A month flashed by. The summer heat gradually faded, and the weather turned cool.
After returning, Kageyama Kogetsu lived as usual. From time to time he would ask Kurenai Yuhi out to hang around, and since their workplaces were close, their frequent interactions gradually warmed into affection.
At sunset that day, Kageyama Kogetsu and Kurenai Yuhi, both in casual clothes, strolled along the streets of Konoha.
Kurenai wore a long red floral dress with white flats, a silver bracelet on her wrist, and her long hair draped over her shoulders. With each step her hem swayed, radiating youthful energy.
Kageyama Kogetsu wore a sky-blue shirt, black casual pants, and blue-and-white sneakers. Coupled with his youthful, handsome features, he had the air of a campus heartthrob.
Kurenai had moved past the initial shyness and boldly linked her arm through Kageyama Kogetsu's in public.
They chatted and laughed all the way, pausing now and then to buy snacks and little trinkets that caught their eye. The atmosphere was harmonious and easy.
Kageyama Kogetsu rather enjoyed such outings. It felt a bit like falling in love for the first time in his previous life.
Night fell and the lights came on. The two wandered to Ichiraku Ramen.
Before they stepped in, the curtain lifted and two figures walked out, then froze.
Kurenai greeted them openly. I didn't expect to run into you here. Asuma, when did you get back?
Asuma snapped out of it and managed a smile. I'm on leave. I just got back today. I wanted Ichiraku Ramen, so I dragged Ebisu along.
Kurenai, Kogetsu. Feeling a bit awkward, Ebisu hurried to greet them.
Back in the Academy, Asuma had followed after Kurenai every day. Every classmate knew Asuma liked her.
Now that someone else had beaten him to it, even Ebisu felt bad for Asuma and awkward on his behalf.
Asuma, long time no see. You've gotten more handsome and look more mature and steady. Kageyama Kogetsu felt nothing in particular and greeted him naturally.
Asuma had liked Kurenai for a long time, but did that mean no one else could like her?
Even in the original timeline, Asuma only won Kurenai over around the time of Shippuden.
At this point in time, Kurenai simply didn't feel that way about Asuma. It was friendship, at most a bit of goodwill from their shared past.
Asuma forced a smile. Same to you.
Damn it. I quarreled with my father and left to prove myself, only to give this guy the chance to get there first.
Are you two together?
Although their linked arms had already answered the question, Asuma still asked despite knowing.
Mm. About a month and a half now. Kurenai admitted it cheerfully with a happy smile.
Girls are naturally sensitive, and in this world boys and girls grow up early. Kurenai certainly knew Asuma liked her.
Uh… congratulations. Asuma's smile was stiff. He simply couldn't bring himself to smile for real.
If it were a regular shinobi, he might still swallow his pride and ask his big brother or father to pull some strings.
But the man before him was already one of Konoha's calling cards, and he was close to their family. The odds of his father or brother intervening were low.
Trying to make this man lose face under the pretext of a spar was impossible. He'd only disgrace himself.
In front of him, background and strength were useless. It could only come down to himself.
No need to envy. The Land of Fire is far more bustling than Konoha, with beauties everywhere and plenty of noble ladies. You'll find someone suitable.
After a few more pleasantries, Asuma hastily found an excuse to leave.
Ebisu, did you already know? Asuma clenched a cigarette between his lips, hands in his pockets, his brows heavy with gloom.
Only a few days before you. Ebisu replied calmly.
After a moment of silence, Asuma suddenly said, Is there any way to help me win Kurenai back?
Don't say I don't have one. Even if I did, I couldn't tell you.
If Kogetsu found out, what would become of me?
Kogetsu seems unassuming and easy to get along with, but to climb so high in just a few years and become famous across the shinobi world, he can't be soft-hearted.
Your status could let you stir the pot a little. So long as you don't go overboard, for the Third Lord's sake and for your brother and sister-in-law, at most you'll suffer a bit. Your life won't be in danger.
I don't have your capital. Besides, I still want Kogetsu's support.
You threw away a great advantage and rushed out to prove yourself. How could I, your childhood tagalong, hope to bask in your glow?
Keeping your secret and not tattling to Kogetsu is already honoring our friendship since we were kids.
Ebisu's thoughts spun, but his face showed only helplessness. They're in love with each other. What could I possibly do?
Not telling you about Nonō Yakushi is for your own good. Otherwise I fear you'd fall apart.
Asuma nodded, bit down on his cigarette, and said no more.
In a foul mood, Asuma had no desire to stroll any longer. He finished his cigarette and parted ways with Ebisu.
Back home, lying in bed after washing up early, the more Asuma thought, the more unwilling he felt.
His unwillingness curdled into resentment. He decided Kageyama Kogetsu was too cunning.
You knew full well, so how could you pry my corner while I was away from Konoha?
As for the logical gaps, Asuma ignored them.
This wasn't a time for logic.
As unwillingness and resentment piled up, an idea formed in Asuma's heart.
The next morning he got up early, washed, skipped breakfast, and went straight out.
He spent the entire morning finding quite a few villagers of poor character.
He motivated them with money to take turns keeping an eye on Kageyama Kogetsu in the guise of chance encounters, not deliberate tailing.
Asuma had matured a bit, but only a bit.
He decided to gamble on a dead horse as if it were alive and see if he could catch Kageyama Kogetsu in something that would disappoint Kurenai enough to make her break up with him.
The plan was barely workable, and the idea of having ordinary people shadow him by chance did have something to it.
If he used members of the Sarutobi clan or other shinobi, the plan would have no chance at all.
Kageyama Kogetsu first made his name in the shinobi world through stealth and assassination. A man like that would be excellent at counter-surveillance.
Once a shinobi tail was discovered, Asuma would be in a very passive position.
As for ordinary people, so long as they weren't too obvious, shinobi usually didn't pay them much mind.
Asuma also used the Transformation Technique when hiring them, so even if they were caught there would be no proof it was him.
Of course, Asuma didn't know that Kageyama Kogetsu didn't need evidence to act. Suspicion was enough.
Luck seemed to be on Asuma's side. In just two days, he received word that a woman had entered Kageyama's home and stayed the night.
Even shinobi didn't all know who Nonō Yakushi really was, let alone civilians.
Upon receiving the news, Asuma used family channels to obtain Nonō Yakushi's surface-level dossier.
Since Kageyama Kogetsu had not married Nonō Yakushi, the fields for marital status and husband's name bore the usual entries.
You couldn't very well treat having a boyfriend as being married and a legal husband.
Thinking he had the truth in hand, Asuma rushed to wait near Kurenai's home, ready to expose this scumbag Kageyama Kogetsu.
Yet for three consecutive days, Kurenai and Kageyama Kogetsu were together, and on one of those days they even had dinner with her and her father at her home.
This made Asuma unbearably anxious. Fortunately, on the fourth day Kurenai returned home alone.
Seizing the opportunity, Asuma feigned a chance encounter and called out to Kurenai Yuhi at a street corner.
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