Konoha: You're letting me build up my bonds, but you're offending the entire ninja world.

Hearing the wailing and howling coming from inside the room, I immediately understood what was going on.

He pushed open the door, his face full of black lines, and saw Jiraiya sitting in his living room, drinking... Holy crap!

That was his treasured wine!

"You traitor!" Hiruzen Sarutobi unleashed the speed of a Kage-level expert, snatching the sake bottle from Jiraiya's hand in one swift motion. Looking at the several empty sake bottles scattered on the ground, he was heartbroken beyond measure.

"This is a fine wine that I've treasured for over ten years! Jiraiya, are you trying to ascend to heaven?!"

"Don't be so stingy, old man." Jiraiya grinned foolishly, his face flushed, and put his arm around Hiruzen Sarutobi's shoulder. "I helped you complete a mission today, so what's wrong with having a little drink?"

"A mission?" Hiruzen Sarutobi was taken aback at first, but then he quickly realized something. "You've been in contact with Gengetsu Shimura?"

"Yes, I just got back."

Taking advantage of Hiruzen Sarutobi's momentary daze, Jiraiya snatched the sake bottle back from his hand, took a big gulp, and said, "That kid is not bad, not bad at all."

"What's so good about it?" Hiruzen Sarutobi became interested; it was rare for Jiraiya to give such a high evaluation.

"Isn't it enough that he treats the villagers as his own people?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. "Tell me what happened from the beginning."

Jiraiya had no choice but to give a brief account of what happened, automatically omitting the part about Shimura Gengetsu using his book as a hypnotic reading.

The more he listened, the brighter Hiruzen Sarutobi's smile became, his wrinkles crinkling together.

"Good, good boy."

"That's right. He's Danzo's grandson. Even if their methods are different, they both have Konoha in their hearts."

With a huge weight lifted from his heart, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt much lighter. He snatched the sake bottle back from Jiraiya's hand and poured himself a drink.

"What, are you thinking of taking on apprentices now?"

After hesitating for a moment, Jiraiya slowly shook his head. "Forget it. Although he's an interesting little guy, he doesn't quite fit my personality. Besides, Danzo wouldn't agree to it. I don't want to deal with that old man."

"Fine, whatever you say." Hiruzen Sarutobi didn't insist anymore, but he was thinking about when to poach the person from his group.

Hyuga Hizashi wasn't truly one of their own; their support wasn't strong enough...

Chapter 49 Kurenai: It's supposed to be a movie for three, but I can't even have a name.

Hiruzen Sarutobi felt much more at ease with Gengetsu Shimura, but he would never know that his understanding of his own people had no necessary connection with Gengetsu Shimura's view of them.

In Shimura Gengetsu's mind, his "own people" are those who stand firmly by his side no matter what happens.

Currently, there are no conflicts of interest with the villagers, but this could change in the future.

If you don't choose his side, then you'll naturally become the enemy.

Back home, Shimura Gengetsu found the medicinal bath recipe, copied it, and handed it to Uzuki Yugao.

"Go to the pharmacy and buy the medicine yourself tomorrow. Soak it once a day, and it will lose its effect after about thirty days. With training, your chakra level can be increased by about 100%."

The reason it could double was because Uzuki Yugao had too little chakra. According to Shimura Gengetsu's estimate, she probably only had about three standard Chunin.

Uzuki Yugao carefully took the note, memorized the herbs, quantities, and brewing methods on it, recited them several times, and finally tore the note to shreds in front of Shimura Gengetsu.

"Lord Xuan Yue, please rest assured, I will not let a third person know about this medicinal bath recipe."

Xuan Yue smiled but didn't say anything, though she felt quite comfortable inside.

Reaching the third stage of the bond is enough to prove Yugao Uzuki's sincerity, but having her attitude out in the open is also pleasing.

Silent all night.

On weekends, Shimura Gengetsu spends almost all his time with Izumi Lori, playing in the morning and training in the afternoon.

In two days, with the help of Izumi's accelerator effect, he had already mastered the basics of using Kagura's Mind's Eye and also learned two Water Release techniques.

Meanwhile, Uzuki Yugao prepared a medicinal bath according to Gengetsu's instructions.

Every morning, I soak in the water for an hour, then go to the training ground to use ninjutsu to consume chakra, and then refine it, repeating this cycle over and over again.

In just two days, she felt her chakra increase significantly, and her physical strength also increased accordingly.

This change delighted Yugao Uzuki.

The third day was also Monday.

After taking a medicinal bath, Uzuki Yugao didn't exercise. Instead, she changed into a chiffon dress and went to the store to buy ingredients.

Today is the day I arranged to meet Shimura Gengetsu; he's coming home for lunch.

Uzuki Yugao felt that she couldn't help Xuan Yue with her current abilities, so she could only start with these small things. Therefore, she paid special attention to this meal and specially bought beef and chicken wings, which Xuan Yue especially liked.

After returning home, I started to get busy.

When the food was almost ready, Shimura Gengetsu arrived.

The Uzuki family home is a two-story house with a courtyard. It doesn't occupy a large area, but it's more than enough for Uzuki Yugao to live in alone.

In fact, many ninjas still live in apartment buildings. Land prices in Konoha are not cheap, and the good locations have long been snapped up by those who bought the land at the beginning of the year.

"Wait ten more minutes, the chicken wings will be ready soon." Uzuki Yugao looked at Gengetsu who was looking around the living room and coaxed him in a gentle tone, "Sit in the living room for a while, there are snacks on the coffee table."

Gengetsu Shimura gave an "oh," but turned around and pouted.

The tone was like coaxing a child.

Ok?

He's just a kid now, so it's okay.

Just as Xuan Yue opened a bag of potato chips to chew on, there was another knock at the door.

"Xuan Yue, can you help me see who it is?"

Uzuki Yugao was busy preparing cold dishes and couldn't spare the time, so she could only call out to the living room.

Gengetsu Shimura opened the door, and both he and the person outside showed expressions of surprise.

"red?"

"Xuan Yue?!"

........

Ten minutes later, the table was filled with a sumptuous feast.

The three sat in chairs, the atmosphere somewhat awkward. Finally, it was Kurenai who broke the silence, giving Yugao a resentful look:

"Xi Yan, where have you been these past few days? I've come looking for you three times, but no one was home each time."

Gengetsu Shimura snorted in dissatisfaction, "You only look for Yugao Uzuki, but you don't come to me?"

Kuroko shook her head like a rattle-drum, saying, "The guards at your Shimura family's residence have such a terrible attitude. I only went there once, and I'll never go again."

Gengetsu Shimura frowned slightly. "You've been here? None of the guards told me."

A bunch of useless idiots who can't even keep an eye on things properly deserve a beating.

“That’s not important.” Kurenai changed the subject, staring at Uzuki Yugao, whose expression was slightly unnatural, and asked suspiciously, “Why did Gengetsu come to eat here? Why did you invite her but not me?”

She sounded a little aggrieved by the end.

Why is this happening? They are clearly best friends, but Xi Yan only invited Xuan Yue to dinner.

“This…” Uzuki Yugao hesitated to speak, but Gengetsu had already spoken:

“Xi Yan has been practicing swordsmanship with me these past few days, unlike you, who only knows how to play all day long.”

As for today

People have varying degrees of closeness and distance. Yuhi Hong's bond had only reached the first stage, so naturally, she couldn't know about the medicinal bath. Therefore, Xuan Yue simply used cultivation as an excuse.

"What?!" Kurenai Yuhi stared at Shiori in shock, her rosy lips forming an 'o' shape. "You...you two have been training together the whole time, and you didn't even take me with you?"

"Yugao treated me to a BBQ feast." Xuan Yue delivered another blow. If Yuhi Kurenai were a member of the Uchiha clan, she would probably be so shocked that she would awaken her Sharingan.

Now that things have come to this, what else can Uzuki Yugao say?

He could only sigh and say, "Let's eat first."

After saying that, she skillfully picked up a chicken wing and two pieces of beef for Shimura Gengetsu, and thoughtfully pushed a napkin in front of him so that he could take it at any time.

As she watched this scene in a daze, a strange thought suddenly welled up in Kurenai's mind—

It's supposed to be a movie for three people, but I never get a name...

Chapter 50 Hyuga Hizashi's Resentment, Training Time

After the meal, Kurenai strongly requested to join the two's training team.

"You don't learn swordsmanship, so what's the point of following us? Isn't this just a waste of time?" Shimura Gengetsu asked, puzzled.

Kurenai Yuhi argued confidently, "I can train you in illusion magic. Gengetsu, your mental strength is so strong, you can be my sparring partner."

Shimura Gengetsu looked at her with disdain, "You want to get something for nothing?"

Poof~!

Uzuki Yugao, who was drinking water, spat it out. Luckily, no one was sitting opposite her, or she would have been in real trouble.