"Even your Shadow Clone was defeated by the Phantom Body Flicker's fighting style?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen set down the detailed report and looked at Kakashi.
"Yes. He's still somewhat unpolished and inexperienced in battle, but with more training, he'll surely restore the glory of the Phantom Body Flicker."
"Shadow Clones... do you think they suit him?"
Sarutobi Hiruzen asked Kakashi whether Naruto should be taught the technique.
Kakashi's heart tightened, and he said gravely,
"Combining Shadow Clones with the Phantom Body Flicker can achieve unexpected results. It's equivalent to a double Genjutsu. Naruto doesn't have the Sharingan's Genjutsu, but using Shadow Clones can still make things indistinguishable from reality."
"And the prerequisites for learning Shadow Clones are sufficient Chakra and mental endurance."
"For Naruto as he is now... there's no need to worry about his Chakra. As for mental endurance... there's no need to worry about that either."
He had endured even those days. His capacity to withstand hardship was beyond what ordinary people could compare to.
"Team Seven has subtly begun to regard him as its leader. In future missions, he may be their true backbone. A child who has deeply understood the Will of Fire won't disappoint us."
"So even though his identity is special, I still believe the Shadow Clone Technique should be taught to him."
Hearing that, Sarutobi Hiruzen closed his eyes.
"Very well. I understand. I'll teach him a ninjutsu better suited to him. You may leave first. You're all part of the same team; you can't only teach one of them."
Kakashi nodded, then took his leave and used the Body Flicker Technique to depart.
"The Multiple Shadow Clone Technique is more suitable for him."
"Extraordinary mental endurance, the Uzumaki Clan's physique, and his status as a Jinchuriki."
"But once I teach it to him, I can't keep observing him so often. If things get out of hand, it'll become a rebellion."
After Kakashi left, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked out over Konoha through the window, a faint smile curling at his lips.
"He has considerable talent in Space-Time Ninjutsu. He might really be able to learn the Flying Thunder God."
"Asuma... that works too. Let Naruto spur him on, and perhaps one day they can be like this old man and Minato."
"Someone."
Whoosh—
"Lord Hokage."
An Anbu Ninja appeared behind Sarutobi Hiruzen and dropped to one knee. The face beneath his mask was full of reverence.
"Have Shinnosuke deliver the Scroll of Seals."
"Yes!"
To pave the way for Asuma to become the Fifth Hokage, his eldest son Shinnosuke and Shinnosuke's wife controlled the Anbu.
The dirty work was left to Danzo.
The Konoha Guard Team, originally established by the Uchiha Clan, had become the Sarutobi Clan's.
Their methods were more tactful, and public support was more stable.
The Will of Fire controlled a great many ninja.
Including the Jinchuriki.
The next-generation heirs of several major Ninja Clans were Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi's subordinates.
Perhaps, once Konohamaru grew up, Naruto could teach him as well.
Then Naruto could become the Hokage Assistant in the future.
How could they lose?
Now all that remained was to make Kurenai Yuhi devote herself to Asuma.
Bell-grabbing was a Field Survival Exercise assessment conducted by every Lead Jonin.
It wasn't unique to Team Seven.
Kurenai Yuhi had only recently become a Special Jonin.
She didn't know much about many things, so her assessment wasn't particularly demanding.
Moreover, the team she led consisted of the Hyuga Clan's eldest daughter, the Inuzuka Clan's young clan head Kiba, and the Aburame Clan's young clan head Shino.
The pressure was no small matter.
Although her background wasn't low—her father had been Yuhi Shinkuro, one of Konoha's Higher-ups—she was still somewhat uneasy when facing the great Ninja Clans.
Fortunately, the three children weren't troublemakers. While that relieved her, it also left her somewhat resentful.
Asuma had pursued her since they were young.
The reason she had never firmly rejected him was because of Asuma's status.
She wasn't stupid. Though she couldn't see everything clearly,
she still knew that part of the reason she had been promoted to Special Jonin for her Genjutsu was due to the intentions of those above.
And from the moment she became a Lead Jonin, she knew she couldn't avoid it.
She knew very well what had happened to her friend Mitaraishi Anko.
In truth, Kurenai Yuhi knew her own strength well.
Even being a Special Jonin was a little beyond her.
"Very good. Everyone performed well. Congratulations, you've successfully passed the assessment."
"Haha, that was ridiculously easy, wasn't it, Akamaru?"
"Woof—"
Kurenai Yuhi smiled and looked at Hinata, who had been watching outside the training ground the entire time.
"Hinata, you performed the best. As a member of the Hyuga Clan, you're already a ninja capable of standing on your own."
Then she took Hinata aside to speak with her.
Kiba and Akamaru were playing gleefully after passing the assessment.
Shino leaned against a tree trunk, observing the insects in his hand.
"Familiar Chakra... Naruto is coming."
Naruto, who was approaching them, also noticed an inconspicuous insect on the tree.
Then a hazy voice reached his ears.
"Lord Naruto, an insect is watching you."
These voices had only appeared in the past few days.
After testing them, Naruto discovered that they were actually the voices of plants!
Voice of All Things...
Sure enough, meditation was useful for developing the Woods-Woods Fruit's abilities!
Improving his Mental Power was his most urgent training task at the moment.
"Hinata, female ninja can stand on their own too. You don't necessarily have to depend on your other half."
"Your talent is excellent. You'll definitely become an outstanding Jonin in the future."
"Your strength already qualifies you to take the Chunin Exams."
"Your power is great... but during sparring, Teacher noticed that you always hold back. Are you afraid of hurting Teacher?"
Hinata hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Teacher Kurenai, Naruto said that when fighting companions, I can't use Super Strength."
Kurenai Yuhi smiled.
"Teacher Minato's child truly is different from the other children."
"What?"
Hinata didn't understand what she meant.
Kurenai Yuhi didn't explain. She simply stroked Hinata's head and chuckled.
"He's right. With Super Strength, Teacher might not even be able to take one punch from you... Wait! Super Strength?"
Kurenai Yuhi suddenly realized what she had heard, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.
"The same kind of strength as Lady Tsunade?"
"Yes... probably?"
Hinata became uncertain under her stare.
"Try it."
Kurenai Yuhi took out a Kunai. Hinata understood what she meant and picked it up.
Crack—
The Kunai was instantly crushed into a ball.
Kurenai Yuhi: "..."
Oh my god!
Does anyone understand this?
One punch from my subordinate could kill me, her Lead Jonin.
And my Genjutsu doesn't work on her either.
"This strength... did he teach it to you?"
"Could it be that Naruto possesses Lady Tsunade's secret technique? That's the secret technique for Eternal Youth!"
Hinata shook her head, raised her head, and said rather seriously,
"Sorry, Teacher Kurenai. I know you're a good person, but... I accidentally let it slip, so please keep it secret."
"Otherwise... I can only..."
"Ow~"
"And otherwise what?"
Naruto had appeared behind Hinata at some point and lightly knocked her on the head.
"Teacher Kurenai."
Kurenai Yuhi stood frozen in place, her eyes fixed firmly on Naruto.
A handsome ninja with long golden hair, possessing top-tier speed in the Ninja World.
His smile was as warm as the warm sun, making people unable to help but feel drawn to him.
The moment Naruto appeared, Kurenai Yuhi had nearly shouted, "Teacher Minato."
Back then, she had been deeply envious of Rin.
Rin had Kakashi, as well as an unbelievably handsome Lead Jonin.
"It's Naruto."
Kurenai Yuhi forced out a smile.
As for Naruto, she naturally wasn't like those foolish villagers who placed their hatred of Kurama upon him.
She had heard back then that the Fourth Hokage and the Fourth Hokage's Wife had sacrificed themselves to protect Konoha.
They had sealed Kurama inside a newborn child.
Her father had also died on the night of the Nine-Tails' Rampage.
After all these years, she had moved on.
When someone exposed Naruto's identity, she had watched him from afar once.
Blond hair... her first thought had been that it was impossible!
Who would seal that kind of monster inside their own child?
Until now, she finally believed it.
"Since you're here, that proves Team Seven passed Kakashi's assessment too. That's impressive."
"Alright, then come celebrate with us by having barbecue."
"That cheapskate Kakashi definitely won't treat you to a meal."
Kurenai Yuhi reached out and rubbed Naruto and Hinata's heads.
I touched it!
Teacher Minato's chibi head~
Right, I should find a chance to ask whether I can learn that secret technique.
Ahem. As a Lead Jonin, discovering that my subordinate has already surpassed me on the second day is incredibly embarrassing, okay?
It's definitely not because the rumors say that after cultivating the secret technique, Lady Tsunade still looks as young as she did in her youth. Not only is her skin supple and glowing, but those two hidden weapons are maintained so astonishingly well.
"Sorry, Naruto... Teacher Kurenai, she isn't..." Hinata lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong.
"Hinata, do I really look like a gossiper?"
Kurenai Yuhi put on an angry expression.
"Of course not. But Teacher Kurenai, please help keep this matter secret."
Naruto smiled lightly as he asked her to keep it secret, then declined her offer.
"Teacher Kurenai, let's save the barbecue for next time, when Team Eight completes a mission."
"Oh, Teacher Kurenai, you should prepare yourself. Hinata can eat you into bankruptcy in one sitting... Mmph!"
"D-Don't say that!"
Hinata hurriedly covered Naruto's mouth with her hand.
Although the barbecue at the restaurant wasn't as delicious as Naruto's cooking, it was still a major source of food.
And Teacher Kurenai was treating them, so I had to be more frugal and keep the household in order.
Kurenai Yuhi's eyes widened. Judging from Hinata's bashful reaction, it didn't seem fake.
Her hand unconsciously moved to the wallet behind her.
There was no taking back words once they had been spoken.
"Does Teacher look that poor?"
"It's fine, Hinata. Eat as much as you want."
Text:
Sob, sob, sob—
Steam Princess was online.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained. For the secret technique, I'm going for it!"
Kurenai Yuhi still wanted to persuade them to stay, but Naruto pulled the nearly fainting Hinata toward the door.
"No, Teacher Kurenai. Maybe next time."
"The few of us are having dinner together today, so we'll be going."
Then he politely added,
"If you don't mind the trouble, teacher, you can come to my house with us."
"Sure."
She agreed instantly without hesitation, as if she had been waiting for Naruto to say those words all along.
"I'm rather curious about just how good Hinata's appetite is."
Hinata shut her eyes. I'm tired. Let it all be destroyed.
Stinky Naruto, big bad guy~
Just then, someone appeared right on time.
"Kurenai~"
"Sorry, Asuma, we're not right for each other. You keep coming to see me, and people will misunderstand."
Creak—
The Konoha 9 were all there.
All of them stared at the awkward Asuma.
Oh no, I was so happy that I accidentally said it too harshly.
Under the gazes of nine children and a dog, Asuma gave an awkward smile.
"Haha, well... I'll be going, then."
Kurenai Yuhi also smiled wryly.
She shot Naruto an annoyed glare.
???
What does this have to do with me?
In the end, Kurenai Yuhi still swallowed her pride and went home with Naruto.
On the way, they happened to run into Tenten and the other two, who had just returned from a mission.
The Konoha 12 had finally gathered together.
The house became even livelier.
The cold, old apartment building gained a little more life.
Although rejecting Asuma might cause plenty of trouble in the future,
Kurenai Yuhi felt incomparably relieved. After all these years, she had finally said it.
So, she bought some alcohol along the way.
Once she got tipsy, she immediately sent a message to her good best friend.
And so—
Mitaraishi Anko arrived carrying a bag full of glutinous rice balls and red bean paste.
Along with several bottles of sake.
Naruto looked at the lively crowd.
Some were grilling, while Ino was teaching Pink Hair how to make Jianbing Guozi.
Rock Lee was drinking water while doing a handstand, tears streaming down his face.
And Uchiha Sasuke was competing with Neji to see who could be colder.
He smiled.
"Actually, this kind of life isn't bad either."
"After all these years, I've gotten used to the bustle."
"What?!"
A delicate shout suddenly rang out behind him.
"Naruto, get over here and tell us what's going on!"
Mitaraishi Anko was tipsy. She didn't care about anything else and directly carried off Naruto, who had been grilling.
She brought him over beside the flushed-faced Kurenai Yuhi.
"Hoo..."
Naruto took several deep breaths.
Whatever it was, they could talk about it later. Didn't she understand her own strength?
He had nearly been smothered to death!
But just as he broke free, Mitaraishi Anko grabbed his face again and examined him carefully.
"It really is... similar, so similar~!"
Meanwhile,
Sarutobi Hiruzen had already received the Scroll of Seals delivered by Shinnosuke.
Little did he know that Naruto had ruined another crucial link in his plan.
Asuma was destined to fail to win over Kurenai Yuhi.
Hiruzen's Future might be ended by some blondie!
Before you continue