"They want to stop me from investigating the missing people?"
Kurenai also finally understood why Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly sent her to join the team assessment.
Hiruzen was afraid she might uncover something!
"Looks like you've figured it out too. Hiruzen doesn't want you involved!" Kakashi nodded, his expression even colder.
If Hiruzen allowed something like this to happen, he didn't deserve to be Hokage.
"I see." Kurenai nodded, then smiled. "Hiruzen thinks I'm the strongest in the team. Too bad he guessed wrong. Genya is the real leader and the strongest here!"
Kurenai sneered. Hiruzen had overlooked something important.
He probably never imagined that the one scheming against him was just a child.
"In any case, Hiruzen underestimated things. He still hasn't realized Genya's true identity," Kakashi said, nodding with a hint of other feelings in his tone.
Hiruzen had always believed he was the strategist, yet he neglected such a crucial variable as Genya.
"If this mission is meant for Genya, then let him handle it!" Kurenai finally said indifferently, shrugging.
Genya's strength far surpassed theirs. One more or one less made no difference. She was just a bystander in the grand scheme.
"Don't worry. I'll investigate this matter as well!" Kakashi said, looking into Kurenai's serious eyes. His tone was calm but firm.
The next day.
At dawn, Genya went out early to practice taijutsu. This time, he saw Neji Hyuga.
Neji was still training with Might Guy and the others, though he seemed more silent than usual.
"Are you going to become the head of the Hyuga Clan?" Genya teased, looking at Neji.
"No. That position should stay with Hiashi Hyuga. I don't want to be the clan head," Neji wiped the sweat from his forehead, his tone serious.
Besides, Neji was a member of Atsukara. He felt he wasn't fit to be the clan leader.
"Heh, true. Being the head never seems as free as it looks," Genya smiled slightly. "By the way, how's the Caged Bird curse seal for the branch family members?"
Genya narrowed his eyes, finally getting to the main point.
"Two hundred branch family members have had the Caged Bird curse seal released. But Toshi-sana has been too exhausted recently. We'll let the others go after some time," Neji reported to Genya.
Genya nodded, his tone serious. "Then let him rest for a while. By the way, has anyone tried to interfere with you during this time?"
"Interfere?" Hyuga Neji looked surprised, but he just blinked before continuing.
"Someone did monitor us, but after I warned them, no one dared to watch us again. After all… no one wants to mess with a Hyuga who just removed their curse seal!"
"Heh."
The two spoke briefly, confirming nothing unusual, and then returned to their training.
Shou Kui's gravity field had another breakthrough. Under double gravity, everyone training with him had to exert their full strength, which helped them push past their own limits.
After training, Genya didn't go home. He had a simple breakfast outside, then took Hinata to the meeting point.
By then, Shino was already waiting. The dark circles under his eyes showed he hadn't slept well the night before, likely studying the abilities and combinations of those bugs.
Those bugs were powerful enough to let him face Jonin without losing.
"Has Kurenai-sensei not arrived yet?" Genya asked, glancing around.
Shino shook his head.
Genya frowned. Normally, Kurenai was never late. She was always punctual, often arriving before anyone else.
But this time, she hadn't appeared.
Could it be that Hiruzen Sarutobi had done something to Kurenai? No… that couldn't be. The Chunin Exams were about to start, and Hiruzen would never want trouble in the village now.
"I'm late~"
After waiting a little longer, Kurenai finally arrived, moving gracefully.
"Sensei, you kept us waiting. Let's get going!" Shino said, unusually talkative and a bit proud as he looked at the late-arriving Kurenai.
Huh?
Even Kurenai looked at Shino with surprise. She was curious. Shino, usually so quiet, was speaking a lot today. That wasn't right… even yesterday, he had seemed different, more talkative.
Today, it was even more obvious.
It was as if he had become a different person.
Before Kurenai could speak, Shino continued. "Sensei, I've recently had some new insights about the bugs. Want to spar with me?"
After yesterday's research, Shino had gained a deep understanding of the newly evolved bugs. He was confident he could face Jonin.
And his Sensei, Kurenai, happened to be a Jonin.
Finally, he could test his current strength.
"Shino? What's wrong?" Kurenai looked at Shino in front of her, as if she were looking at a completely different person.
Could a person's personality really change so much in just one day?
"I'm fine, I just wanted to spar with someone!" Shino quickly shook his head, then looked at Kurenai sincerely.
Uh…
Kurenai clearly didn't believe him. She turned her gaze toward Genya.
Recently, Shino had been pestering Genya about some bug evolution stuff. Yesterday, when Genya briefly met with Shino, his personality seemed to have changed!
The reason behind it, Genya probably knew.
"Don't look at me like that," Genya said with a small smile as he noticed Kurenai's curious gaze.
"He's just gotten a bit stronger recently and has grown a little arrogant. He even tried to challenge me yesterday!"
Challenge Genya?
Kurenai looked at Shino again. Now she could be sure—Shino had really gotten full of himself.
He actually wanted to challenge Genya? He wasn't afraid of getting beaten at all?
"Sensei, do you want to spar with me?" Shino didn't notice Kurenai's strange expression and continued.
It wasn't that he didn't want to spar with others, but because of some bug abilities, he didn't want to reveal them. He could only ask someone familiar who could also help keep his secret.
Thinking it over… Kurenai was the only choice.
"Sorry, Shino, I don't think I can spar with you right now," Kurenai said seriously.
"I received a mission yesterday, so I'll have to pause mentoring you all for a while. There are other things I need to take care of."
Huh?
As Kurenai's words fell, Genya and the others immediately turned their eyes to her.
****
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