Kazuhiko met Kurenai Yuhi's gaze and took the initiative, drawing closer and closer to her.
Slowly.
Quickly.
Soon, their breaths mingled.
The clear aroma of liquor filled Kazuhiko's nostrils, mingling with the sweet scent of the beauty's breath.
Kurenai's gaze wavered slightly, and she lost the exchange.
She turned her head and leaned against the back of the chair, putting some distance between herself and the man. Her voice came out hoarse.
"You really are making excuses."
Her cheeks were flushed from the liquor, and even her earlobes were red and glistening.
This distance was just right, actually. It allowed Kazuhiko to admire Kurenai's protestations up close.
Light and shadow flickered.
The beauty was tipsy.
Not saying no was a roundabout way of saying yes.
Kazuhiko had always been aggressive in this department.
He believed that if you were going to drink and date, you had to dare to take things further and be willing to accept the responsibility.
So he suddenly leaned forward, bracing one hand against the back of Kurenai's chair. He pinned her in place with a "kabedon."
"Kazuhiko! You're drunk."
Kurenai pressed herself against the chair and pushed hard against his chest, trying to stop him from moving closer. She was as helpless as a medical Genin.
Kazuhiko said nothing, his face drawing closer and closer.
"Wait."
Kurenai's mind nearly short-circuited.
She had a certain knack for tea, knew how to screen her admirers, and knew how to turn down men she disliked.
But this was the first time she had ever faced a situation like this.
Confronted by Kazuhiko, whose looks and moves were both far too advanced, Kurenai, still a novice, panicked completely.
Her moist red eyes were full of helplessness.
"It's too fast... We've only known each other for a few days... I feel..."
"How long do you think it takes to fall for someone?"
"I... don't know."
Kazuhiko gazed at her alluring face, already having seen through where her limits lay.
"Some people know each other their whole lives yet remain strangers. Others meet just once, and remember each other for a lifetime."
"But..."
There was no but.
Kazuhiko stopped talking and kissed Kurenai's tempting red lips.
The next day, at the clan training ground's target range.
Kazuhiko felt good. His body had mostly recovered, two days ahead of schedule.
His physical strength and ability to recover were far greater than he had estimated.
Clearly, this was the improvement and change brought about by traits like [Sharingan], [Robust Physique], and [Chakra Thickening].
The panel couldn't show it, but the enhancements were evident in all sorts of ways.
For example, right now.
Watching Itachi practice the Shuriken Manipulation Technique, Kazuhiko felt an urge to speak up.
This throwing ninjutsu hinged on controlling the Chakra Threads. The threads pulled on the physical shuriken, letting the blades change direction freely and return to their wielder.
Following Shisui's instructions, Itachi was controlling eight shuriken as they collided and changed course in midair, each one hitting the bull's-eye.
"Flashy nonsense."
That was Kazuhiko's assessment of Itachi's Shuriken Manipulation Technique.
Itachi froze slightly. Ever since he had started learning ninjutsu, everyone had called him a "monster" and a "genius."
No one had ever described his ninjutsu that way.
Itachi kept his expression blank. Ten shuriken appeared in his hand, and he threw them again.
Clang, clang, clang!
After a flurry of collisions, all ten shuriken hit their bull's-eyes without fail, including the two targets tucked into blind spots.
"No matter how many shuriken you throw or how many times they change direction, the moment you raise your hand, your enemy already knows you're targeting them."
"An experienced ninja wouldn't get hit by this kind of technique."
In Kazuhiko's opinion, using Shuriken Manipulation to kill head-on or to change direction and catch someone by surprise was nothing but showmanship.
Wasn't that ridiculous?
Which Uchiha killed people with a technique like this?
"The biggest use of this technique is to restrict your opponent's movement, force them to keep blocking, and tie them down tactically."
"Watch closely. This is how you use the Shuriken Manipulation Technique."
Kazuhiko stepped into the target range, took out some shuriken, and began his demonstration.
He faced the targets and threw eight shuriken at once.
In an instant, one shuriken hit the bull's-eye.
The remaining shuriken collided in midair one after another. With a series of thuds, they struck their respective targets from different angles.
Itachi, watching from the side, hadn't thought much of it at first.
Shisui had personally taught him the Shuriken Manipulation Technique. Could a medical ninja really do it better than an Anbu Jonin?
But when he saw Kazuhiko's technique, his eyes lit up.
This doctor's Shuriken Manipulation Technique was impressive!
By making shuriken thrown at the same time hit their targets at different intervals, he was clearly forcing the enemy to defend continuously, wearing them down.
Just then, the last shuriken changed direction and shot past the target.
"Did you miss?"
Seeing this, Itachi couldn't help asking.
Given how well Kazuhiko had demonstrated his control of the Shuriken Manipulation Technique, something like that seemed impossible.
Kazuhiko didn't answer Itachi.
He flicked his thumb slightly, using the Chakra Threads to guide the shuriken one final time.
The next moment, the shuriken that had missed shot back and struck the bull's-eye from behind, piercing deep into the wooden target.
So that was it!
Understanding dawned in Itachi's eyes.
His keen Combat Thinking let him grasp at once what Kazuhiko was demonstrating through the technique.
The key to Shuriken Manipulation wasn't making the shuriken hit the target all at once.
It was keeping the enemy constantly on guard, ready to deal with shuriken that could come flying at any moment.
If the shuriken all hit their targets at once, then no matter how flashy the changes in direction, a block with ninjutsu or a quick substitution would neutralize them.
But when Kazuhiko used the Shuriken Manipulation Technique, the enemy had to stay focused and keep defending.
From a tactical and strategic perspective, this was the difference.
Kazuhiko's approach to the Shuriken Manipulation Technique completely outclassed that of a healthy seven-year-old Itachi.
Even after figuring that out, Itachi still found it unbelievable.
Was this really the kind of Combat Thinking a medical Genin could have?
Hadn't his father said Kazuhiko had nearly died on the battlefield?
Why was he just like Shisui, practically an Anbu Ninja who had seen countless battles?
Kazuhiko had no idea what Itachi was thinking.
He just felt pretty pleased with himself for showing off a little with shuriken in front of Itachi.
After all, in the future, Itachi would invent Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson and make Tailed Beast Transformation Killer B howl in pain.
But for now, Uchiha Kazuhiko was better than a healthy Itachi!
If you're bad, then train harder!
"Remember, this is how you practice the Shuriken Manipulation Technique."
[Hidden Weapon Master (Dark Green)]
[Permanent Trait Progress: 20%]
Seeing what he had just gained, Kazuhiko was in an excellent mood.
He held out his hand to feel the breeze brushing past and recalled how wonderful Kurenai had felt the night before.
A D-cup—small branches bearing luscious fruit...
Wonderful. Simply indescribable.
Last night, emboldened by the liquor,
he had charged ahead like the wind and attacked like fire. He had even seen the white panties beneath Kurenai's red skirt.
Unfortunately, Kurenai could hold her liquor too well. The moment he crossed her boundaries, she sobered up and became utterly firm in her refusal.
"What a shame. If we hadn't been in a bar, I might've had a chance to go all the way..."
Kazuhiko composed himself and headed to the Hokage Building.
Today, he was setting out to treat Tsunade's Hemophobia and prove his loyalty to Sarutobi Hiruzen.
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