Kurenai Yuhi, a Good Wife and Mother

She felt no pressure at all. Instead, she was genuinely happy.

Shizune knew very well that her own talent was limited, and that she could never fully carry on Lady Tsunade's legacy.

Rikuto's appearance had put one of her worries to rest.

It also made Shizune eager to see just how far he could go in the future.

She had just seen for herself how monstrously talented he was.

He might even become a great ninja like the First Hokage.

"Oh, right. If you don't want to go to the Ninja Academy anymore, you can just stop going..."

Tsunade left with Shizune.

Without looking back, she waved and said, "Remember to make time to go to the Ninja Academy and arrange a leave of absence. Just give them your big sister's name. They don't have anything left to teach you there anyway!"

"Got it..."

Rikuto nodded.

He knew he probably wouldn't be staying at the Ninja Academy much longer.

Whether he went or not didn't matter anymore.

As it happened, he needed to spend some time on something.

He needed to make Tenten a puppet that could actually be used in combat.

Besides, Tsunade wasn't the only one who had noticed Chiya Nao's condition.

Chiya Rikuto himself, who often treated his grandmother and tended to her health, knew it all too well.

He wanted to stay with the old woman who cared for him from the bottom of her heart through the final days of her life.

He wanted her to leave without regrets.

At the same time, Rikuto knew even better how much Tsunade disliked staying in Konoha at this point.

So he couldn't help feeling a trace of warmth in his heart.

His fondness for her grew considerably.

"Then take care, Sister Tsunade, Senior Sister Shizune!!"

He watched Tsunade and Shizune until they disappeared at the end of the street.

Rikuto smiled as he played with the scroll in his hand.

He had gained a beautiful big sister and a senior sister thrown in for free.

Surely things would be interesting in the future.

Chapter 19: Kurenai Yuhi, a Good Wife and Mother

"Rikuto..."

Just then.

A clear voice called from afar.

The familiar voice immediately told Rikuto who it was.

He turned to look at the newcomer, and his eyes lit up.

He smiled. "Sister Kurenai!"

The newcomer had long, lustrous black curls and ruby-like eyes set in a beautiful, delicate face.

Her graceful, shapely figure was captivating.

Wearing a gentle smile, she came up to Rikuto.

It was Rikuto's neighbor-Kurenai Yuhi.

"Sorry, I'm a little late today..."

Kurenai Yuhi was carrying some groceries, looking every bit like a good wife and mother.

"Not late at all! I was just about to come looking for you!"

Rikuto smiled.

It was only him and Kurenai Yuhi for lunch.

Eating a little late didn't matter.

The old woman's health was deteriorating day by day.

Her appetite had been poor these past few days, and she could barely eat.

It was a good day if she could manage two meals, and she usually didn't want lunch at all.

Even at breakfast and dinner, she sometimes ate only a few bites before she couldn't eat any more.

He couldn't force her, either.

"Sister Kurenai, is that guy Asuma Sarutobi still bothering you..."

Rikuto deftly took the groceries from Kurenai Yuhi and asked, "If he still won't give up, I'll teach him another lesson for you!"

"You little know-it-all, stay out of grown-ups' business!"

Kurenai Yuhi knocked him on the head.

Looking at his handsome face, which could charm countless young girls, she couldn't resist pinching it.

She chuckled in exasperation. "Last time Asuma treated us to a meal, Anko and I brought you along, and your stomach turned out to be a bottomless pit. Asuma's face went green!"

"He hasn't dared offer to take me out to eat since!"

If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes,

Kurenai Yuhi would never have believed it.

Rikuto's appetite was even more outrageous than that of the Akimichi Clan.

Asuma Sarutobi, a full-fledged Jonin, had seen several months' worth of hard-earned mission pay vanish in a single meal.

Asuma's expression had changed on the spot.

It wasn't just because the cost had exceeded his expectations.

He also hadn't brought nearly enough money with him.

The awkward sight of him

had nearly made her and Anko burst out laughing.

They could only hold back their laughter and chip in to help settle the bill.

Perhaps Asuma Sarutobi had felt embarrassed because of that incident.

Or perhaps he had realized that he and Kurenai Yuhi really had no chance together.

He seemed to have truly given up pursuing her.

He rarely appeared before her anymore.

Now, even when they occasionally ran into each other on the street,

he would only give her a somewhat awkward nod

before hurrying away.

Still, that was for the best. She could finally have some peace and quiet.

After all, the two of them had been classmates at the Ninja Academy.

Besides, he was not only a Konoha Jonin but also the son of Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi.

She couldn't go too far or treat him coldly.

"Hehe, who told him to thump his chest and act so generous?"

Rikuto wasn't bragging.

If he really ate his fill,

with the Woods-Woods Fruit's cheat-like digestive ability,

the appetites of the Akimichi Clan were nothing compared to his.

If the food were supplied without limit,

he could eat Asuma Sarutobi into bankruptcy.

"Pfft..."

Hearing that,

Kurenai Yuhi couldn't help herself and broke into a light laugh.

Her beautiful ruby-like eyes were full of affection as she looked at the outrageously handsome little fellow she had long treated like her own younger brother.

She gently tapped Rikuto's forehead with a polished fingernail. "You and your clever ideas!"

"All right, enough about that!"

Kurenai Yuhi smiled and pinched Rikuto's handsome face.

Brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead, she asked with concern, "How is Granny Nao feeling today?"

"Not very well. She's already gone to sleep and said not to wake her for lunch!"

Rikuto spread his hands helplessly.

"What?"

In the kitchen.

After sending Rikuto, who had wanted to help, out of the kitchen,

Kurenai Yuhi's lovely figure moved about as she got to work with practiced ease.

But before long, the news Rikuto gave her startled her.

She turned around and stared at him in disbelief. "Lady Tsunade took you as her disciple? You're not joking with me, are you?"

"Yes. Grandma used to be a member of the Senju Clan, and she knew Sister Tsunade from before. She had someone send a message to call Sister Tsunade back. Sister Tsunade saw that I had decent talent and agreed to take me as her disciple!"

Rikuto nodded and explained casually.

"Granny Nao used to be a member of the Senju Clan?"

Kurenai Yuhi's eyes widened.

For a moment, she found it hard to believe.

Her ruby-like eyes, paired with her pretty face,

made her look truly captivating.

"I only found out a little while ago myself!"

Rikuto nodded.

He brought over a stool and sat down outside the kitchen.

He admired Kurenai Yuhi, who looked both pretty and alluring dressed for cooking.

Her figure was shapely and full of charm.

She truly was a good wife and mother.

"That's wonderful!"

Kurenai Yuhi took a deep breath.

But seeing that Rikuto didn't look as if he were joking,

she naturally chose to believe him without much doubt.

She smiled, genuinely happy for Rikuto. "Your talent was already extraordinarily good, Rikuto. With a famous teacher like Lady Tsunade to guide you, your future achievements will surely be boundless!"