If it were in the past, Anko might have still had some doubts about this question.
But now, Anko had already come to terms with it.
Although Ryun liked those few girls, he maintained a respectful distance from them.
With her, however, his attitude was already like that of an old married couple.
While this might have diminished some of the excitement between them, it had brought more happiness.
Having been immersed in the pain of abandonment and solitude in the past, Anko's only expectation for life had been eating sweet things.
But now, she was looking forward to a wonderful future, hoping to have a child with her Ryun, and then watching that child grow up healthy and happy.
This kind of life, full of hope and motivation, was something Anko wouldn't have dared to imagine in the past.
So Anko said, "It's okay, because right now, Ryun-kun only has a married life with me. As for the other girls, maybe it'll be a few years before that happens?"
"Ryun-kun said it wouldn't be good for their bodies if we started now. So, in a few years, I might even have a child already, and then they can pester Ryun-kun all they want."
When Anko said these things, her voice was somewhat light.
It gave the feeling that she was joking, but Kurenai could see that Anko was serious. She was actually planning her future life, no longer just muddling through aimlessly like before.
To Kurenai, who knew Anko extremely well, this was a huge shock.
It seemed that in a very short time, Anko had become much more mature and reliable.
Instead, she herself had made a mess of her life and even needed Anko's help.
Could it be that all of this was because of Ryun?
"Alright, Kurenai, don't worry about me anymore. You should think more about your own situation."
"Why not just help share the burden with me? I really can't handle this guy Ryun on my own anymore."
"No way, right?"
Kurenai looked incredulous. Just a few months ago, Anko had forced herself on Ryun, and now Ryun was turning around and draining Anko? Could he have grown that fast?
"If you don't believe me, then come and try it out together. He awakened the First's Markless Healing before, and I think this guy's physical constitution is also approaching that of a God of Shinobi like the First Hokage."
"And also, I suspect he might know the Yin Seal! Do you know the Yin Seal? It's that ability that Mito Uzumaki once had. After being modified by Tsunade-sama, it's said to grant eternal youth!"
Although Kurenai and Anko hadn't seen Tsunade in twenty years, they still remembered her, not to mention that Anko had been Orochimaru's disciple.
Over the years, they had also heard bits and pieces of information about Tsunade. Since Tsunade simply didn't return to the village and hadn't defected or hidden away, it was easy to know that she hadn't aged.
Kurenai's eyes lit up.
Today, while looking in the mirror, she felt she had spotted an extra wrinkle at the corner of her eye.
After looking closely, she realized it was just her imagination.
But even if there weren't any now, in a few more years, it might become impossible to hide. This was also one of Kurenai's biggest anxieties.
"That's unlikely. If he knew that kind of jutsu, why wouldn't he use it on you first?"
Anko looked at Kurenai sideways and said in a sour, jealous tone, "He naturally wants to save it for his little girlfriends!"
"First Sakura, then Ino, yesterday Tenten, probably Hinata after a while."
"Probably won't be my turn until after the Chūnin Exams. But hey, Kurenai, if you come over, I'll let you go first!"
Kurenai pushed away the approaching Anko in annoyance, but her heart had already wavered.
Right, it wasn't for Ryun, but for the possibility of maintaining eternal youth.
Thinking this, Kurenai said, "Going isn't impossible... wait, where are you dragging me?"
"To Ryun's place, of course!"
"Let me change clothes first!"
"Ah, right, and put on makeup. A woman adorns herself for her admirer."
"It's just ceremonial makeup!"
An hour later, Kurenai had finished tidying her appearance.
Her face in the mirror was still a bit pale, but her spirit seemed to be showing signs of improvement.
This made Kurenai laugh bitterly inside; it seemed she had almost no options left.
Then, the two women walked and chatted, finally arriving outside Ryun's gate.
Ryun was sitting quietly in the courtyard cultivating. Although he made no movement, he naturally exuded an ethereal, otherworldly air.
This was because Ryun currently possessed extremely strong mental energy, coupled with surging life force and adaptation to natural energy. All of this made Ryun feel he might be very talented in adapting to natural energy.
But in Kurenai's eyes, it seemed as if Ryun, in just a few short months, had aged several years, his features becoming increasingly masculine.
"Sister Kurenai?"
Ryun opened his eyes, looked at Kurenai in surprise, and then happily rushed over to hug her.
Kurenai instinctively wanted to resist, but with Ryun's strength, how could she hold back?
Forcibly held in Ryun's arms, Kurenai's desire to resist faded. Besides, it was just a hug...
"Long time no see, Ryun-kun."
Kurenai patted Ryun's head. Ryun looked towards Anko, who was making a peace sign at him.
Ryun hadn't expected Anko to actually bring Kurenai here.
In the previous scenario, Anko had also brought Kurenai, but that was by half-dragging, half-pulling her here.
But now, looking at Kurenai's expression, although a bit embarrassed, it seemed like she had come willingly.
Had Anko also grown during this time?
"You look like you've grown up. Boys really do grow fast!"
As Kurenai exclaimed, Ryun said, "Sister Kurenai is still as beautiful and charming as ever, and her scent is still just as captivating."
Kurenai blushed, reached out to pinch Ryun's ear, and said, "Is that any way to talk to your sister? Besides, I'm almost becoming an old woman; how can you talk about being beautiful and charming?"
"You won't, Sister Kurenai. You'll stay young forever, I promise."
Ryun spoke solemnly, confirming Anko's suspicions.
Kurenai bit her lip lightly, wanting very much to ask about the Yin Seal right then, but Ryun took her hand and led her to sit in the living room, starting to chat with her.
Ryun could tell that Kurenai seemed very interested in eternal youth.
So, Ryun would naturally use this as leverage, only relenting after getting closer to Kurenai.
Otherwise, what if Kurenai ended up giving him a 'nice guy' card again?
With the Chūnin Exams approaching, it was time for Kurenai to become a regular guest in Ryun's home.
"Sister Kurenai, why not stay here for these few days? My house is big, you won't have to run back and forth, and you can save some expenses."
"How can that..."
Kurenai tried to refuse, but Anko unceremoniously undercut her friend, saying, "Your place is practically a doghouse. You don't have to stay, but then I'll have to help you clean it up with Ryun-kun later... Oh, have I hit a nerve? Feeling embarrassed and want to hit me?"
"I..."
Kurenai trembled with shame. She really wanted to maintain her dignified, older-sister image in front of Ryun.
But Anko simply wouldn't give her the chance.
Ryun laughed heartily and said, "Sister Kurenai, no need to be shy. We're family; can't family accept each other's most real aspects in life?"
"Actually, my room is usually a mess too."
"That's different. You're a boy, and how old are you..."
Kurenai covered her face, feeling utterly mortified.
But Ryun took her hand and led her to a room on the third floor. Opening the door, the decor inside was surprisingly similar to Kurenai's own bedroom.
Kurenai stared in shock at the scene, and Ryun smiled, saying, "I can't forget Sister Kurenai's home. You cared for me when I needed comfort the most, so please stay for a while."
"Consider it accompanying me for a bit longer, as a final favor. How about it?"
Kurenai's lips parted slightly, but in the end, she couldn't utter words of refusal.
Having been lonely for a while, suddenly receiving this level of care naturally softened her heart.
"Alright, just for a while!"
"Great!"
Ryun pulled Kurenai to sit on the edge of the bed. Kurenai quickly said, "Wait, Ryun-kun, what are you doing? I only agreed to stay... Mmm!"
Kurenai tried to say something more, but a surge of Ryun's potent life force flowed into her body.
Having been pale and somewhat depleted, she immediately felt a warm, comfortable sensation throughout her body and instinctively began to enjoy it.
Her body slowly went limp, lying back on the bed, her cheeks flushed, and her gaze towards Ryun became dazed and dreamy.
----
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