"It's getting late. Senpai, stay for dinner," Kageyama Kogetsu said warmly.
"This… we'd be imposing, wouldn't we?"
"Hey, what 'imposing'? I like a lively house. I'll cook."
Kogetsu clapped his hands, and a shadow clone popped up behind the sofa.
The clone shot the original a vicious glare, then trudged off to the kitchen to cook.
"A shadow clone cooking? Is that… okay?" Yūhi Shinku blinked. Maybe he'd seen too little of the world.
"Of course. Most of the time my shadow clone does the cooking," Kogetsu replied with a confident smile.
"Kogetsu-kun really has imagination," Shinku said with a laugh.
"Hmph, I call it laziness." For reasons unknown even to herself, Yūhi Kurenai jabbed back.
Kogetsu chuckled. "I know Kurenai is always diligent. Want to show off a little?"
"Fine, I will. I'm a great cook—consider yourself lucky tonight."
Wearing a confident smile, Kurenai headed for the kitchen.
When she stepped in, the shadow clone had just started slicing lotus root.
The clone turned and smiled, then the knife flashed.
A rapid da-da-da filled the air; the blade left afterimages, the sound merged into a rhythmic beat—actually quite pleasant.
Most crucially, the lotus threads were identical in shape, length, and thickness—to the naked eye, no difference at all.
"Uh…" Kurenai's confidence dipped in an instant.
"Hmph, neat knife work doesn't mean the food tastes good."
After a quick pep talk to herself, she opened the fridge and began selecting ingredients.
The Kageyama home had two fridges—one for vegetables and meat, the other for fruit, drinks, and the like.
Working together, in half an hour they finished six dishes and a soup and set them on the table.
Kurenai made three; the clone made the rest.
At the call to eat, the two chatting in the living room moved to the dining room.
After a round of polite refusals, Shinku took the main seat; Kogetsu and Kurenai sat opposite each other.
"Kurenai, you can consult Kogetsu more on genjutsu. His mastery there is high," Shinku said with a touch of emotion.
No wonder he'd made a name across the shinobi world in just a few years—no real weak spots. His genjutsu felt beyond even his own.
"Got it," Kurenai answered obediently.
"Let's eat," Kogetsu said with a grin.
They stopped chatting and reached for their favorite dishes.
Half an hour later, the table was swept clean.
Mm. Kogetsu polished off most of Kurenai's cooking; the flavor wasn't bad, but not outstanding.
As for color, aroma, and taste: the first barely matched, the latter two lagged far behind.
"Whew… Kogetsu, your cooking is astonishing—and generous in portion, too.
"This might be the most satisfying meal I've had in my life so far." Shinku leaned back, head tilted, exhaling long and slow, face blissful—as if he'd just had a full-body massage.
Remembering her earlier bold claim, Kurenai's cheeks flushed.
She hadn't taken many bites of her own dishes—too busy eating the others. She'd stuffed herself.
"You flatter me, sir. Kurenai's cooking is good too—I finished it," Kogetsu said with a thumbs-up.
Shinku nodded inwardly. With that attitude, his daughter likely wouldn't have a hard life if she married in.
"I'll wash the dishes."
Sweet at heart, Kurenai lowered her head to clear the table, her lovely face growing rosier.
"Let the shadow clone—"
"Hey, Kogetsu, don't spoil her too much.
"It's just washing dishes; it won't tire her out," Shinku waved, stopping him.
Kurenai said nothing, only quickened her pace.
"All right, I won't be polite then.
"Sir, shall we move to the living room for tea?"
"Good."
A while later, with the kitchen tidied, Kurenai came out to see the two deep in discussion—and paused.
If she could see this often in the future… that really wouldn't be bad.
Around ten at night, father and daughter took their leave. Kogetsu walked them to the gate.
"Good things keep coming, one after another—folks like us are real happy today."
Hands on hips, humming a jaunty tune, Kogetsu went back inside.
The next morning, Kogetsu checked in with Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Sarutobi Hiruzen in turn. Both agreed without a fuss.
Part of it was Kogetsu's standing; part was Shinku and Kurenai's own qualifications.
Having been a chūnin for a good while with mission count met, Kurenai satisfied Anbu's intake criteria.
And as the main instructor training genin and chūnin, Shinku certainly had Hiruzen's approval.
If Kurenai only wanted into Anbu, Kogetsu's help wasn't needed; to go to a specific squad and get a little looking after—that needed a nudge.
By afternoon, the paperwork was done. With the transfer order in hand, Kurenai reported straight to Anbu.
Perimeter Anbu guided her directly to the Anbu Deputy Commander's office.
"Kogetsu-dono, the newcomer is here." The escort bowed respectfully after entering.
"Mm." Kogetsu nodded slightly, then said in a deep voice, "She's my classmate—and she will be family of the Kageyama house."
You haven't confessed, have you?
She hasn't agreed, has she?
Kurenai hadn't expected Kogetsu to announce it so openly; joy, shyness, and anger tangled together—so complicated!
The Anbu guide instantly understood. No wonder he'd been assigned to escort…
Good thing he'd kept it professional and hadn't tried flirting, or life could have gotten difficult.
"Understood, Kogetsu-dono," the Anbu said respectfully.
That was exactly why Kogetsu stated it early; otherwise, if rivals popped up, he'd end up slapping his own subordinates' faces.
He could—but why bother? In a sense, that's asking for trouble.
"Mm. Go next door and call Kōyō over."
Kōyō was Shisui's codename—"crimson" for the Will of Fire and the red on the Uchiha fan, and "leaf" for Konoha.
"Yes, Kogetsu-dono."
When the Anbu left, Kurenai pouted. "Kogetsu, how could you…"
Kogetsu didn't bite. His face hardened. "What 'Kogetsu'? Use my title when you're at work."
Kurenai: "…"
Knock, knock.
Kurenai was about to speak when Shisui's knock cut her off.
"Come in."
"Kogetsu-dono." Shisui bowed after entering.
"She's joining your squad. Look after her a bit.
"If you can teach her a trick or two in genjutsu, even better."
Having heard the situation from the messenger, Shisui answered at once, "So long as Shisui lives, Miss Kurenai will not die.
"In genjutsu, I'll do my utmost to guide her."
Kogetsu was satisfied and smiled. "As expected, Shisui-kun is different. I think the Uchiha should produce an Anbu squad captain."
With his strength, record, background, and leanings—plus Kogetsu's recommendation—promotion was all but guaranteed.
"No—this isn't about anything else. It's to repay your kindness to me, your support, and your friendliness toward the Uchiha," Shisui said quickly, shaking his head.
"I know it's not a transaction.
"But honestly, Uchiha Shisui has long been qualified to be a squad captain.
"There happens to be a vacancy—don't refuse.
"The higher your position, the better you can mediate for the village and the clan."
Shisui opened his mouth, then knelt on one knee. "Yes."
"Kurenai's onboarding and rookie procedures are yours."
"Yes."
"Go."
Kogetsu waved him off and lowered his head to continue processing the files and mission scrolls Shinnosuke had passed over.
After all the interruptions and maneuvering, Kurenai's anger faded. She quietly followed Shisui out to begin her Anbu career.
Predictably, Kurenai's promotion to jōnin would come much earlier—unlike in the original timeline, where it happened right before the story began.
…
A few days later, the young Ōtsutsuki Toneri followed his father to the Hyūga clan, silently observing Hyūga Hinata…
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