Yūhi Kurenai: I Came at the Wrong Time

"So big!"

Nohara Rin's rosy lips parted, her voice filled with awe.

Of course, she was talking about Qingye's house.

Nohara Rin had already felt that Qingye's house was large from the outside, looking at the courtyard walls, but after truly walking in and seeing the spacious yard, she realized her imagination had been too conservative.

After entering the gate, there was a stone path, and a dark brown wooden corridor extended forward, with the main part of the large estate hidden behind the deep corridor.

The bushes in the courtyard and the trees along the walls looked a bit messy, clearly showing a lack of daily care and trimming.

On one side of the path in the yard, a pond had even been dug.

The fish in the pond were ones Qingye had caught from the Naka River. Several wooden stakes were also planted by the pond, bearing the marks left from past shuriken throwing practice.

A small, jet-black cat was currently perched on one of the stakes, leisurely basking in the sun, its gaze sweeping over the fish in the pond.

On the tallest tree along the courtyard wall, two crows had built a nest.

"It really is so big..."

Nohara Rin couldn't help but sigh again.

She had visited Obito's house before.

It could only be said that it couldn't compare to Qingye's house, which occupied hundreds of square meters...

"It's alright, it was left by my parents,"

Qingye shook his head and said, "Besides, I live here alone, so whether it's big or small doesn't make much difference."

"..."

Nohara Rin looked at Qingye with a wistful gaze.

"Hm? Rin, what's wrong?"

"I really want to hit you for what you just said," Nohara Rin couldn't help but retort.

Damn it!

Is this the ugly face of wealth?

It's so enviable!

"Hm? I just said it casually, don't mind it," Qingye realized he had just unintentionally shown off.

In this life, his parents, whom he had little memory of, had left behind not only this house but also over a million in inheritance.

After all, he was an elite Jonin who served as a captain in the Police Force, so he had some savings.

For Qingye, the money that could be exchanged for Explosive Tags was more important.

As for the Ninjutsu scrolls left by his parents, those were not a concern, as they could be learned within the clan.

For the Uchiha clan, as long as you were willing to learn Ninjutsu, the clan was willing to teach, and there was no trouble of needing to exchange for it with contributions.

"I didn't really mind it that much."

Nohara Rin shook her head.

After all, the difference between ninjas from ninja clans and those from civilian backgrounds was something she had realized long ago in the Ninja Academy.

"Speaking of which, there's something I wanted to ask you, Rin, if it's not too much trouble."

"Hm? Qingye, just say it. If I can do it, I'll definitely help you!"

Nohara Rin's eyes lit up.

She had been feeling like she couldn't repay Qingye.

Qingye spoke directly, "It's like this, I want to learn the hemostasis technique."

Most medical Ninjutsu depended heavily on a ninja's talent.

For example, techniques like Mystical Palm Technique were easier to learn the stronger one's Yang-release Chakra and Chakra control abilities were.

But simpler techniques like hemostasis required much less talent.

For Qingye now, spending a lot of time learning Mystical Palm Technique would be more trouble than it was worth. If he were injured on the battlefield, stopping the bleeding with hemostasis to prevent excessive blood loss would be enough.

"No problem! Qingye, when do you want to start learning?"

"Is now convenient?"

"Of course!"

"Nine Lives!"

Qingye beckoned to the black cat basking in the sun. "Go fetch me a fish."

"Meow--"

Nine Lives meowed, jumped down from the wooden stake, and leaped directly onto the surface of the pond, ripples spreading from its paws.

Before long, with a flick of its paw, a small fish the size of a palm was caught.

"Amazing!"

Nohara Rin looked at the cute, small black cat in surprise. "Qingye, your cat knows how to walk on water?"

Many Genin don't even know how to walk on water, a technique for controlling Chakra.

"It's a Ninja Cat, but Nine Lives isn't very strong, so it can only master these small Chakra control tricks. When I'm not around, it can catch fish for itself like this."

"Meow!"

"Huh? Is it unhappy?"

Nohara Rin tentatively reached out her hand, wanting to pet it, but Nine Lives suddenly retracted and dodged.

It dropped the still-wriggling small fish it was holding in its mouth onto a wooden stake, then took two steps and quietly crouched on the stake not far away. It lay down, tucked its front paws, and quietly watched them.

"Okay, let's begin."

Qingye drew his kunai across the small fish. The sharp blade easily cut through its scales, and a fishy-smelling blood flowed out.

"It's best to cut shallowly, so one fish can be used a few more times," Nohara Rin reminded him.

He briefly explained the principle and technique of hemostasis. Chakra flowed to his fingertips, and a faint green light appeared on his index and middle fingers, which were held together.

His fingers brushed over the wound on the fish. A thin layer of clotted blood appeared at the wound, which had been bleeding profusely, and the bleeding stopped.

"Is this good?"

Qingye was eager to try. He drew his kunai again, tore open the blood clot, and attempted to perform hemostasis himself.

...Why is it still bleeding?

"Pfft!"

Nohara Rin couldn't help it and quickly covered her mouth, but her shoulders still trembled uncontrollably. She could only try to speak in a steady tone. "Cough, cough, I'm not laughing. I was like this when I first learned."

"Just laugh," Qingye waved his hand dismissively, not seeming to care.

Indeed, his talent doesn't lie in medical Ninjutsu.

Learning hemostasis is enough to prevent excessive blood loss on the battlefield.

Nohara Rin coughed lightly, trying hard to compose herself, and patiently explained the various points where problems could easily arise.

As the lesson was underway, the courtyard gate was suddenly knocked upon.

"Qingye?"

Yūhi Kurenai saw the door was open and poked her head in. "I saw the door was open, so I came straight in... Rin, why are you here too?"

What are you two doing?!

From her perspective, Qingye was facing away from her, reaching out to Rin, doing who-knows-what, but it looked like he was about to embrace her!

"I..." Yūhi Kurenai had already stepped one leg in. Now, she felt awkward about entering but unwilling to retreat. "Did I come at a bad time?"

Qingye: "..."

What kind of strange line is that?

"What are you guys doing?"

Yūhi Kurenai saw that the scene she had feared wasn't happening and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. She strode in and saw the fish on the wooden stake with a bleeding wound.

"I'm learning hemostasis," Qingye added after a pause. "What did you think?"

"Ah? I, uh, I wasn't thinking anything," Yūhi Kurenai's eyes darted around, and she gave a playful smile, trying to brush it off.

"So, Kurenai, is there something you need me for?"

Can't I come find you if there's nothing else?!

What a heartless man!

"I've learned some new Genjutsu techniques from my dad recently and wanted to spar with you, Qingye." Yūhi Kurenai explained.

Good thing she was prepared!

"Is that so... Well, Kurenai, could you wait a moment?"

Qingye looked down at the fish, which had bled out and was no longer moving, and beckoned to Nine Lives.

Nine Lives immediately jumped onto the water's surface, and after a moment, it caught another fish and brought it over, taking the dead fish away as an extra meal for today.

"Why does Nine Lives feel like a tool cat for you to practice Ninjutsu on?" Yūhi Kurenai couldn't help but tease.

"Meow~"

Nine Lives nodded repeatedly from the side.