The Kurama Clan compound in Konoha.
The black-haired, red-eyed Kurenai Yuhi was leaving the Kurama Clan compound after finishing a day of private tutoring.
She glanced back at the second-floor window of a house and sighed inwardly. What a pitiful girl. If only her constitution were stronger, she could certainly become an excellent shinobi.
Then she left.
Not long after stepping out, she spotted the figure who had filled her thoughts and dreams.
A beautiful smile blossomed on Kurenai's face as she walked toward him:
"Asuma, you're here!"
The newcomer was none other than her boyfriend, Asuma Sarutobi.
Asuma walked up to Kurenai and gave her a warm embrace:
"Thanks for all your hard work!"
Kurenai relaxed against her boyfriend's chest and shook her head slightly:
"It wasn't hard work. Genjutsu happens to be my specialty, so teaching the Kurama Clan is a perfect fit!"
"It's a shame that child's constitution is so weak that she can't attend the Ninja Academy!"
"Otherwise, she would probably be very happy!"
Asuma gently stroked Kurenai's hair, released her, and took her hand:
"Come on, let's get something to eat. Something very interesting happened in the village today!"
They talked as they walked, and Kurenai's red eyes filled with disbelief.
She had only heard Zhou Cheng's name before and knew nothing about him.
She had never imagined that Zhou Cheng would be so talented.
She glanced back toward the Kurama Clan compound again and sighed softly to herself.
That child's constitution meant she was destined never to become a shinobi. What a waste of her talent for genjutsu.
Meanwhile, inside the Kurama Clan compound.
A group of white-haired old men sat together, discussing something.
"A rising star has recently appeared in the village. He's an orphan from outside whom the village took in, and his background is nothing more than that of an ordinary shinobi."
"It's been far too long since our Kurama Clan has supplied the village with any chunin, let alone jonin!"
"The village's interest in us has hit rock bottom!"
The old man in the clan leader's robes sat at the head of the table, looking at the clan's elders, his heart full of worry over the clan's future.
"That child Hachiyuan is the most talented of her generation, and the only person in decades to awaken our clan's kekkei genkai!"
"At the time, the entire clan celebrated. But we never imagined her constitution would be so weak!"
"All year round, she's either sick or receiving treatment!"
"She can't even attend the Ninja Academy!"
"The medical shinobi at the hospital said she would never become a shinobi. With her constitution, she can't even manage something as basic as running long distances!"
Apart from the clan leader's voice, no one spoke in the meeting room.
Everything the clan leader said was true. There was nothing to add.
Besides, Kurama Yakumo did not belong to their branches of the family. Whether she lived or died had little to do with them.
Scheming and deception were always present in large clans.
Seeing that everyone seemed rather uninterested, the Kurama Clan Leader tapped the table helplessly. He felt these elders were far too cold-blooded.
The Kurama Clan was already barely clinging to life, yet they still acted like this.
"I propose that we betroth Kurama Yakumo to Zhou Cheng and bring him into the Kurama Clan as a live-in son-in-law!"
His words threw the room into an uproar.
Betroth Kurama Yakumo to Zhou Cheng, an outsider from another village-and a commoner with neither a clan nor any backing at that?
Has the clan leader lost his mind?
No matter how far our Kurama Clan has fallen, we're still one of Konoha's great clans. How could we marry one of our daughters off to a commoner?
If word gets out, won't the other clans laugh at us?
The Elder was the first to voice his opposition:
"I object. The Kurama Clan cannot marry into a commoner's family!"
The Second Elder immediately joined in:
"Exactly. Our Kurama Clan is still one of Konoha's great clans, and we once enjoyed great prestige. We absolutely cannot form a marriage alliance with a commoner!"
The Kurama Clan Leader swept his gaze over them, inwardly cursing their shortsightedness. With Zhou Cheng's talent, he was certain to become a figure on the level of a new generation of Sannin.
Marrying a sickly girl whose remaining lifespan was uncertain to him now would mean that, when Zhou Cheng soared to prominence, the Kurama Clan would rise again alongside him.
"You disagree? Fine. Then have your own granddaughters marry Zhou Cheng!"
"This marriage alliance is happening!"
The Kurama Clan Leader unleashed his imposing presence, forcing all the elders into silence.
They all wondered inwardly whether the clan leader had gone mad!
"What? You won't let your own granddaughters marry Zhou Cheng."
"And you won't let Yakumo marry him either!"
The more the Kurama Clan Leader spoke, the angrier he became. His voice suddenly rose, and he slammed his palm onto the table, smashing a large hole straight through it:
"What are you playing at? Will you only be happy once the Kurama Clan ends up like the Senju Clan, with barely any members left?"
Everyone else in the meeting room jumped in fright at the clan leader's fury.
They had all thought the clan leader was merely joking and going through the motions. They had never expected him to be serious this time.
The elders and the heads of the various branches exchanged looks, unsure how to respond.
With the clan leader leveling such a grave accusation against them, anything they said would be wrong.
Seeing that his outburst had silenced every one of them, the Kurama Clan Leader felt pleased with himself, but kept a lingering look of anger on his face:
"Hmph. Then it's settled!"
"I'll send someone to meet Zhou Cheng!"
"Send someone to inform Yakumo as well!"
"That's all for today. Dismissed!"
Everyone left without looking back. Not a single person spoke even one word on Kurama Yakumo's behalf!
A dramatic meeting, one the person concerned had not even attended, had nevertheless decided her entire life. How ironic!
Late that night, peace returned to Zhou Cheng's home. Zhou Cheng was walking the girls home, while Haku cleaned up the house.
Earlier that day, at Naruto's suggestion, Zhou Cheng had held a small celebration at home.
He had invited the Konoha 12 to attend.
Apart from the aloof Sasuke and Neji, who had no interest in coming, everyone accepted the invitation. Even Sakura came!
Everyone gathered together, with Naruto keeping the atmosphere lively, and hosts and guests alike thoroughly enjoyed the celebration.
They split the cost of the ingredients evenly. None of them had graduated yet, and they were all children, so they could not possibly have much money. Sharing the cost kept it from becoming a burden on anyone.
They laughed and played until late before finally heading their separate ways.
After everyone helped with a quick cleanup, Zhou Cheng sent them home, saying it was too late and dangerous to walk around at night.
Naruto, Shikamaru, and Choji went home together.
Kiba Inuzuka and Shino Aburame left together.
The girls had planned to walk home as a group, but Zhou Cheng refused and insisted on escorting them home.
Hinata and Ino barely reacted. They were already used to it. If Zhou Cheng ever stopped walking them home, that would be what they found strange.
The other girls all looked at Zhou Cheng in a different light, praising him for being kind and gentlemanly.
By the time he finished making the rounds and returned home, it was already well past midnight.
Yet Zhou Cheng did not feel the slightest bit sleepy.
While escorting the girls home, he had been using his sensory ability to scan his surroundings the entire time.
To his surprise, he discovered that two more people had joined those watching him.
He wondered which faction had taken an interest in him this time!