"Planning something, are you? I'll look forward to it."
Ayato flipped through Icha Icha Paradise as he sensed Naruto and the others moving through the forest.
After repeatedly facing him head-on and tasting defeat, they had realized the vast power difference — and were now trying to find an opening.
Good judgment.
Team 7 was already thinking more cleverly than most genin.
Clearly the plan came from Sasuke.
Naruto… was not capable of such thought.
And Sakura, though smart, wouldn't take command over Sasuke.
Ayato smirked and turned a page.
"Come on, brats. I've given you so many openings."
He had been intentionally creating openings — especially while eating. If they had simply kicked up some dust or debris, he would've "reflexively stepped back" to protect his bento.
Boom.
Test passed.
System reward obtained.
But…
Sasuke was too clever for his own good.
He assumed Ayato wanted them to strike during the meal — that it was an obvious trap.
After all, what jonin would calmly eat when he could be attacked at any moment?
"Hm? You're really putting effort into teaching genin?"
A soft, pleasant voice sounded behind him.
Yūhi Kurenai appeared, leaning against a tree — tall, elegant, and stunning, her ruby eyes watching him with curiosity.
She'd been surprised when Ayato agreed to take Team 7. A man like him hated troublesome tasks.
"Teaching?" Ayato shrugged. "Something like that. I keep my promises — if I agree to something, I'll do it properly."
Kurenai raised a brow.
"Says the man who overslept on his first day."
Ayato clicked his tongue.
"As a responsible adult, I had many important matters to attend to last night."
"Mm-hmm."
Kurenai's smile wasn't a smile.
"Important… like women?"
Ayato stared at her.
"And you sound like a wife whose cheating husband came home late. Angry but still waiting by the door."
"WHAT—!? You—!"
Kurenai's cheeks flushed. She glared.
"Say nonsense like that again and I'll get angry!"
She had only teased him! How did it become this!?
Kurenai crossed her arms.
"Seriously though — for someone at your level, personally training genin is… strange. Even if Kakashi asked you, you would've ignored him ordinarily."
To her, Ayato was terrifyingly strong — unbelievably strong.
She'd first met him years ago, when he was still a young boy —
And he was already the proctor for her chūnin exam.
And even back then, he was the strongest jonin in the village.
No failures in his entire ninja career — and all his missions were S-rank, involving A-rank rogues or even Kage-level opponents.
Ridiculous.
"You think I want to deal with these brats? Life doesn't always go the way we want."
Ayato sighed and pulled out a lollipop.
"Want one?"
Kurenai chuckled dangerously, a dark aura appearing behind her.
"You give it to me, and I'll cut you."
She knew exactly what he meant.
Ayato unwrapped the candy and popped it into his mouth.
"You can try cutting me. It's pretty hard."
"Pervert," Kurenai muttered, blushing.
"You should've been this motivated during my chūnin exam," she grumbled.
Back then, when he was her proctor—
He took one look at her and declared, 'You're too weak.'
Failed. Instantly.
She had cried from anger for days.
Ayato sucked the candy thoughtfully.
"Water under the bridge. You're strong now — I genuinely acknowledge that."
Strong.
Impressive.
Grade-A.
"Where are you looking when you say that!?"
Kurenai covered her chest, face burning red.
If looks could kill, Ayato would have died ten times.
"Relax."
Ayato let the joking tone fade and spoke seriously.
"Looking after Hinata — I'm counting on you. She's a hardworking and gentle girl."
"You don't need to tell me," Kurenai sighed.
"But you — Hinata is still a little girl. Don't you dare take advantage of her."
Ayato's expression twisted in annoyance.
"Please. What kind of brother would take advantage of his little sister?"
Then added quietly,
"Unless the sister is too tempting."
"I'm joking," he said before she could explode.
"Anyway, why did you come find me?"
Kurenai handed him a sealed scroll, her expression serious.
"Kakashi left on a mission. He told me to deliver this to you."
She hesitated.
"It's the seal used before… when Naruto once accidentally tapped into the Nine-Tails' chakra. This scroll's sealing technique suppressed him back then."
She hated the Nine-Tails — it had taken family from her.
But she knew the truth:
Naruto and the Nine-Tails were not the same.
"Nine-Tails rampage, huh? Sounds fun."
Ayato's lips curved. He'd never fought a Tailed Beast — he was curious.
During the previous attack, he had been away on a mission.
Kurenai stiffened.
"You're not saying—"
"Relax. I have a sense of restraint. If the chance comes, I'll test it a little."
Ayato didn't deny it.
"Is that what Danzo's worried about?" Ayato glanced subtly at a distant barren hill.
It looked empty —
But with his Tenseigan, he could sense Root ANBU hiding deep underground.
"I hate being watched. And even if they stare all day, they still won't uncover my lollipop's giant secret."
Ayato raised his hand slowly, palm facing the distant hill.
"Ayato?"
Kurenai frowned — she sensed nothing unusual from the hill.
"Better keep the power low," he murmured.
Dark chakra pooled in his palm — swirling and compressing into a black, strange, terrifying substance.
Truth-Seeking Orb.