[51] Kurenai

"Tsunade..."

Leaving the Hokage's office, Tengen let out a bemused sigh. What was Hiruzen getting at?

He didn't dwell on it long. After a moment's thought, Tengen formed his own theory.

Perhaps, in Hiruzen's mind, Tengen was someone who could keep Tsunade tethered to the village. Tsunade's desire to leave Konoha was no secret to Hiruzen, Jiraiya, and the others.

But they couldn't force her to stay, not after everything that had happened to her.

"Does that old man think Tsunade sees me as a little brother?" Tengen mused as he reached the entrance of the village's administrative hall.

He gave a wry smile. If Hiruzen knew what Tengen had done around Tsunade, he might not have said such a thing.

"Hm." Suddenly, Tengen's nose caught a familiar scent, Marlboro soft-pack cigarettes.

His gaze shifted, landing on a shadowy corner where a teenage boy leaned against a wall, puffing smoke, his eyes tinged with a melancholic air.

The vibe was… eclectic, to say the least.

"Hey, kid, want a drag?" The boy called out.

"Sure, I'll take one." Tengen strolling over. As expected, the boy pulled out a Marlboro soft-pack cigarette.

"Go easy, man. I swiped these from Jiraiya-san." The boy said.

"Thanks." Tengen lit the cigarette, took a puff, and exhaled. The boy's eyes lit up.

"Seasoned smoker, huh?" The boy said with a grin. "Asuma. Nice to meet you, kid."

"Tengen." Tengen replied.

"Tengen, huh? Don't worry, I've got your back from now on." Asuma brimming with excitement. Finding a fellow smoker his age felt like discovering a kindred spirit.

"Cool." Tengen nodded, exchanged a few words with Asuma, and then walked off.

As Tengen left, Asuma scratched his head, puzzled. "Tengen… where have I heard that name before? Let me think."

"Oh, right! I heard it from Dad. Another Konoha genius." Asuma chuckled. "Smokers are always good people."

And just like that, Tengen unwittingly earned a "good guy" label.

The encounter was a mere footnote for Tengen. As he continued down the road, he ran into more familiar faces.

"Hey, Tengen! Fancy meeting you again." Obito called out, waving as he approached, flanked, as usual, by Kakashi and Rin.

"Hey, Obito, Rin, Kakashi." Tengen greeted the trio.

"Oh, by the way, the Chunin Exams are coming up. You joining?" Obito asked eagerly.

"I'm in. Already signed up through Orochimaru-sensei." Tengen confirmed with a nod.

"Nice! I passed the Chunin Exams last year. Want me to give you the rundown on what to expect?" Obito offered.

"Thanks, Obito, but I'll handle it myself." Tengen said, shaking his head.

"Fair enough." Obito grinned. "With your skills, passing the Chunin Exams will be a breeze. Looking forward to your success."

"Thanks." Tengen replied.

The group chatted briefly before parting ways.

Without realizing it, Tengen wandered into a training ground. There, he spotted an unfamiliar young girl, her Konoha forehead protector tied neatly across her brow, her red eyes radiating a gentle glow.

The girl was weaving hand signs, practicing something that seemed peculiar.

"Hm." Tengen's eyes narrowed slightly. "Training genjutsu?"

Leaning against a tree, Tengen observed her practice. With his current expertise, bolstered by his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, he could see the strengths and flaws in her genjutsu with crystal clarity.

Among her peers, this girl was impressive, likely a chunin. But to Tengen, she still fell short.

Suddenly, Tengen felt branches sprouting from the ground, coiling around his legs and binding him to the tree.

"Who are you?" A kunai pressed against Tengen's throat.

"Not bad." Tengen ignored the question and offered a faint smile. In the girl's eyes, the Tengen bound to the tree vanished.

A kunai mirrored hers, now resting against her neck. "My turn. Who are you?"

"Koneha Genin Kurenai." The girl with curly hair and striking red eyes replied.

"Koneha Genin Tengen." He lowering his kunai.

"How did you escape just now?" Kurenai was relaxing now that she knew Tengen was from Konoha. An enemy would have struck her down already.

"While you were casting your genjutsu, I cast one on you." Tengen said with a grin.

"How? I didn't see you form any hand signs." Kurenai incredulous.

"Then watch this." Tengen raised his right hand and, to Kurenai's astonishment, completed a series of seals with one hand.

In Kurenai's vision, the world turned blood-red.

Genjutsu.

"One-handed seals." Kurenai gasped.

"Exactly. One-handed seals." Tengen confirmed. "Keep at it, Kurenai."

"If you have time, could I ask for your guidance, Tengen?" Kurenai asked eagerly.

"Maybe, we'll see." Tengen waved as he left the training ground. He'd picked up a video signal, a familiar one, yet somehow different.

"Naka Shrine?" Tengen murmured, surprised.

Moments later, he arrived near the Naka Shrine. Following the signal's source, a smile crept across his face.

"It's coming from deep within the Naka Shrine, in a basement?" Tengen's eyes gleamed. "And it's an ultra-high-definition video."

"I have to get it."

***

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