"See you tomorrow..."
As the slightly lazy words, tinged with the scent of alcohol, came from the girl's mouth, Kakashi waved back at her.
With the girl slightly tipsy, Kakashi was thoughtful enough to see his benefactor home.
Leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed, the girl tilted her head, her eyes shimmering as she watched the boy's departing figure. There wasn't the slightest hint of tipsiness in her gaze.
She admitted to herself that she was starting to like that guy Kakashi.
Otherwise, she wouldn't have taken the initiative like this.
If she had to say when she started liking him...
Perhaps it was his helpless smile when facing Might Guy back when he was hospitalized.
Added to that was the determined sight of him recklessly blocking the Tailed Beast Bomb, and the reputation as a genius he'd always had.
And...
Kakashi was really, really good-looking.
Like wine, Kurenai Yuhi appeared harmless on the surface, but inwardly, she was proactive as a blazing fire, and as stubborn as wine itself.
No matter how much time passed, she would never give up on something she had set her mind on; her resolve would only grow stronger with time.
Just like wine, which grows more mellow with the passage of time.
[Kurenai Yuhi's Emotional Fluctuation +1]
[Chakra +1%]
Kakashi felt nothing in response to the fluctuation in his mind.
Over the course of the meal, he had realized Kurenai's feelings for him might not be purely platonic.
But that kind of thing was completely unimportant to Kakashi.
Right now, the most important thing was to quickly improve his strength.
Kakashi wasn't naive enough to think that as long as he followed the so-called plot, everything would be fine and he could live a peaceful life.
The loss of the Kamui Mangekyo meant the future was now uncertain and shrouded in mystery.
In the future Fourth Great Ninja War, during the fight against Uchiha Obito who controlled six Tailed Beasts, Kamui had played a pivotal role. It was also crucial in the future battle against Kaguya Ōtsutsuki.
It could be said that the eye pierced by the rebar hadn't just pierced the Kamui Mangekyo.
It had pierced the future of this world!
In any case, Kakashi currently had no interest in wasting his thoughts on such matters.
It might seem cold, but to the current Kakashi, Kurenai Yuhi was just a temporary meal ticket.
Though it sounded a bit high-and-mighty, Kakashi needed to work hard to save the world!
"Kakashi!"
"You bastard!"
As Kakashi was walking home, a figure standing under a streetlight ahead hurried towards him.
[Sarutobi Asuma's Emotional Fluctuation +1]
[Chakra +1%]
"You just came back from Kurenai's place, right?"
The newcomer was none other than Kurenai Yuhi's future husband, Sarutobi Asuma.
Asuma came up to Kakashi, looking at him with an envious expression.
"Ah, on the way back from the Uchiha district, I ran into Kurenai, and we just had a meal together."
Kakashi looked at the boy before him and felt a headache coming on, but even so, he quickly and concisely clarified that his meeting with Kurenai was innocent.
This guy had been chasing Kurenai Yuhi since the Ninja Academy. It was practically common knowledge.
"Is that really all?"
Asuma wanted to ask more, but Kakashi's words cut him off.
"That's right, that's all."
"I was broke because of the sword forging, so Kurenai took pity on me and treated me to a meal."
Kakashi looked at Asuma seriously.
Although he could tease Asuma a bit more to trigger his emotional fluctuation and gain some chakra, Kakashi hated trouble.
To deliberately toy with someone's sincere feelings for his own benefit was something Kakashi couldn't bring himself to do.
Besides, the Old Horse in front of him wasn't someone Kakashi disliked.
Kakashi preferred to let things happen naturally.
"Really?"
Asuma looked at Kakashi suspiciously, but subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's true. Because of the sword forging, I'm a complete pauper."
Kakashi honestly stated that he was broke.
So, just for the sake of your love life, you can treat me to meals from now on.
"You're a straightforward guy. I'll treat you to meals for a while."
"Don't go troubling Kurenai anymore."
"After all, she's a girl."
Asuma's reply made Kakashi's eyes curve into crescents. He immediately reached out, patted the guy's shoulder, and said:
"In that case, I'll take you up on that."
Being treated is being treated.
Anyway, one of this couple has to treat me to dinner.
Besides, Asuma was the son of the Third Hokage. Money was not a problem for him at all.
"Hey, Kakashi..."
Asuma had no problem treating Kakashi to meals, but now he was acting all shy and awkward, which gave Kakashi the chills.
"What is it?"
Kakashi impassively took a step back.
"Th-that, do you know how to win a girl's heart?"
"After all, you've always been popular with girls..."
Asuma stammered.
Since childhood, Kakashi had always been popular with girls. Even during his brief time at the Ninja Academy, the girls at school would swoon over him.
What's more, now that Kakashi found his mask troublesome, he had decided to show his real face.
This made Asuma, who had a secret crush on Kurenai Yuhi, quite envious.
"Uh..."
"This..."
Kakashi scratched his head, then looked at Asuma hesitantly and said uncertainly:
"Could it be... because Asuma... you're..."
"Not as handsome as me?"
Kakashi hesitantly spoke the words that made Asuma freeze on the spot.
With just this face, as long as he abandoned his moral integrity, Kakashi could do extremely well for himself.
But the truth Kakashi spoke was truly heartbreaking for Asuma.
If it were any other aspect, he could still work hard, but when it came to looks, he was truly powerless!
But even so...
"Damn it, do you think Kurenai is that kind of shallow person?!"
He, Asuma, would never give up!
"Of course Kurenai isn't like that."
Kakashi felt it was necessary to speak up for his previous meal ticket.
"Asuma, you still need to work hard."
Patting Asuma's shoulder, Kakashi was already planning to leave.
There had been too much going on today.
Getting discharged, paying respects, encountering Uchiha Obito, being questioned by the Hokage, and requesting the Ninja Cats to forge his sword.
Kakashi felt a bit mentally exhausted and had no interest in giving Asuma advice on his love life.
"Old Horse, remember to bring breakfast to my place at eight tomorrow morning."
Kakashi waved his hand, paying no mind to Asuma, who was standing there racking his brains on how to win Kuren-i Yuhi's heart.
O-Old Horse?
When did I get such a nickname?
"Don't just give people nicknames, you bastard!"
Asuma stomped his feet in anger, watching Kakashi's departing figure.