Just Yūhi Kurenai's Mission, That's All

"Enough."

After Hyuga Sho had experienced the genjutsu for the tenth time, Yūhi Kurenai refused to use it again.

"First of all, my Chakra Amount is already running low."

Yūhi Kurenai took a deep breath.

A hint of fatigue appeared on her adorable, slightly chubby cheeks.

"Also, your genjutsu resistance training has been very successful. Basically, no one your age can make you fall under genjutsu anymore."

"What do you mean?"

For the tenth time, Hyuga Sho had been blasted away by a nuclear missile while still trapped in the genjutsu, and he did not understand what Yūhi Kurenai meant.

"..."

Yūhi Kurenai quietly stared into Hyuga Sho's eyes.

She stared for so long that Hyuga Sho mistakenly thought she was about to cast another genjutsu.

"You're different from everyone I've ever met. You aren't afraid."

Yūhi Kurenai admitted it.

Hyuga Sho had not lied.

He was truly fearless.

Ten rounds of genjutsu resistance training.

Hyuga Sho had not shown a frightened expression even once.

On the contrary.

Yūhi Kurenai herself had begun to feel afraid.

"Your will is very firm. Every time, you question whether the genjutsu is real and see through more of its flaws."

Yūhi Kurenai paused.

"The construction of genjutsu is based on the 'caster's intelligence,' which is to say, their 'level of genjutsu.' With my ability, I can no longer maintain many more genjutsu capable of deceiving 'your brain.'"

"The construction of genjutsu is based on the 'caster's intelligence,' which is to say, their 'level of genjutsu.'"

"With my ability, I can no longer maintain many more genjutsu capable of deceiving 'your brain.'"

Yūhi Kurenai raised a finger.

"At most, after three more times, I'll be completely unable to affect you with the 'Hell Viewing Technique.'"

"So That's How It Is..."

Hyuga Sho thought for a few seconds before understanding what Yūhi Kurenai meant.

Genjutsu was a supernatural energy that constructed "virtual phenomena."

The key to breaking through these virtual phenomena did not lie in oneself.

It lay in the subconscious mind.

When the subconscious rejected and saw through such phenomena,

the effects of the genjutsu would weaken or even disappear.

The genjutsu resistance training Yūhi Kurenai had given Hyuga Sho

had strengthened the subconscious in his brain.

After using it many times, Hyuga Sho could become immune to it.

"Can you tell me why you're fearless?"

Curiosity toward Hyuga Sho shone in Yūhi Kurenai's gemlike eyes.

"It's nothing major."

Hyuga Sho shook his head.

"Keep training me. Once I successfully become immune to the Hell Viewing Technique, I'll tell you."

In the afternoon, at dusk.

Yūhi Kurenai had already completed the entire set of genjutsu resistance training for Hyuga Sho.

She rubbed her temples and sighed.

"Within the entire Ninja Academy, no one can make you fall under genjutsu anymore."

This Hyuga Sho really was a monster.

"Really?" Hyuga Sho frowned, somewhat disbelieving.

"Hmph!"

"Who do you think I am? I'm the daughter of the renowned 'genjutsu shinobi, Yūhi Shinkurō.' Even Hatake Kakashi's attainments in genjutsu aren't as good as mine."

Suspecting her made Yūhi Kurenai a little angry.

She had her own pride, too.

"That's great."

Hyuga Sho's response was beyond Yūhi Kurenai's expectations.

Hyuga Sho would challenge Kakashi sooner or later, and now he had another powerful trump card.

Just imagine it.

When Kakashi smugly used genjutsu, mistakenly thinking it would work on him...

Hyuga Sho would suddenly turn the tables.

What kind of expression would Kakashi have?

Hyuga Sho was really looking forward to seeing it.

"All right, you can tell me the secret behind your fearlessness now, can't you?"

"Of course."

Hyuga Sho answered,

"I've experienced many cruel things, including death. But compared with fear, I hate being powerless even more."

Because he had once witnessed countless forms of darkness,

Hyuga Sho's heart had transformed and become incomparably pure.

That was why he was fearless.

That was why he yearned intensely for power.

"Is it because you're a 'Branch Family Member'?"

Staring at Hyuga Sho's departing back, Yūhi Kurenai still could not understand what he was talking about.

The following day.

Hyuga Sho arrived at the Ninja Academy.

"Asuma, morning."

"Mm, morning to you, too."

Asuma had looked somewhat listless at first, but the moment he saw Hyuga Sho, he became fired up.

"Ahem..."

Asuma coughed and tried to suppress his restless emotions.

"Hyuga Sho, come find me alone during the break today. There's something I want to talk to you about..."

After mysteriously dropping that sentence, Asuma walked away.

The first class ended.

Asuma stood up, and Hyuga Sho followed him.

The two of them came to the rooftop and gazed down at the campus and the vast expanse of Konoha.

"The wind is a little noisy today..."

Leaning against the railing, Asuma opened with that line.

He thought it sounded incredibly cool.

Unfortunately, Hyuga Sho showed no reaction of fawning admiration.

"As expected of you!"

Asuma Turned His Head around. Not only was he not angry, he was extremely delighted!

If it had been Ebisu or anyone else, they would have run over like a husky and licked him by now.

"Asuma, my father gave me this name. In English, Asuma means beautiful, introverted..."

Crack!

Asuma crushed the drink bottle in his hand.

At the same time, he began confiding the secret he had come to tell Hyuga Sho that day.

"Although this name sounds so effeminate, no one calls me that. Whenever people see me, they only treat me as the 'son of the Hokage.'"

Asuma stared ahead, his eyes gradually filling with unwillingness.

"No one recognizes me. I can't stand this anymore!"

"Is that how it is?"

Hyuga Sho stepped forward and leaned against the railing as well.

"Asuma... no, Asuma, at least Yūhi Kurenai and I recognize you, don't we?"

Asuma: "!"

"Not the son of the Hokage, and not Sarutobi Asuma. Just Asuma. That's the only you we know."

"Hyuga Sho... you..."

Asuma Turned His Head toward him, his face filled with disbelief.

Whoosh—

The wind began to blow across the rooftop.

It blew Asuma's hair upward.

It also blew up Hyuga Sho's hair, revealing his handsome profile.

"The wind today... really is a little noisy."

Hyuga Sho said with a smile.

Afterward, some sand got into Asuma's eyes.

A moment later.

Asuma forcefully rubbed his Eye Sockets.

"Hmph! I, Sarutobi Asuma, swear that I'll carve out a path of my own! Just wait and see!"

Asuma leaped down from the rooftop.

He left Hyuga Sho alone.

"Asuma, actually..."

Hyuga Sho stepped away from the railing.

He gazed at Sarutobi Asuma below, surrounded and fawned over by the others.

The next moment, Hyuga Sho shook his head.

"...It was just Yūhi Kurenai's mission, that's all."

The emotionless training machine, Hyuga Sho, calmly turned around and entered the stairwell.