The Involution Storm

Shinku Yuhi looked at his daughter like this, feeling both gratified and conflicted.

He was gratified that his daughter had found a goal and was willing to take the initiative to grow stronger.

What complicated things was that his precious little cabbage really seemed about to be claimed by a pig.

Though that pig sounded rather talented.

Shinku Yuhi coughed lightly.

"So you want to become stronger because of him?"

Kurenai Yuhi did not deny it again.

She lowered her head and clenched her fingers, her voice soft but resolute.

"I don't want him to leave me too far behind."

"I want to be able to stand by his side someday."

Shinku Yuhi fell silent for a moment.

That answer moved him more than simple competitiveness would have.

Kurenai had always been sensible and hardworking since she was little.

But this was the first time she had proactively asked for extra training like this.

Shinku Yuhi nodded.

"Alright. I'll teach you."

Kurenai Yuhi looked up, delight appearing on her face.

"Really?"

"Of course."

Shinku Yuhi looked at her.

"However, I'll also be taking a good look at that Fang Xu."

"If he can make my daughter care about him this much, I need to know what he's made of."

Kurenai Yuhi's cheeks reddened again.

"Father..."

Shinku Yuhi stopped teasing her, his tone turning serious.

"Also, Kurenai, training isn't just talk."

"It'll be very hard from here on."

"Whether it's genjutsu, taijutsu, or chakra control, none of them will make you stronger easily."

"Since you've said it, you're not allowed to give up halfway."

Early the next morning, Fang Xu went out for his usual morning training.

The sky had not fully brightened yet, and only scattered pedestrians walked Konoha's streets.

He jogged along his familiar route, keeping his breathing steady.

After this period of Lightning Body Tempering and swordsmanship training, he was no longer left gasping after just two laps like he had been at the beginning.

His physical foundation was still not particularly strong, but his improvement was obvious.

As he began his second lap, a clear voice suddenly called out from behind him.

"Fang Xu!"

Fang Xu slowed down and turned around.

Kurenai Yuhi hurriedly caught up from behind.

She had changed into training clothes that allowed easy movement, her black hair tied up. A fine sheen of sweat covered her forehead, and her pretty face was flushed from running.

"Morning, Kurenai."

Fang Xu was somewhat surprised.

"What are you doing here?"

Kurenai Yuhi took a couple of breaths, trying hard to steady them.

"I want to do morning training too."

Fang Xu smiled. "So motivated all of a sudden?"

Kurenai Yuhi's face reddened a little more, but she did not avoid his gaze.

"Not exactly all of a sudden."

"After you fought Asuma yesterday, I thought about a lot."

"You've been improving too quickly lately. I don't want you to leave me too far behind."

She paused, her voice becoming more serious.

"Besides, I want to become a great kunoichi like Lady Tsunade."

Fang Xu looked at her.

Her eyes shone when she said it. She was not merely saying it casually.

Of course, Fang Xu could tell that Kurenai Yuhi's attitude toward him had changed.

From being desk mates at the start, to her concern over the past few days, to her proactively joining him for morning training today, her affection was already obvious.

Fang Xu did not play dumb either.

Kurenai Yuhi was beautiful and had a good personality. She was serious and gentle.

When a girl like that took the initiative to get close to him, it was not as if he were made of wood.

But they were both still young, and the Shinobi World was unstable. There was no need to make certain things clear just yet.

Fang Xu slowed down and ran beside her.

"Getting stronger isn't a bad thing."

"If you're a little stronger, then at least you'll have a better chance of protecting yourself when danger comes."

"The Shinobi World hasn't been peaceful lately. No one can say what missions or wars might come in the future."

Kurenai Yuhi nodded lightly.

"My father said the same thing."

"He said female ninja need to learn how to protect themselves even more. They can't rely solely on others."

As she said that, she glanced at Fang Xu, her tone carrying a touch of embarrassment.

"So for our morning training from now on, I'll have to trouble you to look after me."

Fang Xu smiled.

"We'll look after each other."

Kurenai Yuhi's lips curved upward.

The two did not say much else as they continued jogging along Konoha's outskirts.

The morning breeze swept through the streets. Their footsteps, initially one before the other, gradually fell into stride side by side.

By the time they finished the final stretch, Kurenai Yuhi's forehead was covered in sweat from exhaustion.

Fang Xu handed her his water flask.

"Don't push yourself too hard on your first morning run."

Kurenai Yuhi accepted the water and said softly, "I'll keep at it."

Fang Xu nodded.

"Then see you tomorrow morning."

Kurenai Yuhi looked up at him, a smile in her red eyes.

"See you tomorrow morning."

That morning, in the Ninja Academy classroom.

As soon as Kurenai Yuhi sat down, Rin Nohara leaned over.

"Kurenai, why did you arrive a little later than usual today?"

Kurenai Yuhi paused while arranging her textbooks.

"I went for morning training."

Rin Nohara froze.

"Morning training?"

"Mm."

Kurenai Yuhi nodded.

"I ran a few laps with Fang Xu."

Rin Nohara's eyes immediately lit up.

"You two were together?"

Kurenai Yuhi's cheeks reddened slightly, but she still said, "He's been training every morning lately. I felt that I couldn't keep slacking off, so I went too."

Rin Nohara looked toward Fang Xu's seat.

Fang Xu had just sat down and opened his textbook, as though he had not heard their conversation.

But Rin Nohara was deeply stirred.

She could clearly see how much stronger Fang Xu had become.

Kurenai Yuhi had started working hard too.

If she continued at her old pace, she would fall behind sooner or later.

Rin Nohara said seriously, "Kurenai, then I'll go tomorrow too."

Kurenai Yuhi was somewhat surprised.

"Rin, you're coming too?"

"Mm."

Rin Nohara nodded with a smile.

"I want to become stronger too."

"I can't keep being protected by everyone."

Kurenai Yuhi smiled.

"Then we'll go together tomorrow."

Asuma heard every word of that conversation.

He sat not far away, nearly snapping the pen in his hand. Kurenai had actually gone for morning training because of Fang Xu—and she had trained with Fang Xu too.

Asuma felt terribly bitter inside.

But when he remembered how Fang Xu had instantly defeated him yesterday, he could not bring himself to say anything harsh.

A loss was a loss. No amount of stubborn talk could change that.

"I can't slack off anymore."

Asuma lowered his head and gritted his teeth.

"I'll definitely catch up to Fang Xu."

Elsewhere, when Obito heard that Rin Nohara would be doing morning training tomorrow too, he immediately perked up.

"Rin is going to morning training too?"

He had originally planned to sleep a little more during the lunch break.

Now all his drowsiness was gone.

Rin was going to work hard, so how could he keep falling behind?

Obito clenched his fists and silently swore to himself.

"I'm going tomorrow too!"

"I absolutely can't let Rin think I'm not working hard!"