Something that would stir emotions.
Something that would push his Sharingan toward that subtle, precious emotional fluctuation.
Something beautiful.
Before heading home, Raizen stepped into the sushi shop and bought a small takeout box.
Not because he wanted sushi, but because he needed a believable reason for visiting the shop without lingering.
Last time, he stayed too long. This time, it was better to create a simple, harmless pattern.
Halfway down the street, someone abruptly collided with him.
The sushi box fell to the ground with a soft thud, rice scattering across the stones.
"I—I'm sorry! I'm really sorry!"
Raizen turned to see a girl with curled hair and a slightly chubby baby face rushing to apologize. She looked flustered, panicked.
"I'll pay you back....let me pay for the sushi!"
Kurenai Yuhi quickly bent down to inspect the ruined rice and toppings spilled everywhere.
When she lifted her head and recognized the person she'd bumped into, her eyes widened even more.
"Y-You're Raizen… I'm so sorry!"
"It's fine, Kurenai," Raizen said, shaking his head. "It was only sushi."
Of course, the sushi had only been a prop.
Leaving the sushi shop with nothing would've drawn unnecessary attention.
Better to buy something simple as cover. Now, losing it was no inconvenience at all.
"No, I must repay you," Kurenai insisted. "I can't just let it go."
"It's late. The shop is closed."
Kurenai blinked. "Was it the sushi place on the back street to the left?"
"Yes."
"No wonder. They always close early at night."
She lowered her head in distress, unsure what to do.
Earlier at the Academy, she'd been thinking about Raizen's Sharingan, even imagining asking him about genjutsu.
But now she had bumped into him, destroyed his food… Would he hold a grudge?
"You can make it up to me with something else," Raizen offered calmly.
Kurenai's crimson eyes brightened instantly. "Yes! Anything."
Ten minutes later, the two arrived at a small restaurant.
Kurenai, clearly familiar with the place, ordered confidently.
Then she handed the menu to Raizen.
He opened it and found it filled with fish dishes....particularly various octopus preparations. He chose something random and returned the menu.
Soon, the table filled with steaming plates.
The largest serving was the wasabi octopus.
According to the Academy's student records, Kurenai's favorites were shōchū, vodka, and wasabi octopus.
Her dislikes included… cake.
As expected, she eagerly picked up a piece.
"Raizen," she asked while chewing, "after an Uchiha awakens the Sharingan, their genjutsu becomes stronger, right?"
"It enhances your performance," Raizen answered. "But the extent still depends on your own skill."
The Sharingan did amplify illusions..but it didn't make someone a genjutsu master by default.
A ninja talented in illusions would grow even stronger after awakening.
Someone with poor technique would not suddenly surpass specialists.
Kurenai nodded slightly, deep in thought.
"Kurenai's genjutsu stat is high," Raizen recalled silently.
"Even Kakashi with three tomoe only has a lower genjutsu rating."
Kurenai swallowed another piece of octopus and looked up with hopeful eyes.
"Raizen… will you practice genjutsu with me sometime?"
Her crimson eyes glimmered with determination. She wanted to prove her father's genjutsu lineage.....wanted to prove that someone outside the Uchiha could master illusions too.
Raizen studied her for a moment.
She really was cute.
Not quite like the mature enchantress she would one day become, but charming in her own youthful way.
Tasting something beautiful....there was value in that.
"That's fine," he replied. "But not today. Tomorrow I have a training match with Obito, and after school I need to practice chakra control for a new technique."
Kurenai beamed, eyes curving into crescent moons.
"Really!? Thank you, Raizen! I knew you were a good person!"
She didn't understand why he agreed.
She assumed kindness.
She assumed goodwill.
She had no idea Raizen's left eye was already warming.....reacting faintly to emotion.
No idea that she herself was quietly shaping his Sharingan.
Deep inside the sushi shop, in a hidden chamber beneath the back room....
"Lord Samoto."
Samui knelt respectfully.
"Did Uchiha Raizen come?" Samoto asked.
"…He requested a D-rank jutsu scroll," she answered carefully.
Samui summarized the encounter but deliberately omitted the details involving her words and the reason he had asked for compensation.
Her calm, expressionless face revealed nothing.
Samoto nodded in satisfaction.
"Good. Continue maintaining contact. Do everything you can to draw Raizen toward the Cloud."
If Raizen needed more techniques, it would be even better.
A young ninja typically confirmed their fighting style early.
Once Raizen relied on Lightning Release techniques, he would return for more.
Uchiha fire techniques were strong, yes.....but nowhere near Cloud's lightning specialization.
"The Uchiha bloodline will strengthen our village's foundation," Samoto murmured as he picked up a piece of sushi from the table and swallowed it whole.
If he succeeded in this mission, he wouldn't have to do dirty spy work anymore.
He could return to the village with honor instead of risking his life, always disposable in the shadows.
Samui hesitated before speaking again.
"My lord… there is something else I should report."
Her teeth pressed lightly against her lower lip as the chapter came to its close.
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