Training the Dog

Kurenai Yuhi, still at the age of budding romance, felt her heart thumping wildly against her chest, as if it were about to leap out.

"It seems you've put in quite a lot of effort just to duel me."

Shimizu whispered softly into Kurenai Yuhi's ear.

The warm breath from his words brushed against her earlobe.

It caused Kurenai Yuhi to blush instinctively.

Come to think of it, Kurenai Yuhi was a year older than Shimizu, and her development was quite decent for her age.

"It seems you aren't as incompetent as I thought."

Shimizu shook his head, and amidst Kurenai Yuhi's confusion, he continued:

"To think that the illusions used by Shinku Yuhi, who is called a master of genjutsu, are so amateurish."

"What did you say!"

Kurenai Yuhi furrowed her brows and pushed Shimizu away.

The person she respected most was her father; he was the role model in her heart, and yet Shimizu dared to disparage him so callously.

Her crimson pupils seemed to grow even more vivid with anger.

"I said, the genjutsu of the Yuhi clan is nothing but trash."

Shimizu repeated himself, making Kurenai Yuhi tremble with rage.

She threw a punch, but Shimizu blocked it with ease.

Her genjutsu couldn't even compare to Shimizu's, let alone her neglected taijutsu training.

"Hmph."

Kurenai Yuhi felt that dressing up to come find Shimizu today was the worst decision of her life.

Shimizu was just an arrogant jerk!

Everyone from the Uchiha clan was like this.

Kurenai Yuhi pulled her hand back and turned to leave.

Shimizu did not stop her, watching as Kurenai Yuhi stormed off in annoyance.

Just as Kurenai Yuhi was about to step out of the corridor, Shimizu's voice drifted slowly from the depths of the hallway.

"Kurenai Yuhi, tell me, if I were to challenge your father to a duel tomorrow, humiliate him, and brand the Yuhi clan's genjutsu as trash, I don't think your father would dare to utter a single word of protest."

Shimizu's voice was like the whisper of a demon.

At first, he only wanted Kurenai Yuhi to stop bothering him.

Now, Shimizu had changed his mind; perhaps Kurenai Yuhi would make a decent pawn, allowing him to influence Asuma Sarutobi through her and gain control over some intelligence regarding the Sarutobi clan.

"On what grounds would you challenge my father? Do you think that just because you beat me, you can beat him?"

"On these grounds."

A pair of Three-Tomoe Sharingan bloomed silently, eerie and ominous, lending a touch of coldness to Shimizu's handsome features.

"Three-Tomoe Sharingan!"

Kurenai Yuhi's pupils constricted.

She suddenly understood everything.

No wonder Shimizu could so easily dispel her illusions; he had likely been using his Sharingan in places she hadn't even noticed.

In Shimizu's eyes, everything she did must have been nothing more than a clown's performance.

"Kurenai Yuhi, you wouldn't want your father to lose all face, would you?"

Upon hearing this, Kurenai Yuhi, who had already taken a step forward, found herself unable to put her foot down.

Ahead, the sounds of a bustling crowd echoed, and bright lights shone upon the floor.

The restroom corridor, however, remained silent and dim, the faint light casting shadows over Shimizu and Kurenai Yuhi.

After a long moment, Kurenai Yuhi turned to look at Shimizu, her gaze complex.

She didn't know if the Three-Tomoe could defeat her father, but as far as she knew, the highest level of the Sharingan was the Three-Tomoe.

Any ninja who possessed the Three-Tomoe was incredibly powerful.

Just like Wicked Eye Fugaku, who possessed those terrifying eyes and earned the title "Wicked Eye Fugaku."

Kurenai Yuhi dared not gamble; what if Shimizu actually won?

Wouldn't her father's lifelong reputation be destroyed in an instant because of her?

Watching the rotation of the Sharingan's tomoe, Kurenai Yuhi felt an inexplicable sense of dread.

She subconsciously ignored the fact that Shimizu was merely a genin about to graduate, and instead saw him as a powerful Uchiha ninja wielding the Three-Tomoe Sharingan.

This was Shimizu deliberately using the ocular power of his Sharingan to create a genjutsu, interfering with Kurenai Yuhi's thoughts and guiding her toward the outcome he desired.

"If you speak of what happened today, there's no telling what the consequences might be."

Shimizu walked toward Kurenai Yuhi step by step. Kurenai wanted to retreat, but her feet felt as if they had taken root in the ground.

Kurenai could no longer distinguish whether the pressure was caused by the Sharingan or her concern for her father's reputation.

As Shimizu drew closer, his Sharingan grew increasingly eerie, making it nearly impossible for Kurenai to think clearly.

"As the victor, taking a small reward seems quite reasonable, don't you think?"

Shimizu cornered Kurenai in a secluded spot, the corners of his mouth curling upward.

From the corner of the restroom corridor, a rustling sound emerged.

Soon after, a series of intermittent sobs followed.

Not long after, Shimizu returned to the barbecue table.

"You're finally back. Why did you take so long in the restroom?"

Asuma Sarutobi complained slightly.

He had been sitting here alone for ages, and with others casting surprised glances his way, they probably thought he was eating three portions by himself.

"My stomach was feeling a bit off."

Shimizu smiled and took a sip of orange juice.

"Has Kurenai not returned yet?"

"Nope. Girls are such troublesome creatures; they always take forever in the restroom."

Asuma turned his head to look at the empty seat, wondering what on earth Kurenai was doing.

"Perhaps."

Shimizu said nothing more and ate in silence.

Kurenai's figure appeared beside the barbecue table before anyone noticed.

Her clothes were slightly disheveled, and the hair at her temples looked damp with sweat, matted together.

The corners of her eyes were slightly red, making her look pitiable.

"Kurenai, I didn't mean it like that."

Asuma noticed Shimizu looking behind him and followed his gaze, only to find Kurenai standing right behind him.

Could it be that she had heard his words and felt slighted?

Asuma felt a sudden headache; he had just spoken in haste and didn't truly mean it.

He hurriedly tried to explain to Kurenai, telling her he hadn't intended to say such a thing.

"Mm."

Kurenai nodded faintly, returned to her seat, and lowered her head to eat.

Asuma frantically signaled Shimizu with his eyes, hoping to see if he had any ideas.

He had gone to such lengths to get Kurenai to come out today, and she had even changed into a new outfit specifically for him; surely all his efforts hadn't just gone to waste?

Shimizu, the instigator of it all, shook his head to indicate he couldn't help.

He drank another glass of orange juice, told Asuma and Kurenai to take their time eating, and said he had matters to attend to and would be heading back.

Walking home, Shimizu felt refreshed; having an outlet for his frustrations had helped alleviate the anxiety he had been carrying for so long.

"The scenery is quite nice."

Shimizu recalled the expression on Kurenai's face—a mix of disgust and bashfulness as she lifted the hem of her skirt.

Don't misunderstand; he hadn't done anything.

He had merely inspected the fabric of her skirt, nothing more.

Even though Shimizu was developing quickly, his age was a limiting factor; he had the heart but lacked the ability.

However, just to be safe, Shimizu had used his Three-Tomoe Sharingan to plant a Transcription Seal in Kurenai's eyes while they made contact.

Once she tried to speak of what happened today, the memory would become blurred, leading Kurenai to believe it had all been a dream.

Under normal circumstances, one would need a Mangekyo Sharingan to use this sealing technique, but with the enhancement of the Byakugan, Shimizu could manifest it while in his Three-Tomoe Sharingan state.

"I hope Kurenai doesn't lose her resolve to be a ninja because of this."

The more important reason Shimizu did this was to strike at Kurenai's self-esteem.

Much like training a dog, only by establishing absolute authority could he ensure she would become perfectly obedient.