Kurenai Yuhi

There weren't many girls in Uchiha Makoto's class, but they were pretty impressive.

Two stood out the most.

One was Rin Nohara, who always wore a gentle smile. She had a nice personality and good grades.

According to the original story, this girl was the prettiest girl in school.

But Uchiha Makoto wasn't particularly interested in her.

It wasn't that there was anything wrong with Rin. Mostly, he knew she was Obito's one untouchable sore spot.

Anyone else was fair game, but not Rin. That was one of the lines Uchiha Makoto had drawn for himself.

He didn't want Obito suddenly awakening his Mangekyo one day during training and glaring him to death.

The other was Kurenai Yuhi.

Long hair, red eyes-even at her young age, it was obvious she would grow into a beauty.

By Uchiha Makoto's standards, she ranked among the top three beauties in Naruto.

She just didn't appear much later in the story, so she didn't have a strong presence.

The problem was that Kurenai always had a little shadow following her around.

Asuma Sarutobi.

The Hokage's son, a future member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, and currently... a clingy tagalong.

After observing him for three days, Uchiha Makoto discovered that Asuma's daily routine went like this:

He waited for Kurenai so they could go to school together in the morning, brought her snacks between classes, ate lunch with her at noon, and walked her home in the afternoon.

He was practically the model devoted sidekick.

"Were elementary school kids in this world all this precocious?" Uchiha Makoto couldn't help grumbling. "Already chasing girls at six? I was still playing in the mud when I was six."

Still, grumbling was one thing. He had to make his move.

During a break that day, Uchiha Makoto seized the opportunity when a teacher called Asuma to the office and strolled over to Kurenai's desk.

"Kurenai," he said.

Kurenai Yuhi was organizing her notes. She looked up at the sound of his voice and paused when she saw Uchiha Makoto. "Cheng? Did you need something?"

"I have a training question I'd like to ask you." Uchiha Makoto put on his best model-student expression. "About chakra control."

Kurenai blinked her ruby-red eyes.

Uchiha Makoto had come to her for training advice?

That was unusual.

Members of the Uchiha Clan were notoriously proud.

Forget asking outsiders for advice-they rarely even asked their own clansmen.

And Cheng was widely recognized as the genius of their year.

Though that "widely recognized" reputation was something Kurenai had only heard from others. She hadn't interacted much with Uchiha Makoto herself, so she didn't know whether he really was a genius.

But since he'd asked, she couldn't just ignore him.

"What's your question?" Kurenai set down her pen.

"Well..." Uchiha Makoto made up a question on the spot. "When chakra flows through your chakra pathways, how do you clear any blockages it encounters?"

It was actually a very basic question, so basic that any textbook would have the answer.

But Kurenai didn't think much of it and answered earnestly, "You can gently work at the blockage with chakra, or combine it with breathing techniques..."

She explained in great detail, covering the principles, the steps, and the precautions, laying everything out clearly.

Uchiha Makoto listened and nodded, but inwardly he thought, No wonder she'll become a Jonin. Her fundamentals are really solid.

Then he heard a voice behind him.

"Cheng, what are you doing here?"

The tone was hostile.

Uchiha Makoto turned around and saw Asuma standing in the classroom doorway, holding the workbook he'd just gotten back from the teacher. His eyes were fixed on Makoto, his expression practically screaming, "Stay away from Kurenai."

Here he comes.

A little lion guarding his food.

Uchiha Makoto laughed inwardly but kept his expression composed. "Asking a question. What, am I bothering you?"

"Asking a question?" Asuma walked over and dropped his workbook onto Kurenai's desk. "What question could possibly require you to come ask Kurenai specifically? Don't you have anyone in the Uchiha Clan you can ask?"

That was a little rude.

But Uchiha Makoto wasn't angry.

Getting angry with a six-year-old would be beneath him.

"Asuma." Kurenai frowned. "Cheng just came to ask a question."

"Do you need to stand that close to ask a question?" Asuma stared at Uchiha Makoto. "I think you've got ulterior motives."

Uchiha Makoto was amused.

He turned to face Asuma squarely.

"Asuma," Uchiha Makoto said leisurely, "first, how close I stand when asking a question is my business. Second, Kurenai hasn't complained, so what are you getting worked up about? Third..."

He paused, then smiled. "Even if I do have ulterior motives, what does that have to do with you?"

Asuma's face instantly flushed red.

"Kurenai is my friend!"

"Oh." Uchiha Makoto nodded. "And? Your friends aren't allowed to talk to other people? Is that what Lord Hokage taught you?"

"You!"

"Asuma!" Kurenai raised her voice. "Stop it!"

Asuma shut his mouth, but he kept glaring at Uchiha Makoto.

Uchiha Makoto couldn't be bothered with him. He turned back to Kurenai. "Sorry for interrupting your studies."

"It's fine." Kurenai shook her head, then glanced at Asuma. "He's just... very protective of his friends."

"I understand." Uchiha Makoto smiled. "Knowing how to protect a girl at six does make him pretty precocious."

That made Kurenai blush a little.

Asuma grew even angrier, but he didn't know how to argue back.

Uchiha Makoto decided to quit while he was ahead and started back toward his seat. After two steps, however, he stopped and looked back.

"Oh, right, Kurenai."

"Hm?"

"Let me ask you something." Uchiha Makoto looked into her eyes. "Do you think someone like me would make a good husband someday?"

"..."

The classroom fell silent.

Kurenai blinked, unable to process what he'd said.

Asuma's mouth hung open as though he'd been struck by lightning.

After asking, Uchiha Makoto almost wanted to laugh himself. That had been far too direct-so direct it was downright shameless.

But he wanted to give it a try.

To test the system's reaction, and Kurenai's too.

A few seconds later, Kurenai's face went bright red.

The blush spread from her cheeks to the tips of her ears, leaving her looking like a ripe apple.

"Ch-Cheng, you..." she stammered. "What are you saying...?"

"I'm just asking." Uchiha Makoto looked utterly innocent. "I didn't say I wanted to be your husband! I'm just curious whether anyone would want someone with my personality and looks someday."

Kurenai: "..."

Asuma finally snapped out of it.

"Uchiha Makoto!" he roared. "Do you have a death wish?!"

He made to charge over.

Uchiha Makoto didn't even look at him, keeping his gaze on Kurenai. "So what do you think? Would I?"

Kurenai lowered her head, twisting the hem of her clothes between her fingers.

Her face felt hot enough to fry an egg.

That question... had come out of nowhere.

So suddenly that she had no idea how to answer.

Saying no would hurt his feelings too much.

And honestly, Cheng really was good-looking and strong. His personality was a little strange sometimes, but on the whole, he wasn't unpleasant.

But saying yes would be far too embarrassing.

Besides, Asuma was standing right there watching.

After agonizing over it for a long while, Kurenai finally whispered, "Cheng... you're wonderful. If it were me... I might choose someone like you."