Chapter 352: The Person I Like

"It's Yu..."

"Has he come back..."

Third took a deep drag from the pipe in his hand before finally breaking the silence. His eyes became incredibly complex. "Kakashi... how did you come across him?"

"It was during a mission in the Land of Waves..."

"I and the Genin of Team 7 encountered Kurosuki Raiga, one of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist, and the rogue ninja Aoi Rokusho, who had stolen the Sword of the Thunder God..."

Facing Third's complex gaze, Kakashi slightly organized his words, then truthfully reported, "Then Yakushi Yu suddenly appeared and instantly killed Kurosuki Raiga and Aoi Rokusho. Now the Sword of the Thunder God is in his hands..."

"Although I don't want to say this..."

After taking a deep breath, Kakashi said in a low voice, revealing a terrifying fact, "But he has indeed become stronger. Ninja of the level of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist hardly have a chance to resist or struggle in front of him..."

"Has he become stronger..."

After listening to Kakashi's account, Third murmured, not even noticing the ashes spilling from the pipe in his hand, "He must have grown into an outstanding Ninja..."

"And we don't know the purpose of his return to Konoha this time..."

"However, according to what he said, he returned to Konoha this time to bring his two subordinates to participate in the Chunin Exam..."

Kakashi couldn't possibly understand Third's complicated emotions, so he continued to report, "Additionally, his two subordinates are not ordinary Ninja; they possess very rare and powerful Kekkei Genkai..."

"Chunin Exam? Kekkei Genkai?"

Murmuring these words, no one could guess Third's current emotions. His originally somewhat expectant and somewhat desolate eyes gradually turned firm and resolute, "Kakashi, notify everyone to gather all the ANBU Ninja! And also, get Jiraiya back for me!!"

"Before things get out of hand, we must quickly find out his purpose for returning to Konoha!!"

With those words, Third disappeared from the Hokage's office, and understanding the urgency, Kakashi also left swiftly using Body Flicker.

The upcoming days in Konoha were destined to be anything but peaceful.

...

Meanwhile, in a deserted training ground in Konoha.

A bird suddenly flew across the previously clear sky, seemingly indicating that something unsettling was about to happen.

"What is going on..."

Kurenai, who was training Konoha's Team 8 students, looked up and recognized the ninja pigeon used specifically for delivering messages in Konoha. A strange look flashed in her beautiful red eyes as she murmured softly, "Is the Chunin Exam finally about to begin?"

"Hu... ha... hu..."

Heavy breathing filled the empty training ground as the three Genin of Team 8, Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga, lay sprawled in front of Kurenai, drenched in sweat and panting heavily.

"Damn it, why has kind Kurenai-sensei suddenly become so strict this time..."

Especially Kiba Inuzuka, whose personality is similar to Naruto's, lay on the ground utterly exhausted after the hellish combat training, gasping for breath and speaking with difficulty.

"Don't blame me; this is for your own good..."

Seeing Kiba Inuzuka in such a lazy state, a smile appeared on Kurenai's alluring and fair face. "The Chunin Exam is about to start this year. Don't you want to be promoted to Chunin and stop being Genin forever?"

"Moreover, this Chunin Exam is different from previous ones. It's being co-hosted by Konoha and the Sand of the Land of Wind, so the opponents you'll face will be stronger than before. Strengthening your combat abilities now is to help you stand out in the exam."

Standing in the shade of a large tree behind them, Kurenai used her enchanting and melodious voice to explain the significance of this Chunin Exam to her three students.

Over the years, Kurenai had grown from a youthful and graceful girl into a stunningly beautiful woman. She wore a ninja short dress with a red base and white trim, and the black mesh undergarment underneath accentuated her sexy and captivating figure.

Her slightly wavy black hair cascaded casually, framing a bright and fair face with translucent red eyes and long, snow-white legs. She had become the dream goddess of all the male ninjas in Konoha.

Not only that, but Kurenai had also successfully been promoted to Jonin and became the mentor of Konoha's Team 8, leading the newly graduated Genin Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, and Hinata Hyuga.

"So beautiful..."

While Kurenai was carefully explaining the upcoming Chunin Exam, Kiba Inuzuka, lying on the ground, couldn't help but be captivated by Kurenai's radiant appearance and interrupted, "Kurenai-sensei, you must be the most beautiful ninja I've ever seen in Konoha..."

"You cheeky brat, what do you know about beauty at such a young age?!"

No woman tires of being praised for her beauty. Hearing Kiba Inuzuka's interruption, Kurenai couldn't help but chide him playfully.

"Yeah, yeah!!"

It seemed Kiba Inuzuka's comment sparked the interest of the shy Hinata Hyuga and the silent Shino Aburame. They sat up from the ground, looking at Kurenai with curiosity, "Kurenai-sensei is so beautiful, and there are so many ninjas in Konoha pursuing you. Do you have someone you like?"

Indeed, with such a radiant appearance and being one of Konoha's most outstanding Jonin at a young age, the ninjas pursuing Kurenai could almost form a line from here to outside the village.

"Someone I like..."

Facing three pairs of curious eyes, Kurenai's heart stirred, and the image of that handsome face with white hair seemed to appear before her eyes once more, making her voice soften slightly, "If I have to say, there has always been someone..."

"Eh?!"

"Kurenai-sensei has someone she likes?!"

Catching the gentleness in Kurenai's eyes, Kiba Inuzuka and his two teammates could no longer sit still. All six eyes were blazing with the fire of curiosity, "Who could it be... Could it be Asuma-sensei from Team 10, who always brings you flowers?!"

"Asuma??"

Hearing her students' guess, Kurenai was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter, "How could that be? Asuma and I are just ordinary colleagues..."

"What?! So it's not Asuma-sensei after all..."

Seeing that they guessed wrong, Kiba Inuzuka and his two teammates could only feel a bit of pity for Asuma-sensei, who had been tirelessly pursuing Kurenai. At the same time, their curiosity grew even stronger. Who could be the person that such a beautiful and skilled Kurenai-sensei has always admired and liked?

"Alright, you kids don't need to keep guessing..."

Sensing their increasingly curious looks, Kurenai quickly interrupted their wild speculations. "The person I like is no longer in Konoha..."

At this, Kurenai's usually bright red eyes dimmed slightly. It had indeed been a long time since she had seen him. He must have become an even more outstanding ninja by now, right?

"Long time no see, Kurenai..."

"I didn't expect you to have taken on students as well..."

At that moment, a somewhat deep and magnetic voice suddenly came from nearby. Kurenai's body trembled, and she turned her head in disbelief, only to find that someone was already standing under the large tree beside them—someone impossible to ignore.

Dressed in a black ninja kimono, with white tousled hair, and a young, handsome face adorned with deep amber eyes, he stood there looking at her. He seemed like a black sun—profound and radiant.

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