Chapter 4 - Kurenai Yūhi

The 4 of us sat scattered across an empty classroom. Hinata and I sat near the front next to each other. Kiba sat alittle way away from us whereas Shino sat on the other side of the classroom. Our new sensei was due within the next few minutes.

"I wonder...if sensei will...be a man or a ...woman." Hinata said glancing to the door every few seconds. I guess that she was wanting to make a good impression. As was I for that matter.

"I don't know. I wouldn't mind either, if that makes sense. A ninja's gender doesn't decide their fighting abilities." I said getting a nod from Hinata. From the time I spent with Hinata this lunch time and the years that I'd known her I'd picked up that she seemed to abit more of a follower than a leader. Her personality was kind to say the least.

It was while I was having these thoughts the door slid open, signalling the arrival of our new sensei.

All 4 of us looked up as the person entered and shut the door. The first thing that struck me was that she was a woman, given that it was what Hinata and I had just been discussing. The second thing that stuck in my mind about her was that she was incredibly beautiful. She had a slender figure and long black hair which was worn in a messy sort of style. She had red eyes which I noted to be quite unique along with purple eye shadow and red lip stick. She wore what looked like a red under shirt with only one sleeve visible. Her forehead protected was tied around her head with a red sash and she also wore the standard Shinobi sandals. She also wore something which resembled a lose dress made of bandages with a pattern of what looked like rose thorns on it. Honestly I had no idea how to describe it but it looked awesome. She also wore lots of bandages on her hands and upper thighs.

When she spoke her voice was pleasant and kind but also had a commanding tone to it which drew me in. "My name is Kurenai Yūhi and from today I will be your Jounin instructor. I want you all to train hard and not to disobey me as I am now the leader of squad 8." We were all taken aback alittle but I didn't mind. Kurenai-sensei seemed nice enough. "I'd like all of you up front so I can be properly introduced to you all." Kiba and Shino stood up before coming to sit next to me and Hinata. Soon enough all 4 of us...well 5 if you counted Akamaru were sitting in a line facing our new sensei. I could see Hinata squirming alittle as Kurenai looked over all of us. "Now that you know my name it is only fair for you lot to introduce yourselves to me. So let's hear your names, likes, hates, hobbies and dreams for the future. The basics that people ask. I'll go first?" She suggested and we all nodded. "My name is Kurenai Yūhi, I like the food takowasa and vodka, however I dislike cake..."

I was surprised at that, I had never met a person that disliked cake before. It was a change to say the least.

"...my hobbies include having evening drinks, and I don't really know what my dreams for the future are, However my favourite phrase is 'Glory like a violet blooming a single day' ".

We all took in the information and I thought over what I would say. The way that this was structured suggested that this was basic introductions between most sensei's and their new teams.

Kurenai pointed to Hinata with a smile, "How about you introduce yourself first?"

She jumped slightly at the sensei's directness but nodded. "My...my name is Hinata...Hinata Hyuuga, I like...cinnamon rolls and I dislike lots of violence and crab and shrimp. My hobbies include Flower pressing and I wish to become...a strong ninja...kind like my mother and strong...like...my father." Her voice faltered at the end but sensei nodded in approval.

"Good, nice to meet you Hinata." She said and pointed to Shino this time. "And now you."

Hinata, Kiba and I all looked towards Shino given that we hadn't really heard him speak since we got grouped together. Surprisingly he spoke. "I am Shino Aburame of the Aburame clan. I partial to insects and winter melon. I despise those who disrespect nature. My pastimes... entomology and collecting new specimens for my insect collection. I currently have no desire for future plans."

I blinked, as did the rest of us. I had not expected Shino to speak for so long.

Kurenai sensei also nodded in approval at this and then pointed to Kiba, which disappointed me alittle as I wanted to be next. "Now, you with the dog."

Kiba perked up. "My name is Kiba Inuzuka and this is Akamaru..." he explained pointing to the dog resting on the top of his hood who gave a bark. I smiled abit at that. "I like spending time with Akamaru and eating chewy foods and meats. I dislike foods that aren't chewy. My hobbies include going on walks with Akamaru and playing with Akamaru. And I haven't quite decided what I want to do in the future."

His response also earned him a nod from Kurenai. She reached her hand out to Akamaru, her gaze asking permission from Kiba which he gave. Her hand patted Akamaru's head and Kurenai sensei smiled lightly. "Nice to meet you both. And finally the red head."

I smiled as finally I would get to introduce myself. "My name is Tsukina Tanaka of the Tanaka Clan, but please call me Kina as I find my full name too formal. I like eating smoked salmon...well any food so long as it tastes good and going to the bath house and taking baths..." I thought for a moment before continuing "...I also enjoy stargazing and watching the sky with tea and a blanket. I dislike uncalled prejudice against others, being invaded personally and hanging upside down. And my dreams for the future are to one day pick up all the roles my family held within the village before their deaths and to help and give people a place they feel they belong, a home, friends, love whatever they want. Whatever they need….Sorry." I apologized nervously, "I also have a tendency to drone on."

'God I probably could have shortened that down.'

I also received a nod form Kurenai sensei. "Wonderful. It's pleasant to see that you are all a varied and unique group of young ninja who will undoubtedly have lots of varied abilities aswell." She sat down on the teacher's desk in the centre of the room and crossed her arms over her chest. "Our training will begin tomorrow. I warn you, this training will be difficult and push your current abilities as well as push you to develop new ones. It is important that you all work together to help each other develop and refine these new powers that you will develop. I will expect the best effort from all of you. Do you understand me?"

"Yes Kurenai -sensei!" We all recited and she looked content with our answer.

"Tomorrow will consist of you all explaining your individual powers and talents to one another along with demonstrating how they work. This way you will gain an insight into the way your team works before the real hard teamwork begins."

"Yes!" We all recited again and this time she stood up.

"Good, you are all dismissed for today. It was good to meet you all. Tomorrow we shall meet atop the Hokage face's at 9am sharp. Don't be late. That wouldn't be a good start." We all nodded and Shino, Kiba and Hinata stood up. I stayed put however, realizing a flaw in showing my team mates my abilities.

"Kina. Are you coming?" Kiba asked as my green eyes met Kurenai-sensei's red ones.

"In a moment. I have something to ask, I'll see you tomorrow." I said and he shrugged.

"See you tomorrow then." With that the other 3 walked out leaving me alone with my new sensei.

I felt her gaze on me as the door shut, the footsteps of the others trailing down the hall before fading into silence. I played with a strand of my pincer hair in slight nervousness to distract myself until she spoke. "Is there something you wish to speak to me about Kina?" She said and I noticed that she had taken to calling me by my nickname 'Kina', that was good.

As I fought the urge to say 'obviously' I nodded. "It's about my abilities. I haven't used my Kekkei Genkai for anything but healing for the past 6 years. To say the least I'm a bit out of practice." I said slowly "I haven't used it for anything except healing since the deaths of my family since I'm primarily a medical ninja right now and haven't had any of my family to demonstrate our combat techniques."

Kurenai sighed and walked over to me, she was much taller than me. I suddenly felt very small. And abit ashamed at my lack of strength and height. Shockingly however Kurenai sensei placed a hand on my shoulder instead of scolding my weakness like I thought she would have.

"I've heard about the abilities of the Tanaka clan, and I can understand why you would be reluctant to use them." I felt the weight of her hand on my shoulder but I did not believe it was there to put me down. I grimaced as I remembered something that my father once did with our power. It wasn't like the person looked any different on the outside but it was what he did to his insides which was disturbing.

"From what I know of your clan's power, it has alot of potential in both the medical feild and in combat like your father used, I think if you focus on what you feel comfortable with then you shall be fine." She said kindly and I nodded, it would appear that sensei was helping me on day one.

I bowed my head in thanks. "Thank you, Kurenai sensei, I shall take your words to heart."

She removed her hand and gestured towards the door, "If you feel most comfortable performing medical roles with your abilities then I will allow part of your training to be placed at the hospital where they will be best suited, however combat abilities are still a necessity, so I implore that you focus on them aswell."

"Thank you again Sensei." I said and turned away from her towards the door "I'll see you tomorrow." With those words I walked out of the classroom door, feeling much more content with what tomorrow would bring.

-+- (Timeskip) -+-

"Damn it Shikamaru, you smell like smoke. What the Hell happened when you met your sensei? You get thrown in a smoke room or something?"

Shikamaru groaned at my words "We might as well have, Chouji, Ino and myself were coughing through the whole introduction. He didn't even seem to care." I laughed a little as we arrived outside his house. "It's not funny, that damn smoke was stinging our eyes. He thought we all were crying." I laughed harder was we walked through the gate.

"Whats the name of your sensei or should I just call him smoke guy?" I said when we eventually reached the front door. We both leaned down to take off our shoes and he replied.

"My sensei's name is Asuma Sarutobi, and most likely a chain smoker given the stench of nicotine." Shikamaru reached own and placed his shoes next to the door, I did the same as we entered the matted halls of his home. "What about yours?"

"Her name is Kurenai Yūhi, she's quite beautiful. Also from what I've experience from her she's also quite kind. She must be strong though, she is a Jounin afterall."

Shikamaru nodded not bad I guess, we start training in the morning, that's a drag." There were a group of large pillows in one corner of his living room, we both took the opportunity to burry ourselves in them, leaning against the softness. We were both incredibly lazy. Admittedly it was only after I started living with Shikamaru that I became as lazy as I am now, his laziness rubbed off on me.

"We start training tomorrow, we have to demonstrate our individual abilities to each other so that we can begin to develop our skills as a team." I informed him causing him to look at me, I picked up some slight concern in his eyes.

"Will you use it? You haven't used it in a while." I nodded.

"Fighting without it will be a drag. I might aswell get over it." Shikamaru smirked at his own key word in my response. We lay against the pillows for several moments just resting, it was nice. The pillows were a light cream colour, the whole main room in itself was very clean. Yoshino Nara didn't like mess...

It was as I said that I felt a familiar nagging at the back of my mind. My room was a mess and I needed to clean it, especially before Yoshino saw it. Yeh, that was surprisingly urgent now. I abruptly stood up, feeling abit light headed, the image of the world spinning a moment before settling again. Shikamaru opened his eyes and looked up at me as I swayed slightly, "Going somewhere?"

"Yeh, to clean my room before your mum sees it, I'm not getting grounded again." I explained and headed towards the door.

"What a drag." He responded and shut his eyes again, making himself more comfortable, shrugging I left the room shutting the door behind me and ascended the stairs to my room. Thankfully it was still a mess, which meant Yoshino hadn't seen it. That was good. I shut the door especially quietly as not to alert anyone downstairs to my presence. I don't want Yoshino coming up midway through afterall.

-+- (Timeskip) -+-

"Well that took longer than I expected." I groaned falling against my door. A smallish light grey piece of cloth was tied around my hair to prevent getting dust in it while I cleaned. My hair got dirty easily. A broom rested against the wall to my right, I'd just finished sweeping. Satisfied I looked around my now clean room; no clothes littered the floor anymore, the dirty ones now resided in a wooden washing basket, the floor was finally tidy and clean. My bookshelf was organised, everything in order. As was my chest of drawers and the strange collection of items that lived on top of it such as more books, the Tanaka clan's house keys and a flask. The throws and posters on the walls were finally hanging straight, I had packed away some of throws to reveal pale wall making the room feel bigger and cleaner.

It looked much better.

I breathed out and leaned against the broom, pulling myself up slowly. The cleaning instrument became my walking stick for a moment while I regained my balance on my own two feet. I reached my arm up and pulled the cloth from my hair. A cascade of dust fell of the cloth and around me at my action. It irritated me given my cleaning mode had just finished.

I groaned but decided to ignore the dust. I pulled open my door and made my way to the cupboard and placed the broom in it. I placed the cloth in a washing basket that also resided in the cupboard. Thankfully after finishing this task I heard Yoshino call up to me. "Kina, dinner's ready!"

I headed down to the dining room. Dinner was the same as normal except on one point.

"Your aunt's letter arrived today Kina. She had a separate letter for Yoshino and me aswell." Shikaku told me as we ate. I felt rather curious and both worried at the words. It was usual for my aunt to send me letters. We both wished to keep in touch and she would send me money from my family's inheritance every few weeks. However it was rare of her to send a separate letter to Yoshino and Shikaku even if they were the ones watching over me, usually she would put something at the end of my own letter from her to ask them. So naturally I was abit put out by this.

"Anything I should be worried about?" I asked and placed some more food in my mouth, I chewed it as I waited for an answer. Shikaku shook his head.

"No nothing for you to be concerned over. Your aunt was just wondering whether or not you still planned to stay living with us now that you've graduated from the academy."

I swallowed my food and looked towards both of Shikamaru's parents. They were both watching my reactions. I smiled at them, "If it is still no bother to you than I still wish to remain living here. I do intend to return to my family's home, I just don't know if I'm ready for that yet." They both nodded in understanding and thankfully that was the end of that topic. I was glad for it, whenever the issue of me returning to the Tanaka house arose it reminded me, reminded me that as much as I was welcomed here and felt this place was my home, I did not truly belong here. In their home.

"We won't make you leave here until you feel ready to go, Kina. Even if you do forget to tidy your room every once in a while." Yoshino said the last phrase with a hint of a smile, clearly she knew about the state my room had been in but hadn't mentioned it.

I grinned in embarrassment, "Yeh Sorry. It's clean now though."

Shikaku smirked at me and Shikamaru behind a mouthful of food. The rest of dinner was normal enough and I finished up the cleaning in the kitchen wanting to go and read my aunt's letter, Yoshino had told me she left it on the small table in the hallway for me to collect after cleaning. I grimaced though when I realised how much cleaning I had actually done today. The letter was abit thicker than usual and in a white envelope. There was a mark in the top right corner with the cloud pattern of Kumogakure in identify where the letter had come from. I picked it up and noted that the letter weighed alittle more than usual aswell. I turned it around and saw her husband's clan seal on the back of the envelope. I raised an eyebrow at that. My aunt had probably misplaced her own seal again, she was abit scatter brained so her sending me letters with her husband's seal on them wasn't uncommon. She may be a Tanaka by birth but she was also a member of her husband's clan in Kumogakure now, so when I think about it she really could get away with using both.

I took the letter upstairs to my room and perched on my bed when I entered. I could clean my room to perfection sometimes but I could never properly make my bed, it would have to remain in the same state it had been when I got out of it in the morning. I don't know why I felt that way but I did.

I carefully broke the grey seal on the back of the envelope, it was circular but had a line cutting through it, 2 thirds of the way down it and 4 small circles in a square formation alittle above it. It was the symbol of the Shimizu clan of Kumogakure, the family of my aunt's husband and hers now too.

I first took out the letter, it was easily distinguishable between the other contense of the envelope. I opened it and began to read.

Dear Kina,

First off sorry for the long wait for your letter, it's ben hectic for me and I do apologize, with that building collapsing and everything I've almost been living in the hospital. It's driving Keigo mad (even though you can't really see it on his face).

Secondly, congratulations on becoming Genin and graduating from the academy. You're a ninja now and it's scary how quickly you're growing up, rather spooky actually. I'm not able to leave Kumogakure right now though as much as I would like to congratulate you in person, one work is a pain and two, it's rather taxing (not to mention unwise for an international relations standpoint) to gain permission from the Raikage to leave Kumogakure for anything other than emergencies and your birthday (which I class as an emergency). I will come and see you when the Chuunin exams take place though, given that they are hosted in Konoha this year the Raikage will allow me to come see you...probably...I'm just thankful the Raikage was so good about my living here and visiting to Konoha...at least our villages are doing something to try and make some good ties with each other, no matter how small (even if it is just a farce in truth).

I understand that you will be beginning your intensive training soon and so therefore I wish to talk to you about that. I mainly use our family jutsu and Kekkei Genkai for healing and other roles in the medical profession. Your father on the otherhand, as you know used them in combat. I know that you have been studying medical Ninjutsu for the past 9 years and that is where you excel but I implore you not to forget about the combat uses our family processes, I was never suited for combat so this attribute of the clan now rests with you. It's next head.

I know that you will choose well, you live with some of the greatest minds in the world so it's kind of hard to screw up any decision when you're with them. I know that you will continue with medical Ninjutsu so I recommend speaking with Shikaku Nara, the Nara clan is very knowledgeable about the medical profession and medicines and therefore they should be able to help you. As for combat I would recommend studying the movement of water and reading your fathers journals for further information on our clan Justus's. I would try to teach you myself but it's impossible given my location.

Also, learn to cook when you still have the free time. You always sucked at anything that involved living by yourself to I beg you to learn the skills before you actually have to use them. I almost burnt down the kitchen 3 days ago making rice. And rice is meant to be easy!. If Keigo wasn't such a good cook we'd be living on take-out food and that is not a way to live.

I also sent some extra money for you this month given that you're graduating. Spend it on something: more books (god help you and the books), food, clothing, the bath house, weapons, medical supplies, anything. Just actually spend it this time. I know you saved the last lot I sent you, I still have eyes in Konoha. AKA Shikaku. You shouldn't have to worry about money, when you head the clan you'll have access to all of it and so long as you don't buy a candy shop or your own bath house you should be fine. I seriously hope you don't try to spend it all at once like your father once tried to do. He saw that stone garden and he wanted it. God only knows why he wanted a stone garden. Don't be like your father when it comes to money. Please! Please, I beg you!

Also I grew my hair out. I enclosed a picture of Keigo and I in the envelope. Be sure to send one of your own team soon.

I can't tell if I've left something out in this letter, if I have and you actually notice this time please remind me. I miss you lots and will defiantly come to see you in afew months for the Chuunin exams. Train hard, remember not to fall asleep on the roof and send me love through the form of more letters.

Wishing you and the Nara's the best. Lots of love.

Aunt Etsuko

xxxxxx

I smiled as I shut the letter. It was just like Auntie Etsuko, almost burning down the kitchen. Medical Ninjutsu and her husband Keigo seemed to be the only things that could keep her full concentration. Occasionally me too but that was more rare. I took out the money she sent me next. Even as I picked it up I could feel the slight weight difference in the notes. There was more money here than normal. Seeing as I didn't always spend all my money I usually had spare so this just added to it.

I shook my head as I thought over the things she suggested my buying. Books, I already had plenty of books, most of them were either history or medical books, or books to help me learn advanced medical Ninjutsu...then there were my specialised books from my own clan about super advanced medical ninjutsu, yeh I don't think I'll need any more books anytime soon. Like my aunt said the Nara clan had a surprising amount of medicinal based books so I somehow ended up with alot of them in my room too. Food was food, I'd buy it if I felt hungry or if someone else was hungry, mainly Choji Akamichi since he was always hungry. Clothing, I had enough clothes, Shikamaru was the one that originally picked out my current main outfit, the medium shade of grey top and shorts with the red vest top underneath. He had done it while I was ill so I hadn't been there to voice any objections to it, Yoshino hadn't been there either. I didn't mind the colour grey so I didn't mind this. Shikaku once said to me that if a man puts in a significant amount of conscious effort to get a girl something to wear than it would be polite to accept it without complaining, so that's what I did. I liked it though, but unlike Shikamaru the red of my hair and the red of the top broke up the dark colours, not a light green jacket. He said given the brightness of my hair it was best to wear plain, black or grey colours like him otherwise I would be too bright when on missions and would be spotted easily, he did have a serious point. My casual clothes were much brighter and varied, ranging from shorts, to trousers, to skirts to dresses. I wasn't picky so long as it looked good. I have Ino to thank for that. I went to the bath house once a week so I wasn't likely to spend more money there. I didn't have any new weapons, the old ones were blunt and scratched to death given I'd been using them for years. While a (admittedly) rather advanced medical ninja I wasn't in official practice either because of my age so my supplies were average and running out. My aunt had an amazing group of medical supplies that she took with her everywhere. They were awesome.

I weighed up the decisions in my mind while I counted out the money, there was defiantly alot more here than normal. About double it. If I combined it with the money I had saved then I should be able to buy both new ninja tools and medical supplies. Then I would be mostly out for the rest of the month. So long as I didn't impulse buy anything else than I should be fine.

I left the money on my desk and grabbed a towel to go take a bath. The bath was just what I needed, plus it got all the extra dust out of my hair. On my way back to my room I noticed Shikamaru leaning on the edge of the door. He looked about ready to go to bed.

I walked straight past him and leaned on my own door frame when I reached my room. "You standing outside your room for any other reason than to see me in a towel perv?" I teased and he just sighed, not fazed by me calling him a perv. We have lived together for 6 years now and I would spend about an hour wearing a towel per day after I had had my bath.

"Don't be stupid Kina. I just wanted to know if your aunt said anything I'll need to worry about, like you doing some kind of new training or something. It'll be a drag if you have to work too hard."

I laughed and held my pile of clothes closer to my chest in my arms, "You really do care. Nothing to report though. My aunt did send me some additional money so I was thinking of going to town and getting some supplies after training tomorrow. She wishes everyone well too."

Shikamaru shrugged. "Just be sure to tell my mum this time, I'm not getting in trouble for you it's too much of a drag." I nodded to his words.

"I'll tell her in the morning. Any idea of what I should write back to my aunt, she suggested sending a picture of my new team, but I think one of us would be good too." I stroked an imaginary beard as I thought.

"I do have that one picture of us on hand, but it's from when we were 8 and is quite..." He trailed off and I knew exactly what photo he was speaking about. I laughed.

"Oh yeh that one!" I slapped my hands against my face and made my face look like I had just walked in on something awful, with my jaw dropped. I made the face for a second or so before dropping my hands and returning my expression to normal. "I love that photo, I've never seen you more shocked in my life."

Shikamaru shook his head "I'm going to bed before the image gets stuck in my mind. Night!" With that he slipped back into his room and shut the door. I figured I'd do the same, but first I quickly ran to the top of the stairs and called down a quick "Good night!" before retreating to my own room. I quickly got dried and changed into my pyjamas, placing my dirty clothes in my washing basket. I then ran my towel through my hair to dry it as quickly as possible. The picture of my aunt and Keigo still rested on my desk in the envelope. Once I was done I went to pull it out.

My aunt's hair certainly was much longer, it tumbled past her shoulders in waves until they reached mid back. Her hair was beautiful, like my own it was also dark red at the roots and then a lighter red when it reached the ends of her hair. Everyone born into the Tanaka clan had red hair, but it was those whose hair changed shade from roots to tips possessed our Kekkei Genkai. It was how we knew who had the power before it fully manifested. Those who processed the skill also were given names which contained 'Tsu' in them, like my name 'Tsukina'. My aunt was Etsuko and my father had been Natsuhiko (people just called him 'Natsu' for ease.)

My sister hadn't been born with the power though, so her hair had just been plain red, and had been called Mei.

My aunt's eyes were also light green and she was of average skin tone too. My aunt was very beautiful, although abit crazy at times. Her husband Keigo on the otherhand was more calm and serious, he was good with kids which had been the first thing my aunt had liked about him when she first met him on a mission to the cloud village when she was working as an envoy. He had darker skin and dark brown eyes. His hair was also long and white, it was kept in a ponytail that hung infront of his shoulder on the right side. He was of average build and height, his cooking skills were one of the main things I thought about him with. The man could cook for the Gods. I had been to Kumogakure once and that was only for afew days, my aunt had been dangerously ill and I had went to be with her. Her illness had been considered a reasonable enough reason to both villages for me to good see her, but during the days that I had stayed with them I had been living off Keigo's cooking. I did not want to leave, the food was so good. He had sent me a cook book for my birthday last year but I had yet to try making anything.

I pinned the picture up on the space of wall above my desk and headed for my bed. The covers were cold so I spent awhile just lying in them to warm them up. I stared at the photo as I lay there. I missed them both but I knew my aunt would visit soon, she never stayed away for too long.

Slowly, almost in trepidation I shut my eyes and drifted off into a peaceful sleep.