Yuhi Kurenai's Instantaneous Change of Expression

Yuhi Kurenai stood up, picked up the Genjutsu Data Compendium, flipped through it casually, and said with a hint of dissatisfaction, "If you wanted to learn genjutsu, why didn't you just ask me? I am a bona fide genjutsu jonin. Books like this bought at street-side shops are all churned out by mediocre ninjas looking to make a quick buck. True genjutsu masters wouldn't write their secret techniques in a book to sell."

Qiushui gave her a strange look and retorted, somewhat unconvinced, "No way, right? This cost me a thousand ryo. The bookstore owner said it was written by a very famous genjutsu master. Why don't you flip through it and see for yourself before you judge?"

Yuhi Kurenai was just about to refute him, but as her gaze landed on the opened first page, the words died in her throat.

The author's column clearly displayed three characters: Yuhi Shinku.

The air went silent for a second.

Yuhi Kurenai closed the book with a straight face and shifted her tone with practiced naturalness: "Actually, this book is quite decent. For a newcomer just getting into genjutsu, it is indeed very helpful as an introductory text."

Qiushui said with a grin, "I think so too. Lord Yuhi Shinku is Konoha's premier genjutsu expert. Even someone like me who knows nothing about genjutsu gained quite a lot after reading his work."

"That goes without saying." Yuhi Kurenai lifted her chin with pride. "Yuhi Shinku is my father, a famous elite jonin of the village. Even many of those in the Uchiha Clan who specialize in genjutsu have admitted that they pale in comparison to him."

Qiushui nodded. He did not deny her statement, because at that time, the Uchiha Clan only had Fugaku Uchiha as a true talent; the others were either defectors, not yet born, or only five or six years old. Yuhi Shinku, being of the same generation as Sarutobi Hiruzen, had risen to the rank of elite jonin purely through his genjutsu prowess, and he could indeed crush the genjutsu users of the Uchiha Clan at that time.

So, is this the reason you later confidently used genjutsu on Itachi Uchiha?

He added this silently in his heart, while his expression remained calm.

Only after she finished speaking did Yuhi Kurenai realize something. She narrowed her eyes and stared at him. "Qiushui, did you deliberately withhold the author's name just now because you were waiting to see me make a fool of myself?"

"I did not." Qiushui spread his hands with an innocent look. "Don't go framing an innocent man."

Yuhi Kurenai rolled her eyes at him.

Why does it feel like Qiushui, who used to look so honest, has turned into a completely different person since becoming a teacher?

Yuhi Kurenai looked at the book in her hand and said earnestly, "Qiushui, if you really want to learn ninjutsu, relying solely on this book won't have much effect on a beginner like you who has no foundation. I have a few introductory genjutsu materials at home that my father specifically left for me. I'll go get them for you."

A flicker of interest flashed in Qiushui's eyes, but he quickly showed a hesitant expression. "Those are things your father left for you. Is it really appropriate for me to learn from them?"

"What's inappropriate about it?" Yuhi Kurenai waved her hand dismissively. "The items are mine; I can give them to whoever I want." She paused, then added with a hint of dissatisfaction, "Besides, you haven't refused me once while I've been mooching meals off you all this time. Now that I can help you, I won't feel embarrassed when I come over for dinner in the future. Just consider it meal money."

Hearing this, Qiushui stopped declining and nodded in agreement.

On Saturday morning, the moment Qiushui opened his eyes, two familiar notifications popped up before him.

[The high-quality talent you bound, Naruto Uzumaki, trained hard yesterday. You have received 9 points of chakra feedback.]

[The high-quality talent you bound, Hyuga Hinata, trained hard yesterday. You have received 4 points of chakra feedback.]

Qiushui sat up in bed in high spirits. Over these past few days, the chakra contributed by Naruto and Hinata combined totaled nearly two hundred points. Although the individual amounts weren't large, they added up, and it was a quite considerable accumulation.

After getting up, Qiushui headed to Training Ground 13.

Naruto and Hinata had already arrived and were waiting for him on the spot.

Qiushui walked over and greeted them. As usual, he first arranged for them to study, occasionally pulling them aside to ask questions, and spent the final hour on a set of test papers.

"Naruto, Hinata, both of your theoretical scores have improved significantly during this period," Qiushui said after grading the papers, giving them unreserved affirmation. "Especially Naruto, your progress is immense."

Although Naruto's scores still hadn't reached the passing line, his average had stabilized at around forty points. Compared to his initial scores of only eight to fifteen points per subject, this was a earth-shaking change.

Hinata had also steadily improved from her initial average of sixty points per subject to around seventy.

"It's all thanks to Teacher Qiushui's teaching." Having been influenced by Hinata during this time, Naruto had also learned to be humble. Even he couldn't believe that in just half a month, his scores could improve so much, and he had even managed to pull off the Three Basic Techniques.

"Mm-hmm." Hinata nodded in earnest agreement.

These days felt both fulfilling and happy to her.

After lunch, it was back to the usual training: running, tree climbing, and shuriken throwing.

Their physical stamina had improved significantly compared to the beginning. The one who knew this best was Uchiha Sasuke; he could easily lap them at first, then could only maintain a steady lead, but in the last few days, he had nearly been overtaken by the two of them.

Hinata and Naruto had both mastered the technique of tree climbing and could scale trees dozens of meters high in one go without falling.

Their kunai throwing had also improved. Naruto could hit the target more than seven times out of ten, while Hinata was basically hitting the bullseye every time.

Naruto had even successfully performed the Three Basic Techniques; although he couldn't call it proficient yet, he had reached the passing standard.

"Naruto, come here for a second. I'll teach you a ninjutsu."

Qiushui put down the scroll in his hand and beckoned to Naruto, who was practicing kunai throwing.

Hearing the call, Naruto immediately put down the kunai in his hand, ran over with a grin, and asked, "Teacher Qiushui, what kind of ninjutsu is it?"

Qiushui didn't answer directly. Instead, he turned and walked toward a tree not far away that was as thick as a bowl. He stood still in front of the tree and raised his right hand, palm facing the trunk.

The next instant, invisible chakra condensed into a tangible sense of pressure in his palm and was thrust forward violently!

"Boom."

A shockwave invisible to the naked eye tore through the air and slammed into the trunk. The thick tree shook violently, emitting a dull sound of snapping wood, followed by a thunderous collapse. Branches and leaves rustled, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Afterward, Qiushui began to teach Naruto hand-in-hand how to learn this ninjutsu.

However, what made Qiushui feel a bit disappointed was that the "Gift Critical Hit" function hadn't triggered.

Could it be that because it's a reward given by the system, it doesn't count? Qiushui thought to himself.