Ambush in the Woods

Kurenai Yuhi gave a soft huff. "What are you talking about? You haven't come to see me for days. I thought you'd forgotten all about me."

Obito hurried to explain, "We're training partners! How could I forget you? See, I came to find you, didn't I?"

Kurenai Yuhi pursed her lips and shot Obito a sidelong glance. "Who wants to be your training partner? You're such a blockhead."

Obito was taken aback. If she doesn't want to be my training partner, what does she want to be?

Is she trying to hint at something...?

Obito immediately gathered his courage and took Kurenai Yuhi's hand without another word.

Her fair little hand was soft and delicate, nestled gently in his palm, and the touch sent a flutter through his heart.

But the system's task completion notification didn't sound right away.

Obito felt frustrated. What exactly does this system want me to do?

The sudden touch of his hand made Kurenai Yuhi freeze for a moment.

Her heart pounded wildly, and her cheeks flushed bright red.

But she didn't resist at all, letting the boy beside her lead her forward by the hand.

So Obito's finally getting a clue, huh? That blockhead. A secret thrill rose in Kurenai's heart.

Obito was actually quite nervous.

At that moment, he could clearly sense the change in Kurenai's mood, along with her shyness.

Obito knew he ought to say something to ease the tension.

"Kurenai, I think..."

The words reached his lips, but Obito still didn't know what to say.

Kurenai's heart beat even faster, her entire face flushed pink.

She glanced at Obito expectantly, then quickly looked away in embarrassment.

Has my silly boy finally figured it out...? Is he about to confess...?

Obito finally found his words. "I think the weather isn't very good today. It might rain tonight. Remember to drink some hot water to warm yourself up when you get home, and don't catch a chill when you go to bed."

The expectant light faded from Kurenai's eyes, and her giddy excitement instantly plummeted.

She turned her head mechanically and stared at Obito expressionlessly. "Obito, I hate drinking hot water!"

Obito scratched his head and gave an awkward laugh. "Then have some ice water."

Kurenai rolled her eyes. "Have some ice water, my foot."

Obito said, "Then how about some lava?"

Kurenai said, "..."

The system's task completion notification still hadn't sounded.

Meanwhile, Kurenai Yuhi stood beside him with her cheeks puffed out, looking rather annoyed.

Obito steeled himself and decided to go for broke.

Without another word, he pulled Kurenai in front of him.

He cupped her pretty, adorable face in both hands.

Before she could react, Obito leaned in and planted a kiss on her rosy lips.

"Mmph..."

The surprise attack caught Kurenai completely off guard.

Her eyes immediately widened, and she slapped at Obito's shoulders in protest.

[Ding! Congratulations, host. The task to further develop your relationship with Kurenai Yuhi is complete.]

[Distributing rewards to the host. Reward 1: One copying opportunity. Reward 2: Make-Out Paradise, volume two.]

The system notifications rang out in Obito's mind.

His somewhat blank mind immediately snapped back to reality.

Realizing that Kurenai was resisting, Obito hastily released her face and ran off.

"Obito, you jerk..."

Kurenai's face was as red as a tomato, and her heart was pounding wildly.

As she watched Obito's flustered retreat, a smile crept onto her lips despite herself.

"Get back here! I'm going to beat you up! You jerk, Obito!"

Obito looked back, chuckling as he waved. "Come on! Catch me and you'll get a prize!"

Smack! Smack!

"Obito, go a little easier. You're hurting me..."

"Kurenai, sorry. I shouldn't have used so much force..."

In the woods, Kurenai and Obito were both drenched in sweat and panting nonstop.

Smack! Smack!

As the fierce sounds of impact continued, their breathing grew noticeably heavier.

Kurenai and Obito traded punches and kicks, neither giving an inch.

After an entire afternoon of Taijutsu sparring, both had used up a great deal of stamina, their faces flushed with exhaustion.

"Huff... huff... I can't keep going. I'm exhausted. Let me rest a little."

Kurenai leaped back several times and braced a hand against a tree trunk as she caught her breath.

Obito took a bottle of mineral water from '82 out of the system's inventory space and offered it to Kurenai.

"Kurenai, have some hot water... no, some cool water to quench your thirst."

A puzzled look crossed Kurenai's face. She had no idea where Obito had gotten the water.

But she didn't ask any further questions. With a quiet "Mm," she took the bottle, unscrewed the cap, and gulped it down.

The two rested against the tree trunk for a while, then began another round of Taijutsu sparring.

In the shadows of the trees, amid the dense branches and leaves of the canopy.

Three men in black robes were watching Obito and Kurenai from a distance.

"What should we do? That little girl keeps sticking close to Obito Uchiha. Should we take her out too?"

"That girl is from the Yuhi Clan. Let's find a way to knock her unconscious first, then deal with Obito Uchiha."

"Let's play it by ear. We may have a way to counter the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan, but we still need to be careful."

The three quietly discussed their plan.

Once they had settled everything, they slipped back behind the canopy and vanished from sight.

"Obito! Let's call it a day! It's getting late. We should head back."

Kurenai looked up at the gradually darkening sky and made the suggestion to Obito.

It was already evening, and after an afternoon of sparring, Obito had long since gotten hungry.

He immediately agreed. "Yeah! Let's go! I'll treat you to a feast!"

"You? Do you have any money?" A doubtful look appeared on Kurenai's face.

After spending these past few days with him, Kurenai knew perfectly well that Obito was flat broke.

Whenever they went out for a stroll or to browse the shops, she usually ended up paying.

Obito nodded. "Of course! I'm rich now. I've got a whole hundred thousand ryo in my pocket."

Kurenai exclaimed in surprise, "Seriously? Where did you get all that money?"

As they spoke, the two started back along the path they had taken earlier.

They hadn't gone far toward the exit when Obito suddenly noticed something.

Between the trees ahead, the soil on the ground showed signs of having been freshly disturbed.

"Wait! Stop!" Obito quickly caught Kurenai Yuhi's arm, keeping her from taking another step.

Kurenai Yuhi looked puzzled. "What's wrong, Obito?"

Obito said, "Kurenai, did you notice? The soil over there has been disturbed. We came this way earlier, and it wasn't like that then."

Following Obito's gaze, Kurenai also noticed the irregularity ahead.

A startled look crossed her face. "Obito, are you saying someone set a trap?"