Chapter 123 Scared Yamanaka Ino to tears, Yuhi Kurenai had the wrong idea

Ino Yamanaka Cries, Kurenai Yuhi Misunderstands

Naruto stood with his hands in his pockets, not dodging or avoiding, allowing Ino Yamanaka to cast her Mind Body Switch Technique on him.

Furthermore, with his 100-point 'Spirit' attribute, he could clearly perceive Ino Yamanaka's spiritual energy.

"Interesting, is this the secret Ninjutsu of the Yamanaka clan?"

Naruto instantly learned the Mind Body Switch Technique. He neither dodged nor resisted; instead, he dropped all his defenses, allowing Ino Yamanaka's spirit and will to infiltrate his body.

"Yay! It worked, I succeeded! I can control Naruto's bo—"

Having just successfully infiltrated, Ino Yamanaka celebrated prematurely, preparing to make Naruto's body jump around. However, she "saw" that within Naruto's body, a terrifying giant beast was hidden.

No!

That's not right!

What was truly terrifying wasn't the several-story-tall, horrifying orange beast, but the shadow that enveloped the entire consciousness space, and at the end of that shadow, a humanoid silhouette seated on a dark throne.

Shadow was his cloak, shadow was his robe, shadow was his crown.

Even the orange beast was shrouded beneath that person's shadow.

It was too horrifying!

That was the Shinigami... No, it was the absolute monarch who dominated darkness and shadows.

"Ah—!!"

The Mind Body Switch Technique automatically dispelled due to the caster's extreme fright. Ino Yamanaka, who had been standing still, suddenly squatted down, clutching her head and screaming.

"Ino—"

Just as Naruto was about to step forward, the terrified Ino Yamanaka shrieked, "Don't come closer!"

"Don't come closer, Nar-Nar-Nar... It's so scary—"

Ino Yamanaka wrapped her arms around her knees, burying her head deeply between her thighs, crying in fear, her delicate shoulders trembling incessantly.

"My Shinigami title, when fused with Shadow Assassin, the power it exerts on living beings also became the 'King's Might' of the Shadow Monarch."

"It seems even more terrifying than the power of the Nine-Tailed."

"If she can overcome her fear of my Shadow Monarch's King's Might, she naturally won't fear the oppressive force of a Tailed Beast. In the future, when she casts her secret Ninjutsu on Uchiha Obito, it won't be easily broken in less than two seconds."

Naruto's training method was naturally a bit difficult.

But once Ino Yamanaka overcame it, the benefits were indeed unimaginable.

Seeing that Ino Yamanaka was very afraid of him now and unable to comfort her himself, Naruto helplessly called out, "Kurenai-sensei—Kurenai-sensei!"

"Hmm?"

Kurenai Yuhi, who was idly leaning against a tree trunk and drinking, immediately tensed up.

"Oh no, that Naruto kid must be here to collect a debt."

"What should I do? Not only have I not paid him back, but I'm accumulating more debt."

"Kurenai Yuhi, Kurenai Yuhi, you've truly fallen!"

Kurenai Yuhi sighed inwardly and quickly Shunshined to Naruto's side.

Facing this blonde youth, she always felt that he wasn't her subordinate or student, but rather a creditor.

Something's off. Why does this kid feel different again?

After a month of being tempered by Dragon Blood in the Goblin Slayer World, Naruto's physique had surged, and his height had also increased significantly.

Before, he was a malnourished runt.

Now, he was much taller than his peers.

"It's not his height, but the change in his demeanor. Why do I feel like I'm facing Hokage-sama?"

Kurenai Yuhi looked at Naruto, her heart pounding with increasing alarm.

As a Genjutsu Ninja, she possessed intuition and perception far exceeding other Jonin.

The feeling Naruto gave her now was like that of a majestic emperor, wielding supreme authority, possessing boundless power, and with unfathomable strength.

To attempt to pry into him would be like gazing into an abyss.

"Kurenai-sensei."

A call awakened Kurenai Yuhi, who was deeply caught in some kind of powerful whirlpool.

Fine beads of sweat broke out on her forehead, and she swallowed, forcing a smile onto her beautiful, mature face: "Naruto, Sensei has been leading the team on low-level missions lately."

"You know, low-level missions don't pay much, so—"

"If you have any requests, you can make them. Sensei will try her best to fulfill them."

Kurenai Yuhi no longer had the bold and generous demeanor of a heroine; instead, she seemed a bit embarrassed and shy. Looking at the blonde youth who was more than a decade younger than her, an indescribable, peculiar feeling arose in her heart.

"At my age, I could be Naruto's aunt, right?"

Kurenai Yuhi's thoughts drifted a bit.

Naruto didn't know what Kurenai Yuhi was thinking and replied, "Kurenai-sensei, please comfort Ino. She... well, I scared her into crying."

"What? You scared Ino into crying?"

Kurenai Yuhi noticed Ino Yamanaka curled up behind a rock by the waterfall.

She looked like a little lamb that had just escaped a tiger's mouth!

"Naruto, you—"

Kurenai Yuhi was a bit at a loss for words.

She suddenly remembered that after a mission, she had chatted with two girls and mentioned Naruto. Not only had she been hit by Rasengan, but Hinata had also been hit by Rasengan.

Now, Ino Yamanaka was scared to tears.

Naruto really wasn't soft-hearted towards girls.

"Being a Ninja has no gender distinction, and you can't be soft-hearted just because the enemy is a girl, but you—"

He was truly a block of wood who didn't understand how to cherish women.

Kurenai Yuhi shook her head.

She couldn't say Naruto had done anything wrong either.

Only strict tempering and training could cultivate true powerhouses.

If he held back because of their gender, it would be disrespectful and distrustful.

"Don't worry, leave it to me!"

Kurenai Yuhi put one hand on her hip and patted Naruto's shoulder with the other.

"Okay."

"After you comfort her, remember to tell her to come find me when she dares to accept the second challenge. If she doesn't dare, then she should continue with her previous training content."

After Naruto finished speaking, he instantly moved to the shade of a tree, half-lying and half-leaning, watching Hinata diligently training.

Short-haired Hinata, with a serious and resolute expression, continuously formed Rasengan and compressed them.

"Hinata is truly hardworking; her efforts are no less than anyone else's."

Naruto thought to himself as he watched Hinata.

He saw all of Hinata's hard work and dedication.

Sun rose and moon set, time flew by.

Another C-rank escort mission ended, and Kurenai Yuhi led the dusty New Seventh Team back to Konoha Village.

This time, they encountered fierce bandits, and Naruto, Hinata, and Ino Yamanaka all drew blood.

Naruto was fine, but this first true life-and-death battle was a significant tempering for Hinata and Ino Yamanaka, and they could be said to have undergone a true transformation.

Just then, a piercing, high-pitched cry echoed over Konoha Village.

A white eagle was seen passing through the Perception barrier that enveloped the entire Village, soaring with outstretched wings across the blue sky, flying towards the Hokage building.

"That is—"

Kurenai Yuhi noticed the eagle in the sky, and a serious expression appeared on her beautiful face.

"Naruto, everyone, let's stop here for today—"

"I still need to submit the mission report later!"

Before her words even finished.

Kurenai Yuhi's figure faded like a mirage, disappearing from her spot, her true body already heading towards the Hokage building.

Hinata and Ino Yamanaka were both confused, only Naruto gazed at the distant flying eagle, lost in thought.

"It seems the Chunin Exam season is about to begin."