lost in those dazzling crimson eyes

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! Blame me!" Kushina apologized repeatedly, grabbing Liuyun's arm and trying to pull him up.

"Don't… let me stay down, please..." Liuyun covered his lower back and groaned in pain.

"Uh... okay... okay!" Kushina laughed awkwardly and let go.

"Can't you be gentler? You just scolded me for touching you, but look at you!" Liuyun complained while rubbing his waist.

"I was wrong..." Kushina lowered her head and apologized. "How about I rub it for you?"

"No, thanks. I still want to keep my waist intact..." Liuyun rolled his eyes at her.

After taking a moment to recover, Liuyun slowly got up and patted the dust off his clothes. "We've almost finished cleaning. Time to go home!"

The sun was already setting, and the ninja school would be closing soon.

"Oh... oh..." Kushina nodded and followed behind him.

Just as Liuyun was about to leave the classroom, Kushina hesitated before finally speaking up.

"Liuyun, didn't you say you'd show your eyes after school? There's no one here now!" Her voice carried a trace of expectation—or rather, she was eager to see his eyes again.

"..." Liuyun had completely forgotten about this. He glanced outside the classroom and, seeing that most of the other students had already left, he nodded.

"Alright..." He gathered chakra in his eyes, and in an instant, a pair of blood-red orbs appeared.

At that moment, standing against the setting sun, Liuyun looked directly at Kushina. The golden light fell upon him, making him appear almost divine.

Kushina squinted as the sunlight blurred her vision for a moment. But when she rubbed her eyes and looked again, she saw them—those enchanting, three-tomoe Sharingan, shining brilliantly against the sunset.

They were mesmerizing, breathtakingly beautiful, like the most perfect work of art in the world.

There was once a certain shinobi who believed explosions were the highest form of art. But if he had seen these eyes under the evening sky, even he might have questioned his beliefs.

Kushina was completely captivated, her heart lost in those dazzling crimson orbs. She couldn't tear her gaze away.

The moment Liuyun activated his three-tomoe Sharingan, the surrounding light seemed to dim in comparison. The sun itself paled in their presence.

He hadn't even used any genjutsu, yet Kushina felt as though she had fallen into the strongest illusion.

All she could see, all she could think about, was his eyes.

Without realizing it, she slowly reached out her hand, her fingertips brushing against his cheek and tracing the contours of his face.

Liuyun allowed the warmth of her palm to rest against his skin. But as he gazed into her dazed eyes, for the first time, he felt his own face heat up. Embarrassed, he instinctively looked away.

The moment his gaze shifted, Kushina snapped out of her trance.

Her heart pounded wildly as she realized what she had just done.

Flustered, she quickly retracted her hand as if she had been burned and dashed out of the classroom.

Liuyun watched her retreating figure before sighing and deactivating his Sharingan. He didn't chase after her. Instead, he simply locked the classroom door and left.

On his way home, he felt unexpectedly lighthearted, as if even the evening breeze carried a hint of sweetness. His steps quickened subconsciously.

As he turned a corner, he suddenly spotted a familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar figure standing at his front door.

It was a beautiful woman with purple hair, waiting silently for him to return.

Liuyun froze. For some reason, he felt nervous. A cold sweat formed on his forehead.

"You still remember to come home?" The woman scolded, but her tone carried no real anger—just a faint smile.

"Mom..." Liuyun called out instinctively, the word feeling strangely natural on his lips.

"Where's your headband?" Asuka, his mother, asked, her gaze curious.

"It was too hot, so I took it off..." Liuyun answered hesitantly, lowering his head like a guilty child.

"Aren't you afraid of people calling you 'wide forehead'?" Asuka chuckled.

Hearing her teasing, Liuyun looked up, and for some reason, his nervousness melted away.

"Doesn't matter anymore..."

"Oh? Since when did my Liuyun become so bold?" Asuka smiled and ruffled his hair.

"Today, a girl told me my forehead is beautiful..." The words slipped out before he even realized it.

As soon as he said it, he froze.

What was he saying?!

Why was he acting so childish in front of his mother?!

This must be the original body's influence. Even if he wanted to control it, he couldn't…

"Hahaha! So that's why you ditched the headband!" Asuka laughed so hard that tears welled up in her eyes.

After catching her breath, she gave him a fond smile.

"Our Liuyun is very handsome. It was only a matter of time before a girl praised you."

She had never once thought her son was inferior to anyone. To her, he was already the best.

She had noticed his small insecurities about his forehead, but she never thought it was a big deal.

When he got older, he would naturally understand what was truly beautiful. There was no need to lecture him about it.

Besides, Liuyun was already quite popular among girls. Without that headband, he'd probably attract even more attention. If she wasn't careful, he might even develop a fear of women——or worse, fall into premature romance.

"Go wash your hands and face. Dinner's ready."

"Mm." Liuyun nodded and hurried off.

After taking a cold shower, he returned to find Asuka already kneeling at the dining table, their meal prepared.

They were the only ones in the house—just a mother and her son.

His father, Uchiha Mori, had died two years ago in the war. A Chunin with two-tomoe Sharingan, he had died a hero.

"Come eat before the food gets cold," Asuka said, picking up her chopsticks.

"Yeah."

As an orphan in his previous life, Liuyun couldn't help but cherish this simple warmth.

As they ate, Asuka glanced at him. "Where were you this afternoon? You came home so late. I was worried."

"I had to stay behind and clean the classroom," Liuyun replied after swallowing a bite of food.

"Didn't you just do that recently? How come it was your turn again?" Asuka narrowed her eyes.

"..."

This mother is sharp. She's not easy to fool.

"I got punished," Liuyun admitted after some hesitation.

Asuka blinked. "Punished? What did you do?"

"I… hit someone."

"...Huh???" Asuka stared at him in disbelief.

"You hit someone? Not the other way around?"

"I hit someone..." Liuyun repeated, his expression slightly twitching.

"You… actually dared to hit someone?" Asuka looked genuinely surprised.

"..."

"How did you hit them? Tell me in detail!"

Liuyun was stunned.

Wasn't a mother supposed to first ask why he hit someone?

Yet here she was, more interested in how he did it?!