Chapter 13: Kurenai's Request for Guidance
Tree climbing training had entered its fifth day. By now, Izumo could run nimbly along the tree trunks, even performing complex movements like jumping and turning mid-run.
The precise chakra control in the soles of his feet let him cling to the bark like a gecko, each movement nearly silent.
As the sun sank toward the west, golden light filtered through the gaps in the leaves and wrapped the small forest in a warm glow, stretching Izumo's shadow long across the ground.
He was completely focused as he moved between the trunks, unaware that not far away, behind a patch of bushes, a pair of captivating, phoenix-like eyes were watching him closely.
Yuhi Kurenai slowly pulled back the head she had been peeking out with, her heart beating just a little faster.
Ever since the results of the last monthly exam were announced, her friend Anko had wanted to ask Izumo about the secret behind his strength—but Kurenai had stopped her.
The one who spoke might not mean anything by it, but the one who listened could end up taking it to heart.
For the past two days, every time she walked home from school, her footsteps had unconsciously followed behind Izumo. She wanted to know the secret behind his sudden growth.
"So he can already run on trees…" Kurenai murmured softly to herself, her eyes filled with admiration.
Tree climbing was one of the core training exercises for Genin. Usually, only experienced Genin could truly master it. Yet Izumo had managed to do it on his own, even before graduation.
Meanwhile, her own tree climbing practice always stopped halfway—either because she used too much chakra and cracked the bark, or too little and ended up slipping off.
Watching how smoothly Izumo moved, a strong, pressing curiosity rose in her chest, and without realizing it, she shifted slightly.
But the faint rustle of leaves was enough to make Izumo tense instantly.
The tip of his foot pressed lightly against the trunk. His body drifted backward like a willow leaf caught by the wind, then landed firmly on another, thicker and sturdier branch.
Izumo narrowed his eyes, peering through the gaps in the leaves toward the source of the sound.
The golden light of dusk shone directly onto the bushes, outlining the slender silhouette of someone hiding behind them.
Long black hair draped over her shoulders, and a small leaf still clung to the tip of her ear.
It was his classmate—Yuhi Kurenai.
Their gazes met in midair for a brief moment.
Kurenai froze like a thief caught red-handed. Her pupils shrank, and her cheeks flushed bright red.
She instinctively wanted to pull her head back, but her body locked in place, able only to watch as Izumo jumped down from the tree and landed lightly on the empty ground in front of her.
"Kurenai Yuhi-san?" Izumo's voice carried a hint of confusion. His eyes fell on her hand, which she hadn't had time to pull away, still gripping a branch of the bushes tightly. "How long have you been here?"
Kurenai opened her mouth, only to find her throat completely dry.
She looked at the fine beads of sweat on Izumo's temple and at his eyes, which seemed brighter after finishing his training. Her heartbeat sped up.
The excuse she had prepared in her mind fell apart, and in the end, she could only say vaguely, "I… I was just passing by… and I saw you training, so I watched for a bit."
Izumo raised an eyebrow slightly, but didn't expose her lie.
He noticed how Kurenai's gaze kept drifting toward the nearby tree trunk, filled with a mix of admiration and confusion. In an instant, he understood.
He wiped the sweat from his temple and softened his tone. "Are you practicing tree climbing too?"
That question was like opening a valve. Kurenai looked up suddenly. "How do you do it? I always fail to control my chakra…"
The moment the words left her mouth, she realized she had revealed her true intention. Her cheeks grew even redder, as if she wanted to find a crack in the ground and hide.
Izumo saw her shy yet earnest expression and couldn't help but smile faintly.
The light of dusk shone across his face, softening the usually cool lines of his features. "There's actually no special secret. You just have to keep practicing and find the balance point between your chakra and the soles of your feet…"
Pointing toward the large tree beside them, Izumo said, "Why don't you try it? I'll watch from here."
Kurenai froze for a moment, then nodded eagerly. A spark of excitement appeared in her eyes.
She walked over to a tree with a relatively smoother trunk, took a deep breath, and followed Izumo's instructions, slowly gathering chakra into the soles of her feet.
Her fingertips brushed against the rough texture of the bark. She bit her lip and carefully stepped her right foot onto the trunk.
"Yeah, take it slow. Don't rush to move up," Izumo's voice came from behind her—steady and calming, making Kurenai feel much more at ease.
She steadied her body, then lifted her left foot and placed it against the trunk, moving upward bit by bit.
At first, everything went smoothly. But when she reached halfway up, the chakra in her feet suddenly became unstable. Panic surged, and her body immediately lost balance, falling toward the ground.
"Careful!"
Izumo's voice had just sounded when Kurenai already felt herself fall into a warm embrace.
Strong arms wrapped around her waist, carrying the faint scent of grass and sweat, holding her firmly in place.
The light of dusk merged their shadows into one, and the air filled with a feeling that was hard to put into words.
Kurenai's cheek pressed against Izumo's chest. She could feel his heartbeat—strong and steady.
She looked up suddenly. Their eyes met, the distance between them so close she could clearly see his eyelashes.
Without realizing it, their breathing grew light. All around them, there was only the sound of the wind moving through the trees and their slightly hurried heartbeats.
Izumo was stunned for just a moment as well. The soft warmth in his arms and the faint scent of the girl made his heart skip once.
He quickly came back to himself, helped Kurenai stand properly, and awkwardly let go. "Are you okay?"
Kurenai's cheeks felt hot. She hurriedly stepped back half a step, lowered her head, and said softly, "I-I'm fine. Thank you…"
The tips of her ears were so red they looked like they might start bleeding. That brief closeness had made her heart pound as if it wanted to leap out of her chest.
"I'll head home now, Izumo-kun," Kurenai said, clutching the edge of her clothes, her face still flushed. "Thank you for guiding me today."
She hesitated for a second, then looked up at him.
"Tomorrow… can I come here again and ask for your guidance?"
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