Hiding in the bushes, Hinata, Shino and Naruto looked at the clearing in which Kurenai was seated, right next to a tree trunk with the kunai embedded in it, all the way to the hilt. Deciding they needed a new plan, they all fell back another mile just to be sure. After all it wouldn't do for Kurenai to overhear their plan. Even with the surprise of their power, Kurenai still was a jonin, the genjutsu mistress of Konoha no less.
Although Naruto did wonder how she coped after all, all the jounin did have some kind of coping method next to the obvious worship for the log. The most obvious one is of course Guy and unfortunately enough Lee later on, was even worse. Suddenly on the other side of Konoha, Guy shouted:" All praise the LOG! Come on Lee, let our flames of youth burn brighter!" "Yes Guy-sensei." Hinata and Naruto shuddered after defiantly hearing someone shout about flames of youth. "Okay, I think it's quite obvious we need a new plan." Both Shino and Hinata nodded, " I suggest that now me and Hinata double team Kurenai-sensei, with Shino backing us up if he can but since Hinata will probably be using water jutsu, and me my foxfire techniques, I might suggest you just focus on getting the kunai out of that trunk, we'll try not to set anything near it on fire or drown your bugs."
"Your right, it's probably for the best as my bugs are able to eat the trunk out around the kunai so that we can just easily pick it out." added Shino
Hinata just stayed silent but in the mind link she did ask, we gonna show our skills?
No Hinata-chan just a little bit, I already used two of my foxfire techniques against Anko. so they already know about that, she didn't hear that it was foxfire but she did see that it was powerful. But I'll explain that, you just don't use it unless you really have to, for now use just one or maybe two water jutsu. And then I do mean the normal one mind said Naruto, adding the last part as Hinata accidently flashed him a glimpse of the water dragon technique.
You ready?
Let's do this Naruto-kun, Kura-chan please keep Naruto out of any genjutsu.
Of course Tenshi-chan, can't let our Naruto-kun get hurt.
It seemed the girls had decided that they best not get another nickname for him, after all they only had two nicknames he used now. And it seemed for every nickname they thought up, he was gonna come up with another one, and knowing Naruto they would get more embarrassing as the number rose. So the girls being smart as they were decided not to go to war against the number one most surprising ninja, especially with something that required him to get inventive.
Now Kurenai had already sensed them the first time around although she just barely sensed Naruto, Hinata a little bit better and Shino was hidden but for her very clear. So she was quite pleased that they could hide well and apparently worked together even though she did say there were only 2 kunai. But then she remembered, she could really hit herself, she forgot the key part of this test for teamwork as Kakashi used it, she forgot to tell them the part about only the two with the kunai passing. 'oh well too late for that' Kurenai s thought and sighed.
Then she sensed Shino again, however this time it seemed that he was alone, but that couldn't be right, Hinata and Naruto wouldn't just abandon him like that, no Naruto would be the one to lead the attack, if anything was correct on his profile at least. She knew Hinata's profile was complete crap and that Shino's was about 70% correct but he had also kept another 30% hidden at the academy, which begs the question just why it wasn't ever noticed.
When Shino suddenly stopped at the edge of the clearing she knew something was up. Thanks to her being on edge, she heard the small whistle created by the kunai Naruto had thrown and the subsequent arrows Hinata had fired. Damn those arrows are fast, thought Kurenai, she turned around to see both Hinata and Naruto, standing nonchalantly just outside of the treeline. And while they were just standing there not even in an official stance, she could not find a unguarded spot on both of them. Sure each of them had them but these were then covered by their partner. It seemed like they had been fighting together for decades but that was simply impossible. Deciding it might be because they were in love and wanted to protect each other or maybe it was just a freaky coincidence though she did doubt that. With all this going through her mind she never did notice the few bugs Shino let loose and sent to eat out the trunk in which the kunai was stuck.
Deciding this was still a test after all, she should probably see just how good they were. And so she went onto the offencive, no longer waiting for them to make their move but still guarding the kunai, she quickly grabbed a few kunai from her pouch and began throwing them at them, a total of 12 kunai, 2 kunai with the first swipe of her hands, 4 with the next movements and eventually 6 as the last salvo. Naruto wanting to catch Kureani off guard decided to jump to the right and separate from Hinata. Kurenai seeing the chance to at least get one person in a genjutsu, flipped through her signs and called out.," Magen: Komori-ka" which would have made most genin fall asleep, Naruto however thanks to Kyu, didn't even notice. Kurenai was just about to turn to Hinata to keep her from waking up Naruto when she noticed that he his eyes were still wide open and he was even picking his nose. In the bushes nearby Anko was rolling around and laughing loudly, she was surprised nobody discovered her. The look on Kurenai's face was just too much for Anko. Kurenai, also known as the ice queen of Konoha, was looking at Naruto with shocked eyes and a gaping mouth.
However not to be outdone, she flipped through another series of seals and called out again," Magen: Kokoni Arazu no Jutsu" flipping through another few seals, "Magen: Nijū Kokoni Arazu no Jutsu". However Naruto was now in the process of taking out a handkerchief, wiping the booger he had picked on it and was now proceeding to walk back to Hinata.
"You should know Kurenai-sensei, genjutsu don't work on us." said Naruto before he made his familiar cross sign and send his clones forward. Hinata in the meantime had noticed Anko but seeing her current state she didn't think she was too much of a threat; however she did still keep an eye on her, or keep her in her vision at least.
Seeing Naruto was rushing Kurenai, Hinata quickly flipped through a few seals and called out, "Suiton: Sokusha Mizu Teppō no jutsu" drawing attention to herself before shooting multiple small water bullets, all of them just narrowly missing the clones and continue heading towards Kurenai. She then did something Kurenai had never seen, Hinata flipped through a few seals and then whispered out, "Yajirushi Kage Bunshin no Jutsu" but it had no effect at the very least not that Kurenai could see, but at that moment she didn't want to take any chances. Inside the circle of Naruto clones the water bullets were now accompanied by dozens of arrows all hidden in the shadow of the water bullets, so Kurenai never saw these. Hinata had used one of her bullets to hide one of her arrows, then by using the technique she multiplied the arrow in the shadows of her other bullets.
However Kurenai never had any intention just dodging them, instead she used one of the logs in the clearing to switch using the Kawarimi no jutsu. Kurenai looked back, seemingly glad to have used kawarimi , seeing as the log was now not only wet and bruised from the blunt force trauma, but was also pierced by a couple of arrows that she had not expected to see. She was very lucky to use the Kawarimi instead of just dodging, silently she thanked the holy log, apparently her being careful was warranted.
However she never did get much time to admire Hinata's technique cause behind her she heard the clones closing in. She instantly drew one of her kunai and started the fight, Naruto's level was still just barely past academy in taijutsu, he now had his academy basics down and one extra crushing move that he could use, so in other words, Kurenai made short work of his clones. But that small amount of time was all Naruto needed to make one of his original techniques, it wasn't really harmful or flashy but it was very distracting. As such was a good technique to buy time usually used to confuse pursuers, and that was all they needed, time.
Hinata had while Kurenai was busy with Naruto's clones, completed her full seal series, even if she didn't need all of them, but they were trying to hide at least some of what they could do. She then called out, letting Kurenai know what they wanted her to think was happening:"Suiton: Kirigakure no Jutsu" with a small mist rolling in, meanwhile Naruto was going through his pretty long series of seals, finishing with the fox sign but he didn't call anything out he just whispered:'kitsune-hi: Shinkirō" blowing out his breath, nothing seemed to be blown out. But what Naruto had done was quite simple he had blown out air heated to a special temperature. Once this now hot air clashed with Hinata's cold mist, false images would be created.
Kurenai of course thought that Naruto had used a genjutsu after all she had never heard about anything except genjutsu that had this effect. So she did the only thing she could think about, she focused her energy and called: "Kai" however all that changed where the locations of some of the images, having disrupted the airflow a little bit. All but one however, though at the moment she didn't really notice, she was still thinking she was in a genjutsu and that she, a genjutsu mistress, couldn't get out of it.
All the while Shino's bugs had eaten the trunk around the kunai and loosened it, Hinata still keeping an eye on Anko, had also noticed this so she quickly ran towards the kunai, but Kurenai seeing now one person obviously moving decided that she probably wasn't a genjutsu. However Naruto hadn't been idle, he had once again used his kage bunshin no jutsu, now making them poof a lot more smoke and even making a few of his flash bunshin with them.
So having Naruto buy her time, Hinata quickly sped towards the tree trunk where the kunai was nearly thrown out by Shino's bugs, it seemed Shino was agitated that he couldn't join the fight. And his bugs reflected that, probably why they chewed out the knife so quickly, Hinata really did think it would have taken twice as long. So she quickly grabbed the kunai and dashed for the forest line. Naruto noticing that he was the only left in the clearing, made his traditional cross sign however now he had his ring finger added to it. "Bakuhatsu no kage bunshin no jutsu." called Naruto loud enough for Kurenai to hear, hoping she heard him and so she would be careful. Running out of the clearing after Hinata, he saw that both Hinata and Shino had the kunai with the engraving on.
"Okay we got both of our kunai. That means we pass right?" Naruto called.
"Yeah I think you pass, right Nai-chan" yelled Anko coming out of the shadows
"Yes," commented Kurenai," However Naruto, never ever send the last sort of clone to an ally ever again." pointing to all the burn marks on her clothes and even the singed tips of her hair.
"I think I overdid it." said Naruto, rubbing his head.
However Kurenai once again turned serious and said:" Congratulations, you are now officially team 8. You can have the afternoon of, however I would still like to have a word with both you and Hinata, Naruto-kun."
Hinata just nodded and Naruto not wanting to see Shino left out, answered, " I think Shino should be here too Kurenai-sensei, we're a team after all, I don't have anything to hide from him." Shino nodded his head in thanks.
"You do know that my questions will probably go over some touchy topics"
"As long as it does not compromise any mission secrets or goes about private things between me and Hinata." said Naruto making Hinata blush crimson.
"As you wish, so do you want to start?" agreed a pretty shocked Kurenai.
"Okay, first Shino, could you give me that kunai, please?"
Shino being curious as to what could shock Kurenai-sensei, just handed his kunai over.
"Okay Shino just checking something, this is a kunai correct?" asked Naruto at which Shino just nodded; Naruto then quickly sealed the kunai in a scroll. "Now what is this?" asked Naruto.
"a seal with a kunai in, why?"
"Okay, now what I'm about to tell you is an S-class secret, if you talk about this with anyone who does not know this secret, you will be signing your death sentence. You've probably seen how I'm treated. So, well there's no easy way of saying this and you really should know this, I am the container of Kyuubi no kitsune." said Naruto rubbing the back of his head, like he was excusing it, however that was just on the outside. On the inside he had to hear the profuse apologetic series voiced by Kyu and he was telling her it wasn't her fault.
Shino being his eloquent self just replied to this with "I see, that's does explain much."
However Kurenai never knowing anything about how Naruto was being treated did require some extra explanation. After all there were only a few jounin who were vocal enough about seeing Naruto as Naruto and not as the Kyuubi, one being Kurenai. So when the villagers saw her, they stopped talking trash about Naruto and even if he was there started treating him like a normal person.
"What do you mean by how you are treated Naruto?" asked Kurenai
Anko however wasn't so naïve being on the receiving end of the scorn of the villagers before Naruto, she knew quite well how he was treated everywhere except a few select shops, none of them including clothing shops, after all there was no way Naruto would weir that hideous kill me orange contraption if he had any other options right?
"Oh don't be so naïve Nai-chan. You should know how people treat him, they act all normal when they see you but you must have at least once hidden your presence and also been in the company of Naruto to notice how he is treated."
However how improbable it might be, she had actually never hidden her presence and seen how the villagers treated Naruto. She did have as excuse that the last few years she had worked really hard to become Jounin, even if she had only just been named one.
"So you mean they aren't like the way I see them all the time."
At this Hinata looked away to the ground and even Naruto looked a bit sullen,
"No Kurenai-sensei, they don't, the last year it hasn't been too bad, now that they thought I might fight back I just get the stares and the extra added demon tax. They haven't chased me or beaten me up since last year." said Naruto, even though he was older now and could deal with it better, having relived those worst days of his life twice did way on his mind sometimes. Especially during nights, he could sometimes wake up 5 times, luckily with both Hinata and Kyu sharing his bed most of the bad dreams stayed away and even if they did happen, both Hinata and Kyu were there to help him through them. And so Naruto was processing his childhood again, however this time it seemed to be easier, maybe it was already having gone through it once or maybe it was the help of Kyu and Hinata, Naruto didn't know. All he knew was that he was glad that he had both of them in his life and he thanked whatever deity out there for having them.
Naruto now seeing the sombre mood that his answers had generated decided to lighten things up again. "Don't worry Kurenai-sensei, Anko-sensei, it isn't too bad, at least I can eat ramen, and I even believe I have gotten Shino warmed up to the idea, isn't that right Shino?"
Shino, reading the underlying message perfectly, blushed a little. It was such an absurd scene that however hard Anko tried, she just could not hold in her laughter. Here was her normally totally emotionless resident bug boy, blushing like a teenage girl. Even Kurenai had to chuckle at his discomfort and Hinata just smiled, she thought both Shino and Ayame deserved a chance at happiness.
In the original timeline, Shino did never find love; it seemed that he had never met Ayame. Neither she nor Kiba really enjoyed eating ramen and Shino was just impartial to it, so they never did eat it much and when they did it was usually when on a mission with them quickly eating and continuing their missions.
"Now that Shino has been embarrassed enough for today, you said you had some questions you wanted to ask me Kurenai-sensei, Anko-sensei."
"Yeah a couple actually, first of, since when can you use Katon(fire release) jutsu?"
"Quite simple, I can't."
"What, but I saw you use katon jutsu against me, and apparently you also used them against Anko. Seeing as she isn't surprised either."
"I never said I didn't use fire jutsu, I just said that I don't use Katon jutus."
Naruto apparently just loved messing with people's heads.
Even going as far as driving a few of them insane later on in life. Before that he had annoyed them quite a few times when they had tried to order him around without Tsunade's permission. It is quite sad when an 18 year old knows the law better than the entire council and Hokage. Especially since so many ridiculous ones existed. There were even some that stated that should at one time there ever be a petition filed with 100 signatures for the consent of the Hokage to make a hot spring co-ed than the Hokage would have to agree to or could force a trial period of at least one month, in which all the hot springs in Konoha would be turned co-ed. If Jiraiya or even the current Hokage ever found out about that rule than he was sure he would suddenly find all the hot springs co-ed.
"Bull, I definitely saw you use one, when you burned that one tree nearly to the ground when distracting me, nearly killing me I might add." called Anko, Kurenai just nodded, having similar experiences just a few minutes ago.
"You don't seem to understand, I never said I could not use fire based attack, I just can't use Katon jutsu."
"So then what were those techniques you used?" asked Anko, with Shino now also leaning in, pretty interested about Naruto's techniques too. After all he was pretty sure that if Naruto ever used one of those techniques on him, no matter the fact that he had nearly completely merged his now two colonies with the few species of the fire resistant type, he had found at the restaurant, thus making them also fire resistant, he was sure they would still burn.
"Quite simple do you really think that being the container of the most powerful demon on the face of the earth doesn't give me any benefits?"
"So …" insisted Anko.
"I use Foxfire." answered Naruto.
"Fox…fire?" asked Kurenai, starting to get worried that maybe the fox was influencing Naruto by letting him use some of his power, still not knowing that the fox wasn't really a fox but a vixen.
"Yeah it's one of the perks I get; it's nearly identical to the katon jutsu only a little bit more efficient."
Hearing the understatement of the year Hinata just snorted, she had seen what some of the higher class techniques Kyu used, could do; it seemed that even though they said Amaterasu was the most potent fire known to man. Which was essentially true seeing as Kyu was a demon, but it seemed that Kyu had made her fire potent enough to completely block Amaterasu. Now with Naruto and her also having the ability it seemed the name had to be shared. However Kyu could not make the same amount of foxfire to overpower Amaterasu at once. But luckily making more foxfire was easier than making more of the black flames of Amaterasu, although it did need to be an S-class jutsu to be the same power, but for blocking purposes the foxfire didn't have an equal. Even the smallest veil of foxfire could stop a normal Amaterasu assault. Foxfire was never really meant for attacking purpose, no it was made to complement Kyu, and her nature to more protect than attack. After all if you're a giant fox with nine tails that could cause earth quakes by just smashing the ground then why bother with more attack.
"It seems Hinata doesn't agree with you Naruto-kun." said Kurenai.
"Okay fine, so it's pretty efficient at least once I get enough control over it, I already nearly scorched of my eyebrows once, if it weren't for Hinata and her quick response with her water, I wouldn't have any."
"Naruto-kun stop underestimating your foxfire, they're our sensei and our teammates, they deserve to know. What he didn't tell you about that time that he was trying to see just what he could get when he fed enough chakra into the Gōkakyū no Jutsu for 10 kage bunshin. It nearly burned down the forest to a clearing half the size of where we just were. Luckily I was around and there was a stream nearby our training place. However it does seem that it does not expand beyond what Naruto allows it cause once he stopped the jutsu it didn't progress any further but it did stay around the now new clearing, it seemed like it was guarding it."
"Okay" said a now sweating Anko, she was really lucky that Naruto didn't hit her with that.
" So what you're saying is, Hinata-chan," Hinata was glad that Kurenai was still taking on the role of big sister and sensei just like last time," that even this fire is a bit more destructive but also has other properties than the normal fire jutsu."
"Yeah I think you could put it like that. Unfortunately we don't know too much about it, so me and Naruto are just going at this by the ear, trying to replicate some know fire jutsu and coming up with new ways to use the clearly more protective values. And don't worry no one is in any danger, and I'm always with him to be sure he doesn't do anything stupid."
"Hey, I don't just do stupid things," complained Naruto," I can't help it when something doesn't go as I expect it to cause of external factors." hearing the whiny tone in which Naruto was saying this, Anko nearly had to laugh again, she didn't know why but she was really starting to like this kid.
"Okay so to summarise, you, Naruto, can use a more destructive version of the katon jutsu, but only two at the moment?"
"No, sorry four actually, one is the one I used on you Kurenai-sensei, kitsune-hi: Shinkirō, where I use my foxfire to heat the air, while Hinata uses her kirigakure to bring in cold air, so making two different temperature in the air and making mirages. It's actually a collaboration jutsu, but it can work alone, however it doesn't work nearly as good alone as with Hinata's help. The other one is kistune-hi: Surasshutēru, where I make a whip-tail like fire appendage and lash it at the opponent, I got the idea when I saw the water whip Hinata can use. It seems that the user can hold on to the fire but controlling it is a bit difficult so I can't really use it in battle yet."
"hmmm," said Kurenai thoughtfully, "so you can use four foxfire techniques, which are probably gonna be at least be C-rank if not more with the extra properties of the fire. You can also use an B-rank kinjutsu using only one seal and even made adaptations on it, another question: just how many can you make, in our fight you flung them at me like they were spare change. And I'm not sure but I think you can even use the Shunshin no Jutsu. Giving you a total of 8 techniques."
Naruto was pretty embarrassed now, having to add another technique to the list." Sorry Kurenai-sensei but I can also use the same technique Hinata-chan used in our fight. And well I don't really know just how many kage bunshin I can make." said Naruto rubbing his head again.
Kurenai was shocked here was a student just out of college who could already do 8 techniques most of them never ever heard of, a use of a kinjutsu know for high chakra use, nearly without limit and now here he was saying that wasn't all,
"What do you mean? You mean to say that's not all?"
"Hehe, I can also use the Shuriken kage bunshin no jutsu. And the adaptations to our selected ranged weapons."
"And that's another thing, how can you just use a ranged weapon, one even I have never heard of being used as a weapon?" asked a shocked Anko.
"What do you mean Anko?" asked Kurenai." And what do you mean selected ranged weapons?"
"Didn't he use it with you? With me, our Naruto-kun here used that boomerang that's nearly just as large as he is, and nearly cleaved me in two with practiced ease." Hearing this Kurenai turned to Naruto, giving him the clear look stating, talk NOW!.
"Well you see, if you don't have any friends, you have a lot of time on your hands. I used mine to train, and once I broke Hinata out of her shell and she explained her situation to me, I kinda dragged her into it too. She is proficient in using both the Suiton: Suiben, Suiton, Kirigakure no jutsu, Suiton Sokusha Mizu Teppo no jutsu, Shuriken kage bunshin no jutsu, kunai, yajirushii and Bumeran and she also learned both Shunshin and Kage bunshin."
Now the shocked looks turned towards Hinata.
"I thought you were kicked out of the Hyuuga household because you were weak, why didn't you ever show them these skills?"
"Kurenai-sensei, however good I am at these skills, it does not change the fact that I am not good at the Juken, the style apparently doesn't suite me. And that is the only technique that has any meaning in that family." spitting the last part out.
Kurenai was now beyond just normal shock; here was Hinata, one of the kindest kunoichi she knew, saying things with such malice. But Kurenai knew better than to pry into the Hyuuga affairs, so she decided she better didn't know than know and blow up against Hiashi when she next saw him; however she wasn't going to be friendly anymore. She had always hoped she would get Hinata as one of her students and that's why she was usually kind towards Hiashi even though he was usually quite frigid.
So Kurenai just nodded and decided it was time to move on.
"Okay so we got, you two who have clearly still not told us everything, but I do respect your privacy so I won't pry into your reasons for acting the way you have. Though I do think I'll be having a few words with the Hokage about your treatment Naruto-kun." Hearing this Naruto's heart warmed, he never did get much love from anyone besides Kyu and Hinata, but knowing that Kurenai was looking out for him was kind of comforting.
Anko not wanted being outdone added," Yeah and if the old stiff doesn't want to do anything I'm sure that having a few reptiles running around won't help their businesses much."
"Okay, now onto the next question, I know that both Hinata and Naruto have been holding back and probably don't even have told me everything yet, but I would also like to know how much you've been holding back, Shino-kun."
Shino just nodded and started, too shocked to really care, "I have an total of 3 different techniques using my bugs and also I have two colonies inside my body instead of the just one I always used. Other than that, my Tajutsu is a bit better and faster than I showed in the academy. But I'm nothing like those two."
Now normally Shino doesn't talk much, so with him literally giving a speech it was hard not to be surprised, especially Naruto and Hinata. They hadn't heard him talk so much since, wait they had hear him talk this much yesterday when he was talking to Ayame. But it was still a radical change from what they were used too, they had after all been used to a very silent Shino for over 20 years, Naruto would even bet that at the end of this year, he would have heard Shino say more than he ever did in the old timeline.
"Now are there any other questions you guys might have?" asked Naruto, fearing the dreaded silence that was about to descend on them.
"Yeah I still got some, one how long have you guys been together?" leered Anko," Two, how long have you guys been training in secret. And last but not least, how the fuck do you guys know how to torture those convicts from yesterday. I just had to threaten him with getting you back once and he spilled. It was no more fun for me." pouted Anko.
"Wait, what do you mean by torturing convicts Anko-sensei?" asked surprisingly enough Shino, it seemed that Kurenai already knew.
"Well you see kid, yesterday when we all left the training grounds; they went to get something to eat after which they decided they wanted a crack at a torture session too. Me and Ibiki were just about to take our mandatory 50 minute break when they arrived asking for a shot. You should know both me and Ibiki had already been in there with them for an hour and a half. But we didn't even get the tiniest break, so deciding to humour both of them," told Anko, pointing at Naruto and Hinata who had once again linked hands," I even made a bet with Ibiki, but that's not important, however once our break was nearly over we decided to head back. I was thinking that they would probably already be out having had enough. However what we did not count on was the fact that both of them would be successful."
Now even Kurenai was surprised, it seemed Anko had left out that part.
"Wait you mean to tell me that they even succeeded, you never did tell me that little part." commented Kurenai.
"To the first, none of your business, to the second, a few weeks only. And the third question, you know better than to ask about torture techniques, if you follow your bet till the end I might give you a few scrolls to play around with."
"Oh come on Naruto, that's not fair and what do you mean by scrolls?" emphasizing the s, whined and asked Anko.
"Quite simple we both together have at the moment a total of 26 scrolls nearly all with 5 levels of torture fun. So if you honour your bet you can pick a number and I'll let you try it out." answered Naruto, holding back another 10 that he thought were too dangerous for her to use and another 4 that weren't complete yet.
"Fine" pouted Anko, she really was like a little child sometimes.
Shino in the meantime was just adding to his list of growing abilities that both Hinata and Naruto had, however he did see where they would get their ideas. However now that he thought about it he had even noticed that quite a few of the clan elders had been treating Naruto just like the other villagers, he also filed that for later. He needed to think long and hard to make a plan for bringing this up to his clan elders.
Seeing the chance to stop any other questions before they could be come up with, Naruto started to ask his questions, "So Kurenai-sensei, what do we do now, and what will our function be?"
"Well since I have to report to the Hokage this afternoon you'll have the afternoon of, and we'll meet back here tomorrow morning at 8 o' clock. And as to what function, I'm not sure yet, you definitely are good at tracking but I think you'll be able to do so much more, but I'll only tell the Hokage that and not any of the other jounin-sensei." Said Kurenai, seeing Naruto panicked face once he heard she was gonna talk about them but relax once she said she was only gonna tell the Hokage about their skills.
"Okay, you are dismissed, come on Anko I think we can still have time for some dango, seeing as our students managed to complete our tests before noon."
Anko still in child mode screamed," Yeay DANGO!"
"Anko behave, or no dango." Said Kurenai like she was scolding a little child, Anko's only response was pouting; however you could see that she loved the game they were playing inside her eyes.
"I always did wonder if they were ever together." Questioned Naruto,
"Kurenai-chan was always pretty closed about her private life. The only way we even knew that she and Asuma-san were together was because of him and not her."
"Oh please, you know just as well as I do that they've got something going on. What I'm more curious about is why did Kurenai and Anko break up in the first place?" called out Kyu.
"Well I'm not gonna risk anything today, she already placated me when she agreed to keep our skills secret from every other jounin. And besides if we talk much longer, Shino is gonna start wondering."
"Hai, Naruto-sama." Called both Kyu and Hinata, knowing Naruto never did like being addressed as sama, even when he was Hokage.
"So Shino, wanna get something to eat?" asked Naruto, "My treat, we do have something to celebrate after all."
"Okay Naruto-san, I would be delighted. Ramen?" asked Shino but you could still hear as much as you could with Shino, the excitement at ramen and neither Naruto nor Hinata thought it was thanks to the ramen but more who was at the stand that made Shino excited.
Hinata just sighed, now she was never ever gonna get Naruto away from that ramen stand, but oh well, at least she got to enjoy in the profits. After all for her continued cooperation with thinking up new ideas and her writing an agreement never to go into business against Teuchi, he had given her 10% of the ramen stand.
"Okay but after this we're gonna teach Shino the shunshin no jutsu, it's not that hard and I really don't wanna run through the entire village every time we're gonna eat ramen."
"Fine, we'll teach him, you are right that it would really be handier. But don't you think we should ask Shino if he even wants to learn."
"All right, so Shino do you want to learn the shunshin no jutsu?"
Shino of course agreed after all learning a new technique especially such a handy one was on his to do list and here we're his team mates willing to teach him. Seeing as they we're much stronger than him, Shino wasn't going to decline to let them teach him anytime soon.
"Okay, but now RAMEN!"(you can guess who this is.)
Meanwhile with Kurenai and Anko.
"So how much do you want to tell the Hokage, do you think we should tell him about the foxfire or still keep it a secret?" asked Anko.
"Of course we'll tell him, the Hokage needs to know. Who knows maybe the fox is even influencing Naruto." replied Kurenai, she didn't know how right she was although the method of influencing wasn't what she thought.
"Fine. We'll tell the Hokage but don't even think about saying anything about this to Kakashi, Nai-chan, I know you see the best in everybody but even you know how he thinks about Naruto. If you tell him he can use kitsune-hi jutsu thanks to the fox, he'll rush over and kill Naruto before the Hokage could forbid it, especially since Katon jutsu are the Uchiha's main weapon. If he knew that Naruto knew any better fire jutsu, he might just snap."
"All right, not that I was going to anyhow. I just hope Kakashi gets to know the real Naruto so he can finally get that image of fox Naruto out of his mind."
"We'll see, the kid does have a way of worming his way into your hart if you let him."
"I know what you mean." sighed Kurenai, even after the last time she had sworn not to get so involved with her students, with both Hinata and Naruto, she just couldn't resist. She had since she had seen Hinata like a baby sister ever since she had to watch her when she was a chuunin. And she had found that Naruto had some distinctive quirks that she knew only Kushina's, her sensei, kid could have but she wasn't entirely sure. So she had been silently helping Naruto along if she was around not thinking things were that bad, so she had seen now come to see him as a little brother. Anko never having met either Hinata or Naruto didn't really know what to feel like, but she did know that they were slowly penetrating her shields and there was nothing she could do against that.
Arriving in the Hokage's office they went over to Hana and Asuma who were already waiting.
"hello Asuma-san, hey Hana-chan, how is everything?" called out Anko, being friends with Asuma but not enough to call him with kun .
"Hey Anko-chan, hey Kurenai-chan. Everything went fine, I think that this will be quite a good team, Ino-chan shows some promise. She just has to get over the Uchiha first. Especially in the field of medicine but Anko-chan would you maybe teach my students about the use of poisons. I think that'll be even better suited for Ino. She already has an extensive knowledge of flowers and if she could get to using paralytics then even on her own she might be able to use her techniques." Seeing Anko's still reluctant face she quickly added,' and in return I'll teach yours about Healing."
"You know Anko that's not a bad deal, after all you specialty is poisons, and I think Hinata would make an excellent healer. And if we could also get Asuma to teach ours a little about strategy, their teamwork would probably skyrocket. Of course in return I'll teach theirs something about Genjutsu. What do you say Asuma-kun? You up for a little exchange?"
"Fine, you are right that I do know quite a bit about strategy and maybe even a bit of chakra elemental manipulation. And not really much about genjutsu except how to break them. Fine you have a deal. But Hana-chan, I do expect you at all of these sessions, and you too Anko. You both could learn a thing or two. I even think the old man put Hana with me just for that purpose."
"Doesn't he mean to make sure that he doesn't slack of?" whispered Anko to both Kurenai and Hana, at which they just giggled.
"Hey I'm serious; Hana isn't really an offensive fighter even though she's from the Inuzaka clan. Now I'm not saying that's a bad thing." Seeing that she was gearing up to respond, "but having a few offensive moves or even defensive ones to keep the enemy away from our injured, could save a life. Heck I'll probably even be at most of the genjutsu lessons, if Kurenai allows, cause at the moment all I can really do is break them on my own, not really sure how to help others with them."
"What you don't know how to get another person out of a genjutsu?" nearly screamed Kurenai. Asuma just rubbed his head;" I know it's not pretty but I have never worked with anyone who didn't know how."
"Still even if everyone knows how to get out of one, they still have to know they are in one. Another thing do teach them to break out of one before my lessons, all of my students already know how and I wouldn't want to bore them, the Log knows what Naruto will think up to pass the time." Said Kurenai while shuddering, she had heard about all the pranks that Naruto had pulled in the academy and she couldn't imagine what he would think up now that he didn't really have to hide his skills anymore.
"Okay, you have a deal; let's give them another week first to get acquainted with each other first. After that we'll start trading them. Do you think we should get Kakashi in on this too?" asked Asuma.
"Noooo!" screamed both Anko and Kurenai together, blinking a few times and looking at each other they just looked at Asuma again who had a confused expression on his face so Anko explained." You know how Kakashi is about teaching, the only reason he even does it now was because of the Uchiha, then add the fact that the Uchiha thinks he's better then everyone and doesn't want to work hard. Plus I'm pretty sure he will just think that what we teach isn't important enough cause it isn't ninjutus so he'll just muck up the entire lessons for everyone."
Asuma rubbed his beard, lit up a smoke then he replied," You're probably right, but I don't really know much about ninjutsu or taijutsu."
"And we can't ask Guy to teach them either, at least I can't."
"Why not Nai-chan?" asked Anko.
"In his team he has the one known as the Huuga prodigy." Just by saying that a light bulb went off in Anko's head. Hana and Asuma not really knowing much about it and not having heard that Hinata was now no longer Hinata Hyuuga we're still confused.
"Why would it be a problem if Hinata would be joined by another Hyuuga?"
Before Kurenai could explode, Anko decided to answer." You guys do know that Hinata is no longer a Hyuuga right?"
Seeing the shocked looks on their faces was proof enough so she quickly turned towards Kurenai who was still nearly exploding," See Nai-chan, they just didn't know, no harm meant." Kurenai took deep breaths and after a few minutes she was reasonably calm again. "Sorry about that, but when I heard that they had just cast her away like that. It just makes me mad."
"Deep breaths Nai-chan, don't want to blow up in the Hokage's office now do you."
"You're right Anko-chan. Now how do you suggest we do this?"
"Well normally I would have them do missions 3 days a week and teach them the other 3 and have them take Sunday of. So how about we just split that time up? You and Anko take Tuesday, me and Hana will teach them Thursday, and Saturday is a day we can work on teamwork or teach them other stuff we personally want to. And then we'll give them Sundays off. How's that sound?"
Kurenai looked at Anko who just nodded her consent." Okay fine, I'll see your students coming Tuesday at 8 AM on training ground 8. Tell Shikamaru that if he's late, I'll have him do the same exercises as the others but with weights on, multiplied by 2 for every minute he's late."
Asuma smirked, the kid wasn't gonna like that, Hana had also made a similar remark, only she had threatened to let her triplets take as many bites out of him as he was late. And that she would also sic them on him if he didn't do his best." He really would never forget the look on Shikamaru's face once Hana explained.
"Okay, I'll tell him, how about you bring yours around 10," however he was interrupted by Hana saying, "bring them around 8 AM to training ground 10. I'll take the morning, and with me it's if they're late, my triplets get to chase them around for as many minutes as they are late." Anko just nodded while gulping, she really did not want those three after her, they were scary as a team.
Before the conversation could continue again, they we're interrupted with the Hokage arriving.
"Okay now that" looking around, the Hokage sighed," I was gonna say now that everyone is here, but it seems that Kakashi is once again late. But no use waiting on him, so report." And so it began with teams 1-6 not passing for various reasons.
"Okay next team 7's sensei is still not here so we'll" however at this point Kakashi entered the room, seeing everyone looking at him he just started making a lame excuse however the Hokage just gave him a hard glare. "Team 7 report."
"Team 7 has passed. They will make a great team, maybe even worthy of the Sanin." Called Kakashi, knowing deep down that was a lie but still not believing it, wanting the Uchiha to become great. Every other jounin just rolled their eyes. The Hokage nodded, he had seen the test taking place. Kakashi then described his test and how brilliant the Uchiha was. The hokage just sighed and stopped Kakashi mid-way," I already know the details, so on to team 8, report" he had actually wanted to see this test but for some reason he couldn't see them. 'Probably Kurenai's work with a genjutsu, to stop anyone from spying'. thought the Hokage however it had been Kyu who had cast that genjutsu, to stop the spies of Danzo from seeing anything not to stop the Hokage from seeing anything.
"Team 8 has passed our test, Hokage-sama." the Hokage just nodded he hadn't expected any less. "Okay, I'll expect a full report to be given to me after the meeting is over." This surprised most of the jounin however it was Kakashi who responded, "What! Why don't they have to report it now?" he nearly screamed.
"Kakashi, know your place! And they don't because I say they don't." answered the Hokage.
After this Kakashi just left muttering about prejudice and foxes.
'Anybody else have anything else to add?" silence was all that met him," Okay, then onto team 10 report."
"Team 10 has passed as well Hokage-sama. They show both great teamwork and strategy." Then Hana proceeded to explain the test and the responses of the inoshikacho trio.
After the report was over, the Hokage said," Thank you all, you're dismissed. I do want Hana, Anko, Kurenai and Asuma to stay."
After everybody had left, the hokage just turned towards Kurenai," Report."
Kurenai however wasn't really comfortable reporting with both Hana and Asuma there.
"Euhm, sorry to ask but why are Asuma-san and Hana-san still here?" asked Kurenai.
The Hokage just smirked, "I overheard the little deal you brokered with them, and don't you think they'll have to have all the information regarding their future students?"
Kurenai just nodded, and then began her report. She included everything, including the great teamwork of Hinata and Naruto, the weapons both Hinata and Naruto used the torture completion however she did first seem to check with the Hokage and then lastly all of the Jutsu that the two of them had used. Hearing this last part raised the eyebrows of the other three.
"So you're saying that Naruto has a more powerfull version of the Katon, and already knows how to use a total of 8 techniques?" asked an incredulous Hana, however both the Sarutobi's had the same shocked face.
"Nope, he has more; I think his total is eleven, with three of them being adaptations."
"Fuck me." Said Hana, however quickly covered her mouth, "sorry Hokage-sama."
"Don't worry child, I think you summarised that quite well." Smirked the Hokage and then continued, "So what do you think son?"
"I think, I don't know what to think. The quiet bug user is quite advanced, the quiet meek girl is actually a powerhouse and the dead last is actually far beyond the others."
"I might add that I don't think that Hinata and Naruto are that far apart, from what I see, they're both equally strong, however this time Hinata had the supportive role and Naruto the more active role. And I even think they were holding back a bit." Said Kurenai, Anko just nodded her consent.
"Yeah I even heard around after they broke those convicts and it seemed that Hinata was out even before Naruto was."
"Well it seems you'll have your hands full, keep me updated." Said the Hokage before dismissing them.
Outside Asuma turned to Kurenai," How certain are you about that last part?"
"Fairly. So wanna grab a drink with us, you guys seem to have a need for one. We'll celebrate our new arrangement. Heck we might even learn something from them." Smirked Kurenai, but not really joking either.
"You're right I do need a drink, you coming too Hana-chan?"
Hana just shrugged," Why not, it's not like I have anything else to do."
The next day at sunrise with Naruto, Hinata and Kyu.
"So everything went according to plan?"
"Hai, Kishi-kun."
"Hai, I especially like your plan for the Inuzaka compound Naruto-kun." Commented Kyu.
"Okay, now that all the traps are set, the libraries are all copied?"
Both Hinata and Kyu just nodded, "Then me think it time for the fun to begin." Said Naruto forming the ram seal, he channelled quite a bit of chakra and called out," Fuin no jutsu: Itazura shīru; Kai!"
And there the three of them sat, seeing the air be filled with all kind of colours of paint, red, , orange and purple we're the most frequent but not everything. None of the clans were spared, even ANBU headquarters had gotten a nice pinks coating. You could also hear all kinds of bells ringing and even some animal sounds. Even the past Hokage's heads had not been spared. The first seemed to be made entirely out of wood with bushes sticking out of his ears, noses and mouth. The second looked like a geisha with purple eye shadow and lips. The third had a giant nosebleed and looked quite sex-crazed. And the fourth looked like a clown, big red nose and all.
"You better go back Kura-chan, they're coming." Said Naruto already hearing all the ANBU and jounin coming their way. Seeing both Naruto and Hinata sitting their stumped them for a little while however their anger quickly took over, it seemed not all of them had been inside when the seals went off, as such they were completely covered in paint.
"NARUTO!" they all screamed, Naruto just bowed and called:" Thank you Thank you, you're too kind." And then sprinted away with Hinata, they both led all of them on a merry little chase around the town, always just not letting themselves get caught. After an hour on the chase it seemed most of the Anbu had to stop, with the jounin already stopping long ago because they were out of breath. Another quarter of an hour longer and only 4 Anbu remained pig , bear, bird and cat. "Okay Naruto-kun do tell us why we came home this morning to see the village painted in all kinds of colours and all the ANBU and Jounin chasing you and Miss Hyuuga-san." Asked cat, aka Yugao.
"It's no longer Hyuuga. It's Hinata, just Hinata." Nearly screamed a slightly enraged Hinata.
"Okay okay, sorry, why were they chasing both you, Naruto, and Hinata-chan then." Asked bear, aka Yamato.
"I don't know what you're talking about Tenzo-san. After all we we're just doing our warm-up run when all of them decided to join us." Said Naruto playing innocent however any chance of that succeeding dropped once he heard "NARUTO!" by Iruka.
"H-h-hey Iruka-sensei."
"What do you think you're doing. I thought you'd know better Hinata-chan. Follow me NOW!" screamed Iruka starting off towards the now yellow with orange blotted Hokage tower.
Arriving at the Hokage tower, Iruka and the four ANBU quickly led Naruto towards the Hokage's room. Entering they could already see the Hokage sitting behind his desk, once he saw who entered his frown deepened.
"Anbu you're dismissed, I'll get your report later. It seems I have other business to attend to first."
"Hai, Hokage-sama." Before they all faded away in the background.
Meanwhile Naruto had leisurely placed himself in a chair and had dragged Hinata with him.
After thanking and also dismissing Iruka, the Hokage turned towards the couple.
"I now this is futile but I better ask, did you do this?"
"Yep." Deadpanned Naruto, this however was not what the Hokage expected.
"What, you admit to all of this?"
"Yep." Said Naruto with Hinata just nodding with him.
"HOW COULD YOU! NOT ONLY THE VILLAGE BUT ALSO THE HOKAGE FACES!"
"Oh relax old man, I just pictured them like they really are, you're a pervert, the fourths a clown and idiot to trust the villagers so much. The first was always using his wood jutsu and well I don't really have an explanation for the Geisha second. But if it really bothers you that much." Quickly going through a series of ten seals, Naruto called out again," fuin jutsu: Hokage no kao toryō; Kai."
The Hokage quickly looked around and what he saw astounded him. It seemed like nearly lifelike portraits of all of the past Hokage's. However it seemed that his still had the bloody nose. Turning back towards Naruto he gave him one look at which Naruto quickly did an extra seal, he looked back and saw himself in his youth years now without the bloody nose.
The Hokage sighed," What am I going to do with you?" he more asked himself than Naruto or Hinata. So when Naruto replied "You could give me a medal." The Hokage just frowned,
'And why exactly should I give you a medal, for painting the entire hidden village in bright flashy colours or for setting of multiple pranks all over the clan compounds? Or maybe even because of the way you painted the entire Hokage tower yellow with orange blots? Are those the things I should be giving you a medal for?" nearly screamed the Hokage at the end.
"No of course not, you should give us a medal for doing all those things and as such pointing out the numerous flaws in our villages defence. Plus finding out that you really need to put all your jounin and ANBU on a training regime to up their condition, old man. It really sucks and from what I'm seeing you could do with a little extra training as well."
The Hokage just blinked, Hinata seeing the warring of both confusion against pride against anger decided to clarify.
"You don't really think I would allow Naruto to just play a village wide prank without a good reason do you Hokage-sama? We did this cause we found that all of our village's clan compounds were way too easy to get into, after all, we're only genin and even we could get in. What would happen should an enemy ninja try this? He could just steal all the information he wanted and never be found out."
The Hokage just sighed he knew they were right, both of them.
"You're right we do seem to have grown a little lax during this time of peace. Maybe I'm really getting too old for this job. You two know that I can never publicly acknowledge this right?"
"We never did ask you to do that old man. We were just pointing it out to all the clans, hopefully now their security will tighten once again."
"I know, so you'll get a pay check for an S-ranked mission again, and you are to try it again within two weeks. But Naruto did you really have to make all of the Hyuuga elders and Hiashi look like chicken with all of those feathers?" now it was Naruto's turn to blink, the Hokage then on his turn blinked before turning to the only other person visible in the room, and seeing the innocent look she was putting on, just gaped. Naruto seeing the Hokage's response and seeing Hinata look all innocent, couldn't hold it anymore and just started rolling on the floor laughing. Hinata just pouted seeing the response.
"So what if I went a little overboard, they deserved it."
"That they did Hime-chan. But the look on the old man's face is just priceless."
The Hokage quickly sobered up quickly once he noticed the flash, to see a grinning Naruto.
"Priceless blackmail material" Now normally the conversation would go on about all the different pranks but it seemed that Konohamaru chose that point to enter, wanting to throw a kunai this time. However just like in the old timeline, he once again tripped on his way too long scarf. Getting up again, he quickly looked around and seeing both Naruto who was grinning and Hinata who was just looking normal decided to blame Naruto.
"It was you, how dare you lay a trap for me." And just like last time Naruto did the only logical thing to do. He picked him up by his scarf.
"Release Omago-sama at once you villain."
Now Konohamaru thought he would once again met another one of those stupid lackeys who wouldn't dare touch a hair on his head once he heard he was the honourable grandson of the third Hokage" Just hit me if you dare"
But that would be true would it be anyone but Naruto. No Naruto just like last time hit Konohamaru on his head. "Shut up, I don't care that he's your grandpa. You could be the grandson of kami for all I care, you just don't accuse people. It was your own damn fault!" screamed Naruto.
He then turned back towards the Hokage and bowed" If that's all old man, I'm off." And then left. Hinata also bowed, "Hokage-sama" before hurrying of after Naruto.
And now just like last time, Konohamaru sneaked out after Naruto.
Now the exact same thing happened, with Konohamaru following Naruto and this time Hinata all through town. Arriving at the same spot as last time, Naruto and Hinata turned around and called out," You can stop hiding you know, I know you're following me."
"Oh cool, just as I expected from my boss."
"Uhhh, come and sit here with me." Patting the seat next to him.
Konohamaru just quickly seated himself to his new hero, they just sat there for a few minutes in silence at the beginning and Naruto was just about to repeat the last time when Hinata hit him on the head, giving him a look that clearly stated, don't even think about it.
Deciding he better skip the whole teaching the sexy no jutsu technique, he quickly went to the core of the first conversation with the reasons and such( if you really want to read the whole conversation read the manga.) and just as last time Ebisu found them.
However this time Naruto already knew why he got those cold eyes. Now not having taught Konohamaru the sexy no jutsu, he was quite surprised when he still did it. It seemed that this time Konohamaru had seen Naruto defeat the Third when he went to steal the scroll.
"Henge! Sexy no jutsu." However, now with Hinata here, she quickly hit Konohamaru on his head." Don't take over Naruto's bad habits, even if it's extremely effective as a distraction. No using it for stupid reasons." And now Ebisu once again began his rant against a now swirly eyed Konohamaru, who wasn't listening at all.
Naruto seeing his chance quickly did his kage bunshin, at wich Ebisu smirked again and then they all transformed once again performing the "Harem no jutsu!" with the same results, however now Hinata too hit Naruto on the head, so the goodbye and meaningful words were now exchanged between both boys who both had a giant bump on their heads.
And so Naruto once again became Konohamaru's rival
After the goodbye, Hinata and Naruto quickly hurried towards training ground 8, for their first mission and or lesson from Kurenai and Anko.
Arriving just in time, they weren't too surprised to see Shino already there. What did surprise them was the fact that instead of Anko, Hana was with them today and talking to Kurenai. Seeing their confused look, Hana quickly replied:" All will be explained in a short while."