"Thanks, Kitazawa."
Yūhi Kurenai put the scroll away and said, "I'll study it carefully once I get back."
"Want a lollipop?"
Kitazawa casually opened a snack pack and asked.
"At my age?"
Kurenai couldn't help but laugh. "Is it really appropriate for me to be eating lollipops?"
"For kids, it's a bit childish," Kitazawa said as he unwrapped one, bringing it to her lips,
"but for adults, it's just right."
"You're still as amusing as ever."
Kurenai parted her soft lips and bit down on the lollipop.
"How does it taste?"
Kitazawa took out another one and popped it into his own mouth.
"Very sweet."
Kurenai narrowed her eyes slightly, then asked,
"Why do you carry snacks with you all the time?"
"Rewards for the students," Kitazawa replied casually.
"It boosts their motivation to learn."
Kurenai immediately thought of Kurama Yakumo.
But… that wouldn't work for her.
Yakumo was the young lady of the Kurama clan—she lacked neither money nor snacks.
"What do you want to eat tonight?"
Kurenai lightly licked the lollipop with her pink tongue.
"My treat—don't hold back."
"Yakiniku," Kitazawa thought for a moment before answering.
"Sounds good."
Kurenai nodded, a hint of nostalgia appearing in her eyes.
"The last time we had yakiniku together was during the Chūnin Exams… everyone was there."
By everyone, she meant Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Obito, Nohara Rin, Sarutobi Asuma, and the others.
Unfortunately, only a handful of them remain now.
"Why the sudden trip down memory lane?"
Kitazawa raised an eyebrow.
"Dwelling on the past is how people get old."
"Are you an idiot?"
Kurenai shot him a glare.
"Getting old is a topic women are absolutely not allowed to touch."
"My bad,"
Kitazawa laughed.
He knew she wasn't actually angry—this was just how old friends bantered.
"Have you seen Kakashi lately?"
Kurenai asked as they walked.
"How's he doing?"
"I saw him once last month," Kitazawa replied.
"Same as always—lifeless."
No exaggeration: their old class could be described as a gathering of legends.
Hatake Kakashi—a genius who became a jōnin at twelve.
Yet cursed by fate: father dead, teammates dead, teacher dead—eventually shutting himself off from the world.
Uchiha Obito—tears hidden behind Kamui, falling into darkness for Nohara Rin, seeking to create a world where she still existed.
He killed his own teacher, aided Uchiha Itachi in wiping out his clan, and later became Uchiha Madara—bent on destroying the shinobi world.
And then there were others—Might Guy, who nearly kicked the story to its ending, and Sarutobi Asuma, the Third Hokage's son.
"I wonder when he'll finally step out of that shadow,"
Kurenai said softly after a few seconds of silence.
"What about Asuma?"
Kitazawa smoothly changed the topic.
"Is he still writing to you?"
"I get a letter every few days."
Kurenai curled her lips slightly.
Kitazawa caught the faint trace of impatience.
In the original story, Sarutobi Asuma pursued Kurenai relentlessly, eventually winning her heart before the Fourth Shinobi World War.
But that was still about ten years away.
At present, they weren't together.
"He's certainly persistent,"
Kitazawa smiled.
"Even in the Fire Capital, he hasn't forgotten you."
After the Third Shinobi World War, Asuma—rebelling against his father—had left Konoha to become one of the Guardian Ninja Twelve, protectors of the Fire Daimyō.
While the original story never specified when he returned, it was most likely around the year Naruto graduated.
After returning, he became the team leader of Shikamaru, Chōji, and Ino.
"Let's not talk about that."
Kurenai stretched her arms, fingers interlaced, her fair skin catching the light.
"How many drinks are you planning to have tonight?"
"I'll risk my life to drink with a beauty,"
Kitazawa said with a smile, glancing at her graceful figure.
In the past, he'd never had thoughts about Kurenai.
Not because he was some paragon of pure love—but because he was too weak, too busy just trying to survive.
Now that he had the system, strength was no longer something he needed to worry about.
He was a kind person.
He simply couldn't bear to see Kurenai left alone.
Ahem.
At present, Asuma and Kurenai were nothing more than pursuers and pursued—not particularly close.
This was fair competition.
"Really?"
Kurenai smiled faintly.
"You can still back out if you want."
"Then please go easy on me,"
Kitazawa said without hesitation.
"Since you helped me, I'll let you off this time."
Kurenai waved her hand generously.
As she spoke, the two of them walked into the yakiniku restaurant.
"Try my grilling skills today."
Once seated, Kitazawa took the initiative and started grilling the meat.
"There's something I've always wanted to ask you,"
Kurenai poured two cups of sake.
"Why did you choose to become a teacher?"
In the shinobi world, the most respected profession was naturally that of a ninja—especially a powerful one.
Being an academy instructor wasn't considered particularly glorious.
In many people's minds, only mediocre chūnin ended up teaching at the academy.
"Personal interest,"
Kitazawa answered casually.
"I see."
Kurenai nodded.
"But you really are suited to being a teacher."
"So you've just been a private tutor lately?"
Kitazawa flipped the pork belly, rich aroma spreading through the air.
"Yes."
Kurenai paused briefly.
"But I still have to take village missions when they come."
Aside from academy instructors, all ninja were required to take missions periodically.
Of course, Konoha's upper echelon had flexibility.
Take Tsunade, for example.
After developing hemophobia, she wandered the shinobi world gambling—and dragged Shizune along with her.
She neither returned to the village nor took missions, yet Konoha could do nothing about it.
Jiraiya was much the same.
"If you have time, come find me,"
Kitazawa chuckled, thinking of Yakumo's mission.
"I can help teach that student of yours too."
According to the original plot, it took several years—and Naruto and the others' involvement—before Kurenai resolved Yakumo's issue.
"Then I'll be counting on you, Kitazawa."
Kurenai didn't refuse.
"It's settled then. If you run into trouble, come to me."
Kitazawa raised his cup.
Whether the mission succeeded or not would depend on this.
Kurenai froze slightly.
Looking at his sincere expression, something stirred faintly in her heart.
She felt that Kitazawa's attitude toward her today was… different.
Could it be—
She quickly dismissed the thought.
It didn't match the Kitazawa she knew.
In her eyes, he was gentle with everyone.
And with his looks, the fact that he'd never had a girlfriend could only mean one thing—
He simply wasn't interested.
"Cheers."
Kurenai lifted her cup, clinked it against his, and drank it in one go.
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