On the hill behind the Konoha Orphanage.
Kurenai Yuhi walked to the tree where she had first met Lin Ze, leaned against its trunk, and looked up at the stars filling the sky.
"It's been so long since I came here."
"When I was little, whenever I missed Dad or something upset me, I'd run here by myself."
Lin Ze walked over to her and copied her, leaning against the trunk and tilting his head toward the starry sky.
The vast sea of stars reminded him of his previous life, and of the immensity of this universe.
By comparison, the Shinobi World was far too small.
"Shall we sit for a while?"
Lin Ze pointed to the soft grass beneath the tree.
Kurenai Yuhi nodded gently, and they sat down side by side, their shoulders almost touching.
Through their thin clothing, they could feel the warmth of each other's bodies.
Kurenai Yuhi's face grew a little hot, and her heartbeat involuntarily quickened.
She secretly breathed in the clean scent coming from Lin Ze, a mixture of grass and sunshine, and felt a peace she had never known before.
Ever since Lin Ze had joined the ANBU, especially after the war broke out, they had seen each other only a handful of times.
Every meeting was precious, and every parting left her on edge.
She was so afraid that one of those partings would become their last.
Just like her classmates and seniors who had died on missions.
After a moment of silence, Kurenai Yuhi spoke softly:
"Lin Ze..."
"Have you... been all right lately? Is it very dangerous on the front lines?"
Her voice carried a worry she could hardly conceal.
Although Lin Ze was powerful, the battlefield changed in an instant, and anything could happen.
Especially lately, as rumors