"Don't fight! If you really want to fight, take it to the training ground!"
With the homeroom teacher stepping in, Yuhi Kurenai finally released her grip, huffing with frustration.
Her long, dark, slightly wavy hair was a mess, and her cheeks flushed—though it was hard to tell if it was from rage or embarrassment.
Guts raised his hands innocently.
He hadn't even fought back—honestly.
If anything, he had just been a victim of her unreasonable outburst.
Sure, maybe he "accidentally" bumped into something during her tantrum, but that was all.
The first day of class was simple: just the opening ceremony, seat assignments, and a stack of textbooks. That was it.
Actual classes would begin the following day.
But what Guts didn't expect was this—his seat, near the classroom window, had Yuhi Kurenai sitting right beside him on the right.
And just one seat farther was Kato Shizune, future apprentice of the legendary Tsunade—but for now, just a quiet, unreadable loli who kept to herself.
Guts could feel Kurenai glaring daggers at him, her mood still clearly sour.
Trying to play it cool, he casually turned toward the window and pretended to admire the scenery.
Before long, textbooks were handed out. The homeroom teacher went over a few classroom rules and dismissed them early for the day.
Still, one name was missing:
Uchiha Obito hadn't shown up at all.
Surprisingly, nobody made a fuss over it.
Even Rin Nohara, who always looked out for him, simply picked up his materials without a word.
As the students began filing out, a figure wearing goggles came sprinting up to the gate, breathless and flustered.
He stopped dead in his tracks, seeing everyone already heading home, textbooks in hand.
Panic welled up in his eyes—until Rin approached with a warm smile and held out his books.
Obito blinked.
Then, slowly, the corners of his mouth rose. The weight in his chest lifted.
Her smile... it changed something in him.
Maybe this—this small kindness—was the first step toward something deeper.
…
As the students walked toward their neighborhoods, they gradually split off into smaller groups.
"Guts," Might Guy called out. "Are you planning to train outside the village later?"
Before Guts could reply, Asuma—beardless and unfamiliar to Guts at this point—stepped in front of Kurenai and casually said:
"Kurenai, I heard there's a new dessert shop on Short Book Street. Want to check it out? Classes start officially tomorrow, so this might be the last chance to relax."
Not a bad move, honestly. His timing and reason were both decent.
But what Asuma didn't notice was that even as Kurenai kept her back to them, the tips of her ears under her hair twitched—she was clearly eavesdropping on Guts.
Guts shrugged and replied to Guy, loudly enough:
"I already finished my three hundred laps before school. Next stop—riverbank training grounds. Gotta get in my physical workout."
"Whoa! As expected of you, Guts!" Guy shouted, eyes burning with motivation.
"I can't fall behind! Let's go!"
And off he went, racing toward the gates of the village like a missile.
Guts sighed.
He was facing a small crisis.
His kunai were worn to the point of being useless.
This past month, between harsh physical training and learning techniques like Soru and Tekkai from Navy Six Styles, he had run through his gear fast.
Even with hunting to keep up his monstrous appetite, life wasn't cheap.
Bathing, brushing his teeth—he wasn't the kind to ignore hygiene, and all of it cost money.
All of his savings had gone toward ninja tools.
His comfort money just wasn't enough.
But who could he blame?
Maybe his parents, who were both Chūnin instead of Jōnin.
If they'd been higher ranked, maybe the support payout would've been better.
He shook those thoughts away.
No use dwelling on the past. He needed a solution.
Then, he noticed something.
Kurenai was clearly uncomfortable as Asuma tried to push the conversation along.
Guts's eyes lit up.
He walked over and tapped Kurenai on the shoulder from behind.
"Ahh!?"
Startled, she jumped and spun around. "What are you doing?!"
Asuma narrowed his eyes. The mood had already been tense, and now this guy again?
Guts didn't hesitate.
"Is Uncle Yuhi Shinku home?"
Kurenai blinked, taken aback. "What do you want with my dad?"
Her frown deepened slightly—but there was a hint of curiosity too.
'If you're dodging the question like that, then yeah—he's definitely home.'
Guts smirked inwardly.
Having lived almost twenty extra years in his past life, he could spot hesitation better than a seasoned Jonin on a lie detector mission.
Yuhi Shinku, one of Konoha's top intelligence officers, was known for running classified messages back and forth from the front lines.
Compared to recluses like White Fang or medics on permanent sabbatical like Tsunade, the guy actually showed up in the village often.
Perfect.
"I just want to greet your dad," Guts said casually.
PFFT!
Kurenai practically inhaled her own spit. She staggered, eyes wide like she'd just seen a ghost do the moonwalk.
Asuma, standing off to the side and trying to look cool with one hand in his pocket, nearly dropped his nonexistent cigarette.
His whole expression screamed, Bro, what?!
"You… y-you… Y—" Kurenai's mouth opened and closed like a fish gasping for air. Her face turned redder than a Sharingan on full spin cycle.
Guts blinked, tilted his head, and then frowned slightly as realization hit.
"Wait. Wait. You didn't think I meant—ah. That came out wrong."
He rubbed his temples with a tired sigh. "I meant to visit Konoha's genjutsu expert. I admire ninja with real mental strength.And I prefer the type of women like Tsunade."
"W-what did you say?! Tsunade-sama, you idiot! Put some respect on her name!"
Kurenai was fuming now, looking like she was about to start breathing fire.
"And who are you calling a nympho?!"
"Huh?" Guts raised an eyebrow. "I never said you were one."
"You heavily implied it!"
"I did not. That was your brain playing tricks on you. Maybe you need to see a genjutsu master after all."
"You…!"
By now, her entire head was as red as her eyes. Guts remained perfectly calm, which only seemed to make her angrier.
That, and the fact that he was now clearly enjoying himself.
"I'm not calling Tsunade 'Lady' so mind your own business." he added.
'She's younger than me if you count my previous life. Technically, I should be calling her junior.'
Kurenai looked like she might explode.
Meanwhile, Asuma stood off to the side, trying to keep up with the conversation but utterly baffled by what he was witnessing.
Just moments ago, he was shooting his shot—and now he was watching this lunatic casually drop parental visits like it was the next logical step in a relationship that didn't exist.
Guts gave Kurenai a light tap on the back. "Anyway, you're headed home, right? Let's go."
"Don't push me! I didn't say you could come!"
Despite her protests, she started walking. Fast. Like someone trying to leave the situation behind before it got any worse.
"You're walking the same direction I am," Guts said innocently.
"No, you are walking in my direction!"
"Whatever."
As they rounded the corner together, Kurenai still huffing and muttering under her breath, Guts casually walked beside her like they were lifelong friends.
And just like that, the conversation with Asuma, her annoyed classmate who had been politely trying to ask her out moments ago, was completely erased from existence.
Left behind in the breeze, Asuma stood alone.
Hair tousled by the wind. Confidence shattered.
Emotionally… defeated.
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