Kurenai Yuhi's expression turned somewhat peculiar.
As Anko's close friend, she thought she knew Anko's social circle inside and out. She truly couldn't fathom who this mystery guest could be. Usually, when Anko treated her to a meal, they ended up at a dango shop or a dessert parlor; she hadn't expected a high-end BBQ joint like this.
"You were out on a mission with Ebisu and those guys a few days ago," Kurenai teased with a smile. "Are you planning to treat him?"
Anko curled her lip in disdain. "He was a total anchor on that mission. Couldn't help with a single thing. Honestly, he's too weak."
"Don't be so harsh," Kurenai laughed. "He is a Chunin, after all."
"He spends all day putting 'Elite' in front of his name, but the guy is a total scrub," Anko said dismissively. As Orochimaru's disciple, she had little patience for average shinobi. "Anyway, the person we're meeting is a major senior (Sempai) of ours."
Kurenai's curiosity deepened. Her gaze lingered on Anko as she guessed, "It's not... Uchiha Shisui, is it?" She knew that through Orochimaru, Anko and Shisui had become quite well-acquainted and spoke frequently.
Anko playfully stuck out her tongue. "Nope! Wrong again."
"The more you tease, the more I want to know. If I know him, who on earth is it?" Kurenai asked, now fully invested.
"Hiruko," Anko whispered the name.
The name hit Kurenai like a physical shock. In Konoha, knowing "Hiruko" was like knowing the Hokage. His "Life No. 1" strengthening agents were legendary, effectively elevating a mass of Konoha's Genin to Chunin-level strength. Moreover, his prosthetic technology had allowed countless disabled shinobi to return to duty—or at the very least, live a dignified life with functional limbs.
To the shinobi of the Leaf, Hiruko's name was thunderous. It made sense that Anko knew him, but...
Kurenai paused, then asked, "He's a highly respected elder of the village. You actually managed to invite him out for a meal?"
Anko puffed out her chest proudly. "It's all about connections! My teacher, Lord Orochimaru, and Lord Hiruko are partners. I've hung around them enough that we're basically buddies. That's how I got him to come out." Anko nonchalantly scanned the menu one last time before summoning a waiter to order a mountain of desserts.
Kurenai fell into a pensive silence. Though she had never interacted with Hiruko personally, she was familiar with his history—especially the rumors and controversies from years ago.
Suddenly, a stir rippled through the BBQ shop. The door creaked open, and Hiruko stepped inside. Immediately, several Jonin dining nearby stood up, greeting him with enthusiastic warmth. Hiruko maintained a gentle, polite smile, nodding to everyone as he made a beeline for Anko's table.
As he walked past, snippets of gossip drifted into his ears: "Is Lord Hiruko going for the younger ones now?""Does he like little girls?""Maybe he's more interested in their mothers..."
The buzzing rumors were annoying, but Hiruko accepted them as the price of being a local celebrity. He shook his head and ignored the chatter.
Kurenai looked toward the entrance and saw an exceptionally handsome young man. He had striking white hair and wore a loose-fitting lab coat that did little to hide his lean, athletic physique. The casual glimpse of his forearms suggested a body honed to peak condition.
He's incredibly handsome, Kurenai thought, catching herself staring. It was no wonder so many girls in the village were infatuated with him.
Anko waved frantically. "Over here! Hurry up!"
Hiruko's gaze swept past Anko and settled on Kurenai for a moment. He looked slightly surprised; he hadn't realized Kurenai and Anko were this close yet. He also knew Orochimaru had likely warned Anko about introducing him to outsiders too freely.
"This is Kurenai Yuhi! She's the genjutsu master of our squad," Anko introduced, throwing an arm around her best friend's shoulder.
"Not at all, I'm just an ordinary ninja," Kurenai said quickly, her modesty kicking in.
Hiruko nodded simply. "Hello, Miss Kurenai."
Anko suddenly chimed in, "You know, Lord Hiruko is actually great at genjutsu too. I lose to him every single time we spar."
"Is that so?" Kurenai's eyes widened with interest as she took a closer look at the "Scientist" before her.
Hiruko chuckled. "I know a little. Just a little. My specialty is toxins; I'm hardly a master of illusions. I couldn't possibly compare to a true specialist."
Kurenai felt a bit speechless. How could a legendary figure like Hiruko truly be inferior to a junior like her?
Anko didn't overthink it. She shoved the menu toward Hiruko. "Order whatever you want. I'm fine with anything."
Hiruko didn't stand on ceremony. He began marking the menu with a pen, selecting several favorites before handing it back to Anko. Then, he leaned back in his chair, calmly observing Kurenai.
Even at this age, Kurenai possessed the seeds of that alluring, mature aura she would one day be famous for. There was a sophisticated charm about her that set her apart from her peers.
Kurenai felt increasingly awkward under his steady gaze. Her face began to flush a soft pink. They were from different generations; she felt they had no common language and didn't know how to break the ice. Unlike the boisterous Anko, most people were cautious around Hiruko. Despite his friendly smile, he was a "Great Personage," and common shinobi usually avoided unnecessary contact with such figures.
"Is... is there something on my face?" Kurenai finally managed to ask.
"No," Hiruko said with a warm smile. "I was just thinking that your eyes are extraordinary. They remind me of rare rubies. They really are quite beautiful."
The teenage Kurenai couldn't help it—a deep blush bloomed across her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words wouldn't come.
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