31. Angering the Future Father-in-Law?

"Crawling into my beloved little quilt, it never gets stuck in traffic."

After the exhausting journey back to Konoha, Hyuga Genya didn't even bother to eat. He went straight to bed, pulled up his covers, and enjoyed a wonderful sleep.

(¦3[▓▓]

The next day, the moment Xuanye opened his eyes, three unfriendly, oversized faces were pressed right up against his.

Σ(っ°Д°;)っ

"What the hell? How did you three get in here!" Xuanye asked, feigning terror.

In reality, he had seen the entire process of the three of them climbing over his wall.

(ಡωಡ)

Obito, that idiot, had even tripped and face-planted, and Xuanye had really struggled to keep from laughing out loud.

╭(╯^╰)╮

Rin let out a soft huff, hands on her hips as she glared at Xuanye. "Xuanye-kun, don't you think you owe us an explanation?"

"Alright." Xuanye scratched his head, sat up in bed, and said with a serious expression, "Actually, it happened like this."

"With the constant wars between nations, I was worried you might be in danger during this mission, so I quietly followed you for a while. I used my Byakugan to peek at your mission objectives, and then..." (800 words omitted).

"That explains things in general, I suppose." After listening to Xuanye's account, Kakashi furrowed his brows. "But why did you hide your strength and act behind the village's back?"

"ε=(ο｀*))) Sigh, that's because..."

Xuanye sighed, took off his forehead protector, and revealed his smooth, unblemished forehead.

"Xuanye-kun, the blue mark on your forehead is gone!" Rin gasped, her jaw dropping in shock.

"Mmh-mmh-mmh!" Obito nodded repeatedly in agreement; he had bitten his tongue earlier, so his speech was a bit slurred.

The truth is always one!

"I understand now!" Kakashi's expression suddenly shifted to one of realization. "You somehow broke through the restrictions of the Caged Bird Seal, which is why you've become so strong."

"But if the Hyuga main branch finds out about this, you'll likely be hunted down by the entire Hyuga Clan, or even the village! That's why you were forced to hide your strength!"

Xuanye nodded frantically. "Ah, yes, yes, yes! That's exactly how it is!"

Talking to smart people really saves so much effort; you just provide the opening, and they fill in a perfectly logical explanation for you.

"In other words, Xuanye-kun really risked his life to save us!" Rin's eyes welled up with tears of gratitude.

Obito was also teary-eyed. As expected, Xuanye cared about him—he was so moved he could die!

It was worth it that he had awakened his three-tomoe Sharingan for Xuanye's sake.

"So, please, keep this secret for me, or I really will be in mortal danger," Xuanye said with a bitter smile.

"Don't worry, we will definitely keep your secret!" Kakashi said with ironclad resolve.

After the battle at Kannabi Bridge, the importance of his comrades had surpassed any regulation in his heart.

"That's right, Xuanye-kun, we won't tell anyone!" Rin added firmly.

Obito: "Mmh-mmh, mmh-mmh!"

Watching the three of them look so determined, Xuanye chuckled to himself. He'd farmed another wave of favorability—not bad at all.

"Thank you so much this time, Xuanye-kun."

Rin stood up and gave a slight bow toward Xuanye. "I can't imagine what it would be like to lose Obito-kun. Thank you for saving him."

"Rin-chan." Obito looked at Rin's back, a blissful smile spreading across his face.

Yes, it was so good to be alive; he could continue to protect Rin-chan!

"Hmm, if I remember correctly, the Yuhi Clan estate should be in this direction."

That afternoon, Xuanye headed out, bought some gifts in town, and walked toward the bamboo forest on the east side of the village.

It had been far too long since he'd seen Kurenai. The last time he saw her was... well, last time.

"Hidden by the mountain stream, tucked away in the deep emerald green, with babbling water, faint fragrance, and the chirping of birds—the Yuhi Clan certainly has refined tastes."

Strolling through the bamboo forest, Xuanye mused to himself, unaware that the only reason the Yuhi Clan lived here was because they couldn't afford a place in the bustling center.

Rustle, rustle~

The Yuhi estate was right before his eyes, but just then, a strange gust of wind swept through the bamboo forest, whipping up fallen leaves and obscuring Xuanye's vision.

The next moment, the bamboo leaves in the air defied logic, twisting and tangling together to form a human shape. The form and color grew increasingly vivid and lifelike until it transformed into the appearance of Yuhi Shinku.

"Who goes there?" Yuhi Shinku descended from the air, speaking with an imposing aura.

"Greetings, Yuhi-sama." Xuanye recognized him instantly and smiled, neither servile nor overbearing.

"I am Hyuga Genya, a classmate of Kurenai's. It's been a long time, so I thought I'd pay a visit today."

Yuhi Shinku scrutinized Xuanye for a moment, then said expressionlessly, "Kurenai is not home. Please leave."

"But Kurenai is clearly at home; I can see her," Xuanye said matter-of-factly, his expression entirely sincere.

"..." Yuhi Shinku's aged face darkened. Too lazy to waste any more breath on Xuanye, he directly unleashed a genjutsu to "invite" him to leave.

One second passed.

Five seconds passed.

Ten seconds passed, and absolutely nothing happened.

The two stared at each other, the atmosphere turning somewhat awkward.

This brat's mental energy isn't weak; he's actually unaffected by a genjutsu I cast so casually? In that case...

Intending to dismiss Xuanye effortlessly, Shinku had failed, and he suddenly grew serious.

"Begone!" Shinku formed the Tiger Seal with both hands, unleashing his genjutsu with full force.

One had to understand, he was Konoha's strongest genjutsu specialist. Even the Hokage himself praised his illusions to the skies. Dealing with a mere greenhorn should have been as easy as...

"Lord Yuhi, why are you pointing the 'Tiger Seal' at my face?"

Xuanye looked at Yuhi Shinku with wide, blank eyes, his expression one of utter confusion.

(ÒωÓױ)! Nani?!

Yuhi Shinku was completely stunned. It was one thing for his casual genjutsu to fail, but for his full-powered technique to be completely ineffective against this brat?!

This... how could this be?!

Although the Byakugan possessed the ability to dispel genjutsu, judging by the boy's reaction, he clearly hadn't been affected in the slightest!

Yuhi Shinku was now both shocked and suspicious. His old face couldn't hold its composure, yet not knowing how to explain his previous actions, he remained frozen in place.

"It seems you don't welcome me. In that case, I shall take my leave."

Noticing Shinku's embarrassment, Xuanye shrugged his shoulders and turned to leave of his own accord.

After all, this man might be his future father-in-law; it was better to give him a way out rather than causing the old man to have a breakdown.

To be fair, Yuhi Shinku's genjutsu ability wasn't necessarily better than Obito's current level, so he thought he could affect him?

In his dreams!

Although Xuanye missed Kurenai, he wasn't in a rush.

Yuhi Shinku had to leave the house eventually, right? Was his five-kilometer ocular jutsu range a joke?

He could just sneak into the house and be done with it!

"This brat, at least he has some sense."

Watching Xuanye walk away, Yuhi Shinku's impression of him improved slightly.

"With such vigorous mental energy, he's a good seedling for genjutsu training. Even if he is a commoner..."

Yuhi Shinku shook his head, sighing internally.

If this boy weren't from the Hyuga branch family, he might have considered letting him marry into the Yuhi Clan. What a pity.

"Wait!" Yuhi Shinku suddenly realized something.

If this boy wasn't affected by his influence, then his earlier actions—using genjutsu to mask his presence, sneaking around like a thief to get in front of Xuanye, and then jumping out with all his might—weren't they...

Extremely pathetic?!

The moment he realized his sneaky, hunched-over, and ridiculous behavior had been seen clearly by the other party, Yuhi Shinku nearly died of shame on the spot.

"Hyuga Genya, don't you ever think about seeing my daughter again!"

(On how awkward it is when the special effects are stripped away.)

That night, catching the window of time when Yuhi Shinku left the house, Xuanye used a Body Flicker technique to enter his daughter's bedroom.

Laughable. Why should your daughter's fate be decided by you? It's decided by me!

"Long time no see, Kurenai."

Seeing Yuhi Kurenai with her back to him, Xuanye spoke up with a mischievous tone.

°.°·(((p(≧□≦)q)))·°.° Ah!

Kurenai shivered in fright and spun around instantly, but upon seeing it was Xuanye, her expression immediately turned to one of pleasant surprise.

"Xiaoye, how did you get here! You... how did you get in?"

The Yuhi Clan's estate was protected by a genjutsu formation arranged with a specific layout of plants and walls; even an ordinary Jonin might not be able to break in.

"Let me demonstrate." Xuanye took Kurenai's hand and gestured with a grin, "Just like this—whoosh—and I'm in."

"Xiaoye, I really missed you! But, but..." Kurenai hugged Xuanye, her tears flowing before she could even speak.

"Kurenai, it's been a long time. You've grown up again." Feeling the softness pressed against his chest, Xuanye remarked with genuine emotion.

"...Xuanye! You're the worst!"

Kurenai pushed Xuanye away, both shy and annoyed. The touching moment she felt for him vanished in a "pop."

"Haha."

Genye smiled and pulled Yuhi Kurenai back into his arms, gently patting the girl's soft curves as he whispered words of comfort.

"Don't worry, Kurenai. In another two years, everything will be different."

Kurenai lifted her head from Genye's embrace, her beautiful eyes filled with anticipation. "Is that true, Genye?"

"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?" Genye laughed and poked Yuhi Kurenai lightly on her forehead.

"Oh, right, there's one more thing. Write down the times your father leaves the house; I'll come to see you whenever I have the chance!"