That evening, Ren Akihara and Rin Nohara found themselves at the Yuhi residence for a small graduation celebration.
Even now, the day still felt unreal.
“I still can’t believe I became Orochimaru-sama’s disciple…” Rin murmured, sounding slightly dazed.
Kurenai, sitting beside her, puffed out her cheeks.
“I’m the one who should be surprised.”
She pointed at Rin.
“At least you actually contributed during the exam.”
Then she pointed at herself.
“I spent most of it standing there.”
“That’s not true.”
Rin smiled.
“You were cheering for us.”
Ren tossed a peanut into his mouth.
“Exactly.”
Both girls turned toward him.
“The three of us passed together.”
He spoke as though it were the most obvious thing in the world.
“Our contributions all mattered.”
For a moment, Kurenai was caught off guard.
Did cheering really count?
Objectively speaking, she hadn’t done much.
Then again…
This was Ren speaking.
And Ren’s standards for what counted as useful had always been a mystery.
A warm smile slowly spread across her face.
“From now on, we’re teammates.”
In Konoha, a three-person squad wasn’t a temporary arrangement.
Most teams stayed together for years.
Sometimes decades.
Unless someone transferred away.
Or died.
Shinobi who survived enough battles together developed bonds few outsiders could truly understand.
As the thought crossed her mind, Kurenai found herself remembering the Legendary Sannin.
Jiraiya had spent years chasing after Tsunade.
If he weren’t such a hopeless flirt…
Well.
Perhaps things might have turned out differently.
Her gaze drifted toward Ren.
Only for a moment.
Then she noticed Rin looking in the same direction.
The two girls met each other’s eyes.
A silent understanding passed between them.
Both smiled.
Neither smile was entirely friendly.
Suddenly, Kurenai stood.
“Give me a minute.”
She stretched lazily.
“I’m going upstairs to change.”
“It’s way too hot today.”
Rin immediately rose as well.
“Good idea.”
She nodded.
“I’ll change too.”
Kurenai blinked.
“You didn’t bring any clothes.”
“I’ll borrow some.”
Neither girl backed down.
As shinobi, they spent most of their lives wearing practical clothing.
Function over appearance.
Today, however, was a celebration.
That changed things.
A mysterious smile appeared on Kurenai’s face.
“Sure.”
“Take whatever you like.”
Then she added:
“Just don’t blame me afterward.”
Rin frowned.
She didn’t understand what that meant. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Five minutes later, she did.
Inside Kurenai’s room, Rin stared at the borrowed outfit in stunned silence.
“…Seriously?”
The sleeves were too long.
The shoulders didn’t fit.
The overall proportions were completely wrong.
Everything about it highlighted a simple, painful truth.
Kurenai was built differently.
Rin glanced at herself.
Then at the clothes.
Then back at herself.
A devastating blow landed directly on her confidence.
How was this fair?
Even worse, if she wore the outfit downstairs, everyone would immediately realize it belonged to Kurenai.
Meanwhile, Kurenai stood nearby with a serene smile.
For some reason, that smile made everything worse.
Downstairs, Ren remained blissfully unaware of the silent war unfolding above him.
He sat comfortably in the living room.
Drinking tea.
Eating snacks.
And steadily reducing the household’s strategic snack reserves.
Peanuts.
Rice crackers.
Sunflower seeds.
Anything within reach.
This was a gathering among teammates.
There was no reason to be formal.
Not that Ren would have known how to be formal in the first place.
“Ren Akihara?”
A voice interrupted his snacking.
Ren looked up.
An imposing man stood nearby.
The posture.
The confidence.
The instinctive sense of danger.
Everything identified him immediately.
Shinku Yuhi.
Kurenai’s father.
An elite Jonin of Konoha.
Not a legendary figure like the White Fang.
Not a future legend like Minato Namikaze.
But unquestionably one of the village’s strongest shinobi.
Which meant—
Ren’s eyes lit up.
“Would you like to spar?”
Shinku laughed.
Then completely ignored the question.
Instead, he sat down beside him.
“I’ve heard quite a bit about you.”
Ren waited.
Surely the sparring invitation would come next.
It did not.
“Kurenai almost never brings classmates home.”
“You’re the first.”
Ren nodded politely.
Still no sparring.
“I heard about the graduation exam.”
“Even Kakashi wasn’t your match.”
“It’s no wonder Orochimaru-sama accepted you.”
Still no sparring.
“Now that you’re teammates, take good care of Kurenai.”
Shinku pointed a finger at him.
“And don’t bully her.”
His expression became mock-serious.
“Otherwise I’ll come looking for you.”
Ren’s eyes brightened.
Finally.
Then Shinku ruined it.
“By the way, do you still have family?”
Ren shook his head.
“No.”
“An orphan, huh?”
The older man’s expression softened.
“Well, that’s alright.”
“My wife and I are always happy to have guests.”
“Feel free to visit whenever you’d like.”
And then he continued talking.
And talking.
And talking.
Several times, Ren attempted to redirect the conversation toward combat.
Each attempt failed.
By the end of the evening, darkness had settled over Konoha.
The celebration was over.
The spar never happened.
Standing outside the Yuhi residence, Ren looked at Shinku with complete sincerity.
“Uncle, I’ll definitely visit again.”
And next time…
We’re fighting.
Shinku laughed heartily.
“Anytime.”
Then he glanced at his daughter.
“Right, Kurenai?”
Kurenai’s cheeks turned slightly pink.
“Of course.”
Her eyes met Ren’s.
“We’ll always be happy to have you over.”
Rin froze.
Then her eye twitched.
A family invitation.
A standing invitation.
Personal approval from both parents.
This wasn’t a gathering.
It was a strategic operation.
Kurenai Yuhi had somehow turned a simple team celebration into a massive advantage.
Shameless.
Absolutely shameless.
Two days later.
Team Orochimaru arrived at their new teacher’s residence.
The atmosphere felt entirely different from the Academy.
More serious.
More important.
More dangerous.
“You’ve come.”
Orochimaru’s hoarse voice carried an unusual note of anticipation.
His golden eyes swept across the three newly graduated shinobi.
“Kurenai.”
“Rin.”
The two girls straightened immediately.
“Head to the training ground and wait for me.”
“Yes, sensei.”
Neither questioned the order.
Within moments, they were gone.
Silence settled over the room.
Now only Orochimaru and Ren remained.
The Legendary Sannin studied him carefully.
From head to toe.
As though examining some rare and fascinating specimen.
There was excitement hidden behind those golden eyes.
Barely restrained excitement.
Several moments passed.
Then Orochimaru finally spoke.
“The ability you mentioned…”
His gaze sharpened.
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
“Is this ‘Eating Release’ truly real?”