There weren't many seasonings, but the meat roasted over the fire was the purest kind of game, with an indescribable aroma.
Kurenai Yuhi sat beside the campfire. By now, she had calmed down somewhat and no longer seemed so panicked.
Looking at the game roasting over the fire, Kurenai didn't know what expression to make.
A man and a woman alone together in one room—it was easy for a precocious girl to let her imagination run wild.
Asuma had invited her to dinner alone countless times, but she had never agreed.
Last time at the Dumpling Shop, Asuma had just shamelessly followed after her. It could hardly be called an invitation.
She hadn't expected that the first time a boy invited her to eat would be under such involuntary circumstances.
The relaxed atmosphere, combined with what had happened during the day—
The tension Kurenai had been holding inside finally... snapped.
She was only a twelve-year-old girl, yet she had caught the eye of one of the Konoha Sannin and could be killed at any moment.
"Why... did this have to happen to me?"
Kurenai curled up into a ball.
Feeling the warmth of the fire, she gradually felt tears welling in the corners of her eyes.
Just then, Chiba handed her a piece of meat—a fragrant, mouthwatering piece of meat.
Chapter 19
The meat was delicious, even better than anything from a barbecue restaurant.
After all, it was pure game.
Even if the flavor wasn't quite as good, the texture was absolutely unbeatable.
It was delicious, but Kurenai wasn't in the mood to eat.
"You'll need a full stomach to have the strength to cry."
???
Kurenai stared at Chiba, completely dumbfounded by his sudden remark.
All along the way, Chiba had been quiet and reserved. Kurenai had thought he was simply the taciturn type.
But what did he mean by coming out with something like that all of a sudden?
Could he actually be a sadist deep down?
Kurenai wiped away the tears in the corners of her eyes. She was really, really angry.
"Don't you think you should comfort me at a time like this? Even if you don't comfort me... you shouldn't say something so insensitive, either."
"Disasters always come one after another. That's the way of the world. As a ninja, you should have been prepared for that long ago."
"But I'm a girl."
Kurenai felt deeply wronged, but Chiba didn't seem to care.
"Does it make a difference?"
"Man or woman, once you're dead, you're just a corpse."
"Orochimaru might be watching us right now. If you eat your fill, you might still be able to fight back if we're attacked. Even if you die, at least you'll have resisted, right?"
What Chiba said made perfect sense.
And yet, Kurenai still felt wronged.
Why?
Kurenai was confused.
Perhaps she had always been the one whose feelings everyone looked after, ever since she was little.
But Chiba didn't take her feelings into account.
That must have been the reason.
With that thought, Kurenai took a deep breath.
Then she accepted the roasted meat Chiba handed her and began eating in huge bites.
Seeing this, Chiba smiled.
"That's a good girl..."
At his words, Kurenai was startled again and stared at Chiba in shock.
A thought came to mind.
Could Uchiha Chiba actually be an extremely controlling person?
Once she tasted the delicious food, she couldn't stop eating.
Perhaps all that fear had made her hungry, or perhaps the roasted game was simply too delicious.
Kurenai didn't care at all about her table manners and wolfed down the food.
It didn't matter how messy she looked while eating. He couldn't see her anyway.
After a flurry of eating, Kurenai was finally full. She sat beside the campfire, quietly listening to the dry wood crackle.
Thinking back, this was the first time she had spent so long with a boy, and been so close to one.
Even if that boy was only half her age.
But Kurenai absolutely couldn't treat Chiba like some little kid.
She knew he was as mature as an adult.
That was why Kurenai was sitting here.
After all, if Asuma had said that he'd be hunted by Orochimaru if he left, Kurenai probably wouldn't have believed him. First impressions really could take root deep.
"Chiba, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"How... did you get so strong?"
Chiba tilted his head.
"Aren't you the ninja here?"
"I'm not an idiot like Asuma. You've clearly reached a certain level in swordsmanship. I want to know how you did it, or... how you trained."
Taijutsu had always been Kurenai's weak point.
She thought she might be able to get some information or inspiration from Chiba.
Unfortunately, she was mistaken.
"It's good to ask questions with an open mind, but you can't learn my methods. No one else can imitate them, either."
"Hmph. If you don't want to tell me, then forget it."
Kurenai thought that brushing her off with an answer like that was just stingy.
And so, the label "stingy" was stuck on Chiba.
But would Chiba care?
Would Kurenai really believe him if he said he'd reached this level by swinging his sword every day?
The existence of the system was impossible to explain.
"Can I still use the bathroom?"
"Of course, but I don't recommend it."
"Hmph. Even if I die, I'm going to die smelling nice!"
Kurenai couldn't stand being covered in the smell of roasted meat.
And more than that, she seemed to be a little upset.
Chiba watched Kurenai head toward the small house, at a loss for words.
Women were such a hassle.
When Kurenai reached the bathroom, she went inside but didn't close the door.
She looked around and spoke.
"Why aren't you coming in?"
"You're bathing. I think it's best that I stay out. Besides, if there's any danger, I'll know even from outside the door."
Kurenai looked puzzled.
She waved her hand twice in front of Chiba's face.
Chiba didn't react at all.
"You can't see me anyway. What difference does it make?"
Kurenai smiled.
Perhaps she was getting back at Chiba for being "stingy" earlier, because she felt a little pleased with herself.
It must be awful to be unable to see a beautiful woman bathing, right?
Unfortunately, Chiba had already outplayed her.
After taking off her clothes, Kurenai lay naked in the bathtub.
The water was at a comfortable temperature, but she felt an inexplicable chill.
It was as if someone were watching her, making her feel deeply uncomfortable.
She looked up at Chiba and saw him leaning against the wall, facing her without moving.
She quickly waved her hand twice in front of his face.
Chiba still didn't react, and she relaxed a little.
"You... really can't see me, right?"
"What do you think?"
Chiba didn't give her a direct answer.
At that moment, he was enjoying the view.
A twelve-year-old body had a certain artistic appeal, especially since Kurenai was very beautiful.
Just as Chiba was enjoying the sight, his Observation Haki picked up on something.
But—
He knew it wasn't Orochimaru.
The person approaching his house was his close friend, Itachi Uchiha!
Chapter 20
Itachi Uchiha hadn't entered the small house yet.
Chiba opened the door.
It wasn't his real body, but a Shadow Clone.