Are You Even Human?

"Who was that guy just now? Why did I get the feeling you really didn't like him?"

Yamei looked at Yūhi Kurenai, who was holding his hand, and asked. At the same time, he wondered whether using Magic Hand now would trigger any side effects.

"A really annoying guy." Yūhi Kurenai bought two skewers of dango from a nearby stall, handed one to Yamei, and bluntly complained.

"For Kurenai to say that, he must really be awful." Yamei chuckled.

Asuma and Yūhi Kurenai had graduated in Year 46 of Konoha, and Asuma had been a notoriously rebellious teen back then, hardly well liked.

He had even gone to Daimyo's Mansion and joined some Guardian Shinobi group. It was only after reaching middle age that his personality had changed somewhat and he returned to Konoha.

And after returning, he had actually started pursuing Yūhi Kurenai. But with Yamei around, Asuma probably had no chance of succeeding in this lifetime.

Besides, in the original timeline, the guy had not exactly been a good person. He had gotten someone pregnant before marriage, then gotten himself killed.

Poor Yūhi Kurenai had been left a single mother. Luckily, Yamei was here now.

As the two ate their dango, Asuma caught up to them and awkwardly stammered, "Kurenai, um... you're off today too, right?"

Yūhi Kurenai's gaze fell on Asuma. Then she glanced at the cigarette between his lips and frowned slightly. "Mm-hmm. May I ask what you need?"

Noticing her look, Asuma hurriedly stubbed out his cigarette and scratched his head awkwardly.

"Ahem... it's nothing major. I was just wondering if Kurenai has time this afternoon. I'd like to treat you to a meal..."

"Thank you for the offer, but I'll pass on the meal. I still need to take my little brother out to have fun." As she spoke, Yūhi Kurenai tugged at Yamei, who had been watching the show.

Only then did Asuma notice the little boy standing beside Yūhi Kurenai.

"Oh, you must be Hyakawa Yamei, the one Kurenai always talks about. You really are adorable."

Yamei smiled and held out his hand. "Hello. Nice to meet you."

Asuma stared blankly at the extended hand, then hurriedly reached out and shook Yamei's hand.

"Haha, I'm Asuma. You can call me Big Brother Asuma."

Big Brother Asuma, my ass. What a shameless bastard.

Yamei grumbled inwardly, though his expression remained unchanged. At the same time, he silently called out, Magic Hand!

Materials acquired: Fire Release nature transformation, Wind Release nature transformation, Chakra ×1.

Pickpocket triggered. Congratulations, you have obtained half a pack of Asuma's brand-name cigarettes...

Yamei's expression turned strange. This was his first time triggering Pickpocket...

But... why cigarettes!?

And not only that, half a pack?

When he released Asuma's hand, half a pack of cigarettes suddenly appeared in Yamei's palm.

Yūhi Kurenai, who had been watching the two of them, froze. She raised her eyes toward Asuma in disbelief.

When Asuma saw Yūhi Kurenai looking at him, he thought she had changed her mind and was about to agree to his invitation. Just as he began to feel delighted, her furious voice rang out.

"Asuma! Are you even human!?"

"It's bad enough that you won't behave yourself, but you're actually trying to lead my little brother astray too!?"

Yūhi Kurenai snatched the cigarettes from Yamei's hand and viciously hurled them at Asuma.

"Ah!?"

Asuma caught the half-pack of cigarettes with a blank expression. He was utterly dumbfounded.

"I really misjudged you. I thought you had changed a lot after coming back to the village, but I never expected you to still be such a bastard!"

"Yamei, let's go! Stay away from people like him from now on!"

With that, Yūhi Kurenai indignantly pulled Yamei away.

"Kurenai... y-you have to listen to my explanation! I didn't give those to Yamei!"

Asuma stretched out a hand, wanting to stop her, only to find himself completely powerless.

A gloomy aura enveloped Asuma, and the people around him unconsciously moved farther away.

Looking at the cigarettes in his hand, Asuma nearly fried his CPU trying to figure out how the cigarettes that had clearly been in his pocket had ended up in Yamei's hand.

Bitterly, he pulled out a cigarette from the pack and lit it.

After taking two puffs... he suddenly realized that this very pack of cigarettes had caused his failure! Rage immediately surged within him.

"Fuck!"

He viciously threw the cigarette to the ground and stomped on it twice before trudging back in despair.

"Yamei, remember to stay farther away from that guy in the future. Don't learn his bad habits."

Yūhi Kurenai advised him as they walked.

"Mm-hmm, I'll listen to Kurenai."

Yamei nodded with a smile, inwardly overjoyed. As expected of Asuma—his first use of Magic Hand had provided him with three materials.

With such an absurd drop rate, he almost wanted to catch up to Asuma again and get to know him properly.

"Good boy. Come on... let's buy you a couple of outfits. The clothes we bought this year are already getting a little small."

After wandering through the streets, the two of them were carrying several bags of all sizes.

Seeing that it was getting late, they prepared to head home.

On the way back, Yamei's eyes lit up. He handed the things he was carrying to Yūhi Kurenai. "Kurenai, wait here for me. I'm going to buy something."

"What do you want to buy? I'll come with—"

Before Yūhi Kurenai could finish, Yamei had already run off by himself.

"This kid! So reckless!"

Yamei jogged into a flower shop. The moment he entered, a beautiful red-eyed woman with her hair pinned up came over to greet him. "Welcome to Yamanaka Flower Shop. Is there any flower you like, customer?"

Hearing Mrs. Yamanaka's introduction, Yamei immediately understood. He had come to Yamanaka Ino's family flower shop!

It seemed Ino was not in the store, though.

"Ma'am, I'd like some bellflowers and some Yellow Roses, please."

"Certainly. Please wait a moment, customer." Mrs. Yamanaka smiled and went into the back to prepare the flowers.

"Mom, Mom! I found such a beautiful dark red rose!"

Suddenly, a crisp and childish voice rang out. Yamei looked over and saw a little blond girl running inside.

"Huh... who are you?"

"Hello, my name is Hyakawa Yamei. I'm here to buy flowers."

Yamei smiled at little Ino. Ino had not started wearing her high ponytail yet, and that dazed expression of hers was so adorable.

?(Yamanaka Ino.jpg)

Seeing Yamei's sunny smile, Ino could not help staring blankly. She murmured dreamily, "So handsome... so warm..."

"Hello?" Yamei waved a hand in front of Ino.

"Ah! H-hello, I'm Yamanaka Ino!"

Ino's little face reddened. Shyly, she reached out and shook Yamei's hand.

Magic Hand!

Materials acquired: Yin Release nature transformation, Secret Technique: Sensory Perception.

"Two materials... and one of them is even a secret technique? Not bad."

Yamei nodded in satisfaction, only to see Ino hold the rose in her hand out before him. "Since it's our first meeting, I'll give you this rose."

He accepted the rose with a smile. "Ino, do you know what dark red roses mean?"

"Huh? Flowers have meanings too?" Ino did not quite understand.

"They do. Every flower has its own meaning, and the meaning of dark red roses is: I only want to be with you."

Ino's little face immediately turned scarlet. Flailing her arms, she hurriedly waved her hands. "I-I didn't mean it like that... I..."

"Hahaha, you're so cute. Thank you for the flower. I really like it." Yamei inhaled its fragrance.

"I-it's good that you like it."

Ino lowered her head, too embarrassed to look up.

"Customer, your flowers are ready." At that moment, Mrs. Yamanaka came out carrying two bouquets.