"Such familiar Chakra…"
"Naruto's here."
Shino murmured as he watched the nameless insect fly back.
"Woof-woof~!"
Akamaru and Kiba's noses twitched, their eyes lighting up.
The two headed for the training-ground gate; Kurenai didn't stop them.
Rubbing her arm, she looked at the anxious Hinata and her gaze softened.
"Don't worry, sensei's fine."
Hinata nodded, worry still lingering in her eyes.
"You really amaze me, Hinata."
"Your strength is formidable… and you haven't even activated the Byakugan."
"Sensei's feeling the pressure~"
Kurenai gave a self-deprecating chuckle, ruffled Hinata's hair, and said:
"You held back quite a bit in that fight, didn't you?"
"Mm…" Hinata nodded.
Then, rather reproachfully: "Naruto-kun reminded me several times… but I still couldn't control my strength."
"Oh?"
At the mention of Naruto, Kurenai's interest was clearly piqued.
Besides… learning about Naruto through Hinata—Yūgao shouldn't have much to say, right?
Thinking this, Kurenai unconsciously smiled.
She pictured herself recounting every detail about Naruto and imagined Yūgao's reaction.
Yet her beautiful mood evaporated with Hinata's next sentence.
"Luckily Naruto-kun warned me a few times… otherwise sensei might have been seriously injured."
You think so little of me?!
Kurenai's eyes widened.
Damn Black-Framed Naruto, underestimating me!
But… on second thought, Kurenai felt helpless.
Her stats did look decent.
Yet once genjutsu proved ineffective, she could only rely on taijutsu.
And in taijutsu… the numbers were pretty, that was all.
Unless one was a pure taijutsu specialist, hand-to-hand usually served only to support Ninjutsu.
Just as expected.
"Uh… Hinata, although sensei…"
"Forget it."
Kurenai's eye twitched.
She hadn't expected Hinata to see her as so incompetent.
Still, Hinata's strength… was the fiercest she had ever seen in a Genin.
Even comparing back then, Kurenai didn't believe anyone had been more ferocious than Hinata.
Jonin Kakashi?
Kurenai recalled the Kakashi of those days and compared him with the Hinata she'd just fought.
No way!
Absolutely impossible!
Without the Byakugan active, maybe there'd be a chance.
But once Hinata opened the Byakugan, the situation flipped instantly.
Kurenai's evaluation of Hinata was sky-high.
As she pondered, Hinata took a deep breath.
"Sensei, please don't record what just happened in the evaluation sheet."
If you must write, make us look weaker—including Kiba and Shino."
Hearing this, Kurenai was stunned.
Especially when she saw Hinata's expression turn deadly serious.
"Why?"
"You performed so well you could crush your peers and even veteran Genin."
"In the future you…"
Kurenai didn't finish.
She wasn't stupid.
She just hadn't thought kids this age would consider such things.
Yet Hinata's manner didn't seem feigned.
Kurenai thought of herself.
Her pupils shrank sharply.
What was going on?!
The heirs of the three great clans…
Were they speaking for themselves, or for the clans behind them?
Kurenai suddenly felt she'd stumbled upon a colossal secret.
The 'preparation' Yūgao had mentioned exploded in her mind.
Wait!
If it was true…
Then…
She still remembered.
Every time she visited her best friend Uzuki Yūgao, she heard playful noises upstairs.
A bunch of future clan heirs getting so close to a Jinchuriki…
At first Kurenai assumed it was only natural—he was Minato-sensei and Sister Kushina's child.
But…
At this instant Kurenai sensed something incredible.
Were the major clans giving orders? To what end?
Surely they weren't planning another Nine-Tails Rampage?
No!
Kurenai immediately rejected the idea.
By instinct, Minato-sensei and Kushina's child was anything but simple.
Another rampage would mean deaths… yet these people's attitude toward Naruto all these years…
They very likely had reached a consensus to cooperate.
Was this Konoha so rotten that everyone felt compelled to resist?
The Uchiha affair… and everything lately—Konoha was about to change!
Naruto's talent had humbled even her sword-obsessed best friend, sparking strange thoughts.
Hoo—
Kurenai inhaled deeply, forcing herself to calm down.
Yet right then she noticed something off in Hinata's eyes.
Crap…
Seeing Hinata clench her fists,
Kurenai's instinct screamed that one direct hit would leave her dead or crippled!
Genjutsu barely affected her.
The air grew tense in an instant.
Kurenai took another breath and decided to clarify her biggest doubt first.
"Hinata, do you all… regard Naruto as your leader?"
"Yes, Kurenai-sensei. Naruto is even greater than you imagine."
"We've learned so much from him."
"Sensei, reluctant as I am… please keep this secret."
"Sensei… the look on your face just now suggests you've figured out quite a lot."
Hinata blamed herself, for it was her slip that had revealed things.
She had no choice—her Twin Lion Fists were nearing mastery.
After training with Naruto these past days, her control had indeed improved greatly.
Back home she'd sparred with her father as well.
…
Only when fighting Kurenai did Hinata realize the power she thought she'd mastered was measured against Naruto and her father's strength.
Naruto's constant reminders—perhaps he'd noticed long ago…
Since that was the case…
The secret was out.
Sorry, Kurenai-sensei.
You have two choices: one, keep quiet and join us.
Or two… during this exam, you accidentally killed your Jōnin Instructor with excessive strength.
The Hyuga might be exposed,
but the other clans would remain hidden.
And…
most importantly, Naruto-kun wouldn't be exposed.
Hoo—
She drew a deep breath.
Hinata had already made her decision.
Weng—
In the next instant,
veins bulged around Hinata's eyes.
At the same time her small hands slowly lifted.
Chakra surged.
A blue lion formed of Chakra appeared above both palms.
Kurenai: "Wait!"
Kurenai: "You silly girl, you didn't even ask! I never said I disagreed!"