Konoha’s White Fang Shines

Chapter 11: Season of Romance

In the days that followed, after his wounds had healed, dark circles became a noticeable mark on Genma's face.

Struggling to stay awake through the teacher's lessons, as the dismissal bell rang, Genma directly collapsed.

Each morning's classes were like this; he would nap at noon and only become alert in the afternoons.

Having witnessed these days of change in Kurenai, she couldn't help but notice that the man by her side was working harder and harder.

Though her heart ached deeply, she also felt immense pride, which led her to make a firm decision: she must become stronger to be worthy of this man.

When Genma was sleeping, Kurenai would go off alone to train.

However, as Genma and Kurenai became more disciplined as a couple, others began to stir with mischief. Before long, the atmosphere of romance began to permeate the classroom.

During one lunch break, when there was relatively more free time, a well-dressed purple-haired girl, impeccably fashionable, somehow made a deal with Asuma to give up his seat so that she could sit directly beside him.

Asuma felt extremely irritated, as if he had been betrayed.

Before he could react, the girl's gentle and sweet voice sounded beside him: "I'm sorry, Asuma. It was me who asked him to do this, knowing you might not like it. But I've been observing you for a long time and have liked you for a long time, so that classmate was very happy to help me."

Before Asuma could say anything, the girl tidied her beautifully arranged hair and flashed a sweet smile: "Since the start of the school year, I've been attracted by your easygoing temperament. But back then, I was like an ugly duckling just born, feeling insecure and not knowing what to do. So I started to pay attention to you, began following every little thing about you."

"You like wearing red T-shirts, enjoy eating meat sausages and yam cold noodles, and like reading military books like Sengoku."

"In order to understand the things you dislike, I carefully observed how you eat, noticing that you seem to stay away whenever you smell asparagus or even just glance at it. I've worked very hard, but still know very little."

Just as Asuma felt like he had been observed for a long time and his expression became complicated, the purple-haired girl's words made his heart flutter.

"So I don't want to wait any longer. I want to get close to you for real." The purple-haired girl looked at Asuma with determined eyes, solemnly taking a box wrapped in blue and white cloth from her shoulder bag. "This is a bento box I've been trying to make for three months. Inside are your favorite yam cold noodles and sausages. To prevent these two foods from affecting each other's flavors, I specially separated them."

After saying that, she carefully opened the food box, revealing crystal-clear cold noodles and fragrant sausages neatly placed on both sides of the box, with a divider in the middle.

The purple-haired girl didn't confess again but directly pushed the box toward Asuma.

Asuma hesitated in his heart, but his face still flushed uncontrollably, his nose slightly red, and finally picked up the chopsticks.

Just as Asuma began to taste the bento box carefully prepared by the girl, inside the Hokage Tower, a man with a flushed face, red ears, a pointy nose, and monkey-like cheeks wiped his face with a pristine crystal ball.

"This much careful observation, there should be no spies, right? Huh, next to Asuma, there's a girl."

After observing for a long time, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, blushed.

"Hehehe, I don't know what the girl said, but Asuma is really as popular as I was in my youth. This purple-haired one, she must be a child of the Mitarashi clan~"

The Third Hokage, feeling greatly relieved, stroked his beard thoughtfully.

Meanwhile, in the classroom, after tasting the first bite of cold noodles, Asuma couldn't stop eating, like he had eaten "tachi noodle," until he finished everything and let out a sigh of relief.

His originally cool expression seemed to relax a bit, after all, he had tasted food that made his tongue feel happy.

"That bento box was delicious. Have you eaten it yourself?"

Although the purple-haired girl really wanted to say she hadn't, to firmly hold onto Asuma, she could only shyly nod, "I was starving, so I ate it earlier. Asuma, can you give me a chance to date you?"

Her shy and pitiful gaze focused on him. Even though Asuma was usually quite cold, his face became a bit warmer.

"This..." This was Asuma's first love. His tongue seemed to tie up, but not wanting to disappoint the girl, he forcefully nodded and said, "Okay."

Suddenly, a warm and soft feeling swept across his side face, accompanied by the girl's bell-like laughter, and Asuma was stunned.

"My name is Anko Mitarashi, I like you, and from now on, you are my man."

The girl suddenly became cheerful again. Asuma didn't find it strange but instead felt his little heart pounding and his head dizzy.

"Anko, can we eat together from now on?"

Often seeing Kurenai and Genma feeding each other, Asuma blushed and looked at Anko.

Anko, no longer as cheerful as before, became the shy girl again, slightly nodding, "Yes, I've always dreamed of it~"

Just as the two were sneaking glances at each other, a loud shout echoed throughout the classroom.

"Kakashi, I challenge you!"

"Who is it? Uh, isn't that Might Guy from the class? He's so energetic right after eating."

"That green-clothed guy is really disgusting, but luckily he sits in the back row."

"Might Guy challenges the genius Kakashi, I really don't know what he's thinking."

Silent insults kept flying into Might Guy's ears, though his small face slightly reddened. Compared to before, when he couldn't show his ninja techniques in front of people and trembled all over, he was much calmer now.

Especially with that determined look, Kakashi found it irritating.

Kakashi stood up, put his hands in his pockets, and walked down to Might Guy's side.

"I refuse."

"Wh-why?" Excitedly wanting to throw a punch, Might Guy almost stumbled as if he had been hit hard.

Kakashi stretched out his hand and raised a finger: "Because I just finished eating, I can't do intense exercises. This is very important."

"No way, it's been a long time since I ate, and exercising can help digest."

Before Kakashi could argue, Might Guy's fist suddenly swung out.

Though Kakashi hadn't expected Might Guy to strike at him like this, his keen perception allowed him to block the fist with one hand.

"So heavy, my hand is getting numb."

Kakashi's dead fish eyes suddenly grew larger, starting to look seriously at the muscular boy in front of him.

"Ah, Konoha Whirlwind!"

With a loud shout, Might Guy suddenly lowered his body and swung horizontally at Kakashi's feet.

Kakashi merely leapt lightly to dodge, but Might Guy intentionally swung the horizontal attack around, aligning his body towards Kakashi, and then sprang up quickly with both hands on the ground.

"Oops, didn't expect it to be a continuous move, I underestimated him."

While in the air, Kakashi's facial expression changed slightly, instantly bending his body and stretching out, performing a second jump in the air, just barely avoiding the attack.

Compared to the initial dead fish eyes, Kakashi's eyes now showed a hint of seriousness.

Not daring to be complacent and not wanting to get tangled any longer, before Might Guy could steady his stance, Kakashi delivered a leg sweep straight towards Guy's face.

In the haste, Guy habitually used both hands to protect his face, but Kakashi's attack wasn't simple. His body rotated a full circle, the kicking foot swung down, while the other leg seemed to cut through the air, attacking Guy.

"Wow!"

Guy was sent flying in response. Though he initially had the advantage, he still lost as everyone had expected.

"Heh, Might Guy is just Might Guy. Lost in two moves, really useless."

"Ha, why don't you try it? See how many hits Kakashi needs to beat you."

"Guy seems to have made great progress. That Konoha Whirlwind could really hit me when I was careless."

Witnessing the fight, Genma, filled with admiration, said to Kurenai.

"Yes, I didn't expect Guy, who was admitted through re-exam, to improve so much." Having spent a long time with Genma, Kurenai gradually got used to Genma's way of thinking.

To see if the opponent is strong, and whether there's a chance to defeat himself, now it's all about comparing speed, strength, and reactions.

If I really make her fight Guy, the outcome is truly uncertain.

This put pressure on Kurenai, who worked very hard every day. Even the worst student in the class was improving so fast, her own progress seemed as slow as a snail.

Noticing Kurenai's disappointment in her eyes, Genma grabbed her hand and gently said, "Your specialty isn't in taijutsu. Guy works hard every day focusing on this, so it's very normal to be surpassed."

"Actually, I've also thought about your training. Genjutsu can be considered your specialty, but only specializing in genjutsu can be very dangerous. From now on, follow me and learn swordsmanship. At least when you're up close, you can release genjutsu without being detected by the opponent."

"You mean a swordsmanship like the Crescent Moon Dance?" Kurenai blinked as she looked at Genma, eyes full of expectation.

The first time she saw Genma train, she was attracted by his swordsmanship.

If her father hadn't stopped her from practicing swordsmanship, she would have been running around with a sword every day.

Her father always believed that she was a girl and that she shouldn't be involved in fighting, let alone dancing with swords and guns. But the more he tried to stop her, the more she wanted to.

Thus, initially being attracted by Genma's swordsmanship, and later finding Genma to be different and fun to talk with.

Now, Genma mentioned swordsmanship to her, she was 100% willing, but her father's stern face reappeared in her mind.

"But, Dad won't let me learn~"

"Uh, why is your father so old-fashioned? If a child is interested in learning, shouldn't he support it strongly?"

A father like Kurenai's, Genma had seen too many of them before. Every time he heard about such a person, he felt angry from the bottom of his heart.

"How about learning secretly? I don't require you to be very good at it, but using a sword is more advantageous than fighting with shurikens. Learning it can reassure me, and I can't stand to see you suffer."

"Your saying you can't stand to see me suffer made Kurenai's eyes moist."

Parents' words must be obeyed, and she has to endure her grievances. But in recent days, it was this smiling boy in front of her who was the one suffering.

"Are men like this?"

They endure their own grievances as if nothing happened, but they care deeply about their loved ones' misfortunes.

"Silly, you're my girlfriend now. If I can't make you happy, how can we be together?"

Genma gently wiped Kurenai's tears and said softly.

End of Chapter 11