Naruto :Madam, You Don’t Want Anything To Happen To Sasuke, Right?

Especially with Yuhi Kurenai, the emotion on her face was unmistakably complex.

After all, both she and Asuma knew far too much.

In such a public place, it wasn't appropriate to have any overt interaction with Uchiha Haru.

But…

He was still their friend — standing not far away. And with Might Guy calling out so loudly, could they really just pretend not to see him?

Of course not.

No one would do that.

So, after a moment of hesitation, the two of them still walked toward Haru.

"Long time no see,"

Uchiha Haru greeted them, his gaze calmly resting on the familiar faces of Kurenai and Asuma. After three years apart, Kurenai had grown even more stunning and mature.

If before she was a flower bud waiting to bloom, now she was a fully blossomed rose.

Her skin was fair, and her facial features were refined, as though painted by a master artist.

Her figure was graceful, perfectly balanced — full and curvaceous where it counted, with nothing excessive or lacking.

She radiated an irresistible allure.

Uchiha Haru's eyes lit up subtly.

Asuma had changed as well. His youthful edges had softened into a more seasoned appearance. The ever-present cigarette had been replaced by a toothpick — though a small detail, it subtly changed the impression he gave off.

His presence now felt more approachable.

"Uchiha Haru… it really has been a while," Kurenai said, her voice soft as she avoided his gaze, unable to meet his eyes directly.

Asuma nodded in quiet acknowledgment.

Regardless of the tension between the Uchiha clan and Konoha… regardless of what Haru had said about his father, the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen…

Haru had always been his comrade.

And he had never once done anything to harm Konoha.

Behind Kurenai and Asuma, a group of young genin who had come to participate in the Chūnin Exams looked on with curiosity. It was clear that this man was someone deeply connected to their teachers.

Among them stood Hyuga Hinata — who had once encountered Haru.

"B-Brother Haru…" Hinata finally whispered, summoning her courage.

The moment the words left her lips, her face turned crimson.

Hinata had grown older, but her shy nature had only deepened with age.

"Hm? Hinata."

Haru turned his gaze toward her, a faint smile appearing as he gently reached out and patted her head.

"I didn't get a good look at you in the crowd last time… I didn't realize you'd grown so much."

"Mm…"

Hinata's reply was barely audible, like a mosquito's hum, her face now buried in her chest from embarrassment.

Haru didn't mind at all.

He knew this personality of hers well — he was a time traveler, after all.

Uchiha Haru, Might Guy, Asuma, Kurenai — people who had once shared bonds in Konoha — were standing together again after years apart. But none of them spoke. A heavy silence hung between them.

The atmosphere grew awkward.

"What's with you guys?" Might Guy finally broke the silence, puzzled. "This is Uchiha Haru! Our friend!"

"Why are you all acting so reserved?!"

"The last time I ran into him, it was the same thing. And now again? I really don't get you people."

Asuma's expression tightened with embarrassment.

It wasn't that they didn't want to speak — but today's circumstances were different.

Back then, no matter how strained things were between the Uchiha and Konoha, Haru had still been a leaf shinobi.

Now… he was a ninja of the Hidden Mist.

There was no going back.

Moreover, Haru had spoken such harsh truths about his father — Sarutobi Hiruzen — right to his face.

The fact that Asuma was even standing here, exchanging greetings, was already more than most would offer.

Kurenai Yuhi stood beside him, her brow furrowed.

If someone in Konoha were asked who missed Uchiha Haru the most… she would undoubtedly be a strong contender.

And that feeling had never changed. It had only grown deeper with time.

Logically, she should have been thrilled to see him again.

But her heart refused to allow such openness.

There were too many people around.

And who knew how many members of the Anbu were watching them from the shadows?

If she showed even the slightest affection for Uchiha Haru, her place in Konoha would vanish in an instant.

And even her family could be implicated.

After everything Haru had told them… and after Kakashi's private investigation, she had come to understand just what kind of sinister, manipulative man the Third Hokage — Sarutobi Hiruzen — truly was, despite the kind, benevolent face he always wore.

So she had to control her emotions.

But it was hard — painfully hard — for Kurenai Yuhi.

The person she thought about day and night was standing right in front of her, yet she couldn't speak.

She could only stand there, cold and distant.

Only those who have truly experienced this kind of torment could understand how she felt.

And then, in the next moment—

The world around Yuhi Kurenai changed drastically.

The bustling, crowded area where the third stage of the Chūnin Exams was being held suddenly vanished, replaced by a quiet, verdant forest. Asuma, Might Guy, and the others beside her disappeared entirely.

Only she remained.

And Uchiha Haru stood directly in front of her.

How... How did I suddenly get here...?

Yuhi Kurenai looked around in confusion.

But then Haru's voice echoed calmly beside her.

"This is my genjutsu space."

"No matter how much time passes here, only one or two seconds will pass in reality."

"You can speak freely—no matter what you say or do here, no one outside will ever know."

Hearing Haru's words, Kurenai's expression changed slightly.

There's actually a genjutsu of this level?

She was shocked.

As a kunoichi skilled in genjutsu, her illusions had always been her pride.

Especially after the Uchiha clan—renowned for their mastery of genjutsu—was nearly annihilated, very few in Konoha could rival her in that field.

She was proud of her abilities.

But now, standing inside this illusion, seeing how the environment itself was manipulated so vividly, so effortlessly—how time itself was distorted—she realized just how naive that pride had been.

This wasn't merely a genjutsu.

This... was a new world.

A world created entirely by Uchiha Haru.

And yet, the most important thing wasn't the genjutsu itself.

It was the fact that, finally, there was a place where she could meet Haru and speak to him—freely, without judgment, without being watched.

"Haru... you've worked hard all these years," Kurenai said softly.

When Haru had been searching for Tsunade, he had revealed the truth behind the Uchiha clan massacre to Asuma, Kakashi, and Kurenai.

In truth, Asuma and Kakashi were the only ones who needed to know.

Asuma was meant to relay the information to the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Kakashi's role was to investigate the truth behind it all.

But Kurenai? She was simply caught in the middle. An innocent person, dragged into a conflict that had nothing to do with her.

In many cases, the less you know, the better.

Especially when it comes to secrets others would kill to protect.

Once Sarutobi Hiruzen heard Asuma's report, he would naturally suspect everyone connected to it.

Kakashi wouldn't be the only one monitored.

Kurenai would face the same surveillance, maybe even worse.

After all, Kakashi's power and reputation far surpassed hers. His background was something even Sarutobi Hiruzen had to tread lightly around.

But Kurenai? She was vulnerable.

If Hiruzen decided to take action, she would be an easy target.

That was why Haru had spoken to her like this.

And hearing those words now, Kurenai felt a lump rise in her throat.

Her nose tingled.

Slowly, she lifted her head and truly looked at the face she had dreamed about so many times—his face. That familiar, handsome face that had haunted her thoughts for years.

And in that moment, the pressure, the guilt, the longing she had buried deep inside herself for so long... all of it collapsed.

She stepped forward.

Then another step.

And then, without hesitation, she buried her head in Haru's chest.

Tears flowed silently down her cheeks, her shoulders trembling slightly.

She didn't make a sound.

She didn't need to.

She just held him.

For how long, she didn't know.

Eventually, Kurenai lifted her head.

Her eyes were red and swollen, and her face flushed like a ripe red apple.

"Haru... I'm sorry," she said quietly.

Her voice trembled.

She hadn't expected herself to act so boldly—to throw herself into his arms like that.

Maybe it was the emotional strain of the past few years. Maybe it was simply something she'd always wanted to do but never dared.

Regardless, she had done it.

Even though she apologized, her heart felt lighter than it had in years.

The sweetness in her chest overpowered any sense of shame.

After this one moment of intimacy, the heavy burden that had weighed on her for so long suddenly felt lighter.

It was rare for her to feel this way.

Relaxed.

Free.

Even if it was just inside an illusion—it was enough.

Haru didn't say anything. He simply smiled, faintly, and gently helped restore her composure.

Kurenai felt her cheeks flush even deeper, her heart pounding uncontrollably.

Before, when she had broken down emotionally, it had been driven by pain.

But now—now it was Haru who had taken the initiative.

And that made all the difference.

The soft breeze brushed past them. The warm sunlight filtered through the canopy above. All around them stretched a sea of green—trees swaying gently in a place untouched by war or bloodshed.

Kurenai felt like this was the happiest moment of her entire life.

They sat beside one another, saying nothing for a long time.

Eventually, Kurenai opened her eyes and whispered, "If only we could stay here forever..."

But illusion or not, she knew the truth.

This wasn't the real world.

Eventually, she would have to leave.

She would have to return to the chaos and suspicion of Konoha.

Haru gently patted her head, but said nothing.

Perhaps he was thinking the same thing.

Maybe they both were.

After a while, Kurenai sighed deeply, her expression darkening.

And then, suddenly, she looked up and said, voice firm but pleading:

"Haru... take me away from Konoha."

.

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This Week Bonus Chapter - 200 Power stones

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