Kurenai Yuhi-sensei, I Want a Hug

Asuma watched Kurenai Yuhi walk back to her office, his gaze lingering on her full, shapely backside for several seconds as he couldn't help but swallow hard.

In truth, one couldn't really call Asuma overly desperate.

It was simply that Kurenai Yuhi's figure was alluring.

This allure was different from the deep cleavage Tsunade often displayed; it was a beauty wrapped in a bright red robe, both hazy and sharply defined.

Another reason was that because he was frequently away on missions, he and Kurenai Yuhi spent little time together, to the point that after several months of being together, he hadn't even managed to hold her hand.

Asuma wasn't in a rush.

Kurenai Yuhi's conservative reserve actually put him at ease.

In any case, he was her boyfriend, and since it was so difficult for even him to touch her, it was surely even harder for other men.

A bit of reserve was good; it provided a sense of security.

However, what Asuma didn't know was that as he extinguished his cigarette and returned to the exam hall to monitor the students alone, the Kurenai Yuhi who seemed so reserved in his eyes had already taken Takasaki's hand in her office: "Is this the ninjutsu you were talking about?"

Takasaki stood by the desk, his palm resting lightly in the hand of Kurenai Yuhi, who was leaning against her office chair. As she casually traced a few characters onto his palm, Takasaki suddenly felt a wave of warmth; a thin film of chakra-infused water covered his palm, flashing once before vanishing.

The next second.

The writing on Takasaki's palm had been completely wiped away: "Teacher Kurenai, it really was you who helped me clear the cheat sheet from my hand in the exam hall earlier."

Seeing Kurenai Yuhi demonstrate the concealment herself, Takasaki was truly impressed.

It was clearly Water Release, though Takasaki couldn't discern which specific ninjutsu it was.

Kurenai Yuhi was a Jonin who had mastered many techniques, though her specialty was Genjutsu; she knew a little of other elemental ninjutsu, but was not proficient in them.

That said, none of this really mattered to Takasaki.

What he cared about most right now was when the "unspoken rules" with Kurenai Yuhi would begin.

It wasn't Takasaki's fault for being impatient; the atmosphere and environment were simply perfect.

A private office.

The door was already shut.

The soundproofing was excellent.

There was a sturdy-looking recliner nearby, and he was fully prepared, ready to stand tall and charge in at any moment.

Kurenai Yuhi was in her twenties, a mature woman who didn't need to be as restrained as Hinata or Ino, so Takasaki simply asked a question he already knew the answer to: "Teacher Kurenai, why did you cover for me when I cheated?"

As long as Teacher Kurenai answered that she wanted to initiate unspoken rules with him.

Or she didn't even need to answer; a suggestive look or a crook of her finger would be enough for him to understand.

In fact, even if Takasaki hadn't asked, Kurenai Yuhi intended to tell him the answer.

Why did she cover for Takasaki?

Naturally, because of the Diary.

She wanted to help Takasaki so that he would record her name in the Diary more often, thereby allowing her to obtain rewards from it.

Of course, Kurenai Yuhi certainly couldn't reveal the real reason; after all, the Diary had warned her that if she disclosed anything about it, she would die on the spot.

Kurenai Yuhi didn't doubt the Diary's power for a second.

So, to ensure Takasaki wouldn't be suspicious of her, she recited the excuse she had long since fabricated: "Because your parents did me a favor."

"My parents?"

Takasaki responded instinctively.

He was a bit dazed, and once it sank in, he felt even more caught off guard.

He had cheated in the exam hall where Teacher Kurenai was monitoring, and she had covered for him time and again—not because he was handsome, not because she wanted to initiate unspoken rules, but because of his parents?

I've already prepared to take my pants off, and you tell me this?

"Your parents once saved my life on the battlefield. That was ten years ago, when you were still very young..."

Kurenai Yuhi had done her homework well, spinning a highly logical excuse as she rambled on.

She spoke for twenty minutes straight.

At first, Takasaki had been standing by the desk, listening to Kurenai Yuhi's story with great interest.

By the end, he simply sat down on the nearby recliner and let out a long, disappointed sigh.

To be fair, the story Kurenai Yuhi told about her and his parents on the battlefield ten years ago was quite spectacular.

Fighting together against Mist Village ninjas, a battle that lasted for a day and a night.

In the end, his parents and Kurenai Yuhi infiltrated the enemy's rear guard, and to ensure the intelligence reached Konoha, his parents sacrificed themselves while Kurenai Yuhi returned safely.

If this story were told at a Konoha graduation ceremony, it would have left many students teary-eyed and blood-pumping with excitement.

The point was, Takasaki hadn't come to Kurenai Yuhi's office to listen to an inspiring story.

He had come to be the subject of unspoken rules.

At this moment, he realized with profound clarity that his hope of being subjected to Teacher Kurenai's unspoken rules had been completely extinguished.

Forget it.

Overall, it wasn't as if he hadn't gained anything.

At the very least, he had passed the written portion of the Graduation Exam smoothly, and he had learned a little about his parents' past deeds. It was a small profit; he hadn't lost anything.

"So, if it were anyone else cheating, I would certainly follow the rules and regulations. But for you, I can't. The punishment for cheating on the final exam is too severe. If I don't help you, no one else will," Kurenai Yuhi said finally.

"Thank you so much, Teacher Kurenai. I will remember this favor, and I will repay you in the future," Takasaki said very politely.

However.

Kurenai Yuhi didn't take those words to heart.

Takasaki repaying her a favor in the future?

How could he?

Takasaki was the dead last in the class; without her help, he might not have even passed today's written exam.

Even if he had passed the written test today, Kurenai Yuhi still didn't think Takasaki could successfully pass the Three Body Technique test in ten days.

She couldn't worry about that much. In any case, as long as the fact that she helped Takasaki cheat today could be recorded in his diary, that was enough.

As for the ninjutsu exam in ten days, she would try her best to put in a good word for Takasaki with the proctors.

"Keep it up, Takasaki. I know the other students in class call you the dead last, but I don't think you're truly that bad. On the contrary, in my eyes, you are very special."

She had said similar words of encouragement to many students with poor grades, but she had never said them to Takasaki.

The reason was simple.

She hadn't obtained the diary before, and furthermore, Takasaki's grades were so hopelessly poor that she felt there was no need for encouragement.

Now, the situation was different.

She needed a reason to maintain contact with Takasaki, so she simply stood up and gently patted Takasaki on the shoulder. "Don't give up, Takasaki. I have high hopes for you. From now on, I will be the eyes of your parents; I will watch you grow. If you ever need help with anything in the future, just tell me."

Takasaki kept his head lowered, listening in silence.

His body trembled slightly.

It wasn't that he was truly moved; rather, he was holding back tears.

By the time Kurenai Yuhi finished speaking, Takasaki's eyes were already brimming with tears.

He lifted his head and blinked, letting the tears spill over. This appearance of being so touched made Kurenai Yuhi feel a pang of heartache.

"Teacher Kurenai, you are too good to me. No one has ever encouraged me like this. Everyone in class says I'm the dead last; they all despise me. No one loves me," Takasaki said, his voice thick with sobs.

Kurenai Yuhi felt even more heartbroken.

Students without parents were always easily bullied at the academy.

This child.

He must have suffered so much in his daily life.

Even if she hadn't obtained the diary, she probably should have given Takasaki more care. "From now on, I will give you my care."

With the atmosphere built up to this point, Takasaki prepared to make a reasonable request.

He let out a long sigh and continued with an even heavier, tearful tone: "Teacher Kurenai, could you give me a loving hug?"

In truth, one couldn't blame Takasaki for his underhanded methods; it was just that Teacher Kurenai's figure was too alluring. After all, who could resist the temptation of such a woman?

Those eyes hiding secret thoughts, and the way she slightly tilted her delicate chin to look up at Takasaki—in the atmosphere fostered by the quiet, private office, it truly gave Takasaki an urge to take things a step further.

Since he hadn't been able to get a "hidden rule" arrangement, trying to ask his teacher for a loving hug should be acceptable, right?

Takasaki hadn't held much hope initially. If Kurenai Yuhi refused, he would have very politely chatted with her for a moment while she sat in her office chair, then opened the door and left.

Yet, to Takasaki's surprise, after Kurenai Yuhi heard his words, she hesitated for a second before standing up from her office chair.

Kurenai Yuhi pulled the nearby curtains shut, took the initiative to approach Takasaki, and opened her arms toward him.

"Takasaki, don't sigh. Sighing will let your good luck slip away."

"You are not without support in the Leaf Village, nor is there no one who loves you. At the very least, I am willing to give you my care."

"The years since your parents passed have been long; you must have suffered many hardships, endured the cold gazes of others, and harbored much grievance in your heart."

In her daily life, Kurenai Yuhi was actually a very conservative person.

One could tell from her attire; despite having the figure of a temptress, she was perfectly content to be wrapped in a long robe.

Even when she had been dating Asuma for several months, she wouldn't let him touch her hand.

Conservative as she was, she could still be proactive when faced with specific circumstances.

Like right now.

Interacting more with Takasaki, leaving a deep impression on him, and having a chance to be recorded in Takasaki's diary so she could receive rewards and grow stronger.

This temptation was hard to resist, no matter how conservative she was.

So much so that Takasaki was almost in a daze as he listened to her finish these words.

The reason Takasaki was stunned was that he truly hadn't expected Kurenai Yuhi to take the initiative to hug him.

The small hand that had been rubbing his palm with a soft, warm touch back in the exam room was now gently wrapped around his waist, patting his back rhythmically as if to comfort him. "I hope my hug can make you feel that there is still love here in the Leaf Village."

Takasaki certainly felt the love.

He didn't know what state of mind Kurenai Yuhi was in at that moment, but he found it incredibly stimulating.

Every time Kurenai Yuhi's palm patted his back, he felt his heartbeat quicken by a beat.

This sensation wasn't like the shy, ambiguous feeling he got when interacting with Hinata, nor was it like the fiery, bold nature of Ino; instead, it felt like a caress from an older sister.

If Takasaki had been harboring any emotional wounds, this caress might truly have been enough to heal them.

However, Takasaki's mental state was perfectly fine; he had no such trauma.

After all, he was a transmigrator who had also obtained a system cheat.

Especially now, Takasaki felt not only at ease in his mind but also very comfortable in his body.

What Takasaki didn't know was that while Kurenai Yuhi was gently hugging and comforting him, her own heart was beating faster and faster.

Her cheeks were growing hot, bit by bit.

Women, after all, are emotional creatures; they don't care about logic, only feelings.

Not to mention that this was Takasaki's first close embrace with a member of the opposite sex since transmigrating, it was actually her first time as well.

"Kurenai Yuhi, thank you." A bold idea suddenly crossed Takasaki's mind.

Since it was a hug of love, it should be a mutual embrace.

If he took the initiative to reach out under these circumstances, Kurenai Yuhi would surely tacitly consent, right?

The problem was, just as he tentatively lifted his lowered hands to reach for the waist wrapped in her vibrant red robe, the sensation of her palm patting his back ceased.

Kurenai Yuhi let go of Takasaki. "You should go now; I need to grade the exams for the other classes."

"Kurenai Yuhi, thank you." Takasaki sighed inwardly and bowed politely to her.

He turned to open the door and was about to walk out when Kurenai Yuhi suddenly called out to him, "Takasaki, wait a moment."

"What is it?"

"Just a reminder: as the class dead-last, your passing the written portion of today's Graduation Exam will surprise many people. Therefore, many will definitely be watching you during the ninjutsu test in ten days. I might not be able to help you much with that, so I hope you will work hard to pass."

"I will, Kurenai Yuhi." Takasaki nodded gratefully before finally leaving.

After Takasaki left, Kurenai Yuhi's private office fell silent.

She took a stack of exams from her drawer and held a red pen, but she had no heart for grading.

It's a good thing I ended the hug with Takasaki just in time, otherwise, he might have seen me looking so unsightly.

Kurenai Yuhi looked at a small mirror standing on her desk.

In the reflection, her cheeks were flushed with a faint crimson.

Even though she was ten years older than Takasaki, and even though she had just acted like an intellectual older sister in front of him, there was still a little girl living in her heart.

She had managed to restrain herself from blushing when holding a boy's hand for the first time, but when it came to hugging one, she ultimately found it difficult to hide her physiological reaction.

She closed the office door and, after making sure the curtains were drawn, took her Diary out from her consciousness space to browse through it.

Finding no new entries, Kurenai Yuhi murmured, "When will Takasaki write his third diary entry?"

She sat back down in her office chair, crossed her legs, and tapped her foot, ripples of anticipation stirring in her heart. "Takasaki's next diary entry should mention my name more than once, right?"

If a name is mentioned five or more times, one can receive a reward.

If a name is mentioned the most, there is an additional bonus.

In the last entry, the person who received the extra bonus was Hinata; it would be a lie to say Kurenai Yuhi wasn't envious.

As she graded the papers, Kurenai Yuhi muttered to herself, "I hope that in the next entry, the reward I receive is greater than Hinata's."

A smile hung on her face, and she suddenly recalled the feeling of hugging Takasaki just moments ago.

A faint blush crept onto her face once more, unbidden.