The Headband Is Mine, and Kurenai Yuhi Came Bearing Gifts

Naruto abruptly raised his head, his blue eyes already brimming with tears.

At a glance, he saw the Konoha forehead protector casually tied around Sen's left arm.

The tears that had been swirling in his eyes instantly burst free.

"Big brother..."

Naruto sniffled, his voice thick with grievance and unwillingness.

"Even you graduated, but I'm the only one who failed. I'm really so stupid..."

He vigorously wiped his face, but only left an even more obvious streak of mud across his dirty little cheeks.

"Iruka-sensei said that anyone who can't even use the Clone Technique doesn't deserve to be a ninja, much less Naruto."

Sen found Naruto's dejected appearance rather amusing.

The kid looked like a stray dog that had been abandoned by its owner.

But Sen was a transmigrator who knew the plot.

He knew perfectly well that tonight would bring the first major turning point in this kid's life.

That sinister Mizuki would soon trick him into stealing the Scroll of Seals.

Then came the glorious debut of the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique.

"Alright, quit howling. You're giving me a headache."

Sen rubbed his ears and casually patted Naruto's shoulder twice.

"It's just a lousy piece of metal. What's there to cry about?"

"Remember what your big brother tells you: don't go to sleep too early tonight."

Sen leaned closer, a mysterious smile curling across his lips.

"Something good will happen."

With that, he ignored Naruto's baffled expression, shoved his hands into his pockets, and strolled toward the school gate.

"Something good? What kind of something good, big brother? Explain yourself!"

Naruto shouted after him, but Sen did not even look back. He merely waved a hand casually.

The moment he stepped out of the school gates—

Sen spotted Kurenai Yuhi standing beneath a large tree by the roadside.

She was not wearing her sharp combat attire today, instead having changed into a casual white dress.

Her soft, curly red hair draped over her shoulders, and the setting sun made her look especially gentle and beautiful.

Quite a few young male ninjas passing by could not help repeatedly looking back, their eyes full of amazement.

Kurenai was also carrying a heavily wrapped, long rectangular box that looked quite weighty.

"Kurenai-senpai?"

Sen walked over, raising his brows in surprise.

"Didn't you leave just a little while ago? Why did you come back?"

When Kurenai saw Sen, her eyes lit up, and she approached him with a smile.

"I was in such a hurry when I left that I forgot to give you this."

She handed the heavy box to Sen.

"Here. Congratulations on graduating. This is your graduation gift from your senpai."

Sen froze for a moment before instinctively accepting the box.

Damn, it was pretty heavy!

"What is this? Why's it so heavy? Don't tell me it's a dumbbell?"

While grumbling, Sen quickly tore off the wrapping.

When he saw what was inside, his perpetually sleepy eyes instantly widened.

Inside the box lay a set of equipment.

A large parasol with exquisite workmanship, a sturdy frame, and a canopy made from special sunproof material.

And a foldable premium lounge chair that looked extremely ergonomic, complete with a soft cushion!

"Holy shit!"

Sen could not help blurting out a curse.

This had gone straight to his heart!

He had just been considering buying a set of gear, yet Kurenai-senpai had taken care of everything for him—and it was obviously high-end stuff.

"Well? Do you like it?"

Seeing Sen's eyes gleaming, Kurenai could not help covering her mouth as she laughed.

"I heard you say during the exam that your dream was to become a tree-planting ninja and bask in the sun every day."

"I thought that if you're going to be out in the sun, you should at least have professional equipment."

"I specially had this custom-made at the best ninja tool shop in the village. The canopy doesn't just block sunlight—it can keep off light rain too."

Sen was so moved that he nearly gave Kurenai-senpai a huge hug.

Not only was this senpai beautiful, she was also so damn considerate.

Whoever married her would have smoke rising from their ancestors' graves.

"I love it! Kurenai-senpai, you really are my soulmate!"

Without the slightest restraint, Sen took out the lounge chair and parasol, weighing them in his hands with obvious affection.

"With this set of gear, my slacker lifestyle is definitely going up several levels."

Kurenai helplessly shook her head at Sen's pathetic display.

"You really have made slacking off your lifelong pursuit."

She sighed softly, a trace of complicated regret flashing through her eyes.

"Actually... I went to see Lord Naruto today."

Kurenai tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and her tone became somewhat subdued.

"I asked Lord Naruto to let me become the jonin instructor for your class."

Sen stopped fiddling with the lounge chair and looked at her in surprise.

"You'd lead us? That would be great."

"Following senpai would definitely be more interesting than following a bunch of rough men."

"But Lord Naruto refused."

Kurenai gave a bitter smile, her eyes full of helplessness.

"Lord Naruto said your situation is rather special. Although my genjutsu is strong, I... can't keep you under control."

She raised her head and looked deeply at Sen.

"Sen, what did Lord Naruto mean by that? Just how strong are you?"

"Even I, a newly promoted jonin, can't keep a genin who just graduated in check?"

Sen felt a little guilty beneath Kurenai's direct gaze.

That old Third Hokage really had a loose mouth. Wasn't he just making enemies for him?

"Come on, the old man was just talking nonsense."

Sen hurriedly laughed it off, trying to muddle through.

"He probably thinks I'm too lazy normally and is afraid I'll annoy you to death, so he won't let you lead me."

"You're so gentle, senpai. How could you possibly fail to keep me in line, right?"

He flashed Kurenai an extremely fawning grin.

Kurenai rolled her eyes at him, knowing the kid was spouting nonsense again.

"Alright, stop trying to sweet-talk me."

Kurenai patted Sen on the shoulder, her tone returning to its usual lightness.

"Since Lord Naruto has made arrangements, just do your best with your assigned instructor."

"No matter who leads you, come find me anytime you run into trouble in the village."

"Yeah. Thanks, Kurenai-senpai."

This time, Sen did not brush it off. He nodded seriously.

"Alright, hurry and join your graduation dinner. Don't keep your classmates waiting."

Kurenai waved, turning to leave.

"Hey, senpai, wait a second."

Sen suddenly called out to her.

After rummaging through his pockets for a while, he pulled out a palm-sized wooden plaque with somewhat rough carvings.

The plaque had been grown using the purest Divine Tree chakra within his body, and it contained an immense vitality.

"Take this."

Sen tossed the wooden plaque to Kurenai.

"I carved this protective charm myself. If you get injured during a mission in the future, or run out of chakra—"

"Crush this plaque. It could save your life."

Kurenai caught the plaque and felt the warm yet powerful aura of life emanating from it. She froze slightly.

She did not refuse it, instead solemnly putting the wooden plaque into her ninja tool pouch.

"Thank you. I'll keep it safe."

Kurenai gave him a dazzling smile, beautiful beyond compare beneath the setting sun.

"I'm off, junior."

Only after watching Kurenai walk away did Sen hoist the luxurious lounge chair over his shoulder and carry the parasol.

Like a retired old man heading to the beach for a vacation, he slowly made his way toward Barbecue Q.

"Even Kurenai-senpai, a jonin, can't keep me in check?"

As he walked, Sen pondered the old Third Hokage's words.

"Looks like that old fox really intends to find someone formidable as my team instructor."

"Who could it be?"

"Asuma? That guy's a chain-smoker. We definitely wouldn't get along."

"Might Guy? Holy shit, absolutely not. I'm afraid that hot-blooded beast would drag me around the village every day, running laps while doing handstands!"

The more Sen thought about it, the more his head hurt. It felt as though a shadow had fallen over his wonderful slacker life.

"Forget it. I won't think about it. I'll deal with whatever comes my way."

"Whoever it is, when we go on missions, I'll just set up my lounge chair and let him fight to the death by himself."

Having made up his mind, Sen quickened his pace.

The sign for Barbecue Q had already appeared at the end of his line of sight.

From far away, he could hear bursts of excited noise coming from inside.

Tonight's bill would be covered entirely by their homeroom teacher, Iruka.

"Perfect. I'm hungry anyway."

Sen rubbed his flat stomach, a green gleam flashing in his eyes.

"I still haven't fully tested the Divine Tree Origin's passive digestion ability."

"Iruka-sensei, tonight..."

"You'd better keep a tight grip on your wallet."