Chapter 96

Not understanding as well as the veteran Jōnin, Naruto raises his voice in defense of Kurenai. "She better not be in trouble, Ji-chan! She didn't do anything wrong!"

"She's not in trouble, Naruto," Hiruzen says with a smile. "However she needs to be made aware of her Hokage's position on this information. And as her commander, I need to be absolutely certain she understands what's expected of her."

"She does!" Naruto continues to defend. "She totally told me not to tell anyone. I only used it on Zabuza because he was crazy strong and I couldn't beat him without it!"

KURENAI

Kurenai wished to Kami she was anywhere but here, at a dango shop with Anko, Ino, Genma, and Asuma.

In their pursuit of intelligence gathering, Ino and Kurenai had inadvertently banned Naruto from two of the last few critical shops that would sell to him. Add to that, Kurenai's scare tactic to get his landlord to fix the hot water apparently scared the lard of a man to simply run off with all the tenants' rent. Having skipped out on loan payments, property taxes, utilities, among other expenses, the village immediately shut off the electricity and water and if the delinquent account isn't settled in the next forty-six days, everyone who hasn't left yet will be evicted and the complex foreclosed.

Kurenai only wanted to meet Ino before Anko arrived to tell her to sell the Fire Slipper Orchid. She may not know what Naruto wants to do with it, but she's certain he'll need funds soon. To her surprise, Ino showed up with Asuma. As her sensei, it's not unusual for Asuma to be with Ino, but Kurenai sent a note to talk about the intelligence they've gathered, and that's a topic Kurenai doesn't want to discuss around Asuma. It just felt too odd for her. Even as the pair approach her, seated cross-legged at a table for three, her stomach tightens and her skin itches.

"Ino-chan, Asuma-sensei," Kurenai addresses.

"Kurenai," Asuma states taking a seat. "First Naruto-kun, and now Ino-chan. As her sensei, I didn't want to pressure her too much to learn what you needed from her, so I thought I'd tag along and ask you in person."

'He needed a reason to come see me,' Kurenai's mind wonders as she takes a regal sip of her tea. "I'm sorry I wasted your time," Kurenai asserts. "I was gifted a unique flower recently and I simply wanted to tell Ino-chan to sell it on my behalf." Turning to Ino, she requests, "please let me know what fee the Yamanaka Clan require to facilitate the sale." Ino simply nods, and Kurenai can tell the clever girl detects the underlying history between the Jōnin-senseis. Kurenai can't be sure her own red eyes were as apathetic to the love of her life as she would like them to be, but Asuma hadn't looked anywhere else besides her which was a dead giveaway.

"That's news," Asuma casually states. "What sort of flower?"

"That's private Asuma," Kurenai asserts with a tone that left no arguments.

Taking out and lighting up a cigarette, Asuma replies, "must be some flower."

Ino can tell this is thee kunoichi she'd been looking for; the one that Asuma is in love with. It was simply too obvious to her trained pupil-less eyes, and so she asks Kurenai, "just out of curiosity, would your favorite flower be red roses?"

Slightly taken by the question, Kurenai answers honestly, "yes they are," to which the girl squeals and turns hopeful eyes on Asuma. Kurenai wants to roll her eyes but her mask of indifference is set.

Clearing his throat, Asuma asks, "should I assume you're the reason why Ino-chan's been on our asses lately about training more?"

"I believe Ino-chan to be a very capable and intelligent kunoichi," Kurenai tells Asuma, making Ino blush at the unabashed compliment. "Does she need a reason for her desire to be stronger?" Though Kurenai is certain Ino's sudden motivation to improve has everything to do with hearing about Naruto's impressive progress.

"Oh thank Kami he's here too," Anko's overly relieved voice calls out. "Now I don't feel so bad for picking up a stray."

"I'm not some lost puppy, Anko," Genma responds as they both walk up to the table for three.

"Anko," Asuma starts before addressing Genma with a bit of an edge, "Genma."

Genma simply nods with his usual indifference. "Kurenai… and little Ino-chan. What are you doing here?"

"She was invited," Kurenai bluntly states, growing more anxious. Turning to Anko, Kurenai silently asks with her eyes, 'why?' Anko lightly shrugs, responding with a roll of her eyes, 'no helping it,' as she drags a chair next to her best friend.

"Since you're here Yamanaka-chan, hows your inventory lookin' on red roses," Genma asks, stunning Ino as she's brought in the middle of all this. "Hope there's still some left for the rest of us."

Kurenai knows how much Anko enjoys drama. As soon as the dango arrive, the buxom midnight-haired kunoichi will be in heaven. Though taken at first, Ino has always had a force of personality that easily helps her navigate any social situation, including the two bulls eying their red target and so answers, "of course Genma-san. It's our most popular purchase. Please come in whenever you like. I can even show you a few cards your mother may enjoy."

Anko snorts along with Asuma. Though a genin, her pupil-less blue eyes dare Genma to say anything. It's clear the girl wholly supports her sensei, but Kurenai couldn't enjoy this any more than Genma did. Even looking at Asuma now, laughing his big-bear-laugh shoots a melancholy ache through her chest. Her heart is still mending and this isn't helping. She simply wants to leave.

"At least now I can scratch you off the list," Asuma asserts.

"What list," Anko asks suspiciously.

"She hasn't told you," Asuma casually inquired. Kurenai deflates a bit when Anko shakes her head. 'What could I say? Anko, look at this flower a genin gave me. She would wonder why the hell I would even bring it up,' which Kurenai needs even less. Before Asuma can dig up any more clues, Kurenai ends his round-about expedition by asserting, "Anko, would I be a horrible friend if I didn't tell you about a flower I received that I'm now asking Yamanaka-chan to sell for me?"

"I'd like you a hell of a lot less if you wasted my time on hot garbage like that," Anko affirms.

All while looking at Asuma, Kurenai responds, "good to know." Though Anko had said that, Kurenai is fairly certain Anko is actually interested who gave it to her, but in front of the men, she wouldn't sell out 'her babe.'

Before any more can be said, two Anbu immediately appear in a flurry of leaves. "Jōnin-sensei, Yūhi Kurenai," the masked shinobi starts. "Hokage-sama requests your immediate presence in his office." Looking toward the others, she can tell they judged the urgency of the tone as well, but all Kurenai can think is, 'thank kami.'

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