"Diving into my cozy little bed, where there's never a traffic jam~"
After a long journey back to Konoha, Genye didn't even eat. He went straight to bed, pulled up the covers, and had a nice, long sleep.
(¦3[▓▓]
The next day, the moment Genye opened his eyes, three stern faces crowded into view.
Σ(っ°Д°;)っ
"Holy crap, how did you three get in here?" Genye asked, pretending to be frightened.
In truth, he'd watched the three of them climb over the wall just moments ago.
(ಡωಡ)
That idiot Obito had even tripped and landed flat on his face. Genye had tried very hard not to laugh out loud.
╭(╯^╰)╮
Rin gave a quiet snort, planted her hands on her hips, and looked at Genye. "Genye, don't you think you owe us an explanation?"
"Fine." Genye scratched his head, sat up in bed, and said solemnly, "The truth is, this is what happened."
"With the nations constantly at war, I was worried your mission might be dangerous, so I secretly followed you for a while. I used the Byakugan to spy on your target, and then... (800 words omitted)..."
"That explanation mostly makes sense." After hearing Genye out, Kakashi furrowed his brow. "But why hide your strength and act behind the village's back?"
"ε=(´ο｀*))) Ah, that's because..."
Genye sighed, removed his Forehead Protector, and revealed his smooth forehead.
"Genye, the blue mark on your forehead is gone!" Rin exclaimed, her mouth falling open.
"Mm-hmm, mm-hmm!" Obito nodded repeatedly in agreement. He'd just bitten his tongue, so he was having a little trouble speaking clearly.
A scheming frog keeps rubbing your belly!
"I understand!" Kakashi's face immediately lit up with 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 Family finds out, the entire Hyuga Clan—or even the village—might hunt you down! That's why you've been forced to hide your strength!"
Genye nodded vigorously. "Ah, yes, exactly!"
Talking to smart people really saved time. Give them a starting point, and they'd fill in a whole plausible explanation on their own.
"So Genye really risked his life to come save us!" Tears welled in Rin's eyes.
Obito's eyes were brimming with tears too. Genye really did care about him! He could cry!
It was all worth it, opening his Three-Tomoe Sharingan for Genye.
"So please keep this secret for me. Otherwise, my life really could be in danger," Genye said with a bitter smile.
"Don't worry. We'll keep it secret," Kakashi said firmly.
After the battle at Kannabi Bridge, his comrades had come to mean more to him than the rules.
"That's right, Genye. We won't tell anyone!" Rin said with certainty.
Obito: "Mm-hmm, mm-hmm!"
Looking at their resolute faces, Genye secretly chuckled. He'd earned himself another wave of goodwill. Not bad at all.
"Thank you so much for saving us, Genye."
Rin stood and bowed slightly to Genye. "I can't imagine what it would feel like to lose Obito. Thank you for saving him."
"Rin..." Obito looked at her back and smiled blissfully.
That was right. It was wonderful to be alive. Now he could keep protecting Rin!
"Hmm, if I remember correctly, the Yuhi Clan estate should be in this direction."
That afternoon, Genye went out, bought some gifts, and headed through the village toward the bamboo grove in the east.
It had been so long since he'd seen Kurenai. The last time was... uh, last time.
"Sheltered by hills and streams, hidden among lush greenery, with rippling water, a faint fragrance, and birdsong. The Yuhi Clan sure knows how to live."
As he strolled through the bamboo grove, Genye mused to himself, unaware that the Yuhi Clan lived there only because they couldn't afford a place in the bustling part of town.
Rustle, rustle~
The Yuhi Clan estate was just ahead, but suddenly a strange gust swept through the bamboo grove. Leaves spiraled up from the ground and obscured Genye's vision.
In the next instant, the leaves in the air twisted together against all reason, forming a human shape. Their features and colors grew more vivid until they took the form of Yuhi Shinku.
"Who goes there?" Yuhi Shinku dropped from the air and demanded, full of authority.
"Good day, Lord Yuhi." Genye recognized him at a glance and greeted him with an unruffled smile.
"I'm Hyuga Genye, Kurenai's classmate. It's been a long time, so I thought I'd come by for a visit."
Yuhi Shinku sized Genye up and replied expressionlessly, "Kurenai isn't home. Please leave."
"But Kurenai is clearly home. I saw her," Genye said earnestly, simply stating what he'd observed.
"..." Yuhi Shinku's face darkened. Not bothering to waste any more words on Genye, he cast a genjutsu to "ask" him to leave.
One second passed.
Five seconds passed.
Ten seconds passed, and nothing happened.
The two stared at each other. Things grew awkward.
This kid's got strong mental energy. He wasn't even affected by the casual genjutsu I just used? In that case...
He'd meant to shoo Genye away without any trouble, but he'd failed. Yuhi Shinku immediately got serious.
"Get lost!" Shinku formed Hand Seals and unleashed his full power in a genjutsu.
He was the strongest genjutsu user in Konoha, after all. Even Lord Hokage had praised his genjutsu to the skies. Dealing with some young brat should have been a piece of ca—
"Lord Yuhi, why are you pointing the Tiger Seal at my face?"
Genye stared at Yuhi Shinku with wide, bewildered eyes.
(ÒωÓױ)! What?!
Yuhi Shinku was dumbfounded. It was one thing for his casual genjutsu to fail, but his full-powered genjutsu hadn't worked on the boy either?!
How... how was that possible?!
The Byakugan could break genjutsu, but judging by the boy's reaction, he hadn't been affected in the slightest!
Yuhi Shinku was both shocked and suspicious. His face had become impossible to save, and he didn't know how to explain what he'd just done. For a moment, he could only stand there frozen.
"Looks like you don't welcome me. In that case, I'll be going," Genye said.
He'd noticed Yuhi Shinku's embarrassment. He shrugged and turned to leave.
After all, this might be his future father-in-law. He'd better give the old man an out before the embarrassment made him ill.
Honestly, Yuhi Shinku's genjutsu probably wasn't even better than Obito's at this point. And he thought he could affect Genye?
Dream on!
Genye missed Kurenai, but he wasn't in a hurry.
Yuhi Shinku had to leave the house sometime. Wasn't that five-kilometer range of his ocular technique meant for something?
He could just sneak straight into her room!
"That kid at least knows when to quit."
Watching Genye leave, Yuhi Shinku felt a little better about him.
Such powerful mental energy. He'd be a fine prospect for learning genjutsu. What a shame he was a civilian...
Yuhi Shinku shook his head and lamented the missed opportunity.
If the boy weren't from the Hyuga Branch Family, perhaps he could have considered bringing him into the Yuhi Clan as a son-in-law. What a shame.
"Wait!" Yuhi Shinku suddenly realized something.
If the boy hadn't been affected by his genjutsu, then when he'd hidden himself with an illusion at first, crept up to Genye on tiptoe, and then leaped out at him...
Hadn't that made him look really stupid?!
Realizing that Genye had seen him hunched over and sneaking around like a clown, Yuhi Shinku nearly died on the spot.
"Hyuga Genye, you'll never see my daughter again!"
(Just how awkward it gets when you remove the special effects.)
That evening, while Yuhi Shinku was out, Genye used the Body Flicker Technique to slip right into his daughter's bedroom.
What a joke. Why should you get to decide what your daughter does? I decide!
"Long time no see, Kurenai."
Looking at Yuhi Kurenai with her back turned to him, Genye called out suddenly, just to tease her.
"Ah!" Yuhi Kurenai jumped in fright and spun around. But when she saw it was Genye, her face immediately lit up with delight.
"Genye, what are you doing here? How... how did you get in?"
The Yuhi Clan estate was protected by an illusion array formed by the unusual arrangement of plants and walls. Even an ordinary jōnin might not be able to break in.
"I'll show you." Genye took Kurenai's hand and grinned as he demonstrated. "I just went whoosh, and I was inside."
"Genye, I missed you so much! But, but..." Yuhi Kurenai threw her arms around him, tears already falling before she could get the words out.
"Kurenai, it's been a long time. You've grown again," Genye said as he felt her soft warmth against him.
"...Genye! You're the worst!"
Yuhi Kurenai, both embarrassed and exasperated, pushed him away. Her joy at seeing him vanished with a pop.
"Haha."
Genye laughed, pulled her back into his arms, gently patted her softness, and murmured reassuringly.
"Don't worry, Kurenai. In another two years, everything will be different."
Kurenai looked up from Genye's arms, her beautiful eyes full of hope. "Really, Genye?"
"Of course. When have I ever lied to you?" Genye said with a smile, poking Yuhi Kurenai lightly on the forehead.
"Oh, there's one more thing. Write down what time your dad leaves the house, and I'll come see you whenever I get the chance!"
Before you continue