The Uchiha Clan's Blind Swordsman

Although the seasonings were scarce, the roasted game was as authentic as it gets, carrying an indescribable aroma.

Kurenai Yuhi sat by the campfire, her heart finally settling down, no longer as frantic as before.

Watching the game over the fire, Kurenai didn't quite know what expression to wear.

A man and a woman alone in the wilderness—for a precocious girl, it was easy for the mind to wander.

Asuma had invited her to eat alone countless times, yet she had never once agreed.

Even the last time at the Dumpling Shop, Asuma had just shamelessly tagged along; it hardly counted as an invitation.

She never expected that the first time she would be invited to a meal by a boy, it would be under such forced circumstances.

The relaxed atmosphere, combined with the events of the day, finally caused Kurenai's tightly wound nerves to... snap.

She was only a twelve-year-old girl, yet she was being targeted by one of the Legendary Sannin and could be killed at any moment.

"Why... did I have to run into something like this!"

Kurenai curled up into a ball.

Feeling the warmth of the campfire, the corners of her eyes gradually grew moist.

Just then, Chiba handed her a piece of meat—a fragrant, delicious piece of meat.

The meat was savory, surpassing even that of a barbecue restaurant.

After all, this was authentic wild game.

Even if the seasoning was lacking, the texture was absolutely impeccable.

It was delicious, yet Kurenai had no appetite.

"Only when you're full do you have the strength to cry."

???

Faced with this sudden remark, Kurenai stared at Chiba in bewilderment.

Throughout the journey, Chiba had been reticent, leading Kurenai to believe he was simply a man of few words.

But what was the meaning of this out-of-the-blue comment?

Could it be that, deep down, he was actually quite dark-hearted?

Kurenai wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, feeling very annoyed—truly annoyed.

"At a time like this, don't you think you should be comforting me? Even if you don't comfort me... you shouldn't be making such snide remarks, right?"

"Disasters always come one after another; that is the way of the world. As a ninja, you should have been prepared for this long ago."

"But I'm a girl, you know."

Kurenai felt aggrieved, but Chiba remained indifferent.

"Is there a difference?"

"Whether man or woman, once dead, you are just a corpse."

"Orochimaru might be watching us right now. If you're full, you might have the strength to fight back if attacked. Even if you die, you will have at least resisted, won't you?"

Although what Chiba said made perfect sense, Kurenai still felt wronged.

Why was that?

Kurenai was puzzled.

Perhaps it was because, ever since she was little, she had always been the one whose feelings were catered to.

However, Chiba did not care about her feelings at all.

That must be the reason.

Thinking of this, Kurenai took a deep breath.

She then took the roasted meat from Chiba and began to eat it in large bites.

Seeing this, Chiba smiled.

"That's a good girl..."

Hearing this, Kurenai was startled again, looking at Chiba with a shocked expression.

A thought couldn't help but surface in her mind.

Could it be that Uchiha Chiba was actually a person with a very strong desire for control?

Once she started eating the delicious food, she couldn't stop.

Perhaps it was because she had been terrified for so long, or perhaps the roasted game was simply too delicious, but Kurenai was truly hungry.

Kurenai Yuhi didn't care in the slightest about her table manners, devouring the food ravenously.

Regardless of how unsightly her eating habits were, the other party couldn't see them anyway.

After a flurry of activity, Kurenai Yuhi finally felt full, sitting by the campfire and listening quietly to the crackling of the burning firewood.

Reflecting on it, this was the first time she had spent so long with a boy, and at such close quarters.

Even if this boy was only half her age.

However, Kurenai Yuhi could never treat Chiba like a mere brat.

She knew that Chiba possessed a maturity comparable to an adult's.

That was also the reason why Kurenai Yuhi was sitting here.

After all, if Asuma had told her that leaving would result in being hunted by Orochimaru, Kurenai Yuhi likely wouldn't have believed him; first impressions are truly deeply rooted.

"Chiba, may I ask you a question?"

"Go ahead."

"How... did you become so strong?"

Chiba tilted his head.

"It seems you are the ninja here, aren't you?"

"I'm not an idiot like Asuma. You seem to have reached a certain height in swordsmanship, and I want to know how you achieved it, or rather... how you trained."

Taijutsu had always been Kurenai Yuhi's weak point.

In her view, perhaps she could gain some information or inspiration from Chiba.

Unfortunately, she was mistaken.

"There is nothing wrong with asking for advice humbly, but my methods are not something you can learn, nor can anyone imitate them."

"Hmph, forget it if you don't want to say."

Using such an answer to brush her off, Kurenai Yuhi felt this was stingy.

Thus, the label of "stingy" was also slapped onto Chiba.

However, would Chiba care?

If he said that swinging a sword every day could reach this level, would Kurenai Yuhi even believe him?

The existence of the system was, after all, something that could neither be explained nor clearly described.

"Is the bathroom still usable?"

"Of course, though I wouldn't recommend you do that."

"Hmph, even if I die, I'm going to die smelling fragrant!"

Kurenai Yuhi could not tolerate being covered in the scent of barbecue.

And more than that, she was likely feeling a bit moody.

Chiba watched Kurenai Yuhi walk toward the small building, feeling somewhat speechless.

Women are just troublesome.

Arriving at the bathroom, Kurenai Yuhi went inside without closing the door.

She looked around and spoke up.

"Why aren't you coming in?"

"You're bathing; I feel it's necessary to avoid it. Besides, if there is a threat, I can know about it even from outside the door."

Kurenai Yuhi was a bit puzzled.

She raised her hand and waved it twice in front of Chiba.

Chiba had no reaction.

"You can't see anyway, so what does it matter?"

Kurenai Yuhi smiled.

Perhaps as revenge for Chiba being "stingy" just moments ago, she actually felt a bit of secret delight.

A beautiful woman taking a bath, it must be uncomfortable not being able to see, right?

Unfortunately, in this round, Chiba was on a higher level.

After shedding her clothes, Kurenai Yuhi lay naked in the bathtub.

Even though the water temperature was perfectly suitable, Kurenai Yuhi felt an indescribable sense of coldness.

It was as if someone were peeping, making her feel very uneasy.

She looked up at Chiba and found him leaning against the wall, his face turned toward her, motionless.

She hurriedly raised her hand and waved it twice in front of Chiba.

Chiba still had no reaction, and she felt slightly relieved.

"You... really can't see, can you?"

"What do you think?"

Chiba did not answer directly.

At this moment, he was busy admiring the scenery.

A twelve-year-old body truly possessed a certain artistic quality, especially since Kurenai Yuhi was genuinely beautiful.

Just as Chiba was feasting his eyes.

His Observation Haki captured something.

However—

He knew it wasn't Orochimaru.

The one who had arrived at his small villa.

Was his close friend, Itachi Uchiha!

Itachi Uchiha had not yet entered the villa.

Chiba had already opened the door.

That was not his true body, but a Shadow Clone.