In the forest.
Yūhi Kurenai eyed the smiling young man before her with uncertainty.
For some reason, she seemed to have been running into Uchiha Chi quite often lately.
Ever since she had seen him eating ramen with Might Guy and Kakashi at Ichiraku Ramen, she would occasionally spot him and Might Guy chatting and laughing together on Konoha's streets.
This aloof, handsome young man seemed to have become much more cheerful after graduating.
So it really was the academic pressure that had warped his personality?
That was what Yūhi Kurenai had originally thought.
But in the classroom that afternoon, she had personally witnessed Nohara Rin taking the initiative to speak with Uchiha Chi.
Though she had not heard what they were saying, Uchiha Chi's composed manner still made Yūhi Kurenai wonder for a moment if she was dreaming.
Was this really the same Uchiha Chi who used to lower his head and play dead whenever someone spoke to him?
And besides,
How had these two even gotten acquainted? Had they ever talked before?
"Um..."
Perhaps because Yūhi Kurenai had not responded for so long, Uchiha Chi tilted his head, his clear eyes carrying a hint of confusion as he looked at her.
Only then did Yūhi Kurenai snap back to her senses. This was hardly the time to space out, so she immediately and awkwardly copied Uchiha Chi's earlier words. "Please take care of me from now on."
Uchiha Chi smiled and nodded. "I didn't expect Yūhi Kurenai to become Kakashi's and my teammate."
Kakashi agreed. "I thought you'd be on the same squad as Asuma."
In Kakashi's eyes, both Obito and Asuma were the sort of people who stuck to others like dog shit. The former stuck to Nohara Rin, while the latter stuck to Yūhi Kurenai.
He