CHAPTER 8

Asami practiced another morning session of callisthenics, even though it was already well into the afternoon. Sleeping in had become her regular habit, and in her defence, her bed was simply too soft and fluffy to resist the warm embrace of sleep.

Her senses tingled. A chakra signature entered her perception range—unfamiliar and approaching rapidly. It moved with purpose and precision, heading straight toward her.

Unknown chakra signature… Above average… Elevated chakra levels… Ninja classification likely… Possibly her assigned sensei.

The garden door creaked open, and a young woman stepped inside. She looked to be in her early twenties but carried herself with the poise of a seasoned kunoichi. Her forehead protector, glinting with the emblem of Konohagakure, confirmed her identity.

She wore a sleeveless white tunic layered over a red fishnet bodysuit. Her long black hair flowed freely, and her crimson-hued eyes gave her a striking appearance. Despite her dignified look, the kunoichi radiated a subtle unease. Her fingers fidgeted nervously, but she took a deep breath and initiated the conversation. "Eh…"

"Eh… What are you doing there?" Kurenai managed a weak but genuine smile as she greeted her new student. Truthfully, she wasn't confident in her abilities as a mentor. She lacked formal experience, and her people skills left much to be desired. And yet Kurano had entrusted her with a deeply personal mission. A mother's faith in her abilities had sealed the decision.

She had considered turning the mission down. Training a child, even a prodigy, was a demanding task. But Kurano's plea had touched her heart. Her unwavering trust and sincere affection for her daughter had made Kurenai accept the role without hesitation.

"..." Kurenai exhaled quietly. She was too soft-hearted for her own good.

And this child—Asami—was apparently a genius in the making. At least, that's what her mother claimed. Kurenai wasn't so sure. She had met many so-called prodigies before. Few lived up to the label. Time would determine the truth.

Kurenai approached. "What are you doing there?"

Asami tilted her head slightly, the gesture unintentionally endearing. "I'm practicing my daily stretching routine. I'm preparing myself for lessons with my sensei."

"Oh? You already have a sensei?" Kurenai asked, a smile tugging at her lips.

"Yes. Okaa-san told me my sensei was coming today… but she hasn't arrived yet." Asami crossed her arms in a huff, pouting in a way that melted Kurenai's reservations.

Kurenai chuckled softly. "Well, I may be a bit late… but here I am."

Asami blinked, her expression lighting up with innocent curiosity. "So you're my sensei?" Her silver eyes sparkled with excitement.

Kurenai smiled. "Yes. My name is Yuhi Kurenai, and I'll be your sensei from today onward."

Asami offered a small bow. "Mine is Minami Asami. It's a pleasure to meet you, Sensei."

Kurenai's heart warmed. "What a sweet and polite girl." Maybe this assignment wouldn't be so bad after all. "I must say, I'm impressed, Asami-chan. Most Academy students don't take training seriously, but you seem different. These exercises might seem small, but they show dedication."

Asami gave a thoughtful nod. "I suppose that's true."

Kurenai continued, "Tell me, Asami-chan, what do you know about ninja?"

Asami tilted her head again, giving the question some thought. "Not much. But from what I've observed, most ninja seem highly inefficient. They're disorganized, undisciplined, overly confident, and constantly fooling around."

"They take missions like rescuing cats from trees or finding missing pets. They carry groceries, weed gardens, clean houses, and even cook meals. Honestly, ninja don't seem all that different from personal servants…"

"That's… certainly a unique perspective," Kurenai replied, masking her bruised pride with a strained smile. The girl's words stung more than she cared to admit. Years of grueling shinobi training, reduced to grocery runs and chores.

Trying to stay composed, she asked, "I assume you've never received any formal training, correct?"

Asami nodded silently.

"And you've never been taught about chakra or jutsu either?"

Another nod. Asami's family wasn't affiliated with any of Konoha's clans. Her exposure to advanced shinobi knowledge would have been limited. She was a blank slate.

Kurenai sighed inwardly. This was going to be a slow, uphill process. She would need to start from the very beginning.

Kurenai was a sadist. That was the only plausible explanation. Her training sessions were brutal—nothing short of torture. Was she trying to kill her? Who in their right mind would force a child to endure such madness?

She was just a girl! A dainty, sweet, adorable girl who deserved tea parties and ribbons, not boot camp brutality.

How Kurenai could consider such insane regimens normal was beyond her. No sane adult would expect a child to survive this. And yet, here she was, enduring it… mostly by cheating with chakra enhancements.

Behind her calm, motherly smile, Kurenai hid her true self—a merciless drill sergeant without mercy. She subjected Asami to relentless endurance drills, unending sparring matches meant to drive her into the ground, and target practice with impossible standards.

She ran for miles and miles, a heavy training pack weighing down her narrow shoulders. Endurance. Stamina. Physical strength. All the things she lacked thanks to her frail body, made worse by her chakra's dominant Yin affinity.

Thankfully, she had chakra in abundance, even if her body was delicate. That helped even the odds… somewhat.

Sparring sessions were the worst. More often than not, they ended with her face planted firmly in the dirt. If her fragile frame could handle it, she would have made Kurenai taste the same dirt.

Target practice, however, was a pleasant surprise. Throwing kunai and shuriken came naturally to her, even though it was her first time. Kurenai was visibly impressed.

Apparently, she had a knack for it—a hidden talent that even she didn't know she possessed. Bullseye after bullseye. Not a single miss.

Kurenai's incredulous expression was priceless. For once, Asami had managed to exceed expectations.