When?
In that instant, Kurenai Yuhi felt as if she had been deceived.
Every time she woke with a start, all she saw was Chiba sleeping peacefully in his dream.
Where had Orochimaru come from?
Had Chiba been lying?
But why would he lie to her? Did he want her to owe him a favor?
She couldn't understand.
She couldn't simply deny what Chiba had said.
After all, yesterday he really had rescued her from Orochimaru. The killing intent Orochimaru had shown had been all too real.
Puzzled and confused, Kurenai walked out of the small building.
But when she saw what was hanging from one of the wooden pillars, all her doubts about Chiba vanished in an instant.
It was a skin.
The skin of a large white snake.
Kurenai recognized it.
It was exactly like the snake Orochimaru had used to strangle her the day before.
And as an accomplished genjutsu ninja, Kurenai would never forget that chakra.
It was the source of the nightmares that had jolted her awake countless times.
—Orochimaru.
"Last night... Orochimaru really came?"
Chiba hadn't lied.
Orochimaru's purpose in coming here had been obvious.
It had been an assassination attempt by one of the Konoha Sannin.
But in the end, nothing had happened.
It was all because of that boy who had been sleeping last night, no matter how many times she woke up.
But how?
What had Chiba done to make Orochimaru give up on the assassination?
That was Orochimaru—the Konoha Sannin, a legendary ninja.
Kurenai couldn't imagine it.
What else was so extraordinary about that mature, yet rather infuriating, Uchiha boy?
In the end, Kurenai didn't leave without saying goodbye.
Chiba had saved her life.
Perhaps he didn't think much of it, but as the one who'd been rescued, Kurenai had to show her gratitude.
Otherwise, she would never get past her conscience.
When Chiba came out of the bathroom and hobbled out of the small building with his cane,
he found Kurenai standing quietly by the entrance.
Chiba didn't even look up.
"Didn't I tell you? You're safe now... You can leave."
"You saved my life. At least let me thank you."
"Is that really necessary?"
Chiba raised his head and faced Kurenai.
"Don't keep associating with me. Nothing good will come of it. You were lucky Orochimaru gave up on killing you this time, but... next time, it might be different."
Caught in the currents sweeping through the Uchiha Clan and Konoha,
Chiba had no control over his own fate.
Orochimaru, Sarutobi Hiruzen, Danzo... There were too many entanglements.
This time it had been Orochimaru. Next time, it might be Danzo.
And Danzo wasn't nearly as easy to deal with.
He was the darkness of Konoha, even more ruthless than Orochimaru.
"But I can't live with myself if I don't thank you."
"Which matters more, your conscience or your life?"
Kurenai fell silent.
She was clearly the older one, but somehow, it felt as if their roles had been reversed.
Seeing Kurenai looking so put out, Chiba sighed helplessly.
Why did it seem like he was bullying her?
"If you really want to thank me, treat me to dumplings."
"You mean the Dumpling Shop we went to that day?"
Chiba nodded.
"Yeah, that's the one. I need to get some for Koizumi, too. I didn't go home last night, so she's bound to be mad at me."
"Sure!"
Kurenai nodded.
Perhaps she felt ashamed for doubting Chiba just moments ago.
This small gesture of thanks might be the best way to put her mind at ease.
"By the way, is Koizumi the little girl you were eating dumplings with at the shop that day?"
"Yeah, you could say she's my childhood friend."
Chiba felt his way along the path through Uchiha Forest.
After about a few minutes, they emerged from the forest.
Ahead lay the village proper, the busiest part of Konoha.
Kurenai led Chiba onward, but... he didn't move.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. Let's go."
It was the same Dumpling Shop, with the same owner.
Both Chiba and Kurenai had left a deep impression on him.
One was the companion of the Hokage's son, whom he was pursuing; the other was the blind Uchiha who had knocked the Hokage's son flat right in front of her.
So when the two appeared at the Dumpling Shop, the owner thought he must be seeing things.
"Boss, what's wrong?"
Kurenai was puzzled by the way he'd spaced out.
Only when Kurenai called to him did the owner snap out of it.
"Oh, oh... N-nothing!"
After Kurenai and Chiba had walked off with their dumplings, the owner finally sighed.
What was the world coming to? What was the world coming to!
The Hokage's son's woman had been stolen by an Uchiha.
Chapter 23
Feeling a little down.
This book actually did pretty well on its first day.
But after that, it completely lost momentum.
There was a bit of activity in the stats a few days ago, but yesterday, the flower votes, review votes, and monthly votes barely budged.
And the collection count has been growing slower and slower.
This little author's getting nervous.
Did I mess something up?
If so, you can tell me in the comments.
I don't know how many people are still reading this book.
If any of you are still here, could you say something in the comments?
It'd help put my mind at ease...
Also, I'm sincerely asking for flower votes, review votes, monthly votes, and tips! I'm not expecting tips, but the free votes only take a tap, so please take a moment to cast them.
Feng Qing here, humbly thanking all you generous readers...
Chapter 24
In the end, Kurenai parted ways with Chiba.
The dumplings in her arms were still warm.
If she went to the Ninja Academy now, Koizumi would still get to enjoy hot dumplings.
That little girl would surely be delighted.
But on the way to the Ninja Academy, Chiba stopped again.
After thinking for a moment, he continued forward, leaning on his cane.
Only this time, he wasn't heading to the Ninja Academy.
Instead, he made his way to a deserted patch of open ground.
Chiba carefully set the dumplings aside, rested both hands on his cane, and spoke calmly.
"Come out. I'm not used to being followed."
The instant he finished speaking,
a striking figure appeared behind Chiba.
Her distinctive purple hair made her easy to recognize, and the Tachi at her waist marked her as a swordswoman.
The anger in her expression made it clear she hadn't come in peace.
Even the Ninja Dog beside her was baring its teeth.
Chiba knew the girl.
But only from watching the anime back in his old world.
At least, since Chiba had come to this world, this was the first time they'd met.
Before this, they shouldn't have had any connection at all.