"Oh, your father's name is Hideki."
Kurenai Yuhi was perfectly at ease. She toyed with the celadon teacup, its surface carved with floral patterns, and began to analyze the name.
"Hideki—it must mean 'heroic and flourishing' and 'a tree that reaches for the sky,' right? Your grandfather must have hoped he'd grow into a towering tree of Konoha, don't you think?"
I figured your grandpa probably hadn't thought it through as carefully as you think.
Kazuhiko felt long-buried memories beginning to resurface.
Pickup lines!
I was definitely on a blind date, wasn't I?
Don't think I don't know what you're doing. You're using my parents' names to look up their assets, how many houses they own, and how many companies they have!
No more pointless chatter. I love studying. I want to learn genjutsu!
"Your mother..."
"My mother is Uchiha Eri."
[Kurenai Yuhi's favorability toward you has increased]
Kazuhiko: The prestige of my father, Zhang Erhe, just keeps rising.
Kurenai Yuhi took a ladylike sip of tea. Her smile grew a level sweeter.
"So that's why you're going to become such an outstanding doctor—you inherited Director Eri's excellent genes..."
Kurenai paused deliberately. When Kazuhiko didn't object, she pursed her red lips.
"It takes incredible talent to become a medical ninja. No wonder you were able to open your own clinic at such a young age, Doctor Kazuhiko. You're amazing~"
Was being an eighteen-year-old medical Genin really that impressive?
If you don't know how to compliment someone, don't force it.
Her rose-colored eyes brimmed with sincerity. Her long hair slipped over her shoulder, and her voice was soft and sweet.
"Unlike me, who could only become a genjutsu-type ninja thanks to my clan's bloodline..."
That damned level of tea.
Green tea + looks + figure + sex appeal + right in my sweet spot...
Watching Kurenai Yuhi deliberately turn on her charm, Kazuhiko suddenly decided blind dates weren't so bad after all.
There was no rush to study.
"I've always wondered what level a medical ninja needs to reach before they can open their own clinic. It must be really difficult, right?"
"Not really. You just have to convince my mom."
Kurenai Yuhi covered her mouth and giggled.
"Hehe~ You're funny, Doctor. This is the first time I've seen a psychology clinic. If I get the chance, I'll have to try your skills for myself and see whether you're an insufferable nepo baby!"
[Kurenai Yuhi's favorability toward you has increased]
Being a nepo baby was clearly a point in his favor, too!
Kurenai Yuhi set down her teacup with graceful poise.
"All right~ We should get started on today's genjutsu lesson. But first, I'd like to find out what level you're at."
She tilted her head and tucked her long hair behind her ear.
"After all, I need to know your length and depth~"
Kazuhiko felt like they were flirting online, so he went along with her.
"How will you find out?"
"Use genjutsu on me." Kurenai Yuhi smiled faintly, a hint of challenge in her eyes. "Let me see what you can do!"
The mission scroll contained information about the client—
It clearly stated that Uchiha Kazuhiko was an eighteen-year-old medical Genin.
So Kurenai Yuhi had chosen the most straightforward approach:
Take Kazuhiko's genjutsu head-on and gauge his student's ability.
"That doesn't seem like a good idea..." Kazuhiko hesitated.
"Doctor Kazuhiko should know that I'm a genjutsu-type Special Jōnin. Don't worry—just use the genjutsu you're best at on me. Nothing will happen."
"Actually, I've studied genjutsu quite a bit. My strongest genjutsu is rather special. If I use it without warning, I'm afraid it might..."
Kazuhiko was being honest. "It could offend you, Senior Kurenai."
Kurenai Yuhi furrowed her pretty brows, not understanding what he meant.
Surely no Genin thought his genjutsu could affect a Special Jōnin?
Surely not! There couldn't be anyone like that, could there?
She was utterly confident.
"Don't worry. Your senior here is big-hearted. Even if you do offend me, I won't hold a grudge."
Well, when it came to her heart, she certainly was big.
But who would believe a woman who said she didn't hold grudges? Only an idiot.
"Are you sure it's really okay?" Kazuhiko asked again.
From their conversation so far, Kurenai Yuhi might be a green tea, but earning her favorability shouldn't be difficult.
Sure, he could offend her badly with genjutsu and still gather enough points for the Jonin ten-pull.
But with a beauty like her, it'd be better to build up some goodwill and invite her out to flirt now and then. Who knew? Maybe one day they'd be playing a sweet little two-player game together.
"Just so you know, I've actually tested my genjutsu in practice. It can make even a Jonin feel like the experience is real..."
Kurenai Yuhi shook her head with a relaxed smile.
"I know~ Bring it on. I'm all ready to experience your power!"
Did she look ready to you?
Kazuhiko sighed. As expected, nobody listened to someone with no status.
His heart was trembling with anger. The title "eighteen-year-old medical Genin" had led him astray for far too long.
"Fine, then. Forgive me. Be careful—Genjutsu: Hypnosis."
As the Sharingan Genjutsu took effect, the One-Tomoe Sharingan in Kazuhiko's eyes began to spin on its own. Kurenai Yuhi's gaze suddenly went vacant.
She soon realized she had returned to her girlhood and was standing in a grove of cherry trees. Petals drifted through the air, and the familiar scent of blossoms filled her with bliss.
Sunlight streamed through the branches and fell upon her. Its warmth felt so real.
This was... a genjutsu?
Kurenai Yuhi's heart jolted.
She knew full well that it was a genjutsu, yet she couldn't find a single flaw.
Her sight, hearing, and sense of smell—even the sensation of a cherry blossom landing on her hand—were perfect.
Could an eighteen-year-old medical Genin really create a genjutsu this realistic?
Footsteps sounded, and a familiar yet unfamiliar face appeared among the trees—
Kurenai Yuhi's father, Yuhi Shinku.
"Today, we'll practice Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death. Make sure you pay close attention!"
As Yuhi Shinku finished speaking, roots twisted up from underground and bound Kurenai Yuhi.
"Father..."
Kurenai Yuhi was dazed. The scenes before her eyes felt as if they had happened only yesterday, so familiar they filled her with emotion.
Even the suffocating feeling Tree Binding Death gave her was just like it had been back then.
The roots wrapped around her whole body, binding her mind as well and plunging her into darkness, leaving her unable to move or think.
It was time to end this.
She tried to break Kazuhiko's genjutsu, moving her chakra along a specific path.
Genjutsu: Release!
The genjutsu lifted, and the darkness faded.
Kurenai Yuhi was back in the cherry grove. Yuhi Shinku stood before her, looking proud.
"Even Tree Binding Death can't hold you..."
Yuhi Shinku stepped forward and smiled as he patted Kurenai Yuhi on the head.
"I know you've always been a strong-willed child. You've never stopped moving forward. Kurenai, you've done so well."
Kurenai Yuhi's feelings were complicated.
Shock, disbelief, confusion, heartache... All kinds of emotions welled up inside her.
She was shocked that she still hadn't escaped the genjutsu, and couldn't understand why her most sensitive memory had been brought back in this way.
A double genjutsu?
No, that was impossible. He couldn't know Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death.
She had never successfully broken his genjutsu in the first place!
Fine beads of sweat appeared on Kurenai Yuhi's forehead.
He'd seen all her memories, hadn't he?
At that thought, Kurenai Yuhi formed Hand Seals, and her chakra churned wildly around her.
Genjutsu: True Release!
Before you continue