Crouching Dragon and Fledgling Phoenix

Beside them, Asuma, his head still wrapped in bandages, leaned over with a bruised, swollen eye socket and nodded repeatedly.

Obito wiped the mud off his face with his sleeve and eagerly decided to follow along too.

Kakashi stared blankly at the broken sword hilt in his hand as he moved his feet.

And so, their five-man group came together and made its messy way toward Konoha Commercial Street.

The streets were packed with people.

As they walked, Asuma and Obito—the crouching dragon and fledgling phoenix—began exchanging romance advice so painful to listen to that it made one's head ache.

At first, Obito looked at Asuma's eye socket and couldn't help speaking up.

"Bro, looking like a pig-headed mess, and you still want to chase Kurenai? You'd better go wash up and get some sleep."

Asuma rubbed his swollen, bruised purple right eye and sucked in sharp breaths from the pain.

Yet there wasn't the slightest trace of dejection on his face. Instead, he looked positively radiant.

He deliberately lowered his voice, putting on the air of someone experienced as he imparted his wisdom to Obito in what he thought was a profound tone.

"Obito, you don't understand this."

"Kurenai hit me so hard just now, so heavily. What does that mean?"

He paused mysteriously.

"It means that deep down, she's desperately resisting the attraction of the mature manly charm I'm giving off."

"The more she resists, the more she cares."

Asuma confidently drew his conclusion.

"This is what they mean by the deeper the love, the harsher the reproach."

"I've already left an absolutely indelible mark on that woman's heart. She's about to be completely won over by me."

Hearing that, Obito refused to be outdone. He puffed out his chest and planted his hands on his hips.

He