In Makoto Uchiha’s class, there weren’t many girls, but the quality was decent.
Two stood out in particular.
One was Rin Nohara, who always wore a gentle smile, possessed a great personality, and got top grades.
According to original canon, she was the school idol.
But Makoto felt nothing special toward her.
It wasn’t that Rin wasn’t great; it was mostly because he knew she was Obito’s ultimate taboo.
Touch anyone else, but never touch Rin—that was one of the strict boundaries Makoto set for himself.
He didn’t want Obito to suddenly unlock his Mangekyo during training one day and glare him to death.
The other was Kurenai Yuhi.
With long hair and crimson eyes, even at her young age, it was obvious she was going to be a beauty.
By Makoto’s standards, she belonged in the top three beauties of the Naruto world.
It was just that she didn’t get much screentime later on, leading to a weak sense of presence.
The problem right now was that Kurenai always had a tail following her around.
Asuma Sarutobi.
Son of the Hokage, future member of the Twelve Guardian Ninja, and currently…
a total clingy follower.
Makoto had observed him for three days and discovered Asuma’s daily routine went like this: Wait for Kurenai to walk to school together in the morning, give her snacks during recess, eat bento with her at lunch, and walk her home in the afternoon.
A textbook “twenty-four-karat devoted follower.” *Are elementary kids in this world really this precocious?* Makoto couldn’t help snorting to himself.
*Chasing girls at six years old?
When I was six, I was still playing in the mud.* Complaints aside, when it was time to act, he had to act.
During recess that day, Makoto seized the opportunity when Asuma was called to the teacher’s office and strolled over to Kurenai’s desk.
“Kurenai,” he spoke up.
Kurenai Yuhi was organizing her notes.
Hearing his voice, she looked up and froze for a moment when she saw Makoto.
“Makoto?
Is something up?” “I have a few questions about training I’d like to ask you,” Makoto put on an earnest “model student” expression.
“It’s about Chakra control.” Kurenai blinked her ruby-like eyes.
Makoto Uchiha coming to ask her about training?
That was a bit unusual.
People of the Uchiha Clan were always proud as peacocks.
Forget asking people outside their clan—even among clan members, they rarely sought help from one another.
Not to mention Makoto was widely acknowledged as a genius in their class.
Although this “acknowledged genius” title was passed around by word of mouth and Kurenai hadn’t interacted much with Makoto herself—so she didn’t know if he was truly a genius or not.
But since he asked, she couldn’t just ignore him.
“What kind of question?” Kurenai put down her pen.
“Well…” Makoto casually made up a question.
“When Chakra flows through the pathways, if it encounters a blockage, how should you clear it?” This question was actually quite basic—so basic that any textbook would have the answer.
But Kurenai didn’t think much of it and answered seriously, “You can use gentle Chakra to flush through it slowly, or pair it with specific breathing techniques…” She explained in great detail, covering everything from the underlying principles to step-by-step procedures and precautions.
Makoto nodded along as he listened, thinking to himself: *She really lives up to being a future Jonin.
Her fundamentals are solid.* Then, he heard a voice from behind him.
“Makoto, what are you doing here?” The tone was far from friendly.
Makoto turned around to see Asuma standing at the classroom door, holding notebooks he had just retrieved from the teacher.
His eyes were locked on Makoto, practically screaming, *Stay away from Kurenai.* Here he comes.
The little lion guarding his territory.
Makoto chuckled internally, though his expression remained calm.
“Asking a question.
Why, am I disturbing you?” “Asking a question?” Asuma walked over and slammed the notebooks onto Kurenai’s desk.
“What kind of question requires you to come all the way to ask Kurenai?
Is there nobody in your Uchiha Clan to ask?” Those words were quite harsh.
But Makoto didn’t get angry.
Getting mad at a six-year-old kid was beneath him.
“Asuma,” Kurenai frowned.
“Makoto was just asking a question.” “Does asking a question require standing so close?” Asuma glared at Makoto.
“I think you have ulterior motives!” Makoto was amused.
He turned to face Asuma directly.
“Asuma,” Makoto said unhurriedly.
“First, how close I stand while asking a question is my business.
Second, Kurenai herself hasn’t said anything, so why are you so worked up?
Third…” He paused and smiled.
“Even if I do have ulterior motives, what does that have to do with you?” Asuma’s face instantly flushed red.
“Kurenai is my friend!” “Oh,” Makoto nodded.
“So?
Friends aren’t allowed to talk to other people?
Is that what the Lord Hokage taught you?” “You!” “Asuma!” Kurenai raised her voice.
“Stop it!” Asuma snapped his mouth shut, but his eyes were still glaring daggers at Makoto.
Makoto didn’t bother with him further and turned back to Kurenai.
“Sorry for interrupting your studying.” “It’s fine.” Kurenai shook her head, casting a glance at Asuma.
“He’s just…
really protective of his friends.” “I understand,” Makoto smiled faintly.
“After all, being protective of girls at six years old counts as being pretty mature.” Hearing this made Kurenai’s face flush slightly.
Asuma grew even angrier, yet didn’t know how to refute it.
Knowing when to quit while ahead, Makoto prepared to return to his desk.
But after taking two steps, he paused and looked back.
“By the way, Kurenai.” “Hmm?” “Let me ask you something,” Makoto looked into her eyes.
“Do you think a person like me would make a good husband in the future?” “…” The classroom fell deathly quiet.
Kurenai blinked, failing to process what she had just heard.
Asuma stood mouth agape, as if struck by lightning.
After asking, even Makoto wanted to laugh.
The line was so blunt it crossed into shamelessness.
But he just wanted to test it.
Test the System’s reaction, and test Kurenai’s reaction.
A few seconds later, Kurenai’s face turned bright red in an instant.
From her cheeks all the way to the tips of her ears, she looked like a ripe apple.
“Ma-Makoto, you…” she stammered.
“What are you talking about…” “I was just asking,” Makoto had an innocent expression.
“I didn’t say I wanted to be *your* husband!
I was just curious whether anyone would want someone with my personality and looks in the future.” Kurenai: “…” Asuma finally snapped out of it.
“Makoto Uchiha!” he roared.
“Are you looking to die?!” Saying that, he prepared to charge forward.
Makoto didn’t even glance at him, keeping his eyes on Kurenai.
“So what do you think?
Would I be suitable?” Kurenai lowered her head, her fingers twisting the edge of her clothes.
She felt her face burning so hot she could fry an egg on it.
This question…
was far too sudden.
So sudden that she didn’t even know how to answer.
Saying he wasn’t suitable would be too hurtful.
And honestly, Makoto really was good-looking, strong, and though his personality was a bit strange at times, he wasn’t annoying overall.
But saying he was suitable was far too embarrassing.
Besides, Asuma was standing right there watching.
After struggling for a long moment, Kurenai whispered softly, “Makoto is…
very outstanding.
If it were me…
I might choose someone like you.”