Chapter 51: Yūhi Kurenai Wants to Resign
“Kurenai-sensei is acting strange?”
Byakuya looked at Hinata with some confusion.
Although he frequently used the Telescope Technique to observe others,
he only paid attention to people who had some connection to him or were tied to the main plot.
Someone like Yūhi Kurenai — a non-core character — wasn’t really on his radar.
So he had no idea what might have happened to her.
Could it be some unexpected side effect caused by Uchiha Izumi’s appearance?
A trace of doubt flickered in his heart.
Byakuya slowly asked,
“What exactly feels off about her?”
“I… I can’t really explain it.”
Hinata thought for a moment, then shook her head.
“I’ve been locked away doing special family training this whole time, 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdD1NHlP89
so I haven’t been in contact with Kurenai-sensei. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1rOCEb3k2
It was Kiba who noticed something was wrong with her and came to the compound to talk to me about it. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2s0YrHqTs
That’s when the clan elders finally let me out. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspD1hxdh6F
After I got out… 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuv069xADE6
I… I came straight to… the bookstore… 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnhfnLVXLA
I haven’t gone to see Kurenai-sensei yet. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LcRQH43Hg
I haven’t even seen what she looks like right now…”
“I see~”
Byakuya nodded.
He understood now that everything Hinata knew had come second-hand from Kiba.
“Then let’s go take a look tomorrow morning.”
“Mm!”
“Why are you eating so slowly…?”
“I… I’m already full…”
Hinata’s face flushed red as she quietly spoke, delicately chewing on a single strand of noodle.
If Byakuya didn’t already know she was the legendary big-eater who once out-ate Chōji…
he might have thought she was just one of those girls who ate tiny portions to stay slim.
Seeing that Hinata really had no intention of eating more,
Byakuya also set down his chopsticks.
Then he took her for a walk around the village.
…
Early the next morning,
Byakuya first assigned Sasuke his training tasks for the day.
Only then did he head toward the meeting spot he had arranged with Hinata.
“Byakuya-kun~”
The moment he appeared at the corner of the street, Hinata’s face turned red as she waved enthusiastically to greet him.
Beside her, Inuzuka Kiba also raised a hand in greeting.
Aburame Shino, on the other hand, was as quiet as ever.
He simply stood there in silence.
“You guys got here pretty early~”
Byakuya smiled and nodded to the group.
Then he looked at Kiba.
“Kiba~ 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuml9B1zo6M
So what exactly is going on?”
“Kurenai-sensei… for some reason, she suddenly wants to resign.”
Kiba gave Byakuya a complicated glance.
He honestly couldn’t wrap his head around it.
The guy in front of him was a notorious class-skipper just like him.
Yet somehow his grades were in a completely different league…
Kiba had originally thought that once they graduated and Byakuya stopped being a shinobi, he could finally catch up.
But then Byakuya casually gave Hinata a few pointers, 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUNLbANK2v
and suddenly Hinata became someone who surpassed even jōnin.
As for Byakuya’s own strength…
Although they hadn’t fought since graduation,
Akamaru would tremble in fear the moment he sensed Byakuya nearby.
From that alone, it was clear that Byakuya’s true power was probably terrifying.
So this is what they call a genius, huh…
Kiba sighed silently in his heart.
Then he finally got to the point.
“A couple of days ago, we gathered as usual to prepare for a mission with Kurenai-sensei. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOl93CrQhp
But right away we could tell something was off with her. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbwiVDMnY8
She seemed really distracted, like her mind was somewhere else. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMyFjpxpId
At first we didn’t think much of it — figured maybe she was just feeling under the weather. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj0pGHJN2E
But then yesterday… she straight-up said she wanted to resign. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPXRP6r3Ju
I got so shocked I immediately asked why. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZHJhrxz6a
But she wouldn’t tell me anything. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IEEKSGEMi
I had no choice but to go find Hinata and ask if she knew what was going on. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiS7z1ho7IE
I never expected… she’d bring you along.”
“Maybe she’s got something weighing on her mind?”
Byakuya frowned slightly.
“Either way, let’s go see her first.”
“Alright~”
The four of them set off together toward Yūhi Kurenai’s home.
Since they arrived quite early,
Kurenai had only just gotten out of bed.
“Kurenai-sensei, good morning~”
After exchanging greetings, everyone stepped inside her house.
Byakuya gave Kurenai a brief once-over.
She looked exhausted, her face pale and worn — clearly someone who hadn’t slept well at all.
“Kurenai-sensei… I heard you want to resign… 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97i9m8Jgk1
May I ask why?”
Hinata went straight to the point.
“Please… don’t abandon Team 8…”
Kiba nodded vigorously from the side.
“Yeah! 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfLNjZq847
Kurenai-sensei! 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8X2oC9KpKm
You can’t just give up on Team 8 like that!”
Shino and Byakuya stayed quiet, simply sitting off to the side and watching.
“This…”
Kurenai faltered, unsure how to respond at first.
After a slight hesitation, she gave a bitter smile.
“My health hasn’t been good lately. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkrHSuUmzw
I probably can’t continue taking on missions. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KS9htYWN5
The Chūnin Exams are over now, 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27YFED1FYX
and Hinata has become a chūnin. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBalyvEEbz
Moreover… her strength has already surpassed mine. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PYquV8XLX
So the three of you are fully capable of handling missions on your own. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAyBEThTHG
That’s why I’ve decided to resign.”
“I… I…”
Hinata immediately started stammering.
“I still lack experience…”
“Hinata.”
Kurenai smiled gently.
“You’re underestimating yourself too much. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSaZGdXs13
All three of you have very strong sensory abilities. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCo8xBQrLz
With that, you’ll rarely fall into enemy traps. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehewO14hTH
And with your strength on top of that… 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWKgftp9wH
you can absolutely handle missions independently. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTu0QSOzNh
Parting ways with you all was always going to happen eventually. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFyOMHbJn7
It’s just a matter of sooner or later. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wJR2bW766
So there’s no need to feel too sad about it. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHqqi0Basf
You can still come visit me to talk anytime~ 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqAlyNegbS
Besides… I’ll continue leading you for a little while longer. 123Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKsloOmkkg
I’ll only submit my resignation once the Fifth Hokage takes office.”
“Is… is that how it is?”
The three of them — Hinata, Kiba, and Shino — all fell into a gloomy silence.
But right at that moment,
Byakuya suddenly spoke up.
“Sensei… you’re lying, aren’t you~?”
He smiled softly as he looked at Yūhi Kurenai.
“Truth is… you don’t want to let them go either, do you?”
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