Ryun also lay down, face to face with Kurenai, their fingers intertwined, their cheeks slowly drawing closer.
Kurenai began to panic, seeming to regain a bit of her composure.
Ryun then said, "Sister Kurenai, weren't you worried about getting old?"
"Right now, I'll transfer my life force to you, and then you can become young again."
"Wha... what are you saying, life force? No, absolutely not!"
Kurenai's eyes flew wide open in shock, and she tried to push Ryun away, but he pinned her down.
"Sister Kurenai, you actually mind that I'm young, don't you? And at the same time, you're worried about your own age."
"What if I give you my life force? Then we can just split the difference between us, right?"
"Ryun-kun, that's not how it works! Stop it now!"
"I'm telling you to stop!"
Seeing that Kurenai was about to get genuinely angry, Ryun finally let her go and said, "Ahem, Sister Kurenai, I was just joking."
"I have such strong life force now that I can even perform Markless Healing, so this little bit of life force is nothing."
"Besides, just doing it this way can't make you young again; it can only make you feel refreshed!"
Kurenai glared at Ryun, and only when she was sure he wasn't lying did she speak.
"That doesn't mean you can just do things like this whenever you want. You need to grow and train too!"
"I'm not a ninja, so it's fine if I'm a little weaker. But seeing you like this, Sister Kurenai, pains me. Please don't torment yourself anymore."
Kurenai's lips trembled slightly, and a warm feeling welled up in the corners of her eyes.
She had been drifting through life in a daze for months, and at the time she needed care and affection the most, it was Ryun who gave it to her.
Although it was because she had actively rejected Asuma's invitations several times, couldn't he have been a bit more assertive like Ryun?
Well, it was too late now. She was lying in his arms, and he had injected her with chakra like this... What was she supposed to do now?
"Mm."
Kurenai softly hummed in agreement with Ryun, but resolved deep down to pull herself together. At the very least, she couldn't let Ryun see her dejected side anymore.
Otherwise, what if this guy actually used his own life force to protect her safety?
"Good, then you have to keep your word, Sister Kurenai. As for now, just relax and enjoy it. I'll make you glow with radiance."
"Are you sure your body is really okay?"
"Sister Anko must have told you about my situation, right? She can't handle me on her own anymore, so of course I'm fine!"
Kurenai's face flushed crimson as she glared at Ryun angrily. Why bring that up now?
But then she suddenly felt... damn it, this guy really had grown!
"Maybe... maybe we should just stop here?"
Kurenai was starting to back down, but Ryun said, "Sister Kurenai, don't worry. I said I wouldn't do anything today, and I meant it."
"But Sister Kurenai, could I relive that feeling from before?"
"That feeling from before... you little brat, that was to comfort you, it's not like I'm... ah, fine."
Looking at the anticipation in Ryun's eyes and feeling the life force he was channeling into her, Kurenai's heart softened.
If it was just this much, it should be fine...
Kurenai pulled down her collar slightly, then held Ryun in her arms.
Watching Ryun enjoy her scent with such a look of bliss, Kurenai suddenly regretted it. She should have taken a shower before coming. Now, she could only hope Ryun couldn't smell the sweat on her.
Luckily, Ryun really didn't seem to notice. This intimate embrace lasted a full half hour before Ryun finally stopped the transfer.
By then, Kurenai felt sweat on her forehead but had boundless energy throughout her body. It felt like she could go thirty rounds with Ryun without any problem.
"Truly amazing..."
Kurenai murmured to herself. Now she believed what Anko had said—that she really couldn't handle Ryun on her own was a fact.
So that meant... idiot, what was she thinking!
Kurenai touched Ryun's cheek, intending to urge him to get up, but then saw him lower his head and kiss her.
Kurenai felt as if her heart had been stolen. She gasped and sat up bolt upright, her face bright red as she stared at Ryun.
Ryun, however, was also blushing, seemingly embarrassed himself. He said to Kurenai, "I'm sorry, Sister Kurenai, I couldn't help it. Punish me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, his body swayed slightly.
This made Kurenai quickly step forward to support him, asking worriedly, "Are you really okay?"
"I'm fine!"
Ryun's expression was calm, but a trace of fatigue seemed to appear in his eyes.
"You little liar, you're definitely not telling the truth... ugh."
Kurenai was both angry and exasperated. Finally, she gave Ryun a light flick on the forehead and said, "Go get some good rest. I'm not leaving."
"Since I'm here, I won't stay for free. I'll take care of your meals from now on."
"Great!" It wasn't Ryun who said this, but Anko's voice from outside the door.
Kurenai only then realized Anko was eavesdropping. Furious, she yelled out, "You're paying for your own meals! Who said you could eat so much?!"
"Ah, Kurenai, you're so cruel! Out with the new, forget the old friend!"
Anko's sarcastic and teasing complaint made Kurenai lose her temper completely. She opened the door and chased after her.
As for Ryun, he leaned back and lay down on Kurenai's bed, where the faint, fresh scent of her hair still lingered.
Indeed, he needed to be assertive with Kurenai.
Hugs, kisses... what came next?
Ryun wasn't in a hurry. He could take it slow. After all, there were still a few days until the Chunin Exams.
Maybe he could even have her observe the process of him applying the True Spirit Seal to Hinata. He was sure Kurenai would be tempted by that, right?
No, she definitely would be.
Ever since Kurenai moved into Ryun's house, the outcome was already decided. The rest was just a matter of time.
After resting for a while, Ryun got out of bed and went downstairs. He found Kurenai standing in front of a mirror, excitedly admiring her face and skin condition.
Clearly, the infusion of life force had had a miraculous effect on her. The only problem was that, under normal circumstances, giving someone else your life force meant trading it for your own life.
No one would do such a thing, and there were very few people capable of it anyway.
This highlighted the ingenuity and power of the True Spirit Seal.
Kurenai noticed Ryun coming downstairs and gave him a gentle smile. "What do you feel like eating today?"
"Hmm... dumplings?"
Ryun looked at Kurenai's chest, where there was still a strawberry mark.
Kurenai instinctively tried to cover it, then openly let her hands drop and said fiercely, "Eat! I'll stuff you two until you're sick of them! I'll prepare three pounds of dumplings for each of you, and if there's any left over, you'll be punished!"
Watching Kurenai storm into the kitchen, Anko laughed so hard she doubled over.
She beckoned Ryun closer and whispered in his ear, "Don't be fooled by her act. She's over the moon. She thinks she looks at least a year younger."
"But is your method really that miraculous? Can it really make people younger just like that?"
Ryun shook his head. "For now, it's just an effect similar to a radiant glow. The life force inside her won't last long; it'll probably fade in a few days."
"Oh..."
Anko looked at Ryun thoughtfully and said, "Next time, don't just leave a plum blossom mark. Just go all the way and win her over."
Ryun pushed Anko's forehead away. "I don't need you plotting and scheming here. I know what I'm doing."
Just as Ryun was about to say something else, he frowned slightly.
"What's wrong?"
"A small matter came up. I'll be right back."
In an instant, Ryun's figure vanished from the living room and reappeared on the street. There stood a man dressed entirely in black, clutching a little girl by the collar.
"Huh, who are you?"
Ryun's sudden appearance immediately sparked Kankuro's suspicion.
Then he said, "Well, whoever you are, judging by your appearance, you seem to have the strength of a Chunin. Let me test your mettle."
He reached for the puppet on his back, but then there was a loud boom. Kankuro, puppet and all, was sent flying, crashing into a wall some distance away.
Moegi, whom Kankuro had been holding, fell into Ryun's arms.
Ryun didn't look at Kankuro. Instead, he wiped the tears from the corners of Moegi's eyes and asked with a gentle smile, "Are you alright?"
"Waaah!"
Moegi burst into loud sobs!
She had been running and playing with Konohamaru and Udon moments before when they bumped into this guy in black. He had immediately attacked all three of them.
Moegi was just thinking about how to call for help when Ryun appeared.
Coupled with the fact that she hadn't seen Ryun for a while, overwhelmed by emotion and longing, she clung tightly to Ryun's neck, looking as if she would never get down.
"Who are you?!"
Temari was both shocked and angry. She had just been advising Kankuro to keep a low profile when her brother was sent flying.
Even though her brother was wrong for picking on younger kids first, how could he be treated so roughly?
She reached for the iron fan on her back, ready to strike.
But then she realized the fan was tightly bound by steel wires and wouldn't budge.
---