"You… you… you jerk!"
Kurenai Yuhi's face turned scarlet as she shouted in anger.
"Sorry, you're just too beautiful—I couldn't hold back."
Kitazawa licked his lips, still tasting the warmth and softness from moments before.
"...?"
Speechless with fury, Kurenai kicked him.
"If you're still angry, I'd let you kick me a few more times."
Kitazawa said this with complete seriousness.
Kurenai raised her foot for a second kick, but something occurred to her and she stopped.
"What's wrong—can't bear to do it?"
Kitazawa chuckled.
"I simply refuse to satisfy your perverted request."
Kurenai replied with undisguised disgust.
"I think you've got the wrong idea about me."
Kitazawa's mouth twitched. "What normal person would make that kind of request?"
"Which is why you're not normal."
Remembering the kiss, Kurenai felt her cheeks burn.
She had never expected Kitazawa to be so audacious.
Though naturally straightforward, she'd never experienced anything like this.
"Has your logic sprung a leak?"
Kitazawa laughed helplessly. "Whatever—you can think what you like. My girlfriend is always right."
"I never agreed to be your girlfriend!"
Kurenai huffed.
"We've already kissed—aren't you going to take responsibility?"
Kitazawa gave her a look as if saying So you're a heart‑breaker?
"You kissed me!"
Kurenai snapped back.
"Since you put it that way, I guess I'll take the loss—why don't you kiss me instead?"
Kitazawa stared at her.
"…?"
Kurenai finally understood the saying 'If you're shameless, you're invincible.'
She clenched her fist and punched him.
"In your dreams!"
She turned and quickened her pace.
"Wait for me!"
Kitazawa caught up and took her hand.
"Behave yourself!"
Kurenai glared, but did not pull her hand away.
"I rarely take a day off—where would you like to go?"
Kitazawa asked seriously, dropping the teasing.
"I grew up in Konoha; I've been everywhere already."
Kurenai looked around, then her eyes lit up. "How about a movie?"
"A movie?"
Kitazawa blinked. "That's a pretty old‑fashioned word."
"It's normal you don't know."
"This caught on only recently in the ninja world—you can think of it as a giant television."
"All right, let's watch a movie."
Kitazawa smiled and said no more.
He had watched plenty of films in his previous life, but never in the shinobi world.
Inside the theater, Kitazawa studied the posters—mostly adventure films starring ninja.
"Fujikaze Yukie hasn't retired yet?"
He muttered at the familiar name.
Fujikaze Yukie—the heroine of a Naruto film—was a superstar across the ninja world.
A princess of the Land of Snow, she'd been rescued by Kakashi as a child, become an actress in the Land of Fire, and, with Naruto's help, reclaimed her throne as daimyō.
"I'll get sodas," Kitazawa said, eyes still on the posters. "You buy the tickets."
He stuffed a wad of money into Kurenai's hand.
"I have money."
She tried to give it back.
"Come on, why split hairs over a little cash?"
Waving it off, Kitazawa went for two bottles of soda.
They'd earned plenty lately working with Tsunade on new jutsu.
Kurenai chuckled softly and bought two tickets for the next showing.
"Here."
Kitazawa handed her a bottle.
They entered the screening room.
"Not many people watching."
Kitazawa counted only six other patrons.
"It's still morning—most people are at work."
Kurenai unscrewed the cap and took a sip.
"True."
Kitazawa sat beside her; with so few people they easily found prime seats.
"What flavor's your soda?"
He asked.
"Apple. Why?"
"Mine's more lemony."
He swapped bottles. "Lucky you—two flavors for the price of one."
"Childish."
Kurenai's eyelid twitched.
She lifted the bottle to her lips, then paused—Was that deliberate?
She took a sip anyway, glancing at Kitazawa—It was deliberate?
"Not bad," Kitazawa met her gaze. "Soft."
"Do you have a death wish?"
Kurenai blushed furiously.
Just then the film began, drowning her out.
"I meant the soda," Kitazawa leaned in and whispered.
Kurenai felt his warm breath; flustered, she forced calm: "Watch the movie."
Kitazawa tilted his head, kissed her cheek, then stared straight ahead as if nothing happened.
"…?"
Kurenai opened her mouth, said nothing.
She fixed on the distant screen, mouth suddenly dry.
They stayed silent until the film ended.
"Pretty mediocre," Kitazawa observed dryly. "Our Chūnin bouts are more exciting."
With minimal special effects, ninja films scarcely surpassed rookies sparring.
"You're a Special Jōnin now," Kurenai reminded him.
It was about 11 a.m.; June sunlight blazed overhead.
Walking the street, warm wind stirred fallen leaves.
"What do you want for lunch?"
Kitazawa held her hand.
"Grilled fish."
"We'll catch it ourselves."
"Where to?"
Kitazawa's brows lifted; he used to be an avid angler, and her idea made his hands itch.
"A river in the Forest of Death."
Kurenai dragged him to buy tackle, then led the way.
"Let's see your skills."
Kitazawa readied his rod, confident.
"I've barely fished," Kurenai beamed. "Don't lose to me."
"Relax."
He cast his line—then noticed a problem:
Kurenai had already landed one fish; he hadn't had a single bite.
"Well?"
She looked over triumphantly.
"Honestly? This is the newbie protection phase."
Kitazawa bluffed.
"Oh?" Kurenai laughed. "Another one!"
"…?"
A bad feeling hit Kitazawa—and proved correct.
An hour later she had five fish; he had one.
His face fell—A fisherman's Waterloo…
"Don't sulk. Time for grilled fish."
Kurenai suddenly lifted her face and kissed him.
Kitazawa froze.
"I'll clean the fish."
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and walked to the river.
Turns out fishermen can catch more than fish—they can hook love, too.
Kitazawa snapped out of it and hurried over to help.
~~~
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