Uchiha Homura

In the blink of an eye, ten days quietly passed.

As usual, Uchiha Yufeng traveled between the Ninja Academy, the Orphanage, and Konoha Hospital.

He stayed out late every day before returning home.

Today, as soon as he arrived at the clan compound, he saw a familiar figure pacing back and forth anxiously.

That person was Yuhi Kurenai, Uchiha Yufeng's strategic lunchbox partner.

"Kurenai, why are you here?"

When she heard Uchiha Yufeng's voice,

Yuhi Kurenai swiftly turned around and ran toward him.

"Yufeng, Anko told me something earlier. You have to take it seriously."

"What is it? You came all the way here just to wait for me?"

Seeing the worried look on Yuhi Kurenai's face, Uchiha Yufeng could not help asking.

"Tomorrow is the Practical Simulation Ranking Exam before graduation from the Ninja Academy! You know about it, right?"

Uchiha Yufeng nodded and smiled.

"Didn't you tell me about that three days ago? What is it? Did they change the date of the Ranking Match? You don't need to be this worried, do you?"

Yuhi Kurenai shook her head hard.

"I mean, how about... you take leave tomorrow?"

"?"

Uchiha Yufeng was a little bewildered by Yuhi Kurenai's pleading tone.

"Didn't you tell me to do my best three days ago? Why did you change your mind today?"

"Do you know Uchiha Homura from your clan?"

Yuhi Kurenai looked deadly serious. She leaned close to Uchiha Yufeng's ear and whispered a name.

"Uchiha Homura? Which one is he?"

Uchiha Yufeng thought about it for a long time but still could not remember anyone named Uchiha Homura.

"He's the one who kicked you into a trash can outside the classroom some time ago!"

Only after Yuhi Kurenai reminded him did Uchiha Yufeng remember.

"Oh, you mean that guy who's not too bright. I remember now. What happened to him?"

Yuhi Kurenai looked around, then leaned even closer and spoke in a low voice.

"He returned to school this afternoon. Apparently, he's already awakened the Sharingan, the Kekkei Genkai, and he said he'd teach you a lesson during the Ranking Match!"

"So... how about you take leave tomorrow, Yufeng? I don't want you getting hurt..."

As she spoke, Yuhi Kurenai's eyes gradually reddened.

In Yuhi Kurenai's understanding, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan Kekkei Genkai was extremely powerful in Konoha. Those who awakened the Sharingan were all Uchiha elites. Fighting someone with the Sharingan was on an entirely different level from fighting someone without it. There was simply no comparison.

Uchiha Yufeng understood.

So Uchiha Homura had returned to school to get revenge on him.

Uchiha Yufeng raised a hand and rubbed Yuhi Kurenai's head, comforting her.

"Don't worry. I'm not the same as I used to be!"

Suddenly, Yuhi Kurenai felt someone tap her shoulder.

She turned around blankly.

When she saw another Uchiha Yufeng, Yuhi Kurenai's eyes widened.

"Yufeng?"

"Yes."

Yuhi Kurenai turned back in a daze and saw seven or eight Uchiha Yufeng standing there, all looking at her.

Her reddened eyes were filled with shock.

"Amazing! When did you form the hand seals? And Yufeng, how did you make so many clones... You're incredible!"

"Kurenai, I've mastered the Three Basic Jutsu and other techniques over this period. With my taijutsu on top of that, I can definitely handle someone who's only just awakened the Sharingan. Don't worry!"

"Besides, Chunin and Jonin instructors will be watching the Ranking Match. Nothing will happen."

Only after hearing Uchiha Yufeng's reassurance did Yuhi Kurenai finally let out a breath.

"Yufeng, promise me you'll be extremely careful! Don't try to act tough!"

Seeing Yuhi Kurenai pouting with worry written all over her face, Uchiha Yufeng reached out and stroked her hair.

"Alright, I promise. I'll be careful!"

Seeing that the sky had already darkened, Uchiha Yufeng spoke.

"Come on, I'll walk you home!"

"No need, I can go back myself!"

Uchiha Yufeng shook his head.

"It's very dark in Konoha now. I'm afraid you'll fall on your way home!"

Yuhi Kurenai puffed up her cheeks, snorted coldly, and turned to walk outside.

"Yufeng, you jerk! You always bully me! Father said my current strength is enough for me to graduate early. How could I fall just from walking home?!"

Still, she did not continue refusing his offer to walk her home.

"I'm not bullying you. I heard that children from several households have gone missing lately..."

The two walked side by side toward the exit.

In fact, it was not just civilians. Even the Orphanage had lost one or two orphans recently.

Uchiha Yufeng did not need to think about it.

It was one hundred percent the work of that bastard Danzo and Orochimaru.

"I think I heard about it. Father mentioned it when I was home before. He said Lord Hokage took it very seriously and had already handed the matter over to the person in charge of Root."

The person in charge of Root?

Then what the hell was there to investigate? It would probably be swept under the rug soon enough.

"Oh, right, Yufeng. I've nearly mastered those Braised Pork Ribs you taught me last time. I'll make them for you to try tomorrow!"

"Really?"

Uchiha Yufeng looked at Yuhi Kurenai doubtfully.

Over the past few days, he had tried some of the other dishes Yuhi Kurenai had "experimented" with.

Honestly, they were hard to describe.

"Really! I'm serious this time!"

Hearing Uchiha Yufeng question her cooking, Yuhi Kurenai gave a coquettish huff, turned around, and spoke to him solemnly.

"Alright, alright, serious, serious! I'll definitely give them a proper taste tomorrow! But if they aren't good, I'll eat the ones I make myself!"

"..."

About fifteen minutes later,

they arrived outside Yuhi Kurenai's home.

"Yufeng, I'm home. See you tomorrow."

Uchiha Yufeng gave a quiet hum and waved to her.

He turned away neatly, imitating Kakashi with both hands in his pockets as he strolled off.

At some point, Yuhi Shinku, Yuhi Kurenai's father, had come out to stand at the doorway. His gaze followed Uchiha Yufeng as he disappeared into the distance.

"Father!"

Yuhi Kurenai turned around, saw Yuhi Shinku at the door, and obediently bowed.

"Why are you back so late?"

Seeing the lingering joy on his daughter's face, along with Uchiha Yufeng who had just left,

Yuhi Shinku's gaze became somewhat complicated.

Could his Kurenai possibly be involved with that boy...

"Oh, some school matters held me up! But fortunately, everything went smoothly!"

Thinking about how she had gone to the Uchiha Clan Compound to tell him about Uchiha Homura, and how Uchiha Yufeng had told her about his strength, Yuhi Kurenai's face gained a few more traces of delight.

Without a doubt, she had taken another step forward on the path to understanding Uchiha Yufeng.

In her heart, Uchiha Yufeng must have been training for so long because he wanted to hide his strength and make a stunning showing at graduation.

Yet just because she had asked, he had told her everything without holding anything back.

Her heart could not help feeling sweet.

Seeing Yuhi Kurenai's ever-changing, delighted expression, Yuhi Shinku did not ask anything further. As he turned away, he let out a long sigh.

"Come home earlier next time!"

"Yes, Father!"

Humming a little tune, Yuhi Kurenai headed straight for the kitchen.

"Kurenai, that's the kitchen. The meal I made for you is on the table!"

"I know, Father! I'm just using the kitchen. I want to make Braised Pork Ribs!"

At the mention of Braised Pork Ribs, Yuhi Shinku's face darkened.

Over the past few days, this dish called Braised Pork Ribs had nearly become his nightmare.

She had made it at least twenty times, and he had always been the one tasting it. From blackened charcoal at the start to something that now looked halfway decent,

Yuhi Shinku's contribution could not have been greater.

"There's enough food. If you're making ribs, make less. Dad can't eat that much."

Yuhi Shinku looked at the dishes he had prepared on the table and still called out to Kurenai.

"Don't worry, Father. I'm taking these to school tomorrow."

Taking them to school?

After being her taste tester for all these days, now that Kurenai could finally make them, I won't even get a single piece! What a failure of a father I am.

Yuhi Shinku thought of Uchiha Yufeng, who had just walked Yuhi Kurenai home, and his face turned livid.

"Alright, alright, you brat!"

"It must be your doing!"