The small half-length mirror in the living room perfectly reflected Shinji's upper body.
He stood quietly before the mirror, the method of using Transparent Escape surfacing in his mind as if by instinct, requiring no additional hand seals.
A faint, almost imperceptible glow slowly spread across Shinji's skin.
Starting from his wrists, then to his arms, neck, and face…
The reflection in the mirror gradually thinned and faded, until it completely vanished without a trace.
"So this is Transparent Escape? What a marvelous Kekkei Genkai."
Only a voice echoed in the empty room, a sight that would surely send shivers down the spine of anyone unaware.
Transparent Escape was originally Gekko Hayate's ability.
Hayate was absent in Shippuden!
In Shinji's memory, that man always appeared sickly and pale, the most physically frail Special Jonin in Konohagakure.
Ripples stirred faintly in the air as Shinji's figure slowly materialized once more.
He tilted his head slightly, examining his restored reflection in the mirror, and nodded in satisfaction.
"From now on, Transparent Escape is mine."
"Its effect is far stronger than the Invisibility Cloak, and it can be used continuously at will."
He still remembered the Invisibility Cloak lying in his inventory, which could only be used once more.
In comparison, Transparent Escape required no wearing, was completely unencumbering, and allowed free movement—it was simply not on the same level.
However, this ability was not perfect.
It still had fatal flaws: Transparent Escape could be seen through by the Sharingan, Byakugan, and Sensory Ninjutsu. Once an attack was launched, the user would immediately become visible. It couldn't completely erase one's presence, leaving behind a faint residual scent.
"But as long as I avoid these weaknesses, Transparent Escape is practically a divine skill for stealth, eavesdropping, ambushes, and even picking locks at night."
After all, no one could keep their Sharingan or Byakgan active all day, scanning their surroundings for invisible individuals.
What kind of insecure person would maintain such a state at all times!
Even the spirited young men of the Uchiha Clan couldn't manage that.
Most importantly, Shinji glanced once more at the charm attribute on the System Panel.
"Transparent Escape unlocked at 40 points. What rewards will unlock at 50 or 60 points?"
His gaze gradually grew fervent.
Judging from this reward, it was possible that new Kekkei Genkai might appear in the future.
"Storm Release, Ice Release, Magnet Release?"
These were all powerful Kekkei Genkai. As long as he slowly increased his charm attribute, he might be able to obtain them.
Shinji sat back down on the sofa, crossing his arms and resting his chin on one hand, pondering how to improve his charm.
"Increase my strength, elevate my status in the shinobi world, and build better relationships with more people?"
As Shinji was lost in thought, a crisp doorbell suddenly rang from outside.
Ding-dong—
He jolted, quickly snapping back to reality.
"Who would come looking for me at this time?"
Curious, Shinji didn't hesitate. He immediately stood up and hurried to the entrance.
The moment he opened the door, he was slightly taken aback.
"Kurenai, what brings you here?"
Kurenai Yuhi leaned forward slightly, a faint smile playing at the corners of his mouth. "What, can't I come? We're members of the same team, after all."
Today, he wore a solid-colored short-sleeved T-shirt paired with a black fitted miniskirt, exuding a refreshing youthful energy that made Shinji unconsciously glance at him a few more times.
"Of course you're welcome." Shinji smiled as well, quickly stepping aside. "Come in."
After they entered, Shinji crouched down and pulled out a pair of oversized blue cotton slippers from the shoe rack.
"Sorry, this is the first time a girl has visited here, so you'll have to make do."
He placed the slippers by her feet before standing up and heading toward the refrigerator, intending to prepare something to offer her.
"Am I the first girl to come here?"
Kurenai thought to herself, feeling an inexplicable flicker of delight.
She bent down, steadying herself against the wall of the entryway as she changed out of her shoes and slipped into the slippers Shinji had prepared.
The slippers were clearly a size too big, making them feel loose and awkward as she walked, but she didn't mind at all. A faint smile crept onto her lips.
"So this is Shinji's home."
Kurenai glanced around the room.
The living room wasn't particularly spacious, but it was exceptionally tidy. Against the wall stood a plain fabric sofa, with a low table in front of it. The table was clean, holding only a few open Ninjutsu theory notebooks, with no unnecessary clutter in sight.
"It's clear that Shinji leads a disciplined life."
Most girls preferred clean and organized people over messy and lazy types.
Shinji clearly fell into the former category, and Kurenai silently added a point of appreciation for him in her mind.
Before long, Shinji emerged from the kitchen carrying a tray with freshly cut fruit.
"Have a seat, Kurenai. Help yourself to some fruit—no need to stand on ceremony."
Shinji gestured toward the sofa, inviting her to sit, while gently placing the tray in front of her. He then pulled over a chair and sat down on the other side of the low table.
"Thank you, Shinji."
Kurenai didn't decline, lightly picking up a piece of apple and placing it in her mouth. A crisp crunch echoed softly, and she closed her eyes slightly in satisfaction.
"It's really good."
Shinji chuckled softly. "Of course. I brought it out especially for you."
As they ate, they chatted casually for a while before Shinji suddenly asked:
"Kurenai, what brings you here all of a sudden?"
Kurenai's fingers paused slightly, and she stopped moving. Instead of answering directly, she said softly, "Shinji, do you remember the training match before we went to the front lines? The request I made to you back then."
Shinji was momentarily taken aback, the memory immediately surfacing in his mind. Kurenai had asked him to assist her with her training.
With so many things happening lately, he had completely forgotten about it. It wasn't until Kurenai brought it up now that he suddenly remembered he still owed her a promise.
"You want me to help you train in Genjutsu?"
Kurenai nodded gently. "Yes. I want you to help me with my training!"
She slowly lowered her head, a flicker of disappointment passing through her eyes.
"During our time at the front lines, when it mattered most, I couldn't contribute at all. In the end, I was even severely injured by Shou. If it weren't for the medicine you gave me, I might not have made it."
"Kurenai!" Shinji wanted to comfort her.
But Kurenai gently raised her hand, stopping him, and continued:
"If only I had been stronger back then, perhaps Obito wouldn't have sacrificed himself."
"I don't want to become a burden to everyone in the future!"
Her voice gradually softened.
This war had dealt a significant blow to Kurenai Yuhi.
Asuma was already stronger than her, and even Shinji, who had once been on par with her, had grown rapidly after awakening his Sharingan. She could see that Shinji had already left her far behind.
Over the past two days, she had thought a lot. She wanted to become stronger, much stronger.
Kurenai Yuhi slowly raised her eyes, her gaze settling earnestly on Shinji before her, silently repeating in her heart: At the very least, I want to be able to stand side by side with Shinji.
She no longer wanted to be the one who was merely protected and rescued. She also wanted to become someone who could stand with him on the front lines, facing danger together.