"Tenten should like this gift, right?"
Looking at the chibi version of Tenten in front of him, Akira Ren smiled softly.
He had always had a good impression of that Chinese-style girl.
Moreover, she had always cared about him and quietly paid attention to him.
He wasn't oblivious to the shy and budding feelings of a young girl.
Consider this a return gift.
"And there's also that girl Ino…"
That's right.
Aside from the puppet modeled after Tenten, the second puppet doll was modeled after none other than the heir of the Yamanaka clan from the famous Ino–Shika–Chō trio of the ninja world—
Yamanaka Ino.
Akira Ren's late father had been a well-known medical jōnin.
Combined with his naturally straightforward and warm personality, he had quite a number of close friends during his lifetime.
Among them were the members of the Ino–Shika–Chō trio, with whom he shared a long-standing friendship.
Over the years, the three families often came to visit Akira Nao, the ailing and mobility-impaired mother of their old friend.
As for the young Akira Ren—
Since he had no one to personally guide his training, he could only explore cultivation on his own.
Naturally, he would run into various problems during practice.
Whenever the opportunity arose, he would seize the chance to ask them for advice.
Since the three of them never held anything back and patiently offered guidance—
Over time, Akira Ren's relationship with them gradually became closer.
Deep down, he had already come to regard Nara Shikaku and the others as elders of his own family.
Naturally, he also became acquainted with the heirs of the Nara, Yamanaka, and Akimichi clans.
Thanks to the good upbringing of those families, Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, and Akimichi Chōji—who were about a year younger than him—didn't possess the arrogance or condescension often seen in the children of powerful clans.
Being around the same age, their relationship was quite good.
And Ino—
Being something of a face enthusiast—
Had long since become one of Akira Ren's little admirers.
You could even say they were childhood friends.
Over the past two years, with Ren acting as the bridge between them—
Ino and Tenten had already become good friends.
The three of them often trained together.
Occasionally, Shikamaru, Chōji, and Rock Lee would also join in.
So—
Since Akira Ren had set his sights on becoming a "scumbag", he naturally couldn't show favoritism.
He had prepared a special gift for both girls.
After all—
They were both destined to become part of his future "wings."
…
"Grandma, I'm heading out!"
"Remember what Grandma told you. Be careful!"
"I know!"
Early the next morning—
After accompanying his grandmother for breakfast and chatting with her for a while—
Akira Ren once again used his Wood Release chakra filled with vitality to gently nourish her body.
Then he placed the puppet dolls into the gift boxes he had already prepared.
Under his grandmother's repeated and heartfelt reminders, he finally got ready to leave.
"Oh right, I almost forgot…"
Suddenly remembering something, he slapped his forehead.
"I still need to water Sister Kurenai's flowers!"
Click.
Taking out the key that Yūhi Kurenai had given him earlier—
After locking his own door, Akira Ren skillfully opened the door to her apartment.
It was also a three-bedroom, one-living-room layout with a small balcony.
The entire place was spotless.
The air carried a pleasant fragrance.
Akira Ren wasn't surprised by this.
After all, in his memory, Kurenai had always been someone who loved cleanliness.
The furniture was simple and minimal.
Only two or three sofas were placed in the living room.
On the tea table nearby sat an old photograph.
In the photo was a serious-looking middle-aged man with red eyes.
Beside him stood a little girl with ruby-like eyes, her features delicate like a porcelain doll.
It was a picture of Yūhi Kurenai and her father—
Konoha jōnin Yūhi Shinku, who had also died during the Nine-Tails attack.
This photograph was one of the treasures Kurenai cherished the most.
"Sister Kurenai was really adorable as a kid…"
Akira Ren picked up the photo instead of heading straight to the balcony.
Looking at the porcelain-doll-like young Kurenai in the picture, he couldn't help but smile.
"No matter how many times I see it, she's just as lovable."
As he spoke, he gently wiped the dust off the photo.
No wonder Sarutobi Asuma, the son of the Third Hokage, had once tried to pursue her.
Unfortunately—
One party had feelings, but the other didn't.
Based on the subtle probing he had done over the years, he had more or less figured out Kurenai's standards for a partner.
Whether the man was handsome or not was secondary.
But his strength had to surpass hers, and he couldn't be too much older.
She didn't dislike men who drank alcohol.
In fact, she occasionally enjoyed a drink herself.
But that came with a condition—
No heavy drinking.
And she particularly disliked men who smoked heavily and were sloppy.
Thus—
Sarutobi Asuma was eliminated in a spectacular fashion.
"Well then, Asuma… you should just peacefully remain a unit of currency."
A faint smile appeared on Akira Ren's lips.
"As for the beautiful and gentle Sister Kurenai… I'll take care of her in the future."
As someone with the mind of a normal adult—
A "fake shota" who constantly spent time around such a gentle, elegant beauty with both stunning looks and an amazing figure—
Especially when she occasionally displayed intimate gestures toward him—
How could he possibly have no thoughts at all?
Besides—
Ever since he obtained the Mori Mori Fruit's power, he had already become a legendary "tentacle monster."
Naturally, the more wings he gathered around him—
The better.
No problem there.