Why is Hiruko here?

Kazuma was covered in mud, sprawled on the ground in a sorry state. He desperately tried to push himself up, only to find that his limbs had gone completely numb. He could not even move a single finger.

He painfully raised his head, glaring at Shinji as he growled through gritted teeth, "You despicable bastard!"

He refused to accept it.

He had wanted to show off his skills in this match, yet he had ended up in such a miserable state. No matter what, he could not accept it.

"Enough, Kazuma."

Unable to bear watching any longer, Jiriku stepped forward to help him up and said gravely, "You've already lost."

He quietly reminded him, "He's from the Uchiha Clan. He didn't even use his Sharingan just now."

"Uchiha..."

Kazuma suddenly stiffened.

He had merely thought Shinji was Asuma's lackey, never imagining that the other party was actually an Uchiha clansman.

"He didn't even use his full strength?"

He muttered to himself as his face instantly turned pale. He looked blankly at Jiriku beside him.

At that moment, Kazuma felt like a clown making a spectacle of himself.

Shinji sheathed his short sword on his back and slowly returned to Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi's side, raising a hand in an easy victory gesture.

"I won."

Asuma lightly punched him on the shoulder and laughed. "You wrapped that up so cleanly. You've gotten stronger again, haven't you?"

Kurenai Yuhi looked at him, her eyes brimming with amusement. "I knew you would win."

On the other side, Chūkaku, the head priest of the Temple of Fire, wore a face full of guilt as he bowed to Lady Tsunade in apology. "My apologies, Lady Tsunade. For such a thing to happen in the temple... I've made a fool of myself before you."

Lady Tsunade casually waved a hand. "It's nothing. Just a sparring match."

Her gaze fell on Shinji, and she gave a slight nod.

That technique just now had clearly been the chakra Scalpel.

When they had first met, the brat had said he was studying medical ninjutsu. She had not believed him at the time. Why would someone from the Uchiha Clan study medical ninjutsu?

Now, though, he did seem to have some skill.

"This Uchiha brat is somewhat interesting."

Lady Tsunade rubbed her chin, becoming a little more interested in Shinji.

However, she did not dwell on it any further. She would still be staying at the Temple of Fire for the night.

She secretly felt the pocket stuffed with two million Ryo in cash, and an unconscious smile curved across her lips.

Once she reached the capital of the Land of Fire, she would definitely have a good gamble.

Right, Shizune absolutely could not find out.

Night.

The rear hall of the temple.

"Lady Tsunade, please restrain yourself." Shizune helplessly urged, "This is a temple. You can't drink here."

Yet Lady Tsunade simply picked up her cup and tipped her head back, draining it in one gulp. With the movement, her ample chest swayed in a breathtaking arc.

"Ha—!"

She set down the cup and let out an incomparably satisfied sigh.

"You're so naggy, Shizune. No one will find out."

That nobleman named Marushihiko was quite sensible, actually knowing to send her alcohol. Grinning, Lady Tsunade prepared to pour herself another cup.

Shizune instinctively glanced at Lady Tsunade's figure, then lowered her head to look at her own, suffering an instant ten-thousand-point blow.

She suddenly slapped her forehead as though recalling something, then hurriedly pulled a prescription from her robes.

"Lady Tsunade, could you help me look at this prescription?"

"Hm?" Lady Tsunade took the prescription without understanding why. When she unfolded it and looked over it, her expression abruptly froze. "This prescription?"

She sharply frowned and looked up at Shizune. "Where did you get this?"

"From Shinji." Shizune asked in confusion, "Lady Tsunade, is there something wrong with this prescription?"

"That brat again?"

Shinji's figure flashed through Lady Tsunade's mind, and she slowly nodded.

"This prescription has side effects."

"The side effect is..."

Before she could finish, the entire guest room began to shake violently.

Boom—!

Tsunade's gaze sharpened. She casually tucked the prescription into her robe, then darted out, shouting in a low voice:

"Shizune, move! Something happened at the Temple of Fire!"

"Yes!"

Shizune immediately followed.

Shinji had been assigned an ordinary guest room.

The room was not large. Pale gray tatami mats covered the floor, and the faint scent of mugwort and incense lingered in the air, putting one at ease.

This was the room he shared with Asuma, but Asuma had gone off somewhere.

He lay sprawled over the table alone, bored enough to yawn. Finally, he got up, left the guest room, and knocked on the neighboring door.

"Who is it?" Kurenai's voice came from inside.

"It's me," Shinji replied. "Kurenai, want to go out for a walk?"

Footsteps approached, and the wooden door was gently pulled open.

Kurenai Yuhi's cheeks were faintly flushed, and her hair was still damp. A pleasant, fresh bath scent immediately drifted into Shinji's nose.

"You just took a bath?" Shinji asked with a smile.

Kurenai shot him a reproachful glance. "You know that, yet you still asked!"

"Perfect. I wanted to go for a walk too."

She stepped forward on her own initiative, gently took Shinji's hand, and led him outside. She could not hide the smile at the corners of her lips; clearly, she was delighted by his invitation.

The two left the rear hall, quietly climbed onto the nearby rooftop, and sat down side by side.

"It's so beautiful!"

Kurenai tilted her head up at the night sky.

There were no clouds tonight. A bright moon hung high in the heavens, its clear radiance spilling over the ancient temple and coating it in a gentle silver glow. The stars shone brilliantly, filling the entire night sky.

Shinji quietly reached out and took Kurenai's small hand.

Kurenai rolled her eyes at him, but did not pull away.

"Kurenai, how has your genjutsu training been lately?"

"I've improved a little, but I still can't beat you."

"I have the innate advantage of the Sharingan, after all. Don't rush yourself."

"Hmph!"

The two chatted and laughed. Then a night breeze swept past, and Kurenai gave a small shiver.

Shinji secretly rejoiced. The opportunity is here.

He opened his arms and said softly, "Kurenai, come a little closer. It'll be warmer if we sit close together."

Kurenai's cheeks heated up. She saw through his intentions at once. "Shinji, did you plan this from the start?"

Shinji hurriedly shook his head and said with a straight face, "How could I have?"

"Pfft." Kurenai gave a light spit. "That's exactly what I think."

She looked around to make sure no one was nearby before inching closer with a red face. The moment she drew near him, warmth immediately enveloped her.

Shinji gently wrapped an arm around her waist, lowered his head to gaze at her, and spoke in an extremely soft voice:

"This wasn't planned. I was just... caught in your genjutsu."

Kurenai's heartbeat abruptly sped up as she looked into Shinji's eyes.

Shinji slowly raised his hand and lightly brushed across her soft lips.

They felt even more delicate than the finest silk.

He slowly lowered his head, drawing closer bit by bit.

Kurenai tightly clutched her collar. Knowing what was about to happen, she did not dodge and slowly closed her eyes.

They had kissed once already. Doing it again was not such a big deal.

Boom—!

They had been just a little short.

Shinji nearly went mad with frustration in an instant.

Kurenai immediately pushed him away, her expression tightening. "Something happened!"

She looked toward the source of the tremendous noise. "It came from the main hall!"

Seeing Shinji's furious yet helpless expression, Kurenai could not help blushing. Secretly, she thought this guy was rather cute.

She reached out and lightly pinched his waist. "Go take a look. At worst, at worst next time..."

Kurenai lowered her head, too embarrassed to say the rest, but her meaning was already obvious.

Shinji understood the urgency as well and could only nod gloomily. "Kurenai, you said it yourself!"

Kurenai Yuhi shot him an embarrassed yet irritated glare.

The two immediately got up and raced toward the main hall.

Upon reaching the main hall, Shinji's pupils contracted slightly.

A white-haired, red-eyed figure wrapped head to toe in bandages stood amid the ruins, cackling wildly.

Shinji froze on the spot, thinking, Isn't that Hiruko? What is he doing here?