As the Jōnin Instructor of Team Eight,
at this moment...
Kurenai Yuhi was sweating on her forehead.
"Hinata, Hinata... don't do anything rash!"
Anko Mitarashi's eyes were also wide.
"This girl looks so gentle and fragile, yet the moment anything about Naruto's involved she turns into someone else."
"Kurenai, you're not... ahem, about to get written off, are you?"
Kurenai's face flushed crimson.
Who could she even complain to?
Damn Black-Framed Naruto!
He must have taught her this!
If I don't die today, I'll make you regret it!
I'll show you how ruthless a woman's revenge can be!
And you'll just have to take it silently!
Hmph~!
Yūgao Uzuki's eye twitched.
She seemed to guess her best friend's thoughts.
She was furious and exasperated.
"That's what you call revenge?!"
I'm too embarrassed to even mention it.
Damn it... guard against everything, but a thief within the family is hardest to stop.
She's eyeing my half-disciple again!
And it's my own best friend... The black-framed large screen continued:
[At that instant]
[Kurenai Yuhi felt her life was in danger.]
[Her first instinct was to create distance, find a way to calm Hinata—or else run for it and wait till Hinata cooled down.]
[How embarrassing...]
[After all, I'm the Jōnin Instructor of Team Eight, a newly promoted Jonin.]
[Yet here I am, in such a sorry state against a kid who just graduated.]
["Hinata, calm down..."]
[Before Kurenai could finish—]
[Whoosh—]
[Suddenly, a three-pronged kunai shot in.]
[Not good!]
[Kurenai's pupils shrank violently.]
[No way to dodge!]
[Who?!]
[Kiba?]
[Or Shino?]
[Even if those two tried a sneak attack, they wouldn't use a Kunai!]
[Buzz—]
[A golden flash streaked across Kurenai's vision.]
[Immediately, a familiar yet unfamiliar figure appeared behind Hinata.]
[Golden... Flash?!]
["What are you planning to do?"]
[Naturally, it was Naruto who arrived.]
[Sensing Hinata's Chakra flare violently, he'd rushed over at once.]
[Sure enough, the silly girl had actually wanted to kill Kurenai Yuhi.]
[Tap—]
[Naruto raised his hand and lightly knocked Hinata's little head.]
[Seeing Naruto appear, Hinata realized she'd been too impulsive.]
[She quickly shut off her Byakugan.]
[The Chakra Lion Heads on her hands faded away.]
[Head lowered, she looked like a child who'd done something wrong.]
[Naruto's heart softened; he rested his palm on her head.]
["It's alright. Teacher Kurenai refused too, didn't she?"]
["She's on our side, part of the united front."]
[Hearing that, Hinata nodded. "Mm~"]
["Sorry, Teacher Kurenai."]
[Kurenai Yuhi: "..."]
[united front... one of us... since when?]
[Still, right now she had to be.]
[Her taut nerves relaxed a little.]
[Watching Naruto's back, Kurenai's eyes showed a trace of curiosity.]
[Flying Thunder God?]
[It shouldn't be possible... yet if it isn't Flying Thunder God—]
[Could this kid have created it himself?]
[With talent like that, no wonder Yūgao keeps him wrapped so tight.]
[As Naruto turned to look at her,]
[Kurenai was stunned again.]
[On that handsome, slightly youthful face]
[Kurenai saw heavy shadows of Minato and Kushina.]
["You agree, right?"]
["Teacher Kurenai?"]
[Naruto's lips curled in his trademark gentle smile.]
[It made Kurenai lose herself for a moment.]
[She couldn't help feeling her best friend was dining awfully well—so well it was enviable.]
[Yet the crisis didn't seem fully over.]
[Kurenai also smiled. "Yes."]
["Teacher Kurenai, we're not trying to force you."]
["Some things are complicated; they can't be explained in a few words."]
["Why don't we talk it over?"]
["We happen to have a party today to celebrate becoming real Genin."]
[I don't think Teacher Kurenai would refuse, right?"]
[Kurenai Yuhi: "..."]
[Huu—]
[She drew a deep breath. Could she even refuse?]
["You must've sensed something about the team assignments."]
[If you're unwilling, I won't force you."]
["Still, I hope Teacher Kurenai..."]
[Naruto left the rest unsaid; he believed Kurenai understood.]
[Hearing that,]
[Kurenai's smile froze for a second.]
[Then she relaxed and]
[gave Naruto a long look.]
[After that she smiled again.]
["True."]
["I'd planned to treat Hinata and the others to barbecue to strengthen the team bond."]
["Looks like today I can save some money and still eat well~"]
[Kurenai's change of attitude slightly surprised Naruto.]
[Still, this was good.]
[If he remembered right, Kurenai Yuhi, Yūgao Uzuki, and Orochimaru's disciple Anko Mitarashi were close.]
[The three often gathered.]
[The Shadow Clone Naruto left at home spotted them every time.]
["Welcome, then."]
[Naruto nodded with a faint smile.]
["Didn't expect... But since you're here, does that mean Team 7 passed Kakashi's test?"]
[While rubbing Hinata's little head, Naruto nodded in answer to Kurenai.]
[Kurenai blinked. "Amazing~!"]
["No one's ever passed that guy Kakashi's test all these years."]
[Naruto merely smiled without speaking.]
[Were it not for Kakashi's special status,]
[Naruto would definitely have left Kakashi unable to get out of bed today.]
[This test went beyond simply vicious.]
[Of course, that wasn't Kakashi's real intention.]
[Yet the bell-stealing itself was flawed, and with Kakashi deliberately testing teamwork, it looked downright malicious.]
[Seeing this, Kurenai more or less guessed something.]
[So she subconsciously raised a hand."]
["That guy's just like that; don't blame him."]
["All these years... well, never mind. Anyway, I bet Kakashi hasn't even mentioned treating you to barbecue yet, has he?"]
[Kurenai eased the tense atmosphere a little.]
[Then she rested her hands on Naruto and Hinata's heads.]
[Only then did she realize—]
[Wait!]
[These two kids could threaten her life... This gesture, wouldn't it—]
[Mm... feels nice~]
[A replica of Teacher Minato's head... I'm touching it~]
[After a few strokes Kurenai quickly withdrew her hand.]
[Sensing the two still looking at her face,]
[Kurenai wasn't embarrassed at all.]
["Ahem!"]
[She cleared her throat.]
["Originally the teacher should treat everyone to strengthen bonds."]
["Going back with you would make me look like a freeloader."]
["Tell you what—today's entire bill is on me!"]