"Sushi, sashimi, tempura..." The middle-aged ninja in an apron looked at his masterpiece with satisfaction and nodded. "Today's loving dinner is a complete success!"
"Dad, I'm home!" A cheerful voice came from the entryway. The middle-aged ninja's eyebrows jumped happily, and he hurriedly poked half his body out from the kitchen. "Haha, Kurenai, guess what tonight's—"
Then he saw his precious daughter being helped inside by a little boy.
"Sorry to intrude, sir."
Before Kurenai Yuhi could dwell on Soseki's appearance, he had already rushed out in his apron, panic-stricken. "Kurenai, what happened? Are you hurt?"
Kurenai hesitated shyly. "I... I got into a fight with some classmates."
"Oh, then it's fine." Hearing that, Kurenai Yuhi was actually relieved.
He knew his daughter's strength very well. If it was merely some roughhousing between classmates, she definitely would not have gotten the short end of the stick.
However, Kurenai's next words nearly scared him to death.
"I'm fine, but I accidentally used Genjutsu and nearly killed one of my classmates," Kurenai said with lingering fear.
"Is that classmate all right?" Kurenai Yuhi asked anxiously.
"She's fine. Soseki saved her."
"It really wasn't as serious as she made it sound. Delia only fainted."
Only then did Kurenai Yuhi finally let out a relieved breath.
For ninja, killing was nothing unusual. But if the person killed was from the same village, they would inevitably face endless condemnation and abuse. He could not imagine what kind of looks Kurenai would have to bear for the rest of her life if that had truly happened.
With that thought, Kurenai Yuhi's gaze toward Soseki became increasingly gentle.
"Ahem, Kurenai, you haven't introduced your friend yet."
Hearing that, Kurenai proudly puffed out her little chest. "This is our Class Leader, Shimizu Soseki. He's super amazing!"
A strange glint flashed through Kurenai Yuhi's eyes. So this was Shimizu Soseki, the one who had defeated the Hokage's son?
For the peaceful and harmonious Leaf Village, that already counted as fairly big news.
"Student Soseki, thank you so much."
"No, I should be the one apologizing to you."
"Apologizing?" Kurenai Yuhi was completely baffled.
"Why are you bringing that up again?" Kurenai puffed out her cheeks.
But before Kurenai could interrupt him, Soseki said remorsefully, "I've already asked about it. The reason Delia and the others picked on Kurenai was actually... actually because they noticed that I often stole glances at Kurenai during class."
"Huh? You... you... you were staring at me?" Kurenai's cheeks turned bright red, and for a moment, she did not dare look directly at Soseki.
Kurenai Yuhi's face darkened like the bottom of a pot, and his favorable impression of Soseki plummeted.
He knew kids at the academy tended to mature early, but his daughter was only five! This little bastard was a perverted beast!
I need to design a Genjutsu to set this brat back on the right path...
Apparently noticing that both of their expressions were off, Soseki hurriedly waved his hands. "You may have misunderstood. I was looking at Kurenai because I knew Senior Shinku was Leaf Village's greatest Genjutsu ninja. I was wondering if I could learn Genjutsu from you through Kurenai."
So that's how it is. This kid does have a good eye, Kurenai Yuhi thought smugly.
Just as he thought he could relax, he discovered that his precious daughter was actually showing disappointment. The sight made his heart tighten again.
Damn it, Kurenai couldn't have already... Kurenai Yuhi did not dare think any further. He could only glare at Soseki. "You little— Ahem. I heard you wanted to become a Medical Ninja. Why do you want to learn Genjutsu from me now?"
Soseki had naturally prepared for this sort of question long ago. When asked, his little face took on a timely look of seriousness. "It is precisely because I want to become an even greater Medical Ninja that I wish to learn Genjutsu from you. At first, I thought Genjutsu could deceive the sense of pain and assist with surgery. But later, I gradually realized that Medical Ninjutsu alone can only heal people's physical pain; it cannot soothe the wounds in their hearts. Healing the mind is just as important as healing the body!"
"So this is Soseki's ideal? That's amazing!" Kurenai looked at Soseki with admiration, her eyes practically sparkling with little stars.
This brat actually has such ideals and breadth of mind. No, I can't let him move me... Kurenai Yuhi had been somewhat touched, but when he caught sight of the admiration in Kurenai's eyes, his expression immediately twisted.
After pondering for a moment, Kurenai Yuhi nodded with apparent "reluctance." "I can let you learn Genjutsu from me. However, Genjutsu is very difficult to master. You must withdraw from the Ninja Academy and devote yourself completely to studying Genjutsu under me. Don't worry, you can still become a ninja without attending the Ninja Academy. With my guidance, you'll definitely gain more than you would at school."
Naturally, he was trying to cut off the channel of contact between Soseki and Kurenai. Kids forgot quickly after only a few days apart.
As for his guidance, he could just find an empty training ground and avoid Kurenai when the time came.
Kurenai Yuhi was happily imagining this when Soseki suddenly replied, "Senior Shinku, I'm sorry, but I can't withdraw from school."
"Wait, you don't want to learn Genjutsu anymore?" Kurenai Yuhi hurriedly asked.
"Of course I do, but I value my promises even more. I said I would advance and retreat together with everyone. How could I become a deserter by myself?" Soseki answered resolutely.
"Exactly! I study Genjutsu with you too, Dad, but I haven't withdrawn from school either," Kurenai said from the side, puffing out her cheeks.
It's only been this long, and my place is already about to be taken. Kurenai Yuhi felt sour inside and said aggrievedly, "Kurenai, your talent for Genjutsu is the best I've ever seen. Of course you don't need to spend too much time on it. But him... outstanding talent in Medical Ninjutsu doesn't mean he'll be talented in Genjutsu too."
"If my aptitude is lacking, I can train harder every night. Senior Shinku, please give me a chance!"
Kurenai Yuhi was still hesitating when Kurenai could no longer hold back. She patted her little chest and boldly declared, "It's fine. If Dad won't teach you, I will! Soseki, I'll teach you Genjutsu from now on!"
Kurenai Yuhi nearly spat out blood and hurriedly tried to salvage the situation. "Wait, I never said I wouldn't teach him! What I meant was... right, I'm worried he won't learn well and ruin my reputation if word gets out. How about this? Whenever I don't have missions, I'll set aside two hours every evening to teach you. But I'm not becoming your teacher, understand?"
"I understand. Thank you, Senior Shinku!" Soseki's face overflowed with excitement, and he turned to the side. "Kurenai, thank you so much!"
"Hehe, do we really need to say things like that to each other?" Kurenai clasped her little hands behind her back and swayed happily.
Seeing this, Kurenai Yuhi felt as sick as if he had swallowed a fly.
"By the way, Soseki, would you like to stay and have dinner with us?"
Seeing Kurenai Yuhi's face nearly turn green from holding it in, Soseki did not intend to provoke him too much. "No, I still have something to take care of at the hospital."
"All right, then. See you tomorrow."
"Mm, see you tomorrow."
Seeing his "lifelong enemy" finally leave, Kurenai Yuhi at last felt the weight lift from his heart. But before he could relax, he suddenly heard Kurenai say, "Dad, teach me Genjutsu too."
"Kurenai, you're finally willing to face your talent?" Kurenai Yuhi was overjoyed. He had pushed her too hard before, which had instead stirred up her rebelliousness. After studying Genjutsu for a while, she had refused to continue.
Kurenai nodded as though it were only natural. "Of course. I don't want to fall too far behind Soseki!"
Kurenai Yuhi's expression went blank as he covered his chest with both hands.
It hurt here. So much!
"Whew, I finally got free lessons!" After walking some distance away, Soseki finally took a rare deep breath.
Actually, if he merely wanted to learn Genjutsu from Kurenai Yuhi, there had been no need to make things so complicated. With the talent he had displayed, as long as he built a normal relationship with Kurenai, Kurenai Yuhi likely would not have minded taking in such a gifted disciple.
But unlike a ninja squad's instructor, a formal teacher in the Shinobi World was generally understood to be someone a person could only have one of.
If he chose to become Kurenai Yuhi's disciple, he would lose the chance to become Tsunade's disciple. Yet he was unwilling to give up Genjutsu, so he came up with this compromise.
"Although there were some twists along the way, it was ultimately a complete success. Next, it's time to win over Tsunade!" Soseki softly exhaled a breath of stale air. "But before that, I should focus on practicing Genjutsu. Perhaps it can serve as a breakthrough point."
Thanks to reader 1654471393 for the 1,000 reward, Shenwen 2019 for the 200 reward, Infinite AFK for the 100 reward, reader 20190603125142420 for the 100 reward, and reader 1259032828563337216 for the 100 reward.
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