"Ryun, you should know about my relationship with Jonin Yuhi Kurenai."
After grinding his teeth for a long while, Asuma only managed to say these words with little impact.
Ryun nodded and said, "That's true. So before you asked me to speak the truth, I hadn't expressed my feelings so bluntly."
"Then why do you still do such things? Don't you feel ashamed?"
Ryun shrugged and said, "Asuma-sensei, you're not already treating Sister Kurenai as your property, are you? She's not your lover yet, and you already want to restrict her freedom."
After sighing, Ryun continued, "I just like Sister Kurenai, and I'm not stopping you from doing anything. You probably don't even know that Sister Kurenai has already clearly warned me she would keep her distance from me."
Asuma looked at Yuhi Kurenai in shock. Yuhi Kurenai, supporting her shoulder with her left hand, turned her head away, not wanting Asuma to see her desolate expression.
"In fact, if you hadn't impulsively humiliated Sister Kurenai just now, this conflict might never have happened at all."
"I didn't humiliate her, I just—"
Asuma stopped himself, regretting that the current situation was truly beyond his ability to handle. Even though his face flushed red, he couldn't think of the right words.
"Enough. Let this matter end here."
Yuhi Kurenai spoke again, "Jonin Sarutobi Asuma, let's keep some distance for a while. It will be better for all of us."
"As for you... Nojuro-kun, I won't accept your feelings. And our relationship as siblings... let's end that here too."
Yuhi Kurenai chose to assign blame equally to both sides, which made Asuma breathe a sigh of relief.
He still had plenty of time to slowly pursue Yuhi Kurenai. He would always get another chance, just like during the times he persistently pursued her in the past.
However, he forgot that Ryun and Yuhi Kurenai had known each other for less than two months.
Trading his lifelong efforts for Ryun and Yuhi Kurenai's two months of progress was nothing for him to be proud of.
Especially Ryun, who was even less likely to simply let Yuhi Kurenai leave like this.
"I understand you're trying to prevent further conflict between us, Sister Kurenai. I promise, even if Asuma-sensei tries to kill me, I won't fight back."
Asuma glared and said, "I would never do such a thing!"
After saying this, Asuma realized that everyone was looking at him with distrustful eyes.
His face flushed, and he said, "I... I definitely won't do such things in the future!"
"In that case, does Asuma-sensei have any other business here? Do you really want to rent a room and stay? I could ask Moegi to give you a discount."
Ryun smiled and pointed at Moegi.
Moegi, who had been watching the drama, immediately stiffened and said, "I... our family doesn't have any hot spring houses available for long-term rental anymore."
Anyone could tell Moegi was lying, but the way she rubbed her shoulder made Asuma too embarrassed to expose her.
"Ah, is that so? What a pity then."
Asuma forced a laugh, gave Yuhi Kurenai a deep look, and then left.
Ryun watched Asuma's retreating back. He actually just left like that?
Leaving now essentially meant he would never have another chance in the future.
Seeing Asuma leave, both Moegi and Anko breathed sighs of relief. They had truly been worried Asuma would attack Ryun.
Asuma was a well-known powerhouse in the village and the Hokage's son. If Ryun fought him, how could he possibly stand a chance?
The atmosphere in the corridor quieted down. Yuhi Kurenai slowly spoke, "I should go home too."
"No, you can't leave."
Ryun blocked Yuhi Kurenai's path, his tone firm.
"What, are you going to restrict my freedom too?"
"As your family, I'm asking you to stay and rest properly. Leave only after you've recovered your spirits and eaten a full meal."
"I already said, you and I have no relationship anymore. Being siblings was just a joke, all because—"
Yuhi Kurenai looked at Anko, but ultimately held back her emotions and didn't say anything hurtful.
Anko kept up her cheerful facade, but the disappointment in her eyes grew thicker.
Ryun wasn't intimidated by Anko's aura. Instead, he stepped closer to Yuhi Kurenai, revealing a gentle smile, and said, "Sister Kurenai, if family members are people you can just drive away with a single sentence, then how can they even be considered family?"
"You can dislike me, drive me away. But I will only leave after I ensure you are physically healthy and in a happy mood. And then I'll visit you every few days."
"I will always be by your side. That's the meaning of family."
Yuhi Kurenai looked at Ryun, moved, not expecting him to say such things.
And she had to admit, she desperately needed someone to care for and cherish her right now. The problem was she couldn't find any family members anymore.
As for Ryun, this younger brother... even though he had inappropriate feelings for her, he was still her younger brother, wasn't he?
In the moment she was lost in thought, Ryun grabbed her wrist, pulled her back into Anko's room.
Then he pressed her down onto the tatami, covered her with the bedding, and said, "Sister Kurenai, listen to me. Today is the first day of the New Year."
"It's the perfect time to sleep in. Sleep until noon."
"After that, you and Sister Anko can find a place you like and have a big meal, then go home."
"You dislike me, so I won't follow. But don't let that make you neglect yourself."
Ryun then looked at Anko and said, "Sister Anko, can you help take care of Sister Kurenai?"
"Ah, okay."
Anko flusteredly knelt down beside Yuhi Kurenai, even reaching out to feel Yuhi Kurenai's forehead.
This made Yuhi Kurenai laugh, "Anko, I'm not sick."
"Then what should I do?" Anko hadn't recovered from the earlier conflict yet.
"Just talk with me."
Anko nodded, and Ryun got up and left the room.
Watching Ryun's retreating back, Yuhi Kurenai wanted to say something but ultimately couldn't bring herself to speak.
Only after Ryun's footsteps faded away did Yuhi Kurenai say, "I'm sorry, Anko. Just now, I didn't mean to belittle you. It's just these things have me so confused—."
"It's okay, Kurenai, I understand. Actually, I'm very confused too, but it's been getting better lately. Brother-kun is actually easy to get along with. Even if you don't like him, don't feel like you owe him anything."
Anko tried to console Yuhi Kurenai, but Yuhi Kurenai sat up and said, "What about you?"
"Me?"
Anko scratched her head, grinning foolishly, and said, "Aren't I already Brother-kun's Sister Anko? That's good enough. Could I possibly have any other ideas?"
"Haha—"
Anko forced two dry laughs, then couldn't laugh anymore because Yuhi Kurenai's index finger touched her moist eye corner.
The two women looked at each other, silent.
They should have had many things to say to each other, but now they didn't know where to begin.
"Hush money."
In the corridor, Moegi pulled Ryun to a corner, her eyes sparkling.
"What hush money?" Ryun feigned ignorance.
"Of course, the hush money for not telling—"
Moegi took a deep breath and started listing names, "Sister Tenten, Sister Ino, Sister Sakura, Sister Hinata, and Hanabi about what happened here!"
"Big Brother Nojuro, you wouldn't want the whole of Konoha to know you're pursuing so many girls at once, would you!"
"Fine, how much do you want."
Ryun pretended to be at Moegi's mercy. Moegi smugly rubbed her nose and said, "Ten thousand—no, five thousand ryo!"
Ryun pretended to be pained as he took five thousand ryo from his wallet, making Moegi even happier.
However, seeing Ryun's dejected appearance, Moegi felt a little guilty inside and said, "Big Brother Nojuro, while it's good to be emotionally rich, aren't you afraid of being beaten to death by them for liking so many girls?"
"Besides, a man can only marry one wife, right?"
Ryun shook his head and said, "That's not necessarily true. For example, the nobles in the capital can be happily married to several wives."
"But those are nobles in the capital. Are you a noble?"
"Not yet, but I will become one. Do you believe me?"
Moegi really wanted to say she didn't believe him, but considering her impression of Ryun, she reluctantly nodded and said, "You give me the feeling of being even more impressive than those nobles in TV dramas. You should become a very powerful great noble!"
"Then wouldn't it be appropriate for me to marry several wives?"
"But... would the sisters be willing?"
"That question depends on their own answers. Or rather, Moegi, when you grow up, would you like someone like me?"
Moegi made a face of disgust and said, "I definitely don't want that!"
"If I liked someone, I'd like... someone like... listen."
Moegi tried to find an example in Konoha, but after thinking of Konohamaru, Iseshi Udon, Naruto, Ebisu, Asuma, and others.
Moegi's gaze ultimately returned to Ryun.
"Anyway, definitely not a playboy like you!"
Moegi stuck out her tongue and left. Ryun stretched lazily.
Speeding through a multi-person battlefield of love was truly a rich morning!
But this morning wasn't over yet.
In the simulation, he and Anko achieved great harmony.
The timing wasn't right now, but they could still do some light things, couldn't they?
Ryun returned to Anko's room and knocked on the door.
"Sister Anko, come out for a moment. I have something to tell you."
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