When Ren returned home, he noticed the lights were already on. He opened the door and saw that the table was set with food, and someone was busy in the kitchen.
"You're back," Kurenai said, turning around with a smile.
"…I don't remember giving you a key," Ren said after a moment of silence as he looked at her.
"I found the spare key in the drawer while tidying up this morning," Kurenai replied, placing the final dish on the table. "Dinner's ready; go wash your hands."
Ren stood quietly for a moment before heading to wash up. Kurenai, humming a little tune, looked content as she finished her preparations.
The meal was ready: four dishes and a bowl of soup. Kurenai proudly announced, "Alright, everything's set. Try my cooking."
Ren didn't immediately start eating; he stared at the spread on the table in silence. It had been so long since he'd had such a moment—almost twenty years in this world.
"What's wrong?" Kurenai asked, noticing his hesitation. "Is it not to your taste? I didn't know what you might not like, other than that you're not fond of sweets."
"It's fine," Ren said calmly, taking a bite of the meat.
"How is it?" she asked eagerly.
"…Not bad."
Kurenai's face lit up with a smile, and she immediately picked up her chopsticks to serve more food to Ren.
The small room, which Ren had lived in for over a decade, for the first time, felt like a home.
"Today, I told Anko about us," Kurenai said during the meal.
"Mm."
"I know you don't really like her, but she's my best friend…" Kurenai said, watching him carefully.
"I don't mind," Ren said as he continued eating. "I'm not going to stop you from seeing your friends."
Relieved, Kurenai took a breath and said, "I didn't see Asuma today, so I'll tell him next time."
"Mm."
Ren's reaction was still calm and unreadable.
Kurenai studied his face, trying to decipher his thoughts. She hesitated before asking, "Do you mind if I stay here more often?"
Ren looked at her briefly, then returned to his meal. "I don't mind."
Her heart softened at his words. "But your place is a bit small... My house is bigger."
"Or maybe... we could get a bigger place together someday," she added, her face flushing at the implication.
"Let's talk about it later," Ren said, not saying what she had hoped to hear.
"I'll get some soup," she said to break the silence.
After dinner, Kurenai began clearing the dishes while Ren went to take a shower. The sound of running water filled the small room.
Partway through his shower, the door suddenly opened. Through the steam, Kurenai's silhouette appeared.
Ren paused, looking at her. "What are you doing?"
Kurenai stepped closer, her skin warm as she pressed against him.
"Ren..." she whispered, her lips brushing against his chest, moving up to his collarbone and neck. Just as she leaned in for a kiss, she felt his hand gently push her away.
"W-what's wrong?" she asked, confusion and vulnerability in her eyes.
Ren's gaze was clear and steady. "Isn't this around the time of your... risk period?"
"Y-yeah..." she stammered.
"Out."
"..."
Why is he like this? Kurenai felt a wave of embarrassment and hurt. She wondered if he was even interested in her sometimes.
"Do you want to have a child with me?" Ren asked plainly.
"It's not... it's not like it would definitely happen..." she muttered, pressing against him. Her voice dropped to a whisper, "You could just... pull out."
…
At noon. In a small village garden.
"Ugh!" Ino flung a handful of weeds aside, frustration evident in her voice. "How much longer do we have to do this?"
Nearby, Shikamaru and Choji paused in their work, glancing at her.
"Halfway done, maybe. Man, what a drag," Shikamaru sighed.
"I'm hungry. I really want to eat something," Choji said.
Ino turned her eyes toward Ren, who sat leisurely outside the garden, drinking tea and reading a book. Frustrated, she shouted, "Ren-sensei, can't you help us a little?"
"Can't handle a simple D-rank mission?" Ren asked without even looking up from his book.
"But what's the point of doing mundane tasks like this?" Ino complained.
"Everyone starts this way," Ren replied. "Get back to work; there's still a job to take care of after this."
Hearing that they'd need to care for children next, Ino's spirits sank, and she slumped in defeat. "Our ninja life is just full of odd jobs," she muttered, going back to weeding.
Half an hour later, Shikamaru and the others finally finished. Ren confirmed the task with the client and led the team to the Hokage's office to report.
They ran into Kakashi and Team 7 on their way out.
"Hey, what a coincidence," Kakashi greeted Ren.
"Reporting a mission?" Ren asked.
"Yup."
The genin exchanged greetings, with Ino maintaining a composed front when she saw Sasuke, surprising Sakura.
The members of Team 10 eyed Kakashi, wondering if he was the legendary 12-year-old jonin Ren had mentioned.
"Is there something wrong?" Kakashi noticed their curious looks.
"Nothing, just mentioned you to them," Ren said.
Kakashi raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
"Um..." Sasuke stepped forward, catching everyone's attention.
"Hello, I'm Uchiha Sasuke," he said. "Five years ago, during the Mist ninja attack, you saved me and my mother. I never got to thank you."
Ren looked at Sasuke, who had a cool demeanor but not the distant coldness he expected. Likely because his family was still intact.
"No need. Your mother already did," Ren replied calmly.
"We're heading out on a C-rank mission!" Naruto boasted to Shikamaru and the others before leaving.
"Really?" Ino's eyes widened in surprise.
"Yeah, guess our team's just that good. We do have the top student, after all," Sakura added smugly.
"Damn it," Ino muttered, clenching her fists. "That wide forehead of hers!"
Inside the Hokage's office.
"Hokage-sama! Can't we get a C-rank mission too?" Ino pleaded as they reported.
The Third Hokage held a list of D-rank tasks, while Iruka lectured them about patience and the value of low-ranked missions.
"But Team 7 got a C-rank mission," Ino protested. "I'm tired of these boring tasks!"
"Why are you all so impatient?" Iruka scolded.
"Hokage-sama," Ren interjected. "Could we try a C-rank mission as well?"
"Ren-sensei!" Iruka said, surprised.
Ino's face lit up with excitement. "Thank you, sensei!"
The Third Hokage nodded and retrieved another file. "Team 10, your next task is to deal with a boar problem in a nearby village."
"Yay!" Ino cheered.
"Don't celebrate too soon," Ren said. "This mission involves combat, and I won't be helping you."
Ino's smile faltered, but she tried to maintain her composure. "It's just a boar. How hard could it be?"
"This sounds like a hassle," Shikamaru muttered.
Choji, still chewing on chips, seemed unfazed.
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