"What's with you suddenly asking me out?"
"Nothing really. Can't I just want to go shopping with you?"
Anko took a bite from the dango in her hand and gave Kurenai a side glance. "You're never the proactive one. It's usually me dragging you out."
Kurenai looked a little downcast.
They had walked up to a pedestrian overpass and now leaned on the railings.
"Let me guess... Asuma again?" Anko asked.
"…He invited me to a stage performance. Apparently, a traveling troupe came to the village," Kurenai sighed.
"That's what, the third time this month? You can't keep using me as your shield forever," Anko said with exasperation.
"Besides, aren't you two close? Grew up together, childhood friends. Everyone knows how he feels about you. No guy dares to make a move on you because of him."
"We were… fine before," Kurenai murmured, pressing her lips together.
"But ever since he came back to the village, he's changed."
"Changed how?" Anko asked curiously.
Kurenai didn't answer right away. Anko kept chewing her dango in silence.
"Ever since he joined the Guardian Twelve, he's always trying to prove something to me," Kurenai said slowly. "Before he left, our relationship was... nice."
"But now he's trying too hard to take it further. I just can't stand how impatient he's become."
She ran a hand through her hair, messing it up before smoothing it back down again, then slumped against the railing, gazing distantly.
Anko glanced at her and clicked her tongue, fiddling with the bamboo skewer in her hand.
"You're just being difficult. If a guy liked me that much from childhood till now, I would've said yes a long time ago."
Kurenai replied, "Feelings don't work like that. Just because one side gives doesn't mean the other side is obligated to respond. His feelings are his own."
"Wow, what a noble sentiment," Anko snorted.
"But seriously, you're not giving him any closure or direction. Just leaving him hanging like this? How do you expect Asuma to feel? You gonna keep hiding forever?"
"…"
"Whatever. Forget it. Let's go shopping," Kurenai said, letting out a long breath and forcing a smile.
Anko rolled her eyes, but as they walked down from the overpass, they happened to spot two figures approaching from across the street, one of them quite familiar.
"Tch, why'd we have to run into him? What bad luck," Anko muttered.
"What, gonna pretend not to know him now?" Kurenai teased.
"Pretend?" Anko raised an eyebrow. "Why would I? You think I'm scared of that brat?"
With that, she boldly strode toward the pair. Kurenai sighed and followed with a knowing smirk.
"Well, if it isn't the little brat. What a coincidence," Anko called out mockingly.
Oboro looked at the approaching woman and frowned slightly. "It's Oboro," he said flatly.
"Oboro? Is she your friend?" Shisui asked with a polite smile.
Oboro glanced at the two women. He caught a flicker of hostility in Anko's eyes.
"No. Just someone I know."
Anko's face twitched slightly. Her gaze darkened.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Oboro's friend, Uchiha Shisui," Shisui said cheerfully, introducing himself.
"Uchiha Shisui?" Both Anko and Kurenai were stunned.
"The Shisui of the Body Flicker?"
"I hope Oboro hasn't caused you too much trouble," Shisui added politely. "He can be a bit difficult sometimes."
Oboro's expression darkened further. Did you just call me difficult to my face?
"I've only heard of you before. Didn't think I'd meet the real deal today," Anko said, eyeing Shisui up and down. Unlike that stone-faced brat Oboro, this Uchiha seemed much more approachable.
"Aren't you going to introduce me?" Shisui looked to Oboro with a grin.
"Hi! I'm Mitarashi Anko," Anko said immediately, stepping forward before Oboro could speak.
"Yūhi Kurenai."
"So it's Anko-senpai and Kurenai-senpai. I've heard your names before. A real honor to meet you both."
"Don't call us senpai. You're a jōnin and way more famous than either of us," Anko waved it off.
"It's just a title," Shisui said modestly.
Oboro stood quietly to the side, observing the polite exchange. He'd seen this kind of social nicety before. Anko, clearly, was acting like she'd just met a celebrity.
Shisui's fame in the village was only rivaled by Hatake Kakashi among the younger generation.
"Didn't expect someone like you to be so easy to talk to. I thought geniuses were all weirdos," Anko chuckled. Obviously thinking of Kakashi.
"I'm no different from anyone else. Just a fellow shinobi."
"Well, at least you're better than some people," Anko said, shooting a glance at Oboro.
"Oboro's actually a softie underneath that cold face. Once you get to know him, you'll see he's got a heart of gold," Shisui offered.
"Oh? So we're all softhearted, but he gets to be the one with the sharp tongue?" Anko scoffed.
Kurenai quietly tugged at Anko's sleeve, trying to de-escalate.
Shisui looked a bit embarrassed. He'd hoped these were Oboro's friends, such chances were rare, so he wanted to make a good connection.
"You're wrong." Oboro spoke up calmly.
"I'm not softhearted. I always say exactly what I mean."
"The only reason I saved you that day was because it was part of the mission. I didn't expect you to act like we were best friends afterwards."
"You little-!" Anko fumed, stepping forward, only to be held back by Kurenai.
"W-We'll be going then!" Shisui laughed awkwardly, quickly pulling Oboro away from the brewing storm.
"You stopped me, did you see the smug look on that brat's face!?" Anko fumed as they walked away.
"I wanted to punch his smug expression into next week!"
"You were really going to start a fight with him in the street?" Kurenai said helplessly, finally letting go.
"Why not? Who's scared of who?"
"Just drop it. If you can't get along, then just don't talk to each other," Kurenai said. Honestly, that was exactly what she wanted.
Too bad he's so close to Shisui, she thought. She really couldn't understand how two such completely different people ended up as friends.
"I'm so pissed off!" Anko slapped the railing beside her hard, instantly wincing from the pain.
Her grudge against Oboro deepened once again.
==========
Elsewhere,
"Could you not say things that make the whole situation worse?" Shisui complained. "Were you really going to fight her in the street?"
"Relax. She wouldn't have stood a chance."
"…"
"She said we were 'friends' like it meant I owed her something. That's not fair. What's she ever done for me?" Oboro said plainly. "Besides, she was being dramatic and annoying."
"You're so extreme. Are you a child?" Shisui sighed.
"I've just been through enough to know what I don't want to do anymore," Oboro said flatly.
"Friendship isn't about keeping a scoreboard of who gave what," Shisui tried to explain.
"Oh, how noble of you," Oboro glanced sideways.
"I'm saying… the value of friendship isn't always in material things. Sometimes it's emotional, or just shared joy," Shisui said earnestly.
"I'm not that emotionally developed."
"…Then what about me? What have you ever gotten from me?" Shisui asked suddenly.
Oboro paused, as if caught off guard, then fell silent.
"…You already gave it."
With that, he turned and walked ahead.
"Eh?" Shisui blinked, his expression turning complicated.
"…What did I give him?"
"Wait for me, Oboro!"
<><>---------------------------------------
200 P.S = 1 Extra Chapters
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• TL/N •
Hello guys Fanfic recommendation!
Check out my other work:
> Naruto: Mind Control
If you like smart and strong MC, this fanfic is for you.
It's Peak.
Give it a chance and you won't be disappointed