Naruto arrived at the Dango Shop feeling uneasy. Sure enough, Kurenai and Anko were there eating dango. Anko looked delighted, her face full of happy smiles, while Kurenai chatted and laughed with her, looking just as cheerful.
Naruto and Hinata's arrival interrupted their conversation. Seeing Hinata, Kurenai smiled. "Naruto, why did you bring Hinata here? Weren't you all having a get-together at the Barbecue Restaurant?"
Hinata greeted them politely. "Hello, Kurenai-sensei, Anko-sensei. I came with Naruto. It seems he has something to talk to you about, Kurenai-sensei."
Hearing Hinata's words, Kurenai asked curiously, "Naruto, did you need something?"
Naruto, however, was staring at Anko. Only when Kurenai questioned him did he remember why he had come. He hurriedly replied, "Uh, well, Kurenai-sensei, Granny Tsunade sent me to find you. She wants you to go see her right away. I think she needs you for something. I'm just passing along the message."
Kurenai glanced mischievously at Naruto, then at Anko, and smiled. "Oh, I see. I'll head over now. By the way, Anko, why don't you go join Naruto and the others for their get-together?"
Anko, who had kept her head down ever since Naruto entered, suddenly heard Kurenai's suggestion and replied nervously, "Hmm? Uh, what did you say? Oh, I'm not going. Yes, I'd better not. You go see Lady Tsunade. I'm heading home." With that, she ran out of the Dango Shop.
Kurenai smiled knowingly. "Well, well." Watching Anko flee, she let out a laugh.
In fact, Kurenai had noticed something was off with Anko the moment Naruto and Hinata entered the shop. Naruto's awkward expression when she questioned him had only added to her suspicions. Anko's behavior now made her even more certain that there was some secret relationship between Anko and Naruto.
Kurenai thought, *Hehe, what an