Naruto stopped two meters away from Kurenai.
He took a deep breath and explained to Kurenai, "Anko told me everything."
"What?!" Kurenai's voice rose slightly, but then she understood. "This is indeed Anko's character."
She took two steps back and sat on the sofa, looking a little reserved.
Kurenai said to Naruto, "Uh… just sit down and talk first."
Seeing Kurenai like this made Naruto's heart ache.
Judging from her behavior, she truly liked Kamizuki Aoba.
But also…
Yuhi Kurenai's situation at that time had already been analyzed before.
Even if she had told her father, she wouldn't have known how to resolve such an embarrassing situation.
But Kamizuki Aoba was the only one who could see her problem.
And…
He had helped her solve her troubles.
And the most important point—everything a girl would fantasize about in a charming boy was there when Kamizuki Aoba was still a ninja student.
He was strong, talented, handsome and cute. He approached only Kurenai, and was even willing to fight the Hokage's son, Asuma, because of her.
It all happened too fast, but for Kurenai, it was an experience impossible to forget.
"Okay…" Naruto walked over and sat next to Yuhi Kurenai.
He could clearly feel Kurenai's originally relaxed body suddenly tense.
Naruto stayed silent and didn't take the initiative to speak.
Kurenai hugged her arms, lowered her head, and her fair, delicate feet twisted uneasily.
She didn't know what to say either.
In the end, Naruto took the lead.
Naruto knew this matter couldn't be delayed any longer, so he gathered his courage and asked Kurenai, "Kurenai, you… do you like Kamizuki Aoba?"
In situations like this, Naruto was always surprisingly bold and far more straightforward than Yamato.
Whether facing Hinata, Haruno Sakura, or even Karui…
Naruto had never felt this kind of nervous, heart-racing tension.
There was grievance hidden in Kurenai's heart, and her voice trembled with a hint of crying. "I told you, Naruto."
"I know." Naruto nodded. "But I already told you my true identity, and I thought you wouldn't…"
Before Naruto could finish, the question Kurenai had suppressed for many years burst out of her in a choked voice: "You only told me your true identity. You didn't say you didn't like me!"
What?!
When someone confesses, normal people would at least decline tactfully for the other person's sake, right?
Naruto had only used that event to explain himself.
But just because he failed to clarify this one small detail—
Kurenai had held onto that little hope.
And because of that faint, lingering glimmer…
Kurenai had thought about it and struggled with it for nearly twenty years??
Naruto's breath caught, his pupils shrinking sharply.
He stood up and walked toward Kurenai, reaching out toward her dull, stunned face.
His fingertips brushed her delicate white cheek.
Seeing that Kurenai didn't refuse, Naruto carefully hugged her.
Kurenai's heartbeat sped up wildly. She bit her plump lips and asked Naruto in a low voice, "Is this pity… or compensation?"
"Neither." Naruto answered firmly. "Kurenai, this is a response to feelings."
Everyone says sincerity is essential.
Kurenai had built up fifteen years of emotions for this final, ultimate confession.
Even Naruto couldn't take it lightly.
Naruto wanted to say sorry to Kurenai.
But he was afraid she would misunderstand and think he was pitying her.
He had flirted with countless girls before, but right now, he found himself completely unable to produce a single useful sentence.
"I…"
Naruto spoke one word but felt every possible follow-up sounded wrong.
He wanted to take it back, but reality didn't have a rewind button.
"Kurenai… do you want to walk this path with me?"
In the end, Naruto could only ask one final question.
Kurenai obediently remained in his arms.
Upon hearing that question, her eyes snapped back to rationality.
Her graceful body trembled and she quickly stood up, breaking away.
But she seemed a little reluctant. She grabbed Naruto's shoulders again and said to him, "Naruto, maybe… we're not suitable. I'm already…"
In two years, she would be thirty.
And Naruto?
He was still the same—a genius, powerful, brilliant.
Naruto was like the wind—free, untamable.
And she was just a stone stuck in one place, struggling with the same problem her whole life.
Even if the two walked together, there would be no reaction.
No ripples like wind on water, no shimmering colors beneath the sunlight.
"As for age… I don't really care." Naruto suddenly interrupted Kurenai's thoughts.
Kurenai's mind hadn't reacted yet, but her heart had already begun to flutter, and she subconsciously let out a soft, surprised, "Huh?"
Naruto nodded with a smile. "As far as I know, women's average lifespan is longer than men's. Maybe we'll grow old together by then?"
"I…" Kurenai's breathing became chaotic, and she didn't know what to say.
Seeing her like this, Naruto asked, "Kurenai, I won't force you. I just want to know… do you like Kamizuki Aoba, or me?"
"I like you." Kurenai murmured softly, "Of course I like you."
"That's good." Naruto hugged her soft body and whispered into her ear, "Then let's grow old together."
Kurenai slowly closed her beautiful eyes.
Calling herself a dull stone wasn't quite accurate…
…
Things were progressing smoothly.
Everything was happening just as Anko expected.
After all, Kurenai truly loved Kamizuki Aoba.
Even if Anko was a little annoying, she wouldn't curse the two of them now.
Anko, listening outside, was moved to tears.
Maybe women were just creatures who cried easily at times like this.
But soon, Anko couldn't stand it anymore.
She listened to the sounds inside the room, her expression growing darker.
Anko pouted and couldn't help complaining, "Oh… these two…"
But thinking about it—
They were all adults.
For Naruto, maybe Kurenai was someone who had recently stepped away from youth.
But for Kurenai, it had truly been more than ten years.
And Kurenai was already at that age.
Something physical…
Ahem~
Anyway, Anko knew it wasn't suitable for her to stay here.
She turned and left, feeling a bit disappointed deep down.
Her best friend had found her partner, and their relationship seemed steady.
But she was still single.
She had even been force-fed a mouthful of dog food just now.
Even…
After the vegetarian dog food, they served a whole bowl of meat.
Of course Anko couldn't swallow that, so she hurried away.
Looking at the prosperous Konoha, Anko walked into a tavern alone and got completely drunk before going home.
Happy for Kurenai, but also deeply, painfully lonely.
The next day, near noon—
Anko woke up.
She washed up, showered, and headed to Kurenai's home.
But before she could knock, the door opened on its own.
Naruto placed one hand on the doorframe and slowly walked out.
Seeing Anko, Naruto immediately warned this careless woman, "I suggest you don't disturb Kurenai for the next three days."
Anko: "…"
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