"That wouldn't be right."
"Hm?" Kurenai Yuhi froze and looked at Shinji in confusion.
Shinji shook his head and smiled gently. "Kurenai, once I've given something away, I don't take it back..."
"And though you find it hard to believe, you really have helped me a great deal with my Genjutsu."
"So..."
Shinji caught Kurenai Yuhi's arm and pressed the Scroll into her hand, then closed her fingers around it.
He looked at her earnestly. "You should know I don't usually lie."
"..."
Kurenai Yuhi weighed the heavy Scroll in her hand.
She wanted to ask, What about the times you do?
"Haa..."
She lowered her head with a helpless sigh. "All right, I'll accept it. But I won't teach the Genjutsu written here to anyone else."
"No."
He gave her a carefree smile.
"Kurenai, there's no need for that. I gave it to you, so it's yours. If you want to pass it down through your family, that's completely fine."
"But..."
Shinji waved a hand. "No buts. Your shoulder's still injured, so go back and rest. The war will be over soon!"
"I still have to go to the Land of Grass, so I can't stay. Tell Shibi I'm sorry!"
"See you!"
Whoosh!
The next second.
Shinji vanished from Kurenai Yuhi's sight.
The wind swept up sand and tousled Kurenai Yuhi's hair... She stared at the empty desert before her, feeling as though she had just woken from a dream.
"Heh..."
After a long while, Kurenai Yuhi laughed.
"Something felt off when we met in the village, and now he's gone to all this trouble... He really is an awkward little Ghost!"
As soon as she said it, she burst out laughing.
She smoothed her windblown hair and looked fondly at the Scroll in her hand. "It was obvious