A Lecher

Psychology Clinic.

Sunlight streamed into the hallway, casting warm shadows.

A crowd of Uchiha shinobi waited in line, chatting among themselves.

"Has Kurenai Yuhi been in there for ages? Does a psychological evaluation really take an hour?"

"Shota was out in just a few minutes, wasn't he?"

"You're still young. You don't understand. Men are bound to be more patient with beautiful women. And... the fuller a woman's chest, the more psychological problems she has. Get it?"

"Got it. This doctor is a lecher!"

One Uchiha suddenly understood.

Inside the office, Kazuhiko was discussing genjutsu with Kurenai Yuhi, their conversation growing increasingly in-depth.

Little did he know, today was another day his reputation would suffer.

At that moment, he and Kurenai sat facing each other, a genjutsu scroll spread out between them.

But neither of them was paying much attention to the scroll anymore.

"I have a suggestion for improving it."

Kazuhiko pointed at the Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death scroll. "Using this technique just to restrain an enemy is a bit of a waste."

Kurenai leaned forward, her expression intent. "Oh?"

She was wearing her usual red-and-white ninja combat outfit. Her legs were crossed, giving her a capable yet alluring air.

"The genjutsu could be improved further. It could make the target feel genuinely bound, deceiving the brain and exploiting the body's functions to make the opponent stop breathing."

Kazuhiko's gaze rested on Kurenai's beautiful rose-colored eyes.

"Let the enemy suffocate to death inside the genjutsu."

Kurenai fell into thought.

She had never considered this approach before.

Using Tree Binding Death to take down opponents was her specialty.

But she used it to obstruct an enemy's vision and distort their sense of touch, making them think they were bound by a great tree, then killed them in close combat.

Kazuhiko's idea, however, was to rewrite the target's perception. In other words, the Voodoo Death Effect.

By using the psychological suggestion of being bound and suffocated, the target's brain would be unable to distinguish between "illusion" and "reality." They would accept "I'm about to suffocate to death" as fact, and their brain and body would carry out the process of dying from suffocation.

"How did you come up with all that?"

Kazuhiko smiled faintly, speaking mysteriously.

"Maybe because I'm a psychologist. I studied psychology."

"Psychology?"

"Want to learn? I'll teach you."

Kurenai froze.

"Could I learn it too?"

"Of course. You saw when you came in—I'm short-staffed here."

"Why me?"

"Because..." Kazuhiko's lips curved slightly as he met Kurenai's gaze.

"Senpai, you're really easy on the eyes."

"So, what do you say? Come work here. The benefits are great~"

Kurenai's cheeks began to redden. She felt that Kazuhiko was unusually forward today.

It wasn't the boost from his looks or his family background. There was a unique charm about him today.

She turned her face away, trying to hide her flustered reaction.

"W-what weird things are you saying..."

[Kurenai Yuhi's favorability toward you has greatly increased to: Trust (He's trying to seduce me! He has feelings for me!)]

[Jonin trait draw opportunity +1]

Seeing Kurenai's reaction, Kazuhiko smiled.

She hadn't clearly turned him down, so that meant she agreed, right?

Looks like the Maiden Killer trait he'd fused with was highly effective on Kurenai.

"Then it's settled!"

Kazuhiko made the decision. Kurenai's lips parted, but she said nothing, which counted as accepting his arrangement.

The end of a career was becoming a civil servant.

The Uchiha Clan Compound clinic offered the same benefits as a Konoha civil service job.

Kurenai really couldn't think of a reason to refuse.

Compared with being a shinobi, never knowing if she'd make it through the day and constantly traveling around, eating and sleeping in the open, a civil service job in Konoha was clearly the better deal.

"Senpai, you only need more high-level missions to qualify for promotion to Jonin. I'll arrange your position with Jonin-level benefits. Is that all right?"

Kurenai pressed her red lips together and blinked, still not saying a word.

But Deep Blue confirmed her answer for her.

[Kurenai Yuhi's favorability toward you has greatly increased]

Kazuhiko acted decisively, pulling out an application form and filling it in on the spot.

With Kurenai as his beautiful assistant, his Psychology Clinic was sure to thrive.

Seeing that everything had been settled, Kurenai felt conflicted. After collecting herself, she spoke again.

"About the guidance mission and this... I've gotten the better end of the deal. How about I treat you to a drink?"

Kazuhiko raised an eyebrow.

"Drinks?"

I don't really like drinking, but that's a good idea.

As the saying went:

Liquor is the essence of grain; the more you drink, the younger you get.

Drunk, people speak from the heart; after enough drinks, they might lose control...

"What, are you afraid I'll get you drunk?"

Kurenai had regained some of her teasing charm, and she challenged Kazuhiko with a look.

"I'm only afraid that you can't hold your liquor, senpai, and will pass out after one cup."

"Then be at Cherry Blossom Drunk at eight tonight. Don't be late."

Watching Kurenai disappear from the office, Kazuhiko leaned back in his chair, the corners of his mouth lifting.

Using Konoha's money to woo his girl.

It really did feel great.

Spring had come, all things were stirring, and it was that time of year again...

"Ahayō~"

The door opened gently.

A beautiful woman in a pale purple kimono stepped inside.

Her long hair was pinned up, revealing her slender neck. She radiated gentle elegance, and Itachi followed behind her.

"Welcome, Madam Clan Leader, and... Itachi."

Kazuhiko looked up from the application form. His gaze lingered on Mikoto for a moment before turning to Itachi, whose expression was blank.

Itachi had thought that seeing Kazuhiko again would be awkward.

But when they were face-to-face, he found he had nothing to fear.

His expression calm, he bowed slightly. "Doctor Kazuhiko."

Mikoto smiled sincerely and set the gift box in her hands on the desk.

"You're too polite, Doctor Kazuhiko. Please, just call me Mikoto. Itachi was rude before, so I've brought him here to apologize in person today. I'd also like to ask you to provide him with psychological treatment. These are our thanks."

Kazuhiko glanced at the gift box. It was beautifully wrapped, clearly prepared with care.

"There's no need to worry about his being rude."

He stood up and walked over to Mikoto and Itachi.

"Please, sit down. I'd be glad to treat him, but there's no need for a gift."

"Doctor Kazuhiko, please accept it," Mikoto insisted, her eyes earnest. "It's just a small token of our appreciation."

Kazuhiko looked at her, then at Itachi, and suddenly smiled.

His smile wasn't the sort he gave an ordinary patient. There was a warmth to it.

"Mikoto, would you mind if I called you Mikoto-senpai?"

"In my eyes, Itachi is like a little brother."

"There's no need for a gift. Even without a consultation fee, I'd still help Itachi work through his psychological issues."

By seniority, Itachi was already Kazuhiko's little brother's little brother.

Gifts and consultation fees were just worldly possessions.

Doctor Kazuhiko was generous and didn't care about such things. He wouldn't go out of his way to keep a little notebook and tally them up.

Of course, anyone giving him a gift should make sure to remember it, or it'd be easy to forget.

Mikoto paused, then replied gently.

"Of course I don't mind..."

[Uchiha Mikoto's favorability toward you has increased]

Itachi was a little surprised.

Since when did I become your little brother?

He keenly noticed Kazuhiko's gaze. Looking into Kazuhiko's sincere eyes, he soon relaxed.

Someone approved of by Shisui couldn't be petty-minded.

"Then I'll be counting on you, Doctor Kazuhiko."

Mikoto lowered her head in thanks.

Though she didn't understand her husband's intentions, Doctor Kazuhiko seemed so... approachable. It didn't seem like there'd be any harm in having Itachi undergo psychological treatment.