65 Chapter 65
"But we're alone," he points out before asking, "why keep it professional now?"
"We have to be careful with how we act around one another, more specifically in public," she explains as she opens her fridge. Absolutely certain he's unaware of how hungrily he's eying her, she squats down to gather the ingredients for her salad rather than bend over and give him an enticing view. "If you call me cutesy personal names in private, there's a higher chance you might accidentally give that information away in public. I know we don't have much cause to interact in public but you can never be too careful. It's not unlike your field prep class at the academy for away-missions."
"I, uh think I might've missed that one," Naruto nervously says.
"That's not possible," Kurenai returns. "That course is a requirement for graduation. You can't become a genin without passing all required courses."
"Uh, well, I missed a bunch of stuff because, um, I'd always get sent home," he returns with a bit of a chuckle. "It wasn't until Iruka-sensei got there that I actually got to stay and learn as much as I could."
Kurenai looks at him oddly, somewhat curious as to how he managed to become genin if he missed many school days. Leaving it to ponder another day, she continues in an educational tone. "Part of field preparation for a mission involves leaving behind any unessential personal items, so no rings, pictures, or anything of sentimental value. The reason being, if you're captured by an enemy, they won't be able to use the things or people you hold dear to break you."
"Huh, that makes sense," Naruto nods, before thinking a step further and wondering aloud, "I don't get what that has to do with us."
'Us?' she thinks. 'Really?' With a sigh, she answers, "while the village is not our enemy, you and I now... share something personal that neither of us want anyone to learn of. If anyone found out, they could try to use it for their own advantage, or could simply tell Hokage-sama to get us in trouble. So, no more 'Nai-chan,' Uzumaki-kun. Kurenai-sensei, sensei, or Yūhi-san are acceptable."
"Ku-sensei?" he tries.
Letting out a breath of disbelief she whirls around to the sunny blond, telling him with authority, "no. Not that either."
"Nai-nee?" He asks, eyebrows raised.
"No," she says a little louder.
"Kurenai-nee?" he counters.
"I'm starting to lose my patience," Kurenai warns him. He gulps and chuckles nervously as he responds, "Kurenai-sensei, what are you making for dinner?"
"Dark greens and spinach salad with a side of asparagus, sliced almonds, and red potatoes, with a vinaigrette…" she answers before pausing. His queasy, disenchanted face makes her roll her eyes.
"Ne," he starts. "Is there any possibility of eating meat with it? ...or just eating meat?"
"I only eat meat when I have no other option," she informs him rather offbeat.
"Um, do you mind if I go get some and come right back? I just... salads are just... they don't fill me up at all!" he bellows. "I've been suuuuper hungry since lunch."
Evaluating how needy he is for a more hearty meal, she huffs and moves to the freezer. "I have some steaks I can make." She hears him whoop as she fondly looks over the large packaged steaks; sorely recalling the gruff Jōnin she had bought them for. "They're thick cuts. Some of Akimichi's best," she warns him. "Will you be able to eat that much?"
He gives her the most confident chuckle before answering, "not a problem."
Nodding, she fixates on preparing dinner all while he fixates on her. It's silent between them as the sizzling of the steak crisps and crackles and the room is filled with its tasty scent but it's not uncomfortable. Nearly done, Kurenai catches Naruto rubbing his temple instead of gazing at her, as if trying to ease the pain of a headache.
"Dinner's nearly ready," Kurenai says, unable to grasp how such a domestic scene is taking place in her home with Uzumaki Naruto, of all people. "Set the table," she adds trying to temper her fear-inducing wonder.
He does as instructed but as she's setting their meal down, he still looks to be in a bit of pain. Preferring to wait until they've eaten and are comfortable before having the 'big talk' on how they move forward, Kurenai breaks the silence. As he's already mentioned a number of bizarre remarks, it's easy to engage in light conversation. The most pressing query she needs him to clarify for her, however, is, "how did you manage to escort Hinata-chan home and return so quickly? You were in my room less than seven minutes after I let you out, and I know for a fact she lives nearly an hour away. Please tell me you did not blow her off so you could come back here."
"I didn't, I wouldn't," he quickly reacts. "I- well, I made a clone when I went to the bathroom and my clone walked her home. It dispelled right afterward so I know she made it back okay."
"Your clone?" Kurenai quirks her brow confused, thinking of a number of rebuttals.
"Kage Bunshin," he easily adds, eagerly cutting up his seasoned steak.
Curiosity drives her to ask, "how? Kage Bunshin is Jōnin level jutsu, and I recall you failed the final's Bunshin no Jutsu three times."
After swallowing a good chunk of delicious meat he can't help but say, "this is soo gooood! Hmm, I was told that I have large chakra reserves and ten- tekn- ...large chakra holes."
"Tenketsus," she corrects. "The nodes on your body by which chakra is released."
"Yeah, that," he happily agrees. "So, it makes it harder for me to use jutsu that only need a little bit of chakra, like Bunshin no Jutsu. It's why I've been working super hard on my chakra control all this time."
"I had no idea Kakashi-sensei was so dutiful with his team," Kurenai surprisingly muses, having heard from Asuma of the silver-haired Jōnin's burdens. Maybe it really was a good idea they all went behind Kakashi's back to have the Hokage order the strong shinobi to become a sensei. It's not that shinobi don't understand his loss and grief, but it was becoming clear to his friends that Kakashi wasn't moving on from the deaths of Obito and Rin, years after the fact. "When I heard he'd been privately instructing Uchiha-kun, I was worried Kakashi-sensei was being unfair but I'm glad-"
"WHAT-" Naruto starts but immediately chokes on a nice chunk of beef. After beating on his chest a few times, the chunk of half-chewed meat is dislodged from throat to plate. Though repulsed, Kurenai can't help but wonder about the strong reaction as a teary-eyed Naruto yells, "he's been teaching Sasuke-teme on the side?! How come? For how long? What about me and Sakura-chan?"
His wide eyes of disbelief and angered brows easily tells Kurenai he had no idea his sensei was providing extra training to one of them and tries to clarify, "didn't you just say… wasn't Kakashi-sensei the one who told about your chakra reserves and your tenketsus?"
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