Konoha: Naruto's abnormal life choices

After the options appeared, Naruto gave them a quick glance. Two of the rewards caught his eye—he'd never seen anything like them before, so he clicked on them to check the details.

[Uchiha Sako, Simulated Rubber Model]:Feeling lonely? Empty inside? Still cold during those long, quiet nights? Don't worry, help has arrived—Uchiha Sako, the ultimate midnight stress reliever. One-click installation. Ready when you are.

[Talent: Evil Little Yellow Hair]:Once equipped, members of the opposite sex who already have a crush on someone else will become more likely to develop feelings for you.

Tsk~These rewards didn't seem particularly useful on the surface, but Naruto was a collector—even in his previous life. Whether an item was practical or not didn't matter. If it wasn't dangerous to acquire and the conditions were doable, he would go after it. No hesitation.

Even if it was just for the collection's sake, he'd take it. Who knew—something that seemed useless today might turn out to be a game-changer tomorrow.

But if he chose one of these, it meant stepping on Ino and Sakura's feelings again.

So... should he go through with it?

Unaware of Naruto's internal scheming—of being used as stepping stones for rewards—Ino and Sakura continued glaring daggers at each other.

Ino, annoyed by Naruto's earlier outburst, made a sharp "tsk" sound under her breath. For reasons she didn't understand, his irritated tone had really stung.

Sakura, on the other hand, had been toughened up by three months of Naruto's rough treatment. She brushed it off. Naruto had always been this way, so she let the words roll off her like water.

"Now, now, you're all comrades. There's no reason to be angry with each other."

Yuhi Kurenai, her long black hair cascading behind her, set aside her interest in the drama and used the communal chopsticks to place grilled meat onto both Sakura's and Ino's plates.

Her tone was coaxing, kind.

"Let's all calm down and enjoy the barbecue first."

Her intentions were sincere—but unfortunately, both girls were far too stubborn and hot-headed to be pacified so easily.

Sakura and Ino exchanged another cold glance, snorted simultaneously, and turned their heads away in opposite directions.

Well… that didn't work.Kurenai's expression stiffened slightly with embarrassment. Seeing this, Asuma—who had been watching her intently the whole time—immediately glanced at Kakashi, silently begging for help. If they could calm Sakura and Ino down, maybe he'd have a chance to impress Kurenai.

But before either jonin could act, Naruto moved.

"Sakura. Ino. What's wrong with you two?" Naruto said sternly. "How can you be so disrespectful to Kurenai-sensei? Don't you understand what it means to show respect to your teacher?"

No one had expected that.

After scolding them, Naruto stood up, walked around Sakura, and plopped himself down between Sasuke and Kurenai.

Then, without hesitation, he scooted even closer to Kurenai and fixed his eyes on her.

Her elegant black curls… subtle red eyeshadow… delicate makeup… slim waist and a figure that could turn heads in any room. Her red, v-neck dress revealed long, smooth legs folded neatly beneath her in a kneeling pose. Since shoes weren't allowed in the private room, the soft pink soles of her feet peeked out.

Now this, Naruto thought, is what a real woman looks like.No need for censors—she was just naturally beautiful.

Thumbs up!

After admiring her silently for a few seconds, Naruto sat up straight and declared seriously:

"Kurenai-sensei, Sakura and Ino used to be my classmates. If they were disrespectful, then I'm responsible too. Please, place all the blame on me. I'll accept any punishment alone."

Everyone in the room froze.

Sakura and Ino blinked in shock.

Kiba and Shino stayed silent. Hinata's heart quietly sank.

Shikamaru and Choji whispered to each other, trying to figure out what Naruto was planning this time.

Sasuke's brows furrowed. Something felt off, but he couldn't quite place it.

Kakashi's expression softened. Sensei… if you could see this, I think you'd be proud. Naruto is just like you—willing to take responsibility, always putting his teammates first.

Asuma, too, grinned slightly and silently congratulated his father, the Third Hokage. Looks like your hopes were well-placed. Naruto has become the ideal Jinchūriki you always dreamed of.

Kurenai's chest rose slightly with a sigh. She hadn't blamed anyone to begin with. As a jonin, she couldn't let her pride get bruised by a squabble between teenagers—what would people say?

"Naruto, you might have misunderstood—"

"Kurenai-sensei!"

Naruto cut her off loudly.

Then, raising his voice deliberately for effect, he shouted:

"Please be my girlfriend! Let me atone with my body! I promise that if you say yes now, I'll treat you with all my heart—for the rest of my life!"

"???"

Everyone else in the room: What did he just say?

Total silence fell.

Naruto… are you insane?

Kurenai Yuhi is 27 years old.

You just graduated from the Ninja Academy three months ago!

You seriously confessed to her in front of everyone?

[Ding! Congratulations. You've completed Goal 3. Reward: (Talent: Evil Little Yellow Hair) has been issued and automatically equipped.]

Kurenai stared blankly for a moment. Then she blinked.

Naruto's small, boyish face—transformed by the Selector—was absolutely adorable. His big blue eyes sparkled with innocence, and his grin was the kind that made you want to pinch his cheeks.

He wasn't just the kind of kid that little girls liked. He was also exactly the type adored by women in their thirties.

Even though his confession was clearly immature, it still warmed something in her heart.

"Hehehehe~"

Kurenai couldn't hold back her laughter. Her expression softened as she reached out and gently ruffled Naruto's bright blonde hair.

Looking at his youthful, earnest face, Kurenai thought: I have to tell Anko about this tomorrow. She's going to lose it when she hears a little boy confessed to me.

"I appreciate the offer, kid," she said with a chuckle. "But wait until you're older, okay?"

Still, she picked up a few pieces of meat and placed them onto Naruto's plate, adding gently: "Eat up. You need to grow big and strong first."

Naruto feigned disappointment, sighing as he lowered his head. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught Asuma glaring at him with a look that could kill.

Heh!

Why does your jealousy make me so happy?

Let's call this a little down payment from your bastard father, Sarutobi Hiruzen, for all the years he spent screwing me over.

With a smug grin, Naruto dug into his barbecue—happily munching away—while, under Asuma's burning stare, he subtly leaned even closer to Kurenai.