Kurenai Yuhi's home is a typical Japanese-style house, much larger than ordinary residents. With a carefully tended small courtyard, it can be seen that the family is quite well off.
As the Konoha veteran Jōnin family, it is not surprising to have such a mansion.
Hong happily opened the courtyard door and shouted inside:
"Mom, I'm back! I brought my friends with me!"
A gentle woman wearing an apron came out of the house after hearing the sound. It was Hong's mother Yuhi Aoi. When she saw Lin Ze, she immediately showed a gentle and slightly teasing smile on her face:
"Oh, it's Mr. Lin Ze, I haven't been here for a long time. Come in quickly, lunch will be ready soon."
"Excuse me, Auntie." Lin Ze nodded politely and said hello.
"Don't bother me, don't bother me. Hong often talks about you, saying that you are very good at training and know a lot."
Yuhi Aoi said with a smile, and looked at his daughter pointedly, making her ears turn red.
"Mom!"
Hong protested in a low voice and quickly pushed Lin Ze inside. "Come in quickly!"
Lin Ze felt a little embarrassed, especially when he felt the "I understand, I understand" look from Rei Uesugi next to him.
Several people took off their shoes and entered the house.
The living room is spacious and clean, covered with clean tatami mats, and there are several plates of side dishes and bowls and chopsticks already placed on the low table in the middle.
"You guys sit down first. Just have some soup."
Yuhi Aoi said, turned around and entered the kitchen again.
Just when Lin Ze sat down, a steady male voice came from the corridor. "You're back?"
I saw a tall, middle-aged man with a resolute face walking out.
He was wearing a dark home kimono, with short black hair, sharp eyes, a calm temperament, and an aura of sternness that had gone through battles in his brows. However, facing his family at the moment, this sternness had softened a lot and he seemed much gentler.
It is Kurenai Yuhi's father, Konoha Jōnin--Yuhi Shinku.
Lin Ze stood up immediately. "Uncle Shinku."
This is the third time he has seen Yuhi Shinku. This Jōnin has been away on missions all year round and is rarely at home. Even Hong rarely sees him.
'Yuhi Shinku... There is very little information about him in the original work. We only know that he is Hong's father, a Jōnin, and he died in Nine-Tails' Rampage.'
Lin Ze Looking at the man with a calm and powerful aura in front of him, he couldn't help but make calculations in his mind.
'Nine-Tails' Rampage... According to the timeline, it will be about four or five years later. By then, this seemingly very strong Jōnin will also...'
Thinking of this, Lin Ze's mood was a little complicated. After all, for Kurenai Yuhi, her father's sacrifice was undoubtedly a huge pain in her life.
"Dad! You are at home today!"
Kurenai Yuhi shouted in surprise and ran over immediately.
"Well, the mission has just come to an end. I have two days of rest."
Yuhi Shinku touched her daughter's head, glanced across Asuma and Rei Uesugi, and finally landed on Lin Ze, nodded and said:
"Lin Ze, long time no see. I heard from Hong that you performed very well and are already as strong as Special Jōnin?"
His tone was very calm, and there was not much emotion to be heard, but he was able to take the initiative to mention it. It was obvious that he had heard a lot about Lin Ze from Hong.
Lin Ze said modestly:
"Uncle Shinku won the prize, it's just good luck."
"ANBU's mission does not rely on luck."
Yuhi Shinku said something meaningful, then walked to the main seat and sat down, "You all can sit down, don't be formal."
Asuma and Yuhi Shinku were obviously very familiar with each other. They said hello casually and sat down.
Rei Uesugi seemed a little restrained, after all, he was facing Jōnin from the village.
If she knew that Lin Ze could now crush Elite Jōnin, I don't know how she would react.
Yuhi Shinku looked at Lin Ze and was evaluating it secretly in his heart.
'This boy named Lin Ze has made amazing progress. A few years ago, he was just a weak kid from Chakra. Now he has a condensed aura and a strong body. He feels a faint sense of oppression just standing. No wonder he was promoted to ANBU and got the attention of Lord Hokage.'
'When Hong gets close to him, good or bad fortunes are unpredictable...'
'But it's better than getting stuck with some random guy.'
Thinking about it, Yuhi Shinku glanced at Asuma, who was secretly trying to take out a cigarette from the cigarette box. Asuma felt the gaze and immediately stuffed the cigarette back.
'If you don't learn well at a young age, you start smoking at the age of 12. Why don't you learn from your father and learn to smoke~'
Yuhi Aoi came out with the soup pot, saw her husband, and smiled:
"Shinku, look at Mr. Lin Ze, is he a lot taller than last time? He's almost taller than you."
Lin Ze is about to be 12 years old now, but due to the transformation of Fish-Fish Fruit, Model: Azure Dragon's body, he is already close to 1.7 meters tall, which is more than half a head taller than Hong, Asuma and Ling of the same age. He has a tall and straight body, but his face still looks a little youthful.
Yuhi Shinku looked at Lin Ze and said hum:
"It's not bad."
Hong looked at Lin Ze, feeling a little proud, as if she was the one being praised.
'Lin Ze He has always worked hard!'
She thought secretly and quickly lowered her head to eat.
The food is rich and tastes good.
During the dinner, Yuhi Aoi was very enthusiastic and kept bringing food to Lin Ze. From time to time, he would also ask questions such as "Is it hard to train normally?" and "Is it suitable to work at ANBU?" The love and inquiry in his eyes were barely concealed, so Lin Ze could only thank him while eating hard, and occasionally answer a few words.
Kurenai Yuhi's face was always slightly red, and he would remind his mother in a low voice from time to time:
"Mom, don't keep asking..."
Rei Uesugi gently touched Asuma with his foot under the table, communicating with his eyes the message "Look, look, I'll tell you." Asuma gave her a "boring" look in return, but the corners of his mouth raised slightly.
Yuhi Shinku ate in silence most of the time, occasionally asking a few people about the mission and practice.
While Lin Ze was coping with Yuhi Aoi's enthusiasm, he was observing the family and was filled with emotions.
'This is like a normal home. Unfortunately, according to the original work, such a warm scene cannot last for a few more years. War, Nine-Tails... The beauty of this world is always short-lived.'
He knew the final outcome of Yuhi Shinku, looking at him who was now calm and strong, and beside him the gentle and virtuous Yuhi Aoi, and the lively and lovely Hong.
'It's useless to think too much. The right way is to seize the time to improve your strength. Only with enough strength can you change something in the future. At least... you must protect the important people around you.'
For Lin Ze, this meal was both heartwarming and a bit painful.
After finally finishing his meal, Lin Ze sat for a while and then stood up to say goodbye.
Yuhi Aoi also enthusiastically asked him to come often, and Hong walked him to the door.
"Today... thank you for coming."
Hong whispered, with a slight blush on her face.
"Thank you for the hospitality. The food is delicious. I will come back next time when I have the opportunity."
Lin Ze smiled. He wanted to touch Hong's head like he did when he was a child. Halfway through, he noticed Hong's mother behind him, with a teasing smile on his face, and quickly took it back.
'...'