Next chapter is here, thank you for waiting. Things are a complete mess with this semester for me, so troublesome.

Thor94: Kitsune's are supposed to be good in genjutsu? I don't remember seeing that in Naruto, could you tell me where? And I don't think I will make Naruto understand how the raptors talk, I want them to communicate with more on body language.

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Enjoy

Chapter 26: Yuhi Kurenai

Far west out of the village, an investigation was about to commence. Jiraiya was being led by Kohaku to the Foundation ANBU base.

Kohaku was back in his red t-shirt, black hoodie, dark grey pants and black sandals. Officially he's still a Chunin despite the ANBU uniform. Satomi did not go with them, seeing as how she felt was not really needed to be there despite what Tsunade said.

He didn't say a word when he was leading Jiraiya to the base, his face was unreadable.

Kohaku stopped, he remembered where the trap door was. He pointed a space that was covered in rocks and twigs.

"This is it?" Jiraiya asked, and Kohaku nodded. Before Jiraiya took a further step, Kohaku took out his bo-staff, threw it like a spear at the rocks and twig. The sound of a mechanism was heard, and flames were shot up from the ground around the trap door. The two stepped back, and the flames stopped after a while. Kohaku went ahead to pick up his bo-staff.

"Clear?" Jiraiya asked, and Kohaku nodded. The Kaseki stood over the rocks and pulled a twig sticking out of the ground, pulling the trap door open. "It's in there?" Jiraiya asked, Kohaku nodded.

"What's up with you today boy? So silent and mysterious? Why so quiet and broody?" Jiraiya notice a change in Kohaku.

Kohaku just turned to show his unreadable face to Jiraiya, before turning to leap down into the Foundation ANBU headquarters, standing on a pipe with the sunlight shining from above. "Hey Kohaku." The Kaseki looked up to see thesannin standing above the trap door, looking into the horizon.

"I need to take care of something first. You go ahead, or you can wait for me it's up to you." Jiraiya told him, and took to the trees going to the village.

The hospital roof was a complete mess. Sasuke had left, Kakashi was sitting on the still standing water tank. Sakura was crying after witnessing the whole ordeal, and Naruto just standing at the side clearly unhappy.

"What happened to the teamwork?" Kakashi sighed. "You're the one who taught him the Rasengan right?" He said to Jiraiya who had joined him on the roof. "I know you want to protect Naruto from the Akatsuki, but don't you think he's little too young to learn that? He could have killed Sasuke."

"Look who's talking, teaching Sasuke the Chidori, and using it against his comrade." Jiraiya countered.

As the two continued to talk, Naruto just stayed where he was. His mind raced "Sasuke, what is wrong with him? We're supposed to be a team. We're supposed to be friends. We're supposed to be rivals sure but that was..."

He made a glance at Sakura. "She didn't even help. Why?" He thought.

Inside he was in turmoil. He wanted his team to work, this was supposed to be the team where he worked together with, where he belonged. He wanted to believe.

"Sakura." He heard Kakashi calling her, walking up to her. "Don't worry about this ok? Everything will turn back to normal with them alright?"

This time, Naruto wanted to take the opportunity. He went up to them, he asked. "Sakura, why didn't you help me? I asked you to help me stop him. But you just stood there. What were you just going to let him carry on like that? What if he'd gone too far huh?" Sakura was about to repel Naruto away and hit him, but when she saw his displeased appearance, she stopped.

"Naruto calm down." Kakashi said to him. "Calm down?! I just got assaulted by a comrade when another didn't do anything and you tell me to calm down." Naruto raised his voice.

"Easy Naruto. Did you honestly think Sakura was capable of stopping him?" Kakashi asked.

"She could have at least tried something. She just let Sasuke just went ballistic on me. I am not going to be the one taking the fall for that, I told him already I didn't want to get in trouble, but he just would not listen."

Kakashi made a sigh. "Don't hold it against Sakura ok Naruto? I will deal with Sasuke. You two carry on as you were alright? And good job in becoming Chunin Naruto." He leapt off the roof, leaving the two. Sakura was looking at the direction where Sasuke left, noticing this Naruto left the roof to reach ground floor by walking down the wall.

This was a complete dampener, he'd just became Chunin and he already got in trouble because of Sasuke.

Back at the Foundation base, Kohaku was not waiting for Jiraiya. Climbing down the pipes, he descended further down. He landed on the wooden crossroad platform with a crouch, he put his hood over his head.

The wooden crossroads branched into four paths, going north, south, east and west. He knew the layout of the place, but there were still small spots he had not seen before when Danzo indoctrinated him into the Foundation ANBU.

Kohaku put his hands in a cross seal and three clones were made. They did not spare a single conversation and split up, each going into the four different paths. Kohaku treading carefully down the dark corridor. Scanning through every door and the rooms were empty. Some rooms had operating tables, others had bookshelf containing scrolls, books and documents, stuff he had seen before as a Foundation ANBU. Juicy secrets of Danzo waiting to be revealed. Scanning through the corridor he heard Jiraiya calling for him.

He returned to the crossroad junction. And Jiraiya was waiting for him there. "Hey kid I didn't think you'd actually go without me." Jiraiya said.

Kohaku's face was just stoic, unreadable. Jiraiya chose not to ask him what the matter was, and carried on with the investigation. Jiraiya looked around the Foundation ANBU base. "Well, I could take a page from Danzo about secrecy, all this time and I never knew this place existed." Kohaku did not make a response to Jiraiya's comment, leading to the sannin getting a bit frustrated by his silence.

"Alright unless you are mute, you got to start talking. Have you found anything so far in here?" Jiraiya asked, Kohaku shook his head.

"Wait." Kohaku finally said his first word of the day. "Oh finally the silent one spoke." Jiraiya said.

"My clone found something."

Naruto walking down the main streets of Konoha was really not happy. His Chunin vest was unzipped. How was it that his day could turn around so quickly like that?

With hands in his pockets Naruto trudged down the road with villagers glaring at him. He could hear them talking among themselves.

"The brat is still walking out here? I thought he was supposed to be in jail."

"Should have locked him up and throw away the keys."

"Yeah, along with those other two."

"Then what about those who caught the criminals? They just let them go?"

"I heard the Hokage said they were framed."

"How do we know for sure? She could be saying that just to make sure that the Kyuubi-"

"Shhhh."

"Where did he get the Chunin vest? Did he steal one?"

Hearing these comments, it really hurt Naruto, it was just so stressful. He'd tried so hard, and things just went back to where it was. He slowly turned to the villagers speaking among themselves, glaring at them. His breathing was getting heavy, his grinded his teeth.

He really thought he was out of it now, out of their hatred. It's like how he was back when he was younger again. The stares, the painful words, he quickened his pace in his steps. He took off his Chunin out of some misguided shame.

He then heard someone he hoped he would not run into.

"Naruto? What are you doing out here?" Ino said opposite of the street, with her was Shikamaru and Chouji, Shikamaru had a Chunin Vest on him as well. Naruto's mouth twitched at bit and continued walking away, holding his Chunin vest and wiping off dust of it, pretending he did not hear her.

Remembering that Ino told Sakura about his so called arrest, he really did not want to see her.

"Naruto!" She raised her voice as she made her way towards him, her teammates following Ino. Naruto stopped in his tracks, letting out a quiet sigh.

He turned around to face them. "Ino." He greeted. "Shikamaru, Chouji."

"What are you up to?" Shikamaru asked. "Yeah, how come you are outside? Aren't you supposed to be in jail?" Ino said, misreading Shikamaru's question.

"Judge for yourself." Naruto flatly said. "I didn't go to jail. I don't even know where you got that from."

"In case you've forgotten, we saw you walking down the street tied up and escorted by Kurenai-sensei, along with those missing criminals."

Naruto remained silent.

Ino then said to her teammates, "See? See? He all silent, that's guilt right there."

"Don't you guys pay attention with current affairs?" Naruto said. "Shimura Danzo was behind all of that. He framed me and my friends and got caught. He made a big uproar at the tower attacking Tsunade baa-chan, we tried to stop him, but then he fled the village." Naruto answered.

Ino then said in a disbelieving tone. "Oh really? Because I thought you were just making a huge ruckus over there, resisting arrest and all."

Naruto just remained silent by her comment.

"If he really was a criminal he wouldn't be out in the middle of the streets Ino, so I guess that clears things up." Shikamaru said trying to ease the tension.

"So you became Chunin too huh?" Shikamaru asked. Naruto nodded and put his vest on. "Huh, so you became Chunin along with me, also Shino. And this will mean more work, so troublesome." Shikamaru said.

"Yeah, it's kind of hard to believe you did it, it's unbelievable." Chouji then said to Naruto. "I mean in the Academy you were the bottom in class, in everything, the absolute worst. You couldn't beat anyone in the sparring sessions, not even me." None of them noticed Naruto getting a vein popped into his forehead.

"So now four candidates has made it to Chunin." Ino said. "Four?" Naruto asked.

"Yeah. You, Shikamaru, Shino and Sasuke-kun." Ino said with emphasis on Sasuke. "He did not get promoted." Naruto told her the truth.

"What?! Sasuke-kun did not become Chunin?!" Ino said. "How is it that you made it but Sasuke-kun didn't? It's inconceivable." Naruto's face darkened, his patience was on thin ice already.

"He was late for the exams." He said.

Ino then replied. "Even so, he was so awesome in his match. He managed to break Gaara's defence and he was so fast. He could have been Chunin, but he didn't? And you did? The guy that got arrested by Kurenai-sensei? " Only now did she notice Naruto glaring at them, staring at them like a raptor. The tine thin ice cracked.

"H-Hey what's with that look?" Ino nervously asked.

Naruto then harshly answered. "Get off me! You keep talking about Sasuke-teme and that I am some criminal?! I told you already I was framed!" He then stuck a finger out, pointing intensely right at her face. "You know I'm already having a shit day already! And I don't need some gossip girl spreading bullshit about me, or some Fat ass putting me down with his trash talk to make my day worse ok?! I don't need this!"

Ino in her shock stepped back. "Whoa! Naruto, cool it. Chouji didn't mean it that way. And don't say that word to Chouji. It's taboo." Shikamaru warned him.

"What? Is that supposed to scare me?" Naruto snapped back. Chouji was fuming up now, his hands was in a Bird seal. "I'm not fat you asshole! I'm just big boned!"

Nikudan Sensha

Chouji turned into a huge ball, propelling towards Naruto with great speed. "Oh you're going to get violent with me now huh?!" Naruto shouted, with his hand in a Dragon seal.

The human boulder rolled to Naruto, he simply raised one hand. The boulder and hand made contact, Chouji went downwards into the ground creating a small crater, and Naruto did not even budge.

Chouji returned to normal lying on the ground bruised up with his head in a daze. Naruto undid his Jutsu. Making a scene was definitely not something he wanted after all that has happened. He stared at Ino and Shikamaru, there was a mixture of emotions in his face. Anger, sadness, confusion and most prominently frustration. "I-I'm sorry. I-I didn't want this ok? I'm sorry Chouji. I-I…" Naruto stammered and looked at his hand, questioning himself inside.

"What is going on here?" A voice called to them.

Sarutobi Asuma stepped in between them. "What the hell happened?"

Ino then answered. "Why don't you ask Naruto?"

Naruto then said. "What? Why me? I didn't do anything ok. Chouji was the one who made his Jutsu, I just defended myself."

"I told you Naruto. It's taboo." Shikamaru pointed out helping Chouji up to his feet.

Before anyone could say anything else, a swirl of flower petals appeared in front of Naruto. The swirl increased in concentration and Kurenai appeared out of it.

"Ku-Kurenai-san?" Naruto asked. She scanned around, the villagers glaring, Asuma, his students and the new Chunin.

"Asuma, I will deal with Naruto. You handle your students." Kurenai said with authority, gripping his shoulder tight. Asuma nodded, assembling Ino, Shikamaru and Chouji together with him.

Before Naruto could protest, Kurenai disappeared in a swirl of flowers taking Naruto with her. "Look at that. Getting taken away by Kurenai-sensei again. Isn't that suspicious to you guys? He's definitely a convict." Ino said.

"Knock it off Ino, give it a rest. You were already pushing him well enough." Shikamaru said to her.

Kohaku led Jiraiya to where his clone was. Moving through the dark pathway, they reached the destination. A black door at the end of the corridor, metal and eerie.

"That door has a seal on it. My clone touched it in order to find out what the seal does, it throws in everything including the kitchen sink." Kohaku said, his tone was blank.

"Fire, Water, Lightning, Earth and Air. And it is all silent." He added. Jiraiya then said, "So whatever is behind this is extremely sensitive in Konoha matters."

"Or very sensitive to Danzo." Kohaku added. "What should we do?"

"You go investigate the other rooms, I will deal with this seal." Jiraiya said to Kohaku. The Kaseki had no expression on his face. He just nodded and turned around to inspect the other rooms. "You know Naruto just got into a fight with Sasuke." Jiraiya said, and as he expected Kohaku turned around.

"Verbal?" Kohaku asked.

"And physical." Jiraiya answered, he noticed the Kaseki's concerned face. "Don't worry he's fine." And Kohaku's face turned back to his stoic, hollow and empty one.

"So what's the deal with you two?" Jiraiya asked. "Are you two like brothers or something?"

Kohaku was silent for a moment. "I'm not his brother. Just a…friend."

"Huh, ok then." Jiraiya said.

"Let's just continue scanning the area. There could be lingering Foundation ANBU around." Kohaku told the sannin.

"I don't see a reason why they would attack us. Their leader is gone, they won't do anything without orders, at least hopefully." Jiraiya said. The sannin handed Kohaku a radio, they set their frequency and split up. Kohaku searched the base while Jiraiya worked on the door.

Out at a lake. Team 8 had finished their mission, Shino had left to join his father on a mission outside the village, leaving Kiba with Akamaru on his head and Hinata waiting for Kurenai to return. The lake sparkled with the late afternoon sun.

"So what do you think Kurenai-has in store for us Hinata?" Kiba asked throwing stones into the water. "I-I'm not sure Kiba-kun." Hinata sitting at the edge of the lake. A swirl of flower petals appeared behind them. Within the swirl, Kurenai and Naruto were standing in the centre.

"N-Naruto-kun." Hinata stammered, seeing his Chunin vest her cheeks reddened. Kiba on the other hand was not too happy to see the blonde around. He too was there witnessing Naruto being tied up and escorted by Kurenai.

"Kurenai-san? Where are we?" Naruto asked looking around. "The training grounds where I train Team 8." She answered.

Seeing the two genin at the water's edge, he was slightly hesitant to greet, but out of respect he did so anyway. "Hey Kiba, Hinata."

"Hi N-Naruto-kun." Hinata greeted. "Hey." Kiba's greeting however was not so sincere, and Naruto could guess why, and if it was not clear as well, Kiba was standing in front of Hinata as if protecting her from Naruto. Not to mention, Akamaru had a cautious expression.

Noticing the slight tension between the rookies, she said. "Kiba, Hinata. You two go on home. I need to talk to Naruto alone." Although Hinata was hoping she could stay to talk with Naruto, she decided to follow Kurenai's request.

"Are you sure Kurenai-sensei?" Kiba asked.

"Yes, Kiba. Now go." Kurenai said.

Once they were gone, Kurenai turned to Naruto. "Sorry about Kiba, it's just that he's quite protective." She said. "So what happened Naruto?"

Naruto let out a sigh, looking down. "Naruto, it's ok. Just tell me what happened." Kurenai tried a more gentle approach.

"Ino came up to me, she and Chouji said things that ticked me off. After some point things got worse and I snapped back. Chouji did not take it well and decided its ok to attack me."

After explaining to Kurenai, Naruto let out a sigh. Kurenai asked, "What did they say?" Naruto stayed silent for a few seconds. "Ino said nonsense about me being in jail, because they saw coming back to the village tied up. Chouji talked about me being the bottom in the Academy. Ino couldn't accept that I became Chunin but Sasuke did not."

Kurenai listened to what Naruto had said, her eyes drifted to the side, a frown on her face. She felt a bit of guilt, mainly because she was the one who brought Naruto back in an apprehended fashion, along with Anko and Tsume.

Kurenai tried to apologize. "Naruto, I'm sorry I-"

"Don't be sorry Kurenai-san. It's not your fault." Naruto said turning to look at her. "It's just that-It just…" Naruto fell silent.

"What is it Naruto?" Kurenai asked.

"I'm just so sick of it!" Naruto raised his voice. "People still see me as a menace, the villagers still see me as the Kyuubi, I heard them talking, and the other genins can't take me seriously!" Kurenai noticed his eyes red with black slits, his nails sharpened, his cheeks mark thickened.

Kurenai just let him vent it out. His breathing become heavier, with growls in between them. "All of my efforts didn't do anything. Missions, training, saving the village, they all still don't care, I'm just a crook, that's all they see me now." Naruto paused his ranting.

"And…Ino and Chouji, I-I didn't want to lash out at them like that, but they kept pushing me and it's just so frustrating dammit! It's so tiring to have everyone against you!" Naruto pulled his hair, his breathing became shaky.

He took off his Chunin vest and said depressingly. "I wanted to become Hokage, it's my dream, but if they all can't even accept me as a Chunin, then how will they…Why the hell do I even bother anymore? I tried so hard to get here, and for what? The same hatred from those people?" Naruto threw the vest on the ground and sat down head between his knees. "So much for my promotion day."

He stared at the lake. Kurenai slowly made her way to stand next to him, and she sat next to him, knees brought close to her chest. Kurenai could hear Naruto letting out a soft purring growl made from the back of his throat.

"Naruto." Kurenai said, the blonde turned to look at her in the eye, face to face. His eyes, nails and cheek marks returned to normal.

"When you started in the Academy, did you ask yourself why you wanted to become a shinobi?" She asked him.

He shook his head. "The old m- The Third Hokage got me to join the Academy, he didn't tell me why. So I just went there every day just…sucking at the training and lessons with no one to really help and without any reason why I was supposed to be there. But then after that day…"

"What day?" Kurenai asked curious. Naruto thought, maybe he could share with her, it just felt right somehow.

"The day Kohaku and I met. I stumbled into the raptor pen the night before, but Kohaku got me out of there. Then Kohaku came to find me at the Academy, he was concerned that I was shaken up by the raptors. The first person who was not the Third Hokage that actually cared. He told me about how people hated his clan just like people who hated me. He said that there will always be people out there who will hate us just for being alive." Naruto shared his story to Kurenai.

"And he said all we can do is just deal with it. And how I wanted to deal with it was to become Hokage. That was why I stayed in the Academy, to become Hokage so that people will not be hating on me or disrespectful to me." Naruto said.

"So you wanted to become a shinobi so you could be Hokage. And now here you are, a shinobi." Kurenai said.

"One that everyone still detest." Naruto said, his tone rich in negativity. "Everyone Naruto?" She asked. Naruto didn't say anything for a moment. It wasn't really true, not everyone detested him. He had people who cared about him, and he cared about them. "No, not everyone." He mumbled.

"Not everyone Naruto." Kurenai placed a hand on his head, Crimson eyes looking at blue eyes. "You said it yourself, there's one who cares. And now there are others too, including me. And I know you care too, that's the nice thing about you. You have a good heart." Naruto being so close to Kurenai's face, he was struggling to keep his own from reddening.

Kurenai then wrapped her arm around his shoulder bringing him closer to her. She said, "I know things are difficult for you. And I can't help thinking that I'm part to blame, I mean I'm the one who apprehended you on Danzo's orders."

"It's Danzo's fault not yours." Naruto said, he was nervous of being so close to the woman.

"I know, but still. I know things are tough for you, and I'm sorry Naruto." Kurenai said.

"It's like others are having it easier. I know, I know. Unfairness is part of being a shinobi, but why can't I just catch break already come on." Naruto replied.

"Naruto, you pushed through all of it, it shows you are stronger than them. It's brought to where you are now, a Chunin." Kurenai reached and picked up the vest that was on the grass. "We selected you to become one because you showed us you have what it takes, because we believe in you." Kurenai squeezed his shoulder. "I believe in you."

She handed the vest back him. "You've earned it Naruto."

Naruto looking at her eyes thought deeply, through all the hate and animosity, he knew it in him that he's better than that. He took a deep breath, and he took the vest and wore it.

"Thank you Kurenai-san." He smiled at her. She took her arm off his shoulder. "Alright Naruto. Now tell me, what do you know about genjutsu?" She asked.

"Um, well only what Yugao-san told me." Naruto then recalled what Yugao said about genjutsu. He then said. "Kohaku showed me one technique, but it's not really me who's casting the genjutsu. You've seen me doing it before."

"Oh really I have? What is it?" Kurenai was curious now. "Well, if I am going to show you, I need to show it in the Kaseki compound." Naruto said, they both stood up and head for the Kaseki compound.

Kohaku was walking the dark corridors of the Foundation ANBU base. "Not a single ANBU is in sight." Kohaku said over the radio to Jiraiya. "Well that's quite baffling. Was it this quiet when you were here before?" Jiraiya said.

Kohaku said with a blank expression. "No. This could mean that either the ANBU you've captured were the whole division or some evacuated in a hurry to join their master, leaving these documents and stuff behind in their haste."

"Really? ANBU leaving all this behind, seems too sloppy." Jiraiya said.

"Probably means that their confident in a seal's protection." Kohaku replied. "Well, what did you find Kohaku?" The sannin asked.

"Scrolls, books, maps, other documents. Stored them in scrolls, haven't opened them yet, they could be rigged." Kohaku said holding the scroll in his hand.

"Alright come back. I've neutralized the seals." Jiraiya said over the radio. Kohaku back tracked to meet up with Jiraiya.

Both standing in front of the door, Jiraiya slowly pushed the door, opening it. They scanned the room. Paintings were on the walls, and a grand desk in the middle with books and scrolls stacked together. There was another door at the back of the room.

"These paintings belonged to famous artist around the Land of Fire." Jiraiya said looking at the paintings. "Some of them look fake to me." Kohaku replied.

"So what is so important about this room?" Jiraiya walked to the table, Kohaku followed. "What are these books and scrolls?"

"Judging from the size and thickness of the books, they seem to be personal." Kohaku said, his voice again was empty.

"Well, we should bring take these away." Jiraiya stored them all in a scroll. "Alright now to deal with that door."

"Hold on." Kohaku made a cross seal and a clone was made. The clone cautiously crept up to the door while Kohaku and Jiraiya went out of the room. Slowly turning the door knob, the clone opened the door.

Thankfully there were no traps, the trap at the front door must have sufficed. "You need to come here and look at this." The clone called out to them. The two went in to join the clone. Jiraiya and the two Kohaku took in what was in front of them.

Operating tables in the middle of the room, jars on shelves. In those jars were a peculiar clear yellow liquid, and in each jar had something no one was prepared for.

A Sharingan eye in each jar with the liquid preserving it.

"Foundation ANBU probably did not even know about this." Kohaku said, his tone had a shocked one now.

"Alright Kohaku." Jiraiya said. "Get the scrolls out of here. Inspect the contents tomorrow and outside of the village. I'm going to discuss this with Tsunade."

Around evening, Naruto brought Kurenai into the carnivore section. "Where are you taking me Naruto?" She asked. "You'll see soon. Don't want to spoil the surprise." Naruto answered.

He brought her to their destination. The bird cage.

Kurenai stood in awe by the large structure. "Come on in." Naruto said to her and they entered in. "What is this place?" She asked. "It's a bird cage." He answered.

"For what?"

"You'll see."

Naruto brought her to the middle of bird cage.

"Alright, here we go. And don't be too alarmed Kurenai-san." Naruto did his hand seals ending with Bird, and aiming it between him and Kurenai.

Ptero Mure No Jutsu

The sound of flapping was heard from above. Kurenai scanned above her. Small flying creatures were flying above. "What the hell are they?" She said cautiously.

"The ones that's going to make the genjutsu." Naruto said.

The whole group of Anurognathus soon flew down from the trees and began to fly around Kurenai and Naruto, swarming to two. A massive black swirl covered them.

Knowing that this was a genjustu, Kurenai willed herself and ignored the pterosaur that seemed to be flying to close to attack, it was an incredible sight for her, these small pterosaurs swarming all around. Naruto was enjoying the Anurognathus flying all around, it almost felt therapeutic and empowering having the pterosaurs swarming around.

"Alright enough. Guys enough, please stop." Naruto said to them all. After a moment the swarm ceased, all the Anurognathus flew up into the trees.

"Wow Naruto. I've…I've never seen such a thing before in my life, all those animals. That was memorable. Thanks." Kurenai said, she was in awe.

Hearing the compliment, Naruto grinned. "Hehe, well it's not me doing the genjutsu. It's them doing it."

Kurenai then took out a scroll from her back pouch. "Well, you can start with this. It's focusing on chakra control exercises, and precise chakra control is vital to genjutsu. And knowing that you have a massive pool of chakra, it will be more challenging compared to other people, but if you work on it, you can get there." She handed the scroll to him. "When you can achieve good chakra control, genjutsu will be a lot easier to cast."

"Thank you Kurenai-san. I guess we did celebrated my promotion." Naruto smiled at her. That smile she thought, it really leaves an impact. "Guess we did. Well we should go back, I am going to have a mission outside the village tomorrow in the morning. You can work on this chakra control exercises on home if you want to start now." Kurenai said.

Night has fallen, the two head back to the main street of the village and they bid farewell. Naruto took to the rooftops to avoid to villagers and he reached his apartment. His apartment was cleaner than before now, thanks to Kohaku's advice to clean up the place. But making it a palace in an apartment? He was not there yet.

He placed Kurenai's scroll next to the scroll Kohaku gave, he was not really in a huge rush to master the contents in those scrolls. But skimmed through them for now.

The chakra control scroll showed exercises involving chakra flow, such as the leaf on the forehead and standing on water. And maintaining the flow and also disturbing the chakra from within. The Suiton scroll showed the instructions to do Suiton: Suidan No Jutsu, it was no different when he read it with the raptors.

After his dinner which mainly comprised of cup ramen, he had his shower and went to bed. Laying down on his bed and staring at the ceiling, he thought about his day. Well, his promotion day was horrible at the start, but it became better in the end, thanks to Kurenai. Spending time with Kurenai, showing her the Anurognathus, it felt great.

"Was it actually like a…d-"He didn't finish that sentence in his mind. Sure, it's nice to have wishful thinking. But that's all it is, wishful thinking.

Morning came and loud knocking was at Naruto's door, waking him up. "Who's here so bloody early?" He groaned with sleepy eyes.

He trudged to the door, opening it to reveal Shikamaru waiting.

"Shikamaru? What do you want?" He asked with a yawn.

Shikamaru answered. "Sasuke has left the village. He's going to the Sound village, to Orochimaru. We're going to bring him back."

Thank you for reading, hope to see you in the next chapter.

Also a bit of heads up. I may be splitting the whole story in two. So it's likely there will be a sequel story, but nothing is really set in stone yet.