Kurenai Yuhi Was a Freak

"But come to think of it, when did you learn that technique?"

Mitarashi Anko looked at Kazan's Shadow Clones, her face full of surprise.

If she remembered correctly, this kind of solid clone came from the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique created by the Second. It was A-rank Ninjutsu.

Kazan spent every day practicing his punches. She had never heard of him training in Ninjutsu, so how had he suddenly mastered such an advanced technique?

"Want to know?"

"I don't!"

Anko refused to take the bait. She knew perfectly well that if she said yes, Kazan would refuse to tell her.

She was clever, but not clever enough. Kazan had another move.

"Then I won't tell you."

So you wouldn't tell me whether I wanted to know or not?

Anko gritted her teeth and glared at Kazan.

Kurenai Yuhi covered her mouth and laughed. She looked adorable.

Even as a child, Kurenai had been the prettiest girl in class. She was, after all, destined to become one of the Hokage world's most famous beauties.

She walked over to Kazan and asked quietly, "Why are you fighting again?"

Kazan pointed to the side. "I'm not the original. That one is."

"Liar. You're the original. You can't fool me." She narrowed her eyes and smiled, utterly unconvinced.

Anko couldn't tell them apart, but Kazan's expression proved Kurenai right. "Kurenai, how did you know this one was the original?"

"Because this Kazan is the cleanest. Aside from training, Kazan isn't interested in much." She turned to him. "Am I right?"

You're a real freak, Kurenai. You pay that much attention to him? That's more than a simple crush.

Anko spared Asuma a second of sympathy.

"You still haven't told me why you fought Jing Uchiha. You fought Kakashi before, too."

"No reason. I happened to see him and felt like a fight." Kazan tossed out an excuse.

Kurenai could tell he didn't want to talk about it, so she didn't press him. Instead, she asked, "So the Kazan at the Ninja Academy today was a Shadow Clone too?"

"Huh? Kazan, you actually send a Shadow Clone to class?"

Before Kazan could answer, Anko burst out in surprise again.

"Could you stop making a fuss over everything?" Kazan rolled his eyes at her, then looked back at Kurenai.

How had he never noticed before? This girl was far too observant.

He didn't ask how she had figured it out. He only said, "Keep it a secret for me. The classes at the Ninja Academy don't do much for me. I need that time for other things."

"No problem. Anko won't tell anyone either, right?"

She was still smiling, but somehow Anko couldn't refuse her.

"...Fine. I'll keep his secret."

For the first time, Anko found her best friend a little scary.

Kurenai's smile returned to normal.

"I'll help you too, Kazan. Anko, you can head back first."

Once she helped Kazan finish the punishment Lord Hokage had given him, they could naturally go to dinner together.

That settles it.

Kurenai had it all planned out.

Anko was standing right beside them, yet a sudden wave of loneliness washed over her.

"What is this disgusting feeling?"

She couldn't figure it out, so she left.

In the end, Kurenai got her wish and had dinner with Kazan. The location, though, took her by surprise.

"...This is where you usually eat?"

Wasn't this a bit extreme?

If she remembered right, this was the Forest of Death, a forbidden area of the village!

"Yeah. To thank you for helping me with the work, I'll make an exception today and take you hunting. Let's go." Kazan grinned.

"Wha—"

Kurenai let out a startled little cry as she felt herself being lifted.

It was no romantic princess carry. Kazan tucked her under one arm at his waist, then leaped into the Forest of Death with her.

The first thing she saw inside was an enormous Tiger. Her legs nearly gave out on the spot.

But what happened next was even harder to believe.

Kazan stroked the fierce Tiger's fur as if he were a pet, and the beast looked like he was enjoying it.

Then Kazan set her on the Tiger's back, and she rode "Hakimi," as Kazan called him, deep into the Forest of Death.

A short while later.

Boom!

A thunderous crash rang through the forest as an absurdly large cow toppled to the ground.

"You're lucky today. It's usually hard to find a cow."

Kazan didn't mention why cows were getting harder to find. He just called it luck.

A little later.

Kurenai took the meat Kazan handed her.

Her head was still spinning. What she had seen today had shaken her view of the world.

While she and the others spent their days laughing and playing, Kazan had to hunt in the Forest of Death every day just to eat his fill.

It must be so hard for him.

She had her mother and father to protect her. Kazan only had himself.

And he had such a huge appetite...

"It must be hard, isn't it?"

The question came out of nowhere. Kazan looked into Kurenai's eyes and saw concern there.

Kids in this world sure have a flair for drama.

He shook his head. "It's fine. I started out hunting around the edges. The Forest of Death isn't as dangerous as you think."

Kurenai said nothing. She just lowered her head and ate.

Kazan really is amazing.

She and the others still depended on their parents to get by, while Kazan had been independent since he was little.

Asuma Sarutobi was the worst of them. He was always saying bad things about Kazan just because his father was the Hokage.

Asuma hadn't really done anything to her, but Kurenai simply didn't like him.

After a while, Kazan patted his full stomach.

"Had enough? I'll take you home."

"Okay!"

Kurenai's home was some distance from the Forest of Death.

Her father was a master of Genjutsu in Konoha. Setting aside the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan and its natural Genjutsu abilities, Shinku Yuhi was the strongest Genjutsu Ninja in Konoha.

He was also an instructor for Konoha's Chunin and Genin, and held a fairly high position in the village.

That was why Kurenai lived in Konoha's busiest district.

"I'll head inside, then. See you tomorrow."

"Mm."

You'll be seeing my Shadow Clone tomorrow.

Kazan left as soon as he had taken her home.

When he got back, he checked the system, but what he had hoped for wasn't there.

Apparently, defeating Jing Uchiha alone wasn't enough to complete the second achievement.

It made sense. Jing might be an Uchiha, but Kakashi was the most outstanding Genius of their generation. There was a clear gap between them.

"Still, Kakashi graduated at five. Nobody's going to break that record, even in the future."

"I'll go fight Asuka Hyuga tomorrow and see if that completes the achievement."

As for what Hiruzen Sarutobi had said?

He dismissed it on the spot.

"If he wants to win me over, he'll have to try harder than that."

"I'm not Naruto!"