Returning home after accompanying Hinata to her clan, Aizen was passing by a ramen stand when he saw a familiar figure with her back to him.

"Kurenai?" Aizen said.

The tall woman, with fair and slender skin, and long, shoulder-length disheveled black hair, turned around. When she saw who had called her, her expression changed a bit. Her red, almost purple lips curved into a closed-lip smile in the shape of a crescent moon, where the exposed lower lip shone slightly, giving her a unique and mature charm.

Parting her lips slightly, she said with a gentle look, "Aizen, it's you. How have you been?"

Approaching her, Aizen stood before her, almost at the same height, only a few centimeters shorter. He smiled warmly and said, "Good evening, Kurenai. I'm well, and you? How have you been, very busy with missions?"

Contrary to his usual voice, Aizen's voice was now a bit deeper, smooth as silk, and more virile.

Perhaps due to his constant changes and the earlier onset of puberty, which even led to the expansion of his attribute limits, he indeed seemed more mature than boys his age, mainly for being tall for someone who is just 12 years old.

"I'm fine, Aizen. The missions have been intense but rewarding. And you?" She added with a smile. "It seems like you've grown since the last time we saw each other, and it looks like you were training just now, right?"

"Yes, you're right." Aizen responded warmly. "I was training with Hinata until just now. Huh... By the way, have you eaten? How about we eat together and chat a bit?"

Kurenai thought for a moment before responding.

Although Aizen was young, they had common interests, especially genjutsu. She had trained with him before at the Hokage's request. At the time, about 10 months ago, she thought he was at most at a Chunin level in relation to genjutsu. However, he proved her wrong. She even felt that he wasn't giving his all during the training.

Returning her mind to the present, she replied in a gentle and deep tone, "Sure, I was actually a bit hungry."

She wanted to ask, or rather, find out when he started using that Shikigami and, if it was before even training with her, why he didn't try to use it against her?

Looking into her red eyes, accentuated by a purple shadow, Aizen smiled as he closed his eyes and said, "This is perfect. I'm glad you accepted. I enjoy talking with you."

Hearing this, Kurenai smiled even more and lightly slapped his shoulder: "Haha, you and your sweet talk. You know how to make me happy, huh."

"I only speak the truth." Aizen replied.

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His response surprised her. For a moment, she even confused his age, thinking he was trying to flirt with her. However, she shook her head, dismissing that possibility. After all, what does a 12-year-old child know about love and flirting with someone?

Laughing to herself, she said with a giggle: "Fufu, I see, I see. Let's go."

"Mm." Aizen responded.

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[POV - Aizen]

Upon arriving at Ramen Ichiraku, Kurenai sat on the wooden bench at the lower right corner, and I sat to her left.

After we placed our orders, I said: "Kurenai, while we were talking earlier, I noticed it seemed like there was something you wanted to ask me; what is it?"

She coughed lightly and smiled awkwardly, her cheeks blushing a bit as she let out a somewhat embarrassed giggle. "Haha, I didn't expect to be so transparent and that you would notice." She composed herself, becoming more serious. "Yes, you're right. Aizen, about your use of Shikigami..." She lowered her voice, almost to a whisper: "Since when have you been able to use it?"

'Ah, so that's what she wanted to ask about...' I thought calmly. 'The rumors have already reached her?'

However, I also thought about the strange sensation I had when dueling Hinata that day, especially the odd behavior of Professor Iruka.

"Before I answer your question, can you answer mine first?" I asked.

"Yes, what would it be?" She raised an eyebrow.

I asked softly, "About my use of Shikigami... How did you find out about it?"

A knowing look appeared on her face. Kurenai seemed to realize that I suspected something, as her next words, spoken after a sigh, confirmed it: "As expected, you are a very intelligent boy... You probably already guessed; the duel your class had a few days ago was being monitored by the Hokage and several Jonins, including me."

The fact that she answered me frankly, without even trying to hide anything, confirmed that this was not exactly a secret. Even if I were close to her—which was not exactly the case at the moment—she wouldn't have given me such a direct and satisfactory answer.

"I see." I nodded and, with a calm smile, replied to her previous question: "About the Shikigami, I thought about it when I realized I didn't have control over my real illusions, so I invented these paper pieces from a material similar to Explosive Tags..."

I took a sip of water and, seeing that she was paying close attention, continued: "At first, when I was 9 years old, I tried to use it as a common talisman. Despite some success, it was still ineffective and frequently failed. At 10, I decided to change its form to something resembling the human body, which proved to be the correct way to use it and named it 'Shikigami'."

Smiling a bit, I continued: "And only at 11 did I become somewhat proficient in its use."

I noticed her breathing quicken upon hearing my explanation. A few seconds later, she let out a long sigh and murmured, "Wow~" It seemed like she had just heard something hard to believe.

"Is it really that surprising?" I asked.

"You still have the nerve to ask me that?" She seemed incredulous, but her expression soon relaxed and she said with a touch of helplessness in her voice: "Yes, maybe it's just because it's you that it doesn't seem like a big deal..."

Her words suggested something I didn't know. What exactly did she know about me that made her act this way?

'Has she been gathering information about me?' I thought, looking into her red eyes.

For a moment, I considered using a genjutsu on her to get the information I wanted, but quickly dismissed the thought. If she were an enemy or if the information were vital, that would be fine, but since it wasn't the case, I didn't want to risk using it on someone I liked.

Shortly after, our ramen arrived. While we ate, we talked about various subjects, which helped to lighten the mood, especially when we talked about genjutsu.

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