Red, I Understand; Everyone Grows in Their Own Way

Morning sunlight filtered through the treetops of Konoha's Training Ground, falling across Izumi Uchiha's lightly sweating forehead.

She had just finished a round of precision shuriken practice. Three kunai had struck the bullseye of a target thirty meters away, but the fourth had missed by half an inch.

"Your breathing rhythm was off."

A gentle female voice came from the edge of the Training Ground.

Izumi turned and saw Kurenai Yuhi leaning beneath a cherry blossom tree, her dark crimson hair stirring softly in the morning breeze as those distinctive red eyes watched her with a smile.

"Big Sister Kurenai!"

Izumi hurriedly rose, secretly astonished.

She had not sensed Kurenai approaching at all.

Kurenai walked over at an unhurried pace and examined the target.

"Your accuracy is good, but your Chakra distribution during consecutive throws isn't even enough.

"The instant you released the fourth kunai, you were distracted."

A blush rose to Izumi's face.

"Yes, I was thinking about something else..."

"That's normal."

Kurenai smiled.

"When I was first promoted to Jonin, I was the same.

"I was even more full of myself than you. Then, during a Taijutsu spar with Anko that day, I got careless and made a fool of myself.

"That girl even mocked me, saying, 'Kurenai, you're already a Jonin. With control like that, how are you supposed to lead a team in the future?'"

Izumi blinked.

"Big Sister Kurenai went through something like that too?"

"Of course."

Kurenai sat on a bench by the Training Ground and patted the spot beside her.

"Every Jonin goes through this.

"Come sit. I heard that after becoming a Jonin, you've already begun preparing for the supervising Jonin examination?"

Izumi sat down, looking a little embarrassed.

"Yes, I... I don't want to disappoint Lord Chiyo's expectations."

A glimmer of