Still Flirting!

Ever since Kazuhiko had narrowly escaped death three months ago, he hadn't gone out on a mission.

Of course, it wasn't because Konoha or the Uchiha Clan had suddenly taken pity on him and stopped assigning him missions outside the village.

It was because Eri and Hideki had pulled strings to shelter their child from harm.

He was their only son. They wouldn't let him venture into dangerous territory.

Of course, Kazuhiko's own lack of ambition had something to do with it, too.

After all, the less capable you were, the less responsibility you had.

A perennial medical Genin with the combat ability of a pushover wouldn't make much difference either way.

"Mom, Dad~ I've accepted a mission from Lord Hokage."

Eri fell silent, lost in thought.

Hideki couldn't help jumping to his feet.

"An S-rank confidential mission? Is that something a medical Genin can handle? No way. I'm going to find Elder Yutaro right now and see if we can get it canceled."

He turned to his wife.

"Honey, say something!"

Eri stared into Kazuhiko's eyes.

"S-rank confidential. Something to do with psychological treatment."

"The target is Tsunade, isn't it?"

Kazuhiko was impressed.

"Mom, you're brilliant."

"If you figured out the mission details yourself, that shouldn't count as me leaking classified information, right?"

It went without saying what happened if you leaked something classified at S-rank.

Three cuts through the limbs and eight Kunai in the back would be getting off easy.

Eri furrowed her brow slightly and began to work through the possible scenarios.

"I know about Tsunade's condition."

"Talk therapy won't work. And the moment you touch on one of her sensitive wounds, Tsunade will fly into a rage!"

"She'll come at you with a punch backed by Strength of a Hundred, and you could die!"

As one of Konoha's few medical Jonin, she had naturally been involved in treating Tsunade's Hemophobia.

She had also experienced the risks of the treatment firsthand.

To treat Hemophobia, Tsunade had to face her pain.

But making her confront the memories of Shizune and Dan Katō's gruesome deaths would send her into a frenzy.

Would a rampaging Tsunade stop to reason with you?

"I know."

Kazuhiko looked at his mother. Another "him" detached from his body and stood up, walking over to Black Charcoal. He patted the cat as she focused on eating her fish and smiled.

"Don't worry, Mom. I'll be fine."

Phantom Body Flicker, one of the fastest legends in the Shinobi World.

Showing off the technique was enough to convince his mother, Eri.

Black Charcoal wasn't having it. She didn't care about any of that. She swiped at Kazuhiko's outstretched hand.

"No petting me while I'm eating, meow~!"

Hideki stared at the two "Kazuhikos," his mouth hanging open.

"Honey, when did you teach him Shadow Clone?"

Shadow Clone was practically standard for Jonin in Konoha.

Seeing this scene out of the blue, Hideki assumed his son had learned Shadow Clone and was instantly alarmed.

In a Uchiha household, strength spoke for itself.

It was over. His lowly place in the family was now set in stone!

"That's not Shadow Clone..."

Eri watched as the "phantom Kazuhiko" remained even after Black Charcoal's swipe, and immediately realized what it meant.

"Body Flicker Shisui..."

Eri looked at Kazuhiko, her eyes filled with undisguised shock.

His eyes were clear and bright.

He brimmed with confidence.

She realized she could no longer quite see through her son.

"Deadweight," "perennial Genin," "the shame of the Uchiha Clan"—the negative labels his clanmates had constantly pinned on Kazuhiko had all disappeared at some point.

Two-Tomoe Sharingan, Shisui's Body Flicker Technique...

It was hard not to believe in what he'd become.

"If you want to go, then go."

Eri beamed.

Her son had grown up before she knew it.

"Just come back soon."

"Will do, Mom."

Kazuhiko smiled, too.

Then he vanished with Phantom Body Flicker.

After dinner, once it was nearly time, he washed up quickly and headed out to meet her.

Cherry Blossom Drunk was a small tavern on Konoha's shopping street.

It wasn't large, but it was thoughtfully decorated and had a lovely atmosphere.

Kazuhiko walked in and immediately spotted Kurenai Yuhi sitting in the corner.

She had changed out of her usual ninja gear and wore a fitted, light-red dress with a slit, layered over black fishnet. Her long hair fell loose, and under the dim yellow lights, she looked especially alluring.

The only flaw was that her pale thigh, exposed by the slit, was still wrapped in bandages.

"Right on time~"

Kurenai glanced up, a faint smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

"Making a beauty wait isn't my style."

Kazuhiko sat beside her and admired her profile as she picked up the wine jug and poured him a drink.

She really was beautiful—sexy and alluring, exactly his type.

"You look lovely tonight. That suits you even better than your ninja gear."

Kurenai tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled faintly.

"Really? I don't dress like this often. I was worried it might look bad on me."

[Kurenai Yuhi's favorability toward you increased]

"Of course not. With your height, long legs, and figure, Senior Kurenai, you'd look good in anything."

[Kurenai Yuhi's favorability toward you increased]

"One more thing. I'm sure you'd look good wearing nothing at all, too."

[Kurenai Yuhi's favorability toward you increased]

Kurenai covered her mouth with her slender hand, her shoulders shaking as she laughed.

That was what was so great about a sweet, gentle girl: she was beautiful and kind.

And she always responded to your compliments instead of leaving you hanging.

Kurenai turned her face away, poured herself another drink, then looked back at Kazuhiko.

"You're a little different from other Uchiha~~ With your talent and family background, most people would be arrogant and look down on everyone. How come you're so... so..."

"So smooth-tongued?"

Kurenai waved her hand. "I meant charming and funny~"

[Kurenai Yuhi's favorability toward you increased]

"I get it now. Senior Kurenai's the smooth-tongued one. You can always find a way to compliment me."

"I'm not! I didn't..."

They were both interested in each other, and as they drank, they drew closer and closer.

Kurenai's cheeks were flushed, her rose-colored eyes practically glistening.

"This drink's for you. Thanks for contributing that A-rank mission and letting me get such a good deal."

They clinked glasses. The sake went down crisp and clean, with a hint of sweetness.

It was Kazuhiko's first time drinking heavily since awakening his past-life memories, and he had no idea where his limit was.

By now, he couldn't hold his liquor. His head was spinning.

Drunk, he couldn't control his gaze. His eyes began to wander over Kurenai, lingering on her.

"You're being naughty~!"

Kurenai liked to drink in moderation and could hold her liquor well.

Seeing Kazuhiko's aggressively hungry gaze, she felt both embarrassed and a little proud.

She took advantage of the alcohol, reached out, and affectionately tapped his forehead with a finger.

"Your eyes are being naughty~!"

"Naughty?"

Kazuhiko looked into Kurenai's eyes, then glanced at the cleavage visible beneath her black fishnet layer, putting on a look of sudden realization.

"You mean I'm looking here?"

He pointed to his eyes, then to Kurenai's chest.

"Listen, I can explain..."

"In the eyes of ordinary people, a beauty's body is just a body. But to me, it's a work of art—a gift from the gods."

[Kurenai Yuhi's favorability toward you increased to: Best Friend (He's still flirting! Oh no, what if he proposes to me on the spot???)]