Miss Shinohara's fingers danced through the sea of manila folders, each a tome of potential and pitfalls for the young minds she was tasked to mold. Aha! Her hand stilled over one particular dossier; its corner slightly bent from frequent consultations. With an air of quiet triumph, she drew forth the file labeled 'Tamashiro Bunko.'
Leaning back in her chair, she flipped it open and skimmed the text, noting the mundane details—age, previous academy records, hobbies. Tamashiro had settled into Konoha's rhythms like a leaf finding its place among the forest floor. Still, the whispers of the corridors were not always mirrors of reality. She'd need to pry a bit more, maybe catch a lesson or two, see if this acceptance was skin-deep or rooted like the great trees encircling their village.
Yet, as her gaze trailed down the page, a name struck a discordant note, shattering the melody of normalcy—Anko Mitarashi. Shinohara's mouth set into a hard line, her grip tightening around the edge of the desk until her knuckles whitened. That woman, taking care of a child?! Memories of Orochimaru's treachery, his shadow long cast over their village, seared her mind. And Anko, once his apprentice, could no less be trusted than a serpent lurking in tall grass.
"Damn him," she muttered under her breath, envisioning Orochimaru's silver tongue corrupting another one she watched over.
But as the initial wave of anger receded, leaving behind the residue of duty and concern, Shinohara's eyes returned to the file. There had to be a fail-safe, a countermeasure to such recklessness. And there it was, printed neatly beneath Anko's name: Kurenai, the secondary guardian. Genjutsu-Mistress, they called her, though Shinohara knew little else. A glimmer of hope, perhaps? Kurenai might yet be the ward against Orochimaru's lingering influence.
A sigh escaped her lips as she closed the folder, her eyes lifting to confront the mountain of paperwork still demanding her attention. "Once this is done," she murmured, tucking a loose strand of dark hair behind her ear, "I'll seek out this Kurenai." If there was a chance to shield a student from harm, she would take it.
Naruto's nose twitched, and he let out a sudden sneeze as he slipped out of the storage room, his transformation into Tamashiro Bunko complete. Swirls of smoke dissipated around him, a byproduct of the jutsu that had him on edge. He scratched his head, thinking maybe Anko-sensei or Jiji might have a trick up their sleeve to clear the telltale sign. Peeking around the corner, relief washed over him—no one was in sight. With the hallways empty during the small break before kunoichi class, Naruto seized the moment and sauntered back to his seat, the long shirt of his disguise swishing with each step.
"Hey, Bunko-chan!" The classroom soon filled with the chatter of returning classmates, and a flock of girls gathered around Naruto, their smiles like blooming flowers under the Hidden Leaf sun. "What do you like to do when you're not studying?"
"Uh, well..." Naruto stammered, his cheeks flushing a shade that rivaled the crimson leaves of autumn. He wasn't quite sure how to navigate these waters, being the center of attention in a way he'd never experienced. But he managed, spilling bits of truth about ramen and training, which seemed to satisfy their curiosity until they finally retreated to their seats, one by one. He dodged an invitation for a shopping spree with a nervous laugh, imagining the disaster that would be.
Just then, Kurenai made her entrance, her presence commanding silence despite the bustle of excited whispers. "As Anko-sensei is on a mission," she began, her voice smooth and confident, "I'll be taking over today."
The room buzzed with awe; Kurenai was a legend in genjutsu, her skills whispered about like folklore among the students. She placed a plant pot on the desk, a simple gesture that shifted the energy of the room. "We won't be doing tea ceremonies today. Instead, we'll learn about caring for plants and flowers."
Naruto perked up at the mention of flowers, reminding him of the pink bloom Ino had given him. It was just a business gesture, sure, but he'd tended to it with care, giving it water and light. He couldn't help the warmth that spread through him at the thought. Suddenly curious, Naruto cast a glance over to Ino. She was sitting there with a pout shaping her lips, looking quite unlike her usual self. What was eating her?
As Kurenai delved into her lecture about the importance of sunlight and water, Naruto's mind raced ahead. If he could get a grip on this flower care stuff, wouldn't that be another disguise in his arsenal? He pictured himself as the owner of a quaint little flower shop, blending in seamlessly on some undercover mission.
"Proper pruning is crucial," Kurenai continued, snipping away at a leafy stem with deliberate care. "It's not just about keeping the plant alive, but helping it thrive."
Naruto nodded along, a determined gleam in his eyes. Yeah, he could do this—be Tamashiro Bunko, master flower care, and save the day, all in one go. With every snip from Kurenai's shears, he felt more ready to take on whatever challenge came next.
Naruto let out a long, exasperated sigh, the sound almost swallowed by the rustling leaves of the fern he'd been instructed to tend. Disguised as Tamashiro Bunko, with wavy brown locks and eyes like twilight violets, he awkwardly pinched a spray bottle between his fingers. "Plants are such a drag," he muttered under his breath, misting the delicate fronds with far less enthusiasm than Kurenai-sensei had demonstrated.
"Remember, Tamashiro-san, the devil's ivy thrives with indirect sunlight and frequent watering, unlike the succulent here, which prefers drier conditions," Kurenai explained, her voice a soothing melody that made even the meticulous art of plant care sound enticing.
He blinked at the greenery, one looking all perky and lush, the other squat and spiky. "Who knew these leafy guys were so high maintenance?" Naruto thought, squinting at them.
As the classroom emptied, the patter of departing footsteps echoed off the walls. The silence settled around Naruto until Kurenai's soft steps closed the distance between them. She leaned in, sharing a conspiratorial smile. "Meet me at the dango shop in an hour or so, okay?"
The surprise flickered over Naruto's features before a grin cracked across his face. "Sure thing, Kurenai-sensei!" he chirped, the prospect of more time with the genjutsu mistress igniting a spark in his chest.
"Good." Her smile widened, then she turned and left, her figure disappearing through the doorway.
Shuffling into the storage room, he released the transformation jutsu with a puff of smoke, returning to the familiar mop of blond spikes and bright blue eyes. He strolled out, passing Shinohara Kimi without so much as a glance, her disapproving stare bouncing off him like pebbles on armor.
Outside, the sun lazed in the sky, unhurried to begin its descent. With time to kill, Naruto ambled towards his favorite swing and plopped down, the rusty chains creaking a familiar tune. Swinging languidly, he let memories of the day's lessons wash over him. A chuckle escaped him; kunoichi class hadn't been his jam, but hey, it was all for the greater good of becoming the most kickass ninja ever.
Mid-swing, a thought struck him like a shuriken to the noggin. "Sakura!" he exclaimed, feet digging trenches into the dirt as he halted. His brain, now buzzing, made the connection—ninja philosophy homework. And who better to help him tackle that mountain than the pink-haired know-it-all?
Wasting no time, Naruto hopped off and bolted for the library, determination painting his every step. Sakura had the smarts, and he... well, he had the unyielding spirit to see this through. Together, they'd conquer the assignment!
Naruto skittered down the side alleys of Konoha, his blue ninja sandals slapping against the stone pathways. The clamor of the main street was a dull roar in the distance, but he didn't need that kind of attention today - not when he felt a look like a hidden shuriken glancing off his skin. He whirled around once, twice, trying to catch the phantom eyes tracking him, but the alley returned nothing but his own echo.
"Must be my imagination," he muttered to himself, scratching the back of his head as he dodged a cart laden with fresh produce. As a bonus he managed to slip past the usual sneers thrown his way by the villagers by taking the back routes.
He paused before the library's entrance, scanning the area; just a few villagers milling about, oblivious to the young ninja's internal turmoil. With a deep breath, he pushed open the door and stepped inside. The musty scent of old scrolls and leather-bound knowledge hit him like a wall. Immediately, he felt the librarian's gaze upon him, sharp as kunai. He met her stare with a sheepish grin but quickly averted his eyes, figuring it'd be pointless to ask her if Sakura was around.
Creeping through the library, Naruto's ears tuned into the soft whispers of turning pages and occasional coughs. His eyes darted from one bookshelf to another until finally, there it was – a flash of pink amidst the sea of brown and beige. Sakura's hair gave her away, peeking out from behind a giant tome like a cherry blossom in full bloom.
"Hey, Sakura," Naruto said, approaching her with caution. Her green eyes flicked up, registering surprise before she masked it with her usual composed expression.
"Whatcha reading?" he asked, peering over her shoulder.
"Um," Sakura started, her finger tracing the circular signature on the cover, "it's from the same author we read last time." She warmed up as she spoke, her hands animatedly flipping the book to its title page, "'Poisons and how to combat them'."
"Poisons, huh?" Naruto raised an eyebrow, plopping down near her on the wooden floor. "Why do you wanna know about that stuff?"
Sakura huffed, crossing her arms. "Because, there are all sorts of poisons and ninja who use them. If you get poisoned on a mission and don't have a medical-nin around, it could be over."
The words struck Naruto harder than any physical blow. A lump formed in his throat as he imagined being helpless, a dream cut short by something as trivial as poison. "Yeah... guess that makes sense," he said quietly, suddenly seeing the wisdom in Sakura's studious ways.
Maybe he could listen to her a bit more before he asked for her help.
Author's note
The chapter was a bit short this time. The next chapter will be the usual length. See you next Thursday!