Early the next morning.
Kamizuki Hikari was rudely awakened from his slumber by his older brother, Kamizuki Izumo. After washing up, the two obediently made their way to the village gate.
As the gatekeepers of Konoha, this was the place the Kamizuki brothers were most familiar with.
Without a doubt.
"Morning, Izumo!" When the Kamizuki brothers arrived, Hagane Kotetsu was already there.
Kamizuki Izumo smiled and nodded, his face brimming with excitement. Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought he was going on a blind date.
Compared to him, Kamizuki Hikari looked utterly lifeless, as if he could fall asleep at any moment.
"Hikari, you can't be like this. Today, we're accompanying Tsunade-sama on a mission. As a member of Konoha, you must take protecting the Hokage as your duty. Acting so lazy is truly disgraceful!"
"Izumo, why don't you do something about him?" Kotetsu chided earnestly, sounding more like Hikari's older brother than Izumo, while Izumo himself just looked like a spectator enjoying the show.
"Sigh, I wish I could..." Izumo sighed, looking at his sloth-like younger brother with a helpless expression.
"Hikari, if you keep being this lazy, no girl will ever like you!"
Izumo knew his younger brother well.
After all, someone who wasn't a pervert wouldn't be able to write those kinds of books.
"As if you two single dogs have anyone interested in you!" Hikari sneered at his brother and Kotetsu. "I'm not getting married because I don't want to sacrifice my beautiful youth so early! Unlike you two, who simply can't find anyone."
"So, please don't use your thoughts to judge my superior perspective!"
Izumo and Kotetsu: 'We feel personally attacked!'
"Hikari, you're as amusing as ever!" A gentle female voice rang out—clearly belonging to a refined and mature woman.
Hikari looked up and was greeted by a pair of long, slender legs. The owner of these legs was none other than Konoha's flower, the beautiful Yuhi Kurenai.
"Oh, it's the lovely Kurenai! Long time no see."
"Long time? I saw you just yesterday in the Hokage's office!" Kurenai wasn't buying into Hikari's pleasantries. "I heard that a certain someone, aside from gatekeeping duties, spends all their free time at the hospital charming young girls. And the younger they are, the more enthusiastic he gets. I wonder who that could be?"
"That would be me!" Hikari admitted without hesitation.
For a moment, Kurenai didn't know how to respond.
This guy really didn't play by the rules.
Hikari grinned at Kurenai. With his keen observational skills, he could tell that Asuma hadn't won her over yet.
It was honestly strange. They were around the same age, yet Asuma always seemed like an old man.
Look at Hikari—people would believe he was still twenty. But Asuma? If someone said he was forty, few would doubt it.
What a stark difference.
A blatant gap.
"Kurenai, are you paying so much attention to me because I haven't tried to charm you yet? If that's the case, then I must apologize. After all, I can't beat you in a fight. If you really fell in love with me and decided to force yourself on me, I wouldn't be able to resist!"
Kurenai blinked in surprise before smiling gracefully. As adults, a little teasing was harmless.
Izumo: 'Wow, I need to take notes!'
Kotetsu: 'Damn, this guy's smooth! I need to learn a thing or two from Hikari. Maybe I can finally get out of being single!'
Hikari glanced at his brother and Kotetsu, shaking his head in exasperation.
When it came to people, aside from strength, appearance mattered too.
If Hikari dyed his hair white, he could walk through Konoha like a king. Even Danzo wouldn't dare mess with him.
The Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama's face—just imagine how intimidating that would be.
Thanks to this face, Kamizuki Hikari was adored by many young women at the hospital. If he hadn't been so careful to keep his distance, he might have already had a few kids running around claiming him as their father.
"Hikari, you're still as infuriating as ever. I'll make sure to teach you a lesson sometime!" Kurenai's face was slightly flushed from the stares of Izumo and Kotetsu, and she was both embarrassed and annoyed.
Girls were naturally a bit shy. That was normal.
Hikari chuckled. If he really wanted to pursue Kurenai, Asuma wouldn't stand a chance. Even if the Third Hokage personally ordered against it, Hikari was confident he could make her fall for him.
And to be clear, willingly.
Kamizuki Hikari wasn't the type to rely on strength to force things.
With his looks and wealth, finding a woman was almost too easy.
"Oh, Gai is here. Wait, is that little beauty Tenten too?" Hikari looked into the distance, spotting a green-clad figure running toward the village gate with a long-haired man and a bun-haired girl.
"Hikari, while Konoha isn't too strict about relationships, you should still behave yourself. Tenten is too young; you can't lead kids astray. Otherwise, Gai won't let you off." Kurenai warned him.
Hikari shrugged. "Relax, I have no interest in children. When it comes to women, I prefer mature ones like you, Kurenai. Hmm, Ichiraku Ayame is nice too. Anko, though... she's a bit too manly."
Kurenai's eye twitched, feeling like she shouldn't have asked.
Before long, Gai and his two students arrived at the gate.
"Yo, Hikari! You're here early today!"
*Flash!*
Maito Gai's signature move, the "White Fang Flash" made Hikari instinctively take a step back.
"That technique is terrifying, Gai. If you used it on an enemy, you could blind them instantly!"
"Really?! Really?!" Gai was excited. If this could become an actual jutsu, he'd have to train it diligently.
"Of course not!" Kurenai facepalmed, concerned for Gai's intelligence.
"No way, Hikari! I thought I had finally developed a new move!" Gai looked utterly disappointed.
Hikari quickly shifted the blame. "That's all Kurenai's fault! I totally support your technique. After all, you are the famous Blue Beast of Konoha!"
Others might think this nickname was just something Gai made up.
But Hikari knew better—when Gai opened the Seventh Gate of the Eight Gates, his body emitted blue steam, resembling a fierce beast, hence the title.
And when he called himself the Red Beast, that meant he had opened the final gate, the Gate of Death.
If possible, Hikari hoped Gai would never have to use that technique.
Kurenai rolled her eyes at Hikari, then turned toward Tenten, who was approaching him.
"Hikari-senpai, have you had breakfast yet? I made this for you! Of course, if you've already eaten, you can take it for the journey. I also prepared water and some preserved meat to keep your energy up!" The wealthy young lady, Tenten, casually pulled out two sealing scrolls, leaving Kurenai dumbfounded.
Are kids these days really this wealthy?
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