"Nanaya-kun… could it be that the Anbu ninja from that night… was you?"
Kurenai Yūhi's crimson eyes widened as she stared at him, anticipation and uncertainty swirling within them.
Her instincts had been telling her something all along, and now she just needed the confirmation.
"Cough, cough…"
Uchiha Nanaya let out a small cough, scratching the back of his head.
Women's intuition is too sharp…
Well, in truth, he had been dropping hints on purpose.
Letting Kurenai realize the truth wasn't a problem at this point.
"Yeah."
With a calm and serious nod, he admitted it.
A Realization That Changes Everything
"M-My god… it really was you, Nanaya-kun!"
Kurenai felt a mix of shock and delight flood her heart.
She was surprised that the mysterious Anbu was Nanaya, but also relieved—because if it had to be anyone, she was glad it was him.
But then, her face suddenly flushed red.
Memories of what had happened in the illusion that night flashed in her mind.
She bit her lip, her fingers tightening into fists as she looked at him.
"Then… then, Nanaya-kun… why did you… do that to me in the illusion?"
Her voice was barely a whisper, trembling slightly as she asked the question she desperately wanted an answer to.
Nanaya's golden eyes locked onto hers, unwavering.
Then, with a smirk—he gave the simplest, most straightforward answer:
"Because I want you to be my woman."
A Confession That Stole Her Breath
"...Eh?"
For a moment—Kurenai was completely speechless.
She stood frozen, staring at him in disbelief.
Her heart pounded loudly in her chest as the words sank in.
Nanaya-kun… wants me…?
Me…?
"Nanaya-kun… can I really…?"
Her voice was soft, almost hesitant—like she didn't believe she deserved it.
It was the first time in her life she had ever felt this vulnerable.
Nanaya reached out, gently tilting her chin upward so that she had to look directly at him.
"What? Do you not want to?"
"Of course I do!"
She blurted out the words before she could even think.
She didn't need to think.
Because deep down, she had always known.
This feeling had been in her heart for so long, she just never dared to say it.
She had convinced herself that someone like him—
A hero of Konoha.
A genius among geniuses.
A man who stood above everyone else.
—was someone she could never reach.
That she wasn't worthy of him.
But he had just said it himself—he wanted her.
The doubt in her heart melted away, replaced by pure happiness.
Her purple eyes fluttered shut—
And Nanaya leaned in, capturing her lips in a deep, lingering kiss.
A Secret Unveiled
Kurenai lost herself in the moment.
She had never felt this happy before.
But then—
A thought surfaced, breaking through her daze.
She pulled back slightly, curiosity filling her gaze.
"Nanaya-kun… why did you stop me from going to the Third Hokage that night?"
Nanaya chuckled softly, brushing a finger along the bridge of her nose.
"Because Orochimaru was already fighting the Third Hokage.
You wouldn't have been able to change anything.
If I stopped you outright, you wouldn't have listened… so I disguised myself as an Anbu."
"Ah… so that's why!"
A wave of warmth spread through Kurenai's chest.
The fact that he had been thinking about her safety only made her feel happier.
But then—he said something else.
Something that made her blood run cold.
"And… one more thing—
The Third Hokage deserved to die."
A Truth Too Dark to Ignore
Kurenai's breath hitched.
"Nanaya-kun… what do you mean…?"
His golden eyes gleamed in the darkness.
"Because the Uchiha Clan Massacre—
It was ordered by Konoha's higher-ups.
It was an S-rank mission given to Itachi… directly by the Third Hokage."
"...!"
Kurenai felt her entire body freeze.
The destruction of the Uchiha clan…
It was an order from Konoha?
The Third Hokage allowed it?
She felt sick.
She had always respected the Third Hokage.
She had believed that Konoha was a village that protected its people.
But now—
Now, she wasn't sure what to believe anymore.
"I… I never knew…"
Nanaya watched her carefully, gauging her reaction.
Half of what he said was true, half was twisted.
But it didn't matter—
Because Kurenai Yūhi trusted him completely.
A New Era for Konoha
"But…"
Kurenai slowly exhaled, her mind settling.
"Konoha is different now.
The Third Hokage, Danzo, Homura, Koharu…
They're all gone.
And because of that… Konoha will have a future."
She spoke with conviction.
And for the first time in a long time—she felt at peace.
The past was dark.
But the future… was theirs to shape.
A Cold Night, A Warm Embrace
A gentle breeze swept through the trees.
Kurenai shivered, folding her arms over herself.
Nanaya tilted his head slightly.
"Cold?"
"Mhm…"
She nodded softly, hugging herself tighter.
Without a word—
Nanaya scooped her up into his arms.