Hello all, and welcome once more to another chapter of "To Really Know Someone"! To those who have kept with the story up to now, thank you! You're all great and fantastic people! Without you, the readers, we, the authors would have NUTTIN'!
On a special note, I want to give a SPECIAL thank you to ForeverFallen76 for the overall idea regarding the fuinjutsu project regarding Hanabi's chakra system! Thanks, so much, for that, my friend! I will use it well!
I also have a rant (I don't have them often, so please bear with me): Is it just me, or do a lot of people take these stories and what we as the authors do with them WAY too seriously? I've actually had a couple of people call me a "Closet Hinata Hater"? How in the world could someone take Naruto, or more pointedly, Naruto FANFICTION, SO seriously as to coin such an insane, ridiculous term? If this wasn't so ridiculously pitiful and SAD, it would be funny! "Oh no, whatever will I do when my deep, dark, dirty little secret of claiming to like Hinata Hyuuga when I really hate her behind closed doors comes to light and is exposed before the world? My life is over; NOOO! I've been exposed for hating a CARTOON CHARACTER WHO DOESN'T EXIST!" I mean, seriously, come on! Can you see just how STUPID that sounds? To those who would actually call ANYONE such a thing, I would say this: Get a life, and get out more! Don't waste my time with ridiculous and useless reviews calling me a "closet Hinata hater", and even more importantly, don't waste YOUR time, either! You HAVE to have something better to do with your time, and if you don't…well, then your opinion really has no value to me or anyone else for that matter. Get your priorities straight!
One final thing: I've written and posted a new story, "The Gateway to the Soul". The pairing is Naruto/Tsubaki (one of the two mothers that was glad Naruto didn't graduate from the Academy at the very beginning of the manga/anime). Tsubaki's not a selectable option, so I could only list Naruto as a character. For those so inclined, I would love it if you'd swing over to it and take a look. The chapters are much more reasonable in length than the chapters in this story have been, and it does develop at a faster pace, at least to the reader.
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor do I own Sekirei.
Chapter 14: Leading Up To The Main Event!
Kurenai took a look around as soon as they all rematerialized. She found that Mt. Myoboku didn't look too terribly different from places in her own world, except for maybe the vegetation. The flora, and particularly the fungi, manifested themselves in so many different colors that Kurenai thought she might suffer from stimulatory overload. Closing her eyes and shaking her head, she regained her bearings and took another look around. She smiled as she could now appreciate the beauty of the landscape around her.
"Fascinating, isn't it?" Naruto asked, "I had a hard time taking it all in at first, as well."
"I can see why," Kurenai responded, "I feel almost overloaded with sights and colors."
"Just wait until you get further up the mountain. The scents will overwhelm you as well as the sights."
Once they got to a hut, Fukasaku announced his return. Gamabunta, Gamahiro, Gamaken, Gamakichi, Gamatatsu and Gamariki were the toads that Kurenai recognized. With them was a female toad about the same size as Lord Fukasaku. Naruto informed her that this was Fukasaku's wife, Lady Shima, but they all just called her "Ma".
"Naruto Boy!" she shouted with a wide smile as she hopped over to his shoulder and planted a kiss on his face, "How are ya?"
"I'm doing great, Ma! How've you been? You know I'm looking forward to your cooking, right?" he asked with a grin of his own.
"Of course! You can have as much as you want!"
"You're the best, Ma."
"Yes, dear; I know," she said, rather self-assuredly.
"So, brat, have you been treating my dear little tadpole right?" Gamabunta boomed out in a mock-threatening tone.
"Well…actually Daddy…" Kurenai began with a mock-pout.
"Naruto!" the great Chief Toad bellowed, only to stop as he fell over with a huge lump on his head. Shima was standing in Bunta's face, fury burning in her eyes and a pan the size of Gamakichi in her webbed hands.
"Bunta, what have I told ya about talkin' to Naruto Boy like that?" she yelled into Gamabunta's face.
Gamabunta groaned in pain as he responded, "Not to, Ma."
"That's right! And don't ya ever forget it again, ya overgrown wart!"
"Sorry, Ma," he groaned out.
Shima quickly turned on Kurenai, the pan in her hands disappearing. Within a moment, she was right in Kurenai's face, giving her a very appraising eye and causing Kurenai to flinch.
"I don't like you!" Shima responded after a few moments.
"Err…err… well…" Kurenai began to sputter.
"Aw, come on, Ma; give her a chance. She was only messing around," Naruto reassured her.
"Well, for you, Naruto Boy, alright! Ya are mah favorite son, after all," Shima beamed at him with a smile before turning back to Kurenai, "But be warned, missy! I'll be keepin' my eye on ya! No more tryin' ta get my Naruto Boy in trouble with the wart over there! Got it?"
Kurenai just smiled nervously and nodded.
"Alright! Supper should be ready in a couple ah hours! Naruto Boy, why don't ya get Kurenai Girl here acclimated to the place? We'll start trainin' after dinner," and with that, Shima hopped off into the hut.
Kurenai walked over to Gamabunta, who was still laying in a heap, sporting a huge lump on his head from where Shima had walloped him, "Err…sorry."
"Meh, don't worry about it, tadpole…" he reassured her, "…it's not the first time, it won't be the last."
"Well, that makes me feel a little better," Kurenai admitted sheepishly.
"Tell you what," Fukasaku announced, "Kurenai Girl, I'd like to assess where ya already are with some things so that we can figure out where to start ya in yer trainin'! So please come with me."
As it turned out, Kurenai was already quite a bit farther along than Fukasaku expected her to be. She was already able to keep herself completely still and balance herself perfectly on the stone slab atop a perfect point, and had the strength, speed and precision required to quickly learn the Frog Kata Taijutsu Style. They could start her on nature chakra training right away. Shima announced dinner, and the toads and their two human guests went into the hut to eat. Even the three great toads used ninjutsu to shrink themselves so that they could fit in the hut and eat with everyone.
Kurenai blanched at the cuisine: various forms of insect life, cooked in various ways. She looked over at Naruto…who had entered Sage Mode!…as he looked eager to dig in? As soon as they gave thanks, Naruto began to eat with vigor.
'Well, if he's enjoying it that much, it can't be too bad,' Kurenai thought to herself. She took her chopsticks and rolled up what seemed to be a bunch of earthworms. She inserted them into her mouth and started chewing, only to blanch even more than she had before she started eating and spit it out!
"Yeah, eating Ma's cooking is part of this training. Once you can enter Sage mode, though, you'll find it tastes pretty good," Naruto said nonchalantly.
"Naruto…" Kurenai growled out as her right eyebrow ticked angrily, before an overly sweet smile adorned her features, made all the more terrifying by the purplish-black aura that seemed to emanate from her, the sickeningly sweet tone in her voice making her all the more terrifying, "…the next time you feel like leaving details like that out…don't. Okay?"
'Is that a hannya mask behind her?' Naruto thought, suddenly breaking out into a cold sweat as Kurenai's features darkened and her eyes shaded over…before glowing a malicious red!
Somewhere across dimensions, in a city known as Shinto Teito, a certain lilac-haired, violet-eyed landlady sneezed before chirping happily, "My goodness, I wonder what bone-headed man just angered his lady love," and ending with a giggle before continuing to prepare lunch for her tenants, humming happily all the while.
Naruto looked to Shima, hoping she'd bail him out. Shima simply replied, "Naruto Boy, don't go gettin' me involved! This here's a lovers' spat, an' ya really shoulda warned her about the food beforehand!"
Naruto just grumbled, "Gee, thanks, Ma," as he apologized to Kurenai by bowing to her on his hands and knees, begging her for forgiveness.
Training went rather quickly for Kurenai. Since Naruto had discovered that he could use Shadow Clones to gather nature chakra, this was the approach they decided to take with Kurenai. Shima would first train Kurenai herself by having her cover her body in Toad Oil so that she could better sense Nature Energy, much the same way Naruto had, and then she was taught to harness it and gather it in. Shima and Kurenai insisted that Naruto stay away from the Toad Oil Fountain while Kurenai was there training, as they did want want Naruto seeing his fiancée with warts all over her body while she was learning to master the technique.
Only a week had passed before Kurenai had mastered the flow of nature chakra enough to be able to leave her training to shadow clones. She could now train in the Frog Katas with Fukasaku and Naruto while Shima trained her clones on drawing in nature chakra. Even Fukasaku had been mystified as to how Kurenai could master drawing in nature chakra so quickly. Shima explained to him and Naruto that because Kurenai was a woman, nature chakra interacted differently with her body. While she would never be able to draw in the massive amounts of natural energy that Naruto could, she could draw in enough to balance out the physical and spiritual portions of her own chakra, which would give her inhuman chakra control at levels she'd never before experienced, though her own reserves would increase as well, and she would experience the same benefits that Naruto received from entering his Sage Mode.
Going from being able to draw in natural energy to being able to enter a perfect Sage Mode, however, proved to be the more daunting task for Kurenai. She had managed to master it the week before she was due for her skills demonstration at the Chunin Exam Stadium. Naruto was right: Ma's cooking did taste great when eating it in Sage Mode! As her training, at least for the time being, was done at the Mountain of the Toads, she said her goodbyes to all of the toads that she had grown closer to, with Gamariki giving the most tearful and melodramatic farewell. Of course, several other things had also happened during this time as well.
Neji was still assisting with the Genjutsu Countering Project, and progress was being made. Area-level genjutsu behaved differently than simple sensory and simple mental/emotional genjutsu in that not only did it affect the chakra of multiple opponents in a single pinpointed area, but it also produced the same effect on all who entered its area of influence, while dispelling once the person left the area over which the genjutsu had been cast. They also felt different: the level of the genjutsu didn't seem to be proportional in any way to the genjutsu's subtlety upon the mind, or how strongly it was felt, as many of the genjutsu that Kurenai cast all just felt different – as different as sticking one's hand in boiling water and how the ear might feel when exposed to too much noise. There was just no real way to compare many of them, but they discovered that using the Chakra Flow Identification technique inside such a genjutsu did enable the genjutsu to be detected more easily.
Dispelling such genjutsu was no problem – once Neji was able to see how the chakra behaved, he noticed that it had an almost crystalline pattern in the way it flowed. This seemed to be how the genjutsu remained up for what could be an indefinite period of time. Naruto theorized that if he could expel a pulse of chakra in a ripple effect, maybe like a sound wave, the crystalline pattern of the chakra holding the genjutsu would be disrupted much the same way that sound waves could shatter crystal given a certain volume and frequency. Naruto's theory proved true – he was able to use Chakra Flow Identification to distinguish the differences in his own chakra from the field of chakra that was producing the genjutsu, and by learning to flare out his chakra as a ripple, as well as changing the magnitude and frequency of the ripple, he was able to essentially shatter any area-wide genjutsu he found himself in, even up to S-Rank Area-wide genjutsu, with ease, both in clinical trials and field tests. He dubbed this skill "Chakra Ripple Flaring".
Countering these kinds of genjutsu, however, proved to be impossible for him. Kurenai theorized that by trickling one's chakra into the field of chakra nearest to the affected shinobi, the one trickling their chakra could keep themselves unaffected while the genjutsu itself remained stable. Naruto couldn't release small-enough amounts of chakra to perform this, so Neji and Sakura served as the guinea pigs for the clinical trials and field tests of this skill, dubbed "Chakra Trickling". Both were dubbed high-chunin/low-jounin skills once the final report was compiled. Once the project was completed, Naruto, Neji, Sakura and Kurenai all worked together to prepare a full presentation for Konoha's Village Council. They could almost close the book on this particular project and bring these new-found skills into regular field use.
They all felt a profound sense of accomplishment at this. What started out as an idea in Naruto's head had turned into something that could give any genjutsu-deficient shinobi a fighting chance against a genjutsu user. Lives could be saved in the field, and the overall skill level of Konoha's shinobi would be seen as higher than those of the other nations. All of them stood quite proud of themselves at this ground-breaking new skill set that they had helped to research and create. The report was scheduled to be presented to the Council during a special session in mid-October.
Neji and Tenten remained on standby, as Naruto's full contract for Neji's services had not yet run out. Naruto had also taken Tenten and Sakura on as fuinjutsu students while he was teaching Kurenai. Kurenai also took an active role in teaching the two of them what she knew as well. Tenten would eventually create several different features and variations for storage seals, as well as a few interesting seals that she could place on her weapons, though Sakura made sure that she wouldn't test her weapon-enhancement seals while pregnant. She griped about that, but realized that she would just have to wait.
Sakura, on the other hand, would apply what she was learning about seals to greater medical use, creating things such as antiseptic and anesthetic seals, as well as seals that could be given medical chakra to perform basic instructions while she performed more advanced procedures – the idea was to have a medical team in a stack of paper – Sakura would be able to perform medical operations by herself when they would otherwise require a team performing several different tasks at the same time.
Naruto was nowhere near as strict with Tenten and Sakura as he was with Kurenai, as Kurenai was not simply a student but his apprentice. Even with all of her work, when Tenten and Sakura created their seals, Kurenai could already easily create the same seals of much higher quality and effectiveness. The girls were stunned when they were able to see the quality of seal and seal array that Kurenai could produce. They were even more shocked when she told them that Naruto's sealing still made her own look sloppy by comparison.
Neji was given permission by Naruto to peruse his jutsu library and read through any jutsu that he found intriguing, as long as they weren't labeled clan jutsu. Neji settled for a few advanced chakra control exercises and a few non-elemental ninjutsu, as he had also been informed by Naruto of the need to use chakra in as many different ways as possible to improve overall chakra control.
Naruto, of course, not being one to sit still or have nothing to work on, had started something new. Kurenai had approached him at one point when he was performing the groundwork for it…
Kurenai entered the house at her usual training time of Five AM. Seeing Naruto in the kitchen making breakfast, she greeted him with a hug and kiss as usual. Naruto informed her that he was a shadow clone, and that Naruto himself was actually down in the basement, in his design area. Kurenai made her way down there, and entered to see Naruto furiously poring over several different texts and making notes.
"Well, this is new," she remarked curiously.
"Good morning, Baby, how are ya?" he asked, not even looking up from his work.
"I'm good, but…what is all this? Some new project?" she asked, now even more intrigued, as she'd never known him to not get up to greet her when they first saw each other.
"Actually, yes," Naruto replied, finally looking up from whatever it was he was working on, "I've been thinking a lot about Hanabi Sarutobi, lately."
"Okay…well, what about her?"
"I was thinking: what if a way to give her some permanent mobility, and even some limited use of chakra could be developed?"
Kurenai's eyebrows shot up, intrigued at the idea, "I would say that the idea is certainly worth investigating…" she walked around to where he was doing his work, "…so what have you thought up so far?"
He showed her the research he was performing on anatomy and medical theory, on how chakra ran through the chakra network, and on how the tenketsu points and celestial gates functioned in the body to allow chakra to flow through it. He also told her of the ideas about how an artificial chakra network could possibly be inlaid to her chakra coils, using sealing nodes as tenketsu points, and conduits as chakra bypass devices, much the same way that an arterial bypass might be done to circumvent a clogged or damaged artery in the cardiovascular system.
"So what do you think?" Naruto asked her once he was done explaining the overall idea.
Kurenai, thoroughly impressed…and quite excited, replied, "I think it's ingenious! If you succeed at this, there's no telling what other applications of this work might be made possible! Honey…you've got to tell Mom about this!"
"Oh, I intend to, once I've done some more ground work, believe me. I only started on this last night…it got me so excited I couldn't get to sleep."
"You haven't slept all night?"
"Nope! Don't think I'll be winding down any time soon, either; but I don't want to neglect my physical training. I'm guessing breakfast is about ready, so I'll come on up."
He created a shadow clone to continue the work while he accompanied Kurenai upstairs. Breakfast was soon ready, and both of them fell into their routine of eating and talking.
The sheer magnitude of the project overwhelmed Kurenai once she saw just how much would have to be done in order to make it a reality. Naruto would likely spend months just laying the foundation and compiling the research that would be necessary to make this project work. He had invited Tsunade, Shizune and Sakura to the house at one point to present the idea, and to ask their opinions and input on the matter. All of them were just as intrigued and as excited about the idea as Kurenai had been, especially from a medical standpoint. Sakura's limited fuinjutsu skills would not be enough for her to provide any assistance from a sealing perspective, but Naruto's skills were more than adequate, and Naruto even suggested that Kurenai's own burgeoning skills in sealing were likely up to the task.
Once they had established that between them they had the needed expertise to know what would be needed to perform such a procedure, they began to discuss what it would take to implement such a project. There were still so many variables to consider. Such a delicate operation would require an exact mapping of the patient's entire chakra network, both as it should look normally, as well as the damaged portions of it. It would also require the sealing array to be written in such a way that the nodes and conduits could be overlaid directly into the patient's chakra network, both where chakra should flow, and where chakra should bypass certain parts of the chakra network.
Naruto was already researching the idea of creating seal nodes that would act as substitute tenketsu points. He was finding that a tenketsu point did an awful lot of things in the body, so his challenge would be making sure that he had all of those tiny functions covered, and that they were properly mimicked in the nodes. Another facet of the operation was making sure that the constructed array responded as designed - specifically to match the patient's own chakra signature; this array would also be sending that patient's chakra into their organs, after all.
After discussing and debating for a good long while, the overall plan was constructed. The first step would be to scan the patient's chakra network and create as close to a three-dimensional model of it as possible. The second step would be to write a sealing array that would substitute for the patient's chakra network, either in part or in its entirety, into the framework of the patient's chakra network. The third step would then be to find a way to place the array into the patient safely, while at the same time being able to test each tenketsu node and chakra pathway conduit to ensure that they were functioning as natural chakra pathways should…which meant that they would have to respond involuntarily to the patient's natural body rhythms just like normal chakra pathways.
Despite the immense obstacles that presented themselves, all of them left Naruto's home with hope that Hanabi Sarutobi would be able to walk again without the assistance of a wheelchair or a walker. They didn't believe she would ever be a ninja again, but she might at least be able to put her shinobi training to use in some capacity. This was a project that they would all want to sink their teeth into; Shizune, Tsunade and Sakura would fill in any gaps that Naruto's research left out in the medical department. It would be up to Naruto and Kurenai to figure out how to overcome the remaining obstacles in the plan.
As September Thirtieth loomed closer and closer, Kurenai trained harder and harder, doing all she possibly could to give herself even the slightest edge over any opponent she'd face. Her kenjutsu training had begun, but she was not skilled enough with a blade yet to take it into a combat situation, even if it only amounted to a glorified spar. Focusing mostly on her taijutsu, ninjutsu and fuinjutsu, she made sure that these skills were as close to peak as she could get them, while also getting her strength, speed and stamina to their highest levels as well.
Naruto hadn't told her, but Kurenai was actually far more skilled and more powerful than she realized she was. He doubted that even Tsunade would last long against her if they went head to head, and he didn't believe it was a stretch to say that she was likely the most powerful kunoichi that Konoha had ever produced! She was on the same level as the great Kages of old! But again, Naruto didn't tell her; he wanted her to be at her very best, and if she didn't think she was as powerful as she truly was, then she would only work to get stronger. Naruto could only smile in giddy anticipation at the thought of Kurenai showing any opponents she would face that she had a whole new library of nasty little tricks in her arsenal! This wasn't just Kurenai Yuhi the Genjutsu Mistress! This was Kurenai Yuhi the S-Ranked Kunoichi! And watching her in action was going to be fun!
'Okay, now I'm starting to think like Anko,' Naruto deadpanned to himself as that thought passed through his mind.
Naruto forced her to rest on the Twenty-Ninth. When the morning of the exhibition finally arrived, Naruto picked up Kurenai from her house, having made and sealed some breakfast for the two of them and Tsunade, who had gotten to her office early so that she could brief Kurenai on what was expected.
When they arrived at Tsunade's office, Tsunade was all smiles, and she was already in her Kage robes. Kurenai, from all outward appearances, had opted to wear her typical bandage-wrap dress with a single red sleeve. Naruto had unsealed breakfast for the three of them and set three places around Tsunade's desk.
As they ate, Tsunade began to make conversation, "So, Kurenai, are you ready for this?"
Kurenai smiled, "As ready as I'll ever be. Strangely enough, I don't feel nervous right now. I'm ready to show this village what I can do!"
"Good…" Tsunade began, as her smile became somewhat devious, "…because the first part of the exhibition will be you against six other Jounin."
Kurenai spat her food clear across the table, fortunately having enough foresight to avoid Tsunade's face.
"What?" she yelled.
"Who are they?" Naruto asked, taking control of the atmosphere in the room. Kurenai just looked at Naruto and blinked, stunned that he wasn't objecting to her first match.
"Kakashi Hatake, Might Guy, Genma Shiranui, Yamato, Aoba Yamashiro…and Hinata Hyuuga."
Kurenai narrowed her eyes at the last name. Tsunade, knowing the tension between Kurenai and Hinata, responded, "Hinata came to me and asked to be a part of this exhibition. I couldn't see a reason to refuse her."
"I see," Kurenai replied lowly.
"Baby, don't worry – you've got this…" Naruto began. Kurenai narrowed her eyes at Naruto, indicating that he'd better explain and she'd better like the explanation. Naruto continued, "…you're much, much more powerful and skilled than you believe yourself to be. I doubt the first match will do much more than warm you up, and I doubt it'll even make you break a sweat."
"That's a pretty bold claim, there, son," Tsunade interjected, "Just how strong would you estimate she is?"
"Do you really want to know?" Naruto asked challengingly, causing Tsunade to raise her eyebrows in surprise.
"Okay, whether I want to know or not, now I have to know," the blonde Kage answered.
"She could best you, Mom," he answered, his frankness causing Tsunade even greater surprise, "In fact, I'd go so far as to say that if they were still here, she could best the Pervy Sage and Itachi Uchiha, and maybe even stand toe-to-toe with my father in combat. The only person I know that could best her for sure…is me."
"She's that strong?" Tsunade asked.
"Honey, are you serious?" Kurenai asked, unbelieving yet hopeful it was true.
"Yes, she is," he answered Tsunade before turning to Kurenai, "and yes, I am. Don't sell yourself short, Baby; I'm pretty sure that none of the current Kages could best you in single combat, now. When you show everyone your stuff today, you're going to knock their socks off."
Kurenai could only look on in wonder. Tsunade could only look on in shock! Both of them collected themselves as they finished breakfast. Once they had eaten, the clock chimed Nine AM. Tsunade stood up and gestured to both of them.
"Well…it's time," she said.
"Yes, it is," Kurenai responded.
"Yes, it is," Naruto responded immediately after Kurenai.
"Naruto, you will serve as the referee for this exhibition. The second match will be announced if Kurenai can still continue after the first match. There's only one restriction on you in the first match, Kurenai," Tsunade turned to the woman, "You cannot use any genjutsu."
Kurenai simply nodded calmly, once more surprising the busty blonde. Tsunade continued, "If you fight the second match, that restriction will be lifted, and it will be an 'anything goes' match, with the only restrictions being Naruto's decisions as the match proctor. Any questions?"
"No, Mom," Kurenai replied with a smile, "None at all."
Tsunade then led them to the Chunin Exam Stadium, where people were already beginning to crowd in and get their seats. The event that the entire village had been waiting for was about to begin…
Once the trio had arrived at the Stadium, Tsunade led Naruto and Kurenai into the private box where visiting Kages from other villages would normally sit with the Hokage during the Chunin Final Exams. It would be a couple of hours yet before the stadium would fill up and the event would begin, so Tsunade would be waiting patiently with Naruto and Kurenai while everyone arrived. Tsunade kept trying to weasel information out of Kurenai about certain skills that she would be showing off during the fights, but she kept notoriously tight-lipped about it. Naruto said even less than Kurenai did, giving only his firm conviction that Kurenai would come out on top today – he didn't believe there was any chance for a different result.
"Good Morning, Lady Hokage," said a female voice that Naruto had not heard in several years, but could not miss all the same. He turned to see a silhouette of a tall figure with hair that seemed to flow everywhere, adorned with that herringbone top-knot that was Mei Terumi's trademark. The red of her hair became apparent as she stepped into the light, as her visible green eye twinkled with playful curiosity and mirth. An excited smile played across her lips, though she kept her posture and bearing aloof and perfectly-poised. She was in her Kage robes, carrying her hat by her side.
"Good Morning, Lady Mizukage; I'm glad you could be here," Tsunade greeted the woman.
"Lady Mizukage…I wasn't expecting you to be here. Good Morning!" Naruto offered.
"And Good Morning to you, as well…Crown Prince Naruto…and Crown Princess Kurenai, as well, I believe?" Mei offered first to Naruto, and then to Kurenai.
"Yes, Lady Mizukage. Welcome to Konoha. Err…like Naruto, I'm afraid you've caught me a little off-guard; I wasn't expecting you to be here, either," Kurenai responded, keeping her own poise in the presence of the powerful and influential foreign dignitary standing before her.
"Well, I certainly wouldn't miss this! Tsunade here was kind enough to invite me; she promoted this event with such vigor that I actually delayed some other affairs and events to attend this. Lady Kurenai, I do look very forward to what you'll show us here today."
Kurenai blushed at the respectful form of address used by the Mizukage of all people towards her. She then smiled and answered, "I hope to meet and maybe exceed your expectations, then…Lady Mei."
Mei smiled and nodded in response before addressing Kurenai and Naruto as a couple, "Might I also extend my congratulations to the two of you, on your impending nuptials? Thank you so much for inviting us, and I must say that I'm very happy for you, Naruto; I would say that in terms of a spouse, you've chosen extraordinarily well!"
"Thank you, Mei. I think so, too," Naruto answered back with sly amusement before asking, "So tell me, how is Chojuro?"
"My husband is quite well, thank you. He sends his regards, as he stayed behind to take care of little Yagura and run the village in my absence…and thank you, again, Naruto, for giving him the courage to approach me and talk to me about his feelings," she added mirthfully.
Kurenai, seeing the glint in the redhead's eye, voiced her suspicion, "There's a story to this, isn't there?"
"Indeed, there is!" Mei exclaimed, turning to Naruto, "Naruto, why don't you tell it?"
"Well…" Naruto began, garnering Kurenai's and Tsunade's attention, "Chojuro and I became good friends during the war; I remember seeing him on the battlefield and I commented on how great his skills were. Chojuro, at the time…was a rather timid guy…and he remained so up until the end of the war. He told me how he loved Mei, but he didn't have the courage to tell her."
"So then…what did you do, Naruto?" Tsunade asked slyly.
"Well, other than Kurenai, Mei was the only woman I had considered as a potential partner since Hinata. But, as Chojuro is my friend, and I knew how he felt, at the Celebratory Ball after we declared the war over, I gave him an ultimatum…" Naruto paused for effect, causing Kurenai and Tsunade to lean in.
"So? What did you say?" Kurenai asked excitedly.
"I told Chojuro he had fifteen seconds to man up and make a move on Mei…before I did."
Tsunade's eyebrows shot to the roof at hearing that. Kurenai was doing little better. Mei merely laughed as she took over telling the tale.
"Poor dear Chojuro couldn't get to me fast enough! He was…" Mei's laughter became more pronounced, "…a complete blubbering mess; it took him five minutes to slow down and speak clearly enough for me to make sense of his ramblings!"
They all laughed heartily at the story of Naruto's sudden injection of courage into Chojuro.
As the laughter died down, Naruto asked, "So how old is little Yagura now?"
"He's almost three…and he's a rambunctious little hellraiser…but he's also Mommy's boy!" Mei answered with a wistful, loving smile, as she told them of Chojuro's and her son. Little Yagura Terumi was apparently a hyperactive little purple-haired ball of energy with green eyes and his father's face, but while Chojuro's smile was somewhat reserved, Yagura's smile split his face every time he gave it. Kurenai and Tsunade both found it curious that the boy was given his mother's name, but Mei explained that Chojuro had no family name, so he took on the Terumi Clan name when he and Mei were wed.
"So, plans for any more kids, Mei?" Tsunade asked.
"Maybe in a year or two," she responded, "Yagura's already quite a handful; I'm not sure if I could handle him and an infant right now, so I'll wait until he calms down a little before adding fuel to the powder magazine."
Laughter ensued once more, before Kurenai felt a particular stirring within her. She decided to ask, "Lady Mei, please forgive me if I'm being rude, but I was wondering if you could…answer a question of a personal nature for me?"
"Depends on the question," Mei responded, "But you're free to ask."
"What was it like? Carrying your child to term, and then giving birth to him?" she asked, a longing gleam in her eyes showing how important this question was to her.
Mei, seeing that gleam, spoke in a low, serious, but happy tone, "It was a wonderful experience. Labor was the most awful thing I ever experienced…but it quickly became the second most awful thing I experienced when it came time to deliver…but when I held my perfect little creature in my arms…and fed him…it was the happiest moment of my life. I honestly can't wait to do it all again, as strange as it sounds."
Offering Kurenai a warm smile, she finished, "My dear Kurenai…I hope that Kami speeds the day when you can experience that joy; I really do."
She then walked over to Kurenai and hugged her warmly. Kurenai, in tears, returned her hug.
"Thank you," Kurenai choked out.
They separated and immediately returned to lighter topics, passing the time until Eleven o'clock came around.
"Kurenai, Naruto, you two should head down," Tsunade told them.
Both of them nodded before Naruto took Kurenai's hand and flashed with her down into the Stadium floor. As they both appeared in the Stadium, the crowd roared with excitement and enthusiasm, knowing that something amazing was about to happen before their very eyes. Naruto was smiling contently, and Kurenai was smiling excitedly, ready to show those who had gathered here just what she could do.
"Good luck, Baby," Naruto said to Kurenai, "Not that you need it."
Kurenai smiled at him and kissed him, "Thank you, anyway, my love."
As Kurenai walked away from Naruto to stand in a competitor's position within the stadium, Tsunade's voice could be heard booming throughout, "People of Konoha! Honored visitors and friends! Welcome to this once-in-a-lifetime event: The Exhibition of Kurenai Yuhi soon-to-be Namikaze's training and skills under her coach, master and fiancé, Naruto Namikaze!"
The crowd roared in approval at Tsunade's commencement. As the applause and cheering died down, Tsunade announced, "The First Match will pit Kurenai against six of our finest shinobi! Her opponents will be Might Guy…"
Guy began to walk into the Stadium, waving to the crowd as they cheered, his smile still gleaming as he blinded the crowd with the glint off his teeth.
"…Kakashi Hatake…"
Kakashi appeared in a swirl of leaves, strangely enough without a copy of Make-Out Paradise, Violence or Tactics in his hands. It seemed he knew to take this fight seriously.
"…Genma Shiranui…"
Genma, still sporting his bandanna and the senbon needle he always chewed, gave a cool smile and wave as he entered the Stadium.
"…Aoba Yamashiro…"
The shades-wearing fire-user jogged into the Stadium, smiling and waving to the crowd.
"…Yamato of the Wood Style…"
Some vines rose up from the Stadium floor in a corkscrew, before opening and revealing Naruto's old substitute captain when Kakashi wasn't there to go on missions with his team.
"…and Hinata Hyuuga!"
Hinata entered, looking dead ahead with an icy glare…that just didn't seem to be as cold as it once was. Both Naruto and Kurenai found this to be rather curious, but both hoped it was a good sign.
"Referee Naruto Namikaze will now explain the rules to the participants!"
Naruto waved to the crowd as his name was announced to the spectators. He began to explain, "For the first match, Kurenai Yuhi may use any art, skill or jutsu available to her, except Genjutsu! The other participants may use any skills they wish!"
Receiving nods from all parties, Naruto continued, "The match ends for any participant when they are incapacitated, or when I step in and end their participation in the match! Are there any questions?"
Receiving negatives all around, Naruto smiled and spoke up, "Very well, then. Kurenai vs. …all of them!" A few laughs came from the stands at his introduction, "FIGHT!"
And the next chapter, we see some action! I'll even include background tracks for the scenes! As always, please, read and leave reviews for this humble author who only wishes to please you - his fans and friends!
But how did all of you like Kurenai channeling her "Inner Miya"? I know that little aside was a big deviation from my typical style, but I just couldn't resist; I had to do it.
Now, for Kurenai's stats at the end of this chapter:
Ninjutsu: 5/5
Taijutsu: 4.5/5
Genjutsu: 5/5
Intelligence: 5/5
Strength: 4.5/5
Speed: 5/5
Stamina: 4.5/5
Hand Seals: 4.5/5
Total Stats: 38/40
Overall Skill Ranking: High S-Rank (Beyond Kage-level)
Comparable to: Hashirama Senju, Minato Namikaze (best guesses)