The perfect wingman-call me the washing machine!

Feeling rather humiliated, Kakashi trudged into the living room like a male escort who had lost all will to live and greeted Kurenai across from him. "Kurenai, you're here. Welcome, welcome."

"You're... Kakashi?"

Seeing a Kakashi who looked completely different from usual, Kurenai was stunned.

His strikingly handsome face carried a hint of languid charm, while his casually arranged silver-white hair only added to his appeal.

For some reason, a blush crept onto Kurenai's pretty face, and her heart began pounding.

How many young women didn't like handsome men?

Especially a man as handsome as Kakashi. Any girl with normal tastes could hardly ignore him.

Back when Kakashi attended the Ninja Academy, he had attracted the affection of countless girls.

But the boy had been utterly clueless, always giving those girls the cold shoulder and spending his days locked in a love-hate rivalry with his best buddy, just like that Sasuke fellow. Over time, those girls had gradually let go of their fantasies.

Kurenai had actually been one of those girls back then.

If not for Asuma Sarutobi's years of relentless pursuit, along with their bond as childhood friends, Kurenai might never have married him.

"Of course it's me."

Finding Kurenai's expression a little strange, Kakashi leaned closer curiously and asked, "What's wrong? Do I look weird?"

"N-no."

Kurenai smiled shyly. "I've just never seen what you look like under your mask. Seeing it for the first time was a little surprising."

"All right!"

True to his nature as a secretly flirtatious man who had spent years single, Kakashi couldn't squeeze out anything charming even after all that time and simply fell silent.

As the atmosphere at the table grew increasingly awkward, someone rushed in to save the day.

"Kurenai, try these dishes. Kakashi made them himself, just for you."

Shinichi hurriedly urged her on with a smile. "You have no idea. Because you were coming over today, Kakashi barely slept last night. He was busy preparing everything. Every dish on this table is his handiwork!"

Kakashi was speechless.

My dear big brother, you really can lie without even blushing.

He made every dish on the table? Like hell he knew how to cook!

He was lucky if he could manage instant noodles.

Still, he knew his big brother was doing his best to help him flirt. If he dared undermine him, the "treasures" in his room would be in trouble.

"Really? I never knew Kakashi was such a good cook..."

Kurenai looked very surprised.

Hearing that Kakashi had carefully prepared all these dishes just for her touched her, filling her heart with sweetness.

What girl wouldn't fall for such a gentle, handsome man?

"By the way, Kurenai, you're not getting any younger. Surely you're not still single?"

Seeing that the moment was right, a peculiar gleam appeared in Shinichi's eyes as he spoke casually. "Of course, a girl as beautiful and caring as you must have plenty of suitors! It's just a shame about our Kakashi. This boy really needs to get his act together!"

Kakashi couldn't help rolling his eyes.

A saying sprang to mind: the longest road Kurenai would ever walk was probably the winding path of his big brother's schemes!

"Shinichi, I'm still single!"

Kurenai hastily explained.

After saying that, she stole a glance at Kakashi, who was silently eating, and looked a little nervous.

Indeed, she was still single.

But she also knew Asuma liked her and openly pursued her in all sorts of ways. She had simply never agreed to date him.

After all, Asuma at this point was just a rebellious youth who liked defying his father and spent his days loafing around the village. In the terms of Shinichi's previous life, he was basically a street bum.

If Asuma hadn't later become one of the Land of Fire daimyo's Twelve Guardian Ninja and grown mature and dependable, why would Kurenai ever have accepted him?

"Well, that's wonderful!"

Shinichi grinned and waggled his eyebrows. "To tell you the truth, my little brother Kakashi is single too! Anyway, Naruto and I have something to take care of. You two take your time eating. We'll leave you to it!"

"Mmph... Shinichi, I'm not full yet!"

Naruto, who was stuffing all sorts of food into his mouth, didn't want to leave the table so soon.

"No, you're full!"

Shinichi spoke firmly.

Naruto froze for a moment, then immediately caught on. He turned to Kurenai and announced loudly, "That's right, I'm full!"

Grrr! Grrr!

Unfortunately, his stomach refused to cooperate and growled again.

The scene became even more awkward.

"Looks like Naruto ate something that upset his stomach. I'll take him to the hospital. Enjoy your meal!"

Shinichi forced an explanation and hurried off with Naruto.

As he left, he didn't forget to reassure Naruto in a whisper. "I'll take you to Ichiraku Ramen. You can eat until you burst!"

The perfect wingman-call me the washing machine!

"All right!"

Naruto's eyes lit up at once.

Kakashi: "..."

Kurenai: "..."

Could your acting possibly be any more wooden?

And did you really think we were too hard of hearing to catch what you said to Naruto?

"Your big brother... really is amusing!"

Seemingly noticing Kakashi's embarrassment, Kurenai couldn't hold back a giggle.

"Y-yes, he is!"

Kakashi was so embarrassed he could have dug an entire apartment out of the floor with his toes. He laughed awkwardly. "Sorry you had to see that, Kurenai. My big brother is just a bit mischievous. He's really doing it all for me. If anything today upset you, I can only ask you to forgive him..."

"No, you've misunderstood."

To his surprise, Kurenai shook her head and smiled. "I'm actually very happy I came over today. You know my father passed away, and I'm the only one at home now. So I really envy how lively your home is. I'm truly enjoying myself!"

At her words, Kakashi's gaze softened.

Yes... if not for Shinichi, he would probably have been just like Kurenai, living alone in such a large, cold, empty house.

Despite all his usual complaints and jabs at Shinichi, deep down, he respected and loved his big brother more than anyone.

"If you'd like, you're welcome to visit us more often."

"I'll hold you to that!"

Kurenai winked playfully, her beautiful ruby-like eyes utterly mesmerizing.

"I'm not joking, either."

Kakashi couldn't help smiling too.

Soon, the tense, awkward atmosphere relaxed, and Kurenai's silvery laughter rang out from time to time.

Even Shinichi himself probably hadn't expected that Kakashi and Kurenai might be better suited to each other than he had imagined. His spur-of-the-moment decision might actually send events in a direction no one could have foreseen.

A soul from another world was gently beating his wings like a butterfly in this Shinobi World!

Many tragic destinies would undergo tremendous changes because of him.