Naruto: Uchiha's Harem

"You come here first, I have something to ask you," Slightly avoiding Hinata and Shino, Yuhi Kurenai pulled Uchiha Kage's arm and took him alone to a shaded area.

"What's wrong? Acting all mysterious, is there some other hidden aspect to this mission?", Hearing Kurenai mention earlier that people from the Hidden Cloud Village might also return to compete for the 'treasure,' Uchiha Kage became more alert.

"It has nothing to do with the mission. I just want to ask you, what is your relationship with that Ino from earlier?"

"A classmate relationship."

'So… it's actually about personal matters unrelated to the mission,' Uchiha Kage immediately lost interest.

"How is that possible? What kind of female classmate hugs a male classmate the moment they meet?"

"Didn't sensei also kiss me on the forehead the first day we met?"

"I—I was… That doesn't count!"

Besides, she was his elder, and kissing the forehead was just an act of care and closeness. How could it mean anything else?

Even though that was her reasoning, Kurenai's face turned slightly red.

She never expected to be countered by her own student, 'Even if they are close classmates of the opposite sex, they wouldn't hug like that, right?'

"Maybe she likes me. That's normal since I'm handsome."

"You… Then why did you say you were just classmates?"

'This guy—his skin is so thick, and he can say things like this so self-righteously.'

'A textbook example of a playboy.'

'No, I have to correct him while he is still young.'

"If not classmates, then what else? It's not like I'm dating her."

"Then do you not like her?"

'So it is just a one-sided crush from that girl?', Hearing this, Kurenai subconsciously felt a little relieved.

"Not really. She's pretty, and her personality isn't bad. I have no reason to dislike her."

"What about Hinata?"

"Also don't dislike her. And sensei, you're very pretty too."

"You—you…"

Kurenai was completely caught off guard.

'This brat even included me in this?'

"Wait, I think you misunderstand what 'like' means. What I mean by liking is—"

"I understand, Sensei. But right now, I just want to restore the Uchiha clan. Everything else can wait."

Ino and Hinata still had some growing up to do. Once they were more developed, Uchiha Kage guaranteed he wouldn't let a single one go.

After all, he was an evil Uchiha.

"So—so that's how it is."

She almost forgot—he was an Uchiha. And the Uchiha clan right now…

Thinking about that, Kurenai felt much more at ease.

It seemed her student wasn't actually a womanizer. He was just burdened with too much, so he hadn't developed thoughts in that direction yet.

'What a pitiful child.'

'I should treat him better in the future.'

———

"Let's set up camp here."

After leaving the Hidden Leaf Village, Kurenai's team had traveled for an entire day and finally reached the borders of the Land of Fire.

"Kage, go set up traps. Shino, keep watch on the surroundings. Hinata, scout the nearby terrain."

"Yes!"

The three Genin dispersed, while Kurenai leisurely set up the tent.

It was just a C-rank mission, and they were still within the Land of Fire. Barring any surprises, there was absolutely no danger…

"Sensei, there's a large caravan and some strange people in the forest ahead," After activating her Byakugan to scout the area, Hinata quickly noticed something unusual.

"They're probably just passing merchants."

Kurenai was momentarily startled by her student's sudden report, but she quickly regained her calm demeanor.

"No, sensei, someone is fighting them," Hinata shook her head with a serious expression.

"Oh?"

Kurenai frowned slightly. She and the others, including Uchiha Kage and Shino, quickly climbed a nearby hill.

Below, on a small forest path, a group of bandit-like men was attacking a passing caravan.

"Sensei, should we help?", Shino sent a few insects to scout ahead before turning back to ask.

"Hmm, they seem to be just ordinary bandits. Since we came across them, you all should take care of them."

Ordinary people stood no chance against shinobi—not even Genin.

But her students had likely never seen real bloodshed before. This could be a good opportunity for them to gain experience.

With that in mind, Kurenai naturally decided to let them handle the bandits.

"Yes."

Seeing the merchants being slaughtered, Hinata and Shino could no longer stand by.

Without hesitation, the two jumped down the hill and charged at the bandits.

"Why aren't you going?"

Kurenai watched her two students fight while glancing at Uchiha Kage, who was still crouched beside her, watching like a spectator.

"Wait a moment. It looks like someone else is coming."

"You…"

Kurenai was about to refute him when she saw a few suspicious figures emerging from the forest.

Judging by their speed, they were shinobi.

'Does this guy… have better perception than me?'

Aside from being surprised that more shinobi had appeared, Kurenai was even more shocked by her student's keen observation.

He had neither the Sharingan nor the Byakugan, yet he noticed them before she did?

'Wait, these shinobi aren't wearing headbands.'

That meant they were either spies from another village, rogue ninja, or missing-nin.

No matter which, they were trouble.

Realizing this, Kurenai was about to call her two students back.

"However, these shinobi also seem to be helping the merchants."

But upon seeing that they were attacking the bandits, she hesitated and decided to observe for a bit longer.

"Sensei, don't you think their timing is a bit too convenient?", After watching for a while, Uchiha Kage noticed something.

These bandits weren't truly fighting these new shinobi. The moment they clashed, they retreated.

Meanwhile, Hinata and Shino, the real fighters against the bandits, were unknowingly getting surrounded.

"It seems they don't have good intentions," Kurenai also quickly realized this.

Though she was still surprised by Kage's sharpness, her main concern now was the safety of her two students.

"Sensei, we're the real outsiders here. Those shinobi are clearly working with the bandits. The bandits rob the merchants first, then these 'shinobi' drive them away and extort the merchants for a 'protection fee.' This way, they can double-charge the merchants without attracting the attention of nearby villages.

"They just didn't expect us to show up today, so now they're in a tough spot."

The same old tricks.

Nothing in this shinobi world ever really changes.

"You—even understand this?"

'Does the academy teach this stuff now?'

Kurenai had only learned about these schemes after doing many missions.

'Yet this kid saw through it instantly?'

"Sensei, we're near the former Land of Whirlpools. We could capture them and interrogate them for more mission intel."

"Oh… okay."

'What's going on?'

'I'm the Jonin instructor here, but why does it feel like he's the leader?'

Kurenai was momentarily dazed, but after regaining herself, she asserted her authority—

By pinching Uchiha Kage's cheek.

"Stop stealing my lines, and don't give your teacher orders."

"Sensei, now's not the time for this…"

How many years had it been since anyone dared pinch his face?

'This woman is the first.'

"Who—who's taking advantage of you? And no talking back to your teacher!"

After teasing Kage a bit, Kurenai finally let go, feeling much better.

"Sensei, if we don't move now, those shinobi might seriously harm Hinata and Shino."

'This woman—is she bullying me at work?'

"No worries. Against some rogue ninja, Hinata and Shino won't lose!"

Despite her confidence, she still cautiously moved down the slope with Kage.

If anything happened, she would intervene immediately.

"Hey, don't slack off. Go fight too!", Seeing Kage still beside her, Kurenai quickly pushed him forward.

She had yet to see this kid really fight.

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