Chapter 62: Inviting Kurenei Home

With that, Naruto's Genjutsu training officially began.

"Alright, let's start with the fundamentals. Tell me, what is Genjutsu?" Kurenai asked, her voice calm yet firm.

Without missing a beat, Naruto answered, "Genjutsu is a technique used to manipulate an opponent's five senses by creating illusions." His voice was confident, his knowledge sharp.

Kurenai nodded, impressed. "Good. Now for the next step."

She plucked a small leaf from a nearby plant and handed it to him.

Naruto took it without hesitation, though his eyes flickered with curiosity.

"Stick it to your forehead and keep it there," she instructed. Then, glancing at the clock, she added, "Until dinner time."

Naruto's jaw nearly dropped. "Wait—what?! I have to hold this thing on my forehead for hours?" he groaned, staring at her like she'd just sentenced him to torture.

Kurenai crossed her arms, her expression unwavering. "Do it, or no training."

He let out a dramatic sigh, but he didn't argue. Instead, he pressed the leaf against his forehead and focused his chakra to hold it in place.

Hours passed as Naruto sat cross-legged, the leaf stubbornly clinging to his forehead. 

"This is ridiculous," he muttered. "How is sticking a leaf to my forehead going to help me with Genjutsu?" 

Kurenei smirked, sipping her tea. "Patience, Naruto. You think Genjutsu is just about casting illusions? It's about control. Precision. You need to be able to regulate your chakra flow perfectly, or your illusions will shatter like cheap glass." 

Naruto groaned but stayed focused. His chakra control was already leagues ahead of most due to his training, but maintaining such a fine, delicate flow without fluctuating was proving to be more tedious than expected. 

By evening, the leaf hadn't fallen, but his forehead was starting to feel numb. 

Kurenei glanced at the clock. "Alright, that's enough for today. You did well." 

Naruto ripped the leaf off dramatically. "Finally! I was starting to think this thing was going to fuse with my skin." 

Kurenei chuckled. "Don't get too excited. This was just the beginning." 

Naruto stretched his arms. "I figured. But hey, that means I'm on the right path, yeah?" 

She smiled. "Yeah, you are. Now, get ready. Tomorrow, we move to the next step." 

Naruto grinned. He was one step closer to mastering Genjutsu.

"Need me to cook dinner for you?" Naruto asked casually, glancing at Kurenai.

She stretched her arms, loosening the stiffness in her shoulders. "No, I think I'll eat outside."

Naruto frowned. "Why eat outside when you can have a homemade meal at my place?" He crossed his arms, smirking. "Come on, Kurenei-sensei. You can even get a sake partner like Tsunade."

Kurenai raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in her eyes. "Oh? You're inviting me to your house?"

"Nah," Naruto grinned. "I'm just doing the least I can for my sensei. So, what do you say, Kurenei-sensei? Up for a good meal?"

She studied him for a moment before sighing with a small smile. "Alright, alright. But if the food isn't good, you're buying me dango."

"Deal," Naruto said, his grin widening.

"But can I ask you one thing?" Naruto asked, leaning back against the wall.

"Yeah, sure. Go ahead," Kurenai replied as she stepped into her room to change. Before closing the door, she shot him a look and gestured with two fingers to her eyes, then at him—Don't peek.

Naruto chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Yeah, yeah, I got it."

As the door clicked shut, he called out, "It's just… why are you so obsessed with dango?"

There was a brief pause before Kurenai's amused voice floated through the door. "Why do you love ramen so much?"

Naruto blinked, caught off guard. "Because it's the best food in the world, obviously!"

"Exactly," she replied. "Now you understand."

Naruto pouted. "That doesn't explain anything!"

A soft chuckle came from inside the room. "Some things don't need explanations, Naruto."

Then, she stepped out—not in her usual shinobi outfit, but in a red kimono with subtle floral embroidery, paired with long, flowing black pants that accentuated her elegance.

The shift was striking. The soft fabric moved with her, the deep crimson complementing her fair skin, while the delicate embroidery added an air of quiet grace.

Naruto froze, his breath hitching for a moment. His mind blanked as he found himself staring, completely mesmerized.

"You look so beautiful," he muttered unconsciously.

Kurenai blinked before a teasing smile graced her lips. "Oh? Didn't know you were such a smooth talker, Naruto."

Naruto immediately snapped out of his daze, realizing what he had just said. His face flushed. "Ah—I mean! Uh—" He scratched the back of his head, looking everywhere but at her. "I was just stating facts!"

Kurenai chuckled, folding her arms. "Well, thank you."

She walked past him, but not before adding with a smirk, "Try not to stare too much, or I'll start thinking you really are falling for me."

Naruto groaned, covering his face. This woman is dangerous.

Both of them walked side by side toward Naruto's house, their steps naturally falling in sync.

To any passerby, it didn't look like a student walking with his sensei—it looked like a couple on a casual evening stroll. With Naruto's height and presence, he didn't resemble a seven-year-old at all.

Just as they turned a corner, they ran into an elderly woman—a granny Naruto often teased about her age, always telling her to take it easy and rest before she accidentally turned to dust.

The moment she saw them together, her eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Naruto, who's this? Is she your girlfriend?" she asked, her tone dripping with amusement.

Kurenai blinked in surprise, while Naruto, completely unfazed, let out a deep sigh.

"Granny, seriously?" he said, folding his arms.

"How many times do I have to tell you? If I had a girlfriend, I wouldn't be sneaking around. I'd introduce her properly, just like a man should."

Kurenai raised an eyebrow at his calm, confident response.

The old woman, however, cackled. "Oh-ho! So you're saying this lovely lady isn't your girlfriend?"

Naruto smirked. "Nope. She's my sensei. But if I ever date someone, trust me, you'll be the first to know. Wouldn't want you spreading rumors before I even get a chance," he teased back.

Kurenai chuckled. He really knows how to handle people, huh?

The old woman pouted. "Hmph. You always ruin my fun, brat."

"Hey, gotta keep you entertained, right?" he said smoothly before giving her a small wave. "Alright, we'll get going. See you later, Granny."

With that, they walked away, and Kurenai couldn't help but be impressed. "You handled that well," she mused.

Naruto shrugged. "You let people talk. No need to get flustered over every little thing," he said with a smirk.

By the time they reached his house, Naruto looked as composed as ever. But Kurenai?

She was thoroughly entertained by the interactions they'd had along the way.

As soon as they stepped inside, Naruto called out, "Mom, I'm back!"

Then he saw her.

Karin stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed, eyes sharp, her crimson hair practically bristling with energy.

Naruto instinctively hesitated at the door, feeling the weight of an impending interrogation. He took a breath, bracing himself. "Uh… hey, Karin."

Karin's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Nii-san," she began, voice deceptively calm, "you said you were going with Kakashi to buy some supplies. But when I asked him, he said you went to another woman's house."

Naruto stiffened slightly, caught off guard. "Uh—well, technically, yeah, but—"

Karin's eye twitched. "And?! That's all you have to say?!"

Before he could explain further, Kurenai, watching with interest, leaned in. "Naruto, who is this? She has the same hair as you," she asked, amusement laced in her tone.

Naruto cleared his throat, shifting awkwardly. "Sensei, this is my sister, Karin. Karin, this is my Genjutsu sensei, Kurenai Yūhi."

Karin, arms still crossed, tapped her foot. "So, you did bring a woman home."

Naruto groaned. "Oh, come on! Karin, she's my teacher! Do you really think I'd sneak a woman into the house? Give me some credit!"

But Karin, with the precision of a seasoned troublemaker, turned toward the kitchen and called out, "Mom! Nii-san brought a woman home!"

Naruto's face tensed. "H-Hey! Don't—"

A distant clatter echoed from the kitchen, and in seconds, Kushina emerged, wiping her hands on her apron, eyes already assessing the situation.

"Naruto," she said, crossing her arms, "what did you do?"

Naruto straightened up instinctively, swallowing down his nerves. "Nothing! Karin's just making a big deal out of it." Gesturing to Kurenai, he quickly added, "This is my Genjutsu sensei, Kurenai Yūhi. I, uh, invited her over for dinner."

Kurenai nodded politely. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Kushina-san."

Kushina's sharp blue eyes flicked between her son, Kurenai, and Karin, before she sighed, rubbing her temple. "Karin, stop teasing your brother."

Karin huffed, but Naruto relaxed slightly, rolling his shoulders. "See? Told you. Nothing scandalous."

Karin smirked. "One of these days, Nii-san, you will slip up."

Naruto ruffled her hair, earning an indignant squawk. "Yeah, yeah. Now come on, dinner's waiting."

Kushina chuckled, shaking her head before turning to Kurenai. "Well, since you're here, you might as well stay. I hope you like home-cooked meals."

Kurenai smiled. "I'd be honored."

As they all settled in, Kurenai found herself observing Naruto closely. He wasn't just another hotheaded shinobi—he had a certain presence, a natural pull that made people rally around him. Strong, yes, but more than that… he was someone worth believing in.

She smirked to herself. This kid's going to be something else.