Ever since the last monthly exam, when she had asked Kiyohane to explain genjutsu theory once, Kurenai had discovered that his knowledge in this area was much broader than she had imagined.
“Of course.”
Kiyohane closed his textbook.
Kurenai pulled over a chair and sat beside him, then opened her notebook.
Inside were all kinds of questions she had encountered recently.
Some were knowledge points the class had not expanded on.
Others were concepts her father, Shinku Yuhi, had mentioned but never explained in detail.
After all, as a jonin, Shinku Yuhi was usually very busy.
Kiyohane looked through them one by one and answered every question.
As a field of study, genjutsu was only something Tsunade could be considered average at.
She could not teach anything too deep.
Fortunately, Kiyohane had the Sharingan, giving him a natural advantage in observing chakra flow.
Many techniques that required repeated contemplation for others to understand could be seen through by him at a glance.
On top of that, there was the foundation accumulated by the Senju clan over hundreds, even thousands, of years.
Even self-study was enough for him to handle Kurenai’s questions at this stage.
“If visual genjutsu is avoided because the opponent closes their eyes, is there a way to force it in the instant they open them?
Theoretically, it should be possible, but the speed of injecting chakra always fails to keep up with the opponent’s reaction of closing their eyes…”
“What about maintaining continuous output through the genjutsu medium while the opponent’s eyes are closed?
For example, using some kind of catalyst that bypasses vision…”
The two of them went back and forth with questions and answers, and before they knew it, the entire break had passed.
Kurenai’s eyes grew brighter and brighter.
Although her father, Shinku Yuhi, was one of Konoha’s top genjutsu specialists, he was ultimately from a civilian background.
All of his achievements had been built on his own exploration.
But some of the answers Kiyohane casually gave faintly carried the shadow of the Senju clan’s complete inheritance system behind them.
For example, Toka Senju, a powerful genjutsu user from Hashirama Senju’s generation, had left behind genjutsu insights that were still passed down among the Senju.
For someone as studious as Kurenai, a human knowledge bank like Kiyohane was practically a treasure.
“Kiyohane-kun really is amazing.”
When the class bell rang, Kurenai put away her notebook and said that seriously.
“I’m just standing on the shoulders of giants,” Kiyohane replied calmly.
That was true.
If Kurenai had been named Senju Kurenai or Uchiha Kurenai, she definitely would have been an extremely powerful genjutsu shinobi in the original timeline.
Whether it was the Senju clan or the Uchiha clan, their depth of inheritance was not something the Yuhi family could compare to.
Seeing Kurenai and Kiyohane talking so happily, Asuma Sarutobi felt rather sour inside.
Damn it.
When I get home today, I’m definitely asking the old man to arrange a tutor.
Hiruzen Sarutobi had found one for him before, but Asuma had found it troublesome and pushed it off.
At the time, he had thought that as the Hokage’s son, there was no way he would fall behind at school, so why bother with extra lessons?
Now, he was starting to regret it.
Sitting in his seat, Asuma nearly snapped the pen in his hand.
No.
Asuma silently swore to himself.
In the next monthly exam, he would definitely show the strength that belonged to the son of the Hokage.
He would quietly work hard, then amaze everyone.
Especially Kurenai.
Thinking of that, Asuma’s fighting spirit suddenly ignited.
He immediately pulled a book from his desk and began becoming a true Ninja Academy exam warrior.
“Why are you suddenly so fired up?”
Obito looked at Asuma Sarutobi in surprise.
For some reason, the atmosphere had suddenly become fired up, though he had no idea what exactly was burning.
…
The day’s classes ended, and the dismissal bell rang right on time.
Students packed their things in groups of two or three, and the noise in the classroom gradually grew louder.
Kakashi packed away his textbooks and ninja tool pouch, then stood and walked to Kiyohane’s seat.
“Kiyohane, do you want to practice swordsmanship together today?”
Kiyohane was putting his notes into his bag.
Hearing that, he looked up.
“Sure.”
“Then come to my house,” Kakashi said.
“My place is fairly big, and there’s a dedicated training ground in the backyard.
It’s quieter than Training Ground Three.”
Kiyohane’s hands paused slightly.
The Hatake household?
“Would that disturb Lord Sakumo?”
“No.”
Kakashi shook his head.
“Father happens to be resting in the village recently.
He said he’d be happy if I brought friends home.”
Kiyohane’s heart stirred slightly.
This was exactly what he wanted.
If he could meet Sakumo Hatake in person, perhaps he could collect some kind of trait.
That man was known as Konoha’s White Fang, a figure even the Legendary Sannin respected.
“All right.”
Kiyohane agreed.
Kakashi turned to look at Rin Nohara beside them.
“Rin, do you want to come too?”
Rin froze for a moment after hearing the invitation, then smiled.
“Sure.
It’s been a long time since I went to Kakashi’s house.”
Obito’s voice almost exploded the instant Rin finished speaking.
Originally, he had no interest at all in Kiyohane and Kakashi’s swordsmanship sparring.
What was so interesting about watching two annoying genius brats hack away at each other?
Only watching two girls fight would be interesting!
That had been Obito’s first thought.
But now that Rin was going, he had to go too.
Wherever Rin went, he would go.
“Suit yourself.”
Kakashi glanced at Obito, his tone indifferent.
Clearly, whether Obito came or not did not matter to him at all.
That attitude made Obito grind his teeth in anger, but for Rin’s sake, he endured it.
Only by enduring hardship could he one day see his beloved Rin!
He silently swore in his heart that once he awakened the Sharingan, he would teach Kakashi a harsh lesson and make that white-haired brat stop speaking to him in such an indifferent tone.
At that moment, Kurenai Yuhi had just returned from the office after helping the teacher deliver something.
She pushed open the classroom door, but the words she had been about to say stopped halfway.
“Kiyohane-kun…”
The classroom was already more than half empty.
Kiyohane stood beside his seat, turned slightly as he said something to Rin Nohara.
The two had finished packing and seemed to be preparing to go to Kakashi’s house together.
They were even discussing something related to their studies.
Kurenai could see the smile on Rin’s face as she occasionally nodded.
The two of them seemed to be getting along very well.
Kurenai’s steps unconsciously stopped at the doorway.
What is this?
I was clearly first.
I was clearly the one who came to Kiyohane-kun first today to discuss genjutsu questions.
But now Rin Nohara is going with them too.
And from the looks of it, this isn’t the first time they’ve gone somewhere together.
Kurenai tightened her grip on the strap of her schoolbag, and an indescribable awkward feeling welled up inside her.
“Kurenai, you’re back!”
Asuma Sarutobi, who had been waiting nearby the whole time, immediately stepped forward with what he believed was his most natural smile.
“Let’s walk home together today?”
“No.”
Kurenai shook her head, her tone a little gloomy.
“I need to go home early today.”
After saying that, she glanced in Kiyohane’s direction, then turned and walked out of the classroom alone.
Asuma’s hand remained frozen in midair.
Rejected again.
He withdrew his hand and silently stuffed it into his pocket.