章 11: Chapter 11: Reward: Genjutsu Mastery
The night wind softly blew through the streets of Konoha. Most homes were now dimly lit, and the quiet streets hinted at how late it had become.
Ren had just returned from a mission. He wasn't leaping from rooftop to rooftop as usual; instead, he walked alone down the lonely, deserted street. His mask from Root had been tucked away, and he was dressed in a sharp gray combat uniform with a short sword strapped to his back, looking every bit like a skilled operative.
Perhaps feeling tired, Ren paused for a moment and gazed up at the starlit sky. The brilliant stars shimmered against the deep indigo canvas of the night, dazzling like jewels. Yet, not a single one was familiar to him.
A fleeting expression of melancholy crossed his face before quickly vanishing.
Most homes on either side of the street were dark, their occupants fast asleep. Only one window above was still glowing with a warm light. A cool breeze swept past, and Ren closed his eyes, enjoying the quiet.
Suddenly, something fluttered down from the open window, gently landing on Ren's face.
It smelled of laundry detergent.
What is this?
Ren opened his eyes and looked at the pink-and-white item now in his hand. He examined the soft, cottony fabric.
From the lit window above, a shadowy figure appeared, peering out anxiously.
Ren glanced at the feminine garment in his hand, then back up at the familiar figure. His expression grew slightly awkward.
"Wait!" The figure called down in a panicked voice. The window flung open, and the person leaped down.
Wearing a red nightgown, one strap slipping off her shoulder, her pale legs exposed under the short skirt, and feet in slippers, Yūhi Kurenai landed gracefully. As she approached, Ren could smell a mix of alcohol and her natural perfume.
"Please… give it back," Kurenai said, flustered and embarrassed, her face flushed—though Ren wasn't sure if it was from the alcohol or the situation.
She hastily pulled up the slipping strap of her gown.
"Sorry..." she mumbled, clearly mortified.
Ren, recognizing her, handed back the item without comment. Kurenai's hands trembled as she took it from him, her face growing even redder as she almost buried her head in her chest.
Then Ren spoke, breaking the silence. "Next time you do this, remember to close the window."
Do this? What does he mean by that?
Kurenai blinked, confused. But as the meaning behind Ren's words sank in, her head shot up, eyes blazing.
"What do you mean by that?!" she demanded.
"Nothing," Ren responded calmly, turning to walk past her.
Kurenai reached out, grabbing his arm firmly. "Explain yourself!" she growled through gritted teeth.
Ren glanced at her, his gaze unreadable. "What's there to explain?"
"I..." Kurenai took a deep breath, trying to shake off the light-headedness from the alcohol and the frustration his comment had stirred within her.
"There's no one else upstairs. I'm the only one here!" she exclaimed.
"You don't need to explain yourself to me," Ren said, attempting to shake off her surprisingly strong grip.
This damn brat!
Kurenai cursed silently, feeling the sting of being misunderstood but unable to convince him otherwise. Why am I even trying to explain? she thought. But what if he starts spreading rumors...?
Still slightly dazed, her emotions spiraled out of control. "You're coming upstairs with me!" she ordered.
"I'm not interested in intruding on your business," Ren replied, trying again to free his arm. But Kurenai, fueled by alcohol and irritation, tightened her grip and grabbed his arm with her other hand as well.
"No! You're coming with me!" she insisted.
...
This stubborn woman, what is she thinking?
Ren sighed inwardly, realizing there was no avoiding it. Their stance must have looked quite strange—Kurenai clinging to his arm, pressing close to him. To an outsider, it would have appeared like a couple arguing.
A gust of wind blew through the street, and Kurenai, wearing only her thin nightgown, shivered slightly.
"Fine. Let go, and I'll come up with you," Ren finally relented.
But Kurenai refused to release him, fearing that if she did, he would flee. She dragged him towards the door, leading him upstairs to her apartment.
Once at her door, she pushed the handle but found it locked.
"Oh... I locked it from the inside," she muttered, slapping her forehead in frustration. She had leapt out of the window earlier without thinking and had locked herself out.
"Stay here. You're not going anywhere," she warned, glaring at Ren.
Ren watched her with amusement. He had already suspected she was alone, especially after she insisted he follow her upstairs to prove it.
"Are you going to give the person inside time to escape?" Ren teased, his voice calm.
"You!" Kurenai, infuriated, quickly grabbed the short sword strapped to Ren's back and stabbed it into the wooden door, driving the blade deep into the wood.
She struggled to pull it out, unable to at first, but her frustration pushed her to try again, until finally, she wrenched the blade free and continued stabbing at the door to create a large enough hole. Once she reached inside, she managed to unlock the door.
"Get in!" she commanded, throwing the short sword to the floor.
Without a word, Ren stepped inside. The room was much larger than his own apartment, neatly decorated, and filled with a pleasant fragrance. Immediately to his left, a large bookcase was filled with various scrolls and books. The bedspread was a soft yellow, slightly messy from when Kurenai had left it earlier, and in front of the window, there was a drying rack with freshly washed clothes.
So she likes to drink at night, huh?
Kurenai leaned against the doorframe, breathing heavily, as if relieved that she had finally convinced him to come inside.
Ren stood near the entrance, silently observing the room. Kurenai looked at his back, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and shame.
What am I doing...?
Now that her mind was clearer, she couldn't help but cover her face with her hands. Damn it, I shouldn't have left the house after drinking...
"Can I go now?" Ren's voice brought her out of her thoughts.
Hearing him, Kurenai felt a surge of anger once more. Is this kid playing me?
Ren turned toward her, his expression neutral, but to Kurenai, it felt mocking.
His calm, emotionless eyes made her feel like everything she had just done was foolish, like she was part of some ridiculous comedy show.
This brat... How can someone so good-looking be so insufferable?
Despite herself, Kurenai's eyes wandered, taking in Ren's well-built frame. His outfit accentuated his athletic body, and his tousled black hair only added to his sharp, handsome features.
Too bad he always wears that lifeless expression.
"About tonight..." Kurenai finally spoke as Ren walked past her, his hand on the door.
"Nothing happened tonight," she said, her tone low and threatening.
"Got it?"
Ren paused, glancing at her out of the corner of his eye. One strap of her nightgown had fallen again, revealing her smooth, pale skin.
Kurenai's figure was much more womanly than Anko's, exuding a natural charm.
"Are you threatening me?" he asked.
Still clutching the item that had started all this, Kurenai kept her head lowered, hiding her face behind her hair.
"Just promise you won't say anything," she muttered, her voice tense.
The air between them grew heavy, her words hanging in the silence.
"And why should I?" Ren replied calmly, unshaken.
Before she could respond, Kurenai lashed out with lightning speed, aiming a punch at his face. Ren, even faster, caught her fist effortlessly.
It hurt...
Kurenai's right hand was firmly restrained by Ren, his grip far stronger than she had anticipated. The pressure on her wrist was so intense that the fair skin around her fingers turned pale from the lack of blood flow.
She gritted her teeth. "Let go!"
"Weren't you the one who attacked first?" Ren responded coolly. "You're quick to change your tune, aren't you? Wasn't it you who insisted on bringing me up here?"
Kurenai scoffed and turned her head away in frustration, but Ren's iron grip made her lips tremble with anger.
"What do you want?!" She glared up at Ren, their bodies now so close that their chests were almost touching.
In her crimson eyes, Ren could see unfiltered hatred.
A cold smirk crept across his face as he raised her wrist even higher, forcing her up onto her tiptoes. The lack of gentleness in his movements made Kurenai's body press against his chest.
"You?!" she exclaimed, shocked and furious at his disrespectful actions.
"Genjutsu Master?" Ren mocked.
Thud!
Without warning, Ren forcefully pinned Kurenai against the wall, holding her wrist high and keeping her trapped in a humiliating position. She had no choice but to stand on her toes, struggling in vain as her free hand weakly pounded against him, doing little to deter him.
As she stared into Ren's cold, calculating eyes, panic finally began to well up inside her.
"What are you trying to do? Let me go!" she demanded, her voice tinged with fear.
Ren looked at her coolly.
"Are you sober now?"
Panting heavily, Kurenai realized that fighting back was futile. She forced herself to calm down, thinking through her next move, hoping to reason with him.
But then, she felt his hand grab her chin roughly, tilting her face upward. Her vision was suddenly filled with Ren's face, much closer than before.
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[Reward Conditions Met]
[You have received the reward: Genjutsu Mastery (All Techniques)]
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Ren released her at last. Kurenai slumped to the floor, cradling her aching wrist. Her hair was disheveled, her lips swollen with a small smear of blood on them.
She glared at him with icy contempt.
"You'll regret this! Wait until you're in prison!" she spat, venom lacing her words.
Ren licked his own lips, from which blood was also oozing, the result of a cut he had sustained.
"For tonight's little misunderstanding?" Ren calmly picked up the short sword that had fallen to the floor. Just before leaving, he cast one last look at her from over his shoulder.
"Do you dare?"
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[Name]: Yūhi Kurenai
[Gender]: Female
[Age]: 21
[Affection]: 40
[Relationship]: Enemy
[Difficulty Level]: A
[First Kiss Reward]: Genjutsu Mastery (Acquired)
[Full Intimacy Reward]: Genjutsu Counter
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週次パワーステータス
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