Kurenai's Love Bento, the White Fang Incident Begins

Obito twisted his neck to look over.

Under the moonlight, a young girl stood at the edge of the woods.

She carried a cloth bundle in her hand, her black curly hair swaying as she moved.

Kurenai Yuhi.

She trotted over to Might Guy, head bowed and face flushed.

Then, she held out the cloth bundle.

"I... my mom made... too much, couldn't finish it."

That line again.

Might Guy took it and opened it up.

Two rice balls, a few pieces of pickled radish, and two small dumplings.

He grinned.

"Thanks."

How many times had this happened this month?

Might Guy couldn't remember.

Regardless, every time Kurenai Yuhi came to bring food, it was always that same "made too much, couldn't finish it."

He didn't stand on ceremony, picking up a rice ball and taking a bite.

After training for so long, he was starving.

Kurenai Yuhi stood to the side, watching him eat in large mouthfuls, the corners of her mouth curling up and her eyes shining.

This was her favorite thing to do right now.

Watching Might Guy eat the bento she brought.

Obito lay on the ground, watching this scene, his mouth twitching.

"Hey..."

No one paid him any mind.

"Hey!!"

Kurenai Yuhi jumped in surprise, turned her head, and saw someone lying on the ground.

Obito propped himself up into a sitting position, looking speechless.

"I've been lying here for ages, did you not see me?"

Kurenai Yuhi's face turned even redder, and she quickly stepped back.

Obito climbed to his feet, leaned in to peek at the rice balls in the cloth bundle, and swallowed hard.

"Are there any left? Give me one."

Might Guy pulled his hand back, moving the bundle behind his back.

"If you want to eat, go home and get your own."

Obito glared: "I just want one!"

Might Guy chewed the rice ball, expressionless: "No."

"You!"

"This was given to me." Might Guy took another bite, "If you want some, train yourself tomorrow, and after you're done, have your mom make some too."

Obito was so angry his teeth itched: "Stingy!"

Kurenai Yuhi stood to the side, watching Might Guy guard his food, and couldn't help but want to laugh.

Then, in a moment of impulse, she blurted out: "How about... next time I ask my mom to make some for you too?"

She froze after saying it.

Obito froze too.

Kurenai Yuhi realized she had let it slip, her face turning bright red all the way to her ears.

"No, no, no! I meant... next time I... next time my mom makes too much..."

She stammered, unable to get her words out clearly, waving her hands in front of her.

Might Guy finished the last bite of the rice ball and clapped his hands.

"Sure, bring more next time so he can have a taste too."

His tone was as casual as saying "the weather is nice today."

Kurenai Yuhi was stunned, looking up at him.

Might Guy had already stood up, brushed the dirt off his pants, and turned to look at Obito.

"Aren't you going back yet? It's already dark."

Obito finally snapped out of it and curled his lip.

"Fine, fine, let's go. But stay away from me first—what is that smell on you?"

Might Guy looked down and sniffed himself.

The scent of sweat, dirt, and the fishy odor of the black sludge he had just expelled.

It was indeed quite unpleasant.

Before he could speak, Kurenai chimed in.

"That is the scent of a real man!"

She looked completely serious.

Obito's jaw dropped as he looked from Kurenai to Might Guy.

Kurenai realized what she had said and blushed again, but this time she didn't lower her head; she just stood there.

Obito clutched his jaw as if his teeth were aching.

"Fine, fine, a real man. You're both real men. I'm leaving."

He turned to walk away, then stopped after two steps and looked back.

"Bushy Brows, see you at the Ninja Academy tomorrow!"

Then he ran off until he was out of sight.

Might Guy turned to Kurenai. "Let's go, I'll walk you back."

Kurenai shook her head. "No need, I can make it back on my own."

Might Guy thought for a moment. "Then you go ahead. I'm going to take a shower under the waterfall and get some more training in."

Kurenai blinked. "You're still going to train?"

"Yeah, I haven't hit today's goal yet." Might Guy flexed his fingers.

Kurenai looked at his hands.

His fingertips were swollen, and there were blood scabs under his nails.

She wanted to say something, but swallowed the words.

"I'm leaving then."

She picked up her empty cloth bag and turned to walk away.

After a few steps, she looked back.

Might Guy was still standing there, waving at her.

Kurenai waved back and jogged away, disappearing into the woods.

Might Guy turned and headed toward the waterfall.

The sound of the water grew louder.

He stripped off his clothes and stood beneath the falls, the cold water drenching him from head to toe.

Refreshing.

The Yijin Jing circulated within him; as the cold water collided with the internal heat, his entire body felt as if it were simultaneously burning and freezing.

He planted his feet in a horse stance and began jabbing at the rock in front of him, one strike at a time.

One.

Two.

Three.

[Vajra Finger Proficiency: 493]

"Seven thousand more to go!"

"Keep jabbing."

The next day.

Ninja Academy.

Might Guy pushed the door open and realized the atmosphere in the classroom was off.

No one was talking.

The usual groups who chatted together were all sitting quietly in their seats.

Most of them were craning their necks, looking at Kakashi, who sat by the window.

Kakashi looked the same as always, staring out the window, motionless.

But Might Guy noticed that the eye above his mask was a little red.

Might Guy's heart skipped a beat.

He strode to his seat, dropped his schoolbag, and poked Obito in front of him.

"What is it?"

Obito turned his head, lowering his voice.

"You don't know yet? Senior White Fang, that is, Kakashi's dad..."

He paused, his expression complex.

"The mission failed."

Guy's mind buzzed.

"I heard it was a very important mission that should have been completed, but in the end, Senior White Fang gave up the mission to save his teammates."

Obito's voice dropped even lower.

"The whole village is whispering that he brought shame to Konoha, saying he isn't fit to be a ninja..."

Guy didn't speak.

He looked at Kakashi's back.

That small, motionless back.

In the original story, this was the event.

Not long after, White Fang committed suicide.

Watching Kakashi's back, Guy clenched his fists.

This time, he would do something.