An invitation

Another day passed in the blink of an eye.

Uchiha Hui got up that morning, ate breakfast, and went to the training ground to look for sparring partners. After repeatedly trying to entice someone, he finally found just one opponent and got a drop of "Pupil Power," but that was all.

That left him a little unhappy.

Fortunately, there was still the elite session that afternoon. The Chunin who came then would be stronger, and it would be easier to find sparring partners.

So.

Uchiha Hui decided to head back for now, absorb the Pupil Power, eat, and return afterward.

His Two-Tomoe Sharingan had already reached 99%.

By his estimate, even if this portion of Pupil Power couldn't evolve him to Three-Tomoe, one more would definitely be enough.

Of course.

Ideally, he would be able to complete the upgrade as soon as he got home.

With that thought.

Uchiha Hui quickened his pace on the way back.

"Uchiha Hui!?"

As he walked down the street, a clear voice suddenly reached Uchiha Hui's ears.

He turned to look.

It was the girl he had saved yesterday, the kunoichi named Kurenai Yuhi.

"Need something?"

Uchiha Hui said, puzzled.

They had never had anything to do with each other before. If not for yesterday's events, they might never have met.

He had thought that once Third called him over yesterday, the matter was settled.

He had not expected Kurenai to seek him out herself.

It was a little surprising.

"N-no, nothing."

Looking at Uchiha Hui's handsome face, Kurenai suddenly grew embarrassed. Before coming, she had spent ages rehearsing how to start and what to say, but now that she was face-to-face with him, she lost her composure.

"Looking at you, I think you should stay in the hospital a few more days. There's no need to come running out already."

Uchiha Hui looked at Kurenai Yuhi. He could tell she wanted to say something, but she seemed shy. Rather than rush her, he simply expressed his concern.

Kurenai Yuhi blushed slightly.

Then she lowered her head to look herself over.

Her hands were wrapped in white bandages, as were her neck and the area around her collarbones. Almost all her exposed skin seemed to have been bandaged. Aside from her face, she looked like a mummy.

"It should be nothing serious now. The doctor said I just need to rest."

She looked up at Uchiha Hui again.

"All right, then."

Uchiha Hui smiled and nodded.

Then.

He lifted his foot to leave, apparently having no intention of continuing the conversation.

He remembered that he still had a portion of Pupil Power to absorb when he got home.

Uchiha Hui naturally grew a little more impatient.

How could women compare to the thrill of getting stronger?

Kurenai Yuhi had indeed been one of his favorite female characters in the original story, with her voluptuous figure, mature air, and gentle personality.

But all that was more than ten years away.

As for the current Kurenai Yuhi.

Although she had potential, both her figure and her appeal still seemed decidedly girlish. She was not his type at all.

"Thank you for saving me yesterday!"

Clearly realizing that Uchiha Hui was about to leave, Kurenai Yuhi stepped straight into his path and quickly bent at the waist, bowing to him. "Would you let me treat you to a meal, Senior Hui? Just thanking you in words feels a little too superficial..."

Having said that.

She tilted her head up to gaze at Uchiha Hui right in front of her. Her red eyes glimmered faintly, and a charming blush spread over her pretty, slightly pale face.

Clearly.

Still in her teens, Kurenai was inexperienced enough to feel shy even talking to someone she did not know well.

Uchiha Hui looked at Kurenai Yuhi.

He really wanted to suggest another time.

But looking into her eyes, he realized the girl before him was serious.

If he refused.

She might keep pestering him.

He might as well have a meal with her and put the matter to rest.

"You don't need to take it so much to heart. I think any Konoha Ninja would step in to save a comrade. As for you, be more careful from now on, even inside the village, especially lately."

Uchiha Hui said a few words.

He made it clear that he had not saved Kurenai in pursuit of gratitude or anything of the sort.

At his words.

Kurenai nodded earnestly.

What had happened yesterday had truly been unforgettable for her.

Given the situation back then.

If Hui had not appeared, she might already be dead.

After all, she had been ready to stake everything on one last desperate attempt, fully expecting to die.

"Is there anything you don't eat, Hui?"

Kurenai asked Uchiha Hui.

"No."

Uchiha Hui shook his head.

"Then let's have barbecue. I know a famous barbecue restaurant just up ahead, and it happens to be open these days."

Kurenai Yuhi smiled.

Once she had said that, she could not help letting out a sigh of relief. In an instant, she seemed to relax a little.

She moved to Uchiha Hui's side.

She began leading the way.

But as she walked, Kurenai watched Hui's profile, and something suddenly stirred in her heart.

Even though a whole day had passed.

But she still remembered what Uchiha Hui had said yesterday.

"Kid, suicide isn't the way to solve your problems..."

Although being called "kid" had annoyed Kurenai Yuhi a little, Uchiha Hui's cold yet calm demeanor as he stood on that branch had truly left her stunned.

Hui possessed the Uchiha Clan's "arrogance" and "aloofness."

Yet he also seemed to have a warm heart.

Both his act of saving her then and his concerned greeting just now.

Had left a deeper impression on Kurenai Yuhi, who had only just lost her father.

At that thought.

Kurenai Yuhi could not help stealing a few more glances at Uchiha Hui's profile.

There were no ugly bastards in the Uchiha Clan.

So.

Although Uchiha Hui was already in his twenties, he was actually in the prime of his life. Both his features and his bearing ranked among the very best even within the entire Uchiha Clan.

Walking side by side, the two soon arrived at a barbecue restaurant.

The restaurant was not far from the Uchiha Clan Compound, at the end of the shopping street, and had not suffered particularly serious damage that night.

Perhaps because of the aftermath of the battle.

There were not many people inside.

The two soon found a table by the window.

After ordering.

They began chatting on and off.

Kurenai did most of the talking.

As they gradually became acquainted, Kurenai was clearly no longer as shy as she had been at first, showing more of the liveliness a girl her age ought to have.

Uchiha Hui did not keep up his aloof "Uchiha persona," either.

Every so often, he cracked a joke.

That drew silvery laughter from Kurenai, attracting quite a few glances from around the restaurant.

"Well, time to dig in."

The meat arrived quickly, and they got started right away. Uchiha Hui did not stand on ceremony; with food in front of him, he dug in. This barbecue meal was not cheap, and an ordinary Genin would usually balk at splurging on it.

Kurenai ate like a lady, without displaying the sort of unexpected contrast Hinata did.

"Asuma, are you heading to the hospital?"

A ninja with a Senbon between his lips looked curiously at Asuma Sarutobi as he passed.

"I heard Kurenai was attacked yesterday, but an Uchiha ninja saved her?"

Beside him, a ninja wearing sunglasses spoke after a moment's thought.

"Yeah. I only just found out, too. I went straight to bed after finishing patrol last night."

Asuma, who seemed mature beyond his years, answered his two companions.

Hearing his reply, Genma Shiranui and Ebisu exchanged glances. The latter adjusted his sunglasses and looked at Asuma, who still knew nothing, before saying:

"When we passed by up ahead just now, we saw that Kurenai had already left the hospital. But she seemed to be having a meal with another guy..."

Asuma's eyes instantly widened.