SUMMARY: The three have a moment and the Senseis know something is wrong.
They haven't given much thought to their stalkers in a long time.
They know that both Duck and Bug ended up on the same team.
They've forgotten their names too but they don't really care.
Re just seems to be an expert at talking in general because she manages to hold long conversations with people she's long forgotten without once mentioning their names.
Ra and Ru have learned by watching.
As it turns out, you rarely say someone's name expect to get their attention, or make sure they know who your talking to.
Re manoeuvres around this problem by making direct eye contact with the person she's speaking with.
If Ra is excellent at strategy and healing and Ru is good at evading and brute force, then Re is great at sealing and talking.
Talking doesn't sound that important but Re's got them out of so many tight spots.
But none of them can quite escape their stalkers.
At least Bug only bugs them (literally) and Pineapple is obvious.
Duck (maybe broody would be better) literally stalks them.
And tries to beat Ru up if he can corner him.
Re and Ra are mad about it.
The first time Duck tries to hurt Ru in front of them, Ra pulls him out of the way.
Just to wind Duck up, Re 'accidentally' knocks them right into him.
"Stop it, Sakura.", she giggles innocently.
When she finally 'notices' Duck, she goes from laughing to guilty.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't notice you there." Sincerity drips from every word.
Re mouths Duck-san at the other two and they have to hold in their laughs.
"What has Naruto done now? You didn't look too happy with him..." Re asks innocently.
Duck - they should really call him Broody by this point, murmurs a noncommittal answer and slinks off.
When he is finally a sufficient distance away, Re curls her hand into a fist.
Ra spits, "Who does he think he is?".
Ru smiles but they can see right through him, "Guys, it's okay."
Re doesn't agree.
"No it's not okay!" she yells. "Just because some idiots think you're a monster", Re has always been able to hit the nail on the head - Ru flinches, "doesn't mean Mr Everyone-is-below-me-because-I-am-the-strongest gets to hurt you. Ru I've known you for so many years. All three of us have seen monsters, met monsters, been hurt by monsters. You are not a monster. I'd know." she smiles but there is no humour behind it, none of her usual kindness. It is sharp and brittle - like ice.
Ra wastes no time in agreeing and her and Re wrap their arms around him, muttering 'I love yous'.
It doesn't matter who's crying and who's not in that moment.
They don't notice the gleaming eyes watching them.
They are taking a well-deserved moment.
Kurenai has no idea what she's just witnessed.
It seems important, very important.
These Genin are hers but she doesn't know what they're talking about.
She wonders if she's been such a poor sensei.
But they were more distant before.
They actually let her beyond the surface now.
It's clear they haven't let her in very far.
She has to find out.
Has to find out why her Genin are like this.
She tried to give them space.
To accept the fact that they are hardened in some way.
That they have suffered.
But she needs to know, now.
Anko's actually come to like these brats which is rare in itself.
She doesn't want to admit it but it hurts that they don't trust her enough to be completely honest.
She kept Sumire's Hyuuga secret, didn't she?
Why haven't they come to her with this?
Then and again, she's so messed up that she'd be surprised if they actually came to her.
But they've hurt Kurenai and she can't tolerate that.
Kurenai is her friend, one of the only ones that ever stuck with her.
If the brats aren't keeping a huge secret, that no one else can know, she's going to beat them up.
The truth is bigger than huge.
It is gigantic. It is heavy.
Kurenai and Anko almost wish they didn't know.
Because to watch the three children you've trained, watched bleed, watched exhausted, go to their 'home' is terrifying.
They've been following them since they left.
First, they stop at Naruto's 'apartment'.
The place is a wreck - the windows are smashed and it has been completely vandalised.
The three take a shower together.
How traumatised must they be that it is that difficult to be away from each other? How dangerous must it be here that they don't feel safe to stay here too long?
Then they watch them collect their meagre belongings.
(They've never questioned why their clothes look identical.)
Then they leave, quickly slapping them away into storage seals.
Their headbands go in too.
It's where they go next that makes it worse.
They are not far from the Red Light District.
The place Shinobi don't like because they can't use chakra there.
The two follow them as they expertly navigate there way there.
They do it too naturally. Their entire body language changes - they are more comfortable here than outside. Still, they are tense, ready to defend each other.
Kurenai and Anko exchange a uneasy look.
They knew something was wrong but...
Then they go into an establishment.
An establishment that children shouldn't be in.
Maybe they rent a place here?
It is too much to ask.
They work there.
Their three Genin - a little traumatised, flinchy and worse when not in each other's company work in a brothel.
At least it is voluntary.
It's not much but it is better than forced prostitution.
When they are done, they leave quickly.
Kurenai's breath catches in her throat as they watch them scale a building with no chakra, rope or harness. Naruto goes first then lowers the rope for the other two.
They forgot to take it with them.
Kurenai and Anko follow.
They don't get a chance to see much before they are assaulted.
"Why are you stalking u- Sensei? Anko?"