Naruto, are you all so good at self-seduction

"What's up? Why did you suddenly invite me out?"

"Can't I just want to go shopping with you?"

Anko waved the dango she was holding, and stated somewhat dismissively, "You usually don't do this, I'm always the one taking you out."

Yuuhi Kurenai looked melancholic.

The two of them arrived at an overpass, leaning on the railing.

"It's Asuma again, isn't it?" Anko asked.

"…He asked me to see a performance, saying that a theater troupe came to the village," Kurenai sighed.

"How many times has that been this month? You can't always use me as your shield," Anko said, exasperated.

"Besides, aren't you two close? Childhood friends who grew up together. Everyone knows how he feels about you. He's the reason why no other guy in your graduating class dares to pursue you."

"It used to be good," Kurenai pouted.

"But since he came back to the village, he's been different."

"How so?" Anko asked curiously.

Kurenai remained silent, and Anko quietly ate her dango.

"Since he became one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja protecting the Daimyo, he's always trying to prove something to me," Kurenai said slowly.

"Before he left the village, we were fine with each other."

"But after he came back, he's been eager to take our relationship further. I can't stand his impatience."

After speaking, Kurenai scratched her hair in annoyance, then smoothed it out, gazing blankly at the distance while leaning against the railing.

Anko, watching her, pursed her lips while fiddling with the bamboo skewer she had just finished.

"You're just being difficult. If a guy liked me so much since we were kids, I would have agreed a long time ago."

Kurenai retorted, "These feelings aren't something that one person can give, and the other is obligated to reciprocate. His liking me is his problem."

"Your standards are so high," Anko remarked sarcastically.

"You can't just keep avoiding it and not give a clear answer. What do you expect Asuma to think? Are you going to keep running away like this?" she asked.

"…"

"Never mind, let's go shopping," Kurenai sighed and smiled at Anko.

Anko rolled her eyes, and just as the two of them were walking down the overpass, they happened to see two figures walking side by side on the other side of the road, one of whom was quite familiar.

"Why do I have to run into him; what a nuisance," Anko muttered softly.

"What's wrong, are you going to pretend you don't know him?" Kurenai teased.

"Pretend?" Anko raised an eyebrow. "Why? Am I afraid of him?"

She brazenly walked toward the two figures, and Kurenai smirked and followed her.

"Oh, what a coincidence, little brat," Anko greeted him rudely.

Kanzuki Oboro frowned slightly at the sudden appearance of the woman before him. "It's Kanzuki Oboro."

"Oboro, is she your friend?" Shisui asked beside him, smiling.

Kanzuki glanced at the two, detecting a hint of malice in Anko's eyes.

"No, just an acquaintance," he replied.

Anko's face stiffened, her gaze becoming even more hostile.

"Hello, I'm Oboro's friend, Uchiha Shisui," Shisui introduced himself with a smile.

"Uchiha Shisui?" Anko and Kurenai were both taken aback, their attention immediately shifting.

"Are you Shunshin no Shisui?"

"Has Oboro given you any trouble? He can be quite difficult. I hope you don't take it to heart," Shisui said politely.

Kanzuki, hearing Shisui say he was difficult, couldn't help but frown.

"I've only heard of you; I'm so glad to finally meet you in person," Anko said, eyeing Shisui up and down. Unlike Kanzuki's deadpan face, this Uchiha Shisui seemed approachable.

"Oboro, aren't you going to introduce me?" Shisui smiled at Kanzuki.

"Hello, I'm Mitarashi Anko," Anko said before Kanzuki could speak.

"Yuuhi Kurenai."

"I've heard of you, Anko-san and Kurenai-san. It's a pleasure to meet you," Shisui responded in turn.

"Don't call us '-san'. You're a Jounin, higher in rank than the both of us, and you're so famous," Anko waved her hand dismissively.

"It's just empty fame," Shisui said.

Kanzuki calmly watched their polite exchanges. Anko was acting like she had just met a celebrity.

Within the younger generation of ninjas in the village, only Hatake Kakashi could compare to Uchiha Shisui in terms of popularity.

"I didn't expect someone of your level to be so approachable. I thought geniuses like you would have some quirks," Anko said, thinking about Kakashi as an example.

"I'm just like anyone else; I'm just a ninja," Shisui replied.

"At least he's better than some people," Anko said, glancing at Kanzuki.

"Oboro is actually warm-hearted, he just has a sharp tongue but a soft heart," Shisui said, hearing the subtle barbs in her words.

"Everyone is kind-hearted; why is he the only one with a sharp tongue?" Anko scoffed.

Yuuhi Kurenai couldn't help but gently tug her aside.

Shisui looked a bit awkward. He had thought the two girls were Kanzuki's friends, which was rare, so he wanted to have a proper chat with them.

"You're wrong," Kanzuki said, his tone calm.

"I'm not warm-hearted at all; everything I say is what I mean. I only saved you the other day because it was a mission requirement. I didn't expect you to be so overly familiar."

"You!" Anko exclaimed, ready to lash out, but Kurenai held her back.

"Well, we have things to do, so we'll take our leave," Shisui said, sensing that the situation was turning sour. He grabbed Kanzuki and quickly walked away with a forced smile.

"Why did you pull me away? Look at his infuriating face!" Anko turned to Kurenai and snarled.

"I want to beat his deadpan face to a pulp!"

"Why are you trying to start a fight with him?" Kurenai said helplessly, releasing her hand.

"I'd be happy to fight him, who's afraid of who?" Anko scoffed.

"Fine, if you can't stand each other, just don't interact in the future," Kurenai said, which was exactly what she wanted.

It was a pity that Shunshin no Shisui was so close to Kanzuki, but she couldn't understand how these two completely different people had become friends.

"I'm so angry!" Anko was still fuming, slamming her palm against the nearby railing. The iron railing made her hand throb with pain.

She felt even more resentment toward Kanzuki.

Meanwhile.

"Why do you always make things awkward for people?" Shisui complained. "You aren't going to have a street fight with her, are you?"

"Don't worry; she can't beat me."

"..."

"She assumes that just because she said we're friends, I have to fulfill the obligations of a friend. It's not fair. What has she done for me?" Kanzuki asked. "And she was being so dramatic; it was annoying."

Shisui sighed. "Why are you so biased? Are you a child?"

"It just so happens that I've experienced a lot, and now I'm resistant to doing things I don't want to do," Kanzuki said lightly.

"Being friends isn't just about getting something from the other person," Shisui countered.

"You're so virtuous," Kanzuki remarked with a glance.

"What I mean is that the giving between friends doesn't have to be material or practical; there's also the mental satisfaction and joy," Shisui explained earnestly.

"I haven't reached that level yet."

"Then what about me? Have you gained anything from me?" Shisui asked, a bit exasperated.

Kanzuki seemed to pause, then fell silent.

"You have already given."

After saying that, Kanzuki walked away.

"Eh?" Shisui was stunned, a strange expression on his face.

"What have I given you?"

"Wait for me, Oboro!"