Not long after, Kurenai's condition stabilized, though she still kept crying out Shinju's name.
Asuma stood beside her, his heart aching with every call.
"Kakashi, this is your student's doing! He went way too far this time!"
Knowing he was at fault, Kakashi kept nodding and apologizing.
"I'll make sure to discipline that kid properly when we get back. He needs to fully understand the mistake he made this time!"
Just then, Shinju pushed open the door to the hospital room…
The moment Kurenai saw Shinju, she reacted like a frightened rabbit and threw herself into Asuma's arms.
"Monster! I saw a monster!!"
Asuma's face darkened. He spat out the half-burnt cigarette from his mouth in anger.
"You brat! You dare show your face here? Look at what you've done to Kurenai! (ꐦ ಠ皿ಠ)"
Shinju put on an innocent expression.
"Uh, I really didn't mean to… Kurenai-sensei asked me to demonstrate the genjutsu I'd come up with, so I just showed it at full power."
Kakashi: "…"
From Shinju's explanation, that… did seem to be what happened.
But if they rashly blamed Shinju, wouldn't that make them, the elite jōnin, look incompetent?
The truth was, this wasn't their lack of skill. It was that this kid Shinju was simply monstrous!
In the end, seeing how strongly Kurenai rejected Shinju's presence, Kakashi came up with an excuse and sent him out.
Asuma held Kurenai gently, his brows furrowed.
"From what that kid just said… he only started learning genjutsu recently?"
Kakashi spread his hands.
"All in all… it hasn't even been seventy-two hours."
Asuma: ヽ( ຶ▮ ຶ)ﾉ!!!
That's… that's a complete rookie!
Which meant Kurenai had been seriously injured and knocked unconscious—her mind left in chaos—by the genjutsu of a beginner!
What kind of sick joke was this?!
"This kid's talent… it's terrifying…"
After a long silence, Asuma finally calmed himself, fished out a cigarette case from who knows where, lit one, and took a deep drag.
Then he suddenly remembered—smoking wasn't allowed in the hospital—and quickly put it out.
Kakashi could only smile wryly. He'd already seen this side of Shinju long ago.
"The Third Hokage said he's the hope of Konoha's future."
"This kid's talent is simply too overwhelming. He often causes accidental injuries because he can't control his power well. Please don't hold it against him."
Kakashi bowed his head again in apology.
Asuma waved his hand.
"No need. Once Kurenai recovers completely, let her handle it herself."
"But Shinju—he must be taught properly. If he isn't… he's a powder keg waiting to explode."
"Konoha has seen geniuses defect before. It's not unprecedented."
His voice was hoarse as he said it.
Kakashi nodded grimly.
He'd only taken his eyes off Shinju for two days, and the boy had already landed Kurenai in the hospital.
It was clear now—letting Shinju run free wasn't going to work.
He needed to find him a proper teacher!
...
Meanwhile.
After leaving the hospital, Shinju wandered aimlessly through the streets of Konoha.
As he strolled, he spotted Naruto sneaking around a street corner, acting as if he were about to steal something.
"Naruto?! Isn't this your training time? What are you doing here?!" Shinju stepped forward and tapped him lightly on the shoulder.
Naruto jumped in fright. When he saw it was his best buddy Shinju, he waved his hands quickly.
"Didn't I tell you last night? That teacher, Ebisu, is super boring! Even compared to you, Shinju, he's miles behind. I just can't stand listening to him anymore…"
"So I decided to skip class and relax a little! ❛‿˂̵✧"
Shinju: "…"
"You realize the final round of the Chūnin Exams is coming up soon, right? If you don't train, you'll get crushed out there."
"Of course I know that! But training needs balance too—you gotta relax sometimes. (๑•́₃•̀๑)" Naruto pouted.
"Come on, Shinju. You've gotta be tired from all your training too, right? Why don't we hit the hot springs together?"
Shinju waved his hand.
"A true shinobi needs self-control. Now is the time to train, not indulge. If you drown yourself in pleasures, you'll only fall into ruin…"
…
A few minutes later.
Shinju slipped into the steaming hot water, completely naked, and let out a sigh of bliss.
"Ahh~"
Skipping training for a hot spring soak… so worth it!
Mist swirled around them in the bath.
Naruto grinned proudly.
"See? Didn't I tell you this feels amazing? If only Sasuke weren't so busy training, the three of us could've ordered that group package and saved a few dozen ryo…"
"By the way, Shinju, how much ryo did we make back in the Forest of Death? What are you planning to do with it?"
"How about you spot me 200? I'll buy a crate of instant ramen and finally eat properly for once."
As Naruto soaked, dreaming of a future filled with ramen at every meal, he noticed Shinju hadn't responded at all.
"Hey, what's your answer? Just say it straight."
"You've got tens of thousands on hand—surely you don't care about a couple hundred, right? (｡•́︿•̀｡)"
"Shinju…"
Naruto opened his mouth to press further, but Shinju suddenly clamped a hand over it.
"Mmphh—!"
Naruto's eyes filled with confusion as he muffled out protests.
Then Shinju silently pointed toward a corner near the men's bath.
Naruto followed his finger and spotted a white-haired man crouched there.
The man's back was to them as he leaned over the fence, eyes fixed intently on the women's side of the bath.
From Shinju's angle, he could see the man even had paper and pen in hand—apparently taking notes!
"Wait… is that pervert peeking into the women's bath?"
Naruto whispered.
"Do you really need to ask when it's that obvious?" Shinju replied.
"I can't let this slide! Broad daylight, and this guy's doing something so filthy!"
"Is there no justice? No law?!"
Fired up, Naruto clenched his fists and stormed toward the white-haired man.
But just as he reached him and was about to throw a punch, the man spun around and casually flicked his arm.
Smack!!
With what looked like no effort at all, the strike sent Naruto flying more than ten meters, nearly smashing his head against the stone wall!
At last, the white-haired man turned fully around, and Shinju got a clear look.
He looked about forty or fifty, with a head of white hair, wooden clogs on his feet, and a forehead protector marked with the kanji for "oil."
Everything about his appearance screamed weirdo!
"What did you think you were doing? Don't interrupt my research!" the man snapped angrily.
Even after being smacked away, Naruto didn't back down.
"Research my ass! You're obviously spying on women bathing! You damn pervert!!!"
"Pervert? You really have no eye for greatness, kid!"
The white-haired man sneered, then slapped his hands to the ground.
In a puff of smoke, a massive toad appeared beneath him!
Standing proudly on the toad's head, the man struck a dramatic pose.
"I am the Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku!"