Kiss

Even after being caught by juniors from the village showing her money-grubbing side, Tsunade did not care in the slightest. The thought of receiving a hefty sum for gambling immediately lifted her spirits.

She turned to Shinji and the other two. "In that case, gather at the village entrance tomorrow! Don't be late. That's settled!"

Humming a tune, Tsunade left the Hokage's Office with a beaming smile.

"...Sigh."

Hiruzen Sarutobi rubbed his forehead and let out a soft sigh.

If the Land of Fire's funding for Konoha had been the same as in previous years, then spending some money to get Tsunade to take action would have been worthwhile. Besides, it was not the first time Konoha had paid off Tsunade's debts. There were still several IOUs from casinos lying in his drawer.

"I'll just treat it as a contingency budget set aside specifically for Tsunade."

He also hoped to use this mission to keep Tsunade in the village. The village was in dire need of capable people right now, and he truly could not bear to lose combat power like hers.

Looking up at Shinji and the other two, the Third Hokage forced a wry smile. "Sorry you had to see that. I'll be counting on you for this mission."

Shinji and the other two gently shook their heads.

"Then we'll be taking our leave first."

"Hokage, please don't overwork yourself."

"Old man, I'll definitely make you see me in a new light on this mission!"

After the three left the Hokage Building, Asuma stepped forward and suggested, "This is a rare opportunity, and our team hasn't gotten together in a long time. How about we go get some barbecue?"

His gaze kept drifting toward Kurenai Yuhi, while the little calculations in his heart clicked away.

Kurenai Yuhi frowned slightly and turned to Shinji, clearly more concerned with what he thought.

"Sorry," Shinji said apologetically. "We're heading out on a mission tomorrow, so I need to prepare my ninja tools first. Maybe next time."

"Then I won't go either. I happen to need to restock some things too." Kurenai Yuhi immediately followed suit.

If Shinji was not going, she did not think it would be much fun either.

"Shinji, let's go together."

"Okay."

"Th-then, all right."

Asuma instantly wilted. He had finally managed to find an excuse to ask Kurenai out, only for it to fall through again.

Watching Shinji and Kurenai Yuhi leave side by side, chatting and laughing, Asuma felt more and more that something was off.

"Do Shinji and Kurenai have something they're hiding from me?"

He stared gloomily at their backs, bitterness rising in his heart.

"Did I miss something?"

Granny Cat's ninja tool shop.

Shinji looked at the familiar signboard, then turned to Kurenai Yuhi beside him.

"Let's go in."

Kurenai Yuhi nodded lightly and smiled as she pushed the door open with him.

It had been half a month since he had commissioned the custom weapons, and they had long since been finished. With the mission set for tomorrow, he had come to collect them.

When they pushed open the shop door, Granny Cat was still seated behind the counter. Upon seeing Shinji and Kurenai Yuhi, she set down her pipe.

"Granny Cat, I'm here to pick up my custom weapons." Shinji raised a hand in greeting.

"Kid, you finally came. I finished them for you ages ago."

She stood up and rummaged beneath the counter for a while before placing a short sword and a cloth bundle on the table.

"It's all here. Took me quite a bit of effort."

Shinji stepped forward, pressing down on the sheath with his left hand as his right slowly drew the short sword.

The short sword felt exceptionally comfortable in his hand. Its hilt was wrapped in dark cloth strips, rough and non-slip, making it steady and reassuring when he exerted force. The blade was a calm iron-gray, its cold gleam restrained. With a flick of his wrist, it gave off a clean, sharp, chilling aura.

"A fine blade," Kurenai Yuhi could not help but praise softly. Though she was not skilled in swordsmanship, she could still tell at a glance that it was a high-quality weapon.

Shinji opened the cloth bundle again. Inside were two belts, each neatly fitted with ten Kunai.

Granny Cat took a puff from her pipe and explained slowly, "The remaining materials were made into Kunai, just as you requested."

Shinji was delighted and hurriedly thanked her. "Thank you, Granny."

Granny Cat smiled indifferently.

After the two restocked some supplies, they were about to leave when Denka, the ninja cat, suddenly emerged from the back room.

"Granny Cat, I need to talk to you!"

"It's you!"

Before Denka could finish speaking, he spotted Shinji at a glance. Remembering the last time—the awkward, unfinished encounter that had left him feeling terribly uncomfortable from being touched—his pupils instantly narrowed into slits. He arched his back and let out a threatening low growl.

"Ha—!"

Shinji: "..."

Not long after leaving the shop, the two turned into a quiet, deserted alley. Kurenai Yuhi's shoulders shook as she finally failed to hold back a soft laugh.

"I didn't expect him to still remember. I'd almost forgotten about it myself."

Shinji shook his head helplessly and raised a hand to brush off the cat fur clinging to him, remnants from his "battle" with Denka just now.

This little guy really held a grudge.

"Isn't it all your fault?"

Kurenai Yuhi shot him a glare, clearly still remembering how he had teased Denka last time.

"This is for you," Shinji said softly. "The gift I promised you."

He took out two Kunai and handed them to her.

Forged from Chakra Metal, the Kunai had sharper blades and conducted Chakra more smoothly, perfectly making up for her weakness in close combat.

Kurenai Yuhi stared blankly at the pair of Kunai, warmth filling her heart.

He really hadn't forgotten.

She reached out and accepted them, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. "Thank you. Then I won't stand on ceremony."

"Just that?" Shinji looked into her clear ruby-like eyes, a trace of mischief in his voice. "No special reward?"

He emphasized the word "special" with particular clarity.

Kurenai Yuhi's cheeks heated up, and her fingertips curled slightly. "What do you want? Want me to pinch you?"

Shinji's expression stiffened. Had Kurenai awakened some strange hobby? How was that a reward?

He opened his arms and leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Like last time."

Kurenai Yuhi pressed her lips together, her face growing even redder. She glanced around to make sure no one was nearby.

She had already given him her first kiss. A hug was nothing serious.

"You really leave me with no choice."

She gave him a reproachful look and slowly opened her arms as well.

Softness filled his embrace, and Shinji once again felt her gentle body. He was half a head taller than Kurenai, and as she rose slightly onto her tiptoes, they fit perfectly in each other's arms.

He gently stroked her back and buried his face in her hair, a comfortable warmth spreading through his heart.

Kurenai Yuhi lightly pinched his waist, so gently it was more like a tickle. "Don't let your hands wander."

Shinji chuckled. "Kurenai is so cute. How could I resist?"

"Cute?"

Kurenai Yuhi's heart suddenly raced, pounding hard against her chest.

No, I can't let him hear my heartbeat.

She instinctively wanted to push him away, but her body had gone weak, leaving her without the slightest strength.

Shinji held her slender waist, his gaze falling on her slightly reddened lips. He remembered the scene at the front lines, when he had passed medicine to her.

"Kurenai..."

He called softly, lowered his head, and couldn't help slowly moving closer.

Kurenai Yuhi's mind went blank, and she instantly understood what he intended.

Shinji wants to kiss me. What should I do?

She tightly gripped his collar. Seeing him draw closer and closer, she somehow found a burst of strength and abruptly pushed him away.

Kurenai Yuhi lowered her head and panted, clutching her chest as her thoughts fell into chaos.

Will Shinji be disappointed?

She gathered her courage again and walked back over to Shinji. Rising lightly onto her tiptoes, she quickly planted a kiss on his cheek.

"This will do for now. We can talk about the rest later."

As soon as the words left her mouth, she left Shinji standing there in a daze and hurried away with her head lowered.

Shinji raised a hand to touch his cheek. It seemed to still retain her soft warmth and faint fragrance, and he couldn't help chuckling.

"I was so close to kissing her. This isn't bad either!"