me, actually..."

"Heh." Naruto was just surprised, but not really astonished. He ripped the stockings in half, tossed them aside, and said, "The quality is so-so."

After throwing it away, he calmly returned to the dining table to eat.

"Why are you only reacting now?" Sakura sat down opposite him, raising her chopsticks and then putting them down again. "Don't you like white? I'll wear black stockings next time."

"Yes."

He was already immune to Sakura's tricks; it was all about playing hard to get. The more you care, the more likely you are to lose. If Sakura were going to give it away for free, she shouldn't have gone grocery shopping in the first place.

Naruto felt a sense of looking down on Sakura, who was at a lower level. The more Sakura acted this way, the less likely he was to fall for her tricks.

He could even imagine that if he showed even the slightest interest, Sakura would immediately drop her seductive demeanor, her face remaining haughty and aloof, her black stockings stomping on his head.

They would say things like, "So Naruto, you're nothing special after all. Ino and Hinata know that Naruto you."

"Okay." Sakura took off her torn stockings and sighed.

Shortly after lunch, Sakura had to leave.

He slept until four o'clock, then slowly got up and went downstairs to find something to eat. After eating and drinking his fill, he went to the Satomi Hill Villa to see Yakumo Kurama.

After the misunderstanding was cleared up, she was released late last night.

The Kurama Clan suggested that Yakumo Kurama move away from the Satomi Hill Villa, since it had been the place where she had been imprisoned. However, Yakumo Kurama stubbornly refused, saying that she wanted to stay there.

She felt that some pain and memories were inescapable, and instead of deceiving herself, she should face them, as the pain would gradually fade with time.

Naruto expressed his admiration for Yakumo Kurama's attitude towards life, then picked her up and shook her vigorously. Without any hesitation, he spoke.

"Ido, I've come to find you. Come out quietly."

At this moment, Yakumo Kurama's face was filled with terror. The fear of being dominated by twenty large-scale battles returned, and he immediately covered his face, no longer daring to move.

In vivo.

Ido: "???"

It was well hidden, even perfectly evading the detection of Kurenai Yuhi, who was skilled in Genjutsu. Being so well hidden, it naturally didn't believe it could be captured.

He thought to himself, "At least I won't go out."

With this mindset in mind, even though Ido sensed danger, he chose to remain silent.

With a snap, Ido felt himself being manipulated out of the illusory world. When he realized it, Naruto was standing in front of him, flashing a set of white teeth.

"Long time no see, Ido," he said with a smile, putting Yakumo Kurama down and comforting him, "You did a good job, I won't beat you up anymore."

"You!!!" Ido was furious; he had actually been betrayed by the main source entity. "Just yesterday..."

"Really? I don't remember." Naruto sneered, then rolled up his sleeves.

Another beating, almost torture-like, followed. This time, he went even further, with the aim of taming it. Naruto practically tore Ido apart before putting it back together.

With a thud, Ido was completely mangled. His fangs were shattered, and he was covered in bruises, making him look extremely frightening.

"What exactly do you want to do?" Ido asked, trembling.

It had no idea what was happening, or why that guy was able to touch it. After being beaten twice in a row, it was almost at its breaking point.

"It's alright, that's all for today." Naruto ignored it and left on his own.

I'll resume my normal 7,000-8,000-word updates in a couple of days, around the 17th. I've been working so hard these past two nights that I even got a nosebleed.

I was walking on the way to school when my nose started bleeding. I covered my nose, slipped in my slippers, and a large drop of blood shot onto the ground. The aunt next to me was stunned; she probably thought I had a brain hemorrhage.

Get out of here quickly.