Illusion?

Kurenai Yūhi, the Team 8 and a Genjutsu Hidden Leaf specialist Jonin genjutsu.

She substituted for two classes at the Ninja Academy, teaching the theory of Genjutsu.

The whole class was dozing off, but he was the only one sitting in the first row who was called on. He answered, "Isn't Genjutsu just deception?" and was punished by standing for the entire period.

Recalling this, Naruto almost burst out laughing.

Bite--

A system notification popped up in my mind.

[High-quality female target detected - Kurenai Yūhi. Quality rating: A. Potential rating: S.]

[Fate - Interlaced Radar Locked On.]

[Current number of active bonds: 2. New candidate targets: 4. Host is advised to pay attention to managing the romance lines.]

Naruto raised an eyebrow.

The system certainly knows how to pick its time.

Four potential targets are online at the same time. Hinata and Haku haven't been settled yet, and now another one has arrived.

However, it has A-grade quality but S-grade potential.

This configuration is indeed quite good.

He pulled himself out of his thoughts and tilted his head toward the red figure that had completely emerged from the tree trunk.

"Teacher Hong? You came all the way from this mixed woods just to perform a magic trick for me?"

Hong leaned against the tree trunk, her arms crossed over her chest.

This move further boosted her financial standing.

"Naruto Uzumaki"

She began, "Kakashi mentioned you to me, saying that your Taijutsu has surpassed the level of Genin, and even elite Jonin can't withstand it."

"So what?"

"That's why I'm curious."

Red tilted her head, her red eyes scanning Naruto from head to toe. "A fifteen-year-old Genin, Taijutsu overwhelms elite Jonin, yet he hasn't demonstrated any Genjutsu countermeasures throughout the entire Chunin Ninja Exams."

She paused.

Don't you think this is a huge hole?

"Oh--" Naruto drawled, nodding his head twice, looking like he thought, "You're absolutely right."

Then he scanned the red fishing net outfit from head to toe.

From the collarbone to the waistline, from the waistline to the outer thigh, and finally stopping at those red eyes.

"Teacher Hong, are you going to teach me?"

The gaze was completely undisguised, practically screaming "I'm admiring you" on its forehead.

Hong felt a little uncomfortable being stared at, and hugged herself even tighter.

"Test."

She corrected her wording, "If you can't even break my Genjutsu, you'll be in big trouble in the Chunin Tournament."

"Are there Genjutsu among your opponents in the main tournament?"

"You should know about the abilities of the Uchiha Clan, right?"

Hong did not give a direct answer.

But that statement already contains enough information.

Naruto's mind flashed back to the cold, sinister Snake Mark on the back of Sasuke's neck.

Uchiha... Orochimaru's Cursed Seal...

It is indeed a potential problem.

The fact that this petal Genjutsu bypassed the Great Evolution Divine Soul Art's defenses just now shows that mental attacks are indeed his current weakness.

Mind's Eye of the Kagura could sense the existence of Genjutsu, but the Great Evolution Divine Soul Art did not automatically trigger a defense—there were still loopholes in the coordination between these two systems.

"OK."

He nodded readily, "Red-sensei, please make your move. Let me see the skills of Hidden Leaf Genjutsu- specialized Jonin."

Hong stared at him for two seconds, confirming that the boy wasn't joking.

"Then don't blame me for not holding back."

Before she finished speaking, her hands had already formed Hand Seals.

Yin, Si, Wei, Hai.

So fast that the finger movements were almost invisible.

"Magic - Tree Binding Death!"

The old locust tree behind Naruto exploded.

It wasn't a physical explosion—it was a visual one.

The bark was cracked, and countless vines burst forth from the cracks, carrying the damp scent of earth, and wrapped around his limbs.

Left wrist, right wrist, ankle, waist, chest --

The five vines tightened simultaneously.

Naruto was pulled up to the tree trunk, his back slamming against the rough bark with a thud.

The vines continued to grow, spreading from his wrists to his forearms, and from his ankles to his knees, pinning him into a spread-eagle position.

"Um?"

He tried moving his right arm.

It remained completely still.

It's not that you don't have enough strength—it's that the commands from your brain simply can't reach your muscles.

Genjutsu hijacks neural signals, not physical constraints.

Monster Strength are, it's all in vain if you hit something that doesn't exist.

"Did you see that?"

Red peeked out from the other side of the tree trunk, holding a Kunai in her right hand, the blade pressed against Naruto's neck.

The cold metal against my skin sent shivers down my spine.

"The outcome was already decided before your Taijutsu even came in handy."

As Hong spoke, a hint of smugness shone in her red eyes, "This is the terrifying power of Genjutsu— "

"No matter Monster Strength you are, if you can't hit me, it's all for nothing."

She pushed the Kunai forward one millimeter.

A shallow cut was made on the side of my neck, and beads of blood seeped out.

"You lost, Naruto Uzumaki."

Naruto didn't say anything.

His head was lowered, and his bangs covered half of his face, so his reaction was not visible.

Hong frowned unhappily. "What? You're not convinced?"

There was a three-second silence.

"Puff."

Naruto smiled.

It wasn't mockery, nor a bitter laugh; it was a genuine laugh that overflowed from the depths of his throat.

He slowly raised his head.

There was not a trace of panic in those blue eyes.

On the contrary, something chilling burned deep within his pupils.

"Teacher Hong."

He lowered his voice, so low that only two people could hear him.

"Your move—"

"Not only is it useless."

"Instead, it delivered itself right to my mouth."

Her red smile froze.

She instinctively tried to tighten the vines, but her wrist stiffened—

An extremely terrifying mental fluctuation was surging from Naruto's body.

That wasn't Chakra, nor was it murderous intent; it was a pure, overwhelming mental pressure.

Her Genjutsu space...

It's starting to crack.

Click--

Click--

Click click click click--

The Tree Binding Death Genjutsu barrier that Hong was so proud of began to crumble from its core.

Countless fine cracks spread outwards from Naruto's body, and the entire illusory sky, trees, and vines were shattering.

"Impossible..."

Hong's eyes widened, her smugness vanishing completely.

"How can your mental strength be—it surpasses even the Uchiha Clan's— "

He hadn't finished speaking.

The vines broke.

It wasn't broken off; rather, the vines, as products of the Genjutsu, naturally dissipated after the entire Genjutsu space was forcibly shattered.

But Naruto didn't move.

He stood still, hands still in his pockets, his posture unchanged.

"Those three seconds were enough for me to open the Eight Gates and smash you and this tree to smithereens."

He said it calmly.

Her red Adam's apple bobbed.

She wanted to back away, but her legs wouldn't obey her—it wasn't Genjutsu, it was instinct.

"However—" Naruto tilted his head, his smile returning, "I'm not interested in hitting women."

"What interests me more is--"

He took a step forward.

Hong instinctively took a step back.

"Teacher Hong, you were so close when you tied me up—"

"Was it intentional?"

"I still haven't realized how much this distance affects me—"

He took another step forward, and the distance between them shrank to less than half a meter.

"It's the same as not having anything."

Red's back slammed into the tree trunk.

There is no way to retreat.

Naruto raised his hand, his fingertips touching her chin, and gently lifted it upwards.

So now--

"It's my turn."