Breaking genjutsu

The two began studying right there in the Hokage Building. Since it was late at night, Kurenai Yuhi soon succumbed to drowsiness and fell asleep.

Anyo, meanwhile, began practicing with great enthusiasm. Genjutsu targeted an enemy's five senses to trap them in illusions, but becoming powerful with it was difficult. Like the Puppet Technique, it required talent. Very few ninja in the anime were truly proficient in it; most used it as a supplementary method.

Skilled genjutsu users could even manipulate the chakra flow in an enemy's cranial nerves at will, just like what Anyo had experienced against Shinku earlier. Once the two faced off, Anyo had no power to fight back at all.

After a night of practice, Anyo glanced at Kurenai Yuhi, who was still sound asleep, and woke her using the same method he had used on Kakashi. Grinning, he said, "You little sleepyhead, the sun's already shining on your backside, and you're still in bed."

Kurenai Yuhi opened her bleary red eyes and glared at Anyo in displeasure, clearly looking as though she had not had enough sleep.

Anyo took a piece of candy from inside his clothes and offered it to her. "Here, it's really sweet."

Kurenai Yuhi swallowed, but instead of reaching for it, she said haughtily, "Hmph, I don't want anything from you."

Anyo grinned. "This isn't just anything. It's a gift from a student to his teacher. After all, you stayed up so late teaching me genjutsu yesterday. As your student, I ought to show my appreciation."

Those cloying words made Kurenai Yuhi blush outright. A little shyly, she accepted the candy and said quietly, "Actually, I was just teaching you casually. As long as you can learn it, that's enough."

"Didn't sleep well? Rest your head on my shoulder and sleep a little longer. I'll carry you out for breakfast."

As he spoke, Anyo turned his back to her and crouched beside the bed, signaling for Kurenai Yuhi to climb on.

Kurenai Yuhi had never experienced anything like this. All she remembered was her father's busy figure, and no one had ever carried her on their back. For a moment, she froze, unsure what to do.

Anyo said gently, "It's all right. Don't tell me you think you're so heavy that I won't be able to carry you?"

"Who... who said I was heavy? Fine, carry me." Kurenai Yuhi stretched out her arms and hooked them around Anyo's neck.

Anyo supported her thighs and playfully spun in place. As Kurenai Yuhi cried out, he cheered and rushed out the door like the wind, saying, "Off we go!"

Noticing how unusually quiet Kurenai Yuhi was on his back, Anyo chuckled inwardly. Hmph, she's just a little girl. I can't handle a grown woman like Tsunade, but getting a little one wrapped around my finger takes no time at all.

Sure enough, after breakfast, Kurenai Yuhi brought Anyo home without the slightest wariness, ready to continue teaching him genjutsu.

Puzzled, Anyo asked, "Huh, you go home during the day? Then why do you sleep in the Hokage Building at night?"

At that, Kurenai Yuhi's face reddened slightly, and she replied irritably, "None of your business."

Anyo suddenly understood. "Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark when you sleep at home alone?"

Kurenai Yuhi's expression dimmed a little, and, for once, she did not argue.

"How about I stay with you tonight? That way, you won't have to keep going back and forth," Anyo suggested.

"You?" Kurenai Yuhi asked in confusion. "Don't you have to go home?"

Anyo said casually, "I'm the only one at home. It makes no difference whether I go back or not."

"How can you be the only one?"

"Because my parents are both dead. They died on the battlefield."

"Ah!" Kurenai Yuhi covered her mouth in shock, then looked apologetic and reached out to comfort Anyo.

Anyo caught her little hand and said, "So I'll be counting on your hard work, Teacher Kurenai. I need to learn properly, so when I go to the battlefield someday, I'll at least have some ability to protect myself."

With a measure of resolve amid her embarrassment, Kurenai Yuhi said, "Don't worry. I'll make sure to teach you properly."

Poor Kurenai Yuhi had no idea that the beast in gentleman's clothing before her had her completely wrapped around his finger.

Kurenai Yuhi went into her father's room and brought out all sorts of books and scrolls, then said confidently, "These are all the materials on genjutsu my father compiled. We'll read them together and learn together."

Soon, the room fell quiet, with only the rustling of pages as the two read.

Shinku Yuhi truly lived up to his reputation as a genjutsu master. The books contained many of his notes, which were even more precious than the genjutsu alone. In particular, his deductions and conjectures about certain genjutsu opened a door for Anyo.

Of course, what left the deepest impression were the three methods of breaking genjutsu described within:

The first, and simplest, was to break the genjutsu by disrupting the flow of one's own chakra.

The second applied when facing genjutsu that was harder to break or of a high level. In such cases, it could only be broken by having someone else disrupt one's chakra flow.

The third was a realm very few could reach. Shinku's books recorded that it involved separating the body from the mind. Even if the mind became trapped in an illusion, the body could still attack by sensing surrounding danger or hostility. Shinku called this ability instinct.

So far, the only person who had reached the third realm was the Konoha White Fang. Shinku had once tried pulling White Fang into his Genjutsu Space. He had succeeded, but White Fang's body could still move freely. One slash, and Shinku had to run.

When Anyo read that passage, his appreciation for White Fang's painstaking efforts in having him practice sword techniques deepened. So he had wanted Anyo to reach this realm as well. What a pity, though. Ah...

Anyo knew his own faults. His mind was not single-minded, his thoughts were too scattered, and his desires were too strong. Whenever he saw something good, he wanted it. It had been the same when he learned the Spirit Transformation Technique last time, and now he had come to learn genjutsu for the same reason: he had witnessed their power. Little did he realize that if he truly mastered swordsmanship, a single slash would make any technique take a back seat.

Should I keep learning or not? For a moment, Anyo felt troubled.

Kurenai Yuhi noticed his expression and could not help asking, "What's wrong? Is there something you don't understand?"

Forget it. Since I'm here, I might as well settle in. I'll learn it for fun for now.

Anyo said pitifully, "It's too hard. I can't learn it."

Hearing that, Kurenai Yuhi smiled. "My father said very few ninja have a talent for genjutsu. You've only just started, so it's perfectly normal that you can't learn it yet. I only got the basics down because I've been learning since I was little."

Anyo suggested, "Then how about we play a game together? You use genjutsu, and I'll break it."

At that, Kurenai Yuhi could hardly contain her eagerness and said excitedly, "Yes, yes!"

In all the time she had been studying genjutsu, no one had ever made such a request. He had practically read her mind. It was just like the excitement someone who had mastered the art of slaying dragons would feel upon finally seeing a dragon.